On May 4, the government of the Philippines ordered a full national response to assist communities affected by ashfall due to the ongoing unrest of Mayon Volcano in Albay province since May 2.
Category: Philippines
Philippines’ Sara Duterte faces tax probe, impeachment pressure heightens
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ordered a formal probe on April 28, through Letters of Authority (LOAs), to conduct a taxation audit on the Philippine Vice President, Sara Duterte, and her husband, Manases Carpio, over allegations of unexplained wealth.
China pushes back against expanding Balikatan military drills
Commenced on April 20, the 41st iteration of Exercise Balikatan, an annual joint military exercise between the US and the Philippines, has drawn sharp criticism from the Chinese authorities.
Energy, Myanmar, and China take centre stage at 48th ASEAN Summit
The Philippines is preparing to host the 48th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Cebu on May 8 to discuss the ongoing trends and its role as the regional bloc.
Filipino dishes lead among world’s best
On April 22, three beloved Filipino dishes, Chicken inasal, Sinigang, and Adobong manok have gained fresh international recognition after appearing in the latest April 2026 rankings released by TasteAtlas on their website.
Philippines to become first AI-native economic security zone under Pax Silica
Manila agreed to facilitate the US’—its long standing ally—effort to “shore up” supply chains. On April 16, Jacob Helberg, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, mentioned a plan to establish a 4,000–acre (16,1 km2) industrial hub in the Luzon Economic Corridor.
19 NPA fighters killed in as Philippine Army intensify operations in Negros Occidental
Heavy crossfire between the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) under the Philippines Armed Forces and the communist New People’s Army (NPA) erupted on April 19 in Sitio Plaringding within the municipality of Toboso, Negros Occidental.
Filipino girl group BINI debuts at Coachella 2026
The Filipino pop girl group BINI continues to break records in the Philippines’ music scene as they concluded their Coachella 2026 feature on April 10 and 17. Composed of eight members: Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna and Sheena, the group has rapidly risen to prominence, becoming the most successful female Filipino artists in the country’s history and the second biggest overall act in the national music landscape.
Philippines prepares Balikatan 2026 drills with 17,000 troops
The Philippines is preparing for the Balikatan 2026 military exercises in Northern Luzon and Palawan scheduled between April 20 to May 8. Seven nations, including the Philippines, the US, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand, are set to deploy around 17,000 troops.
The Philippines seizes cyanide in Chinese boats near Ayungin Shoal
The Philippines National Security Council (NSC) made a shocking discovery on April 13 that suspicious bottles seized from the Chinese sampans near the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57), the permanent military outpost in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), tested positive for cyanide.