Category: Philippine Star

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.

Alvin Aguilar is having a banner year.

Aguilar, the founder of the biggest organization of jiu-jitsu artists in the country and president of the Wrestling Association of the Philippines, clinched four awards at the SJJIF World Championships held in Chiba, Japan recently.

Hailing from Bacolod City, Aguilar, founder of DEFTAC Ribeiro Jiu-jitsu Philippines and its head coach since 1996, was hailed best coach in four categories – Gi Adults, NOGI Adults, Gi Kids, and NoGi Kids – for steering the Filipino jiu-jitsu team to a successful campaign in Chiba tournament.

‘I am incredibly proud to share that I have received the Quadruple Award for COACH OF THE YEAR In the WORLD at the SJJIF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS held in Chiba, Japan!’ Aguilar posted on his Facebook account.

‘This honor recognizes my contributions in four categories: Best Coach in Gi Adults, Best Coach in NOGI Adults, Best Coach in Gi Kids, and Best Coach in NoGi Kids for 2025,’ he added.

Aguilar got the awards thanks to his students collectively scoring the most points in every category. He and his team thus produced the most champions per category.

Aguilar, also the president and founder of the Universal Reality Combat championship, dedicated the awards to those who contributed to the success of their Japan campaign.

‘This achievement is the result of the collective effort of EVERYONE at DEFTAC, from our dedicated Chapter Heads and Coaches to the supportive parents and, most importantly, our amazing students,’ said Aguilar.

‘Each of you has put in hard work and dedication, and while I may be the face of this achievement, it’s truly ALL OF US who have contributed to every victory we’ve celebrated.

‘Here’s to greater things ahead for all of us.’

Aguilar also thanked Generals Sensei Xande Ribeiro and Saulo Ribeiro for their guidance, instruction, smashing, brotherhood and inspiration.

‘This is ours,’ Aguilar, known for being the first homegrown Filipino jiu-jitsu black belter, told the two Ribeiros.

George Diamante shone brightest for Letran as the Knights rolled to their second straight win with a 76-68 thumping of Immaculada Concepcion College in the PG Flex Invitational Tournament 2025 Quintana Cup on Thursday, October 2, at the Paco Arena.

The 6-foot-4 Diamante baffled his defenders with his all-around brilliance as he registered a rare triple-double of 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in nearly 33 minutes of action to clinch the Best Player of the Game plum.

Three other Letran players – Lance Daniel Siena (11), Justin Hugo (12) and Denzil Sison-Walker (10) – also finished in double figures to help Diamante repel ICC’s repeated rallies.

Rapael Perhis and Mark Gabieta also impressed after leading Manila Central University to a stunning 78-74 win over Centro Escolar University in the event that has the backing Smart Sports, Crane, Topflite, Hapee Toothpaste, Gerry’s Grill, Spalding, Mighty Bond and Best Options.

Meantime, Olivarez College showed its readiness to defend its UCAL crown after downing Gardner College, 62-54, in a game it dominated right from the start.

Jhon Patrick Panela was the lone double-digit scorer for Olivarez but five players tallied six points or more.

In a tight contest, it was Perhis who struck hardest for the MCU Supremos with 18 points apart from posting 4 rebounds and 3 assists, while Gabieta added 17 points and 8 boards.

Emmanuel Galman paced CEU with 18 points.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has rebuffed accusations of foot-dragging on reported anomalies in flood control projects, saying it has already secured court orders to freeze billions worth of suspected illicit assets.

In a statement sent to The STAR, AMLC executive director Matthew David addressed criticisms raised in a column article that the council acted belatedly on the controversy, involving several public works officials and private contractors.

‘We acknowledge the concerns and questions raised regarding the AMLC involvement in the ongoing investigation into the alleged flood control project scam,’ David said. ‘We wish to clarify that the AMLC has taken decisive and impactful action in recent weeks.’

Boo Chanco, in his STAR column on Oct. 1, criticized what he described as government officials’ ‘lack of respect for the peso,’ citing wasteful projects and corruption scandals.

He singled out the AMLC for allegedly acting too late in freezing accounts linked to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ ghost flood control projects, saying legislators and contractors involved may have already moved their stash abroad before regulators took action.

But according to David, the Court of Appeals has granted three freeze orders on petitions filed by the AMLC over the past three weeks, effectively blocking the movement of an estimated P2.9 billion worth of suspected stolen public funds and assets.

The most recent freeze order covers 836 bank accounts, 12 e-wallets, 24 insurance policies, 81 motor vehicles and 12 real estate properties.

This was on top of two earlier orders that immobilized 1,563 bank accounts, 54 insurance policies, 154 vehicles, 30 real estate properties and 12 e-wallets.

Reports indicated that certain banks and even the state-run Land Bank of the Philippines facilitated questionable transfers linked to the scheme.

The Commission on Audit, meanwhile, has filed four more fraud audit reports against DPWH officials and their contractors for their part in four multimillion-peso flood control projects in Bulacan that were fully paid but never built.

The projects include the P92.7-million flood control structure in Barangay San Roque, Baliuag, and the P92.7-million flood control structure along Angat River in Barangay Taal, Pulilan, which were both awarded to SYMS Construction Trading.

Also included were the P69.5-million riverbank protection structure in Barangay Bagong Silang, Plaridel, awarded to Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc., and the P96.5-million riverwall in Barangay Pagala, Baliuag, awarded to Triple 8 Construction and Supply Inc.

In another development, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has announced his appointment of new officials, mostly assistant secretaries.

A construction worker from Tondo, Manila died from a gunshot during the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests in Mendiola, according to forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun.

Fortun, in a medical certificate issued yesterday, confirmed that Eric Saber died due to a ‘perforating gunshot to the neck.’

The 35-year-old victim also suffered from a spinal cord injury, Fortun said.

Saber was allegedly shot by police during a violent dispersal of protesters, according to militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

However, Philippine National Police public information officer Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said there was no shooting during the unrest.

Tuaño said police recorded one fatality, a 15-year-old student who died from a stab wound.

‘There was no shooting connected to the protest. Based on the report, it was a stabbing incident, not a case of police firing,’ he said.

The KMU vowed justice for Saber, who was buried yesterday at the Manila North Cemetery.

A Quezon City court has issued warrants for the arrest of four people, including the alleged masterminds, in the murder of an official of the House of Representatives on June 15.

In a decision dated Sept. 24, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 91 ordered the arrest of Alexis Jesus Cuchapin Jr., Ma. Theresa Requerme, Ignicris Pios and Judy Rivera in connection with the killing of Mauricio Pulhin.

Police have identified Cuchapin and Requerme as the ones who allegedly masterminded Pulhin’s murder.

Pios worked as Cuchapin’s driver. Rivera reportedly drove one of the motorcycles used as getaway vehicles by the suspects.

Pulhin was the chief of technical staff of the House committee on ways and means before he was killed.

He was celebrating the birthday of his seven-year-old daughter at Don Jose Antonio Heights Subdivision in Barangay Commonwealth when he was shot dead.

Quezon City Police District director Col. Randy Glenn Silvio said yesterday the issuance of the warrants underscored the strength of the QCPD’s airtight investigation.

Silvio said manhunt operations are underway for the suspects’ arrest.

Anyone with information about the suspects’ whereabouts may report to the nearest police station or call E911, Quezon City Helpline 122 or 0917-8403925.

Police have arrested two other suspects in Pulhin’s murder.

Despite the halt on rice imports to the country, the Bureau of Customs (BOC)’s revenue collection remained unfazed, earning over P80 billion for the month of September.

Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent Maronilla said that preliminary revenue data from the BOC indicated an increase of nearly eight percent in collections compared to the same month last year.

‘Our September was very challenging, and we are shocked by the decline in volume. Well, for the last day we are up by 7.73 percent,’ he told reporters. ‘The highest margin year-over-year for the entire 2025.’

In September 2024, the BOC collected P76.28 billion. This means that the BOC collected P82.18 billion for the month of September this year, reflecting an increase in revenue despite challenges brought by the importation halt.

‘We’re struggling because the volume has been down since late last week. And really, we’re a little bit struggling in that particular area. But the rate of assessment is up, and collections year over year are up. So, maybe we’re looking at just certain adjustments,’ Maronilla said.

For the nine-month period, the BOC has collected around P703.57 billion. This is still higher by nearly two percent from January to September last year, which only stood at P690.68 billion in revenue collection.

In terms of revenue leakage due to smuggling, Maronilla said it is hard to estimate because they cannot tell how many are being smuggled out of the country.

‘But given the relative closeness of our collection and our target despite the really substantial reduction in volume, I think it’s not that high. (It) could be, in terms of certain items in the southern part of the Philippines,’ he said.

The Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee reduced the BOC’s revenue target for this year to P990 billion from P1.06 trillion, citing lower tariffs and anticipated sluggish import growth.

Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto earlier mentioned that the BOC is expected to fall short of its 2025 revenue target by around P100 billion.

There will be a new feature in announcing the decision on a coach’s challenge in the PBA’s Golden Anniversary season that reels off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday. The previous practice was the public address barker would simply announce the verdict without explaining why. This time, the calling referee will take to the microphone, announce the decision and explain why. While the announcement is being made, the large-screen video monitor in the venue will replay the contested action to show why the decision was made. The audio-visual connection may not be perfect at first but both PBA and broadcast coverer TV5/CignalTV will work closely to deliver the best possible synch for fans to appreciate the justification of the decision.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said it’ll be a challenge for referees to polish their communication skills. They’re not trained to be public speakers but with this innovation, they’ll get used to not just explaining a decision to the crowd but also communicating it to be understood. PBA head of operations Eric Castro said 23 referees are on the roster this season, one less from the starting lineup previously. Of the 23, three are rookies.

Marcial noted that another change is players on the court will now be allowed to huddle with their coach ‘on the bench area’ but will remain standing during a challenge review. The challengeable calls are act of shooting or sideline throw-in, traveling, flopping, eight-second violation, backcourt violation, 24-second shot clock remaining, blocking or charging, blocking or flopping and charging or flopping.

Still another innovation related to a challenge is in the course of a review, a violation is spotted and will be called ‘provided it took place in the same play phase.’ The situations where this will apply are third party contact, blocking or charging, foul on out-of-bounds or last touch call or all kinds of fouls, including charging and blocking. This follows the NBA practice. As an example, if a challenge is made on a last touch call and the review will spot a foul on the play, it will be called even without a challenge on the contact.

Marcial said in the last two minutes of the game, the referees may review a conversion, whether a two, three or four-pointer or free throw, on the immediate deadball. If the shot isn’t reviewed at that point, it may no longer be reviewed. This eliminates the controversy that happened during Game 1 of the Philippine Cup Finals last season where Mo Tautuaa’s shot with 56 seconds left was nullified on a table officials’ review with 6.2 ticks to go, creating confusion as it impacted the outcome.