Author: INQUIRER.net

BUTUAN CITY–The rugged and pristine terrain of the Dinagat Islands may soon be the setting for an international television event, as producers of the popular reality series Survivor plan to scout the province for its upcoming season.

In a letter to provincial officials, John Bel Martinez of Philippine Film Studios, Inc. (PFSI), the local co-production partner for the international franchise, outlined plans for location scouting between December 2025 and January 2026. The search is for remote islands with minimal human footprint, ranging from lightly touched environments to completely uninhabited natural reserves.

In an interview Saturday, Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. welcomed the prospect, calling it a “tremendous opportunity” for the province.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Dinagat Islands to be showcased on the global stage,” he said. “We have islands that are pristine, untouched, and naturally breathtaking. These are perfect for the kind of immersive and rugged experience that Survivor is known for.”

He highlighted the project’s potential to boost sustainable tourism and raise global awareness about the province’s ecological richness. PFSI, which has facilitated Survivor productions for such countries as France, Sweden, and the United States, is known for working in challenging locations.

Martinez assured in his letter that the company would work closely with local officials and communities to ensure the process aligns with environmental and cultural sensitivities.

“We are ready to assist PFSI in identifying suitable sites and providing logistical support. This project could be a game-changer for Dinagat,” Demerey said, pledging the provincial government’s full cooperation.

If selected, a Dinagat Islands season would be a milestone, transforming the province into a prime destination for international adventure tourism and eco-conscious filmmaking. (PNA)

PHOENIX — Collin Gillespie made a go-ahead jumper with 6.4 seconds left and the Phoenix Suns stunned the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-113 on Friday night with a final-minute rally in the NBA.

Minnesota appeared to have a comfortable 113-105 lead with 1:09 left, but Phoenix rallied to cut it to 113-112 on Jordan Goodwin’s layup with 21.4 seconds remaining.

READ: NBA: Soaring Hawks come back from 22 down in 4th, beat Suns

COLLIN GILLESPIE WINS IT FOR THE SUNS IN THE FINAL SECONDS!!!

ENDED THE GAME ON A 9-0 RUN.

PHOENIX MOVES TO 2-0 IN WEST GROUP A 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4MoPXWx4fp

— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2025

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards — who had 41 points — missed two free throws with 12.7 seconds to go, giving the Suns a chance at the win.

Gillespie obliged, driving into the lane and hitting a contested 10-foot jumper for the lead and the last of his 20 points.

Minnesota scrambled for the final shot, but Julius Randle’s 3-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark.

The Timberwolves erased a 15-point halftime deficit less than five minutes into the third quarter after Edwards made a driving layup for a 69-68 advantage. Edwards — a three-time All-Star — had 19 points in the third on 7-of-9 shooting and Minnesota led 82-81 entering the fourth.

It was a tough night for Suns star Devin Booker, who finished with just 16 points on 4-of-18 shooting and nine turnovers before fouling out. Turnovers have been a problem for the four-time All-Star — he came into the game with a league-high 57.

READ: NBA: Suns roll to 5th straight win by beating Pacers

Booker fouled out with more than three minutes remaining and earned a technical foul on his way off the floor. The Suns had 27 turnovers.

Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 22 points before fouling out. Williams added 19.

The Suns led by 18 points in the first half before settling for a 62-49 halftime advantage. Gillespie led the Suns with 16 points after making four 3-pointers. Edwards had 16 for the Wolves before the break.

The Suns improved to 2-0 in the NBA Cup, while the Timberwolves fell to 2-1.

Up next

Timberwolves: At Sacramento on Monday night.

Suns: Host San Antonio on Sunday night.

Two Filipino films have secured spots on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ list of qualified titles for the 98th Academy Awards.

Baby Ruth Villarama’s documentary, “Food Delivery: Fresh from the Philippine Sea,” is included among the eligible documentary features, while Lav Diaz’s “Magellan” is part of the international feature film roster.

The Academy released the official list of qualified entries on Nov. 22 (Manila time), covering the categories of Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature Film, and International Feature Film.

“Food Delivery” producer Therese Malvar welcomed the inclusion of the two Philippine titles, noting the extensive Oscar efforts behind Villarama’s documentary.

“I’m super happy that we are very much visible with the Academy!” she told Inquirer Entertainment. “Knowing the efforts of Director Baby Ruth Villarama and Sir Chuck Gutierrez with their Oscars campaign in the US, this is really worth it.”

Hoping for many voters

“I hope more people get to see the magic and beauty of our West Philippine Sea and the protectors of our waters. Being part of the list is already an honor—hoping many of the voters will vote for the film, along with “Magellan.” A great year indeed for Filipino films!”

This year, 201 titles are eligible for consideration in the Documentary Feature Film category. According to an article by Deadline, a major US-based entertainment news outlet, members of the Academy’s documentary branch will determine the shortlist of 15 titles, set for release on Dec. 16, alongside the shortlists for Live Action and Animated Shorts.

English-language scenes allowed

In the International Feature Film category, 86 countries or regions submitted qualifying titles, said the Deadline report. The category — formerly Best Foreign Language Film — accepts feature-length productions created outside the United States with over 50 percent non-English dialogue. The Academy noted that films can still qualify even if they include English-language scenes, provided they do not exceed the allowed threshold.

Academy members from all branches may opt in for the preliminary round of international feature voting, subject to minimum viewing requirements. The 15-title shortlist will also be announced on Dec. 16.

Preliminary voting for select Oscar categories runs from Dec. 8 to 12. Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be revealed on Jan. 22, 2026.

The 98th Oscars ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theater at Ovation Hollywood, and will air live on ABC in more than 200 territories worldwide. /ra

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) is aiming to produce world-class cardiac and vascular surgeons in the country, as the hospital recently inaugurated its National Academy for Cardiac and Vascular Surgery (PHC-NACVS).

In an episode of dzMM Teleradyo, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said that as cascardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke remain the leading cause of death in the Philippines, more and more Filipinos would need to undergo cardiovascular surgery. 

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, ischemic heart disease, or coronary heart disease, was still the leading cause of death among Filipinos in 2024. It accounted for 96,049 cases or 19.3 percent of deaths in the country from January to November 2024.

“This academic institution aims to produce more experts in the community that will address increasing cases of heart diseases needing immediate operation,” DOH Health Promotion Director Tina Marasigan said in the same episode. 

In a separate Facebook post on Friday, the PHC said the educational institution “stands as the Philippines’ premier hub for specialized, unified, and competency-based training in cardiac and vascular surgery.”

The PHC also said that the institution aims to expand training opportunities nationwide; decentralize specialized surgical training beyond Metro Manila; and strengthen regional capacity for advanced cardiac and vascular care.

PHC Executive Director Dr. Avenilo Aventura Jr. said the academy “is more than just an educational institution” but a “national investment in the future of cardiac and cardiovascular surgery.”

“It will strengthen our capacity to produce world-class Filipino surgeons, professionals, equipped not only with technical expertise but with compassion, integrity, and the heart to serve,” Aventura said in a video message shown in the radio episode.

“So by elevating training standards and expanding opportunities for learning, we ensure that every Filipino, regardless of region or socio-economic status, benefits from high-quality cardiovascular care,” Aventura added.

The PHC-NACVS is partnering with the following health institutions:

• Philippine Heart Center
• Western Visayas Medical Center
• Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center
• Northern Mindanao Medical Center

The PHC, a government-run hospital, was established through the Presidential Decree No. 673 and inaugurated on February 14, 1975. /das

 

 

 

 

 
 

After he alleged that the results of Miss Universe 2025 were rigged, Omar Harfouch escalated his allegations by publishing a photo that he claims shows Miss Universe owner Raul Rocha embracing Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, suggesting an “intimate” connection. 

In his Facebook post on Friday, Nov. 21, Harfouch, who had resigned from the Miss Universe 2025 judging panel, shared an alleged image of Rocha and Bosch hugging, captioned: “Do you know who these people are?” 

In the comments section, netizens linked the photo to Rocha and Bosch, while other commenters questioned the image’s authenticity, stating that the image could be “AI-generated.” 

In response, Harfouch shared a screenshot of the photo being run through an AI tool to attest to its authenticity. According to the screenshot, the photo was “100% real or human.” However, Rocha and Bosch have yet to comment on the photo’s authenticity. 

Harfouch earlier called Bosch a “fake winner” after she was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Friday. He asserted that the latter’s victory was engineered due to a business relationship between the beauty queen’s father and Rocha.

The Lebanese-French composer claimed that Rocha and his son pressured him in Dubai to vote for Bosch, arguing that her win would “benefit their business.” He stated in a new series of comments in his Instagram Story that he had recordings to back up his claims. 

Harfouch previously accused the organization of forming a secret “impromptu jury” that allegedly pre-selected the top 30 finalists before the official judges were allowed to vote.

According to the resigned judge, that committee included individuals with “personal ties” to certain contestants – including one who he said had a romantic relationship with a delegate.

The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has denied Harfouch’s claims, stating that an “impromptu jury” was never created and that their evaluation process followed “transparent” protocols. 

In a new interview with People, Harfouch said he was consulting a major New York law firm to prepare a formal complaint against the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), citing “fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and reputational harm.” 

The results of Miss Universe 2025 drew mixed reactions globally after Philippine bet Ahtisa Manalo and Olivia Yacé of Côte d’Ivoire delivered the most composed answers in the final round, only to end up at the bottom of the runners-up. /ra

Written by Vaughn Alviar

Metro Manila’s southern gateway is booming with progress. Over the past decade, the sprawling area spanning Southern Metro Manila and the provinces of Cavite and Laguna has transformed from quiet quarters into some of the country’s most dynamic growth corridors. Yet long before this transformation, Cathay Land Inc. had already seen the promise of the area when the company first began its journey 30 years ago. “We started land banking in the Cavite-Laguna area 30 years ago, so [we have] 1,000 to 2,000 ha, and we’re still growing,” Cathay Land president Jeffrey T. Ng said in an exclusive interview with Inquirer Property.

Today, Cathay Land is reaping the fruits of that investment.

It now boasts of a portfolio of prime residential enclaves like South Forbes Golf City and Crestkey Estates. Cavite Light Industrial Park is a pioneer in promoting clean operations among locators, while Acienda Designer Outlet Mall is the Philippines’ first true international outlet shopping destination. These projects offer long-term value and community well-being.

First-mover attitude

Cathay Land’s first-mover approach allowed it to ride the regional surge seen in recent years.

Ng shared that Cavite and Laguna—where Cathay Land has significant landbank—were once bedroom communities for Metro Manila. These areas now have become economic powerhouses.

Further fueling progress in these provinces are big-ticket infrastructure projects that include the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) and the LRT-1 extension, Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax), and the Cavitex-Calax Link. Also in the pipeline are the Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway and Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge.

“Cavite and Laguna are the top two biggest provinces in the Philippines in terms of GDP already, and this will only accelerate in the coming five, 10, 20, 25 years,” Ng said.

Competitive advantage

As more families now set their sights on the South to access more space and greenery, Cathay Land has taken an integrated, human-scale approach to development. This, Ng noted, is where the company’s second advantage comes into play.

“[People] have seen how integrated our projects are,” he explained. “They have seen to what extent we provide all their needs within immediate walking and driving distance.”

Crestkey Estates, for example, is an innovative “College Business District” concept, uniquely blending learning, enterprise and modern living. Cathay Land even donated 7 ha of land to make way for the Chiang Kai Shek College Southmont.

Cathay Land’s flagship in the south of Metro Manila, Ananda Square, recently topped off Tower B, signifying bullish sales and the company’s confidence in Las Piñas City. It rises on Alabang-Zapote Road, a vibrant corridor that conveniently connects to Alabang and Makati. The project also features a commercial strip.

Affordable first-class living

Such developments, according to Ng, can compare to first class residences. Each project is built around how people envision the good life: to live well, work efficiently, play freely, learn continuously and connect meaningfully.

Cathay Land’s landmark South Forbes Golf City in Cavite, for instance, entices homeowners and investors with themed residential villages and mid-rise condominiums such as Fullerton Suites 2 and Berkeley Suites. It will soon finish its centerpiece 18-hole golf course.

The developer is not only after beauty and function, as it also considers safety, resilience and sustainability. Roads are 20-meter wide, keeping traffic woes at bay for decades to come.

Being above sea level also means freedom from flooding—something reinforced by efficient drainage and generous open spaces. Each project also undergoes a comprehensive analysis on soil conditions, terrain, wind exposure and seismic behavior.

Ng further claimed that Makati, Bonifacio Global City, the Bay Area, Taguig, and even Alabang now command land prices beyond the reach of most Filipino buyers. In contrast, Cathay Land offers subdivisions that have “better quality, better amenities for one-tenth of the price.”

Collaborations

To further raise the quality of their projects, Ng said they have forged partnerships with the “best in the country.”

“We are working with Ayala to unleash (the potential) and increase the volume velocity of our development,” he said.

The company has joint ventures with Alveo Land for Verdea and Hillside Ridge, and Ayala Land Premier for Lanewood Hills. It has partnered also with Phinma and Microtel Development to build Microtel South Forbes. Award-winning interior design studio Atelier Almario lends the lobby at Ananda Square a high-end feel, while Gold’s Gym helps residents hit their fitness goals.

Ng is eyeing more such collaborations “to enhance, improve, and even prime and develop our land bank faster and better.”

Worthy investment

Brisk take-up and capital appreciation prove Cathay Land’s success.

“Our take-up is healthy,” Ng noted. “Our locations are the best there can be… so that’s our ace. Our [other] advantage: Everything is integrated, well planned, well thought-out, well executed, well delivered.”

Capital appreciation has been exponential, revealed Ng. South Forbes Golf City’s residential lots now cost 10 times more than the P6,250 per sqm at the beginning. Commercial lots, meanwhile, now cost up to P80,000 per sqm from just P12,000 then.

“Our homeowners are happy [with] the value that they have gotten from their investment, from their hopes,” Ng declared. “Prices are bound to appreciate, probably even faster.”

And definitely, Cathay Land will continue to be a catalyst for transformation in the South, Ng declared.

“Yes, we will ‘build more better’—and bigger. [We will build] better amenities and better features. That’s what people can look forward to in our projects in the coming years,” Ng concluded.

MANILA, Philippines — A 22-year-old graduate from Batangas topped the November 2025 Pharmacy Licensure Examination (PHLE), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced.

Sean Jan Diomampo Ilagan, who was singlehandedly raised by his father Lamberto after his mother passed away, secured the No. 1 spot nationwide with a rating of 95.47 percent.

“I dedicate this milestone first and foremost to the Lord, who sustained me throughout the review season. He knows the effort I’ve put into making this dream a reality. All glory goes back to Him,” Ilagan said in an interview.

He added, “I also dedicate this win to my family and loved ones, whose silent prayers and motivation served as my constant source of strength.”

Ilagan, who finished his pharmacy degree at Lyceum of the Philippines University in Batangas, said that he was driven by a desire to overcome personal setbacks, especially not graduating with Latin honors. 

“My inspiration throughout my PHLE journey was the personal desire to rise above my limitations and prove to myself that every setback can be transformed into a stepping stone,” he said.

Asked about his future plans, Ilagan said he is still discerning his next steps but is interested in pursuing opportunities in the academe and research. 

“For now, I am keeping my options open, but I am excited to discover what lies ahead,” he said.

His father expressed his pride and gratitude for his son’s achievement.

“Yung pumasa lang siya, okay na sa amin (We would have been happy even if he just passed),” he said. “Pero thankful kami na nag-top 1 siya (But we’re very thankful that he became the topnotcher).”

The PRC said 3,670 out of 4,555 examinees passed the PHLE, posting a national passing rate of 80.57 percent. The exams were held on Nov. 15 and 16, with results released on Nov. 21. /dm