Author: Patricia Dela Roca

More Filipino stars are officially joining the growing ensemble cast of “Forgotten Island,” Dreamworks Animation’s upcoming film inspired by Philippine folklore. Among the newly announced additions is internationally acclaimed actress Dolly de Leon, who will star alongside Filipino-American comedy superstar Jo Koy, “Crazy Rich Asians” actor and Emmy winner Ronny Chieng, and Filipina-American actress Amielynn Abellera. They join the lineup of all-star voice cast led by Grammy and Academy Award-winning R&B artist H.E.R. and rising Hollywood actress Liza Soberano, as well as Tony-winning Broadway icon Lea Salonga and Filipino-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto. Emmy nominee Jenny Slate and Dave Franco are…

Following the successful run of “Bagets: The Musical,” theatergoers can look forward to another stage production inspired by the music of iconic OPM band Hotdog: “Bongga Ka, ’Day! The Annie Batungbakal Musical.” The upcoming show was teased on Sunday, March 22, during the final matinee performance of “Bagets: The Musical” at Newport World Resorts. Producers presented a preview featuring live performances of Hotdog’s classic hits “Bongga Ka Day” and “Annie Batungbakal,” confirming that the new musical is slated to open in September 2026. During the performance, a stand-in actress for the titular role appeared onstage with her identity concealed, fueling…

Queer popstar Chappell Roan was embroiled in another controversy after football star Jorginho Frello accused the singer’s alleged bodyguard of making his daughter cry during an “upsetting” encounter with the artist. The controversy stemmed from a complaint by Jorginho, who claimed his 11-year-old daughter was left in tears after an incident at a hotel in São Paulo, where both his family and Chappell were staying during the Lollapalooza Brasil 2026. Roan is best known for her hit songs, “Good Luck, Babe!”, “The Subway”, “Pink Pony Club”, and “HOT TO GO!”. Jorginho posted a lengthy Instagram post in both English and…

Filipino-American cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history and marked several firsts after winning Best Cinematography at the 98th Academy Awards held in Hollywood, California, on Sunday, March 15. Arkapaw is the first woman of Filipino heritage, the first woman of color, the first Asian and the first woman ever to receive the prestigious award in the category. She earned the recognition for her work on the 2025 Southern vampire film “Sinners” directed by Ryan Coogler. The film emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, taking home four awards, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, Best Original Screenplay, Best…

Three celebrities recently celebrated a major personal milestone after completing their college education, earning their Bachelor of Science in Office Administration degrees following years of juggling careers in the entertainment industry and academic pursuits. Among them was actor and talent manager Wilbert Tolentino, who shared a heartfelt message on Facebook about finally finishing college at the age of 50. “At 50 years old, I have finally earned my Bachelor of Science in Office Administration degree,” Tolentino wrote, reflecting on the long road that led to his achievement. He revealed that he had to start working at just 14 years old…

Global superfan platform Weverse has officially welcomed P-pop groups SB19 and BINI into its growing roster of international artists. As the first Philippine pop acts to join the platform, the two groups mark a major milestone for the expanding global presence of P-pop. Through their official Weverse communities, Digital Membership subscriptions, and direct messages via Weverse DM, SB19 and BINI will be able to share their music and exclusive content with a broader international audience. BINI’s community launched on Monday, March 16, while SB19’s community will open on March 19. The girl group will also introduce its Global Official Fanclub…

P-pop kings SB19 are set to break new ground after being announced as part of the lineup for Lollapalooza 2026, making them the first P-pop act to perform at one of the U.S.’s most popular music events. “Surprise A’TIN! We’re so thrilled to announce that we’ll be performing on the Lollapalooza stage this 2026!” the group expressed excitement over their upcoming international milestone on X. Fellow P-pop powerhouse BINI, who recently made history as the first P-pop act to perform at Coachella this April, congratulated SB19 on their achievement. “A win for SB19, a win for OPM! Huge congrats on…

Nine members of K-pop group THE BOYZ are reportedly taking legal steps to terminate their exclusive contracts with their agency, One Hundred Entertainment, due to alleged breaches of trust and contractual violations. According to South Korean media reports published Thursday, March 19, nine members—Sangyeon, Jacob, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, Q, Sunwoo, and Eric—formally notified the company of their intent to end their contracts through a certificate of contents sent in February to CEO Cha Ga Won. One member, New, has reportedly chosen to remain with One Hundred Entertainment for undisclosed personal reasons. In the document, the members reportedly cited a…

Former child star Xyriel Manabat is finally making her debut as a lead actress in the upcoming Netflix film, “18th Rose”. The announcement came during the “Next on Netflix Philippines” event, where the streaming giant unveiled its slate of highly anticipated releases for the year. RELATED VIDEO: An emotional Manabat took the stage to introduce the film, joined by its director, Dolly Dulu. “It’s not just a dream come true, it’s an answered prayer,” she said, as quoted by ABS-CBN News. “I’m very grateful to those who have trusted me.” Manabat is joined by her former “Senior High” co-star Kyle…

Actor Daniel Padilla sparked buzz and kilig online after he was spotted performing at the 30th birthday celebration of his rumored girlfriend, Kaila Estrada. Clips circulating on social media showed Padilla taking the stage alongside three-piece rock band Hilera, delivering a live performance during the private celebration. The band later shared a video of their set, which featured a backdrop displaying Estrada’s birthday banner. Adding to the speculation, former child actor Igiboy Flores also posted a video that appeared to capture a sweet moment between the two. In the clip, Padilla can be seen approaching Estrada while holding a bouquet…