Category: Philippine Star

The world-class field assembled for International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus has been further strengthened with the addition of two-time Major champion and former World No.1, Dustin Johnson.

Johnson will join fellow Major winners Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, and Louis Oosthuizen for the eagerly awaited tournament which takes place at Sta. Elena Golf Club from Oct. 23-26.

The American, known for an unbeaten Ryder Cup record in five appearances and a spectacular 5-0 at Whistling Straits in 2021, last appeared on The International Series at the 2024 PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, and his comeback is set to electrify the fairways in the Philippines.

With an illustrious career to his name, Johnson’s achievements include winning the 2016 US Open at Oakmont Country Club with a four-under-par 276, and a sensational victory at the 2020 Masters Tournament, where he set a tournament record of 20-under-par. He first rose to World No. 1 in February 2017, holding the position for 64 consecutive weeks – the fifth-longest reign in history. He later reclaimed the top spot in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, spending more than 130 weeks in total as the world’s best golfer.

International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus is the sixth of the nine elevated events on this season’s Asian Tour schedule, offering players from around the globe a direct pathway into LIV Golf through the season-long Rankings race.

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. is among the companies expressing interest in acquiring Villar-owned PrimeWater.

Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said the company is open to considering PrimeWater, should a potential sale by the Villar Group happens.

‘It is still part of the water industry. We are a company in the water sector. PrimeWater is also into water so it’s unlikely that we won’t take a look,’ Fernandez said.

Former senator Cynthia Villar earlier said that her husband, tycoon Manuel Villar Jr., wants to dispose of PrimeWater since it is only being used against them in politics.

PrimeWater, a subsidiary of Prime Asset Ventures Inc., has earlier faced complaints from consumers about its water services.

The company serves over 1.7 million households and treats more than 500 million liters of water daily.

Its service coverage spans from Tuguegarao in Cagayan Province, through Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, the Visayas and extends all the way to Davao City in Mindanao.

Maynilad, meanwhile, is the concessionaire of the government in providing water services in the West Zone of Metro Manila.

The company, which is slated to conduct an initial public offering next month, is jointly owned by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), DMCI Holdings of the Consunji family and Marubeni Corp. of Japan.

MPIC owns about 53 percent of the water utility firm, while DMCI and Marubeni hold 25 percent and 20 percent , respectively.

‘There is interest (in PrimeWater) because they are really a dominant player. They have a lot of different buckets because they are very extensive outside Metro Manila,’BDO Capital and Investment Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said.

‘So they’re a good asset. I guess the question there is the valuation,’ he said.

Loan growth in the Philippines eased to its slowest pace in nine months as lending to businesses moderated in August despite resilient consumer demand, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Preliminary figures showed that loans disbursed by universal and commercial banks, net of their reverse repurchase placements with the BSP, expanded by 11.2 percent year-on-year in August, slower than the 11.8 percent increase in July.

The August reading marked the weakest growth in nine months or since the 11.1 percent pace in November 2024. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, outstanding loans rose by just 0.4 percent.

Bank loans reached P13.62 trillion in August, higher by P1.37 trillion compared to the P12.25 trillion recorded in the same month last year.

The BSP monitors bank loans because these are a key transmission channel of monetary policy.

Bank loans to residents expanded by 11.6 percent, also slower than the 12.4 percent increase recorded in July. Meanwhile, loans to non-residents posted a smaller contraction of 5.9 percent from the 8.1 percent decline a month earlier.

Borrowings intended to finance production activities grew by 9.9 percent, decelerating from 10.8 percent in July.

The rise in disbursements to the volatile real estate sector quickened to 11 percent in August from 10.7 percent a month ago with P2.77 trillion, followed by the electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply sector with a slower increase of 28.1 percent to P1.7 trillion.

The growth in loans extended to the wholesale and retail trade sector slowed to 8.1 percent with P1.51 trillion. Lending also increased for financial and insurance activities (6.9 percent) and information and communication (7.5 percent).

On the other hand, loans to the manufacturing sector fell by 5.5 percent to P1.21 trillion, although this was better than the 6.3 percent decline a month ago.

Consumer loans remained a bright spot, sustaining strong growth of 23.9 percent in August from 23.6 percent in July. The BSP noted that credit card, motor vehicle and salary-based loans continued to drive this segment.

Credit card loans soared by 29.7 percent to P1.07 trillion from P827.43 billion. Auto loans went up by 19.4 percent to P513.06 billion, while salary-based general-purpose consumption loans inched up by 6.4 percent to P164.5 billion.

‘Looking ahead, the BSP will ensure that domestic liquidity and bank lending conditions remain consistent with its price and financial stability mandates,’ the central bank said.

Separate BSP data showed that the growth in domestic liquidity stood at 6.6 percent in August, higher than the 6.2-percent increase in July. Money supply stood at around P18.6 trillion.

Cyclone Paolo (international name: Matmo) weakened into a severe tropical storm on Friday afternoon, October 3, as it moved over the West Philippine Sea, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

As of 4 p.m., Paolo was spotted over the coastal waters of Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 165 kph and a central pressure of 990 hPa.

The storm is moving west-northwestward at 35 kph, with strong to storm-force winds extending up to 480 kilometers from its center.

Wind signals

PAGASA said the following areas in Luzon are under tropical cyclone wind signals:

Signal No. 3

Ilocos Sur

La Union

southwestern portion of Abra (Boliney, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Tayum, Bangued, Langiden, Pidigan, San Quintin, Pilar, Luba, Manabo, Villaviciosa, San Isidro, Peñarrubia, Bucay, Tubo)

western portion of Kalinga (Tinglayan, Pasil)

western portion of Mountain Province (Besao, Tadian, Sagada, Bauko, Sadanga, Bontoc, Sabangan)

western portion of Ifugao (Hungduan, Tinoc)

Benguet

Residents may experience storm-force winds of 89 to 117 kph, which pose a moderate to significant threat to life and property.

Signal No. 2

southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, City of Batac, Paoay, Currimao, Banna, Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras, Solsona, Marcos, Bacarra, Piddig, Pasuquin, Vintar, Carasi)

Pangasinan

rest of Abra,

rest of Kalinga

rest of Mountain Province

rest of Ifugao

western portion of Isabela (Cordon, Ramon, San Mateo, City of Santiago, Quezon, Mallig, Roxas, Aurora, San Manuel, Cabatuan)

northwestern portion of Quirino (Cabarroguis, Saguday, Diffun)

northern and central portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Dupax del Norte, Aritao, Santa Fe, Bayombong, Bagabag, Villaverde, Kasibu, Bambang, Diadi, Quezon, Solano, Dupax del Sur, Ambaguio, Kayapa)

northernmost portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan)

Winds of 62 to 88 kph may cause minor to moderate impacts.

Signal No. 1

rest of Ilocos Norte

Apayao

Batanes

mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands

rest of Isabela

rest of Quirino

rest of Nueva Vizcaya

Aurora

rest of Nueva Ecija

Tarlac

Zambales

Pampanga

Bulacan

northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands

Winds of 39 to 61 kph may bring minimal to minor impacts.

Storm surge, severe winds

PAGASA warned that storm surge risks remain moderate to high, with peak heights of 1 to 3 meters along low-lying coastal areas of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Cagayan, Isabela and Aurora.

The outer rain bands of Paolo will also bring strong to gale-force gusts to the following areas not under wind signals,

Friday, October 3: Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Panay Island, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar

Saturday, October 4: Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Zambales and Bataan

Sea conditions

Gale warnings remain in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon.

Very rough to very high seas: Up to 6 meters along Ilocos Sur

High seas: Up to 5 meters along Ilocos Norte and Cagayan

Moderately high seas: Up to 4.5 meters across remaining northern seaboards

Rough seas: Up to 4 meters off Batanes and other exposed coasts

Moderate seas: Up to 3 meters along northern Quezon, Camarines Norte, Pangasinan, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur

PAGASA strongly advised against sea travel as waves and swells may worsen with Paolo’s approach.

Track and intensity

Paolo is forecast to move west-northwestward, exiting the Philippine area of responsibility over the West Philippine Sea by Saturday morning, October 4.

Despite weakening, heavy rainfall, storm-force winds and storm surge may still affect communities across northern and central Luzon.

PAGASA said the storm may re-intensify into a typhoon within the next 12 hours.

Typhoon Paolo weakened slightly as it crossed through northern Luzon on Friday afternoon, with PAGASA keeping Signal No. 4 raised in several areas.

The eye of the cyclone was last estimated within the vicinity of Mayoyao, Ifugao as it continued to head west northwest. It has maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 200 kph, and central pressure of 980 hPa

It is expected to exit the landmass and move into the West Philippine Sea within the day.

PAGASA warned the public of strong winds and rains, with Paolo also pulling in rains over areas outside its path, including Metro Manila, Bataan, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Panay Island, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.

State meteorologists hoisted the following wind signal warnings:

Signal No. 4 (Wind speeds up to 184 kph)

The southwestern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, Palanan, Roxas, Burgos, Gamu, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Aurora, Luna, Reina Mercedes, City of Cauayan, San Mateo, Alicia, Ramon, City of Santiago, Cordon, San Isidro, Echague, Angadanan, San Guillermo, Jones, San Agustin)

Northwestern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Aglipay, Saguday, Cabarroguis)

Northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Solano, Villaverde, Bagabag, Diadi, Quezon, Ambaguio, Bayombong)

Mountain Province

Ifugao

Southern portion of Abra (Tubo)

Northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan, Buguias, Kibungan, Kapangan, Atok, Kabayan)

Southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cervantes, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Sigay, San Emilio, Salcedo, Burgos, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, San Esteban, Santiago, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Suyo, Alilem, Tagudin, Sugpon)

Northern portion of La Union (Luna, Bangar, Balaoan, Sudipen, Santol, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, San Juan)

Signal No. 3 (Wind speeds up to 117 kph)

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

Rest of Isabela

Rest of Quirino

Central portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Bambang, Kayapa, Aritao, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Santa Fe)

Kalinga

Central portion of Abra (Boliney, Daguioman, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Licuan-Baay, Malibcong, Lacub, La Paz, San Juan, Lagangilang, Danglas, Lagayan, Tayum, Bangued, Langiden, Pidigan, San Quintin, Pilar, Luba, Manabo, Villaviciosa, San Isidro, Peñarrubia, Bucay, Dolores)

Rest of Benguet

Rest of Ilocos Sur, and the rest of La Union

Signal No. 2 (Wind speeds up to 88 kph)

Central and southern portions of Cagayan (Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Solana, Iguig, Tuao, Piat, Rizal, Santo Niño, Alcala, Amulung, Enrile, Baggao, Lasam, Gattaran, Lal-Lo, Allacapan)

Rest of Nueva Vizcaya

Apayao

Rest of Abra

Central and southern portions of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, City of Batac, Paoay, Currimao, Banna, Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras, Solsona, Marcos, Bacarra, Piddig, Pasuquin, Vintar, Carasi)

Pangasinan

Central portion of Aurora (Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)

Northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Bongabon, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Lupao, Science City of Muñoz, Llanera, Nampicuan, Cuyapo, Guimba, Talugtug, Quezon, Santo Domingo, Talavera, General Mamerto Natividad)

Northern portion of Tarlac ( Moncada, San Clemente, Camiling, Paniqui, Ramos, Anao, San Manuel, Gerona, Victoria, Pura)

Northern portion of Zambales ( Santa Cruz, Candelaria)

Signal No. 1 (Wind speeds up to 61 kph)

Batanes

Rest of mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands

Rest of Ilocos Norte

Rest of Aurora

Rest of Nueva Ecija

Rest of Tarlac

Bulacan

Pampanga

Rest of Zambales

Northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands

Camarines Norte

A gale warning has also been hoisted over the seaboards of several areas:

Up to high over the following coastal waters:

Up to 7.0 meters: The seaboard of Isabela

Up to 6.0 meters: The eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan

Up to 5.5 meters: The seaboards of northern Aurora and Ilocos Norte

Up to 5.0 meters: The seaboard of Ilocos Sur; the remaining seaboard of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands

Up to 4.5 meters: The seaboard of La Union

Up to rough seas over the following coastal waters:

Up to 4.0 meters: The seaboard of Batanes; the western seaboard of Pangasinan

Up to 3.5 meters: The seaboard of mainland northern Quezon; the northern and eastern seaboard of Polillo Islands

Up to 3.0 meters: The seaboard of Zambales and Camarines Norte; the remaining seaboard of Pangasinan

Up to 2.5 meters: The eastern seaboard of the rest of Quezon; the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur; the northern and eastern seaboard of Catanduanes

Up to 2.0 meters: The seaboard of Lubang Islands; the western seaboard of Bataan

The Pangasinan Heatwaves leaned on Hesed Gabo and Pedrito Galanza to beat the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys, 98-91, on Thursday and advance to the playoffs in the Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Robert Estrella Sr. Memorial Gymnasium in Rosales, Pangasinan.

Gabo pumped in eight points, spiked by two triples, while Galanza added five in the extra period as the Heatwaves repeated their 96-94 victory over the Cowboys in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team, two-division tournament.

More importantly, the Heatwaves clinched the seventh playoff slot in the North Division, putting them on a collision course with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, the No. 2 qualifier, in the best-of-three playoffs.

Gabo wound up with 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, atoning for his missed short jumper in the last two seconds, keeping the count tied at 82-82.

Galanza posted a game-high 23 points plus four rebounds.

Jorey Napoles also shone for Pangasinan with 17 points plus nine rebounds, and so did Allyn Bulanadi with 15 points, four assists and three steals.

The Cowboys, who led at 66-58, got 21 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals from Arth Dela Cruz; 14 points; three rebounds and three assists from Agem Miranda; 11 points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds from Donald Gumaru; and 10 points from Mark Dyke.

The loss sent the Cowboys into a do-or-die showdown with the Bataan Risers, who ousted Pasig City, 99-78, in the opener.

With Yves Sazon finding his range and four others joining the scoring fray, the Risers led by as far as 94-67 in avenging their 85-88 defeat to the Pasiguenos in the round-robin elimination phase on May 14.

Sazon drilled in six triples en route to 20 points, followed by Chris Javier with 13 points and nine rebounds; Robbi Darang with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists; Hubert Cani with 12 points and six assists; and Lorenz Capulong with 11 points plus four rebounds.

Pasig drew 21 points and 12 rebounds from Jacob Galicia; 17 points and eight rebounds from Chito Jaime; and 13 points from John Felix Corpuz.

Powered by Javier and Cani, the Risers surged ahead, 51-30, from which the Pasiguenos couldn’t recover.

Javier canned a triple and Jamil Gabawan completed a 3-point play as Bataan foiled Pasig’s rally, 71-49, with 1:22 left in the third quarter.

The league heads to the Pola Gymnasium in Oriental Mindoro on Thursday for the South Division play-in games featuring Cebu against Davao at 4 p.m., and Mindoro against Zamboanga at 6 p.m.

Heartbreak for Alex Eala.

The Filipina tennis ace clawed out of a late deficit in the third set but faltered in the tiebreak to yield to Viktorija Golubic, 2-6, 6-2, 6(0)-7, in the Suzhou WTA 125 quarterfinals in China Friday.

After Eala tied the third set at 3-all, the 32-year-old Swiss won the next two games to grab a 5-3 lead.

Golubic, the World No. 70, even took the advantage in the sixth game, but the Rafa Nadal Academy graduate showcased her resiliency as she clawed out of the hole inch by inch.

Eala took a 6-5 lead, but her Swiss foe forced the tiebreak with a victory in the 12th game.

In the tiebreak, Eala seemingly ran out of steam as she faced a 0-4 deficit and did not recover.

The 20-year-old, ranked 58th in the world, had a strong start in the first set, dropping the first two games before sweeping the next six.

In the second set, though, Golubic waxed hot and won the first four games, before Eala finally bagged one.

But Golubic win two of the next three games to extend the match.

Before the Filipina tennister exited the tournament, she took down Katarzyna Kawa and Greet Minnen in the first two rounds.

Golubic will now take on German tennister Tatjana Maria in the semifinals, who punched her ticket to the semifinals via walkover.

Property giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is pouring in P10.3 billion to develop its largest mixed-use development in Mindanao called Ascenda.

Ascenda is a 204-hectare master planned and nature-inspired project located in Davao’s Toril District, which will be developed in partnership with Mindanao-based Anflocor.

It will serve as ALI’s 54th estate in its portfolio and is expected to help fuel Davao City’s growth further.

‘Davao is truly a city on the rise, with its economic growth outpacing the national average. Major infrastructure projects – the Samal-Davao Bridge, the Coastal Road and the Davao Bypass Road – are unlocking new connectivity and opportunities,’ ALI president and CEO Meann Dy said.

‘Ascenda is well positioned to benefit from Davao’s momentum, providing Davaoeños new space to grow and an environment attuned to their modern, upgraded lifestyles,’ she said.

Dy said that Davao has been in Ayala’s radar since the 1970s, with ALI being the first major property developer to invest in Davao City with the launch of Insular Village in 1976.

ALI followed it up with the development of Abreeza in 2007 and then Azuela Cove in 2017.

‘Now the time has come for us to go full blast here in Davao with our largest estate development ever in the Vismin region,’ Dy said.

ALI said that Ascenda marks a series of firsts for the company in the region, being the first Ayala horizontal estate in Mindanao.

It will also offer the only Ayala Land Premier residential village, Virendo, in Davao.

Further, the estate is seen as the first major development that will benefit from the new Davao by-pass road, complementing the newly completed Coastal Road and Maharlika Highway system.

By bringing its best mixed-use components in Ascenda, ALI said the estate is poised to become one of Davao City’s prime destinations and top value drivers by creating a new vibrant residential enclave, town center and commercial district.

Ascenda’s master plan includes two main components – a 65-hectare Town Center as its commercial and cultural anchor and a 139-hectare residential district featuring its top premiere residential brands.

The Town Center will feature the Eco Park designed by internationally acclaimed design firm Henning Larsen.

ALI said that Ascenda’s version of Bishan Park would provide a space for community bonding and recreation as well as serve as a platform for preserving Toril’s ecosystem.

Other Town Center components, meanwhile, include prime commercial lots, greenways and shopping streets with unique lifestyle concepts where residents and guests can access local and global retail brands and various restaurants, cafés and shops. The town center will also host a community church.

‘We refer to Ascenda as ‘Davao’s Nature-Inspired Southern Gateway’ because it draws from Ayala Land’s experience in masterplanning large-scale suburban estates that place nature at the top of their value proposition,’ Dy said.

Dy expects Ascenda’s value as a residential enclave and commercial hub to greatly appreciate in the coming years, much like Ayala Alabang and Nuvali in Luzon.

‘Beyond its premier residential offerings, Ascenda also features prime commercial lots that present exceptional opportunities for investors,’ she said.

Kirk Bondad, the Philippines’ second Mister International, had a rousing victory presscon at the Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City in Pasay on September 29.

Kirk’s win follows Kenneth Cabangcal placing fifth at Mister Supranational in Poland on June 28, and Kenneth Marcelino’s first runner-up finish at Mister Cosmopolitan in Thailand on September 7. Jether Palomo is currently campaigning in Bangkok to snatch a back-to-back victory at Mister Global 2025.

The two Kenneths were at Kirk’s homecoming event. However, it was made even more memorable with the presence of ‘Gwapulis’ Neil Perez, who won the Philippines’ first Mister International title in 2014.

One of the first questions on everyone’s mind, though, was Kirk’s reaction to being followed on social media by Latin pop superstar Ricky Martin.

‘I know that he started following me a little bit over a year ago and we chatted a little bit. It’s only now that people have been getting notice of that. And honestly, I’m very surprised that the skeleton just popped up out of nowhere,’ said the Superman-like Filipino-German supermodel, wellness director and entrepreneur.

‘But, yeah, I guess I just started following him back actually. I was in the airport and I realized that I don’t follow him but I checked him out and he’s like super into fitness and all that,’ an excited Kirk, 28, said.

‘So, who knows maybe one day we will have a workout or something. Yeah, it’s funny. It’s definitely something that I did not expect to get out of this competition,’ he added.

Philippine billiards icon Django Bustamante will be the captain of Team Asia for the secon edition of the Reyes Cup set later this month.

Bustamante, a former world champion who was also a rival of Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes, will be the non-playing captain of Team Asia, opposite ‘Double J’ Jeremy Jones, who will take the helm for Team Rest of the World.

In the inaugural season of the Reyes Cup, Team Asia, made up of Johann Chua, Carlo Biado, Ko Pin-yi, Duong Quoc Hoang and Aloysius Yapp, brought home the championship against Team Europe, composed Jayson Shaw, Mickey Krause, Eklent Kaçi, David Alcaide and Francisco Sánchez Ruíz.

Now, there will be a much greater challenge for Team Asia, as they battle some of the best pool players from outside the continent.

‘It is such an honor to be named captain of Team Asia, especially here in the Philippines. The Reyes Cup means so much to our fans, and I will do everything I can to lead our team to defend the title Efren claimed,’ Bustamante said.

‘Last year was special, but this year we know the challenge will be even greater. Jeremy is a great champion and competitor, but I am ready to keep the Cup in Asia,’ he added.

For his part, Jones said that his long playing experience ‘is a real privilege.’

‘Team Asia will be tough, especially with Django at the helm, but we’re coming to Manila with one mission: to make history and take that trophy back with us,’ he said.

With captains confirmed, attention now turns to the final player qualification spots, to be decided at the Hanoi Open Pool Championship from October 7-12.

Wildcard selections will follow shortly thereafter.