Fil-Austrian to perform in Eurovision

Fil-Austrian to compete in Eurovision

Aric John Sy Cua 
Manila Times
31 January 2025

MANILA, Philippines — Four years after former 'ASAP' mainstay Vincent Bueno became the first Filipino to represent Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, another Filipino-Austrian singer will wave their colors in Switzerland in May.

Johannes ‘JJ’ Pietsch PHOTO FROM THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST WEBSITE

Austrian broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ÖRF), through radio station Hitradio Ö3, on Thursday announced that Austrian-Filipino countertenor Johannes "JJ" Pietsch will represent their country in the annual contest.

"JJ is an exceptional talent. With him, we are sending a unique artist to Basel who brings his own magic to the Eurovision Song Contest stage, with captivating pop and classical singing," ÖRF program director Stefanie Groiss Horowitz was quoted by the contest's official website.

Pietsch was born in Vienna in 2001, but also grew up in the United Arab Emirates before he returned to Austria in 2016. Just like Bueno, he also had experience in talent competitions, having been a finalist on the Austrian talent show "Starmania" in 2021.

Currently, he is a performer at the Vienna State Opera, starring in such productions as "Die Zauberflöte" (The Magic Flute), "Von der Liebe Tod" (Of the Love-Death), and "Tschick" (Why We Took the Car), among other classical musicals.

"I can't wait to bring opera to the big stage in Basel," he said in a video message to the Eurovision social media pages.

Pietsch's song for Eurovision, reportedly named "Wasted Love", and composed by Austrian 2023 representative Teya, will be presented in early March.

The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Basel, Switzerland with the semifinals on May 13 and 15 and the grand final on May 17.

Philippines ushers ASEAN in renewable energy investments

$27.7 billion: How the Philippines leads Asean in investments, green power push

Investments boom: 2024 saw a 28% jump in approved projects, as per DTI data

Jay Hilotin, Senior Assistant Editor
Gulf News (Saudi Arabia)
30 January 2025

Manila: The year 2024 broke records for investments, with approved projects hitting Php1.62 trillion ($27.7 billion), the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has confirmed.

Free energy from the sun: The Philippines's biggest winners in 2024 in wooing fresh capital were the energy and manufacturing sectors, as well as special economic zones. Renewable power led by solar-wind-batteries (SWB) secured Php1.38 trillion ($23.6 billion) in fresh inflows — a 40 per cent jump from 2023.Bloomberg

The bumper inflows exceeded the Php1.5 trillion initial target for the past year.

The Asean nation not only overshot its original aim: it was up 28 per cent, outpacing 2023’s Php1.26 trillion ($21.58 billion), outperforming neighbouring countries like Thailand and Malaysia in this metric.

The biggest winners in wooing fresh capital: renewable energy (RE) and manufacturing, among others, as per the Presidential Communications Office.

Green energy leads 

• The energy sector led the charge, securing Php1.38 trillion ($23.6 billion) — a massive 40 per cent jump from last year.
• Other booming sectors: air and water transport, mass housing, manufacturing, water supply, waste management, and real estate.

Economic zones

The Philippines, once dubbed as the "Silicon Valley" of South-east Asia, has lost its sheen due to power intermittency and high rates.

Now, it's plotting a comback, as the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) also shattered expectations, raking in Php214.17 billion ($3.67 billion), surpassing its Php200 billion ($3.5 billion) goal for 2024.

Investment boom

Though officials didn’t directly link the surge to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’ global investment push, trade leaders credit his overseas trips for securing major deals. 

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with Ferdinand Marcos Jr, President of the Republic of the Philippines, at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi in November 2024.

File photo | WAM

Australia: Marcos locked in $1.53 billion (Php86 billion) across renewable energy, clean tech, IT-BPM, and healthcare, plus an expansion of Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT).

Germany & Czech Republic: Fresh investments are rolling in, with PEZA reporting nearly Php75 billion — about 43 per cent of its annual target — linked directly to the international trade missions.

Vietnam: VinGroup pledged investments in EV battery production, fueling the government’s transport modernisation.

Japan: A sweet deal between local Auro Chocolate and retail giant Mitsukoshi will benefit 1,000 Filipino families, blending Davao’s cacao with Japanese flavours like matcha and miso.

What’s next?

Manila is doubling down on investment-friendly policies in 2025, ensuring the Philippines remains a top destination for business, innovation, and job creation, said Trade Secretary Cristina Roque.

“We will continue to refine and implement forward-looking policies that attract investments in these key industries, ensuring that the Philippines remains a prime destination for innovation and growth,” Roque was quoted as saying by the Presidential Communications Office.

With this momentum, the Philippines isn’t just catching up — it’s leading the pack in the Asean.

Challenges

The country is tackling a key challenge: energy security and high cost of power.

Policy makers are leading the drive with a mix of renewable energy (RE) expansion and mega gas-to-energy projects, potentially dislodging coal.

In 2024, the Philippines ramped up RE capacity: more than 4,000 megawatts (MW) of power projects came online, as per the Department of Energy (DOE).

In June, the agency approved the construction of 16 offshore wind farms, with an estimated potential capacity of 7,668 MW. 

In September, Danish firm Copenhagen Offshore Partners announced a $3-billion investment for the 1-gigawatt (GW) San Miguel Bay offshore wind power project in Camarines Sur, about 400km south-east of Manila.

Juice from this wind project will start energizing the power grid from 2028.

In November, the $3.4-billion integrated solar-battery project, claimed to be the “biggest-of-its-type-in-the-world” in a 3,500-hectare (35 sq km) land in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, broke ground north of the capital, combining solar and batteries, able to power the equivalent of 2 million local homes.

The Philippines also announced 20 dams for hydro-electric power generation.

Earlier this month (January 2025), the Philippines and UAE sealed a $15-billion landmark solar-wind-batteries deal aimed to bolster the Asean nation’s renewable energy credentials.

Policy mandate

Policy has been tweaked, too: electricity suppliers are now mandated to increase their RE sourcing by at least 2.52 per cent annually starting in 2023, up from the previous 1 per cennt annual increase in 2020. 

Filipino business tycoons are turning into battery barons, ramping up megawatt-scale “power banks” – including ones on floating platforms, with container-size battery energy storage systems (BESS).

A key advantage: they can be quickly deployed where needed. More than 60 sites across the archipelago had been completed or in the roll-out stage.  

Global recognition  

While the Philippines still has one of the highest power rates in the region, the push for REs is hoped to bring rates down.

With companies like Aboitiz Power, ACEN, and Meralco scaling up solar farms and offshore wind, the Philippines landed second in the 2024 Climatescope Report by BloombergNEF, reflecting investor confidence in greening drive.

Will these moves push some — if not all — of the 60 coal-fired plants (with generating capacity of 12 GW) to retire earlier than planned?

It's early days.

The ramp in RE underscores Manila’s efforts to creating a greener, end-user and investor-friendly (and, hopefully, cheaper!) power eco-system.

PH economy still one of the fastest growing in Asia-Pacific in 2024

DBM: 2024 GDP growth still puts PH among ‘fastest-growing’ economies

Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
Philippine News Agency
January 30, 2025

MANILA – The Philippines’ 5.6-percent economic growth for the whole of 2024 may be lower than the government’s target but still makes the country one of the “fastest-growing” economies in the Asia Pacific region, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Thursday.

Pangandaman issued the statement, as she welcomed the latest Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) report which showed that the Philippine economic growth settled at 5.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, bringing the full-year growth to 5.6 percent.

“While our target for 2024 is 6 to 6.5 percent, the results still put the Philippines among the fastest-growing economies in the Asia Pacific region, outpacing many of our ASEAN neighbors, and still propelling our desired economic transformation,” she said.

Pangandaman emphasized that the country faced economic challenges last year, including a record-breaking typhoon season, with six consecutive storms between the end of October and the middle of November.

She said the onslaught of the recent typhoons in the fourth quarter of 2024 “greatly affected the economy.”

“The fact that we still hit 5.6 percent in spite of all these storms shows that our formula for growth is working,” Pangandaman said.

Pangandaman, who also chairs the Development Budget Coordination Committee, said the Build Better More Program is also working, as construction was the biggest contributor to both the economic growth for the fourth quarter and the whole year of 2024, which were at 7.8 percent and 10.3 percent, respectively.

Pangandaman said the government will stay focused to make sure that it is on track with its Agenda for Prosperity.

“For the upcoming years, we remain dedicated to implementing priority programs and strategies aligned with our 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. Through these efforts, we anticipate fostering a favorable and resilient macroeconomic environment that will sustain our progress toward growth in the medium term,” she said.

“Moving forward, we will ensure that all the necessary support is in place to further boost our GDP growth and pursue our Agenda for Prosperity,” Pangandaman added.

The DBM said its push for a more efficient budget utilization saw positive results after Government's Final Consumption Expenditure posted the highest year-on-year growth rate of 9.7 percent.

DBM Principal Economist Joselito Basilio said the government’s efforts to address underspending issues, provide sufficient budgets to programs with the highest multiplier effects, and intensify efforts to advance the country's infrastructure systems have helped sustain the country’s economic growth.

Basilio noted that as the GDP remained steady, Gross National Income grew year-on-year by 6.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, bringing the full-year 2024 growth to 7.6 percent. (PNA)

Pinoys listen to music the longest globally

Pinoys listen to music 126 minutes a day, longest globally

Paul Icamina
Philstar Global
30 January 2025

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos not only spend the most time on the internet and on social media, they listen to music the longest anywhere on the planet.

The time spent by Filipinos listening to music, at an average of 126 minutes or a little over two hours a day, is the longest in the world, according to a study conducted by the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP).

“Music is more than a means of entertainment – it is the people’s way to communicate feelings, resonate their stories and build on their emotions,” says Dr. Maria Alexandra Chua, a professor at the University of Sto. Tomas Conservatory of Music who leads NRCP’s Musika Pilipinas project.

And yet, as important as music is in these islands, more than half of Filipinos in the industry earn less than P20,000 a month, the NRCP study found.

The meager earnings are a little over the minimum wage in Metro Manila, says Chua, who is also with the UST Research Center for Culture, Arts and the Humanities.

This is reflected in the small share of music in creative revenues.

The gross value added of the country’s creative industry expanded from P1.61 trillion in 2022 to P1.72 trillion in 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Music’s contribution is only P18.1 billion or 8.8 percent of the creative total.

The NRCP Musika Pilipinas project is designed to remedy this, defining the scope of the music ecosystem from publishing, recording and live music to the industry value chain. It will identify and assess market capital of music goods, particularly in the pivotal transformation to digital platforms, and determine growth prospects.

The NRCP study covered 700 industry players, and data was gathered from focus group discussions with artists, music company executives and organizations.

The study found that 61.1 percent of Filipinos involved in music creation, production, distribution and consumption were college degree holders; majority of them were freelance artists.

Most of the respondents said that to support their living expenses, they earned income not related to the music industry.

“Local artists would always have to go through what we normally identify as sariling sikap, that is, without any government intervention and support in music training, marketing and promotion,” says Chua.

Despite having the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act which promotes the development of Philippine creative industries, music is not a stand-alone sector in the creative industries council.

The music industry is subsumed under performing arts and audiovisuals, says Chua, who graduated at UST, magna cum laude, with a major in Piano.

There are problems of representation for music industry members in policy discussions, as well as in identifying music’s economic contribution as an important part of the Philippine creative economy, she points out.

A music coordinating council responsible for handling the dynamics, concerns, development and challenges faced by the industry is about time, recommends the NRCP study.

A centralized music coordinating council will handle the dynamics, concerns, strategic development plan and challenges faced by the industry, Chua says.

“The lack of effective protection of intellectual property rights of local artists is another crucial issue that needs to be addressed,” she says.

“The Philippine music industry should be understood as individuals, groups, institutions, companies and stakeholders who engage in the entire process of the creation, production, distribution and consumption of music within the Philippines,” Chua explains.

“To put it simply, they are creating, producing, reproducing, distributing or consuming music within the Philippines or producing music while representing the Philippines and from whose activities the Philippine economy benefits, including overseas Filipino musicians who send remittances,” Chua says.

NRCP, founded in 1933, is the oldest research council in Asia.

PH poised to become the next SEA tech center

Emerging startup trends in the Philippines

Paulo Campos, Raya Buensuceso
Inquirer.net
30 January 2025

The Philippines has emerged as Southeast Asia’s most exciting startup ecosystem in recent years, poised to become the next regional tech center after Singapore and Indonesia. At Kaya Founders, our investment strategy particularly centers on three key trends that encapsulate why the Philippines is an exciting market today: frictionless business enabled by artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platforms, the rise of tech-enabled consumer ventures, and the transformative power of embedded credit.

Frictionless business: AI-powered platforms reshaping industries. The adoption of AI-driven solutions is rapidly transforming the country’s largest industries. A generational shift in business leadership has ushered in digitally native leaders who are embracing AI to streamline processes in areas such as customer service, content creation, and supply chain management.

This trend positions the Philippines as fertile ground for AI-powered business-to-business platforms. Startups that leverage AI to drive efficiency and productivity, particularly in sectors like health care, commerce, and financial services, are poised to enhance traditional operations and unlock growth.

Two of Kaya Founders’ best-known portfolio companies are Etaily and Local, which both enable businesses, retailers, and merchants to more efficiently and effectively sell their products online across the different channels and marketplaces in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia.

Tech-enabled consumer ventures: Harnessing an emerging middle class. With household consumption representing 71.6 percent of GDP—significantly higher than the regional average of 55 to 60 percent—the Philippines is undeniably a consumer-driven economy. Yet, unlocking this potential requires a nuanced understanding of a diverse and evolving consumer base.

Two segments dominate this rising middle class: “power users” who prioritize convenience and are willing to spend on experiences and “value-focused users” who are driven by discounts. These dynamics have fueled the rise of digital shopping models like live and social commerce, where startups are reshaping how consumers discover, engage with, and purchase products.

Despite challenges in payment infrastructure and logistics, the opportunity to deliver affordable yet aspirational products through seamless digital platforms is immense, particularly for younger, digital-savvy consumers.

Embedded credit: Closing the financing gap. Within the realm of fintech, perhaps the most compelling opportunity lies in embedded credit. According to the recently published Google, Bain, and Temasek’s e-Conomy report, lending drove 22 percent of the revenue of digital financial services across Southeast Asia last year, growing annually at a rate of 35 percent. Yet the credit gap in the Philippines remains vast—estimated at $221 billion for micro, small, and medium enterprises, the largest in the world as a share of GDP by some measures and affecting three-fourths of Filipino adults without formal credit access.

Embedded finance models are addressing these gaps by integrating lending into everyday platforms, making access to credit more convenient and contextually relevant. Startups like OneLot and Netbank are at the forefront of this transformation. OneLot has enhanced dealer onboarding and introduced flexible loan products, while Netbank’s Banking-as-a-Service solutions integrate digital banking into supply chains and salary payments.

A maturing ecosystem. Venture capital funding in Southeast Asia has surged, with $72 billion deployed in the past five years—three times the volume of the preceding half decade. Yet, what makes this moment particularly exciting is the shift toward capital efficiency and profitability.

The Philippines, in particular, has emerged as a beacon of opportunity, bucking global trends of declining late-stage funding. Institutional investors and development finance institutions such as Asian Development Bank, International Finance Corp., Texas Pacific Group, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and a range of others have made late-stage investments in the country. Meanwhile, a growing pool of credible, experienced founders is fueling momentum in the early-stage segment.

The fundamentals of the Philippine market resemble the early growth trajectory of Indonesia’s and Singapore’s tech ecosystems. As digital adoption expands from early adopters to widespread use, the impact on the broader economy will only deepen.

Unlocking the Philippines’ potential. The Philippines’ tech ecosystem is at an unprecedented inflection point, but unlocking its full potential will require a concerted effort across stakeholders. Entrepreneurs, investors, and other business leaders must work together to address infrastructure challenges, build talent pipelines, and scale solutions that meet the needs of businesses and consumers alike.

At Kaya, we remain committed to identifying and supporting the next wave of Philippine startups poised to transform industries and revolutionize the economy and country in the future.

Philippines among hotspots for branded residences in Asia

Philippines among hotspots for branded residences in Asia

Catherine Talavera
Philstar Global
30 January 2025

MANILA, Philippines — Emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines, have become global hotspots for branded residences due to their affordability and growth prospects, according to a global real estate consultancy.

In its latest Asia-Pacific outlook report, Knight Frank said that Asia currently houses nearly 200 branded residence developments, around 20 percent of the global supply.

Knight Frank said it anticipates a substantial increase of 43,100 units through 180 upcoming projects from 2025 onwards, nearly doubling the region’s supply of branded residences.

It added that this growth is expected to be led by emerging markets, particularly Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines, with a total number of units at roughly 18,000, 16,300 and 13,000, respectively.

“Emerging markets, encompassing Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, have blossomed into global hotspots for branded residences,” Knight Frank said.

“Due to comparatively more affordable prices and higher growth prospects, properties in these destinations appeal to international investors seeking secondary homes,” it added.

Knight Frank said it estimates the average proportion of foreign buyers of such projects in Vietnam and Thailand to be 15 percent in 2024, up from 10 percent in 2019.

Aside from affordability, Knight Frank noted that another primary factor behind the surging demand for these exclusive properties can be attributed to the rapid growth of the local ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI) population.

Knight Frank said the current count of almost 18,000 UHNWIs in these countries is projected to reach slightly over 25,000 by 2028, reflecting an impressive 45.2 percent growth rate that surpasses the Asia-Pacific average of 37.3 percent.

Additionally, strong economic performance, bolstered by stable business environments and advantageous taxation frameworks, has also significantly contributed to attracting wealthy people to establish their businesses in these emerging markets, further stimulating growth in various sectors, including luxury real estate, according to Knight Frank.

“The multifaceted nature of branded residential developments, encompassing a variety of locations, types, brands and designs, remains a key attraction for this distinct property category. This rich assortment, combined with the dependability, exclusivity and security they guarantee, play a vital role in upholding the sector’s thriving growth trajectory,” Knight Frank said.

In an earlier report, Thailand-based hospitality consultancy firm C9 Hotelworks said that the Philippines has the second largest supply of branded residences in Asia, with a market share of 17.3 percent in the supply of branded residences in the region.

The report noted that Wyndham Hotels & Resorts leads the total supply of branded residences with 10,941 units, followed by The Ascott Limited, the Banyan Group and Marriott International.

“Among key destinations, Phuket has the highest number of units, totaling 4,771 units across 26 developments, followed by Manila and Bangkok,” the report said, noting that Manila has over 4,000 branded residences units.

C9 Hotelworks said the branded residences market in Asia is valued at $26.6 billion, comprising 68,001 units in total.

Cebu among top pet-friendly cities in Asia

Cebu among top pet-friendly cities in Asia

Morexette Marie B. Erram

Cebu Daily News

29 January 2025

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Fantastic news for fur parents who want to visit the Queen City of the South with their four-legged loved ones.

Cebu City was named among the top pet-friendly cities in Asia for 2024.

Online travel platform Agoda recently revealed their list of top 10 pet-friendly cities in the region, with Cebu ranked second, next to Vietnam’s coastal city Da Nang.

Rounding up the top five are Vietnam’s Hanoi, Nha Trang, and Tainan in Taiwan respectively.

Manila, the country’s capital, landed on the 10th spot. Aside from Manila, completing the top ten were Pattaya (Thailand), Taichung (Taiwan), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), and New Delhi (India).

According to Agoda, their list of pet-friendly cities is based on the average number of accommodations that allow guests to bring in their pets.

In addition, the Singapore-based firm observed an increase in pet travel in Asia, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z.

They recorded a 64 percent growth pet-friendly properties in 2024.

“Millennials and Gen Z leading the charge as they embrace pet parenthood and splurge on their furry friends, according to a recent study by Allied Market Research,” they added.

PH to attract more investments at WEF 2025 meeting

Davos WEF reaffirms PH potential as global investment hub

By Zaldy De Layola

Philippine News Agency
January 26, 2025

MANILA – The country can expect more foreign investments following its participation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Switzerland.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said the results of the productive engagements of the Philippine delegation would create more jobs to propel economic growth.

"The discussions we held in Davos reaffirm the immense potential of the Philippines as a key destination for global investments," Romualdez said in a news release on Sunday.

He said the team is grateful to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for sending a delegation that showcased the many reasons why global investors should choose the Philippines.

“The reception has been overwhelmingly positive and I am confident that this will translate to more investments that will fuel our economic growth,” he added.

Romualdez lauded the Philippine delegation composed of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Trade and Industry Secretary Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, and business leaders from various sectors for their significant contributions to promoting the country’s economic opportunities.

“I thank my fellow delegates for their tireless efforts and invaluable contributions in generating global interest in the Philippines,” Romualdez said.

“From highlighting our young and dynamic workforce to presenting our pro-business policies such as the CREATE MORE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy) law and the Maharlika Investment Fund, we have successfully demonstrated that the Philippines is a viable and vibrant investment destination,” he added.

Key engagements

Romualdez participated in high-level discussions and engaged with prominent global business leaders and officials, including his participation as a panelist in the Stakeholder Dialogue titled “Navigating Asia’s Hotspots,” where he emphasized the country’s balanced geopolitical approach and commitment to economic stability.

“We presented a clear narrative of the Philippines as a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific region, not only geopolitically but also economically. Our focus is on fostering peace, stability and cooperation, which are vital for sustained growth,” he said.

The country’s delegation also hosted the Philippine Breakfast Interaction, which convened close to 50 international public and private sector leaders for a briefing on the Philippine economy and its potential as the next big investment destination.

Among the notable guests during the event were Marcus Wallenberg, chair of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken; Philippe Amon, chair and CEO of SICPA SA; Catarina Amon, CEO and founder of Classeek; Anthony Tan, CEO and co-Founder of Grab; John Riady, Group CEO of Lippo Indonesia; Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia; and Calvin Choi, CEO of AMTD.

Also present were Jay Collins, vice chair of Citi; Helena Lersch, vice president of Public Policy of Tiktok; Amit Kalyani, vice chairman and joint managing director of Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited; and Albert Chang, managing partner of Southeast Asia, McKinsey & Co., among others.

During the discussions, the Philippine delegation showcased its robust domestic economy driven by e-commerce, making the country the fastest-growing digital economy in Southeast Asia in 2024.

Investment-friendly Reforms

The Philippine delegation likewise highlighted legislative reforms under the Marcos administration as concrete manifestations of the readiness of the country to listen to investors’ concerns.

In particular, they cited the CREATE MORE law, signed by President Marcos in November last year.

The CREATE MORE law is meant to accelerate investment momentum by offering enhanced tax incentives, streamlining the investment approval process, simplifying VAT rules, and providing targeted incentives for strategic investments.

He said the WEF once again placed the country on global investors’ radar, giving opportunities to the Philippines which is ready to turn them into concrete investments that will accelerate progress. (PNA)

Fil-Am journalist awarded at NYC event

Filipino American Journalist Dave Llavanes Jr. Among Seven Honorees at Prestigious New York City Event

POLITIKO | politiko.com.ph
January 25, 2025

NEW YORK – Filipino American journalist Dave Llavanes Jr. was one of seven journalists recognized and awarded a Certificate of Merit during a special event held in New York City.

The award was presented by Triveni Times, a prominent media network serving South Asia and immigrant communities.

In addition, Llavanes received a Certificate of Merit from the New York State Assembly, through Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, in recognition of his significant contributions to promoting community unity through journalism.

The award and recognition for Llavanes were accepted on his behalf by Boyet Loverita, Board of Director of Filipino American Press Club of New York and GMA Integrated News

Joining Llavanes as honorees were six other journalists from various media companies in South Asia:

Manzoor Hussain (Dunya International and Global TV)

Samrat Karki (Hello America)

Lovle Ansar (Bangladesh Pratidin)

Yuyi Jin (The China Press)

Manoj Basnet (Annapurna Media Network)

Harpreet Singh Toor, representing mainstream media

The awardees were recognized for their contributions to local journalism and its role in strengthening civic engagement and fostering cultural understanding.

Fil-Am nurses featured in US Film Festival

Untold stories of Filipino nurses featured at Napa Valley film festival

Gavin Martinez 
Inquirer.net
25 January 2025

Filipino nurses, often unsung heroes of global healthcare, take center stage in Michele Josue’s documentary, “Nurse Unseen.” 

The film delves into their selfless contributions, all while showing their courage, resilience and compassion during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Simultaneously, it highlights their fight against a troubling surge in anti-Asian hate incidents.

Recently, “Nurse Unseen” has been chosen as the opening feature film for the inaugural Napa Valley Asian American Film Festival (NVAAFF). This highly anticipated event debuts on Friday, Feb. 7 at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center.

The NVAAFF aims to celebrate the vibrant and dynamic storytelling of Asian and Asian American creatives, which combines traditional filmmaking with the innovative realms of contemporary storytelling.

Co-hosted by actress and winemaker Kara Wang and actor Ryan Alexander Holmes, the festival promises a unique experience that merges cinematic brilliance with Napa Valley’s renowned charm.

Highlighting the event’s vision, “Nurse Unseen” exemplifies the festival’s commitment to amplifying untold stories. According to the press release, the festival offers attendees an immersive day of storytelling, creativity and cultural exchange. 

The lineup also features films that celebrate the diversity and innovation of Asian and Asian American voices, complemented by Napa’s signature culinary and winemaking heritage.

Among the highlights of the festival are an exploration of AI-inspired short films, which showcase how artificial intelligence is transforming the filmmaking process.

This segment highlights the potential of new technologies to expand creative freedom and democratize access to storytelling for emerging voices. 

Attendees will also be treated to a series of critically acclaimed feature films, each exploring themes of resilience, identity and community through an Asian American lens.

Additionally, the festival will feature narrative shorts, presenting personal stories that capture the complexities of human connection and cultural intersectionality.