January, 2026

• 5 January

  Ending Hunger Needs Unity and Smart Governance: PBBM Reviews National Budget with Key Role for LGUs 

  LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez Hunger remains one of the most painful realities for many Filipino families, especially among the poor and Indigenous Peoples in far-flung communities. Programs that directly address empty stomachs are not just acts of charity; they are investments in human dignity. This is why the continued implementation of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), strengthened by partnerships …

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• 5 January

  2026 is a good year for DA 

  

  By Rose de la Cruz IT CERTAINLY would be a good, if not the best, year in 2026 for the Department of Agriculture. Considering that it is set to get a final allocation of at least P216.1 billion after various legislative adjustments.  The DA welcomed the House’s approval of its proposed P216.1 billion budget for 2026—a P39.4 billion increase from …

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• 5 January

  DA eyes munggo as irrigation damage threatens rice output

  

  THE damage on irrigation systems caused by illegal quarrying in the Upper Pampanga River Irrigation System (UPRIS) is expected to disrupt the planting of rice in 37,000 hectares in Nueva Ecija– the country’s rice bowl – prompting the Department of Agriculture to shift production in said farms to mungbean production. The disruption threatens to slash the country’s summer rice harvest …

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• 5 January

  DA, BoC told to be vigilant vs onion smuggling

  

  WITH onion harvest coming by the start of February, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform told the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to intensify their operations against onion smuggling, warning that illegal imports could once again undermine local farmers and distort market prices. Pangilinan stressed that the influx …

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• 5 January

  Sugar import ban stays until December 2026

  

  By DA Press Office THE ban on sugar importation would stay until December 2026– not September as reported– to extend the protection for local sugar producers in view of improving supply conditions, the Department of Agriculture said. “Based on the current outlook for sugar production and demand, a longer import moratorium than initially suggested is necessary,” explained DA Secretary Francisco …

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• 5 January

  With falling cocoa prices, why are chocolates still pricey?

  

  By Bloomberg News AFTER last year’s historic rally, cocoa prices are heading for a record annual slump. But there’s no sign the cost of candies, bars or chocolate will follow any time soon.  Cocoa futures almost tripled last year, inflicting pain on manufacturers, who in turn hiked chocolate prices. They’re still working through beans they bought at the top of …

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• 5 January

  Kathryn Bernardo to star in a legendary Jeffrey Jeturian film in 2026?

  

  by Boy Villasanta It is written in the stars. ​And the story, generally, goes this way. The reluctant star in award-winning director Jeffrey Jeturian has finally shone brighter. True, Jeturian’s presence in the constellation of heavenly bodies alongside or in the midst of firmament on the ground  (mixed metaphor, anyone?) of pulsating galaxy of filmmakers has been felt but it …

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• 5 January

  Is being special a privilege in show business and elsewhere?

  

  The issue is now being laid on the table. It concerns, generally, the public reaction if not acceptance of Persons with Disabilities (PDWs) or any perceived as outcasts or physically deformed or imperfect being appearing in the glitz and glam world of cinema. Is it a round peg on a square hole? Is it incongruent to the demands of a …

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• 5 January

  How Palme d’Or winner Brillante Mendoza forges a casting coup in Charo, Boots, Barbie et al?

  

  It’s already in the can. 2009 Palme d’Or of the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival Best Director Brillante Ma. Mendoza has just wrapped up a film project with a powerhouse ensemble and a casting coup. ​Imagine, gathering in one movie, in a series of frames, legends of Philippine cinema like Charo Santos and Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo in an intriguing vehicle …

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• 5 January

  Coco Martin never ceases to celebrate b-day of fellow actor, ex-manager, friend

  

  Pop star Coco Martin and fellow actor Ihman Esturco have gone a long way, indeed. ​Aside from being friends, Coco and Ihman are artists in their own right. Coco is a multimedia director and Ihman is a professional photographer not only in the Philippines but in the US where he is based. ​Martin and Esturco enjoy each other’s company by …

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