Arts & Culture
Revelry of the Visayan People: Sinulog
In other parts of the Visayas, the Sinulog is also widely-celebrated in different ways.

In Cebu, the holiday season doesn’t end with celebrating the beginning of a new year. It stretches throughout the whole month of January for the annual Sinulog Festival, a celebration in honor of Cebu’s patron saint, Señor Santo Niño. It’s known for the colorfully-themed dancing and street parade, and is something that’s inherently Cebuano. But, did you know that in other parts of the Visayas, Sinulog is also widely celebrated?
Aside from Cebu, there are two places that celebrate Sinulog with their own touch of culture. These festivals are Aklan’s Ati-atihan Festival and Ilo-ilo City’s Dinagyang Festival. Let’s take a look at how these two celebrate the Sinulog in their own ways.
Ati-atihan Festival of Aklan, Panay Island
Although Cebu is widely known for its grander take of Sinulog, Kalibo-Aklan’s Ati-atihan Festival is said to be have inspired the Sinulog, and is dubbed as the “Mother of All Philippine Festivities”.
A version of its legend tells the story of an unnamed fisherman of Barangay Naile in the western part of the province who went to fish at the river, but he caught a piece of wood instead of fish. He tried to throw the piece of wood away, but it returned repeatedly to his net. He decided to bring the wood and used it as fuel to cook his meals. As the fisherman and his wife slept, they heard a beating sound nearby. When they looked where the sound came from, they found the wood with a carving of a child.
Seeing this, the fishermen decided to put it at their altar. The family received blessings from there, including bountiful catches. A few weeks went by and the fisherman decided to ask a priest for advice, and the priest told him to place the wood at the Ibajay Parish. Several days later, the residents wondered why the piece of wood always disappear and repeatedly found on top of the fisherman’s house. The residents of Ibajay interpreted this incident as a call for them to seek forgiveness of their sins, and part of their penance is to blacken their faces and body with coal and to dress in rags. After doing this, the wood no longer left the parish.
In June 11, 1871, a Kalibo priest signed a testament with businessmen in town to institutionalize the holding of the annual Kalibo Santo Nino Ati-atihan Festival. During those times, the tradition of its revelry was held every noon as a sign of penance while dancing in the streets. The National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) named the Kalibo Santo Niño Ati-atihan Festival as “The Mother of Philippine Festivals.”
Now, the phrase “Hala Bira! Pwera Pasma!” is associated with the Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Festival as the revelers and devotees of some painted in coal, dancing to the beat of the drums while carrying their variations of baby Jesus statues. Festivities happen all over the town from morning to the wee hours of the next morning, rain or shine.
Dinagyang Festival of Ilo-ilo City
The word “dinagyang” was coined by Ilonggo writer and broadcaster Pacifico Sudario in 1977, and means “merry making”. It’s Ilo-ilo’s version of the Ati-atihan Festival. Started in 1968, a replica of the original image of the Santo Nino from Cebu was brought to Ilo-ilo by Fr. Sulpicio Enderez of Cebu as a gift to the Parish of San Jose, accompanied with several Cebuano devotees and received by the Ilonggos at the Mandurriao Airport.
The festival had 4 participating tribes then, but as the celebrations improved through the years, the number of groups and tribes participating increased as well. Like the Aklan celebration, the audience are encouraged to dance with the parade and join the participants, giving them room to forget their frustrations and bind faith with the Santo Nino.
It was also in 1977 where the government ordered the various regions of the Philippines to come up with festivals that could boost the tourism and development. Ilo-ilo CIty readily adapted Ati-atihan as its project as its festival reflects the Illonggo’s artistry, craftsmanship and creativity through their dances and costumes.
Since the 16th century, the great devotion to the Santo Niño in the Philippines had spread through the Visayas. Many people make their yearly journey to churches to join the procession and festivals, and this signifies the rejection of former animist beliefs. It transcends generation and it has improved the socio-cultural aspect of the region. There’s no topping the grandest festival called Sinulog.
Arts & Culture
Queer Coding in Cinema: The Best Shows to Binge for Pride Month 2025

compiled by Edge Javier
As Pride Month 2025 goes into full swing, the best way to celebrate LGBTQIA+ voices is with a binge-worthy lineup of shows that center queer stories, joy, love, resilience — and yes, of course, drama. From groundbreaking recent series to must-watch staples and fan favorites, here are the top shows to stream this June that reflect the vibrant spectrum of the queer-coded experience.
1. Heartstopper – Season 3 (Netflix)
Nick and Charlie are back, and the coming-of-age sweetness is stronger than ever. Season 3 explores deeper emotional territory while keeping the wholesome tone fans adore. Expect more queer joy, nuanced relationships, and tearjerker moments that feel like a warm hug.
2. Drag Me to Dinner (Hulu)
Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, this chaotic culinary competition pairs drag duos in a battle to throw the most fabulous themed dinner party. With outrageous challenges, surprise twists, and plenty of camp, queens serve up equal parts food, flair, and fierce shade. It’s RuPaul meets Top Chef—served with a side of sequins.
3. Queer Planet (Apple TV+)
Hosted by Janelle Monáe, this visually stunning docuseries dives into queerness in the animal kingdom and parallels in human identities. It’s smart, groundbreaking, and perfect for those who want to feel seen—and informed.
4. Fellow Travelers (Paramount+)
This period romance-drama set during the Lavender Scare continues to grip audiences with its tragic beauty and sharp historical insight. If you missed Season 1, now is the perfect time to catch up before the highly anticipated Season 2 lands later this year.
5. The Buccaneers – Season 2 (Apple TV+)
The unapologetically queer period drama returns with more scandal, sapphic yearning, and feminist rebellion among American heiresses navigating high society in 1870s London. Think Bridgerton, but with more edge and better sapphic representation.
6. Our Flag Means Death – The Finale Special (Max)
This fan-favorite pirate rom-com wraps up with a one-hour finale special airing this June. Whether you’re rewatching from the start or jumping into the last hurrah, this show remains a shining example of queer love told with heart and humor.
7. This Is Me Now… The Series (Prime Video)
Following Jennifer Lopez’s genre-blurring film-musical hybrid, the series version delves into themes of love, identity, and self-acceptance, and features cameos by queer icons and allies. It’s campy, messy, and made for Pride Month mood-boosting.
8. Sort Of – Final Season (Max)
This critically acclaimed dramedy about a gender-fluid millennial navigating love, grief, and identity in Toronto comes to a close with an emotionally rich final season. A thoughtful and often hilarious story that never loses its beating heart.
9. Red, White & Royal Blue – Limited Series (Prime Video)
After the hit film adaptation, the beloved queer romance returns in a serialized format, expanding on Alex and Henry’s story with new twists and deeper character arcs. It’s romantic escapism, elevated.
10. POSE: The Legacy (FX/Hulu)
This documentary miniseries honors the cultural legacy of POSE and the real-life ballroom legends who inspired it. Featuring interviews with cast, creators, and icons from the scene, it’s a must-watch tribute to queer history and resilience.
Whether you’re looking for laughter, tears, romance, or revolution, these Pride Month picks for 2025 offer it all—while honoring the complexity and beauty of LGBTQIA+ lives. So press play, turn up the volume, and let queer stories shine this June and beyond. Happy Pride! 🏳️🌈
Arts & Culture
Chaos and Clarity: Zen Aesthetic in Oj Hofer’s Art

by Jing Ramos |
Oj Hofer, our fashion contributing editor, is a Fine Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines. Though he began painting at the age of eight, his artistic journey took a transformative turn in 2013. While volunteering as a costume designer for Siddhartha: The Musical, he encountered Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-Stroke Calligraphy, sparking a deep devotion to Japanese sumi-e painting and kanji calligraphy. Over the years, he refined his craft, using his art to share the Dharma through exhibitions while supporting the Hsing Yun Educational Foundation. In 2022, his spiritual path deepened at Nan Tien University, where he embraced Zen and Humanistic Buddhism, shaping his artistic philosophy.

“Plum Blossoms in Moonlight.” Serigraphy on abaca.
In his recent works, Hofer merges traditional calligraphy with serigraphy, drawing inspiration from his friend Charles Lahti—an internationally recognized New York-based painter and printmaker. Lahti, known for his collaborations with post-war American artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Donald Judd, Andy Warhol, and LeRoy Neiman, introduced Hofer to silkscreen techniques. Through a workshop Lahti conducted in Cebu—arranged by their mutual friend Greg Urra—Hofer integrated silkscreen into his Zen artworks, particularly those on abaca.

“The Circle of Harmony” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.
Hofer’s cross-disciplinary approach challenges conventional Zen aesthetics. His layered paintings on abaca may seem far from tranquil at first glance, but closer contemplation reveals a meditative core. His serigraph of an Enso circle, for example, initially appears chaotic, filled with Tang Dynasty poetry and overlapping, repetitive forms. Yet, by focusing on a single calligraphic element, the viewer experiences a moment of clarity—a glimpse of awakening within the visual complexity.

“Monkey Mind” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.
Even more engaging is his diptych Monkey Mind. At odds with the traditional Zen emphasis on negative space, this piece is deliberately busy, reflecting the restless nature of the mind. A distracted viewer may struggle to find a focal point, but one attuned to emptiness and presence will perceive clarity amidst the seeming disarray.

Ink and intention—creating calligraphy in support of one of my advocacies.
By fusing Zen philosophy with the discipline of serigraphy, Hofer invites his audience to look beyond surface impressions and discover stillness within movement, balance within complexity. His art does not merely depict Zen—it embodies the paradoxes at its core, offering a path to mindfulness through the act of seeing and the experience of doing.
Arts & Culture
What is Sappia? The Rice Myth Goddess of Bohol Who Helped Feed the People During a Great Famine

by Emma Gomez
The story began when the people of Bohol started to experience hunger and famine. All the livestocks were inedible and the fields were dried out leaving only weeds planted on the ground. The people prayed to the goddess of mercy, Sappia, to ask for food.

Sappia, the rice myth goddess of Bohol
Sappia, from the heavens, heard the cries of the people. She saw the dense population of weeds and offered to help them. Sappia thought of nourishing the weeds to be edible and healthy for the people of Bohol. Straightaway, she sprinkled the weed with milk from her bossom. She emptied each breast until blood came out. Before she left, she whispered to the weeds that they may be nourished and be able to feed the people.
When harvest season came, the people of Bohol quickly gathered the nourished weeds. They observed that the ones sprinkled with milk were white, while the other were red. They called the new plant rice and they replanted these in honor of Sappia, and for the people to devour.
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