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PUMA is heading up north to open its first-ever La Union store on October 17. Situated on the Ground Floor of the new SM Mall of La Union, this store offers a new spot to explore PUMA’s iconic collection of performance gear, sleek lifestyle sneakers, and chic apparel, seamlessly blending sporty function with everyday style. ‘We’re excited to open our newest PUMA store here at SM City La Union, bringing our signature blend of sport and lifestyle to this vibrant community. This expansion reflects our commitment to reaching more Filipinos with world-class products. We look forward to becoming part of La Union’s growing energy and passion for active living,’ said Paolo Misa, Country Manager of PUMA Philippines, when asked about their latest venture up North.PUMA Icons Available at SM La Union

PUMA’s new store at SM La Union is bringing iconic footwear and fresh lifestyle silhouettes closer to the Northern community. Shoppers can expect exciting releases that mix the latest designs and everyday comfort.

Wear the iconic PUMA Speedcat OG

Speedcat OG in Metallic

First launched in the late ’90s, this low-profile sneaker was inspired by Formula 1 pit crews and designed for speed and precision. Choose between Black, Red, and Metallic colorways to bring motorsport heritage to your everyday look. With its sharp lines and sleek fit, the Speedcat OG gives you that perfect balance of athletic edge and street style flair. The Speedcat OG retails at PHP 7,100.

Try on the sleek Speedcat Ballet Café

Speedcat Ballet Cafe

The Speedcat Ballet Café embodies the elegance of ballet flats while staying casual and comfortable. Its warm, neutral, and earthy hues, combined with subtle textures and a soft design, make it perfect for everything from coffee runs to casual walks. Whether you’re embracing the balletcore trend or seeking a stylish, everyday shoe, this pair offers effortless charm with a modern twist. The PUMA Speedcat Ballet SD Café collection is available in two colorways Prairie Tan and Dark Chocolate for PHP 5,200.

Slip into the light PUMA Bella UT

Speedcat Bella UT

For those who want a sneaker that’s clean, comfortable, and easy to wear anywhere, the Bella UT delivers. Lightweight and breathable, it’s designed to keep up with your everyday rhythm-whether you’re running errands, traveling, or just keeping it casual. Its minimalist design allows you to pair it with nearly anything, while delivering the all-day comfort PUMA is renowned for. Get the Speedcat Bella UT for just PHP 5,200.Shop at the First PUMA Store at SM La UnionBe among the first to shop the Speedcat OG in Black, Red, and Metallic, the chic Ballet Café, and the versatile Bella UT when the store opens on October 17.

PUMA’s expansion into SM La Union brings its signature style closer to home, offering sneakers and gear tailored to your lifestyle-whether you prioritize performance, style, or both. From iconic classics to fresh redesigns, this new store has something for everyone.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Usec. Arrey Perez has resigned from his post in the agency after he was linked by Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste to flood control contractors, said Sec. Vince Dizon on Friday.

Dizon said Perez submitted his irrevocable resignation to give way to the investigation and to prevent being a ‘distraction’ to the DPWH.

‘So as of today, Usec. Perez is no longer part of the DPWH. He voluntarily resigned, and we respect his decision,’ Dizon said in a press conference.

‘But of course, the investigation will still continue,’ he added.

Dizon then committed that the investigation within the DPWH will not be affected by personalities, political affiliations or past associations.

This, he said, is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

‘The cleansing process will spare no one and show no favoritism, whether they’ve been here before, have already resigned, are from the previous administration, or are people I personally brought in,’ he emphasized.

‘No one will be exempt, and that’s what we need to do,’ he said.

It was Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste who named Perez on Friday morning as one of the DPWH officials allegedly linked to flood control contractors.

Leviste revealed the undersecretary’s name after Dizon earlier challenged the lawmaker to identify the DPWH officials Leviste alleged were reportedly connected to contractors involved in the questionable flood control projects.

Amid a robust trade relationship and strong, continuous demand from Filipino consumers, now is an excellent time for entrepreneurs in the Philippines to source from high-quality Thai suppliers. Thailand’s industrial strength is demonstrated by key sectors like the food and beverage – as a ‘Kitchen of the World’, and automotive parts, which showcase the nation’s industrial quality. Thailand is also famous for its globally recognized pet food, ranking as the world’s second-largest exporter, and is a well-known trading country for other in-demand goods such as rice, cassava-based products, cosmetics, skin care products and soaps. Thailand is ready to partner with businesses in the Philippines to drive mutual economic growth.

The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce is a Thai government agency that serves as a global business bridge for international traders. The department’s core mission is to streamline the import process by organizing major trade fairs platform in Thailand, and supporting crucial market insights, as well as the Thai Exporters List Directory, which serves as a trusted database of verified Thai suppliers across all industries. More importantly, DITP also has its worldwide offices of Thai Trade Centers (TTCs) – including the dedicated office in Manila – offers crucial support to all trading businesses.

Ms.Sutinee Vathana ,Director of the Thai Trade Center in Manila, says that ‘Our TTC is positioning ourselves as the premier one-stop service hub for Filipino entrepreneurs who desire to explore the trade journey with Thailand. The Center regularly facilitates business matching, helping importers find reliable Thai suppliers that perfectly meet their needs – even on demand. It also supports participation in major trade fairs in Thailand such as THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA, TAPA, and BGJF. In addition, TTC actively organizes Trade Fairs in the Philippines including Thailand Week in Manila and other provinces such as Cebu. Beyond trade facilitation, the TTC provides expert consultation, delivers market insights for strategic decision-making, and serves as the official channel for handling commercial complaints.’

Trade between the two nations in the first eight months of 2025 (January-August) exceeded 7,305.04 million USD, representing a growth of 1.23% (Source: Thai Customs). Therefore, with support of the Thai Trade Center in Manila, trade relations between the Philippines and Thailand are expected to continue growing.

The Philippine stock barometer again failed to climb to the 6,100 level on Friday as investors stayed on the sidelines while waiting for more leads. They are particularly looking at upcoming earnings reports of blue chips.

By the closing bell, the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) shed 0.07 percent or 4.14 points to end at 6,089.53.

The broader All Shares Index also lost 0.19 percent or 7.12 points to close at 3,665.08.

A total of 1.33 billion shares worth P4.42 billion changed hands, stock exchange data showed.

Luis Limlingan, head of sales at stock brokerage house Regina Capital Development Corp., said the market was ‘relatively flat’ due to mixed sentiments ahead of the upcoming earnings season.

This ‘kept the index moving sideways’ as traders anticipate the onslaught of financial reports in the coming weeks, Limlingan added.

Earnings reports

So far, only Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has disclosed its earnings in the January to September period. It netted a record P50.5 billion.

Ayala Land Inc. was the most actively traded stock. It shed 2.59 percent to close at P22.55 each.

Then came International Container Terminal Services Inc., up 0.46 percent to P542.50; BDO Unibank Inc., down 0.21 percent to P139.70; Manila Electric Co., up 1.83 percent to P557; and Synergy Grid and Development Phils Inc., down 5.06 percent to P15.38 per share.

Others were Philex Mining Corp., down 3.9 percent to P9.61; Apex Mining Co. Inc., up 0.88 percent to P11.44; BPI, up 1.11 percent to P109.20; Century Pacific Food Inc., down 0.93 percent to P37.40; and Philippine Seven Corp., up 3.81 percent to P43.55 each.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 109 to 83, while 56 companies closed flat, stock exchange data also showed. /rwd

They may be idiots in the eyes of University of the East coach Chris Gavina.

To the UAAP, though, they made the right call.

The league backed its referees, who were roundly criticized in the aftermath of a controversial match between UE and La Salle, suspending Warriors standout Wello Lingolingo for three games for his role in the contentious game.

Lingolingo’s foul on Archers guard Kean Baclaan-called at the 4:21 mark of the fourth quarter-sparked controversy and fury from Gavina, who insisted it was a hustle play gone wrong. But the league, after review, sided with the game officials, citing ‘excessive and forceful contact.’

The UAAP slapped the suspension on Lingolingo for ‘an unsportsmanlike foul (Criteria 2) committed last Wednesday, Oct. 15, during University of the East’s UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Basketball game against De La Salle University,’ it said in a statement.

Before the league’s decision, a fuming Gavina torched the referees in an expletive-filled rant for ejecting the UE wingman after he fell on Backlaan’s knee during a scuffle for the loose ball.

Baclaan shoved Lingolingo off his knee almost instantly and grimaced in pain before being stretchered out of the coliseum.

‘I watched the video. They told me that Wello jumped f****** purposely on Baclaan on a loose ball? Get the f*** out of here,’ Gavina said. ‘Call a regular foul. You call an unspo on a play like that? Wello had 24 points at that moment. 24. They’re supposed to be the best of the best? Get the f*** out of here. Hell no. (They) took away our effort.’

He added: ‘I hope these three referees never f****** ref again in any of our games. It was a complete disservice for the outcome of this game and the beauty of the competition was taken away.’

Baclaan was later diagnosed with an MCL tear and will be sidelined for the rest of the season along with La Salle teammate Mason Amos, who also suffered the same injury.

Lingolingo, who had tallied 24 points before his ejection, will miss UE’s game against FEU on Sunday, as well as the team’s first two outings in the second round. The UAAP clarified that the Red Warriors may file a motion for reconsideration.

‘While the referees had already called for a jump ball, Lingolingo dove for possession and landed on the right knee of La Salle’s #13, Kean Baclaan,’ the UAAP statement read. ‘Upon review, it was determined that the foul involved excessive and forceful contact made by a player in an attempt to play the ball or an opponent.’

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Thursday that the ongoing investigation of corruption in the government’s multibillion-peso flood control projects would spare no one, even prominent government officials like Sen. Christopher ‘Bong’ Go.

‘There will be no sacred cows here,’ Dizon told reporters. ‘Anyone who will be implicated by the evidence will not be spared and will be held accountable. It’s as simple as that.’

‘It doesn’t matter who they are-former administrations or the current administration-it doesn’t matter,’ he added.

In his interview with reporters, Dizon said that he had discussed with Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla starting the investigation of the possible links between the Discaya couple-Pacifico ‘Curlee’ and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya-and CLTG Builders, a company owned by the senator’s father.

Call from Remulla

Asked whether Go might be linked to the Discayas, who are under investigation in the flood control probes, Dizon said: ‘We talked with Ombudsman Remulla last night about this. And now, we are already working to look at the documents from the previous administration.’

‘That is also our target – from 2016 to 2025. That is also the mandate of the ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure),’ Dizon explained.

Go, a longtime aide to former President Rodrigo Duterte, served as special assistant to the president before he was elected senator in 2019.

Dizon said Remulla called him on Wednesday night after the Discayas decided to stop cooperating with the ICI on the flood control investigation.

Go repeated his previous denials of any links to the Discaya couple and to his family’s business dealings.

‘I don’t know the Discayas, I have nothing to do with them, and I don’t care about the Discayas,’ Go said in a hastily called press briefing.

‘I fear nothing’

The senator urged the Discayas to ‘tell the truth’ as he lamented that the investigations were being diverted to protect the real masterminds of the anomalies in the flood control projects.

‘Go after the real culprits, the masterminds. Look for them,’ he appealed to the Ombudsman. Go did not say who the masterminds were.

He said he was ‘willing to be the complainant’ in cases against those behind the corruption scandal, even if they were his family, if they really committed anomalies,’ he said.

‘Let the facts speak for themselves. I’m not hiding anything; I fear nothing because I didn’t commit any offense,’ Go said.

‘I am true to my oath as a public servant. And I’m not going to do anything to destroy the trust the people have given me,’ he added. ‘I have observed ‘delicadeza’ my whole life. I will always guard the trust the people have given me.’

Brian Keith Hosaka, executive director of the ICI, said on Wednesday that the Discaya couple would no longer cooperate in the fact-finding body’s investigation.

He said they invoked their right against self-incrimination following a ‘personal opinion’ expressed by ICI member, former Public Works Secretary Rogelio ‘Babes’ Singson, that the couple were ‘principal players’ and had benefited from the corruption in the flood control projects.

Joint venture

Hosaka explained that the Discayas expected to get a ‘favorable recommendation from the commission as state witnesses’ if they cooperated.

‘So, because of that, they are now saying that they will no longer appear before the commission and cooperate,’ he said.

During a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Sept. 1, 2025, Sarah confirmed reports that they had entered into a joint venture project with CLTG Builders in the past.

When Go asked her whether the project had involved flood control, she said she couldn’t remember.

At that point, Go declared that if that joint venture had deficiencies or irregularities, he would be the first to recommend charges against the Discayas and CLTG, even if it involved his family. CLTG is Go’s initials-Christopher Lawrence Tesoro Go.

‘For the nth time, I have nothing to do with the business of my family. I don’t have anything to do with their business; I have no involvement in its operations,’ Go said in a statement at that time.

125 Davao projects

In July 2024, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV filed a plunder complaint against Duterte for allegedly using his position as Davao City mayor and later as president to award public works contracts worth P6.6 billion to ‘unqualified’ companies owned by Go’s father and half-brother-Deciderio Lim Go and Alfred Armero Go-who were also named as Duterte’s co-respondents in the case he brought to the Department of Justice.

Trillanes, citing official records from the Commission on Audit (COA), alleged that from March 2007 to May 2018, CLTG was awarded 125 projects in the Davao region by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

He also said that some of the projects were under Duterte’s centerpiece ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program.

According to the COA records cited in the complaint, CLTG secured 27 projects worth approximately P3.2 billion in 2017 alone. Alfrego Builders and Supply, owned by Go’s half-brother, won 59 public works projects from June 2007 to July 2018, amounting to P1.74 billion. These were also all DPWH projects in the Davao region.

Trillanes pointed out that in 2018, Alfrego won contracts for 23 projects amounting to P1.3 billion.

Rehashed charges

‘CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders and Supply could not have been awarded the enormous projects were it not for Respondent Bong Go and his connection to the seat of power-Respondent Duterte, who is constitutionally responsible for the annual budget proposal,’ read the complaint.

In response to the charges, Go said that the ex-senator’s allegations were ‘essentially’ the same charges hurled against him in the past, which he had categorically denied.

‘For the record, even before I was born, my family already had a business,’ he said. ‘What I can assure you is that neither I nor my family benefited from my being a government official.’

As early as 2018, Trillanes already sought a Senate inquiry into the possible conflict of interest in the awarding of billions of pesos worth of government contracts to companies owned by Go’s relatives.

Vice President Sara Duterte, a former ally and now an arch-critic of President Marcos, believes that linking Go to the alleged corruption of the Discaya couple in public works projects would eventually lead to her and her father.

‘Whether it will reach me or not, I think so, I believe so because we are allies,’ Duterte told reporters at the Pandesal Forum on Thursday. ‘They’ll try to link us.’

Ultimately, she said, this would lead to the former president, who is currently under the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, for crimes against humanity in connection with his drug war.

Chanting ‘Kabataan, magkaisa! Baguhin ang bulok na sistema!’ hundreds of students and youth groups marched to Mendiola on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, to mark the National Day of Action Kontra Korapsyon, a coordinated protest demanding accountability and justice over the alleged misuse of flood control funds.

The action was organized by a coalition of youth groups under the newly formed Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (People’s Movement Against Corruption), which emerged after a series of campus walkouts and rallies across the country.

Protesters accused the Marcos administration of failing to hold top officials accountable in what they described as the worst corruption scandal in recent history. A continuation of ‘Baha sa Luneta’

Friday’s protest was a continuation of the ‘Baha sa Luneta’ demonstration held on Sept. 21, which culminated at Mendiola. That earlier march brought together students, teachers and civic groups calling for transparency in flood control projects that allegedly benefited a handful of favored contractors.

At Mendiola, students carried banners that read ‘Pondo sa edukasyon, hindi sa korapsyon’ and ‘Baguhin ang sistema.’ They denounced what they called Malacañang’s ‘performative’ response to corruption scandals and demanded that public funds be redirected to education and social services.

Youth groups unite under new alliance

Organizers said the Oct. 17 mobilization was facilitated by youth organizations that first met during the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot convening meeting. The gathering sought to build a broad alliance to sustain anti-corruption actions and encourage more students and first-time protesters to join.

They said the nationwide action sought to build unity across campuses and encourage first-time participants to speak out against corruption.

‘No to cover-ups’

In an Oct. 15 statement, youth groups accused the government of using ‘violence, disinformation and political theatrics’ to divert attention from the scandal involving the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

‘No to cover-ups! We cannot trust an investigation that the public cannot scrutinize and that is controlled by the so-called OG ‘nepo baby’ in Malacañang and his cronies. All those involved in corruption must be held accountable – including Marcos Jr. himself,’ said Joaquin Buenaflor, chairperson of the University of the Philippines Diliman University Student Council.

‘The fact that the House-approved budget remains filled with pork, especially the Unprogrammed Appropriations under the President’s discretion, proves that Malacañang’s supposed investigations are nothing but peak performative behavior,’ said Rep. Renee Co of Kabataan Party-list.

‘Police have been quicker to summon and jail those who fight corruption than those actually named in the anomalies – or even the unnamed masterminds and enablers, including the President himself,’ said Aldrin Kitsune of Kalayaan Kontra Korapsyon.

‘If Vice President Sara was not held accountable with Malacañang’s blessing, it is hard to expect that responsibility will reach the top if it is left to the President alone. Protest is our only way to make the truth come out,’ said Fran Reyes, national spokesperson of Gabriela Youth.

White Ribbon Friday movement

In Quezon City, members of Akbayan Partylist, Tindig Pilipinas and Youth Against Kurakot held a White Ribbon Friday rally at Kamias corner EDSA, part of the ongoing Trillion Peso March Movement. Volunteers distributed white ribbons to motorists and pedestrians as a symbol of truth and accountability.

Placards read, ‘On Fridays, we wear white ribbon – Katotohanan at Pananagutan.’

Marching for a future

Under a gray sky threatening rain, the protests continued into the afternoon. The energy of the youth, their banners, chants, and unity spoke of a generation determined to claim their voice.

For these demonstrators, the fight against corruption is not just a political act – it is a declaration of ownership over the nation’s future. /dm

Typhoon ‘Opong,’ which hit Masbate, unveiled one painfully clear truth: our so-called Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils have become little more than bureaucratic deadweight. The storm lasted only hours, but the waiting that followed dragged on for weeks. Relief and recovery operations crawled, while families endured hunger, displacement, and despair.

I write this as someone inside the system-and I’m frustrated. Frustrated by how we’ve turned disaster response into a show of press conferences and photo ops. Because let’s be honest, we’ve made excuses to cover up inaction. We’ve heard them all-‘We’re still assessing,’ ‘There’s no power,’ ‘Communication lines are down,’ and a dozen other senseless lines meant to justify delay.

The truth is, we call ourselves public servants, yet when the public cries for help, too many of us are nowhere to be found. We have Disaster Risk Reductions and Management Councils in name, but not in spirit. What’s ‘quick’ about relief goods that arrive after two weeks? Relief coming after one or two weeks is like calling a snail a racehorse.

It’s true that relief delayed is relief denied. Every day of delay is another day a child goes hungry, a student’s dream fades, and a family sleeps without a roof over their heads. It’s our responsibility to the people, and to the title we carry, to do better. To always be reminded that our duty does not begin when pictures are taken, nor should it end when the headlines fade.

The problem isn’t just logistics; it’s leadership. True disaster management doesn’t start after the damage-it begins long before the storm, with preparation, coordination, and the political will to act swiftly.

A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was felt in Occidental Mindoro early Friday morning, Oct. 17, with its epicenter traced to Paluan town.

The tectonic tremor occurred at 5:28 a.m., 26 kilometers southwest of Paluan, at a shallow depth of 6 kilometers, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

Phivolcs said no aftershocks or damage are expected from the tremor.

On Thursday at 7:02 p.m., a magnitude 3.9 earthquake also struck Santa Cruz town in the province. The quake was felt at Intensity II in Santa Cruz and Mamburao towns and at Instrumental Intensity II in Puerto Galera town in Oriental Mindoro and in Mamburao.

Intensity measures the effect of an earthquake on people and property, while instrumental intensity is determined using an intensity scale.

The seismically active Lubang Fault lies between Mindoro Island and Batangas./mcm

The death toll from the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu province on Sept. 30 has climbed to 79, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Friday.

The NDRRMC said the figure remains subject to validation.

The agency also reported 559 injured people, and no one was reported missing, based on its 8 a.m. situation report.

Meanwhile, the number of affected individuals rose to 747,979, or 216,947 families across 260 barangays.

Of the total, 21,847 were displaced-5,079 are staying in evacuation centers (ECs), while 16,768 are sheltering elsewhere or receiving assistance outside ECs.

As of 4 a.m. Friday, the agency recorded 12,704 aftershocks following the September 30 quake. The tremors have so far damaged 134,229 houses in Cebu and neighboring provinces.

To support affected communities, the NDRRMC reported distributing P416.9 million worth of assistance./mcm/abc