Domestic workers in the National Capital Region are set to receive an additional P800 in their minimum wage starting Feb. 7. The Department of Labor and Employment, through the National Wages and Productivity Commission, announced on Thursday, Jan. 22, that kasambahays will now earn a new minimum monthly wage of P7,800 from the previous P7,000, under Wage Order No. If a domestic worker is hired through a licensed Private Employment Agency, the client must pay the wage specified in the order. The worker’s employment contract must be updated to reflect this wage. The move will benefit general househelpers, yayas, cooks, gardeners, laundry personnel, and anyone who performs domestic work in a single household on an occupational basis, excluding service providers, family drivers, and those who do domestic work only occasionally and not as an occupation.

CityU ranks 1st for 'Industry' and 'International Outlook' in THE Asia University Rankings

Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg, in Malta, on Sept 16, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Philippines National Flag is pictured as the rainbow displays over it a day before the annual procession to celebrate Black Nazarene feast day at Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Philippines, January 8, 2020. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo

Ex-PNP chief Torre on retirement: I didn't sign, file any papersPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Philippine National ­Police (PNP) Chief BGen. MANILA, Philippines — There appears to be confusion surrounding the supposed retirement of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III after he said he neither filed nor signed a request for optional retirement from police service. Under Republic Act 6975, optional retirement is granted "at his own request and with the approval of the Commission," meaning an officer must formally apply. Optional retirement is available only to those with at least 20 years of satisfactory active service. His retirement is expected to pave the way for incumbent PNP Chief Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez to be promoted to four-star police general.

Did you know you can take online courses led by Yale professors that are completely free of charge? Yale University has Open Yale Courses that offer lectures and other materials from selected Yale College courses online, including liberal arts disciplines such as humanities, social sciences, and physical and biological sciences. Led by scholars and scientists who teach at Yale's introductory undergraduate level, the online courses are designed "for a wide range of people around the world, among them self-directed and life-long learners, educators, and high school and college students." Know more about the Open Yale Courses here. If you're on the hunt for other free online courses being offered by Yale, check out its page at Coursera.

After Bong Revilla, Villanueva next? Former Senator Bong Revilla arrives at Camp Crame in Quezon City past 9 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2026. DOJ: Senator facing 3 malversation casesMANILA, Philippines — Following the arrest and detention of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in connection with the flood control scandal, could Sen. Joel Villanueva be next? According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Villanueva is facing three malversation cases, all of which are non-bailable. In one of the cases, Villanueva sought more time to submit his counter-affidavit and did not personally appear during the preliminary investigation on Jan. 20, Martinez noted.

However, the House Office of the Secretary General (OSG) refused to accept the filing because Secretary General Cheloy Garafil was not available to receive it. Human rights lawyers and Bayan Muna Chairperson Neri Colmenares said her physical absence should not prevent the filing of an impeachment complaint. The House rules state that complaints be filed with the OSG and not necessarily the secretary general themselves. The complaint filed by progressive groups was supposed to be the second impeachment complaint filed against the president this week, and the complainants consider it filed despite Garafil's absence. The three-member Makabayan bloc of the House minority was set to endorse the complaint, as it had done in previous impeachment efforts.

Marcos: ‘Rumors of my death are highly exaggerated’MANILA, Philippines — After being hospitalized, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, January 22, assured the public that he was well, telling his detractors not to get too excited yet. Marcos was taken to St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City after he experienced “discomfort”. In a video statement, Marcos addressed the public and told them he was fine. “'Wag kayo munang masyadong excited dahil it’s not a life-threatening condition,” Marcos said, addressing detractors who would want him out of the position. The rumors of my death are highly exaggerated,” he added.

Putin says who owns Greenland is of no concern to Russia, says it might be worth $1 billion

Duterte lawyers, allies try filing 3rd impeach complaint vs MarcosFormer Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and other complainants try to file an impeachment complaint against President Bongbong Marcos on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — A third group attempted to file an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday, January 22. But just like the second impeachment complaint filed by progressive groups earlier today, the House Office of the Secretary General (OSG) chose not to receive the third complaint because Secretary General Cheloy Garafil was unavailable. The first impeachment complaint was filed by lawyer Andre de Jesus on January 19 and endorsed by Rep. Jett Nisay (Pusong Pinoy Party-list). If the first complaint is referred to the House justice committee, impeachment proceedings against Marcos would be deemed initiated, triggering the one-year bar that would prevent any further impeachment complaints from being entertained.

When was the last time you sat in a dark, chilly cinema with your friends and munched on buttery popcorn while enjoying a flick? If the movie on your to-watch list is showing at Robinsons Movieworld, you are in for a treat. Until April 15, all movie tickets at participating cinemas of Robinsons Movieworld will be sold at a 45% discount. The promo is valid for any movie showing in the following cinemas:Robinsons Galleria OrtigasGalleria CebuRobinsons RoxasRobinsons StarmillsRobinsons Las PiñasRobinsons GapanRobinsons IlocosRobinsons La UnionRobinsons PaviaRobinsons Gen SanRobinsons Metro EastTake note that the promo is good for walk-in ticket purchases only. Moviegoers cannot use the promo for advance ticket purchases, at special and block screenings, or theater rentals.

China Coast Guard patrols creeping toward Luzon — PCGChinese vessels are seen colliding while tailing the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Suluan, August 11, 2025. The incursion off Dasol town in Pangasinan province on April 8, 2025, put China Coast Guard vessels (CCG) about 43 kilometers from shore, roughly the distance from Manila to Masungi Georeserve in Rizal. "[Filipino] fishermen have been displaced farther from [Bajo de Masinloc], as [China Coast Guard] vessels have aggressively driven them toward the Luzon coast and away from their traditional fishing grounds," Tarriela said in a statement. Philippine Coast Guard / Released PCG visualization of data on the general location of Filipino fishers near Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in 2025. The PCG tracked 39 Chinese government vessels around Scarborough Shoal in April 2025 alone — the highest monthly count last year.

Asian Beach Games back after decade-long breakJournalists are taken to a tour of the Tianya Haijiao Ring Theater, which will be the venue of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 6th Sanya Asian Beach Games. MANILA, Philippines — The Asian Beach Games (ABG) are back this summer after a 10-year hiatus with host Sanya putting the same premium on sports tourism — the very same campaign that’s being advocated by both the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). “We’ve been advocating already on sports tourism that’s why the POC and the PSC are encouraging our country’s very own hosting of international competitions.”Tolentino said the POC is fielding 180 athletes who will compete in 3x3 basketball, open water swimming and water polo, aquathlon, beach athletics, beach handball, beach kabaddi, beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach wrestling, dragon boat, jiu-jitsu, sailing, sport climbing and teqball in Sanya. Top officials of the Sanya ABG Organizing Committee presented the program for the games that has the full support of the Olympic Council of Asia. The 5th Asian Beach Games organizing committee is composed of the Peoples Government of Sanya City and Hainan Province and their Tourism, Culture, Television, Radio and Sports departments, and the Chinese Olympic Committee and the General Administration of Sports of China.

Marcos Jr., BSP discuss monetary policy, growth outlookBSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. met with the President at Malacañang on Tuesday to discuss the Philippines’ economic prospects and the central bank’s move to cut interest rates. MANILA, Philippines — The monetary policy easing cycle may be nearing its end, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said, as it briefed President Marcos on the country’s economic outlook. Remolona said the Monetary Board (MB), the central bank’s highest policy-making body, slashed the key policy interest rate to 4.5 percent last month from 4.75 percent in October 2025. “The MB sees its current monetary policy easing cycle as nearing its end,” it added. According to Remolona, it usually takes one to two years for monetary policy to exert its full effect.