Enzo Pineda and Michelle Vito are engaged!

Can a global kung fu superstar famous for death-defying stunts and slapstick humour direct a grand Italian opera? When it was announced that Jackie Chan would direct Turandot for this centenary Sino-Italian production of Giacomo Puccini’s final masterpiece, many in the classical music world were understandably sceptical. Yet, Chan’s first opera production proves that his cinematic flair is a remarkably natural fit for the beloved masterpiece set in ancient China. Premiering in Guangzhou in May...

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has the highest number of companies recognized in Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in Southeast Asia 2026, with 54 Philippine-certified organizations making the annual list.  Released Tuesday by Fortune and Great Place To Work, the ranking recognizes companies that have demonstrated strong workplace cultures, based on confidential employee survey responses and assessments of workplace practices.  The 2026 list drew feedback from 1,322,537 employees across 10 Southeast Asian countries, with Philippine companies accounting for more than half of the 100 organizations recognized.  Leading the Philippine entries is Golden Arches Development Corp., the operator of McDonald’s Philippines, which debuted at No. 7, making it the highest-ranked new entrant. Balibago Waterworks System followed at No. 19, while Megaworld Corp. placed No. 22, moving up significantly from its No. 90 ranking last year.  Other Philippine-headquartered companies recognized include Arcanys at No. 34, D&V Philippines at No. 56, Outsourced Quality Assured Services at No. 66, Universal Robina Corp. at No. 82, GoTeam at No. 83 and Altius Inspiro at No. 96.  The ranking also features international companies operating in the region, including Cisco at No. 4, Synchrony at No. 41 and Atlassian at No. 100.  Charles Plumley, general manager of Great Place To Work Philippines, said the results reflect how companies that invest in their employees can build stronger workplace cultures and improve business performance.  “Global companies have long come to the Philippines for its people, but this year’s Fortune list illustrates what happens when employers invest in building high-performance workplace cultures,” Plumley said.  He noted that 27 companies on the list earned certification exclusively in the Philippines, underscoring the contribution of local teams to the recognition.  “Golden Arches’ debut at No. 7 brings that story to the frontline, where scaling a strong culture across restaurant teams is critical to delivering a consistent customer experience and business results,” he added. “Building great workplaces helps businesses compete on quality and productivity while creating more rewarding careers for Filipinos.”  The recognition highlights companies with different business backgrounds and histories. Golden Arches opened the Philippines' first McDonald's restaurant on Morayta Street in Manila in 1981 and now operates around 800 restaurants nationwide.  Balibago Waterworks, meanwhile, traces its beginnings to 1958 as a local water provider in Angeles City, Pampanga. It has since expanded to more than 90 municipal franchises across Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.  Megaworld, the developer behind major townships such as Eastwood City, Uptown Bonifacio and McKinley Hill, recorded one of the biggest improvements among Philippine companies, climbing 68 places from its previous ranking.  Now in its second year, the Southeast Asia edition builds on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For ranking, which has relied on Great Place To Work’s workplace research in the United States since 1998.  The complete 2026 ranking is available at greatplacetowork.com.ph/best-workplaces/sea/fortune.

The series of commemorative activities aim to raise public awareness of the responsibility to preserve and promote heritage values, while renewing heritage education programmes, exhibitions and workshops.

From a humble sari-sari store and eatery serving just four customers a day, Mila's Tokwa't Baboy has grown into a celebrated Pampanga culinary destination, earning a spot in the 2027 Michelin Selected list.

The three-day artistic performance will also contribute to enhancing the Hội An Cinema as a venue for artistic performances, cultural exchange and creative expression.

SB19 joined Japanese television show "DayDay" in a charity initiative supporting children in the Philippines, sending special video messages and gifts to 100 students.

Even by the high standards of contemporary Korean cinema and television, anticipation was palpable when Possible Love premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September. The film marked the first release in eight years from Lee Chang-dong – the novelist, former politician and filmmaker whose previous work, the 2018 mystery drama Burning, was one of that year’s most critically acclaimed. Given that his preceding film, 2010’s Poetry, arrived another eight years prior, new Lee...

Manam’s largest shop to date and Theo & Philo’s first store look to reshape Filipinos’ in-store experience

The Italian Film Festival in HCM City presents six remarkable Italian films that offer unique perspectives on the many facets of everyday life and society in Italy.

There are plenty of reasons to wear waterproof mascara, and none should end with you checking the mirror for panda eyes

Former Miss Universe Philippines 2024 candidate Matea Mahal Smith has been crowned Miss Jamaica World 2026.

In “LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines,” 10 comics use every wisecrack and trick up their sleeves to make each other laugh—all while keeping a straight face. At stake? P1 million

The new wave of Filipino F&B is happening right under our noses. Are we building better, or just newer?

Abdul El-Sayed is everything Americans have been brainwashed to fear: a highly educated, articulate, competent, and charismatic brown Muslim son of immigrant Egyptian parents

For those seeking a taste of Vietnamese culture, ‘My Village’ offers bamboo acrobatics, aerial stunts and live music featuring more than 30 traditional instruments. After captivating audiences in 50 cities worldwide, from France and Germany to Australia, now it’s Hanoi’s turn, with regular performances at 42 Tràng Tiền Street from November 3.

Recent high-profile concerts, including BIGBANG, Anh trai vượt ngàn chông gai (Call Me by Fire) and Tinh Hà Say Hi, have attracted between 90,000 and 100,000 spectators over two nights.

“The Remarried Empress,” starring Shin Mina, Ju Ji Hoon, Lee Jong Suk, and Lee Seyoung, will premiere on Disney+ and Hulu on Tuesday, a day earlier than originally scheduled.

Nora Lum is a hapless, clueless kitchen klutz who cannot tell one end of a wok from the other. And with that as her default position as she embarks on an Asian, primarily Chinese, culinary exploration of the United States, with the aim of mastering stove, saucepan and skillet, her prospects look decidedly dim. At the outset of Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook on Apple TV, Lum confesses that she cannot even “steam an egg”; yet she is an expert at incinerating trays of spare ribs; at turning any sort...

Kiray Celis and her husband, Stephan Estopia, are gearing up to welcome their first child together.

The opening of Hong Kong’s first predominantly Chinese medicine-led hospital last December is a milestone for the city’s healthcare system. The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK), in addition to providing pure Chinese medicine services, represents the first time patients are able to receive treatment plans led by that system of healing – while also factoring in expertise from Western medical perspectives where appropriate. By leveraging Hong Kong’s role as an international gateway to...

More than a sweet treat, bánh ít lá gai carries a distinctive flavour, deeply intertwined with the local people's lives, and is an indispensable gift for tourists visiting Gia Lai Province.

Olivia Rodrigo is set to release her first-ever Christmas song, titled “Take Me Home (4 Christmas).”

For Apag Marangle chef-owner Manuela Cherry Pasion-Tan, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition is more than a milestone for her restaurant. It is also an opportunity to showcase Pampanga"s rich culinary heritage to an international audience.

Director Bùi Kim Quy’s feature film project 'Dear Sơn An' has won the Pro Pitching Forum Award at the 37th Singapore International Film Festival.

Đào Kim Thư, the foundation's founder and initiator of the programme, told the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondents in London that its mission is not only to support disadvantaged women, children and communities in Vietnam, but also to connect overseas Vietnamese, promote Vietnamese culture internationally and nurture younger generations' attachment to their roots.

Famous choreographer Boris Eifman created a new setting for the ballet, putting the classic love story against the background of the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, more than 150 years after the novel's setting, to explore the resilience of traditional values.

As November gets underway, there"s finally some encouraging astrology to look forward to. Relationships may improve, financial discussions could become more productive, and opportunities that once seemed out of reach may return.

Professor Reena Marwah, President of the Association of Asian Scholars in India, has praised Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám (Temple of Literature – Imperial Academy) as a symbol of Việt Nam’s longstanding respect for learning and a source of cultural soft power.

The concept of a living funeral can give people a chance to express their love and appreciation for someone before they pass away, while also helping family and friends prepare emotionally for their loss.