While Duterte’s massive confidential fund controversy dominates headlines and impeachment proceedings, a quieter system operates nationwide. Governors, mayors and local officials manage their own “black box” intelligence funds — shielded from rigorous audits — raising the same questions of accountability…
Go Where the Wounds Are: Catholic Bishops Urged to Confront Grief, Disaster, and Division with Compassion and Truth
At the opening of the bishops’ retreat in Ozamiz, Archbishop Martin Jumoad urged the Catholic bishops to “go where the wounds are,” calling for pastoral leadership that confronts suffering with compassion, truth and justice amid disasters, grief and social division.
Philippines Set to Become Asia’s Next Regional Oil Hub: Massive Strategic Fuel Reserve Plan Revealed
The proposed Philippine Strategic Petroleum Reserve aims to shield the country from global shocks while transforming it into a major storage and distribution hub for foreign oil companies.
Philippines Just Hit Upper-Middle-Income Status – What It Really Means for Filipinos
The World Bank has officially classified the Philippines as an upper-middle-income economy, a major milestone driven by years of broad-based growth. While challenges like inequality remain, the upgrade signals progress toward higher development.
Pre-Trial Blueprint Set for Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial, Sidestepping Key Disputes
The Senate impeachment court released its pre-trial order for Vice President Sara Duterte, setting the trial for July 6 while adopting both sides’ full witness lists and sidestepping contentious issues like tax records and private prosecutors.
Why Your June Electric Bill May Be Slightly Lower — and What’s Behind It
Filipino households may see slight relief in their June electricity bills after NGCP reduced transmission charges. The decrease, driven by lower wheeling and ancillary services costs, highlights how grid-related expenses influence what consumers ultimately pay for power.
Call Centers vs. Factories: How a Single Economic Gamble Changed Southeast Asia Forever, Leaving Philippines Behind
Decades of relying on BPO jobs and worker remittances delivered stability and a rising middle class — but at the cost of the manufacturing boom that lifted Vietnam and other Southeast Asian peers. As AI threatens outsourcing and talent continues…
Got Old Tax Penalties or “Stop-Filer” Stress? The BIR Launched a One-Time Tax Abatement Program to Completely Erase Them.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue has opened a one-time tax abatement program for micro taxpayers, giving small businesses and stop-filers until Dec. 31, 2026, to settle delinquent accounts and clear their records. The initiative is part of the government's efforts…
No More Begging for ‘Guarantee Letters’ to Pay Hospital Bills. What Every Poor Patient Needs to Know.
For generations, poor Filipinos had to beg politicians for “guarantee letters” to cover hospital bills. That era is ending. Under the 2026 national budget, indigent patients can now go straight to hospital social workers for assistance without political approval.
This Catholic Newspaper Endured Dictatorship and War—Now, Mindanao Cross Wins Praise for Teaching Unity
For nearly eight decades, the Mindanao Cross has chronicled conflict and coexistence in Central Mindanao, championing peace among Muslims, Christians and Indigenous peoples. Now, the Philippine Press Institute has recognized the nonprofit Catholic weekly as one of the country's best…
El Niño is Here: Philippines Braces for Potentially ‘Super’ Dry Spell as Pacific Heats Up — Could Last Until 2027
El Niño has arrived. Philippine authorities confirmed sea surface temperatures crossed the key threshold, signaling the likely start of a powerful climate pattern that could persist until early 2027 and bring drier conditions across the country.
“Continuity is Key”: Why Marcos Says the Constitution Itself Encourages Lack of Continuity
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reignited debate over the 1987 Constitution, arguing that its term limits and electoral structure encourage political discontinuity and policy reversals. As his alliance with Vice President Sara Duterte unravels, Marcos warns that reforms take years…






