Top News

The Japanese Embassy in Manila clarified that Filipino nationals will continue to enjoy free temporary visitor visas for stays of up to 90 days, even as Japan rolls out its first visa fee increase in over 40 years for select countries. The advisory follows reports that new visa charges will apply to applicants from countries such as China, India, and …

Authorities foiled a planned school attack in Leyte after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla received a tip from Senator Bam Aquino about a student allegedly plotting violence at Tolosa National High School. Remulla said Aquino relayed the information after an informant in Tacloban reported that a student was planning a mass shooting or stabbing targeting classmates. Aquino had earlier visited San …

BY: Vito Barcelo Jr. More than 15,000 transport workers across the country have received over P55 million in financial assistance through the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) TUPAD-Tuloy Pasada Program. As of June 22, a total of 15,044 beneficiaries have been provided with P55.3 million in aid to help ease the burden of rising fuel prices. Launched in April, …

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized 11 container vans loaded with smuggled cigarettes worth about ₱860 million in a joint operation in Cebu. The latest haul came days after authorities intercepted 23 containers of illicit cigarettes valued at ₱1.7 billion at a private wharf in Manila. The operation was carried out by the BOC–Port of Cebu with the Philippine …

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has conducted a simulated voting exercise at Siyola Primary School in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi as part of its preparations for the Sept. 14, 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections. The simulation began with the opening of polling precincts and the casting of test ballots, allowing election officials to assess the readiness of …

By Tracy Cabrera Few cities have managed to engineer a financial turnaround as dramatic as Manila’s. Once weighed down by a massive budget deficit that threatened its ability to deliver basic services, the country’s capital has bounced back, reclaiming its reputation as a financially stable and well-managed city. Speaking at last week’s Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel at the Rizal Park …

Filipinos have long been accustomed to borrowing trends from abroad, from fashion and entertainment to technology and social media. Unfortunately, the country is now witnessing the arrival of a far more dangerous import: the phenomenon of school violence and shootings that have become tragically familiar in the United States. What was once limited to isolated cases of bullying has evolved …

The challenge facing us today is how to make democracy work.  Political philosophers during the Enlightenment at the end of the Middle Ages cut the heads, literally and figuratively, of the Divine Right theory of monarchs to rule over the populace.  Then top it off with a  Napoleon and his military genius and voila! — one has the recipe of …

The Philippines possesses all the natural ingredients of a world-class tourism destination: pristine beaches, breathtaking mountains, rich biodiversity, and a people renowned for warmth and hospitality. Yet despite repeated marketing campaigns and the sincere efforts of tourism officials, the country continues to lag behind its Southeast Asian neighbors in attracting international visitors. The problem is not a lack of attractions. …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso’s  proposal to expel students who bring weapons to school, participate in riots, or are found guilty of bullying has sparked an important conversation about discipline, accountability, and the future of education. While some may view the proposed ordinance as too strict, it reflects a growing concern over the need …