NewsCentral Express

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MARCH AND APRIL LONG WEEKENDS Filipinos can look forward to long weekends this March and April with the observance of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and the upcoming Holy Week holidays. #LongWeekend #EidAlFitr #HolyWeek #NewsCentral

Megawide Construction Corp. ended 2025 with a ₱50-billion order book, up 15%, boosting revenue visibility over the next 3-4 years. Growth is fueled by residential projects and socialized housing under the government’s 4PH program. #Megawide #ConstructionPH #BusinessNews

The Albay government has canceled this year’s Magayon Festival as part of austerity measures, citing global tensions and rising fuel costs. Funds will be redirected to priority programs and essential services. #MagayonFestival #Albay #Bicol #NewsCentral

Historical Filipino films like Heneral Luna, Goyo, and Quezon will be screened again in SM Cinema branches from March 25 to 31, giving audiences another chance to watch the Bayaniverse series on the big screen. #Bayaniverse #SMCinema #PHHistory #NewsCentral

Here’s the exchange rate of the Philippine peso converted to US dollar as of Thursday, March 19, 2026. #ForeignExchangeRate #MoneyRate #NewsCentral

PISTON and BAYAN launched protests on March 19. They gathered at Welcome Rotonda, calling for fuel tax cuts, price rollbacks, fare hikes for PUVs, and wage and subsidy support amid rising oil costs. #TransportStrike #PISTON #OilPriceHike #LaborPH #NewsCentral

Vehicle sales in the Philippines dropped 8.5% in February to over 37,000 units, as rising fuel costs and cautious spending weighed on demand. #AutoSales #BusinessNews #Philippines #NewsCentral

Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala falls to No. 50 after 380 Miami Open points expired. She needs another deep run to climb back into the Top 30. #AlexEala #TennisPH #SportsUpdate

All passengers can avail of a 50% fare discount on MRT-3 and LRT-2 beginning March 23, aimed at easing transportation costs. Talks are ongoing to extend the reduced fares to LRT-1. #MRT3 #LRT2 #TransportPH #NewsCentral

GOV’T ROLLS OUT FREE RIDES AMID TRANSPORT STRIKE Free government bus rides are available on March 19 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to help commuters affected by the transport strike, covering key routes in Metro Manila. #transportstrike #librengsakay #commutersPH #newscentral

American pop band LANY is set to return to the Philippines as part of its “Soft World Tour” across Asia and Australia later this year. Tour include Manila, Cebu and Davao, marking another major comeback for the band in the country. #NewsCentral #LANY #SoftWorldTour #ConcertPH

The PNP reported a 7.2 percent decrease in the crime rate from January to March 2026 compared to the same period last year, highlighting improvements in public safety across key categories of crime and intensified police operations. #PNP #CrimeRatePH #PublicSafety #NewsCentral

A newly launched food and wine festival in Northern Mindanao is showcasing the region’s rich culinary heritage and local flavors to celebrate homegrown cuisines, unique ingredients, and tourism offerings. #FoodFestivalPH #NorthernMindanao #CulinaryTourism #TravelPH #NewsCentral

The Gilas Pilipinas Women closed their FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifiers campaign on a high note after defeating Colombia, 74–59, marking their lone victory in the tournament. #NewsCentral #GilasWomen #BasketballPH #FIBA #SportsNews

The improved sentiment followed recent volatility tied to geopolitical tensions, with traders taking advantage of lower valuations as concerns over fuel costs began to soften. #NewsCentral #StockMarketPH #PSEi #BusinessNews #OilPrices

SB19 MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST FILIPINO ACT AT LOLLAPALOOZA SB19 is set to make history after joining the lineup of Lollapalooza 2026, becoming the first Filipino act to perform at the global music festival. #NewsCentral #SB19 #Ppop #Lollapalooza #OPM

Apex Mining Co. Inc. posted stronger 2025 earnings, driven by higher gold and silver prices that boosted revenues and offset rising costs. The company cites sustained demand for precious metals supporting growth. #ApexMining #MiningPH #BusinessNews

The New York Knicks rallied from a 21-point deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors 110–107 at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson led New York with 30 points and 9 assists, sealing a resilient comeback win. #NewsCentralExpress #NBA #Knicks #Warriors

The Philippine National Police has intensified monitoring of gasoline stations that reportedly stopped operations as fuel prices continue to rise. Authorities warned that sudden closures could be linked to possible hoarding or price manipulation. #FuelPrices #PNP #GasStations

PESO EXCHANGE RATE AT ₱59.55 Here’s the closing exchange rate of the Philippine peso converted to US dollar as of Monday, March 16, 2026.