Pinoy teen found alive after deadly Swiss fireKristal Talingdan, Kean’s mother, said Kean is in Zurich and is confined at the University of Zurich Hospital. An ABS-CBN report said Kean Kaizer Talingdan has been confirmed alive following the blaze at Le Constellation bar. Kristal Talingdan, Kean’s mother, said Kean is in Zurich and is confined at the University of Zurich Hospital. Kean traveled to Switzerland for a short holiday and was staying with a friend’s family. The Italian government is coordinating with Swiss doctors for Kean’s possible transfer to Niguarda Hospital in Milan, where other victims of the fire are being treated.

Miss U president: Singsons ‘delusional fools’Chavit Singson and his daughter meet with former Miss Universe Vice President Shawn McClain; inset shows current Miss Universe president and co-owner Raul RochaVIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson said yesterday he is bent on buying the Miss Universe Organization franchise after its president, Raul Rocha, was ordered jailed by a Mexican court. “Rocha is already convicted and he’s now in hiding,” Singson said, adding that he has sent an emissary to arrange the transaction. Singson did not mention how much he would pay for the franchise. However, Rocha, in a social media post, criticized Singson and his daughter, Ako Ilocano Ako party-list Rep. Richelle Singson, calling them “delusional fools.”

Flood control mess dwarfed scandals post-EDSA revoltPhoto taken in September last year shows P1,000 and P500 bills piled on a table, allegedly meant as kickbacks for proponents of flood control projects. YearenderMANILA, Philippines — The year 2025 was a record-breaking one for corruption, with the flood control mess making all other government scandals post-EDSA revolt in 1986 look like a drop in the bucket. Despite P142 billion in alleged flood control fund insertions in what was touted as the “most corrupt budget ever” in Philippine history – P3 billion of which was vetoed by President Marcos – nothing prevented flooding across the entire archipelago. Despite the numerous scandals under her watch, they still pale in comparison to the flood control mess of 2025. Meanwhile, the botched NorthRail project in 2009 worth $900 million, or P39 billion ($1=P44) was only crumbs compared to the DPWH scandal.

Mock banknotes and rat images for Barca goalkeeperBarca goalkeeper Joan Garcia clears the ball during the match against Espanyol.

Repaired EDSA busway lanes reopenedVehicles pass through the reopened sections of EDSA along Taft Avenue in Pasay yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday reopened rehabilitated sections of the EDSA busway, from Roxas Boulevard in Pasay to Orense in Makati. Officials from the DPWH, Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) inspected the repaired EDSA busway lanes as well as the asphalt overlay and concrete reblocking of other lanes. DPWH-National Capital Region director Joel Limpengco and MMDA general manager Nicolas Torre III led the inspection. Starting today, repair works along EDSA will be implemented from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to minimize disruption during peak hours.

‘US strike on Venezuela may push up fuel prices’MANILA, Philippines — Domestic pump prices could climb higher than expected next week as oil markets reel after the United States bombed Venezuela and captured its authoritarian left-wing leader Nicolas Maduro. “The geopolitical risks due to the recent events in Venezuela could push premiums and freight rates higher, which may cause next week’s local oil prices to rise more than initially estimated,” Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas told reporters yesterday. Bellas said the suspension and paralysis of Venezuela’s oil exports may drive global oil prices amid worries over supply disruptions. “This new geopolitical risk will keep prices volatile as markets digest the longer-term effects on global supply due to the loss of Venezuelan crude flows,” he noted. “The world watches how other world powers react, such as China – the biggest buyer of Venezuela’s oil – which condemned the US military strikes on Venezuela,” Ricafort said.

Government debt payments ease 4% in NovemberLatest data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that the government cut its debt payments by four percent to P89.97 billion in November 2025 from P93.7 billion a year ago. MANILA, Philippines — The national government’s debt servicing eased in November 2025, largely due to a substantial reduction in amortization payments which offset the increase in interest payments on both domestic and external obligations. About 86 percent of the debt service pile consisted of interest payments, amounting to P77.29 billion for the period. Interest payments on domestic debt increased by 16.2 percent to P56.88 billion, up from P48.93 billion recorded in the same period in 2024, reflecting higher servicing costs for locally sourced borrowings. In November, external interest payments declined by 15.2 percent to P20.41 billion from P17.72 billion recorded in November 2024.

Wickedness of men, bitterness of childrenAs the old year transitioned into the new, an FB post by a well-known influencer caught my eye simply because the content expressed her deep hurt and anger towards a congressman who recently died. Going back to the dead congressman, I remember when he and his colleagues basically badgered, bullied the influencer, along with several others during a quadcom hearing in Congress. Thus, the title: Wickedness of men, bitterness of children. And so, even in death, he now reaps what he sows: the bitterness, resentment and anger of the younger generation or individuals who may very well be the same age as his own children. We don’t go out intentionally planning to “sow” seeds of bitterness, resentment and anger, but when we harass, pressure or exasperate (to irritate and frustrate someone intensely), that is what we reap.

Tourism promotionThe tourism secretary was bashed over the year-end for having her glamorous photo on the cover of a magazine at a time when she has dismally failed in her job of promoting our tourism industry. That it is owned by an advertising firm leads to suspicion the cover could be a quid-pro-quo for a share of the tourism department’s promotions budget. She should have refused and asked them to feature one of our many tourism spots that are infinitely more photogenic than her. The Philippine Tourism Congress must seriously work with their members to provide better value for the tourist money. It is embarrassing to be ASEAN’s kulelat in tourism, despite all those so-called awards for being destination of the year, daw.

BOI approves P1.56 trillion investments in 2025, misses targetIn a statement yesterday, Trade Secretary and BOI chair Cristina Roque said that the investment promotion agency approved a total of P1.56 trillion worth of investments last year, down by four percent from the record-high P1.62 trillion approved in 2024. MANILA, Philippines — Investments approved by the Board of Investments (BOI) amounted to P1.56 trillion last year, falling short of the agency’s P1.75 trillion target. The approved investments in 2025 are for 322 projects and are expected to generate 40,175 jobs nationwide. Singapore was the top source of foreign investments approved by the BOI last year with P80.37 billion worth of investments. Mass housing placed second with P241.65 billion worth of investments, while transportation and storage came in third with P230.06 billion.

At the time, credit card companies used third-party collection agencies to harass delinquent credit card holders. “This program will help steer members away from loan sharks and other high-cost, predatory lending schemes, while promoting responsible borrowing,” he said. Under the proposed framework, the SSS will partner with participating banks and financial institutions to deliver the program through their digital platforms. The SSS will still finalize the program guidelines, systems integration, and partnerships with participating banks. Unfortunately, this practice continues and only vigorous insistence and doing the proper math can force the establishment to do the proper calculations.

“While holiday spending is a definite factor in the elevated inflation print, food prices have remained stable. “Hence, I expect full-year inflation to just settle at 1.6 percent, far below the two to four percent inflation target of the central bank.”Erece said this environment supports a more accommodative monetary stance. “Despite these measures, 2026 inflation is likely to still remain within targets, barring any shocks and externalities.”UnionBank chief economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion sees even softer inflation in December, estimating headline inflation at 1.2 percent year-on-year. Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at professional services firm Reyes Tacandong & Co., also expects inflation to slow, placing December inflation at 1.1 percent year-on-year. “We expect 2026 inflation to average at 3.3 percent,” he said, adding that monetary easing is still likely.

And the winners are…If 2025 were an awards night, the trophies wouldn’t all go to Wall Street. But the year’s biggest winners came from overlooked markets abroad. The Philippines slipped by 8.6 percent in US dollar terms, ending as the region’s worst USD performer. CommoditiesIn commodities, precious metals were the runaway winners in 2025. With silver and other “real assets” taking the spotlight, digital tokens failed to make this year’s winners’ circle.

ICI tackles gargantuan task with limited resources, powersThat’s the blunt assessment of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong when asked on Dec. 23, 2025 how the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), for which he served as special adviser for a mere two weeks, had been faring. On Dec. 3, Reyes confirmed what the rumor mill had been churning out that day: Singson would also quit. “He mentioned the very intense and stressful ICI work has taken its toll on his aging body,” the ICI chair said of his 77-year-old lieutenant. Day by day, it became evident that independence might not the problem for the ICI, but the lack of resources and full authority. Senators are pursuing an Independent People’s Commission, while representatives are batting for the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption.

Senators alarmed over US attack on VenezuelaMANILA, Philippines — Senators expressed alarm and caution yesterday following the United States’ surprise military extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with lawmakers raising concern over the operation’s implications for international law and the safety of Filipinos in the region. For his part, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada emphasized that the Philippine government’s priority must be the thousands of overseas Filipino workers potentially caught in the middle of the unfolding political upheaval in Caracas. “Our first and foremost concern should be the well-being and safety of our kababayans who may be affected by the evolving situation in Venezuela,” Estrada said. While acknowledging the complexity of the conflict, he advised against immediate condemnation, noting the US government’s framing of the extraction as a law enforcement mission based on federal indictments. “At this point, it is premature to conclude whether international law has been violated, especially as the United States government maintains that the incident was part of a law-enforcement operation,” he said.