November 7 Declared National Working Holiday Honoring Muslim Filipinos — Marcos
Signed into law on July 9, 2025, Republic Act No. 12228 designates the day as Sheikh Karim'ul Makhdum Day, commemorating the arrival of the Arab missionary who introduced Islam to the Philippines and built the first mosque in Tawi-Tawi.
The law affirms the government's commitment to religious inclusivity and recognizes the essential contributions of Muslim Filipinos to Philippine history and identity. Related Articles
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Filipino Times
8 hours ago
- Filipino Times
Marcos says fourth SONA speech nearly complete
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) speech is 80% complete, even after losing several days of preparation due to his official visit to the United States. The President acknowledged that the trip cost him three days of SONA work but assured the public that efforts are underway to finalize the speech. 'What we have already written is substantial in terms of- the SONA is about 80 percent written. So, kaunti na lang 'yung fine-tuning,' he added. Marcos said his fourth SONA will differ from his previous addresses, as it reflects the country's current situation. He said the speech will continue to focus on the administration's social programs. 'We will talk about the programs that we have initiated and will continue to promote and endorse… at the very least, until the end of this term. Hopefully, it will continue after my term,' the President said. The President is set to deliver his fourth SONA before a joint session of Congress on Monday, July 28.
Middle East Eye
20 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Tunisian president shows photos of starving Palestinian children to US envoy during visit
Tunisian President Kais Saied greeted the US senior adviser for Arab, Middle Eastern and African affairs at Carthage Palace in Tunis with photos of starving Palestinian children in Gaza, saying it was "time for all of humanity to wake up". In a video posted by Tunisian news network Carthage, a sombre-looking Saeid can be seen welcoming and shaking hands with a smiling Massad Boulos, declaring in Arabic' "Now my conversation is with you and directed to you about a number of issues that concern us and the whole world", in a short clip of the video translated by Middle East Monitor. "I believe you know these photos well," he said, showing the Lebanese-American Boulos a photo of a toddler holding a silver bowl of sand. "A child crying, eating sand in occupied Palestine." 'This is one image among many others,' Saied added. 'Eating sand in the 21st century. He found nothing to eat. And with sand in his hand." He then showed billionaire businessman Boulos an image of an emaciated child, whose neck and head are being supported by someone's hand. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'Another image of a child on the verge of dying because he couldn't find anything to eat. And surely, you have many other images. This is absolutely unacceptable. This is a crime against humanity.' The camera then cut to a third image of a child with sunken eyes who was also emaciated. 'A child on the verge of death, also nearly dying of hunger. And he may already have passed away.' Saied continued to show more harrowing photos to Boulos - including three Palestinian men carrying children wrapped in white shrouds - while Boulos stood with his hands clasped, silently nodding. At one point Saied told Boulos that "international legitimacy was crumbling day by day". Boulos - whose son is married to US President Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany - is in the region to make his first official visit to Libya on Wednesday amid rising tensions in the capital city Tripoli and neighbouring Sudan, as reported by Middle East Eye earlier this month. More than 100 humanitarian organisations warned on Wednesday that "mass famine" was spreading in the Gaza Strip after Israel blocked humanitarian aid from entering in early March and has been providing woefully inadequate aid via the controversial US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund since the end of May. MEE reported on Tuesday that renowned expert on famine, Professor Alex de Waal, accused Israel of 'genocidal starvation' of Palestinians in Gaza with its continued deadly siege on the enclave. Over 100 humanitarian groups sound alarm on starvation of staff in Gaza Read More » At least 101 Palestinians, including 80 children, have died of starvation since Israel's blockade resumed in March, including 15 who died of malnutrition on Monday, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid at distribution sites run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in place since May and manned by Israeli soldiers and US security contractors. De Waal told MEE's live show on Tuesday that the UN is not in a position to declare famine due to Israel's obstruction of access to humanitarians and investigators who could gauge the extent of hunger. However, he said, 'it is actually relatively straightforward if you are perpetrating a famine to shut out access to essential information and then say no one has declared famine'. 'Concealment of famine is an instrument of those who perpetrate it,' he added. De Waal said that famine is unfolding in Gaza in 'a wholly predicted manner'. De Waal is executive director of the World Peace Foundation, affiliated with the Fletcher School of Global Affairs at Tufts University, and the author of Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine. He explained that a healthy adult will take 60 to 80 days of total deprivation of food to die of starvation. With semi-starvation, it would take a lot longer.
Filipino Times
a day ago
- Filipino Times
Palace Rebukes VP Sara for Criticizing Typhoon Response, Rainwater Remark
Malacañang, through Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, strongly pushed back against Vice President Sara Duterte's recent criticisms of the government's handling of Typhoon Crising and President Marcos' rainwater reuse proposal. In a briefing, Castro said VP Duterte is not in a position to comment on the administration's disaster preparations as she is currently on vacation in The Hague and was absent during key emergency meetings held before President Marcos left for the U.S. Castro emphasized that government agencies such as the DSWD, DOTr, and the Philippine Coast Guard had already acted swiftly, including providing free transportation and preparing food packs, all under the directive of the President. Responding to Duterte's sarcastic remark suggesting floodwater be sent to Malacañang for the President to drink, Castro said the VP appeared unaware of existing rainwater collection laws, specifically Republic Act No. 6716 enacted in 1989. She added that this proposal is rooted in sustainable water management policy—not simply storing water in pails as Duterte implied. Castro also cited examples of active rainwater collection projects by the DPWH and legislative efforts by Rep. Robert Ace Barbers to mandate such systems nationwide, criticizing Duterte for mocking the idea without understanding its legal and practical basis.
