Benilde holds free horror film fest
FOR Halloween, LAGIM! Benilde Film Horror Festival is returning with a collection of thrillers and horror films to be screened for free at the Benilde Design + Arts Campus in Manila. Organized by the Film Department of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), the third iteration of the annual fete will run for two days with a total of 12 short films on view. Set A is slated for Oct. 28 while Set B is scheduled for Oct. 29. LAGIM! is free and open to the public. It will run from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the scheduled dates. Each set will be followed by a talkback session with the filmmakers. It will be held at the 12th Floor Screening Room of the Benilde Design + Arts Campus, 950 Pablo Ocampo St., Malate, Manila. Registration is available at tinyurl.com/2026Lagim and is open to students of other colleges and universities. Capacity is limited to 150 registrants per day.
Megaworld malls hold Halloween events
MEGAWORLD’s lineup of Halloween-themed events continues this week. At Three Central Mall in Makati on Oct. 28 at 4 p.m., children can collect their passports before joining a parade across the mall’s ground and second floors. On Oct. 30, Forbes Town Road in Taguig will transform into a lively Halloween hangout from 4 to 11 p.m., with drink stations, activity booths, and live music. Over at Festive Walk Iloilo, a Festival de los Muertos will be held on Oct. 31, with a Halloween parade, a trick-or-treat adventure, a magic show, and an interactive balloon performance. Then, Alabang West Parade comes alive at 4 p.m. on Oct. 31 with Candyland Halloween, where children can join in parades, festive face painting, and trick-or-treating. Finally, Megaworld Cinemas is inviting moviegoers to experience FEAR FACTORY: Horror Film Festival, happening from Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, featuring five horror titles — The Invisible Half, V/H/S/Halloween, Madeline’s Curse, Maligno, and The Legend.
Robinsons malls get spooky
AT Robinsons Malls, kids can come dressed as their favorite spooky characters and join Trick or Treat activities. Young creatives can also get hands-on learning at RAcademy: Arts & Crafts branches, where they can explore their imagination through Halloween-inspired activities. Participating malls will also have a Halloween Petstival, a pet-friendly festivity filled with pet talks, games, and giveaways, plus a Pet & Owner Costume Parade. Finally, at Robinsons Movieworld, the Horrorkada Film Fest brings classic blockbuster horror films to the big screen from Oct. 28 to Nov. 3. The lineup includes The Sixth Sense, The Silence of the Lambs, and The People Under the Stars.
SHANNi releases EP with launch party
YOUNG artist SHANNi has dropped a new EP titled Cure For Loneliness via Sony Music Entertainment. The five-track release finds her moving seamlessly between Manila Sound, soft rock, sunshine pop, jazz, and indie pop, bringing a more sophisticated touch to songwriting and arrangement. Across five tracks, SHANNi explores the complexities of love and human connection. She co-produced it with Max Cinco, supported by recording engineer Marcus Mababangloob of Meadowlark Productions, digital mixing engineer Jet Francisco of Wild Grass Studio, and analog mastering engineer Marco de Leon of Mix Machine Analog. An EP launch party will take place at Theodore Events Place in Marikina City on Oct. 31, 6 p.m.
CCP Channel expands selection of plays, films, live concerts
THE CCP Channel has expanded its collection this October with performance excerpts of CCP Classics, films from the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, finalists from the Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, and select productions from the Virgin Labfest (VLF). Now available from VLF 13: Wagas is Sari Saysay’s Ang Bata Sa Bus Stop. Isang Gabing Ang Buwan Ay Hila-hila Ng Gula-gulanit Na Ulap by playwright Ryan Machado and director Paolo O’Hara. From VLF 15, Titibok-tibok also makes the October lineup. Cinemalaya full-length films added on the site include Jon Steffan Ballesteros’ Colorum (2009), Ronald Espinosa Batallones’ Batsoy (2022), and Kenneth De la Cruz’s Bulawan Nga USA (2023). The Philippine Madrigal Singers’ MADZ Goes Pop!!! concert and Ballet Philippines’ 1999 production of Snow White are also now on the platform.
Rare books at new Big Bad Wolf fair
RARE, signed London releases capped at just 500 copies worldwide are officially landing in the Philippines, as the Big Bad Wolf book fair returns from Nov. 5-18 at the 5th Floor, Park Triangle Mall, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Big Bad Wolf is bringing London’s prestigious Goldsboro Books to the Philippines for the very first time. Readers can look forward to exclusive numbered print runs, sprayed edges, and author signatures — including Jeffrey Archer’s final novel Adam & Eve, Madeline Cash’s Lost Lambs, and Jiyoung Han’s Honey in the Wound. In addition to these, the fair offers deals with prices up to 95% off, with some books selling for as low as P60. There will also be instant rebates of up to P500 on qualifying single receipts. Plus there will be a raffle with prizes including a MacBook Neo 13-inch, gold bars, and vouchers.
Apl.de.Ap reps PHL heritage in new EP
GLOBAL music icon Apl.de.Ap has returned to his roots with the release of his new EP under GMA Music entitled PPP. Standing for “Power to the Pilipino People,” the three-track EP marks a deeply personal chapter in Apl’s journey as an artist, serving as a love letter, a rallying cry, and a testament of devotion to his home country. One of its singles is “Why,” a collaboration between Apl and OPM rockstar Bamboo. Another is “Pinoy United,” featuring the King of Moro Songs, Datu Khomeini. PPP is out now on all digital music streaming platforms nationwide.
LISA’s EP out now
RAPPER, singer, and dancer LISA has released her EP PRESS PLAY via LLOUD Co./RCA Records. The six-track project is created with a movie in mind, so fans can sit down, and “press play.” Alongside the EP, she has released the music video for the focus track, “Tarantino,” which follows LISA’s action-packed journey through a hotel to deliver a note to her favorite director, Quentin Tarantino. PRESS PLAY includes the previously released single “SaWaDiKa,” referring to the Thai greeting for “hello.” Its accompanying music video was shot in the pop star’s native Bangkok, with the single itself debuting at #69 on the Billboard Hot 100, her highest so far on the chart. PRESS PLAY is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.
Offshore Music marks decade with concert
INDEPENDENT music label Offshore Music has announced that it is celebrating its 10th anniversary with Offshore Music Turns 10: A Decade of Good Noise, happening on Nov. 21 at 123 Block in Mandaluyong City. The anniversary lineup features performances from its current roster of acts — ena mori, ALYSON, Ligaya Escueta, neytan, Sexy Jay, and Carousel Casualties — alongside collaborators and previous partners Pinkmen, Apartel, and the funk-jazz fusion band that inspired the label’s beginnings, the Itchyworms. The label will share additional details through its official channels. Tickets to Offshore Music Turns 10: A Decade of Good Noise are available at https://offshoremusic.helixpay.ph.
Prime Video announces season 2 of hit series Carrie
FOLLOWING its debut this month, Prime Video has announced the renewal of Carrie for a second season. From showrunner Mike Flanagan, the series reimagines Stephen King’s iconic story, with Summer H. Howell as Carrie White and Samantha Sloyan as her mother, Margaret White. With the story set to continue beyond the events of Season One, viewers can look forward to more revelations, major character developments, and shocking twists in the next chapter. All eight episodes of Season One are now available exclusively on Prime Video.