Limelight

Revolutionizing Philippine entertainment news wasn’t and still isn’t bucking the system. It wasn’t and still is, enhancing it. “Wasn’t” because it was our common goal when we started “Star News,” a segment of the primetime news show of ABS-CBN in 1987. “Isn’t” because it is, however, a personal pursuit. All of these are ideals to this day, to this moment. …

Meanwhile, Bernardo’s erstwhile lover Daniel Padilla has reportedly found someone to replace her in his heart. The alleged replacement is none other than Maris Racal. Is it true that Daniel is courting Maris and he has already conquered her? This is the wildest and newest tale in town being shared to the public by Cristy Fermin with her cohorts, one …

He has definitely left a void in the canvas of Philippine cinema which is waiting to be painted on in an open-ended impressionistic fashion. The death of iconic film director Mike de Leon has suspended other hues and shades to contribute to the meaningful images the local movie industry has been portraying since time immemorial. Hopefully, there will be filmmakers …

Another showbiz denizen has passed on. Geena Zablan, model, actress, entrepreneur and fashion show impresario, died of lingering illnesses. Geena started her arts career in Tino Lapuz’s “Eskuwelahang Munti” until she was signed up with Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions to do movies. Zablan is survived by children Charlotte and Ryan. (Boy Villasanta)

by Boy Villasanta The Philippine movie industry is once more in mourning with the passing of one of its beloved and respected denizens. Mike de Leon, a legendary filmmaker, died yesterday at 78. This was announced by Carlotta films and his family. De Leon, an award-winning director has given honors to the country by screening his no-nonsense films locally and …

by Boy Villasanta After almost four years of inactivity because of social chaos brought about by a national health emergency, the independent filmmaking industry is alive again with the seventh edition of the Sinag Maynila Film Festival, an annual project spearheaded by Solar Entertainment under the management of Wilson Tieng and the internationally acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Ma. Mendoza, Palme d’Or …

I’ve known internationally acclaimed director Brillante Ma. Mendoza for more than four decades. As a matter of course, we have worked in some film projects together which I promoted like “Gabriela” with Carmi Martin as titular lead that Boy C. de Guia, the still missing producer, entertainment journalist, talent manager and TV host line produced for Tata Esteban, the director …

Know your competitors, if not enemies, well. Or, at least, take part in a game, aware of your strengths, weaknesses and all the gray matters in between, no matter the outcome, win or lose, you are confident you did your part pretty well. Imusicapella (Photo Credit: Boy Villasanta) Woodrose Chorale (Photo Credit: Boy Villasanta) Such is sportsmanship. Everyone loves a …

by Boy Villasanta Tis the season of international film festivals to be held in Manila. The 2025 Sinag Maynila Film Festival will kick off on Sunday, August 24, 2025 in Gateway, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Antipolo, SM Mall of Asia and SM Fairview. Meanwhile, the annual Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, one of the precursors of film fests in the country, which …

It started when the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSSA) issued a report that a certain staff from the office of Senator Panfilo Lacson had smelled from an adjacent ladies’ room an odor akin to marijuana smoke. Prior to Sen. Ping Lacson’s staff’s discovery on August 12, 2025 about a marijuana-like smell emanating from the women’s powder room, there was …