Philippine

• Billie Eilish's new concert film has converted viewers into fans, particularly in Manila, as shared by writer Andrea Posadas on May 12, 2026. • The film captures major pop culture events, emphasizing the importance of documenting live experiences through writing and media. • It highlights Eilish's growing influence in Southeast Asia's entertainment scene amid streaming content trends.

Former police chief Ronald dela Rosa spends night at senate office after another Duterte ally offers protective custodyThe unusual pursuit was captured on CCTV cameras inside the Philippine senate. Ronald dela Rosa, a longtime ally of the former president Rodrigo Duterte, raced along the hallways of the upper house complex, stumbling on the staircase, as he fled government agents.“They want to forcibly bring me to The Hague, to surrender me there,” Dela Rosa said later on a Facebook livestream, pleading for public support. Continue reading...

Vice-president is accused of misusing public funds and threatening the lives of President Marcos Jr and his wifeThe Philippine vice-president, Sara Duterte, has been impeached over allegations she misused public funds, amassed unexplained wealth and threatened the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his wife, in a case that could complicate her presidential ambitions.Duterte, the daughter of the detained former president Rodrigo Duterte, was impeached by an overwhelming majority of lawmakers in the House of Representatives, which is dominated by allies of Marcos. Continue reading...

• The Philippines recorded its lowest post-pandemic GDP growth of 2.8% in the first quarter of 2026, signaling economic slowdown amid global uncertainties. • This figure marks a sharp deceleration, raising concerns over government policy effectiveness in sustaining recovery. • Analysts attribute the slump to external pressures like energy costs from regional conflicts and weaker domestic demand.

• The Philippine Social Security System (SSS) rolled out an AI‑powered fraud‑detection platform on May 7, 2026, using anomaly‑detection models trained on 15 years of pension and contribution records. • Initial testing reportedly flagged over 44,000 suspicious claims during a six‑month pilot, with an estimated $187 million in potential fraudulent payouts prevented before the nationwide launch. • The system, developed in partnership with a local AI‑analytics startup, analyzes over 120 behavioral and transactional features per claimant and pushes alerts to human investigators via a dashboard.

• The Philippines recorded a Q1 2026 GDP growth of 2.8%, the weakest since the pandemic and dragging the economy into a prolonged slowdown. • This marks one of the weakest runs in 16 years, signaling challenges in post-recovery momentum. • Factors include subdued domestic demand and external headwinds affecting Southeast Asia.

US suspect held in south-east Asia after genealogical DNA identified him in Tampa-area case involving 7-year-old girlA man accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl in Florida in 1989 was recently arrested in the Philippines, according to authorities.Preserved DNA and genealogical research allowed investigators to identify Young Tom Talmadge, 69, as the suspect in the Tampa-area case, the Philippines’ government said in a statement. Continue reading...