That ubiquitous symbol of prosperity, the red envelope known as “ang pao” which is used for monetary gifts, has caused torment and misery to a driver, by his account. The driver, tagged as “alias Totoy,” has lodged a complaint of illegal detention and torture at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against actress Rhian Ramos...
Author: Armin P. Adina (Armin Adina)
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Ahtisa Manalo is welcomed home while controversy hounds the Miss Universe pageant
Miss Universe Philippines Ahtisa Manalo, who placed third runner-up in the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand, meets and greets her admirers in a two-part homecoming parade today, Dec. 2, in Manila and Pasay City. The parade takes place a week after Manalo returned to the Philippines to a rousing past-midnight welcome by her admirers...
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Candidates with Philippine roots are competing in Miss International 2025
TOKYO—The Filipinos’ domination of global pageantry is so undeniable that other countries have been fielding candidates with roots in the Philippines. In the ongoing 2025 Miss International pageant in Japan, Binibining Pilipinas Myrna Esguerra is joined by Bella Dela Cruz of Australia and Allyson Ee of Malaysia, who both incidentally competed in the 2025 Miss...
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Palestine is a contender in Miss Universe 2025
Editor’s Note: Two judges in the annual competition have pulled out of the 8-member jury, with one claiming that an “impromptu” panel had already selected 30 finalists from among the 136 participating countries, and the other citing “unforeseen personal reasons.” For the first time ever, the Miss Universe pageant has welcomed a delegate from Palestine,...
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Unusual drama at the Miss Universe pageant, now on its 74th edition
Walkouts, callouts, and police presence took over the Miss Universe pageant in just its first week, with global fans bracing themselves for more drama before a new queen gets crowned. The tension-filled 74th edition of the international competition has drawn spectators from around the world, including those who do not regularly follow pageants, because of...
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Myrna Esguerra is fighting for another Miss International crown for the Philippines
There is no doubt that the Philippines is an international pageant powerhouse, with crown upon crown collected from global competitions by both women and men for all these years. Among the competitions where the country has picked up multiple wins, the Miss International pageant tops the list with a total of six victories spanning six...
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4th Impact show off their vocal chops in a Sunday Mass in California
LOS ANGELES, California—Ditching their signature look that incorporated skin-baring costumes and flashy makeup, members of the Filipino girl group 4th Impact delighted churchgoers at a celebration of the Holy Mass one serene Sunday afternoon. Wearing trousers and long-sleeved tops, sisters Almira, Irene, Mylene, and Celina Cercado came armed with just the powerful vocal chops that had propelled...
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Pageant powerhouse Philippines makes its mark in Miss Supranational tilt
The Philippines again asserted its reputation as an international pageant powerhouse when not just one but two Filipino women earned podium placements in the recently-concluded Miss Supranational pageant held in Poland: first runner-up Anna Lakrini and third runner-up Tarah Valencia. Lakrini and Valencia advanced to the final round of the competition held in Nowy Sącz,...
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Mindanao aces the Philippines’ longest running beauty pageant
After Luzon swept the top spots in the 60th Binibining Pilipinas pageant last year, Mindanao aced the 2025 competition and snagged the two crowns at stake with a runner-up placement to boot. Katrina Anne Johnson from Davao and Annabelle Mae McDonnell from Iligan City were crowned Bb. Pilipinas International and Bb. Pilipinas Globe, respectively, at...
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The Philippines’ first Miss Grand International finds her ‘very specific moment’
The Philippines has added another crown to its growing collection of international beauty accolades: the once-elusive Miss Grand International title that Christine Juliane “CJ” Opiaza received, albeit belatedly. The Filipino “pasarela” (pageant walk) coach was crowned as the official Miss Grand International 2024 queen at the MGI Hall of Bravo BKK in Bangkok, Thailand, on...