‘House cleaning’“Nothing inspires cleanliness more than an unexpected guests.” – Radhika MundraI’m sure many of our readers have experienced having unexpected guests for lunch, dinner or visitors staying for a few days on short notice. Aside from house cleaning, we have also been lining up places to visit and foods to eat. Fort Santiago was well maintained, although parts were not as good as others, and we even saw floor mops and house cleaning stuff being dried by one of the ground floor windows. This bridge has gone from a pedestrian unfriendly bridge to an open garbage dump with the drainage outlets clogged overgrown with weeds. There is a lot of cleaning and fixing that need to be done – and not just for appearance’s sake.

‘Dynasty ban also covers appointive posts’Members of progressive group Akbayan Youth rally at the gates of the House of Representatives in Quezon City on January 27, 2026. The idea that public office is a public trust, not a hereditary entitlement. “For decades, the constitutional provision on political dynasties has existed as a promise waiting to be fulfilled. “Thirty-eight years have passed since the Constitution commanded that Congress pass an anti-political dynasty law. He explained that the proposed measure provides a precise definition of political dynasties and clearly identifies prohibited relationships and scenarios across all levels of government.

Djokovic eyes Australian Open semis as potential Sinner clash loomsMELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic faces Lorenzo Musetti in his quest to reach a 13th Australian Open semifinal on Wednesday, with a potential Last-Four clash against defending champion Jannik Sinner at stake. The 24-time major winner has been bumped from the night match on centercourt to an afternoon session, with the primetime evening slot going to second seed Sinner. Italy's Sinner meets dangerous American eighth seed Ben Shelton, with the winners playing for a place in Sunday's Melbourne final. Ten-time Australian Open champion Djokovic got a free ride into the Musetti showdown when rising Czech star Jakub Mensik pulled out injured, giving the 38-year-old Serb an extra day's rest. Six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek is chasing a maiden Melbourne title and knows the game of fifth-seeded Kazakh Rybakina well.

Seeking a solution to this escalating dispute, 30 scientists from 20 research institutions across the world proposed a new framework on Tuesday for evaluating microplastic research. It is also "very likely" that we are regularly ingesting microplastics from air and food, Imperial College London researcher Leon Barron told AFP. Some scientists were sceptical because this would require the particles to cross the powerful defences of the blood-brain barrier. The proposal requires scientists and journal articles to be transparent about their research, release all the raw data and include quality-control measures. But precision is important—to determine whether microplastics are harmful for our health, researchers need to know just how much of them is in our bodies.

Behind the brand is Herian Boccali, a Florentine artisan whose story begins not in a glossy showroom, but in the everyday magic of his mother’s optical shop. Herian doesn’t pretend to compete in that lane—and doesn’t want to. The anatomy of bespoke eyewear by HerianThe real difference between bespoke and pre-packaged luxuryFor Boccali, bespoke and pre-packaged luxury exist in different galaxies. Inside the Herian world: A wall of color, shape, and infinite possibility. Herian pop-up in Rustan’s Makati: Bespoke fittings by appointmentFor a limited time, Herian Eyewear will be available at an exclusive pop-up event at the Beauty Courtyard, Level 1, Rustan’s Department Store in Makati, from Feb. 5 to 8.

Watching Bangkok move at a pace that feels humid and deliberate at the same time, I noticed him. A middle-aged European man, unbothered by the heat, in a pristine white linen shirt with the sleeves folded just enough to suggest intention, not effort. I would just go for clothes that live well, age honestly, and stay useful beyond the season that sold them. Then Paris Fashion Week happened, where Louis Vuitton’s menwear for fall/winter 2026, as envisioned by Pharrell Williams, was unveiled. Pharell has grown up: Pharell Williams' menswear collection for fall/winter 2026 is a showcase of maturity.

Genevieve Yalung’s My Closet Manager is fast becoming the go-to destination for looking impeccably stylish at special events—without spending an arm and a leg. Genevieve Yalung at the My Closet Manager showroom“This is really a vision I wanted to bring to life after so many years in the corporate industry,” shares Genevieve. Beauty queen Winwyn Marquez in Bariano of MCMAt its core, My Closet Manager champions circular fashion by extending the life cycle of clothing and luxury items already in circulation. Bianca de Vera wearing Vee Tan from MCMFor those ready to part with their items, My Closet Manager provides immediate purchasing options for luxury bags, watches, accessories, and jewelry. “Your own closet is a gold mine,” Genevieve says.

Countdown to CNY: New Year prospects for people born in the Year of the Horse

Senator slams FDA over sale of illicit productsMANILA, Philippines — Sen. Raffy Tulfo has criticized the Food and Drug Administration for its lack of concrete action amid the widespread sale of illegal, counterfeit and unregistered health products online and in physical stores. The FDA had issued an advisory against these products in 2013, yet their sale remains rampant. As for penalties imposed on unauthorized sellers of medicines, Tulfo noted that fines could reach only up to P50,000 with no imprisonment. Fake productsHontiveros has urged the FDA and online platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Shopee and Lazada, to take down fake health and beauty products. The senator said she filed a Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Products Prevention bill to address the risks faced by Filipinos who purchase health and beauty products online.

Food, fun, flyA sneak peek of the newly built Mactan Expo Center in Lapu-Lapu City enabled me to join the media weekend trip to Cebu last week. Booked by our Megaworld host on Philippine Airlines (PAL), we departed through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2. All PAL domestic flights are assigned to use Terminal 2 (T-2) while PAL international flights have the exclusive use of T-1. Increase in passenger traffic at the MCIA also reflected rising air travel demand through Cebu, airport operator Aboitiz GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (AGMCAC) claimed. Written in big, bold letters: Fun, Food, Fly.

Philippine offshore gaming operations brought a lot of Chinese visitors, the tour operator said. Many Pinoys would rather go to those countries than visit popular local destinations, according to the tour operator. This month the government began offering a non-extendible 14-day visa-free stay to Chinese visitors. Comparable accommodations as well as airfares are cheaper in neighboring countries, the tour operator told me – echoing what local tourism industry players also bemoaned when I attended a tourism convention in Cebu last year. Considering the space constraints, there is only so much that the NAIA operator can do.

Well, as a journalist, I am truly irritated by the intrusiveness of AI in drafting my articles, especially in predictive typing. And it is at those times that AI can come in handy. Unfortunately, AI depends on a massive collection of data, of written text, and thus may even offer something close to repetition, tweaked here and there to avoid direct plagiarism. In fact, reversing digital transactions is sometimes even more difficult than reviewing physical financial transactions. Thus, relying on online purchases and realizing that what you bought is not what you envisioned is when the nightmare begins — the refund and return process for wrong or defective products.

SEC sets term limit for independent directorsMANILA, Philippines — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has set a term limit for independent directors to strengthen director independence and align with international best practices. “A strict term limit ensures that independent directors maintain the objectivity and impartiality required to serve the very purpose envisioned under the law,” he said. This is provided that the cumulative service as independent director has not yet reached the nine-year maximum limit. Independent directors of government-owned or controlled corporations will be governed by the terms and limitations in their respective charters. Covered companies that breach the maximum cumulative term limit per independent director per year will be subject to a basic penalty of P1 million and a continuing penalty of P30,000 for every month that the independent director holds the seat.

Doctors to Marcos: Slow downMANILA, Philippines — President Marcos’ activities remained limited to private meetings yesterday even as Malacañang maintained he was in “good condition” days after undergoing observation in a hospital for stomach “discomfort.”Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos, who underwent observation at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City Wednesday after experiencing stomach pain, has been advised by doctors to slow down a little. “Private meetings here for now. He is in good condition and this may be a way to heed the order of his doctor to slow down a bit. But even if he was advised by his doctor, his private meetings here in the Palace pushed through,” Castro told reporters yesterday. In a video released by the Presidential Communications Office the following day, Marcos said the discomfort was caused by diverticulitis, an inflammation in the large intestine that causes abdominal pain.

ACEN’s P30 billion share sale still ‘on the table’MANILA, Philippines — Ayala-led ACEN Corp. may finally proceed with its previously deferred P30-billion stock rights offering (SRO) as early as July to strengthen its war chest for aggressive expansion. He said the company is set to reassess its planned fundraising activity to align with the timing of its capital spending. For this planned share sale, ACEN plans to use the proceeds to support the development of its renewable energy projects in the Philippines and abroad, as well as finance its maturing obligations. For 2026, the company has programmed over P80 billion for capital spending, the bulk of which would be earmarked for its domestic projects. In the Philippines, ACEN jacked up its budget to at least P60 billion to bankroll major projects, including wind, solar and battery energy storage systems.