Entertainment News (05/06/25)

May 6, 2025 | 12:01 am

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CreaZion Studios releases Kabisera supercut

THE 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Kabisera is now available for free on YouTube, as a tribute to two beloved actors in Philippine cinema who have recently passed away: the late National Artist Nora Aunor and the late television director and actor Ricky Davao. This edition of Kabisera, released by CreaZion Studios, aims to revisit the acclaimed sociopolitical drama and celebrate both actors’ legacies. It follows a family grappling with the harsh realities of extrajudicial killings and political abuse. It is available to stream via YouTube.

Paolo Sandejas, Clara Benin collab on folk-pop track

FILIPINO singer-songwriter Paolo Sandejas has tapped indie-folk favorite Clara Benin for a new version of his song “Roses.” Fresh from his recently released debut album, the world is so small, the track reimagines the original tune, after the two artists met over Zoom and exchanged ideas and recordings. Produced by longtime collaborator Xergio Ramos, Ms. Benin’s contributions to Mr. Sandejas’ song went beyond her voice; she also honed the harmonies and vocal arrangements. “Roses” is now out on all music streaming platforms.

Last Mission: Impossible out this May

PARAMOUNT Pictures and Skydance are presenting the final installment of Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible series. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning takes the cast and crew to the Arctic, where Mr. Cruise reprises the role of Ethan Hunt. Christopher McQuarrie is the film’s director. The film also stars Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman and Angela Bassett. It will be out in all cinemas on May 17.

Singer Zsa Zsa Padilla marks 4 decades with concert

ON MAY 17, Zsa Zsa Padilla will be taking the stage at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City for her 42^nd anniversary concert, Through the Years. The concert aims to be “a grand celebration of her journey, spanning four decades of music, love, and life.” She will share the stage with iconic collaborators, including Gary Valenciano and Erik Santos; plus her children Zia Quizon and Karylle. The concert will be under the creative direction of director Rowell Santiago, with Homer Flores as musical director. Tickets are available via TicketWorld.

Everything About My Wife goes to Hong Kong, Macau, UAE

THE romantic-comedy film Everything About My Wife, produced by CreaZion Studios, GMA Pictures, and Glimmer Studios, is set to premiere internationally this May. It show in cinemas in Hong Kong and Macau on May 8, and in the United Arab Emirates on May 23. Directed by Real Florido and written by Rona Co, the film stars Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo as a married couple who find themselves at a crossroads seven years in, with Sam Milby playing a potential third party in their relationship.

Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown on Disney+

THE Oscar-nominated biopic on American folk musician Bob Dylan, A Complete Unknown, will be arriving on the Disney+ streaming platform on May 21. Directed by James Mangold, the film invites Bob Dylan fans to revisit their favorite songs and younger audience members to get to know the 1960s icon through his rapid ascent in folk music. It stars Timothée Chalamet as Dylan, with Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, and Monica Barbaro in the supporting cast.

Netflix hosts live event Netflix Tudum 2025

TO CELEBRATE the global fandoms of Netflix’s popular series and movies, the streaming service will be holding a live event titled “Netflix Tudum 2025.” The high-energy show will be streamed on the platform on May 31 at 8 a.m. (Philippine time), live from the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. The show will be packed with stars, exclusive reveals, and live performances aimed at fans around the world. The show can be streamed from this link: www.netflix.com/TUDUM.

Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty out in July

THE 3^rd season of Prime Video’s global hit series, The Summer I Turned Pretty, will premiere in July, as announced by the platform in a short teaser. It revealed that the coming-of-age drama will launch on July 16, featuring 11 episodes, exclusively on Prime Video. Led by showrunners Jenny Han and Sarah Kucserka, the new season will continue to follow Lola Tung as Belly as she navigates first love and growing up, and is caught in a love triangle between two brothers.

Ed Sheeran announces new album, releases song

THE new album by Irish singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, titled Play, is slated to be released on Sept. 12. In the meantime, he has come out with a song, “Old Phone,” from the album. The album aims to “explore new musical ground through collaboration with producers and musicians from around the world.” His most recent song, “Azizam,” revealed how Mr. Sheeran was inspired by his exposure to the Persian musical culture. “Old Phone” narrates the disorienting act of reconnecting with the past. It is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Wednesday S2 to drop in 2 parts in August, September

JENNA ORTEGA will reprise her iconic role as Wednesday Addams in the forthcoming second season of Wednesday. The fan-favorite Netflix show will be a two-parter, with part one launching on Aug. 6 and the second part coming on Sept. 3. The show will continue to follow the titular character’s adventures at Nevermore Academy, where more supernatural mysteries await. Creator/showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar will be back, alongside executive producer and director Tim Burton.

Incubus reveals new album title

AMERICAN rock band Incubus has unveiled the title of their upcoming album: Something in the Water. The record will be out later this year on Virgin Music. It is their ninth studio album, and the first one since 2017. Lead singer Brandon Boyd called it “a really great record” that all the band members are proud of. The album also marks their first with new bassist Nicole Row.

GCash, Cebuana Lhuillier Bank launch savings account via GSave

May 6, 2025 | 12:01 am

ELECTRONIC WALLET GCash has partnered with rural lender Cebuana Lhuillier Bank to launch an in-app savings account that offers high interest rates.

Under the partnership, GCash users can open an eC-Savings by Cebuana Lhuillier Bank account through its app’s GSave feature.

“GCash and Cebuana are driven by the same mission of making financial services accessible to Filipinos nationwide, especially the underserved communities. Through this collaboration, we hope to empower Filipinos to cultivate their financial well-being by transforming saving from being a burden to being an actionable step,” GCash Group Head of New Businesses Winsley Royce Bangit said in a statement on Monday.

“Filipinos’ hardworking spirit deserves to be matched by financial services that work just as hard as they do, actively supporting their financial goals. By building upon the trust of millions of Filipinos in GCash and Cebuana, we hope to empower their aspirations for a secure future by making saving truly accessible and rewarding for all,” Mr. Bangit added.

The account offers a savings rate of 3.5% per annum regardless of deposit amount. GCash users who will open an account will get a P100 cashback on their initial deposit.

Users can deposit as low as P1 directly from their GCash wallets as the eC-Savings account does not have a maintaining balance requirement.

Accountholders will also get up to P33,000 in free accident insurance coverage, GCash said.

“While most hardworking Filipinos understand the value of having insurance, cost still prevents them from prioritizing it. We introduced this benefit so they no longer have to face a trade-off between building their savings and having peace of mind during their daily hustle,” Mr. Bangit said.

GCash users can open an eC-Savings account on GSave without having to submit additional IDs. Filipino citizens who are at least 18 years old and have fully verified GCash accounts can avail of the product. — A.M.C. Sy

Pag-IBIG Fund seeks more developer partnerships this year

May 6, 2025 | 12:01 am

THE Home Development Mutual Fund, or Pag-IBIG Fund, said it hopes to partner with more housing developers this year to broaden the availability of housing units and meet its target of extending P156.86 billion in housing loans in 2025.

“We intend to tap new developers, those who are not yet accredited. There are thousands of development projects around the country,” Alexander H. Aguilar, deputy chief executive officer of the member services cluster at Pag-IBIG Fund, told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of the Real Estate International Summit and Expo 2025, a forum held on Thursday.

Currently, Pag-IBIG Fund has around 467 partner developers. It plans to engage 250 more this year.

“We started talking to small, upcoming, emerging developers, and I hope that they will also bring more numbers,” Mr. Aguilar said.

For 2025, Pag-IBIG Fund aims to extend P156.86 billion in housing loans to its members, 21% higher than the P129.73 billion released last year.

This year’s target is also equivalent to 111,648 housing units, Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta said in April.

Last year, Pag-IBIG fell short of its P143-billion home loans target by 10%.

According to Mr. Aguilar, the housing industry is still reeling from the ill effects of the pandemic.

“There were not many socialized housing units built in 2024. So, that led to missing our target,” he said.

To meet this year’s housing loan target, Pag-IBIG is also set to launch housing caravans for overseas Filipino workers, who account for about 20-25% of its accounts.

It is also looking to reach out to more potential borrowers through increased advertisements and companies’ fund coordinators.

Last year, Pag-IBIG Fund’s net income climbed by 36% to a record P67.52 billion from P49.79 billion in 2023, driven by higher loans, collections, and investment returns.

Pag-IBIG ended 2024 with about 17 million members. It is looking to add at least 1.5 million new members this year, Ms. Acosta said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of select ASEAN economies, April 2025

May 6, 2025 | 12:01 am

Democracy or Democrazy?

May 6, 2025 | 12:01 am

Election-voters — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

The May 12 midterm general election is only days away. This election season once again confronted us with a dizzying barrage of Pinoy-style campaign messaging. Streets and media channels have been awash with banners, jingles, and carefully crafted soundbites. Familiar names — often dynastic or celebrity — have dominated airwaves and social media feeds. And just like in previous years, our national discourse slid further away from the serious and deliberative debate that democracy demands. In its place, we saw an avalanche of emotion-driven appeals, political spectacle, and superficial promises. We need to ask ourselves: Do we still have a functioning democracy — or have we descended into what some would call a “democrazy”?

I have always been frustrated by how we prioritize elections over everything else. At its core, democracy is not just about voting. It is about self-rule — people collectively identifying the common good and choosing leaders who are accountable to the will of the governed. In a republican democracy like the Philippines, this requires both a framework of laws that protect individual rights (protective democracy) and institutions that allow for meaningful public engagement beyond elections. But what we have seen for many decades instead is a degeneration of democratic practice into what political theorist David Held calls competitive elitist democracy — a system where elites compete for the people’s votes, while the public remains largely passive and disengaged.

The 1987 Constitution enshrines protective democratic principles: rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances, and rights-based governance. But in practice, it is electoral competition among entrenched elites and personalities that dominates. With every election, more dynastic families consolidate power, and more celebrities enter politics with little scrutiny of their policy positions or governance plans. National development issues — corruption, quality jobs, poverty, inequality, education, sustainable development, even artificial intelligence — rarely find meaningful space in our campaign narratives.

The result? A widening gap between what democracy should be and what it has become.

Our political culture is deeply rooted in a feudal and cacique tradition, where power is not built on policy competence or civic virtue but on personal loyalty, patronage, and showmanship. Leaders are rarely held accountable for corruption, inefficiency, or incompetence. Impunity reigns, as evidenced by the outrageous behavior of some public officials — unchallenged, even rewarded, by a permissive media ecosystem.

The Philippine media ecology — dominated by social media — is central to our democratic crisis. As Zac Gershberg and Sean Illing have argued in The Paradox of Democracy, social media culture has eroded the conditions needed for liberal democracy to thrive. It accelerates misinformation, shortens attention spans, and replaces rational public debate with viral emotional appeals. Instead of forums for reflective discourse, our public spheres have become battlegrounds of noise, spectacle, and distraction. The entertainment industry’s logic — fame over substance — infects our politics.

Hence, it is no surprise that the Philippine National Police has already reported more than a dozen killings for this election cycle. When political contests are battles for control of wealth and influence rather than contests of ideas, violence follows. When democratic institutions are weak, and public reason is absent, chaos prevails.

So, where do we go from here?

First, we must animate the democratic ideal of our Constitution — the belief that the people, through reasoned and collective deliberation, can govern themselves. This begins with a cultural shift. Citizens must learn to identify public issues in terms of the common good, not just narrow interests. We need more civic education, media literacy, and critical thinking skills, especially for the youth. Public discourse must move beyond the binary of loyalism and opposition, and toward shared inquiry and constructive dissent.

Second, we must confront the accumulated political power of business and oligarchic interests that influence not just policy but even the choice of candidates. When economic elites shape political agendas, public welfare is sidelined in favor of private gain. A democracy where economic and political power is concentrated in the hands of a few is neither just nor sustainable.

Lastly, we must demand institutional reforms that promote real accountability. This includes strong anti-dynasty laws, campaign finance reforms, independent media, and mechanisms for citizen participation between elections. True democracy is not a one-day event at the ballot box — it is a continuing project of building and sustaining institutions that make the people’s voice matter.

If we continue down our current path — of emotional politics, dynastic control, media trivialization, and public disengagement — we risk the continued reduction of our democracy into farce. But if we act together in a sustained way beyond elections, we can reclaim its promise and fulfill our constitutional vision of shared prosperity and quality life for all.

Democracy must be defended — not just against tyrants, but against apathy, ignorance, and the seductive pull of democrazy.

Dr. Benito Teehankee is a full professor at the Department of Management and Organization of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business at De La Salle University. He is the chairman of the Shared Prosperity Committee of the Management Association of the Philippines.

map@map.org.ph

benito.teehankee@dlsu.edu.ph

http://map.org.ph

How PSEi member stocks performed — May 5, 2025

May 6, 2025 | 12:00 am

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Monday, May 5, 2025.

Philippine jobs ‘exposed’ to AI risks estimated at 35-37%

May 5, 2025 | 9:39 pm

Job fair-applicants — JOBSEEKERS file application forms at a job fair at a mall in Manila. — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

BETWEEN 35% and 37% of Philippine jobs are at risk of displacement to artificial intelligence (AI), the World Bank said.

“About 35% to 37% are exposed” to AI risks, World Bank Group Lead Economist and Program Leader for the Prosperity Unit for Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines, Gonzalo Varela told a panel on Monday.

He also noted the high adoption of generative AI in the operations of the Information Technology Business Process Management industry.

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines in December reported that 67% of its surveyed members are already using AI in customer service, data entry, and quality assurance, though challenges persist.

However, 8% of its members surveyed reduced their workforce because of AI.

In a separate report in August, the bank said the Philippines ranked fourth in ChatGPT traffic as of March 2024.

The World Bank noted that five middle-income countries — Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the Philippines — showed “generative AI traffic levels significantly higher relative to the US than their other metrics would suggest.”

Bilal Khan Muhammad, social sector economist at the Asian Development Bank, noted that AI advancements are now impacting white-collar jobs, with many tasks being performed by AI tools.

“But then with the recent advancements in AI, we also see white-collar jobs have also been replaced by these AI tools where we are seeing a lot of tasks now can be performed by the AI itself.

You just ask the AI to help you with the representation or format a document or help you prepare a draft,” he said.

Mr. Varela said AI could be a “productivity shock” and provide opportunities for workers in the Philippines.

The government’s Trabaho Para Sa Bayan plan needs to explore how “to take advantage of the technological changes that are going to affect job creation,” he added.

At the same event, the departments of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), Trade and Industry and Labor and Employment, launched the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan 2025-2034.

The 10-year plan aims to strengthen and future-proof the workforce.

The plan includes a research agenda to gauge the impact of AI on labor demand across various industries, job roles, and skill levels, and identify vulnerable occupations.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said the government has yet to firm up a national policy on AI.

“We believe that AI can supplement, can complement, but cannot replace,” he told reporters.

Mr. Laguesma noted that the National Innovation Council, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., approved the creation of a think tank which will create a roadmap for AI use.

The think tank, whose lead agency will be the Department of Science and Technology, will guide the drafting of AI policy.

“Protection does not mean retention. It could mean upgrading, looking for another job, facilitating their employment, and the provision of social safety nets. That’s where we are,” Mr. Laguesma said.

Meanwhile, DEPDev Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon noted that the low exposure of AI stems from the overall low level of technology adoption in the Philippines.

“Underlying all this, especially on the part of data and then creating models, this is really where you will need this policy on ethics, on the use of AI,” she added. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Energy dep’t outlines measures to ensure reliable power for polls

May 5, 2025 | 9:37 pm

linemen-electric line — PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said on Monday that measures are in place to ensure stable and reliable power during the midterm elections, and also directed the removal of campaign materials attached to power infrastructure.

“The delivery of stable and reliable electricity is a national priority, especially during elections when the democratic process relies heavily on uninterrupted power,” Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said in a statement.

Mr. Lotilla said the DoE is working closely with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the energy industry “to ensure that the power sector infrastructure remains clear of any obstructions, especially those that endanger lives and disrupt essential services.”

Comelec has received reports of campaign materials being illegally affixed to power poles and cables.

“These practices not only breach election rules but also pose serious safety hazards and threaten the stable operation of the country’s power systems,” the DoE said.

In a virtual briefing, Energy Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella affirmed the full readiness of the Energy Task Force Election.

“We’d like to assure everyone that the Energy Task Force Election is doing its best to ensure unimpeded power supply during the election period,” he said, adding that the task force is scenario planning to map out its planned responses.

The DoE said public and private energy companies conducted inspections and maintenance of critical infrastructure, including pre-election checks of polling and canvassing centers, particularly in critical areas identified by Comelec.

In off-grid and remote areas, distribution utilities overseen by the Small Power Utilities Group maintained lines to ensure continuous power supply.

Meanwhile, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines conducted inspections and cleared its right-of-way areas along high-voltage transmission corridors, according to DoE.

“Contingency plans are in place, and we are in constant coordination with the security forces to help ensure a smooth and secure election,” Mr. Fuentebella said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

April WESM rates decline on higher supply margin

May 5, 2025 | 9:36 pm

ELECTRICITY PRICES on the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) declined in April as supply improved with power generators scheduling less maintenance during election season, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) said.

The market operator reported that the national average WESM price decreased 15.3% month on month to P4.52 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Between March 26 and April 25, available supply increased 8.8% to 21,345 megawatts (MW). Demand rose 7.8% to 14,739 MW.

“Given the upcoming elections and the dry season, there are fewer scheduled outages, so the supply margin is higher compared to the previous month despite the increase in demand,” Arjon Valencia, corporate planning and communications manager of IEMOP, said via Viber.

In Luzon, the WESM price fell 16.5% month on month to P4.59 per kWh, with supply rising 10.9% to 15,000 MW while demand grew 9.3% to 10,613 MW.

IEMOP said that Visayas average dropped 17.6% to P4.52 per kWh. Supply improved 8.4% to 2,563 MW while demand increased 5% to 2,009 MW.

The Mindanao WESM rate fell 6.3% month on month to P4.11 per kWh. Available supply increased 1.8% to 3,782 MW while demand climbed 3.6% to 2,118 MW.

IEMOP operates the WESM, where energy companies buy power when their long-term contracted power supply is insufficient for customer needs. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Airport fee increases need to go into upgraded facilities, analysts say

May 5, 2025 | 9:36 pm

Accident--NAIA — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter

THE increased terminal fees for air passengers will need to be backed up by improved facilities, though the impact on traffic volume is expected to be minimal, analysts said.

“The price increases will only have a negligible effect on tourism. The proposed increases represent only a fraction of total overall travel spend for the traveler,” Alfred Lay, director for hotels, tourism, and leisure at Leechiu Property Consultants, said via Viber.

Improved facilities “significantly improve the perception of travelers for any destination and in turn, help keep the hotels and resorts full,” Mr. Lay said.

In April, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced an increase in the passenger service charge and other fees at its airports.

For air passengers departing from international airports and principal class 1 and 2 airports, the terminal fee was raised to P900 ($17) for international flights from P550 previously.

Cyndy Tan Jarabata, president and chief executive officer of TAJARA Leisure & Hospitality Group, Inc., said increased fees may be needed to cover rising utilities, labor, and operating costs.

“However, if they’re going to increase the price, there’s an expectation among many that the services they offer will improve too,” Ms. Jarabata said in an e-mail.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the country’s main gateway, has been ranked among the world’s worst airports in terms of cleanliness, delays, and substandard facilities.

Ms. Jarabata said secondary airports need to raise their game.

“Terminals need to be well-kept and should provide efficient services to every traveler, especially in secondary destinations, which are beginning to get more traction.”

Visitor arrivals to the Philippines declined 0.5% to 1.65 million in the three months to March, the Department of Tourism reported.

Drought tolerance being developed in sugarcane

May 5, 2025 | 9:31 pm

THE Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation, Inc. is seeking to develop sugarcane varieties tolerant of drought and resistant to disease, the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) said.

One of the projects will utilize in-vitro techniques to identify sugarcane with the desired qualities, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), an arm of the DoST, said.

Sugarcane-growing areas in the Philippines experience dry periods lasting four to six months, making drought tolerance a vital trait for sustainable production.

Diseases such as downy mildew and smut can cause significant yield losses, the DoST, which is helping funding the project, said.

The second project will seek to develop a hybrid of wild and conventional varieties to achieve disease resistance and high sucrose content.

“These efforts are expected to provide valuable insights into the diversity and phenotypic variation of sugarcane and its relatives, contributing to the long-term breeding efforts toward a more resilient sugarcane industry,” PCAARRD said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Ban on S. Korean pork products lifted

May 5, 2025 | 9:30 pm

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it lifted a 2019 ban on imports of processed pork products from South Korea, following a risk assessment of Korean efforts to contain African Swine Fever (ASF).

Memorandum Order No. 23 permits the entry of pork items subjected to high-level heat treatment.

The restriction was imposed in 2019 to shield the hog industry from ASF.

The DA said it reconsidered its stance following the findings of the recent Import Risk Analysis dated April 8, 2025, which concluded that sterilized pork products from South Korea intended for export meet World Organization for Animal Health standards and are deemed a “safe commodity.”

The report cited South Korea’s “robust” veterinary oversight and ASF control systems.

It also noted the shelf stability and secure packaging of South Korean pork products.

“With these assurances, sterilized pork products from South Korea are permitted for import in accordance with existing Philippine regulations,” the DA said in a statement.

“With this policy shift, more pork products are anticipated to be available to consumers in the Philippines. It may also indicate a potential thaw in agri-trade relations between the two countries,” the DA said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza