POP NEWS PHILIPPINES

For the first time, Grammy-award winning pop superstar Britney Spears is coming to the Philippines to stage her one-night concert at the SM Mall of Asia on June 15. Spears, 35, made the announcement on Facebook after she completed her Las Vegas, Nevada residency where she staged concerts for the past years. "Excited to be performing in Manila this summer," said Spears on her FB post. The management of Spears said that the Manila show is part of the star's world tour. So far, only the Philippines and Israel shows have been confirmed. This would be the first wold tour of Spears since 2011. Tickets to the Tel Aviv show are now being sold. In Manila, the tickets will be sold starting April 5 at 10 a.m via the SMTickets.com. Rumors about Spears staging a concert in Manila have swirled several years ago but it never materialized allegedly because of high talent fee and production cost of the show. The show is also being presented by local clothing brand Bench.

Books have their own unique effect on each individual. When we get to hold books in our hands and flip through its pages, words enchant us, opening our minds to new experiences. There are books that inform and educate people, from general facts about life to how to cook exotic dishes. There are also books that take you on exciting adventures, scare you through thrilling feats, and of course, books that make you feel all kinds of love – even the unimaginable. Nothing beats the feeling of finishing a book and adding it to your bookshelf, knowing that you’ve been changed by what you read. While there may be thousands of books published out there, some just stick with us and are worth sharing with the rest of the world. Spreading the love for reading among Filipinos is at the core of National Book Store (NBS).  This year, the country’s favorite book store is celebrating 75 years of creating a growing nation of readers and being a strong advocate for education.  As part of the f

Leila Alcasid, daughter of singer-composer Ogie Alcasid, has said that she hopes to pursue a career in show business in the country. "I really like acting. I would have thought about it before. In Australia, I was not into the Arts so it was surprising for me. But when I came here, took workshops and stuff, and I really love it," said Leila, during an interview on "Tonight With Boy Abunda" on ABS-CBN. Leila also praised her stepmother Asia's songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid "We're very close. She's a very generous person. Very understanding person, especially when I was first coming here, she knew that obviously, I would be missing my mom a lot. My mom and I are best friends," said Leila. "So she's obviously became a mother figure to me since I've been here. She's helping me grow in this stage of my life. I do love her very much. She's a very wonderful person," added Leila, daughter of Ogie by Michelle Va

Gillian Eliza Mendoza Colcol has been chosen as Binibini No. 36 after she replaced another candidate who was  earlier disqualified for the 2017 Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant. Organizers of the prestigious local beauty contest have yet to make an official announcement about Colcol. But the aspiring beauty queen has already announced it on her Instagram. Colcol is trained under the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp of pageant guru Rodgil Flores. "QueenGil has arrived! Yes, it's official -- I'm your new #Binibini36, representing Antipolo City! Thanks for the support and prayers, God really moves in mysterious ways. So here I am again," said Colcol on IG. With the addition of Colcol, 40 candidates are now competing in the Binbining Pilipinas contest which will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City on April 30. - Robert R. Requintina

Samar’s capital, Catbalogan City, is hosting for the very first time an international conference and the minutest details are taken care of. “From hotel accommodation of visitors to planning activities and security details, everything is being attended to, as this is a great opportunity for Catbalogan City to host an international conference for the first time,”  said Catbalogan Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan. With the theme Kauswagan Kalibutan: Creating Connections for Sustainable Societies, the 2017 United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific Conference (UCLG ASPAC) and Executive meetings is set from April 4 to 7. Some 100 foreign delegates from at least 19 countries are expected to attend, coming from China, South Korea, Taiwan, New Zealand, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and the township island of Betio in Kiribati. Most of the participants are local government executives and high g

Ace comedian Vice Ganda said that he does not see anything wrong when young actor Inigo Pascual gave his father Piolo Pascual a smack on the lips. "Anong mali? Wala kasi akong nakitang mali," said Vice Ganda, in reaction to the viral video of Piolo kissing his son Inigo on the lips, during his late-night variety show "Gandang Gabi Vice" on ABS-CBN. "Di ba 'yung aso natin hinahalikan natin? Kung kaya natin at walang masama sa atin na humahalik tayo sa hayop, bakit may malisya 'pag humalik sa anak? I just don't get the point," said Vice Ganda. "Kung ikaw ayaw mo humalik sa tatay mo, eh 'di ikaw 'yun," the comedian added. Pascual, star of the movie "Northern Lights: A Journey to Love," recalled his relationship to his son the past years. "Noong ipinanganak s'ya, nasa America ako. Nung nag-aaral na sya, nandito ako at nag-aaral naman sya sa America," Piolo said. "

Singer-actress Sarah Geronimo has said that she does see herself playing "Darna" because she does not have the body and curves of the iconic comics heroine. "Wala akong boobs, anong magagawa natin?" said Geronimo, during an interview on "Tonight With Boy Abunda" on ABS-CBN. "Baka naman na-negative-an sila sa akin nung sinabi ko na, 'Eh, 'di wow! Gusto niyo ba makakita ng Darna na naka-jumpsuit?' Kasi matagal ko na po iyang sinasabi na hindi talaga iyon para sa akin kasi iconic iyong role," said Geronimo. But she thanked her fans for considering her to play the female heroine after actress Angel Locsin decided to back out of the project for good due to health reasons. So far, no one has been chosen to play Darna in the latest film to be directed by Erik Matti. Other names being flaunted for the role include Pia Wurtzbach, Nadine Samonte, Jessy Mendiola, Yassi Pressman, etc. "But more than that, a

Pablita "Baby" Go is the woman behind powerful independent movies in the country these days. Dubbed "Queen of Indie Films," this no-nonsense lady producer has wrapped up 12 critically-acclaimed movies to date, some of them have even received recognition in film festivals abroad. Films completed under the BG Productions International include "Child Haus," "Iadya Mo Kami," "Lihis," "Mga Isda Sa Tuyong Lupa," "Laureana," "Bigkis," "Sekyu," "Laut," "Tupang Ligaw," "Siphayo," "Homeless," and "Area." Ana Manansala, one of the most influential public relations officers in the country, said that the lady film executive believes in making advocacy films with a viable message. "Her passion for this genre will surely put the Philippines in the international map of film festivals," said Manansala. Go gave us insights on what to expect f

There was no swimsuit segnment in the competition. Only the shining beauty and advocacy of 27 policewomen from around the country who took part in the first Miss Philippine National Police (Gandang Pulis) contest at Camp Crame in Quezon City last March 28. In the end, PO1 Arla Ray Paciencia of Police Regional Office 8 (Eastern Visayas) emerged as the winner in the contest both for single and married policewomen. "I am very, very happy! I didn't expect it," said Paciencia, during an interview after the nearly four-hour jampacked show. Paciencia, 24, won P25,000 cash, a trophy and other products from this year's sponsors. Asked what she will do with the prize money, the policeman said: "My sister is going abroad. So bibigyan ko s'ya ng pocket money and for my family as well." Paciencia, a registered nurse, said that her advocacy focuses on gender equality. "It's not your physical appearance, it is not what you are but how

Fragrance entrepreneur Joel Cruz simply laughed when asked how rich he is these days. He did not go into details and tried to keep modest about his wealth. But Cruz, who has built a perfumery empire for several years now, said that he is rich with kids. Cruz opened up about the two new addition to his family who were conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF). This will now bring to six the number of his children who were developed via the fertility procedure. The newest addition - a boy and a girl - will be born in Russia on May 10. Afterwards, Cruz will fetch his two kids and fly them to Manila where they will be raised. "Yung dalawang addition sa family ko susunduin ko sa Russia pagkatapos silang ipanganak sa May," said Cruz, during the first Miss Philippine National Police (PNP) beauty pageant held at Camp Crame in Quezon City last Tuesday night. According to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota,  IVF is a complex series of procedures used to tr

Instead of March 27, the television special of actress-television host Kris Aquino on GMA 7 will now be shown on April 9. "#TripNiKris 10:30 PM Sunday, April 9, 2017 on @gmanetwork... To clarify, this Is a 1 time, 2 hour Travel & Food exploration special with many interesting, happy people I got to interact with, and hopefully you will be entertained & inspired," said Aquino on Instagram. Aquino also promised to take to merienda seven of her IG followers to merienda as soon as soon as the number of followers on Instagram hits 3 million. "Yes- I'm taking 7 of you IG Friends for merienda & to personally give you a version of my #kikaykit... As soon as we hit 3 million followers, we are celebrating... Every time you like 1 of my posts & tag me w/ #happy3millionkris you'll be included in our data base from which we'll choose my merienda guest list from... in case you are from abroad, we'll LBC you the #kikaykit," she said.

                Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach played referee to hot-tempered fans of reigning Miss International Kylie Verzosa and Miss Universe 2016 semi-finalist Maxine Medina who pitted the two Filipino beauty queens against each other. "Sa totoong buhay magkasundo si Kylie at si Maxine. Mga fans lang ang gumagawa mg rivalry. Maxine has a lot of work lined up for her and also Kylie. In the end these are women who have paid their dues. They've proven themselves," said Wurtzbach as she reacted to the posts of overzealous followers of Maxine and Kylie on the Instagram account of their mentor Jonas Gaffud. "Tapos na ang binibini at tapos na international pageants nila. They should be enjoying the benefits of their hard work. Kylie is doing so well and so is Maxine;" "Fans should know when to move on. Tapos na. Magfocus na sa mga bagong binibini o maging proud nalang na may representative parin tayo kung yung ibang countries nga wala at

Actor Piolo Pascual has confessed his love for actress Shaina Magdayao but continued to refuse to put a label to their relationship. "Oo naman," said Pascual when asked if he loves Magdayao during an interview on "Tonight With Boy Abunda" on ABS CBN. Pascual repeated his answer two more times. But he pointed out that there is still no label to their relationship. "Yung nga ang mahirap kasi you don't want the people to take it wrongly or look at it in a way na dehado yung babae or bakit walang labels," the actor said. "Let's just put it this way. Shaina and I have a mutual understanding na hindi namin alam kung paano ipaiintindi sa tao but what we have is something really special and mahirap kasi nga pareho kaming public figure. So we decided na wag na lang magsalita," he added. "Whatever we have it, is what we have, it is what it is. We're happy about it," Pascual said. The Kapamilya hunk, however, admitt

After 40 years, the iconic Japanese anime Voltes V returns on GMA 7 with popular Kapuso stars lending their voices to the series. Kapuso voice artists in Voltes V are Bea Binene (Jamie Robinson), Derrick Monasterio (Steve Armstong), Jak Roberto (Mark Gordon), Hiro Peralta (Big Bert Armstrong), and Ken Chan (Prince Zardos). "Napanood ko siya kaya kilalang-kilala ko ang theme song, pati ang characters!” said Binene during an interview on “24 Oras” news program on GMA 7. The television series debuted today, March 27, and it will be shown weekdays at 8:25 a.m., after "Ghost Fighter." “Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na darating ang time na isa ako sa magiging boses ng 'Voltes V.' Noong nagda-dub kami sa audio room, naa-amaze pa rin ako!” said Roberto. Chan added: “Sobrang challenge ito kasi 'yung mga ginawa kong teleserye before, lagi akong mabait, laging kawawa." Created by Saburo Yatsude, the anime series first aired in