United Airlines Will Have Direct Flights to Manila

United Airlines will become the first United States carrier to fly direct to Manila in the Philippines from the continental U.S. when the carrier launches flights there in October (See Travel&Leisure for story).

Filipino Boy, 10 Wins Copernicus Int’l Math Olympiad

Francis Deinmel Legaspi

According to a report on "24 Oras," Francis Deinmel Legaspi, ten years old, bested more than 100 finalists from 22 countries after winning the 2023 Copernicus International Math Olympiad (See GMA News for story).

Canadian Swimmer Kayla Sanchez Changes Nationality to Filipino

Kayla Sanchez (Source: Olympic.ca/Spin.ph)

Swimming’s international federation approved Kayla Sanchez’s change of nationality from Canada to the Philippines. Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Sanchez will officially compete for the Philippines in the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games set Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 (See Spin.ph for story). 

PH Mulls Banning ‘Barbie’ Movie Over China’s 9-Dash Line

Margot Robbie in the “Barbie” movie (Source: Warner bros.)

The Philippines’ censorship board is currently debating whether to block the local release of the film because of a brief scene showing the so-called "nine-dash line" on a map of Asia — China’s controversial territorial claims in the South China Sea (See Hollywood Reporter for story).

Pop Star Olivia Rodrigo Is First Fil-Am on Cover of Vogue

Olivia Rodrigo (Source: Vogue)

Olivia Rodrigo made history once again, this time as the first Filipino-American to grace the cover of Vogue US.She appeared in a silver dress on the cover of the magazine’s August issue (See GMA News for story).

Fil-Am Golfer Wins US Women's Open

A Filipino Korean American golfer from Hawaii won the US Women’s Open, her first LPGA tour title win. Allisen Corpuz was born on March 20, 1998. Allisen’s father, Marcos Corpuz, is from Ilocos Norte, Philippines, and her mother, May, is of Korean descent (See Associated Press for story).

Fil-Am Miss Texas Pushes Back Against Right-Wing GOP Officials

Miss Texas Averie Bishop (Source: Washington Post)

Filipino American Miss Texas Averie Bishop is pushing back against the far-right policies of the state’s white male Republican officials (See Washington Post for story)

PH Pole Vaulter Obiena Qualifies for 2024 Paris Olympics

EJ Obiena (Source: Rappler)

EJ Obiena became the first Filipino to qualify for the 2024 Olympics following his silver-medal performance in the BAUHAUS-galan in Stockholm, Sweden on Sunday, July 2 (See RAPPLER for story).