Philippines

Tolosa Defends His Aggressive Style in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial — But the Court Has Already Drawn the Line

Private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. is defending his forceful courtroom style in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, saying his assertiveness is part of his responsibility to defend the public interest — not an attempt to intimidate witnesses. Tolosa made the clarification after his questioning of former Education Undersecretary Michael Poa triggered one of the more heated exchanges of the impeachment proceedings. The controversy has now turned the spotlight not only on w

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Business

Western Visayas Poor Households Face 9.8% Inflation—But One Province Is Feeling the Squeeze Far Worse

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The cost-of-living squeeze is intensifying for low-income families in Western Visayas, with inflation among the region’s bottom 30 percent of income households jumping to 9.8 percent in July 2026, significantly higher than the 8.2-percent national rate for the same income group. The latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that the regional rate climbed from 8.1 percent in June, highlighting the growing pressure on families whose budgets are

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Philippines

Social Watch Warns of Cuts to Philippine Social Services in 2027 Budget — But Government Says There’s More to the Numbers

Social Watch Philippines Senior Budget Specialist Alce Quitalig said programs directly supporting poor and vulnerable Filipinos are among those facing significant reductions in the proposed 2027 spending plan. According to Quitalig, the government is allocating more resources to mandatory expenditures, leaving less fiscal space for programs that directly deliver services to ordinary Filipinos. Social Watch specifically raised concerns over education, health and social welfare, saying their sha

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Entertainment

Ogie Diaz Gives Daughter ₱1 Million on Her 25th Birthday—But There’s One Condition Behind the Jaw-Dropping Gift

MANILA, Philippines — A birthday gift worth ₱1 million has put Ogie Diaz and his daughter Erin in the spotlight after the veteran entertainment personality fulfilled a promise he had made to his daughters. Erin Diaz celebrated her 25th birthday on August 29, and what made the occasion particularly memorable was the large cash gift she received from her father. But there was more to the million-peso present than a lavish birthday surprise. According to reports, Ogie had promised his daughters

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Business

From Native Fruit to Global Business: Filipino Entrepreneurs Turn Batuan Into an Export Opportunity — Is This the Next Big Pinoy Food Export?

A little-known Philippine fruit traditionally used to add sourness to local dishes is finding a new life as a value-added product, with entrepreneurs turning batuan into a potential export business. The story highlights how Filipino agricultural entrepreneurs are looking beyond conventional crops and transforming indigenous produce into commercially viable food products. Batuan, scientifically known as Garcinia binucao, is a native fruit widely associated with the Visayas, particularly Panay a

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Philippines

Ombudsman Presses Supreme Court: Why Has Complaint Against 7 CA Justices Remained Unresolved Since 2025?

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is pressing the Supreme Court to address an administrative complaint filed against seven Court of Appeals (CA) justices, saying there appears to be no public record showing that the case has been acted upon or resolved since it was filed in March 2025. Remulla raised the issue after the Supreme Court recently challenged the Ombudsman—or any concerned party—to formally substantiate allegations of partiality, misconduct and corruption involvin

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Business

PSEi Went Nowhere, But Investors Kept Trading—COL Financial’s Commissions Just Jumped 21%

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine stock market may have struggled to deliver meaningful gains in the first half of 2026, but Filipino investors were clearly not sitting on their hands. Online brokerage COL Financial Group Inc. saw its commission income climb 21 percent to ₱234.5 million in the first six months of the year as investors continued buying and selling shares despite the Philippine Stock Exchange index giving up much of its early momentum. The surge highlights an interesting shif

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Entertainment

Iga Swiatek Escapes the US Open Noise — But Her Next Opponent Could Bring Back a Painful Memory

Iga Swiatek is thriving at the US Open, but she appears to have little interest in the biggest spotlight New York can offer. The world No. 8 advanced to the fourth round Saturday with a hard-fought 7-6(3), 7-6(3) victory over 25th-seeded Marie Bouzkova on the Grandstand court — a venue that holds just over 8,000 spectators, far fewer than the nearly 24,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium. And Swiatek made it clear that she doesn't necessarily miss the noise and spectacle of Ashe. “Ashe is really ali

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Philippines

13,441 Bar Hopefuls Enter the 2026 Philippine Bar Exams at 15 Sites — Who Will Survive the Ultimate Legal Test?

The long-awaited test of endurance, preparation and legal knowledge has begun. A record 13,441 aspiring lawyers have been cleared to take the 2026 Philippine Bar Examinations, which officially begin today, September 6, and will be administered across 15 local testing centers nationwide. The examinations will continue on September 9 and conclude on September 13. The figure comes from 14,291 registered applicants, meaning 13,441 were ultimately cleared by the Supreme Court’s Office of the Bar Co

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Entertainment

Philippine Tarsiers Found in 29 Provinces — But Scientists Warn Their New Habitat Discovery Comes With a Catch

Researchers from the University of the Philippines Diliman Institute of Biology analyzed 1,125 Facebook posts published between 2006 and 2024 that contained information about Philippine tarsier encounters. The posts documented encounters across 29 provinces in the Greater Mindanao Faunal Region — more than twice the number of provinces previously listed in the species' IUCN range description. The findings were published in the International Journal of Primatology in a study titled “Improving O

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