POP NEWS DIGITAL

  It’s a can’t-miss live theater experience that dares today’s audiences to believe in hope. Repertory Philippines (REP) enlivens the local theater scene by bringing the inspiring and beloved story of literary hero Don Quixote to the stage in the much-anticipated production of the seminal classic "Man of La Mancha." With a limited four-weekend run from June 5 to 28 at the REP Eastwood Theater, the 2026 staging of "Man of La Mancha" not only harkens back to REP’s legacy but also offers a revitalized take for today’s theatergoers. Young director Nelsito Gomez, known for his fresh, creative, and relevant (and mostly lauded) takes on the masterworks of literary pantheons, from Shakespeare to Goethe, will bring the musical to life.  With him at the helm, one can expect this Cervantine musical about one man’s refusal to give up his impossible dream to be even more impactful and meaningful to the new generation. The cast of 'Man of La Mancha' Fittingly, this REP st...

ABS-CBN continues to expand its worldwide audience reach as some of its hit titles begin streaming on Rakuten Viki in over 200 countries and territories across the Americas, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Available with English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French subtitles, the titles are expected to reach even more international viewers through Viki’s community-driven subtitling initiative powered by volunteers worldwide. Leading the lineup are the Filipino adaptations of “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” starring Anne Curtis, Joshua Garcia, and Carlo Aquino, alongside the hit teen romance series “He’s Into Her” and “He’s Into Her Season 2,” featuring Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano. The partnership further strengthens ABS-CBN’s growing international footprint through Rakuten Viki, one of the world’s leading streaming platforms for Asian entertainment with over 120 million registered users globally. In partnership with entertainment platform Soompi, the collaboration ...

iWant's hottest vertical drama to date, "Twist of Fate," is off to a sizzling start since its May 30 premiere —garnering over 18.6 million views for its first five episodes, streaming for free across iWant and ABS-CBN Entertainment's social media and YouTube platforms. Along with its online viewership feat, "Twist of Fate" is also among the titles featured on iWant's most-watched charts. Following the hit romance short "The Chambermaid's Daughter" starring Alexa Ilacad and Gelo Rivera, "Twist of Fate" is the latest vertical drama offering from ABS-CBN Studios and iWant, packed with illicit affairs, shocking twists, and intense confrontations. Directed by Andoy Ranay, the steamy short series stars Rafael Rosell, Tony Labrusca, Angelica Lao, and Yen Santos. Its plot centers on Ginny (Yen), a devoted wife who's constantly abused and betrayed by his husband Sam (Rafael). Upon finding out that her husband has an affair with his sed...

AS Manila Genesis Entertainment & Management Inc. celebrates its 40th anniversary, the pioneering entertainment company marks a major milestone with one of the highlights of its year-long celebration: the highly anticipated “Gary V: Inspired” USA tour 2026. “Inspired” is a powerful musical journey that seeks to uplift hearts, bridge generations, and celebrate Filipino excellence on the global stage. Widely regarded as one of the Philippines’ most beloved and enduring musical artists, and celebrated as one of the country's premier concert performers, Gary brings his acclaimed concert experience to North America with performances scheduled on June 14 at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in Highland, California; June 19 at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California; June 21 at the Heinz C. Prechter Educational and Performing Arts Center in Taylor, Michigan; and June 27 at the Durham Convention Center in Durham, North Carolina. Joining Gary on all four tour stops is multi-hyphe...

There is a lot of buzz on social media right now about the official mainstream screening of "Habang Nilalamon Ng Hydra Ang Kasaysayan" by Dustin Celestino, which premiered at Cinemalaya in October 2025. Young people and students are calling for more cinemas to screen this political drama, which stars Zanjoe Marudo, Mylene Dizon, Jojit Lorenzo, Nanding Josef, and Dolly de Leon. Dolly De Leon "Hydra" is very timely, especially now that the country and its people face many challenges, particularly concerning the state of the economy and politics in the Philippines. "Hydra" boldly exposes the realities of socio-cultural and political conflicts and their effects on people's lives and morality. Mylene Dizon and Zanjoe Marudo Teachers aim to have their students watch this film so that they can freely discuss social issues in school. But how can people watch it if it is only being shown in a handful of cinemas?

  True to its commitment to nurturing Filipino talent, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) proudly begins a new chapter of the Virgin Labfest Writing Fellowship Program (VLF WFP). Now in its 15th year, the fellowship program has selected eight talented and passionate aspiring playwrights to participate in the educational component of the theater festival from June 16 to 28 at the CCP Complex. This year’s Writing Fellows are: Daniel John Augusto Rhea Kyla Dionisio Angela Nicole Divina Enrico Figueroa Reinhardt Patrick Orillos Rosemarie Uy Gio Alfonso Vega Kier Andrei Yonson In a span of two intensive weeks, VLF XXI WFP immerses its fellows in the craft of dramatic writing for the stage. Under the guidance of the multi-awarded playwright Glenn Sevilla Mas, the program offers a rich curriculum of lectures, workshops, and discussions on playwriting and script critique for selected aspiring playwrights. They will also be granted access to Virgin Labfest XXI: Hubo’t Hubad plays,...