AMBIVALENCE by Solenn Heussaff ENDURING DECAY by Arturo Sanchez JrFor Raul Francisco, owner of Provenance Gallery, bringing modern Filipino art to the international stage is a nation-building effort. “The challenge is that Philippine art has long been stereotyped when, in fact, it’s a...
EXPO TEAM The Philippines’ design team with Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, TPB COO Marga Nograles, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano, and Expo Osaka mascot Myaku-MyakuConstruction of the Philippine Pavilion for the World Expo in 2025 is well underway with two events...
On Monday, the day of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA), I got a message on Instagram from a journalism student who’s been following me for some time. “Is there anything good that comes out of covering what politicians wear during the SONA?” she asked....
A sudden thunderstorm couldn’t keep Tokyo’s comedy fans away from Atsuko Okatsuka’s show in Ginza’s Hulic Hall on July 16. Okatsuka was back in Tokyo this week for another run of her Full Grown tour in Japan and other new stops in Asia and Oceania. Fresh from her three, sold out shows in...
The sting of disappointment runs deep among many Filipinos after hearing Shay Mitchell, an actress known for her roles in Pretty Little Liars and Netflix's You, deny her Filipino heritage.Recently, during an episode of her show Thirst with Shay Mitchell, she described her ethnic background, saying,...
Most millennials would credit Filipino TV personality Ellen Nishiumi for their knowledge of and love for Japan. Known for her dynamic role as the host of the popular show Oh Tokyo, Ellen Nishiumi has been a pivotal figure in promoting Japanese culture among Filipinos. Her unique blend of charm,...
CHEERS TO PH-JAPAN RELATIONS Ambassador Garcia-Albano with notable guests from the Japanese governmentThis past week, the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo celebrated 126 years of Philippine independence with an elegant affair at the historic Imperial Hotel. This year’s national day reception...
WOMEN AT WORK US Amb. MaryKay Carlson and US Vice President Kamala Harris during the latter's visit to Manila in 2022 (Photo by the US Embassy)Right before moving to Tokyo, I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the diplomat's official residence and sitting down with US Ambassador MaryKay Loss...
AN HONOR TO CARRY Carrying the mikoshi is considered a huge honor. Each one weighs about a ton If the Philippines has fiestas, then Japan has matsuris. Despite the difference in religion, both events held in various neighborhoods in their respective countries are colorful and full of character....
KITTIES AND GHIBLI Tucked away in Kichijoji is a small paradise for cat lovers and fans of the Hayao Miyazaki aestheticTo say that Japan is enjoying a tourism boom is quite an understatement. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) announced that the number of international visitors to the...
SB19 IN JAPAN From left: Josh, Pablo, Justin, Stell, and FelipLast weekend, I found myself at a concert venue in Saitama, about an hour away from Tokyo’s city center. Surrounded by the lively atmosphere of fans eagerly awaiting the performance of SB19, a rising P-Pop sensation from the...
FILIPINO FOOD ADVOCATES Agricultural attaché Aleli Maghirang, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano, and Diamond Star representative Ryoji Tsuji (Photo from the Philippine Embassy in Japan)Last month was—in a word—delicious, cherished by us Filipinos worldwide.It was Filipino Food...
