Limelight

By Boy Villasanta If rains signify manna from heaven, then the 2026 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has all the graces coming from above making box-office hits after hits of the fest’s entries in its entire run. The opening of the 22nd Cinemalaya last Thursday at the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Shaw Boulevard was marked by …

For its 22nd edition, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has once again assembled a distinguished panel of filmmakers, curators, critics, producers, and cultural practitioners from the Philippines and across the globe to serve as jurors who will decide who will take home the coveted Balanghai trophy.  For the main competition, the jury members are Sari Lluch Dalena, Marian Pastor …

When a colleague in show business dies, particularly a movie writer, there is as if a part of me which also departs. Or any tinseltown players and denizens for that matter that somehow snatch a memory from my mind. It is the ability to see logic and purpose of life. Why is there such a thing as mortality and absurdity …

2TinCans Philippines, Inc. presents “Stay a Little Longer,” a full-length drama written by Sarah Mae Enclona-Henderson and directed by Shifrah Bouchikhi-Enclona on August 29 and 30 at The Kabilin Center. The play follows a woman whose memory moves fluidly across the many stages of her life. One moment, she is a child grieving the loss of her brother. In another, …

By Boy Villasanta Philippine cinema is again at the center of two prestigious world cinema events. Epicmedia’s “Makikiraan Po (Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors)” will be screened at the La Biennale di Venezia of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and Quantum Films’ “Silenced Night” will compete at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival. Both films will hit foreign screens …

I’m sure by now, you have been following the general public’s reaction on how Senator Robinhood Padilla, yes, our very own Robin Padilla, has been reacting sharply to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate especially on the opposing side of the respondent.  The latest statement if not tirade delivered by Senator Robinhood on the podium …

Couple Dominic Roque and Sue Ramirez share the same birthdate, July 20. Does this mean that they are indeed the eternal love team in reel and real life? The two celebrated their red-letter days together with romantic notes: “Happiest birthday, my love,” they mutually greeted each other with cake and red heart emojis. “I am so grateful that we get …

Actress Lindsay Custodio is back in acting and how she split from husband Frederick Cale whom she sued for violence, he charged her with cyber libel in return. “I’m trying to be composed,” said Lindsay during the 80th birthday of veteran director and producer Ben Yalung. Showbiz has also been her therapy. “I am back and thankful that Direk M-7 …

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. Here are the finalists to the 38th CCP Gawad Alternatibo For the Animation category: “Ako ay Lobo” (Siege …

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) invite the Filipino people to a series of events celebrating Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino (LMP) which is in pursuant to Proclamation No. 933, s. 2014, which designates the last week of July each year as Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino, the NCCA leads the agency tasked with spearheading this nationwide celebration of …