Philippines News Today May 03, 2023

Here are the latest news and events that happened today, Wednesday, May 03, 2023.

LPA, ITCZ, easterlies to bring rain showers over several areas

A low pressure area (LPA), Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and the easterlies will bring rain showers over parts of the country on Wednesday, PAGASA said in its weather forecast. At 3 a.m., the LPA was estimated to be located over the coastal waters of San Agustin, Surigao del Sur. It is embedded along the ITCZ which is affecting Palawan, Visayas See more...

NGCP energizes P52-B Mindanao-Visayas interconnection

Transmission firm National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has energized the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection project (MVIP) —an initiative aimed to improve power stability and reliability across the country. In a statement, the NGCP said an initial load of 22.5 megawatts (MW) was carried by the high voltage submarine and overhead lines from Mindanao to Visayas during the project’s energization on April See more...

US firms, kukuha ng 75,000 Pinoy seafarers

Ilang kompanya sa Amerika ang kukuha ng mga Filipino seafarers na aabot sa 75,000 sa susunod na tatlo hanggang apat na taon. Sa pakikipagpulong ni Pangulong Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. nitong Miyerkules (Philippine time) kay John Padget, president and CEO ng Carnival Corp., inihayag ng huli ang tungkol sa plano ng kaniyang grupo na kumuha ng mga Filipino seafarer. Pinuri See more...

PAGASA: LPA off Negros Oriental to bring rains in parts of PH

A low-pressure area (LPA) off Negros Oriental will spur rains across parts of the country on Wednesday, state weather bureau PAGASA said. Based on its 4 p.m. forecast, PAGASA said the LPA is embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It was last seen in the vicinity of Tanjay City, Negros Oriental at 3 See more...

SRA says working to lower sugar price to P85 per kilo

MANILA — The Sugar Regulatory Administration on Wednesday assured the public there is no supply shortage and they are working to lower the commodity's price. "Our imported [sugar] in the market at the moment is about 116,000 tons compared to the local. The local is about 1.7 million tons. So, very big difference," SRA acting chief Pablo Luis Azcona told See more...

DBM: Marcos admin allots P2.39B for nat’l greening program

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday said the Marcos administration has allocated P2.39 billion for the National Greening Program under the 2023 General Appropriation Act (GAA). “As mandated by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we will remain committed to attaining inclusive and sustainable transformation toward a greener economy. But we cannot achieve this goal if we neglect See more...

Marcoses meet US VP Harris, Second Gentleman

WASHINGTON—President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos on Tuesday (Washington time) met with US Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Dough Emhoff at the Number One Observatory Circle on Tuesday. Harris told Marcos that they shared the same passion especially when it comes to security, economy, and clean energy. The US Vice President also recalled See more...

QC underpass, mistulang paraiso dahil sa makukulay na flora at fauna artwork

Tila paraiso ang bagong anyo ng isang underpass sa Quezon City na tinatawag na “QC Underparadisso,” tampok ang makukulay na iba’t ibang endangered flora at fauna ng bansa. Sa ulat ni James Agustin sa Unang Balita nitong Miyerkoles, makikitang hitik din sa kaalaman ang art installation sa pedestrian underpass na nagkokonekta sa Quezon City Hall at Quezon Memorial Circle. Kabilang See more...

Zubiri on NAIA mess: Fix airport issues or let foreigners manage

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to issue an ultimatum to the management of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to fix the problems at the country’s main gateway. Alternatively, the government can enter into a contract with foreign firms to manage NAIA, the Senate leader said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay See more...

Makabayan bloc urges House inquiry into data breach at gov't agencies

Lawmakers belonging to the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has asked for a congressional inquiry into the data breach that allegedly affected over 1.2 million records or 817.54 GB of data handled by law enforcement agencies. France Castro of ACT Teachers party-list, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela party-list and Raoul Manuel of Kabataan party-list made the call under their See more...

Catriona Gray is now a certified open water diver

Catriona Gray has added another feather to her cap as she is now a certified open water diver. The former Miss Universe shared the good news in an Instagram post on Tuesday as she asked her fans and followers to recommend their favorite diving spots. "Guess who's a certified open water diver," she said. Gray earlier revealed See more...

Ano ang Super El Niño at ano ang epekto nito sa mundo?

Naging usap-usapan ang pagbabadya ng Super El Niño hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi pati sa buong mundo ngayong taon. Kaya naman itinaas na ng PAGASA ang El Niño Alert nitong Mayo sa bansa matapos ang mga forecast na maaari itong mangyari sa susunod na tatlong buwan. Ano nga ba ang Super El Niño na nakaaapekto ng mga buhay at kabuhayan? See more...

Miss Universe queens Pia Wurtzbach, Iris Mittenaere bond in Maldives

Pia Wurtzbach has once again reunited with her fellow Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere in Maldives. As seen in her recent Instagram update, Wurtzbach and the French beauty queen bonded at the beach as they got together for a work trip. “I swear we’re the island girls version of this twinning emoji,” Wurtzbach wrote before putting the two dancing female emojis See more...

NBP suspends visiting hours as 32 PDLs test positive for COVID-19

Visiting hours were suspended at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. That's after a person deprived of liberty (PDL) tested positive for the viral disease after two years of not having COVID-19 cases inside the NBP, according to Ian Cruz's "24 Oras" report on Wednesday. “Yung nagpositive kasi is See more...

Michael Douglas to receive honorary Palme at Cannes

PARIS -- Film star Michael Douglas will receive an honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival later this month, the organizers announced on Wednesday. The award recognizes the 78-year-old's "brilliant career and engagement with cinema" and there will be a homage to the actor during the opening ceremony on May 16. Douglas was one of the biggest stars of See more...

WATCH: Janine Berdin shows off her tattoos

MANILA -- OPM singer Janine Berdin shared the stories behind her tattoos on "Magandang Buhay" on Wednesday. Berdin has several tattoos, including one on her right middle finger, as well as one on her left fist. "Ito po (flamefire) is to remind me to keep the passion burning when I'm holding the mic, parang ganoon. Ito naman po (middle finger) See more...

PNP to go after smoking, vaping minors

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will go after minors who are smoking and vaping outside the school, according to Jun Veneracion’s “24 Oras” report on Tuesday. The PNP said they will focus more on the students, especially minors, who smoke cigarettes or use vape, and will handle the case in accordance with existing laws and local ordinances. “Ang See more...

MPIC core net income hits P4.3-B in Q1, up 38 pct

MANILA – Metro Pacific Investments Corporation said its consolidated core net income hit P4.3 billion in the first quarter of 2023, up 38 percent from the same period last year. The firm credited the results to the strong performance of its power generation business and higher billed volumes from the water concession. Power accounted for P4.2 billion or 75 See more...

Marcos eyes micro nuclear fuel technology to address power crisis

WASHINGTON - President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is considering a "cutting-edge" micro nuclear fuel technology as part of the measures to address the power crisis in the country. Marcos met with officials of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, which is a US-based firm global leader and vertical integrator of nuclear technologies and services. Francesco Venneri, CEO of the company, expressed interest See more...

UP releases results of college admission for AY 2023-2024

MANILA — The University of the Philippines on Wednesday released the results of applications for admission for Academic Year 2023-2024. In a statement, the UP Office of Admissions encouraged applicants to visit the application portal according to the time slot corresponding to the first letter of their surname. Applicants will need the username and password they used during See more...

Eugene Domingo at Dolly De Leon, may nilulutong proyekto sa 2025

May proyektong gagawin ang magkaibigan at mga award-winning actress na sina Eugene Domingo at Dolly De Leon sa 2025. Sa “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” nitong Miyerkoles, pinabasa ni Tito Boy kay Eugene ang maikling liham na isinulat ni Dolly para sa kaniya. Binalikan ni Tito Boy ang inilahad ni Dolly noong nakaraang linggo sa programa na sinagot ni Eugene See more...

Marcos Jr. appoints former Antique town mayor as chief of SBMA

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Pandan, Antique mayor Jonathan Dioso Tan as chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Tan was appointed a term of six years as the administrator and chairman of the board of directors of SBMA, according to a Palace document dated April 28, 2023. Tan took his oath of office Wednesday, May See more...

US not looking to form new Quad in East Asia with PH, other countries

WASHINGTON—The US is not looking to put up a new Quad in East Asia made up of itself, the Philippines, and a few other countries, a US State Department official has said. According to US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink, the US has been only showing its commitment to the Indo-Pacific and See more...

Abalos orders LGUs to prepare for possible El Niño effects

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos on Wednesday ordered mayors to prepare for and mitigate the possible effects of El Niño in their areas. This comes a day after state weather bureau PAGASA issued an El Niño alert after forecasts showed that the phenomenon may emerge in the next three months at 80% probability and See more...

SRA: 4,000 MT of smuggled sugar to be sold at Kadiwa stores

At least 4,000 metric tons of seized smuggled sugar were approved to be sold at Kadiwa outlets at a cheaper price, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said on Wednesday. At the televised public briefing, SRA acting administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said that this amounts to about 4 million kilos of sugar, which will be sold at P70 per kilo. “‘Yung See more...

'Diretso na 'kong impyerno': Ador may patikim sa mga kasalanan sa 'Dirty Linen'

Tila may patikim si Ador (Epy Quizon) sa pag-amin sa mga kasalanan ng mga Fiero sa latest episode ng "Dirty Linen" nitong Martes. Matapos i-kidnap nina Max (Christian Bables), hubo't hubad na lumayas si Ador at nagpahimasmas muna kasama si Olan (Joel Torre). Habang umiinom, inaalala ni Ador ang mga naging kasalanan niya dahil sa mga Fiero. "Kung tutuusin, See more...

Cebu Landmasters sets P13B capex for 2023

Listed property developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) on Wednesday revealed plans to spend P13 billion this year, mainly for the construction of projects which have already been launched and sold out in the past two years. In a virtual briefing, CLI chief operating officer Jose Franco Soberano said the firm plans to hike its capital expenditure (capex) for the year See more...

Senate probe into national ID issues sought

MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimetel III has filed Resolution 585 which directs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate Philippine Statistics Authority’s delayed issuance of national identification cards. “Given the unreasonably prolonged delivery, questionable usefulness, and substandard quality of the national IDs, there is already cause to believe that there is malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance on the See more...

Plane overshoots runway in Isabela; 9 passengers safe

An aircraft carrying nine people overshot a runway in Palanan Airport in Isabela on Wednesday morning, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said. In a statement, the CAAP said all nine passengers were safely disembarked and attended to, and post-incident protocols were conducted. The CAAP said the plane — a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain aircraft operated by Cyclone See more...

USAID launching new partnership to scale up PH infra development

WASHINGTON—The US Agency for International Development (USAID) will launch a new partnership to scale up infrastructure development in the Philippines. According to a White House fact sheet, this will support the construction of high-quality railways, ports, and transport systems. "Additionally, over the course of 2023, USTDA will launch new sustainable infrastructure activities intended to leverage over $3 billion in public See more...

UP Cebu to hold online classes from May 4 due to rising COVID-19 cases

The University of the Philippines-Cebu announced on Wednesday a temporary shift to online classes starting May 4 due to rising COVID-19 cases on campus. Based on the memorandum issued by the Office of the Chancellor, the transition to online classes applies to all courses except those that “necessitate access to studios or laboratories and the high school program.” “Please note See more...

Marcos: No sector that wasn't touched by PH-US partnership

WASHINGTON — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said there is no sector that was not touched by the partnership between the Philippines and the United States. During a meeting with the United States-Philippines Society, Marcos said he was pleased with the significant progress both Manila and Washington have made towards strengthening security alliance. "Yes now, prominent are the security defense See more...

P18 million sought for cloud seeding as El Niño looms

(UPDATE) The Department of Agriculture is seeking a budget of P18 million for cloud seeding operations to mitigate the impact of the looming El Niño phenomenon. The agency is also looking at adjusting the planting calendar amid the possible dry spell that may be caused by El Niño. In a media briefing on Wednesday, U-Nichols Manalo, director of DA's See more...

Remains of missing Australian man found in crocodile

SYDNEY — The remains of an Australian man who went missing on a fishing trip in crocodile-infested waters have been found inside one of the reptiles, police said Wednesday. The 65-year-old victim, named in Australian media as Kevin Darmody, had gone fishing on Saturday in far north Queensland with a group of locals, who shooed away a crocodile so they See more...

ALAMIN: Ano ang mga appliance na malakas sa kuryente?

Tinukoy ngayong Miyerkoles ng Meralco ang mga appliance na nagpapalobo sa bayarin sa kuryente ngayong tag-init. Una na umano rito ang aircon, na kung halimbawa'y conventional na 1 horsepower ay naglalaro sa P4 hanggang P5 kada oras ang konsumo. Pero ang inverter umanong 1 horsepower ay nasa P3 lang kada oras. Nasa P0.64 kada oras naman ang electric fan habang See more...

Poe seeks Senate inquiry into Panay power situation amid supply interruptions

Senator Grace Poe has filed a resolution directing the appropriate Senate committee to investigate the power situation on Panay Island and provide long-term solutions for power interruptions in the Visayan region. “These recurring power interruptions and massive blackouts have plagued Panay Island for several years now and severely impacted not only the daily lives of the people of Panay but See more...

BPO firm Atento to set up first call center in Iloilo

WASHINGTON - Business process outsourcing company Atento will establish its first call center in Madurriao, Iloilo, the Presidential Communications Office said on Tuesday, Washington time (Wednesday, PH time). The PCO said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. met with Atento president Fili Ledezma Soto and chief delivery officer Josh Ashby at the Blair House wherein the chief executive emphasized that the See more...

Philippines, US to form bilateral labor working group

WASHINGTON - The Philippines and the US will put up a bilateral Labor Working Group, the White House has said in a fact sheet. It said this labor working group is under the Philippines-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. The White House said the working group would serve as an important platform "through which the United States and the Philippines See more...

France opposes actions that increase tensions in South China Sea

France on Tuesday expressed its opposition to any action that would increase the tension in the South China Sea. The Embassy of France in the Philippines issued the statement days after the near-collision of a Chinese coast guard vessel and a Philippine coast guard patrol boat off the Spratly Islands. "France is following the recent events in the South China See more...

World Press Freedom Day, ginunita sa pamamagitan ng isang forum sa UP Diliman

MAYNILA - Kasabay ng paggunita ng World Press Freedom Day, nagsama-sama sa isang forum sa College of Mass Communication sa University of the Philippines Diliman ang ilang mga mamamahayag, estudyante at propesor sa larangan ng pagbabalita para talakayin ang kalagayan ng malayang pamamahayag o press freedom sa bansa. Kabilang sa mga natalakay dito ang sinapit ng ABS-CBN matapos hindi i-renew See more...

Lalaki, arestado matapos mahulihan ng hindi lisensyadong baril sa QC

Arestado ang isang lalaking umano'y nakiki-fiesta sa Quezon City matapos makuhanan ng hindi lisensyadong baril. Iniulat ni James Agustin sa Unang Balita nitong Miyerkoles na hindi na nakapalag ang suspek nang arestuhin ng mga pulis sa Barangay Unang Sigaw ng lungsod. Ayon sa ulat, nagsasagawa ng anti-criminality operation ang mga pulis sa lugar dahil piyesta doon at maraming nag-iinuman. Ayon See more...

Blue Ribbon probe on ‘long delayed’ release of national IDs sought

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is seeking a Senate blue ribbon committee investigation into the “long delayed” issuance of the national identification cards. In filing proposed Senate Resolution 585, Pimentel seeks to identify accountability for malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance, if any, on the part of the leadership in the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and See more...

AstraZeneca to seek PH approval of COVID antibody therapy

MANILA — Vaccine maker AstraZeneca said Wednesday it would file for regulatory approval of its monoclonal antibody therapy Evusheld by the end of the year. "We will be filing for regulatory approval in the Philippines shortly for a new version, which we call internally the 3152 version," Sylvia Varela, AstraZeneca's area vice president for Asia, told ANC. Evusheld is said See more...

5 fratmen linked to Salilig hazing filed petition for bail — prosecutors

Five of the accused in the death of Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig have filed their petition for bail, the prosecution panel said Wednesday. The panel of prosecutors told GMA News Online in a message that the first hearing on the petition for bail is set on May 17. The prosecutors made the statement after a pre-trial hearing on See more...

Flights delayed amid adjustment in Philippine radar system

Several domestic and international flights were delayed due to the radar system maintenance work at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) on Wednesday. While around 20 flights were affected by the adjustment of the radar system, no passengers were seen stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Darlene Cay reported on Unang Balita. The Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced See more...

US working with communities to show value of EDCA sites, says White House

WASHINGTON - The United States is working closely with communities in the vicinity of the EDCA sites to showcase the benefits it could provide to residents in the area, a White House fact sheet said. According to the White House, this aims to "fully realize their positive value for local development and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief." "To that See more...

Maxene Magalona shares stories behind her tattoos

MANILA -- Actress Maxene Magalona on Wednesday shared the story behind her tattoos in her "Magandang Buhay" guesting. The actress has several tattoos including one on her left wrist, and on her nape. "The very first tattoo that I had done this' la fille à papa' which means 'daddy's girl' in French. I got this during my dad's first See more...

EXO's Kai to enlist in military on May 11

Kai of the K-pop boy group EXO is set to begin his mandatory military service next week, according to a report. EXO's management company, SM Entertainment, announced Wednesday that the 29-year-old artist would enlist on May 11, K-pop news portal Soompi reported. "Kai was preparing for EXO's comeback scheduled for this year, but due to a recent change in regulations See more...

Portugal pigeon dispute leaves four dead

A disagreement between four racing pigeon breeders turned deadly when one killed the others with a shotgun. A man shot three people dead before taking his own life during a quarrel among racing pigeon breeders in southern Portugal. Police said the shooting happened in the Bairro Azul neighborhood of Setubal, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of Lisbon. Andreia Goncalves, See more...

Moderna to set up facility in Philippines

WASHINGTON — Officials of vaccine manufacturer and Nasdaq-listed Moderna Inc. said it would establish a facility in the Philippines. In a meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday evening (Manila time), Moderna Chief Commercial Officer Arpa Garay and Senior Vice President and General Manager Patrick Bergstedt said they are set to establish a “Shared Service Facility for Pharmacovigilance,” See more...

Press freedoms shrink, journalists targeted: UN and media

UNITED NATIONS, United States — Press freedom is under attack in every corner of the globe, with journalists continually harassed, jailed and killed, UN officials and media outlets warned Tuesday. Speaking ahead of World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a rallying cry for journalists and media worldwide. "All our freedom depends on press freedom," he See more...

Solenn Heussaff's daughter Thylane can speak 4 languages

MANILA – The eldest daughter of Solenn Heussaff and Nico Bolzico caught the attention of netizens as she exhibited her skills in speaking four different languages. This, after Heussaff shared on Instagram a clip of three-year-old Thylane speaking Spanish, English, French and Filipino. “Since we live in a multilingual household, it’s only natural for Tili to pick up a word See more...

'Tawag ng Tanghalan': Nowi Alpuerto enters finals, Lyka Estrella gets last chance

MANILA — Bulacan bet Nowi Alpuerto has entered the finals of the singing competition "Tawag ng Tanghalan" season 6 on "It's Showtime." Alpuerto was up against Lyka Estrella and Kelvin Silvestre and they went head-to-head with their rendition of "Salamat" by Yeng Constantino. Their subsequent solo performances — Alpuerto’s take on “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” Estrella’s version of See more...

OPAPRU, DSWD to give P100K cash aid to each ex-MILF combatant

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday vowed to provide P100,000 cash assistance to each decommissioned Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants for their socioeconomic development. The two agencies signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to roll out a P396 million-worth socioeconomic program for See more...

Sandiganbayan denies Herbert Bautista’s bid to dismiss graft raps

The Sandiganbayan has denied former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista's motion to quash the information for graft filed against him and his motion to dismiss the case due to the time it took for the prosecution to charge him before the anti-graft court. In a 15-page resolution, the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division said that the information hurdled "the test of sufficiency." See more...

Bill seeking refund for bad telco, internet service filed in Senate

Senator Jinggoy Estrada has filed a bill seeking to require public telecommunication entities (PTEs) and internet service providers (ISPs) to refund subscribers if service interruptions have accumulated at least 24 hours in a month. Senate Bill 2074 or the proposed Refund for Internet and Telecommunications Service Outages and Disruptions Act orders PTEs and ISPs to institute a mechanism that will See more...

Panel recommends admin charges vs. 4 senior PNP officials over alleged drug links

The five-man advisory group has recommended that the courtesy resignations of four ranking police officials be accepted over their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade, Super Radyo dzBB's Mark Makalalad reported on Wednesday. Quoting former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr., who heads the advisory group, the report said administrative charges were also recommended to be filed See more...

Viral photos of celebs like Tom Cruise in Divisoria are created by AI

Was Tom Cruise really in Divisoria? Was Dwayne Johnson, formerly known as The Rock, really eating street food? These photos went viral on social media, but they're not true! As seen on Oscar Oida's report on "24 Oras," Wednesday, they're fake photos created with artificial intelligence (AI) image generating software. Those particular photos were created by Jon Oraña, an AI See more...

Bata, kabilang sa mga nasagip sa gumuhong gusali sa Brazil

Isang bata at ilan pang katao ang nailigtas sa debris mula sa gumuhong tatlong palapag na gusali sa Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sa ulat ni Bam Alegre sa Unang Balita nitong Miyerkoles, mapapanood ang puspusang pagsagip sa mga naipit sa gumuhong gusali kahit malalim na ang gabi. Maya-maya pa, isang bata ang nakuha mula sa debris. Nagpalakpakan at naghiyawan ang See more...

SC suspends lawyer for two years for sexual harassment at work

The Supreme Court (SC) suspended a lawyer for two years for committing sexual advances on a colleague at the workplace. The high court imposed a two-year suspension from the practice of law on a senior partner in a law firm after a junior associate lawyer filed an administrative case. The SC said the respondent was charged with committing “sexually-laced acts See more...

EA Guzman, may 'kasamang' K-pop star sa pagsorpresa kay Shaira Diaz sa 'UH'

Sinorpresa ni EA Guzman ang kaniyang nobyang si Shaira Diaz na nagdiriwang ng kaarawan sa GMA morning show na "Unang Hirit." Pero may "kasama" pang K-pop star ang aktor na lalong nagpakilig sa actress-host. Bukod sa bulaklak, bitbit ni EA sa pagbisita sa "UH" ang standee ni BTS member Jungkook na paborito ni Shaira, na walang tigil sa pagtawa. “Happy, See more...

How Fil-Am comedian JR de Guzman adapts to diverse audiences

JR de Guzman has been playing his standup show “Later That Evening” before sold-out audiences across many states in the US. He has also previously brought his other shows to Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and Indonesia. This time, the Filipino-American comedian is gearing up to bring his latest comedy set to the Philippines when he takes the stage at The See more...

SRA mulls selling smuggled sugar in supermarkets

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is weighing the option of selling confiscated smuggled sugar in supermarkets as well, Bernadette Reyes reported on "24 Oras" on Tuesday. "If they allow that then we will be able to sell the Kadiwa sugar in the big chains as well, at P70," said SRA Acting Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona in the report. A kilogram See more...

Solar firm Maxeon eyes $900-M investment in PH

WASHINGTON — Solar firm Maxeon is considering investing some $900 million in solar energy in the Philippines as part of its efforts to expand its operations. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who is in the United States capital for an official visit, met with officials of Maxeon in a bid to attract more investors for the country. Maxeon Chief Executive See more...

Why Xyriel Manabat won't get her chest piercings back

MANILA -- Actress Xyriel Manabat has no plan of getting back her dermal piercings. This was after her piercings on the neck and chest turned into keloid scars. "Mayroon po akong dermal or surface piercing, nag-keloid po siya kasi na-infect," Manabat said in her "Magandang Buhay" guesting on Wednesday. "Bale apat na dermal piercing. Iba't ibang timeline pero lahat po See more...

6 K-dramas to watch if you love Wi Ha-jun

Before he rose to global popularity as the cleverly sneaky cop on Netflix's hit survival drama "Squid Game," South Korean actor Wi Ha-jun has been showing off his acting chops through a wide range of projects, both in the small and big screen. The 31-year-old star first entered show biz in 2012 through the short film "Peace in Them," but See more...

US to transfer more assets to AFP

WASHINGTON — The United States will provide additional assets to the Philippine military in support of the latter's modernization efforts. According to a fact sheet released by the White House, Washington intends to transfer to the Armed Forces of the Philippines two Island-class patrol vessels, two Protector-class patrol vessels, and three C-130H aircraft, pending applicable Congressional notification requirements. Further, two See more...

Gracenote drops new song 'Taong Robot'

Following the release of "Tigil," about how to stop and get out of a toxic relationship, Gracenote released its new single "Taong Robot." According to the band. "Taong Robot" pays tribute to those hardworking individuals who sometimes forget to rest. It sings about hard work and dedication of individuals just to get out of hardships in life to the point See more...

US, South Korea ink partnership to boost PH’s climate resilience

The United States and South Korea have signed a P111.5 million partnership to boost the capabilities of the cities in the Philippines to manage the impacts of climate change and natural disasters, according to the US Embassy in Manila on Wednesday. Under the agreement, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will support the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) five-year See more...

DOJ indicts Vibal Group, CEO for tax evasion charges

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of 17 cases against Vibal Group, as well as its chief executive officer, for violations of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC). In a statement, the DOJ said it issued a resolution indicting Vibal Group, Inc., along with its CEO Kristine Mandigma, and controller Maricel Villas, for the violation of Sections See more...

Win Gatchalian urges principals to shift to blended learning amid El Niño alert

Senate basic education committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian is urging school principals to shift from in-person classes to blended learning after the state weather bureau PAGASA issued an El Niño alert. “Ang pinaka-importanteng responsibilidad ng principals natin ay yung kapakanan o kalagayan ng ating mga estudyante. Kung nakikita nila na sobrang init o may bagyo o anumang hindi maganda sa kanilang See more...

What is planned for King Charles III's coronation?

The history of British royal coronations in London date back around a thousand years. Over that period, numerous rituals were developed, with many to feature during the coronation of Charles IIIand his wife, Camilla, on May 6. Some rituals are almost as old as the ceremony itself, such as the royal headgear. Other aspects, like picking a signature dish — See more...

SRA mulls selling smuggled sugar in supermarkets

MANILA — The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is looking into the possibility of selling smuggled sugar in supermarkets too, its acting administrator said on Wednesday. Pablo Luis Azcona said they were "finalizing" plans to initially sell 4,000 metric tons of smuggled sugar in the middle or by the end of this month in Kadiwa stalls and in proposed Kadiwa See more...

Siargao brings back international game fishing tournament

The municipal government of Pilar recently revived the Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament. The three-day sporting event, which was last held in 2019, included 31 participants from the Philippines, Japan, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Filipino angler Santiago Gonzales won the tournament with his gross catch of 102.7 kg and the biggest catch of a 41-kg blue marlin. See more...

NGCP energizes Mindanao-Visayas interconnection project

MANILA - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said on Wednesday it has energized the P52 billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP). MVIP aims to improve power stability in the country, NGCP said in a statement. The MVIP has a 184 circuit-kilometer (ckm) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine transmission line connecting the power grids of Mindanao and Visayas with a See more...

NAIA’s new electrical system won’t necessarily cost P1 billion —Recto

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)’s request for a new electrical system is an urgent matter, but the amount won’t necessarily reach P1 billion, House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto of Batangas said Wednesday. Recto issued the statement after power outage hit the country’s main airport again on Labor Day, delaying hundreds of flights in the process. Such outage happened See more...

Metro Manila’s COVID-19 positivity rate jumps to 18.8% —OCTA

The seven-day positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) soared to 18.8% as of May 1, according to independent monitoring group OCTA Research. In a tweet, OCTA research fellow Dr. Guido David said the positivity rate in the capital region increased to 18.8% from the 11.7% reported on April 24. Positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who See more...

Celeste Cortesi all set to pass her Miss Universe PH crown

MANILA -- Celeste Cortesi believes that "the best is yet to come" as she passes her Miss Universe Philippines crown in a few days. The beauty queen took to Instagram to mark her "crowniversary," expressing gratitude to all those who have supported her in her pageant journey. "To one year of carrying the crown with strength, dignity, and grace. Thankful See more...

USAID to give $8 million to support global health security in PH

WASHINGTON—The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will give an additional $8 million, pending congressional notification, to support global health security in the Philippines, the White House said. According to a fact sheet, the amount will be used to invest in the Philippines' biosafety and laboratory capacity, disease surveillance, risk communication, and emergency preparedness. "In addition, USAID will partner See more...

PH posts 867 fresh COVID-19 infections; active cases rise to 7,565

The Department of Health (DOH) reported 867 fresh COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, pushing active cases in the country to 7,565. It's the third consecutive day fresh infections in the Philippines reached over 800. The country’s active tally also jumped to 7,565 from 7,037 on Tuesday, according to the DOH. Meanwhile, the country's caseload has now reached 4,096,335 according to DOH's See more...

Lalaking namaril at nakapatay sa 5 niyang kapitbahay sa Texas, nadakip na

Matapos ang apat na araw na pagtugis, nadakip na ng mga awtoridad sa Texas ang suspek na bumaril sa kaniyang kapitbahay na nagresulta sa pagkamatay ng lima katao--kabilang ang isang bata na walong-taong-gulang. Sa ulat ng Reuters, sinabi ni San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers na nakatanggap sila ng "tip" sa bahay na pinagtataguan ng suspek na si Francisco Oropesa, 38-anyos, See more...

Globe blocks 65,000 child porn sites in first quarter 2023

MANILA - Globe Telecom said on Wednesday said it has blocked over 65,000 illegal sites showing child pornography in the first quarter of 2023 as part of its crackdown against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) in the Philippines. The number of child pornography-related URLs blocked by Globe jumped 67.3 percent to 64,914 from 38,795 in the same See more...

34 Filipinos from Sudan back in the Philippines

Thirty-four Filipinos who were stranded in Sudan safely arrived back to the Philippines on Tuesday evening, according to a report by GMA Integrated News’ Bam Alegre on “BaliTanghali” on Wednesday. Among the repatriates are some Islamic scholars who recalled the horrors they encountered in the conflict-torn country. “’Yung sitwasyon namin kumbaga hindi biro. Naghihintay kami ng Embassy eh wala kaming See more...

LT Group names 3rd gen tycoon Lucio Tan III President

MANILA - Tycoon Lucio Tan's holding company LT Group Inc on Wednesday named Lucio Tan III as President, replacing his Uncle, Michael Tan. Tan III is the 30-year-old son of the late Lucio "Bong" Tan Jr who died in November 2019. "After a year-long leadership transition period, Lucio Tan III has officially taken over as president of the Lucio Tan See more...

Indigenous peoples' lawyers facing more pressing issues than tax breaks - NUPL

MANILA — A measure seeking to give tax breaks to lawyers providing pro bono services to indigenous peoples has been filed in the lower House. House Bill 7867, authored by lawmakers Paolo Duterte and Eric Yap, mandates the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples to appoint counsel de oficio for indigenous cultural communities (ICC) or IPs with pending cases before it. See more...

Tired of 'Pangilinan-led': MVP explains move to delist MPIC

MANILA - Metro Pacific Investments Corp Chairman, President and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan playfully said goodbye to the media Wednesday during the first press conference of the company since it announced a voluntary delisting. "We will be missing you," he said. The voluntary delisting will relieve MPI of all of the reportorial requirements that come with being public, such as See more...

SRA open to possible probe on high sugar prices

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is open to any investigation that may be conducted in connection with the high cost of sugar in some areas, acting Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said Wednesday. Interviewed on Unang Balita, Azcona explained that sugar prices go as high as P136kilo in select stores as retailers were the ones who dictated the price. He said See more...

Senate, DOLE express opposing views on hiring of senior citizens

MANILA — The proposed measures seeking to allow employers to hire senior citizens received opposing views from the Senate leadership and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday welcomed the proposal of Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva to hire senior citizens which is being done in other countries. After all, many elderlies can See more...

NWRB cuts water allocation for irrigation

The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has reduced the water allocation from Angat Dam for irrigation, before completely suspending it for the rest of the month. In a Viber message, NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said the water allocation for irrigation has been slashed to 10 cubic meters per second (cms) from 30 cms from May 1 to 10. See more...

MPIC: No changes in business operations after PSE delisting

It would be business as usual for Pangilinan-led infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) after its eventual delisting from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). Last week, MPIC announced its plan to voluntarily delist from the local bourse as controlling shareholders are set to buy out the minority through a P48.6 billion tender offer. MPIC said a consortium of major See more...

US firms set to hire 75,000 Pinoy seafarers

WASHINGTON - Some American firms are set to hire at least 75,000 Filipino seafarers in the next three to four years, a company executive here said. During a meeting with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (Philippine time), John Padget, president and CEO of Carnival Corp., said his group of companies is set to hire the Filipino seafarers. Padget, See more...

Lola sa Laguna, napagtapos ang mga anak dahil sa pagtitinda ng sinaing na tulingan

Sa kaniyang sipag at tiyaga sa pagtitinda ng sinaing na tulingan, napagtapos ni Lola Pastora Yldelso ng pag-aaral ang kaniyang mga anak at nakapagpundar ng bahay at lupa. Pero gaya ng ibang negosyante, nakaranasan siya ng matinding pagsubok nang magkaroon ng pandemic lalo na't isa na siyang senior citizen. Sa programang "Pera Paraan," sinabing marami ang nakakakilala kay Lola Pastora See more...