For your weekend reading! https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/china-troll-army-philippines-infinitus-marketing-solutions/

What a year it has been! It did feel like the midterm polls happened a long time ago. Here's of this year's political dramas @here https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/podcasts-videos/biggest-political-stories-philippines-2025/

https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-philippine-defense-posture-without-america/

LOOK: Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro visits Myanmar. Lazaro is concurrently the ASEAN Chair's Special Envoy to Myanmar.

Lazaro says she met with the State Security and Peace Commission’s Acting President Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, PM U Nyo Saw and FM U Than Swe.

"We exchanged views on geopolitical developments, the political situation in Myanmar particularly the ongoing elections, and the priorities of the Philippine chairship of ASEAN, as well as the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus."

JAPAN, PHILIPPINES bilateral ties @here

LOOK: Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro, Japan Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu sign three bilateral agreements during the later's visit to Manila:

- Agreement Concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan
- Official Security Assistance for 2025 (worth approx P337 million)
- Aid for establishment of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi Wireless Backbone Network (approx P612 million)

The Philippines is granting visa-free entry for 14 days to Chinese nationals traveling for tourism or business purposes, effective Friday, January 16.

@here is the full statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, January 15:

The Department of Foreign Affairs announces that, effective 16 January 2026, Chinese nationals may enter the Philippines without the requirement of obtaining a visa for a stay of up to fourteen (14) days. This is in line with the President’s directive to facilitate trade, investments, and tourism, as well as strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and China.

Chinese nationals traveling to the Philippines strictly for tourism or business purposes may avail of the new visa-free entry privilege. The said privilege allows for a non-extendable 14-day stay, which is non-convertible to any other type of Philippine visa category.

The visa-free privilege will be valid for entry only through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in Cebu. Upon arrival, Chinese nationals need to present a passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the contemplated stay, confirmed hotel accommodation/booking, and a return or onward ticket to the next country of destination. To ensure that security and public order are maintained while facilitating the entry of legitimate travelers, checks on derogatory records of travelers will continue to apply.

The visa-free entry arrangement will be in effect for one year and will be reviewed accordingly before it expires.

Sunny Cebu province hosts Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers and tourism chiefs, as well as several other events and meetings to kick off the Philippines’ year-long stint as chair of the bloc from January 25-30, 2026.

What issues will be discussed in the province and how are Cebu province and the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue preparing? Foreign affairs reporter Bea Cupin and Cebu correspondent John Sitchon report live from Mandaue City.

WATCH @here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJvdv4KPMEQ

ATF OFFICIALLY OPENS

Tourism ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations link hands "the ASEAN way” after the official opening of the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on Wednesday, January 28. | via @Bea Cupin - RAPPLER

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro holds a press conference in Mandaue City hours after Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers meet to discuss regional and global issues on Thursday, January 29.

The ministers had earlier met on Wednesday, January 28, to discuss the situation in Myanmar.

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmQjl4bo5Fg