Author: gqSbgCfmna

November 12, 2025 | 5:43pm

MANILA, Philippines — Kapamilya actor Gerald Anderson will be up against immense physical odds when he faces mixed martial artist Mark “Mugen” Striegl and boxing champion Rodex “The Tank” Piala in the upcoming finale of his show “Sins of the Father.”

Series producer JRB Creative Production posted a reel on Instagram showing Gerald, Mugen, and Rodex practicing stuntwork.

“Dalawang mandirigmang haharapin ni Samuel sa isang matinding laban! Abangan!” the production company teased in its caption.

In the video, Gerald said he really admired Mugen and Rodex during the filming of their scene as it came off looking real.

“Real fighters, mas real ‘yung eksena,” Gerald said. “There’s one move na tinuhod ako na parang nandito na (sa noo), humalik lang sa akin ‘yung tuhod, ‘di ko alam kung paano ginawa ‘yon pero ang galing.”

The actor called making a fight scene with Rodex quite an experience after noticing how different his speed was.

“Kumpara doon sa naka-fight ko and obviously sa mga stunt doubles which is a different kind of technique. Ito talaga boksingero kasi and he’s a current champion,” Gerald praised the boxer, expressing hopes he’d work with both athletes again soon.

Mugen is also a sambo gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games and gained wider attention after representing the Philippines in Netflix’s “Physical: Asia” with Manny Pacquiao and four other Filipino athletes.

Rodex is the current World Boxing Organization Oriental Super Featherweight titleholder, a title he won after defeating Yeerjialahasi Laayibieke last February.

RELATED: Mark Striegl, Justin Coveney, Ray Querubin proud to represent Philippines in ‘Physical Asia’

November 12, 2025 | 5:35pm

MANILA, Philippines — Three months after its creation, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure has now appeared to identify 80 flood control projects that it would prioritize in its ongoing investigation and case development, the commission’s special adviser said Wednesday, November 12. 

The 80 projects are connected to the “15 or 18” contractors that Marcos identified in August as having cornered the lion’s share of all flood control works, ICI Special Adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. told reporters. The commission is investigating 421 projects total.

Azurin said the ICI will inspect flood control works in the Ilocos region this week and in Central Cebu by Sunday, targeting areas hit hard by recent typhoons.

Specifically, the ICI will focus its probe on Central Cebu, particularly Cebu City and Mandaue, where recent floods from Typhoon Tino caused some of the worst damage, Azurin said. 

The inspection aims to determine why severe flooding occurred despite the large sums already allocated for flood control projects in the area, he added.

He cited Cebu Governor. Pamela Baricuatro’s earlier statement that the province had received over P26 billion in funding for flood control.

The ICI is getting bid documents through the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the National Bureau of Investigation, both of which have subpoena power. “We need to study the bid documents. Ibabangga namin ‘yan sa actual na implementation (We will cross-check that against the actual implementation),” Azurin said.

The commission held a meeting with the Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Justice, NBI, Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine National Police, and Armed Forces at Camp Crame on Wednesday. They are planning to create a “unified action plan” to prepare for the possible prosecution of individuals and entities that have ties to anomalous flood control works. 

In August, Marcos revealed that just 15 contractors secured nearly 20% of the P545.65 billion allocated for flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025 

November 12, 2025 | 5:25pm

Games on Saturday 

(Smart Araneta Coliseum) 

7:30 a.m. – UST vs ADMU (U16) 

9:30 a.m. – UE vs NUNS (U16) 

11:30 a.m. – UE vs NU (women) 

1:30 p.m. – UE vs NU (men) 

4:30 p.m. – UST vs ADMU (men) 

7 p.m. – UST VS ADMU (women) 

MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas scored a wire-to-wire 109-97 win over the listless University of the East and created a slight separation from the pack for the coveted fourth seed in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Wednesay at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Growling Tigers broke the gates wide open at 33-16 and never relaxed from there en route to their first but much-needed win in the second round that propelled them to a solo fourth place for now with a 5-5 slate.

UST, which waxed hot early with a 5-1 start after big wins against top contenders UP and La Salle, snapped a four-game skid for a momentary breather from Ateneo (5-5), Adamson (5-6) and Far Eastern University (4-6) in a mad scramble to the Final Four with three games to go.

“It was a tough stretch for us with four straight losses. Hindi namin maintindihan kung anong naging problema pero credit lang din sa players na through adversity, we stuck together. Kahit mahirap, naniwala sila sa isa’t,” said assistant coach Japs Cuan as the Growling Tigers brace for a crucial outing against the Blue Eagles right behind them this Saturday. 

Nic Cabañero scored a game-high 19 points in only 23 minutes of play, including 11 in the second half, while Collins Akowe hauled down a 16-16 double-double for Santos Tomas in a repeat win over UE after an almost similar 111-99 win in the first round.

Gelo Cristostomo, Forthsky Padrigao and Amiel Acido had 14, 11 and 10 points, respectively, as all but one of 15 Growling Tigers racked up the scoring board in the coast-to-coast win.

Licking the wounds of a stinging 89-88 defeat to reigning champion UP, Santo Tomas imposed its will right from the get go and went cruise control with a 27-point lead in the third quarter before needing one last hurrah to fend off any comeback left from the hungry UE out to post a maiden triumph.

The Red Warriors came to as close to 83-92 on a 23-10 rally in the last three minutes but the Growling Tigers were quick to restore order on an 8-0 retaliation capped by Mark Llemit’s triple on their way to a 12-point win.

Wello Lingolingo posted 18 points while Dylan Despi and Precious Momowei tallied 17 points apiece to lead the also-ran Red Warriors (0-11), who absorbed their 18th straight defeat dating back to the second round last season after an impressive 5-2 start.

In women’s basketball, Kent Pastrana rifled in a career-high of 35 points as Final Four-bound Santo Tomas (11-0) moved closer to a season sweep after a 125-50 trashing of UE (0-11), which slid to its 22nd straight loss since ending a 40-game skid last season.

The scores:

UST 109 – Cabañero 19, Akowe 16, Crisostomo 14, Padrigao 11, Acido 10, Paranada 7, Llemit 6, Estacio 5, Buenaflor 5, Danting 5, Calum 4, Manding 3, Bangco 2, Laure 2, Bucsit 0.

UE 97 – Lingolingo 18, Despi 17, Momowei 17, Jimenez 15, Lagat 13, Cruz-Dumont 9, Datumalim 7, Distrito 1, Tañedo 0, Mulingtapang 0, Malaga 0, Robles 0.

Quarterscores: 33-16, 57-41, 87-67, 109-97

November 12, 2025 | 5:16pm

MANILA, Philippines — Several members of the National Unity Party (NUP) in the House of Representatives have filed a bill seeking to convene a constitutional convention to amend what they described as vague provisions in the 1987 Constitution by July 2026.

In the explanatory note of House Bill 5870, the measure’s 22 authors said the 1987 Constitution contains “ambiguities and procedural lapses,” including “outdated provisions” that have “created confusion and weakened institutional accountability.”

They clarified that the proposed amendments and revisions are not intended to overhaul the Constitution but to “correct its errors” and “fulfill” its intention by completing the project with greater clarity and coherence. 

Among the provisions the lawmakers flagged was the rule on impeachment proceedings, which Article XI, Section 3(4) of the Constitution states “shall forthwith proceed.” They cited the case of Vice President Sara Duterte, whose impeachment trial in the Senate never took place even months after the House impeached her. 

The bill’s authors said the “partisan dispute” surrounding Duterte’s impeachment has led lawmakers and experts to interpret the term “forthwith” differently, which they believe “undermines constitutional accountability.”

It ended up with the Supreme Court voiding the impeachment altogether based on due process violations and the one-year bar rule. The Senate eventually voted to archive the articles of impeachment, even though the high court’s ruling is still pending a final ruling due to the filed motion for reconsideration.

Article VII, Section 19 and Article VI, Section 28(4) were also contested for failing to clearly specify whether Congress should decide on tax exemption laws and presidential amnesty as separate chambers or together.

“A Constitution that lacks textual precision ceases to serve as a reliable guide for government action. It becomes vulnerable to manipulation and incapable of protecting the rule of law,” the explanatory note read.

Constitutional changes in the Philippines can be made through a constitutional convention, a constituent assembly, or a people’s initiative, differing mainly in how amendments are proposed and who votes on them.

Under a convention, as the NUP proposes, two-thirds of Congress must approve, and 150 delegates elected by the public must review and propose amendments. A constituent assembly requires three-fourths of all lawmakers’ approval, while a people’s initiative needs signatures from at least 12% of registered voters.

Several resolutions have already been filed seeking other amendments to the Constitution. Rep. Alfredo Garbin and Rep. Richard Gomez have proposed technical changes to provisions referring to the country’s economy and national territory.

Another resolution, filed by leaders of the House majority bloc in September, seeks to lower the age requirement for Filipinos running for president, vice president, and senator, aiming to encourage more young citizens to participate in nation-building.

The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments said on Wednesday, November 12, that a whole-day hearing will be held on December 3 to fast-track discussions on whether a constitutional convention or assembly should be held to hear the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution. 

November 12, 2025 | 5:01pm

MANILA, Philippines — The freshly dropped episode of the much-talked about “Physical Asia” series drew knee-jerk reactions from many of its Filipino fans as it brought a news many viewers did not want to know.

Team Philippines bowed out of the intense reality TV competition where the best athletes and physical fitness enthusiasts try to outlast and outwit each other in every quest. The format saw eight countries, including the Philippines, fighting over various strength and endurance challenges. 

The latest episode saw newly introduced team member Justin Hernandez, a CrossFitter, battle it out with contestants from Australia and South Korea in Group A. At the end of the sack throw challenge, Hernandez failed to outlast his Korean opponent, Amotti, who was the champion of the second season of “Physical 100”. The latter is the main show from South Korea from where the regional format took inspiration from. 

Hernandez’s short stint in the show followed the exit of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao as seen in the fifth episode due to other “obligations” he had to attend to. The Filipino boxing icon was tapped as the team’s captain. He was replaced by national rugby player Justin Coveney. 

Apart from Coveney, Querubin, Hernandez and Striegl, Team Philippines was represented by Olympic athlete Robyn Lauren Brown and CrossFit champion Lara Liwanag. 

The Philippines joins Turkey, Thailand and Indonesia among the eliminated countries. 

‘Honored and privileged’

Coveney, Striegl and Querubin all thanked their fellow Filipinos for watching the show and for cheering them on in every quest. 

“Maraming salamat to all our Filipino supporters and to everyone around the world who cheered us on throughout this journey! We fought with pride and with heart and we hope we have made you all proud,” Coveney wrote on his social media accounts. 

Ray Querubin shared the same sentiments, adding that he and his teammates learned a lot in their short time together. He also stressed about the power of a team relying on unity, rather than “muscles.” 

“It’s a great honor to represent our country in Netflix: Physical Asia. We’ve learned a lot during this competition, understanding our own strengths and weaknesses while building a strong team. We have witnessed blood, tears, pain, and success. The real power of a team isn’t in muscles — it’s in unity. Team Philippines, Laban Pilipinas!” Querubin wrote. 

Striegl, who recently trended for his impressive endurance and mental fortitude during the hanging challenge, described his participation in the show as a “rollercoaster and an absolute adventure”. He also called his teammates as “the best”. 

“It was an honor and privilege to represent the country and I’m so grateful to everyone who supported our team. To my teammates, you’re the best. I hope we showed the Filipino fighting spirit to the very fullest. Laban Pilipinas!!” Mugen wrote. 

“Physical Asia” has three more episodes to drop before its scheduled finale’s release on November 18. 

RELATED: Manny Pacquiao leaves, Mark ‘Mugen’ Striegl trends in ‘Physical Asia’ 

November 12, 2025 | 4:55pm

Games Friday

(Filoil EcOil Arena)

9:30 a.m. — CSB vs Letran (juniors/seniors)
2:30 p.m. — Mapua vs UPHSD (seniors/juniors)

MANILA, Philippines — Jose Rizal University rode on Sean Salvador’s career performance as it repulsed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 69-66, on Wednesday to stay in the race for an outright quarterfinal berth in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Salvador came off the bench to unleash his best effort to date as he fired 24 points, including a pair of clutch free throws that helped seal the Bombers their sixth win against five defeats.

It also pushed JRU half a game closer from catching up with St. Benilde and Letran, which are tied at No. 2 with 6-4 cards in Group B.

San Beda leads the bracket with a 7-3 slate.

The Generals stumbled to 4-6.

Earlier, Arellano University turned back San Sebastian, 78-71, to remain at No. 3 in Group A with a 4-6 record.

T-Mc Ongotan had an all-around effort with 25 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, while Renzo Abiera chipped in 20 points, which helped AU fortify its place at third in its bracket.

Of course, making it in the top three in the group would seal the Chiefs an outright quarterfinal entry while eluding the more dangerous possible position — a spot in the do-or-die play-in.

“Our target is to at least get No. 3 if we couldn’t get to No. 2,” said AU coach Chico Manabat.

It was also a result that snapped the Stags’ two-game streak and sent them reeling to an eighth defeat against three wins.

The scores:

First Game

AU 78 – Ongotan 25, Abiera 20, Hernal 9, Geronimo 6, Valencia 4, Vinoya 4, Borromeo 2, Demetria 2, Camay 2, Cabotaje 2, Acop 2, Libang 0, Buenaventura 0, Langit 0, Anama 0.

SSC-R 71 – Castor 19, Ricio 14, Segovia 11, Dela Rama 11, Felebrico 5, Cabilla 5, Gabat 4, Lumanag 2, Cuajao 0, Dimaunahan 0.

Quarterscores: 22-20; 40-38; 63-55; 78-71

Second Game

JRU 69 – Salvador 24, Laurenaria 15, Argente 12, Garupil 8, Panapanaan 4, Duque 3, Herrera 2, Sarmiento 1, Benitez 0, Catapang 0, J. Castillo 0.

EAC 66 – Ochavo 19, Oftana 12, Bagay 11, Quinal 8, Shanoda 5, Angeles 4, Doria 3, EJ Castillo 2, Tolentino 2, Loristo 0, Omandac 0, Lucero 0, Bacud 0, Villarente 0, Jacob 0.

Quarterscores: 20-22; 35-35; 45-41; 69-66