2025 Palawan International Choral Festival Unites Regional Choirs and Global Experts in Musical Celebration

PUERTO PRINCESA, PHILIPPINES — The 2025 Palawan International Choral Festival, a landmark event in the Philippine choral calendar, will take place from August 13 to 16 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. This prestigious gathering will bring together top regional choirs and internationally acclaimed choral experts in a vibrant celebration of music, culture, and community.

Organized by the National Association of Filipino Choirs, Inc., the festival proudly recognizes the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) as Platinum Sponsor, with generous support from the City Government of Puerto Princesa, the Provincial Government of Palawan, and Robinsons Mall as an official partner venue. Diamond Sponsors include the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Airlines (PAL), and Go Hotels, while Dome Hotel supports the event as Donor Sponsor.

The festival also extends its appreciation to the National Media Association of the Philippines (NMAP Media), a non-profit media organization with numerous members dedicated to promoting and supporting the Palawan International Choral Festival through nationwide media coverage.

Highlighting the festival is an esteemed international panel of jury members and choral experts, led by National Artist for Music Dr. Ramon P. Santos, who will deliver the keynote address, alongside Hon. Jude Acidre, Second Representative of the Tingog Partylist. The panel will feature distinguished professionals from Europe, Asia, and the Americas, who will share their expertise through workshops, adjudications, and discussions on choral artistry and pedagogy.

One of the most anticipated events is the Choir Competition, where outstanding regional choirs from CARAGA, MIMAROPA, CALABARZON, BICOL, and the National Capital Region (NCR) will compete for top honors. These award-winning ensembles have undergone rigorous screening and are poised to showcase the finest in Filipino choral performance on an international stage.

“The Palawan International Choral Festival is more than a competition—it is a gathering of voices and visions,” said the organizers. “It celebrates harmony, excellence, and collaboration across borders, while affirming Palawan’s place as a cultural and musical destination of global significance.”

For  inquiries, please contact:

National Association of Filipino Choirs, Inc.

Email: filipinochoirs@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nafciofficial

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MOA- Signing Between SKNN by Ben Cao Philippines and Ben Cao Xiu Fu Kunming China

 

August 2, 2025 marked the collaboration of SKNN -Ben Cao Philippines and Ben Cao Xiu Fu Kunming China with the signing of Memorandum of Agreement at Club Filipino, Greenhills San Juan City Metro Manila. 

These change makers will be enhancing the skin health through the usage of herbal restoration as models of aesthetic and wellness with reliable, quality, and standardized products and health care services.

SKNN and Ben Cao Philippines

A practitoner in aesthetic wellness integrating western and eastern medicine.

Ben Cao Xiu Fu Kunming is an Institution back up by the eastern medicinal practice.

The successful signing included the following Dra. Elinor Roquel, Mr. Patrick Roquel, Mr. Jaime Koa, Mr. Santos Bayle, Mr. Tang Yuntao, Ms, Yolly Reyes 

These disruptors would be captivating those looking for natural herbal enhancement of one's beauty and wellness.

COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia "Hands On" at the Mock Elections for 2025 BARMM Parliamentary Polls

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) successfully conducted mock elections on July 26, 2025, in preparation for the 2025 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections. The activity took place in Marawi City and Butig in Lanao del Sur, and in Bongao and Simunul in Tawi-Tawi. Voting began at 7:00AM and closed at 10:00AM, with all Certificates of Canvass received by 11:07AM

COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia, Commissioner Aimee P. Ferolino, Commissioner-in-Charge of the BARMM elections, and other senior officials personally oversaw the mock voting process. Election stakeholders, including media observers, witnessed the smooth implementation of voting, transmission, and canvassing procedures.

To promote transparency, a Monitoring Center was set up at the Chairman’s Hall, Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila, where interested parties could follow the proceedings in real-time.

The mock elections served as a preparatory exercise for the first BARMM Parliamentary Elections scheduled on October 13, 2025. The simulation aimed to identify areas for improvement and help ensure efficient and credible elections.

Photos | COMELEC

COMELEC with Chairman George Erwin Mojica Garcia Begins Voter Registration for 2025 Barangay and SK Elections

Intramuros, Manila — On August 1, 2025, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), led by Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia, officially began the nationwide voter registration for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections scheduled on December 1, 2025. 

Registration centers, including Offices of Election Officer, satellite sites, and Special Register Anywhere/Anytime Program (SRAP) locations in the National Capital Region, drew large turnouts despite it being a weekday.

COMELEC reported a favorable turnout on the first day, indicating strong public interest in participating in the electoral process. The agency projected an increase of one million new registrants during the 10-day period, with around 500,000 expected to come from youth voters aged 15 to 17. 

The registration period runs from August 1 to 10, 2025. The SRAP in NCR is available until August 7 at designated locations, including the COMELEC Main Office’s Chairman’s Hall at Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros.

COMELEC thanked early registrants and encouraged others to follow suit. The commission reminded the public: “Magparehistro para makaboto — sa 2025 Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, KAISA KA!”

Photos | COMELEC

COMELEC headed by Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia Holds Risk Management Workshop for 2025 Barangay, SK Elections

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) conducted a three-day Risk Management Capacity Training and Workshop from July 16 to 18, 2025, at The Heritage Hotel in Pasay City. COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia and Commissioner Rey E. Bulay led the activity, which aimed to boost internal readiness for the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). The workshop gathered officials and members from various departments and working committees.

Commissioner Rey E. Bulay, who leads the 2025 BSKE, opened the event by stressing the importance of readiness regardless of whether the elections proceed as scheduled. COMELEC Chair George Erwin M. Garcia added, “Lahat ng mga ginagawa natin ay parte ng paghahanda sa major event. Kung handa ka, matuloy man ang eleksyon [o hindi], wala tayong problema.”

Participants revisited Resolution No. 10924, the codified guidelines for the BSKE, and reviewed the updated election timeline. The sessions included scenario planning and discussions on risks such as logistical issues, security concerns, disinformation, and natural disasters. Experts from the Department of Science and Technology and the Nutrition Research Institute contributed to sessions on risk assessment and strategy development.

The workshop supported COMELEC’s commitment to proactive and transparent election management. It reinforced institutional readiness and promoted collaboration to ensure the integrity of the upcoming elections.

Photos | COMELEC