Asia’s Superstar Kathryn Bernardo Cements Legacy with Madame Tussauds Wax Figure Unveiling

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Asia’s Superstar and Filipina actress Kathryn Bernardo officially unveiled her Madame Tussauds wax figure, dubbed "Kath-Win," on July 9 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, cementing her place among the world’s most celebrated personalities.




The unveiling followed earlier announcements that the figure would debut in Manila before moving to its permanent home at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong.

Model and events host Janeena Chan, hosted the event who introduced Wade Chang, General Manager of Gateway Hong Kong, Merlin Entertainments.

Chang shared that Kathryn’s induction had been in the works for more than a year, recognizing her remarkable influence as a global Filipino icon in the entertainment industry.

A Year in the Making

An emotional Kathryn Bernardo reflected on the meticulous year-long process behind the creation of her wax figure.

The Madame Tussauds Hong Kong team carefully took hundreds of measurements, including her facial geometry and physical features, to ensure every detail accurately captured her likeness.

A Milestone Shared with Fans and Family



Bernardo dedicated the recognition to her loyal fans, her family led by her mother, Min Bernardo, and ABS-CBN executives who attended the unveiling, including President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, Chief Operating Officer Cory Vidanes, Star Magic head Laurenti Dyogi, and acclaimed filmmaker Olivia Lamasan.

"This is for you guys! For the fans, it's a win for all of us. I'm also glad they didn't change anything—it's exactly like Kath," Bernardo said.

Reflecting on the milestone, she added, "Every milestone has a story. I want people and my fans to know that they're all part of this. They believed in me, and I'm grateful that I get to do what I love, which is acting. Thank you for that." 

Hong Kong Holds a Special Place


Bernardo also reminisced about her cherished memories in Hong Kong, where she filmed the 2019 blockbuster Hello, Love, Goodbye.



"Joy will be there in Hong Kong very, very soon. Hong Kong will always have a special place in my heart," she said, referring to her iconic character in the film.

Joining an Elite Group of Filipinos

With the unveiling, Bernardo joins an elite cast of Filipinos immortalized by Madame Tussauds, including Manny Pacquiao, Pia Wurtzbach, Catriona Gray, Lea Salonga, and Anne Curtis.

Her wax figure will soon be displayed at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, becoming another symbol of Filipino excellence on the global stage.





Written by: Renz Delim

Images from: Christian Gerona

Image credit: ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc. (Star Cinema)

Unified 911 launches real-time translation feature for foreign emergency callers

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Business sector, tourism to benefit best from new feature



With 400,000 to 500,000 tourists visiting the Philippines monthly and about 133,000 expats living in the country semi-permanently, the introduction of auto-translate technology to the Unified 911 emergency response system continues to revolutionize Philippine emergency communications.

NEXiS Connect, NGA 911's cutting-edge call handling system, can now automatically convert a foreigner's voice call from his or her native language into English or Filipino in real time. This enables seamless communication between callers and emergency responders, allowing Filipino call takers to instantly receive and understand conversations in English or Filipino.

The call handling system's automatic voice-to-text translation feature currently supports Spanish, Italian, German, French, Filipino, and English, with additional languages set to be added in the coming months as the system continues to expand its multilingual capabilities.

The new feature eliminates the need for third-party interpreters and speeds up the process of emergency response.

"Safety is a primary factor for global travelers," says NGA Philippines country head Robert Llaguno. NGA Philippines provides the next generation technology that gives Unified 911 its cutting-edge capabilities.

"Knowing that language barriers are eliminated by advanced AI removes the fear of being stranded during a medical issue or natural disaster while in the country. This makes the Philippines a more competitive, 'smart tourism' destination," Llaguno said.

Apart from voice calls, foreign tourists can also use familiar platforms such as the Unified 911 PH Facebook Messenger to reach local emergency services without needing a local SIM card or knowing local dial codes. Messages sent through the platform are received directly by Unified 911 call handlers, enabling them to respond through the same interface they use to manage emergency communications.

Together, NEXiS Connect and NEXiS Message help democratize public safety by ensuring that, regardless of language spoken, socioeconomic background or physical ability, every individual in the Philippines has equal, rapid access to life-saving aid.

NEXiS Message is a secure, encrypted communication and collaboration platform developed by NGA 911 that unifies emergency response systems, public safety communications, and first-responder coordination into a single, seamless digital workspace. It integrates Facebook Messenger, text messaging apps and traditional channels like landlines into a single interface at the Unified 911 command center.

NEXiS Message also enables call takers to respond in English, with their replies automatically translated back into the caller's native language to enable seamless two-way communication.

"In life-or-death scenarios like cardiac arrest, crimes in progress or blazing fires, a delay of even just 60 seconds can be fatal. NEXiS Connect’s auto-translation feature minimizes triage time because dispatchers can immediately identify the type and location of the emergency without wasting time trying to decipher a foreign language. Real-time translation also allows dispatchers to guide a foreign caller through critical procedures like CPR, applying pressure to a wound, or finding an escape route in a fire—without communication errors," Llaguno explained.

"Instead of dispatchers having to monitor separate screens for different apps, everything arrives in a single interface. The system allows citizens to send photos, live video streams and exact geographic coordinates along with their text. The secure workplace also enables the PNP, the BFP and local DRRMOs to securely view the same media files simultaneously, instantly verifying the legitimacy of an incident and reducing false alarms," Llaguno shared.

"NEXiS Message bridges the accessibility gap by integrating social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps into Unified 911 command systems," Llaguno said. "This ensures that public safety networks are designed for everyone, moving away from a voice-only framework toward an inclusive, multi-channel lifeline."

July, which is officially observed as National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) in the Philippines, is the perfect time to introduce these latest AI-powered enhancements to the Unified 911 emergency response system. It is an active step toward building community resilience, preparedness and effective disaster response.

NGA's cloud-native technology ensures that even if a physical local command center is compromised or flooded by a typhoon, emergency routing can seamlessly fail over to another location without dropping calls.

UPD Bio Students Explore Plant Morpho-anatomy Through Art

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Plant Morpho-ARTnatomy mini exhibition. (Photo credit: Eunice Jean C. Patron)




In May 2026, the Institute of Biology (IB) of the University of the Philippines Diliman – College of Science (UPD-CS) hosted the “Plant Morpho-ARTnatomy” mini exhibition, showcasing works by its Biology 101 students.




The displayed artworks featured plant specimens and structures studied by the students, rendered in various media—such as charcoal, watercolor, pencil, acrylic, oil, and pastel—on surfaces including canvas, paper, wood, and boards. Students who participated in the exhibition received bonus points upon submitting their art.




Biology 101 faculty-in-charge Dr. Erika Marie Bascos shared that her passion for art inspired her to initiate the exhibition. “During the pandemic, my kids encouraged me to start painting. I found it relaxing and helpful for anxiety, and it came naturally to me given my background in teaching drawing-based courses,” she said.




Dr. Bascos explained that the specimens they encounter in class—whether freshly collected or preserved—require students to draw and label their parts. These serve as study plates that they can review for exams. She noted that the students are highly skilled at drawing, producing detailed work using pencil and pen. They complete these plates during class and submit them after sessions. This observation inspired her to showcase their work in an exhibition.






Some of the artworks displayed in the mini exhibition.




“I was surprised that so many students submitted, and that they each had different styles—some were crocheting, others made 3D works, and some used clay. What stood out to me was how patient they were. One student even said, ‘Ma’am, I can’t do it,’ but in the end, his work turned out to be one of the best,” Dr. Bascos added. Most of her students had no prior experience making art, so she found it impressive that their outputs already looked skilled, even though it was their first time. The students had a whole semester to explore and were encouraged to choose whatever they wanted to create.




The artworks ranged from depictions of actual plants such as ferns and pitcher plants to their microscopic structures, including trichomes, plant crystals, and tissues. “Some of them may also want to become scientific illustrators. That would be great because they already have a background in art, and they understand morphology and anatomy as students of biology,” she said.




Janine Patricia Omalin, one of the students who participated in the exhibition, said she enjoyed the activity. “I’ve been drawing ever since I was a kid. I made it during my break,” she added, while showing her drawing of Pinus echinata, the scientific name of shortleaf pine.




Another student, Althea Bernice Javier, painted stellate aerenchyma, a tissue composed of star-shaped cells with large, interconnected air spaces that allow the rapid circulation of oxygen and can be found in banana leaves. “It’s my first time painting. I used to draw before, but this is my first time to paint. It was good to have the experience,” she shared.




Dr. Bascos hopes to teach the plant morphoanatomy laboratory again next semester and to hold another exhibition of her students’ artworks. Her students are also willing to donate their works to IB to help future Biology 101 students analyze the structure of plant specimens.




“What they produced was more than just artwork—it was proof that science and art can beautifully coexist,” she said. IB’s Biology 101 course discusses the morphology and anatomy of vascular plants.

The exhibit is open to the public until July 24, 2026