Category: Asia

Entertainment

Four Filipino Teens Faced 466 of the World’s Brightest Young AI Minds—What Happened Next Made History

MANILA, Philippines — Four Filipino high school students have put the country on the global artificial intelligence map after sweeping medals in the Philippines' debut at the 2026 International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), proving that the next generation of Filipino tech talent can compete with some of the brightest young minds in the world. The four-member Philippine delegation won one silver medal and three bronze medals while competing against 466 high school students from 10

August 29, 2026

Philippines

A ₱77-M Bulacan Flood Project Was Marked 100% Complete — Then Investigators Went to the Site

MANILA, Philippines — A flood-control project in Bulacan worth more than ₱77 million was officially declared 100% complete in 2025. But when authorities later inspected the site, the riverbank protection structure was allegedly nowhere to be found. That finding is now at the center of fresh malversation and graft cases filed before the Sandiganbayan against former Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, several former Department of Public Works and Highways officials, and two m

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Halad sa Pagtuo Wristbands Are Being Sold? Cebu Capitol Issues Urgent Warning to the Public

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Provincial Government officials are warning the public not to buy or pay for Halad sa Pagtuo wristbands, stressing that admission to the much-anticipated celebration is free of charge. The warning comes as public interest builds around Halad sa Pagtuo 2026, Cebu Province's faith-centered celebration that brings together religious traditions, colorful festivals and cultural presentations in one major event. Capitol officials have emphasized that wristbands and gate pass

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Rain Can’t Stop Dasmariñas Voters as Crucial Race to Replace Kiko Barzaga Begins

DASMARIÑAS CITY, Cavite, Philippines — Despite heavy rain, voters in Dasmariñas City began casting their ballots Saturday, August 29, in a closely watched special election to fill the congressional seat left vacant following the expulsion of former Cavite 4th District Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga. The special election puts the political future of one of Cavite’s most prominent congressional districts in the hands of hundreds of thousands of registered voters—and adds another chapter

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Tenant Arrested Over ₱1-M Jewelry Theft in a Quezon City Condo — But the Biggest Question Is Where the Valuables Went

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — A condominium tenant has been arrested over the alleged theft of approximately ₱1 million worth of jewelry from a residential property in Quezon City, adding another high-value property crime case to the growing list of incidents authorities have investigated in residential buildings this year. ABS-CBN News reported on Saturday, August 29, that the incident occurred at a condominium in Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, with the person accused of taking the valuab

August 29, 2026

Philippines

DOLE Upholds ₱11.49M Liability Over Angeles City Building Collapse — But the Bigger Question Is What Happened After a Work-Stoppage Order Was Lifted

MANILA, Philippines — More than three months after a nine-story building under construction collapsed in Angeles City and ultimately left 30 people dead, the Department of Labor and Employment has upheld roughly ₱11.49 million in liabilities against Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corporation and building owner Ernest Jackson Lim over unpaid worker benefits and serious occupational safety and health violations. The latest ruling does more than preserve a multimillion-peso penalty. It a

August 29, 2026

Philippines

More Than 700 Flee as Floodwaters Swamp Cabangan, Zambales—And Heavy Rains Are Far From Over

CABANGAN, ZAMBALES — More than 700 residents were forced to leave their homes after nonstop heavy rains triggered significant flooding across low-lying communities in Cabangan, Zambales, authorities said Friday, August 28. As of 4 p.m., 245 families or 719 individuals were staying in 10 evacuation centers, according to the Cabangan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO). Barangay Mabanglit recorded the largest number of evacuees, with 180 families or 518 people displac

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Sablayan’s Flood-Control Walls Collapsed and ₱1.4 Billion in Damage Followed — But Residents Want DPWH to Answer One Bigger Question

SABLAYAN, Occidental Mindoro — Residents in flood-hit communities are pressing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for urgent repairs and accountability after flood-control structures in Sablayan failed during weeks of heavy rain, leaving homes and farmland exposed to another round of flooding. The renewed appeal comes as Sablayan struggles to recover from a disaster that has affected all 22 barangays, damaged critical infrastructure and pushed losses in the municipality to rough

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Philippine Peso Crashes Past ₱62 for the First Time — But the Number Economists Are Watching Next Is Even More Important

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine peso has entered territory it has never seen before, breaking through the ₱62-per-dollar barrier for the first time and raising fresh concerns over imported fuel costs, inflation and how much further the currency could weaken. The peso closed at a historic low of ₱62.265 against the US dollar on Friday, August 28, losing 37.7 centavos from its previous record-low close of ₱61.888 just one day earlier. During trading, the currency opened at ₱62.05, briefly s

August 29, 2026

Entertainment

Social Media Ban for Kids 14 and Below Gains Ground—But What Are Criminals Doing Online?

MANILA, Philippines — Calls to restrict social media access for Filipino children aged 14 and below are gaining momentum, with lawmakers and government officials warning that the online world could expose young people to drug syndicates, harmful content and other digital threats. The growing debate comes as the Philippines considers tougher protections for minors online, including proposals that would set a minimum age for social media use and require technology companies to strengthen age veri

August 29, 2026