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The municipal government of Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, announced with deep sorrow the passing of its town mayor, Edito Mulig, on Thursday. He was 61 years old.

The Municipal Information Office of Saint Bernard confirmed Mayor Mulig’s passing.

‘With deep sorrow and great pain, the Municipal Government of Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, announces the passing of our beloved Mayor, Hon. Edito L. Mulig – a leader filled with love, dedication, and compassion for his people and his town,’ the statement read.

‘Mayor Mulig was a true public servant – fair to all, never self-serving, and never driven by political favor. His service to the people was a reflection of genuine kindness and a sincere desire to help. His love for Saint Bernard was evident in the many projects he built and implemented: from roads and infrastructure, agricultural and livelihood programs, to initiatives that promoted progress and the well-being of every family,’ it added.

The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. Mulig will be succeeded by Vice Mayor Joselyn Lim Bungcaras, in accordance with the rules of succession for local officials.

Mulig’s death came weeks after the passing of former Tacloban City Mayor and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s uncle, Alfredo `Bejo’ Romualdez, last Oct.17.

Southern Leyte Gov. Damian Mercado extended his condolences to Mulig’s family and constituents, describing the late mayor as a ‘selfless and visionary leader.’

‘The late mayor’s legacy will withstand the test of time, and his brand of service will be passed on like a burning torch that will never falter,’ Mercado said in a social media post.

‘Our prayers and hearts are with the family of Mayor Mulig and the people of Saint Bernard as they have lost a father, brother, leader, and friend.’

Mayor Mulig was widely credited for steering Saint Bernard toward peace and stability, earning recognition for making the town free from insurgency and for prioritizing disaster resilience and community development.

Saint Bernard, a fourth-class municipality with a population of more than 28,000, is known for its recovery efforts following the 2006 Guinsaugon landslide, one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters that claimed over a thousand lives, including schoolchildren.

Under Mulig’s leadership, the town pursued programs on infrastructure, livelihood, and sustainable aquaculture, as well as partnerships with other local governments and academic institutions to boost local development.

Around 700,000 visitors are expected to pay respect to their loved ones at the Manila Memorial Park in this year’s observance of Undas, its management said Thursday.

The management of Manila Memorial Park told Inquirer in a phone call that this estimated number is based on their recorded number of visitors in previous years.

‘Based on our records, around or more than 700,000 people are expected this year,’ a representative of the park’s management said.

Manila Memorial Park is the final resting place of many prominent figures, including former President Cory Aquino, her husband, former senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr., and their son, former President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III.

Celebrities such as Rico Yan, AJ Perez, Paquito Diaz, and Helen Vela are also laid to rest in this cemetery.

Inquirer personally monitored the situation at Manila Memorial Park on Oct. 30, a day or two before the traditional celebration of Undas-Oct. 31 for early-goers and Nov. 1 for the occasion itself.

Preparations were heavy within the park, with both caretakers and the management working hand-in-hand in cleaning and organizing the grounds in preparation for the influx of visitors on Friday and Saturday.

Outside the cemetery, the Parañaque Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has already set up an incident command post in front of the park.

The mausoleum of the Aquinos was also relatively peaceful, with supporters visiting and paying respect every once in a while.

For Oct. 30, Manila Memorial Park will be open only until 6 p.m. However, starting October 31 and on November 1 (both of which are non-working holidays), the cemetery will be open 24 hours to accommodate those observing Undas.

Visitors are then reminded that firearms, explosives, weapons, sharp objects like knives and scissors, alcoholic beverages, gambling materials, loud sound systems, and illegal drugs are prohibited inside the park.

The Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City is still under renovation, and has seen very limited visitors this ‘Undas.’

In an interview with the INQUIRER on Thursday, Rowell Gallo, a staff of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, said the renovation of the Wall of Remembrance started in March this year.

He said that the unveiling of the renovated wall is scheduled on November 30, 2025.

Despite the limitations due to the renovation, the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) is scheduled to conduct a program at the Wall of Remembrance on Sunday, November 2.

The program will commemorate the lives of their loved ones who stood up against martial law.

Built in 1992, the Wall of Remembrance is a black granite wall where names of Filipinos who challenged the administration of then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. are engraved.

Currently, 339 names are listed in the Wall of Remembrance, including student activists, priests, nuns, journalists, writers, and public servants, among others.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) lingered dangerously close to the 5,900 barrier on Thursday. This, amid expectations that inflation this month may have settled within the same level as that in September.

By the end of the session, the benchmark index lost 0.57 percent or 34.09 points to close at 5,929.68.

Likewise, the broader All Shares Index shed 0.33 percent or 11.93 points to end at 3,593.28.

A total of 655.71 million shares worth P4.97 billion changed hands, stock exchange data showed.

This, after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas pegged October inflation to be within 1.4 percent to 2.2 percent. The BSP said this was due to the higher prices of rice, fish, vegetables and electricity. The central bank also attributed the possible acceleration to the depreciation of the peso.

Should the rate fall within the higher end of the projected range, it will be either the same or faster than September’s 1.7 percent.

Cautiously awaiting inflation data

Luis Limlingan, head of sales at stock brokerage house Regina Capital Development Corp., said investors were cautiously waiting for this crucial data that would be released on Nov. 5.

Ayala Land Inc. was the most actively traded stock as it lost 1.24 percent to P19.90 each.

It was followed by International Container Terminal Services Inc., down 0.28 percent to P530; BDO Unibank Inc., down 1.26 percent to P133.50; SM Investments Corp., down 0.55 percent to P729; and Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., flat at P69.

Others were Bank of the Philippine Islands, up 0.76 percent to P105.40; Ayala Corp., up 1.12 percent to P468; SM Prime Holdings Inc., down 1.32 percent to P22.40; Manila Electric Co., up 0.86 percent to P585; and Puregold Price Club Inc., down 1.8 percent to P38.10 per share.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 95 to 82, while 64 companies closed flat, stock exchange data also showed.

The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday publicized the highly anticipated reversal of the dismissal order against Sen. Joel Villanueva over the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in 2008 when he was still a member of the House of Representatives.

The reversal of the dismissal was contained in a 10-page order signed in 2019 by then-Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who critics called out for not making it available to the public back then.

The current Ombudsman, Jesus Crispin Remulla, vowed to release the reversal of the dismissal order against Villanueva and even questioned the veracity of the screenshot of documents shown by the senator to the media to counter the earlier plan to enforce the dismissal order against him.

In the order, Martires said there was ‘no adequate evidence on record’ showing that Villanueva was actually involved in the alleged embezzlement of the P9.7 million of his PDAF, or popularly known as pork barrel funds.

Villanueva, then a CIBAC partylist representative, was charged with administrative and criminal charges over the alleged misuse of his discretionary public funds.

Administrative charges against Villanueva include grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, which would have led to his dismissal from public service, as well as his perpetual disqualification from holding public office ever.

For criminal charges, Villanueva was charged with malversation of public funds, malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents, and graft.

Martires said in his 2019 order that there was ‘cogent basis’ to grant the motion for consideration filed by Villanueva contesting the earlier findings by former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Martires said the signature of Villanueva that appeared on top of his name in the acceptance reports for the projects using his PDAF was ‘forged.’

‘In fact, there is no adequate evidence on record showing that Villanueva was actually involved in the embezzlement of the P9,700,000.00 in public funds,’ Martires said in his order he signed on Sept. 13, 2019.

For the criminal charges, Martires, in a separate order he signed on Oct. 18, 2019, said that investigators failed to prove the alleged conspiracy to embezzle the public funds between the public officials charged, including Villanueva, and the private respondents.

This resulted in the Office of the Ombudsman in 2019 granting Villanueva’s supplemental motion for reconsideration to contest his criminal charges. Martires also dismissed the charges against his co-accused.

This ultimately led to the reversal of the 2016 dismissal order against Villanueva over the criminal charges filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman’s field investigators.

Villanueva filed his separate motions for reconsideration for his criminal and administrative charges. He contended that the Office of the Ombudsman ‘has no administrative jurisdiction’ over him since the alleged crime took place when he was a member of the House of Representatives.

More and more people in the Philippines are starting to notice the buzz around forex trading. Some discover it through friends, others while scrolling through finance discussions online. What used to sound complicated is now becoming a familiar part of everyday conversation – an alternative way to learn about global markets and how money moves across borders.

Why the Right Broker Matters

Getting started is simple, but picking a good forex broker in philippines changes everything. The broker acts as the link between a trader and the market – providing the platform, order execution, and basic tools for analysis. For many Filipinos, convenience and reliability come first: quick deposits, clear withdrawals, and responsive support make trading much easier.

Before signing up anywhere, most people check a few things:

Whether the broker is regulated and trusted

If it allows deposits in PHP

How stable the platform is during busy market hours

Availability of demo accounts and tutorials

Feedback from other traders online

These details might seem small, yet they shape the whole trading experience.

Learning the Basics First

To understand what this world is about, it helps to know what is forex in the simplest sense. It’s a global marketplace where one currency is exchanged for another – peso to dollar, euro to yen, and so on. The prices constantly change, depending on global news, economy, and investor mood. Some traders try to earn from these movements by predicting where the value will go next.

Imagine buying U.S. dollars when the peso is weak and selling them later when it strengthens – that difference becomes profit. It’s not magic or luck; it’s just understanding timing, patience, and how economies interact.

Exploring MT5 and Modern Trading Tools

Many Filipino traders prefer using mt5 because it’s flexible and easy to handle. It combines charts, indicators, and order management in one place. Even those who start with small accounts can use it to learn without stress. The layout is clean, the functions are smooth, and it runs well even on basic internet connections – which matters a lot in local conditions.

Trading Culture in the Philippines

Trading is no longer something only bankers talk about. In coffee shops or online groups, Filipinos discuss charts, news, and economic updates. The idea is not to get rich overnight but to understand how the world’s money system works.

What makes forex appealing here is accessibility. The market runs 24 hours a day, and with a trusted forex broker in philippines, anyone with curiosity and consistency can explore it step by step.

Three of seven suspects in an ambush in that left one police intelligence officer dead and another wounded are now under police custody, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Thursday.

The suspects are reportedly part of a gun-for-hire group operating in the Visayas.

CIDG acting director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico said the group’s alleged leader surrendered to the Pasig City police on Wednesday night, days after a nationwide manhunt was launched.

‘The prime suspect is already in the custody of the PNP. He was flown back to Cebu early this morning,’ Morico told reporters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The suspect faces murder and frustrated murder complaints along with two other suspects arrested earlier in Cebu. Four more remain at large.

‘All of them participated equally in the ambush. [The primary suspect] himself was the driver who stepped out of the vehicle and fired without provocation,’ Morico said, adding that the suspects used long and short firearms in the attack.

Morico said the suspects are part of a gun-for-hire ring linked to previous murder and shooting incidents.

‘These suspects had been jailed before but were released. They regrouped in Cebu and resumed their activities,’ he said.

The CIDG chief said the two officers, Police Captain Joel Deiparine and Police Executive Master Sergeant Artchel Tero, were conducting a legitimate surveillance operation when they were attacked.

Deiparine was killed, while Tero was wounded in the incident. Both were seasoned intelligence operatives assigned to the CIDG Cebu unit.

A ?500,000 reward, raised by private individuals, had been offered for information leading to Malto’s capture.

Pasig City police chief Col. Hendrix Mangaldan said the prime suspect surrendered around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, accompanied by two Pasig City councilors who helped facilitate his surrender.

‘After what happened in Cebu, he went to Manila and felt the pressure of the nationwide manhunt. He decided to surrender,’ Mangaldan told reporters in a phone interview.

The suspect was turned over to CIDG operatives and flown back to Cebu on Thursday morning.

Morico said operations continue to track down the remaining four suspects.

This is a gun-for-hire group, and we are determined to dismantle it,’ he said.

The Philippine golf scene came alive as the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus happened at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club in Laguna from October 23 – 26. BingoPlus, the country’s leading entertainment platform, brought in a world-class golf tournament to the Philippines in support of national sports development.

Professional golfers Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed, along with local pro-golfers Miguel Tabuena, Sean Ramos and Angelo Que were included in the line up of pros, facing each other for the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus. The 4-day tournament was part of the Asian Tour and the main pathway to LIV Golf.

Day 1: Thailand’s Suwannarut leads in the first round

As the game commenced as early as 6 AM, the sun shined on the field as golfers got their clubs and tees ready to start the first round of the International Series Philippines

Two time International Series winner Sarit Suwannarut swung through an impressive eight-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the International Series Philippines at Sta. Elena Golf Club, with a prize purse of 2 Million US Dollars up for grabs.

At the end of the round, Sarit offset an early bogey with nine birdies, edging Japan’s Kazuki Higa, who carded a bogey-free 65. England’s Richard Bland, Americans Charles Porter and George Kneiser, and Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat shared third at 66. Making his Philippine debut, 6 time champion Dustin Johnson thrilled fans with a score of 67, showing his veteran experience in the game as he came up on the leaderboard.

Day 2: Tabuena rises on the leaderboard, while Suwannarut stays ahead

Heading into round 2 of the tournament, Miguel Tabuena ignited the local crowd with a hole-in-one and an eagle, keeping him firmly in contention at the halfway stage of the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus.

Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut remains in command at 14-under, four shots ahead of Tabuena and Japan’s Kazuki Higa. Veteran Filipino golfer, Angelo Que is part of a five-man pack one stroke further back after a strong score of 65.

Tabuena’s seven-under 65 featured a stunning ace on the 14th and an eagle on the 16th. During the post game interview, the 3-time Asian tour winner said, ‘It’s not every day you make a hole-in-one, it was nice to do it here at home in front of family and friends.’

Filipino golfer Justin Quiban also impressed, firing a 68 with four closing birdies to sit 19th at six-under, while Que, steady and patient, carded 65 to reach nine-under.

Meanwhile, Suwannarut continued his hot streak despite a rough start, saying, ‘I’ve just tried to stay calm and focus on what I have to do. So far, it’s working.’

With Tabuena, Que, and Quiban all making the weekend cut, Filipino fans had an exciting home charge as the tournament headed into the final two rounds at Sta. Elena Golf Club.

Day 3: Tabuena and Zheng catch Suwannarut coming into the Final Round of the tournament

Local fan favorite Miguel Tabuena produced a brilliant bogey-free 65 to join Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut and China’s Sampson Zheng at the top of the leaderboard at round 3 of the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus.

Suwannarut, who began the day four shots clear, scored a 69 to stay in the fight, while Zheng stormed up the leaderboard with a stunning 10-under 62. The trio led by one over Japan’s Yosuke Asaji’s score of 65.

Tabuena thrilled the home crowd with two eagles on holes 3 and 16, following up his hole-in-one from Friday, ‘I was in a real flow state not thinking about my score, just executing my plan,’ said the Filipino star. ‘It’s special doing this at home. Hopefully, I can finish it tomorrow.’

Suwannarut on the other hand admitted it was a ‘tougher day,’ saying, ‘I didn’t drive it as well and the pins were tighter. I’ll just focus on what I need to shoot to win.’

Zheng credited a hot putter for his charge. ‘I hit a lot of greens and made key putts. The eagle on hole eight really got me going,’ said the rising star.

4 Aces Golf Club teammates Dustin Johnson moved up to 26th at eight-under after a 68, while Patrick Reed slipped to 19th following a 71.

Tabuena honors a late friend with a special Blue Ribbon worn by all players.

Throughout the tournament, players wore a special blue ribbon on their headwear to honor and pay tribute to Paolo ‘Paowee’ Tantoco, the son of Rico and Nena Tantoco, founders and original creators of the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Estate.

Tabuena commemorated his late friend saying, ‘I am grateful that most of the players agreed to wear the band today, it’s something I have wanted to do even before this event to honor Paowee in some way. I definitely felt like he was with me out there today.’

More than just a game, one of the goals for the tournament was to support the grassroots program in the sports development scene, with the commitment signed with the Philippine Sports Commission to help nurture future local athletes in the sport to excel and grow their game as they represent the flag on the international stage.

Day 4: Tabuena wins his first International Series trophy on home soil

The field was greeted with morning showers as the final round of the tournament took place on a Sunday morning. The top three on the leaderboard Sarit Suwannarut, Miguel Tabuena, and Sampson Zheng going through the 18 hole course for the final time with the prestigious International Series trophy up for grabs.

Tabuena despite the challenges on the final round of the tournament was able to use his experience in the game when he gained back the lead on hole 8 when he hit the ball on the slope through the fairway to score an eagle.

The top 3 on the leaderboard of the final round were Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena, Japan’s Kazuki Higa and Yosuke Asaji. Marc Leishman, on the other hand, was the leading star from LIV Golf who finished at 6th place, with Charl Schwartzel at 12th, Dustin Johnson at 15th and Peter Uihlein, Patrick Reed and Dean Burmester at 20th.

Tabuena maintained his lead until the last round, securing a score of 69, 65, 65, and 65 with five eagles and a hole-in-one to get the win in the first International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus.

This win puts him in 2nd place on the International Series rankings and 3rd place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. For the Philippines and the sports development scene, it was a moment of hope that local heroes can shine on the world stage.

During the Final Press Conference, Tabuena commented on the partnership between BingoPlus and the International Series, ‘this wouldn’t have been possible without BingoPlus and it was nice to be able to win in their first year.’ He also mentioned, ‘it became more accessible and fun, for all of the local players here in the Philippines, and I am truly blessed to be a part of it.’

See you next year!

The International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus crowned their newest winner, Miguel Tabuena, inspiring future local athletes in the sport to Swing for their Filipino Sports Dream. There are three stops left in the tournament, the golfers are now headed on to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia for the last stop.

During the awarding ceremony, Mr. Rafael Jasper Vicencio, president of BingoPlus announced, ‘with the success of The International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus and our very own Filipino pride, Miguel Tabuena, claiming the historic win, we are thrilled to announce that we will continue our partnership with the International Series Philippines in 2026!’

The International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus will return in 2026! Bringing the fun and entertainment of the sport, once again! See you then!

Several visitors on Thursday dropped by the mausoleum of the Poe family at the Manila North Cemetery, where the graves of Philippine showbiz legends Susan Roces and Fernando Poe Jr. are located.

While no family members were spotted inside the mausoleum, candles were offered for the couple who were regarded as the local cinema’s power couple back in the day.

A QR code for the video tributes is also displayed outside the mausoleum.

Poe Jr., also known as ‘Da King,’ was hailed as a National Artist for Film died in 2004, a few months after he ran as a presidential candidate in the elections.

Meanwhile, Roces, also known as the Queen of Philippine Movies, died in 2022.

Forty-seven of 64 examinees passed the October 2025 Metallurgical Engineers Computer-Based Licensure Examination, the Professional Regulation Commission said, with a graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman topping the list.

Lara Santiago Roxas of UP Diliman led the passers with a rating of 87.90%. She was followed by Gabriel Emmanuel Landicho Lopez (85.55%) and Arthur Angelo Dullas Serrano (84.85%), both also from UP Diliman.

The computer-based exam was administered in the National Capital Region, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Lucena. The board was chaired by Engr. Agustin M. Fudolig with Engr. Juancho Pablo S. Calvez as member.

UP Diliman posted the highest overall school performance at 89.47% (17 of 19), followed by Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology at 70.00% (28 of 40). Batangas State University-Alangilan recorded 40.00% (2 of 5).

Top 10

Lara Santiago Roxas, UP Diliman – 87.90

Gabriel Emmanuel Landicho Lopez, UP Diliman – 85.55

Arthur Angelo Dullas Serrano, UP Diliman – 84.85

Lorize Lorielle Damaso Dado, UP Diliman – 84.50

Ma. Sharisse De Vera, UP Diliman – 84.45

Peter Joseph Mortel Visto, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology – 84.40

Ed Breinner Daniel Palaruan, UP Diliman – 84.10

Aldwynne Isaac Cureg Quilang, UP Diliman – 82.85

Norhanuddin Kadtog Pulua, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology – 82.75

Kenneth Borra Cristobal, UP Diliman – 82.60

Online initial registration for passers will start Nov. 14, 2025 via prc.gov.ph.

The PRC said successful examinees must personally sign the Roster of Registered Professionals and bring a duly accomplished Oath Form, notice of admission (for identification only), two passport-size photos with a white background and complete name tag, two sets of documentary stamps and one short brown envelope.