Anao's Jacob Kier Gomez wins Ginoong Kanlahi 2025

18-year-old Jacob Kier Gomez from the Municipality of Anao bested 15 other ginoo from the province of Tarlac to become the 9th Ginoong Kanlahi. 

The gentlemen from Tarlac went head-to-head at coronation night, battling in four segments that includes the Fauna Costume, Beach Wear, Formal Wear, and of course the Q&A segment. It was definitely a close battle in the first three categories, but Jacob was able to ace it in the question-and-answer portion where delivered his answer really well. 

The Top 5 candidates were asked with the same question that goes "What makes the Kanlahi Festival unique compared to other festivals?". 

For Jacob, Kanlahi Festival is unique compared to other festival because the Kanlahi celebrates its people, it's the warmth, hospitality, and kindess of every Tarlaqueno that is highlighted in the festival. 

Here's the full text of Jacob's answer in the Q&A round.

"I'm very grateful that (Governor) Susan Yap has implemented a Kanlahi Festival because in the Philippines, there are various festival like Ati atihan festival, the sinulog festival that celebrates various saints and various foods. But what makes Kanlahi Festival standout from different festivals is that the Kanlahi Festival celebrates it's people. The warmth, hospitality and kindness of every Tarlaqueño is what makes it standout from every festival. And that I believe that Kanlahi Festival is the true representation of beauty, of unity and diversity. Thank you!"

The race to Ginoong Kanlahi wasn't easy and coming in close to the crown is pageant veteran and Ginoong Paniqui's John Paul Gundayao, placing second runner up is Concepcion's Marc Christian Muan, Victoria's Bien Carlo Payumo went home as the third runner up, and wrapping up the top 5 is Abdulaziz Barakat of Camiling who finished as 4th runner up, 

Jacob Kier Gomez will be representing the province of Tarlac at the 4th Mister Pilipinas Worldwide next year.  

Carlo Aquino & Takehiro Hira Lead Suspense Drama Crosspoint, Premiering on Netflix Philippines This March 13, 2025

 

The gripping action drama Crosspoint, directed by Donie Ordiales, is set to premiere on Netflix Philippines on March 13, 2025, following its successful theatrical release in the country. A compelling collaboration between the Philippines and Japan, the film stars award-winning Filipino actor Carlo Aquino, known for Whispers in the Wind, and Emmy-nominated Japanese actor Takehiro Hira, recognized for his performance in Shogun.

A Story of Survival and Destiny

Desperation brings people to the most unexpected crossroads. Crosspoint follows Manuel Hidalgo, played by Carlo Aquino, a once-promising Filipino actor now living in the shadows of Tokyo, forced to perform illegally in Filipino pubs to survive. Struggling to escape his past and make ends meet, he crosses paths with Shigeru Yamaguchi, played by Takehiro Hira, a former construction manager drowning in debt and regret.

Both men are trapped—Manuel by his failures and the harsh reality of being an undocumented worker, and Shigeru by financial ruin and the weight of his past decisions. Desperate for a fresh start, they encounter an unexpected opportunity that could either change their lives or seal their fates forever. When they recognize a fugitive on the news, they see a chance to claim a massive reward. What begins as a desperate bid for survival soon turns into a perilous chase, forcing them to confront their deepest fears, test their morality, and determine how far they are willing to go to take control of their lives.

Director’s Vision: Inspired by Real-Life Struggles

Filmmaker Donie Ordiales, a Filipino director based in Japan, shares how Crosspoint was inspired by real people and events:

“The characters of Manuel Hidalgo and Shigeru Yamaguchi were inspired by real people I met in Japan. Initially, I planned to create separate stories for each of them—one targeting the Filipino audience and the other challenging myself to capture the Japanese market. But while contemplating which story to pursue, I saw a news report about a serial killer on the loose in Chiba. In that moment, I knew these two characters belonged in the same world, brought together by their struggles and a common goal: survival.”

“What we can learn from Crosspoint is that nothing in life is stable. You can be at the top today, but everything can change in an instant. The greatest obstacle to progress is often ourselves, and unfortunately, the price of realizing this truth can be steep.”

Carlo Aquino on Portraying an Overseas Filipino Worker

Carlo Aquino delved deep into his personal experiences to authentically portray Manuel Hidalgo, reflecting the challenges faced by many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Drawing parallels between his own career fluctuations and Manuel's journey, Aquino remarked:

“From being very popular, he became a washed-up actor, and then he was looking for work… It also happened to me. From my teenage years, tapos biglang nawala (projects suddenly disappeared). Although with Manuel, he’s older, it happened to me through the years. So, kumbaga, parang pasok pa rin (it still felt fitting). Parang ako pa rin naman talaga si Manuel Hidalgo.”

Aquino hopes Crosspoint captures the struggles and sacrifices of Filipinos working abroad—the dreams they chase, the hardships they endure, and the lengths they go to for the people they love.

An Award-Winning Cast & Japan-Philippines Co-Production

The film boasts a powerhouse cast, including Sho Ikushima, Sarah Jane Abad, Dindo Arroyo, Kei Kurosawa, Ian De Leon, Aoi Okuyama, Ken Yamamura, Stefanie Arianne, Polo Ravales, Zeppi Borromeo, Misa Shimizu, and Rie Shibata. Crosspoint seamlessly blends the storytelling traditions of both the Philippines and Japan, presenting a raw and emotionally charged cinematic experience.

Takehiro Hira, recently Emmy-nominated for his performance in Shogun, delivers a compelling portrayal of a man on the brink, while Carlo Aquino, known for his award-winning role in Whispers in the Wind, brings depth and intensity to Manuel’s turbulent journey.

A Landmark Netflix Acquisition

Philippines-based Fire & Ice Media has successfully sold the Asia Pacific rights for Crosspoint to Netflix in a major deal secured during the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) in Busan. This strategic move highlights the growing demand for high-quality Filipino cinema on international streaming platforms.

Crosspoint premieres on Netflix Philippines on March 13, 2025.

Black Eyed Peas Live in Manila 2025

 

Six-time GRAMMY® Award-winning trio and one of the best-selling groups of all time, BLACK EYED PEAS is finally coming to Manila on August 27, 2025 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Presented by Wilbros Live. Tickets go on-sale on Saturday, March 15, 12PM via SMTickets.com and SM Tickets outlets nationwide.

 

Over the past 30 years, the Los Angeles trio–will.i.am, Apl.de.Ap, and Taboo–have achieved sales of 35 million albums and 120 million singles across seminal releases such as Elephunk, The E.N.D., and more. One of the era’s biggest acts, they emerged as “the second best-selling artist/group of all-time for downloaded tracks” (Nielsen) and landed on Billboard’s “Hot 100 Artists of the Decade”. In 2011, they dazzled the world with a landmark performance at the Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show.

 

They have released several chart-topping hits, including “I Gotta Feeling”, “Where is the Love?”, “Pump It”, “Boom Boom Pow”, “My Humps”, “Meet Me Halfway”, “Let’s Get It Started”, “The Time (Dirty Bit)”, “Don’t Stop The Party”, and many more.

 

Their eighth studio album, TRANSLATION, achieved staggering international success after its release in 2020. Featuring major collaborations with artists such as J Balvin, Ozuna, Maluma, Shakira, Nicky Jam, and Tyga, the long-player garnered eight nominations at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, including ‘Crossover Artist of the Year” and “Hot Latin Song of the Year” for “RITMO” and a nomination at the 2021 Latin Music Awards for ‘“Favorite Artists - Crossover”. The album resulted in a series of chart-topping singles, including the massively successful “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)” [feat. J Balvin] and “MAMACITA” [feat. Ozuna and J.Rey Soul], both of which achieved #1 status on three Billboard Charts each, numerous award nominations, and gold, platinum, and diamond certifications globally. The knockout album single from December 2020, “GIRL LIKE ME” [feat. Shakira] continued this streak, achieving success on Latin and Top 40 radio, sparking a viral TikTok challenge in late 2020, and scooping “Best Latin” award at the MTV VMAs, while 2021’s ‘HIT IT’ with Saweetie and Lele Pons racked up 5.8M global audio streams, 1.1M US audio streams and almost 10M YouTube views in its first week alone.

 

The success of TRANSLATION demonstrated Black Eyed Peas’ ability to reinvent themselves along with the changing times, a fact reconfirmed in 2022 when the band reunited with Shakira and David Guetta for DON’T YOU WORRY, the first single to drop from their ninth studio album ELEVATION. The hugely successful lead single was swiftly followed by the Anitta and El Alfa collaboration SIMPLY THE BEST. In 2023 true BEP fashion, harnessing the musical forces of the Americas, the next single BAILAR CONTIGO (with reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee) followed by GUARANTEE (SUMMER MIX), has opened up yet another brilliant chapter in the continuing story of the Black Eyed Peas in nothing less than international chart-topping style.

Toto Live in Manila 2025

 

Toto is returning to perform live in Manila after 17 years. 

The multi award-winning band will be holding a concert on May 4, 2025, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, presented by Ovation Productions with Blast TV as the official media partner. Since the band’s last visit to the country was in 2008, this show will be the long-awaited reunion between Toto and their Filipino fans who have longed to hear again the band’s many hits performed live and they will surely not be disappointed. 

Toto has celebrated one accomplishment after the next throughout the past year. The song “Africa” has been certified DIAMOND for sales of TEN MILLION copies by the RIAA in The United States. Current cumulative sales now exceed 10.5M. Additionally, “Hold the Line” has been certified triple platinum for sales of three million copies, while “Rosanna” hit the milestone of double platinum with sales of two million copies. The song “Africa” has now been streamed TWO BILLION times on Spotify, while “Hold the Line” has reached the milestone of a BILLION streams. Cumulative Toto album sales now exceed 50 MILLION copies, while the band’s repertoire is played more than THREE MILLION times daily on Spotify alone by an audience that continues to get younger month to month. Consistently, over 50% of the band’s streams are from those 34 years or younger. Total streams now exceed 4 BILLION at Spotify, and 6 BILLION across all platforms. 

Aside from Africa, Hold The Line, and Rosanna, Toto’s other hits include I’ll Be Over You, 99, I Won’t Hold You Back, Lea, Georgy Porgy, With A Little Help From My Friends, among others. 

Individually and collectively the band’s family tree can be heard on countless Grammy Award winning albums across all genres. Toto are one of the few 70’s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles while continuing to remain relevant. Joining Steve Lukather (guitar / vocals) and Joseph Williams (vocals) are Greg Phillinganes (keyboards / vocals), Shannon Forrest (drums), John Pierce (bass), Warren Ham (horns / percussion / vocals), and Dennis Atlas (keyboards / vocals). 

One of the best guitarists of all time Eddie Van Halen once said that Toto was the band any musician would dream of being in and are probably the best musicians collectively in any band. 

Toto is in the middle of their current world tour with dates across Europe, then Australia and New Zealand heading into Asia which includes a stop in Manila before the start of their U.S. tour in July.