MaArte at The Pen — Filipino Craftsmanship Fair

MaArte at The Pen is being held at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City through Aug. 16, open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. across various floors of the hotel. Themed "Karnabal," the fair showcases vibrant Filipino craftsmanship from over 200 makers. Organized by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, MaArte has grown into one of the country's premier craft fairs, providing independent artisans and small studios a high-profile retail platform alongside established heritage brands. Admission is free, and the event serves as a fundraiser benefiting the National Museum and its network.

Tagay Para Sa Ex — A Play by Boxstage Manila

Boxstage Manila presents Tagay Para Sa Ex, a play set during a drinking session among five friends who question their own emotional maturity, confront differing moral views, and reflect on choices made in love and life. Written and directed by Dudz Teraña, the cast includes Jonas Cunanan, Buknoy Gonzales, Brigitta Marilla, Karyl Oliva, RB Pascua, Jel Tarun, Kloren Flores, Kobie Hachero, and AJ Sison, alternating in the roles. Performances are scheduled on Aug. 13, 15, and 22, and Sept. 5, at 3 and 7 p.m. at the FEU Center for the Arts Black Box Studio, Far Eastern University Manila. Tickets are priced at P800 and P500 via Ticket2Me.

QCTAA Travel Expo 2026 at Gateway Mall 2

The QCTAA Travel Expo 2026 runs from Aug. 14 to 16 at the Quantum Skyview, Gateway Mall 2. Organized by the Quezon City Travel Agencies Association, Inc., the three-day expo offers Quezon City residents and non-residents exclusive discounts on hotel, airfare, and tour packages, along with promotions on travel essentials and luggage. The expo arrives during a period of continued growth in Philippine domestic and outbound tourism, giving consumers an opportunity to book ahead for the upcoming holiday and peak travel seasons.

Mga Binago ng Araw — A Play with Music

Mad Child Productions presents Guelan Varela-Luarca's Mga Binago ng Araw, described as "a play with music" and a "return to youth." Directed by Monty Uy, the production stars Jam Binay and Zoë de Ocampo, with a cast that includes Vino Mabalot, Maliana Beran, Francesca Dela Cruz, and Rafael Jimenez. Performances are on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.; Aug. 15, 22, and 23 at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Aug. 16 at 2 p.m., at the Old Communications Black Box Theater, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City. Tickets cost P1,700.

Philippine Readers and Writers Festival

A three-day celebration of books, creativity, and storytelling takes place from Aug. 14 to 16 at the NBS Building, Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City. The Philippine Readers and Writers Festival will feature 40 events, including book talks, exclusive book signings, panel discussions, skill-building workshops, and manuscript review opportunities. Books will be available at a 20% discount. For more details, visit

Catalina Africa — Live Performance at Silverlens

Silverlens presents a live performance by Catalina Africa within her exhibition mirrors, merging at Silverlens Manila on Aug. 15 at 4 p.m. One of the Philippines' leading contemporary art galleries with a significant international profile, Silverlens regularly mounts exhibitions that bridge Manila's art scene with global audiences. In mirrors, merging, Africa's latest body of work navigates the inner landscape of transformation. Her paintings evoke liminal spaces where memory, perception, and the natural world dissolve into one another, inviting viewers to inhabit shifting states of becoming. The exhibit runs until Aug. 22.

Using a violin and looper pedal, Africa extends these ideas into the auditory realm, composing a live soundscape that echoes the exhibition's themes of threshold and transformation. Layering strings and repetition, the performance offers a multisensory encounter where painting and sound converge. Visitors are requested to RSVP via frontdesk@silverlensgalleries.com.

People, Places & Things — Sandbox Collective Staged Reading

The Sandbox Collective presents a staged reading of Duncan Macmillan's People, Places & Things, marking the directorial debut of artistic director Sab Jose. Macmillan's play, which premiered at the National Theatre in London to critical acclaim, is widely regarded as one of the most compelling contemporary English-language works on addiction and recovery. The Sandbox Collective, known for staging bold and socially resonant productions, follows a successful run of its Lungs and Every Brilliant Thing with this latest entry in its Macmillan programming. The play follows a successful actress whose life unravels as she seeks treatment for addiction at a rehabilitation center. Bela Padilla and Gabby Padilla alternate in the lead role. The cast also includes Jake Cuenca, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Audie Gemora, Robbie Guevara, Reb Atadero, Brian Sy, Mariella Laurel, Pamela Imperial, Miel Abong, and Salve Villarosa van Schoonhoven. Performances are on Aug. 15 and 16 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. at The Black Box, Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Center, Makati.

Korean Sound — National Orchestra of Korea Youth Concert

The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines presents Korean Sound on Aug. 15 at the BGC Arts Center in Taguig City. The special performance features young artists from the National Orchestra of Korea's Youth Educational Group, uniting the enduring beauty of Korean traditional music with its evolution through contemporary artistry. The concert is part of ongoing cultural exchange initiatives between the Philippines and South Korea, two countries with deepening ties across entertainment, education, and the arts. The concert is free, with two shows at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Limited slots are available by signing up at bit.ly/KoreanSoundRegistration.

Orchestra of the Filipino Youth — Music for a Regenerative Future

The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) will hold a major fundraising concert, Music for a Regenerative Future, on Aug. 16 at The Proscenium Theater, Rockwell, Makati City. A flagship program of Ang Misyon Inc., the OFY provides free music education and instruments to talented children from underserved communities, modeled on the El Sistema approach to social change through orchestral training. Under the baton of Gerard Salonga, the program celebrates nature, sustainability, and the shared responsibility to protect and regenerate the world.

The repertoire opens with Antonino Buenaventura's By the Hillside, a nostalgic portrait of the Philippine countryside, followed by Takashi Yoshimatsu's And Birds Are Still..., a contemplative work inspired by birdsong and nature's resilience. Featured soloist Daniel Asis, a 16-year-old pianist, will perform George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. The evening culminates with Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Pastoral, a tribute to the beauty, serenity, and restorative power of the countryside. Tickets, available via Ticket2Me (), are priced from P500 to P2,000.

Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival — 22nd Edition

The 22nd edition of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival continues screening full-length and short films at the Shangri-La Plaza mall in Mandaluyong City through Aug. 18. Launched in 2005 by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Cinemalaya has become the country's most prominent showcase for independent filmmaking, having helped launch the careers of numerous directors and performers now central to Philippine cinema. Themed "Reel Reflections," the festival features nine full-length films and 10 short features in competition, along with talkbacks, book launches, and the Philippine Premiere section showcasing newly made films.

Running concurrently at Shangri-La Plaza's Red Carpet Cinemas until Aug. 15 is the 38th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video — Southeast Asia's longest-running independent film competition. The competition showcases works across Short Feature/Narrative, Experimental, Documentary, and Animation categories. Tickets for Cinemalaya films cost P350, while Gawad Alternatibong screenings are free. For more details, visit the CCP and Cinemalaya websites and social media pages.

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 4 — PETA's Stage Adaptation

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) presents Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sht! It's Live sa Cheter!*, running until Aug. 16 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. Founded in 1967, PETA is one of the Philippines' pioneering theater organizations, known for decades of socially engaged original Filipino-language works. Showtimes are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., with additional Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

The franchise began with a film starring comic Eugene Domingo as a heightened version of herself, skewering the indie movie scene. It was followed by another film and a hit series, all starring Ms. Domingo. She returns for the fourth installment — this time a stage play — examining the messy, hilarious, and painful process of making theater in the Philippines today. The cast also features Meann Espinosa, Stella Cañete-Mendoza, Andoy Ranay, JC Santos, Melvin Lee, Marlon Rivera (who directed the first three installments), and Joshua Lim So. Directed by Maribel Legarda. Tickets, available via TicketWorld, range from P1,800 to P3,500.

Ortigas Malls' Kidtopia Mini Stations

Kidtopia Mini Stations combine play and learning at GH Mall (until Aug. 31) and Estancia (until Sept. 30). The interactive experience features a Kid Sensory Station and Mini Competition Stations where children can play, learn, and make new friends. Shoppers must present a P3,000 single receipt to gain access. Children receive a Kids Passport to collect stamps and enjoy rewards with each visit.

Printmaking Workshops at The Metropolitan Museum of Manila

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The M) is holding printmaking workshops every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through November. Designed for beginners and experienced makers alike (ages 12 and above), the hands-on sessions introduce a range of techniques while encouraging participants to create original prints and experiment with color and editions.

The workshops are led by printmakers Ambie Abaño, Henrielle Baltazar Pagkaliwangan, Jone Sibugan, and Anton Villaruel. Registration is still open. For inquiries, contact The M's Education Officer, Pat Zulueta, at pat.zulueta@metmuseummanila.org. The Metropolitan Museum of Manila is located at the MK Tan Center, 30th St., BGC, Taguig. Hours: Tuesdays to Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed on public holidays).

Mitsukoshi Mall 3rd Anniversary Celebrations

Mitsukoshi Mall in BGC, Taguig marks its 3rd anniversary with month-long activities and promotions. A venture bringing the heritage of one of Japan's oldest department store brands to the Philippines, Mitsukoshi has positioned itself as a cultural bridge between Japanese and Filipino communities in BGC since opening. Saturday, Aug. 15, offers the final chance to join the Yukata Dressing Experience, where eligible shoppers receive a complete yukata fitting with hairstyling and light makeup.

On Aug. 29, Co. Collectibles hosts the Summer Paper Theater Activity featuring Ensky's signature Japanese papercraft kits, allowing participants to build layered miniature scenes. On Aug. 30, Pottery Sessions presents Ceramic Wishes: A Tanabata Pottery Experience, where guests can paint, decorate, and personalize ceramic pieces inspired by Japanese and Filipino motifs, or try the pottery wheel.

Throughout August, pop-ups celebrate bilateral craftsmanship: EDYA1929 showcases contemporary fashion made from vintage Japanese kimonos and obis, while Frankie General Store highlights garments crafted from woven Philippine textiles.

El Fuego del Alma — Porvenir's Filipino Adaptation of Tennessee Williams

Theater group Porvenir presents El Fuego del Alma, a Filipino adaptation of Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke, reimagined within a Philippine context. Adapted by playwright Eljay Castro Deldoc and directed by Mark Mirando, the play follows Alma Ortega, a woman caught between spiritual devotion and earthly desire.

Nour Hooshmand, Hariette Mozelle, and Opaline Santos alternate as Alma, with Sandino Martin and Vincent Pajara as Juanito. The cast also includes Madeleine Nicolas, Rolando Inocencio, Sheryll Ceasico, JP Lopez, Janna Cortes, Ingrid Joyce, Johnny Maglinao, and Tristan Bite. Performances run Aug. 21–23 at Sine Pop, 14 St. Mary St., Cubao, Quezon City: Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 4 and 7 p.m. Tickets are P1,800 through Ticket2Me.