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The Philippines is walking a diplomatic tightrope — maintaining open communication with Beijing while simultaneously loading up on American missile systems. The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Friday that it is keeping "open lines of communication" with China on the South China Sea dispute, even as Manila deepens its
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Malacañang has declared that a jeepney fare hike is "premature" even as the Philippines braces for what could be the eighth consecutive week of oil price increases. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the existing P1 provisional fare adjustment is still enough to cover fuel costs for
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The Philippines is beefing up its cyber defenses through new partnerships with Canada and Japan, as the Marcos administration intensifies its fight against rising misinformation and evolving digital threats targeting Filipinos online. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro announced the initiative during a Palace press briefing on Friday, February 20.
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The 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution is shaping up to be more than just a commemoration — it’s going to be a massive day of protest. The Trillion Peso March Part 3 is set for February 25, Wednesday, at the People Power Monument along EDSA, with organizers
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The aftermath of Kanlaon Volcano’s explosive eruption on Thursday afternoon is worse than initially thought. The Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region reports that ashfall has now blanketed 25 barangays across five local government units in Negros Occidental, with residents scrambling for face masks and goggles. The hardest-hit areas
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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,
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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
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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
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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,
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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