News & Current Events

UPDATED: MMDA, i-ACT will suspend excavations from November to January
October 11, 2016

UPDATED: MMDA, i-ACT will suspend excavations from November to January

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) decided to temporarily suspend all excavation works in anticipation of the increased volume of traffic on major roads and secondary streets this Christmas season. A HALT TO ALL EXCAVATIONS. With the impending Christmas rush, the MMDA has decided to suspend all excavations along major roads and secondary streets. Image grabbed from Inquirer.net MMDA General Manager Thomas Orbos met with representatives from utility companies last Tuesday, October 4 to ask them to comply with the directive. MMDA said that these excavations tend to slow down the flow of traffic on major and secondary roads because of the spike of vehicles using them during Christmas season. […]
10 Filipino films to be shown at Busan Int’l Film Fest
October 07, 2016

10 Filipino films to be shown at Busan Int’l Film Fest

The Busan International Film Festival is one of Asia’s premier film festivals, and the Philippines is well-represented with 10 of our best independent films being shown during the festival which runs until October 15.
Two Filipino short films screened in Russian fest
October 07, 2016

Two Filipino short films screened in Russian fest

Included among the 20 other international films screened at the recent 15th International Kansk Video Festival in Moscow, Russia were Carlo Francisco Manatad’s Sandra and Jaime Habac Jr.’s Maria. The two short films were officially the Philippines’ entry in the Russian fest’s international section which had the theme “Surrealism vs Realism.” Movie Poster of Sandra. Image grabbed from this website osobnosti.cz The 11-minute running short film by Tuko Film Productions and Buchi Boy entertainment entitled Maria, tells a story about a 14-year-old girl who’s suspected as being pregnant by her family and a 50-year-old woman who gives birth to her 22nd child. Meanwhile, Carlo Francisco’s 15-minute running Sandra, is about […]
Yuka Saso leads Philippines to WJGC team title
October 06, 2016

Yuka Saso leads Philippines to WJGC team title

Finishing with a tournament-leading 2-under 286, Yuka Saso led the Philippine contingent to gold at the recently-concluded World Junior Girls Championship in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
19-year-old Filipina Designer is New York’s next big thing
October 05, 2016

19-year-old Filipina Designer is New York’s next big thing

Ericka Del Rosario, a 19-year-old Filipina based on San Francisco is upping the game in menswear with her new clothing label “Kakáslok.” Born in one of the most indigent areas in Quezon City, Ericka has had her childhood as lively as the frenzied streets of Project 6. “I was born in the projects in the Philippines. The neighborhoods are divided by projects, and I lived in Project 6, which is one of the most corrupt, impoverished areas.” she recalls during an interview with The Fader. Her collection takes in the sleek and clean mannish stir while embracing ultimate comfortable feel – like that particular clothing ensemble you’d choose to wear […]
Puerto Princesa’s own version of Cherry Blossom Park soon to open
October 05, 2016

Puerto Princesa’s own version of Cherry Blossom Park soon to open

A 5.8 – hectare park in Puerto Princesa known as “Baluyong Park” will feature Palawan’s version of Japan’s famed cherry blossom or “Sakura” trees. Image grabbed from this website cnnphilippines.com Palawan’s cherry trees, locally known as “Balayong” are endemic in the local area, it is a tree recognized with white and pink flowers when in full bloom.   Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron said that it has been a lifelong dream to be able to build a park that is capable of holding all the major events in the city thus the promotion of the project.   City Information Officer Richard Ligad said fully-grown balayong trees were transplanted to the […]
5 Filipino films to compete in Tokyo Film Fest
October 05, 2016

5 Filipino films to compete in Tokyo Film Fest

Five Filipino films are set to be screened at the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan from October 25 to November 3, 2016. DIE BEAUTIFUL. One of the Filipino films to be screened at Tokyo Film Festival. Image by Jun Robles Lana on Instagram, grabbed via sg.yahoo.com Director Jun Lana who has already competed in Tokyo in 2013 for “Barber’s Tales, (where actress Eugene Domingo won the best actress award)” will once again compete with “Die Beautiful” starring TV host and make-up transformation expert Paolo Ballesteros, who portrays the role of a transgender beauty queen. This is also Ballesteros’ launching film and this will be screened for the main […]
Philippines gets ‘near perfect score’ for its PPP program– World Bank
October 04, 2016

Philippines gets ‘near perfect score’ for its PPP program– World Bank

The Philippines Public-Private Partnership program gets a score of 96 in World Bank’s “Benchmarking Public-Private Partnerships Procurement 2017” report.
DOLE starts shutting down of ‘endo’ firms
October 04, 2016

DOLE starts shutting down of ‘endo’ firms

Starting October 4 (Tuesday), The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will be shutting down firms that engage with “endo” or labor contractualization.
22-year-old Fil-Aussie Model crowned Miss World PH at Manila Hotel
October 04, 2016

22-year-old Fil-Aussie Model crowned Miss World PH at Manila Hotel

Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray, a Filipino-Australian fashion and commercial model from Albay, Bicol was crowned Miss World Philippines 2016 at the Manila Hotel tent on Sunday.
Facebook rolls out “smaller” version of Messenger app
October 04, 2016

Facebook rolls out “smaller” version of Messenger app

Facebook and its messaging app Messenger have become an integral part of our daily lives. We rely on both to stay connected to friends and family. There is a “small” catch: both apps take up a lot of space on your smartphone, and they need a reliable internet connection to work as intended. 2015 saw Facebook address this issue by launching Facebook Lite, a downsized Facebook app that gives people a faster experience on slower mobile networks and entry-level Android smartphones around the world. Now, they’re facing the other half of the problem by launching Messenger Lite. THINGS ARE LOOKING LIGHT. A slimmer version of Messenger, Messenger Lite was designed […]
House bill filed for SSS to speed up payment of members’ claims
October 04, 2016

House bill filed for SSS to speed up payment of members’ claims

Quezon City 2nd district Representative Winston “Winnie” Castelo, who chairs the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, filed House Bill (HB) No.3544 or the “Expeditious Payment of SSS Benefits Act of 2016,” which mandates the Social Security System (SSS) to speed up the processing and payment of claims of legitimate claimants and beneficiaries.
Filipinos, 3rd largest group in Japan – Japan Times
September 30, 2016

Filipinos, 3rd largest group in Japan – Japan Times

In a recent report by Japanese newspaper Japan Times, Filipinos constitute the third largest group of foreign nationals in Japan, with 237,103 expats as of June 2016. According to Japan Times, there are currently 2.31 million foreign nationals in Japan, with Chinese as the largest group with 677,571.
Filipina singer Rachelle Ann Go to join ‘Miss Saigon’ on Broadway
September 30, 2016

Filipina singer Rachelle Ann Go to join ‘Miss Saigon’ on Broadway

Talented Filipina songstress Rachelle Ann Go is set to join the Broadway production of popular musical Miss Saigon in the United States, reprising her character as bar girl Gigi in the West End performance in the Broadway Revival.
Google Philippines, Ayala launch world’s first YouTube lounge in Greenbelt
September 30, 2016

Google Philippines, Ayala launch world’s first YouTube lounge in Greenbelt

Google Philippines and Ayala Malls have team up to produce the world’s first YouTube lounge, a “physical space where YouTube comes alive” at the third floor of Greenbelt 5 in Makati City.
PH economic growth forecast hiked by ADB and IMF
September 30, 2016

PH economic growth forecast hiked by ADB and IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised their economic growth forecasts for the Philippines this year and in 2017 on the back of solid economic fundamentals and resilience to the weakening global economy.
TV Asahi to produce basketball anime set in PH for 2017
September 29, 2016

TV Asahi to produce basketball anime set in PH for 2017

Filipinos are synonymous with basketball as far as Asia is concerned. Imagine the excitement of Filipino anime fans when TV Asahi announced that they will be producing Barangay 143 (バランガイ 143), a basketball-based anime set in the Philippines. SET FOR 2017. A promotional image for Barangay 143 was released by TV Asahi showing characters of the series. Image grabbed from Nikkei Asian Review Not much is known about Barangay 143 aside from the fact that it will be about high school basketball players in Manila. What is known is that TV Asahi, the company behind Doraemon, is working with local animation and game development studio Synergy88. According to an article […]
Watch: PPAP has taken over the internet
September 29, 2016

Watch: PPAP has taken over the internet

The internet just exploded with another viral hit, this time coming from the Land of the Rising Sun. PPAP. This 1-minute clip starring Piko Taro has taken over the internet. Video by Piko Taro.  PPAP, short for Pen Pineapple Apple Pen, has officially gone viral with the original video having been viewed by more than 9 million users on YouTube as of this writing. It’s become a global sensation, with the most recent news coming from Canadian Singer Justin Bieber. THE MAN BEHIND PPAP. DJ-comedian Kosaka Daimaou, dressed as Piko Taro, is the brains behind the earworm PPAP. Photo grabbed from Piko Taro’s Twitter account If you’re still not in […]
Parañaque City to return number coding scheme
October 03, 2016

Parañaque City to return number coding scheme

Starting October 1 (Saturday), Parañaque City will be returning its unified vehicle reduction program (UVRP), or the “number coding” scheme on all roads in the city as per City Mayor Edwin Olivarez’ announcement last September 22 (Thursday).
Former Philippine senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago dies at 71
September 29, 2016

Former Philippine senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago dies at 71

Known as a feisty senator, an award-winning government servant, and the “Iron Lady of Asia,” Miriam Defensor-Santiago (MDS) has passed away at age 71 after battling with Stage IV- Lung Cancer. According to her husband Atty. Jun Santiago via GMA News, “She died peacefully in her sleep this morning, September 29 (Thursday).