Art in the Park | Celebrating 20 Years

In the past twenty years, contemporary art has become accessible through local art events. One of those who has been around to promote art in open public spaces is Art in the Park, which is celebrating its 20th year, having established an identity that the local scene has firmly embraced, supporting the grassroots and the art scene. Art in the Park started like most newly organized events that focused on the local art scene, mainly on contemporary art, which expanded to cater to emerging young talents and new art galleries that bring their own niche to the local art scene. Something “new” with a little bit of traditional has been its core identity.

PBF 2026 | Books, Komiks, & Imagination

The Philippines Book and Development Board returns with this year’s Philippine Book Festival, which has been consistently held since 2023, and despite the venue change beginning last year, the turnout for literacy and interest in reading has been great for young readers in a world of e-books. Every year, PBF, there’s always something new to see, and book titles that are locally published from the grassroots that inspire those who continue the support of literacy, and inspire imagination in young minds that show reading an actual book is not entirely a lost art to foster interest for the next generation.

Happy Meal Asia | UNO + Anime

McDonald’s in Southeast Asia has diverse synergies and different markets under one region. It may not be like in Oceania with Australia and New Zealand, but with the way things work with cultural relatability, certain franchises or IPs are well known in this side of the region.This adds a unique difference between the toys released on the other side of the globe. In capturing the right audience, McDonald’s Asian rollout at the start of the year was inspired by popular anime from Japan, with Crayon Shin-Chan last month, and now, a collaboration between Mattel’s iconic card games with UNO and two Anime Series!

Batman Begins | Returns to Cinemas

After 20 years, Batman Begins will return to select cinemas in limited markets. It’s been in the news for almost a week now, and this won’t be considered news by now. But in one of those regional markets, the Philippines will have a special screening of the said film, as discovered through Ayala Cinema in their Sure Seats ticketing website, which is just older than the Batman Begins itself. It is not often that Ayala Cinemas has ever had this type of special screening. Most of the past films that get a limited re-release in cinemas are hosted by competing rivals like SM Cinemas, which has screened several classics like E.T., Jurassic Park, and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Superman ’78, as prime examples of what they have done in the last five years. But this December, Ayala Cinemas is getting theirs with Batman Begins, celebrating 20 years, which is also the launch of the directorial career of Christopher Nolan to a wider audience that grounded the Dark Knight in a relatable character.

Vinyl On Vinyl | Sword Words

There’s a saying: the pen is mightier than the sword. It’s a famous phrase by an English author named Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839. It’s a famous expression that defines that words are more effective than violence. But what if words can be sharper than a sword, as the theme for Tyang Karyel’s latest solo show “Sword Words.” Sometimes, art is sharper than words expressed through visual concepts or ideas that define an artist’s work. It comes from life and personal experience, defined by the innate passion to express it visually beyond words or even physical actions. From that, expressionism comes visual thought that comes from within.

Vinyl On Vinyl | Me Time

“Me Time” is the latest solo art show featuring Mimaaaaaaaaw, who has had a very successful 2024, is back once again with her latest themed exhibit that can relate to anyone in real life, which inspired her journey as an artist, as well as a co-owner of a gallery, is something deeply personal at the same time shares her thoughts through the creation of her latest show. Mimaaaaaaaaw’s personal growth as an artist continues to define the challenges of life, at the same time channeling her artistic style that has been evolving, giving you a unique perspective.

Toy Sightings | Superman Movie by Spin Master

In a few days, Superman will be heading to the big screen once again. But this time, it’s an entirely ‘New’ movie which will reboot the live-action part of the DC Studios’ new slate of films, separate from the previous DCEU (DC Extended Universe). Some fans will welcome it, and some are still critical and skeptical will keep an eye on the development of the film’s general reaction. Of course, whenever there’s a new film from DC, expect the merchandise to follow. The action figures have been leaked and discussed for potential spoilers.

Arte Bettina | Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite

To push the boundaries of creativity, you’ll find that it forms a new collaboration similar to what Arte Bettina has presented in their current exhibit, featuring five artists producing one goal at the same time, creating new stories to define their works. It might sound easy, but there’s a challenge that some of the artists have to go through in making it work to be part of that collaborative essence. “Good Night, Sweet Tight, don’t let the Bed Bugs Bite” is the latest art show featuring works from June Digan. Benedir, Lianne Steffi Lim, Lester Conchada, and Mirmin Valley all lend their talents in producing a diverse interpretation of the phrase...

CO Signing Event | Dexter Soy

DC Comics has been rolling with the punches with the “All-In” initiative for 2025, and to that extent, it launched a long-running series with a jumping-on point for new readers where to start with a new creative team. This time, DC kept the Nightwing series from 2016, which is the fourth volume to make it consistent without the need to start with a number-one issue. After the successful run with the writer Tom Taylor and artist Bruno Redondo beginning with issue no. 78 and capping off the last storyline with issue no. 118 do you think there’s no more story to tell about Nightwing?

All New Venom | The Clue Identity

Venom is a popular character, and over the years, he has become this edgy anti-hero with the likes of Deadpool, looking more than just a guy in a red suit. But in the current “All-New” Venom, Marvel is trying to reinvigorate the character after so many years of being a host to other characters. But now, Eddie Brock has become the ‘New’ Carnage after the Venom War, which leaves the Venom symbiote to look for a suitable host. The first issue doesn’t reveal who the new host was, but the readers were given four characters to guess who it was, and that’s where the first issue begins with a twist that fans might leave guessing.

CO Signing Event | Whilce Portacio

Whilce Portacio has been supportive of the local grassroots, and even set up a studio back in the mid-1990s, discovering local talents and collaborating with established ones like Gerry Alanguilan in producing some of the best comic book series around that time. After all those years, those same talented individuals have made their names in the American comic book industry. Some of them have become household names like Gerry, Leinil Yu, and Ed Tadeo. The resurgence of Filipino talent doing work in the international scene also introduced Harvey Tolibao, Mico Suayan, and Stephen Segovia in the mid-2000s.

Vinyl On Vinyl | DIKO Alam

“Diko Alam” is two words formed as a ‘pun’ playing off the name of the artist “Diko” and the Filipino word “Alam” meaning ‘know’ turning it into the phrase in English “Don’t Know” as the title of his latest solo art show featuring Gabriel Tiongson aka DIKO or collectively known as DIKO ART, which is his second show following a Two-Artist successful collaboration with Mimaaaaaaaaw last September of 2024 at the Grey Space Gallery. The New Zealand–based artist had his previous solo show also with Vinyl on Vinyl in 2023, which re-introduced his works and art style.

Arte Bettina | Beyond the Event Horizon

The art toy community is a very niche interest in the Philippines, and it is rare to discover a toy designer who has made it to well-known art galleries that can be found in commercial spaces. But it is considered a rare feat to be seen in these locations few would find in a standalone gallery or major art fairs. Dondi Fernandez finally gets his spotlight with his latest solo art exhibition. He has been known internationally through the ever-growing Art Toy industry in Asia having produced his limited edition creations as far back as 2018. Now, he's in the EVent Horizon bring is new creations at Arte Bettina with his latest exhibit.

Vinyl On Vinyl | Muscle Land

Some visual artists may look underrated and often overlooked for their unique and quirky way of crafting a world that a few people can relate to. Creating art is a challenging yet rewarding work if you put it together with sheer effort at the same time intense passion for what you believe in. This is something Reen Berrera has been doing and his creations are slowly getting the limelight that few others still dream of. If you have followed Reen’s work, then you are slowly getting introduced to these characters one by one they emerge and introduce themselves through his past solo shows and collaboration.

Toy Kingdom Brings Back Toy Expo!

There have been many toy-related events held in the Philippines. Big or small, their impact on the growth of the local toy industry keeps the general public's interest patronizing the hobby for the next generation who have grown with videogames from mobile phones to handheld gaming consoles. Truly, the interest in toys has shifted with emerging technologies, but that doesn’t stop those pre-internet kids, who are now adults continue to appreciate the nostalgia of physical toys that are now parents re-introducing the interest to their children. After six years of hiatus, the Toy Kingdom store brings back the TK Toy Expo in 2024!

MoCAF 2024 | Saturday Highlights

MoCAF (Modern and Contemporary Art Festival) is an annual event, and this is their third year bringing some of the best talents and art houses in the industry under one roof that has been ever-present these past few days since opening its doors for the last three days that has gained record numbers of attendees, where most of the visitors are young and aspiring future artists. There have been familiar faces and newer ones breaking into the art scene as well as new art galleries that recently opened early this year making their splash to contribute to the ever-growing grassroots give you an overload of visual talent, where the masses rare thread.

MAD | Humor in a Jugular Vein

MAD Magazine was not what it was when it was first introduced in 1952. It was originally published by EC publication known for The Haunt of Fear, Weird Science, Crime Suspense Stories, and many more that were not related to superheroe themes that DC Comics produced since the introduction of Superman in Action Comics. But towards its lengthy life, its publication was shut down and most of the published material survived through its acquisition by other publications. MAD was an “experiment” when the first issue was published. The early days of satirical humous content were not its DNA when it became available on newsstands. EC publication is known for horror, suspense, and science fiction with the MAD comics introduction they experimented with humour in some serious themes. Sometimes, they’re outdated today and would be considered “corny,” but those tropes would entertain readers from that era. MAD would survive and would evolve to become known for its satirical content. But during its heyday, it was simply known as an anthology that had short stories that would be part of its growth.

Galerie Stephanie | The Soup Can Factory

One artist comes to mind for those exposed to Pop Art and immediately see the Campbell Soup. That artist is Andy Warhol, and for many years since his passing many have followed his footsteps and been inspired a generation of artists that included his art style to their works through their perspective. Farley Del Rosario, a Manila-based artist, has established himself going into his second solo exhibition with his first early this year at Galerie Joaquin. This time, Farley shares his perspective that inspired him from his childhood with his exposure to popular culture is creating his own niche in an ever-growing artists community.

Vinyl on Vinyl | Make A Wish

When you “Make A Wish” sometimes it happens, and often it is part of the element when you put the effort to make it materialize. Also, an opportunity will arise to make that become a reality and you get to put your best foot forward as Mimaaaaaaaaw is making it happen in her first-ever Solo Exhibit from her journey as a street artist to her continued evolution as a visual artist. Mimaaaaaaaaw is an up-and-coming artist based in Cavite City who started as a street artist painting murals with an affinity to cats as part of her ensemble an element that you will see in her works defines her journey as an artist.

Vinyl on Vinyl | A Comedy in Four Acts

When you reach the point of possible lost direction, sometimes you have to try to find yourself again and go back to the beginning. TRNZ returns and goes back to the beginning with another solo exhibit, which goes back to almost 6 years ago with the same gallery, and this time the art style stays the same, but more in the tone of focused fine art to its basic core of storytelling. “A Comedy of Four Acts” takes you to TRNZ's latest masterpieces depicted in humorous situations, and yet the facial expression is cold and sad with no “feels” being shown to each character.