The object of the adulation has eased to be but the subject of the adoration surrounding it lives on. To concretize: Superstar Nora Aunor has died yet the Noramania carries on. This has been the case of the hero worship of Noranians to their idol when the reign of the actress in the industry was observed by her fans mid …
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By Boy Villasanta The fervor of nationalist cinema and protest entertainment was once again the tone of the currently concluded 49th Gawad Urian of the prestigious Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP), a critics group. From the list of nominees alone to the winners proclaimed at the Teresa Yuchengco Hall of the De La Salle University in Taft Avenue Thursday evening …
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One of the critics’ groups, the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) is celebrating its golden jubilee. Founded in 1976 by ten progressive visionaries of arts and culture, namely, Mario A. Hernando, Bienvenido Lumbera, Pio de Castro III, Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., Manny Pichel, Behn Cervantes, Nicanor G. Tiongson, Hammy Sotto, Justino Dormiendo and Nestor U. Torre, MPP has persisted to …
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The opening ceremony of this year’s Indigenous Peoples Month celebration on October 13, 2026 at the Foro de Intramuros will have colorful activities to highlight the importance of the event. The festivities will start with a parade at 8:00 AM featuring all 41 participating IP clusters from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, dressed in their traditional wear along the walls of …
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By Boy Villasanta Actress Kim Chiu is in a quandary. It stemmed from, at least, two earth-shaking events in her life, one, the legal case she filed against her sister Lakambini Chiu over a multimillion suit for alleged financial discrepancies amounting to about P44.4 million in House of Little Bunny Philippines, Inc. (HOLB-PH), the company where the siblings are co-stakeholders. …
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A new wave of dramatic movies and docudramas that depict the horrors of Martial Law and beyond, its protagonists and antagonists, is flooding the market. Late last year, Cignal TV, MQuest and Spring Films’ “Manila’s Finest” had brought back vividly the atrocities of the past in our society. Although Raymond Red’s “Manila’s Finest” is a work of fiction, it is …
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After forty-two years, the now classic “Sister Stella L” has found a new lease on life when its restored version was premiered in the Philippines recently. The Mike de Leon-directed film, produced by Regal Films in 1984 and starred Vilma Santos as Sister Stella Legaspi, a nun who was awakened to fight for freedom and emancipation of workers and the …
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In recognition of their outstanding contributions to music and the Filipino community, Sharon Cuneta, Kuh Ledesma and Apl.de.ap will be honored as recipients of The Outstanding Filipinos in America (TOFA) Awards this year. Although Sharon and Kuh aren’t Fil-Ams, they are celebrated because of their lasting impact and exemplary achievements in the art of music. Meanwhile, Apl.de.ap, Allan Pineda Lindo, …
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Two days before the ethno rock zarzuela “Ambon, Ulan, Baha” was staged at the historic Metropolitan Theater, its author Frank G. Rivera paid a visit to its rehearsals at the venue. Many things streamed in Frank’s mind about his creation of the musical but the one thing that caught his fancy and imagination was the participation of musician from the …
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by Boy Villasanta Love doesn’t seek any place to express it. Anywhere in the world, one can show his or her love to a beloved in so many ways no matter the distance, near or far. Love is transnational. Look at the exportation of love among sweethearts Janine Gutierrez and Jericho Rosales and married couple Karylle and Yael Yuzon. The …
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The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business