Kings of K-pop: What to know about BTS's comebackPhoto by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP A woman poses for a photo in front of a truck promoting the comeback concert of K-pop boy group BTS in Seoul on March 19, 2026.

DILG to file graft raps vs 45 BFP execsDILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the move is in line with President Marcos’ directive to hold officials accountable. DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the move is in line with President Marcos’ directive to hold officials accountable. Former BFP directors Leonardo Banago and Louie Puracan as well as suspended BFP chief Jesus Fernandez will face charges. Grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, graft and corruption charges will be filed against the officials. The Bureau of Customs found that suppliers allegedly manipulated import declarations by undervaluing shipments, Remulla said.

'We just asked for a peso': Transport groups slam fare hike suspensionSome public utility jeepneys pick up passengers and ply their route along Kamias Road in Quezon City to earn extra income before joining the nationwide transport strike by transport group PISTON on March 18, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Transport groups slammed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to suspend the approved fare hike for various land vehicles, saying they had only asked for a P1 increase—a request made even more urgent by the ongoing fuel crisis. After fuel prices soared due to tensions in the Middle East, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board approved a fare hike for jeepneys, buses and Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS). A day before the implementation, however, Marcos suspended the fare hike, citing commuter welfare. With fuel so expensive, drivers could be charging as high as P20 for the base fare, Valbuena said.

Urgency for climate adaptationAs the world’s top carbon emitters, China, US, and India, delay slashing carbon emissions, climate damages in the coastal areas of the world continue to soar. After all, the Philippines is listed [2] at the top of the most at-risk countries for climate change. But runaway climate change obliges us to go further – a change in the mindset. Spending [6] on climate adaptation has increased notably in the Philippines over the past decade, including in 2026 – for water management, sustainable energy and climate resilient business. The advent of climate change has raised the stakes for investing in prevention.

Rains disrupt Miami OpenMANILA, Philippines — Unless Alex Eala replicates her Final Four finish last year in the Miami Open, she’s tipped to take a dip in the WTA rankings – at least a 20-spot drop following the expiration of the ranking points yesterday. The main draw of the WTA-1000 level tour kicked off yesterday, and Eala has to match or surpass her magical Last 4 finish last year to keep the 390 points she earned last year in Miami and stay in the Top 30. Eala, currently No. 29, was to face Germany’s Laura Siegemund, 38 years old and WTA No. But the match was pushed to midnight (Manila time) at the earliest after heavy rains disrupted other matches in Miami.

FDC books record profit in 2025MANILA, Philippines — The Gotianun family’s Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) booked its highest profit in history last year, driven by growth across its banking, real estate and power subsidiaries. FDC recorded a net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company of P15 billion in 2025, 24 percent higher than the P12.1 billion registered in the previous year. Consolidated net income reached P18.9 billion, up by 20 percent year-on-year, as total revenues and other income grew to P120.6 billion. Banking and financial services contributed P7 billion in net income to the group, equivalent to 40 percent of the conglomerate’s bottom line. The power subsidiary contributed P4.9 billion in net income, while the property business, composed of the real estate and hospitality segments, posted P4.9 billion in net income.

In real life however, fighting cancel culture is about strategic resilience. The saddest part of cancel culture is the great fallout among family and friends. Such dynamic has become more fragile in the cancel culture world instead of agreeing to disagree respectfully. Cancel culture has no foundation and despite the pressure on young Christians, they are also the very same ones who are discovering the counter cancel culture through their faith, as Christianity gives them a sense of solidarity and purpose. The Bible’s version of inclusivity is far more expansive than cancel culture simply because it includes people that society wants to throw away.

World Cup: We’re BackMANILA, Philippines — All set for football’s grandest stage. Three years after their historic FIFA Women’s World Cup debut in New Zealand, the amazing Filipinas ensured their return to the global showpiece by beating Uzbekistan, 2-0, in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup’s Play-In match in Gold Coast, Australia yesterday. Going to the World Cup seems unreachable until it actually happens,” said Guy, who previously helped the squad win a first-ever gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last December. So I’m just super grateful and super excited to go to Brazil next summer.”The Filipinas joined host Australia, Japan, China and South Korea in the march to the WC. North Korea clinched the sixth and last berth after beating Chinese-Taipei, 4-0, in their own duel last night.

DFA launches digital apostille for PSA, CHEDMANILA, Philippines — Filipinos abroad can now obtain digital apostilles authenticating the electronic certificates and documents issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority and Commission on Higher Education. “This system enables our citizens to access fast, reliable and secure document authentication anywhere in the world,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said. The Apostille Convention, to which the Philippines acceded in September 2018, simplifies the authentication of public documents for use abroad. Access to the digital apostille service is available through apostille.gov.ph.

Marcos affirms commitment to national defensePresident Marcos attends the 129th founding anniversary of the Philip- pine Army at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — The administration’s commitment to national security remains “firm,” President Marcos said yesterday, as he vowed to continue modernizing the military and to enhance the Philippine Army’s role in external defense. “Our commitment to national defense remains firm,” Marcos said. “We are strengthening the Philippine Army’s role in external defense through the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept. This concept enables the Army to perform external security operations while gradually transitioning its internal security operations,” he added.

DBM called out over delays in budget releaseIn his closing speech before the House adjourned for the Lenten break, Dy urged the DBM to move faster and ensure timely implementation of government programs. MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Faustino Dy III called out on Wednesday the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) over delays in fund releases, warning that slow disbursement renders even approved budgets meaningless and delays urgently needed services for Filipinos. In his closing speech before the House adjourned for the Lenten break, Dy urged the DBM to move faster and ensure timely implementation of government programs. 3 new deputy speakersThree new deputy speakers were elected during the plenary session of the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Deputy speakers are the second highest-ranking officials of the House of Representatives, presiding over plenary proceedings in the absence of the Speaker.

Marcos, Bhutanese leader meetMANILA, Philippines — The diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Bhutan yesterday achieved a historic first with the meeting of President Marcos and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay at Malacañang. Tobgay’s courtesy call on Marcos is the first leaders’ level engagement between the two countries, which established diplomatic relations on Oct. 6, 2025. It also marked the first time that a Philippine president hosted a Bhutanese leader at the Palace. During the meeting, Marcos talked about the ongoing efforts to organize the representation for non-resident ambassadors between the Philippines and Bhutan, saying they would become more important to strengthen relations. According to the PCO, Marcos is pleased with the present engagement between the two countries through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for the skills training and upskilling of workers.

Hearing on VP impeach complaints may be aired liveVice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 to announce her presidential bid in the upcoming 2028 elections. MANILA, Philippines — The next House hearing on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte may become the first full live public airing of the initial evidence behind the complaints, Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua said yesterday. The House committee on justice on March 18 found the complaints sufficient in grounds and scheduled the hearings on March 25, and April 14, 22 and 29. Chua said the current process before the House committee on justice allows the presentation and discussion of evidence even before the case reaches the Senate for trial. Luistro told ANC yesterday that the committee on justice is taking a “very conservative” and rules-based approach in handling the impeachment complaints against Duterte to ensure the process is thorough, fair and able to withstand scrutiny.

Alcantara to testify vs CoFormer Bulacan 1st Disrtict engineer Henry Alcantara attends the House Infra Comm's first hearing on anomalous flood control projects on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. During the trial hearing on March 19, government prosecutors told the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division they will present Alcantara as a prosecution witness on March 24. Alcantara is among four people who have been admitted into the witness protection program in connection with the controversial flood control cases. While they had hesitated to file charges, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla admitted they are now determined to exhaust all legal avenues to bring Co back to the country. Meanwhile, four tax-related cases against private contractor Curlee Discaya II have been filed before the Court of Tax Appeals.

DA chief files raps vs Co, BaligodMANILA, Philippines — Following corruption accusations, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. yesterday filed separate cyberlibel cases against fugitive Zaldy Co and Levito Baligod, lawyer of the 18 alleged bagmen. Tiu Laurel denied Baligod and the 18 men’s claims of his involvement in the alleged delivery of kickbacks in cash to state officials. Tiu Laurel explained he was able to file a case against Co only yesterday since he was busy with government work. “He was sabotaging us,” Tiu Laurel said. Tiu Laurel filed the cases with the Makati prosecutor’s office.