Category: Philippine Star

Malacañang agrees with the Supreme Court on the need to pass a bill banning political dynasties, saying the measure remains a priority of the Marcos administration.

The high court has granted the consolidated petitions for certiorari and mandamus questioning the legislature’s failure to approve a law against political dynasties for 39 years, stressing that the failure constitutes ‘grave abuse of discretion.’

The SC unanimously ruled that Congress is required to enact a law barring political dynasties under Article 2, Section 26 of the Constitution. It regarded Congress’ failure to enact the law as a ‘refusal to perform a mandatory constitutional duty.’

‘Even before the Supreme Court issued the decision, we all know that it (anti-dynasty bill) is one of the priority bills of the President. He really wants it fast-tracked and he wants the anti-political dynasty passed under his term if possible,’ Palace press officer Claire Castro said yesterday.

‘The President agrees with the decision of the Supreme Court that there should be a law on political dynasties,’ she added.

Although President Marcos wants the measure enacted soon, the administration is leaving it up to Congress to determine the timeline for the passage of the bill. Castro acknowledged that lawmakers have a heavy workload and cannot be blamed for the status of the anti-dynasty bill.

‘The timeline of Congress is in their hands. The President merely wants them to know that he wants it passed,’ Castro said.

The 1987 Constitution explicitly seeks the prohibition of political dynasties as may be defined by law.

Marcos added the anti-dynasty bill in the list of his legislative wish list last December, a move that Malacañang said was spurred by the ‘abuses’ committed by some politicians and calls for a ‘fairer system.’

‘The political landscape is changing. Many are committing abuses. The President is right. The power to vote lies in the hands of the people, but abuses are being committed. The President wants the people to know that they have a choice – a choice that is based on merit, not just because the surnames are the same,’ Castro added.

Congressional priority

Speaker Faustino Dy III assured the public that the enactment of a constitutional anti-political dynasty law is a congressional priority, saying the House of Representatives has already passed its version.

Dy issued the statement after the SC directed Congress to immediately comply with its constitutional duty to enact the law.

‘It’s our priority in Congress,’ he said.

Dy said that ‘Congress has a historic opportunity to give fuller legislative effect to a constitutional policy that has long awaited comprehensive implementation.’

He also noted that the implementation of the constitutional policy requires a ‘fair, definite and principled legal framework’ to promote equal access and opportunities to holding public office.

Last June, the House passed House Bill No. 8389, or the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act, on third and final reading.

The Senate has also advanced its version – Senate Bill No. 1901 – which is pending on second reading.

Carpio lauds Supreme Court ruling, guidelines

Retired associate justice Antonio Carpio said the SC has issued non-binding guidelines to Congress on what the anti-dynasty law should contain, which he said, is ‘unprecedented’ and a ‘huge endorsement.’

Carpio said the high court, in its recent ‘landmark’ decision, proposed that a political dynasty can include relatives up to the fourth civil degree.

‘This is a huge endorsement from a unanimous Supreme Court. This is also unprecedented because in its decision the SC said it can only compel Congress to pass a law, and not what the law should be. Nevertheless, the SC did not hesitate to give guidelines to Congress. We could not ask for more from the SC,’ he told The STAR.

Among the guidelines which the SC had set, Carpio said, is that covered persons can be prohibited from running for an elective office both simultaneously and successively for the same or any other covered position.

Relatives can also be prohibited from occupying both local and/or national elective positions, and the prohibition can optimally extend to all covered persons residing within the same administrative region.

Carpio said they will seek recourse from the SC if Congress passes the controversial bill principally authored by Dy and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos.

Carpio said the bill, which bans relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for or occupying a post in the same constituency or jurisdiction, only legitimizes political dynasties.

‘We don’t concur with that bill. We will go to the SC and say, ‘This is not an anti-political dynasty law. This is a political dynasty legitimization and entrenchment law,” he said in an interview over dzBB.

Two straight wins for the Letran Knights.

The Knights blasted off against the hapless San Sebastian College- Recoletos, 99-62, to remain unscathed in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament Friday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Knights banked on suffocating defense through all four quarters to grab the dominant win.

Denzil Sison-Walker stood tall for Letran with 25 points, three rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal, while Chaed Gammad had 19 markers, five steals, four boards and three dimes.

San Sebastian trailed by just six, 15-21, late in the first quarter before Froilan Reyes ended the frame with a triple.

This triggered the 11-0 run capped by a split from the line by Kevin Santos that pushed Letran’s lead to 32-15 at the 5:42 mark of the second quarter.

And while the Stags finally broke the run with a triple by Khit Barroga, 18-32, the Knights kept on coming.

Letran kept its foot on the gas, as they kept the pressure on defensively, forcing San Sebastian to numerous turnovers.

And toward the end of the game, the lead grew to 39 points, 99-60, after a Walker layup.

Titing Manalili had 14 points, nine assists and five steals, but had eight turnovers. Reyes chipped in eight for the 2-0 Letran, which made 43.8% of their field goal attempts.

Barroga powered the Stags with 15 points and three rebounds, while Matt Acosta had 10 of San Sebastian, who shot 24-of-69 from the field and committed 34 turnovers.

This is the second straight game that San Sebastian lost by more than 26 points. They absorbed a 98-72 loss against Arellano on Monday.

Coloring one’s hair continues to be a popular trend, so don’t be surprised when one finds themselves in a crowd of caramel crowns.

Katharine Crew and Vicki Borley, co-managing directors of British-based hair dye Tints of Nature, met with fellow beauty industry leaders and members of the media to discuss conscious choices for hair care.

The brand has been in the Philippines for around two decades now through local organic product retailer Healthy Options.

The latter’s category manager confirmed to Philstar.com that consumers are buying hair dye products more than retailers, but it is becoming a more common practice for consumers to bring the dye they have bought to salons for professional application.

Borley touted how Tints of Nature stands out as a longtime vegan brand that is both cruelty- and ammonia-free.

Other prominent features of its Permanent Color line compared to conventional brands are the sustainable packaging, use of the lowest possible pigment and pH levels for gentler coloring, and absence of harmful chemicals. The latter chemicals are:

resorcinol

parabens

phthalates

gluten

sodium lauryl sulfate

sodium laureth sulfate

silicone

salts

genetically modified organisms

Borley, also the brand’s professional sales head, stressed how crucial it is to saturate the hair when coloring and how lighteners give the same but safer effects of bleaching.

She also debunked the misconception on lower-chemical hair color sytems.

“Our hair coloring doesn’t damage the hair’s condition because of the use of natural chemicals,” she said, comparing hair to a canvas to be painted with beautiful colors that need to shine.

The executive shared that currently its 7D selection or Medium Golden Blonde is the popular hair color of 2026. She added that the trend is leaning toward lighter, caramel colors as months pass by.

Borley particularly used the term “edible colors,” where the hair color looks so appealing that one imagines eating them.

We often talk about poverty in the Philippines through statistics, inflation rates and growth targets. But for millions of Filipinos, daily life isn’t about numbers – it’s about living in a system where being vulnerable costs the most. This reality is as old as history itself.

In the Bible, the story of Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21) shows how the powerful can misuse the system to take from ordinary people. Naboth owned a small piece of land passed down through his family. When King Ahab wanted it for himself, Queen Jezebel set up a fake trial using corrupt local officials to execute Naboth and take his land. Yet, the story of King Ahab does not end with his stolen vineyard. It carries a crucial second half that corrupt elites often ignore: the high price that corrupt individuals eventually pay.

Ahab thought he had won by acquiring the land, but the prophet Elijah confronted him with divine judgment. Ultimately, Ahab met a tragic downfall, losing his kingdom, his honor and his life, while Jezebel met an equally gruesome end. Corruption may deliver short-term wealth and power, but history and divine justice demonstrate that unearned gains build a fragile house. For corrupt leaders, the true cost comes in the form of institutional decay, social unrest, ruined legacies and eventual reckoning.

Naboth’s story isn’t just ancient history; it happens every day in different ways. When public funds are lost to corruption, the wealthy barely notice. It is low-income families who pay the immediate price through broken public roads, poorly equipped health centers and failing schools. Small bribes or unfair local fees act as an extra tax on those who can least afford it, keeping them from ever saving enough to build a better life.

Living under this constant pressure changes how people survive. When jobs pay too little and formal safety nets don’t exist, turning to local politicians or asking for help becomes a practical way to get through a crisis. What looks like a ‘culture of dependence’ is often just a daily survival strategy in an economy where a single bad week can leave a family with nothing.

But what is just as troubling is how fragile life has become for the middle class. According to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), nearly a third of Filipino households live in economic uncertainty. For those in the lower-middle class, financial stability is often just an illusion. These families fall into a trap; why? Because they earn too much to qualify for government aid like 4Ps, but they don’t have enough savings or private insurance to handle a real emergency. One major medical emergency, a job loss or a severe typhoon can wipe out a family’s savings overnight, pulling them straight into poverty.

Yet, as elections approach, this cycle of hardship directly influences how people vote, giving rise to a deeply entrenched ‘mendicant mentality.’ When survival is an everyday struggle, voters are weaponized by their own poverty. Instead of viewing a ballot as a tool to demand structural reform, many feel forced to treat it as a short-term transaction. Elections become less about long-term vision and more about immediate relief – whether through political patronage, medical assistance doles or direct vote buying.

Politicians intentionally cultivate this dependency, keeping constituents reliant on cash aid and personal favors so that basic survival remains tied to political loyalty. This dynamic, combined with emotional decision-making, creates a dangerous trap for the electorate. When we vote based on anger, personal sympathy, entertaining campaigns, long-standing family loyalties or immediate handouts, we allow leaders to bypass true accountability. Charisma, dramatic promises and temporary financial relief easily cloud our judgment, leading us to elect individuals who exploit public trust rather than fix broken systems.

Therefore, to build a stronger country, we need to break this cycle at the ballot box. Voting better means stepping back from political drama and immediate handouts to examine track records, integrity and concrete policy proposals. We need leaders who understand that corruption carries a steep price for both the nation and the leader, and who will work to build merit-based systems, fix the unfair barriers that drain resources from low-income families, improve public health care and create safety nets that keep middle-class families from falling through the cracks.

But in order for us to break this endless loop, we must address the root structural cause: the consolidation of power. The Anti-Political Dynasty provision of our Constitution must finally be enforced once and for all – not as a political tool, but with the genuine objective of opening public service to principled, capable leaders beyond elite families.

Furthermore, we must unite as a people to end internal political squabbles and regional divisions. Let this be a firm warning to us all – a nation fractured by internal strife can never stand firm against external threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

What the Philippines needs is a strong decisive figure – a visionary leader unconcerned with vain adoration or political popularity, focused purely on the genuine progress of the nation while never forgetting that real lasting progress requires building unshakeable institutions, enforcing the rule of law and fostering an enlightened electorate.

Many Filipinos are just one shock away from a tragic crisis, but no darkness of corruption is so absolute that a united, awakened people cannot overcome it.

President Marcos wants the updated guidelines on class suspensions during weather disturbances and calamities fast-tracked to prevent confusion among parents and students, Malacañang said yesterday.

The proposed guidelines for the suspension and resumption of classes and onsite work was among the issues discussed during the 11th Economy and Development Council Meeting (EDCOM) last Wednesday.

The council also tackled learning continuity, which was affected by recent class suspensions caused by monsoon-induced rains and floods.

‘There should be harmonization so that announcements will not be confusing, whether it will be announced locally, by the mayor, by the governor or by DepEd (Department of Education). The President wants it expedited,’ Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a media briefing.

For its part, DepEd yesterday also asked local government units (LGUs) to be specific when suspending classes.

In a statement, the DepEd explained that LGUs should be specific in its directive on class suspensions to help protect learning time, particularly when conditions vary across municipalities, barangays or schools.

DepEd’s appeal was part of the proposed Executive Order on the Suspension and Resumption of Classes and Work in Educational Institutions and Other Related Matters, which seeks to establish a more responsive framework for suspension and resumption decisions while keeping the safety of learners, teachers, and school personnel as the foremost consideration.

Under the proposed EO, suspension and resumption decisions may be automatic, localized, or granular depending on the nature and extent of the risk.

For localized suspensions,

DepEd urged the LGUs to identify the specific areas actually affected by a hazard. In situations that conditions allow, a province may specify the affected municipalities, while a city or municipality may identify the affected barangays or schools.

‘Our request is simple: be specific when you suspend. If the risk is limited to certain areas, identifying those areas can help schools in unaffected areas continue learning,’ DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said.

He gave assurance that the proposed EO would not remove or diminish the authority of local chief executives to suspend classes. It would only encourage them to coordinate with the local disaster risk reduction and management office and the affected education authorities, such as the schools division superintendent, to help arrive at an informed decision based on the conditions on the ground.

Citing data, DepEd said that as of Sept. 11, divisions had lost an average of four learning days nationwide.

But the impact varied significantly across areas such as in Region 3, where the average was nine lost learning days, while Pampanga had already recorded 26. In the National Capital Region the average was 8.2 days, while Caloocan had recorded 25.

Out of the 47,000 DepEd schools in the country, a total of 34,775 schools or 72.49 percent experienced class suspensions from the day classes opened until Sept. 10.

The proposed order also allows granular suspension and resumption when conditions on the ground differ within an area covered by a broader suspension. It also requires coordination or concurrence with the concerned LGU to avoid conflicting announcements and confusion among learners, parents, teachers and the community.

Granular resumption may only be considered when there has already been a broader or blanket suspension and a school, based on a documented site-specific assessment, determines that conditions are safe for the resumption of in-person classes.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration yesterday said that a low-pressure area will bring rains in the southern part of the country.

Based on today’s forecast, cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms will be felt in Visayas, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, Northern Mindanao, Batangas and Quezon.

However, the LPA is still ‘unlikely’ to develop into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours and was last located 160 kilometers east of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Meanwhile, the weather disturbance outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has developed into a tropical storm and was given the international name Dujuan.

It was last located at 2,910 km east of extreme Northern Luzon packing winds at 95 kms per hour and gusts at 115 kph.

It is still unlikely to enter PAR as it moves northward at 50 kph.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.

Railway projects

Also discussed during the EDCOM meeting were the North-South Commuter Railway operations and maintenance public-private partnership (PPP) projects.

Castro said the administration has adopted changes in the timelines of some projects because of right-of-way issues and efforts to safeguard public funds, which affected the procurement process.

She said the first partial operation of the Valenzuela to Malolos segment is expected to start in December next year while the second partial operation of the Malolos to Clark segment is projected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The third partial operation of the Clark-Solis-Alabang to Calamba segment is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2031 while full operation of the Clark to Calamba segment is projected to start in the third quarter of 2033. Previously, the transportation department said the commuter railway is seen to be fully operational by January 2032.

The EDCOM also tackled the Mactan-Cebu International Airport PPP project, the Supporting Innovation in the Philippine Technical and Vocational Education, the Training System Project and Road Network Development Project in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao and the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers or REFUEL Project.

A dozen Filipino brands will be showcased during the second edition of FASHIONPhilippines Milan.

The brand development and exhibition program returns to Italy’s fashion capital with Filipino fashion once more at the center during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2027 running from September 22 to 24, 2026.

Fondazione Sozzani will host the three-day exhibition in partnership with the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Philippine Textile Research Institute, Philippines Consulate General in Milan, Philippine Fashion Coalition and LIT Fashion Consultancy.

CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido Ocampo recalled how the inaugural edition highlighted the strengths of local fashion and the necessary preparations for Filipino brands when it comes to international growth.

“Our experience from the inaugural run affirmed the global potential of Filipino fashion while also showing the importance of strengthening brands’ readiness to compete internationally,” she said. “For 2026, we are developing a more strategic program that gives equal importance to creativity, business development, and long-term market access.”

Philippine Fashion Coalition president Jackie C. Aquino agreed, stating that fashion had to be treated as a business alongside its identity in the creative field.

“The business dimension of fashion is paramount,” she said, adding that brands must be prepared operationally – not just creatively – to succeed internationally.

New batch

Here are the 12 brands participating in the newest FASHIONPhilippines Milan edition:

Adam Pereyra Jewelry

Bagasáo

Calli

Ched Studio

Idyllic Summers

Iñigo

Jun Escario

Orias

Palengke

Renz Reyes

Viña Romero

Ziv Rei Alexi

These brands were selected for their strong design identities and the capacity to scale, with support from the collaboration between industry and government partners.

The overarching goal remains to position Filipino fashion as a globally competitive industry within a decade, backed by innovation, textile development, and cohesive industry support.

Sara Sozzani Maino and Silvia Bertocchi, the creative director and head of cultural program of Fondazione Sozzani, respectively, lead the lineup of global fashion leaders heading intensive brand development sessions.

With them are Veronica Bertozzi, Helena Boissonnas, Matteo del Cherico, Marina Lyritzi, Marzia Narduzzi, Tetta Ortiz-Matera and Riccardo Terzo.

“Local brands must understand that doing business internationally requires a different mindset – from wholesale pricing and delivery timelines to collection structure and buyer engagement,” said Ortiz-Matera, founder of LIT Fashion Consultancy.

Sessions will include new modules that cover pricing, line sheet development, market positioning, and international selling strategies, with a stronger sales and showroom component for participating brands tp connect more directly with buyers and distribution channels abroad.

In endurance events, it is not uncommon for elite athletes, some because of diets, body structure and training methods, to experience gastrointestinal problems that can lead to involuntary evacuation of gut contents during competition. Marathoners and professional cyclists, although not all, have these episodes.

They can be the fittest of the fit, but incontinence strikes in the middle of competition. Dr. Dana Zalkin, a gastroenterologist and a professor of medicine, explained why.urance athletes’ bodies are designed for optimum performance, but our digestive system is not built to function under extreme stress. The physiological response to maximized exertion temporarily disrupts digestive functions and blood flow which often results in involuntary pooping.

When an endurance athlete maximizes exertion, 80% of oxygen flow is prioritized for the heart and muscles. Blood flow to the digestive system becomes limited which in turn weakens the intestinal barrier (a multi-layered structure that protects gut health) and slows digestion. The temporary stoppage causes nausea, abdominal cramps and the sudden urge to poop.

During marathons, the repetitive impact of the feet striking the ground sends shockwaves to the body. We all had tried a bit of running and we felt some kind of splashing inside our tummies. Those are our intestines rubbing against the intestinal wall. It irritates the gut lining which then hastens waste movement towards the rectum.

The combination of reduced blood flow and constant jarring motions leads to an unavoidable spurt of the moment thing. Dehydration and diet can also be a factor, like carbo-loading, ingesting concentrated sugars, fibers and fat.

As per studies, between 30% to 90% of endurance athletes experience gastrointestinal troubles, with rates higher among long distance runners, triathletes and pro cyclists.

Hyrox is an indoor fitness competition usually hosted in exhibition halls and convention centers that combines running with functional specialized exercise stations. Participants run a kilometer, do a set on the exercise station and repeat the sequence eight times. The event blends high intensity cardio and strength-based exercises to create total body performance.

A recent Hyrox event in Beijing, China had a female athlete experience this episode, but despite distributing her fecal matter on the course and on the exercise equipment, organizers allowed her to continue and eventually pooped all the way to victory. It was reported that the day before the event, she enjoyed some Chinese street food.

Filipino-American singer-actress H.E.R. reiterated the “bayanihan” spirit of Filipinos and even shared her local favorite dessert to munch on.

The Oscar- and Grammy-winner, whose real name is Gabrielle Sarmiento Wilson, appeared on the Sept. 16, 2026 episode of the talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live” to promote her upcoming movie “Forgotten Island.”

The DreamWorks Animation film is inspired by Filipino culture, mythology, and folklore, and its cast and crew are mostly composed of individuals with a Filipino background.

H.E.R. voices one of two best friends stranded on the titular island Nakali, which is filled with aswangs and other mystical Philippine creatures.

The artist confirmed to Kimmel that the backdrop of the movie was “right up her alley,” getting the chance to speak Tagalog and celebrate her culture in a project of this scale.

She recalled first visiting the Philippines as a young girl then only went back in 2019 with her whole family so that her mother Agnes – who was born in the Philippines – could reunite with her sister after a decade.

Since then, the family has been trying to visit more often, with H.E.R.’s last visit just a month ago for “Forgotten Island” promos with co-star Liza Soberano and directors Januel Mercado (also a Filipino-American) and Joel Crawford.

Kimmel noted that whenever someone from the Philippines makes it big, they are pretty much treated as a national hero, and H.E.R. nodded in agreement, “Totally, totally, they go hard for their people.”

“It’s been a beautiful reunion, I think they needed that. I’m just so glad to be kind of responsible for it,” the artist added about her mom reuniting with her sister.

H.E.R. also shared that one of her favorite local dishes was halo-halo, which she tried explaining to Kimmel and the studio audience, even quipping that she herself was halo-halo or a Filipino mix.

The interview ended with H.E.R. teasing that she was finishing up working on her next album, which would be her first since 2021.

“Forgotten Island” goes wide in Philippine cinemas on September 23.

A China Coast Guard vessel rammed a BFAR ship while it was on a mission to deliver fuel to Filipino fishermen off Palawan.

The Philippine Coast Guard said CCG-21585 rammed the BRP Datu Magat Salamat at around 11:13 a.m. on Friday, September 18.

Before the collision, the Chinese vessel passed behind the BFAR ship at a distance of about 10 meters.

Watch the video of China’s latest harassment of a Philippine vessel.

The number of Filipino couples engaging in family planning through the use of contraceptives is increasing, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) said.

‘In 2022, there was a 41.8-percent increase and that in 2025, it went up to 44.5 percent. This means more Filipinos are practicing family planning,’ CPD Information and Communication Management Division chief Mylin Mirasol Quiray said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program yesterday.

She pointed out that though there are still users of the traditional withdrawal as well as calendar method, the number of those using contraceptives is going up.

‘The 2025 data showed the percentage of users of contraceptives are higher at 44.5 percent compared to those still into the traditional methods at 14.1 percent,’ said Quiray.

She stressed the importance of family planning so that choices are made available to the women and their families.

Quiray also said that in areas where access to education and awareness on family planning to most women are limited, they continuously work with concerned local government units.

‘We train LGUs to ensure there will be available services and information in their respective areas with regard to family planning,’ she said.

World Contraception Day, which is observed annually every Sept. 26, aims to bring awareness on the availability of contraceptive methods and encourage people to make informed decisions concerning their sexual and reproductive health.