Guides & News
Weekend roundups, venue guides, and event news — everything you need to plan your next gala around the Philippines.
The Best Cinemas in Metro Manila: Premium Screens, IMAX & Where to Actually Watch
Where to watch a film properly in Metro Manila — the premium screens worth travelling for, which branches have IMAX and 4DX, the most comfortable recliner houses, and where to find arthouse and festival titles.
Things to Do in Zamboanga City: Chavacano, Vintas and Pink Sand
A guide to Zamboanga City — the Spanish-creole Chavacano language, Fort Pilar, the pink sand of Great Santa Cruz Island, the vinta sailboats, and the Hermosa Festival every October.
How to Book Movie Tickets in the Philippines: Apps, Prices & Seat Picking
How to book cinema tickets in the Philippines — the chain apps and websites, what tickets actually cost, when prices drop, how to choose a good seat, and the refund and reseating rules nobody tells you.
Things to Do in Dumaguete: University Town, Apo Island and Siquijor
A guide to Dumaguete in Negros Oriental — the Rizal Boulevard, Silliman University, diving and turtles at Apo Island, the Twin Lakes, and using it as the gateway to Siquijor.
Things to Do in Baler: Surf, Waterfalls and Where Apocalypse Now Was Filmed
A guide to Baler in Aurora — Sabang Beach and the birth of Philippine surfing, Ditumabo Falls, Ermita Hill, the Apocalypse Now connection, and the long drive from Manila.
Cinema Chains in the Philippines: SM, Ayala, Robinsons, Vista & the Rest Compared
Which cinema chain to book in the Philippines — SM Cinema, Ayala Malls Cinemas, Robinsons Movieworld, Vista, CityMall, Gaisano and Walter Mart — compared on coverage, premium formats, booking and loyalty perks.
Undas in the Philippines: All Saints' & All Souls' Day Traditions
Undas — All Saints' and All Souls' Day (Nov 1–2) — is when Filipino families visit cemeteries to honor departed loved ones. Here's what the tradition means, what to expect, and travel tips.
Philippine Independent Cinema: Cinemalaya, QCinema and Where to Watch
A guide to independent Filipino film — the festivals that sustain it, how the industry is structured around the MMFF, where to actually watch indie titles, and how to start if you have only seen mainstream Philippine cinema.
Things to Do in Boracay: White Beach, the Stations and Getting There
A guide to Boracay — how the Stations divide White Beach, the environmental rules that came out of the 2018 closure, Puka Beach and the quieter side, and the ferry-and-van route from Kalibo or Caticlan.
MassKara Festival Guide: Dates, Highlights & How to Get to Bacolod
Bacolod's MassKara Festival runs through October, peaking on the fourth weekend. Here's the smiling-mask festival explained — its origins in the 1980 sugar crisis, the street dance and arena competition, Electric MassKara, and how to get to the City of Smiles.
Things to Do in Siargao: Cloud 9, Island Hopping and the Lagoons
A guide to Siargao — surfing Cloud 9 and the beginner breaks, island hopping to Naked, Daku and Guyam, Sugba Lagoon and Magpupungko, when the swell works, and how to get there.
Your First Concert in the Philippines: A Complete Checklist
Everything to do before, during and after your first concert in the Philippines — from buying a legitimate ticket and choosing a tier to what passes bag inspection, when to arrive, and how to actually get home.
IMAX vs 4DX vs Dolby Atmos vs Director's Club: Which Philippine Cinema Format Is Worth It
A plain-English guide to the premium cinema formats in the Philippines — IMAX, 4DX, Dolby Atmos, ScreenX, Director's Club and Premium seating — what each one actually does, and which films are worth the upcharge.
Things to Do in Bohol: Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers and Panglao
A guide to Bohol — the Chocolate Hills, the tarsier sanctuaries worth visiting and the ones to avoid, Panglao's beaches and diving, the Loboc River, and how to get there from Cebu or Manila.
Best Weekend Getaways from Manila
Need a break from the city? Here are the best weekend getaways from Metro Manila — cool Tagaytay and Baguio, beaches and surf, and heritage escapes — with tips on timing them to long weekends.
Accessible Events in the Philippines: Venue Access, Seating and What to Ask
A practical guide to attending concerts, theatre and cinema in the Philippines with a disability or reduced mobility — the law, what the major venues actually provide, how to book accessible seating, and the questions to ask first.
Things to Do in Batangas: Beaches, Anilao Diving and Taal
A guide to Batangas — the nearest real coast to Metro Manila. The beaches at Nasugbu, Laiya and Calatagan, world-class macro diving at Anilao, Taal Heritage Town, and how to plan the drive.
Kadayawan Festival Guide: Davao's Harvest & Tribal Celebration
Davao City's Kadayawan Festival every August is a thanksgiving for the harvest and a tribute to the region's indigenous cultures. Here's what it is, when it happens, and how to get to Davao.
Things to Do in Puerto Princesa: Underground River, El Nido and Palawan
A guide to Puerto Princesa and Palawan — booking the Underground River permit, Honda Bay island hopping, getting to El Nido and Coron, and how long you actually need.
Peñafrancia Festival Guide: Naga's Fluvial Procession, Dates & What to Expect
A guide to the Peñafrancia Festival in Naga City — one of the largest Marian devotions in Asia. The September dates, the Traslacion and fluvial procession on the Naga River, and how to plan a visit.
Music Festivals in the Philippines: How the Scene Works
A guide to the Philippine music festival landscape — the kinds of festival that run here, where they happen, what a ticket gets you, camping versus day passes, and how to prepare for heat, rain and a long day.
Things to Do in Vigan: A Guide to the UNESCO Heritage City
A guide to Vigan, Ilocos Sur — Asia's best-preserved Spanish colonial town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Calle Crisologo, kalesa rides, Vigan empanada, and how to get there.
PWD, Senior and Student Discounts for Events in the Philippines
How the statutory 20% discount and VAT exemption work for cinemas, concerts and theatre in the Philippines — who qualifies, what ID you need, why it often cannot be claimed online, and how student and group rates differ.
Things to Do in Bacolod: The City of Smiles, Inasal & MassKara
A guide to Bacolod, the 'City of Smiles' — home of the MassKara Festival, legendary chicken inasal, The Ruins, and nearby heritage Silay. What to see, eat, and how to get there.