Philippines

Sandiganbayan Grants Marcoleta One-Day Medical Furlough Amid ₱75-M Plunder Case

The Sandiganbayan has granted detained Senator Rodante Marcoleta a one-day medical furlough, allowing him to leave the New Quezon City Jail temporarily for medical examinations as his legal battle over an alleged ₱75-million undeclared donation continues. The Sandiganbayan Third Division, chaired by Associate Justice Karl Miranda, approved Marcoleta’s request during proceedings on September 3. His lawyers said he needs examinations that cannot adequately be conducted inside the jail and request

September 3, 2026

Philippines

Visayas Power Crisis Deepens: Cebu Faces More Rotational Brownouts as Grid Falls Into Red Alert

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu is once again facing the threat of rotational brownouts as the Visayas power grid remains under severe strain, with several major generating units still offline and electricity imports from Mindanao limited. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Visayas grid under yellow alert from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2026, followed by a nine-hour red alert from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Another yellow alert was scheduled from 10 p.m. to 11 p

September 3, 2026

Entertainment

Sassa Gurl Turns Producer for ‘Multwoh’ — But This Love Story Takes a Haunting Turn

Sassa Gurl is taking on a bigger role behind the camera as producer and lead star of “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo),” a queer horror-comedy that puts love, loss and unfinished feelings at the center of its story. Directed and written by Rodina Singh, “Multwoh” follows a college queer who dies unexpectedly in a dormitory and returns as a ghost. But instead of coming back for revenge, the spirit has unfinished romantic business: finally finding the courage to tell someone, “I love you.” The fil

September 3, 2026

Entertainment

Vice Ganda’s ‘Gandang Gabi Vice’ Is Finally Back After 6 Years — But One Major Detail Is Still Under Wraps

MANILA, Philippines — The long “commercial break” is finally ending. Vice Ganda has officially unveiled the new poster for “Gandang Gabi Vice” (GGV), pushing anticipation for the iconic late-night comedy talk show into high gear just days before its television comeback on September 13, 2026. The poster was revealed during the September 3 episode of “It’s Showtime,” but Vice dropped an even bigger update: production is no longer merely in the planning stage. The comedian-host confirmed that th

September 3, 2026

Philippines

Sandiganbayan Orders Release of Ex-DPWH Chief Manuel Bonoan After Dropping Him From Flood Control Cases

MANILA, Philippines — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan has been ordered released by the Sandiganbayan, two days after the anti-graft court removed him as a co-accused in graft and plunder cases tied to alleged irregularities in flood control projects. The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued the release order on Thursday, Sept. 3, following its earlier 2-1 decision to grant the Office of the Ombudsman’s request to discharge Bonoan from the cas

September 3, 2026

Entertainment

Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto Face Their Toughest JoshLia Challenge Yet — And It’s Not Just About Their Chemistry

Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto are once again bringing their much-loved JoshLia chemistry to the big screen, but their latest reunion is proving to be more challenging than simply stepping back in front of the cameras together. The former couple is set to star in “Always Yours, Never Mine,” an upcoming romance-drama from ABS-CBN Studios and Star Cinema. The film is directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana, with a story by Olivia Lamasan, Trishtan Perez, and Vanessa Valdez. It is scheduled to open in

September 3, 2026

Entertainment

Gerald Anderson Takes Viewers Into The West Philippine Sea — The Stories He Heard Changed His View Of Heroism

Gerald Anderson is stepping beyond the world of acting to bring viewers closer to the Filipino families, fisherfolk and coastal communities whose lives are directly shaped by the realities of the West Philippine Sea. The actor leads “Pusong Bayani,” a four-part online reality series that moves away from the usual political headlines surrounding the disputed waters and instead focuses on the people living and working in communities connected to the sea. The project was highlighted by ABS-CBN on

September 3, 2026

Philippines

The Lind Is Finally Coming to Coron in 2027 — But the Bigger Story Is Why It Waited More Than a Decade

CORON, Palawan — More than a decade after the idea for The Lind Hotels first took shape in Coron, the Filipino hospitality brand is finally returning to where its story began—and this time, the timing could prove just as important as the resort itself. The Lind Hotels is preparing to open The Lind Coron in 2027, a 91-room-and-villa luxury resort that will mark the homegrown brand’s expansion into Palawan after building its reputation with The Lind Boracay. But the Coron project is more than an

September 3, 2026

Business

SMC Fires Back: NMIA Was Built Around Bulacan’s Generations-Old Flood Risk — But the Airport’s Own Studies Reveal a Bigger Challenge

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Aerocity Inc. (SMAI), developer of the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) in Bulakan, Bulacan, is pushing back against claims that the massive airport project is responsible for the province’s recent flooding, saying the area’s vulnerability to floods existed for generations and was incorporated into the airport’s design from the beginning. The statement comes amid renewed public scrutiny of the New Manila International Airport and flooding in Bulacan, with

September 3, 2026

Philippines

₱141.8 Million Cannabis Haul Found at NAIA — But the Thailand Link May Be the Bigger Story

MANILA, Philippines — A massive cannabis interception at Ninoy Aquino International Airport has placed renewed scrutiny on international marijuana trafficking routes into the Philippines, particularly those originating from Thailand. The Manila Standard reported that government agents seized eight abandoned pieces of luggage containing hybrid cannabis valued at approximately ₱141.8 million, with the shipment reportedly originating from Thailand. A separate report by The Philippine Star, citing

September 3, 2026