Philippine Consul General Arman R. Talbo joined educators, students, and community leaders at the annual Sakada Day celebration held December 13 at the historic Hawaii Plantation Village on Oahu. The event honored the enduring legacy of the sakada Filipino laborers who migrated to Hawaiʻi in the early 20th century and helped shape the islands’ plantation economy. The celebration featured student-led exhibits, interactive booths, a fashion show, and stage performances that exp

Contractor Sarah Discaya and eight engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are now behind bars after being implicated in a ₱96.5-million “ghost” flood control project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental. Discaya was escorted by NBI-Central Visayas agents upon her arrival at Mactan Cebu International Airport late Friday night, December 19. Within hours, she and her co-accused were hauled before the Lapu-Lapu City court and ordered detained. Judge Ne

Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez has been thrust into the heart of the explosive flood control scandal, after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) named him among 87 individuals recommended for criminal and administrative charges over allegedly anomalous projects nationwide. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the agency, working with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)and the Department of Justice, has formally pushed for the filing of cases be

Authorities are investigating the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, whose body was recovered from a steep ravine along Kennon Road an incident drawing heightened public scrutiny given her past role in overseeing major flood control projects that have been the subject of ongoing controversy. Police said Cabral was found at around 8:00 p.m. on December 18, approximately 20 to 30 meters below a highway near the B

Philippine security forces have uncovered a cache of high-powered firearms allegedly belonging to the New People’s Army (NPA) during a joint military and police operation in a remote area of Labo town in Camarines Norte province, authorities said. The operation was led by the Philippine Army’s 16th Infantry Battalion under the 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division, in coordination with the 42nd Infantry Battalion of the 9th Infantry “Spearhead” Division. Police units involve

Philippine Congresswoman Leila de Lima has called for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into reports that iron ore extracted from the coastal town of Jose Panganiban in Camarines Norte province may have been shipped to China, raising concerns over legality, environmental impact, and government oversight. De Lima said reports of several vessels positioned near the shoreline allegedly preparing to transport iron ore overseas must be thoroughly examined, stressing th

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) on Sunday called on the bicameral conference committee to make public the complete list of so-called “allocables,” which the group claims are a new form of pork barrel embedded in the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). In a statement, BAYAN said transparency is crucial as lawmakers reconcile the differing versions of the national budget approved separately by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The group warned tha

Overseas Filipino groups are urging a temporary pause in remittances during the Christmas season as part of a coordinated pressure campaign they say is already producing visible economic and political impact. The call was articulated by Mr. Ben Repol, OFW-DDS Global Leader based in Austria, who emphasized that padala remains deeply important to Filipino families, especially during the holidays. However, he said the campaign is a calculated and time-bound action aimed at sendi

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has raised a red flag over what he called a ₱33-billion “pork barrel” insertion in the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) 2026 budget this time hidden under farm-to-market roads (FMRs). Lacson blasted the massive allocation, saying the DA proposal fails to identify where the roads will actually be built, as it contains no grid coordinates a red flag he warned mirrors the same scheme used in the now-exposed “ghost” flood-control

NEW YORK - An intersection in Woodside, Queens has been officially co-named in honor of Dr. José P. Rizal, the Philippine national hero, marking a historic recognition of Filipino heritage in one of New York City’s most diverse immigrant neighborhoods. New York City Council Member Julie Won said the co-naming reflects both the growing Filipino presence in her district and Woodside’s identity as a community shaped by immigrants. “It’s an honor to co-name an intersection in Wo

Three Filipino fishermen were injured after Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels blasted water cannons and harassed around 20 Filipino fishing boats operating lawfully near Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. The PCG said the attack happened on December 12, when CCG vessels 21559 and 21562, backed by CMM ships, carried out aggressive blocking maneuvers and fired high-pressure water cannons at Filipino

Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday hit back at mounting accusations against her, branding the investigations as “fishing expeditions” designed to manufacture grounds for impeachment rather than uncover the truth. In a statement, Duterte accused the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability of conducting a “full-blown fishing expedition” last year, alleging that lawmakers searched for anything that could be twisted into impeachment charges. She further cl

Multiple criminal and administrative complaints have been filed with the Office of the Ombudsman against Vice President Sara Duterte and several officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) over the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds. The cases were filed on Friday, December 12, by civil society groups and Church leaders, who accused Duterte and her subordinates of serious violations involving public funds. Th

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered a worldwide manhunt for fugitive and former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co—one of those implicated in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). In his “Ulat sa Bayan” video message, the President said he has directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to coordinate with Philippine embassies in var

New York City - Filipino-American stand-up comedian and musical performer JR De Guzman is set to bring his signature blend of sharp wit, feel-good humor, and live music to Sony Hall in Manhattan on December 13, 2025. This highly anticipated show marks De Guzman’s first-ever solo performance in Manhattan, and excitement is already building as tickets continue to sell at a rapid pace. JR De Guzman has earned international recognition for his refreshing style of comedy, seamless

The Philippine Consulate General in New York, in collaboration with The Filipino School of New York & New Jersey and the Helping Stars Foundation, successfully hosted its annual Parol-Making Workshop at the Philippine Center. More than 50 Filipino families participated in the workshop to mark World Children’s Day and Filipino Values Month. In his remarks on behalf of Consul General Senen Mangalile, Consul Juan Carlos C. Borromeo encouraged the participants to rediscover their

Philippine delegates to the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise, led by Capt. Julius E. Valdez of the Philippine Navy and Capt. Martin L. Bernabe of the Philippine Coast Guard, paid a courtesy call on Philippine Consul General Arman R. Talbo to firm up preparations for the RIMPAC Mid-Planning Conference and the country’s participation in RIMPAC 2026, set for June and July next year. During the meeting, Consul General Talbo reaffirmed the Consulate’s full support for the cont

Jersey City, NJ - Filipino American organizers from New York played a key role in a historic election victory in Jersey City, where former Councilman Rolando Lavarro and the entire reform slate swept the December 3 runoff, reshaping the city’s political landscape. On November 29, volunteers from the Filipino American Democratic Club of New York (FADCNY) crossed state lines to help turn out voters for Lavarro in the final stretch of the campaign. Joined by South Asians for Ha

Officials who could potentially implicate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in kickbacks and anomalous government projects are allegedly using resignation as a “convenient escape hatch.” This was the statement of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives following the resignation of Justice Undersecretary Jojo Cadiz on Friday. “He is not an ordinary employee he is a former Senate staff member of President Marcos Jr., a trusted associate now accused of being the bagman f

The Office of the Ombudsman has formally filed malversation and graft charges against Sarah Discaya and several others in connection with the alleged ₱96.5-million ghost project in Davao Occidental. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano confirmed that the cases were lodged before the Digos Regional Trial Court (RTC) at around 2:15 p.m. on December 5. Also charged were Maria Roma Angeline Rimando of St. Timothy Construction and multiple officials from the DPWH Davao Occidental Dist