Golden glory
Golden glorySan Miguel behemoth June Mar Fajardo savors the Ramon Fernandez Finals MVP award, being the lead force in their title run in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup. And it’s one championship no team can’t duplicate – glory in the PBA Golden Philippine Cup. “Magaling talaga si coach Leo, isa siya sa pinakamagaling sa PBA, hindi lang siya nabibigyan ng masyadong credit at sobrang humble niya,” he said. “Pero ako na magsasabi sa inyo, magaling si coach, siya ‘yung dahilan kaya nananalo ng championship ang San Miguel.”Austria lauded TNT for pushing them to the limit. Both teams deserved to win a championship but we’re more lucky and I think the experience of the players, ‘yun ang nakapagdala sa amin,” he said.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:34 UTC
Dairy output rises to record 43 million liters
Dairy output rises to record 43 million litersDomestic dairy output in 2025 reached 43.3 million liters, up from the 38.6 million liters recorded in 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. This is the first time that local milk production breached the 43-million liter mark, based on PSA data. MANILA, Philippines — The country’s dairy output last year rose by 12 percent on an annual basis to over 43 million liters, the highest on record, as local herd expanded coupled with better animal management. Domestic dairy output in 2025 reached 43.3 million liters, up from the 38.6 million liters recorded in 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. “The substantial growth in dairy output in 2025 was achieved despite the absence of dairy animal importation, demonstrating the effectiveness of the National Dairy Authority’s dairy development programs,” NDA administrator Marcus Antonius Andaya said yesterday.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:34 UTC
VP Sara hit with 2 fresh impeachment complaints
VP Sara hit with 2 fresh impeachment complaintsMembers of a civil society coalition use a trolley to submit the second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte at the Office of the House Secretary General yesterday. Sylvia Claudio, Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor, told “Storycon” on One News yesterday that they seem to be facing an uphill battle, acknowledging they had better chances last year. Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña and ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima endorsed the Tindig Pilipinas suit. Hands offSought for comment, Malacañang distanced itself from the latest impeachment complaints filed against the Vice President. “But … we do not have any hand (in it), we are not responsible (for) the filing of those complaints or impeachment complaints.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:34 UTC
Can’t win ‘em all
Can’t win ‘em allThe ending would’ve been fairy tale-like if only Alex Eala won the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Tennis Open that was concluded at the Rizal courts last Saturday. But as Eala herself said, that’s tennis, you win some, you lose some and you can’t win ’em all. Second seed Eala fell to fifth seed Camila Osorio of Colombia in the quarters. Of course, the fans were disappointed that Eala didn’t make it to the finish line but they weren’t disheartened. The success of the Philippine Women’s Open wasn’t just on the Rizal courts.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:34 UTC
Restrained
Most of the criticisms gloss over the fact that the Supreme Court, although unelected, enjoys equal standing as the other two branches of government. Also, the Supreme Court tries its best to stand above the political fray. Every Court ruling is the product of careful reflection on the law. Economic Planning Secretary Arsi Balisacan says, without providing much evidence, that “strong fundamentals” will propel a higher growth rate this year. The rule of thumb has been to sustain a growth rate of seven percent to make a real dent in our poverty profile.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:34 UTC
1 dead, 3 injured in Ironman motorcycle race
1 dead, 3 injured in Ironman motorcycle raceCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — A motorcycle rider died and three others were injured when they figured in separate road accidents while competing in the Boss Ironman Motorcycle Challenge Mindanao Cup over the weekend. According to authorities, the endurance ride started Saturday evening in General Santos City and passed through Cagayan de Oro City and several provinces in Mindanao before heading back to GenSan. Police identified the fatality as Ronhums Tomuhan, a resident of Nabunturan, Davao de Oro. Emergency responders rushed him to a hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. The Boss Ironman Motorcycle Challenge is a long-distance endurance ride in the Philippines that tests stamina, discipline and road safety awareness of motorcycle riders.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:34 UTC
Think. Examine. Question.
It’s a very dangerous kind of belief, that makes for a very dangerous kind of world. It’s in this kind of world that the ability to think for ourselves, to think critically, is of the utmost importance. Thinking critically is not just the ability to question information that is presented to us – it is an ability to question beliefs held by others and those we hold ourselves. One of the first names we think of when it comes to questioning and examining thoughts and beliefs is the Greek philosopher Socrates. There are many beliefs that we think and proclaim to be “truths” but we have never examined whether these beliefs are supported by evidence or whether they are merely assumptions.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:34 UTC
Factory production hits 9-month high in January
Factory production hits 9-month high in JanuaryMANILA, Philippines — The country’s manufacturing sector started 2026 on a strong note, expanding at its fastest pace in nine months, supported by higher demand and output, according to S&P Global. The PMI, which tracks operating conditions in the manufacturing sector, is generated from a survey of around 400 manufacturers. As a result, she said output posted growth for the first time in five months. Job creation in the manufacturing sector posted growth in January, after two consecutive months of declines, allowing Filipino manufacturers to reduce their work backlogs at the start of the year. “This hesitancy reflects lingering concerns regarding export demand and the sustainability of the latest improvement,” Baluch said.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:34 UTC
Marcos seeks deeper Mitsubishi role in railway, subway projects
Marcos seeks deeper Mitsubishi role in railway, subway projectsPresident Marcos meets with Mitsubishi Corp. president and CEO Katsuya Nakanishi at Malacañang yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos met with Mitsubishi Corp. president and chief executive officer Katsuya Nakanishi at Malacañang yesterday, where they tackled further collaboration on key sectors, including expansion of wind energy and strengthening digital services in the country. “I met with Mr. Katsuya Nakanishi, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Corp., to advance investments that will create more jobs, help complete faster and more reliable subway and railway systems and expand clean wind energy in the provinces,” the President said in a social media post. Present during the courtesy call were Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Trade Secretary Ma. With Nakanishi were Kiyotaka Kikuchi, MC executive vice president and chief revenue officer and Asia and Oceana general manager-Singapore branch; Shota Kondo, MC executive vice president, and Harutaka Ishikawa, MC Manila branch general manager.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:34 UTC
Marcos orders immediate payment of ‘good’ contractors
Marcos orders immediate payment of ‘good’ contractorsMANILA, Philippines — Wishing to “move forward” from the flood control scam that has slowed economic growth, President Marcos ordered agencies to immediately pay the contractors who delivered on their obligations, to ensure quality services from those carrying out state projects. “The order of the President is to immediately pay the contractors who did well in the execution of the projects. “In his meeting with the economic team, the President urged the Cabinet to move forward. According to Castro, the President is convinced that the faster the contractors are paid, the better the services they would provide. “There is also a need for a good connection between the national and local governments to oversee and complete the infrastructure projects,” she said.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:32 UTC
OCTA: Marcos trust ratings down, VP’s up
OCTA: Marcos trust ratings down, VP’s upPresident Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (right) and Vice President Sara Duterte. MANILA, Philippines — More Filipinos trust and approve of the performance of Vice President Sara Duterte than President Marcos, based on OCTA Research’s 2025 fourth quarter survey. The Dec. 16 to 20 survey showed lower trust and performance ratings for the President. From 57 percent in September 2025, only 48 percent of respondents trust Marcos. Marcos’ performance ratings went down from 54 percent to 51 percent.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:32 UTC
Palace says Philippines now ‘ASEAN-ready’
Palace says Philippines now ‘ASEAN-ready’President Marcos presides over a meeting at Malacañang yesterday on the preparations for the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 chairship, during which key agencies presented updates on priority plans. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is ready for its hosting of this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, Malacañang said yesterday following President Marcos’ meeting with agencies involved in the preparations for the regional meet. The plans seek to ensure that the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN would bring clear benefits to Filipinos, the agency added. “The Philippines is ASEAN-ready,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing.? The Philippines, a founding member of the regional bloc, will host the 48th and 49th ASEAN Summits this year, as holder of the revolving chair.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:32 UTC
LOAs resume; Blue Ribbon seeks BIR briefing on safeguards
LOAs resume; Blue Ribbon seeks BIR briefing on safeguardsMANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will hold a hearing this week on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)’s decision to resume issuing letters of authority (LOAs) and mission orders (MOs) after more than two months of suspension, Senate President Pro Tempore and committee chair Panfilo Lacson said yesterday. “The Senate Blue Ribbon committee needs… to prevent or at least minimize abuse committed against our taxpayers, then we may have to conclude the committee hearings on the matter,” Lacson said. “We will schedule a hearing this week in this regard to hear what the BIR has to say,” he added. BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza earlier said reforms would be implemented, including limiting the issuance of LOAs to one per taxpayer per taxable year. Also all LOA issuance has to pass through the office of the Commissioner from now on, not only on the RD level,” he said.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 16:06 UTC
Feb. 3: Oil firms to raise fuel prices again
Oil firms to raise fuel prices again on Feb. 3Fuel prices go up again Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026 with gasoline, diesel and kerosene all increasing. MANILA, Philippines — Oil companies will raise pump prices on Tuesday, February 3, marking another round of increases in the first week of February. In separate advisories issued Monday, February 2, oil firms said prices will go up across all fuel products. Last week, oil firms also raised prices, with gasoline up by P0.40 per liter, kerosene by P0.80, and diesel by P1.40. Media reports said global oil prices surged last week after Donald Trump escalated geopolitical tensions by threatening military action against Iran.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 13:41 UTC
Cutting across the seas
Cutting across the seasForeign policy is not decided by a majority vote without full-blown debate in the halls of Congress. Although not binding, a Senate resolution shows strength and unanimity. This was the direction of the Senate majority when it moved to adopt a resolution condemning recent statements by the Chinese embassy in Manila. Foreign policy does not end with a vote. “As Ambassador, he bears responsibility for all words and actions of the Chinese embassy,” Ji pointed out.
Source:Philippine Star
February 02, 2026 12:17 UTC