BALITANG MARINO DAILY NEWS for May 15, 2026
BRICS foreign ministers meet in India as Iran war, oil prices and divisions test the bloc’s unity
Ahead of Day 2 talks with Xi, Trump says he hopes US-China ties will be ‘stronger and better’
Somali Piracy on the Rise
Controlled maritime operating zones increasingly appear in Hormuz
Global oil stocks deplete at record pace
Dela Rosa leaves Senate with Padilla
VP impeach court convenes May 18
8 countries join Luzon Economic Corridor initiative as PH, Japan, US reaffirm commitment
DOE to sell diesel at lower prices for off-grid areas
Up to 4,000 OFWs in US bases face job loss
Luzon, Visayas grids on red alert anew
Fair weather to prevail across PH Friday
Limit coffee, processed food during high heat index – expert
JMFyang’s ‘Almost Us’ hits ₱23 million mark as it heads to its second week
‘ASAP XP’ kicks off its new chapter with ABS-CBN’s brightest stars
Mikey Bustos’s AntsCanada wins at the 30th Annual Webby Awards
PBA: Jayson Castro enters 10,000-point club in TNT’s QF win over NLEX
NBA: Cavs top Pistons in overtime for 3-2 series lead
Swiatek cruises past Pegula and into Italian Open semis
To beat the heat, here are some tips from PAGASA
FULL NEWSPAPER
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
BRICS foreign ministers meet in India as Iran war, oil prices and divisions test the bloc’s unity
NEW DELHI, May 15 —— Foreign ministers from the BRICS nations began a two-day meeting in New Delhi as the expanding bloc faces divisions over the war in Iran, rising energy prices, and growing global economic uncertainty.
The meeting brings together diplomats from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with newer member countries. It comes as the war in Iran has disrupted global energy supplies and driven up oil prices, and coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov are attending. China is represented by Ambassador Xu Feihong, while Foreign Minister Wang Yi remains in the Chinese capital during Trump’s visit. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the talks would focus on global and regional challenges and ways to deepen cooperation among member nations.
In opening remarks, Jaishankar said BRICS could help developing countries more effectively respond to the health and financing challenges they face, as well as high prices for energy, food, and fertilizer. “We meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations,” he said, adding that emerging and developing countries increasingly expect BRICS to play a “constructive and stabilizing role.”
BRICS has sought to expand its influence
Founded by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, BRICS was formed as a grouping of major emerging economies seen as a counterbalance to Western-led institutions such as the G7. South Africa joined in 2010, and the bloc expanded further in 2024 with the addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia became a full member in 2025.
The group has sought to expand its influence by pushing for a bigger role in a global order long dominated by the United States and its Western allies. It has gained support across parts of the Global South, where many countries have criticized Western-led financial institutions. But BRICS nations remain divided on key issues. India and China continue to compete for regional influence, while member countries often differ in their ties with the West. Russia’s war in Ukraine has further exposed those differences.
New divisions test global ambitions
The bloc’s expansion has also added strains. Competing regional interests have increased the difficulty of presenting a unified position. Divisions have sharpened further during the growing conflict in the Middle East. Iran and the UAE are BRICS members despite pursuing competing interests in the region.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister said Wednesday that disagreements within BRICS over the conflict had prevented the bloc from reaching a unified position. Kazem Gharibabadi told news agency Press Trust of India that “one member country” had pushed for language condemning Iran, complicating efforts to build consensus within the grouping. “We want India’s BRICS chairship to be successful. It is not a good approach to send a signal to the world that the BRICS is divided. One country is insisting on condemning Iran,” Gharibabadi said.
Source: mb.com.ph
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Ahead of Day 2 talks with Xi, Trump says he hopes US-China ties will be ‘stronger and better’
BEIJING, May 15 —— United States President Donald Trump on Friday (May 15) said he hoped Washington’s relationship with China would be “stronger and better than ever before”, ahead of a second day of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Trump added in his Truth Social post that Xi had congratulated him on “so many tremendous successes”, including the US’ relationship with Venezuela, its job market, and its military.
In his post, Trump also said that Xi had referred to the US as “perhaps being a declining nation”, but noted the Chinese President was pointing to the previous US administration under former President Joe Biden. “Two years ago, we were, in fact, a nation in decline. On that, I fully agree with President Xi!” said the US president. Trump said: “But now, the United States is the hottest nation anywhere in the world, and hopefully our relationship with China will be stronger and better than ever before!”
The two leaders are set to meet on Friday to wrap up a two-day state visit that has featured pomp and business deals but also a stark warning from Xi that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push US-China relations to “a very dangerous place”.
Trump is on his first visit by a US president to China, America’s main strategic and economic rival, since a 2017 visit during his first term, and has been hoping for tangible results that might improve his dented approval ratings ahead of crucial midterm elections. The two leaders are scheduled to have tea and lunch before Trump flies back to the United States.
The summit has been aimed at maintaining a fragile trade truce struck when the leaders last met in October, and Trump suspended triple-digit tariffs on Chinese goods, and Xi backed away from choking global supplies of vital rare earths. Trump has also been expected to urge China to convince Iran to make a deal with Washington to end a war unpopular with American voters. But he has travelled to Beijing with a weakened hand after US courts limited his ability to levy tariffs at will, and as prices rise, driven by the Iran war, have made him politically vulnerable at home.
A brief US summary of Thursday’s talks highlighted what the White House called the leaders’ shared desire to reopen the Strait of Hormuz waterway off Iran, through which a fifth of global supplies of oil and natural gas travel in normal times, and Xi’s apparent interest in buying American oil to reduce China’s dependence on Middle East supplies. Trump told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity that China had agreed to order 200 Boeing jets, its first purchase of US-made commercial jets in nearly a decade. That total was much lower than markets were expecting. Media reports had suggested the planemaker was nearing a deal to sell 500 or more airplanes to China, and Boeing shares fell more than 4 per cent after the comments were aired.
Source: channelnewsasia.com
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MARITIME NEWS
Somali Piracy on the Rise
May 15 —— Palaemon Maritime’s maritime security report this week points to some of the clearest indicators yet that piracy activity off Somalia is escalating again. “Taken alone, these incidents might appear isolated. Taken together, they point to something more important: the conditions that enable piracy are building again in the Western Indian Ocean.”
Most recently, Palaemon cites a possible hijacking of a dhow off the southern Somali coast, multiple suspicious approaches and aggressive small craft activity in the region, and intelligence reports indicating that an active pirate group is preparing to conduct attacks against merchant vessels operating off the coast of Somalia. The exact nature, timing and intended targets of the threat have not been specified at this stage.
Meanwhile others are already suffering from the escalation. This week, Ambreen Fatima protested in Karachi with her children for the release of her husband, one of 10 Pakistani crew aboard the oil tanker Honour 25 seized by Somali pirates on April 21. He is now drinking dirty tank water to survive, she says. The MT Honour 25 was seized approximately 30 nautical miles off Somalia’s Puntland region with 17 crew members aboard. At least three vessels were hijacked off Puntland in April, prompting a “substantial” threat-level warning from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
Meanwhile, Somali pirates have reportedly increased their ransom demand for the release of the tanker Eureka from $3 million to $10 million. The Eureka was hijacked on May 2 off the coast of Yemen by armed Somali pirates.
Recent commentary in the media points to the diversion of naval ships away from anti-piracy activity due to other priorities in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz, an increase in fuel prices making tankers a valuable target, and the suspension of US funding for development projects in Somalia. The resurgence of Somali piracy highlights that naval missions have only addressed symptoms, leaving deep-seated causes like political instability and extreme poverty unresolved, says geopolitical analyst Tommaso Franco in an editorial published by the Australian Institute of International Affairs.
“Born as coastal self-defense, Somali piracy has mutated into a high-precision ransom industry, capable of challenging global navies and rewriting local welfare. Pirates legitimize their attacks with a Robin Hood narrative, presented as a defense of the common good. By guaranteeing a level of prosperity that Mogadishu cannot offer and redistributing the proceeds, they gain protection from local communities and territorial and social control within a fragmented political system.”
Source: marinelink.com
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Controlled maritime operating zones increasingly appear in Hormuz
May 15 —— According to Windward’s latest update, issued 13 May, the Strait of Hormuz is increasingly operating as a tightly controlled maritime zone marked by constrained Iranian export activity.
The Strait of Hormuz operating environment remained heavily constrained between May 11 and May 13 as Iranian export infrastructure continued operating below normal capacity, dark tanker staging expanded across protected Iranian waters, and IRGC-linked maritime activity intensified throughout the corridor.
Kharg Island showed its clearest signs yet of sustained export disruption. For the first time since April 18, all loading terminals were observed empty despite roughly 20 dark tankers remaining staged nearby with an estimated carrying capacity exceeding 25 million barrels. No confirmed crude departures have been observed from Kharg since May 7, while imagery also identified tug and repair activity near the island’s western infrastructure, reinforcing assessments that Iran is attempting to restore damaged loading capacity while holding export tonnage in reserve. At the same time, large concentrations of dark VLCCs, Suezmaxes, and product tankers remained stationary near Larak, Qeshm, eastern Hormuz, and Chabahar.
Persistent ship-to-ship transfer activity, prolonged dark anchorage behavior, bunkering operations, and EMCON conditions reinforced indications that Iran is increasingly managing maritime flows through a layered staging and control architecture rather than normal commercial transit patterns.
Commercial movement through Hormuz continued, but under increasingly degraded visibility conditions. Limited outbound flows persisted under both AIS-transmitting and dark conditions, while RF collections repeatedly showed little to no detectable emissions activity in key commercial corridors. Taken together, the developments indicate that significant portions of the Strait are increasingly functioning as controlled maritime operating zones shaped by covert staging, surveillance, selective transit management, and constrained export activity.
At a glance
• Kharg Island loading terminals were observed fully empty for the first time since April 18, despite approximately 20 staged dark tankers nearby.
• No confirmed crude departures from Kharg have been observed since May 7, reinforcing assessments of sustained export disruption.
• Dark tanker holding zones continued expanding near Larak, Qeshm, eastern Hormuz, and Chabahar.
• Persistent ship-to-ship transfer activity and prolonged dark anchorage behavior indicate growing covert staging operations inside Iranian territorial waters.
• IRGC-linked surveillance and patrol activity intensified, with hundreds of fast craft observed operating near key shipping corridors.
• Commercial vessel movement through Hormuz remained heavily restricted, with most large hulls stationary under dark or EMCON conditions.
• Windward assesses that portions of Hormuz are increasingly functioning as controlled maritime holding zones rather than normal commercial transit corridors.
Outlook
Kharg Island crude export throughput remains severely degraded, with no active tanker loading operations observed for multiple consecutive days despite large tanker queues remaining staged nearby. The continued absence of departures reinforces assessments that Iran is struggling to restore normal export throughput while attempting to preserve crude export continuity under blockade conditions.
At the same time, dark tanker concentrations across northern Hormuz, eastern Hormuz, and Chabahar indicate that Iran is increasingly relying on protected holding zones to buffer export capacity and manage outbound flows. Persistent ship-to-ship transfer activity, bunkering operations, and prolonged dark anchorage behavior reinforce indications that covert cargo-transfer and sanctions evasion operations are expanding inside Iranian territorial waters.
Commercial shipping activity through Hormuz also remains heavily constrained. Widespread EMCON behavior, AIS suppression, and limited visible large-hull movement continue across both inbound and outbound traffic flows, while IRGC-linked surveillance and patrol activity remains elevated near critical choke points and commercial corridors.
Windward assesses that the Strait of Hormuz is increasingly operating less as a conventional commercial shipping corridor and more as a controlled maritime operating environment shaped by surveillance, staging, selective transit management, and constrained export logistics, Windward concludes.
Source: safety4sea.com
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Global oil stocks deplete at record pace
May 15 —— More than ten weeks after the war in the Middle East began, mounting supply losses from the Strait of Hormuz are depleting global oil inventories at a remarkable speed, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
As explained in the May oil market report from IEA, benchmark oil prices have posted wild swings in response to conflicting signals on whether the United States and Iran will soon reach a deal to end the conflict, with North Sea Dated plunging from a high of $144/bbl to below $100/bbl before rebounding again.
At the time of writing, the two countries remained at loggerheads over an accord to reopen the Strait and end the war, with North Sea Dated around $110/bbl. “With Hormuz tanker traffic still restricted, cumulative supply losses from Gulf producers already exceed 1 billion barrels with more than 14 mb/d of oil now shut in, an unprecedented supply shock. The current supply-demand gap is significantly smaller, however, as the market was already in surplus heading into the crisis while producers and consumers alike are responding to market signals,” IEA highlighted.
On the supply side, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have successfully redirected some exports to terminals loading outside of the Strait. At the same time, stocks from commercial and government strategic storage sites in consuming countries are flowing into markets to offset part of the losses.
Observed global inventories, including oil on water, were drawn down by 250 mb over March and April, or 4 mb/d. Producers outside of the Middle East also pushed output higher and lifted exports to record levels in response to the crisis. Indeed, 2026 supply growth expectations from the Americas have been revised up by more than 600 kb/d since the start of the year, to 1.5 mb/d on average.
Moreover, Atlantic Basin crude oil exports, now heading primarily to hard-hit East of Suez markets, have increased by 3.5 mb/d since February, with notable gains from the United States, Brazil, Canada, Kazakhstan and Venezuela. Russia’s crude oil exports have also risen, as repeated attacks on its refineries have cut domestic use and led to higher shipments, while the United States temporarily waived sanctions on Russian oil on water.
Furthermore, on the demand side, refiners have reduced runs and sharply scaled back crude imports. Chinese seaborne crude imports fell by a massive 3.6 mb/d from February to April, according to Kpler. Major reductions in imports were also seen in Japan (-1.9 mb/d), Korea (-1 mb/d) and India (-760 kb/d). But while the slowdown in global refinery activity – by around 5 mb/d y-o-y in April – has temporarily eased tensions in the crude market, tightness is quickly spreading to product markets. “End users are also reducing consumption. Global oil demand is now expected to contract by 2.4 mb/d y-o-y in 2Q26 and to decline by 420 kb/d for the year as a whole, 1.3 mb/d weaker than our pre-conflict forecast. For now, the steepest losses are seen in the petrochemical sector where feedstock availability is becoming increasingly constrained,” IEA explains.
Aviation activity is also running well below normal levels, helping to ease some of the pressure on jet fuel prices, which nearly tripled after Middle Eastern exports were cut off. Higher prices, a deteriorating economic environment and demand-saving measures will further weigh on global oil consumption.
While demand may swing back to growth towards the end of the year if a deal to end the war is agreed that allows flows through the Strait of Hormuz to gradually resume from 3Q26, as is assumed in the report, supply will likely be slower to recover.
As a result, the oil market remains in deficit until the final quarter of the year. With global oil inventories already drawing at a record clip, further price volatility appears likely ahead of the peak summer demand period.
Source: safety4sea.com
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PHILIPPINE NEWS
Dela Rosa leaves Senate with Padilla
MANILA, Philippines, May 15 —— Hours after chaos erupted at the Senate as he evaded uniformed armed men supposedly sent to arrest him on Wednesday, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa reportedly managed to slip out of the building at 2:30 a.m. yesterday.
At a press briefing later, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed that Dela Rosa had left the Senate building with Sen. Robinhood Padilla. Cayetano said there was nothing wrong with it, and that Senate protective custody of Dela Rosa had ended. “I don’t know if they left together or they both left. I’m just reading to you. I don’t know. I haven’t asked. I haven’t talked to Senator Padilla. But if they did, there’s nothing illegal with it,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano read a text message from Dela Rosa’s wife Nancy apologizing for the bother Dela Rosa’s stay at the Senate had caused. “In behalf of my family, we would like to thank you and all the other Senators for all the support you have done for my husband. At the same time, I’d also like to ask for forgiveness for all the confusion and havoc it has created in the Senate,” Nancy’s text message to Cayetano read.
She reportedly told Cayetano of her husband’s concern that staying longer at the Senate premises would only further burden the Senate, even if he was sure that he would be safe in its custody. Nancy told Cayetano that the last time they talked Dela Rosa told her he would take advantage of the 72-hour period to make a comment on his petition before the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
She said she was surprised to learn that he had slipped out of the Senate, and that he might have taken advantage of the melee caused by the shooting to escape. Cayetano said he did not share the wife’s view that Dela Rosa “escaped” when he “left” the Senate building.
Source: philstar.com
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VP impeach court convenes May 18
MANILA, Philippines, May 15 —— The Senate impeachment court will convene next Monday to hear the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced.
In a press briefing, Cayetano vowed there would be no delays when the court convenes on May 18 at 3 p.m., “or at the possible soonest time, absent any question on the rules and procedure related to the transmitted articles.” Cayetano vowed that none of the 13 new majority senators would question the convening of the impeachment court.
He said the first day of the convening would be for the issuance of summons. He clarified that proceeding to trial “forthwith” as stated in the 1987 Constitution can only happen once the number of days for the issuances of summons and replies are complied with.
Cayetano said he is more concerned with balancing the impeachment proceedings with their regular legislative work of conducting committee hearings and passing bills. “The biggest issue for me is the balancing between (the impeachment trial and) the legislative work,” Cayetano said. “Once you convene and issue the summons, it proceeds.”
Vice President Duterte will let her 16-man legal team to do their job after the House of Representatives transmitted to the Senate the Articles of Impeachment against her. “We have a defense team, the impeachment defense team, who takes care of the issues and concerns regarding the impeachment. So, I leave it up to the lawyers to do their work,” Duterte said in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands.
House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil delivered the articles at about 7:20 p.m., and received by Senate Secretary Mark Mendoza. Multiple shots were fired by officers of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, accompanied by armed Philippine Marines. Minutes after the shooting, at about 8 p.m., OSAA members allowed House contingents to deliver the boxes containing the Articles of Impeachment.
Source: philstar.com
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8 countries join Luzon Economic Corridor initiative as PH, Japan, US reaffirm commitment
May 15 —— Eight more countries have joined the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) initiative as “valued partners,” as the Philippines, Japan, and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to accelerate infrastructure development and economic connectivity in the country.
The development came during the 4th Luzon Economic Corridor Steering Committee meeting held in Makati on May 12. In a Facebook post, the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines said that Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom were officially announced as valued partners of the initiative during the meeting.
In an X post, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya welcomed the participation of the additional partner countries in the initiative. “Together with the Philippines, the United States, and valued partners, we can create significant synergies to accelerate economic growth and enhance connectivity in the Philippines,” he said. The three governments also reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together and collaborating with partner countries to further boost Philippine economic growth and regional connectivity.
Progress, business challenges discussed
According to the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines, officials discussed during the meeting the progress of ongoing projects as well as challenges faced by companies operating in the Philippine investment environment. It noted that Japan has already made “concrete contributions” under the initiative in transportation infrastructure, energy, and digital technology.
The Japanese government said it continues to work closely with the Philippines and the United States to advance the vision of the corridor. Ambassador Endo emphasized the importance of sustaining progress on ongoing projects and of improving the business environment to encourage more investment in the Philippines. “We had productive discussions at the 4th Luzon Economic Corridor Steering Committee,” Endo said in a post on X. “Japan remains committed to promoting quality infrastructure development, trusted connectivity, and sustainable economic growth in the Philippines,” he added.
The meeting was attended by delegations led by Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, US Ambassador Heather Variava, and Philippine officials, including Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, and Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Angela Ignacio.
The Luzon Economic Corridor was launched in 2024 by the leaders of the Philippines, Japan, and the United States as the first Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment economic corridor in the Indo-Pacific region. The initiative seeks to accelerate investments in high-impact infrastructure projects and improve connectivity across Luzon.
Source: mb.com.ph
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DOE to sell diesel at lower prices for off-grid areas
MANILA, May 15 —— The Department of Energy (DOE) is selling diesel at lower prices to remote and off-grid communities served by the National Power Corporation (NPC).
In a statement, the DOE said it will sell up to 45 million liters of diesel at P80 per liter to communities not connected to the main grid. The fuel will be sold to new power providers and microgrid system providers in remote areas. The DOE said this move will provide stable electricity to Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Catanduanes, Masbate, Siquijor, and other island provinces.
“Safeguarding power supply in these communities is an economic imperative: ensuring that residents can continue to work, study, and access essential services,” said NPC president and chief executive officer Jericho “Koko” Nograles. “By supporting the fuel requirements of off-grid power providers, we are helping sustain reliable and affordable electricity service for remote and island communities,” Garin said.
The DOE said that as of April 27, some 178.33 million liters of diesel had been added to the national fuel buffer stock.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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Up to 4,000 OFWs in US bases face job loss
MANILA, Philippines, May 15 —— Around 3,000 to 4,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) employed in United States military bases in the Middle East could lose their jobs as the escalating Gulf conflict continues to disrupt operations and damage key military installations.
Filipino workers assigned to US military facilities in the region may face displacement due to ongoing security threats and damage caused by Iranian airstrikes, which reportedly damaged or destroyed at least 228 structures and pieces of equipment at American military sites across the Middle East, affecting normal staffing levels. Citing international reports, migration expert Emmanuel Geslani said several US military installations in the region sustained damage to hangars, barracks, fuel depots, aircraft, radar systems, communications facilities and air defense equipment.
A Washington Post analysis of satellite imagery estimated the total damage to 15 military sites at between $10 billion and $20 billion. “The threat of air attacks rendered some of the US bases in the region too dangerous to staff at normal levels,” Geslani said.
US military bases in the region are located in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Geslani warned that affected Filipino workers could be among those repatriated should tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. “A large number of OFWs there may be joining the close to 9,000 OFWs repatriated from the Middle East,” Geslani added.
Data from the Department of Migrant Workers revealed that 9,038 OFWs and their dependents have so far been repatriated from the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict.
Source: philstar.com
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Luzon, Visayas grids on red alert anew
MANILA, Philippines, May 15 —— Power grids in Luzon and the Visayas were again placed under red alert yesterday as electricity supply remained strained, raising the risk of rotational blackouts in several provinces.
The alert status, the second this year, was raised in Luzon and the Visayas from 3 to 10 p.m., according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP). A yellow alert was also hoisted in both regions, covering Luzon from 2 to 3 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to midnight. In the Visayas, the advisory was in effect from 10 to 11 p.m.
A yellow alert is raised when power supply is nearing insufficient levels, while a red alert is issued when supply is not enough to meet demand. NGCP data showed that 51 power plants went offline, while 27 others were operating at a derated output, leaving over 5,300 megawatts unavailable. This triggered the possibility of outages in Luzon, particularly in parts of Albay, Bataan, Batangas, Baguio, Benguet, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Pampanga, Pangasinan and Metro Manila.
More areas in the Visayas were affected including portions of Aklan, Antique, Biliran, Bohol, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Island, Leyte and Samar as well as Metro Cebu. Amid tight supply conditions, the Department of Energy ordered all concerned power generation companies to immediately address the issue and ensure timely return to a full rated capacity, to protect consumers and maintain grid stability.
Source: philstar.com
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Fair weather to prevail across PH Friday
MANILA, May 15 —— Fair weather will continue to prevail across the country on Friday, the weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms throughout the archipelago. “Typhoon Sinlaku will not enter Philippine Area of Responsibility. It will not affect the country,” PAGASA weather specialist Leanne Loreto added.
Sinlaku was last observed 2,485 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon, according to PAGASA’s 4 a.m. weather advisory. The highest forecast temperatures are 36°C in Tuguegarao, and 34°C in Metro Manila, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, Zamboanga, and Davao.
Loreto said the heat index, or the temperature felt by the human body when relative humidity combines with actual air temperature, could peak at 42°C in Cotabato City, Maguindanao, and Borongan, Eastern Samar. The heat index in parts of Metro Manila could reach 37°C to 39°C. Meanwhile, moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas will prevail across the eastern sections of Northern, Central, Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas, PAGASA said.
Source: pna.gov.ph
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Limit coffee, processed food during high heat index – expert
MANILA, May 15 —— A heat expert warned the public to limit their intake of coffee and processed foods as the country’s heat index hits dangerous levels in some parts of the country.
Philippine College of Occupational Medicine – Zamboanga Peninsula Chapter president Dr. Abdul Javar Esturco noted that these common dietary habits significantly increase the risk of severe dehydration and heart complications. While Filipinos often turn to coffee to stay alert, Esturco explained that caffeine’s diuretic properties can be counterproductive during extreme heat, leading the body to lose vital fluids and electrolytes faster. “Dapat talagang iwasan siya (kape) pag mainit ang panahon… kasi diuretic siya,” Esturco told health reporters in an interview in Makati City.
Caffeine blocks certain receptors in the kidneys that normally help reabsorb sodium into the bloodstream. Because more sodium remains in the kidney tubules, it creates an osmotic pressure that pulls water along with it. This results in increased urine volume, leading to the “diuretic effect” associated with dehydration.
If the body loses significant fluids through sweat due to high temperatures, the added diuretic effect of caffeine can make it harder for the body to maintain equilibrium. Esturco also flagged processed and fast foods as major contributors to heat-related illnesses. “Less of the processed ones… actually, mas marami na nakukuha natin doon are salt, asin, sodium. So, yun din ang nagpapa-taas din yung chances for hypertension,” he said.
He added that hypertension and cardiovascular issues are being increasingly triggered during the morning hours this dry season. Esturco echoed the Department of Health’s reminder to drink buko (coconut) juice instead to refresh oneself and get enough energy during hot days. “Buko juice is a diuretic, but it does not necessarily mean na idi-dehydrate ka niya. But salts-wise, pati electrolytes, complete siya,” he said. “It is the cheaper option, but if you want faster absorption, mas formulated po kasi ang mga Gatorade, Pocari Sweat, mas madali siyang ma-absorb ng gut, ng digestive system,” he added.
On Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration forecast 49 areas nationwide to reach “danger-level” heat indices, which range from 42°C to 51°C. These increase the risk of heat cramps and heat exhaustion, which could lead to heat stroke.
The Department of Health reminds the public to stay hydrated by drinking at least 2.5 liters of water, avoid staying outdoors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., wear light and breathable clothes, and use sun protection, such as caps, umbrellas, and sunblock. As bacteria multiply rapidly during hot weather, everyone is advised to practice proper food handling and storage to prevent spoilage, which can cause health issues. In the case of fatigue, weakness, headache, and a feeling of nausea, loss of consciousness, disorientation, and signs of a heart attack, concerned individuals are advised to seek immediate medical help from the nearest hospital or health facility.
Source: pna.gov.ph
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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
JMFyang’s ‘Almost Us’ hits ₱23 million mark as it heads to its second week
May 15 —— The JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith-led “Almost Us” has enjoyed strong box-office performance, earning P23 million as it heads to its second week in cinemas.
Regal Films, one of the film’s co-producers, announced on Instagram that it has earned P23 million as of Tuesday, May 12, while thanking Ibarra and Smith’s fans for the support. “GRABE KAYO! Thank you for making #AlmostUs earn over ₱23 MILLION nationwide as of May 12! Dahil sa walang sawang suporta n’yo, #AlmostUs is officially EXTENDED for its SECOND WEEK in 127 cinemas nationwide para mas marami pang makakilig, masasaktan, at mapapasugal sa pag-ibig,” the post read.
Directed by Dan Villegas, “Almost Us” marks the first film with Ibarra and Smith as the leads. They were also paired as an onscreen tandem in the Metro Manila Film Festival 2025 entry “Shake, Rattle & Roll Evil Origins,” but weren’t the lead stars.
The film tells the story of best friends Janine (Smith) and RR (Ibarra), with the latter falling in love with the former. However, Janine is determined to forge a bond with Kenzo (Dustin Yu), a celebrity whom she idolizes. The onscreen tandem is also the leads of the digital series “Ghosting,” which premiered in July 2025. Its second part was released four months later.
Source: inquirer.net
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‘ASAP XP’ kicks off its new chapter with ABS-CBN’s brightest stars
May 15 —— What was meant to be a welcome for their new chapter turned into a celebration of love, joy, and hope, as Kapamilya stars gathered on one stage to embrace “ASAP XP’s” new chapter. “ASAP XP,” a rebrand of ABS-CBN’s noontime variety program, welcomed its new chapter with two shows at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, May 10. Each show featured a different set of performances, ranging from kilig to fiery and powerful, as long as they showcased each Kapamilya star’s stage presence.
The first show was opened by BINI, who sang their smash hit “Pantropiko,” marking their first performance in the country after their historic Coachella debut. They returned onstage moments after with “Unang Kilig.” P-pop groups BGYO and DNA also showed off their slick dance moves onstage, performing “Fresh” and “BINGO,” respectively.
Another highlight was duet performances of Kapamilya loveteams featuring JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith, Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin, Kai Montinola and Kyle Echarri, and BGYO’s Gelo Rivera and Alexa Ilacad, the latter of whom have been gaining traction for their vertical drama “The Chambermaid’s Daughter.”
Also taking the stage were the show’s New-Gen singing champions, featuring Ilacad, Montinola, Elha Nympha, Carmelle Collado, and Marielle Montellano, where Angeline Quinto joined them. Showing off their sensual energy with a dance number and a joint performance of “Amakabogera” were Maymay Entrara, Jane De Leon, Diaz, Gela Atayde, Smith, and AC Bonifacio. Meanwhile, Maki — who made fangirls squeal with his performance of “Dilaw” — brought Jarren Garcia and KD Estrada onstage to sing a heartbreaking rendition of “Nangungulila.”
Capping off the show was Regine Velasquez with a jaw-dropping performance of “Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo.” Then, she was joined by Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, and Zsa Zsa Padilla. In a brief closing speech, Valenciano said that while “ASAP XP” will start afresh with its timeslot, it will still be a celebration of music, good memories, and Kapamilya spirit. Other performers included Kyla, Erik Santos, Sofronio Vasquez, Klarisse de Guzman, Jona, Darren Espanto, Jason Dy, and JM Dela Cerna.
Source: inquirer.net
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Mikey Bustos’s AntsCanada wins at the 30th Annual Webby Awards
May 15 —— Filipino-Canadian vlogger and social media personality Mikey Bustos, also known as AntsCanada, was awarded at the recently concluded 30th Annual Webby Awards in New York City. He shared a glimpse of how the prestigious awards night went as he accepted two awards – Best Editing (People’s Voice Winner) and Best Series (Webby Winner).
The Webby Awards is one of the leading international award-giving bodies that honors excellence on the internet. They were established in 1996 and are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), which comprises leading internet experts, business figures, visionaries, and other professionals.
Mikey was given only five words to share during his acceptance speech, which he took very seriously and creatively. Making sure his award-winning channel was mentioned, the YouTube vlogger made every word in his speech count. He placed his hands on his forehead as he moved them up and down before saying what it actually meant. “That’s ant for thank you,” he shared. The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers as he exited the stage with his awards.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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SPORTS NEWS
PBA: Jayson Castro enters 10,000-point club in TNT’s QF win over NLEX
MANILA, May 15 —— PBA veteran Jayson Castro added another accolade to his already illustrious career. The 39-year-old officially joined the league’s 10,000 career points club in the TNT Tropang 5G’s 96-93 win over the NLEX Road Warriors in the quarterfinals at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Castro entered the elite club in the 3:25 mark of the third quarter, when he drained the first of two free throws, finishing with 14 points and three assists. According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, the seasoned playmaker is the 18th player overall with at least 10,000 points. Castro is the third oldest player to reach the milestone at 39 years old, after Robert Jaworski who was 43 years old when he did it in 1989 and Arwind Santos who was 41 years old when he achieved it in 2022. “Kahit ako, hindi ko na ma-imagine eh… So, masaya kasi yun nga, nung nakita ko ‘yung kung sino lang ‘yung mga nandun parang and then, napasama ako doon. Parang, bigla ako naging proud sa sarili ko,” Castro told reporters. “At the same time, siguro dahil talagang inalagaan ko ‘yung sarili ko para ma-achieve ‘yung goal na y’un. And, at the same time, makatulong din sa mga teammate ko,” he added.
The 10-time PBA champion said he was not thinking about the milestone, instead he was focused on scoring to help TNT force a do-or-die in their playoff series against NLEX. “Sobrang focused ko sa game. Actually, never akong inisip ‘yung points eh. For me, ma-set up ‘yung mga teammate ko, maka-contribute sa defense, and kung paano sila magiging mga wide open shot. ‘Yun ‘yung main goal ko,” he said.
Castro considers all his achievements special but this milestone hits different, since the Commissioner’s Cup marked his return after recovering from a right knee injury. “Sobrang special ito. Kasi di ba, parang hindi ko rin may imagine na makaka-pag-perform pa ako ng ganito. Makaka-minutes pa rin, despite na ‘yun nangyari sa akin,” he shared.
For the 39-year-old playmaker, he sees the recent injury as an eye-opener for him to better take care of his body. “Yung injury na ‘yun, parang na-realize ko na kailangan ko maalagaan pa ‘yung katawan ko para gusto ko pang manalo ng championship. ‘Yun naman ‘yung ultimate goal eh,” Castro said. “So, isa rin ‘yung way din ‘yun para ‘yun nga, magpalakas. Kasi ‘yung mga past, before nung injury, dami ko naramdaman ng mga maliliit na injury nang binabalewala ako. So, this time, event season, ‘yung katawan ko, inalagaan ko talaga. And, para ma-achieve ‘tong ganitong milestone sa basketball career ko,” he added.
When asked if he’s eyeing to reach the 15,000-point milestone, Castro said he remains focused on helping TNT win more championships. “Kuntento ako kung ano ‘yung mga nararating ko. Siguro, mas focus ko to help the team win, at the same time, manalo ng championship. Kahit mga malilit na lang ‘yung role ko dito, parang ‘yun ‘yung gusto kong ma-feel again,” he shared.
TNT head coach Chot Reyes was all praises for Castro for his latest achievement in their crucial win. “Well, I think that’s a recognition that’s long coming. I’m very proud of his journey. Kasi kung maalala niyo, we made a really big, huge, risky move when we traded just to be able to draft Jason. We traded a guy by the name of Jay Washington,” he said during the post-game press conference. “When I got to Talk ‘N Text, basically he was our best player, our best individual player. But we made that move to be able to draft, to be in a position to draft Jayson Castro. And who would have known that he would be in that elite club of 10,000 point players?” Reyes added.
For the champion mentor, Castro proved himself winning 10 PBA titles, five PBA Best Player of the Conference honors and three PBA Finals Most Valuable Player plums to name a few. “So more than the award, really what I’m proud of is his journey from that young guy who was starting off with us all the way to his evolution to now. No kidding,” Reyes said. Castro and the Tropang 5G will clash with NLEX anew on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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NBA: Cavs top Pistons in overtime for 3-2 series lead
May 15 —— The Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Detroit Pistons, 117-113, in overtime to move within one win of advancing in the NBA playoffs.
The Cavs, fueled by 30 points from veteran James Harden, claimed their first road win of these playoffs to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series. They will try to close it out at home when they host Game 6, with the New York Knicks awaiting in the conference finals. “Great time to have a first road win,” Harden told broadcaster ESPN after Cleveland notched their third straight victory to move within sight of their first trip to the conference finals since 2018.
Cleveland trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half against the top-seeded Pistons, who were led by 39 points from Cade Cunningham. They rallied in the third, but in a see-saw fourth quarter the Pistons appeared to have gained control with a 12-0 scoring run and led by nine with 3:57 left in regulation.
Once again the Cavaliers responded, Evan Mobley coming up with a dunk and two free throws to tie it up with 45.2 seconds remaining — part of a 13-0 Cleveland run bridging the fourth quarter and the start of overtime that put the Cavs ahead for good. Cunningham’s jump shot with 25.9 seconds left in overtime pulled the Pistons back within two points, but they would get no closer.
Donovan Mitchell added 21 points and Max Strus chipped in 20 off the bench for Cleveland, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds from Jarrett Allen. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said Harden’s cool head in key moments was just what the Cavaliers had been looking for when they signed the 36-year-old three-time scoring champion in February. “Big reason we got him, that’s what we expected,” Atkinson said. “He adds a maturity and a poise, calmness to our group, which we needed.” Cunningham added nine assists and seven rebounds and Daniss Jenkins scored 19 for the Pistons, who must win in Cleveland to force the series to return to Detroit for game seven.
Harden said the Cavs, unbeaten at home this post-season, can’t afford to let their guard down against a Detroit team that rallied from 3-1 down to beat Orlando in the first round. “Very, very crazy team defensively,” he said. “We’ve seen what they’ve done. They’ve come back from 3-1, so from the beginning of the game we’ve got to make sure our mindset is right and we do the small things to finish the series.”
Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff vowed the Pistons won’t go down easily. “We’re not going to go down without a fight,” he said. “That’s just who we are. We’ve been in this position before, and we were able to work our way through it. I expect our guys to be ready mentally and to go out and compete at a high level and bring this thing back (to Detroit),” added Bickerstaff, who was irked that no foul was given when Cleveland’s Allen inadvertently tripped Ausar Thompson on the final play of regulation. “He fouled Ausar. It’s clear,” Bickerstaff said. “End of game situation, you know, that’s tough.”
The winner of the series will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. The third-seeded Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers in four games to reach the East finals for the second straight year.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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Swiatek cruises past Pegula and into Italian Open semis
ROME, May 15 —— Iga Swiatek gave another indication she might be back to her brilliant best after destroying Jessica Pegula, 6-1, 6-2, at the Foro Italico and breezing into the Italian Open semifinals.
A three-time champion in Rome, Swiatek took little more than an hour to take care of fifth seed Pegula on center court, without facing a single break point. It was a show of force on her preferred surface not seen since she last won the French Open two years ago, and gave Swiatek her first semifinal appearance of the season. “I’ve been playing a bit differently, I would say. More similar to how I played couple years ago, more like a clay court player,” Swiatek told reporters. “I guess all the things that we practiced really clicked during last few matches.”
Swiatek set up a clash with Elina Svitolina, who fought back to beat Elena Rybakina, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, in the last four on Thursday night. The Pole holds a 4-2 winning record over Svitolina, with victories in both of their meetings on clay. If Swiatek gets past Svitolina again, a potential title clash looms with reigning Roland Garros champion Coco Gauff, who faces veteran Sorana Cirstea on Thursday.
Swiatek hasn’t won a clay-court tournament since claiming the most recent of her four Roland Garros titles, with personal problems a factor in her poor performances. But since struggling through her second-round win against Caty McNally Swiatek has dropped just seven games in three matches. Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, recently took on board Francisco Roig, the former coach of men’s clay-court icon Rafael Nadal, after a difficult opening few months of the season.
The 24-year-old got to the quarter-finals in Stuttgart in early April but was forced to retire from the Madrid Open in the third round due to a viral infection. But the kind of form she showed on Wednesday suggests she could be favorite for a fourth Foro Italico title and back in the mix for the French Open crown. Australian Open champion Rybakina looked poised to set up a meeting with Swiatek when she comfortably took the opening set against Svitolina. But the Ukrainian responded superbly, scrapping into her sixth semifinal of the season.
Ruud in last four
In the men’s tournament Casper Ruud reached his first Masters 1000 semifinal since winning in Madrid last year after beating Karen Khachanov, 6-1, 1-6, 6-2, in a match interrupted by a long rain delay. Norwegian Ruud was one game down in the second set when a downpour fell on Rome, forcing the match to be paused for over two hours, and when play resumed Khachanov quickly levelled the match. But Ruud claimed his tour-leading 139th win on clay since the start of the 2020 season and will face Italy’s Luciano Darderi who beat Rafa Jodar, 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-0, in a three-hour match that finished past 2.00am local time (midnight GMT) on Thursday morning. “A little bit of a, you know, down period in the second (set) when we came back after the rain,” said Ruud on court. “But very proud of the first and the third sets… the quality that I played in the first and third sets is probably some of the best I felt on court recently.”
Jannik Sinner will face Andrey Rublev in Thursday’s first match on center court, with the men’s world number one hot favorite to reach the last four and continue his bid for a sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title.
Source: manilatimes.net
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FEATURED ARTICLE
To beat the heat, here are some tips from PAGASA
1. Stay indoors as much as possible, if air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine
2. Wear lightweight and light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect the sun’s energy.
3. Drink plenty of water regularly. The body needs water to keep cool.
4. Water is the safest liquid to drink during heat emergencies. Avoid drinking liquor because it dehydrates the body.
5. Eat small meals however eat more often. Avoid eating foods of high in protein which can increase metabolic heat.
Source: www.spot.ph