The Philippine Star - January 01, 2025

In this issue

January 01, 2025

Jubilee Year offers hope - Advincula

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula encouraged the Catholic faithful to give hope to those who are experiencing hopelessness in their lives.

2 mins

188 Injured Due to Firecrackers

The last day of 2024 saw 188 persons injured due to firecrackers, the Department of Health reported.

5 mins

BBM Explains Vetoed Items in 2025 Budget

More than 180 public works projects and 15 unprogrammed appropriations were scrapped from the 2025 national budget as President Marcos exercised his power to veto items in the spending law.

5 mins

World greets 2025 after sweltering year of Olympics, turmoil, Trump

Crowds marveled at fireworks and toasted champagne to greet 2025, waving goodbye to a year that brought Olympic glory, a dramatic Donald Trump return and turmoil in the Middle East and Ukraine.

3 mins

Welcome New Year with hope, optimism

President Marcos has urged Filipinos to welcome the New Year with renewed hope and optimism as they carry the spirit of bayanihan or communal unity in achieving a new Philippines.

6 mins

Phl Did Not Waver in Defending WPS

Despite the aggression from Chinese forces, Philippine authorities remained firm in defending the country's sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea this year.

3 mins

3 Weather Systems Make for a Rainy New Year

A rainy New Year's Day is forecast in most parts of the country due to three weather systems, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

1 min

DOH told: Address P1.3-B denied, returned PhilHealth claims

The Commission on Audit (COA) has told the Department of Health (DOH) to explore all possible means to collect from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) the denied and returned reimbursement claims of government hospitals which stood at P1.33 billion as of end of 2023.

3 mins

Parties, merrymaking cause surge in NCDs

The Department of Health has reported a surge in acute complications of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) amid continuous parties and merrymaking, as the public gets ready to welcome the New Year.

1 min

DICT Sets IT Certification Program

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has struck a partnership with Google Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. and Coursera for a certification program for work-ready Filipinos in the IT sector.

1 min

Ateneo shooting victims 'one step closer' to attaining justice

Over two years after a shooting at the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) in Quezon City that left three people dead, the families of the victims are one step closer to attaining justice.

1 min

QC Ushers In 2025 With Commitment To Progress

The Quezon City government is committed to continue working for the city's progress and community development this 2025.

1 min

Road crashes hit 496 - DOH

Close to 500 road traffic accidents have been recorded by the Department of Health.

1 min

4 Nabbed for Illegal Gambling, Drugs, Guns

Police arrested four people for alleged illegal gambling and possession of drugs and firearms in Pasay on Monday.

1 min

SUV Driver in Fatal Hit-and-Run in Pasig Hunted

Police have launched a manhunt for a driver of a white sport utility vehicle (SUV) who allegedly killed a motorcycle rider in a hit-and-run incident in Pasig.

1 min

FDA Warns Public on Unregistered Chocolate

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cautioned the public against the purchase, consumption and giving away as gift of unregistered Cadbury chocolate-coated biscuit.

1 min

'Rocky Mountain' homes

Approximately 800 of the country's richest and most influential business owners are facing the possibility of finding their \"home sweet home\" in Camp John Hay turn into Rocky Mountain homes if they are forced to renegotiate the lease or cost of ownership of their luxury cottages.

4 mins

New year, old challenges

The year is starting with the people stuck with the funding priorities of Congress: hefty budget cuts for health, education, agriculture, de-politicized social welfare programs, and even the military modernization program for external defense in the West Philippine Sea.

2 mins

Breakup year

The year 2024 will be remembered in our country for three things in politics in government. The first is the breakup of the UniTeam—unexpected only because it happened so soon.

4 mins

Impeach VP Sara yourself, don't use PhilHealth money

We own PhilHealth. Employees have been contributing for 30 years since 1995. Total: 66.67 million contributors, dependents, retirees.

3 mins

Fireworks on 2025 GAA begin

After much hullaballoo, the controversial 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) was signed into law at Malacañang Palace last Monday.

4 mins

The Hong Kong we used to know

Happy new year from Hong Kong! As we open a brand new year, I thought I'd share some light but interesting facts about Hong Kong, a favorite holiday destination for Filipinos.

4 mins

What would you say this war is about?

More than 40 years after its release, an exchange in the opening scene of Warren Beatty's Academy Award-winning film \"Reds\" floats to the front of my mind whenever I think about war.

2 mins

Search Continues for Capsized Vessel's Crewmembers in Northern Samar

A search and rescue operation is ongoing for five crewmembers of a cargo vessel that reportedly sank in the waters off Lavesares town in Northern Samar on Monday, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

1 min

Negros Oriental Declares State of Calamity

As Kanlaon Volcano Shows Intensified Magmatic Unrest

1 min

Angat Dam breaches ideal yearend elevation

The Angat Dam has breached its ideal yearend water elevation of 212 meters, assuring Metro Manila of adequate potable water as well as Bulacan and Pampanga of irrigation supply during summer.

1 min

Antique Town Mayor's Suspension Voided

The Court of Appeals (CA) has voided the suspension imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman on Mayor Ernesto Tajanlangit III of Tobias Fornier in Antique in connection with the distribution of food packs.

1 min

Xi's New Year message to Putin: Promotion of 'world peace'

Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to promote \"world peace\" in a New Year's message to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, state media reported yesterday.

1 min

World Food Program: 2 killed in Gaza as aid convoy looted

Two people were killed in northern Gaza as gunmen attacked an aid convoy, the World Food Program (WFP) said on Dec. 30, prompting Hamas to accuse the UN agency of having failed to coordinate security.

1 min

Trump Loses Appeal in $5-M Defamation, Sex Abuse Verdict

A federal appeals court on Dec. 30 upheld a $5-million verdict that E. Jean Carroll won against Donald Trump when a jury found the US president-elect liable for sexually abusing and later defaming the former magazine columnist.

1 min

S. Korea Issues Arrest Warrant for Yoon

SEOUL (AFP) — A South Korean court has issued an arrest warrant for impeached, suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol, investigators said yesterday, over his short-lived bid to impose martial law on the country.

1 min

Questions over embankment, bird strikes arise in SoKor crash

Questions grew yesterday over the crash of a Jeju Air jetliner as police rushed to identify victims and as families of those killed in the deadliest plane crash on South Korean soil pressed authorities for more information.

1 min

Phl booters narrowly miss Asean Cup finale

Gritty Philippines came knocking hard but fate deemed it's not yet time and kept the gates to the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup finals shut.

1 min

OCA backs Asian Boxing

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has officially recognized the newly-organized Asian Boxing as the accredited supervisor of the sport at the SEA and Asian Games, a move that brings World Boxing much closer to achieving its goal of gaining IOC's nod as an affiliate international federation for the Olympics.

2 mins

Golden plans for ‘Thrilla’ tribute

A date has been set for the 50th anniversary celebration of the “Thrilla in Manila” and the goal is to stage a star-studded show, highlighted by three world championship fights involving Filipinos, on Oct. 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier battled in 1975.

1 min

Knicks repeat vs Wizards

Josh Hart had 23 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his third triple-double of the season, Karl-Anthony Towns had 32 points and 13 rebounds, and the New York Knicks beat the Washington Wizards 126-106 on Monday night for their eighth straight victory.

1 min

NAIA on track to reach record-high passengers

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is on its way to surpassing its record number of passengers in a year, thanks to the booming travel demand and new routes from airlines.

1 min

BSP, Phl banks prepare for 2025

As 2024 ends, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Philippine banking sector are poised to tackle a pivotal year ahead.

4 mins

Over 1,900 MW Power Projects Expected in H1

The country's power supply is expected to receive a significant boost from new projects with a combined capacity of 1,912.48 megawatts (MW) that are slated for the first half of 2025.

1 min

New cruise terminal to rise in Puerto Galera

One of the most popular beaches in the Philippines is getting a port solely for cruise ships as part of efforts to solidify the country as a destination of choice for high-end travelers.

1 min

Industrial, hospitality sectors to gain from extension of foreign land leases

Congress' approval of two separate bills allowing foreigners to lease land in the country for up to 99 years will benefit the industrial and hospitality property markets, a property research and advisory firm said.

3 mins

BSP Cancels Registration of 6 Money Service Firms

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has revoked the registration of a sixth money service business (MSB) in 2024, underscoring its continued crackdown on non-compliance and financial misconduct in the sector.

1 min

Broiler raisers lament freefall in chicken prices

Broiler raisers may begin the new year with an awful start as liveweight prices of chickens have fallen by more than P20 per kilo after Christmas, the steepest decline ever, an industry group said.

1 min

Goodbye 2024, hello 2025

Retirement came early in January last year, marking my exit as a business editor and my rebirth as a business columnist.

5 mins

Jollibee, Dutch non-profit partnership bearing fruits

The Jollibee Group's partnership with a Dutch non-profit volunteer organization has borne fruit in terms of enabling farmers to improve productivity and lower production costs.

1 min

Banks' FCDU loans rise to $15.7B

Foreign currency loans granted by banks inched up by 0.7 percent to $15.75 billion as of end-September 2024 from the end-June level of $15.63 billion, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

1 min

SM to Integrate 15-Minute City Concept in Townships

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the integrated property development arm of the SM Group, is looking to pursue more projects following a 15-minute city concept in the coming years.

1 min

J.D. Power USA study again ranks Porsche highest among premium brands

Porsche caps the year with yet another top recognition from customers

1 min

GUESSWORK 2025

We do some amateur mobility soothsaying

3 mins

Jetour Auto Iloilo holds groundbreaking in Western Visayas' progressive, dynamic center

Longgos now have even more compelling reasons to explore new possibilities and opportunities in mobility as Jetour Auto Philippines Inc (JAPI) officially held its groundbreaking ceremony for Jetour Auto Iloilo dealership.

1 min

Mitsubishi Motors PH, SSMC Group of Hospitals and Clinics Conduct Medical Mission

The beneficiary: Sitio Hemedez community in Santa Rosa, Laguna

1 min

PCC, ACPC Form TWG For Financing To Carabao Enterprises

Two agencies attached to the Department of Agriculture formed a technical working group (TWG) to oversee the creation of a financing program that would support carabao and carabao-based enterprises (CBEs) nationwide.

1 min

BSP extends deadline on consumer redress standards

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has extended the transitory period for compliance with Circular 1195, which outlines the consumer redress mechanism standards for account-to-account electronic fund transfers (EFTs).

1 min

Globe Cybersecurity Education Program Reaches Over 6K Pinoys

Telco-to-tech provider Globe Telecom Inc. has reached out to more than 6,000 individuals this year to help improve their cybersecurity know-how in the rise of digital scams.

1 min

MRT-7 Gears Up for Engineering Check

Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) has undergone so many changes from its original design that the government is hiring an engineering consultant to look at all of them.

1 min

BFAR to contest SC ruling on municipal waters delimitation

The government is planning to contest a Supreme Court ruling declaring the 15-kilometer municipal water boundary unconstitutional as calls to protect the preferential rights of artisanal fishermen from various sectors continue to mount.

3 mins

DRESSING UP FOR JOY IN 2025

Fashion's mood for the new year is one of optimism and a celebration of individuality and self-expression.

1 min

This Top Moroccan Beauty Brand Is Clean, Ethical and Affordable

Moroccan skin, body and hair care have long been touted for their beauty benefits, so Mehdi Moussaoui, a French-Moroccan expat who's the top hairstylist at La Provence salon in Central Square BGC, wanted to bring a Moroccan beauty brand here that Filipinos would love.

1 min

49TH CONSULAR BALL HIGHLIGHTS THE POWER OF COLLABORATION

For almost half a century, the Consular Corps of the Philippines celebrates an annual ball that brings together members of the diplomatic community, government officials, business leaders and prominent figures, fostering friendship and cooperation among consuls, strengthening the connection between the diplomatic community and the Filipinos.

1 min

MMFF explains Eugene Domingo's inclusion in viral tribute video

Organizers of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) have addressed questions over the inclusion of veteran actress-comedienne Eugene Domingo in a tribute video aired during its awards night or Gabi ng Parangal.

2 mins

ALYSSA VALDEZ READY TO REINVENT HERSELF BEYOND THE COURT

Alyssa Valdez has finally returned to the volleyball court scene after suffering from a right knee injury.

4 mins

THE POWER OF ENSEMBLE ACTING

\"ESPANTAHO\" (SCARECROW) is a tale of family and forgiveness, told in the drama-horror genre. For the audiences, it could also be a tale of great ensemble acting. You know the kind that complements the genre because the portrayal keeps one on the edge of one's seat.

3 mins

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The Philippine Star Newspaper Description:

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.