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Posts tagged as “News and Current Events”

Saudi Arabia Introduces Quarterly Residency Renewal for Domestic Workers

July 21, 2026
Saudi Arabia Introduces Quarterly Residency Renewal for Domestic Workers

The Ministry of Interior (represented by the General Directorate of Passports) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development have launched flexible residency services for domestic workers. Employers can now issue or renew permits for terms as short as three months and pay fees on a quarterly basis.

Previously, permit renewals were limited to one- or two-year terms. By allowing payments in three-month increments, this initiative provides employers with greater financial flexibility and aligns with ongoing efforts to modernize residency services through digital transformation.

Source: SPA

Department of National Defense Response on the China Daily Video

July 16, 2026

via @dndphl, the official twitter/X account of Department of National Defense;

July 16, 2026
The post of China Daily depicting the Filipinos as monkeys, is a revealing insight into what the Chinese communist apparatus thinks of the Filipino people.

This mockery of the lawful 2016 Arbitral Award and the video’s glorification of violence against the Filipino people and soldiers expose the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of China’s propaganda machine.

Such contemptible propaganda is a disgrace to any State that claims to exercise responsible regional leadership. It reveals the weakness of a government that resorts to racism, threats, and manufactured hatred because it has utterly failed to defend its ridiculous claims through reason, evidence, or law.

We are justified in our policy of no Ministerial or AFP defense engagements or contacts with the CCP or any of its agencies.

The recent spate of schizophrenic behavior of the Chinese Communist Party is too clear to disregard or to ignore. This latest act of dehumanization further reveals them as neither a secure and confident actor nor a trustworthy neighbor.

Pilipinas huwag magpalinlang! Ang nalilinlang ay nasisiil.

Sec. Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.
Department of National Defense

Chinese State Media Portrays Filipinos as Monkeys on South China Sea Ruling Anniversary

July 16, 2026

A 58-second video by China Daily depicting a monkey singing “wrong lyrics” about the 2016 South China Sea ruling has drawn fierce criticism. In the clip, a whale brands the monkey “ocean garbage.” Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela sharply rejected the caricature, stating, “We are not monkeys,” and pointing out China’s history of complaining about similar depictions.

The video was released on the 10th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s landmark ruling, which rejected Beijing’s “nine-dash line” claims. That same week, the Philippines and 13 other nations reaffirmed the binding nature of the 2016 decision, calling for peaceful resolutions to ongoing tensions like vessel blockades.

UAE to Offer Visa-on-Arrival for Eligible Filipinos

June 25, 2026

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that beginning June 25, 2026, qualified Filipino travelers can secure a visa upon arrival in the UAE.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must hold a valid Philippine passport.
  • Must possess a valid visa, residence permit, or Green Card from any of the following: United States, EU member states, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Canada, or New Zealand.

Visa options and fees:

  • 14-Day Visa: AED 100 (Can be extended for an additional 14 days for AED 250).
  • 60-Day Visa: AED 250 (Non-extendable).

Big rollback for petroleum products announced by Department of Energy

June 22, 2026

The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced price adjustments for petroleum products effective June 23–29, 2026. These changes reflect international oil market movements amid ongoing developments in the Middle East that continue to impact global supply and pricing. Meanwhile, the DOE remains committed to strengthening the domestic oil supply and protecting public welfare.

Below is the announced rollbacks by DOE;

  • Gasoline (91, 95, 97) – ₱3.90 to ₱5.90/liter
  • Diesel and Diesel Plus- ₱9.01 – ₱11.04/liter
  • Kerosene – ₱9.82 – ₱11.82/liter

Source: @DOEgovph

Japan to raise visa fees for foreign nationals in first revision in 48 years  

June 22, 2026

Jiji, Staff report

The fee will be increased from the current ¥3,000 to ¥15,000 for a single-entry visa and from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000 for a multiple-entry visa. The new fees will apply to applications submitted on or after July 1.

The fact that Japan has not raise its visa fees in 48 years says a lot. Some countries increase fees annually, while others every every 3 years, which means this increase visa fees by Japan is long over due.

The government has proposed raising fees for residency status changes and stay extensions from the current range of ¥5,500 to ¥6,000 to between ¥10,000 and ¥70,000, while fees for permanent residency applications would increase from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. The government is aiming to implement the changes sometime before the end of the next fiscal year on March 31, 2027.

Well, it’s not just for tourists but also for Foreigners living in the country.

I’ve done the calculations and here’s the Philippine Peso equivalent for the new visa fees in Japan;

  • single-entry visa – ¥15,000 = ₱5,646.00
  • multiple-entry visa – ¥30,000 = ₱11,292.00
  • residency status changes and stay extensions – ¥10,000 and ¥70,000 = ₱3,764.00 to ₱26,348.00
  • permanent residency applications – ¥200,000 = ₱7,528.00

Note: ₱0.3764 = ¥1.00 via BSP

Saudi surgeons separate 4th Filipino conjoined twins  

June 21, 2026

Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, reporting for Philippine News Agency;

MANILA – Filipino conjoined twins Olivia and Gianna Manuel were successfully separated after a six-hour multistage surgery by Saudi Arabian surgeons in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Manila said on Friday.

The operation was carried out in six phases involving 22 specialized medical staff at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital (KASCH) in Riyadh on June 18 under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme (SCTP).

The embassy said the twins are in “stable condition” following the procedure and are being closely monitored at KASCH’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

It added that all costs related to the separation and aftercare were covered entirely by the Saudi government.

Last April 2026, Filipino twins Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa after a “complex” 13-hour surgery to be separated under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.

DOST-PHILVOLCS Cancels Tsunami Warning for Offshore Sarangani

June 8, 2026

via PHIVOLCS Tsunami Information:

A major earthquake occurred in offshore Sarangani on 08 June 2026 at 07:37 AM Philippine Standard Time (PST), located at 05.57°N, 124.98°E with depth of 33 km and a magnitude of 7.8. DOST-PHIVOLCS issued a TSUNAMI WARNING for all coastal communities in the provinces of Sarangani, Basilan, Davao Occidental, South Cotabato Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga Del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay. Immediate evacuation in these areas was recommended. Between 07:45 A.M to 9:30 A.M., the following PHIVOLCS Sea Level Monitoring Stations for tsunami confirmed the occurrence of tsunami with preliminary wave heights:

Location Tsunami Height (meters)
Kiamba, Sarangani 1.48
Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat 0.84
Maasim, Sarangani 0.48
City of Zamboanga 0.25
City of Mati, Davao Oriental 0.21
City of Tandag, Surigao del Sur 0.09

After the extended two-hour observation period, minor sea level disturbances continued to be recorded; however, these observed wave heights are too small to cause damage. In view of these observations, DOST-PHIVOLCS has now cancelled the Tsunami Warning issued for this earthquake event. In the event of strongly felt aftershocks, coastal communities should recognize the natural signs of an impending local tsunami. These include “shake,” a strong earthquake, “drop”, the sudden rise or fall of seawater, and “roar,” the sound of incoming waves. If ANY of these signs are observed, immediately evacuate to higher ground for safety. This will be the final tsunami information issued for this event.

The cancellation of the tsunami warning was issued two hours after the Province of Sarangani was hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that damaged a lot of property and left 19 dead with 12 people still missing.

General Santos hit by 7.8 Earthquake triggering Tsunami warning to 9 Coastal Areas

June 8, 2026

via Rappler;

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani province at 7:37 am on Monday, June 8, rocking many parts of Mindanao and triggering a tsunami warning.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) initially put the earthquake’s magnitude at 7.0.

Damage and aftershocks are expected.

Immediately after the earthquake Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued tsunami warning for the following coastal areas:

  • Sarangani
  • Davao Occidental
  • Tawi-tawi
  • Sulu
  • Basilan
  • Zamboanga Del Sur
  • Zamboanga Sibugay
  • Sultan Kudarat
  • South Cotabato

Here are some videos and photos that I saw on my social media accounts.

Earthquake aftershocks and tsunami waves are expected to for hours.

Update: Price Rollback from the Different Petrol Companies in the Philippines

April 13, 2026

These update are from ABS-CBN’s Alvin Elchico (@alvinelchico;

These rollback is bigger than the announcement made by DOE.

Shell

Flying V

Seaoil

Jetti Petroleum

PetroGazz

Petron

UNIOIL

Opinion: Fil-Ams told to “Think twice before renouncing citizenship”

December 8, 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.