More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
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| https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/07/29/sports/ph-womens-baseball-team-out-to-prove-its-worth-in-world-cup/2393668/amp |
The Philippine women’s baseball team qualified for the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup for the first time in 2020 but was not able to play because the event was called off by the World Baseball Softball Confederation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year, the Philippines will finally have its chance to show its wares at the World Cup after the team was granted a wildcard entry.
In recognition to the Philippine women’s baseball program's upward trajectory, the Filipina batters were granted entry and will debut in the World Cup group stage slated from Aug. 23 to 27.
The Philippines is pooled in Group Tainan in Taiwan.
National team assistant coach Jennifer Singh said that the Filipina batters are out to prove they belong among the world's best as they try to make the top three of the group stage to advance to the World Cup finale next year in Rockford, Illinois.
“The whole team, PABA (Philippine Amateur Baseball Association), and PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) are very happy. Since 2019, this has been our goal — to qualify for the World Cup. We were not able to continue in 2020 because of the pandemic," said Singh in an interview with The Manila Times.
“We did not expect that we would be given the chance to make it to the World Cup. So, this is an opportunity we really will not waste. We will give our best.”
As a player, Singh was part of that 2019 national team that qualified for the World Cup by finishing third in the Asian Cup.
The former University of the East standout recalled how the Filipina batters were dejected after the 2020 World Cup was canceled.
“We have been preparing for this for several years. In 2023, we lost to Korea in the Asia Cup, which served as the World Cup qualifier," said Singh.
"Then in 2025, we had some visa problems with our players. When we faced Korea again, only nine players arrived on the day of the Korea-Philippines game. We fell short there.”
Those setbacks, however, are now behind her as she looks to help the national team in a coaching capacity.
Singh said the team, made up of UAAP standouts and veteran players, is determined to prove it deserves a place in the World Cup.
“From the moment we received the invitation that we were chosen as the wildcard team, we became committed. We are focused on discipline, working hard in training, and improving the way our players perform," said Singh.
“We are not focused on how we earned our spot in the World Cup. What matters to us is how we will carry the name of the Philippines. We want to show the country and the whole world that the Philippine women’s baseball team has the ability to compete against the best of the world. We hope that through our performance in the World Cup, more Filipinos will support baseball and that the sport will continue to grow in our country.”
The Philippines, ranked 21st in the world, is pooled with No. 5 Venezuela, No. 7 Cuba, No. 15 Great Britain, No. 6 Taiwan, and No. 1 Japan, which it will face to open its campaign on Aug. 23.
After Japan, the Philippines face Cuba, Taiwan, Great Britain, and Venezuela in that order.
“Japan is a team we have already faced three times from 2019 to 2025. We can say that they are really a strong team but our team will still fight," said Singh.
“In fact, during our last game against Japan in 2023 when I was still a player, we played against Japan and we lost at 7-1. Among all the teams that Japan faced, though, we were the only ones who were able to complete seven innings. We were not subjected to the mercy rule.”
It's great they get another shot at the title.
The economy continues to sink post-pandemic.
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| https://business.inquirer.net/603002/postpandemic-low-economy-likely-grew-by-just-2-5-in-q2-says-uap |
The Philippine economy may have lost further momentum in the second quarter, with growth slipping to another postpandemic low as stubborn inflation weighed on consumer spending and weak business confidence curbed investment.
This is according to University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) economists, who lowered growth forecast for the April-to-June period to 2.5 percent from the previous estimate of 2.6 percent. If realized, it would be weaker than the already subdued 2.8 percent expansion in the first quarter.
In its latest The Market Call report, UA&P said there were signs of relief in June after oil prices had eased following a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Inflation slowed to 6.4 percent from 6.8 percent a month earlier, though it remained more than double the 3 percent target of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
That respite, however, appears to have been short-lived. As the Gulf conflict enters its sixth month, renewed fighting has sent global crude prices back to more than $100 a barrel, raising costs for oil-importing economies like the Philippines.
“Some soft recovery is underway, though persistent above-target inflation and subdued business optimism may undermine the recovery narrative,” the economists said.
UA&P warned that the outlook remained overshadowed by what it called a triple threat: higher oil prices, an outsized minimum wage increase and severe El Niño conditions. Together, those factors are seen to push inflation beyond 7 percent again, forcing the BSP to keep monetary policy tight.
Since April, the central bank has raised its benchmark interest rate by a cumulative 50 basis points to 4.75 percent in an effort to contain inflation, though higher borrowing costs also risk further slowing economic activity.
UA&P said mounting inflationary pressures could drive long-term government bond yields higher and prompt an additional 50 basis points of rate hikes from the BSP.
Even so, it expects the local financial markets to remain largely range-bound until there is clearer progress toward peace in the Middle East.
“Trading will likely center around second quarter earnings reports, with some leeway in store as companies signaled conservative forward earnings guidance in the thick of the Middle East conflict,” the report said.
That's what you get when you shut down the economy for years. The Iran war doesn't help either.
A new study is out about Food Security which is tied directly to the pandemic and raising prices. Food security is more than aiding farmers.
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| https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/08/03/supplements/food-security-demands-more-than-farm-aid/2396594 |
A study by Maria Galveia and Edison Macusi titled “Climate change resilience and food security of small-scale fishing communities in the South-eastern Mindanao, Philippines,” published in July 2026, documented how climate change variability has affected small-scale fishing communities in four Mindanao municipalities.
During his State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted food security as one of the important lessons that the government learned over the past months -- and how by technology and good governance can the country overcome the many variables in food production, such as climate change and pestilence -- can provide sustenance for Filipinos.
“We are strengthening our agriculture system to guarantee the supply of food and lower its price. Various programs such as investments, farm inputs, equipment, knowledge and insurance will help farmers and fisherfolk,” the President said in Filipino.
The President enumerated these generic programs for agriculture and fisheries without any specific end goal or a robust program, making it an insufficient statement to address one of the pressing problems of the country.
It is correct that at its core, agriculture must be strengthened — from farming to fisheries and livestock — as this industry provides food. However, there are multiple factors that should be considered.
The Galveia and Macusi study showed that while Mindanao is less prone to storms, the frequent typhoons have caused infrastructure and livelihood damages and exacerbated by socio-economic conditions and lack of accessibility to resources. These enumerated factors are important to be considered when it comes to strengthening agriculture.
Global problems also indirectly affect food security. The study of Marvin Joseph Mentefrio and Anacorita Abasolo titled “Pandemic lockdowns and their impacts on urban-based agrarian livelihoods and food security in a Provincial City in the Philippines,” published on March 11, 2025, details how the Covid-19 pandemic affected food security among urban-based agrarians.
The study illustrated how the pandemic forced residents to alleviate hunger through subsistence food sources. However, these food sources leave people in debt because they acquire the sources through credit. These findings indicate another layer of food security: accessibility through affordability even amid crisis. Food must, ultimately, reach family tables for it to be utilized effectively.
Increasing food prices is a common plea among Filipinos. “From price stability to food security: what are the drivers of price volatilities in Philippine vegetable markets?” published on Jan. 21, 2026 by Jennifer Hinlo and Yoonsuk Lee, details how domestic market dynamics affect vegetable price volatility. The main factor, according to the study, is demand volatility and followed by supply shocks. Seasonal production and smuggling and illegal trade are also understated factors.
While these studies are only a fraction of the overall image of food security in the Philippines, these findings collectively show that food security is a complex issue that may not be addressed simply by helping farmers through programs. The administration must step up to carefully assess how multiple socioeconomic factors play into the issue instead of offering short-term solutions. This will help nation building as a whole as well.
The people need price stability. And with inflation, that stability is not there.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has set a post-pandemic box office opening record.
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| https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/movies/2026/08/04/2546900/spider-man-brand-new-day-sets-philippine-post-pandemic-opening-weekend-box-office-record |
Cash continues to flow for "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" as it approaches a week in Philippine cinemas.
The latest solo outing of Tom Holland as the web slinger scored big on its opening day in the country last July 29 as it raked in nearly P96 million.
That made "Brand New Day' the biggest opening day box office in the Philippines since the pandemic, and the third-biggest opening day ever in the country behind the last two "Avengers" movies, "Endgame" and "Infinity War."
It also set a new opening day gross record in the Philippines for any "Spider-Man" movie and a film released by Sony Pictures.
New data from distributor Columbia Pictures show the movie has now set a new record for the biggest post-pandemic opening weekend in the Philippines.
"Brand New Day" accumulated P586.9 million on its opening weekend in more than 700 cinemas nationwide — again a record for any "Spider-Man" film and just behind the previously mentioned "Avengers" films for opening weekend hauls.
August 1, Saturday, was a particularly special day for moviegoers as fans celebrated "Spider-Man Day" to commemorate the superhero's debut in 1962.
Columbia Pictures also released a list of Philippine cinemas where "Brand New Day" grossed the most during its opening weekend.
SM Megamall led the pack with P15.4 million, followed by Power Plant and Trinoma with around P14 million apiece.
SM Seaside Cebu (P8 million) and Robinsons Antipolo (P7.78 million) rounded out the Top 10 as the highest-grossing opening weekend cinemas outside of Metro Manila.
"Brand New Day" will continue to screen in all sorts of Philippine cinema formats, including ScreenX and 3D/4DX, and hopefully open in IMAX once "The Odyssey" finishes its exclusive run in those specialty cinemas.
The film picks up with Holland's Peter literally forgotten by the rest of the world to preserve his identity and the safety of his closest friends MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) but is thriving as Spider-Man.
The webslinger comes face-to-face with a mysterious figure capable of jumping consciousnesses — but not his — as he grapples with all sorts of pain as a result of his struggling identity
That's good news for local theaters.
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