%201.svg){kind=logo}
Emergency Hotline:
(+63) 2 911 – 8688
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino pop groups SB19 and BINI are taking another step toward international music recognition after submitting entries for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, including a newly introduced category dedicated to Asian pop music.
Screenshot from: SB19 Official X Account
Screenshot from: BINI Weverse Account
The two P-pop groups have launched their respective For Your Consideration campaigns, seeking nominations across five entries in four Grammy categories.
The submissions were publicized ahead of the Recording Academy's first-round voting period, which runs from October 12 to 22, 2026.
However, neither group has secured an official Grammy nomination. Their entries must first undergo the awards' selection process before nominees are announced on November 16.
SB19 submits two songs for Grammy consideration
SB19 is seeking recognition in two categories, with its song “VISA” submitted for Best Asian Pop Music Performance and “LAWLESS” entered for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
The five-member group, composed of Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin, announced its Grammy consideration campaign while expressing appreciation for the continued support of Filipino music fans.
The latest submissions follow SB19's growing presence on international stages, including its performance at Lollapalooza in July 2026.
The group also performed at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, where it showcased its music to an international audience.
Meanwhile, eight-member girl group BINI is pursuing recognition in three Grammy categories, including one of the ceremony's major awards, Best New Artist.
The group submitted “Unang Kilig” for Best Asian Pop Music Performance, while “A Parallel World,” a song featured in DreamWorks Animation's Filipino-inspired film Forgotten Island, was entered for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
BINI's record label, Star Music, announced the submissions and encouraged listeners to support the group's campaign for international recognition.
The submissions follow the group's international performances, including its appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2026 and its performance at the Grammy Museum that same month.
Both groups are competing for consideration in Best Asian Pop Music Performance, one of five new categories being introduced at the 2027 Grammy Awards.
The category is intended to recognize achievements in Asian pop music as the Recording Academy expands its award classifications.
Its introduction has also prompted debate within the music industry, with some artists and observers questioning whether a separate category could limit the recognition of Asian performers in broader Grammy fields.
Despite the discussions, the Recording Academy has retained the category for the upcoming ceremony.
The Recording Academy's voting members are currently reviewing eligible submissions to determine which artists and recordings will advance to the official nominations list.
The first round of voting will conclude on October 22, while nominees for the 69th Grammy Awards are scheduled to be announced on November 16, 2026.
The final voting period will run from December 10, 2026, to January 7, 2027.
The Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on February 7, 2027, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
For SB19 and BINI, the next milestone will be the November announcement, which will determine whether their respective submissions earn places among the official Grammy nominees.
MANILA, Philippines — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian demonstrated how a portable water filtration system works during a Malacañang press briefing on Wednesday, October 14, as the government stepped up preparations for the possible impact of a strong El Niño.
Gatchalian, together with Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro and members of the Malacañang Press Corps, drank water processed through a filtration system attached to a container commonly referred to as a “jerry can.”
The demonstration followed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s widely discussed advice encouraging Filipinos to prepare buckets and collect rainwater in anticipation of possible water shortages.
The President's recommendation had drawn mixed reactions online, prompting Malacañang to emphasize the importance of practical household preparations alongside broader government measures to address the effects of El Niño.
During the demonstration, Gatchalian showed how the filtration equipment can be used with water containers to help provide an alternative source of drinking water for communities experiencing limited access to clean water.
According to the DSWD, the portable system uses a 0.1-micron filter designed to remove certain harmful microorganisms, including bacteria associated with waterborne illnesses.
The agency said the equipment can be used to filter collected rainwater and water obtained from communal sources, provided it is operated according to the required procedures.
Gatchalian explained that the DSWD has been distributing similar filtration kits to communities affected by disasters and disruptions in potable water supplies since 2024.
The initiative was previously implemented in Batanes after Typhoon Julian damaged access to clean drinking water.
The demonstration also provided an example of how stored water could be treated for household use during periods of limited water supply.
Marcos earlier urged the public to conserve water and collect rainwater using buckets or other suitable containers as part of preparations for El Niño.
Castro defended the President's remarks on Tuesday, October 13, explaining that the advice was one of several measures being promoted to help households prepare for possible drought conditions.
She also announced that Gatchalian would provide instructions showing how collected rainwater could be filtered for appropriate use.
Aside from household water conservation, the government is coordinating with several agencies to prepare for possible disruptions in water supplies, agriculture, and electricity.
Marcos convened concerned government departments on October 13 to discuss measures addressing the potential effects of El Niño, including water management, irrigation, food security, and assistance for vulnerable communities.
The DSWD, meanwhile, said its filtration kits could support communities where access to potable water becomes limited during extreme weather events or other emergencies.
The agency also continues implementing programs intended to strengthen food and water security in communities vulnerable to climate-related disruptions
The demonstration highlighted the government's efforts to promote water conservation and filtration as preparations continue for the anticipated effects of El Niño.
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has come to the defense of her lead impeachment lawyer, Atty. Sheila Sison, after House private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan accused her of bullying the prosecution team during the ongoing Senate impeachment trial.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 14, Duterte criticized Kapunan's characterization of her lawyer, comparing Sison's position to that of David confronting Goliath.
“Lorna Kapunan calling a defense counsel a bully is like calling David the aggressor against Goliath,” Duterte said.
The Vice President argued that portraying a defense lawyer as the aggressor unfairly casts someone carrying out a legal responsibility in a negative light.
She also described the impeachment proceedings as an unequal political contest, accusing those behind the case of using their power against her defense team.
Duterte emphasized that Sison and the other members of her legal team have devoted considerable time and effort to preparing for the impeachment proceedings.
According to the Vice President, the defense team has been working on the case since 2023, spending long hours examining documents and developing their legal arguments.
She said their preparations have required personal sacrifices, including time away from their families and sleepless nights.
Duterte also questioned why her lawyer was being linked to what she described as political transactions, maintaining that Sison's responsibility was simply to represent her client.
For the Vice President, criticizing a defense counsel for challenging the prosecution's arguments undermines the lawyer's role in ensuring that her client receives a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations.
Duterte's statement came a day after Kapunan publicly criticized Sison's conduct during the impeachment proceedings.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, October 13, Kapunan accused the lead defense lawyer of repeatedly portraying Duterte's camp as a victim.
The private prosecutor particularly objected to Sison's use of terms such as “persecution,” “accused,” and “denial of due process” in her manifestations before the Senate impeachment court.
Kapunan also accused Sison of disrespecting the prosecution panel and the senator-judges by questioning the fairness and impartiality of the proceedings.
She maintained that lawyers should observe professional conduct when presenting arguments before the impeachment court.
The exchange between Duterte and Kapunan follows the Senate impeachment court's acceptance of the House prosecution panel's request to withdraw three of the four Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President on October 13.
The decision leaves Article II, involving allegations of unexplained wealth, as the sole remaining charge.
Sison earlier opposed the withdrawal, arguing that the prosecution had already publicly presented allegations and evidence under the three articles without giving the defense a full opportunity to challenge them during the trial.
The defense also raised concerns about the fairness of the move and warned of possible implications for the proceedings.
Kapunan, however, questioned why Duterte's lawyers opposed the withdrawal when it reduced the number of charges the Vice President would have to answer.
The impeachment trial is scheduled to resume on November 9, with the proceedings set to focus on the remaining allegations of unexplained wealth.
MANILA, Philippines — United States President Donald Trump is set to visit the Philippines in November to attend the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits, Malacañang confirmed on Wednesday, October 14.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro announced the confirmation during a press briefing, although she declined to provide further details about the US leader's upcoming visit.
“It is confirmed, pero 'yung details, siguro hindi po sa akin manggagaling,” Castro told reporters.
The announcement follows an earlier indication from the White House that Trump would travel to the Philippines for the regional gathering.
The country is preparing to host the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City this November.
As ASEAN chair for 2026, the Philippines will host leaders and representatives from Southeast Asian countries and dialogue partners for discussions on regional cooperation and other issues of mutual concern.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously inspected the PICC as part of the government's preparations for the international event.
The upcoming visit will mark Trump's return to the Philippines after nearly nine years.
He last traveled to Manila in November 2017 during his first presidential term to participate in ASEAN-related meetings hosted by the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Trump's confirmed participation comes as the Philippines and the United States maintain their longstanding diplomatic, economic, and security relationship.
The Philippine government has also been coordinating security arrangements for the summit, with the Philippine National Police preparing to secure participating heads of state, delegates, and other guests.
Malacañang previously announced the declaration of November 16 to 18 as special non-working days in Metro Manila to facilitate security and traffic management measures during the regional event.
Further information on Trump's itinerary, arrival schedule, and possible meetings with Philippine officials has yet to be announced.
MANILA, Philippines — Members of the House prosecution panel showed a lighter side of themselves as they posed for playful group photos on Tuesday, October 13, following a major development in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Photo courtesy: : SPPA Pool photos by Mike Alquinto
The prosecutors took a break from the serious atmosphere of the proceedings to strike wacky poses for the camera after the Senate impeachment court accepted their request to withdraw three of the four Articles of Impeachment against Duterte.
The move leaves Article II, which involves allegations of unexplained wealth and financial disclosure irregularities, as the sole remaining charge in the impeachment case.
House lead prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro earlier informed the court that the panel would no longer pursue Article I concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds, Article III involving bribery, and Article IV covering grave threats and related allegations.
The prosecution maintained that the evidence already presented under Article II was sufficient to support its case against the Vice President.
Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero subsequently accepted the withdrawal of the three articles.
Under the ruling, Articles I and IV were withdrawn with prejudice, while Article III was withdrawn without prejudice. The three charges will no longer be submitted to the senator-judges for a verdict in the current trial.
The withdrawal does not constitute a finding of guilt or acquittal on those allegations.
Following the day's proceedings, Escudero adjourned the trial until November 9, 2026, at 10 a.m., when the impeachment court is scheduled to resume hearings.
The next phase will focus on Article II, with Duterte's defense team expected to begin presenting its evidence concerning the remaining allegations.
The prosecution panel's lighthearted group-photo moment came as the impeachment proceedings entered a new stage, with the Senate court preparing to hear the defense's case next month.
Photo courtesy: : SPPA Pool photos by Mike Alquinto
