The Philippine Star - December 24, 2024

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December 24, 2024

Palace: No talk of reenacted budget

Reenacting this year's budget is out of the question for President Marcos and his officials, Malacañang said yesterday, as the administration continues to scrutinize the P6.352-trillion spending bill for 2025 that it hopes will become a law by yearend.

4 mins

Booklets for meds no longer required for seniors - DOH

Senior citizens are no longer required to present the purchase booklet to avail themselves of 20-percent discount when buying medicine, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said yesterday.

2 mins

Hospitals on alert for holiday heart syndrome

Hospitals across the country are on alert for a possible increase in \"holiday heart syndrome\" illnesses associated with binge eating and alcohol consumption during holidays or long vacations.

2 mins

Gas, diesel prices up this Christmas week

Motorists should brace for a fuel price increase of as much as P1.45 per liter today, just before Christmas.

1 min

Phl Army to acquire US Typhon missile system

The Philippine military plans to acquire the US Typhon missile system to protect the country's maritime interests, some of which overlap with regional power China.

3 mins

Crowded Senate race seen next year - OCTA

A new poll conducted by the OCTA Research group confirmed a crowded race for the Senate next year, with at least 18 aspirants within statistical margin of winning.

2 mins

PhilHealth to reduce premiums, expand coverage

Although deprived of subsidy under the 2025 approved budget program, the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has assured lawmakers that it would still be able to reduce premium contribution and expand its coverage next year for overall better health care benefits for members.

2 mins

Dec. 26 not a holiday - Palace

The Presidential Communications Office yesterday reminded the public that Dec. 26 is not a holiday.

1 min

Santa Claus_PH sends Christmas cheer from Mayon Volcano

Santa Claus once again spread Christmas cheer in parts of the Philippines by replying to letters sent by both the young and the old.

2 mins

'Public interest, not high ratings, is bedrock of public service'

Reacting to the recent Pulse Asia survey results, Malacañang said public interest was the \"sole driver\" behind every executive decision, not the pursuit of high ratings in the next opinion polls.

1 min

TD Romina leaves PAR; heads to Vietnam

Tropical Depression Romina has moved away from the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) as it approaches Vietnam, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

2 mins

DepEd, DSWD renew partnership on gov't tutoring program

The Department of Education (DepEd) has renewed its partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to implement the Marcos administration's flagship tutoring program for school-age children.

1 min

BJMP officer's gun goes off; 2 hurt

Two female employees of the Quezon City government were wounded when the handgun of a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) officer went off yesterday.

1 min

'Palit ulo' victims get P1M

The local government of Valenzuela announced yesterday the resolution of the \"palit ulo\" scam, with each victim receiving P1 million in financial assistance from a private hospital in the city.

1 min

Cruise ship with Chinese tourists docks in Manila

A cruise ship carrying Chinese tourists docked at the port of Manila, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) reported yesterday.

1 min

NBI realigns Christmas party budget to aid typhoon victims

In a gesture of compassion and solidarity this Christmas, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday extended support to families affected by recent typhoons through a special relief initiative.

1 min

6 caught with high-powered guns in Caloocan

An alleged member of a criminal ring and five others have been arrested in Caloocan City for carrying various high-powered firearms, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

1 min

Manibela offers free rides on Christmas, New Year

As a holiday treat, a transport group is offering free rides to commuters on Christmas Day and New Year.

1 min

PNP: Over 37,000 cops deployed for Christmas

The Philippine National Police has mobilized over 37,000 personnel nationwide as part of heightened security during the Christmas season, a PNP official said yesterday.

1 min

'Most corrupt national budget'

EYES WIDE OPEN

3 mins

Ventures

Foreign investment flows fuel economic expansion in Southeast Asia.

3 mins

Reactive government

After the government announced that portions of the Andaya Highway through the Bicol Region had been reopened to vehicular traffic, a common reaction was why it had not happened sooner.

2 mins

Money, money, money

VIRTUAL REALITY

4 mins

For the sake of 600,000 children, science must be bold

Bold ideas in science research used to thrill us; now they seem pretty threatening.

5 mins

Rise of nations or machines? Preparing for Al

PEDDLER OF HOPE

4 mins

Moderate quake jolts Surigao del Norte

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake rocked Surigao del Norte yesterday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported.

1 min

4 suspects nabbed in gang rape, slay of girl

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested on Sunday four men suspected to be involved in the gang rape of a 15-year-old girl during a fiesta in Oslob town in Cebu on Dec. 9.

1 min

Kanlaon Volcano emits dark ash

Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island emitted dark ash accompanied by a weak low-frequency volcanic earthquake, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

2 mins

Section of Andaya Highway remains closed

The remaining section of Andaya Highway in Lupi town in Camarines Sur may be opened to traffic this weekend, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Bicol said yesterday.

1 min

Lone bettor wins P15.8 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot

A bettor in Bacoor, Cavite won the P15,840,000 prize for the Super Lotto 6/49 drawn last Sunday.

1 min

S. Korean president snubs summons for second time

South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol refused a summons for questioning for the second time, an investigation team said yesterday, after he snubbed a previous one last week.

1 min

'Sonic 3' bests 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at box office

In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures' \"Sonic the Hedgehog 3\" sped past the Walt Disney Co.'s \"Mufasa: The Lion King\" to take the top spot at the box office ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters.

1 min

Germany pledges security inquest into Christmas market attack

The German government pledged Sunday to fully investigate whether there were security lapses before the Christmas market car-ramming attack that killed five people and injured over 200.

1 min

Trump vows to 'stop transgender lunacy' as top priority

President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday pledged to \"stop the transgender lunacy\" on day one of his presidency, as Republicans — set to control both chambers of Congress and the White House — continue their push against LGBTQ rights.

1 min

Seoul: NoKor suffers 1,100 casualties in Russia-Ukraine war

More than 1,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Russia's war with Ukraine, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Monday.

1 min

'Squid Game' returns looking for win with season 2

Stepping onto the set of \"Squid Game\" season two, Lee Jong-jae felt like he had never left.

1 min

Musk, president? Trump says 'not happening'

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Could Elon Musk, who holds major sway in the incoming Trump administration, one day become president? On Sunday, Donald Trump answered with a resounding no, pointing to US rules about being born in the country.

1 min

Team defense is Clasico key

Barangay Ginebra is formulating a scheme to contain Ricardo Ratliffe in the PBA Manila Clasico game against Magnolia at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tomorrow night and assistant coach Richard del Rosario said it will involve locals not just Justin Brownlee.

1 min

NUGGETS RALLY PAST PELICANS

JOKIC POSTS 11TH TRIPLE-DOUBLE

2 mins

Pasko Sa Enero, Part Two

Sporting Chance

2 mins

Phl booters not afraid of Thais

Thailand stands in the way but gritty Philippines doesn't shiver at the thought of dealing with its multi-titled rival in its quest for a maiden trip to the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup finals.

1 min

Phl lifters nail 2 more golds in Doha

Jhodie Peralta snared a pair of gold medals to cap the Philippines' solid campaign in the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Doha, Qatar recently.

1 min

IMF calls for balanced monetary policy

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for a cautious and adaptive approach to monetary policy by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), as the Philippines faces increasing risks from supply-side shocks and inflationary pressures.

2 mins

Soaring gas prices put brakes on jeepney drivers

Jeepneys reign as the \"Kings of the Road\" in the country, ruling the streets as the most iconic mode of transport, yet their drivers are a far cry from living like royalty.

3 mins

Gov't sets P629-B local borrowing in Q1

The government plans to borrow P629 billion from the local debt market in the first quarter in the hope of favorable yields, as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas cut policy rates in December.

1 min

Tycoons get PCC nod for $3.3-B LNG deal

The Philippines' drive toward energy security and sustainability has received a major boost as the joint power venture among three of the country's biggest tycoons moves a step closer to completion.

3 mins

Bargain-hunting brings holiday cheer to market

Investors brought some holiday cheer to the local stock market ahead of a two-day break.

1 min

Phl to slap P60/MT fee on imported sugar alternatives

The government will slap a clearance fee of P60 per metric ton (MT) on imported sugar alternatives and other sugar-based products, including sucrose, flavored syrups and even white chocolates, as part of its efforts to monitor the entry of these imported commodities.

1 min

Getting water out of a dry towel

Almost every year, whenever my clients visit the Toyota Kaikan Museum in Toyota City, Aichi, we are often reminded of many basic lessons about the Toyota Production System (TPS), which includes a thought-provoking exhortation from management icon Taiichi Ohno (1912-1990). He said: \"People don't go to Toyota to work; they go there to think.\"

3 mins

Digital transformation for 2025 and beyond

The Philippines is entering an exciting phase of digital transformation, poised to unlock opportunities that could reshape its economic and social future.

3 mins

GT Capital ushering in 2025 with leadership changes in Federal Land

GT Capital Holdings Inc., the listed holding company of the Ty Group, is ushering in the new year with key leadership role changes in its property arm Federal Land Inc.

1 min

BOI certifies P4.5 T projects for green lane processing

The government has certified P4.51 trillion worth of projects to go through green lane services for faster processing of licenses and permits, according to the Board of Investments (BOI).

1 min

Yuchengco switches on solar farm in Nueva Ecija

The Yuchengco Group has activated the San Jose Solar plant in Nueva Ecija, its second utility-scale solar facility integrated into the national grid this year.

1 min

Barcode technology for health care pushed

Local barcode standards GS1 Philippines is advocating for the use of barcode technology in health care to streamline workflow for health professionals, enhancing patient safety.

2 mins

SEC readies rules on crypto-assets service providers

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued its draft guidelines that will govern the conduct of crypto-assets service providers in the country.

2 mins

Cebu Pacific sets daily record high

Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific has set its highest passenger volume in a day, reaching more than 83,000 as propelled by the holiday spike for air travel.

1 min

Iloilo airport runway shutdown disrupts flights

The Iloilo International Airport yesterday resumed normal operations following the closure of its runway that resulted in flight interruptions for at least 1,300 passengers.

1 min

AFTER HEALTH SCARE, GARY V IS NOT RETIRING YET

\"I WASN'T SURE IF I could do this concert tonight after battling with severe hydration,\" said Gary Valenciano onstage Sunday night for the second performance schedule of \"Pure Energy: One Last Time\" at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

5 mins

The Dawn releases first-ever Christmas song in almost 40 years

The Christmas holidays are a time for families to get together and celebrate together. Happily, conflict-free, drama-free.

3 mins

HOW RURU MADRID MANIFESTED MMFF DEBUT

Ruru Madrid was grateful for being given the opportunity to star in his first Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry as prison guard Xavier Gonzaga in \"Green Bones.\"

3 mins

Why 2024 became Taylor Swift's year

2024 will forever be remembered as the year when Taylor Swift soared up to where no music star has gone before.

2 mins

Christmas brings back memories

I write this after the University of the Philippines' Fighting Maroons clinched the UAAP men's basketball championship, and after a UP Law graduate (Kyle Christian Tutor) topped the Bar exams.

3 mins

'Also Filipino'

Chef and food writer Angelo Comsti has written five books. His first book was a recipe book on edible gifts made for Christmas. The rest of his books are all Filipino cookbooks.

2 mins

A Christmas full of hope

Many of us are probably excited about the many get-togethers we will be attending with family and friends, the delicious food that we will get to feast on, and the wonderful presents that we will give and receive.

1 min

Is work stress driving your blood pressure up?

Hardworking, dependable, resilient, resourceful — just four of the many words used to describe what Filipinos are like on the job.

2 mins

Why nutrition education is important

Unilever and the Department of Education (DepEd) have signed a landmark memorandum of agreement to launch a nutrition education initiative aimed at public school students, teachers, and parents across the country.

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.