EVER wonder why there wasn’t much of a star power in Boracay Island frolicking during the Holy Week contrary to the past holidays when celebrities would be arriving at the Caticlan airport in droves?

Contrary to last year’s conspicuous presence of famous stars in the beaches, their scarcity was felt this year. Karla Estrada was spotted but not many other stars descended from heaven to plunge in the deep, sunbath in the sand or party at night in bacchanalia. 

It must have been the current rehabilitation of Boracay after the government discovered that the paradise has been heavily polluted…

Read more: Starless summer in Boracay

After the world renowned action superstar Steven Seagal’s widely publicized location shoots of a television adventure series in the Philippines late last year, it’s Chinese action hero Jackie Chan’s turn to backdrop the country in his caper.
According to Filipino filmmaker and member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Joey Romero, Jackie is set to plane in to the Philippines in June to start up a set in Manila.
“Manggagaling siya sa Beijing sa China kung saan sila ay nagsu-shooting na. Then, he will be in full swing in Manila (He…

Read more: Exclusive! Jackie Chan to shoot film (again) in PH

After a two-year hiatus, the Philippine Ukulele Festival returns for its fourth salvo of weekend jamming with music lovers of all ages and from varied walks of life.

The festival will be on April 21 - 22 at the Centris Mall beside where EDSA MRT in Quezon City organized by Happy Music, a retail store operation specializing in ukuleles and members of the Ukulele Underground Philippines (UUP) community which held first three successful PUFs in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Post-PUF3, they chose to sow and cultivate in key locales outside Metro Manila and spread the love for the petite package of musical delight through social media.

The community grew from fledglings of enthusiasts and has 8,000 followers on Facebook. On its Facebook page, HappymusicPH has earned “likes” from over 58,000 people.

PUF4 will showcase the fruits of their labors these past three years gathering ukulele artists from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to fill the air with happy music that lifts the soul, puts smiles on faces, and warms hearts.

Read more: 2-day ukulele festival at Centris Mall

Speaking of award-winning feminist writer Lanot’s launch of her new collection of poetry—UP Press’ “Cadena de Amor” in English, Filipino and Spanish—one of the exciting readers of an excerpt from the book was prizewinning stage, film and television actress Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino.
Centenera-Buencamino read a poignant personal account of the author in a poem dedicated to the magical moments in October.
“I was invited in advance as early as last year to read a poem by Marra,” Shamaine chuckled as she prepared to give meanings and insights to her poetic interpretation.
Amidst her busy sked shuttling from…

Read more: Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino reads feminist poetry