Star Powerhouse

  The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) celebrates the 50th founding anniversary of the Sining Kambayoka Ensemble with a series of outreach performances from September 25 to 26 at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater), and on September 27 to 28 in Silang, Cavite, and Pila, Laguna. The country's leading art institution, which is also celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, has supported and presented SKE numerous times in its various programs and venues, especially in its outreach tours in the regional, national, and international communities.   A Gawad CCP and CCP Kaisa sa Sining Gador Awardee, the Mindanao State University Marawi City resident theater company will present three landmark plays: Pilandok, Sulambi, and Si Nonoy at Si Inday. The featured productions will be performed by SKE, as well as the Sumidaw Performing Arts of Pagadian City and the Sining Sarangan Ensemble of General Santos City—two regional theater groups under former SKE artists...

  Filipino alternative pop outfit Orange & Lemons has finally dropped the iconic music video of “ La Bulaqueña ,” featuring fellow Bulakenya and Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo . Conceptualized and directed by constant collaborators Everywhere We Shoot , the MV showcases the parallel storylines of O&L and Manalo and how they were deeply connected together by a turn-of-the-century portraiture called Una Bulaqueña in terms of geographic affinity and influence. The said masterpiece, which was helmed by Juan Luna y Novicio, carries an unassuming naturalness that depicts a Filipina from an elite countryside background, one who is assumed to be from Bulacan. “The symbolic repetition of the painting deepens the narrative and signifies the theme,” Clem Castro, the lead vocalist and guitarist of seminal alternative rock outfit, Orange & Lemons, explains.  An unexpected collaboration During her Miss Universe Philippines campaign, Chelsea Manalo’s team used ...

  The Ransom Collective’s Muri has finally dropped her debut EP, 11ème ! Shaped by her journey of moving and rebuilding, 11ème is a confessional relic of Muri as a globe-trotting individual dealing with growth, loss, and discovery. The soulful pop EP takes listeners to her colorful world, exploring cities, embracing cultures, and forming relationships. But at the helm of this beautifully complex project are songs written specifically to channel her feelings of finding home in strange places and accepting things that aren’t meant to be. Photo credits: Franco Maigue “I’m excited to just share a little bit of my world with everyone,” the Paris-based artist admits. “It's a concoction of stories, feelings, and languages. I want the music to simply be an exchange, a conversation. One of giving— letting people hear what the world has shown me; and receiving—connecting to people as they experience the music.” Sonically speaking, Muri’s first EP brims with balmy and soulful tunes that are ...

Breakout K-pop sensation FIFTY FIFTY has released their mini album, Love Tune which is out now via Arista Records . In celebration of the album, the girls have also shared a cinematic music video of album track “SOS” which sees the girls finding their joy to dance again. Listen to Love Tune HERE Watch the “SOS” music video HERE On this 6-track EP, FIFTY FIFTY aims to continue the message of love as an extension to “Cupid” the global chart-topping hit, which became the longest-charting K-pop song in Billboard Hot 100 history at 15 consecutive weeks (peaking at #17) and reached #2 on the Billboard Global 200.  Behind the project, the K-Pop sensations share, “FIFTY FIFTY's 2nd EP Love Tune is a collection of songs exploring various narratives centered around the theme of love. With their new project, FIFTY FIFTY aims to deliver their message of love to the world as an extension of their previous hit, 'Cupid'.  The beloved K-Pop group adds, “The name of the album was created...

  Photo Credits: Prime Video Prime Video has exciting news for K-drama fans! The streaming giant announced the upcoming release of Spice Up Our Love , a two-episode romantic comedy spin-off of the popular series No Gain No Love . Starring Lee Sang-yi and Han Ji-hyeon, the much-anticipated show will be available to Prime Video subscribers in more than 240 countries and territories starting October 3. What to Expect from Spice Up Our Love Spice Up Our Love continues the story of Nam Ja-yeon, a popular R-rated web novel writer played by Han Ji-hyeon in No Gain No Love . This time, Ja-yeon unexpectedly finds herself becoming the main character in her own web novel, where she steps into the role of Seo Yeon-seo, a nutritionist at GB Electric. The twist? Bok Gyu-hyun, the character played by Lee Sang-yi in the original series, now transforms into her love interest in the web novel as Kang Ha-jun, the CEO of GB Electric. Fans can look forward to hilarious and heartwarming moments as Yeo...

 TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS: A Play About Life – In Letters is set to make its Philippine premiere this November 2024. Featuring true stories and real letters, the play is based on the book-turned-play-turned-limited TV series. Written by acclaimed author Cheryl Strayed (bestselling author of Wild) and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise), the straight play chronicles the journey of Strayed as Sugar, an anonymous advice columnist whose radical empathy won the hearts of many readers. TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS will feature Calzado in the role of Sugar. She will be joined by three other cast members who will lend epistolary voices to the letter writers. Joining Calzado are Rody Vera, Gabby Padilla and Ketchup Eusebio as the letter writers. Rounding out the cast are Gawad Buhay awardees Regina De Vera and Brian Sy (swing/letter writer at certain performances). Rody Vera is a multi-awarded playwright, screenwriter, actor, and singer. A pillar of the Philippi...

  The much-awaited and most technologically-advanced boutique studio for indoor cycling classes opens at the University Hotel in UP Diliman, Quezon City on September 14. Spin101 promises spinners an immersive, seamless, and fun ride through its studio that is cozily tucked in the quiet and picturesque UP Diliman. Spin101 is one of the first spin studios, if not the first, to base in Quezon City. This means, that finally, fitness enthusiasts, beginners, and elite athletes from the north can enjoy spin classes and cross training sessions without going through the hassle of long travel! And it is not just a typical indoor cycling class that they can attend. Spin101 uses Technogym’s Group Cycle Connect, the first in the country and within South East Asian Region, which enables hyper-personalization of the cyclists’ journey and, coupled with brilliant visuals, allows them to connect with the entire class and ride as one. Established in 1983, Technogym is one of the world’s leading manuf...