Category: Philippine Star

Filipino Valorant player Adrian Jiggs “invy” Reyes and his team Paper Rex have finally secured their first win against Team Secret in the history of Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific – coincidentally Reyes’ former team.

After a dominant display in the Team Secret’s map pick Breeze where Paper Rex cruised to a 13-4 victory, the W Gaming Express seemed to have lost its momentum as Team Secret took an early game lead at 9-3 at the half. But Reyes and his teammates were able to keep their cool and secure enough rounds to not only force overtime but break the team’s losing streak against the Filipino organization.

“I think it’s just invy. We just stole [Team Secret’s] best player and turned the curse back around,” Paper Rex assistant coach Ashton “Wendler” Wendler joked during the post-match interview.

Kidding aside, Wendler points out that Team Secret isn’t a team to underestimate.

He added, “In general, I know a lot of people joke about Team Secret but teams like that you have to be, not scared, but you have to anticipate that they could have that one week where everyone shows up. In [the second map], they could have taken us all the way to a deciding map but luckily we were able to bounce back on defense.”

For Reyes, though he faced his former team, he sees the win as one for the many Filipino Valorant fans.

“It was pretty nice to win against my former team. I’m happy to see a lot more Filipinos in the scene. I think there’s a lot of talent in the Philippines and I think we will become one of the powerhouses in Valorant with more time. I’m really happy to see fellow Filipinos performing well and the Filipino pride is there,’ Reyes said in the post-match interview.

Global Esports, with Filipinos Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza and Xavier “xavi8k” Juan, previously held the top spot in Group Alpha but had suffered a 0-2 sweep against South Korean squad KRX (formerly DRX). The defeat denied Global Esports an early entry to the playoffs and is the squad’s first loss in VCT Pacific Stage 1.

Filipinos will see the last Filipino match-up in the tournament as Global Esports faces Paper Rex on Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Team Secret hopes to fend off elimination with a win over reigning Masters Santiago winner Nongshim RedForce on Sunday, April 26, at 7 p.m.

Kathlyn Bugna continued to separate herself from the pack, delivering another commanding performance to lead the Capiztahan Juniors Age-Group Tennis Championships winners at the Villareal Stadium in Roxas City last Monday, April 20.

Riding the momentum of a double-title romp in Bacolod, the 15-year-old Batang Onay/RSB standout imposed her will on the girls’ 16-and-under field, surrendering just three games across four matches. She capped her run with a ruthless 6-1, 6-0 demolition of Tori Deocampo in the finals.

Bugna, from La Carlota, proved just as clinical in the 18-and-U division, once again overwhelming Deocampo, 6-1, 6-1, to complete a twin-title sweep. The latest feat adds to her growing collection of crowns, including her recent triumphs in the Palawan circuit legs over the past four months.

With her blend of composure, consistency and quiet dominance, Bugna is fast emerging as one of the brightest prospects in Philippine tennis – a player whose trajectory suggests she could soon make the leap from junior standout to national mainstay.

Francisco De Juan III also dominated the boys’ side of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop and sanctioned by Philta and Universal Tennis Ranking, though his path proved far more grueling than Bugna. The Barotac Viejo standout edged top seed Cristiano Calingasan in the 14-and-U finals, 6-4, 6-3, before surviving another top-ranked foe, Andrian Rodriguez, in a dramatic 6-0, 5-7, 7-6(5) victory to rule the 16-and-U class.

Aklan’s Rizzjun Labindao claimed the boys’ 18-and-U crown with a comeback 1-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Rodriguez, while Mathieu Flores captured the 12-and-U title with a 7-5, 6-3 triumph against Caleb Ausan in the event, part of the nationwide talent-search through Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro and supported by ICON Golf and Sports and the Palawan Group of Companies.

In the girls’ division, Iloilo’s Kate Chavez upset top seed Theriz Zapatos, 7-6(4), 6-3, to seize the 14-and-U diadem, but fell short of a double-title bid as fellow Ilongga Donarose Olavides rallied for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory in the 12-and-U finals.

Bugna also completed a three-title haul, teaming up with Theriz Zapatos to defeat Deocampo and Besper Zapatos, 8-4, in the 18-and-U doubles finals. Labindao and Rodriguez took the boys’ doubles crown with a similar 8-4 win over siblings Cristiano and Thomas Calingasan.

Chavez and Teresinha Calingasan dominated the girls’ 14-and-U doubles event with an 8-0 rout of Loraine Sucgang and Liza Yeban, while Drig Escobar and Thirdee Sualog prevailed in the boys’ division, 8-4, over Jovel Bacas III and Robertson Olavides.

In the Legends category, Thomas and Philippe Calingasan ruled the men’s doubles and 40s categories; Anot Balgos and Danilo Sajonia topped the 50s; Jovy Morante and Balgos secured the 60s title; and Gioley Sagansay and Gen Gregorio captured the Classified D women’s doubles crown.

Action continues with the Bagong Pilipinas Juniors Age-Group Championships, a Philta-sanctioned Group 2 tournament firing off April 23 at the same venue, capping the two-week competition held in celebration of the Capiztahan Festival. For details, contact tournament director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Oil firms will implement another round of fuel price rollbacks on Tuesday, April 21, marking the second straight week of reductions after months of increases driven by tensions in the Middle East.

The Department of Energy said Monday that diesel prices will be rolled back by at least P24.94 per liter.

Gasoline prices will be cut by at least P3.41 per liter, while kerosene prices will go down by at least P2 per liter.

Last week, diesel prices were reduced by P20 per liter, while gasoline prices were cut by P4.43 to P4.50 per liter.

In separate advisories, oil firms announced the following price reductions:

The Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a weekly energy-saving campaign similar to the observance of Earth Hour.

In the ‘Oras Natin sa Efficiency’ or ONE campaign, the public is encouraged to switch off non-essential lights and unplug unused appliances from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Saturday.

‘We have proven that if we switch off unessential items or electricity together, we can really generate savings,’ Patrick Aquino, director of the

DOE-Energy Utilization Management Bureau, said at an online briefing yesterday.

‘We’ll be partnering with our business sector, our schools, as well as the households and non-governmental organizations to promote this hourly activity,’ he added.

Earth Hour has been held around the world annually since 2007 on the last Saturday of March from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

This year, the Philippines reduced 145.43 megawatts of power load during Earth Hour on March 28, equivalent to the consumption of around one million households using 100 kilowatt-hours.

Electricity demand traditionally peaks during the dry season, this year included.

In one of her previous briefings, DOE Secretary Sharon Garin assured the public that they would not suffer from power interruptions amid the oil crisis.

‘Ninety-seven percent of our power does not come from diesel, only three percent,’ Garin said on April 15. ‘That three-percent diesel consumption is used mainly in the islands, so that’s the one we’re monitoring.’

‘Protect the environment’

Ahead of the Earth Day observance on April 22, Sen. Loren Legarda warned that the Philippines must urgently scale up its environmental interventions to cushion the severe economic blow of the ongoing global energy crisis.

Noting the sharp spikes in electricity and transport costs, the lawmaker stressed that ecological preservation is now directly tied to national economic survival.

To combat this, she pushed for concrete nature-based solutions, such as watershed rehabilitation to secure water supplies and mangrove reforestation to shield vulnerable coastal communities.

‘When the cost of energy rises, everything else follows, from what we eat to how we live. This is why protecting the environment is no longer separate from protecting our economy and people,’ Legarda said.

She emphasized that the global theme for Earth Month, ‘Our Power, Our Planet,’ demands a shift away from superficial celebrations toward a comprehensive, whole-of-nation strategy that builds systemic resilience against climate-related disasters.

The Tanduay First Five concert series is making a comeback after over a decade, with tour stops set in Iloilo, Cebu, and Davao.

Forming the titular five are local powerhouse acts Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Zack Tabudlo, Flow G, and December Avenue.

Parokya ni Edgar and Kamikazee were part of the line-up when the event was last held in 2013 alongside Wolfgang, Rico Blanco, Sponge Cola, and special guest Gloc-9.

That last tour visited 19 locations including Iloilo, Tarlac, Bataan, Palawan, Baguio, Cebu, Batangas, Davao, and General Santos – and this year the concerts will be returning to three of them. Edzel Ty, Digital Brand Manager of beverage brand Tanduay, described in the event series in a statement as “a toast to the same passion and craftsmanship that defines both Tanduay and Filipino music.”

“For years, people have been clamoring for us to bring back Tanduay First Five and we are happy to bring it back for everyone to enjoy,” Ty also said. “This comeback is also our way of saying thank you for everyone’s support of Tanduay.”

The first concert will be on May 15 at Iloilo’s Gaisano Capital Mall Open Grounds in Iloilo, followed by the SM Seaside City Cebu Concert Grounds on May 29, and finally the the Davao Crocodile Park and Zoo on June 26.

“Tanduay has been part of the Filipino story for generations, from marking milestones to sharing everyday moments with friends, and we are celebrating this connection with Tanduay First Five by bringing world-class talent that resonates with Filipinos,” Ty ended.

The National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) has officially proclaimed its newly-elected board of trustees following elections held at the Manila Golf Club.

The new board is expected to continue efforts to grow the sport of golf across the country, with programs spanning grassroots development to elite-level competition.

Elected as officers of the board are:

President – Alfredo S. Panlilio

Chairman – Martin P. Lorenzo

Vice President – Leana Farrales-Carmona

Treasurer – Rafael Perez De Tagle

Auditor – Charlton Sean M. Gaerlan

Also elected as members of the Board of Trustees are Juan Karloz Alba, Michael Peter Alejandro, Jose Amado R. Angeles, Connor Anthony D. Canlas, Arnold M. Corporal and Vicente R. Santos.

Oil firms will implement another round of fuel price rollbacks on Tuesday, April 21, marking the second straight week of reductions after months of increases driven by tensions in the Middle East.

The Department of Energy said Monday that diesel prices will be rolled back by at least P24.94 per liter.

Gasoline prices will be cut by at least P3.41 per liter, while kerosene prices will go down by at least P2 per liter.

Last week, diesel prices were reduced by P20 per liter, while gasoline prices were cut by P4.43 to P4.50 per liter.

In separate advisories, oil firms announced the following price reductions:

The next phase of the digital economy will take shape in real time at Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW) 2026 from June 19 to 21 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.

PBW 2026 returns with the theme “Decoded: Deployed” as it moves beyond theory to showcase how blockchain is already being used to power real systems – from finance and gaming to public infrastructure and digital identity.

If you have ever used a digital wallet, played an online game to earn, or questioned how public funds are tracked, you are already part of this shift. PBW 2026 is where you see where it goes next – and who is building it.

PBW 2026 reflects the country’s transition from understanding blockchain to actively implementing it. What was once experimental is now being deployed – with growing relevance in transparency, accountability, and economic participation.

“PBW 2026 brings together the energy of a festival with the depth of a world-class conference,” said event co-founder and president Janelle Batretto in a statement. “We’re creating a full-spectrum experience, where business, culture, and community come together in one space.”

Designed to be the most expansive PBW yet, the event brings together decision-makers, builders, creators, and communities across multiple touchpoints. What to expect

The Blockchain Council of the Philippines (BCP) is co-presenting the invitation-only Philippine Blockchain Leadership Forum where leaders from government, finance, and global industry will align to shape policy, accelerate collaboration, and define blockchain’s role alongside artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

The Alt+Tab Gaming and Music Festival will connect blockchain to the next generation through gaming, esports, P-Pop, cosplay, and fandom-driven experiences.

The Decoded: Deployed Main Conference will see global thought leaders present real-world applications of blockchain – from financial inclusion to secure data ownership and beyond.

An Innovation Expo offers hands-on look at Web3 in action, featuring fintech platforms, gaming ecosystems, and enterprise solutions already being deployed across the Philippines.

Also to be featured at the event are a Celebrity Bazaar, PBW Fight Night, hackathon, VC-startup matchmaking, after-parties, and curated networking events designed to turn conversations into partnerships.

“Blockchain is no longer just about potential – it’s about execution,” said BCP Chairman and Management Association of the Philippines President Donald Lim. “What matters now is how we align efforts across industry and government to turn early use cases into systems that deliver real, lasting impact.”

San Miguel Beer’s balik-import Bennie Boatwright relishes the opportunity to drive his Gilas Pilipinas bid forward as he makes his Philippine ‘homecoming.’

‘I’m looking forward to it,’ said Boatwright after dropping 41 points and leading SMB to a 98-94 squeaker over NLEX in his comeback game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup in Antipolo Sunday.

‘You know, I keep that (prospective Gilas stint) in mind every day while I’m training, just preparing for it. I think it’s a really good opportunity and I’m grateful for it.’

The 6-foot-10 Boatwright, who previously led the Beermen to the Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup championship, is being eyed to bolster Gilas’ naturalized player pool currently manned by Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee.

The House of Representatives already approved HBN 6639, the bill seeking Philippine citizenship for the American player, on third and final reading last Dec. 16, 2025.

The proposed legislation is pending at the Senate Justice and Human Rights committee. The panel previously conducted a hearing last March 3 but deferred tackling his citizenship bill with Boatwright unable to attend due to a commitment back then with his Korean club, Daegu Kogas Pegasus.

Thirteen days after that hearing, senators passed the other bills, approving the naturalization of Gilas 3×3 prospects, Senegalese Malik Diouf and American Elizabeth Means, on third and final hearing.

‘I think we have like, one more hearing in the Senate and then I think I should be good to go after that. So, it’s nice that I’m here,’ said Boatwright.

‘I’m very confident (the naturalization process will be finalized soon). You know, I’m just being patient. That’s it,’ he added.

Rep. Martin Romualdez (Leyte) broke his relative silence on the flood control controversy Tuesday, April 21, denying allegations that he masterminded a corruption scheme and warning that he would not allow himself to be made the ‘fall guy.’

‘I will not allow myself to be turned into the scapegoat so that others who are actually accountable can walk away clean,’ Romualdez, the former House speaker, said in a video statement.

‘If this is a political play to push me out and close the story, tarnishing my name and my reputation, then I’m telling everyone now, I will not go quietly and I will not go alone. I will not be the fall guy for other people’s corruption,’ he added.

The statement came as the Office of the Ombudsman asked the Sandiganbayan to issue a precautionary hold departure order against Romualdez to prevent him from traveling overseas. The request was raffled to the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division on Tuesday.

The congressman is under investigation over allegations including plunder, bribery, graft and money laundering linked to flood control projects.

The Ombudsman’s application cited allegations that the kickback scheme tied to flood control projects was allegedly masterminded by Romualdez and involved about P56 billion.

The Ombudsman said it sought the order to prevent Romualdez from leaving the country and potentially evading proceedings.

‘Follow the evidence’

Romualdez denied committing plunder, conspiracy to commit plunder or any similar offense. He said he had cooperated with authorities, appeared before the proper bodies and submitted an affidavit to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

‘And because I have nothing to hide, I am today authorizing the immediate public release of the affidavit I submitted, together with all supporting information so that the Filipino people can judge for themselves who has been transparent and who is simply being politically targeted,’ Romualdez said.

He rejected the claim that he controlled the national budget process as former speaker, saying the budget begins with the executive branch, passes through the House and Senate, goes through bicameral conference proceedings and is then submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, his first cousin.

‘The national budget is not the act of one person or one chamber. It is a product of a constitutional chain involving the executive, the House, and the Senate,’ he said.

Romualdez argued that any corruption in flood control projects would have occurred at the level of implementation, procurement, inspection and disbursement, not merely during legislative approval.

‘Congress does not build flood control projects. Congress does not conduct procurement. Congress does not inspect whether our project was actually completed,’ he said.

Travel issue

The Ombudsman’s move followed reports that Romualdez had been cleared by House Speaker Faustino Dy III to travel to Singapore for a health procedure from April 20 to May 4 for a medical procedure.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, however, said he did not favorably act on a request to allow Romualdez to leave, citing the investigation and the risk that he might not return.

There were no pending criminal charges against Romualdez as of Tuesday.

Romualdez, in his statement, urged the Ombudsman to pursue all sworn statements and records, not just allegations against him.

‘If your office truly believes in justice, then follow the sworn statements. Follow the records and follow the evidence all the way,’ he said.