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MANILA, Philippines---The Meralco Bolts have replaced the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings as one of the PBA teams to compete in the East Asia Super League (EASL) 2023-24 season. In a sudden decision, the Bolts are now the second team to represent the PBA in the EASL alongside the TNT Tropang Giga. Ginebra, which begged off from competition, is not the only team to leave before the EASL season even started following the disbandment of the Bay Area Dragons. Despite the change, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the excitement for the EASL remains high with TNT and Meralco at the forefront. "Filipino basketball fans can't wait to see TNT Tropang Giga and Meralco Bolts face off ...

Keep on reading: Ginebra replaced by Meralco in EASL

Isabelle Daza has surpassed her P300,000 goal and raised over P1 million for her fundraising campaign for Elvie Vergara, a household helper who allegedly suffered abuse at the hands of her employers. "You guys have gone above and beyond. Wow," the actress said via her Instagram Stories on Sept. 15, over a week after she started the fundraising campaign. "I will make sure Elvie personally receives this donation." As of Saturday, Sept. 16, the donations for Vergara have reached P1,002, 019. The Senate commenced in Augusta motu proprio investigation into the alleged maltreatment of Vergara by her employers France and Jerry Ruiz. Sen. Francis Tolentino, who chairs the...

Keep on reading: Isabelle Daza raises over P1 million for abused maid

MANILA, Philippines --- Before conducting joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea with other countries, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will first review associated proposals. In a Saturday press conference, AFP spokesperson Medel Aguilar stated the AFP is examining offers from various countries, aiming to institute a "rules-based international order in the West Philippine Sea." "Our objective is to establish a rules-based international order in the West Philippine Sea. Our consistent complaint is that our neighbor isn't compliant with international law. So, our engagement with anyone who offers help, or shares our goal to establish this order, is being studied. We'r...

Keep on reading: PH evaluates joint sea patrol offers with other nations

MANILA, Philippines --- Casiey Dongallo led California Academy last June to a perfect championship run in the Shakey's Girls Volleyball Invitational League (GVIL) --- their last title in high school --- and emerged as the tournament Most Valuable Player. Three months later, Dongallo will be leading her college team, the University of the East, in the Shakey's Super League Preseason Championship. The 18-year-old outside spiker, who has been putting on a show in the V-League Collegiate Challenge, admitted she and her fellow California Academy products are feeling the pressure of taking UE to greater heights because of their achievements in high school. But she uses that pressu...

Keep on reading: UE rookie Casiey Dongallo turning pressure into motivation

MANILA, Philippines---RJ Abarrientos has arrived in Japan to begin his new journey with the Shinshu Brave Warriors in the Japanese B.League. Abarrientos was welcomed by his teammates on Friday. "Thank you for having me here. I can't wait to grow with you guys and work with you guys," said the Far Eastern University product, who immediately visited his teammates at practice after landing in Japan. https://x.com/shinshubw/status/1702549470372852037?s=20 Abarrientos signed with the Brave Warriors two months ago after a stellar campaign in the Korean Basketball League. In his only season in the KBL , Abarrientos shone for the Hyundai Mobis Phoebus as he averaged 13.6 point...

Keep on reading: RJ Abarrientos meets Shinshu team ahead of B.League season

MANILA, Philippines --- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) suspects that the Chinese militia vessels in Rozul Reef have been harvesting corals from the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to a report by its Western Command Commander on Saturday. "We noticed coral harvesting in their swarming areas. When they left, we pinpointed it and sent divers to do an underwater survey. They saw that no corals were left -- it was damaged and there was debris," Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. READ: AFP concerned on 'swarming activity' of Chinese ships in West PH Sea Based on the observations of Navy divers, Carlos believes the coral harv...

Keep on reading: Chinese militia suspected of coral harvesting in West PH Sea

LOS ANGELES---Rapper Jeezy has filed for divorce from TV personality Jeannie Mai after two years of marriage. The 45-year-old rapper, whose birth name is Jay Wayne Jenkins, filed to end his marriage on Thursday, Sept. 14, in Georgia's Superior Court of Fulton County. The filing says "the marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken" and "there is no hope for reconciliation." The pair welcomed their first child together, a daughter, in January 2022. Jeezy and Mai began dating in 2018 and were married in March 2021. Jeezy is seeking joint legal custody of their daughter, according to the divorce documents. The two had a prenuptial agreement that Jeezy expects will be enf...

Keep on reading: Jeezy files for divorce from Jeannie Mai after 2-year marriage

Professional women's tennis tournaments return to China on Monday, less than two years after the WTA vowed to boycott the country out of concern for player Peng Shuai and risks to its players and staff. The WTA tournament opening Monday in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou will be the first in mainland China since 2019 -- and while no top-20 stars are expected to attend, it is set to attract plenty of attention. The WTA suspended activities in China in December 2021, when former world doubles number one Peng briefly disappeared after making -- and then withdrawing -- accusations of sexual assault against a senior Chinese leader. Saying the issue was "bigger than business,...

Keep on reading: Women’s tennis returns to China after Peng Shuai boycott

    MANILA, Philippines --- Officials of the Philippine government were part of the 2023 symposium and Exhibition on the International Civil Aviation Organization Traveller Identification Programme and Joint International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Biometrics Forum. The event was held in Montreal, Canada, from September 12 to 14. More than 1,000 participants from over 30 countries and jurisdictions discussed new developments in international civil aviation law enforcement, such as new technologies and devices that can be used by travelers for a better experience. Participants also emphasized the need to collaborate for the enhancement of travelin...

Keep on reading: PH joins Canada symposium on int’l law enforcement

Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1999, the historic city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur is noted to represent "a unique fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning." According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), "Vigan is an exceptionally intact and well-preserved example of a European trading town in East and Southeast Asia." Unfortunately, the magnitude 7 earthquake of July 27, 2022 damaged many of its heritage buildings, including heritage houses, the Vigan Cathedral and belfry, Archbishop's Palace and Colegio Building. The Vigan local government, with other public and priva...

Keep on reading: Restoring Vigan’s heritage buildings after the 2022 quake

Noah Lyles and Armand Duplantis are among the world champions aiming to end 2023 on a high note as the World Athletics Diamond League concludes in Eugene, Oregon, this weekend. Lyles, who won 100m, 200m and 4x100m gold at the World Championships in Budapest last month, admitted he thought he had nothing left in the tank after he won the 200m in Zurich two weeks ago. He was considering opting out of the season finale but said Friday he decided "I think I've got one more in me." Lyles will race the 100m for the first time since the World Championships. He'll have little margin for error in a field that includes world silver medallist Letsile Tebogo and former world champ Chris...

Keep on reading: Mondo Duplantis, Noah Lyles aim to end 2023 on high note in Diamond League final

Celebrity doctor Aivee Teo celebrated her birthday and her clinic's 14th anniversary in a star-studded party attended by Kathryn Bernardo, Nadine Lustre, Heart Evangelista, Bea Alonzo and Maja Salvador, among many others. Glimpses of the event were shown by Teo through her Instagram page on Friday, Sept. 15. Also joining in the fun were Dolly de Leon, Kyline Alcantara, Sofia Andres, Barbie Imperial, Yassi and Issa Pressman, Maika Rivera as well as vlogger Mimiyuuuh. "What a night! All together in one frame," Teo said, showing photos of her with her Aivee celebrities. "Happy birthday to me and Aivee Clinic."   View this post on Instagram ...

Keep on reading: LOOK: Kathryn, Nadine, Heart, Bea, Maja bond at celebrity doctor Aivee Teo’s party

The most turbulent period of the University of the Philippines' (UP) history was recorded during our era in the 1970s. The First Quarter Storm happened. The suspension of habeas corpus was declared and the announcement of martial law caught us all by surprise. Yet the indomitable spirit of UP survived all these. Yes, we attended teach-ins and discussion groups (DGs), held vigils, joined rallies and marches. The UP community stood their ground against the police and military takeover of the campus. Many survived teargas attacks. There were those who learned to manufacture molotov cocktails in the basement of Kamia Residence Hall. And there were those who initiated boycotts and st...

Keep on reading: A UP golden jubilarian looks back

Giang Pham, from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, works as a social media manager, but her passion for handmade art is what colors her life. She finds joy in creation and makes wallets, drawings and keychains for her friends. But Pham chooses to keep her passions and career separate. Pham says if she were to sell her art, business responsibilities like marketing, repeatedly creating and shipping her products remove the joy that fuels her passion in the first place. Separating work from art also allows her creative outlet to be a form of pure self expression. "I need an outlet to let everything out and without anyone judging, without anyone at work telling me it's good enough," Pham says....

Keep on reading: Work vs passion

  MANILA, Philippines --- The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) reported that their official Facebook has been inaccessible since Saturday morning. This came after the group condemned the recent murder of Abra lawyer, Atty. Maria Saniata Alzate. According to NUPL, they conducted indignation rallies in Quezon City, Baguio City, and Iloilo City on Thursday, then released their official statement on Friday using the page. "Right thereafter, the NUPL received reports that its FB page was inaccessible and was unpublished," NUPL President Atty. Ephraim Cortez said in a statement. NUPL official page's contents shared by UP National Union of Peoples' Lawyers https...

Keep on reading: NUPL’s page inaccessible after condemning Abra lawyer’s killing

Confession: I've never had data on my (prepaid) phone. I sometimes load using Mercury Drug suki points; P50 can last me through a month. When I meet up with a friend at a certain time and place, they know to call or text me old-school style if they need to reach me before then. I know, such a pain. But I live within my means and prefer the peace. I'm usually at home where there's Wi-Fi, so I don't really need data. But in these perpetually wired times, I realize this can be strange, even preposterous. The way I see it, it's not unlike some of my friends who have never even had social media. Those from Gen X like me have experienced the pros and cons of the analog and digital worlds...

Keep on reading: Never have I ever . . . had data on my phone

WASHINGTON, United States---American boy band NSYNC has reunited for their first new song in over 20 years, which will be featured in the upcoming movie "Trolls Band Together." "Back in the Studio. Better Place out 9/29," the group posted on social media Thursday, Sept. 14, alongside a video of all five members recording their vocals. The last studio album released by turn-of-the-millennium heartthrobs Justin Timberlake, Joey Fatone, JC Chasez, Lance Bass and Chris Kirkpatrick was 2001's "Celebrity." "If we do this song it's a love letter to our fans," Timberlake said in the video posted to X. "Wait, that's the first NSYNC song finished in 23 years," Bass added. Timber...

Keep on reading: NSYNC to release first new song in decades for ‘Trolls’ movie

Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta sent their "ShaGab" fans gushing after the former couple had a reunion ahead of their "Dear Heart" concert. Gabby and Cuneta met at the press conference for their concert, as seen on "TV Patrol" on Friday, Sept. 15. Gabby was about to leave the event when Cuneta arrived and joined him on the stage. "Uy, first time! First time ko [ulit] mahahawakan 'yung kamay niya oh!" Gabby said while assisting Megastar to the stage. (This is the first time I held her hands again.) "Sabi ko sa kanila kanina, pagkatapos ko dito aalis na ako; baka hindi tayo magkita. Pwede bang mag-hug bago ako umalis?" Gabby asked her, to which Cuneta replied, "Oo naman." ...

Keep on reading: Gabby Concepcion asks Sharon Cuneta for hug, teases her: ‘Concepcion no’ng araw ‘to e’

  Paris, France ---Iranians at home and abroad marked the first anniversary Saturday of the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, with activists speaking of a renewed crackdown to prevent any resurgence of the protests which rocked major cities last year. Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died a few days after her arrest by religious police for allegedly violating the strict dress code for women in force since shortly after the 1979 revolution. Her family says she died from a blow to the head but this is disputed by Iranian authorities. Anger over her death rapidly expanded into weeks of taboo-breaking protests which saw women tearing off their mandatory headscarves ...

Keep on reading: Clampdown and grief as Iranians remember Mahsa Amini

The annulment of her first marriage left Marichelle "Mache" Torres-Ackerman struggling to regain her self-esteem. After the lengthy and tedious process, she was given the coup de grace when her ex-husband finally married his girlfriend and left their four children in her custody. She then questioned society's view of women as the weaker sex. They are conditioned to tolerate dysfunctional relationships to keep the family united and are treated like damaged goods when they become separadas. Upon tying the knot again in 2015, she was asked by other women why she should remarry. "They look at separated women as secondhand. That's probably how they felt about themselves and couldn't mov...

Keep on reading: Hypnotherapy, forgiving and healing traumas