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The annual commemoration of the death of local hero Apolinario de la Cruz, more popularly known as Hermano Puli, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, at his shrine along the Maharlika Highway in Tayabas City, was canceled due to bad weather.

‘Due to inclement weather, the scheduled program at the Hermano Puli shrine has been canceled. It will instead be held as a Holy Mass at the Minor Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel in Tayabas City,’ the Quezon provincial government announced in an advisory in Filipino posted on Facebook Monday morning.

Authorities urged participants to attend the commemorative mass at the new venue.

‘Let us continue to unite and take part in this historic commemoration as a tribute to Hermano Puli,’ the provincial government said.

Only members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Southern Luzon Command based in Camp Nakar, Lucena City, were to conduct the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the De la Cruz monument in Barangay Isabang, Tayabas City.

Malacañang earlier declared Nov. 4 a special non-working holiday in Quezon province to mark the 184th death anniversary of Hermano Puli.

Each year, local government leaders, military and police officials, and civic groups gather to offer flowers at De la Cruz monuments in Tayabas City and Lucban town.

Apolinario de la Cruz was born on July 22, 1815, in Lucban town. Aspiring to be a priest, he was rejected by Spanish friars because he was a native ‘indio’.

At 17, he founded the Cofradía de San José, a religious brotherhood that drew thousands of followers from Tayabas and nearby provinces, including Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, and parts of Bicol.

Spanish authorities branded the movement as subversive, forcing De la Cruz and his followers to go into hiding.

On Nov. 1, 1841, Spanish soldiers attacked their stronghold. De la Cruz was later captured and executed on Nov. 4 in Tayabas.

His body was cut into pieces, and his head was displayed on a pole to serve as a warning to his followers.

Historians say De la Cruz’s defiance and martyrdom inspired the later nationalist awakening that led to the martyrdom of priests Mariano Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora – whose deaths further ignited the Filipinos’ fight for freedom from Spanish rule

Preemptive evacuation was carried out between late Sunday and Monday for families displaced by the Sept. 30 deadly 6.9 magnitude earthquake who were still staying in tent communities in Bogo City, Cebu, as the city braced for the onslaught of Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi).

The Philippine Red Cross led the evacuation of residents housed at the Tent City in Barangay Cogon, while those in other tent communities were assisted by barangay disaster risk reduction and management offices, Mayor Maria Cielo Martinez said on Monday.

The areas being vacated were originally set up for survivors of a recent earthquake that struck northern Cebu.

Martinez said the city government was inspecting evacuation centers to ensure these could withstand strong winds, continuous rains, and possible aftershocks.

‘We will release the list of evacuation sites once all structures have been reassessed for safety,’ the mayor said.

In an executive order, Martinez suspended work in all government offices from Monday noon until Tuesday, citing the need for precautionary action as Bogo City was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Personnel involved in peace and order, disaster response, health, sanitation, and traffic operations were directed to remain on duty.

Private businesses were encouraged to consider suspending operations for the protection of their workers.

Based on the 11 a.m. advisory of Pagasa, Tino was estimated 285 kilometers east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Martinez urged residents in high-risk zones to ‘remain alert and follow the advice of authorities’ as the city continued preparations for the weather disturbance

With its women’s team powered by a graduating cog’s triple-double and the men’s crew getting most everyone involved, National University had a Sunday afternoon to remember in Season 88 of the UAAP basketball tournament.

Ann Pingol had 12 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for the first triple-double of her career-and the women’s tournament this season-as the Lady Bulldogs posted a 97-67 clobbering of La Salle to notch the second Final Four berth at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, where the Bulldogs practically achieved the same later.

With three players shooting twin figures and all but one of 12 who saw action scoring, the Bulldogs snapped the Green Archers’ four-game winning streak with a 75-67 victory that had the National U men staying atop their standings and all but bagging the first slot in the semifinals.

‘I really didn’t know that I had something like that going,’ Pingol, who also had six steals to complete a mammoth all-around effort, said in Filipino after helping the Lady Bulldogs rise to 9-1. ‘My coaches and teammates helped me achieve this. I couldn’t have done this without them.

‘This is also for them,’ added Pingol, a member of a couple of title-winning teams who would certainly want to exit as a winner.

Meanwhile, Jeff Napa’s boys stayed on top after improving to an 8-2 card, with the Green Archers dropping to third at 6-4 as the Final Four race in the men’s side-at least for the three other slots-got muddled up even more as National U seems to be the one that’s gotten there ahead of everyone else.

With idle defending champion University of the Philippines more than two games behind in second at 6-3 and Adamson, which was playing Far Eastern at press time and University of Santo Tomas sharing fourth at 5-4, the Bulldogs have all made it back to their Final Four with still four games left.

And the target from here on, obviously, is tabbing one of two twice-to-beat privileges, if not top ranking.

The Bulldogs have the Soaring Falcons, the Tamaraws, University of the East and then the Growling Tigers as their last assignments, with National U shooting to sweep Adamson, Far Eastern and the Red Warriors like it did La Salle.

National U scored a 56-54 win over the Falcons, had an 84-68 victory over the Tamaraws and bamboozled the Warriors, 72-57, in the first round.

But Napa would want to bask in their latest win, giving all credit to his players who laid it all down on the floor against a La Salle crew that had a lot of momentum.

‘It’s [all] about those who play on the court,’ Napa said after his team weathered foul trouble and made up for the absence of Gelo Santiago, who served the first of a five-game suspension for a dangerous foul on Waki Espina of Ateneo last week. ‘PJ (Palacielo) was in foul trouble, Paul Francisco fouled out, but we didn’t think about that.

‘We think about our mental and physical strength,’ he added. ‘There’s no reason for us to underperform even with our adversities.’

National U led La Salle by as many as 13 points with the Archers coming to within five twice, the last at 72-67 with 67 ticks remaining.

Steve Nash Enriquez paced the Bulldogs with 16 points, while Paul Francisco, despite fouling out, finished with 14 points.

National U leader Jake Figueroa struggled to just five points but managed to still snag eight rebounds, dish out six assists and come up with six steals to help the Bulldogs win their second straight game after their victory over Ateneo.

‘We prepared ourselves not just physically but also mentally,’ Enriquez said. ‘We knew they were on a winning streak, but we didn’t think about that.

‘We don’t control them. All we can control is our emotions when we play on the court, so that’s how we did our best.’

La Salle got 16 points from Jacob Cortez, with Mike Phillips finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has served subpoenas to the respondents in the five alleged ghost flood control projects in Bulacan, acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed on Monday.

‘Some of the subpoenas have been personally served in the initial five cases wherein the DOJ has been deputized by the Office of the Ombudsman. That process will start. The respondents and charges have been identified, and soon there will be more,’ Vida told reporters in an interview in Pasay City.

According to Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, the preliminary investigation of the five cases is scheduled on Nov. 10.

Fadullon previously disclosed that the respondents in the ghost flood control projects in Bulacan include former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza.

‘The five cases are focusing on the participation of the District Engineering Office of Bulacan 1. So they are the subject of these cases,’ Fadullon said, adding that the first set of cases also involved a contractor who lent their license to secure a certain flood control project.

The DOJ initially turned over the five cases involving malversation, falsification by public officers, perjury, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices, to the Office of the Ombudsman in October for assessment and review.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla returned the cases, however, to the DOJ to avoid repetition of processes.

‘The five flood control cases filed by the DOJ, we are returning them to them already. They will conduct PI [preliminary investigation], they will work on that, and they will file the cases since they have witnesses, so the process won’t repeat here,’ Remulla said.

DOJ spokesperson Raphael Niccolo Martinez earlier said the agency was working on a one-month period to wrap up its preliminary investigation that will determine if there are sufficient grounds to file the cases in court.

Amid public outcry seeking accountability through immediate filing of cases in court, Vida appealed for patience, saying that the DOJ is evaluating the cases cautiously to ensure that the rule of law and due process are observed.

‘The call is for us to follow the process, no matter how slow it is. The process is moving, but we are trying to move it in the right direction so that what our countrymen hope for can be achieved,’ he said.

Former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co has yet to respond to the Office of the Ombudsman’s directive for him to submit his explanation over its investigation into alleged irregularities in the anomalous flood control projects.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the order to file a counter-affidavit was sent to Co’s last known residence, but the recipient ‘refused to accept’ the document.

‘So what I think this remark means is that the last place or the last residence of former congressman Co was used in the delivery of the order, and yet the persons who received it on his behalf refused to accept the order,’ Clavano said in a press briefing on Monday.

‘So that remark I will have to clarify. But usually, what happens there is it’s deemed received already. And if the periods have already lapsed, then we will consider the person. In this case, or former congressman Co, as in default,’ he added.

Clavano explained that persons ‘in default’ means that they did not accept the order to file a counter-affidavit or they did not take the opportunity to present their defenses.

‘I’ll get more [information]. Because it just says here that the recipient refused to accept the order to file a counter-affidavit. I believe this was filed last week. The order was delivered last week and [was] refused,’ the official said.

Aside from Co, seven other officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were likewise ordered to file a counter-affidavit in relation to the complaints on the anomalous flood control projects.

Although he did not reveal their names, Clavano stated that a former regional director of the DPWH in Mimaropa had filed a motion on October 24 for an additional 15-day period to file a counter-affidavit.

‘Former assistant regional director, the current assistant regional director, the chief of the Construction Division, and the OIC (officer-in-charge) chief of the Planning and Design Division [of the DWPH) filed an appearance with motion for time to file a counter-affidavit dated October 24, requesting 10 days from October 25 through their counsel,’ he said.

‘A project engineer received the order to file a counter-affidavit on October 15, 2025. Another materials engineer filed an entry of appearance with manifestation requesting 10 days from October 27 to file the counter-affidavit. And as of today, he has filed his counter-affidavit with the Office of the Ombudsman,’ Clavano added.

Fast fashion has long drawn criticism for its cultural and environmental impact. Now, fast deco is transforming Filipino homes, and in doing so, threatening the tradition of ‘pamana.’

What is fast deco?

Fast deco refers to low-cost, mass-produced furniture and décor that follow the latest trends and are easily replaced once a new look becomes popular. These days, it’s hard not to notice homes filled with ‘fast’ furniture and décor.

Fast deco refers to low-cost, mass-produced furniture and décor that follow the latest trends and are easily replaced once a new look becomes popular

That said, many brands have reshaped how Filipinos approach home décor, introducing not only a wide range of stylish, affordable furniture but also the idea that homes could be constantly updated to reflect the latest trends. Many Filipinos have embraced this mindset, buying pieces that look modern and trendy without worrying about long-term durability.

As a result, the home décor market in the Philippines is booming. This year, it’s expected to generate around US$179.10 million in revenue.

More Filipinos are drawn to minimalist styles that fit urban lifestyles-a shift influenced by social media, online shopping, and the convenience of fast décor. However, this constant cycle of buying and replacing comes with a hidden cost. Every piece discarded for the next new look leaves behind more than just clutter-it adds to a mounting environmental problem. Metro Manila’s waste output has steadily increased over the years. In 2020, the region produced over 3.3 million metric tons of waste, rising to 3.36 million in 2021. The trend continued in 2022, reaching 3.39 million metric tons, and by 2023, waste generation had exceeded 3.4 million metric tons. In 2024, the numbers climbed even further, putting additional strain on the region’s already burdened waste management system.

A threat to pamana culture

From the root word ‘mana,’ pamana is a Filipino term that means heritage, inheritance, or hand-me-down. In Filipino culture, it symbolizes the connection between generations, showing how older family members continue to look after the younger ones even after they are gone.

But pamana is more than just a hand-me-down-it’s memory, history, and identity

But pamana is more than just a hand-me-down-it’s memory, history, and identity. The wooden cabinet from my grandmother’s house wasn’t just a place for photo albums and my lolo’s CDs; it was a quiet witness to decades of family life. The handwoven lamp that once lit my mom’s room now glows softly in mine, carrying the same warmth through time. Our old living set, a little worn and scratched, has heard every laugh, story, and argument that made us who we are.

Even a simple vintage vase seems to hold not just flowers but also fragments of the past. Every piece of furniture was a storyteller and a keeper of memories that shaped our home.

Fast deco threatens this tradition. Modern, mass-produced furniture may look sleek and trendy, but it cannot hold these memories. Particleboard crumbles, laminates peel, and fabrics tear-too cheap and fragile to carry family legacies or heritage.

Pamana has to adapt-finding its place in modern homes by supporting local artisans who keep tradition alive and showing that value doesn’t always come from what’s new

It also puts local craftsmanship at risk. Traditional furniture and décor made from solid wood or natural fibers take time, skill, and patience, qualities that mass-produced pieces simply can’t match. As fast deco takes over, artisan livelihoods are threatened, and the culture of pamana slowly fades, along with the family stories these pieces once carried.

Can pamana culture survive? Maybe, but it’s getting harder. Pamana has to adapt-finding its place in modern homes by supporting local artisans who keep tradition alive and showing that value doesn’t always come from what’s new.

Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has called for an investigation into a Chinese company’s dredging operations near Zambales, noting that there are different issues brought by such an activity.

De Lima, in a statement over the weekend, said that Malacañang should check the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC) dredging in Zambales, as residents claimed that the operations endanger communities and the overall ecosystem.

According to the lawmaker, the fisherfolk and residents of San Felipe town in Zambales are primarily affected by the dredging.

‘This requires an urgent probe. We intend to file a measure to look into these alleged large-scale dredging operations that cause serious environmental destruction, threaten livelihoods, and endanger the safety of our countrymen,’ De Lima said in a statement over the weekend.

‘(There is a need to) determine the legality and scope of these operations, as well as their impact on the environment and the risks they pose to our coastal communities,’ she added.

De Lima also underscored that CHEC is reportedly a China-state owned company, under the China Communications Construction Company.

‘China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. is reportedly one of China’s state-run entities, being a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC),’ she said.

‘This Chinese infrastructure firm has already been reported to have a shady track record and to be involved in labor-related complaints-all the more reason for Malacañang to look into the situation in Zambales, as well as in other areas of the country facing similar issues,’ de Lima added.

This is not the first time CHEC has been embroiled in controversy regarding dredging operations. In March 2024, several residents of San Felipe have already raised concerns after seeing at least 14 dredging vessels with Chinese crew members near the said coastal town.

According to one of the residents, the dredging was also conducted by CHEC, particularly in Barangay Sindol and Sitio Laoag in Barangay Maloma.

During the same month, the Philippine Coast Guard detained the crew of at least 17 vessels involved in the dredging activities to allow authorities to check for possible violations of the government’s environmental protection, safety, and security protocols.

However, in October 2025, San Felipe residents once again protested the ‘large-scale dredging operations’ that were just 50 meters from the shoreline, noting that the activity had harmed the environment, reduced fisherfolk’s income, and contributed to floods due to sea-level rise.

‘If these large-scale dredging operations are left unchecked, we would be neglecting the welfare and concerns of our countrymen,’ de Lima said.

‘These foreign companies will just continue their activities, and we would not know, but days and weeks after, our natural resources may be irreversibly damaged, our fisherfolk without livelihood, and hopefully not, we might wake up one day to a disaster wherein a lot of our fellow Filipinos will be put in danger,’ she added.

This is not the first time De Lima has spoken about the harmful effects of dredging and mining operations. Last September, the lawmaker chided the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for allowing the continuous mining of black sand across the country, saying that the agency should be ‘proactive enough’ to oppose the practice.

De Lima urged the DENR to take a stand on black sand mining, as reports indicate that such activities continue in Zambales, the Ilocos Region, and Cagayan.

According to her, aside from the ecological impact of black sand mining, there are security concerns, as there is no clear explanation for where the mined sand is delivered or for what purposes it is used.

Previously, de Lima filed House Bill (HB) No. 1843, which seeks to declare the mining of the country’s black sand and other important minerals illegal, to address growing concerns about the activity’s impact on local ecosystems.

Kris Aquino assured her followers that she won’t be a snob when it comes to entertaining photo requests; however, she reminded that alcohol and a yellow mask will be prepared by her nurse due to health concerns.

Aquino opened up about the topic of photo requests on her Instagram page on Saturday, Nov. 1, while hinting that she plans to move to her new home within the month.

‘I need my wheelchair, no sun exposure, I bathe seated, yet my checklist on November 13 will have all I need. If you see someone in a colorful mask, an orange wheelchair, shopping for groceries and toilet paper, that’s me. Hindi ako snob. My nurse will have ethyl alcohol and a yellow mask if you want a picture,’ she said.

The Queen of All Media has stepped back from her showbiz commitments since 2016 amid her battle with her autoimmune diseases. At present, she has 11 as of last count, five of which were considered life-threatening, according to her, which is why precaution against infection is important.

She has recently been spotted out at the birthday celebration of her good friend, Michael Leyva, with what appeared to be a compression bandage on her left arm.

Settling in Tarlac?

Without mentioning their hometown in Tarlac outright, she recalled how her brother, the late former President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III, also ‘gets the least light’ in his room, and she hoped that he had all the light that he wanted in heaven.

‘Noy, your beloved room gets the least light, in heaven hindi pikon diba? The 2 boys [and] I will sleep there. Your face and your ‘Behave Kristina, Joshy, Bimb!’ We miss you,’ she said.

Aquino also praised how Tarlac has progressed since her last visit, and she got excited about the possibility of staying here much longer.

‘Our mom had already died and I remember taking so many rides with Alvin (her personal assistant) all over the [Philippines] I am no economist, but nasabi ko kay Alvin prosperous and obviously maganda ang trabaho ni mayor at lalo na ni [governor],’ she said, noting that seeing banks with ATM machines, gasoline stations, restaurants, hospitals, car dealerships, and other establishments is proof.

‘Lastly, I would tease alvin, mag-impaki na sya ng maleta namin, mag check ng possible schools for Bimb, SPED therapy for kuya, and maghanap ng bahay to rent for us to feel if this is home because nakita ko, may SandR!’ she said.

The entire province of Iloilo could be placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 by Tuesday, as Typhoon Tino continues to intensify and move closer to Panay Island, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned on Monday.

According to Engr. Ferdinand Rubin of Pagasa Iloilo, the typhoon is expected to unleash violent winds and torrential rains that could trigger widespread flooding, especially in low-lying towns.

‘Based on satellite data, Typhoon Tino may bring more than 200 millimeters of rainfall within the next 24 hours as it nears Iloilo,’ Rubin said.

He added: ‘We are advising residents to stay vigilant and heed evacuation advisories.’

Aside from intense rainfall, Pagasa warned of possible storm surges that may batter coastal communities across the province.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the Iloilo provincial government is fully prepared to respond and extend assistance to affected municipalities.

‘We are ready to respond and provide help to towns that will be affected,’ Defensor said, stressing the importance of close coordination among local disaster response teams.

As of 11 a.m. Pagasa update, Iloilo City and several municipalities have been placed under Signal No. 2, including Carles, Oton, San Miguel, Cabatuan, Badiangan, Calinog, Bingawan, Passi City, Dueñas, Mina, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Zarraga, Pototan, New Lucena, Leganes, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Dingle, San Enrique, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Lemery, Ajuy, Concepcion, Sara, San Dionisio, Batad, Balasan, and Estancia.

With Tino expected to further strengthen before landfall, authorities have urged residents to secure their homes, prepare emergency kits, and avoid coastal areas as strong winds and storm surges threaten to hit by Tuesday.

Pagasa said it will continue to issue updates every three hours as Tino moves closer to Western Visayas

Public officials, when scrutinized, should not resort to power-tripping, Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña said after the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) summoned a production house due to a content creator’s rant.

Cendaña was referring to MTRCB’s letter to Viva Communications Inc., seeking a dialogue with the company over influencer Sassa Gurl’s expletive-laden rant against the board during the premiere of ‘Dreamboi.’

Viva President Vincent Del Rosario was invited to a meeting, which the MTRCB said the meeting seeks to promote mutual understanding and responsible conduct in public events.

But Cendaña noted that Sassa Gurl’s rant was a valid criticism about the double-X rating initially given to Dreamboi, a queer film which is Viva’s entry to the CineSilip Film Festival 2025.

‘When public officials are criticized, they shouldn’t respond with power tripping. Makinig at umunawa (Listen and understand why),’ Cendaña said in a statement.

‘Queer narratives have long been dismissed as promiscuous. The Dreamboi team did an excellent job in flipping this script. Para sa totoong malaya at makulay na sining (For a true free and colorful art),’ he added.

The MTRCB did not specify who was the content creator who cursed at the agency, but a video of Sassa Gurl cursing the MTRCB during Dreamboi’s premiere made the rounds of social media.

The internet personality called out the MTRCB for giving ‘Dreamboi’ an X rating when it was not anywhere near a porn movie. She claimed Dreamboi received an X rating twice from MTRCB before it got an R-18 rating on the third attempt.

This is not the first time that MTRCB and personalities from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) community were embroiled in controversy.

In September 2023, noontime show It’s Showtime was suspended by MTRCB for 12 airing days after it received multiple complaints over the alleged ‘indecent acts’ of hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez, including other warnings of ‘inappropriate language’ in previous episodes.