Manila awakens, but the center cannot hold

MANILA has awakened. The recent protests in Metro Manila and other key cities have rekindled memories of resistance — young people marching while raising placards, civil servants speaking anonymously to journalists, and workers chanting slogans...

President Marcos, Isko discuss Manila’s urban renewal projects

Ghio Ong, Helen Flores - The Philippine Star October 19, 2025 | 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos and Mayor Isko Moreno discussed the “urban renewal” projects of Manila, including the conversion of the Intramuros golf course into a...

Philippine seeks stronger trade, investment ties with European Union

Louella Desiderio - The Philippine Star October 19, 2025 | 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is looking to strengthen its trade and investment ties with the European Union (EU), particularly in renewable energy (RE), semiconductors and...

‘Philippine economy must brace for political unrest, natural disasters’

Bella Cariaso - The Philippine Star October 19, 2025 | 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine economy must prepare for potential disruptions from political instability and intensifying natural hazards that could undermine growth amid...

Philippines rising as top retirement, tourism hub

The Philippines is fast emerging as a leading destination for retirees and tourists, praised for its friendly people, affordable living, and scenic beauty, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) said. CFO Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II and...

Record green financing in APAC to benefit Philippines

Lawrence Agcaoili - The Philippine Star October 19, 2025 | 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is seen benefiting from the record-breaking sustainable financing in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, according to Dutch financial giant ING....

OFWs as an economic and political force

THERE are an estimated 15 million Filipinos either living or working abroad, and dispersed across more than 100 countries. Over the decades, their number has steadily grown due to the pursuit of economic opportunities in those countries and the...

West Philippine Sea fishermen: Heroes of an unseen struggle

Long before global headlines began tracking tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Mang Dionisio and his family were already navigating those same waters. For generations, they fished the rich shoals near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and the...

Ghost projects in Masbate? Kho’s lawyer responds

October 19, 2025 | 12:00am For today’s piece, I am publishing the response of Masbate Rep. Antonio Kho to my Oct. 12 column “Ghost projects in Masbate? DPWH, take a look,” sent through his lawyer. The letter, signed by lawyer Renfred Tan of Quezon...

Citi taps Filipino talent for global transformation

Keisha Ta-Asan - The Philippine Star October 19, 2025 | 12:00am To reinforce technology footprint MANILA, Philippines — Global banking giant Citi is deepening its technology footprint in the Philippines with the launch of its proprietary...

Back-to-back: PH's Emma Mary Tiglao wins Miss Grand International 2025

October 18, 2025 | 11:36pm MANILA, Philippines — Emma Mary Tiglao bested 76 other international delegates to be crowned the 13th Miss Grand International at glitzy rites in Bangkok, Thailand. It was technically a back-to-back victory, with...

Maldives signs political dialogue MoU with Egypt

The governments of Maldives and Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on political dialogue on Saturday, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations. The agreement was signed at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in Cairo, with...

2 firemen beaten up while fighting blaze in Manila

Ghio Ong, EJ Macababbad - The Philippine Star October 19, 2025 | 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — Two volunteer firefighters were beaten up while trying to put out a fire that engulfed a neighborhood in Port Area in Manila on Friday. Jonathan Alviz...

Purging the Philippines for goodness and peace

LOVE of money, warns Saint Paul in his First Letter to Timothy, “is the root of all evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. But as for you, man of God, shun all this;...

‘Operation Sindoor’ was just a trailer; with BrahMos, habitual winners India can strike Pakistan’s every inch: Defence Minister at Lucknow

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said every inch of Pakistan's territory lies within the range of India’s BrahMos missiles, and what happened during Operation Sindoor was just a trailer. Victory has become a habit for India and the...

Thousands flee Philippine storm

Agence France-Presse . Manila, Philippines 18 October, 2025, 22:28 Thousands of residents fled their homes along the Pacific seaboard of the Philippines Saturday as tropical storm Fengshen made landfall, triggering warnings of coastal flooding....

Thousands flee Philippines coast as storm approaches

Published on: October 19, 2025 1:41 AM Thousands of residents of the Philippines left their homes along the Pacific coast Saturday as weather experts warned of coastal flooding ahead of Tropical Storm Fengshen’s landfall. The storm was forecast to...

Business groups back amendments to bank secrecy laws

SIX major Philippine business groups on Friday gave their support to measures aimed at amending the country’s bank secrecy laws, namely the Republic Act (RA) 1405 or the “Law on Secrecy of Bank Deposits,” and RA 6426, or the “Foreign Currency...

Mutya ng Pilipinas Christine Eds Enero wins title at Miss Tourism International

Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 2025 Christine Eds Enero (left) with Mutya ng Pilipinas Pres. Cory Quirino/MUTYA NG PILIPINAS PHOTO While many of the global pageant fans have tuned in to the Miss Grand International pageant in...

CJ Opiaza turns emotional in final walk at Miss Grand International 2025

CJ Opiaza. Photo: Screengrab from YouTube/GrandTV Christine Juliane “CJ” Opiaza turned emotional as she took her final walk and delivered her farewell speech as Miss Grand International 2024 during this year’s finale night on Saturday, Oct. 18 in...