Sam has worked as a writer and editor with top publications in the Philippines and around Asia for the past 10 years. She also helps brands craft narratives and connect with audiences as a communications consultant. When not writing, she’s looking for the next hole-in-the-wall, digging through secondhand record crates, or parenting her dog.

Diverse representation is an expectation, but as individuals no longer allow themselves to be defined in singular terms, there's mounting pressure on brands to understand and sensitively reflect how the intersections between race, gender, class, and ability impact people's everyday lives.

Collective Equity

From decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs)  run on Discord to city-wide mutual aid groups, people are finding safety and optimism in numbers. For growing numbers of people, collective action is emerging as the only viable solution to compounding crises and deepening alienation.

World Builders

In today’s hyper-connected globe, the meaning of national identity is no longer rigid, and we’re seeing a dissolution of cultural borders as we travel through our devices. This shift in mentality is happening against a turbulent geopolitical backdrop as countries prioritise regional allies.

Border Reorder

Pat graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in music, majoring in musicology at the University of the Philippines College of Music. She also obtained her master’s degree in music, majoring in musicology at the UP College of Music in 2023. Currently, Pat is a senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication, particularly the Broadcast Communication Department. At the same time, she is also a lecturer in the music production program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Her research interests are in Philippine popular music cultures, music in media, fan culture, popular culture, culture industry, the history of Philippine variety shows, the history of music-oriented shows, celebrity and star studies, and branding. She has also presented her research at various international and local conferences.

Carmela Ramirez is a classic Virgo who obsesses over everything from checklists to checking out the latest in pop culture. A millennial born and raised in Manila, she has been in the local events industry for almost a decade, working on music festivals, brand launches, and everything in between. When work isn't keeping her busy, she's curating her growing Hello Kitty collection and catching flights around Asia.

Philippines

Music, radio, and podcasts

Media and Entertainment

Community and grassroots

Citizenship

GMA Entertainment

Rappler

ABS-CBN News

Interview with Carmela Ramirez conducted by the author

Bandwagon Asia

PhilSTAR Life

Medium

Inquirer

Interview with Pat Dizon conducted by the author

NYLON Manila

Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living ASEAN

Think with Google

WARC

Push ABS-CBN

Preview

Koreaboo

TIME

Once obscure to the public, early 2024 saw the P-pop girl group BINI catapulted into fame, reaching 5.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify and becoming the country’s most streamed artists. How did BINI reach this level of celebrity so quickly, and what does it say about local roots and virality?

Cultivate

Values and Identity

Connection and Belonging

How BINI’s timely rise to online fame set P-pop on fire