Iloilo vice mayor dies in firing incidentA photo of Dueñas’ Vice Mayor Aimee Paz Lamasan posted on her Facebook. MANILA, Philippines — The vice mayor of Dueñas, Iloilo has died in an accidental shooting incident. Initial reports of the accidental shooting said that Dueñas’ Vice Mayor Aimee Paz Lamasan was a victim of an accidental firing on the morning of December 30. Citing Lamasan’s live-in partner, Lord Byron Torrecarion, Panay News reported that the vice mayor was handling her firearm when it discharged. “Rest in peace, Vice Mayor Aimee.

OSAP says no authority over DPWH budget listingsMANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) said it does not exercise line-item authority over the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s internal budget listings. He stressed said the OSAP is not an implementing agency and does not possess the technical mandate to plan, select, or prioritize infrastructure projects under the DPWH. He added that any insinuation that the OSAP exercises control or influence over DPWH budget items is false. His office, Lagdameo said, has no authority over the department’s internal budget processes, particularly at the line-item level. Until then, Lagdameo said, the OSAP will continue to perform its duties in accordance with its mandate and will not be distracted by speculation.

97,000 illegal firecrackers seized during New Year festivities — PNPMANILA, Philippines — Police seized 96,721 illegal firecracker items and arrested 26 people during the New Year festivities for violating rules related to the use of pyrotechnics, the Philippine National Police said Thursday, January 1. Despite enforcement efforts, authorities recorded 843 firecracker-related incidents, which resulted in 183 people injured. The PNP said no fatalities were reported during the coverage period. Firecracker-related injuries, other incidentsThe PNP also reported three fire incidents linked to pyrotechnics, leaving five people injured, and two road crash incidents that injured four individuals. Separately, the PNP said it seized 61 loose firearms and arrested 132 individuals for violations involving illegal drugs, illegal gambling, and outstanding warrants during sustained police operations conducted alongside its holiday deployments.

Big Hit Music has officially confirmed that BTS will return as a full group on March 20, releasing their first complete album in nearly four years. Before this, BTS sent handwritten letters to lucky fans as they celebrated the New Year. The letter had “2026.3.20” written on it, somehow teasing their comeback date. In it, RM wrote, “No one has awaited the comeback more eagerly than us,” while Jin said he is "grateful" for their fans' patience. “We’ll create more precious memories in 2026, so please look forward to it,” wrote V, while Jung Kook added, “I miss you!

Popular American bakery Sprinkles Cupcakes is closing its doors after 20 years. "Even though I sold the company over a decade ago, I still have such a personal connection to it. "I thought Sprinkles would keep going and be around forever. "One day notice is crazy. Another one wrote: "Thanks for the one day notice of unemployment and no severance!"

The Department of Tourism has addressed the controversy surrounding a photographer's social media post lambasting the Department's cover photo choice on its Philippine Tropics magazine. On New Year's Eve, the DOT released a statement distancing itself from the publication and clarifying the photographer's claims. "Philippine Tropics is a private publication and not an official magazine of the DOT," it said. The cover prominently featured the photo of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco superimposed over the image of a lush cove with an aquamarine sea. The photographer's post included a photo of the magazine's launch issue, which is free, displayed on a stand.

Queen Camilla has spoken for the first time publicly about fighting off an attacker on a train when she was a teenager, in an interview broadcast Wednesday. "And I remember getting off the train and my mother looking at me and saying, 'Why is your hair standing on end? According to Low, Camilla told former prime minister Boris Johnson about the incident in 2008 when he was mayor of London. Praising John and Amy, Camilla said hearing stories like theirs was "something that I feel very strongly about." "They must be from above smiling down on you and thinking, my goodness me, what a wonderful, wonderful father, husband, sister," she added.

Mayon Volcano alert level raised to 2MANILA, Philippines — State volcanologists raised Mayon Volcano’s alert status to Alert Level 2 early Thursday, January 1, citing a sharp increase in rockfalls and prolonged ground swelling that could signal magma moving beneath the volcano. Phivolcs said in a 6 a.m. bulletin that it was elevating the alert from Level 1, or low-level unrest, to Level 2, which indicates increasing or moderate unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes. The agency's monitoring instruments recorded 599 rockfall events in the last two months of 2025, averaging 10 events a day. On December 31 alone, 47 rockfall events were logged — the highest number recorded in a single day over the past year. With Alert Level 2 now in effect, Phivolcs warned of possible sudden explosions, pyroclastic density currents (locally known as uson), rockfalls, landslides and ballistic projectiles.

DOH records 235 firework-related injuries as of January 1Fireworks light up the streets of Delpan, Tondo, Manila during the new year celebrationMANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) counted a total of 235 firework-related injuries as of New Year’s Day, but the number is expected to go up with late reports coming in from hospitals. The sample was from 62 sentinel hospitals, which are select government hospitals being monitored by the DOH. The injuries recorded as of January 1, 2026 is almost half than the injuries recorded on January 1, 2025. While the DOH welcomed the lower amount of injuries, late reports will still be recorded until January 1. Symptoms for tetanus do not appear until eight to 21 days, warned DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo.

Marcos urges Filipinos to choose empathy over indifference for the New YearMANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called upon Filipinos to remain committed to the country’s progress, saying that choosing empathy over indifference was integral to moving forward. With the coming of the New Year, Marcos said it was a moment for reflection and renewal. The president did not address the past year’s controversies, instead focusing on the year ahead. “As we step into 2026, I therefore call on every Filipino to embrace the year with discipline, confidence, and a shared commitment to our nation's progress,” Marcos said. A society thrives when its people choose empathy over indifference, service over self-interest, and hope over despair,” he added.

New Year kicks off with rainy, cloudy skiesMANILA, Philippines — Several parts of the country can expect rainy skies for the start of the New Year, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday, January 1. MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Quezon can expect cloudy skies and scattered rains due to the shear line. PAGASA warned these areas of possible flash floods and landslides during heavier bouts of rain. They are expected to have partially cloudy skies with isolated rains. The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, can expect partly cloudy skies due to the northeast monsoon.

2025 has been a good yearFor two reasons: one, the largest act of corruption of the past 10 years was exposed, by no less than the President, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Remarkably, inflation was halved, from 3.4 percent in January-September 2024 to just 1.7 percent in January-September 2025. The idea of her assuming the presidency does not reassure the nation.”Isn’t Sara supposed to have a higher trust rating, 56 percent, than BBM, 34 percent in the December 2025 Pulse Asia survey? But Sara’s 56 percent is skewed by her 95 percent (from 97 in September) trust rating in Mindanao. In NCR, Sara has 44 percent trust rating; balance of Luzon, 35 and Visayas 68 (up from 56 in September 2025), because she went to Cebu after an earthquake and massive floods that devastated the island, prompting Cebuanos to perceive her as a concerned official.

BEIJING, China — China "successfully completed" military drills around Taiwan that included live-fire exercises aimed at simulating a blockade of key ports and assaults on maritime targets, its military said on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it had "successfully completed" the drills, code-named "Justice Mission 2025". Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te warned on Wednesday that Chinese drills targeting the island "are not an isolated incident" and pose "significant risks" to the region. International criticismThere has been a chorus of international criticism of China's drills. Japan said on Wednesday that China's military exercises "increase tensions" across the Taiwan Strait, and that it had expressed its "concerns" to Beijing.

Friends who set terms: “Ok, unless something comes up.” “Sige. “Can we do it in Alabang?” (Yes, yes, yes!) In other words, those Christmas presents you carefully, lovingly selected will have to sit under the tree during the holidays. When did Christmas ever take a back seat to everything else? Sadly, folks have become weekend wimps, and Christmas has turned into a soft launch—nice if it happens, but not worth rescheduling the yoga class or visit to the doctor (at least those who aren’t on vacation).

More Pinoys say lives worsened in 2025 – SWSFrom 32 percent in September, the percentage of Filipinos who said their lives worsened increased to 36 percent in the SWS survey conducted from Nov. 24 to 30. MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos who say their quality of life worsened over the past year continued to increase in the fourth quarter survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS). From 32 percent in September, the percentage of Filipinos who said their lives worsened increased to 36 percent in the SWS survey conducted from Nov. 24 to 30. The latest poll resulted in a “net gainers” score of -7, down from -2 in the September survey. The “net gainers” score is the rounded-off difference of those who said their lives improved from those who said their lives worsened.