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| (Image Source: ClickTheCity.com/Disney+) |
Disney+ recently announced that it has officially began production on The Koreans – an upcoming reimagining of the critically acclaimed FX series The Americans created by Joe Weisberg, showrun by Joel Fields and Weisberg, and starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys.
Set during the wave of democratization and cultural modernization that swept across South Korea in the early 1990s, The Koreans will follow a middle-class family hiding a treasonous secret. While seemingly ordinary citizens in the eyes of their friends, neighbors, and even their children, both parents are actually elite North Korean spies working to bring down the South from within. Highlighting the stark difference between these two formerly united countries, the series will follow the spies as they wrestle with conflicting feelings of patriotism, loyalty, identity and love while a ruthless Korean counterintelligence agent draws ever closer to discovering their identities. Starring Lee Byunghun (Squid Game, No Other Choice), and Han Jimin (Heavenly Ever After, Love Scout), The Koreans is directed by Ahn Gilho (The Glory, Stranger), produced by IMAGINUS (Tempest, Typhoon Family, Can This Love Be Translated?) and Studio AA (Tempest), and adapted by Park Eunkyo (Made In Korea, Mother) from FX’s The Americans, the original series went on to win the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama in 2019 and was named AFI TV Program of the Year for five consecutive seasons from 2014-2018.
Thrilling, suspenseful and smuggling in a wealth of adrenaline-fueled action sequences, The Koreans is the latest series to be announced as part of the slate of upcoming Korean content coming to Disney+. Fans of high-octane thrillers can sign up to Disney+ today to enjoy immediate access to Made In Korea, about a KCIA agent with an illicit secret; Tempest, about a diplomat and a special agent racing to uncover the truth behind an attack that threatens the stability of the Korean peninsula; and The Tyrant, about rival governments fighting to recover a dangerous weapon. Disney+ fans can also look forward to the return of other popular Original series including: A Shop For Killers Season 2 and Made In Korea Season 2, as well as newly announced titles Perfect Crown starring IU and Byeon Wooseok, Portraits of Delusion (working title) starring Suzy and Kim Seonho, and The Remarried Empress starring Shin Mina, Ju Jihoon, Lee Jongsuk, and Lee Seyoung. Set to release exclusively on Disney+, more information about The Koreans will be revealed in the coming months ahead.
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GMA News Renews Commitment To Serbisyong Totoo
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| (Image Source: adobo Magazine/GMA Network) |
In a bold move to strengthen its legacy and sharpen its identity in an evolving media landscape, GMA News ushers in a renewed era this 2026, reaffirming its enduring commitment to its core mission: delivering truthful, balanced, and credible journalism to Filipinos around the world. At the heart of this renewal is the reaffirmation of its enduring brand promise of “Serbisyong Totoo”, underscoring the organization’s role as the Philippines’ foremost guardian of truth and a trusted source of authoritative news and information.
Anchoring this renewed direction is the defining statement “Walang kinikilingan. Walang pinoprotektahan. Noon at ngayon, Serbisyong Totoo.”, reflecting GMA News’ unwavering dedication to impartiality, integrity, and public service — values that have defined its journalism across generations. With over 1,000 journalists, staff, and crew across platforms, GMA News is committed to reporting relevant news and providing serbisyong totoo to Filipinos within and beyond the Philippines. GMA News’ flagship newscast 24 Oras – anchored by Mel Tiangco, Emil Sumangil, and Vicky Morales – continues to shape Philippine TV news landscape. Together with the rest of its newscasts – 24 Oras Weekend, Saksi, GTV’s Balitanghali, State of the Nation, Dobol B TV, and Regional TV News – GMA News provides the public with information and public service through its news reports, special features, and exclusive stories and interviews. Across the regions, viewers tune in to GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon, GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak, GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas, and GMA Regional TV One Mindanao. GMA Radio, in turn, delivers timely headlines, breaking news, and comprehensive special coverage through its 21 stations nationwide. At the forefront of the latest and any time where relevant and verified news and information is GMA News Online and GMA News’ Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X and Tiktok pages.
Through this renewed direction, GMA News reaffirms a trusted and familiar identity while continuing to evolve in the digital age through innovative, multi-platform storytelling — grounded in the same core values it has upheld through the years. GMA News remains committed to informing, empowering, and serving Filipinos with clear and truthful reporting — noon at ngayon, Serbisyong Totoo.
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iWant Strengthens Streaming Presence In Cavite And Laguna Through FIBERBLAZE Partnership
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| Left: Dasca Cable Services Inc. Head of Sales and Marketing King April Jay Labarda and ABS-CBN Digital Head Jamie Lopez, Right: ABS-CBN Head of iWant Jolly Estaris and Dasca Cable Services Inc. Operations Manager Catherine Dela Rea-Vega (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
iWant’s biggest collection of Pinoy feels is set to reach more audiences across Cavite and parts of Laguna through a collaboration between ABS-CBN’s streaming platform and FIBERBLAZE, a cable television and internet service provider with a growing presence in both provinces. The partnership includes the addition of iWant to FIBERBLAZE’s subscription packages, enabling new subscribers across key areas in Cavite including Dasmariñas, Imus, Silang, General Trias, Trece Martires, General Mariano Alvarez, Tanza, and Naic as well as San Pedro in Laguna to access the streaming platform through their television sets, smartphones, tablets, or computers. New FIBERBLAZE subscribers will receive free access to iWant under the FIBERBLAZE Get More Promo, available until May 31, 2026, on top of their Unlimited Fiber Internet and Digital Cable TV bundle plans.
iWant offers exclusive and early access to titles such as the GMA Network and ABS-CBN collaboration “The Secrets Of Hotel 88” which streams seven days ahead of its television broadcast, allowing viewers to watch it before others. The platform also features iWant Originals, new shows and series that highlight fresh Filipino feels, as well as a lineup of classic and blockbuster films and microdramas, including iWant Original titles such as “Ghosting”, “BINI World Tour Stories”, and “Love At First Spike”. The platform also features ABS-CBN’s newest primetime lineup with “Blood vs. Duty” streaming 48 hours ahead of its television broadcast and “The Alibi: Ang Buong Katotohanan” which is already streaming on iWant seven days ahead of its free TV broadcast, alongside “What Lies Beneath”, the South Korean romance drama “Love Scout”, and the hit Chinese drama “The Forbidden Flower”. ABS-CBN Digital Head Jamie Lopez, together with Dasca Cable Services Inc. Head of Sales and Marketing King April Jay Labarda and Operations Manager Catherine Dela Rea-Vega, formalized the partnership which aims to expand digital entertainment access beyond major urban centers and strengthen the availability of Filipino streaming content in provincial communities. This partnership with iWant forms part of FIBERBLAZE’s efforts to enhance its bundled services, which include Unlimited Fiber Internet and Digital Cable TV, by integrating additional digital entertainment offerings for its subscribers.
FIBERBLAZE was established in 1998 as Dasca Cable Services Inc., a local cable operator in the City of Dasmariñas where content from Creative Programs Inc., the content distribution arm of ABS-CBN, has long been part of its service offerings. The company later expanded into Unlimited Fiber Internet and extended its services across Cavite through multiple branches including Dasca Cable Services Inc. (FIBERBLAZE Dasmariñas), Meridian Cable TV Inc. (FIBERBLAZE Imus), Spectrum Cable Network and Broadband Inc. (FIBERBLAZE Silang and Naic), and recently, in 2025, Infinity Broadband Inc. which covers General Trias, Trece Martires, General Mariano Alvarez, and Tanza.
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GMA Pinoy TV Launches Sparks Of Joy, A New Original That Celebrates Global Filipino Stories Featuring Filipina Space Biologist Pauli Basubas
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| (Image Source: Facebook/GMA Pinoy TV) |
For millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) around the world, staying connected to home is more than entertainment. It is comfort, pride, and a reminder of why they keep going. In 2026, GMA Pinoy TV introduces Sparks Of Joy, a new original short feature program created especially for Global Pinoys, celebrating real Filipino stories that inspire, uplift, and resonate wherever life has taken them.
Premiering the program is a moving and intimate look at the journey of Pauli Basubas, a Filipina space biologist and STEM researcher from Mandaue City, Cebu. From humble beginnings far from the world’s largest laboratories and space programs in the United States, Pauli’s story is rooted in curiosity, family, and a sense of wonder, experiences many Filipinos, especially those living and working abroad, can deeply relate to. Pauli shares, “I grew up in a rural area where the night sky is incredibly clear. I would look up at the stars and feel that sense of wonder. My grandfather loved watching documentaries so we would watch NASA videos together.” What began as quiet moments under the stars eventually became a lifelong dream, one that would take her beyond borders and into fields where Filipinos, particularly Filipinas, are rarely seen. Now training under the Space Exploration Research Academy (SERA), Pauli is taking determined steps toward becoming the first Filipino to join a future space mission. Her journey reflects the resilience and perseverance familiar to many OFWs, pursuing purpose despite distance, challenges, and uncertainty.
At the heart of Sparks of Joy is a message that resonates strongly with Global Pinoys everywhere. As Pauli puts it, “Joy is not the absence of failure or sadness. It's choosing to continue because what you’re doing matters.” It is a reminder that fulfillment comes not from ease, but from meaning something deeply understood by Filipinos working far from home. Through Sparks Of Joy, GMA Pinoy TV shines a light on everyday brilliance, Filipinos making meaningful contributions in science, arts, service, innovation, and community, wherever they may be in the world. Each episode, airing exclusively on GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV and available on GMA Pinoy TV's social media channels, is short, heartfelt, and emotionally resonant, offering moments of inspiration viewers can carry with them in their own journeys.
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Samsung Powers ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ With Galaxy
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| (Image Source: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.) |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. recently announced a global partnership with ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’’, unveiling a new concert experience powered by Galaxy mobile technology that brings artists and the audience closer together. BTS and ARMY have built a cultural movement that brings everyone together to celebrate self-expression and connection through music. This resulted in a global impact that fosters authentic shared experiences — values that resonate deeply with Samsung’s Galaxy brand philosophy. By harnessing the power of music and technology, Samsung and the ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’’ are empowering people to capture special moments and share them with the world.
“Samsung believes that technology enriches everyday experiences. Through this collaboration, Galaxy will serve as a bridge connecting artists and the audience, enabling people to experience concert moments more meaningfully and preserve and share those memories for longer,” said Samsung Electronics Mobile eXperience (MX) Business Executive Vice President and Mobile Marketing Center Head Stephanie Choi. Building on Galaxy’s vision of meaningful, connected experiences, Samsung is reimagining the traditional concert viewing experience by enabling the audience to emotionally engage with artists and their performances in more immersive ways. In particular, the Galaxy S26 Ultra camera captures memorable moments from live performances, allowing the audience around the world to relive and share the experience, bringing the energy and emotion of the concert into their everyday lives. “Fans are at the heart of everything we do, shaping our music and journey together with us. Through this partnership with Samsung Electronics, we hope fans can experience concerts more vividly and create lasting memories,” said HYBE CEO Lee Jae-Sang.
‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’’ officially kicked off in Goyang, South Korea and will continue in major cities around the world through 2027. As part of the world tour, an exclusive BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL is now taking place in Seoul until April 19 featuring a range of Galaxy-powered immersive experiences to major landmarks across the city. Fans can explore the Galaxy S26 series through interactive activities including a stamp rally at Samsung’s Gangnam store and creating self-made stickers using the Galaxy AI-powered Creative Studio. Participants who complete the activities are eligible to receive prizes including limited-edition ‘BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL’ merchandise. Following Seoul, ‘BTS THE CITY’ will expand to other tour stops. Samsung will take part in the entire ’BTS THE CITY’ journey, driving innovation that encourages fans to express themselves, capture meaningful moments and expand everyday experiences with Galaxy.
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AXEAN Festival Heads Back To Bali For Seventh Edition
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/AXEAN Festival) |
AXEAN Festival, Southeast Asia’s top intra-regional music showcase and conference platform, is scheduled to return for its seventh edition at Jimbaran Hub in Bali, Indonesia on August 29-30, 2026. Launched in 2020 by a collective of music industry professionals across the region, AXEAN Festival has exponentially grown into a key export platform for Southeast Asian music as well as a prominent convergence for cross-border collaborations and partnerships between global industry stakeholders and artists.
To date, the music showcase and conference event has successfully hosted both virtual editions (2020-2021) and in-person gatherings (2022-2025) in Singapore and Bali. Over six editions, AXEAN has featured nearly 300 artists representing more than 20 countries. This year’s “Save The Date” announcement signals an expanded edition that will once again bring together over 40 artists from diverse backgrounds and genres, primarily from Southeast Asia and beyond. Apart from the carefully curated lineup of performances, this year’s edition will continue its focus on industry development programming through panel discussions, business matchmaking, and structured networking sessions. The songwriting camp, which will take place after the festival proper, will also return, offering selected artists and producers the opportunity to collaborate in a cross-cultural environment. “Each year we bring a unique blend of curation to the festival; this year is no different. As we add more partners and artists, the excitement builds on each successful edition, and we can promise the same, if not more, quality,” said Festival Co-Founder David Siow. Co-Founder Piyapong Muenprasertdee added that while the festival’s core mission remains the same, its reach and impact continue to grow. “Our goal has always been the same: to bridge the world to Southeast Asia’s music and to export the region’s talent and professionals to global markets. What’s changed is the momentum around that mission. Each year, more countries and national music organizations take notice and want to be part of what we’re building here, which reflects a growing recognition that Southeast Asia is a serious player in the global music landscape.”
For its seventh edition, AXEAN Festival builds on its commitment to elevate Southeast Asia’s music communities while creating sustained pathways for cross-cultural and industry collaborations, global partnerships, talent development, and institutional support. Artist lineup, conference programming, and other essential information will be announced soon. For more details, check out the AXEAN Festival official website at axeanfestival.com. This event is co-presented by Jimbaran Hub.
