Three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning R&B hitmaker and iconic songwriter NE-YO is bringing his new and bigger tour ‘Champagne and Roses Tour’ to Manila on October 8, 2024 at the Araneta Coliseum. Presented by Wilbros Live. Tickets go on-sale on Saturday, July 6, 12PM via TicketNet.com.ph and TicketNet outlets nationwide.
NE-YO has generated a combined total of 23 billion streams worldwide. His debut single, 2005’s “So Sick”, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified quadruple-platinum. Since then, the Motown Records/Compound Entertainment recording artist has racked up a collection of global hits including “Sexy Love”, “Closer”, “Because of You”, “Miss Independent”, “Mad”, “Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)”, “Time of Our Lives”, and “Push Back” [feat. Bebe Rexha and Stefflon Don]”.
Additionally, NE-YO has proven to be as powerful with his pen as he is in the recording studio and on stage, penning bangers like Rihanna’s “Unfaithful,”“Russian Roulette,” and “Take a Bow,” along with Beyoncé’s 2006 breakup anthem “Irreplaceable” and songs for such artists as Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion and Mario among others.
The multihyphenate has also leveraged his platform as a musician to pivot into acting. His film and television credits include NBC’s World of Dance, Netflix’s Dance Monsters, Empire, Stomp the Yard, Save the Last Dance, Battle: Los Angeles, George Lucas’ Red Tails, The Wiz Live!, Starz’ Step Up: High Water, Hip Hop Family Christmas Wedding and The Sound of Christmas. He will be starring in the upcoming season of 50 Cent’s acclaimed drama series BMF on STARZ.
Follow @WilbrosLive on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
HBO, in association with Warner Bros. Television, has named Francesca Gardiner (HBO’s Succession and His Dark Materials, Killing Eve) as showrunner and executive producer, and Mark Mylod (HBO’s Succession, Game of Thrones and The Last of Us) as executive producer and director of multiple episodes of the upcoming original Harry Potter series. The new series, currently in development, will be available on Max’s expanding global footprint.
The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling. The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters Harry Potterfans have loved for over twenty-five years. Each season will bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and cherished films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.
The series is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner. Mark Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.
Revisit the collection of Harry Potter films on HBO GO. Subscribe to HBO GO online at https://www.hbogoasia.ph/ or the mobile app via the App Store or Play Store for only ₱1,190 on the 12-month plan. Or access HBO GO via Cignal and Globe. HBO GO is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.
The world loves Korean skincare, and there’s no brand more loved than Dr. Jart+. That’s what makes its arrival in the Philippines a thrill for skincare enthusiasts, “skinnies”, and K-beauty buffs around the country. It’s a brand that practically invented the K-beauty industry, tracing its contributions back to one of the first BB creams ever made. It was founded in Seoul in 2005 by architect Leeo (Chin Wook) Lee. While working, Leeo was introduced to a makeup-like blemish balm only available in dermatology clinics. Inspired by this hybrid functionality, Leeo began collaborating with laboratories to create a product that blended powerful skincare benefits with the coverage of a foundation. A designer in a lab. Doctor + art. Dr. Jart+ was born.
Today, Dr. Jart+ is globally known for its unique blend of scientific innovation and creativity- fantastic, effective formulations delivered with an artful play that make the brand experience unlike any other. That’s the draw, and that’s what guests got first hand at the Cicapair launch on July 1.
Redness and sensitivity are near the top of the list of skin concerns for Filipinos, and there are a lot of reasons. Pollution, environmental stressors, heat, sun, acne, irritation- you name it, the Philippines has it. So the launch was conceptualized as an immersive experience- part art installation, part laboratory, and all of it visually stunning. At the outset, guests were invited to explore The Red Zone, a gallery of red video walls, lights, and text representing skin concerns and common sensitivities. Here they got a better understanding of the underlying causes. From the harsher environment of the first room, guests were then guided to the Sensitivity Free Zone, a green room with a contrastingly calm vibe enhanced by DJ Dara performing in the Chill Lounge. The centerpiece of the space was the Cicapair lab where brand ambassadors shared their expert product knowledge, conducted skin analysis tests, identified individual sensitivities, and gave personalized recommendations on how to soothe them. Guests soon found out why Cicapair is the perfect range to help them soothe and calm their sensitive skin. Each Dr.Jart+ product has been designed to treat everyday complexion concerns with a blend of skin-balancing and ultra-healing formulas.
Dr.Jart+ Cicapair™ Collection
The products use tiger grass from Asian wetlands and other lab-tested cica skincare ingredients. The serums, creams, and masks in the Cicapair™ collection were created to deliver the power of cica skincare straight to your skin.
Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 is a cica skincare bestseller that corrects redness and helps protect skin from environmental aggressors like the sun’s rays and pollution.
Cicapair™ Foaming Cleanser gently purifies and calms sensitive skin with its soothing formula. Infused with tiger grass (centella asiatica) and a blend of herbs, it effectively cleanses while reducing redness and irritation, leaving the skin feeling refreshed and balanced.
Cicapair™ Intensive Soothing Repair Gel Cream is a lightweight yet deeply hydrating gel-cream that targets redness and sensitivity. Formulated with tiger grass (centella asiatica) and botanical extracts, it helps to calm and soothe irritated skin while providing a barrier to protect against environmental stressors.
Other Dr.Jart+ Collections
As a brand that’s all about creation, there are a lot more Dr Jart+ ranges to test out. So if redness isn’t the concern, there’s a product for every issue from dehydration, uneven skin tone, fine lines, to wrinkles, and more.
The Ceramidin™ collection with Ceramides and Panthenol + Glycerin helps strengthen the skin barrier making it look and feel healthy, hydrated, glowing and full of bounce.
The Vital Hydra Solution™ collection with Hyaluronic Acid + PENTAVITIN™ instantly hydrates, plumps, and boosts skin’s glow. Dr.Jart+’s new water cream, treatment essence, and bestselling face mask are all dermatologist-tested.
Dr. Jart+’s Every Sun Day™ Sunscreen collection protects the skin from harmful UV rays while providing skincare benefits.
Dr.Jart+ is exclusively available at Watsons and LOOK At Me stores nationwide, watsons.com.ph and Watsons official stores on Shopee and Lazada.
Triple Threats, the concert series produced by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, puts the spotlight on these multifaceted individuals in a concept concert. Each concert carries a unique narrative told through a curated selection of music and songs by the featured artist, allowing audiences to get glimpses of the different dimensions of these acclaimed figures in television, theatre, music, and film.
For this year’s edition, the Triple Threat Concert Series features the Leading Women of Philippine Musical Theater – Carla Guevara Laforteza, Shiela Valderrama Martinez, and Tanya Manalang Atadero.
CARLA GUEVARA LAFORTEZA
One of the strongest and most fearless stage performers in the Philippines, Carla Guevara Laforteza is a premier, multi-awarded leading lady and character actress. She has graced the international musical theatre scene with some of her most notable roles including Kim and Gigi in Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Dreary Lane in London (1995-1997), and the Club singer and Flo Manero for the Asian tour of Saturday Night Fever (2015). She is also currently touring Asia as an official vocalist for Disney in Concert (2023-2025). Among her notable roles in local theatre include Joy in Ang Huling El Bimbo, for which she received the 2019 LEAF Award for Most Outstanding Actress in a Musical, and Kapitana Mary Jane in Rak of Aegis, for which she was awarded the GEM Award for Best Featured Artist. She is currently appearing as Edith and Rose in the new Ben&Ben Musical, One More Chance. Carla celebrates her 30th year in the industry.
With a sold-out show, witness her as she premieres this year’s series with Triple Threats I: A la Carlotta on July 25, 2024.
SHIELA VALDERRAMA-MARTINEZ
With an angelic voice and an equally angelic face, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez is the muse of the musical theatre stage. With an illustrious 30-year career in the industry, she is the recipient of LEAF Awards for Best Actress in a Musical, Awit Awards for Best New Female Recording Artist, and Aliw Awards for Excellence in Dramatic Performance. Among her most notable roles include Lily Dela Rosa in Binondo, a Tsinoy musical at the Theatre Solaire, Katherine Lyons in the critically acclaimed musical Dani Girl, Kapitana Mary Jane in Rak of Aegis, and the highly coveted role of Fosca in Stephen Sondheim’s Passion. More recently, she has performed at The Dream is a Wish Disney Orchestra Concert in Genting Malaysia.
Catch her grace the center stage on October 17, 2024, with Triple Threats II.
TANYA MANALANG-ATADERO
One of the most accomplished actresses on the musical theatre stage, Tanya Manalang-Atadero’s skills and talent have brought her the world over from New Manila, Quezon City, to the West End of London. Within her studded repertoire include roles such as Kim in the West End revival of Miss Saigon, Liesl Von Trapp in the classic musical The Sound of Music, Carla in the Atlantis Production of In The Heights, Stacy King in All Out of Love, and Aileen in PETA Theater’s fifth season of Rak of Aegis, the latter two roles for which she had won Aliw Awards and GEMS Awards Best Actress in Musical, respectively. She is also currently part of the touring singing group The Jet Theaters, performing for events across Asia.
Don’t miss your chance to watch her close the curtains of this year’s series on December 12, 2024, with Triple Threats III.
Ticket prices are Php. 1,000 for standard tickets and Php. 1,500 for VIP tickets.
For updates on future productions and other programs of the CCP, you may follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
“This movie is so much fun and, in my opinion, smart and big,” says Channing Tatum of his new comedy drama Fly Me to the Moon. “And mounting a movie of this size is kind of like shooting a rocket to the moon.”
Channing Tatum in Fly Me to the Moon
Fly Me to the Moon is a stylish, multi-faceted comedy drama with a hint of romance set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Scarlett Johansson, who also produces the film, plays marketing maven Kelly Jones, tasked by the White House to stage a fake moon landing as back-up – and this mission does not sit well with launch director Cole Davis, played by Tatum.
Of the story, Tatum says, “It was unlike any script that I’ve been reading lately. It’s a movie you don’t see get made anymore. It has an older tone, but it does feel modern. When I met with Greg Berlanti, the director, I thought we were going to do this very, like, pastiche sort of tone, like His Girl Friday or something like that, but he was like, ‘No, definitely I want it to be you guys and really play with it.’ He really wanted us to improv a little as well, and that kind of made it a little bit more modern and not so rigid. It just has a really strange tone that I really loved, and set in a big, epic setting of our history in time in America.”
Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in Fly Me to the Moon
One of the film’s strengths is the chemistry between its two leads, Johansson and Tatum. “Cole was a very good pilot and he always wanted to go to the moon, that’s why he came to NASA,” says Tatum about his character. “Turns out he had a medical condition that wouldn’t let him go, and now he’s going to take it upon himself to basically get all his friends that are pilots themselves [to the moon]. They’re very close and he’s going to be responsible for coaching them to get to the moon. At the time, it was really, really bad. They were not winning this race, and he was feeling the pressure. And then a saving grace angel comes in and gets him the money that he actually needs to be able to do this but kind of against his will.”
Speaking more about Johansson’s marketing maven character Kelly, Tatum says, “She definitely comes in and mixes things up in a man’s world. She just comes in like a bowling ball and just starts wrecking things –”
“ – or fixing things, I would say,” Johansson playfully interjects.
“ – wrecking them and then putting them back together in a better way, is what I was going for,” admits Tatum with a laugh.
Channing Tatum in Fly Me to the Moon
Besides Johansson and Tatum, the film also stars Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano and Jim Rash, who play characters that are just as memorable. Johansson, who, as one of the producers had a hand in choosing the director, gives credit to Greg Berlanti, whose previous credits include Love, Simon and DC’s Arrowverse. “Greg is such a champion for all of the characters,” says Johansson. “He really loves actors and performance so much, and celebrates comedy and nuance.”
Like Tatum, Johansson was also very impressed with the film’s story. “It’s so unusual these days that a film is offered in theaters that has an original story, and has this kind of scope,” she says. “It’s a big movie but the story itself is very intimate, it’s like a character piece that’s in this massive, huge set piece. To me, getting to experience that in the fullest, watching it on the screen with an audience and get carried away, there’s a certain kind of nostalgia, a kind of magic to that tone of film that is not common now. So being able to experience that in theaters is like a wonderful night out.”
Will they make it or fake it? Find out when Fly Me to the Moon, also starring Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano and Jim Rash, opens in cinemas July 10. Fly Me to the Moon is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International, #FlyMeToTheMoon @columbiapicph
In a pioneering move, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, in collaboration with SwipeRx and the Philippine Pharmacists Association Inc. (PPhA), has revolutionized the role of pharmacists across the Philippines. Through the innovative platform PharmAcademy, an impressive 6,457 pharmacists have been upskilled, enhancing their ability to manage and prevent diseases directly within their communities.
Bridging the communal gaps in health literacy with the help of pharmacists
Launched at the PPhA’s 2023 National Conference, PharmAcademy is a platform to equip pharmacists with the skills to play a more proactive role in disease management and prevention, especially in counseling about illnesses that can be prevented by lifestyle adjustments and proper self-care. This initiative focuses on diseases like Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), prevalent conditions highlighted at this year’s conference due to their rising impact in the Philippines.
For this year’s conference, PPhA placed a focus on the state of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). A 2023 study published in the Annals of Hepatology revealed that 4% of deaths annually in the world are caused by liver disease, and has become a pressing matter in the Philippines as well.
Dr. Denis Cua Ngo, President of the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology provided key insights on the severity of the disease in the country, saying, “We are facing epidemic of obesity which will almost inevitably result in an increase in rates of NAFLD and NASH, and eventually a burden of end-stage liver disease.”
Dr. Denis Cua Ngo, President of the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology
In the Philippines alone, around 27 cases in 1,000 deaths in the Philippines can be attributed to liver disease. While alarming in number, lifestyle modification and proactive liver care remain to be the cornerstone of prevention. Pharmacists are instrumental in promoting proper healthcare practices within the communities they serve, making learning tools like PharmAcademy even more relevant, especially in tackling cases of NAFLD and NASH.
Changing the pharmacy practice one accreditation at a time
Only on its second year in the Philippines, PharmAcademy has aided in the progress of proactive healthcare at the forefront of pharmacist education. To date, 2,314 pharmacists have received CPD-accreditation for completing Immunology 101, while 2,219 have been accredited for mastering the ABCs of multivitamins.
Gut health was also a prominent part of the pharmacists’ education, with the alliance having issued a combined total of 2,785 accreditations on the following modules: Gut Immunity and the role of Probiotics in Diarrhea Management, and Case-Based Approach to Digestive Health.
Regulated by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), these modules work to improve over-the-counter patient care overall, allowing upskilled pharmacists enough knowledge to confidently fulfill their role as frontline healthcare providers.
The interest to explore post-pandemic servicing strategies were also evident, as a total of 4,961 completed soft skill modules covering topics like “Pandemic communication barriers with customers” and “Understanding customers’ behaviors post-COVID.”
Dr. Yvonne Ferrer, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare ASEA Medical Lead
These soft skills are essential in advising for individual patient care and help pharmacists better understand the importance of effective communication during crises, where patient uncertainty and anxiety is at its peak.
As PharmAcademy persists to upskill pharmacists across the nation, its second year will now include interactive sessions with industry thought leaders and offline knowledge-transfer sessions, on top of the readily available modules that pharmacists can access on the SwipeRx app.
“By enabling pharmacists and pharmacist assistants to step into their role as the primary healthcare providers of their community, we empower each patient who seek their guidance to have more control of their healthcare journey, ultimately allowing them to put their health into their own hands,” Dr. Yvonne Ferrer, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare ASEA Medical Lead, concluded.
Netflixannounced the following cast members will appear in roles in the upcoming second season of ONE PIECE:
(Credit: “Courtesy of Netflix”)
Daniel Lasker (Raised by Wolves) as Mr 9
Camrus Johnson (Batwoman) as Mr. 5
Jazzara Jaslyn (Warrior) as Miss Valentine
David Dastmalchian (Late Night With The Devil) as Mr. 3
(Credit: “Courtesy of Netflix”)
Werner Coetser (Getroud met rugby) as Dorry
Brendan Murray (Raised by Wolves) as Brogy
Clive Russell (Game of Thrones) as Crocus
(Credit: “Courtesy of Netflix”)
Callum Kerr (Monarch) as Smoker
Julia Rehwald (Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures) as Tashigi
Rob Colletti (The Many Saints of Newark) as Wapol
Ty Keogh (24 Hours To Live) as Dalton
Additional cast and roles to be revealed at a later date.
ONE PIECE is a live action pirate adventure created in partnership with Shueisha and produced by Tomorrow Studios (an ITV Studios partner) and Netflix.
Co-Showrunners / Writers / Executive Producers: Matt Owens & Joe Tracz
Executive Producers: Eiichiro Oda, Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements through Tomorrow Studios, Tetsu Fujimura, Chris Symes and Steven Maeda
Starring: Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji
About Season One of ONE PIECE: Based on Japan’s highest-selling manga series in history by Eiichiro Oda, ONE PIECE is a legendary high-seas adventure unlike any other. Monkey D. Luffy is a young adventurer who has longed for a life of freedom since he can remember. Luffy sets off from his small village on a perilous journey to find the legendary fabled treasure, ONE PIECE, to become King of the Pirates! But in order to find the ultimate prize, Luffy will need to assemble the crew he’s always wanted before finding a ship to sail, searching every inch of the vast seas, outpacing the Marines, and outwitting dangerous rivals at every turn.
This July, the epic studio disaster genre returns with an adrenaline-pumping, seat-gripping, big-screen thrill ride that puts you in direct contact with one of nature’s most wondrous—and destructive—forces.
“Twisters,” a current-day chapter of the 1996 blockbuster, “Twister.” storms into Philippine cinemas starting July 17. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, the Oscar-nominated writer-director of “Minari,” “Twisters” stars Golden Globe nominee Daisy Edgar-Jones (“Where the Crawdads Sing,” “Normal People”) and Glen Powell (“Anyone But You,” “Top Gun: Maverick”) as opposing forces who come together to try to predict, and possibly tame, the immense power of tornadoes.
For director Lee Isaac Chung, tornadoes were just a part of growing up in Arkansas, but he was enthralled with the original Twister movie when it came out in 1996. Fast forwarding to the present, director Chung is thrilled to be part of Twisters, the current-day chapter of the 90s blockbuster. “When the producers came to me to direct this new chapter, I was truly honored and terrified to make the transition into tentpole, summer blockbuster territory. But the film embodies what inspired me to take on the challenge; I wanted to run toward my fears and not away from them.”
Watch the trailer below:
For Chung, directing Twisters would help him branch into a genre he’d been chasing his whole career. “I thought of Minari as my last-ditch effort to make it work. If this was the end of the road for me as a filmmaker, I wanted to go out telling the one story that meant the most to me. Fortunately, it turned out so well that I didn’t have to quit, and better, it opened new doors for me,” he says. “Twisters was the type of film I dreamed I could someday do as a filmmaker. I always wanted to do an action movie. I always wanted to work on a big scale. And I love telling stories about multiple characters in which their relationships and fates are all intertwined. The ironic thing is that in many ways, Minari, while being small and personal, was a great precursor for Twisters, as it shares some similar elements, from an ending that’s something of a disaster movie on an intimate scale, to be being a story set in a part of America that I happen to know really, well.”
It was also an opportunity for Chung to honor a film that influenced him, along with directors that influenced him throughout his life, beginning with Jan de Bont, director of the 1996 Twister film. From beginning to end, I returned to Twister, and I would ask myself: ‘How would Jan do this?’ Because he did it so well, and I wanted to honor the fandom around the first film,” Chung explains. “But I’ve always loved Steven Spielberg, as well, and the process of working with him has been so great. I went back and watched Jaws a few times, as well as War of the Worlds—movies about powerful forces of nature or monstrous things coming at you or looming above you. They captured some of the tone we wanted for our tornadoes.”
In cinemas July 17, “Twisters” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company. Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #TwistersMovie
Exemplifying exclusivity, elegance, and excellence, Banyan Tree Manila Bay showed guests true luxury through a grand party celebrating its upcoming hotel and residences.
Nestled in the vibrant Manila Bay area, known for its premier entertainment, retail, hospitality, and residential developments, Banyan Tree Manila Bay is a sanctuary for the senses amidst the excitement and energy. The hotel will offer a mix of rooms and suites catering to discerning travelers seeking a rejuvenating retreat with facilities including a swimming pool, fitness center, signature restaurant and bar, and other facilities available in a Banyan Tree hotel and resort, alongside the Podium Area featuring the meeting facilities and Banyan Tree Spa and Gallery. Meanwhile, Banyan Tree Residences Manila Bay will provide spacious ultra-luxury units ranging from Penthouses (900m²), Bi-Level Units (700m²), Prime Units (400m²), and 2- and 3-Bedroom Units (140-260m²), complemented by luxurious external amenities offering stunning views of the city and Manila Bay’s renowned reddish-golden sunsets.
Martin Taylor, Chief Operating Officer of Banyan Tree Manila Bay said, “It is definitely a very exciting time for the luxury real estate market right now in the Philippines. Investors are always looking for the next big thing. Hence, there’s high expectation for Banyan Tree Manila Bay and this is something that we aim to satisfy. Banyan Tree Manila Bay is a mixed use, multiple tower development. It will reflect all the features that every Banyan Tree property is known for like sustainability practices, while ensuring that we also pay homage to Philippine culture. Given the scope of this project, Nest Seekers International is the perfect partner for us to best market our residential towers to a wider international network. We look forward to having a fruitful partnership with them.”
“Nest Seekers International being the brokerage to represent the property globally are excited to work with Banyan Tree Manila Bay to launch this development in Philippines. As Manila has become the hottest market globally for prime residential properties, it’s high time that a project like this rises in the city. Not only will it satisfy our clients’ demand for true luxury, such a project will also pave the way for more branded luxury properties to invest in the Philippines, making for a more vibrant luxury real estate market,.” shared Andy Regalado, Nest Seekers International Chief Marketing Officer and Regional Director – Asia.
Growing up in an artistically-inclined family helped develop sisters Bettina Marie and Maita Hagad into the promising young artists they are today. Their parents Felix and Catherine Hagad are both seasoned architects, and their maternal grandmother Estrella H. Hagad is an accomplished artist as well.
Eight years ago, Maita exhibited some of her works alongside that of her Lola but this time—at ARTablado in Robinsons Galleria—it’s a sister act that is not one of sibling rivalry but a dual display of creativity.
The sisters hail from Bacolod City and are multi-disciplinary artists whose combined skills include painting, sketching, sculpture, fashion design, fashion styling, photography, videography, print making, textiles and installation art.
Both are graduates of De La Salle College of St. Benilde. Bettina has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising while Maita graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design, major in Landscape Design.
In 2019, Bettina developed the fashion line Downtown Lavish with a partner that continues to do well. Last year, Maita studied Landscape Architecture at Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Design Discovery Program.
Although Bettina sees fashion as her “true north,” she returned to painting during the pandemic and began creating lively, abstract canvases that depict activities that require the use of touch: playing dice, mazes, tic-tac-toe, abacuses and even old-school glass marbles with swirls of color in the center.
She found an audience that appreciated her works and was able to successfully sell her paintings through trade shows and by accepting commission-based work. To hone her skills in pencil work, Bettina took sketching courses at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts in August 2023.
“I can’t pinpoint when I discovered my love for art but I was drawn to it an early age. I can still vividly recall taking art classes and drawing whenever and wherever I could as a young child,” she recalled.
Initially enthralled by fishes, landscapes and seascapes, she moved on to doodling fashionably dressed girls as her interest in fashion grew. “I think my art journey has not been the most linear and is an experience that is quite unique to me, given that I’ve decided to pursue both arts and fashion,” Bettina said.
Today, she works as a freelance artist and fashion designer who takes on different roles needed in her family’s business. Bettina is also gearing up for the opening of her new arts studio in Bacolod City.
Her sister Maita is an award-winning designer, artist and dancer who “seeks to intersect concepts of ecology, memory, and movement through forms of visual and spatial experiences.”
Maita’s creations, which range from clay pottery and paintings to print and tapestry, were influenced by her early years in Bacolod and her adult life in Metro Manila.
One of her showcased items is a hand-stitched tapestry entitled “Tutod” that took her nine months to complete. Set in a grid-like pattern, it’s an aerial view of Negros Occidental’s sugarcane plantations.
On her Instagram account, Maita said the piece, dyed brown and black, “recalls the ‘tutod’ practice of burning sugarcane fields after harvest—an enduring image from growing up in Bacolod City.”
“Growing up surrounded by artists and designers, I was introduced to the arts at a very young age. When I was just four years old, I began classical ballet training. This was the beginning of my love for the arts, as it was within these creative environments where I found my most expressive and inspired self,” Maita recalled.
“My artistic journey started within the realm of performing arts. Dance, inherently intertwined with the notion of space, instigated my fascination with the movement of bodies within spatial contexts. This led me to delve into the study of interior and landscape design. Since then, my artistic endeavors have served a means to intertwine these diverse interests and inquiries.”
The sisters’ shared love for so many branches of the arts is unique and tightly binds them.
“I think having a sister who is also into the arts benefits us both in so many ways. Not only are we able to feed off of each other’s ideas, but we are also able to have interesting and deep conversations as sisters,” Bettina said.
“We learn together and from each other,” Maita added.
Both said they were grateful to have been invited to present their works at ARTablado. “This opportunity to exhibit my work to the public is significant to me,” Maita said.
“Both Maita and I have not exhibited in a long time. Given that Robinson’s advocacy will greatly help me as a young artist starting out, I could not refuse the offer,” Bettina added.
“These Objects Walk, Not Run,” the two-woman exhibit of Bettina Marie S. Hagad and Maita S. Hagad runs until July 15 at ARTablado in Robinsons Galleria.
