Jasha Gamao

The "King of Romance" is showing no signs of slowing down. Music icon Engelbert Humperdinck is launching a major new chapter in his legendary six-decade career with the release of his latest studio album, Faithfully, dropping globally on August 28, 2026, through Cleopatra Records. 

Fresh off a lightning-fast tour of Australia and New Zealand, the international star is charging straight into an ambitious worldwide schedule filled with new tracks, television appearances, and big-stage performances.  

The 15-track album blends classic sophistication with modern rock energy, reimagining famous pop and rock hits alongside a fresh original track titled "Always My Love". 

Led by the single "Drive," the project features sweeping orchestral arrangements and a powerhouse roster of guest stars, including Journey’s Jonathan Cain, rock keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and guitar virtuoso Al Di Meola. 

Humperdinck credits his creative team and fellow artists for making the ambitious record come alive.  

"I am so grateful to my good friends Brian Perera and Tim Yasui at Cleopatra Records for coming up with the fantastic idea for this album and the music videos we created for it," Humperdinck said. 

"I am also truly honored by all of the incredible, renowned musicians who joined me on these tracks. I’ve always loved coming to Asia—the energy and warmth of the audiences are truly special, and I’m thrilled to bring these songs and classics to my fans this September."  the legendary singer added.

Fans around the globe can catch the legendary crooner as "The Celebration Tour 2026" sweeps across North America, Europe, and Asia. Filipino fans are in for a special treat when Humperdinck takes the stage for a one-night-only show at the New Frontier Theater on Sunday, September 25, 2026. 

Audiences can expect an unforgettable night packed with his brand-new releases alongside timeless hits like "Release Me," "Quando Quando Quando," and "A Man Without Love."

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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed profound grief and issued an urgent directive to national law enforcement following a deadly incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus. 

The Chief Executive ordered a full-scale investigation to uncover the root causes of the tragedy and identify decisive actions to prevent similar incidents in academic institutions nationwide.

In an official statement, President Marcos conveyed his sympathies to the affected families and the broader academic community. 

"We grieve with the families and the entire Ateneo de Zamboanga community over a tragedy that should never have happened," the President stated. 

Emphasizing the fundamental role of educational environments, he added, "Our schools are where we entrust our children to learn, to grow and to dream about the lives ahead of them. They must also be among the safest places in our country."

To address security vulnerabilities, the Chief Executive mandated law enforcement agencies to conduct an exhaustive inquiry. 

"I have directed our law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and to determine what more must be done to prevent another family, another school and another community from suffering the same grief," President Marcos declared.

The President pledged that the administration will collaborate directly with educators, local authorities, and communities to reinforce safety protocols across the country. 

"We will work with our schools and communities to strengthen the safeguards that protect our students and ensure that they can pursue their education without fear," PBBM emphasized, firmly concluding that "every Filipino family deserves that assurance."

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Two people were killed in a shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School campus on August 18. 

School administrators quickly responded to the tragedy, securing students remaining on campus while arranging for parents and guardians to safely retrieve their children. 

Local police and school officials are currently coordinating on-site to investigate the incident and gather full details regarding the cause of the violence.

The university expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy while prioritizing the safety and well-being of the academic community. 

Meanwhile, school authorities assured families that campus security measures were immediately heightened to protect all remaining individuals on site.

In the wake of the incident, university officials strongly urged the public to refrain from circulating unverified reports, photos, or videos online to avoid further trauma to affected families and prevent interference with the ongoing police investigation. 

The administration called for privacy for those impacted and requested prayers for a swift resolution to the crisis.

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No more hospital detention

PASAY CITY—The Senate voted 18–0–1 on August 17, to pass Senate Bill No. 1511 on third reading known as the Enhanced Anti-Hospital Detention Act, this new measure imposes harsher penalties on hospitals and clinics that refuse to let patients leave due to unpaid medical bills. 

Lawmakers pushed for the bill to protect poor families from losing their freedom over money troubles, while still giving medical facilities ways to collect debt.

Senate Bill No. 1511 sponsor Sen. Risa Hontiveros cleared up misunderstandings about the bill, clarifying that it does not let patients walk away from their debts without paying. She explained that tax breaks for hospitals will only apply to leftover balances after PhilHealth and government aid are applied. 

“Ang utang ay maaaring singilin, pero ang dignidad at kalayaan ng tao ay hindi maaaring gawing collateral. That is the balance this measure seeks to strike: protecting patients from detention while preserving lawful mechanisms for hospitals to recover legitimate obligations,” Senator Hontiveros stated.

Voting in favor of the bill, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go pointed out that hospitals still hold patients back despite a 2007 law banning the practice. He highlighted that the new bill expands protections to all patients, including those stuck in private rooms because charity beds were full. 

“Sana po wala nang pasyenteng matatakot magpa‑ospital dahil walang pambayad at wala nang pamilyang mangangambang hindi makauwi ang kanilang mahal sa buhay dahil lamang sa kakulangan sa pambayad,” Senator Go said.

Sen. Mark Villar also voted ‘Yes’ and called for strict punishment for abusive hospitals that embarrass poor families. 

“Mr. President, our fellow Filipinos should not be subjected to this inhumane and humiliating practice. We are grateful to our colleagues and to this bill’s sponsor, Senator Risa Hontiveros, who actively lobbied for this measure to ensure that medical facilities will face stronger penalties and be prevented from committing this practice against the poor and the marginalized,” Senator Villar stated.

Co-author Sen. Raffy Tulfo stressed that hospitals must not hold patients "hostage" over unpaid bills, noting that hospital stay delays hurt daily workers the most. 

“Bilang co-author ng panukalang ito, nais nating tiyakin na walang pasyente ang mapipilitang manatili sa ospital dahil lamang sa hindi mabayarang hospital bill. Lalo na ang ating mga magagawa na sa bawat araw na hindi makabalik sa trabaho ay nawawalan din ng kita,” Senator Tulfo explained.

Adding his support, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joel Villanueva thanked Hontiveros for adding rules that force hospitals to show their prices upfront. 

He explained that surprise medical expenses often push families to sell their land or go deep into debt just to pay off hospital costs. 

“We must remain firm in preventing the circumstances that drive families into such desperate situations. And this measure, Mr. President, is a crucial step toward achieving that goal,” Senator Villanueva said.

With the Senate's unanimous approval, the bill moves forward to help ensure that no patient is trapped in a hospital simply because they are poor. 

Lawmakers remain confident that this measure balances humane healthcare access with fair collection rights for medical providers.

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PASAY CITY—Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. called on Vice President Sara Duterte on August 17, 2026 to personally face the impeachment trial against her. 

Speaking in a press conference after day 16 of the proceedings, Abante urged the Vice President to take accountability instead of letting her office personnel answer the allegations for her.

The lawmaker criticized Duterte for skipping the hearings and accused her of disrespecting the legislative branch. 

He emphasized that conducting the trial is part of the Senate and House of Representatives' official duty under the Constitution. 

“I think the Vice President should come because she continues to make a mockery of Congress. Mandato namin ‘to eh, mandato ng Senado ito. Ibig sabihin, the Office of the Vice President can make a mockery of the Constitutional mandate of Congress to investigate and to put an impeachment court,” Congressman Abante said.

Abante stressed that Duterte should speak for herself rather than leaving her subordinates to handle the pressure of the inquiry. 

He pointed out that her assistants are the ones suffering while trying to defend her absence. 

“Dapat humarap siya. Siya ang mag-explain, ‘wag niyang sasabihin ‘yan sa mga staff niya. Siya mismo. Nakakaawa po ‘yung staff niyang nag-e-explain eh. Siya na mismo mag-explain,” he stated.

Closing his statement, Abante directly appealed to the Vice President to show compassion toward her team by showing up to defend herself. 

“Tinatawagan ko ngayon si Vice President, maawa ka naman sa mga staff mo,” he added.

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