Philippines wins historic gold medal in Asian Winter Games

PHL curlers make history with first Asian Winter Games gold

Glendale G. Rosal 
CDN Digital Correspondent 
February 15,2025

CEBU CITY, Philippines— On the final day of the 9th Asian Winter Games, the Philippines made a historic feat by clinching its first-ever gold medal in the Winter Games courtesy of the men’s curling team.

Skipper Marc Pfister, alongside his brother Enrico Pfister, vice-skipper Christian Haller, and lead Alan Frei, stunned the previously unbeaten South Korea, 5-3, in the gold medal match at the Pingfang Curling Arena.

The Filipino team started strong, leading 3-1 after the first few ends. South Korea fought back to tie the game at 3-3, but the Filipinos held their ground, winning the final two ends to secure the gold.

The win marked the Philippines as the first Southeast Asian country to win a gold at the Winter Games, just days after Thailand earned a bronze in alpine skiing.

The Philippines’ curling team, formed by Curling Pilipinas President Benjo Delarmente and Secretary-General Jarryd Bello, finished the round-robin stage with a 4-1 record, earning a spot in the semifinals.

They first defeated Japan 10-4 and edged China 7-6 in huge upset fashion before claiming the gold.

The team was the standout performance for the Philippines, as none of the 19 Filipino athletes in other events earned medals. Marc and Kathleen Dubberstein’s mixed doubles team finished 4th, while the women’s curling team did not qualify for the finals.

Short track speed skater Peter Groseclose and figure skaters Sofia Frank and Cathryn Limketkai, along with alpine skiers Tallulah Proulx and Francis Ceccarelli, also failed to qualify for higher placements.

Beyond the curling gold medal, the POC is poised that the Philippines strong performances across other events signifies a brighter future for the country, especially in the Winter Olympics.

Manila one of Asia's most romantic destinations

Manila among 5 best Asian Valentines' destinations

Aric John Sy Cua

Manila Times

14 February 2025

DIGITAL travel platform Agoda listed Manila as one of its top five most romantic destinations in Asia for couples celebrating Valentine's Day.

The list, published on Thursday, described Manila as having a "warm and welcoming" atmosphere, and pointed to sunsets in Manila Bay.

"Manila, with its warm and welcoming atmosphere, provides couples with a cozy escape. The city's rich history and cultural sites, combined with its picturesque sunsets, create an ideal setting for love to blossom," Agoda said.

Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, leads the list, with its skyline offering "a stunning backdrop for romantic evenings."

Tokyo in Japan is in second place, with its "fusion of old and new."

"Couples can stroll through serene gardens, explore historic temples, and then dive into the vibrant nightlife, making it a city that offers endless romantic possibilities," Agoda said.

Behind Manila are two cities in Thailand, its capital Bangkok and the city of Pattaya. Bangkok was mentioned for its "lively energy and serene temples," as well as its bustling markets and the romantic dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River.

Pattaya, on the other hand, offers "stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife" for couples seeking relaxation and adventure.

Agoda's data also pointed out a 35-percent increase in accommodation searches for domestic destinations for Valentine's Day, which falls on Friday.

"At Agoda, we are dedicated to helping couples find the perfect spot to celebrate their love. Whether it's a city staycation or a beach getaway, Agoda has the best deals to set the stage for a magical weekend of romance," Agoda senior vice president for supply Andrew Smith said.

29 PH companies part of TIME World's Best Companies of 2025 for Asia-Pacific

29 PH firms part of TIME World's Best Companies of 2025 for Asia-Pacific

Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas

GMA Integrated News

13 February 2025

Nearly 30 firms based in the Philippines were included in TIME and Statista's "World's Best Companies of 2025" list for the Asia-Pacific region, which takes into account employee satisfaction, financial performance, and sustainability transparency.

According to TIME, companies across the region were scored out of all three factors, which were added on an equal percentage basis to form the final ranking score with a maximum of 100 points.

Employee satisfaction was based on survey data from 2023 from employees worldwide, with a main focus on the Asia-Pacific. Data was collected from over 50,000 participants, who evaluated companies based on direct and indirect recommendations.

Financial performance was evaluated through data from Statista's financial database, with firms needing a revenue of at least $100 million in 2023 to be considered.

Sustainability transparency was evaluated based on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data from 2022, including carbon emissions intensity and reduction, along with the carbon disclosure project (CDP) rating.

Below is a list of the companies based in the Philippines that made the list:

This year's list for Asia Pacific was topped by Singapore's DBS Bank, followed by Malaysia's Maybank, South Korea's Kia and Shinhan Financial Group, and India's Wipro.

Completing the top 10 are Singapore's Oversea-Chinese Banking, India's Infosys, Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Nissan Motor Corporation, and South Korea's Hyundai. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

PH wins Reina Hispanoamericana 2025

Dia Mate is Reina Hispanoamericana 2025!

HERMES JOY TUNAC

GMA Integrated News

February 10, 2025

Dia Mate of the Philippines is Reina Hispanoamericana 2025!

Dia reigned victorious during the pageant’s coronation night held in Bolivia on Monday (Philippine time).

For the finals, the Philippine bet flexed her winning glow in a sultry gold gown designed by Rian Fernandez.

During the Q&A portion, Dia was asked: “What values do you think are the most important to our society, and why do you think this is important?”

She answered: “I think the most important value that we should have is kindness. In my experience here in Bolivia, Latinas have shown me so much kindness and so much love even though racially I am not Latino.”

“And the most beautiful thing I've noticed is that even though we don't speak the same language, we share the same culture, same heart, and same faith in God, and I hope this shows everybody that if we use kindness we can show that we are all the same and can create a better world and a better society for us all.”

Aside from the major crown, Dia also took home the Best in National Costume award. She donned an Ehrran Montoya dress inspired by the Baroque Churches of the Philippines.

The beauty queen from Cavite took home the country’s second Reina Hispanoamericana crown after Winwyn Marquez won the title in 2017. —AOL, GMA Integrated News

Filipinos in Korean entertainment scene

5 New-Gen K-Pop Idols That Are Actually Filipinos

Em Enriquez
preview.ph
10 February 2024

Filipino talent continues to reach new heights on the global stage. And in the ultra-competitive realm of K-pop, a handful of aspiring Pinoy names have emerged as up-and-coming idols over the past few years.

Ahead, we list down five names you absolutely need to have on your radar.

5 Filipino K-Pop Idols You Need to Know

1. Chanty Videla of Lapillus

Chanty Videla made headlines in 2022 when she was announced as a member of MLD Entertainment's Lapillus. Under the same management as the established girl group Momoland, the group has released the singles Hit Ya! and Gratata.

Chanty began her career in show business as a Star Magic artist. She became close to fellow talent Charlie Dizon, who initially had plans to pursue K-pop as well. Back home in the Philippines, Chanty is signed with GMA's Sparkle Artist Management Center, and is a frequent face in the network's variety shows.

2. Sophia Laforteza of KATSEYE

The daughter of theater star Carla Guevara Laforteza, Sophia Laforteza has been performing her whole life. This passion came to fruition when she signed up to be part of the idol survival show The Debut: Dream Academy. The Filipina edged out dozens of co-trainees and came in first place, becoming the eventual leader of the multi-national girl group KATSEYE.

One has most probably heard KATSEYE's hit song Touch, which had an accompanying dance that became a viral TikTok trend. The sextet, composed of girls from varying backgrounds and nationalities, is partially handled by Korean entertainment company HYBE.

3. Elisia Parmisano of UNIS

At only 14 years old, Elisia Parmisano became victorious on the idol survival show Universe Ticket, granting her a spot in the group UNIS. Prior to joining the series, she was training under Star Magic and already played a guest role in teleserye Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit. Her stint as a child actor led her to meet Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez, who congratulated her on her K-pop debut.

4. Gehlee Dangca of UNIS

Gehlee Dangca is another Filipina who debuted in UNIS. With experience competing in beauty pageants, the 16-year-old proved her mettle on Universe Ticket and became the visual and sub-vocalist of their group. They've just released their debut EP We Unis, which housed the songs Superwoman and Curious.

5. JL Gaspar of AHOF

The latest Pinoy to enter the K-pop scene is JL Gaspar, who placed first on survival show Universe League. This wasn't JL's first time to debut in a boy group, having been a member of the SBTown-managed P-Pop group PLUUS in 2023. Some of his musical inspirations include Ten of NCT, Stray Kids, and Avril Lavigne.

Fun fact: JL was also a background dancer for PSY, the Korean act responsible for Gangnam Style, in one his promotional videos.