Star Powerhouse

  As the Philippines hosts the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) brings the region’s creative communities together through Seas Unbroken , a cinematic music video commissioned to tell a collective story of Southeast Asia through the eyes of its people. Produced by Voyage Film Studios, the project celebrates the region’s diversity and shared experiences through the perspectives of local filmmakers. Rather than focusing on national landmarks and tourist destinations, Seas Unbroken turns its lens toward everyday life: livelihoods sustained by the sea, families gathering around meals, bustling urban communities, and children carrying traditions into the future. The film highlights how arts and culture can deepen understanding among nations, allowing artists to represent their own communities while contributing to a broader regional narrative. By bringing together filmmakers, creatives, and production teams from all 11 A...

  The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in partnership with National Theatre Live and Ayala Malls Cinemas, brings two acclaimed British theatre productions to Philippine cinema screens on October 27 at 6:00 p.m. through the third season of CCP’s National Theatre Live. David Ireland's The Fifth Step premieres at Ayala Greenbelt 3 Cinema in Makati, while Peter Morgan's The Audience premieres at Ayala Vertis North, Nuvali in Laguna, and Ayala Malls Manila Bay. Through these simultaneous screenings, CCP’s National Theatre Live continues its commitment to making international theatre more accessible to Filipino audiences. Written by acclaimed Irish playwright David Ireland, The Fifth Step follows James, a recovering alcoholic with years of sobriety, who takes newcomer Luka under his wing as he begins his journey through a twelve-step recovery program. What begins as a friendship grounded in shared experiences gradually develops into a more complicated relationship as thei...

  With refined grace, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) continues its 42nd concert season, Modulatio , with CONCERT II: ELEGANCE on October 16, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., at Manila’s historic Metropolitan Theater. Guided by the baton of renowned Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, the PPO reinterprets timeless compositions by Filipino conductor Redentor Romero, German-British Baroque composer George Frideric Handel, and Polish composer Zygmunt Noskowski with renewed elegance and sophistication.  The second installment of the concert series features Filipino classical pedal harpist Vien Ignacio in a world-class performance. A repertoire evoking the warmth of home The PPO sets the stage with the heartwarming nostalgia of Romero’s Philippine Portraits . Reflecting the composer’s profound love for his homeland, the piece passionately weaves iconic local romantic melodies into a rich symphonic tapestry.  In his legacy as the country’s pioneering conductor who made his mark on the int...

  Seven films from the 21st edition of Cinemalaya have earned a total of 29 nominations at the Gawad Urian Awards, recognizing the filmmakers, artists, and creatives behind some of the festival’s most compelling works. The nominations span major categories from Best Film and Best Director to acting, screenplay, cinematography, editing, music and sound, reaffirming the strength of the country’s indie filmmaking scene. The nominated films are Bloom Where You Are Planted , Cinemartyrs , Republika ng Pipolipinas , Paglilitis , Raging , Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan , and Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana . All seven were part of the full-length category of Cinemalaya 21 (2025). Leading the nominations is Cinemartyrs by Sari Dalena, with eight nods, including Best Film for Kino Arts, Best Director for Sari Dalena, Best Screenplay for Sari Dalena and Keith Sicat, Best Actress for Nour Hooshmand, Best Production Design for Toym Imao, Best Cinematography for Neil Daza and Kiri Da...

Championing the best of Filipino alternative storytelling, the CCP Gawad Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video returns this 2026 with Pag-aninag (Reflecting the Light) , inviting audiences to discover stories that illuminate hope, memory, struggle, and the dreams that connect people and communities. Established in 1987, CCP Gawad Alternatibo is considered the longest-running film competition and festival in the country and Southeast Asia, harvesting the best of Philippine films competing in various categories of Animation, Documentary, Experimental, and Narrative.  Now in its 38th year, Gawad Alternatibo reaffirms its commitment to provide a platform for emerging and established Filipino filmmakers who dare to challenge conventions and tell stories that evoke critical reflection, cultural discourse, and social transformation. Participating films for the Animation category are: AKO AY MAY LOBO by Siege Ledesma; ANO KA, ASO? by Marc Trisha Domingo; BANGKANG PAPEL by Rey Tamayo, Jr....