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GMA Network
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
PH Pavilion at Expo 2025 on track to hit 600,000 visitors
OSAKA, Japan — The Philippine Pavilion at the ongoing Expo 2025 is on track to hit 600,000 visitors soon, organizers said. 'Inaasahan natin na sa mga tatlong buwan pang darating mas marami pang bibisita kasi by word of mouth yung mga nakaranas nitong Philippine Pavilion magku-kwento whether dayuhan sila o mga Filipino nagkuwento yan kung gaano kaganda yung ating pinapamahagi na karanasan doon sa ating pavilion,' Consul General Voltaire Mauricio of the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka said in an interview with GMA Integrated News. (We expect that in the next three months, more people will visit because by word of mouth, those who have experienced the Philippine Pavilion will tell stories, whether they are foreigners or Filipinos, about how wonderful the experience at our pavilion is). It is hard to miss the Philippine Pavilion wrapped in a facade made of rattan handcrafted by Filipino artisans. On its side, you can see the vibrant textiles from various regions of the archipelago, another way to showcase the country's rich weaving heritage and indigenous artistry. Despite the sweltering summer here in Japan, people line up every day to gain access to the pavilion and experience the best of the Philippines. Inside the pavilion, one will have a glimpse of all regions through a handwoven map and a monitor showcasing the highlights and treasures of every destination. In its center is a giant motion-reactive screen where visitors can dance and watch their movements create artistic visuals simultaneously. Next to the interactive screen, visitors need to line up again for the in-demand AI photo booths and pose beside digital representations of tropical fish, fruits, flowers, leaves, and corals. Photo: Ian Cruz/GMA Integrated News A section of the pavilion offers Hilot, the traditional Filipino massage now gaining popularity among foreign visitors as they leave refreshed after going through the healing touch of Filipino wellness practitioners. Before exiting the pavilion are the souvenir shops with distinct Filipino products such as unique delicacies and crafts. Photo: Ian Cruz/GMA Integrated News The pavilion's Hain restaurant also draws long queues because of the sumptuous Lumpiang Binondo, Lechon Bisaya, and other entrees and snacks. For dessert, halo-halo is one of the main attractions. 'By them being invited and experiencing our small communities, our places of destination, we're not only imparting something that's worthless but something that's priceless; these are the personal relationships being created, crafted, and developed when they visit our communities,' Mauricio said. Expo 2025 began on April 13 and will run until October 13. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
22-07-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
Habagat rains cause flooding in Luzon provinces
Some areas in Luzon were flooded amid the heavy rains caused by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat on Tuesday, according to reports on GMA Integrated News' Unang Balita. In Bulacan, some residents in Barangay Meysulao in Calumpit town were using boats to move around the area amid the chest-deep floods. Residents were advised to evacuate the area. Makeshift rafts were also used in Guiguinto town. Up to thigh-deep floods hit the town of Malolos. Floods entered some houses after the water in the irrigation system overflowed. Nearly 100 families in Bulakan town evacuated from their homes due to floods caused by rains and high tide. The affected areas were Barangays Santa Ana, Taliptip, and Matungao. Motorists also faced challenges passing thigh-deep floods in Barangay Wawa in Balagtas town. In Iloilo, floods were reported near Dungon Creek in Barangay Calubihan in Jaro, Iloilo City, according to a report of GMA Regional TV's Kim Salinas. Affected residents evacuated as some houses in coastal areas were damaged due to the impact of strong waves. A creek in Barangay Tagbac also swelled, which flooded some nearby areas. According to the city government, 28 barangays were affected. A total of 516 families or 1,352 were staying in 13 evacuation centers. A total of 18 houses were damaged due to strong winds. Heavy traffic was observed in Leganes town due to the floods, which also affected the Leganes Elementary School. In Rizal, up to waist-deep flood hit Barangay Isidro in Cainta town, according to a report of Ian Cruz. Some residents including a dialysis patient and a student waded through the floodwaters. The local government provided free rides to stranded people. The building of the Department of Education-Calabarzon was also affected. Heavy traffic was observed in Felix Avenue after many vehicles from low-lying areas were parked beside the road. Boats and makeshift rafts were used to transport people at a subdivision. In Batangas, an overflowing spillway in Laurel town became impassable to motorists and residents. Some motorists were waiting for the flood to subside. Some residents still crossed the spillway despite the strong current. A creek in Laurel also swelled and caused flooding. In Pampanga, up to waist-deep floods were also experienced in Macabebe town, according to a report by Nico Waje. Some residents in Barangays Saplad David and Tacasan were using boats and makeshift rafts to cross the floods. While some residents decided to evacuate, some just stayed in their homes because they said they were already used to flooding. Some residents also attended to their fishponds despite the bad weather. A total of 71 people evacuated from their homes, according to the report. In Barangay San Isidro, the roads and an elementary school were submerged in flood. Some houses were also flooded. Meanwhile, in Pangasinan, the livelihood of fishermen in Dagupan City was affected as authorities prohibited sailing due to the threat of big waves and strong currents, GMA Regional TV's CJ Torida reported. Some of the fishermen in Barangay Pantal spent their time fixing their nets and machines. Floods were reported in other areas in the province including Calasiao, Lingayen, Mangatarem, Santa Barbara, Urbiztondo, Aguilar, and Bugallon. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
17-07-2025
- GMA Network
Bodies recovered from Laurel cemetery bore gunshot wounds to the head
The bodies that were recovered in a public cemetery in Laurel, Batangas on Wednesday had gunshot wounds to the head, a manager of a funeral parlor in the town said as authorities continue to look for the bodies of the missing sabungeros. According to Ian Cruz's report in '24 Oras' on Thursday, the bodies exhumed from the cemetery originated from Dacolo Funeral Services. The manager of the funeral parlor said that the bodies were retrieved in different months from the boundary of the towns of Laurel, Calaca, and Lemery. This was after they were reported to the police, he added. ''Yun nga po, sir, mga tapon lang po tapos may mga tama ng baril [...] laging ulo,' said Jonel Dacolo, manager of Dacolo Funeral Services. (These bodies were just dumped out there and bore gunshot wounds [...] It's always to the head.) Dacolo also said some of the bodies had their hands tied up. However, the funeral parlor said they already forgot what year they received the bodies and that they don't have records. 'Ano pong ire-record ko? Walang ID, walang tattoo, ang mukha pagang-paga na, hindi na makilala, bulok na. Wala po talaga. Tapos lagi pong lahat ay naka-brief lang,' said Dacolo. (What will I record? There's no ID, no tattoos, their faces are beyond unrecognizable and the bodies were decomposed. There's no way to identify these. They were also found only in their underwear.) After no family members claimed the bodies, Dacolo said he sought the police's permission to already bury them. ''Pag halimbawa po na natagal na sa akin ng three days at wala po talagang pagkakakilanlan, tatawag ako sa PNP na kung pwedeng ipalibing na at kung may magke-claim po ay pwede po ipahukay. Ako po ay kanilang pinayagan na mailibing po,' said Dacolo. (For example, if the bodies are already with me for three days and no one has yet claimed them, I called the police and asked if I can already bury them and if someone shows up to claim them, I can just exhume them. The police gave me permission to bury them.) GMA Integrated News requested the police for a copy of the records of the buried bodies. However, the local police chief refused to be interviewed, claiming he does not have the authority to speak on the matter. The local Office of the Civil Registry was supposed to have the records of the retrieved bodies. Unfortunately, these were damaged during a flood brought by Typhoon Kristine last year, the report said. Based on the description given by the funeral parlor and with the help of the residents, GMA Integrated News visited one of the sites where one of the bodies was found. The tri-boundary of the towns of Calaca, Laurel, and Lemery is an area known to locals as a dumping ground for garbage as there is a cliff on the side of the road. The said stretch is also very dark at night due to the absence of street lights, the report said. One resident shared with GMA Integrated News that several bodies have been found beneath the cliff, adding that one body was recovered in the first quarter of the year. He also said that he saw three to four bodies in the area from 2021 to 2022. But the resident said that he's not certain if these bodies are connected with the case of the missing sabungeros. 'Ayan yung mga binabaril lang na parang pinagbibintangan na mga adik,' said 'Alias Lando'. (I think these were shot because they were mistaken for being drug addicts.) Links to e-sabong Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday that the three bodies recovered from a public cemetery in Laurel, Batangas floated in Taal Lake in 2020. According to a report in '24 Oras,' the bodies exhumed could be linked to e-sabong but these are different from the case of the missing sabungeros. Remulla added that there were three reported missing persons in Lipa City in 2020 and one of them was female. And one of the retrieved bodies in the cemetery could possibly belong to a woman, he added. 'Mukhang e-sabong 'to, yung tatlo kasi sa Lipa nawala,' said Remulla. (This seems linked to e-sabong, because there were three missing persons in Lipa.) 'Kasama sa pahayag niya (Patidongan) 'yan na in Lipa, there was a pregnant woman. Parang 'yun ang nakikita naming possibility…. Mayroon pang telltale signs but I cannot reveal to you now. But there was a telltale sign where he said that maybe, that is probably the people who were picked up and killed in Lipa,' he also said. (He mentioned about Lipa and that there was a pregnant woman. That's the possibility we are looking at….There are other telltale signs but I cannot reveal that to you now. But there was a telltale sign where he said that maybe, that is probably the people who were picked up and killed in Lipa.) The Justice Dept. is hoping that more DNA samples could be extracted from the bodies for them to conduct tracking. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
20-06-2025
- GMA Network
P204 million worth of shabu found in Naic vacant lot
Witnesses said an MPV was roaming the area before the drugs were discovered. It is suspected that a transaction was about to go down when the authorities got wind of the deal. Thirty kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, worth P204 million, was recovered from a vacant lot in Naic, Cavite. According to Ian Cruz's report on "24 Oras," the suspected drugs were inside an abandoned luggage. Witnesses said an MPV was roaming the area before the drugs were discovered. It is suspected that a transaction was about to go down when the authorities got wind of the deal. The incident is still the subject of an investigation. At the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City, P16 million worth of drugs in parcels were seized by the Bureau of Customs. These include 3,000 grams of ketamine and 800 grams of kush. The parcels were reportedly unclaimed when the authorities discovered what they contained. The drugs have been turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration. –NB, GMA Integrated News
