Category: Philippine Star

Imagine you’re the president. You’ve decided to open a Pandora’s Box, and all these scandals and atrocities and vile deeds have engulfed the nation. It was a good idea at that time. Typhoons were buffeting the nation, and floods had overwhelmed the system and stoked public anger. Let’s go after those crooked engineers and their conspirator-contractors in the Department of Public Works (DPWH), shall we?

Along the way, minor corrupt officials, then bigger crocodiles, and finally, mammoth crooks who would have helped you chomp away at the coffers of the nation were exposed, reviled, and then disposed of.

But that’s not all. The uproar has engulfed political allies. Perhaps, they were only ever expedient to begin with. But they have been sacrificed at the altar of purity, and now you have less-friendly faces to surround yourself with.

It doesn’t stop just there though. Steadfast alliances are also being shaken, until eventually, those who held the helm of the Senate and the House of Representatives (your cousin!) are swiftly dispatched by events that were, for sure, unpredicted. That’s not even taking into consideration the alliance that propelled you to the presidency –the Duterte family– which left the chat group a long time ago.

What would you be thinking now? What would you be strategizing about? What’s the next move going to be?

Is the only agenda at this point ‘damage control’? Or did you bring us to this point which you had planned all along, ever since you gave that State of the Nation address and opened the corruption-gate?

Did you really intend to sacrifice these allies and friends and cronies (and cousin)? Or do you now find yourself along a slippery slope, trying to find brakes to hit?

What would be the next strategic move for a president who purports to be with the people and for the people in condemning corruption, and declaiming that he will root it out? His attack dogs from the Justice and DPWH departments are producing fantastic television sound bites, and the general sense is that they are sincere and doing their jobs. Would these two be enough to stave off the rage and frustration from bubbling over to the very top? Or is something or someone else needed?

Already, former Senate president Chiz Escudero is facing, in an age when Senatorial campaigns reach the billions, an ethics complaint for a measly ?30-million donation. Who would have thought that a frontal assault could ever be brought against the mild-mannered legislator with the popular celebrity-wife?

In the same vein, former speaker Martin Romualdez, whose negative publicity has thus-far been limited to the sporadic attacks by Vice President Sara Duterte (hence making the negativity disputable) has suddenly been in the papers pretty much every day for his control over the budget insertions that enabled the ghost project schemes. That quickly descended to very public exposés on his mansions, complete with addresses, and details on the Swiss private boarding schools where his sons went.

Were all these intended consequences? And what are those two thinking now?

Oh, newsflash. Chiz just threw a punch at Martin. Martin ducked, and has yet to throw a counter-punch. But something from his quarter must surely be in the works.

Et tu, Mr. President? What next after the hastily-convened Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)? That might have appeased critics –but then they decided to hold closed-door sessions. That’s not going to do you any good. Was the plan then for the ICI to hold aloft some sacrificial cows (bigger than lambs) and then wrap it up and move on to the next scandal?

Political theater at its finest. But let’s check back in 10 years and see what developments were actually made. Politicians know how to dribble, and boy, right now, they need to play for their very lives. Are we going to get played? Or are all the bit players, all the nameless victims numbering in the millions, who have suffered and are suffering from the plunder of their national wealth, walking out and staging their own spectacle?

The stage is set.

More than 200,000 individuals were affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paolo (international name: Matmo), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Sunday, October 5.

As of 8 a.m. on Sunday, Paolo, which exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday, was estimated to be 1,060 kilometers north of extreme Northern Luzon, moving west-northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour.

The NDRRMC said 225,557 individuals, or 70,575 families, were affected by Paolo in 22 provinces and 135 cities/municipalities.

A total of 6,505 individuals were pre-emptively evacuated in Regions 1, 2 and 3. There are also 20,549 individuals evacuated, with 8,586 outside evacuation centers and 11,964 inside evacuation centers.

There are no deaths or injuries recorded as of writing.

A total of 98 areas in Region 1, 3 and Region IV-A were also flooded. There are also 13 partially damaged houses.

Damaged infrastructure. Ninety-eight road sections were affected due to the inclement weather, while 34 bridges were also affected.

Sixteen seaports were also affected, with 176 passengers, 37 Rolling Cargoes, 32 Vessels, and 7 motobancas currently stranded.

The total estimated cost of assistance provided to affected families, LGUs, and regional agencies reached P1,718,352.10, comprising P389,566.10 allocated to families and P1,328,786 given to local government units and regional agencies.

Alex Eala folded to Moyuka Uchijima of Japan, 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, in Round 1 of the WTA1000 Dongfeng-Voyah Wuhan Open qualifiers to absorb her first early exit in the last five stops of the WTA Tour yesterday at the Optics Valley International Tennis Center in China.

The fifth-seeded Eala, 20, who made the Top 8 of her last four tournaments, met a match in WTA No. 92 Uchijima by splitting the first two sets but was dragged to a deep 0-3 hole in the third and could not recover from there.

It was the fifth straight three-setter for Eala in the past two weeks and it showed in her meltdown after breaking away from a 3-all deadlock in the second set to force a deciding set.

Eala, WTA No. 58, could have moved a win away from the main draw that features the sport’s titans led by No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 2 Iga Swiatek and No. 3 Coco Gauff.

Eala came off a quarterfinal appearance in the WTA125 Suzhou Open and WTA250 Sao Paulo Open, a semis stint in the WTA125 Jingshan Open and the breakthrough crown in the Guadalaraja Open.

Another large stash of shabu with an estimated street value of P6.08 billion was seized in an anti-narcotics operation in this town on Friday night.

The raid on a property in Barangay Laois was a follow-up to a sting conducted on Thursday afternoon along Olongapo-Bugallon Road in the nearby town of Bugallon, where shabu with an estimated street value of P850 million was seized, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

PDEA chief Isagani Nerez said up to 895 kilos of shabu stashed in tea bags with Chinese markings and placed in 40 large sacks were found in a warehouse in Labrador.

Nerez said several sacks of shabu were also found in a Toyota Grandia van and Toyota Innova parked in the area, indicating the illegal substance was about to be transported to other areas when the raiding team arrived.

The anti-narcotics operation in Bugallon also resulted in the arrest of a Chinese national identified only as ‘Monkey,’ 40, and his Filipino accomplice.

Nerez said the suspects provided information that led PDEA agents to a property in Labrador where the sacks of shabu were found.

The PDEA expressed belief that an international drug syndicate was behind the entry of shabu in Bugallon and Labrador.

Nerez has formed a joint team composed of PDEA agents and police officers to trace the origin of the illegal substance and determine its potential link to international drug syndicates.

He said the registered owners of the vehicles and the property where the sacks of shabu were discovered would be investigated.

The P6.08-billion shabu was one of the largest illegal drug hauls by the PDEA in Northern Luzon in recent years, Nerez said.

He attributed the success of the operation to the close coordination among the PDEA, Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, National Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Mapua rode on the stellar performance of Clint Escamis as it turned back an upset-conscious Arellano U, 90-87, yesterday to seize the solo lead in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

The Season 99 MVP unloaded 29 points including a perfect four-and-four from beyond the arc and laced it with three rebounds and the same number of assists and steals.

It was a bounceback effort for Escamis after a forgettable eight-point performance in their 90-89 double overtime victory over Lyceum of the Philippines U in last Wednesday’s inaugurals at the Big Dome.

‘I just want to make up for that bad game,’ said Escamis, who is on his final tour of duty.

‘I know my teammates got my back but I really want to perform for them,’ he added.

It was another come-from-behind win for the back-to-back title-seeking Cardinals, who trailed by as many as 13 points in the second quarter before turning the tide around in the second half.

‘We showed the never-say-die mentality that we’re used to and our heart of a champion that refuses to lose,’ said Escamis.

In the other game, St. Benilde smashed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 74-63, to improve to 1-1.

The Cebu Greats gave their earthquake-hit townmates something to cheer about during this tough time.

Facing no tomorrow, the Greats pulled off a vengeful 65-57 victory over their former tormentor Davao Occidental Tigers in the knockout play-in to keep their playoff hopes alive in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season on Saturday, September 4, at the Pola Gymnasium in Oriental Mindoro.

‘Among gihatag ang tanan para sa kapwa namo mga Cebuano. Despite sa nahitabo, makapalipay mi nila,’ said star guard Paul Desiderio, who led Cebu with 15 points, five rebounds, and six assists.

‘Una sa tanan, nagpasalamat mi sa Ginoo nga safe among pagbiyahe dire,’ said big man JR Quinahan, who cashed in seven points, nine rebounds, one assist, and one block in a triumphant return from injury.

‘Naninguha gyud mi nga modaog kay amo ning gi-dedicate ning duwaa para sa tanang taga-Cebu labi na sa mga naigo sa grabing linog,’ added the former PBA cager from Mandaue City.’Naa pami isa ka knockout game ug ihatag gihapon namo ang among best para makahatag og kalipay sa mga Cebuano.’

Jun Manzo also tallied 15 points with three assists and a steal for Cebu, which will next face either the Mindoro Tamaraws or the Zamboanga Sikat in another sudden-death duel for the eighth and last spot in the South Division playoffs.

Up to 162 cases of leptospirosis with 15 fatalities were recorded in Negros Occidental as of Sept. 20, according to the provincial health office.

Of the figures, 25 cases with seven fatalities were reported in Bacolod City.

Ma. Girlie Pinongan, provincial health officer, said no increase was reported in the number of leptospirosis cases in 31 municipalities and component cities even as some areas remained flooded in the past few weeks.

Still, Pinongan said residents have been reminded not to wade in floodwaters to avoid contracting the disease caused by the urine of infected rats and other animals as well as contaminated soil and water.

Symptoms include fever or feeling feverish, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache and fatigue as well as vomiting and diarrhea.

Pinongan also reported a continued decline in the number of dengue cases in the past several weeks.

Severe Tropical Storm Paolo has exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) and is now moving west-northwestward across the South China Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported yesterday.

As of 5 p.m. on Oct. 4, Paolo packed maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph while moving at 25 kph toward the west-northwest.

PAGASA said the storm may intensify into a typhoon before making landfall over southern China.

No tropical cyclone wind signal is in effect in any part of the country, as Paolo is already far from the Philippine landmass.

However, its circulation continues to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing cloudy skies with scattered rains and possible localized flooding over Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Zambales and Bataan.

The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, is expected to experience generally fair weather with warm mornings and isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

From today until midweek, most parts of Luzon are forecast to have fair weather with partly cloudy skies and isolated thunderstorms. No significant weather system is expected to bring heavy rains during this period.

In the Visayas and Mindanao, warm and humid mornings are expected from Monday to Wednesday, with chances of rainshowers or thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.

By Tuesday, the southwest monsoon may bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Palawan, the Visayas and parts of Mindanao.

Santo Tomas poured its wrath on listless University of the East, 111-99, for a swift bounceback win to stay right behind unbeaten leader Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball yesterday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Licking their wounds from a 76-69 defeat against the NU Bulldogs – their lone scar so far after slaying title favorites UP and La Salle – the Growling Tigers rubbed off an early nine-point deficit behind a big surge in the middle quarters to improve to solo third at 3-1 midway through the first round.

In the other game, title-holder UP unleashed a staggering 32-12 closeout, including a 22-2 rally, to snap NU’s unbeaten run, 66-59, and jack up its card to 2-2.

The Bulldogs fell to 3-1 for a tie with first-game winner Santo Tomas, missing out on gaining a solo lead now owned by Ateneo (3-0).

Francis Nnoruka (14) and Gani Stevens (10) spearheaded the fightback from a 34-47 deficit late in the third as the Fighting Maroons notched their second straight win after a flat title defense kickoff.

Collins Akowe, after bleeding for a season-low performance against NU due to sickness, regained his groove in style with 18 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and three blocks as Santo Tomas primed up for another gigantic clash against unbeaten Ateneo at their home turf at the Blue Eagles gym next week.

Nic Cabañero rifled in 22 to lead the way in scoring laced by two rebounds, eight assists and two steals while floor general Forthsky Padrigao scattered 18 points, three rebounds, six assists and six steals.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), is the government agency that is charged with the responsibility for Seismology, or the science that deals with earthquakes. It was established thru Executive Order No. 984, on September 17, 1984.

In the United States of America, the primary government agency that studies earthquakes is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This American government office conducts research on earthquake causes and effects, monitors and reports on seismic activity, and assesses earthquake hazards.

An earthquake happens because there is a tectonic shifting of the earth’s crust and the apparent movement that takes place underneath. It is the PHIVOLCS that is our source of such information as the epicenter of the tremor. I understand that the epicenter is the very place on top of the rupture point. It was, however, from the report of the USGS that I got the information that the epicenter of the quake last Tuesday evening, September 30, was about nine kilometers southeast off the shore of Barangay Calape in the town of Daanbantayan. The USGS reported that a fault could be found there. With a depth of the rupture to have taken place only 10 kilometers, it was considered shallow such that the first vibration called in seismic science as the P wave, reportedly the strongest and fastest vibration travelling 5-12 kilometers per second, hit Daanbantayan first. The destruction that followed in Bogo City, Medellin, and other towns, is graphically carried in various social media platforms.

So much for that. This article is not about the unpredictability of earthquakes and other natural disasters. When I had the chance to visit the USGS in California, an official informed me that notwithstanding the advances of science and technology, they are nowhere near predicting when an earthquake is to happen. They expect the so-called ‘Big One’ anytime but they cannot say, for certain, when. He talked about the Great San Francisco Earthquake that occurred on April 18, 1906, registering magnitude 7.9. He further said that the tremor hit near the center of the city. Accordingly, the devastating fires that followed destroyed much of the city, killed an estimated 3,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.

True to the off-tangent nature of this column, this article today is a kind of revision of the few of my earlier writeups. I am talking about sanctuaries which I suggested to our leaders to construct years ago.

I said then, as I say it now, there is a need for the government to build structures in anticipation of calamities like typhoons, floods and fires. I failed to include earthquakes in the enumeration of cataclysmic disasters because of their rarity. But with the devastation of some localities in the northern part of our province caused by the shaking of the earth, the idea of establishing sanctuaries is now an inescapable need. Government planners have a lot to do to meet such emergencies.

The structure that I suggested in my previous articles must be a place to function as a command center from where to respond to emergencies. It has to house identified first responders like firemen, policemen, relief and rescue personnel, and doctors and nurses in comfortable accommodations that do not neglect the demands of privacy rights. Putting them safe and secure under one roof makes communication fast and coordination of needed actions efficient.

In the building, there must be maintained radio and other forms of communications that connect to barangays, firefighting equipment, rescue implements, relief goods, and adequate medical needs and kits. In my earlier articles, I also cited the necessity of providing immediate housing to victims of calamities. The ‘sanctuary’ will answer this. People must not be brought to the schools because these structures are designed for entirely different purpose. Really, education must not be compromised.

Years have passed since my first article calling for the construction of sanctuaries. The havoc wrought by last Tuesday’s earthquake makes it imperative for our leaders to act.