ILIGAN CITY — Cancer may have changed their lives, but it did not take away their hope. Two breast cancer survivors shared how faith, medical treatment and family support helped them navigate years of uncertainty, urging women to seek early detection and patients to remain hopeful. Grace Lao Isidro, a retired pharmacist who has lived

MANILA, Philippines — Forests help keep water flowing to communities, particularly during prolonged dry spells. As El Niño recurs every few years, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is expanding forest protection patrols and accelerating targeted reforestation across critical watersheds nationwide to help forests retain water, regulate streamflow, reduce soil erosion and recharge

MANILA, Philippines — Citing studies that suggest lower risks from nicotine products other than traditional cigarettes, the Philippine Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (PHILTHRA) identified e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches as less harmful alternatives for smokers who switch completely, based on what it described as current scientific evidence. PHILTHRA convened the 2nd National Summit

The Defense Press Corps rejected remarks made by the Chinese Embassy in Manila against Filipino journalists, whom it said have “very limited comprehension” and are only “creating hype.”

BANGA, South Cotabato — Several graves at the Banga Public Cemetery remain submerged in floodwaters on Sunday following several days of rain, posing a challenge to families preparing to clean and tidy the burial sites of their loved ones ahead of Undas. Some parts of the cemetery have also become muddy and difficult to walk

MANILA, Philippines — Two suspected fixers were arrested by Highway Patrol Group (HPG) personnel assigned to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) over their disorderly behavior in the agency’s central office. According to the LTO on Saturday, the two men were arrested after they were not allowed to proceed with their transactions in changing license plates

HANOI — Vietnam and four European nations outside the EU signed a free trade agreement in Hanoi on Sunday, seeking to diversify their markets as US tariffs disrupt global commerce. The deal, between Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, eliminates or reduces customs

MANILA — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized P415.63 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested 126 suspects in 81 nationwide operations Oct. 8 to 14. In a news release Sunday, the PDEA said the operations included buy-busts, interdiction activities, marijuana eradication, search and seizure operations, and the implementation of search warrants. Of those

MARIVELES, Bataan — A long-standing housing dispute affecting hundreds of residents, mostly former employees of the Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZ) and their dependents, may soon be resolved following discussions between the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) and local officials. AFAB Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Hussein Pangandaman met with Bataan third

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Sunday said 638 transport network vehicle service (TNVS) partners would be granted regularized status, having already been issued provisional authority. According to the LTFRB, it had received 9,036 applications from TNVS partners with “tempo” status, a practice in which transport network companies (TNCs)

There were no winners of either of the major lotto games played on Sunday, October 18, 2026, with one jackpot now well over P400 million.

Farmers in Sitio Sangilo, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija are raising concerns over the MTerra Solar project, saying their livelihood has been affected by road blocks restricting access to their farms.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have forged a partnership to strengthen school safety by deploying barangay tanods within school premises and integrating the agency into the country’s unified 911 emergency system amid incidents of school shootings and other threats. The agreement is

MANILA, Philippines — Whether or not Vice President Sara Duterte attends the hearing to defend her office’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2027, the Senate finance committee assured the Office of the Vice President (OVP) that it would extend the traditional parliamentary courtesy. “Why not? The granting of parliamentary courtesy has long been practiced even

TACLOBAN CITY — Three solar-powered irrigation projects in Leyte and Samar were turned over to local farmers early this week, providing a more reliable water supply for 42 hectares of farmland as Eastern Visayas faces agricultural challenges from climate change and El Niño. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 8 said the projects are located

MANILA, Philippines — Moderate to heavy rain showers, lightning, and strong winds are expected over parts of Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon on Sunday afternoon, according to the weather bureau. In a thunderstorm advisory issued at 11:20 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the following areas would experience

BAROBO, Surigao del Sur — A decade of cultural pride and ancestral maritime lore takes center stage as this coastal gateway celebrates the 10th Sarapang Festival alongside its 66th founding anniversary from Oct. 17 to 24. The municipal government officially began the countdown to the weeklong celebration following the release of its promotional slate on

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — The Laoag City government is stepping up preparations for Super El Niño, providing assistance to farmers, fisherfolk and transport workers through March 2027. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Laoag City Government Information, Communications and Media Office said Mayor James Bryan Alcid met with heads of local government offices

A barge carrying a coconut leaf-shaped pedestrian bridge and its supporting framework, weighing a combined 3,400 tons, began a 124-km sea journey on Sunday morning from Vung Tau toward the center of Ho Chi Minh City for final assembly.

A barge carrying a nipa palm leaf-shaped pedestrian bridge and its supporting framework, weighing a combined 3,400 tons, began a 124-km sea journey on Sunday morning from Vung Tau toward the center of Ho Chi Minh City for final assembly.

LUCENA CITY — A drug convict was arrested again in a buy-bust operation in this city on Saturday, Oct. 17, according to the local police. Lt. Col. Ryan Hernandez, Lucena City police chief, said a member of the city police drug enforcement unit, acting as a drug user, arrested the 44-year-old suspect on Saturday morning

A Chinese centenarian who keeps Coca-Cola and Sprite by the case and can eat a whole plate of crabs in one sitting has drawn attention online for a diet at odds with standard advice for older people.

A valedictorian of the elite computer science talent program at Hanoi University of Science and Technology has had papers accepted at two of the world's top conferences on machine learning and natural language processing.

MANILA, Philippines — The Diocese of Tagum in Davao del Norte has urged the public to refrain from posting sexualized remarks about a “handsome” priest who recently went viral on Facebook. This came after the diocese greeted Fr. Christian Soronio on his first presbyteral anniversary in a Facebook post on Oct. 9. The post garnered

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur — The local government here has allocated P200 million for the operations of the nearly completed Marawi City General Hospital next year. Vice Mayor Majul Gandamra said the hospital, designed to accommodate 50 to 100 beds, is already 97% complete. “The local government of Marawi is ready to accept the

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Two people were rescued after their fishing boat was reported partially submerged in waters off Wedge Island in San Vicente, Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Saturday, Oct. 17. Personnel of Coast Guard Sub-Station San Vicente, together with the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office, conducted search

MANILA, Philippines — The Inquirer’s two-part special report on the country’s growing debt burden won Best News Coverage at the 48th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA). The reports, “Debt service eats up biggest slice of budget pie” and “PH debt stock projected to hit P19T by end of 2026,” were written by Krixia Subingsubing, Nyah

LUCENA CITY — Multi-sectoral groups have joined forces to intensify a campaign supporting more than 250 farming families in Sariaya, Quezon, who have been stripped of their rights to lands awarded to them under the government’s agrarian reform program. The “Save Sariaya Now!” campaign was launched at the Diocese of Lucena’s Sentro Pastoral in Lucena

BAGUIO CITY — Delegations from across the Cordillera performed their signature festival dances before residents and weekend tourists here on Saturday, Oct. 17, as the region marked Indigenous Peoples Month and sought to sustain tourism. The fifth Cordillera Festival of Festivals comes as the region faces economic pressures from rising fuel and food prices and

We never had house arrest before, but suddenly we do, Saifuddin says.