The Philippine Star - November 23, 2024

In this issue

November 23, 2024

VP visits detained aide, spends night at House

Sara to stay put until chief of staff freed

6 mins

Lawyers required to render 60-hour pro bono service

The Supreme Court (SC) has approved the Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS) rules, requiring all covered lawyers to render 60 hours of pro bono legal service every three years to indigent Filipinos who cannot afford legal representation.

2 mins

Fuel prices going up again next week

Pump prices of petroleum products are expected to increase again next week, marking the fourth hike in five weeks.

1 min

Sara dared: Stop using OVP staff as 'bulletproof vests'

Leaders of the House of Representatives’ “Young Guns” criticized Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday for what they described as a blatant attempt to dodge accountability by using her staff as a “buffer” to deflect scrutiny over her alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

1 min

Pagasa forecasts fair, hot weather

Fair and hot weather is forecast for Metro Manila and most parts of the country today, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

1 min

Gov't execs helping POGOs operate underground

Sen. Risa Hontiveros has sounded the alarm that certain government officials are in cahoots with Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) so they could go underground and skirt President Marcos' ban.

1 min

Asean defense chiefs push for SCS Code of Conduct

Defense chiefs of all 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have renewed their commitment to work together \"in a constructive and peaceful manner to maintain the South China Sea (SCS) as a sea of peace, stability and prosperity.\"

2 mins

Pasig court extends Quiboloy's medical furlough

Controversial evangelist Apollo Quiboloy is back in the hospital today after a Pasig court granted his request for an extension of his medical furlough.

2 mins

Former Abu Sayyaf members reintegrated in society

Four former members of the Abu Sayyaf have returned to mainstream society after serving time in prison, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said yesterday.

1 min

Police secure casino scammer in Indonesia prisoner swap

Police on Thursday secured the custody of casino junket operator Hector Aldwin Pantollana, who is allegedly involved in a multibillionpeso investment scam, in what appears to be a prisoner swap between the Philippines and Indonesia.

2 mins

Marcos appoints new Phl envoys, execs

President Marcos has appointed new officials under various agencies, the Presidential Communications Office announced yesterday.

1 min

P137.6 B in benefits paid this year - PhilHealth

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) paid a total of P137.6 billion in benefit claims to more than 12,000 accredited health care facilities nationwide this year.

1 min

Bato eyes SC relief if ICC issues warrant

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has confirmed his plan to seek judicial relief from the Supreme Court (SC) if the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues a warrant for his arrest.

1 min

DSWD to temporarily stop guarantee letters

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will temporarily stop issuing guarantee letters (GLs) to seekers of aid or ayuda before the year ends to make way for account settlement and annual liquidation.

1 min

Marcos erases P1-B agrarian debts of 21,000 Isabela farmers

President Marcos yesterday distributed at least 25,000 certificates of condonation and release of mortgage (CoCROM), erasing the P1 billion in agrarian debts of 21,000 farmers in Isabela.

3 mins

Senator wants to increase OVP budget

Sen. Joel Villanueva yesterday said he would support calls in the Senate to augment the approved P733.2-million budget of Vice President Sara Duterte.

1 min

SUC land to be used for raising seeds

Fertile lands owned by state universities and colleges (SUCs) would be tapped for raising seeds for high-value crops and increasing farmers' output, President Marcos said yesterday.

2 mins

ACT-CIS seen to win 3 congressional seats

The Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support Inc. (ACT-CIS) is expected to secure three congressional seats in the May 2025 elections with a 14.04 percent voter preference, according to the results of Tangere's survey on party-list this month.

1 min

Aberin named NCRPO chief

The Department of the Interior and Local Government DILG) has named Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin as the new chief of the National Capital Region Police Office NCRPO).

1 min

Trafficking victim caught with fake CFO papers

Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) recently intercepted a female trafficking victim attempting to use a fraudulent Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) certificate.

1 min

PNR to come back stronger

The management of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) has promised that the state-owned rail line would \"come back stronger\" amid the challenges, both natural and man-made, that it faced this year.

1 min

Two dead, 15 families homeless in QC fire

Two people died in a fire that hit a residential area in Quezon City on Thursday afternoon.

1 min

29,211 barangays cleared of illegal drugs

Up to 29,211 barangays have been cleared of illegal drugs under the Marcos administration, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said yesterday.

1 min

House sleep-in

What would happen if a member of the House of Representatives visited the Office of the Vice President, and then decided to stay in the premises overnight, without bothering to seek permission from the OVP?

2 mins

Solomonic

Mary Jane Veloso, convicted drug trafficker, will be returning home soon.

3 mins

Lessons in food waste

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

4 mins

How Trump can earn a place in history that he did not expect

Does Donald Trump's return to the presidency herald the end of US pressure on Israelis and Palestinians for a two-state solution? Not necessarily; it depends on which Donald Trump occupies the White House.

5 mins

Trump 2.0 and the Philippines

\"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,\" Donald Trump happily announced on election night.

4 mins

Marcos Jr. gifts deeper military presence to US

Within two-and-a-half years in Malacañang, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has practically gifted the United States its intent to re-establish a deeper and stronger military presence and influence in the Philippines.

4 mins

Isabela gov admits absence during onslaught of 6 typhoons

Gov. Rodolfo Albano III yesterday admitted his absence when six successive typhoons hit Isabela, saying he almost got suspended for traveling abroad while his province was being battered by cyclones.

1 min

DOH records 4 mpox cases in Calabarzon

Four new cases of mpox were recorded in the Calabarzon region, the Department of Health said.

1 min

BBM: BARMM poll deferment under review

President Marcos yesterday said a review on the possible postponement of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections is ongoing amid the recent decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to exclude Sulu from BARMM.

1 min

Pope approves simplified papal funerals

Pope Francis has simplified papal funeral rituals to better reflect the head of the Catholic Church's status as a humble pastor rather than a \"person of power,\" the Vatican said.

1 min

Putin says Ukraine war going global

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the Ukraine war was escalating toward a global conflict after the United States and Britain allowed Ukraine to hit Russia with their weapons, and warned the West that Moscow could strike back.

1 min

Brazil police accuse Bolsonaro, ex-ministers of 2022 coup plot

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro plotted a coup to overturn the 2022 election along with dozens of ex-ministers and senior aides, federal police said in a formal accusation filed on Thursday with the country's Supreme Court.

1 min

Actor Jussie Smollett's conviction for staged attack overturned

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned actor Jussie Smollett's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and lying to Chicago police, saying he should not have been charged a second time after reaching a deal with prosecutors.

1 min

Israel strikes kill 52 in Lebanon

BEIRUT (AFP) - Lebanon said Israeli strikes on Thursday on the country's east and south killed 52 people, as raids also hit south Beirut and Hezbollah claimed its deepest attack on Israel in over a year.

1 min

Rosé, Bruno Mars to perform 'APT' live for first time

TOKYO (AFP) - K-pop star Rosé and Bruno Mars will perform live their viral megahit \"APT\" for the first time on Friday at an award ceremony in Japan's Osaka, the event organizer said.

1 min

Trump picks Bondi for attorney general after Gaetz withdraws

US president-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday he would nominate former Florida attorney general and loyalist Pam Bondi to be US attorney general, moving swiftly to replace his former nominee Matt Gaetz after the embattled former congressman withdrew from consideration.

1 min

CONE: BEST YET TO COME

Gilas Pilipinas is making one history after another despite not reaching full-strength status in its initial run so far.

2 mins

Make or break for Falcons

Adamson fights for dear life against also-ran Ateneo today and will try to force a knockout match with the University of the East for the last Final Four ticket in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

1 min

Jordan's new heading

THE GAME OF MY LIFE

1 min

Vargas goes 'all the way' for Tolentino

Former Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas has given his full, unbending support to his successor Abraham Tolentino when the latter runs for reelection on Nov. 29.

1 min

Lady Bulldogs near SSL three-peat

Games tomorrow (Rizal Memorial Coliseum) 1 p.m. - UST vs FEU (Battle for third) 5 p.m. - NU vs La Salle (Finals)

1 min

Brownlee stands tall, proud vs New Zealand

The euphoria of the Philippines' 93-89 shocker over long-time tormentor New Zealand in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers worked as a balm for wounded Justin Brownlee.

1 min

NCAA Final Four unfolds

Four teams, one seeking to preserve championship tradition and the other three aiming to establish new order, see action in today's NCAA Season 100 Final Four at the Cuneta Astrodome.

1 min

ASICS 'RnR' draws 9,000 runners

The streets of Manila will light up with excitement as the ASICS Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Manila presented by AIA fires off at 10 p.m. tonight with over 9,000 runners representing 62 countries, making its third edition the largest yet.

1 min

State agencies' cash usage remains at 94%

AS OF END-OCTOBER

1 min

Over 14,000 MW of committed projects to boost grid - DOE

Power projects with a total capacity of 14,022.55 megawatts (MW) are expected to reinforce the national grid by 2030, more than half of which will come from renewables.

1 min

Stocks plunge anew on profit taking

Share prices ended the week in the red as investors continued to take profits.

1 min

MPTC bares new leadership in business units

More leadership changes have taken place in Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) following the appointment of Arrey Perez as its new president and chief operating officer and its chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan as interim chief executive officer.

1 min

A case for entrepreneurial leadership

More than half a year ago, in my leadership seminars, participants would laugh and love the session, while others wondered why I presented Taylor Swift as a case study on entrepreneurial leadership.

3 mins

SFA Semicon to proceed with voluntary delisting

SFA Semicon Philippines Corp. (SSP) is set to push through with its voluntary delisting from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) following the successful completion of a tender offer by its parent company SFA Semicon Co. Ltd. (SFA Korea).

1 min

DigiPlus allots P660 M for overseas expansion

Digital entertainment company DigiPlus Interactive Corp. has initially earmarked P660 million for its maiden international expansion.

1 min

VITRO fortifies network infra at Sta Rosa data center

PLDT unit VITRO Inc. has further enhanced the network diversity and redundancy of its Sta. Rosa hyperscale data center following the activation of its network infrastructure.

1 min

APRI, SDEPCI sign contract for new hybrid BESS project in Laguna

On November 7, 2024, AP Renewables Inc. (APRI), the geothermal arm of Aboitiz Power Corporation, together with Aboitiz Renewables Inc. (ARI), signed an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract with Shandong Electric Power Engineering Consulting Institute Co. Ltd (SDEPCI) to build the Bay Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project in Barangay Bitin in Bay, Laguna, introducing a powerful new storage system to APRI's existing portfolio of energy assets.

1 min

DOF in talks with JP Morgan to boost Phl capital market

The Department of Finance (DOF) held a high-level meeting with JP Morgan officials recently to discuss areas of collaboration that can strengthen the Philippine capital market, including the potential inclusion of government-issued securities in the JP Morgan Bond Index.

1 min

Visa launches program to help MSMEs in Baguio

Global payments platform Visa has partnered with Thames International and the City Government of Baguio to boost the digitalization of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as promote tourism growth.

1 min

Prices of construction materials up in October

Metro Manila's retail prices of construction materials in October posted their fastest growth rate in over a year due to higher increases in four commodity groups.

1 min

Emirates launches retail store concept in Manila

Emirates is reinforcing its presence in the Philippines by investing in a retail store to serve its customers better.

2 mins

Good for the nation

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Public-Private Partnership (NAIA PPP) has created a blueprint for future airport deals, not only in the Philippines but in Southeast Asia and other countries as well, with its robust risk mitigation strategies and the integration of social safeguards and sustainability measures, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

3 mins

PCC conducts deeper review of GCash parent's acquisition of ECPay

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) is conducting a deeper probe on the proposed acquisition of electronic payment platform Electronic Commerce Payments Inc. (ECPay) by the parent firm of mobile wallet GCash.

1 min

Skyro disburses P5.2 B in loans to Filipinos nationwide

A total of P5.2 billion in consumer loans was disbursed by Skyro, one of the fastest growing financial technology (fintech) companies in the country, from its launch in the Philippines in August 2022 until September 2024.

2 mins

Gov't seizes P28 M fake medicines, health products

The government has confiscated P28 million worth of fake medicines and other health products as of September under a campaign led by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to step up efforts against counterfeiting in the health sector.

2 mins

'Gov't must hike, diversify agri budget'

The government must increase and diversify its investment in agriculture to boost food production and improve the country's food security amid local and global production woes, according to the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc.

2 mins

Airfares steady in Dec with fuel surcharge unchanged

Travelers will not see any adjustments in their airfares next month as fuel surcharges that airlines are allowed to collect will remain the same.

1 min

Bigger climate finance share for farmers sought

The 29th Conference of Parties (COP) leadership should address resource allocation disparities by providing farmers and fisherfolk a bigger share of available climate financing to help them cope with the ill effects of climate change, according to non-government organization Rice Watch and Action Network (R1).

1 min

Save the Children launches new campaign to provide relief after typhoons

As the Philippines reels from the aftermath of Typhoons Julian, Kristine, Leon, Marce and Nica battering the country in rapid succession, Save the Children Philippines is ramping up efforts to protect children and communities through the launch of the #LahatDapatSafe campaign.

1 min

RRHI ramping up store opening to boost revenue

Gokongwei-owned Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI) is targeting to ramp up its store openings to further boost the company's revenue growth in the next few years.

2 mins

CHASING THE AURORA IN ICELAND

In faraway Iceland, there exists a place of magic and mystery, of revelry and reverence, where worshipping and embracing the best that nature has to offer is inevitable.

4 mins

A TOAST TO ENDURING FRIENDSHIPS

A sparkling evening unfolded as the JL & Co.group celebrated the birthdays of Tiffany Cuña, Connie Haw, Joy Melendres, Angie Sison, and DMark Beauty Corporation CEO Nikki Tang in one of Canton Road's chic private rooms at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

1 min

A DELIGHTFUL EVENING WITH CHUCHI VILLAR

What was meant to be an intimate gathering turned into a heartwarming reunion as birthday celebrant Chuchi Villar welcomed an unexpected turnout of dear friends at Pardon My French restaurant in Makati City.

1 min

SkinStation Unveils 4D QuattroWave Laser

SkinStation, a trusted name in advanced skincare, introduces the 4D QuattroWave Laser.

1 min

GAME OF GROANS: HOW TO WIN SEATS IN A DIGITAL AGE

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've probably noticed that in recent years, more and more Filipinos have been gobbling up live entertainment like Pacman on Power Pellets: from sporting events to stage plays, from fan meets to concerts.

5 mins

CELEBS TALK ABOUT RISKS OF PIRACY AND CYBERCRIME

Since the early '90s, when compact discs (CDs) proliferated around, piracy became rampant. Undoubtedly, piracy has tremendously affected the local film industry, especially now, when in just a click of a button, one can easily access anything bootleg in software.

4 mins

'Wicked' fans, rejoicify! Erivo, Grande shine in lavish adaptation of Broadway classic

It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.

4 mins

Rahyan Carlos carries on calling to teach artists how to land jobs, win awards

To the various creatives he has worked with, Rahyan Carlos is known as a scriptwriter, a director, an acting coach, or an artist center head.

3 mins

WHAT'S NEXT FOR KIM SOO HYUN, JU JI HOON, OTHER K-DRAMA SUPERSTARS?

REAL KOREAN DRAMA FANS would know that a picture with Mickey Mouse is major.

3 mins

What makes life better?

Life, But Better The 100 List

2 mins

Evolve. Dazzle. Slay.

Having a finger on the pulse of pop culture isn't just for the youth—it's a vibrant world that welcomes everyone, whether you're Gen Z, millennial, or Gen X.

1 min

Indulge. Sip. Savor.

The Philippine food scene is something that's worth sinking your teeth into as it's not just seemingly limitless; it's also ever-evolving.

2 mins

Discover.Plan. Explore.

The world is full of incredible places waiting to be explored.

1 min

Heal.Thrive. Radiate.

Social media has transformed beauty into a enthusiast's dream.

1 min

Experience authentic Filipino Christmas in the McDonald's Drive-Thru lane

Like what Life has been for you in the past four years, let this list inspire your next move and be your trusty companion as you go out of the mundane, see more of the world, figure out what a \"better life\" means for you—and live it.

2 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.