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The government’s new packaging system for the Philippines’ rice stocks would help improve storage and post-harvest handling of the country’s buffer supply, according to the National Food Authority.

NFA administrator Larry Lacson led the pilot launch of the one-ton palay bagging system in the province, one of three pilot areas along with Occidental Mindoro and Davao del Sur.

‘Based on our initial records, the use of tonner bags will free up space of around 25 percent,’ Lacson said during the event.

He said the government expects to save about P1.1 million to P1.2 million for every 60,000 sacks of rice through reduced use of traditional sacks and improved efficiency in storage and handling.

‘We are also doing a time and motion study to see how much time we are saving in this system. We need to see all the advantages and disadvantages, if there are any,’ he said.

According to Lacson, the new container bags were procured at P325 each and could be reused five times or more, making them more cost-efficient than the one-time-use P15 printed sacks currently in use.

Each one-ton bag can hold the equivalent of 12 to 13 regular rice sacks, offering an estimated savings of at least P600 over its reusable lifespan.

Aside from the new storage containers, Lacson said the NFA would also install fixed and mobile gantry units, equipment used to lift and transport the one-ton bags in its warehouses across the country to speed up loading and unloading operations and reduce manual handling.

Lacson said the concept is inspired by the system used in Cambodia, one of Southeast Asia’s major rice producers where bulk bagging and mechanized handling have helped improve efficiency and reduce post-harvest losses.

With nearly 200 journalists killed across the country since 1986, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) is seeking more measures to protect workers in the media industry.

PTFoMS chief Jose Torres Jr. said he is coordinating with different media groups to know their concerns and the challenges that journalists are facing.

‘We want to continue defending and pushing genuine press freedom in the country,’ Torres said during a meeting with journalists covering the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday.

Torres discussed with members of the PNP Press Corps his plans and programs intended to protect journalists from threats to their lives and security.

Data from the PTFoMS showed that 199 journalists have been killed since 1986. Of the figure, 75 or 37.63 percent were killed because of their work, and 73 or 38.68 percent because of other motives such as land disputes and family conflicts, Torres said.

He did not provide details about the 51 other victims.

Torres said there are challenges in bringing perpetrators of crimes against media workers to justice. Among these is the lack of witnesses.

‘The problem is no one files charges. Most of our friends and colleagues in media do not file cases,’ he said.

Torres urged journalists to seek help from the PTFoMS when the need arises.

The Philippine running community celebrates a new milestone Sunday, October 19, as over 3,000 athletes converge at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite for the country’s first-ever ASICS Meta: Time: Trials (MTT).

Unlike traditional races, the MTT offers a unique experience that shifts the focus from competing against others to racing against the clock – challenging participants to push their personal limits and set new records.

It’s a format that has already inspired runners in Spain, Thailand and Malaysia – and now, for the first time, in the Philippines, making this not just another race, but a groundbreaking moment in local endurance sports.

Far from the crowded, chaotic sprints to the finish line common in traditional races, the MTT offers a streamlined, high-performance environment designed to push each runner toward their personal best. Every detail – from the closed-loop 10km course to strategically placed pacers, hydration points and precision timing systems – is crafted to create optimal racing conditions.

This structured approach, combined with the celebratory atmosphere of a community-driven event, aims to bring out the best in every participant – whether elite athlete or weekend warrior.

‘The MTT reflects Asics’ belief that movement uplifts both body and mind,’ said Kabir Buxani, Chief Executive Officer of Sonak Retail Group, the official distributor of Asics in the Philippines. ‘We’re proud to bring this global concept to Filipino runners and to see how passionately they’ve embraced it. Today is not about competing with each other – it’s about discovering your own potential.’

Some of the country’s top athletes will headline the race’s Invitational category, bringing speed and spirit to the forefront. They include national standouts Sonny Wagdos, Joida Gagnao, Richard Salano, Arlan Arbois and Eduard Flores, who are out to demonstrate the heights of performance Filipino athletes can achieve when given the right environment.

But the real story isn’t just at the front of the pack – it’s in the thousands of community runners, club athletes and newcomers, each chasing a goal as personal as it is powerful.

Participants will also have the opportunity to test Asics’ latest innovations in racing footwear – including the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, and the newly released Metaspeed Ray – all engineered to help runners optimize stride length and cadence for faster finish times. These are paired with the Metaspeed Apparel Collection, designed to offer elite breathability and race-day comfort.

Adding inspiration to perspiration, Asics ambassadors and influencers such as Faith So, Alyssa Valdez, Kim Atienza, coach Ige Lopez and Jaymie Pizarro (The Bull Runner) are also expected to take part in the race.

Lee Min-ho will star opposite fellow Korean veteran actors in the upcoming political thriller “Assassins.”

Production studio Hive Media Corp. confirmed it Min-ho, Yoo Hae-jin and Park Hae-il boarded the film, which began shooting last August, targeting a 2026 release.

The movie by director Hur Jin-ho revolves around the attempted assassination of former Korean president Park Chung-hee in the early 1970s.

Min-ho will play a journalist who witnessed the attempted assassination alongside Hae-jin’s police inspector while Hae-il will play a news editor overseeing the incident’s coverage.

The film reunites Hae-il and Jin-ho, who had worked on the latter’s “The Last Princess” with Son Ye-jin. Hae-il also starred in Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave” and the Bong Joon-ho films “Memories of Murder” and “The Host.”

Hae-jin appeared in “Exhuma,” “Space Sweepers,” the “Confidenial Assignment” films, and another Hive Media Corp. production “Yadang: The Snitch.”

Min-ho is best known for starring in “Boys Over Flowers,” “The Heirs,” “City Hunter,” “Legend of the Blue Sea,” “The King: The Eternal Monarch,” “Pachinko” and “When the Stars Gossip.”

Hive Media Corp. also previously produced political dramas “12.12: The Day,” “The Man Standing Next” and “Inside Men.” The former two also circled Korea in the 1970s while the latter two both starred Lee Byung-hun.

Cinematographer Lee Mo-gae and lighting director Lee Sung-hwan also board the project having collaborated on the previously mentioned “Exhuma” and “12.12: The Day” as well as “Emergency Declaration.

Cebu’s tourism industry, long known for its resilience, is once again put to the test. The recent 6.9-magnitude quake that rattled the province on September 30 may have lasted only seconds, but its aftershocks continue to reverberate, and at this time through empty hotel rooms and cancelled tour bookings. One of the core sectors that puts Cebu on the map continues to be threatened.

The Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) admits that the impact has been staggering. According to HRRAC President Mia Singson-Leon, cancellations poured in for October and November, hitting both group and individual bookings. The losses already run into the millions. The reasons are concerns over safety, should another earthquake hit the city. Guests also worry about cancelled flights or boat trips, fearing they might get stranded if another calamity strikes.

The problem isn’t just fear. Truth be told, it’s misinformation too. Rumors of widespread damage in Central and Southern Cebu have circulated online, discouraging travelers from pushing through with their trips. In reality, most roads and bridges remain intact. The industry is wary that tourism jobs and livelihoods are at risk if this continues. It’s a sobering thought. Every cancelled booking doesn’t just affect hotel owners. Those affected include front desk clerks, tour guides, transport providers, and vendors who depend on visitors’ spending.

Still, there’s reason to stay hopeful. The HRRAC continues to reassure the public that Cebu’s hospitality sector remains open and safe. Rigorous safety checks are constantly done. In fact, key destinations such as Mactan, Moalboal, Badian, and Cebu City have largely been spared. The beaches are still turquoise, the waterfalls still cascade, and the city’s warmth remains.

The Cebu Association of Tour Guides (CATG) has also seen a worrying decline in tour bookings. CATG president PG Guba said many tourists have either postponed or canceled trips through the rest of the year. This even after engineers cleared tourist sites and accommodations as safe. The situation is ‘alarming’, especially since this was supposed to be their peak season following the lean months of June and July. The group has even implemented safety protocols to ensure guests know what to do in case another tremor occurs.

Meanwhile, up north in Bantayan Island, local officials are eager to set the record straight. Councilor Jaypee Lao of Santa Fe clarified that their tourism operations remain fully open despite a few cancellations. Viral photos showing Hagnaya Port submerged in water, he said, were taken during high tide is a normal occurrence. There was no major damage or injuries, and all tourist facilities, accommodations, transport services, and attractions are open.

For travelers, that means the island’s powdery white beaches and calm turquoise waters await. It is untouched, unbroken, and ready to welcome everyone back. Cebu may be shaken, but its spirit stands firm. The call now is simple: believe the facts, not the fear. If we want to retain Cebu as thriving then let’s help each other. The province’s beauty and hospitality are still here, waiting to be rediscovered.

A municipal councilor tagged in a bomb attack that killed two barangay officials and injured eight others in Shariff Saydona Mustapha in Maguindanao del Sur early this year has been arrested.

Allan Ganoy, 44, of the Datu Salibo municipal council was arrested near the Cotabato Airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte on Oct. 11.

Ganoy did not resist when agents of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the local police collared him.

The suspect was tagged in a bomb attack that killed Manaot Silongan, then chairman of Barangay Pendeten in Datu Salibo, and former kagawad Salik Katua.

The victims were walking in Barangay Ganta when an improvised explosive device exploded.

The Los Angeles Dodgers moved to within one win of returning to the World Series on Thursday, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series.

Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts and second baseman Tommy Edman both drove in runs while starter Tyler Glasnow recorded eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings in front of 51,251 fans at Dodger Stadium.

The result leaves the Brewers needing to stage a near-miraculous comeback in the National League Championship Series to keep their World Series hopes alive.

Once director Josh Boone read the script for Regretting You, the movie adaptation of the best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover, he jumped right in.

‘Regretting You is a coming-of-age story about relationships between parents and children growing up, like my previous films Stuck in Love and The Fault in Our Stars,’ shares Boone. ‘I have always been and always will be attracted to movies about families, specifically kids who are finding out that their parents are fallible. That’s an important moment in anybody’s life.’

In Regretting You, Allisom Williams and Mckenna Grace play the mother-daughter duo of Morgan and Clara Grant, respectively, as they explore what’s left behind after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover each other. Regretting You is a story of growth, resilience, and self-discovery in the aftermath of tragedy, also starring Dave Franco, Mason Thames and Sam Morelos, with Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald and Clancy Brown.

The story works on multiple levels, says Allison Williams, which makes it perfect for a wide audience. ‘There’s so much contained within this movie,’ says Williams, who plays Morgan Grant.

‘When I’m talking to another mother, I say it’s about a mom who is watching her daughter go through a moment that completely changed her own life. She is hoping that her daughter won’t do the same thing, but at the same time she does not regret having her daughter. When I talk to younger people, it’s about a couple that’s clearly meant to be together. That could actually be referring to either of the romances in the movie. It is also about a relationship that begins at the moment when two kids are about to embark on a new adventure in the world. That’s part of what made it so meaty and such fun to work on.’

For Mckenna Grace, who plays Morgan’s teen daughter Clara, the story was also a big reason she wanted to be part of the film; it was the quality of the script that impressed her from the start.

‘It hits all the right places,’ Grace says. ‘It’s really sad, but still such fun. When I read the book, I really connected to Clara. The dialogue felt so natural that I sometimes threw in things from the book that weren’t in the script, but that were so right for Clara. Josh created such a fun and safe environment to create in that it was easy. He’s so much funnier himself than I ever expected.’

When Boone offered Dave Franco the chance to play Morgan’s love interest, Jonah, Franco seized the opportunity to play a character different from what he’s played before.

‘I have played degenerates in recent films, so when he [Josh] called and asked if I was open to playing a nice guy, I was ready,’ says Franco. ‘It is fun to play morally ambiguous characters, but it’s also nice to play someone that audiences can root for.’

‘There is a lot of drama in this movie and a lot of romance,’ continues Franco. ‘Mckenna once said that she’s either crying or kissing or doing both in every single scene. And that’s not far from the truth. We’re hitting the broad spectrum of emotion.’

Mason Thames, who plays Miller (Clara’s love interest), agrees. ‘This movie can be very sad, but it’s also very sweet, often funny and a bit of a journey. I hope the audience leaves crying. It’s an emotional roller coaster, so bring plenty of tissues.’

Hoover, whose stories are known for powerful emotions, tumultuous relationships and unforgettable characters, shares: ‘Audiences will have a fun and emotional experience. It is something you can watch with friends and family and feel good about, then go back and watch it a second time with a different group of friends. It’s just a real feel-good movie.’

There are certainly heartbreaking moments, but ultimately the filmmakers want audiences to be uplifted by the tale. ‘No matter what, life keeps going and things keep happening,” says Boone. ‘You are going to laugh again. I say that from experience.’

Regretting You, from Paramount Pictures, opens in Philippine cinemas this October 22.

Far Eastern U turned back Saint Benilde, 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, to secure the last twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup yesterday at the San Andres Gym in Manila.

Alyzza Devosora stepped up in the fourth set and carried the Lady Tamaraws to an all-important victory to close the second round with a 2-1 win-loss record and the No. 2 spot in Pool F.

The outside spiker scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth set, including four of FEU’s last six points of the match.

‘Tumatakbo sa isip namin na quarterfinals, kailangan maganda ‘yung standings namin. Goal talaga namin 3-0 kaso medyo nakulangan, naging shaky, nawalan ng pasa. So mas in-improve namin yun para makuha yung last set,’ Devosora said.

AJ Lim and Eric Jed Olivarez remained on a collision course by reaching the semifinals of the Gentry National Tennis Open Championship at the Colegio San Agustin courts in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan Thursday.

Lim, the top seed and recent PCA Open champion, routed Alexis Acabo, 6-0, 6-1, in the Round of 16, before dismantling Thai bet Tanakorn Srirat, 6-1, 6-2, in the quarterfinals. He now braces for a semis showdown with No. 9 seed Charles Kinaadman.

Olivarez is eyeing revenge and redemption, powering past Evan Bacalso, 6-0, 6-1, and then outclassing Eric Jay Tangub, 6-1, 6-3, to advance to the Final Four. Standing in his way is unseeded Arthur Pantino, who has emerged as the tournament’s surprise package.