The Philippine Star - February 16, 2025

In this issue

February 16, 2025

Comelec releases list of bets' online campaign platforms

The Commission on Elections has released the list of senatorial candidates who registered their social media accounts and were given approval to use these in their campaign activities for the May 12 elections.

1 min

Marcos, senators slam Rody kill remark

President Marcos slammed his predecessor yesterday over the latter ’s threat of killing 15 senators to ensure victory, during the campaign rally of the administration’s senatorial slate in Davao del Norte, a bailiwick of the Dutertes.

4 mins

US seeks more invested, enduring ties with Phl

The United States under the new Trump administration is looking to further strengthen its bilateral relations with the Philippines, not only in terms of security but also in other possible areas of development.

1 min

Chinese Spies in Calamba Raid? PAOCC Checking

After discovering telecommunications equipment at a site initially suspected to be an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is now investigating whether the three Chinese nationals arrested during Friday's raid in Calamba City are involved in espionage.

3 mins

Tollways Going Full Cashless on March 15

Motorists must install a radio frequency identification (RFID) sticker on their vehicles to pass through tollways starting March 15, in line with the government's policy to transition to cashless payments, the Toll Regulatory Board announced yesterday.

1 min

SC urged: Compel Senate to convene impeachment court

The Supreme Court has been asked to compel members of the Senate to constitute themselves into an impeachment court, even if Congress is in recess, and to \"forthwith\" conduct the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

4 mins

SC Urged

He said the constitutional provisions on impeachment fixed definite periods of time within which specific acts should be done in dealing with an impeachment complaint.

3 mins

'Monster ship' moving away from WPS

The China Coast Guard (CCG)'s so-called monster ship was detected moving away from the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tarriela.

1 min

US Says Military Exercises With Phl 'Purely Defensive'

US-Philippine military exercises are longstanding, \"purely defensive\" and intended to maintain force readiness and preserve regional security, a US State Department spokesperson said on Saturday.

1 min

BuCor lobbies for Asean prisoner swap

Following the transfer of drug convict Mary Jane Veloso from Indonesia to the Philippines last year, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) is pushing for the adoption of a policy that would allow individuals imprisoned in any Southeast Asian country to be repatriated to their home countries to serve their sentences.

1 min

PNP to Intensify Target-Driven Operations

To address the expected spate of violence during the election period, the Philippine National Police has intensified its target-driven operations against armed groups, criminal gangs and loose firearms.

1 min

Comelec

From Page 1

1 min

BBM brings job fair to Mindanao

President Marcos brought on Saturday the government's Trabaho Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, a job-matching initiative for graduating beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), to Mindanao.

2 mins

BOC Collects P931 Billion in 2024

The Bureau of Customs earned more in 2024 with the implementation of streamlined processes and with its attached agencies generating more revenue.

1 min

NTF-ELCAC to continue fighting terrorism with private schools

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) will continue its engagement and close collaboration with the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), the largest network of private schools in the country, despite the group's recent withdrawal of its membership from the task force's executive committee.

1 min

QC Declares Dengue Outbreak

Following a significant increase in dengue cases in recent weeks, the Quezon City government on Saturday declared an outbreak and mobilized all units to curb the surge.

2 mins

Noble and outstanding

EYES WIDE OPEN

4 mins

A week of public diplomacy

BABE'S EYE VIEW FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

4 mins

Still, kill, kill, kill

EDITORIAL

2 mins

Cavite teachers undergo cancer screening

Up to 150 public school teachers in Cavite availed themselves of the free cervical and breast cancer screening conducted on Friday by the Department of Health.

1 min

PNR's Naga-Legazpi Route Resumes Feb. 26

Train operations between the cities of Naga in Camarines Sur and Legazpi in Albay will resume on Feb. 26, according to the Philippine National Railways.

1 min

Angat Dam's Water Down to Safer Level

Operators of Angat Dam in Bulacan stopped discharging water yesterday after the elevation went down to a safer level of 214.02 meters.

1 min

Family of 5 Dies in Misamis Road Crash

Five members of a family died after their motorcycle collided with a truck in Initao, Misamis Oriental on Friday.

1 min

Sarah Jessica Parker to be honored by PEN America

Sarah Jessica Parker (in photo) will be this year's recipient of PEN America's \"Literary Service Award.\"

1 min

Jay-Z, Sean Combs Accuser Drops Sexual Assault Lawsuit

A woman who accused hip-hop stars Jay-Z and Sean \"Diddy\" Combs of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 dropped her civil lawsuit on Friday, court records showed.

1 min

Taiwan military training jet crashes, pilot rescued

A Taiwanese-made military training jet crashed yesterday due to \"dual engine failure,\" with the pilot safely ejecting from the aircraft, the island's air force said.

1 min

Russian drone damages Chernobyl plant's radiation shield

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that a Russian drone had caused significant damage to the radiation containment shelter at the disused Chernobyl nuclear power plant overnight.

1 min

3 Gaza Hostages Released After Truce Crisis

Khan Yunis (AFP) - Gaza militants handed three Israeli hostages over to the Red Cross yesterday in an exchange that is also set to see the release of 369 Palestinians from Israeli custody, the latest such swap under an ongoing truce deal.

1 min

Pope Francis hospitalized for bronchitis

Pope Francis was admitted to hospital on Friday for tests and treatment for bronchitis, the latest in a series of health problems for the 88-year-old pontiff.

1 min

6 Dead in Sokor Hotel Construction Site Fire

A fire broke out at a hotel construction site in the South Korean city of Busan on Friday, killing at least six people, fire officials said.

1 min

Phl curlers to receive cash incentives

The Philippine men's curling team of Marc and Enrico Pfister, Christian Haller, Alan Frei and Benjo Delarmente will receive P2 million in cash incentives from the government for their historic win in the just concluded Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.

1 min

NBA Rising Stars ready for battle

San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle scored 12 points to lead Team C to a 25-14 come-from-behind victory over Team G-League in the Rising Stars final on Friday and into the All-Star Game proper.

1 min

Ostapenko ousts Swiatek; Sinner banned

Three-time defending Qatar Open champion Iga Swiatek suffered a crushing 6-3, 6-1 defeat by Jelena Ostapenko in the semifinals on Friday, her fifth loss in as many meetings with the mercurial Latvian.

1 min

UP, FEU Lady Spikers Off to Flying Start

University of the Philippines needed the full, five-set route to overcome a short-handed University of the East, 25-18, 26-24, 24-26, 13-25, 15-13, that set in motion its campaign in UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball at the MOA Arena.

1 min

GILAS PUTS ON SHOW IN DOHA

Gilas Pilipinas simply wouldn't let Filipino supporters who made this feel more like a home game against home team Qatar down

2 mins

The Miracle Man

For a little over six years from 2002 to 2008, Perry Martinez served under PBA commissioners Jun Bernardino, Noli Eala and Sonny Barrios as technical committee head, pioneering in using technology to improve the league's officiating standards.

2 mins

Stronger Equities Market Seen This Year

First Metro Securities Corp. expects a stronger equities market this year, driven by improving economic conditions, policy support and structural growth drivers.

1 min

Phl Must Strengthen Global Ties - NEDA

To Navigate Economic Megatrends

1 min

Recto Leads FIRB's Historic Review of P50-B Investments

Finance Secretary and Fiscal Incentives Review Board chair Ralph Recto led the 25th FIRB board Meeting on Feb. 12, marking the first time the board has evaluated investment projects exceeding P50 billion.

1 min

US Tariffs on Chinese Imports Unlikely to Impact PH Trade

The US' imposition of a 10-percent tariff on Chinese imports is unlikely to affect the Philippines, with Philippine exports to the US expected to remain strong, according to the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport).

1 min

THE PHILIPPINE STAR Business sustainability agenda Editor: IRIS GONZALES SUNDAY | FEBRUARY 16, 2025

The former use of abaca fiber for Philippine bills which will soon be dominated by plastic (polymer) bills produced and printed in foreign countries – may soon be revived as an alternative to the widely popular plastic bags and containers that have congested and polluted both land and water resources.

3 mins

Volcanic ash vs radiation, nuclear waste

Magma is now coming out as ash from Kanlaon Volcano.

2 mins

AI and copyright

Remember the monkey selfie case? In Naruto vs. Slater, a monkey named Naruto took selfies using a camera set up by wildlife photographer David Slater.

4 mins

Ayala Land Premier sees robust demand

Property giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) continues to see resilient demand for luxury residences, with Ayala Land Premier recording P4.7 billion in sales in just the first week of February.

1 min

EastWest Bank eyes continued credit card growth

EastWest Banking Corp. is targeting to sustain consumer lending expansion this year as it partnered with Singapore Airlines (SIA) to enhance its brand and tap into the growing travel sector.

2 mins

Metro Retail bullish on Visayas growth prospects

Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI), the listed retail company of the Gaisano Group, continues to bolster its presence in the Visayas, fueled by its optimism on the growth opportunities in the region.

1 min

Unicapital Securities Sees Up To 5 IPOs This Year

Unicapital Securities Inc., the securities brokerage arm of investment house Unicapital Group, sees as much as five local companies going public this year, supported by what it sees as a promising year for the country.

1 min

The Future Of Luxury Rises In The Highlands With Bern Baguio

The next frontier of luxury real estate is all about peace, privacy, and the privilege of calling a pristine highland sanctuary home.

3 mins

Restaurateur ANA LORENZANA DE OCAMPO

While I'd known Margarita for years, even before I entered the restaurant business, and would bump into her at numerous industry events, it was really at last year's Mega Ball, for which I served as co-chairperson of the organizing committee, and she was among our 10 esteemed awardee chefs to be honored that evening to celebrate excellence in Filipino cuisine, that I was really able to collaborate with her.

1 min

ELBERT CUENCA

In 2019, I had just opened Elbert's Pizzeria in Salcedo Village, Makati.

1 min

Lusso: Where Margarita Forés taught us to fly

Walking into her newest restaurant, Lusso at The Podium, the song \"Volare\"—meaning \"to fly\" in Italian—plays softly. \"I want guests to feel transported,\" said Gaita.

3 mins

Celebrated Filipino Artists Highlight Manila Liberation Day With WW2 Images

People visit the Manila American Cemetery for lots of reasons.

3 mins

Masaker his left foot

After around 40 years of writing reviews, you'd think it was time to hang up the old gloves, time to get sick of it, but not necessarily when an album like the Brockas' Masaker comes trotting on Spotify, their third as per count of the music streaming platform, give or take a few singles/EPs.

3 mins

WHAT'S NEXT FOR CUP OF JOE?

It may take a while for the euphoria to die down. The Joewahs who witnessed \"Silakbo,\" Cup of Joe's explosive, exciting, vastly entertaining and really packed two-night stint at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Feb. 8 and 9, are still over the moon in ecstasy.

2 mins

Regine has two different setlists for Valentine's concert

Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez, never delivered all her original songs in one concert before.

3 mins

VICE GANDA FINDS WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Vice Ganda knows that staying healthy is just as important as entertaining people and making them laugh. The TV host-comedian makes it a priority to take care of himself — whether through healthy living or therapy.

3 mins

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