Good morning. If you’re a cat lover, you’re in for a treat as it’s officially National Hug your Cat Day. If you think cats are weird, they probably think the same about you.

Stocks

Stocks: The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) continued to show strength on Tuesday, driven by positive economic indicators and investor optimism. This upward movement was supported by favorable inflation and employment data, which bolstered market confidence. Additionally, strong performance in the U.S. markets, influenced by robust corporate earnings and anticipation of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut, further boosted sentiment. Meanwhile, Plug Power saw a significant surge following the U.S. Energy Department's approval of a substantial loan to fund its clean hydrogen projects. Investors are closely monitoring these developments as they navigate the evolving economic landscape.

Local News

Pogo No-Go: Mayor Guo’s Suspension Drama

by Tobias Bautista

Alice Guo might struggle with saying "aral" and definitely won't nail "araw araw," but she’s got bigger problems than tongue twisters right now. The mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, has been suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman, along with two other town officials, due to some serious allegations.

The Ombudsman’s order from May 31 stated there are “sufficient grounds” to suspend Guo, Municipal Business Permits and Licensing officer Edwin Ocampo, and Municipal Legal Officer Adenn Sigua. They’re on unpaid leave while the investigation rolls on, but don’t worry, their suspension can't exceed six months.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) filed charges of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty against them, accusing them of letting illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) operate in Bamban.

Undersecretary Juan Victor Llamas of the DILG spearheaded the case. According to the DILG, Guo didn’t cancel the business permits of these Pogos due to her own business interests. Allegedly, she’s tied to Baofu Land Development Inc., where these operations were based. One of Baofu’s incorporators / stakeholders was convicted last month of the “largest money laundering case in Singapore.”

Guo claims she sold her stake in Baofu, but the DILG isn’t buying it. They argue the sale price doesn’t match the value of her investment. Adding to the drama, a Senate panel is also looking into whether Guo might be a Chinese "asset" or spy.

Stay tuned as this political soap opera unfolds!

👂 Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Drops by Manila

By Tobias Bautista

In a move straight out of a spy thriller, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an unannounced pit stop in the Philippines on Monday. His mission? To rally regional leaders to a Swiss-organized global peace summit on the Ukraine war, which he claims Russia and China are trying to derail.

Zelenskyy landed in Manila under heavy security, following his speech at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore. Greeted with military honors, he met with President Marcos, who seemed to hint at attending the summit – though it's unclear if he’ll be there in person or via Zoom.

“We’re happy to participate in peace efforts,” Marcos said. But his office kept mum on the details.

In a diplomatic twist, Ukraine plans to open an embassy in Manila, a move Marcos welcomed for fostering closer ties and more aid for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy and Marcos didn’t hold back on China at the forum, criticizing its role in regional tensions and the Ukraine conflict. Zelenskyy accused China of helping Russia sabotage the peace summit by pressuring leaders to skip the event.

Meanwhile, the US continues to back Ukraine, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirming support and warning of the global dangers posed by Putin's war.

Marcos also addressed rising tensions with China over the South China Sea, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution but warning that any Filipino casualties could escalate the situation to a near-act of war.

As Zelenskyy’s Asian tour unfolds, all eyes are on the upcoming peace summit and whether regional leaders will rally behind Ukraine’s call for a “sustainable and just peace.”

Sports

🤼‍♂️ Like his mentor! Islam Makhachev submits Dustin Poirier to retain his UFC Lightweight title

By Koby del Rosario

The main event of UFC 302 was the Lightweight Championship fight between the defending Islam Makhachev and the challenger Dustin Porier, where Makhachev came out on top via a D'Arce choke submission at the 2:18 mark of the final round to stay as the reigning champion of the lightweight division.

This was the Russian native’s third successful title defense, which has put him on a deadlock with the likes of legends such as B.J. Penn, Frankie Edgar, Benson Henderson, and even his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, for the most in lightweight division history. But, he has passed Khabib’s historic 13-fight win streak. Wow. 

Makhachev’s UFC record now stands at 26 wins, a loss, and no draws while Poirier’s is now at 30 wins, nine losses, with no draws as well.

For the veteran Poirier, however, he revealed in the post-fight interview that he is reflecting on stepping away from the sport to focus on his family. 

Whatever the case is for Dustin’s career moving forward, it’s surely been one heck of a story for the Diamond. For Islam, though, there’s definitely more to come for his already illustrious career as he looks to cement his place along with the GOAT’s such as Nurmagomedov.

Check out the rest of the results of an action-packed UFC 302 on its official website.

News Roundup

• Claudia Sheinbaum to be Mexico’s first woman president

• Gas prices down, diesel prices up this week

• Phil-Jap Yuka Saso wins another US-Women’s Open

• Kristaps Porzingis is set to return for the Boston Celtics this coming NBA Finals. Game 1 is this Friday at 8:30 AM Philippine time!

Comment

Do you have a comment or wanna engage with other subscribers? View this post online and scroll to the bottom!

Games

🎯 Fun Brain Teasers

• Wordle: guess the random five letter word

• Connections: match four words of the same category

• Strands: word search but it depends on the category

Referral

Enjoying Araw Araw? Share the sunshine by sending out the link below! Rewards for referrals coming soon 👀

Feedback

Got feedback/concerns with Araw Araw? Help us make your days brighter ☀ by sending us feedback through the form below!

Feedback form here: https://forms.gle/nZ8LnDmsLiTWrp3X9