Top stories you should see and read now.
People often make the mistake to label this young actor as “just another pretty face,” but his latest ventures prove otherwise. In a year of so much uncertainty for us all, he has impressively forged his own path with nothing but hard work and focus on his back, and a talent for getting what he wants (and works hard for).
Some people grow up to dream of one day making a living out of interpreting numbers, painting words, running industry-shaking businesses, or living a simple life of serenity away from the city’s bustling noise. For Filipino-American singer-songwriter-producer Yeek, the dream was to tell stories tied to his personal truths. Now, in a time of so much uncertainty, there’s at least one thing that’s for sure: this dreamer’s wild fantasies have just gotten even closer to reality.
Standing tall as one of the most recognizable young names in the entertainment industry, close to eleven years after his thrust to public consciousness, James Reid remains an indomitable force. This year, the actor, singer-songwriter, and Careless Music main man, behind some of the Philippines’ most culturally-relevant projects has picked up a few tricks of his own on making the most out of time, and conquering its inevitable passing.
Every so often—every once in the rarest while—a name emerges out of nowhere, like an alienesque, otherworldly entity invading an already overcrowded industry, breaking the monotony of names that make up the mainstream scene. In the case of the online series, Gameboys, two names have sprung up, unexpectedly—in the silence and chaos of a pandemic. These are two steady but relatively new names, who have been making their respective rounds in the independent circuit for years, now thrust in a national and an even global platform. For the Takeover Issue, editor Leo Balante looks deep into the unlikely pair, actors Elijah Canlas and Kokoy De Santos, recalling their leaps of faith that springboarded them from aspirants to independent films regulars, self-capturing actors, to #EliKoy becoming a global phenomenon, and them arguably becoming the most significant breakout stars of the year—bar none.
Five years ago, fashion powerhouse Michael Cinco painted a dystopian–albeit fictional–world told through his collection. Five years later, when our realities appears to be heavily overturned, “normal” now seems to be the work of fiction. For him, “Fiction titillates our senses because consciously in our minds, the actual eventuality for a pandemic to occur is highly improbable and that is why we always assert that fashion and fiction go hand in hand. Just because Fashion is Forward. Fashion is visionary.”
In an exclusive editorial, fashion photographer-turned-protective garment-designer, Rxandy Capinpin, paints the present in light and shadows. And with this portrait, the message is clear. Now, more than ever, in a time, of distance and concealment, we reveal our truest forms.
Descendants of the Sun’s local adaptation enlists a powerhouse cast of generations of leading men and group of top and upcoming artists—that bridged the gap of cultures with their impeccable acting and sincerity to the story. Following its momentary halt due to a pandemic, it’s back on its wheels to continue the show that left us and its legions of local and regional fans hanging for more.
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.
On Karl Marx, 20:20, ‘El Fili’, and raw sienna bags. The Philippines scored big with an unprecedented industry milestone. Right at the tail-end of 2019, ‘Dead Kids’ became the first locally-made film ever to be licensed and released by streaming powerhouse, Netflix. The hype is good and beautiful. But after the film’s explosive thrust in the global scene, the fan frenzy, and the critical acclaim, what’s left is the inimitable display of acting prowess from the film’s lead cast, Kelvin Miranda, Vance Larena, Gabby Padilla, Khalil Ramos, and Jan Silverio. ‘Dead Kids’, after all, has been seen not just as a source of Filipino pride, but a potent harbinger of the rise of the future of Philippine entertainment.
From a string of supporting roles on television and films, Marco Gumabao was led to what is now an iconic role of a young man entrenched in an adult relationship–paired with an actress every budding actor his age could only dream of. In the end, we were introduced to someone who’s more than just a thirst trap, but an actor ready to step into the fore and develop a repertoire of roles that showcase his depth and evolving dedication to his craft.
