Philippines

Bacolod City’s “City of Smiles” is expected to become a lively cultural and entertainment center for the whole of the Philippines during MassKara Festival 2026 from October 1 to 18, 2026. The 47th edition will be about “Share the Smile. Celebrate Gugma” with the heaviest celebrations taking place between 16th and 18th October. The most significant change for travelers following …

MANIBELA and PISTON nationwide transport strike from September 28 to September 30, 2026 has disrupted public transportation systems nationwide in Metro Manila and other parts of the Philippines. The demonstration is in the context of increased fuel prices; the transport groups are on a call for oil price relief and further measures to reduce an escalating operating cost. Commuters, students …

The government will establish a Migrant Workers Office in Guam to bring government labor services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Guam and parts of Micronesia. Philippine Consul General in Guam Rosario P. Lemque said there is expectation that a Labor Officer and an Assistant will arrive in Guam this September 2026. The new Migrant Workers Office on Guam will …

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a new law to shift the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the Philippines from 2026 to 2028. Another amendment in RA 12326 is the term of office for elected barangay and SK officials is five years. The law was signed on 24 September 2026, and published on 25 September 2026. The transfer …

The Mary Jane Veloso absolute pardon has now become reality after more than 16 years of legal wrangling. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the executive clemency on September 24, 2026, thus allowing her to be released immediately. Her harrowing journey has captivated the world and in December 2024 her remains were repatriated after almost 15 years on the death row …

On September 23, 2026, the Metro Manila Subway made a significant stride in its construction efforts after its inaugural tunnel-boring breakthrough in Quezon City. The Metro Manila Subway first tunnel breakthrough was inspected by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Quezon Avenue Station where a tunnel boring machine (TBM) excavated a 1.13-kilometer stretch. The breakthrough links the North Avenue and …

For drivers whose Philippine driver’s license is about to expire, you can start the renewal process online at the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) or LTO Portal. The official site enables users to create an account, take the CDE online validation exam, lodge a renewal application, schedule an appointment and pay the required fee. This online account guide for the …

A big political and economic breakthrough was made in the central part of the Philippines in September of 2026. The Taiwan TECO office in Cebu is now officially ready to open as Taiwan’s second representative branch. This much-awaited development is a huge blow to the people of the Visayas-Mindanao who had to travel to Manila for essential consular processing of …

School security in the Philippines has become a responsibility involving access control, learner protection, emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction and coordination with local authorities. Current DepEd school safety protocols include security procedures such as entry checks, visitor controls and measures against weapons and other prohibited items. DepEd has also emphasized that schools must maintain learning environments that’re safe, secure, inclusive …

It’s essential for all drivers to comprehend the distinction between LTO license suspension and license revocation in the Philippines. Both can prevent you from legally operating a motor vehicle, but the effects are different, as is the road to regaining a driver’s license. The amount of penalties can vary depending on the type of violation, the number of demerit points, …