Hours after the start of the partial and unofficial tally of votes for last Monday’s national and local elections began, the top two presidential candidates issued their respective statements. Former Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr., who has emerged as the clear frontrunner with a...
By the time this morning’s newspapers hit the newsstands or are delivered to subscribers’ homes, the readers would be aware of the results of yesterday’s national and local elections. In the first two automated elections for President and Vice President in 2010 and 2016, a clear winner in the...
At 6 a.m. today, May 9, 2022, poll precincts in all parts of the country will open for 65.7 million registered voters — the highest ever, which the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dubbed as “historic” numbers even with the pandemic still in the background. The 65.7 million voters...
At exactly 12:01 a.m., May 8, 2022, all forms and semblance of campaigning must stop. The miting de avance today of various candidates for national and local posts must also end at that time, formally concluding the 150-day election period that started in Jan. 9. How time flies! And what a ride it...
Better late than never, so it seemed, when President Duterte signed last week Republic Act 11712, or the “Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care Workers Act.” This law grants mandatory continuing benefits to public and private health workers during the pandemic and...
Tasked with ensuring peaceful and orderly national and local elections, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have deployed a total of more than 80,000 personnel ahead of the May 9 electoral exercise. More than preserving the sanctity of the ballot, the...
The Grand Mufti of the Bangsamoro has confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon, and based on this, has declared that the Eid’l Fitr or “the breaking of the fast” during the month of Ramadan would be observed. Hence, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has announced that May 3 will be a...
Four and a half years after the end of the five-month long Marawi siege in May to October 2017, Congress has passed Republic Act No. 11696, the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act. The law provides compensation to those whose kin were killed, as well as those whose properties were destroyed in...
A curious thing, isn’t it, how a day especially marked to celebrate work and workers is a holiday. Today, it’s even a double holiday, falling on a Sunday. And perhaps celebrating Labor Day on a weekend captures the very essence of why we commemorate this day dedicated to the workforce. It can...
Twitter has been part of the information landscape for many years. In only 280 words, messages known as “tweets” have started conversations, influenced opinions, and stirred controversy and disinformation that have affected actions on health issues, commercial initiatives, and other human...
We are entering the last few days of the campaign season, and soon, 65-million-plus registered voters will cast their votes on May 9, 2022. From today until election day, crowds will be thicker with different campaign sorties of national and local candidates. All these activities will culminate in...
The just concluded three-day World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) meeting held in Manila has highlighted the Philippines, not just as a tourism destination, but as a prime mover in this industry globally. The 21st WTTC Global Summit, the first global event staged in the country since the...