General

Bangkok: Filipino FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca stunned British Grandmaster Stephen Gordon late Wednesday to remain unbeaten in the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel in Thailand. According to Philippines News Agency, using the black pieces, Arca conquered Gordon in 40 moves of the Chebanenko Slav, a variation of the Slav defense, to gain 4.0 points and share the lead with GM Babu MR Lalith of India and International Master Arif Abdul Hafiz of Indonesia. Lalith defeated FM Alexander Chernyavsky of Russia while Hafiz downed GM Vitaliy Bernadskiy of Ukraine. “The game was

Lingayen: The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has implemented a flag warning system on Lingayen beach to enhance safety measures during the Holy Week and the annual Pistay Dayat festival. Beachgoers are urged to pay attention to this system to prevent accidents, particularly drowning incidents. According to Philippines News Agency, Pia Flores, assistant director of the PDRRMO’s Emergency Operations Center, explained in a media interview that color-coded flags-red, yellow, green, and purple-have been strategically installed along the shoreline. These flags are intended to guide beach visitors and ensure their safety. “The red flag indicates a high-hazard

Dumaguete: Caretakers and artisans of religious images are once again busy with the upcoming processions marking the observance of the Holy Week. But with the preparations comes a reminder: follow guidelines. According to Philippines News Agency, Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, head of the Committee on Church Cultural Heritage of the Diocese of Dumaguete, emphasized the importance of adhering to the Catholic Church’s guidelines for vesting religious images. He highlighted that the “camareros,” or caretakers, should pay attention to details like the color of garments during religious events, particularly the Holy Week. The term “camareros” refers to those involved in preparing

Manila: The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has increased the minimum transaction value for mergers and acquisitions (M and As) that require notification. This change is part of an effort to streamline regulatory processes and accommodate economic growth. According to Philippines News Agency, the PCC announced that the thresholds for M and A deals have been raised to PHP8.5 billion for the size of party (SOP) and PHP3.5 billion for the size of transaction (SOT). The SOP accounts for the total value of assets held by a party’s parent company, whereas the SOT pertains to the value of the acquired firm

Negros Oriental: The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) has strategically deployed 1,400 personnel throughout the province to ensure the safety and security of residents and visitors during the Holy Week celebrations, an official announced on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, Lt. Stephen Polinar, the spokesperson for NOPPO, stated that these officers have been drawn from various police stations, excluding units from the Provincial Mobile Force and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion. “We are on full alert status with all police station personnel required to be on duty during the observance of Holy Week starting from Palm Sunday until