LEGAZPI CITY — Two people were killed and two others were wounded in an explosion outside LCC Market and Department Store along Tara Street in Barangay Pating, Masbate City, on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 14. Police Lt. Col. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said initial findings indicated that the incident was caused by a pressurized

MANILA, Philippines — More than 10,500 passengers were recorded to have passed through Batangas port on Saturday, Nov. 14, amid the long weekend due to the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) reported. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously declared Nov. 16 to 18, as special (non-working) days in

MANILA, Philippines — Could stronger cooperation among Asean countries mean more affordable food, reliable electricity, better jobs, and greater opportunities for Filipino consumers? These were among the issues explored during the first day of the Asean Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2026 on Saturday, November 14, as business leaders, policymakers, and industry representatives discussed how Southeast

MANILA, Philippines — Protesters burned an effigy of US President Donald Trump on Saturday ahead of his expected arrival in the country for the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit to show their opposition for the US-led Pax Silica initiative. The protest took place at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman in Quezon

The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) will adjust the evaluation criteria for the IDX Composite Index (IHSG), effective Monday, 2 November 2026. The adjustment refers to IDX Announcement No. Peng-00148/BEI.POP/05-2021 dated 31 May 2021 on the Implementation of Free Float in Index Calculation, as well as the Joint Decree of the Boards of Directors of IDX […]

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Police have filed a murder complaint against three suspects linked to the fatal shooting of Regional Trial Court Presiding Judge Joseph Wee Sit in Zamboanga City on Thursday. Lt. Col. Shellamie Chang, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO 9), said the criminal complaint was lodged before the

TACLOBAN CITY — A small machine that can turn seawater into about a gallon of freshwater every hour could offer hope to island communities struggling with limited access to safe drinking water. Developed by engineering researchers from the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) based here, the working desalination prototype uses technology designed to remove salt

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — A 39-year-old utility driver survived a brazen daylight ambush while his passenger suffered injuries after a motorcycle-riding gunman opened fire along a village road in Barangay North Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon on Friday afternoon, November 13. Police have since put up a containment ring as part of a manhunt against the still

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Four fishermen turned over 30.15 kilograms of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of P159 million, to police in Aparri, Cagayan, on Saturday, Nov. 14, the Cagayan provincial police reported. The packages were spotted floating off the coast of Barangay Sanja, Aparri West, at around 10:30 a.m., about 40 nautical miles

MANILA, Philippines — Nine areas across the country are forecast to experience dangerous levels of heat on Sunday, Nov. 15, the state weather bureau reported. In its latest heat index forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) monitored that the heat index in Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur and Cotabato City

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — Police seized some 93,000 liters of fuel in an operation against suspected illegal trading in Tarlac on Thursday, Nov. 12. In a statement, the Central Luzon police said nine persons were arrested in the operation conducted at Barangay San Rafael in Tarlac City. “The operation, conducted through a court-issued search warrant,

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman announced that it will intensify the lifestyle checks being conducted on officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) amid reports of excessive fees being collected from businesses. Speaking during a town hall dialogue with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Councilor Racquel “Kay” Pineda of this capital city, along with officers and representatives of her Kay-Land Real Estate Development Corp., is facing estafa and syndicate estafa complaints. That is after she and two others were entrapped by authorities last Friday (Nov. 13) for alleged fraudulent sale and collection related

COTABATO CITY – A joint law enforcement operation involving anti-narcotics agents and soldiers on Saturday, Nov. 14, resulted in the arrest of three persons, confiscation of firearms, explosives-related materials and illegal drugs in Barangay Gumaga, Libungan town, Cotabato. Soldiers led by Lt. Col. Germen T. Legada, commanding officer of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion, and

MANILA, Philippines —Kath Arado came out extra motivated  on Saturday following her recent engagement to longtime boyfriend engineer Allan Joseph Moral. Arado delivered 22 digs in PLDT’s 25-13, 25-23, 23-25, 25-18 win over Galeries Tower to stay in semifinal contention in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference Saklab Series on Saturday at Philsports Arena. “I was

The president plans to also discuss the war against Iran, but is not expected to bring up Russia’s war in Ukraine or the scandal that has engulfed Jensen Huang.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Former Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate is demanding the immediate prosecution of “opportunistic” oil companies for allegedly shortchanging consumers by withholding more than P4 from this week’s massive fuel price rollback. The demand came after the Department of Energy (DOE) caught several fuel stations staggering the double-digit price cuts

LEGAZPI CITY — The Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST) in Naga City, Camarines Sur, suspended in-person classes and halted office operations following an unverified bomb threat reportedly received by its administration on Saturday, Nov. 14. In an advisory, the college said the measures were implemented upon the recommendation and guidance of

MANILA, Philippines — Already out of contention, AEP Cabstars remained determined to end a losing spell and swept VNS Laticrete, 27-25, 25-19, 25-16, in the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Saturday at Philsports Arena. Setter John Wayne orchestrated the balanced attack with 19 excellent sets for the Cabstars, who snapped a three-game losing skid

Global oil prices dropped significantly after the Democrats defeated the Republicans in the recent US midterm elections, and are poised to take control of both chambers of Congress in the next two years.

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine women’s national basketball team will chart its own path under a new identity after Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and University Athletic Association of the Philippines unveiled Gilas Hiraya on Saturday. Derived from the Filipino word for the fruit of one’s dreams, hopes and aspirations, Hiraya reflects the women’s team’s ambition to build

Filipino singer Carmelle won the first Asian edition of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with a fiery performance of her dance-pop song “Sobra-Sobra”. The 19-year-old beat 10 other acts in the grand final in Bangkok, with the winner chosen through votes from national juries in participating countries and viewers worldwide. After her victory, Carmelle said her song celebrated female empowerment and was intended as “a tribute to all Filipino women”. “I made history, since this was the first...

MANILA, Philippines — The PCA Open-Palawan Pawnshop Juniors Tennis Championships has joined the growing roster of major junior and Open tennis tournaments under the Palawan Pawnshop umbrella, with Leanna Barrido and Claudwin Tonacao leading the list of champions after contrasting victories in the 14-and-under division at the PCA outdoor courts in Paco, Manila. Barrido leaned on her fighting spirit and composure to overcome Francine Wong, 7-6(6), 6-4, in a tense girls' finals showdown, while Tonacao capped a remarkable run with a dominant 6-1, 6-3 victory over eighth seed Francisco De Juan III in the boys' championship. The tournament's inclusion in Palawan Pawnshop's expanding tennis program further strengthens its presence in the local tennis scene, joining established fixtures such as the Gentry, Olivarez and Palawan Open tournaments. The second-seeded Barrido, a rising talent from Antipolo, Rizal, had earlier cruised past Clare Henson, 6-1, 6-1, and Riomy Ambrad, 6-0, 6-4, in the first two rounds before surviving No. 8 Anica Palacio, 7-5, 7-5, in the quarterfinals. She advanced to the finals via a walkover after Joella Sanchez withdrew to rush home to Cagayan de Oro. Sanchez had earlier escaped with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Kyla Caguiao, leaving Barrido with valuable time to rest and prepare for the title clash. But against the third-ranked Wong, Barrido had to dig deep, surviving a grueling opening-set battle that could have gone either way before clinching the tiebreak, 8-6. She carried that momentum into the second set, breaking Wong once and holding serve to seal the straight-set triumph and pocket precious ranking points. Tonacao, meanwhile, sustained his remarkable charge in the lower half of the boys' 14-and-U draw of the country's longest-running talent-search program organized by Palawan Pawnshop under president and CEO Bobby Castro, highlighted by a stunning 6-3, 7-5 quarterfinal upset of second seed Jan Villeno. The Bogo, Cebu standout then recovered from a first-set setback to topple No. 4 Kresthan Belacas, 2-6, 6-0, 10-6, in the semifinals before overwhelming De Juan in the title match. Also sharing top honors in the Philta- and UTR-sanctioned tournament presented by Dunlop and supported ICON Golf & Sports and Palawan Group of Companies were Jana Diaz and Miguel Lagac III in the 18-and-U division, Shaner Gabaldon and Nicholas Andal in the 16-and-U class, and Zhynaiah Gargaceran and Raven Licayan in the 12-and-U category. Diaz routed Izabelle Camcam, 6-2, 6-0, while Lagac overpowered Josuie Pante, 6-2, 6-2. Gabaldon subdued Ava Banson, 6-2, 6-2, and Andal stunned Julius Otoc, 6-2, 6-0. Gargaceran swept past Abby Castigador, 6-1, 6-1, while Licayan outlasted Dale Diamante, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. Gabaldon emerged as the lone double champion, teaming up with Sabine See to capture the girls' 18-and-U doubles crown over Dania Bulanadi and Avegail Ansay. Rafa Monte de Ramos and Ace Bandalla claimed the boys' doubles title at the expense of Andal and Marwin Plata. Athena Liwag and Michaela Suarez bagged the girls' 14-and-U doubles crown over Barrido and Angelica dela Cerna, while Rafaello Munozco and Tristan Coros secured the boys' diadem against Jairus Peralta and Thirdy de Juan. TMT

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 89  basketball tournament – second round MANILA, Philippines–National University leaned on Tebol Garcia and Reinhard Jumamoy for a fourth-quarter surge to beat University of the East, 91-74, and secure a Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Garcia and Jumamoy combined for

MANILA< Philippines — House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo on Saturday defended the House of Representatives’ realignment of P9 billion from the Department of Health’s (DOH) proposed 2027 budget, citing the agency’s slow utilization of existing funds. Speaking at the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, Garin, a former health secretary,

MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin on Saturday defended the realignment of health funds toward patient assistance under the proposed 2027 national budget, citing unspent vaccine allocations and a sluggish 11-percent utilization rate for the government’s health facility program. Speaking at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, the former health secretary welcomed

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin on Saturday said that the House of Representatives is ready to address and discuss concerns raised by budget watchdogs on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for fiscal year 2027.   Garin made the response as the proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 national budget is under Senate review.

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Sen. JV Ejercito is enforcing a strict line-by-line review of 6,271 newly introduced infrastructure projects in the proposed 2027 national budget, warning that proposals lacking complete documentation and proof of readiness will be stripped of funding. A dedicated team from Ejercito’s office is currently auditing the 6,271 infrastructure

INDIAN WELLS, California— Katerina Siniakova has clinched her record sixth year-end finish as the world’s top-ranked doubles player on the WTA Tour. She will have held the top spot for 209 weeks as of Monday, leaving her second all-time behind Hall of Famer and fellow Czech Republic native Martina Navratilova, who was No. 1 for

LOS ANGELES— Lakers guard Austin Reaves has a bruised heel that’s thought to be a minor injury, and NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic is fine after rolling his ankle in Los Angeles’ most recent game. Lakers coach JJ Redick said Friday that Doncic is expected to be available for their next game in Phoenix on