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Louie Ramirez caught fire in the fifth set, unloading 10 of his 23 points to save Cignal from the upset ax of Alpha Insurance, 20-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-23, 15-11, for a 2-0 start in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Wednesday night at Paco Arena.

Limited to just three points when Cignal lost two of the first three sets, the former NCAA MVP out of University of Perpetual Help made the most of his time on the bench to reflect on how he could contribute more before erupting with 20 attacks and three kill blocks in the two-hour victory.

‘I really paid close attention when I was subbed out. I told myself that if I get sent back in for Set 4, I’ll do everything I can to help the team. And I really made up for it,’ said Ramirez in Filipino.

Down 3-6 in the fifth, the Alas Pilipinas World Championship campaigner took matters into his own hands, leading the Super Spikers to six unanswered points before sealing the match with the winner.

‘Thank you to my coaches for trusting me. Even though I had a bad start, they told me to keep going. I just said I’ll do my best so I won’t break the trust of my coaches and teammates,’ Ramirez said.

JP Bugaoan tallied 15 points off 11 attacks and four of the team’s 18 kill blocks, while JM Ronquillo and Josafat added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Alpha Insurance fell to 1-1 with Rocky Motol leading the way with 18 points on 13 attacks, four blocks, and an ace, along with 33 excellent receptions. Francis Casas and Barbie San Andres chipped in 17 and 16 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, Savouge and University of Santo Tomas-Gameville eked out big wins against separate foes before their Friday clash at 4 p.m. at the same venue.

After losing its opener to Alpha, Savouge found a revelation in Reymark Betco to take down V-League champion Far Eastern University-DN Steel, 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-21.

Betco, who was placed on reserve in Savouge’s first game, unleashed 21 points to lift the Spin Doctors to a 1-1 record.

‘It’s a big thing for us to have Betco because he’s such a powerful addition. He actually wanted to play in our first game, but we had a busy week with a lot of matches. I told him, ‘I’ll use you against FEU,” said Savouge coach Sydney Calderon.

‘I told them our loss in the first game doesn’t define who we are. I said it’s better to make our comeback game count.’

Mark Calado added 15 points, while setter JM Paglaon, who also sat out the opener, dished out 29 excellent sets and two points. Shawie Caritativo had another all-around showing with 10 points, 20 excellent receptions, and eight digs. Giles Torres chipped in 10 points, while Rikko Marmetto anchored the floor defense with 17 receptions and eight digs.

Dryx Saavedra led the Tamaraws with 19 points, while Christian Paul Salboro and Lirick Mendoza added 13 apiece. FEU-DN Steel will try to bounce back against PGJC-Navy also on Friday at 2 p.m.

Another Alas Pilipinas standout shone as Josh Ybañez powered UST’s rousing 25-22, 25-17, 25-21 win over PGJC-Navy to open its campaign.

Two-time UAAP MVP Ybañez, who plays libero for Alas, showcased his offensive flair with 16 points built on 10 attacks, four aces, and two blocks, on top of 16 excellent receptions and four digs.

‘Good thing we didn’t have any opening-game jitters, but there are still a lot of things we need to polish. Of course, I’m happy because this win is a confidence booster,’ said UST coach Odjie Mamon.

‘We have a game this Friday against Savouge, and at least we’re coming into that game with a win, so the team’s morale is pretty high. My only concern is the short time to prepare, so tomorrow we’ll focus more on recovery exercises.’

Dux Yambao tallied 21 excellent sets and five points, while Al-Bukharie Sali and Trevor Valera contributed 10 and eight points, respectively.

Navy slipped to 0-2, with Greg Dolor scoring nine points. Bonjomar Castel had six, while Joeven Dela Vega made his comeback with two points after a long absence due to health concerns.

Critically lauded filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos reunites with Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons in ‘Bugonia’ – a story of paranoia, conspiracy and a high-profile kidnapping

Lanthimos, who helmed films such as ‘Poor Things’ and ‘The Favourite,’ returns to the big screen in ‘Bugonia.’

The visionary director is inspired by the current state of society in his latest collaboration with actors Stone and Plemons.

‘In the world that we live in now, people live in certain bubbles that have been enhanced by technology,’ Lanthimos said. ‘Having certain ideas about people is reinforced depending on which bubble you live in, creating this big chasm between people. I wanted to challenge the viewer about the things that we’re very certain about, the judgment calls that you make about certain kinds of people. It’s a very interesting reflection of our society and the conflict in our contemporary world.’

In ‘Bugonia,’ two young men, Teddy (Plemons) and Don (Aidan Delbis), kidnap high-profile CEO Michelle (Stone) as paranoia from consuming conspiracy theories convince them that she’s an alien intent on destroying Earth.

The story is an adaptation of Save the Green Planet, a 2003 Korean film.

Writer Will Tracy saw the potential of the premise, and during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, wrote a reimagining of the film that is contemporary and exciting.

‘We were locked-down, and I was probably losing my mind a little bit in this little apartment in Brooklyn,’ Tracy said. ‘I wrote it in about three weeks, and I’ve tried not to analyze it too much, but I’m sure something in that atmosphere made its way into the script – that claustrophobic feeling that I don’t think I would have been able to write if not in those circumstances.’

Lanthimos is a six-time Academy Award-nominated director, producer, and screenwriter. His most recent film, ‘Poor Things,’ won the Golden Lion for Best film at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. It was also nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including nominations for Lanthimos in Best Picture and Best Director, and won four Oscars including Best Actress for Emma Stone.

His other award-winning works include black comedy ‘The Favourite,’ ‘The Lobster,’ and psychological thriller ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer.’

Meanwhile, Plemons said he had a great time with the story, as it takes audiences on a wild ride of emotions. ‘The tone of it is so wild and varying – it’s so funny and so tragic, and the way into these very big conversations is so left-field and unexpected,’ said Plemons. ‘It’s a really strange but honest portrait of the times we’re living in, how confusing and absurd it all is.’

Stone, in her fifth movie with Lanthimos, said she felt that ‘Bugonia’s’ unique tone could only come from someone as skilled with navigating complex stories as him.

‘It has that sort of microcosmic quality,’ said Stone, who produced the film with Lanthimos in their fifth project together. ‘There’s a sort of insanity and a commentary in the midst of a really small environment, which I think Yorgos tends to be drawn to. We’re in a basement, and it’s really just people talking to each other a lot of the time, having perspectives that feel maybe incorrect or twisted. But they reveal these different versions of humanity and what can happen in a downward spiral of convincing yourself of something.’

Lanthimos believes that ‘Bugonia’ would greatly benefit a theater viewing, as the audience would benefit from the shared experience of reacting to the unfolding story.

‘Most films should be enjoyed like that, in a cinema with other people. It’s a communal experience, but especially this film, the way it’s filmed on VistaVision, a beautiful format, and the sound design that Johnnie Burn has done, along with Jerskin Fendrix’s score,’ Lanthimos said. ‘It’s just a very full and dramatic experience, both in its hilarity and its horror, that can only be experienced fully in a cinema.’

Locals who are away and cannot travel home for Undas can still pay their respects to departed loved ones with the aid of their relatives through free internet connection.

On Saturday and Sunday, the local government here will establish wifi connections at the chapels of Cotabato Memorial Park, Kidapawan Memorial Park, Binologan Public Cemetery, Cautivar Private Cemetery, and the former Catholic Cemetery.

This would allow anyone to share live videos of their cemetery visits and keep in touch with relatives and kin who cannot join them.

Aside from the free internet connection, the local government will also offer free haircuts, manicures, pedicures, massage, and ice cream to cemetery visitors.

In anticipation of a humid day, water stations will be set up at the entrance of each cemetery to ensure that visitors are hydrated.

To maintain order, the local police are deploying operatives to patrol around the cemeteries.

Lieutenant Colonel Jose Marie Simangan, the city’s chief of police, said bladed weapons, playing cards, and even a boisterous sound system are prohibited inside the cemetery.

Classes at all levels in the City of Manila, along with work at local government offices, have been suspended on October 31 in observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day after an executive order from Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the Manila Public Information Office (PIO) said that Domagoso signed Executive Order No. 67 enforcing the class and local government work suspension, in accordance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Presidential Proclamation No. 727 last October 2024.

Domagoso said the suspension, aside from commemorating a solemn event, will allow Manila residents to travel back to their provinces.

‘All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are solemn occasions deeply rooted in Filipino culture and tradition,’ he said.

‘The suspension will allow Manileños sufficient time to travel, prepare, and honor their departed loved ones,’ he added.

Despite the work suspension for the local government agencies, offices that are involved in the delivery of essential services like those involved in health, peace and order, disaster response, and traffic management will remain fully operational.

‘Heads of these offices have been instructed to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of frontline services throughout the long weekend,’ Manila PIO said.

‘Private establishments within the city have been advised to exercise discretion in suspending work or adopting flexible arrangements for their employees,’ it added.

Last October 22, 2024, Malacañang announced that work in government offices and classes at all levels were suspended starting 12 noon of October 31 in observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

‘In order to provide government employees full opportunity to properly observe traditional AIl Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day activities, allow them to travel to and from different regions in the country, and promote domestic tourism, work in government offices and classes at all levels shall be suspended on 31 October 2024 starting 12:00 p.m,’ Malacañang said in memorandum circular 67, series of 2024.

Not covered by the order are agencies whose functions involve the ‘delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities, and/or the performance of other vital services.’

‘The suspension of work for private companies and offices is left to the discretion of their respective heads. This Circular shall take effect immediately,’ the circular read.

Cebuana Lhuillier is bringing financial education to one of today’s most popular gaming platforms with the launch of Money Guro on Roblox, an interactive experience designed to teach young Filipinos the value of saving, investing, and smart money management through play.

‘At Cebuana Lhuillier, we’ve always believed that financial inclusion begins with education-and that learning should evolve with every generation,’ shares Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier. ‘Through Money Guro on Roblox, we’re bringing financial learning to where young people already are-online, social, and interactive-so they can start developing positive money habits early and move closer to their dreams.’

Within the game, players enter a dynamic virtual environment where they take charge of their own karinderya business in a fast-paced, diner dash-style setting-balancing customer orders, managing inventory, and overseeing daily expenses to achieve growth and success. Beyond gameplay, a built-in banking and investment system mirrors Cebuana Lhuillier’s financial services, enabling players to deposit, earn interest, and invest their coins-instilling the values of saving and smart money management. Complementing this is the Recycling Challenge, which promotes sustainability and financial responsibility by demonstrating how small, consistent actions can lead to meaningful rewards and long-term gains.

The launch of Money Guro on Roblox marks the latest evolution of Cebuana Lhuillier’s award-winning financial education initiative, Money Guro-an online learning platform introduced in January 2024 to promote financial literacy among Filipinos. Led by Lhuillier, the program simplifies complex financial concepts through relatable, story-driven content across Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. To date, it has grown to over 1.17 million followers, with 39 million Facebook views and 55 million TikTok views across 236 episodes of its hit formats like ‘May Tanong?’ and ‘JHL Tips.’

Money Guro on Roblox represents Cebuana Lhuillier’s ongoing mission to build a nation of savers by making financial learning more accessible, engaging, and future-ready.

Through this innovative initiative, Cebuana Lhuillier continues to make financial education not only accessible-but also meaningful and transformative for the next generation of Filipino savers.

The Iloilo City government has raised its alert status to blue alert and issued a series of safety reminders ahead of the Undás 2025 observance, as thousands of residents prepare to visit cemeteries from October 31 to November 2.

In a memorandum signed by Mayor Raisa Treñas, the city ordered the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (ICDRRMC), barangay officials, and emergency response clusters to heighten vigilance and coordinate efforts throughout the long weekend. A Blue Alert status means that all emergency personnel, monitoring teams, and responders must be on standby 24 hours a day to respond to possible incidents or weather-related emergencies within city limits.

The Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center was instructed to maintain round-the-clock monitoring of all local incidents and weather disturbances, in coordination with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and other surveillance agencies.

The city also mandated the wide dissemination of preparedness information, especially among barangay leaders, church groups, and volunteers assisting with crowd control and religious observances.

Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees (BDRRMCs) were tasked to reinforce public education on disaster prevention and safety, including information campaigns about electrical hazards, unattended candles, and home security. They were also advised to monitor barangay-level gatherings related to Tigkaralag and the upcoming midterm elections.

Authorities remain on alert following the heavy rains brought by Typhoon Ramil earlier this month, which caused flash floods and damage to several areas in Capiz and Iloilo. The typhoon, which dumped over 305 millimeters of rain in Roxas City, left three people dead and affected more than 150,000 residents across Western Visayas. With the region still recovering, local disaster councils were reminded to be ready for potential thunderstorms or flooding during the Undás period.

The city government also issued practical reminders for households and cemetery-goers. Residents leaving home are urged to unplug electrical appliances, secure doors and valuables, avoid leaving candles unattended, and ensure mobile phones are fully charged for emergency communication.

Meanwhile, the city’s ‘Undás Reminders’ advisory reiterates that bringing alcoholic beverages, sharp weapons, or loudspeakers inside cemeteries is strictly prohibited. Gambling is also banned. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own food, trash bags, and first-aid kits, as well as fans or umbrellas to protect themselves from the heat or rain.

Ryan Bang and his fiancée Paola Huyong seemingly widened their rift amid breakup speculations after the pair unfollowed each other on Instagram.

Eagle-eyed netizens noticed that Bang and Huyong are no longer on each other’s following list as of Thursday afternoon, Oct. 30.

Speculations that the engaged couple have broken up surfaced in September after Huyong removed all of Bang’s photos from her Instagram page.

Bang, for his part, have taken down some of their photos from his page as well, leaving only his post about his engagement proposal to Huyong. Despite the mutual unfollow, the post is still up on his page as of this writing.

Huyong also earlier announced the November closure of her cafe business, which is located in the same building as the TV host’s businesses.

Both Bang and Huyong, who have been together since 2023, have yet to publicly comment on the status of their relationship as of writing.

The pair got engaged in 2024 and were reportedly set to hold their main wedding in Manila in 2026.

Congestion in jails across the country went down from 296 percent last May to 286 percent last September, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The department said this in a statement on Thursday, after the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), an attached agency of the DILG, held its third-quarter management conference in Laurel, Batangas.

‘The DILG lauded the BJMP for reducing the national jail congestion rate by 10 percent, from 296 percent in May to 286 percent in September 2025, marking a significant step toward more humane and reformative jail management,’ the department noted.

The DILG further said more than 69,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were released with paralegal assistance from January to September 2025.

Additionally, over 84,000 PDLs had their sentences reduced through the good conduct time allowance program.

More than 27,000 of them received the time allowance by pursuing a vocational degree or educational certificate, or by teaching their fellow inmates, the DILG said.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is urging ‘Undas’ season travelers to report cases and areas with weak internet connection / signal, since connectivity across the country should no longer be an issue.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page on Thursday, the DICT said since President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said that signal strength should not be a problem, travelers can notify the department of slow internet connections in their area by sending speed test results.

‘Uuwi para sa Undas? Tapos mahina ang signal sa lugar ninyo? I-report agad!’ DICT said.

(Going home for All Souls’ Day? And you’ll encounter weak signals? Report that immediately.)

‘The President said that the signal should be good across the country. That’s why under Oplan Bantay Signal of the DICT, we are encouraging you to send your mobile speed test results so that we can see which areas have weak or no signal at all,’ the DICT added.

According to the DICT, users who wish to report must first download the Opensignal Internet Speed Test application, which is available to Android and Apple iOS users.

After downloading, DICT set a series of steps for reporting of slow internet speeds:

Turn off Wi-Fi connection and rely on mobile data

Open the Opensignal app and enable location services

Run the speed test

Take a screenshot of the result and send to DICT’s e-mail address ([email protected])

DICT said that the subject of the e-mail message should contain the mobile network provider and their location.

‘Each report will be of a big help in making it easier to map areas in the country with weak or no signal. Let us help each other in digitizing for a more connected New Philippines.’

Some Miss Earth delegates have taken up the cudgles for the pageant amid the disparaging words that many observers have been throwing at the international competition, particularly toward the school-sponsored activities.

A netizen, whose username is written in Thai script, commented, ‘[philippine flag] poor country, international class event, the stage is like a birthday.’ But three candidates in this year’s contest did not let this pass.

‘This stage is made by students in their school, you know?’ said Laos’ Parami Viengmay in a video shared by international pageant platform Missosology.

Russia’s Elizaveta Guryanova, who was with Parami and Italy’s Natalia Guglielmo in the video, said they showed up in the schools not to be treated as somebody famous, but to be on the same level as the students.

For 25 years, the Miss Earth pageant has been at the forefront of environmental awareness. The queens, dubbed ‘beauties for a cause,’ take part in projects that aim to promote sustainability and help save the planet.

The pageant further expands its platform by reaching out to students through school tours, where the delegates encourage and inspire the youth to do their share for the environment.

Guglielmo explained: ‘At the end of the day we bring our support to them. And this journey is not about showing expensive luxury lifestyle, but about inspiring people. We went to a school that doesn’t have big financial funds.’

She continued: ‘They made this with their own effort. And we respect that because we are humble people and we went there. That is why ‘beauty for a cause.’ We went there with our hearts without judging. And this is what you are doing.’

Those who have been mocking or belittling the school-based activities of the delegates appear to have been expecting a flashy production on an intricately designed stage similar to what they have been seeing in other pageants’ bigger events and major spectacles.

Others argue that the international delegates deserve, and supposedly expect, to see glossier presentations, and accused the organizers of scrimping on funds by tapping schools.

But as it appears, the delegates themselves expect to take part in such activities, and have been looking forward to advocacy work, closer to the people.

Former Miss Philippines Earth Jeanne Harn commented on the video and said, ‘We also have to note that this is a ‘school tour,’ a project that started during my time in 2007. For me, it was the most rewarding part of the entire reign and pageant experience.’

She continued: ‘This is the real work. Miss Earth and Miss Philippines-Earth are deeply rooted in advocacy. We don’t just ‘talk’ about it, we actually do the ‘work,’ and we started it with public schools.’

Harn said public schools are the perfect venue for this advocacy because of the sheer population of the students. These institutions also do not have sufficient time and resources to tackle the environment.

‘Many of the schools we visited had multiple classes sharing one classroom a day, which shortened class hours per subject due to the lack of facilities. This being said, please manage your expectations that public schools won’t have the ‘glamorous’ facilities. Even if it’s extremely hot, crowded and tiring, we love what we do for them,’ she said.

‘Let’s focus our attention on what truly matters, WHAT WE DO for the environment. Miss Earth organization is doing their part. But they can only do so much. The good news is, WE CAN also take part. Listen to their relevant messages, learn from their advocacies, follow their lead and DO your part as well,’ Harn continued.

The Miss Earth pageant is holding its 25th edition this year. More than 80 delegates are competing for the crown currently held by Jessica Lane, the first winner from Australia.

The 2025 Miss Earth coronation night will be held at the Cove Manila Club of Okada Manila in Parañaque City on Nov. 5. Joy Barcoma is hoping to post the Philippines’ fifth victory in the international pageant.