Philippine News

December 26 ------ The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is taking advantage of the long Holiday break for the long overdue rehabilitation of the country’s busiest road, the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, or EDSA. In a statement, the DPWH-National Capital Region said the extensive EDSA rehabilitation started at around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24, in a bid to improve the road condition for motorists and commuters. DPWH Secretary Vinze Dizon earlier announced that

MANILA, December 26 ------ The Department of Health (DOH) reported 28 firecracker-related injuries as of Christmas Day. The figure comes from data collected between December 21 and 4 a.m. on December 25, sourced from 62 sentinel hospitals nationwide that the DOH monitors for firecracker-related injuries during the holiday season. Most of the recorded cases involved younger individuals, the agency said. Nineteen of the cases were among those aged 19 and below, while the remain

LOS ANGELES, California, December 26 ------ Flash flood warnings were in effect in Los Angeles and most of southern California as one of the worst Christmas storms in recent memory brought heavy rain and fears of deadly mudslides. Driven by an atmospheric river known as “the Pineapple Express,” which moves heavy moisture from the tropical climes of Hawaii to rain on the West Coast, the storm is expected to deliver months’ worth of rain over the next few days. California Gov.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank, December 26 ------ Hundreds of worshippers gathered for mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem as the Palestinian city ushered in its first festive Christmas in more than two years, emerging from the shadow of the war in Gaza. Throughout the conflict that began with Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023, a sombre tone had marked Christmases in the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ. But celebrations returned full swing Wednesday with crowded

December 26 ------ Pope Leo has urged Ukraine and Russia to find the "courage" to hold direct talks to end the war during his first Christmas remarks to crowds in St Peter's square. He called for an end to conflicts around the world during his Urbi et Orbi address, which is traditionally delivered by the pontiff on Christmas Day to worshippers gathered in Vatican City. Speaking about Ukraine, the Pope said: "May the clamor of weapons cease, and may the parties involved, with

KYIV, December 26 ------ Ukraine won some concessions in the latest version of a US-led draft plan to end the Russian invasion, revealed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, though key questions remain over territory and whether Moscow could accept the new terms. The 20-point plan, agreed on by US and Ukrainian negotiators, was being reviewed by Moscow, but the Kremlin is unlikely to abandon its hardline territorial demands for full Ukrainian withdrawal from the east. Zelensky al

December 25 ------ Pope Leo XIV went on social media to suggest a "precious gift" this Christmas.  The Pontiff described it as a "more precious gift than any that can be bought." “Before the holy night of Christmas, find one person with whom to make peace. This will be a more precious gift than any that can be bought," said Pope Leo on X.  "Because peace is a gift found only in the heart,” he added. Source: gmanetwork.com

December 25 ------ AS expected, the country’s top sports officials called the Southeast Asia Games campaign in Thailand a success. They said they were “happy” with the results even if we did not surpass the previous Games’ edition in gold medal output and the country actually slid from fifth place overall to sixth. If Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino can call that performance “very successful,” as SPIN.ph reported, we have to wonder when the P

December 25 ------ Container cargo exporters and importers need to have their heads on a swivel when looking back at what happened in the first six months of 2025 and looking forward to the rest of the year. Uncertainty over cargo volumes in upcoming months is widespread as the issues of trade, tariffs and a return to normalcy in trade lanes like the Red Sea keep industry analysts vigilant. But despite some unpredictability in the future direction of global trade, container p

MANILA, Philippines, December 25 ------ Toll road operator Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) has waived toll fees on all its expressways in Luzon, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Motorists can access the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Manila-Cavite Expressway, Cavite-Laguna Expressway and NLEx Connector without paying toll fees during the said hours on Dec. 24 to Dec. 25, and on Dec. 31, 2025, to Jan. 1,

December 25 ------ Willie Revillame is set to make his television comeback with his new game show “Wilyonaryo,” which will be aired on the primetime slot of TV5 in January 2026, instead of the earlier announced. Revillame announced this during a livestream on his Facebook page, saying he wanted to debut the show in a larger studio in Mandaluyong City. Revillame further noted that he wants to start the program with a live studio audience. The exact date, however, when the show

December 25 ------ Bianca de Vera, Will Ashley, and Dustin Yu had no trace — or at least, they did their best — to hide their nerves as they reeled in their experiences at their first Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). De Vera, Ashley, and Yu are the lead stars of “Love You So Bad,” which tells the story of a bubbly young woman named Savannah who is torn between the calm Vic and adventurous LA. Aside from the romantic comedy, Ashley is part of “Bar Boys: After School” while Y

LONDON, December 25 ------ Britain's Prince William took his oldest son, Prince George, to a homelessness charity in London where the pair helped make Christmas lunch for people in need, Kensington Palace said. The visit was particularly poignant for William, heir to the throne, because his late mother Princess Diana had taken him to the same charity when he was 11 years old, an experience which inspired him to set up a program aimed at ending homelessness. During the trip to

MANILA, Philippines, December 25 ------ Believing local production of sugar has improved, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is maintaining its ban on importing sugar until December 2026. “The ban on sugar importation will remain in place until December next year – not September, when the current crop year ends – extending protection for local producers amid improving supply conditions,” the DA announced in a statement. With the goals of “prioritizing locally produced sugar a

December 25 ------ LA Tenorio’s stint as playing-coach could stretch all the way to the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals - or how deep the Hotshots can get into the playoffs. The injury that plaqued the Hotshots’ backcourt prompted the team to activate Tenorio from the injury list in a desperate bid to steady the Magnolia ship as it goes for a twice-to-beat spot in the first round of the playoffs. And this isn't just a one-off. The 41-year-old Tenorio admitted veteran guard P

December 25 ------ Europe’s ambitions to decarbonize the shipping industry face obstacles due to the fragile state of the alternative fuel supply chain, an analysis by the activist NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) shows. Though Europe is setting the pace in efforts to cut down on shipping emissions, the review shows that production of green hydrogen and other e-fuels remains significantly low, with the largest e-fuel plant serving the maritime sector only becoming operationa

Christmas Day has come and gone and the hustle and bustle are laid to rest. Every Filipino Christmas family is now focused on their own hopes dreams and aspirations for themselves, and more so for the nation. As we all contemplate on Christmas, here’s a couple of things we can all think about as we reflect on the year about to end and the year to come. What is the Christmas spirit? It is that generosity we experience, big or small, that makes us feel so special, whether we ar

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday again warned the public against eating unhealthy food as well as smoking and drinking alcohol this holiday season, noting that it has already recorded an increase in holiday-related ailments. “What we commonly see is that, because Christmas happens only once a year, [people] say ‘it’s fine’ even if this is not allowed,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa warned. “They will eat ‘lechon’ (roasted pig). They will eat sweets even if they

I know, I know. 2025 does not appear to be a particularly wonderful year for many people. To the casual observer or the weary citizen, it is quite the opposite: an annus horribilis, a horrible year defined by loss, tragedy and economic shifts. We have seen the headlines and felt the weight of uncertainty and the heartbreak of disappointment. But as I always say, a successful entrepreneur must be a perennial optimist. This is not a choice made out of naivety, but a necessity b

From revisiting your budget to topping up registered accounts, here are five smart money moves to make before year-end to set yourself up for 2026. The new year is the perfect chance to reset your financial goals and build better money habits. Whether you’re looking to save more, streamline your banking, or invest in your future, the steps you take now can set you up for lasting success. Read on for 5 money moves you can make before we say goodbye to 2025. 1. Revisit your bud