GYMNASTICS GOLD! 🥇
The Philippines gets its third gymnastics gold in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand thanks to Jasmine Althea Ramilo, who tops the women's individual all-around in rhythmic gymnastics on Tuesday, December 16.

TITLE DEFENDED! 🥇

EJ Obiena wins a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games for the fourth straight edition as he retains his men's pole vault throne on Tuesday, December 16. 

Obiena edges Thailand's Patsapong Amsamarng via countback as they both clear a SEA Games record of 5.70 meters, with the Filipino needing just a single attempt to pass the height. 

The Philippines gets a 1-3 finish as Elijah Cole bags the bronze.

HARD WORK PAYS OFF

La Salle head coach Topex Robinson sits alone outside the Green Archers' locker room overcome with emotion immediately after his team's rousing three-game UAAP Season 88 men's basketball finals conquest of rival UP.

Plagued with injuries all season long, La Salle becomes the lowest-seeded team in 11 years to win the coveted championship. | via @JR Isaga - Rappler

MOTOR MIKE GOES OUT ON A HIGH.

Mike Phillips, the proverbial heart and soul of the La Salle Green Archers, ends his incredible UAAP career as the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Finals MVP! | via @JR Isaga - Rappler

TWO FROM MUAY 🥇🥇

Islay Erika Bomogao and LJ Rafael Yasay deliver a pair of gold medals in muay for the Philippines in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday, December 17.

Bomogao beats her Thai foe to rule the women's -45kg class, while Yasay overcomes his Malaysian opponent to win the men's -51kg division.

ESPORTS KINGS 👑

Sibol captures the men's Mobile Legends gold medal for the fourth consecutive Southeast Asian Games following a resounding 4-0 win over Malaysia in the best-of-seven final on Wednesday, December 17.

The team is composed of Team Liquid PH players Karl Gabriel Nepomuceno, Kiel Calvin Soriano, Sanford Vinuya, Alston Pabico, and Jaypee dela Cruz, and John Carlo Roma.

FOOTBALL QUEENS OF THE REGION 👑

For the first time ever, the Philippines captures the women's football gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games as it edges four-time defending champion Vietnam on penalties, 6-5, following a scoreless draw in a grueling final on Wednesday, December 17.

Jael Marie Guy, Alexa Pino, Hali Long, Angie Beard, Ariana Isabella Markey, and Jaclyn Sawicki all convert on their penalties as goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel seals the win by stopping the last Vietnam attempt.

REGION'S BEST 🥇

Modern pentathlon standout Melvin Sacay, who hails from Ormoc City, adds to the Philippines' golden harvest in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand by winning the men's individual laser run on Wednesday, December 17.

RIDING THE WIND TO GOLD 🥇

Dhenver John Castillo earns the Philippines' lone windsurfing gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand as he rules the men's U19 iQFoil class on Wednesday, December 17.

ALEX THE GREAT 🥇

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala earns her first Southeast Asian Games gold medal as she reigns supreme in the women's singles on Thursday, December 18, beating Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-1, 6-2, in the final.

Eala becomes the first Filipino to win the event since Maricris Fernandez ruled in 1999.

SOFTBALL DOMINATION! 🥇
The Philippine Blu Boys reinforce their status as the men's softball kings in the Southeast Asian Games after a 3-0 win over Singapore in the final in Thailand on Thursday, December 18. 

The Philippines has won the event for the 9th time out of the 11 editions the SEA Games staged a men's softball competition.

SEA GAMES CHAMP AGAIN 🥇

Actor-athlete Michael Ver Comaling gets another Southeast Asian Games gold medal in modern pentathlon after topping the men's triathle event on Thursday, December 18. 

The pride of Ormoc City, Leyte, also won the event in 2019 when modern pentathlon debuted in the SEA Games.

GLIDING TO GOLD 🥇 

Short track speed skater Peter Groseclose helps the Philippines' cause in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games as he claims the men's 500m gold on Friday, December 19.

HER-STORY 🥇

Alas Pilipinas makes history as it claims the women's beach volleyball gold in the Southeast Asian Games for the first time by sweeping three-time defending champion Thailand on Friday, December 19.

Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons score a 21-17, 21-15 win in the first match and then Dij Rodriguez and Sunnie Villapando post a 21-13, 17-21, 15-6 victory in the second to capture the crown.

Despite a sudden downpour, stars of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival brave the rain to greet waiting fans and promote their movies during the Parade of the Stars in Pasay City on Friday, December 19. 📸 Rappler

Read this article for a rundown of the eight official MMFF 2025 entries premiering nationwide this holiday season: rplr.co/MMFF2025Films

SOFTBALL QUEENS 👑

The Philippine Blu Girls retain the Southeast Asian Games women's softball gold medal after a 4-1 win over Singapore in the final on Friday, December 19.

It is a golden sweep for the Philippines in the sport as the Blu Boys captured the men's softball title as well.

BACK ON TOP 🏆

Gilas Pilipinas Women reclaim the Southeast Asian Games crown following a hard-fought 73-70 win over host Thailand in the women's 5-on-5 basketball final on Friday, December 19.

The Filipinas return to the top of the podium after settling for silver in the 2023 Cambodia edition.

TITLE DEFENDED 🥇

Gilas Pilipinas overcomes the hosts' flip-flopping on players' eligibility rules as it protects its Southeast Asian Games throne with a 70-64 win over Thailand in the final on Friday, December 17.

The Philippines captures a 20th gold medal in men's 5-on-5 basketball in the regional showdown.

BOXING GOLD AT LAST 🥊

Eumir Marcial captures the Philippines' first and only boxing gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games as he rules the men's 80kg class with a split decision win over Indonesia's Maikhel Muskita in the final on Friday, December 19.

Marcial earns his fifth SEA Games gold after victories in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021.

ANOTHER ONE 🥇

Samuel German delivers the Philippines' third gold medal in modern pentathlon in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games as he rules the men's obstacle laser run on Friday, December 19.

GOLDEN TAKEDOWN 🥇

Gabriel Thomas Dinette scores the Philippines' lone freestyle wrestling gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games after ruling the men's 86kg class on Friday, December 19. 

The 26-year-old goes unbeaten in his class, beating all of his four opponents.

Five-time SEA Games boxing champion Eumir Marcial serves as the Philippines' flag bearer in the closing ceremony at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Saturday, December 20.

Marcial captured the Philippines' lone boxing gold in this edition, helping the country finish with a 50-gold haul.

Other Filipino athletes who are part of the parade include father and daughter Richard and Juliana Gomez, who won medals in sporting clays and fencing, respectively.

SEMIS BOUND!

Top seed San Miguel becomes the first team to advance to the semifinals of the 2025-26 PBA Philippine Cup after a 101-94 win over NLEX in the first of two Christmas Day games.

June Mar Fajardo dominates with 26 points, 23 rebounds, and 6 assists as the twice-to-beat Beermen pick up their 10th straight victory after starting the conference with a 0-2 record.

The Metro Manila Film Festival welcomes two new figures into its Hall of Fame during the 2025 Gabi ng Parangal on Saturday, December 27. Awardees are acclaimed production designer Ericson Navarro (Hall of Fame for Best Production Design), and celebrated actress Judy Ann Santos (Hall of Fame for Best Actress), who is now the youngest actress to be named a member of the Hall of Fame. Santos, however, opted to be conferred next year.

"Manila's Finest" and "UnMarry" win the Best Float prize at the 2025 MMFF Gabi ng Parangal.

Read more about the two films here:

https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/unmarry-metro-manila-film-festival-2025/

https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/raymond-red-goes-mainstream-mmff-period-drama-manila-finest-2025/

More awardees are announced at the 2025 MMFF Gabi ng Parangal:

Montesa Male Star of the Night - Will Ashley and Dustin Yu

Montesa Female Star of the Night - Bianca de Vera

Best Visual Effects - “Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins” (Santelmo, Inc.)

Best Production Design - “Manila’s Finest” (Digo Ricio)

Best Editing - “UnMarry” (Benjo Ferrer)

Stay tuned for more updates!

"Manila's Finest" clinches three more consecutive awards at the 2025 MMFF Gabi ng Parangal!

Best Musical Score - “Manila’s Finest” (Frederik Sandoval and Emerzon Texon)

Best Sound - “Manila’s Finest” (Roy Santos)

Best Original Theme Song - “Sandalan” (Vehnee Saturno) from “Manila’s Finest”

Make that four, as the Piolo Pascual-starrer is also given the Best Cinematography award!

In this batch of awards, "UnMarry" and "Bar Boys: After School" bag most of the trophies, with "Manila Finest" adding to its growing stack of recognitions:

Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Odette Khan of “Bar Boys: After School”

Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Tom Rodriguez of “UnMarry”

Best Screenplay - “UnMarry” (Chris Martinez and Therese Cayaba)

Breakthrough Performance Award - Zac Sibug of “UnMarry”


Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence - “Bar Boys: After School”
Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award: “Manila’s Finest”

The MMFF 2025 Best Actress Award goes to Krystel Go of "I'mPerfect." The romance drama charts the story of Jiro and Jessica, two adults with down syndrome.

The Best Director Award at the 51st MMFF Gabi ng Parangal goes to Jeffrey Jeturian, who brought the film “UnMarry" to life.

Read more about Jeturian's work here: https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/unmarry-metro-manila-film-festival-2025/

"I'mPerfect" wins Best Picture at the 51st MMFF Gabi ng Parangal! “Manila’s Finest” and “Call Me Mother” are tied for 3rd Best Picture, while “UnMarry” is named 2nd Best Picture.