The Philippine Star - April 27, 2025

In this issue

April 27, 2025

Pope of the people makes final journey

World leaders and Catholic faithful bade farewell to Pope Francis in a funeral Saturday that highlighted his concern for people on the “most peripheral of the peripheries” and reflected his wishes as pastor.

5 mins

Ranking agency officials working as spies for China?

Several ranking government officials are secretly spying for China, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino revealed yesterday.

2 mins

BBM joins world leaders, multitude of mourners at pope's funeral

President Marcos joined around 170 world leaders and as many as 250,000 mourners at the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City yesterday.

2 mins

SWS: Poor families rise to 15.5 M

Following a sharp decline at the start of the year, self-rated poverty among Filipinos has steadily increased in the past four months, survey data from Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

1 min

Rody lawyer told: Focus on case merits

Months away from the confirmation of charges hearing of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court, opposite camps are arguing over what one lawyer described as \"petty semantics.\"

2 mins

Sample ballots allowed, use of Comelec logo prohibited

The Commission on Elections has authorized candidates in the May 12 elections to print sample ballots but reminded them not to use the poll body's official logo.

1 min

Drills, naval exercises mark Balikatan 2025

Live fire drills and joint naval maneuvers mostly in the waters of Zambales - marked the first three days of the Balikatan exercises of Philippine and US forces.

2 mins

Palawan named world’s top island to visit in 2025

An online news outlet based in the United States has named Palawan the world’s top island destination for 2025.

1 min

Pimentel wants probe on overseas voting glitch

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III has called for a legislative investigation on the legality of internet voting for overseas Filipinos ahead of the May 12 midterm elections.

1 min

Marcos OKs funding for upskilling BPO workers

President Marcos has approved funding for the upskilling of up to 340,000 workers in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry annually, the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) announced over the weekend.

1 min

Beat The Summer Heat With Creo Series From Kolin

Inverter na Swak sa Budget mo!

2 mins

Franciscus

BABE'S EYE VIEW

4 mins

Bullying: A national emergency

EYES WIDE OPEN

3 mins

Southeast Asian scam centers

EDITORIAL

1 min

Advancing health equity and promoting a healthier Taiwan

Health is a fundamental human right and a universal value. Improved health results in greater well-being for the people and has ramifications for the survival and development of a country and even the world.

3 mins

To hope anew: The legacy of Pope Francis

The passing of Pope Francis led to much discussion on his legacy. Perhaps the clearest evidence of this is found in the four encyclicals he wrote during his term.

4 mins

REAL ID: How can I travel?

IMMIGRATION CORNER

3 mins

Palace to honor OFWs with concert

To honor the sacrifices of overseas Filipino workers and their contribution to the country's economic development, the OFWs will be treated tonight to a concert at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang.

1 min

Palace to Honor OFWs With Concert

To honor the sacrifices of overseas Filipino workers and their contribution to the country's economic development, the OFWs will be treated tonight to a concert at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang.

1 min

PNP Welcomes Free Legal Assistance Law

The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed the signing into law of a measure providing free legal assistance to members of uniformed services who face legal cases arising from the performance of their duties, saying it is a victory for the police force.

2 mins

Ex-ombudsman Endorses Quimbo

Former ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has endorsed the mayoral bid of Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo in Marikina, calling her a \"rare leader with both heart and competence\" at a time when the city faces major challenges.

1 min

7 Parañaque Cops Nabbed for Robbery Extortion

Seven police officers assigned with the Parañaque City police station were arrested for extorting P100,000 from a Chinese businessman they apprehended at a checkpoint on Thursday night.

1 min

DILG: 158 poll-related complaints filed with Comelec

A total of 158 complaints related to vote buying, vote selling and misuse of government resources during the campaign period have been lodged before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as of Friday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government reported.

2 mins

Ilocos Sur Logs First Mpox Case

Health authorities have confirmed the first monkeypox or mpox case in Ilocos Sur.

1 min

Stolen 'Amorsolo' back at Negros museum

BACOLOD CITY - Nine months after it was recovered by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), a stolen painting of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo has been returned to a museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

1 min

3 Kids Die in Bulacan Fire

CAMP ALEJO SANTOS — Three children died in a fire that gutted their house in Calumpit, Bulacan on Wednesday night.

1 min

Pope's death triggers surge of disinformation

Swarms of fake and misleading content interrupted the global rush of condolences that poured online for the 88-year-old Argentine reformer ahead of his funeral yesterday.

1 min

Iran, US hold new round of high-stakes nuclear talks

WASHINGTON (AFP)—The death of Pope Francis drew tributes from mourners around the world—and with them a wave of disinformation, old and new.

1 min

Iran, US Hold New Round of High-Stakes Nuclear Talks

The United States and Iran started haggling over details of a potential nuclear deal in Oman yesterday as they entered their third round of talks in as many weeks.

1 min

Pope's Shoes Bring Pride to Argentine Neighborhood

The man who would become Pope Francis always bought his shoes in the same small store. And now, the remarkably ordinary footwear that surprised and charmed millions has brought pride to his old Buenos Aires neighborhood—and his cobbler.

1 min

North Korea Launches New Destroyer

North Korea has unveiled a new warship it claims is a destroyer armed with the \"most powerful weapons,\" at a launch ceremony attended by leader Kim Jong Un, state media said yesterday.

1 min

Diddy's lawyer defends 'swinger' lifestyle after rapper rejected plea

Sean \"Diddy\" Combs' lawyer told a judge on Friday that the \"swinger\" lifestyle is common, laying out part of the hip-hop mogul's strategy for securing an acquittal on sex trafficking charges after he rejected a plea offer.

1 min

Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty in Insurance CEO's Killing

Luigi Mangione pleaded not guilty on Friday to a federal murder charge in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

2 mins

Shannon Sharpe Stepping Away From ESPN Amid Ongoing Lawsuit

Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe said on Thursday he is stepping away temporarily from his ESPN duties while he deals with what he called false allegations in a $50 million civil lawsuit filed against him by a woman who alleges he raped and threatened her.

1 min

Trump Says Russia-Ukraine Deal 'Very Close'

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday discussed the \"possibility\" of direct talks with Ukraine in a meeting with a US envoy, the Kremlin said, while President Donald Trump claimed the warring parties were \"very close to a deal.\"

2 mins

Wolves Move Up 2-1 vs. Lakers

The Minnesota Timberwolves turned it up late to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 on Friday, withstanding a vintage performance from LeBron James to take a 2-1 lead in their NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs.

1 min

Kazakhs barge into AVC final

Kazakhstan's Zhetysu VC muscled past Thailand's Nakhon Ratchasima in a tight match, 25-20, 25-21, 25-21, yesterday to secure a breakthrough finals berth in the AVC Women's Challenge Cup at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

1 min

Hotshots sustain hot start

Pacesetting Magnolia delivered a tour-de-force performance on the road and overpowered Phoenix, 118-99, to stay spotless in the PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Zamboanga City Coliseum.

1 min

Sean to rep Gilas in draw

Sporting Chance

2 mins

FEU keeps DLSU on hold

Far Eastern U charged into the Final Four with a bang, stunning La Salle with a big 25-20, 28-26, 20-25, 25-23 win at the tail end of the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball elims yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

1 min

Zverev, Sabalenka advance in Madrid

Top seeds Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka scored comfortable victories in their opening matches at the Madrid Open on Friday.

1 min

Toss-up Seen in ICTSI Splendido

A competitive field of rising stars is all set for the ICTSI Splendido Taal Junior PGT Championship, which gets going tomorrow in Laurel, Batangas, with multiple storylines adding intrigue to the third leg of the seven-stage Luzon series.

1 min

Gov't cuts GOCC subsidies to P7.6 B in February

The government reduced its budgetary support to state-run firms by 40 percent to just P7.6 billion in February, with the bulk of the subsidies meant to fund irrigation projects.

1 min

Banks keep credit standards steady

Philippine banks largely kept their credit standards unchanged in the first quarter, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)'s latest senior bank loan officers' survey (SLOS).

1 min

Demand Growing for US Soybean Meal

American soybean meal exports to the country are expected to grow by at least five percent annually over the next five years, driven by growing demand for animal protein, an industry group said.

1 min

New Markets Seen for Value-Added Coconut Products

The rise in vegetable oil prices in the world market is opening new doors to one of the country's prized agricultural products: coconut.

3 mins

Bill Luz: Transforming cities through digital inclusion

Guillermo \"Bill\" Luz has long been a catalyst for urban transformation, advocating for more intelligent and resilient cities where connectivity is a fundamental right, not a privilege.

2 mins

Isuzu Phil names new president

Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC), which is aiming to maintain its dominance in the truck segment, has named Mikio Tsukui as its new president.

1 min

Roque, Go to Visit US Next Week for Tariff Talks

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go are set to visit the United States next week for negotiations to bring down the reciprocal tariff imposed on Philippine exports.

1 min

Qatar Airways hops on PAL's Manila-Doha flights

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has struck a fresh partnership with Qatar Airways, one of the world's best airlines, to increase flight options in the Manila-Doha corridor.

2 mins

First Gen to supply RE to Sanyo Denki's factories in Subic

Lopez-led First Gen Corp. is advancing the clean energy transition of another Japanese company, this time the Philippine operations of Tokyo-based Sanyo Denki Co. Ltd.

1 min

EVs on the rise

Electric vehicles are sweeping the market.

4 mins

Speak softly and carry a big wit

An elderly man was on the operation table awaiting a very life-threatening complicated surgery for him, and he insisted that his son-in-law, a renowned surgeon, operate.

3 mins

PAL profit soars above P4 B in Q1

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) opened the year soaring on cruising altitude, as it booked a profit above P4 billion in the first quarter on stronger passenger and cargo demand.

1 min

Aboitiz Land empowers women in digital economy

Aboitiz Land continues to leave a lasting legacy in grassroots communities through its groundbreaking Elevate AIDA Project, a program that empowers women with essential digital literacy skills and remote job opportunities in AI Data Annotation (AIDA).

1 min

Rising scams from IMSI catchers may stall digital economy

A consumer rights advocate has raised concerns over the growing threat posed by high-tech online scams that exploit gaps in digital security, warning that trust in internet services is eroding at a time when the country's digital economy is rapidly expanding.

1 min

Makati Life sets blueprint for PPP-led hospital expansion

Newly opened Makati Life Medical Center (MLMC) is positioning itself as the country's first and largest public-private partnership (PPP) in health care, combining city government backing with private sector efficiency in a model that aims to offer both accessible and sustainable services.

2 mins

AC Health May Seal Stake Sale to Foreign Investor in May

AC Health, the health care arm of the Ayala Group, is looking to seal by next month the sale of a minority stake in the company to a strategic foreign partner.

2 mins

Meralco eyes rehab of Bataan nuclear plant

Power giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is looking at the possible revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), which was completed decades ago but never commissioned.

1 min

When a wedding becomes a showcase of modern Filipino heritage

Weddings can be a reflection of the betrothed's unfolding story, or an expression of what the couple holds dear. In this instance, it was the Filipino heritage of groom Christian Tantoco and Irish-Filipino bride Siobhan Moylan, which took the spotlight. So when Christian married Siobhan, it wasn't just a wedding, it was a showcase of Filipiniana—make that modern Filipiniana.

2 mins

C1 When A Wedding Becomes A Showcase...

For Christian and Siobhan, this evening marked a milestone in their lives which is deeply personal—their union witnessed by those near and dear to them.

1 min

Close Encounters of the Wet Kind

Looking for an underwater thrill that doesn't require going through immigration, emptying your wallet, or getting chased by actual sharks? Dive & Trek Resort and Marine Sanctuary might just be your next weekend obsession.

4 mins

Touching the Divine in Angono

It was only during the short walk in the heat of the streets that we felt briefly, oh-so briefly, that our everyday lives could be touched by the Divine.

4 mins

NORWEGIAN ARTIST PEDER ELIAS ON WORKING WITH CHA EUN-WOO, GROWING ASIAN FAN BASE

(and) melody,” he told The STAR. “And then it was basically as simple as, ‘What three words sound good to sing?’ And then we tried some different stuff and then someone was saying, ‘Call my name’ and then everyone was like, ‘Oh, that felt like something.’

3 mins

The curtain falls on the original 'Kilabot ng mga Kolehiala'

He was born Angelito Toledo Alejandro on Dec. 26, 1954, but this was soon ditched in favor of Hajji, which stuck to him all his life.

4 mins

Norwegian Artist Peder Elias Growing Asian Fan Base

Norwegian artist and songwriter Peder Elias delighted his Filipino fans with heartfelt performances of his tracks, Row Your Boat, Who I Am, Hey Hello, and his latest single Call My Name at his recent first Manila concert.

4 mins

A musical adventure awaits kids and parents at 'CoComelon' Manila show

Pinoy kids as well as their parents are in for a fun and learning show in the \"CoComelon Sing-A-Long Live Manila\" today, April 27, at the New Frontier Theater.

3 mins

WHY JODI KEEPS HER PERSONAL LIFE SEPARATE FROM HER ACTING

\"UNTOLD\" LEAD STAR JODI STA. MARIA SAID THAT HER PERSONAL LIFE IS OFF LIMITS WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING INSPIRATION OR MOTIVATION FOR HER ACTING PERFORMANCES.

6 mins

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