Author: Janelle Lorzano

This story will definitely warm your heart and make you smile! 23-year-old dentistry student Kyle Carl Lapaz shared his journey with his patient, Mommy Rowena, as he brought back her sweet smile after being toothless for 10 years “I met her from a friend. For the past 10 years, wala po siyang ginagamit na panguya kung ‘di ‘yung gilagidniya. Nakakalungkot mang isipin, Dahil po dun napudpod na po ‘yung gilagid niya and buto niya,” Lapaz told The Philippine STAR during an exclusive interview. Currently, Lapaz is a fifth-year dentistry student at the University of the East. He started working with Mommy Rowena’s denture in September 2023. Since they were closely working together, Mommy Rowena shared her experience after being toothless for one decade.  “Sabi niya, every time daw po na magpapapustisosiya, magpapasukat siya, lagi daw po nagkakaaberya.…

“Ituloy n’yo lang. Kanya-kanya tayo ng timeline. Kumbaga, tayo ‘yung magde-determine, tayo ‘yung mamimili kung ano ‘yung mga mangyayari sa buhay natin.” This is the message of a 31-year-old man to the public after he started his college journey last year. Kevin Hufana, or most famously known as “Keboy” from Team Payaman, was a product of a broken family. “Mahirap siya in a way na syempre hindi mo maiiwasangrowing up na ma-compare ‘yung sarili mo sa mgakaklase mo. ‘Bakit sila, may nanay, tatay na available, bakit ako wala?’” Hufana told The Philippine STAR. At an early age, he left school and tried working as a call center agent. “Nung time po na nag-aaral ako, I had to stop kasi I had to support myself kasi ang sumusuporta lang sa ’kin noon is tito, tita, ‘tsaka lola. Nung tumungtong ako ng 19 nagkaproblema kami financially so nag-apply ako as call center agent. Nasa industry ako for eight…

This couple from Laguna yet again proved that happy ending isn’t about having long-term relationship before getting married! Sharmaine Cruz and Alvin Cruz had been in a relationship for less than a year before Alvin proposed to his girlfriend. “Hindi kami nagligawan, to be honest, ng sobrang tagal. Diba ‘yung iba papatagalin pa, sabi namin sa isa’t-isa, ‘Let’s not waste time. If we are meant for each other then God will find a way for us.’ If it’s for you then go for it. Sayo na ‘yan eh. ‘Wag mo nang pakawalan. Whether it’s too long or too short in…

An OFW based in Italy shared his journey before he discovered his calling in sushi making. It was in 2018 when 39-year-old Miller Ramos left the Philippines to work in Italy as a caregiver, hoping to give his family a better future. “Dati akong naglalako ng isda. Pangingisda ang hanapbuhay namin. Sa hirap ng buhay that time. Nasubukan namin kumain ng asin lamang ang ulam tsaka mantika,” Ramos told The Philippine STAR. “No’ng nasa Italy na ako, nag-iba ‘yung mga trabaho ko dun. Hindi na ‘yung katulad ng trabaho ko sa Pilipinas. Nag-umpisa ako sa caregiver, ‘yung matanda na hindi…

This newlywed decided to ditch some wedding rules and tradition and followed what their heart desired on their special day. In an interview with The Philippine STAR/LatestChika.com, 29-year-old bride, Michelle Anne Garcia-Francisco, shared a glimpse of her wedding day with college sweetheart, Ervin Francisco. “We both came from a broken family. Si Ervin din, he was raised by a single mother. Maayos ‘yung family niya kahit magkahiwalay na ‘yung parents niya. But in my case kasi, it’s a totally different story. Gusto talaga naming i-honor ‘yung mommies namin on our wedding day,” Michelle told The STAR. “Si mommy, she asked…

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” Pambansang wealth coach Chinkee Tan gives financial advice as we welcome the new year. In an exclusive interview with LatestChika.com/The Philippine STAR during the #BestofTikTokPH Creators Night at the Rizal Park Hotel on December 10, 2023, Tan looked back on the financial experience of the public in the middle of the pandemic. “For 2024, I suggest na talagang aside from your first income, mag create na kayo ng second income. I always tell people na kung may pandemic 1, may possibility na mag pandemic 2. Para sakin, if you fail to…

This 25-year-old transwoman from Quezon City yet again raised the flag of the LGBTQIA+ community! After making history as the first transwoman batch valedictorian of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 2018, Ianne Gamboa successfully passed the 2023 Bar examinations. “In PUP po, I’ve never felt discriminated. ‘Yung PUP po really helped me to really know myself at its authentic and genuine level,” Gamboa told The Philippine STAR.“Right after my graduation, I started applying for jobs. Unfortunately, I always got rejected and it humbled me kasi although I have these academic achievements, I still got rejections,” she added. After…

43-year-old Allan Velez, a policeman, recently went viral on social media after sharing cute and genuine moments with his 4-year-old daughter, Baby Alexis. Thanks to Mommy Jeny, 33, for always being camera ready all the time! “Noon pa man po, sobrang hilig ko na po talagang mag-video, mag-picture. Syempre first time mom po, lahat excited sa journey ng mga babies. Lahat talaga, dino-document ko tapos nag-start po kami sa TikTok. May mga video po ako na iba po talaga ‘yung closeness nila,” Mommy Jeny told The Philippine STAR. “Mahilig din po kasi si mommy [mag document], sa milestone ng anak…

This man received several positive feedback on social media after his #GroomHost moment during his own wedding last November 19, 2023. 29-year-old groom Jan Louie Tang Ngo shared the background story of their big surprise on their wedding day. “Lahat ng tanong talaga ng mga tao sino ang host ninyo? Because everybody knew that I was an event host. Who would you entrust to your big day? Initially talaga, we were planning to get a host. like a real host to host the day. So we were inquiring, tapos [at] the end of the day, ‘yung budget talaga ‘yung naisip…

This couple, who both aced the 2023 Bar examinations, shared their set up and “secret” in their relationship while studying law. “Naintindihan namin parehas na nasa sitwasyon kami ng buhay namin na hindi namin priority ang lumandi. Hindi namin priority ang humarot. Ang humarot namin ay law school, bar, at yung ‘Atty.’ period ng pangarap na ‘yon. Sabi nga ni Rocky, landi responsibly,” 26-year-old Mark Josel Vivit told The Philippine STAR. His girlfriend Rockylle Dominique Balisong, 26, noted that since they have their own goals and study habits, they were able to surpass the hard times in their relationship and…