Abi Marquez, the Internet’s “Lumpia Queen,” Nominated at the 28th Annual Webby Awards

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


In an exhilarating nod to the Philippines’ vibrant culinary scene, Abi Marquez, hailed as the internet’s “Lumpia Queen,” has been officially nominated for the prestigious 28th Annual Webby Awards under the Social - Food and Drink category.


The nomination—one of five in its category and handpicked from out of 13,000 projects submitted from around the world—places her among the top 12% of entries submitted. This also puts her in esteemed company alongside notable figures and entities such as America's Test Kitchen and Jennifer Garner. It likewise signifies Marquez’s impactful contribution to the digital food community.





Abi alongside other Food & Drink nominees


At just 23 years old, Marquez has captured the hearts and palates of millions worldwide with her delectable and innovative culinary creations, predominantly featuring the beloved Filipino dish, lumpia. Her engaging content and authentic portrayal of Filipino cuisine have amassed a following of 3.3 million on TikTok, with her videos receiving over 1 billion views and 86 million likes. Marquez’s rapid rise to social media stardom culminated in winning the TikTok Foodie Creator of the Year award in 2023, further cementing her status as a culinary influencer. Before becoming Lumpia Queen, Marquez was once upon a time a Hotel Restaurant and Institution Management (HRIM) student who utilized content creation as her practicum. She has been a talent of NYMA, the artist management arm of Kroma Entertainment, since 2023.


This nomination is not just a personal milestone for Marquez but also a moment of immense pride for the Philippines. It highlights the richness of Filipino culinary traditions and the boundless talent within the country, showcasing it on a global stage.


How to support Abi Marquez at the Webby Awards

Marquez is eligible to win at the Webby Awards two ways: by winning the award as chosen by the judging academy (the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences) and by being voted on by the public at The Webby People’s Voice Award. Both awards are a mark of international distinction for Internet excellence.


We invite everyone to join us in this momentous occasion by voting Abi Marquez in the Webby People’s Voice Awards. Your vote can shine a spotlight on Filipino cuisine and bring this prestigious award home.


To vote for Abi, please register at the Webby Awards voting page and vote through Thursday, April 18th at 11:59pm Pacific Daylight Time: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2024/social/general-social/food-drink.




Choose Abi by signing up for an account and clicking Confirm Vote


Let’s rally together to celebrate and promote our culinary heritage on the world stage. Your support can make a difference in highlighting the Philippines as a powerhouse of culinary talent and innovation.


For more information and to follow Abi’s journey, please visit:


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abigailfmarquez

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigailfmarquez/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abigailfmarquez

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lumpiaqueen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lumpiakween


To learn more about KROMA and NYMA, visit https://www.kroma.ph/nyma.


About Kroma

Kroma Entertainment is a TraDigital Entertainment company that brings together passionate content creators, the best talent, and innovative technology to produce fresh and engaging entertainment for the Filipino audiences and beyond. Kroma offers entertainment across screens and formats, be it films, series, podcasts, TV shows, music, digital content, or events. Its brands ANIMA Studios, ANIMA Pods, Live MNL, NYMA, Kroma Music, Kroma PubCo, and PIE form a unique ecosystem to create trailblazing experiences for its clients and audiences.


About NYMA

NYMA is a talent agency that nurtures trailblazers to break through all media spaces. NYMA’s vision is to be the home of Filipino talents in the country and bring Filipino entertainment to the world. To learn more about NYMA, visit nyma.ph.

Two UPD College of Science Professors Win the NRCP Achievement Award

Dr. Cristine Villagonzalo (left) and Dr. Reynaldo Garcia (right) receiving the Achievement Award (Photo credit: DOST-NRCP)

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Dr. Cristine Villagonzalo and Dr. Reynaldo Garcia from the UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) received the prestigious Achievement Award from the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) in the recently held Annual Scientific Conference and 91st General Membership Assembly last March 12, 2024.

Dr. Villagonzalo of the UPD-CS National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP) was lauded for her contributions to Physics, and Dr. Garcia of the UPD-CS National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPD-CS NIMBB) for his contributions to the field of Medical Sciences.

Dr. Villagonzalo served as the President of the NRCP Governing board from 2022 to 2023. She is a Professor and the Deputy Director for Academic Affairs at NIP and the Project Leader of the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD) Philippines. Dr. Villagonzalo received her doctorate of natural sciences at Chemnitz University of Technology in Germany. She is currently working on a research project to integrate a quantum mechanics principle called the perturbation theory in a quantum circuit.

Dr. Garcia founded the Disease Molecular Biology and Epigenetics Laboratory (DMBEL) at NIMBB in 2011. He and his team played a crucial role in detecting and preventing the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic. Dr. Garcia received his doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Australian National University and is currently a Professor at NIMBB. He is currently investigating how specific mutations in colon cancer cells affect their resistance to treatments, and how these mutated cells divide, migrate, and survive.

The NRCP started awarding the Achievement Award in 1979 to those who have significantly contributed to the research and development of natural sciences, health sciences, engineering, industry, social sciences, and humanities in the Philippines.

Aside from Dr. Villagonzalo and Dr. Garcia, three professors from UP Los Baños also received the Achievement Awards, namely Dr. Inocencio Buot Jr. for his contributions to Biological Sciences, Dr. Maria Ana Quimbo for Social Sciences, and Dr. Remil Galay for Veterinary Medicine.

The UPD Department of Chemical Engineering was awarded the 2023 NRCP Outstanding Institution Award. It joins the ranks of UPD-CS institutes that have received the award, namely NIP, Marine Science Institute (MSI), and Natural Sciences Research Institute DNA Analysis Laboratory (NSRI-DAL).



By Harvey Sapigao

Singapore Pavilion and the National Collection at the Biennale Arte 2024

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Opening to the public on 20 April 2024, the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia (Biennale Arte) returns this week in Venice with a strong showing of Singapore offerings. This year, Singapore Art Museum presents Seeing Forest at the Pavilion of Singapore, while National Gallery Singapore is contributing artworks (from our national collection) to the Nucleo Storico section of the Central Pavilion, a first in our nation’s history.


Seeing Forest at the Pavilion of Singapore

The 11th edition of the Pavilion of Singapore at the Biennale Arte features Seeing Forest by artist Robert Zhao Renhui, in collaboration with curator Haeju Kim. Commissioned by the National Arts Council, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and organised by the Singapore Art Museum, the exhibition invites visitors to step into a mysterious, forested zone that exists both in the imagination and in Singapore to uncover the complex web of human and non-human co-existence. The exhibition features a two-channel video installation, a sculptural video installation, and a photographic work, and is complemented by an imaginary forest map in Singapore.

Singapore’s National Collection in Venice

For the first time in the country’s history, Singapore is also represented in the Main Exhibition of the 60th International Art Exhibition, entitled Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere, curated by Adriano Pedrosa. Eight artworks from National Gallery Singapore’s collection will be featured in the Nucleo Storico, in a sub-section entitled “Portraits”. The artworks range from self-portraits to representations of working class and indigenous persons, including Jeune fille en blanc (Young Girl in White) (1931) by Lê Phổ (Vietnam/France), Self Portrait (c. 1946) by Georgette Chen (China/Singapore), Labourer (Lunch Break) (1965) by Lai Foong Moi (Malaysia/Singapore) and more.