US says to dictate Venezuela decisions, oil sales
US says to dictate Venezuela decisions, oil salesWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 7.
Source:The Standard
January 08, 2026 06:38 UTC
5 Bar Exam finishers 'disqualified' due to lack of documents
5 Bar Exam finishers 'disqualified' due to lack of documentsBar Chair Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier speaks to the press during the announcement of the 2025 Bar Examination results on Jan. 7, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Five Bar exam takers who finished the examinations last year have been disqualified after failing to submit the necessary documents, 2025 Bar Chairperson Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier said. The five individuals, according to the Bar chair, were “not able to comply with the requirements,” trimming the previously recorded 11,425 aspirants to 11,420. The 2025 Bar Examinations were held on September 7, 10 and 14. RELATED: 2025 Bar chair turns over chairmanship to GaerlanHowever, during the release of the Bar exam results, Lazaro-Javier stated that only 11,420 individuals took the examinations.
Source:Philippine Star
January 08, 2026 03:36 UTC
CUHK secures almost $16m from RGC for two projects
Not related to 'crab'? CUHK finds unique allergen in king crab for first time
Source:The Standard
January 08, 2026 02:34 UTC
Rice tariff collection plunges 60% in 2025
Rice tariff collection plunges 60% in 2025Workers load sacks of National Food Authority (NFA) rice on a truck inside a warehouse at the NFA compound in Balagtas, Bulacan. MANILA, Philippines — The government’s rice tariff collection in 2025 fell by more than half on an annual basis to P13.7 billion as import volume skid to its lowest level in four years, coupled with a historic low tariff rate. The plunge in tariff collection has been widely expected by rice industry stakeholders and government officials since the tariff rate on the commodity has been reduced to 15 percent from 35 percent. Rice tariff collections have been critical since the government liberalized the country’s rice trade regime in 2019, because they are earmarked into a fund that aims to modernize the local rice sector. The government will begin the implementation of a flexible rice tariff scheme this year wherein the tariff rate may increase or decrease depending on the movement of global rice prices.
Source:Philippine Star
January 08, 2026 01:01 UTC
Marcos Jr. to new generals: Protect public resources
Marcos Jr. to new generals: Protect public resourcesPresident Marcos poses with newly promoted generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and a graduate of the Foreign Pre-Commissioned Training Institutions at Malacañang yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos reminded newly promoted generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday to lead with integrity and be among the guardians of the country’s resources. In addition to their duty as the nation’s protectors, the military also has the responsibility of safeguarding public resources, Marcos said. Marcos emphasized his administration’s commitment to uphold the welfare of the country’s uniformed personnel with the recent signing of the P6.793-trillion national budget for this year. He cited his order in December updating the base pay schedule and increasing the subsistence allowance for military and uniformed personnel.
Source:Philippine Star
January 08, 2026 01:01 UTC
DepEd, DOH downplay revamp rumors
DepEd, DOH downplay revamp rumorsMANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara serves at the pleasure of President Marcos, an official of the Department of Education (DepEd) said amid reports of a Cabinet revamp. In a message to The STAR, DepEd chief media relations officer Dennis Legaspi said Angara would continue to carry out his mandate unless directed otherwise. Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro maintained that there would be no changes in Marcos’ Cabinet for now, following a report that an “extensive” revamp could affect as many as nine agencies. The report also alleged that Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Kiko Benitez is being eyed to replace Angara at DepEd. Speaking at a Palace press briefing, Herbosa noted Castro had already clarified that there is no revamp in the Cabinet.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2026 23:31 UTC
Great post-holiday finds at Dapitan Arcade (with the bonus of Suki Market) • PhilSTAR Life
This is Suki Market on Mayon St. which is just off the Welcome Rotonda on Quezon Avenue. But savvy shoppers in the know also flock to Dapitan Arcade on Dapitan St., which intersects Mayon, in the months building up to Christmas. I think the best time to visit Dapitan Arcade is actually right after the holidays, when the crowd has all but disappeared, yet many of the unique finds are still available. At 8:30 a.m. on the weekend after New Year’s, many of the stalls in and around Dapitan Arcade are already open. Had I remembered to visit Dapitan Arcade before Christmas, I would have surely bought those whimsical, colorful, yummy-looking donut Christmas ornaments.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2026 21:59 UTC
Ooh, ube bey-beh! The purple food craze
It is usually colored purple like the variety from Zambales, but some varieties are white like those grown in Leyte. In Basco, we have seen white ube with a purplish tinge. In the ‘60s, I remember my mom would always bring gallons of Magnolia ube ice cream packed with dry ice to her friend Bruno Dedual at The Peninsula Hong Kong. A nostalgic flat lay of classic Filipino ube desserts—ube halaya, ube ice cream, puto ube, and halo-halo—celebrating the timeless appeal of the beloved purple yam. It was then when we first offered it and international event items such as the ube-macapuno cakes and putong ube, as well as the ube halaya and, of course, the ube ice cream with halo-halo.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2026 21:29 UTC
UP Diliman Law grad leads 5,594 Bar passers
UP Diliman Law grad leads 5,594 Bar passersNEW LAWYERS: Bar examinees and their relatives gather at the Supreme Court compound in Manila during the release of the 2025 Bar exam results yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — Out of 11,420 examinees, Jhenroniel Rhey Timola Sanchez, a University of the Philippines graduate, aced the 2025 Bar examinations with a score of 92.70 percent. The 2025 Bar exams posted a 48.98 percent passing rate, with 5,594 of the 11,420 examinees successfully passing—up from 37.84 percent in 2024. Ateneo on topADMU emerged as the top-performing law school among institutions with more than 100 examinees, achieving a 98.11 percent passing rate (104 of 106 first-time takers). Among schools with 51 to 100 examinees, Ateneo de Davao University led with a perfect 100 percent passing rate.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2026 20:11 UTC
‘Senators, congressmen face flood control raps’
‘Senators, congressmen face flood control raps’MANILA, Philippines — Criminal charges are expected to be filed by Jan. 15 against Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, former senator Bong Revilla and several congressmen over their alleged involvement in the flood control corruption scandal, Sen. Imee Marcos said yesterday, citing reports she received from a source she did not identify. Blue Ribbon committee hearings last year had revealed how Estrada, Villanueva and Revilla allegedly received kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects. She also said there was, so far, no direct evidence connecting Senators Francis Escudero and Mark Villar, and former senators Nancy Binay and Grace Poe, to so-called “ghost” or substandard flood control projects. Marcos also lamented that the ongoing Department of Justice investigation centered on the alleged role in the flood control kickbacks scheme of senators both former and current. The JCOC will also look into the implementation of infrastructure projects – like those for flood control or irrigation – to prevent another flood control scandal involving ghost or substandard public works lost to corruption.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2026 19:53 UTC
DepEd sees fewer struggling readers in schools
DepEd sees fewer struggling readers in schoolsMANILA, Philippines —The number of struggling readers in public schools has dropped since the beginning of the school year, the Department of Education (DepEd) reported yesterday. These assessment results indicate that around 3.42 million learners in Grades 3 to 6 and 1.72 million in Grades 7 to 10 have moved closer to grade-level proficiency in reading. Education Secretary Sonny Angara attributed the progress to structured remediation, focused tutorial sessions and regular monitoring of learners under ARAL. He noted that these interventions are set to be expanded and standardized once the program receives full funding in 2026. With increased resources, DepEd plans to engage more than 440,000 tutors nationwide, including volunteers and non-DepEd personnel.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2026 19:35 UTC
LIST: Top 20 Bar topnotchers of 2025
LIST: Top 20 Bar topnotchers of 2025MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court of the Philippines on Wednesday, January 7, announced the top 20 topnotchers for the 2025 bar examinations. The 2025 bar examinations saw a passing rate of 48.98%, according to Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier. This means that 5,594 out of 11,425 aspirants were able to pass the exam. Here is the top 20 bar topnotchers for 2025:Top 20 bar topnotchers — 2025 Source: Supreme Court of the Philippines Rank Name School Score 1 Jhenroniel Rhey Timola Sanchez University of the Philippines 92.70% 2 Spinel Albert Allauigan Declaro University of Santo Tomas Manila 92.46% 3 Alaiza Agatep Adviento University of Santo Tomas Manila 91.91% 4 Angelica De Castro Mitra De La Salle Lipa 91.68% 5 Marc Angelo Galvez Santos University of Santo Tomas Manila 91.58% 6 tie Jeowy Loyloy Ompad University of San Jose-Recoletos 91.25% 6 tie Enrico Gabriel Reyes Paguia Ateneo de Manila University 91.25% 7 Johan Raphael Silapan Gata University of Santo Tomas Manila 90.90% 8 Marie Chantelle Atienza Sarmiento University of the Philippines 90.87% 9 Richmond Bulan Lucas University of La Salette Inc. 90.45% 10 Jasmine Teriann Afable Yap University of the Philippines 90.36% 11 Allan Leo Tabuco Paran Arellano University 90.20% 12 Patric Kiel Quiroz Navarro University of the East 89.93% 13 Alfrancis Bagadiog Cabungcal University of the Philippines 89.80% 14 Gerilin Ano-Os Gascon Bukidnon State University 89.79% 15 Ignacio Lorenzo Dela Cruz Villareal University of the Philippines 89.70% 16 Mae Angela Damaso Locsin University of Santo Tomas Legazpi (Aquinas) 89.42% 17 Randall Lipnica Pabilane Arellano University 89.41% 18 Mikaella Francesa Nuarin Abisana Ateneo de Manila University 89.38% 19 Chinzen Tañada Viernes University of the Philippines 89.35% 20 Ronald Vincent Ofrecio Gonzales University of the East 89.31%The University of the Philippines contributed the highest number of topnotchers, with six passers securing a spot in the top 20. — with reports from Dominique Flores
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2026 19:15 UTC
‘Super flu’ in Philippines not alarming – DOH
‘Super flu’ in Philippines not alarming – DOH“The warning I will give is for Filipinos that will travel to the temperate countries, that will go to North America, to the UK. If you’re going there, be knowledgeable that there is a spread of super flu in (those areas),” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said at a Palace briefing. If you’re going there, be knowledgeable that there is a spread of super flu in (those areas),” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said at a Palace briefing. The DOH earlier said 41 cases of the super flu were recorded in the Philippines from Aug. 6 to Oct. 24 last year. Herbosa said the presence of the super flu variant in the country is not alarming but urged the public, especially those who have medical conditions, to get flu shots.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2026 17:32 UTC
Willing Savior
Willing SaviorWhile we were still sinners, Christ died for us. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (v. 8). As we thank and trust Jesus, our willing Savior, He can empower us to love others sacrificially with our words and actions. Xochitl DixonHow do you feel when you consider the price Jesus willingly paid because He loves you?
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2026 17:03 UTC