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Disclosure: Like my previous essays about the finalists of the National Book Award, the criticism and opinions expressed here are my own and do not represent the views of the Filipino Critics Circle as a whole. TWO FINALISTS.

Industry The two companies want to boost the access of digital healthcare services for workers in industries such as maritime, aviation, and mining. Manila-based healthcare venture capitalist firm Pulse 63 and Swisstec Investment Holdings unit Specialist direct Pty, Ltd. have teamed up to develop an integrated digital health platform for workers in the maritime, aviation, logistics, mining, and oil/gas industries to address their lack of access to modern and decent healthcare infrastructure.

How does one go from being a nurse to a social entrepreneur with a weaving business that introduced the Philippine weaving culture and creativity to much of the world? Some might chalk it up to her progeny and upbringing. Leonarda Olat-Capuyan, or Gayyap (her Igorot name), was born in 1942 to a father who was a teacher and catechist, and a mother who was a trader and local store owner. She was the middle child out of the couple’s seven daughters.

Cars Toyota drops two all-new rides at the recent Go Electrified drive. by Published on Mar 21, 2026 In the face of automotive brands introducing New Energy Vehicles, Toyota has often been on the receiving end of criticism about its approach to electrification. But one look at the lineup that Toyota Motor Philippines fielded at their Go Electrified media drive in Pampanga last March 17 to 18 and you can’t help but think the naysayers couldn’t be more wrong.

Motorcycles The line between mastering a machine and performing for the camera has become dangerously thin. by Published on Mar 21, 2026 The Marikina-Infanta Highway—known among riders as Marilaque or the Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon Road—winds east from Metro Manila through Rizal province toward the Pacific coast. It is a ribbon of asphalt that climbs through the forests and sharp mountain curves of the Sierra Madre.

Women The Filipino-Chinese designer trained in New York's theater scene proves that what a performer wears onstage can be just as powerful as the story being told. by Published on Mar 21, 2026 At 26, Kat Ibasco has already done the math on legacy. The Filipino-Chinese costume designer grew up inside her family's international jewelry business spanning Manila, Hong Kong, and China, where craftsmanship wasn't a value so much as a baseline.

I first followed ATEEZ years back when they participated in the Korean reality show Kingdom: Legendary War, where six K-pop groups competed against (and occasionally collaborated with) each other across several episodes. Although they ultimately did not win the competition, placing third, they left an impression. Fast forward to 2026, and I finally got the opportunity to see them live in Manila during their ATEEZ: In Your Fantasy World Tour at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last 14 March.

Arts & Entertainment Stella Cañete-Mendoza talks about the twin bill of Evening at the Opera and Ang Kalungkutan ng mga Reyna. by Published on Mar 20, 2026 In the hallowed but messy intersection of Philippine politics and high society, there is a specific kind of woman who thrives. She is polished, poised, and terrifying.

Opinion The question is whether the House will function as a deliberative constitutional body or as a coalition arena governed primarily by strategic calculation. by Published on Mar 20, 2026 The impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is not simply about the fate of one political figure. It is a test of whether Congress can exercise its constitutional authority as a genuine co-equal branch of government.

Style Fashion A 6K run through La Mesa Ecopark puts the brand’s latest trail shoe to the test. SPONSORED CONTENT Photo by: Merrell Sometimes the best way to launch a trail shoe is simple: Take it to the trail. Merrell recently gathered runners, outdoor enthusiasts, and a few familiar faces at La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City to introduce the Agility Peak 6, the brand’s latest performance trail runner.