Manila Bulletin - April 21, 2025

In this issue

Holy Week travelers return in droves; Security, safety measures remain in place — PNP
ICC chamber rejects Duterte defense team’s bid to limit acceptable IDs for kin of drug war victims
AMLC help sought on P200-M cryptocurrency paid in Que kidnapping

AMLC help sought on P200-M cryptocurrency paid in Que kidnapping

Police investigators are now coordinating with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and other government agencies to conduct an extensive money trail involving around P200 million worth of cryptocurrency that was sent in multiple tranches in relation to the kidnapping of businessman Anson Que.

4 mins

Holy Week travelers return in droves

Security, safety measures remain in place - PNP

2 mins

Pope Francis: Be messengers of hope

Pope Francis called on the faithful to reflect and become messengers and builders of hope \"even as so many winds of death still buffet us.\"

3 mins

ICC chamber rejects Duterte defense team's bid to limit acceptable IDs for kin of drug war victims

The Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) rejected former president Rodrigo Duterte's defense team's proposal to limit the acceptable identity documents for relatives of the victims of the drug war, and instead will allow various types of government IDs for their participation in the proceedings.

4 mins

PH Coast Guard names first-ever female spokesperson

Remember her name: Captain Noemie Guirao-Cayabyab, of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

1 min

Death toll from capsized sand carrier hits 7; 4 remain missing

One more body was recovered from the capsized sand carrier MV Hong Hai 16 in the waters off Rizal, Occidental Mindoro on Black Saturday, April 19, raising the death toll from the incident to seven.

1 min

82% of road crash victims during Holy Week weren't wearing helmets, seatbelts

At least 288 road crashes were recorded nationwide from April 13 to 17, and 82 percent of those involved were not wearing helmets or seatbelts, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Saturday, April 19.

1 min

Suspect in string of robbery cases targeting foreigners arrested

A 23-year-old man allegedly targeting foreigners in Metro Manila landed in jail following his arrest when he tried to sell an expensive watch he stole from a Chinese businessman in Quezon City to a poseur buyer, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said.

1 min

Ani ng tagumpay

SM Foundation KSK farmers reap the rewards of Henry Sy, Sr.'s ideals

2 mins

They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage

Easter grace is something we can always approach. It is also something which we can turn away from.

3 mins

Becoming an everyday hero: Embracing acts of kindness and purpose

During the annual Araw ng Kagitingan, we paused to honor the remarkable heroism of Filipino and American soldiers who bravely fought and sacrificed during the Battle of Bataan. We also paid tribute to the survivors who endured the harrowing Death March. Their courage continues to inspire us and serves as a reminder to cherish and remember our wartime heroes.

1 min

From NEDA to DEPDev: Need for transformation

Economic planning as the key to sustained national development has been boosted by the signing into law by President Marcos of Republic Act No. 12145 that officially transformed the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) into the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev).

2 mins

The spiritual foundation of the Filipino soldier during Holy Week

As the nation observed the solemnity of Holy Week, a profound period of reflection and renewal for many Filipinos, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reaffirmed its commitment not only to defend the nation’s sovereignty, but also to uphold the values that make its service noble and humane. For the Filipino soldier, Holy Week is more than just a religious observance—it is a reminder of the spiritual and moral compass that must guide every action, every mission, and every decision in and out of uniform.

3 mins

ASEAN forum on inclusive financial well-being

I had the honor of joining the ASEAN Forum on Inclusive Financial Well-being on April 8, upon the invitation of Governor Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). Held in Kuala Lumpur, the forum was a sideline event of the 2025 ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM) and highlighted the role of financial well-being in driving sustainable growth.

2 mins

Ukraine wary of Putin's Easter truce

Ukraine said it would reciprocate any genuine ceasefire by Moscow, but voiced skepticism after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter truce in Ukraine starting Saturday.

1 min

Netanyahu says Israel has 'no choice' but to continue fighting in Gaza

DEIR EL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said again Saturday that Israel has “no choice” but to continue fighting in Gaza and will not end the war before destroying Hamas, freeing the hostages and ensuring that the territory won’t present a threat to Israel.

1 min

2 dead, 14 hurt in seven-vehicle collision

Two persons were killed and 14 individuals were injured when a delivery van lost its brakes and rammed six vehicles in a chain collision on Black Saturday in front of a police station in Dumalinao municipality, Zamboanga del Sur province.

1 min

Bacolod diocese mourns loss of lives in procession crash

BACOLOD CITY - The Diocese of Bacolod is mourning the death of three individuals in a road accident during a Good Friday evening procession in Barangay Alangilan here.

2 mins

5.9-quake rocks Sultan Kudarat, triggers series of aftershocks

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that a magnitude-5.9 earthquake jolted Sultan Kudarat on Easter Sunday, April 20, shaking several parts of Mindanao and triggering dozens of aftershocks.

1 min

AMLC help sought on ₱200-M cryptocurrency paid in Que kidnapping

The slay of Que was not a random act of kidnap-for-ransom but a calculated kidnap-for-hire operation, PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said on Sunday, April 20.

1 min

Concio prevails

International Master Michael Concio, Jr. smashed Chinese teen Zhang Haoxuan in 63 moves of a Queen’s Pawn London System to jump to a share of fifth place after

1 min

Taipower electrifies

Kaohsiung — Taipower wasted no time making a statement in the 2025 AVC Women’s Club Volleyball Championship dismantling Hong Kong’s Hip Hing, in a clinical 25-10, 25-16, 25-14 sweep Sunday morning, April 20, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

1 min

Wolves mangle Lakers in playoffs series opener

Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points, Naz Reid added 23 with six 3-pointers, and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame Luka Doncic's 37-point Lakers playoff debut for a 117-95 victory over Los Angeles on Saturday night, April 19.

1 min

Low sugar prices hurting farmers

The Philippines' sugar production is projected to remain flat next year, even as farmers face declining mill site prices due to the commodity's stable supply, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

2 mins

Garments giant eyes Philippine expansion amid low US tariffs

A Hong Kong-based garments company is looking to expand its manufacturing capacity in the Philippines to take advantage of the country's relatively low tariff rates once the postponed reciprocal tariffs are lifted after 90 days.

2 mins

Jumbo BSP interest rate cuts seen

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to cut key interest rates by an additional 100 basis points (bps) for the remainder of 2025 to arrest potentially slower economic growth as a result of the intensifying global trade war.

1 min

Gaisano’s Metro Retail profit dips

GAisano-led Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI) reported a 1.4-percent dip in its income to P609.42 million last year, from the P618.02 million earned in 2023, due to non-cash charges driven by its ongoing expansion program.

1 min

Lopez Holdings earnings surge

Lopez Holdings Corp. reported a 123-percent surge in attributable net income to P6.34 billion last year, from the P2.85 billion earned in 2023, due to a lower equity share in the net losses of broadcast giant ABS-CBN Corp.

1 min

More Gen Z shoppers troop to SM

SM Investments Corp.’s retail arm, SM Retail Inc. reported that its efforts to tap into the rapidly growing Gen Z demographic as a new consumer market is bearing fruit.

2 mins

Practical ways to keep your kids off social media

Giving social media access to your kids early is — without a doubt — a bad idea. Social media is addictive, hurts your child’s mental health, exposes them to inappropriate content and cyberbully-ing, disrupts sleep, and makes them vulnerable to privacy risks and online predators.

4 mins

6 ways innovation thrives in Dyson

Problem-solvers of the world. This is how technology firm Dyson looks at its engineers.

4 mins

Italpinas doubles sales, profit

Real estate firm Italpinas Development Corp. (IDC) more than doubled its net income to P376.8 million last year, reflecting a 102.2-percent increase from the P186.3 million earned in 2023, due to cost reduction and increase in land values.

1 min

Nora Aunor: Larger than life, even in death

In death, as she was in her lifetime, Nora Aunor proved to be larger than, well, life itself.

4 mins

Karla Sofia Gascon lands first role after awards season mishap

Oscar nominee Karla Sofia Gascon is finally back on track after being involved in a serious controversy during the awards season.

1 min

Funding the dream of Filipino filmmakers

Last month, we were at the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market(FILMART) to check the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) where Isabel Sandoval's newest project, \"Moonglow,\" was in the Work-in-Progress (WIP) section.

3 mins

Through the eyes of Lourdes Cabrera's 'Earth Garden'

A hauntingly beautiful look into nature's hidden truths

2 mins

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