After a successful concert tour in Canada to mark their 20th anniversary as a band, Sponge Cola returns with a new single inspired by K-drama smash Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. Combining grunge rock elements with electronic textures and anthemic pop sensibilities, Sponge Cola’s “Hometown” is a song for coming home after a long, tiring journey. It’s a perfect description that sums up their collective feelings at the moment.  Embodying home in the form of a person, the captivating rock tune was penned by vocalist and guitarist Yael Yuzon as a way to reimagine the coastal town, with its nosy neighbors forming a...

The nation’s literacy crisis is increasingly difficult to ignore. A recent study published by Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives reveals a troubling trend: many young Filipino learners have advanced to higher primary levels despite struggling with basic reading and math skills. Without significant changes to the curriculum and sustained efforts to improve it, gaps in education system will continue to persist, putting workforce readiness at risk, and potentially, hindering economic growth.   According to Segundo Matias Jr., CEO of Lampara Books, the alarming situation demands immediate attention. “The crisis is deeply concerning—tragic, even,” he says. “It feels like a battle we...

WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the Cinemalaya 2020 Main Competition Shorts Entry “Fatigued”. Read at your own risk.   Photo courtesy of Cinemalaya REVIEWER’S RATING: 6/10   SYNOPSIS: One night, you overslept because of too much work. Now, you must wake up before your nightmare becomes a reality.   Fatigued is an “interactive film” by Director James Mayo, where you play as yourself, a tired and overworked employee, who overslept one night. How do you wake up? How do you know what is real? The film has a really eerie feel to it from the start. It claims to...

  Disclaimer: Spoiler alert   My Amanda is a refreshing treat we never thought we needed. In the advent of such best-friends-who-turn-into-lovers classic romantic comedy premise, some people may view this film as another run-of-the-mill romantic movie, but it is not. Surprisingly, it is one quality-made and endearing love story of two best friends. Written and Directed by Alessandra de Rossi herself, My Amanda brought us to another world of romance as Alessandra ingeniously explored the power of friendship sprouting into romance. My Amanda, a Filipino film now available on Netflix, focuses in exploring the beauty platonic friendship can offer....

In dire need of a getaway with your friends and family? Looking for solitude from all the noise and busyness of life? There’s no better way to refresh your mind, body, and soul than seeing and feeling Mother Nature's breathtaking wonders.  Be ready and get your bags packed because we got you covered! These underrated getaways are as worthy as any other existing famous tourist destinations to include on your bucket list.  Jomalig Island, Quezon Province Jomalig Island is one of Quezon Province's smallest and farthest island towns, which means it has remained untouched. The golden and white sand beaches,...