Here are the latest news and events that happened today, Wednesday, March 08, 2023.

4Ps beneficiaries look forward to receiving new batch of cash aid

MANILA -- Some beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are looking forward to receiving the new batch of cash aid under the Targeted Cash Transfer (TCT). The Department of Finance earlier announced that they will be distributing P500 for 2 months, or a total of P1,000, to help them cope with inflation. For Annalyn Estrelles, a 4Ps beneficiary, See more...

Meralco implementing staggered rate hike up to May

MANILA - Meralco said on Wednesday it has decided to stagger the electricity rate hike for the March billing. The increase in generation charge will be around P0.60 in March, and the remaining will be charged in April and May. The company said this will ease the burden of the rate hike burden on consumers in March as other See more...

Marcos to gov't workers: Serve with honesty, efficiency

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. called on government workers on Wednesday to serve the public with honesty and efficiency. "We are privileged to be freely given the trust of the nation, for public office is a public trust. So, let us repay that confidence by serving them with the utmost responsibility, efficiency, and honesty," Marcos said in his speech at See more...

Comelec vows to speed up resolution of pending poll cases post-Degamo slay

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia on Wednesday vowed that the poll body will step up its efforts in resolving election protests and other disputes. Garcia made the comment in response to the statement made by Senator Risa Hontiveros that the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo is also due to the prolonged resolution of his election protest, See more...

Gabriela marks Women’s Day with call to end discrimination, abuse

House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas of Gabriela party-list on Wednesday called for an end to discrimination and abuses against women to mark International Women's Day. “Mr. Speaker, mga kapwa kinatawan, ipinapaabot ng Gabriela Women's Party ang pagbati sa lahat ng kababaihan saanmang panig ng mundo ngayong Pandaigdigang Araw ng Kababaihang Anakpawis! Happy International Women's Day! Araw natin ito, mga See more...

Degamo's widow believes husband's killer previously threatened the governor

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, wife of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, on Wednesday said she believes that the person behind the killing of her husband is the same person that threatened the governor in the past. “Iisa lang yan (It was the same person),” she told Dobol B TV. “If you will go back, there was a time See more...

Philippines logs 133 new COVID-19 cases; active tally climbs to 8,943

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday monitored an increase in COVID-19 cases with 133 new infections reported, while the active tally climbed to 8,943. The new infections pushed the nationwide case count to 4,077,302, while the active cases rose to 8,943 from 8,901 on Tuesday. The regions with the highest number of cases in the last two weeks were See more...

Philippines records 671 additional cases of Omicron subvariants

The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 671 additional cases of Omicron subvariants in the country based on the latest sequencing result. The University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) has sequenced at least 761 samples last February 27, according to the DOH. Of the 761 samples, the DOH said 468 were classified as BA.2.3.20, 149 classified as See more...

CA defers confirmation hearing of 2 ambassadors, 2 DFA officials

MANILA — The Commission on Appointments’ (CA) foreign affairs panel on Wednesday deferred its deliberation anew on the ad interim appointment of Bienvenido Tejano as envoy to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. Tejano first faced the powerful commission last February 22, where he was grilled by Sen. Risa Hontiveros regarding supposed cases that were filed against him. Tejano See more...

Bretman Rock emotional on PH visit for book launch

MANILA — Filipino-American influencer Bretman Rock turned emotional on social media after his visit to the Philippines for his book launch. The vlogger and influencer, who was born in the Philippines and moved to Hawaii when he was 8 years old, held a book signing event for "You're That Bitch" over the weekend. "This is all because of See more...

Gender pay progress stalls on 'motherhood penalty' — study

LONDON, United Kingdom - There has been minimal global movement toward gender pay equality because many women still face a "motherhood penalty" after having children, a study said Tuesday. Progress has been "exceedingly slow" in industrialized nations over the past decade, consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said in a report using latest available 2021 data. The average pay gap between men and See more...

NASA's Artemis 2 mission around Moon set for November 2024

WASHINGTON - NASA is on track to launch a crewed mission around the Moon in November of next year after a successful unmanned test flight, the US space agency said Tuesday. NASA officials provided an update on the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the historic Apollo missions ended in 1972. See more...

Marcos visits Degamo wake, vows justice for slain ally

DUMAGUETE CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday visited the wake of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo here, vowing to get swift justice for his slain ally and 8 others who died with the local leader. The visit, which lasted for about an hour, saw Marcos comforting Degamo's widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo. He also had a dialogue See more...

Marcos visits wake of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday visited the wake of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. “I just came here here para makiramay sa family ni governor. Nagtatanong lang kami kung ano ba yung kailangang gawin para matulungan yung mga biktima pati yung mga nasa ospital ngayon,” said Marcos. (I just came here to sympathize with the governor's family. See more...

San Miguel Food and Beverage posts record P34.7-B profit

MANILA - San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc said on Wednesday its net income rose 10 percent to record P34.7 billion in 2022 as it posted record earnings. Consolidated revenues grew 16 percent to P358.9 billion due to higher volume growth across its beer, spirits and food divisions, SMFB said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. It said it See more...

Did David Licauco court Arra San Agustin? Sparkle actress answers

David Licauco previously admitted that he had a crush on Arra San Agustin. Did the two ever had anything going on between them? The Sparkle actress addressed this question on Wednesday's episode of "Fast Talk With Boy Abunda," saying that she has known David since they were in college. Arra studied in De La Salle University in Manila, while David See more...

Melo's new executive chef refreshes menu with instant classics

MANILA -- Pioneer Filipino steakhouse Melo’s welcomes new executive chef Mark Advincula as it refreshes its menu with favorites and new entrees. Melo’s is one of the restaurants that really set the bar for upscale family dining for steaks in Metro Manila. During the pandemic, the owners launched Melos-To-Go which focused on delivery and takeout. The homemade beef tapa was See more...

Why 'Sweet Home' role is Song Kang's favorite

MANILA — From a flirty art student to a free-spirited weather forecaster, South Korean actor Song Kang has portrayed a diverse range of characters since he burst onto the K-drama scene in 2017. But among the personas he's portrayed, Song considers his role in Netflix's apocalyptic-horror series "Sweet Home" as his current favorite. "Right now, the character that's closest to See more...

Philippine reserve assets down to $99.3B in February

Philippine dollar reserves slipped in February as the national government withdrew from its deposits to pay for debt and other programs, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) revealed. The gross international reserves (GIR) fell to $99.310 billion in February, lower than the upward-revised $100.665 billion in January. The GIR level — a measure of the ability to See more...

Fratman in Salilig hazing case surrenders to NBI

One of the persons of interest in the alleged hazing of Adamson student John Matthew Salilig on Wednesday surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). In a video taken by GMA News reporter John Consulta, Aron Cruz alias Bones, a Tau Gamma Phi member, was seen entering the NBI-National Capital Region wearing a light gray hoodie. In a separate See more...

Gov’t urged to inspect, retrofit hospitals in danger zones to prepare for the ‘Big One’

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday urged the government to inspect and retrofit hospitals in the danger zones as part of preparations for a possible catastrophic earthquake or the "Big One.” During a Senate committee hearing, Tulfo said among the hospitals in the danger zone or earthquake-vulnerable areas are the Philippine General Hospital, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, San See more...

VP Sara underscores MSME empowerment in rebuilding economy

The national government believes that empowering the local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is a key in rebuilding the Philippine economy, Vice President Sara Duterte said Wednesday. During the launch of “Magnegosyo Ta' Day” livelihood program in San Pedro, Laguna, Duterte said that even the local government units have a critical role in facilitating a business-friendly environment and encouraging See more...

Marcos hopes oil spill cleanup in Mindoro won't take months

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed hope that containing and cleaning the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro province would not last for months. "Hopefully kung hindi kaya ng one month... hopefully less kasi ang Guimaras na oil spill apat na buwan bago na-cleanup, siguro naman this time, kasi mas bawas nang kaunti ang oil spill ay mas mabibilisan See more...

China's students leap 'Great Firewall' to get homework help from ChatGPT

BEIJING — Chinese schoolchildren are turning to AI bot ChatGPT to slash their homework time -- vaulting the country's "Great Firewall" to write book reports and bone up on their language skills. With its ability to produce A-grade essays, poems and programming code within seconds, ChatGPT has sparked a global gold rush in artificial intelligence tech. But it has also See more...

ECB chief vows to do 'whatever it takes' to tame inflation

GENEVA, Switzerland - European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde said Wednesday she will do whatever it takes to bring down high inflation and restore price stability. Speaking at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Lagarde said the ECB will spare no efforts to combat the inflation lashing most of the countries in the eurozone. "We will restore that price stability See more...

Sri Lanka president says China agrees to restructure loans

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka's president said Tuesday that China had agreed to restructure its loans to the bankrupt island nation, clearing the final obstacle to a long-awaited International Monetary Fund bailout. An unprecedented economic crisis has seen Sri Lanka's 22 million people suffer acute food, fuel and medicine shortages, along with extended blackouts and runaway inflation. President Ranil See more...

Marcos hails courageous women on International Women’s Day

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. lauded women who display courage and determination in life. In his official Twitter account on Wednesday, Marcos wrote: “Saludo tayo sa ating mga kababaihan na patuloy na nagpapakita ng tapang at determinasyon sa kanilang tahanan, trabaho at komunidad.” (We salute women who continue to show courage and determination in their homes, jobs, and in the See more...

Artificial light makes caterpillars easy prey: study

PARIS, France - Artificial light is providing predatory insects with an unfair advantage in hunting caterpillars, potentially decimating butterflies and moth populations already suffering from a global insect decline, according to a study published Wednesday. When researchers glued fake clay caterpillars to forest leaves and punched holes in the leaves to mimic their eating habits, the dummy green larvae See more...

Philippines should take action vs. China's 'gray zone' tactics —experts

Experts on Wednesday called on the government to stand up against China’s "gray zone" operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and rally support from other countries. Gray zone has been defined as “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resorting to direct and sizable use of force. See more...

Amihan to bring light rain over Luzon, western Visayas

Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, and Western Visayas will be partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rain on Wednesday due to the northeast monsoon or amihan, PAGASA reported. The northeast monsoon will not have a significant impact in these areas, the weather bureau added. Mindanao and the rest of Visayas will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies See more...

Arra San Agustin, inihayag kung ano ang 'hindi maganda sa pagiging maganda'

Sa kabila ng pagiging isa sa mga itinuturing prettiest faces sa showbiz industry, inilahad ni Arra San Agustin na mayroong hindi maganda sa pagiging maganda. Sa episode ng “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” nitong Miyerkoles, inihayag ni Tito Boy ang paghanga niya sa kagandahan ni Arra. "Hindi naman ako humahanga bilang isang lalaki," natatawang paliwanag ng King of Talk. "But See more...

Election summit ng Comelec umarangkada na

MAYNILA — Umarangkada na nitong Miyerkoles ang 3-araw na Election Summit ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa isang hotel sa Pasay City. Ang summit na ito ay may temang “Pagtutulungan sa Makabagong Halalan” na nag-imbita ng iba't ibang election watchdog, civil society groups at mga stakeholders sa halalan. Sabi ni Comelec chairman George Garcia, layon nito na simulang makapagbigay ng See more...

Panukalang batas hinggil sa teenage pregnancy, isinusulong sa Senado

MAYNILA -- Kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng International Women's Day, isinusulong sa Senado ang pagsasabatas ng Senate Bill 1979 o Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancies Bill. Ayon sa may akda ng panukala na si Senator Risa Hontiveros, layon nitong maiwasan ang maagang pagbubuntis ng kabataan o adolescent pregnancy. Lumalabas kasi umano sa isang pag-aaral na dumarami ang bilang ng mga nabubuntis See more...

DOST discovers plywood glue ingredients from local tree extracts

MANILA — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Tuesday that tannins or extracts from locally available trees could be ingredients for making plywood glue. The agency explained that tannins are organic substances normally present in barks and other plant tissues, which are commonly used to make leather and wood adhesives. “Some are used as tanning agents for See more...

Remulla says Degamo slay suspects had video call with 'mastermind'

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said suspects in the brazen daylight killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo had a video conversation with the alleged mastermind. In an interview, Remulla said the video, the content of which he did not disclose, has a "probative value" in the ongoing investigation. "Walang motive na sinabi pero 'yung kausap nila was See more...

Metro Pacific allots P8 billion for agri business

MANILA - Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) is allotting P8 billion for the expansion of its new unit, Metro Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV) this year. At a media briefing in Pasig, MPIC Chief Finance Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla said they intend to expand their agriculture portfolio this year. They are eyeing to make the agribusiness unit a core unit of MPIC See more...

House approves government rightsizing bill on second reading

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading the National Government Rightsizing bill aimed at restructuring the bureaucracy in order to be more responsive to the people's needs. House Bill 7240 covers government agencies under the Executive department, except for the following: Rightsizing, however, is optional for the legislature, judiciary, constitutional commissions, Office of the Ombudsman, and other See more...

Queen's corgis take centre stage at London exhibition

LONDON, United Kingdom - A new exhibition of photographs showing the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and her beloved corgis opens in London on Wednesday, celebrating her bond with the dogs. The exhibition, titled "The Queen and Her Corgis", features images taken during the late sovereign's life, showcasing her unique bond with her Pembroke Welsh Corgis. "We've got this very See more...

Adidas stuck with Yeezy gear after dropping Kanye

HERZOGENAURACH, Germany -- Adidas said Wednesday it was still weighing what to do with its huge inventory of Kanye West's Yeezy products after it ended its partnership with the controversial rapper. Potentially not selling the apparel and shoes linked to West would lead to a revenue loss of 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion), the group said, announcing its 2022 full-year See more...

Cavite barangay chair challenges voter registration of 400 people

A Cavite barangay chairperson challenged before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the application for voter registration of around 400 applicants, saying that they are not legitimate residents of the area. Azenith Paredes, incumbent chairperson of Barangay 25, Cavite City, filed her opposition to register the applications before the Election Registration Board of Cavite City last February 24. “Ang dagsaang paglipat See more...

LPG regulation law seen to raise competition, improve standards

Stakeholders see Republic Act No. 11592 or the bill regulating the liquefied petroleum gas industry helping economic growth in the country through improved competition and raising safety standards across the board. In a statement after the first LPG Industry Summit in Pasay City, Republic Gas Corp. president Arnel Ty said the law was an effective guide for the See more...

Lalaking nanloloob at nakatangay na ng P500-K cash at kagamitan, arestado

Nadakip ang isang 28-anyos na lalaki na nanloloob umano sa iba’t ibang bahay at nakatangay na ng halos P500,000 halaga ng pera at mga kagamitan sa Tondo, Maynila. Sa ulat ni Darlene Cay sa Unang Balita nitong Miyerkoles, mapapanood ang pasilip-silip ng suspek bago pumasok sa isang compound sa Brgy. 72 sa Tondo. Ilang saglit pa, lumabas na ang lalaki See more...

LTFRB lauds end of transport strike

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday welcomed the decision of transport groups to end their planned week-long transport strike, two days after it commenced. In a statement, LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III expressed openness to sit down with transport groups to discuss issues on the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). “Sa amin pong mga kaibigan See more...

China to revamp data, tech authorities in self-reliance push

BEIJING - China will set up a national data authority, downsize staff at central state institutions and strengthen its science ministry in a sweeping revamp as Beijing pushes for tech sector self-reliance. Beijing is pouring resources into its manufacturing and research capabilities in the face of tightened restrictions on homegrown tech companies by the United States and its Western allies. See more...

MPIC’s mWell app wins in Global Mobile Awards

MANILA - Metro Pacific Investments Corp said its homegrown telehealth app mWell won a “highly- coveted” award from the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. MPIC said mWell bagged the Best Mobile Innovation for Digital Life Award, Digital Everything Category in the 2023 Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO). The company said mWell lets doctors serve patients remotely. See more...

Sara Duterte pushes for inclusive digital education for women

MANILA — An inclusive digital education will provide opportunities for women and girls to thrive in communities, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said on Wednesday, International Women's Day. In her speech during the Philippine Commission on Women and UN Women International Women's Day Celebration in Taguig City, Duterte highlighted her office's initiatives, including the provision of technical assistance See more...

Metro Pacific sets aside P8B to boost agri business

Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) is setting aside around P8 billion this year to expand its agriculture business. "For this year alone, our budget is close to about P8 billion on agriculture," MPIC chief finance officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla said at a press conference on Wednesday. "The projects and programs we will go into will depend on the partnership with See more...

Marcos urged to address food security, price manipulation

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr needs to address food security and possible price manipulation of agricultural products immediately to rein in inflation, an economist said Wednesday. While the country's inflation rate slightly eased to 8.6 last February, economist Michael Batu noted in a public briefing that the strongest inflation driver was food prices. "Kung titingnan mo yung See more...

2 suspects arrested for allegedly attacking Fil-Am mother, son in New York

Two suspects were arrested in New York City for allegedly attacking a Fil-Am mother and her son, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday. "Sasampahan ng kaso ng State at New York City itong dalawang nahuli," DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Raymund Cortes said in an interview on Unang Balita. (The State [of New York] and See more...

DMW to take over DFA's Assistance to Nationals program in June

Starting this June, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is set to take over the Assistance to Nationals (ATN) program currently being run by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), DMW Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople said. The ATN program provides support to Filipinos in distress all over the world. According to Ople, the transition, originally set for this month, has See more...

P10 million fine on shipowners for oil spill eyed in House bill

A bill imposing as much as P10 million penalty to shipowners who will be found guilty of discharge or emission of oil, sewage, garbage and other harmful substances and pollutants into Philippine seas has been filed in the House of Representatives. Negros Occidental Representative Kiko Benitez made the proposal under his House Bill 7515 which he filed after the sinking See more...

House panel OKs discounts for indigent job seekers

MANILA - A measure seeking to grant a 20 percent discount on fees for pre-employment documents of indigent job seekers hurdled the committee level at the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The House Committee on Poverty Alleviation approved on Wednesday the draft committee report and substitute bill for House Bills 367, 2533, 3048, 3533, 3604, 4762, 4828, 5553 & 5792. See more...

UPCAT 2024 application opens on Wednesday

The application period for the 2024 University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) officially opened on Wednesday. In an advisory, UP said eligible applicants should submit their Form 1 from March 8 to April 15, 2023, and take the exam, which will be conducted physically on June 3 and 4, 2023, in various testing centers nationwide. UPCAT is composed See more...

PNP relieves 56 more Negros Oriental cops after Degamo slay

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday continued relieving more police officers in Negros Oriental following the Mar. 4 bloodbath that killed Gov. Roel Degamo and 8 others. The PNP said it sacked 56 police personnel in Sta. Catalina, a southern town beside Bayawan City where 3 of Degamo’s alleged gunmen were arrested, right after the entire Bayawan See more...

Groups march for women’s rights on International Women’s Day

Several women leaders, youth groups, and other organizations on Wednesday marched in protest calling for women’s rights in commemoration of International Women’s Day. Women’s group Gabriela and worker’s group Partido Manggagawa, Kilusang Mayo Uno, and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino held a protest march and program at the Liwasang Bonifacio. The groups have shared their continuing fight of women workers’ See more...

Mag-asawa, inireklamo na sangkot umano sa 'Rentangay' scam

Inireklamo ng ilang may-ari ng sasakyan ang isang mag-asawa na tumangay umano ng kaniyang mga sasakyan matapos silang mahikayat na parentahan ang mga ito. Ayon sa ulat ni Emil Sumangil sa GMA News “24 Oras” nitong Martes, inakusahan ng mga biktima na sangkot umano sa "rentangay" modus ang mag-asawang suspek na sina Rhofe at Jenween Canare. Isa umano sa mga See more...

Human traffickers targeting OFWs with expiring visas, says BI

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with expiring visas are being targeted by human trafficking syndicates who are illegally recruiting them as crypto-scammers in Myanmar, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Wednesday. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco made the remarks following the successful repatriation of two more OFWs from Myanmar last Saturday. The victims arrived in the country via Philippine Airlines from See more...

Marcos shares fighter jet experience: Matagal ko nang gustong gawin 'yun

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday shared his experience in boarding an FA-50PH fighter jet where he saw the necessity to increase the capability of the military to defend the country's territory. After gracing the Philippine Air Force's acceptance, turnover, and blessing ceremony of the C-295 medium lift aircraft at Clark Air Base on Tuesday, Marcos boarded one of See more...

24 Filipinos repatriated from Turkey set to arrive in PH

Twenty-four Filipinos repatriated from Turkey following the big earthquake last month are expected to arrive in the Philippines on Wednesday, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. "Beinte-kuwatro po sila. Ito 'yung second batch na na nire-repatriate natin. Last time, last week, may dumating na beinte-singko. Mga mothers and kids ito. Lahat gastos ng DFA po," DFA See more...

8 women farmers facing syndicated estafa case seek DOJ's help

Eight women farmers from Hermosa, Bataan went to the Department of Justice (DOJ) office in Manila on Wednesday to seek help in connection with the syndicated estafa case filed against them. The eight, including four senior citizens, met with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to discuss the case. "'Yung hinaing lang nila na mga kaso na ginagawa, 'yung weaponization ng See more...

Metro Pacific books P14.2B core net income in 2022, up 15%

Pangilinan-led infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) saw a mid-double digit growth in its core earnings in 2022 amid strong results across businesses. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, MPIC reported a consolidated core net income of P14.2 billion last year, up 15% from P12.3 billion booked in 2021. The company said its financial See more...

Foodpanda appoints dentsu as Asia Pacific media partner

MANILA - Dentsu International said it has been appointed by foodpanda as its media partner for Asia Pacific markets. The markets will include Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, on top of its existing remit in Taiwan, where dentsu has also been their media partner since 2020, the company said in a statement. "Our amazing team in See more...

VP Sara: Pregnancy should not hinder teenage girls from finishing studies

Pregnancy shouldn't be a reason for teenage girls who dropped out of school to not finish their studies because the government is providing ways for them to continue their education, Vice President Sara Duterte said on Wednesday. Speaking at an event in celebration of International Women's Day, Duterte recalled her visit to Pikit National High School in North Cotabato, where See more...

Asawa ng nadamay sa Degamo slay, umaasang maresolba agad ang kaso

Naipadala na ng Degamo task force sa Department of Justice (DOJ) ang limang reklamo ng frustrated murder, ayon sa tagapagsalita nito. Base ang reklamo sa salaysay ng lima sa 13 na nasugatan sa pamamaril, ayon kay PLt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson ng Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) na nakatalagang mag-imbestiga sa pagpatay kay Gov. Roel Degamo. “Just yesterday we See more...

LOOK: Catriona Gray goes blonde for cover shoot

MANILA — Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray sported a blonde hairdo in her latest magazine shoot. In her cover for Preview magazine, Gray tackled why advocacies of beauty queens in pageants should be authentic. “I feel like there's tokenism in advocacy, that a girl will only pick it up for the pageantry. And as soon as the competition is done, See more...

OFW sa Saudi Arabia, iniligtas matapos umanong saktan at pagbantaan ng amo

Isang overseas Filipino worker (OFW) ang nailigtas sa Saudi Arabia matapos umanong makaranas ng pagmamaltrato mula sa kaniyang amo. Ayon kay Emilia, isang kasambahay, pinagpapalo siya ng tungkod na bakal ng kaniyang among lalaki kaya nagkulay-talong ang kaliwang bahagi ng kaniyang katawan. Sa panayam ng GMA Integrated News, sinabi ni Emilia na nagalit ang kaniyang amo dahil hindi raw napapakain See more...

SNSD's Taeyeon, The Boyz complete 'K-Verse' lineup

MANILA — Taeyeon of the iconic girl group Girls' Generation and male act The Boyz complete the lineup for an upcoming K-pop concert at the Araneta Coliseum, the event's producer announced Wednesday. In separate Twitter posts, MakeItLive said Taeyeon and The Boyz would also perform at "K-Verse: The Ultimate Pop Universe," happening at the Big Dome on April 11. Both See more...

Mindoro oil spill cleanup seen to take up to 1 year, says Pola mayor

An expert estimated that it would take six months to 1 year to finish the cleanup for the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro, according to Pola town Mayor Jennifer Cruz on Wednesday. “Ang sabi ng expert na dumating kahapon six to one year bago talaga malinis. Estimate pa lang nila pero hindi nila alam kung gaano katagal talaga,” she said See more...

Gov’t to review 2017 franchising guidelines for PUV Modernization — Bautista

The government will review the 2017 Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, which serves as the framework for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Wednesday. “Rereviewhin ang Omnibus Franchising Guidelines. Kaya nga sabi ko importante ang dialogue kasi nga mapaguusapan natin ‘yan,” Bautista said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum. (The Omnibus Franchising Guidelines will be See more...

Aboitiz Power to spend P190 billion to boost clean energy capacity

Aboitiz Power Corporation on Wednesday said it has allocated some P190 billion to boost its clean energy capacity, as it seeks to raise it to at least half of the company's total generation portfolio by 2030. In a filing to the local stock exchange, Aboitiz Power said the spending program aims to grow its clean energy capacity to 4,600 megawatts See more...

Kristoffer Martin, 'itinago' nga ba sa publiko ang anak nila ni AC Banzon?

Sa programang “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” nitong Miyerkoles, sinagot at may nilinaw ng Kapuso actor na si Kristoffer Martin tungkol sa anak nila ni AC Banzon na si Precious Christine o Pré. Ayon kay Kristoffer, hindi nila itinago ni AC sa publiko ang kanilang anak, at hindi naman niya itatanggi kung may magtatanong tungkol sa kaniyang anak. “Hindi namin See more...

TIMELINE: Alleged hazing death of Adamson student John Matthew Salilig

MANILA — From his last known whereabouts to finding his dead body, here's the timeline and updates about the alleged hazing death of Adamson student John Matthew Salilig. February 17, 2023. Friday. Around 4 p.m., John Michael Salilig and younger brother John Matthew Salilig, a chemical engineering student at Adamson University, picked up their father, Joeffrey, at the airport. From See more...

GSIS allots P315M for emergency loan of members affected by Mindoro oil spill

State workers’ pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on Wednesday announced it is allocating P315 million worth of funds to extend emergency loans for its members and pensioners affected by the oil spill caused by the capsizing of a motor tanker off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. "The oil spill has affected more than half of Oriental Mindoro. With our emergency See more...

Sa wakas': Jopay Paguia at bandang Mayonnaise, nagkita na!

Nagkita na rin sa wakas ang OG Sexbomb member na si Jopay Paguia at ang bandang Mayonnaise, na lumikha ng awiting "Jopay," na sikat ulit ngayon. Nangyari ang pagtatagpo sa isang concert ng Mayonnaise sa Lucena, Quezon, na bahagi ng 20th-anniversary tour ng banda. Sa video na ipinost ng fan online, umakyat sa stage si Jopay at ikinuwento ng Mayonnaise See more...

BFP denies alleged anomalies in firetrucks procurement

MANILA — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on Wednesday denied favoring specific brands in its procurement of firetrucks. This, after House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro asked the BFP about its supposed preference of 2 firetruck brands. "Kung mapapansin po natin dito 1 to 2 brand lang ito. At mula nung 2018 mapapansin natin 'yung See more...

Amihan, localized thunderstorms to trigger rains over Philippines

Light to moderate rains may persist across parts of the country due to the northeast monsoon (amihan) and localized thunderstorms, according to PAGASA on Wednesday. Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, and Western Visayas may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains due to amihan, the state weather bureau indicated on its 4 p.m. forecast. Partly cloudy to See more...

Angela Ken, Janine Berdin at Lyca Gairanod, nag-react sa mga dating retrato

MANILA -- Nagbalik-tanaw sina Lyca Gairanod, Janine Berdin at Angela Ken sa mga hindi magagandang puna sa kanila noong sila ay mas bata. Sa "Magandang Buhay" nitong Miyerkoles, nagbigay reaksiyon ang tatlong mang-aawit sa dati nilang mga retrato. "Ako po talaga before entering the industry, I really didn't think about my face po. Parang sobrang wala po akong pakialam sa See more...

S&P Global: Philippine credit growth to ease to as low as 7%

Philippine credit growth could decelerate even further to single-digit levels to reflect the impact of higher inflation and interest rates, global credit watcher S&P Global Ratings said in a recent report. According to the “Philippine Banks In 2023: Slower Growth, Strong Fundamentals” report, S&P expects credit growth to slow to 7% to 9% this year, following the rebound recorded in See more...

Two suspects tagged prominent person behind Degamo slay —source

The suspects who have executed extra-judicial confessions in connection with the attack on the residence Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo last weekend have tagged a prominent person as the mastermind behind the killing. According to John Consulta's report on "24 Oras", the source said the suspects Joven Javier and Osmundo Rivero said that the mastermind ordered the hit. He allegedly See more...

Cadets now receive additional benefits, PNPA official says

The proposed additional benefits for Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) cadets are now in effect, public information office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Louie Gonzaga said Wednesday. “Yung pong proposal is already in effect. In fact, last February, we got hold of a copy of a fiscal directive from the National Headquarters of the Philippine National Police,” he said at a See more...

KathNiel, Coco Martin among top celebrity taxpayers in 2022

MANILA — Kapamilya stars Coco Martin, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla were among the top celebrity taxpayers in 2022, the Bureau of Internal Revenue revealed. "Maraming-maraming salamat po sa award na ito at maraming-maraming salamat sa dami naming binayad na tax," Padilla said in jest. "Hopefully, this would inspire everybody to do our responsibility bilang Pilipino na magbayad ng tax," See more...

Marcos vows more Kadiwa stalls for labor sector

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said Kadiwa stalls would be provided for the labor sector to help them as well as the country's economy. Marcos graced the launch of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo para sa mga Manggagawa at the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Compound in Quezon City. "Kaya’t nandito po ang Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa See more...

CA panel defers confirmation hearing for Tejano as ambassador to PNG

The Commission on Appointments (CA) committee on foreign affairs has suspended the hearing for the confirmation of Bienvenido Tejano as ambassador to Papua New Guinea on Wednesday. Before the suspension, the CA panel proceeded to an executive session with Tejano due to the confidentiality and sensitivity of their discussion. Senator Cynthia Villar asked if an executive session would be necessary See more...

12 women, including 5 minors rescued from alleged sex trafficking in Cavite

Authorities rescued at least 12 female victims, including five minors, of alleged online sex trafficking in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite. According to John Consulta's report on "24 Oras," five of the rescued female victims aged 15 to 17. The National Bureau Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division arrested the alleged pimp, who was identified as Rodel Miranda. The NBI said they noticed See more...

Marco Gumabao proud of Miles Ocampo's acting resurgence

MANILA -- Actor Marco Gumabao, who appeared with Miles Ocampo in the youth-oriented sitcom, “Luv U,” cannot be any prouder with his contemporary in showbiz, who recently had her acting resurgence in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.” Ocampo earned praise when she played the young Marites whose superb performance in the pilot episode of “Batang Quiapo” trended worldwide last month. “I saw See more...

Philippines detects 671 new cases of omicron subvariants

MANILA — The Philippines has detected 671 new cases of omicron COVID-19 subvariants, according to the Department of Health. Based on the agency's latest COVID-19 biosurveillance report, 468 were classified as BA.2.3.20, 149 as XBB, 9 as XBC, 8 as BA.5, 4 as BN.1, and 33 as other omicron sublineages. The new XBB cases include 3 cases of XBB.1.5 and See more...

Ex-GSIS officers found guilty of graft over anomalous housing loans

The Sandiganbayan has found former officials of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) guilty of two counts of graft over the anomalous grant of hundreds of millions of pesos worth of housing loans to unqualified persons. In a 54-page decision dated March 3, the anti-graft court ruled that back in 2001, then GSIS Tarlac City office’s Branch Manager Amando Inocentes, See more...