Filipinos Win 2 Historic Firsts at Sundance Film Festival

Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan (left), director of ‘The Headhunter’s Daughter,” and Martika Ramirez Escobar, director of “Leonor Will Never Die.”

For her directorial debut, the film-within-a-film “Leonor Will Never Die,” Martika Ramirez Escobar was given the Special Jury Prize for Innovative Spirit at the World Cinema Dramatic section, making her the first Filipino feature film director to win at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. Meanwhile Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan, earned the country’s first-ever Sundance win for a short film with “The Headhunter’s Daughter” (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Sinigang Named World's Best Soup

Sinigang has been named the Best Soup in the World by Taste Atlas – and rightfully so – during the international food database’s annual 2021 Awards! The Philippine native soup of sour broth, veggies, and meat has been globally recognized yet again for a second consecutive year (See Rappler for story), 

Ivory Aquino Cast as First Trans Character in DC Comics Film 'Batgirl'

Ivory Aquino

Ivory Aquino (“Tales of the City,” “When We Rise”) has been cast in the HBO Max feature film “Batgirl” as Alysia Yeoh, the best friend of the titular superhero, a.k.a. Barbara Gordon (Leslie Grace). Both Aquino and Yeoh are transgender, marking the first time a live-action feature film adaptation of a DC Comics title will feature an openly trans character (See Variety for story)..

PH Women's Football Team Qualifies for FIFA Women's World for First Time

The Philippines’ Women’s Football Team, the “Malditas” (Source: GMA News)

In Pune, India, the Philippine national women's football team booked the country's first appearance in the FIFA Women's World Cup after defeating Chinese Taipei on penalties, 4-3, in the quarterfinals of the 2022 AFC Asian Women's Cup (See GMA News for story).

Butuan Wins $1M in Bloomberg Tilt for Improving Farmers' Lives

Bloomberg Philanthropies chose Butuan City as one of the 15 winning cities of the 2021-2022 Global Mayors Challenge.. The 15 winners were recognized for designing the boldest and most ambitious urban innovations to emerge from the pandemic (See ABS-CBN for story)..

Fil-Canadian Named President & CEO of Edmonton Elks Pro Football Team

Victor Cui

Canada born-and-raised Victor Cui, has been named president and chief executive officer of the Edmonton Elks, a professional Canadian football team that competes in the Canadian Football League. Cui helped build Asian-based ONE Championship mixed-martial arts organization, a multibillion dollar sports entertainment business (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Filipina Immigrant Wins a London Writers Award

Carla Montemayor

Filipino immigrant Carla Montemayor has won a London Writers Award (LWA) given by Spread the Word, a writer development agency championing the underrepresented and marginalized voices in the United Kingdom publishing industry (See GoodNewsPilipinas.com for story).

Imported Fish Likely from PH Waters -- Senator

 Sen. Francis Pangilinan urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to put in place programs that will inspire local fisherfolk to increase their production rather than import fish, as the agency is standing by its decision to import galunggong (round scad). “Think about it, most of the fish we import are from China so it’s not farfetched that they come from our seas,” he said (See Philstar for story).