The Philippines is the fifth-most targeted country by Chinese state-sponsored cyber operations, according to a report by tech giant Microsoft.
Oct 16, 2026
In 2027, Valorant will be at its most competitive, with the Philippines finally being included in its list of destinations for the upcoming professional season.
A search for a jewelry gift became a conversation about sacrifice and second chances when award-winning actress Katherine Luna visited Maddox Jewelry and spoke with its owner, Charo Cordial. Luna wanted something for her eldest child, whose care had sustained her through four years in prison because of drugs. As she explained the reason behind the gift, in an interview also shared on the boutique’s popular YouTube channel, she shared the family story that brought her to the store. The actress had won Best Actress for “Babae sa Breakwater,” her first leading role. But amid family and relationship problems, she began using drugs, and her career and personal life unraveled. Her eldest was only 14 when she was imprisoned. With no relatives helping her, her children took responsibility for her care. “When I was imprisoned, my children were the ones who looked after me, especially my eldest,” she told Cordial. Every week, her eldest traveled from Manila to Montalban to bring her food. Luna’s savings lasted until her final year in prison. As her eldest approached 18, the child asked permission to work. Their support helped her endure the absence of relatives, although she said she held no resentment. “I still understand them.” Luna also recalled limited food rations inside prison, where inmates waited to see whether anything would be left. Yet she found opportunities to rebuild. She was entrusted with duties in the kitchen and store. She completed high school and pursued vocational training, including dressmaking. Encouragement from people who believed in her helped restore her hope. “That was when I began to feel alive again. That was when I found hope,” she said. Her eldest also provided for the family during a period when Luna was recovering from surgery and had no work. When money ran short, the child pawned two gold necklaces. They were never redeemed. “It was for us, for the family,” Luna said. Now finding work again, Luna visited Maddox Jewelry to choose a gift for her eldest — her chance to give jewelry back to the child who had once parted with it for their sake. At Maddox, those memories gave the gift a meaning beyond adornment. Luna’s conversation with Cordial turned a visit to choose jewelry into a personal account of a mother’s gratitude — for a child who had given up gold but never given up on her.
Glamour, sophistication and generosity took center stage at the 23rd annual awards night of the Best Dressed Women of the Philippines (BDWP), held at Shangri-La The Fort in Bonifacio Global City. The event brought together distinguished personalities, influential leaders, style icons and philanthropists united by a shared commitment to fashion, charitable causes and social responsibility. The evening honored individuals across several categories, including Best Dressed Women, Men of Influence, Style Icon, Ambassador for Life and Youth of Influence. The awards recognized personalities whose achievements, leadership, personal style and commitment to making a difference continue to inspire their respective communities. One of the evening’s highlights was the induction of Shy Tan into the Best Dressed Women Hall of Fame. The distinction recognized her contributions to the organization’s legacy and added significance to an occasion that celebrates not only elegance but also generosity and social responsibility. Over the years, BDWP has established itself as more than an annual celebration of fashion and prestige. It recognizes individuals who understand that influence carries responsibility and that success becomes more meaningful when shared with those in need. Congratulations to the organizers of the Best Dressed Women of the Philippines for another successful and meaningful awards night. May their work continue to inspire more men and women to embrace philanthropy, champion cancer care and use their influence to make a positive difference in society.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that prosecutors have finished presenting their evidence against Senator Rodante Marcoleta in the plunder case lodged against him --on the first day of trial.
China and America are talking again. There are leaders’ meetings, phone calls and a new channel for discussing artificial intelligence. Officials are cautiously trying to keep the relationship from veering into crisis. And yet some of the hardest questions remain untouched. Neither side is giving much ground on advanced chips, export controls remain a battlefield and neither Washington nor Beijing appears ready to slow its race to develop increasingly powerful AI. So what, exactly, does it mean...
A Megalotto 6/45 bettor is P115 million richer after the October 16 draw, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced on Friday evening.
Japan is increasingly turning to foreign companies to accelerate its military modernisation, drawing on overseas technology, expertise and production capacity to plug defence gaps that could prove critical in a potential regional conflict involving China. The push has gathered momentum over the past week, with Tokyo confirming a contract for Ukrainian interceptor drones and a multinational fighter consortium preparing to expand its design operations in Japan. French defence giant Thales is also...
MANILA, Philippines — Rising fuel prices and contractors’ concerns over project costs have contributed to failed bidding attempts for classroom construction projects under a P21.4-billion agreement between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). This was reported by DPWH Undersecretary Lara Marisse Esquibil during the Senate finance subcommittee
A total of 1,000 students in Northern Cebu received dental services and anti-lice treatment from the GMA Kapuso Foundation through its Linis Lusong Kapusong Kabataan project.
House Deputy Speaker Jefferson Khonghun is pushing for a motu proprio investigation by the House of Representatives into the alleged remittance of hundreds of millions of pesos into Cale88, a company linked to Vice President Sara Duterte's husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Levito Baligod, counsel for 18 individuals known as the “maleta boys,” and 14 others were arrested in San Juan City on Friday over an “unjust vexation” case, police said. San Juan City Police Chief Police Col. Anthony Gantang confirmed the arrests in a phone interview with reporters. He said the Zambales
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s plan to summon Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan over his remarks that the Philippines could easily lose in a conflict with China topped INQToday’s afternoon newscast. Also in the lineup were the expected rollback in gasoline prices and a slight hike in diesel prices next week, as well as