Manila Bulletin - May 9, 2025

In this issue

Marcos: Help shape PH’s future by voting

an to Chiz slams Trump admin's plan send to Libya Filipinos facing deportation

Senate President Francis \"Chiz\" Escudero on Thursday, May 8, criticized United States President Donald Trump's plan to send to Libya Asian immigrants, including Filipinos, facing deportation, saying it would be \"cruel\" for his administration to export them to a third country known for human rights violations.

1 min

3-year national peace blueprint to end insurgency by 2028 adopted

Malacañang has adopted the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace, and Development (NAPUPD) 2025-2028 as the government's strategic blueprint for promoting sustainable peace and addressing insurgency in the country.

2 mins

PH posts 5.4% economic growth; among fastest in Asia

Undeterred by potential impacts from trade uncertainties, the national government said the Philippine economy remains strong, asserting that its first-quarter growth-though it failed to meet the government target-still ranked among the fastest in Asia.

3 mins

Marcos: Help shape PH's future by voting

OCD on heightened alert to ensure safe May 12 polls

2 mins

12,000 cops deployed

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampa nga More than 12,000 police officers from the Police Re gional Office-3 (PRO-3) have been deployed across various polling pre cincts in Central Luzon as part of intensi fied security preparations for the May 12 midterm elections.

1 min

Mayor Gomez files DQ case vs Kerwin Espinosa

Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez has filed a disqualification case against self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, who is running for mayor in Albuera town, Leyte province.

1 min

Suspect in murder of service crew in QC surrenders in Surigao

CAMP COL. RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City — The 22-year-old suspect in the murder of a service crew member in Quezon City surrendered to the Police Regional Office-13 on Thursday, May 8, in Barobo town, Surigao del Sur province.

1 min

Governors asked to support 3 lagging Alyansa Senate bets

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Thursday said that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has asked the support of governors, particularly those running unopposed, to help three lagging senatorial candidates of the administration Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas win on Monday.

1 min

Pasig congressional bet disqualified over offensive remarks

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has ordered the disqualification of Pasig congressional candidate, lawyer Christian “Ian” Sia, over his controversial remarks about single mothers during a campaign sortie in April.

1 min

Manila LGU launches skills training for OSY, marginalized sectors

The city government of Manila is set to expand its livelihood initiatives for out-of-school youth, undergraduates, women, LGBTQ-IA+ individuals, and heads of households, in a bid to create long-term employment opportunities and reduce dependence on short-term aid programs.

1 min

South Korea says North Korea has fired several missiles toward its eastern waters

North Korea on Thursday fired several ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters, South Korea's military said, adding to a run of weapons tests that have raised animosity in the region.

1 min

Cardinals return to the Sistine Chapel to vote on a new pope after the first ballot fails

Cardinals return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday to resume voting for a new pope after the first conclave ballot failed to find a winner, sending billowing black smoke through the chapel chimney.

2 mins

Strikes across Gaza kill at least 92 as Israel prepares to ramp up its offensive

Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 92 people, including women, children and two journalists, officials said Wednesday, as Israel prepares to ramp up its campaign in the strip, with the devastating war now entering its 20th month.

2 mins

Marcos: Help shape PH's future by voting

OCD on heightened alert to ensure safe May 12 polls

2 mins

Tulfo overtakes Go for top spot in SWS Senate survey

CT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo has taken the lead in the Social Weather Stations (SWS) senatorial survey conducted from May 2 to 6.

1 min

Guess who's back? Back again

In the immortal words of the venerable sage Eminem, guess who’s back? Back again.

3 mins

Be cyber safe; fight digital fraud

EDITORIAL

2 mins

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood...

The second part of the discourse on the Bread of Life begins when Jesus starts to identify the bread as his Flesh (Jn 6:51) which brings about the strong reaction of the crowd. “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” (v 52).

2 mins

The urgent need to vote

There is no civic act more powerful, more fundamental, or more intimate to the Filipino people than the simple act of casting a ballot.

3 mins

Building a healthier future starts today

When people hear “sustainability,” they often think only of the environment. But as defined by the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainability goes far beyond nature. At its core is the commitment to ensure good health and wellbeing for all—recognizing that a healthy population, supported by a truly sustainable healthcare system, is fundamental to a thriving and resilient society.

2 mins

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle: The priest I once listened to turned out to be one of the 'papabile'

That began as a simple Sunday routine—attending Mass—soon became the highlight of my week, thanks to a priest whose homilies always seemed to speak directly to me.

3 mins

DepEd urges unity in battle vs illiteracy

Emphasizing the critical role of collective action in ensuring every Filipino child gains essential reading and writing skills for a brighter future, the Department of Education (DepEd) has called on parents, educators, and community stakeholders to unite in a nationwide campaign to combat illiteracy.

1 min

2 aliens nabbed for spy gear in Bulacan

Authorities arrested on Wednesday, May 7, two Chinese for allegedly possessing equipment capable of intercepting messages from communications gadgets like cellular phones in an operation in Bulacan.

1 min

Son of QC vendor, PWD tops PMA Class 2025

A 23-year-old man from Quezon City defied all odds to emerge as the valedictorian of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Siklab-Laya Class of 2025.

3 mins

PH Navy ship harassed southeast of Bajo de Masinloc

Three Chinese Navy and Coast Guard vessels harassed a Philippine Navy ship that almost resulted into a collision 11 nautical miles southeast of Bajo de Masinloc west of Zambales province, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) disclosed on Thursday, May 8.

1 min

Comelec panel won't proceed with DQ case vs Camille Villar

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Committee on Kontra Bigay (CKB) will no longer proceed with the filing of an election offense case or petition for disqualification against senatorial candidate Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar.

1 min

Gov't eyes 2028 roadmap for ethical, inclusive Al development

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has proposed a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS Ph) to steer the country's AI agenda until 2028 as it seeks to build an ethical and innovation-led digital future anchored on the government's vision for responsible, inclusive, and future-ready AI development.

1 min

Alyansa bet Abby Binay slams twin issues raised against her

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay believes that the back-to-back issues hurled at her are interrelated.

2 mins

Tropa eye win No. 2

Rejuvenated TNT battles free-falling Terrafirma

1 min

Obiena posts season-best 5.80m

EJ Obiena displayed wide experience in ruling the first Patafa Pole Vault Challenge under rainy conditions at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite on Tuesday night, May 7.

1 min

Bridges to the rescue once more

For the second straight game, the New York Knicks found themselves in a hole the Boston Celtics have rarely let teams out of this season.

1 min

Eala-Gauff tandem in Italian doubles

Alex Eala absorbed a tough beating at the hands of higher-ranked Marta Kostyuk, 6-0, 6-2, to crash out in the opening round of the 2025 Italian Open at the Grand Stand Arena in Rome late Wednesday, May 7 (early Thursday, May 8, Philippine time).

1 min

Maharlika eyes ₱35-37B investments

Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), which manages the Philippines' first sovereign wealth fund, is eyeing at least three new investments before the year ends, aiming to bring total capital commitments to as much as P37 billion just two years into its establishment.

2 mins

Work-from-home Super Nanays

AboitizPower, Elevate AIDA helps upskill stay-at-home moms in Bukidnon

4 mins

Honda brings nine models to Auto Focus Test Drive Festival

Experience next level mobility

1 min

Making advanced safety and (electric) efficiency affordable

Nissan Kicks e-Power VL

3 mins

Test drive the XForce and Triton at Mall of Asia this weekend

Experience the unmatched performance

1 min

PH dollar reserves dip to $105B

The Philippines’ gross international reserves (GIR) or United States (US) dollar stock, declined further to $104.6 billion, or P5.96 trillion, as of end-April, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported.

1 min

Vista Land profits rise

Villar-led

1 min

Coal plant repurposing eyed

Energy transition trailblazer ACEN Corp. of the Ayala Group will schedule a study to dissect and assess options for the “asset repurposing” of its 246-megawatt (MW) South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. (SLTEC) coal plant.

1 min

DA wants NFA‘s rice regulatory powers restored

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is hoping that the next crop of lawmakers will prioritize restoring the National Food Authority’s (NFA) regulatory powers—particularly the authority to sell rice directly to the public—as a measure to stabilize rice prices and supply.

2 mins

Nick Vera Perez: 'There is no place like PH'

Filipino-American singer and Doctor of Nursing Nick Vera Perez has lived in the United States for numerous years, yet his heart remains firmly anchored to the Philippines.

2 mins

Krishnah Gravidez ready to shine in Miss World 2025

As she settles into Telangana, India for the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant, 24-year-old Krishnah Marie Gravidez— the Philippines' official candidate— brings with her not just gowns and grit, but invaluable advice from two of the country’s top beauty queens: Megan Young, the only Filipina to win the Miss World crown in 2013, and Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo.

2 mins

EdukSine honors 'Alamat ng Sine Filipino'

Still basking in their beautiful late 50s, 80s love-team partners Snooky Serna and Gabby Concepcion delighted in an instant reunion April 26 at the UP Film Center in a celebration of Philippine cinema.

2 mins

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