Star Powerhouse

Aaron Virata Mempin and Ronna Manansala exhibition A landmark two-artist exhibition entitled “CONVERGENCE: Bridging Generations and Creativity” brings together the distinct yet complementary worlds of Aaron Virata Mempin and Ronna Manansala.  Set within the Monteverdi Room of Altro Mondo Creative Space, the show invites viewers to witness a profound creative dialogue that transcends individual mediums.  “Convergence” is a space where the stroke of a brush meets the precision of geometry, and where the echoes of Philippine art history find a new, modern pulse. Aaron Virata Mempin and Ronna Manansala An artist-entrepreneur and geometric abstractionist, Aaron explores the intersection of calm and motion. His practice is rooted in a background of marketing and community-building through Katha Pilipinas , resulting in a visual language of line and structure that bridges classical discipline with contemporary energy. Meanwhile, Ronna, carrying the storied legacy of her grandfather, ...

The Philippine film and video industry is often viewed through a lens of glamour, yet for aspiring creators, the path from the classroom to the studio can feel like a complex maze. To bridge this gap, the Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila recently hosted a multimedia seminar centered on “Philippine Film and Video Industry: Career Pathways and Opportunities.” Seymour Sanchez, an award-winning filmmaker, long-time film educator, and advocate for Philippine cinema, facilitated the session by giving his insights on the topic. Bringing his industry experience to the discussion, Sanchez was more than just a speaker. He also served as a navigator for the next generation of multimedia professionals. The filmmaker/film educator opened the discussion with a practical look at the diverse roles available in today’s digital landscape. He emphasized that while the industry is rooted in storytelling, the technical and strategic avenues have expanded increasingly. Sanchez encouraged students...

The excitement surrounding  Jessica Sanchez ’s much-awaited return to the Philippines reaches new heights as her homecoming concert transforms into a full-scale musical spectacle. Set to take place on  Saturday, May 16, 2026  at the  Araneta Coliseum , this already highly anticipated concert now promises even more unforgettable experience. Presented by Wilbros Live.   Sharing the stage with Jessica Sanchez as her Very Special Guests are Mr. Pure Energy  Gary Valenciano,  Asia’s Songbird  Regine Velasquez,  Concert King  Martin Nievera,  Asia’s Pop Heartthrob  Darren Espanto,  Asia’s Phoenix Morissette,  and Multimedia Prince  James Reid . This powerhouse and extraordinary gathering of music royalty promises an unforgettable evening filled with show-stopping performances, powerful collaborations, and heartfelt moments that celebrate Filipino pride, talent and global excellence.   Jessica Sanchez is a powerhou...

A GRAMMY-winning producer, songwriter, and musician, James Blake’s singular blend of soul, electronica, hip-hop, and alt-R&B has shaped the sound of modern music. Across six seminal studio albums, Blake’s catalogue has amassed over 2.2 billion streams: his 2019 album ‘Assume Form’,  featuring ROSALÍA and Travis Scott, garnered widespread acclaim, followed by his highest chart debut to date with 2021’s ‘Friends That Break Your Heart’.  [Credit: Robbie Lawrence] "A deep, introspective and disarmingly sincere album” - Mixmag “The lyrics are among the best of Blake’s career” - Evening Standard  “Melodies collapsing and rebuilding themselves in his digital laboratory” - The Independent “His seventh studio album [is] a compendium of his best parts ” - DIY His transcendent vocals and visionary production have cemented him as one of contemporary music’s most influential figures, and a sought-after collaborator for Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, SZA, ROSALÍA, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Sc...

Rising Japanese singer-songwriter Rol3ert continues his rapid ascent globally and across Asia with the release of “(how could i be) honest? - DAUL mix (feat. THAMA),” a newly reimagined version of his breakout track, created in collaboration with Korean producer DAUL and acclaimed R&B artist THAMA. (Credit: Exciter Records) (Credit: Exciter Records)   Recently selected for Rolling Stone’s “Future 25 ” as one of 25 artists representing Japan, Rol3ert is quickly emerging as one of the country’s most promising new voices on the global stage. Originally released in December 2025, “(how could i be) honest?” quickly gained global attention, landing on Spotify’s official playlists across 18 countries. Across Asia, the track saw strong regional traction, charting on viral charts in Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, earning heavy rotation on Singapore’s 987FM, and peaking at No.5 on Singapore’s Shazam charts. On Spotify, the song surpassed 500,000 streams within its first month, becoming ...

 The Act Avenue Theater Festival 2026 returns as a dynamic celebration of Philippine theater, bringing together independent, community-based, and institution-based artists in a powerful showcase of original works. Now in its latest edition, the festival continues to serve as a platform for voices and narratives that challenge, provoke, and demand attention. Founded in 2020, the Act Avenue Theater Festival has steadily grown into a vibrant space for both emerging and established theater practitioners. Its 2025 edition, held at The Parc Foundation in San Juan, featured participants from 10 universities and independent theater groups—marking a significant expansion of its reach and community. This year, the festival takes on the theme “Mulat: Awakening from Apathy.” It is a call to move beyond indifference and confront the social, cultural, and political realities shaping the Philippines today. More than raising awareness, Mulat urges a deeper engagement—inviting audiences not onl...

Misis: Ang Vavaihang Musical is a theatre production by Communication Arts students of the University of the Philippines Los Baños that brings contemporary Filipino music, urgent gender discourse, and student-led performance together on one stage. The play will be staged on March 26, 2026 (Thursday) at the Dioscoro L. Umali Hall, with two performances scheduled for a matinee show at 2:00 PM and an evening show at 7:00 PM. Conceived as a jukebox musical, Misis is produced in partnership with ABS-CBN Music’s record labels (Star Music, StarPop, and Tarsier Records) and features songs from renowned Filipino artists such as Viñas Deluxe, Maki, BINI, Vice Ganda, and Nameless Kids. The production is also mounted in collaboration with the UPLB Gender Center as part of its National Women’s Month initiatives. At its core, Misis explores the struggles, solidarities, and evolving meanings of womanhood. As conversations around gender and identity continue to unfold, transgender women’s lived experi...

  9 Works Theatrical returns to the stage with a bold and imaginative production, YEMAYA , a Filipino translation of Quiara Alegría Hudes’ critically acclaimed play Yemaya’s Belly , set to run this June 2026 at The Black Box at The Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati. After a series of blockbuster hits, the company shifts toward a more intimate and evocative theatrical experience, highlighting the raw storytelling power of live performance.  Translated by Eljay Castro Deldoc and directed by the esteemed Ed Lacson Jr. in his much-anticipated return, YEMAYA reintroduces Hudes’ lyrical and emotionally resonant writing to Filipino audiences through a culturally grounded lens. The play follows a young boy’s transformative journey across land and sea as he searches for identity, belonging, and purpose—turning a simple question of “what if” into a profound exploration of “what could be.”  By weaving together themes of resilience, hope, and self-discovery, the production crea...

  After ten years, the world-renowned Vienna Boys Choir (Wiener Sängerknaben) will return to Manila for a special concert on April 26 and 27, 2026, at 8:00 PM, in the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Celebrating the strong cultural ties between Austria and the Philippines, the concert will be held in anticipation of the 80th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries in 2026.   With a history spanning more than five centuries, the Vienna Boys Choir is regarded as one of the most distinguished choirs in the world. Known for their remarkable musicality, purity of tone, and rich tradition, the young singers perform a wide-ranging repertoire that includes classical masterpieces, sacred music, traditional Austrian works, and international favorites. The upcoming Manila concert will mark the choir’s long-awaited return to the Philippines since their last performance in the country a decade ago. The event promises an evening of exceptional music and cultural exchan...

Photo by Law Legendary frontman Ely Buendia is back on our playlists with new song “Ate” to be released March 26 under his own label, Offshore Music Philippines.  After a year of the release of his tumultuous solo album “Method Adaptor” (2025), which garnered a string of praise from critics and fans alike, noted by Rolling Stone PH as “ a sprawl of metaphors that thrive in paradoxes…”, and a continuously successful run of his intimate bar tour which shares the same name as the album, Buendia is far from taking a step back and is gearing up to expand his range and discography with solo single, “Ate”.  Official artwork for “Ate” “I wanted to change the atmosphere a bit,” says Buendia in an interview about his upcoming single, noting the contrasting nature of his previous sonic masterproject and the new single, he pinpoints his intentions for shortly following up his grittier and more serious album, Method Adaptor, with a more “light and optimistic" new track. The song carrie...

A choreography shaped by landscape, carried by memory, and anchored in one of the oldest human impulses: to move toward a horizon. The company’s new full-length work, PAGLALAKBAY: The Journey of the Sea People , premieres April 10–12, 2026 at The Theatre at Solaire, tracing the ancient Austronesian migration through a movement language that feels both precise and instinctive. Choreographer Mikhail Martynyuk turns to the terrain of Batanes as his guide. There, wind is constant, the ground is uneven, and the ocean draws clean, steady lines across the edge of the land. These elements find their way into the body. Weight dropped into the floor as if meeting resistance, torsos tipping forward with a sense of direction, arms shaped not for decoration but for purpose. The movement is classical in foundation but shaped by the environment that inspired it. The ballet’s emotional framework comes from librettist Sheree Chua, who brings the narrative to life through personal history. She speaks of...