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Concert in memory of Uzeyir Hajibayli held within Fidan Hajiyeva Int’l Opera Festival

A gala concert dedicated to the memory of great composer, founder of Azerbaijan’s professional musical culture and prominent educator Uzeyir Hajibayli has been held at the Rashid Behbudov State Song Theatre.

The musical evening was held as part of the 3rd Fidan Hajiyeva International Opera Festival.

The event was also part of the 18th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival, organized with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, which is being held from September 18 to 30.

The musical evening opened with the performance of the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The audience was then presented with a rich concert programme featuring works by Azerbaijani and world classical composers and highlighting the enduring significance of the musical heritage of great masters.

The concert featured People’s Artist of Azerbaijan Fidan Hajiyeva, students of the Fidan Hajiyeva Vocal Music School, as well as talented young performers representing various educational institutions across the country.

A special place in the programme was given to the Mezzo Children’s Choir and Mezzo Women’s Chamber Orchestra, founded by Fidan Hajiyeva, which demonstrated a high level of artistic performance and youthful energy harmoniously combined with the traditions of the national music school. Banu Alibeyli hosted the evening.

The concert also highlighted the historic role of Uzeyir Hajibayli in the formation and development of national musical art. His creative legacy, which combines the richness of Eastern musical traditions with the achievements of world classical culture, has become an integral part of Azerbaijan’s spiritual heritage.

The 3rd Fidan Hajiyeva International Opera Festival is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the birth of People’s Artist of Azerbaijan Fidan Hajiyeva and the 30th anniversary of her artistic career.

For the first time in the history of Azerbaijan, a classical arts festival of this scale is being held over a period of three months, from September 7 to December 7. Around 30 musical and cultural events will be held in Baku and the regions of Azerbaijan, as well as in Paris, London, Milan and Minsk.

One of the central projects of the festival is “Young Voices Speak to the Future,” which includes solo concerts by young performers, joint performances, vocal evenings and masterclasses.

The three-month festival will culminate in the gala concert “Carmen. Half a Century of an Artist’s Life,” which will be held on December 7 at the Heydar Aliyev Palace. The musical accompaniment will be provided by the Niyazi State Symphony Orchestra conducted by People’s Artist of Azerbaijan Yalchin Adigozalov. The participation of a renowned Spanish flamenco group will add a special atmosphere to the festive evening.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az,Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.

PM Mwigulu to push evidence-based decisions for development

Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba is expected to open the Fifth National Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Week Conference in Arusha on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as Tanzania steps up efforts to make data central to development decisions.

The five-day conference will gather over 1,500 participants to discuss translating research evidence into action to improve government plans. Running from September 22 to 26, it offers a platform for officials and stakeholders to share innovations in monitoring and evaluation.

Arusha Regional Commissioner Amos Makalla told journalists on Monday, September 21, 2026, that monitoring must serve as a practical tool for measuring results and making timely adjustments.

“A strong monitoring and evaluation system gives us the ability to track progress, measure results and make the right adjustments at the right time,” he stated.

Mr Makalla noted that the forum allows the government to gather public service feedback on health, education, and water. Implementation results must be visible in citizens’ lives, he added.

A senior official from the Prime Minister’s Office, Charlton Meena, said discussions would focus on supporting the Tanzania Development Vision 2050.

Following institutional capacity assessments, the government has established monitoring and evaluation units across all ministries, regions, and councils, alongside annual evaluation plans.

The conference is held under the theme “From Evidence to Action: Strengthening Evaluation for Sustainable Development.”

Upper House debates law changes report

The Senate on Monday debated a report proposing changes to election laws and the constitution, including reforms to the Election Commission (EC).

The report, prepared by the Senate committee on political development, public participation, human rights, freedoms and consumer protection, proposes amendments to the constitution, the organic law on the EC and the organic law on the election of MPs.

Among the proposals are using the same party number for constituency and party-list candidates, setting a minimum threshold for party-list votes, allowing citizens to vote in their place of residence without changing their household registration, and giving parliament a role in selecting EC members.

The report also proposes allowing 50,000 citizens to petition parliament to remove EC members.

Other proposed changes include lowering the minimum age for EC candidates to 35 and requiring the EC to publish summaries of its rulings within seven days. The proposals would also require the EC to complete checks on candidates’ qualifications within three days.

Most senators who spoke supported the report and called for structural changes to strengthen the EC’s independence and protect it from political influence.

Senator Nantana Nantawaropas backed separating the EC’s election administration and investigative powers, arguing that the EC should focus on organising elections while investigations should be handled by the courts.

She also supported allowing citizens to initiate the removal of EC members and parliament to vote on their removal.

Senator Pornchai Witthayalerphan said the EC currently acts as election organiser, investigator, adjudicator and authority to order recounts or new elections, creating potential conflicts of roles.

He cited the EC’s investigation into alleged collusion in the Senate election, which resulted in 77 cases being referred to court, as a reason to reconsider the EC’s structure.

However, some senators from the majority “blue group” opposed transferring the EC’s investigative powers.

Senator Phisit Apiwatthanaphong said agencies such as the Department of Special Investigation, which operates under a minister, should not be allowed to intervene in EC investigations, arguing this could undermine fairness.

Senator Kob Atchanakitti questioned the proposal to give citizens the power to remove EC members, warning that it could deepen divisions.

He defended the existing constitutional framework and said any amendments to the EC and election laws should begin in the House of Representatives.

FROM JINGLE TO SOUNDSTRIP | My friendship with Tony Maghirang

The man who wrote in morsels had the most to say.

Antonio ‘Tony’ Maghirang was a music writer, critic, and fan. He was and is synonymous with the late great Jingle magazine. A journalistic institution in the music scene who reviewed multiple albums in the space of a few paragraphs. He was succinct, didn’t mince his words, and was never going to sugarcoat anything.

And that is how we met. Or clashed, if you will.

In 1982, Tony reviewed Canadian progressive rock band Rush’s Moving Pictures album. He trashed it and even compared it to a local band’s release (that was new wave and not even prog rock).

I walked over to the Jingle offices along P. Tuazon and 7th Avenue (I lived around the corner along 8th Avenue) and handed over a letter to the editors for their Bongga and Boquilla section for letter writers.

I expressed my protest and ended the missive by telling Tony to ‘clean your ears with hydrochloric acid.’

I thought that was the end of that, except that letter spawned a life of its own, with some other readers siding with me and some not in agreement. And it went on for a while in the letter column.

Thirty-six years later, in 2018, I was invited by my cousin Bing Pascual to cover a Valentine’s show she was producing featuring Lolita Carbon and Noli Aurillo at the Manila Hotel.

One of the media guests was Tony Maghirang, and he sat right before me. Tony turned and asked, ‘Rick, galit ka pa sa akin?’

I said no. Heavens, I was a 15-year-old kid in 1982. I wouldn’t even write such a thing today. I apologized, and Tony accepted. We became friends and worked together on a couple of projects where I invited him to cover Space-Ta, Kiss the Bride, Ebe Dancel, Wolfgang, and other launches.

During the Ebe Dancel EP launch, Tony made it in spite of battling gout.

‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ he told me as he sauntered in with a limp.

But Tony was a trouper. Even decades after Jingle, he still stayed relevant, even with all the new jack writers coming in, and that says something about who he is as a writer and a person.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, when the Jingle documentary Jingle Lang ang Pahina became available for online viewing for a limited time, that letter I wrote was recounted by Tony, and he named me. This was shot in 2012, six years before we renewed acquaintances.

I viewed it with my equal parts shame and glee, and no offense was taken. I did, after all, write it.

A few years ago, Ian Urrutia invited Tony and me to be panelists for a special screening of the Jingle documentary along with its director, Chuck Escasa. And what a thrill it was sitting next to Tony discussing those good old days, aside from hearing Chuck’s love letter to the pioneering music magazine and guest Jing Garcia’s cool anecdotes.

We had lunch afterwards in a nearby restaurant in Poblacion, Makati, where he regaled me with tales from his Jingle days.

It was a pleasure working with Tony in the final eight years of his life. We became colleagues in the Soundstrip section of Business Mirror and Rolling Stone Philippines. We would sit next to each other during events, and I would frequently invite him to my events, and he vice versa. He even supported my underground record label, Eikon Records, reviewed some (thankfully, he didn’t trash them), and even purchased a Keltscross T-shirt that I made.

We started as ‘not really friends’ but ended up as really good friends. When you work with an institution like Tony Maghirang, you soak up as much knowledge and wisdom from them.

I sit stunned at his passing. I know all lives come to an end. But as I said, he is an institution. The man might not be here anymore, but the memories, his words, his articles, and his presence surely enriched Filipino music history.

BMI cuts 2026 PH growth outlook to 3.3% on infra woes

The Philippine economy is unlikely to mount a meaningful recovery in the third quarter amid renewed scrutiny of the flood control corruption scandal, prompting BMI Research to slash its full-year growth outlook anew to just 3.3 percent.

In a note to clients, BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, said it cut its 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) forecast to 3.3 percent from its 4.7 percent projection in April.

This will put growth below the Marcos administration’s revised 3.5-percent to 4.5-percent target for 2026, possibly extending the government’s run of missed growth goals to four years.

Worse, BMI said it could trim its forecast by another 0.2 percentage point to 3.1 percent if updated data confirm continued weakness in public capital outlays, further dimming prospects for a meaningful third-quarter recovery.

‘Early indicators suggest that the economy entered [third quarter] with less momentum than anticipated. Investment appears to have remained weak. The flood-control investigation has re-intensified, culminating in the high-profile arrest of former [House] Speaker Martin Romualdez-who is the cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.-on alleged graft charges,’ BMI said.

‘The increased scrutiny probably delayed project implementation further, weighing on both public and private construction,’ it added.

The economy will now need to grow by an average of 3.9 percent in the second half to meet BMI’s 3.3-percent full-year forecast, a steep jump from the 2.6-percent expansion recorded in the first half.

To meet the government’s lower-end growth target of 3.5 percent, meanwhile, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan earlier said the economy would need to expand by an even more ambitious 4.4 percent in the second half.

Balisacan said the government was looking to the fourth quarter to drive a recovery, as they work to at least bring public construction back to zero growth instead of a contraction, which he said could add about 1 percentage point to GDP.

As of this writing, the Department of Budget and Management has yet to release updated data on infrastructure spending in July onwards. However, other figures showed that the Department of Public Works and Highways had already received 99.5 percent of its budget to catch up on project implementation as of end-August.

Although BMI said the country’s manufacturing industry remained robust amid the global artificial intelligence investment boom, this was not enough to offset the deterioration in other economic indicators.

‘Elevated inflation has continued to erode household purchasing power and discourage discretionary spending. Labor market conditions have also deteriorated, with unemployment rising to a four-year high,’ the think tank said.

‘Severe weather conditions likely added to the drag on growth. Tropical storms and monsoon flooding led to repeated school and workplace closures, disrupting economic activity and household incomes,’ it added.

BMI now expects inflation to average 5.7 percent this year, below the central bank’s 6.1 percent projection but still well above its 3-percent target.

Inflation could remain under pressure from peso weakness, with the currency having already breached the 62-per-dollar level and potentially weakening further toward 63:$1.

’FG did not give Oyo a kobo for Ibadan airport project’

The Oyo State Government on Tuesday declared that it is fully funding the reconstruction and upgrade of the Ibadan airport.

The state government made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser on Media to the Oyo State Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

It described the claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the federal government funded the project as false, reckless and misleading.

The full statement reads:

‘Approved at no cost to the Federal Government’ was President Bola Tinubu’s minute on the proposal submitted to him by Governor Seyi Makinde for the reconstruction and upgrade of the Ibadan airport.

‘The records as stated above are with the presidency just as they are with the Oyo State Government.

‘This clarification became necessary in the light of a false and provocative statement made on a television station on Monday by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, that the president had ‘settled’ Oyo State with N50 billion for the reconstruction of the airport.

‘In line with the approval granted by the Federal Government, which clearly stated that the airport upgrade would be undertaken at no cost to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government has fully financed a comprehensive transformation of the facility. This includes the expansion and strengthening of the runway, upgrade of the airfield lighting and navigational systems, apron improvements, construction of supporting infrastructure such as the dualised Airport Road, enhanced aviation safety installations, and ongoing work on a modern international terminal designed to significantly boost passenger and cargo capacity.

‘Every component of the upgrade has been executed and funded solely by Oyo State.

‘Wike’s statement is both untrue and unfortunate. He should have sought knowledge on the matter before going on air.

‘Wike’s assertion does not originate from any Federal Executive Council decision, presidential approval, or statutory aviation infrastructure process. It is not an official communication of the Federal Government. It is not backed by documentation. It is not grounded in fact. It is a claim made without responsibility and without regard for the truth and should therefore be disregarded by members of the public.

‘Aviation infrastructure funding follows strict due-process channels involving the Federal Ministry of Aviation and other regulatory bodies. These channels are transparent, traceable, and publicly verifiable. None of them reflects the figure Mr Wike has circulated.

‘The Oyo State Government will not allow misinformation, especially one of this magnitude, to be weaponised for political point-scoring or used to distort public understanding of government finances. The claim is not only false; it is reckless, misleading, and capable of eroding public trust if left unchallenged.

‘Let it be stated unambiguously: The Federal Government did not give Oyo State ?50 billion for the Ibadan Airport upgrade. Any suggestion to the contrary is a fabrication and a lie from the pit of hell.

‘The Oyo State Government remains committed to transparency, accountability, and factual public communication. We urge public officials to exercise restraint and responsibility and to refrain from making unfounded statements that misinform citizens and politicise development efforts.’

Malacañang dismisses Sara Duterte’s criticism on school shootings

Malacañang on Tuesday said it cannot force anyone to understand the country’s situation regarding a series of school shooting incidents if that person is ‘unwilling’ or simply unable to do so.

The remark was in response to Vice President Sara Duterte’s criticism of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration over the recent school shootings, the latest of which occurred in South Cotabato and left three students dead.

Duterte said the three fatal school shooting incidents recorded this year alone reminded the public that the protection of children is ‘inevitably compromised’ when the government ‘prioritizes political consolidation over fundamental governance.’

At a briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro only gave a brief response to Duterte’s latest remarks.

‘We cannot force someone to understand the situation if he or she is unwilling to understand or just can’t understand.’

‘Marcos very disturbed’

Meanwhile, the Palace official stressed that Marcos finds the recent shooting at a school in South Cotabato ‘very disturbing’ and believes it requires immediate government action.

At least three students died in a shooting at Banga National High School shortly after 1 p.m. on Friday. One of the fatalities is believed to be the shooter, who reportedly turned the gun on himself.

‘Noong nabasa ng Pangulo iyong diumanong sulat ng nagsagawa nito, ang sabi ng Pangulo ay very disturbing at hindi ito normal sa nangyayari, hindi siya … kakaiba siya, hindi siya ordinaryo. So, kailangan talagang aksiyunan,’ said Castro.

(When the President read the alleged letter from the person who committed the act, he remarked that it was very disturbing and abnormal-it was peculiar, not ordinary. So, it really requires action.)

Castro was referring to a letter reportedly recovered from the shooter, which authorities said could provide investigators with clues about the motive for the shooting.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government is set to forge a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Education regarding a proposal to station women in schools to monitor the premises or serve as a visible patrol force. Castro said the proposal is currently under study and that the agreement could be finalized by next week.

The Palace official said a whole-of-government approach, along with stronger family relationships, is needed to ensure students’ safety from violence.

Citing the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Castro said the agency is conducting an ‘effective parenting service’ program to engage parents and strengthen their ability to guide their children.

‘Ito po ay isasagawa sa mga family centers kung saan ang mga magulang mismo ang kakausapin, gagabayan nila, at magkakaroon din po sila ito po ay pinag-uusapan nila patungkol sa Trauma-Informed Care kung saan ang mga guro, ang mga school personnel, ay gagabayan nila,’ she said.

Cebu detects first swine fever cases in 3 years

The province of Cebu has recorded its first reported cases of the highly contagious African swine fever (ASF) in the municipality of Ginatilan, prompting local authorities to impose strict movement restrictions, border controls and livestock trading suspensions to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease.

Following the confirmation of ASF cases in Barangays Cagsing and Calabaza by the Cebu Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), Ginatilan Mayor Roy Vincent Singco on Sept. 19 issued an executive order (EO) ordering measures to contain the highly contagious swine disease.

According to the three-page EO, the PVO confirmed the infections through official confirmatory testing. The office will serve as the technical authority for disease testing, monitoring, and guidance, while the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) will lead the implementation of ASF prevention and containment measures.

The order will remain in effect until lifted by the mayor upon the recommendation of the PVO and the Department of Agriculture.

Ginatilan is a 4th class municipality located approximately 135 kilometers southwest of the province’s capital Cebu City.

Entry, exit ban

Under the order, the entry and exit of all swine into and out of Barangays Cagsing and Calabawan are strictly prohibited.

The transport, transfer, purchase, sale or movement of swine within, into or out of the affected barangays requires prior written clearance from both the MAO and PVO.

Slaughtering or butchering swine, whether for household consumption or commercial sale, is also prohibited within the two barangays until further notice.

Ginatilan will likewise prohibit the entry of live swine and all swine meat or pork products originating from Negros Oriental at all land and sea entry points of the municipality.

The order also establishes checkpoints at all entry and exit points of Barangays Cagsing and Calabawan, as well as municipal border checkpoints in Barangays Looc, Palanas, Mangaco and Salamanca.

Additionally, the local government there has ordered the Philippine National Police to lead land and highway border control, with support from barangay officials, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The Philippine Coast Guard’s Ginatilan Station will enforce coastal and maritime controls in coordination with the MAO.

Trading suspended

As part of the containment measures, Ginatilan has temporarily suspended all buying, selling, trading and transfer of livestock throughout the municipality.

The suspension covers all days, including regular market days every Tuesday and Friday, and will remain in effect until further notice from the MAO, with concurrence from the PVO.

Livestock transport trucks and carriers are prohibited from entering barangays within Ginatilan to load, unload, buy or sell livestock.

SB19’s Josh Cullen collaborates with Jay Park on new track ‘Like Me’

Josh Cullen of P-pop powerhouse SB19 is set to release his new song ‘Like Me,’ a collaboration with Korean-American rapper and model Jay Park.

The upcoming track was announced by 1Z Entertainment through its Instagram page on Monday, Sept. 21. The collaboration is set for release on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.

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A post shared by 1Z ENTERTAINMENT (@1zentertainment.ph)

Days after the release, Cullen is then set to hold a showcase on Saturday, Sept. 26, at a mall in Taguig City.

Park first rose to fame as a member of the South Korean boy band 2PM, before he pursued a career as a solo artist in 2011. He is best known for his songs ‘Mommae,’ ‘All I Wanna Do,’ ‘Solo’ and ‘GANADARA,’ among others.

Cullen first hinted at his new track earlier this month by showing an abstract portrait with code-like characters and symbols. ‘Like Me’ will mark Cullen’s solo comeback after his 2024 debut solo album ‘Lost and Found.’

Cullen’s new song also comes after his fellow SB19 members Felip, Justin, Pablo and Stell have successively released their respective solo tracks since May.

14-year-old Tacloban shooting suspect remains in rehab facility

The 14-year-old boy identified by authorities as one of the suspects in the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School (SJNHS) here remains under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at a rehabilitation facility in Tanauan, Leyte, a regional official said.

DSWD Eastern Visayas Regional Director Grace Subong stated this following reports that the boy, identified only by the alias ‘Nash,’ was no longer at the facility.

‘As far as we are concerned, the 14-year-old is still with DSWD at the rehabilitation facility, including the 15-year-old, and both continue to undergo assessment and interventions,’ Subong said in a media interview.

The clarification came after the parents of the three students killed in the shooting sought assurance that the younger suspect remained at the facility.

The parents also asked to see the 14-year-old, but the DSWD reportedly turned down their request.

Erbea Fabia, mother of slain student Cris Lorenz Fabian, said the parents were not seeking to enter the facility but only wanted confirmation that the boy remained under DSWD custody.

‘We will not go inside the facility, even if we are from afar. All we want is an assurance that he is still there,’ Fabia said.

Subong said access to the facility is restricted to protect the welfare and security of other minors under DSWD care.

‘We have to protect others, not just them. Rest assured that we will provide updates on the status of the two minors,’ Subong said.

She also emphasized that the facility focuses on the children’s rehabilitation. Some of them have been able to continue their education and even graduate from college, she added.

The two minors were placed under DSWD custody following the June 22 shooting at SJNHS that left three students dead and several others injured.

Witnesses identified the 14-year-old as the alleged shooter, while the 15-year-old was charged with murder and multiple counts of serious physical injuries.

The different legal treatment is due to the country’s juvenile justice system.

Under Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, a child aged15 years old or below at the time of the commission of an offense is exempt from criminal liability. A child above 15 but below 18 may be held criminally liable if the child acted with discernment.