CURRENT EVENTS 2026

Where did ASEAN 2026 Foreign ministers meeting happened?

PICC, Pasig City, Metro Manila

Who is Secretary General of ASEAN?

Dr. Kao Kim Hourn

When did the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting happen?

July 21, 2026

What was the theme of the 59th ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting?

Navigating Our Future, Together

Where was the 18th BRICS Summit held?

New Delhi, India

When was the 18th BRICS Summit held?

September 12–13, 2026

Signed: September 4, 2026 Title: Enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act It amends RA 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. It gives priority to qualified 4Ps beneficiaries for tertiary education subsidies. It also creates a Private Education Assistance Program for students in priority programs at private higher-education and technical-vocational institutions. Likely quiz question: What law expanded the free tertiary education program and prioritized qualified 4Ps beneficiaries?

Republic Act No. 12325

Signed: August 2, 2026 It allows the Department of Education (DepEd) greater flexibility in determining the pedagogical approaches used in the basic education curriculum. It amends Section 5 of RA 10533, the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. Likely quiz question: What law gives DepEd greater flexibility in determining pedagogical approaches in basic education?

Republic Act No. 12322

Signed: July 22, 2026 It institutionalizes government support for public basic education schools in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) and underserved communities. It also provides for funding for this support.

Republic Act No. 12321

Date: July 13, 2026 It extends the maximum seven-year period for qualified beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) under exceptional circumstances. The order specifically cited the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on affected households.

Executive Order No. 120

Date: July 29, 2026 It established the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) Program. It aims to encourage local EV and EV-parts manufacturing through fiscal and non-fiscal support. It operates under the framework of RA 11697, the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act.

Executive Order No. 121

Date: August 18, 2026 It establishes a national policy framework for developing the Philippines' critical minerals industry. A major focus is moving beyond simply extracting minerals toward local processing and higher-value industries, including materials used for batteries and renewable-energy technologies.

Executive Order No. 122

Date: September 8, 2026 It establishes the Education Philippines (EduPhil) Program. Its purpose is to promote the Philippines as a destination for international students, higher education, research, training, and academic cooperation. Likely quiz: What EO established the EduPhil Program?

Executive Order No. 124

Settler Communities — 2

Yul Adelfo Olaya Mary Ann Arnado

Women REP BARMM

Aida Silongan

Youth REP BARMM

Sulffy Abbas

Ulama REP BARMM

Muhammad Nadzir Ebil

Traditional Leaders REP BARMM

Marjanie Mimbantas-Macasalong

Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples — 2

Jo Glenna Jover (Teduray), Leticio Datuwata (Lambangian)

What was the theme of India's 2026 BRICS chairship?

Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability

How much is the maximum fiscal support under the EVIS Program?

Php 60 billion

What House Bill proposes raising the tax exemption to ₱350,000?

House Bill No. 10345

How much revenue could the government lose annually from raising the tax-free income threshold to ₱350,000?

About 70B / 67B

Which court issued the TRO that suspended the implementation of the ₱85 NCR wage hike?

Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 152

What is the process requested by the United States to bring Apollo Quiboloy to the U.S. to face charges?

Extradition

Who is the current Philippine Ambassador to the United States?

Jose Manuel Romualdez

Who is the Capas, Tarlac mayor who raised concerns over the proposed Pax Silica hub and called for public consultation?

Roseller Rodriguez

Where is the proposed Pax Silica Hub located?

New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac

How large is the proposed Pax Silica Hub in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac?

1,620 hectares

What does BCDA stand for?

Bases Conversion and Development Authority

Which government-owned corporation is responsible for the development and management of the New Clark City area where the proposed Pax Silica Hub will be located?

BCDA

What type of cancer has been increasingly affecting younger adults and is the subject of recent early-onset cancer research?

Colorectal Cancer

Which type of system loss is the government proposing to gradually remove from consumers' electricity bills?

Non-technical system loss

First woman jet fighter pilot of PAF, joined Australian led multinational military exercises

Maj, Jullaiza Camposano-Beran

How much is proposed for flood-control projects in the Philippines' 2027 national budget?

Php 107.4 billion

What type of facility converts waste into useful energy, such as electricity or heat?

Waste to energy plant

What road in Valenzuela City received an ₱81-million rehabilitation project after years of severe deterioration and flooding?

Maysan Road

What was the historic low water level recorded by Angat Dam in July 2026?

About 150.6 meters

What type of solar eclipse was visible in Germany on August 12, 2026?

Partial solar eclipse

Which Davao steel company was raided after radioactive isotopes were detected in some of its steel products and facility materials?

Davao Mighty Steel Corp.

How many potential jobs will the pax silica provide?

130k - 190k

How many induced jobs will the pax silica hub create?

500k - 800k

How many construction jobs will the pax silica create?

50k

What is the annual tax potential of the pax silica hub?

Php 68B - Php 75B

What was the Philippine peso's weakest recorded intraday level against the US dollar as of September 18, 2026?

Php 62.925

Whose Certificate of Candidacy was cancelled by COMELEC for the 5th Parliamentary District of Maguindanao del Sur?

Anwar Salipada Alamada

What weather phenomenon was mistaken for a sandstorm in Pasay City in August 2026?

Gust front

Which Filipino TV series won the Silver award for Best TV Format Adaptation (Scripted) in Asia at the 2026 ContentAsia Awards?

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Which Filipino film starring Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre won Silver for Best Feature Film or Telemovie Made in Asia at the 2026 ContentAsia Awards?

Call Me Mother

When did the MV June Aster ferry fire occur?

September 9, 2026

How many survivors in the MV June Aster?

43

When did the catastrophic flash flood in northern Nepal occur?

August 26, 2026

What district of Nepal was most severely affected by the disaster?

Rasuwa District

What was the seismic energy of the glacier/rock collapse equivalent to?

5.2 earthquake

Which two countries' border region was affected?

Nepal and China (Tibet)

Which river was directly affected by the glacier/rock collapse?

Lhende Khola

Through which river system did the floodwaters travel downstream?

Lhende Khola , Bhote Koshi , Trishuli River

Which mountain/glacier area was involved in the collapse?

Lantang Lirung

Where was the newly identified wild cat species Leopardus tilcayo found?

Yungas cloud forests, Bolivia

How many suspected leptospirosis cases were recorded nationwide in the Philippines as of September 16, 2026?

10,936 cases

By how much did nationwide leptospirosis cases increase compared with the same period in 2025?

38%

From what date to what date did Indonesian wildfire smoke push Metro Manila's air quality to “Acutely Unhealthy” levels in 2026?

August 30 - September 2, 2026

What term refers to airborne particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter and are a major component of haze and air pollution?

Particulate Matter 2.5

Who is the current Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) who discussed the weakening peso and the need to strengthen Philippine exports in August 2026?

Gov. Eli Remolona Jr.

What historic Filipino landmark was reopened on August 25, 2026, ahead of the ASEAN Summit?

Coconut Palace / Tahanang Pilipino

When will the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits be held?

November 16-18, 2026

Which court issued a warrant of arrest against Vice President Sara Duterte on September 4, 2026, in connection with three counts of grave threats?

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98

What was Laguna de Bay's water level when LLDA renewed its call for dredging on September 2, 2026?

12.65 meters

When is the ICC trial of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte scheduled to begin?

November 30, 2026

Who is the presiding judge in Rodrigo Duterte's ICC trial?

Judge Joanna Korner

Which ICC Trial Chamber is handling Rodrigo Duterte's case?

Trial Chamber III

What technology allowed surgeons in different locations to perform surgery remotely in the Philippines in 2026?

Robotic Telesurgery

When was the Philippines' first telesurgery performed?

August 25, 2026

Where were the first long-distance telesurgeries conducted within the Philippines?

Between Pampanga and Cotabato City

Who was the surgeon in the robotic telesurgery?

Dr. Ryan Quiambao

What surgery did the patient in the robotic telesurgery underwent?

Cholecystectomy

What was the Philippines' unemployment rate in July 2026?

6% (3.14 M Filipinos)

Which northernmost Philippine province became the subject of claims by some Chinese scholars in July 2026 that it was part of China through Taiwan?

Batanes

Who is the former British Prime Minister who paid a courtesy call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace on July 8, 2026, to discuss governance and public policy?

Tony Blair

Which government body is responsible for determining and issuing regional minimum wage orders and promoting productivity in the Philippines?

Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board

When did the World Bank classify the Philippines as an upper-middle-income economy based on its GNI per capita of US$4,850?

July 1, 2026

What income classification did the World Bank give the Philippines on July 1, 2026, after its GNI per capita reached US$4,850?

Upper middle-income economy

What two areas were covered by the Memoranda of Understanding signed between the Philippines and Canada in July 2026?

Tourism and cultural cooperation

What rare freshwater fish worth approximately ₱7 million was allegedly stolen and butchered at a resort in Pagbilao, Quezon, in July 2026?

Arapaima fish

What Philippine Navy vessel has remained grounded at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea since 1999 and continues to serve as a military outpost?

BRP Sierra Madre

Who is the DOH secretary that replaced Ted Herbosa and later resigned?

Jose Brittanio Pujalte

What was the alleged operation cited by Sara Duterte's defense during her 2026 impeachment trial as context for her controversial remarks?

Operation Romanov

Which US-based company launched a 2D seismic survey in Pangasinan and Zambales in July 2026 to search for naturally occurring hydrogen?

Koloma Inc.

What type of hydrogen is Koloma searching for in Pangasinan and Zambales?

Native Hydrogen

How much confidential funds from the OVP and DepEd are at the center of Article I of Sara Duterte's impeachment case?

Php 612.5 Million

How much of the ₱612.5 million in confidential funds came from the OVP?

Php 500 million

How much came from DepEd?

Php 112.5 million

What was Vice President Sara Duterte’s declared net worth in her latest SALN for 2025?

Php 98.656 million

By how much did Sara Duterte’s declared net worth increase from 2007 to 2025 based on her SALNs?

Php 91.4 million

What Chinese state-run media outlet posted an AI-generated video depicting Filipinos as monkeys in July 2026?

China Daily

What phrase was superimposed as the title on the China Daily AI video?

Litter on Waves: Failed Maritime Karaoke

Which Philippine government department demanded the removal of China Daily’s AI-generated video?

DFA

What was the name of the Philippine eagle rescued in Bukidnon that died about two weeks later in July 2026?

Sawaga-Dalwangan

What two bridges in Tarlac City were damaged or collapsed on August 28–29, 2026 due to heavy rains and strong river currents?

Aquino Bridge and Agana Bridge

What does UPLIFT stand for in the Philippine government’s economic program?

Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food, and Transport.