Friday , 24 July 2026

Entertainment

Docu filmmakers no surrender against pressures, unpopularity of the genre

Despite documentary films finally finding spaces, however gradually, in commercial circuit screenings in the Philippines and elsewhere, their filmmakers still find it hard to make the genre more popular and accessible to most viewers. “It will take a village…” said feisty and award-winning doc maker Baby Ruth Villarama as if saying it indeed costs a lot, money and otherwise the …

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Erick Valena gets ready for June bride designs

It must have been tiring and tedious for fashion designer Erick Valena to be shuttling from Lopez town in Quezon Province to Manila and back to attend to his dress shop in the countryside and stay half of the week in Muntinlupa and Makati where he maintains ateliers in both cities (although he just shares workshop with the iconic haute …

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EDSA@40: The youth isn’t wasted on the young

I came to the 40th anniversary of the People Power Revolution, at the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or simply EDSA, purposely in the afternoon of February 25, 2026 after beating deadlines and finishing some domestic chores in our house in Villa Castillo, Pacita 2, San Pedro, Laguna. Apart from them, I was still nursing an already receding lump in …

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Show people pour in grief over Star ’66 Pepito Rodriguez’s death

by Boy Villasanta He was well-loved and respected by people from all walks of life not only as an actor but as a human person, first and foremost. Jose Ma. Moreno Rodriguez, also known as Pepito Rodriguez, died recently of undisclosed cause. His loyal household member, Jecca Jamandre Abad, said that Pepito had fought fiercely against his illness. “Lumaban pa …

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‘Grateful’ Boots launches first book on 81st birthday 

PASSERBYBy Nestor Cuartero Did you know? That BootsAnson Roa Rodrigo considers herself a perfect klutz? She writes, in her own words, in Chapter 11 of her newly launched book, Grateful:   “For one formally trained in music and dance, my reflexes and timing in movement are shameful.  I constantly spill water accidentally, unintentionally hit and break glasses, awkwardly drop spoons, napkins, cellphones, ball pens. …

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Strengthening heritage protection by granting tax relief

Senator Loren Legarda has introduced a bill aimed at enhancing heritage protection by granting incentive mechanisms to privately owned heritage buildings and ancestral houses. Senate Bill No. 1852, or the “Strengthening the Conservation and Protection of Philippine Cultural Heritage Through Heritage Incentives,” aims to amend the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 by extending tax relief and credit benefits to …

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COCO ELEVATES ACTION IN EXPLOSIVE AND EMOTIONAL LAST 3 WEEKS OF “FPJ’S BATANG QUIAPO”

“Ito ang pinakamalaking show na nagawa ko.” Primetime King Coco Martin proudly remarked that the highly anticipated finale of the Philippines’ most watched teleserye since 2023, “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” will make a mark in the history of television for its action-packed quality production and storytelling. “Hindi ko bibiguin ang mga manonood. Gusto ko deserve nila ‘yung ending, ‘yung hindi pa …

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Coco Martin’s side vs Rod Navarro, Jr.’s claims of threats and other maltreatments

by Boy Villasanta Despite Coco Martin’s alleged generosity and kindness, he is still accused of several misconduct, two of them threats and a capital investment challenge. The accuser is Rod Navarro. Jr.  the scion of the late character actor Rod Navarro. Rod, Jr. has accused Coco of threats in the workplace. ​”Ang sabi po niya sa akin, pag may narinig …

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Showbiz farming and other etchings

Apologies to National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, also known as Quijano de Manila who came out with a series of books on celebrity profiles and reportage, one of them “Amalia Fuentes and Other Etchings.” Sir Nick, may-I-borrow your phrase “other etchings.” ​In gay lingo, “etching” as a colloquial term means “a casual teasing” or “a bluff” or “someone is …

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Three jazz queens in three continents

There are three beautiful and wonderful female jazz artists in our midst. They are all Filipinas. ​Even if jazz isn’t popular in the Philippines as its audience is select, the music still thrives in many homes and jazz bars, of course. Look at Jeannie Tiongco, the progeny of Emil Tiongco, the famous member of the Tiongco Brothers which made a …

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