Trade gap likely up in November
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.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 16:01 UTC
Global rail giants, SMC to vie for NSCR deal
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.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 16:01 UTC
Light rains expected
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.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 16:01 UTC
The Christmas spirit
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.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 16:01 UTC
DOH logs 28 fireworks-related injuries
DOH logs 28 fireworks-related injuriesThe DOH said that from Dec. 21 to early morning yesterday, its 62 sentinel hospitals recorded 28 cases, or 50 percent lower than the 56 cases posted during the same period last year. MANILA, Philippines — As of Christmas Day, the Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 28 fireworks-related injuries. In its latest FWRI Surveillance Report, the DOH said eight new cases were reported as of 4 a.m. of Dec. 25. The DOH said that from Dec. 21 to early morning yesterday, its 62 sentinel hospitals recorded 28 cases, or 50 percent lower than the 56 cases posted during the same period last year. Of the total cases, 19 (68 percent) of the 28 victims are 19 years old and below while nine or 32 percent are 20 years old and above.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 16:01 UTC
COA calls out DOH over delayed, idle infrastructure projects
COA calls out DOH over delayed, idle infrastructure projectsThe photo of the Commission on Audit's office in Quezon CIty. MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the Department of Health over delayed, idle and unimplemented infrastructure projects under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the DOH for 2024, with a total contract cost of P14.52 billion. The audit breakdown showed that a total of P11.539 billion in HFEP projects were delayed or were not completed within the contract time. The bulk of the delayed projects were under the DOH Central Office (CO), involving nine contracts with an aggregate cost of P8.61 billion. Meanwhile, the audit report showed that HFEP projects with an aggregate contract cost of P2.362 billion, were unimplemented or have to not even started as of end of 2024.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 16:00 UTC
LoiNie as parents: Loisa Andalio expecting 1st baby with Ronnie Alonte
LoiNie as parents: Loisa Andalio expecting 1st baby with Ronnie AlonteCelebrity couple Ronnie Alonte and Loisa Andalio are expecting their first child. MANILA, Philippines — Recently wed celebrity couple Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte are going to be parents to their first baby. Ronnie and Loisa in their joint Instagram post shared the overwhelming sentiments they feel for their unborn child, calling their baby as their greatest blessing. “Ngayon lang kami nakaramdam ng ganitong klaseng pagmamahal, isang pagmamahal na napakalalim para sa isang taong hindi pa namin nakikilala,” the couple said. RELATED: Loisa Andalio, Ronnie Alonte now married
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 14:04 UTC
Search underway for missing Palo priest Edwin 'Cutz' Caintoy
Search underway for missing Palo priest Edwin 'Cutz' CaintoyPhoto shows the missing person's report on Father Edwin 'Cutz' Caintoy of the Archdiocese of Palo. MANILA, Philippines — A priest of the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte, has been missing since December 23, with his whereabouts still unknown. In a statement on Wednesday, December 24, the Archdiocese of Palo said Reverend Father Edwin "Kutz" Caintoy was last seen on the morning of December 23 at the bus terminal near Robinsons North in Tacloban City. Reverend Father Gwen Lovelino Padagdag, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Palo, said they are closely coordinating with authorities in search of Caintoy. Those with information that may assist in locating Caintoy have been urged to contact Padagdag through 09282193275.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 10:14 UTC
Marcos asked: Where are the promised arrests before Christmas?
Arrests ahead of Christmas fail to catch ‘big fish’ in flood control scandalPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a report on the government's response to the flood control corruption mess on Nov. 13, 2025. Minority lawmakers are now asking: where are the arrests President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. promised before Christmas, and when will high-ranking officials implicated in the case be held to account? (So much for “someone will spend Christmas in jail.” He only gave false hope to the Filipino people.) “Hindi sapat na mga DPWH officials o mga contractor lang ang makulong,” he said in a statement on December 24. (It’s not enough that DPWH officials or contractors are the only ones jailed.)
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 08:49 UTC
A Christmas tale
A Christmas taleSince the first Christmas, there have always been two Christmases – one for the poor and the other for the elite or the rich. Christmas for the poor is the tale of Jesus being born in a manger, a box or trough where animals are fed, in Bethlehem. “Wait a moment, my son is king, the king of kings.” So you have the optics of three kings visiting the King of Kings. The standard narrative is that the three kings reached Jesus two weeks after Christmas, or Jan. 6. This brings me to a third kind of Christmas – one for those behind bars, and the other, for those who are in hiding, fugitives from justice.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 08:30 UTC
UN, BARMM support community-based Moro entrepreneurs
UN, BARMM support community-based Moro entrepreneursRepresentatives of the eight newly-organized groups of Moro entrepreneurs in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur presented to reporters on Dec. 23, 2025 while in Cotabato City, the food products that they produce and sell in the markets and in stores along thoroughfares in both provinces. COTABATO CITY — An agency of the United Nations and the Bangsamoro government jointly provided eight groups of neophyte Moro entrepreneurs with P50,000 each in grants on Tuesday, December 23, to serve as additional capital and help boost their productivity in producing preserved native delicacies. Bangsamoro Labor and Employment Minister Muslimin Sema said on Thursday, December 25, that many of the entrepreneurs in the eight groups are from families associated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front, which have separate peace agreements with the government. These groups are based in barangays in Datu Odin Sinsuat and Talitay in Maguindanao del Norte, as well as in Guindulungan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, and South Upi in Maguindanao del Sur. The MILF and the MNLF are cooperating in overseeing the operations of several BARMM agencies and have representatives too in the 80-seat regional parliament.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 07:45 UTC
Holiday fireworks injure 28 by Christmas, mostly kids and teens
Holiday fireworks injure 28 by Christmas, mostly kids and teensMANILA, Philippines — Fewer firework-related injuries were reported over the past four days compared to last year, yet children and teens under 20 continue to bear the brunt of holiday accidents. According to the Department of Health (DOH), 28 firework-related injuries have been reported from December 21 to 4 a.m. on December 25, based on data from 62 sentinel hospitals. As figures are expected to rise with the approaching New Year, the initial report shows that nearly seven in 10 injuries already involve children and teens aged 19 and under. The agency also warned the public about the serious health dangers of fireworks, which can lead to death, amputations, blindness, hearing loss, lung damage and severe burns. It advised using safer alternatives for holiday noise, such as horns or banging pots and pans, stressing that fireworks should be kept out of children’s reach.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 07:32 UTC
Camille Prats shares what she told Kuya Kim after the 'Paboritong Mars' meme went viral
Camille Prats recalled waking up to being the subject of the "Paboritong Mars" meme—and what she told Kim Atienza right after. Mga Tiktropa, mag-ingay para sa ating paboritong mars, Camille Prats!" "What's important is he's fine, he's okay, he's happy, we're okay, and I'm glad I'm able to make a lot of people happy, too." Very effective si Camille Prats sa akin. Emman, the daughter of Felicia and Kim Atienza, passed away in her California home in October.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 07:30 UTC
Leviste releases supposed Cabral files detailing 2025 DPWH budget
Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste has shared the documents detailing the 2025 budget allocation of the DPWH on infrastructure projects, which were supposedly given to him by former Usec. "Mabuting malaman ng publiko ang nilalaman ng DPWH budget upang maipagmalaki po natin ang ating mga proyekto," Leviste stressed. "Sana po ay hindi magalit sa akin ang aking mga kasamahan, at may iba rin naman pong sources tungkol sa DPWH budget," he implored. In a follow-up post, Leviste disclosed additional documents from "another source from the DPWH" in relation to its 2025 budget. "Para din po malinaw: Ang mga budget na ito ay ginagamit ng DPWH para sa mga proyekto, at hindi po para sa proponent," he reiterated.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 07:29 UTC
'Our little miracle': Loisa Andalio, Ronnie Alonte expecting first child together
Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte are going to be parents soon! The actress announced her pregnancy in an Instagram reel shared on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JOSEFINA LOISA FRANCISCO ANDALIO (@iamandalioloisa)"Baby Jesus, maraming maraming salamat sa pinakamalaking blessing na ipinagkaloob mo sa amin ni R2. "Ngayon lang kami nakaramdam ng ganitong klaseng pagmamahal, isang pagmamahal na napakalalim para sa isang taong hindi pa namin nakikilala." "To our little miracle, sobrang excited na kami na makilala ka.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2025 07:29 UTC