Metro Manila Film Festival 2024: Check Out the Official Entries!

Get ready, Manila film buffs! Disney’s back with a body-swap sequel, or should we say freakquel, that’s even better and freakier than its cult-classic predecessor. 

Mark your calendars: "Freakier Friday" is set to hit Philippine cinemas on Aug. 6, 2025, but if you can’t wait that long, this is your shot to see it before anyone else!

On Aug. 5, all roads lead to the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia, where the red carpet is rolling out for its premiere of Freakier Friday. Even better? Filipino-Canadian heartthrob Manny Jacinto will be present. 

“Hi, Philippines! I will be coming to visit to promote the film, Freakier Friday. I hope to see you guys there soon,” the actor teased on social media. 

Born in the Philippines and raised in Canada, Jacinto has racked up some serious cred in recent years: from his breakout role as Jason Mendoza from "The Good Place to "Nine Perfect Strangers" and "Star Wars: The Acolyte." 

Now he’s stepping into Disney territory with "Freakier Friday," starring alongside a stacked cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan continuing in their same roles — who are also executive producers on the film — along with Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Chad Michael Murray, Rosalind Chao, Vanessa Bayer, Mark Harmon.

Directed by Nisha Ganatra, this new chapter picks up years after Tess (Curtis) and Anna (Lohan) first walked a mile in each other’s shoes. Now, Anna is a mom herself, juggling the challenges of parenting and a growing blended family on the way, until, as you might expect, another magical mishap turns their world upside down once again.

Visit Disney Studios Philippines on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly Twitter) for more updates.

From the shores of Pangasinan to the iconic walls of Intramuros, a wave of personal storytelling has landed at the NCCA Gallery this July. 

The exhibition, titled “Wala Yan Tongtong Co” — loosely translates to “I have a story to tell,” and is a vibrant showcase of lived experience and the different ways diverse communities preserve and represent their local culture. 

Running from July 4 to 31, the show is part of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) 2025 National Arts Month festivities.  

If you’re curious what is pulsing through today’s provincial art scene, this show, curated by Mimi Santos, is a must-see.

The spotlight is on A Salty Project, a Pangasinan-based art collective made up of young, boundary-pushing artists who have built a community around creatively expressing their personal histories and identities.

The collective isn’t new to the province — but now they’re taking their creative storytelling to Manila!  

Featured artists include Gino Tioseco, Rei Chan, Dogzeyeview, Aica, Mark Laurence Lopez, Patrick “Kinigtot” Bacolor, Sinag Waweng, Joshua Laron, Ciaste, Dionie Fernandez, and Mareen Jean Tolentino. 

Their work uses a mix of bold styles and mediums to explore identity, memory, and how we each carry our own version of the past.

For more information, visit NCCA Gallery on their website, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out A Salty Project on their Instagram and Facebook. 

Location: 633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

Date: July 4 to 31, 2025

Opening Hours: from 9 AM to 5 PM

Multimedia creator and visual artist Raco Ruiz is set to return to the gallery scene with his fourth solo exhibit, "NO WORRYS," on July 27, 2025, at Secret Fresh in Ronac Art Center, Ortigas Avenue, San Juan.

Known for having a colorful yet chaotic visual style, Raco will spotlight his original character Razzl the Clown, who was first seen in his 2024 exhibit "CLOWNRRY," to the center stage once again. As the soft-spoken personification of Raco's anxious thoughts, Razzl takes over Secret Fresh's Gallery B to represent quiet resilience and hope amidst fears of failure, burnout, comparison, and loneliness.

Following the success of "CLOWNRRY" and his sold-out 2023 solo exhibit "SURREALICIOUS," this upcoming exhibit aims to connect with art enthusiasts, new and longtime fans, young creatives, and those who simply relate with the inner struggles and real-life worries we overcome each day. 

Themed like a carnival, "NO WORRYS" marks the final bow for Razzl the Clown. Catch the exhibit this Sunday as it opens from 2 PM to 6 PM. 

For more details, follow Raco on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram (@racobell and @racodrawsstuff).

Location: Secret Fresh, Ronac Art Center, Ortigas Ave., San Juan

Raco Ruiz’s 4th Solo Exhibit: 'NO WORRYS' Secret Fresh Sun, July 27
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM Visual artist Raco Ruiz returns to Secret Fresh on July 27, 2025, for "NO WORRYS," his fourth solo show spotlighting Razzl the Clown.

Hold onto your soda caps, music lovers — Coca-Cola Philippines just dropped the hottest lineup for Coke Studio Live Season 9 fandom concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and it's stacked with must-see acts! 

Mark your calendars for Sept. 5, 2025, because this is one concert you do not want to miss.

After NewJeans owned last year’s stage at MOA Arena, Coke Studio is leveling up with none other than American artist Lauv — the king of soul-baring pop anthems! The "I Like Me Better" hitmaker is making his grand Manila return since his 2023 show, bringing all of his hit tunes for Season 9. 

Expect sing-along moments to his biggest tracks, from "Chasing Fire” to "Love U Like That" to his songs with Martin Garrix and LANY — and maybe there will even be a surprise collab!

At the same time, the chart-dominating P-Pop queens BINI will be making their Coke Studio debut! And if that’s not enough, ALAMAT is back to bless us with their genre-blending magic.

Rounding out the killer lineup are true blue pop stars from the Philippines like up-and-coming acoustic singer songwriter MRLD, alt-pop star Ena Mori’s, Filipino indie rock band Over October, and hip-hop maestro Alex Bruce. Not only are you guaranteed to lose your voice at this concert, but your playlist can also get a fire upgrade. 

If you want in, here’s how to score tickets. Just check out a Coke, Royal, or Sprite that's worth P150 on LazMart, confirm your consent via chat, and hit "Order Received" to join the raffle pool. It's that easy. To join the raffle, click here.  

You can also snag tickets through Jollibee, Grab, Lazada, or 7-Eleven, because who doesn’t love a side of concert tickets with their midnight snack?

For more information, visit Coca-Cola Philippines on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly Twitter). 

Coke Studio LIVE:

Location: Araneta Coliseum, 14 General Araneta Street, 1109 Quezon City, Metro Manila

Date and Time: Sept. 5, 2025, 5 PM onwards

Eraserheads: Combo On The Run is making waves as the first Philippine-produced film and music documentary to be screened at the comic book and multi-entertainment convention, San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) in 2025.

This documentary chronicles the enduring legacy of the iconic rock band Eraserheads, from their formation to their reunion concert in 2022, unpacking their lasting impact as the most successful rock band in the Philippines.

This marks a milestone for Filipino cinema. After being released in the Philippines this summer under Warner Bros, it reached critical acclaim, with GMA News calling it a “history lesson on an important chapter of Pinoy pop culture."

“I’m incredibly grateful to have this opportunity to represent our people and country on a more global platform,” Director and Producer Diane Ventura said. “It’s long been my dream to spotlight the ingenuity of Filipino art, talent, and creativity and to be part of a movement that reframes the Filipino narrative. This is also my way of putting out a more nuanced and extensive depiction of our people while bringing to light the richness, humor, and depth of our stories.”

To ramp up the excitement further, there will be a panel discussion at Exhibit Hall 6BCF, led by director and producer Diane Ventura, and featuring Ely Buendia, the legendary frontman of Filipino rock band Eraserheads and a central figure in the documentary. Meanwhile, a limited-edition one-shot comic book named after the film — Combo on the Run — is set to crash-land at SDCC. 

Created through a powerhouse team-up between Kid Heroes Publications, Eraserheads, and DVent Pictures, this comic is penned by the dynamic duo Patricio Ginelsa and Justin Quizon, and tells the story of musicians turned superheroes in an anthology format. 

The cover art is designed by notable local artists such as Whilce Portacio and Stephen Segovia, and award-winning artists Raymund Lee, Felix Morales, and Ardie Aquino also contributed to the illustrations in the comic. 

Fans can pre-order the comic book now via the official Kid Heroes website. Tickets for Comic Con San Diego have already sold out, but Eraserheads: Combo On the Run will be screened in theaters worldwide in 2025. 

For more information, visit Comic Con International on their website, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Location: 111 W Harbor Dr., San Diego Convention Ctr, San Diego, CA 92101

Date: July 24 to July 27, 2025

Ja Morant is officially pulling up to Manila, and he’s not just here to sightsee. The Memphis Grizzlies guard and Nike signature athlete is making his first-ever international tour with Nike this month, and the Philippines is on the map!

Dubbed the Make Them Watch Tour, Ja’s globe-trotting itinerary hits the U.S., China, Japan, and wraps up with a slam dunk finale right here in Manila, his first time in the Philippines!

The tour is all about connecting with the next generation of hoopers, pushing creativity and style on the court, and getting a feel for how the game lives and breathes in different parts of the world.

“Basketball is all about work and creativity — putting in that grind but also playing with your own style,” said the two-time NBA All-Star. “I’m excited to pull up and share a piece of my journey with the next generation of hoopers around the world, and I also want to check how basketball is played in their own communities. Getting to learn new cultures through hoops is a unique opportunity, and I’m hyped about that.”

While in Manila, Ja’s plans include hosting local high school players for an exclusive workout session and pulling up for an exhibition Make Them Watch game that’s sure to have fans lining up for blocks. 

It’s a celebration of Manila’s deep hoops roots — and a chance for Ja to soak in the sights, sounds, and flavors of the city, from courtside energy to local street eats.

And because it wouldn’t be a Ja Morant tour without some sneaker heat, he’s dropping three new styles of his signature Nike Ja 3 sneaker. The EYBL and NY vs NY editions are exclusive to their events, but the Lightshow colorway will drop in select stores across China and Japan before landing globally on SNKRS this Aug. 5, 2025.

For more information, visit Nike on their website, Instagram, Facebook, and X (Formerly Twitter).

Cadbury Philippines is back with a freshly revamped take on its signature chocolate bar — and it’s teaming up with global K-Pop boy band ENHYPEN for its new campaign: Fall in Love with Chocolate Like Never Before, one that aims to bring people closer to the things they love. 

Cadbury's new recipe promises to enhance their original creamy profile with a richer, more chocolatey taste. And here’s where it gets sweeter: Filipino fans now have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fly to South Korea and meet ENHYPEN in person through the "One, Two Connect in Korea with Cadbury and ENHYPEN" raffle promo!

Known for stirring hearts with music, ENHYPEN — made up of Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki — is celebrated for hits like “FEVER,” “Drunk-Dazed,” and “Bite Me.”  

When you purchase P200 worth of Cadbury Dairy Milk (imported by Mondelez Philippines), you can join the One, Two Connect in Korea with Cadbury and ENHYPEN raffle draw. Head over to Cadbury PH’s official Facebook Messenger, upload your raffle details, fill out the form, and you’re in!

The promo runs from June 22 to Aug. 31, 2025.  There will be nine weekly draws that start on July 1 and end on Aug. 26, with 30 winners scoring exclusive ENHYPEN merch — from jackets and earrings to signed albums and posters!  Also, the grand prize includes a 5-day all-expense-paid K-Pop adventure from Manila to Seoul for four lucky fans, complete with round trip airfare, hotel, and meals.

During the grand draw, eight lucky winners will receive signed ENHYPEN posters and another eight will receive ENHYPEN albums. Ten more will win limited-edition ENHYPEN merchandise.

For more information on The One, Two Connect in Korea with Cadbury and ENHYPEN raffle promo, visit Cadbury Dairy Milk on their Facebook and Instagram.

The Beat Manila’s Up and Coming is a series where we feature rising talented artists from the Philippines, giving them a platform to share what they’re passionate about and to promote the music they (and us too!) would love for the world to hear. Do you want or know someone who wants to be featured? Email us at [email protected] or slide through our DMs on Facebook or Instagram!

Love has always been a central theme for many songs today, and let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good love song? But this promising new artist in our latest up-and-coming exclusive stated that, more than personal relationship experiences, love songs can also be born from one’s deepest desires and insecurities.

That’s how singer-songwriter Dana Paulene, came up with her follow-up single, “Akong Ako,” a track that delves into vulnerability and the kind of love that offers reassurance and the freedom to be one’s most authentic self. 

The singer opened up about the emotions she unpacked for this new single in a teaser TikTok video, and shared, “May sinulat akong kanta na tungkol sa taong tatanggapin ka even at your lowest point. ‘Yung tipong wala kang make-up, ang laki ng eyebags mo, umiiyak ka sa harapan niya, pero tanggap ka niya. And even more, mahal ka pa rin niya (I wrote a song about a person who will accept you even at your lowest point. A person who will accept you even without makeup on, with your deep eyebags, as you cry in front of them. Even then, they love you all the same).”

The Beat Manila sat down with the talented songwriter to talk about her musical beginnings, how busking paved the way for her songwriting, and the process of creating her latest single. 

Busking Through Life

Dana’s musical career began at a very young age, having a theater and classical background. She found herself transitioning from this genre and into busking and street performing only a few years ago.

“At that time, I wasn’t really versed in the busking community. I was living in Taguig City, and there was a bazaar on the ground floor of our condominium. A few people were singing at that bazaar, and my mom was like, ‘Can my daughter sing a few songs?’ And that's really when it started. *laughs* They began giving me gigs outside the condominium bazaar. There wasn’t anyone who inspired me to busk. It's really just the right set of circumstances that led me to it.”

Dana honed her performing skills through song covers, which she also posted online on her YouTube channel and TikTok page. She admitted, however, that she never posted any of her original songs at that time. While busking, she was discovered by Punch Liwanag of Viva Music Group and eventually got signed to the label. It was only then that Dana pursued songwriting more seriously. 

“I'm a very sentimental person, so I think it really started at the height of the pandemic when I was struggling to let my thoughts out of my mind,” she told The Beat Manila. “There was really no one to talk to, and so I figured, 'Oh, I can play the guitar, I can also sing. So, why not write songs about them?' That's really when it started.”

When asked about what shaped her songwriting, the singer shared how she always felt like she needed to create rather than cover, and had always craved for originality in her music. “I started realizing that I have a voice outside of covering songs after I joined TV competitions. I realized that I wasn't really finding much connection with the songs I'm singing and that I really wanted to make songs that are that are tailor fit for me. That’s when it hit me that I had to make songs of my own.”

Dana broke into the local music scene with her 2024 debut, “Uod Love Story,” which was a product of the infamous relationship question, “Would you still love me if I were a worm?” The track falls under the folk and dream pop genre, a sound that complements her siren-like vocals. When asked about her musical influences, she replied, “The artists I look up to are mostly local. But if I were to be honest, the artists I really look up to right now are my friends, and I think that’s kind of unique because I believe inspiration comes from the people you are closest to. And so I'm really happy that I have friends that I look up to.”

As for her songwriting essentials, Dana told us that she only needs three things: her guitar, and the voice recording and notes apps on her phone. “There’s a shortcut on my phone for my voice recording app,  so whenever I get the inspiration, I just press that button and then it records my voice already.”

Speaking of inspiration, the singer also stated that she has an unlimited supply of it, as it comes whenever and wherever. 

“There's really no routine for it. Some people say that in songwriting, you really just have to show up like it's a job. But for me, I don't feel like it has to have a routine. Even if I don't set a time every day, it just comes out of me. It’s just whenever an inspiration hits, which is every day, because inspiration is everywhere.”

On Her New Single

Dana Paulene returns to the music scene with “Akong Ako” this 2025, a song about finding someone who loves you for who you are. The singer gave us a glimpse into how the song came to be and where the idea came from.

“I really just wanted the song to be like a diary entry of some sort, and like I always say in my TikTok videos, it describes a love that brings out the truest, most authentic version of yourself,” she explained. “I wrote that song because I wasn’t very comfortable with showing my face without makeup, and there’s a line in the song that says: ‘Nakita mo na akong nakatitig sa ‘yo, nang walang kolorete sa pagmumukha ko (You’ve already seen me staring at you without any makeup on).’ That was the starting point of that song besides the melody.”

The artist shared that the song came right out of her notes app and that she had been hesitant at first to complete it because it felt too raw. She pitched the song to her friend Joe Castro, the bassist of the band NaÏV, with whom she produced the song. 

“He really got my ideas right. I'm really thankful for him because ‘Akong Ako’ is the product of what I wanted the song to be in my mind,” she said.

The new song follows her debut’s heartfelt theme of loving someone unconditionally and authentically. When asked what drew her to write songs about forever and unconditional love, she expressed an interesting reason.

“I think it’s a belief. A friend made me realize that maybe I write these types of songs because this is the type of love that I want to receive. So maybe that’s where it’s coming from.”

From performing on the streets to writing and performing music on stage, Dana is showing us that music is more than just a hobby but a part of her, and she’s only getting started. The singer-songwriter also collaborated with singer-songwriter Earl Agustin and had a duet track on his debut LP, called "Minamahal." She also has a few more songs on standby and is continuously recording and writing music. 

“I guess my short-term goal would be to play in big events at arenas,” she shared as we asked her about her plans for the next few years. “But I guess my long-term goal would be to connect to an audience that resonates with my music.”

Dana then reminisced on her most memorable gig where people just started lying down as she performed “Uod Love Story.”  “That was a fun experience because I've always wanted to do that! *laughs* In gigs, I try my best to connect with each one of the people who come because I want to feel like it's a community. I just don't want to build a fan base but a community.”

She then ended our interview with a heartfelt message for her avid listeners. “I guess just a genuine thank you. I never thought that I would find an audience that really appreciates me for me. Well, yes — akong ako.”

You can stream Dana Paulene’s music on all major streaming platforms. Follow Dana’s musical journey by keeping updated on her TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook pages.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Enjoyed this article? Check out our previous Up-and-Coming articles here.