Month: November 2025

Lola Helen’s Panciteria: The Marikina Pancit House That Made the Michelin Guide

Published by Ely Valendez

The Michelin Guide Philippines didn’t have to go looking for Lola Helen’s Panciteria. Marikina found it first, a long time ago, and has been going back for 25 years. There’s no spectacle here, and none is attempted. The Marikina eatery serves Filipino-Chinese stir-fried noodles to regulars who know exactly what they came for: honest food, generous portions, and flavors that taste like somebody’s family kitchen. In 2025, that plainness earned it a place in the Michelin Guide Philippines, the first edition of the famous French restaurant guide to cover the country. It’s a reminder that the guide’s inspectors aren’t only looking at tasting menus. Sometimes the thing worth recognizing is a cook with a well-worn wok and a plate that comes out the same way every time. Why Pancit Carries So Much Weight In the Philippines, pancit is less a dish than a ritual. It shows up at birthdays, family milestones, and town fiestas, and just as often on ordinary weeknights. The long noodles stand for long life, a belief inherited from Chinese tradition that …

Miss International 2025 Winners Colombia, Philippines

Miss International 2025 is Colombia; PH’s Bet Myrna Esguerra Places 4th RU

Published by Ely Valendez

The Miss International stage has a new queen, and her name is Catalina Duque of Colombia. In a night filled with elegance, emotion, and cultural pride, Duque emerged victorious among dozens of global candidates, taking home the crown and solidifying Colombia’s status as a pageant powerhouse. The evening concluded with a strong and diverse final lineup representing three continents — Africa, Asia, and the Americas — each carrying impactful advocacies and memorable performances. Miss International 2025 Official Results Miss International 2025 is Catalina Duque of Colombia Colombia’s Catalina Duque captivated the judges with her polished communication skills, timeless beauty, and advocacy on cultural identity and environmental consciousness. Her final speech emphasized unity and purpose — a standout moment that sealed her win. First Runner-Up is Yollanda Chimbarami — Zimbabwe The Zimbabwean representative delivered one of the most heartfelt closing statements of the night. Her advocacy on youth empowerment and inclusive education resonated worldwide, marking the highest placement for Zimbabwe in Miss International history. Second Runner-Up is Paola Guzman — Bolivia Bolivia’s Paola Guzman impressed with …

Miss Universe 2025 — when beauty, scandal, and mistrust collide

Published by Ely Valendez

The coronation of Fátima Bosch of Mexico as Miss Universe 2025 in Bangkok was supposed to be a night of celebration. Instead, it became the center of a firestorm — judge resignations, allegations of manipulation, online wars between fandoms, and criminal investigations swirling around the organization’s top leadership. By the next morning, the question wasn’t “Who won?” — it was “Can Miss Universe still be trusted?” The allegations: rigged, manipulated, and mishandled Fans worldwide have been unusually unified in one sentiment: “Something didn’t feel right.” Among the biggest reasons: • Judges resigning before the finale, with at least one cryptically hinting at process issues. • On-stage and backstage altercations circulating on social media. • Delegation walkouts and complaints about inconsistent treatment. • Leadership miscommunication, livestream rants, and contradictory official statements. These were not small hiccups — they were structural cracks. And they pointed to one name repeatedly: Raul Rocha. Raul Rocha: the controversy magnet at the center of it all Even before the coronation, Raul Rocha, co-owner and president of the Miss Universe Organization, was …

Jeproks: The Musical — Pinoy Rock, Privilege, and the Stories We Repeat

Published by Ely Valendez

There are nights at the theater that feel like Manila is whispering an old story back to you — a story about youth, rebellion, privilege, growing pains, and the kind of music that refuses to die. Watching Jeproks: The Musical at GSIS Theater on November 23 felt exactly like that. It wasn’t just a show. It was a reclamation of memory. And backstage, as I met with the cast — seasoned OPM names returning to their musical roots — it became clear that Jeproks is more than a jukebox musical. It is a mirror held up to the Philippines, past and present, lit by the anthems of Pinoy rock legend Mike Hanopol. What “Jeproks” Really Means: A Word We Thought We Understood Most Filipinos know jeproks as a fun old slang word — retro, quirky, a callback to the hippie aesthetic of the 70s. But the word has teeth. Jeproks comes from “projects” — specifically the QC Projects, which in the 1970s were home to upper-middle-class and well-off Filipino youth. The aesthetic was long-haired, kalas, …

Where to Dance in Taguig: Imperial Dance Studio Opens at Venice Grand Canal Mall

Published by Ely Valendez

If you’re looking for unique things to do in Taguig, there’s a new creative spot right above the iconic gondolas of Venice Grand Canal Mall. Located on the second level of the San Marco Wing, Imperial Dance Studio is the newest addition to McKinley Hill’s growing creative community. This 100-square-meter dance hall first opened on October 15 and officially held its grand opening on November 22, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. ⸻ Who’s Behind Imperial Dance Studio? The studio is led by Milai Imperials, a former member of the UP Filipiniana Dance Group in Diliman, and of Douglas Nierras Powerdance, one of the country’s most respected contemporary dance companies. She later performed professionally at Hong Kong Disneyland. Her husband, Franz Gerald Imperial, is a theater actor and international performer who also performed at Disneyland Singapore. Together, they bring decades of performance experience into McKinley Hill’s newest creative space. ⸻ What Classes Do They Offer? Imperial Dance Studio offers one of the most multi-disciplinary programs in Taguig. Their lineup includes: • Jazz • K-pop • Ballet …

Uncomfortably Brilliant: Why ‘Anino sa Likod ng Buwan’ Still Matters

Published by Ely Valendez

ON A QUIET Saturday night — I found myself entering a different kind of space. The air felt still, the audience hushed, and as the lights dimmed, it was as if the outside world dissolved. I was about to experience Anino Sa Likod ng Buwan, the award-winning one-act play written by Jun Robles Lana, first recognized in the 1993 Bulwagang Gantimpala Playwriting Competition. ANINO is an adaptation of the Cinemalaya film of the same title. I’m more than glad to have been able to catch tonight’s show — its closing show. This staging, directed with restraint and surgical emotional precision by Tuxqs Rutaquio, featured a cast configuration I now consider unforgettable: Edward Benosa as Joel, Ross Pesigan as Nardo, and Elora Españo as Emma. I didn’t just enjoy this trio — I adored them. Their rhythm, tension, and emotional shifts felt instinctive and lived-in. Nothing felt performed. Everything felt dangerously real. This isn’t the kind of cast you watch — it’s the kind that pulls you into their unraveling. The story takes place in a …

ATENG: A Revival That Hits Hard

Published by Ely Valendez

Some plays entertain. Some plays provoke. And then there are productions like ATENG — the kind that manage to do both with disarming precision. On November 13, I attended the press preview of the show a day before its official run. You would agree with me that even from the snippets I’m sharing with you alone (see my YouTube vlog below), it was clear: panalo na. The room was alive — laughter bouncing off the walls one minute, and an almost reverent stillness the next. ATENG doesn’t simply tell a story; it pulls its audience into a memory — personal or collective — whether we are prepared for it or not. The production marks the revival of the 2005 Palanca Award-winning one-act play by Vincent de Jesus. Known for narratives that fuse wit and wounded truth, de Jesus once again offers a script that feels universal yet deeply intimate. This staging runs from November 14 to December 7 at RAMPA Drag Club, transforming a nightlife venue into a raw, compact storytelling arena. In a way, …