Arif Patel Foundation commits to give away Rs 600 crore in charity

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Artist and novelist Levy Balgos dela Cruz spoke about the abuses of Martial Law and the continuing culture of impunity during an open forum in Balanga on Monday afternoon, Sept. 21. Speaking in Filipino before about 50 young people, Dela Cruz said the culture of impunity “remains in our midst,” as

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine Eagle nest in Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, was razed by a forest fire this month, highlighting the “clear and present danger” posed by fires to the country’s critically endangered national bird, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) said. The nest, which was used in December 2025, was reached by the fire

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — The police arrested six individuals during an anti-illegal gambling operation in Narvacan town Sunday afternoon. Personnel of the Narvacan Municipal Police Station conducted the operation at about 4:50 p.m. The suspects were allegedly caught playing card games with bets on two tables. Seized from the arrested suspects were two sets

LEGAZPI CITY — A 27-year-old man died after being struck by lightning while fishing in this city on Monday afternoon. The Albay police reported that the victim was fishing with friends in the vicinity of an old port in Barangay Bigaa at around 3:30 p.m. when the tragedy struck. Authorities responded to the area and

MARAMAG, Bukidnon — The Maramag Municipal Police Station clarified on Monday that a 10-year-old elementary student who died three weeks ago was not beaten by his classmates, contrary to a local broadcast report. READ: DOJ tasks prosecutors to handle bullying cases Lt. Col. Evary Bacunawa, Maramag police chief, said school-related bullying was not the cause

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Water employees from its East Zone and Non-East Zone operations joined thousands of volunteers at the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) 2026 held at Manila Bay’s Dolomite Beach on Sept. 19, 2026. Organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region (DENR-NCR), the annual cleanup mobilized 36,897 volunteers from private companies,

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Batanes lone district Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. died on Monday, Sept. 21, due to cardiac arrest. He was 66. Gato’s relatives and friends confirmed his death, saying he died while being taken to a hospital in Manila. READ: Batanes solon disputes Chinese claim: Ivatans are Filipinos Fr. Rolando Berber Manabat, rector parish

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Agriculture (DA) is supporting a proposal from hog industry stakeholders to set a P210-per-kilo floor price for live hogs as farmgate prices in some areas fall to P120 to P160 per kilo. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., however, said the agency cannot impose the proposed rate because no existing law

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) directed employers to implement workplace control measures to keep employees safe from the “potential adverse effects of poor ambient air quality.” As stated in Labor Advisory No. 15, signed by Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino on Sept. 18, the order was issued as the government moves

MANILA, Philippines — A nationwide cleanup with over 103,000 participants has cleared 369 coastal areas of more than 466,000 kilograms of waste, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). That was the result of the Philippines’ participation last Saturday in this year’s International Coastal Cleanup, an

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga and its partners collected 6,027.92 kilograms (six tons) of non-biodegradable waste during a regionwide coastal cleanup campaign that covered 10.37 kilometers of shoreline across the region. The cleanup, conducted from September 16 to 19, 2026, gathered 1,458 volunteers who collected

MANILA, Philippines — The number of calls received by the National Center for Mental Health’s (NCMH) 24/7 crisis hotline has quadrupled since the COVID-19 pandemic, with a notable increase in young callers with self-harm issues. The NCMH’s main 24/7 crisis hotline can be reached at 1553 or 1800-1888-1553. According to NCMH chief Dr. Noel Reyes, calls