General

Manila: Ging Cristobal has emerged as a prominent advocate for LGBTIQ+ rights and equality in the Philippines, leveraging her personal experiences and a deep-rooted commitment to human rights to drive change. Cristobal’s activism began in 1996, heavily influenced by her upbringing in a family where traditional gender roles were not imposed, shaping her understanding of equality and driving her early involvement in feminist movements before transitioning to LGBTIQ+ advocacy. According to UN Women, Cristobal’s journey as a lesbian mother has included navigating legal challenges in a system that fails to recognize same-sex families, highlighting the need for legal recognition and

Manila: Local shares fell on Monday amid the continued tensions between Israel and Iran, while the peso also weakened. According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell 1.92 percent to 6,218.28, while All Shares also slipped 1.44 percent to 3,706.56. “Philippine shares were sold down on Monday back to 6,200 level tracking a broader market as Middle East tension continues with President Donald Trump further fueling tension as US enters the war,” Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said. “Philippine economic data to look out for include, Friday’s trade data for May and

Manila: The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the second batch of teaching positions to complete the 20,000 new teaching items for 2025. In a news release, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman confirmed the approval of 4,000 new Teacher I (Salary Grade 11) positions, following the earlier approval of 16,000 positions last month. According to Philippines News Agency, the new positions are allocated as follows: 1,658 for kindergarten and elementary, 391 for junior high school, and 1,951 for senior high school, for deployment in school year 2025-2026. This move is part of President Bongbong Marcos’ goal to increase the

Naga City: The government, through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), has condoned over PHP111 million in loans, debts, and interest owed by agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) across the six provinces in the Bicol Region. The ceremonial distribution of 6,665 land titles and certificates of condonation took place on Monday, attended by more than 5,006 ARBs at the Ka Fuerte CamSur Sports Complex. According to Philippines News Agency, the land titles and certificates awarded to ARBs cover approximately 9,141.2771 hectares of agricultural land. DAR Undersecretary Rowena Ni±a Taduran, who led the distribution, emphasized the agency’s commitment to supporting ARBs from

Quezon City: Anne Lim is championing a cause for cultivating respect for differences and promoting cross-sectoral collaboration in the Philippines. Lim, an activist with a background of economic stability, attributes her dedication to her sense of responsibility towards her community. According to UN Women, Lim’s activism was sparked by her awareness of her middle-class status as a lesbian in a family that was relatively well off. This privilege, she explains, drives her to contribute more significantly to her community. She emphasizes the importance of organizing and gaining recognition, sharing that the LBQT community’s capacity to mobilize has been pivotal. Lim