A FILIPINO woman died when her basement flat was submerged in up to 3m of water.

Residents in Manila waded through waist-deep floodwater, dodging branches and flying debris today as a powerful typhoon sent surging waves as tall as palm trees crashing over seawalls and submerging entire areas of the Philippines capital.

Typhoon Nanmadol began blowing toward Taiwan today after leaving at least 10 people dead and scuttling a visit by a US Navy carrier group in the Philippines, officials said.

CATHOLICS worldwide celebrated the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II, with the faithful jamming into churches to pray and witness on giant television screens the Vatican ceremony that brought him one step closer to possible sainthood.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was taken to hospital today after reporting abdominal pain while attending a birthday party for her husband, officials said.

More than a thousand people have taken part in a protest against George Bush's visit to the Philippines.

A BOMB ripped through a bus in suburban Manila yesterday, killing at least three people and injuring 23 others.

Lawyers for ousted Philippine president Joseph Estrada say they will not attend the opening of his trial and have also advised him not to go.

The authorities in the Philippines are considering taking criminal charges against the owner of a hotel in Manila where 72 people died in a fire yesterday morning.

Fire swept through a six-storey budget hotel in the Philiipines before dawn today, killing at least 70 people and injuring 54 others as anti-burglar bars on the windows blocked escape from deadly smoke, officials said.

At least 75 people have died in a fire at a hotel in the Philippine capital, Manila, last night.

At least 40 people have been injured in an explosion at a Manila shopping mall.

Two police officers have been arrested in relation to the beheading of three young men in the Philippines.