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AJ Edu is slowly making his mark with the Gunma Crane Thunders, and former NBA journeyman Stanley Johnson has taken notice.

Johnson is still finding his way with Gunma after leaving Nagasaki Velca, but he already likes what Edu brings to the Crane Thunders.

‘He adds a lot of size to our lineup. He has his rebounding, versatility and finishing,’ Johnson said after Gunma’s 101-91 overtime win over Levanga Hokkaido at Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday. ‘He’s good at screening angles, especially against teams who love to switch on us.’

Edu showed his impact in the win with a near double-double of nine points and nine rebounds.

He also helped make the job easier for Johnson, who won a title with Velca last season, as the forward finished with 17 points.

Gunma coach Kyle Milling also praised Edu, saying the Gilas Pilipinas big man brings more than just his physicality.

According to Milling, Edu’s court vision is not to be underestimated as well.

‘Last night, he had four assists and at one point last season, he had six assists,’ said the coach. ‘He’s a great passer as well

The city government here officially finalized a P2.74 billion loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in accelerating the city’s development.

The loan is strategically earmarked for major capital expenditures, including the construction of a new Valencia City Hall, the upgrade and expansion of the Valencia City Good Samaritan General Hospital, the improvement of evacuation centers and community facilities, and the procurement of heavy and medical equipment.

Mayor Amie Galario said these projects support the city’s growth and its aspirations to accommodate a rising population and economy.

LandBank’s financing program for the local government units is anchored on countryside development, providing long-term repayment structures, competitive interest rates, and support for high-urbanization goals.

Repayments for the loan are typically sourced from regular LGU revenues, such as the National Tax Allocation (NTA) and local tax collections, secured through standard credit enhancers and strict loan-purpose clauses to ensure transparency and proper financial compliance.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) maintained that its efforts to arrest Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa were not waning despite purported ongoing negotiations with ‘protectors’ for his surrender.

‘It will take as long as it will take,’ PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Wednesday.

‘Our efforts did not wane, will not wane, and we will not deviate from serving the warrant of arrest,’ he insisted.

Dela Rosa was ordered arrested by the International Criminal Court in a warrant issued last November.

The warrant was only publicized in May and it was in connection with his alleged involvement in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs.

On Tuesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that the government was in negotiations with dela Rosa’s ‘protectors,’ whom he only identified as ‘powerful people.’

The senator’s legal counsel, Israelito Torreon, however, denied any personal knowledge of the supposed negotiations nor the protectors.

For its part, Co said the PNP’s search for dela Rosa are continuous, but the spokesperson refused to provide further details, citing operational matters.

He further noted that 91 of the 117 firearms registered to dela Rosa are still unaccounted for.

‘Our FEO is continuously coordinating with the family for the surrender of the guns. Legal police action will be initiated,’ Co explained.

The PNP FEO revoked dela Rosa’s firearms license and gun registrations in June as part of the bid to capture him.

Dela Rosa was last seen leaving the Senate premises and was supposedly dropped off in Makati City in the early hours of May 14, after a shooting in the chamber.

Remulla previously said dela Rosa’s last known location was in Mindanao

Consumers in the Visayas and Mindanao may see a spike in their electricity bills this month as the spot market reported a surge in power prices, reaching nearly P20 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

In a media briefing, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) said power traded at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) surged by 64.9 percent to P18.59 per kWh in the Visayas. Mindanao recorded higher rates, reaching P19.56 per kWh, which marks an 88-percent increase from last month’s P10.39 per kWh.

Outages at major coal plants caused sharp rises in WESM prices on the two main islands, forcing the market to rely on more expensive energy sources.

For months now, the Visayas has been under numerous yellow and red alerts due to tight electricity supply. Mindanao was likewise facing a power crunch due to forced shutdown of some of its coal facilities.

Luzon, meanwhile, saw its WESM prices drop by 34.2 percent to P4.80 per kWh.

The increases in the Visayas and Mindanao pushed the WESM systemwide electricity rates higher to P9.29 per kWh, up from P8.31 per kWh.

The billing period runs from July 26 to August 25, and consumers will see it reflected on their bills in September.

IEMOP manages the WESM, a platform where producers and distributors actively trade power to support supply

The Zamboanga City government observed a ‘Day of Remembrance’ on Wednesday for the 2013 bloody Zamboanga Siege that killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands of residents.

Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso issued Executive Order KHYM 183- 2026 on Tuesday, declaring Wednesday a ‘Day of Remembrance’ to honor the lives lost and the sacrifices made during the 2013 Zamboanga Siege.

The order recognizes the heroism of the security forces who defended the city and remembers the civilians caught in the crossfire during the three-week conflict 13 years ago.

Olaso highlighted the selflessness of the military, police, and emergency personnel who stood on the frontlines to safeguard the city’s democratic ideals and way of life.

Pursuant to Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution No. 1019, dated Sept. 2, 2014, the declaration formalizes Sept. 9 as an annual day of commemoration.

The mayor urged local businesses-including major department stores, restaurants, public conveyances, entertainment centers, and resorts-to observe the occasion by offering customers a 20% discount every September 9, with special emphasis on active security personnel, as a gesture of solidarity and appreciation.

The September 2013 siege remains one of the darkest chapters in the city’s history.

Sparked by an influx of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters identified with the Nur Misuari faction, the three-week standoff directly affected six barangays and displaced 22,196 families-or 122,226 individuals.

The urban armed conflict claimed the lives of 25 military and police personnel, alongside 13 civilians, while 266 others were wounded. Rebel casualties were reported at 153 killed in action, with 278 individuals arrested.

The physical and economic destruction was massive.

At least 9,722 homes were burned or destroyed, causing an estimated P200.83 million in damages, while the closure of the city’s airport and seaport paralyzed trade links across Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the broader Zamboanga Peninsula, resulting in an estimated P331 million in daily economic losses.

Despite the lingering scars, local officials emphasized the resilience of the city’s constituents. Rebuilding and recovery efforts have relied heavily on support from the national government, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and international partners.

In his declaration, Olaso offered eternal prayers and condolences to the families of the victims, reassuring residents that the memory and heroism of those who served-including prosecutors from the Department of Justice who pursued legal accountability-will remain permanently etched in the hearts of every Zamboangueño.

‘Bridgerton’ star Phoebe Dynevor reportedly tied the knot with her fiancé, producer Cameron Fuller, in a lavish ceremony in Provence, France.

The couple said ‘I dos’ at an 18th-century farmhouse last Saturday, Sept. 5, as per an exclusive report published by British media outlet The Sun.

‘Phoebe and Cameron got married on Saturday and they couldn’t be happier. She has been planning this wedding for months with her mum Sally,’ an unnamed source was quoted as saying. ‘It ended up being absolutely perfect.’

The insider further disclosed that the couple first visited the wedding venue in 2025 and ‘fell in love with it.’

‘It’s so secluded and visually very beautiful. They said their vows in front of their friends and family before having a sit down meal, with drinks and dancing in the evening,’ the source further said of the wedding.

Dynevor and Fuller, however, have yet to publicly confirm this as of this writing.

Dynevor and Fuller have been together since 2023. They announced their engagement in 2024.

Gilas Pilipinas will field a 12-man squad for its defense of the Asian Games gold after all.

Coach Tim Cone on Wednesday confirmed the inclusion of Calvin Oftana for the Aichi-Nagoya Games, where he will fill the slot previously reserved for Justin Brownlee.

Cone said Oftana is due to arrive in Japan as of posting time.

‘We hope he arrives in time to make our practice schedule today,’ Cone said.

Oftana will be making his first Gilas appearance since the second window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers in February.

He has missed the last two windows of the Asian Qualifiers due to injuries to his hamstring and toe.

The TNT star takes the place of Brownlee, who has been ruled out for the Asiad despite hopes that he may return after missing the fourth window of the Fiba qualification.

Cone initially said Gilas would be fine with an 11-man roster, but an additional body suddeniy became a necessity, especially after getting swept badly by South Korea in a two-game exhibition in Suwon over the weekend.

Oftana comes in two days before Gilas opens its Asiad campaign against Bahrain.

The combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon or ‘habagat,’ and Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay, Neneng and Pilandok have damaged P4.38 billion worth of agricultural produce nationwide.

In its final bulletin posted on Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said the weather disturbances affected the livelihood of 99,663 farmers and fisherfolk in Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Bicol and Western Visayas regions.

Also damaged were 102,791 metric tons of farm produce, reaching 81,511 hectares, with rice accounting for 46.69 percent of the overall damage estimated at P2.05 billion. High-value crops came second at 31.44 percent or P1.38 billion of the total, followed by fisheries at 14.79 percent or P647.79 million.

Other affected commodities included corn, cassava, livestock and poultry, and agri-fisheries infrastructure, machinery and equipment. The DA said it is crafting a comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery plan for agriculture, particularly in affected areas. –

TREYNA Group scales its offering with the acquisition of Evident, expanding its award-winning public relations practice by bringing in the corporate and advocacy communications specialist.

From October 1, 2026, Evident will operate as TREYNA Evident, a business unit of TREYNA PR. The acquisition now positions TREYNA PR as one of the country’s most formidable PR agencies, with capabilities spanning consumer, brand, corporate, public affairs, and advocacy communications.TREYNA PR (previously MullenLowe MARC) has worked with major lifestyle and FMCG brands including Galderma, Monde Nissin, and Unilever. It has placed locally and regionally at multiple PR Agency of The Year award shows and continues to do so with its latest work for Galderma Cetaphil, Nutella, and Scoliosis Philippines.Evident adds deep experience in corporate and public affairs with a client portfolio spanning finance and capital markets, technology, transport, energy, telecommunications, and real estate. On the advocacy front, Evident works with multilateral institutions and local and international nonprofits supporting work in sustainability, public health, gender, and climate resilience, among others. Their work has earned recognition from the Philippine and Asia Pacific Quill Awards, Anvil Awards, and Stevie Awards.

‘Evident was built for clients navigating complex regulatory, reputational and public interest terrain,’ said Cecile Dominguez-Yujuico, founder of Evident. ‘Becoming part of TREYNA PR gives us the opportunity to bring that expertise into a broader communications offering and build even more meaningful work at scale together.’

The combination brings together complementary PR strengths: TREYNA’s expertise in building brands and connecting with consumers, and Evident’s experience in navigating stakeholder engagement, public sector advocacies, behavior change communication, and complex issues.

For TREYNA Group, the acquisition is the latest strategic move to build strong capabilities beyond its traditional advertising roots. Its MandA journey began with the acquisition of ARC Public Relations in 2018, followed by its investment in UX/UI specialist Quiddity in 2021 and the acquisition of Xiklab Digital’s digital advertising business in 2024.With that pattern of expansion came a broader reinvention of the agency itself. Formerly known as MullenLowe TREYNA, the company recently rebranded as TREYNA Group in 2026, following the retirement of the MullenLowe brand – adding another chapter to a 48-year agency history that counted Lintas, Lowe, and MullenLowe among its identities.According to TREYNA Group Chairman and CEO Mike Trillana, the acquisition reflects the same philosophy that has guided the agency through successive transformations.’Our challenger mindset has always meant questioning what exists, adapting to where the industry is going, and having the courage to bet on what’s next,’ Trillana said. ‘That means TREYNA Group constantly adds capabilities-such as the expertise afforded by Evident-rather than be relegated to what it has traditionally been.’With TREYNA PR now combining consumer, corporate, and advocacy expertise, the latest move signals an agency group still treating reinvention not as a response to change, but as part of its operating model.For more on TREYNA Group and its latest work, visit treynagroup.com or check out @TREYNAgroup on all major socials.