The Philippine Star - May 17, 2025

In this issue

May 17, 2025

Kiko, Chel: Surveys Make Campaign Fund Raising Difficult

Surveys may be mere \"snapshots\" of voter preferences in a particular period, but they make it difficult to raise funds for those who rank low, according to two candidates who have achieved stunning wins in the midterm elections.

2 mins

DOTr Ends Common Station Contract Over Delays

Due to excessive delays in civil works, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has terminated its deal with the joint venture tasked to build the common station for Metro Manila railways.

1 min

De Lima may still be proclaimed — Comelec

Former senator Leila de Lima may still be proclaimed and assume her seat as the Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list first nominee despite a Court of Appeals (CA) ruling reversing her acquittal in a drug case.

1 min

Moves on for leadership changes in Congress

Tiangco, Sotto open to change

3 mins

Sara a No-Show in DOJ Probe on Threat Raps

Vice President Sara Duterte did not attend the second day of the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s preliminary investigation on the charges of inciting to sedition and grave threats filed against her by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which stemmed from her controversial remark about contracting someone to kill President Marcos, the First Lady and the House Speaker.

1 min

DA Lifts Max SRP for Pork

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has officially lifted the maximum suggested retail price (SRP) for pork following a request from industry stakeholders, amid continued disruptions in domestic pork supply caused by the resurgence of African swine fever (ASF).

1 min

Phl flag flies over Phl Rise on 8th renaming anniversary

The Philippine flag is now flying over Philippine Rise as the country's assertion of sovereignty, on the eighth anniversary of its renaming yesterday.

2 mins

Be Sure To Catch Nakakabazaar, The Grandest Nakakalocal Fair Of The Year

Get ready to go loka over mouth-watering food, stylish fashion, fantastic art, and amazing local talent.

2 mins

DOJ may tap Interpol for Roque's arrest

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is open to seeking assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in arresting former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who is facing qualified human trafficking charges in connection with the alleged illegal operations of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Pampanga.

4 mins

New OWWA, FDA chiefs named

President Marcos has appointed new heads for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Malacañang announced.

1 min

Comelec: Vote-buying complaints reach 806 cases

Four days after the midterm polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it continues to receive reports of vote-buying activities, with over 800 cases recorded as of yesterday morning.

3 mins

DA

He advised the public to consider more affordable protein options such as chicken, fish, beef, or frozen pork, while the government finalizes measures aimed at stabilizing pork supply and prices in the coming weeks.

1 min

ICC judges asked to comment on Rody's DQ bid

International Criminal Court (ICC) president Tomoko Akane has requested two judges of the international tribunal to comment on former president Rodrigo Duterte's plea to disqualify them from ruling on the issue of jurisdiction.

1 min

Palace: 'Obstructionist' remark not aimed at Duterte allies

The term \"obstructionists\" was not directed at allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte but to those who do nothing but attack and hinder government programs, Malacañang clarified yesterday, following criticism from reelectionist Sen. Ronald dela Rosa.

1 min

Driver in NAIA crash out on bail

The driver in the vehicular accident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, which resulted in the deaths of a 28-year-old man and a five-year-old girl, has been released on bail.

1 min

MMDA Asks SC To Allow NCAP For EDSA Rehab

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to reinstate its version of the contentious no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP) with the goal of easing heavy vehicular traffic as EDSA is set to be rehabilitated.

1 min

6 Hospital Laws to Boost Nationwide Healthcare Access Signed

Sen. Bong Go marked a milestone in his continued efforts to improve health care access in the Philippines with the enactment of six new laws focused on establishing and upgrading key public hospitals across the country.

1 min

The magic cure of simple care

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

4 mins

Scapegoating

There seems to be some hesitation to fully examine the results of the last elections in the mainstream media channels. This is because the results are damning for the sitting administration.

3 mins

Speedy Resolution

EDITORIAL

1 min

Point of view Refusal, invisibility and the indigenous question

Every now and then, we come across news that challenges our stereotypical views of indigenous communities, especially when indigenous people engage in actions that seem unimaginable within the dominant assumptions that society holds about indigeneity.

4 mins

World views Trump is no longer the most important American

President Donald Trump is no longer the most important American in the world.

5 mins

Refusal, invisibility and the indigenous question

Every now and then, we come across news that challenges our stereotypical views of indigenous communities, especially when indigenous people engage in actions that seem unimaginable within the dominant assumptions that society holds about indigeneity.

4 mins

The president in 2028

VIRTUAL REALITY

4 mins

P20/kilo rice for all Pinoys depends on LGUs - Palace

It's up to local government units (LGUs) to decide whether to make the P20-per-kilo rice available to those who do not belong to the vulnerable sector, Malacañang said on Friday.

1 min

Ex-ARMM chief elected Basilan governor

The former chief executive of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been elected governor of Basilan.

1 min

San Juanico Bridge off-limits to heavy vehicles

Vehicles weighing more than three tons will not be allowed to pass through the San Juanico Bridge in Eastern Visayas due to repair works, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

1 min

CA Stops Garcia's Suspension

The Court of Appeals (CA) has temporarily stopped the implementation of the six-month preventive suspension imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman on outgoing Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia.

1 min

Entry in Kanlaon's Extended Danger Zone Allowed

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has allowed people to carry out farming and other essential activities inside the six-kilometer extended danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island.

1 min

Trump: I Will Make Gaza a Freedom Zone

US President Donald Trump on Thursday reiterated his desire to take over the Gaza Strip, telling a business roundtable in Qatar that the US would \"make it a freedom zone\" and arguing there was nothing left to save in the Palestinian territory.

1 min

Filipino, Indian climbers die on Everest

A Filipino climber and another from India became the first mountaineers to die on Mt. Everest in the current March-May climbing season of the world's highest peak, hiking officials said on Friday.

1 min

Brown Charged Over Alleged London Nightclub Assault

Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown was charged Thursday in England for allegedly beating a music producer in a London nightclub in 2023, prosecutors said.

1 min

Thai Construction Tycoon Surrenders Over Bangkok Tower Collapse

A Thai construction tycoon and 14 others surrendered to police on Friday over a building collapse that killed nearly a hundred workers during a powerful earthquake in March, authorities said.

1 min

Pope Affirms Family Based on Union Between Man, Woman

Pope Leo XIV affirmed on Friday that the family is founded on the \"stable union between a man and a woman,\" and that the unborn and elderly enjoy dignity as God's creatures, articulating clear Catholic teaching on marriage and abortion at the start of his pontificate.

1 min

Trump to Meet Putin 'as Soon as We Can'

As Ukraine-Russia talks take place

1 min

Letran in Final 4

Letran went to super rookie Vanessa Sarie in the fifth and final set when it erased a seven-point deficit and escaped with a 25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 23-25, 17-15 victory that sealed its first Final Four seat in NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball at the EAC Gym.

1 min

Nuggets Force Game 7 vs Thunder

Nikola Jokic scored 29 points and unheralded bench player Julian Strawther produced a crucial late burst as the Denver Nuggets clinched a series-leveling 119-107 victory over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.

1 min

FiberXers regain form

GAMES TOMORROW (YNARES CENTER MONTALBAN) 5 P.M. - SAN MIGUEL VS TERRAFIRMA 7:30 P.M. - MAGNOLIA VS RAIN OR SHINE

1 min

Go Pushes for Stronger Nat'l Sports Program

Sen. Bong Go has reaffirmed his resolve to strengthen grassroots sports development and prioritize legislation that benefits ordinary Filipinos as he begins a new six-year term in the Senate.

1 min

LTSA gymnasts lead PH team to Korea

In a breakthrough development, the Philippines is fielding a full team of junior athletes to an international event — the 18th Junior and 12th Senior Women's Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Jecheon, South Korea beginning on June 5.

1 min

Building a Basketball Universe

The Game of My Life

2 mins

Sinner in semis, Gauff in final

Jannik Sinner marched into the semifinals of the Italian Open on Thursday after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 as Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China's Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women's final.

1 min

Taduran locked, loaded

There was quiet confidence in IBF minimum-weight champion Pedro Taduran as he gamely exchanged big punches with lightflyweight Carlo Diaz in a scrimmage at the Elorde Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque yesterday.

1 min

DBM Releases 90% of 2025 Budget as of April

The government has released nearly 90 percent of the record P6.326 trillion budget this year as state agencies move to implement their respective projects.

2 mins

Contact center industry still upbeat despite headwinds

The Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) is confident of achieving growth even as geopolitical tensions and policy changes in the United States bring challenges.

1 min

PHL to Formally Submit Application to CPTPP

Within First Half

1 min

PSEi Extends Losing Streak for 3rd Trading Day

The local stock market ended the week in negative territory, with the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index posting a slight dip to extend its losing streak to three consecutive days.

1 min

GT Capital posts record Q1 on strong core units

Strong performance of its core operating companies boosted earnings of conglomerate GT Capital Holdings Inc. in the first quarter.

2 mins

HMO profit surges to P579 M in Q1

The health maintenance organization (HMO) industry has sustained its profitability in the first quarter as membership fees increased.

1 min

Will I be replaced?

An elderly man was taken to the hospital for a circulatory system examination.

3 mins

Puregold eyes VisMin as focus areas for expansion

Supermarket chain Puregold Price Club Inc. is looking at Visayas and Mindanao as key areas for its expansion to support micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) growth and job creation.

1 min

GT Capital Posts Record Q1 on Strong Core Units

Strong performance of its core operating companies boosted earnings of conglomerate GT Capital Holdings Inc. in the first quarter.

3 mins

RE expansion dampens PetroEnergy income

The financial weight of Yuchengco-led PetroEnergy Resources Corp. (PERC)'s strategic push into the green energy space took a toll on its first quarter earnings.

1 min

MREIT Welcomes New President

MREIT Inc., the real estate investment trust of property giant Megaworld Corp., is welcoming a new president and chief executive officer, with Kevin Tan appointed as the company's new chairman of the board starting next month.

1 min

After SC order, LGUs urged to lift mining bans

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) has urged local government units (LGUs) with existing bans on mining operations to heed the Supreme Court's decision to nullify the mining ban imposed by Occidental Mindoro.

1 min

Flawed tobacco tax system

If our government thinks that they have successfully reduced tobacco smoking rates just because they increased tobacco excise taxes, then it is kidding itself.

4 mins

ATI Lifts Earnings, Chelsea Cuts Losses

At The Ports:

1 min

URC Sees Accelerated Volume Growth for 2025

Gokongwei-led food and beverage firm Universal Robina Corp. (URC) expects accelerated volume improvement this year, as better consumer confidence and sentiment are seen fueling growth across its branded businesses.

2 mins

PSE nets P255 M on strong revenue growth

The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) recorded an uptick in its net income in the first quarter, driven by higher trading- and listing-related revenues.

2 mins

BSP to suspend operations of coin deposit machines

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is temporarily halting the operations of coin deposit machines next month, as part of a comprehensive review aimed at improving the country's coin recirculation system.

1 min

AGI kicks off 2025 with strong Q1 results

Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), the holding company of tycoon Andrew Tan, kicked off the year with strong first quarter results, supported by robust contributions from its real estate, spirits manufacturing and hospitality businesses.

2 mins

Globe Advanced AI Use Elevates Service, Empowers Teams for Broader Efficiency

At Globe, artificial intelligence (AI) isn't just a tech buzzword; it's a tool for real progress.

2 mins

AGI Kicks Off 2025 With Strong Q1 Results

Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), the holding company of tycoon Andrew Tan, kicked off the year with strong first quarter results, supported by robust contributions from its real estate, spirits manufacturing and hospitality businesses.

2 mins

ABS-CBN Cuts Loss by Half

Media giant ABS-CBN Corp. found a way to cut its net loss by half in the first quarter, taking advantage of the election season to book more ads for core shows.

1 min

Strong real estate performance boosts Megawide Q1 profit

Infrastructure giant Megawide Construction Corp. saw a 14-percent rise in its net income to P210 million in the first quarter, driven by strong real estate operations.

1 min

Dito far from profit as losses double

Bleeding telco Dito CME Holdings Corp. aims to book a profit by 2027, but it is still nowhere close to reaching that goal as of 2024 when its net loss and capital deficiency worsened by two-fold.

1 min

DBM From B1

Further, the DBM recorded P52.18 billion in other releases as of April, 68 percent or P35.66 billion of which went to other automatic appropriations.

1 min

Contact

From B1

1 min

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Recognized with Six Wins at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls continues to lead in innovation, sustainability, and community engagement, earning six prestigious accolades at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.

2 mins

BELO AND NEOASIA TOAST TO TIMELESS BEAUTY

OF GLITZ, GAMES, AND GLAMOUR

1 min

Careline launches the ultimate makeup haul: The Beauty Tank "Fill to the Max!" experience

This summer, Careline dares beauty junkies to go big, bold, and fully loaded with its newest in-store activation: the Careline Beauty Tank—a pop-up shopping experience where you Fill to the Max!

2 mins

98 DEGREES DROPS DUET VERSION OF I DO FEATURING KATRINA VELARDE

Doing a collab is part of any performer and music artist's life.

2 mins

Cecil Ravelas: A Quiet Confidence in the Space

Ann Dee Santiago brings something beautifully honest to Rustan's Designers' Circle showcase: a kind of joyful grounding.

2 mins

How Dolly De Leon Is Changing The Game For Filipino Actors

SASSY, SPUNKY AND ALWAYS ON POINT. DOLLY DE LEON IS as much of a rock star off camera as she is on the big or small screen.

2 mins

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