Month: December 2025
Geminid meteor shower to light up Philippine skies starting December 13
MANILA, Philippines โ Skywatchers are in for a treat as the Geminid meteor shower, one of the most reliable and brightest annual celestial events, begins ramping up activity this week. The shower is expected to peak on the night of December 13 until the early hours of December 14, offering viewers across the Philippines a
ANALYSIS: Two Anti-Political Dynasty Bills, Two Very Different Visions for Political Reform
Two competing anti-political dynasty bills now filed in the House of Representatives offer sharply different approaches to dismantling entrenched family control in Philippine politics. Members of the Dy and Marcos blocs filed House Bill (HB) 6771. Their versionย places its emphasis on prohibiting family members from holding elective office simultaneously. On the other hand, House Bill
Maguindanao del Norte Officials Ramp Up United Front vs Illegal Drugs to Sustain Investment Momentum
COTABATO CITY โ Local executives in Maguindanao del Norte vowed to strengthen their united campaign against illegal drugs as the province continues to brand itself as a โnew investment hubโ in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Participants to the Peace and Order and Public Safety Cluster Meeting for the last quarter of
Warming Planet Is Supercharging Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution and climate change are often treated as two separate global crises. One clogs our rivers and oceans; the other heats the planet and drives extreme weather. But a growing body of scientific evidence shows these twin threats are deeply intertwinedโand their combined impact is far worse than either problem alone. A new review
EXPLAINER: What is COBRA, the Philippinesโ new locally developed weapon station?
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has formally turned over to the Department of National Defense (DND) a new piece of homegrown military technology: the Controller Operated Battle-Ready Armament, or COBRA. Marketed as a step forward in the countryโs defense modernization push, COBRA is designed to boost the firepower and survivability of the Philippine
EXPLAINER: Is PalengQR PH Really a Step Toward Progress?
The government billed PalengQR PH as a milestone in the countryโs digital transformation when it rolled out the program. This initiative, led by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), promotes QR-based cashless payments in public markets, tricycles, and small neighborhood stores. The idea is simple:
DOLE-Zamboanga Sibugay reminds firms: Release 13th Month Pay by December 24
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY โ The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Zamboanga Sibugay reminded private sector employers to strictly follow labor standards, particularly the mandatory release of the 13th Month Pay to rank-and-file workers on or before December 24. Provincial Director Elamsalih Ungad reiterated that the 13th Month Pay is a statutory obligation under Presidential
Q&A: What We Know โ And Donโt Know โ About Ramil Madriaga And His Explosive Claims
MANILA, Philippines โ The name Ramil Lagunoy Madriaga has reemerged in the national conversation after his sworn affidavit surfaced alleging that he delivered illicit funds for the 2022 vice-presidential campaign of Sara Duterte. His claims have since circulated online, raising questions about the credibility of the claims and the identity of the man behind them.
CBCP Taps Former Rome Chaplain as New Executive Secretary of Migrants Ministry
MANILA, Philippines โ The Catholic Bishopsโ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has appointed Scalabrinian priest Fr. Ricky Gente, a former chaplain for Filipinos in Rome, as the new executive secretary of its migrant ministry effective December 1. Gente will work with Bishop Socrates Mesiona, who recently assumed leadership of the CBCP Episcopal Commission for the
EXPLAINER: Why a White Crow Appeared in Misamis Oriental โ and What Makes It So Rare
A bird photographerโs snapshot from Jasaan, Misamis Oriental has drawn nationwide attention: a white crow, a creature so uncommon that many Filipinos are seeing one for the first time. But what exactly is a white crow, and why does it happen? What exactly did the photographer capture? Cagayan de Oroโbased bird photographer Jun Rey Yap
World Bank Rates DAโs PRDP Scale-Up โSatisfactory,โ Notes Gains in Rural Mindanao
MANILA, Philippines โ The World Bank has rated the Department of Agricultureโs Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up โsatisfactory,โ noting its strong early performance in improving rural infrastructure, strengthening enterprises, and advancing value-chain planning across the country. The assessment, based on the Bankโs latest implementation review, highlighted โrelevance, efficiency, and early gainsโ as the project
FACT CHECK: DTI Survey Says โฑ1,000 is Enough for a Family for a Week? FALSE
A social media post says that a โnewly released surveyโ by Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque shows that โฑ1,000 is enough to support a family for one week. Rating: โ FALSE The claim Posts circulating on Facebook and messaging apps allege that DTI Secretary Cristina Roque released a survey supposedly proving that a Filipino family can
