Katrina

[Katrina @katpima]

Ito namang PBA, hinonor yung Gilas U18 Boys (and rightfully so), pero yung U18 Girls na nag-champion din naman sa SEABA sa Bacolod dedma sila? Ano yan

[RGF @rgfray1]

I laughed…
#CanMNt

[Katrina @katpima]

mvp of this whole tournament should be a goalkeeper tbh

[julia🧃🇪🇬 @dykesintrouble]

“You can only cry for your country scoring”
Me when Curaçao, that i couldn’t pin point on a map until like two hours ago, scored their first goal ever:

[chino 🇵🇭 @drogbaaaa_]

the philippines has done this AT LEAST 15 times come on now

[BR0TD🕊 @bronthedouble]

This guy puts on the most legendary look ever right before a World Cup, only to get some rough scruffy shave for the World Cup.

[Ian Miller @ianmSC]

I don’t know man, it sure seems like this World Cup has been an absolutely massive success after some very angry Europeans complained about nothing for a few weeks

[Katrina @katpima]

EL CUERPO DEL DESEO!!!

[KALYJAY @gyaigyimii]

Today we Ghanaians say a big thank you to Mexico for the great memories 🇬🇭🇲🇽

[Katrina @katpima]

@Alepharena salamat sa buhay mo 🤝

[Katrina @katpima]

We have a BJK Cup squad??? 😱🥹😍

[Dyan Castillejo @DYANCASTILLEJO]

The Billie Jean King Cup Team is ready! Tough conditions in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but they’re fired up to represent the Philippines 💪❤️

[Alex Romero @MilesDei77]

On the Brandon Espiritu and Jether Palomo controversy:

​Let’s be clear: the notion of "pure" Filipino blood is a myth.

History, colonialism, and generations of interbreeding mean that most Filipinos are genetically diverse—and that includes our models, actors, and public figures.

I am not debating their ethnicity; I am debating their commitment to the Philippines.

​My issue lies with our national pageant organizations.

If someone is to wear the "Philippine sash," the standards for representation must go beyond biology.

To truly represent the Filipino people on a global stage, I believe candidates should meet these criteria:

✅️ ​Prioritize Filipino Citizenship:

If they hold dual citizenship, they must have explicitly opted for Filipino citizenship as their primary identity.

✅️​Cultural Fluency: They must be able to speak, write, and understand Filipino/Tagalog.

✅️​National Literacy: They must know the Lupang Hinirang by heart and be able to sing it with genuine intent.

✅️​Exclusive Allegiance: They must not have pledged allegiance to any foreign country.

​Our representatives should be ambassadors of our values, our culture, and our loyalty. We deserve representatives who genuinely love this country—not individuals who act as opportunists, leveraging the Philippines for their own gain while harboring deeper loyalties elsewhere.

​Given their recent behavior, I believe it is time they are stripped of their Philippine sash.

Furthermore, if their actions demonstrate a primary allegiance to a foreign state, I support a congressional review of their citizenship status.

If they have forsaken their loyalty to us, they should be treated accordingly.

[radar PH @radarph_media]

The problem with Brandon Espiritu’s statement is not that it offended people. The problem is that it fundamentally misunderstands why the Philippines is a pageant superpower.

To say that the country “wouldn’t have a chance” on the international stage without half-Filipino candidates ignores decades of pageant history and diminishes the enormous machine that turns Philippine representatives into frontrunners.

The reality is simple: it is not the bloodline that creates a contender.

It is the Philippine sash.

THE PHILIPPINES WAS WINNING LONG BEFORE THE AGE OF ‘HALFIES’

Before mixed-race contestants became common in Philippine pageantry, Filipinos were already conquering the international stage.

The country produced two Miss Universe winners: Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Margarita Moran in 1973. We also produced three Miss International winners: Gemma Cruz in 1964, Aurora Pijuan in 1970, and Melanie Marquez in 1979.

Even when Filipinos were not winning crowns, they were consistently making finals and placing among the best in the world.

The same story happened in male pageantry. During the 2010s, Filipino men dominated global competitions such as Manhunt International and Mister International. These victories were not built on mixed ancestry. They were built on preparation, charisma, and the strength of the Philippine pageant system.

The notion that the Philippines only became competitive because of “halfies” simply collapses under the weight of history.

THE PHILIPPINE SASH IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL IN PAGEANTRY

The modern era of Philippine pageant dominance can be traced to one woman: Venus Raj.

When she finished fourth runner-up at Miss Universe 2010, she reignited a sleeping giant. Her success was followed by Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon, Ariella Arida, and Mary Jean Lastimosa, who restored the country’s reputation as a pageant powerhouse.

Then came the crowns.

Megan Young became the first Filipina Miss World in 2013.

Pia Wurtzbach ended the country’s 42-year Miss Universe drought in 2015.

Kylie Verzosa won Miss International in 2016.

Catriona Gray captured Miss Universe in 2018.

Mutya Datul delivered the Philippines’ first Miss Supranational crown in 2013, later followed by numerous strong placements that cemented the country’s reputation in the competition.

The Philippines also produced Miss Grand International titleholders Emma Mary Tiglao and Christine Juliane Opiaza, the latter assuming the crown following the dethronement of the original winner. The country has likewise amassed multiple Miss Earth crowns through queens such as Karla Henry, Jamie Herrell, Angelia Ong, and Karen Ibasco.

Today, when a Philippine candidate enters an international pageant, organizers, judges, and competitors pay attention.

That is the power of the sash.

THE PHILIPPINE SASH COMES WITH AN ARMY

Many countries send candidates.

The Philippines sends an entire ecosystem.

A Philippine representative enters a competition backed by some of the world’s best pageant trainers. Pasarela coaches refine every step. Communications experts sharpen every answer. Personality mentors prepare candidates for media interviews and pressure situations.

Behind every Philippine delegate is an army of designers, stylists, makeup artists, hairstylists, photographers, videographers, costume makers, creative directors, and branding specialists.

The national costume alone often requires months of planning and execution.

Most countries simply do not have that level of support.

THE FANS ARE PART OF THE FORMULA

No discussion about Philippine pageantry is complete without talking about Filipino pageant fans.

They are among the most passionate in the world.

They create promotional materials. They trend hashtags. They organize online campaigns. They spend on voting platforms. They fly abroad carrying Philippine flags. They pack venues. They make noise.

In some international pageants, Filipino supporters are so visible that they become part of the experience itself.

That kind of support creates momentum and visibility that many contestants from other countries never receive.

THE MONEY AND SUPPORT SYSTEM MATTER

Pageants are expensive.

Gowns cost money. Travel costs money. Styling costs money. Content production costs money.

Philippine candidates often benefit from sponsors, businesses, local government units, pageant organizations, and private supporters willing to invest in their journey.

Many candidates from other countries do not have access to the same resources.

This support system gives Philippine representatives a competitive advantage before they even step onto the stage.

EVEN OUR MOST FAMOUS ‘HALFIES’ KNOW THIS

Pia Wurtzbach knows it.

Catriona Gray knows it.

Megan Young knows it.

None of these women built their success solely on their mixed heritage.

They have repeatedly acknowledged the Filipino mentors, designers, handlers, supporters, and fans who helped shape their victories.

They understood that winning a pageant is never a solo effort.

It is the result of a nation rallying behind a candidate.

THE SASH MAKES THE FRONTRUNNER

This is the truth that Brandon’s statement missed.

An average-looking halfie can become a pageant frontrunner wearing the Philippine sash.

An average-looking full-blooded Filipino can become a pageant frontrunner wearing the Philippine sash.

Because what judges see is not merely a face or a genealogy chart.

They see the reputation of a country that has spent decades building one of the most successful pageant cultures on Earth.

The Philippines was winning before the age of halfies.

The Philippines will continue winning after this controversy fades away.

Because the real advantage was never being a halfie.

The real advantage was carrying the Philippine sash.

#radarPH

[radar PH @radarph_media]

One of the greatest ironies for heritage lovers in the Philippines is that we walk through cities with centuries' worth of colonial and Art Deco history —yet much of it feels completely out of reach.

Unlike our Asian neighbors, who embrace their historical architecture as vital parts of their economy, the Philippines still treats heritage as something confined and inaccessible.

We are told these buildings are being preserved, but in reality, we are still stuck in the confines of museums and heritage hotels.

🗺️ ADAPTIVE REUSE IN SEA NEIGHBORS

To see the opportunities we are missing in heritage tourism, we can look at how other Asian countries handle theirs through adaptive reuse. They realize that for an old building to survive, it needs to be more than just a museum. It must have a functional, sustainable purpose.

In Taipei, the city government formed partnerships linking public heritage sites with private innovators. Take the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, built in 1937 as a state-run tobacco factory. Its vast industrial complex was saved from demolition and opened to the public. Now, it host design expos, indie bookstores, and cafes, thriving because the system welcomed the public.

Hong Kong follows a similar approach, despite having some of the most limited real estate in the world. Tai Kwun, a former colonial police station and prison compound, has been transformed into a large open-air cultural center. Visitors can walk through restored prison cells, enjoy specialty coffee in places once occupied by inmates, and view contemporary art in the central courtyard.

Further south, Malaysia provides a great example of urban survival with George Town, Penang. Instead of freezing its historical core in time, local guidelines allowed the adaptive reuse of its 19th-century Chinese shophouses. Today, these structures function as boutique hotels, artisan workshops, and local coffee shops—forming the foundation of the city's modern tourism economy.

🔒 STRUCTURAL AND CULTURAL PROBLEMS

Heritage gatekeeping in the Philippines can be attributed to both structural and cultural problems.

On the structural side, policies such as the National Cultural Heritage Act impose restrictions on heritage structures—but fall short in providing financial support or tax incentives for their upkeep.

Thus, owners resort to letting their buildings crumble because the government condemns them so that they may reclaim the property.

Some owners are left with little choice but to let the buildings deteriorate—right before the government reclaims these.

In terms of cultural barriers, there is a purist, anti-commercial view among locals: that commercializing a place makes the space less sacred.

But in practice, sustainability depends on pragmatism. If an old building in Binondo cannot be converted to a flexible space like a luxury hotel, restaurant, or office, it risks falling into disuse and eventual decay.

🔑 LIVING PROOF IN MANILA

When critics argue that commercializing history ruins it—or that the public cannot be trusted—they overlook existing examples in Manila.

Look at the First United Building in Escolta, Manila. Built in 1928, this Art Deco landmark could have suffered the same fate as neighboring structures that were abandoned or demolished. Instead, through the progressive vision of its stewards and the creative community, it became a model for adaptive reuse.

By opening its ground floor to HUB: Make Lab, independent coffee shops, artisan spaces, and a community museum, it didn't invite destruction. It invited life. The building became a self-sustaining ecosystem where foot traffic funds preservation. The public has a sense of shared ownership and doesn’t vandalize history but rather protect it.

Vandalism and decay tend to affect abandoned spaces, not active ones. When a building is left dark and padlocked, it invites deterioration. But when it is bright, occupied, and integrated into the community's daily life, the public becomes its natural custodian.

The truth is that tourism and commerce are not enemies of heritage. They help sustain it. Giving an old building a viable purpose provides the resources needed for its upkeep.

The lesson from our Asian neighbors and our own successful pockets of revival is clear: Heritage survives when it remains useful.

We must stop treating our historic buildings like delicate artifacts that will crumble if someone takes a photo or enjoys a drink inside them.

After all, the country’s old buildings have survived world wars, earthquakes, colonial changes, and revolutions. They are resilient. They don’t need to be locked away behind rusty gates to keep them safe.

They need to have those gates swung wide open so that Filipinos can appreciate them, support them, and ultimately, help ensure their survival.

Do you know of any neglected heritage structure in your town that deserves a second life? Let us know in the comments below.

#radarPHLifestyle #radarPH #Heritage

[Chris Kost @chriskost]

Jakarta has made tremendous progress in improving walkability: over 427 km of accessible walkways built over the past decade.

[Jonasi Gomora @shinojetski]

Mmmmmmmdr ça risque d’être la meilleure de l’histoire

Ils ont plus d’une dizaine de stade haut de gamme
Les infrastructures de haut niveau
Le transport et leur trains qui relie tte les villes
Les hôtels l’ambiance
Ils ont limite mm pas besoin d’un gris budget pour préparer

[Analistas APP @SomosAnalistas_]

1.- Tematica vikinga
2.- Uniforme oficial
3.- Jersey de clubes

No ha empezado el Mundial y Noruega ya va ganando 3-0 🇳🇴

[Weyvo 🇨🇷 @SoWeyvo]

avec un logo comme ça là, ça pourrait envoyer de malade

[coco 🥀🌻 @nokaygirl]

i think what the americans don't get is that you cannot treat national football teams like normal people, you have to treat them kind of like diplomats

[Skully 🇵🇭 @ACMCovorbis]

I wanna know about the players that used to play for us like 2 years ago, like sila lyngbo, amin nazari, jesse curran, baldisimo bros, yrick gallantes, dylan de bruycker, what happened to those guys?

[🐸🖤 𒁹pallas 🖤🐸 @amazonmilkfrog]

wasian whose parents are from two different sides of istanbul