Star Powerhouse

  What is the most essential building block for the future of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in the visual arts? This question set the tone for the recent Philippine Arts Roundtable organized by the country’s premier cultural institution, bringing together a diverse group of experts to examine the current landscape and explore the future directions of Philippine contemporary art. The recent roundtable discussion brought together Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, contemporary visual artists and cultural practitioners; Isa Lorenzo, founder and co-director of Silverlens Galleries; Carlos Quijon Jr., art historian, critic, and curator currently serving as the C-MAP Fellow for Southeast and East Asia at the Museum of Modern Art in New York; Clarissa Chikiamco, curator at National Gallery Singapore and a PhD candidate at King’s College London; Dindin Araneta, co-founder of Art Fair Philippines and Director of the Benilde Center for Campus Exhibitions (CCE) at De La Salle–College of S...

Filipino singer-songwriter Clara Benin explores the “inner weather of love” in really got me thinking —her latest EP under Sony Music Entertainment . Pivoting towards delicate soundscapes and lush arrangements, the 6-track release embraces a quieter form of introspection: the sonic treatment, pared down and intimate, leaning towards newfound openness in both sound and storytelling.   “I’ve learned to sit with simplicity and to trust that not every space needs to be filled, that silence and restraint can carry just as much meaning as sound,” Benin explains. “Because of that, I allowed the words and melodies to breathe more, and I think it creates a more intimate listening experience, like you’re just sitting in the moment with me.” Benin adds that it’s her first time writing a record entirely dedicated to love from a more optimistic perspective. “Having an EP that’s entirely made up of love songs is something new for me. It feels like a different kind of openness and a big part of...

Two-time GRAMMY ® Award winner TYLA , the South-African star whose debut campaign disrupted the global music scene and cemented her as a bonafide global superstar, is ready to step back into the spotlight. TYLA has formally announced her hotly-coveted sophomore studio album, A*POP , supported by the Billboard chart-topper “Chanel,” and the already viral “She Did It Again,” featuring Zara Larsson. The announcement follows the unleashing of the official A*POP album trailer , starring TYLA outlining the “unapologetic,” “confident,” and “global” nature of her new era.   The album arrives July 24th. Pre-order it here via Epic Records. A*POP follows TYLA and TYLA+, which were released in March and October of 2024. TYLA earned the singer the distinction of the highest-charting African female soloist in the history of the Billboard 200 Albums chart, and the achievements that followed reflected the ascent of one of music’s biggest and brightest new stars. Two years later, TYLA is prepared...

After a breakout year that saw his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 and a sold-out international headline tour spanning three continents, Malcolm kicked off 2026 with “Breathe,” his highest debut ever reaching the top 50 on Spotify day one. Now Malcolm Todd is back to tease more of what’s to come with the drop of a new single “ I Saw Your Face .”   Photo credit: Aidan Cullen   A meditation on ending a relationship you know isn't right and grieving it anyway, the song captures something true and hard to say–just because leaving was your choice doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. The single comes alongside a music video co-directed by Malcolm Todd and Aidan Cullen. The video comments on masculinity unraveling. Man vs. cutting an onion, Malcolm vs. his sensitivity… the joke lands but the feeling is real to all the men out there. There is even a standoff in the video between Malcolm and a giant onion.   At 22, Todd has quickly emerged as one of alternative pop’s most comp...

  From left to right: Byron Atienza, Creative Director of Live Nation; Hilarion Banks, one of the film editors and DOP;  Maria Diane Ventura, filmmaker, writer and executive producer;  Ely Buendia; and Winston Emano one of the film producers Following a wave of sold-out advanced screenings across select cities in the United States and Canada, Eraserheads: Combo On The Run has set a new record as the Filipino documentary with the widest theatrical release in North America. The award-winning docu film opened in more than 100 cinemas on April 24, 2026. To celebrate the release, Eraserheads  frontman Ely Buendia and director-producer Maria Diane Ventura made special appearances in select theaters in California, where they got to share the film’s growing success with the audience. Ventura expressed gratitude for the overwhelming reception received by the film in its first few days of release. “It’s incredibly humbling. I feel a deep sense of gratitude to the audiences, ...

Iggy San Pablo , best known for his work with Filipino alt-rock band Rusty Machines , returns with simple socks , a solo music project navigating the complexities of adult life and self-discovery through the lens of a migrant. Distinct from San Pablo’s earlier bedroom outing thenils , which represented an exploratory creative phase from his younger years, simple socks is a more assured artistic voice informed by his renewed commitment to storytelling. Photo credit: Džesika Devic “Being an immigrant is a challenge in itself, and that’s an experience I look forward to diving into further as a musician,” shares San Pablo. “Being 34 and having this new solo project, there’s a mixed feeling of a fresh beginning and familiarity all at once. I’m excited to channel that unique energy as I find my footing within the Toronto music scene.”   Now based in Toronto, Canada, San Pablo explores themes of domestic routines, career transitions, and the challenges of making connections in a new envir...