Context Dispatch

A moderately explosive eruption occurred at Kanlaon Volcano early Tuesday, sending a 4.5-kilometer-high ash plume southwest and triggering pyroclastic materials down its southern slopes, PhilVolcs reported. Audible rumbling and light ashfall were reported in nearby towns, while ballistic fragments ignited vegetation near the summit. The eruption lasted five minutes, with thermal and visual monitoring confirming localized impacts. With Alert Level 3 still in effect, magmatic unrest continues, raising the risk of further short-lived eruptions that could pose serious hazards to communities within the danger zone. Damage caused by this latest Kanloan eruption has yet to be reporter.

Tens of millions of Filipinos are expected to cast their votes today, May 12, in midterm elections that will fill 18,280 national and local posts—including 12 Senate seats that could reshape the political landscape for Vice President Sara Duterte and her critics; VP Sara faces impeachment charges before the Senate.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya on Friday delivered a compelling lecture at Ateneo de Manila University as part of its “EmbLEM: Embassy Lectures, Encounters, and Masterclasses” series, reinforcing the strong and evolving bilateral ties between Japan and the Philippines.

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.