Lifestyle

The “City of Gentle People” has made history as the first Philippine city declared a UNESCO Creative City of Literature.The announcement was made on World Cities Day 2025 on Oct. 31 marking Dumaguete’s inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), which recognizes cities that place creativity and culture at the heart of sustainable development.Dumaguete joins Jakarta as one of Southeast Asia’s first Creative Cities of Literature, a recognition that highlights the city’s rich literary heritage, from its vibrant writing community to the legacy of the Silliman University National Writers Workshop, the oldest creative writing workshop in Asia.Meanwhile, Quezon City was also named a UNESCO Creative City of Film, joining Ho Chi Minh City as Southeast Asia’s first Creati...

The first-ever MassKara Media Awards paid tribute to the storytellers who have kept the spirit of Bacolod’s world-renowned festival alive through their words, images, and digital creativity.The iconic Bacolod City Government Center lobby was transformed into a glittering venue for an evening of recognition, gathering prominent figures from the legacy and traditional press, digital platforms, radio, and the city’s growing community of content creators and influencers on Saturday evening, Oct. 25, a press release from the Bacolod Gugma Foundation said.The inaugural awards celebrated excellence across multiple media categories, underscoring the vital role of journalists and digital communicators in amplifying the MassKara story and sharing Bacolod’s smiles with the world.In the On...

A timeless line-up of classic Beetles*In celebration of the MassKara Festival, the Volkswagen Club of Bacolod  hosted Volkskarra 2025, a two-day classic car exhibit featuring 20 iconic Volkswagen models - including the beloved Combis, Beetles, Buggies and a rare Sakbayan.Held in partnership with Bacolod Arts, Cultural and  Heritage Inc. (BACHI), the event was spearheaded by VW Club President Ping Quimba, BACHI President Sandy Solinap and car collectors Steve Padilla, Edward Manganti and Dr. Carlos Legislador.Vee-Dubbers Edward Mangani (left) and Steve Padilla with his VW Super Beetle 1303*The exhibit aimed to inspire younger generations to appreciate and preserve classic vehicles as living symbols of cultural and historical heritage. Each car on display told a sto...