Metroscene Mag - For the young, empowered & creative

Actors are often asked to become someone else. To borrow another person’s voice, carry their fears, understand their choices, and, for a moment, live inside a life that is not their own. But perhaps the most important part of acting is not the ability to pretend—it is the willingness to understand. For Elijah Canlas, that seems to be one of the most meaningful things about being an artist. His career has been built on playing characters from different walks of Filipino life, but rather than simply treating each role as another performance, he allows every character to teach him something about the people—and the world—around him.

An actor can study a script, research a character, and learn every detail of the world they are about to enter. But there are some things that cannot be found on a page. To portray another person truthfully requires more than performance. It requires an actor to remain connected to the people and realities that exist beyond the frame—to listen, to observe, to understand, and to recognize that a character’s experience cannot always be reduced to what is written in a script. For Nour Hooshmand, staying grounded is part of that responsibility. Before becoming the actress audiences know today, Hooshmand was already learning how to understand stories from different sides of the room. It was through theater that she developed an early understanding of acting as something collaborative—an art that asks not only what a character says, but why they say it, what shaped them, and how their story exists within a larger world. Hooshmand eventually moved from the stage into film, finding a particula...

Being unafraid to be different is also about making space for people who see a little bit of themselves in you. For Sassa Gurl, that’s something she’s been doing for quite some time now—simply by being herself. Before the polished sets, film roles, music releases, and millions of followers, there was an Android phone, a malfunctioning ring light, and a persona that refused to become more palatable just to fit in. There was humor, “kanal” energy, childhood nostalgia, Jejemon culture, and an instinct to turn everyday Filipino experiences into something people could laugh about. What began as a way of being herself eventually became a way for other people to see themselves, too. But visibility, for Sassa, is not the destination. The starting point  Before becoming the popular “kanal” internet personality, Sassa Gurl’s path into the industry was anything but straightforward. After studying Communication at Far Eastern University, she found an audience during the pandemic through TikTok...

In a world full of stories waiting to be told, Ian Pangilinan has found himself exploring different ways of telling them. His career began in theater, with roles in productions including Rent , Spring Awakening , Reasons To Be Pretty , and Tabing Ilog . In 2020, he made the leap to the screen as Jose Vladimir “Vlad” Austria in the hit BL series Gaya Sa Pelikula , marking his breakthrough to wider audiences. Since then, Pangilinan has appeared in films and television projects including Niña Niño , Love in 40 Days , K-Love , Family Matters , and Five Breakups and a Romance . His work earned him a New Movie Actor of the Year nomination and a Movie Ensemble Acting of the Year win at the 39th PMPC Star Awards for Movies in 2024. In 2026, he appeared in The Loved One as Edward. Despite his growing presence on screen, he continues to return to theater, most recently playing Mark Cohen in Rent and Chris Abueva in Bar Boys: The Musical in 2025. But acting is only one part of his growing prac...

At an age when most children are still figuring out what they want to be when they grow up, Annika Co is already learning what it means to grow up in front of an audience. The young performer first caught the public’s attention through It’s Showtime ’s Mini Ms. U in 2023, where she emerged as a daily winner and quickly became known for her natural ability to perform and connect with an audience.  What began as a television appearance soon became the beginning of a career. By 2025, she had begun appearing in film projects, including Antoinette Jadaone’s Sunshine , where she starred alongside Maris Racal. The film would become an important part of Co’s growing filmography, eventually earning her nominations for Best Child Performer at the 74th FAMAS Awards , Movie Child Performer of the Year at the 42nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies, and Best Child Actress at the 28th Gawad Pasado. The recognition has continued into 2026. Co received the Outstanding Young Female Artist of the Year aw...

There is a particular kind of uncertainty inside an audition room.  It lives in the space between names being called, in the shuffle of pages, and alongside the heavy silence of sitting among strangers, each carrying a version of themselves they hope someone on the other side of the table will recognize.

Nadine Lustre is officially entering her most fearless era yet—and spoiler alert: she’s not playing it safe. With the release of the official music video for “DONUTS,” Nadine trades soft-hued nostalgia for raw grit, stepping into the role of a warrior princess navigating a lawless and oppressive world. Featuring Black Eyed Peas member and global hip-hop icon Apl.de.Ap , the multi-hyphenate artist is shedding expectations and building a universe entirely her own. “The video connects to the bigger creative direction of the album, which explores transformation, stepping into your power, and becoming more comfortable with who you are,” Nadine shares in an interview . “I wanted that world to feel rooted in being Filipino, with those influences woven into the setting, styling, and imagery in a subtle way.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nadine Lustre (@nadine) For Nadine, true creative control is also about knowing when to bring the right visionaries into ...

BINI ’s latest single “ Blush ” continues to gain momentum worldwide as its catchy choreography catches the attention of artists across the globe, with members of global girl groups ITZY , STAYC, izna, 4EVE, no na, and Say Now putting their own spin on the dance trend . The summery track has become a standout from BINI’s latest era, reaching audiences beyond the Philippines following its first live performance at Coachella . During ITZY’s concert in Manila, member Chaeryeong delighted fans by dancing to “Blush,” showing her own take on the choreography. The moment quickly drew attention from Blooms , who celebrated seeing the K-pop star join the dance trend. STAYC’s Sieun also joined in on the fun with her own “Blush” dance, while izna’s Jeemin likewise showed off her version of the choreography. Thai girl group 4EVE also took on the hot track after fans requested them to do the challenge during one of their livestreams. The dance trend has since reached even more international acts, ...

After years of exploring sound, identity, ambition, and the many directions an artist can take, James Reid arrives at a place that feels less like a destination and more like a state of being safe and sound with his third studio album, “Honey, I'm Home,” released under Sony Music Entertainment . The new record treats home not as a sanctuary one spends a lifetime searching for, but as a feeling of being fully at peace with who you are and the people you choose to share your life with. “Honey, I’m Home is obviously something you say when you walk through the door, but for me the idea of home became much bigger than a physical place,” Reid explains. “I think I spent a lot of my life looking for something, chasing success, experiences, relationships, trying to become a certain version of myself. And this project came from realizing that maybe home isn’t a place you eventually arrive at. It’s that feeling of being completely present and comfortable with where you are, who you are, and ...