Philippines News Today March 19, 2023

Here are the latest news and events that happened today, Sunday, March 19, 2023.

Marcos to ask Interpol to issue blue notice vs. Degamo slay suspects

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will ask the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a blue notice against the suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Govenor Roel Degamo. With a blue notice, Interpol members will collect information regarding a person's identity, location and activities, according to a report on News Live on Saturday. The Department of Justice (DOJ) See more...

Indonesia seeks stronger border cooperation, trade with Philippines

Indonesia’s top envoy to the Philippines has underscored the need for stronger cooperation with Manila on border security amid the threat of terrorism and other illegal operations, such as smuggling, at the porous sea lane between the two countries. Ambassador Agus Widjojo said it is important for the Philippines and Indonesia to review existing legal framework on border patrol and See more...

How AI 'revolution' is shaking up journalism

PARIS, France — Journalists had fun last year asking the shiny new AI chatbot ChatGPT to write their columns, most concluding that the bot was not good enough to take their jobs. Yet. But many commentators believe journalism is on the cusp of a revolution where mastery of algorithms and AI tools that generate content will be a key battleground. See more...

Klea Pineda shares how her family found out she is gay: 'Nahuli ako'

Klea Pineda is now out and proud after coming out as gay on her 24th birthday. On the "Updated with Nelson Canlas" podcast, the "AraBella" star shared when she knew she was gay and how her family found out. "Na-realize ko na gay ako nung high school pa," she said. "Before show business, doon ko siya na-realize and then nung See more...

Authorities block visitors from Baseco Beach due to coliform contamination

Authorities turned away would be visitors to Manila's Baseco Beach due to the high levels of fecal coliform, or bacteria from human waste, at the beach. "Eh di, wala tayong magagawa. Susunod sa batas. Uwi na lang, sa bahay na paliguan," said a visitor in Mark Salazar's Sunday "24 Oras Weekend" report. (Nothing we can do about it. We'll See more...

Jessy Mendiola dotes on daughter Rosie is fresh snaps

MANILA — Actress Jessy Mendiola shared some fresh snapshots on her social media account over the weekend featuring herself and her baby daughter Rosie. The photographs, which were taken by her husband Luis Manzano, capture Mendiola as an affectionate mother, gazing fondly at her adorable child. “I love you, my Rosie,” the actress captioned her post. Netizens were See more...

How AI could upend the world even more than electricity or the internet

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — The rise of artificial general intelligence -- now seen as inevitable in Silicon Valley -- will bring change that is "orders of magnitude" greater than anything the world has yet seen, observers say. But are we ready? AGI -- defined as artificial intelligence with human cognitive abilities, as opposed to more narrow artificial intelligence, such See more...

Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes celebrate 15 years of DongYan fans club

This year marks the 15th year of the DongYan fans club, and Dingdong Dantes took to social media to pen a letter of thanks to the fans who continuously support him and Marian Rivera on and off the screen. On Instagram, the Kapuso Primetime King posted some of the highlights of their thanksgiving day with the members of the Team See more...

Goat with 8 legs is born in Bohol

Can a goat with eight legs exist? The answer is yes, and one can be found right here in the Philippines in Bohol. According to Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras Weekend," Sunday, the goat has a condition called dipygus, a severe genetic deformity where there is a teratological or abnormal-growing fetus with two pelvises, genitals, and extremities or limbs. See more...

Gov’t urged to act fast on UN panel’s view on WWII sexual abuse issue in PH

Mapaniqui, PAMPANGA- The members of Malaya Lolas (Free Grandmothers) urged the Philippine government to immediately act on the recent decision released by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) regarding the sexual abuse they suffered in the hands of Japanese soldiers during World War II. “Ang masasabi ko sa ating presidente, sana, kung mangyayari kami, See more...

Jane de Leon proud of mom for powering through 8th surgery

MANILA – Jane de Leon turned to Instagram to express gratitude to her followers for their prayers for her mother, who recently had an operation. In an Instagram post on Saturday, de Leon gave an update stating that her mom is now doing well after overcoming her eighth surgery. She also took the opportunity to say how proud she is See more...

‘No other option’: Russia’s unequal economic marriage with China

MOSCOW — Russia has found itself in an unequal relationship with China since intensifying its pivot toward Beijing after the assault on Ukraine. Since Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow, bilateral trade between the two neighbors has reached a record $190 billion and the proportion of Russian foreign trade carried out in yuan has gone from 0.5 percent to 16 See more...

Philippines’ COVID-19 positivity rate drops to 3.3% –OCTA

The nationwide COVID-19 positivity rate slightly decreased to 3.3% on Saturday, independent monitoring group OCTA Research said on Sunday. OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said their data showed that the Philippines’ positivity rate — or the percentage of people found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested — dipped from 3.4% on March 17, to 3.3% See more...

Janella Salvador teases upcoming concert: 'Nagpre-prepare na'

MANILA – Janella Salvador has announced that she might stage a concert this year. Salvador revealed this on “ASAP Natin ‘To” on Sunday after performing Ariana Grande’s “positions” in celebration of her 25th birthday. “Last year was my 10th year. I might have a concert this year,” she said. Although she refused to disclose any further details, Salvador hinted that See more...

Tapawarma owner started out as a mall janitor

MANILA -- He was a teenager growing up in Koronadal, South Cotabato when Tapawarma Shawarma owner John Oliva fearlessly decided to try his luck in Manila at only 18 years old. “When I first came here in Manila, I decided to work as a janitor at Star Mall in Alabang,” Oliva told ABS-CBN News. “I was earning P50 a day. See more...

Mindoro oil spill may reach Puerto Galera, Batangas —UP marine science educator

The oil slick from a sunken motor tanker in Oriental Mindoro may reach Puerto Galera and Batangas, according to an educator from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI). UP-MSI associate professor Dr. Irene Rodriguez explained that in their recent projections based on the water currents and wind flow, the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan has slowed down and See more...

'Catholic Comedian' spreads God's joy on TikTok

MANILA – Have you ever thought of remixing church music with pop songs? Romar Chuca has — and since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s been doing just that. His TikTok videos are a hit. To date, they’ve already been liked 11.9 million times, and he has more than 324,000 followers on the video-sharing platform. See more...

After viral bag video, Pinay teen in SG teams up with airline for content

After going viral for her TikTok video with her "luxury" Charles and Keith bag, Singapore-based Filipina teenager Zoe Gabriel has been tapped to create content for the airline company AirAsia. On the official TikTok page of the budget carrier, Gabriel can be seen in one of the posts dancing to “I Think He Knows” along with the budget carrier’s flight See more...

Sarah Geronimo debuts 'Himig ng Puso' on 'ASAP'

MANILA - Sarah Geronimo on Sunday performed her new song "Himig ng Puso" for the first time on "ASAP Natin 'To." The pop superstar had just released the track in February of this year, following a string of other singles that she had released since October of the previous year. Geronimo marked her 20th anniversary in the entertainment industry See more...

Karera ng mga bangka tuloy sa Calapan sa kabila ng oil spill

Idinaos nitong umaga ng Linggo sa Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro ang karera ng mga bangka sa kabila ng banta ng oil spill sa lugar. Nasa 40 bangka mula sa iba-ibang probinsiya ang lumahok sa karera, na bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng Kalap Festival kasabay ng ika-25 anibersaryo ng lungsod. Ayon kay Calapan Mayor Malou Morillo, kontrolado naman ang oil spill na See more...

Amazing Women: Rights advocate say women, LGBT community fight with, for each other

MANILA — Women and the LGBT community fight in tandem for their rights, Bahaghari chairperson Reyna Valmores said as the country celebrates Women's Month this March. "It has always been my firm belief that the fight for women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights are deeply intertwined. It is no accident that often, LGBTQ+ women are the ones who gravitate towards leadership See more...

Parayan Festival muling ipinagdiwang sa N. Samar matapos ang 3 taon

Muling idinaos ngayong Linggo ang Parayan Festival sa bayan ng San Roque, Northern Samar matapos matigil ng 3 taon dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic. Sampung grupo ang nakilahok sa parada, tampok ang makukulay na costume at ritual dance, ayon sa municipal tourism office ng San Roque. Ipinarada rin ang malalaking props na hango sa mga gamit sa pagsasaka. Ang Parayan ay See more...

Teves still unlikely to appear on Monday deadline: lawyer

MANILA -- Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is unlikely to surface on Monday, the deadline set by the House of Representatives to report for work, the lawmaker’s legal counsel said. House Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier gave Teves until March 20 to come back from overseas, as his request for a two-month leave of absence has been See more...

DOH logs 185 new COVID-19 infections; active cases at 9,290

The Department of Health logged 185 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the nationwide caseload to 4,078,994. It is the 12th straight day that more than 100 new daily cases have been reported, according to GMA Integrated News Research, and the fourth straight day that the number has exceeded 150. On its COVID-19 tracker, the DOH also reported that the See more...

Customs finds P120 million in suspected smuggled food products in Navotas

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) found P120-million worth of suspected smuggled food products in Navotas last week, with most of the seafood coming from China. The BOC said the items were discovered during raids on seven warehouses or cold storage facilities in Navotas last Friday, March 17, acting on letters of authority signed by BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio. The agency See more...

KBYN: Lalaki ipinaglihi sa mannequin?

Ipinanganak na walang mga kamay at maiksi naman ang kanang binti ng 49 taong gulang na si Joe Villaruz tubong Nueva Ecija. Ipinaglihi umano siya ng magulang sa isang mannequin sa parlor. "Napaglihian daw po ako sa mannequin sa beauty parlor. Nagpasalamat na lang po ako sa aking mga magulang na kahit po isinilang nila ako na ganito eh pinagtiyagaan See more...

Marawi plebiscite results in creation of 2 new barangays

Lanao del Sur's capital Marawi City now has two new barangays as a result of the plebiscite conducted on Saturday, March 18. Barangays Boganga II and Datu Dalidigan are the two new local government units created five years after the liberation of Marawi from the 5-month-long siege that started in May 2017 and ended in October of the same year. See more...

Kadiwa center in Bicol reaches P1.2M sales: Palace

MANILA — One of the latest Kadiwa centers, the first in Bicol Region, has generated sales of more than P1.2 million, MalacaƱang said Sunday. In a statement, the Palace said that the "Kadiwa ng Pangulo" outlet in Pili, Camarines Sur reached total sales of P1.212 million, with P431,162 on the first day and P780,912 on the second day. President Ferdinand See more...

Oil spill impact on Pola worsens; mayor seeks livelihood alternative for residents

Pola, Oriental Mindoro Mayor Jennifer Cruz is appealing for an alternative livelihood program for her constituents as their area continues to suffer from the effects of the oil slick from the motor tanker that sank on February 28. Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Cruz said that more amounts of oil spill have reached their area, affecting their tourism and the See more...

Daniel, Kathryn tick item off bucket list: dining at Hell's Kitchen

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla have accomplished another of item in their to-do list by dining at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen in Dubai. The experience was something they had been dreaming about for some time, and finally, they were able to make it a reality, according to the actress. “Finally ticking this one off of our bucketlist. Yay! See more...

Klea Pineda comes out as gay

Klea Pineda just came out as gay. In Nelson Canlas's report on "24 Oras Weekend," Sunday, the "AraBella" star opened up on how she felt the need to tell the world who she really is. "I'm proud na sabihin sa lahat ng mga Kapuso natin na I'm gay. I have a rainbow heart," she said. Klea became emotional as she See more...

Actor Sam Neill reveals blood cancer diagnosis

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Actor Sam Neill has revealed he is being treated for stage-three blood cancer, writing in a memoir that he was "possibly dying" from the illness diagnosed a year ago. The New Zealander, who burst to fame after starring as Dr Alan Grant in the 1993 blockbuster "Jurassic Park", said he began treatment last March for non-Hodgkin See more...

KZ Tandingan, Bamboo Manalac share similar birthday wish

“The Voice Kids” coaches Bamboo Manalac and KZ Tandingan apparently share the same birthday wish and it is for one of their wards to win the ongoing season of the televised singing competition. Tandingan revealed their common wish on “ASAP Natin ‘To” on Sunday after her back-to-back solo performances in celebration of their respective birthdays. Tandingan demonstrated her impressive singing See more...

Authorities urged to amplify crackdown on mobile phone scammers

MANILA -- Senator Grace Poe on Sunday urged authorities to amplify its crackdown on mobile phone scammers as the deadline for SIM registration nears. The senator said scams through text are still received by some subscribers, including recent messages saying their online bank accounts have been blocked. "There are still SIM farms out there and spoofing tools. Sinister minds will See more...

BI: Yearbook, grad photo not requirements for international travel

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Sunday that they were not requiring travelers to present their yearbooks, graduation photos, and even diplomas before they proceed with their flight overseas. Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said that travelers only need to bring their passport, roundtrip ticket, visa if applicable, and supporting documents. “Hindi po kailangan ng yearbook See more...

Theater review: Inspired casting banners new 'Zsazsa Zaturnnah'

Ada (Phi Palmos, Adrian Lindayag, Shaun Ocrisma) was a serious gay guy who lived in a small province town. He earned a living by running his own beauty salon. His loyal best friend was his very gay, very gregarious assistant Didi (Almond Bolante, Joshua Cabiladas, Robert Bradley Hao). The two friends were used to being the butt of jokes in See more...

1 Taiwanese, 4 Indian fugitives to be deported, BI says

One Taiwanese and four Indian fugitives will be deported to their home countries to stand trial for crimes, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Saturday. The foreigners were arrested by operatives of the BI's Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) in two separate operations, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said. The BI said Manpreet Singh, 23; Amritpal Singh, 24; and Arshdeep Singh, See more...

LPA trough to bring rain showers over eastern part of Mindanao

The eastern section of Mindanao will have rain showers on Sunday due to the trough or extension of a low pressure area (LPA), PAGASA said in its weather forecast. Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the LPA's trough. Moderate to at times heavy See more...

LandBank to give ARBs children P100K annual scholarship grant

State-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) on Sunday said it will provide P100,000 worth of yearly scholarship grants to 60 children of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), farmers, and fisherfolk yearly until 2028. Under the Iskolar ng LandBank Program, the lender will select 60 scholars per year from 2023 to 2028, providing P100,000 annually to cover allowance and expenses for See more...

Degamo's widow files petition seeking Teves' expulsion from Congress

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, widow of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, said on Sunday she had appealed to Congress to have Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. dismissed as a member of the House of Representatives. Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Mayor Degamo also backed the call of some legislators for Teves to return to the Philippines to defend See more...

Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano meet with director Mae Cruz Alviar for upcoming series

MANILA – It seems like cameras will begin to roll soon for the upcoming series of Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano. This, after they met with Mae Cruz Alviar on Sunday, who netizens believe will be the one directing their the teleserye “Can’t Buy Me Love.” “Here we go,” Alviar wrote captioned her Instagram photo showing her with Mariano and See more...

3 huli kaugnay sa ninakaw na ventilator sa QC; pulis tinangka umanong suhulan

MAYNILA — Arestado ang 3 tao kaugnay sa pagnanakaw umano ng isang portable ventilator sa isang opsital sa Quezon City. Kabilang sa mga natimbog ang isang empleyado ng ospital, na nakuhanan umano ng CCTV na tinangay ang ventilator na nagkakahalagang P800,000. Natuklasan umanong nawawala ang ventilator matapos mag-imbentaryo ang mga tauhan ng ospital, kaya ni-review ang CCTV at nakita ang See more...

BGYO, Donny Pangilinan team up to perform 'Watermelon Sugar'

P-pop idols BGYO teamed up with Donny Pangilinan for a performance this Sunday on "ASAP Natin 'To." Together, they performed Harry Styles' popular track "Watermelon Sugar.” Pangilinan comes off the success of his movie “An Inconvenient Love” with his onscreen partner Belle Mariano. They are gearing up for another television series. The boys of BGYO, on the other hand, are See more...

1st Kadiwa ng Pangulo in Bicol region logs P1.2 million sales

The first “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” center in the Bicol Region has generated at least P1.2 million in sales since it was launched, according to the Presidential Communications Office on Sunday. The outlet, which was based in Pili, Camarines Sur, has so far reached a total sales of P1,212,074. Of this, P431,162 was recorded on the first day, and P780,912 on See more...