The Importance of Family
Dear friends in Christ, This Sunday, we commemorate the solemnity of the Holy Family, a sacred trio that includes Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, our Savior. I hope you all enjoyed…
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Trump orders federal offices closed on Christmas Eve and Dec. 26
An archival Christmas photo shows the President and the First Lady standing in the Cross Hall of the White House, framed by holiday decorations and Christmas trees. The image was…
Irreverence at Christmas
Out of the 195 countries around the world, 160 celebrate Christmas, invariably, honoring the birth of the Prince of Peace, Santo Niño, which took place between 6 and 4 BC,…
Philippine Airlines’ A350-1000 Arrives Home, Marking Southeast Asia’s First
Philippine Airlines (PAL) marked a historic milestone as the company’s mostawaited aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000, arrived in Manila at 4:30 PM today, making the flag carrier the first in Southeast…
Celebrating the silver anniversary of Alvin and Marissa Varsovia
Marissa Varsovia and Alvin Varsovia marked their 25th wedding anniversary with a renewal of vows at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel along Broadway Avenue in New Manila, Quezon…
God’s surprising ways
Dear Parish Family, The Fourth Sunday of Advent beautifully encapsulates the essence of this sacred season: promise, hope, restoration, repentance, transformation, and joy. These powerful themes do not emerge from…
Noche Buena: the Filipino Christmas table and its traditions
A festive Noche Buena spread of traditional Filipino entrees and Christmas desserts such as bibingka, puto bumbong, and fruit salad – reflecting the Filipino tradition of gathering to mark Christmas….
PAL BEGINS CEBU-GUAM SERVICE
A ceremonial cake slicing and ribbon cutting marked the official send-off of the Cebu-Guam service. (Photos courtesy of Mactan-Cebu International Airport) CEBU City – Philippine Airlines (PAL) launched the first-ever nonstop…
Tax refunds in 2026 reflect post-pandemic rules; no $2,000 payment authorized
Here’s what taxpayers should expect from tax refunds arriving in 2026, including the status of the proposed $2,000 payment discussed by President Trump. Tax refunds issued in 2026 will reflect…
New York City moves closer to first Vegas-style casinos after regulatory hurdle cleared
A view of the New York City skyline at dusk. State regulatory actions have cleared the legal path for the city to be considered for full-scale, Vegas-style casino licenses. (Photo…
What Are Your Financial Goals for 2026? Here’s How to Stay on Track
Sponsored by JPMorganChase As we approach the end of 2025, you might already be mapping out financial goals for the new year—to save more, spend smarter, or stick to a…
Queries from readers
Do cellphone radiation shields work? Billions of people in at least 160 nations around the world will be calling and texting Christmas greetings, and cellphones will be extraordinarily busy during…
Lucio Co group to acquire Villar-owned PrimeWater in full buyout
Left to right: Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr., founder of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. (Photo from Manny Villar’s official Facebook page), and Lucio Co, founder and chair of Puregold Price Club Inc….
Simbang Gabi: a Filipino tradition of faith and discipline
A parish church illuminated for Simbang Gabi shown alongside vendor stalls offering traditional Filipino holiday fare, bibingka baked in clay pots and puto bumbóng steamed in bamboo, rituals that come…
Zsa Zsa Padilla returns Aliw lifetime honor after ceremony protocol dispute
Singer and actress Zsa Zsa Padilla. “Instead of feeling honored, I was left feeling small,” the veteran performer said in explaining her decision to return her Aliw Awards Lifetime Achievement honor…
Bondi attack investigation focuses on Islamic State ideology and suspects’ travel to Mindanao
An aerial view of Bondi Beach in Sydney, where Australian authorities are investigating a deadly December 14 attack classified as terrorism. Photo credit: Nick Ang / Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) …
How I Turn Holiday Leftovers into Something Delicious and Good for California
By Chef Billy Ngo, Restaurateur The holidays are all about tradition, family, and food. As a chef, I see cooking as one of the most meaningful ways to show love….
Miss Universe shifts operations from Mexico to New York following CEO’s exit
Mario Búcaro, who concluded his tenure as chief executive officer of the Miss Universe Organization following a brief appointment in late 2025. Photo attribution: Official government portrait / Ministry of Foreign Affairs…
Why the Philippines still needs an anti-dynasty law
Original copies of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, including signed documents from the Constitutional Commission, displayed under glass. The charter mandates Congress to regulate political dynasties, a provision that remains unenacted nearly…
Judgment changes may precede memory loss in early Alzheimer’s, health agencies say
Health officials say impaired decision-making and poor judgment can appear before memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease, underscoring the need to distinguish isolated mistakes from persistent patterns that affect daily life….
Senate blocks Democratic plan to extend ACA subsidies as rival GOP proposal also fails
The U.S. Senate chamber is seen at the Capitol in Washington, where lawmakers voted on competing proposals addressing the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies on December 11,…
Holiday Recycling Checklist: Celebrate Without the Waste
Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Greener Holiday Season! Make this holiday season merry, bright, and waste-free! Follow these simple steps to reduce waste, reuse what you can, and recycle right…
Marcos reflects on early reluctance to enter politics in interview with student journalists
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Photo courtesy of Malacañang Palace In a podcast interview with student editors, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. describes how his entry into politics evolved over time,…
Las Vegas expects record convention year in 2026
Upgraded facilities and a full slate of major trade shows position the city for a rebound in business travel LAS VEGAS – Tourism officials and industry analysts say Las Vegas…
Nevada regents delay vote on tuition hikes tied to $46.5-million budget gap
LAS VEGAS – The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents has postponed a vote on a proposal that could increase university tuition by up to 12 percent…
Two bills in U.S. Congress reignite scrutiny over dual citizenship
Official portraits of Rep. Abe Hamadeh of Arizona and Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, sponsors of separate House and Senate bills that have renewed congressional debate over dual citizenship. Two…
Looking Forward to FIFA World Cup 2026
I was grateful to the Washington DC Foreign Press Center for the FIFA World Cup 2026 media briefing led by Andrew Harold Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task…
25 Years of Charity and Celebration: The Grandest World Bazaar Festival Opens!
The metro’s most anticipated one-stop shop and holiday marketplace —World Bazaar Festival, officially opens its doors today, December 12, 2025, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila. Now on its…
The Holy Reset: God Wants to Restore What You Lost This Year
If you had told me the year would start with LA fires, evacuation alerts, and a business slowdown, I probably would’ve sighed and said, “Well… that’s not exactly the way…
The Gift of Joy
Joy is the overarching theme of the Third Sunday of Advent. This is why the third candle on the Advent wreath is pink (rose)—it represents the shepherds’ joy and the…