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.philstar.com/lifestyle/pet-life/2025/11/11/2486434/70-dogs-cats-saved-jona-viray-tours-farm-rescued-strays |
Singer-songwriter Jona Viray gave a glimpse of her Rizal farm where stray animals she rescued reside.
In her latest YouTube upload, broadcast journalist Karen Davila visited Jona's three-hectare farm in Tanay, Rizal, which the singer has been overseeing since the pandemic, though her rescue efforts date back to 2009.
Jona shared that she had rescued around 70 dogs and cats to date, though some of them that are ill or have disabilities are back in Manila, including one named Lupe, whose hind legs are paralyzed after an accident.
Some animals have been adopted but a majority of those still at the farm are those she and her companions have been looking after since being rescued and treated.
Many of the dogs that run free around the farm are named after celebrities like Kendall, Miley and Sitti — the latter Jona rescued from Boso-Boso in Antipolo, which she linked with the bossa nova singer.
Meanwhile, the cats — who have names like Hope, Gnocchi, Garfield and Tomas (who was rescued in Tomas Morato) — have all been neutered and spayed.
Karen asked Jona why she wasn't as public about her animal welfare efforts like fellow celebrities who are also animal advocates.
"Ginagawa ko ito not for publicity, basta I know may natutulungan kami and we're hopefully doing good work," Jona explained.
Jona joked that she isn't able to mingle or date because all her spare time and energy are dedicated to the farm.
She didn't let the pandemic slow down her efforts.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index has fallen to a five year low due to the ongoing corruption scandal.
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| https://business.inquirer.net/557749/psei-plunges-to-fresh-5-year-low-tracks-pandemic-level |
The government’s corruption crisis, softer consumption and cut in public spending that led to economic growth slowing to a four-year low continued to erode investor confidence, with the capital index on track to drop to its weakest finish since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell by another 1.29 percent, or 73.57 points, to close at 5,629.07, a fresh five-year low.
The broader All Shares Index also declined by 0.94 percent, or 32.82 points, to 3,465.61.
Among the key sectors, only the services ended in the positive territory. Financials and property sectors bled more on Tuesday’s trading.
Analysts said that the local bourse continued to see a bloodbath as depressing government data clouded investor optimism.
“The market remained weak as investors continue to price in softer GDP (gross domestic product) growth for the next few quarters, with 3Q25 corporate earnings starting to show strain from the weakening economy,” said Alfred Benjamin Garcia, research head at AP Securities Inc.
Last week, the government reported that the economy grew by just 4 percent in the July to September period, its slowest since the first quarter of 2021—when the Duterte administration imposed hard lockdowns to lessen the virus’ blow.
The Marcos administration’s growth target, on the other hand, is set at 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent.The sharp contraction in public spending was blamed on widespread anomalies linked to flood control projects. To recall, the Department of Public Works and Highways had suspended a number of activities, especially those covering bidding and procurement for local projects.
Household consumption also slowed to 4.1 percent due to a series of typhoons.
“While the index may stage an interim rebound due to oversold conditions, the general directional bias remains on the downside. Any rally, if any, may just be temporary,” Ron Acoba, chief investment strategist at Trading Edge Consultancy, said in a message.
“As of now, the index is clearly trending south, and is now eyeing its pandemic low of around 4,500,” Acoba added.
He even noted that the index would have already plunged to the pandemic level without a lift from International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and Manila Electric Co., which he said “account for about 20 percent weight in the index.”
“As for whether the weakness could drag on, short-term, the market seems to be trying to find a support level where valuations are cheap enough to justify bargain-hunting. Until that bottom is found, we can’t say for certain when this trend will reverse,” Garcia added.
For Tuesday’s trading, DigiPlus Interactive Corp. logged the highest gain, increasing 7.65 percent to P27.45. Universal Robina Corp., on the other hand, was the worst index performer, falling 6.64 percent to P66.10.
Corruption is more destructive than actually shutting down the economy like what happened during the pandemic.
Another P-Pop star is rising. He started his journey for real during the pandemic.
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| https://tribune.net.ph/2025/11/15/raks-the-dumaguete-born-dreamer-rises-in-p-pop |
In a fast-evolving P-pop landscape dominated by powerhouse groups and genre-bending soloists, a new name is quietly but steadily carving his space — Raks, the 23-year-old artist from Dumaguete City whose journey is built on passion, grit, and an unwavering belief in what music can do.
Signed under Beetzee Inc., Raks embodies the new generation of Filipino performers: self-made, self-trained, and fueled by the desire to tell stories that resonate. His artistry is defined not just by talent, but by years of early-stage discipline, a deep sense of purpose, and a commitment to continuous growth.
Childhood shaped by stages and spotlights
Long before he stepped into the world of P-pop, Rakhim S. Tahir was a boy who simply loved to perform.
He began at six years old, joining local talent shows, school programs, and later, national and international competitions. One of his earliest breakthroughs came in 2018, when he represented the Philippines at the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Long Beach, California — bringing home six medals across all categories he joined.
The following year, he tried his luck on national television through Idol Philippines, marking the beginning of his transition from a competition kid to a more intentional, self-aware artist.
Discovering his voice through songwriting
It wasn’t until 2023 that Raks found a deeper, more personal way of expressing himself — songwriting.
His debut single, “Me, Myself, and I,” marked his first step in crafting original music. Later that year, he joined a songwriting competition where his self-written and choreographed entry, “Care to Spend the Rest of the Night with Me,” earned him 2nd runner-up, proving that his artistry extends beyond vocals and performances.
His growth continued onstage, including a standout appearance at Sillimusika 2024 where he served as one of the front acts for Lola Amour, and a performance at V1BE Fest Manila’s Creators Studio inside the Mall of Asia Arena.
In August 2025, he also took part in the All-University Acquaintance Party of Silliman University, further solidifying his reputation as Dumaguete’s rising hometown performer.
A pandemic that sparked a dream
Like many Gen Z artists, the pandemic became a turning point.
Confined at home, Raks immersed himself in K-pop and P-pop, discovering a world where storytelling, choreography, and performance merged into something electrifying.
This was the moment he decided: he wanted to become an idol.
Since then, he has auditioned for shows, joined training camps, attended workshops, and honed his skills in singing, dancing, and stage performance. It was a long and often challenging road, but on 16 October 2024, his persistence paid off — he officially signed with Beetzee Inc.
Now, he is preparing for his grand debut as the label’s newest P-pop soloist.
Beyond the stage lights, Raks is grounded, thoughtful, and driven by both gratitude and ambition. Here’s a closer look at the artist behind the rising name.
His musical influences growing up
“It started with Bruno Mars. Pero habang nagshi-shift ako ng genre (But, I started shifting genre). I’m now heavily influenced by Jackson Wang on the foreign side, and BGYO and SB19 from the Philippines.”
These influences show in his sound —smooth, performance-heavy, and emotionally charged.
Life beyond music
“I am currently a second-year Mass Communication student at Silliman University. Before that, I studied Music major in Voice starting in 2021.
Tumutulong din po ako minsan sa mom ko (I sometimes help my) who works as a fish vendor in the public market.”
Behind the spotlight is a student balancing academics, training, and family responsibilities — a testament to his determination.
Dream collaborations
“SB19 po, kasi they’re an all-around group. I love their songs and how they can perform any genre. Inspiring sila and amazing artists.
I also want to collab with Jackson Wang — I admire his artistry and how he expresses himself through music.”
These choices highlight his alignment with powerful, genre-fluid performers.
Songs he wants to cover
“It would definitely be ‘What’ by SB19. It would be really nice if I could have a mega crew dancing with me for that cover.”
A bold choice that matches his love for strong choreography and intense performance energy.
His goals as an artist
“As a growing artist, gusto ko pong ma-recognize ng maraming tao. I want to reach more people through my music and hopefully promote in Manila as an idol someday.”
It’s a simple but heartfelt dream — one that is already unfolding.
Now his persistence is paying off.
The charges agains Pharmally have been dropped. The excuse is so that the Ombudsman can re-investigate it.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2141811/graft-cases-in-pharmally-mess-withdrawn-but-ombudsman-may-review |
The Sandiganbayan has allowed the withdrawal of graft charges linked to the multibillion-peso Pharmally scandal, a controversy tied to the Duterte administration’s pandemic procurement, paving the way for the Office of the Ombudsman to review and reinvestigate the cases.
The anti-graft court’s First Division released on Monday a 12-page resolution, addressing the six graft cases filed against former Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao and several other officials.
The other Procurement Service – Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) officials named are:
- Warren Rex Hernandez Liong, procurement director
- Augusto Menchavez Ylagan, PS‑DBM employee
- Webster Marmol Laureñana, acting division chief of procurement
- Paul Jasper Villanueva De Guzman, procurement officer
- Christine Marie Lecaros Suntay, administrative/finance director
Meanwhile, the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. executives involved in this case include the following:
- Twinkle Dargani, president
- Mohit Dargani, corporate secretary/treasurer
- Linconn Uy Ong, director
- Justine Garado, director
- Huang Tzu Yen, chairperson
- Krizle Grace Ukkong Mago, executive
- Lin Weixiong, financial manager
- Jasonmer Lagarto Uayan, executive
The court emphasized that a sitting ombudsman has “the power to revoke or alter the rulings of a predecessor within the bounds of law.”
“The Ombudsman is not barred from ordering a new review of a complaint, as he or she may revoke, repeal, or abrogate the acts or previous rulings of a predecessor,” the ruling said.
“After careful consideration of the facts, allegations, and records of these cases, this Court deems it appropriate to grant the withdrawal of the Informations against the accused despite the previous finding of probable cause and subsequent issuance of the warrants of arrest,” it further explained.
Last month, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the withdrawal of cases filed before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the Pharmally scandal.Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla explained that the cases would be reviewed again to ensure they would be “ready for trial” before being refiled.
He noted that previous handling of the cases lacked coordination among the fact-finding, evaluation, preliminary investigation, and prosecution teams.
“Everybody was in the dark. It was not working as a complete team. That should be a fully laid-out plan. It can’t be segmented, with one team not knowing what the other is doing,” Remulla said.
He added that withdrawing the cases would allow the anti-graft body to re-evaluate them and ensure that the work done by investigators and the Senate would not be wasted.
Previous investigations, including a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe from August 2021 to January 2022, found that Pharmally won contracts totaling P11.5 billion despite a paid-up capital of only P625,000.
This was the largest single award of government COVID-19 supply contracts to a private company at the time. The contracts included 8,000 BGI real-time fluorescent RT-PCR test kits (P600 million); 2,000 A*Star Fortitude RT-PCR kits (P688 million); and 41,400 BGI RT-PCR kits (P2.877 billion).
Is anyone ever going to face the music over this debacle?
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