BEIJING — China has warned the Philippines that it “must act with caution”, Beijing’s foreign ministry said, following a string of incidents in the disputed South China Sea as Manila increasingly stands up to Chinese assertiveness in the region. Videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed Chinese ships blasting water cannon at Philippine boats […]
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned Pyongyang will not hesitate to launch a nuclear attack if “provoked with nukes”, state media said Thursday, while Seoul and its allies called for “dialogue without preconditions”. Kim’s comments follow a meeting between South Korea and the United States last week in Washington, where they discussed nuclear deterrence […]
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A 71-year-old man has been declared innocent in the US state of Oklahoma after spending nearly 50 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Glynn Simmons, who is Black, served more time behind bars before being exonerated than any other inmate in US history, according to The National Registry of Exonerations. Simmons […]
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Various lanterns and gimmicks – including a Superman wannabe and an eagle taking flight – are on display at the University of the Philippines Lantern Festival at its Diliman campus in Quezon City on Wednesday.
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Manila Standard recently reaped two awards this month. Left photo shows Standard advertising manager Baldwin Felipe (second from right) receiving a trophy from the Philippine Heart Association’s Media Awards from Dr. Luigi Pierre Segundo, Dr. Ronald Cuyco, and Dr. Louella Santos. Below photo shows Felipe receiving the Outstanding Newspaper of the Year from the Publishers […]
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Charter change can help define, protect PH territory—Speaker Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday said that the current tension in the West Philippine Sea could be an additional reason to push for constitutional amendments. In an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo, Romualdez said Charter change could be beneficial in protecting the nation’s territory and boosting the country’s […]
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The Philippines garnered P14.5 billion in investment pledges during President Marcos’ four-day visit to Tokyo to attend the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit. The President, arriving from Japan at 11 p.m. Monday, said the newly signed agreements and pledges to invest in the Philippines could create 15,750 additional jobs. “I am delighted to know that the letters […]
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The chairman of the Senate finance committee on Monday said the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution were “worth reviewing.” Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said amending such provisions might be timely to give the country “some flexibility” in those areas. “The time might be right to revisit some of the provisions of the Constitution because […]
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President Marcos will sign on Wednesday the 2024 national budget, which has been stripped of confidential and intelligence funds originally allocated for civilian and non-security agencies, including the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. “It’s ready for [signing], I think the signing ceremony will be on Wednesday,” Speaker Martin Romualdez told […]
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The government on Monday said the first day of a 12-day strike in the National Capital Region (NCR) didn’t have a significant impact on public transportation. “There is a little impact. It is minimal and we are dealing with it,” said the chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Don Artes. Artes said the […]
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A man went missing and thousands of people were sheltering in evacuation centers Monday as Tropical Storm Kabayan hit Mindanao, causing scattered flooding and power cuts, and disrupting sea and air travel in Central Visayas. Disaster officials said 6,723 persons or 2,190 families were displaced in the Caraga region in northeast Mindanao due to Kabayan. […]
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Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has appealed to communist rebels to consider the consequences of their actions and “choose the path of peace.” Romualdez made the statement following a firefight between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) communist rebels in Balayan, Batangas last Sunday. “In this light, I […]
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The Supreme Court has sustained a ruling issued by the Sandiganbayan in 2020 that lifted the sequestration order against a property in Baguio City belonging to Ramon Cojuangco, founder of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and his wife Imelda. In a 10-page decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, the High Court’s Third […]
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There is a notable upswing in Filipino optimism, as views toward the current state, national direction, and economic prospects experience positive shifts, a survey said. Results from the PAHAYAG End of Year survey conducted between Nov. 29 and Dec. 4, 2023, also showed that views on the country’s current state have seen a slight improvement, […]
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Marcos says maritime tensions ‘most complex’ global challenge President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday stressed the need to find “new solutions” and forge strong alliances with like-minded allies as he described the situation in the South China Sea as “the most complex geopolitical challenge that the world faces.” In an interview with the Japanese media, […]
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The Creamline Cool Smashers (left) and the San Beda Red Lions (right) bask in the glory of their title conquests in the Premier Volleyball League and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, respectively



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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday called on ASEAN and Japan to craft a 10-year roadmap on new technologies and climate-resilient plans to ensure food security in the region. “As one of the countries most vulnerable to the negative impact of climate change, the Philippines realizes that agriculture is intrinsically linked with climate,” he said […]
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Aboitiz Power Corporation distribution utility Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (Davao Light) was the Philippine private sector winner of the 6th ASEAN Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Leadership Awards (RDPELA) for the corporate social responsibility programs it conducted with various partners to help enhance the living standards and the quality of life of people […]
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The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said it is eyeing legal action against social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), over the proliferation of online scams. In a radio interview, CICC executive director Alexander Ramos said the social network giants “have not been cooperative in implementing local laws to protect consumers.” […]
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Disaster-resilient and eco-friendly homes have become the latest trademark of conglomerate San Miguel Corp. The company has been at the forefront of building resilient housing communities nationwide since 2013, in the aftermath of typhoons Sendong and Yolanda, SMC in partnership with several organizations, including Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity, has invested P3.05 billion in […]
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Nearly $7 trillion of public and private finance each year supports activities that directly harm nature – some 30 times the amount spent on nature-based solutions annually, according to a UN report launched at COP28 in Dubai last week. The report from the UN’s environmental wing, UNEP, also revealed that despite decades of calls for […]
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The Philippine economy weathered 2023’s global headwinds, marked by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, elevated inflation and rising interest rates. Its gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.9 percent in the third quarter, the fastest expansion in the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN). Easing inflation Inflation surged to 8.7 percent in January, threatening […]
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Voluntary delistings and sluggish trading activity defined the Philippine equities market in 2023, with four major companies opting to leave the bourse and investors remaining cautious amid global uncertainties. Eagle Cement Corp., logistics firm 2GO Group Inc., infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and cement producer Holcim Philippines Inc. delisted this year, citing various reasons. […]
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First of two parts The release last week of the Global Cooling Watch Report 2023: Keeping it chill highlights the importance of passive cooling alternatives to energy-hungry air conditioners. The report, produced by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), notes that between now and 2050, the global installed capacity of cooling equipment will triple, resulting […]
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The way China has fielded massive Coast Guard vessels as well as a number of maritime militia ships in the South China Sea, it would appear it is really intent on claiming ownership of the vital sealane where a significant percentage of global trade passes on a regular basis. But its basis for doing so—the […]
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Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla expressed optimism about the country’s power supply for 2024, while emphasizing the need for global support in a “just” energy transition away from fossil fuels. “We did manage to contain the weaknesses in 2023, and 2024 promises to be better, especially with the completion of major transmission connections,” Lotilla said in […]
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“I am not averse to writing a specific anti-dynasty provision in a new Constitution, because our experience over the past three and a half decades has multiplied dynasties” After clamming up on his early advocacy for charter change, Sen. Robinhood Padilla now weighs in on the proposal of Speaker Martin Romualdez’ proposal to amend the […]
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The Philippine telecom sector is bullish about 2024 amid easing inflation, a robust economy and a bigger focus on innovation. The industry, boasting P267 billion in revenues through the first nine months of 2023, exhibited resilience in the face of economic challenges. Globe’s outlook Globe Telecom Inc. chief executive Ernest Cu expressed optimism, as he […]
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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) expects the record-breaking investments to fuel economic growth in 2024 and beyond. “We are optimistic we will continue to generate more investments, moving forward in 2024, having reached record levels in 2023,” Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said. Investment approvals are expected to reach P1.5 trillion ($27 billion) this […]
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P450b in unprogrammed funds ‘nothing new’, doesn’t violate Constitution The decision of Congress to include an additional P450 billion to the unprogrammed funds in the 2024 budget does not violate the Constitution, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said. “The unprogrammed fund is nothing new. It has been there for I think, the last two decades. So, […]
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The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday confirmed the presence of Chinese ships on Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. AFP Western Command commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos said five Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMV) were inside Ayungin, while four others were outside the shoal. Carlos said CMMVs started entering the shoal—where […]
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Speaker Martin Romualdez wants to tap local government units in pursuing changes to the 1987 Constitution, saying it has the support of President Marcos. This is the fourth time this week that Romualdez spoke publicly about the House’s Charter change plans for next year. Speaking at the Awarding of the Seal of Good Local Government […]
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Over a thousand commuters were stranded on the streets Thursday during the first day of a transport strike led by the group PISTON, but the government swiftly provided assistance, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, meanwhile, maintained the government’s Dec. 31 consolidation deadline under the Public Utility Vehicle […]
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A United States judge set a new date for the trial of Kingdom of Jesus Christ church founder Apollo Quiboloy and several others for charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, coercion, and sex trafficking of children; marriage fraud; fraud and misuse of visas; bulk cash smuggling; and money laundering, among others. […]
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The resurgence of domestic tourism in the post-pandemic era The Philippines’ tourism landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, shaped by both global trends and a newfound appreciation for the archipelago’s rich natural beauty and vibrant culture.  This resurgence is particularly evident in the thriving domestic travel market, which has witnessed a surge […]
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