Paris-based luxury perfume and home fragrance brand Diptyque has sparked reactions from Filipinos after its “spiral incense” product was compared to the Philippines’ traditional mosquito coil, locally known as katol. According to the company’s website, the product—Citronelle (Lemongrass) Incense—is priced at $68, or around ₱4,178.40. The product description reads: “Light wisps of lemongrass escape into the air. From dusk forward, the spiral…
A study has found that people who read books for at least 30 minutes a day tend to live longer than those who do not. The research, published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, examined the reading habits of 3,635 individuals aged 50 and above over a 12-year period. Participants were grouped into three categories: those who read for more than…
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has ordered the implementation of a moratorium on housing loan payments following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao. DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the move was in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide immediate assistance to affected beneficiaries and expedite government support. Aliling directed key shelter agencies, including…
When Ariel Nepomuceno took over the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in July last year, he knew what he was walking into. The bureau had long carried a reputation for corruption so entrenched that even the mention of reform invited skepticism. His response was immediate—and deliberate. “‘Yung mga ayaw sumabay, tinanggal ko na kaagad,” Nepomuceno said in an interview on DZRH News program…
With the perceived ouster of career health officials, Malacañang now stands accused of putting institutional stability and expert leadership at risk for political convenience. The uproar follows the exit of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire and other veteran DOH officials in what appears to be a politically motivated shake-up. About 55 professional medical groups signed a joint statement expressing concerns of what…
The Laguna Lake is fast deteriorating into the country’s “biggest septic tank,” Biñan City Rep. Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila Jr. warned on Saturday, August 2. In an interview on DZRH News’ Special on Saturday, Rep. Dimaguila urged the Marcos Jr. administration to take urgent and science-based action to rehabilitate the vital water body affecting millions across Southern Luzon and Metro Manila. “Magkakaroon na…
The Iran war is showing why the Philippines can’t afford to neglect its farmers
A war thousands of kilometers away is beginning to ripple through something as basic as the Filipino dining table. The conflict involving Iran has pushed oil prices higher, disrupted key shipping routes, and strained global supply chains—especially for fertilizer, a critical input for food production. Farmers are already feeling the pressure. Fertilizer prices have surged by as much as 30% to 40%,…