FROM DARKNESS TO UNDERSTANDING: SM CARES AND CHED’S BLACKOUT ZONE EXPERIENCE

PHILIPPINES — SM Cares, in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), brought The Blackout Zone to the CHED Central Office Auditorium at the Higher Education Development Center Building in Diliman, Quezon City from July 21 to 22, 2026.

Developed through SM’s Mall for All drive on inclusivity, the immersive exhibit invited students, educators, and members of the academic community to experience life without sight in a controlled and safe environment. Participants were guided through everyday activities designed to encourage them to look beyond limitations and recognize the abilities, independence, and resilience of people with visual impairments.

FROM COURT PARTNERS TO PET COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS: TOPBREED AND UPMBT BRING TOP LOVE & CARE

 

PHILIPPINES - For Filipino pet owners, caring for a dog means providing complete wellness, alongside giving them a home. It also means making sure pets receive the care they need to stay healthy and happy. Yet access to essential wellness services can be challenging.

This is where the community can make a difference.

TopBreed and the UP Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) are coming together for Paws & Purpose Pet Wellness Day, a community-centered initiative that brings sports, pet care, and service together. This year, the collaboration begins by doing something more special, giving back to the pet community.

A Partnership with a Purpose

Taking place on August 29, 2026, at Kamia Hall, UP Diliman, the event will bring together TopBreed, UPMBT, and the UP Friends of Campus Animals (UP FOCA) for a day focused on pet health and responsible pet ownership.

Around 100 pet owners from the UP community are expected to benefit from essential services, including vaccinations, microchipping, spay-and-neuter procedures, and basic veterinary consultations.

The event will also feature pet games, grooming services, product sampling, loot bags, a photo booth, raffle activities, and exclusive merchandise—creating a fun experience for both pets and their owners.

SM LITTLE STARS CROWNS ITS FIRST-EVER GRAND SHINING AND DAZZLING STARS

 Gratiela Thresse M. Urmeneta of SM City Manila and Amiah Kaea Yzobel Quimzon of SM City Butuan capture SM Little Stars 2026's highest honors

The Grand Shining Star, Grand Dazzling Star, and runners-up pose with the SM Little Stars 2026 judges and organizers following the Grand Finals at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

PHILIPPINES — From thousands of hopefuls across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, thirty of the country’s brightest young dreamers took center stage at the SM Little Stars 2026 Grand Finals. Captivating the audience at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, the finalists showcased exceptional talent and charm in a nationwide celebration of Filipino youth. More than a talent search, the annual competition highlights SM Supermalls’ commitment to discovering and nurturing limitless potential from every corner of the Philippines as these children embrace the biggest stage of their young lives. 

The Grand Finals marked the culmination of six weeks of auditions held across 68 of your most-loved SM Supermalls nationwide. More than 41,000 children aged 4 to 7 showcased their talents in singing, dancing, and other skills, with only 30 exceptional finalists earning coveted spots in the country’s biggest nationwide kiddie talent competition. While every finalist inspired the audience with their passion and determination, two young dreamers ultimately earned this year's highest honors.

Gratiela showcases her dance moves, while Amiah serenades the audience with her rendition of the classic Disney song “When You Wish Upon a Star” during the SM Little Stars 2026 Grand Finals.

OFFSHORE MUSIC EXPANDS ROSTER: RISING SOUL ARTIST PACO PASTOR OFFICIALLY SIGNS

 

From left to right: CEO of Offshore Ely Buendia, Paco Pastor, General Manager of Offshore Music Audry Dionisio and Artist & Repertoire Manager Dani Mendoza

PHILIPPINES — Independent Philippine-based music label Offshore Music adds budding soul and pop-inclined artist, Paco Pastor to its growing roster.

 

Heavily attuned to the soft and sensual nature of the soul music, Paco Pastor is a Manila-based artist who aspires to create his path in the industry with a genuine approach to his musicality and identity as a singer-songwriter, as well as a live performer.  

“There are so many aspects to me as an artist that it really isn't just one color,” explains the 19-year-old Pastor in an interview, seamlessly likening his artistic personality into colors. The singer also mentioned how female artists such as Sade, Nectar Woode and Olivia Dean have influenced his craft, allowing a more feminine persona to come to fruition in his current artistic endeavor as a way to celebrate these qualities in his path to being known as an artist.

In connection to being thankful to creative women, he also notes the involvement of his best friend, Alysha, encouraging the singer to embark on a career in music. “Being on stage or performing [was] never one of my dreams. But I always knew that I did love music, but performing up there? Not a chance… Until this [Alysha] girl came into my life.” 

SB19 EXPANDS INTERNATIONAL REACH THROUGH LANDMARK JAPAN SHOWCASES AND MEDIA DEBUTS

 The group expands its reach through cross-border collaborations, festival appearances, Japanese TV debut, and a high-profile performance with Kento Nakajima

SB19 also hints about the re-release of “Gento,” featuring Kento Nakajima

PHILIPPINES – SB19 continues to turn its long-term ambition of becoming a global phenom into a growing reality, with a series of activities in Japan that have brought the P-Pop supergroup closer to one of Asia’s most important music markets.

The group’s recent activities in Japan span music collaborations, major festival stages, and landmark television appearances, further strengthening SB19’s strategy to reach international audiences.

SB19 recently debuted at SUMMER SONIC 2026, one of Japan’s biggest music festivals, performing in both Osaka and Tokyo. The appearance placed the acclaimed group alongside prominent international headliners and prominent local music stars, giving them an opportunity to represent Filipino artistry on a global scale.

For PABLO, performing at SUMMER SONIC means realizing a dream that once felt impossible and distant. “Performing in both Osaka and Tokyo is another milestone for us, and we’re incredibly grateful for the chance to introduce SB19 to Japanese audiences and connect with them. We have a wide range of songs and genres in our repertoire, so fans can expect an energetic and diverse set that showcases different sides of SB19. Most of all, we hope our performances will allow people to experience our music, feel our energy, and hopefully capture their hearts.”

TAG MEDIA GROUP HIGHLIGHTS TOP NEWS ASIA MAGAZINE AT PRWF 2026

PHILIPPINES – Readers and industry leaders gathered at National Book Store, Araneta City, Cubao on August 14, 2026, for a special Top News Asia magazine signing hosted by TAG Media Group during The Philippine Readers and Writers

Spearheaded by TAG Media Group President and Editor-in-Chief Engr. Grace Bondad-Nicolas, the event brought together two powerful guest speakers: Comelec Chairman Atty. George Erwin Mojica Garcia; and corporate leader, former Congressman, and PAF Reserve Officer Brig. Gen. Michael “Mikee” Lagman Romero.

Attendees enjoyed an engaging Q&A session where the guest leaders shared behind-the-scenes stories from their careers and national service.

BALLET MANILA LA BAYADERE FINALE: EXPERIENCE THE ETHEREAL KINGDOM OF SHADES

 PHILIPPINES – A temple dancer’s devotion. A warrior’s divided heart. A priest’s consuming desire. Their story moves between passion and betrayal, life and afterlife. This August, Ballet Manila brings its PRIMA Season to a grand conclusion with the rare full-length staging of Marius Petipa’s timeless classic, La Bayadère, at the Aliw Theater on August 14 at 8 :00 p.m., and August 15 and 16 at 5:00 p.m.

Set against the backdrop of ancient India, La Bayadère tells the story of Nikiya, a temple dancer bound by love, and Solor, the warrior torn between passion and duty. Their fates intertwine with Gamzatti, the rajah’s daughter, and the High Brahmin, whose desires ignite betrayal and tragedy. The ballet unfolds across opulent courts and sacred temples before dissolving into the ethereal Kingdom of the Shades.

Mariinsky Ballet principal dancers Renata Shakirova and Kimin Kim during Ballet Manila's La Bayadere