Here are the latest news and events that happened today, Thursday, February 23, 2023.

Agri products supplier in Enrile graft case has no license, says witness

An officer-in-charge (OIC) at the City of Manila’s Bureau of Permit-Administrative Services on Thursday testified in the trial of the 15 counts of graft charges filed against Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile in connection with the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) when he was still senator. Lawyer Katrina Abad, one of the witnesses See more...

Celeste Cortesi is learning Tagalog, open to exploring acting opportunities

Celeste Cortesi just flexed her improved Tagalog skills on "Fast Talk With Boy Abunda." On Thursday, the Miss Universe Philippines 2022 confidently sprinkled some Tagalog phrases and sentences during her interview with the King of Talk. According to Celeste, she is open to exploring acting opportunities and that's why she is learning to speak Tagalog. "I hope that I will See more...

ERC extends suspension of FIT-All collection until August

Electricity consumers shall expect a relief in the next six months after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) extended the suspended collection of the Feed-in Tariff Allowance (FIT-All). In a statement, the ERC said FIT-All collection will continue to be suspended starting March until August 2023. The directive is contained in ERC’s Notice of Resolution dated February 22, 2023. To recall, See more...

17 PH provinces among top at-risk areas for climate damage —report

Seventeen provinces in the Philippines were among the top 100 areas in the world most vulnerable to the growing destructive power of climate change–driven weather extremes, according to a report. The Gross Domestic Climate Risk of assessor Cross Dependency Initiative (XDI) calculates the physical climate risk—due to extreme weather and climate change—to the built environment in over 2,600 territories around See more...

European Commission bans TikTok on official devices

BRUSSELS — The European Commission on Thursday banned TikTok on official devices used by staff amid concerns over data protection as the EU seeks to bolster its cybersecurity. TikTok, whose parent company ByteDance is Chinese, has faced increasing Western scrutiny in recent months over fears about how much access Beijing has to user data. The new ban also means European See more...

Lower power rates seen due to extended FIT-ALL suspension: ERC

MANILA - The Energy Regulatory Commission said Thursday it has extended the suspension of the collection of Feed-in Tariff Allowance (FIT-All) which is seen to lower power rates paid by consumers. The suspension of the FIT-ALL collection, or the fee imposed on all-grid electricity consumers and is part of the electric bill, was expanded by another 6 months starting March See more...

‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ director Zig Dulay thanks team for successful run

“Maria Clara at Ibarra” director Zig Dulay had nothing but gratitude for everyone who built the series. Sharing behind-the-scenes photos on Facebook, Dulay said it took a lot of people’s efforts to make the show work. “It takes a village to create a meaningful TV series - thank you to all the villagers,” he wrote. “Mahalaga ang collaboration para mas See more...

WHO reports decline in new COVID-19 cases, deaths globally

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a decline in new COVID-19 cases and deaths globally, according to its latest epidemiological update released on Wednesday. The WHO said nearly 5.3 million new infections and more than 48,000 deaths were reported from January 23 to February 19, a decrease of 89% and 62% respectively, compared to the past 28 days. Meanwhile, See more...

Mga traditional jeep, maaari pang bumiyahe basta naka-consolidate: LTFRB

Hindi agad mawawala ang mga traditional jeepney sa mga kalsada, ayon sa Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Nangamba ang mga operator at drayber sa ibinigay ng LTFRB na deadline na Hunyo 30 para sa industry consolidation sa ilalim ng Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. Pero paliwanag ni LTFRB Technical Division Head Joel Bolano, maaari pang mamasada ang mga See more...

What is a stem cell transplant?

A study published on February 9 declared a third person free of HIV after receiving a specific type of bone marrow, or stem cell, transplant. The 53-year-old man, who researchers are calling the "Düsseldorf" patient, received the treatment in 2013 and has been monitored since. Like the two others — known as the "Berlin" and "London" patients, respectively — the See more...

Art workshop para sa mga batang Pinoy, idinaos sa Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - Idinaos ang art workshop para sa mga batang Pinoy sa Cambodia na “Pintura Pambata Kids’ Art Workshop” noong February 12, 2023 sa multipurpose hall ng Embahada ng Pilipinas sa Cambodia. Kaalinsunod na rin ito ng National Arts Month ngayong Pebrero na may tema ngayong taon na: “Ani ng Sining, Bunga ng Galing.” Hinikayat ni Philippine See more...

DBP nets P5.6B in 2022, up 50%

State-owned lender Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) saw its full-year bottom line grow by 50% last year, on the back of higher lending activities amid the full reopening of the economy from the pandemic. In a statement, DBP said it posted a net income of P5.61 billion in 2022 from P3.74 billion in 2021. The lender said its financial See more...

'Madaling maging masaya': Sharon Cuneta, may payo sa mga bagong artista

MAYNILA -- May payo si Megastar Sharon Cuneta sa mga bagong artista bilang tulong sa pagsisimula ng kanilang karera. Sa kanyang panayam kasama si Ogie Diaz, nagbalik-tanaw si Cuneta sa isang karanasan sa ABS-CBN kaugnay sa ilang artistang hindi bumabati sa kaniya. "Meron kasi nakakalungkot minsan nasasalubong namin sa (ABS-CBN) corridor kunwari, pagdaan feeling ko... daig pa 'yung mga Lopez. See more...

Marcos seeks digitalized food balance sheets for food security: Palace

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr supports the creation of a digital farmer registry and food balance sheets in a bid to help the country's agriculture sector, Malacañang said on Thursday. During his meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC)’s agriculture unit on Tuesday, Marcos said the move will further digitalize the systems in agriculture. Addressing challenges See more...

Mga sakay ng bumagsak na Cessna plane sa Bicol, kumpirmadong nasawi—mayor

Walang nakaligtas sa apat na sakay ng Cessna airplane na bumagsak malapit sa bunganga ng Mayon Volcano sa Bicol, ayon sa alkalde ng Camalig, Albay. Sa panayam ng Dobol B TV nitong Huwebes, sinabi ni Camalig Mayor Carlos Baldo, na natagpuan ang apat na bangkay malapit sa bumagsak na eroplano. "Natagpuan na po 'yung apat na sakay ng eroplanong bumagsak See more...

IP march vs. Kaliwa Dam project reaches NCR, to proceed to Malacañang

The days-long march of a group of indigenous people (IP) opposing the Kaliwa Dam project is set to reach Malacañang on Thursday afternoon, James Agustin reported on Unang Balita on Thursday. Over 300 members of the IP group Dumagat-Remontados started marching from General Nakar in Quezon province on February 15 and crossed Laguna and Rizal in the succeeding days. On See more...

Toni Fowler clarifies 'MPL' music video for adults only

MANILA -- Content creator Toni Fowler acknowledged that she anticipated a range of reactions to the music video of her song "MPL" due to its adult content. Nevertheless, in a TikTok post, she clarified that her latest release was actually restricted, and not intended for a universal audience. “Ang daming nagsasabi ngayon ng kung anu-ano tungkol sa bago kong See more...

'Hello Hong Kong': Freebies, eased restrictions await visitors

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong is ready to welcome visitors from across the globe after more than two years of pandemic isolation. A new tourism campaign, aptly called "Hello Hong Kong," has been launched to woo tourists back to the global financial hub. Free flights and goodies form part of the initiative, as well as eased travel restrictions and new See more...

Anne Curtis has this message for Sam Milby, Catriona Gray

MANILA – The engagement of actor Sam Milby and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray was celebrated by many fans and celebrities – including Anne Curtis. Curtis joined many netizens in congratulating her former boyfriend Milby and the beauty queen for a new chapter in their relationship. “Congratulations you guys,” the “It’s Showtime!” host commented on Gray's Instagram post. Curtis See more...

Bato wants party-list system abolished

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa wants to remove the party-list system in the 1987 Constitution as he described the system as "redundant". "Ito gusto ko baguhin talaga, 'yung party-list system sana matanggal na yan... Sa nakikita ko parang redundancy na 'yan sa representation... Meron naman tayong district representation," Dela Rosa said in an ANC interview on Thursday. (I See more...

EU MPs visit De Lima on eve of 6th anniversary in detention

The delegation of European Parliament members of its subcommittee on human rights visited former Senator Leila De Lima at the PNP Custodial Center on Thursday, the eve of the sixth anniversary of her detention on drug charges. The EU members who visited De Lima were Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Karsten Lucke, Hannah Neumann, Silvia Sardone, Ryszard Czarnecki, Miguel Urban Crespo, and Ana See more...

NEDA ICC to finalize P15-T projects up for Marcos approval this week

The Cabinet level of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) is set to meet this week to finalize a list of some P15-trillion worth of projects that will be presented to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. next month. According to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, the ICC Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) meeting will establish the list that will See more...

South Korea freezes rates, ending year-long run of hikes

SEOUL - South Korea's central bank on Thursday froze benchmark interest rates at 3.5 percent owing to concerns over the slowing economy, ending a year-long run of hikes. The Bank of Korea decision comes after the economy shrank in the last 3months of 2022 -- the first time since the second quarter of 2020 as the pandemic kicked in. See more...

MPD chief Dizon’s Facebook page hacked

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has tapped the help of the Anti-Cybercrime Group in recovering the Facebook page of Manila Police District (MPD) chief Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon which was hacked Thursday. “Nahack ulit yung Facebook page ni district director, ngayon nagpapatulong tayo sa Anti-Cybercrime ng national headquarters ng Camp Crame para makuha ulit natin yung Facebook page,” See more...

Bata, patay matapos madaganan ng pader sa Kalibo, Aklan

Patay ang isang 4-anyos na batang lalaki nang madaganan siya ng pader sa bayan ng Kalibo, Aklan. Sa ulat ng GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas, na iniulat din ng Unang Balita nitong Huwebes, lumalabas sa imbestigasyon na kukuha lang sana siya, at ang kanyang 14-anyos na kapatid ng mga bakal sa isang abandonadong gusali para kanilang ibenta. Habang tinitibag See more...

Years after rejecting a proposal, Rabiya Mateo says she's ready to settle down

MANILA -- For the first time, Rabiya Mateo opened up about the time she rejected a marriage proposal from an ex-boyfriend. In an interview with Boy Abunda, the beauty queen-turned-actress revealed that her non-showbiz ex Neil Salvacion popped the question when she was 23 years old. The former Miss Universe Philippines titleholder, who is now 26, cited her dreams for See more...

Guro sa France, sinugod sa classroom at sinaksak ng 16-anyos na estudyante, patay

Kagimbal-gimbal ang nangyaring krimen sa loob ng isang paaralan sa France nang saksakin ng isang 16-anyos na lalaking estudyante ang babaeng guro sa gitna ng klase. Ang biktima, nasawi. Sa ulat ng Agence France-Presse, sinabing 52-anyos ang nasawing Spanish teacher, sa seaside town ng Saint-Thomas d'Aquin sa Saint Jean de Luz. Ayon kay Bayonne prosecutor Jerome Bourrier, hindi na naisalba See more...

Bayarin sa kuryente maaaring bumaba dahil sa ipagpapalibang singil

Inanunsiyo ngayong Huwebes ng Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) na pinalawig nito ang suspensiyon sa paniningil ng feed-in-tariff allowance (FIT-ALL), na nakikitang makapagpapababa sa singil sa kuryente. Nagpasya umano ang ERC na pahabain hanggang Agosto ang suspensiyon sa FIT-ALL o pondong napupunta sa mga renewable energy developer. Ibig sabihin nito'y imbes na bumalik ang FIT-ALL sa March billing, hindi muna ito See more...

Grupo ng sugar workers pumalag sa pagmamadaling mag-angkat ng asukal

MAYNILA - Pumalag ang grupo ng sugar workers sa umano'y pagmamadali na mag-angkat ng asukal ng Department of Agriculture (DA). Ayon sa National Federation of Sugar Workers, maituturing na economic sabotage ang ginawang hakbang ng DA. "Bakit tayo nagmamadali eh nasa peak tayo ng ating harvest? Wala tayong dapat ikabahala sa supply. Alam naman natin, it's an open See more...

Bodies of 4 on board ill-fated Cessna plane in Bicol found —mayor

The four people on board the ill-fated Cessna airplane in Bicol have been found dead, a local official said on Thursday. Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Mayor Carlos Baldo of Camalig, Albay said the bodies of the four were found near the wreckage of the plane, which crashed near the crater of Mayon Volcano. With the discovery of the bodies, See more...

Here's how Pia Wurtzbach likes her coffee

MANILA -- Like many people, Pia Wurtzbach cannot live without her coffee. The former Miss Universe likes her coffee "sweet and creamy," and usually drinks two cups a day. More specifically, she enjoys having a "reverso," or the opposite of the typical latte or cappuccino. Here, milk is poured first in the cup before the espresso. Reverso is a term See more...

'Hot money' net inflows up in January

Short-term foreign investments registered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) posted higher net inflows in January despite less money coming in. Data released by the central bank showed that foreign investments registered with authorized agent banks (AABs) posted a net inflow of $291.12 million in January, higher than the $92.95 million registered in December and $14.60 million in the See more...

Amihan to trigger rains in Luzon —PAGASA

Rains may continue to prevail in Metro Manila and several parts of Luzon due to the effect of the northeast monsoon (Amihan) according to weather bureau PAGASA. In PAGASA's Thursday forecast, the Amihan is expected to bring cloudy skies with rains over Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao as well as partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies See more...

Misteryosong nilalang sa dagat, umaatake umano sa Dawis beach sa Digos City

Nauwi sa matinding takot ang kasiyahan ng tatlong magkakatrabaho na naisipang maligo sa Dawis beach sa Digos City, Davao del Sur, nang atakihin at kagatin sila ng misteryosong nilalang sa ilalim ng dagat. Nitong nakaraang Pebrero 9 nang magkaayaan umano na mag-swimming sa Dawis beach ang magkakatrabaho na kinabibilangan ni Tommy Mangondato Jr. Kuwento ni Tommy sa "Kapuso Mo, See more...

What can fighter jets do and why does Ukraine want them?

During sharp turns, you are flattened into the seat by many times the force of gravity. You only maintain consciousness if you are in peak physical condition and wear special pants that squeeze the blood out of your legs. You rarely fly below 900 kilometers per hour (roughly 560 miles per hour). "The acceleration is breathtaking." That's how former German See more...

Red tide toxin detected in 6 coastal areas —BFAR

Six coastal areas in the country were found to be positive for Paralytic Shellfish Poison or toxic red tide beyond the regulatory limit, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Thursday. In its February 22 bulletin, the BFAR said red tide toxins were detected in shellfish collected and tested from the following areas: “All types of shellfish See more...

Angelica Panganiban humorously describes challenges of having clingy baby

MANILA – It seems like Angelica Panganiban is experiencing the joys as well as the challenges of motherhood. In her most recent Instagram update, Panganiban expressed her happiness of holding her newborn daughter Bean in her arms. However, it appears like Bean is an extremely clingy baby who refuses to sleep in her crib. As such, Panganiban ended up See more...

DOH reports 150 new COVID-19 cases; active tally at 9,269

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday monitored an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country with 150 new infections, bringing the active tally to 9,269. This came after less than 100 COVID-19 infections were reported daily for the previous two days. The nationwide tally stood at 4,075,812, including 4,000,480 recoveries and 66,063 deaths. The DOH said Metro Manila remained See more...

MTRCB: US film 'Plane' was 'voluntarily pulled out' by distributor

MANILA (UPDATED) -- The local distributor of the US movie "Plane" has "voluntarily pulled out" the film in the Philippines, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairperson Lala Sotto said Thursday. This after Senators Robin Padilla and Juan Miguel Zubiri condemned the movie for supposedly insulting the Philippines by portraying Jolo as overrun by rebels and militia. See more...

Showbiz shorts: DonBelle's moments that matter, Jackson Wang as new phone ambassador

MANILA — Big stars like Jackson Wang along with Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan are headlining some of the big brand on the market this month. DonBelle's moments with Smart The "new generation phenomenal love team" of Pangilinan and Mariano recently made fans kilig with their TV commercial and talked about some of the moments that matter to them the See more...

WHO notes 89 pct decline in COVID- infections, 62 pct in deaths globally

MANILA — Despite its continued global health emergency status, COVID-19 cases and deaths have declined, according to data from the World Health Organization. Based on its latest epidemiological report, nearly 5.3 million new cases and over 48,000 deaths were reported from Jan. 23 to Feb. 19, a decrease of 89 percent and 62 percent, respectively, from the previous month's. The See more...

Cavite fishermen say dredging, seabed quarrying threaten their livelihood

Fishermen in Rosario, Cavite say dredging and seabed quarrying activities in the municipality are threatening not only the environment but their livelihood as well. In Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the fishermen said that their daily earnings have gone down from P1,250 to just P250 after at least ten dredging vessels were deployed in the area in See more...

One of the 2 suspects in killing of New Zealand national identified — SPD

One of the two suspects behind the killing of a New Zealand tourist has been identified, Southern Police District (SPD) director Police Brigadier General John Kirby Kraft said Thursday. The alleged gunman was identified as John Mar Manalo, a resident of Taguig City. Victim Nicholas Peter "Nick" Stacey was shot while trying to help his girlfriend who was being held See more...

European Parliament members meet Remulla

MANILA - Members of the European Parliament on Thursday made a courtesy call on Philippine Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla at the office of the Department of Justice in Manila. They arrived Thursday afternoon and had a closed-door meeting with Remulla and other officials of the justice department. In a statement, the DOJ said the visit of the European See more...

Asian markets mixed but little joy as traders eye more Fed hikes

HONG KONG - Markets were mixed Thursday, with little buying enthusiasm after minutes from a Federal Reserve policy meeting indicated interest rates will likely keep rising longer than previously feared. A blockbuster jobs report and sticky inflation data this month have dealt a hammer blow to earlier expectations the US central bank could soon pause its monetary tightening campaign or See more...

Ken Chan reveals Winnie the Pooh was his inspiration for Boyet on ‘My Special Tatay’

Ken Chan received many praises when he played Boyet on “My Special Tatay.” Who would have thought his inspiration for the role was the well-loved childhood character Winnie the Pooh? In an interview with Paolo Contis on YouTube, Ken said he reached a point where he cried in frustration because he couldn’t portray the character well. “Yung mga boss See more...

SWS: 62% of Filipinos believe spirit of EDSA People Power still alive

Six in 10 Filipinos believe the spirit of the EDSA People Power Revolution is alive, a new poll by Social Weather Stations (SWS) has found. Released ahead of the 37th anniversary of the historic event on February 25, the survey, which was done from December 10 to 14, 2022, showed that 62% of adult Filipinos believe that the spirit of See more...

Liza Soberano's social media pages were not hacked, Boy Abunda confirms

Boy Abunda confirmed that Liza Soberano's social media pages were not hacked. On Thursday's episode of "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda," the King of Talk said Liza is going differently about her career. "I will confirm, hindi po na-hack ang social media pages ni Liza," Tito Boy said. "Let me speak as a manager, not as a host, I would See more...

Galaxies spotted by Webb telescope rewrite understanding of early universe

WASHINGTON — Observations by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope are upending the understanding of the early universe, indicating the presence of large and mature but remarkably compact galaxies teeming with stars far sooner than scientists had considered possible. Astronomers said data obtained by the telescope reveals what appear to be six big galaxies as mature as our Milky Way existing See more...

'Pasan ang Sierra Madre': Marching IPs say not too late to 'right' Kaliwa Dam project

MANILA — There is still time for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to right the long-term damage that indigenous peoples (IPs) and environmentalists fear from the construction of the Kaliwa Dam, groups opposing the project said Wednesday. Members of the Dumagat and Remontado tribes from Rizal and Quezon provinces made a final stopover in Quezon City near the end of their See more...

Musa, DTI bring more Philippine fabrics to New York

Over the last three years, Filipino fashion designer Joy Soo has been making waves in the global fashion scene with her Musa fabrics. Her fashion shows at the New York Fashion Week have been a hit as she showcases fabrics woven by inmates and indigenous people in the Philippines' Davao region. For the 2023 New York Fashion Week, Soo went See more...

James Webb telescope uncovers giant galaxies near Big Bang

The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered six gigantic galaxies that emerged shortly after the Big Bang, a study said, stunning scientists by forming at a speed that upends the current understanding of the early universe. Since becoming operational last July, the James Webb telescope has been giving insights into the universe's distant reaches. Astronomers on Wednesday said data obtained See more...

Bakit nanghihinayang si Ogie Diaz kay Liza Soberano?

MAYNILA – Hindi maiwasan ng talent manager na si Ogie Diaz na manghinayang sa karera ng dating alagang si Liza Soberano dito sa Pilipinas. Sa inilabas nitong vlog nitong Huwebes, nagbigay ng opinyon si Diaz tungkol sa biglang pagkawala ng mga post ni Soberano sa kaniyang Instagram at YouTube channel na inakala ng marami na na-hack. Ayon kay See more...

Homo sapiens in Europe used bow-and-arrow 54,000 years ago: study

WASHINGTON, United States - A cave in southern France has revealed evidence of the first use of bows and arrows in Europe by modern humans some 54,000 years ago, far earlier than previously known. The research, published on Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, pushes back the age of archery in Europe by more than 40,000 years. The use of See more...

Remulla: ICC talk with EU MPs lasted less than three minutes

The International Criminal Court, which recently reopened an inquiry into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, didn't figure much in Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla's meeting with members of the European Parliament's subcommittee on human rights. In an ambush interview following the hour-long meeting, Remulla said discussions on the ICC did not last three minutes. Remulla said the topic of See more...

Company linked to PDAF scam did not have biz permit: official

A Manila Bureau of Permits official testified Thursday before the Sandiganbayan 3rd Division that a company linked to the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) scam did not have a business permit. Government prosecutors presented administrative services officer-in-charge Katrina Abad during the hearing for the graft cases of former senator and now Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile. Abad testified on See more...

Filipina designer, BLM co-founder raise awareness on incarceration of Black women

Emmy-winning television producer-turned-bag designer Rita Nazareno was enlisted by Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors to collaborate on the North Star Project which raises awareness on the incarceration of Black women. The bags, limited to only 40 pieces, are etched with a poem by Nissi Berry, who was formerly incarcerated. Berry’s poem, Carrying Freedom, is laser engraved on a leather See more...

Pascual raises BOI’s 2023 investment target to P1.5T

Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual has raised the investment registration target of the Board of Investments (BOI) for 2023 on the back of a robust pipeline of approvals and the pledges fetched during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s foreign travels. "Given the strong investment approvals for January as well as the robust pipeline of investment leads, including those generated through presidential visits, See more...

Mobility advocate laments exclusion of e-motorcycles in EO on zero tariff for EVs

A mobility advocate has lamented the exclusion of electric motorcycles in the executive order which temporarily modified the import duty rate on electric vehicles (EVs), parts, and components to zero for a period of five years. In a statement, mobility advocacy group Electric Kick Scooter of the Philippines (EKS PH) co-founder Tim Vargas said it is “unfair” that electric motorcycles See more...

PAL to reopen flights from Clark to Boracay, Coron in April

MANILA - Philippine Airlines said on Thursday it would reopen flights from Clark International Airport to Caticlan (Boracay) and Busuanga (Coron) to further expand its route network. Flights from Clark to Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay will begin on April 1, the flag carrier said in a statement. Services between Clark and Caticlan will operate thrice weekly, the airline See more...

Hidden pain: Central Africa's rape epidemic

BANGUI, Central African Republic -- Camille fixes her gaze on her fingers, fidgeting with the hem of her dress. Her gestures are anxious, and her tender features betray her 15 years of age. At the end of September, a few weeks before she returned to school, her cousin raped her, she says. In the Central African Republic, the world's See more...

Take-a-number queue system instituted at DSWD

MANILA - Eleanor Tala came all the way from Ilocos province to see her parents in Manila who are sick and in need of medical assistance. She said she borrowed money for fare just to get to the Department of Social Welfare and Development branch in Manila to seek financial help. But unfortunately for Tala, she didn't make the cut See more...

One woman dies every 2 minutes in pregnancy, childbirth: UN

GENEVA — A woman dies every 2 minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth complications, despite maternal mortality rates dropping by a third in 20 years, the United Nations said Thursday. Rates fell significantly between 2000 and 2015 but largely stagnated between 2016 and 2020 -- and in some regions have even reversed, the UN said. The overall maternal mortality rate See more...

At UN conference, Ressa says social media 'insidiously manipulating us'

PARIS, France -- Participants at a global UN conference in France's capital on Wednesday urged the international community to find better safeguards against online disinformation and hate speech. Hundreds of officials, tech firm representatives, academics and members of civil society were invited to the two-day meeting hosted by the UN's cultural fund to brainstorm how to best vet content while See more...

Marcos wishes Emperor Naruhito 'abundant happiness, blessings'

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday extended his well wishes to Japanese Emperor Naruhito for his 63rd birthday on February 23. Marcos wished the emperor “abundant blessings” on his birthday. He said the Philippines was committed to maintaining the “positive trajectory” of its bilateral relations with Japan. "The breadth and depth of our engagement with Japan is a partnership See more...

SWS: 6 in 10 Filipinos say spirit of EDSA Revolution lives on

MANILA (UPDATED) — About 6 in 10 Filipinos believe the spirit of the EDSA Revolution is alive, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released Thursday, or two days before the 37th anniversary of the largely peaceful uprising against the late President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. Out of 1,200 adults polled from Dec. 10 to 14 last year, 62 See more...

Metrobank posts 48% growth in 2022 net income

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) saw a 48% growth in its bottom line for the full year 2022, driven mainly by the growth of its corporate and consumer lending businesses during the period. In an emailed statement, Metrobank reported earnings of P9.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, bringing its full-year net income up to P32.8 billion. Net See more...

Marcos agrees with use of digitalized farmer registry, food balance sheet

With the aim of developing the country's agriculture sector, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. agreed with the use of digitalization in the farmer registry and creation of the digital food balance sheet. On Thursday, Marcos had a meeting with the agriculture sector of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) where he acknowledged the need to update the processes in the See more...

Paul Salas, Mikee Quintos hold an exchange gift challenge for Valentine’s Day

Mikee Quintos and Paul Salas just made their Valentine’s extra special with gifts. In a YouTube vlog, the couple challenged each other to buy seven gifts that correspond to categories. Their budget for everything was P3,500 each. The seven categories are: something that reminds me of you, favorite snack, favorite drink, favorite color, something random, something you need, and something See more...

'The wait is over': 'Running Man' cast finally coming to PH in April

MANILA — The cast members of the popular South Korean variety show "Running Man" announced Thursday their fan meet in the Philippines is finally pushing through following postponements due to the threat of COVID-19. In a video posted by promoter PULP Live World, cast members Yoo Jae-seok, Haha, Jee Seok-jin, Kim Jong-kook, Song Ji-hyo, Jeon So-min and Yang Se-chan bared See more...

Kathleen Paton back in Egypt to crown Miss Eco International successor

Kathleen Paton is back in Egypt, this time as a Miss Eco International titleholder. The Filipina beauty queen will pass on her crown in this year's edition of the pageant, which is set on March 4. On Instagram, Paton shared a photo of her in a blue modern Filipiniana, saying it is her way of paying tribute to her home See more...

SM-led 2GO Group swings back to profitability in 2022

Listed transportation and logistics company 2GO Group Inc., a subsidiary of SM Investment Corp., swung back to profitability in 2022 following the reopening of the economy. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday, 2GO Group reported P312 million in net income last year, a turnaround from the P1.14 billion net loss seen in 2021. "Our 2022 growth See more...

'World police': Dela Rosa slams EU lawmakers for 'interfering' in PH drug war

MANILA — Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Thursday criticized the European Parliament (EP) for allegedly interfering with Philippine sovereignty when it expressed concern over the extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration's bloody drug war. Calling them "world police", Dela Rosa told ANC that he personally felt that the European lawmakers were like teachers lecturing Philippine senators, and demanded that See more...

Airline fuel surcharge in March estimated to only rise by 'P50 or less' says CAB

MANILA — The fuel surcharge in airlines is expected to only increase by "less than P50" next month, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said on Thursday. The CAB earlier announced that the fuel surcharge will be at level 7 from level 6 starting next month, based on its advisory. This means domestic passengers will pay a fuel surcharge of See more...

DOST opens application for scholarship in Italy

MANILA - The Department of Science and Technology is now urging students and other qualified individuals to avail of their scholarship program in Italy. The scholarship is a three-year PhD program in Molecular Biomedicine “that integrates basic research and clinics focusing on the study of molecular approaches to cancer biology, genetics, jaundice, and metabolic disease., and was borne out of See more...

Marcos Jr. declares Feb. 24 as special non-working day in PH

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. declared Friday, Feb. 24, as a special non-working day in the Philippines so Filipinos can enjoy a long weekend in line with the People Power Revolution anniversary celebration on Saturday. Marcos said Proclamation No. 167 is meant to enable Filipinos “to avail of the benefits of a longer weekend pursuant to the principle See more...

Amihan to bring rain over Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, 3 other areas

The northeast monsoon or amihan will bring cloudy skies and rain over parts of Luzon on Thursday, PAGASA reported. Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Aurora will have cloudy skies with rains brought about by the northeast monsoon with possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate with at times heavy rains. Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao will have See more...

Turkey-Syria earthquake: How can cities build up resilience?

When Nepal was hit by consecutive earthquakes in April and May 2015, around 9,000 people were killed and many thousands more were injured. Multistory buildings, homes and temples, not built to withstand the tremors, collapsed. Damage and reconstruction costs were in the billions. Nearly eight years later, the Nepalese government and international aid organizations have helped rebuild hundreds of thousands See more...

Pagmartsa ng mga katutubong tutol sa Kaliwa Dam

Ginabi na ang pagmartsa sa Maynila ng mga katutubong tutol sa pagtayo ng Kaliwa Dam sa Quezon Province. Hindi na nakapagtipon malapit sa Malacañang ang mga katutubo at kanilang mga tagasuporta gaya ng unang plano para mailapit kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang kanilang panawagan. Sa halip, dumaan na lang ang daan-daang nagmartsa sa Mendiola Bridge bago tumuloy sa Paco See more...

Search ops for missing Cessna in Isabela resume, more tracker dogs to be added

Search operations for the missing Cessna aircraft in Isabela resumed on Thursday due to improved weather, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). “After three days of suspension of search activities due to bad weather, operations resume today,” PDRRMO head Constante Foronda Jr. said. To beef up the operations, more tracker dogs will be deployed See more...