5,594 Pass 2025 Bar Exams; UP Graduate Ranks First

Philippine Consulate General Invites Public to Free Screening of Multi-Awarded Filipino Film

Houston may see 500,000 visitors for World Cup festivities

Shaquille O’Neal lends a hand to aspiring Texas police officer

LAWIN.news043 views

Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal financially supports Jordan Wilmore, an aspiring Texas police officer who narrowly missed passing his first police academy attempt. O’Neal’s sponsorship covers Wilmore’s costs to retake academy requirements as Wilmore pursues his goal of becoming the tallest officer in Texas. The article details Wilmore’s effort to meet Texas law enforcement standards, the scope of O’Neal’s involvement, and the regulatory framework that governs police academy admissions and officer certification in the state.

Read more

Suansing dismisses reports of ₱2M Christmas bonus in House

LAWIN.news044 views

House appropriations chair and Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing denies Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste’s claim that each member of the Philippine House of Representatives received a P2-million Christmas bonus, saying there is “no truth” to the allegation and that no such bonus passed through the official appropriations process.

Read more

TxDOT rolls out holiday push vs drunk driving

LAWIN.news049 views

The Texas Department of Transportation has launched a statewide holiday campaign to reduce drunk driving in Texas. The initiative increases public awareness and enforcement during Christmas and New Year’s, focusing on the legal and safety consequences of driving while intoxicated. The campaign uses media outreach, law enforcement partnerships and community programs to address alcohol-related crashes across urban and rural areas in Texas.

Read more

U.S. ambassador Carlson to step down in January

LAWIN.news053 views

United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson will complete her tour in Manila in January 2026, the US Embassy confirmed, amid reports of wider ambassadorial changes. Carlson, who has served in the Philippines since July 2022 after more than 40 years in the US State Department, will leave at the normal end of her posting. Former Florida businessman Lee Lipton, appointed by President Donald Trump as the next US ambassador to the Philippines, awaits confirmation by the US Senate. Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez welcomed Lipton’s nomination. The transition at the US mission comes as Australia, the European Union, Israel, the United Kingdom, and China also install new ambassadors in Manila following the completion of previous envoys’ tours of duty.

Read more

PNAMH members mark 2025 Christmas party with pajama theme, raffle prizes in Houston

LAWIN.news056 views

The Philippine Nurses Association of Metropolitan Houston (PNAMH) hosted its 2025 Christmas party on December 13 at Pinoy Gourmet, featuring a holiday pajama theme, raffle games, a “Best Pajama” contest and sponsor-supported activities that brought members and guests together to highlight the group’s “One PNAMH, One Family” spirit and its plans for continued service in 2026.

Read more

San Antonio focuses on affordability ahead of 2026

LAWIN.news031 views

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones outlined her focus on affordability in a televised “Inside Texas Politics” interview, describing how rising housing and living costs, possible cuts to social programs, and statewide economic trends shape the city’s planning for 2026, including budget decisions, housing strategy, and partnerships with community and business leaders.

Read more

Vice Ganda movie dominates MMFF box office

LAWIN.news033 views

“Call Me Mother,” starring Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre and Lucas Andalio, led the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) box office on opening day with an estimated P49 million, according to producers and MMDA-linked sources. The Jun Robles Lana-directed film widened its lead on the second day with about P29 million more, as “Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins” and “UnMarry” followed in second and third place. All eight MMFF entries reportedly earned a combined P98 million on opening day, with proceeds benefiting key Philippine film industry institutions.

Read more

New Texas laws taking effect Jan. 1 reshape business taxes, immigration rules, squatting cases, app stores and AI

LAWIN.news037 views

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Texas will implement a set of new laws that expand inventory tax exemptions for businesses, require most county jails to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, streamline evictions of squatters, mandate age checks and parental consent for app store users, and establish a statewide framework for regulating artificial intelligence and deep‑fake content.

Read more

Comelec gears up for 2028 polls

LAWIN.news032 views

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Philippines announced that it will start early preparations for the 2028 national and local elections, using the timeline of the 2025 polls as its primary guide. Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the poll body will review and assess the 2025 electoral calendar, including voter registration, filing of candidacies, campaign periods, and procurement activities, to identify measures for replication or adjustment in 2028.

Read more

New video evidence seen as critical in Cabral probe

LAWIN.news038 views

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has obtained new “very substantial” dashcam footage in the probe into the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. Investigators have added the video to the official evidence file and will subject it to forensic and technical analysis to verify authenticity, identify people and vehicles, and establish a detailed timeline of events.

Read more