Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
- Local campaign period kickoff – 2025 Philippine elections
- In Manila visit, Hegseth stresses deterrence ‘considering threats from communist Chinese’
- Dream run ends: Alex Eala falls to Jessica Pegula in Miami Open heartbreaker
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/march-28-2025/
- Local campaign period kickoff – 2025 Philippine elections
- In Manila visit, Hegseth stresses deterrence ‘considering threats from communist Chinese’
- Dream run ends: Alex Eala falls to Jessica Pegula in Miami Open heartbreaker
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/march-28-2025/
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Today on Rappler.
00:14More than 41,000 candidates vying for over 18,000 local positions officially start campaigning.
00:21U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says deterrence is crucial in the Philippines due to threats
00:27from China.
00:28And Alex Ayala ends her Miami dream run after losing to World No. 4 Jessica Pegula.
00:36More than 41,000 candidates vying for over 18,000 local positions officially start campaigning
00:41Friday, March 28.
00:43The 45-day local campaign period for the 2025 midterm elections is taking place against
00:49the backdrop of a political war between the Marcoses and the Dutertes.
00:53With former President Rodrigo Duterte detained at the International Criminal Court in The
00:57Hague and his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte facing an impeachment trial under
01:02the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., theirs is a feud with wide-ranging implications for
01:06local races and beyond.
01:08In Manila, an OCTA survey shows Isko Moreno enjoys a majority lead over his rivals, including
01:14former ally Manila Mayor Hani Lacuna.
01:17In Marikina, broken alliances shape the local race, with the Trudoros and Quimbos vying
01:22for the top local posts.
01:24In Pasig, the rivalry is shaping up to be good governance versus big business, with
01:29Vico Soto seeking to win his third and last term versus candidate Sara Deskaya, the owner
01:35of a construction company.
01:37In Laguna, the issue of health care was front and center, as gubernatorial candidates in
01:41Laguna courted voters.
01:43The race includes three candidates, Ruth Hernandez, Dan Fernandez, and Karen Agapay, whose parties
01:49are in a coalition under Marcos Alianza, with only Sol Aragones as the unaffiliated candidate.
01:56In Naga City, pink sets the tone for the proclamation rally of former Vice President and Naga City
02:01mayoral candidate Lenny Robredo.
02:04In Bacolo, the P6.5 billion loan of Mayor Albie Benitez's administration emerges as
02:09a major election issue.
02:11In Capiz, Paulo Rojas, son of former Interior Secretary Mar Rojas, who is running for the
02:161st District, leads the One Capiz coalition as it kicks off its local election campaign
02:22with a caravan across Rojas City.
02:24And in Davao City, hometown of the Dutertes, instead of local campaigns, the birthday of
02:30the former president dominates the scene and almost fills up two major roads.
02:37U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says on Friday, March 28, that deterrence is crucial
02:42in the Philippines and the region, quote, considering the threats from the communist
02:47Chinese.
02:48Hegseth says, quote, peace through strength is a very real thing, during a courtesy call
02:53with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacanang, his first visit to the Philippines as defense
02:58chief.
02:59Friends need to stand shoulder to shoulder to deter conflict, to ensure that there's
03:05free navigation, whether you call it the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea.
03:13Hegseth also mentions a phone conversation with Trump, saying the U.S. president, quote,
03:18thinks very fondly of this great country, is very committed to the alliance.
03:22He adds,
03:23He and I both want to express the ironclad commitment we have to the partnership, economically,
03:30militarily.
03:31In welcoming the defense chief, Marcos notes, quote, how complicated geopolitics has become.
03:37Marcos adds that Manila being Hegseth's first stop in Asia is a strong sign of both countries'
03:43commitment to work together for peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
03:48Errors hold back Alex Ayala as she ended her strong run in the WTA Tour, missing out on
03:54a final appearance.
03:55Ayala's dream run in the Miami Open ends with a tough 7-6, 5-7, 6-3 loss to World No.
04:024 Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.
04:06After impressive wins over World No. 2 Iga Swiatek and No. 5 Madison Keyes, Ayala aimed
04:11to defeat a third consecutive top five opponent.
04:14But she makes costly errors at critical moments, allowing Pegula to set up a title match against
04:19top seed Arena Zabalenka.
04:21Ayala lost a big lead in the first set and struggled with her signature forehand in the
04:26final set, allowing 31-year-old Pegula to reach her first Miami Open singles final.
04:32The Filipina teen made 59 unforced errors, six of which came in the last two games as
04:37she ran out of energy after a strong comeback in the second set.
04:41Despite the loss, Ayala makes history as the first Filipino tennis player to reach the
04:45final four of the WTA 1000 event.
04:49Ayala climbed to rank 75 from World No. 140 after beating World No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko,
04:562025 Australian Open champion Madison Keyes, and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek.
05:03And that's today's wrap.
05:04I'm Michelle Abad, thank you for watching.
05:06Click the link below for the full story.
05:08Follow us on Rappler's YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.