The Philippine Star - April 22, 2025

In this issue

April 22, 2025

Balikatan 2025 launched

The Philippines and the United States officially kicked off yesterday this year's Balikatan exercise involving more than 17,000 military personnel and featuring \"full battle test\" scenarios. The joint drills end on May 9.

3 mins

Bells toll for Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis, history's first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died Monday. He was 88.

7 mins

Phl officials can now visit Taiwan

Malacañang has eased the decades-old travel restriction imposed on government officials to Taiwan, citing the need to maximize the Philippines' investment opportunities.

1 min

Phl Navy denies China expelled ship in Panatag

The Philippine Navy yesterday debunked what it described as another Chinese propaganda, this time claiming that the latter had expelled a Philippine ship from Panatag Shoal, also known as Scarborough and Bajo de Masinloc.

2 mins

Fake News Blamed for Lower BBM Trust, Approval Scores

The prevalence of fake news is to blame for the drop in President Marcos' approval and trust ratings in the latest Pulse Asia survey, Malacañang said yesterday.

1 min

Sara endorses 12 Senate bets

Reversing an earlier statement, Vice President Sara Duterte is now endorsing 12 candidates for the Senate.

1 min

Public Schools Open on June 16 – DepEd

Classes will start on June 16 in all public schools nationwide, and private schools may likewise begin classes on June 16, the Department of Education (DepEd) said yesterday.

1 min

Nora Aunor to be buried today at Heroes' Cemetery

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) will preside over necrological services today for the late National Artist Nora Aunor, the country's \"Superstar\" who died on April 16 at the age of 71.

1 min

Go, Tulfo Still Leading Among Senate Bets – SWS

Less than a month before the midterm elections, administration-backed candidates continue to dominate the latest Senate preference poll conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

1 min

Heat index likely to peak in May – Pagasa

The country may face even hotter days ahead, with the heat index expected to peak by May, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

1 min

Fuel prices up by over P1 per liter

Starting today, pump prices of petroleum products are set to increase by over P1 per liter, as concerns over global supply escalate.

1 min

Random manual vote audit to cover 762 precincts

The Commission on Elections (Comelec)'s random manual audit (RMA), to be conducted immediately after the casting of the last votes on May 12, will cover 762 polling precincts.

1 min

Palace: No need to tap military vs kidnappings

Malacañang does not see the need to involve the military in the government's anti-kidnapping operations, echoing the Philippine National Police (PNP)'s statement that the situation is under control and that recent incidents are isolated.

4 mins

Marcos, Pinoys mourn Francis' passing

President Marcos joined the world yesterday in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, whom he described as \"the best pope in my lifetime.\"

5 mins

MM crimes down 60% during Lent - NCRPO

Index crimes in Metro Manila decreased by 60 percent during Holy Week, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported yesterday.

1 min

Parañaque promotes Claygo

The Parañaque City council has mandated the Clean-As-You-Go or Claygo practice in food service establishments.

1 min

23 road crashes logged in MM during Holy Week

Twenty-three vehicular accidents were recorded in Metro Manila during Holy Week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported yesterday.

1 min

Lenten travelers by port hit 2.3 M

Ports across the country facilitated the travel of 2.3 million Filipinos during Holy Week, marking an increase of 37 percent from the previous year.

1 min

Malabon Marks 24th Cityhood Anniversary

From a fishing town nestled along the waters off Manila Bay, Malabon has transformed into a thriving urban hub.

1 min

Bomb threat hits Malabon university

Students and staff of the City of Malabon University (CMU) evacuated yesterday due to a bomb threat.

1 min

23 Road Crashes Logged in MM During Holy Week

Twenty-three vehicular accidents were recorded in Metro Manila during Holy Week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported yesterday.

1 min

Parañaque Promotes Claygo

The Parañaque City council has mandated the Clean-As-You-Go or Claygo practice in food service establishments.

1 min

From black magic to blackouts

Maundy Thursday night, riding a tricycle down Mt. Bandilaan - home to Siquijor's famed healers - I looked back and gasped.

3 mins

Hustling

The powerful syndicates associated with the now-banned POGO operations in the country apparently have long tentacles—and staying power.

3 mins

Requiem for Pope Francis

EDITORIAL

2 mins

Earth Day

SINGKIT

4 mins

That Pulse Asia Survey

VIRTUAL REALITY

4 mins

The enduring maritime friendship between the Philippines and Norway

DIPLOMATIC POUCH

2 mins

Vance Spends Holy Week in Rome

Just six years ago, JD Vance, then an aspiring politician, was baptized in a private chapel in Cincinnati as he converted to Catholicism.

1 min

Markets slump on tariff concerns

World views

2 mins

NBI Files Raps vs Cebu Vlogger Over 'Fake News'

The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday filed criminal complaints against a Cebu-based vlogger for allegedly spreading false and misleading information about NBI Director Jaime Santiago's remarks concerning overseas Filipino workers.

1 min

Marcos to Visit Port, Agri Facilities in Misamis

President Marcos is set to visit Misamis Oriental to inaugurate a port expansion project and two agricultural facilities today.

1 min

NCIP Office Head Gunned Down in Isabela City

Zamboanga City - The Basilan province head of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) was shot dead by three men in her office in Barangay Tabuk in Isabela City yesterday.

1 min

Global Tributes Pour In To Honor Pope

Tributes to Pope Francis instantly poured in from around the world from presidents to people of all walks of life on Monday after the Vatican announced the pontiff's death at age 88.

1 min

Pope Francis: A radical leader who broke papal mould

Pope Francis, who died Monday aged 88, will go down in history as a radical pontiff, a champion of underdogs who forged a more compassionate Catholic Church while stopping short of overhauling centuries-old dogma.

2 mins

'Hegseth shared sensitive info in second Signal chat'

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information on forthcoming US air strikes on Yemen in a private Signal chat group that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer, the New York Times and CNN reported on Sunday.

1 min

'Grandpa Robbers' Go on Trial for Kardashian Heist in Paris

A group of suspects nicknamed the \"grandpa robbers\" goes on trial at the end of April, charged with stealing jewelry worth millions from US reality TV star Kim Kardashian in Paris in 2016.

1 min

THUNDER RIP APART GRIZZLIES

CELTICS, CAVS, WARRIORS WIN

2 mins

Angels downed by Taiwanese spikers

Kaohsiung Taipower displayed its full might against Petro Gazz and scored a 25-15, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20 win yesterday for an automatic entry to the quarterfinals of the AVC Challenge Cup at the PhilSports Arena.

1 min

Ominous sign for Magnolia

Magnolia has zoomed to its best start in three conferences this season but coach Chito Victolero said yesterday it's not time to celebrate the Hotshots' 3-0 streak in the PBA Philippine Cup.

1 min

Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, Giannis named MVP finalists

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo were named finalists for the 2025 NBA Most Valuable Player award on Saturday.

1 min

Hoey finishes joint 12th

The Philippines' Rico Hoey fired a closing one-under 71 to finish tied for 12th in the Corales Puntacana Championship on Easter Sunday in the Dominican Republic.

1 min

Sarines shoots for 2nd title

Consistency will be Lisa Sarines' key weapon as she aims for a second straight victory in the Luzon Series of the Junior Philippine Golf Tour, which resumes today with the ICTSI Sherwood Hills JPGT Championship in Trece Martires, Cavite.

1 min

Nats ride for different teams

Southeast Asian Games medalist Ronald Oranza and Jan Paul Morales are two of 10 members of the PhilCycling men's national team who will see action for different teams in the Tour of Luzon: Great Revival that starts Thursday in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

1 min

Miami needs another miracle

Sporting Chance

2 mins

Amid global recession risks, PhI 'a relatively safe haven'

The Philippine economy remains one of the most resilient in the region amid escalating global recessionary risks and heightened trade tensions, according to banks.

2 mins

BOP deteriorates to $3 B gap in Q1

The Philippines swung to a balance of payments (BOP) deficit in March as the government tapped its dollar reserves to settle foreign debt, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said yesterday.

2 mins

Closed banks' borrowers get more loan relief

State-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) has enhanced its loan settlement program to offer bigger incentives and wider coverage for borrowers of closed banks, aiming to help more people settle their debts and avoid foreclosure.

1 min

Tariff concerns to cap Q1 GDP growth at 6%

UA&P STUDY

2 mins

Stocks Inch Up on Bargain Hunting

The local stock market opened the week slightly higher as investors shopped for bargains following the Holy Week break.

1 min

Gov't urged to consider tax relief on insurance premiums

A tax relief measure on insurance premiums in the Philippines could boost overall coverage in a country that still has a very low level of social protection penetration.

1 min

The magic of one percent improvement

I was feeling good that morning when a reader told me he was not convinced of doing a corporate-wide kaizen program, much less if it would only result in a one percent improvement.

3 mins

The Villar DNA

Camille Villar is proud of her Villar DNA, even as her critics continue to needle her with the label \"nepo baby,\" a term her father was not familiar with until she explained that the millennial label implies her success is based on her parents' achievements.

4 mins

Reciprocal Tariffs: The US and the Philippines

The second portion of this article takes into account related developments as of April 20, 2025.

4 mins

BPI Income Up 9% in Q1

Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) started the year strong with a nine percent year-on-year increase in net income to P16.6 billion for the first quarter of 2025, driven by sustained loan growth, solid margins and disciplined cost management.

2 mins

PetroEnergy profit triples on RE boost

Yuchengco-led PetroEnergy Resources Corp. (PERC) saw a threefold increase in earnings last year, driven by higher contributions from the green energy business.

1 min

ICTSI acquires new property in Brazil

Logistics giant International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has acquired a stake in a marine property in Rio de Janeiro in line with plans to ramp up operations in Brazil.

1 min

DMCI Homes Sees Strong Demand for RFO Projects

DMCI Homes saw strong demand for its new residential condominiums in the first quarter, recording a significant jump in sales of ready-for-occupancy (RFO) units nationwide.

2 mins

Franchising conference tackles shifting consumer preferences

In an era where consumer preferences and behavior change at lightning speed, businesses must stay ahead of the curve to be able to connect with the future generations of consumers and thrive in a rapidly changing market.

1 min

Women Docu Filmmakers Headline Free Screening

The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) offers a free public screening of a collection of socio-political documentaries that highlight the crucial role of women filmmakers.

1 min

SUPERSTAR NG BUHAY KO:

IT ALL STARTED 50 YEARS ago. The year was 1975, a most important one in the annals of the Philippine music industry. That was when Manila Sound began, a new pop music style that would lead to the golden age of local popular music in the '70s.

2 mins

Nation Pays Final Tribute to the Superstar

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) are leading the nation in honoring the life and legacy of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, Nora Cabaltera Villamayor — also known as Nora Aunor — through a necrological service to be held today, April 22, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.

2 mins

GMA Network, Viu Philippines and CreaZion unveil 'Beauty Empire'

GMA Network, in partnership with Viu Philippines and CreaZion Studios, is set to unveil its latest groundbreaking primetime series, \"Beauty Empire.\"

2 mins

MQAA TO HOLD SUMMER WORKSHOP ON CHUBBUCK ACTING TECHNIQUE

\"Don't sit on your pain, use it for change.\" These were the words of American acting coach and creator of the Chubbuck Technique, Ivana Chubbuck.

2 mins

'Dear Evan Hansen' in Manila this September

The critically acclaimed, Tony award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen will be staged in the Philippines.

1 min

When life gives you tangerines, lemons or dalandans...

Life isn't many things. It isn't a picnic. It isn't a bed of roses. It isn't a walk in the park. It isn't a harvest of tangerines. But it is also the sweetest, most precious thing you can give to anyone — which you can give yourself. Life, and a life.

3 mins

Dubai Chocolate Madness in Manila

F Hospitality (AFH) has a collaboration with internationally acclaimed Filipino pastry consultant, Chef Nouel Catis, the creator of the Original Dubai Chocolate.

2 mins

Love Istoria

Eliminate any gamey aftertaste. The dessert buffet features a heavenly selection of old-fashioned kakanin, such as sapin-sapin, puto and sticky rice filled with ube, jackfruit or coconut, together with a variety of fresh, seasonal fruits.

1 min

Will Sharon's Egg Diet Work...

Prescribed by Doc Aivee @draivee and Doc Z @drzteo based on my body makeup and then normal eating uli ako.

2 mins

MOM, YOUR SON NEEDS HIS HPV SHOTS, TOO!

Did you know that HPV or human papilloma-virus causes more than just cervical cancer? The virus can also be associated with anal cancer, anal warts, and the incidence of head and neck carcinomas. That said, women aren't the only ones at risk of getting infected. Men, too!

4 mins

LOVE IS STORYA

One of my favorite films growing up is Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, with its impressive images of towering plants and lush foliage that you leave awash with wonder and awe.

4 mins

Will Sharon's Egg Diet Work For You?

Losing weight is not a one-size-fits-all process. Megastar Sharon Cuneta, who lost 106 pounds in nine years, was quick to say that in her social media post.

4 mins

In PH, renewable energy is king

Innovations in the renewable energy sector keep the Philippines on the road to sustainability

3 mins

Green steps, brighter future How the Philippines is building a sustainable tomorrow

There are many ways to help save the planet. In the Philippines, the government and businesses are working together to make cities both livable and eco-friendly.

2 mins

Robinsons Malls Celebrates Earth Day With Impactful Eco Initiatives That Inspire Everyday Action

In celebration of Earth Day 2025, Robinsons Malls is proud to launch and expand a series of worthy sustainability initiatives, reaffirming its commitment to environmental stewardship and empowering Filipinos to make eco-conscious choices in their everyday lives.

1 min

Aboitiz Renewables Protects Critical Water Sources, Plants Trees

Generating power from renewable energy sources cannot exist in isolation from nature.

3 mins

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