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Actress Xyriel Manabat believes that undergoing surgical procedures to enhance oneself is no longer an issue.

The former child star and recent “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition” housemate proudly talked about her nose job.

‘It’s not an issue. I’m proud of it. And I’m happy to advocate about it kasi empowering din siya sa mga tao na may insecurities. There is nothing wrong naman with making yourself more attractive,’ she told ABS-CBN News.

‘If it’s not a huge deal to me, I don’t mind what it is to them,’ she added.

The former child star said that she is happy that young women admire her for what she believes in.

“Hangga’t kaya kong maging boses ng mga voiceless, I’ll speak up for them. At ‘wag silang mahihiya to stand up for what’s right,” she said.

“At huwag nilang kalilimutan na ipaglaban kung ano ‘yung napi-feel nilang dapat nilang bosesan,’ she added.

Resilient Adamson frustrated skidding Santo Tomas with a thrilling 97-96 comeback win in overtime in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Matthew Montebon drained a triple to force extension before Matt Erolon took his turn in nailing the game-winning trey in the last 2.6 seconds as the Soaring Falcons climbed to 5-4 with their fourth straight win.

Adamson tied Santo Tomas, now on a three-game losing skid at fourth place. Not only did the Soaring Falcons enter the Final Four race but moved just a game behind second-running UP (6-3) and La Salle (6-3).

Later in the night, the Archers drubbed the UE Warriors, 84-72.

Montebon finished with 19 points with five triples while Erolon had nine to complement Ray Torres and Cedrick Manzano with 20 and 19 points, respectively.

John Medina added 10 points for the wards of coach Nash Racela, who also scored a 69-59 win over Santo Tomas in the first round for a season sweep.

A seven-year-old boy died after he was caught in a crossfire between New People’s Army rebels and troops of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Quintin Remo in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental on Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Divar Crisostomo, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, said the boy, a Grade 1 student, was hit in the head when fleeing rebels fired their guns indiscriminately to delay pursuing soldiers.

Crisostomo said soldiers had responded to the calls of civilians on the presence of armed men in their community.

No soldier was hurt in the armed encounter, but Crisostomo believes that some of the rebels were wounded, based on bloodstains they found along the escape route.

Sarah Ababa once more proved that heart and composure under fire can outshine even the hottest start, conjuring another of her signature back-nine rallies to fire a 65 and snatch a breathtaking one-stroke victory over hometown ace Florence Bisera in the ICTSI South Pacific Classic here on Thursday.

Just two weeks after staging a similar come-from-behind win at Del Monte – where she edged Chanelle Avaricio in two playoff holes – Ababa found herself in an eerily familiar position: chasing, doubted yet undeterred.

This time, she trailed by three shots with nine holes to play. And her opponent wasn’t just anyone – it was Bisera, a player who practically owns the South Pacific course, having mastered its every undulation and breeze.

Bisera looked unstoppable early, blitzing the front nine with a blistering seven-under 29 built on five straight birdies from No. 5. Her red-hot assault left the gallery buzzing and her rivals gasping. Even Ababa admitted to a flicker of doubt as Bisera seemed to have the tournament all but wrapped up.

‘Medyo nag-self-doubt na din ako after nung front nine niya,’ Ababa said with a laugh. ‘Pero sabi ni Papa, ‘Wala naman nananalo after nine holes. Marami pang pagkakataon para bumawi.’ So doon lang ako kumapit.’

Her father, veteran tour player Edgar Ababa, once again served as her anchor, reminding her that golf – so often cruel and unpredictable – always offers a chance to turn things around until the last putt drops.

And turn it around she did.

Ababa started her counterattack on the inward nine with quiet determination. A birdie on the par-4 12th reignited her momentum. Another on No. 14 sent a murmur through the crowd – Bisera’s once-commanding lead had shrunk to just one.

As the Davao heat bore down, Bisera’s touch cooled. The putts that fell so easily earlier began to slide past the edges. Meanwhile, Ababa looked reborn – focused, fearless and fated.

Then came the 17th.

After splitting the fairway with a laser drive, Ababa stood 70 yards out. She lofted a wedge that landed inches past the cup, spun back, and nearly dropped for eagle. A tap-in birdie tied her with Bisera at 10-under, setting up a heart-stopping finish.

‘Sobrang tight ng laban, pero ang sarap ng yardage ko sa last two holes,’ Ababa said. ‘Yung 70 yards sa 17 at 110 yards sa 18 – yan talaga mga comfort distance ko. Kumpyansa ako diyan.’

With the momentum fully in her hands, Ababa played the par-5 18th like a champion. Another precise approach shot – this time from 110 yards – landed softly and stopped inches from the hole. She calmly tapped in her second straight birdie to take the outright lead at 11-under.

Bisera’s final birdie attempt slid by. Her equally brilliant 65 wasn’t enough. Ababa raised her arms in triumph – an echo of Del Monte, another comeback born of steel nerves and an unyielding belief.

Ababa’s 11-under 205 total earned her the P114,000 champion’s purse and, more importantly, solidified her reputation as the circuit’s comeback queen. More so, she firmed up her bid for the coveted Order of Merit title.

Bisera settled for second at 206, while Avaricio – who clinched the Apo leg last week – carded a 67 to finish third at 208. Princess Superal followed closely with a 67 of her own for a 209 total, also posting a bogey-free round on a day when spotless scorecards seemed more the norm than the exception.

Tiffany Lee’s early fireworks of three straight birdies to gain a share of the early with Ababa fizzled into a fifth-place 210 after a 68, while Harmie Constantino (68-214) and Daniella Uy (74-216) rounded out the top contenders.

In jest, Ababa teased her father afterward.

‘Sabi ko nga, kung ikaw ang nag-caddie sa akin sa Apo, na-sweep ko sana ang Mindanao series,’ she said with a grin. Edgar had chosen to compete in the men’s tournament, leaving Ababa with her regular caddie – and she struggled, finishing only 10th.

SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. is opposing a government order to take custody of containers allegedly containing hazardous zinc, denying claims linking the firm to the shipment.

The company is also eyeing legal action to protect its interests.

In a statement, SteelAsia said it strongly rejects the order of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) to take custody of 23 containers allegedly containing hazardous zinc dust exported by Zannwann International Trading Corp.

‘This is not our shipment,’ SteelAsia said.

It also said the PNRI order would bring irreparable harm to the Calaca industrial zone, including economic dislocation, thousands of job losses and hampered progress.

Last month, Indonesia denied the entry of the 23 containers and ordered its return to the Philippines.

An initial investigation showed that the containers originated from Zannwann International Trading Corp., a Chinese trading firm based in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

SteelAsia said that PNRI, however, tagged the company as the source of the alleged radioactive materials, while clearing Zannwann of responsibility.

It said this was done without following international nuclear safety protocols or conducting the required scientific tests.

PNRI also ordered SteelAsia to entomb the 23 containers in its plant in Calaca, Batangas.

If there is threat of radioactivity, SteelAsia said this move potentially endangers the community and other corporate locators in the industrial zone.

The company also emphasized that it has no technical capability, facilities or training to handle radioactive waste.

‘Only PNRI is legally mandated to perform this function under Philippine law,’ SteelAsia said.

The company stressed that steel manufacturing does not use and therefore, does not produce radioactive materials.

‘The company manufactures and exports reinforced steel bars, not zinc dust, which is merely a by-product of its production process,’ SteelAsia said.

It said that all scrap metals for melting and production are tested for radioactivity and none had ever tested positive.

Zannwann, based on information from PNRI itself, also purchased zinc dust from other steel companies, including Cathay Pacific Steel and Real Steel yet only SteelAsia is being unfairly singled out by PNRI despite the absence of any scientific or factual basis, the company said.

SteelAsia has voluntarily suspended the operations of its Calaca scrap recycling plant out of caution, even as it rejected claims of presence of radioactive material in the facility.

‘The company is taking legal steps to protect its interests and is continuing to pursue all remedies available under the law,’ SteelAsia said.

To help address the issues, SteelAsia also said it is open to engaging international experts from Japan and Western countries given their extensive experience in managing radiation.

University of Perpetual Help outlasted San Beda, pulling off a gut-wrenching 88-85 triple overtime victory yesterday to claim a twice-to-beat quarterfinals incentive in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Patrick Sleat scorched with a team-best 23 points including a crucial three-point play in the third OT before fouling out while Mark Gojo Cruz sizzled with 20 points including a mammoth triple late as the Altas improved to 8-1 and took that important privilege in the quarters.

Another win would seal the Las Piñas-based dribblers that top seeding in Group A.

Earlier, San Sebastian stunned Letran, 82-81, to claim a second triumph in nine outings and avoid the play-in. Instead, the Stags qualified straight to the quarters.

The Knights faltered to 5-4.

The defense team of former president Rodrigo Duterte has formally appealed the pre-trial chamber decision that junked his challenge to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The notice of appeal, signed by defense lawyers Nicholas Kaufman and Dov Jacobs, was submitted to the ICC Appeals Chamber on Oct. 28.

It urged the appeals judges to reverse the Oct. 23 decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber I, which dismissed the challenge to jurisdiction filed by Duterte’s lawyers.

In the ruling, the pre-trial judges ruled that the ICC has jurisdiction over alleged crimes against humanity committed in the Philippines when it was a member of the court.

Duterte’s lawyers urged the Appeals Chamber to ‘find that there exists no legal basis for the continuation’ of the ICC proceedings against the former president.

They also urged the chamber to order his ‘immediate and unconditional release’ from detention.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) topped the 2025 Chemists Computer-Based Licensure Examination.

The Professional Regulation Commission said 842 of 1,150 examinees passed the exam, which had a passing rate of 73.22 percent.

Topnotcher Crisandro Allen Rogel Lazo scored 94.35 percent.

Carl Brandon Yap Ong and Angelo Robert Banzon Calaguas of UP Diliman placed second and fifth, with a score of 93.65 percent and 92.8 percent, respectively.

All 47 UP Diliman examinees passed the exam.

Joshua Chu Naranjo of UP Los Baños ranked ninth with 92 percent. UPLB was named the top-performing school, with a passing rate of 95.38 percent after 62 of its 65 examinees passed, 60 of whom were first-time takers and two were repeaters.

Two years ago, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s HMNZS Aotearoa sailed into Philippine waters, for the first time, on a mission of goodwill. Tomorrow, she returns, carrying the same spirit of friendship and practical cooperation that continues to define our relationship.

At the regional level, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently concluded his visit to Kuala Lumpur. At the ASEAN Summit, we celebrated 50 years of partnership with leaders, including President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The Summit was a fitting reminder of how deeply our futures are tied to this region.

These two moments, one at sea and one at the summit table, tell a common story – New Zealand’s enduring commitment to the Indo-Pacific, and to the partners who share our vision for a secure, prosperous and resilient future.

Here in Manila, since arriving in 2024, I’ve seen that commitment come to life in practical ways. The pace of our cooperation with the Philippines has been remarkable. It reflects a high tempo of engagement set in motion during our Prime Minister’s visit to Manila last year.

During that visit we agreed to work toward elevating our relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership by 2026. We are on track – across defense and security, trade and investment, clean energy, agriculture, education and people-to-people links.

On defense and security, our cooperation has taken a significant step forward, highlighted by the signing in April in Manila of a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement – formalizing the settings necessary to undertake exercises, training and humanitarian and disaster response activities together.

On the economic front, trade and investment are also expanding. As of March 2025, two-way trade reached about P56 billion (NZ$1.63 billion) – strong progress toward our shared goal of lifting two-way trade by 50 percent by 2030. We see growing opportunities for Filipino and New Zealand firms to partner in food and agritech, digital services and education.

Beyond trade flows, we are also working more closely in areas where New Zealand expertise aligns with Philippine ambition: deepening collaboration in geothermal energy, climate-smart agriculture and by tripling allocations for postgraduate study under the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Program.

Above all, people remain at the heart of our relationship. A growing Filipino community in New Zealand strengthens our ties – nurses, engineers, educators, entrepreneurs and many more whose skills enrich our society.

Our dynamic people-to-people ties are reflected in the embassy’s flagship initiative: the Indigenous Women and Girls Leadership and Empowerment in Ancestral Domains (I-LEAD) program in Mindanao. It reflects our commitment to inclusive development shaped with local partners.

Our common ground is cultural as well as strategic. In the Philippines, bayanihan – community spirit and helping one another – sits comfortably alongside New Zealand’s manaakitanga – hospitality and care – and whanaungatanga, the kinship that binds people together. These ideas show up in very practical cooperation when it matters most, from disaster response, to community health and education.

The timing is right: in 2026 we will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the Philippines, coinciding with the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship. This is a moment when our bilateral and regional partnerships stand in the spotlight – and rightly so.

The recent ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur was significant for New Zealand, as we formally upgraded our relationship with ASEAN to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This will take our relationship to new heights, including through biennial ASEAN-New Zealand Summits, closer collaboration across emerging sectors and continued support for ASEAN-led mechanisms.

As a small nation, we understand our security and prosperity rest on strong, trusted relationships with our partners in the Indo-Pacific. The rules-based order matters, and ASEAN sits at the heart of that effort, as a community whose success is deeply connected with our own.

As HMNZS Aotearoa sails once more into Philippine waters, her journey reflects our broader course – one of trust, purpose and shared ambition. It’s a reminder that the New Zealand-Philippines relationship, and our engagement with ASEAN, continue to move forward with momentum and promise. Our door is open. Let’s build this future together.

Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental began spewing ash again on Thursday afternoon, October 30, according to Phivolcs.

In a Facebook post, state seismologists reported that Kanlaon Volcano emitted ash at around 1 p.m. Thursday. It ended only after a few minutes.

The volcano, currently under Alert Level 2 for increased unrest, has experienced multiple ash emissions in recent weeks after showing little signs of activity over the past months.

On October 25, Kanlaon Volcano erupted three times, with ash emissions lasting between 26 minutes to over an hour. Two ash emissions were also recorded on October 23, lasting between 26 and 119 minutes. The plumes rose to 600 meters in height and were considered voluminous, with sulfur dioxide levels surpassing 2,200 tonnes.

These frequent ash emissions were sandwiched by an explosive eruption on October 24, which lasted three minutes and rose 2,000 meters high, resulting in ashfall and a sulfurous odor affecting nearby barangays.

This has been the fifth eruption since June 3, 2024, with some eruptions considered minor. The eruption was also accompanied by 21 volcanic earthquakes.

The last time it erupted explosively was the day after the 2025 midterm elections took place. Another eruption occurred about a month earlier. Each generated roughly 3,000 to 4,000 meters of ash and volcanic gases.

Phivolcs downgraded Kanlaon Volcano’s alert status from Alert Level 3 to Level 2 on July 29 due to an observed drop in volcanic activity.