Philippines' gross int'l reserves level settles at 104.6 bln USD in April

MANILA, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine central bank has said the country's gross international reserves (GIR) level, based on preliminary data, settled at 104.6 billion U.S. dollars at the end of April from 106.7 billion dollars at the end of March. …

U.S. Special Forces Deploy Across the Philippines for Balikatan 2025 

A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing lands on the flight deck of the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD-45) during deck landing qualifications as part of Exercise Balikatan 25 in the South China …

Clans’ Warfare Dominates Philippines’ Midterms

By: Tita Valderama In happier days… Photo from GMA Network The Philippines’ May 12 midterm polls, to elect 12 of the 24-member Senate and hundreds of local government officials, are a referendum between two warring clans, one led by President Ferdinand …

Ishiba's Philippines, Vietnam Meetings a Boost to Regional Peace

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has just completed visits to Vietnam and the Philippines and held summit talks with their leaders. His trip aimed to check China's growing involvement in Southeast Asian countries. As China seeks to expand its influence by …

The Philippines' new online voting system has been marked by confusion and fears of disenfranchisement

Philippines says Navy patrol encountered aggressive moves by Chinese Navy vessels

Audio By Carbonatix MANILA (Reuters) – A Philippine Navy patrol near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea encountered “aggressive and unsafe” movements by two Chinese Navy vessels earlier this week, the Philippine military said on Thursday …

Philippines Q1 GDP grows 5.4% y/y, below expectations

MANILA : The Philippine economy grew by an annual 5.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, official data showed on Thursday, a similar pace to the previous quarter's 5.3 per cent expansion. Economists in a Reuters poll had …

Hope rises for Philippines’ Cardinal Tagle as Pope Francis’ successor

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle attends a mass at St Peter's basilica in The Vatican on April 30, 2025. PHOTO: AFP VATICAN – Among the massive crowds of people waiting for the first round of smoke to emanate from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, several …

Mid-Term Vote Holds Key to Philippines Riding Out Tariff-Linked Risks

The country’s young, English-speaking workforce is a big asset for the economy, but challenges abound, said Ebb Hinchliffe, executive director at the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. They include red tape, infrastructure and connectivity, …

For Pregnant Women in the Philippines, a Birthing Center Lit by Solar Power is a Beacon of Comfort and Safety

By Talya Meyers The midwife got the call late at night: A woman from a small neighboring island was in active labor and had made the journey to the nearest port. An ambulance was bringing her to Bahai Arugaan ni Maria. "She was able to hold the baby …