Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo ordained the new deacon yesterday in the cathedral. The latter is the oldest seminarian in the apostolic vicariate. After a first stint as a seminarian, he married and had three children. After his wife's death, he felt the call of the altar again and will soon be a priest.
From 19 January, the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam will decide the country's leadership until 2031. General Secretary To Lam arrives at the event on the back of strong economic results achieved in 2025, so further centralisation of power is expected after the anti-corruption campaign that eliminated several political opponents. But the Party has several options available to make the country's administration more efficient.
More than 10 people died and more than 20 are missing following a collapse at Cebu City's main landfill. The authorities blamed the disaster to heavy rains, but locals had been reporting irregularities and environmental violations for years. For Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, this is not simple misfortune, but rather the result of poor education, training, and awareness about waste disposal.
The second phase of the general elections promoted by Myanmar's military junta took place on 11 January. Voting also reached disputed areas and conflict zones, where the military threatened civilians and made accusations of coercion. According to the United Nations and independent observers, the process lacks democratic credibility and represents an attempt to gain international legitimacy for a regime that continues to rule by force.
The case of alleged genocide by Myanmar’s military against the Rohingya in 2017 has opened at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The case, initiated by Gambia, comes after years of international inertia, in a context currently marked by deep political and military upheavals in Myanmar. The 2021 coup, the ongoing civil war, and shifting alliances on the ground are making the trial increasingly disconnected from current reality.
Between 31 December and 10 January, the rites of the novena and the Traslación, the procession of the venerated statue in the Quiapo district of Manila. It was the longest procession ever, lasting over 30 hours. Devotee tells AsiaNews: ‘The huge crowd strengthens my faith.’ Bishop Rufino Sescon Jr. against corruption: ‘Humble yourselves for the sake of mercy.’
