This week, Manila delivers a festival of choices! Beauty buffs can head to Watsons BeautyCon 2025, cinephiles can catch screenings presented by the Korean Film Festival and Bakunawa Fest, and theater lovers can get another dose of hilarity with a restaging of "Walang Aray." Runners, wellness seekers, and foodies won’t be left behind with Sunnies Run, the science-forward Live Forever Summit, and the tasty takeover that is SingaPob 2025!
Watsons BeautyCon 2025 Destination: Beauty
Buckle up, beauty lovers! "Watsons BeautyCon 2025: Destination Beauty" is ready for takeoff! Shop from over 160 global and local beauty brands under one roof from Aug. 28-31 at SMX Manila. Discover top skincare lines like COSRX, BIODERMA, Neutrogena, Some By Mi, and Hada Labo, among others, and get your hands on cult-favorite brands such as Sunnies Face, Happy Skin, Teviant, and The Body Shop. Free admission for Watsons Club, SMAC, and LOOK At Me members!
2025 Korean Film Festival 'Scenes on Screen'
Film fans, mark your calendars! The "2025 Korean Film Festival: Scenes on Screen" runs from Aug. 27 to Nov. 21, featuring film screenings, exhibits, and film talks. Organized by the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines, the festival spotlights the artistry behind Korea’s acclaimed films. Audiences can enjoy blockbuster movies at SM Mall of Asia, SM City Iloilo, and SM Lanang Premier. Titles include "I, The Executioner," "Concrete Utopia," and "Kingmaker."
Walang Aray
The award-winning play "Walang Aray" returns to the stage for a 7-week victory run at the PETA Theater Center. The show has earned praise for its sharp humor, innovative staging, and spirited performances that bring Severino Reyes’s sarswela to life for a new generation. Expect a refreshed staging with new cast members, more surprises, and the same unapologetically fun storytelling that had audiences laughing, singing, and rooting for love against all odds. Get your tickets today!
PASUNDAYAG: The Laya Arts Fest 2025
Laya Philippines presents "PASUNDAYAG: The Laya Arts Fest 2025" on Aug. 30 at Centro De Turismo, Intramuros. This one-day festival invites everyone to workshops on creative writing, songwriting, stage management, and mobile filmmaking. To cap the celebration, the Anniversary Show will also deliver inspiring performances that highlight the festival’s mission of art as a tool for healing, hope, and freedom. This event is open to the public, with FREE admission!
Bench Baby and Kids Fair 2025
Enter a world of wonder at the "Bench Baby & Kids Fair 2025: Enchanted Forest," happening from Aug. 28-31 at The Playground, Bench Tower, BGC. This year’s edition transforms the space into a whimsical forest filled with magical surprises. Visitors can enjoy exclusive deals, bundle promos, and discounts from beloved baby and kids’ brands, along with charming new finds. Little adventurers can join the Adventure Hunt, a kid-friendly quest complete with fun activities and prizes sponsored by Oishi!
Travel & Lifestyle Expo 2025
Get ready to journey into new opportunities at the "Travel and Lifestyle Expo 2025," slated from Aug. 29-31 at the Ayala Malls Circuit Activity Center. The expo hosts a Global Travel Pavilion, where more than 15 countries will be represented by their tourism boards, airlines, and travel agencies. For those considering education or migration abroad, the Migration & Education Zone offers guidance from consultants and institutions across Australia, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand!
Sunnies Run 2025
Join the first-ever Sunnies Run on Aug. 31 at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati. Open to runners of all levels, this vibrant and inclusive gathering champions community, movement, well-being, and the upcoming launch of a new Sunnies initiative designed for active lifestyles. Come solo, bring a friend, or even your pup, and pick your pace: 1KM Pet Run, 3KM, 5KM, or 10KM. There will be exciting Sunnies giveaways waiting for everyone on and off the course!
SingaPob 2025
Celebrate a flavorful long weekend as "SingaPob 2025" brings the best of Singapore’s dining culture to Rockwell and Poblacion from Aug. 28-30. Festival highlights include an exclusive tasting menu by Candlenut’s Malcolm Lee and Hapag’s Thirdy Dolatre and John Kevin Navoa, a Zi Char showcase from Keng Eng Kee, and creative Singapore-inspired tacos from Onlypans Taqueria. Cocktail enthusiasts can also enjoy masterful concoctions by bartenders from Jigger & Pony, Fura, Offtrack, Night Hawk, Mama Diam, and Origin Bar!
Live Forever Summit
Unlock the path to a healthier, longer life at the "Live Forever Summit," the Philippines’ first-ever longevity and biohacking forum scheduled on Aug. 30-31 at the Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater. Attendees will gain access to talks and discussions led by renowned experts who will share the latest breakthroughs in longevity research, holistic wellness practices, and biohacking strategies. Secure your passes now!
BAKUNAWA FEST XI
The 11th Bakunawa Fest runs from Aug. 28–Sept. 15, with screenings set in Centro de Turismo Intramuros, The First Islaterl Alaminos City, Cinematheque Centre Negros Bacolod City, and UPFI Videotheque Quezon City. This year's lineup includes works from the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Laos, and beyond. As the Philippines’ pioneering fantastic and genre film festival., Bakunawa Fest has become a hub for bold storytelling and cultural exchange.
