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As the country lights candles and dusts off gravestones this week, there’s something poetic, if not painful, about remembering the dead while the sea itself seems to mourn. In Bais City, Negros Oriental, thousands of fish turned up lifeless on the shore after an ethanol leak spilled into the bay, suffocating marine life. It disrupted the fragile rhythm of coastal living in this serene province.

The images are haunting as posted in this newspaper: fisherfolk hauling dead fish instead of fresh catch, the waters turning brackish, and livelihoods suddenly uncertain. It’s All Saints’ and All Souls’ weekend, when Filipinos traditionally pause to honor the departed. This year, nature and the residents of the affected areas feel like grieving. The sea has lost its life, and the people who depend on it are left to pick up what remains.

Many are unsure when normalcy will return to these affected shores. All sectors including tourism are dying. We often talk about death in human terms but rarely do we speak of the dying ecosystems that sustain us. What happens when a sea dies, for good? Will a couple million pesos compensate the damage done? The people of this province cannot just sit and watch each day go by with more damage sustained.

While we believe that the ethanol leak in Bais was, by all accounts, an accident; it should be accounted for. If the containment wall gave in, releasing wastewater from a distillery plant into the bay, who is responsible? Like most environmental tragedies, it’s also a story of neglect and leniency. We fear that they will be ready to move on after the apologies are made and relief packs are handed out. It is written on record, we easily forget as if nothing happened.

In the spirit of All Saints’ Day, we remember those who lived with integrity and courage. Perhaps this is the time to honor the modern saints among us. They are the environmental defenders, fisherfolk, and coastal communities who, in their quiet persistence, remind us that caring for creation is also a form of faith. On All Souls’ Day, when we pray for the dead, maybe we can expand that prayer to include what we have collectively lost. These are not just natural resources; they are the soul of a community.

In many ways, our relationship with the environment mirrors how we treat the dead. We remember only when something is gone. We visit, we lament, and then we leave until the next tragedy reminds us again.

So as the candles burn tonight and prayers rise with the smoke, perhaps we can also make a quiet vow to protect the living seas that feed us. We demand accountability when harm is done, to treat the earth not as something to be used, but something to be kept. The truest way to honor the dead is to ensure that what still lives like our waters, our air, our people can continue to breathe.

Eight soldiers and a civilian involved in a vehicular accident in Barangay Angilan, Omar, Sulu, on Monday, October 27, are still confined in hospitals while undergoing treatment for serious wounds, contusions, and bone fractures.

Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commanding general of the Philippine Army, visited the injured personnel and the civilian on Friday, October 31, at the Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City, where he provided them with cash assistance for their immediate needs.

Five of the injured soldiers are confined at the military hospital, while the rest are in a private medical facility, according to radio reports from Cotabato City on Saturday morning.

‘We assured them that the Philippine Army, as an organization, will extend all forms of assistance they need for their recovery,’ Nafarrete said in a text message to reporters.

The victims were aboard a military vehicle that reportedly rolled over along a highway stretch in Barangay Angilan after the driver lost control due to mechanical trouble.

Nafarrete thanked villagers and local government emergency responders for helping transport the victims to nearby medical dispensaries in Sulu for first aid before they were airlifted to Zamboanga City for further treatment.

Maj. Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), said they continue to monitor the patients’ condition and are providing them with necessary support for their recovery.

Mastercard has introduced a new intelligence platform aimed at combating cyber-enabled payment fraud at scale, marking the first time threat intelligence has been applied specifically to the global payments ecosystem.

The newly launched Mastercard Threat Intelligence combines the company’s vast global fraud data with cyber threat insights from Recorded Future, a leading intelligence provider it acquired last year.

The solution is designed to help banks and financial institutions detect, prevent and respond to payment fraud faster and more accurately.

‘Payment fraud is no longer just a payment system issue – it’s a cybersecurity challenge that directly impacts an organization’s bottom line,’ said Matthew Driver, executive vice president of services for Asia Pacific at Mastercard.

‘Mastercard Threat Intelligence bridges communication gaps, enabling fraud and security teams to work together seamlessly to stop fraud before it happens,’ Driver said.

The new solution offers several key features, including real-time alerts to block fraudulent test transactions, data on digital skimming attacks, targeted insights to assess merchant risks and weekly intelligence reports on emerging payment threats.

It also provides actionable case studies and analyses of fraud trends to inform financial institutions’ defense strategies.

Operational silos continue to be a key concern for risk leaders. Two in three global executives cited silos as a major challenge, while 72 percent of Asia Pacific leaders said it remains their top priority.

‘Operational silos within the fraud and cyber teams continue to plague risk leaders as a high concern,’ Driver said. ‘With Mastercard Threat Intelligence, we’re giving our customers global visibility, threat intelligence and tools to prevent fraud and operate securely in a connected world.’

Despite persistent challenges, the region has seen progress. About 89 percent of institutions in Asia Pacific reported faster responses to fraud threats after integrating cyber and fraud systems, the highest improvement rate among all global regions.

The launch follows Mastercard’s acquisition of Recorded Future and underscores the company’s push toward a unified, intelligence-led approach to securing digital transactions.

In six months of market testing, Mastercard’s data helped partners take down malicious domains tied to the theft of payment card data that had affected nearly 9,500 e-commerce sites and were linked to an estimated $120 million in fraud losses.

Mastercard Threat Intelligence is now available globally to issuers and acquirers seeking to strengthen their cyber defense capabilities.

Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island emitted ash plumes that rose 250 meters above the crater and drifted northwest yesterday morning.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that time-lapse footage from the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory in Canlaon City in Negros Oriental showed the ash emission lasted seven minutes, from 6:30 to 6:37 a.m.

Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 2, or increased activity, which may lead to sudden steam-driven eruptions.

During a separate 24-hour observation, Phivolcs recorded one ash emission lasting 20 minutes along with 11 volcanic earthquakes.

Sulfur dioxide emissions averaged 1,290 tons per day as of Oct. 30, while volcanic plumes rose 300 meters and drifted west-southwest.

Phivolcs said the volcano’s structure remains inflated, indicating possible movement of magma beneath the surface.

The public has been prohibited from entering the volcano’s four-kilometer permanent danger zone.

Pilots have been advised to avoid flying close to the volcano as ash plumes can be hazardous to the aircraft.

The Los Angeles Dodgers know they must get their offense firing to resuscitate their bid for a second straight World Series title as the Toronto Blue Jays host Game 6 on Friday with a chance to clinch their first Major League Baseball crown in 32 years.

‘We’ve got to put runs on the board and do a better job,’ Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said. ‘And we just haven’t done that for about two and a half games.

‘We all know what we’re capable of and we haven’t done it for two games. So maybe the day off, we’ll cool them down over there and we’ll reignite us.’

Freeman delivered a walk-off home run to give the Dodgers a 6-5 victory in an 18-inning Game 3 epic.

But offensive fireworks have been in short supply for the high-priced, high-octane Dodgers, who then dropped Games 4 and 5 at home.

The Blue Jays, up 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and chasing their first World Series title since back-to-back triumphs in 1992 and 1993, now have a chance to close it out at home.

‘I can’t wait,’ Toronto manager John Schneider said of the reception he expects at Rogers Centre – where thousands turned out for watch parties for the games played in LA.

No Halloween meltdown to haunt Rain or Shine.

The Elasto Painters recovered from a horror third quarter and punched in a streak-extending 106-91 win over Terrafirma in the PBA Philippine Cup last night at Ynares Center Antipolo.

Leonard Santillan, reprising his fireman’s role from their previous 112-111 escape act over Titan, once more took over and ignited a telling 31-16 closing barrage that did the trick for the E-Painters after the Dyip wiped out their initial 17-point upperhand.

Santillan rifled in 16 spiked by four booming triples in the payoff period and finished with a game-high 26 as ROS streaked to its third straight victory and grabbed a share of the lead at 4-1 with TNT and NLEX.

‘It did not look as easy as the final score showed,’ said coach Yeng Guiao, whose charges survived a spooky moment in the third where the Dyip dropped 18 unanswered points to wrest the lead, 73-70.

‘Nag-struggle kami with their zone (defense) and it’s a good thing, again, our three-point shots fell at the right time. ‘Yung mga three-point shots ni Santi malaking bagay,’ he added.

Santillan’s fourth-quarter bombardment duplicated his previous 13-point spree on four treys in a 31-19 finishing kick that completed ROS’ fightback from 19 down versus the Giant Risers.

‘Naka-tsamba lang siguro,’ Santillan said, chuckling. ‘Sabi ni coach ‘yun tira namin, dumating sa oras, sakto. Ako naman, kung kinakailangang mag-step up, andun ako lagi, ready lang.’

Keith Datu (12), Felix Lemetti (11), Jhonard Clarito (11) and Adrian Nocum (10) backed up Santillan.

Jerrick Ahanmisi, who was chiefly responsible for Terrafirma’s third-quarter explosion, rifled in 25. The Dyip fell to three straight losses and 1-3 overall.

Ghost patients?

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has filed a bill seeking to create a ‘Philippine Death Check Register’ to prevent the use of dead people to file bogus hospital claims or for electoral fraud.

Estrada filed Senate Bill 1024 or his proposed ‘Online Death Verification System Act,’ which he said would help in detecting fraud.

The system would allow government agencies – such as the Commission on Elections, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System, Home Development Mutual Fund and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office – access to ‘death data… in order to ensure early detection and toward the prevention of identity fraud.’

The Philippine Death Check Register would be set up by the Philippine Statistics Authority as a ‘centralized and electronic database containing mortality data registered with the Local Civil Registrar.’

The register would contain mortality data, such as date of death, age at death, place of death, civil status and other information needed for the validation of a member or beneficiary claim.

Estrada said there is a need for such a database in the aftermath of the ‘ghost dialysis scam,’ wherein hospitals received claims from PhilHealth for dead patients.

‘Dubbed as ‘ghost dialysis,’ the scheme highlighted weaknesses in the bureaucracy and lack of cooperation among government agencies as it provided impetus for stronger anti-fraud mechanisms and more effective fraud detection and prevention efforts,’ he said.

Easy access to mortality data will also prevent the inclusion of ‘ghost voters’ or names of dead people in the list of registered voters, which Estrada described as a ‘perennial problem of the electoral system.’

What began as a side hustle for two Cebu-based vloggers has turned into one of the city’s closely watched homegrown food ventures.

Abraxas ‘Aba’ Tago and Ronald Bhen Madolin, once known online for their playful ‘Mukbang’ videos, have transformed their digital following into real-world success through BSBY Corp., the company behind the ‘ToktogaOink’, a fast-rising local food chain now eyeing national expansion.

Inside their flagship outlet in Cebu City and Mandaue City, long queues of customers wait for plates of fried chicken and grilled pork, dishes that once appeared only in their viral videos.

‘People used to ask us where to buy the food we were eating,’ Tago said. ‘That’s when we thought – maybe it’s time we serve it ourselves.’

From Content to Commerce

The pair, who built online audiences through ‘Bisaya Studio’ and ‘Bhen and Yuri Vlogs,’ started their first food stall in 2023 with about P500,000 in capital, drawn from their years of content creation.

Within months, sales surpassed P1 million, fueled by online buzz and loyal fans eager to experience their digital creations offline.

But, their path from creators to entrepreneurs was not without hurdles. ‘We had the creativity but not the system,’ Madolin said. ‘We were vloggers trying to understand logistics, supplier management, and quality control.’

Over time, BSBY developed a small commissary and distribution setup, laying the groundwork for franchising. ‘We learned by doing,’ Tago said. ‘Every mistake became part of the recipe.’

Authenticity as a Brand Strategy

ToktogaOink’s rapid rise reflects a growing trend in the Philippines: creators leveraging digital communities into business ventures.

The duo’s transparency – sharing everything from kitchen renovations to staffing challenges – helped build an authentic brand that resonated beyond social media.

‘People don’t just buy our food,’ Madolin said. ‘They buy into our story.’

The brand’s menu, centered on fried chicken and rice meals, has expanded to combo platters aimed at students and young professionals. By mid-2025, ToktogaOink had two company-owned outlets, with plans to open franchising next year.

A New Breed

of Entrepreneurs

Before their online fame, Tago worked as a teacher, while Madolin built a career in cybersecurity in Singapore.

The pandemic brought both men back to Cebu – and gave them time to rethink their goals.

Security isn’t just about firewalls,’ Madolin said. ‘It’s about building something that lasts.’

Their entrepreneurial pivot mirrors a broader movement among Filipino creators who are diversifying beyond content monetization. From beauty influencers launching skincare lines to gamers opening cafés, digital personalities are increasingly turning their audiences into customer bases.

Scaling Up

ToktogaOink’s founders now face a new challenge – scaling sustainably. With franchising plans underway and talks of expanding to other Visayas cities, the company is building systems to support long-term growth.

Their model combines digital reach with brick-and-mortar execution – a hybrid strategy that has drawn attention from local investors. ‘Cebu has always been a hub of creativity,’ Tago said. ‘We just connected that creativity to commerce.’

From Viral to Viable

What started as a pastime during lockdowns has become a growing enterprise driven by digital savvy and persistence.

As the lunch rush tapers off and customers pose for photos with the founders, Tago reflects on their unlikely journey. ‘We started by feeding the algorithm,’ he said with a grin. ‘Now, we’re feeding people.’

ToktogaOink’s brand success hints at a new kind of entrepreneurship emerging in the Philippines – one where viral fame can evolve into a sustainable business, and where the next big food brand may be born not in a boardroom, but on a vlog.

For Halloween, Cebu Archbishop Alberto ‘Abet’ Uy urged the faithful to promote Christian-centered celebrations such as the Parade of Saints instead of Halloween parties featuring ‘spooky costumes and demonic imagery’.

Especially for kids, Uy encouraged parents and parishes to use the Parade of Saints as an opportunity to help them learn about holy men and women.

“Pagka daghan mga bata motoo og tiaw-tiaw unya kinsay nasayod no unsay gibati sa yawa nga gisundog sa atong mga anak, lipay pud ang yawa oi, nag ngisi pud. Ti-aw mo ba na gisundog sila sa mga bata, mga demonyo lipay oi. Mao na atong likayan,’ he said in a report in this newspaper.

Uy is right to remind people of the original meaning of ‘Halloween,’ which comes from ‘hallow,’ meaning holy. The Halloween celebration we know today is an ‘import’ of U.S. influence. It’s kind of like how many kids relate Christmas with Santa Claus, snow, and reindeer, none of which are part of our culture.

Uy is also right about ‘demonic imagery’. We take particular issue when some children dress up in devil costumes, complete with horns and pitchfork. This directly goes against what the Church is trying to teach them.

But to this, we add that as long as some Halloween celebrations don’t directly go against the teachings of the Church, why not let the kids have their fun?

To be curious about the scary, the macabre, the unknown, the afterlife has been part of the human psyche for millennia. Confronting the scary is also a natural part of human nature; this is why many of us like horror movies or documentaries about the supernatural.

We hasten to add that in celebrating Halloween, children aren’t really looking to worship ghouls, or ghosts, or zombies. Acting them out for a night is one thing, but looking to become them long-term is another. Believe it or not, kids are in this for the time spent with friends and the candy that comes with trick-or-treating, thanks to decades of U.S. influence on how a Halloween celebration should go.

Besides, children have no shortage when it comes to religious celebrations or occasions to remind them of their faith. These are all-year round from the Fiesta Señor up to Christmas itself. Why begrudge them this one occasion to have a little fun?

Filipina actress Dolly de Leon is reportedly joining the cast of a biopic on Heidi Fleiss, popularly known as the “Hollywood Madam” who ran an upscale Los Angeles prostitution ring.

Fleiss began managing a prostitution ring in 1987 under the guidance of Elizabeth “Madam Alex” Adams, even accepting clients for a time until she started her own successful ring with prominent and wealthy customers.

She was arrested in June 1993 for several charges, including attempted pandering and was convicted. However, the ruling was overturned in 1996 though that same year, she was convicted of federal charges of tax evasion.

Last August, Emmy-nominated actress Aubrey Plaza was tapped to portray the madam in the biopic “The Heidi Fless Story” under the helm of “Chambers” series creator Leah Rachel in what will be her feature film directorial debut.

Rachel is also writing the script alongside Travis Jackson and actress-comedian Rachel Sennott, centering the story on Fleiss going around Los Angeles doing whatever it takes to get her case dropped before going to trial with the help of an aspiring young writer.

Entertainment outlet Deadline recently reported that singer-actress Alana Haim would play the said writer, and later that De Leon would portray the Philippine-born Madam Alex (who died in 1995 from open heart surgery complications).

Shooting will begin in Los Angeles early next year, Jessamine Burgum and Kara Durrett producing for Pinky Promise alongside Plaza for Evil Hag Productions.

Plaza broke out in the comedy show “Parks and Recreation” and movie “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” going on to star in “Legion,” “Emily the Criminal,” and “The White Lotus” where she was nominated for an Emmy.

Haim is a Grammy-nominated singer with sisters Danielle and Este for the band bearing their surname and has starred in the Paul Thomas Anderson movies “Licorice Pizza” and “One Battle After Another.”

De Leon received international acclaim for her scene-stealing role in 2022 Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness,” which led to her being the first Filipina actress nominated at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs.

Her last Hollywood project was the second season of “Nine Perfect Strangers” with Nicole Kidman and already has lined up the last two seasons of Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed” with Tatiana Maslany and Jake Johnson.