Author: Patricia Dela Roca

Rising P-pop girl group KAIA is gaining momentum globally after their powerful live rendition of HUNTR/X’s “Take Down” went viral online, earning praise from fans and international netizens alike. The five-member group, composed of Charice, Sophia, Angela, Alexa and Charlotte, recently performed at Backyard Live, a live performance platform known for showcasing intimate sets from established and emerging Filipino artists. During their appearance, KAIA performed their tracks “YOU DID IT” and “TANGA,” alongside a cover of “Take Down,” a song by fictional girl group HUNTR/X from the award-winning animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” A clip of the KAIA’s performance quickly…

IU and Byeon Woo Seok, lead actors of the hit K-drama “Perfect Crown,” have separately issued public apologies following backlash over the historical and cultural depictions in a recent episode of the series. The controversy stemmed from the show’s 11th episode, which aired on May 15, that drew criticism from viewers for portraying South Korea’s fictional constitutional monarchy in a way some interpreted as diminishing the nation, where it reportedly appeared as if it were a vassal state of China. The episode centered on the coronation of Grand Prince Ian (played by Byeon Woo Seok), the second son of the…

OPM band Cup of Joe announced that their upcoming “Stardust” tour stops in Davao and Cagayan de Oro will no longer push through on their original dates. The announcement was made on Sunday, May 17, through concert promoter CNCA Media’s official social media pages. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CNCA (@cnca_media) “Due to unforeseen schedule conflicts, the Davao and Cagayan de Oro legs of the STARDUST Tour will be postponed. We know many of you have already made plans, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may cause,” the statement read. The band said the…

TV personality Mariel Rodriguez has clarified her past remarks in which she expressed frustration over critics of her husband, Sen. Robin Padilla, saying they “don’t deserve him.” Rodriguez addressed the issue during a recent appearance on Sen. Imee Marcos’ podcast Imee and You, which aired on Saturday, May 16. The episode touched on Mariel’s showbiz career, online selling ventures, and how she deals with public backlash. During the conversation, Marcos revisited Rodriguez’s earlier statements about her husband, where she had said that critics “don’t deserve him.” Back in February, the TV host made headlines after defending the actor-politician from public…

Content creator Erwan Heussaff shared his thoughts on whether friendships can survive political disagreements, weighing in on a viral online discussion about relationships amid political differences. The conversation began on Threads, where content creator Zac Alviz posed a question to netizens amid ongoing political tension in the country: “Is it really worth throwing away years of friendship because you have different political opinions?” Among the responses that gained attention was Heussaff’s, who drew a line between political disagreements and moral boundaries. “Political opinions, no. But if it crosses into moral territory, yes,” Heussaff wrote in the comments. He cited an…

Mika Salamanca addressed online critics who described her as “performative” for speaking up about the country’s political situation, expressing dismay at how some people use such situations to throw hate at celebrities instead of focusing on real issues. Her reaction stemmed from her X post, where she shared her two cents about those who “avoid politics” and encouraged them to “wake up”, amid political tension in the country. While many fans and followers echoed her sentiments and praised her for speaking up, others criticized Salamanca, with some accusing her of being “performative” and resurfacing her past association with Kitty Duterte,…

Bela Padilla expressed her thoughts on her uncle, Sen. Robin Padilla, and his participation in the ABS-CBN action series “Blood vs Duty,” where they are set to work together. The actress broke her silence on Thursday, May 14, posting on X to address comments and speculations online about her and her relationship with the actor-politician, amid ongoing political tension in the country. “Because of recent events, and since I’m being asked daily, I wish to express my thoughts on the issue surrounding the casting of my uncle in Blood vs Duty, and the current situation hounding the Senate,” Bela began.…

Bianca Gonzalez defended herself against accusations of being “performative” after sharing her sentiments online regarding the recent political developments in the country. The TV host drew attention on X after reacting to the much-discussed Senate leadership shakeup, which saw 13 senators vote to replace Tito Sotto with Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president. The controversy was further fueled by the reappearance of Ronald dela Rosa following months of absence and reports surrounding his attempted arrest. In her post, Gonzalez questioned the country’s leadership and governance, writing: “Ang gusto lang naman ng mga Pilipino ay mapagaan ang buhay, na ang buwis…

Actress Ruffa Gutierrez recently exchanged heartfelt messages with her former partners, Yilmaz Bektaş and Herbert Bautista. In a touching Instagram post, Bektaş expressed his gratitude to Ruffa for her dedication as a mother to their eldest daughter, Lorin Gutierrez, who recently graduated from college. Just weeks ago, Ruffa proudly celebrated Lorin’s milestone after she earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising from Pepperdine University. “To the respected mother of my beautiful daughter, Sharmina Ruffa Gutiérrez, who raised her with love, devotion, and great sacrifice to become the wonderful person she is today, I sincerely thank you for everything and carry endless…

The Philippine Senate became the center of heated political tension and online discourse after a leadership coup by senators and the controversial appearance of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa amid reports of an arrest warrant tied to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Tensions rose in the Senate on Monday, May 11, when Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that senators are now seeking a change in leadership, with 13 senators backing the change, over nine opposing senators, and two abstentions. Among the 13 senators who backed the coup was Senator Dela Rosa, who finally showed up on the floor…