NBDB Sends Off PH delegation to the World’s Largest Book Fair

The National Book Development Board (NBDB) rolled out a spirited send-off for more than 100 Filipino publishers, authors, illustrators, and creatives bound for the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair (FBM), happening from October 15 to 19, where the Philippines takes the spotlight as its Guest of Honour (GoH).

The evening celebration, held at the 2025 Manila International Book Fair at the SMX Convention Center on September 11, brought together the country’s diverse delegation for networking and a toast to this historic moment in global publishing.

Guests at the send-off were given an exclusive first look at the Philippine Pavilion – a 2,300 square-meter cultural space featuring daily author talks, installations, performances, and more than 65 interdisciplinary programs highlighting Philippine literature and creativity.

“The National Book Development is here to ensure that all of you are ready to present our books to the world,” said NBDB Executive Director and Philippines as Guest of Honour (PhlGoH) Project Co-Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade. “Because when we step into Frankfurt, we bring not just our stories and books, but also the diverse voices and imaginations of the Filipino people. This is our chance to show the world that the Philippines’ creative industries are worth investing in.”

At the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s largest, oldest, and most prestigious book fair and rights marketplace where the global “who’s who” in publishing gathers annually, the Philippine delegation will showcase the richness of Philippine publishing, spanning contemporary and speculative fiction, poetry, children’s literature, nonfiction, and graphic novels and comics.

This historic milestone is made possible through the collaboration of the NBDB, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda.

As Guest of Honour, the Philippines will enjoy unprecedented visibility at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025, opening doors to translation deals, international rights trading, cultural exchanges, and global readership growth.

Festive yet forward-looking, the send-off marked the culmination of years of preparation, and the start of an extraordinary journey as the Philippines takes its boldest leap yet onto the biggest global stage for books and ideas.

To learn more about the National Book Development Board and its upcoming activities, visit books.gov.ph, and follow the NBDB through its social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X.

Naval Aviation Freedom Flight Run

The Naval Aviation Freedom Flight Run will be held on 14 September 2025 at Villar City, Daang Hari, Cavite.

It aims to honor the Naval Air Wing’s role in safeguarding the West Philippine Sea and to raise funds for fishing communities in Zambales, supporting sustainable livelihoods.

Categories: 3K, 5K, 10K, 21K with special AFP rates, cash prizes, and trophies for top male and female finishers in the 10K and 21K.

Weather-related postponements (if any) will be announced 48 hours before the event.

Details and Registration site: https://register.raceya.fit/event/walkrunflyforthewps

Architect Gilbert Yu shares three lessons for the next generation of designers Book launch celebrates a life built from zero to skyscrapers

 Celebrated architect and developer Gilbert Yu is inspiring the next generation of architects with hard-earned wisdom drawn from over three decades in the industry. Known for his pioneering iconic projects, Yu distills his experience into essential lessons for future practitioners.

Yu sums up the lessons in his biography The Life and Adventures of Architect Gilbert Yu, written by award-winning journalist Iris Gonzales. 

The book tells the inspiring journey of a young man who dared to dream and persevered through life’s challenges to achieve those dreams. It offers an inside and intimate look at an extraordinary success story that began with the most humble of beginnings.

A Filipino-Chinese born and raised in Manila, Yu would become not just one of the country’s most prominent and successful architects of his time, but also an enduring pillar of Philippine architecture. His story is a timeless blueprint for triumph, shared prosperity, and lasting success.

Some lessons he wants to impart to architects:

Lesson 1: Architecture goes beyond design
“Architecture is not just about designing structures—it’s about building lives,” Yu said. “Every structure must have purpose, be designed with excellence, and built for permanence.”

Lesson 2: Architects must be knowledgeable in business
Yu believes architects should understand property value, project feasibility, and market trends to ensure success. “Architects must also be development consultants, not just technical people,” he noted, urging schools to integrate business and entrepreneurship into architectural education.

Lesson 3: Architects must be forward-thinking
Designs should anticipate shifts in landscapes, lifestyles, and technology, enabling structures to stand the test of time.

Yu’s philosophy can be summed up in his personal mantra: “Zero plus zero plus zero equals 100.”Starting with no knowledge, no experience and no resources, he built a thriving career and landmark projects through determination and resilience.

“A project starts from zero before becoming an iconic landmark,” Yu said. “With vision and dedication, architects can transform the impossible into reality.”

About the Book

The Life and Adventures of Architect Gilbert Yu tells the inspiring journey of a young man who dared to dream and persevered through life’s challenges to achieve those dreams.

It offers an inside and intimate look at an extraordinary success story that began with the most humble of beginnings.

A Filipino-Chinese born and raised in Manila, Architect Yu would become not just one of the country’s most prominent and successful architects of his time, but also an enduring pillar of Philippine architecture. His story is a timeless blueprint for triumph, shared prosperity, and lasting success.

About Architect Gilbert Yu

Architect Gilbert Yu is a respected Filipino architect and developer best known for creating quality residential projects in prime locations.

Starting from humble beginnings as one of nine children of a sari-sari store owner, Yu worked his way through school and became a licensed architect in 1970. He co-founded G&W Architects, which delivered several landmark developments in Bonifacio Global City,  including Sapphire Residences, Kensington Place, Grand Hamptons, and Blue Sapphire. 

Throughout his career, Architect Yu has been an advocate for housing affordability, high construction standards, and consumer protection in the real estate industry.

About the Author: Ms. Iris Gonzales

Iris Gonzales is a journalist and columnist for The Philippine Star.  Her thrice-weekly op-ed column, Eyes Wide Open, explores the intersection of business and politics in the Philippines. She graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication in Diliman and earned her master’s degree in journalism as a Konrad Adenauer Fellow at Ateneo de Manila University.

Celebrate Father's Day with Timeless Tunes: Join the One Stop Record Fair at Ayala Malls Trinoma!

 

This coming Father’s Day, gear up for the ultimate vinyl experience at the One Stop Record Fair happening at Ayala Malls Trinoma Activity Center from June 14 to 15.

The quarterly vinyl record fair promises to take everyone on a nostalgic journey and be reconnected through timeless tunes that have soundtracked generations.

From classic rock anthems to beloved OPM hits, jazz and soul, the event will bring a vast collection of rare, vintage and new vinyl records that will delight dads and music enthusiasts alike.

Last March, Ayala Malls Trinoma housed the One Stop Record Fair: Vinyl in Motion for two days, right at the heart of Quezon City, which drew in patrons, curious mall-goers and the younger generation.

Due to public demand, the One Stop Record Fair: Vinyl in Motion Dad’s Day edition will come back to Ayala Malls Trinoma for something bigger and better.

The staple all-day old-school music spun by Manila’s veteran DJs, the intimate and nostalgic atmosphere and a great selection of vinyl records were maintained but more upgrades set it apart from prior fairs.

Over 20 vinyl vendors were present, but beyond music, there were also CDs, cassette tapes, band shirts and other vintage items, such as coins and bills, and collectibles sold at the event.

Trinoma also added its own spin to the event, by offering free freshly made mocktails from TGI Fridays and beautifully curated flower bouquet from Smitten. Customers just need to present a minimum single receipt worth P500 from any Trinoma merchant.

“The energy at our last One Stop Record Fair at Ayala Malls Trinoma was electric!” Sari Osorio, organizer of the One Stop Record Fair, said.

“As we gear up for our upcoming Father's Day event, we are thrilled to see the community so excited about records, art, collectibles and of course, the vinyl community. Let's make this Father's Day one to remember!” she added.

IFPI Launches Official Philippines Chart, with Marilag by Dionela becoming first ever official # 1 track

Launched by IFPI and backed by the recorded music industry, the Official Philippines Chart will be available alongside official weekly rankings from five other ASEAN markets 

23^rd January 2025 – IFPI, representing the recording industry worldwide, has today announced the launch of The Official Philippines Chart, bringing official, industry-backed weekly music charts to the country for the first time.

 Marilag, the hit song by Filipino R&B star Dionela, has the honour of being the first ever Official #1 track in the Philippines. The song, released in November 2024, soundtracked the remainder of the year and has continued its strong streaming performance into 2025.

 The Official Philippines Chart Top 20 will be announced every Tuesday, and will showcase the most popular tracks from local and international artists based on streaming across all major platforms. The Official Philippines Charts will be available alongside Official Charts for five other ASEAN markets at the Official Southeast Asia Charts website (www.officialseacharts.com), and via the related social media channels on Instagram and Facebook, allowing music fans to engage with trending tracks and emerging artists across the region.

 Locally, Philippines Recorded Music Rights Inc. (PRM) is working together with IFPI to ensure that the Official Philippines Chart is accessible to Filipino consumers. The charts will be available in their website (www.prm.com.ph) and all social media platforms.

 Reacting to the news, Simon Seow, Regional Director for Southeast Asia at IFPI, said:

 “A huge congratulations to Dionela and everyone involved in making Marilag the first ever Official Philippines Chart #1! It is wonderful to see a Pinoy artist claim this milestone, and is a testament to the wealth of talent and artistry in the country. We look forward to reporting on further success and celebrating more artists in the coming weeks and months.”

 Celebrating the launch of the chart Roslyn Pineda, General Manager Sony Music Philippines and PRM board member, said:

 “We are delighted to announce the launch of the Official Philippines Chart, which will shine a light on the consumption habits of music fans across the country and provide an important platform to showcase the vibrant and growing local music scene. Combining the Official Philippines Chart with others in a regional hub gives fans an insight into how their favourite tracks are performing in other countries, and will aid the discovery of new hits.”

 Supported by the recorded music industry, the Official Philippines Chart combines streams from global platforms Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify and YouTube. The charts are managed by IFPI and are built on data prepared by BMAT, in accordance with IFPI’s global charts principles and methodologies.

 As well as the weekly charts updates, music fans in the region can look forward to a host of exclusive artist content at www.officialseacharts.com, the official music hub of Southeast Asia.

 

About the Official Southeast Asia Charts

 The Official Southeast Asia Charts are a collection of weekly streaming singles charts – the Official Indonesia Chart, Official Malaysia Chart, Official Philippines Chart, Official Singapore Chart, Official Thailand Chart and Official Vietnam Chart. The data collection week runs from Friday to Thursday, with the charts released at www.officialseacharts.com and on the Official Southeast Asia Instagram and Facebook accounts each Tuesday.

 

In addition to the official charts for each country, four speciality charts are also delivered each week. In Indonesia, the Official Indonesia Domestic Chart, in Malaysia the Domestic and Chinese Charts, and the Regional Chart in Singapore.

 All charts include chart-eligible streams from Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify and YouTube, while the Official Indonesia and Indonesia Domestic Charts also include Langit Musik. In accordance with IFPI’s global chart principles, streams from each market are weighted to take into account the difference in economic value between the free and paid tiers of streaming services. This delivers charts which reflect the volume and the value of streams across the region, celebrating the biggest songs of the week.

 

About IFPI

 IFPI is the voice of the recording industry worldwide, representing over 8,000 record company members across the globe. We work to promote the value of recorded music, campaign for the rights of record producers and expand the commercial uses of recorded music around the world.

 

About PRM

 Philippines Recorded Music Rights Inc. (PRM) is a non-stock, non-profit, joint music licensing organization that represents members who are the Producers and Performers of sound recordings. PRM’s purpose is to give credit to where credit is due. We license commercial establishments that play the sound recordings of our members and distribute these royalties directly to artists and labels.

 

www.prm.com.ph

 

About BMAT

 BMAT is a music innovation company with a mission to index all music usage and ownership data. In addition to its role in compiling official streaming charts around the world, they help music companies better their data operations to make sure artists get paid for their plays. Every day BMAT delivers 27 billion matches and 80 million identifications to CMOs, publishers, record labels, broadcasters and DSPs globally.

 www.bmat.com

 For further information please contact:

 press@ifpi.org | +44 (0)20 7878 7979

 

Philhealth's Z Benefits Package for Breast Cancer treatment

 Nag-aalala dahil sa breast cancer? Maaaring maavail ng member at ng dependents ang Z Benefits Package para sa Breast Cancer na dating 100,000, abot hanggang 1.4 milyon. Pumunta lamang sa contract health facility para magamit ang benefit.

Para sa kumpletong listahan ng contracted Z Benefit for Breast Cancer i-click ang link
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/partners/providers/facilities/accredited/

Siguradong malaking tulong para sa mamamayang Filipino.

#SagotKaNgPhilHealth
#MyPhilHealth

From fb Mandy Ledesma https://www.facebook.com/61557564466564/posts/pfbid028vBdZ2gTsBS61mcGNnh8UqnNC6TrcbpR4tpNgzBBu1YnnYcaktpCugHFj2kxwRLUl/?app=fbl

PhilHealth now offers an Outpatient Benefit Package for Mental Health

 Dahil #MentalHealthMatters, did you know that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) now offers an Outpatient Benefit Package for Mental Health to all its members? Developed through the PhilHealth STUDIES Program, this package supports PhilHealth’s goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by using research to improve health access.

This benefit is available for more serious conditions like PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder
Mental disorder), which affects people who’ve experienced significant trauma, such as survivors of natural disasters or combat veterans. This benefit package was introduced by PhilHealth during the launch of the Philippine Council for Mental Health's Strategic Framework for 2024-2028.

Mahigpit na yakap sa lahat!

from https://www.facebook.com/dostpchrd/posts/pfbid028zLMXxzzz3gTohFWuufBxYafXp1WGbDXr6xXvVcjJqRJWzrvTkMcwRNxMjx8pRdBl

Free checkup and subsidized laboratory and medicines, free ultrasound, free mammogram via Philhealth konsulta

 Go to your nearest Philhealth to register to Konsulta. Free doctor consultation to private hospital Konsulta partner but the doctor is not specialist. And subsidized medicines and tests for physical health concerns. But not all tests. They have a list of tests and medicines available.

This is good for provinces with very few and far public or government hospitals that only do primary care and no machines for various tests.
You can also do this online Philhealth website but problem is that hospital list is not updated, most hospitals in that online list have not yet registered to be Konsulta partner with Philhealth. And there is a process to remove that hospital as your Konsulta provider so better if you register personally in this Konsulta program to a Philhealth office than undergo the hassle.
The free consultations are also scheduled so this cannot be used for emergency purposes. I hope this expands to a Filipino can avail free consultations, subsidized medicines and tests to every Philhealth Konsulta accredited hospitals and not just 1 hospital.