A news and information service for Filipino seafarers sponsored by the All Japan Seamen's Union, International Mariners Management Association of Japan and Philippine-Japan Manning Consultative Council, Inc.
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AI boom will be no free pass for debt-laden major economies
Study: Ocean Warming Puts "Constant Negative Pressure" on Fish Populations
Carnival Cruise Line to Scale Back in Australia Starting in 2028
Philippines, China Coast Guards plan to hold joint patrol in WPS this March
Navy welcomes PBBM order for more infra in Kalayaan Island Group
CFO boosts diaspora engagement as Filipino migration to Europe rises
Putting unauthorized stamps on passport punishable by law - DFA
Clark named among world's best airports at arrivals
SexBomb Girls to bring ‘Get Get Aw’ concert tour to Tacloban
Family Feud celebrates 4th anniversary with star-studded episodes this March
Jake Ejercito sets new personal record in Osaka Marathon
Blu Girls gain wild card slot in WBSC World Cup Group Stage
Gilas moves on as Australia returns for first time since brawl
FULL NEWSPAPER
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Japan to invite defense officials from Pacific Island nations
TOKYO, March 1 ------ Japan will invite young and mid-level defense officials from Pacific Island countries starting in fiscal 2026, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said. Koizumi unveiled the initiative in a lecture he delivered at a meeting in Tokyo with defense ministers from 14 Pacific island nations, including Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
In light of China's growing presence in the South Pacific, he emphasized the need for cooperation between Japan and the island nations across a wide range of fields, including strengthening cybersecurity.
At the meeting, the third of its kind since it began in 2021, seven members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including Indonesia and the Philippines, participated as observers for the first time.
Japan's acceptance of defense officials will begin with three countries, including Fiji. They are expected to engage in exchanges of opinions and troop inspections during their stay of about a week in Japan.
Koizumi called on the island countries to strengthen bonds and build a self-driven, resilient region together.
Source: pna.gov.ph
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LONDON, March 1 ------ An AI productivity boom, if it materializes, may help buy major economies more time to clean up their strained public finances, economists say, although it won't do the heavy lifting. The stakes couldn't be higher. Debt is above 100 per cent of output across most rich economies and set to rise given ageing population costs, interest bills, and pressure to spend more on defense and climate change.
U.S. policymakers are already optimistic about AI-driven growth, and economists say the technology has the potential to shake the world out of a post-2008 productivity slump by boosting workers' efficiency and freeing them to focus on more productive tasks. Higher economic growth would make government spending and debt loads potentially more manageable and help fend off scrutiny from bond vigilantes. To sketch the impact on public finances if AI does boost labor productivity over the long term, the OECD and three high- profile economists shared early estimates with Reuters.
Filiz Unsal, the OECD's deputy director of economic policy and research, said an AI productivity surge, were it to increase employment, would lower debt across OECD countries, from the U.S. to Germany and Japan, by 10 percentage points from the roughly 150 percent of output the organization expects in 2036. That would still be a sharp rise from 110 per cent currently. Much will depend on whether job creation eventually outweighs any job losses from automation, as well as whether firms pass on higher profits by raising wages, and how governments manage their overall spending.
In the United States, two of the other economists projected debt rising more slowly to roughly 120 per cent over the next decade from around 100 per cent of output now in their best-case scenarios. One saw little change. "Productivity is like magic... It helps the fiscal dynamics dramatically," said Idanna Appio, one of the economists, who was previously at the New York Federal Reserve and is now a fund manager at First Eagle Investment Management. "But our fiscal problems are well beyond what productivity can fix," Appio said.
DEMOGRAPHICS TO LIMIT AI IMPACT
For now, ratings agency S&P assumes no major public finance impact by the end of the decade. "The one (path) that the (U.S.) administration is hoping for would be you get saved by the bell," said Mark Patrick, head of macro and country risk at Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, but added: that isn't something we can set our clocks by."
The economists did not provide estimates for other countries. However, AI could boost productivity in Britain in line with the U.S., but by half as much in Italy and Japan due to lower adoption rates and smaller sectors that could benefit from AI, OECD research has found.
Ultimately, fiscal dynamics will determine how much AI-driven productivity can counterbalance rising debt. Demographics is the biggest challenge. "The root of the debt issue is with ageing demographics and the entitlements that are tied to that," said Kevin Khang, who heads global economic research at Vanguard, the world's second- largest asset manager. Addressing it "requires getting the fiscal house in order and (AI is) just buying us the time," he said.
Khang sees a scenario where AI boosts U.S. growth to average 3 per cent through 2040 as most likely. The Fed sees potential growth around 2 per cent. He estimates that higher growth and tax revenues would slow U.S. debt growth to around 120 per cent of output by the late 2030s. That's much lower than the 180 per cent he foresees - higher than others - if AI disappoints, growth slows, and market pressure raises borrowing costs. Bond investors have been quick to punish governments for fiscal largesse ever since bond yields rose sharply after the pandemic across rich economies. Appio said declining U.S. immigration added to the demographic challenge. "The labour shock offsets any (AI) productivity growth," she said, but added she would be much more worried without AI.
Source: channelnewsasia.com
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MARITIME NEWS
Study: Ocean Warming Puts "Constant Negative Pressure" on Fish Populations
March 1 ------ A new meta-study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution suggests that ocean warming has an outsize impact on the total amount of fish in the water, enough to have major implications for global fisheries.
The study, led by researchers at Spain's Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, looked at hundreds of thousands of studies of fish populations in the Northern Hemisphere over a period of nearly 30 years, spanning 1993-2021. The vast data set covered more than 1,500 fish species and nearly 34,000 distinct populations, primarily in the Mediterranean, North Atlantic and Mediterranean.
Focusing on fish populations of interest to fishermen and policymakers in the U.S. and Europe, the team determined that long-term warming trends drove an annual biomass decline of as much as 20 percent. However, the overall decline could easily be masked year to year by short-term drops and spikes linked to marine heatwaves. The study found that different fish win or lose during a heat wave depending upon their place within the species' thermal comfort zone, the amount of temperature rise that the species can tolerate. During a heat wave, biomass loss could fall by as much as 43 percent in the hottest areas of the species' range, and could jump upwards by up to 176 percent on the coldest edge of the species' range - indicating that individuals in previously-cold areas were doing better as they warmed up, and those in already-warm areas were doing worse as they overheated. This has implications for fisheries managers who detect increases in fish populations: it's not as simple as allowing more fishing to catch a rising number of fish, the authors said.
"Although this sudden increase in biomass in cold waters may seem like good news for fisheries, these are transient increases. If managers raise catch quotas based on biomass increases caused by a heat wave, they risk causing the collapse of populations when temperatures return to normal or when the effect of long-term warming prevails, because these are short-lived increases," warned MNCN researcher Shahar Chaikin.
The real concern for the long term, the researchers said, is the long-term sustained decline in biomass caused by warming waters. "Chronic warming exerts a constant negative pressure on fish populations in the Mediterranean Sea, the North Atlantic Ocean, and the Northeastern Pacific Ocean," said National University of Colombia researcher Juan David González Trujillo, a coauthor of the study.
Fisheries managers will have to bear this in mind when setting quotas, the authors said, even when a population looks suddenly-healthy. Fish populations are moving around to escape the pressure of warming, and when they cross national boundaries, they will enter new regulatory regimes - increasing the need for shared control of the resource base. "As ocean warming continues, the only viable strategy is to prioritize long-term resilience. Management measures must plan for the biomass decline expected in an increasingly warm ocean," coauthor Miguel B. Araújo said in a statement.
Source: maritime-executive.com
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IMO, MARINA Delegates Highlight PH Maritime Leadership in Magsaysay Visit
CAVITE, Philippines, March 1 ------ International Maritime Organization (IMO) delegates and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) officials conducted a technical visit to the Magsaysay Training Center (MTC) in Tanza, Cavite, as part of the Regional Conference on STCW Convention implementation. Led by Magsaysay Learning President Alex Enriquez, the tour highlighted MTC’s specialized training programs and facilities, demonstrating how the center equips learners with practical skills and industry-ready competencies aligned with global maritime standards.
Welcoming the delegation, Magsaysay People Resources President and Joint Manning Group Chairman Marlon Roño underscored the group’s end-to-end approach to people development. “Our focus is on people resources — we train, we educate, and we deploy,” he said, noting that Magsaysay currently deploys over 60,000 seafarers worldwide across all vessel types and ranks. He added that the center represents a part of Magsaysay’s broader training network and expressed appreciation to IMO and MARINA for their visit.
The delegation included IMO Country Representatives: Siti Nur Mu'Azemah Binti Haji Mohamad Salleh (Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam), Ou Vathnak (Cambodia Ministry of Public Works and Transport), Pan Sisi (China Maritime Safety Administration), Deependra Singh Bisen (Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, India), Atik Pandin (Directorate of Marine and Seafarer, Indonesia), Nur Farahin Binti Mohd Zaid (Malaysia Marine Department), Hussain Nazeer (Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation, Maldives), Dolgion Shura (Mongolia Maritime Administration), Sara Jawad (Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Pakistan), Jayaweera Mudiyanselage Sunil (Merchant Shipping Secretariat, Sri Lanka), Kanwasu Kawchu (Ministry of Transport, Thailand), and Helder Pascoela Maria Da Silva (Maritime Administration of Timor-Leste).
The engagement reaffirmed the Philippines’ strong commitment to advancing maritime education, strengthening human expertise, and ensuring Filipino seafarers remain globally competitive.
Source: Magsaysay World Communications
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Carnival Cruise Line to Scale Back in Australia Starting in 2028
March 1 ------ Carnival Cruise Line’s country manager in Australia, Peter Litytle, surprised the industry by announcing the line plans to further cut back its presence in Australia, which it blamed in part on the uncertain government support and regulatory environment. The line will move one of its mega cruise ships from year-round to a seasonal deployment, saying there were stronger opportunities in North America during the northern hemisphere summer.
The cruise line’s parent company has struggled with the Australian market despite now being the only year-round operation and having a heritage that incorporates two of Australia’s historic brands: P&O Cruises and Sitmar. A year ago, the corporation consolidated the P&O brand into Carnival Australia, citing the high operating costs and lower returns in the market. As part of the move, the brand’s oldest cruise ship, Pacific Explorer (77,400 gross tons, built in 1998), was sold and now operates in Southeast Asia.
The trade group Cruise Lines International Australia pointed out that Carnival’s cuts are also part of a larger trend in the Australian market. Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, and Virgin Voyages each withdrew their seasonal deployments in Australia, while Royal Caribbean International and Princess Cruises reduced their operations in the Australian market.
Under the new plan, the Carnival Adventure will depart for North America in April 2028 and operate seasonally from Australia during the southern hemisphere summer. The 108,865 gross ton cruise ship, which has a capacity of approximately 3,500 passengers, arrived in the Australian market for P&O in 2022 as part of the service resumption after the pandemic, along with a sister ship. She was built in 2001 as the Golden Princess for Princess Cruises and was transferred to Australia after several previous efforts to enhance the market. As Pacific Adventure, and now as Carnival Adventure sails year-round from Sydney, with Carnival currently offering cruises between two and 12 days.
Along with her sister ship, Carnival Encounter sailing from Brisbane, the two ships were sailing year-round from Australia, along with the Carnival Splendor (113,300 gross tons). A fourth ship, Carnival Luminosa (92,600 gross tons), already operates seasonally, split between Australia and North America. In 2025, Carnival Cruise Line said it expected to sail with more than 500,000 passengers from its Australia homeports.
Announcing the planned change, Little said the line has about 400 cruises scheduled for the next two years and expects to carry about 1.2 million passengers. The company has continued to invest in the ships, refurbishing them to the Carnival style in February-March 2025. It recently introduced its signature steakhouse, Fahrenheit-555, to both ships as well as its Japanese-inspired Bonsai Sushi Express. The Carnival Encounter spent the past few weeks getting a makeover in a dry dock in Singapore. “While Carnival remains the only cruise line with a year-round commitment to this region, it has had to make this deployment decision given more favorable market conditions elsewhere and the uncertain regulatory environment in Australia and New Zealand,” said Little. He said that Carnival was “seeing strong momentum and local government support in other major travel and tourism markets globally.”
Little said Carnival would continue to champion for a “more competitive and certain operating environment.” For now, he said the company was adjusting its deployment to “better capture greater opportunities elsewhere.”
The Australian magazine Cruise Passenger highlights that the season shift for the Carnival Adventure means a further 70,000 bed reduction for the Australian industry. It said that it would hit the small ports and travel professionals the hardest.
CLIA says it continues to advocate for more support from the Australian federal and state governments, citing regulatory uncertainty. One example of the regulatory environment that drew attention was the tough new biofouling regulations introduced in 2022-2023, which meant the ships had to increase hull cleaning, and some ships were barred from environmentally sensitive areas.
The Australian Maritime Union also recently began targeting Carnival Cruise Line with allegations of poor working conditions and low wages. Carnival dismissed it as a recruitment campaign, but the union was successful in getting the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to inspect one of the cruise ships. Carnival reported that no violations were turned up, and the cruise ship continues to sail.
Source: maritime-executive.com
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PHILIPPINE NEWS
PH eyes 3 financing deals with Japan until March, 11 up for FY '26
MANILA, March 1 ------ Three more financing agreements between the Philippines and Japan are targeted to be signed until March this year, while 11 are being considered for Japan’s 2026 fiscal year that will start in April.
Finance Secretary Frederick Go, in his speech during the 42nd Annual Joint Meeting of the Philippine and Japan Economic Cooperation Committees in Taguig City Thursday night, said the additional financing agreements amount to around USD1.58 billion to be utilized for several infrastructure projects, such as the Metro Manila Subway and the Central Mindanao Highway. This will add to the 12 financing agreements, amounting to around USD5.92 billion, already signed by the two governments for Japan’s 2025 fiscal year.
Meanwhile, those lined up for the upcoming fiscal year amount to around 371.31 billion Japanese yen or USD2.41 billion, also for infrastructure projects and development support. Go underscored Japan’s contribution to the Philippine economy, adding it is the largest provider of official development assistance (ODA) to the country. As of end-2025, ODAs and loan commitments from Japan reached around USD13.96 billion, over 30 percent of the country’s total ODAs. “Japan has been a steadfast partner in our past. It is a strategic partner in our present. It will remain an indispensable partner in our future,” he said.
In terms of Japanese debt paper, or Samurai bond, Go said this remains among the Philippines’ options as the government continues to diversity its investments. The last time the Philippine government issued Samurai bond was in April 2022, amounting to around 70.1 billion Japanese yen (USD600 million), through a multi-tranche issuance of five-year, seven-year, 10-year, and 20-year ASEAN sustainability bond.
Source: pna.gov.ph
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Philippines, China Coast Guards plan to hold joint patrol in WPS this March
MANILA, Philippines, March 1 ------ The Philippine and China Coast Guards are expected to enter into an agreement in March for joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea, Sen. Erwin Tulfo said.
The senator learned about the impending signing of a memorandum of agreement between the two coast guards from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan during their meeting. The PCG, in recent months, had complained about CCG's harassment of its personnel and Filipino fishermen in the WPS. The CCG countered that Philippine vessels ventured into their territorial waters. "Instead of having disputes there in the West Philippine Sea, there will be cooperation instead like [joint] patrol, search and rescue, [and environmental] clean up [operation]," Tulfo said in Filipino and English. "That was what Ambassador Jing mentioned [during our meeting]," Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said in a briefing.
Tulfo and Jing met in a hotel supposedly to address the recent "word war" between Senators Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, and Tulfo himself and Chinese embassy spokesmen Ji Lingpeng and Guo Wei. But Tulfo said this issue was not discussed. Together with Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, they discussed the Philippines' desire to finalize by December 2026 the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea during the country's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Source: manilatimes.net
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Debt service eases 23% to $12 billion in 11 months
MANILA, Philippines, March 1 ------ The country’s external debt service burden fell by 22.8 percent to $12.02 billion from January to November last year compared to $15.57 billion in the same period in 2024 amid lower principal maturities and easing global interest rates.
Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that principal payments slumped by 41.9 percent to $4.77 billion during the 11-month period in 2025 from $8.21 billion a year ago. Likewise, interest payments slipped by 1.6 percent to $7.25 billion from $7.37 billion.
The external debt service burden refers to the amount of money a country needs to pay back for the loans it has taken from other countries or organizations abroad. It represents principal and interest payments after rescheduling. The debt service burden remained within manageable levels relative to the country’s external receipts. From January to November last year, the DSB accounted for 20.7 percent of export shipments and 8.3 percent of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the decline was largely due to lower foreign debt maturities, particularly principal payments, compared to year-ago levels. Ricafort added that the national government’s reduced reliance on foreign borrowings as part of its overall funding mix also helped manage foreign exchange risks and temper debt servicing costs. Ricafort likewise cited the US Federal Reserve’s cumulative 175-basis-point rate cuts since September 2024, which helped ease interest payments on foreign debt. “For the coming months, lower foreign borrowings in the total borrowing mix of the national government to reduce forex risk, together with possible further Fed rate cuts, could further reduce the foreign debt servicing bill,” Ricafort said.
The country’s outstanding external debt climbed to a fresh record high of $149.09 billion as of end-September last year, but the BSP earlier said that foreign debt remains sustainable with key indicators showing manageable levels. The latest figure was slightly higher than the previous quarter’s $148.87 billion. It was equivalent to 30.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, an improvement from the 31.2 percent recorded in the previous quarter. The Philippines borrows externally to finance public infrastructure, social services and other development programs, as well as to diversify funding sources and take advantage of favorable terms from foreign lenders.
Source: philstar.com
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Navy welcomes PBBM order for more infra in Kalayaan Island Group
MANILA, March 1 ------ A ranking Philippine Navy (PN) official welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s calls to provide more infrastructure for Pag-asa Island, the largest Philippine-occupied feature in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG). At a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, PN spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said such plans are considered a "sovereign action of the Philippine government" that would give the country a "stronger foothold in the maritime features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)." "It is a very welcome move to allow the AFP and other government agencies to have more access, especially to the people in the Municipality of Kalayaan," he added.
The Municipality of Kalayaan is located on Pag-asa Island, which is part of the seven islands and two reefs which form the KIG that is officially occupied and administered by the Philippines. "The actions of the government are to make the Municipality of Kalayaan a fully functional municipality of the Republic of the Philippines with all government agencies represented in that municipality," Trinidad said.
Pag-asa Island is home to Filipino civilians and military personnel. It also hosts Rancudo Airfield, which is operated by the Philippine Air Force. Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called for the possible construction of a port and airport, and other airway facilities for the KIG. Also, Trinidad said there is nothing new about China opposing the Philippines' plans for the KIG, as the country had been doing so since 1992. "They have been opposing our actions in the WPS since 1992," the PN official said.
And when asked how they plan to ensure that construction will not be impeded by China, Trinidad said "appropriate security measures are in place" to ensure any construction by the Philippine government on the island group will not be impeded. "There (had) already been ongoing enhancements and refurbishment of facilities on the island, and there are appropriate security measures in place," he said.
Ship christening
This developed as the PN christened and commissioned two brand-new naval vessels during a ceremony at the Naval Operating Base Subic in Zambales. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said that acquiring offshore patrol vessel (OPV) BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20) and fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC) BRP Audrey Bañares (PG-910) is not meant for aggression but merely for defense. “Let me be clear: modernization is not a signal of aggression. It is a statement of responsibility. A credible defense posture deters conflict. Preparedness prevents miscalculation. Capability preserves peace,” Brawner said.
The AFP's modernization efforts, he said, are anchored on responsibility and peace. To embody courage, leadership, and the enduring spirit of Filipino resistance, BRP Rajah Sulayman was named after the pre-Hispanic ruler who led Tagalog forces during the 1570 Battle of Manila. Meanwhile, to symbolize the bravery and dedication of Filipino sailors who defend the nation’s sovereignty, BRP Audrey Bañares honors Jose Audrey Bañares, a Navy commando who was killed off Zamboanga City in September 2013 after a sea battle with Moro National Liberation Front extremists.
By integrating these vessels into the active fleet, Brawner said, the AFP not only recognizes the legacy of its defenders but also ensures a more formidable presence in both littoral and deep-sea operations. BRP Rajah Sulayman was launched in Ulsan, South Korea on June 11, 2025, and arrived in the Philippines last Jan. 17. The BRP Rajah Sulayman is the first of six OPVs ordered from shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, worth about PHP30 billion, in 2022.
Source: pna.gov.ph
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Interest-free loans for OFWs sought
MANILA, Philippines, March 1 ------ A Senate bill protecting aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from predatory lenders has been filed by Sen. Erwin Tulfo. Senate Bill 1696 or the “OFW Pre-employment Loan Assistance Act” will ensure that loans of up to P100,000 are free of interest.
The measure will help cover the steep upfront costs of working abroad, including placement fees, medical and psychological examinations, training, airfare and visa expenses. “In our action center, we frequently encounter OFWs who have to scramble for funds, often incurring debts from loan sharks, just to settle their pre-departure fees,” Tulfo said.
Under the bill, OFWs with valid overseas employment contracts may apply for a loan, which will be administered by the Department of Migrant Workers in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. The loan will be free of interest during the first year of repayment. Beyond that period, any interest imposed will be capped at prevailing government lending rates.
First-time OFWs will be given priority access, including expedited processing and a longer repayment term of up to 18 months. The proposed measure mandates a financial literacy orientation and provides free debt management programs before deployment.
Source: philstar.com
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CFO boosts diaspora engagement as Filipino migration to Europe rises
MANILA, March 1 ------ The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) is recalibrating its diaspora engagement strategy as migration of Filipinos to Europe expands in scale and complexity, positioning them as active development partners rather than solely recipients of welfare support.
In a news release, the CFO said the shift was underscored during a recent multi-stakeholder forum, which convened migration experts and policymakers to examine emerging trends and the shifting landscape of the Philippines-Europe migration corridor. “Diaspora engagement must move beyond welfare and consular concerns,” the CFO said during the panel discussion. “It should be framed as a partnership that recognizes overseas Filipinos as cultural ambassadors and bridges between the Philippines and Europe,” it added.
The forum titled “The European Turn: A New Chapter in Global Migration from the Philippines,” held at Astoria Plaza in Pasig City, served as the culmination of the "AspirE" research project, a Horizon Europe-supported initiative exploring Asian migration aspirations. CFO Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II said the agency is advancing a strategic diaspora engagement framework that seeks to strengthen economic, political, and cultural linkages between overseas Filipinos and the Philippines.
He said this vision aligns with the CFO’s mission to foster a sense of belonging among the diaspora, encouraging them to contribute their global expertise and resources to Philippine nation-building. Data from the CFO and the Philippine Statistics Authority show that about 10.2 million Filipinos reside overseas. “While the Americas still host the largest portion of the permanent diaspora, the European theater—particularly in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and the Nordic states—has seen a marked increase in both permanent and temporary migration streams. In the UK alone, the Filipino population has surpassed 200,000, fueled largely by the healthcare sector,” the CFO said.
CFO chief emigrant services officer Rodrigo Garcia outlined the agency’s region-specific initiatives aimed at addressing the evolving profile of Filipino communities in Belgium, Portugal and other European countries. These include regular “online kumustahan” sessions with Filipino au pairs to monitor welfare concerns, deployment of Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) resource persons to Europe for benchmarking and validation of counseling services, and strengthened partnerships with faith-based groups, youth networks, and professional associations to encourage civic and economic participation.
The AspirE project, led by Dr. Asuncion Fresnoza-Flot of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, provided research insights that informed the discussions. The CFO underscored the need for sustained collaboration between research institutions such as the Scalabrini Migration Center and government agencies to ensure policies remain responsive to on-the-ground realities. “By staying responsive to on-the-ground realities, the CFO aims to fulfill its mandate of ensuring that the Filipino diaspora remains an engine of innovation and a vital component of the Philippines' global identity,” the agency said.
Source: pna.gov.ph
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Putting unauthorized stamps on passport punishable by law - DFA
March 1 ------ The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has advised Filipinos against putting unauthorized stamps on their passports.
In an advisory, the DFA said Philippine passport holders must refrain from putting unauthorized markings on their documents as doing so is punishable by law. "Such unauthorized changes to the ePassport not only renders the travel document invalid," it said. "But is also considered as tampering of an official document, which is punishable under the law," it added.
Recently, a post from a Filipina travel blogger made rounds on social media after sharing that she just invalidated her passport through collecting unauthorized stamps on her passport as souvenirs from foreign destinations she went to. She said she collected those stamps while travelling mostly in South America. Some of her stamps showed unauthorized stamps apparently from souvenir shops from Chile, Peru, and Ecuador.
According to the DFA, passports should be submitted only to authorized officials or authorities for stamping. "The Philippine ePassport is the property of the Republic of the Philippines and any alteration, addition, or destruction of its contents is strictly prohibited," it added.
Source: mb.com.ph
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Clark named among world's best airports at arrivals
MANILA, March 1 ------ Clark International Airport (CRK) has been named one of only six airports globally to receive the "Best Airports at Arrivals" award for 2025, the operator of the gateway said.
The distinction was announced by Airports Council International (ACI) World as part of its annual Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Customer Experience Awards. “To be named among the world’s Best Airports at Arrivals is a proud moment for Clark International Airport and for the Philippines," said Noel Manankil, President and CEO of Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp (LIPAD).
The ASQ program measures passenger satisfaction in real-time through surveys conducted while travelers are still at the terminal, the operator of the facility said. The 2025 results were gathered from nearly 707,000 passengers worldwide. "This recognition reflects the hard work of our team and partners who ensure that every passenger is welcomed with efficiency, comfort, and genuine Filipino hospitality."
Other awardees were Bahrain International Airport, and four international airports in India. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place during the ACI World Airport Experience Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, from August 31 to September 4, 2026. LIPAD is a consortium made up of Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc., and Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Changi Airports International.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
SexBomb Girls to bring ‘Get Get Aw’ concert tour to Tacloban
March 1 ------ The SexBomb Girls are taking their “Get Get Aw” concert outside Luzon for the first time, with a regional stop set in Tacloban City!
On Instagram, Rochelle Pangilinan announced that their first regional show will happen in Visayas.“From Manila… ngayon lalabas na ng Luzon. Our first regional Get Get Aww Concert Tour is happening in Tacloban! Tacloban, ihanda ang boots at balakang — dahil dadalhin namin ang buong showdown sa inyo,” she wrote in the caption. “Mga Pinalaki ng Sexbomb sa Visayas, kayo na ang susunod sa kembot. Get get aww, Tacloban!” Rochelle added.
According to the event poster, the concert will take place on March 14 at 8 p.m. at the Tacloban City Convention Center, also known as the Tacloban Astrodome. Tickets will be available starting March 1.
The SexBomb Girls reunion concert held its first show at the Araneta Coliseum on December 4 and the second show at SM Mall of Asia Arena on December 9. The third, fourth, and fifth shows were also held at the MOA Arena on February 6, 7, and 8. They will also hold concerts in the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Source: gmanetwork.com
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Family Feud celebrates 4th anniversary with star-studded episodes this March
March 1 ------ Family Feud four-ever! Four-ever ang tawa, four-ever ang saya! GMA Network’s well-loved game show Family Feud marks its 4th anniversary with a month-long, powerhouse celebration beginning March 2.
Hosted by Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes, Family Feud welcomes some of the brightest stars in the industry of television, content creation, arts and athletes, and more for its anniversary special. The hosts of the noontime show It’s Showtime are going back to the studio for a fun game. Leading the riotous teams is the Unkabogable Star Vice Ganda, together with Jhong Hilario, Vhong Navarro, Darren Espanto, Ryan Bang, Cianne Domingo, Jackie Gonzaga, and Amy Perez.
Family Feud is also bringing in fan favorites from Sexbomb moms to the PBB Celebrity Collab 2.0 winners, and lovebirds Shuvee Etrata and Anthony Constantino, with their friends in the modeling industry. The high energy continues with the rare appearance of cinema icons, and Sisa stars Hilda Koronel and Eugene Domingo, alongside Dina Bonnevie, Carmi Martin, Bembol Roco, and Rez Cortez.
Meanwhile, social media superstar Small Laude and her sons, PJ, Michael, and Tim, face off against the hilarious Beks Battalion: Chad Kinis, MC Muah, Lassy, and Beki Velo. Representing high art and athletes, on the other hand, is the talented team of Prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja, who is going to battle their brains out against the league of basketball heartthrob Ricci Rivero.
Source: gmanetwork.com
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Jake Ejercito sets new personal record in Osaka Marathon
MANILA, Philippines, March 1 ------ Actor Jake Ejercito competed in the 2026 Osaka Marathon, where he set a new personal record in a 42-kilometer distance. Clad in black with a white cap and running shoes, Jake crossed the finish line with a race time of 3:38:20.
Jake tracked his performance on the mobile app strava which logged that the actor averaged a pace of 5:10 per kilometer for the race. "Underestimated the distance. Discipline faded late in the build, and the marathon made sure I paid for it. Got ugly, but dug deep and stayed honest," Jake said in an Instagram post. "Not the race I hoped for. Still a PR, still moving forward."
Photos posted by the actor show him running around the Japanese city, sometimes with fellow Filipinos, and wearing a bracelet that said "Ellie," Jake's daughter with ex-partner Andi Eigenmann.
Among those who congratulated Jake in the comments section were Donny Pangilinan and his sister Hannah, Jameson Blake, Rambo Nunez, and Aya Fernandez. Jake is no stranger to competing in races, having run several half-marathons (21 kilometers) last year, culminating in the Chicago Marathon last October, which he finished.
Source: philstar.com
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SPORTS NEWS
Blu Girls gain wild card slot in WBSC World Cup Group Stage
MANILA, Philippines, March 1 ------ The Philippine women’s softball team was given wild card entry to the WBSC World Cup Group Stage where it will have a chance to make next year’s finals set in Australia and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls received the spot after Uganda withdrew from the group of World No. 1 Japan, No. 3 Puerto Rico, Great Britain, Venezuela and Peru. The Peruvians will host that stage slated July 14 to 18, which marks the start of the group phase and the qualification process not just to the World Cup finale but to the Olympics as well. “This wild card is not simply an invitation — it is recognition of their talent, resilience, and the discipline they bring every time they compete,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines chief Jean Henri Lhuillier. “They have earned the right to test themselves against the world’s best and represent the Philippines with heart and excellence,” he added.
The other group stage venues are Prague in the Czech Republic and Oklahoma in the United States, with the top two of each group advancing to the finale.
Source: philstar.com
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Gilas moves on as Australia returns for first time since brawl
March 1 ------ The second window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers got underway with Gilas Pilipinas taking on New Zealand in a crucial home tiff that could have significance down the road. But even before the Filipinos and the Tall Blacks squared off at the Mall of Asia Arena, people were already circling the next playdate on their calendars. The reason? The Philippines plays Asia Cup champion Australia today with lingering memories of a dark past shared by both squads.
Australia visits the Philippines for the first time since Gilas and the Boomers engaged in a massive brawl that marred their World Cup Qualifiers game in July 2018 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. And in Australia, FOX Sports Basketball fanned the flames of that unforgotten moment by posting a video on their social media account—an old episode of “The Back Page,” a now-defunct Australian sports program, where the fight was discussed. “Basketball 2.0 is coming,” the Australian media outlet wrote to begin its caption, with Australian basketball legend Shane Heal sharing his thoughts during the said episode that appeared to have aired shortly after the infamous incident.
The 90-second video had Heal describing the fight as “scary,” given how it became a free-for-all with several Gilas players leaving the bench and unleashing several blows on the Boomers, more particularly Chris Goulding, Daniel Kickert and Nathan Sobey. “Who does these sort of things,” Heal said, before a host responded in jest by saying, “Filipinos are obviously angry at Pacquiao getting beaten by Jeff Horn,” referring to Pacquiao’s loss to the Aussie fighter the previous year.
Heal continued by saying that the “worst part” about the incident was the involvement of “some of the staff from the Philippines team.” A defining moment from that fracas was Jio Jalalon, who was part of the Gilas pool but did not play, throwing a straight right at Nathan Sobey, right in front of former Spin photographer Jerome Ascano.
Ascano’s photo was eventually published on the front page of an Australian paper in the aftermath. “Some of the staff from the Philippines team came on, and actually punched our guys in the head,” Heal said. “And the amount of coward punches that happened, coming off the bench and just lining up our guys up and punching them in the back of the head. Scary stuff.”
As a result of the brawl, 13 players were slapped with suspensions, eight of them from Gilas. Some of them, like Jalalon and Calvin Abueva, never got to don the Philippine jersey anew. Chot Reyes “stepped away” as Gilas coach, before eventually returning to the post between 2022 and 2023, while the team had one home game of the Qualifiers held with no fans.
The two teams finally met last August in the Fiba Asia Cup quarterfinals in Saudi Arabia, with Australia ending Gilas’ campaign with an 84-60 decision. The game bore no traces of the bad blood between the two teams. There are no expectations of a “Basketbrawl” sequel, with then-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio saying last year that the SBP and Basketball Australia have since “moved on.” “That was the past. We understand that. We learn from that,” Panlilio said. “Just play basketball.”
Source: inquirer.net
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Manny Pacquiao says 'May-Pac 2' won't be an exhibition match
March 1 ------ NO title will be on the line, but the long-awaited rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr is going to be a real fight and not just an exhibition match.
Pacquiao made this one clear and stressed everything will be at stake in the Sept. 19 fight at The Sphere in Las Vegas, including Mayweather's unblemished record of 50-0. "This is a real fight. Kasama siya sa magiging record namin. Kung manalo ka, panalo ka. Kung talo ka, talo ka," Pacquiao said on Tuesday just hours after Netflix officially announced the rematch that was long in coming.
The boxing legend was at the Philsports Arena to donate some of his memorabilia for the National Sports Museum. No less than President Marcos Jr was on hand to receive the precious collection during the turnover rite also attended by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio. "Ito yung magiging sagot din dun sa maraming question na ganun. At least my chance pa tayo, maipakita natin yung kaya pa nating ipakita," said Pacquiao about facing Mayweather.
The now 48-year-old Mayweather retired unbeaten in 50 fights with 27 KOs. The last official match of the former Olympic bronze medalist was a 10th round stoppage of UFC superstar Conor McGregor in August of 2017. He then fought in a total of eight exhibition matches, including one against American influencer Logan Paul.
Early this month, Mayweather sued former manager Al Haymon and Showtime for $340 million for shortchanging him for hundred millions of dollars, a move that came about three weeks before Netflix announced the rematch between him and Pacquiao. Meanwhile, Pacquiao retired in 2022 following his failure to wrest the WBA welterweight title from Cuban Yordenis Ugas. Following two exhibition matches and a failed bid for the presidency of the Philippines and a Senate comeback, the Filipino Hall of Famer came out of retirement and fought Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight crown. The 12-round match ended in a majority draw,
He currently holds a record of 62-8-3 with 39 KOs. The 47-year-old Pacquiao mentioned about training for a minimum of three to four months still at the famed Wild Card gym in Los Angeles with the same team of head trainer Freddie Roach, Buboy Fernandez, Marvin Somodio, and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune. He also said about fighting an exhibition match prior to D-Day as he's scheduled to face former world light-welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov this coming April. A week after, it's Mayweather's turn to fight in an exhibition outing against former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight still stands as the biggest fight in boxing history, earning a record of 4.6 million pay-per-views and $410 million in revenues.
Source: spin.ph
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