2 guards shot dead; suspect nabbedPolice yesterday arrested Charren Caboverde, 24, in Tondo, Manila after he fled the crime scene at the Commonwealth branch of a car dealership. MANILA, Philippines — Due to alleged constant bullying, a security guard shot dead two of his colleagues at a car dealership in Quezon City on Wednesday. Police yesterday arrested Charren Caboverde, 24, in Tondo, Manila after he fled the crime scene at the Commonwealth branch of a car dealership. After drinking alcohol with two other security guards identified as Renato and Mark John, Caboverde shot the victims while they were asleep at around 12:50 p.m.“The victims allegedly bullied him since he was a new hire and they were seniors,” Quezon City police director Col. Randy Glenn Silvio told reporters. Caboverde reportedly reached his tipping point after losing in a fistfight with one of the victims.

Subsidies to GOCCs plunge 26% in end-NovemberAccording to the latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury, government subsidies for the 11-month period declined to P95.85 billion from P129.4 billion in the same period last year. MANILA, Philippines — The total amount of subsidies given to government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) plummeted by 26 percent from January to November, with the bulk of the funding earmarked for food stability and irrigation. Government subsidies to major non-financial government corporations accounted for 61.5 percent of the total subsidies, followed by other government corporations at 38 percent and government financial corporations at 0.5 percent. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) received 41.4 percent of the total subsidies during the 11-month period, amounting to P39.73 billion. This was lower by 40.7 percent compared to the P67.05 billion recorded in the same period a year ago.

Foreign-branded phone shipments in China more than doubled on year in Nov, CAICT data showsA new iPhone 17 Pro Max smartphone is displayed at the Apple store in Beijing's Sanlitun area during the start of sales in Beijing, China September 19, 2025. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

EDSA rehab begins: Plan travel, take detoursHeavy equipment take up lanes on EDSA in Pasay City as the DPWH begins the re- blocking of damaged sections. Road reblocking will be carried out along the inner lanes of EDSA southbound from P. Celle Street to Roxas Boulevard and from Tramo flyover to P. Celle Street. It will also be done along the inner lane of EDSA northbound from Roxas Boulevard to Tramo Avenue and from Park Avenue to Taft Avenue until Dec. 27. Mariano in Pasay City, Park Avenue in Pasay to Orense in Makati, and from Orense to McKinley Road in Makati. The EDSA rehabilitation program will undergo its first phase covering the area from Orense Street in Makati to Roxas Boulevard, which is expected to last until April or May 2026.

Presidential candidate Nasry Asfura of the National Party of Honduras (PN) speaks at a press conference on the day of the general election in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, November 30, 2025. REUTERS/Leonel Estrada

LIST: What sections of EDSA will be rehabilitated from Dec. 28 to Jan. 5? MANILA, Philippines — Several sections of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) will be temporarily closed from December 28 to January 5 for rehabilitation work that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) began on Christmas Eve. DPWH via FB Map shows where concrete reblocking works will be carried out along the Southbound and Northbound roads along EDSA Avenue from Dec. 28, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026. DPWH via FB Map shows where concrete reblocking works will be carried out along the Southbound and Northbound roads along EDSA Avenue from Dec. 28, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026. DPWH via FB Map shows where concrete reblocking works will be carried out along the Southbound and Northbound roads along EDSA Avenue from Dec. 28, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026.

Marcos Jr. to Pinoys: Be grateful for blessingsMANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday expressed hope that Filipinos would enjoy good health and prosperity as he urged them to be grateful for the graces they received this year. As the year ends, let us be thankful for all the blessings we received,” the President said in a video message. The brief video message ended with the President, First Lady Liza Marcos and their children House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, Joseph Simon and William Vincent wishing the nation a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. The greatest gift God has ever given me is a strong papa, who molded me into an even stronger woman. “Merry Christmas sweet papa, I will always be your bossy and chunky Kitty,” she added.

Key real estate sectors urged to recalibrate entering into 2026MANILA, Philippines — Key sectors in the real estate market are encouraged to recalibrate to address widening pricing gaps, infrastructure bottlenecks and intensifying global competition, as the industry enters 2026. Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) said that the residential market remains structurally sound and among the least susceptible to artificial intelligence disruption. The real estate brokerage firm said that a more actively traded secondary market, along with a tapering of primary price increases, is recommended to narrow the disconnect and bring primary–secondary pricing premiums closer to global norms. In terms of retail, LPC said that while traditional mall formats remain effective, evolving consumer behavior calls for more innovative approaches. The country must shift from fragmented sector-specific growth to a unified and sustainable growth pathway,” LPC director of investment sales Tam Angel said.

EDSA rehabilitationCritics also say that DPWH will likely rip-up EDSA pavements that are still very much usable. They made him say that the EDSA rehab will just take advantage of the holiday season’s lower-than-usual traffic volume to get the work started. The EDSA rehab will not really improve traffic flow. We have worked to find a better way for the (EDSA rehabilitation) project. Even without the rehab, EDSA is already a major disruption.

Investors’ Lease Act guidelines to boost foreign investmentsIn a statement yesterday, the DTI said Trade Secretary and Board of Investments (BOI) chair Cristina Roque and LRA administrator Gerardo Panga Sirios signed the IRR for Republic Act 12252 or the Investors’ Lease Act at a ceremony hosted by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in New Clark City on Dec. 19. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Land Registration Authority (LRA) have signed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Investors’ Lease Act, paving the way for longer lease periods of up to 99 years for foreign investors. The IRR operationalizes the extension of lease periods for private lands by foreign investors to an aggregate of 99 years from 75 years under the amended Investors’ Lease Act. By offering longer leasehold terms for foreign investors, the government aims is to attract a steady flow of long-term capital, advanced technology and global expertise. Roque said the Investors’ Lease Act and its IRR provide a boost to investor confidence through a stable and transparent regulatory environment.

Pope: Denying help to poor is rejecting GodPope Leo XIV carrying the statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates the first Christmas mass of his pontificate at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. VATICAN CITY – The story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself, Pope Leo XIV said in a Christmas Eve sermon. “On Earth, there is no room for God if there is no room for the human person. Leo, the first US-born pope, is celebrating his first Christmas after being elected in May by the world’s cardinals to succeed the late Pope Francis. Meanwhile, in his first Christmas message on Thursday, Pope Leo condemned the “senselessness” of war and the “open wounds” it leaves behind.

Trade gap likely up in NovemberThis photo shows crates carried by a forklift in the port of Manila. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines likely posted a bigger trade gap in November due to slower exports growth and the continued decline in imports, according to UK-based think tank Pantheon Macroeconomics. In a report, Pantheon Macroeconomics chief emerging Asia economist Miguel Chanco and Asia economist Meekita Gupta said that they expect the trade gap to widen to $3.95 billion in November from $3.83 billion in October. Philippine exports rose by 19.4 percent to $7.39 billion in October from $6.19 billion in the same month last year. Exports have posted growth for 10 straight months despite the US imposition of tariffs on its trade partners.

Global rail giants, SMC to vie for NSCR dealThe Department of Transportation (DOTr) is growing more confident that the private turnover of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) will attract multiple bids. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is growing more confident that the private turnover of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) will attract multiple bids. Alstom SA, the developer of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension, also participated. From the Philippines, SMC appears ready to vie for a new concession after winning last year the P170.6-billion deal to upgrade the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. SMC is also the PPP partner of the government in building the Metro Rail Transit Line 7, which has been slumped with multiple delays and is now close to a decade under construction.

Light rains expectedMANILA, Philippines — The northeast monsoon and the easterlies continue to influence weather conditions across the country, bringing light rains, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday. The northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies and light rains over Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela and Apayao, while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains. The easterlies, on the other hand, will cause partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over the Visayas, Mindanao and Palawan, with possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas will affect the rest of the country. PAGASA added that no significant impacts are expected in areas affected by the northeast monsoon, but advised the public to remain cautious during thunderstorms in areas under easterlies.

What is the Christmas spirit? The Christmas spirit is about hope and how much we can be rest assured that it does not disappoint, even when we undergo very dark days. The Christmas spirit is the connections we make with those we love and those who cross our paths even in the midst of chaos – the ones that change our lives in the most profound ways. But the spirit of Christmas is something we can celebrate everyday, even in the very small ways that people tend to ignore. The Christmas spirit is more than decorations or gifts – it is the way we live, with kindness and compassion, especially for those who need it most.