George Erwin Mojica Garcia, Chairman, Commission on Elections (COMELEC), has announced recently that no move yet to revive Marcoleta probe.
George Erwin Mojica Garcia clarified that the Commission on Elections remains ready to coordinate and extend assistance to the Ombudsman regarding matters involving Senator Rodolfo ‘Marco’ Marcoleta, but stressed that, on the part of the COMELEC, the motu proprio investigation against the senator has already been dismissed.
In a recent statement, Chairman Garcia explained that the poll body has not yet discussed any possibility of reviving the case, especially since no Motion for Reconsideration (MR) has been filed before the Commission.
The statement highlights COMELEC’s adherence to due process and procedural rules, emphasizing that any further action would depend on formal legal developments rather than speculation or public pressure.
Garcia likewise reiterated the agency’s openness to cooperate with other government institutions whenever necessary, reflecting the COMELEC’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and inter-agency coordination.
While political discussions continue to swirl around the issue, the poll chief made it clear that, for now, the case remains closed on the COMELEC’s end unless new legal remedies are officially pursued.
Readers and supporters of inspiring leadership gathered for a special magazine signing event featuring George Erwin Mojica Garcia, Chairman of the Commission on Elections, and Glenda V. Hufano, Past District Governor of Kiwanis International Philippine Luzon District.
The event was held on March 10, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at National Book Store located at SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Philippines.
Organized by TopNewsAsia and Rising Tigers Magazine, the gathering offered readers a rare opportunity to meet two distinguished leaders featured in the publications. The magazine signing was led by Editor-in-Chief Grace Bondad Nicolas, who continues to champion stories of leadership, governance, and community service through the magazines’ platforms.
During the event, guests had the opportunity to interact with the featured personalities through a question-and-answer segment, which provided insights into Chairman Garcia’s leadership in the country’s electoral system and Hufano’s work in community development through Kiwanis.
“I am always thankful to our featured leaders who, despite their busy schedules, made time to come and meet everyone,” said Grace Bondad Nicolas.
Chairman Garcia encouraged everyone to vote and expressed his gratitude for the high voter turnout and peaceful conduct of the previous elections under his leadership. He also emphasized digital innovation in the electoral process, noting that advancements in technology have enabled faster transmission of election results.
Hufano, on the other hand, shared that she will continue to help children through her connection with Kiwanis International. She mentioned that since childhood, she has had a heart for helping others, which inspired her advocacy to assist indigent communities. Many Kiwanis members also attended the event to show their support for her.
Supporters, readers, and members of the public attended and took part in the engaging afternoon of dialogue, inspiration, and an exclusive magazine signing experience.
Event Details:
Date: March 10, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Venue: National Book Store, SM Mall of Asia
For media inquiries and event details, interested parties were encouraged to contact the organizers of TopNewsAsia and Rising Tigers Magazine at +63 977 897 8877 or president@tagmedia.asia.
Who else will join the launch of Makata sa Pinas with Gloc-9 at PBF 2026?
During the Philippine Book Festival (PBF) 2026 Media Launch that was held on February 26, 2026, CHARISSE AQUINO-TUGADE, Executive Director of the National Book Development Board (NBDB), has announced of the launching of Makata sa Pinas with Gloc-9 by Everything’s Fine at the Fiesta Stage of the PBF 2026 on March 12, 2026.
Let’s meet the author, Aristotle Pollisco, get your copies signed, and celebrate poetry with us. Makata sa Pinas Book Launch will be held on March 12, 2026, 5PM-7PM at the Hall 3, Main Stage at PBF 2026.
PBF 2026 runs from March 12 to 15, 2026 at 5th Floor, Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. FREE Entrance for ALL.
Indonesian Trade Attaché Joins TopNewsAsia and Leading Women Magazine Event to inspire readers, supporters, and aspiring leaders in the community.
On March 5, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, readers, supporters, and aspiring leaders gathered at National Bookstore for the first magazine signing event of the year hosted by TopNewsAsia and Leading Women Magazine, led by publisher Grace Bondad Nicolas.
Adding significance to the occasion was the presence and support of the newly appointed Trade Attaché of the Embassy of Indonesia in the Philippines, Rahayu Ningsih, whose participation highlighted the growing relationship between media, diplomacy, and cross-cultural collaboration.
The event featured two inspiring personalities whose stories represent leadership and innovation in today’s evolving society. The current cover of TopNewsAsia features Brian Poe Llamanzares, Congressman of FPJ Panday Bayanihan, while the maiden issue of Leading Women Magazine highlights young CEO Grace Santiago of Lync Solutions, released in celebration of National Women’s Month.
More than 120 attendees participated in the exclusive meet-and-greet and magazine signing, creating a rare opportunity for readers to personally interact with the leaders whose stories they read about in print. What made the event even more meaningful was the insightful discussion on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Literacy, where Llamanzares and Santiago shared their perspectives on how technology is transforming governance, entrepreneurship, and the future workforce.
The importance of a magazine signing goes far beyond autographs. It transforms journalism into a living conversation. For readers, it is an opportunity to engage directly with the people behind the headlines and cover stories. For the featured personalities, it becomes a platform to expand ideas, inspire dialogue, and connect with communities that believe in their vision.
Events like this also reaffirm the continuing relevance of print media. In an era dominated by digital platforms, a magazine signing reminds audiences that printed stories carry depth, credibility, and permanence. When readers hold a magazine and meet the leaders featured in its pages, the experience becomes both personal and memorable.
Another key advantage of the gathering was its educational value. Young professionals, students, and entrepreneurs present during the event gained valuable insights about the growing role of artificial intelligence and the need for stronger digital literacy skills in a rapidly evolving world. These discussions demonstrated how media events can serve not only as celebrations of publication but also as platforms for learning and inspiration.
The objective of the gathering was clear: to create a meaningful space where journalism, leadership, and public engagement intersect. Through initiatives like this, TopNewsAsia and Leading Women Magazine continue to elevate conversations that matter, highlight leaders who make a difference, and encourage readers to become informed, empowered, and inspired members of society.
Publisher Grace Bondad Nicolas expressed her sincere gratitude to National Bookstore for its continued partnership in promoting print media and fostering intellectual exchange through events like these.
As the first magazine signing of the year, the event set the tone for more interactive experiences where stories printed on pages come alive through conversations, connections, and inspiration, reminding everyone that behind every magazine cover is not just a story, but a community ready to listen, learn, and lead.
Did you know that the Philippine Book Festival (PBF) 2026 brings together the full spectrum of of Philippine literary life?
The writers whose pages many of us grew up with – Ricky Lee, Virgilio Almario, Ambeth Ocampo-will be on hand along side trade-book favorites Jonaxx and Ron Canimo, kidlit masters Eugene Evasco and Luis Gatmaitan, and komiks legends Manix Abrera and Pol Media. Viral reads, poetry, pop fiction, indie zines, and award-winning titles every kind of reader finds their people here.
On March 14, 2026, the Final Stage will host the 43rd National Book Awards (NBA) – honoring the authors, illustrators, editors, translations, and publishers whose work has shaped and sustained Philippine literature. It is the festival’s day set aside entirely for the recognition of excellence and affirmation of the strength, creativity, and diversity of Filipino story telling this day.
The PBF is more than gathering of books. It is a gathering of the nation’s voices – where writers meet readers, teachers meet students, and communities come together around stories that are unmistakably ours. Literature lives beyond if it is shared, celebrated, and felt together.
National Book Development Board (NBDB)’s Philippine Book Festival (PBF) 2026 Media Launch was held on February 26, 2026 at JRich Corporate Center, 16 Sto. Domingo Ave, Quezon City, 1114 Metro Manila,
During the event, Charisse Aquino-Tugade, Executive Director, NBDB, has shared an opening message regarding the PBF 2026. She is someone who deeply believes in the power of Filipino stories. She is not just a public servant, but as a storyteller, a mother, and a reader who has seen, firsthand, what books can do to a life.
She mentioned that the Philippine Book Festival is a marketplace – and we must celebrate that Authors deserve royalties. Illustrators deserve fair compensation. Editors, designers, printers, and booksellers deserve recognition and livelihoods. When books move, the industry thrives. And when the industry thrives, new voices get the chance to rise.
PBF is more than a marketplace. It is a third place – and in a world where most of our interactions are filtered through screens, where the boundaries between work, home, and school have all but dissolved, we all need a place where we can gather freely, without expectation or agenda. At PBF, you will find spaces for conversation, for creation, for curiosity.
During the event Joffrey “Pepot” Atienza has revealed and shared the PBF 2026 Key Visual of the theme “Gubat ng Karunungan or Rainforest of Knowledge”.
Besides, Charisse Aquino-Tugade also revealed the PBF 2026 Programs and Featured Events.
Moreover, special guests from diverse industries were invited for the open forum, interviews and messages of support during the launched of PBF 2026.
Open Forum & Interviews with Special Guests: Segundo Matias, Author & Publisher; Cj Reynaldo, Author & Illustrator; Ronaldo VIVO Jr., Author; Nelson Canlas, News Anchor & Author; & Yasmien Kurdi-Soldevilla, Author & Actress, has shared their ideas and experiences during the 2026 PBF Media Launch.
The 2026 PBF Media Launch is powered by National Book Development Board and hosted by Jamie Ang.
PBF runs from March 12 to 15, 2026 at 5th Floor, Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. FREE Entrance for ALL.
Recently, Romualdez camp rebukes claims over the flood control. No plunder case, no guilt.
The camp of former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez rejected attempts to pin plunder and other serious crimes on him, underscoring that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) itself made clear its referral to the Ombudsman was “issued without finding or conclusion of guilt or liability.”
In a statement, Atty. Ade Fajardo, lawyer and spokesperson of Romualdez, said recent statements attributed to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) should not be misconstrued as proof of wrongdoing.
“We take note of the DPWH Secretary’s statement. However, it is important to clarify that a DPWH ‘recommendation’ is not a finding, much less a determination of guilt,” Fajardo said.
Fajardo categorically denied reports suggesting that the ICI had recommended the filing of plunder or other serious charges against the former Speaker.
“It is not true that the ICI has recommended to the Ombudsman that former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez be charged with plunder or other serious crimes related to the flood control or 2025 budget issue,” Fajardo said.
On the contrary, he pointed out that the ICI itself underscored the absence of any adverse conclusion against Romualdez in its referral to the Office of the Ombudsman.
“In fact, the ICI made it clear in their referral report that it was ‘issued without finding or conclusion of guilt or liability on the part of former Speaker Romualdez,’” he added.
Fajardo said Romualdez respects institutional processes and is confident that the Ombudsman will assess the matter independently and fairly.
“We respect due process and will await the Ombudsman to independently evaluate the submissions based on evidence, not press conference soundbites,” he said.
Press Release (August 14, 2025) – Irene Sarmiento, award-winning writer of children’s book Tabon Girl and young adult novel Stray Cats, is the first author from the Philippines to be invited to this year’s White Ravens Festival, held from July 13 to 17 at the Blutenberg Castle in Munich, Germany.
A native of Quezon City, she moved from the Philippines to Texas in 2011 and now works as a pediatric occupational therapist for children with special needs in northern Colorado.
In an interview with the National Book Development Board (NBDB), Sarmiento shared that “it was in college when I won my first Palanca [award] in the now defunct future fiction category and made me realize I have two lives [studying occupational therapy and writing]. But I never really questioned whether I should stop or keep writing.”
She added, “As a writer, I recognize that in this unequal world, we who are marginalized have to assert our humanity, and this is my way of doing that. I am a Filipino writer talking to multiple cultures in my works. I am both a writer and a healthcare practitioner.”
The White Ravens Festival is dedicated to international literature for children and young adults, bringing together authors and illustrators from different parts of the world to read from their most recent works, lead writing workshops and other interactive events, and discuss their life and works. The festival has hosted various prominent authors such as Ingo Siegner from Germany, Micaela Chirif from Peru, Shaw Kuzki from Japan, Anete Melece from Latvia, Tuutikki Tolonen from Finland, MG Leonard from the United Kingdom, André Letria from Portugal, Yves Grevet from France, Jamshid Khanian from Iran, and Ondřej Buddeus from the Czech Republic, to name a few.
It is hosted by the International Youth Library (IJB) in Munich, Germany.
“The invitation was a huge surprise. It is important because it gave me the opportunity to tell them about the Philippines. It prompted the audience to know more about us [Filipinos]. It helped me to bring our works to the global stage,” Sarmiento said.
Aside from a radio interview, as part of the festival she attended eight interactive reading events across Germany with 10 different participating schools (and with 50 to 150 students in attendance each session) from July 13 to 17 this year. The event was under the patronage of the Bavarian State Minister for Science and the Arts, and featured renowned, multi-award-winning writers.
Sarmiento’s works, often about children overcoming challenges, have received recognition from prestigious organizations such as The Palanca Memorial Foundation, the Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards, and Stories to Change the World.
“My family and I always love books and stories. When I was eight years old, I won a short story writing competition called Young Minds, and it was the first time that I got really published, which started me on that trajectory,” said Sarmiento.
Her novel, Stray Cats, was named one of the Kids’ Choice winners at the National Children’s Book Award in 2024. It tells the story of Elisa Paz, an eighth grader in search of her best friend.
Her tips to aspiring Filipino writers? “You should speak in your own voice. Who knows? One of these days, someone might listen.”
Sarmiento’s participation in the festival coincides with the Philippines’ preparations as the Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 15 to 19, 2025.
The National Book Development Board (NBDB) is the book authority of the Philippines. The agency is at the forefront of developing the Philippine publishing industry and safeguarding the country’s vibrant culture of authorship and reading. To learn more, visit our social media pages (@nbdbphilippines).
