Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Friday, April 3, 2026.
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READ: Russia says it's ready to help Asean address oil crisis
RUSSIAN Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has assured envoys from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) of Russia’s readiness to help the 11-member regional bloc address their oil crisis triggered by the Middle East war. The Philippine Embassy in Russia shared this information following Lavrov’s recent meeting with Asean envoys led by Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Igor Bailen. Bailen, chairman of the Asean Moscow Committee (AMC), led fellow Asean ambassadors in the annual working luncheon hosted for AMC by Lavrov. The embassy said Lavrov exchanged views with the ambassadors on the developments in the Middle East. He articulated Russia’s position and its efforts to find solutions that may be acceptable to all sides. Lavrov also assured them of Russia’s “readiness to help Asean countries with their immediate energy requirements, including oil,” the embassy posted on Facebook over the weekend.
READ: Poverty among elderly getting worse, ADB study shows
POVERTY among the elderly is getting worse, as many older Filipinos rely on fragile remittances and unpredictable family support, and lack a formal pension, Rights Report Philippines, a nonprofit rights advocate, said. Citing a July 2025 paper published by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Rights Report cited the inadequacies of the Philippine pension system.
READ: Chinese aggressive actions in West Philippine Sea denounced
THE Philippines on Thursday condemned the recent aggressive and dangerous actions by Chinese maritime forces against Philippine vessels, aircraft and Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, saying these incidents “endanger lives, violate international law, and undermine regional peace and stability.” In a statement, the National Maritime Council (NMC) said these “unlawful acts” by the China Coast Guard (CCG), the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the Chinese Maritime Militia and other Chinese maritime forces occurred in areas where the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction. On March 7, the NMC said that a PLAN vessel directed its fire-control radar at BRP Miguel Malvar near Escoda Shoal during a lawful patrol, an act constituting a threat of force.
READ: Good Friday: A day of sacrifice
GOOD Friday marks a day of solemnity as it commemorates the sacrificial crucifixion of Jesus Christ. As mentioned in Hebrews 9:28, “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many.” In his homily, Fr. Rolly dela Cruz, rector of the Manila Cathedral, emphasized how Jesus — despite the pain, betrayal and suffering He endured — chose not to give up. Dela Cruz connected the Old Testament’s depiction of the “suffering servant” in the Book of Isaiah with Jesus Christ, pointing out that Jesus embodies the characteristics of the servant.
BUSINESS: Peso seen breaching P61:$1
THE Philippines’ vulnerability to oil price shocks could see the peso weaken beyond P61 to the dollar if the war in the Middle East persists, the research arm of Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. (MUFG) said. The Philippines’ heavy dependence on imported fuel is a key vulnerability, MUFG noted. The peso has hit several record lows since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on Feb. 28, with three in a row alone beginning last Friday to P60.748:$1 on Tuesday.
SPORTS: Eala wants to meet Pacquiao
FILIPINA tennis sensation Alex Eala has competed across the globe and has met many sports personalities. But the one icon she dreams of meeting is none other than Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. The world No. 45 Eala, who recently reached the round of 16 in the 2026 Miami Open where she bowed to Czech Karolína Muchová, was guest at the Players’ Box Podcast along with fellow netters Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, Jennifer Brady, and Desirae Kwacyzk. When asked whose athlete from a different sport she wanted to meet, Eala did not go far away from home.
Opinion and editorial
Van Ybiernas and Ariane Macalinga Borlongan are today’s front page columnists. Ybiernas talks about delusion and insanity, while Borlongan explains the “Word made flesh”.
Today’s editorial says the fight to shut down drug trafficking is far from over. Read the full version in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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