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Filipina drag queen Brigiding was crowned the winner of “Slaysian Royale,” the special edition of “Drag Race Philippines.”

Brigiding defeated her Divine Diva sister and fellow “Drag Race Philippines” Season 1 contestant, Viñas Deluxe, during a final lip sync performance of “Born to Do Drag” by Marina Summers, another “Drag Race Philippines” Season 1 alum.

Marina was back for the finale, having also been in the show’s penultimate episode, alongside fellow special guest judge and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 16 winner Nymphia Wind, the franchise’s first East Asian winner. Wind is part-Taiwanese.

“Drag Race Philippines” Season 2 runner-up Arizona Brandy and Suki Doll of “Drag Race Canada” Season 2, who won the “Slaysian Royale” Miss Congee-niality title, rounded up the Top 4.

Brigiding entered the finale as the favorite to win with three Ru Badges – the most of the season – marked by a lip sync after dressing up an overseas Filipino worker. She won the Lip Sync LaLaPaRuZa Slaysian Smackdown and the DragCon challenge showcasing her brand.

The latter badge win plus the “Slaysian Royale” crown culminated a two-season arc for Brigiding who discovered her branding as a drag queen on the show. The drag artist spent a couple years learning more about herself and reinvented herself as the “brightest star.”

Similar to the most recent edition of “Drag Race Philippines,” the finale consisted of a talent show combined with three different runway looks, packaged as the “Slaysian Grand T.I.T.E! (Totally Impressive Talent Extravaganza!)”.

The three runway looks were as follows: Defying Gravity (high-flying couture while suspended in the air), Yellow Yellow Yellow! (joy, empowerment, and Asian cultural pride through the color yellow), and Come in Your Best Drag (the queens’ best looks).

Brigiding took inspiration from “Divine Intervention” for her Defying Gravity look, ribbons of the EDSA Revolution for Yellow Yellow Yellow!, and went as the “brightest star phenomenon” for her best drag.

“We are all made of stars but tonight, I shine brighter than the rest,” Brigiding said in the voiceover of her final runway.

Her talent was an energetic performance of an original song, “Brighters Day,” which detailed her drag journey.

Among Brigiding’s highlights on “Slaysian Royale” was the lead role in the “Crazy Bitch Slaysians” musical, impersonating Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, and a church statue-inspired drag runway look.

Other than a crown and scepter, Brigiding won P2 million – double the “Drag Race Philippines” cash prize – and a one-year supply of cosmetics from Anastasia Beverly Hills.

As the inaugural “Slaysian Royale” winner, she joins “Drag Race Philippines” winners Precious Paula Nicole (another Divine Diva), Captivating Katkat, and Maxie Andreison.

Mirroring several episodes in this special season, host Paolo Ballesteros dedicated the finale to drag queen Jiggly Caliente, who passed away earlier this year.

La Salle weathered Precious Momowei’s 42-point explosion of and an apparent knee injury by Kean Baclaan to grab a massive 111-110 overtime victory over the University of the East Red Warriors in their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball matchup Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Green Archers trailed by as much as 21 points in the game, but they clawed out of the hole and did just enough to tally the comeback win.

Jacob Cortez powered La Salle with 26 points, five assists, four steals and two rebounds, while Earl Abadam and Mike Phillips had 18 markers, respectively. The former had a game-high +- of +16, while the latter grabbed 11 boards.

After losing a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, UE started the overtime period with six straight points as they took a 104-98 lead.

But La Salle slowly reduced the gap with a 6-1 run to make it a 104-105 game with less than two minutes to go.

A Momowei jumper cut the blitz, 107-104, but the Archers, led by Cortez and Abadam, took control late.

After leading by a dozen, 60-48, at the half, the Red Warriors turned things up a notch in the third quarter, unleashing a 15-6 run to grab a 21-point lead, 75-54, after a 3-pointer by John Abate.

But an 18-6 counter run by La Salle in the same quarter sliced the deficit to eight, 72-80.

And while the Recto-based squad retook a double digit advantage in the fourth, La Salle would slowly nip the lead away and take the lead, 95-93, before a triple by Cortez gave them a 98-93 lead with 1:20 left.

Momowei and Abate then teamed up and equalized the game as Cortez’s buzzer-beating triple missed.

Baclaan had 17 points in 21 minutes of play before he left the game with 4:21 remaining. His injury came a few days after big man Mason Amos also tore his MCL.

Momowei stood tall for UE with 42 points on 16-of-27 shooting, to go with 13 rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal. This is the highest scoring output by a Red Warrior since Alvin Pasaol’s 49-point game in Season 80.

Abate and Lingolingo tallied 25 and 24 points, respectively.

La Salle evened up its standings with a 3-3 slate, while UE dropped to 0-6.

The Dasmariñas City Monarchs moved closer to a first-round sweep by fending off the San Juan Lady Knights, 25-17, 25-19, 20-25, 25-10, in Week 4 of the 2025 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) on Monday night at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Samantha Catanda, former UAAP juniors MVP and incoming rookie in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament, sizzled with 18 points to spearhead the barrage as the Monarchs extended their unbeaten run to five games.

Natasha Kaye Bombita added 13 points while Abegail Pono and Denesse Daylisan had nine and seven points, respectively, for the Monarchs backed by back-to-back UAAP and three-time SSL champion National U Lady Bulldogs.

Caloocan City Mayor Along Malapitan suspended classes on Wednesday, October 17, due to continuous bomb threats in schools and even the city hall.

Malapitan suspended classes in both private and public classes, saying that schools in both North and South Caloocan have been getting bomb threats.

Even Caloocan City Hall got bomb threats, Malapitan said.

‘Inatasan na po natin ang ating Caloocan City Police na tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng lahat at ang masusing imbestigasyon at ang pagpapanagot sa mga nanggugulo sa ating siyudad,’ Malapitan said in a Facebook post.

‘We have dispatched our Caloocan City Police to ensure the safety of everyone and to investigate and hold accountable those who are causing trouble in our city.)

Malapitan did not disclose where the bomb threats were received or how many were recorded.

Despite recent political challenges and natural disasters, Manulife Philippines said it has not seen a decline in new business premiums, citing the country’s strong economic fundamentals and sustained growth.

In a press briefing, Manulife president and CEO Rahul Hora said that remittances from overseas Filipino workers and revenues from business process outsourcing remain robust and continue to grow.

‘The decline is not there because I think the fundamentals of the economy are still strong,’ he told reporters. ‘In fact, with the dollar rate increasing, actually, the foreign remittance, which is coming in, is higher in terms of peso equivalent. So, we see continued support from these two main sources to the economy.’

The Philippines’ outstanding debt declined in August after the government fully settled its largest local bond for the year and benefited from a stronger peso, reflecting improved fiscal management and efforts to reduce borrowing obligations.

Further, several earthquakes have struck the country in recent weeks, affecting the entire region.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the country’s growth rate could have gone higher if the government’s money had been spent wisely.

Manulife introduced its first-ever ‘Time to MOVE – Manulife Longevity Symposium’ at the Grand Hyatt Manila, marking the official launch of ManulifeMOVE, a comprehensive health and finance platform that combines insurance coverage with wellness rewards, among other features.

Hora said the customer interest in its products remains strong, driven by its service and focus on addressing existing needs, as longevity and long-term health planning are key concerns even among younger Filipinos.

‘The appetite is there and I think the reason why we are very upbeat about the appetite or the customer’s interest in our products and our propositions is because of the service that we do,’ he said.

The Manulife chief added that increased customer education on the value and benefits of its products has driven higher demand, noting that continued investment in awareness initiatives has contributed to the company’s rapid business growth in recent months.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Airlines (PAL) officially sealed an estimated P60-million partnership until 2028 to help empower the country’s national athletes and promote Filipino excellence on the global stage.

The collaboration between PSC and PAL opens a wider runway for national athletes to thrive internationally, with the spotlight on the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics – where the Philippines aims to sustain and surpass its growing medal tally from recent international competitions.

‘When a Filipino athlete flies, the entire nation flies with them,’ said PAL President Richard Nuttall.

Through the partnership, PAL’s flagship Mabuhay Miles program introduces an exclusive customized card for national athletes. The special card offers a hero’s welcome on board and includes additional perks such as 20 kg of free extra baggage (or sports equipment) and waived rush and rebooking fees – a gesture that underscores PAL’s dedication to recognizing and supporting Filipino sports heroes.

‘When you touch the heart of an athlete, they start winning. And when they start winning, they touch the hearts of 110 million Filipinos,’ said PSC Chairman Pato Gregorio.

Beyond supporting the athletes’ journeys, the partnership also strengthens PSC’s mission to advance sports tourism, promoting the Filipino brand of hospitality and athletic spirit to audiences around the world.

PLDT chairman and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan reaffirmed his commitment to basketball and underscored the immense value of the game to Filipinos when he led the honorees in the PBA Press Corps Awards Night Monday.

Pangilinan was bestowed the ‘Danny Floro Executive of the Year’ plum for a record-tying third time following the two-championship, one-runner-up run of TNT, the MVP Group’s flagship franchise, in Season 49.

‘The passion which binds us all here tonight is unique,’ said Pangilinan, who previously received the honors in 2003 and 2011 and became only the three-time winner after the late RFM team manager Elmer Yanga and San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua.

‘And that passion goes beyond business. It is about pride in the heart, pride in seeing Filipinos excel on the court here or internationally, like watching Gilas play in tournaments abroad, an experience that’s so different and so surprising.’

He lauded efforts of PBA stakeholders in keeping the fire burning. ‘Each season reminds us how much more we can improve the game and make it more entertaining. Of course, rivalry keeps the league alive and respect keeps it whole,’ he said.

‘Basketball has been kind to all of us. It has built friendships, developed character, lifted spirits in difficult times, and inspired this country. And it has provided jobs and livelihood. In moments when our country was divided, basketball has brought us together in one.’

MVP emphasized the responsibility to equally passionate fans as well.

‘May we all continue to serve the game in sportsmanship and with love, for in serving Philippine basketball well, we also enrich the lives of the greatest basketball fans in the world,’ he said.

Tropang 5G mentor Chot Reyes shared the spotlight as he received the Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year accolade for a record-extending seventh time.

The prize, he shared, was a real bright moment coming off what he termed as the ‘deepest, darkest moment’ of his career – the boos by the home crowd at Gilas Pilipinas’ final game in the 2023 FIBA World Cup at the Big Dome.

‘I thought at that time I had enough of coaching, that I didn’t deserve everything that had happened so far. But apparently God had other plans. I’m thankful to our management, Boss MVP, Boss Ricky (Vargas) for continuing to give me the opportunity and their trust and now we’re here. Who would have thought, right?’

A confident Rupert Zaragosa surged to the top with a sizzling 64, homegrown contenders found their groove, and an unheralded champion continued to punch above his weight – all setting the stage for a chaotic showdown in the final two rounds of the ICTSI Del Monte Championship.

At the halfway mark of the P3.5-million sixth leg of the Philippine Golf Tour at the Del Monte Golf Club here Wednesday, Zaragosa took command with a two-shot lead at 12-under 132, continuing his scorching form following a dominant win in Negros Occidental last month.

‘Compared to yesterday, my irons clicked, giving me several birdie opportunities,’ said Zaragosa, who torched the course with nine birdies, including back-to-back conversions inside eight feet to cap both nines with 32s.

He shrugged off a birdie-bogey start with four birdies in seven holes at the back, then stayed sharp at the front, birdieing Nos. 2, 6, 8 and 9 in a masterclass of control and confidence.

Still, Zaragosa, whose eight-under card matched the course record set by Clyde Mondilla during his 2023 title win, isn’t looking too far ahead.

‘Nasa likod ko si kuya Reymon, I’m sure kabisado niya ang course,’ he said of local ace Reymon Jaraula. ‘Pero hindi ko na lang iintindihin ang laro ng iba. I will just focus on my own for the next two days.’

Indeed, Del Monte’s own are lurking.

Jaraula rediscovered his putting stroke and fired a flawless 66, climbing to solo second at 10-under 134. The soft-spoken Bukidnon native, who narrowly lost here to Mondilla, is quietly plotting a breakthrough win on home soil.

‘Kahapon nag-struggle sa putting, ngayon nag-click,’ said Jaraula. ‘Focus lang sa laro bukas at kung anong resulta, tanggapin.’

Jaraula’s round was built on precision – six birdies inside six feet and clutch par saves under calm conditions. ‘Importante na pamilyar ka dito sa course na ‘to. Mas maganda kung mananalo ako kasi dito ako nag-umpisa,’ he added.

Right behind him is Michael Bibat, who slipped from the lead with a 71 but birdied his final hole to tie Arnold Villacencio at 136.

A surprise winner of the Match Play Finals at The Country Club last year, Villacencio remains a wildcard in the hunt. While a second-round 69 kept him in contention, the gritty journeyman knows the task ahead is immense.

‘Siguro pag dalawang 68s, may chance na manalo,’ he said, still battling putting issues. ‘Mahirap ang course, sobrang kitid. Bahala na ang Diyos.’

Mondilla, the former Philippine Open titlist, also finally found his rhythm with the irons, producing a six-under round that included a clutch eagle-3 on the par-5 18th.

‘Medyo nag-stable na ang irons. May inadjust ako at nag-work,’ said Mondilla, who had struggled in the first round with five bogeys.

Despite the improved ball-striking, he admits his putting still needs work. ‘I missed at least six birdie chances inside 7 feet. Pero at least nabawi sa last hole.’

After a 320-yard blast off the 18th tee, he struck a 5-iron to within three feet and drained the eagle putt to close at 137, catching Jay Bayron (69), Elee Bisera (71), Yudai Nakakuki (68), Kuresh Samanodi (69), and two-leg winner Keanu Jahns (69) at fifth.

Russell Bautista also made waves with a 66, matching the 138 total of Tony Lascuña (68) and Korean contenders Taewon Ha and Chon Koo Kang, who carded 71s.

With just six strokes separating the Top 14, expect fireworks in the third round as contenders jostle for position heading into Friday’s finale.

Forty-three players made the cut set at 145, including amateur standout Ralph Batican (72-143), as well as seasoned names like Art Arbole (72), Tae Soo Kim (72), Elmer Salvador (69) and Del Monte legend Frankie Miñoza, who faltered with a 76 after a 69.

With Zaragosa in the lead but proven winners like Jaraula, Mondilla and Bibat circling, the final 36 holes promise high drama, sharp shotmaking – and perhaps, another local triumph.

As Zaragosa put it: ‘Del Monte is longer and tougher than Marapara. I’ll need my long irons to deliver if I want to stay in contention.’

The public’s trust in flood control investigations may be mixed, but on one thing Filipinos are nearly united: at least nine in 10 believe there was collusion among government officials, lawmakers, and contractors in pilfering funds for flood control projects.

The finding comes from a Pulse Asia survey conducted from September 27 to 30, at the height of congressional probes into alleged ‘ghost’ and substandard flood control projects that have rocked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and prompted changes in the leadership of both the department and Congress itself.

According to the survey released Wednesday, October 15, 90% of respondents agreed that government officials, legislators, and private contractors conspired in the misuse of public funds for flood control programs, with some 60% saying they ‘strongly’ agreed. Only 4% disagreed, while 6% were undecided.

This perception cuts across all regions and income levels, according to Pulse Asia’s survey. In Metro Manila, 71% strongly agreed there was collusion, as did 65% in the rest of Luzon and 60% in Mindanao. Even in the Visayas, where strong agreement was lowest at 48%, another 40% said they “somewhat agreed.”

Pulse Asia conducted the poll just as the Anti-Money Laundering Council froze 1,563 bank accounts, 154 vehicles, and 30 properties tied to the scandal, and as then-Rep. Elizaldy Co (Ako Bicol) resigned after being accused of inserting nearly P14 billion in the 2025 budget and collecting billions more in kickbacks.

A country resigned to corruption

Most Filipinos, according to the survey, also believe corruption is extremely widespread in government.

A whopping 97% of Filipinos consider corruption in government to be widespread, with 78 percent saying it is “very” widespread. Only 0.4% said corruption is ‘not widespread.’

For 85%, the level of corruption in government has worsened over the past year, while only 3% said it had improved.

Nearly six in 10 Filipinos think corruption has become a normal part of Philippine politics, according to the survey. This is a view shared by majorities in every region except Mindanao, where only 39% agreed and nearly half (47%) disagreed.

When asked what actions they consider corrupt, three in four Filipinos identified accepting or giving bribes. Some 67% also said misuse of public funds or company resources counts as corruption, while 64% included kickbacks for contracts or services.

Nearly half – 49% – pointed to insider trading or financial fraud as corruption. Smaller but still substantial shares flagged tax evasion (41%), nepotism in hiring (38%), and undisclosed conflicts of interest (27%).

A crisis of trust

If Filipinos are certain collusion has happened, they’re far less certain that current government institutions can do anything about it.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, the agency at the center of the scandal, is trusted by just 7% of Filipinos to address corruption in flood control projects. Some 81% distrust it, including 58% who said they have “very small or no trust” at all.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. fares better but hardly inspires confidence, as the survey shows nearly half of all Filipinos do not trust him to address the problem (45%). Thirty-two percent trust him, and 23% can’t say.

Distrust is highest in the Visayas (50%) and among class E respondents (48%), the lowest socio-economic group that answered the survey.

There is also little trust in both chambers of Congress, which have each pursued their own probes into the anomalous flood control works. The Senate has 37% trust and 27% distrust, with 36% undecided. The House of Representatives fares worse: 36% distrust it, 25% trust it, and 40% can’t decide.

The Office of the Ombudsman, the constitutional body tasked with prosecuting graft, registered 39% trust and just 17% distrust. But 43% of Filipinos can’t say if they trust it or not.

The Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), created by President Marcos in September to investigate irregularities in infrastructure projects, is an unknown entity to most. Some 56% can’t say whether they trust it, while 23% do trust it and 21% don’t.

Only two institutions cleared 50% trust: media (51%) and civil society organizations (50%).

Split opinions on investigations

Filipinos were divided on what congressional inquiries were really for. A majority, 54%, said the Senate and House investigations into flood control projects were genuine attempts to expose corruption and hold those responsible accountable. But 19% saw them merely as responses to public outrage, 13% as tools to pressure political rivals or protect allies, and another 13% as distractions from other issues.

When asked about the specific congressional probes, 45% said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation is likely to uncover the truth and hold those involved accountable. Only 10% dismissed it as ‘political theater.’

Views on the House Infrastructure Committee were more skeptical: just 38% believed it would lead to accountability, while one in five said such inquiries ‘rarely lead to meaningful results.’

Seven in 10 Filipinos (71%) said they believe officials found guilty of irregularities will eventually be punished. Interestingly, there is higher confidence on this in Mindanao (78%) than in Metro Manila (66%).

Even as faith in institutions wavers, nearly half of respondents (46%) said rallies and protests remain an effective way to ensure that those involved in corruption are held accountable. That belief was strongest in Mindanao (56%) and among poorer Filipinos in Class E (61%).

But 31% said protests don’t work, while 23% couldn’t say.

The survey was conducted days after thousands joined the ‘Trillion Peso March’ against corruption on September 21.

The survey was based on face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide with a ±2.8% margin of error.

The Aboitiz Group is exploring more opportunities to enter the public-private partnership (PPP) landscape in Mindanao, building on the success of its infrastructure contracts in the island.

At the Davao Investment Conference 2025, Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC) reported some of the gains made by the Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) since its turnover to the company in April.

AIC airports head of strategy and communications Christine Villanueva said LIA is now landing and sending off 337 flights weekly to some of the busiest metros in the Philippines like Manila, Cebu, Iloilo and Davao.

AIC is also planning to carry out infrastructure upgrades for LIA in the long run. It will expand the passenger terminal building to boost the airport’s prospects for international flights.

‘From trade routes to transport hubs, when we move better, we grow faster. Airports are not just travel terminals – they are engines of economic activity, and so developing world-class regional airports will be key to unlocking Mindanao’s potential,’ Villanueva said.

Further, Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. general manager Ronnie Lim said the development of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) improved Davao’s water situation.

The DCBWSP, undertaken with the Davao City Water District, is the country’s largest bulk water supply, delivering 300 million liters of water per day to more than one million customers.

‘Beyond households, this supports livelihoods, enables businesses to expand and gives investors the confidence that utilities can keep pace with growth,’ Lim said.

To date, Apo Agua, which is a subsidiary of AIC, has generated over P15 billion in investments for Davao City.

Lim said the project has given assurance to families and businesses in the city of consistent and clean water supply.

With these projects as PPP models, AIC first vice president for investments Frocks Roque said it is easy for the company to consider other projects in Mindanao. The DCBWSP, for instance, won as best PPP in the Philippines in 2024 as reviewed by the International Finance Awards.

Roque said PPPs tend to succeed when the government implementor and private partner work as one in achieving a set of goals.

AIC operates and maintains the country’s second, sixth and ninth busiest airports in Cebu, Bohol and Laguindingan, respectively, with interest in digital infrastructure, industrial parks and water projects.