Latest News from GMA Network
GMA Network
36 minutes ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
NCR swimmers Titus Sia, Sophia Garra win seven gold medals each in Palarong Pambansa
ILOCOS NORTE - NCR swimmers Titus Sia and Sophia Garra will be taking home a combined total of 14 gold medals from the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, becoming the most bemedalled athletes in the tournament. The 12-year-old tankers each completed a seven-gold medal sweep as they dominated the waters of the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. Sia, who only had one bronze last year in Cebu, ruled the 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyle events as well as the 100m backstroke, 4x50m medley relay, 50m backstroke, and 4x50m freestyle relay to become the athlete with the most medals in the elementary boys division. Garra, meanwhile, reigned supreme in the 50m, 100m, and 200m events in freestyle while also dominating the 100m backstroke, 4x50m medley relay, 200m IM, and 4x50m freestyle. READ | Palarong Pambansa Medal Tally —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
36 minutes ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Pimentel questions schedule change in reading of impeachment raps vs. VP Sara
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel said on Friday that he would ask Senate President Francis Escudero about his decision to move the presentation of articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. 'We have to ask SP his thought processes and how come he is now changing his own 'impeachment calendar' issued months ago,' he said. The presentation of the articles of impeachment has been moved from June 2 to June 11. In a letter to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Escudero said the Senate and the House of Representatives needed to prioritize the passage of the items in the administration's legislative agenda before the 19th Congress adjourned sine die on June 14. Pimentel said that the legislative agenda of the Congress should give way to the impeachment proceedings. 'Meron kasi section or provision in our impeachment rules that gives the directive, that should there be both legislative and impeachment matters, the legislative agenda should give way to the impeachment proceedings,' he added. Escudero was referring to the meeting on Thursday of the Legislative-Executive Development Council (LEDAC), which resolved to pass measures listed in the legislative agenda within the 19th Congress. Among the priority measures are the Amendments to the Universal Health Care Act, Konektadong Pinoy Act, E-Governance Act, creation of the Virology Institute of the Philippines, Anti-POGO Act, among others. The Senate President also said there were over 200 presidential appointees whose appointments have to be reviewed and confirmed by the bicameral Commission on Appointments. Meanwhile, other Senators said the upper chamber must prioritize the approval of several priority measures. 'The passage of the priority bills should take precedence as asserted by Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero as sine die adjournment marks the official end of our regular session,' said Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, noting that this was agreed upon during the LEDAC meeting. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, noted that the Senate only has six session days, adding that committees will have to conduct bicameral and consultative meetings and even hearings to finalize the 12 priority measures. 'Having said that, I do agree to devote the next two weeks to finish the remaining bills and other legislative priorities before converting itself into an impeachment court,' he said. Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos, who is with Duterte in the Netherlands, also agreed that the Senate must focus its attention on the passage of the said measures. 'Dapat naman talaga unahin ang mga priority measures na ito dahil ito ang makakatulong sa bayan at hindi yung impeachment na pamumulitika lang,' she said. (These priority measures should really be prioritized because they will help the people and not impeachment, which is just politicking.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
37 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Christopher Diwata takes his 'What hafen Vella?' trend up a notch on Abi Marquez's TikTok
Just when you thought the "What hafen Vella?" trend couldn't get any bigger, here comes the man himself Christopher Diwata to turn it up a notch. In Abi Marquez's TikTok video, Christopher not only made an appearance, he also proceeded to sing lines from Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years," which was used as the official soundtrack of the films. Even better: The guy was having fun and enjoying himself. This isn't the first time Christopher doubled-down on the Twilight references. He previously sang the song with Ben&Ben, who is just one of the many celebrities riding on his trend, among them Michael Sager, Anjo Petierra, and SB19. He's landed several endorsements as well, which he said is allowing him to pay off debts and support his family. "Kahit maliit man 'yan, tatanggapin ko 'yan. Iga-grab ko 'yan kahit maliit. Sana sa mga nag-aalala sa akin, huwag niyong intindihin 'yun at mas maganda 'yung meron kaysa sa wala," Christopher told GMA News Online in an interview. Christopher is also going to appear on "Mga Batang Riles." We're happy for him and we're glad to see he's having fun himself! — LA, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
an hour ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Former teammate of Scottie Thompson steers Davao to maiden Palaro HS basketball title
ILOCOS NORTE - Jess Evangelio accomplished what he fell short of 15 years ago, only this time he's wearing a different hat for Davao. In 2010, Evangelio was part of the Region 11 delegation for Palarong Pambansa secondary boys basketball in Tarlac, joining hands with then aspirant Scottie Thompson, who would eventually become the face of Barangay Ginebra in the PBA. They would have an impressive run en route to a quarterfinals appearance, but they eventually fell to Cebu to bow out of contention. After 15 years, Evangelio returned to the same stage and took home the gold hardware this time around. Now the coach of the Davao Eagles, Evangelio steered the region to its maiden high school basketball gold medal after they dominated Western Visayas in the finals, 67-51, behind Jhonmark Pelegrino and Rene Clert Baterbonia. Both the rising stars churned out 19 points to power Davao's second half pullaway, which saw them turn a tight affair in the first half into a lopsided victory. "Actually since 2016 nagco-coach na ako sa Ateneo de Davao so after nine years pa bago ako makaabot dito sa gold medal. Nine years in the making, every year since 2016 ito 'yung goal namin," Evangelio said. "Very nostalgic nga sa akin ang feeling sa Palarong Pambansa kasi frustrated player ako nu'ng first Palaro ko and at least nakuha ko na 'yung ultimate goal ko." But the victory was more than just winning it all. According to Evangelio, who has been at the helm of Ateneo de Davao since 2016 after deciding not to continue his playing career anymore and instead get into coaching, the gold medal meant a lot to the region. Aside from Thompson, Davao has also produced a number of basketball stars like PJ Simon, Baser Amer, Alvin Pasaol, and Migs Oczon, and the gold medal now serves as a testament to the quality of basketball in the region. Evangelio hopes the Palaro feat can also entice homegrown players to hone their skills there before leaving for Manila. "Siguro it means everything talaga kasi nga history 'yung nagawa namin na mag-champion sa Palarong Pambansa secondary boys," Evangelio added. "Kami 'yung first-ever team na makagawa nito. Hopefully, tumaas pa 'yung competition sa Davao. Hopefully, piliin ng mga players na magpahinog at mag-stay sa Davao bago umakyat sa NCR." READ | Palarong Pambansa medal tally —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
an hour ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
China establishes global mediation body in Hong Kong
HONG KONG, China - China signed a convention on Friday setting up a global mediation body in Hong Kong, which aims to be comparable to organisations such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Beijing has taken a more proactive approach in international affairs in recent years, expanding its influence in global bodies such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization -- especially as the United States has taken the opposite direction under President Donald Trump. The move is also being seen as an attempt to shore up Hong Kong's reputation as a leading place to conduct business, after Beijing's imposition of a wide-ranging national security law in 2020 shook confidence in the impartiality of the city's legal system. Initiated by Beijing, the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation Convention (IOMed) was co-signed by 31 other "like-minded" countries ranging from Serbia and Pakistan to Papua New Guinea and Venezuela. "The birth of IOMed will help transcend the zero-sum mentality of 'win or lose', promote the amicable resolution of international disputes, and build more harmonious international relations," said China's foreign minister Wang Yi, who presided over the signing. Hong Kong's government said IOMed will be the first intergovernmental body dedicated to mediation, while Wang said it would "fill a gap in the field". Mediation is when a neutral third party intervenes into a dispute to help two sides negotiate a jointly acceptable resolution to a conflict, as opposed to, for example, political bargaining or litigation. The body will mediate disputes between countries, between countries and individuals from another country, and between private international entities. IOMed "is on a par with" the United Nations' ICJ and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, said the Hong Kong government. One of the latter's more well-known rulings was in favour of the Philippines against China over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Beijing refused to take part in the proceedings and has ignored the judgement. Paul Lam, Hong Kong's secretary for justice, wrote in an article that IOMed's establishment came as "hostile external forces are attempting to de-internationalise and de-functionalise" Hong Kong. IOMed will start operating by the end of this year or early 2026. — Agence France-Presse
