General

Manila: Most banks have generally maintained their credit standards for businesses in the first quarter of 2025, as indicated by the results of the Q1 2025 Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Friday. According to Philippines News Agency, the survey utilized a modal approach, analyzing the results based on the option with the highest number of responses. Approximately 81.8 percent of respondent banks kept their credit standards steady, a slight decrease from the 83.3 percent recorded in the previous quarter. The BSP reported, “Banks tightened their loan standards for enterprises due to

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.

Manila: Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno has urged all Filipinos to remain vigilant as preparations for the national and local elections on May 12 intensify. According to Philippines News Agency, the recent NDRRMC Memorandum 102 series of 2025 states that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (NDRRMOC) will elevate its alert status to “Blue” from May 11 to 14. This alert level signifies that half of the agency’s disaster response force is on standby, prepared to handle any emergencies that may arise. The decision is part of a strategy to ensure smooth coordination

Vatican City: Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, paid tribute to Pope Francis’ unwavering spirit of sacrifice in his homily at the late pontiff’s funeral in St Peter’s Square on Saturday. “Despite his final fragility and suffering, Pope Francis chose to walk the path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life,” Cardinal Re said during the homily attended by thousands of mourners, including world leaders. According to Philippines News Agency, Cardinal Re emphasized how Pope Francis followed in the footsteps of his Lord, the Good Shepherd, who loved his sheep to the point

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