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More than 3,000 Roman Catholics joined a grand rosary rally in Bacolod City on Saturday afternoon to pray for conversion against ‘the systemic culture of corruption plaguing the nation.’

The participants marched from three points in the city and converged at the San Sebastian Cathedral where Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon called on the faithful to pray for the conversion of all people linked to corruption in government.

Buzon said that while marches against corruption are important, prayer and sacrifice are also needed to achieve radical change. The bishop described the massive corruption involving flood control projects in the country as ‘beyond belief’ and ‘just the tip of the iceberg,’ which he said has opened a Pandora’s box on the extent of corruption in government. The prelate stressed that the Diocese of Bacolod stands with the people and understands the public’s collective ‘outburst of anger,’ with evidence now coming out that government funds intended for projects for the public good have instead lined the pockets of the powerful. ‘God himself is angry at injustice, especially when the victims are the poor,’ Buzon said. ‘He always sides with the poor.’ The problem of corruption is systemic and runs through the ‘whole gamut of society,’ Buzon said, noting that people have also sold their votes for the kind of leaders the nation now has, while these same officials steal from the government to recover the amounts they used to buy votes.

‘The systemic problem of corruption must be destroyed,’ added Buzon. ‘That is why prayers and sacrifice are needed to seek the grace of conversion against sin and evil.’ Participants at the rally carried placards bearing Bible messages against corruption. Among those messages were: ‘Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy – Proverbs 31:9;’ ‘The Lord detests dishonesty – Ezekiel 22:27:’ ‘Let justice roll down like waters – Amos 5:24;’ ‘Stop robbing the poor – Amos 5:11;’ ‘Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions’ – Luke 12:15;’ ‘Let honesty lead our leaders – Micah 1:2;’ and ‘Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed – Luke 12:15.’

The rally culminated in a program and Mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral in the city.

Alyssa Solomon and defending champion Osaka Marvelous got off to a losing start in the Japan SV.League after falling to Himeji Victorina, 17-25, 28-26, 23-25, 25-22, 15-11, on Saturday at Ookini Arena Maishima.

Solomon only scored one point off a lone attack attempt after seeing action only in the second and third sets.

The Marvelous blew a two-sets-to-one advantage, as the Victorina turned to Airi Miyabe, who unleashed 31 points off 28 kills and three blocks, to complete the comeback.

Osaka dropped to a 0-2 start in its title retention bid despite the efforts of Lise Van Hecke and Mizuki Tanaka, who had 24 and 22 points, respectively.

The former National University star, who signed with Osaka last month, sat out in their opening game on Friday, where the Marvelous yielded a 25-19, 21-25, 25-21, 25-10 result.

Solomon and the Marvelous seek to bounce back against Aranmare Yamagata next weekend.

Meanwhile, Jaja Santiago, now Sachi Minowa, delivered 14 points in her first game for the Denso AiryBees, sweeping Toray Arrows Shiga, 25-21, 25-17, 25-22, at Horaiya Bonds Arena.

The three-time SV.League Best Blocker, who won a championship with Osaka last year, had a successful debut after drilling 11 kills and three blocks.

Santiago and the AiryBees eye a weekend sweep against Toray on Sunday.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has summoned the driver as well as the student riding a motorcycle he recently hit in Teresa, Rizal, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Saturday.

Earlier, the DOTr released a statement ordering the revocation of the license of the driver after he was seen in a viral video intentionally crashing into the student’s motorcycle because ‘it allegedly ran over his vehicle.’ In a statement on Saturday, the DOTr said that the driver and the student are directed to appear before the Intelligence and Investigation Division in the LTO office in Quezon City at 3 p.m. on Monday.

The agency said the driver received a show-cause order from the LTO for hitting the student riding the motorcycle, ‘causing the latter to fall and be dragged for several meters along the roadway before the vehicle came to a stop, resulting in multiple injuries.’

The driver was ordered to explain ‘why (he) should not be administratively charged for reckless driving under Section 48 of RA 4136, and why (his) driver’s license should not be suspended or revoked for being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle under Section 27 (a) of R.A. 4136, as amended by Section 7 of B.P.’

His driver’s license was also suspended for 90 days. Meanwhile, a show-cause order was also issued to the 15-year-old student for driving a motorcycle with no side mirror and valid license and for not wearing a helmet.

The student was directed to explain ‘why (he) should not be administratively charged for reckless driving under Section 48 of R.A. 4136, Duty to Procure License under Section 19 of R.A. 4136, Mandatory Use of Motorcycle Helmets under Section 3 of Republic Act No.10054, and Motor Vehicle Operating without or with defective/improper/unauthorized accessories, devices, equipment, and parts under Title Il. Par. (d) of Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01.’

‘Traffic violations, criminal liability’

According to Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, the LTO, under its mandate, will investigate the violations of traffic laws from the incident involving the driver and the student. ‘Definitely, both sides are at fault because the driver-you saw the harm he inflicted on the child-meanwhile the minor didn’t have a helmet and a license,’ Lopez noted.

But he also noted that on the aspect of criminal liability, the DOTr will provide assistance for the student in filing a case against the driver.

‘With regard to criminal liability, that’s where we will really provide assistance to the minor because there is no place on the road for abusive and irresponsible drivers,’ Lopez emphasized.

‘We will help the family file a case against the driver because it is clear from the video that he really intended to hurt the minor. We should not let this go,’ he added.

Earlier this Saturday, Lopez visited the house of the student to check on his situation after the incident.

The DOTr said the student turned out to not have been able to attend classes for days already due to the bruises he suffered.

‘FThe government, especially the DOTr, lends its full support for you. We are on your side. What the driver did to the child is absolutely unacceptable,’ Lopez told the student.

Some 70,142 families in Davao Oriental province were affected by the powerful earthquakes that struck hours apart on Friday.

According to an initial report of the provincial government, all its 10 component towns and one city suffered destruction.

The initial accounting showed Gov. Generoso town with the most affected families at 20,123, of whom some 16,553 were preemptively evacuated due to a tsunami threat.

Banaybanay town came second with 15,119 families affected, followed by Manay with 14,103, and Baganga with 8,728, Cateel 4,314, Tarragona 3,235, Mati City 1,820, Boston 1,056, Lupon 732, San Isidro 583, and Caraga 329.

A total of 225 houses were reported to be destroyed while 471 were damaged.

So far, the provincial government also accounted for three deaths while 360 were injured. /das

Letran opened the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament with three straight losses.

Jonathan Manalili had enough of it. A winner in the juniors’ division with Letran, Manalili made sure the Knights would finally put a stop to their winless start on Saturday.

‘If I lose, maybe losing once or twice is acceptable. I even told them that I’m a hard loser and I’m hoping they adopt that kind of attitude,’ the rookie guard said in Filipino after their 84-80 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College.

‘We’ve been talking about it every night. Losing is tiring to the point that we don’t even know what it feels like to win. I told them we had to get [the win] today so we can get our confidence back.’

After absorbing yet another loss on Wednesday at the hands of the College of St. Benilde-a 95-80 beatdown- that also served as a wake-up call, Letran played with a sense of desperation to earn a much-needed win. Manalili had his fingerprints in the victory, collecting 12 points and 13 assists.

‘My focus is to win. Whatever I need to do to help my team win, I’ll focus on that,’ he said.

‘I mean, I’m thankful for the assists because it shows that I give [the ball] to my teammates. That’s always where I put focus and I’ll keep doing that in the next game.’

Adamson clamped down defensively in the fourth quarter to hold off University of the East, 77-62, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday.

The Falcons snapped a three-game skid and improved to 2-4, but not after they squandered a 20-point halftime lead. The duel was the first men’s basketball game held at Blue Eagle Gym in 20 years.

After the Red Warriors battled back thanks to a 33-12 surge in the third period, the Falcons rediscovered their defensive identity in the final frame, where they held UE to just a field goal.

‘I can only remember the third quarter. It just showed how explosive UE could be, something we kept on emphasizing to our players,’ said Adamson coach Nash Racela, whose squad avoided another meltdown just three days after blowing an 11-point lead late in a loss to National University.

‘I told them to play consistently, especially on defense. I think we didn’t do our part in the third, that’s why they scored 33. We need to do a better job. Good thing in the fourth quarter, we were able to recover and match up better.’

UAAP SCHEDULE: Season 88 basketball tournament

‘We have to be more consistent because basketball is a game of runs. Throughout the game, we really need to be consistent on both defense and offense,’ Medina said as the Falcons wrap up their first-round campaign against University of Santo Tomas next Saturday.

John Abate recorded 17 points and seven rebounds, while DJ Robles chipped in 14 for the Red Warriors, who remained winless at 0-5. They have now lost 11 in a row dating back to last season. Precious Momowei was limited to seven points but grabbed 18 rebounds.

UE’s quest for its first win continues on Wednesday against La Salle at Mall of Asia Arena.

A minor tremor hit this province after the magnitude 5.0 earthquake on Saturday (Oct. 11).

In its bulletin, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs) said a 2.7 magnitude earthquake jolted this province at 6:15 p.m.

Its epicenter was located 25 kilometers east of Botolan town with a depth of 99 km. Earlier, at 5:32 p.m, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake with an epicenter located 19 km northeast of Cabangan town with a depth of 100 km was felt in this province and nearby Olongapo City.

According to Champ Del Rosario, head of the Cabangan municipal disaster risk reduction management office, no damage was reported in their town.

Meanwhile, several local government units (LGUs) reminded their constituents to stay vigilant after the magnitude 5.0 earthquake.

At least seven people were reported dead after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off Davao Oriental on Friday morning, followed about 10 hours later by another temblor with a magnitude of 6.9, with the coastal town of Manay bearing their brunt.

The 9:43 a.m. quake-its epicenter about 40 kilometers to 60 kilometers southeast of Manay’s coast-was the third to hit the country in a span of 10 days and the strongest yet. On the night of Sept 30, it was Cebu province that got hit by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that left 74 people dead.

In an update to reporters on Friday afternoon, Davao Oriental Rep. Cheeno Miguel Almario described two of the fatalities as a 54-year-old woman killed by a falling wall and an ‘elderly confined at the Davao Oriental Medical Center who [succumbed to] cardiac arrest because of panic.’

Authorities said a third still-unidentified fatality had been killed by a collapsed structure in Calapagan village, Lupon town, Davao Oriental.

Around 9 p.m., the Office of Civil Defense said the death toll had risen to seven. It included three landslide victims at Gumayan mining site in Kingking, Pantukan town, Davao de Oro province.

Joseph Randy Loy, head of the Davao de Oro Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, told the Inquirer by phone that three people were killed in the landslide in Gumayan.

In Davao City, several establishments and some banks were closed following the quake which sent people scrambling out of buildings and into the streets.

Chaos after quake

Patients at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) who were evacuated at the height of the quake were later returned to the hospital, while others were sent home.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) had issued tsunami alerts to coastal towns of Davao Oriental, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur after the 6.9 quake at 7:12 p.m.

Davao Oriental and its neighboring provinces lie in the northeastern to southeastern coast of Mindanao.

Phivolcs said it recorded 458 aftershocks in 41 different areas in Davao Oriental, as of 8 p.m.

There were the common cries of people-‘Lord, tabang! Hunonga na, Lord!’ (Lord, help us! Let this stop, Lord!)-captured on raw videos uploaded on social media.

People rushed out of office buildings and their homes and sought safety in the chaos following the quake, many shouting their pleas.

Marcos, VP monitoring situation

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has tasked concerned government agencies to assist the quake victims. ‘We are now assessing the situation on the ground and ensuring that everyone is safe,’ Marcos said in a statement. ‘I have directed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Office of Civil Defense, the Armed Forces, the Philippine Coast Guard, and all concerned agencies to immediately carry out evacuations in coastal areas, activate emergency communication lines, and coordinate closely with local governments.’

Vice President Sara Duterte’s office said its Southern Mindanao Satellite Office is ‘closely monitoring the situation.[and] on standby to assist any local government unit (LGU) in providing relief to evacuees, should the need arise.’

Friday’s quake was the most powerful to hit the Davao region since the magnitude 6.9 temblor struck Davao del Sur on Dec. 16, 2019. But the most powerful quake in Mindanao was the magnitude 8.1 tremor in the Moro Gulf in 1976 which left a large swathe of destruction in coastal communities of Zamboanga del Sur, the Lanao provinces, and Maguindanao, including Cotabato City.

The quake cut a trail of destruction in many communities in Mindanao, especially in Manay town where it was felt at Intensity 6.

It was at Intensity 5 in Mindanao’s key urban centers of Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Butuan cities; Intensity 4 in faraway Tacloban City, and mostly Intensity 3 in Cebu province. /cb

Beyond Mindanao

Phivolcs said the temblor’s ‘ground motion’ was also felt beyond eastern Mindanao and reached as far as Leyte and Samar in Eastern Visayas, Bohol in Central Visayas and Iloilo, Antique, Capiz in Panay island and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas.

Amid the quake’s impact in the Visayas, classes were suspended, people evacuated from buildings and officials moved swiftly to prevent casualties and assess damage.

In Bohol, the quake sparked panic in Tagbilaran City as parents rushed to fetch their children, while employees and guests listening to the State of the Province Address at the provincial capitol were evacuated to open areas.

In Iloilo City, officials led by Mayor Raisa Treñas conducted an inspection of city hall’s main building, its engineering office and Facility Conservation Office, while the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office inspected buildings in coordination with municipal governments in the province.

The regional office of the Department of Education advised schools to conduct safety checks before resuming in-person classes.

Meanwhile, the regional office of the Department of Public works and Highways inspected bridges and roads beginning in Iloilo.

In Eastern Visayas, the quake triggered class and work suspensions, temporary power outages and precautionary evacuations across Leyte, Samar and Eastern Samar.

In Tacloban City, hospitals briefly evacuated patients, and several offices and businesses relocated outdoors as aftershocks were felt.

Jio Jalalon and Kevin Ferrer were both in the same draft class in 2016 when they were chosen through a special round for members of the Gilas Pilipinas pool.

The feeling of being a rookie was something they also felt on Friday when they began their stints for the TNT Tropang 5G, whose winning culture seemed to have revitalized the two players after enduring hard times last season. ‘It’s a different aura here at TNT. You can feel that everyone here wants to win,’ Jalalon said in Filipino after Friday’s 93-78 victory orchestrated by TNT over Phoenix at Ynares Center II here.

Jalalon had four points, seven rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes off the bench in his debut that also served like a feeling out period for the pesky guard, who last year’s lone season with NorthPort was marred by injuries.

The Tropang 5G picked up Jalalon last weekend after Titan Ultra, which took over the NorthPort franchise, did not offer a contract after a 30-day period.

‘Once I wore my jersey, I felt like a rookie again,’ he said. ‘This was something I didn’t felt last year when I played my first game for NorthPort.’ Jalalon played eight seasons with Magnolia under the trade to NorthPort was consummated in 2024. He was used to being in the playoffs in every conference, and playing high-profile games against powerhouse teams like TNT and Barangay Ginebra.

Ginebra was Ferrer’s first PBA employment, and had enjoyed multiple championships until he went to NorthPort and later Terrafirma, where injuries and struggles affected the former University of Santo Tomas star’s confidence.

TNT grabbed Ferrer after being left out as a free agent by Terrafirma, describing his entry to the Tropang 5G camp as a chance to ‘bring back the old Kevin Ferrer.’

His own TNT debut resulted in a good starting point, connecting on back-to-back triples that enabled them to create separation from Phoenix in the third with a 63-54 lead.

He finished with 12 points on four three-point shots in 17 minutes. ‘It’s fun. It’s like being a rookie again,’ Ferrer said. ‘The energy was there and it was a good result.’

Ferrer could also feel a sense of satisfaction that his effort, both on the court and on the road didn’t go to waste, having travelled four hours from his home in Paranaque for his first TNT appearance.

There’s a long way to go for two to get fully accustomed as the Tropang 5G look to build on the win that put their quest to rebound from last season’s Philippine Cup Finals defeat off and running.

In these two photos shared on social media by Eme Solis-Cagas of Davao Emergency Response and Fire Volunteers (DERF), an electric post crashed into a parked car in Davao City.

The incident happened along the corner of Aurora Quezon and Artiaga streets in Barangay 36-D.

The post succumbed to the shaking brought by a magnitude 6.8 tremor that struck at past 7 p.m. on Friday. The quake was traced some 36 kilometers southeast of Manay, Davao Oriental.

No casualty was reported as no one was inside the car. With the downing of the post, power was cut off in the area and is currently being restored by Davao Light and Power Company.

Rescuers from the Bureau of Fire Protection also responded to the scene.

Clearing of the road is also underway to make it passable again to vehicular traffic. /cb