Day: August 4, 2025

Maguindanao del norte: The Philippine Army (PA) is investigating the death of a rookie soldier, supposedly during reception rites at his unit in Maguindanao del Norte last week, an official said Monday. In a message to reporters, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said two officers and 19 enlisted personnel have been relieved amid the ongoing investigation. According to Philippines News Agency, Pvt. Charlie Patigayon, 22, was undergoing reception rites with other soldiers at the 6th Infantry Battalion headquarters in Barangay Capiton, Datu Odin Sinsuat when he collapsed on July 30. Patigayon, a native of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, died the

Bicol: The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) successfully confiscated nearly PHP10 million worth of illegal drugs during a series of anti-drug operations conducted over a week from July 28 to August 3. PRO-5 Director Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr. reported that the operations included 18 separate activities across the region, leading to the substantial seizure of illegal substances valued at PHP9,944,428. According to Philippines News Agency, the operations involved two service of search warrants, 15 buy-bust operations, and an additional police-initiated activity. The efforts resulted in the arrest of 18 individuals, comprising three high-value targets, 14 street-level individuals, and

Davao city: National University remains unsinkable despite the departure of key players. Minus three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Sheena Toring, and Erin Pangilinan-who helped the team defend the UAAP title this year-the Lady Bulldogs managed to rule the Mindanao leg of the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Sunday night. According to Philippines News Agency, banking on veteran Arah Panique, skipper Evangeline Alinsug, setter Camille Victoria Lamina, and rookie sensation Samantha Cantada, NU pulled off a 25-21, 20-25, 25-20, 25-17 win over the University of the Philippines to sweep the three-day event at the University of Southeastern

Manila: Manila Electric Company has secured a 20-year power supply agreement (PSA) with First Quezon Biogas Corporation (FQBC) for a 1.25 megawatts (MW) renewable energy (RE) capacity, starting July 26, 2026. According to Philippines News Agency, the PSA will utilize the bulk of the Candelaria, Quezon-based power plant’s 1.4 MW capacity. The agreement highlights the use of advanced anaerobic digestion technology by FQBC to convert locally-sourced agricultural waste, primarily chicken manure and other agricultural wastes, into energy. Meralco noted the reasonably-priced baseload supply offered by FQBC and its environmental benefits, particularly to local farms. Jose Ronald V. Valles, Meralco Senior

Manila: If you’re one of the many who often say “Tagalog” when you actually mean “Filipino” when asked about the national language of the Philippines, you are not alone. According to Philippines News Agency, Filipino teacher Melanie Golosinda frequently encounters the question of whether Filipino and Tagalog are the same in her classroom each semester. In a country where many Filipinos use the two terms interchangeably, Beverly Siy, book author and officer-in-charge of the Intertextual Division of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, stated that understanding the history of the country’s national language is necessary to clear up this long-standing