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TOP STORIES
ROBIN PADILLA SAYS HE WON’T RUN IN 2028
Sen. Robin Padilla said he no longer plans to seek another elective post after his Senate term ends in 2028, saying he wants to devote more time to his young children and pursue a quieter life. Padilla made the statement as he thanked supporters and others who have encouraged him to remain in politics. He said he believes he is not suited for the political world and would rather focus on his family after completing his current term. The senator’s latest announcement marks a c
Arvin Enriquez
Sep 181 min read
FORMER PRESIDENT DUTERTE APPEARS AT ICC AFTER 18 MONTHS
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made his first public appearance in about 18 months on Wednesday, September 16, as he personally attended proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Duterte appeared in the courtroom wearing a black suit and white shirt, as ICC judges heard arguments concerning his health and his ability to participate in the trial. He did not speak during the proceedings. The 81-year-old former
Arvin Enriquez
Sep 161 min read
ABS-CBN ANNOUNCES RETRENCHMENT PROGRAM AFFECTING AROUND 200 EMPLOYEES
ABS-CBN has announced a retrenchment program that will affect around 200 employees, or approximately 7 percent of its workforce, as the company moves to maintain its financial stability amid continuing economic challenges. In a statement released Tuesday, the media company said it made the decision after a careful review of its operations and financial position. “After careful review, we have made the difficult decision to implement a retrenchment program to keep ABS-CBN on s
Arvin Enriquez
Sep 151 min read
NEW LOOK, SAME CASE: PNP RELEASES ROMUALDEZ MUGSHOT
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has released the official mugshot of former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, a day after authorities arrested him in connection with a ₱7.4-billion plunder case involving alleged irregularities in government flood-control projects. Romualdez was served an arrest warrant on September 7, 2026, at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, where he was confined after experiencing health con
Arvin Enriquez
Sep 151 min read
NEWS
MARCOS APPOINTS PACQUIAO AS NEW ANTI-POVERTY CHIEF
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, September 8, swore in former senator and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as secretary and lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). Absolutely. For a more journalistic, straight-news style, I’d avoid phrases like “high-profile figure” and focus on the appointment, his mandate, and relevant political context. Pacquiao’s appointment marks his return to public office after losing his bid for a Senate seat in the 2025
Arvin Enriquez
Sep 81 min read
NATIONAL
DEPED TO DISTRIBUTE 172,654 MACBOOK NEO LAPTOPS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, STAFF NATIONWIDE
The Department of Education (DepEd) has completed the competitive bidding for the procurement of 172,654 Apple MacBook Neo laptops for public school teachers and administrative personnel nationwide, with the estimated total cost reaching approximately ₱7.42 billion based on the reported price of ₱43,000 per unit. DepEd announced on Tuesday, November 3, that the procurement process for its latest computerization project had been completed. The initiative is intended to provide
Arvin Enriquez
16 minutes ago1 min read
AHJAY PAWS OWNER, ITINANGGI ANG PANANAGUTAN SA 29 ITINAPONG LABI NG MGA HAYOP SA BULACAN
Itinanggi ni Jonathan Legaspi, may-ari ng Ahjay Paws Aftercare Pet Crematorium, ang pananagutan ng kanilang establisimyento sa pagkakatuklas ng mga labi ng 26 na aso at tatlong pusa na itinapon sa isang bakanteng lote sa San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan. Naganap ang pagtanggi ni Legaspi sa pakikipagpulong sa mahigit 30 fur parent sa Bacoor City, Cavite noong Oktubre 31, matapos matukoy ng ilang pamilya na kabilang sa mga natagpuang labi ang kanilang mga alagang hayop na ipina
Arvin Enriquez
1 day ago2 min read
‘EDUKADO AT DIRETSONG KAUSAP’: PADILLA, NAKIPAGPULONG SA CHINESE AMBASSADOR
MANILA, Philippines — Inilarawan ni Sen. Robin Padilla si Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan bilang “edukado, gentleman, at diretsong kausap” matapos silang magkita sa 2026 ASEAN Chinese Business Leaders Summit noong Lunes, Oktubre 19. Sa isang Facebook post, sinabi ni Padilla na malaking pagkakataon ang personal niyang pakikipag-usap sa embahador. Binigyang-diin din niya ang kahalagahan ng harapang pag-uusap upang maiwasan ang hindi pagkakaunawaan at mapanatili ang kapayapaan at k
Arvin Enriquez
Oct 211 min read
OTHER STORIES
MOJOs
LOCAL
19.88 KILOS OF MARIJUANA WORTH ₱2.38 MILLION SEIZED IN BENGUET
Authorities seized 19.88 kilograms of suspected marijuana, valued at ₱2,385,244.80, during a late-night buy-bust operation in Kibungan, Benguet, on October 22, following the arrest of a 22-year-old farmer. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Cordillera Administrative Region (PDEA-CAR) released the laboratory examination results confirming the weight and estimated value of the confiscated marijuana, which was packed in 20 tightly wrapped bundles. The latest figures clarify
Arvin Enriquez
Oct 241 min read
PADILLA, BASTE DUTERTE MEET US ENVOY IN DAVAO TO EXPLORE ECONOMIC, CHARITABLE PARTNERSHIPS
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Senator Robin Padilla and Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte met with United States Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton in Davao City on Thursday, October 22, to discuss potential cooperation in economic and charitable initiatives in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). According to the information provided about the meeting, discussions included opportunities to strengthen economic engagement and exp
Arvin Enriquez
Oct 221 min read
SER BONG TV, NASAWI SA PAMAMARIL SA CABANATUAN; HUSTISYA, PANAWAGAN
CABANATUAN CITY — Nasawi ang Grab Food delivery rider at content creator na si Bongbong Mariñas, na mas kilala sa social media bilang “Ser Bong TV,” matapos umanong holdapin at barilin sa Barangay Mayapyap Sur, Cabanatuan City, bandang alas-10:30 ng gabi noong Oktubre 15, 2026. Ayon sa impormasyong ibinahagi ni Qua Lity, dalawang beses umanong binaril sa ulo ang biktima ng hindi pa nakikilalang suspek sa Mark Ville Subdivision Village bago tumakas dala ang motorsiklo, cellpho
Arvin Enriquez
Oct 171 min read
LOCAL
LUXURY WORLD CRUISE STRANDS 200 PASSENGERS IN CAMBODIA AS FUEL COSTS SOAR
A luxury cruise ship offering passengers a permanent home at sea has abruptly halted its around-the-world journey in Cambodia after soaring fuel costs pushed its operator into financial distress. Around 200 passengers aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey were left at the port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, as of October 28, 2026, after the company ran out of money, according to a local official cited in reports. The operator, Villa Vie Residences, said passengers and crew would disembar
Arvin Enriquez
5 days ago2 min read
KIM JONG UN APPEARS IN PUBLIC AFTER RUMORS OF COMA, DEATH
North Korea has released new photographs of leader Kim Jong Un visiting a clothing and footwear exhibition in Pyongyang, following widespread online rumors claiming that he had suffered a brain hemorrhage, fallen into a coma, and died. The images, published by North Korean state-run media, reportedly show Kim inspecting various shoes and garments alongside his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, during a visit on Monday, October 19. The public appearance has attracted attention amid growing
Arvin Enriquez
Oct 202 min read
CARDINAL TAGLE NAMED DEAN OF CARDINALS, RENEWING DEBATE OVER CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle has been elected Dean of the College of Cardinals, a key position in the Catholic Church that carries significant responsibilities during the transition between popes. Pope Leo XIV approved Tagle’s election on Friday, October 9, following his selection by the cardinal bishops. He succeeds Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, who is stepping down from the position. Tagle, the former Archbishop of Manila, was considered a potenti
Arvin Enriquez
Oct 152 min read
INTERNATIONAL
COMMENTARY
HUMMANITY HALF-ERASED
FEATURED COMMENTARY
No country becomes stronger by silencing half of its population.
Salary Hike, Teachers’ Performance and the Educational System
Editors Note: The author, Educator Renita E. Laranang, succumbed to cancer on August 12, 2026. This previously unpublished article was written on December 12, 2018. She may be gone, but the concerns and struggles of Filipino teachers she wrote about remain relevant today. Published in honor of her life, legacy, and unwavering dedication to education. Salary hike – this is a collective call from various protests conducted by teachers nationwide. Many Filipinos find this irrele
Renita E. Laranang
Aug 122 min read
QUICK TAKE: MAIN CHARACTER SYNDROME?
The meme that took over the country this week may be entertaining for some, but what’s disappointing is how it reflects evasion of accountability and disregard for the rule of law. All of this unfolded alongside the so-called Senate coup, the sudden change in Senate leadership, and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s public outburst - all within the same day. While debates continue on whether the ICC has jurisdiction over his case, one fact remains: he has been out of public r
The LOStories Writing Team
May 131 min read
A REFORM BUILT ON SAND
Technology cannot fix a system that lacks its most fundamental pillars. Artificial intelligence (AI) may help us move forward, but it cannot undo years of failure in the educational foundation. Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara recently introduced plans to integrate AI into the education system, with projects aimed at “building systems that will last, improve over time, and directly support our classrooms.” While this may sound like a significant step for
Estefani Vhyen
May 92 min read
COMMENTARY
FEATURE STORIES
Fate You're Presented (FYP) With: The Digital Rise of Tarot Reading
What if the life you’re living has already been written? ‘Fate’ has always been a tempting idea. The belief that some paths are already written long before we choose them. It resides in the questions people ask themselves: ‘Is this really meant for me?’ ‘Are we gonna end up together?’ or ‘Am I heading in the right direction?’ For some, the answers are found in logic or experience. For others, they are drawn from something more intuitive, laid out not in certainty but in symb
Haleyah Fangonil & Mariella Ortega
Jun 58 min read
FROM BAGUIO WALLS TOUS BIGGEST MURAL STAGE: FILIPINA ARTIST WINS GOLD AND BRONZE IN US NATIONAL MURAL AWARDS
Filipina muralist Venazir Martinez recently won the Regional Gold Award for Region 4 and the National Bronze Award at the 2026 National Mural Awards in the United States for her mural “Between Memory and Bloom,” a recognition that highlights the growing impact of Filipino artistry on the global stage and reflects how a Filipina artist carrying culture, memory, and heritage with her can win big while proudly representing the country abroad. For Martinez, a Tarlac-born artist w
Raymond Sakiwat
May 213 min read
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE HIDDEN COST OF CHATGPT: HOW AI'S GROWTH IS DRIVING WATER USE IN DATA CENTERS
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT has sparked growing discussions about their environmental impact, particularly the amount of water required to operate the massive data centers that power these technologies. According to reporting by the Associated Press, Microsoft-backed OpenAI relied on a powerful supercomputer located in West Des Moines, Iowa, to help train GPT-4, the advanced language model behind ChatGPT. The computing process required enor
Arvin Enriquez
Jul 242 min read
WATER USE AT THE CENTER OF THE PAX SILICA DEBATE
As Filipinos continue to conserve water amid recurring supply shortages in several parts of the country, the issue of water security has become one of the central concerns surrounding the proposed Pax Silica project. The discussion gained momentum after a graphic circulated on social media citing reports that large AI data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons of water per day. The comparison sparked public debate over whether the Philippines can sustainably support lar
Arvin Enriquez
Jul 233 min read
PAGASA: HABAGAT TEMPORARILY WEAKENS AS POTENTIAL SUPER TYPHOON 'INDAY' APPROACHES
The southwest monsoon, locally known as Habagat, is expected to temporarily weaken over most parts of the country in the coming days as Tropical Storm Henry (international name: Maysak) moves toward southern China, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). PAGASA said the country will experience a monsoon break through Tuesday, July 7, bringing generally warm and humid weather across many areas. However, isolated a
Arvin Enriquez
Jul 31 min read
SPORTS
ALEX EALA, PASOK SA CANADIAN OPEN R16
Muling ipinakita ni Filipina tennis star Alex Eala ang kanyang tibay at determinasyon matapos niyang lampasan ang American player na si Caty McNally, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, upang umabante sa Round of 16 ng 2026 Canadian Open. Maayos ang naging simula ni Eala matapos niyang kunin ang unang set, 6-3. Ngunit naging mas mahirap ang laban sa ikalawang set nang magkaroon siya ng injury sa kanang paa o bukung-bukong matapos matumba sa court. Sa kabila ng naramdamang sakit, nagpatuloy si Eal
Arvin Enriquez
Aug 81 min read
EALA FEVER HITS CANADA: FILIPINA STAR ADVANCES AS FAN DEMAND SOAR
Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala continues to make history as she advanced to the third round of the 2026 Canadian Open after overcoming American Alycia Parks in a thrilling three-set battle. Eala raised her hands in victory and celebrated with the crowd after securing the win over Parks, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, earning another major milestone in her growing international career. The Filipina tennis ace showed her composure and fighting spirit throughout the match, dominating the o
Arvin Enriquez
Aug 61 min read
THE KING HAS A NEW KINGDOM: LEBRON'S SHOCK MOVE TO PHILADELPHIA ROCKS THE NBA
In one of the most surprising moves of the 2026 NBA free agency period, LeBron James is reportedly headed to the Philadelphia 76ers after agreeing to a two-year, $8 million veteran minimum contract. According to reports from ESPN and NBA insider Marc Stein, the deal includes a player option for the 2027–28 season. James is expected to earn approximately $3.88 million during the 2026–27 campaign, with the option to return the following season for around $4.07 million. The sign
Arvin Enriquez
Jul 251 min read
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