'Mas pantay mukha ko 'pag naka-drag': Andrea Brillantes on why she stars in 'Drag You and Me'MANILA, Philippines — Andrea Brillantes has always been into makeup and has always counted herself as a "Bratz" girl than a "Barbie" girl. "Ever since po kasi noong 3 years old ako, nagme-makeup na po talaga ako. Playing her drag persona on the show, Andrea's Valentine Royale matched Christian's Bubbles Lacroix's energy. After looking for any means available, joins a drag competition and her other persona, Valentine Royale, is born. The actress also quipped: "At saka, mas pantay kasi ang mukha ko kapag naka-drag makeup ako.

Rainy season is here — PAGASACommuters armed with their umbrellas brave the sudden heavy downpour in Manila on May 24, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — State weather bureau PAGASA declared Friday the start of the rainy season in the Philippines. In a statement, PAGASA said the recent occurrence of scattered thunderstorms, the passage of cyclone Betty (Mawar) and the southwest monsoon (habagat) brought widespread rain to the western sections of Luzon and Visayas, signifying the start of the rainy season in the country, especially in areas with Type I climate. Areas with Type I climate have a distinct dry and wet season: wet from June to November and dry for the rest of the year. PAGASA noted that breaks in rainfall events—also known as monsoon breaks—may happen and may last for several days.

Scientists at Nasa’s first ever public meeting on “unidentified anomalous phenomena” – more commonly called UFOs – called on Wednesday, May 31, for a more rigorous scientific approach to clarify the origin of hundreds of mysterious sightings. An independent team of 16 scientists are due to report their findings in a report by the end of July, with Wednesday’s working meeting a forum for its final deliberations. READ: NASA’s UFO panel convenes to study unclassified sightingsThe P3 was unable to intercept the dots. The agency’s posture in the past was to “debunk” such sightings—reinforcing the stigma over the hunt for alien life. RELATED STORIESNo recorded UFO sightings in PH, says PhilSAUS Navy confirms UFO videos are authenticYour subscription could not be saved.

More is certainly more when you ask 16 artists to interpret the idea of "abundance." Inspired by the recognition that we are surrounded by plenty, Bountiful celebrates the richness of life and the different sources of stimuli that can be found around us. Bringing together artists from all over the world who work across many disciplines, the works reflect the diverse contemporary art scene - from Kohei Ogawa's whimsical dolls and Leeget's graphic forms to Amanda Visell's atmospheric paintings and Hideyoshi Ohashi's furniture. As the artworks received was, well, bountiful, the exhibition at Belowground in Landmark Atrium will run in two phases until June 18, with a break on June 5 to change over the works.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — President Joe Biden tripped and fell after handing out the last diploma at a graduation ceremony at the US Air Force Academy on Thursday, June 1. The 80-year-old United States president quickly got up on one knee helped by three people and walked back to his seat unassisted. ADVERTISEMENTAs Biden was helped up, he pointed behind him, seeming to indicate what he tripped over. White House communications director Ben LaBolt said on Twitter that Biden was fine. Doctors declared him healthy and fit for duty after a physical examination in February.

As the world was Europeanized in the 19th century and Americanized in the 20th century, it is being Asianized in the 21st century. India's government initiatives, including Digital India and Make in India, have propelled the digital ecosystem, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation. According to ancient Indian scriptures, the universe undergoes cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution, with each cycle spanning vast eons of time. In the context of the Asian Century, India is a major player. Now, imagine the world without India.

REBOUNDING Street hawkers open up their business for the day at a market place in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Nov. 14, 2022. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka reduced its interest rates on Thursday, June 1, 2023, for the first time since the island nation declared bankruptcy last year. AP PHOTO REBOUNDING Street hawkers open up their business for the day at a market place in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Nov. 14, 2022. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka reduced its interest rates on Thursday, June 1, 2023, for the first time since the island nation declared bankruptcy last year. Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 and said it is suspending repayment of its foreign debt.

The artist was born at Itsinkoudi, a remote village in the Comoros archipelago off Mozambique, southern Africa. He spent his childhood there with friends and relatives until he was 10, when he moved to France. In the title piece, In Deeds and Gestures, he drew his brother based on an old photograph. He wants Hongkongers getting their first glimpse of his works to relate to them just as fellow human beings. In Deeds and Gestures is showing at The Galleria, Central, until June 18.

‘Importers should pay pre-inspection cost of agricultural products’In an interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez said that the pre-inspection was already proven effective before for the National Food Authority (NFA) when it was still empowered to import rice. “At the load port, we have representatives from the government agencies and private sector. Estoperez said that the government should not incur additional expenses for the pre-inspection and instead require the private sector to shoulder the cost. The best way is to require the private sector since they are the ones importing. It is more beneficial compared to the impact of smuggling, the impact of disease that we cannot control,” he added.

Caroline ZhengHong Kong retail sales grew by 15 percent year-on-year in April, beating estimates, official data showed yesterday, as consumption sentiment and visitor arrivals continued to improve. The value of total retail sales in April increased to HK$34.7 billion, according to provisional data provided by the Census and Statistics Department, marking growth for a fifth consecutive month and beating a market expectation of 13.8 percent. In terms of volume, total retail sales increased by 13.3 percent in April from a year earlier, versus a 39.3 percent year-on-year increase in March. For the first four months this year, the total value of retail sales advanced by 21.7 percent from the same period in 2022, with a 19.9 percent growth in volume during the period. Hong Kong Retail Management Association chairwoman Annie Tse Yau On-yee, however, warned that the recovery of the retail industry in the SAR is still facing multiple challenges, including uncertainty in the external environment, rising rents and a shortage of talent.

The Heat face the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday (Friday in Manila). NBA Finals games won't start until 2:30 a.m. in Serbia, but that nation is one of the 200 or so where the series will be broadcast. GUEST REPORTERSDenver's Jamal Murray was harassed in his NBA Finals media day news conference by a reporter. Indiana's Bennedict Mathurin is one of four players who will serve as NBA Finals media correspondents during the Denver-Miami series. As Mathurin pressed Murray for details about this 1-on-1 game, Murray eventually — though playfully — made clear he had enough.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed the Japan Bank for International Cooperation's (JBIC) expression of interest to partner with Philippine companies for energy development and in the newly passed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF). In response, the President said such investments are what the country needs, one of the reasons the MIF was passed by Congress. "It's so that we, the Philippines, can participate in what would be, what is regarded, of course, as an investment for us. But it is basically seen as our government participation in projects that, mostly, will really be in the Philippines," he added. The bank's main operational principle is to supplement the financial transactions implemented by private financial institutions.

Japan bank ‘interested’ in Maharlika FundPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Japan Bank for International Cooperation chair Tadashi Maeda on Thursday to discuss the country's energy sources. MANILA, Philippines — The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has “expressed interest” in the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) and is eyeing energy development tie-ups with local firms, Malacañang said yesterday. “The Japan Bank for International Cooperation is seeking partnerships with Philippine companies for energy development and has also expressed interest in the newly passed Maharlika Investment Fund,” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement. Marcos told the JBIC official that the investment fund would be an instrument for the Philippine government to take part in various projects. In its website, the bank said it conducts lending, investment and guarantee operations while complementing the private sector financial institutions.

'Betty' affects 30,000 people in six regionsThe paper milling building of Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) collapsed in Sta. Ana, Cagayan due to the wind brought upon by Typhoon Betty on May 29, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Cyclone Betty (Mawar) has so far affected over 30,000 people from Luzon and Visayas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Thursday. In its latest report, the NDRRMC said Betty has affected 30,506 individuals in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas. The government has provided assistance amounting to P1.95 million to residents affected by Betty.

No injuries were reported as a flaming tire tore loose from a truck heading to Sheung Shui this morning. According to the video, a truck was driving along San Tin Highway around 9 am when its rear left wheel suddenly ignited near Mai Po San Tsuen. The flaming wheel then flew off the truck, spewing bits of burning rubber which nearly struck the vehicles following behind. The truck driver switched to the slow lane and turned on the hazard lights, stopping the truck and contacting the police. The flames were extinguished by firefighters who arrived at the scene.