The Manila Times

P60 wage hike in NCR begins

ABOUT 1.1 million minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR) will receive a P60 daily wage increase, as Wage Order NCR-28 took effect Saturday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. “This is…

P30.44B irrigation fund sought as El Niño looms

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sought to expand irrigation support for farmers as the country prepares for a strong El Niño expected from late 2026 to early 2027. According to the Presidential Communications Office…

Carlos Yulo to get P4M for 2 Asiad gold medals

FILIPINO gymnast Carlos Yulo is set to receive a base of P4 million from the government after winning two gold medals at the 20th Asian Games in Japan. Yulo ruled the men’s artistic gymnastics floor exercise on Thursday…

Veloso longing for mother’s adobo after years in prison

AFTER spending nearly 15 years on death row in Indonesia and almost two years in a Philippine prison, Mary Jane Veloso is finally home with her family, enjoying what she has longed for — her mother’s cooking. Veloso was…

‘Ayungin resupply to continue’

THE Department of National Defense (DND) on Saturday said the recent Chinese interference in the routine humanitarian rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to Ayungin Shoal will not deter the Philippines from undertaking…

PH seeks global protection of maritime infra

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro has called for stronger international cooperation to protect critical maritime infrastructure, warning that the security and resilience of such facilities are essential to…

Court defines PCGG mandate

THE Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) cannot be held liable for interest or damages on funds it sequestered since its mandate is only to preserve those assets, not grow them, the Supreme Court ruled…

SSS holds Global Kabayan Day in HK

THE Social Security System (SSS) held an edition of its 2026 SSS Global Kabayan Day in Hong Kong as part of its 69th anniversary celebration. SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph de Claro said on Saturday that the…

PH plans to submit updated Pag-asa map to UN

THE Philippine government may submit its updated nautical chart of Pag-asa Island to the United Nations as part of territorial documentation of the West Philippine Sea (WPS). ​Presidential Assistant for Maritime…

PhilHealth to cover stays under 24 hours

PHILHEALTH has expanded inpatient coverage to certain hospital admissions lasting less than 24 hours, addressing a previous 24-hour threshold that could leave patients without inpatient benefits, Bagong Henerasyon…

Developers can sell reserved units via 4PH

THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), through the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), commonly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund, will soon launch a new modality to boost the expanded Pambansang…

Go extends aid to 53 families in Valenzuela

SEN. Bong Go has called for stronger disaster preparedness and safer public infrastructure as he extended assistance to 53 families affected by a fire in Barangay General de Leon, Valenzuela City. Speaking to the…

BOC seizes P3.15M worth of ecstasy, nabs suspect

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) held an individual over a parcel purportedly containing 743 grams of suspected raw ecstasy with an estimated street value of P3,157,750 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), an…

Fallen utility post, cables cause traffic in Pasay

A FALLEN utility pole and power cables are causing traffic disruptions along Taft Avenue-Libertad in Pasay City on Saturday. The Pasay Traffic and Parking Management Office earlier advised motorists and pedestrians to…

Groups slam postponement of BSKE

SEVERAL groups slammed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval of the measure postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). Marcos signed the measure on Friday, postponing the next village polls…

Strengthening of rural infrastructure pushed

SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to step up rural infrastructure development. ​During the DPWH’s briefing on its proposed 2027 budget on Friday…

Air traffic controllers upgrade skills

​THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said on Saturday that 935 new air traffic controllers are undergoing intensive training. ​CAAP said the young recruits who have passed the Comprehensive Air…

Court dismisses election case vs Rosal

LEGAZPI CITY — A court in Laguna dismissed election offense charges against Albay Gov. Noel Rosal, citing violation to his constitutional right for a speedy trial. by Judge Mary Jean Cajandab-Ong of Regional Trial Court…

Sulu’s pristine beaches, vibrant culture await exploration

JOLO, Sulu — The provincial government of Sulu is rolling out the red carpet for national and international travelers, inviting the world to discover an island province defined not by its past, but by its breathtaking…

NGCP: Panay needs new 150-MW power plant

PANAY Island needs at least 150 megawatts (MW) of new baseload capacity to keep pace with rising electricity demand and provide a buffer when existing generating units go offline, the National Grid Corp. of the…

Bacolod transport groups to join nationwide strike

BACOLOD CITY — Transport groups here and in Negros Occidental are set to join a three-day nationwide transport strike later this month to protest soaring fuel prices and what they call oppressive taxation on petroleum…

Cebu City, Mandaue cooperate vs floods

MANDAUE CITY — Floods do not follow city boundaries, bringing this city and Cebu City together to address problems affecting the Butuanon River and Mahiga Creek. The two local governments renewed their commitment to…

Cagayan seeking aerospace industry

WHAT is scheduled to lift off in Lal-lo, Cagayan, in February 2027 is a sounding rocket, but what the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) wants to land is an industry. The planned launch at Cagayan North…

Ilagan wins Asean Clean Tourist City award for 3rd straight time

FOR third straight year, Ilagan City, Isabela, has been chosen as the Asean Cleanest Tourist City and officially became a Hall of Famer after being cited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) over the weekend, cementing…

Two Cordillera PNP officers promoted

BAGUIO CITY — Two police officers from the Cordillera region were promoted to star ranks during the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) oath-taking and donning of ranks ceremony in Manila on Sept. 23. Brig. Gen. Paul…

Realizing a pipe dream

"Whatever your heart desires to do, pursue it diligently. Be determined to reach your goals and never give up, no matter the challenges.” FOR nearly six years, Amelito Ouano carried the tools of a plumber through the…

Telcos can turn trust into an AI advantage

ALMOST every telco I meet in Southeast Asia wants AI inside its app this year. What stalls these projects is rarely whether the technology works. It is the question the operator’s own security team asks first: How do we…

VAST Data launches confidential AI system

VAST Data launched a confidential AI runtime designed to let enterprises run advanced AI models against sensitive data while keeping both customer information and proprietary model weights within controlled…

Aleph sees PH as key digital advertising market

THE PHILIPPINES is emerging as a key market for digital advertising as consumers increasingly divide their online activity across social media, e-commerce, video, music and community platforms, according to executives…

Marcos backs robotics in local industries

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed expanded government support for local manufacturers by investing in robotics operations. During his visit to the Nuvali Steel Processing Center Inc. (NSPCI) in Biñan City, Laguna on…

‘AI amnesia’ tests Filipino trust in brands

SINGAPORE — Filipino consumers are increasingly comfortable using artificial intelligence for routine customer-service tasks, but many still expect AI systems to remember previous interactions and disclose when they are…

Al-Amanah to roll out Shariah-compliant financing for LGUs

STATE-OWNED Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines will roll out Shariah-compliant financing for local government units (LGUs) starting next year. In a statement on Thursday, Al-Amanah said the roll-out…

Saving is easier when you know what you are saving for

SAVING is one of those things that almost everyone knows is important, yet many people still find difficult to do consistently. We tell ourselves that we will start next payday, after the next bonus, or once some of the…

Investment AI is leveling the playing field

MACHINE intelligence has changed the way a great many industries work, but few as quickly as investing. Investors around the world now lean on AI to sharpen their decisions, and Filipinos are further along that path…

Paramount to move stock listing to NYSE from Nasdaq

PARAMOUNT Skydance said on Friday it would move the listing of its Class B common stock from Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange. Trading on Nasdaq is expected to end at market close on or around Oct. 5, while trading…

What the children’s online safety bill asks of parents

WHEN the House Committee on Welfare of Children approved the substitute bill for the Children’s Social Media and Online Gaming Safety Act on Sept. 7, one question stayed open: Should a parent have the final say on…

Converse pauses social media ads, marketing after uproar

NIKE-OWNED sneaker brand Converse told employees it is pausing all marketing this week after an earlier advertisement sparked outrage for evoking imagery of the Ku Klux Klan and lynching, Bloomberg News reported on…

When local tourism competes with a P20,000 trip abroad

A FAMILY member recently invited me to join a trip to Vietnam. When I heard the package price, my first reaction was disbelief. I wondered whether an international trip could really be offered at that price or whether…

Powerful nor’easter floods Northeast, leaves over 100,000 without power as high tides threaten coast

BOSTON — A powerful nor’easter continued to batter the Northeast on Sunday, flooding coastal communities and leaving tens of thousands of homes and businesses without power as forecasters warned that another round of…

Death toll in Indonesia's capsized Java Sea ferry rises to 66 as 69 people remain missing

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian rescuers recovered more bodies from the wreck of a ferry that capsized in the Java Sea two weeks ago, bringing the death toll to 66. A search operation for 69 people, all presumed dead…

Explosive-related arrests near air base used by US being probed by UK counterterror police

LONDON — British counterterrorism police took the lead of an investigation into the arrest of several men over suspected explosives offenses near a Royal Air Force base that has been used by U.S. bombers in the Iran…

Pope urges French bishops to 'persevere' against clerical sex abuse

LOURDES — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged French bishops to keep battling the "scourge" of clerical sex abuse during a trip to France, after repeated accusations against the Church in recent years. The leader of the…

OpenAI pauses training of latest models after agents probed US government sites in unexpected ways

NEW YORK — OpenAI said it has paused training of its latest artificial intelligence models as reports of AI agents going rogue mount. The decision to halt development came just hours after the company disclosed Friday…

Bangkok floods force thousands into shelters

BANGKOK — Thousands of Bangkok residents awoke in shelters on Sunday after flooding triggered by days of heavy rain in the Thai capital inundated homes and roads, with some starting to dry out their homes and…

Ethiopians celebrate Meskel holiday with pomp, despite recent fighting in Tigray

WELKITE, Ethiopia— Millions of Christians in Ethiopia gathered to celebrate Meskel, a religious holiday that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman empress Helena in the 4th century, even as fighting…

Pope Leo draws 800,000 people to central Paris for open-air Mass on iconic square

PARIS — Hundreds of thousands of people packed Paris' iconic Champs-Élysées avenue to attend an open-air Mass with Pope Leo XIV on Saturday, a sign of the Catholic Church's enduring appeal in the once staunchly Catholic…

87-year-old's eviction becomes a rallying cry for protest of Spain's housing crisis

MADRID — Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Madrid on Saturday to protest against Spain's housing crisis and ask for protective measures for tenants, anti-fraud rules, and a ban on evictions without…

Trump attends Texas-Tennessee game with no apparent disruption to coaches' communications

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee— Encouraging fans to get inside Neyland Stadium earlier than usual with President Donald Trump coming to Tennessee's college football game against Texas sure worked Saturday. Security checks on the…

Venezuela releases more political prisoners after opposition talks

CARACAS, Venezuela — More than three dozen political prisoners were released between Friday and Saturday, a rights group reported, after US-backed talks between Venezuela's interim government and the opposition. Human…

Cavy chaos: Hundreds attend New Zealand's biggest guinea pig show

TAUPO, New Zealand — Claremont Girl Clash of Hearts took the coveted Best in Show title Saturday at New Zealand's National Guinea Pig Show, which drew hundreds of fans to see the coifed and combed cavies. Nearly 300…

Russia accuses Europe of blocking Ukraine talks, as strikes drag on

UNITED NATIONS, United States — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday accused Europe of blocking efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, after another round of strikes left 16 dead on both sides. Both…

'He said hello': Families pray with pope on Paris avenue

PARIS, France — Jumping down from her uncle's shoulders, seven-year-old Dona ran grinning to her mother after Pope Leo XIV waved at her on his way past on a famed Paris avenue. "He said hello to you," said her…

Pope prays at Lourdes after huge Paris mass

LOURDES, France — Pope Leo XIV prayed for France on Saturday at its holy shrine in Lourdes, after riding along the Champs Elysees in the popemobile and holding an emotional open-air mass in front of hundreds of…

Hurricane Nolo expected to unleash powerful winds, flash flooding on Hawaii

HILO, Hawaii — Heavy rain and powerful winds are expected to bring flash floods and extreme surf to the Hawaiian Islands over the weekend as Hurricane Nolo bears down on areas still recovering from previous storms. Nolo…

Trump rejects Iran proposal for deal to reopen Hormuz

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Saturday rejected a truce deal proposed by Iran that Tehran said could have reopened the Strait of Hormuz to shipping within a week. The waterway is key to the world's energy…

Bangkok declares flood disaster across city

BANGKOK — Bangkok authorities declared on Saturday a disaster across all 50 districts of the Thai capital after heavy rain for a third consecutive day caused heavy flooding. The disaster designation, which gives local…

Thousands still missing month after Nepal flood

KATHMANDU, Nepal — After spending five years working in Saudi Arabia, Narayan Prassan returned to his home in Nepal with savings, only to lose his house in the 2015 earthquake. He went abroad again, earned enough to…

India orders coal plants’ maximum output

NEW DELHI — India has ordered more than 100 captive coal-fired power plants to operate at maximum capacity from October 1 through year-end to meet what it expects will be a rise in electricity demand. The federal power…

Wildfires threaten endangered Orangutan

JAKARTA — Wildfires that tore through Indonesian Borneo’s vast tropical forests have piled pressure on critically endangered Bornean orangutans, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said Saturday…

China, US to open AI ‘comm channel’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — China and the United States agreed to set up a “communication channel” for artificial intelligence incidents, the White House said Friday, after a Washington summit short on breakthroughs. Donald…

Saudi coalition intercepts drones headed for Riyadh

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen’s Houthis said on Saturday it had intercepted drones and ballistic missiles, as the Iran-backed group launched fresh attacks, including on Riyadh, despite…

El Niño rewrites menu in world’s top restaurants

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — A record-breaking El Nino will likely force the world’s top chefs to rethink their menus ahead of droughts, floods and heatwaves upending global food systems. Ants are disappearing from the…

Pope Leo XIV to hold giant mass on Champs-Elysees

PARIS, France — Pope Leo XIV is to celebrate an open-air mass for some 600,000 believers on Saturday on the French capital’s Place de la Concorde and adjoining Champs-Elysees. The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion…

A'ja Wilson wins AP WNBA Player of the Year for 3rd straight year; Angel Reese top defensive player

NEW YORK — A'ja Wilson is in a class by herself, winning the AP's WNBA Player of the Year award for an unprecedented third straight year. Wilson received 15 of the 17 first-place votes from a national media panel…

Three talking points from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

He did not win, but in finishing within a whisker of George Russell's triumphant Mercedes on Saturday, Max Verstappen showed he could be a factor in this year's drivers' title race. With at least seven races to go…

PNVF acknowledges Bagunas' concerns, vows to be better

MANILA, Philippines -- The Phlippine National Volleyball Federation acknowledged the grievances of Alas Pilipinas team captain Bryan Bagunas in an interview following the national team's 16-25, 25-27, 22-25 opening loss…

Bryan Bagunas laments lack of support for Alas Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas team captain Bryan Bagunas has voiced deep frustration over the national team's financial struggles, revealing that players have not received their allowances since July and have…

Gialon seeks to rekindle winning magic in Iloilo

MANILA, Philippines — Working his way back to form over the last two years, Zanieboy Gialon returns to the very venue where he last tasted victory, hoping to put everything together again when the ICTSI Iloilo Golf…

Lady Stags charge back in five-set thriller

MANILA, Philippines — San Sebastian College-Recoletos turned to team captain Juna Gonzales in the closing stretch of the deciding set to complete a reverse sweep of Emilio Aguinaldo College, 16-25, 18-25, 27-25, 25-23…

John Cabang Tolentino snares bronze in 110m hurdles

MANILA, Philippines -- John Cabang Tolentino of the Philippines snared a bronze medal in the 20th Asian Games 110m men's hurdles final at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Japan Sunday evening. Cabang…

How young is too young as child prodigies win big at Asian Games

NAGOYA — The Asian Games has crowned teenage champions before, but this edition has witnessed stunning successes by child prodigies, culminating in Yuki Kurihara standing atop the podium aged just 11. The Japanese…

Pacquiao congratulates new FIDE chief, seeks reforms in PH chess

Former senator and chess enthusiast Manny Pacquiao took time to congratulate newly elected FIDE president Timur Turlov of Kazakhstan on Sunday. Simultaneously, Pacquiao is pushing for the creation of a group that will…

Sibol claims bronze in Asian Games Pokémon UNITE

Philippine Esports team Sibol claimed a bronze medal after an 0-2 loss to Indonesia in the semifinals of the Pokémon UNITE esports event at the Aichi Sky Expo Hall on Sunday in Japan. Kim Rey Salazar, Michael Vaughn…

Weightlifter Kristel Macrohon settles for 4th in Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines — Kristel Macrohon narrowly missed out on a podium finish after early execution missteps dashed her medal hopes in the 2026 Asian Games weightlifting competition on Sunday at the Nagoya City Trade…

Alas Pilipinas falls to South Korea in Asian Games opener

MANILA, Philippines — Errors proved costly for Alas Pilipinas as the men’s volleyball team pushed South Korea to the limit late in the match before succumbing in straight sets, 25-16, 27-25, 25-23, to open its 2026…

Cone says Brownlee ‘intends’ to return, no timetable yet

MANILA, Philippines — While there had been many speculations on Justin Brownlee’s health status, Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone stressed that the beloved Gin Kings import “intends to return.” “We're in communication…

Alex Eala faces Thai Patcharin Cheapchandej to start Asiad gold bid

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala faces Thai Patcharin Cheapchandej to start her 20th Asian Games women's singles gold medal bid in Nagoya, Japan. Seeded No. 1 in the continental meet with a…

The championship curse

The most controversial opinion in basketball today is not that the defending New York Knicks should trade Karl-Anthony Towns. It is that they may eventually have no choice. The Knicks finally delivered a championship to…

Internationals take 7-3 lead at Presidents Cup

MEDINAH, Illinois — The Internationals completed a sensational foursomes clean sweep Friday (Saturday in Manila) to surge into a commanding 7-3 lead over the United States at the Presidents Cup. Trailing 3-2 after…

Ryan Gerard in contention at French

PARIS — Ryan Gerard might have been representing the United States in the Presidents Cup this week. Instead, he’s in contention at a big European tour event for the second week running after shooting a 6-under 65 on…

Nishimura surges ahead at LPGA Arkansas

ROGERS, Arkansas — Yuna Nishimura had a big finish to her front and back nines Friday (Saturday in Manila) for an 8-under 63 that carried her to a one-shot lead in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship as the LPGA Tour…

Bisera rallies into Top 10 in TLPGA

YVON Bisera made good on her vow to fight back, closing with a solid five-under 67 to storm into the Top 10 while local ace Yu Chiang Hou held her nerve through a dramatic three-way playoff to capture the Kenda Tires…

Scott takes another shot at Presidents Cup glory

MEDINAH, Illinois — Adam Scott was a fresh face at age 23 and getting feisty under the darkening sky in South Africa. The Presidents Cup was tied. Ernie Els and Tiger Woods were in a tense playoff when the captains…

LeBron James explains why he left Lakers

PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James said his longstanding friendship with All-Star Tyrese Maxey and a desire to help Joel Embiid win his first NBA title played significant roles in his decision to sign a two-year, $8 million…

Mbappe injury casts a pall on Zidane debut

PARIS — Zinedine Zidane’s debut as France coach was overshadowed by an injury to captain Kylian Mbappe in a 1-0 win away to Turkey on Friday, while Roberto Mancini’s first game back in charge of Italy ended in a 2-0…

Alcaraz helps Europe into Laver Cup lead

LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz helped Europe take a 3-1 lead on the first day of the Laver Cup as the Spaniard teamed up with Jakub Mensik for a doubles victory. The world number three, playing in only his second event since a…

China’s Zhang sweeps 7 golds in Asian Games

NAGOYA, Japan — Chinese freestyler Zhang Zhanshuo completed his sweep of seven gold medals at the Asian Games, taking the 400-meter freestyle in 3 minutes, 41.28 seconds on the final day of swimming events. His time was…

Eala gets top seed, 1st-round bye in Asian Games

ALEX Eala seized the top seed and a first-round bye in the 20th Asian Games women's singles tennis at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan. The Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) revealed the…

Paalam barges into Asian Games quarterfinals

TOKYO Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam kicked off his 2026 Asian Games medal quest on a triumphant note, overcoming a spirited effort from India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam via majority decision in the men’s 55 kg…

Delos Santos claims bronze in Asian Games debut

YOUNG blood Albert Ian Delos Santos made a grand entrance in his Asian Games debut, setting new junior World and Asian records to capture the bronze medal in the men’s 70-kilogram weightlifting event at the Nagoya City…

Ateneo holds off Adamson for 2nd win

ATENEO de Manila University held off Adamson University, 73-68, to bounce back in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. Jared Bahay poured in 18 points including the…

Underdog Alas faces tough South Korea

THE Alas Pilipinas men’s national volleyball team faces a steep uphill battle as it opens its 2026 Asian Games campaign against a formidable South Korean squad on Sunday at the Park Arena Komaki in Komaki, Aichi…

Bela Padilla confirms split from Martin Tan: ‘Loving someone also means knowing when to let go’

MANILA, Philippines — Actress Bela Padilla has confirmed her breakup with tech CEO Martin Tan after several months of dating. Padilla announced their separation in an Instagram post on Sunday, September 27, describing…

Two giant pandas sent by China arrive in US

BEIJING, China — Two giant pandas sent by China arrived in the United States on Sunday, Beijing's state media said, after a leaders' summit that was heavy on symbolism and light on major breakthroughs. The pandas'…

Armani's business and creative evolution on show in Milan a year after founder's death

MILAN — The future of Giorgio Armani ’s empire is coming into sharper focus a year after the designer’s death. On the runway in Milan, his signature elegance defined the latest collection previewed on Sunday, while…

Senate to honor SB19 for historic Lollapalooza debut

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino P-pop group SB19 will visit the Senate on Monday to receive an adopted Senate resolution recognizing their historic performance at the Lollapalooza Music Festival in Chicago, Illinois. The…

The MTV VMAs are here with Taylor Swift making history and Madonna leading the nods

NEW YORK — The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are here and Swifties, it looks like the night is already yours. Earlier this week it was announced that Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors…

Robin Padilla, BB Gandanghari bring Rene Baterbonia’s story to big screen

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robin Padilla and filmmaker BB Gandanghari are teaming up with filmmakers from Mindanao for a film chronicling the life and dreams of late basketball player Rene “Bobet” Baterbonia. The…

Veterans face rising stars in fiercely contested Puregold CinePanalo acting awards

MANILA, Philippines — From acclaimed veterans to mainstream stars and fearless newcomers, some of Philippine cinema’s most exciting performers are going head-to-head for Puregold CinePanalo’s top acting prizes. There…

PNB travel event set for October 1 to 3

Philippine National Bank (PNB) and Philippine Airlines (PAL) will hold The Great Travel Getaway: The World Is Closer With PNB, a travel event from Oct. 1 to 3, 2026, at the PNB Financial Center on President Diosdado…

LADY LIBERATED

Trump’s spectacle of scorn

THE United Nations General Assembly has served for decades as a platform where American presidents sought to present a coherent vision for global order, peace and international cooperation. At the rostrum, American…

The powerful already broke CARP long before odious DOJ opinion

MORE than 20 years ago, powerful lawmakers with interests in real estate development started directing pork barrel funds into massive roadbuilding projects along prime agricultural lands. Using local agents and…

Acts that mirror the intention

THE Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, has ultimately decided on who among its members can vote in the proceedings now pending before it. In a carefully worded ruling read by Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz”…

Some firsthand views on the Visayas blackouts

FOR today’s column, I am going to cede most of my space to a commentary sent to me by one of my occasional correspondents, Joseph Somsel, who is a transplanted nuclear engineer and a fair all-around energy expert living…

China’s risk calculus to use force on Taiwan

CHINA was once bullied. But now it’s the one bullying. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Western imperial powers subjugated China, imposing treaties that forcibly opened its ports to the opium trade and secured…

To protect your children, watch, talk and pray

BEFORE the headline topic, profound gratitude, felicitations and blessings on the Vatican’s declaration of the Saint Padre Pio Shrine in Santo Tomas, Batangas, as an international shrine on Sept. 23, the saint’s feast…

Blanket pronouncements are not healthy for schools on the road to recovery

THE rainy season is not yet behind us. Given the meager efforts of this government to perform routine preventive measures against the adverse effects of heavy rains — and the inept response of its executives — we can…

Uncontrolled internet, AI could be ‘evil gremlins’

MILLIONS of Filipinos open their mobile phones or computers every day, unaware of the power and influence of telecommunications companies (telcos) and internet service providers (ISPs), now enhanced with artificial…

Ironclad guarantee: Will the US defend the Philippines?

IN a high-stakes military escalation with China or Russia, can — or will — the United States defend the Philippines? Manila operates under the assumption that under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), which was…

When the map starts moving

SIX weeks before Americans vote in their midterm elections, the map is moving faster than the headline numbers. When Decision Desk HQ launched its forecast in July, Republicans had a 57-percent chance of retaining the…