Category: Business Mirror

Ticket sales for 21st Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival more than doubled compared to last year’s figures, according to festival officials.

According to Cinemalaya festival director Chris Millado, box office data showed that ticket sales climbed from P5.8 million last year to P13.4 million this year during the festival’s run from October 3 to 12 across Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, Ayala Malls Cinemas, and Gateway Cinemas.

‘This marks more than a 100 percent increase in ticket sales,’ he said, noting that audience reach also grew slightly-from 30,000 last year to 32,000 this year.

Millado added that the surge in sales signals the continued expansion of Cinemalaya’s footprint beyond the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) where the festival was originally held.

He noted that if this upward trend continues, the festival’s revenues could surpass pre-pandemic levels by next year.

‘Patuloy ito sa karampot na budget at sa matinding pagpupunyagi na ikuwento ng ating filmmakers ang buhay, kamatayan, pinagsaluhan, at pinagtagumpayan ng ating buhay-buhay bilang Pilipino,’ Millado said.

[Despite working with limited budgets, our filmmakers continue to persevere in telling stories about the life, death, struggles, and triumphs of the Filipino people.]

He added, ‘Habang iningungudngod tayo sa burak ng mga sakim, binabago naman natin ang reputasyon at kamalayang Pilipino sa paraan ng ating patuloy na makasining paglikha, pagkukuwento, at pagdadalumat.’

[While we are being dragged through the mud by the greedy, we are, at the same time, reshaping the Filipino’s reputation and consciousness through our continuous artistic creation, storytelling, and reflection.]

THE recent series of earthquakes recorded across the Philippines was not caused by manmade activity or foreign research programs, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) clarified.

Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said no human-made technology exists that can release the same level of energy produced by an earthquake, addressing circulating claims that the tremors were linked to the High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) in Alaska.

‘There is no human-made thing that can match the energy released when an earthquake occurs,’ Solidum said in Filipino during a media forum on Monday.

‘The earthquakes are very deep, originating kilometers away.so it’s difficult to speculate that the earthquakes that occurred in the Philippines are manmade,’ he added.

He explained that a magnitude 6 earthquake releases energy equivalent to that of a Hiroshima atomic bomb, making it scientifically implausible for any existing human technology to trigger such events.

The HAARP facility, often cited in online rumors, is a scientific research center in Alaska that studies the ionosphere-an area of the Earth’s upper atmosphere that is exposed to cosmic and solar radiation-and its effects on radio communications. Solidum emphasized that it cannot cause seismic activity.

‘For example, the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Davao Oriental was located about 20 kilometers below the surface,’ he said. ‘It is impossible for any instrument to influence such a deep portion of the Earth’s crust.’

The statement followed consecutive earthquakes that shook various parts of the country recently.

On October 10, twin quakes struck Davao Oriental, recording magnitudes of 7.3 and 6.8 near Manay town. The following day, tremors were also reported in Isabela, Zambales and Surigao del Sur.

A separate quake occurred in La Union on October 9, while a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit off Bogo City in Cebu on September 30.

Solidum reiterated that these events were the result of tectonic activity along active faults and trenches that run across the Philippine archipelago.

The country, located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent earthquakes due to its complex network of geological faults.

He urged the public to rely on verified information from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), rather than unverified online claims, to ensure accurate understanding and preparedness.

Preparing for ‘The Big One’

Solidum also took the opportunity to remind Filipinos about the importance of earthquake preparedness, clarifying misconceptions about ‘The Big One.’

‘Earthquake scenarios are not predictions,’ he said in Filipino. ‘They are estimates of the possible damage or loss of life if we do nothing, based on the state of our homes, buildings and preparedness.’

‘The Big One’ refers to a hypothetical large-magnitude earthquake that could occur along the West Valley Fault, which runs through the eastern portion of Metro Manila. Historical records show that the fault experiences major movements every 400 to 600 years.

The science chief, however, clarified that ‘The Big One’ concept applies differently across regions.

‘Every place in the Philippines-region, province, town, or city-has its own ‘big one. The scenario is different in Davao Oriental, different in Cebu, different in Metro Manila, different in Iloilo,’ he explained.

Further, there is a need for continuous preparedness measures, including structural assessments, community drills, and public education, to minimize casualties and damage in future seismic events, he said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) continues to issue bulletins and monitor the country’s major faults and trenches through its seismic stations and early warning systems.

COAST Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) vessels were harassed anew with illegal maneuvers and water cannon attacks by ships from the Chinese Coast Guard backed by its maritime forces while the Philippine ships were going about their lawful mandate at the territorial waters of Pagasa Island on Sunday.

‘This morning [Sunday] while three Bfar vessels, including the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, were safely anchored in the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island to provide protection for Filipino fishermen as part of the ‘Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda’ [KBBM], they faced dangerous and provocative maneuvers from the China Coast Guard [CCG] and Chinese maritime militia vessels. Around 8:15 a.m., the Chinese maritime forces approached dangerously close, activating their water cannons as a clear threat against the Bfar vessels,’ it added.

The PCG said the situation escalated at approximately 9:15 a.m. when a CCG vessel with bow number 21559 fired its water cannon directly at BRP Datu Pagbuaya, hitting the vessel.

‘Around three minutes later, at 9:18 a.m., the same CCG vessel deliberately rammed the stern of BRP Datu Pagbuaya, causing minor structural damage but no injuries to the crew,’ PCG added.

Despite these bullying tactics and aggressive actions, the PCG said that it remains resolute along with its counterparts from Bfar.

‘We will not be intimidated or driven away, as our presence in the Kalayaan Island Group is crucial for protecting the rights and livelihoods of Filipino fishermen,’ it added.

The PCG commandant, Vice Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, echoed this determination, saying, ‘the harassment we faced today only strengthens our resolve. Filipino fisherfolk depend on these waters, and neither water cannons nor ramming will deter us from fulfilling our commitment to President Ferdinand Marcos to not surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power.’

RP, US, Canada ships in joint maneuvers

PHILIPPINE, United States and Canadian warships conducted complex naval maneuvers under Exercise Samasama (Together) 2025, showcasing strengthened defense cooperation and seamless interoperability in regional waters.

Naval forces -Task Group NTG44.1, composed of BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16), BRP Valentin Diaz (PS117), BRP Lolinato To-Ong (PG902), USS Cincinnati (LCS20), HMCS Max Bernays (AOPV432), and air assets NH441 and NH43, executed on Saturday a full range of high-intensity tactical operations within the Western Naval Command (WNC) area of responsibility, including Palawan and Kalayaan islands.

The drills included replenishment at sea approaches, photo exercise, air defense exercise, combined anti-submarine exercise, publication exercise and screen exercise, all aimed at reinforcing coordination and enhancing readiness in joint maritime defense scenarios.

WNC said the successful conduct of the exercises reaffirmed the command’s role as a strategic hub for regional maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

Exercise Samasama, an annual multilateral training with the United States and partner nations, serves as a platform for enhancing collective defense capabilities amid growing security challenges in regional waters.

AT least 20 spray paint brands have been found to contain lead, making the products illegal for import, sale, and distribution in light of a nationwide ban being implemented in the Philippines.

This was disclosed by EcoWaste Coalition, which submitted samples it aquired to a private laboratory for confirmatory tests recently.

The disclosure was made ahead of the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) on October 19 to 25 to emphasize the obvious need to fix enforcement gaps that have allowed lead paints from abroad to penetrate the local market.

Lead paints refer to paints and other similar surface coatings containing lead compounds greater than 90 parts per million (ppm), which have been added to give the product its color, make it dry faster or inhibit rusting, or which may be present as a contaminant in the ingredients used in making it.

The 20 paints, mostly marked made in China or Thailand, were all found laden with lead above 90 ppm of which 12 contained lead higher than 10,000 ppm. A counterfeit yellow Bosny Spray that claims to be made in Thailand topped the list with 116,000 ppm of lead.

Also found with extremely high concentrations of lead were Easyman Spray Paint All Purpose Enamel with 78,600 ppm (green), 87,700 ppm (orange) and 95,500 ppm (yellow); JM Spray Paint with 89,900 ppm (medium yellow); Standard JR Spray Paint with 79,800 ppm; and JMJAFA Spray Paint with 67,900 ppm (Jialing red) of lead.

Of the 20 analyzed paints with lead, 13 paints representing three brands (counterfeit Bosny Spray Paint, Easyman Spray Paint All Purpose Enamel and Standard JR Spray Paint) carried the ‘No Pb’ pictogram.

Contrary to expectation, the 13 paints marked ‘No Pb’ (Pb is the chemical symbol for lead from the Latin word plumbum) contained outrageous levels of lead, including five with lead in excess of 50,000 ppm.

In August 2025, the EcoWaste Coalition also announced the detection of violative levels of lead in 27 imported spray paints as per laboratory analyses.

The non-compliant paints were not produced, imported or distributed by companies belonging to the Philippine Paint and Coatings Association, Inc. (PPCAI), a partner of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, together with the Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc., Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) and the EcoWaste Coalition.

DENR Administrative Order 2013-24, or the Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds, established a 90 ppm limit for lead in all paints and provided for a three-year phase-out period for lead-containing decorative paints and a longer six-year phase-out period for lead-containing industrial paints, which ended on December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

During the ILPPW, the EcoWaste Coalition will release the latest version of the Public Notice on Lead-Containing Paints that it has co-published with PPCAI and IPEN to alert and guide consumers in making informed purchasing decisions.

The theme for this year’s ILPPW ‘No safe level: Act now to end lead exposure’ is a reminder of the unacceptable risks of lead exposure and the need for action to protect the vulnerable populations, the children in particular.

Malacañang has ordered the adoption and implementation of a 10-year national roadmap that seeks to transform the Philippines into Asia’s premier creative hub by 2030 through innovation, cultural entrepreneurship and talent development.

Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin signed Memorandum Circular No. 103, approving and adopting the Philippine Creative Industries Development Plan (PCIDP) 2025-2034.

Under the circular, all government agencies, local government units and government-owned and -controlled corporations are directed to align their policies, programs and budgets with the roadmap.

The circular also stated that the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC) must review the plan every three years from the date of its execution.

‘In this Plan, we are laying down our strategy in strengthening the foundation of a creative ecosystem where creativity can flourish and Filipino talent can thrive,’ President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said in his foreword.

The plan, developed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the PCIDC, sets out the strategic framework for expanding the country’s creative economy.

It focuses on five priorities: building creative hubs and clusters, boosting entrepreneurship through research and technology, regenerating local economies through sustainable innovation, strengthening the global Filipino brand and nurturing the next generation of creatives.

The plan will be guided by the BEAMS framework-Build Creative Ecosystems, Empower Creative Workforce, Accelerate Inclusive Innovation, Mobilize Financing Support and Seize Market Opportunities.

The first three years will be focused on strengthening the foundations of the creative ecosystem by creating and refining policies to benefit stakeholders and supporting the workforce by aligning their skills with job market demands.

By 2030, the Philippines is expected to emerge as a ‘beacon of culture-led innovation’ and a ‘preferred partner’ in the global creative economy.

The plan envisions a creative ecosystem that fosters resilient jobs, knowledge exchange and new investments-transforming the country into a top destination for business, tourism, learning, and innovation.

‘By 2034, we will have achieved a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society enriched by vibrant creative industries. We will have helped transform the creative industries toward sustainability,’ the plan stated.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the local creative industries generated P1.94 trillion of the gross domestic product (GDP), an 8.7 percent increase from P1.78 trillion in 2023.

In 2024, the creative industries posted a significant uptick in employment, with a workforce of 7.51 million individuals in traditional cultural expression activities; advertising, research and development; media publishing and printing activities; digital interactive goods and service activities; among others.

UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System DALTA remains the only undefeated team in National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 101 seniors basketball action and Patrick Sleat is one reason why.

Averaging 10.75 points, 5.25 rebounds, 3.5 assists, one steal and 1.75 blocks in the Altas’ first four games, Sleat made an immediate impact in his first season in the grand old league.

The last time that the Las Piñas-based crew went 4-0 won-lost was in 2015 when Scottie Thompson and Bright Akhuetie were running the show.

Sleat’s consistent performance in Perpetual’s best start in a decade earned him the first Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week award this season-presented by the Philippine Sports Commission-for the period of October 1 to 12.

The former Far Eastern University Tamaraw’s highlight in the four-game run was a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds on top of five assists, three blocks and a steal in their 75-65 win over defending champion Mapua University last Wednesday.

With the game tied at 65 with four minutes left, Sleat sealed the Altas’ late 10-0 run to claim the victory.

Before that, Sleat had 10 points in a 67-54 win against San Sebastian, followed by a nine-point outing against Lyceum of the Philippines University which they won, 73-61.

After that win against Mapua, Perpetual Help notched its fourth straight win against Arellano University, 72-67, where Sleat making 12 points, three rebounds, three blocks, one assist and one steal.

Sleat edged teammate Mark Gojo Cruz, Janti Miller of San Beda University, Sean Salvador of Jose Rizal University, Justine Sanchez of College of Saint Benilde and JC Recto of Mapua University for the citation supported by Discovery Suites and Buffalo Wings N’ Things.

The 24-year-old Sleat admitted he felt at home in Perpetual, especially with head coach Olsen Racela, his former coach at FEU, calling the shots.

Racela said Sleat’s veteran presence will be one of their key factors in Season 101.

‘We need his experience,’ Racela said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday began printing more than 92 million ballots for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) scheduled for next year.

In an interview at the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City, Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said this is the first time the poll body will print such a large volume of ballots.

‘Based on our data, around 92 to 93 million ballots will be printed.This is the first time that the Comelec and NPO will print this many ballots,’ Garcia said.

Of the total number, about 70 million will be used for the barangay polls, while 23 million will be allotted for the SK elections.

Garcia said the printing and verification process will take around 45 days to two months to ensure that only verified and good-quality ballots are used for the November 2026 polls.

He explained that the Comelec decided to begin printing early to allow enough time to resolve any possible technical or logistical issues before election season.

The commission had also already received the paper stock to be used for the BSKE, prompting them to proceed with printing to avoid discoloration or smudges from long storage.

‘We made sure to start printing early so that we are fully prepared by next year,’ Garcia added. ‘Everyone should remember that next year, Comelec will conduct two elections-the Bangsamoro Parliament elections around March and the barangay and SK elections in November.’

Meanwhile, the Comelec will also open a seven-month voter registration period from October 20 to May 18, 2026 in all regions nationwide, except in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The poll body earlier said it expects the number of registered BSKE voters-currently between 92 and 93 million-to increase by over one million during the registration period.

To recall, President Ferdinand Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12232 in August, extending the term of barangay and SK officials from three to four years and resetting the December 1, 2025 elections to November 2, 2026.

PLDT”s Dell Palomata and Kim Kianna Dy are a brick wall of a defense to foil Bella Belen in her official league debut for Capital1 and the High Speed Hitters go on to notch 25-22, 25-20, 25-23 victory on Monday in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Valentin Vacherot beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday to win the Shanghai Masters for the first title of his career after a stunning run from the qualifying rounds.

The 204th-ranked Vacherot, an unheralded 26-year-old, was the lowest-ranked tournament winner in ATP Masters 1000 history – and the first from the tiny Principality of Monaco.

‘Just crying, it’s just isn’t real what just happened. I’ve no idea what’s happening right now,’ Vacherot said moments after victory. ‘I think there are two winners today and just one family that won. I think for the sport of tennis this story’s just unreal.’

It was quite a performance, too.

He stunned 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals to set up a final against the 30-year-old Rinderknech, who had downed four-time major finalist Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, in a remarkable semifinal of his own.

Before toppling Djokovic – owner of 100 career titles and among the greatest men’s players ever – Vacherot also beat tenth-seeded Holger Rune in the quarterfinals.

‘It’s only my fourth season on the tour. I think of all the work I’ve done,’ Vacherot said. ‘To win today is completely crazy, I just can’t believe it.’

He produced a serving masterclass in the third set, with three straight love holds and 15 consecutive points before finally losing a point in the eighth game with an unforced error.

Serving to stay in the match at 15-40 down, Rinderknech saved one match point but Vacherot wrong-footed him with yet another blistering forehand winner down the line to clinch victory.

He held his face in his hands in disbelief before walking to the net to hug his cousin and then rushing to his team box to share a long hug with coach Benjamin Balleret, who is his half-brother and is a former tennis player from Monaco.

Balleret’s career highlight was a defeat to tennis great Roger Federer in the early rounds of the Monte Carlo Masters in 2006.

Nineteen years later, Federer was in the Shanghai crowd watching as Rinderknech clinched the first set with an ace.

Balleret and Federer shook hands before Vacherot grabbed a red-and-white Monaco flag and displayed it on court. Then he wrote ‘Grandma and Grandpa would be proud’ on a courtside camera.

‘I tried to put it to one side that it’s my cousin, the guy that I’ve been growing up with,’ Vacherot said. ‘In the first set I didn’t bring my ‘A’ game and Arthur was playing better than me.’

Monaco’s biggest sporting star is Fomula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, who has won eight races among his 48 podiums.

Vacherot will shoot up the rankings and inside the Top 50 on Monday.

He secured an early break in the decider and then missed four break-point chances in the fifth game as Rinderknech got a reprieve. The Frenchman immediately took a three-minute medical timeout for massage treatment on his back and then his left shoulder.

But there was nothing he could do to stop his cousin’s momentum.

Rinderknech appeared troubled by heavy cramps and – after giving his runner-up speech – had to sit down as his cousin addressed the crowd.

They never played each other before on the professional tour, with Rinderknech winning their only meeting at a Futures tournament in 2018.

Terrafirma upset NLEX, 97-91, for its first victory of Season 50 behind a well-balanced production by unfamiliar players who were grabbing the opportunity to make a name for themselves on Sunday in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Despite the threatening comeback by NLEX from 62-78 to 91-93 with 59 ticks to go, former Magnolia guard Jerrick Ahanmisi rescued the Dyip after making a layup with 37 seconds left before John Matthew Bravo sealed the deal with another layup.

It was Terrafirma’s first victory and rookie coach Ronald Tubid’s first ever triumph in his head coaching career after two games – a good bounce back win from an 87-107 loss to Blackwater last week.

Phoenix Super LPG, meanwhile, completed the Sunday upset at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City with an unlikely 109-103 win over reigning champion San Miguel Beer, 109-103, behind Ricci Rivero’s scoring prowess.

‘Everybody knows that this is a very young team. We fast track its preparations for almost a month. We relied on what we have and used our strong advantages . As long as we compete and fight, there is a chance to win,’ Tubid said.

Bravo, a 56th overall pick in this year’s draft, powered the Dyip with 18 points while Ahanmisi added 14 points with Paolo Hernandez and Didat Hanapi contributing 13 points each also for Terrafirma.

Louie Sangalang made 11 points and Mark Nonoy dished out 13 assists for Terrafirma.

The Road Warriors, after their close 85-84 victory over San Miguel Beer last week, fell to first defeat after two games.

Rivero, on the other hand, posted 16 points and seven rebounds while Tyler Tio and Kai Ballungay racked up 14 points apiece, and Jason Perkins had 13 points for the Fuel Masters, who improved their win-loss record to 1-1 after losing to TNT Tropang Giga, 78-93, last week.

SMB (0-2) dropped its first two games of the season conference.