The Philippine Star - November 18, 2024

In this issue

November 18, 2024

Application for gun ban exemption starts

Those seeking to apply for exemption to the poll gun ban are reminded to complete their requirements before submitting their applications to the Commission on Elections.

1 min

Successive typhoons to cut rice production - DA

The successive typhoons in the country in the past weeks will result in lower rice production until the end of the year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

1 min

‘China wants respect, but bullies Phl’

A ranking member of the House of Representatives yesterday accused China of implementing a double standard with its \"expansionist\" conduct in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), demanding respect but continuing its bullying of the Philippines and other neighboring countries.

2 mins

Lawmakers puzzled by Duterte's inconsistencies

Members of the quad committee of the House of Representatives have noted several inconsistent or contradictory statements made by former president Rodrigo Duterte when he faced the panel last Nov. 13.

2 mins

Pepito keeps super typhoon strength

Over 800,000 displaced

7 mins

House pledges support to provinces battered by Pepito

The House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, yesterday vowed to extend help to victims of Super Typhoon Pepito, organizing a relief caravan bound for the Bicol region.

1 min

US defense chief to observe Phl Navy tech demo

United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III will observe a Philippine Navy tech demonstration showcasing T-12 unmanned surface vessels, a key capability used to protect sovereignty and operations throughout the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, the US Department of Defense said.

1 min

Retired judge named CHR commissioner

President Marcos has appointed a retired judge of a special commercial court in San Fernando, Pampanga as commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

1 min

DTI: Prices of 100 Noche Buena items up

More than 100 shelf-keeping units (SKUs) of Noche Buena products have posted price increases, based on the price guide released by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

1 min

Palace satisfied with LGUs' preparations for Pepito

Malacañang yesterday expressed satisfaction with the preparations made by local government units (LGU) amid the threat of Super Typhoon Pepito.

4 mins

SoKor gives P30 M to aid typhoon-hit families

The South Korean government has contributed P30 million through the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to help families affected by the successive typhoons that struck the Philippines.

1 min

'2025 budget to boost disaster aid'

Amid successive typhoons that battered the country, the passage of the proposed 2025 national budget would reinforce the calamity fund to bring timely relief to communities, according to Sen. Grace Poe.

1 min

CA to tackle ad interim appointments of DILG, CSC chiefs

The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) is set to tackle on Wednesday the ad interim appointments of Jonvic Remulla as newly designated secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Marilyn Barua Yap as chairperson of the Civil Service Commission.

1 min

Phl has fewest scientists in Asean - Stanford list

The Philippines has the fewest number of scientists among its ASEAN neighbors that made it to the 2024 \"Top 2 percent\" Scientists in the World drawn up by Stanford University in the US.

2 mins

In harm's way

When Super Typhoon Yolanda slammed the Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013, it first made landfall in the municipality of Guiuan in Eastern Samar.

4 mins

Good job, Pagasa-DOST

After spending several weeks following the trail, track, or path of four low-pressure areas (LPAs) growing into storms and at least two becoming super typhoons, my daughter Hannah commented that \"the Philippines seems to be in an abusive relationship with Mother Nature.\"

3 mins

The 'pork' trough

The Supreme Court has restrained the national government from impounding P89.9 billion in so-called excess funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

2 mins

Seeking the truth

Was Duterte's appearance before the House quad committee of any value? It was almost an exercise in futility. Why so?

2 mins

Duterte's bluff and bluster

Former president Rodrigo Duterte (fPRRD) outwitted them all, including the International Criminal Court (ICC).

4 mins

Greatness of spirit

After a week marked by sordid political revelations, reversals and antics that make us despair over the future of democracy in this country and elsewhere in the world, it was refreshing and inspiring to be reminded last Saturday that goodness, reason and justice still prevail somewhere, even against monumental odds.

4 mins

Getting ready for ASEAN 2026

Last week, I hosted in my home Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo.

4 mins

P34-M shabu seized in Las Piñas

Five kilos of shabu with an estimated value of P34 million were recovered when anti-narcotics agents raided the house of a suspected drug dealer in Las Piñas City on Saturday.

1 min

CIDG seeks Interpol red notice vs British trader

The police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is seeking a red notice alert from the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol against a British businessman who is wanted for estafa.

1 min

Child, 3 others dead in Pasig metro truck mishap

A child and three others died after a 16-wheeler truck loaded with rice crashed into three motorcycles in Barangay Ugong, Pasig early yesterday morning.

1 min

MM families evacuate ahead of Pepito

In anticipation of the impact of Super Typhoon Pepito, the Quezon City government yesterday conducted preemptive evacuation of over 700 residents.

1 min

230 hospitalized for food poisoning

Up to 230 people, including students of the state-run Guimaras State University and their relatives, were hospitalized after eating spaghetti served during a gathering for business innovators in Buenavista, Guimaras on Friday.

1 min

Bicol wage board suspends pay hike deliberations

Minimum wage earners in Bicol will not be getting a pay hike just yet as the regional wage board suspended the deliberations for the salary adjustment due to the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

1 min

Kanlaon Volcano spews ash anew

Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island has been spewing ash again in the past two days, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

1 min

Cavite town has new mayor

With only a few months left before the 2025 mid-term elections, the town of Silang in Cavite has welcomed a new mayor following the dismissal of the former local chief executive by the Office of the Ombudsman.

1 min

Singson commits to assist riders

Senatorial candidate Chavit Singson yesterday reiterated his commitment to improving road safety, especially for motorcycle riders.

1 min

APEC summit closes in Peru as Trump whiplash looms

After two days of meetings in Lima that rarely ventured beyond platitudes in discussing the strategies of the region's major economies, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum wrapped up on Saturday with a spirit of detente that many fear the summit may not see again for four years.

1 min

Xi vows to work with Trump

In last meeting with Biden

1 min

2 flash bombs fired into garden of Netanyahu's home

Two flash bombs were fired toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu' home in the northern Israeli town of Caesarea on Saturday and fell into the garden, police said.

1 min

Australia, US, Japan strengthen military cooperation

Australia, Japan and the US yesterday committed to closer military cooperation in training their forces as the countries deepened their ties in a bid to counter China's military strength.

1 min

Israel hits Gaza, Lebanon in deadly strikes

Strikes by the RIES (AFP) Israeli army killed at least 20 people in Gaza yesterday, the civil defense said, while also hitting a Hezbollah stronghold near Beirut's international airport.

1 min

8 dead, 17 hurt in China school knife attack

Eight people were killed and 17 others were wounded on Saturday in a knife attack at a vocational school in eastern China, and the suspect - a former student - has been arrested, police said.

1 min

Duct-taped banana being auctioned for $1 M

Walk into any supermarket and you can generally buy a banana for less than $1. But a banana duct-taped to a wall? That might sell for more than $1 million at an upcoming auction at Sotheby's in New York.

1 min

Brazil's first lady insults Musk at G20 social event

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday that Russia launched 120 missiles and 90 drones in a large-scale attack across Ukraine, targeting its energy infrastructure.

1 min

Poland scrambles jets during Russia's missile attack on Ukraine

Poland said it had scrambled fighter jets and mobilized all available forces on Sunday in response to a \"massive\" Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine.

1 min

Denmark animal welfare advocate wins Miss Universe

Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark has been crowned Miss Universe.

1 min

Brazil's first lady insults Musk at G20 social event

Brazil's first lady, Janja Lula da Silva, swore at billionaire Elon Musk during a G20 social event on Saturday at which she spoke about the need to regulate social media to rein in misinformation.

1 min

Groseclose wins sparkling bronze

Fil-Am Peter Groseclose delivered a proud performance for the country in snaring a historic bronze medal in the International Skating Union Junior World Cup 2 in Bormio, Italy.

1 min

Big plans for TAT

The Asian Tournament (TAT) has successfully staged its big summer event, and is almost done with its Winter Championship.

1 min

Jones sends Miocic into retirement

Seven-foot-three Kai Sotto has been cleared to see action for Gilas Pilipinas, making way for the twin tower combo with June Mar Fajardo that excites coach Tim Cone.

1 min

Ateneo, UE take SSL consolation tiffs

Ateneo drubbed NCAA champion St. Benilde, 26-24, 25-16, 21-25, 25-23, to salvage the consolation fifth place in the Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

1 min

Centeno yields crown

Chezka Centeno's reign as world champion ended Saturday night when she fell to South Korean Seoa Seo, 4-1, 4-1, 1-4, 4-1, in the semis of the WPA World 10-Ball Women's Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

1 min

Reyes keen on chasing NBA dream

Most young talented Filipino basketball players are bringing their act abroad somewhere in Asia or beyond for greener pastures.

1 min

Tangerines, Strikers go for kill

The Quezon Tangerines and the Bacoor Strikers, with twice-to-beat advantage as top seeds, eye quick entry into the 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association finale as they tangle with Rizal St. Gerrard Charity Foundation and Binan Tatak Gel 1-Pacman party-list, respectively, in the semifinals today at the Bacoor Strike Gym in Cavite.

1 min

Enhanced PESO IRS market goes live

The enhanced PESO interest rate swap (IRS) market is now operational, marking a significant step toward advancing capital market development and providing market participants with improved tools for managing interest rate risks.

3 mins

BSP profit surges to P105 B

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) earned P105.6 billion from January to August, nearly five times higher than the P22.9 billion in the same period a year ago, amid higher revenues and lower spending.

1 min

Phl pays less on foreign debts

Principal payments down 23% in 8 months

1 min

NAIA airline reshuffle takes off in early 2025

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will undergo another round of airline reshuffle in the first quarter of 2025 as part of efforts to decongest passenger traffic in select terminals.

1 min

Vista Land earnings up 10% in 9 months

Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., the listed property developer of the Villar Group, posted a double-digit jump in profit in the nine months ending September, driven by strong demand for its residential projects outside Metro Manila.

2 mins

Bargains, fresh catalysts in play

Investors will be on the lookout for fresh catalysts this week to potentially restore the market's upward momentum after last week's huge selloff.

1 min

Cebu Landmasters eyes entry into Luzon by 2026

Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI), a listed property developer focused in the Visayas and Mindanao, is looking to make its debut in the Luzon market by 2026.

2 mins

Converge keen on Sky Cable buyout

Tech tycoon Dennis Anthony Uy plans to buy out Sky Cable Corp. and capture its more than 300,000 subscribers as soon as the company succeeds in erasing its over P4 billion debts.

2 mins

ACEN spending P26 B for integrated solar project

Ayala-led ACEN Corp. is spending about P26 billion to develop a massive solar farm with a battery energy storage system (BESS) component in Palauig, Zambales.

1 min

New Peru port to boost trade with LatAm – DTI

The Philippines expects its trade ties with Latin America to get a boost from the recently inaugurated Chancay Port in Peru.

2 mins

SM Prime boosting mall space to nearly 10 M sqm

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the Sy family's integrated property developer and the country's largest mall operator, will further cement its dominance in the Philippine retail landscape by giving Filipino shoppers and tenants nearly 10 million square meters of mall space nationwide by next year.

1 min

Banking on AI policies

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been reshaping our world and has integrated itself into our daily lives.

4 mins

Asia pivot: This time with feeling!

Barack Obama's Asia pivot was a dud, as America was too preoccupied with Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern hotspots. That gave China time to build its military capabilities and its alliances with nations big and small in the Asia-Pacific.

4 mins

Four Points Palawan's sustainability advocacy

Four Points by Sheraton Palawan is reassuming the lead in sustainability and environmental stewardship in the protected Sabang Beach.

4 mins

SMIC bags top honors anew for ESG excellence

SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) has been honored for its outstanding commitment to sustainability, receiving the Platinum Award for environmental, social and governance (ESG) excellence for the 16th consecutive year from The Asset Publishing and Research Ltd., a prestigious multimedia organization based in Hong Kong.

1 min

Fresh debts push LBC to net loss in 9 months

Express courier LBC Express Holdings Inc. fell to a net loss in the nine months to September as the company borrowed fresh loans from local banks for project funding.

1 min

Meralco shifts focus to larger nuclear plant

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), chaired by tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan, is leveraging France's nuclear expertise to explore the potential deployment of a large-scale facility in the Philippines.

2 mins

Phl eyes $1.6 M exports of avocados to Japan in 2025

The country plans to export almost half a million kilos of Hass avocados next year to Japan after gaining market access to the Asian market recently following the conclusion of 13 years of negotiations.

1 min

Gokongwei lands prestigious award for business excellence

Tycoon Lance Gokongwei, president and CEO of conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc., has been recognized for his leadership and immense contributions to the Southeast Asian business landscape.

1 min

'Rice farm mechanization level to hit 3 hp/ha by 2031'

The average mechanization level of the country's rice farms could hit three horsepower per hectare (hp/ha) by 2031, improving the sector's productivity while reducing labor costs, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) said.

1 min

Breeding ground for innovators, entrepreneurs takes act to New York

Spain-based IE University, a highly diverse academic institution that offers a unique learning system to shape future leaders with a global vision, an entrepreneurial mindset and deep respect for sustainability, has expanded into the US, bringing its game-changing act to the financial capital of the world.

2 mins

From L.A. to New Orleans: Swiftie daughter relives 'Eras' effect

Alexa and I boarded a 6 p.m. flight to New Orleans, and to our surprise, the plane was filled with Swifties! It was easy to tell—everyone (including us) was decked out in \"Eras\" merchandise or sporting friendship bracelets.

5 mins

GARY V RETURNS TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT the three-night concert of Gary Valenciano last April and May at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena was the last of his performances in major venues.

5 mins

What to expect from Chelsea Manalo as 1st Miss Universe Asia

Chelsea Manalo may have finished as a Top 30 semifinalist in Miss Universe 2024, but she made history as the first Miss Universe Asia after the 73rd coronation night in Mexico.

2 mins

At the Visayas Art Fair, abstract art radiates

Arcadia Art Gallery opens \"My Universe,\" a solo exhibition by Dale Bagtas, at this year's Visayas Art Fair (VAF), the premier art gathering in the South.

1 min

Itinerant Objects, Here and Elsewhere

Platforms

2 mins

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The Philippine STAR is the flagship title of the country's largest and most successful print media enterprise, the Philstar Media Group. Owned and published by Philstar Daily Inc., The Philippine STAR is a vaunted pillar of Philippine journalism whose integrity is anchored on the Biblical motto, “Truth Shall Prevail”. The Philippine STAR is a two-time winner of the prestigious Newspaper of the Year award given by the Rotary Club of Manila.