Category: Philippines

Entertainment

Hollywood Has Agents. Philippine Showbiz Has Managers—And Erik Matti Is Finally Exposing What Happens Behind the Glamour

MANILA, Philippines — Behind every celebrity headline, major project, career move or showbiz crisis is a group of people working quietly to keep everything from falling apart. That rarely seen world takes center stage in “Call My Manager,” Erik Matti’s Philippine adaptation of the hit French series Call My Agent!—a comedy-drama that turns the spotlight away from celebrities and toward the talent managers expected to handle their careers, egos, personal problems and professional emergencies. Th

August 23, 2026

Philippines

NGCP Pays 19 Mandaue Families as Power Project Moves Forward — Then Another 40 Homes Become the Next Flashpoint

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — Nineteen homeowners in Barangay Tabok have received ₱31,000 each in disturbance fees from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) as construction moves forward on a major transmission project designed to strengthen electricity supply to Mactan Island. The payments were released on Thursday, August 20, as NGCP began clearing properties affected by the Cebu-Lapu-Lapu 230-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project. Aside from the disturbance fees, the affected hom

August 23, 2026

Philippines

She Just Made Manila Proud: Chi Atienza Lands Among the Philippines’ Top Vice Mayors — But What Comes Next Could Be Bigger

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Vice Mayor Angela Lei “Chi” Atienza has received national recognition after being named the 3rd Outstanding Vice Mayor in the Philippines at the Gawad Pilipino Awards, adding another accolade to her first year in office. The recognition was presented during an awarding ceremony at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club House in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, where local government officials and lawmakers were honored for their work in public service, governance and commun

August 23, 2026

Entertainment

Roblox Ban? Filipino Game Developers Push Back—But the Child-Safety Questions Are Getting Harder to Ignore

MANILA, Philippines — Calls to ban Roblox in the Philippines are facing strong resistance from local game developers, who argue that shutting down the entire platform could punish millions of legitimate users without addressing the specific online threats authorities are trying to stop. The Filipino Roblox Developers Association (FRDA) on Saturday urged the government to pursue a more targeted approach, saying authorities should identify and act against specific features, communities, communica

August 23, 2026

Philippines

45,000 Schools, Less Than 1,000 Counselors: Who Will Listen When Filipino Students Need Help?

MANILA, Philippines — More than 45,000 schools. Fewer than 1,000 registered guidance counselors in the Department of Education system. The numbers are exposing a critical gap in the Philippines' ability to provide students with accessible guidance, mental health support and early intervention—at a time when concerns over bullying, violence and emotional distress among young people have placed school safety under renewed national scrutiny. A senior Department of Education (DepEd) official said

August 23, 2026

Philippines

₱1.9 Trillion Spent, Yet Filipinos Still Flood: Senate Moves to Scrutinize ₱107-Billion DPWH Budget

MANILA, Philippines — After years of devastating floods and nearly ₱1.939 trillion poured into flood control projects from 2011 to 2025, the Philippine government is once again preparing to spend billions to protect communities from rising waters. But this time, senators say they want answers first. Sen. Panfilo Lacson has vowed to closely scrutinize the ₱107.4-billion flood control allocation proposed for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the government's ₱7.2-trillion

August 23, 2026

Philippines

Habagat to Continue Pounding Western Luzon—But PAGASA Is Watching What’s Coming Next

MANILA, Philippines — Residents across western and central parts of Luzon should brace for continued rain as the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, remains the dominant weather system affecting the country, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). PAGASA's latest forecast issued on August 23 said the Southwest Monsoon is affecting Luzon, with Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Rizal, Cavite

August 23, 2026

Philippines

No More 6 A.M. Classes? Legazpi School Gets New Classrooms—Here’s What Changes for Students

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — For students who have grown accustomed to unusually early or late school hours because of a lack of classrooms, a major change is now on the horizon. Rawis Integrated School in Legazpi City has received a newly completed two-story building containing eight classrooms, a project expected to allow the school to abandon its current shifting arrangement and return to a more regular class schedule. The new facility was inaugurated on August 20, 2026, according to the Philippin

August 23, 2026

Philippines

17 Filipino Seafarers Survive Deadly Strait of Hormuz Attack and Finally Reach Home—But One Filipino Crewman Never Made It Back

Forty-six overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Kuwait and 17 Filipino seafarers who survived the deadly M/V Minoan Dignity incident in the Strait of Hormuz have safely returned to the Philippines, authorities said. The two groups arrived in Manila on separate flights on Friday night, August 21, marking another major repatriation effort as Philippine authorities continue assisting Filipinos affected by security risks in the Middle East. The 46 OFWs from Kuwait arrived at Ninoy Aquino Internati

August 23, 2026

Philippines

POWER INTERRUPTION ALERT: These Metro Manila Areas and 4 Provinces Could Go Dark This Week — Check If Your Area Is on the List

MANILA, Philippines — Residents and businesses in selected areas of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Quezon and Rizal are being advised to prepare for temporary power interruptions this week as the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) carries out scheduled maintenance and upgrading works. The utility announced the interruptions as part of its regular maintenance program aimed at keeping distribution facilities safe, reliable and capable of meeting electricity demand. The scheduled outages are localized

August 23, 2026