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11 January

PPA reports 6-M passengers during holiday season

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) recorded 6,095,624 passengers passing through different seaports nationwide during the recent holiday travel rush. PPA reported the number of travelers peaked from Dec. 15, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026. Top five ports with heaviest influx of passengers are in Panay (Guimaras), Batangas, Mindoro, Bohol and Negros Oriental (Siquijor). Christmas and New Year travel brought the …

11 January

ASEAN Summit 2026 starts with Tourism Forum in Cebu

The Philippines will chair and host this year’s meetings of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), starting with the 45th ASEAN Tourism Forum scheduled from January 28 to 31 in Cebu. The Department of Tourism (DOT) said it has been collaborating closely with the Cebu provincial government, especially with the Cebu City Tourism Commission, and other national government agencies. …

11 January

Visa-free entry to Canada? Conditions apply

Spreading online posts saying entry to Canada is “visa-free” for Filipinos need clarification. To qualify for a visa-free entry from the Philippines, the traveler must meet the following criteria: Must have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years or a current non-immigrant visa for the US. Must have a valid passport. Must be traveling via air. These …

11 January

No public funds used for tourism magazine feature

The Department of Tourism (DOT) insists they did not pay Philippine Topics magazine to feature the Secretary of Tourism for its cover story. DOT sought to address misleading online posts claiming the magazine featured the face of Tourism Sec. Cristina Garcia-Frasco on its cover, instead of promoting local destinations. DOT emphasized Philippine Topics is a private publication and not a …

11 January

DOTr to build 3 new EDSA Busway stations

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will construct three new EDSA Busway stations this year to improve efficiency and accessibility on Metro Manila’s most efficient road transport project. The new stations will be located in Cubao, Magallanes and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX). President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier directed DOTr to improve the busway’s time and motion to encourage more …

11 January

NCCA Celebrates Centennial of Art Deco Style with 2026 Calendar

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) continues its calendar tradition with the release of the 2026 edition. This time it commemorates the 100 years of Art Deco in the Philippines, coinciding with the global celebration of the architectural style and highlighting its beauty and enduring impact on the country’s landscapes. Titled “A Century of Art Deco in …

11 January

With Lala Sotto at the helm, MTRCB classifies 172,000 materials in 2025

THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) rated and classified 171,972 materials in 2025, as part of the Agency’s dedication to promote responsible viewing amid a rapidly growing digital media landscape. The classified materials included 127,704 television programs, 40,505 TV plugs and trailers, 1,695 publicity materials, 10 optical media materials, 1,380 movie trailers, and 671 films, of which …

11 January

Stories, Screens, and Stages: PlayTime Entertainment — Marks Its Evolution Through MMFF 51

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has long served as a mirror of Filipino imagination, reflecting the stories, struggles, and triumphs that shape the nation’s cultural identity. At its 51st edition, the festival found a new ally in PlayTime Entertainment, a brand undergoing its own transformation as it steps fully into the country’s creative and cultural arena. From its inception, …

11 January

What made Charo Santos-Concio, Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo accept lesbian roles in Brillante Mendoza’s new film?

Now it can be told. It wasn’t only because it’d be a Brillante Ma. Mendoza film but it was also a chance of a lifetime to breathe life to colorful and challenging roles. What if the characters were lesbians which demand commitment and dedication of arresting performances to delineate and deliver truth and honesty in the most passionate and emphatic …

11 January

Moviegoers rush to cinemas to watch extension of 2025 MMFF

The extended cinema screening of the eight official entries in the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is good news. From the January 7 last day of the event to the January 14, 2026 extension is a welcome treat. Even if it has unmasked the truest face of Philippine cinema, it shows honesty on the part of the Metro Manila …

TimeLine Layout

January, 2026