Category: Philippines

Business

LRT-1 Is Getting Closer to Cavite—But the Biggest Impact May Have Nothing to Do With Faster Travel

MANILA, Philippines — For thousands of workers living south of Metro Manila, the long-awaited completion of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension could eventually mean more than simply spending fewer hours trapped in traffic. It could change which jobs are realistically within reach. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, widely known as MVP, said improved mass transportation could give people living outside the National Capital Region better access to employment concentrated in M

August 22, 2026

Philippines

Kerwin Espinosa Gives Up Loose Firearms and Says He’s “Law-Abiding” — But What Happens Next Could Be Bigger

Albuera Mayor Kerwin Espinosa has surrendered his loose firearms to authorities, saying he wants to demonstrate that he is now committed to being a law-abiding citizen. ALBUERA, LEYTE — Albuera Mayor Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa has turned over his loose firearms to police, in what he described as a step toward proving that he is now choosing to follow the law. The development comes as Espinosa attempts to move forward from years of controversy surrounding his name, including previous allegations i

August 22, 2026

Entertainment

Riot Games Pulls the Plug on 2XKO Development—But Fans Aren’t Losing the Game Yet

Riot Games is ending active development of 2XKO at the end of 2026, less than a year after the League of Legends-based fighting game officially launched on consoles and PC. But despite the shocking announcement, the game itself is not being shut down. Riot Games confirmed on August 20 that it will conclude active development of 2XKO, its free-to-play 2v2 tag-team fighting game featuring champions from the League of Legends universe. The decision comes after months of evaluating player retentio

August 22, 2026

Business

Zim Cleanser Has Survived in Filipino Homes for Decades—But Syril Ko’s Biggest Business Lesson Isn’t About Cleaning Products

MANILA, Philippines — In a consumer market where products can disappear almost as quickly as they arrive, remaining visible on Philippine store shelves for decades is an achievement in itself. That is part of what makes the story behind Zim Cleanser and the family business associated with executive Syril Ko worth examining. The household-cleaning brand is part of the portfolio of the Cymar Group of Companies, a Filipino family-run consumer-goods organization whose roots stretch back more than

August 22, 2026

Business

Puerto Galera’s P50 Environmental Fee Faces Growing Backlash—But There’s More Behind the Controversy

PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro — A growing backlash is putting Puerto Galera’s revised environmental fee policy under scrutiny, with residents, tourism stakeholders and local figures questioning whether charging fellow Mindoro residents could hurt domestic tourism. The controversy centers on Municipal Ordinance No. 2025-030, or the Revised Puerto Galera Environmental User’s Fee (EUF) System Ordinance, which was approved on December 11, 2025. Under the revised system, a P50 environmental user’

August 22, 2026

Philippines

Bianca Pagdanganan Fires 69, But Late Slip Costs Her at Wildhorse — Can She Make the Weekend Charge?

PENDLETON, Oregon — Bianca Pagdanganan put together another promising start but could not maintain her momentum down the stretch, settling for a 3-under-par 69 and a share of 39th after the opening round of the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic on Friday. The ICTSI-backed Filipina looked poised for an even stronger position after making four birdies through her first 14 holes at Wildhorse Golf Course. But a late stumble prevented her from moving higher on a leaderboard that produced exceptionally l

August 22, 2026

Business

John Gokongwei Jr.’s Name Now Runs Through Bridgetowne—But What Robinsons Land Is Building Around It Could Be the Bigger Legacy

MANILA, Philippines — John Gokongwei Jr. did not live long enough to see Bridgetowne become the sprawling business, residential and lifestyle district Robinsons Land envisioned. But nearly seven years after his death, his name now runs through the heart of the estate—and the symbolism goes far beyond a new street sign. Robinsons Land Corp. has renamed the roughly one-kilometer main road cutting through Bridgetowne as John Gokongwei Jr. Boulevard, permanently linking the late industrialist with

August 22, 2026

Philippines

AI for Filipino Small Businesses Could Cost Just ₱1,200 a Month—But Globe Says There’s a Bigger Catch

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Artificial intelligence may sound like an expensive investment for small businesses, but Philippine micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) may be able to start experimenting with AI tools for roughly ₱1,200 a month, according to Globe Business. The figure, however, does not mean Globe is offering a universal AI subscription for ₱1,200. Globe Business Vice President Glenn Estrella said during the G Summit Cebu 2026 that some AI providers offer free trials, followed

August 22, 2026

Lifestyle

Manila’s Weekend Is Packed: Seafood Chefs, GMMTV Stars and Museum Secrets — Here’s Where to Go

MANILA, Philippines — Looking for something exciting to do this weekend? From a seafood cooking battle at Farmers Market to a much-anticipated Philippines-versus-Thailand celebrity showdown and curator-led museum tours, Metro Manila is packed with events on August 22 and 23, 2026. Here are some of the weekend activities worth checking out. Seafood chefs face off at Farmers Market Foodies have a reason to head to Dampa at Farmers Market on August 22, where the Farmers Market Culinary Showdown

August 22, 2026

Philippines

Lacson Wants Harsher Penalties After Flood-Control Witnesses Recant—But the Bigger Question Is Who Made Them Change Their Stories

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is pushing for tougher punishment not only for people who lie under oath, but also for those who allegedly pressure, pay or persuade witnesses to give false testimony—a move triggered by the increasingly tangled battle over witnesses in the country’s controversial flood-control investigation. Lacson said he intends to propose heavier penalties for what is commonly called subornation of perjury, or inducing another person to commit perjury, fol

August 22, 2026