Manila Bulletin - May 17, 2025

In this issue

Prioritize public service, Marcos orders Cabinet
Comelec completes national vote canvassing
PH, South Korea ink deal on trade, energy
Fuel price spike seen next week

PH, South Korea ink deal on tra trade, energy

The Philippines and South Korea signed an agreement to accelerate cooperation in trade and energy in pursuit of driving industrial transformation, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

1 min

Fuel price spike week seen next

Motorists will need to tighten their belts after a two-week rollback in May, as oil prices are expected to increase next week.

1 min

Comelec completes national vote canvassing

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) made history on Thursday, May 15, after completing the national canvassing of votes for the May 2025 midterm elections in just three days.

2 mins

Prioritize public service, Marcos orders Cabinet

President Marcos has directed his Cabinet to prioritize public service and speed up the implementation of government projects, Malacañang said, distancing the Executive branch from the ongoing impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

1 min

Solons confident Romualdez to remain as House Speaker

Pro-administration congressmen believe that Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) President and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez will retain the House Speakership in the upcoming 20th Congress.

1 min

If not Senate leadership, Sotto keen on heading ethics panel

Presumptive senator Vicente Sotto III on Friday, May 16 said he was keen on asking the Senate leadership that he be allowed to head the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges so he can help restore the dignity and the good image of the institution.

1 min

De Lima's party-list proclamation to push through despite CA ruling - Comelec

The proclamation of presumptive Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list representative Leila de Lima will push through next week despite the Court of Appeal (CA)'s nullification of her acquittal by a local court in one of her drug cases.

1 min

PH to tap diplomatic channels to arrest Harry Roque - DOJ

The government will tap diplomatic channels to enforce the arrest order issued by the court against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque who has been charged with non-bailable case of qualified human trafficking.

2 mins

Industry groups, economists push for tobacco excise tax rationalization to combat illicit trade

Industry groups are urging the government to rationalize the excise tax system, warning that the current structure is fueling the illicit trade of cigarettes and alternative products, jeopardizing government finances and public health.

3 mins

Taken but still single: Mayor Vico opens up about his love life

Mayor Vico Sotto shared that he remains single for now, but his heart is fully taken by the people of Pasig, who continue to motivate his dedication to public service.

1 min

P204M worth of shabu seized in Bulacan buy-bust

Around P204 million worth of shabu was seized on Thursday, May 15, following the arrest of three high-value target (HVT) suspects during a buy-bust operation in Norzagaray, Bulacan, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

1 min

Taguig mayor unveils recycled campaign tarpaulins

Reelected Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano said campaign tarpaulins used in the May 12 elections by her Team Lani Cayetano have been recycled into tote bags, pouches, and card holders.

1 min

Trump says the US and Iran have 'sort of agreed on the terms for a nuclear deal

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States and Iran have “sort of” agreed to terms on a nuclear deal, offering a measure of confidence that an accord is coming into sharper focus.

1 min

Putin spurns Zelenskyy meeting but lower-level Ukraine-Russia talks are still on

Russia and Ukraine are set to hold their first direct peace talks in three years, both countries said Thursday, but hopes for a breakthrough remained dim after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey.

2 mins

Pope meets with head of Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, who invites him to Kyiv

Pope Leo XIV met Thursday at the Vatican with the head of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, in one of his first audiences as pontiff that reaffirmed his appeal for a peaceful, negotiated end to Russia’s war.

1 min

China allows visa-free entry for 5 Latin American nations to boost ties

China will allow visa-free entry for nationals of five Latin American countries for one year to boost closer connections with the region.

1 min

Thai construction magnate surrenders on felony negligence charges over building collapse in quake

A construction magnate and more than a dozen other people surrendered to police Friday on criminal negligence charges for the collapse of a Bangkok high-rise during a March 28 earthquake.

2 mins

San Juanico Bridge restriction to last 2 years

San Juanico Bridge will be off-limits to heavy vehicles for almost two years pending the completion of the P900-million total rehabilitation project, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Thursday.

1 min

2 teenage boys killed as truck rams computer shop

Two teenage boys were killed after a 10-wheel truck loaded with sugarcane crashed into a computer shop in Purok 9, Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental on Thursday, May 15.

1 min

Kerwin starts learning the ropes of being mayor

It seems like Kerwin Espinosa has buckled down to serious business after he was elected mayor of Albuera, a town in Leyte province once considered as the \"drug capital in Eastern Visayas.

1 min

Winning, giving thanks

There was a time many years ago when the chief presidential legal counsel was also my legal counsel, i.e., he was my go-to consultant on matters of law such as newly passed legislation or laws that I needed to understand in connection with my work or even my private life.

1 min

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me

The mystery of mutual in-dwelling of the Father and the Son is one of the most beautiful revelations of Jesus in the Gospel of John. But it is not a closed circle; it is open to the disciples too: \"If you know me, then you will also know my Father\" (v 7).

2 mins

Harness youth's potent force; invest in our future

A statement vote has just been delivered. It was a statement that resonated in the polling places in the just concluded midterm elections.

2 mins

Love one another

Fr. Joseph Dau Vu, SVD, was a Catholic chaplain of the Vietnamese “boat people” refugees in Morong, Bataan.

2 mins

20 years of activism in Congress

If in the year 2000 you told me that Bayan Muna would top the 2001 partylist elections and get re-elected at least six consecutive times in Congress, I would not have believed you.

3 mins

'Tara, Basa!' enters 3rd year: DSWD's reading tutoring program begins May 19

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will launch the third year of its “Tara, Basa!” tutoring program on Monday, May 19 to boost literacy among grade school students and strengthen parental support through learning sessions for parents or guardians.

1 min

Harvard joins colleges moving to self-fund some research to offset federal funding cuts

Harvard University is putting up $250 million of its own money to continue research efforts amid a federal funding freeze imposed by the Trump administration, but the school’s president warns of “difficult decisions and sacrifices” to come.

3 mins

Comelec completes national vote canvassing

In a press conference on Friday, May 16, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that in comparison, canvassing by the NBOC during the 2022 presidential elections took 25 days.

2 mins

63 or 64 party-list seats?

A question over the total number of party-list seats has prompted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to call for formal position papers from concerned parties before finalizing the allocation and proclamation of winning groups in the 2025 midterm elections.

2 mins

Comelec to ban partylist names based on telenovelas, ayudas

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia has issued a strong warning to party-list groups seeking accreditation for future elections: names inspired by popular television dramas or government aid programs will no longer be allowed.

1 min

Nuggets forge Game 7

Ailing Murray scores 25 points, fuels Denver past OKC

2 mins

Gilas Boys pool bared

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has named its 18-man pool for Gilas Pilipinas Youth team's campaign for the FIBA under-16 Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers set on May 24 to 30 in San Fernando, Pampanga.

1 min

LTSA bets lead PH team to Korea

In a breakthrough development, the Philippines is fielding a full team of junior athletes to an international event - the 18th Junior and 12th Senior Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Jecheon, South Korea beginning on June 5.

1 min

NU, FEU battle for all the marbles

National University and Far Eastern University slug it out for the last time for the UAAP Season 87 men's volleyball title at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday, May 17.

1 min

HMOs' Q1 profits soar

The Insurance Commission (IC) reported that the health maintenance organization (HMO) industry’s total net income surged by 84.4 times—or by over half a billion pesos—in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, driven by a sharp increase in membership fee income.

2 mins

Battle for PH's No.1 telco heats up

Ready to go toe-to-toe, tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan said rival Globe Telecom Inc. is still \"far behind\" PLDT Inc. in the broader telecommunications sector, as the Ayala-led firm’s new leadership charts an ambitious course to become the most profitable telco in the Philippines.

2 mins

UN forecasts slower global growth ahead

The United Nations (UN) has forecast slower global economic growth this year and next, pointing to the impact of the surge in United States (US) tariffs and increasing trade tensions.

2 mins

DOTr seeks new common station builder

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has terminated its contract with the consortium tapped to build the Unified Grand Central Station due to \"excessive delays\" in completing the project.

1 min

Property unit turns profitable

Megawide Construction Corp.’s real estate subsidiary, PH1 World Developers Inc., has turned profitable, boosting the engineering conglomerate’s first-quarter financial results.

1 min

GT Capital off to strong 2025 start

The Ty family’s investment arm, GT Capital Holdings Inc., is confident of sustaining its positive momentum this year after reporting that its first-quarter 2025 numbers have already surpassed last year’s record performance.

1 min

AGI deconsolidates McDonald's PH

Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), the holding company of tycoon Dr. Andrew L. Tan, has deconsolidated McDonald's Philippines franchisee Golden Arches Development Corp. (GADC) from its financial statements to generate a one-time gain of P3.4 billion from the remeasurement of the investment's fair value.

2 mins

DENR and SM Supermalls partner to save the 'Big Six'

The 'Save from Extinction' campaign aims to raise awareness and funds for critically endangered species

2 mins

Showcasing Filipino innovation at World Expo Osaka 2025

Is the World Expo still relevant today?

2 mins

Matteo Guidicelli conquers his fear

LT Matteo Guidicelli, a proud reservist, shared his exhilarating experience of leaping from an Army plane. This daring act transformed his fears into triumph during his demanding training with the Philippine Army Reserve Force.

4 mins

A review of 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning'

Without making this a cop out of a review, I can honestly say that this finale film of the Mission: Impossible franchise will be one of two possible things.

2 mins

Pahiyas Festival fun and food

A nostalgic journey through Lucban's vibrant Pahiyas Festival a celebration of heritage, harvest, and home-cooked traditions

3 mins

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