Manila Standard

1 day ago | manilastandard.net | Charles Arvin Dantes

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City on Saturday, Malacañang announced yesterday. A funeral Mass for the Holy Father has been scheduled on Saturday at the city state, where many world leaders are expected to gather, from US President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

1 day ago | manilastandard.net | Charles Arvin Dantes

The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday announced the pilot implementation of the P20-per-kilo rice program in the Visayas region, marking a key step in the fulfillment of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s campaign promise to lower rice prices for Filipino consumers. The announcement came shortly after a closed-door meeting between President Marcos and 12 Visayas governors at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, where the initial rollout of the highly anticipated subsidy initiative was discussed.

1 day ago | manilastandard.net | Charles Arvin Dantes

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will visit the Philippines next week, officials said Wednesday, as part of Tokyo’s summit diplomacy to maintain a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and efforts to ramp up regional ties after the US tariff onslaught. Ishiba’s April 27-30 trip to Vietnam and the Philippines follows a Southeast Asia tour by Chinese President Xi Jinping, with Beijing trying to position itself as a stable alternative to the United States as leaders confront Trump’s levies.

1 day ago | manilastandard.net | Charles Arvin Dantes

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday lauded the launch of the VITRO Santa Rosa Data Center, calling it a major step in the Philippines’ journey toward becoming a digital economy leader in Southeast Asia. Speaking at the data center’s grand opening in Santa Rosa, Laguna, Mr. Marcos said the facility signals the country’s readiness to compete globally in the areas of data, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure.

1 day ago | manilastandard.net | Charles Arvin Dantes

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. declared a period of national mourning in the country following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, at the age of 88. Proclamation No. 871, which was signed by the president on April 23, Wednesday, honors the late pontiff, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, for his deep impact on the Roman Catholic Church and his enduring influence on Filipino Catholics.