Tabuena slows down with 71MANILA, Philippines — Miguel Tabuena went up and down for a one-over-par 71, dropping to a share of 25th through 36 holes of the LIV Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Club in Australia yesterday. Boosted by his upgrade from being a reserve to a full-time card holder in the 2026 season, Tabuena is proving himself that he belongs, going four-under in the Adelaide event after an opening-round 69. The 31-year-old Filipino ace shot himself in the foot with two quick bogeys on No. 1 and 4, but made a hot charge in the back nine only to lose another stroke on another bogey on No. He fired four birdies against three bogeys and sat at joint 25th, nine strokes behind frontrunner Jon Rahm who sizzled with a nine-under second round.

Our failing high school educationThe recent EDCOM 2 Report, which screams, “Student proficiency rates plunge from 30 percent in Grade 3 to 0.47 percent in Grade 12,” has set politicians and education planners into a new round of finger-pointing. Every year, universities accept hundreds of senior high school graduates with weak foundational skills in mathematics, the sciences, language, reading comprehension and communication. Their response – take away the power of CHED in developing the teacher education curriculum and selection of Centers of Excellence, and instead give it to the Teacher Education Council which, at that time, had done very little to develop teacher education in the country. CHED identified and awarded 120 best-performing teacher education HEIs in 2024 through the EQUATE Awards, but has not closed more than 200 non-compliant and poor-performing programs. I have witnessed public school students draw a computer keyboard on cardboard during a class discussion about computers.

Leyte residents oppose black sand miningLeyte as seen on Google Maps. TACLOBAN, Philippines — Residents of MacArthur town in Leyte on Tuesday blocked the entry of a massive equipment allegedly intended for black sand mining operation. The group’s spokesman, Jesus Cabias Jr., said residents were worried that the mining operation would destroy their farms and livelihood. In a letter, residents urged President Marcos to issue an executive order stopping black sand mining. The company, MacArthur Iron Project Corp. (MIPC), has reportedly been bringing in ships carrying dredging equipment to Barangay Maya.

Blue Ribbon urged to probe Bersamin link to flood messMANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon committee should investigate the alleged involvement of former legislative liaison officer Adrian Bersamin in the flood control anomaly, including his alleged text messages with President Marcos, House senior deputy minority leader and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said. In an interview with “Storycon” on One News on Friday, Erice said it was Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee, who first brought up Bersamin’s alleged links to the scandal. Bersamin is the grandnephew of former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin, who was eased out after his name was also mentioned in connection with the scandal. “We’re trying to help uncover the truth by urging the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to summon the Bersamins, summon Congressman Leviste, so the truth will come out,” he said, referring to Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste. Leviste reportedly showed Erice and other lawmakers alleged text messages between the younger Bersamin and Marcos discussing supposed kickbacks from flood projects.

Sharon Cuneta quips Marcos over ‘wrong’ VP choiceMegastar Sharon Cuneta poses with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the “Konsyerto sa Palasyo para sa Pelikulang Pilipino" event in Malacañan Palace on December 15, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Megastar Sharon Cuneta teased President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over his “wrong” choice of a vice president. The singer also quipped that she only had one vice president: her husband. Okay, okay let’s move on,” Cuneta said. Despite political tensions from the 2022 national elections, when her husband’s opposition alliance went against Marcos’ Uniteam, Cuneta has had long-running relations with the Marcos family, calling them old friends.

Korea hails ‘miracle’ ChoiSeoul — South Korea celebrated snowboarding sensation Choi Gaon as a “miracle girl” and history-maker on Friday after soaring to the country’s first Olympic gold in the sport. The 17-year-old recovered from a horror crash to dethrone the United States’ two-time defending champion Chloe Kim in the halfpipe on Thursday in Italy. Choi is the first athlete from South Korea to win an Olympic gold medal in snow sports.

Facebook vows action vs online child abuse, scamsInformation and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda said Meta, which owns Facebook, will implement stricter measures to thwart threats on the internet to ensure the digital space of every Filipino is safe. MANILA, Philippines — The government and Facebook have agreed to take the necessary steps to address misinformation and other harmful content on the social media platform. Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda said Meta, which owns Facebook, will implement stricter measures to thwart threats on the internet to ensure the digital space of every Filipino is safe. During their meeting, Aguda said that Meta public policy head for Indonesia and the Philippines Berni Moestafa and Meta Philippines public policy head Gio Tingson agreed on three landmark agreements against online harm. Among these is strengthening actions against online sexual abuse and abuse and exploitation of children.

Kanlaon emits ash for 17 minutesA 17-minute time-lapse captures the ash emission of Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island, which generated plumes rising 300 meters above the crater before drifting southwest at around 12:50 AM on February 13, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — State volcanologists yesterday recorded a 17-minute ash emission at Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island. A time-lapse footage posted by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) showed the ash event occurred at 12:50 a.m. at the summit crater. Aside from the emission, Phivolcs said 14 volcanic earthquakes were also detected around Kanlaon as well as a sulfur dioxide flux of 294 tons per day. Kanlaon, located at the boundary of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, has been under Alert Level 2 since July 2025.

6,045 voters register for BARMM pollsMANILA, Philippines — Up to 6,045 voters have filed applications in the first four days of the voter registration for the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Data from the Commission on Elections showed that 3,030 men and 3,015 women registered from Feb. 9 to 12. Among BARMM provinces, Maguindanao del Norte recorded the highest number of registrants with 1,656 followed by Maguindanao del Sur with 1,239 and Lanao del Sur with 1,053. On Tuesday alone, Comelec’s registration centers processed 1,740 applications, with 882 female and 858 male registrants. Maguindanao del Norte reported the highest single-day registrant turnout with 465.

Metro Manila subway project moving quickly – President MarcosPresident Marcos is joined by acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez and Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya during a sake barrel-breaking ceremony and groundbreaking of the Metro Manila Subway Project’s Kalayaan and Bonifacio Global City stations at Uptown BGC in Taguig City yesterday. The President also led the inspection of ongoing work on the subway project’s Shaw Boulevard station (inset). MANILA, Philippines — The construction of the 33.1-kilometer Metro Manila subway project (MMSP) is moving quickly, President Marcos said yesterday, underscoring the administration’s sustained investments in rail and other transportation infrastructure. President Marcos leads the inspection of the Shaw Boulevard Station of the Metro Manila Subway Project with Department of Transportation officials yesterday. Under Contract Package 104, the Shaw Boulevard Station segment is being implemented by the Tokyu-Tobishima-Megawide Joint Venture, with a contract cost of P18.27 billion.

Castro hits VP Sara, warns vs 2028 Manchurian puppetMANILA, Philippines — Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro yesterday hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte, saying it is possible that the Philippines would no longer be a country by 2028 if Filipinos elect a Manchurian candidate. Asked for her Valentine’s Day message to the Vice President, Castro said, “Spread love, not fake news, not immorality. Unfazed by surveyMalacañang was unfazed by the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, showing more Filipinos were satisfied with the performance of the Vice President than the President. Cuneta, who was with her husband Sen. Francis Pangilinan, joked that she has only one vice president. “I’ve only one vice president, there – my date tonight.

500 more drug war ‘victims’ to join ICC caseA relative of a victim of an extra-judicial killing attends a memorial mass ahead of All Soul's Day to remember loved ones slain in the government's war on drugs, at the Commission on Human Rights in Manila on Oct. 29, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — Pre-trial judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have authorized another 500 victims to participate in the ongoing crimes against humanity proceedings against former president Rodrigo Duterte. These were on top of the initial 39 victims that were authorized by the chamber to participate in the proceedings. Victims allowed by the ICC to participate will be able to present their views during the proceedings. VP prays for fair ICC trialVice President Sara Duterte yesterday said that she is praying for a fair trial for her father, ahead of his confirmation of charges hearing.

Word war rages between Chinese embassy, lawmakersMANILA, Philippines — There appears to be no ceasefire in sight between lawmakers and the Chinese embassy, with both trading barbs before the weekend over the recent Senate resolution condemning Chinese diplomats for making hostile remarks against Philippine officials. But when the Chinese embassy responds like any normal embassy would, some senators can’t get over that,” the statement posted on the embassy’s official Facebook page read. “Some senators are still urging ‘recall of the aggressive and sensitive Chinese Ambassador.’ Who do they think they are? De Lima also reminded the Chinese embassy spokesperson that diplomatic immunity from suit as guest of the Philippine government has limits. “The PRC is the only party to the South China Sea dispute not respecting the provisions of the DOC, and of the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” he said.

Geopolitical tensions drive fuel prices higherA gas station attendant fills up cars at a station in Paco, Manila on January 12, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Motorists should brace for yet another domestic pump price hike next week amid heightened tensions abroad. Kerosene prices may go up by around P0.25 per liter, with further increases likely once oil firms’ operating costs and other premiums are factored in. “The strongest factor helping oil prices to move in an upward direction is the geopolitical tensions, particularly in Iran,” said Rodela Romero, assistant director at the Department of Energy. She noted that the threat of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade route, and lingering uncertainty over Iran’s nuclear talks have pushed a risk premium into prices.

Swiatek, Rybakina dumped out of Qatar OpenGreece's Maria Sakkari (right) is congratulated by Poland's Iga Swiatek after winning their women’s singles quarter-final match at the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha on February 12, 2026. 2 Iga Swiatek and Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina both crashed out of the Qatar Open on Thursday after losing their quarterfinal matches to Maria Sakkari and Victoria Mboko, respectively. Sakkari began to fight back in the last game, but Swiatek saved a break point to seal the set. Sakkari continued her upswing by breaking in the second game of the second set. She dropped her serve twice again in the second set, which Rybakina won 6-4.