Filipino writers and creatives shine in the First Asian Literary Festival in Brussels

By MBrand

Filipino writers and creatives will share the spotlight with their Asian and European counterparts in the first edition of the Asian Literary Festival in central Brussels this weekend, Oct 4-5.

The festival, a brainchild of nomad cultural curator and former journalist Louise Baterna, founder and president of the Philippine Art and Culture Exchange (PACE), will take place this at the historic Galerie Bortier, a gallery of superb architecture once dedicated to ancient editions and second hand books and other publications.

Baterna, who is the festival director, emphasized that this is more than just a literary festival: “Our aim is to show the rich heritage of Asian literature and provide a platform for Asian contemporary voices in the heart of Europe.”

This literary festival reflects the growing vibrancy of Asian literary creation. It will feature award-winning writers, emerging authors, intellectuals, and creatives from Asia and the diaspora. The event’s theme, “Between Worlds: Reviving the Silk Route of Expression,” also aims to breath new life into ancient dialogues while fostering contemporary intercultural conversations.

“It is also cultural bridge-building exercise that honors historical connections between the east and west while fostering new creative partnerships,” Baterna added. “That is also the reason why we invited European authors because we believe that literature is “borderless”.

Among the Filipino writers and creatives invited to speak in this festival are poet A.D. Capili (Belgium), Professor Asuncion Fresnoza-Flot of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, award-winning Criselda Yabes (France) Dorie Reyes Polo, Claire Paladin and Maria Renker (Germany), Maya Butalid (the Netherlands), Myrani Miranda Pesquet and children’s book illustrator Darlee Urbiztondo (Belgium).

Louise Baterna

AD Capili

Doris Polo

Criselda Yabes

Maya Butalid

Many Filipino authors also participated in the virtual meet “Words Through Screens” which allowed them to introduce themselves and talk about their book. These video capsules will be shown during the festival on a big screen. Among selected and their respective books are Maxine Pulgar Ramos (“Boba Girl”), Jansen Bognot (Something is happening in Blake’s Mind”), Techni Calibuso (“Bloom Beyond Expectations”), Emaine Coronel (“Lola Fely’s Front Porch”), Gretchen Largoza (“Finish the Sentence”), Anjel Reyes (“Pocketful of Regrets”), MGV Reamico (“Befriending my Amygdala”), Jenny Albinio (“Diwata and the Dinagyang Festival”), Astrid Sadaya (“I sea Poetry”), Kahlil Carozo (“Rajah Versus Conquistador) and Danabelle Gutierrez (“The F Word”).

Invited to grace the opening cocktail is Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General Pabs Mendoza of the Philippine Embassy in Brussels while three Filipino musical talents were also invited to perform during the opening cocktail. They are Belgium-based Denise Musni, Mark Arquilla and Clarice Manuel.

PACE, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating platforms for Filipino and Asian creatives in Belgium and beyond, partnered with the Asian Group of Literature, a social enterprise that promotes reading, translating, peer reviews and publishing through its large ecosystem which includes the Asian Prizes for literature and the Asian Review.

The Asian Literary Festival in Brussels is the first in a “caravan” of Asian Literary Festivals to be held around the world in Odisha (India), Gampaha (Sri Lanka), Nairobi (Kenya) and Abu Dhabi (UAE).

Taylor Swift breaks records anew with 'The Life of a Showgirl'

By The Associated Press

Published Oct 4, 2025 12:09 pm

At A Glance

• Spotify announced Friday that Swift's album surpassed six million pre-saves on their platform to become the most pre-saved album in its history.

NEW YORK (AP) — Lights, camera, action. Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” has arrived.

Are you ready for it?

Swift announced her latest era back in August, when she began teasing the release.   

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of its drop date: how to stream, which variants exist, and of course, how the album came together. Enjoy the show!

“The Life of a Showgirl” is streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Fans were able to pre-save the album ahead of its release on Oct. 3. Pre-saving ensures the new music automatically appears in a fan’s library the moment it is available. It is also a way for an artist to promote streams ahead of the drop date.

Spotify announced Friday that Swift’s album surpassed six million pre-saves on their platform to become the most pre-saved album in its history.  

The previous title holder? Her 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department.”

“The Life of a Showgirl” also became Spotify’s most-streamed album in a single day in 2025 — and in its first 11 hours of release.

Also on Friday, Amazon Music announced “The Life of a Showgirl” broke the record for most streams in its first 24 hours, globally.

In addition to the many streaming options, there will also be a digital-download variant of “The Life of a Showgirl” available via iTunes, featuring a new cover image and a nearly three-minute “exclusive video from Taylor herself detailing inspirations behind the album” labeled “A Look Behind the Curtain.”

Target is once again a major partner with Swift. Their stores are carrying three CD variants, titled as “It’s Frightening,” “It’s Rapturous” and “It’s Beautiful” editions. There is also an exclusive vinyl release, “The Crowd Is Your King” edition in “summertime spritz pink shimmer vinyl.” Many Target locations will remain open past midnight on the day of release for superfans to pick up in real time.

There are a number of other vinyl variants as well: “The Tiny Bubble in Champagne Collection,” which features two vinyl variants described as “under bright lights pearlescent vinyl” and “red lipstick & lace transparent vinyl.”   

There is also “The Baby That’s Show Business Collection,” in two colorways: “lovely bouquet golden vinyl” and “lakeside beach blue sparkle vinyl.”

Then there’s “The Shiny Bug Collection” in “violet shimmer marbled vinyl” and “wintergreen and onyx marbled vinyl.”

And of course, there is the standard LP and cassette, in “sweat and vanilla perfume Portofino orange vinyl.”

Artwork varies throughout.

Philippines Through Times

DID YOU KNOW???

In the Philippines, an expected massive earthquake is named “The Big One”. The Big One is predicted to have a 7.2 large-magnitude and high-intensity. The earthquake is predicted to hit Metro Manila from the West Valley Fault, which is 100 km in length.

Source: Phivolcs

All reactions:

2.7K2.7K

24 HR. LOCALIZED WEATHER FORECAST FOR DAVAO REGION

ISSUED AT 5:00 AM OCTOBER 06, 2025

Valid Until 5:00 AM TOMORROW

SYNOPSIS:

TC Information

ACTIVE TROPICAL CYCLONE OUTSIDE PAR AS OF 3:00 AM TODAY

TROPICALSTORM HALONG {2522}

LOCATION: 2,105 KM EAST NORTHEAST OF EXTREME NORTHERN LUZON (25.3°N, 141.8°E)

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 100 KM/H NEAR THE CENTER

GUSTINESS: UP TO 125 KM/H

MOVEMENT: NORTHWESTWARD SLOWLY

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Mindanao.

Localized Thunderstorms affecting Davao Region.

FORECAST:

DAVAO REGION will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms due Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flashfloods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

Light to Moderate winds coming from the Northeast to Northwest will prevail and the coastal waters will be Slight to Moderate.

(0.6 to 1.5 meters wave height)

KAUGALINGONG PINULUNGAN:

Ang Dakbayan sa DAVAO ug ubang dapit sa Davao Region makasinati sa panalagsa nga pagdag.um ngadto sa mapanganurun nga kalangitan inubanan sa PAT-AK PAT-AK nga pag-ulan, kilat ug pagpanalugdug tungod sa Localized Thunderstorms. Posible ang mga pagbaha og landslides kung dunay kusog nga pag ulan.

Hinay ngadto sa Kasarangan nga huyop sa hangin nga magagikan sa Amihanang Sidlakan ngadto sa Amihanang Kasadpan nga direksyon ang mupasulabi, ug ang kadagatan mahimong Hapsay ngadto sa Kasarangan ang balod.

(0.6 to 1.5 meters wave height).

OVER DAVAO CITY:

Temperature Today: 25˚C to 32˚C

Sunrise (Sidlak) Today: 5:29 AM

Sunset (Salop) Today: 5:30 PM

For more information and queries, please call telephone for local number (082)234-0890 and (088)555-0485 for regional or log on to bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph…/regional…/Mindanao-PRSD or join our Facebook Group at Mindanao PRSD (Regional Office) or PAGASA Davao (Local).

See translation

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