This year, the Manila Bulletin celebrates its 125th anniversary. A highlight of our year-long celebration was the unveiling of our historical marker—a moment made possible in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. It stands as a testament to our enduring legacy of informing, inspiring, and empowering readers through the stories we share across print and digital platforms.

As we close the chapter on 2025, join us in revisiting a year defined by cultural pride and quiet breakthroughs, the rise of new champions, the remembrance of those we have lost, and moments that captured the world’s gaze.

The Philippine food industry marked a turning point as the country stepped onto the global stage with the inaugural Michelin Guide Philippines 2026, unveiled on Oct. 30, signaling the international recognition long sought by chefs and restaurateurs. Helm, the intimate, counter-style restaurant led by Chef Josh Boutwood, received two stars, the evening’s highest honor. Closer to home, one of the most resonant moments came from Morning Sun Eatery, a humble turo-turo in Quezon City, whose inclusion in the Michelin Bib Gourmand list became breaking news in our newsroom.

Filipino literature and culture made waves at the Frankfurt Book Fair as the Philippines found itself as the Guest of Honor for the world’s largest book fair. With the theme “The imagination peoples the air,” the Philippine pavilion and program highlighted how imagination and storytelling are central to Philippine cultural identity.

Homegrown brands shone at the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand on Nov. 21. The Philippines’ representative, third runner-up Ahtisa Manalo, wore an ethereal white gown by Val Taguba, while Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig closed her reign in a Michael Cinco ball gown. Filipino retailer Bench styled the swimsuit round, while Filipino-French brand Jewelmer’s Lumière de l’Infini (Light of Infinity) crown made its second appearance.

Quezon City and Dumaguete City both found themselves gaining recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for their significant contributions to the local arts. UNESCO also granted Quezon City the title of being a creative city for film, whereas Dumaguete was recognized as a city for literature. Both now join Iloilo, Cebu, and Baguio City on the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

Terra Madre, the Slow Food movement founded in Turin, Italy, chose Bacolod in November as its second home, affirming the country’s growing role in conversations on sustainability, heritage, and regional cuisine.

For the opening ceremony of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on Dec. 9, in Thailand, the Philippine team was a vision of national pride, clad in Avel Bacudio’s “Laro ng Lahi” design. The look featured the timeless silhouette of the Barong Tagalog, adorned with embroidery inspired by traditional Filipino games and indigenous textiles.

Our country gained several awards, besting global competitors at the World Travel Awards. For a seventh straight win, we were designated as the World's Leading Dive Destination. Meanwhile, Boracay Island was presented yet again with the award for World's Leading Luxury Island Destination. Manila also received the World’s Leading City Destination for a third time in a row. Plus, the Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka won the Silver Award for Exhibition Design, in recognition of its outstanding creativity, craftsmanship, and visitor experience.

UNESCO inscribed the traditional practice of making asin tibuok, the artisanal sea salt of Bohol, into the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding during the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in New Delhi, India.

Not even art can be spared from theft, as major heists shook the art world this year. Most notably, the infamous Louvre heist, which involved thieves posing as construction workers to steal eight French crown jewels valued at around €88 million (approximately ₱6.09 billion). In the Netherlands, the Golden Helmet of Coțofenești and three Dacian bracelets were taken from the Drents Museum. Meanwhile, in Brazil, two men managed to steal dozens of artworks from the Mário de Andrade Library. Eight of the stolen works were prints by French artist Henri Matisse, while five prints were by Brazilian painter Candido Portinari. New Zealand also nearly lost a $19k (₱1.1 million) Fabergé egg, inspired by the James Bond film “Octopussy,” after a man ate the silver locket at the Partridge Jewellers branch in central Auckland. Fortunately, it was recovered after some time.

This year, the CyberKnife, a non-invasive robotic radiosurgery system that uses radiation to treat tumors, found its way to becoming the latest addition to the equipment of Asian Hospital and Medical Center. Using its robotic arm, the CyberKnife delivers a highly focused radiation beam at the targeted tumor. This allows minimal damage to the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor, making it a good alternative for patients with inoperable or surgically complex tumors.

The spring–summer 2026 fashion weeks were among the major highlights of the global fashion scene, showcasing collections shaped by a wave of new creative directors across leading fashion houses. Debut offerings by Matthieu Blazy for Chanel, Jonathan Anderson for Dior, and Pierpaolo Piccioli for Balenciaga, among others, stood out for their fresh perspectives and distinct artistic directions.

At the Asia Perfume Awards, led by the Asia Perfume Foundation, several homegrown brands were named finalists, and Filipino perfumers also earned individual recognition, with Renato Lopena Jr., Aaron Jan Patawaran, Oscar Mejia III, and Shale Albao nominated for the Niche Perfumer Award. Wren Atelier took home the Emerging Perfume Brand Award 2025 for its winning scent, Smoky Gourmand.

Filipino visual artists Marco Polo Cabrera, Marjowyn Vito, and Angelie Banaag represented the Philippines at the Florence Biennale 2025 in Florence, Italy. Prior to the international show, the three launched their group exhibition, “Lakbay Sining: Likhang Pinoy, Handog sa Daigdig – Road to Florence, Italy,” at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, showcasing works rooted in heritage, faith, social issues, and contemporary expression.

In September, “Project Runway” crowned Veejay Floresca as the champion of its 21st season, making her the first Filipino and trans woman to win the design competition TV series. The win marks a full-circle moment for Veejay, who first competed in the inaugural season of "Project Runway Philippines" in 2008.

In Grasse, France, widely regarded as the birthplace of modern perfumery, notes inspired by the humid sweetness of sugarcane fields, the bright zest of calamansi, and the gentle florals of sampaguita brought a distinctly Filipino sensibility to this year’s Grasse Perfume Week. Filipino fragrance brand Tadhana, led by perfumer Shale Albao, stepped onto the international stage and marked a milestone with its emotionally driven and culturally rooted approach to scent.

With over 300 stores nationwide, Sunnies marked a major milestone with the opening of its first international flagship, Sunnies World, at Central Park Dusit in Bangkok, Thailand in October 2024. The launch was followed by three more store openings across Bangkok by the end of the year, along with the debut of the Sunnies Face Bath space, its biggest lounge to date, at Sunnies World Thailand. Expect exclusive Thailand-only merchandise, making it worth the visit for Filipinos as well. More than a retail destination, Sunnies World brings together Sunnies Studios eyewear, Sunnies Face beauty, Sunnies Flask, and Sunnies Coffee under one roof, positioning itself as a community hub for those who appreciate thoughtful design, beauty, and everyday living. The Bangkok opening signals just the beginning of many more milestones for this homegrown Filipino brand.

Pop Mart finally opened its first permanent store in the Philippines on December 19, 2025. Spanning 300 square meters on the second floor of Building A, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, the immersive retail space brings Filipino fans closer to its most sought-after blind box collectibles, including Hirono, Skull Panda, Dimoo, Labubu, and Space Molly, alongside exclusive drops. It's a new creative playground for collectors and pop culture enthusiasts alike.

2025 was also marked by losses across various facets of lifestyle. This year, we bid farewell to Margarita Forés, a luminary whose work helped shape modern Filipino dining and inspired generations of chefs; Nora Aunor, National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts; Larrie Silva, a pioneering ready-to-wear designer; and Juvenal Sansó, an acclaimed modernist painter.