Filipina singer wins first prize at prestigious 2026 Washington International Competition

Filipina singer wins first prize at prestigious 2026 Washington International Competition

Gideon Tinsay
Philstar Life
30 May 2026

Filipina mezzo-soprano Michelle Mariposa earned the top prize of the 2026 Washington International Competition for Voice.

The Friday Morning Music Club Foundation announced on its website that Mariposa placed first in the tilt, winning $10,000 (over P615,000) in cash.

Mariposa performed five songs for the contest, including Duparc's L’invitation au voyage, Antonino Buenaventura’s Ako’y Nangangarap, Richard Strauss’ Wie du warst!, Mozart’s Parto, ma tu ben mio, and Ricky Ian Gordon's Open All Night. 

In a Facebook post, the Cultural Center of the Philippines congratulated Mariposa, calling her feat a "well-deserved recognition" of her artistry.

Per the FMMC Foundation, the competition included 16 exceptional young singers from around the world, ages 18–32, who were selected through a competitive preliminary process, performing a wide-ranging repertoire of opera, art song, and contemporary works before an esteemed jury of internationally acclaimed artists Tony Arnold, Nicholas Phan, and Karen Slack.

The Washington International Competition is presented by the FMMC Foundation and is now in its 77th year. It has helped launch the careers of distinguished musicians. Competition winners are eligible for performance awards of solo appearance opportunities in the US.

Mariposa is among a new generation of Filipino artists gaining international recognition. She is praised for her “rich, powerful mezzo” by Parterre Box, a New York City–based online opera magazine.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of the Philippines, graduating summa cum laude. She then completed a second bachelor’s degree in Voice at UP and finished summa cum laude before earning a master’s degree in Voice and Opera Performance from Northwestern University in Illinois, US, with high honors.

The Pinay singer was also the grand finals winner of the 2025 Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. She's currently a Cafritz Young Artist with the Washington National Opera.

Dream come true

In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Mariposa shared why the 2026 Washington International Competition for Voice was one she'll never forget.

"It was one of the most memorable competitions I’ve done," she said.

"Leading up to it, I was so tired, coming from back-to-back-to-back work since March, where I was traveling a lot and singing a show or an audition every week. So I was actually debating withdrawing from the competition, because the night before the semifinals, I was closing a show, and the Monday after the finals, I had to leave for my summer gig," recalled Mariposa. "But I decided to push through, and I’m glad I did. It was just one of those moments where, once you perform, whatever tiredness or nervousness disappears as you find yourself immersed in the text, music, and theater that you’re performing."

The singer said she's "extra proud of myself for not giving up despite the packed schedule and the doubts."

According to Mariposa, she's set to perform at the Glimmerglass Festival, where she's singing Suzuki in Madama Butterfly and Dorabella in Così fan tutte.

She will then return to the Philippines for the Manila Symphony Orchestra's concert, where she will be singing scenes from Carmen and kundiman.

After her PH show, she will go back to Washington, DC to sing Suzuki as a guest principal artist with the Washington National Opera.

"I’m very thankful to be singing a lot," she told L!fe, "and it truly is a dream come true earning a living through music."

Filipinos at the American Music Awards 2026

Filipino pride soars at American Music Awards with Apl.de.ap, Katseye’s Sophia

Inquirer.net
30 May 2026

A song released more than 15 years ago and a girl group representing the future of global pop became two of the biggest vehicles for Filipino pride at the 2026 American Music Awards.

Turning the spotlight on Filipino talent at one of music’s biggest stages held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, this year’s ceremony saw Filipino American rapper Apl.de.ap and global girl group Katseye, home to Filipina member Sophia Laforteza, emerge among the night’s standout winners.

Comeback story

For Apl.de.ap, the moment came courtesy of an unlikely comeback story.

The Black Eyed Peas’ 2010 club anthem “Rock That Body” has experienced a second life online over the past year, becoming the soundtrack to a viral dance trend that introduced the track to a younger generation.

Its renewed popularity ultimately translated into awards recognition, with the group taking home the AMA for Best Throwback Song.

As the Black Eyed Peas reunited onstage to accept the honor, Apl.de.ap made sure to share the celebration with fans, sending a special shout-out to Filipinos watching around the world.

‘Mabuhay ang Filipino’

“Thank you to all the fans around the world who voted for this song, ‘Rock That Body.’ Maraming salamat, mahal ko kayo. Mabuhay ang Filipino!” he said during his acceptance speech.

Big wins for Katseye

While a veteran artist was celebrating a career-spanning achievement, one of pop music’s newest acts was busy collecting trophies of its own.

Katseye enjoyed a breakthrough night at the ceremony, winning New Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Pop Artist and Best Music Video for “Gnarly.”

The group also delivered a high-energy performance of “Pinky Up.”

During an acceptance speech, the Filipina idol took a moment to acknowledge the artists who helped pave the way for globally minded groups like Katseye.

“We want to give a special shout-out to BTS tonight for inspiring us to represent our culture at a global scale,” she said, closing her speech with “Maraming, maraming salamat!”

The celebration of cultural identity remained a recurring theme throughout the night. Fellow member Lara Raj reflected on Katseye’s long-standing goal of embracing the diverse backgrounds of its members.

“We’ve always been on a mission to celebrate diversity and represent our people and our cultures,” she said.

The wins placed Katseye among the ceremony’s top victors, tying with several artists, including BTS, for the most awards won during the evening.

The K-pop supergroup, making its first AMA appearance in four years, earned Artist of the Year, Best Male K-Pop Artist and Song of the Summer for “Swim.”

Aside from Apl.d.ap and Laforteza, Nicole Scherzinger, in her red latex outfit, also made an appearance with her Pussycat Dolls members Ashley Roberts and Kimberly Wyatt, singing their hit song, “Don’t Cha.”

Nine Young Filipinos makes it on Forbes' Asia List 2026

Nine PH entries land on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia list 2026

Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas
GMA News
29 May 2026

Nine entries from the Philippines were included in this year’s Forbes “30 Under 30 Asia” list, which recognizes entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators across the Asia-Pacific region “pushing the boundaries” in their respective fields.

The listees were chosen from close to 4,000 candidates who were evaluated by the Forbes Asia team and a panel of judges based on factors such as funding and revenue, social and industry impact, product-market fit, inventiveness, and potential.

Below are the listees from the Philippines, with cofounders of the same company listed together as one entry:

BayaniChain Tech cofounders Raphael Sevilla and Brandon Angelo Wong

Photo: Forbes| People Asia

Tennis player Alexandra Eala

Photo: Alex Eala Official | Screencap

Singer-songwriter Zack Tabudlo

Photo: Zach Tabudlo Official | Screencap

Amico Innovations cofounder Kharl Christian Yeung

Photo: Forbes | People Asia

Fan connection SEA cofounders Pauline Dizon and Adrian Jumangit

Photo: Forbes | People Asia

GoRocky cofounders Kiyanusch Braun and Martin Joaquin Palaña

Photo: Instagram | People Asia

ASEAN Youth Advocates Network founder Emmanuel Mirus Ponon

Photo: Facebook Profile | People Asia

Empath founder Steph Naval

Photo: Instagram | People Asia

Siklab founder Saje Miguel Molato

Photo: Siklab Pilipinas | Screencap

“The 11th edition of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list spotlights a fresh wave of young minds from across Asia Pacific, who continue to innovate and disrupt their industries at a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping our daily lives,” Forbes Asia editorial director Rana Wehbe Watson said in an emailed statement.

“From entrepreneurs building companion robots and AI tools to up-and-coming stars stepping into the global spotlight, this year’s listees illustrate Gen-Z’s influence across business and culture in the region,” she added.

The list covers 10 categories: AI; Consumer & Enterprise Technology; Entertainment & Sports; Finance & Venture Capital; Healthcare & Science; Industry, Manufacturing & Energy; Retail & Ecommerce; Social Impact; Social Media, Marketing & Advertising; and The Arts.

India had the most entries for the year with 78, followed by China with 46, Australia with 38, and Japan with 32. Indonesia, Singapore, and South Korea all had 18. —VAL, GMA News

EU Chamber elects first female, Filipina president

EU Chamber elects first female, Filipina president

Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas
GMA News
28 May 2026

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) on Wednesday announced its new Board of Directors, electing Diana Edralin as president — the first woman and Filipina to lead the organization in its history.

Edralin, general manager of Roche Philippines, will head the board as the chamber prepares for the upcoming EU-ASEAN Business Summit in September.

Her appointment comes after the sixth round of negotiations on the EU-Philippines free trade agreement (FTA) concluded on May 22, 2026.

She succeeds Paulo Duarte, who served as ECCP president for three years and helped expand the organization’s membership to nearly 1,000.

Lars Wittig, Ruben Camba, and Roman Menz were elected vice presidents, while Albert Perez was named treasurer. Judge Cesar Cruz will continue serving as corporate secretary.

The ECCP also announced the addition of two new board members: Ruben Camba, managing director for Southeast Asia at ACCIONA, and Liher Urbizu, president and managing director of SAP Southeast Asia.

They will join continuing board members Bernd Schneider, area general manager of Raffles and Fairmont Philippines; Tarang Gupta, managing director of Alaska Milk Corp.; Juha-Pekka Hoikka, chief representative and managing director of Airbus Helicopters Philippines Inc.; Jaime Urquijo, group head at Ayala Land; and Sandeep Uppal, president of HSBC Philippines.

“The new Board will steer the Chamber’s strategic direction from 2026 to 2027 and further strengthen its commitment to advancing trade, investment, and economic ties between Europe and the Philippines,” the ECCP said.—MCG, GMA News

Filipino student won awards at International Science and Engineering Fair 2026 in Arizona.

Filipino students win 6 awards in global science fair in Arizona

Andrea Gregorio
Inquirer.net
20 May 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino student researchers won six awards at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Two Grand Awards and four Special Awards were earned by Filipino student researchers across various science and innovation categories at the global science fair held from May 9 to 15.

Students from Angeles City Science High School, Quezon City Science High School, and Alaminos City National High School received international recognition for their research in energy, software design, and physics and astronomy.

Nathan Andrew P. Canilao, Pierre Phoella G. Ilagan, and Asher John G. Garcia of Angeles City Science High School secured the 2nd Grand Award in the Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design category, along with a $2,400 cash prize, for their project WinDTurbinePower.

The group also bagged the Third Prize Special Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Stewardship, along with a $2,000 cash prize, under the guidance of coach Lolita G. Bautista.

Meanwhile, Jose Rafael Cayabyab, Cassandra Lipango, and Eirah Riduca of Quezon City Science High School won the 3rd Grand Award in the Software Design category for ViSMo, an AI-integrated vital status monitoring robot equipped with Internet of Things features.

The team also earned the Arizona State University Scholarship Award and the Society for Science Alumni Award under the guidance of coach Genevieve Vasquez.

Charly David T. Manuel of Alaminos City National High School was recognized in the Physics and Astronomy category after receiving the Patent and Trademark Office Society First Prize Award, which came with a $500 cash prize, under the mentorship of Kris Cristhopher Dela Cruz.

The global science fair gathered over 1,700 young researchers from more than 60 countries, regions, and territories. 

Chosen through local affiliate fairs, the finalists competed on the world’s largest pre-college science platform, which highlights top youth talent and promotes a culture of innovation and excellence.

The Philippine team consisted of 16 learner-researchers chosen from the top individual and group projects at the 2026 National Science and Technology Fair held in March before advancing to Regeneron ISEF 2026.

In a statement on Wednesday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the achievement shows Filipino learners excel when given proper support, mentorship, and opportunities in science and innovation.“It is heartwarming and a source of pride to see our students able to compete with the best young scientists in the world,” Angara said in Filipino.

“Behind every award are countless hours of study, the guidance of coaches and teachers, and the trust of schools and families in the children’s abilities,” he added.Angara said the awards highlight the value of sustained investment in science education, research, and innovation opportunities for Filipino learners.

“What matters now is that we continue to support this kind of learning—where science is not just a classroom subject, but a way to find solutions to real problems in the community,” Angara said.

Jollibee is on Time’s 2026 most influential companies

Jollibee lands spot on Time’s 2026 most influential companies list

Richmond Mercurio
Philstar Global
03 May 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Jollibee continues to assert its global dominance, with the homegrown fast-food giant earning a spot on Time’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies of 2026.

The Time 100 Most Influential Companies list recognizes the world’s most influential businesses of the year.

Companies on the list are those whose impact, innovation, ambition and success are setting new standards for the world.

This year, Time introduced the Time100 Companies: Industry Leaders lists, an expansion of the Time100 Most Influential Companies issue that dives deeper into 20 sectors to highlight organizations shaping their industries.

Jollibee was named among the 10 most influential food and drink companies of 2026.

It is joined by the Ferrero Group, OpenTable, Mixue Group, Farmer’s Fridge, Wonder, Celsius Holdings, Pairwise, Fishwife and David Protein.

Jollibee is the flagship brand of Jollibee Foods Corp., one of the world’s fastest-growing restaurant companies, which manages and operates a portfolio of 19 brands with over 10,000 stores and cafés across 33 countries.

Jollibee was recently ranked by Euromonitor International as the No. 1 Chicken Quick Service Restaurant in Southeast Asia, based on 2025 value sales.

The brand operates 1,658 stores across Southeast Asia as of end-2025, including 317 outside the Philippines, with potential for expansion in priority regional growth markets.

Its growth has been driven by localized product innovation, mainstream customer appeal and a consistently strong guest experience.

Signature products Chickenjoy and Jolly Spaghetti remain among the brand’s top-selling items across markets and continue to drive repeat visits and strong customer affinity.

Jollibee crowned No. 1 chicken QSR in Southeast Asia

Jollibee crowned No. 1 chicken QSR in Southeast Asia

Richmond Mercurio
Philstar.com
01 May 2025

MANILA, Philippines — Jollibee, the flagship brand of Asian food conglomerate Jollibee Foods Corp., has been ranked the No. 1 chicken quick-service restaurant (QSR) in Southeast Asia by Euromonitor International.

The Jollibee Group said the recognition underscores the brand’s sustained growth and strong consumer demand across multiple Southeast Asian markets.

Euromonitor International’s assessment draws on comprehensive research methods, including in-country research, store checks, trade interviews and company analysis to determine market size and competitive positioning across the region.

Jollibee has built broad market appeal across Southeast Asia by balancing menu localization with a consistent core brand experience.

Ernesto Tanmantiong, Jollibee Group global president and CEO, said the recognition reinforces Jollibee’s role as a key driver of international growth and highlights the group’s capability to scale restaurant brands across diverse markets through strong fundamentals and execution discipline.

“This milestone underscores the strength of Jollibee as our flagship brand and our ability to build brands that connect across markets. It reflects years of disciplined execution — deep consumer understanding, strong operating systems and a growth strategy that balances relevance with consistency,” he said.

Tanmantiong said Jollibee is well-positioned to scale significantly over time, supported by disciplined expansion and strong market fundamentals.

He added that the group would focus on scalable brands that stay meaningful to customers as it expands across Southeast Asia and other regions.

“With 317 stores across Southeast Asia outside the Philippines, we have a solid platform for continued expansion in this high-growth region,” Tanmantiong said.

Jollibee was recently ranked No. 1 QSR in Vietnam by Euromonitor International, despite not having the largest store network.

In Singapore, Jollibee was previously recognized by The Straits Times as the No. 1 fast-food brand in customer service, based on a nationwide consumer survey.

Jollibee also stands as the No. 1 QSR by store network in Brunei.

“There’s a common perception that Jollibee primarily serves Filipino customers outside the Philippines, but what we’re seeing on the ground is very different,” Dennis Flores, president of Jollibee Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia, said.

“In markets like Vietnam and Brunei, nearly all our customers are locals, and in Singapore and Malaysia, locals make up most of our customer base. This tells us that great taste and a strong brand experience resonate beyond borders — it’s something consumers choose, regardless of culture,” he said.