President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday joined the nation in mourning the passing of National Artist and movie superstar Nora Aunor.

The family of the National Artist announced her passing on Wednesday. She was 71.

In his message of condolence, the President said: “I offer my heartfelt condolences to Nora Aunor’s family, friends, and the film industry itself. Let us pray together for the eternal repose of the soul of our beloved National Artist.”

President Marcos recalled the extraordinary life of the late National Artist for Film (Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in real life).

“Throughout her splendid career that spanned more than 50 years, she was our consummate actress, singer, and film producer,” the President said.

“At the young age of 23, she began producing films that will forever be part of the national heritage: Banaue, Bona, and Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos. Her other stellar performances can be found in Himala, Thy Womb, and The Flor Contemplacion Story,” the President said.

“She has won national and international awards for her performances. Her golden voice was a balm for all. Her genius was a gift to the Filipino nation,” he stressed.

Aunor’s awards and citations

Aunor acted in at least 170 films, and had received numerous local and foreign awards for her performances.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said that among Aunor’s awards and citations were the Best Actress for “And God Smiled at Me” (1972) and Best Actress for Gawad Urian and FAMAS for “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” (1976).

In 1990, Aunor garnered a grand slam by winning all the Best Actress awards from Urian, Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards (FAMAS), Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Metro Manila Film Festival, and Philippine Movie Press Club for her acting prowess in Gil Portes’ “Andrea, Paano ba ang Maging Isang Ina?”

Aunor was elevated to the FAMAS Hall of Fame in 1992.

She was also bestowed the FAP Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993; named by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) as one of the 100 Filipinos who made significant contributions to culture and the arts in the 20th century; given the Centennial Honors for the Arts by the CCP; emerged as Best Actress in 6th Asia Pacific Screen Award in 2012 and became the first Filipino actor to be inducted as a member of Asia-Pacific Screen Academy; and again won Best Actress at the 7th Asian Film Awards the following year.

An icon in the local musical variety show genre, Aunor had her own show that aired for more than 20 years.

Aunor’s extraordinary skills and talents were showcased on the theater stage in two major productions of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA).

Even with her many accolades, the superstar never lost sight of where she came from. She would always trace her roots in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, where she sold water at a train station.

In an address to her fans, Ms. Aunor once said: “Hindi naging madali ang buhay ko pero wala akong masusumbat kaninuman. Kayo (fans) ang nagpapalakas sa akin … Kayo po ang himalang binigay ng Diyos, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit may awit ang aking puso, kung bakit may isang Nora Aunor.” | PND

The Department of Health (DOH) has placed all public hospitals and health facilities on “Code White” alert to ensure their readiness, together with their personnel, to respond to any potential health emergencies, notably heatstroke, during the Lenten season.

The status of high readiness started on April 13 and will stay until Easter Sunday.

“Let me say that the Department of Health has declared Code White on all our hospitals. That means they are ready for all the incidents that can happen for people traveling for this Holy Week,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday.

“Our warnings for na effects of heat illness especially for people going to hot areas like the beaches. So, very important, stay protected,” he said.

Based on DOH’s color codes, Code White Alert refers to the readiness of hospitals, particularly, general and orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, operating room nurses, ophthalmologists, and otorhinolaryngologists (eye, ear, nose, throat specialists) to respond to emergencies at any time.

Herbosa strongly advised those going outdoors to use sunscreen, remain hydrated, and avoid long exposure to sun and heat.

Herbosa said individuals experiencing extremely high body temperature should cool down immediately. He said symptoms of heat-related illness include severe thirst and cold sweats.

“Kapag hindi mo nakorek iyon, magko-collapse ka. So, it’s important early on na mag-cool down ka. If you’re thirsty, you drink plenty of water,” Herbosa said, stressing those who lost consciousness should be immediately treated.

“If you feel weak, fatigue… next step after thirst is iyong heat fatigue or heat weaknesses, (pumunta) ka na sa shade or mag-aircon ka,” he said.

The elderly and children are prone to experiencing extreme heat, Herbosa said.

As a precautionary measure against drowning, Herbosa said it is important to keep watch over family members and friends, especially in vacation and relaxation destinations, while they enjoy the beaches and swimming pools.

Herbosa also warned the public not to drink alcohol and drive, not to text and drive, and to always follow traffic rules. | PND

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has activated its regional operation centers to ensure proper coordination and oversight of tourism destinations, particularly during the Lenten season, as local and international tourists are expected to visit them.

“Habang papalapit ang Mahal na Araw, inaasahan ng Department of Tourism ang pagdagsa ng halos tatlumpung milyong lokal at banyagang turista sa iba’t ibang destinasyon sa bansa,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday.

“Na-activate na ng DOT ang kanilang regional operation centers para tiyakin ang maayos na daloy ng mga turista, lalo na sa mga lugar na inaasahang magiging matao ngayong holiday season,” Castro said, quoting a statement from Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.

The operation centers will monitor the country’s major tourist spots to ensure a smooth flow of tourists and manage peak volumes.

To avoid being victimized by scammers, Frasco encouraged travelers to book with DOT-accredited tourism establishments to ensure safe and quality experience.

Frasco said the DOT continues to encourage both international and local travelers to choose DOT-accredited establishments.

Based on last year’s DOT records, the expected top destinations this Holy Week include Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Palawan, Siargao, Baguio, Batangas, the Ilocos regions, Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Puerto Galera.

Emerging destinations such as Camiguin, Siquijor, and Cagayan de Oro are also becoming popular among tourists. The DOT noted the growing interest to visit Davao and Sarangani in Mindanao.

In May last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inaugurated Luzon’s first Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, as part of the country’s bid to become a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

The country posted 5.94 million inbound visitors in 2024, 9.15 percent higher than the 5.45 million foreign visitors recorded in 2023, the DOT said. | PND

The government tripled the supply of the PhP29 per kilo of rice for the poor and vulnerable households in Kadiwa stores, an official of the National Food Authority (NFA) said.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. recently ordered to increase the availability of the PhP29/kilo of rice from 10 kilos to 30 kilos maximum that can be bought by each poor and vulnerable household per month.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) also broadened the reach of its PhP29/kilo rice program by adding more Kadiwa stores nationwide, Lacson said.

The DA last year launched a large-scale trial of the PhP29 rice program, an initiative spearheaded by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. aimed at providing high-quality rice at PhP29 per kilo to as many as 6.9 million “vulnerable households,” representing around 35 million Filipinos.

A total of 10 Kadiwa stores in Metro Manila and Bulacan started to sell the low-priced rice in the trial program and now expanding to other Kadiwa outlets.

The PhP29 per kilo rice is sourced from ageing stocks of the NFA to be sold to the vulnerable households, which the DA described as beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and indigenous people.

The 4Ps program is a human development measure of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18 , the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.

Meanwhile, the government has also started selling PhP33 rice to Kadiwa stores in resettlement sites for public housing beneficiaries as part of the government’s program to ensure food security.

The government has been putting up Kadiwa stores that sell PhP33 per kilo of rice in housing sites of the National Housing Authority (NHA) starting this April, General Manager Joeben Tai said in a statement.

Tai said more Kadiwa stores will open in different areas from this month to May 2025. | PND

As the Holy Week exodus began, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has ramped up its security operations in ports and tourist hubs across the country to ensure a safe and smooth travel experience for travelers.

In a Malacañang press briefing on Tuesday, PCG Deputy Spokesperson Commander Michael John Encina said their agency has raised its alert status to “heightened alert” and mobilized 17,000 personnel to conduct pre-departure and resort inspections.

Encina said they also deployed Coast Guard Auxiliaries in Malasakit Help Desks and K-9 units as part of the security measures in ports and resorts.

Encina said the PCG is conducting the security measures in close coordination with the local government units (LGUs), municipal and city Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, and coastal barangays.

“So, malawak po ang ginagawa ng PCG ngayon at paghahanda upang ma-ensure at matiyak po natin na ang Mahal na Araw ay magiging safe and secure sa ating mga bakasyunista at turista,” he said.

Encina said beach resorts and other recreational areas are undergoing safety checks to ensure they have authorized lifeguards with medical clinics and first aid responders.

“Most importantly iyong ating pong information dissemination, so ang coast guard station and substations po natin, personnel ay umiikot dito po sa ating mga major beach areas and beach resorts para po ma-inform sila na may coast guard po na agad-agaran magpo-provide ng necessary assistance once kailanganin po ng ating mga turista, ” Encina said.

The PCG has placed its districts, stations, and sub-stations on heightened alert from April 13 to April 20 to manage the influx of port passengers.

The seafaring public can coordinate with the PCG through its official Facebook page or the Coast Guard Public Affairs Service (0927-560-7729) for inquiries, concerns, and clarifications regarding sea travel protocols and regulations during the Holy Week. | PND

Personal remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) grew by 2.6 percent to US$3.02 billion in February 2025, up from the US$2.95 billion registered in February 2024, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced.

The cumulative remittances also reached US$6.27 billion in January-February 2025, higher by 2.7 percent than the US$6.10 billion recorded in January-February 2024, the BSP said on Tuesday.

The Philippines’ chief economist was elated by the BSP announcement.

“The 2.6% year-on-year increase in Filipino remittances in February 2025—closely following January’s 2.9% growth—underscores not only the resilience of overseas Filipinos amid global challenges, but also their deep sense of responsibility, adaptability, and enduring commitment to support their families back home,” said National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan.

In a statement, the BSP said both land-based and sea-based workers contributed to the increase in remittances.

Of the personal remittances from OFWs, cash remittances coursed through banks reached US$2.72 billion in February 2025, higher by 2.7 percent than the US$2.65 billion posted in February 2024.

On a year-to-date basis, cash remittances rose by 2.8 percent to US$5.63 billion in January-February 2025, from the US$5.48 billion registered in January-February 2024.

The growth in cash remittances from the US, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates mainly contributed to the increase in remittances in January-February 2025, the BSP said.

In terms of country sources, the US accounted for the largest share of overall cash remittances in January-February 2025, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia. | PND

The Philippines now has a world-class, World Health Organization-certified/verified Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team that can effectively respond to disasters here and abroad, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.

A composite medical assistance team, sent by the Philippine government to Myanmar following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake, was presented to the public during a press briefing in Malacañang. Majority of the team members are from the Eastern Visayas region.

“This is a Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team na WHO classified or certified/verified na last September lang tayo na-verify. Medyo mga pitong taon kaming nagti-training. We have three of these teams out of 52 in the world so medyo world-class na rin tayo pagdating sa disaster,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said during the briefing.

“Nagamit din natin iyong team nila, iyong mga nakaraang Northern Luzon bagyo. But this is the first time we’ve actually deployed it internationally since the September verification and iyong award noong aming certificate last November sa Abu Dhabi,” he said.

Herbosa said the Philippines is proud to deploy the team within 48 hours, faster than Singapore, Southeast Asia’s most well-off country. The team was also able to set up a field hospital in six hours.

Aside from the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia also sent their respective medical teams.

Currently there are teams in several parts of the country —one in Central Luzon, one in Metro Manila and one in the Visayas region, Herbosa said.

The DOH is also developing teams in Southern Philippines Medical Center and Cotabato Regional Medical Center for Mindanao, Herbosa said.

He added that they are planning to establish more medical responders all over the country.

“Ang plan namin is also to develop team for national level para mabilis na rin kaming mag-deploy. ‘Pag nag-umpisa na naman tayo ng ulan at bagyo at baha, we will be using this Philippine emergency medical teams,” he said.

The Philippine team provided medical services to people affected by the 7.7 magnitude tremor that hit Myanmar. The team was able to provide adequate support and relief in 10 days of the 14 day-deployment.

Aside from the medical responders, Herbosa said the Philippines also sent a six-man team for psychosocial support of Filipinos based in Yangon.

“So, may psychosocial team ako from National Center for Mental Health that are there processing our citizens na medyo affected by the disaster in Myanmar. So, tuloy iyong assistance,” he added. | PND

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched Ligtas SUMVAC 2025 (Safe Summer Vacation), the public safety and security program of the PNP for the Lenten season this year.

During a Malacañang press briefing on Tuesday, P/Maj. Gen. Roderick Augustus B. Alba, PNP Director for Police Community Relations, said Ligtas SUMVAC 2025 is in partnership with other law enforcement agencies and aimed at ensuring a safe, peaceful, and meaningful observance of Holy Week.

More than 65,000 policemen have been strategically deployed nationwide, focusing on key areas of convergence, including transport terminals, airports and seaports, highways, churches and pilgrimage sites, tourist destinations, and residential areas left unattended during the holidays.

These efforts are supported by force multipliers, including volunteer groups, as well as mobile patrols and enhanced police visibility in critical and densely populated areas, he said.

The PNP is mobilizing its forces nationwide to maintain law and order from April 1 to May 31, 2025. They will focus on increasing police visibility, intensifying patrol operations, and enhancing coordination with other government agencies and local government units.

Alba also assured the public there are no validated threats to public safety this Holy Week but said the PNP remains on full alert, especially in historically vulnerable areas.

“Our intelligence units are closely coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard to preempt any potential threats. We are also increasing security around vital installations, including power plants, communication infrastructure, and transport terminals,” he said.

In coordination with private security groups and local crisis management councils, Alba said the PNP is also prepared for possible road and sea travel incidents, ensuring readiness across all fronts. | PND

As the Holy Week exodus began, immigration counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 are operating smoothly, without the usual long lines awaiting travelers, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Tuesday.

“Wala nang pila sa Immigration counters sa NAIA Terminal 3. Kahit sa oras ng rush hour, mas madali na para sa mga departing passengers ito,” Castro said in a Malacañang briefing.

Castro said this is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure comfortable and efficient travel for passengers.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) collectively made the efforts to ease congestion at the immigration counters, she said.

Castro said all 44 immigration counters at NAIA Terminal 3 are open to speed up the immigration processes for departing passengers.

“Ang sabi ng Pangulo, gawin nating convenient at safe ang travel experience ng ating mga pasahero at ito ang mabilis na sagot ng mga concerned agencies upang mapagaan at mapabilis ang Immigration processing sa ating paliparan,” she said.

According to BI, they are expecting around 50,000 travelers per day during the peak season. | PND

The Philippine National Police (PNP) declared on Tuesday “our streets are safe” as it asserted that there is a significant decline in crimes nationwide.

During the Malacañang press briefing on Tuesday, P/Maj. Gen. Roderick Augustus B. Alba, PNP Director for Police Community Relations, addressed perceptions of and concerns about high crime rate in the country.

Alba said the PNP’s evaluation is based on verified crime statistics, not public perception or political messaging. He reported that from January to April 2025, crime incidents dropped by 26 percent compared to the same period last year.

Alba assured “our streets are safe,” in response to queries whether it is still safe to travel amid reports of increasing crime incidents.

“Definitely. Of course, from time to time, mayroon tayong mga crimes na naging highly sensationalized na hindi kaagad masolve. But these are acted upon immediately and for us (they do) not represent the entire situation of our country,” Alba said.

“Sa amin po sa PNP, tuloy-tuloy lang po ang aming kampanya against all forms of lawlessness,” he added.

“We stick with the reality—what we have now—iyong aming data,” Alba said.

“We respect the perception of our communities. But we speak of our duties na dapat naming pinapatupad. We shouldn’t be affected by negativities kung mayroon man,” he added. | PND