By Maricel V. Cruz and Ram Superable
LEADERS of the Senate and House of Representatives met with President Marcos yesterday for the first
ecutive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting of the 20th Congress, tackling the administration’s legislative goals amid intense political noise arising from congressional probes on
By Charles Dantes and Rex Espiritu
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines remains stable and loyal to the chain of command and the Constitution, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday said amid growing concerns about corruption in government projects.
Teodoro
Ferdinand
was “valid.” Mr.
The President has full trust in our soldiers, that they will remain steadfast and will follow only what is stated in the Constitution. –
By
By Charles Dantes
MALACAÑANG on Tuesday defended the appointment of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rodolfo Azurin as special adviser to the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), saying his selection was grounded on experience, investigative expertise, and nonpartisan background. Presidential Communications Of-
By Maricel V. Cruz, Ram Superable
THE leadership of the House of Representatives is eyeing to extend for one week its session to make way for the plenary discussions on 2026 national budget, Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III said.
“At the moment, we are going to hold a consultation, so that perhaps we could extend (our sessions) by another week to ensure that our budget for next year would be passed properly,” Dy said in a radio interview.
fice (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally endorsed Azurin to succeed Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who recently resigned from the post. “According to the President, the selection of Gen. Azurin was based on his experience, competence, and investigative skills,” Castro said in a press briefing.
“He is not a politician and has no complications,” she added.
Castro also addressed questions about Azurin’s past controversy, after he was accused, but not charged, of allegedly covering up a 2022 drug haul in Manila. She said the President remained confident in Azurin’s integrity.
“It’s clear that he was not charged. It’s easy to name-drop or point fingers, especially nowadays,” she said. “But it’s different when there’s an actual case filed and a conviction. That’s not the case here,” Castro added.
Azurin, who served as PNP chief from 2022 to 2023, is expected to advise the ICI on ongoing investigations into major infrastructure projects, including those under scrutiny for alleged irregularities and misuse of public funds.
He replaced Magalong after the latter tendered his resignation last week.
RESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. yesterday urged Filipinos to support and nurture the country’s artists, as he officially reopened the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) after six months of renovation.
“As we reopen the doors of the PICC, let us also open ourselves to a greater challenge: to create, to imagine, and to contribute,” President Marcos said in his speech.
“Support our artists—our painters, our
the Mandaluyong court. We are dutybound to implement lawful orders issued by our courts, and the PNP is already preparing to carry out the necessary procedures to serve the warrant of arrest,” said PNP acting chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. Nartatez directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and other concerned units to coordinate with regional police offices and intelligence divisions to monitor movements of the suspects and execute arrests as soon as possible.
He stressed that the PNP will uphold due process while ensuring swift execution of the warrant.
“I have already directed the director, CIDG to create tracker teams to implement the arrest warrant. Other units were instructed to assist. The PNP is committed to swift and decisive action, with due consideration for the rights of all parties involved. Our priority is to bring the suspects before the proper court without delay,” he added.
The Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 279 issued arrest warrants against Garma, retired police colonel and former National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, Lt. Col. Santie Fuentes Mendoza, dismissed policeman Nelson Enriquez Mariano, and Jeremy Causapin for murder over the killing of Barayuga.
In a hearing by the House of Representatives last year, Mendoza testified that Garma and Leonardo ordered the hit on Barayuga under the guise of an anti-drug operation, saying he complied out of fear due to their influence.
The PNP has always maintained that the rule of law must prevail at all times. Regardless of one’s rank, status, or former position, all individuals are accountable under our justice system. The issuance of these warrants is a reminder that justice is not blind, and the PNP will carry out its mandate without fear or favor,” Nartatez stressed.
Early this month, the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that Garma travelled to Malaysia, just a day after her return to Manila from the United States.
Garma is the subject of an Immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) dated Nov. 15, 2024 for being a person of interest in a case from 2020 and another from 2016.
The BI adhered to the procedures outlined in the ILBO and informed the Department of Justice about the situation. Upon verification, however, there was no hold departure order or warrant of arrest issued against her.
Garma left the Philippines late last year after participating in several House Quad Committee hearings regarding the previous administration’s drug war, during which she confirmed the execution of the “Davao Model.”
President Marcos also called on Filipinos to “ensure that the PICC will remain as a testament to the artistry, ingenuity, and passion of the Filipino people.”
During the meeting in Malacañang, Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Faustino Dy III led their respective chambers in calling for the passage of mostly socio economic reform measures.
“These priorities reflect our collective effort to ensure that policies are both responsive to the immediate needs of the people and consistent with our long-term development goals,” said Sotto.
Super Typhoon Nando, Tropical Depression Mirasol, and the enhanced habagat, according to reports submitted to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
This includes nine deaths in Bicol (Region 5), eight in Cagayan Valley (Region 2), four in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), two each in Central Luzon
military and police have earlier expressed support for the President in his campaign against corruption, including members of the Association of General and Flag Officers, Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association, Inc., National ROTC Alumni Association, and Confederation of National Unified Service Associations.
“Our people are exhausted, they are disappointed, they are angry. And as I have said before, their rage is valid,”
Mr. Marcos told newly-elected and appointed officers of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) in Malacañang yesterday.
“It is born from years of frustration at a government characterized by systemic dysfunction and unfulfilled promises.”
“Reforming our government is the only way we have to win back the trust of our people...Amid the challenges affecting our institutions, we must remain firm, uncompromised, and unit-
musicians, our performers. For in their creativity, we find not only beauty, but the very soul of our nation. And beyond appreciation, let us take part in that creation ourselves,” the President said.
ed in fighting corruption. The unscrupulous abuse of power and greed must come to an end,” the President added.
Teodoro, for his part, said military action will never solve political problems such as corruption.
“No one in the AFP made any plans (to intervene). Many are praying that someone had, but no one is making any plans in the AFP,” he said.
“Every organization has discontent. But if that discontent has something to do with a revolt, it’s not that. That’s just the wishful thinking of some. It won’t happen,” Teodoro added.
In a separate briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said: “The President has full trust in our soldiers, that they will remain steadfast and will follow only what is stated in the constitution.”
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla also affirmed the military is “solid and disciplined” despite issues hounding the government stemming from alleged anomalous flood control projects.
She likened “politically motivated distractions” to radio static, which she said “make(s) noise but don’t actually
is talking about. There is no script from the House infrastructure committee against him or any senator,” Ridon said in an interview with Agenda.
“If we stop the probe now, we may reinforce the perception, rightly or wrongly, that we are covering up for someone. We will go where the evidence leads us,” he said.
“Nobody is being targeted. Neither will anyone be shielded or spared. No matter how unpopular or painful it is for me to hear the names of my colleagues being implicated by resource persons, I will not be deterred,” Lacson added.
Meanwhile, Bicol Saro Representative Terry Ridon on Tuesday rejected accusations by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero that the ongoing flood control investigation is nothing more than a “sarswela” orchestrated by former Speaker Martin Romualdez to deflect public scrutiny from the House of Representatives toward the Senate.
Terry Ridon, co-chair of the House Committee on Infrastructure, said Escudero’s allegation was “baseless, laughable, and not credible,” insisting that the investigation is being conducted in good faith and without political motives.
“I don’t understand what Senator Chiz
“If there really was one, we would have immediately summoned DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who allegedly pointed to his friend Maynard Ngu as the recipient of kickbacks from the flood control project,” he added.
In a privilege speech, Escudero alleged that the inquiry was following a “script” written by Romualdez, implying that the investigation was selective and politically driven.
Ridon emphasized that the testimony of whistleblower Brice Hernandez, who linked two senators to the Bulacan flood control corruption scandal, was not part of any pre-arranged plan.
“They were called during the second hearing, not the first,” he said.
“If this were truly scripted, we would have lined them up right away. But we didn’t.”
As for Co, who remains out of the country, Lacson said the erstwhile lawmaker may be cited in contempt by the Senate should he choose to ignore the invitation and refuse to cooperate in its ongoing investigation into allega-
Bill 4058 (General Appropriations Bill) on second reading when Congress adjourns in October. The third reading is approval of the measure shall follow when sessions resume in November.
The House leader made the statement as Congress is set to adjourn on Oct. 10 for a Halloween break. Dy hinted that the sessions at the House might be extended until Oct. 17 if there is a need to do so.
“We have yet to discuss that thoroughly, but if we need to extend by another week, if that must be done, then we will extend for another week,” said Dy, who represents the sixth district of Isabela.
The House is expected to pass the money measure embodied in House
(Region 3) and Central Visayas (Region 7), and one each in Mimaropa (Region 4B) and Eastern Visayas (Region 8).
“The official count stands at 27 but 15 more reported deaths from Regions 5 and 8 are still under validation,” Alejandro said. Most of the deaths undergoing validation were in Biliran province where senior citizens, who returned to their homes were swept away by raging flash floods and storm surges.
The cases were being confirmed by the Management of the Dead and the
Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, earlier said the P6.793 trillion proposed national budget is equivalent to 22 percent of the GDP.
The budget is also centered on human capital development as underscored by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his 2025 SONA.
“In the national expenditure program, the President stressed that the
Missing (MDM) Cluster headed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DOE) estimates a budget of around P400 million to restore damaged power lines in Masbate due to severe tropical storm “Opong.”
This developed as the Philippine Air Force (PAF) delivered over 1,000 boxes of family food packs to communities in Masbate affected by Opong.
PAGASA said the LPA has a medi-
“Let it inspire us to carry forward our heritage, so that decades from now, our children, our grandchildren will still look at this place with pride, saying: This is who we are. This is what we can achieve,” the President said.
change the signal.”
Padilla said claims of a brewing military-led destabilization plot are “part of disinformation campaigns.”
Mr. Marcos earlier created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to probe alleged anomalies in flood control and public works projects, including those already fully paid for but not built or constructed with substandard materials.
The ICI as a fact-finding body is mandated to investigate alleged corruption, irregularities, and misuse of funds in government flood control and related projects within the last 10 years.
The commission is chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr., who is joined by former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV & Co. executive Rossana Fajardo as members.
The ICI has the power to issue subpoenas; endorse the admission of witnesses into the Witness Protection Program; and recommend asset freezes, hold departure orders, and preventive suspensions to preserve the integrity of investigations.
tions of corruption.
“We know he is abroad and will not show up. If that is the case, we will issue a subpoena, and then a show-cause order,” he warned.
Lacson vowed to uphold what he called a “blindfold mentality,” pledging fairness and adherence to wherever the evidence leads.
Meanwhile, Malacañang pointed out that Co cannot use his resignation from the House of Representatives to escape potential legal consequences amid investigations into alleged irregularities in government flood control projects.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Co’s decision to step down was his personal choice, but emphasized that resigning from public office will not shield him from possible criminal or administrative cases.
“If he resigns, that is his own desire.
No one can stop his decision, but if he ends up facing a case and it is filed, he cannot avoid it; he cannot run away from it,” Castro said.
“It would be better here if, should he be charged, he would just fight for his rights and defend the truth in accordance with his evidence,” she added.
2026 budget must nurture a futureready generation — one that is healthy, educated, resilient and competitive,” Suansing said in her sponsorship speech of the measure.
The Suansing-led panel has also approved a committee report containing the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee’s (BARSc) reallocation of the P255.53 billion budget removed from the flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
She said the amount was reallocated to education, health, agriculture, labor and other human capital programs following the President’s directive to set a zero allocation for new flood control projects.
um chance for tropical cyclone formation on Wednesday afternoon.
Once the LPA becomes a tropical depression, it will be named “Paolo,” PAGASA said.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the LPA was spotted 1,360 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon.
PAGASA earlier said there will be two to four tropical cyclones to enter the country in October.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin visited Masbate on Tuesday to assess the damage
Their discussions focused on the importance of supporting inclusive agriculture and livelihood programs to boost rural development, and energy sector reforms to ensure a stable supply and promote sustainability.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian joined Sotto at the meeting.
For his part, Dy called for the inclusion of eight new reform measures in the priority legislative agenda.
“We meet today in a spirit of collaborative governance to align our legislative agenda with the Administration’s Philippine Development Plan and its 8-point Socioeconomic Agenda,” Dy said.
He explained that the House legislative agenda for the 20th Congress is anchored on economic growth, stronger social protection, and governance reforms.
Central to this agenda are laws that will secure affordable food, generate sustainable jobs, expand digital connectivity, and raise the quality of public services for all Filipinos.
The Speaker reported that out of the 33 measures identified by the Executive, 32 have already been filed in the House.
He said this early accomplishment “sets a positive tone for our productive collaboration with all branches of government.”
Dy then presented eight new measures for possible inclusion in the LEDAC priority list, among them a Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Framework to ensure swift and transparent calamity response, and a bill to strengthen the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) by extending its corporate life and opening select lands for development.
The House is also pushing a Presidential Merit Scholarship Program to reward outstanding graduates from low- and middle-income families, and a bill disqualifying relatives of officials up to the fourth degree from government contracts to strengthen integrity in public service.
To safeguard democracy, the chamber seeks to regulate digital campaigning through a Fair Use of Social Media, AI, and Internet Technology in Elections.
It also proposes to modernize the Bureau of Immigration by professionalizing its ranks, adding visa categories, and upgrading border security.
The proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act, on the other hand, aims to stabilize prices and empower the National Food Authority, while the Magna Carta for Barangays will institutionalize longoverdue benefits and ensure resources for local officials and communities.
“With the President’s leadership and the collective will of this Council, we are confident that we can achieve these legislative goals,” said Dy.
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson urged fellow lawmakers Tuesday to treat revelations of massive budget insertions in the 2025 spending plan as a wake-up call to ensure a pork-free budget in 2026 and beyond.
Lacson said the disclosure was not aimed at singling out senators or representatives but rather at highlighting public outrage against corruption and wasteful projects.
“I can actually feel and understand completely the sentiments expressed by my colleagues, at least the members of the majority bloc during our majority caucus yesterday,” he said.
to energy infrastructure and to assure local officials and residents that the entire energy sector is fully mobilized to restore electricity at the soonest possible time. Joining her were DOE Undersecretary Mario Marasigan, National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, National Power Corp. (NPC) president Jericho Jonas Nograles, and other NEA officials as they surveyed the hardest-hit areas where transmission lines, distribution facilities, and generation assets sustained significant damage.
By Maricel V. Cruz
By Vito Barcelo
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has officially disqualified and deleted from its roster the Duterte Youth party-list group.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the decision was made after the Comelec en banc upheld the ruling that nullified Duterte Youth›s registration due to failure to comply with mandatory requirements of publication and hearing.
The poll chief said the Duterte Youth party-list failed to meet the necessary requirements for registration, specifically publication and hearing requirements.
PARTY-LIST in Congress has filed a bill seeking to repeal and replace the Higher Education Law of 1994 (Republic Act 7722) and to strengthen and modernize the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
TINGOG party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre, filed House Bill 4958, also known as the Higher Education Development and Innovation Act of 2025.
2 Pinoy sailors injured in ship blast o Djibouti
AT LEAST two Filipino crewmen were reported injured in an explosion aboard their international cargo vessel bearing a Dutch flag believed triggered by an attack by suspected Houthi rebels at the Gulf of Aden.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said one of the victims was reported to be in stable condition while the other was transported to Djibouti for further medical assistance. The ship was hit by an explosive device, resulting in a fire and significant damage.
The ship, named Minervagracht, was hit by an explosive device resulting in a blaze that inflicted significant damage.
The DMW is currently collecting details with vessel operator, and concerned manning agencies, as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs and its affected consulates.
Vito Barcelo
Police following lead on 3 missing persons
POLICE investigators are following a lead they hope would take them to the solution of the case of a couple and a business partner who went missing two months ago.
Lt. Col. John Guiagui, head of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Metro Manila, said they have launched surveillance on two “persons of interest” who have gone on a buying spree using a credit card of the missing couple, Henry and Margie Pantollana. The Pantollanas reported left their condominium unit in Taguig City last August, along with Richard Cadiz, but have not been seen since then.
Guiagui said they are also looking into the business backgrounds of the Pantollanas and Cadiz. Vince Lopez
Zambo Sur peace e ort nets 119 loose rearms
THE provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur has devised a unique way of helping push the overall peace-building initiatives in Mindanao while at the same time promoting formal education among its constituencies.
The program, dubbed Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), netted 119 loose firearms and explosives turned in by local villagers and the grant of 64 scholarships to students.
The weapons were subsequently destroyed to make sure they would not be used as instruments of death and intimidation again.
Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Divina Grace Yu hailed the program as a milestone in the province’s journey toward stability and reconciliation, while Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr. emphasized that the scholarships should not be seen as payment for weapons, but as a “forwardlooking investment.” Rex Espiritu
The measure marks a paradigm shift for the country’s higher education sector, moving CHED beyond regulatory oversight functions towards a “development-oriented and progressive NEW MALABON HOSPITAL. Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, former congressman Ricky Sandoval lead the inauguration of the new six-storey San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital which was upgraded to a Level II health facility, expanding its capacity and services to provide better healthcare service for city residents. Andrew Rabulan
system,” the proponents said. Salient provisions of the proposed law includes enhanced governance and financial accountability as CHED’s quasi-judicial powers are consolidated to efficiently resolve disputes and enforce standards, while an independent Fund Office is established to ensure transparent and equitable use of the Higher Education Development Fund.
The bill also proposed the creation of a Faculty Development Fund consisting of no less than five percent of CHED’s annual appropriations to be dedicated to scholarships, grants, and training to upgrade the credentials and
skills of faculty and administrators.
It also seeks to set up an Office for Higher Education Development which will spearhead institutional and program support, promote international collaboration, and expand non-traditional pathways such as Ladderized Education and MicroCredentials.
The measure likewise establishes a Typology and Differentiated Autonomy that will be classified according to their characteristics and mission, while high-performing higher education institutions (HEIs) will be granted progressively greater autonomy to innovate.
By Minerva Newman
CEBU City— Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has welcomed newly appointed Archbishop of Cebu, Rev. Alberto “Abet” Uy, with a gift in the form of an executive order establishing tree parks across the province.
“The Province of Cebu commits to the establishment, maintenance, and stewardship of Laudate Deum Si’ Tree Parks (LSTPs) in every component city, municipality, and selected baran-
gays as a central pillar of its environmental protection and climate resilience strategy,” Executive Order No. 56 stated.
Baricuatro also hosted a dinner in honor of the new archbishop at the Capitol Social Hall on Monday, Sept.29, attended by members of the provincial board led by Vice Gov. Glenn Soco, retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr, , Cebu City Vice Mayor Tommy Osmeña, Danao City Mayor Nito Durano, a clergy of Tagbiliran, Bohol, Uy’s family members, and Dame
Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung.
The EO was inspired by Pope Francis’ 2023 apostolic exhortation on the climate crisis. Uy, himself an environmental advocate who previously initiated similar parks in Bohol, had appealed to the governor to replicate his initiative prior to his reassignment. The LSTP program pushes the Cebu’s commitment to safeguard ecological balance, improve public health, promote education, create sustainable livelihoods, and foster interfaith and civic collaboration.
He said the poll body handed down the ruling after the 30-day period for finality lapsed without a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court.
“Based on our rules, the period of finality for the cancellation of party registration is 30 days. We waited for a TRO during the 30 days, but it seems the SC has yet to issue one,” Garcia explained.
He said the clerk of the commission released an entry of judgment and certificate of finality, rendering the decision final and executory.
The Comelec, he said, has yet to discuss the three seats that will be vacated by the disqualified party-list group.
The disqualification of Duterte Youth is deemed significant, given that the group garnered 2,338,564 votes in the May 2025 midterm elections, entitling them to three seats in the House of Representatives.
By Joel E. Zurbano
MEMBERS of a power consumer advocacy group and a political party on Tuesday staged a demonstration in front of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) main office in Pasig City to denounce high electricity rates being imposed by the utility company on its customers.
Meralco remained as the largest privately owned electric distribution utility in the country, serving some eight million customers throughout Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces. It also plays a significant role in power generation through its subsidiary, Meralco PowerGen (MGen).
“In the last three years, Meralco’s residential rates have risen by over P3.34 per kWh. That’s an additional P26 million that Meralco consumers are pouring into its coffers every single month today. While Filipinos drown in rising costs of living, Meralco swims in billions of profits each year,” said Gerry Arances, convenor of the Power for People Coalition.
For his part, Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) president Leody de Guzman said corruption and abuse do not only occur in the government’s flood control program.
He asserted that Meralco and energy authorities have to undergo stringent public scrutiny over rising rates, which are a result of “anti-consumer behavior emboldened by enabling regulatory or policy actions from energy authorities.”
Malpractices highlighted by the protesters included Meralco’s overcharging of consumers an estimated P115 billion between 2012 and 2022 which they claimed was the result of the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) neglect in conducting a regulatory rate reset for Meralco for years.
“This is robbery in broad daylight. They overcharge electricity consumers by hundreds of billions of pesos. Yet when Meralco is obligated to refund these unjustly charged costs, they are only required to return a mere fraction of it at a convenient pace of several years,” Arances said.
The group stressed that the firm’s multifaceted insistence on fossil fuels exacerbates high costs of electricity.
It stated that last year, Meralco acquired a 40.2 percent stake in San Miguel Corp.s liquefied natural gas-powered Excellent Energy Resources Inc. (EERI) and South Premiere Power Corp., which charged over P8/kWh for generation in September—rates that are among the highest among facilities contracted by Meralco.
Such generation costs are then passed down to consumers due to the contracts featuring a two-part tariff structure.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2025 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Authorities nab traveler with pending warrant
THE Philippine National Police - Aviation Security Group (PNP-Avsegroup) apprehended a newly-arrived traveler from China with a pending warrant of arrest for acts of lasciviousness. The suspect, who was apprehended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, was taken into custody after authorities confirmed the warrant, which was related to serious charges.
The authorities did not identify the passenger, citing the Data Privacy Act, but said the suspect is a resident of Kawit, Cavite.
The operation was conducted after the Bureau of Immigration provided information to the NAIA Police Station 1 regarding a passenger on their Alert List Order.
In the verification conducted using the PNP E-Warrant system, it was discovered that the passenger was charged with acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code. Joel E. Zurbano
10k positions up for grabs during 2-day Cebu job fair
CEBU CITY—More than 10,000 jobs are up for grabs at the local and overseas jobs fair at the Cebu Provincial Capitol through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) on October 4-5, 2025, with more than 20 local companies and 30 overseas employers joining the fair.
“Jobs and Livelihood Creation is one of the pillars of our administration. We are starting with this, and we will have more of these moving forward to ensure that every Cebuano knows the opportunities available in our province,” Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said in a weekly press conference.
Baricuatro said the job fair underscores her administration’s priority to strengthen livelihood and employment opportunities for Cebuanos.
Minerva Newman
Lone NCR bettor bags P56-m MegaLotto jackpot
A LONE bettor from Metro Manila hit the P56-million jackpot of Monday night’s MegaLotto 6/45 draw.
In an advisory on Tuesday, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said the winner from Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon, Novaliches, Quezon City, NCR correctly guessed the winning combination of 30-20-2340-12-14.
The winners have one year to claim the P56,078,818.00 prize at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City, subject to a 20-percent tax. Meanwhile, 44 others won P32,000 each for guessing five out of the six winning digits; 2,116 bettors will get P1,000 each for four correct digits; and 31,260 will settle for P30 each for three correct digits.
The 6/45 MegaLotto is drawn every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
By Maricel V. Cruz
MORE dynamic and accessible governmentrun rehabilitation facilities are set to rise nationwide as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) intensifies its push to bring the full spirit of the juvenile justice law into action, especially for children in conflict with the law.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, during the 6th National Family Courts Summit, affirmed that the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWA) Act “upholds a lot of beautiful concepts,” and emphasized that the department is determined to translate those concepts into tangible, life-changing programs and in-
novations.
“A lot of people would just equate me being the Secretary of Social Welfare because of the financial assistance that we give day in and day out. But a lot of the innovations that we are to discuss this morning are actually part of the development side of it,” Gatchalian told the 491
family court judges and other key justice stakeholders. One of the landmark innovations he cited is the recent ground-breaking of the agricultural camp in Palawan in accordance with the Child and Youth Welfare Code, which mandates the establishment of agriculture or forestry camps where CICLs can serve their sentence instead of confinement in a regular penal institution. The DSWD also took pride in its first Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) exclusively for girls in Cebu, which provides a more gender-responsive rehabilitation for female CICLs.
“Family courts will refer female CICLs to us but they have nowhere to go. So, chances are they are housed in different shelters and sometimes go into home living with the victim themselves, which
is quite unhealthy… so this is us establishing sustainable solutions for these concerns and putting our money where our mouth is,” Gatchalian said. He said the DSWD will set up another RRCY in Mindanao. On top of the agri-camp and RRCY for girls in Visayas and Mindanao, we’re also expanding the footprints in Bahay Pag-Asa centers,” he said. Bahay Pag-Asa centers, managed by local government units (LGUs) and accredited non-government organizations (NGOs), provide short-term residential care for children in conflict with the law aged 15-18, who are awaiting court
THE Department of Migrant Workers is targeting the full implementation of the digital eTravel pass, replacing the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), and becoming the primary document for overseas Filipino workers for departure.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the new system, which aims to streamline processes for OFWs by merging the long-standing OEC requirement with the government’s digital
travel platform, is currently on pilot run under the eGovPH app.
“It is being piloted now, and hopefully, by the first day of next year or even possibly earlier, depending on the pilot run, it will be fully operational for all returning workers, hopefully including newly-hired workers. That would already be the outcome document,” he said during an event of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI) in Pasay City on Monday.
Cacdac said the transition forms part of the Marcos administration’s broader digitization efforts through the eGov PH Super App, which integrates multiple government services into a single platform, and make government transactions more efficient for Filipinos at home and abroad.
Cacdac, however, clarified that OFWs still need to register with the DMW for monitoring and tracking purposes.
“We need to know who they are and where they are so that we can help them if something happens, but the outcome would no longer be the OEC. The etravel pass and OEC have merged. We will now use the e-travel pass. As long as the worker has an e-travel pass, and he is cleared with the DMW, that would be their main document,” he added.
By Katrina Manubay
PHILIPPINE Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Carlos Sorreta pushed for the mainstreaming of human rights education (HRE) in school curricula and professional development programs.
In his remarks on the margins of the 60th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Sorreta emphasized the importance of human rights education in an international environment marked by conflict, polarization, and widening inequalities.
“Human rights education is vital to fostering a culture of respect for equality and the inherent dignity of the individual, regardless of creed, color, and other markers of identity. It is humanity’s first line of defense against discrimination, intolerance, and all other
Cacdac said around 70,000 OFWs already benefited from the system and that the DMW is targeting to reach about 200,000 workers before the launch.
By Maricel V. Cruz
divisions were paid equally at P2,500 per game. “Let’s not shortchange women’s game—pay referees fairly,” Elago of Gabriela Women’s Party said. “Paying women’s games less reinforces the harmful message that women’s sports— and women themselves—are worth less.”
UAAP officials claimed the disparity reflects the “difficulty” of officiating men’s games due to their supposed faster pace. But coaches across the league have debunked this rationale, stressing that refereeing demands the
same decision-making regardless of gender.
Elago linked the issue to the broader fight for a family living wage in the Philippines, where workers across sectors—especially women—continue to suffer from systemic underpayment.
“This is not just about basketball but about our appreciation for the work that women do in different fields. From the court to the workplace, women are demanding higher wages,” she said, citing the urgent need to raise wages to meet the country’s family living wage standard.
acts that undermine the enjoyment of human rights,” he said.
Executive Director of the Geneva Office for Human Rights Education Professor David Kirkham presented GO-HRE’s flagship program, Colega, a curriculum for children based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, This program is currently implemented in countries like the Philippines, Ghana, and Guatemala, among others.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of Arigatou International Maria Lucia Uribe discussed how Ethics Education, as a component of quality human rights education, can contribute to conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
The panel discussion built on the Philippines’ longstanding advocacy for HRE in the multilateral arena, particularly in the Human Rights Council.
THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure is now fully operational, but its path is anything but smooth. Created via Executive Order 94, the ICI has full subpoena powers and can recommend criminal, civil, or administrative charges. It will operate independently from Congress and traditional agencies like the NBI or PNP, reducing risks of political interference. With retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr. as chair, and former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV & Co. managing partner Rossana Fajardo as members, the ICI will investigate all national infrastructure projects over the past decade, not just flood control, but also ghost projects, overpricing, and contractor collusion.
But the recent resignation of Special Adviser and Investigator, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, citing obstruction and lack of support, indicates that its institutional integrity may be questioned later on, with calls emerging for President Marcos Jr. to expand the commission to include respected voices from civil society, media, and the Church. Moreover, the ICI has limited legal teeth, as it has been given only recommendatory, not prosecutorial, powers. Observers argue it needs a legislative mandate to truly hold corrupt actors accountable.
The fact-finding body can also expect political resistance since allegations implicate sitting lawmakers and contractors with deep political ties.
This raises concerns about interference, selective enforcement, and institutional pushback.
Then there’s also its technical capacity, as infrastructure audits require forensic engineers, accountants, and procurement experts. The commission may need external panels to ensure rigorous review.
It cannot be denied, however, that the creation of the ICI is pivotal for Philippine governance. The ICI could become a transformative watchdog, not just another symbolic gesture.
The ICI has chalked up several accomplishments since its establishment.
One, it has begun to secure high-profile cooperation from whistleblowers.
Former DPWH engineer Brice Hernandez has emerged as a key witness, voluntarily surrendering luxury vehicles and pledging to hand over some more. Hernandez admitted to involvement in ghost projects and named politicians allegedly receiving kickbacks, including Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva.
Two, it has already conducted groundlevel inspections.
ICI teams have inspected over 300 flood control projects in Quezon City, uncovering that 305 projects worth ₱16B were misaligned with the city’s drainage master plan.
They found that only two out of 331 projects had proper coordination certificates, raising serious questions about oversight and planning.
And three, it has started public engagement and data collection activities. It can already sift through more than 12,000 citizen complaints submitted through the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” platform, many pointing to ghost projects and padded contracts.
What the ICI is likely to focus on next is to expand the geographic scope of its investigations.
Observers argue the ICI needs a legislative mandate to truly hold corrupt actors accountable
It is expected to move beyond Bulacan and Quezon City to other hotspots like La Union, Oriental Mindoro, and Metro Manila, where similar patterns of corruption have been flagged.
We can also expect the ICI to look at contractor networks and their political ties.
A deeper scrutiny of companies that bagged major flood control contracts is necessary to determine whether they have links to campaign donors, relatives of officials, or “nepo babies” flaunting wealth online.
Beyond naming names, the ICI is mandated to propose systemic reforms to include targeting procurement processes, contractor licensing, and inter-agency coordination.
Given the nature of its work, the ICI may also recommend state witness status for key informants and initiate cases before the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice.
All this is well and good.
But perhaps there’s a need to go beyond what it is now doing and propose a robust anti-corruption framework that goes beyond punishment and into prevention.
The post-ICI anti-corruption framework shouldn’t just chase ghost projects but prevent them from being built in the first place.
A multi-layered approach tailored to the Philippine flood control context should be put in place.
These should probably include the creation of a permanent, non-partisan body modeled after the ICI, with rotating leadership and protected tenure that would be mandated to conduct real-time audits and validate project alignment with master plans.
(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
THE Filipino people are angry—and the anger is not unwarranted.
From unexplained confidential funds to ghost flood control projects, reports of corruption have shaken our nation. People are pointing fingers at the very leaders they voted for and trusted with the responsibility of stewardship.
It is no surprise then that sweeping judgments have been made against Congress, especially with the passage of the 2025 national budget. And let’s be clear: accountability should spare no one. Public office is a public trust. Those who betray that trust must answer for it.
But accountability is not just about punishing the guilty. It is also a shared responsibility. Each of us has a role in upholding the truth. Not the “truth” we twist to fit our biases, but the truth that unsettles us, disturbs us, and forces us to confront what is wrong even in systems we benefit from.
Initial investigations are beginning to show that these corrupt actions are rarely the work of one person. They are the result of collusion. Ghost projects and the misuse of confidential funds needed many hands: from appropriations to procurement, from paperwork to implementation. Agents and agencies have learned to exploit the weaknesses of our system.
ANDAHAN nyo ang meme ko (make sure my memes look nice),” said public works contractor Sarah Discaya to members of the press running after her as she went to the Department of Justice on Saturday. She was being evaluated as a possible state witness in the investigation into massive anomalies in the government’s massive flood control scandal.
Perhaps feeling especially dainty in a floral dress, Ms. Discaya flashed a finger-heart sign, a fixture in Korean dramas, while flashing a schoolgirl smile for the cameras.
It was enough to make many Filipinos retch.
Discaya first rose to prominence when she sought the mayorship of Pasig City earlier this year. Around that time, there were already rumblings about her close and direct ties to several companies that had contracting ties with the government. She ran those companies with her husband, Curlee. Several interviews also caught them talking wistfully about their humble beginnings and then bragging about their fleet of 40 cars.
That is why accountability must not only be about naming and shaming individuals. It must include an honest reckoning with the system itself—and overhauling the parts that make abuse so easy. Corruption is not an accident. It is carefully planned, willingly executed, and repeatedly tolerated.
Public office is a public trust. Those who betray that trust must answer for it
We also need to ask whether corruption is limited to a single department or if it has seeped into the entire structure of governance. Are ghost projects happening only at the national level?
Or are they also creeping into local governments?
Are confidential funds being used consistently with the rules, or has it become common practice to bend those rules?
During the budget deliberations for 2026, questionable items already appeared in the National Expenditure
Since then, the couple has been much maligned. Their scandalous lifestyle, coupled with revelations of their participation in government projects that are either substandard or nonexistent, have made them easy targets for an angry public so worn down by the daily struggles of eco -
Program—even before Congress had a chance to review it. Some entries were duplicated. Others were incomplete. A few even referred to projects already completed. If these errors—or manipulations— are already embedded in the proposed budget, doesn’t it show that accountability must also extend beyond Congress, to those who drafted and submitted the budget in the first place?
And while we often focus on corrupt politicians, let’s not ignore the elephant in the room—corporate corruption. Public corruption thrives because private actors allow it to. Contracts are won with bribes.
Taxes are underpaid with clever accounting tricks.
Business leaders wink at irregularities so long as they get their slice of the pie. The worst scandals we see today did not happen overnight. They grew from small compromises.
nomic survival. On several occasions, people threw mud on the exterior of their Pasig City offices. They were made the subject of comedic skits, the impersonations now running for weeks.
We should take our disgust to the next level
Even the couple’s behavior during breaks in the congressional hearings – writing on pieces of paper, for instance, or downing sugary beverages despite being diabetic – has been made the subject of ridicule. There have been many memes about the Discayas from a populace so scandalized, so traumatized, and so well versed in the ways of new media. It was likely Ms. Discaya’s way of getting back at those who have made them into caricatures, even as she now says it was her gesture when
They spread because many of us looked away. And yes, some in the private sector are just as guilty—if not more so— than the public officials we are quick to condemn. The word “corruption” comes from two Latin roots: cor meaning heart, and ruptus meaning broken. Corruption literally means “a broken heart.” And that is what it is: a reflection of the brokenness in our society.
Yet here lies a danger: anger at corruption and betrayal is natural—but if left unchecked, that anger can lead people to give up on institutions altogether. We must not tear down our institutions in anger, but rebuild them in hope. Institutions of government—Congress, the courts, regulatory bodies, even local governments—are not inherently corrupt. They are tools. What corrupts them are people who exploit weaknesses and loopholes. The solution, therefore, is not to aban-
she was campaigning. Fortunately, the DOJ is taking these actuations against her as a sign of insincerity and complacency. Allowing such individuals to continue enjoying their luxuries obtained from the toil of ordinary citizens is way beyond unjust. The depth and extent of the public works plunder – not limited to a single province or to flood-control projects – has stirred Filipinos’ emotions in a different way. It tells us that corruption happens whoever is in power, that corruption is done by individuals of different political persuasions, that having a lot does not deter anyone from wanting more. And so we register our disgust. But we should do so much more than voice our anger on social media or even take to the streets any given day. We should be vigilant enough, not only to follow the televised hearings or register reactions on social media. We should follow the progress of the investigations and sustain the clamor for good governance at all levels of government. Finally, we should remember those whose greed knows no bounds, who present themselves as champions of the people while enriching themselves at the expense of people’s safety. We should take note who they are and refuse to bring them back to the government next time around. Otherwise, we ourselves would well be the subject of our own ridicule, bringing our misery and tragedy upon ourselves even after we have complained and raged against them.
don or abolish these institutions, but to strengthen the safeguards, enforce accountability, and restore public trust. Tearing down is easy; rebuilding is harder, but necessary. And so our task is clear. We cannot let anger consume us, nor cynicism define us. If corruption is a broken heart, then rebuilding must begin with healing that heart—with courage to demand what is right, with vigilance to guard against what is wrong, and with hope that our institutions can still serve the people they were meant to protect. We must not burn the house down; we must repair its foundations. We must not give up on democracy; we must redeem it. We must not allow brokenness to have the last word. For as long as we believe in accountability, as long as we choose truth over silence, and as long as we rebuild with hope rather than rage— our nation, wounded though it may be, will find its way to wholeness again.
The countries include Egypt, Jordan, the
and Netanyahu.
Indonesia and Pakistan, the world’s two most populous Muslim-majority countries, also joined the statement. Indonesia has offered troops as part of a future Gaza force, while Pakistan has been eager to woo Trump and improve its relationship with Washington. AFP
WASHINGTON, DC—US President Donald Trump secured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s backing for a wide-ranging Gaza peace plan Monday, as the two leaders warned that Israel would “finish the job” against Hamas if the Palestinian militant group rejects the deal. DOHA—Key
Hamas had yet to give its judgment on the proposal that Trump unveiled at the White House alongside Netanyahu, leaving uncertainty swirling around the fate of the 20-point plan to end the war. The plan calls for a ceasefire, release
of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, disarmament of Hamas and gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, followed by a post-war transitional authority headed by Trump himself.
“I support your plan to end the war in
Gaza which achieves our war aims,” Netanyahu said in a joint press conference with the US president.
“If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept it and then then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself.”
In Tel Aviv, Israelis expressed cautious hope that the nearly two-year conflict could finally be drawing to a close.
In the coastal hub of Tel Aviv, protesters grasped US and Israeli flags, alongside placards bearing the faces of the remaining hostages held by militants in the Palestinian territory.
“I am more optimistic although I am still a little afraid of being so optimistic,” said Hannah Cohen, the aunt of slain hostage Inbar Hayman.AFP
WASHINGTON, DC—A White House meeting on Monday (Tuesday Manila time) with top Republican and Democratic congressional leaders yielded no budget breakthrough, with both sides trading blame less than 36 hours before government funding runs out.
“Large differences” remained between the two sides, top Senate Democrat Chuck
Schumer told reporters after the lastgasp meeting hosted by President Donald Trump.
Schumer, whose party is in the minority, said “it’s up to the Republicans whether they want a shutdown or not,” adding that he had made “some proposals” to Trump. Vice President JD Vance meanwhile accused the Democrats of putting “a gun to
the American people’s head” with their funding demands.
“I think we’re headed to a shutdown because the Democrats won’t do the right thing,” he said.
Without Congress passing a bill to fund federal operations before midnight Tuesday night, the government will partially close up shop—and plunge Washington into a new round of political crisis.AFP
Starmer to urge patience as he hits hard
upstarts, led by antiEuropean Union firebrand Nigel Farage. According to excerpts released ahead of his speech, Starmer was to say that Britain “stands at a fork in the road” between “renewal” offered by Labor or “grievance”
gathering is focused on taking the fight to Reform, as Starmer adopts a punchier tone towards it while trying to offer a more optimistic vision for the future.AFP
CARACAS—Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Monday (Tuesday Manila time) he is ready to declare a state of emergency over the threat of US “aggression,” following a spate of deadly US strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats.
“Today
1, 2025
WEDNESDAY,
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor
By Nissi Icasiano
N the morning of October 1, 1975, the Philippines became the heartbeat of the sporting world.
Inside the sweltering walls of the Araneta Coliseum, two men — Muhammad Ali and “Smokin’” Joe Frazier — waged a war so merciless, so unforgettable, that it redefined not only their legacies but also the very essence of boxing.
The epic showdown would forever be known as the “Thrilla in Manila.”
The Philippines on the boxing world stage
For decades, the Philippines has carved its name deep into boxing’s stone tablets.
From Pancho Villa, the first Asian and Filipino to clinch a world title, to Manny Pacquiao, the only pugilist to conquer eight different weight classes, the nation has consistently produced champions who defy limits.
Names like Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, Nonito Donaire, Gerry Peñalosa, Luisito Espinosa, and Donnie Nietes rou nd out a lineage that has given Filipinos pride and global recognition.
“The Big Dome” itself, inaugurated in 1960, was christened by a boxing spectacle when Elorde toppled Harold Gomes before 40,000 spectators. Yet it was 15 years later, under the same roof, that the Philippines became the epicenter of one of the most significant contests in the annals of “the sweet science.”
More than a championship
The third clash between Ali and Frazier wasn’t simply about reclaiming or defending the undisputed heavyweight crown. It unfolded under the shadow of Martial Law, at a time when the Philippines stood at a political and social crossroads.
But for a few hours, the eyes of the globe turned to Quezon City, and the fight united an entire nation in awe.
Their rivalry was the stuff of legend. Ali, stripped of his license and titles for refusing conscription during the Vietnam War, had watched as Frazier rose to the pinnacle.
In 1971, Frazier handed Ali his first
professional loss in what was christened “The Fight of the Century.”
Ali returned the favor in their 1974 rematch, but not without controversy.
Both victories and defeats carried grudges, and their animosity only deepened.
By the time they touched down on Philippine soil, this was no ordinary rubber match — it was a reckoning.
Ali’s mocking chant, “It will be a killa, and a thrilla, and a chilla when I get the gorilla in Manila,” became the rallying cry of the event.
But for Frazier, it was personal.
His children had been ridiculed with
Air-conditioning crumbled against the sheer mass of 27,000 patrons crammed shoulder-to-shoulder, with even the aisles overflowing. The aluminum roof baked the Araneta Coliseum like an oven.
Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, Ali’s ringside physician, remembered: “I had a hard time breathing. Not only were all the seats filled, but all the aisles were also filled, and there were people crammed in the rafters. I don’t know if you could squeeze in one more person. It was body to body.”
The encounter itself was nothing short of savagery. Ali controlled the early rounds, his crisp jabs and combinations snapping Frazier’s head back.
But Frazier stormed back with thunderous hooks, his left hand detonating on his rival’s chin in the sixth round. Ali staggered yet somehow refused to fall.
that cruel nickname. His resolve was summed up in one thought: “kill or be killed.”
A furnace of violence
To suit prime-time American television, the bout began at 10 in the morning. Still, the oppressive heat inside the packed arena was suffocating.
“They told me Joe Frazier was washed up,” Ali rasped through bloodied lips. Frazier, relentless, answered with venom: “They lied.”
By the ninth, Ali slumped in his corner, whispering to Angelo Dundee: “Man, this is the closest I’ve ever been to dying.” Still, he fought on.
Frazier, his eyes swelling shut, pressed forward, refusing surrender. Round after round, they battered one another in a contest that transcended sport — it was primal survival.
A battle that took everything
By the 14th round, Ali unleashed a torrent of blows that left Frazier nearly blind, his face grotesquely swollen. Trainer Eddie Futch made the heartbreaking decision to stop the fight.
Frazier pleaded, “I want him, boss.”
But Futch stood firm: “Sit down, son. It’s all over. No one will forget what you did here today.”
As Frazier’s corner waved the white flag, Ali collapsed on his stool — victorious yet utterly spent. What few knew then was that the man formerly known as Cassius Clay had himself begged Dundee to cut his gloves off after the 14th.
Both warriors had been pushed to the very brink.
After the fire
Neither fighter emerged from the Araneta Coliseum the same. Their bodies bore scars that would never fully heal, their careers forever altered. Yet in the aftermath of brutality came respect. Ali later declared: “If God ever calls me to a holy war, I want Joe Frazier fighting beside me.”
The “Thrilla in Manila” was more than a fight. It was a cultural marker, a crucible where sport, politics, and humanity converged. Fifty years on, no bout has matched its ferocity, its resonance, or its lasting impact.
The Araneta Coliseum still honors it with a banner hanging proudly among the rafters. Every performer, every athlete who steps under its lights, inevitably glances upward, reminded of the day two giants nearly destroyed each other in pursuit of glory.
Countless battles have been waged since, but none have reached the same fever pitch, none have burned into the collective memory of fans quite the same way.
Half a century later, the words still echo — words that captured the fury, the drama, and the legacy of that unforgettable morning in Quezon City.
It was, and will always be, the “Thrilla.”
By Peter Atencio
PHILIPPINE tennis pride Alexandra Eala
let out a loud scream as she outlasted her tormentor Katarzyna Kawa of Poland, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, in a first-round match that was delayed by rain at the Suzhou Open WTA 125 on Monday in China.
The 20-year-old Eala went on to avenge her loss to Kawa three years ago when action ended after more than seven hours. With the count tied at 40-all, Eala unleashed two unanswered forehand volleys to win the 12th game, the third set and the match. The world no. 56 and fourth-seeded Eala went on to advance to the second round against Belgian rival Greet Minnen for their first ever encounter.
The score stood at 2-all, with ahead at 15-0
when officials halted play because of rain. When game resumed, Eala managed to
take a 6-3 edge in the first set.
But the world no. 124 Kawa, known for being a tenacious, all-court player, fought back to even matters up, 6-3, in the second set.
Eala got the momentum, 3-1, in the third set, but Kawa kept up the pressure with her strong baseline game and backhand prowess to force four deadlocks.
The last tie was at 5-all, with the Polish netter taking the break point with a forehand winner, 40-15.
From there, Eala broke serve, taking their 11th match point of the third set when Kawa erred with her long forehand return, after the Filipina netter unloaded a deep volley in her next shot.
Eala last clashed with Kawa at the 2022 WTA 60 event in Templeton, in San Luis Obispo, California.
Back then, Kawa claimed victory in the second round, 2-6, 6-4, 6-0.
Eala is coming off a semifinal exit at the Jingshan Open last week.
STA. ROSA, Laguna—This is the moment where focus must override excitement, and where talent and skill are expected to cancel out the luck factor. With strategy and communication set to determine the outcome, the ICTSI Elite Junior Finals blasts off today (Wednesday, Oct. 1) at The Country Club, featuring the best junior golfers from Luzon (North) and Visayas-Mindanao (South) in a Ryder Cup-style showdown. In true team golf fashion, the finals mirror the recently concluded Team Europe vs Team USA duel. The format includes Four-Ball (Best Ball) on Day 1, Foursomes (Alternate Shot) on Day 2, and Singles matches on the final day. With 48 of the country’s top juniors competing, this promises to be a pressure-packed battleground of skill and willpower. Team North co-captain Ryan Tambalque laid down a simple but clear plan for Day 1’s Four-Ball format, where the boys’ 7-10 division opens play from the first tee, followed by the 11-14 and the 15-18 divisions. The girls’ teams start simultaneously on the 10th tee, ensuring action on both sides of the course. The three-day event is open to the public, offering fans a unique opportunity to watch and support the next generation of professional golfers in action.
“Keep the ball in the fairway and greens in regulation,” Tambalque said, giving concise marching orders to his 24-player squad that emerged from a grueling seven-leg qualifying series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
However, Tambalque was quick to emphasize balance: “Let them enjoy the game. I’m confident in our players – lahat sila malalakas (they’re all strong), and they’ve been training independently. Whichever way we pair them, I know they’ll do their best.”
On the other side, Team South skipper Alfred Gaccion exuded quiet confidence. While he acknowledged the depth of Team North, he believes his squad holds the edge in talent, experience and resilience.
“The opposing team is equally equipped, so we’re focusing on a balanced fielding of players. Fortunately, we have strong representatives in every age division,” said Gaccion, who singled out the girls’ 15-18 division as a potential game-changer.
“The 15-18 girls will definitely be on top,” he added, referring to his powerhouse lineup of Tashanah Balangauan, Crista Miñoza, Precious Zaragosa and Mikela Guillermo.
Biado, Gorst chosen to lead teams in PH vs. the World pool battle
By Randy M. Caluag
WORLD champion Carlo Biado and world
officially chosen to spearhead rival squads
Reyes Cup, set for October 16 to 19 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. The two cue masters, who lit up the World Pool Championship final earlier t his year with a thrilling duel, will once again battle from opposite ends—Biado leading Team Asia’s title defense and Gorst anchoring Team Rest of the World in the prestigious event. Biado, now ranked world No. 3 following his championship triumph in Jeddah, relishes the responsibility of guiding Asia on home soil.
By Thony Rose Lesaca
ROBUST domestic demand amid subdued inflation will support Philippine economic growth this year and next, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a report released on Tuesday. The ADB, in its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2025 report, forecast the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to expand by 5.6 percent this year and 5.7 percent in 2026, compared with 5.7 percent growth last year.
The 2025 GDP projection was maintained from the ADB’s July ADO forecast, while the 2026 growth estimate was slightly lower than 5.8 percent in July. Still, the Philippines is forecast to remain a bright spot in Southeast Asia, with the second
highest GDP expansion in the region.
“The Philippines’ growth outlook remains resilient amid a global environment of shifting trade and investment policies and heightened geopolitical uncertainties,” said Andrew Jeffries, ADB Country Director for the Philippines. “Though these uncertainties pose increased risk, we see strong domestic demand anchoring growth, with sustained investments and an accommodative monetary policy supporting the economy’s expansion.”
The ADB forecast inflation to ease more this year than earlier projected, slowing to 1.8 percent before rising to 3.0 percent in 2026 to return to the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent. The latest 2025 inflation forecast is lower than the 2.2 percent predicted in July.
THE Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) said is strengthening its commitment to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to ensure government policies and programs directly improve the lives of Filipinos.
Speaking at the 12th M&E Network Forum, DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that progress should be measured not just by economic growth figures, but by whether government action “ease the burdens of ordinary Filipinos.”
“Impactful growth means better public services, more secure and sustainable livelihoods, and stronger public trust in government.
M&E plays a central role here,” Balisacan said.
“It helps us see whether commitments are being met, whether resources are used wisely, and, most importantly, whether programs are delivering real benefits to our people,” he said.
The forum, which brought together nearly 300 participants from government, civil society, the academe and development partners, underscored the need to integrate M&E into the government’s planning, budgeting and implementation processes.
The recent passage of Republic Act No. 12145, or the Economy, Planning and Development Act, strengthens DEPDev’s mandate for evidence-based policymaking. Discussions at the forum focused on how M&E can guide budget and planning under the new law, bridge data gaps, and ensure evaluation findings are used to improve government programs.
Balisacan said the forum was important to “turn the President’s mandate into action—to ensure that growth and public expenditure are translated into measurable outcomes and tangible benefits for every citizen.”
DEPDev is conducting several M&E initiatives in collaboration with partners across critical sectors such as agriculture, labor, health and social protection. The agency is also expanding its nationwide pool of evaluators through capacity-building efforts, including in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
By Othel V. Campos
PHILIPPINE exports grew at their slowest pace in eight months in August after the United States imposed a 19-percent
Total export sales in August 2025 amounted to $7.06 billion, up 4.6 percent from $6.75 billion a year ago, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Monday. In July 2025, exports went up 17.6 percent year-on-year.
The August performance brought total merchandise exports in the first
eight months of the year to $55.70 billion, an annual increase of 12.6 percent from $49.45 billion a year earlier.
Data from the PSA showed that merchandise exports to the US fell 11.2 percent to $1.09 billion in August 2025 from $1.22 billion a year ago.
Eight-month exports to the US still grew 9.1 percent to $8.85 billion from $8.11 billion a year earlier, mainly due to strong shipments in the first seven months before the new tariff took effect. Electronic products remained the country’s top exports in August with total earnings of $3.87 billion, or 54.8 percent of total exports, the PSA said. This was followed by other mineral products with an export value of $384.26 million (5.4 percent) and machinery and transport equipment with $363.65 million (5.1 percent).
By Darwin G. Amojelar
A CHINESE company submitted the lowest bid for the land component of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) project.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said eight qualified bidders submitted financial bids for Contract Package 1 (CP1).
These included China Harbour Engineering Company which offered P4.87 billion; followed by Beijing Urban Construction Group Co. Ltd. (P5.87 billion) and China Wu Yi Co.,
Ltd. (P5.87 billion).
Other submissions included Shou Road and Bridge Group Co. Ltd. (P6.002 billion); the joint venture of Human Road & Bridge Construction Group Co. Ltd. and China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. (P6.52 billion); the POSCO E&C-Sta. Clara Joint Venture (P7.04 billion); the EEIPMI Joint Venture (P7.19 billion); and D.M. Consunji (P7.82 billion). The CP1 for the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge involves the construction of the Bataan Land Approach, covering about 6.89 kilometer of
THE Philippines and the United Kingdom (UK) on Tuesday signed a technical memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen regulatory reform, institutional capacity, and the ease of doing business in the Southeast Asian country.
Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) director-general Ernesto Perez and the British Embassy in Manila’s Chargé d’Affaires, Edward Michael Welch, signed the deal at a ceremony at the Makati Diamond Residences. The MOU reinforces ARTA’s mandate under Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, by aligning local regulations with international standards and streamlining processes for
ramps. The DPWH said all these financial proposals are still subject for further evaluation.
According to the agency’s bid parameter, the bidder who obtained the highest combined technical and price score will be selected for contract award.
The $3.9-billion BCIB Project will be divided into seven contract packages, with the construction to begin first in the two on-land packages.
Package 1 refers to the 5-kilometer Bataan Land Approach and Package 2 involves the 1.35-kilometer Cavite Land Approach.
businesses and citizens, Perez said.
“We are serious about institutionalising quicker, smarter, and attuned regulations to the needs of citizens and businesses. Today’s memorandum of understanding is a concrete step in realising that call,” Perez said. Perez said cooperation with the UK would allow Philippine regulators to benefit from British expertise in reforming government systems, building technical capacity and implementing best practices. He recalled that the UK provided technical experts as early as 2019 to assist ARTA in developing the Philippine Good Regulatory Principles, which are patterned after the UK’s Regulators’ Code. Othel V.
4.6% 17.6% -11.2% PH export growth in August 2025 PH export growth in July 2025
Decline in exports to US in August 2025
9-month ecozone investments rose 33.5% to P154b
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said Tuesday it approved P154.704 billion worth of investments from January to September 2025, a 33.5-percent increase from P115.89 billion in the same period last year. The nine-month tally represented nearly 62 percent of PEZA’s P250billion full-year target.
The approved investments cover 215 new and expansion projects, up 20.1 percent from 179 projects a year earlier. These projects are expected to generate 50,430 direct jobs, a 40.6-percent year-on-year increase, and $4.49 billion in exports, a 78.7-percent rise from $2.51 billion in 2024.
“These approvals demonstrate enduring investor confidence in the Philippines... we are positioned to deliver even bigger economic wins for the country and our people,” PEZA director-general Tereso Panga said, noting the agency is on track to exceed its goal.
Japan led all investing nationalities with P14.778 billion in commitments, accounting for 9.55 percent of the total. This included a flagship P9.1-billion food processing facility in Tarlac, which was one of September’s biggest-ticket projects.
Other major investors came from the Cayman Islands, South Korea, China and the United States. PEZA approved 36 projects worth P48.869 billion in September, projected to create 10,312 direct jobs and $1.113 billion in exports. Eight of these were big-ticket ventures valued at P44.805 billion, led by the Japanese food facility and a new ecozone development in Quezon province. Othel V. Campos
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman and chief executive Alejandro Tengco (right) turns over a mock check worth P25 million to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Jaime Santiago, representing the first tranche of PAGCOR’s P50million financial grant to the bureau.
By Jenniffer B. Austria
he added. The lack of a positive catalyst contributed to the market’s decline. The mining and oil index led sectors, rising 1.45 percent, while the property sector saw the sharpest decline at 2.03 percent. Value turnover was strong
By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE Department of Energy (DOE) has released a circular on special allowances for petroleum service contractors. The goal is to attract more investments to accelerate the exploration, development, and use of the country’s petroleum resources.
The DOE issued Department Circular (DC) 2025-09-0017, which was signed by Energy Secretary Sharon Garin on Sept. 23, 2025. The circular addresses the low level of investment in domestic oil and gas exploration
ACEN units seeks to triple Zambales solar capacity
GIGASOL1 Inc., a subsidiary of ACEN Corp., announced plans to increase the generating capacity of its solar power plant located in Barangay Burgos, Botolan, Zambales, from 95 megawatts peak to 225.909 MWp, with an indicative project cost of P13.4 billion.
Gigasol1 filed documents with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to amend its previously approved environmental compliance xertificate issued on Oct. 14, 2023.
The certificate covers a solar power plant with a total generating capacity of 95 MW in an area of 400 hectares located at Barangay Burgos, Botolan, Zambales.
The amendment proposed to increase the capacity of the plant and also includes the development of a 14-kilometer access road traversing Barangays Poonbato and Burgos, which will support the expanded operations of the solar facility.
“The Gigasol1 Solar Power Plant Project aims to achieve sustainable development and supply electricity to the Luzon Grid to address the expected lack of supply and increasing demand for power. Aside from the employment opportunities that the project presents, the project intends to construct a means to harness clean and renewable energy for Luzon,” the company said.
The proposed project will need about 1,000 workers (skilled and nonskilled) during the construction phase and 50 during the operation.
Alena Mae S. Flores
due to the high risks involved in petroleum operations. The DOE stated there is a need to offer improved fiscal terms to service contractors. This is meant to complement other government initiatives to
attract more exploration and production companies, which will spur exploration and lead to the discovery of more domestic oil and gas fields.
The department noted that providing special allowances—which offer maximum benefits to the country and reasonable returns to private companies that assume all the risk—will make the Philippine service contract regime more attractive to investments and improve the state of oil and gas exploration in the country. The grant of a special allowance is also expected to induce the inflow of foreign investment capital, which could significantly contribute to
the country’s balance of payment.
“To spur exploration activities and encourage producing service contractors to invest in exploration activities in other service contracts, a special allowance for the cost recovery of exploration expenses from service contracts outside the producing service contract is hereby granted,” the circular stated.
This special allowance applies when a petroleum service contract already in the production phase has not fully used the 70 percent allowable reimbursement of all operating expenses from production in any year. The special allowance on cost recovery
will be computed proportionally to the service contractor’s participating interest in the production-phase contract. If the service contract where the exploration is being undertaken later converts to production, the operating expenses recovered under this special allowance are no longer recoverable. To encourage the discovery of new petroleum sources in untested geologic plays in productive basins, the DOE granted a special allowance of 5 percent of the gross proceeds. This allowance will be granted only to the first commercial development of such a new geologic play in the basin.
By Othel V. Campos
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) welcomed the House of Representatives’ approval Monday of its proposed P216.1 billion budget for 2026, an allocation P39.4 billion higher than the original P176.7 billion.
The additional funds will support major agricultural infrastructure, expand crop insurance and strengthen productivity programs, particularly for high-impact commodities such as coconut.
Pampanga Rep. Anna York Bon-
doc, who defended the DA budget during plenary debates, said the government recognizes agriculture as a vital economic pillar, employing nearly one in five Filipinos and contributing close to 10 percent of gross domestic product.
“This means direct support for hardworking farmers, better technology for our fisherfolk, and a more stable, resilient food supply for every Filipino family,” she said.
Bondoc added that while House approval is a significant step in the bud-
By Darwin G. Amojelar
THE Blockchain Council of the Philippines (BCP)—a nonstock, nonprofit organization of blockchain professionals committed to the responsible use of the technology—has teamed up with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to roll out Integrity Chain. The blockchainpowered platform is designed to embed transparency, accountability and public trust into national infrastructure projects.
Through a memorandum of agreement signed on Sept. 30, 2025, BCP president Dr. Donald Patrick Lim and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon committed to digitizing and securing key data on selected national projects— such as budgets, procurement processes and construction milestones— on an immutable, public-facing blockchain ledger.
get process, she will help shepherd the measure through the Senate and bicameral conference committee.
The budget increase is part of a broader realignment ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who redirected more than P250 billion in funds from controversial flood control projects toward agriculture, education and social welfare.
Of the P39.4 billion increase, P22.5 billion will go to the DA’s Office of the Secretary for flagship projects such as farm-to-market roads, cold
“By placing our foreign-assisted projects—those funded by Official Development Assistance (ODA)— on the Integrity Chain, we welcome the scrutiny of the private sector, academe and civil society,” Dizon said. “This is DPWH’s strong response to the president’s directive to ensure transparency and accountability is enforced for its projects.”
“On behalf of the president, on behalf of the entire cabinet, on behalf of the entire government, thank you for this because this is really what we should all do,” he added. “From the budget process to the procurement process, to the award of the contract, to the implementation of the project, to the monitoring of the project, to the payments made to the contractors, to the acceptance of the project. Everyone should be watching now, everyone.”
storage facilities and solar-powered irrigation systems. The remaining P16.9 billion will be used to fund coconut replanting, enhanced crop insurance, fish port upgrades, farm-to-mill roads in sugar areas and modern post-harvest facilities.
“This increased budget brings us closer to President Marcos’s vision of a food-secure Philippines—where agriculture is modern and investmentworthy, and farming is a viable and profitable venture,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
AROUND 3,000 scholars of the provincial government of Pampanga gathered at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center on September 30 for an information and education campaign (IEC) on national security and the West Philippine Sea (WPS), led by the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines. The activity was organized by NOLCOM, through the 1st Civil Relations Group (1CRG), in partnership with the provincial government headed by Governor Lilia G. Pineda. It coincided with the distribution of educational financial assistance to the scholars.
Colonel Enrique G. Rafael, group commander of the 1CRG, said the initiative aims to strengthen young people’s awareness of issues tied to national security, including deceptive recruitment by armed groups and the importance of maritime sovereignty. “As Iskolar ng Bayan, it is fitting that our students are informed about
the challenges we face, from internal threats to issues in the West Philippine Sea. We want them empowered to stand firm and contribute to safeguarding peace and sovereignty,” he said. NOLCOM officials also thanked the provincial government for supporting the effort to engage young people on national issues. “Our part-
nerships exemplify our collective approach in the attainment of inclusive and sustainable peace,” Rafael added. Organizers noted that this activity is part of a series of IEC campaigns across NOLCOM’s operational area to help students and communities better understand their role in promoting national security, peace, and resilience.
COMMUNITY-LED marine protection efforts took center stage at the 10th Para el MAR (Marine Protected Area Awards & Recognition), held September 17–18 at the Zuri Hotel and attended by more than 200 participants nationwide.
The 2025 edition, which also marked the Marine Protected Area Support Network’s (MSN) 20th anniversary, carried the theme “Bantay Karagatan, Bantay Kinabukasan: Local Action for Biodiversity and the Future.” Top honors reflected work on the ground as Balisungan Marine Protected Area in Coron, Palawan—a women-managed mangrove site—was named Best Mangrove Award Champion while Ranzo Fish Sanctuary in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro took 1st Place, Outstanding LocallyManaged MPA. Meanwhile, the Southern Negros Coastal Development Management Council (SNCDMC) earned 1st Place, Outstanding Network, as Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape was declared Outstanding NIPAS MPA Champion, underscoring the value of large, well-managed seascapes to both biodiversity and local fisheries.
FIVE Filipino air-conditioning installers are set to represent the country at the ASEAN Grand Finals of the Midea Club Flash Installation Tournament 2025 in China this November, after excelling in the national semi-finals.
The finalists — Joseph Rebulado (1st place), Homer Tibay (2nd), Mark Kevin Peña (3rd), Jeorme Pumaren (4th), and Vincent Gubat (5th) — earned their spots after showcasing skill and speed in the nationwide rounds of the competition, which drew thousands of participants across Southeast Asia. Each winner received a plaque and cash prize in recognition of their performance.
Organizers said the tournament, themed “Master Speed, More Profits,” aims to celebrate the craftsmanship of installers and highlight their role in raising industry standards for air-conditioning services. The Philippine representatives will face counterparts from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam in the grand finals from November 11 to 13, 2025, where the regional champion will take home USD 5,000.
The full winners’ table also recognized runners-up across categories, including Avila Mangrove Reserve (Cadiz City), Siruma Mangrove Local Conservation Area (Camarines Sur), Bauang Bakawan EcoTourism Park (La Union), the Calamianes MPA Network, Shark Fin Bay MPA Network (Taytay, Palawan), Masinloc-Oyon Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape, and Cuatro Islas Protected Landscape and Seascape.
Special citations highlighted enforcement and scale: Punta Ilag Fish Sanctuary (San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro) won Best in Enforcement for locally managed MPAs; Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape received the Best in Enforcement citation for NIPAS MPAs; Ranzo Fish Sanctuary received the Savior of the Sea Award; and Concepcion-Sagrada-Bogtong MPA
Director, CMIP)
For the local winners, the competition is not just about recognition but also an opportunity to showcase the skills of Filipino workers on an international stage. Many of them come from years of experience in the field, honing their craft through everyday service in homes and
pines (CMIP). “We are proud to see them carry that excellence to the ASEAN stage.”
The Midea Club Flash Installation Tournament is considered the largest profession-
al air conditioner installation competition in Southeast Asia, with more than 10,000 participating installers from five countries. It serves as both a skills challenge and a venue for installers to learn from one another. The competition is organized through Midea Club, the brand’s installer and technician support program, which offers training, certification, rewards, and digital tools to HVAC professionals. Through the app, members can log installations, access resources, and take part in exclusive activities such as the tournament. Trusted worldwide for its home and business solutions, Midea says its goal is not only to innovate products but also to support the workers who bring these technologies to communities.
(Busuanga, Palawan) earned the Largest MPA Award for the extent of its no-take core zone.
Beyond awarding, Para el MAR doubled as a learning forum. Sessions covered marine spatial planning and the blue economy, coral restoration governance, blue carbon, R&D for the Ocean Decade, and establishing new protected seascapes, with speakers from DENR-BMB, DA-BFAR, GIZ (SOMACORE), DOST-PCAARRD, UP Marine Science Institute/MERF, ZSL-Philippines, Oceana, and the Jollibee Group Foundation, among others.
Cultural performances by Tribu Paghidaet (Dinagyang 2025 champions) and local band Maharlika Bahandi added a distinctly Iloilo touch to Champions’ Night, the culminating awards program. First mounted in 2007 and now held bi-
ennially, Para el MAR—Spanish for “for the sea” and also an acronym for the Marine Protected Area Awards and Recognition— celebrates communities, organizations, MPA managers and practitioners, and local leaders whose work safeguards coastal and marine resources.
This year’s co-presenters and partners included ZSL-Philippines, DA-BFAR, DENR-BMB, the Jollibee Group Foundation, and organizations advancing the Philippine National Marine 30x30 Target, with support from international funders and programs; major support also came from GIZ (SOMACORE), DOST-PCAARRD, the Coral Restoration Governance Project (UTS, MERF, Macquarie, SCU, via ACIAR), Pacific Environment, and MERF, with additional sponsors Oceana, Rare, WWF-Philippines, and First Gen.
Over 1,000 Filipino students to benefit from landmark green jobs program
THE initiative—covering schools in Manila and Cebu and supporting over 1,000 students—aims to equip young Filipinos with the skills, confidence and opportunities to succeed in the growing green economy.
Backed by leading financial services firm
JPMorganChase and its network of employee volunteers, Career Connect combines training, mentorship and industry exposure to prepare students for sustainable careers. Beyond employability, it fosters leadership, problem-solving and awareness of environmental responsibility—helping to ensure that participants are ready not just for jobs, but for lifelong impact.
“Career Connect is about building pathways for young people into the jobs of the future,” said Krishna Alejandrino, Executive Director of JA Philippines. “Through
the support of JPMorganChase and DepEd, we are preparing students not only to succeed in their careers, but to become leaders who will shape a more sustainable future for our country.”
“Our global programs such as Career Connect, encapsulates our vision for a brighter future for disadvantaged youth in the Philippines. By sparking their curiosity about emerging fields like the green economy, we hope to encourage them to pursue careers in and develop solutions for this growing sector. In addition, we hope to strengthen our commitment to the communities where we live and work by engaging our own employee volunteers in this meaningful endeavor,” said Bettina Salmo, head of JPMorganChase’s Corporate Centers in the Philippines.
and representatives from
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2025 lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
British alt-pop artist builds a universe of sound and vision with new EP
By Angelica Villanueva
FOR British alt-pop artist Tiggi Hawke, music has always transcended sound. It’s a way to create a universe where art, emotion, and imagination intersect.
Her new single “Calling Earth” and four-track EP invite listeners to enter this world, shaped by connection, duality, and daring artistic choices.
“I’m quite a visual person, so I really try to bring that artistic side into it as well. It’s not just the sound, it’s also the visuals,” Tiggi told Manila Standard Entertainment
That vision takes shape in her collaborations with a photographer who has helped design the EP’s flower-themed artworks.
Initially hesitant, Tiggi said she once rejected the idea of flowers as “too delicate, too feminine.” But she discovered their complexity—both fragile and fierce.
“They can be quite deadly. They can be stunning. The shapes are so alien sometimes. If you had told me I would be doing that, I wouldn’t have believed you. But a year ago, I was like, ‘I don’t do flowers. No, I don’t do flowers.’ But now, here we are,” she explained.
“Calling Earth,” the EP’s lead single, explores the paradox of living in a hyper-connected yet disconnected age. Built around electronic textures and intimate lyrics, the track features a unique middle eight where friends contributed phrases in their native languages—including English, French, Italian, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, and Tagalog—all reciting the same cryptic message: “The number you have dialed is not available.”
“For me, the song is about trying to reach out and make that connection to people. Even though we’ve never been so connected, we’ve also never been so disconnected. Sometimes I feel that myself,” she shared.
Tiggi, who first gained recognition from BBC Radio 1 and Kiss, credits her resilience to the encouragement of people around her during moments of doubt.
“There’ve been times when I was going to quit. But I’ve had people supporting me, turning me in good directions. Without that, I wouldn’t be here,” Tiggi revealed.
That support has also come from unexpected places—including the Philippines, where she has quickly built a following after visiting earlier this year. She recalled discovering local food like sisig, chicharon, and green mangoes with bagoong laughing about the “surprising” mix of flavors.
“Everyone has been so lovely, so welcoming. I’m just humbled by the fact that people listen to my music in different places. That’s crazy,” she said. Her connection to Filipino fans deepened when she covered Lola Amour’s viral hit “Raining in Manila,” which she learned phonetically despite admitting her Tagalog was “terrible.”
“It sounded amazing. I don’t know how long the show was, but I felt like five minutes. I was just watching it. It was done,” Tiggi shared, recalling watching the band in person.
As she looks ahead, Tiggi said her focus remains on creating a space where music and art break boundaries.
“I would like this universe to be somewhere where I can be myself, but also where everyone can just be themselves,” she said.
“Be weird, be wonderful, be whoever. There are no rules—it’s just a creative free-for-all space,” Tiggi stated.
By Jasper Valdez
IT’S quite safe to say that winning The Clash 2023 was only the beginning for John Rex Baculfo
The young balladeer is now learning that the real challenge comes when the thrill of winning gives way to the realities of showbiz—and with it, the pressure of living up to expectations.
Speaking at a GMA Playlist event on Sept. 25, John Rex talked about his journey and how every
J.K. Rowling attacks ‘ignorant’ Harry Potter star
HARRY Potter author J.K. Rowling on Monday condemned Emma Watson as “ignorant” over her transgender rights views, in a stinging riposte to the former child star.
In a long post on X, the writer expressed her irritation that Watson, 35, and Daniel Radcliffe, 36–who starred in the film adaptations of Rowling’s best-selling books–”continue to assume the role of de facto spokespeople for the world I created.”
Radcliffe, who played boy wizard Potter, and Watson, who played his friend Hermione Granger, have both taken issue with Rowling’s stance on gender issues.
But Rowling, who has not previously been so outspoken about Watson, suggested that the star’s privilege meant she was unable to properly grasp the issues at stake.
“I wasn’t a multimillionaire at fourteen. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous,” she said. “I therefore understand from my own life experience what the trashing of women’s rights in which Emma has so enthusiastically participated means to women and
step in his career still feels new.
“Right now, everything that’s happening to me feels like a new experience,” he said. “I’m pushing myself to live up to people’s expectations. I don’t always know how I’m going to do it, but I just keep going.”
That honesty comes as he takes on his latest project: recording “Kahit Wala Nang Tayo,” the official theme song for the GMA Afternoon Prime drama Cruz vs. Cruz
The track speaks of guilt, sorrow, and longing for a love that may never return. It is a theme he admits he does not fully share from personal experience, but one he still found a way to make his own.
“In my past relationships, once we broke up, that was it—there was no waiting,” he confessed. “But maybe that part of me, that perspective, I put into the song. Even if I can’t say it out loud, I put it in the music so people can hear it.” It is this approach—making songs personal even when the story is not his—that defines how John Rex views his craft. He believes music
should do more than showcase vocals; it should resonate with listeners.
“For me, being a storyteller isn’t just about singing or performing. The message has to reach the audience. It’s really about touching people’s hearts,” he said.
That belief in authenticity extends beyond the studio. Just as he wants his music to connect with people, he also hopes fans will value real connections in their own lives.
With social media consuming so much time, he thinks it is important to step away from screens.
“Maybe what we can encourage kids today to do is go out more when we have the time,” he said. “Even adults who are always on social media should spend time outside with their families.”
Grounded in this outlook, John Rex admits he is still searching for stability as his career grows. But even with uncertainty, he remains determined.
“I’m still looking for that place I can call home. But for now, I just keep pushing myself, and I think I’m doing enough,” he said.
girls without her privileges.”
Rowling has long been at the forefront of the debate about gender identity and has previously denounced trans activism, leading to accusations of transphobia. She has defended herself, saying her concern was the impact it has on women’s rights and single-sex spaces for women.
Rowling, 60, also revealed her annoyance at receiving a one-line note from Watson in 2022.
Following an awards ceremony at which Watson publicly made a dig at Rowling she sent her a message saying, “I’m so sorry for what you’re going through.”
“This was back when the death, rape, and torture threats against me were at their peak, at a time when my personal security measures had to be tightened considerably and I was constantly worried for my family’s safety,” the author said.
“Emma had just publicly poured more petrol
on the flames, yet thought a one-line expression of concern from her would reassure me of her fundamental sympathy and kindness,” she said. Rowling also hinted she had only decided to be “this honest” about the Beauty and the Beast and Little Women actress now because of comments last week in which Watson announced that she still loved and treasured the author.
This was “a change of tack I suspect she’s adopted because she’s noticed full-throated condemnation of me is no longer quite as fashionable as it was,” Rowling said. “Adults can’t expect to cozy up to an activist movement that regularly calls for a friend’s assassination, then assert their right to the former friend’s love. Emma is rightly free to disagree with me and indeed to discuss her feelings about me in public, but I have the same right, and I’ve finally decided to exercise it,” she said. AFP
AT THE recent Manila Illustration Fair at the UP College of Fine Arts, Paul Klee’s dictum that “drawing is taking a line for a walk” found vivid expression.
For Klee, drawing was not merely an act of copying or imitation but a process of exploration into movement, space, and rhythm. It is a philosophical view that treats the line not as a rigid boundary but as an unfolding path of imagination— arranging forms playfully and organically rather than fixating on strict representation. To take a line for a walk is to allow it to lead you toward aspiration, documentation, or the registering of emotion.
Manila has steadily grown into a city teeming with conventions, fairs, and cultural gatherings.
The Illustration Fair is part of this vibrancy, demonstrating that Filipinos are not only consuming art but also producing it—often as an act of persistence in the face of technological upheaval.
With artificial intelligence increasingly relied upon by corporations, one might assume that handdrawn illustration risks obsolescence. Yet the fair proved the opposite: illustration is still vital to the creative ecosystem. It carries within it the human element of deliberation, accident, and memory, resisting the flattening tendencies of machinegenerated images.
The role of illustration, after all, has always been about clarity and insight. The very word “illustration” shares roots with “illumination”— to shed light, to make something clear. From the earliest cave drawings that encoded memory on stone walls to the classroom doodles that researchers now recognize as aids to focus, drawing is more than mark-making.
A FEW weeks ago, I finally had the chance to visit Imahica Art Gallery—an independent art space tucked away in a modest building along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong. Despite receiving numerous invitations to attend the openings of their previous exhibitions, this was my first time stepping into the gallery. For one reason or another, I always seemed to miss them, so finally being there felt long overdue.
That evening, I braved the traffic and rain to catch the opening of their latest exhibit, Triadico, featuring the works of women artists Jinky Rayo, Millet Sacerdoti, and Butchie Peña
The exhibit features three distinct artistic voices, converging in a luminous celebration of creativity, collaboration, and diversity. It is a visual collective dialogue with layered, textured, and deeply human conversations led by the three artists. Working across mediums like watercolor, acrylic, oil, gouache, and mixed media, the three women weave their personal narratives into a shared artistic tapestry, inviting viewers to witness the intersections of identity, culture, memory, and transformation.
Together, they challenge the notion that the self must be separate from the collective. In fact, Triadico thrives on the tension and harmony between difference and unity, showing that individuality—when embraced—can elevate the collective voice rather than dilute it. Triadico is an encouragement on identity, transformation, and shared vision.
The self-taught virtuoso of watercolor Carina Alejandrino Rayo, affectionately known as Jinky Rayo, brings to Triadico the fluid grace and emotional resonance of watercolor, a medium she has mastered with remarkable depth. Her journey from Davao to international acclaim is one of quiet determination and relentless exploration.
Self-taught yet globally recognized, Jinky navigates still life, landscape, portrait, and abstract genres with a blend of emotion and imagination. Since 2012, she has staged six solo shows and joined more than 100 local and international group exhibitions. Her compositions and masterful use of color have earned her wide recognition and admiration from peers and audiences alike. In 2021, Jinky won at the IWS Singapore and
Anthropologists and neurologists alike argue that it is also a form of thinking. To draw is to externalize thought, to make the invisible visible.
The Manila Illustration Fair revealed the abundance of such thinking: diverse voices, varied media, and styles that embody the plurality of Philippine imagination.
Even established painters are embracing the medium’s possibilities. Rodel Tapaya, renowned for his sprawling canvases filled with myths, folklore, and fractured histories, has entered the realm of the graphic novel. His —launched at the fair— takes its title from the Filipino word for howl. It follows a dog named Chi-Chi who witnesses the violence and complications of modern life.
The howl becomes a metaphor: a cry against uncertainty, a call that echoes through the noise of the present. Tapaya’s move into sequential art shows how lines can shift scale—from monumental paintings to intimate panels—yet still carry the same urgency.
The fair also extended beyond the local. Baraa Awoor, unable to travel to Manila, presented lush works from Egypt. Her drawings, reminiscent of magical books of tales, resonate all the more given the struggles of her homeland. That her lines still
take flight, unbound by borders, is a testament to art’s capacity to imagine freedom even amid constraint. In the end, the fair affirmed Klee’s insight. Every illustrator present had taken their line for a walk, and each path led somewhere distinct—toward myth, memory, protest, or wonder. Together, they showed that drawing remains not only a form of seeing but a way of being in the world. You may reach Chong Ardivilla at kartunistatonto@ gmail.com or chonggo.bsky.social.
IWS France Pyrenees watercolor competitions. She also earned top honors at Malaysia’s International Fine Arts Movement (IFAM) Competition and Exhibition for three consecutive years starting in 2019. She co-founded both the Philippine Guild of Watercolorists and the International Watercolor Society Philippines, serving as president of each. Through these roles, she has fostered camaraderie among artists and advanced watercolor as a vibrant art form. Despite her achievements, Jinky’s work remains accessible and rooted in genuine emotion. She continues to push creative boundaries, inspiring others with her passion for watercolor—a legacy that shines as a beacon of innovation and artistry on the global stage. The Psychedelic Symbolist In contrast to Jinky’s fluid naturalism, Millet Sacerdoti’s works dive into the subconscious through layered color, symbolism, and spiritual geometry. A self-taught artist, she blends abstraction, psychedelic influences, and textured surfaces.
Raised in Paco, Manila, Millet began in publishing and interior design before committing
to painting in 2012. Her practice features mandalas, imagined flora, hidden messages, and symbolic patterns, often rendered in vibrant hues and upcycled materials.
Living with epilepsy and bipolar disorder since birth, she turns personal challenges into art that embodies resilience and imagination. From her Tagaytay studio, she advocates for accessible art and mentors younger artists through workshops and collaborations. Her paintings have been exhibited in the Philippines and abroad, including watercolor festivals in Urbino, Italy, and are part of collections across Asia, Europe, and the United States. A founding member and board director of the United Women Artists Association of the Philippines, she is also active in the Philippine Guild of Watercolorists and Artistica Ph.
The Quiet Power of the Everyday For Triadico, Butchie Diano-Peña’s paintings are imbued with the stillness of observation and the lyricism of memory.
A painter and art director, Butchie explores florals, still life, and domestic scenes that echo memory and everyday life in her artworks.
A graduate of fine arts with a major in painting
from the University of Santo Tomas, she was first mentored by her mother, also a painter and advertising director, whose lessons deeply shaped her approach to art. Her career initially flourished in publishing, where she worked for more than a decade as an art director and collaborated on lifestyle books. After nearly 20 years away from professional painting, she rediscovered her practice through watercolor, a medium that challenged her and rekindled her passion. In 2023, she joined the United Women Artists Association of the Philippines and exhibited works centered on still life and botanicals, marking a significant milestone in her journey. Today, Butchie continues to share her art through group exhibitions and advocates for greater accessibility in the arts. Her works merge the quiet poetry of still life with arrangements of forgotten objects set against raw, distressed abstract backgrounds where colors bleed, textures fracture, and silence hums with unrest.
Catch Triadico until Oct. 4 at the Imahica Art Gallery, located at 2A Lee Gardens, Shaw Blvd. corner Lee St., Mandaluyong City. Check out their website: https://imahica.art
By Angelica Villanueva
ESS
LThe Philippine School of Interior Design-Ahlen Institute (PSID-Ahlen) opened its 48th graduation showcase, Designs of Christmas Exhibit (D.O.C.E.), featuring 12 installations crafted by batch 2025. The exhibit offers fresh perspectives on how the
country’s most cherished holiday can be expressed in culture, chronology, color, and character.
“You are here to witness a sneak preview of D.O.C.E.—12 booths that show how Christmas can be interpreted through design. Our
students rose to the challenge, creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also meaningful,” said interior designer and PSID professor Pojie Pambid
Each gallery tells a different story. The Chronology of Christmas explores design across three eras—Victorian grandeur with steampunk flourishes, Manhattan-style Art Deco infused with bohemian warmth, and a Brutalist entertainment room where a dramatic upside-down tree hangs from the ceiling.
“We wanted to push boundaries. By inverting the Christmas tree, we show that even traditions can be turned on their head while still keeping their meaning intact,” said one of the interior
designers of the Brutalist exhibit. The Culture of Christmas highlights how different countries celebrate the season: Mexico’s solemn yet vibrant Las Posadas, Brazil’s carnival-inspired festivities, and a Filipino lanai designed around Simbang Gabi.
“We chose Mexico because it has both solemn and festive sides to Christmas. That’s why we created a chandelier shaped like a piñata; it symbolizes joy, community, and devotion all at once,” said the interior designer from Las Posadas.
In the Colors of Christmas, students challenged the conventional redand-green palette. Booths feature unconventional schemes—lilac and icy
blue in Liloura Lush, chocolate and mint in Velvet Frost, russet and orange in Spiced Ember, and crystalline tones in Noël Aurora, inspired by the Northern Lights. Finally, the Character of Christmas explores moods and settings: a cosmopolitan bachelor pad with geometric accents and a French provincial-inspired living room where a ceiling-mounted tree glows above a rustic hearth.
Pambid, who co-advised the exhibit with Vicky Jardineel, said the showcase reflects how Filipino tastes have matured over the years.
“Gone are the days when houses were decorated with giant spoonand-fork sets or tinikling dancers on the wall. Today, design is more curated, more personalized, and more experimental, even during Christmas,” he shared.
Since 1979, PSID’s graduation shows have tested students’ ability to conceptualize and execute fullscale spaces under tight deadlines. This year, themes were randomly assigned, pushing students to adapt creatively while keeping holiday traditions at the heart of their designs.
The halls were filled with students, faculty, and guests exploring booths that balanced innovation with nostalgia. Some spaces drew inspiration from history, others from global influences, but all sought to capture the enduring spirit of Christmas—togetherness, imagination, and joy.
The Designs of Christmas Exhibit runs until Oct. 31.
