Philippines

Alex Eala Makes Grand Slam History Again—But Who Will Stand in Her Way at the US Open?

NEW YORK — Philippine tennis sensation Alexandra “Alex” Eala is heading into the 2026 US Open with another historic milestone under her belt—and a golden opportunity to make an even deeper run at Flushing Meadows. The 21-year-old Filipina has been named the No. 17 seed in the women's singles draw, marking the highest Grand Slam seeding of her rapidly rising career. Eala will open her campaign against a player coming through the qualifying tournament, whose identity was not yet listed when the m

August 28, 2026

Business

Fuel Price Relief May Be Coming Next Week—But Why Is Diesel Set for a Much Bigger Cut?

MANILA, Philippines — After weeks of rising fuel costs, Filipino motorists may finally get some relief at the pump next week, with diesel prices projected to fall by as much as ₱4 per liter. Based on early estimates from oil industry sources tracking the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) and foreign exchange movements, diesel prices could be reduced by ₱3.50 to ₱4.00 per liter, while gasoline may see a smaller rollback of around ₱0.25 to ₱0.75 per liter. However, motorists should note that these

August 28, 2026

Philippines

They Were Going Home After Getting Food and Medicine—Then Their Boat Vanished Into the Waters of Mapanuepe Lake

SAN MARCELINO, ZAMBALES — A routine journey home turned into a devastating tragedy for members of an Aeta community after a motorized boat capsized in Lake Mapanuepe, leaving six people dead, including three children, while three others remained missing. Four passengers survived. The tragedy happened on Thursday, August 27, in Lake Mapanuepe near Barangay Buhawen in San Marcelino, Zambales. According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), 13 members of the Aeta Indigenous Peoples community were

August 28, 2026

Philippines

He Had Just Finished Saving Lives—Then a Waiting Shed Collapsed on Him in Samar

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar — A 35-year-old nurse who had just completed a public health mission was killed after a waiting shed suddenly collapsed on him while he was waiting for a boat ride home in Catbalogan City, Samar. The victim, Kelvin Castro, was a Department of Health nurse assigned to the Catbalogan City Health Office, according to police information reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Castro and a fellow nurse had reportedly just completed a measles-rubella supplemental immunizati

August 28, 2026

Philippines

Jinggoy Estrada’s Hospital Visit Sparks ‘Special Treatment’ Outcry—But BJMP Reveals What the Court Ordered

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has pushed back against accusations that detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada received special treatment when he was brought to a private hospital for a knee examination, stressing that the medical visit was authorized by the Sandiganbayan. BJMP spokesperson Jayrex Bustinera said the agency was simply carrying out a lawful directive issued by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division—not granting the senator privileges unavailable under th

August 28, 2026

Philippines

Marcos Honors Japan’s Outgoing Envoy—But What He Helped Build Between Manila and Tokyo Is Far From Over

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has conferred one of the Philippines’ highest diplomatic honors on outgoing Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, recognizing his role in deepening ties between Manila and Tokyo at a time when cooperation between the two longtime partners continues to expand. During Endo’s farewell call at Malacañang Palace, Marcos awarded him the Order of Sikatuna, Grand Cross with Distinction, in recognition of his efforts to strengthen Philippines-Japan rela

August 28, 2026

Philippines

Caught in the Crossfire? Why the Philippines Could Be Drawn Into a US-China Showdown

MANILA, Philippines — As the rivalry between the United States and China deepens across the Indo-Pacific, a troubling question is becoming harder for the Philippines to ignore: Could the country become caught in the crossfire of a conflict it did not start? The warning comes as tensions continue to build around two of Asia’s most dangerous flashpoints—the South China Sea and Taiwan—with the Philippines sitting at a strategically critical location between them. For lawmakers and security observ

August 28, 2026

Business

PNB Holdings Profit Jumps 85% as P56-B Property Giant Nears PSE Debut

MANILA, Philippines — PNB Holdings Corp., the real estate arm of Lucio Tan-led LT Group, is heading toward its Philippine Stock Exchange debut with a much stronger balance sheet and a sharp jump in first-half earnings. The company reported ₱209.9 million in net income for the first six months of 2026, an 85.3% increase from the same period a year earlier, as stronger property revenues and tighter operating discipline boosted profitability. Revenue also climbed 26% to ₱634.3 million, up from ₱5

August 27, 2026

Business

Ayala Land Reloads Housing Pipeline as Inventory Falls to Pre-Pandemic Levels

MANILA, Philippines — After months of tightening its launch strategy and working through unsold units, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is beginning to rebuild its residential pipeline—signaling a cautious but potentially important shift in one of the Philippines’ largest property developers. The company plans to introduce new horizontal residential developments in Nuvali, Laguna; Lipa, Batangas; and Crescendo, Tarlac, after bringing its residential inventory down to 15 months of supply from 18 months at

August 27, 2026

Business

Smashburger Is Winning Again: Sales Surge as Jollibee Group Brand Rebuilds Momentum

The fast-casual burger chain recorded 7.0% same-store sales growth in the second quarter of 2026, marking another sign that its ongoing turnaround strategy is beginning to gain traction. The improvement comes as the brand works to strengthen restaurant operations, digital ordering, value offerings and the overall customer experience. The latest performance is particularly notable because Smashburger has been undergoing a major reset after several years of weaker performance. Its parent company,

August 27, 2026