In a country where the Lenten season signals fasting and the sizzle of meat falls silent, Bantayan Island in Cebu quietly breaks the rule — a tradition rooted not in rebellion, but in a rare Vatican exemption granted more than two centuries ago. The origin of this curious custom stretches back to 1824, long before […]

Philippine shares ended lower in a holiday-shortened trading week, as investors trimmed positions and booked profits ahead of the Holy Week break. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) retreated 0.83% on Wednesday to close at 6,134.62, snapping a cautious week marked by thin volumes and defensive trades. The broader All Shares Index, however, managed a […]

A single snapshot can sometimes trigger a storm of questions. Such was the case when an image of the Philippine Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, began circulating online — prominently featuring the U.S. flag beside it. In a follow-up to our earlier commentary on the matter, a concerned reader reached out […]

Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) is laying the groundwork for the handover of facilities at Laguindingan International Airport in northern Mindanao, ahead of its official takeover later this month under a 30-year concession deal. The infrastructure unit of the Aboitiz Group will assume full operations of the country’s sixth-busiest airport in April, marking the first airport public-private […]

If you’re searching for something to watch this Holy Week, Netflix offers a documentary perfect for your holiday binge. “A Queen’s Runway” takes you behind the scenes of one of the Philippines’ biggest obsessions — beauty pageants — following the fierce competition of young women vying for the crown at Miss Universe Philippines, a contest […]

A curious detail caught our eye in a recent press release from the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board: a rendering of the Philippine Pavilion for World Expo 2025 in Osaka prominently features the American flag. Not the Philippine flag, whose pavilion it ostensibly is. If it were Japan’s flag, that might make more sense—the host nation, […]

There’s no better time to experience the heart of Cebu than during Holy Week — when the island slows its pace and reveals a deeply spiritual side woven from centuries of devotion, tradition, and community. Here, ancient rituals blend seamlessly with serene landscapes and soulful cuisine, inviting travelers on a journey of reflection and renewal. […]

Hunger surged sharply among the country’s poorest households in March, underscoring the deepening hardship faced by millions of Filipino families, according to the latest national survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) commissioned by the Stratbase Group. The survey, conducted from March 15 to 20, found that 27.2% of families experienced involuntary hunger — meaning they […]

The Philippines officially unveiled its pavilion at World Expo 2025 in Osaka on Sunday, presenting an immersive cultural showcase centered on the theme: “Nature, Culture, and Community: Woven Together for a Better Future”. Dubbed simply “Woven,” the pavilion draws on the country’s rich tradition of weaving as both metaphor and method, blending indigenous craftsmanship with […]

Come Sunday, the glass-and-steel austerity of Hong Kong loosens its collar. Along the city’s sidewalks and plazas, a quiet transformation takes place: folding chairs appear where bankers stood; the scent of adobo and pancit mingles with the sea breeze; and voices — bright, unhurried, unbossed — rise above the drone of traffic. This is “Little […]