Philippine News

December 15 ------ CJ Cansino and Juan Gomez de Liano may have last crossed paths in the UAAP hardwood battles in 2019, but their competitive spark lit up the PBA. It was Cansino who came out on top in their first showdown in the pros. Churning out a career-high 29 points, including three triples, he spearheaded Meralco’s 105-84 dismantling of Converge at the Ynares Center, clinching the Bolts an outright quarterfinals slot in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup. Gomez de Liano

BANGKOK, December 15 ------ Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz missed out on the podium just as the Alas Pilipinas women’s team was relegated in the battle for bronze in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Diaz fell short of her supposed third SEA Games gold medal after finishing fourth in the women’s 58-kilogram event with a total lift of 200kg. Now 34, Diaz had her best lift in snatch at 90kg while she cleared 110 in the clean and jerk. She tried to go for 115kg, and the

December 15 ------ The Philippines’ Cyrille Payumo will not be going home empty-handed from the 2025 Miss Charm pageant in Vietnam, as she was adjudged Best in National Costume. She received the award during the coronation show held at the BHD Studio in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, where she also landed a Top 20 spot. During the preliminary national costume competition, Payumo showcased a creation by designer Simeon Cayetano inspired by the “salakot,” a traditional hat in the

MANILA, Philippines, December 15 ------ Judy Ann Santos said being recognized by Michelin is “definitely a dream,” but she is not in a rush to earn one, focusing instead on nurturing her community of adobo lovers at her Angrydobo restaurants. Apart from acting, Judy Ann has built a career as a restaurateur and chef, completing a culinary course and managing her own kitchen. She currently operates Angrydobo outlets in Taft near De La Salle University and in Westgate Alabang. T

December 15 ------ Novelyn N. Natividad of Gapan, Nueva Ecija, was crowned Mrs. Asia Pacific Cosmopolitan 2025-2026 during a recent competition held in Singapore and Malaysia. At a media conference in Quezon City, Novelyn vowed to advocate unity and empowerment during her reign. "Winning this pageant is not just an honor; it is a responsibility. I pledge to use my voice to advocate for kindness, empowerment, and unity. Let us celebrate our differences and work together to cre

MANILA, December 15 ------ Family members and supporters of “Da King” Fernando Poe Jr. remembered the late film icon not only for his storied career but also for the compassion that defined his life off-screen as they gathered for a mass commemorating the 21st anniversary of his death. Former Senator Grace Poe, daughter of the late actor, thanked those who continue to honor her father through prayers and remembrance, emphasizing that FPJ’s legacy was rooted in genuine love an

MANILA, Philippines, December 15 ------ Another water cannon attack by the Chinese has injured three Filipino fishermen and caused “significant damage” to their vessels, the Philippine Coast Guard reported. In a statement, the PCG said the latest water cannon incident occurred in the vicinity of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal near Palawan last Friday. On the same day, the China Coast Guard (CCG) said it had expelled a Philippine aircraft from the airspace over Panatag (Scarborough) Sh

MANILA, Philippines, December 15 ------ The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) will announce water rate hikes for Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company Inc. Taking effect in the first quarter of 2026, the rate adjustments are based on the foreign currency differential adjustment (FCDA), an official of the MWSS-RO said. The FCDA reflects gains or losses from foreign exchange fluctuations as water concessionaires repay loans

MANILA, Philippines, December 15 ------ The national government’s outstanding external debt reached a new record high of $149.09 billion as of end-September, following the stronger participation of foreign investors in local capital markets. Based on data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the latest figure was less than one percent higher than the previous quarter’s $148.87 billion. “The Philippines’ outstanding external debt remained broadly stable in the third quarter o

December 15 ------ The supply and pricing of rice are stable despite the importation ban and the devastation caused by recent tropical cyclones, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. "Kahit nagkaroon tayo ng import ban ay maganda ang supply ng bigas natin. At kahit binagyo tayo, ine-expect natin na naging maganda ang harvest din natin hanggang sa katapusan ng taon," DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in an interview. "Dahil maganda ang ine-expect nating

BANTEAY MEANCHEY, Cambodia, December 15 ------ Renewed border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand entered a second week after Bangkok denied US President Donald Trump’s claim that a truce had been agreed to halt the deadly fighting. The conflict, rooted in a colonial-era demarcation dispute along their 800-kilometer border, has displaced around 800,000 people, officials said. “I have been here for six days, and I feel sad that the fighting continues,” 63-year-old Sean Leap

December 15 ------ A mass shooting at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach in the Australian city of Sydney has killed at least 15 people in what was a grisly, rare occurrence for the country. Authorities said the “terrorist” incident was “designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah” as hundreds of people gathered for an event called Chanukah by the Sea. Countries around the world condemned the deadly attack. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese The Austr

BERLIN/KYIV, December 15 ------ Ukraine has relinquished its aim to join the NATO military alliance in exchange for Western security guarantees as a compromise to end the war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said as peace talks got underway in Berlin. Zelensky aired the concession as he flew to the German capital, where he began meetings with US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in efforts to end Europe's bloodiest conflict sin

KYIV, December 15 ------ Ukraine's navy accused Russia of deliberately attacking a civilian Turkish vessel carrying sunflower oil to Egypt with a drone, a day after Moscow hit two Ukrainian ports. In a statement on Telegram, the navy said the vessel, called the Viva, had 11 Turkish citizens on board. It added that nobody was hurt and the vessel was continuing its journey to Egypt. "The strike was carried out in the open sea in Ukraine's exclusive economic zone, outside the ra

December 14 ------ THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas welcomed the recent decision of FIBA to adjust the eligibility age for players who will represent their respective countries in international tournaments. In an approved amendments by the Central Board to the regulations for the national status of players, the world governing body for basketball now recognizes players as non-restricted for those who obtained passport before the age of 18 from 16. The resolution was made a

NEW YORK, December 14 ------ Time magazine named the "Architects of AI" as its Person of the Year, highlighting the tech titans whose work on the cutting-edge technology is transforming humanity. Nvidia's Jensen Huang, OpenAi's Sam Altman and xAI's Elon Musk are among the entrepreneurs who have "grabbed the wheel of history, developing technology and making decisions that are reshaping the information landscape, the climate, and our livelihoods," the magazine said. "They reor

December 14 ------ Matteo Guidicelli’s passion for serving the country and penchant for military training have been part of his dreams since childhood. As a kid, he would watch “Rambo” movies starring Sylvester Stallone. “It’s every little boy’s dream growing up. So it was my dream also. When it was offered (training), I couldn’t say no, ‘Let’s do it.’ So that’s how it happened,” he told The STAR in an interview during his contract signing with MQuest Ventures, Cignal, and On

December 14 ------ The National Retail Federation issued its forecast for imports through the first quarter of 2026, saying that it expects volumes will continue the year-over-year declines seen in five of the past 11 months. The retail trade association, while expecting record sales during the holiday season, projects that import volumes will continue the overall declines well into 2026 due to uncertainty over tariffs and trade policies. “Stores are stocked up and ready for

MANILA, December 14 ------ Twenty ships of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and China Coast Guard (CCG) were monitored in features in the West Philippine Sea in the first week of December, the Philippine Navy said. In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said two PLA Navy warships and five CCG ships were seen in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. Additional sightings inclu

SAN FRANCISCO, California, December 14 ------ Instagram unveiled a new artificial intelligence-powered feature that lets users view and adjust the algorithm shaping their Reels feed, calling it a pioneering move toward greater user control. The Meta-owned app is introducing “Your Algorithm,” accessible through an icon in the upper right corner of Reels — a user’s video feed — which displays the topics Instagram believes users are interested in based on their viewing history.