Calm before clay storm begins for EalaMANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala is taking an extended break with her family in observance of the Holy Week, then it’s go-time for her much-awaited campaign in the clay season starting on Monday in Austria. Eala will be playing for the first time in Linz Open and the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, both 500-level tours, while she’s out for vengeance in the 1000-level Madrid after a 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 defeat to World No. Up next for her after Paris is the Wimbledon in London and the US Open in New York. 11 Karolina Muchova of Czechia, good for only 270 points as she fell to 1255 points from 1525 before the Miami Open. Seasoned players and Grand Slam mainstays Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia (No.52), Katie Boulter of Great Britain (No.

Malaysia and Thailand struck their own deals shortly after, earning spots on Tehran's list of "friendly" nations alongside Bangladesh. Thailand secured access after one of its flagged vessels, the Mayuree Naree, was attacked and ran aground near Iran. Iran's foreign minister has also separately told Japan's Kyodo News that Iran was ready to facilitate passage for Japanese vessels. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian earlier urged Malacañang to pursue exactly this kind of discussion with Iran to ensure Philippine-bound oil shipments can be greenlighted. US President Donald Trump recently delivered fresh threats against Iran, this time saying he would "obliterate" their power plants and oil wells.

The majority of those reported killed were in Iran and Lebanon, and many were civilians. Leavitt said talks with Iran were progressing, adding that what Tehran says publicly differs from what it tells U.S. officials in private. Trump has cited the prevention of Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons as a reason for attacking the country on February 28. FEARS OF ESCALATIONThe White House said Trump was considering asking Arab nations to pay for the cost of the war. Iran has fired on Arab Gulf states during the conflict and war has been reignited between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

LTFRB summons 8 bus firms over unauthorized fare hikesPassengers queue at a bus terminal in Sampaloc, Manila on March 29, 2026, traveling early to their provinces ahead of the Holy Week exodus. MANILA, Philippines — Eight bus companies have been issued a show cause order (SCO) following allegations that they implemented illegal fare increases without government approval, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said. The SCO mandates that the eight bus companies submit a formal explanation within 10 days of receipt, detailing why they should not be penalized for imposing additional fares. According to the LTFRB, the firms cited rising fuel costs as the reason for the hike, despite lacking the necessary authorization from the regulatory body. Although the LTFRB had previously allowed a price adjustment for public transport services, including buses, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. halted the move on March 18.

Graft case filed vs ex-undersecretaries over flood kickbacksKontra Kurakot member Dino Peralta (L), Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance convener David San Juan (C) and BAYAN Muna Chairperson Teddy Casiño (R) at the Office of the Ombudsman on March 30, 2026. The complaint was filed before the Ombudsman on Monday, March 30, for graft and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials against former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin and former Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chairperson Teddy Casiño and Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot’s David San Juan filed the complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman. Allegations and testimoniesPNA; PNP Regional Office 7 Former undersecretaries Adrian Bersamin and Trygve OlaivarThe complaint stems from recent public disclosures and affidavits from former government officials. Officials under scrutinyBoth Bersamin and Olaivar stepped down from their government positions as the investigation into the alleged anomalous flood control projects intensified.

VAT vs excise: Which fuel tax cut gives more price relief? MANILA, Philippines — As global oil prices surge, policymakers in the Philippines are weighing whether suspending the 12% value-added tax (VAT) on fuel may provide greater relief at the pump than cutting excise taxes. Using a sample diesel price of P100 per liter, the reductions are as follows:Scenario Computation Resulting Price Current price (with excise + VAT) Base + P6 excise + 12% VAT P100.00 Remove excise only Subtract P6, VAT still applied ~P93.75 Remove VAT only Subtract 12% VAT on total price ~P89.29In this simplified example, removing VAT results in a larger price reduction than removing the excise tax, because VAT applies to the entire price, including the excise. Estimates presented to Congress show that a three-month suspension of fuel excise taxes could cost the government about P43.3 billion, rising to around P106 billion if extended through September. The choice between VAT and excise tax relief ultimately reflects a trade-off between immediate price reduction and long-term revenue stability.

BSP easing cycle over; oil crisis clouds outlookAnalysts signal pause as inflation risks riseMANILA, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)’s easing cycle may have come to an end, with analysts signaling a prolonged pause in policy settings as inflation risks rise amid the Middle East conflict. “While we had previously expected the BSP to cut rates at its April meeting, the US-Iran conflict upended this view,” BMI said. As such, we expect the BSP to hold rates steady through 2026,” it added. Beyond fuel, inflation risks are expected to broaden through food channels, as higher fertilizer prices feed into supply costs. “The risks are that the BSP hikes later in 2026,” BMI said, warning that prolonged elevated fuel costs could trigger second-round effects and eventually force policy action.

SMB unveils own GiantThe Beermen tapped Justin Patton, a 7-foot-1 center and 2017 NBA Draft first-round selection with stints with Minnesota, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and Houston, to take over from Marcus Lee in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup. MANILA, Philippines — After its 26-point beatdown from Bol Bol-led TNT, San Miguel Beer decided to bring a seven-footer and NBA-caliber import for itself moving forward. Patton was activated in time for the Beermen’s Holy Tuesday duel with winless guest team Macau at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. With the 6-foot-11 Lee in tow, the reigning Philippine Cup kingpin limped to a woeful 1-2 start. Then with Johnson serving his one-game suspension against full-powered Meralco, the E-Painters rose to the challenge and prevailed, 109-102.

Wanna buy Petron? The country’s only oil refinery can process 180,000 barrels of oil per day. With up to 39 percent market share and 1,800 retail stations, Petron can dictate prices of refined petroleum products. The provision defers duties and taxes on crude oil imported for domestic refining to the point of product lifting, not at the border. “What we have is Petron’s refinery inventory, its crude-in-transit and its storage capacity in Limay, Bataan.

Your electric bill is too high, here’s the real reasonYou don’t need an economist to tell you that something is wrong. You see it every month, right there on your electric bill! For decades, we have been told that high electricity prices are simply the cost of reality. If geography and global prices were the only reasons, then why does the Philippines consistently rank among the highest in electricity costs in Southeast Asia? This is why high electricity costs are more than just an inconvenience.

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Instagram is testing a pay tier that offers features including letting subscribers discretely view "Story" posts that normally vanish after 24 hours, Meta told AFP on Monday, confirming a report by news website TechCrunch. The new tier is being tested in "a few countries worldwide," a spokesperson said, without providing further details. Meta launched ad-free, paid versions of Facebook and Instagram in the United Kingdom last year to comply with legislation there. Social media platforms Snapchat and X have offered paid premium version for several years. Snapchat's parent company Snap recently reported having more than 25 million subscribers to its premium tier and being on pace for $1 billion in annual revenue.

Domestic trade hits P3.3 trillion in 2025Preliminary data from the PSA showed that total domestic trade amounted to P3.34 trillion last year. Preliminary data from the PSA showed that total domestic trade amounted to P3.34 trillion last year. Prior to 2025, the PSA’s domestic trade data did not include movements of commodities via roads. In 2024, total domestic trade data reached P1.31 trillion. In terms of volume, domestic trade reached 60.19 million tons in 2025.

Don't look at the label, look at the actions. This was House Committee on Justice Chairperson Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro's advice to Vice President Sara Duterte's lawyers, who have questioned the panel's jurisdiction on the impeachment proceedings against their client. READ: https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/30/actions-more-important-than-labels-luistro-tells-vp-duterte-campSubscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletinVisit our website at http://mb.com.phFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletinTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletinInstagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletinTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin#ManilaBulletinOnline#ManilaBulletin#LatestNewsTranscript Display full video transcript 00:18 Thank you for listening. 00:37 Thank you for listening.

A season of renewal: Seven reflections on leading with heartAfter nearly eight years at the helm of Sun Life Philippines, I find myself at a crossroads. The timing – nestled within Holy Week – feels beautifully intentional, inviting us to contemplate sacrifice, renewal, hope and the promise of new beginnings. Much like Holy Week, it offers an opportunity to release, with gratitude, and step into the unknown, trusting in the journey ahead. A beginning, not an endThe story of Holy Week is one of self-giving love, profound transition and ultimate renewal. My retirement during Holy Week is a powerful metaphor for new beginnings.

00:00 So, in the sense of the range of high pressure area, it's a very important area of responsibility. 00:18 The range of high pressure area is the area of responsibility. 00:22 This is the range of high pressure area, or the extension of high pressure area,00:27 The areas are the area of the upperра, over 2-3 days. 00:34 The eastern areas are the area of the upperろ,00:38 This area is the area of the upperroro,00:40 over 2-3 days. 01:17 Dapat tayo sa Visayas at Mindanao, sa Aluilo, Cebu at sa Tacloban,01:24 ang palang matahas na temperatura ay aabot ng 31 degrees Celsius.