Senators welcome suspension of VFA termination
by Joseph Peralta and Ritchel Mendiola SENATE President Vicente Sotto III and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Wednesday, June 3 both welcomed the move of Malacañang to suspend the…
Category: Metro-Manila
Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in Metro-Manila for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Gabby Lopez: I am a natural-born Filipino
ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III on Wednesday, June 3, said he is a natural-born Filipino, explaining that both of his parents are Filipino citizens. “It was in recognition…
Sotto says anti-terror bill ’good as passed’
PHILIPPINE Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday, June 2, said that the proposed anti-terrorism law is “as good as passed,” after President Rodrigo Duterte certified the bill as urgent….
Duterte places Metro Manila under GCQ starting June 1
Metro Manila will be shifting to a more relaxed general community quarantine on June 1, according to a recent announcement from President Rodrigo Duterte. “You know, the NCR (National Capital…
ABS-CBN franchise renewal receives overwhelming support
THE Philippine House of Representatives has received 181 position papers that support the bills seeking a fresh 25-year franchise to broadcast giant ABS-CBN, Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin, Jr….
Lawmaker: New franchise for ABS-CBN instead of renewal
THE Philippine House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 26, began its hearing on the franchise renewal of broadcast giant ABS-CBN. During the hearing, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep….
Over 2,450 Filipinos globally test positive for COVID-19
TWENTY-FOUR more overseas Filipinos have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 2,455 worldwide. The latest report from the…
House committee to tackle ABS-CBN franchise on May 26
The Philippines House Committee on Legislative Franchises has set a hearing on ABS-CBN’s franchise bills for next week. The announcement for the Tuesday, May 26 deliberations comes after House Speaker…
Over 2,400 Filipinos worldwide test positive for coronavirus
TWENTY-SIX new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, have been reported among Filipinos abroad. The latest report from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday,…
PH House drops ABS-CBN’s provisional franchise, to proceed with deliberations on bills for 25-year license
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, May 19, announced that the Philippine House of Representatives is foregoing the provisional franchise for media giant ABS-CBN to instead deliberate on the…
Senators Marcos, Lacson urge PH to lure US businesses
TWO Philippine senators recently suggested that economic managers should direct American businesses leaving China to consider the country for their relocation plans. According to Senator Imee Marcos, recent news that…
Supreme Court set to tackle ABS-CBN cases
The Philippine Supreme Court will start tackling the cases of media giant ABS-CBN on May 19, according to a new report. Members of the high court will decide if it…
Presidential Security Group asks public not to threaten Duterte
The Presidential Security Group on Wednesday, May 13 warned that there will be consequences for Filipinos who issue threats against President Rodrigo Duterte. PSG Commander Col. Jesus Durante in a…
Over 71,700 overseas Filipino workers expected to be displaced by pandemic
Around 45,000 overseas Filipinos are expected to return home to the Philippines over the next two months, following the over 20,000 who have been repatriated since the coronavirus outbreak, according…
Palace releases new ECQ guidelines for Metro Manila, other areas
MALACAÑANG on Wednesday, May 13 released new guidelines for areas under a modified enhanced community quarantine. This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte the day before announced that Metro Manila, Laguna…
Manila, Laguna, Cebu City placed under modified quarantine until May 31
Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City will continue operating under a “modified enhanced community quarantine” until the end of the month, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval. This decision to extend…
NAIA reopens to some international flights on assigned days this week
INTERNATIONAL arrivals into Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport resumed on Monday, May 11 following new guidelines. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) released a Notice to Airmen over…
Cayetano on ABS-CBN franchise renewal: ‘There are still other concerns that need to be resolved’
Philippine House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, May 12, said that other bills need to be prioritized before addressing media giant ABS-CBN’s bid for a franchise renewal. This came…
Philippine senators urge gov’t to reconsider order vs ABS-CBN
SEVERAL Philippine senators on Thursday, May 7, filed a resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to reconsider its cease and desist order against broadcasting giant ABS-CBN, after the network…
Palace: Duterte will not veto ABS-CBN franchise bill
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte will not reject ABS-CBN’s bid for a franchise renewal if the majority of lawmakers find valid ground to allow the country’s largest television network to operate…
Pope Francis promotes Cardinal Tagle to rank of cardinal-bishop
FILIPINO Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been promoted by Pope Francis to the rank of cardinal-bishop, the highest position within the Church’s College of Cardinals. The Catholic Church on Friday,…
International flights into PH suspended until May 8
All international flights to and from the Philippines will remain suspended until May 8, following the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. However,…
More than 1,300 PH health care workers infected with COVID-19
OVER 1,300 health care workers in the Philippines have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the Department of Health. The latest figures on Tuesday, April 28 show that…
Over 200 new cases of Filipinos positive with COVID-19 globally
MORE than 200 overseas Filipinos have tested positive for the novel coronavirus this week, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said. The latest numbers on Tuesday, April 28 revealed that…
DFA repatriates 302 OFWs from 5 countries
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs this week welcomed home 132 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Singapore and 121 from Algeria. According to the agency, the successful repatriation of the…
Former tourism chief behind successful ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ campaign dies at 64
Former Philippine Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez died on Monday, April 27, his family confirmed. He was 64. In a statement, current Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat offered her condolences to the…
Palace backs filing of diplomatic protests vs China
The Department of Foreign Affairs’ diplomatic protests against China for violating international law and Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea has gained support from Malacañang. “Yung filing of diplomatic protest,…
Experts: Actual COVID-19 cases in the PH around 9,000
Researchers from the University of the Philippines are claiming that the actual number of novel coronavirus cases in the country is higher than the current official tally reported by the…
PH files 2 diplomatic protests vs China
Two diplomatic protests have been filed against China for violating international law and Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday,…
Duterte offers P10M reward to Filipino who can discover COVID-19 vaccine
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to give P10 million in reward money to any Filipino citizen who can find a cure for the novel coronavirus. “Because COVID-19 is public…