Filipino pop group SB19 performed as the only Filipino act at Taiwan’s ACON 2025, delivering a four-song set that included “DAM,” “8TonBall,” “Dungka,” and “Crimzone” to an international audience. Their appearance at the Taiwan convention followed their widely discussed 2023 Asia Artist Awards performance in Bulacan and formed part of their continuing expansion into regional markets through live shows and pop culture events.
Actor Cho Jin-woong has retired from the entertainment industry after past juvenile offenses resurfaced, casting uncertainty over the future of the highly anticipated “Signal” season 2. Producers of the hit Korean drama now face key decisions on recasting, script changes, and scheduling as they reassess the project without one of its main leads. Fans and industry stakeholders await official announcements on how Cho’s exit will affect production, broadcast plans, and international distribution of the new season.
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has proposed shifting city elections from May to November to raise voter turnout and cut election costs by an estimated $1 million per cycle, subject to City Council approval, legal review, and public input.
Michael Jordan testified in a federal court in Charlotte, North Carolina, in an antitrust case that his NASCAR team, 23XI Racing, is pursuing against NASCAR alongside Front Row. The lawsuit challenges aspects of NASCAR’s business structure and commercial arrangements with race teams. This straight news report details who appeared in court, what the case involves, where and when the testimony occurred, and how the proceedings unfolded, following standard journalism rules and an objective tone.
Netflix agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming operations, including HBO and HBO Max, in a $72 billion cash-and-stock deal that would unite two major Hollywood and streaming powers under one owner. The transaction, valued at $27.75 per Warner share and $82.7 billion including debt, excludes cable networks such as CNN and Discovery, which will form a separate company called Discovery Global. The proposed merger, expected to close in 12 to 18 months pending regulatory approval, has drawn swift antitrust and industry scrutiny from labor unions, theater owners and U.S. lawmakers concerned about market concentration, jobs and the future of theatrical distribution.
Philippine authorities transferred dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo and two co-accused to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City on Friday night after their conviction for qualified human trafficking. A Mittimus Order from Regional Trial Court Branch 167 mandated the move from Pasig City Jail. The three women, each sentenced to life imprisonment and fined P2 million, will undergo a 60-day reception, quarantine, and diagnostic process at the CIW before placement in the Maximum Security Camp, according to Bureau of Corrections and CIW officials.
Vice Ganda and Shuvee Etrata publicly exchanged messages of gratitude as they promoted their Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 entry “Call Me Mother,” with Etrata saying she now considers the comedian as a “mother” figure in the industry. The two personalities, previously linked to reports of a rift, described their current relationship as positive and collaborative while working on the MMFF film. Organizers listed “Call Me Mother” among the official festival entries set to open on December 25, 2024, in cinemas nationwide.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington issued an advisory urging Filipino Americans to carefully review the implications of renouncing Philippine citizenship amid the filing of the “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025” in the U.S. Senate. The bill, introduced by Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, seeks to abolish dual citizenship for U.S. citizens and require exclusive allegiance to the United States. The Embassy stressed that the measure remains a proposal, highlighted prior legal recognition of dual citizenship, and warned that renunciation of Philippine citizenship is irreversible. Filipino Americans are encouraged to monitor the bill and consult the Philippine Embassy or consulates for guidance.
Pag-IBIG Fund received the Best Sustainability Initiatives Award for 2025 from the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) in Parañaque City on December 1, 2025, for integrating sustainability values into its programs, services, and internal operations. DHSUD Secretary and Pag-IBIG Board chair Jose Ramon Aliling accepted the award, which recognized the agency’s efforts in responsible governance, resource management, and support for national development goals under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration. The recognition forms part of the GCG Awards program that highlights government-owned or -controlled corporations meeting governance, accountability, and sustainability benchmarks in the Philippines.
The Philippine Coast Guard on December 6, 2024, drove a China Coast Guard vessel farther from the Zambales coastline while maintaining patrols over Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, monitored the foreign ship’s movements, and reported no collision or physical confrontation during the operation.