“I can’t change the way Manila looks, but I can change the way you look at Manila,” is the signature statement Carlos Celdran ends all of his tours with.

Manila is the place I love to hate, but not Carlos. He loves it. Because he does, he gets us to change the way we look at Manila as he tours us around it, mixing fact with irreverent fancy in his commentary on Intramuros or other Manila tourist non-destinations, like the Cultural Center Complex, Escolta and the banks of the Pasig, or Binondo and Chinatown, places that we don’t consider as tourist destinations because of their lack of known “attractions.” (more…)

By Fe Zamora, MANILA, Philippines — A day after three Filipino women reached the “rooftop of the world,” fellow mountaineer Regidor “Reggie” Pablo also reached the summit of Mt. Everest in what his wife, Melissa, described on Saturday as a “quiet, no-hype” climb on the world’s highest mountain. (more…)

By Chito A. Fuentes TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Sing no sad songs for Boholano novelty singer Roman “Yoyoy” Villame who died of heart attack on Friday. He was 75.

Little is known of Villame who was born in Sta. Cruz, Calape town on November 18, 1932.

From the recollections of his eldest daughter Lilian Villame-Austria, 49, her father started out as a taxi driver in Manila where she and another sibling were born. (more…)

Sen. Alfredo Lim, who is a proclamation short of winning his bid to become Manila’s next mayor, said Thursday that he will revive his controversial “shame campaign” against drug pushers when he assumes office. (more…)

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran radio broadcaster Cesar Nucum, known for decades and to millions of Filipinos as Kuya Cesar died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 69 on Thursday.

His son Erwin told dzMM radio that his father felt chest pains and had difficulty breathing at around 7 p.m. at his home in Pag-asa, Quezon City. Nucum took a taxi to a hospital where efforts to revive him failed. (more…)

The luster seems to have all but faded as show biz stars, with the exception of Vilma Santos, will head for the loser’s exit.

Among those destined to lick their wounds amid the klieg lights are actors Richard Gomez and Cesar Montano, comedian Anjo Yllana and retired jukebox artist Victor Wood. (more…)

Noelle with Mt. Everest in the palm of her hand.

Two out of three Filipinas have reached the summit of the world’s tallest mountain on Wednesday, DZMM reported.

Lt. Arman Balilo, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman, said Noelle Wenceslao and Carina Dayondon reached the summit of Mt. Everest at 6:10 a.m. Nepal time (8:10 a.m. in Manila). (more…)