The Philippine Star - May 11, 2025

In this issue

May 11, 2025

A candy for Leo, Tagle's first act of charity to pope

Seeing then Robert Cardinal Prevost in deep thought and appearing anxious upon realizing he was to be elected pope, his seatmate Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle decided to perform his \"first act of charity\" for the then emerging leader of the Roman Catholic Church by offering him a piece of candy.

2 mins

As predicted by Comelec, vote-buying incidents surge

Two days before polling precincts open for the national and local elections, the Commission on Elections said it has observed a surge in vote-buying activities.

1 min

Group caught with P440 M at Cebu airport

Nine foreigners and two Filipinos were arrested after they were caught carrying trolley bags which contained over P440 million in cash at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Friday.

3 mins

Bilang Pilipino sets standard for poll coverage

MediaQuest is set to deliver the most comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the 2025 midterm elections with \"Bilang Pilipino,\" brought to you by the biggest names in Philippine broadcasting.

1 min

Marcos: We need to listen to critics

Passengers headed for provinces in southern Luzon wait for buses at a terminal in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City yesterday. People are expected to head to their hometowns to vote in the midterm election on May 12. MICHAEL VARCAS

2 mins

11 Phl properties join Michelin hotel list — DOT

More luxury properties in the Philippines have earned a spot on the prestigious Michelin Guide Hotels website, the Department of Tourism (DOT) revealed yesterday.

1 min

Tolentino hails troops, fisherfolk as frontliners of WPS

On the eve of the last day of the campaign period, Senate Majority Leader Francis 'Tol' Tolentino took the opportunity to remind voters of the bravery and sacrifices of Filipino troops and fisherfolk, who are at the forefront of the country's fight in the West Philippine Sea.

1 min

Marcos

\"They clash with you in everything you do because of politics. They are just against you. Everything you do is wrong. You cannot do anything about that. Try to explain, but I don't expect much that they would change,\" he said.

1 min

Election Holds Key to Future for Foes Marcos, Duterte

The Philippines votes Monday in a ballot that will decide half the Senate's seats, thousands of local posts and quite possibly the political future of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte.

2 mins

Fil-Am composer wins Pulitzer Prize

Susie Ibarra, a Filipino-American composer and percussionist, has achieved another milestone for the Philippine music industry as she won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music with her composition \"Sky Islands.\"

1 min

LTFRB gives bus firms 60 days to improve terminals

To implement necessary improvements and upgrades in their terminal facilities, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Teofilo Guadiz III on Saturday issued a 60-day ultimatum to all bus companies.

1 min

PNP Ready vs Possible Espionage on Election Day

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has put in place measures against possible espionage activities tomorrow, taking no chances for foreign interference on election day.

1 min

Head in hands, Prevost accepts task as new pope

As US Cardinal Robert Prevost realized during the secret conclave that he might be elected the next Catholic pope, he put his head in his hands at the daunting prospect of leading the 1.4-billion-member Church, a cardinal said on Friday.

1 min

DOH emergency teams deployed to expressways

The Department of Health (DOH) has deployed Health Emergency Response Teams in major thoroughfares to provide assistance to commuters going home to their provinces for the national and local elections tomorrow.

1 min

MRT-3 Enables Cashless Payment for Single-Journey Tickets

Cashless payment is now available at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3).

1 min

Comelec files cases vs over 50 bets for poster violations

Close to 50 cases of disqualification for campaign poster rule violations have been filed against candidates for local positions, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

1 min

300 Soldiers to Help Ensure Peaceful Polls in Metro Manila

More than 300 soldiers are now on stand-by and ready to help ensure the conduct of peaceful and orderly elections in Metro Manila tomorrow.

1 min

NAIA Terminal 1 gets drop-off zone redesign

The New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) implemented on Wednesday parallel parking at the drop-off zone at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 2 following a deadly car crash last Sunday.

1 min

LTO Probes SUV With Gov't Plates Using EDSA Busway

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order (SCO) to a government financial institution after its red license plate was found affixed to a different vehicle that illegally entered the EDSA Bus Carousel.

1 min

Unity in diversity

BABE'S EYE VIEW

4 mins

Notes on the elections

EYES WIDE OPEN

4 mins

Promoting road safety

EDITORIAL

2 mins

Leni Robredo's guide for voting wisely

BREAKTHROUGH

4 mins

Recipes from my mothers

Point of view

4 mins

2 Die in Poll Watchers' Orientation Stampede

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Two people died while 14 others were injured in a stampede that occurred during the orientation and distribution of food and transportation allowance of poll watchers in this city on Friday night.

1 min

Pulse Asia denies pro-Duterte survey

A survey showing the Dutertes winning over their political opponents and supposedly conducted by Pulse Asia has been denied by the research organization.

1 min

Man, Son Nabbed for Guns, Explosives

A man and his son were arrested in a raid that resulted in the seizure of several firearms and explosives in Victorias City, Negros Occidental yesterday.

1 min

Smuggled Onions Test Positive for Salmonella

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has warned consumers against buying imported white onions after a shipment of smuggled bulbs tested positive for salmonella and heavy metals.

1 min

European Leaders Arrive in Kyiv for First Joint Visit

The leaders of France, Britain and Germany arrived in Ukraine yesterday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, vowing to ratchet up pressure on Russia until it agrees a ceasefire the day after a lavish military parade in Moscow.

1 min

Pakistan Retaliates Against India

Srinagar (AFP) — Pakistan yesterday launched counterattacks against India after three of its air bases were struck overnight, as the conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors spiraled toward full-blown war.

1 min

De Niro to Receive Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes

Robert De Niro will receive an honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, a culmination for the 81-year-old actor whose history with the French film festival stretches back half a century.

1 min

Judge rejects claim Diddy was treated differently because of race

Sean \"Diddy\" Combs (in photo) was not treated differently because of his race by prosecutors who brought racketeering and sex trafficking charges against him, a judge ruled on Friday as he rejected a request to dismiss some charges three days before opening statements in the hip-hop mogul's trial.

1 min

SoKor conservative party moves to switch presidential candidate

South Korea's embattled conservative party has taken the unprecedented step of nullifying its primary and replacing presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo just one week after Kim's selection, deepening internal turmoil ahead of the June 3 presidential by-election.

1 min

US, Chinese officials meet in Geneva to discuss tariffs

The US treasury secretary and America's top trade negotiator will meet with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland this weekend to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world's two biggest economies and to damage global commerce.

1 min

Thousands Gather for Rare Peace Event in Jerusalem

Thousands gathered for a rare peace event in Jerusalem on Friday, with the Gaza war in its 20th month, the UN warning of humanitarian catastrophe and Palestinian militants still holding dozens of Israelis captive.

1 min

NU-LA SALLE LAST DANCE III: TOTAL WAR

And the trilogy is on. A rising dynasty in National U meets the unbridled La Salle legacy today in the highly anticipated Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

2 mins

Eala-Gauff pair sizzles

Alex Eala and Coco Gauff got off to a flying start in their first team-up, drubbing Alexandra Panova of Russia and Fanny Stollar of Hungary, 6-3, 6-1, in the Italian Open women's doubles Round of 64 yesterday in Rome.

1 min

Pacquiao Unretiring to Fight Barrios in July?

Iconic Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao will end his four-year retirement at age 46 to fight Mario Barrios for his WBC welterweight title, ESPN reported on Thursday.

1 min

Cavs stop bleeding, rout Pacers in Game 3

Donovan Mitchell scored 43 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a crucial 126-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday, as the Denver Nuggets beat Oklahoma City in an overtime thriller.

1 min

Exporters raise concerns, seek more gov't support

AMID TARIFF WOES

3 mins

Trade shocks tougher to handle than supply shocks

Trade shocks pose a greater threat to emerging economies than traditional supply shocks, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. told global financial leaders at the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group (IMF-WBG) Spring Meetings in Washington.

1 min

State-guaranteed loans hit P239 B

The government has provided guarantees to nearly P240 billion in loans in the first quarter with more Filipinos benefiting from credit supplementation.

1 min

SMC unit pursuing P89-B hydropower projects

The power arm of tycoon Ramon Ang-led San Miguel Corp. is spending close to P89 billion to build two massive pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects in Pangasinan and Benguet.

1 min

SMC unit pursuing P89-B hydropower projects

The power arm of tycoon Ramon Ang-led San Miguel Corp. is spending close to P89 billion to build two massive pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects in Pangasinan and Benguet.

1 min

RCBC Income Climbs To P2.4 B In 3 Months

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) saw its net income rise by 10 percent to P2.43 billion in the first quarter of 2025, driven by robust loan growth, higher interest income and expanding digital services.

1 min

UnionBank, ATRAM Group finalize trust units' merger

Union Bank of the Philippines has officially sealed a strategic partnership with the ATRAM Group, culminating in a merger of their respective trust operations to form what will become the fourth-largest private asset management firm in the country.

1 min

Gov't urged to exclude sugar from ACAFTA negotiations

Industry groups have urged the government to exclude sugar from the ongoing negotiations for a prospective free trade agreement (FTA) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Canada.

2 mins

Use of digital lending apps rising among Pinoys

Filipinos allocated more of their time using digital lending applications in 2024 as personal loans become more accessible.

1 min

Where the wedding ring should be

Here's an old story credited to anonymity. Something seemed to be wrong with this businessman.

2 mins

Agri stakeholders back PCIC charter extension

The charter of state-run Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) must be extended to ensure that small-scale farmers and fishermen have protection amid persisting production challenges worsened by climate crisis, two industry groups said.

2 mins

Market-based pricing for fund transfers pushed

The new pricing scheme for fund transfers should not arise from agreements and fixing among supervised financial institutions as cost analysis will be validated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

2 mins

Market-based pricing for fund transfers pushed

The new pricing scheme for fund transfers should not arise from agreements and fixing among supervised financial institutions as cost analysis will be validated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

2 mins

Meralco COO Comes Home: Ronnie Aperocho Traces Humble Beginnings; Gives Back to South Cotabato

Before becoming Chief Operating Officer of Meralco, the largest private electric distribution company in the Philippines, Engr. Ronnie Aperocho was just a humble student from a remote community in the southern part of Mindanao.

4 mins

Agri trade deficit widens to $890 M in March

The country's agricultural trade deficit in March widened by two percent year-on-year to nearly $890 million, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

1 min

Semirara targets DENR nod on Acacia mine this year

Consunji-led Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) aims to secure environmental clearance for its Acacia mine in Antique later this year, paving the way for a P291-billion coal expansion project.

1 min

NEA, Spanish firm eyeing Camiguin-Mindanao grid link

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) is partnering with Madrid-based Osprel SL to explore the feasibility of connecting Camiguin Island to the Mindanao grid via submarine cables.

1 min

Illegal quarrying continues

Hidden Agenda

4 mins

Gov't urged to lower telco airwave fees to improve connectivity

The government should reform the country's Spectrum User Fee (SUF) system as the current fee structure is hindering the growth of digital infrastructure and threatening to leave millions of Filipinos disconnected, according to consumer advocacy group Citizen Watch Philippines.

2 mins

OceanaGold, BSP Renew Gold Purchase Agreement

Australian-Canadian mining firm OceanaGold Philippines Inc. (OGPI) has renewed its gold buying agreement with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for another three years.

1 min

Concreat: Cement demand may recover amid challenging year

The Consunji Group expects its cement business to remain challenging this year, but sees demand recovering over the medium-term, fueling a planned turnaround for its listed cement maker's financial performance.

2 mins

ROBINA GOKONGWEI-PE REMEMBERS HER MOM WITH A LOT OF LOVE — AND LAUGHS

slice of life

3 mins

Celebrate Mother's Day with the Barbie™ x G-SHOCK Watch

This Mother's Day, honor the unstoppable women who embody both glamour and grit with the Barbie™ x G-SHOCK collaboration watch—a vibrant tribute to moms who dream big, play hard, and conquer life with unshakable confidence.

1 min

KIM CAMACHO

Our kids have taught me that having a diverse group of friends leads to a more interesting life.

1 min

KIM CAMACHO

Our kids have taught me that having a diverse group of friends leads to a more interesting life.

1 min

Mothers Of Revolution And Liberty

Call them by their maiden names.

4 mins

Honoring Mom on Canvas

This Mother's Day, Robinsons Land Artablado honors the incomparable love and care that moms give their families with two exhibits that showcase the poignant journey of motherhood.

3 mins

Honoring Mom on Canvas

This Mother's Day, Robinsons Land Artablado honors the incomparable love and care that moms give their families with two exhibits that showcase the poignant journey of motherhood.

3 mins

What my mom taught me — and didn't teach me

The most important thing I learned from my mother is this: What's the dream? Let's chase it!

3 mins

Celebrate Mother's Day Japanese Style at MITSUKOSHI BGC

Instead of the usual gifts, why not treat her to the serene beauty of springtime sakura (cherry blossoms) at MITSUKOSHI BGC in Bonifacio Global City.

2 mins

Celebrate Mother's Day Japanese Style at MITSUKOSHI BGC

Instead of the usual gifts, why not treat her to the serene beauty of springtime sakura (cherry blossoms) at MITSUKOSHI BGC in Bonifacio Global City.

2 mins

STILL MENTALLY SHARP AT 102

Many people her age are battling Alzheimer's, dementia, hypertension, and cancer. But lawyer Michaelina Ramos-Balasbas, at 102, has none of these scourges of age.

3 mins

A Love That Remembers

She used to feed me, joking that I ate too much; now we aid her during meals as we marvel at how she enjoys the food lovingly prepared by my sister especially for her.

4 mins

LOVE INFUSED IN EVERY SLICE

Mother-daughter duos share the warmth and joy of a mother's love

2 mins

Inspired Gifting for the Woman Who Does It All

This Mother's Day, Rustan's honors the woman who has painted our world with love, care, and wisdom.

3 mins

KAPUSO MOMS REFLECT ON WHAT MAKES MOTHERHOOD CHALLENGING YET FULFILLING

Motherhood is such a precious gift I and many women have been blessed with. It truly is a role filled with immense courage, from the physical act of giving birth to the continuing commitment of nurturing children and caring for a family.

2 mins

Happy Mother-lection Day!

Whether we care to admit it or not, everybody has a Mother's Day MO or modus operandi.

4 mins

KAPUSO MOMS REFLECT ON WHAT MAKES MOTHERHOOD CHALLENGING YET FULFILLING

Motherhood is such a precious gift. I and many women have been blessed with.

2 mins

The Many Faces of Motherhood

Motherhood is a journey replete with highs and lows, sacrifices and rewards—and for these five women in the business of movies and entertainment, it's no different. On this Mother's Day, Maja Salvador, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Geneva Cruz, Ces Quesada and Nova Villa each share personal stories about what it means to become a mom and the lessons they've learned along the way.

5 mins

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