Category: Philippine Star

Tropical Depression Maymay (international name: Kujira) has further weakened while moving over the Cordilleras, the state weather bureau PAGASA said.

As of 2 p.m., the center of Maymay was last estimated in the vicinity of Gamu, Isabela.

Maymay now packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 75 kph, moving east-southeastward at 20 kph.

Despite the cyclone’s downgrade, Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over vast portions of Northern and Central Luzon. Areas under Signal No. 1 can expect strong winds ranging from 39 to 61 kph within 36 hours, posing a minimal to minor threat to life and property:

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Sur

La Union

Northwestern portion of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Anda, Bani)

Apayao

Abra

Kalinga

Mountain Province

Ifugao

Benguet

Mainland Cagayan

Isabela

Quirino

Nueva Vizcaya

Northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao)

PAGASA noted that the combined peripheral effect of Maymay and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon, locally known as habagat, will continue to bring strong to gale-force gusts across most parts of the country through Saturday, August 8.

The state weather bureau forecasts Maymay to traverse the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon before emerging over the eastern coastal waters of Isabela within the next 12 hours.

PAGASA expects Maymay to downgrade into a remnant low by Thursday afternoon or evening, which will then move southeastward until it eventually merges into the circulation of Tropical Cyclone Dolphin.

Alas Pilipinas women’s road to next month’s Asian Games in Aichi, Japan gets tougher each day as they wade into battle in the SEA V Cup Leg 2 unfurling Friday in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

There, the Nationals face the tougher Thais, who sent in the cavalry with several of their top players who saw action in the Volleyball Nations League now back in the fold after missing Leg 1 in Hanoi, Vietnam less than week ago.

Pornpun Geudpard, Chatchu-on Moksri and Pimpichaya Kokram are among the six returnees and should make the Thais, who won nine of the first 10 SEA V Cup legs, the favorites to top Leg 2.

Interestingly, Thailand ruled Leg 1 minus its VNL veterans but faced some rough sailing early including its most difficult match in the leg against Alas that ended up in a five-set triumph.

The Thais won’t be that vulnerable this time.

The Filipinas, in contrast, will carry the same roster, headed by Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon Eya Laure and Mars Alba, who shone the brightest in Leg 1.

The squad left Hanoi winless in three outings.

What the Filipinas could hope for is to just give their best and, if it helps, pray for a miracle against the heavily favored Thais.

Alas, which is using these tournaments as part of its preparation for Aichi, clashes with Vietnam Saturday and Indonesia Sunday.

Tropical Storm Maymay (international name: Kujira) weakened into a tropical depression on Thursday morning as it moved over Tanudan, Kalinga, PAGASA said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin on Thursday, August 6, the state weather bureau said Maymay was carrying maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center, gusts of up to 90 kph and a central pressure of 1,000 hectopascals.

The tropical depression is moving slowly southeastward.

Wind signals

With the weakening of Maymay, Signal No. 2 has been lifted, leaving only Signal No. 1 in effect over the following areas:

southern portion of the Babuyan Islands (Calayan Island, Dalupiri Island, Fuga Island and Camiguin Island)

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Sur

La Union

northwestern portion of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Anda and Bani)

Apayao

Abra

Kalinga

Mountain Province

Ifugao

Benguet

mainland Cagayan

Isabela

Quirino

Nueva Vizcaya

northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan and Dipaculao)

Under Signal No. 1, strong winds of 39 to 61 kph may be experienced within 36 hours, posing minimal to minor threats to life and property.

PAGASA said the southwest monsoon and the periphery of Maymay will continue to bring strong to gale-force wind gusts over most parts of the country through Saturday, particularly in coastal and upland areas.

Heavy rainfall

PAGASA said Tropical Depression Maymay and the southwest monsoon (habagat) will continue to bring heavy rainfall over parts of Luzon.

Thursday, August 6 to Friday noon, August 7

Tropical Depression Maymay

100-200 mm: Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan and Benguet

50-100 mm: Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya

Southwest monsoon (habagat)

50-100 mm: Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro

Friday noon, August 7 to Saturday noon, August 8 (habagat)

100-200 mm: Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro

50-100 mm: Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas and Antique

Saturday noon, August 8 to Sunday noon, August 9 (habagat)

100-200 mm: Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Benguet and Zambales

50-100 mm: Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga and Occidental Mindoro

PAGASA warned that flooding and rain-induced landslides remain possible, particularly in areas highly susceptible to these hazards. The weather bureau also reminded the public that heavy rainfall may still occur outside the forecast track of the tropical cyclone.

Sea conditions

A gale warning remains in effect over the western seaboard of Northern Luzon.

Very rough seas of up to 4.5 meters are forecast over the northern seaboard of Batanes. Sea travel is risky for all types of vessels, and mariners are advised to remain in port or seek shelter.

Rough seas of up to 4 meters are expected over the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, the northeastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan and the remaining seaboards of Batanes.

Seas of up to 3 meters are also forecast over the seaboards of Ilocos Norte, Isabela, northeastern Aurora, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Northern Samar and Davao Oriental, as well as the remaining seaboard of mainland Cagayan.

PAGASA advised operators of small vessels, including motor bancas, not to venture out to sea in areas with rough seas, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels. Mariners of similarly sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures in areas with moderate seas.

Track, intensity

PAGASA said Maymay will continue crossing the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon before emerging over the eastern coastal waters of Isabela or Cagayan.

The tropical depression is forecast to continue weakening and may be downgraded into a remnant low this afternoon or evening. However, PAGASA said its interaction with the rugged terrain could cause it to weaken earlier than forecast.

The remnant low is expected to move generally southeastward before merging with the larger circulation of Tropical Cyclone Dolphin.

‘Deeper Ground, Darker Shadows: The Making of a Mindanao Rebel’ is the memoir of Eddie L. Quitoriano (Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2026). This recently-launched book is the Philippine edition published with special arrangements with the University of Wisconsin Press. It recounts the author’s extraordinary life as a revolutionary political activist and former commander of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA). The book provides an insider account of perhaps the most turbulent period in contemporary Philippine history. It narrates the story of the armed struggle of the CPP-NPA. This is the reason why this book is such a critical reading for any person that seeks to understand modern Philippine history.

The memoir begins with the author’s childhood in Initao, Misamis Oriental on the island of Mindanao. He grows up in a rural community and experiences poverty, inequality and the struggles of the ordinary rural Filipino family. From an early age, he was inspired to seek ways to improve society. Initially, he considered entering the priesthood, believing that serving God would lead to serving the poor. However, as he pursued university education, he became exposed to student activism in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He witnessed the growing gap between the rich and the poor, corruption in government and widespread oppression under the administration of Ferdinand Marcos.

The declaration of martial law in 1972 became a turning point in Quitoriano’s life. Like many young activists of his generation, he came to the conclusion that peaceful democratic means were not enough to challenge authoritarian rule. He was convinced that armed revolution was the only path towards meaningful social change.

Quitoriano became deeply involved in the revolutionary movement and rose through the ranks of the CPP and eventually became a commander within the New People’s Army. He organized rural communities, recruited members, trained guerrilla fighters and helped expand revolutionary influence throughout Mindanao. There are several significant narratives described in the book.

One was the so-called Operation Kampanyang Kahos or Operation Garlic Campaign. This was the infamous Operation Kahos that was launched supposedly to weed out spies that were reported to be ready to take over the Mindanao leadership. This was based on reports that there was widespread military infiltration of the CPP-NPA in Mindanao. According to the book: ‘… Kahos spread widespread paranoia and panic as investigating teams began torturing suspects to induce confessions and summarily executed those who admitted under torture that they were military agents. The purges spread quickly throughout the island, devastating party cells and guerrilla units. In six months, more than 6,000 cadres and activists were killed or resigned from the CPP and its mass organizations – a majority simply abandoned their work while a few surrendered to the military.’

It is said that Operation Kahos ended the dream of turning Mindanao into the spark of a nationwide insurrection.

Another very compelling narrative in the book is the story of the international connections of the CPP-NPA. Quitoriano was assigned as international representative of the revolutionary movement. His work brought him to countries across Asia, Europe and the Middle East, including Nicaragua, Syria, Libya, North Korea, Peru, Brazil and the former Yugoslavia. His mission was to seek political support, military assistance and solidarity from governments and revolutionary organizations sympathetic to the Philippine revolutionary movement.

The book also explores internal problems within the revolutionary movement. The author openly discusses internal conflicts, leadership struggles, ideological disagreements and tragic purges that resulted in the deaths of many members wrongly accused of being government spies.

The memoir also describes the personal sacrifices demanded by a revolutionary life. Quitoriano reflects on the emotional burden of being separated from his family for many years. He missed important family milestones and lived with the constant possibility of imprisonment or death. His narrative reveals the loneliness, uncertainty and psychological strain that accompanied his political commitments. The book is more than just a historical account but also a personal memoir that shows the human side of a political ideological struggle.

Throughout the book, Quitoriano writes of the many different personalities in the movement that he met. First and foremost of course was Jose Maria Sison, who reestablished the CPP-NPA in 1968. There are interesting vignettes of meetings with different personalities like Khadafy of Libya, Nur Misuari of the MNLF and representatives from the Irish Republican Army and the African National Congress.

Quitoriano writes about his meeting with Nur Misuari: ‘So we turned our attention back to Libya and Khadafy’s suggestion that we work it out with Nur Misuari… Misuari was not exactly in the mood to meet with representatives of the CPP-NPA who were lower in stature than he was. He only came to the meeting out of courtesy to Khadafy.’

Among the narratives about Quitoriano’s travels with Joma Sison, one meeting was with Kim Il Sung of North Korea. They discussed the possible shipment of weapons to the Philippines which did not materialize.

Changing political conditions and developments within the revolutionary movement led Quitoriano to leave the underground. He faced detention and imprisonment before gradually rebuilding his life outside the armed struggle.

After his release in 1994, Quitoriano wrote under the pen name Ed Gallardo about the places he had been to like Bucharest and Budapest. He has a simple but dramatic ending to his book: ‘As for my mother, when I finally saw her in 1995, she looked at me and said, ‘I was told you were dead.”

Just a day after Mayor Nestor Archival publicly ‘blamed’ some unnamed city councilors’ privilege speeches for allegedly prompting Prime Integrated Waste Solutions (PIWS) to bar Cebu City from dumping at the Binaliw landfill, the body demanded a full legal review of the operator’s permit and compliance.

This was agreed upon during the privilege speech of Councilor Sisinio Andales, who recalled the January 8, 2026, collapse of a 20-story trash mound at Binaliw that killed 36 people and wounded several others.

He dated back the landfill’s troubled history to its beginnings under ARN Central Waste Management in 2019, through its takeover by PIWS in 2023, which drew complaints of foul odors, water contamination, and unchecked earth-moving that preceded the catastrophe.

‘Kaniadto malipay ta. Naa ang kwarta sa basura, pero karon problema na ta sa basura,’ Andales said.

He called the city’s exclusion from Binaliw ‘an insult to injury,’ stressing that taxpayers were being financially burdened while private haulers continued to profit from facilities within Cebu City’s jurisdiction.

In his speech, Andales called on the City Legal Office to study legal options, including filing a breach of contract case or a petition for mandamus, so that Cebu City’s garbage could once again be brought to Binaliw.

He also urged the Business Permit and Licensing Office to examine whether PIWS has violated local ordinances or safety, health, environmental, or zoning regulations that could justify the revocation of its business permit.

Andales also called for the fast-tracking of barangay-level waste segregation and the pursuit of sustainable long-term waste treatment alternatives.

The landfill, managed by PIWS since 2023, has been under scrutiny since the deadly collapse.

Although the DENR partially lifted its cease-and-desist order, allowing limited operations, city officials say PIWS continues to refuse Cebu City’s waste while accommodating private haulers.

This has forced the city to haul garbage 60 kilometers away to Aloguinsan at a staggering cost of P3,906 per ton.

Archival, in his remarks a day earlier, had said that repeated calls over Binaliw’s safety concerns from councilors gave Prime Waste reason to shut the city out. The mayor made the statement after a week of expressing confusion over why the city was no longer allowed to dispose of its waste at Binaliw while private haulers continued to do so.

Councilor Pastor ‘Jun’ Alcover, on the other hand, also authored a resolution expressing support for Archival’s earlier move to review PIWS’s qualifications and operational compliance.

The measure, which was approved by the council, directs the City Legal Office, the BPLO, and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office to determine possible remedies, including the revocation of PIWS’s permit should its refusal to accept Cebu City’s waste be found contrary to law or prejudicial to the public interest

Rewind 75 years to 1951. This is when the Goethe-Institut was established to promote German culture abroad. Its founding as a civil society organization reflected a truly unique approach that remains distinct today. The Goethe-Institut operates independently from the German government, embodying civil society and the soft power it represents. Despite its autonomy, Goethe-Institut remains Germany’s most important partner organization in the realm of foreign policy.

This fact alone reveals a lot about Germany’s approach to cultural relations. We entrust the promotion of German culture, and therefore the shaping of our cultural relations abroad, to representatives of civil society: teachers, artists, actors, musicians, filmmakers and many more. Culture cannot exist without people, so cultural relations cannot exist without people-to-people ties. Germany believes in the power of civil society. The constitution of the Goethe-Institut as a civil society organization is an expression of this belief.

In the Philippines, learning German is one of the most important ways to gain a deeper understanding of our culture. In this context, the Goethe-Institut plays a key role in providing German language training, facilitating 5,000 German certificates in six locations all over the Philippines. It is through our language that people find access to Germany, its universities, labor market and enterprises. These exchanges keep German-Filipino relations alive, whether through student exchanges, working abroad or traveling – all of which bring our societies closer together.

Another good example of the strong people-to-people ties between Germany and the Philippines is the German European School in Manila. Here, German, Filipino and international students learn alongside each other, gaining access to German culture through shared experiences, and – via the German International Baccalaureate – to German universities.

However, our commitment to promoting cultural relations through the work of the German Federal Foreign Office and its partner organizations, such as the DAAD and, of course, the Goethe-Institut, extends far beyond that. In addition to language training, there is program and project work, forming another important pillar of our cultural foreign policy.

Some might argue that, in times of increased military confrontation, cultural work becomes less important, or even obsolete. But the opposite is true. In times of escalating geopolitical tensions, we must engage with other societies. When different societal models are competing with each other, we must explain to people abroad who we are, what we stand for and what we believe in. This encompasses more than just Neuschwanstein Castle, Oktoberfest, German cars and Birkenstocks. Our culture encompasses human rights, freedom of expression, minority rights, creative engineering and sustainable living and so much more.

It is most powerful to not explain all this with words, but show it.

We show it through films. In May, as part of the Cineuropa European film festival, the highly acclaimed German film ‘Afire’ was screened. The Goethe-Institut also regularly organizes its own German film festival, Kino Fest, with the next edition running from Oct. 15 to 18 at Ortigas Cinemas and featuring the most recent German blockbusters and festival entries. Goethe-Institut also provides an online film library with a broad selection of German movies.

We show it through music. In April, the Goethe-Institut brought together world-renowned German DJ Boris Dolinski and young Filipino DJs in cooperation with the local collective Kaput, demonstrating how creativity and individuality are valued in Germany and how productive and innovative results can be achieved by bringing together many creative minds and allowing them to work freely.

We show it through performance, exhibition and arts. The ongoing exhibition of Berlin-based artist Olafur Eliasson at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, with support of the Goethe-Institut, invites visitors to experience artistic immersions and offers a space for reflection on global warming and environmental change.

All of these examples demonstrate how culture and cultural relations can shape the environment for political and economic ties to flourish. People-to-people ties are the bedrock upon which diplomatic relationships are built. This also applies to German-Filipino relations: skilled migration, scholarships, tourism and cultural affinities bridge the 10,000-kilometer distance between our nations. These ties enhance collaboration in trade, politics and defense.

Underpinning all of this is a vibrant and engaged civil society – an essential force that fosters trust, mutual understanding and a shared commitment to democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law. It is through this shared dedication of German and Filipino individuals that our countries continue to grow closer, strengthening not just our partnership but our common values. This is why I believe in diplomacy beyond politics – in cultural diplomacy.

Globe Telecom Inc. sustained an 11-percent drop in profit in the first half, but the telco is confident of recovery thanks to the strength of its revenue base and growth of its e-wallet unit.

Based on its financial report, Globe said its net income declined to P11.04 billion in the six months to June, from P12.44 billion a year ago, taking higher depreciation from building new projects.

Although Globe was able to increase its revenue by six percent to P92.66 billion, it also paid for an expenditure hike of the same level to P47.79 billion.

Likewise, Globe’s depreciation costs went up by eight percent to P28.67 billion, attributed to its ongoing efforts to expand network reach. The telco also started feeling the pang of its decreased stake in GCash, as the e-wallet welcomed a new investor in Mitsubishi Corp. last year.

Still, Globe’s revenue base is firming up, as mobile and broadband revenues grew by six percent each. The provider booked a 15-percent hike in corporate revenues, capitalizing on businesses in need of enterprise-grade solutions to improve their digital readiness.

The best thing for Globe is that GCash’s parent Mynt Inc. is expanding faster than ever, booking quarterly-high revenues of P22.4 billion in the second quarter.

As such, Globe’s equity share in Mynt’s profit amounted to P3.7 billion in the first half, and the telco now sources 28 percent of its net income before tax from the e-wallet.

Mynt is gearing up for an initial public offering in the fourth quarter worth P92.3 billion, a listing that could become the largest in Philippine history.

As of June, Globe has hiked capital expenditures by 39 percent to P26.3 billion. Capex financed the telco’s deployment of 878 new 5G sites and 80,052 additional fiber-to-the-home lines.

Globe president and CEO Carl Raymond Cruz said the telco has performed within expectations, keeping a 52.6-percent margin in the face of a difficult economy. He informed shareholders that investments are underway to ensure Globe keeps its competitive advantage.

Cruz said the telco industry has been dealing with economic risks recently, especially as consumers cut down on their spending due to elevated fuel prices.

‘The results reflect disciplined execution, resilience of our business model and our unwavering focus on creating sustainable long-term value for customers and shareholders,’ Cruz said.

Households may soon see faster deployment of own-use solar power facilities as the Department of Energy (DOE) streamlines the permitting process by removing administrative hurdles.

The DOE has ordered distribution utilities to eliminate ‘administrative barriers’ to putting up small-scale solar power generation systems, including pre-installation clearances, technical permits and inspection fees.

The directive covers zero-export solar systems (ZESS) and micro-solar systems (MSS), which are designed to supply electricity for their own use without exporting excess power to the grid.

‘There is a need to issue a policy that supports the participation of small-scale end-users in the deployment of RE (renewable energy) technologies by providing a streamlined regulatory approach,’ the DOE said in a department circular issued yesterday.

For both connected and isolated ZESS, eligible end-users must secure a certificate of compliance (COC) from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The requirement, however, does not apply to facilities used by households, clinics, hospitals and other medical facilities, subject to the ERC’s authority to set applicable technical and commercial rules and requirements.

MSS end-users, meanwhile, will no longer be required to obtain a building permit or a COC, without prejudice to compliance with other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

ZESS refers to solar photovoltaic installations of any capacity intended solely for personal use. This may be fully off-grid or grid-connected, as long as it is equipped with control mechanisms that prevent any power from being exported to the grid.

MSS, on the other hand, covers consumer-grade, plug-and-play solar generation systems designed for one’s own consumption.

To meet the country’s RE targets, the DOE aims to maximize the inclusion, utilization and acceleration of renewables even at the consumer level, specifically through the rollout of self-generating facilities.

Under the Philippine Energy Plan, the government seeks to increase the share of renewables in the power mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040 from the current 25 percent.

Meanwhile, power giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) continues to ramp up its smart meter investments as part of a broader effort to modernize its electricity distribution network.

Through its metering transformation initiatives, Meralco is deploying advanced technologies that enable remote meter reading, disconnection and reconnection while also strengthening the protection metering facilities for customers.

The elevated metering transformation also allows early detection of potential irregularities and pilferage.

‘These improvements strengthen the integrity of the metering system and support Meralco’s continuing efforts to reduce avoidable non-technical losses while delivering reliable service to customers,’ the company said.

System loss refers to the electricity lost before it reaches consumers, with the cost currently recovered through a line item on power bills.

In Metro Manila, system loss charges account for around five percent of consumers’ power bills. The burden can be even higher for consumers served by electric cooperatives.

Meralco ramps up smart meter investments

MANILA, Philippines – Households may soon see faster deployment of own-use solar power facilities as the Department of Energy (DOE) streamlines the permitting process by removing administrative hurdles.

The DOE has ordered distribution utilities to eliminate ‘administrative barriers’ to putting up small-scale solar power generation systems, including pre-installation clearances, technical permits and inspection fees.

The directive covers zero-export solar systems (ZESS) and micro-solar systems (MSS), which are designed to supply electricity for their own use without exporting excess power to the grid.

‘There is a need to issue a policy that supports the participation of small-scale end-users in the deployment of RE (renewable energy) technologies by providing a streamlined regulatory approach,’ the DOE said in a department circular issued yesterday.

For both connected and isolated ZESS, eligible end-users must secure a certificate of compliance (COC) from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The requirement, however, does not apply to facilities used by households, clinics, hospitals and other medical facilities, subject to the ERC’s authority to set applicable technical and commercial rules and requirements.

MSS end-users, meanwhile, will no longer be required to obtain a building permit or a COC, without prejudice to compliance with other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

ZESS refers to solar photovoltaic installations of any capacity intended solely for personal use. This may be fully off-grid or grid-connected, as long as it is equipped with control mechanisms that prevent any power from being exported to the grid.

MSS, on the other hand, covers consumer-grade, plug-and-play solar generation systems designed for one’s own consumption.

To meet the country’s RE targets, the DOE aims to maximize the inclusion, utilization and acceleration of renewables even at the consumer level, specifically through the rollout of self-generating facilities.

Under the Philippine Energy Plan, the government seeks to increase the share of renewables in the power mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040 from the current 25 percent.

Meanwhile, power giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) continues to ramp up its smart meter investments as part of a broader effort to modernize its electricity distribution network.

Through its metering transformation initiatives, Meralco is deploying advanced technologies that enable remote meter reading, disconnection and reconnection while also strengthening the protection metering facilities for customers.

The elevated metering transformation also allows early detection of potential irregularities and pilferage.

‘These improvements strengthen the integrity of the metering system and support Meralco’s continuing efforts to reduce avoidable non-technical losses while delivering reliable service to customers,’ the company said.

System loss refers to the electricity lost before it reaches consumers, with the cost currently recovered through a line item on power bills.

In Metro Manila, system loss charges account for around five percent of consumers’ power bills. The burden can be even higher for consumers served by electric cooperatives.

Young basketball and volleyball hopefuls begin their sports journeys at the Ateneo and Inspire Sports courts this month when the multi-awarded and pionering BEST Center starts its clinics on Saturday.

New students are also still being welcomed for the cage and volley clinics at the Ateneo College Covered Courts in Katipunan, Quezon City. Classes backed by Milo in cooperation with Chris Sports will be held every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. from Auguest 8 to September 19.

Sunday sessions, meanwhile, are to be held at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba Laguna from August 16 to September 20.

The Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center, founded in 1978 by the late national coach Nicanor “Nic” Jorge, is a recipient of the Philippine Olympic Committee Olympism Award and is a Philippine Sportswriters Association Hall-of-Fame awardee, among others.

Three public schools in Cebu City’s mountain barangay became the latest schools targeted by an online threat, prompting officials to temporarily halt classes to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and other personnel.

The threat came from a Facebook account using the name ‘Jade Jay Bong,’ which posted a message on Tuesday warning of a possible shooting within two days.

The post stated: ‘Sunod pusilon within two days andam2 lang mo dra kay basin mag uwan ug dugo dra kay mga feelingon kaau ang mga tao dra dili kahibawo mo respecto ang mga tao andam2 lang mo dra mga wlay Moy respectar ha.’

The same post named Adlaon Integrated School, Taptap Integrated School, and Sibugay Integrated School in Pung-ol Sibugay as possible targets.

In its statement, Sibugay Integrated School said the social media post had caused fear and concern over the security of schools, prompting the administration to implement precautionary measures while authorities continued investigating the alleged threat.

School officials said ensuring the safety and security of the school community remains their top priority as they continue to coordinate with law enforcement authorities during the ongoing investigation.

The City’s Public Information Office, for its part, stressed that the suspension was a precautionary measure, emphasizing that ‘the safety and well-being of learners and school personnel remain the highest priority.’

Just days earlier, Cebu City was also jolted by another incident involving youth violence.

A video showing two Grade 7 students of Talamban National High School engaged in a fistfight near San Isidro Parish Church in Barangay Talamban went viral on social media.

The altercation, which occurred on July 29 but surfaced online on August 3, prompted swift intervention from the Talamban Police Station, barangay officials, and school administrators.

A case conference was held with parents, guidance counselors, and barangay representatives, resulting in the minors being placed under a diversion program supervised by the Department of Social Welfare and Services.

In response, City Councilor Pastor M. Alcover Jr. delivered a privilege speech on the City Council floor, describing the incident as a wake-up call for Cebu City to confront deeper issues affecting its youth.

‘This is not merely about two students exchanging blows,’ Alcover said. ‘It is a reflection of bullying, peer pressure, the influence of violence on social media, inadequate parental supervision, and the mental health struggles our children face today.’

Alcover warned that the viral nature of the fight subjected the minors to ‘public scrutiny and possible psychological trauma, despite the protections afforded to them under our laws.’

Alcover cited Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act), Republic Act 10627 (Anti-Bullying Act of 2013), and Republic Act 9344, as amended by Republic Act 10630 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act), stressing that these laws mandate government action to safeguard children and promote restorative justice.

He then moved for the City Council to convene an executive session through the Committees on Peace and Order, Education, and Youth to review existing child protection and anti-bullying policies.

The session is expected to involve representatives from the Cebu City Police Office-Women and Children Protection Desk, the Department of Education-Cebu City Division, the Department of Social Welfare and Services, Barangay Talamban officials, the school principal, and the Parents-Teachers and Community Association of Talamban National High School.

‘We must ask ourselves: are our current policies enough? Or do we need stronger legislative measures to prevent youth violence and protect our children?’ Alcover said. ‘The Council cannot remain reactive. We must be proactive in ensuring that our schools and communities are safe spaces for learning and growth.’

The Cebu City Government reiterated its appeal for vigilance, calm, and reliance on official advisories as authorities continue to investigate both the mountain school threats and the Talamban incident.

Officials urged the public to report credible information to law enforcement immediately, assuring that timely updates will be released once verified.