The Philippine Star - April 09, 2025

In this issue

April 09, 2025

Donated Aussie drones to boost Coast Guard capabilities

The Philippines is boosting its air patrol over the West Philippine Sea with the help of 20 drones or unmanned aerial system (UAS) worth P34 million donated by Australia.

2 mins

Kanlaon erupts; Phivolcs to maintain Alert Level 3

Ashfall has affected 60 barangays surrounding Mt. Kanlaon, and yet, yesterday's volcanic eruption is not yet \"the bigger one\" that is being anticipated, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

4 mins

House orders arrest of 4 vloggers for probe snub

Meta backs congressional initiatives vs disinformation

6 mins

French Lawyer Joins Rody Defense Team

A French lawyer with experience in defending suspects on trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) has joined the defense team of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

3 mins

Poll bets warned: No foul language

Candidates are now under mounting pressure to uphold ethical campaign practices, as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other government agencies crack down on foul language, misuse of personal data, exploitation of emergency alert systems and political interference in government payout programs.

2 mins

Biz Groups Alarmed Over Kidnapping of Businessman

Business groups have expressed concern over the reported kidnapping of a businessman in Pasay City.

1 min

BBM: Ensure Passenger Safety During Holy Week

President Marcos has instructed agencies to remain vigilant and ensure the safety and convenience of passengers as the government braces for the Holy Week exodus.

2 mins

Palace urges Imee: Invite int'l experts

The Senate foreign relations committee should invite international law experts to its next hearing on the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte so it can entertain diverse views and leave its chairperson, Sen. Imee Marcos, \"more enlightened,\" Malacañang said yesterday.

1 min

PCCI warns of economic disruptions from US tariffs

The country's largest business organization yesterday warned of potential disruptions to the economy from the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States and the retaliatory measures that may be taken by other countries.

3 mins

Marcos to lead Araw ng Kagitingan rites in Bataan

President Marcos will lead the nation today in honoring the heroes of World War II during the commemoration of the 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor.

3 mins

Higher Meralco Rates Seen in April

Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) may see higher power rates this month due to a possible increase in generation and transmission costs amid extreme heat.

1 min

House Orders

Undue interference in congressional inquiries. \"Mr. Chairman, with this blog made by Mr. Mark Lopez, this is in violation of once again section 11 paragraph F of our internal rules, undue interference during the proceedings or committee investigation,\" he said.

5 mins

Senate probes bullying in schools

The Senate committee on basic education resumed yesterday its investigation on bullying and campus violence.

1 min

Comelec summons Pasig bet anew for body shaming

After receiving flak for his sexist remarks on single mothers, lawyer and Pasig congressional candidate Christian Sia is facing another show-cause order from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for body shaming.

2 mins

6 Held in Foiled Rescue of Chinese Inmate

Eleven armed men led by foreign nationals ambushed officers of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in a daring attempt to spring a Chinese leader of a crime ring from BJMP custody in Paranaque City on Monday.

2 mins

Woman Dies After Being Hit by Bus on EDSA

A woman died after she was hit by a bus along the EDSA Carousel in Barangay Immaculate, Quezon City yesterday.

1 min

PWD 'forced' to badmouth Vico Sotto in video

Authorities are seeking to take down a video posted on Facebook showing a 77-year-old mentally unstable woman being \"forced\" and \"instructed\" to speak negatively about Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto in exchange for rice.

1 min

Workers Get Double Pay Today

Double pay awaits employees who will work today, according to the Department of Labor and Employment.

1 min

20 Filipinos Probed Over SoKor Drug Haul

Twenty Filipino crewmembers of a cargo vessel busted by South Korean authorities for carrying tons of suspected cocaine are under investigation, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported yesterday.

1 min

BI: 'Batman' Aided Chinese Fugitives

A suspect referred to as \"Batman\" facilitated the attempted escape of five Chinese fugitives through a backdoor route in Mindanao, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

1 min

Hostage diplomacy

SKETCHES

4 mins

Coerced, compelled borrowing

CTALK

4 mins

Everyday valor

EDITORIAL

1 min

Fast and furious innovations

COMMONSENSE

4 mins

Filipino civilians too must prepare for China attack on nearby Taiwan

GOTCHA

4 mins

Treat the tariff war with urgency, please

THE CORNER ORACLE

4 mins

Global leaders rush to woo Trump, hoping to sway him on tariffs

World view

2 mins

2 Killed in Abra Campaign Brawl

BAGUIO CITY - Two politicians were killed following a fight that resulted in a shooting during a campaign sortie in Lagangilang, Abra on Monday night.

1 min

100 Luzon Cops to Serve as Poll Officers in BARMM

Up to 100 members of the Central Luzon police will be deployed in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to serve as poll officers for the first BARMM parliamentary elections in October.

1 min

Ex-Laguna treasurer fined P18,000 for fund misuse

A former treasurer of San Pablo City in Laguna has been ordered to pay a fine of P18,000 for allegedly misusing P277,340 in public funds.

1 min

Flood Forecasting System Launched in Cagayan de Oro

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has launched a flood forecasting and warning system at the Cagayan de Oro river basin to enhance monitoring and disaster preparedness in the towns of Molugan and El Salvador.

1 min

Trump Says EU 'Has Been Very, Very Bad' to US

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said on Monday the European Union's proposal for an exemption from tariffs on industrial products, including cars, is not enough to account for the transatlantic trade deficit.

1 min

Netanyahu, Trump say Israel working on new hostage deal

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that new negotiations were in the works aimed at getting more hostages released from Hamas captivity in Gaza.

1 min

SoKor to Hold Presidential Election on June 3

South Korea will hold a snap presidential election on June 3 to choose Yoon Suk-yeol's successor after the conservative was ousted over his imposition of martial law late last year.

1 min

Meet Amy, 1st UK baby born from womb transplant

A baby girl has become the first in the UK to be born from a womb transplant, after her aunt donated her uterus to her mother, a London hospital said on Tuesday.

1 min

Prince Harry appeals loss of his UK security detail

Prince Harry (in photo) wants his British security detail restored and is taking his case to an appeals court.

1 min

Handmaid's Tale' star not ready for season farewell

As a producer, director and the lead actor for the Emmy-winning Hulu series \"The Handmaid's Tale,\" Elisabeth Moss isn't ready to say goodbye to the dystopian drama series after a six-season-long run.

1 min

Serdenia, Suzuki share lead

A mix of tight and commanding finishes defined the start of the 2025 ICTSI Eagle Ridge Junior PGT Championship at the Norman course of Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Gen. Trias, Cavite yesterday.

1 min

Beermen, Bolts clash in special face-off

Both Meralco and San Miguel Beer can't underscore enough the magnitude of their matchup in today's PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup eliminations.

1 min

Where is Mia Montemayor?

The first and only Miss PBA Mia Montemayor made the ceremonial toss to signal the start of the pro league's first-ever game before 18,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum on April 9, 1975.

1 min

Suarez to go all out for world crown

Charly Suarez will leave nothing to chance when he faces WBO super-featherweight champion Emmanuel Navarrete of Mexico at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California on May 10.

1 min

PBA's Golden Treat

It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for PBA fans trooping to the Rizal Memorial Coliseum for the league's Golden Anniversary doubleheader today.

2 mins

Proposed nickel ore export ban may affect global supply — BMI

The proposed export ban on the country's nickel ore may have an implication on global supply of the green metal, particularly on Indonesia's requirements, according to BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions.

1 min

Dollar reserves dip to $106.2 B in March

The country's foreign exchange buffer slipped in March as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the national government tapped foreign currency holdings to meet debt obligations and temper peso volatility.

2 mins

Phl banks among least affected by US tariffs

Philippine banks are among the least exposed in Asia-Pacific APAC) to the credit risks stemming from the United States’ latest import tariff hikes, according to credit watchdog Moody’s Ratings.

1 min

Stocks Bounce Back After Monday's Massive Sell-Off

The local stock market made a strong recovery following Monday's massive sell-off that saw the benchmark index plunge to its lowest level in two and a half years.

1 min

Reacting to the tariff

It's been a week since Trump's Liberation Day of atrocious tariff increases, which affected all countries including islands whose only population are some penguins.

4 mins

MPIC Starts Work on Iloilo Waste Management Plant

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), through subsidiary MetPower Venture Partners, has started construction of a new plant in Iloilo City that is expected to set a new standard for waste management, renewable energy and sustainability.

1 min

CNPF Sees Sustained Double-Digit Growth This Year

Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF), the Po family's listed food and beverage company, expects to maintain its double-digit growth trajectory this year following a strong performance in 2024.

1 min

Strong trade, travel drive Chelsea back to black

The logistics venture of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy has returned to profit at last, as the company gained from resurgent trade and travel volumes across the archipelago.

1 min

Top Line Makes Market Debut

Top Line Business Development Corp. has ushered in this year's listings at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), making its market debut yesterday after raising P732.6 million from an oversubscribed initial public offering (IPO).

1 min

McDo looks forward to 64

Golden Arches Development Corp. (GADC), which has held the franchise to operate the McDonald’s brand in the Philippines for the past 44 years, is now looking to expand and grow the American restaurant in the country for another 20 years, with GADC president and CEO Kenneth Yang (who is turning 60) taking a more public role even as his father, GADC chairman and founder George Yang enjoys a more relaxed role at 86 years “young.”

3 mins

Phl From B1

\"The main impact on loan quality will come from small and midsize enterprises in these countries, which have limited financial buffers to adjust to rapidly changing economic and trade conditions,\" the debt watcher said.

1 min

Factory Output Tumbles in February

Manufacturing output contracted in February, driven by the slower production of basic metals, machinery and chemicals, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

1 min

DOF cuts privatization goal to P50 B

The Department of Finance (DOF) has cut by half its privatization goal this year to P50 billion as part of efforts to generate revenues and widen the limited fiscal space without raising new taxes.

1 min

Jobless rate drops to 3.8% in Feb

The country's unemployment level declined in February due to the seasonal pickup in demand for workers for election-related activities, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

2 mins

Phl Secures Market Access for Avocados, Calamansi, and Okra to Russia

Filipino farmers may now export hass avocado, calamansi, and okra to Russia after the latter's market has been formally opened to more Philippine farm goods.

1 min

The new faces of UAAGI: Chery, BAIC, and Lynk & Co are unveiling a new look at MIAS 2025

Things are certainly busy at United Asia Automotive Group Inc (UAAGI).

4 mins

The 20^th Manila International Auto Show Is Happening Tomorrow!

The premier annual auto show in the Philippines is celebrating its 20th year this 2025.

2 mins

FASHION'S OBSESSION WITH ROCK STARS

If the Korean government has constantly supported K-pop and K-drama stars ever since they resolved to make hallyu a world-wide phenomenon, it's because they know that they will be so influential that even related industries, like cosmetics and fashion, will surely benefit from the wave.

3 mins

A DEGUSTATION LUNCH FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS

With over 350 chocolate recipes and 90 gelato flavors, Venchi is known worldwide and the degustation lunch they prepared at M's Dining + Bar for a select group of foodies ensured that every dish would have a taste of their premium brand with six chocolate pairings.

1 min

Remembering Ramon Bilbao

We all loved and enjoyed being with Ramon Bilbao. Every time he would visit from Paris, schedules were re-arranged so that he could join our eating gang. It was never a dull moment as he shared loads of experiences and amusing stories that we would end up with stomach aches from laughing the hours away. Though he had some health issues, we thought his health would improve. However, it was not meant to be as he suddenly passed away in France.

1 min

The Scent of the Irresistible Thai Actor Pond

The air was electric — charged with scent, sound, and the collective shriek of hundreds of fans packed shoulder-to-shoulder under the grand skylight of SM Aura's Main Atrium. The Versace Summer Soirée last April 5 wasn't just a brand event. It was a sensory explosion, a fever dream of fragrance and fandom, capped by the fever-pitch arrival of Pond Naravit, Versace's Southeast Asia ambassador and Thai actor beloved by Filipino audiences.

2 mins

MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN: THE POETRY OF PERFUME

Fragrance, for me, has to be the most ephemeral of luxuries, with scent as fleeting as a cloud yet its impact as eternal as the stars. The memories it evokes can outlast the more tangible of designer creations. Through the glorious perfumes of the luxury fragrance house Maison Francis Kurkdjian, my journey through the world of scent became a poetic one.

7 mins

Praise be, loyal 'Handmaid's Tale' fans: Propulsive final season promises a satisfying catharsis

Not long ago Yvonne Strahovski, who plays beautiful, ruthless, deeply complicated Serena on \"The Handmaid's Tale,\" was forced to watch early scenes of her character's cruelty.

4 mins

Tadhana's Ride to 400 Million Streams

While I still believe that nothing beats the sparkling sound of a spinning vinyl record, I am very thankful that streaming platforms have been invented.

2 mins

Here's what to expect at G-Dragon's PhI concert

Calling all FAM! K-pop icon G-DRAGON is finally making his grand return to the Philippine stage for what is poised to be a spectacular concert at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on May 17.

1 min

Bianca Gonzalez Shares Biggest Life Lesson From Being 'PBB' Host For 19 Years

Bianca Gonzalez is one of the best hosts in the Philippines. She has been under my wing since she was a young artist at Backroom, my first PR and talent management company. I am proud of her achievements both in her career and in her personal life. Our relationship has deepened over the years. She has become family to me now. I am \"Ninong Boy\" to her and husband JC Intal. The couple recently celebrated their 10th anniversary. They are blessed with two beautiful daughters, Lucia and Carmen.

2 mins

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