New coronavirus mutation detected in PH
A MUTATED strain of the novel coronavirus has been found in the Philippines, which could be more infectious than the original variant, Filipino genomic researchers reported. The G614 strain was…
Category: Across the Islands
Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories throughout the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Foreign cruise operators rehire Filipino sailors
THOUSANDS of Filipino seafarers are bound for European and Mediterranean itineraries as foreign cruise operators begin to rehire them. As reported by the Philippine Star, migration and recruitment consultant Manny…
President Duterte to announce new quarantine status on August 17
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte will address the nation on August 17 to announce the new community quarantine classifications in the country, Malacañang said on Thursday, August 13. “Inaasahan po natin…
15 more Filipinos abroad infected with coronavirus as cases near 10,000
FIFTEEN more overseas Filipinos have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 9,893, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Saturday, August…
The Philippines remains the world’s largest rice importer
THE Philippines will continue to be the world’s largest rice importer until 2021 with the expected decline in local production, the United States Department of Agriculture projected this week. In…
Palace: Thai newspaper branding PH ‘Land of COVID-19’ motivated by tourism competition
Malacañang said competing for tourists was what drove a newspaper from Thailand to brand the Philippines as the “Land of COVID-19.” According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the Philippines and…
Select foreign nationals allowed to enter the Philippines
THE Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles this week released an advisory detailing which foreign nationals can travel to the Philippines as the pandemic continues. “The entry to the Philippines of a…
Ramona Diaz’s new documentary ‘A Thousand Cuts’ offers an immersive look into Maria Ressa’s fight for press freedom in PH
Two years into Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s term, Filipina American filmmaker Ramona Diaz set out to make a documentary about the crackdown on illegal drugs that has drawn international attention….
Foreign spouses of Filipino citizens will now need visas to enter PH
The foreign spouses and dependents of Filipino citizens will need visas to enter the Philippines, the country’s Bureau of Immigration recently announced. The new requirement took effect on August 9….
Duterte: Gov’t running out of funds amid coronavirus pandemic
The Philippine government has run out of funds to help those directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte admitted on Monday, August 10. This comes…
PAL to require passengers to wear face shields, masks
All passengers traveling on Philippine Airlines will be required to wear face shields, on top of the mandatory face masks, starting August 15. The new measure is in compliance with…
Locsin, Pompeo discuss US policy shift in the South China Sea, maritime cooperation
THE United States’ policy shift on maritime disputes in the South China Sea was recently discussed by the top diplomats of Manila and Washington during a phone call. Philippine Foreign…
Twilight Glory: Honoring Heroes And Veterans
The Philippines has many heroes—living and dead, recognized and unsung—who helped shape the country’s destiny and honoring them is the least the nation can do for them. This is the…
Philippines now COVID-19 hotspot in Southeast Asia
WITH a total of 119,460 cases of the novel coronavirus, the Philippines surpassed Indonesia’s 118,753 and became the country with the highest number of infections among member nations of the…
10 overseas Filipinos test positive for COVID-19
TEN overseas Filipinos have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 9,607, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Tuesday, August 4. “On day…
New AFP chief wants anti-terror law to regulate social media
Newly-appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay wants to regulate social media use through the recently signed Anti-Terrorism Law. According to him, terrorists are reportedly…
Filipino celebrities, online influencers file 21st petition vs anti-terror law
Bloggers, social media influencers, and other Internet personalities have joined lawyers, journalists and human rights advocates who are rallying against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which recently became a law….
Robredo lists recommendations to improve PH COVID-19 response
PHILIPPINE Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, July 29, presented her list of suggestions on how the country may combat and contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the…
Report: PH deadliest country in Asia for eco-warriors
The Philippines was the deadliest country in Asia for land and environmental defenders in 2019, according to conflict and corruption watchdog Global Witness. In its report released on Wednesday, July…
Bureau of Treasury invites Fil-Ams to invest in PH
The Philippines’ Bureau of The Treasury issued an invitation to overseas Filipinos to invest in Retail Treasury Bonds (RTB) in a Zoom presentation last Thursday, July 23. The presentation was…
Palace admits UP’s COVID-19 forecast came true
THE Philippines has failed to beat the prediction of the University of the Philippines (UP), which projected 85,000 cases of the novel coronavirus by July 31, Malacanang admitted on Wednesday,…
ABS-CBN offers gov’t use of transmission network
Broadcast giant ABS-CBN this week offered the government its transmission network for the broadcast of educational programs. “In response to the educational thrust of the government in this time of…
PNP chief throws support behind death penalty
THE imposition of the death penalty would deter crimes in the country, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa argued on Wednesday, July 29. “The PNP believes that with…
Filipino lawmakers, key public figures react to SONA 2020
A day after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, several Filipino lawmakers and key public figures…
Duterte delivers 5th SONA amid pandemic
DESPITE the enforced nationwide lockdown to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27….
US donates P14.8M worth of PPE to PH
The United States recently donated P14.8 million ($300,000) worth of personal protective equipment to the Philippine General Hospital and other coronavirus treatment centers in the Philippines. The U.S. Embassy in…
SWS: Most Filipinos still worry about getting COVID-19
A MAJORITY of Filipinos in the Philippines are still worried about being infected with COVID-19, according to a survey released on Thursday, July 23. The latest survey by the Social Weather Stations…
Philippine government suspends non-essential outbound travel anew
Malacañang on Thursday, July 23, announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management for Emerging Infectious Diseases has once again suspended non-essential outbound air travel of Filipinos. According…
Palace: Government can’t afford to test all Filipinos for COVID-19
The Philippines can’t afford to test every Filipino for the novel coronavirus, Malacañang admitted on Tuesday, July 21. “If we can afford it, why not? But the reality is, hindi…
Makabayan lawmakers seek plenary vote on ABS-CBN franchise
LAWMAKERS from the Makabayan bloc have asked the Philippine House Committee on Legislative Franchises to allow plenary action on the franchise bid of media giant ABS-CBN. In a letter addressed…