Day: April 26, 2025

Silay City: Negros Occidental’s provincial government has hailed the return of the ‘Mango Harvesters’ painting of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo to the Hofile±a Museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental. The 1936 painting, stolen from the museum on July 3, 2024, was recovered by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) days later and turned over to the National Museum in Manila on July 12. According to Philippines News Agency, on Friday afternoon, the masterpiece was unveiled and displayed anew in a ceremony led by the Hofile±a family and joined by city officials, law enforcers, culture and history advocates, artists, and tourist

Vatican City: A group of poor people will welcome the late Pope Francis’s body at St. Mary Major where he will be buried Saturday, the Vatican said Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, the body will be taken from St. Peter’s, where he has been lying in state and viewed by tens of thousands, to the Marian Basilica at a walking pace on Saturday morning. Santa Maria Maggiore was beloved of Francis who always prayed to the Virgin there before and after foreign trips. “The poor have a privileged place in the heart of God. So also in the heart

Vatican City: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos on Saturday joined world leaders and the Catholic faithful in paying final respects to Pope Francis. The First Couple went to St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City for the late pontiff’s funeral, which started at 4 p.m. (PH time). According to Philippines News Agency, around 170 world leaders and 200,000 people attended Pope Francis’ funeral, as stated by the Presidential Communications Office. In an interview with GMA News upon their arrival in Vatican, the First Lady recalled her memories of meeting Pope Francis, describing him as ‘humble [and]

Quezon City: The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) is on heightened alert in the wake of reported threats and violence against journalists amid the election season. ‘Ang (The) Presidential Task Force on Media Security ay (is) on alert these weeks, especially ahead of the midterm elections,’ PTFoMS executive director Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr. said in a weekly news forum in Quezon City on Saturday. According to Philippines News Agency, Torres cited the case of dzRH reporter Romeo Be±as who was threatened by La Paz, Abra Mayor Joseph Bernos through Facebook messenger and a video call on April 21.

Rome: United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania visited Pope Francis’ coffin at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, offering a moment of silent prayer before the funeral. According to Philippines News Agency, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, joined by his daughter Laura, along with several other world leaders, also paid their respects ahead of the late pontiff’s final rites. Meanwhile, Trump also met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky before the funeral service, Sky News quoted Vatican sources as saying. The two leaders agreed to meet later on Saturday after the funeral, according to the report.