FORTY years ago this week, National Geographic screened a documentary entitled The Last Tribes of Mindanao.

THE Philippine Congress proclaimed Benigno Aquino III the country’s new president yesterday amid high hopes he will fulfil his campaign promise to eliminate corruption and poverty and restore trust in government.

Benigno Aquino III is today preparing to become the next Philippines president based on an almost-complete vote count in landmark elections.

The son of Corazon Aquino had a wide lead in the Philippines’ presidential elections today after campaigning on a promise to restore the government’s credibility by prosecuting corrupt officials.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved the lifting today of a week-long period of martial law in a southern Philippine province where 57 people were massacred last month in the country’s worst political violence.

Eight hundred pairs of shoes donated by former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos were rescued from floods that devastated the country.

THOUSANDS of mourners paid their last respects to former Philippine president Corazon Aquino yesterday, lining up to file past her coffin in silent tribute to the “People Power” democracy leader.

Military honour guards carried former President Corazon Aquino’s flag-draped casket to a school gym today for public viewing, as Filipinos mourned the democracy icon who swept away a dictator and fought off seven coup attempts.

Former Philippines President Corazon Aquino, who swept away a dictator with a “people power” revolt and sustained democracy by fighting off seven coup attempts in six years, died today, her son said. She was 76.

Former Phillipine president Corazon Aquino, who swept away a dictator and then sustained democracy by fighting off seven coup attempts in six years, has died, her family said tonight. She was 76.

Thousands of Filipinos led by left-wing and church groups turned out for a rally in Manila today to protest against moves to rewrite the constitution, which they say is a ploy to prolong the president’s stay in power.

Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino has colon cancer, her daughter said today.

A Philippine court today acquitted the flamboyant widow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos of 32 counts of illegally transferring wealth abroad during her husband's 20-year rule.

Roman Catholic bishops marked Easter Sunday with an unprecedented message to President Robert Mugabe to end oppression and leave office through democratic reform or face a mass revolt.

Philippine police have detained a left-wing politician so he can face 22-year-old murder charges, despite a judge’s order delaying a transfer until the Supreme Court rules on his arrest.

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced she had quashed a coup plot today and declared a state of emergency, gambling that the backlash wouldn’t leave her crippled.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of emergency in the Philippines today as she struggled with a reported coup plot and a possible repeat of the popular revolts that ousted two of her predecessors.

The Philippine military has crippled a suspected coup plot by identifying and investigating 14 officers who were allegedly involved, the army chief said today.

Bono says he is the "Imelda Marcos of sunglasses" and claims he wears shades most of the time in public because he has "very sensitive eyes to light".

Representatives of Christie’s auction house today began appraising jewellery seized from the widow of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos for auction in Europe as early as November.

A third of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Cabinet quit en masse today and urged the Philippine leader to step down, saying she has been crippled by an election scandal and has lost the ability to lead.

LEADERS of one of the Philippines' most prominent universities yesterday urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign over elections fraud allegations and hand over power to her vice-president, but rejected any attempt to remove her by force.

Thousands of Filipinos bid farewell today to the late Roman Catholic Cardinal Jaime Sin, a beloved spiritual leader who helped rally his nation to hold massive pro-democracy protests that ousted two presidents.

Pope John Paul II, who died today aged 84, will be remembered as one of the greatest communicators and most influential figures of modern times.

Security forces in the Philippines were on red alert today as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared she had a new mandate to govern after the final election tally showed her winning by 1.1m votes.

Imelda Marcos has been banned from attending the funeral of former US President Ronald Reagan by a Philippine court.

A new “people power” revolt will erupt in the Philippines if movie star Fernando Poe Jr loses the presidential election through fraud, his party warned today – fighting words in a nation where popular protests have knocked two leaders out of office.

TEARFUL, lame, but unbowed, Imelda Marcos said yesterday that she loved her country and would never run away, as government lawyers tried to have the former first lady arrested for returning late from a foreign trip.

CARDINAL JAIME SIN, an outspoken cleric who helped topple Philippine leaders, but alienated some of the faithful with frequent forays into politics, is retiring at 75 with the Vatican's blessing.

Hundreds of troops who stormed a downtown shopping and apartment complex today demanding the government resign later ended a 19-hour stand-off and returned to barracks without a shot fired.

THE biggest statue that late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos built to immortalise himself was blown up yesterday.

The Philippines' main anti-corruption court has issued an arrest warrant for former first lady Imelda Marcos.

Manila residents awoke under a ‘‘state of rebellion’’ today, more stunned than reassured after Philippines police quelled riots that left at least six dead.

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a ‘‘state of rebellion’’ today after security forces firing warning shots, tear gas and water cannons clashed with stone-throwing backers of ousted leader Joseph Estrada.

Joseph Estrada has quit as President of the Philippines with Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo being quickly sworn in.

Four tanks have reportedly entered the Philippine presidential palace as fears of a coup grip the country.