Message from Alex
Message from AlexTennis sensation Alex Eala sent a video message expressing her gratitude for being named Co-Athlete of the Year during the San Miguel Corp. PSA Annual Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel Manila last Monday. 6 Jasmine Paolini to reach the Round of 16 as if to prove worthy of the PSA honor. In the video message, Eala said the award reflects how far tennis has come in the country and it’s just the beginning. “I truly regret not being able to be there and I’m so honored to be named PSA Athlete of the Year alongside Carlos Yulo,” she said. Eala congratulated Yulo for the recognition and the other awardees in her usual humble way.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:37 UTC
Kidnapped businessman rescued; 3 suspects held
Kidnapped businessman rescued; 3 suspects heldAKG director Brig. Gen. Glicerio Cansilao said authorities rescued the victim at a house in Barangay White Plains on Monday. MANILA, Philippines — A businessman from Mandaluyong who was allegedly kidnapped and held for a P50-million ransom was rescued in Quezon City, the police Anti-Kidnapping Group reported yesterday. Gen. Glicerio Cansilao said authorities rescued the victim at a house in Barangay White Plains on Monday. The victim’s family initially informed the Mandaluyong police about his disappearance on Feb. 12.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:37 UTC
Business Profiles Inc.: A global milestone at 25 years
Business Profiles Inc.: A global milestone at 25 yearsJosef Gueta and Luz Bolo, founders of Business Profiles Inc., engaging with local communities during fieldwork in 2004Some milestones arrive quietly. For Business Profiles Inc., February 2026 brought both. As the Philippine-based firm celebrated its 25th anniversary, it also achieved global recognition: On Feb. 5, the company was named Outstanding Security Team at the 2025 Global Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs). The award reflects performance throughout 2025 and positions Business Profiles among the most respected risk and operational teams worldwide. Business Profiles advanced to the global stage after winning Outstanding Security Team at the Southeast Asia OSPAs.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:33 UTC
AFP welcomes US plan to deploy missiles in Philippines
AFP welcomes US plan to deploy missiles in PhilippinesPhilippine and US troops prepare the Typhon missile system for a drill in Northern Luzon in 2024. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE US ARMYMANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday welcomed the United States’ plan to deploy more advanced missiles and unmanned systems in the Philippines this year. Following Monday’s meeting in Manila during the 12th Philippines-US bilateral strategic dialogue, senior Philippine and US foreign affairs and defense officials revealed plans to deploy more military equipment this year. Both sides have committed to using the available foreign military financing from the US to modernize the AFP and Philippine Coast Guard. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday met with US Assistant Secretary of War John Noh during the latter’s courtesy call at Camp Aguinaldo.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:31 UTC
‘Philippines will accept only UNCLOS-based COC’
‘Philippines will accept only UNCLOS-based COC’File photo shows Navy personnel during a flag ceremony on Panata Island, part of the Kalayaan Island Group, in February 2024. MANILA, Philippines — Only a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea anchored on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) will be acceptable to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines’ top diplomat said. Theresa Lazaro outlined the Philippines’ priorities as ASEAN chair in 2026, including pushing for the conclusion of a legally binding COC with China. Lazaro said the Philippines would insist that the COC explicitly references UNCLOS as negotiations move toward completing the document within the year. “Our main objective here is to have a COC that is UNCLOS-based.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:31 UTC
Palace: Be mindful of online posts
Palace: Be mindful of online postsMANILA, Philippines — Despite an apology from the vlogger who posted a fake medical record of the President, Malacañang maintained that those who violate the law should be held to account. “The law should be implemented,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing yesterday. “Creating content should not be taken lightly, especially if it can affect not just the subject matter, but the people who may watch your fake news. We are fighting fake news so one should not engage in it and it should not end by just saying sorry,” she added. Vlogger Jack Argota admitted before the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division yesterday that the supposed certificate he posted allegedly from St. Luke’s Medical Center saying Marcos has “severe sigmoid diverticulitis” was fake.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:31 UTC
DICT, Meta to sign deal to delete fake content
DICT, Meta to sign deal to delete fake contentMANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will forge a partnership with Meta, the parent firm of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, for a more targeted system in detecting and deleting inappropriate content. “Your kids, your money and your reputation are now better protected on Facebook,” the DICT said. Under the DICT’s Department Circular HRA-001, the agency revoked the accreditation process of DICT Trusted Assessment Providers (DTAPs) to replace it with a new one. The DICT will also ask DTAPs to show performance evaluation from clients over the past three years. Once requirements are complete, the DICT will examine the application and render a decision in seven days.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:31 UTC
Business leaders urged: Help solve classroom shortage
Business leaders urged: Help solve classroom shortageMANILA, Philippines — Warning that delays in infrastructure and limited digital access continue to constrain learning opportunities for millions of Filipino students, Education Secretary Sonny Angara yesterday called on business leaders to take a central role in addressing the country’s 165,000-classroom shortage and modernizing public schools. Speaking at the leadership forum of the Philippine Business for Education in Makati, Angara said the scale and urgency of the education crisis demand deeper collaboration between government and industry. He said the Department of Education (DepEd) is pursuing large-scale public-private partnerships (PPP) to fast-track classroom construction and improve school infrastructure. “We are embedding technology into the core of our system to ensure that Filipino learners are prepared for the future,” Angara said. Angara stressed that private sector participation is vital in bringing technical expertise, innovation and efficient project implementation.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:31 UTC
Duterte wants to waive right to attend ICC hearing
Duterte wants to waive right to attend ICC hearingComposite photo shows the facade of the International Criminal Court and former President Rodrigo Duterte. MANILA, Philippines — Saying he does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, former president Rodrigo Duterte has requested the waiver of his right to attend the upcoming ICC confirmation of charges hearings next week. “I, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, wish to waive my right to attend the hearing on the confirmation of charges set for Feb. 23 to 27,” read a signed letter submitted by his lawyer Nicholas Kaufman to the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I yesterday. In his letter, the former president maintained that he does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. So it’s not right that if the ICC or any international court issues an arrest, we just hand someone over.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:31 UTC
Palace: Marcos has yet to decide on ICI’s fate
Palace: Marcos has yet to decide on ICI’s fate“It is still being studied until now. The report submitted is a bit thick. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has read the accomplishment report submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) but has yet to decide on the fate of the probe body. The report submitted is a bit thick. The ICI submitted its 125-page report to Marcos’ office on Feb. 6.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:31 UTC
Marcos Jr. on VP’s bid: Good luck
Marcos Jr. on VP’s bid: Good luckVice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 to announce her presidential bid in the upcoming 2028 elections. Palace: Apologize for EJKs, DepEd issuesMANILA, Philippines — President Marcos only had two words for Vice President Sara Duterte’s plan to seek the presidency: “Good luck.”“When the President said ‘good luck,’ he was smiling. “Let us remember that the people elected President Marcos, Jr... “Now, people are seeing who is working – a working President compared to the Vice President,” she noted. She cited the alleged misuse of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) under her watch.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:03 UTC
Risa: United opposition bets named by year-end
Risa: United opposition bets named by year-endMANILA, Philippines — The “united opposition” will announce by year-end the common candidates they will field in the 2028 general elections after Vice President Sara Duterte declared her bid for the presidency. She confirmed that this opposition camp had been meeting ahead of Duterte’s early presidential announcement to firm up their ranks. Robredo – who ran but lost to Marcos in the 2022 polls – is part of initial talks to prepare for 2028, Hontiveros said. Sara’s timingPolitical analyst and former lawmaker Barry Gutierrez believes that the timing of Duterte’s declaration is linked to the upcoming impeachment proceedings against her. Gutierrez, a former spokesman of Robredo, described Duterte’s declaration as “surprisingly weak.” – Janvic Mateo
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:03 UTC
Love Letters’: A Masterclass in Romance
Love Letters’: A Masterclass in RomanceRyan ‘Mr. Maybe it’s because the title appealed to me: “Love Letters.” For as long as I can remember, I’ve been writing love letters. On this Valentine’s evening of letters, Ogie’s songs felt exactly like a kundirana — a portmanteau of kundiman (romantic Filipino love song) and harana (serenade). Pop culture has trained us to think of romance in cinematic shorthand: like the dialogue in the “Before” trilogy, montages from “La La Land” and even the slow burn of K-dramas that endlessly tease in every episode. “Love Letters” offered a similar emotional continuity where there’s no climax, just a never-ending foreplay.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:03 UTC
Why Albert Martinez remains single
Why Albert Martinez remains single‘Lotto Winner’ makes you ponder: When it comes to apology and forgiveness, who should reach out and who should bend — the parent or the child? I’m glad that my amigo Robert Seña invited me to the premiere of his movie with Albert Martinez, Sienna Stevens and Kylie Padilla, “Lotto Winner.” The latter is now showing in cinemas. Watching Albert on the big screen after a long while made my mind go into flashback mode. For a change, James and his basketball colleagues didn’t shoot, shoot, shoot the ball. Instead, they had shot, shot, shot at his fête.
Source:Philippine Star
February 18, 2026 16:03 UTC
Thailand talks with post-election Myanmar as "bridge" to ASEAN
Thailand talks with post-election Myanmar as "bridge" to ASEANThailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMM) in Cebu, Philippines, January 29, 2026. Jacqueline Hernandez/POOL via REUTERS
Source:The Standard
February 18, 2026 14:47 UTC