News
News and updates for Filipino communities in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Qatar, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Kuwait, Oman and Macau.
Events · New ZealandJaden Dumdumaya finishes tied 13th at Asia-Pacific Amateur after late double bogeys at Te Arai
Filipino-American golfer Jaden Dumdumaya closed with a 72 to finish tied 13th on 289 at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Te Arai Links in New Zealand, where Thailand's Fifa Laopakdee retained the title.
November 1, 2026
Technology · New ZealandPhilippine energy officials explore AI for power services at New Zealand ambassador's Manila reception
Philippine energy officials and technology firm Gentrack, working with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, discussed how artificial intelligence could support electricity regulation, outage monitoring and customer service at a reception hosted by New Zealand Ambassador Catherine McIntosh in Manila.
November 1, 2026
Community · New ZealandAteneo de Davao University and New Zealand Embassy hold Manaaki scholarship information session
The Embassy of New Zealand in the Philippines presented the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships at Ateneo de Davao University on 27 October, with the next applications set to open on 1 March 2027.
October 31, 2026
Community · New ZealandFour Indigenous-led enterprises in Mindanao will receive PHP 4.4 million in New Zealand-funded seed grants
With funding support from the New Zealand Government, four Indigenous-led enterprises in Mindanao will receive PHP 4.4 million in seed grants under the I-LEAD Project, UNDP Philippines said. New Zealand Ambassador Dr. Catherine McIntosh helped hand over commitment certificates at the first Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Trade Expo in Davao City.
October 30, 2026
Community · New ZealandJaden Dumdumaya leads four Filipino golfers after windy Asia-Pacific Amateur opener at Te Arai Links
Four Filipino golfers are competing at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Te Arai Links in Tomarata, New Zealand, where debutant Jaden Dumdumaya shot a 2-over 73 in gusty winds to sit tied 29th after the opening round.
October 30, 2026
Community · New ZealandPhilippine Embassy to schedule another Christchurch mobile consular mission in January 2027
The Philippine Embassy in New Zealand concluded a three-day mobile consular mission in Christchurch on 11 October and says it will schedule another one there in January 2027, citing high demand from Filipinos in Canterbury.
October 29, 2026
Community · New ZealandPhilippine Embassy marks 10 years of South China Sea arbitral award with Wellington and Auckland lectures
The Philippine Embassy in Wellington marked the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award with round-table discussions and public lectures in Wellington on 12 October and Auckland on 14 October, featuring former Solicitor General Florin T. Hilbay.
October 28, 2026
Trade · New ZealandNew Zealand ambassador meets Davao mayor as NZ-backed Mindanao Indigenous trade expo opens
New Zealand Ambassador Dr. Catherine McIntosh met Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte on 26 October during the first Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Trade Expo, a five-day event at Poblacion Market Central co-organised by the New Zealand Embassy Manila.
October 28, 2026
Policy · New ZealandINZ tightens student visas from 27 October, including master's work rights
Immigration New Zealand's four student-visa changes from 27 October 2026 end unlimited in-study work for master's-by-research students, strengthen English-language instructions, widen processing suspension powers, and extend post-course visa expiry from 1 month to 2 months where that 1-month rule applies.
October 27, 2026
Community · New ZealandThree books by Filipino writers make 2026 a landmark year for Filipino non-fiction in Aotearoa
The Big Idea reports that three books authored by Filipinos have been published in Aotearoa this year: the anthology Mga Tinig Sa Mahabang Puting Ulap, Joseph Trinidad's essay collection Lucky Creatures, and Among Kinabuhi sa Aotearoa: Filipino Lives in Aotearoa.
October 27, 2026
Events · AustraliaPhilippine Embassy and ANU Film Group celebrate Halloween with ACT Filipinos at Forgotten Island screening
The Philippine Embassy in Canberra and the ANU Film Group celebrated Halloween with the ACT Filipino community through a special screening of Forgotten Island, a DreamWorks animated film rooted in Filipino folklore and mythology.
November 1, 2026
Awards · AustraliaMelbourne-based Dondon Bales wins Most Purposeful Traveller at the NomadMania Travel Awards in Bangkok
Melbourne-based Dondon Bales, founder and co-leader of Filipino World Travelers, won Most Purposeful Traveller at the NomadMania Travel Awards in Bangkok on 25 October 2026, while Kach Umandap won Biggest Low Passport Index Traveller.
November 1, 2026
Trade · AustraliaAustralian banana growers renew concerns over possible Philippine imports after Senate Estimates questions
Questions at Senate Estimates on 27 October put fresh focus on Australia's biosecurity assessment of fresh Cavendish bananas from the Philippines, with a draft report expected in the first half of 2027.
October 31, 2026
Community · AustraliaFilipino nurses train in Cleve under South Australia's apprenticeship partnership with TESDA
SBS Filipino reports that Filipino nurses are completing apprenticeships in Cleve, South Australia, through a partnership between the South Australian Skills Commission and the Philippines' TESDA, which the commission's Cameron Baker calls the first of its kind.
October 31, 2026
Events · AustraliaGerald Anderson to lead Filipino celebrity team at FBC Hoops Fest in Melbourne
Filipino actor and basketball enthusiast Gerald Anderson will join a lineup of Philippine entertainment personalities at FBC Hoops Fest 2026, organised by the Filipino Ballers Club at Community Bank Stadium in Diamond Creek on Sunday, 8 November.
October 30, 2026
Community · AustraliaBrisbane-raised actress Janette McBride says theatre helped her embrace being biracial
Janette McBride, a former Philippine screen star who grew up in Brisbane, told SBS Filipino's Filo Enough series that she felt 'ugly and different' as a biracial child, and that theatre and her Asian Aunties improv duo have helped her embrace both cultures.
October 30, 2026
Policy · AustraliaAustralia, Philippines, Japan and US discuss potential joint investment in Philippine military infrastructure at Cebu talks
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia, the Philippines, Japan and the United States spoke about how they can jointly invest in infrastructure in the Philippines during a four-way meeting in Cebu. He also said hundreds of US personnel are expected to take part in Exercise Alon in 2027.
October 30, 2026
Food · AustraliaTakam becomes Sydney's first Filipino restaurant to earn a chef's hat in the Good Food Guide
Darlinghurst restaurant Takam scored 15/20 in the 2027 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, making it the first Filipino restaurant in Sydney to earn a hat, while Melbourne's Serai and Askal kept their One Hat recognition, SBS Filipino reported.
October 30, 2026
Finance · AustraliaMarcos vows to defend the peso after record low: what it means for Filipino-Australians sending money home
The Philippine peso closed at a record low of ₱64.17 to the US dollar on 27 October before recovering slightly, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged to defend it. Reserve Bank of Australia data shows the Australian dollar buying about ₱45 this week.
October 29, 2026
Food · Australia'We're not scared to change': Jeremiah Luya on modernising Sydney's Starlight Bakery
SBS Filipino profiles Jeremiah Adam Luya, whose family bought Doonside's two-decade-old Starlight Bakery in 2021 for AUD $250,000 and gave it a modern makeover with new interiors and seasonal chilled drinks, with plans for a second location and more wholesale.
October 29, 2026
Policy · SingaporeWhat the Philippine Supreme Court's new foreign divorce rules mean for Filipinos in Singapore
Filipinos seeking recognition of a foreign divorce no longer need to prove the foreign divorce law, though a Philippine court petition is still required and marriages between two Filipino citizens are generally not covered.
October 31, 2026
Policy · SingaporePhilippines formally hands over ASEAN defence ministers' meeting chairmanship to Singapore in Cebu
Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. turned over the chairmanship of the ADMM and ADMM-Plus to Singapore's Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing at a ceremony in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on 29 October. Singapore will chair both mechanisms in 2027.
October 30, 2026
Policy · SingaporePhilippine Ambassador Macaraig speaks at ISEAS seminar on 60 years of the Philippines in ASEAN
Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo G. Macaraig delivered remarks at an ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute hybrid seminar on 28 October marking six decades of Philippine engagement in ASEAN, in the year the Philippines holds the ASEAN Chairship.
October 29, 2026
Community · Singapore127 Filipino workers in Singapore join second Usapang Agribiz forum on turning savings into farm businesses back home
The Department of Agriculture's second Usapang Agribiz sa Singapore on 25 October gathered 127 OFWs for guidance on agribusiness planning, financing, training and markets under the Balik Agri-OFW Reintegration Program, with a warning to check investment offers before committing savings.
October 29, 2026
Trade · SingaporeSingapore's Radar Tyres signs multi-year deal as Official Partner of Manny Pacquiao's MPBL
Singapore-headquartered Radar Tyres has become Official Partner and exclusive tyre sponsor of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League founded by Manny Pacquiao, starting with the Season 8 playoffs and running into Season 9.
October 27, 2026
Policy · SingaporePhilippines and Singapore exchange energy letters of intent on power links and nuclear capability at SIEW 2026
The Philippines and Singapore exchanged letters of intent on exploring cross-border electricity interconnection and on capability development in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy at the opening of Singapore International Energy Week 2026.
October 27, 2026
Community · SingaporeFive Filipino tourists arrested in Singapore over alleged S$155,000 theft at Tang Plaza
Philippine Ambassador Medardo Macaraig has confirmed that five Filipino tourists were arrested by Singapore police over an alleged S$155,000 theft at Tang Plaza on Orchard Road, and that their case has gone to court.
October 26, 2026
Policy · SingaporeCPF rates for senior workers rise on 1 January 2027, affecting Filipino PRs in Singapore but not work pass holders
From 1 January 2027, CPF contribution rates rise for employees aged above 55 to 65 in Singapore, a change that reaches Filipino permanent residents but not Filipinos on work passes, who do not pay CPF.
October 26, 2026
Events · SingaporeThree Filipino artists join Gajah Gallery's Dramatis Personae: 1001 Lives show in Singapore
Filipino artists Wawi Navarroza, Nona Garcia and Goldie Poblador are among 15 women artists in Dramatis Personae: 1001 Lives, a group exhibition curated by Joyce Toh at Gajah Gallery Singapore that runs until 29 November.
October 26, 2026
Community · SingaporeFilipina in Singapore shares how she lost S$15,120 in an alleged condo rental scam
A Filipina working in Singapore says she lost S$15,120 in an alleged rental scam in 2025 despite viewing a condominium unit in Paya Lebar twice, and has shared her story on TikTok with tips to help other renters avoid the same trap.
October 26, 2026
Events · CanadaFilipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez fights back but falls to Diana Shnaider in Pan Pacific Open final
Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez won the second set from 4-0 down but lost the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo to Russia's Diana Shnaider 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, ending a run that included the Singapore Open title and the Ningbo final.
November 1, 2026
Events · CanadaBody & Head exhibition brings Philippine Indigenous blankets and headscarves to Toronto's Textile Museum of Canada
Body & Head, an exhibition of blankets and headscarves from Indigenous and ethnolinguistic communities in the Philippines, opened at the Textile Museum of Canada in Toronto on 28 October and runs until 11 November, presented with Hibla Philippines and the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto.
November 1, 2026
Community · CanadaFilipino nursing student Ryan Tandiama goes from hospital porter to the Canadian Nurses Association board
Born in San Juan, Philippines, University of the Fraser Valley nursing student Ryan Criztoff Tandiama started as a hospital patient screener and porter in Abbotsford and now sits on the Canadian Nurses Association board as its 2026-2027 student representative.
November 1, 2026
Events · CanadaWinnipeg Jets set fifth annual Filipino Heritage Night for 8 November with new Filipino Breakaway Jersey
The Winnipeg Jets will celebrate Manitoba's Filipino community at their 8 November home game against Tampa Bay, with live entertainment, Filipino food and an auction of autographed Filipino Breakaway Jerseys for community initiatives.
October 31, 2026
Community · CanadaPhilippine Historama Society of BC stages The Ten Commandments at Burnaby's Michael J. Fox Theatre
The Philippine Historama Society of BC presented a community stage production of The Ten Commandments at the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby on 24 October, bringing Filipino-Canadian performers, dancers and the Richmond 55+ers together in what organisers called a bayanihan effort.
October 31, 2026
Community · CanadaGreg Carlos elected to Steinbach city council as its first councillor of colour
Greg Carlos has been elected to Steinbach city council in Manitoba. He is the first Filipino to run for council in the city and will be its first councillor of colour, CBC News reported.
October 30, 2026
Community · CanadaAdhika to mark 41 years of community service at its annual general meeting in Toronto
Adhika Philippine Development Foundation will mark 41 years of community service at its annual general meeting in Toronto on Saturday, 31 October, with a focus on engaging younger Filipino Canadians, Mabuhay Canada reported.
October 30, 2026
Policy · CanadaCanada and the Philippines co-host ASEAN Regional Forum meeting of defence university heads in Victoria
The Canadian Defence Academy hosted the 28th ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges, Institutions Meeting in Victoria, British Columbia, from 20 to 23 October, co-hosted with the Philippines. National Defence said Canada welcomed the Philippines as co-host ahead of its role as host nation in 2027.
October 30, 2026
Events · CanadaToronto's KAPISANAN closes first Edge of KLWKN Lit Series with Filipino-Canadian writer Patria Rivera
KAPISANAN's Edge of KLWKN Lit Series finale in Toronto on Oct. 28 is set to celebrate Filipino-Canadian writer Patria Rivera, with poetry readings, a conversation moderated by Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio and a book drive for a mobile library in the Philippines.
October 29, 2026
Food · CanadaJollibee marks 10 years in Canada with holiday store lightings, merch and parade float
Jollibee is closing its 10th-anniversary countdown in Canada with a Canada-exclusive merch collection, Rewards deals, holiday light installations at four flagship restaurants, a Make-A-Wish Canada cheque presentation and a float in Toronto's Original Santa Claus Parade.
October 28, 2026
Community · United StatesFilipino-American wrestler Matt Ramos takes Philippine oath of allegiance at the Chicago consulate
Filipino-American wrestler Matthew James Ramos swore allegiance to the Philippines at the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago after Republic Act No. 12324 granted him Philippine citizenship; the oath still has to be registered with the Bureau of Immigration before his naturalization is complete.
November 1, 2026
Food · United StatesAtlanta Filipino restaurant Estrellita keeps Michelin Bib Gourmand for a fourth year, plans South Downtown move
Estrellita, the Filipino restaurant in Atlanta's Grant Park, has kept its Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction for a fourth year, and Atlanta News First's ATL Live reported it plans to move next year to a larger historic space in South Downtown near Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
November 1, 2026
Community · United StatesSan José State unveils Filipino American history mural honouring Larry Itliong and Filipino farmworker leaders
A four-sided mural by artist Francesca “ChiChai” Mateo outside SJSU’s Diaz Compean Student Union, funded by a $100,000 alumni campaign, honours Filipino farmworker leaders including Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and Pete Velasco.
October 31, 2026
Awards · United StatesFilipino-American educators group IAM FAME to honour dozens of teachers at Las Vegas Legacy Awards on 28 November
IAM FAME's National Assembly of Leaders and Educators 2026 at the Santa Fe Station Hotel pairs a morning leadership summit with an afternoon awards ceremony, with special education teachers the largest group of honourees.
October 31, 2026
Community · United StatesPhilippine Consulate in New York brings consular outreach to Albany on 14 November
The Philippine Consulate General in New York, with Kalayaan 1521 Council Inc., will hold a consular outreach mission in Albany on 14 November 2026, offering passport, notarization, dual citizenship and overseas voter registration services.
October 31, 2026
Community · United StatesChicago's Balikbayan Book Club grows to nearly 50 people a month as Filipinos reconnect with their roots
The Rizal Center's monthly Balikbayan Book Club pairs Filipino literature with home-cooked Filipino food, and has grown from 10 members since launching last December.
October 31, 2026
Community · United StatesAntioch City Council proclaims October 2026 Filipino American History Month
The Antioch City Council in California unanimously approved a proclamation on 27 October naming October 2026 Filipino American History Month, citing the 1587 Morro Bay landing and Filipino American trailblazers in public office.
October 31, 2026
Awards · United StatesFour Filipino American leaders honoured at the 5th Larry Itliong Leadership Awards in San Francisco
Filipino American Voice United and Caring Hearts Foundation honoured Gayle Romasanta, Juslyn Manalo, Dorie Paniza and Al Perez at the 5th Larry Itliong Leadership Awards on 24 October at Sentro Filipino in San Francisco.
October 30, 2026
Events · United StatesPhilippine Consulate in New York marks Filipino American History Month with 18th Sinehan sa Konsulado
The Philippine Consulate General in New York held the 18th Sinehan sa Konsulado at the Philippine Center on 27–28 October, screening diaspora feature films and student shorts for Filipino American History Month.
October 30, 2026
Food · United StatesFilipino-American cocktail bar June Baby opens in New York's East Village with ube and calamansi drinks
June Baby, a Filipino-American cocktail bar founded by Roxanne Diaz Bangalan, Darwin Pornel and Ben Rojo, opened on 28 October at 197 Second Avenue in New York's East Village. Its name honours Philippine Independence Day on 12 June, and its menu includes an Ube Colada, a Calamansi Hi-Ball and lumpiang Shanghai.
October 30, 2026
Food · United KingdomFamily-owned Filipino food truck Manila Grill sets up next to the Asda in Dalgety Bay
After two years of festival pop-ups, Neil and Lily Aquino's Manila Grill was set to open as a permanent Filipino food truck next to the Asda in Dalgety Bay on 15 October, offering dishes including Filipino barbecue and lechon kawali, the Dunfermline Press reported.
November 1, 2026
Events · United KingdomJoshua Garcia and Julia Barretto depart for London for Always Yours, Never Mine screenings and meet-and-greets
The Star Cinema leads were scheduled to appear at special screenings and meet-and-greets at Genesis Cinema London on 31 October, the day the film was set to open in UK cinemas.
October 31, 2026
Awards · United KingdomIsabela-born nurse Michael Mark Dalauidao named UK infection prevention practitioner of the year
Filipino nurse Michael Mark Dalauidao has been named Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner of the Year 2026 by the Infection Prevention Society, recognising work at William Harvey Hospital that was later rolled out across East Kent Hospitals.
October 30, 2026
Community · United KingdomFilipino nurse John Yayen turns migrant health workers' stories into Embers of Care portraits
Filipino nurse and artist John Yayen is creating Embers of Care, a 100-portrait series honouring the internationally educated nurses, doctors and care workers who keep the UK's health system running, Nurse.org reported. His paintings hang in Royal Marsden Hospital, the Royal College of Nursing's permanent collection and NHS trusts from Oxford to Newcastle to Sheffield.
October 30, 2026
Food · United KingdomFilipino-influenced bakery and pizzeria Bunso opens in Kentish Town from the group that runs Mamasons
Restaurateur Omar Shah's Maginhawa Group, which also runs Mamasons, Guanabana and Belly, set Bunso's evening pizzeria to open on 13 October at 1A Hawley Road in Kentish Town, with its daytime bakery following on 20 October. The menus pair Filipino flavours with Italian and American influences.
October 29, 2026
Food · United KingdomPanadera and Donia team's Toasteé, a French toast and ube concept, set to open at Westfield White City on 27 October
Florence Mae Maglanoc, founder of Panadera and Filipino restaurant Donia, and collaborator Adrian Kyle Felipe announced 27 October as the opening date for Toasteé, a 15-cover French toast and ube concept at Westfield White City in London.
October 29, 2026
Policy · United KingdomNorthern Ireland research finds Filipino group 1.5 times more likely to be in employment
NISRA research using 2021 Census data found Filipinos in Northern Ireland had more positive health and employment outcomes than the White group on several measures, but degree-holders were more likely to be underemployed.
October 29, 2026
Community · United KingdomFrom healthcare support worker to Deputy Lieutenant: Filipino nurse Ariel Lañada's Oxford journey
A new profile traces how Dr Jose Ariel Lañada, a farmer's son from Iloilo who started in Oxford as a healthcare support worker in 2002, became an NHS nursing education leader, President of the Filipino Nurses Association UK and a Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire.
October 28, 2026
Events · United KingdomRafael Manuel's Sundance-winning Filipiñana opens in UK and Irish cinemas on 20 November
Filipiñana, Filipino director Rafael Manuel's Sundance-winning debut feature about a teenage tee-girl at an elite Manila golf club, is set for release in UK and Irish cinemas on 20 November through BFI Distribution.
October 28, 2026
Community · United KingdomFilipino nurses mark 25 years of NHS service at Hinchingbrooke and in Teesside
Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have celebrated Filipino nurses who arrived in 2001, many of whom planned short stays but are still caring for patients 25 years on.
October 28, 2026
Policy · United Arab EmiratesDubai OFW's viral NAIA lounge video puts OWWA's connecting-flight rule and arrival help desks in focus
A Filipino worker returning from Dubai said she was turned away from the OFW lounge at NAIA Terminal 3 because she had no connecting flight; OWWA says CCTV shows she was eventually let in, and points returning workers to its arrival assistance desks after Customs.
November 1, 2026
Community · United Arab EmiratesFilipina nurse Marites Rufo is 'mama' to the abandoned children of Dubai's Family Village
The Filipina nurse, who grew up in Capiz and has been in the UAE for 17 years, looks after 30 children who were abandoned as infants at Dubai's Family Village, a facility that coordinates with the Philippine Consulate General on repatriation cases.
October 31, 2026
Community · United Arab EmiratesDubai Police bring scam and road-safety awareness to around 5,000 Filipinos at Al Rigga Night Market
Dubai Police's Positive Spirit Council joined around 5,000 members of the Filipino community at the opening of Al Rigga Night Market, running sessions on online scams, road safety and crime prevention.
October 31, 2026
Policy · United Arab EmiratesSenator Tulfo meets ADNOC chief in Abu Dhabi on Philippine strategic petroleum reserves
Senate Energy Committee chair Erwin Tulfo visited ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi on 29 October to explore a partnership for strategic petroleum reserves in the Philippines, days after Senate President Win Gatchalian said the Emirati oil company is ready to build and stock a facility if land is provided.
October 31, 2026
Community · United Arab EmiratesFilipina homemaker fighting cancer since 2016 among six AED 100,000 Dear Big Ticket winners in the UAE
Arlene Jimenez, a 44-year-old homemaker from the Philippines who has lived in the UAE since 2006, is one of six winners of AED 100,000 each in Dear Big Ticket Season 4, and plans to use the prize for her ongoing cancer treatment and medication.
October 30, 2026
Community · United Arab EmiratesFilipino teen karter Axel Nocom gets a wall-length banner at Abu Dhabi's Al Forsan kart circuit
A wall-length banner of 14-year-old Filipino karter Mariano Axel Nocom now hangs above garage 12 at the Al Forsan International Kart Circuit in Abu Dhabi, where he set an OK-N Junior track record in 2025. This month he became the first Filipino to race at the FIA Karting World Cup.
October 30, 2026
Community · United Arab EmiratesPhilippine Business Council in Dubai launches Women's Business Network for Filipino women in the UAE
The Philippine Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates (PBC-DNE) has launched a Women's Business Network to help Filipino women in the UAE advance their careers, explore entrepreneurship and take on leadership roles. It was launched at a sundowner at MiMi Mei Fair in Downtown Dubai on 29 October.
October 30, 2026
Events · United Arab EmiratesJairus Aquino to meet "Pee Mak" fans at Dubai café as Filipino remake opens in UAE cinemas
Actor Jairus Aquino is set to meet fans of the Filipino remake of "Pee Mak" at ELS Coffee & More in Dubai's Al Rigga on Saturday, 31 October, two days after VIVA Films' version opened in cinemas across the UAE and Qatar. Fans need to show their movie ticket and pay AED 50, which covers a coffee.
October 30, 2026
Community · United Arab EmiratesFilipino swim coach in Dubai places fourth at Aquaman 10K in comeback after losing 13 kg
Juan Paulo Kizu, a 37-year-old Filipino swimming and triathlon coach who has worked in Dubai since 2014, finished fourth overall at the Aquaman Dubai 10KM on October 18 as he returns to open-water racing after losing about 13 kg.
October 29, 2026
Policy · United Arab EmiratesPhilippine government executives study UAE public-service practices on leadership visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Philippine government executives spent a week in the United Arab Emirates on the Philippines Executive Leadership Program 2026, a study visit run by the UAE Government Experience Exchange Office, building project proposals on investment, skills, digital transformation, AI and public services.
October 29, 2026
Technology · ItalyPhilippine Embassy in Rome and Xinyx Design introduce young Filipinos in Italy to careers in microchip design
A Diaspora Talent Engagement Program at the embassy and school visits to IMS and IPSI pitched integrated circuit design as a high-value STEM path for the Filipino community's next generation.
October 31, 2026
Community · ItalyFilipino association in Ventimiglia installs new board led by Teresa Baltazar
The Associazione Filippina del Ponente Ligure APS, based in Ventimiglia, swore in a new board for the next three years at an induction rite on Sunday 18 October, with mayor Flavio Di Muro attending and immigration lawyer Angelo Massaro briefing members on the decreto flussi.
October 31, 2026
Community · ItalyRome-based Filipino mother, 53, finishes full Venice Marathon as Filipino runners join its 40th edition
Filipino runners from Rome and Milan were among the more than 24,000 participants at the 40th Venice Marathon on October 25, including a 53-year-old supermarket merchandiser who finished the full marathon in 4:16:54.
October 29, 2026
Awards · ItalyMilan-based Filipina designer Mirei Monticelli turns Philippine abaca into LVMH prize-winning light sculpture
Vogue Philippines has profiled Mirei Monticelli, a Milan-based Filipina industrial designer who won the innovation award at the fourth Premio Maestri d'Eccellenza run by Métiers d'Excellence LVMH for a lamp made with Philippine abaca and banana fibres.
October 29, 2026
Policy · ItalyForeign Secretary Lazaro says the Philippines and Italy are 'united by the sea' in Rome speech, days after Philippines-Holy See 75th anniversary events there
Speaking at the Festival of Diplomacy in Rome, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro highlighted Philippine-Italian maritime and defence cooperation, days after leading celebrations of 75 years of Philippines-Holy See relations with Filipino clergy and laypeople in Rome.
October 27, 2026
Policy · ItalyPhilippine Embassy in Rome urges Filipinos in Italy to avoid protest areas and keep emergency hotlines handy
The Philippine Embassy in Rome urged Filipinos in Italy to exercise heightened caution and avoid protest sites as demonstrations were expected in several Italian cities, and shared emergency hotlines for the embassy and the consulate general in Milan.
October 27, 2026
Community · JapanFilipina karaoke businesswoman Abby Watabe finishes college degree from Japan at 49, inspired by Leni Robredo
Abby Agwas Watabe, a Filipina businesswoman who helped build Japan's Karaoke-kan chain, earned a hospitality management degree from Holy Cross College through online classes from Japan, graduating in April 2026 at 49 after being inspired by Leni Robredo.
November 1, 2026
Community · JapanFilCom Chorale marks 70 years of Philippines-Japan friendship with Kizuna 70 charity concert in Shibuya
The FilCom Chorale and the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Cultural Dance Troupe performed Filipino and Japanese songs and dances at the Kizuna 70 concert in Shibuya on 28 October, with proceeds going to the CFC Japan ANCOP Scholarship Program, the Philippine Embassy in Japan said.
October 31, 2026
Policy · JapanJapan issues passport to 90-year-old Japanese-Filipino woman Adelaida Kakazu, who hopes to visit her late father's Okinawa hometown
Separated from her Okinawa-born father after World War II, Adelaida Kakazu regained Japanese nationality this year and received her passport in Manila, as the Embassy of Japan invites other Nikkei-jin descendants to apply.
October 31, 2026
Community · JapanTinikling at Tokyo Tower: Philippine Embassy and TUFS dance troupe bring Filipino folk dances to 45th Minato Citizens' Festival
The Philippine Embassy in Japan and the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) Philippine Cultural Dance Troupe performed Bendian, Kinakulangan and Tinikling at the 45th Minato Citizens' Festival at Shiba Park International Friendship Plaza on 10 October 2026, then invited festival-goers on stage to try the bamboo-pole dance.
October 30, 2026
Community · JapanPhilippine Embassy in Tokyo honours Filipino teachers in Japan at Mabuhay Ka, Sensei! gala
Close to 300 Filipino teachers and educators attended the Mabuhay Ka, Sensei! gala at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo in Ikebukuro on 11 October, organised by the Philippine Embassy through MWO-Tokyo for the 70th anniversary of Philippines-Japan relations.
October 30, 2026
Community · JapanPhilippine Embassy officials' photos of Japan shown at Japan through Diplomats' Eyes exhibition in Tokyo
Photographs taken by Philippine Embassy officials in Japan, including Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, were selected for the 29th Japan through Diplomats' Eyes photo exhibition at the Roppongi Hills Café/Space in Tokyo, which ran from 8 to 12 October, the embassy said on 27 October.
October 30, 2026
Community · JapanOver 4,000 Filipinos in Hokkaido: Philippine Embassy and prefecture discuss support for residents
The Philippine Embassy in Japan and the Honorary Consulate in Sapporo met Hokkaido Prefectural Government officials on 16 October to discuss support for Filipino residents, who number over 4,000, including a support center that takes consultations in Filipino.
October 30, 2026
Events · JapanVigan and Filipiniana on show at MoN Takanawa in Tokyo until 6 November
The Philippines is featured in the second run of Minato City's “Markets Around the World” international cultural exhibition at the Museum of Narratives (MoN) Takanawa in Tokyo, with a Vigan market display and a Filipiniana collection on loan from a Tokyo University of Foreign Studies dance troupe. Entry is free until 6 November.
October 29, 2026
Community · JapanPhilippine Embassy and Filipino fans in Tokyo cheer on Alex Eala as she reaches Toray Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals
Ambassador Mylene Garcia-Albano and Philippine Embassy staff cheered Alex Eala's opening win at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, and Eala, who thanked her kababayan in Japan, has since beaten Talia Gibson to set up a quarter-final against Diana Shnaider.
October 29, 2026
Events · JapanPhilippine Embassy in Tokyo welcomes Dionela's guest artists ahead of first Japan tour dates in Tokyo and Osaka
Filipino R&B singer Dionela's The Promise Tour has concerts scheduled in Tokyo on 27 October and Osaka on 29 October, and the Philippine Embassy in Japan welcomed guest performers Rangel, John Roa and FYNE on a courtesy call ahead of the shows.
October 29, 2026
Events · SpainPhilippine Creative Tech Forum Madrid moves to 26 November at Casa Filipinas
The Philippine Embassy in Spain has set a new date, Thursday 26 November 2026, for its Philippine Creative Tech Forum Madrid, a Philippines-Spain industry dialogue and showcase for game developers, animators, digital content creators and investors at Casa Filipinas.
October 31, 2026
Community · SpainPhilippine Consulate in Barcelona urges Filipinos to avoid four city-centre areas after riot
The Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona advised Filipinos to exercise heightened caution and avoid four areas of the city, based on information from the Catalan Police, after a riot in the city centre on 24 October that ended with 128 arrests.
October 27, 2026
Events · Saudi ArabiaFilipino boxer Carl Jammes Martin upsets David Picasso in Riyadh to win WBC Silver featherweight title
Unbeaten Filipino southpaw Carl Jammes Martin beat Mexico's David Picasso by split decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to win the WBC Silver featherweight title and improve to 29-0.
November 1, 2026
Community · Saudi ArabiaFifty distressed OFWs at Jeddah's renovated Bahay Kalinga shelter get SAR 750 each from DMW AKSYON Fund
Fifty distressed Filipino workers in Jeddah, 42 domestic workers and eight male skilled workers, each received SAR 750 from the AKSYON Fund on 29 October while Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac visited the newly renovated Bahay Kalinga of MWO-Jeddah.
October 30, 2026
Policy · Saudi ArabiaDMW chief joins send-off of 50 stranded OFWs and four children at Qassim airport
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac personally accompanied the send-off of 50 stranded overseas Filipino workers and four children at Qassim International Airport in Saudi Arabia on 28 October. The Department of Migrant Workers said it provided P3.2 million in assistance for their return to the Philippines.
October 30, 2026
Community · Saudi ArabiaOFW hurt in Riyadh airport attack says ‘nothing but thanks’ as DMW chief meets Filipinos in Riyadh
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac visited an overseas Filipino worker recovering in the burn unit of King Saud Medical City after the October 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport, and met the Filipino community at the Migrant Workers Office in Riyadh to set out the help available to workers in Saudi Arabia.
October 29, 2026
Events · Saudi ArabiaSB19 concert film screening in Riyadh brings Filipino fans and community leaders together
A premiere-night screening of SB19's "Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Concert Finale" in Riyadh, organised with Qanawat Group and the Philippine Embassy, drew Filipino fans, students, creators and community leaders.
October 29, 2026
Policy · Saudi ArabiaPhilippine envoy says no need to raise Saudi Arabia alert level as repatriation flights continue
Ambassador Raymond Balatbat says it is not necessary to raise the alert level or issue a travel advisory for Saudi Arabia, which stays at Alert Level 2. OWWA says repatriation continues through other airports, with unsettled obligations blocking some exit visas.
October 28, 2026
Community · Saudi ArabiaDMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac visits three hospitalised OFWs in Al Khobar on presidential directive
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac visited three overseas Filipino workers undergoing treatment at a hospital in Al Khobar on 26 October and assured them their medical and welfare needs would continue to be monitored.
October 28, 2026
Community · Saudi ArabiaFilipino artists in Al Khobar show at Saudi National Day exhibition and paint for charity
Al Khobar-based Filipino artists exhibited at a Saudi National Day art show in September, and Arab News reports they donate paintings to causes from medical aid to Mangyan communities and scholarships back home.
October 28, 2026
Community · Saudi ArabiaDMW and OWWA have assisted 4,049 OFWs in Saudi Arabia, mostly with cash aid, as 675 ask to be repatriated
Government figures as of 26 October show 4,049 OFWs in Saudi Arabia have received 5,496 services, mostly financial assistance, while OWWA says 675 workers have asked to go home and are being taken to airports four to 11 hours away.
October 27, 2026
Community · Saudi ArabiaDMW arranges return of remains of Filipino worker killed after drone interception at Saudi oilfield
The DMW is arranging the repatriation of the remains of a Filipino worker who died after a drone targeting Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield was intercepted on 21 October, and has urged OFWs to avoid military and oil facilities.
October 27, 2026
Policy · MalaysiaSabah deports 800 Filipino detainees from Sandakan as six more weekly repatriation exercises planned
Sabah Immigration deported 800 Filipino detainees to Zamboanga City from Sandakan Port aboard MV Antonia 1 on 29 October, bringing the number of Filipinos sent home this week to 1,069. Its director said six more exercises involving 800 people each week are planned to prevent overcrowding at detention depots.
October 30, 2026
Policy · MalaysiaThree Filipinos bound for Malaysia stopped at NAIA over suspected trafficking, with no job offers in hand
The Bureau of Immigration stopped three Malaysia-bound Filipinos at NAIA Terminal 3 who had no legitimate job offers, turning them over to anti-trafficking authorities and warning against travel-first job arrangements.
October 29, 2026
Policy · MalaysiaPhilippines' CHED and Malaysia's EMGS sign letter to widen ASEAN scholarship and research platform
The Philippines' Commission on Higher Education signed a Letter of Intent with Education Malaysia Global Services on 27 October to cooperate on ASEAN GEMS+, a Malaysian-built platform that now extends to research grants and researcher mobility.
October 28, 2026
Trade · MalaysiaPhilippine Board of Investments courts Malaysian investors at Spark 2026 and Philippine Business Forum in Kuala Lumpur
The Philippine Board of Investments promoted the Philippines to Malaysian firms at the Spark 2026 expo at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and at a Philippine Business Forum, pitching semiconductors, high-value manufacturing and renewable energy.
October 27, 2026
Policy · MalaysiaSabah sends 285 Filipino detainees home via Lahad Datu after they completed sentences
The Sabah Immigration Department repatriated 285 undocumented Filipinos, including 85 children, to the Philippines through Lahad Datu, bringing the number of Filipinos it has sent home to 4,288.
October 27, 2026
Community · QatarQatar-based Filipino siblings make podium finishes in the Philippines' first 20K open-water swim
Qatar-based Filipino siblings Kayra Demirkol, 14, and Kerim Demirkol, 17, made podium finishes in the inaugural 20K ultramarathon swim at the 10th Swimjunkie Challenge in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Qatar Tribune reported.
November 1, 2026
Awards · QatarAJ Manas finishes runner-up to Joshua Filler at the Qatar World Cup 10-Ball in Doha
Filipino teenager AJ Manas lost 13-6 to Germany's Joshua Filler in the Qatar World Cup 10-Ball final at the Ezdan Palace Hotel in Doha, taking home US$40,000 as the lone Filipino in the semifinals.
October 31, 2026
Community · QatarFilipino performers bring music to distressed OFWs at Doha shelter for Cuecastt's second anniversary
Filipino performing groups entertained distressed Overseas Filipino Workers at the Migrant Workers Resource Center in Doha as Cuecastt marked its second anniversary with '2Gether at the Shelter', Qatar Tribune reported.
October 30, 2026
Food · QatarPhilippine embassy invites Cabalen to showcase halal ready-to-eat meals at Hospitality Qatar 2026
Philippine food manufacturers are introducing halal-certified, shelf-stable ready-to-eat products for consumers across Qatar and the wider GCC, Ambassador Mardomel Celo D. Melicor told Gulf Times at the opening of Hospitality Qatar 2026. The embassy invited Philippine restaurant brand Cabalen, which showcased a line of packaged meals.
October 30, 2026
Community · QatarTeam Qatar wins fifth GCC Filipino golf tournament in Doha as UAE and Kuwait follow
Hosts Team Qatar took the overall title at the fifth GCC Filipino golf tournament, organised by the Philippine Golf Association Qatar on 9 and 10 October, with Team UAE first runner-up and Team Kuwait second runner-up.
October 28, 2026
Events · QatarAlex Calleja and The Comedy Crew bring Laughtrip Qatar Filipino stand-up show to Doha on 29 October
Filipino comedian Alex Calleja and The Comedy Crew are set to perform Laughtrip Qatar at the Al Masa Ballroom, Holiday Inn Doha, on 29 October, a stand-up night for the Filipino diaspora and comedy fans in Qatar.
October 27, 2026
Policy · QatarPhilippines fully implements e-Visa system in Qatar for eligible residents visiting the Philippines
The Philippine Embassy in Doha has fully implemented the Philippine e-Visa system in Qatar from 5 October, letting eligible Qatar residents apply online for temporary visit visas to the Philippines without a passport sticker.
October 27, 2026
Community · Hong KongHong Kong domestic helper Dolores Balladares Pelaez arranges Undas prayers for her family from afar
Dolores Balladares Pelaez, a 56-year-old domestic helper who chairs United Filipinos in Hong Kong, told the South China Morning Post she has not spent Undas in the Philippines in her 32 years in Hong Kong. This year she is again arranging prayers from afar for her late father and four siblings.
November 1, 2026
Events · Hong KongHong Kong-based Filipino boxer Carlo Bacaro to fight for WBO Oriental welterweight title at The Encounter 3
Hong Kong-based Filipino boxer Carlo Bacaro will fight undefeated Chinese boxer Sairike Tuolewutayi for the WBO Oriental welterweight title at Verano Promotions' The Encounter 3 at Harbour Grand Hong Kong on 21 November 2026.
November 1, 2026
Events · Hong KongSecond seed Alex Eala draws Alycia Parks to start her Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open campaign
Filipino tennis star Alex Eala caps off her 2026 season as the second seed at the WTA 250 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, held 2-8 November at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, where she is set to open against Alycia Parks of the United States.
November 1, 2026
Community · Hong KongAll-Filipino softball team Fate seeks new players in Hong Kong as longtime captain Don Gaborno steps back
Fate, the all-Filipino women's softball team formed in Hong Kong in 2012, is looking for new players ahead of the Hong Kong China Softball Association league season starting in mid-November, after co-founder and captain Don Gaborno decided to take a break from the sport, The SUN HK reported.
October 31, 2026
Community · Hong KongFilipina asylum seeker jailed 20 years and 8 months in Hong Kong liquid cocaine case
A Hong Kong High Court judge has sentenced 56-year-old Filipina Rosita B. Palao, a former domestic helper who later filed a non-refoulement claim, to 20 years and 8 months for drug trafficking, alongside an American courier and a Nigeria and Benin national, over cocaine-soaked bed sheets brought in from Brazil in 2023.
October 31, 2026
Community · Hong KongFilipina who sold eight Hong Kong bank accounts used for HK$6.4 million in scam money jailed for 40 months
A Filipina who opened accounts in eight Hong Kong banks and sold them, after which they were used to hold HK$6.4 million raised in scams, was sentenced by the District Court on 29 October to 40 months and 26 days in prison, The SUN Hong Kong reported.
October 30, 2026
Trade · Hong KongPhilippine fruit exporters book $17.5 million in sales at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong
The Philippine delegation secured $17.5 million in total export sales at Asia Fruit Logistica 2026 in Hong Kong, marking the country's return to the fresh produce trade show after nearly a decade, the Department of Agriculture said.
October 29, 2026
Policy · Hong KongPhilippine Consulate in Hong Kong reminds Filipinos to report marriages, births and deaths
The Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong has reminded Filipinos to report marriages solemnised in Hong Kong so they are registered with the Philippine Statistics Authority through the Consulate, and to report births and deaths so they can easily obtain PSA-issued documents.
October 29, 2026
Community · Hong KongMigrant Workers Office calls Filipino professionals in Hong Kong to form first professional organisation
MWO Hong Kong is inviting PRC-licensed Filipino professionals and professional groups to an assembly scheduled for Sunday, 8 November, to establish the Philippine Professional Organization in Hong Kong and elect its first Executive Committee.
October 28, 2026
Policy · Hong KongHong Kong rules out a probation period for foreign domestic helpers and keeps employer-paid return passage
Labour and Welfare Secretary Chris Sun told the Legislative Council there is no need to add a probation period to helpers' Standard Employment Contract and that the government has no plan to change the rule that employers pay for a helper's return passage.
October 28, 2026
Policy · TaiwanTaiwan considers direct hiring for Filipino workers to cut recruitment costs, TECO says
Taiwan's representative office in the Philippines says it is considering a direct hire arrangement for overseas Filipino workers to lower their costs, strengthen protection and speed up recruitment for Taiwanese companies, which employ more than 191,000 Filipinos.
October 31, 2026
Community · TaiwanFilipino caregivers among seven migrant workers injured in fatal Pingtung van crash
A van carrying seven migrant family caregivers from Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines crashed into a utility pole in Pingtung County's Yanpu Township, killing the driver and injuring all seven passengers.
October 29, 2026
Policy · TaiwanAbout 191,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan should be at the heart of Taiwan-Philippines ties, Taipei conference hears
At a Southeast Asian studies conference at National Chengchi University on 22 October, Gloria Marcado urged Taiwan and the Philippines to put migrant workers' welfare, labour protection and social security at the core of their cooperation.
October 28, 2026
Community · TaiwanFilipino worker hospitalised after fire at migrant workers' dormitory in Tainan
A Filipino man in his 30s was taken to hospital after a fire broke out at a migrant worker dormitory in Tainan's Annan District on 10 October; four people were injured and the cause is under investigation.
October 27, 2026
Community · TaiwanManila Opens Largest OFW Global Center in Taipei
The Philippines has opened its largest Overseas Filipino Worker service center in Taipei, a one-stop hub for government services, welfare assistance and training, with two more centers planned for Taichung and Kaohsiung. About 191,000 Filipino migrant workers live in Taiwan, including more than 61,000 in the greater Taipei area.
October 12, 2026
Community · KuwaitPRC brings licence renewals, registration and oathtaking to Filipino professionals in Kuwait on 20-22 November
The Professional Regulation Commission will hold its Foreign Mobile Service at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Farwaniya from 20 to 22 November 2026, offering PIC renewals, initial registration, certifications and oathtaking for licensure passers who book online.
October 31, 2026
Community · KuwaitSixteen OFW-written songs advance to Himig ng Bayani songwriting grand finals in Kuwait on 20 November
OWWA in Kuwait has announced the top 16 original songs advancing to the grand finals of Himig ng Bayani: The OFW Songwriting Competition, Pilipino sa Kuwait reported. The finals are set for 20 November at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Farwaniya, as part of the Alagang OWWA Serbisyong Caravan 2026.
October 30, 2026
Policy · KuwaitFilipina in Kuwait reports losing KD 1,000 to company that promised her a job in Germany
A Filipina in Kuwait has filed a police complaint in Hawalli Governorate after paying KD 1,000 in cash to a company that promised a job in Germany, only to find its office closed and its management unreachable.
October 29, 2026
Community · KuwaitFilipinos make up 17.1 percent of Kuwait's domestic workers, third behind Indians and Sri Lankans, PACI figures show
PACI statistics reported by Kuwait Times and Times Kuwait show 151,369 Filipino domestic workers in Kuwait, 17.1 percent of the 883,308 total, placing Filipinos third behind Indians and Sri Lankans.
October 27, 2026
Community · KuwaitOWWA Serbisyo Caravan to bring Philippine government services to Filipinos in Kuwait on 20-22 November
OWWA's Alagang OWWA: Health, Wellness & Membership Serbisyo Caravan 2026 is scheduled for 20-22 November at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Farwaniya, Kuwait, bringing licence renewals, civil registry documents, membership and other Philippine government services under one roof.
October 27, 2026
Policy · PhilippinesPSA's APCAS digital system speeds up fixes to typos in birth certificates and civil records
The Philippine Statistics Authority's Administrative Petition for Correction Automated System (APCAS) digitises petitions to correct clerical errors, first names, birth day and month, and sex entries in civil registry documents, which the PSA says has made processing 80% faster than manual processing.
November 1, 2026
Policy · PhilippinesPNP intensifies manhunt for Senator Bato dela Rosa after ICC warrant surrender deadline lapses
Police have formed teams in every region to arrest Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa after a one-week surrender deadline lapsed on 30 October, while his lawyer argues there is no Interpol red notice. Dela Rosa faces an ICC warrant over alleged drug-war killings.
October 31, 2026
Policy · PhilippinesSSS and DICT deal encourages the Philippines' 1.5 million freelancers and virtual assistants to join SSS, as commenters call it a trap
Virtual assistants and freelancers are being encouraged to register as self-employed SSS members, with monthly contributions from P760 to P5,280, while some Facebook commenters called the move a trap aimed at taxing them.
October 31, 2026
Food · PhilippinesPampanga restaurants earn their first Michelin Guide recognition in the guide's second Philippine edition
Apag Marangle and Tito Boy won Bib Gourmand distinctions and Mila's Tokwa't Baboy and Souq were named Michelin Selected in the Michelin Guide Manila and Environs & Cebu 2027, a year after the guide's Philippine debut included no Pampanga restaurant.
October 30, 2026
Finance · PhilippinesSilicon Valley's $160 Billion Barely Reaches Philippine Startups
Filipino American venture capitalists in San Francisco are eager to back Philippine tech, AI and energy startups, but a fragmented investment pipeline is keeping diaspora capital out of Manila ventures. San Francisco alone drew more than USD 160 billion in venture funding in the first four months of 2026.
October 8, 2026
Technology · PhilippinesVolunteer group BetterGov.PH to help build the Philippines' new official Gov.PH portal
The Philippine government's eGov team at DICT will co-develop the new official Gov.PH portal with BetterGov.PH, the volunteer civic tech group founded by Jason Torres, with the code set to be open. The partnership was announced at the BetterGov.PH Summit 2026 in Eastwood City; no launch date has been set for the portal, while eGov version 2 is due on 9 November.
October 20, 2026
Technology · PhilippinesMalaysian Startup 3cat Brings Warrantied Secondhand Phones to Philippines
Malaysian refurbished-gadget retailer 3cat has entered the Philippines, its first international market, backed by a US$4 million Series A round led by Foxmont Capital Partners. The company is betting on 56-point device checks and a 12-month warranty to make secondhand smartphones a trusted first choice for Filipino buyers.
October 15, 2026
Policy · PhilippinesPhilippine eTravel Registration is Free: Embassy Warns Public Against Scam Websites Demanding Payment
The Philippine Embassy in New Zealand reminds the public that registration for the official Philippine eTravel System is absolutely free of charge. Travelers are urged to use only the official website and exercise extreme caution against fraudulent sites that demand payment.
October 7, 2026
Technology · PhilippinesApper Digital Becomes First Philippine Company in Anthropic's Claude Partner Network
Apper Digital Inc., a Manila-based AI engineering firm, has become the first company in the Philippines to achieve the Select tier in Anthropic's Claude Partner Network, signifying its proven expertise in deploying advanced AI solutions for enterprises. This recognition places a Filipino company at the forefront of global AI innovation, offering local support for complex AI integrations.
October 7, 2026
Technology · PhilippinesPhilippine Startup Lesstics Transforms Coconut Husks into Eco-Friendly Building Boards
Lesstics, a Philippine green technology startup, is converting abundant discarded coconut husks into "Earth Board," a formaldehyde-free construction material. This initiative aims to provide new income streams for Filipino farmers while addressing agricultural waste and offering a sustainable alternative to conventional building materials.
October 6, 2026
Community · GlobalFilipino OFWs in Middle East Weigh Safety Against Family Survival
More than 2 million overseas Filipino workers remain across the Middle East amid a widening regional conflict, with many choosing to stay despite dangers because their families depend on their incomes. Recent Houthi strikes on Riyadh's airport injured seven Filipinos, underscoring the risks.
October 15, 2026
Community · GlobalKiwi Journalist's Manila Newsroom Immersion Explores Filipino Identity and Journalism
A New Zealand journalist on a three-month media internship in Manila gained firsthand insight into Philippine journalism and unexpectedly reflected on her own cultural identity after being identified as Filipino by locals. This experience highlights the complex cultural navigation for Filipinos in the diaspora, including "Fiwis" in New Zealand.
October 7, 2026
Technology · GlobalFilipino Tech Platform Wika PH Helps Diaspora Reconnect with Heritage Languages
Wika PH, a language-learning platform developed by six Filipino students, helps diaspora Filipinos reconnect with their heritage languages and culture, addressing a gap in digital resources for learning regional Philippine tongues. It aims to preserve Philippine languages and foster cultural connection among overseas Filipinos, including those in New Zealand and Australia.
October 9, 2026
Finance · GlobalPinay Executive Isabel Ridad Appointed CEO of Singapore Fintech Tookitaki
Filipino executive Isabel Ridad has been named Chief Executive Officer of Singapore-headquartered financial-crime technology company Tookitaki, succeeding founder Abhishek Chatterjee. Ridad will oversee the company's executive and operational functions as it expands its anti-financial crime technology solutions across the Asia Pacific and other markets.
September 30, 2026
Community · GlobalFilipino Kiwis Observe Undas 2026: Traditions, Remembrance, and Remittances
Undas, the Filipino observance of All Saints' Day, will be marked on November 1, 2026, a Sunday. Filipino communities in New Zealand will honour ancestors and connect with relatives in the Philippines, often with financial support for grave upkeep and holiday costs, while the Sunday timing means early planning for money transfers is essential.
September 11, 2026
Community · GlobalPhilippine Nurses Face Dilemma: Better Pay in New Zealand Versus Serving at Home
Filipino nurses are increasingly confronted with the choice between substantial financial incentives and improved working conditions overseas, particularly in New Zealand, and the desire to serve their home country, which faces its own healthcare staff shortages. Many choose to migrate due to significantly higher salaries and a better work-life balance found abroad.
September 18, 2026
Technology · GlobalFilipino-Founded LOKAL Launches AI Hotel Service 'Ely' for APAC Market
Filipino co-founded technology company LOKAL has launched "ely," a managed AI service designed to streamline operations and boost direct bookings for hotels across the Asia Pacific, with initial testing in the Philippines. The service aims to help hotels of all sizes leverage advanced AI to enhance visibility, manage guest inquiries, and reduce reliance on expensive online travel agencies.
September 16, 2026
Policy · GlobalPhilippine National Arrested for Illegal Recruitment Following NZ Immigration Fraud Conviction
Julie Pearl De Los Santos, also known as Julie Pearl Robejes, convicted in New Zealand for immigration fraud, has been arrested in the Philippines on charges of syndicated illegal recruitment, marking a significant instance of cross-border cooperation between New Zealand and Philippine authorities. This development follows her deportation from New Zealand in November 2025 after she was sentenced for providing false information in visa applications.
September 4, 2026
Technology · GlobalPhilippine-Built Kalin App Launches for Caregivers in Australia, Philippines, and Globally
Kalin, a new Philippine-built app, has launched its free family caregiving platform across 10 markets, including the Philippines and Australia, to streamline care coordination and support for families with loved ones in need. Designed for transnational families, the app addresses the complexities of long-distance care and caregiver well-being.
September 2, 2026
Business · GlobalPH Startup Bets on Human Connection as Next Big Business Amid Global Loneliness
Filipino startup Think Responsibly is focusing on face-to-face human connection, betting it's the next wave of the experience economy, particularly as global studies highlight high loneliness rates among Filipinos. This trend is sparking interest in curated, in-person gatherings as a response to widespread digitalization and social isolation.
July 22, 2026