INQToday: Raffy Tulfo overtakes Padilla in Octa’s 2028 Senate survey

Inquirer.net - Oct 19, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Here are INQToday’s top stories this afternoon: Gasoline prices are set to drop by P4.30 per liter on Tuesday, while diesel prices will increase by P2.60 per liter; the Department of Foreign Affairs says no Filipinos have been reported harmed in protests in France and Italy; and Sen. Raffy Tulfo has overtaken

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P4.3M in smuggled cigarettes seized in Negros Occidental

Oct 19, 2026

P4.3M in smuggled cigarettes seized in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY— Police and other law enforcement agencies seized P4.35 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes and arrested two men during an operation in Barangay Balicotoc, Ilog, Negros Occidental, on Sunday. The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) identified the suspects on Monday only by their aliases, “Mak,” 44, and “Mar,” 24, both residents of

Typhoon Champi maintains strength ahead of expected entry in PAR

Oct 19, 2026

Typhoon Champi maintains strength ahead of expected entry in PAR

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Champi, which is monitored outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), maintained its strength on Monday morning ahead of its expected entry into the country, according to the state weather bureau.  In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Champi was last

Suspect in Lanao del Norte attacks dies after truck hits him

Oct 19, 2026

Suspect in Lanao del Norte attacks dies after truck hits him

ILIGAN CITY — A man suspected of killing a woman and wounding three others in separate incidents in Lala, Lanao del Norte, died after he was allegedly hit by a truck while crossing a road, police said. A police report identified the suspect as Mario Polinar, married, a resident of Purok 4A, Barangay Cabasagan in

DOLE suspends 6 Atienza shipping vessels after MV June Aster tragedy

Oct 19, 2026

DOLE suspends 6 Atienza shipping vessels after MV June Aster tragedy

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) suspended the operations of six vessels of Atienza Interisland Ferries in relation to the fatal fire incident of MV June Aster, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said on Monday.  Based on the documents shared to media on Monday, the work stoppage order dated October 12 was

Lotte World Aquarium offers up-close look at capybara, otter behavior

Oct 19, 2026

Lotte World Aquarium offers up-close look at capybara, otter behavior

Lotte World Aquarium in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul, has launched a series of tailored behavioral enrichment programs for its capybaras and Asian small-clawed otters, giving visitors an up-close view of the animals' natural instincts and playful routines. Timed to celebrate World Animal Day — an annual global event observed on Oct. 4 to advocate for animal welfare and foster deeper bonds between humans and nature — the special activities took place on Oct. 2 and Friday inside the aquarium's main animal habitats. Designed around the unique biological traits and natural habits of each species, the initiative introduced fresh environmental stimuli to encourage problem-solving and curiosity. For the capybaras, aquarists constructed scarecrow-shaped toys woven from hay and packed with seasonal autumn treats. The novel objects prompted the world's largest rodents to forage, inspect and interact with their food in ways that mimic wild behaviors. Meanwhile, the nimble Asian small-clawed otters received tactile enrichment setups featuring autumn pine cones, chestnuts and various text

Jeju's haenyeo bring lifetime of diving stories to comedy stage

Oct 19, 2026

Jeju's haenyeo bring lifetime of diving stories to comedy stage

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — “Dragon King!” chanted three haenyeo standing shoulder to shoulder on stage, with long ceremonial sleeves dangling from their arms. Their mission: to advise a child in the audience who did not want to study. Taking turns, they pieced together an impromptu answer as laughter filled the community center in Youngrak-ri, part of Jeju's southern city of Seogwipo on Oct. 14. Presented by Jeju Comedy Club with support from the Jeju Foundation for Arts and Culture, “Utseum Geolgung: Land Folk vs. Sea Folk” turned five haenyeo from the village into comedians for the night. From an 88-year-old veteran to younger divers, the haenyeo took the stage as performers before an audience of around 100 people, including neighbors and overseas visitors. Behind the stage hung an enlarged photograph of the village’s "bulteok," the rocky seaside gathering place where haenyeo, Jeju’s women divers, traditionally warmed themselves and rested after work. Hard lives, enduring humor The idea for the comedy show came from haenyeo Choi Jung-yoon, a former standup comedian and one of

Chief of national museum apologizes over wrongful attribution of item on display

Oct 19, 2026

Chief of national museum apologizes over wrongful attribution of item on display

The director of the National Museum of Korea issued a formal apology Monday after a calligraphic work from his private collection was found to have been wrongfully attributed and put on display at the museum. Speaking during an annual parliamentary audit of the museum, You Hong-june bowed his head twice and described the incident as a "grave mistake and oversight." "The deep trust the public has placed in the museum and the value built through the hard work of museum staff have collapsed in an instant due to my grave oversight," You told lawmakers, adding that no academic explanation could serve as an excuse for the public's disappointment. You also apologized to the late Korean independence activist to whom the calligraphy was wrongly attributed and his bereaved family over the verification error. The controversy began in August over a calligraphic work titled "Ilbansigukeun," meaning "even a single bowl of rice is the grace of the nation," which was featured in the museum's ongoing special exhibition, "Our Dining Table." The piece was initially introduced as the work of Korean independe

Seoul-themed goods turn city pride into revenues for small businesses

Oct 19, 2026

Seoul-themed goods turn city pride into revenues for small businesses

Seoul’s landmarks, colors and cultural identity are becoming selling points for small businesses, with city-backed merchandise generating more than 114 million won ($84,000) in sales in the first half of 2026. Seoul Design Foundation said Monday that 90 small businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises selected through its first Seoul Brand Goods Commercialization Contest recorded combined sales of 114.74 million won from February through June. The initiative helps businesses incorporate Seoul’s city branding and landmarks, including the “Seoul, My Soul” identity and Dongdaemun Design Plaza, into products, while offering opportunities to reach customers through retail stores and pop-up shops. Twenty-seven participating businesses, including magnet maker Magumagu and bag brand Ashe, generated 13.76 million won in sales during a three-week pop-up at DDP Design Store, the foundation said. Interest in the program has continued to grow, with 155 businesses submitting 237 product proposals for the second contest, held from Aug. 24 to Sept. 20, according to the foundation. A total

400-meter chicken feast planned on Jamsu Bridge to mark end of vehicle traffic

Oct 19, 2026

400-meter chicken feast planned on Jamsu Bridge to mark end of vehicle traffic

Imagine a yellow dining table stretching 400 meters across the Han River, laden with crispy, golden-fried chicken and packed with 2,000 enthusiastic foodies. That is precisely how Seoul plans to say goodbye to cars on Jamsu Bridge this weekend. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday that it will host "Jamsu Bridge Chicken Day" Sunday from 2 pm to 10 pm, bringing down the curtain on this season's popular car-free festival. The mouthwatering event serves as a grand finale for the 50-year-old lower deck of Banpo Bridge before it permanently closes to vehicular traffic on Oct. 26 to begin its transformation into a dedicated pedestrian park. In Seoul, few culinary pairings are as sacred as "chimaek" — crispy Korean fried chicken paired with cold beer — enjoyed alfresco along the riverbanks. The city is taking that beloved picnic tradition to unprecedented heights. The centerpiece of the festival is a massive, bright-yellow "Chicken Table" capable of seating 1,000 diners at once. Two 90-minute feast sessions — scheduled for 4 pm and 6 pm — will accommodate a total of 2,000 luck

[PHOTO] Visit Yeoncheon's charms

Oct 19, 2026

[PHOTO] Visit Yeoncheon's charms

Foreign tourists participate in the Demilitarized Zone tour program organized by Grand Korea Leisure (GKL), the operator of the foreigner-only casino Seven Luck in Seoul, in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday. GKL organized the tour in collaboration with Yeoncheon to support the county's drive to attract more foreign tourists. The participants visited Taepoong military observatory and Jaein Waterfalls during the tour. Courtesy of GKL

Seoul to turn Han River campsites into open-air feast for 2026 Barbecue Festival

Oct 19, 2026

Seoul to turn Han River campsites into open-air feast for 2026 Barbecue Festival

Seoul is turning an autumn weekend along the Han River into a sprawling culinary festival, bringing together celebrity chefs, premium charcoal-grilled meats and live entertainment for the 2026 Seoul Barbecue Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Set against the scenic backdrop of Nanji Camping Ground in Mapo District, the two-day event blends urban camping culture with authentic Korean barbecue, showcasing the capital’s vibrant gastronomy to both local residents and international visitors. The festival’s centerpiece — a gear-free, self-service barbecue zone — allows attendees to purchase fresh, high-grade domestic beef and pork to grill on-site without hauling their own equipment. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, demand for the experience has been overwhelming: Advance online table reservations sold out instantly, with the first booking window filling in just five minutes and the second in two. For those who missed out, a limited number of tables will be made available for walk-in registration during the festival. For festivalgoers seeking curated dishes, the BBQ Villa

As foreign tourists crowd Seoul's nat'l museums, regional venues struggle to keep pace

Oct 19, 2026

As foreign tourists crowd Seoul's nat'l museums, regional venues struggle to keep pace

Foreign visitors to Korea’s national museums are heavily concentrated at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, data showed. Regional museums are falling behind in attracting overseas tourists as their budgets shrink. The National Museum of Korea submitted the data on Friday to Rep. Kim Seung-soo of the main opposition People Power Party for the annual parliamentary audit. It shows 411,964 foreigners visited national museums this year as of August. Of them, 291,460, or 70.7 percent, visited the National Museum of Korea. The 13 regional national museums drew 120,504, or 29.3 percent. The gap was also wide among the regional museums. Gyeongju National Museum drew 75,089 foreign visitors. Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935). Jeju National Museum, on the resort island of Jeju, drew 19,172. Together, the two accounted for about 78.2 percent of foreign visitors to regional museums. By contrast, Gwangju National Museum drew 1,651, Daegu National Museum 1,383 and Naju National Museum 641. Budgets showed a similar imbalance. The 13 regional museums’ combine

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