Star Powerhouse

Tanghalang Pilipino officially unveiled its 40th Season, TP40: Past Forward—a celebration of four decades of storytelling, artistry, and cultural excellence while looking ahead to the future of Philippine theater. The season lineup includes: 🎭 Farewell, Let's Go to the South (July 2026) A one-weekend intercultural collaboration between Assignment Theater of Taiwan, Space Theater of Korea, and Tanghalang Pilipino. 🎭 Sayaw ng mga Ilaw (September 2026) Juan Ekis' stage adaptation of Cheeno Marlo Sayuno's beloved children's short story, bringing a magical tale to life on stage. 🎭 Gregoria Lakambini, A Pinay Pop Musical (November 2026) The acclaimed P-pop musical returns, celebrating the revolutionary spirit and enduring legacy of Gregoria de Jesus. 🎭 Ricardo Segundo (February 2027) Guelan Luarca's Filipino translation and direction of William Shakespeare's Richard II, reimagined for contemporary audiences. 🎭 Life Begins! (May 2027) A special concert marking Tan...

  In celebration of National Heritage Month, Lampara Books unveils its latest collection of literary and educational releases that honor the long-standing traditions of Filipino storytelling and encourage cultural appreciation and values formation among the next generation of readers. The lineup includes Filipino classics, modern retellings, and innovative educational series that share the publishing house’s mission of providing accessible, values-based, and culturally relevant literature for Filipino children and families. Among the highlights of the launch are two of Philippine literature’s most enduring masterpieces: Ibong Adarna and Florante at Laura . Edited by acclaimed scholar and children’s literature advocate Eugene Y. Evasco , the new edition of Ibong Adarna offers an enriched reading experience through chapter summaries, vocabulary guides, and comprehension prompts designed to support students, teachers, parents, and independent readers alike. The volume features cove...

AME has officially released Kwentong Barbero , a seven-track album that tackles the unfiltered realities of everyday Filipino life. As one of the few active blues bands in the local music scene, AME takes the genre to a thrilling new place through its riveting balance of classic blues sound, ‘70s psychedelic rock, and contemporary punk edge. Redefining OPM with their eclectic sound and personality, Kwentong Barbero delivers a record wity easygoing charm and confidence. The retro-modern album features previously released singles “ Ipagpatawad Mo ,” “ Hala Bira ,” and “ Palaboy ,” alongside four new tracks ready to hit hard and stay with the listeners until the final note. From the urban grit of “ BluKolar ” to the poignant farewell in “ Langit ,” the record paints vibrant stories of love, survival, identity, and hope into anthems that cut across generations. “BluKolar,” in particular, connects the album to broader themes of labor, migration, and resilience, grounding AME’s music in th...

  Following the radiant charm of their critically acclaimed debut DEFINITELY LOVE! , ALYSON returns to the spotlight with AFTER OURS —a sonically ambitious sophomore album released via Offshore Music Philippines .  ALYSON’s second full-length album lingers in the aftermath of a romantic connection, exploring uncertainty after intimacy, the temptation that complicates devotion, and the painful realization that love endures not through perfection but through choice. Embracing a more sophisticated approach to songwriting and production, AFTER OURS treats the art of listening to albums as a sanctimonious experience, with each track carefully sequenced and every detail presented with intentionality at every level.  In an era increasingly dominated by algorithmic design and standalone singles, ALYSON wants listeners to rediscover the beauty of experiencing albums as complete bodies of work that are meant to be lived through in sequence, with no skips. The record feels like one...

Sarah Escosora, Marte Aragon, and Bubot Manalang At an age when many people are expected to slow down, three senior citizens from Pasay City find themselves at the heart of the country’s cultural scene, reinvigorating their golden years through the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ special Front-of-House (CCP FOH) Apprenticeship Program, a simple apprenticeship program which becomes the start of a meaningful addition to their lives.  Through a partnership with the city’s Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in 2024, senior ushers Sarah Escosora, Marte Aragon and Bubot Manalang participated in the apprenticeship program which aims to open doors for older Filipinos to be an active member of the arts and culture community.  The ushering apprenticeship lasted for a month and included lectures, fieldwork, venue exposure trips, and first aid training. The seniors were immersed not only in audience management, but also in the values of culture, education, and service.  “Na...

Fresh off from the success of her last single “ Sikretong Tayo Lang May Alam ,” which entered the Spotify Viral 50 Philippines chart and surpassed a million streams within five months, SHANNi continues her upward trajectory with the release of her new single “ Teleserye ”—out via Sony Music Entertainment .  Driven by conversational lyrics and emotionally poignant storytelling, the alt-pop newcomer pours her heart out on betrayal and manipulation that comes from toxic relationships and friendships. On “Teleserye,” she paints a familiar portrait of having endured chaos in silence before ultimately finding the courage to walk away and find her peace in the process. SHANNi explains, “ Teleserye feels like a huge step for me creatively and emotionally. After the success of “ Sikretong Tayo Lang May Alam ,” I realized I wanted to become more fearless when it comes to storytelling and expressing vulnerability in my music. With this release, I became more intentional about writing from a ...