Context Dispatch

A Social Weather Stations poll, commissioned by Stratbase Group, revealed 4Ps and ACT-CIS leading party-list preferences just before elections. Conducted May 2-6 with 1,800 respondents, 4Ps topped with 7.67%, followed by ACT-CIS at 6.63%. Duterte Youth dropped to third with 5.88%, while Solid North Party rose to fourth (3.65%). LPGMA significantly jumped to fifth (3.04%), with Senior Citizens (2.69%), Ako Bicol (2.44%), Tingog (2.35%), FPJ Panday Bayanihan (2.14%), and Nanay (1.92%) rounding out the top ten.

The Department of Education (DepEd) refuted claims of an "automatic pass" policy, acknowledging that inherited systems might pressure schools to promote students despite learning gaps. Secretary Sonny Angara stressed that promotion should be based on demonstrated learning, not pass rates.

Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, 69, has been elected by the College of Cardinals as the 266th successor to St. Peter—the Bishop of Rome and the new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

In the early hours of Thursday in Manila (9 p.m. Wednesday in Rome), the College of Cardinals cast their first vote to choose the 267th Pope, but black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney signaled no decision yet.

Grab Philippines and motorcycle taxi platform MOVE IT have teamed up with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to roll out #RideToVote, a two-phase campaign combining digital outreach and transport support for Filipino voters.