Limelight

No doubt, I was very eager to undergo the Cinematography-Directing Masterclass with award-winning filmmaker Raymond Red (“Anino,” ⁿBayani,” “Sakay,” “Ang mga Rebeldeng May Kaso,” “Himpapawid,” “Manila’s Finest,” among other prizewinning masterpieces) at the Conrado “Dengcar” Baltazar Theater of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund) Film Institute for three consecutive days (whole day) on the first week of June that started …

by Boy Villasanta What are the chances of Filipino stars at the 21st Seoul International Drama Awards? Will they shine in the company of other Asian nominees in the Best Actress and Best Actress categories? The following are nominated in the major derby for the bests in drama series. Joshua Garcia for “Love is Never Gone” Paulo Avrlino for “The …

by Boy Villasanta Comedian Dennis Padilla lamented one of his daughter’s decisions that almost moved him to tears. Claudia Barretto, the second child of Dennis and former wife Marjorie Barretto, recently filed a petition with a Quezon City trial court, the respective civil registry offices of Quezon City and Muntinlupa City and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to drop the …

For the last seventy-one years, I’ve known the Foundation Day of Lopez, Quezon, my beloved town, to be April 30. Honestly, during my tot years, I wasn’t familiar with the year it was founded as I was just haphazardly taught and oriented about the date without being conscious of when and how it is such. Although, looking intently at the …

The essence of what Philippine independence is, the players at June 12, 2026 Mercadillo in Intramuros were able to embody. First, it was the Filipinism that spoke about their art, especially music. The use of the native language was one. The nationalistic sound of Erick Valena’s piano, the patriotic songs of Riot Session Band, the little Filipina voice of Joliena …

by Boy Villasanta After three years of intermittent awarding, is Philippine LEAF (Live Entertainment, Arts and Festivals) Awards breaking away? The organization which is associated with artists, television, movie and theater practitioners is reportedly on the brink of collapse or is it already falling apart? According to entertainment writer Art Tapalla, the internal conflict started when writer, stage luminary and …

I have never imagined that one day I would find myself in the same classroom with Herbert Bautista. You read it right, folks! Herbert Bautista in the house. It was on the morning of Thursday, June 4, 2026, the commencement of the three-day Directing-Cinematography Masterclass facilitated by award-winning filmmaker Raymond Red (“Anino,” “Bayani,” “Sakay,” “Mga Rebeldeng May Kaso,” “Kamera Obscura,” …

Keeping true to its commitment to nurture Filipino talent, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) proudly begins a new chapter of the Virgin Labfest Writing Fellowship Program (VLF WFP). Now in its 15th year, the fellowship program has selected eight (8) talented and passionate aspiring playwrights to participate in the educational component of the theater festival from June 16 …

It’s first time that prizewinning filmmaker Raymond Red (“Anino,” “Bayani ” “Sakay,” “Mga Rebeldeng May Kaso,” “Himpapawid,” “Manila’s Finest,” among others) and award-winning actor Piolo Pascual were together in a film. The project was “Manila’s Finest,” a Cignal and MQuest Ventures with Spring Films as joint production that was an official entry to the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival. To …

by Boy Villasanta For the fourth time, 2015 Miss Universe and Filipina film and television star Pia Wurtzbach participated in the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France not as an actress but as a model to prelude not the showing of a Filipino film but a European tentpole instead. Pia recently walked the red carpet of the 79th …