Gin Kings rout winless Black KnightsMANILA, Philippines -- Barangay Ginebra added to the Macau Black Knights' woes, sending the guest team to its third straight PBA Commissioner’s Cup loss following a 110-93 beatdown Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The debuting Gin Kings outscored the winless Black Knights 39-22 in the second quarter and never looked back, leading by as much as 23 points in the victory. Macau tried to storm back, but the crowd darlings just could not be stopped as they breezed through to the victory. Stephen Holt and Troy Rosario had 13 and 11 points, respectively, for Ginebra. Damian Chong Qui powered the Black Knights with 28 points, with 21 coming in the second half.

Palace calls for inclusive peace, unity amid Eid'l FitrMuslims attend Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, at a park in Manila on April 10, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — The national government joined the Muslim community in celebrating Eid’l Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan with a renewed call for unity, faith and peace. “Eid’l Fitr reminds us that beyond our differences, we are one nation guided by faith, respect, and a shared vision for peace; may the spirit of Ramadan strengthen our unity and commitment to uplift every Filipino,” he said. The president underscored that Eid’l Fitr is not only a celebration but also a reminder of shared responsibility in fostering understanding among different cultures and faiths across the country. The celebration of Eid’l Fitr, one of the most significant holidays in Islam, symbolizes gratitude, generosity, and renewed devotion, as Muslims around the world mark the end of a month-long period of fasting, prayer and reflection.

Food firms agree to price freeze of up to 60 days, says MarcosMANILA, Philippines — Several food manufacturers have agreed to keep prices steady for up to two months as the government moves to cushion the impact of global tensions on basic commodities. Century is among the Philippines’ biggest branded food firms, offering products such as canned tuna, sardines, meat, dairy and plant-based options. She said manufacturers have committed to maintaining current prices for at least a month, with some extending up to 60 days. “Our factories are running, our inventories are healthy and our distribution network continues to supply retailers nationwide,” Po said. Marcos also reiterated that there is no need for hoarding, saying that the government will continue to coordinate with industry partners to ensure stable supply and prices of essential goods.

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is exploring more ways to extend subsidies and assistance to Filipinos as it grapples with the impact of volatile oil prices. He acknowledged that fluctuating oil prices continue to pose a challenge to policy planning. (The problem is oil prices are too volatile, we can’t anticipate them. Despite this, Marcos assured the public that government measures have helped ease the burden, saying that oil and food supplies remain sufficient. Recto said Marcos has ordered the release of a P10-billion fund to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on these sectors.

Frasco thanks Marcos for new role as adviser on sustainable communitiesPresident Ferdinand Marcos administers the oath of office of Christina Garcia Frasco, formally appointing her as presidential adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities. MANILA, Philippines — Former Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco is grateful for her new appointment as presidential adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities. She is also grateful to have served the country as its tourism secretary and led the Department of Tourism. “I am grateful to the president for the trust and confidence in appointing me as presidential adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities,” she said. Frasco formally took her oath as presidential adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities before Marcos on Wednesday, March 18, at Malacañang, marking her transition from the Cabinet to a role focused on advancing sustainability and resilience efforts nationwide.

LONDON, United Kingdom — Iranian forces' closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent shockwaves through global trade, with little sign of a break in the deadlock. The proposed system would create an Iranian-approved "safe corridor" for ships to use, Meade told an online briefing on Thursday. While this offers some movement, Meade warned that "negotiated safe passage... is unlikely to dramatically increase the trickle of tonnage". But the thousands of seafarers on board already face dwindling supplies of fuel and water, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) warned Tuesday. Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Tuesday that "the Strait of Hormuz won't return to its pre-war status".

SWS: 33% of Pinoys 'very happy' with lifeMANILA, Philippines — A third of adult Filipinos consider themselves “very happy” with life while slightly fewer say they are “very satisfied,” according to the latest Social Weather Survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). The national survey, conducted from Nov. 24 to 30, 2025, found that 33% of adults rated themselves as “very happy,” 50% said they were “fairly happy,” 15% were “not very happy” and 2% were “not at all happy.”SWS said the latest figure for “very happy” Filipinos remains broadly consistent with recent years, though still below the 43% recorded in December 2023. When asked about life satisfaction, 28% said they were “very satisfied,” 51% were “fairly satisfied,” 14% were “not very satisfied” and 7% were “not at all satisfied.”Regional differences. SWS data showed that the Visayas posted the highest share of “very happy” respondents at 40%, followed by Mindanao at 34%, Balance Luzon at 32% and Metro Manila at 24%. Metro Manila also recorded the lowest share of “very satisfied” respondents at 27% while Visayas led at 35%.

MANILA, Philippines — State weather bureau PAGASA officially decommissioned seven domestic tropical cyclone names from its roster following the severe impacts of the 2025 season. In a statement, PAGASA said the names Crising, Emong, Mirasol, Nando, Opong, Tino and Uwan will no longer be used and have been removed from the country’s rotating list of tropical cyclone names. The agency said the decision reflects the “exceptional magnitude and extent of devastation” brought by the 2025 weather disturbances, which collectively left 373 people dead, 680 injured and 132 missing. With the retirement of the seven names, PAGASA announced new replacements that will enter the naming rotation beginning in 2029. The agency regularly retires cyclone names to avoid confusion and sensitivity in future weather events, particularly those associated with significant loss of life and widespread destruction.

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Israel launches more attacks on Iran as crisis deepensCCTV footage shows smoke rising from Israel's Haifa refinery after a reported Iranian attack, in Haifa, Israel, March 19, 2026, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in this screengrab from video obtained from social media. Social Media/via REUTERS

Bible: How not togo to war“Hawks” or so-called military experts will certainly not quote Bible verses as they assess plans and operations for war, and most technical experts will shy away from quoting the verses lest they be laughed out of the room. But when ICE agents started unilaterally throwing everybody into the bus regardless of factual and actual citizenship, the US became a house divided. As I reflected on that, I remembered how, during the Vietnam War, the United States was practically on the brink of civil war because of an unpopular war far, far, away in Southeast Asia. From the lessons about a house divided, another lesson on war is about counting the cost, written in the book of Luke 14:31-32. Unfortunately, the US quickly forgot the lesson or foolishly underestimated “the enemy.”Today, Donald Trump is once again relearning the lessons from the Vietnam war.

EDITORIAL - New positions, better responses? There’s a presidential adviser for sustainable and resilient communities, and now there’s a special envoy for disaster risk reduction and management. With two new special positions plus the DENR secretary, the public should expect top-caliber responses to climate change-related issues and other environmental concerns. Before this, national attention was focused on the still unresolved budget and flood control corruption scandal as well as the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. With two new positions created to deal with environmental issues, the public expects a marked improvement in disaster preparedness, mitigation and resilience.

Eala trounces Siegemund to kick off Miami Open campaignMANILA, Philippines -- One down. Alex Eala punched her ticket to the next round of the Miami Open after a hard-fought victory over Germany’s Laura Siegemund, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-3, in their Round of 64 matchup early Friday morning (Manila time). Eala started strong, going up 3-0 in the first set before Siegemund tied things up at 3-all. The two tennisters then traded games, before Eala held her serve in the 11th game and took the 6-5 advantage. Siegemund, though, saved three set points and forced the tiebreak with a gritty 12th game, 6-6.

Woman with smartphone is seen in front of displayed social media logos in this illustration taken, May 25, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP This picture shows the Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar's principal site for production of liquefied natural gas and gas-to-liquid, administrated by Qatar Petroleum, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the capital Doha, on February 6, 2017.