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.

FILIPINO PRIDE 🇵🇭🎤

Filipina singer-songwriter Gwyn Dorado places 2nd in the South Korean music show “Sing Again 4.” Dorado was the lone foreigner to make it to the finals — going up against three Korean contestants.

Lee Oh-wook takes home the crown, while Kim Jae-min places 3rd, and Slowly places 4th.

Read more about Dorado here: https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/who-is-gwyn-dorado-singer/

We're proud of you, Gwyn!

BEERMEN EQUALIZE 🍻

San Miguel pulls level with Barangay Ginebra in the 2025-26 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals after a 93-84 win in Game 2.

June Mar Fajardo records his second straight 20-20 performance as he tallies 21 points and 23 rebounds to help the Beermen tie the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

TWIN WINS 2️⃣

TNT grabs a 2-0 lead over Meralco in the 2025-26 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals following a convincing 109-92 win in Game 2 on Wednesday, January 7.

Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading combine for 50 points with 26 and 24 points, respectively.

FLOWERS IN BLOOM 🌻

The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) and the local government officially launched the 30th edition of the Panagbenga, or the Baguio Flower Festival, today, Jan. 12.

With the theme "Blooming Without End", this year's edition highlights the continued growth of Baguio City despite its challenges.

"This year's Panagbenga reminds us that Baguio is a city that continues to grow, progress, renew, and prosper, no matter the challenges we face," Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong said during the official launch.

"May this 30th Panagbenga be a celebration of continuity and hope, proof that despite all the uncertainties and serious challenges we faced as a nation, there is always that spirit that continues to bloom without end," he added.

LOOK: The candidates of Miss World Philippines 2026 were officially sashed and presented to the public at Okada Manila on Friday, January 16.

The 24 queens will vie for three national titles and earn the opportunity to represent the country on the international stage at Miss World, Universal Woman, and Miss Global.

LOOK: NOBITA Band Brings Music to the Streets of Batangas

On the evening of January 15, Mabini Plaza was alive with the sound of guitars, drums, and voices that refused to be ignored. Filipino band NOBITA took the stage for a scheduled street concert, turning the city’s familiar square into a vibrant gathering where students, families, and passersby stood shoulder to shoulder, singing along to hits that carried both nostalgia and raw emotion.

For hours, the plaza pulsed with energy. NOBITA’s songs echoed through the streets, drawing people in and keeping them there long after the music started. The performance wasn’t just entertainment — it was a shared moment, a prelude to Batangas Day that made the city pause, listen, and celebrate together, proving that sometimes the heart of a fiesta beats in the music itself

LOOK | Faith and festivity collide: Sto. Niño lights up Batangas City Day Festivity

Batangueños filled the streets with faith and color as Batangas City celebrated its annual fiesta honoring the Sto. Niño ng Batangan.

From vibrant parades to heartfelt prayers, the city came alive with traditions that unite generations, showing once again that the Sto. Niño remains at the very heart of Batangas City’s fiesta celebration.

BACK TO THE FINALS 🫡

San Miguel gets to a chance to defend its PBA Philippine Cup crown as it arranges a finals rematch with TNT after finishing off Barangay Ginebra in six games with a 101-88 win on Friday, January 16.

CJ Perez sets the tone in the triumph with 30 first-quarter points on a perfect 12-of-12 shooting and ends the game with a career-high 41 points.