That businessman Ramon R. del Rosario Jr. was named Management Man of the Year for 2010 by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) was no surprise to the people who follow developments on the local business scene. After all, “Boy Blue,” as his friends call the man, has been at the helm of Phinma [...] ...

The Cabinet officials who did not meet President Benigno Aquino III at the airport on Friday night can rest easy that they will not be reassigned, according to his spokesperson, Edwin Lacierda. “I think the Cabinet secretaries who didn’t go to the airport can all heave a sigh of relief,” Lacierda said in jest when [...] ...

The havoc wrought by poachers on coral reefs off South Cotabato is “much worse” than earlier estimated, according to a ranking environment official. Theresa Mondita Lim, director of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said yesterday that the damaged area could reach “almost five times the [...] ...

A top Chinese official has made the assurance that the Philippines-China territorial dispute over the Spratly islands will not adversely affect relations between the two countries. The conciliatory words were uttered by Jiang Shusheng, vice chair of the 11th National People’s Congress of China, to Vice President Jejomar Binay when he paid a courtesy call [...] ...

MANILA, Philippines—Dark red or ruby is the traditional color theme of the affair, symbolic of the passion that is still strong and alive after 40 years together. But trust Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago to proclaim it to be in “political technicolor.” The senator and her husband, Narciso Santiago Jr., are renewing their marriage vows at the [...] ...

MANILA, Philippines—Loud shrieks and applause from hundreds of children and adults from all over the country greeted the actor and Navy reservist Dingdong Dantes as he arrived for a special Inquirer Read-Along session at the Philippine Navy Headquarters on Roxas Boulevard yesterday. The Saturday session was a simultaneous read-along, greatly facilitated by the Navy’s video [...] ...

MANILA, Philippines—From separate energy and air-conditioning fees to Internet and e-mail fees, college enrollment charges seem to be getting longer and more burdensome. A youth group monitoring colleges and universities nationwide yesterday noted that in addition to the rising tuition in private colleges and universities, miscellaneous fees have been padding education costs with “hidden fees” [...] ...

MANILA, Philippines—Communism is not bad—in fact it’s legal, says the man who commands the Armed Forces of the Philippines in its war against the 42-year-old Maoist insurgency. Notwithstanding his position, AFP Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eduardo Oban said he believes communism is not a terrible thing at all, at least as a personal philosophy. [...] ...

(UPDATE) Money for top officials is flowing not only in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), but in the Philippine National Police (PNP) as well, and no less than Senator Panfilo Lacson can attest to it. ...

A former driver of Datu Andal "Unsay" Ampatuan Jr. wanted in the Maguindanao massacre case was arrested early Wednesday morning, the Philippine National Police said. ...

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III wants Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Ricardo David to stay on in government after he retires on March 8. ...

The Philippines has become an ideal hub for illegal drugs production and Metro Manila has the biggest number of clandestine laboratories in the country, an antinarcotic official said Wednesday. ...

Moves to postpone elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) gained ground in the House of Representatives Wednesday following a statement by President Benigno Aquino III that he wants it moved to 2013. ...

The Arroyo administration interceded, in 2006 on behalf of then Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. when soldiers confiscated a caché of powerful firearms and ammunition meant for his private army back in 2006, a decorated military official disclo... ...

The Department of National Defense public bidding for P2.1 billion worth of military oil supply failed after a lone bidder submitted an offer that was nearly P1 billion more than the approved contract budget. ...

Once one plunges into the life of a whistle-blower, there’s no turning back. ...

There will be no classes on all levels in all public and private schools on February 25 in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA people power revolution, a Radyo Inquirer report said. ...

Two advocacy groups are asking the government not to use the “seriously and inherently-flawed” precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines that were used in the 2010 presidential polls for the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao elections in August. ...

“If there is honor even among thieves, there should also be honor among the representatives of the people.” ...

A puppy love is turning into a full-blown romance. ...