Philippines

14-Year-Old Student Brings Gun to Cebu School—Then a Surprise Bag Check Reveals What Was Inside

A routine classroom safety check in Cebu took a disturbing turn after a teacher discovered a .357 Magnum revolver inside the school bag of a 14-year-old Grade 9 student at Lut-od National High School in Barangay Lut-od, Pinamungajan. The firearm was found on Thursday, August 20, during a surprise inspection of students’ bags, according to reports from ABS-CBN News and The Freeman. The teacher immediately sought assistance from school authorities, who contacted the police. Responding officers s

August 21, 2026

Philippines

A Wet Wall Nearly Set an Olongapo Home on Fire—But the Real Danger Was Hidden Inside the Outlet

OLONGAPO CITY — A family narrowly avoided a potentially devastating house fire after an electrical outlet apparently exposed to rainwater suddenly burst into flames, filling part of their home with smoke and renewing warnings about electrical hazards during prolonged wet weather. The incident, reported by GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon on Thursday, August 20, happened inside a house in Olongapo City, where continuous rain reportedly caused moisture to seep into a wall containing an ele

August 20, 2026

Philippines

ORMOC JOB HUNT GETS A MAJOR BOOST: TESDA BRINGS EMPLOYERS AND SKILLED WORKERS UNDER ONE ROOF — WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

ORMOC CITY, LEYTE — The road from technical training to employment just became shorter for skilled workers in Ormoc as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) brought its World Café of Opportunities (WCO) 2026 to the city for the first time. Held on August 15 at Robinsons Ormoc, the initiative brought together technical-vocational education and training (TVET) graduates, jobseekers, employers, government agencies, training institutions and other stakeholders in a one-st

August 20, 2026

Business

Capiz Vegetable Farmers Are Changing How They Farm—But the Bigger Test Is Coming

CAPIZ, Philippines — Vegetable growers in Capiz are being urged to change the way they farm as climate pressures, production risks and market demands continue to reshape the country’s agricultural sector. A total of 30 vegetable growers representing cluster associations from various municipalities in Capiz recently completed a three-day training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and lowland vegetable production conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas in Roxas City. T

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Ateneo de Zamboanga Shooter Acted Alone, Remulla Says—But Investigators Are Now Looking at a Much Bigger Question

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The student behind the deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University acted alone, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Thursday, as authorities increasingly focus on how the teenager gained access to firearms and what may have influenced him before the attack. Remulla said investigators found no evidence that another person, organized group, family member or school-related conflict helped plan the August 18 shooting. “Alone in the sense

August 20, 2026

Lifestyle

Filipino Rice Farmers Are Still Fighting for Their Future—But This Government Support Could Change What Happens Next

For many Filipino farmers, every planting season is a gamble. They put seeds into the soil without knowing exactly what the next harvest will bring. Weather can destroy a crop. Production costs can eat into already-thin earnings. And when farmgate prices weaken, months of hard work can translate into little income for the families who depend on the land. That uncertainty is at the heart of the Philippine Information Agency's latest feature, “Kwentong Butil: Sa kinabukasang hindi matanaw, tulon

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Nine Rare Nicobar Pigeons Spotted Together in Palawan—What Their “Reunion” Could Mean for Conservation

Nine Nicobar pigeons were recently spotted resting together on a single tree at the Ursula Island Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary in Bataraza, Palawan, in what local wildlife personnel described as an extremely unusual sight. The discovery was made during wet-season biodiversity monitoring by forest rangers and personnel from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Brooke’s Point. According to GMA News, the team initially noticed what appeared to be a lone dark-colored

August 20, 2026

Philippines

₱11.6-M SHABU FOUND INSIDE CAR PARTS AT CLARK — BUT THE X-RAY REVEALED WHAT WAS HIDING WITHIN

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga — What appeared to be an ordinary shipment of car parts turned into an ₱11.6-million drug interception after Bureau of Customs personnel detected suspicious contents inside the cargo at the Port of Clark. The Bureau of Customs–Port of Clark, working with the Clark Inter-Agency Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (CRK-IATFAID), intercepted approximately 1,706 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, concealed inside imported automotive

August 20, 2026

Philippines

MIMAROPA Just Took a Major Leap in 3D Printing—Here’s What WPU and DOST Are Building in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN — A new chapter in regional technology and manufacturing is taking shape in Palawan as Western Philippines University (WPU) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched the Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen) MIMAROPA at the university’s Puerto Princesa Campus on August 17, 2026. The facility is expected to give researchers, students, innovators, entrepreneurs, and local industries in Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan greater access to tec

August 20, 2026

Philippines

ROBOTS ARE COMING FOR ROMBLON’S MARBLE INDUSTRY—BUT THE REAL REASON MAY SURPRISE YOU

ROMBLON, Philippines — The Philippines’ “Marble Capital” is preparing for a major technological shift as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) moves to bring robotics, automation, mechatronics and artificial intelligence (AI) into Romblon’s traditional marble industry. The initiative is designed to help local marble businesses increase production, improve consistency and compete in larger domestic and international markets—while keeping the craftsmanship and cultural identity that hav

August 20, 2026