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Angel’s Pizza, one of the country’s fastest-growing pizza chains under Figaro Culinary Group (FCG), proudly celebrated the grand opening of its newest branch at Shell UN Avenue, Manila on October 14, 2025.

The event was graced by Hon. Mayor Isko Moreno and Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, together with FCG Chief Operating Officer Mike Barret, the FCG Executive Committee, and the Management Committee Team.

As part of the festivities, the VIP guests led the ribbon cutting and ceremonial pizza slicing, symbolizing a new chapter for Angel’s Pizza as it continues to expand across the nation.

This milestone marks the 158th store of Angel’s Pizza nationwide, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to bringing quality, value-for-money pizzas closer to every Filipino community.

Known as the home of the original Creamy Spinach Dip Pizza, Angel’s Pizza continues to win the hearts of pizza lovers with its signature Double Deal offers, freshly made dough, and generous toppings – all baked to perfection.

‘Every new store opening brings us closer to our goal of making Angel’s Pizza a household name across the country,’ said Mike Barret, COO of Figaro Coffee Group. ‘We’re grateful to our loyal customers for their continued trust and to our partners who make our expansion possible.’

Guests and customers were treated to an exciting grand opening celebration, which included the store blessing, ribbon cutting, ceremonial pizza slicing, and exclusive promos to welcome the newest branch to the growing Angel’s Pizza family.

The new Angel’s Pizza Shell UN Avenue, Manila branch aims to serve both dine-in and on-the-go customers, offering a convenient stop for pizza lovers in the bustling Manila area.

Angel’s Pizza is set to open 14 more stores before the year ends, continuing its mission to make its well-loved pizzas accessible to more Filipinos nationwide.

The local government of Marikina City on Wednesday refuted claims of the Department of Health (DOH) that the city’s super health center should have been completed already, emphasizing that the agency failed to provide additional funding to finish its construction.

This statement came after the DOH inspected Concepcion Dos Super Health Center in the city.

Upon inspection, Herbosa revealed that the facility is one of the 297 super health centers across the country which he said are ‘non-functional or non-operational.’

Herbosa also said that the phase one of the project, which constructed the foundation, was allocated a P21.5 million budget. He noted that the construction of phase one began in December 2023 and was completed in April 2024.

The DOH also said that with the modifications of plans, from a two-story building to a four-story with a rooftop, there would be a need for an additional P180 million funding to complete the building aside from the P21.5 million.

With this, the DOH said that based on its study, a medium-sized health center could have been built with an amount of P12 million.

However, the Marikina LGU said in a statement that it is ‘misleading and irresponsible for the DOH to claim that the entire facility could have been finished using such limited funds.’

The LGU noted that the funds released by the DOH only covered the first phase, which was already completed and certified by the DOH itself.

‘Despite follow-ups from the City, no additional funding for the succeeding phases has ever been released by the DOH,’ the LGU added.

The LGU also stressed that the construction delay ‘does not lie with the city alone. It lies with the DOH’s failure to provide full project funding.’

With this, the LGU said that it decided to continue construction of the project using local funds to ensure quality medical care for its residents.

Meanwhile, Herbosa said that the construction of phase two could not commence as the ‘as built’ plan could not be turned over by the constructor of the first phase to the second one.

Herbosa noted that the plan, or an illustration of what was already constructed, is important to identify what should be built on top of the finished structure. /cb

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday that he and his Cabinet members will comply if the Office of the Ombudsman requests access to their Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs).

He remarked in a brief media interview in Malacañang when asked whether he would take the lead and allow the release of his SALN following the Ombudsman’s recent lifting of restrictions on SALN access.

‘My SALN is. Again, it will be available to whoever would like to-if you give it-if the ICI [Independent Commission for Infrastructure] asks me for it, then of course I will give it. If the Ombudsman asks me for it, we will also provide it,’ he said in Filipino.

Asked if his Cabinet members would do the same, Marcos responded in the affirmative.

According to the president, it was previously easier for the public to obtain a copy of SALNs, but this practice became difficult during the last administration.

‘And I was quite surprised to find out when I first came into office that that was no longer the case. That it was almost impossible, in fact, to get a copy of people’s SALN,’ he said.

‘And so, we are just going back to the old procedure and we will follow that whatever happens,’ Marcos added.

On Tuesday, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla lifted restrictions on public access to SALN of government officials, effectively reversing the policy imposed by its former chief, Samuel Martires.

Remulla implemented the policy shift by releasing a memorandum lifting the access restrictions on SALNs, which Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano presented before the media during a press briefing.

‘This decision is guided by a simple principle. The public has a legitimate right to know how those in government acquire and manage their wealth,’ Clavano announced. /mr

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to work tirelessly to improve the lives of every Filipino, a Palace official said following the release of the latest SWS survey results showing a decline in Marcos’ trust rating.

In a Viber message to reporters on Wednesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos is seen as a leader who works hard and actively fights corruption.

‘He works tirelessly to improve the lives of every Filipino, even in the face of the calamities we are experiencing,’ she said.

‘Even though he doesn’t mind the numbers in the surveys, he is glad that our fellow citizens are now feeling that the president and the government are there for them,’ she noted.

She added that people have become more aware of who is genuinely working and caring for them-and who is focused only on personal interests.

The survey was conducted with 1,200 adult respondents from September 24 to 30, or just a few days after the massive September 21 anti-corruption protests, sparked by an alleged multi-billion-peso corruption scandal involving flood-control projects.

It was commissioned and published by the think tank Stratbase.

Results showed that Marcos recorded a trust rating of 43 percent, down from 48 percent in June.

Vice President Sara Duterte also saw a decline in her trust rating, falling to 53 percent from 61 percent in June.

Kanlaon Volcano on Wednesday emitted ashes twice, with both incidents lasting for less than an hour, according to state volcanologists.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the emission occurred at 6:54 a.m. and 07:50 a.m., lasting 46 and 23 minutes.

In time-lapse footage shared by Phivolcs, gray ash emissions were seen at the summit crater of Kanlaon Volcano.

‘These events generated grayish plumes that rose up to 100-150 meters above the crater before drifting to the general west as recorded by the Kanlaon Volcano Observatory – Canlaon City IP Camera,’ Phivolcs said in its post on X (formerly Twitter).

Alert Level 2 remains over Kanlaon Volcano, which means there is a moderate level of volcanic unrest.

Mt. Kanlaon covers over 24,000 hectares of land area, with rain forests and verdant vegetation. The volcano on it erupted on June 3, 2024 and has since been in a state of unrest.

The strong earthquake which hit Cebu province can cause the opening of fractures within the Kanlaon Volcano.

But seismologists have not yet seen significant effects on the volcanic activity at Kanlaon, according to Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction chief Ma. Antonia Bornas.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led a series of infrastructure and agricultural initiatives in Cagayan province, inaugurating the P487.46-million Union Water Impounding Dam in Claveria and inspecting the nearly completed P2.09-billion Camalaniugan-Aparri Bridge.

During these visits, Marcos announced the government aims to complete 147 rice processing centers nationwide by the end of 2025 to boost postharvest productivity. Three of these will be built in Cagayan, handling drying, milling, and polishing operations.

The President directed the National Food Authority to ramp up palay procurement at P18 to P19 per kilo for wet palay and P21 to P23 for dry palay to stabilize prices currently suppressed by traders buying at only P8 to P10 per kilo.

He said the government will also expand crop insurance coverage, provide more farm machinery, and distribute seed subsidies to help farmers recover and strengthen food security.

Farm support

According to the President, farmers will be provided with trucks, high-yield rice varieties, and seed subsidies to further strengthen agricultural support and food security efforts.

Cagayan Gov. Edgar Aglipay welcomed the development, saying the projects would significantly improve rice production, processing, and marketing across the province.

During the inauguration of the Union Dam, Marcos lauded it as a key project that would help reduce flooding, enhance irrigation, and boost ecotourism in the province.

The dam now provides a stable water supply to more than 3,000 hectares of farmland, directly benefiting over 3,500 farmers. It also serves as a flood mitigation structure, protecting low-lying communities during heavy rains.

Marcos also expressed optimism that the Camalaniugan-Aparri Bridge will be opened by Christmas this year. The bridge connects the two towns separated by the Cagayan River. The project, now 89.26 percent-complete with a 1.82-percent negative slippage as of Sept. 30, is targeted for completion by February 2026.

Philippine National Railways Corp. director Eulogio Agatep Jr., a former mayor of Lasam, said the bridge will be a ‘key infrastructure link for trade and mobility in northern Cagayan,’ easing traffic flow and facilitating the transport of goods between the two towns.

The project is being undertaken by Hunan Road and Bridge Corp. in partnership with Agafer Construction and Trading.

The Department of Health (DOH) has discovered a total of 297 ‘non-functional or non-operational’ super health centers across the country.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa disclosed this on Wednesday as he inspected a super health center located in Marikina City.

‘I have in my list now, after investigating, that we have 297 non-operational or non-functional super health centers,’ Herbosa told reporters in an interview.

Herbosa also shared that he will share the findings before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure on Friday, October 17.

Super health centers, introduced in the country in 2021, aimed to serve as an improved version of a rural health unit.

Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, who proposed the establishment of the health centers, earlier said that they are a ‘medium type of a polyclinic’ which includes consultation and primary care.

Herbosa explained that as the concept of super health centers began in 2021, the normal basis of a health center is a primary care facility. He said that this includes barangay health stations, rural health units, and health centers.

He then regarded the super health center as a ‘big primary care facility.’ Under the devolution of the health services to the LGU, mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991, the LGUs run primary health facilities.

A ‘manananggal’ super health center

Based on his inspection, Herbosa said that the Concepcion Dos Super Health Center in the city is included in the list of the ‘non-operational’ SHCs since 2021. He described it as a ‘manananggal’ or a fictional creature whose body is cropped into half.

‘What should I call this? It’s like a manananggal [a creature from Philippine folklore described as a mythical monster]. There is nothing at the upper part but the lower part is complete. We need to find out how to make this operational,’ he said.

He saw that while the foundation of the facility was built, the area is now covered by plants.

Herbosa shared that the construction of phase one of the project, which consists of the structure’s foundation, began in December 2023 and was completed in April 2024.

He noted that based on the agency’s initial investigation, phase one was funded with P11.5 million for a two-storey facility.

However, he said that plans changed because the local government wanted a four-storey building with a rooftop. He added that the funding for phase one increased to P21.5 million.

The DOH noted that with the modification of plans, a much higher funding for the whole facility would raise an additional fund of P180 million. It said that this means that a total of P201 million would be needed to finish the project.

He also noted that the health center was tagged as ‘completed’ but he found out that only phase 1 of the supposed four-storey building was completed. He then recognized that the agency may have a problem with its reporting of ‘completed’ super health centers.

‘I’d like to check which among the 297 were a construction delay. This is a construction delay. [I also want to check] which construction is completed but can’t operate,’ he added in Filipino.

Meanwhile, Herbosa also said that the contractor of the phase one could not turn over as built plan, or the illustration of what was already constructed.

‘The second contractor asks for it to construct the second phase,’ he said speaking in Filipino.

He then shared that the local government unit (LGU) of Marikina City was responsible for the bidding and procurement process in 2022.

Insertions

When asked who implemented the construction for phase one of the project, Herbosa said it’s the LGU.

‘Money is given to us through the GAA in our budget. This is one of the insertions. The plan somehow changed. This came to our budget in the GAA because the original budget for this in the NEP in 2022 was only six million. It was for a small health center,’ he noted.

He said that the LGU requested for a bigger amount as it wanted to maximize the land to build a bigger facility. He added that the first plan was not approved by the DOH.

‘Normally, for a budget to be included, it goes through the regional office but the insertions you heard about just come out of nowhere in our budget and it’s in the law so we have to implement it,’ he added.

He then explained that the budget for the super health centers in the LGUs will have to be approved by the regional office, or the centers for health development.

He added that once the regional office approves the proposal, including the availability of land, it will be submitted to the DOH central office. He also said that the central office will forward it to the Department of Budget and Management.

‘This did not pass through the centers for health development. We just saw it in the NEP. It was in our 2022 NEP,’ he stressed.

When asked who facilitated the insertions in the budget upon investigation, Herbosa said that they did not identify who did it. He also said that he will not go after those responsible for it as he is aiming to make the flagged super health centers as functional.

TCL, the No. 1 Panel TV brand in the Philippines, a Triple Global Top 1 TV brand, and a top global leader in air conditioner sales, is joining forces with its premier retail partner, Anson’s, for an exclusive showcase dedicated to their loyal customers. Marking 25 years of strong partnership, TCL and Anson’s continue to redefine excellence through innovation, quality, and customer trust.

Dubbed ‘Beyond the Screen: A TCL x Anson’s VVIP Showcase,’ this event highlights TCL’s commitment to innovation and customer excellence. The showcase will culminate in the grand reveal of the TCL × Anson’s October 15 Promo Lineup-a curated selection of top-tier TVs, air conditioners, and essential home appliances designed to make premium technology accessible to all.

‘Anson’s has been a major contributor to TCL’s success in the Philippines from day one. Our relationship with Anson’s is deeply rooted and strategic. They have been instrumental in driving TCL’s growth, especially in the large-screen and premium segment, and in achieving our current market leadership status. This dedicated event is our way of celebrating that shared success and reinforcing the strong partnership we rely on as we continue to bring our innovations to consumers,’ TCL CEO Peter Chen emphasizes.

As for Ansons’ part, their strategic relationship with TCL has evolved. Transitioning from a traditional retailer-supplier model to a deep strategic alliance focused on mutual growth, market penetration, and customer experience.

‘The partnership has been a long and successful one. We’ve seen TCL evolve, continuously innovating and enhancing the quality of its product offerings. For us at Ansons, this means we can consistently provide our valued customers with great technology and reliable service. We take pride in our partnership with TCL and are strongly committed to expanding our reach within the Filipino market,’ Mr. Chen adds.

TCL honored Anson’s Appliances with a special award for their outstanding commitment to excellence. Ansons earned this recognition by becoming the first partner dealer to record the highest sales of the monumental 115-inch TCL C7K Premium QD-Mini LED TV, currently the world’s largest and most advanced display. This accomplishment solidifies Ansons’ position as a market leader and a pioneer in the industry.

Beyond the Screen, Elevating Lives

The retail space venue, Anson’s The Link, was transformed into a cinematic showcase of innovation and elegance. With the flagship 115-inch TCL C7K Premium QD-Mini LED TV serving as the centerpiece, guests were fully immersed in the Beyond the Screen experience.

In addition to exploring TCL’s wide range of innovative products, guests were treated to an exceptional live performance by Asia’s Diamond Soul Siren, Nina, who serenaded the crowd with her top hits, adding a touch of elegance to the exclusive afternoon affair.

And to make the celebration even more exciting, just in time for the holidays, TCL rolled out an exclusive, limited-time promotion-offering massive discounts on a wide array of TCL products, including TVs, Air Conditioners, Washing Machines, and Refrigerators, from October 15 to 19, 2025, at all Anson’s store locations.

Enjoy Exclusive TCL Appliance Deals and Upgrade Your Home, Only at Ansons!

Televisions

Model Feature SRP Promo Tag Price

OLED Google TV 144HZ 156,990 99,995

QD-MiniLED Google TV 659,999 549,995

Frame TV (65A300W) 89,995 57,995

Frame TV (65A300 Pro) 110,995 72,995

Air Conditioners

Model Feature Model SRP Promo Tag Price Installation Discount

AI Full DC Inverter Split (Middle) TAC-10CSD/WEI 45,995 20,995 1,000

TAC-13CSD/WEI 49,995 23,995

TAC-19CSD/WEI 57,995 31,995

TAC-25CSD/WEI 69,995 38,995

AI Full DC Inverter Split (High End) TAC-11CSD/P7 50,995 26,995 2,000

TAC-14CSD/P7 54,995 24,995

TAC-19CSD/P7 62,995 39,995

Refrigerator and Washing Machine

Model Feature Model SRP Promo Tag Price Installation Discount

Washing Machine TWA120-P660DG 32,995 19,995 Free Electric Kettle for Every Purchase

Refrigerator TRF-H199INV/N 20,495 14,495

TRF-H220INV/N 21,695 15,495

TRF-H360INV/N 24,695 16,495

TRF-INV430CDSS 42,995 29,495

TRF-505PH 59,995 30,495

‘We’re thrilled to jumpstart the holiday rush with this special offer, available exclusively at Anson’s. We sincerely thank Anson’s for their unwavering support and partnership, which continues to be invaluable to TCL. Expect more exciting developments ahead as we remain focused on delivering innovations that truly elevate the quality of life for our customers,’ TCL Philippines Deputy Director of Sales Cyd Montebon shared.

Hurry! These exclusive offers are available for a limited time only – visit your nearest Anson’s store today and upgrade to your favorite TCL appliance.

James Reid took the time to respond to netizens after they flocked to his TikTok comments section and bombarded it with his old photos with his ex-girlfriend, actress Nadine Lustre.

The actor-musician shared a video of himself playing the guitar while singing Dijon’s ‘Yamaha’ last Friday, Oct. 10.

@jamsred Fav song rn #Yamaha @Dijon ? original sound – James Reid

After noticing the comments section, Reid, in turn, also shared photos of him and his now-girlfriend, actress Issa Pressman.

‘So many bitter people that [can’t] stand to see me this happy,’ Reid said in a separate comment. ‘I hope all of you here find love like I did that inspires you and gives you a reason to be your best self. Love is the answer.’

The musician also replied to a netizen who said, ‘Nagseselos siguro ‘yung girl sa mga pinagsesend niyo.’ (Maybe her girl [Pressman] is already jealous because of the comments here.)

‘Not at all. You’re the ones who are jealous sending those pics. Think about it,’ he wrote.

Reid, responding to another TikTok user, also said that Pressman ‘sleeps very well right next to [him]’ amid the comments. Reid and Lustre broke up in 2020. Three years after the split, Reid and Pressman confirmed their romance to the public.

Lustre, meanwhile, has been in a relationship with Filipino-French businessman Christophe Bariou. /edv

After a losing start to their title defense, the Creamline Cool Smashers bounced back against their All-Filipino finals tormentors, the Petro Gazz Angels, and barged into the win column of the PVL Reinforced Conference.

Creamline turned to the trio of Courtney Schwan, Alyssa Valdez, and Tots Carlos to beat Petro Gazz, 25-20, 25-21, 17-25, 25-20, and tie the Angels in Pool B at 1-1 after opening with a five-set loss to Akari on Saturday night. Valdez was also pleased with how the Cool Smashers got back at their rivals, who dethroned them in the All-Filipino Conference last May in Game 3 of the Finals.

‘Coach Sherwin told us to move forward. We have to think of this game. Just this game today. And, yeah. It’s always been a good energy coming into rivalry game, in a way. And, it brings so much memories and so much motivation whenever we play against Petro Gazz,’ said Valdez, who had 14 points, 14 digs, and 13 excellent receptions.

‘That’s why I think there are instances that we just wanna give our all, fight. Because, we wanna give them a good fight as well and it’s always classic games with Petro Gazz.’

The three-time conference MVP was also energized by the good Tuesday crowd enjoying their duel with Brooke Van Sickle and Lindsey Vander Weide.

‘It’s just so nice to see that everyone’s actually enjoying the game. And we actually enjoy the game. I think one thing I can attest whenever we play against Petro Gazz, we actually always do enjoy the game because we give our best. And we actually just bring out the best in each of it,’ Valdez said.

Last year, Creamline also split its first two games in the Reinforced. Valdez believes it’s a ‘testament that they keep working harder’ after every game, regardless of the result.

‘We never back down in any situation. And we just want to keep fighting. And we, it’s just so much, there’s so much joy in today’s game. I think that’s one thing that’s very evident and obvious in today’s game. And we just actually wanted to keep fighting after that loss also,’ Valdez said.

Valdez and the Cool Smashers, who are defending their crown without their star hitter Jema Galanza, fly to Ilagan City for Saturday’s game against Galeries Tower.