Metroscene Mag - For the young, empowered & creative

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...