Category: General

Manila: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recorded a 12 percent increase in international travel amid the observation of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. In a statement, the BI reported that it processed 167,538 passengers on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, higher than the 149,257 recorded during the same period in 2023. It noted that the influx, fueled by the ‘Undas’ season, brought high passenger volumes to major Philippine airports, particularly on those two days. According to Philippines News Agency, on Oct. 31, BI recorded 41,078 arrivals and 43,341 departures across the country. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal

Oroquieta city: FIDE Master Gian Karlo Arca, a promising 15-year-old from Davao del Norte, is set to compete against some of the chess world’s most experienced players in the upcoming 3rd Gov. Henry Oaminal Open Chess Festival. The event, which will take place on November 4th and 5th at the Asenso Misamis Occidental Sports and Cultural Center, promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent and strategy. According to Philippines News Agency, Arca will face formidable opponents, including Grandmasters Rogelio Antonio Jr., Darwin Laylo, and Daniel Quizon. Despite his youth, Arca is no stranger to success in the chess arena.

Manila: House of Representatives Assistant Minority Leader, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, on Saturday sought strengthened financial intelligence monitoring against online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) after the conviction of a French animator who ordered the live-streamed rape of preteen girls. “The conviction of French animator Bouhalem Bouchiba for ordering the rape of Filipino children through live-streaming platforms is deeply disturbing and highlights the urgent need to strengthen our financial monitoring systems against OSEC,” Brosas said in a press release. According to Philippines News Agency, the Paris court late Thursday found Bouchiba, a famous animator, guilty of complicity in

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has officially declared a series of local holidays for November and December through a series of proclamations. These announcements are aimed at commemorating various founding anniversaries and local festivals across different regions of the Philippines. According to Philippines News Agency, the proclamations include Proclamation 711, which declares a holiday in the City of Valenzuela on November 12 to mark its 401st founding anniversary. Similarly, Proclamation 712 designates November 15 as a holiday in the province of Oriental Mindoro for its 74th founding anniversary. Proclamation 713 and 714 focus on the city of Palayan, Nueva

Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has officially sanctioned a 15 percent shading threshold for ballots in the May 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE). This decision marks the lowest shading threshold since the country’s transition to automated elections in 2010. According to Philippines News Agency, the adjustment in the shading threshold from the previous 25 percent was proposed by the Project Management Office and received approval from the Commission en banc. Comelec Chair George Garcia confirmed the decision in a statement, emphasizing the Commission’s satisfaction with the rationale behind the reduction. He highlighted the importance of this change for