The Philippine Star - April 20, 2025

In this issue

April 20, 2025

3 suspects in kidnap-slay of trader under custody

A Chinese national and two Filipinos implicated in the kidnapping and killing of Filipino-Chinese steel magnate Anson Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo are now under police custody, the Philippine National Police announced yesterday.

2 mins

Passion play sees final performance of veteran 'Jesus'

Scores of penitents whipped themselves bloody under a scorching Philippine sun while others were nailed to crosses in a polarizing Good Friday tradition drawing the most extreme of Catholic devotees.

2 mins

ICC prosecutor told: Disclose evidence by July 1

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been given until July 1 to complete the disclosure of evidence that would be used during the hearing in September on confirmation of charges of crimes against humanity against former president Rodrigo Duterte.

4 mins

SWS: Quality of life better for 31%, worsened for 30%

The quality of life for most Filipinos stayed the same over the past year, with only one in three saying it improved, according to a recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

1 min

Nora fans line up to pay final respects

Fans of the country's \"Superstar\" Nora Aunor paid their last respects to the late icon yesterday, during the first of the two-day public viewing of her remains at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.

3 mins

15 Drowning Deaths During Holy Week

A total of 15 people across the country died due to drowning during Holy Week, the Philippine National Police reported.

2 mins

Fuel Price Hike Seen This Week

Following recent rollbacks, pump prices of petroleum products are expected to increase this week amid concerns over global supplies.

1 min

25 Areas to Hit Danger Heat Index

Dangerously high heat indices ranging from 42 to 44 degrees Celsius are expected in 25 areas across the country today, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

2 mins

19 Nations to Observe Balikatan 2025

Nineteen countries have sent observers for this year's Balikatan exercises set to kick off tomorrow, with more than 14,000 Filipino and US soldiers taking part in joint training in various parts of the country.

1 min

Angkasangga up in party-list survey 30 days before polls

With just 30 days to go before Filipinos cast their votes, Angkasangga Partylist (#107 on the ballot) is gaining serious ground, rising fast in the latest OCTA Research survey and becoming one of the most talked-about and trusted party-list contenders this election.

1 min

7 confirmed dead from capsized dredging vessel

The Philippine Coast Guard retrieved three more bodies from the capsized dredging vessel off the coast of Occidental Mindoro, bringing the total number of fatalities to seven.

1 min

Go calls for safety amid Holy Week travel surge

Sen. Bong Go has urged the Filipino faithful to keep safe amid a surge in passenger volume traveling back to Manila by air, land and sea after the Holy Week.

1 min

532,000 devotees join Good Friday procession of Jesus Nazareno

An estimated 532,000 devotees joined the procession of the revered image of Jesus Nazareno along roads surrounding Quiapo Church in Manila on Good Friday.

1 min

84 Drivers Positive for Illegal Drug Use

Eighty-four drivers and two conductors of public utility vehicles tested positive for illegal drug use during the Holy Week.

1 min

CA Upholds Cop's Conviction in Drug War Case

The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld the conviction of a Caloocan police officer for planting evidence and torturing teenagers Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo \"Kulot\" de Guzman, who were killed in 2017 in the Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs.

1 min

What's happening to Alyansa?

EYES WIDE OPEN

3 mins

Reflections for peace and security

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

4 mins

Celebrating Easter

EDITORIAL

2 mins

A Lenten read, an Easter joy

For many years now during Lent, I have made it a custom to read books relevant to the season. I keep in mind what a spiritual director said about reading suitable spiritual books as a worthy investment for the soul.

4 mins

Be not afraid

World view

3 mins

The May 2025 priority dates

IMMIGRATION CORNER

1 min

DepEd Probes Tension at Graduation Ceremony

The Department of Education (DepEd) is looking into an incident that occurred during a senior high school graduation ceremony in Laua-an, Antique, wherein a school principal reportedly berated the students for wearing graduation robes or togas.

1 min

Holy Week Vehicular Mishaps Leave 7 Dead

Seven people died while several others were injured in separate vehicular accidents that occurred in the country during the Holy Week.

1 min

DOH Allays Fear on Davao Mpox Cases

Health officials have assured the public that the reported cases of monkeypox or mpox in Davao City are of the milder Clade II variants.

1 min

Ryan Gosling's new 'Star Wars' movie set for 2027

Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling will star in a new \"Star Wars\" film that will reach movie theaters in May 2027, Walt Disney's Lucasfilm announced on Thursday.

1 min

Diddy Loses Bid to Delay Sex-Trafficking Trial

A US judge on Friday denied Sean \"Diddy\" Combs' bid to delay his upcoming sex-trafficking trial by two months.

1 min

Iran, US Resume Nuclear Talks in Rome

ROME (AFP) — The United States and Iran resumed yesterday high-stakes talks on Tehran's nuclear program, a week after an initial round of discussions that both sides described as \"constructive.\"

1 min

Pope Still Recovering, Skips Rome's Annual Good Friday Procession

Pope Francis, still recovering from double pneumonia, did not attend an annual procession on Friday at Rome's Colosseum with thousands of Catholic faithful for the third year in a row.

1 min

US to ditch Ukraine talks if no progress soon

The United States will walk away from efforts to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal unless there are clear signs of progress soon, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.

1 min

Myanmar Junta, Opposition Set to Extend Ceasefire - Malaysia PM

Myanmar's junta and a key opposition group have indicated they will extend a ceasefire to support more aid efforts after a devastating earthquake, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday, following rare high-level talks.

1 min

Memphis, Miami In

Tyler Herro scored 30 points as the Miami Heat reached the NBA playoffs with a thrilling 123-114 overtime defeat of the Atlanta Hawks in their Eastern Conference play-in clash on Friday.

1 min

Arca makes move in Bangkok

Christian Gian Carlo Arca continued to flash his potential as the country's next Grandmaster after Daniel Quizon as he downed Thai International Master Prin Laohawirapap to storm back to contention after six rounds of the Bangkok Chess Club Open Friday night.

1 min

ICTSI Junior Visits Sherwood

Levonne Talion, fresh off a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Rafa Anciano in the ICTSI Junior Philippine Golf Tour's kickoff leg at Eagle Ridge, is gearing up for another high-stakes showdown as the tour moves to Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Trece Martires, Cavite.

1 min

Creamline, PLDT Start AVC Bids

Volleyball fans are in for a big Easter Sunday treat with four explosive matches marking the kickoff of the 2025 AVC Women's Champions League at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

1 min

Eala has eyes on French Open

Breakout star Alex Eala is officially marching into her Grand Slam main draw debut.

1 min

Will OKC go all the way?

With the play-in tournament done, the NBA playoffs are set to unfold as eight of the 16 qualified teams swing into first-round action today.

2 mins

Hoey fires 68, climbs to 17th

Rico Hoey produced a second straight four-under 68 to climb 14 places in the Corales Puntacana Championship on Good Friday in the Dominican Republic (yesterday Manila time).

1 min

Thailand, Phl teams shine in JGFP International meet

Thailand bagged the prestigious 13-18 age bracket championship while provincial teams from the Philippines took the spotlight in the 12-under category in the recent Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) International Inter-Club tournament at Mimosa Plus in Clark, Pampanga.

1 min

Alcaraz breezes into Barcelona semis

Carlos Alcaraz battled into the semifinals of the Barcelona Open on Friday with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Alex de Minaur after Casper Ruud's title defense was ended by Holger Rune.

1 min

SM Retail Targets Growing Gen Z Market

SM Retail Inc., the retail arm of the Sy family's SM Investments Corp., looks to capture a bigger portion of the growing Gen Z demographic as it strives to reach new consumer markets.

1 min

Japan, UK raise concerns over proposed Phl mineral export ban

Some countries have raised concerns about a proposed export ban on Philippine raw minerals, arguing that it is not aligned with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and may adversely affect global supply.

2 mins

BSP, IFC Partner to Boost MSME Access to Credit

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the International Finance Corp. (IFC) have signed an agreement to jointly promote movable asset financing (MAF) in the Philippines.

1 min

The rise of women in trade

The push for empowering women in the trade The industry is no longer just about equality but is now about driving economic growth and resilience.

5 mins

SM From B1

\"Our strategy has always been 'We've got it all for you.'

1 min

Cosco profit rises in 2024

Cosco Capital Inc., Lucio Co’s retail holding firm, saw earnings rise by a quarter in 2024 amid strong operating performance of major business segments.

1 min

DoubleDragon Acquires 35% Merry Mart Stake for P1.28B

DoubleDragon Corp., the listed company owned by Edgar \"Injap\" Sia II and Tony Tan Caktiong, is entering the essential retail space with the acquisition of a 35-percent stake in MerryMart Consumer Corp. for P1.28 billion.

2 mins

Vietnamese Firm Building P893-M Solar Farm in Bataan

Vietnam-based CN Green Roof Asia (CNGRA) has broken ground on its P893-million solar project in Hermosa, Bataan.

1 min

The true meaning of Resurrection Sunday

Do you know that every year thousands of people climb a mountain in the Italian Alps, passing the \"stations of the cross\" to stand at an outdoor crucifix?

3 mins

SteelAsia Inks Deal With Italian Firm For Quezon Steel Mill

SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. has tapped Italian firm Danieli Co. Ltd. to supply the equipment for the country's first heavy steel sections mill in Candelaria, Quezon.

1 min

Well-known marks

Back in 1997, US company In-N-Out Burger Inc. filed an application with the Philippine Bureau of Trademarks of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to register the trademark and service marks \"In-N-Out\" and \"In-N-Out Burger & Arrow Design.\"

4 mins

BSP launches mobile app to bring services closer to Filipinos

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has formally launched a mobile app aimed at making central banking services and information more accessible to the public.

1 min

Fantasy and History Merge in This Baguio Castle

Even before the place was ready for visitors, it had already gotten thousands of \"likes\" on social media.

3 mins

Easter Breaks At The Pen

E aster is an egg-stra special time at The Peninsula Manila with \"Egglandia Easter Egg Hunt\" and merienda buffet, art tours, halo halo classes, yoga and muay Thai sessions.

1 min

Exceptional Easter Treats

Legendary Easter Egg-venture at DreamPlay

2 mins

Manuel Baldemor's 'Kuwaresma' Opens At The Manila Hotel's Art Gallery

The Manila Hotel held the opening reception for \"Kuwaresma,\" a solo exhibit by acclaimed Filipino painter, sculptor, writer and book illustrator Manuel Baldemor, last April 13, Palm Sunday, at the hotel's Art Gallery.

1 min

SEASIDE STORIES: FRESH CATCHES AND FAMILIAR FACES

In the bustling heart of Baclaran, near the iconic Redemptorist Church, lies a seafood lover's paradise: Seaside Seafood Market & Restaurant.

4 mins

Filipino prince of 'King and I' was a Hollywood star

Little known to the younger generation of Filipinos, actor Patrick Adiarte was the prince to Yul Brynner's king.

3 mins

It's 'It Girl' Atasha Muhlach's Turn in the Spotlight

The spotlight is big enough for all—and Atasha Muhlach is ready to claim her side of the stage.

3 mins

BEYOND THE NORAMANIA.THE ATE GUY I KNEW

IT WAS UNUSUALLY CALMANDABNORMALLY QUIET THAT NOONTIME IN 1977 AT NORA AUNOR'S HOME IN VALENCIA. SHE HAD CALLED EARLIER WITH A LUNCH INVITATION.

4 mins

SONGS FOR THE SUPERSTAR Nora Aunor GREATEST HITS Volume 1

Nora Aunor Greatest Hits Volume 1

3 mins

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