Here’s what to know about the crucial midterms and the rival dynasties at the heart of the Southeast Asian nation’s politics.

The National Capital Region, home to over 13 million people and the political, economic, and cultural heart of the Philippines, completed its local elections with both sweeping re-elections and unexpected upsets.

Incumbent local chief executives, reelectionists and personalities from political families dominated the mayoral polls in Metro Manila.

Monday's outcome showed Duterte's influence remains far from diminished, despite an acrimonious fallout with Marcos, months of humiliating Congressional enquiries into her office's finances and the arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

A level three alert – out of a scale of five – put in place during an eruption in December remained unchanged on May 13. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

American rock band The Smashing Pumpkins is returning to the Philippines, over a decade since the act last performed in the country.

A vehicle crashed into an entrance at Manila’s airport on Sunday morning, leaving two people dead including a 4-year-old girl, according to the Philippine Red Cross. The other victim was an adult male, the humanitarian group said in a statement.

Startek®, a digital-first global customer experience (CX) solutions provider, announced that Startek® Philippines has been recognized with four prestigious accolades at The Philippines Leadership Awards 2025 presented by the World HRD Congress in Manila on April 28.