Philippines

The Kanlaon volcano erupted on May 13, spewing a 4,5 km-high ash plume and affecting nearby villages; Authorities raised alert level 3, enforced a 6 km radius evacuation zone, and warned of possible further eruptions though no casualties were reported

Families of drug war victims have faced online harassment following former President Duterte's by the ICC, being labeled liars and paid agitators: they urged authorities to investigate these coordinated attacks and pursue legal action

Transport and commuter advocacy groups appealed to President to overturn the fare increase for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 LRT-1 in Manila, which would affect around 370.000 commuters daily and should take effect today

Thousands of Davao residents gathered with candles at former President Duterte residence on his 80th birthday, to express their well-wishes; Duterte is currently detained by the ICC in the Netherlands, facing charges related to his anti-drug campaign

Former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila on an International Criminal Court warrant for crimes against humanity linked to his deadly war on drugs, which left up to 30.000 dead; he has been transferred to The Hague for the upcoming trial

The Philippines and China are open to joint oil&gas exploration despite territorial tensions; talks focus on energy cooperation while ensuring Philippine sovereignty in a bid to overcome past failures over legal issue and seek a mutually beneficial deal

Lejun dela Cruz, a human rights activist and midterm election candidate, was arrested in Pasig for a 1998 murder; once part of the armed struggle, he later shifted to peaceful activism and his arrest raises concerns over political repression

The House impeached VP Sara Duterte over alleged misuse of public funds, corruption and threats against President Marcos Jr.; backed by 215 lawmakers, the case moves to the Senate and the trial will begin after 2 June: if convicted, she’ll be removed

The Puerto Princesa City Jail, in Palawan, promotes sports for Persons Deprived of Liberty; basketball, volleyball, chess, and more, aim to improve physical and mental well-being, foster discipline, teamwork, and support rehabilitation

Baguio has launched the 2025 Panagbenga Festival, a month-long celebration showcasing the city’s rich floral heritage; the festival features the Grand Float Parade, street dancing, and “Session Road in Bloom” attracting local and international tourists

Schools adopt alternative learning methods during calamities to ensure education continuity: online classes, modular learning, broadcast media; the Department of Education highlights preparedness and flexibility to maintain access for affected students

San Rafael, a town in Bulacan, set a new Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as angels; over 2.000 participants convened at Victory Coliseum, surpassing the previous record held by Winnipeg, Canada, since 2015

AI is transforming the thriving Philippine call center industry, automating tasks via chatbots and virtual assistants; while boosting efficiency (a 7% growth is expected in 2024), it poses job risks, making reskilling in IT, AI, and data analytics crucial