Pilipinas kong Mahal

 India's envoy claims that supersonic missiles will soon be sent to the Philippines. The Philippines will shortly receive the first shipment of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. Indian Ambassador to Manila Shambhu Kumaran claims this. A representative of the armaments firm stated last year that the missiles were scheduled for delivery in December 2023. Our goal is to arrive as soon as possible. Last week, during the Indian Embassy's 75th Republic Day reception in Makati City, Kumaran told reporters, "I don't have a timeline at this moment, but it's gonna be soon." When will the delivery of supersonic missiles occur? He declined to comment on a report published in India's The Economic Times on January 25 that quoted a Defense Research and Development Organization officer saying that the export procedure would start "in the next 10 days" and be completed by March when the goods reached the Philippines. Although we are working toward it and I don&

 Entering a new ring, Manny Pacquiao gives the first Taiwan combat league more Filipino celebrity power. The inaugural professional fighting league in Taiwan, Carry Fighting Championship, has selected Manny Pacquiao as its honorary president. The much-anticipated return of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao to the ring will involve him playing a significant role in Taiwan's fighting scene rather than competing. The revolutionary Carry Fighting Championship, Taiwan's first-ever professional fighting championship, has announced that Pacquiao will serve as honorary president. This information was provided by the Taiwan Fighting Sports Co., Ltd. Taiwan Fighting CEO Jerry Yen said in a statement that Manny Pacquiao's participation "brings great honor to the 'Carry Fighting Championship' and also focuses global attention on Taiwan." Manny Pacquiao's involvement gives the league a legendary feel, and we think this will be Taiwan's big chance to make an i

  From Sabah, 800 Filipino deportees arrived. Social welfare officials reported that some eight hundred deportees from Sabah came here on a commercial vessel on Thursday -  Philippines: Zamboanga del Sur / Zamboanga City This is the second round of deportations that Malaysia has carried out this year as part of its ongoing campaign against undocumented immigrants. Although Malaysian immigration authorities have been conducting a crackdown on a regular basis, the legal conflict with the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu began in 2019, which led to increased intensity in these efforts. The successors of the sultanate won a $14.9 billion award for Sabah from a French arbitration court, over which they have a property claim. After a Paris appeals court ruled that the arbitral tribunal that issued the verdict lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, Malaysia won a legal battle last year. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 9 spokesperson, Ivan Eric Salvador, stated t

 US DOJ pays SC justices a courtesy call. Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez of the Supreme Court received a courtesy call from US Department of Justice representatives to examine potential collaborations. The SC justices and representatives from the US DOJ's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training met in the conference room on Thursday. Among the subjects covered during the cordial visit was the potential US government support for the creation of a guidebook and judge education about the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 regulations. In addition, the discussion covered the appointment procedure and makeup of the Office of the Judiciary Marshalls.

 The government looks at third-party electricity transmission initiatives. Presuming that the expensive and protracted blackout that occurred in Western Visayas earlier this month would never happen again, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) the task of researching the feasibility of permitting transmission projects by third parties. During a Friday speech at Malacañang, Marcos stated that the country should move past the power outage that affected Panay and Guimaras Islands, resulting in P3.8 billion in losses. This incident brought home how important these connectivity efforts are. He made this statement during the groundbreaking for the 450-megawatt Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project: "We cannot afford to have another round of this costly interruption, not only in Panay Island but anywhere in the country." The President urged the prompt completion of connectivity projects, stating that the &quo

50 Chinese ships swarm close to Ayungin Shoal. An American marine security analyst reported seeing over 50 Chinese warships close to Ayungin Shoal before the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) rotated and resupplied to BRP Sierra Madre. Former US Air Force official and former Defense Attaché Ray Powell stated last Thursday on X (formerly Twitter) that there are more Chinese vessels in Mischief Reef or Panganiban Reef than there were a week before. The majority of China's marine militia rotation has been stationed around Mischief Reef, Powell said. "The Qiong Sansha Yu fleet has increased from 14 last week to 35 now, plus 15 smaller ships." Powell speculates that China may stay until the Philippines' next resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal. Powell speculated that China would maintain a significant troop presence there until after the adjacent 2nd Thomas Shoal in the Philippines receives its next resupply. Powell reported last week t

  Marcos and Duterte promise changes in PH education. Declaring that the school system of the Philippines ought to place the children of the country "at the center of our great reform movement," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged on Thursday to keep changing it "to ensure that no one is left behind." Marcos invited the Filipino people to work with the administration to transform the nation's educational system as envisioned in the "Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines)" campaign during his speech during Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte's Basic Education Report (BER) 2024 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City. The realization of the "Bagong Pilipinas," he stated, is contingent upon everyone's sustained efforts to overhaul the educational system for the benefit of Filipino youth. The introduction of the Matatag curriculum, enhanced teacher welfare, digitization, and the construction of additional classrooms a

 Government to fully support UN rapporteur - DFA The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) declared that the government is providing its "full support" for effectively executing UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan's mandate during her visit to the nation, in the spirit of transparency and collaboration. Khan began his 10-day official visit on January 22 and is there to assess the country's progress in granting people the freedom to express themselves. In keeping with international human rights norms, the DFA stated on Thursday that this visit demonstrates the Philippines' dedication to promoting a strong atmosphere for freedom of speech and thought. "As part of the government's open and constructive engagement on human rights with relevant UN mechanisms," the DFA stated, Khan is the third SR to visit the Philippines since 2022. She will conduct several cooperative and varied dialogues to assess the status of the nation's rights to freedom of opinion a

 China applauds the most recent One-China Policy statement made by Marcos. According to news on Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has praised President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s assertion that the country upholds the One-China Policy. According to the Chinese Embassy, Taiwan is a province of China and as such falls under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China. Marcos claimed in an exclusive News on Tuesday that Beijing was irritated by his congratulations to Taiwanese president-elect Lai Ching-te, but that the Philippines still adheres to the One-China Policy and that it was just "common courtesy." Official diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Taiwan, an autonomous, democratic island that has been divided from the Chinese mainland since 1949, are nonexistent. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that following Marcos' congratulations to Lai, China had increased pressure on the Philippines

 PEZA, SMBC, and RCBC collaborate to draw in Japanese capital. To draw in more Japanese investment, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has teamed up with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC). With SMBC and RCBC, PEZA established a memorandum of understanding (MOU) designating them as partners in the agency's investment promotion efforts. According to PEZA director-general Tereso Panga, "the goal of this MOU is to promote economic development—constantly positioning the nation as an appealing investment destination characterized by agility and responsiveness to the needs and demands of our dynamic investors." Our distinguished Investment Promotion Partners (IPPs) will work together to actively promote and grow investments, particularly those from Japanese businesses, he continued. Having registered 807 commercial enterprises (RBEs) under the PEZA, Japan continues to be the leading country in terms of ecozone investment. A

  China pressured the Philippines following Marcos' congrats - Taiwan Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed on Wednesday that following President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s congratulations to Taiwanese president-elect Lai Ching Te, China has increased pressure on the Philippines. Marcos and "other international friends for their congratulations on Taiwan’s successful completion of elections," the Taiwanese foreign ministry commended in a statement. More than 100 countries around the world expressed their sincere congratulations to Taiwan for the peacefully conducted democratic elections that were held on January 13, the Taiwanese government said. "However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has noted that since Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. congratulated Taiwan, China has been strongly pressuring the Philippines and making crude and insulting comments," it stated. China's petty reaction, Taiwan claime

 Marcos authorized 'Horizon 3' for AFP modernization — Teodoro Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. reports that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved changes for "Horizon 3" of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program. In a news conference with the Manila Overseas  Press Club on Tuesday night, he stated, "Next, we are embarking into what we call the 'Rehorizoned 3' capability enhancement and modernization program where the President recently approved an array of capabilities." According to him, domain awareness, connection, C4ISTAR communication intelligence capabilities, command and control, and deterrence capabilities in the maritime and aerial domains are only a few. Teodoro continued, "The Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept is a new defense concept that the Philippines is starting to implement." The Armed Forces will initially change to ensure that Philippine corporations and

  The people's initiative (PI) to amend the Constitution was rejected by the Senate (cha-cha). The Senate has issued a manifesto in which it rejects the Cha-cha people's initiative (PI) to amend the Constitution and warns of the possibility of a no-election scenario. As soon as the Senate reconvened on Tuesday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri read the manifesto in front of the entire body. Zubiri continued to read from the manifesto and added, "Today, the Senate stands as the nation's last bastion of democracy as it rejects this brazen attempt to violate the Constitution, the country, and our people." It emphasized, "This Senate of the people will not allow itself to be silenced." The upper chamber emphasized the need to "guard against any sinister and underhanded attempt to change the Constitution by exploiting our democratic process under the guise of a people's initiative," even as it acknowledged the right of the people to advocat

 Filipinos assert that the land defended by the country's ancestors is unconquerable and will oppose anyone who treads on its beaches -  President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. "The Spirit of Malolos commands us to resist you," PBBM said to the invaders. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared that the area guarded by the country's forefathers remains unconquerable and that Filipinos will resist those who trample the country's frontiers, armed with the spirit of the First Philippine Republic. Speaking at the 125th-anniversary celebration of the First Philippine Republic at Barasoain Church in Malolos City, Bulacan, President Marcos stated that this is the only way that we can respect those who formed our Republic, those who fought for its values, and those who lost their lives in the war. And the battle rages on today, for the noble cause of freedom still faces formidable foes, some overt, others covert, but all with the same unwavering determination. The Spirit of M

 PBBM on the purportedly "paid" People's Initiative signature drive: Comelec need to void them On Tuesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared that the Commission on Elections needs to nullify signatures on the People's Initiative that were acquired in return for cash. "Well, after paying for the signature, the Comelec will not accept it. So nothing good will happen," he said in an interview after the official launch of the Lung Transplant Program of the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City. Marcos also denied rumors that signatures were being purchased for the campaign, pointing out that there have been reports that offer incentives to signatories. He declared he would question Congressmen about the veracity of the reports. "So, as far as I know, there is no such thing. What is said is not to pay in cash, but to promise some kind of benefits. We looked at it, and I said, &quo

 Reiterating that ICC lacks jurisdiction over PH, PBBM says it will not assist in the inquiry. On Tuesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. restated that the International Criminal Court (ICC) lacks jurisdiction over the Philippines and that his government will not assist the ICC in its inquiry into the previous administration's drug war. The President said this in response to questions on whether the government approved of reports that ICC representatives were in the Philippines, whether the government would assist with the investigation, and whether or not the government had authorized their entry. Permit me to repeat this one hundred times. I disagree that the ICC has jurisdiction over the Philippines. I don't because I see it as a danger to our national sovereignty. President Marcos stated in a media interview held after an event in Quezon City that "the Philippine government will not lift a finger to help any investigation that the ICC conducts." However, as ord

 UN rapporteur lands in Manila Irene Khan, a Special Rapporteur for the United Nations, arrived in the Philippines on Monday and will be there for ten days to assess the country's progress in granting people the freedom to express themselves. Khan will carry out her mission in the nation from January 23 to February 2, according to a post made by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on X, formerly Twitter. "The Department of Foreign Affairs stated that after her visit, Khan is expected to produce a final report to be considered during the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in June 2025. The Philippines welcomes UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan on her 10-day visit focused on free speech and opinion," the DFA wrote on X. In a spirit of transparency and collaboration, the DFA stated that the Philippine government "is giving its full support for the successful implementation of the UN SR's (Special Rapporteur) mandate during her country visit." "

 AFP Western Command conducted an airdrop mission to deliver supplies to Ayungin Shoal. Ayungin Shoal received supplies via an airdrop mission carried out by AFP Western Command.

 Following recent Chinese intimidation, PCG will accompany Filipino fishermen. In response to yet another instance of Chinese harassment in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) pledged on Monday to protect Filipino fishermen. The Bajo de Masinloc and other areas of the West Philippine Sea are routinely monitored by the PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Still, the most recent occurrence happened during a "lull time," according to PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela. On January 12, when neither a PCG nor BFAR vessel was present, this occurred,  declared Tarriela. However, to ensure that this quiet period doesn't occur again, we are working with the BFAR. Our Filipino fishermen claim that the Coast Guard and the BFAR always have greater leeway when there is a public vessel around since they are more concerned with the PCG vessels and the BFAR. According to a source, the Zambales fishermen

  Currently stationed close to the Philippine Sea boundary in the South China Sea is the destroyer USS John Finn. A live-fire gunnery exercise is conducted by USS John Finn (DDG 113). The Navy said this week that the destroyer USS John Finn (DDG-113) is officially a member of the forward-deployed naval forces in Yokosuka, Japan. The destroyer of the Arleigh Burke-class arrived in Yokosuka on Saturday, according to a news release from the U.S. 7th Fleet. On Monday, it became a component of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 and Commander, Task Force 71 (CTF-71).

Cybersecurity leaders from the UK and the Philippines are brought together by the British Embassy in Manila. Leading specialists, public servants, and business executives from the Philippines and the UK convened at a symposium on January 16 to discuss the growing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks and to jointly devise ways to strengthen digital defenses. Martin Kent, His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for Asia-Pacific The purpose of the event is to establish a forum for information sharing and to promote cybersecurity collaborations between the Philippines and the United Kingdom. A panel discussion on trends, dangers, and practices in cybersecurity was attended by experts from the Philippines and the UK. Emmanuel Herve of BSI Asean led the session. Another panel on the value of cooperation between governmental organizations, commercial businesses, and academic institutions in tackling cybersecurity challenges took place after this. Prominent vendors of cybersecurity soluti

  Visit to the Philippines by a US State Department official. As part of a three-nation tour, a US State Department representative will stop in the Philippines for economic talks from January 22 to February 1. The US Undersecretary of State for Energy, Environment, and Economic Growth, Jose Fernandez, is scheduled to visit South Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam to fortify economic ties with important allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific area. Fernandez will talk about how diversifying the supply chain can strengthen the Philippines' economy. Additionally, he will highlight potential investment prospects in the vital minerals industry. Following US President Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam in September 2023, Fernandez will concentrate on expanding trade prospects, promoting sustainable energy, collaborating on supply chains and semiconductors, and strengthening economic cooperation with Vietnam. Additionally, he will endeavor to elevate US-Vietnam relations to the level of an

  Filipino fishermen were once again driven out of Bajo de Masinloc by the China Coast Guard. According to reports, a member of the Chinese Coast Guard boards a fishing boat and forbids it from leaving until the fishermen return their collected seashells to the ocean. Speaking on Sunday, January 21, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said that the recordings uploaded on January 19 had a known origin and that statements from individuals involved were being obtained. According to a statement provided by one Jack Tabat of Zambales, which Tarriela referenced, the event occurred on January 12th, while Filipino fishermen were on board FB Legendary Jo and near Bajo de Masinloc's south entrance. Tariella said on X, the former Twitter platform, "The fishermen were told to return the shells they had gathered to the sea and were subsequently driven away." "Tabat also recorded a Chinese Coast Guard official seizing the fishing boat and obstructing its

  Canada and the Philippines sign an agreement for defense cooperation. The defense minister in Manila stated that the signing of a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation by the Philippines and Canada on Friday could eventually result in a troop agreement between the two nations. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro stated in a statement, "I'm glad to hear that there is a strong intention on both sides to deepen and strengthen the relationships by forging new milestones in our defense relations to culminate, perhaps, with the Visiting Forces Agreement." Teodoro did not specify the nature of a potential VFA with Canada; however, the Philippines already has a VFA with the US that permits the movement of thousands of US soldiers in and out of the country for war games and drills. According to the Ministry of Defense, the memorandum will expedite collaboration between the military and defense establishments in both nations for military education, training exchanges,

  The Philippines will keep drawing attention to Chinese actions in the West Philippine Sea. A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officer stated that the government of the Philippines will keep exposing China's hostility in the West Philippine Sea. China's Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong and Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro previously met and, according to the DFA, "presented their respective positions on the Ayungin Shoal, and assured each other of their mutual commitment to avoid escalation of tensions." In previous confrontations, the Chinese coast guard and maritime authorities in the West Philippine Sea blocked Philippine vessels and even fired water cannons at them. The encounters grew tense. "I hope(d) China will now know the meaning of commitment and sincerity, that whatever you promised and agreed upon on the conversation table should also be implemented on the ground," expressed PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela in a tweet. If th

  New West PH Sea joint patrol was discussed by the US envoy with DND and AFP. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and representatives of the Philippine Armed Forces convened with US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson to deliberate on strategies for defense collaboration, encompassing the establishment of fresh cooperative patrols inside the West Philippine Sea. Without a doubt, we anticipate that both of our militaries will work together, exercise, and take all necessary steps—both bilaterally and multilaterally—to guarantee the security of our peoples in the upcoming year, Carlson added. AFP commander General Romeo Brawner Jr. said that the joint patrols were required to properly enforce an international order based on rules, but the US ambassador provided no information on discussions for future joint patrols. The combined patrols should continue, according to retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who was a member of the legal team that defeated China at the

  US ships thousands of tanks, M1 Abrams, and military hardware to the Philippines. The United States ships dozens of tanks, and military hardware, including M1 Abrams, to the Philippines. The transfer of M1 Abrams tanks to the Philippines intensifies fighting even as Biden tries to prevent a wider confrontation. The US sent a package last week that included up to $200 million in new military aid for the Philippines, coinciding with the arrival of the Abrams tanks in the country. According to the Pentagon, the package includes 155mm and 105mm rounds, artillery munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-tank missiles from TOW, and weapons for air defense such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile.