📰 News & Current Affairs

MANILA, Philippines — Hundreds of bags of coins and five luxury cars were recovered at a house in Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City yesterday. Operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) raided the house and confiscated coins, estimated to be worth P50 million, and the luxury cars, which were reported to have a combined value of P100 million. The raid is the culmination of two months of surveillance, the NBI said. There were supposedly 11 luxury cars, all without license plates and conduction stickers, that operatives said had been parked at the house during their surveillance. Law enforcers said the coins may have been used for îllégâl...

DUMAGUETE City is setting its sights on the development of a 174-hectare, P23-billion township, with the aim of transforming it into a new economic and tourism hub in central Philippines. Dubbed "Smart City," the project is an unsolicited public-private partnership proposal by EM Cuerpo Inc. (EMCI) which is expected to be completed within five years. © The Manila Times Artist's perspective of Dumaguete Smart City. "The Smart City will transform Dumaguete into a highly-urbanized city with a mixed-use central business district equipped with earth-friendly building systems, green energy sources, and modern information technologies. It will also house public facilities for health, housing, education, sports, and transportation," said...

THE Department of Education (DepEd) has formally designated Malcolm Garma, M.D. as the assistant secretary for the National Academy of Sports (NAS) and field operations during the virtual oath-taking ceremonies. "I'm very pleased and happy to welcome our new officers of attached agencies in the department. Firstly, Yvonne de Mesa, newly-appointed Governor for National Book Development Board and of course, Assistant Secretary Malcolm Garma," Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said during the ceremony held on September 20. Garma, a former DepEd regional director of the National Capital Region and Central Luzon, will assist in the managing and supervising of the Field Operations strand of the department, which consists of 16 regions, 230...

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Manny Pacquiao has been kicked out of a PDP-Laban faction for filing his certificate of candidacy for the presidency under a local party, a move that goes against the ruling party’s constitution, an official said yesterday. PDP-Laban secretary-general Melvin Matibag said Pacquiao’s filing his candidacy under PROMDI, a local party based in Cebu, means that he is automatically expelled based on Article 7 Section 6 of the PDP-Laban charter. “The PDP Laban National Executive Committee met Oct. 1 and a resolution was approved automatically expelling Sen. Pacquiao from PDP-Laban in accordance with the party constitution,” Matibag said in a statement. “Senator Pacquiao claims that he is the legitimate president of...

"Super easygoing" is how Sophie Albert describes herself and her fiancé Vin Abrenica. That why they get along pretty well, from raising their six-month-old daughter, Avianna Celeste, to running their household and handling finances. "We have a list of our monthly expenses and we have an account where the expenses will come from," the GMA-7 actress tells SmartParenting.com.ph in an exclusive interview. Sophie goes on explaining: "And then, apart from that, like whatever naman we want... Ako, I make paalam, like, 'Oh! I want this. Can I buy this?' 'Tapos siya parang, 'E di bilhin mo, may pera ka naman, e!' Gano'n. "'Tapos siya din naman, when he wants something, he also tells me. But there's really no need to ask for permission or...

The Philippines should adopt policies for call centers that will fit the post-pandemic workplace, according to the head of the industry group, as it seeks to extend the sector’s two decades of growth. The Contact Center Association of the Philippines sees a shift toward working-from-home, one of several COVID-era workforce adaptations that could become entrenched. However, some tax breaks crucial to the industry are only valid if the bulk of their employees work in designated economic zones. “No business is thinking we will just go back, after this pandemic is over, to the way we were,” Chairman Benedict Hernandez said in an interview. He urged the government to develop a long-term policy that recognizes the new reality of hybrid...

The country’s largest telco-neutral data center to provide telco-grade and tailored data center services, Beeinfotech PH (Bee Information Technology PH Inc.), is confident that the Philippine data center market is ready to cater to the needs of global hyperscale companies. This is due to a variety of factors, including the growth of enterprise cloud and data center adoption in the market, rising Internet use, and the recent improvements in the nation’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) capabilities. Recent forecasts have revealed that developments in the Asia Pacific make the region a prime destination for hyperscalers. According to Frost & Sullivan, APAC will lead all the other regions as the top data center market in...

"MY LAST DAY AS A KAPAMILYA…" ang vlog 57 ni Kuya Kim Atienza (KKA) na in-upload niya noong Oktubre 2, Sabado, sa kanyang eponymous YouTube channel. "Malungkot na masaya, mabigat na excited, at higit sa lahat punong-puno ng emosyon. 'Yan ang aking huling araw sa ABS-CBN," paglalarawan ni KKA sa naturang vlog na isang segundo na lang 24 minuto na ang haba. "Nagpapasalamat ako sa inyong lahat, Kapamilya. Hindi biro ang 17 years na maging bahagi ng inyong tahanan at maging bahagi din kayo ng aking araw araw. "Lilisanin ko man ang ABS-CBN mananatili pa rin ang mga aral na naituro sa akin at naranasan ko bilang isang Kapamilya. "Ang buhay nga ay weather weather lang ngunit magkikita pa rin tayo at magkakasama ano mang buti o sama ng...

Thailand’s car scene is easily one of the most eccentric on the planet. Where else will you find the likes of the Toyota Hilux being sold as a low-riding pickup or an Isuzu D-Max driving around with five turbochargers under the hood? While the country is a pickup- and SUV-loving nation just like ours, that craziness can be seen across other vehicle types as well. This beefed-up Hyundai Starex is the perfect example. Created by VKH Motorsports, this Starex (known over there as the Hyundai H1) has undergone a suspension enhancement that has given it a six-inch lift. Should be more than enough clearance for most roads, regardless of how many passengers it’s carrying. The garage has also fitted the van with a bull bar featuring neat...

FOUR senatorial hopefuls filed their certificates of candidacy (CoCs) on Sunday. Officially joining the fray were former senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, Samira Gutoc, Najar "Jinggoy Adang" Salih and Luz "Lala Ganda" Aquino. Estrada is a candidate of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, the party of his father, former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada. He was first elected senator in 2004 and served for two terms until 2016. Estrada said that in his 12 years as senator, he had authored around 600 bills. A day earlier, his half-brother, Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, also filed his CoC for senator. "There are 12 seats that are being fought for and I hope both of us will win. I think both of us deserve to win," Estrada said, referring to...

Actor and businessman Richard Yap again threw his hat into the political ring as he renewed his attempt to win a seat at the House of Representatives. His wife Melody filed his certificate of candidacy on Sunday. Yap hopes to represent Cebu City's District 1 at the House. The actor is on a lock-in taping in Sorsogon. Yap sought the same post in the 2019 elections under PDP-Barug, the local party-list of PDP-Laban. However, he lost to the late Raul Del Mar, finishing second among four candidates. Yap rose to fame as "Ser Chief" in the ABS-CBN series "Please Be Careful with my Heart" opposite Jodi Sta. Maria. The 54-year-old has appeared in various films and teleseryes, most notably "Kadenang Ginto" and "Mano Po 7: Tsinoy." He...

DEPUTY House Speaker and Sarangani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao has formally launched his bid for the gubernatorial seat of Sarangani in southern Mindanao. He is the younger brother of Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, known in the boxing world as "PacMan." The two-term lawmaker filed his certificate of candidacy (CoC) for governor on Friday, October 1, at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office in Alabel town. Pacquiao heads the provincial slate of the party People's Champ Movement (PCM), a local political party founded by Pacquiao, who is seeking the Philippine presidency in the May 2022 elections. His running mate is incumbent Vice Gov. Elmer de Peralta, currently on his second term, while current Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon...

The country’s largest telco-neutral data center to provide telco-grade and tailored data center services, Beeinfotech PH (Bee Information Technology PH Inc.), is confident that the Philippine data center market is ready to cater to the needs of global hyperscale companies. This is due to a variety of factors, including the growth of enterprise cloud and data center adoption in the market, rising Internet use, and the recent improvements in the nation’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) capabilities. Recent forecasts have revealed that developments in the Asia Pacific make the region a prime destination for hyperscalers. According to Frost & Sullivan, APAC will lead all the other regions as the top data center market in...

Krizle Grace Mago described Monday as a pressured response her admission that Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation “swindled” the government when it tampered with the expiration dates of the face shields delivered to the Department of Health. “Regarding my previous statement that I believed we swindled the government, it was a pressured response. Given the level of pressure I was under and the rush of emotions associated with the allegations and my subsequent admission, I was not in the best frame of mind to think clearly,” Mago said during the resumption of the House hearing on the alleged overpriced COVID-19 supplies. During the September 24 Senate hearing, Senator Richard Gordon asked if she thinks they were swindling the...

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an advisory against unregistered entities called E-Comm Shares and Pogi Breeds International for their respective unlicensed investment programs. The commission warned the public not to invest or to stop investing in the schemes offered by the entities. E-Comm Shares is said to be offering a 3% daily income to investors buying and selling shares through their platform. Led by a certain William Thomas, the entity allegedly aims to “produce 1,000 millionaires” through its program. The SEC said E-Comm is luring investors through its daily income rate offering which may be earned by investors “by just logging to his/her account and clicking the sell button for a total of 60 days.” It...

Melvin Matibag, secretary-general of the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, on Monday said Senator Manny Pacquiao’s decision to run for president under PROMDI party defies logic and the PDP-Laban Constitution. In a CNN Philippines interview, Matibag asked why the group of Pacquiao and his political ally, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, chose to have Pacquiao run as standard bearer of a “minority party” which is “not even strong and active.” “So medyo impractical yata kasi it defies logic, it defies the Constitution. So, I don’t know kung saan nanggagling ang interpretation ni Sen. Pimentel,” Matibag said. (So it is quite impractical because it defies logic, it defies the Constitution. So I don’t know where Senator...

Pasay City Mayor Imelda Gallardo "Emi" Calixto-Rubiano formalized her bid for re-election on Monday when she filed her certificate on Sunday, Jun Burgos, the city's public information officer, said. Rubiano's entire ticket, composed of elder brother Rep. Tony Calixto, Vice Mayor Boyet del Rosario and Councilors Mark Calixto, Grace Santos, Tonya Cuneta, Ambet Alvina, Marlon Pesebre and Ding Santos for District 1 and Councilors Joey Calixto-Isidro, Donna Vendivel and Wowee Manguerra as well as Angelo Arceo, Jen Panaligan and Zeng Dela Torre Padua filed their CoCs at the Commission on Elections office at the SM Mall of Asia. "Just give me another chance to continue what we started and include the entire Team Calixto who is my partner in...

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar warned candidates against colluding with îllégâl drugs syndicates to secure funds and boost their chances in next year's elections. Eleazar issued the warning on Saturday over "the possibility of îllégâl drugs syndicates financing the campaign of some candidates in exchange for protection" once they are elected, citing past cases where some local officials got arrested for their involvement in îllégâl drugs. He cited the case of a mayor in Quezon province who was arrested in 2001 for transporting almost 500 kilograms of shabu using a government ambulance as well as the incident in June where a former Maguindanao town mayor was arrested for possessing a cache of firearms...

YIELDS ON government securities on offer this week will likely end mixed on concerns over rising inflation and looming rate hikes. The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) will offer P15 billion in Treasury bills (T-bills) on Monday, broken down into P5 billion each in 91-, 182- and 364-day debt papers. On Tuesday, it will auction off reissued seven-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) with a remaining life of six years and 10 months. Two bond traders said T-bill rates will continue to move sideways this week as investors are looking to put their excess liquidity in these short-term safe-haven instruments. However, for the longer-tenored T-bonds, the traders expect its yield to shoot up on fears of rising inflation and possible policy tightening...

3M Philippines plans to hire a hundred more employees by the end of the year as the global company expands its service center in the country, the local unit’s top official said. The company has 750 employees in its shared service center and another 150 in its sales and marketing arm, 3M Philippines Country Leader Reggie C. Pulumbarit said. “By yearend, we do expect that to breach 1,000,” he said in a virtual interview on Thursday. Most of the additional employees will be in the global service center, which handles internal finance, human resources, and information technology requirements for the international firm. “We’ve managed to grow 30% in headcount over the last one and a half years. We did invite 200 plus [employees] so far...

Unti-unti nang nagsi-sink in kay Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi "Bea" Gomez ang kanyang pagkapanalo sa pinakaprestihiyosong beauty pageant ng bansa. Kahapon, October 3, sa pamamagitan ng Instagram, ibinahagi ni Bea ang kanyang nararamdaman matapos hiranging Miss Universe Philippines 2021. Nagpasalamat si Bea sa mga taong hindi nagduda sa kanyang kakayahan na manalo sa national pageant. Mensahe ng 26-year-old beauty queen mula sa Cebu City: "BREAKING BARRIERS… No words can describe the pride and honor that I’ve been blessed with, from being a delegate tasked to represent my home, Cebu City, to being an ambassador and servant leader of my beloved country, Philippines. "I am indebted to the people who rallied with me in...

© PAGASA Tropical Depression Lannie, Oct. 4, 2021 Twenty-three areas are now under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 due to Tropical Depression Lannie, which made more landfalls in Southern Leyte, state weather bureau PAGASA said on Monday. In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said TCWS No.1 was hoisted over the following areas: the southern portion of Masbate (Pio V. Corpuz, Cataingan, Palanas, Dimasalang, Uson, Mobo, Milagros, Mandaon, Esperanza, Placer, Cawayan, Balud); the southern portion of Romblon (Cajidiocan, San Fernando, Magdiwang, Santa Maria, Odiongan, Alcantara, Ferrol, Looc, Santa Fe, San Jose); the southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao, Bongabong); the southern portion of Occidental...

NEW DELHI, India: India's army chief has said China is sending troops to their disputed border in "considerable numbers," prompting a matching deployment by New Delhi in a development he called a "concern." Tensions have been high between the nuclear-armed neighbors following a deadly border battle in June last year in the strategically important Galwan River valley in India's Ladakh region, near Tibet. The world's two most populous nations poured tens of thousands of extra troops into the high-altitude region in the Himalayas after the clash. Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane told reporters in Ladakh on Saturday that the Chinese troop presence along the 3,500-kilometer (2,200-mile) border had increased in "considerable numbers" and it was...

The center of power of RCC in the country, Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines, developed an app initially popularized by netizens, 'Ligtas Points App'. CBCP President Cardinal Sin said, “This will help everyone in tracking their ligtas points and so to avoid deductions for doing things that goes against the laws of God.” The app also integrated Kristocurrency in it which would be convertible to Ligtas Points for faster transactions. They are also planning to connect other Christian denominations such as INC, MCGI, KJC, IFI among others. It is expected to be released later this year. Source dito na ata ako yayaman sa sobra-sobrang kabaitang tinataglay ko 🤧

Updated: 1:00 am Sept. 30, 2021 DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio again led the list of probable presidential bets for the 2022 national elections, the September 2021 Ulat ng Bayan National Survey by Pulse Asia Research Inc. revealed. If elections were held today, 20 percent of Filipinos would support Duterte-Carpio. However, this was 8 points lower than the Pulse Asia survey results in June, where she also took the lead. "If the May 2022 elections took place during the survey period, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte would score a plurality win with the backing of 20 percent of the country's ãdül† population," Pulse Asia said in a statement. The mayor had announced that she will not run for president and will seek reelection...

Presidential daughter Sara Duterte on Saturday filed her certificate of candidacy for her reelection as Davao City mayor in Eleksyon 2022. The presidential daughter announced her filing in a Facebook post. Sara's announcement was confirmed by her spokesperson, Liloan,Cebu Mayor Christina Frasco. “Yes, I can confirm that Mayor Sara Duterte has filed her Certificate of Candidacy for Mayor of Davao City,” she said in a text message to GMA News Online. The presidential daughter thanked her supporters and called for orderly and credible elections. “I have been honored with the gift of trust and respect of many of our fellow Filipinos. Thank you to everyone who has E×ρréššed their support. Many of you do not know me and yet you carry me...

“Hinayang na hinayang talaga ako. Siyempre trending ‘yung ‘Squid Game.’ At saka ang galing na makagawa ka ng istorya na nasa isang malaking-malaking warehouse lang ‘yung shoot pero sobrang engaging nung series,” Aquino was extremely disappointed he could not fly to South Korea to do the project. He revealed they cast him to portray the character of Abdul Ali, a migrant worker from Pakistan, who was forced to join the survival games to support his wife and child after his Korean employer refused to give their months’ worth of salary. Anupam Tripathi took over the role of Ali when Aquino could not proceed with the project. “Yung script dinelete ko na. ‘Yung parts kasi ni Ali ‘yung sinend sakin. Kasi nga masama loob ko, pandemic...

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has warned that China's economic slowdown will have an impact on its trading and tourism partners, including the Philippines. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in a press conference that China's economic slowdown will certainly affect its key trading and tourism partners. "In the case of the Philippines, China serves as the country's largest trading partner, accounting for 16 percent of our exports," he emphasized. According to Philippine Statistics Authority data, shipments to China had the highest export value of $1.04 billion in July alone, accounting for 16.1 percent of the country's overall exports. Domestic enterprises that directly deal with China, Diokno added, are at risk of witnessing...

Recently, there were speculations that the seasoned news anchor had bid farewell to his Kapamilya bosses as he plans to run for Senate this upcoming 2022 elections. Accordingly, de Castro is ready to return to politics, and everything needed for his candidacy is set. He will run for Senator under the banner of Presidential candidate Isko Moreno and Vice Presidential candidate Doc Willie Ong. However, a source has revealed that it is not true that de Castro has received ABS-CBN’s blessing for his planned comeback to politics. De Castro entered politics in 2001 and ranked first in the senatorial race. Three years after, he won as Vice President and served under the former President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. De Castro joined ABS-CBN...

SUPPORTERS of Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Saturday officially launched the President Isko Movement-Isulong ang Kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino (PRIMO-ISKO) in support of his candidacy in 2022. Speaking in Filipino, members of the group cited how Domagoso reformed and beautified Manila. PRIMO-ISKO founding chairman Barbie Atienza said Domagoso believed that if the Manileno advances, so will Manila and that's what he'll do for the rest of the country. Leaders from tourism, urban poor, barangay, solo parents, youth, legal and religious sectors joined the event. Incumbent and aspiring poliltical leaders and members of the Central Mindanao Alliance of Christian and Muslim communities also participated to E×ρréšš their...

Anne Curtis, 36, has greatly amused netizens due to her hilarious yet cute reaction towards her mother’s throwback post on social media. On Saturday, October 2, KAMI learned that Carmen Ojales, the mother of Anne, posted several old photos she took with the hosts of It’s Showtime. It can be worth noting that after years of working with each other, it is no surprise that the It’s Showtime hosts have formed a tight bond that transcends friendship. © Provided by Kami Anne Curtis with her daughter, Dahlia Amélie Heussaff. Photo from Anne Curtis (@annecurtissmith) Source: Instagram Among the photos Mommy Carmen posted was a group hug wherein Jhong Hilario, Vhong Navarro, Jugs Jugueta, and Teddy Corpuz gave her a warm hug. Included in the...

Buo ang loob ng kilalang doctor sa bansa na si Doctor Willie Ong sa kanyang pagtakbo bilang bise presidente ng Pilipinas. Sa panayam sa kanya ni Karen Davila, naitanong nito kung ano ang nagtulak kay Doc Willie upang makumbinsi bilang running mate ng presidential candidate na Mayor Isko Moreno. Matatandaang nasabi ni Doc Willie noong 2019 na wala na umano siyang interes na pumasok sa pulitika. © Provided by Kami Doc Willie Ong at Mayor Isko Moreno (Photo credit: Doc Willie Ong/ Reynan Garcia Macatangay) Source: Facebook Subalit nabago ang kanyang isip dahil sa mga sumunod na nangyari sa kanyang pamilya. "Actually I have no plans. Pero I am always open sa plans ni God kung meron man. Lagi akong open and I'm always ready," paliwanag...