Below is a list of scholarship opportunities you shouldn’t miss in 2026. SM College ScholarshipSM College Scholarship caters to students who will study priority courses in science, technology, engineering, and accountancy. CHED Merit ScholarshipThe CHED Merit Scholarship Program is a competitive scholarship opportunity being offered by the Commission on Higher Education. To apply, check first whether your school is part of the scholarship program. Then, complete all the steps outlined in the university’s scholarship application form, which will be available only when the application process is open.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, Jan. 7, announced that 5,594 out of 11,420 passed the 2025 Bar examinations, resulting in a 48.98% passing rate. Placing third is Alaiza Adviento of UST with a grade of 91.91%. Jeowy Ompad of University of San Jose-Recoletos and Enrico Paguia of Ateneo de Manila University: 91.25%7. Ronald Vincent Gonzales of UE: 89.91%A total of 137 out of 143 schools emerged with successful Bar exam takers. The oath-taking and roll-signing of new lawyers will take place at the Philippine Arena on Feb. 6.

Trump announces plan to sell Venezuelan oil as US signals it is in talks with CaracasCrude oil drips from a valve at an oil well operated by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, in the oil rich Orinoco belt, near Morichal at the state of Monagas.

AFP to increase West Philippine Sea operationsMore than 50 Chinese vessels swarm the vicinity of Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, July 7. MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday assured the public that while it expects China to continue its illegal presence and activities in the region, the military will increase and sustain its operations to secure and defend the West Philippine Sea. “Likewise, the AFP, more than ever, we are up to the challenge. “Number two, our defense diplomacy has been very strong. “For each activity conducted as a result of this defense diplomacy, there are corresponding actions conducted by the Chinese Communist Party in the WPS.

EDITORIAL - Start in your own backyardIt’s heartening to hear a member of the Supreme Court stressing the importance of fighting corruption. Addressing an anti-corruption forum recently, SC Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said the judiciary is moving to fight corruption. We contradict the role that we should all play as agents of social justice,” Leonen said. The SC, which supervises the judiciary, can start in its own backyard by easing the restrictions it imposed on the release of the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth of justices and judges. Former SC justice Samuel Martires expanded this SALN restriction to other government branches when he became ombudsman.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said in a press conference yesterday that headline inflation – the rate of increase in consumer prices – averaged 1.7 percent last year, lower than the 3.2 percent average inflation in 2024. He said last year’s average inflation was the lowest since 2016 when inflation averaged 1.3 percent. Last year’s average inflation was also below the government’s two to four percent target band. The December 2025 inflation print was also within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 1.2 to two percent forecast for the month. Vegetables registered faster inflation of 11.6 percent in December 2025 from four percent in the previous month.

LIVE updates: 2025 Bar exam resultsThe facade of the Supreme Court of the Philippines on Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila, taken on Dec. 13, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court is set to release the results of the 2025 Bar Examinations on Wednesday, January 6. The results of the 2025 Bar examinations will be displayed on the Supreme Court’s LED screen in its courtyard on Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila. The release of Bar passers will also be livestreamed at the Supreme Court YouTube channel and its social media pages. Here are the latest updates on the highly anticipated release of the 2025 Bar exam results.

What happens to the vetoed payment for personnel services? The item was among seven UA allocations vetoed by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when he signed the 2026 General Appropriations Act. Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo said personnel benefits are guaranteed and earned, covering both civilian employees and military and uniformed personnel. Tinio, however, criticized the veto, saying it effectively confirms that new hires and retirement-related personnel requirements could be placed at risk. He also faulted the DBM for addressing only P24 billion previously associated with the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund, rather than the full P43.24 billion vetoed under unprogrammed appropriations.

Leviste thanks lawyer for confirming claimsRep. Leandro Leviste (Batangas, 1st District) holds a press conference on Monday, Aug. 26, 2025 after filing criminal cases against the district engineer who attempted to bribe him. MANILA, Philippines — Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste yesterday thanked lawyer Mae Divinagracia for confirming several of his claims regarding the so-called “Cabral files.”Leviste also thanked Divinagracia for confirming that he lawfully obtained the documents, refuting insinuations that he forcibly took it from the late public works undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. Divinagracia’s description of the documents corresponds with his copy of the files and other people’s copies secured from the DPWH, Leviste pointed out. Cabral and, more broadly, how testimonies that do not fit certain narratives have been left out of investigations,” Leviste said. Recalling a Sept. 4, 2025 conversation with Cabral, Leviste said the late DPWH undersecretary told him that she felt bad about having been made to tender a courtesy resignation instead of retiring early.

Might makes right? Then US president Barack Obama, who authorized the raid, said, “Justice has been done” – and the world largely agreed with him. * * *Maduro’s capture was more surgical than the US invasion of Panama, ordered by then president George H.W. But that operation to depose a Latin American leader did not raise as much concern as the capture of Maduro. The fear is that if the international rules will be replaced by might makes right, states like ours with no credible self-defense capability are doomed.

Palace squelches Cabinet revamp rumorsMANILA, Philippines — There will be no changes in President Marcos’ Cabinet for now, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro clarified yesterday following a report that an “extensive” revamp could affect as many as nine agencies. “As of now, we have not heard of any impending revamp,” Castro said at a Palace press briefing. According to a report by an online news site, the supposed Cabinet shake-up is meant to address the declining trust and approval ratings of the President. The report noted that while the extent of the reshuffle may vary from agency to agency, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa appears to be on thin ice. The last Cabinet shakeup was in November when Marcos accepted the resignations of then executive secretary Lucas Bersamin and budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

Palace sees Chavit’s protest call vs Marcos as seditionMANILA, Philippines — Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson’s call for a “one-time big-time” rally to remove President Marcos is considered inciting to sedition, a Malacañang official said yesterday. “For me, my take, yes, as a lawyer, because provoking people to oust the President is inciting to sedition,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told dzMM. “The question is, did he convince anyone?”Castro said it’s up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to look into the matter. “The DOJ has the authority to investigate (the issue) motu proprio,” she said. The Armed Forces of the Philippines slammed Singson yesterday as the AFP leadership rejected calls for the military to engage in partisan politics.

‘Bondi Beach gunmen didn’t train in Philippines’MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines welcomed yesterday Australia’s findings that the two gunmen accused of attacking a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach did not train in the Philippines. The DFA said the official made the statement in a press conference in Canberra on Dec. 30, 2025. As cooperation on the Bondi investigation continues, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro emphasized the Philippines’ firm commitment to counter terrorism, prevent violent extremism and nurture closer intelligence and law-enforcement cooperation with Australia and other foreign partners. “The Philippines and Australia will continue to jointly address transnational security threats, including terrorism, through sustained information sharing, operational coordination and capacity-building initiatives,” Lazaro said.

Producer prices post slower growth in NovemberData released by the PSA showed that the Producer Price Index (PPI) for manufacturing posted a slower uptick of 0.1 percent in November 2025 from 0.5 percent in October last year. MANILA, Philippines — Factory gate prices picked up at a slower pace in November 2025 as transport equipment prices declined, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said. The November PPI growth was also slower than the 0.5 percent increase in the same month in 2024. Transport equipment contributed 25.8 percent to the slower PPI growth in November 2025. Average PPI growth from January to November last year was at 0.4 percent.

Factory output drops to 4-month low in NovemberMANILA, Philippines — The country’s manufacturing output dipped to a four-month low in November last year due to slower increases in the production of food and refined petroleum products, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). This was the lowest VoPI result seen since the 0.7 percent dip in July 2025. From January to November 2025, average VoPI growth was at -0.1 percent. The PSA said the average capacity utilization rate for manufacturing in November 2025 was at 77.4 percent, slightly lower than the 77.6 percent in October last year. “All industry divisions reported capacity utilization rates of more than 60 percent during the month,” the PSA said.