Metroscene Mag - For the young, empowered & creative

At an age when most children are still figuring out what they want to be when they grow up, Annika Co is already learning what it means to grow up in front of an audience. The young performer first caught the public’s attention through It’s Showtime ’s Mini Ms. U in 2023, where she emerged as a daily winner and quickly became known for her natural ability to perform and connect with an audience.  What began as a television appearance soon became the beginning of a career. By 2025, she had begun appearing in film projects, including Antoinette Jadaone’s Sunshine , where she starred alongside Maris Racal. The film would become an important part of Co’s growing filmography, eventually earning her nominations for Best Child Performer at the 74th FAMAS Awards , Movie Child Performer of the Year at the 42nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies, and Best Child Actress at the 28th Gawad Pasado. The recognition has continued into 2026. Co received the Outstanding Young Female Artist of the Year aw...

There is a particular kind of uncertainty inside an audition room.  It lives in the space between names being called, in the shuffle of pages, and alongside the heavy silence of sitting among strangers, each carrying a version of themselves they hope someone on the other side of the table will recognize. For a few minutes, everything is up for consideration: the face, the voice, the presence . Whether you look the part, sound the part, or feel like someone an audience would want to follow. You walk in, make your case, and if the room says yes, the waiting ends and the work begins. But for Filipino cinema , the waiting rarely ends there. The audition simply takes another form. We wait for funding, producers, resources, screens, distribution, and audiences willing to look beyond the familiar. Filmmakers and artists continue to make their case for stories that, in the first place, have always belonged to us. The irony is difficult to miss. A country as overflowing with stories as the ...

Nadine Lustre is officially entering her most fearless era yet—and spoiler alert: she’s not playing it safe. With the release of the official music video for “DONUTS,” Nadine trades soft-hued nostalgia for raw grit, stepping into the role of a warrior princess navigating a lawless and oppressive world. Featuring Black Eyed Peas member and global hip-hop icon Apl.de.Ap , the multi-hyphenate artist is shedding expectations and building a universe entirely her own. “The video connects to the bigger creative direction of the album, which explores transformation, stepping into your power, and becoming more comfortable with who you are,” Nadine shares in an interview . “I wanted that world to feel rooted in being Filipino, with those influences woven into the setting, styling, and imagery in a subtle way.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nadine Lustre (@nadine) For Nadine, true creative control is also about knowing when to bring the right visionaries into ...

BINI ’s latest single “ Blush ” continues to gain momentum worldwide as its catchy choreography catches the attention of artists across the globe, with members of global girl groups ITZY , STAYC, izna, 4EVE, no na, and Say Now putting their own spin on the dance trend . The summery track has become a standout from BINI’s latest era, reaching audiences beyond the Philippines following its first live performance at Coachella . During ITZY’s concert in Manila, member Chaeryeong delighted fans by dancing to “Blush,” showing her own take on the choreography. The moment quickly drew attention from Blooms , who celebrated seeing the K-pop star join the dance trend. STAYC’s Sieun also joined in on the fun with her own “Blush” dance, while izna’s Jeemin likewise showed off her version of the choreography. Thai girl group 4EVE also took on the hot track after fans requested them to do the challenge during one of their livestreams. The dance trend has since reached even more international acts, ...

After years of exploring sound, identity, ambition, and the many directions an artist can take, James Reid arrives at a place that feels less like a destination and more like a state of being safe and sound with his third studio album, “Honey, I'm Home,” released under Sony Music Entertainment . The new record treats home not as a sanctuary one spends a lifetime searching for, but as a feeling of being fully at peace with who you are and the people you choose to share your life with. “Honey, I’m Home is obviously something you say when you walk through the door, but for me the idea of home became much bigger than a physical place,” Reid explains. “I think I spent a lot of my life looking for something, chasing success, experiences, relationships, trying to become a certain version of myself. And this project came from realizing that maybe home isn’t a place you eventually arrive at. It’s that feeling of being completely present and comfortable with where you are, who you are, and ...