POP NEWS PHILIPPINES

Don’t let his K-Pop looks fool you. Despite his Eurasian lineage, model/actor David Chua is proudly Filipino, and can speak Tagalog with full conviction. Prior to his showbiz career, David was a Fine Arts student at the UST, where he was discovered via Mr. and Ms. Ideal Thomasian, the campus-based personality pageant (2006-2007). This led to modeling stints, where he became a staple in high-profile fashion shows and print ads. The "accidental celebrity" was thrust into the showbiz limelight in 2008, when he was cast in ABS-CBN’s ‘My Girl,’ the Kim Chiu-Gerald Anderson starrer, where he played the twin brother of Alex Gonzaga and Kim’s close friend. During his 10-year tenure with Star Magic, he appeared in over 30 teleseryes, including Imortal (2010), Saturday Night Chills (2013), and Love Thy Woman (2019), his most recent project. He won Best Supporting Actor in the Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival 2013, where he played the role of a gambling lord in Saturday Night ...

Former Miss Universe Catriona Gray has called on the people to fight for equal rights as she urged everyone to reflect on the challenges and solution embracing the LGBTQ community "The misconception that LGBTQ issues only matter to those who identify as LGBTQ is a damaging one. It concerns them and not us, some people think. But people need to realise that the fight is not about giving special privileges but providing equal rights," said Gray in her latest message on Pride Month on Instagram June 30. Gray has citd the importance of ally voices in fighting for equal rights.  "We need to stand up and say that this is not just about the LGBTQ community. It’s about all of us. Now more than ever we need to try and see each other, no matter how different our lives or situations may look, with empathy," she said. Gray said that Pride Month is not just about whipping out the rainbow flag.  "Since the beginning, #Pride has been a protest. It’s a reminder of how far we...

Former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach has said she is an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community who will stand for their rights and their advocacies. "This #PrideMonth, we stand for the rights and advocacies of the LGBTQIA+ community. Being an ally is someone who gives a sense of a safe and affirming space for our loving community... Let's provide higher platforms for community members to openly discuss issues and concerns that affect us," said Wurtzbach on Instagram June 26. Wurtzbach also encouraged everyone to accept one another and understand each other's points of view. "Mas masaya pag tanggap natin ng buo ang isa't isa. ❤ Learning is always a two-way process.. we listen as we understand each other's points of view," she said. "Here we can discuss our differences and remind ourselves that we are together on this journey, and achieve our shared goals for equality.". "I know we may differ in opinions today.. but our constant discourse will mak...

Ms. Stella Marquez Araneta, chair of Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI), has announced that Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray will conduct e-training sessions for the candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2020. Gray will be joined by Binibining Pilipinas - Grand International 2016 Nicole Cordoves to teach the 2020 candidates how to stand out and win in a beauty pageant. “We are delighted that Catriona and Nicole will provide online training and pageant prep classes to help this year's batch of 40 candidates and give each of them a winning chance,” said Ms. Araneta. “Being in a beauty pageant competition requires a lot of preparation and hard work. You have to be confident about yourself, your poise, and personality regardless of the way others see you. Therefore, it is important to be fully prepared and fully trained”. Stage presence and the physical attributes of the contestants are very important. But the interview portion is equally important, that you demonstrate talent, in...

Fifteen participants coming from Laguna, Bacoor and Las Pinas completed the Agricultural Crops Production Training/ Urban Gardening Program at the Villar SIPAG Farm School in Bacoor.  The participants learned the basic knowledge and skills on vegetable production, including land preparation, harvesting, urban gardening and nutrition education.  Sen. Cynthia Villar, director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance, stressed the need to have a ready source of food especially in this pandemic where the food supply chain was disrupted.  

Araneta City has partnered with Spark Philippines for a live online discussion on a timely topic that will deal with feminism, discrimination, and equality in today’s society. On June 27, 6 p.m., catch the webinar “Unity in Diversity: Understanding Intersectional Feminism” at the official Araneta City Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AranetaCity/).  The webinar will be joined by Spark Philippines Senior Program Manager Hans Madanguit and Binibining Pilipinas – International 2019 Bea Patricia Magtanong who will share their knowledge, insights, and experiences on issues that women of different backgrounds are currently facing. Madanguit will be discussing the concept of intersectional feminism and its social relevance with Magtanong, a practicing lawyer and an advocate of social justice. The webinar aims to give an overview of the Intersectional Feminism framework to help lay the foundation for a better understanding of gender equality and sensitivity.

          Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said waste management should not take a backseat during the pandemic but instead it should be prioritized to prevent the spread of diseases.           “We all know that a clean environment is a healthy environment. Improperly disposed wastes can cause infection and contamination. So, we should to take proper waste disposal and management even more seriously,” said Villar.              According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “If solid waste is not dealt with quickly, serious health risks will develop which will further demoralize the community already traumatized by the emergency”. Moreover, the International Solid Waste Association cites that “Waste Management is one of the most important sanitary barriers to prevent dissemination of illnesses and diseases”.         ...

Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) alumna Devon Seron has signed up with Arnold Vegafria’s ALV Talent Circuit, the same management outfit that handles the careers of some of today’s hottest celebrities, including Sunshine Cruz, Beauty Gonzalez, Sylvia Sanchez, Martin del Rosario and many others. The proud Cebuana has come a long way since her memorable stint in ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash last 2010, and has proven her mettle as a versatile actress, singer/dancer and brand endorser. Some of her memorable TV shows during her Star Magic years include Angelito: Batang Ama, Apoy sa Dagat, Maria Mercedes, Moon of Desire, Forevermore and guest stints in Maalaala Mo Kaya.  Upon transferring to the Kapuso network in 2018, she was cast in shows such as The One That Got Away, Asawa Ko Karibal Ko, Dahil sa Pag-ibig, Pepito Manaloto, Magpakailanman and Wish Ko Lang, and many others. Devon’s movie credits include Maybe This Time, Halik Sa Hangin, Haunted Mansion, Maybe This Time, Everything Abou...

Sen. Cynthia Villar has asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to recall the issuance of the environment compliance certificate (ECC) to the 320-hectare Bacoor reclamation project initiated by Bacoor City government together with the owner of Erabelle Fishing Corporation as it threatens to result in a host of serious problems among them the destruction of legislated protected area and massive flooding in communities surrounding Manila Bay.   “The reclamation project will potentially cause irreparable damage to the Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park. The project will be building on the buffer zone of this protected area and will destroy the landscape in which the wetland now thrives,” Villar said.   Under Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act or E-NIPAS Act, the 175-hectare Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park is a declared protected area. It is also one of the seven areas in the Philippines listed as a Wetland of Interna...

Just a day before the historic hotel’s founding anniversary, The Manila Hotel plans to partially open its doors to its valued guests, with the Lobby Lounge and the Delicatessen resuming operations on July 3, 2020.  A rebirth of sorts after months of following the government’s quarantine protocols, the hotel has adjusted along with the rest of the world in navigating the “new normal,” and puts a high premium on the well-being of guests.   With the lobby shining bright anew signifying eternal hope, The Manila Hotel commemorates its 108th founding anniversary on July 4 by welcoming guests with the same enduring brand of service that is now focused on enhanced health, hygiene, and sanitation protocols in line with the Department of Health guidelines.  As the hotel prepares for the reopening, Atty Joey Lina, the now president of The Manila Hotel, assures the public, “You are safe here. We have taken every precaution to heart so you and your loved ones can have peace of mind wh...

Sen. Cynthia Villar, advocate of urban gardening, re-opened the Villar SIPAG Farm School Bacoor and resumed training for agri-crops production. It was stopped last March because of the quarantine measures. Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food and director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG), built farm schools in Las Pinas and San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan to promote agriculture in urban areas. The first Villar SIPAG farm school inaugurated in 2015 is located in a 4-hectare lot in the boundary of Las Piñas City and Bacoor. The San Jose Del Monte Farm School, which opened in October 2016, sits in a 4-hectare land in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Both schools have training areas, dormitories, farm houses and kitchen areas. Also featured are vermi- composting facilities, kitchen waste composting facilities, greenhouses, spaces for livestock production aquaculture and cacao plantation under coconut trees.  The...

(The Hollywood Reporter) - The Sony film recently opened in Japan and Denmark. It has crossed the $100 million mark at the international box office in a welcome sign as cinemas begin to reopen around the globe after shuttering three months ago due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Sony and New Regency film pulled in $475K from 472 screens in 12 foreign markets, led by Japan — where it opened last weekend — with $300K for a two-week total of $1.3 million. It also opened recently in Denmark, where it earned $170K over the weekend for a territory total of $1 million. Greta Gerwig's Oscar-nominated film Little Women's global gross now stands at $209 million. Sony reported the weekend grosses on Sunday, becoming the first Hollywood studio to issue box office numbers since the shutdown and as roughly 2,000 theaters go back online worldwide. In addition to solid box office traffic in Japan and Denmark, there was also good news in South Korea, where Sony's local-language film ...

This year's annual Ginumanfest organized by Ginebra San Miguel in time for World Gin Day took time to pay tribute to the Filipino spirit and frontliners fighting the health pandemic. Streamed live on Facebook on Saturday night, June 20, basketball stars, popular OPM bands and some candidates of Miss Universe Philippines pageant offered a toast to freedom, frontliners and the Filipino spirit during the "One Ginebra Nation" online concert. For Filipinos, drinks are meant to be shared and enjoyed with friends. This same feeling of camaraderie, friendship, togetherness and unity is what Ginebra San Miguel aims to cultivate further as it celebrates World Gin Day as One Gin Nation. Some of the basketball stars who graced the online event were Mark Caguioa, Scottie Thompson, L.A. Tenorio, Joe Devance, and Japeth Aguilar. The three-hour show was hosted by DJ CJ and DJ Suzy. It was also broadcast on Magic 89.9 FM. More than 3,000 people watched the live online concert. Musical per...

An enraged megastar Sharon Cuneta on Saturday, June 20, hit back at a netizen who earlier threatened to rape her daughter Frankie Pangilinan. In a lengthy post on Facebook, Cuneta wrote: "What an a**h**e of a father. Considering may anak kayong babae. Oo alam namin. At anuman ang pambabastos ng isang tunay na hayop na tulad mo sa asawa ko at LALONG-LALO NA SA ANAK KONG DALAGA, ay pagpapatunay lamang na may mga demonyong nasa mundo na tulad mo; "Kaya tama ang ginagawa ng anak kong disente at matalino. Pinagmamalaki mo pang DUTERTE SUPPORTER KA, ganon ba? Alam mo bang kahihiyan ka sa Pangulo? At para sa kaalaman ng isang bobong katulad mo, ang Juvenile Justice Law ay hindi para hindi parusahan ang mga kabataang may krimen kundi kung seryoso ang offense ay pananagutan pa rin ngunit ihiwalay sila sa mga hardened criminals na maaaring abusuhin naman sila - at managot sa isang prosesong angkop sa kanilang pagiging menor de edad!;  "Ayon sa batas kung serious offense, minimum i...

Popular Filipino shoe designer Jojo Bragais is now a director! This after Bragais launched his directorial video project on LGBT in time for Father's Day celebration on June 21. The video clip was uploaded on the Facebook page of Bragais Shoes on June 19. "When I saw the finished video, I was really happy. Just like how I imagined the output to be. I've written the script and asked help from my good friends Ays Gonzales, Bessie Besana and Carissa Cielo Medved. I love to write. I am actually working on a BL series to be directed by Jill Urdaneta," said Bragais in an exclusive chat. Bragais, 28, is also into script writing. "I love to do new things. The idea of writing something and making it a reality - I just love it! That feeling is special." He learned script writing a few years ago from Moira Raymund Lee. Entitled "Papa's Boy," the 5-6 minute video clip is about a gay son (played by Johnsel Rotol) who dreams of joining pageants on the verge ...

 Araneta City shows gratitude to the first heroes of our lives with a series of online activities and promos that the whole family can enjoy this Father’s Day. Join the City of Firsts in celebrating the special day for fathers through the Araneta City official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AranetaCity/) this weekend. Crafty dads can catch a live woodworking demo on Saturday, June 20, by Lex Reyes of Craft MNL (4pm). Reyes, who honed his woodworking skills in Australia, will be teaching the basics of making a multi-purpose caddy. Then on Sunday, June 21, Clara Ole’s Chef Florencio “DJ” Santos III will conduct a live cooking demo (2pm), to be followed by a live jazz performance by saxophonist Joshe Calvin Tiu who will play classics from the 80’s and 90’s (6pm). Online viewers will also get a chance to win free Clara Ole gift packs through an online raffle! Simply watch Chef DJ’s workshop and tag 3 friends who love to cook on the comment section for a chance to win the prize...

            Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), has set up an aquaponics facility to benefit a community in Las Piñas, where the senator has also put up a vegetable garden.           Urban aquaponics is part of BFAR’s Fisheries Resiliency Projects to address food-related challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Aquaponics or hydroponics is a way of growing vegetables without soil and at the same time growing fish in the same setup as well.           “It is really time for city dwellers to grow their own food even in an urban setting with limited space. Food self-sufficiency is very important especially during disasters or emergencies such as the ongoing pandemic,” said Villar, who has been advocating urban farming to beat food poverty.           The urban aquaponics an...

One Lady Gaga fan got the ultimate gift from the singer. Shannon McKee recalls an exchange she had with the 34-year-old pop star at a market in Malibu, California, that led to her going home with a new leather jacket.  McKee, 27, tells the Today show that she first encountered Gaga when she commented on her outerwear.  "I walked in and I was like, 'Hey, that's a really bad a** jacket you got on,'" McKee remembers telling Gaga."And she said, 'Thank you.' I kind of recognized the voice, but I'm not one to really go up to celebrities." McKee then left the market but later decided she wanted to go back in and tell the singer something else.  "I did have a story that I wanted to share with her, and I felt this need that she needed to hear it from me," McKee says. "And so when I went back, I was like, 'Hey, you're Lady Gaga, right? My best friend back in high school was a huge fan of yours. And you're the reason he actual...

Saying more Filipinos should have access to healthy and safe farm products, Sen. Cynthia Villar has pushed for a system of organic products certification which small farmers can also afford.   In defending the Committee Report amending Republic Act 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, the Committee on Agriculture and Food said "farmers find the cost of third party certification with the tag price ranging from 42,000 to 150,000 per crop, valid for only one year to be exorbitant."   "This amount is way beyond the purse of small farmers who have the perennial problem to access even a small capital for production. Only rich farmers or corporations can afford third party certification. The provision has become a deterrent and a disincentive for small farmers comprising a large percentage of the farming population," Villar said.   Villar authored Senate Bill 1911 which proposes the establishment of the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) as an alternative to thi...

The organization's board of governors recently announced its 'Academy Aperture 2025' plan to try to further improve the diversity of its membership and Oscar nominees. Last Friday, June 12, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed that it has met its 'A2020' goals announced amidst the #OscarsSoWhite controversy of several years ago — namely, to double its number of female and non-white members by 2020 — and that its board of governors has approved a package of additional measures to try to further improve the diversity of its membership and Oscar nominees, to be known as 'Academy Aperture 2025.' The Academy declared that prior to the 94th Oscar season, it will set up a task force "to develop and implement new representation and inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility"; shift from a fluctuating five to 10 best picture nominees to a guaranteed 10 in order to maximize the diversity of films nominated for the Academy's top honor;...

                The Talon 2 Senior Citizens of Las Piñas and the Apo, Sons and Daughters of World War II Veterans Association Incorporated of Las Piñas are thankful to Senator Cynthia Villar and Las Piñas Congresswoman Camille Villar for providing them with their new office headquarters complete with a vegetable garden, vermicomposting and waste management facilities. The new office buildings are located in Barangay Talon 2 in Las Piñas             “Our elders come from a generation which value simple and sustainable living. They are the first proponents of growing food in our own homes or backyards. Besides providing headquarters for their associations, we also want them to be productive. What better way to do that than through farming,” said Villar.             As the current chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, the senator has been advocating urban farming and o...

Face masks have become an emblem of the Filipinos in the fight against COVID-19 as they head for the new norm. And no matter how they look, you should be wearing face masks during situations whenever social distancing may prove difficult. But you might as well wear this must-have accessory of the moment with some style. Be reminded that surgical masks and N-95 respirators are reserved for health workers. And so it's worth finding a protective face mask that would accentuate your outfits. Popular Filipino fashion designer Frederick Berches has come up with chic designs for these newly essential accessories that's close to the heart of Pinoys. "Naisip ko na ang face mask ang isa sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng mga tao ngayon. Gusto kong gumawa ng face mask na makabayan and fashionable," said Berches, who is now based in Laguna, during an online chat. Berches, 43, admitted that the pandemic has affected his Barong Tagalog business, his original forte in fashion. He...

Senator Cynthia Villar has said that she will look into alleged overpriced fertilizer contract of the Department of Agriculture. “I will look into the issue but I have to file a Senate Resolution first in order to schedule an inquiry or investigation. Congress is in recess right now and will resume on the third week of July. So I would have to wait till then," said Villar in a statement issued on June 15. Villar added: “For the meantime, the agri groups and farmers can bring their concern or complaints to the State Prosecutor at the Department of Justice (DoJ); “Once the Senate opens, we will of course, look at all the sides to this issue. We have to ensure that the funds made available by the government to help our countrymen cope with the ongoing pandemic are being used for their intended purpose and beneficiaries, particularly the farmers," the senator said.

The Department of Health (DOH), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have joined forces to release guidelines for the resumption of production work and activities in the film and audiovisual industry amid the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.   The "Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2020-001 on the Health and Safety Protocols for the Conduct of Film and Audiovisual Production Shoots and Audiovisual Activities During COVID-19 Pandemic" was signed with immediate effectivity on June 7, 2020 by FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño-Seguerra, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III.   "These guidelines, drafted in consultation with professional guilds and stakeholders, prioritize the health and safety of our film and audiovisual workers as they slowly resume operations," said Diño-Seguerra. "As the film and audiovisual industry is part of the country'...

Senator Cynthia Villar has called on the people to rise to the challenge and make a difference in facing difficult days. Villar made the remarks in a message to commemorate the 122nd anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 12. Her full message: "I join the entire nation in commemorating the 122nd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence; "Walang hanggan ang gating pasasalamat sa ating mga dakilang bayani at mga kababayan na nag-sakripisyo at nag-buwis ng buhay para sa kasarinlan ng ating mahal na bayan; "That is the essence of our commemoration of this occasion from generation to generation. This particular generation is facing a challenging period, a global pandemic. But it offers an opportunity to rise to the challenge and make a difference; "Our forefathers have fought and Won their own wars. This is this generation’s battle and it entails sacrifices, too. Together, we can win this battle and emerge as a more resilient race; "God ble...