Category: News
From Buug to Abu Dhabi: How Anthony Austria built his name as a top architect
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines – Anthony Tario Austria grew up in Buug, a quiet town in Zamboanga Sibugay where his mother worked the rice fields and later took on odd jobs in Malaysia to keep the family afloat. Life was difficult, but in the middle of poverty, Anthony discovered a gift: drawing. Teachers saw his sketches
Instant Coffee Lovers, We Need to Talk About Your Eyes
We all love a quick fix. Alarm blares, you stumble to the kitchen, and boom—instant coffee saves the day. No grinding, no brewing, no waiting. Just hot water, a spoon, and your daily dose of fake-it-til-you-make-it energy. But here’s the eyebrow-raising twist: that beloved scoop of instant could be linked to a 700% higher risk
Bonoan resigns as DPWH chief; Dizon appointed amid corruption probe
MANILA, Philippines – Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan has resigned from his post effective September 1, 2025, as the agency faces heightened scrutiny over alleged anomalies in flood control projects. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed on Monday, September 1, that he has accepted Bonoan’s resignation, citing “command responsibility” as the basis for the
US would control Gaza, displace all residents under new plan – report
MANILA, Philippines – A controversial post-war plan for Gaza envisions the United States taking control of the besieged Palestinian territory for at least a decade, while relocating its entire population of more than 2 million, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, August 31. The 38-page proposal, obtained by the Post, outlines a trusteeship under which
Billions in Flood-Control Funds Enrich Contractors, Politicians — PCIJ Report
MANILA, Philippines – A new investigation by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) has revealed that billions of pesos in flood-control funds during the first three years of the Marcos administration have flowed into the hands of politically connected contractors, some of whom live in lavish luxury despite questionable track records. Between July 2022
Armed men storm lending firm in Ipil, cart away ₱726K, shoot manager
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – A late-night robbery turned bloody in Ipil town after five armed men stormed a lending company past midnight on Tuesday, August 29, escaping with ₱726,409 in cash and leaving its manager wounded. Police said the suspects, clad in black hooded jackets and masks, forced their way into the Panjobjoban Lending Corporation (PLC)
Marcos keeps trust in DPWH chief Bonoan amid flood control project mess
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to back Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan despite mounting calls for his resignation over alleged ghost and overpriced flood control projects nationwide. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro on Wednesday, August 27, said the President has not indicated any plan to let go of Bonoan.
DPWH completes ₱28.8-M river wall in Zamboanga Sibugay amid flood control project controversies
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed a ₱28.8-million river wall in Siay town, saying it will strengthen flood defenses and protect nearby communities from seasonal inundation. The DPWH-Zamboanga Peninsula announced on Wednesday, August 27, that the project spans 310 linear meters along a riverbank and was funded under
Timor-Leste’s Ramos-Horta Eyes New Era of Prosperity with ASEAN Membership
Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta has expressed optimism that his country’s long-awaited entry into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will usher in a new era of prosperity and opportunity. In an interview with NHK on Tuesday, Ramos-Horta said the nation, formerly known as East Timor, is set to officially join ASEAN as its eleventh
Timor-Leste Faces Aid Cuts: U.S. Assistance Was Always More About America Than Timor
DILI, East Timor — East Timor has served as an exemplar of United States foreign assistance in Asia for two decades. Billions of dollars of aid headlines and photo opportunities have framed an image of Washington “assisting” one of the globe’s newest democracies to get on its own two feet. But scratch below the surface,
Zamboanga Sibugay Village Builds Classroom for ₱1.4M—Faster, Cheaper, and Transparent
TALUSAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – Out of a rural barangay of this sleepy Zamboanga Sibugay coastal town, Barangay Baganipay residents just finished celebrating the completion of a new classroom. Unlike most of the classrooms government has pledged in the national budget and are still to arrive, this one is Villa Verde-ready – with a comfort room
San Miguel Global Power Invests ₱3.2B to Boost Zamboanga City’s Energy Supply with 56-MW Plant
A new spark of hope is on the horizon in a region long plagued by brownouts and flickering lights. Tycoon Ramon Ang’s San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMGP) is pouring in ₱3.2 billion to double the capacity of its gas turbine power plant in Sangali, Zamboanga City—a move expected to ease the crippling power
