Mastermind
The Ballad of Erik Santos
Leo Balante | October 18, 2021

From landing on his now-iconic winning finals piece to becoming the quintessential balladeer of his generation, Erik Santos‘ stake in the entertainment industry is every bit divinely-ordained. As he turns a year older, Rank Magazine editor Leo Balante sits down with the celebrated artist and OPM mainstay on the making and remaking of the artist facing the “new normal”, boxes left unticked on his creative bucket list, and the poetic justice in continuing to perform on the very stage that gave him his first steps into an illustrious two-decade career given today’s situation.

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Review
Heart and Conviction Elevate ‘Gameboys: The Movie’ to Transcendent Genius
Leo Balante | August 3, 2021

For a game-changing and culture-shaping series as Gameboys, expectations run high on continuing its careful and meticulous handling of a subject matter that has not been given “proper” representation, particularly in mainstream media. With the record-breaking success of Gameboys: The Movie, we look at how the cast of talented young actors, the series and film writer Ash Malanum, director Ivan Payawal, and The IdeaFirst Company step up to the challenge.

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Next
All Eyes on Abed Green
Leo Balante | June 18, 2021

Much like the rest of us, the Filipino-American student athlete turned fashion model and now actor-in-the-making Abed Green, took an opportunity in the midst of the great pause that we are presently in, trying to find the most fruitful of ways to be sane and empowered amid the darkness of being stuck and cooped up at home. Now, on social media and on his slowly-blossoming career as an on-cam talent and actor, Green is showing no signs of slowing down.

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Events & Festivals
Nadine Lustre Bares ‘Absolute Madness’ in Upcoming First Solo Concert
Leo Balante | June 14, 2021

Following the titanic success of her much talked about visual album, multimedia queen Nadine Lustre returns in all her glory, doing what she does best in a platform she has long mastered, through her first-ever solo concert entitled “Absolute Madness.”

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Lists & Guides
Editor’s Picks: Father’s Day Gift Guide for All Types of Dads
Leo Balante | June 11, 2021

Whether you are celebrating your husband, your two fathers, your best friend who just became a dad, or whoever served as your father figure, we rounded up an extensive guide you on what to give the man of the hour with a list of swag from grooming, gear and gadgets, down to food and experiences for this special man and where you can get it.

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Review
Why ‘Rak of Aegis’ Remains a Timeless Filipino Theater Triumph
Leo Balante | May 24, 2021

In every sense, “Rak of Aegis”, beyond its high-octane numbers, its hilarious skits, and blaring vocal performances, is a story of human triumph. Beneath the surface—the razzle-dazzle and the knee-slapping comedy—is a poignant story of persistence and resilience, of clinging on to hope in a time of restlessness and desperation—making it an important achievement in Filipino theater.

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Insider
Chris Nick Springs Forward with a Bold, Elegant Awakening in New Eveningwear Collection
Leo Balante | May 10, 2021

For young, rising designer, Chris Nick Delos Reyes, behind the lustrous label, Chris Nick, imagining life post-pandemic is as taxing as it is necessary, and his Spring/Summer 2021 collection speaks of an adage to a time when the ominous veil of fear and doubt would then be lifted, and the fun, flirtatious, modern Filipina could come out and socialize, dressed to the nines.

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Stage & Performing Arts
From Brgy. Venezia to the World: Phenomenal Musical ‘Rak of Aegis’ Sails to the Virtual Stage
Leo Balante | May 8, 2021

The iconic and culture-shaping jukebox musical, “Rak of Aegis” makes its way to the virtual stage with a limited run streaming event happening in two weekends of July and August as part of the celebration of the Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino 2021.

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Portraits
Curtain Call feat. Sandbox Fest 2020
Leo Balante | October 12, 2020

Days before the community quarantine, we met with the lead cast of the The Sandbox Collective’s Sandbox Fest 2020, bannering a re-staging of well-received Duncan Macmillan productions, “Lungs” and “Every Brilliant Thing”. Months later, following their productions’ unexpected stop, we revisit how the pandemic impacted these stage actors’ worldview as artists and human beings.

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Cover Story
Body of Work: Becoming BJ Pascual
Leo Balante | June 28, 2020

As we reach the final days of Pride Month, celebrated differently this year, we zoom in on the evolved sensibilities of prominent fashion photographer BJ Pascual as he steps from behind the lens to the forefront, embracing the perks and pitfalls of his now very public persona. As he navigates his newfound sense of conviction using a platform that reaches his army of supporters, we go beyond his celebrity–transcending from a talked-about wunderkind into an advocate and a person of influence with an undeterred voice raring to make a lasting statement.

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