Philippine News

MANILA, January 8 ------ The Philippine peso hit yet another historic low on Wednesday as the local currency weakened to P59.355 versus the US dollar. The peso opened at P59.24 to the dollar, which was already weaker than the previous historic low of P59.22 hit on December 9 last year. It further weakened during the day, hitting as low as P59.38 during intraday trading. An influx of remittances from overseas Filipinos helped the peso regain ground in December, keeping the loc

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines, January 8 ------ A magnitude 6.4 earthquake jolted Manay town in Davao Oriental and nearby provinces yesterday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Phivolcs said the epicenter of the quake, which occurred at 11:02 a.m., was located 47 kilometers southeast of Manay. Allan Rommel Labayog, Phivolcs regional field monitoring officer, said the temblor may generate aftershocks and cause damage to property. The quake was

January 8 ------ A total of 162 rockfall events have been recorded in the past 24 hours as Alert Level 3 is maintained over Mayon Volcano in Albay, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said. From 12 a.m. on Wednesday to 12 a.m. on Thursday, PHIVOLCS said that 50 pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) have been observed in the volcano. PDCs are mixtures of fragmented volcanic particles (pyroclastics), hot gases, and ashes that rush down the volcanic s

MANILA, January 8 ------ China has rejected a Philippine Navy assessment that warned of Beijing’s growing aggressiveness and coordinated maritime operations in the West Philippine Sea, even as the report laid out evidence of how China's navy, coast guard and maritime militia have increased deployments to assert control over the waters. In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said it “firmly rejects the Philippine side’s so-called report,” calling it “full of mispercepti

HOUSTON, January 8 ------ Oil prices settled lower for a second straight session as investors digested U.S. President Donald Trump's deal to import up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude, a move that would lift supplies to the world's largest oil consumer. Brent crude futures closed down 74 cents, or 1.2%, at $59.96 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.14, or 2%, to $55.99 a barrel. Both benchmarks slid more than $1 a barrel during the previous tradi

TOKYO, January 8 ------ Japan's real wages fell in November at the fastest pace since last January, dragged down by a sharp drop in one-off bonus payments, preliminary government data showed on Thursday. The underlying trend of inflation outpacing wage growth, meanwhile, has not changed, posing a challenge for the Bank of Japan, which has signaled it would continue interest rate hikes through this year. Labor ministry data showed inflation-adjusted real wages, a key barometer

PARIS, January 8 ------ American and Ukrainian officials will continue talks over security guarantees for Kyiv, both sides said, after meetings with Western allies yielded breakthroughs, including a United States-led monitoring mechanism and a European multinational force to be deployed after any ceasefire with Russia. Following the largest meeting yet of the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Paris, both European leaders and American envoys hailed progress that hid tensio

January 8 ------ Air combat tactics taught to Ukrainian pilots during F-16 training abroad did not fully match the realities of the war against Russia, forcing pilots to develop their own methods near the front line, a Ukrainian pilot said. Speaking in a video released by the Ukrainian Air Force, the pilot said the training was based on conflicts fought by Ukraine’s partners in the past and did not account for the intensity and conditions of the current war. “After we returne

Amid Manila’s traffic chaos and daily chores, Filipinos have long justified their chronic lateness with various excuses, giving rise to the cultural phenomenon known as “Filipino time.” While the origins remain unclear, experts are determined to challenge and reshape the negative perception associated with habitual tardiness. “Filipino Time” and Filipinos Rude De Guzman, a senior research specialist at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), points out the adverse ef

Have you searched the term “HbA1c meaning” after a doctor’s appointment? HbA1c, also known as glycosylated hemoglobin, is a measure of the average blood glucose concentration over the last three months. It is used to diagnose and monitor diabetes and prediabetes in adults. Here’s what you need to know about the HbA1c test in the Philippines. What is HbA1c Testing? HbA1c is a measure of your average blood sugar levels over the last 3 months. It’s not the same as the blood gluc

In a developing nation’s economy, two gears must turn in perfect sync to generate real, inclusive prosperity: the spirit of entrepreneurship and the dignity of labor. As an advocate for the Filipino entrepreneur for more than 20 years now, and now one who is tasked with the private sector’s commitment to jobs, I am fortunate to have the vantage point at the intersection of policy and practice. Here, I can see that the path forward for our nation is not just more jobs, but a r

The New Year is the perfect opportunity to set fresh financial goals and lay the groundwork for a stronger, more secure future. Here are five simple yet impactful financial goals to help you make the most of the year ahead. 1. Create or Update Your Budget A budget is the foundation of financial wellness. If you don't already have one, now is the time to create it. If you do, take a moment to reassess it for the new year. Steps to Get Started: Review your income and monthly ex

January 7 ------ The deployment of Emirati forces in locations to the north and south of the Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC) in the Gulf of Aden, and in similar positions dominating sea routes through the southern Red Sea, is currently in the middle of a significant upheaval. The process is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what Emirati footprint remains in the area once the withdrawal is announced as complete. This development comes after two advances in which all

January 7 ------ A new project supported by the Japanese government is designed to provide the foundation for the future hydrogen supply chain. Four years after Japan demonstrated the world’s first liquified hydrogen carrier, the new project seeks to construct the next vessel on a commercial scale. The Green Innovation Fund Project is supported by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The project has a budget of approximately $2 billion

January 7 ------ It became a compound series of problems as a bulker grounded as it was preparing to arrive at a port in Taiwan, and then the tug sent to rescue the grounded vessel also experienced problems requiring its own rescue. Bad weather forced Taiwan’s Air Service Corps into action after a crewmember was injured aboard the tug and required hospitalization. The bulker CSE Prosperity Express (28,350 dwt) was arriving at Taiwan’s Hualien port on the eastern shore of the

January 7 ------ Belgian shipping company Exmar has tucked a new milestone under its belt by finishing its largest ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of ammonia to date. While revealing that the Exmar Ship Management crew completed its largest STS transfer of ammonia, the shipowner explained that Kortrijk, the firm’s midsize gas carrier with a capacity of 38,500 cubic meters (cbm), safely discharged full cargo of ammonia, in collaboration with Trammo at the port of Sohar, Oman. The

January 7 ------ ALEX Eala found no better way to open her 2026 campaign, surviving a two-hour and 40-minute thriller, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, against gritty Donna Vekic in her WTA 250 ASB Classic stint in Auckland, New Zealand. After forcing a decider, the Filipina world No. 53 grinded through a tense third set that featured three deadlocks. Locked at 3-3, Eala wrested control, winning two straight games to regain the lead at 5-3 over the 29-year-old Croatian. Vekic pulled one game b

January 7 ------ The Charlotte Hornets thrashed the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, 124-97 as Eastern Conference leaders Detroit delivered a statement win over the New York Knicks. The struggling Hornets, 12th in the Eastern Conference, dominated in Oklahoma City, where the league-leading Thunder suffered just their seventh loss of the season but their second in a row after a setback against Phoenix. Brandon Miller scored 28 points and Kon Knueppel added 23 for the Hornet

January 7 ------ ONE potential Gilas Pilipinas problem has self-corrected. Gilas naturalization candidate Bennie Boatwright has landed in South Korea to play in the KBL after being released by the Taipei Fubon Braves of the Taiwanese pro league, keeping him close once he's eligible for a call-up. Boatwright's naturalization finally got rolling in November as he attended hearings in Congress together with former UP Maroons center Malick Diouf, who is eyed to be eligible for th

MANILA, January 7 ------ Several professional volleyball players have parted ways with their original squads just before the 2026 season of the Premier Volleyball League. Some of them have already found their new homes. Leading the wild offseason was Eya Laure, who has been officially signed by the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, a year after leaving the now-defunct Chery Tiggo Crossovers. Laure joined the returning Caitlin Viray, Alina Bicar, and Jai Atienza, and is expected to s