Latest news with #Filipino-Canadian
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GMA Network
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Dolly de Leon, Jonjon Briones joins cast of ‘Avatar: the Last Airbender'
Two Filipino actors have been announced to take part in Seasons 2 and 3 of Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender.' In an announcement Wednesday midnight, Netflix revealed a list of 7 new cast members, which includes Dolly de Leon and Jonjon Briones. De Leon is set to play twins Lo and Li, who would be elderly advisers and fire-bending instructors for Fire Princess Azula. Meanwhile, Filipino-American Briones will be playing swordmaster and White Lotus warrior De Leon and Briones join the growing list of Filipino actors in the cast, including Lourdes Faberes who is set to play Earth Kingdom officer General Sung. The series is also led by Filipino-Canadian actor Gorden Cormier as Aang, the titular 'Last Airbender.' Piandao, who would serve as a swordsmanship instructor for both Sokka and Prince Zuko. Other characters were also cast, such as Fei (Madison Hu), Yangchen (Dichen Lachman), Ursa (Lily Gao), Jeong Jeong (Terry Chen), and Hama (Tantoo Cardinal). In a separate tweet, the series' main cast confirmed that they have finished shooting the 2nd season of the show and have begun production on the 3rd season. Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' premiered its first season last February 2024 and was renewed for Seasons 2 and 3 last in March 2024. The series released a teaser for the upcoming second season, showing actress Miya Cech as 'Toph' for her first appearance in the series. Welcome the new faces joining the cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender in Seasons 2 and 3. — Avatar: The Last Airbender (@AvatarNetflix) May 20, 2025 — Jiselle Anne Casucian/LA, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Filipino Times
Filipino-Canadian wins record $80M lotto jackpot in Canada; plans to help family, community, visit PH
A Filipino-Canadian man from Surrey, British Columbia, has won the largest Lotto Max jackpot ever claimed by a single person in Canada. Justin Simporios, who bought his winning ticket at the Walmart Supercentre in Central City, Surrey, took home a massive $80 million from the May 9, 2025, lottery draw. He found out he won while checking the lottery results late at night. 'I saw that someone won $80 million in Surrey. I was joking and told my wife, 'we're millionaires!' and she told me to stop making that joke. After, I manually checked each number before scanning [using the BCLC Lotto! App]. I cried and shouted, 'we're millionaires!'' Simporios said via British Columbia Lottery Corporation. The excitement did not stop there. Simporios shared that his wife was in 'complete disbelief and a bit mad' when he woke her up, as their daughter was unwell. However, realizing the life-changing news, they both shared the overwhelming joy. With his newfound fortune, Simporios plans to prioritize his family and give back to the community. 'I want to help my family and my wife's family. I'll pay off my sister's medical school debt and help my mom retire early – just giving my family a head start in life,' he said. 'I've struggled before and needed help. Even if I can give an ounce of happiness, I want to help where we can. This feels like a dream,' he added. Simporios also plans to visit his family in the Philippines for a long-awaited reunion, as his wife and child have never been there. Additionally, as a fan of the LA Lakers, he hopes to watch LeBron James play before the basketball star retires. 'The biggest change will be having more time with my wife and family. We want to live with a purpose – to help the community around us,' he added.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Darren Espanto? Filipino singer clashing with BTS ARMY over his cover of J-Hope's 'Mona Lisa'
Who is BTS? There's really no need for an introduction! The group — and each of its seven members — is wildly popular, even among non-K-pop fans. BTS also has one of the biggest fanbases in the world, known as ARMY, and true to their name, they're always ready to defend Jin, SUGA, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. However, this time around, things were different. Filipino-Canadian singer and performer Darren Espanto has been clashing with BTS ARMY for days. Over what, one may ask? Over the criticism he received for his cover of J-Hope's hit track Mona Lisa. Who is Darren Espanto? Darren rose to fame as the runner-up in the first season of The Voice Kids Philippines. Since then, he has built a successful music career, earning recognition both locally and internationally. Notably, he was the only Filipino guest artist on China's Singer 2019, and he has received praise from global stars like Fantasia Barrino, Nicki Minaj, Ashton Kutcher, and Jessie J for his vocal performances. Espanto is also known for his admiration of K-pop, particularly BTS. He previously covered BTS' hit song Dynamite in a dance performance shared on his YouTube channel. So what's happening now? Recently, Darren Espanto covered J-Hope's new single Mona Lisa, which has been generating buzz among fans. J-Hope described the track as a performance-driven piece with witty and playful lyrics. The song quickly gained traction online, racking up views and sparking a trending dance challenge. While many enjoyed Darren's cover, one user — reportedly not even an ARMY but as many claimed was a BLACKPINK fan (BLINK) — criticized it harshly, writing, "Dare I say… people who can't sing need to stop covering his songs. Seriously." The quote is not visible currently, due to the user going private. Netizens — including ARMY — quickly jumped to Darren's defense, praising his vocals. Many pointed out that these covers are often done with minimal rehearsal and shouldn't be taken as full showcases of his ability. So why did it escalate? Instead of letting it go, Darren responded directly to the critic, tweeting: "Please consider watching my other vocal performances 'cuz one thing I won't take is someone telling me I 'CAN'T SING'... Attached here are a few of 'em." Hi, @sieeoun. Please consider watching my other vocal performances cuz one thing I won't take is someone telling me I 'CAN'T SING' 😂 Attached here are a few of 'em: Things escalated further when Darren retweeted a Koreaboo article claiming he had "clapped back" at BTS fans online over the criticism. According to many ARMYs, Koreaboo is known for publishing exaggerated, anti-BTS content. This move didn't sit well with ARMY — many of whom had initially defended him. They questioned why he couldn't take a single comment in stride and stay quiet. After facing criticism, he seems to have deleted the retweet. But Darren didn't stop there. When one ARMY quoted him saying, "You still can't sing and ain't nobody watching these videos," he responded: "Based on my likes, and considering you're interacting with my tweet, apparently a lot of y'all do." Based on my likes, and considering you're interacting with my tweet, apparently a lot of y'all do. 😅 @lntroegos ARMY claps back At this point, the sympathy ARMY had for Darren began to fade. Fans asked why he was engaging in fan wars online and if chasing likes was his real goal. They also pointed out that most of the engagement he was receiving came from non-BTS K-pop fans who dislike BTS — not because of his talent or vocals. One said, "Can y'all stop interacting with that guy?? This is literally the most attention he's ever gotten on his account. He barely gets 70 likes unless he's arguing with ARMYs." can y'all stop interacting with that guy?? this is literally the most attention he's ever gotten on his barely gets 70 likes unless he's arguing with armys. Another added, "'Based on my likes' — I'm gonna hold your neck when I say this, Darren. Those are just people who hate 875 (BTS) to the core and would side with anyone just to drag them. And unfortunately for you, those people won't even give you streams or support. They can't even do that for their faves." 'based on my likes' i'm gonna hold your neck when i say this, darren. those are just ppl who hates 875 to the core and would side w anyone just to drag them. and unfortunately for you, those ppl won't even give you streams nor support you. they can't even do that for their faves. One wrote, "A real singer is someone who can perform songs well in any situation and from any perspective — not someone who cherry-picks videos to show off their best side." A real singer is someone who can perform songs in the best possible way in any situation and from any perspective, not someone who just picks a few videos to show off their best side Another commented, "This just shows how unprofessional you are." This just shows how unprofessional you are. One user pointed out, "You RT'd a tweet from a random K-pop fan and caused them to harass another artist, and then you RT'd an article full of shameless, nasty comments. But sure — 'it's normal for an artist to defend himself.' And yes, the cover was bad." you rt's a tweet from a random kpop fan and caused them to harass the other artist, and you rt's an article full of shameless nasty comments, but no sir 'it's normal for an artist to defend himself'. And yes the cover was bad Another stated, "I can't believe I was defending your stupid ass yesterday... If you claim to be an artist, you should learn to take criticism. Instead, you RT'd Koreaboo's trash and attracted hate to J-Hope. Being a 'good singer' doesn't make you a good performer. Grow up". I can't believe i was defending your stupid ass yesterday If you claim to be an artist you should learn to take criticism Instead you rted fuckass koreaboo's article and attracted hate to jhopeYou being a 'good singer' doesn't guarantee you being a good performer. Grow up. About BTS' reunion Despite all the drama, ARMY remains focused on what truly matters — the upcoming BTS reunion. With June approaching, fans are eagerly anticipating the moment all seven members will be together again, especially to celebrate the group's debut anniversary. Jin and J-Hope have already completed their military service, while RM and V are scheduled to be discharged on June 10, 2025. Jimin and Jungkook will follow a day later, on June 11. SUGA, who is serving through an alternative form of service due to a past shoulder injury, will be the last to return, with his discharge set for June 21, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Filipino-Canadian creator Isabel Kanaan turned TikTok videos about immigrant experience into sitcom success with ‘Abroad'
TORONTO - When Isabel Kanaan moved from the Philippines to Burlington, Ont., at 16, she found the calm suburban atmosphere difficult to adjust to. 'Filipinos in general, we're always so noisy. And in Manila, the streets never sleep,' says the 33-year-old, whose family immigrated to Canada in 2008. 'Nothing was open past 9 p.m. I was so confused. Like, 'What do people do after 9?'' she said of her new town, located on the western shores of Lake Ontario. It wasn't just the quiet that took getting used to. Kanaan also figured she'd have to give up on her dream of acting. 'I thought there's no way I could be an actor here because I didn't really see people like me or my stories on TV or in movies,' she says. 'So I didn't pursue what I wanted.' She initially enrolled in math at York University to become a teacher, but the pull toward acting proved strong. She eventually switched to Seneca College's acting program — but upon graduating, found few roles available for Filipina women. 'My agent would get me in the room for characters that were Indian or Spanish or something else,' she recalls. 'I got tired of auditioning for things that weren't meant for me, for Filipinos. I wanted to make something for us.' That frustration led Kanaan to start making TikToks about the Filipino immigrant experience from a humorous lens. Years later, those sketches would evolve into 'Abroad,' an English-Tagalog sketch comedy show on OMNI that she co-created and stars in. Now in its fourth season, 'Abroad' returns Sunday with more sketches spotlighting Filipino-Canadian stories. Kanaan plays several characters inspired by real people, including Passive Aggressive Mama, and Nestor, a black-market dealer turned dance instructor. The show skewers everything from culture shock to language barriers to the quirks of assimilation. A major theme this season is parents grappling with how to raise a second-generation Filipino-Canadian child — a storyline rooted in real life, as Kanaan recently became a mother herself. 'Before, I was just playing my mom or the moms I know in my life… Here I was thinking, 'Oh, I'm going to be different.' And then things come up, and you're like, 'Wait a minute, maybe I'm not so different from them,'' she laughs, acknowledging she's just as 'loud' as the other Filipino moms in her life. Kanaan hopes the show helps Filipino immigrants — and newcomers of all backgrounds — feel seen. 'If they watch the show, they'll think, 'Oh yeah, this has been my experience. There are other people like me,'' says Kanaan, a former cast member of CBC's 'Royal Canadian Air Farce.' Kanaan says 'Abroad' has found a loyal following not just in Canada but around the world, with clips amassing millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. The show was recently acquired by Just For Entertainment Distribution to begin airing internationally. 'We are getting so many hits from all around the world and people saying, 'We want to see this show where we are,'' Kanaan says, noting she's heard from Filipino fans in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. 'Abroad' is up for five Canadian Screen Awards, including best sketch comedy and best sketch comedy performance for Kanaan and her Filipino-Canadian co-stars including Joy Castro, Justin Santiago and Nicco Lorenzo Garcia. Following the recent tragedy at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver, where 11 people were killed after an SUV rammed into a crowd, Kanaan says she hopes 'Abroad' brings some comfort to the community. 'It was just so sad… It hits you, even though you're not there — it hits the community,' she says. She's been heartened by how the Filipino-Canadian community has rallied to support victims through various fundraisers. 'That's the thing about the Philippines — we're so community-based. I'm happy we're all supporting and we're getting the word out there,' she says, noting that her show first gained popularity through word of mouth as well. As much as the show speaks to the immigrant experience, Kanaan hopes non-immigrants tune in as well. 'It's showing them the different sides of Canada,' she says. 'I had to learn Canadian culture. There are so many of us and it's so multicultural here in Canada, so there is no reason why you should not learn about your neighbour's culture.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Filipino-Canadian creator Isabel Kanaan turned TikTok videos about immigrant experience into sitcom success with ‘Abroad'
TORONTO – When Isabel Kanaan moved from the Philippines to Burlington, Ont., at 16, she found the calm suburban atmosphere difficult to adjust to. 'Filipinos in general, we're always so noisy. And in Manila, the streets never sleep,' says the 33-year-old, whose family immigrated to Canada in 2008. 'Nothing was open past 9 p.m. I was so confused. Like, 'What do people do after 9?'' she said of her new town, located on the western shores of Lake Ontario. It wasn't just the quiet that took getting used to. Kanaan also figured she'd have to give up on her dream of acting. 'I thought there's no way I could be an actor here because I didn't really see people like me or my stories on TV or in movies,' she says. 'So I didn't pursue what I wanted.' She initially enrolled in math at York University to become a teacher, but the pull toward acting proved strong. She eventually switched to Seneca College's acting program — but upon graduating, found few roles available for Filipina women. 'My agent would get me in the room for characters that were Indian or Spanish or something else,' she recalls. 'I got tired of auditioning for things that weren't meant for me, for Filipinos. I wanted to make something for us.' That frustration led Kanaan to start making TikToks about the Filipino immigrant experience from a humorous lens. Years later, those sketches would evolve into 'Abroad,' an English-Tagalog sketch comedy show on OMNI that she co-created and stars in. Now in its fourth season, 'Abroad' returns Sunday with more sketches spotlighting Filipino-Canadian stories. Kanaan plays several characters inspired by real people, including Passive Aggressive Mama, and Nestor, a black-market dealer turned dance instructor. The show skewers everything from culture shock to language barriers to the quirks of assimilation. A major theme this season is parents grappling with how to raise a second-generation Filipino-Canadian child — a storyline rooted in real life, as Kanaan recently became a mother herself. 'Before, I was just playing my mom or the moms I know in my life… Here I was thinking, 'Oh, I'm going to be different.' And then things come up, and you're like, 'Wait a minute, maybe I'm not so different from them,'' she laughs, acknowledging she's just as 'loud' as the other Filipino moms in her life. Kanaan hopes the show helps Filipino immigrants — and newcomers of all backgrounds — feel seen. 'If they watch the show, they'll think, 'Oh yeah, this has been my experience. There are other people like me,'' says Kanaan, a former cast member of CBC's 'Royal Canadian Air Farce.' Kanaan says 'Abroad' has found a loyal following not just in Canada but around the world, with clips amassing millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. The show was recently acquired by Just For Entertainment Distribution to begin airing internationally. 'We are getting so many hits from all around the world and people saying, 'We want to see this show where we are,'' Kanaan says, noting she's heard from Filipino fans in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. 'Abroad' is up for five Canadian Screen Awards, including best sketch comedy and best sketch comedy performance for Kanaan and her Filipino-Canadian co-stars including Joy Castro, Justin Santiago and Nicco Lorenzo Garcia. Following the recent tragedy at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver, where 11 people were killed after an SUV rammed into a crowd, Kanaan says she hopes 'Abroad' brings some comfort to the community. 'It was just so sad… It hits you, even though you're not there — it hits the community,' she says. She's been heartened by how the Filipino-Canadian community has rallied to support victims through various fundraisers. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'That's the thing about the Philippines — we're so community-based. I'm happy we're all supporting and we're getting the word out there,' she says, noting that her show first gained popularity through word of mouth as well. As much as the show speaks to the immigrant experience, Kanaan hopes non-immigrants tune in as well. 'It's showing them the different sides of Canada,' she says. 'I had to learn Canadian culture. There are so many of us and it's so multicultural here in Canada, so there is no reason why you should not learn about your neighbour's culture.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.
