The Philippine Star - December 23, 2024

In this issue

December 23, 2024

P50, P100, P500 polymer banknotes released today

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it will circulate limited quantities of its first Philippine polymer (FPP) banknote series starting today, with 70 to 90 million pieces allocated for each of the P500, P100 and P50 denominations.

1 min

TD Romina threatens to enter PAR today

Tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 was hoisted yesterday in the southern portion of Palawan, particularly Balabac and Kalayaan Islands amid the threat of Tropical Depression Romina, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

1 min

'Gift of self better than material gifts'

More than material things, there may be times when the gift of self to loved ones this Christmas season is better, an official of the Archdiocese of Manila said yesterday.

1 min

House sets probe on PhilHealth funds

The House of Representatives will conduct an investigation on how the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has been managing its funds after billions of pesos in supposedly \"excess\" PhilHealth funds were discovered.

2 mins

14 Senate bets within winning margin - Pulse

Fourteen aspirants running for the Senate next year are within the winning margin, based on the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia.

3 mins

Ombudsman affirms ex-BFAR exec's dismissal

The Office of the Ombudsman has junked the bid of former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) national director Demosthenes Escoto to reverse his dismissal from office over alleged irregularities in the awarding of a P2.1-billion contract for vessel monitoring system (VMS) transceivers to a British company in 2018.

1 min

No reason to imprison Mary Jane in Phl - lawyer

There is no reason to put death row convict Mary Jane Veloso in prison in the Philippines, after the latter was recently repatriated from Indonesia, a lawyer said.

2 mins

P17 B allotted in 2025 budget for soldiers' monthly allowance

The Congress-approved 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) that has yet to be signed into law by President Marcos has earmarked P17 billion for the P10,500 total monthly subsistence allowance of soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

2 mins

CamSur traffic easing as Andaya Highway reopens

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it has reopened sections of Andaya Highway over the weekend to ease the monstrous traffic congestion suffered by motorists in Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte since last week.

1 min

VILLAR: THE ONLY FILIPINO NAMED IN FORBES ASIA'S 2024 HEROES OF PHILANTHROPY

Manuel B. Villar Jr. stands out as the only Filipino included in Forbes Asia's 2024 Heroes of Philanthropy list, marking his second time on this prestigious roster. This recognition honors his significant contributions and dedication to his causes over the past year.

1 min

ACT: Include LGU contractual workers in gratuity pay

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) is urging the national government to include job order and contractual workers in local government units (LGUs) in the P7,000 gratuity pay that President Marcos had earlier approved to recognize their contributions to public service.

1 min

Quinta comm to seek P206-B energy 'refund'

The quinta committee of the House of Representatives has announced that it would \"pivot\" its previous task of helping achieve cheap food to consumers, and is now bent on pursuing its probes for the purpose of achieving cheap energy.

2 mins

Russian figure skater granted Phl citizenship

President Marcos has signed into law a measure granting Philippine citizenship to figure skater Aleksandr Sergeyevich Korovin.

1 min

Most Pinoys trust, satisfied with Air Force - OCTA poll

Seven in 10 Filipinos trust the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and are satisfied with their performance, a commissioned survey conducted by the OCTA Research group found.

1 min

Anti-smoking, vaping ordinance pushed in Manila

Anti-tobacco advocates have urged Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna to pass an ordinance combating smoking and vaping.

1 min

Holiday travelers surge at PITX

Passengers have been flocking to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) as the holiday season peaks.

1 min

Greet travelers, but don't accept gifts, BI officers told

Frontline officers of the Bureau of Immigration are now permitted to extend holiday greetings to incoming and outgoing travelers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other airports, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said yesterday.

1 min

EastWest Bank collaborates with GCash to deliver accessible lending options

East West Banking Corporation (EW), a leader in consumer-centric banking, proudly announced a groundbreaking partnership with GCash, the Philippines' leading finance super app, to enable millions of Filipinos to have greater access to lending opportunities.

1 min

Malabon completes blue card aid

Fulfilling its promise of five tranches of assistance in 2024, the Malabon government has started distributing Christmas hams and five kilos of rice to beneficiaries under the city's Ahon Blue Card program.

1 min

PNP: P20.7-B illegal drugs seized in 2024

Approximately P20.7 billion worth of illegal drugs was confiscated in anti-narcotics operations conducted by the Philippine National Police in 2024, PNP chief Rommel Francisco Marbil announced yesterday.

1 min

LTO summons 24 truck owners

The Land Transportation Office has issued show-cause orders to 24 registered owners of trucks for using worn-out tires, LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II reported yesterday.

1 min

Gift-giving season

EDITORIAL - In this season of giving, it says a lot about the magnitude of the corruption problem in this country that Bureau of Immigration personnel at the country's airports need guidance on whether or not they can give holiday greetings to passengers.

1 min

Joy of reading

SKETCHES

4 mins

Missions we did not know about

CTALK - All throughout 2024, there has been a recurring message shared in our church and among Christian circles. Every time I heard it, I would turn it into a mental note and classify it under \"reassurance\" and \"encouragement.\"

4 mins

The young Dodong Nemenzo (1)

QWERTYMAN - It was with deep sadness that we received the news last week of the passing of Francisco \"Dodong\" Nemenzo, the staunch Marxist, nationalist and former president of the University of the Philippines.

4 mins

Breaking the cycle of childhood poverty

World view - New York state has one of the worst child poverty rates in the country.

2 mins

'For good'

GO NEGOSYO PILIPINAS

4 mins

It's an election budget

COMMONSENSE - In utter dismay over how badly distorted the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) came out, President Ferdinand \"Bongbong\" Marcos Jr. (PBBM) wants to redo it.

4 mins

Kanlaon agri damage hits P32.8 M

The damage caused by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano to the agriculture sector has reached P32.83 million, the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said.

1 min

Political rivals unite to give ethnic Manobo children shoes

Hundreds of ethnic Manobo school children received new pairs of shoes from erstwhile bitter political rivals who united for an outreach mission at a tribal enclave in Magpet, Cotabato.

1 min

MPTC offers toll-free passage on Christmas, New Year

The Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) announced yesterday a toll-free travel for motorists during select hours this Christmas and on New Year.

1 min

Palace declares special non-working days in 8 areas

Special non-working days have been declared by President Marcos in various parts of the country to allow residents to mark their founding anniversaries and local festivities next month.

1 min

China ‘firmly opposes’ US military aid to Taiwan

China said yesterday it \"firmly opposed\" US President Joe Biden’s approval of $571.3 million in defense assistance for Taiwan.

1 min

Lively accuses 'It Ends With Us' director of harassment

Blake Lively has accused her \"It Ends With Us\" director and co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the movie and a subsequent effort to \"destroy\" her reputation in a legal complaint.

1 min

US fighter jet shot down in 'friendly fire' incident

Two US Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea early yesterday in \"an apparent case of friendly fire,\" the American military said.

1 min

Suspect in Christmas market attack railed vs Islam, Germany

MAGDEBURG (AFP) - The Saudi suspect in Germany's deadly car-ramming attack on a Christmas market held strongly anti-Islam views and was angry with Germany's migrant and asylum policy, officials said on Saturday.

2 mins

WONDROUS WIN IN SURAKARTA

Shrugging off three deflating draws, the Philippines delivered the victory that counted the most in the final push for the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup semifinals.

3 mins

Olivarez rules Dagitab Open

Eric Jed Olivarez solidified his position as a standout in Philippine tennis, claiming the Dagitab Festival National Open crown with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over John Benedict Aguilar at the City of Naga courts in Cebu over the weekend.

1 min

Tatum logs first 40-plus point triple-double

Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics started slowly, tussling early with the Chicago Bulls.

1 min

E-Painters strike at endgame, rip Dyip

SGA signs Cousins for Dubai campaign

1 min

Beach Christmas

There's something about spending the holidays on the beach. The air is literally different. Smoother, safer, soothing, cleansing. But you're not going to just sit around and eat all day.

2 mins

WONDROUS WIN IN SURAKARTA

Shrugging off three deflating draws, the Philippines delivered the victory that counted the most in the final push for the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup semifinals.

1 min

Usyk tames Fury

Oleksandr Usyk remained undefeated when he successfully defended his heavyweight titles with a unanimous decision over Tyson Fury on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

1 min

Foreign debt hits record $139.64 B

The country's external debt hit an all-time high of $139.64 billion in end-September due to higher borrowings of the national government and the private sector, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

2 mins

Vehicle sales rev up by 8.5% in Nov

Vehicle sales in the Philippines accelerated by 8.5 percent in November compared to the same month last year, driven by strong demand for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

1 min

Mang Inasal grilling up for aggressive expansion

Mang Inasal, Jollibee Group's casual dining brand, is cooking up an aggressive expansion plan that will see its store network in the country nearly double by the end of the decade.

2 mins

Muted trading seen this week

Muted trading in the local stock market is expected in this shortened trading week as investors may continue to digest the rate cut projections of both the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Federal Reserve.

1 min

Fed spoils Christmas party

The merrymaking and the parties on Wall Street turned somber last week as investors digested the Federal Reserve's hawkish surprise.

3 mins

ACEN allots P70 B for capex in 2025

Ayala-led ACEN Corp. is allocating P70 billion in capital expenditure (capex) next year to fuel its growth and further strengthen its renewable energy portfolio.

1 min

BEHIND THE LIGHTS

A Christmas tribute to AboitizPower's unsung heroes working the holidays

3 mins

Poor business model

The Metro Manila condo oversupply, now equivalent to 34 months, is not surprising.

4 mins

ADB OKs $500-M loan for employment recovery

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500-million loan to the Philippines to support employment recovery through skills training and prepare the workforce for changing industry needs.

1 min

Holiday exodus

The Christmas and New Year holiday exodus out of the city began over the weekend and will likely last until the first week of January.

5 mins

Pets, poultry to fuel rise in corn imports

The growing demand for pet food and sustained poultry expansion would drive the country's corn import in the current market year to rise by seven percent year-on-year to over 1.6 million metric tons (MT).

1 min

Nomura: BSP likely to deliver three rate cuts in early 2025

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) likely implement a series of 25-basis-point (bps) rate cuts during its first three meetings in 2025, Nomura Global Markets Research said.

1 min

ACMobility takes over EV charger locator

The automotive unit of the Ayala Group has acquired a startup that promotes the shift to electric vehicles by pointing drivers to the nearest charging station wherever in the Philippines.

1 min

Take it from Kim Chiu: Celebrate the small wins

Kim Chiu is known to her legion of fans and in the local tinseltown as the \"Pinoy Big Brother: Teen\" housemate and big winner, The Chinita Princess, and the Kapamilya performer and actress.

2 mins

MMFF PRODUCERS HOPEFUL FOR AUDIENCE SUPPORT

EVERY YEAR, THE METRO Manila Film Festival (MMFF) provides one of the biggest platforms for Filipino films to take the spotlight. However, not all films are created equal in the eyes of cinemas and audiences.

4 mins

Ateneo Art Gallery presents PKL Prize winners and unveils return exhibition of the Ateneo Art Awards 2024

The Ateneo Art Gallery (AAG) announced this year's winning writers for the Ateneo Art Awards 2024 Purita Kalaw-Ledesma (PKL) Prizes in Art Criticism during the Awarding Ceremony held Nov. 24.

2 mins

The family Christmas tradition in Baguio

Two weeks ago, our family went on our annual Christmas trip to Baguio from Dec. 12 to 15.

5 mins

FAMILY TAPESTRIES

In my senior year of college, I was assigned to read, for a memory studies class, the memoir Subversive Lives, a generational portrait of the Marcos dictatorship years written by the Quimpo siblings.

2 mins

ART'S HEROES AND ZEROES

2024's defining moments in art and history.

5 mins

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The Philippine STAR is the flagship title of the country's largest and most successful print media enterprise, the Philstar Media Group. Owned and published by Philstar Daily Inc., The Philippine STAR is a vaunted pillar of Philippine journalism whose integrity is anchored on the Biblical motto, “Truth Shall Prevail”. The Philippine STAR is a two-time winner of the prestigious Newspaper of the Year award given by the Rotary Club of Manila.