Thai in hot start; Jahns, Concepcion down by threeMANILA, Philippines — Thai Sarut Vongchaisit made the most of the more favorable conditions of the morning flights – and his familiarity with cow grass courses – to seize control in the Philippine Golf Championship presented by the Philippine Sports Commission yesterday. Keanu Jahns and Fidel Concepcion carried the fight for the local boys, firing identical 71s to stay just three shots off the pace. Vonchaisit’s fine work in Day 1 of the Asian Tour kick-off tourney also sponsored by BingoPlus netted him a cool $10,000 that Wack Wack earmarked for the player with the lowest score everyday. He received his cash prize from Wack Wack president Benjamin Abalos. “I had a hot start in my first nine and I started in the morning so the wind was kind of calm.

Winter Games: Team Philippines ‘can’MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has a clear mindset as the Philippines fields two athletes to the 25th Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina in Italy: Nothing is impossible. “We have proven that it can be done,” said Tolentino as he looked forward to this edition of the Winter Olympics, which fires off today to officially welcome 2,871 athletes from 92 nations. Alpine skiers Francis Ceccarelli, 22, and Tallulah Proulx, 17, are left to carry the load for Philippines, which first competed in the Winter Olympics in 1972 in Sapporo in Japan, also with two athletes. The Philippines has yet to win a medal in the Winter Olympics but broke ice in the Asian Winter Games with a gold medal on men’s curling in Harbin, China last year. Tolentino said golden moments for the country in the 2020 and 2024 Summer Games in Tokyo and Paris, plus the full support or the Philippine Sports Commission under chairman Patrick Gregorio, should provide the needed push for the campaign in Milan and Cortina.

Super Spikers chalk up second straight winMANILA, Philippines — Cignal tamed the Choco Mucho duo of Sisi Rondina and Eya Laure and hammered out a 25-20, 16-25, 25-19, 25-18 victory yesterday to seize solo lead in the PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Arena. PVL on Tour MVP Erika Santos spearheaded the onslaught with a team-best 18 points that she laced with 14 spikes, two blocks and two service aces as the Super Spikers zoomed to the top with a perfect 2-0 slate. “We just stick to our strength, worked on our weaknesses and adjusted to the situations presented in the game,” said Santos. A factor in Cignal’s success was stymying Rondina, who had to sweat blood to score 20 hits, and Laure, who was limited to just 11. Later in the night, the PLDT High Speed Hitters, with tremendous boost from Savi Davison, debuted in the tourney with a 25-22, 25-17, 25-23 win over the Creamline Cool Smasher

Leviste ready for the worst, vows to release videosRep. 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. Leviste confirmed he was granted travel authority by Speaker Faustino Dy III for his foreign trips. Leviste, 32, said he will not waver, however, no matter what the cost – political or personal. Following investigations into his reported undelivered solar power commitments, Leviste – whose mother is an ally of President Marcos – earlier described the nearly four-year-old administration as a virtual authoritarian government. Despite being a neophyte, Leviste complained that bills are passed in the House without any debate at all, while hundreds of billions of pesos in the yearly budget go to questionable infrastructure projects, which include troll farms that spread fake news like wildfire.

‘Sexual AI images using kids’ photos proliferate’At least 1.2 million youngsters have disclosed having had their images manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes in the past year, according to a study across 11 countries conducted by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), international police agency Interpol and the ECPAT global network working to end the sexual exploitation of children worldwide. MANILA, Philippines — New evidence revealed a proliferation of sexualized images of youngsters generated by artificial intelligence (AI), the United Nations children’s agency warned. The risks can be compounded when generative AI tools are embedded directly into social media platforms where manipulated images spread rapidly. UNICEF called for immediate action from governments to expand definitions of child sexual abuse material to include AI-generated content and criminalize its creation, procurement, possession and distribution. Digital companies are also called to prevent the circulation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, not merely remove it, and strengthen content moderation with investment in detection technologies.

Marcos Jr. works outside Palace for first time since ailmentPresident Marcos interacts with Convi the humanoid and Convo the robot dog at the Converge booth during the Philippine Telecommunications Summit 2026 at the Newport Dome in Newport Resorts World, Pasay City yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — Nearly two weeks after being diagnosed with an illness in the large intestine, President Marcos yesterday resumed attending events outside Malacañang, wherein he reaffirmed his support for efforts to develop the country’s workforce and boost digital connectivity. They just need more opportunities so their skills and efforts can be used,” the President said during the launch of the TESDA skills passport mobile application. According to Marcos, the government allocated more than P1 trillion to the education sector and nearly P20 billion to TESDA this year. The TESDA skills passport mobile application is a digital platform that aims to integrate learning, certification, employment and scholarship services.

‘Generosity inspires generosity’Generosity is not medicine but it can heal. It is transforming into a living testament as to what generosity can achieve when it is structured, sustainable, and fully integrated. It honors Evelyn D. Ang, a philanthropist and the late wife of businessman Philip T. Ang, who was known for her compassion toward the sick and underserved. This is how the Evelyn D. Ang/D?na Charity Ward came to be, a testament to how generosity inspires more generosity, touching countless lives along the way.”That chain of generosity ultimately led to Mr. Ang, who chose to honor his late wife, Evelyn, by helping make this vision real. “Evelyn D. Ang/D?na Ward is more than a facility.

Genesis 22:14Born on a farm, Judson Van DeVenter learned to paint, studied art, and became an art teacher. Judson felt God calling him too, but it was hard for him to give up his love for teaching art. He wrestled with God, but “at last,” he wrote, “the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all.”We can’t imagine Abraham’s heartbreak when God called him to surrender his son Isaac. We say we love God, but are we willing to sacrifice what’s dearest to us? Judson Van DeVenter followed God’s call into evangelism and later penned the beloved hymn “I Surrender All.” In time, God called Judson back into teaching.

The Chinese flag is seen in this illustration taken May 30, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Photo by CHANAKARN LAOSARAKHAM / AFP Paetongtarn Shinawatra, known by her nickname "Ung Ing”, embraces her father, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as they arrive for the royal endorsement ceremony officially appointing her as the new prime minister of Thailand, in Bangkok on August 18, 2024.

Eala fights through to keep Abu Dhabi Open bid aliveMANILA, Philippines -- Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala had to dig deep to get into the quarterfinal round of the Mabudala Abu Dhabi Open early Thursday morning. The Filipina, after the match, said that she really tried to claw back and “find the fight” despite the stellar play of Sasnovich to keep herself in the running for the Abu Dhabi title. “I really tried my best in those moments to fight, I really tried to find the fight. Eala trailed 0-4 in the final set, as her Abu Dhabi quest looked doomed as she seemed running out of fuel. “I just think these moments are moments I only dreamt about.

Navy to set up monitoring station at TubbatahaMembers of Western Naval Command Staff together with the Staff of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park during the Signing of MoU for the Co-Location of NMD Tubbataha at the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Ranger Station, Feb. 3, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy is set to station some of its personnel at Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park to track the movement of vessels in the Sulu Sea, where Chinese warships have also passed through, according to the Navy. The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a marine protected area and world-renowned scuba diving site. Chinese Navy vessels have passed through these waters using all foreign vessels' right to innocent passage to transit within the Philippine archipelagic waters. Having the Navy set up its own detachment there will "enhance maritime monitoring and conservation efforts, strengthening inter-agency coordination for effective maritime situational awareness in the Sulu Sea," the Navy said in its news release.

China said to halt Panama deals after ports operation nulled, Bloomberg News reportsA view of the Balboa Port is pictured after Hong Kong's CK Hutchison agreed to sell its interests in a key Panama Canal port operator to a BlackRock Inc-backed consortium Panama City, Panama, March 4, 2025.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a bill signing in the Oval Office of the White House on February 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. The House passed legislation today that ends the partial government shutdown while lawmakers negotiate over Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy and funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP

France to wage "year of resistance" against Shein and other platformsA customer holds shopping bags with a Shein logo in the first physical space of Chinese online fast-fashion retailer Shein on the day of its opening inside the Le BHV Marais department store, the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville, in Paris, France, November 5, 2025. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier