Fireworks explode over buildings during New Year's celebrations on January 01, 2023 in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)





Filipino Catholic devotees pray as they take part in the Feast of the Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand on January 09, 2023 in Manila, Philippines. The Feast of the Black Nazarene usually culminates in a day long procession on January 9, as millions of barefoot devotees march to see and touch the image of the Black Nazarene. Authorities have decided to cancel the raucous procession for a third straight year as a precaution against COVID-19, and church officials instead held a walk of faith and novena masses on the Feast Day. The Black Nazarene is a dark wood sculpture of Jesus brought to the Philippines in 1606 from Spain and is considered miraculous by Filipino devotees. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)





Catholic devotees rest outside Quiapo Church during the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila January 9, 2023. (Photo by Jam Sta Rosa/AFP Photo)





Filipino Catholic devotees wipe their towels at a replica of the Black Nazarene during the feast day, outside Quiapo Church in Manila, Philippines, January 9, 2023. (Photo by Lisa Marie David/Reuters)





Rappler CEO and Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa gestures after a Manila court acquitted her from a tax evasion case, outside the Court of Tax Appeals in Quezon City, Philippines, January 18, 2023. (Photo by Eloisa Lopez/Reuters)





Filipino-Chinese artist Nicasio Madaraog paints one of his creations of a lion figure to be used in the Chinese traditional dance and performance for the Lunar New Year at his house in Chinatown district of Manila on January 18, 2023, ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit, which falls on January 22. (Photo by Ted Aljibe/AFP Photo)





Pet dogs wearing sunglasses and face mask on board a tricycle are pictured in Chinatown district of Manila on January 20, 2023, ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit which falls on January 22. (Photo by Ted Aljibe/AFP Photo)





A dragon dance group performs in Manila's Chinatown during Chinese Lunar New Year, in Manila, Philippines on January 22, 2023. (Photo by Lisa Marie David/Reuters)





People visit Manila's Chinatown during Chinese Lunar New Year, in Manila, Philippines on January 22, 2023. (Photo by Lisa Marie David/Reuters)





Dragon and Lion performers welcome a Chinese tourist arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. The expected resumption of group tours from China is likely to bring far more visitors. (Photo by Gerard V. Carreon/AP Photo)





Demonstrators burn a mock U.S. flag as they protest against the visit of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin outside Camp Aguinaldo military headquarters in metro Manila, Philippines on Thursday, February 2, 2023. Austin is in the Philippines for talks about deploying U.S. forces and weapons in more Philippine military camps to ramp up deterrence against China's increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)





This aerial photo taken on February 2, 2023 shows the charred houses after a fire at a slum area in Quezon City, the Philippines. Hundreds of families were left homeless after a fire engulfed a slum area in Quezon City Wednesday afternoon, according to the Philippine Bureau of Fire Protection. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency/Rex Features/Shutterstock)





A man on skateboard passes by a road just outside what used to be America's largest overseas naval base at Olongapo city, Zambales province, northwest of Manila, Philippines on Monday February 6, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)





A vintage passenger jeepney passes by a road just outside what used to be America's largest overseas naval base at Olongapo city, Zambales province, northwest of Manila, Philippines on Monday February 6, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)





A bouquet made of onions, tomatoes and garlic is displayed at a flower market in Manila, Philippines on Monday, February 13, 2023. The bouquet is part of a Valentines Day gimmick by a flower store owner who says it is more practical than giving flowers because you can cook it after. She sells the vegetable bouquets from 500 to 1,500 pesos (US$9 to US$27) depending on their choice of onions, ginger, garlic, tomatoes and red or green chilies. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)





Women sell heart-shaped balloons at a flower market in Manila, Philippines on Monday, February 13, 2023. Prices of flowers have increased due to the high demand a day before Valentines Day. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)





A groom checks his bride's dress as they wait for ceremonies to begin at a mass wedding in San Juan city, Manila, Philippines to celebrate Valentines day Tuesday, February 14, 2023. Aside from the cash gift and free wedding reception for their guests, the city mayor also promised the 63 couples free hospital services upon giving birth in San Juan. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)





Volunteer Phoenix Unique plays with rescued chicken, Mingming, during a Valentine's Day date, at the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Shelter in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on February 14, 2023. (Photo by Lisa Marie David/Reuters)





Filipino couples take part in a mass wedding to celebrate Valentine's Day at Paco Park on February 14, 2023 in Manila, Philippines. 175 couples tied the knot during a mass wedding officiated by the Manila government as part of the city's Valentine's Day celebrations. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)