Entertainment

Sofronio Vasquez, the first Asian champion of “The Voice,” has released a new version of “Grown-Up Christmas List” produced by Grammy-winning hitmaker David Foster, alongside his Christmas collaboration “Maybe This Christmas” with coach Michael Bublé. Announced via Instagram, the holiday tracks preview a 2025 EP produced by Bublé and featuring collaborations with Foster and Paul Anka, marking a significant step in Vasquez’s post–“The Voice” career.

Filipino-Australian singer Ylona Garcia will open for English singer-songwriter Harvey Brittain at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles on Dec. 9, 2025. Brittain announced the collaboration on Instagram, noting it will be his second performance in the city. The show starts at 9:30 p.m., with special perks for the first 20 fans who present pre-sale tickets, including a free drink and signed “Darkest Hour” merchandise. Tickets are available through the Hotel Cafe website and Brittain’s social media channels.

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.

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 cast and creative team behind the TV series “Fallout” detail how they collaborate to secure needle drops and shape the original score by Ramin Djawadi, explaining the process they follow to integrate music into scenes and how they coordinate with directors and music supervisors to enhance storytelling through carefully chosen songs and compositions, reflecting a broader view in the industry that successful filmmakers deeply understand the role of music in narrative.

Organizers announced that Lea Salonga and Rachelle Ann Go will headline the “Les Misérables: World Tour Spectacular” concert company set to arrive in the Philippines early next year. The producers confirmed that the concert-format staging will feature songs from the hit musical and will form part of the tour’s Asian leg. The production team will reveal the full cast, venue, and performance dates for the Philippine engagement in upcoming advisories and will release ticket information through official channels and partner ticketing platforms.

Actor Tom Rodriguez publicly wished his ex-wife Carla Abellana well after news of her engagement emerged, saying he felt happy for her and respected her choices. In an interview, Rodriguez confirmed he knew about the engagement and emphasized that he held no ill will toward Abellana following their separation. He stated that he wanted to respond with respect and support while focusing on his own life and career. Abellana has not yet publicly replied to Rodriguez’s comments about her engagement.

Spotify’s 2025 Wrapped data shows Bad Bunny returning as the Most-Streamed Global Artist with 19.8 billion streams, reclaiming a title he held in 2020, 2021 and 2022. His album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” ranks as Spotify’s No. 1 global album of 2025, while “Un Verano Sin Ti” reappears at No. 10. Spotify supports the milestone with a worldwide campaign featuring a “Leap Year” short film, city fan experiences and in-app features for his listeners. Taylor Swift places second globally but remains the No. 1 artist in the United States. “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars tops the global songs chart, followed by major entries from Billie Eilish, Rosé and Mars, Alex Warren and Bad Bunny’s “DtMF.”