Politics

Araw ng Dabaw Turns Into Duterte Birthday Power Show

What was supposed to be a city celebration in Davao ended up looking a lot like a full-on political show of force for former president Rodrigo Duterte. Rappler reported that thousands lined the streets on Saturday for the 89th Araw ng Dabaw parade, but the mood quickly shifted be

Tabloid PH Newsdesk

Mar 28, 2026 — 1 min read

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

This year’s parade was moved from its usual March 16 schedule to March 28 so it would coincide with Duterte’s 81st birthday. That timing gave the whole event a different energy, especially since the former president remains detained in The Hague over crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court.

As the parade made its way through Roxas Avenue and ended at San Pedro Square, banners calling to “Bring him home” and other pro-Duterte messages were hard to miss. The gathering turned Davao into a visible rally point for Duterte Diehard Supporters, with the city celebration and the political messaging running side by side.

Vice President Sara Duterte attended with Davao Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte II, and other relatives and allies. Senator Bong Go was also there, along with several political figures close to the family. Sara told reporters she wished her father another year of good health.

Rappler noted that by the time speeches began at the square, the focus was less about Davao’s development and more about loyalty to the Duterte camp. In effect, Araw ng Dabaw became both a birthday tribute and a political statement — isang malinaw na paalala that the family still commands a loud and organized base in Mindanao.

Source: Rappler — https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/davao-city-charter-day-celebrate-rodrigo-duterte-birthday/

Jessica Soho Gets Big Honor, Pero Mas Lalong G na Magbantay

Veteran broadcaster Jessica Soho has been named one of PeopleAsia Magazine’s 'People of the Year 2026,' adding another major recognition to a career that has already spanned four decades. The award honors public figures seen as symbols of hope and moral courage, and Jessica was recognized under

Bare-Bones Pero Tuloy: ASEAN Summit Trimmed as Oil Crisis Bites

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines will still host the 2026 ASEAN Summit, but in a much smaller and more focused format as the regional bloc deals with the fallout from the fuel crisis tied to tensions in the Middle East. Instead of the usual long program full of

$1-B Farm Lifeline, Pasok: PH Agriculture Gets Big World Bank Boost

The Philippines is getting a major agriculture boost after the World Bank approved a $1 billion loan aimed at raising farm productivity and making the country’s food systems more resilient to climate shocks. The funding will go to the Philippines Sustainable Agricultural Transformation Project, or PSAT, which is designed

JOLIN on SB19’s “Emoji”: Parang Blind Date That Turned Into Real Creative Chemistry

Queen of C-Pop JOLIN is giving fans a peek at how her collaboration with SB19 on “Emoji” came together, and the whole story started with a little uncertainty. ABS-CBN Entertainment reported that JOLIN described working with the P-pop group online as feeling like a “blind date” at

Read more

Jessica Soho Gets Big Honor, Pero Mas Lalong G na Magbantay

Bare-Bones Pero Tuloy: ASEAN Summit Trimmed as Oil Crisis Bites

$1-B Farm Lifeline, Pasok: PH Agriculture Gets Big World Bank Boost

JOLIN on SB19’s “Emoji”: Parang Blind Date That Turned Into Real Creative Chemistry