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News in the Philippines

Stay in the loop with your go-to source of blogs in the Philippines! Know the latest happenings and trending news in Manila and across the country.

The much-awaited English magazine is now available!
April 12, 2016

The much-awaited English magazine is now available!

  Started as a Japanese magazine, Primer Primer has been trusted by the Japanese community in providing reliable information about the Philippines. Through its course, the magazine has featured bits and pieces of information to help out expats with their stay in the Philippines. Following that, Philippine Primer brings forth its first edition of the English version, a handy guide that features what you need to know about PH. For Philippine Primer’s first issue, we bring you ideas to start your summer right! Make the most out of your summer solstice this April and discover ideas as you flip through the pages.   WHAT’S INSIDE?   Street On our Street […]
Apo Whang-Od featured in Toronto art exhibit
April 08, 2016

Apo Whang-Od featured in Toronto art exhibit

Filipino pride shines anew as the legendary tattoo artist Whang-Od is featured in Tattoos: Ritual. Identity. Obsession. Art. at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.   A LEGEND. Whang-Od is just one of the featured artists at the “Tattoos: Ritual. Identity. Obsession. Art.” exhibit. Photo by KayLeen B. Kwet.   At 98 years old, Whang-Od is known as the last mambabatok of her tribe in Kalinga. Her way of tattooing is pambabatok, is seen as a dying art by many in the Philippines. It involves the use of a mixture of charcoal and water tapped onto the skin by using a thorn from a pomelo tree and bamboo. People […]
Celebrated videographer Jason Magbanua, to work for free
April 08, 2016

Celebrated videographer Jason Magbanua, to work for free

Known as the Holy Grail of wedding videographers, Jason Magbanua has announced in his blog that he will offer his services for free.   JASON MAGBANUA. Master videographer Jason Magbanua will work for free, as his “not too foreign experiment.” (Photo via jasonmagbanua.com)   Last Tuesday (April 5), Magbanua posted on his blog a photo of himself, holding a placard with “will work for free” on it. According to the top lensman, he wanted to go back to his roots by shooting alone as a “creative exercise.” To those who would like to avail of his services for free, you have to fill up this form (http://bit.do/jmagwillworkforfree). Magbanua will then […]
Enjoy BIG DISCOUNTS at the Sports Central Clearance Sale!
April 08, 2016

Enjoy BIG DISCOUNTS at the Sports Central Clearance Sale!

Want to gear up but don’t have anything to put on? Then head on over to SM Megatrade Hall 2 at SM Megamall for one of the biggest sales of the year: Sports Central Clearance Sale!   BIG NAMES, BIG DISCOUNTS. Sports Central Clearance Sale gives you the top brands with the biggest discounts. Photo courtesy of Sports Central Facebook page.   Sport Central Clearance Sale will bring with some of the best known brands in sportswear. Expect to get Nike, Adidas, Converse, and other brands at up to 80% off. Want more discounts? Use your SM Advantage Card on April 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and get […]
LOOK: Hotel Jen Manila Celebrates First Anniversary
April 07, 2016

LOOK: Hotel Jen Manila Celebrates First Anniversary

WE ARE ONE Hotel Jen Manila Celebrates its First Year Anniversary Together with Other Hotel Jen Properties Around the Globe MANILA – Last March 31, 2016, Hotel Jen Manila celebrated its first year anniversary. With the theme of “We Are One”, the celebration became a simultaneous event as other Hotel Jen properties across South East Asia also partied for the brand’s immeasurable success and countless accomplishments in just a matter of one year.   Hotel Jen Manila team dressed in their Filipiniana outfits are ready to welcome their guests.   Kids from Matytubig Day Care Center welcomed Hotel Jen Manila’s guests with their majorette performance   For Hotel Jen Manila, […]
Lingerie brand Wacoal opens in Manila!
October 06, 2016

Lingerie brand Wacoal opens in Manila!

International lingerie brand, Wacoal, has finally opened its first boutique on the 2nd floor of Robinsons Place Manila in Ermita today (April 7).
Direct flights to New Zealand to be available in December
April 06, 2016

Direct flights to New Zealand to be available in December

Filipinos may soon find themselves going to “Middle Earth” more often with regular nonstop flights between Auckland and Manila coming later this year.   FLYING IS FASTER. Starting December 2016, you can now fly to “Middle Earth” via Air New Zealand’s nonstop flights between Manila and Auckland. (Photo via Future Atlas)   Air New Zealand announced on Tuesday that they will be launching direct flights between Manila and Auckland three times a week by the end of 2016. “With over 40,000 Filipinos in New Zealand, the traffic between both countries is growing quickly. In the last 12 months, it grew by 20% alone”, Stephen Jones, Chief Officer for Strategy, Networks […]
Flagship store of Lawson opens today!
April 05, 2016

Flagship store of Lawson opens today!

Top Japanese convenience store Lawson has been in the country since early 2015. Known for serving unlimited rice meals and Bamboo Charcoal ice cream, they have further solidified their presence in the country today with the grand opening of their flagship store earlier today, April 5.   LAWSON’S FLAGSHIP STORE OPENS today.   Hosted by Joyce Pring, the grand opening drew a large crowd of workers and would-be customers to the Lawson store located at the ground floor of Tower 6789 along Ayala Avenue. Unlike other convenience stores, Lawson prides itself on their ready-to-eat and ready-to-drink offerings. They’re one of, if not the only convenience store to offer unlimited rice […]
Mount Apo to be closed for trekkers until further notice
April 04, 2016

Mount Apo to be closed for trekkers until further notice

Due to the immense forest fire that devastated several hectares of Mount Apo’s peak, concerned officials and the Protected Area Management Board of Southern and Central Mindanao (PAMB) have unanimously decided to keep the mountain off-limits to any human activity indefinitely.   MT. APO FIRE. Indefinite closure for Mt. Apo was decided upon the meeting of officials regarding the recent fire incident in the mountain. Photo by the Bureau of Fire Protection Davao, grabbed via sunstar.com.ph   This was in relation to the forest fire that started from a campfire allegedly by three mountaineers who camped at the peak of the mountain that left without making sure that the campfire […]
PM Abe wants Japan to be a ‘tourism-oriented developed country’
April 04, 2016

PM Abe wants Japan to be a ‘tourism-oriented developed country’

Foreigners may find Japan to be a much easier place to get to if Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s plans will push through.   TOWARDS A TOURISM-ORIENTED JAPAN. PM Shinzo Abe talking to his Tourism Council last March 30 about reforms and things that need to be done to make Japan more tourist-friendly.   Last March 30, PM Shinzo Abe met with the “Council for the Development of a Tourism Vision to Support the Future of Japan”, where they talked about reforms that need to be implemented to turn Japan into a “tourism-oriented developed nation”. One of PM Abe’s plans is to open government facilities, such as the Akasaka Palace […]
Gastronomy and design come together in TAPAS: Spanish Design for Food
April 01, 2016

Gastronomy and design come together in TAPAS: Spanish Design for Food

Expect to see a perfect marriage between gastronomy and design as the Metropolitan Museum of Manila and AC/E – Acción Cultural Española (Spanish Cultural Action) present Tapas: Spanish Design for Food.   A PERFECT BLEND. Explore the possibilities of food design at Tapas.   Tapas, while generally known as a variety of snacks and appetizers, is a piece of bread or meat placed on top of a wine glass to keep out dust and insects. Tapas has since evolved to become any kind of food served in small portions. “There is no recipe for tapas,” as Juli Capella, curator of TAPAS: Spanish Design for Food, explained. The exhibit itself emphasizes […]
Popular Movie Premieres in April
April 01, 2016

Popular Movie Premieres in April

Here’s a selection of movies from different genres that is hitting the Philippine silver screen this April 1. Demolition In Theatres April 6 Losing his wife in a tragic car accident, Davis’ world is crushed. One day he decides to write a letter to a vending machine company about a complaint which escaladed into him revealing some personal experiences. Starring Jake Gyllenhal and Naomi Watts and directed by John Marc Vallée, this drama film is about moving forward in life and rebuilding his one demolished life.   2. Right In Theatres April 6   Mr. Right is about this lady who falls in love with the guy who he thinks […]
MMDA to revive ‘no-contact’ policy
March 31, 2016

MMDA to revive ‘no-contact’ policy

This April 15, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be reviving its “No-Contact Policy” which will make use of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to record violations of motorists around Metro Manila.   NO CONTACT POLICY. This policy will be revived to catch motorists violating traffic rules in Manila roads. Photo by Aaron Favila, grabbed from philstar.com   According to Inquirer report, No-Contact Policy Head Ronnie Rivera said that they are already testing and fine-tuning the quality of feed in the cameras. They are also checking if the cameras can see the plate numbers of motorists on the road from afar. One hundred cameras are said to be needed for […]
Wakay Air now offers Batanes flights
March 30, 2016

Wakay Air now offers Batanes flights

For those who have been wanting to fly to Batanes, now’s the time to do so as Wakay Air is now offering flights to Batanes since it landed at Basco Airport last Friday (March 29).   WAKAY AIR. Last March 29, Wakay Air’s maiden flight to Batanes took place as it landed in Basco Airport. (Photo via Wakay Air’s Facebook page)   As one of the most popular travel destinations in the Philippines, Batanes has always been a favorite place of tourists to visit. However with the cost of transportation and its unpredictable weather, it has become somehow inaccessible compared to other provinces in the Philippines, particularly because Batanes is […]
Switchfoot shoots music video in Tondo
March 30, 2016

Switchfoot shoots music video in Tondo

Filipino fans of Switchfoot better watch out for their next music video: they might just see a familiar place.   ROCKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. Switchfoot performs for the people of Tondo, Manila in their new music video. (Photo via Church Simplified Facebook page)   American alternative rock band Switchfoot chose Tondo, Manila as the location for their music video in their upcoming album. According to a report from CNN Philippines, the band chose Manila as “an ode to Jerome (Fontamillas).” Fontamillas is the band’s keyboardist, and has been with the band since 2001. He is also the lone Filipino member of the band. Church Simplified, who brought […]
AKB48 sister group in Manila to be called MNL48
March 29, 2016

AKB48 sister group in Manila to be called MNL48

AKB48, a famous Japanese girl group of 48 members from Achihabara, Tokyo, will soon have a sister group in Manila called MNL48, as announced in their concert last Friday (March 26).   AKB48. The “A.K.B”. stands for “Akihabara,” which is the place where the group was formed, and “48” is the number of members.   Known for their unique concept, AKB48 performs everyday in a theatre in Achihabara and has a sub-group that enables them to have simultaneous performances in other events. Occasionally, they have “handshake events,” which is like a meet and greet for their fans. Being known as a social phenomenon, they announced the birth of their sister […]
PH campaign period for local posts officially begins
March 29, 2016

PH campaign period for local posts officially begins

With the approaching Philippine nationwide election this May, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has already given the go signal for local candidates to start campaigning this March 26 for their respective government posts.   LOCAL CAMPAIGN PERIOD STARTS. Expect motorcades and proclamation rallies in provinces and cities in Metro Manila. (Photo by Mark Balmores via mb.com.ph)   Originally scheduled to start on March 25, Friday, it was moved days after in observance of Good Friday during the Holy Week. The schedule is set to run until May 7, 2016. With the start of the campaign period, various acts are prohibited during its extent, such as the appointment or hiring of […]
‘Wicked’ to return in Manila this 2017
March 28, 2016

‘Wicked’ to return in Manila this 2017

In a post by Concertus Manila on their Facebook page, it was announced that the beloved Broadway musical phenomenon Wicked is coming back to Manila this 2017.     Dubbed as one of the greatest musicals of all time, the spectacular world of wizards and spells will soon enchant us again as the people from the Land of Oz returns after their show in Manila last January 2014. With its successful run in 2014, Wicked comes back to stage another great show, reported to be on February 2, 2017. “Wicked: The Untold Stories of the Witches of Oz” is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel called “Wicked: The Life and Times of […]
Go-en opens ‘Lite’ branch in Maginhawa
April 13, 2016

Go-en opens ‘Lite’ branch in Maginhawa

Known for promoting kendama (a traditional Japanese toy), manga, and Japanese experience,  go-en – The Japanese Ramen Shoppe soft opened their newest branch along Maginhawa street, Quezon City last January.     The new ramen house is called the “Lite” branch as it offers smaller size meals and is physically smaller than its main shop, or the “Plus” branch, located in Quezon City as well. Situated a few blocks away from some of the country’s major schools like University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and Miriam College, go-en Lite has a playful and colourful environment that appeals to the college students and younger masses. Albeit the small space, […]
Banking Schedules for Holy Week 2016
March 23, 2016

Banking Schedules for Holy Week 2016

A long weekend is ahead of us in observance of the Holy Week (March 24 to 27). Some establishments, such as malls, are bound to shut down on certain days—and banks are not exempted to this. It might be best to make those withdrawals and deposits now to save you trouble on the coming days.     Here are the Lenten holiday schedules of some of the banks in the Philippines: BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) and BPI Family Savings Bank All branches and kiosks will be closed from March 24 to March 27. Regular banking operations will resume on Monday, March 28. Source: BPI Express Online Chinabank Chinabank […]