New York - Jerry Sibal and Edwin Josue of the Friends of the Philippine Society have raised the bar of Philippine cultural and trade exhibitions as they opened Yaman (treasure) in the heart of New York City on October 31, 2025. Set in the iconic Marriott Marquis in Times Square, Yaman was true to its literal meaning - an interactive showcase of the abundance of Philippine arts and crafts and inspirational stories of select Filipino men and women. At the formal opening on fes

CAMARINES NORTE  —Back for another round! The ordinance pushed by Board Member Arthur Michael “Mike” Canlas promoting  decent, comfortable, and gender-inclusive  school uniforms has been returned to second reading for a wider public consultation. The proposed measure encourages all schools in the province to adopt  safe and inclusive  uniforms that promote modesty, comfort, and equality among students—without forcing schools to follow a single design or imposing penalties. Th

The number of confirmed deaths has risen to 40, while thousands of residents have evacuated amid the onslaught of Typhoon “Tino” in the Visayas and parts of Northern Mindanao, according to a report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday. According to Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Junie Castillo, 22 of the fatalities were from Region 7, two from the Negros Island Region (NIR), and one each from Western Visayas (Region 6

CAMARINES NORTE - In a shining moment for Philippine education and Bicolano excellence, two young innovators from Paracale, Camarines Norte Rhaine Jade Bravo and Benedict Deviana, both Grade 12 STEM students of Paracale National High School brought home the gold medal and championship title at the Global Robotics Competition 2025 held in Bangkok, Thailand from October 30 to November 2, 2025. Their triumph in the Creative/Innovation Category, where they earned the Gold Champi

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) revealed in its report that Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana allegedly interfered in several flood control and street lighting projects in Bulacan to benefit his own property and that of his neighbor, former congressman Zaldy Co, whose house is located near a river. According to the ICI report, Lipana personally spoke with former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Henry Alcantara in 20

New York City - The heart of Times Square will pulse with Filipino pride this November as YAMAN NYC unfolds at the iconic New York Marriott Marquis, transforming one of Manhattan’s most vibrant landmarks into a dazzling showcase of Philippine culture, artistry, and innovation. In Tagalog, “Yaman” means “treasure” and true to its name, the three-day festival celebrates the living treasures of Filipino creativity and heritage. Visitors will experience the beauty of indigeno

Philippine Representative Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. renewed his push to ban TikTok in the country, citing national security and data privacy concerns. The move revives his earlier effort from May 2024, when he filed House Bill 10489, seeking to prohibit applications controlled by what he described as “foreign adversaries.” Abante alleges that TikTok poses a national security threat because its parent company, ByteDance, is based in China and could potentially transmit sen

LAAK, Davao de Oro — A six-month search for a missing 15-year-old girl has ended in tragedy after her decomposing body was found inside an abandoned house in Purok 3A, Barangay Poblacion. Authorities from the Davao de Oro Police Provincial Office reported that the victim’s remains were discovered in an advanced state of decomposition, indicating that she had been dead for several months. Residents had alerted the police after detecting a foul odor coming from the deserted pr

A Filipino-Canadian doctor has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar health care fraud scheme that defrauded the U.S. Medicare system. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton of the District Court of New Jersey against Dr. Alexander Baldonado, who was convicted of multiple fraud and conspiracy charges earlier this year. Conviction and Penalties Baldonado was convicted on February 10, 2025, of health care frau

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has appointed Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza as Presiding Judge in the appeal filed by former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who is challenging the Court’s jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed during his administration’s anti-drug campaign. According to the ICC’s Appeals Chamber, the designation was made in connection with Duterte’s appeal against the Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision dated 23 October 2025, titled “De

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assured that the death of a Filipino crew member of MV Arvia , a cruise ship operated by P&O Cruises, is now under investigation. In a statement on Thursday, the DMW confirmed the death of the Filipino seafarer, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, as it expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family. “The licensed manning agency that deployed the seafarer reported that the circumstances surrounding t

The Philippine Navy stressed that Orly Regala Guteza is not covered by the protection of the Marine Corps and that the institution has no connection to his personal undertakings. It further assured the public of the Navy’s professionalism and nonpartisan stance. In a statement, the Philippine Navy clarified that Guteza has been retired from the Philippine Marine Corps since June 30, 2020. The Navy emphasized that as a retired serviceman, Guteza is no longer under the administ

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) gave a heartfelt send-off to Binibini Myrna Esguerra at the World Kitchens in Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City, as she prepares to represent the Philippines at the Miss International 2025pageant in Tokyo, Japan. The intimate gathering brought together Esguerra’s family, friends, members of the media, pageant enthusiasts, and fellow Binibini queens, who joined in celebrating her journey and extending their support before her departure

NEW YORK - Riya Ortiz, Executive Director of the Damayan Migrant Workers Association, testified before the New York City Council Committee on Immigration, highlighting the organization’s crucial work in protecting and empowering low-wage Filipino workers in the city. Ortiz, speaking alongside the RISE Network, shared how Damayan continues to serve the Filipino community through life-saving programs for migrant and trafficked workers. She emphasized that many of those they he

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), chaired by Andres Reyes Jr., together with a team of volunteer lawyers, has submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman its recommendation to file criminal and administrative charges against Senators Joel Villanueva and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, former Caloocan 2nd District Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and former Comm

An ordinance prohibiting students from wearing short skirts in schools across Camarines Norte has met criticism from various sectors. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Camarines Norte recently approved on second reading a proposed ordinance that would ban female students from wearing short skirts in both public and private schools throughout the province. The measure, authored by Board Member Arthur Michael Canlas, aims to promote discipline, modesty, and proper behavior among

Senator Mark Villar, former Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), has declared the highest net worth among senators, amounting to ₱1.2 billion, based on his 2024 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). In the SALN made public on Tuesday afternoon, Villar declared ownership of 14 real properties, including house-and-lot units, condominiums, and parcels of land, with a total value of ₱349,144,407. Meanwhile, his personal properties, co

CAVITE - A father was shot dead by police after going berserk and taking his own children hostage in Barangay Sampaloc 4, Dasmariñas City, Cavite, on Monday morning — a tragedy that neighbors believe stemmed from the hardships he faced in life. The suspect was identified as 37-year-old jeepney driver LJ Borda , who reportedly suffered a mental breakdown after several days without food or sleep. According to the investigation, Borda allegedly attempted to stab his two young ch

Around 300 Filipinos living on the island of Jamaica are bracing for the impact of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which is forecast to make landfall on the island late Monday or early Tuesday (local time). According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Melissa is expected to make a direct hit on the western portion of Jamaica, an area already experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds. The hurricane is packing maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h), making it

New York — The CDO-MISOR Association of New York, a non-profit organization founded in 2001 to preserve and promote the culture, traditions, and legacy of Panaghigalaay — the spirit of friendship and camaraderie — has re-elected President Cayetano Paderanga to lead the organization for the 2026–2027 term. During the association’s recent general assembly, members and supporters from across New York and neighboring states gathered to celebrate unity, reflect on past accomplis