Vice President blasts Marcos' address as wasteful; electricity system losses targeted

Vice President Sara Duterte declared President Marcos' fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27 "a waste of time of the Filipino people," signaling fresh political rupture just hours after the address concluded (via GMA News Online).

Marcos pitches tax relief for middle class. During the same address, the President urged Congress to raise the income tax exemption threshold from P250,000 to P350,000 to ease mounting cost-of-living pressures on wage earners caught between stagnant salaries and inflation (via GMA News Online).

Counter-protesters display their grievances. Supporters gathered outside Congress on July 27 with artworks and effigies spotlighting labor rights, land disputes, and governance failures, turning the plaza into a competing stage for their demands (via GMA News Online).

The southwest monsoon is set to drench much of the Philippines through July and early August, combining with trade wind convergence to bring clouds and scattered thunderstorms nationwide, PAGASA said on July 28 (via GMA News Online). Moderate to heavy rainfall continues in pockets of Mindoro, the Visayas, and the Ilocos as residents remain vigilant for flash flooding.

President Marcos has escalated his push to strip the "systems loss" charge from electricity bills during the SONA, calling on Congress to amend EPIRA to slash consumer costs immediately. The Department of Energy backed the proposal on July 28, arguing the 25-year-old pricing framework needs an overhaul to protect households drowning in inflation (via GMA News Online and via GMA News Online).

Inflation tops voters' wish list. A fresh OCTA Research survey conducted on July 28 pegged inflation as Filipinos' number-one national priority at 37%, with wage hikes at 34% and anti-corruption efforts at 32%, underscoring how cost-of-living anxiety overwhelms other concerns (via GMA News Online).

Philippine tennis star Alex Eala has secured a spot in the US Open mixed doubles draw alongside Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, rounding out her North American summer push ahead of the Open's main event in New York. The pairing appeared on the initial entry list released on July 28 as Eala gears up for one of the season's biggest stages (via GMA News Online).

Actor James Reid has joined the star-studded cast of the horror-comedy Haunted Carnival for the 52nd Metro Manila Film Festival, marking his debut in the genre. Reid expressed enthusiasm about the shift in an interview on July 27, signaling his willingness to expand beyond romantic and action roles (via PEP.ph).

Love, Siargao midseason poster unveiled. The romantic comedy Love, Siargao held an exclusive screening on July 27 where stars Alden Richards and Nadine Lustre premiered the midseason poster, captured mid-kiss and radiating chemistry as the series deepens its emotional trajectory (via GMA News Online).

Wilbert Ross fetes a decade with star power. Vice Ganda made a surprise appearance at comedian Wilbert Ross' sold-out tenth-anniversary concert on July 27, reuniting the legendary Hashtags dance group for the evening and drawing a packed crowd at the Manila venue (via PEP.ph).

Maegan Aguilar opens up on her loss. Singer-actress Maegan Aguilar revealed she was barred from leaving a rehabilitation facility when her father, OPM legend Freddie Aguilar, passed away in May 2025—an emotional revelation made public on July 27 (via PEP.ph).

Standout Filipiniana designs stole attention at the SONA 2026 on July 27, with attendees wearing elegant terno, barong, and baro't saya styles in vibrant fabrics and modern silhouettes. The display of homegrown fashion became a visual counterpoint to the formal political proceedings, affirming the day's cultural identity (via PEP.ph).

Where your electricity bill really goes. Meralco released an explainer on July 27 breaking down electricity billing: only 12% of charges go to the utility itself, with the remaining 88% comprising generation charges, transmission fees, and the contested "systems loss" line item that Marcos now aims to slash (via PEP.ph).

Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has sounded the alarm on a state-sponsored espionage campaign called GoSerpent targeting government and diplomatic organizations across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. The group uses coordinated malware designed to pilfer credentials and embed itself undetected in critical systems, signaling a sophisticated threat to regional security on July 27 (via NewsByte.ph).

T'boli weaving earns cultural patent. The T'nalak Tau Sebu handwoven abaca fabric produced by the T'boli people using traditional backstrap looms has been awarded Geographical Indication registration, protecting their ancestral craft from commercial appropriation. The July 27 recognition strengthens intellectual property rights for the indigenous community (via NewsByte.ph).

Globe inks deal with Japanese telecom giant. Globe Telecom has partnered with Japan's KDDI Corporation to explore new mobile services and retail expansion formats in the Philippine market. The July 27 announcement signals fresh competition and innovation in the local telecom landscape (via NewsByte.ph).