SOCAR head meets #Kenyan President William Ruto to discuss -
https://kensbookinfo.blogspot.com/p/etc-varied.html#2

#Philippines swears in senators for VP Duterte's impeachment -
https://kensbookinfo.blogspot.com/p/cities.html#64a

#Defense Department Delays #Texas Wind Projects, Citing -
https://kensbookinfo.blogspot.com/p/business.html#55

Aqaba Container Terminal welcomes new #CEO Jose Rue -
https://kensbookinfo.blogspot.com/p/etc.html#Jordan

#Iran calls for reconstruction support at #World Urban -
https://kensbookinfo.blogspot.com/p/etc-continents.html#Arab

View all the latest breaking news https://kensbookinfo.blogspot.com/2026/03/latest-breaking-news.html

I had ascended about 6m off the reef to get closer to the school of barracuda, when the shark showed up, perhaps curious about the weirdo flailing about in the water column.

Malapascua, #Philippines. Split-toned in #darktable

📍 86 km ESE of Pondaguitan, Philippines
🕐 Mon 18 May 2026 18:06 UTC
🌍 M4.5 Earthquake 🟢 Light
📊 Magnitude: 4.5
📏 Depth: 54.2 km — Shallow
🗺️ 6.079, 126.9025

🔗 https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000sykj

#Earthquake #Seismic #EarthAlerts #DisasterAlert #BreakingNews #Environment #Nature #Science #Survival #Pondaguitan #Philippines

Before 11AM on the weekend, Nemo preferred not to be found.

Malapascua, #Philippines

LGBTQIA+ children, girls more vulnerable to sexual abuse
Online risks become more complex with the proliferation of artificial intelligence, deepfakes, grooming, and the misuse of children’s images.
The post LGBTQIA+ children, girls more vulnerable to sexual abuse appeared first on Bulatlat.
https://www.bulatlat.com/2026/05/18/lgbtqia-children-girls-more-vulnerable-to-sexual-abuse/

#bulatlat #philippines #Children #GenderRightsInclusivity #ChildsexualexploitationmaterialCSEM

Pickup Coffee Targets Around 800 Stores By The End Of 2026

Pickup Coffee, the popular homegrown coffee chain, is aiming to have around eight hundred stores by the end of 2026, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Pickup Coffee first opened in 2022 and it now has roughly five hundred branches. It continues to attract customers who love coffee.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Banking on Filipinos’ love for coffee along with more affordable offerings, an official of grab-and-go coffee chain Pickup Coffee expressed confidence for continued expansion amidst the current economic challenges.

To date, the brand has around 500 coffee kiosks around the country, mostly in Metro Manila, and about a hundred stores in Mexico City.

The goal is to have around 800 stores by end-2026, Diego Lorenzo, Pickup Coffee chief executive officer and cofounder said in an interview Tuesday night.

The company is now open to franchising, with an initial investment of PHP2 million for the coffee truck’s stock, equipment and construction.

Lorenzo said they plan to open as many as 200 more company-owned stores nationwide this year, with the focus on Northern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

He said they cater to people from all walks of life, from those who can afford high-end brands but are open to cheaper options with quality offerings, to those in the C and D levels.

“The more accessible you are, the faster you will grow,” he said.

The brand has received capital from venture capitalists and Lorenzo said this is a sign of the brand’s potential to post stronger growth going forward.

Rami Chahwan, president of Pickup Coffee, said franchising will complement the existing branches, citing lessons learned over the last 48 months.

He said they have piloted 10 franchise stores over the last three months to ensure they can efficiently cater to more units once this bid is in full bloom.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the quality of drinks and services of Pickup Coffee will be well maintained as the franchising of their business happens? Do you think Pickup Coffee will be able to grow even as the economy of the Philippines slows down? Do you think only a recession would stop Pickup Coffee’s growth? If you consumed coffee from Pickup Coffee, what can you say about the taste and quality of what was served to you?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

#LinkedIn anno 2026 -> https://lnk.yeri.be/vQMjk

#AI #Filipino #virtualassistant #VA #Philippines