Gil Cabacungan

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE (FLASHBACK: Originally posted 03:41 AM June 11, 2016, Philippine Daily Inquirer) ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. is in a bind after failing to have its legislative franchise approved before the 16th Congress closed shop on June 6.

President Benigno Aquino plans to have something especially “hot” this Christmas. Before anyone gets the idea that the country’s most eligible bachelor—who has had no steady date since his last reported squeeze, Manila-based Korean television host Grace Lee—is thinking of someone special, Mr. Aquino is quick to knock such ideas down. What he actually has in mind is a popular local dish—arroz caldo (rice porridge with chicken broth).

Political ad spending is expected to hit P2 billion in this year’s midterm elections, with television networks hoping to continue to  corner the bulk of the campaign pesos despite moves by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to curb politicians’ commercials on the boob tube.