The QCinema International Film Festival continues to stand as a vital cultural pillar for both Quezon City and the broader cinema industry. For Quezon City, the festival proudly reinforces the city’s prestigious designation as one of only two cities in Southeast Asia recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Film, serving as a powerful platform that champions local storytelling and positions the metropolis as a thriving regional hub for cinematic arts. Within the broader film industry, QCinema acts as a crucial launchpad for bold, innovative works—exemplified by homegrown projects like the ₱1.5-million QCinema Project Market grant-winner Ella Arcangel: Ballad of Tooth and Claw—while bridging Southeast Asian cinema with the global stage by showcasing exceptional international co-productions and masterworks. For its 14th edition running from November 13 to 22, 2026, across major Metro Manila cinemas, the festival embraces the curatorial concept “Genre’teurs.” This theme stands for th...

Amb. Dana Kursh delivers her opening remarks at the Israel-led forum on October 22 As the Philippines faces intensifying climate vulnerabilities—ranging from erratic rainfall and extreme heat to recurring droughts like El Niño—transforming the nation's agricultural landscape has never been more urgent. Building a climate-resilient food system requires moving beyond reactive measures to embrace proactive, holistic solutions that safeguard every stage of the agricultural value chain, from farm production to market delivery. At the heart of this transformation are advanced technology, strong governance, and robust public-private partnerships (PPPs). Technological innovations—such as precision irrigation, digital crop monitoring, data-driven agronomy, and modern post-harvest facilities—are essential for optimizing resource use, mitigating weather risks, and drastically reducing food loss. However, technology alone is not enough; its success depends heavily on good governance. Strategic...

Belmont's PAMANA guest Chefs Aaron and Grant (center) are flanked by HR Manager Colleen Leviste (left) who did great hosting the event, Director of Operations Rupert Tancioco, and Belmont Hotel Manager Mayann Malapote.  Belmont Hotel Manila brings the flavors of Batangas to the table through PAMANA: Taal, Reimagined , a culinary collaboration featuring chefs Grant Zuniga and Aaron Valeroso. Launched as part of the hotel's 11th anniversary celebration, the dining experience presents two Filipino-inspired creations that combine regional ingredients with contemporary cooking techniques.  Available at Café Belmont until December 31, 2026, the featured dishes are Sinigang Risotto with Grilled Maliputo and Adobo sa Dilaw Chicken Confit, priced at PHP 1,200 each.  Heritage cuisine is far more than just a collection of old family recipes; it is the edible history of a nation, capturing the stories, struggles, and triumphs of generations past. In the Philippines, regional culinary...

Showbiz is indeed a small world, and few things warm the industry’s heart quite like friends-turned-enemies finally letting bygones be bygones.  Entrepreneur and the music industry's Revival King Jojo Mendrez and Starstruck first winner and the Bad Boy of the Dancefloor Mark Herras once shared a close bond and creative collaboration, but their promising friendship famously soured throughout 2025. What began as intense internet rumors quickly escalated into a bitter public and legal fallout, culminating in April 2025 when Mendrez filed a formal grave threats complaint against Herras over an alleged hotel room altercation—accusations that Herras strongly dismissed at the time as baseless nonsense. 42nd Star Awards for Movies producer Jojo Mendrez with the PMPC at the awarding ceremonies on October 25.  However, it was truly a case of "all's well that ends well" at the 42nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies at the Winford Hotel. Following a private backstage conversation where...

All for changed and transformed society, from left: Ric Cruz, Lance Raymundo, Comm. Bai Norhata Alonto, Dr. Sandy Montano, Engr. Hermie Orbe, Dr. Cecille Dy, UNAP SecGen.  Prof Alice Lucas, Prof. Pilar Bautista and Direk Jenny Niñalga  Speakers at the panel duscussion were, from.left:  Ms. Leanna Alonto, representing the youth and young professionals; Mr. Lance Raymundo, for Filipino performers navigating the Global Stage. Prof. Pilar Bautista: Academic leader with years of experience on the Grassroots; Dr. Sandy Montano: The Global Filipino of Care; Dr. Cecilia La Madrid-Dy on positive journalism ; Global UNAP President Ric Cruz, for the Filipino and Sustainable Tourism. On the historic afternoon of October 23, a diverse assembly of civic leaders, media practitioners, international advocates, and enterprise leaders gathered for the Media & the Global Filipino: Recognizing the Role of Media in Connecting, Informing and Mobilizing the Filipinos for the SDGs. Timed in o...