Lifestyle

Come Holy Spirit

In our recent pilgrimage, we had an octogenarian pilgrim who was hard of walking. Often he would be left behind, or would not go down the bus, and missed a lot of activities. I bought him a simple cane. At first, he was reluctant to use it, but soon, he tried it, and he liked it! And we all liked it, too, because we saw him happy and strong, joining us in our activities, smiling at everyone as we went along. A Pentecost moment! —————- Happy...

'Maldives what?': Saudi fashionistas attempt beach rebrand

Saudi designer Tima Abid got her start at a time when fashion shows were taboo and tourism, apart from religious pilgrimages, was almost nonexistent in the Gulf kingdom. Taking in preparations for Abid's show, Saudi designer Alanoud Badr of Lady Fozaza compared the kingdom favourably to a more established island locale.

How wild swimming puts you at risk of a raft of waterborne diseases

It sounded like good news for wild swimmers. Last week, 27 new river bathing sites were added to the map of the UK's coastal and inland waterways deemed safe for use.

The risky allure of WiFi Money: private jets, sports cars, and ruined investors

A motley crew of Instagram-obsessed, hustle-culture influencers made millions. In their wake, they left a trail of lawsuits and financial devastation.

Vatican tightens Church rules for probing the ‘supernatural’

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican sharpened its rules for investigating supernatural events such as visions of Christ or the Virgin Mary, acknowledging on Friday that overactive imaginations and outright “lying” risked harming the faithful. The new norms allow for a more “prudent” interpretation of events that generally avoids declaring them outright a supernatural event. They were published by the Holy See’s powerful Dicastery for the Doctrine of the...

PAL sets sights on India flights

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is exploring the possibility of launching direct flights to India to capture the emerging demand for connections to South Asia. PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng told reporters the airline is considering to mount Manila flights to India as soon as it gets out of the supply crunch that it is dealing with. The carrier aims to snare the Philippine demand for South Asian...

Eerie video shows once thriving tourist island completely deserted

Footage of Magnetic Island, 20 minutes from Townsville, revealed a distinct lack of tourists despite the April-May window usually being popular with those seeking warmth.

Luxent Hotel says farewell to summer with staycation deals

SUMMER may be winding down, but the deals at Luxent Hotel are just heating up. Don't miss the chance to experience luxurious comfort and exciting amenities before the season ends. For a limited time only, book a stay and make the most of the perks. Start the day with an International Buffet breakfast for two and savor delectable dishes at all Luxent Hotel's dining outlets with a special 10-percent discount. Take a dip and soak up the city views...

Palace declares special holidays

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has declared May 21 a special non-working day in Malabon City for the commemoration of its 425th founding anniversary. It also declared May 30 a special non-working day in Escalante City, Negros Occidental for the celebration of the Manlambus Festival. The declaration of special holidays in the cities of Malabon and Escalante were specified in Proclamations 548 and 549, both signed by Executive Secretary Lucas...

Businesses demand water company 'bear full cost' of Brixham poisoning

Seaside B&Bs and self-catering cottages in the south Devon town are facing a wave of cancellations from holidaymakers fearful of exposing their families to the parasite.

Virgin Trains targets West Coast in return to rail

Virgin Group has applied for a licence to run trains on the route it lost to Avanti in 2019.

Disneyland Character Workers Vote to Unionize With Actors' Equity

Another union is coming to Disneyland. On Saturday, a majority of the amusement park’s character workers voted to unionize with Actors’ Equity Association in a National Labor Relations Board vote, ushering more employees at Disneyland into the union fold. Nine hundred and fifty-three workers voted “yes” to join Equity, while 258 voted “no.” The parties […]

First crewed flight of Boeing Starliner postponed again

WASHINGTON, United States — The first crewed launch of Boeing’s Starliner to the International Space Station has been delayed again due to a technical issue, NASA said Friday. The launch in Florida was scheduled for Tuesday but NASA said it is now planned for May 25 to allow teams to further assess a helium leak linked to the service module, which sits on top of the rocket. Earlier this month, a Starliner launch was postponed just hours before...

Queen Maxima to visit Philippines, to push financial inclusion

MANILA, Philippines — Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is scheduled to visit Manila next week in her capacity as United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). She is expected to stay from May 21 to 23 and meet with President Marcos and top finance officials. The visit will focus on advancing key foundational building blocks for financial inclusion – including connectivity, digital...

Disneyland performers in California to join union

ANAHEIM, California – Disneyland performers who help bring Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and other beloved characters to life at the Southern California resort chose to unionize following a three-day vote culminating on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). The Actors' Equity Association labor union said in a statement Saturday that cast members for the parades and characters departments at Disney's theme parks near Los Angeles voted by a wide margin for the...

The best new camping and glampsites around the UK, from festival vibes to no-frills meadows

Festival vibe, Bedfordshire Wild Canvas, one of the recent wave of pop-up campsites with a festival vibe, has a host of new additions for its fifth outing this summer. The campsite makes the most of its riverside setting on the Turvey House Estate near Bedford. It has a new wellness area, the Nest, with direct river access (BYO paddleboard!) plus a yoga yurt, a mobile sauna, a treatment tent for massages and free early-morning activities from...

Beyond Machu Picchu and Cancun: Latin American wonders for a dream vacation

IndiGo to Vistara: Why airlines continue to face challenges

While new airports are coming up fast and passenger traffic is scaling all-time high levels, flight cancellations and delays continue to affect travellers…

The Grande Dames of country music

Entering the Banksy Universe

Before it even opened to the public, "The Banksy Universe | Manila 2024" gained attention online after it was announced that the exhibit of the elusive street artist Banksy at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The M) was unauthorized. ‘Armored Dove of Peace’ (left) and ‘Flower Thrower’ ‘Girl with Ballon’ is one of the many recreated works, prints and paintings of Banksy now on view at ‘The Banksy Universe | Manila 2024.’ The exhibit is brought...

Heading north? Here are 5 food places to visit when in La Union

Going on a trip to La Union soon? Aside from its well-loved tourist attractions, the province is also home to a variety of must-try restaurants. From refreshing drinks to fulfilling meals, here are some food places you should check out. —JCB, GMA Integrated News This article Heading north? Here are 5 food places to visit when in La Union was originally published in GMA News Online.

Russia showcases food products in Harbin

HARBIN, China – The rich aroma of coffee brought visitors to a corner of the eighth China-Russia Expo exhibition area in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, where Russian cream cakes are on display in the cake bar of the Alyonka Cafe. "It is the first cafe that we opened on China's mainland, where consumers are already familiar with the Alyonka chocolate brand," said Evgeny Bazhov, general manager of United Confectionery (Uniconf) China...

15 Tips for You to Surf Through Thailand’s Songkran Festival

Thailand, known for its beautiful beaches, delicious food, rich culture, and friendly people, has one festivity that draws tourists from all over the world—Songkran. Also known as Thai New Year, it is the country’s most vibrant and energetic festival, celebrated annually from April 13 to 15. It is a festival mixed with tradition, merrymaking, and

Castle tearoom to reopen after nearly two years

The council admitted the search for new operators had not been 'as quick as we would have liked'.

A Comprehensive Guide to the UnionBank Miles+ Program

Get the most out of your cards.

Two Tickets to Greece review – a holiday you may want to cut short

The closest of schoolfriends in 1989, despite their wildly contrasting personalities, risk-averse introvert Blandine (Olivia Côte) and gobby showoff Magalie (Laure Calamy) fell out spectacularly (full details are hazy, but it involved a boy) and lost touch. Now, thanks to the adult son of Blandine, who worries that his divorced mother is in danger of closing herself off from the world, the pair are reunited and find themselves embarking on the...

The beauty of spring around the world

Springtime is here. It's an underrated season, with clear skies, blooming flowers, and that exciting buildup to summer. Why not get pumped for the season by seeing just how sensational spring looks like around the world? Click on to see the beauty of spring across the globe.

The future NAIA

A world-class Ninoy Aquino International Airport is soon to become a reality following the takeover of the airport by the San Miguel Corp.-led consortium by Sept. 14 this year, according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista. In an interview before he had to leave for Singapore Friday night to accompany his wife for a medical check-up, Secretary Bautista gave the assurance that the takeover would proceed as scheduled by September, even as...

Cruise stomach bug issue not new, passengers say

People who travelled on previous Ventura cruises say the company is "downplaying" the situation.

The most dangerous (and the safest) countries for female travelers

In an attempt to determine which countries are the most dangerous for female travelers, husband and wife journalists Asher and Lyric Fergusson studied and ranked the 50 most popular countries amongst tourists. The data was compiled using sources ranging from the 2018 Gallup World Poll to Equal Measures 2030's Gender Advocates Data Hub. The Fergusson's Women’s Danger Index ranked each country based on eight factors: street safety for women, intentional homicide of women, non-partner sexual violence, intimate partner sexual violence, legal discrimination, global gender gap, gender inequality index, and violence against women attitudes. Using these metrics, their list of the 20 most dangerous countries for women emerges. Intrigued? Take a look at their findings by clicking through the following gallery.

Your pictures on the theme of 'tunnels'

A selection of striking images from our readers around the world.

Indoor market to host late night events

Visitors can attend the events across four Saturdays between June and September.

Monthlong World Cocktail Day celebration

May is a truly festive month. Aside from Labor Day, May the 4th Be With You, Cinco de Mayo, and my gorgeous sister Goldee’s birthday on the 30th, we also celebrated World Cocktail Day last May 13. Of course the hotel industry would not allow World Cocktail Day to be celebrated for just a day. So Admiral Hotel—along with MGallery bars around the world—is celebrating World Cocktail Day for a whole month or until June 13th! Admiral Hotel is a...

Swiss village bids to introduce Venice-style entry fee for tourists

Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland has seen a surge in tourism in the warmer months, with some visitors only staying for a day and contributing little to the economy.

The world's top places to visit in 2024

The holiday season brings with it thoughts of travel, a Christmas vacation perhaps, or somewhere memorable to chime in the New Year. But where in the world are the coolest, hotly-tipped places to visit in 2024? Click through and check out these top destinations, referenced by Travel + Leisure as the most popular places to go in 2024.

Spitfire Women: Blue plaque unveiled for WW2 pilot

Freydis Sharland was also British Air Racing Champion and a trailblazer for women in aviation.

Your dream beach vacation can happen right at home in America

Can’t go abroad this year? Don't sweat it. The US has some awesome beaches for you to kick back and relax on that are closer to home. Check them out!

What is There to Do in Switzerland?

This might just be your sign to go ahead and finally tick one of the world’s most beautiful countries off your travel bucket list.

This sweet family legacy is now 29 years old

Spotted in cities across Nueva Ecija and Pampanga, Edna's Cakeland is a sweet spot, a place where the smell freshly baked bread and the sight of beautifully decorated cakes evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia. Edna’s Cakeland CEO Anna Gonzales (rightmost) opens the bakery’s newest branch together with her partner Justin Cuyugan and her parents and Edna’s Cakeland founders Edna and Herminio Gonzales (center). The family-owned bakery is...

Ang See: Tougher visa rules for Chinese not right solution

Tightening visa rules for Chinese tourists will not stop the influx of undesirable visitors if immigration officers can be bribed anyway, civic leader Teresita Ang See said on Thursday. “We already have a proper visa application process in place in our consular and embassy office abroad. That system ain’t broke,” said Ang See, a longtime anticrime crusader from the Filipino-Chinese community. “Instead, the problem lies with our bureaucrats here...

Crowds turn out for Peterborough Celebrates festival

Organisers and visitors hail the two-day Peterborough Celebrates a success.

Mountain song: PHL Pavilion brings the aura of Banahaw to the Biennale

VENICE, Italy — Well, I stand up next to a mountain… Contemporary art often does not reveal itself on first meeting, much like an enigmatic lover. Usually, a conceptual piece or space is felt first before it is even understood. If you go around the Philippine Pavilion’s current exhibition titled “Sa kabila ng tabing lamang sa panahong ito/Waiting just behind the curtain of this age” (curated by Carlos Quijon Jr., featuring artworks by Mark...

WHEN IN SIQUIJOR (1): Cambugahay Falls

CEBU CITY, Philippines –Siquijor is an island province located in Central Visayas, Philippines. In the early years, it was associated and made more famous or infamous – depending on which side of the fence you’re in – with dark rituals such ‘barang’ ‘lumay’ ‘patawas’ and other mystic activities. Over the years, however, visitors discovered a wealth of natural treasures on the island. Siquijor in the past, therefore, is more misunderstood than...

Dead Olive Ridley sea turtle found in Quezon

LUCENA CITY — An Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), locally known as “pawikan,” was found dead along the coast of Tayabas Bay in Agdangan, Quezon on Friday, May 17. “The marine turtle had wounds around the neck area, signs of another victim of stationary fish traps sunk into the bottom of the bay,” Jay Lim, project officer of Tanggol Kalikasan (TK), a public interest law office that advocates environmental protection, posted on his...

Marcos: Better transport, infra mean more tourists

Boasting that “there is no place in the Philippines that is not beautiful,” President Marcos on Friday said he was eyeing a tenfold increase in the number of “balikbayan” tourists visiting the country. At the inauguration of a tourist rest area on the pristine beach at Barangay Saud in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, the President said the government would continue improving travel, transportation and tourist infrastructure to turn the country into...

Credit Cards in the Philippines with Airport Lounge Access

Does your credit card have airport lounge access?

Gorgeous Oregon coast hotel with no TVs or WiFi that encourages guests to read its enormous selection of books and enjoy ocean views is sold to new owners who hint they'll modernize it

The Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport captured local attention thanks to its picturesque Pacific Ocean views and literary theme - which extended to a total ban on TVs and Wi-Fi.

10 national parks you should visit in 2024

There are 63 national parks scattered around the US, each with its own unique beauty. If you're a fan of nature and wildlife, here are ten that you can't miss.

Airbnb hosts are bracing for an unpredictable summer

To beat the competition, short-term-rental owners are turning to direct bookings and influencer stays to lure guests and make money off summer travel.

Redemption of the Macabebes

MACABEBE, PAMPANGA, Philippines — When the ancestors of this coastal town are bluntly tagged “traitors” or subtly branded as “dugong-aso” (loyal to a fault) for choosing to side with colonial rulers, or blamed for the capture of President Emilio Aguinaldo and fall of the First Philippine Republic, Vice Mayor Vince Flores takes time to explain the “unjust labeling.” So when the National Historical Commission of the Philippines recently installed...