Faces of the News: May 4, 2025
Shigeru Ishiba
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was in Manila earlier this week and met with President Marcos during a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening defense and economic relations between Manila and Tokyo.
The two leaders mainly discussed shared security concerns in the regions, particularly China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Emphasis was thus given to boosting strategic partnerships and expanding the historic Reciprocal Access Agreement, which facilitates joint military training and disaster response efforts between the two nations. Ishiba and Marcos also announced plans to negotiate two new defense pacts: the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, which enhances the flow of logistical support during joint trainings, and a defense information-sharing agreement.
Ishiba’s visit also opened explorations for further economic and trade cooperation, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development, renewable energy projects and supply chain resilience. —MELVIN GASCON
Angelo Becciu
As the College of Cardinals prepared for the May 7 conclave to elect the successor of the late Pope Francis, another drama—a subplot, as it were—was unfolding. Cardinal Angelo Becciu was fired by the Pope as head of the Vatican’s saint-making office in 2020 and convicted in 2023 by the Vatican criminal court on charges of financial mismanagement. But as the next conclave drew near, he asserted his right to still participate following the death of Francis on April 21.
However, Becciu later backed out after being shown letters from Francis, written before his death, saying he couldn’t take part. The College of Cardinals later thanked Becciu for contributing to “the serenity of the conclave.” Becciu had denied any wrongdoing and appealed his conviction in the alleged embezzlement of tens of millions of euros in the Holy See’s 350-million-euro investment in a luxury London property.
Becciu, 76, was once a leading papal contender. He served as a Vatican diplomat in some countries and later as “substitute” in the Vatican secretariat of state before heading the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 2018.
Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump won a second term on the promise of tackling illegal immigration, eradicating the “woke” agenda and fixing the economy with a focus on the country’s $36 billion debt. Thus, the first 100 days of Trump 2.0 were marked by aggressive executive actions.
In that period, he signed over 140 executive orders, mostly targeting immigration, education, and environmental regulations. He brought back the “Remain in Mexico” policy, shut the southern border and initiated mass deportations. Domestically, he dismantled diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, curtailed transgender rights and sought to defund institutions not aligned with his “America First” agenda. To correct trade imbalance, Trump instituted tariff policies that shook the globe and led to a “transitional” 0.3-percent gross domestic product contraction.
His popularity fell, with a Fox News poll indicating a 44-percent approval and 55-percent disapproval rating that ran along political lines. Still, Trump and his allies touted successes in border security and energy deregulation, with Vice President JD Vance framing them as steps toward a “golden age.”
Gwendolyn Garcia
The Cebu provincial governor was ordered suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for six months without pay just two weeks before the May 12 polls. The antigraft body on April 29 said the order was meant to pave the way for an investigation into the permit Gwendolyn Garcia granted to a construction company that had no environment clearance to conduct desilting works on the Mananga River in 2024.
Unfazed, Garcia announced on April 30 that she would not step down while awaiting clarification from Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on the matter. Garcia and her lawyers cited a provision of the Local Government Code that bars the preventive suspension of officials within 90 days before the election.
Doing so without prior Comelec approval is an election offense. Garcia also defended the special desilting permit she issued, saying it was prompted by a critical water shortage at the time. The shortage, she recalled, severely affected the entire franchise area of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District which includes Cebu City and seven other local governments. —NESTLE SEMILLA-DAKAY
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards spent the aftermath of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ mastery of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs walking around the streets of Tinseltown gloating and trolling, and for good reason.
Edwards, among the league’s most colorful personalities, had the last laugh as the Timberwolves sent off LeBron James, Luka Doncic and the Lakers into an early vacation with a 4-1 series victory after taking the clincher in Game 5, 103-96, on April 30 at Crypto Arena. There was always an expectation that the Lakers would still come out victorious despite the Timberwolves winning the series opener and breaking a 1-1 tie by taking two games at home in Minneapolis.
But Edwards also led the way with help from veterans Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle to set up a Western Conference semifinal series against either the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets. Edwards had 15 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals for a series average of 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.2 steals. —JONAS TERRADO
