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House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima on Sunday called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to disclose his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) to the public and direct his cabinet to do the same.

De Lima made the call after stating that if the current administration is truly dead set in going against corruption, it should begin with itself.

‘All-out means no cover-ups, no sacred cows, and no stone left unturned. And the administration should not exempt itself from scrutiny,’ said De Lima in a statement.

‘The President should demonstrate his sincerity and commitment to transparency and accountability by disclosing his SALN and encouraging his Cabinet to do the same,’ she added, noting that this is consistent with Marcos’ prioritization of the Freedom of Information Act in the 20th Congress.

Doing so, said De Lima, would allow him to prove that he is different from his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who never made his SALN public-despite his supposed stance against corruption-and was even shielded by the Ombudsman at the time.

‘Hindi pwedeng hanggang salita lang ang paglaban sa korupsyon, yung biglang kambyo at ang dami pang kuskos-balungos sa simpleng paglalabas ng SALN,’ she said.

(The fight against corruption can’t be all talk, there shouldn’t be sudden excuses or so much fuss over something as simple as releasing the SALN.)

Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña echoed De Lima’s sentiment in a separate statement, also pointing out how Duterte-appointee Ombudsman Samuel Martires previously added barriers to accessing public officials’ SALNs.

‘If the Marcos admin is serious in earning the public’s trust in its fight against corruption then it has to start in its own backyard,’ he said.

It was only early this month when newly-installed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla lifted restrictions on public access to SALN of government officials, effectively reversing the policy imposed by former chief Martires.

The restrictions were lifted amid allegations of widespread corruption in infrastructure projects, particularly in flood control, where several projects reported as completed turned out to be non-existent, despite billions of pesos allocated from the budget.

Before fame found him in history books and public monuments, Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay was a small-town boy from Iba, Zambales. Born on August 31, 1907, he would later rise to become the seventh president of the Philippines and the third president of the Third Republic.

His legacy is rooted in integrity, public service, and empathy for the ordinary Filipino, earning him the title of the ‘President of the Masses.’ He opened the doors to the Malacañang Palace to ordinary people and rode his jeep into remote barrios to listen to their needs.

After the recent Manuel L. Quezon biopic titled ‘Quezon,’ there are now whispers of a possible Magsaysay film adaptation that have started to surface. If this project comes to life, it wouldn’t just be a history lesson; it would be a character study of a man whose humility changed the tone of power.

Here are five defining moments from Ramon Magsaysay’s life that deserve the spotlight on the big screen.

Defeating the Hukbalahap insurgency

Every hero’s journey begins with a conflict, and for Magsaysay, it was the Hukbalahap insurgency. Appointed to be the Secretary of Defense by then-President Elpidio Quirino. In February 1950, the Huks were led by Luis Taruc in establishing the People’s Liberation Army, aiming to overthrow the government.

Magsaysay noted that the Huks were backed by popularity and support. Instead of relying on brute force, he strove to win the trust of the ordinary Filipino by offering land and tools to those who came over to the government’s side, and insisted that the army should treat these people with respect.

He was also able to abolish the corruption within the army by dismissing incompetent officers. During this time, Magsaysay showed humility and valued the principle of honesty, using his position for the betterment of the Filipinos. In turn, there was no doubt he acquired enemies within the government. This pushed him to resign and to charge the Quirino administration with incompetence and corruption.

Opening Malacañang to the people

Breaking from the elite image of leaders, Ramon Magsaysay literally opened the presidential palace gates to the public. Ordinary citizens could walk in, greet him, and it even became a popular picnic spot. To him, leadership was not about distance; it was about proximity.

In a time when politics often felt far removed from daily life, Magsaysay made sure people felt seen. Imagine a scene in the film: a child chasing a kite in front of Malacañang, the sun bright with clear skies, the grass greener than ever, people laughing and conversing as the President stands by the entrance, smiling at them.

It is both symbolic and deeply human, the kind of moment that defines his reputation as a ‘man of the people.’

Agrarian reform and land redistribution

Ramon Magsaysay has always been known for serving the people, for the people, and finding ways to help them. Under his administration, the government launched the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA), providing farmland to displaced families and tenants.

It was a reform that gave thousands of rural Filipinos a chance to build their communities. These were the kind of changes that didn’t make headlines daily but quietly transformed lives.

This could be one of the most poignant arcs in the film. He has always been for the people.

Anti-corruption and servant leadership

Every protagonist faces moral tests; for Magsaysay, integrity was one of his great battles.

He refused to tolerate corruption within the government. He dismissed officers who abused power, challenged political allies when they crossed ethical lines, and lived a transparent life, famously keeping his house open to the public.

A Magsaysay biopic would likely explore this tension, the loneliness of being the honest man in a corrupt system.

This is the heart of his story: leadership not as grandeur, but as sacrifice.

His tragic death at Mount Manunggal

Magsaysay’s life met its tragic end on March 17, 1957. The presidential plane, Mt. Pinatubo, crashed on the slopes of Mount Manunggal in Cebu, killing him at the age of 49.

The nation was rocked by the news. His coffin was carried through Manila, with crowds lining the streets.

It’s the kind of conclusion that stays with you long after the credits have rolled, serving as a reminder that heroes don’t always leave us too soon.

Heroism for today

A Ramon Magsaysay biopic would explore what leadership could look like if it were based on humility and empathy rather than just one man’s accomplishments.

At a time when political narratives tend to emphasize spectacle and power, his story serves as a reminder of a more subdued, steady form of heroism-one that is based on listening, serving, and choosing to be honest even at significant personal cost.

A time when the government genuinely felt connected to the people, Magsaysay’s era seems like a golden memory. Filming that tale might rekindle a shared desire for authenticity in public life.

As history fades into hashtags and headlines, stories like his remind us that leadership, at its core, is still about compassion. And in seeing his story unfold on screen, a new generation will remember what it means to serve, not to rule.

Pi Durden Wangkay showed grit beyond his years, turning heartbreak into triumph as he added to the Philippines’ gold haul in the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain.

The 16-year-old sprinter stormed to victory in the boys’ 200-meter dash late Saturday at Bahrain National Stadium, clinching the country’s third gold medal of the meet just a day after a crushing setback.

‘At first, when I didn’t win the 100, I was really sad,’ said Wangkay, who finished fifth in the century dash. ‘I thought about it the whole night, even on the way home. I changed my mindset and told myself to treat it like a local meet – that I deserved to win.’

Among the leaders as the pack came off the turn, Wangkay surged ahead with 40 meters to go. The small Filipino crowd erupted as he crossed the finish line in 21.76 seconds.

Chu Chao-Feng of Chinese Taipei took the silver in 21.90, while South Korea’s Kim Sunwoo settled for bronze with 21.93.

‘It feels so good – not just winning in Palaro, but now here, too,’ said Wangkay, a product of De La Salle Zobel.

He joined pesilat Kram Airam Carpio and MMA fighter Charlie Ratcliff as Filipino gold medalists in the Games.

The Philippines’ medal tally continued to grow as Naomi Cesar claimed silver in the girls’ 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 8.69 seconds. China’s Song Jinping won gold in 2:07.84, while Indonesia’s Gesndis Aulia Syafitri bagged bronze in 2:24.98.

Gone are the days when Philippine textiles and weaves were solely reserved for formal occasions and cultural celebrations. Filipino designers today have constantly been pushing the envelope, reimagining the myriad ways and situations in which we can proudly wear our culture.

Pinas Sadya, a homegrown Filipino brand, recently debuted at New York Fashion Week, showcasing not just our local patterns and textiles but also bringing to the international runway the creative energy that runs through the Philippine fashion industry today.

With bold patterns in blocked colors and flowing layers, Pinas Sadya’s presentation highlights the ‘radiant, confident, and playful’ essence of the Filipina today. The campaign called ‘Kabogera with a Purpose’ featured Maymay Entrata’s ‘Amakabogera’ as its anthem on the runway. ‘You are born to shine, to stand out, and to achieve your best,’ says Pinas Sadya founder Skeeter Labastilla-Turgut. ‘This collection is meant to accompany you at different parts of your journey, as you discover, fulfill, and share your purpose.’

‘There’s a growing global appetite for Philippine-made, thoughtfully designed products. The response we received confirmed that Filipino creativity resonates internationally while staying true to its roots,’ notes Valerie Fischer, co-founder and general manager of Pinas Sadya.

‘You are born to shine, to stand out, and to achieve your best,’ says Pinas Sadya founder Skeeter Labastilla-Turgut. ‘This collection is meant to accompany you at different parts of your journey, as you discover, fulfill, and share your purpose’

Fischer adds, ‘It has been very exciting to see our audience engage with the collection and connect with the stories behind the pieces. The enthusiasm and feedback reinforced the potential for Filipino brands on a global scale.’

The New York Fashion Week presentation also featured work by partner designers and creatives. Accessories by Filipino artist and designer Farah Abu accompanied the Pinas Sadya pieces, adding depth, cohesion, and personality to the looks. Following their fashion week appearance, Pinas Sadya will join other Filipino brands in a special cultural expo also happening in New York: Yaman 2025, which is set to take place from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 at Marriot Marquis, Times Square, New York.

Amid his grief over the death of his 19-year-old daughter Emman, TV host Kim Atienza did not let pass a comment of a netizen who blamed him for her passing, calling the commenter an ‘evangelical bully.’

Atienza and his wife, Taiwanese educator and socialite Felicia Hung continued to mourn Emman’s death, as they expressed gratitude to God for the years that they spent with the teen influencer, who died at their Los Angeles home before the weekend. The Atienza couple announced Emman’s death on Friday.

Her death was widely reported in the US media, at the same time putting to light mental health awareness, compassion and kindness especially on social media.

On Sunday, Atienza again took to social media to share a clip of his youngest child recording a song.

”The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’ Thank you for the 19 years of my dearest little Emmansky Lord,’ he captioned his post on TikTok.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’ Thank you for the 19 years of my dearest little emmansky Lord.

? 11 Binaural Beats 1 Hz – August Son Productions

In the comments, a certain @joy said Atienza should not have said that God took Emman’s life because it was them who ‘fell short as parents.’ This prompted the ‘Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim!’ host to call out the commenter for being an evangelical bully, saying his daughter was clinically depressed. Meanwhile, Felicia shared photos from Emman’s past photo shoot to honor her memory.

The couple received condoling messages from their followers and celebrity friends in the comments, including Iza Calzado, Geneva Cruz, Alex Gonzaga, Karla Estrada, Liz Uy, Vina Morales, Jugs Jugueta, Ruffa Gutierrez, Karen Davila, Isabelle Daza, Zeinab Harake, Rabiya Mateo, Kitchie Nadal, Iya Villania, Sunshine Cruz, Gary Valenciano, Lara Quigaman, Ashley Sarmiento, Alessandra De Rossi, and Coney Reyes. Emman is notable for being a social media personality who shares lifestyle content and honest opinions on certain topics that matter to her, particularly mental health awareness.

She also revealed in a 2022 interview that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

University of the Philippines stayed hot in the second round, overpowering Far Eastern University, 89-75, to grab solo second in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Fighting Maroons have now won five of their last six games, improving to 6-3-just a game behind league-leading National University (7-2).

FEU trimmed a 13-point halftime deficit to six early in the third quarter, 47-41, behind a 10-3 spurt. But UP quickly regained control as Gani Stevens, Harold Alarcon, and Chicco Briones powered a 15-point swing that restored a comfortable 61-46 cushion with 2:47 left in the period.

The Tamaraws never got closer than nine points the rest of the way, as the Fighting Maroons responded to every comeback attempt. ‘We really prepared for FEU, and one thing we did well in this game was moving the ball better as a team. Everyone is slowly understanding their role, and I’m really happy to see that we’re improving and growing together,’ said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde, whose team dished out 24 assists compared to FEU’s 15.

Nigerian center Francis Nnoruka led the way with 19 points and 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes, while Stevens added 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting as UP dominated inside, 48-32, in points in the paint.

Rey Remogat chipped in 12 points and eight assists, while Terrence Fortea scored 10. Jacob Bayla contributed eight points, six rebounds, three steals, two assists, and a block with zero turnovers.

‘Jacob is really valuable for us. We always stress the importance of players being able to fulfill their roles on the team and contribute on both ends of the court,’ Monteverde added.

UP aims to keep its momentum going when it faces University of Santo Tomas on November 5 at Mall of Asia Arena.

FEU, which dropped to 3-6 and seventh place after the loss, got 24 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists from Gambian center Mo Konateh.

Jorick Bautista added 22 points and Kirby Mongopa had 14, but Janrey Pasaol struggled with six points on 3-of-17 shooting, though he added six assists, four rebounds, and two steals. The Tamaraws will look to bounce back against Adamson University next Sunday.

Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III on Sunday vowed that the House of Representatives will support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent executive orders (EOs) involving the establishment of a floor price for palay (unhusked rice) and the full implementation of Republic Act No. 11321, or the Sagip Saka Act.

In a statement, Dy commended Marcos’ EO 100 and 101, stating that it will shield farmers from unfairly low buying prices and improve their incomes as national and local governments will now buy from accredited farmers’ and fisherfolk cooperatives and enterprises.

To recall, EO 100 establishes a floor price for palay (unhusked rice) and activates mechanisms for its implementation to protect farmers from declining farmgate prices.

Meanwhile, EO No. 101 directs the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act, which allows national government agencies and local government units to purchase food directly from farmers and fisherfolk without the need for public bidding.

‘For too long, our farmers have shouldered the burden of unfair prices for their harvests. Through EO 100, each grain of rice is given a fair value, guaranteeing due reward for their labor. This is genuine relief and justice for them,’ Dy said, speaking in Filipino.

‘The EO 101 brings renewed hope to the people behind our food. It removes unnecessary layers and intermediaries, ensuring that income goes straight to the hands of our farmers and fisherfolk,’ he added in Filipino.

With this, Dy said the House ‘will closely monitor the implementation of EOs 100 and 101 and continue working with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to ensure these measures uplift every rural community.’

Dy also said the House remains fully committed to supporting the administration’s agricultural agenda, among which is the Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act, which seeks to strengthen the National Food Authority, empower local rice producers, and ensure affordable rice for Filipino families.

The 3rd edition of the CinePanalo Film Festival has announced the seven finalists for the full-length category of next year’s festival at a media reveal on Saturday, Oct. 25, in Quezon City.

From more than 200 entries, the seven entries that made the cut are ‘Wantawsan’ by Joseph Abello, ‘Mono No Aware’ by BC Amparado, ‘Apol of My AI’ by Thop Nazareno, ‘Patay Gutom (Dead Hungry)’ by Carl Papa and Ian Pangilinan, ‘Beast’ by Lawrence Fajardo, ‘Stuck on You’ by Mikko Baldoza, and ‘Multwoh’ by Rodina Singh.

Each of the seven entries has received a production grant of P5,000,000 and a chance to compete for the festival’s awards. The selected feature films will be shown on screen alongside twenty short films made exclusively by student filmmakers.

‘The upcoming 2026 CinePanalo is going to be the festival’s biggest installment yet,’ said Senior Marketing Manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad. ‘It was only right that we revealed the Top 7 films with a splash of our own.’

As of writing, the actors who will star in the seven entries have not been named, except for content creator Sassa Gurl, who is set to star in ‘Multwoh’ and was present during the reveal.

The CinePanalo organizers likewise affirm that each of the seven film entries will attempt to surpass the expectations set by the success of its past editions.

‘CinePanalo is giving its biggest grants to date, largesse that all seven participants truly deserve by showing us the passion, creativity, and ‘panalo sa husay’ spirit that only Filipino filmmakers can bring,’ festival director Chris Cahilig said. ‘These films are going to make audiences laugh, cry, and everything in between. We can hardly wait for audiences to see what lies ahead at the festival.’

The CinePanalo, which is a film festival and grant competition by retail company Puregold, has served as a platform for Filipino filmmakers in crafting their dream projects, some of which were eventually selected to compete at international film festivals across Europe, Asia, and Africa.

‘We have always believed in the power of supporting and nurturing Filipino artists,’ added Hayagan-Piedad. ‘It is one of our greatest prides that CinePanalo has grown to this level and given so many Filipino filmmakers the chance to produce world-class movies. We have no doubt that the seven films competing next year will be no exception.’

The 2026 CinePanalo will be held next year at the Gateway Cineplex 18 and Ayala Malls. More details about next year’s edition are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Several business and labor groups on Sunday criticized the government’s slow progress in addressing the ongoing corruption scandal, urging President Marcos to conduct concrete actions ‘before the people’s patience finally runs out.’

‘Workers and employers have long carried the burden of building and sustaining this country through our labor, our enterprise and our taxes. That’s why we can never be silent about the harsh truth that trillions have already been stolen from the public coffers,’ the groups said in a joint letter.

The drafters of the letter included business groups Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., as well as labor organizations Federation of Free Workers, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

The groups criticized the President by noting how months have passed since he called out corrupt officials during his fourth State of the Nation Address last July, yet there were still no criminal charges or hold departure orders that were filed.

‘Instead of hold departure orders, we are told to be content with immigration lookout bulletins for now. Instead of criminal charges, we are fed daily promises of cases ‘soon to be filed.’ Instead of open transparent hearings, we get closed-door investigations whose direction remains unknown,’ the letter said.

‘Instead of going after the most guilty, we are led on political detours, chasing the less guilty, depending on who sits where and who stands with whom,’ it added. ‘So what now, Mr. President?’

The groups also noted how public trust in the government has diminished, with a Pulse Asia survey in September showing that 97 percent of Filipinos believe that corruption in government is widespread.

To address this, they called on President Marcos to ‘prove that this anticorruption drive is not another soundbite for selective justice, but the start of renewal for true justice for our people.’

Among their demands was the holding of regular dialogue with workers and employers ‘who know firsthand the cost of corruption on jobs, investments,’ as well as with everyday Filipinos, so the government can report on the challenges in prosecuting corrupt officials and recovery of stolen public funds.

Proposed legislation to grant the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the body tasked with investigating anomalous infrastructure projects, full subpoena and contempt powers should also be certified as urgent, the groups added.

The President must also direct the fact-finding body to publicly disclose all submissions, position papers and supporting documents it had received, the letter said.

Moreover, the groups called for the creation of a special division under the Sandigabayan that will focus on infrastructure corruption cases in order to ensure faster investigations that will ‘surely lead to prosecution and convictions, regardless if the guilty is foe, friend, or family, no matter how high in power.’

‘For when justice is delayed and worst, denied, the reckless will tempt the restless to take dangerous extraconstitutional shortcuts,’ they said.

Another demand of the groups was the immediate recovery of stolen public funds, in which a portion should be reallocated for ‘genuine social reform’ programs that will support Filipinos, especially workers.

Multisectoral participation should also be institutionalized from the very start of the budget process, ‘so that it is not merely the President’s budget, but truly the people’s budget,’ the groups added.

‘A credible and vigorous anticorruption campaign within the bounds of the rule of law and the Constitution will strengthen democratic institutions and safeguard our nation from further instability and disillusionment,’ the letter said.

Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer see no reason to panic over their slow starts in the PBA Philippine Cup, not even as they try to shake off the cobwebs against each other.

‘I think both teams are starting to be competitive,’ said Beermen coach Leo Austria ahead of Sunday’s showdown between the sibling rivals at Coca-Cola Arena here.

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. local time (11 p.m. in Manila) with the winner speeding up the process of getting back to their fearsome form after dropping two of the first three matches of the season-opening conference.

San Miguel may benefit from flying in to this city on a winning note after defeating Rain or Shine the previous Sunday in Rodriguez, Rizal and by a big margin.

‘[I]f you take a look at the standings, we’re down there, but most of the time we’re catching up in the middle of the tournament and I expect some of the players to try their best to be competitive again,’ said Austria.

Ginebra is coming off a defeat at the hands of rival Meralco nine days ago at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where it squandered a 16-point lead and lost by 14.

But coach Tim Cone said he would rather have Ginebra go into this rough patch at this early phase than run out of steam deep into the conference.

‘I think that we were a little bit behind in terms of our preparation to begin the conference, but that’s really by design,’ said Cone. ‘So I think we just got off to a slow start, but, you know, we’re not ready to panic yet. Still got a lot of tournament left to go and we’re just still getting our feet underneath us and I think that we’re ready to play at full power right now.

‘The only problem is that we got a powerful opponent in front of us, but we’re getting back to where we want to be,’ he added.

It will be the seventh Dubai game for Ginebra since the PBA held its first official visit since 2007, going 4-2 in its previous appearances including a loss to NLEx in 2019.

Far Eastern Private School of the Al Ansari Education Group, which is hosting the event, is expected a packed crowd of at least 15,000 with only a handful of tickets left available. The two games in 2019, including the San Miguel-NLEx tussle, drew an average crowd of 9,500.

The two teams graced an outreach activity before students and faculty at Far Eastern before holding practices at separate venues.