The cheers haven’t died down from Cannes, yet the team behind “Agapito” already has another reason to celebrate. The short film, co-directed by Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero, has been officially selected for the Short Cuts Programme at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), running from Sept. 4 to 14 in Canada. “I’m excited because this is also its North American premiere,” Belarmino told Inquirer Entertainment in a recent interview. “We’re excited to find out what the reception of the audience there will be.” Romero recalled how she and the team first received the news: “Nagtawagan kami kaagad. […]... Keep on reading: From Cannes to Canada: Why ‘Agapito’ is the Filipino short everyone’s talking about

• Inquirer
• 4 gün, 13 saat, 16 dakika

A full-service independent ad agency is giving the country's national heroes a digital makeover to celebrate them for National Heroes Day and beyond. In one of the more recent posts on their official Facebook page, the ad agency The Huddle Room showcased 12 illustrations that reinterpreted the country's heroes as video game characters. The heroes featured in the post are Jose Rizal, Apolinario Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, Gabriela Silang, Melchora Aquino, Teresa Magbanua, Emilion Aguinaldo, Juan Luna, Marcelo H. del Pila, Sultan Kudarat, Gomburza, and Francisco Dagohoy. In the caption to the post, the agency noted that people “flex heroes from games, know their backstories by heart, and even argue over who's the GOAT. But how about the real heroes who actually fought for our freedom?” Check out their reimagining of our national heroes in the gallery below. Love this content? Subscribe to our newsletter for more captivating stories and lifestyle features. Just enter your email here .

• GMA Network
• 4 gün, 13 saat, 17 dakika

Flood control projects come in all shapes and sizes. Watch this explainer to learn more.

• Rappler
• 4 gün, 13 saat, 18 dakika

What is recession core and why is it suddenly everywhere?... Keep on reading: The internet’s latest buzzword: recession core

• Inquirer
• 4 gün, 13 saat, 21 dakika

CEBU CITY, Philippines — After weeks of uncertainty, Cebu City Hall employees and barangay responders will finally start receiving their long-delayed salaries and allowances, following the designation of a new officer-in-charge (OIC) treasurer. Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña confirmed Thursday, August 28, that Emma Villarete would formally assume the vacant post of City Treasurer effective today, Friday, August 29, unlocking the release of payroll funds that had been stalled since early August. READ: Cebu City workers salaries delayed as treasurer post remains vacant “Done! Effective tomorrow, the vacant position of City Treasurer will be filled by Emma Villarete. The months-long backlog […]... Keep on reading: Unpaid salaries, allowances: Cebu City Hall to start releasing them

• Inquirer
• 4 gün, 13 saat, 25 dakika

Senator Imee Marcos probes into the relationship of her brother’s administration with the decades-old One-China policy ‘involving [her] family’ and, eventually, ties it to the Mutual Defense Treaty with the US

• Rappler
• 4 gün, 13 saat, 27 dakika

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way the world creates. In music, what once required entire studios and teams of session players can now be sketched out on a laptop with the help of AI-powered tools. Beats can be generated, melodies suggested, and production techniques refined in seconds. Far from replacing artistry, these innovations have provided musicians with new canvases to explore, accelerating creativity and pushing the boundaries of sound. For artists who embrace it, AI is not a threat but a collaborator. Few know this better than will.i.am, the multi-hyphenate musician, producer, and tech entrepreneur who has long been at the forefront of fusing creativity with innovation. But his belief in AI is rooted in something deeper than the studio. It comes from his personal journey, growing up in an all-Mexican neighborhood in the inner city of Los Angeles. “How can I be afraid of AI if you come from the inner city?” he said at a press conference prepared for him by LG Philippines on Wednesday, August 27, at the Okada Manila in Parañaque City. will.i.am is the experiential architect and collaborator for the LG XBOOM product line of the electronics brand. The Black Eyed Peas member added, “I've already experienced struggle. And here's a tool that can help folks that are struggling not struggle anymore--because it has access to all the information in the world.” For will.i.am, the true advantage of AI isn't just about music--it's about access. He explains, many places have long been underserved in education and financial literacy. Communities have been left behind, not because of a lack of talent or ambition, but because of a lack of resources. AI, with its ability to provide knowledge instantly, could change that equation. The Grammy award-winning artist noted, “You don't have to wait for the government to bring you the best educators. You don't have to wait for politics. You can ask the right questions, aim at the problems you've been struggling with, and find solutions. And when you find solutions, new industries and new careers are born.” Fear vs. Imagination Of course, he doesn't ignore the reality that AI will replace certain jobs. But to him, that shift is nothing new: it's part of the history of creativity. He draws a parallel to the invention of the drum machine. “When the drum machine came out, people feared it would replace drummers. And it did. But look at today: almost every hit song you dance to on Spotify or Apple Music doesn't have a live drummer. A human didn't play those drums, but a human made the beat. Drummers became producers, creators in an entirely new way, he said. The same story unfolded with samplers and synthesizers: initial fear, then explosive innovation. To will.i.am, AI is simply the next chapter. “If you were stuck in yesterday, you feared the drum machine. But if your imagination was going 1,000 miles an hour, the drum machine helped you bring your ideas to life. AI is the same. For hyper-creative people, it's a tool that makes the impossible possible.” Still, he emphasizes responsibility. Like any powerful technology, AI can uplift or undermine, depending on how it's used. “AI is your tool,” he said. “It really depends on how you use it. And you have to be responsible.” For will.i.am, the future of AI isn't just about making hit records--it's about making sure communities once left behind can finally create their own paths forward. Meanwhile, here are some highlights from the event:

• GMA Network
• 4 gün, 13 saat, 33 dakika

Liana Barrido‘s reign as Miss Tourism International will end in Malaysia, where she also won the crown, this coming October, the organizers of the global tilt announced on social media. Forty delegates from around the world are expected to compete in the 28th edition of the Malaysia-based international pageant, which will conclude in the “World Final” scheduled on Oct. 18 at the Genting International Showroom of Resorts World Genting. The competition was originally planned to take place in the Philippines, with Davao City chosen to host the international pageant in November this year. Mutya ng Pilipinas, the organization that holds […]... Keep on reading: Mutya ng Pilipinas Liana Barrido to crown Miss Tourism Int'l successor in Malaysia

• Inquirer
• 4 gün, 13 saat, 43 dakika

WASHINGTON, United States — An approaching US deadline to end tariff exemptions on small parcels has tripped up global deliveries to the world’s biggest economy. Some businesses halted shipments to American consumers and mulling price hikes. Come Friday [Aug. 29], President Donald Trump’s administration is abolishing a rule that allows packages valued at $800 or below to enter the United States duty-free. Instead, packages will either be subject to the tariff level applicable to their country of origin, or face a specific duty ranging from $80 to $200 per item. Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro told reporters that closing this “loophole” […]... Keep on reading: Trump moves to end US tariff exemption for small packages

• Inquirer
• 4 gün, 13 saat, 47 dakika

MANILA, Philippines – An official of the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday said beneficiaries of the Government Internship Program (GIP) have been expanded to include junior high school students. In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, BLE officer-in-charge Assistant Secretary Patrick Patriwirawan said the internship has also been extended to up to one year. “So far, our regional offices continue to implement the GIP. Among our new features, we have now extended the implementation to our beneficiaries for up to one year, and even junior high school (students), who we did […]... Keep on reading: Junior High School students included in gov’t internship program - DOLE

• Inquirer
• 4 gün, 13 saat, 47 dakika

The Philippines continues to recognize the People’s Republic of China as the only Chinese sovereign state, said the foreign affairs chief, weeks after Beijing was riled up by President Marcos’ remark on its political conflict with Taiwan. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro told a Senate committee hearing on Thursday that the Philippines remains committed to the “One China” policy, the long-standing position that there is only one government of China and that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. This, Lazaro noted, goes way back to the 1975 Joint Communique between the Philippines and China, where the […]... Keep on reading: DFA: ‘One China’ policy stays; Sen. Erwin Tulfo disagrees

• Inquirer
• 4 gün, 14 saat, 2 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Surigao del Norte on Friday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. In its latest bulletin, the Phivolcs reported that the earthquake, which was tectonic of origin, occurred at 8:44 a.m. Phivolcs said that aftershocks are expected after the tremor. READ: Phivolcs Modernization Act to boost disaster monitoring capabilities The quake’s epicenter was located 10 kilometers northeast of Burgos, Surigao del Norte, with a depth of 10 kilometers. Instrumental intensities were recorded in the following areas: Intensity III – Hinunangan, Southern Leyte Intensity II – Silago and Hinundayan,  Southern Leyte Phivolcs, […]... Keep on reading: 5.1-magnitude quake jolts Surigao del Norte; aftershocks expected

• Inquirer
• 4 gün, 14 saat, 2 dakika

Osaka (Jiji Press) — Voices have been raised in Japan demanding countermeasures for molestation, which shows no sign of disappearing. In June, Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department arrested a man in his 30s on the spot on suspicion of groping a female high school student on a Tokyo Metro train running in the capital’s Koto Ward. The man had groped the student two or three times a week for some 10 months since August 2024. Although she got on different trains or changed the time she rode them, the man followed her persistently. The student thought she had to endure the […]... Keep on reading: Japan still grappling with problem of groping

• Inquirer
• 4 gün, 14 saat, 4 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — In order to bring Philippine emigrant services close to the airports and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) announced that it was moving its main office to Pasay City. Effective Sept. 1, 2025, the agency will hold office on the ninth floor of the Nexgen Tower at C-4 Road, EDSA Extension, Pasay City. CFO Secretary Dante Ang II said that the move was aimed at bringing its services closer to the DFA and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as well as several foreign embassies located in Pasay.“Here at CFO, we put our constituents first. We make sure that our primary consideration in big decisions like this is providing greater convenience for Filipino emigrants. We’re always looking to improve our services and how we deliver,” Ang said in a statement. The agency's office is also located closer to the homes and residences of its employees, 70 percent of whom reside in nearby areas that include Parañaque City and the province of Cavite.CFO's former office was on the 21st floor of the Upperclass Tower along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.

• The Manila Times
• 4 gün, 14 saat, 7 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 124,245 commuters benefited from the “Libreng Sakay,” or free rides, for National ID holders on all Wednesdays of August, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday. READ: MRT-3: Free rides every Wednesday of August for National ID holders In a Facebook post, the DOTr said the number of passengers who availed the free rides every Wednesday of this month were as follows: August 6 (first Wednesday of the month) — 25,173 August 13 (second Wednesday of the month) — 31,220 August 20 (third Wednesday of the month) — 33,226 August 27 (fourth […]... Keep on reading: Over 120,000 nat’l ID holders avail free rides at MRT-3 in August

• Inquirer
• 4 gün, 14 saat, 8 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer who allegedly attempted to bribe a congressman has posted bail, the police said on Friday. In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Batangas Police Provincial Office spokesperson Lt. Col. Aleli Buaquen said that DPWH Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo posted bail at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. “Yesterday, 1 p.m.,” Buaquen said when asked as to when Calalo posted bail. Buaquen said that the engineer posted P60,000 in bail. Calalo was arrested last week by the Taal Municipal Police Station, according to Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste […]... Keep on reading: DPWH district engineer posts bail after alleged bribe try – police

• Inquirer
• 4 gün, 14 saat, 20 dakika