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Mapua rode on the stellar performance of Clint Escamis as it turned back an upset-conscious Arellano University, 90-87, on Saturday to seize the solo lead in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

The Season 99 MVP unloaded a 29-point barrage, including a perfect four-and-four from beyond the arc, and laced it with three rebounds and the same number of assists and steals.

It was a bounce-back effort for Escamis after a forgettable eight-point performance in their 90-89 double overtime victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University in last Wednesday’s inaugurals at the Big Dome.

‘I just want to make up for that bad game,’ said Escamis, who is on his final tour of duty.

‘I know my teammates got my back, but I really want to perform for them,’ he added.

It was another come-from-behind win for the back-to-back title-seeking Cardinals, who trailed by as much as 13 points in the second quarter before turning the tables around in their favor in the second half.

‘We showed the never-say-die mentality that we’re used to and our heart of a champion that refuses to lose,’ said Escamis.

Escamis said they still have more to give.

‘We haven’t reached our full potential yet, we still have lapses offensively and defensively and improve on our decision making more,’ he said.

The scores:

Mapua 90 – Escamis 29, Cuenco 14, Gonzales 12, Nitura 10, Sapasap 9, Reyes 5, Concepcion 5, Lazarte 4, Recto 2, Gulapa 0, Igliane 0, Delos Reyes 0, Ryan 0.

AU 87 – Valencia 13, Abiera 12, Hernal 11, Ongotan 10, Libang 10, Camay 8, Cabotaje 6, Borromeo 5, Vinoya 4, Geronimo 4, Demetria 4, Acop 0, Buenaventura 0, Miller 0.

Quarterscores: 20-22; 46-51; 67-64; 90-87

The Bangsamoro government has teamed up with Islamic preachers to promote medical services and dispel misconceptions and superstitions about scientifically accepted health procedures.

The Ministry of Health-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM) announced Saturday, October 4, that regional officials and Muslim scholars jointly launched on Tuesday, September 30, seven health care modules developed with the help of Islamic theologians.

The symbolic launch, led by Health Minister Kadil Sinolinding Jr., marked a collaboration between physicians, public health experts, and Muslim clerics.

‘These modules will not only foster better understanding and acceptance of health messages, but also reinforce the spiritual and moral responsibility of caring for one’s health – as a form of Ibadah (worship),’ Sinolinding said.

The modules highlight the importance of medical treatment, disease prevention, and healthy living in far-flung Bangsamoro communities, covering Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Lamitan, Marawi, and Cotabato.

Members of BARMM’s Darul Iftah (Islamic House of Opinions) said Muslims have a religious duty to help save lives – whether those in need are sick, injured, or victims of conflict – regardless of faith or background.

Sheikh Abdulrauf Guilani, a veteran Islamic missionary, said the new modules address seven key areas: diet and exercise, clean environments, immunization, mental health, responsible use of medicines, reproductive health, and injury prevention.

Guilani added that superstition-based practices contradict Islamic teachings, emphasizing that faith and science should work together in protecting lives.

Sinolinding said Muslim religious leaders will help educate communities about the contents of the Islamic-compliant health modules.

Two persons of interest who were caught on video using the credit cards of a Taguig businessman and his wife are under police custody, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said yesterday.

CIDG National Capital Region field unit chief Lt. Col. John Guiagui said the two, a man and a woman, surrendered after seeing their faces in news reports.

Guiagui did not name them, but said that the two were the subjects of a follow-up operation in Manila following the disappearance of the couple and their business partner in July.

He said the two used the credit cards of spouses Henry Angelo and Margie Pantollana at two malls in Quezon City and Cavite. The couple and business associate Richard Cadiz were last seen in a sport utility vehicle on July 6.

According to Guiagui, the two claimed they bought the credit cards from a man in Quezon City. The cards were used in the purchase of over 50 cell phone products from a coffee shop.

He said the CIDG is preparing charges for violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act.

‘I just don’t believe that the credit cards randomly landed in their hands,’ Guiagui said, adding that the CIDG is investigating the extent of their participation in the couple’s disappearance.

Initial investigation showed that the Pantollanas, along with Cadiz, left Bonifacio Global City in Taguig for a business transaction with a man identified only as Jeff.

Guiagui said Jeff had submitted a sworn statement to the CIDG. Jeff allegedly told investigators that he met the victims on July 6 at his condominium in Pasig.

Jeff claimed Henry became agitated when a person called him on his phone and that the couple and Cadiz left after their meeting – an allegation that the CIDG is also investigating.

National U shoots for the solo lead against struggling reigning champion UP in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball today at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

Action sizzles at 4:30 p.m. for the main game of the twin-bill that also features Santo Tomas’ goal for a quick rebound after losing to NU when it meets winless UE at 2 p.m.

The Bulldogs share pole position with Ateneo at 3-0 in a massive turnaround for both squads after finishing at the bottom last season, potentially pushing them into an even better position midway through the first round.

And NU has all the confidence to do the feat, riding on two blowout wins against Far Eastern U, 84-68, and UE, 72-57, laced by a 76-69 comeback on Santo Tomas which beat top title contenders UP and La Salle.

”Yung character kasi, hindi na para kuwestiyunin ko sa mga players ko,’ said head coach Jeff Napa.

Gunmen killed a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman and wounded two others, including a policeman, in an ambush at a busy thoroughfare in this city at noon on Saturday, October 4.

Prince Mohaz Rafsanjanie Matanog, SK chairman of Barangay Poblacion 5 and a third-year engineering student at Cotabato City State University, died instantly from multiple gunshot wounds.

His relative, Muamar Salvador Matanog, was seriously wounded in the attack.

The two were aboard a red Toyota Raize and were reportedly on their way to an undisclosed location when gunmen opened fire at the intersection of Jose Lim Sr. Street and Sinsuat Avenue – just a short distance from Cotabato City Police Precinct 1.

Also injured was Patrolman Norsaiden Laguiali, who was on duty and had responded to the incident when he was shot by the suspects.

The gunmen fled on motorcycles before police reinforcements arrived.

Cotabato City police director Col. Jibin Bongacayao and Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, said investigators are coordinating with Matanog’s relatives and barangay officials to identify the assailants.

Police forensic teams recovered 92 empty bullet shells from the scene.

After scoring a total of 10 points in his first three UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball games, University of the East’s Dray Caoile waxed hot for the Red Warriors against University of Santo Tomas Saturday.

Caoile had 15 points in the first quarter, and had 20 at the half. But with the Growling Tigers’ defense firmly focused on him, he finished with 23 markers in the 111-99 UE loss.

The defeat dropped the Red Warriors to a 0-4 win-loss record.

After the game, Caoile, a one-and-done guard for UE, said that while he was happy with his offensive outburst, his focus remains on getting a victory.

‘It definitely always feels good to have the shot going and playing with confidence but ultimately, I want to win, so that’s the only thing that bothers me,’ he said.

‘It feels good to have a good game,’ he added.

Prior to this game, Caoile scored four points twice in his first three games. Against University of the Philippines on September 28, he had two markers.

Through three starts, he averaged 3.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game on 29.4% shooting.

Against UST, though, Caoile shot 7-of-12 from the floor, had four assists, four rebounds and two steals.

‘It felt good. I mean, the shot was just falling. Shout out to my guys for just keep finding me. Hit one, just kept playing. Didn’t really think too much,’ he said.

Caoile underscored that he will continue to ‘keep playing his game’ and try to build on his best UAAP contest thus far.

‘Just keep being aggressive, keep making plays. When the ball comes to me, just take my shot, take a pass,’ he said.

‘[I will] just do what I can to help the team win. That’s scoring, that’s playmaking, rebounding, defense, whatever it is to win these games,’ he added.

Still, the goal remains the same – get a win and start rolling this season.

‘It’s definitely not where we want to be, but just take every loss as a lesson. Go back to film, go back to the drawing board, go back to practice,’ he stated.

‘And, I think we’ll make our run on the wins column soon.’

While Caoile had his career game, John Abate spearheaded UE with 27 points on 12-of-21 shooting. Precious Momowei had a monster double-double of 16 markers and 15 boards, while Mo Tanedo had 11 points.

Despite these stellar plays, it was not enough against the balanced UST team led by Nic Cabanero, who had 22 markers and eight dimes. Forthsky Padrigao and Collins Akowe chipped in 18 points apiece, while Amiel Acido and Mark Llemit had 11 each.

UE will try to grab its maiden win of the season on October 11 against Adamson at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym.

National Master and international chess arbiter Edgar de Castro, member of the Philippine team to six Chess Olympiads, passed away on Sept. 28 in Alexandria, Virginia after battling cancer for two years. He was 82.

A beloved husband, father and grandfather, De Castro had always been a chess enthusiast until the latter part of his life.

He served as secretary general of the Philippine Chess Federation, forerunner of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, and wrote a widely read chess column for The STAR for years.

The Quezon City government will provide P1 million each in financial assistance to 10 Cebu local government units that were affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake last Tuesday.

The assistance will be provided to the local governments of Bogo City and the towns of Medellin, San Remigio, Bantayan, Santa Fe, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Sogod, Carmen and San Fernando – all identified as among those severely affected by the quake.

Aside from financial assistance, Quezon City also deployed 26 personnel to assist in disaster response.

Engineers and other disaster risk reduction technical crew provided expertise in damage assessment and auditing of affected infrastructure, while emergency medical services and psychosocial teams were deployed to provide immediate medical assistance to affected residents.

‘Quezon City extends its heartfelt prayers, support and solidarity to all the victims of the earthquake,’ city hall said in Filipino. ‘We are ready to provide additional assistance to the best of our ability.’

DSWD relief goods not for sale

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development warned the public that DSWD relief goods are not for sale, after the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) raided a warehouse and arrested a businesswoman along Juan Luna Street in Tondo, Manila on Thursday.

The CIDG operatives caught the businesswoman, identified only as Janice, selling P15.52 million worth of relief kits bearing the DSWD logo.

Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., acting Philippine National Police chief, said Janice negotiated with CIDG operatives for the sale of relief goods that are intended for victims of natural calamities.

‘Relief goods and government assistance are sacred lifelines meant to protect our most vulnerable citizens during times of crisis. Selling or misusing them is illegal,’ Nartatez said in a statement.

Lt. Col. John Guiagui, who heads the CIDG-National Capital Region field unit, said Janice agreed to sell around 6,000 boxes of family kits for P2,588 per piece.

Each family kit contains towels, slippers, t-shirts and underwear for adults and children. Once the boxes were loaded into a truck, police moved in and arrested Janice.

Guiagui said they received information that Janice had been a supplier of relief goods since 2020 but her contract had ended.

‘We are determining whether these items came from the DSWD or were part of over-production,’ Guiagui said.

He noted that Janice would still be liable, no matter the outcome of the investigation, for the illegal use of the DSWD logo – a violation under Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act.

Irene Dumlao, DSWD spokesperson, advised the public that the agency’s food and non-food items are not for sale.

‘The (DSWD) strongly condemns the unauthorized use of our logo and warns unscrupulous individuals that appropriate legal punishment awaits their actions,’ Dumlao said.

It’s down to the last four queens in the inaugural season of “Drag Race Philippines Slaysian Royale.”

Three Filipina queens – drag sisters Brigiding and Viñas Deluxe of “Drag Race Philippines” Season 1, and Season 2 runner-up Arizona Brandy – and he sole international queen Suki Doll, from “Canada’s Drag Race,” will battle it out for the crown.

The recently aired eighth episode culminated with an epic lip sync battle between Viñas and Season 3 runner-up Khianna, two of the best lip syncers of the entire “Drag Race Philippines” franchise to date, with the former emerging victorious.

Philstar.com spoke to Viñas in an exclusive interview where she described her reaching the Top 4 as amazing, pressuring and deserving.

Back on her original season, she was eliminated at the seventh episode, making it a personal win for the drag queen.

“I think my edge is showing who the real Viñas is, all my sides, everything I can as a drag artist: designing, performing, being a sister,” said Viñas. ” Everyone deserves to be on top but I think I am more relatable, in some aspects. I want to inspire people to achieve their dreams.

Viñas took time to praise Khianna, calling her an amazing performer and admitted being worried to go up against her.

“Sino ba ang kayang tumapat kay Khianna diba?! Napunta sa akin ang baraha and I’m so lucky to be that person. Khianna deserves more than this. I’m so happy na Top 4 ako ngayon,” the drag queen.

Of the remaining queens, Viñas shared being nervous facing Arizona as she believes the latter can “do camp on a higher level” than her.

She did also call her drag sister Brigiding “the most experienced” in Top 4, but Viñas is more worried about her “inner saboteur” tendencies.

Brigiding and Viñas are members of the Divine Divas along with “Drag Race Philippines” Season 1 winner Precious Paula Nicole, who served as a guest judge on the seventh and eighth episode of “Drag Race Philippines Slaysian Royale.”

The eigthth episode saw Suki and Arizona jointly winning Ru badges for their Dragcon Slaysian maxi challenge perfomances.

It marked Suki’s first maxi challenge win and just the second time an international queen earned a Ru badge after Yuhua who was eliminated before Khianna. Arizona meanwhile now has two badges, as many both Viñas and Brigiding.

Viñas is hopeful that the Philippines will one day host its own Dragcon, pointing out the local drag community is very talented and deserves to be noticed.

“I hope I am making you proud. I am doing my best to make the Philippines proud and sana nagta-transcend ito sa likod ng mga camera,” Viñas said in her message to fans, sharing that more happens behind the scenes and the hour-long episodes viewers watch.

She appealed to fans to remain calm, be more appreciative and spread only love, this as many believe the Pambansang Bunganga is huge frontrunner to take the Slaysian crown.

“You are making me stronger everyday, dahil sa support niyo lumalaki ang drag industry sa Philippines, dahil ‘yan sa inyo,” Viñas ended.

Cebu’s resort town Moalboal, famed for its sardine runs and coral reefs, joined the global International Coastal Cleanup Day with a rare public-private initiative that underscores how developers and hoteliers are embedding sustainability into their growth strategies.

For the first time, the coastal town held two coordinated cleanups. Municipal Mayor Inocentes Cabaron led local government workers in clearing debris along the seawall, wharf and reclamation areas near the town proper.

In parallel, Club Serena Resort mobilized a consortium of private companies, safety officers and volunteers for a beach and underwater cleanup in Saavedra, one of Moalboal’s most-visited white sand stretches.

The private-sector initiative, spearheaded by Cebu-based developer AppleOne Properties Inc. (API) and its hospitality arm One Root Hospitality, drew participation from barangay officials, police, coast guard, fire protection units, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as scuba divers from local resorts.

‘The annual ICC Day brought together people from all walks of life to care for the sea and celebrate Moalboal’s love for nature and culture,’ Cabaron said.

He added that the initiative, part of a global campaign themed ‘Clean Seas Against the Climate Crisis,’ builds on year-round local efforts to preserve the town’s beaches and marine ecosystems.

AppleOne, which has expanded its footprint in property and hospitality across Cebu and the Visayas, positioned its leadership role in the cleanup as part of a broader sustainability agenda.

‘AppleOne’s leadership in this year’s ICC is our public statement on sustainability even as we pursue property and tourism development in the countryside,’ said Samantha Manigsaca, API’s vice-president for hospitality.

She noted that the multi-sector participants signed pledges after the cleanup to support the protection of Tañon Strait, the country’s largest marine protected seascape.

Moalboal, situated on Cebu’s southwestern coast and a finalist in the Department of Tourism’s Philippine Tourism Awards, has seen rising visitor numbers driven by its rich biodiversity, sardine runs and diving sites.

Business leaders in the town said environmental stewardship is vital to maintaining its global reputation as a marine tourism hub.