Category: Business Mirror

In a country where disaster drills are routine and hazard maps are a necessity, Region IX’s (Zamboanga Peninsula) Regional Science and Technology Week (RSTW) chose to turn the stage into a full-scale blueprint for resilience.

This year, Zamboanga became the center of the Handa Pilipinas Mindanao Leg, the first time the event was hosted in the peninsula.

The showcase gathered scientists, local government units (LGUs), and policy leaders to highlight how science and technology can move beyond the exhibit halls.

‘This is the first time for us to host the Mindanao Leg of Handa Pilipinas,’ said DOST IX Acting Regional Director Jennifer Pidor during the press conference. ‘We really touch base with our local government units, which is the very essence of Handa Pilipinas, because our LGUs are partners.’

Region IX opted to anchor its RSTW entirely on Handa Pilipinas, streamlining every exhibit, talk, and activity around disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (DRRM-CCA).

‘The focus here is only Handa Pilipinas,’ said Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. ‘All exhibits are related to disaster. That’s what makes it unique, so people won’t be confused about what they’re seeing and learning.’

Beyond the exhibits

BUT the bigger goal, science officials said, is to make sure the lessons outlive the event.

‘The very true measure of success of Handa Pilipinas is not just on the number of participants but on the number of partnerships forged,’ Pidor said. ‘If you see earlier, one of the highlights was the 43 LGUs who have adopted Redas already.’

The Redas (Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System), developed by Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), helps local governments simulate hazard scenarios and craft more targeted response plans.

From 2023 to 2024, data from DOST showed that 74 of 75 LGUs in the Zamboanga Peninsula completed Redas training. Only one remains, Pidor noted, but ‘they’ve already committed to be trained one-on-one.’

The adoption is being institutionalized. Following the passage of Regional DRRM Council IX Resolution 16, 43 LGUs have passed local ordinances and signed agreements to integrate Redas into their disaster response and emergency preparedness plans.

And the shift isn’t limited to simulations. DOST IX and Phivolcs have begun installing Community Tsunami Alerting Stations in coastal provinces, setting up a Sea Level Monitoring Station in Tabina, and preparing new Earthquake Monitoring Stations in Isabela City and Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte.

During the second quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill in Dipolog City last June, the region rolled out its Mobile Command and Control Vehicle, a roving hub for communication and coordination during emergencies.

Drone mapping and training programs are also underway, expanding local capacity for real-time monitoring and rapid damage assessment.

‘These kinds of engagements are what we want to sustain,’ said DOST Undersecretary Sancho Mabborang. ‘We don’t just come here to celebrate. The idea is to turn these discussions into long-term collaborations, to solve real problems as determined by local leaders.’

Building a smarter Zambo

THAT continuity is also visible in grassroots projects.

The Automated Water-Level and Rain Monitoring Using Near-Real Time Observation (ALeRTO) RF Project, developed by Ateneo de Zamboanga University and supported by DOST IX, is developing a decentralized flood early-warning system using local sensors and servers.

Moreover, GeoRisk Philippines, a multi-hazard risk assessment platform, is now serving more than 1,600 LGUs nationwide. With a few clicks, local planners can access hazard maps and exposure data to guide land use and infrastructure planning.

Complementing these are the Meteorological Data Acquisition Station for Information Dissemination (Masid) Technologies, a suite of real-time monitoring tools using automated rain gauges and weather stations; and Project Disaster Narratives for an Experiential Knowledge-based Science Communication Sourcebooks (Danas), a DRRM education toolkit translated into Filipino and local dialects to make science accessible.

There is also the Pagasa National Hydro-Met Observing Network (Panahon), a DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) online portal for weather forecasts, climate outlooks, and hazard updates.

Each tool, Pidor explained, reinforces a shared vision, ‘that science shouldn’t stay in research papers or exhibit tables, but in the hands of communities who need it most.’

What started as a casual collaboration between Gloc-9 and Abaddon quickly grew into Project A-a nine-track collaboration that unites two distinct voices in Filipino rap, built on discipline, mutual respect, and creative trust.

What began as a casual idea for just two songs evolved into a cohesive album built on mutual respect and creative trust.

In a press conference with BusinessMirror’s SoundStrip and other media organizations, the two artists shared how Project A took shape from what was initially a simple exchange of beats and verses.

Abaddon recalled how the project started in a group chat with Gloc-9 and producer Cursebox.

‘Then Master (Gloc-9) suddenly messaged me and said, ‘Let’s continue this.’ So I immediately sent him some of my best tracks, and from there, things just kept going,’ he said in Filipino.

For Gloc-9, the timing was right. After years of steady releases, he admitted that Project A gave him a needed push to start writing again.

‘I was at a point where I was also looking for inspiration to write,’ he said. ‘With the help of artists like Venzon (Abaddon), I slowly found my rhythm again.’

Set for release on October 17-the eve of Gloc-9’s birthday-Project A features tracks such as ‘Umbag,’ ‘Bonethugs,’ and ‘Kakampi,’ featuring Hero.

A collaboration that pushed both artists

While Project A carries both their initials, the album’s creation was less about merging styles and more about pushing boundaries.

Abaddon, long known for his rapid-fire flow and lyrical ferocity, experimented with melody and more personal themes.

‘This isn’t the usual Abaddon sound, like the ones I used to make before. I really experimented with more melodic parts-it’s not just rap anymore. I challenged myself because this was a rare chance to work with Master (Gloc-9), so I gave it my best,’ he said.

For Gloc-9, who has long set the standard for storytelling in local hip-hop, the project offered a much-needed jolt.

‘If it were just me, you’d probably already have an idea of what to expect from the album. But because there’s that Abaddon factor, even I get surprised.When I listen to it, it’s like hearing a new artist. It’s very refreshing for me, and I’m really thankful,’ Gloc-9 said.

That mutual respect comes through in ‘Ambag,’ which features Abaddon’s group Shockra and also pays tribute to their late member Inozent One.

Gloc-9 said it was one of those rare songs that wrote itself.

‘There are songs that feel like assignments,’ he said. ‘But this one was a magic moment. I think it came together easily because our intention was clear. You know exactly why you’re writing it, and who it’s for.’

Following ‘Ambag’ are two songs that expand Project A’s emotional tone-‘Bonethugs’ and ‘Kakampi.’

The album’s emotional throughline continues with ‘Bonethugs’ and ‘Kakampi.’

The former takes on the familiar tension of relationships-the arguments and reconciliations that come with real love-while the latter turns that emotion into partnership.

Together, the tracks capture how both rappers balance authenticity and heart without losing their sharpness. Each song reflects what they describe as the album’s ‘good vibes’ core-music grounded in real stories, free of pretense, and built on honesty.

Lessons from each other

More than a collaboration, Project A became a learning exchange. Abaddon said working with Gloc-9 taught him the value of consistency and time.

‘Master is really disciplined when it comes to time.I’ve started carrying that discipline with me, even in the projects I’m doing next.’ he said.

Gloc-9, meanwhile, said the project reminded him that growth never stops, no matter how long one has been in the game.

‘I learned that you still have to trust yourself,’ Gloc-9 said. ‘There are songs on the album that, when I listen to them now, don’t even sound like something I wrote. Maybe that’s because Abaddon’s writing pushed me in new ways. It made me realize you can’t ever think you know everything.’

Both artists also reflected on how technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the music scene.

Gloc-9 said he prefers to keep his process rooted in instinct rather than innovation.

‘I don’t rely too much on new technology. Maybe in production, yes, but when it comes to writing, I still do it the old way. As long as we’re secure in our artistry, we’re safe,’ he explained.

Abaddon agreed, saying that while technology may make songwriting easier, it can never replace lived experience.

‘I think it’ll become much easier to make songs,’ he said.

‘Maybe five or ten years from now, people will just say what kind of track they want, and the lyrics will come out right away. That’s how it’ll be in the future. But for us, we’re not used to that. I think for the next generation of rappers, it’s going to be really easy-too easy-to make songs.’

Tadej Pogacar crossed the finish line first at the Tour of Lombardy and held up his open hand, each finger representing the record-equaling five times he was won the Italian classic.

It capped an incredible season, which includes a fourth Tour de France title, with a successful defense of the world road race crown as he matched Fausto Coppi’s five wins at the Italian race on Saturday.

‘Seven years in a row I’ve said this is my best season so far, and I can say it again today,’ Pogacar said after thanking his UAE Emirates teammates for their part in his victory.

Pogacar’s winning streak has come in consecutive years, while Coppi won the Lombardy event in 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1954.

The Slovenian cycling star completed the 241-kilometer (150-mile) race, which included six climbs, in 5 hours, 45 minutes. Top challenger Remco Evenepoel was second, 1 minute, 48 seconds behind. Michael Storer finished third, more than three minutes behind.

Pogacar has won three of the five one-day ‘monument’ races this season, after also prevailing in the Tour de Flanders and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. He is the first rider to do that since Eddy Merckx in 1969, 1971, 1972 and 1975.

AFTER two championships, three Finals appearances and a long 75-game season, Chot Reyes now gets the icing on the cake.

The TNT head coach will receive a record-extending seventh Coach of the Year award from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Press Corps as it holds the 31st edition of its Awards Night on Monday at the Novotel Manila.

Reyes, 62, unanimously got the nod of the men and women who regularly covers the PBA beat over San Miguel Beer counterpart Leo Austria in winning the coveted Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan Trophy.

Top sports patron and TNT team owner Manuel V. Pangilinan shares the spotlight with his coach as he will be honored with the Danny Floro Executive of the Year award.

The 79-year-old business tycoon also serves as the special guest of honor and speaker of the annual event.

Reyes, the former Gilas Pilipinas coach, guided the Tropang 5G to three straight Finals appearances in Season 49 and won the championships of the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup, respectively.

But he was foiled in his attempt to score a first grand slam in the last 11 years when TNT lost against San Miguel in the Philippine Cup title series.

Nonetheless, his 48-27 (win-loss) record marked the best for the season, while the total 75 games that he coached is tied for the most since Tim Cone steered Alaska to a grand slam in 1996.

Reyes was the first recipient of the award named after the acknowledged ‘Maestro’ of Philippine coaching, back in 1993 and repeated in 2002, 2003, 2009, 2011 and 2021.

The Family and relatives of the late Dalupan will be attending the affair to personally hand out the award.

Other awardees include Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero (Defensive Player of the Year), Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser of TNT (Bogs Adornado Comeback Player of the Year), San Miguel’s Don Trollano (Mr. Quality Minutes), and Arvin Tolentino of Northport (Scoring Champion).

Completing the Press Corps’ honor roll for Season 49 are TNT’s Calvin Oftana (Order of Merit), the All-Rookie Team of RJ Abarrientos (Barangay Ginebra), Sedrick Barefield (Blackwater), Caelan Tiongson (Rain or Shine), Jordan Heading (TNT), Justine Baltazar (Converge), and Kai Ballungay (Phoenix), and Game 7 of the TNT-Barangay Ginebra Commissioner’s Cup Finals (Game of the Season).

Italian missionary Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, a well-known peace advocate in the southern Philippines, has been awarded one of Italy’s highest honors.

D’Ambra received the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy), an honor bestowed by the Italian Republic.

The award, granted by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, was presented to the priest in Manila by Italy’s ambassador to the Philippines, Davide Giglio, on October 1.

The prestigious order of chivalry recognizes individuals who have significantly advanced friendly relations and cooperation between Italy and other nations, and who promote strong cultural and economic ties with Italy.

In D’Ambra’s case, the recognition honors his lasting commitment to the cause of peace and interreligious dialogue between different cultures in Mindanao.

A priest of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), D’Ambra has served in the Philippines since 1977. He has spent most of his missionary life in Zamboanga City, promoting dialogue between Muslims and Christians through the Silsilah Movement, which he founded.

‘Silsilah has worked to overcome religious barriers through initiatives of coexistence between Christians and Muslims,’ the Italian embassy in Manila said.

The initiative, it added, made a significant contribution to the establishment and consolidation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The Silsilah Movement has received several national and international peace awards, including the Goi Peace Award in 2013 from Japan’s Goi Peace Foundation, and the World Interfaith Harmony Week Award in 2014, sponsored by King Abdullah II of Jordan.

Most recently, in July 2024, D’Ambra received the Bishop Jorge Barlin Golden Cross Award, the highest honor given by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), for his service to the Church.

He also served for many years as executive secretary of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue.

FROM arcades, computer shops, to smartphones, gaming has been quite a phenomenon for Filipinos over the years.

There once a time when video games in these parts were largely frowned upon. It was dismissed as a something that does not amount to anything, a waste of time, an addiction. Yet, today, even the moms and aunts who hurled these labels are spending hours on end glued to their screens. Candy crush, anyone?

Here, we look back on what the last 20 years has been for the realm of video games in the Philippines.

Level 1: The 2000’s

REMEMBER feeling excited about going to a local arcade to play Tekken with your friends? Or maybe have an intense race with them on Top Gear 2? Those were the good ol’ days of the 2000s.

Other titles that dominated then were Pacman, Initial D, and House of the Dead; Contra, Metal Slug, and God of War I and II. Teens and children would also frequent Y8.com, a website with a huge collection of free games from fighting to dress-ups.

Not to be outdone were PC gamers, who spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours on Ragnarok, Cabal, Gunbound, and Audition Online. Meanwhile, Defense of the Ancients or DOTA, a multiplayer online battle arena or MOBA; and, Counter-Strike (CS) the revolutionary first-person, multiplayer shooting game Counter-Strike, laid the foundation of the early eSports scene in the Philippines.

Level 2: The 2010’s

OF COURSE, gaming is not a stranger to scrutiny, especially in the 2010’s when the PC gaming culture took a massive leap as an online, multi-player machine.

While console games were still huge in the country, it did not get the same stature as PC gaming. With titles like DOTA and CS having their second installments (DOTA 2 and CS:GO), and other games such as League of Legends, Crossfire, Minecraft, and Grand Theft Auto, PC gaming dominated the scene by a mile. Without a doubt, DOTA was the biggest among them all in the Philippines, even having a song dedicated to it that was a staple in computer shops nationwide, ‘Dota o Ako.’

Perhaps the biggest contributor to the success of PC gaming was the Lan (local) tournaments hosted by big organizations and, sometimes, local computer shops. The trend popularized Mineski, an eSports team that became SEA’s largest eSports organization, and eventually having their own internet cafe chain in the country. Brands like Netopia and TNC followed suit, breeding a fan culture that also paved the way for the content creators to shine. Big names include Alodia, Razzie Binx, 2Staxx, Gloco, and Suzzysaur, to name a few.

The popularity also changed how children consumed online content. In a BusinessMirror report dated in 2019, titled ‘How the Filipino child consumes media’ by Bong R. Osorio, it said that, on average, ‘Filipino schoolchildren now watch less TV and spend more hours using gadgets to watch YouTube videos, Facebook and playing video games.’ It was also mentioned that Role-Playing Games (RPG) were popular among schoolchildren ranging in Grades 4 to 6.

As the industry grew faster and gamers got younger, parents struggled to keep up in supervising their children’s gaming habits.

In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized ‘gaming disorder.’ It was defined as an ‘impairment of control over gaming, the increasing priority given to gaming, and continued or escalating gaming habits despite the occurrence of negative consequences.’ The situation prompted local lawmakers to file the Video Games Act of 2018, or HB 7909, hoping to regulate gaming among children, similar to how movies and shows were handled.

Level 3: The 2020’s

Like any other industry, gaming underwent a transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Out with computer shops and its shared spaces, in with mobile games that can be played anywhere.

Titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Wild Rift, Call of Duty: Mobile, and many puzzle games reached new heights. In 2021, Rakuten Insight provided a snapshot of gaming in the Philippines, saying that about 76% of gamers preferred mobile games.

Today, the massive popularity of gaming continues to evolve. There’s even a Bachelor of Science in Esports degree offered in the Lyceum of the Philippines University, focusing on Esports Management and Game Design Development.

If there’s anything that we have learned these past two decades in the Philippine gaming scene, it’s that no matter what, it will always evolve. After all, players would always press play.

David Archuleta is no stranger to Filipinos. Back in 2012, he signed a contract with TV5 to shoot the prime-time mini series ‘Nandito Ako,’ which ran from February to March 2012.

The mini series even had David speaking in Tagalog. Archuleta then released Forevermore- an album which contains covers of classic Filipino songs, which came out in March of the same year.

With a new lease in life after leaving his former church, Archuleta is discovering his own queer identity, which we can hear in his new music through his new EP, Earthly Delights, which was released last August. Archuleta is making his way back to the Philippines with a scheduled concert on November 21. He is set to perform at the Mall of Asia Arena with Vanessa Carlton and English boy band Blue for the Playback Musical Festival.

Dressed in a green plaid shirt with an aquamarine pendant on, David sat down for an online roundtable with media from the Philippines to talk about his new EP, Earthly Delights, which also released a Deluxe edition (with two new songs and acoustic and remix versions from the original release) and is now available to stream on digital platforms.

For Earthly Delights, what was the creative direction that you took for the EP, and was there a particular theme that you had in mind when curating the songs that made it in the EP?

The goal was just to experience life, the sensory experience of life. I think that I’ve lived my life up until recently, very like in my head, like in my thoughts. David raises his index finger to his forehead as he says this.

Rather than feeling things, I was thinking it through like: Okay, these are the rules, this is what you follow, this is what you’re supposed to do. This is not what you’re supposed to do. And rather than say, ‘Well, what do you think? Or how do you feel about it, David?’ I always replaced it with: ‘Well, this is what it’s supposed to be, this is how I’m supposed to think.’ And now I ask myself: ‘Well, what do I feel? Like how does it feel to touch someone’s skin?’

I love food. That’s why I wrote ‘Crème brûlée’ (the album’s lead single) -it’s a metaphor of the sweetness that I could now experience and feel with dating and human relationships and interactions, and the sensuality of connecting with other people.

It’s like getting to experience the sensual part of life, something that is so new to me, but exciting.

What was it like working on this EP as compared to your previous releases?

For my first album, it was like-I felt like I was a deer in the headlights. Like what was happening? This is all new, but this is exciting. I wasn’t really telling much of my story; I was just living in the moment.

The second album (The Other Side of Down) was very in my head (he places the tips of both his index fingers on his forehead) -like introspective, I don’t know where I’m going, I’m kind of lost, kind of confused, but I’m still going to do my best to keep moving forward and figure things out. Postcards in the Sky (6th studio release, which came out in 2017) was more reflective; I had just gone on my two-year mission (in Chile). Therapy Sessions (8th studio album, which was released in 2020) -I don’t understand what’s going on. I need to take a break to figure out why I’m so distraught and messy and disorganized and hopeless.

And Earthly Delights is kind of like, well, I’ve come to embrace and accept myself, and it’s still not perfect, but I’m okay with the messiness of life, and making mistakes, and it feels so good, it’s like finally sitting in that, sensuality and my sexuality. And also, just being confident and comfortable in my own body. So I’m very excited for the music that’s to follow because I’m working on (new music), and I had a writing session yesterday, and it’s kind of fun to feel empowered.

In the song ‘Can I Call You?’ there are lyrics that go ‘it’s more than a crush.’ Is this a nod to your song ‘Crush,’ and was this something that you intentionally included in the song as a treat for long-time fans?

‘You got it!’ David said, laughing. ‘Yeah- for me it was like the next chapter of ‘Crush’ coz you’re like: I don’t know if this is real, are we just friends? Like we keep getting these feelings, and can I call you? It’s like-I’m going for it now. (The song is saying) I want to build something with you, and it’s not always easy, especially when you’re traveling on the road, or you’re not near the person, coz of traveling. For me, it’s like- it’s the sweetness, but it’s also done in a sexy way, a smooth way. I feel that that song captures the most overall of how David looks inside, coz it’s not trying too hard, it feels effortless and smooth, and it has a good groove to it, there’s a sexiness to it, but also a sweetness to the song as well.

Having had the opportunity to speak to David twice, I can tell that he is in a good place now, he is having fun discovering and enjoying his own sexuality and identity, and you can hear it in his new music. Songwriters and singers like David Archuleta write and sing songs about a lot of things, but when it is their own stories and feelings, it really resonates, and yes, this also includes giving in to indulgences you have long denied yourself, and in those indulgences emerge an infectious confidence you may not have known was there all along.

Once surrounded by controversy over its initial classification by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, the film, ‘Alipato at Muog’ emerged triumphant at the 48th Gawad Urian, winning Best Film along with Best Documentary and Best Editing awards.

Directed by JL Burgos, the film explores his search for his brother Jonas, a farmer-activist who was abducted in April 2007 by alleged military personnel. Jonas was last seen being taken from a restaurant in Quezon City, and his whereabouts remain unknown despite ongoing efforts by his family and human rights groups.

On social media, Burgos expressed gratitude to the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and thanked organizations and collaborators that supported the project, including Cinemalaya, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, GMA Public Affairs, Bonfire Productions, Monoxide Works, and human rights groups such as Karapatan and Desaparecidos.

‘Lahat ng naging bahagi ng kampanyang ilitaw si Jonas, maraming maraming salamat!’ the director said.

He also acknowledged colleagues who contributed to the film over the years and supporters who provided feedback during earlier screenings.

‘Bagama’t hindi pa natin nakikita si Jonas, alam kong kasama ko na kayong sumisigaw ng katarungan para sa mga desaparecido,’ Burgos emphasized.

Burgos concluded by encouraging continued advocacy for justice and hinted at a future film project.

‘Alipato at Muog’ was originally released as an official entry at the 20th Cinemalaya Film Festival in 2024 where it won the Special Jury Prize. At the 73rd FAMAS Awards held last August, the film also won Best Picture and Best Director.

Full List of Winners:

Best Film: Alipato at Muog – Pulang Langgam Media Productions

Best Direction: Tumandok- Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay and Richard Jeroui Salvadico

Best Screenplay: Tumandok – Arden Rod Condez and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay

Best Actress: Arisa Nakano – Kono Basho

Best Actor: Dennis Trillo – Green Bones

Best Supporting Actress: Kakki Teodoro – Isang Himala

Best Supporting Actor: Felipe Ganancial – Tumandok

Best Production Design: Green Bones – Marxie Maolen Fadul

Best Cinematography: Kono Basho- Dan Villegas

Best Editing: Alipato at Muog – JL Burgos

Best Music: Tumandok- Paulo Almaden, The Ati People of Kabarangkalan and Nagpana

Best Sound: The Hearing – Jannina Mikaela Minglanilla and Michaela Docena

Best Short Film: Bisan Abo Wala Bilin

Best Documentary: Alipato at Muog* – JL Burgos

UNBEATEN defending champion National University (NU) boosted its quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage bid after beating University of the Philippines (UP), 25-20, 23-25, 25-13, 25-18, for a second straight win in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup second round Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Skipper Vange Alinsug and Celine Marsh did most of the damage as the ‘four-peat-seeking’ Lady Bulldogs again stamped their class over their National Invitationals Davao Leg gold medal match victim for the solo lead in Pool E.

NU came up with a strong third set fightback after yielding the second frame and carried the momentum into the fourth for its fifth straight victory overall in the tournament, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.

Alinsug scored 14 points from 11 kills, two kill blocks and an ace to go with five excellent receptions and two digs in an all-around performance for the Lady Bulldogs, who were inspired by the presence of their former ace player and decorated spiker Bella Belen watching on the sideline.

Marsh finished with 14 points off 10 kills, including the match-clinching crosscourt hit that ended the one-hour, 53-minute encounter, and four aces, while Alexa Mata added 10 markers for NU, which came off a five-set escape over Adamson University on Saturday.

‘We always motivate ourselves because we’re playing one match after another,’ Alinsug said. ‘And our goal is to perform well each match.’

Frances Mordi, meanwhile, powered Adamson University to a 25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 25-15 rebound win over Ateneo de Manila University in Pool E to remain in contention for a quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage.

The Nigerian winger blasted 20 points anchored on 17 kills and three kill blocks for the Lady Falcons, who improved to a 1-1 slate following a five-set loss to reigning three-time champion National University on Saturday.

Princess Dote had eight points while Joy Aseo and Lhouriz Tuddao added seven markers each as Adamson opted to sit out ace spiker Shaina Nitura for the second straight game.

The Blue Eagles lost steam in the fourth set after surviving a tight third frame to start their second-round campaign.

May Tsunashima was the lone Ateneo player in double figures with 12 points, all coming from spikes. Zey Pacia had nine markers while Dona De Leon added eight points.

Jelai Gajero and Cassiey Dongallo scored 14 points each with a combined 25 kills in the Fighting Maroons’ 45 attack points.

Nina Ytang added seven points but failed to save UP, which threw away 35 points off errors, from absorbing its first loss in the tournament after a three-game sweep of the preliminary round

Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila urged Filipinos to rediscover the true meaning of holiness and ‘normalize sainthood’ in everyday life as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines launched its new CBCP Office for the Postulation of the Causes of Saints.

Speaking at the First National Postulation Conference held October 7 at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila, he said holiness is not a privilege for a few but a call for all the baptized.

‘Let us normalize the idea of sainthood for all, especially among the young people. God did not call the perfect or the ideal-He looked at the heart and the potential,’ Advincula said during the ‘Llamados a ser Santos [Called to be Saints] Postulation Conference 2025.’

The cardinal described the conference as timely and crucial amid the nation’s moral and social challenges.

‘It was when times were extremely dark that the Lord called saints to serve as beacons of light amid the decadence and despair,’ he said. ‘We are saints in process, and the Lord is not finished with us yet.’

Advincula reminded the faithful that holiness is not measured by perfection or miracles but by love, humility, and service.

‘The Lord is calling every one of us to be saints-to proclaim the light and joy of the Gospel in our homes, parishes, and communities,’ he added.

Bishop Renato Mayugba of Laoag, chairman of the new CBCP office, said its mission is to assist dioceses and religious communities in promoting candidates for sainthood and to rekindle public awareness of the universal call to holiness.

‘The office aims to help dioceses and communities advance their sainthood causes and to make people aware of this universal call to holiness,’ Mayugba said.

There are currently two canonized Filipino saints-St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro Calungsod.

As of today, the Philippine Church has 22 other causes officially recognized by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Of these, seven remain under investigation in the dioceses where the causes were initiated, while 15 are under review by the Holy See, or in what is known as the Roman Phase.

Among those advancing in the Roman Phase are the causes of Venerables Archbishop Teofilo Camomot, Maria Beatrice Rosario Arroyo, Fr. Aloysius Schwartz, Mother Francisca del Espíritu Santo de Fuentes, Sr. Joaquina Mercedes Barceló, Bishop Alfredo Obviar, and Mother Ignacia del Espíritu Santo.

Advincula expressed hope that through the work of the new office, more Filipinos-clergy, religious, and laypeople alike-will be inspired to live as ‘saints next door.’

He also dispelled the notion that holiness is reserved for those who perform miracles or live without sin.

‘Holiness is a lifelong process of spiritual growth and deepening one’s relationship with God,’ the cardinal said.

The national conference gathered postulators, diocesan representatives, and members of religious congregations from across the country to strengthen collaboration in promoting Filipino sainthood causes.

Advincula called on the faithful to persevere in their spiritual journey.

‘May we raise more Filipino saints-canonized and the ordinary ‘next-door’ saints. May the Lord bless the work that you do. Padayon tayo sa landas ng kabanalan [Let us continue on the path of holiness],’ he said.