Here are the latest news and events that happened today, Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

Zubiri: Senate to prioritize LEDAC bills over Cha-cha

The Senate will prioritize the measures identified as such by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) over measures seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Tuesday. In an interview with reporters, Zubiri said that amending the Constitution was never included in the chamber's agenda. He likewise reiterated that measures on Charter change were never See more...

China's laser use 'constitutes armed attack' on Philippine vessel: Carpio

MANILA — The Chinese coast guard's use of a military-grade laser on a Philippine vessel last week constituted an armed attack and could be used by Manila to invoke its Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, a former Supreme Court justice said Tuesday. Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said that while the laser caused only temporary blindness See more...

China also used laser on Philippine ship in June 2022 —PCG exec

Before the February 6, 2023 incident, a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel also used a laser light on a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) tugboat in June last year, an official of the PCG said Tuesday. “This is already the second time. The first time that we experienced the laser-pointing of the Chinese Coast Guard was June last year,” PCG adviser See more...

When heartbreaks can 'kill': Expert warns Pinoys struggling with relationships

MANILA — Jianne Pamintuan was at loss for words when her ex-boyfriend admitted cheating on her with his workmate, despite being in a relationship with her for 4 years. The college sweethearts still tried to fix what was wrong between them, she said, but it could no longer be saved. Since this was her first relationship and first time See more...

Regulator approves importing 440-k metric tons of sugar for 2023

MANILA - The Sugar Regulatory Board has greenlighted the importation of 440,000 metric tons of sugar for 2023. The SRA said the imports will augment the local supply of sugar and are expected to curb the rising retail price of sugar in markets. This batch of imports will come on a staggered basis: 100,000 metric tons will arrive as See more...

Pananakit sa lalaking nagnakaw umano ng bigas, nahuli-cam

Nahuli-cam sa Iloilo City ang pananakit ng ilang kalalakihan sa isang suspek na nagnakaw umano ng bigas. Nang dalhin sa police station ang suspek, sinabi ng pulisya na posibleng may problema sa pag-iisip ang lalaki. Sa ulat ni Rudje Mar Sucaldito sa GMA Regional TV News nitong Martes, makikita sa video na kuha ng isang concerned citizen ang isang lalaking See more...

Senate adopts panel report on ‘overpriced’ DepEd laptops

The Senate on Tuesday adopted the Blue Ribbon committee report on the supposedly overpriced laptops procured by the Department of Education (DepEd). The majority of the senators voted for the approval of the report, with only Senator Jinggoy Estrada voting against the adoption. "As much as I really want to be consistent as I had a dissenting opinion with regard See more...

LOOK: Belle Mariano, Donny Pangilinan all set for teleserye debut

MANILA – Star Magic has a Valentine's Day gift for DonBelle fans. On Tuesday, the talent agency shared a screenshot of a virtual meeting for the upcoming series of Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, hinting that its production will soon start. Last December, the screen partners were announced as the lead stars of the teleserye “Can’t Buy Me Love,” as See more...

Average board passing rate for elementary, HS teachers remain low, says group

MANILA - The passing rate in the board exams for elementary and secondary school teachers remains low, according to an education advocacy group. The Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) on Tuesday unveiled its 2010-2022 study on the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT) and the performance of Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) in the Philippines. Only 37 percent of exam See more...

Topacio wants SC to cite ex-commissioner Guanzon for indirect contempt

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio on Tuesday filed a petition for indirect contempt with the Supreme Court against former poll Commissioner Rowena Guanzon for publicly disclosing that she had filed a disbarment case against him. In a 20-page petition, Topacio cited Rule 139-B of the Rules of Court, saying that proceedings against attorneys shall be private and confidential. “At maliwanag po ang See more...

Police arrest suspect in 'gov't position, contracts for sale' scam

MANILA — The Philippine National Police on Tuesday said it arrested a suspect in a scam that allegedly offered government positions and contracts in exchange for huge sums of money. The suspect, Edward Diokno, was arrested on Monday after authorities responded to reports of a man who allegedly pointed a gun on a motorcycle rider in Taguig City, said See more...

Pinay, ligtas na nakuha mula sa gumuhong gusali sa Turkey matapos ang 60 oras

Isang Pinay na 60 oras na nasa guho ang nailigtas sa Turkey. Samantala, pumalo na sa mahigit 35,000 ang nasawi sa Turkey at Syria dulot ng magnitude 7.8 na lindol. Sa ulat ng GMA News Unang Balita nitong Martes, kinilala ang nailigtas na overseas Filipino worker na si Juliva Benlingan. Ayon sa kaniyang kapatid na si Maribel, may sugat sa See more...

GCash, AB Capital to test run online stock trading feature ahead of full rollout

MANILA - GCash said it would test run the online stock trading features on its app with partner AB Capital after the Securities and Exchange Commission approved the trial run. Philippine Stock Exchange President and CEO Ramon Monzon earlier said stock trading would be available on the mobile wallet GCash, which he said could encourage more Filipinos to invest in See more...

BIR unveils mascot as it aims to increase revenues, raise compliance

MANILA - The Bureau of Internal Revenue on Tuesday unveiled a new mascot as it aims to improve revenue collections and offset any possible losses from tax reforms. Revie, whose name is play on 'revenue,' is the mascot version of the recently revamped BIR chatbot that answers frequently asked questions on taxes. BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr said the See more...

Trough of LPA to bring scattered rains over Visayas, Mindanao

On Valentine's Day, the Trough of the Low Pressure Area (LPA) will bring scattered rains over Visayas and Mindanao while the northeast monsoon or amihan will be affecting Luzon, PAGASA reported. Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms brought about by the trough of the LPA with possible flash floods or landslides due to See more...

'Mabuhay ka': Tributes pour in for Lualhati Bautista

MANILA -- The public paid tribute to eminent Filipino writer and women’s advocate Lualhati Bautista after she passed away. In a Facebook post, the Cultural Center of the Philippines recalled how Bautista's works contributed to the country's rich literature. "Pambihira ang nilikhang mga akda ni Lualhati Bautista bilang pangunahing manunulat sa ating panahon. Anim na dekada siyang puspusang See more...

Taxi driver, umamin na kasabwat sa pagpatay sa nawawalang lola at isa pa

Nadakip at umamin ang isang taxi driver kaugnay sa pagkawala ng dalawang biktima na kinalaunan ay magkahiwalay na natagpuan patay sa magkaibang lugar. Ang isa sa mga biktima, isang lola sa Quezon City. Ayon sa Quezon City Police District (QCPD) nitong Lunes, kinilala ang Criminal Investigation Unit (CIDU) ang suspek na si Mark Anthony Valera Cosio, o “Mac Mac,” isang See more...

StoreHub launches tool to drive repeat sales

Southeast Asian tech startup StoreHub, a platform that enables restaurants and retailers to automate and grow their businesses, has launched a digital tool that would help drive repeat sales. In a news release, StoreHub said its new in-app feature, StoreHub Engage, an automated SMS (simple messaging service) marketing tool, allows businesses already using the startup’s ecosystem to automate up to See more...

Blue Ribbon Committee report sa DepEd laptops, inaprubahan na ng Senado

Inaprubahan na ng Senado ang Blue Ribbon Committee report na nagrekomenda na sampahan ng mga kasong katiwalian at iba pang kasong kriminal at administratibo ang mga dati at kasalukuyang opisyal ng Department of Education at ng Procurement Service ng Department of Budget and Management o PS-DBM. Dahil ito sa pagbili ng DepEd at PS-DBM ng laptops para sa public school See more...

Pinay na inaresto sa Myanmar, nakauwi na ng Pilipinas

Nakabalik na sa Pilipinas ang Pinay na si Kiela Samson matapos siyang arestuhin ng mga awtoridad sa Myanmar noong Enero 17. Kinumpirma ng kamag-anak ni Kiela na si Atty. Donna Samson-Umil sa Pasada sa TeleRadyo na nakauwi na nitong Pebrero 13 ng madaling araw si Kiela. "Fortunately, na-rescue siya unlike the other Filipinos who are still—I'm not sure—pero detained ata See more...

BPI sets system maintenance on Feb. 17 to 18; ATMs, mobile banking, debit cards affected

MANILA - Bank of the Philippine Island said it will undergo system maintenance from 10 p.m. on Feb. 17 Friday until 12 pm. on Feb. 18 Saturday, which could affect select services. During this period, the following services will be temporarily unavailable: • ATMs and Cash Accept Machines (CAMs) • BPI Online and BPI Mobile app, BPI BizLink*, and BPI BizKo • See more...

Diokno calls on Customs chief Rubio to prioritize digitalization

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, the chief economic manager of the Marcos administration, called on newly designated Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio to prioritize the agency’s digitalization. In a statement issued Tuesday, Diokno welcomed Rubio’s appointment as Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief. Rubio replaced Yogi Filemon Ruiz as head of the BOC. Ruiz led the agency in an acting capacity. “A digital See more...

Contributions to personal retirement tool PERA grew 30% in 2022 — BSP

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Tuesday said contributions to the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) grew by a high double-digit rate last year. In a statement, the BSP said PERA contributions stood at P329.55 million as of end-2022, up 30% from P253.35 million contributions recorded in 2021. As a voluntary retirement account, PERA provides an organizing See more...

AJ Raval finally confirms relationship with Aljur Abrenica

MANILA – (UPDATED) Sexy actress AJ Raval has finally confirmed her relationship with actor Aljur Abrenica more than a year since they have been romantically linked to each other. On Valentine's Day, Raval released a photo with the actor with a sweet message. “I'll always give you all the love I have in my heart and love you unconditionally,” See more...

SWS: Marcos Jr. maintains 'very good' net satisfaction rating for Q4 2022

MANILA - Three out of four adult Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations showed. The results of the SWS survey, conducted last December 10-14, 2022, showed 75 percent of adult Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of Marcos Jr., while 7 percent are dissatisfied. Another 18 See more...

Suspect in 'position for sale' scam nabbed in Taguig

A man allegedly involved in a scam offering government positions in exchange for a large sum of money was nabbed by authorities in Taguig City. Members of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) arrested suspect Edward Vincent Diokno Eje, alias Vaughn Monton Vincent, on Monday afternoon after he was reported to have pointed a gun at a See more...

Marcos summons Chinese envoy over 'increasing intensity of actions' vs Pinoy fishers, PCG

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to express his "serious concern" on the increasing harassment against Pinoy fishermen and Coast Guard personnel, Malacañang said. "The President summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian this afternoon to express his serious concern over the increasing frequency and intensity of actions by China against the Philippine Coast See more...

Lalaki, nakatanggap ng bulaklak na pampatay mula sa nobya

Hindi mapupulang rosas o mamahaling gamit, kundi bulaklak na nakaayos gaya ng para sa patay ang iniregalo ng isang dalaga sa kaniyang nobyo para sa Valentine’s Day. Ang dahilan, "patay na patay" ang babae sa lalaki. Ito ang naisip na sorpresa ni Fides Bernardo sa kaniyang nobyong si Anton Segismundo, na hindi naiwasang matakot. "Takot na takot ako nung See more...

Mobile number porting activity increases after SIM registration implementation: telcos

MANILA - Telecommunications Connectivity, Inc. (TCI) said on Tuesday it has seen a spike in the transfers of mobile numbers from different service providers, or mobile number porting, following the government's SIM registration drive. TCI is the joint venture of DITO Telecommunity, Globe Telecom and PLDT Inc's Smart Communication, established to oversee the implementation of mobile number portability. The Mobile See more...

'Happy Balentymes': Did Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano spend Feb. 14 together?

MANILA – It appears that Kapamilya sceen couple Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano spent Valentine's Day together. While the "new-gen phenomenal love team" did not share photos of them together, their respective Instagram stories hinted that they were with each other on February 14. On Pangilinan’s social media account, the actor shared a photo of Mariano eating during See more...

Magkasintahan nahulihan ng P680,000 halaga ng shabu umano sa Maynila

Sa bilangguan na magdiriwang ng Valentine’s Day ang isang magkasintahan matapos silang mahulihan ng hinihinalang shabu na nasa P680,000 ang halaga sa Intramuros, Maynila. Sa ulat ni Nico Waje sa Unang Balita nitong Martes, kinilala ang mga suspek na sina Aldwin Dela Cruz at Monica Orlanda. Sila ay nadakip sa isang buy-bust operation kasama ang dalawa pa nilang kasamahan. Kalalabas See more...

G! Kapamilya Tour in Abu Dhabi platinum tickets sold out in less than a week

The platinum tickets for ABS-CBN's G! Kapamilya Tour in Abu Dhabi were sold out in less than a week. The show stars Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo, Joshua Garcia and Zanjoe Marudo. "Everyone is eager to party and have a good time over here. People are hopeful for 2023 and the positive energy that the cast of G! Kapamilya is emitting See more...

Renewal ng rehistro ng sasakyan, pwede na online

MANILA — Inilunsad ng Land Transportation Office (LTO) ang online renewal ng rehistro ng mga pribadong sasakyan. Para sa mga plain renewal, maaari na itong gawin gamit ang Land Transportation Management System Portal. Matapos dumaan sa Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center ang sasakyan, ita-transmit na nito ang resulta sa database ng LTO at maaari nang irehistro ang sasakyan online nang See more...

Kasalang bayan sa Cavite gumamit ng 'gulay bouquet'

Imbis na bulaklak, sibuyas, kamatis, sili, bawang, at iba pang gulay ang laman ng bouquet ng higit trentang babaeng kinasal sa libreng garden wedding sa Cavite City. Ayon sa LGU ng Cavite City, pinili nilang maging praktikal at gumamit ng sibuyas kasama ng mga sari- saring gulay sa halip na mamahaling bouquet na nakasanayang gamitin tuwing may kinakasal. "Praktikal lang See more...

The Ukraine war, from Azovstal to 'Z'

KYIV — From Bucha, the town synonymous with massacre allegations, to the "Z" symbol for Russia's attack on its neighbor, here are some of the words that have defined the last 12 months of war in Ukraine. AZOVSTAL One of the largest metal mills in Europe, the Azovstal steel plant in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol went down in See more...

VP Sara wants LGBTQ+ relationships protected under law

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said she would support legislation that would protect the partnership between members of the LGBTQ+ community. In a message to GMA News Online, Duterte, however, clarified that she was not particularly pertaining to same-sex marriage, saying she wants the protection of such partnerships under the law. “Yes I support legislation to protect other gender See more...

Senators denounce China's latest 'act of hostility' in West PH Sea

MANILA -- Senators on Tuesday condemned the latest act of "harassment" by the Chinese Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea following the Feb. 6 incident that prompted a diplomatic protest from Manila. "We protest vigorously against the continued provocations of the Chinese Navy in the West Philippine Sea. This is not the first time our troops have been harassed See more...

DFA: 12 more Filipino trafficking victims in Myanmar seek rescue

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said at least 12 more Filipino human trafficking victims in Myanmar had asked to be rescued. The DFA earlier repatriated eight Filipino human trafficking victims from Myanmar, four of whom were made to work as online scammers in cryptocurrency farms. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said they estimated that around 50 See more...

DOH records 81 new COVID-19 cases; active tally drops to 9,087

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday recorded 81 new COVID-19 cases while the active tally went down to 9,087. This was the second straight day that fewer than 100 COVID-19 cases were reported daily, even as the total number of cases since the pandemic began in early 2020 stood at 4,074,821. The number of active cases dropped from 9,137 See more...

US backs Philippines in laser dispute with China

The United States on Monday said it stood with the Philippines after Manila accused China's coast guard of using a laser to try to disrupt a resupply mission to troops in the South China Sea. "The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of the People's Republic of China (PRC) Coast Guard's reported use of laser devices See more...

Tulfo airs concern over possible effects of earthquakes on informal settlers

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Tuesday asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) the measures they are implementing to ensure that informal settlers will be safe in case of a powerful earthquake. Tulfo cited an article by Architect Felino Palafox that said 30 to 40 percent of the buildings in Metro Manila will collapse in case a 7.2 magnitude See more...

3 weather systems to trigger rains across Philippines

Three weather systems may trigger rains in several parts of the country, according to state weather bureau PAGASA on Tuesday. In its latest bulletin, PAGASA said the trough of the Low Pressure Area (LPA) may bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Visayas and Mindanao while the localized thunderstorms are expected to cast partly cloudy to cloudy See more...

OFW rescued after 60 hours under rubble in Turkey

A Filipino woman was rescued after 60 hours under rubble following the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, Unang Balita reported on Tuesday. Juliva Benlingan sustained wounds on her face, head and feet and was dehydrated when rescued, according to her sister Maribel. She is now recovering in a hospital. In a Facebook post, Maribel said her sister See more...

DFA exec warns Pinoys: Don't use tourist visas to work in Southeast Asian nations

An official from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday warned Filipinos who want to seek jobs in Southeast Asian countries to not enter the countries via tourist visas. "Huwag pupunta doon ng turista na bobolahin kayo ng recruiter na pagdating niyo doon icoconvert sa working visa, hindi po ganoon sa Southeast Asia so red flag na 'yun," DFA See more...

Marcos orders Pres'l Communications Office to work with adviser on creative comms

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has signed an executive order revamping the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), which changed the undersecretaries' areas of concerns and mandating the office to cooperate with a Palace adviser for their communications strategy. Executive Order No. 16, signed by Marcos on Feb. 13 but only released on Tuesday, aims "to consolidate its communications activities See more...

'You are so beautiful': Mark Leviste flies to US to see Kris Aquino on her birthday

Is romance brewing between Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste and actress-host Kris Aquino? This was the question of their followers on Monday, after the politician posted a video of him visiting Aquino in the US, where she has been undergoing treatments for her autoimmune conditions. Leviste shared the video of him approaching a parked car carrying Aquino, with the latter's See more...

Mekaniko, patay matapos magulungan ng kinukumpuning jeep sa Makati

Patay ang isang mekaniko matapos magulungan ng jeep na kaniyang kinukumpuni sa Makati City, ayon sa ulat ni Nico Waje sa Unang Balita nitong Martes. Sugatan din ang dalawang iba pa dahil sa insidenteng naganap sa Zanzibar Street sa Barangay San Isidro. Kinilala ang nasawing biktima na si Dennis Magaso. Itinakbo pa si Magaso sa ospital dahil sa matinding pinsala See more...

Saudi Arabia to send its first woman into space

RIYADH - Saudi Arabia will send its first ever woman astronaut on a space mission later this year, the latest move by the kingdom to revamp its ultra-conservative image. Rayyana Barnawi will join fellow Saudi Ali Al-Qarni on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said. Barnawi and Al-Qarni will fly to See more...

'Everything changed': Ukrainians look back on a year of war

KYIV — The first went from civilian to military life. The second completely changed languages. The third bravely helped keep the country moving along its rail network lifeline. Not a single Ukrainian was left untouched by the Russian invasion, which started on Feb. 24, 2022. Three of them spoke to AFP about what they lived through, and how the war See more...

Vilma Santos, inaming nabaliw noon sa pag-ibig: ‘Marami’

Sa Araw ng mga Puso, inihayag ni Vilma Santos na hindi lang isa, kundi maraming beses na siyang nabaliw sa pag-ibig. “Marami!” pag-amin ni Ate Vi sa “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” nitong Martes nang tanungin ni Tito Boy. “Ayan na naman, me and my big mouth,” sabi ni Ate Vi, na madalas daw madulas sa kaniyang mga panayam. “Nakaranas, See more...

China defends laser incident, accuses Philippine ship of intrusion

China has defended its coast guard's action to point laser light at a Philippine vessel near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, saying the vessel was intruding into Chinese territory. In a press conference Monday, China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the Philippine Coast Guard vessel "intruded into the waters off the Ren'ai Reef without Chinese permission." Wang See more...

Marcos summons Chinese envoy over 'increasing intensity of actions' vs Pinoy fishers, PCG

MANILA (UPDATED)— President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to express his "serious concern" on the increasing harassment against Pinoy fishermen and Coast Guard personnel, Malacañang said. "The President summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian this afternoon to express his serious concern over the increasing frequency and intensity of actions by China against the Philippine Coast See more...

PLDT: Class action suit filed vs. current, former execs

Telecommunications giant PLDT Inc. on Tuesday said that a class action lawsuit has been filed against former and current executives of the company before a United States court. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, PLDT said it “has learned that a securities class action lawsuit was commenced on February 6, 2023 by Sophia Olsson, a purported holder of See more...

Is having a broken heart a medical condition? Kuya Kim answers

Can you really have a broken heart, medically speaking? Kuya Kim Atienza answered this question on Tuesday's "24 Oras." He talked to a woman named Kat, who is heartbroken because she and her fiancé broke up. "Ang pinaka-strugggle ko rin ay hindi ako makakain, bumagsak talaga ko from 57 kilos to 47 kilos. Medyo mahirap humanap ng reason to start See more...

Supreme Court upholds Degamo victory in 2022 Negros Oriental gubernatorial race

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday upheld the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) resolution that saw the proclamation of Gov. Roel Degamo as the winner of the 2022 Negros Oriental gubernatorial race. This, after the high court junked former Gov. Pryde Henry Teves' petition against the poll body on the gubernatorial dispute that resulted in a standoff at See more...

Bureau of Immigration warns vs crypto trafficking targeting Pinoy professionals

MANILA - The Bureau of Immigration on Tuesday cautioned professionals with the capacity to travel, to be cautious of jobs offered online whether here or abroad amid a new form of human trafficking. This was after 8 professionals who were victimized by a crypto trafficking ring and who were rescued and repatriated on Monday, the BI said in a See more...

Enrile turns 99, thanks God for another year

MANILA — Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile turned 99 years old on Tuesday and thanked God for giving him those years. "Happy Valentine's day to all of you. I love you all. 99 years are, indeed, long in term of years, and I thank God for granting me those years," he wrote on Facebook. "But in terms of eternity, See more...

Senate shuns Charter change amid House panel push

MANILA -- Senators on Tuesday backed President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s pronouncement that Charter change is not a priority of the administration amid a House of Representatives panel's ongoing hearings on the controversial measure. "Charter change was never really in our agenda... I welcome the statement of the President na hindi na priority 'yan because at this point in time, ayaw See more...

PCG says China laser light use already 'second time'

MANILA — China's use of a military-grade laser light last week was the "second time" that it shooed away the Philippine Coast Guard from the West Philippine Sea with the device, an official said on Tuesday. In June last year, the Chinese coast guard shone a blue laser light for about 20 minutes at the tugboat BRP Habagat, which See more...

Guidelines on bivalent COVID-19 vaccines use out by next week —Vergeire

The guidelines on the use of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines will be released by next week, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Tuesday. At a press briefing, Vergeire said they are finalizing the guidelines and that their last meeting with the group of experts will be held on Tuesday or Wednesday. “Pagkatapos noon ipa-finalize na natin yung See more...

DFA: No reported Filipino casualties in Syria after earthquake

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said there were no reported Filipino casualties in Syria following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the said country and Turkey. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega said there were 60 Filipinos in the Northwestern Syria where the strong quake hit. “There are 60 of them in the Northwestern Syria where See more...

SC upholds victory of Negros Oriental governor

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the victory of Roel Degamo as the provincial governor of Negros Oriental. In a statement, the Supreme Court En Banc said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) did not commit grave abuse of discretion when it declared Grego “Ruel” Degamo as a nuisance candidate. Due to this, the proclamation of Pryde Henry Teves as provincial See more...

IKEA stores owner Ingka says campaigns help boost store visits and sales

STOCKHOLM - Price cuts at IKEA as well as promotional campaigns which the budget furniture giant normally doesn't do have boosted footfall and sales, the CEO of the company which owns most of its stores told Reuters, as it seeks to offset weak consumer confidence. Cost inflation and recession fears are causing households to rein in spending and in November See more...

Magkakapatid sa CamSur, bakit tinutuksong mga kamukha raw ng 'daga'?

Sa isang lumang kubo na gawa sa sawali ang dingding at pawid ang bubungan, nakatira ang isang ginang at lima niyang anak. Pero apat sa kaniyang mga anak, madalas daw na tinutukso dahil sa hitsura nila na mukha umanong daga. Sa nakaraang episode ng "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," napag-alaman na single mother na si Jesebel matapos na pumanaw ang pangalawa See more...

Onion farmers, solons confront 'Mrs. Sibuyas' over alleged trade modus

MANILA -- An onion farmer on Tuesday claimed that a so-called "Mrs. Sibuyas" buys onions off the market to justify the importation of the produce. Israel Reguyal, chairman of the Bonena Multipurpose Cooperative, explained to lawmakers of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food that that is the "modus" of a certain Lilia Leah Cruz, who had been tagged by See more...

Nagsimulang text mates: Lolo at lola, nagpakasal ngayong Valentine's Day

Walang pinipili ang edad kapag nakaramdam na ng pag-ibig. Ito ang pinatunayan ng 68 taong gulang na si Armando Ramos ng Barangay Paetan sa bayan ng Sablayan sa Occidental Mindoro. Ngayong araw ng mga puso, ikinasal si Ramos kay Marilou Castañeda, 69 na taon gulang na noong 2015 pa nabiyuda. Kabilang sila sa 105 pares na ikinasal ni Sablayan Mayor See more...

Data privacy: Looking back, moving forward II

Compared to last year, 2023 is turning out to be a mishmash of sorts, comprised of both legacy concerns and novel developments that come in all shapes and sizes. Everyone will have their hands full navigating a world that is becoming populated with modern subjects like Artificial Intelligence and the metaverse, while still buried in dated issues like phishing, ransomware See more...

Bianca Umali, Ruru Madrid to have their first on-screen kiss in 'The Write One'

Bianca Umali and Ruru Madrid will have their first on-screen kiss in "The Write One." In a new teaser for the upcoming series, the two were scene getting married in a church. And of course, they shared a sweet kiss in front of the altar! Ruru previously revealed the name of their characters, Liam and Joyce. The Kapuso Action-Drama Prince See more...

Pres. Marcos, ipinatawag ang Chinese envoy

Ipinatawag ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. si Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian para ipahayag ang kaniyang pagkabahala sa ginagawa ng China laban sa mga tauhan ng Philippine Coast Guard at mga mangingisdang Filipino sa West Philippine Sea. Inihayag ito ng Presidential Communications Office nitong Martes ng hapon. Pinakahuling insidente ang paggamit ng Chinese Coast Guard ng military-grade laser sa sasakyang See more...

Marcos summons Chinese envoy over actions vs. PCG, Filipino fishermen

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to express his serious concern over the increasing frequency and intensity of actions of China against personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard and Filipino fishermen. The Presidential Communications Office disclosed this on Tuesday afternoon. The latest incident was China’s use of military-grade laser against a PCG vessel while on a See more...

Marcos reviewing proposed extension of Malampaya gas project's service contract: DOE

MANILA - As the clock begins to wind down on the service contract of the Malampaya gas project, the Department of Energy on Tuesday declined to comment on the proposed extension of the contract saying this is still being reviewed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malamapaya supplies natural gas to five power plants in Luzon, with a combined capacity of See more...

Marcos orders reorganization of Presidential Communications Office

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 16 which orders the reorganization of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). Signed on February 13, the Executive Order states that the PCO Secretary shall be assisted by five undersecretaries, 14 assistant secretaries, and one assistant secretary who will directly report to the Secretary. The undersecretaries shall each be assigned and put See more...

Landbank to offer more loans, scholarships to agri families

MANILA - The state-run Landbank of the Philippines said it is sponsoring scholarships for children of farmers, fisherfolk and other workers in the agriculture sector. At the inauguration of the Landbank Leadership and Development Center in Intramuros, bank President and CEO Cecilia Cayosa Borromeo also said they seek to disburse more loans to the sector this year. She See more...

Philanderer fleeing two angry women not guilty of drunk driving

LOS ANGELES - A California man was found not guilty of drunk driving after arguing he needed to escape from "two angry women" -- his wife and the woman she had caught him with. Thomas Patrick Houston told a court his spouse had found him in the act with his paramour. Houston, 60, said driving off -- despite being over See more...

UAE OFW who used to be a mental rehab worker turns to caring for stray cats

ABU DHABI – An overseas Filipino worker, who used to care for abandoned and neglected adult women with psychological issues at a residential care facility in the Philippines, has now set up his own program rescuing, training and feeding stray cats, in what he says is an extension of his former job. Thirty-four-year-old Jonathan Corporal Sibol, a graduate of University See more...

SEC official testifies in pork barrel case vs Enrile before Sandiganbayan

MANILA — An official from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday testified in the ongoing plunder and graft trial of former Senator and now Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile. SEC chief counsel for Company Registration and Monitoring Department RJ Bernal appeared before the Sandiganbayan Third Division to give his testimony on the case, with both the prosecution See more...

Ford says to axe 3,600 jobs in Germany, UK

PARIS - US automaker Ford said Tuesday it would cut 3,600 jobs in Britain and Germany and 200 elsewhere in Europe, citing the need to be "leaner" as competition in electric cars grows. The company said 2,300 positions in product development and administrative functions would be slashed in Germany and 1,300 in Britain over the next three years. It did See more...

Philippine Eagles go mutual soaring on Valentine’s Day

These Philippine Eagles just showed that love is in the air this Valentine’s Day. On Tuesday, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) shared photos of two Philippine Eagles soaring together in the skies. This is a form of PDA for the birds, it said. “Mutual soaring is one of the best behaviors confirming that Philippine eagles are a breeding pair,” it See more...

No Pinoys hurt in U-Haul truck rampage in New York

NEW YORK - No Filipinos were hurt when a U-Haul truck struck pedestrians in Brooklyn, New York City on Monday (US time), New York Consul General Senen Mangalile said. Eight pedestrians — one of them a police officer — were however injured in the incident, authorities said, according to a report by Reuters. Two of the victims are in critical See more...

Valentine's Day most popular wedding date among Filipino couples: PSA

MANILA — More Filipinos get married on Valentine's Day than on any other date, official numbers from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed. Data gathered by the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group showed that on average, about 13,000 couples tied the knot on Feb. 14 over the last 12 years, from 2008 to 2020. This comprises 3 percent of total See more...

HORI7ON to stay in PH until March, targeting June debut in South Korea: MLD head

MANILA — HORI7ON, the new pop group assembled via the reality talent search "Dream Maker," will be staying in the Philippines until March and is targeting to officially debut in June, MLD Entertainment CEO Lee Hyung-jin said Tuesday. In HORI7ON's first press conference two days after the finale of "Dream Maker," Lee said that the Korean agency will be organizing See more...

Tolentino eyes update of NCR quake contingency plan

Senator Francis Tolentino on Tuesday raised the need to update the earthquake contingency plan for the National Capital Region due to new infrastructures in the metro. "Yung sinimulan po natin yung Oplan Metro Yakal matagal-tagal na po iyan. Nag-shake drill po tayo non kung matatandaan niyo," Tolentino, former chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said in an interview See more...

Alodia Gosiengfiao, Christopher Quimbo get married on Valentine's Day

MANILA – Celebrity cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao is now off the market as she tied the knot with her entrepreneur-partner Christopher Quimbo on Valentine’s Day. On Instagram, Gosiengfiao’s bridesmaid Verniece Enciso shared photos of the wedding ceremony on Tuesday. Early this week, Gosiengfiao released some snaps from their pre-wedding pictorial which had the forest as its setting, leading See more...

'Furst Date': PAWS opens shelter for animal lovers on V-Day

No date this Valentine's Day? The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has you covered. For only 750 pesos you can go on a "furst date" with cute and cuddly fur babies sheltered at the PAWS office in Quezon City. You can choose your "fur date" through their gallery of cats and dogs that were rescued by PAWS. The fee includes See more...

Marcos gets ‘very good’ net satisfaction rating in latest SWS survey

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. received a “very good” net satisfaction rating in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released Tuesday. “The resulting net satisfaction rating is +68, classified by SWS as very good. This is 5 points up from the very good +63 in October 2022,” the polling firm said. The SWS survey also showed 75% of See more...

DOH: COVID-19 cases plateauing in all areas

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said COVID-19 cases in all areas of the country have recently started plateauing. At a press briefing, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire presented the COVID-19 cases monitored in the National Capital Region, the rest of Luzon, in Mindanao, and the Visayas. She added that while the decline in ICU admissions had slowed down, See more...

House remembers late Trade chief Ongpin: Remarkable, respected

The House of Representatives on Tuesday expressed condolences to the family of late Trade Minister Roberto Ongpin who died last February 4. This developed after the House adopted House Resolution 766 during Tuesday’s session. Ongpin served as the Trade Minister during administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., father of the incumbent president. “The late Trade Minister made many See more...

Long-term air pollution exposure raises depression risk — studies

WASHINGTON - Long-term exposure to air pollution raises the risk of depression, according to a pair of new studies published in the JAMA network of scientific journals. A study published on Friday in JAMA Network Open found that long-term exposure to elevated levels of air pollution increases the risk of late-onset depression among the elderly. The other study, published in See more...

Whamos Cruz engaged na kay Antonette Gail

MAYNILA – Engaged na ang content creator na si Whamos Cruz sa kaniyang nobya na si Antonette Gail. Kasabay ng Valentine’s Day, inilabas ni Cruz ang bagong vlog kung saan ipinakita niya ang ginawang proposal sa ina ng kaniyang anak. “Gusto ko nang pakasalan si Antonette. At hindi ako nagdalawang isip na gagawin ko ito ngayong araw, mga See more...

Banks allowed to accept ePhilIDs for bank transactions, account opening –PSA

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced Tuesday that the digital version of the Philippine Identification, known as ePhilIDs, can now be used for financial transactions such as opening bank accounts. In a memorandum, the PSA said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) would allow the use and acceptance of the ePhilID as sufficient proof of identity in its supervised banks See more...

BGYO, BINI join 'Dream Maker' finale performance

MANILA -- P-pop stars BINI and BGYO joined the contestants of "Dream Maker" during their finale showdown last weekend. BGYO performed "Tiger" with Kyler Chua, Matt Cruz, Neil Limbaga, Jules Indiola, Kim Ng, Prince Encelan, and Winston Pineda. "Lovey Dovey" was performed by BINI together with Marcus Cabais, Luiz Aguaviva, Anjo Sarnate, Josh Labing-isa, Josh Worsley, and Pan-pan Rosas. The See more...

VP Sara urges parents to use contraceptives, have family planning

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday called on newlyweds and soon-to-be parents to conduct family planning sessions and practice responsible parenthood for the welfare of their children. In her speech during a mass wedding ceremony sponsored by the Parañaque City local government, the Vice President explained that the uncontrolled number of pregnancies, resulting in some children not being able to See more...

Philippines protests China use of military grade laser vs. Coast Guard vessel

The Philippines on Tuesday protested China’s use of military-grade laser, including dangerous maneuvers, against a Coast Guard vessel while on a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal. In a protest lodged by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila called out China’s Coast Guard for its “latest aggressive activities” against Philippine vessels, heightening tensions anew between the two See more...

Cemex Holdings incurs P1 billion net loss in 2022

Listed cement producer Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. widened its consolidated net loss in the last quarter of the previous year to bring the full-year 2022 net loss to P1 billion, dragged by lower operating earnings and foreign exchange losses. In a disclosure to the local bourse, Cemex said its consolidated net income widened by 14% to P195.444 million from P171.714 See more...