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Senator Paolo "Bam" Aquino IV stressed on Monday, March 16, the need for better and immediate reporting of bullying cases in schools amid data showing that incidents are being underreported, with zero cases historically cited as a sign of good performance.
The issue was raised during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, where data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) showed that bullying cases remain underreported as the Department of Education (DepEd) faces a severe lack of guidance counselors in public schools.
"If bullying is penalized, there are three possible sanctions: reprimand, suspension, and expulsion. If cases are underreported, then the bullies also face no penalty. If it is not reported, there will be no consequences for them," Aquino said.
The senator, who chairs the panel, noted that the prevalence of bullying has earned the Philippines the tag of "Bullying Capital of the World." According to the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM), around 50% of Grade 5 students in the Philippines experienced bullying at least once a month as of 2024. Data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) further shows that one in three Filipino students report experiencing bullying in school, with about 43 percent of girls and 53 percent of boys reporting repeated incidents within a month.
Aquino also cited findings from EDCOM linking bullying to lower literacy levels, poorer academic performance, and higher rates of absenteeism, all of which can lead to lasting trauma among students.
A viral bullying incident in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur was also raised during the hearing, in which a female student was pushed, struck with a backpack, kicked, and punched in the head until she was left crying. The incident reportedly occurred during lunch break and was only discovered three days after it happened, when footage spread on social media.
The Department of Education Region 1 said it is now studying the possible filing of administrative cases against the school head and teachers involved. The regional director noted the negligence of school officials, citing their policy that a bullying case must be reported at least three hours after discovery.
Senator Erwin Tulfo called on DepEd and relevant authorities, including the police and local social welfare offices, to stop relying on reactionary measures and instead adopt a proactive approach to curbing school bullying. He also pointed out that under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Anti-Bullying Law, a complaint is required before an investigation can begin, and pushed for an easier, anonymous reporting system accessible to students.
Atty. Razzel Requesto, Officer-in-Charge of DepEd's Bureau of Learner Support Services-Youth Formation Division, clarified that existing IRR provisions allow bystander reports and permit teachers to initiate preliminary fact-finding steps without waiting for a formal complaint. She also said that over the past five months, DepEd has observed an increasing trend in bullying reports following a new department order encouraging disclosure.
Senator Raffy Tulfo, meanwhile, made several recommendations to strengthen the implementation of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013. These include stricter penalties for schools that fail to act, installation of CCTV cameras in all classrooms, mandatory training and seminars for teachers and parents, mandatory counseling and psychological support, strengthening of Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) education, increased school security through a Memorandum of Agreement between DepEd and the Department of the Interior and Local Government for roving police officers, and an effective anonymous reporting system for students.
Senator Win Gatchalian also flagged the shortage of guidance counselors nationwide and recommended that administrative sanctions be imposed on schools without functional Child Protection Committees. He also cited CCTV cameras in common areas and school entrances as a proven deterrent, noting that schools with cameras showed significantly lower bullying incidents.
For 2026, the government has allocated Php2.9 billion for a school-based mental health program and an additional Php2 billion to hire 10,000 school counselor associates nationwide.
Aquino closed by warning that if the Philippines remains the bullying capital by next year, it would mean the government has failed its children, and called for all preventive measures to be scaled up without delay.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announces the unilateral release of national and private sector oil reserves as the Strait of Hormuz crisis continues to rattle global energy markets.
Japan will release approximately 80 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves in response to the ongoing war in the Middle East, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Wednesday, March 11.
The release is set to begin as early as March 16 and will draw from two sources: the equivalent of 15 days worth of oil consumption from private sector stocks, and one month worth from national reserves.
Japan's move comes as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and its 32 member countries agreed to the largest coordinated emergency oil release in the agency's history — a combined 400 million barrels to counter the supply disruptions caused by the conflict. The decision followed an extraordinary IEA meeting convened to assess market conditions amid the ongoing war.
The Middle East conflict, which began on February 28, has severely disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which roughly 20 million barrels of crude oil and oil products pass daily, approximately 25 percent of the world's seaborne oil trade. Export volumes through the strait have dropped to less than 10 percent of pre-conflict levels, according to the IEA.
Japan is particularly exposed to the crisis. The country sources roughly 80 to 90 percent of its crude oil imports from the Gulf, with 70 percent transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Despite holding strategic reserves equivalent to 254 days of total consumption, the third-largest stockpile in the world, prolonged hostilities risk eroding those reserves and derailing the government's efforts to bring down inflation.
The government also announced subsidies for petroleum products to keep domestic gasoline prices at around 170 yen per liter.
Global oil prices have swung sharply since the conflict began, with Brent crude surging past $100 per barrel following the IEA announcement, a sign that markets remain skeptical that the reserve releases alone can offset the massive supply shock. Analysts warn that prices could climb further to between $120 and $150 per barrel if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for an extended period.
Japan is the latest country to take emergency energy measures. South Korea has introduced price controls, Taiwan is securing additional liquefied natural gas shipments, and the Philippines has adopted a four-day workweek to reduce fuel consumption.
MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s working visit to New York City from March 8 to 11 yielded a major job-generating investment for the Philippines, with a US-based medical glove manufacturer pledging to build a production facility that could employ more than 2,000 Filipinos.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro briefed reporters on the outcomes of the visit, which centered on high-level engagements at the United Nations alongside targeted meetings with American investors.
On the sidelines of his UN schedule, Marcos met with officials of US Medical Glove Company (USMGC), a Harvard, Illinois-based manufacturer of nitrile and polyisoprene surgical and exam gloves. The company has committed an initial investment of $200 million to construct a manufacturing facility in the Philippines.
USMGC had already sent representatives to the Philippines to begin preparations, with a local partner already identified. The company also intends to expand operations beyond the initial phase once the first plant is up and running.
The facility is expected to ensure a stable domestic supply of medical gloves for healthcare workers, the military, and other sectors. The government said it remains open to further opportunities should the manufacturing venture perform well.
USMGC is the leading American manufacturer of nitrile and polyisoprene surgical and exam gloves, operating out of a 1.8-million-square-foot facility and producing over 2 billion gloves annually. The company uses energy-efficient machines and recycles 100 percent of its production water.
The business meetings were part of a wider agenda. Marcos also addressed world leaders at the UN General Assembly, stressing the importance of the rule of law, multilateralism, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. He spoke at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women and held a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The Philippines' bid for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the term 2027–2028 was likewise a key focus of the trip.
Marcos arrived back in Manila on the night of March 11, 2026.
Meghan Trainor has released her latest single, "Get In Girl," via Epic Records, a track she is calling the ultimate Galentine's Day anthem and a rallying cry for anyone who has ever stayed too long in the wrong relationship.
The song is the second release off her upcoming seventh studio album, Toy With Me, set to arrive on April 24.
A song about knowing your worth
Written for the ghosted, the burned out, and the ones still stuck in a talking stage that is going nowhere, "Get In Girl" arrives as a declaration of self-respect dressed in an upbeat package.
Trainor spoke directly to the message behind the track. "This song is for everyone who finally realized they deserve more," she said. "Sometimes you just need a song that reminds you that love shouldn't feel exhausting, and that leaving is okay and might be the most powerful thing you can do."
The release follows her previous single "Still Don't Care," which she put out late last year. That track carried a similar thread, a call to stop seeking validation from others and embrace who you are. Its accompanying music video saw Trainor dancing freely across iconic Los Angeles landmarks, including The Grove, Rodeo Drive, and even a celebrity sighting shuttle tour.
Toy With Me and The Get In Girl tour
With two singles now out, anticipation is building for the full album. Toy With Me arrives April 24 and marks Trainor's seventh full-length studio record.
Following the release, Trainor will take the new music on the road for The Get In Girl Tour, produced by Live Nation. The tour launches in June 2026 and will see her return to marquee venues, including Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.
Tickets are currently on sale at https://www.meghan-trainor.com/
After three years of hiatus, Harry Styles has returned with a bang. The British pop superstar has officially released his fourth studio album, KISS ALL THE TIME. DISCO, OCCASIONALLY. — a 12-track record that marks his first music release since Harry's House, the 2022 album that won Album of the Year at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
Written entirely by Styles himself and executive produced by longtime collaborator Kid Harpoon, the new album arrives with a lead single already sitting at the top of the charts. "Aperture" claimed the number one spot, setting the tone for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest musical comebacks in recent memory.
Pop-up shops in 16 cities
Beyond the music, Styles has turned the album launch into a full cultural moment. In partnership with American Express, he has opened KISS ALL THE TIME. DISCO, OCCASIONALLY. pop-up shops in 16 cities across the globe: Amsterdam, Atlanta, Berlin, Chicago, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Paris, Phoenix, Rome, Seattle, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto.
Each location offers fans a chance to celebrate the album together through special activations and exclusive merchandise designs — a physical extension of the music that bridges art, fashion, and community in the way only Styles knows how.
Saturday Night Live and a world tour
The celebrations do not stop there. On March 14, Styles returned to NBC's Saturday Night Live as both host and musical guest — his second time taking on the dual role on the iconic late-night stage.
Looking further ahead, Styles is also set to make a long-awaited return to the global touring circuit. Promoted by Live Nation, his 2026 residency tour, Together, Together, will span seven cities and feature an extraordinary 67 stops across Amsterdam, London, São Paulo, Mexico City, New York, Melbourne, and Sydney from May through December.
Among the tour's most notable highlights: 30 consecutive shows at New York's Madison Square Garden and a six-night run at London's Wembley Stadium. A star-studded lineup of special guests will join him across select dates, including Robyn, Shania Twain, Fcukers, Jorja Smith, Jamie xx, Fousheé, and Skye Newman.
Full tour dates and additional details are available at hstyles.co.uk/tour.
Full Tracklist: KISS ALL THE TIME. DISCO, OCCASIONALLY
Carla's SongMusic and Lyrics: Harry Styles and Kid Harpoon | Produced by: Kid Harpoon
