On April 21, 1996, the Chicago Bulls secured their 72nd win of the season, setting a new NBA record for most regular-season victories at the time!
Posts published in “News & Current Events”
Only one chance in this lifetime…
Like watching sunset at the beach from the most foreign seat in the cosmos, I couldn’t resist a cell phone video of Earthset. You can hear the shutter on the Nikon as @Astro_Christina is hammering away on 3-shot brackets and capturing those… pic.twitter.com/8aWnaFJ69c
— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) April 19, 2026
The video was taken by Astronaut Reid Wiseman aboard the Artemis II.
Earlier this month, NASA published an called Earthset, written by Monika Luabeya.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has updated its policy regarding power banks.
In a nutshell; (1) Passengers are limited to two power banks with a maximum capacity of 100Wh each. (2) You must have the power banks with you at all times, or under the seat—never in checked luggage or overhead bins. (3) While you may charge your devices, charging the power bank itself is strictly prohibited during the flight. (4) Ensure your device has a clear capacity label before heading to the gate.
Power Banks are not the only restricted items when flying via PAL, you can go here, for more information.
This is great news to all car (with ICE) owner, PUV operator and driver.
𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧‼️
₱𝟮𝟬.𝟴𝟵 bawas sa 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘭, ₱𝟰.𝟰𝟯 sa 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢, ₱𝟴.𝟱𝟬 sa 𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘦. ⛽️
Hindi tayo titigil. Tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho ng pamahalaan para may tunay na ginhawa sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino.
The announcement was made on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) official FB page; the rollback will take effect this Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
مستعدين للجديد؟!
أجهزة Galaxy A57 | Galaxy A37 بين يدينك الحين!اطلبه الآن وابدأ عالمك الرهيب.https://t.co/TvoSDjzJB9https://t.co/T1mT1tngw6#GalaxyA57#GalaxyA37 pic.twitter.com/vJbxVURueR
— Samsung Saudi Arabia (@SamsungSAUDI) April 10, 2026
Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy A37 5G and Galaxy A57 5G in Saudi Arabia, bringing flagship-tier “Awesome Intelligence” (AI) and premium durability to the mid-range market. Both devices hit shelves across the Kingdom on April 10, 2026.
Galaxy A57 5G
The A57 features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display with a 1,900-nit peak brightness and 120Hz refresh rate. Powered by the Exynos 1680 (4nm) chip, it introduces a thinner 6.9mm aluminum frame protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+ and an IP68 rating.
- Camera: 50MP Main (OIS), 12MP Ultra-wide, 5MP Macro.
- Battery: 5,000 mAh with 45W fast charging.
- Price: Starts at SAR 1,649 (8GB/128GB).
Galaxy A37 5G
The A37 offers a similar 6.7-inch Super AMOLED experience but utilizes the Exynos 1480 processor. It maintains high-end features like “Circle to Search” and AI-driven photo editing, housed in a slightly thicker 7.4mm body.
- Camera: 50MP Main (OIS), 8MP Ultra-wide, 5MP Macro.
- Battery: 5,000 mAh with 45W support.
- Price: Approximately SAR 1,329
Both phones run Android 16 (One UI 8.5) and come with an industry-leading commitment of 6 years of OS and security updates, ensuring long-term value for the Saudi Markets.
مستعدين للجديد؟!
أجهزة Galaxy A57 | Galaxy A37 بين يدينك الحين!اطلبه الآن وابدأ عالمك الرهيب.https://t.co/TvoSDjzJB9https://t.co/T1mT1tngw6#GalaxyA57#GalaxyA37 pic.twitter.com/vJbxVURueR
— Samsung Saudi Arabia (@SamsungSAUDI) April 10, 2026
You can can checkout the full specs of the Samsung Galaxy A37 and Samsung Galaxy A57.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has announced passport release delays for applications filed starting the last week of March 2026. Due to logistical and supply chain disruptions caused by the Middle East crisis, the processing time for new ePassports has been extended to 10 to 15 working days.
The DFA is currently collaborating with its third-party printing provider to resolve these issues and restore normal operations. Applicants are advised to account for this updated timeline until further notice while the department works to stabilize the supply chain.
This is great news, especially to those who prefer a non-stop flight back to the Philippines!
PAL;
Philippine Airlines (PAL) advises the public of the resumption of flights between Manila and Riyadh effective April 10, 2026, following recent developments in the Middle East region.
The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our foremost priority. As Riyadh operations resume, PAL will temporarily operate via an alternate flight route to ensure the highest safety standards are maintained during this period.
As a result, select Manila-Riyadh flights will include a brief technical stop in Bangkok for refueling. No deplaning is required; passengers will remain on board while the aircraft refuels before continuing to Riyadh.
Ongoing monitoring
We continue to closely monitor the situation and will restore normal routing and full capacity as conditions allow. Updates will be communicated to affected passengers accordingly.IMPORTANT: Passengers are advised to ensure they have a confirmed booking before proceeding to the airport. To verify booking status and view updated flight schedules, please visit:
https://www.philippineairlines.com/ph/en/manage-booking.html
For assistance, passengers may also connect 24/7 with PAL via the following PAL Channels:
• Manila Landline: (+632) 8539-0000 / (+632) 8855-8888• Philippines Mobile: (+63) 919-056-2255
• US and Canada Toll Free Number: 1-800-435-9725
• Messenger: https://www.m.me/PhilippineAirlines
• WhatsApp: https://wa.me/639178305810
• PAL Help Page: https://pal.my.site.com/s/
We remain committed to connecting our customers to their destinations safely, reliably, and responsibly.
Thank you.
TOP SENATE ABSENTEE
Nakapagtala si Sen. Bato dela Rosa ng 31 absences sa Senado mula July 28, 2025 hanggang March 18, 2026, batay sa attendance records ng Senado na inilabas ni Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri.
Present lamang si dela Rosa sa 27 sa 58 Senate sessions.… pic.twitter.com/DvikJCRGvb
— News5 (@News5PH) April 8, 2026
Pie Gonzaga, reporting for Rolling Stone Philippines;
How much is a senator’s salary in the Philippines? The Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989 assigns senators and congressmen a salary grade of 31. This means that they earn P293,191 to P334,059 per month.
The Senate president and House speaker are assigned a salary grade of 32, which puts their range at P347,888 to P398,686 monthly.
Let’s assume that Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s salary is Php293,191/month, and “July 28, 2025 to March 18, 2026” is 7 months and 18 days, that means that he earned roughly Php76,900 per session that he attended.
If this was in “any” University, you will need to drop the subject and if this is any corporation in the Philippines, tardiness is “ground for disciplinary action and up to termination” of employment.
NASA just dropped the most amazing photo from their first flyby images of the Moon captured by NASA’s Artemis II astronauts
NASA;
The first flyby images of the Moon captured by NASA’s Artemis II astronauts during their historic test flight reveal regions no human has ever seen before—including a rare in-space solar eclipse. Released Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the photos were taken on April 6 during the crew’s seven‑hour pass over the lunar far side, marking humanity’s return to the Moon’s vicinity.
The images are borderline 5K images and are some of the best images of the moon.
The 10 hour Lunar flyby was broadcast from NASA’s official Youtube channel.
Cristina Chi via @PhilstarNews;
BREAKING: Iran assures the Philippines that it will allow Philippine-bound and Philippine-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Department of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement Thursday, April 2, that Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi today to discuss “stronger bilateral cooperation on all fronts.”
“During the call, the Iranian Foreign Minister assured the Secretary that Iran will allow the safe, unhindered, and expeditious passage through the Strait of Hormuz of Philippine-flagged vessels, energy sources, and all Filipino seafarers,” the DFA says.
Great work by our DFA specially Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro!
This should “hopefully” limit further petrol price hikes in the country.
“Supergirl,” DC Studios’ newest feature film to hit the big screen, will be in theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures, starring Milly Alcock in the dual role of Supergirl/Kara Zor-El. Craig Gillespie directs the film from a screenplay by Ana Nogueira.
When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.
Alcock stars alongside Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa.
Supergirl will be in theaters internationally beginning 24 June 2026 and across North America on June 26, 2026.
Warner Bros. also released a new poster for the film.
This announcement is a follow up on the “Saudi Government Warning: Strict Legal Penalties for Sharing Missile or Drone Impact Footage“, which was issued by Saudi’s Ministry of Interior (MOI) and Ministry of Defense (MOD).
The warning is self-explanatory and applies to all citizens and residents.
@MOISaudiArabia
Filming, publishing, or sharing information related to countering missiles and drones and their impact sites exposes you to legal liability.#Ministry_of_Interior pic.twitter.com/wWJLmwKLli
— وزارة الداخلية 🇸🇦 (@MOISaudiArabia) March 27, 2026
@MODGovKSA
تصوير أو نشر أو تداول معلومات ذات صلة بالتصدي للصواريخ والطائرات المسيَّرة ومواقع سقوطها يُعرِّضك للمساءلة القانونية.
Filming, publishing, or sharing information related to countering missiles and drones and their impact sites exposes you to legal liability#وزارة_الدفاع pic.twitter.com/UVriqWmyVZ
— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) March 27, 2026
A great website to give us an idea on the price of petrol in different country. It also include the price of electricity per kWh. Of course, I immediately checked the price listed for the Philippines, which is the following;
| Fuels, price per liter | Date | PHP | USD |
| Gasoline prices | 23-Mar-2026 | 86.20 | 1.44 |
| Diesel prices | 23-Mar-2026 | 102.60 | 1.71 |
| LPG prices | 23-Mar-2026 | 40.74 | 0.68 |
| Kerosene prices | 23-Mar-2026 | 131.10 | 2.19 |
Betheena Unite, writing for Manila Bulletin;
President Marcos has signed the law giving him emergency powers to suspend or reduce excise tax on petroleum products.
Marcos signed Republic Act (RA) No. 12316 on Wednesday, March 25, fulfilling what he said earlier in the day that he would be signing the measure into law within the day.
Under the law, the President may suspend the imposition of or reduce the excise taxes on fuel when the average Dubai crude oil price based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) reaches or exceeds $80 per barrel for one month immediately preceding the issuance of the suspension or reduction order.
You can read the Full text of Republic Act No. 12316 here.
Rappler write a great explainer on “How will suspending fuel excise taxes cushion a big oil price hike?” which is worth reading.
Suspending/reducing excise taxes cushions price hikes by providing immediate relief at the pump. By removing fixed taxes—specifically ₱10/liter for gasoline and ₱6/liter for diesel—the retail price drops instantly. This also triggers a “tax-on-tax” reduction, as the 12% VAT is no longer applied to the excised portion.
Beyond the pump, it helps curb inflation. By lowering transport and logistics costs, it prevents a domino effect on food prices and public transport fares. While this saves consumers money, it results in massive revenue losses (est. ₱136B), potentially forcing the government to reduce infrastructure spending or increase debt.
Raymond Carl Dela Cruz, writing for PNA;
In a Facebook post, the DOTr said there are 137,218 traditional jeepneys registered in the country, and their operators will receive PHP5,000 per unit, while their drivers will each receive PHP1,500.
There are 9,183 modern jeepneys in the country whose operators will receive PHP10,000 per unit, while drivers will each receive PHP1,500.
For public utility buses (PUB) —including point-to-point (P2P) buses— operators will receive PHP10,000 for each unit while their drivers will each get PHP5,000.
On the other hand, minibus operators will receive PHP9,000 per unit, and their drivers will each get PHP5,000.
There is a total of 21,086 PUBs registered in the country, with the same number of drivers; 1,138 minibuses with the same number of drivers; and 824 P2P buses with the same number of drivers.
Meanwhile, there are 4,351 school transport drivers registered throughout the country who will each receive PHP5,000.
For the 46,202 taxis in the country, operators will each get PHP2,000, while the same number of drivers will receive PHP5,000.
For Filcab or Multicab transport, their operators will receive PHP5,000 for each of the 7,659 units registered in the country, while the same number of drivers will get PHP1,500.
For transport network vehicle service (TNVS), operators of each of the 54,745 units registered will receive PHP1,500.
Meanwhile, operators of the 1,348 modern UV Express units in the country will receive PHP10,000 per unit, while each driver will get PHP5,000.
For traditional UV Express, their operators will receive PHP5,000 for each of the 16,057 units in the country, while drivers will each get PHP5,000.
These subsidies will be distributed to operators through fuel subsidy cards, manager’s checks, bank transfers, or e-wallet transfers.
On the other hand, drivers will receive their subsidies through cash or e-wallet transfers.
While fuel subsidy distribution for tricycle drivers in the National Capital Region (NCR) began last week, a total of 723,000 tricycle operators and drivers will get their PHP5,000 subsidy after the Holy Week.
A total of 157,972 registered delivery drivers will also receive fuel subsidies after the Holy Week.
Ayuda for PUV drivers and operators!
Arab News;
A drone was intercepted and destroyed as it approached the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, the ministry said at around midday.
Earlier, a ballistic missile launched toward Al-Kharj Governorate was shot down with debris from the interception falling near Prince Sultan Air Base “without causing any damage,” a spokesman said.
Another two ballistic missiles launched towards the Eastern Province were intercepted and destroyed in the evening.
Let’s all be careful out there!
The Philippine Embassy in Washington is cautioning Filipino Americans against renouncing their Philippine citizenship in view of a new bill in the US Senate that wants to end dual citizenship in the United States.
READ MORE: https://t.co/y38F62UOcG pic.twitter.com/2Ern2AjiaB
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) December 7, 2025
For many Filipino-Americans raised entirely in the United States, the decision regarding Philippine citizenship is often a “no-brainer,” favoring practicality and stability over heritage.
This perspective stems from two core factors: a cultural disconnect and practical risk assessment.
First, while they claim Filipino heritage, having spent their whole lives in the U.S., they often know “little to nothing about the Philippines, its people and culture” beyond familial connections. Their primary cultural allegiance and lived reality are American.
Second, the decision is rooted in livelihood. With family, career, and financial stability firmly established in the United States, the rationale is clear: why risk losing a job and uprooting a whole family simply to maintain a citizenship used only for brief, infrequent visits?
The marginal benefit of retaining Philippine citizenship (convenience during a trip every few years) does not outweigh the substantial risk to one’s American life. It is a rational, utilitarian choice to prioritize the stability and security of their life in the U.S. over a largely symbolic connection to their ancestral land.
Today, Netflix announced our acquisition of Warner Bros. Together, we’ll define the next century of storytelling, creating an extraordinary entertainment offering for audiences everywhere. https://t.co/rXPFMNIs1A pic.twitter.com/0pdsMUEob8
— Netflix (@netflix) December 5, 2025
Netflix and Warner Bros. announced that the streaming giant will will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO, and HBO Max. The cash and stock transaction is valued at a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion (equity value of $72.0 billion).
The acquisition aims to unite Warner Bros.’ iconic franchises and storied libraries with Netflix’s leading entertainment service and global reach. This combination will integrate world-class assets like Game of Thrones, the DC Universe, The Sopranos, and classics such as Friends and Harry Potter, with Netflix’s existing portfolio.
The companies stated the deal will offer more choice and greater value for consumers, create more opportunities for the creative community, and strengthen the overall entertainment industry. Netflix plans to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations, including theatrical releases.
The transaction is expected to close after the previously announced separation of WBD’s Global Networks division, Discovery Global, which is anticipated to be completed in Q3 2026. Netflix expects to achieve at least $2-3 billion in annual cost savings by the third year and for the deal to be accretive to GAAP earnings per share by the second year. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and WBD shareholder approval.
Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has passed away, according to his family. He was 101.
READ: https://t.co/hlu32ppEHi pic.twitter.com/jtB53GRgDY
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) November 13, 2025
ABS-CBN News;
MANILA — Veteran politician Juan Ponce Enrile, a top aide of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and of the incumbent president’s father, has passed away.
He was 101 years old.
Enrile, who was being treated for pneumonia, died “peacefully” around 4 p.m., surrounded by his family in their home, said his daughter Katrina Ponce Enrile.
Here’s what JPE’s daughter, Katrina Enrile posted on her Facebook page.
Juan Ponce Enrile has lived a long and eventful life. To put his life into perspective, Juan Ponce Enrile lived thru 16 Philippine President, two World War and he served both Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. and Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr. as both became the President of the Philippines.
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in a Facebook post announced that Taiwan has increase the minimum wage for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to $967 (USD) or around ₱56K per month, and $6.45 (USD) for hourly rate that’s ₱375.04. DMW added that the new minimum wage will take effect on January 1, 2026.
In a report by Focustaiwan, “These wage hikes still require the approval from the Executive Yuan, which is expected to be given.”
Taiwan is known for it’s electronics factories, much like China, and I know a lot of colleague who are working in Taiwan and also planning to work in Taiwan, if approved, this will be another destination for OFW and fully maximized their technical skills.
Here’s the full text of Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announcement from the embedded FB post below;
International Criminal Court (ICC) has charge Former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte with 3 counts of murder with crimes against humanity, spanning from his time as the Mayor of Davao City until his time as the President of the Philippines.
BBC:
The first count laid against Mr Duterte concerns his alleged involvement in the killings of 19 people in Davao City between 2013 and 2016 while he was mayor there.
The other two charges relate to times when he was serving as president of the Philippines, between 2016 and 2022, and launched his so-called war on drugs.
The second count relates to the murders of 14 “high-value targets” across the country, while the third relates to the murder and attempted murder of 45 people in village clearance operations.
Now that the ICC has charged Duterte with murder, the ball is now in Duterte’s court, and the next course of action will be decided by his defense team.
You can read the full text of ICC’s charges here.
Trump administration is planning to impose a $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas. In the official statement of the White House, the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program, intended to bring in high-skilled temporary workers, has been widely misused by companies, particularly in the IT sector, to replace American employees with lower-paid foreign labor. This abuse has artificially suppressed wages and negatively impacted the U.S. labor market, especially for recent college graduates in STEM fields who face high unemployment rates.
According to the provided text, the number of foreign STEM workers more than doubled from 2000 to 2019, largely due to this misuse. H-1B-reliant IT outsourcing firms save a significant amount by hiring foreign workers at a substantial discount, with some companies laying off thousands of American workers while simultaneously hiring thousands of H-1B visa holders. This practice not only harms American workers but also poses a national security threat.
To address these issues, a presidential order was issued on September 19, 2025. It imposes a 12-month restriction on H-1B visas for workers outside the U.S., requiring employers to pay a $100,000 fee for each visa. Exceptions can be made if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that the hiring is in the national interest. The order also mandates that the Department of Labor revise prevailing wage levels to align with the new policy goals.
You can read the full text of the article “Restriction On Entry Of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers.“
Everyone’s after his chainsaw heart.
For the first time, Chainsaw Man slashes his way onto the big screen in an epic, action-fueled adventure that continues the hugely popular anime series. Denji worked as a Devil Hunter for the yakuza, trying to pay off the debt he inherited from his parents, until the yakuza betrayed him and had him killed. As he was losing consciousness, Denji’s beloved chainsaw-powered devil-dog, Pochita, made a deal with Denji and saved his life. This fused the two together, creating the unstoppable Chainsaw Man. Now, in a brutal war between devils, hunters, and secret enemies, a mysterious girl named Reze has stepped into his world, and Denji faces his deadliest battle yet, fueled by love in a world where survival knows no rules.
Directed by: Tatsuya Yoshihara
Based on the original work “Chainsaw Man” by Tatsuki Fujimoto (Serialized in Shueisha’s “Shonen Jump+”)
Screenplay by: Hiroshi Seko
Production by: MAPPA
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc will be in United States movie theatres this October 24th. For those reading the manga, Reze Arc, also known as the Bomb Girl Arc, is a section of the Chainsaw Man manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto covering chapters 39 to 52.
Movie Poster
