More surprises ahead? The Finals will feature one of four possible clashes – Ginebra against Meralco, TNT against Ginebra, SMB against TNT or Meralco against SMB. Ginebra has beaten Meralco in four Finals so far with coach Tim Cone claiming the 2015-16 Governors’ Cup, 4-2, 2016-17 Governors Cup, 4-3, 2019 Governors’ Cup, 4-1 and 2021 Governors’ Cup, 4-2. 1 in defense, fastbreak points allowed, bench points allowed and FTs allowed. 1 in blocked shots, field goal percentage allowed, perimeter points allowed and assists allowed.

Ombudsman calls for graft watch on all government branchesMANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday urged the public to remain vigilant over all branches of government, saying graft and corruption are rampant not only in the executive and legislative branches but also in the judiciary. “All of us, the entire country, I am asking you to help us with graft watches. So, let us all watch the judges, the justices, let us closely watch all of them,” Remulla said. “Just think about it – this PDAF scam – do you really believe that all those who were acquitted were innocent? To strengthen prosecution efforts, Remulla said the Office of the Ombudsman will hire 20 new lawyers by Jan. 15.

Nazareno participants expected to exceed 8 millionThousands of devotees of Poong Jesus Nazareno flock to Quiapo, Manila on January 3, 2026 as members of the Minor Basilica & National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno hold a procession and blessing of replicas of the said image of Christ. In an interview over dzBB, Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno technical adviser Alex Irasga said the event will no longer be called Black Nazarene or Traslacion. “Our name here is the Feast of Jesus Nazarene or Jesus Nazarene Feast. We want to remind everyone that what we are celebrating here is not the color, not the procession, but the image of Jesus Nazarene,” Irasga said. We also have three major intersections that will be closed,” Irasga added.

Tulfo files bill seeking to raise minimum salary for nursesSenator-elect Erwin Tulfo participates in the orientation for neophyte senators in Pasay on June 19, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — A proposal to raise the minimum salary grade of nurses in public health institutions has been filed in the Senate, as lawmakers seek to address persistent understaffing and uncompetitive pay in the health care sector. “Our country continues to face a growing shortage of nurses, driven largely by low salaries and the lack of competitive opportunities in the local health care system. Improving their compensation is necessary to retain skilled nurses, strengthen health care services and ensure that quality care remains accessible to all Filipinos,” the bill read. Tulfo said the proposed increase in salary grade – from salary grade 15 to 19 – is intended to help retain skilled nurses, strengthen the public health care system and ensure continued access to quality care for patients.

Move away from ‘Filipino time’MANILA, Philippines — As Filipinos make their resolutions for the new year, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is intensifying its campaign to promote the value of punctuality against the long-standing tradition of “Filipino time.”The habit of being late for meetings and events – sometimes by hours – has become a source of frustration for those Filipinos who value time. Through its “Oras Pinas: Filipino, Time Ka” campaign, the DOST reminds the public, via giant LED displays and pre-movie commercials, that breaking the habit starts with synchronizing clocks to the country’s official time. Public historian Xiao Chua said in a recent radio interview that the culture of “Filipino time” dates back to the Spanish colonial period. Despite this, it took the government 37 years to pass a law requiring all government offices to synchronize their timepieces with the official standard, as compliance remained largely voluntary for decades. Chua advised Filipinos to be more mindful of how they use their time, stressing that poor time management undermines productivity.

P7 million Ecstasy tablets seized in ClarkThe tablets were found in two parcels during a routine x-ray screening conducted by personnel of the Bureau of Customs. MANILA, Philippines — Up to 4,124 tablets of suspected party drug Ecstasy valued at P7 million have been seized by anti-narcotics agents at the Clark Freeport in Pampanga on Friday. The tablets were found in two parcels during a routine x-ray screening conducted by personnel of the Bureau of Customs. This prompted authorities to open the parcels, which revealed 4,124 tablets suspected to be Ecstasy. The first parcel contained 2,693 purple tablets valued at P4.6 million, while the second had 1,431 tablets of different colors and valued at P2.5 million.

BI reminds foreigners of annual report requirementThe BI said under Republic Act 562, or the Alien Registration Act of 1950, all registered aliens are required to submit to the annual requirement in person. The BI said under Republic Act 562, or the Alien Registration Act of 1950, all registered aliens are required to submit to the annual requirement in person. For the BI main office in Intramuros, the annual report will be conducted at Robinsons Place Manila from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all working days. Failure to comply with the annual report requirement may result to administrative fines or prosecution, the bureau added. Stressing that the annual report remains a vital component of effective alien registration and immigration monitoring, the BI reiterated its call for strict compliance.

New generation of farmers, agri innovators take spotlightMANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), recently feted outstanding college students who developed digital technologies and services for the agriculture and fisheries sector. The young agri innovators were recognized during the Agri Tech Innovate: Accelerating Digital Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries (Digi Agri Hacki) early last month. Launched in March by the DA-ATI, the Digi Agri Hacki project was piloted in Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao. The DA said it would scale up Digi Agri Hacki nationwide, with increased funding to encourage more youth-led innovations. Second place: OnioNet Team composed of Ken Quiambao, Jericho Pineda, MC Osmund Espejo and coach Rocel Batara from Saint Mary’s University – Bayombong.

Digital payments gaining ground as PhilPaSSplus transactions climbDigital payments continue to rise due to the BSP‘s digitalization efforts and ongoing financial literacy initiatives. By value, large-value transactions dominated at 84.8 percent of total PhilPaSSplus activity. Retail payments accounted for 13 percent of total value, with customer payments representing the largest share at 6.3 percent. Transactions between the BSP and PhilPaSSplus participants also grew by 12.8 percent, further lifting large-value payment volumes. Retail payments posted a more modest 2.9 percent increase, buoyed by higher check transactions at nine percent, automated teller machine transactions at 4.5 percent, customer payments at 2.8 percent as well as automated clearing house transactions at 2.4 percent.

The January 2026 priority datesEach month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month for the various family and employment-based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off dates listed below in the Visa Issuance or Final Action Date column. If your priority date was current but later retrogressed (or moved backwards and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the US), you would have to wait until it becomes current again. Caution: if your Final Action/Visa Issuance date has been current for more than a year and you were notified by the NVC but did not respond, you could risk your case being canceled or terminated. The priority dates for the Philippines for January 2026 are:* * *WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.comFollow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw, YouTube: US Immigration TV and Instagram.com/gurfinkellawFour offices to serve you: Los Angeles; San Francisco; New York: Toll free number: 1-866-GURFINKEL (1-866-487-3465); Philippines: +632 88940258 or +632 88940239

SC resolves controversial cases in 2025In this February 2025 file photo, the Health Alliance for Democracy, together with other health organizations, protest in front of the Supreme Court in Ermita, Manila, to oppose the transfer of PhilHealth funds to the national treasury. In August, the House asked the SC to reconsider its decision, an appeal that is still pending. BARMM pollsAnother election-related ruling involved the first parliamentary elections in the BARMM, which was originally scheduled on Oct. 13, 2025. The SC said a new valid redistricting law must be passed consistent with the Bangsamoro Organic Law, national laws and the Constitution. Also pending is the petition that seeks to declare unconstitutional the P6.326-trillion national budget for 2025.

4-year-old loses 4 fingers due to fireworksMANILA, Philippines — A four-year-old boy entered the new year with four fingers less following another case of firework-related injury (FWRI). According to the Department of Health (DOH), the little boy sustained blast injuries from an unknown type of fireworks. The child is the youngest of the 19 victims whose fingers or hands were cut off after suffering from injuries caused by different kinds of lit fireworks. “Imagine a four-year-old who lost four fingers… That’s permanent, that’s for life. The victims sustained varying degrees of burns and wounds in different parts of the body.

LTO to expand e-trikes, e-bikes banMembers of the LTO Central Office perform a stop-and-inform operation for e-trike and e-bike drivers crossing Quirino Avenue from Leveriza Street in Manila on January 2, 2026 as they enforce the ban of e-trikes and e-bikes on national roads. MANILA, Philippines — More highways will be covered by the ban on electric bicycles and tricycles (e-bikes and e-trikes) starting this week, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said yesterday. He warned LTO agents may start issuing tickets and impounding e-bikes and e-trikes spotted along the said highways this week, when classes and work will resume. On the first day of the ban last Friday, 67 e-bike and e-trike users were caught along EDSA and 30 others along Quirino Avenue. Minors caught driving e-bikes and e-trikes might risk having their vehicles impounded and having their parents or guardians liable as well, warned Lacanilao.

Why remembering matters more than resolutionsEvery January – somewhere between the last firework drifting into smoke and the first unread email of the year – the Philippines performs its most underrated civic ritual: we forget everything. Psychologist John Norcross found that most New Year’s resolutions collapse quickly. Resolutions mean nothing without memory. Let us remember not just what we wish for, but what we owe each other. And if we must write resolutions, as we surely will, let them be fewer, steadier and carried with more discipline than optimism.

Palace: 2026 budget in final stages of reviewMalacañang Palace, the official residence of the president of the Philippines, as seen from the Pasig River. President Marcos and his Cabinet were still studying the budget bill passed by Congress as of yesterday afternoon. Although Congress ratified the 2026 budget bill last Dec. 29, the executive branch had deemed it needed about a week to examine the spending bill. Congress tackled the 2026 budget bill in the midst of the flood control controversy. “And further, I am willing to do this even if we end up with a reenacted budget.”