‘Not my swan song:’ Duterte delivers final SONA
DESPITE delivering his sixth and last State of the Nation Address (SONA), Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte maintained that the nearly three-hour speech was not his “swan song” or final public…
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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PH gov’t revises ‘green lane’ protocols for fully-vaccinated travelers
Travelers from US still required to undergo 10-day quarantine THE Philippine government’s COVID-19 task force has revised the protocols for fully vaccinated travelers to qualify for “green lanes” upon arrival…
President Duterte to review addendum to VFA with the US
A SIDE agreement or “addendum” in implementing the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States has been submitted to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, according to Defense Secretary Delfin…
Duterte calls for dialogue with US over VFA
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte is looking to speak with the United States government about the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), a treaty between the two countries that the president had previously…
Pacquiao KO’d as PDP-Laban party president
PHILIPPINE Senator Manny Pacquiao has been ousted as the president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). During the national assembly held in Pampanga on Saturday, July 17, the…
Galvez: PH ‘well-prepared’ vs Delta variant
THE Philippines is “well-prepared” to combat the more transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19, according to National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19. In a media briefing with experts from the Department…
PH updates list of ‘green’ states for vaccinated travelers
Travelers from US still required to quarantine for 10 days THE Philippines has updated its roster of “green” or low-risk nations, which qualifies vaccinated travelers for a shorter quarantine period…
PH receives first batch of J&J COVID-19 jabs from US
MORE than a million doses of the single-shot COVID-19 vaccine developed by American firm Johnson & Johnson (J&J) have arrived in the Philippines. In a tweet, the World Health Organization…
HNP: Sara ‘not interested’ in Duterte-Duterte tandem
DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is reportedly “not interested” in seeking the top post in the country in the 2022 elections should her father, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, decide to…
Duterte-Duterte tandem leads in Pulse Asia poll
DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and President Rodrigo Duterte have emerged as Filipinos’ top picks for president and vice president, respectively, in Pulse Asia’s latest poll released on Tuesday, July…
Filipinos criticize the govt’s move to standardize adobo
FILIPINOS took to social media to criticize the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) proposal to “standardize” adobo and other staple dishes. In a statement released Friday, July 9,…
BI allows foreigners stranded in the Philippines to renew visas
THE Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) has allowed foreign nationals stranded in the country to renew their visas that expired during the pandemic until November 30 this year. According to…
PH ranks last in safest country rankings
THE Philippines has landed at the bottom of safest countries in the world this year, according to an international business magazine. In the ranking published Tuesday, July 6, Global Finance…
Palace: Duterte may run for VP under Sara’s party
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte may join his daughter’s party if he decides to run for the second-highest post in the country in the 2022 elections, according to Malacañang. In a…
Duterte is ‘seriously thinking’ of running for VP in 2022
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has once again floated the idea of running for the second-highest post in the country in the 2022 elections, saying he is “sold on the idea.”…
12-M COVID vax doses administered in PH
TWELVE million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the Philippines since the government kicked off its vaccination campaign in March, according to the National Task Force Against COVID-19….
PH among the world’s 10 worst countries for workers
THE Philippines is once again among the 10 worst countries for workers in the world, according to the latest report from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). In its 2021…
Taal unrest continues, S02 gas emission observed
CONTINUOUS sulfur dioxide emission from Taal Volcano was observed in the past 24 hours, according to state volcanologists. In its 8 a.m. bulletin posted Monday, July 5, the Philippine Institute…
Graft charges dropped vs Revilla
THE Sandiganbayan has dismissed the last remaining graft complaints filed against Philippine Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in relation to the 2013 multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam. Voting…
Duterte: PH-US ties defined by shared history, commitment to democracy
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 5, joined in commemorating the 75th anniversaries of the inauguration of the Third Philippine Republic and the Philippine-U.S. diplomatic relations. In a recorded…
Duterte: Consider me a candidate for VP at this time
WILL Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte run for vice president in the 2020 elections? During the inauguration of the LRT Line 2 East Extension Project, the Chief Executive told Filipinos they…
More phreatomagmatic bursts recorded in Taal
FOUR short phreatomagmatic bursts in the Taal Volcano have been recorded since it was placed under Alert Level 3, according to state volcanologists. In its 8 a.m. bulletin posted Friday,…
Duterte-Pacquiao rift worsens
THE relationship between Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Manny Pacquiao has reportedly become strained following the senator’s supposed corruption remarks against the current administration. Pacquiao on Wednesday, June 30,…
PH to allow shorter quarantine period for fully vaccinated travelers from low-risk countries
Eased restrictions do not apply to individuals arriving from the United States FULLY vaccinated individuals from certain “green” or low-risk countries will only have to spend seven days in quarantine…
PH senators file resolutions honoring Noynoy Aquino
SEVERAL Philippine senators have filed resolutions honoring the life and legacy of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who died of renal disease at the age of 61 last…
No Duterte at Noynoy Aquino wake, funeral
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte was noticeably absent at the wake and funeral of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. The chief executive did not attend his predecessor’s wake at The…
American citizens with expired passports can exit PH until Dec. 31
AMERICAN citizens in the Philippines with expired U.S. passports will be allowed to depart the country, according to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI). A memorandum issued by Immigration Commissioner…
Biden extends condolences to the PH, says Aquino’s legacy ‘will endure for years to come’
UNITED States President Joe Biden has extended his “deepest condolences” to the Philippines following the death of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. In a statement released by the White…
Palace, gov’t officials mourn death of former President Noynoy Aquino
Philippines to observe 10 days of national mourning MALACAÑANG, top officials and former leaders expressed condolences to the family of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III who died at the…
Former Philippine President Noynoy Aquino dies at 61
FORMER Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has died, sources close to his family confirmed Thursday, June 24. He was 61. The son of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr….