The Philippine Star - January 03, 2025

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January 03, 2025

In the era of AI, here comes Gen Beta

Imagine a generation crossing into the 22nd century. For the Generation Beta or babies born this year, they will likely still be alive – then 76 years old – by the dawn of the next century in 2101.

2 mins

VP Impeachment: Numbers in House, but not in Senate

Impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte will likely get the support or one-third of the House of Representatives, according to Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.

2 mins

Classes in public schools resume

Classes in public elementary and high schools resumed yesterday after almost two weeks of holiday break.

1 min

Gov't Loses 'Pork,' Coco Levy Cases

The year 2024 saw the conclusion of some of the biggest cases filed before the Sandiganbayan, including the decade-old plunder charges over the pork barrel scam and the 37-year-old wealth forfeiture complaints against the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and his wife, former first lady Imelda Marcos, which stemmed from the alleged misuse of the coco levy funds during martial law.

4 mins

Budget releases must comply with DBM rules

Increases in appropriations and new budgetary items introduced in the 2025 national budget will only be released once the concerned agencies comply with necessary requirements, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clarified yesterday.

4 mins

House Vows Oversight in 2025

There will be no letup in investigations in aid of legislation, according to leaders of the House of Representatives yesterday.

1 min

Seizure of POGO assets, cancellation of birth records begin

With the ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) in effect, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) will start the proceedings for the seizure of their illegally acquired real properties and other assets in the country, as well as the cancellation of fraudulent birth certificates issued to their foreign owners.

2 mins

'Rains to persist in Phl'

Rains will persist nationwide due to intertropical convergence zone, shear line and northeast monsoon, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

1 min

Marcos to preside over first full Cabinet meeting

President Marcos and his officials will tackle the administration's key projects at the first full Cabinet meeting of the year to be held next week.

1 min

Suspect nabbed in slay of Pinoy in Kuwait

The prime suspect in the killing of a Filipina worker in Kuwait is now under police custody, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said yesterday.

1 min

DILG closes P13-M trust fund accounts

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has closed four trust fund accounts with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), amounting to over P12.98 million, in compliance with recommendations from the Commission on Audit (COA).

1 min

Firecracker-related injuries reach 534

The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded over 500 firecracker-related injuries two days after the New Year's Eve revelry.

3 mins

QC bettor greets 2025 as lotto millionaire

A bettor in Quezon City welcomed the New Year as a millionaire after winning the P57-million jackpot in the Mega Lotto 6/45 on Wednesday night.

1 min

Retail price of pork soars to P430/kilo

The retail price of pork reached as high as P430 per kilo due to the impact of African swine fever (ASF) and increase in demand during the holidays, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.

1 min

487 NCRPO Cops Undergo Drug Test

Up to 487 personnel of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) were subjected to random drug tests yesterday.

1 min

MM air pollution exceeds normal quality - EMB

Air pollution in Metro Manila exceeded the normal guideline value by 160 percent as haze enveloped skies amid the New Year's Eve revelry, the Environmental Management Bureau said yesterday.

1 min

Over 14,000 Cops to Secure Traslación

Over 14,000 police officers and other security personnel will secure the annual traslación during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.

1 min

QC Deploys More Electric Buses

Quezon City's free bus program is now more environment-friendly as the local government started the pilot test of six brand-new electric buses yesterday.

1 min

Doable solutions

After smelling like roses for much of 2024, all the impressive investigations conducted by the House and Senate committees went up in smoke in the final weeks of December.

4 mins

'Affordable fashion' is the new status symbol

Step aside Hermes idolaters, Walmart has just stepped on your toes and sensibilities.

4 mins

Social injustice

Small-scale rice farmers are groaning from the flood of imports following the drastic cut in tariffs, as part of a so far futile effort of the government to bring down rice prices.

2 mins

The 'republic of investigations'

In their individual self-assessment or \"report card\" of sorts, the respective top leaders of the 19th Congress credited themselves with so much legislative accomplishments.

4 mins

After BBM's Cosmetic Veto, Budget Still Crookedest Ever

\"Veto\" was a brand of underarm cream in the 1960s. President Bongbong Marcos' partial veto of the 2025 budget attempts to deodorize.

3 mins

Food tourism is dead; something more interesting is emerging

I eagerly awaited my reservation last year at Rekondo in San Sebastián, Spain – another predictable, if excellent, stop on the well-worn food tourist circuit. At my table, I lost myself in a wine list thick as a phone book, each page heavy with forgotten Riojas, until the pristine hake kokotxas arrived.

4 mins

Hope does not disappoint

As we enter a new year, we enter into a renewed spirit of hope. Reflecting on the words of St. Paul the apostle while addressing the Christians in Rome, we are reminded that the deeper our faith, the more difficult it is for hope to be overthrown and turned into disappointment.

3 mins

'New law can void SC ruling on municipal waters'

A new law is needed to overrule a decision of the Supreme Court (SC) allowing commercial fishing vessels to fish in municipal waters, according to former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor.

1 min

Angat Dam operators asked to delay release of excess water

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has asked the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) and the Angat technical working group to allow the elevation in Angat Dam in Bulacan to reach 215 meters before releasing excess water.

1 min

Rules on state workers' medical allowance OK'd

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the guidelines for the grant of medical allowance to qualified civilian employees of the government starting this year.

1 min

Navy to probe underwater drone found in Masbate

The Philippine Navy has taken custody of an underwater drone that was recovered in the waters off Masbate early this week.

1 min

Fiji Probes Alleged Sex Assault of Virgin Australia Crew

Fiji police are investigating allegations of theft and sexual assault on two Virgin Australia crew members in the early hours of New Year's Day, the government said Thursday.

1 min

Meghan Returns to IG, Posts New Year's Video

Meghan (in photo), the duchess of Sussex, is starting the new year with her first Instagram account since 2020.

1 min

Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside ONLY Trump Las Vegas hotel

A Tesla Cybertruck exploded in fl ames outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on Wednesday, killing the driver and injuring seven others, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was investigating whether the blast was an act of terrorism, offi cials said.

1 min

Cosmetic surgery aficionado Jocelyne Wildenstein dies at 79

Swiss socialite Jocelyne Wildenstein, also known as \"catwoman\" due to her extensive plastic surgery, has died aged 79, her partner said on Wednesday.

1 min

Syria FM Hopes First Visit to Saudi Opens 'New Page'

Syria's top diplomat said he hoped to open a \"new, bright page\" with Saudi Arabia upon arriving in the kingdom Wednesday, the first foreign visit for Syria's new rulers, who seized power last month.

1 min

Driver flying ISIS flag rams into New Orleans crowd

A US Army veteran fl ying an ISIS fl ag from his truck swerved around makeshift barriers and plowed into New Orleans’ crowded French Quarter on New Year’s Day, killing 15 people in an attack offi cials said may have been carried out with the help of others.

1 min

US probing if New Orleans attack, Tesla truck blast linked

US President Joe Biden said law enforcement offi cials were looking for any additional people who may have played a part in the attack in New Orleans that left at least 15 people dead, according to a report in Bloomberg.

1 min

SoKor's Yoon vows to fight 'until end'

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol has sent a letter rallying his supporters, saying he would \"fight until the end\" as he faces an attempt by authorities to arrest him over his short-lived Dec. 3 martial law, a lawyer said yesterday.

1 min

Israeli airstrike kills 10 in southern Gaza, medics say

An Israeli airstrike killed at least 10 Palestinians in a tent encampment sheltering displaced families in the southern Gaza strip early yesterday, medics said.

1 min

Lantern workshop makes snakes cute for Lunar New Year

The brightly lit snake lanterns coil from oversized heads that don't fit the usual image of the slithery reptile - they are cute.

1 min

12 Dead in Montenegro Restaurant Shooting

A gunman killed at least 12 people, including two minors, Wednesday in a village restaurant in southern Montenegro, near the town of Cetinje, the interior minister said.

1 min

South Korea police raid Jeju Air, airport over fatal crash

South Korean police yesterday raided the offices of Jeju Air and the operator of Muan International Airport as part of the probe into the fatal crash of a Boeing 737-800 plane that killed 179 people.

1 min

YULO IS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 points and Josh Hart delivered his second straight triple-double to propel the New York Knicks to their ninth straight NBA victory on Wednesday, 119-103 over the Utah Jazz.

2 mins

Converge comes together

The outlook was just a matter of time before Converge lived up to its name and now, the FiberXers are coming together to make a serious push for the PBA Commissioner's Cup playoffs.

1 min

Alex marches to Canberra semis

Red-hot Alex Eala essayed a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 comeback win over home bet Taylah Preston to march on to the Final Four of the Workday Canberra International yesterday in Australia.

1 min

Overseas prospects

The lure of playing basketball overseas is extremely tempting with high salaries and an expatriate lifestyle on the table.

2 mins

Nine Months to FIVB Men's World Championship

Preparations shift to the next higher gear as the countdown dwindles to nine months for the Philippines' first-ever solo hosting of the FIVB Men's World Championship (MWCH) 2025.

1 min

TCC Invitational gathers elite field

The ICTSI The Country Club Invitational marks its 20th staging on Jan. 28-31, bringing together the Philippines' top golfing talents in a high-stakes battle at the challenging TCC course in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

1 min

NAIA passengers breach 50-M mark, highest on record

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) attained the 50-million mark in passenger traffic for the first time in history in 2024, a new record high for the country's main gateway.

1 min

Factory activity hits 32-month high in Dec

Factory activity in the country ended 2024 on a high note, growing at its quickest pace in over two-and-a-half years, matching its pre-pandemic level, on the back of robust holiday demand.

1 min

2025 Budget May Fall Short of Social Goals - Think Tank

The Philippines' 2025 national budget may fail to deliver on critical social goals despite President Marcos' promises of improved education, healthcare, and food security, according to New York-based think tank GlobalSource Partners.

2 mins

Stocks Kick Off 2025 on Positive Note

The local stock market was off to a good start this year, finishing the first trading session of 2025 in positive territory.

1 min

DOF Lauds State-Run Banks for Strong Financial Standing

The Department of Finance (DOF) has commended the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for maintaining robust financial positions, despite their contributions to the Maharlika Investment Fund.

1 min

GSIS allocates P8.6 B for emergency loans

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has set aside nearly P8.6 billion worth of emergency loans for members and pensioners in Luzon affected by various typhoons.

2 mins

Landbank retains status as top GOCC, bags multiple awards for governance

Land Bank of the Philippines was named the top government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) for the second consecutive year, earning the highest rating for corporate governance in 2023 from the Governance Commission of GOCCs (GCG).

1 min

Higher SSS Contributions Could Impact Pinoys' Disposable Income

The recent increase in Social Security System (SSS) contributions has sparked concerns about its impact on household and business incomes, particularly for lower-income earners and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

1 min

Cultural models

There was this posting on X that revealed \"only 31 percent of American 8th graders are proficient in reading... 30 percent are below basic readers or functionally illiterate. And only 27 percent of 8th graders are proficient in math. Hiring American workers is more difficult because our education system is failing.\"

4 mins

EastWest Bank Extends Partnership with Unioil

Gotianun-led East West Banking Corp. has renewed its exclusive partnership with Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. to help its credit cardholders save on fuel costs.

1 min

LT Group Starting 2025 With Optimism

LT Group Inc. of taipan Lucio Tan is starting the year with optimism following another strong performance in 2024.

1 min

Ferronoux Welcomes New Key Executives

Ferronoux Holdings Inc. is kicking off the new year with new key executives as part of a change in ownership in the company.

2 mins

DigiPlus Secures License for Online Games in Brazil

Digital entertainment company DigiPlus Interactive Corp. is all set for its maiden international expansion, having secured the license for its foray in Brazil's gaming market.

1 min

Things I Miss

I was initially thinking of writing a business column for today since it is already a work day and the business community is mostly back from that long, two-week holiday we just had.

5 mins

Singapore economy beats forecasts, grows 4% in 2024

Singapore's economy beat forecasts to grow four percent in 2024 despite a slowdown in the fourth quarter, preliminary government data showed yesterday.

1 min

World Bank to double agribusiness commitment by 2030

The World Bank plans to double its commitment to the agribusiness sector to $9 billion each year by 2030 as part of a push to create jobs in developing economies, the bank's president said.

1 min

OpenAI Outlines Plans to Becoming For-Profit

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has laid out plans for a new corporate structure, shifting away from control by a non-profit — an issue of contention for the artificial intelligence trailblazer.

1 min

Number of Homeless in US Hits Record High

The number of people in the United States experiencing homelessness reached a new record last year, with lingering inflation and high housing prices among likely drivers, a government report said Friday.

1 min

Asia stock trades start 2025 on cautious note

Asian stocks began 2025 mostly in the red yesterday after worries about US interest rates, tariffs and China's economy gave Wall Street the holiday blues for a fourth straight session.

1 min

Bulgaria, Romania Join Schengen Travel Zone

Ceremonies were held just before midnight Tuesday to mark Bulgaria's and Romania's full membership in Europe's Schengen area, the culmination of years of negotiations by the Eastern European countries to join the ID check-free travel zone.

2 mins

PLDT: More safeguards needed for telco infra

Telco giant PLDT Inc. has committed to scale up collaboration and efforts to protect technology assets from natural disasters and man-made troubles that could interrupt services on a large scale.

1 min

LOUIS VUITTON X MURAKAMI: MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER COMEBACK

The re-edition does not merely replicate the past; it celebrates and evolves it.

4 mins

The case for loving life, in all its mess and mundanity

A week before Christmas, in perhaps the most anticlimactic near-death experience of all time, I think I was bitten by a stray dog.

4 mins

Randomantic After Hours: Party with Kehlani, James Reid, and More at the Plus63 Festival

The festival will be headlined by Grammy-nominated R&B artist Kehlani, supported by Jenevieve and local acts James Reid, Mrld, and Jolianne.

1 min

What do you hope for in 2025?

How else can we better welcome the New Year than with hope in our hearts. Hope makes us dream a dream. And dream some more.

3 mins

Surrender, accept, de-clutter, live!

This year, I resolve not to be a control freak, to surrender when I know I have no control over things, and to de-clutter.

4 mins

MIGUEL TANFELIX BREAKS AWAY FROM LOVE TEAMS IN HARD-ACTION PROJECT 'BATANG RILES'

Sparkle GMA Artist Center actor Miguel Tanfelix ventures into action-drama via “Mga Batang Riles,” essaying the character named Kidlat, who grows up in the depressed and impoverished community of Sitio Liwanag.

3 mins

Barbie Forteza Bids 'Beautiful Goodbye' to 7-Year Relationship with Jak Roberto

JakBie no more.

1 min

NADINE LUSTRE EYES MORE MUSIC, FILMS, ENTREPRENEURIAL PURSUITS THIS 2025

\"Uninvited\" star Nadine Lustre is stepping into 2025 with a \"clear\" vision—not just for her showbiz endeavors but also for her business ventures.

3 mins

Aicelle Santos on the miracle of 'Isang Himala': 'We have a story to tell'

Aicelle Santos, the lead actress in the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) fourth Best Picture \"Isang Himala,\" hoped that the musical film would touch the lives of the moviegoers after they watched it.

3 mins

Celebrating Milestones This 2024 With The Country's Largest Homebuilder, Camella

Camella marks a year of significant milestones under the leadership of Vista Land, the Philippines' leading integrated property developer.

3 mins

PH PROPERTY MARKET IN 2025: KNOW YOUR DEMAND BEFORE YOU EXPAND

The Metro Manila condominium market continues to see challenges, as I highlighted in my previous column last December 20.

3 mins

2025 Rent Increase Capped at 2.3 Percent

THE RENTAL CAP IS BEING IMPLEMENTED TO SAFEGUARD HOUSING TENANTS IN LOWER-INCOME BRACKETS AND OTHER BENEFICIARIES FROM EXCESSIVE RENT INCREASES.

2 mins

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