20 Contemporary Philippine Art Galleries Worth Visiting

20 Contemporary Philippine Art Galleries Worth Visiting

The new year is the season for trying out new experiences, and nothing is more life-affirming or transformative than developing an appreciation for the arts. According to writer Thomas Merton, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” It provides a deeper look into the human psyche, and allows us to share and foster creativity and connection with each other. From the visual arts to performance arts like ballet and musicals, art has brought together people of all ages, genders, creeds, and races throughout history.

As we approach the National Arts Month in February, it becomes more and more apparent that the Philippines is a country with a rich history of the visual arts. Greats like Juan Luna, Jose Joya, Araceli Dans , and many more have made their mark on the local arts scene over the decades. And even today, the tradition is alive and kicking, as you can see in our article ’24 Philippine Artists Shaping Local Contemporary Art’. If you’re curious about what’s going on in the Philippine arts scene, 2020 is your chance to broaden your horizons. To start off your art appreciation journey, here are twenty Philippine art galleries that are showcasing the best and brightest of the local modern arts scene.

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10 Filipino Celebrities Who Are Making Waves in the United States

10 Filipino Celebrities Who Are Making Waves in the United States

The representation of Asian Americans in popular media has only been getting better with this generation of movers and shakers in Hollywood. After an overwhelmingly positive response from audiences for the world premiere of Crazy Rich Asians, more and more creators have been looking for ways to focus the spotlight on Asian communities in pop culture.

Even Filipino artists with talent and charisma in the showbiz industry have been finding themselves getting more roles then ever. Hawaii native Jacob Batalon, whose parents are Filipino, recently made news as one of the few Filipino actors to appear in a Marvel film. Jacob Batalon starred in both Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) as Ned Leeds, Peter Parker’s best friend.

Even before the premiere of the Spider-Man movie series, Filipino actors, musicians, entertainers, and the like have been working hard in Hollywood, building their craft and make a name for themselves. Here are 10 other Filipino celebrities who’ve made it in the United States.

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Filipino Entrepreneurs Who Have Made it in America

Filipino Entrepreneurs Who Have Made it in America

The migration of Filipinos to other countries has a long history. An article from the Pulitzer Center notes that the Philippines is one of the major sources around the world for migrant workers in the seafaring, domestic work, and nursing sectors. Although many Filipino families are sustained by temporary labor migration, plenty of Filipinos have also made their homes in countries around the world, including the United States.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are currently 1,942,000 Filipinos in the immigrant population in the United States as of 2016. Some of them have found a home overseas, making names for themselves as entrepreneurs. Here’s a list of Filipinos who successfully established businesses in America.

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The Best Universities in the Philippines

The Best Universities in the Philippines

The University of the Philippines recently made headlines again, this time because the institution earned a spot in the top 500 universities worldwide. The list, made by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2020, covered 1,400 universities from 92 countries around the world. The performance of institutions was measured by the core objectives of teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.

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The Benefits of Nitric Oxide for Climbers

The Benefits of Nitric Oxide for Climbers

According to National Geographic, sports climbing is finally making its debut as one of the new sports to be included in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Since the announcement, the global sports climbing community has bustled with excitement. Top athletes have begun training for Olympic spots and the sport itself has started gaining significant media traction. National climbing events all over the world are now shown on television and streamed across different platforms, in the hope that global support for sports climbing continues to grow.

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Breaking Down Chronic Illnesses in Asia

Breaking Down Chronic Illnesses in Asia

With current advancements in medicine and medical technology, it’s no surprise that people are living longer. Medical practitioners are getting better at disease prevention and detection with more advanced technology and added scientific research. Despite this, South China Morning Post notes that the world still needs to be wary of chronic diseases

Additionally, healthcare costs remains a burden for most people in Asia, especially for those suffering from chronic disease. Even if Asian countries like Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and China have introduced healthcare insurance, most plans are basic and fail to cover the cost of the medicine and procedures are required for chronic illness treatment.

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20 Filipina Entrepreneurs Killing it in 2019

20 Filipina Entrepreneurs Killing it in 2019

True Filipinas make magic with the resources that they have. Last 2018, the Philippines maintained its position as one of the most gender equal countries in Asia, climbing to 8th in the Global Gender Gap report by the World Economic Forum. Rappler states that literacy rates in women having gone up to 92% in the country, with Business Administration being the most common field of study.

Ingenuity is ingrained in Filipinas. So, here are 20 Filipina entrepreneurs who have paved the way for themselves both in the Philippines and across the world.

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8 Most Beautiful Golf Courses in the Philippines

8 Most Beautiful Golf Courses in the Philippines

As the saying goes, golf is the gentleman’s sport. Where other sports may have boxy, plain arenas, golfers compete in lush greens with stunning vistas unlike any other. In the Philippines, a tropical paradise with over 7,000 islands, the game is elevated by the balmy tropical weather and unique views that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. According to website Top 100 Golf Courses, there are almost a hundred different courses in the Philippines where golfers can enjoy their sport. Here are eight of the most beautiful spots in the archipelago where you can tee off.

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The Spiritual Benefits of Yoga

The Spiritual Benefits of Yoga

Yoga has come a long way from when it was first introduced in the West in the 19th century, becoming the worldwide phenomenon it is today. Although its origins are hard to find, an article by Rappler notes that yoga made its way to a broader population after Hindu teacher Swami Vivekananda developed the practice based on the Yoga Sutras, a collection of aphorisms on the structures and practice of yoga written by Patanjali.

Healthline.com states that the word “yoga” comes from the ancient Sanskrit word “yuji”, which means to yoke or a union. This union highlights the importance of the mind-body connection in any yoga practice, referring to the surrender of one’s self to the body’s physical abilities and the present environment.

Plenty of people around the world practice yoga not only because of its physical benefits, but also because of the opportunities in spirituality it provides. Here are some ways in which yoga not only makes you stronger and fitter, but also helps you find yourself despite the hustle and bustle of your modern lifestyle.

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The Practice of Hilot — Then and Now

The Practice of Hilot — Then and Now

Almost all cultures around the world, at some point, developed systems involving  medicinal and healing practices before modern medicine was accessible. In the Philippines, ‘hilot is an ancient Filipino art of healing’, and has long been considered a traditional counterpart for Western medicine. Hilot is systematic and comes from a long tradition, and the practitioners who meticulously study it are called manghihilot. Many Filipinos still turn to it to relieve discomfort and other aches and pains, and its popularity until the present day shows that local manghihilot must be doing something right.

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