The Philippines has thrown its weight behind a proposed unified visa system for Southeast Asia, saying it could transform the region into a single, globally competitive tourism hub. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco voiced support for the initiative at the SKIFT Asia Forum 2025 in Bangkok on May 15, where she was a keynote speaker. […]

The country’s 2025 midterm elections smashed records for speed and scale, with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) proclaiming all 12 winning senators on Saturday, just five days after polls closed — the fastest canvassing in the country’s electoral history. Voter turnout also reached a historic high, with 57,350,968 out of 69,673,653 registered voters casting ballots […]

Former president Rodrigo Duterte has secured a decisive victory in Davao City’s mayoral race, marking a powerful political comeback in his longtime bastion—even as he faces a politically charged case before the International Criminal Court (ICC). Duterte’s return to local leadership underscores the enduring support for the tough-talking leader, who enjoyed national popularity during his […]

Gold from the Philippines is mostly mined by hand—but rarely traded above board. With about 500,000 artisanal and small-scale gold miners (ASGM) producing 70% of the country’s gold, formalizing this fragmented sector remains a political, legal, and environmental quagmire. Research conducted by the World Gold Council in early 2025 highlights how underregulated gold processing plants […]

Got a minute or two—and a story to tell? Filipino youth are being called to celebrate half a century of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China in a bold, creative way: through TikTok. The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) has launched a nationwide TikTok Video Competition in honor of […]

Filipinos are turning more frequently to digital lending platforms, with users spending an average of 12 minutes and 14 seconds per month on such apps in 2024, according to a report released on May 6 by financial technology firm Digido. The report found that consumers collectively logged about 1.54 billion seconds on lending apps last […]

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is stepping back into the ring. The 46-year-old boxing legend will return from a nearly four-year retirement to challenge American pro boxer Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title on July 19 in Las Vegas, ESPN reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources. Pacquiao, a southpaw from the Philippines, retired in […]

The Philippine economy started 2025 with a robust 5.4% year-on-year growth in the first quarter, a clear sign of resilience despite ongoing global uncertainties. While this marks a solid performance, it fell short of the 5.7% forecasted by analysts. Nonetheless, the result reflects a broad-based recovery that continues to gain traction across key sectors, from […]

When the white smoke rose over the Vatican on May 8, few in the Philippines knew much about Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. But when he stepped onto the balcony and was introduced as Pope Leo XIV—the first pope from North America—something stirred across this island nation of more than 80 million Catholics. Not just curiosity, […]

For half a millennium, the Philippines has carried the torch of Roman Catholicism in Asia—burning bright through colonization, dictatorship, and diaspora. It is one of the Church’s last true strongholds, home to more than 80 million Catholics and a culture steeped in devotion, processions, novenas, and public faith. Yet even here, the flame flickers. Young […]