SWS: Filipinos’ trust in US, Australia, China drops
A new survey by the Social Weather Stations revealed that the Filipinos’ trust in the United States, Australia, and China suffered a drop in the first half of the year….
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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Anti-terror law takes effect in the Philippines
The controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 took effect on Saturday, July 18 in the Philippines, despite the lack of implementing rules and regulations. “Considering that the law was published on July…
PH to continue to ‘assert’ rights over disputed sea
Malacañang this week said that the Philippines will continue to “assert’’ its rights in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). “As we have said in previous occasions, the Philippine…
Over 8,900 overseas Filipinos now infected with COVID-19
THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, July 15, registered 43 additional cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) among Filipinos abroad, bringing the official count to 8,915. Thirty-four new recoveries…
WHO reports another daily record for global coronavirus cases
The World Health Organization on Sunday, July 12, reported another record increase in global coronavirus cases, with the total rising by 230,370 over a 24-hour period. The previous WHO record…
South China Sea arbitration case win ‘non-negotiable’
PHILIPPINE Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday, July 12, reaffirmed that the arbitral ruling on the South China Sea case is “non-negotiable.” He made the statement on the…
Palawan recognized as ‘best island in the world’
PALAWAN has reclaimed the top spot in international travel magazine Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Islands” list for 2020. The world-renowned tourist destination garnered 94.83 points in the magazine’s survey,…
No new directive on VFA termination despite fixing of Bato’s visa to US
Malacañang on Thursday, July 9, said the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States remains suspended and is not lifted. “Hindi pa po…
PH House rejects ABS-CBN’s bid for a new franchise
ABS-CBN will remain off-air as a Philippine House of Representatives panel on Friday, July 10, rejected the bills seeking to grant the broadcasting giant a new 25-year franchise. Voting 70…
Pope Francis appoints Cardinal Tagle to Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
THE Vatican on Wednesday, July 8, announced that Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, is among the new members of the Pontifical…
8,762 overseas Filipinos infected with COVID-19
THE Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, July 8, logged 74 additional cases of the novel coronavirus among Filipinos abroad, bringing the total count of infections to 8,762. “Today,…
Duterte tells law-abiding citizens not to be afraid of anti-terror law
SINCE signing into law the anti-terror bill, President Rodrigo Duterte addressed the public to assure everyone that they don’t have to fear the controversial law if they are not terrorists….
PH now has the second highest number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia
The Philippines trails behind Indonesia with the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia. The country’s Department of Health recorded 2,099 new infections on Monday, June 6, bringing the…
‘Be my guest!’: PH Senate President Sotto dismisses petitions vs anti-terror law
PHILIPPINE Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday, July 6 dismissed the number of petitions filed before the Supreme Court challenging the newly-signed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. “I do not…
No new COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday, July 6, reported no new cases of the coronavirus among Filipinos abroad. It also announced that no new fatalities were recorded. The…
Giant bats, large shark teeth found in PH go viral
A photo of a giant Philippine bat recently took the internet by storm, shocking netizens. Posted on Twitter, the image of a “human-sized” bat garnered over 103,000 retweets, over 260,000…
Duterte signs controversial anti-terrorism bill into law
By Ritchel Mendiola and Rae Ann Varona / AJPress PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the controversial anti-terrorism bill into law on Friday, July 3, despite local and international concerns…
COVID-19 infections among overseas Filipinos reach 8,614
THE Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, July 2, recorded 108 new cases of the coronavirus among Filipinos abroad, which brings the total number of infected individuals to 8,614….
UN rights chief urges Duterte not to sign anti-terrorism bill
THE United Nations’ human rights chief on Tuesday, June 30, appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to “refrain from signing” the controversial anti-terrorism bill as it “heightens concerns about the blurring…
COVID-19 cases in PH reach 37,514
THE Philippine Department of Health on Tuesday, June 30, recorded 1,080 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the country, which brings the official tally of infected individuals to 37,514….
122 children killed in Duterte’s drug war – report
AT LEAST 122 children’s lives have been claimed by President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs, according to a newly released report by two non-governmental organizations. A report released on…
Nearly 2 million babies expected to be born in PH due to lockdown
CLOSE to two million babies are expected to be born in the Philippines in the coming year due to the lack of access to contraceptives during the coronavirus lockdown, the…
US report: Philippines remains a destination for foreign terrorists
THE Philippines remains a top destination for foreign terrorists despite the government’s continued efforts to enforce measures against security threats, a recent U.S. State Department study found. In its Country…
SWS: Filipinos expect life to worsen in next 12 months
A RECENT Social Weather Stations survey found that 43% of Filipinos expect their quality of life to worsen in the next 12 months. “The 43% proportion of ‘pessimists’ in May…
Palace: No martial law in Cebu
Malacañang on Wednesday, June 24, said that seeking help from the Armed Forces of the Philippines to enforce the enhanced community quarantine in Cebu City should not be compared to…
Philippine Supreme Court junks quo warranto petition vs ABS-CBN
THE Philippine Supreme Court on Tuesday, June 23, dismissed Solicitor General Jose Calida’s quo warranto petition against broadcast giant ABS-CBN on the “ground of mootness.” “I was able to confirm…
Pres. Duterte: OFWs facing repatriation could exceed 100,000
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, June 22, said that the number of overseas Filipinos facing repatriation could exceed 100,000 in the coming months due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). He…
Duterte: Palace legal team still reviewing anti-terror bill
THE controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is still being reviewed by Malacañang’s legal team, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday, June 22. The bill, which has passed Congress, is awaiting…
Filipino businessman files new cyber libel complaint vs Ressa over a 2019 tweet
RAPPLER co-founder and chief executive officer Maria Ressa faces yet another complaint filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng, just days after her cyber libel conviction. The businessman — who was the…
Over 52,000 OFWs returned home since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic
Over 52,000 overseas Filipinos have returned to the Philippines since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs. The DFA on…