Filipino Canadian Leylah Fernandez is back in the winners circle.
A Filipina wins the Singapore Open after all, just not the one everyone expected.
Local fans packed the stands at the Singapore Tennis Open expecting a deep run from young home-region favorite Alex Eala. But after Eala suffered an early exit in the Round of 16, it was Leylah Fernandez who stepped into the spotlight, dismantling Australia's Talia Gibson 7-5, 6-0 in the final to capture her sixth career WTA title.
Fernandez, who proudly embraces her Filipino Canadian heritage, made sure to give a massive shoutout to the local crowd that fueled her dominant run all week long.
Feeling the Pinoy love
In her on-court post-match speech, an emotional Fernandez expressed deep gratitude to the passionate crowd:
“I would like to thank all the Singaporean fans and the Pinoy fans who came to watch this whole week. Not only my matches, but everybody’s matches. You guys made this week extremely special with all your encouragement, the energy, and the positivity that you brought in everyone’s matches. It truly meant a lot. Thank you for coming to watch women’s tennis, and hopefully, you guys get to watch many more matches live and in person too.”
Tournament breakdown
After fighting through a tight 7-5 first set, Fernandez hit another gear, delivering a 6-0 bagel in the second set to seal the WTA 500 crown in 1 hour and 38 minutes.
To reach the finals, the sixth-seeded Fernandez had to battle past top seed Mirra Andreeva, dropping only one set the entire tournament.
With this victory, Fernandez is set to make a triumphant return to the WTA top 30, while Eala shifts her focus to her gold medal chase at the Asian Games in Japan.
Of the six titles Fernandez has won, three have been Asian tournaments. She will move on to Beijing for the China Open, followed by the Korea Open, the Ninngbo Open in China, the Japan Open in Osaka, the Toray Open in Tokyo, Guangzo Open in China and tournaments in Hong Kong and India.
"This gives me a lot of confidence, but I do know that the very next day I have to start from zero," Fernandez told reporters after winning the Singapore title. "Another big tournament starts. Beijing is not an easy tournament, with so many top players. So you know it's just going to get tougher from here on out.
"But seeing that I was able to go through this type of adversity this week gives me the belief that I can do it again."
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.
Producers and cast members pose for selfies at the US premiere of 'Forgotten Island.'
When the newly minted Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opened its doors for its historic first-ever film screening on September 23, it didn't choose a standard Hollywood blockbuster. Instead, it handed the keys to Forgotten Island —and two days later, DreamWorks Animation's latest feature is setting both the internet and nationwide theaters on fire.
Boasting a staggering 98% to 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 72 on Metacritic, directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado haven't just made a hit; they’ve created a cultural milestone.
From the glitzy museum premiere to standard Friday matinees, the verdicts are rolling in from critics and audiences alike. Here is how the world is reacting to this vibrant explosion of Filipino culture.
The Critics: Visually stunning and pure chaos
Mainstream critics are universally dazzled by the film's kinetic, anime-inspired aesthetic and its deeply respectful integration of Philippine mythology. For many Western reviewers, it is being hailed as an absolute triumph of original storytelling.
"A gorgeous, hyper-stylized adventure that effortlessly marries emotional depth with jaw-dropping folklore," writes Variety."It’s the most visually inventive film DreamWorks has delivered in years."
Even the rare pushback feels like a compliment to the movie's relentless energy, with critics noting its frantic, Hangover-style quest structure.
The Guardian was slightly more fatigued by the pace, calling it a "frantic, over-energized experience that rarely slows down to breathe." However, Mashable completely disagreed, enthusiastically crowning it as "a chaotic joyride and an epic adventure for weirdos."
Set against a nostalgic 1990s backdrop, the film focuses on two Filipino BFFs: Jo (voiced by Grammy winner H.E.R.) and Raissa (voiced by Liza Soberano), two lifelong best friends standing at the precipice of adulthood.
On the final night after their high school graduation, just before their lives pull them down separate paths, they unexpectedly stumble through a magical portal. They are transported to Nakali, a fantastical island straight out of Philippine mythology. To find their way home, the two must navigate a breathtaking landscape populated by legendary folkloric creatures, forcing them to confront the evolution and survival of their friendship.
The Gateway: How it plays with Non-Filipino audiences
One of the film's biggest triumphs is how it is received outside of the diaspora. Non-Filipino viewers and critics aren't just tolerating the dense Filipino lore; they are entirely enchanted by it. Reviews note that while the movie introduces creatures like the duwende (goblins) and tikbalang (were-horses), it never feels like a lecture.
"The rich mythology of the Philippines provides a fertile soil that will stun the uninitiated," notes The Mercury News.
RogerEbert.com pointed out the organic writing, stating that while general audiences "will likely learn a lot about Mercado's culture," the film's core themes remain universally human. "The threat of the mystical island—losing the memories of the person you love most—is a deeply moving metaphor for the fear of growing apart."
Box office and word-of-mouth potential
Forgotten Islandis currently projected to open with a modest $14 million to $18 million domestically. While the film is a massive hit with critics, it is facing a highly competitive weekend and a slow box office start that underperforms early tracking expectations.
The early box office data and tracking dynamics highlight several factors shaping its theatrical run:
Strong Previews:The film grossed $1.48 million in domestic previews across Thursday showtimes, Mystery Monday, and Sunday sneak peeks. This is a strong start for an original film, pacing slightly ahead of DreamWorks' 2022 hit The Bad Guys ($1.1 million previews). With an almost 100% on Rotten Apples, the feature is the Dreamworks' highest rated animated film of all time.
Tough Weekend Competition:The movie is not expected to claim the #1 spot this weekend. It is battling major crowded theatrical traffic, including the highly anticipated re-release Avengers: Endgame Encore and the horror debut of Resident Evil, placing it on track for a 4th or 5th place finish.
Long-Term "Legs" Potential: Carrying an $80 million production budget, the movie will rely heavily on sustained long-term performance. Because it faces zero major family film competition until The Cat in the Hat debuts in early November, box office analysts predict its near-perfect critical reviews will drive strong word-of-mouth over the coming weeks.
View from the edge: A historic celebration of representation
The star-studded cast—featuring voice performances from H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Lea Salonga, Dave Franco, Jo Koy and Manny Jacinto — has only amplified the AAPI community's excitement.
At the premiere, star Jacinto captured the emotional weight of the moment: "Seeing this wave of support from the community is just huge. These opportunities are so rare, and to see our stories told on this scale is everything."
An early audience member posting on X (formerly Twitter) echoed the sentiment: "I took my parents to see it today and we were all crying by the end. Seeing a manananggal on a theater screen while Dave Franco plays a chaotic creature named Raww is the exact chaotic energy my inner child needed."
It is hoped that the feature will catch on like last year's big hit, K-pop Demon Hunters animated movie, which captured a wide ranging audience beyond the Asian American community.
Ultimately, Forgotten Island is proving that the most specific stories are often the most universal. Unfortunately, in too many eyes, "universal" means white, male and born in the US.
We are betting that "universal" means more than that narrow perspective. RogerEbert.com's review gets it. Forgotten Island captures the heart of "Forgotten Island" goes beyond race or nationality: "... friendships, even very close ones, have a lifespan, and that even though changes in circumstance or geography might not completely end the friendship, it will alter it and make it less central to daily life — and that’s not only a bearable disappointment; it’s a natural part of growing up that almost everyone has had to deal with."
By grounding a wildly imaginative mythical world in a deeply relatable story about two lifelong best friends facing the reality of growing up, DreamWorks has delivered a masterpiece that belongs to everyone who has ever had a friend.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.
Tennis star Alexandra Eala might be punished for choosing "flag and country."
When given a choice between country or riches, Alex Eala chose country. For anyone who follows sports through an immigrant or diaspora lens, the squeeze is all too familiar. One belongs to multiple worlds, and each one demands absolute allegiance. Right now, tennis' rising star is living that exact paradox.
When faced with a scheduling collision between the lucrative, mandatory professional tracks of the Women's Tennis Association (WTF) 1000 in Beijing and the national honor of representing her roots at the Asian Games, Eala chose the Asian Games, which start Sept. 27.
“I love playing and competing with the Philippine team,” said Eala, who represented the Philippines at the Southeast Asia Games last year.
The 20-year old chose to prioritize representing the Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where she will be the top-seeded tennis player in singles and doubles. The Asian Games overlap with the mandatory WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing.
Because of her choice, the WTA might punish Eala by lowering her ranking of No. 18, which she earned this past year and/or a $10,000 fine.
Eala''s decision highlights a glaring structural flaw in global sports: athletes are constantly forced to choose between feeding their professional livelihoods or honoring their flags and ancestral communities.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said that Eala will definitely be in the Asia Games, "For flag and country," he said, regardless of the WTA decision.
At the core of this standoff is a fundamental ideological clash in modern sports administration: the WTA operates with a profit motivation, whereas Olympic competition depends entirely on personal pride and national patriotism.
Is there a pathway out of the trap?
The short answer is yes, but it requires systemic alignment between governing bodies that currently operate in silos.
Eala’s choice isn't just about regional pride; it’s a calculated long-term play. Continental multi-sport events like the Asian Games serve as direct qualification pathways to the Olympic Games (such as Los Angeles 2028), offering singles champions an ITF place if they meet eligibility requirements.
On the flip side, skipping mandatory tour stops like Beijing risks ranking points, professional standing, and financial penalties imposed by a tour that prioritizes commercial gatekeeping.
Coordinate or compete
True relief will only come when the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) coordinate their calendars. Until sports administrators bridge the gap between commercial tour obligations and international representation, players will continue to be caught in the crossfire—forced to sacrifice one part of their career to feed another.
For athletes like Eala, carrying the weight of representation always means walking a tightrope. The real question is when the systems supporting them will finally decide to meet them halfway.
That suggestion cuts straight to the core of the problem. If the tennis ecosystem functioned as an integrated whole rather than a patchwork of competing silos, counting high-stakes international performance as an alternative pathway or exemption trigger would completely eliminate these brutal standoffs.
Right now, the friction point is that organizations like the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) operate on completely different incentive structures.
The WTA is a money-making venture that relies on marquee tier-one events like the Beijing tournament to satisfy broadcast partners, sponsors, and global fans, making participation strictly mandatory for top-ranked players under threat of heavy ranking penalties.
On the other hand, the ITF builds its calendar around the prestige of the Olympics and continental events — such as the Asian Games, which are held every four years.
However, if Eala wins the Asian Games gold medal in tennis, she qualifies to represent the Philippines in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
She stated that she loves competing for the Philippine team and playing for her country's flag. By choosing to represent her country, she is giving back to the Philippine diaspora which has supported her young career by turning out in droves at venues around the world, turning foreign courts into home courts, not to mention, driving up ticket sales wherever she plays, from Australia to WImbledon to the US Open.
Eala Mania is also showing up in Singapore where officials added 1,500 seats for her fans and is considering standing-room-only ticket sales.
To avoid the penalty, the Philippine Tennis Association applied for a waiver from the WTA. But with no ruling yet, the federation isn't waiting. "Alex will definitely play at the Asian Games regardless of the WTA decision," executive director Tonette Mendoza said.
View from the edge
Ultimately, Alex Eala’s difficult choice highlights a glaring, systemic flaw in modern sports administration: athletes are continually forced to sacrifice their professional standing to honor their flags and ancestral communities. Until the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) bridge the gap between commercial tour obligations and international representation, rising stars will remain caught in the crossfire.
Creating a unified pathway—such as treating recognized continental multi-sport qualifiers as equivalent to high-tier tour commitments—would protect players from being penalized for answering their country’s call.
For athletes like Eala who carry the heavy weight of diaspora representation, walking this tightrope is a testament to their dedication. The real question is when the systems supporting them will finally decide to meet them halfway.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.
