Nation
Following the explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Thursday afternoon and heavy rains from the shear line hammering parts of Mindanao, multiple local government units have announced class suspensions for Friday, February 20. Students in affected areas get a long weekend, but the reasons are anything but relaxing. In Negros,
Nation
Kanlaon Volcano roared back to life on Thursday afternoon, unleashing a moderately explosive eruption at 4:38 PM that lasted about two minutes. The eruption at the summit crater sent a massive ash cloud billowing over parts of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, prompting immediate warnings from authorities. The Philippine
Nation
Human Rights Watch is sounding the alarm on how the Philippine government has been handling the relocation of communities displaced by Typhoon Odette back in 2021. According to a new report released Wednesday, authorities on Siargao island have been moving residents — including people with disabilities — to sites that are inaccessible
Nation
In a pastoral letter that might make your screen-addicted fingers twitch, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is calling on the faithful to undertake a bold new Lenten discipline for 2026: digital media fasting. The letter, titled "Fasting Beyond Food: Inviting Christ into Digital Media Use,
Nation
In a rare and spiritually meaningful coincidence, the Philippines this week finds itself observing two sacred seasons of prayer and fasting at virtually the same time — Ash Wednesday for Roman Catholics and Ramadan for Muslims. It is a moment of convergence that religious leaders and interfaith advocates are calling an
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Malacañang has stepped in to clear up confusion surrounding February 19, 2026 — the first day of Ramadan — clarifying that it is NOT a regular or special non-working holiday for all Filipinos. Presidential Communications Office (PCO) spokesperson Claire Castro confirmed on Tuesday that while Ramadan is a deeply significant religious observance
Economy
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is widely expected to cut its key interest rate by another 25 basis points today, February 19, 2026, bringing the benchmark rate down to 4.25%. This would mark another significant step in the central bank's easing cycle, which began in 2024
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The Islamic community in the Philippines officially began observing Ramadan 2026 today, February 19, after the moon was not sighted on the evening of February 17. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) confirmed the start of the holy month, urging Muslim Filipinos across the country to commence their 30-day
Nation
Magandang balita para sa mga motorista — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a major quality-of-life upgrade for vehicle owners across the Philippines: brand-new cars and motorcycles will now only need to be registered once every five years, up from the previous three-year cycle. The policy, confirmed by the Department of
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In a landmark ruling that has sent ripples across the LGBTQ+ community and legal circles alike, the Philippine Supreme Court has declared that same-sex couples may be legally recognized as co-owners of property they acquired together — a historic first in a country long resistant to expanding rights for same-sex partners.
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Tatlong bansa, isang mensahe — the Philippines, United States, and Australia concluded the 14th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea on February 15 to 16, 2026, with joint naval and air assets conducting coordinated drills between Subic Bay and Bajo de Masinloc. The Armed Forces of the
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Good news para sa lahat — the Philippines kicked off 2026 on a significantly safer note, with the Philippine National Police (PNP) reporting a major 24.32-percent drop in the national crime rate for January 2026 compared to the same month a year ago. PNP chief Gen. Jose Erwin Panta made