POP NEWS PHILIPPINES

It's not everyday that we get to hear or read an inspiring story of a food vendor who fulfills his dreams. On May 29, a former peddler-turned-model became the latest toast of the town when he was crowned Mister Universe Tourism 2018 during a pageant held in Pasig City. Benigno "Ion" Perez, 26, is the first Filipino to win the international pageant that promotes tourism. First runner-up honors went to Brata Angga Kartasasmita of Indonesia and Avjeet Singh of India was second runner up. During the question-and-answer portion, Perez was asked: "If you could trade places with somebody, who would it be and why?" Perez answered in Kapampangan which was translated by atty. Richard Garcia Montoya in English. He said: "I would trade places with the President because a lot of people need jobs especially in the tourism industry and I could do a lot if I were president." Ferdinand Abejon, managing director of the pageant, said that Perez deserve

BLUGRE COFFEE AT FESTIVAL MALL - Gloria Cuaresma (center), owner of Blugre Coffee, joins Nanette de Lara-Feliciano (left) and Kitti Marphorn Doll, franchisees of Davao's famous Blugre Coffee, at the opening of its 15th branch at the Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City recently. Davao's famous Blugre Coffee continues to make waves as it opens its 15th branch at the Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa recently. “This development is in response to the many customers who’ve been clamoring for us to expand,” says Benjamin Cuaresma Jr., and Gloria Cuaresma, owners of the establishment, during an exclusive interview. They add: “We are happy that now we’ll be able to bring the Blugre Coffee experience to our new patrons in Metro Manila, hopefully soon, to other places.” So far, Blugre Coffee has opened 15 branches nationwide. “Our proposition is as unique as Davao’s famous Durian Coffeeccino. Our coffee shop is highly established, marketable and much sought-after.&quo

Tinuldukan na ni Megastar Sharon ang isang project na magsisilbi sanang reunion movie ng kanyang former husband na si Gabby Concepcion at nagbitiw na ito ng salita na "hindi ko sila kailangan." Sa Instagram, sinabi ni Sharon na sobra na raw ang power-tripping ng ibang tao para sa upcoming movie project nila ni Gabby. "Basta ako I can say 'As God is my Witness' without being afraid that God will surely punish me, kasi I’m not a liar, and I am certainly afraid of using God’s Name to validate a 'lie!' "Yaan na natin. 2 decades tayo nabless ng husto nang wala sila, isipin ba ng mga feeling na ako pa maghahabol ngayon?!!!!! WHY?!!! "My gulay ilang beses na nalampaso ng ibang movies ko ang records ng team-up na yan sa box-office. HINDI KO SILA KAILANGAN. malinaw na malinaw?!" ayon kay Sharon. Sinabi rin ni Sharon na never nag-simula sa kanya ang mga naging problema para sa reunion movie nila. “Just for the record, I agreed to his

Asiwa ang dating bodyguard ni Kylie Jenner nang mapagdiskitahan sya bilang ama ng anak ng nasabing supermodel. Sa Instagram, mariing itinanggi ng hot bodyguard na si Tim Chung na sya ang ama ni Stormi, anak nila Kylie at boyfriend nitong black American rapper na si Travis Scott. Hindi nagustuhan ni Tim, member ng Los Angeles Police Department, ang mga paratang sa kanya at tinawag nya itong "incredibly disrespectful." Ayon sa mga fans, may pagkakahawig raw ang hitsura ni Stormi kay Tim. Naniniwala rin daw ang isang kaibigan ni Travis na si Tim talaga ang ama ng anak ni Kylie. Si Stormi at 3 three months old. Pero nitong May 13, nag-issue na ng statement is Tim sa kanyang Instagram kung saan meron na syang 768,000 na followers. Sinabi nyang ito na ang una at huling beses na magko-komento sya tungkol sa paternity issue. Ang statement ni Tim: "I am a very private person and would normally never answer to gossip and stories that are so ridiculous that they

Actress Vina Morales has revealed that she is single for one year now after she broke off with her French boyfriend. "I honestly it gets lonely once in a while. Of course you want to be with someone. Syempre yung paglalambing, yung mga ganyan, ma-mi-miss mo yan eh," said Morales during an interview on "Tonight With Boy Abunda" on ABS CBN. Asked why they split, Morales said: "We get along well. Wala kaming problema. We laughed each other. It's just the distance. Hindi talaga nagwo-work pagmalayo sa isa't isa. You never grow as a couple. So that was our problem." "My work is here. I cannot live there. Haaay, hintay hintay na lang," she said. Morales, who currently stars in the Kapamilya telserye "Araw Gabi," said that she is excited about her daughter Ceana who just turned 9. "Excited ako sa mga mangyayari sa buhay nya and her future. What scares me also is yung mga trials na darating sa buhay nya lalo na sa

The best cooks in the 20 barangays of Las Piñas City got together recently to showcase their best dishes and desserts for the annual cooking competition that kicked off the festivities for the city’s 2018 Food Festival. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar welcomed the participants as she lauded them for going the extra mile in using modern techniques to make original and sumptuous culinary creations that display the Filipinos’ imaginative minds and innovative skills. ‘Filipinos are popular for their ingenuity. We are known for our ability to replicate foreign dishes and changing their tastes by introducing local ingredients to give them the unique flavors of the Philippine islands. Through this cooking competition, residents of Las Piñas City become gastronomic witnesses to the creativity of our local cooking experts,‘ said Villar, director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG). The senator said the cooking competition is a friendly contes

The inaugural Jewel of the World beauty pageant, an international contest that celebrates cultural diversity, kicked off in the historic city of Malolos in Bulacan over the weekend. "Jewel of the World pageant is a celebration of the multi-cultural world we all live in through a super bowl of beauty that highlights the distinct and unique cultural and heritage of the participating countries. It is inspired by the May 21 declaration of the UN General Assembly as the World Day for Cultural Diversity," said John dela Vega, director of the pageant, during an interview. Twelve countries are competing for the first Jewel of the World contest. The candidates are Kristina Zamir, Azerbaijan; Laurra Kofi, Cote D' Ivoire; Claire Boucau, France; Manpreet Kaur Sekhon, India; Miki Kojima, Japan; Ji Young Park, Korea; Ashley Tang Ci En, Malaysia; Chit Myat Noe Htike, Myanmar; Sapana Bhetwal, Nepal; Achelle Joy Medrano, Philippines; Neena Bezuidenhout, South Africa; and Raffha Kh

The winners of the Mr and Miss Hannah’s World Tourism Philippines 2018 were crowned during a telecast held at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City recently. Grand winners were George Reylor de Lumen of Marikina City and Nicole Miñano of Caloocan City. Named Mr & Miss Hannah’s Ecotourism Philippines were  Christopher Joshua Ibañez of Tagaytay City and Juvel Mangubat Ducay of Bantayan Island, Cebu. Mr & Miss Hannah’s Tourism Ambassador were Gerome Bongco of Quezon City and Kylah Sanchez of Liloan, Cebu Nicole will now represent the country in the inaugural edition of Miss Hannah’s World Tourism which will be held in September. George will compete in an international male competition which will be held in early 2019. Winners of special awards were: Miss Symply G - Kylah Sanchez; People’s Choice Awards: Male - Jayvinne Klein Jainar and Female - Juvel Mangubat Duca; Mr Photogenic -Erikson Gudelano IV; Miss Photogenic - Juvel Ducay; Mr. Body Fit - Christopher Jos

Glyssa Perez finished First Princess at the 2017 Miss World Philippines beauty contest but she is not ready to give up her dreams on pageants. "Yes! I'm joining Miss World Philippines again next year," said Perez when asked if she will compete again in the pageant, during an exclusive interview in Timog, Quezon City recently. Asked why Miss World again, Perez said: "I always have the heart to serve the community. Back in Australia, I was very active in the Philippine-Australian community so that ignited my passion. For me, I see Miss World as beauty with a purpose, something that you can give back to the community." Perez, 23, said that it's really her dream to become a beauty queen. Back in Australia, she has done smaller pageants before she joined Miss Philippines Australia two years ago. "Many people have encouraged me (to join pageants). I was 15 at that time, sabi ko 'I don't know. I'm still young. Bata pa ako.' It to

A new mobile application has been developed that will allow users to access a growing library of original Filipino comic book content. Dubbed iKwento, the mobile app offers several wonderful features, including easy-to-read comic book panels specially designed for mobile readers. It will also give independent and mainstream Filipino comic book creators a way to bring their content to a wider audience by partnering with iKwento, created by Synergy 88 Digital. "We hope the app will revive the comic book industry, specially with the current generation. We also want to immortalize comic books before that were not published," said Marc Cua, iKwento project manager. Cua added: "Lastly, we want to give Filipino comic artists a platform to earn and at the same time have a platform to become known in the industry." iKwento's extensive library has many vintage Filipino komiks, which were digitally and painstakingly restored. "Upon downloading the a

It's confirmed: Actress Heart Evangelista is pregnant! This was revealed by Heart on her Instagram account as she posted a photo with her husband Senator Chiz Escudero. It was captioned: "The greatest of blessings all in God's perfect timing! Our beautiful family just got a little bigger. We can't wait to meet you little one." She did not give any details of her pregnancy. In August 2016, Heart said that she and her husband were ready to have a baby. "I'm eating healthy and maybe losing some water weight to prepare to gain pounds. It's a bit complicated," Heart said then in an interview on ABS CBN. Heart, 33, then said that her husband is not rushing her to have a baby. But she said that they will focus on having one after she finished her commitments in January 2017. In a separate report, Heart said that she wanted to have two to three children. Chiz would joke on having five kids, she said. "Two to three kids would