Senate budget purge includes Sandro Marcos projects, says Lacson
Sen. Ping Lacson says he backs a Senate purge of unsupported and corruption-prone items in the proposed 2027 budget.
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Philstar
Sunday, 1 November · 94 stories
Top stories
More than 1 million visit Manila cemeteries on All Saints' Day
Manila North alone recorded 976,200 visitors as of 3 p.m.
Marcos Jr. visits father's tomb, sends flowers to Aquinos
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited his father's grave at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on All Saints' Day and sent flowers to the graves of Ninoy, Cory and Noynoy Aquino.
Marcos on Undas: Extend devotion to helping others
The president says devotion to the departed should extend to people who are struggling.
PDRF to close gaps in Philippines water security
The Philippines has plenty of water, yet many families, cities and businesses still face shortages, floods and unreliable supply.
House to comply with SC order on impeachment vote threshold
The House of Representatives will comply with the order of the Supreme Court to comment on a petition challenging the validity of the Senate impeachment court’s ruling to lower the voting threshold to convict Vice…
Convening of BARMM parliament lauded
Sen. Francis Escudero yesterday lauded last Friday’s convening of the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament, calling it a historic milestone in the country’s peace-building efforts.
Rice terraces declared National Treasure
The Maligcong Rice Terraces in Bontoc, Mountain Province have been officially declared a National Cultural Treasure, giving national recognition to the centuries-old agricultural heritage.
DA: 1 million Pinoys availed of P20 rice
More than 900,000 Filipinos have purchased the P20 per kilo rice from the government in September, according to the Department of Agriculture yesterday.
Over 110,000 visit Manila cemeteries
At least 110,000 visitors flocked to the North and South Cemeteries of Manila yesterday for Undas.
VP offers prayers for Yolanda victims
Vice President Sara Duterte offered prayers for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, which struck Tacloban City on Nov. 8, 2013.
Marcos: Honor departed loved ones through kindness
President Marcos yesterday called on the Catholic faithful to honor those who have passed through acts of kindness, compassion and service to others.
Senate could weed out thousands of infrastructure projects in budget
The Senate is poised to purge thousands of infrastructure projects that were inserted into the proposed 2027 national budget if the Department of Public Works and Highways fails to submit complete supporting documents…
PNP to unmask those assisting Bato’s travel
Apart from manhunt operations to arrest Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is also conducting a probe to identify the people who assisted the fugitive senator in reaching Mindanao, where…
Nation
6th ID troops, reservists train in emergency medical response
The training culminated in a simulation involving a Black Hawk helicopter for casualty evacuation.
C5 flyover repairs, road crashes disrupt Undas traffic
Several early-morning incidents occupied lanes along C5 as motorists marked All Saints' Day.
2 vessels barred from sailing after Cagayan, Bohol mishaps
M/B Rose Marie 1 and MV Ocean Jet 788 are barred from operating pending safety inspections and technical assessments.
BARMM stakeholders lauded for successful polls
A Catholic bishop has lauded all stakeholders for the peaceful and democratic election of Bangsamoro’s first chief minister and other BARMM officials under its regular parliamentary government.
8 crew rescued after banca partially submerges off Cagayan
All crew members were brought to safety after their banca partially submerged.
Rainy All Saints' Day expected in parts of Luzon
Parts of Northern Luzon may see scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms on All Saints' Day.
Batangas property declared part of special eco-zone
President Marcos has declared some property in Tanauan, Batangas as part of an existing special economic zone.
Army welcomes 445 new recruits
The Philippine Army, the largest major service command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in terms of active service personnel, has 445 new recruits.
Senior citizen killed in Pampanga gun attack
A senior citizen was killed while a minor was wounded in an attack by unidentified gunmen in Arayat, Pampanga on Thursday.
Special holidays declared in 8 areas
Malacañang has declared special non-working days in eight areas of the country for the celebration of local festivals and founding anniversaries.
Mayon eruption affects 785 schools
Up to 785 public and private schools in Albay were affected by the moderately explosive eruption that occurred at Mayon Volcano shortly before noon on Friday.
810,828 Undas travelers flock to seaports
Up to 810,828 people flocked to various seaports in the past three days to travel to the provinces for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
San Juan wins DILG award
For implementing locally funded infrastructure projects, San Juan was recognized as a top-performing city in the 2026 National Capital Region Subaybayani Awards of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
NPC probes data breach
The National Privacy Commission is investigating a report that 69 gigabytes of database backups of overseas employment systems were illegally copied, NPC spokesperson Roren Chin said.
American, 62, nabbed for P17 million kush at NAIA
A 62-year-old American was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 for attempting to smuggle into the country 17.46 kilos of marijuana kush on Thursday.
Regions
Consumer group broadens focus
A consumer advocacy group in Cebu has expanded its campaign beyond electricity concerns to include water supply, affordability, and other issues affecting consumers.
Fire displaces more than 100 residents
At least 22 families, or 102 individuals, were displaced after a fire hit sitio Mary Grace in Barangay Budlaan, Cebu City on Friday morning, October 30.
Cebu-developed platform offers AI-assisted tools for lawyers
A Cebu-developed legal practice management platform that integrates case management, document organization, legal research and billing was introduced to lawyers during its launching held in Cebu City recently.
Simmers off to a hot start in Siargao surf
World No. 6 Caitlin Simmers is off to a hot start in one of her favorite surfing destinations on the planet.
Didal wins bronze in China
Cebuana Margielyn Didal proved she still has plenty left in the tank after capturing a bronze medal in the recently-concluded Shanghai leg of the FISE Action Sports Festival World Series, her best finish on the circuit…
Stone dialogue
Headline: “Senate minority urges government to pursue dialogue with Bato de la Rosa”.
China, Philippines, and the U.S. are equal sovereign states
In Law school decades ago, I learned from the subject Public International Law, this principle of sovereign equality of states.
Back to her maiden name
Mary came to the United States as a green card holder.
Bantay sa budget
Tak-om ang liderato sa House of Representatives sa gipangayo sa nagpakabana nga mga grupo nga mga dokumento sa pagpasabot sa kapin sa 7,000 ka proyekto nga balor og ?190 bilyones nga insertions nila sa gisugyot nga ?7.2…
EDITORIAL — Automatic penalty
There’s now a move by the Land Transportation Office to address the rising cases of drunk driving across the country.
Business
BDO profit rises to P63.6 billion
BDO Unibank Inc. posted a marginal increase in earnings from January to September, supported by strong lending growth and higher interest income despite a challenging economic environment.
SGV names new chairman
Professional services firm SGV & Co. has named Michael Sabado as its new chairman and country managing partner.
NTC cites telcos’ readiness for Undas travel rush
The National Telecommunications Commission has commended the country’s three major telecommunications firms – DITO Telecommunity Corp, Globe Telecoms Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) – for their mobile network…
PDRF seeks private sector support to address water security risks
The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation is seeking greater private sector participation in addressing water security risks as climate change, rising demand and infrastructure gaps threaten water supply and…
Planters Product backs cyber libel case vs former DA chief
Planters Products Inc. said it would fully cooperate with government prosecutors pursuing cyber libel and defamation charges against former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor.
More telco infrastructure built as government speeds up permits
Telco-to-tech giant Globe Telecom Inc. is pressing the government to sustain efforts in speeding up the issuance of infrastructure permits to help improve network coverage and quality.
The money mule trap
Imagine receiving a message offering you P3,000 a day for doing almost nothing.
The country probably deserves better
As Semirara Mining and Power Corp.’s 50-year coal-operating contract with the government for Semirara Island in Antique approaches expiration next year, a number of questions have been raised by SMPC about the propriety…
UnionBank seeks BSP capital relief for digital bank integration
Union Bank of the Philippines is seeking exemptions from certain capital requirements as it moves to integrate its digital banking subsidiary UnionDigital Bank into its operations by April 2027.
Canadian firm eyes RE investments in Philippines – Go
Canadian investment firm Brookfield Corp. is planning to expand investments in the Philippines’ renewable energy sector.
What will they say at your grave?
The comedian Spike Milligan spent years joking that he wanted “I told you I was ill” carved on his tombstone.
How businesses prepare for disruption
Rising costs, changing consumer habits, supply-chain interruptions and extreme weather are testing how Philippine businesses operate.
The timeless craft of a wooden kuna
Kuna.
Economists see more interest rate hikes as inflation risks persist
Economists expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to raise interest rates again in December, with some seeing further tightening in early 2027 as persistent inflation, elevated oil prices and peso depreciation continue…
Cement makers expect flat growth this year
Cement manufacturers have turned optimistic and now expect this year demand to match last year’s level, banking on higher infrastructure spending in the final quarter.
Banks see stronger loan demand in Q4
Banks expect stronger demand for loans this quarter while keeping lending standards largely unchanged despite lingering economic uncertainty, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
‘Weak peso to hike costs of imported farm goods’
The weakening peso could drive up the cost of imported agricultural commodities such as rice and fertilizer, according to the Department of Agriculture, further straining food prices amid production constraints caused…
Sports
Tokong shines at home, advances to World Surf League Tour Round 2
John Mark “Marama” Tokong gave the Filipino crowd plenty to cheer about after beating Brazilian World No. 11 Samuel Pupo to advance to Round 2 of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour Philippines Pro.
Learning never stops for Ateneo prized rookie after falling short anew vs La Salle
Another Ateneo-La Salle game, another learning experience for Kieffer Alas.
Eala plunges back into action vs Parks in Hong Kong Open
With only a short breather, Alex Eala takes her act to the Hong Kong Open against another familiar opponent in Alycia Parks of the United States in Round 1 at the Victoria Park Tennis Stadium.
UCAL volleyball: Immaculada Concepcion, LPU-B end elims first round with a blast
Defending champion Immaculada Concepcion College completed a seven-game sweep of the women’s division, while Lyceum of the Philippines University Batangas topped the men’s side at the end of the elimination round.
UST's Akowe cries foul over officiating in loss to NU
“Be fair.”
Laopakdee rides rare 4-shot swing to retain Asia-Pacific crown; Dumdumaya squanders Top 6 bid
Jaden Dumdumaya's familiar late-round woes resurfaced at the worst possible time, while Fifa Laopakdee produced a stunning comeback capped by a pivotal four-shot swing to retain his crown in the Asia-Pacific Amateur…
Bisera's ace seals thriller; Que rules PGT OOM anew
A clutch ace at the most crucial moment saved Yvon Bisera's season and delivered one of the narrowest victories in Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit history, while Angelo Que relied on consistency and a strong…
Falcons Academy books MCT SEA berth with breakthrough MDL PH title
Team Falcons finally has a championship to show for its patience as its academy team captured the Mobile Legends Development League (MDL) Philippines Season 8 title after defeating Team Fuego, 4-1, in the Grand Finals.
Philippine Open boasts added firepower from foreign bets
The foreign contingent seeing action in the 108th Philippine Open will not lack the firepower, with former Asian Tour Order of Merit winners John Catlin of the United States and Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond leading…
Martin upsets Picasso to wrest WBC silver featherweight belt
Rising Filipino boxing star Carl Jammes Martin scored the biggest win of his promising career after stunning former world title challenger David Picasso of Mexico on points to annex the WBC silver featherweight title.
Parity evident in NBA
The proof of NBA parity is evident in the list of champions over the last eight seasons.
AIA Rock ‘n’ Roll Manila returns
With less than a month to go, the AIA Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Manila presented by ASICS is gearing up for its fifth staging on Nov. 29, bringing runners back to the streets of Manila for a milestone celebration of…
Martin stakes all in Riyadh
The fearless Ifugao “Wonder Boy” puts his boxing future on the line against Mexican warrior David Picasso in a scheduled 10-round featherweight fight at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia early this morning…
LeBron saves Sixers’ day
LeBron James converted a key putback and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as the Philadelphia 76ers edged the visiting New York Knicks 98-93 on Friday.
Philippines YOG campaign on
Jamesray Mishael Ajido plunges into action in swimming and Angel Polo brings her young act in wushu as competitions kick off on Sunday, a day after Africa welcomed close to 3,000 athletes to the fourth edition of the…
Bulldogs boost twice-to-beat bid
National U firmed up grip of the second spot and shored up its twice-to-beat drive with a repeat win over Santo Tomas, 75-71, in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
NLEX into last four
Making it a nightmarish Halloween gig for Phoenix, NLEX took the fastest route into the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup semifinals.
Simmers, Hopkins draw first blood at Cloud 9
World No. 6 Caitlin Simmers and World No. 14 Yolanda Hopkins wasted no time making their mark as the World Surf League Championship Tour made its historic Philippine debut at Cloud 9 here yesterday, with the Filipino…
Entertainment
Comedian Ate Gay passes away at 55
He was 55.
John Arcilla seeks probe into dumped pet remains in Bulacan
The award-winning actor is also a pet champion.
Heidi Klum as severed hand, Zendaya channels Halle Berry for Halloween
Even Hollywood stars turned their A-game for Halloween.
‘Freaky Riri’: Rhian Ramos, DenJen channel ‘Obsession,’‘Conjuring’ for Halloween
Stars are also inspired by other stars from popular fictional universes.
Solenn, Erwan Heussaff mourn father Louis Paul
The celebrity siblings mourns the death of their father, a former sailor in the French Navy.
Remembering the music industry’s dear departed
Singing contests during the mid-1980s almost always included a female contestant singing Total Eclipse of the Heart and trying to match the emotional grit of Welsh rocker Bonnie Tyler’s rendition.
Janine Gutierrez on Filipino folklore and the fearless women in Netflix’s ‘Balaraw’
Long before starring in the Netflix mystery-thriller “Balaraw,” Janine Gutierrez was already hooked on Filipino folklore. Growing up, she said, she couldn’t get enough of supernatural tales, whether from books or…
For Heart Evangelista, health is true investment
What endears Heart Evangelista to people is her being authentic or true to herself. It is shown in any endeavor she forays into — be it in acting, painting, doing fashion and hosting.
Martin Nievera, Jed Madela and Sofronio Vasquez together for 2027 countdown
Featuring three extraordinary voices and three distinct personalities, “VOIC3S: A New Year’s Special” welcomes 2027 in one unforgettable night of music, laughter and celebration at The Theatre at Solaire.
Lifestyle
'Mummy Meat-y' treat for Halloween or All Saints' Day
This "boo"-tiful play on traditional meatloaf is a perfect Halloween-themed treat for lunch or dinner.
For Josh Boutwood, retaining 2 Michelin stars for Helm brings relief first
The Makati restaurant remains the only two-Michelin-starred establishment in the Philippines.
Can you see heaven from here?
On All Saints' Day, a reflection on the Beatitudes reminds us that heaven is not merely a promise for the afterlife.
Ghouls of Filipino folklore 'show up' for Halloween
It's the time for costume parties, scary decorations, horror movies, and trick-or-treats around the neighborhood.
Opinion
The November 2026 priority dates
Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month for the various family and employment-based categories.
The right man for the daily commute
For millions of Filipinos, transportation is not an abstract policy debate.
‘Sh*t happens,’ until it happens to Bato
The camp of international fugitive Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has complained about the P50-million bounty offered for his arrest, calling it baseless and claiming that it puts his life in danger.
It’s stagflation, stupid
The Marcos administration has waged a credible war against corruption that has resulted in some big fish, senators included, landing in jail.
Super El Niño and other horrors
It is Halloween as I write this and the usual party-goers have shown up in their spookiest best.
Stronger Asean for a more secure Philippines
For an archipelagic country like the Philippines, security at sea is inseparable from the daily lives of our people.
EDITORIAL - Strong, self-reliant allies
The United States, according to its secretary of war, remains committed to defending its interests and those of its allies and partners.
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