This year in Arts and Culture


We take a look back at 2021 through Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Arts + Culture’s top trending stories

The year that is about to end, 2021, has certainly been an eventful one. While it followed a challenging 2020, when most industries including the arts were largely put on hold, one obvious difference is that things have become more open this year.

Here’s a look at the top 20 stories that defined the world of arts and culture this 2021, according to our articles that you, our readers, read the most this year.

20. A Filipino actor in ‘Squid Game’

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/09/20/icydk-there-is-a-filipino-actor-in-netflix-series-squid-game/

19. The Manila Metropolitan Theater

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/02/04/the-metropolitan-theater-gets-a-third-life/

18. A strange collection: dead mosquitoes

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/20/look-this-young-artist-collects-every-mosquito-she-kills/

17. National Museums reopening

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/19/national-museums-in-manila-reopen-on-rizals-birth-anniversary/

16. A Pinoy cultural symbol takes the roads of California

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/08/pinoy-tricycle-roams-the-streets-of-california/

15. Remember when Joseph Gordon-Levitt took a lot of interest in the Philippines

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/15/joseph-gordon-levitt-needs-your-story-for-a-photo-taken-in-quezon-city/

14. That huge portrait of VP Leni

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/19/look-a-60-foot-portrait-of-vp-leni-robredo-is-being-made-in-quezon-city/

13. The tragedy of Bree

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/09/20/filipino-painter-bree-jonson-passed-away-at-age-30/

12. An exclusive: A geisha turned full-time mommy

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/02/23/exclusive-get-to-know-this-geisha-turned-full-time-mother-and-vlogger/

11. A biography of Estelito Mendoza hits the shelves

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/31/a-book-detailing-the-life-of-one-of-the-brightest-minds-in-philippine-bar-launched/

10. National Arts Month 2021

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/12/ncca-announces-theme-for-national-arts-month-2021/

9. Arturo Luz, National Artist, passes

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/27/arturo-luz-national-artist-for-visual-arts-passes-away-at-94/

8. Back to Pinoy grammar basics: ‘Dito’ and ‘Rito’

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/25/how-to-use-dito-and-rito-correctly/

7. Remember that Whang-Od and Nas Daily issue?

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/04/kalinga-tattoo-artist-grace-palicas-calls-out-nas-daily-whang-od-academy-is-a-scam/

6. That Korean star who studied in the Philippines

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/08/hwang-in-youp-of-true-beauty-studied-in-the-philippines/

5. Cinemas in Manila reopening

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/25/heres-a-list-of-cinemas-opening-in-metro-manila-this-november/

4. That controversial beauty ad

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/11/netizens-on-belos-ad-distasteful-insensitive-and-banking-on-peoples-insecurities/

3. Celebrating the Filipina

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/03/04/google-doodle-celebrates-rosa-sevilla-de-alvero-one-of-the-women-who-fought-for-filipinas-right-to-vote/

2. This has become a reader’s favorite for two years now

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/17/get-your-ng-and-nang-right/


And the top trending story, very aptly, goes to a topic that’s taken the global art industry by storm this year: Non-fungible tokens or NFTs

1. When Heart Evangelista sells an NFT worth ₱3.6 million

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/26/heart-evangelistas-first-nfts-earned-17-35-eth-thats-p3-6-million/