A Chery logo is pictured at the Chery booth during a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China April 24, 2025.

DHSUD, Quezon City ink deal for rental housingSigned on Tuesday, the memoranda will pave the way for the construction of medium-rise buildings in Barangays Sauyo and Bagong Silangan, earlier identified by the city government as suitable for the rental housing modality under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program or 4PH. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Quezon City government have signed two agreements for rental housing projects, which aim to benefit informal settler families. The DHSUD and the Quezon City government are finalizing details of the rental housing projects. Belmonte had expressed support for the DHSUD’s inclusion of rental housing modality under the Expanded 4PH Program, saying Quezon City has existing housing projects with a similar scheme. Belmonte said rental housing modality is a practical solution in providing decent homes to indigent families who cannot afford to own one.

Globe profit falls on flat revenueBased on its financial report, Globe’s net income went down by four percent to P23.26 billion in 2025, from P24.29 billion in 2024, suffering another year of profit reduction. MANILA, Philippines — Globe Telecom Inc. has fallen into another year of profit decline, marked by a flat performance from its revenue drivers that offset the growth of its e-wallet arm GCash. Globe’s mobile segment, its primary earner, ended flat with P165.08 billion, and the telco closed the year with double-digit revenue declines in fixed voice and non-telco services. GCash parent Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt) turned in an equity share of P6.1 billion to Globe. Under Cruz’s watch, Globe wants to become the most profitable telco in the Philippines, a crown held by telco giant PLDT Inc.

What are 'rare earths' for? Samples of rare earth minerals from left, Cerium oxide, Bastnasite, Neodymium oxide and Lanthanum carbonate are on display during a tour of Molycorp's Mountain Pass Rare Earth facility in Mountain Pass, California June 29, 2015. REUTERS/David Becker/File Photo

Cool Smashers, High Speed Hitters collide in PVLGames Thursday(FilOil Arena)4 p.m. - Choco Mucho vs Cignal6:30 p.m. - Creamline vs PLDTMANILA, Philippines — Creamline sets out to reclaim the PVL All-Filipino Conference title it last won two years ago, while PLDT aims to notch its very first one in this same stage as they face off Thursday, February 5, at the FilOil Arena in San Juan City. The Cool Smashers will come in with their first complete lineup in years highlighted by the return of beloved setter Jia de Guzman and power spiker Bernadeth Pons from national team duties, as well as Jema Galanza from injury. They will battle at 6:30 p.m. the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned High Speed Hitters, who have kept the core that won them their first crowns — the PVL on Tour and Invitational — last year. Also expected to draw attention is the equally intriguing duel between Choco Mucho and Cignal at 4 p.m, with the winner seizing the early solo lead. Equally impressive were the Super Spikers, who overpowered the Galleries Tower Highrisers, 25-17, 25-14, 25-11, to jumpstart their campaign.

A celebration of five decades of loveFifty years of marriage was more than a measure of time; it was a testament of shared values, perseverance, and enduring commitment. Over the next five decades, Ambassador Francis Chua rose from humble beginnings to become a respected leader in Philippine business and Chinese-Filipino society. Alongside him stood Dr. Betty Chua, a constant source of strength and wisdom. Mark Adame Bakari, OFM, whose presence underscored the spiritual foundation that had sustained their union for five decades. This solemn renewal stood not only as a celebration of enduring love but also as a reaffirmation of faith, commitment, and shared purpose that continued to guide their lives.

Katangi-tangi is a Filipino word that means “extraordinary, unique, distinctive, exceptional, remarkable, or incomparable.”Katangi-tangi is also a word that, modesty aside, best describes the alumni of the University of the Philippines College of Law, or UP Law. Allow me to wax nostalgic then, as a throwback Thursday of sorts, as I pay homage to my alma mater. In our show Abogado, which airs every Thursday on the Bilyonaryo News Channel, both on television and social media, my esteemed co-host (also a UP Law alumna), Atty. And, yes, katangi-tangi. Chryssie Bautista, head of litigation of Ayala Corp. and UP Law Batch 2000 vice president, for the success of this reunion.

China envoy: We don’t want to fight, use forceMANILA, Philippines — China is not picking a fight and does not want to use force in resolving its maritime dispute with the Philippines, according to Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan. If we want to fight, we would have done that earlier,” Jing said during a visit to The STAR yesterday. Jing said Manila can pursue an “independent, balanced” approach to foreign relations, being friendly with both China and the US. “We want to achieve something, declare that’s our diplomatic achievement, and we want to finish,” he pointed out. Theresa Lazaro earlier said ASEAN would try to finish by this year the negotiations for a long-sought code of conduct in the South China Sea between the region and China.

House panel junks 2 impeach raps vs Marcos Jr. Lawmakers vote yesterday on the merits of the impeachment complaints filed against President Marcos as protesters (photo below) gather outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City. MANILA, Philippines — Through votes from overwhelmingly administration allies, the impeachment complaints against President Marcos have been scrapped for “insufficiency in substance” by the House of Representatives’ committee on justice. ‘Policy critique’Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., of Ako Bicol party-list, observed that the second impeachment suit was essentially a policy critique that does not meet the constitutional standards required to proceed as an impeachment case. “For an impeachment complaint to be declared sufficient in substance, the recital of facts should constitute the impeachable offense charged,” she said.

Big, BoldWe are all waiting with bated breath for the “big, bold” reforms the Marcos administration promised. The GDP growth rate of 4.4 percent reported last week was even lower than the most meager market forecasts. Whatever “big, bold” reform package the administration will unwrap must be dramatic enough to turn the tide. Short of this, the promise of “big, bold” reforms is just words strung together. The promise of “big, bold” reforms is encumbered by falling trust ratings.

Palace: SC ruling on ICI vindicates Marcos Jr.“With the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the formation of the ICI, the President has shown the people his good intentions to conduct an in-depth investigation into anomalous flood control projects,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Viber message to reporters yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos was vindicated by a Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure. The high court dismissed the petition filed by lawyers Jacinto Paras, Manuelito Luna and Ferdinand Topacio questioning the constitutionality of EO 94, which created the ICI. Created in September last year, the commission was tasked with investigating anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects over the past 10 years. In December 2025, the Office of the Ombudsman filed cases against the Discayas and others over a P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental.

Time to move forward, says PalaceMANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday called on those behind the efforts to impeach President Marcos to move forward as it expressed elation over the dismissal of the complaints, which it described as “weak” and “without merit.”“We are happy that the process was followed. We saw that the complaint has no merit,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters. “Even the President was confident that he did not commit an impeachable offense. So he said, let us move forward,” she added. That’s what the President wants, for the process to be followed and for the truth to be seen,” the Palace press officer said.

Koreans pace Ladies MastersMANILA, Philippines — Yunseo Lee and Jisun Kang shrugged off strengthening afternoon winds and slick putting surfaces to card flawless rounds, spearheading a bristling Korean charge in the opening round of the ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters 2026 at Summit Point Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas yesterday. Both took advantage of early tee times on opposite nines, but it was Lee who delivered the day’s most impressive effort. 3, 6 and 9 to turn in three-under, then showed composure as conditions toughened, picking up birdies on Nos. 11 and 14 while narrowly missing chances to go even lower. Lee managed just one birdie at the back, but once she made the turn, she caught fire.

Digital platform workers’ rights tackled at ASEAN forumMANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is leading a regional push to improve working conditions for platform economy workers. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday opened a three-day forum in Cebu, bringing together labor officials from ASEAN countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as well as Australia, Japan and South Korea. The forum follows the National Tripartite Conference, wherein local labor councils adopted a resolution aimed at enhancing safeguards for platform workers or those engaged in gig and digital works. Panel discussions will focus on issues such as employment classification, working conditions, skills development, labor governance and access to social protection. The discussions aim to explore practical solutions while allowing ASEAN member-states to exchange ideas without imposing a regulatory model.

Why not PSC under DOT? Let’s not forget repeat competitions like the World Games, Asian Games, SEA Games, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and Asian Beach Games. The campaign was capped by the hosting of the SEA Games that welcomed over 9,000 athletes from 10 nations. In the Philippines, broad strokes of integration were etched in the formation of the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee headed by PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio, the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving as an attached Department of Tourism (DOT) agency and the DOT Office of Film and Sports Tourism, a dedicated golf tourism office to position the country as a premier golfing destination in Asia. Why not place PSC under DOT?