Category: Philippine Star

The cheers, though subdued, began early and never truly faded. From the opening tee shot that split the fairway to the final putt that found the cup, the Sta. Elena Golf Club thrummed with energy on a sweltering Saturday afternoon as Miguel Tabuena mounted his charge in Round 3 of the International Series.

Two eagles and three birdies – plus one clutch scrambling par on the seventh that preserved a stirring, bogey-free 65 – vaulted the Filipino ace to the top of the leaderboard. He may not be there alone, but his inspired charge was more than enough to ignite dreams of a hometown triumph in the $2-million championship that no one quite saw coming.

No one, perhaps, except Tabuena himself – and those who have always believed in him.

Among them were the spirited fans who flocked to the posh fairways of the host club, turning the usually serene course into a festival of cheers and unbridled pride. The gallery erupted when Tabuena sank his second eagle of the day on No. 16 – a moment that sent shockwaves through the course as he caught up with erstwhile solo leader Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand (65) and China’s surging Sampson Zheng (62), all locked at 17-under 199 and in the hunt for the top $360,000 purse (P21 million).

For a day, Sta. Elena felt less like a golf course and more like an arena.

‘To be honest, I completely lost track of my score out there,’ said Tabuena, who launched a 4-iron from 257 yards on the par-5 third and a 5-iron from 235 yards downwind on the 16th to set up his two eagles. ‘I was just cruising and found myself in a real flow state – exactly what I was hoping to achieve at the start of the day.’

He added that he made a conscious effort not to think about his score or what the other players were doing.

‘I just wanted to focus on my own game and execute my plan. It felt great to be able to do that today,’ he said.

Tabuena also admitted that the large crowd gave him an extra boost.

‘I haven’t played in front of that many people in a long time. It makes it even more special that it’s happening here at home. Hopefully, I can finish the job tomorrow (Sunday),’ he added.

But it won’t be just a three-man shootout.

Lurking just a shot behind at 200 is Japan’s Yosuke Asaji, who rebounded from an early slip on No. 7 with a brilliant run of birdies – eight over his last 11 holes, including seven on the back nine. South Africa’s Dean Burmester and Japan’s Kazuki Higa also stayed in contention at 202 after carding 65 and 68, respectively.

Justin Quiban impressed with a 69 to climb into a tie for 19th at 207. But Angelo Que, who had been in the thick of things after a 70 and a 65, rebounded with birdies on Nos. 8 and 11 to offset bogeys on the second and seventh. However, the three-time Asian Tour winner stumbled down the stretch, dropping three bogeys over his last seven holes for a 75, slipping to a share of 40th at 210.

The tournament’s marquee names also struggled to make significant moves on Moving Day. South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel fired a solid 67 to share 13th at 206, while American Patrick Reed settled for a 71 to join Quiban and four others at 207. Former world No. 1 and two-time major champion Dustin Johnson shot a 68 to tie for 25th at 208, nine strokes off the leaders.

Throughout the eventful day, each cheer carried the hopes of a nation yearning to witness a defining moment in Philippine golf. With every fist pump and confident stride down the fairway, the crowd responded in kind – high-fiving, roaring louder each time – a swelling symphony of belief rising behind their homegrown hero.

Suwannarut, after two brilliant rounds of 64 and 66 under preferred lies, suddenly felt the weight of pressure playing alongside a crowd favorite. The Thai’s early momentum faltered as he managed just five birdies after racking up 16 over the first two days. His two bogeys reflected the strain of competing beside a hometown hero, every swing underlined by the energy of the gallery.

While the duel at the top drew all the attention, Zheng quietly crafted a comeback masterpiece four flights ahead. Starting the day seven shots adrift, the Chinese contender pieced together an electrifying run – opening with early birdies and capping it off with an eagle on the eighth – all without the pressure of the roaring crowd.

Four straight birdies down the stretch sealed a 10-under and propelled him to 17-under, suddenly thrusting him into contention with Suwannarut and Tabuena.

His brief solo hold of the lead, however, would not last.

Tabuena wasted no time igniting the galleries. He birdied the opening hole and when reached the par-5 third in two and calmly drained the eagle putt, the gallery erupted.

But as the local hero surged, Suwannarut answered like a man on a mission. Matching birdies at Nos. 2 and 3, he quieted the Filipino faithful and maintained his grip on the top spot. Suwannarut’s steady hand contrasted Tabuena’s fiery charge, keeping the Thai two strokes ahead through the front nine despite a slip on the par-5 sixth.

Tabuena turned in 33, the crowd sensing the momentum that had carried him to a spectacular 30 on the back nine a day earlier – one that included both a hole-in-one and an eagle in a blistering three-hole stretch. Each swing brought gasps and cheers, every putt met with applause from fans who had come from all over, hoping to witness something historic.

But Suwannarut refused to be rattled. He reignited his own run with birdies at Nos. 10 and 11, seemingly silencing the galleries once more. Yet Tabuena’s resolve never wavered. The Filipino ace clawed back again with consecutive birdies from No. 12 and his clutch eagle on No. 16 drew roars that rolled across the Laguna landscape.

Every stroke, every read, every decision seemed magnified – the air heavy with anticipation of a homegrown triumph.

Come Sunday, Tabuena will once again carry not just his clubs, but the hopes of an entire nation yearning for a homegrown champion on home soil. The galleries are expected to swell as he steps into the final round with the weight of expectation and the wind of momentum at his back.

What once seemed an improbable chase for glory has turned into a legitimate shot at history – a chance for the 31-year-old Filipino to lift a title against a world-class field brimming not just with international stars – but with major champions.

The final day promises fireworks: the seasoned Thai, the fearless Chinese, and the Filipino favorite chasing destiny on home soil. The pressure will be immense, the competition unrelenting. Tabuena may not have been here before, but his calm under fire has never shone more brightly.

If his putter stays hot and his confidence holds steady, Sunday could be the day the hometown crowd witnesses something truly special – a victory that transcends sport, uniting fans in celebration of a Filipino standing tall among the best in the world.

Because when Tabuena tees off in the final round, he won’t be alone. He’ll have an entire nation walking with him – one heartbeat, one dream, one unforgettable chance at glory.

At the 62nd People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) Annual Conference and Awards held at NuSTAR Cebu on October 23, SM Supermalls proudly celebrated two landmark honors among 96 competing organizations across three award categories-solidifying its place as a leader in people management and sustainability.

Cheryll Ruth Lat-Agsaoay: 2025 People Manager of the Year – National Winner

HR Group Head and Senior Vice President Cheryll Ruth Lat-Agsaoay was conferred PMAP’s highest individual honor as the National Winner for People Manager of the Year 2025, a first in SM Group history.

The recognition underscores her transformative leadership in human resources, guided by empathy, agility and innovation. Her approach reflects the essence of the award: leading with trust, shaping the future of work through technology, and ensuring every SM employee feels seen, valued and empowered to thrive.

‘HR will continue to champion innovative solutions with deep human connections. We’ll influence safe and brave spaces where people can be intentional about innovation and collaboration,’ Lat-Agsaoay said.

This milestone is made even more meaningful as SM Supermalls celebrates its 40th anniversary. It is a testament to SM’s enduring commitment to nurture people, grow talent from within and cultivate a culture where purpose meets performance.

Sustainability Moves: People Program of the Year – NCR Exemplar

Equally inspiring is Sustainability Moves, awarded as NCR Exemplar for People Program of the Year.

More than a program, it is a movement powered by SM employees’ collective passion for sustainability. Rooted in volunteerism and driven by purpose, it exemplifies how SM Supermalls integrates environmental and social responsibility into its everyday operations.

‘Our people are at the heart of what we do as an organization. HR is a strategic partner to the business as we drive a high-performing culture and sustainability has always been at the core of how we work in operations,’ said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.

These back-to-back recognitions from PMAP affirm SM Supermalls’ commitment to being not just a great place to shop but also a great place to work. Here, people are empowered to create meaningful impact, grow with purpose and contribute to a sustainable future for all.

The amount of damage to school buildings caused by the recent magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Manay, Davao Oriental has reached P8.5 billion, the Department of Education said yesterday.

The DepEd disaster risk reduction and management service (DRRMS) said in-person classes remained suspended in most schools affected by the temblor.

‘Alternative learning modes have been implemented across affected schools to ensure learning continuity,’ the DepEd-DRRMS said, noting it has been closely coordinating with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to speed up response operations, assess the extent of damage and identify immediate needs in affected areas.

The DepEd said 2,703 schools were severely damaged by the quake including 1,219 in Davao region, 474 in Caraga, 407 in Central Visayas, 318 in Northern Mindanao, 140 in Negros Island Region, 70 in Eastern Visayas, 45 in Western Visayas and 30 in Soccsksargen.

Other schools recorded minor damage to classrooms and facilities.

Three organizations representing government employees and retirees have expressed full support for the leadership of the Government Service Insurance System under president and general manager Jose Arnulfo ‘Wick’ Veloso, citing transparency, sound financial management and continued engagement with members.

The Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA) with over 600,000 members, Philippine Alliance of Retired Educators (PARE) with 280,000 members and GSIS Retirees Association Inc. (GRAI) each conveyed their confidence in the direction the GSIS is taking amid recent public discussions regarding its investments and governance.

In respective statements and meetings with Veloso, the groups emphasized that they have personally witnessed the institution’s openness and responsiveness to the concerns of its members and pensioners.

‘We saw how Veloso carefully managed (the GSIS) and his honest service to government workers,’ said PGEA president Esperanza Ocampo.

The PARE, led by former Department of Education undersecretary Jesus Mateo and founder Abigael Ignacio, also met with Veloso and other GSIS officials to discuss the concerns of retirees, including dividends, pension increases and Christmas cash gifts.

‘We want to be your advocate in letting everyone know that GSIS is strong and stable,’ Mateo said, adding that the group will help disseminate accurate information about its programs and financial standing.

The GRAI also conveyed its ‘100 percent support’ for Veloso and the GSIS management, recognizing that prudent investments are essential to sustaining the fund for future generations.

‘We know that GSIS needs to invest because contributions alone are not enough to sustain the benefits of all members,’ the group said.

Veloso told the groups that reports of losses are false, as he noted that the GSIS remains financially strong as guided by the principles of safety, liquidity and yield.

He added that all investment decisions undergo multiple levels of review.

Veloso assured the groups that GSIS exercises prudence and continues to place the majority of its funds in risk-free instruments such as government securities and member loans.

‘We value the trust of our members and pensioners. That is why we welcome opportunities to clarify issues directly and explain the facts,’ Veloso said.

He noted that the recent appointment of new GSIS trustees has strengthened teamwork and stability within the institution, allowing governance and management to move forward with a shared focus on member welfare.

During the dialogue with PARE, newly appointed trustee Cenon Audencial Jr. expressed his commitment to supporting the retirees.

According to Veloso, the dialogues form part of GSIS’s continuing efforts to maintain open communication with stakeholders.

‘We thank our partners in the public service community for their continued trust and collaboration. Together, we can ensure Ginhawa for All,’ Veloso said.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes a fully-fit Shohei Ohtani is poised for a ‘big’ World Series as the reigning MLB champions prepare to face the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 on Friday.

Japanese two-way superstar Ohtani powered the Dodgers into the World Series last week with a jaw-dropping solo masterpiece, blasting three home runs and recording 10 strikeouts in a 5-1 defeat of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Roberts believes that performance augurs well for Ohtani, who made a modest contribution to last year’s 4-1 World Series victory over the New York Yankees after suffering a shoulder injury in game two.

Although Ohtani played in all five games against the Yankees, he mustered just two hits from 19 at bats and never looked completely comfortable following his injury.

But Roberts believes Ohtani’s performance against the Brewers – acclaimed by many as the greatest individual display in baseball history – could be a catalyst for World Series success.

‘Having him healthy going in is a great thing,’ Roberts said on Thursday. ‘I think him kind of feeding off that last game is a good thing.

‘Last year, it was just more of just being able to stand in the batter’s box and do whatever he could to sort of help us, whereas I think this year he’s equipped to have a big series.

‘And he’s just going to have to be smart and disciplined because they’re going to pitch him careful, and he’s just got to be smart, and if he’s disciplined, then it should bode well for him and for all of us.’

Ohtani, meanwhile, told reporters on Thursday he is anticipating some nerves when he takes the field at the Rogers Centre on Friday.

‘I expect myself to be nervous, especially when I start, but that is to be expected,’ he said through an interpreter.

‘They’re really a complete team, both on the hitting side and pitching side, so I expect a pretty good fight.

‘We played a lot of really good teams coming up to this World Series. But most importantly, I’m really confident with this current Dodgers team. We’ve bonded really strongly with each other, and so I’m hoping that will be expressed on the field.’

‘Indescribable’ Ohtani

In a parallel universe, Ohtani might have been lining up for Toronto rather than the Dodgers. The 31-year-old was courted aggressively by the Blue Jays when a free agent in 2023 before eventually opting to join the Dodgers.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider jokingly referenced his meeting with Ohtani two years ago when addressing the media on Thursday.

‘I hope he brought the Blue Jays hat that he took from us in our meeting,’ Schneider said, also requesting Ohtani return a Blue Jays-themed jacket the team had given him for his dog, Decoy.

‘You know, like give us our stuff back already,’ Schneider said. ‘But he’s a great player… I think things worked out the way they’re meant to work out.’

Dodgers teammate Freddie Freeman, last season’s World Series MVP, doubts that Ohtani’s unicorn-like combination of elite pitching and hitting may ever be seen again in Major League Baseball.

Television personality and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian will address on the latest season of “The Kardashians” a diagnosis she received for a brain aneurysm, after unveiling the return of psoriasis.

A teaser for the seventh season of the reality series which premiered last October 23 included clips of Kim entering an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanner.

“There’s, like, a little anuerysm,” Kim’s voice goes, citing that doctors said it’s likely due to stress.

The Mayo Clinic defines a brain aneursym – also called a cerebral or intracranial aneurysm – as a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain.

The clip was immediately followed by Kim saying in a confessional, “People think that I have the luxury of walking away” and later in a phone call to her mother Kris and younger sister Khloe that she had just gone through “the hardest week of her life.”

“I’m happy it’s over,” Kim said in another confessional intercut with her exiting the MRI scanner. “My ex will be in my life no matter what. We have four kids together.”

While she didn’t mention which ex, Kim has four children – North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm – with ex-husband Kanye West whom she was married in 2014 but officially divorced from in 2022.

In the Season 7 premiere itself, Kim told a producer that she “hasn’t had psoriasis since getting a divorce and it just started coming back,” again citing stress.

Psoriasis, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a chronic skin disease that causes a rash with itchy, scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp.

“This is the first time I think one of my kids knew what was happening,” Kim said. “I’ve been able to hide it for so long. I always felt like I had a little bit of Stockholm syndrome to where I always felt really bad and always protected and always wanted to help and this was the first time I didn’t feel like responsibility personally.”

Kim briefly discussed Kanye again without mentioning his name, citing previous claims that she was preventing the rapper from seeing their kids.

“He’s never once called and asked. And then I’ll wake up and it’s on Twitter that I’m keeping the kids,” Kim continued. “So, it’s just like when it’s not true and not rational I just have to like I can’t engage all the time.”

The budding lawyer pointed out what took place was a divorce and not a kidnapping, adding that he knows where the children reside.

“I’m not looking for [an apology]. I don’t care. Is it sad, it’s so f***ing sad. I can’t stress too much about that. I have to worry about other things,” Kim ended.

Down, crippled and all, La Salle braves on with vengeance on mind against Santo Tomas to revive its title redemption bid in the second round of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Green Archers march on to battle without Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan for the second straight game but brim with confidence to get payback on the Growling Tigers after their first-round defeat.

At 4-3, La Salle takes aim at Santo Tomas (5-2) in the game at 4:30 p.m. to forge a three-way tie at 5-3 with the idle and reigning champion University of the Philippines in the race for the coveted top two seeds that come a win-once bonus in the Final Four.

La Salle will have a morale-boosting 82-79 win over rival UP to ride on in an attempt to overturn a 93-84 first-round meltdown. The Green Archers, then with a full-force squad with Amos and Baclaan prior to their MCL injuries, wasted a 12-point lead in the second half.

Head coach Topex Robinson is hoping for a different result this time around, despite a crippled unit after Jacob Cortez and Mike Phillips proved their capability to still lead the charge against the Fighting Maroons.

‘We’re undermanned and we’re really being challenged. Yes, no Kean, no Mason, but also no excuses. We’re always going to come out on a test of character. There’s still a lot of games to be played,’ said Robinson. ‘So, this is not the end all be all of us. It’s just the end of the first round and there’s going to be a lot of games to be played.’

Muay’s John Brix Ramiscal and Tyron Jamborillo and mixed martial arts’ Travis Ratcliff earned a shot at a potential gold medal in their respective sports yesterday in the 3rd Asian Youth Games at the Exhibition World Bahrain here.

Ramiscal and Jamborillo blew away the opposition in finishing with the best score of 9.07 in the boy’s mai muay duo that ensured them of at least a bronze and one of the four spots’ in tomorrow’s finals where they would have a crack at the gold.

For the 17-year-old Ratcliff, he made the finals without breaking a sweat after Tajikistan’s Osimi Begmuodzoda did not make the weight in the semifinals of the boys’ 60-kilogram class in traditional MMA.

The Calatrava, Negros Occidental native would battle it out for the gold tomorrow with the winner between Satria Eka Suryo of Indonesia and Amirmohammad Hatamianafshari of Iran.

Interestingly, Ratcliff’s sister, Charlie, was fighting for a finals slot against Kazakhstan’s Anelya Tsoy in the girls’ 45kg modern MMA as of presstime.

Another Filipino in Alexander Tagure Jr. wasn’t as fortunate though after losing to Uzbekistan’s Avaz Anbvarov submission-neck and settled for a bronze.

Ports and casino magnate Enrique Razon Jr. is set to further expand his stake in the Philippine natural gas sector following government approval of his P50-billion deal with billionaire Federico Lopez.

This comes after the Philippine Competition Commission cleared Razon’s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc.’s planned takeover of Lopez-led First Gen Corp.’s gas business by acquiring a 60-percent stake.

The deal covers First Gen’s existing gas-fired facilities totaling over 2,000 megawatts, along with the proposed 1,200-MW Santa Maria plant and an interim offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Batangas.

‘First Gen and Prime Infra continue to work toward satisfaction of all other conditions precedent,’ First Gen said in a regulatory filing yesterday.

Upon the transaction’s closing, Prime Infra will own 60 percent of the gas assets, with First Gen retaining a 40-percent interest to ensure continuity and stable operations of the projects.

Prime Infra will likewise take a commanding 60 percent stake in the LNG terminal, while First Gen and Japan’s Tokyo Gas will each hold 20 percent.

Market watchers told The STAR the deal is expected to rival the $3.3-billion LNG venture sealed in January by tycoons Manuel V. Pangilinan, Ramon Ang and Sabin Aboitiz.

According to investment banker Juan Paolo Colet, the takeover of First Gen’s gas assets is ‘very strategic’ for Prime Infra, citing the company’s investment in the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project.

The Malampaya field, an indigenous gas resource in offshore Palawan operated by Prime Infra unit Prime Energy, has been supplying fuel to First Gen’s power plants for years.

Veteran market analyst Astro del Castillo, meanwhile, said the gas deal is ‘mutually beneficial’ for First Gen and Prime Infra.

Prime Infra would strengthen its foothold in the energy sector, while First Gen could use the fresh capital to focus on developing more renewable power projects, Del Castillo said.

Confidence is sky-high for local team Homebois as far as its title hopes goes in the Kings International Championship happening in the Philippines next month.

Homebois’ Wong “GuiYu” Yit Siang believes they are still the superior team in the region.'[There’s still] not enough [competition] to give us challenge,’ GuiYu said in a press conference here Saturday ahead of Homebois’ semifinal bid in the 2025 Honor of Kings Nation Clash.

Asked who they expect to meet in the finals, he said it would be Blacklist Philippines, given the fact that the latter handed them their recent loss.