The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a criminal complaint against Villar Land Holdings Corp. and its top executives, including billionaire Manuel Villar, over allegations of market manipulation, insider trading, and the release of misleading financial disclosures. The complaint, filed with the Department of Justice on January 30, alleges that the company engaged in…
The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday confirmed that no cases of the Nipah virus have been detected in the Philippines, though it has heightened monitoring at all international gateways to prevent the virus from entering the country. The announcement follows reports of confirmed Nipah cases in India. While the Philippines remains case-free, the DOH…
Authorities have maintained a strict shellfish ban in Matarinao Bay, Eastern Samar, after recent laboratory tests confirmed the continued presence of toxic red tide in the area. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas issued the advisory on Thursday, Jan. 29, following results from shellfish meat samples. The tests revealed levels…
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) closed 2025 with total revenues of P106.03 billion, a 5.09 percent decline from P111.72 billion in 2024, reflecting softer earnings from land-based casinos and the absence of offshore gaming in its revenue mix. Gaming operations remained the corporation’s main revenue driver, generating P95.15 billion, slightly below the P97.53…
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. has slashed its InstaPay transfer fee to a record-low PHP8 per transaction starting February 1, 2026, a move aimed at making digital payments more affordable and practical for daily use. The new rate marks a steep reduction from the previous PHP25 fee and places Metrobank among the most competitively priced…
Executives and officers of the Palawan Group of Companies celebrate the Group’s multiple wins at the 61st Anvil Awards, marking a milestone in its purpose-driven communications that affirm the company’s matatag, maaasahan, at mapagkakatiwalaang serbisyo. The Palawan Group of Companies marked another milestone as it earned three major distinctions at the 61st Anvil Awards, underscoring…
YGG Play, the publishing hub behind a growing slate of “casual degen” games, is dialing up the hype with a high-profile IP crossover that brings the Bearish universe crashing into its breakout title, GIGACHADBAT. From January 31 to February 3, 2026, players will face off against Bearish’s iconic “Big Four” in an exclusive, time-limited CHAD…
What started as a regular workday quickly became a moment Nica Escobar would never forget. Like millions of Filipinos, she was simply scrolling through Lazada Philippines during the 11.11 Mega Sale, checking out gifts for her officemates and moving on with her day. There was nothing unusual about it—until a notification changed everything. “I was…
For most of the country’s air travelers finding flights in the Philippines simply ‘too expensive’, tourism authorities are pointing to reliance on air travel as a key contributing factor as to why plane tickets are relatively high priced locally. During the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Forum held in Cebu City, top…
AIA Philippines has relocated its Binondo office to Yuchengco Tower, reinforcing the insurer’s long-standing presence in the City of Manila and sharpening customer access in one of the country’s most active commercial districts. The move keeps AIA Philippines firmly rooted in Binondo, widely regarded as the world’s oldest Chinatown and a bustling hub for trade,…