Philippines

Marcos’ Week: Flood Response, Education, Peace and Innovation Take Center Stage

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. spent the week confronting some of the country’s most urgent concerns—from worsening flooding and disrupted classes to education access, peace-building and the search for Filipino-made solutions to national problems. The developments highlighted a broader government push to combine immediate disaster response with longer-term reforms, as Malacañang dealt with the effects of heavy rains while advancing programs in education, infrastructure, pe

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Philippines

Habagat Keeps Luzon Wet as PAGASA Warns of More Rain, Flooding

MANILA — The southwest monsoon, or habagat, continues to blanket large parts of Luzon with rain, with several areas facing the risk of flooding and landslides as the weather system remains active this weekend. PAGASA’s latest forecasts show that monsoon rains will prevail over Occidental Mindoro, while occasional rains are expected over Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro and Antique on September 5–6. Most parts of Luzon and West

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Philippines

Guinigundo Issues 2028 Warning: A New President May Not Be Enough to Fix the Philippines—Here’s Why

MANILA, Philippines — Electing a new president in 2028 may change the occupant of Malacañang, but it may not change the Philippines’ trajectory if Filipinos continue to tolerate corruption, political tribalism, disinformation and institutional dishonesty. That is the warning from former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo, who argued that meaningful national change cannot depend solely on choosing a new leader at the ballot box. In a September 4 BusinessWorld colu

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Entertainment

Rocio Zobel Is All Smiles in Ibiza—But Her Latest Getaway Is Only Part of the Story

Rocio Zobel is soaking up the Ibiza sun—and her latest getaway is once again putting the young Filipino fashion personality in the spotlight. The Bilyonaryo report highlighted Zobel enjoying the Mediterranean destination, where her relaxed vacation aesthetic and unmistakable style have drawn attention among followers of Philippine society and fashion. The Ibiza appearance comes as Zobel continues to build a profile that goes well beyond her famous family name. A graduate of Parsons School of

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Business

Cebu Pacific Just Gave Passengers a ‘Graduation’ for Packing Right — But There’s a Bigger Reason Behind the Stunt

MANILA, Philippines — Cebu Pacific has turned one of the least glamorous parts of flying into an airport spectacle, staging a graduation-style ceremony for passengers who successfully followed its hand-carry baggage rules. Passengers preparing to board Flight 5J 971 from Manila to Davao at NAIA Terminal 3 were invited to put their bags into the airline’s baggage sizer. Those whose luggage fit were humorously declared “BOARDING PASSers.” Then came the graduation treatment. Passengers received

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Entertainment

Asia Rose Simpson Emerges as Miss World 2026 Frontrunner—Can She Finally Bring the Crown Back to the Philippines?

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is once again in the Miss World conversation, and this time, all eyes are on 18-year-old Asia Rose Simpson, who has emerged as one of the names being closely watched ahead of the Miss World 2026 coronation in Vietnam. With the grand finale set for September 5 in Nha Trang, international pageant observers have included Simpson among the contenders with a realistic shot at the coveted blue crown. Her growing momentum comes after a series of strong performance

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Business

GCash IPO Gets SEC Green Light: ₱92.3-Billion Stock Market Debut Set—But the Biggest Surprise Is Still Ahead

MANILA, Philippines — The long-awaited GCash stock market debut is now one major step closer. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the registration statement of Mynt Inc., the parent company of GCash, clearing the way for a potential ₱92.32-billion initial public offering (IPO) that could become the largest IPO in Philippine history if completed at the maximum offer size. The SEC’s Commission En Banc approved the registration on September 3, covering up to 66.9 billion com

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Philippines

Pedestrian Dies After Being Hit by Pickup Truck on Bukidnon Highway—What Happened at 3 A.M.

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — A male pedestrian died after being struck by a pickup truck along the national highway in Valencia City early Saturday, September 5, in a crash that has again raised concerns over pedestrian and motorists’ safety along busy roads in Bukidnon. According to the initial investigation cited by the Valencia City police, the incident happened at around 3 a.m. in front of a private hospital along the national highway. Police said the victim was crossing the highway from the

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Business

PLDT Is Chasing a Bigger Piece of the AI Boom—And Its Next Move Could Change Philippine Enterprise Tech

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT Inc. is positioning itself to capture a larger share of corporate technology spending as businesses accelerate investments in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure. The telecommunications giant is moving beyond its traditional role as a connectivity provider, pursuing a broader “one enterprise” approach that brings together connectivity, cloud, managed IT, cybersecurity, data centers and other digital services under a more

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Philippines

Oriental Mindoro Hospitals Were Packed Beyond Capacity—Then Officials Revealed What Comes Next

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Public hospitals in Oriental Mindoro came under intense pressure as patient numbers climbed far beyond their authorized bed capacities, with some patients reportedly being accommodated in hallways amid a shortage of hospital space. The situation, reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, affected several government-run hospitals across the province, highlighting a long-standing challenge in providing adequate inpatient capacity for Oriental Mindoro and patients

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