Off her successful thrust atop the pantheon of global drag superstars birthed by the million-dollar empire by drag goddess, RuPaul, herself, Manila Luzon, one of the most recognizable drag artists ever to graduate from the phenomenal, and seminal Drag Race franchise, heads on to work on what she refers as her most important career decision of late—a drag pageant of Filipinos, by Filipinos, and for Filipinos. Drag Den Philippines in its launch has already triumphed in bringing unadulterated Filipino drag artistry, with homegrown and nurtured sensibilities to the world stage—void of any preconceived notions of what a drag reality show is and could be. Manila Luzon, the host, recording artist, creative entrepreneur, and icon takes pride in putting on this titanic role as global ambassador of the Filipino drag arts, while marveling on her newfound connection to her roots and, in doing so, paving the way for young drag artists to harness their rightful time to celebrate and champion drag, as an art form, advocacy, and an unrelenting statement now, more than ever.

Much like the rest of the world in the midst of a raging pandemic, there was a point where Ruru Madrid's career trajectory—rather, his life as a young person supposedly brimming with hope, with a wealth of things to cross off his creative bucket list—got inevitably halted and stuck in limbo. But it is in introspection and in recalibrating his ethos as an artist two long years of an uncertain pause in the business and from life as he knew of it that Madrid saw himself slowly but more carefully evolved not just in his mastery of his craft but more importantly in his sense of self. For these reasons alone, Madrid, few days shy of turning 25 and off his recent and simultaneous forays in primetime television, keeps on shining on and leading the charge with such sweet disposition.

Off his rookie years taking on roles that commanded a second look with his refreshing verve and acting depth, we have seen the arrival and eventual ascent to leading man status of young, emerging actor Kelvin Miranda. At 23, Miranda has transitioned from uncredited bit roles, to historic firsts ("Dead Kids"), and those that color outside the lines ("Loving Miss Bridgette"), easily becoming one of GMA Network's most celebrated young actors who continue to take flight and stake his claim as the next big thing in entertainment.

In a world of uniformity and predictability, being unconventional often leads to rejection and alienation. But O/C Records has taken the strangeness that the world does not want and developed it, creating a space where incredible skills are valued and odd creatures are born and nurtured.

With the unprecedented halt brought by the pandemic, now more than ever, streaming, led by kumu brought not only a new avenue for entertainment and livelihood to creators, but more importantly, a sense of respite and reprieve from the uncertainty of an otherwise bleak "new normal". Led by hotelier turned BPO professional and now streamer Lloyd Garcia , for The Breakthrough Issue, we worked with the leading social media platform to celebrate young, emerging streamers who rose through the ranks, and have found a new, nurturing stage to showcase their charm, candor, and talent, and help foster a strong community of, for, and by Filipinos.

Barely a year since its entry in the PPop scene, dominated by predecessors who have laid the foundation for the genre’s mold-breaking meteoric rise, the young five-member “Monster Rookies”, VXON, with C13, Sam, Patrick, Vince, and Franz, have already pocketed one solid hit after another. For the New Agenda issue, editor Leo Balante zooms in on the emerging homegrown musical talent, to make a declaration on the young group's inevitable ascent atop the pantheon of PPop greats—and of original Filipino music as a whole.

For American duo, joan, the hunt and discovery for the pair's defining sound is not a new thing. As the indie-pop band puts it, theirs is a sonic exploration that has long evolved from their creative partnership that dates all the way back in college leading to now, two years in the midst of a pandemic—having recently released a two new EPs "hi" and "bye" by the tail-end of 2021. Hopeful to own an art that, on a deeper level, is true to themselves, the duo is raring to share their new ventures with their growing audience as the world slowly opens up and their artistry continues to break new ground and evolve.