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| (Image Source: Philippine Concerts/E&S Partners) |
The collaboration fans have long been waiting for is finally here. The upcoming culinary travel show Kumusta brings together two vibrant food cultures — South Korea and the Philippines — in a unique gastronomic adventure that celebrates connection and heritage. Set in Gangnam in Seoul, the show introduces Filipino flavors to the heart of South Korea’s thriving dining scene, highlighting the richness of both culinary traditions.
The show blends food and cultural exchange as the stars break aside from their typical on-screen roles to run a fully operational Filipino pop-up restaurant in one of Seoul’s most dynamic districts. Throughout the show, the stars learn to prepare and serve Filipino comfort food favorites such as Chicken Inasal, Kare-kare, Sisig, and the ever-iconic Lechon — offering many Korean diners an exciting first taste of Filipino cuisine. The cast takes on the challenge of bringing these flavorful dishes to a new audience, spending up to 12 hours a day for seven straight days preparing, cooking, and serving dishes for diners. Leading the kitchen is respected culinary figure Chef JP Anglo, a former MasterChef Philippines judge whose presence in the kitchen serves as an anchor for Kumusta’s culinary direction, bridging Philippine heritage with Seoul’s discerning food scene. The series further boosts its cross-cultural lineup with guest appearances from South Korean celebrities Kim Min-seok, Kim Myung-soo, and Seo In-guk. Kumusta is 100% produced by E&S Partners, a subsidiary of Echolive Korea that organized Waterbomb Manila in 2025. The show stars Korean actor Ji Chang-wook, who returns to the Philippines to promote Kumusta alongside his Filipino co-stars. In the series, viewers will see a more candid side of him as he builds genuine camaraderie with co-stars Jodi Sta. Maria, Janella Salvador, Francine Diaz, and Arci Muñoz, highlighting how food and friendship transcends borders.
At its core, Kumusta is more than just a cooking show. It captures what happens when people from two different cultures bond over food, and how the show quietly shows how food can bring people together. “Kumusta is a fresh take on Philippine television. It brings together Korean and Filipino stars in a way that feels natural. Through food, travel, and shared experiences. At the center of it all is Filipino cuisine, and we’re excited to introduce it to a wider audience,” said E&S Partners CEO Jack Hyundoo Noh. Filming and editing for Kumusta is fully handled by Korean production company PODO Creative while Rebisco serves as the program’s main sponsor. The highly anticipated cross-cultural culinary adventure is set to premiere on May 24, 2026, airing every Sunday at 6:45 pm, as part of TV5’s Weekend Trip block and on the Viu app where viewers can stream anytime, anywhere, taking that “Uy, Pilipins!” pride on the global stage.
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NYMA Talent Management Welcomes Producer-Artist Ziv To Its Growing Global Roster
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| Ziv (Image Source: Starmometer/NYMA Talent Management) |
NYMA Talent Management proudly announces the addition of award-winning producer-songwriter Ziv to its expanding roster of global talents. A Korean artist born and raised in the Philippines, Ziv is a producer, songwriter, and recording artist whose sound bridges Asian pop sensibilities with contemporary global production. With nearly a decade of experience in music production and songwriting, he brings a genre-fluid approach shaped by cross-cultural influences and a deep understanding of today’s evolving music landscape.
Ziv served as a producer on the award-winning album The Traveller Across Dimensions by Ben&Ben which earned Album of the Year at the 38th Awit Awards, one of the Philippine music industry’s highest honors. In April 2025, he produced Saranggola, a standalone single by Ben&Ben that went on to win Wish Awards Folk Song of the Year and became one of the band’s most resonant recent releases. He also produced Christian Bautista’s latest single Sa’yo Lamang, a collaboration that highlights his sensitivity as a producer and his ability to craft emotionally resonant OPM for contemporary audiences. Beyond the Philippine scene, Ziv recently collaborated with globally recognized Japanese guitarist and artist Ichika Nito on his latest album release, expanding his growing international footprint. He has also worked with regional acts including KAIA and Jolianne, strengthening his presence across the Southeast Asian pop landscape. Through this partnership, NYMA Talent Management will support Ziv’s artistic development, strategic collaborations, and global positioning. NYMA Chief Operating Officer Kat Bautista shared, “At NYMA, we look for artists who reflect where culture is headed. Ziv brings a rare combination of cross-cultural perspective and songwriter instinct. His work across award-winning albums and global collaborations shows both range and depth. We are excited to help build the next phase of his career.”
NYMA President and acclaimed recording artist, Asia's Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista, added, “Working with Ziv on Sa’yo Lamang showed me his sensitivity as a producer and his deep respect for the song. What makes him special is his genuine love for the Philippines and for OPM — it’s something you can feel in the way he approaches music. He understands both the craft and the emotional core of what we do. We’re proud to welcome him to NYMA and excited for what we will create together.” Now based once again in the Philippines, Ziv continues to champion OPM while building bridges across Asian and global markets. Ziv joins NYMA’s roster of globally recognized creatives and artists, reinforcing the agency’s mission to champion talent that elevates Filipino and Asian voices on the world stage.
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Vienna Boys Choir Is Coming To Manila April 26-27, 2026
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/Ovation Productions) |
Ovation Productions, in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, presents the Vienna Boys’ Choir live in Manila on April 26-27, 2026 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Newport World Resorts. This special performance was arranged through the Austrian Embassy in Manila. The Vienna Boys’ Choir is a group of boy sopranos and altos based in Vienna, Austria. It is one of the best-known boys’ choirs in the world. For a century, they have been touring the world and touching audiences with their music. What began in 1926 with a first tour to Germany and Switzerland has grown into a tradition that connects generations. In 2026, the Vienna Boys’ Choir is celebrating their 100 years of touring.
There are currently 97 active boy choristers, divided into four boys’ choirs, which all perform as “Vienna Boys Choir”: Brucknerchor (Choirmaster Manolo Cagnin), Haydnchor (Choirmaster Jimmy Chiang), Mozartchor (Choirmaster Manuel Huber), and Schubertchor (Choirmaster Niccolò Morello). The four choirs share concerts, tours, sound recordings and filming equally. Between them, they perform up to 300 concerts per year, with almost half a million people attending. Since 1924, the choirs have completed more than 1,000 tours in 100 different countries, clocking up a staggering 29,000 concerts. The choir’s first visit to the Philippines took place in 1967; their last was in 2016. Maestro Cagnin has been one of the Vienna Boys Choir’s four touring choirs since 2008. Since then, he has led the choir on numerous tours around the world. In addition to conducting the choir’s own concerts, he prepares the music for the Sunday services with the Vienna Chapel Imperial (Wiener Hofmusikkapelle) and for performances at Vienna’s opera houses, as well as for audio and video recordings. He also coaches the boys for performances with renowned orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna Symphony, the Wiener Akademie, the Staatskapelle Dresden, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductors he has worked with include Alain Altinoglu, Philippe Jordan, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Michael Tilson Thomas, Lorenzo Viotti, and Simone Young.
The upcoming two-night concert of the Vienna Boys’ Choir in Manila is in partnership with Blast TV, the total entertainment streaming app that provides top-rated blockbuster movies, TV series, live TV, anime, K-Dramas, live sports, and more, as official media partner. Tickets to the concerts are priced at Php8,500 (Platinum), Php7,500 (SVIP), Php6,500 (VIP), Php4,500 (Gold), Php3,500 (Silver), and Php1,500 (Bronze) inclusive of ticketing fees via SMTickets.com. For more details and updates about the concert, visit the official website (ovation.ph) and Facebook page of Ovation Productions.
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BINI Expands Global Fandom Via Weverse
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Filipino girl group BINI is officially part of the global superfan platform Weverse which started last March 16, 2026. The Nation's Girl Group is one of the two Filipino acts, along with fellow P-pop icon SB19, joining the leading superfan community this month. Weverse operates fan communities for over 170 artists across the globe including K-pop superstars BTS and SEVENTEEN as well as global acts Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa.
Members Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena will be able to share their music and other exclusive content with a wider audience from around the world as their Global Official Fanclub Membership opens on the platform. Blooms, BINI’s official fandom, also have the chance to subscribe to the Bloom Official Membership which will also be available on Weverse soon, offering first dibs to concert tickets’ pre-sales, events and merch. Members will also have access to members-only livestreams and content, a chance to join the fandom’s online and offline happenings, raffles, fan meets, and an opportunity to purchase members only merchandise. Existing BINI Global members with active subscriptions can be migrated to the Bloom Official Membership on Weverse. They just have to visit the BINI Global Exclusive Membership page, check their eligibility, and follow the steps for the membership transfer.
The Weverse fan community opening for BINI further boosts anticipation for the group’s much-awaited Coachella performance on April 10 and 17, a breakthrough moment that puts Philippine music on the global stage. It also underscores the girls’ expanding global footprint with over 16 million followers across social platforms and a steadily growing connection with local and international fans. The group recently launched their new songs “Honey Honey” and “Unang Kilig” last March 5, 2026, now available worldwide on various digital music streaming platforms.
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ABS-CBN’s “2 Good 2 Be True” Becomes First Philippine Drama To Air On Free TV In The Middle East Via Dubai One
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/ABS-CBN Corporation) |
ABS-CBN marks another international milestone as its hit romantic drama “2 Good 2 Be True” becomes the first Philippine teleserye to air on free-to-air television in the Middle East, airing weeknights on Dubai One since February 16, 2026 during the Ramadan season which is a major television season in the Middle East. Airing in English-dubbed format with Arabic subtitles, the series reaches both local Arabic and English speaking audiences in the region. It also airs with repeat telecasts at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm daily.
Dubai One, owned by Dubai Media Inc., is a leading English-language free-to-air channel widely broadcast across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Its programming lineup is largely composed of international series and films from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and other major English-language markets, placing “2 Good 2 Be True” alongside globally recognized titles in the region. Starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, “2 Good 2 Be True” follows Eloy (Daniel Padilla), a mechanic and law student determined to clear his father’s name, and Ali (Kathryn Bernardo), a compassionate nurse aspiring to become a doctor. Their journey of love, redemption, and second chances resonated strongly with audiences during its Philippine run, where the show remained in the Netflix Philippines Top 10 for 32 consecutive weeks. This latest milestone reinforces ABS-CBN’s continued international expansion as it transitions into a global storytelling company, bringing heartfelt Philippine stories to international audiences across broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms. It also builds ABS-CBN’s growing presence in the Middle East. In 2024, “A Soldier’s Heart” became the first Filipino series to debut in Arabic-dubbed format on major video-on-demand platforms in the region.
With over 50,000 hours of content sold to more than 50 countries worldwide, ABS-CBN continues to expand the global reach of Filipino storytelling across broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms. Visit http://internationalsales.abs-cbn.com for more details on ABS-CBN International Distribution.
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Angela Ken Reflects On Quiet Courage And Hope In New Single “baka bukas”
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Singer-songwriter Angela Ken bares her heart out as she holds on to love in her newly dropped single “baka bukas”, now available on digital music streaming platforms. The Tarsier Records artist shared, “It’s a song for hopeless romantics but it can also be for the dreams we want to own, the unanswered prayers we want to claim and happen kasi malay mo baka bukas.”
The pop-contemporary folk song captures the willingness to wait and cling on to the hope that love may come their way someday. It was composed by Angela and produced by Ken Ponce. Angela released the “baka bukas” music video, available now on Tarsier Records YouTube, where she starred alongside Aljon Mendoza. Angela opened the year with a collaboration with Over October for the song “Moved On Last” which has already amassed over 300,000 streams and was featured on Spotify’s OPM Rising and Tatak Pinoy playlists. Recently, Angela joined Maki’s “KOLORCOASTER: One More Ride” where they performed a duet version of “Sikulo”. She also made waves on the international stage as a performer at the 30th Asian Television Awards where she sang “Kulimlim”.
The Kapamilya artist debuted in 2021 with the breakout hit “Ako Naman Muna” which has over 70 million streams on Spotify. The following year, she released her self-titled first album featuring the tracks like “Akala Maling Akala,” and “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay.” She further proved her songwriting and vocal prowess with singles like “Pwede Bang Mamaya?”, “Alas-Diyes,” and many more.
