Category: Philippine Star

Two motorists died instantly while six others, including three minors, were injured in a highway accident involving a motorcycle and two vehicles in Barangay Magon, Tantangan, South Cotabato on October 24.

Officials of the Tantangan Municipal Police Station told reporters on Saturday, October 25, that the two fatalities, Joerhen Jade Losario and Rhiam Jade Palomo, were riding a motorcycle that collided head-on with a Suzuki Swift driven by a Department of Education employee based in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. Both victims were declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.

Losario and Palomo, both 23, had just graduated from the criminology program of Sultan Kudarat State University in Tacurong City, not far from the accident site at Purok Boundary, Barangay Magon.

The Suzuki Swift also collided with a Toyota Rush coming from the opposite direction, according to responding municipal and barangay officials. Losario’s motorcycle caught fire and was completely destroyed in the collision.

The drivers of the Toyota Rush and the Suzuki Swift, along with its four passengers-including another DepEd employee from Misamis Oriental-and three adolescent girls, suffered various injuries and contusions.

Fidel Concepcion captured his first-ever Philippine Golf Tour crown in the ICTSI Apo Golf Classic here Friday – but not before enduring one of the toughest, most nerve-wracking finishes imaginable.

What looked like a walk in the park quickly turned into a test of will and composure. Concepcion, who had built a commanding six-stroke lead midway through the final round of the P3.5 million championship, needed a career-defining birdie from 10 feet on the second playoff hole to edge Korea’s Jaehyun Jung and capture the elusive victory.

‘Honestly, it’s unreal,’ said Concepcion, visibly emotional as he struggled to find the right words. ‘It’s one of those things you never know if it will ever happen. And somehow – it did.’

The path to the playoff was anything but smooth. After birdies on Nos. 1 and 3, Concepcion appeared in total control at two-under through seven, six shots clear of Tony Lascuna. But a double bogey on the par-4 eighth and another dropped shot on No. 10 cracked the door open for the field.

Young actress Andrea Brillantes signed a contract with MQuest Ventures, becoming a Kapatid after 15 years with ABS-CBN’s Star Magic. She was joined in her contract signing by several MQuest and TV5 executives led by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan and Jane J. Basas.

She confirmed wanting to explore doing more movies after being relatively known for appearing in television shows, noting the storytelling is different in films. Just a few of her television projects include ‘Kadenang Ginto,’ ‘Annaliza,’ ‘Hawak Kamay,’ ‘Senior High’ and its sequel ‘High Street’, and her last appearance for ABS-CBN, ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.’

Andrea is no stranger though to films having had supporting roles in ‘Crazy Beautiful You,’ ‘Everyday I Love You,’ ‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes,’ ‘The Mall, The Merrier,’ ‘Momzillas,’ and ‘On the Job: The Missing 8.’

Following her ‘Batang Quiapo’ stint, Andrea is eager to do more action projects but is also open to trying out romance and comedy as she mostly did dramas as a child actress.

Farm Fresh sets out today in pursuit of a fourth straight victory against one of the most formidable teams in the PVL Reinforced Conference.

The surging Foxies put their unbeaten run on the line when they collide with the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the 4 p.m. main game of a weekend double-header as the league returns to the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.

After impressive wins over Nxled, Cignal and Capital1, the Foxies have shaken up the Pool A race. Though many observers note that Farm Fresh has yet to face the league’s powerhouse squads, the team remains determined to prove it belongs among the elite.

With explosive import Eli Rousseaux leading the charge, the Foxies have made significant strides early in the conference organized by Sports Vision, mirroring the way the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles have stamped their dominance in Pool B.

ZUS Coffee passed its toughest test yet on Thursday, stunning defending champion Creamline in four sets to all but secure a Top 3 spot heading into the second round of preliminaries.

Farm Fresh now hopes to follow that blueprint – toppling a fancied squad to gain both recognition and momentum.

And with the High Speed Hitters suddenly showing cracks in their once-vaunted armor, the Foxies enter the match brimming with confidence.

PLDT is still reeling from a shocking straight-sets loss to Cignal last Tuesday – a defeat that ended their 15-game winning streak and two-title run (PVL On Tour and Invitational). The upset was even more remarkable as the Super Spikers played all-Filipino following the management’s decision to part ways with import Eva Chantava due to underwhelming performances.

Led by Erika Santos, Ishie Lalongisip, Tin Tiamzon, Roselyn Aquino, Jackie Acuña and playmaker Gel Cayuna, Cignal took control early and never looked back, snapping both its own skid and PLDT’s dominance.

Now, the Foxies are eyeing a similar breakthrough. With Rousseaux, Trisha Tubu, Ces Molina, Rizza Cruz, Lorene Toring and setter Alohi Robins-Hardy firing on all cylinders, Farm Fresh believes it has what it takes to bring down the mighty High Speed Hitters and keep its winning streak alive in the year-ending tournament backed by ICTSI, Milcu, Mikasa and Fabriano.

But the proud PLDT side is just as eager to bounce back and spark another run – one that could lead to yet another title campaign. Expect nothing less than a high-intensity battle from the opening serve to the final rally.

Import Nastya Bavykina looks to atone for her quiet 10-point outing against Cignal, while Savi Davison, Majoy Baron, Kim Dy, Alleiah Malaluan, Dell Palomata and Jovie Prado are all raring to reassert their strength and restore PLDT’s winning form.

Meanwhile, Cignal aims to build on its resurgence when it faces Nxled, still winless in three starts, in the 2 p.m. opener.

The Department of Finance (DOF) expressed confidence that it will still be able to meet its P4.21-trillion revenue target for the year despite experiencing a noticeable slowdown in tax collections.

Acknowledging the issues that affected tax payments, Finance Undersecretary Charlito Martin Mendoza said the government might fall short of its tax revenue target but expects to offset the gap through higher collections from non-tax revenues.

‘Hopefully, we will be able to recover. However, we admit that because of everything that is happening, there’s been an impact on our tax revenues,’ said Mendoza, head of DOF’s revenue operations group.

Mendoza added that once the system is corrected, the momentum in tax collections is expected to recover and improve in the succeeding periods.

‘We might not be able to meet our tax revenues, but we will be able to cover for that from our non-tax revenues,’ he said.

Recent data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that non-tax revenues declined by 65.8 percent year-on-year to P15.8 billion in September from P46.2 billion.

From January to September, collections dropped by P167 billion, as the government raised only P314.1 billion on non-tax revenues compared to P481 billion in the same period last year.

‘Primarily on the Bureau of Internal Revenue side, there has indeed been an impact on revenue collection. During the first half of the year, the BIR was very much on track to meet its collection target, but a slowdown eventually occurred,’ Mendoza said.

Treasury data indicated that the BIR collected P2.32 trillion from January to September this year, which represents a nearly 11-percent increase from last year’s P2.09 trillion.

The collections, however, are only 72 percent of the P3.23 trillion target set by the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee for 2025.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto earlier confirmed that the BIR’s collections have declined, cautioning that the continued downturn in revenues could serve as an early warning of slower economic growth.

This was admitted by BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., who attributed the slowdown to the lingering issues surrounding the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s infrastructure projects.

‘I’m not sure if it can be attributed to the flood control issues. But there was definitely a slower collection because of the issue, because of the DPWH,’ Lumagui previously said.

According to BMI Country Risk and Industry Research, the Philippines’ fiscal deficit is expected to narrow by the end of this year as government spending continues to fall behind programmed expenditures outlined in the national fiscal plan. The research firm reported that it expects a decline in the budget gap to 5.5 percent, as the slowdown in government spending was attributed to restrictions on pre-election expenditures and the sluggish disbursement of funds for infrastructure projects.

‘According to latest reported figures, revenue collection in the year-to-August has outperformed average monthly government targets, while expenditure over the same period has lagged programmed spending,’ BMI said.

The firm stated that while the spending shortfall is expected to narrow, overall government expenditure is likely to fall short of the 2025 budget target. Last year, the country’s fiscal shortfall reached 5.7 percent of gross domestic product.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is annexing 11 new connections to its network throughout the fourth quarter, as airlines gain confidence to expand reach from the gateway.

In an advisory, MCIA announced the launch of 11 new flights, to be introduced by six airlines, between October and December, when demand for air travel is highest.

By Oct. 26, Cebu Pacific, the country’s largest carrier by fleet and passenger size, is bringing in daily flights to El Nido, while flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is putting up weekly trips to Calbayog.

By Nov. 15, low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines is putting up twice daily flights to Kuala Lumpur and thrice a week services to Macau. The airline is also pairing this with weekly trips to Davao (18 times), Caticlan (11 times) and Iloilo (four times).

By Dec. 2, low-cost airline Firefly will be linking Cebu and Kuala Lumpur on a five times a week frequency. By Dec. 3, flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will introduce its weekly flights between Cebu and Hanoi, the first of its kind in MCIA.

Also by Dec. 3, low-cost carrier Jetstar is connecting Cebu and Brisbane on a thrice a week schedule, making the flight MCIA’s lone direct service to Australia.

PAL will wrap up the holiday expansion in MCIA on December 4, launching non-stop flights to Guam to give Cebu its only direct access to a US island territory.

MCIA is gaining the attention of local and foreign carriers not just for the volume of passengers it serves, but for its quality of infrastructure and service as well.

The Skytrax World Airport Awards, the prestigious aviation award-giving body, named MCIA as the seventh most improved gateway in the world. The airport was recognized for developments in its infrastructure and services for the comfort and convenience of passengers.

Meanwhile, travelers booking a trip for the Christmas season can expect fares to remain the same in November. The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) is retaining the fuel surcharge at Level 4 next month to keep the pass-on fee the same as it was this October.

At Level 4, airlines can impose a fuel surcharge of P117 to P342 for domestic flights and P385.7 to P2,867.82 for international services, depending on the distance.

Jet fuel prices have gone down by one percent to $89.56 per barrel as of Oct. 17 compared to a month ago, according to the tracker of the International Air Transport Association.

Petro Gazz went to Lindsey Vander Weide when the team needed her most, repulsing Akari, 29-27, 25-22, 19-25, 17-25, 15-11, yesterday in the PVL Reinforced Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Vander Weide detonated a 22-point bomb she laced with a pair of powerful kills late in the fifth and deciding set to fend off the Chargers’ uprising and seal the Angels’ second win in a row and third overall in four outings.

‘We worked really hard in the beginning and even though it went to the fifth set, we set a standard to just reach 15 points that really helped us,’ said Vander Weide.

The Angels sent the Chargers reeling to their first defeat after a strong start that saw them pull the rug from under the Creamline Cool Smashers and the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in a pair of epic five-set squeakers.

Brooke Van Sickle provided the needed support with 19 hits while MJ Phillips and Myla Pablo chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Earlier, Chery Tiggo woke up from a deep slumber and smashed Galeries Tower, 25-9, 25-16, 25-23, to claim its first win in four assignments.

The Highrisers sank deeper at 0-4.

While the third set turned out to be the only tight stretch of the match, the Crossovers displayed composure that had eluded them in previous outings. Even when the Highrisers managed to tie the count at 23 on Jean Asis’ runner, Chery Tiggo didn’t flinch.

Pauline Gaston powered through a single block and Shaya Adorador sealed the deal with an off-the-block hit – two clutch plays that underscored the Crossovers’ poise under pressure.

In contrast, the Highrisers failed to capitalize on a couple of offensive thrusts, both of which were excellently dug and defended by the Crossovers.

It’s easy to assume Okada Manila is just a fancy, luxury hotel, but one weekend here quickly proves otherwise.

Stepping into the Philippines’ only Forbes 5-star property, wandering its fresh-scented, colorful halls and settling into a room at the country’s largest integrated resort, you quickly realize it’s something far more.

From the moment you arrive, you’re welcomed with a blend of impeccable Japanese service and warm Filipino hospitality-a combination that makes it easy to see why its five stars are well deserved.

Philstar.com BrandSpace recently spent a weekend at Okada Manila and quickly realized that a staycation here can become a full-fledged destination, where every suite, spa treatment and dining experience reflects the resort’s 5-star pedigree.

A suite that feels like its own retreat

Our home for the weekend was the Executive Suite, where sophistication meets comfort and the panorama-whether of Manila Bay or the iconic Fountain-sets the scene.

Spanning up to 250sqm, it’s probably the biggest room I’ve ever stayed in, laid out like an elegant apartment, complete with large living and dining areas, a private bar and a Nespresso machine for morning coffee rituals.

The bedroom features a king-size bed dressed in crisp cotton linens, while the marble bathroom-complete with a rain shower, designer amenities and a jacuzzi overlooking Manila Bay-invites unhurried moments of rest.

Every detail of our room felt purposeful, from the state-of-the-art toilets (yes, this needed to be noted!) down to the digital valet system, which lets you adjust lighting, curtains and temperature through a single touchscreen tablet.

Wellness, redefined at The Retreat Spa

If Okada Manila’s suites define comfort, The Retreat Spa defines rejuvenation-the kind of place where you happily lose track of time.

Occupying 3,000sqm, this Forbes five-star spa is a complete wellness destination.

We tried its signature Indayog ng Duyan massage, a deep-tissue therapy rooted in hilot, the Philippine system of healing. Strips of banana leaves, warmed in virgin coconut oil, guide the therapist’s touch, easing tension and restoring balance naturally.

Guests can also unwind in luxury treatment suites, a barbershop, beauty salon, aqua therapy facilities, or Southeast Asia’s first Wave Room relaxation chamber.

Every treatment is delivered by internationally trained specialists using premium skincare products, ensuring a deeply personal and restorative experience.

A world of flavors in one destination

Dining at Okada Manila brings global flavors together under one roof, with 40 dining outlets to satisfy every craving.

We had a hearty Japanese meal at Enbu that serves ramen, sushi and tempura, all with a view of The Fountain’s nightly performance. Guests can also watch seasoned chefs slow-grill the finest meats and local produce over charcoal, creating smoky, full-flavored dishes.

Meanwhile, we also ate at Goryeo which offers authentic, premier Korean barbecue with unlimited options and plated sets.

Highlights include the all-you-can-eat KBBQ feast, Galbi-jjim (braised short ribs), and comforting Budae Jjigae (army stew). State-of-the-art smokeless grills let diners enjoy sizzling flavors without smoke, ensuring a relaxed and enjoyable meal.

For Italian fare, La Piazza pairs refined dishes with fine wines. Recommended dishes include seafood soup, ribeye steak with peppercorn sauce, pesto and quattro formaggi pizzas and ending on a sweet note with tiramisu with cappuccino.

For those looking to make their meals extra indulgent, La Piazza also boasts an award-winning wine library that has earned the ‘Best of Award of Excellence’ from Wine Spectator for two consecutive years.

Craving variety? Medley Buffet offers live cooking stations where chefs prepare international favorites from breakfast through dinner. We enjoyed breakfast here for two days, sampling everything from Indian dishes and Asian soups to Filipino breakfast staples and fresh pastries.

Okada Manila offers a wide array of cuisines and dining experiences, but one thing is clear: every restaurant reflects the resort’s commitment to detail and quality.

Catching the sunset and the spectacle at The Fountain

As the afternoon turned to gold, we made our way to The Pool-an infinity-edge escape overlooking Manila Bay. Watching the sun set from here is reason enough to linger.

The staff ensures your drink stays cold, the music stays soft and the moment feels just right.

It’s quite an experience that quietly captures Okada Manila’s spirit: indulgence balanced by ease.

At night, Okada Manila comes alive with The Fountain, Southeast Asia’s largest multicolor dancing fountain. Spanning over 37,000sqm-roughly 50 Olympic-sized pools-it combines lights, water and music in breathtaking harmony.

Performances run every 30 minutes and no matter how often you watch, or which music accompanies the show, it never loses its charm. Beneath the spectacle is cutting-edge technology: underwater robots, more than 2,000 lights and water jets that soar higher than the hotel’s façade.

It’s easy to see why people pause to watch every performance. More than just an attraction, The Fountain is the heartbeat of Okada Manila, a dazzling centerpiece that defines the resort experience.

Five-star indulgence, five-star experiences

Beyond the suites, Okada Manila offers even more ways to indulge.

The villas provide spacious private retreats with gardens, pools and butler service-perfect for family gatherings or intimate celebrations, as we saw at Villa Boracay.

Business travelers or guests seeking a quieter spot can retreat to the Executive Lounge on the 19th floor of the Coral Wing, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame Manila Bay and curated breakfast spreads, cocktails and light bites are served throughout the day.

High-end retail and a world-class gaming floor ensure there’s always something to do, while the lush resort garden offers a serene escape beneath the shadow of the massive Cove Manila dome, the resort’s signature events space for concerts, galas and milestone celebrations.

Okada Manila: A complete staycation, a complete destination

Between its premium suites, curated shopping boutique, gaming lounges and dining experiences, Okada Manila brings together everything guests might seek from a true integrated resort-all without leaving the property.

Here, our weekend wasn’t just a staycation but a full-blown destination experience. We woke up to stunning views of Manila Bay, pampered at a five-star spa, savored flavors from around the world and ended the night watching water dance to music at The Fountain.

What’s more, you can make your stay even more rewarding with the Okada Reward Circle, which lets you earn points every time you stay, play, dine, shop, party, or unwind. These points can be redeemed for exclusive offers-from dining experiences and hotel stays to special events organized by Okada Manila.

After our weekend here, it was clear: Okada Manila’s Forbes five-star rating is no mere accolade.

Every corner of the resort works in harmony to create a destination truly worthy of its stars, delivering a five-star experience that isn’t just read on badges or signage, but experienced and felt by every guest.

Tropical Cyclone Salome lost strength and weakened to a low-pressure area (LPA) yesterday afternoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

PAGASA said that as of 4 p.m. yesterday, the weather disturbance was spotted 145 kilometers west-northwest of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, moving southwest at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour.

No tropical cyclone wind signals have been hoisted in any area earlier forecast to be affected by Salome.

However, PAGASA said the northeasterly windflow would continue to bring strong to gale-force gusts over Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.

The weather bureau said that gusty condition may persist over Batanes, Cagayan and Ilocos Norte until tomorrow.

Rough sea conditions will prevail, particularly along the seaboards of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan, where waves may reach up to four meters high.

Small sea vessels and motorized bancas have been advised to avoid sailing in these areas due to potentially hazardous conditions.

PAGASA said the intrusion of cold and dry air from the northeasterly windflow weakened Salome and the remaining low-pressure area would dissipate within the next 24 hours.

It’s been three months since the P1.7-trillion flood works scandal erupted. Ninety-seven percent of Filipinos know they were cheated. Beyond retribution, they want reforms.

Only four confess to multibillion-peso plunder: ex-DPWH Usec Roberto Bernardo, Bulacan district engineers Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez and their moneybag-contractor Sally Santos.

Four present and two past senators are linked to kickbacks. Same with 19 congressmen. Also, the Executive Secretary, two ex-DPWH secretaries and two undersecretaries. Plus, a COA associate commissioner.

Records expose President Bongbong Marcos and VP Sara Duterte accepting illegal campaign contributions from contractors in 2022.

Such exposés would cause resignations in Japan, Korea, Australia. Not here. Philippine officials just feign innocence and stay in power. Sixty-seven lawmaker-contractors are keeping mum.

The House televised inquiry was stopped.

Senate Blue Ribbon committee head Ping Lacson resigned in disgust. He had uncovered documents showing that most senators of the immediate past Congress were involved. At once, majority members groused. The minority, meanwhile, resists review of flood scams during Rody Duterte’s presidency.

BBM’s Independent Commission for Infrastructure is left to investigate.

ICI is inutile, by design of BBM and ES Lucas Bersamin. BBM refused to certify as urgent the bill of Senate President Tito Sotto and Reps. Chel Diokno and Leila de Lima for a powerful Independent People’s Commission. Certification would’ve shortened the enactment process. Unlike ICI, IPC will have funds, full-time staff and authority to subpoena, cite for contempt and detain.

Suspects in the flood scam proved ICI’s impotence. Bernardo thrice snubbed summonses, claiming illness without any medical report.

Uncooperative, contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya accused of bias one of the three commissioners. Upon hint of a senator, with whose wife’s firm the Discaya projects are insured, they demand state witness status without restitution.

In the end, ICI will submit findings to the ombudsman and Dept. of Justice. The ombudsman will review cases against high officials, the DOJ against lower public employees.

ICI is in effect a filter. Will it spare members of the BBM admin? That will be reminiscent of the 2013 Napoles scandal. Pork barrel fixer Janet Lim Napoles had named 20 senators and 100 congressmen. Only she is in prison today.

Congress promises change. Yet last week the House approved Public Works items for various districts but with exactly the same amounts. Obvious pork barrels. It also passed P243-billion Unprogrammed Appropriations, mostly ‘ayuda’ for sickly indigents and disaster victims. Obvious political patronage.

Filipinos are seething. Since the Sep. 21 Trillion-Peso March, 216 protesters have been arrested, zero politicos. Massive nationwide demonstrations are set on Nov. 30, Bonifacio Day.

Yet an ICI special adviser, an ex-PNP chief with a 990-kilo shabu scandal to live down, scorns mass actions as ‘division, chaos, violence.’

Trolls swarmed my Facebook column, ‘Opacity caused flood scams, so ICI probe must be public,’ Oct. 17th.

Only one sentence agitated them, ‘COA kept silent as Associate Commissioner Mario Lipana’s wife wangled DPWH road lighting contracts in Bulacan and a mining concession in Pangasinan.’ The trolls praised Lipana’s ‘leadership style’ and ‘credibility.’

The ombudsman is presently investigating Lipana. He was dragged into the flood works scandal when his contractor-wife ran but lost as party-list rep last May. The Constitution forbids COA officials from having interest, directly or indirectly, in government contracts. DPWH usec Roberto Bernardo named him under oath.

I reported to FB the coordinated inauthentic behavior that flouts its policies:

Most of the troll accounts were created only recently: June 4, July 20 and 22, Aug. 19, Sep. 18;

The oldest accounts, likely the troll managers, were created Feb. 2 and June 5, 2024;

There are three pairs of ‘friends,’ one pair shares the same posts;

Three accounts only have the same one friend;

Another three accounts have the same mutual friend;

All have no older profile photos, implying alias accounts;

All have no messages to or photos of family and friends, not even ‘like’ or ‘laugh’ reactions, meaning no normal social-media life;

They came in four waves on Oct. 21: four at 2:33-2:43 p.m., five at 3:04-3:21 p.m., three at 3:52-4:01 p.m. and two at 6:56-6:58 p.m.

One operator can handle five fake accounts for P30,000-P80,000 a month.

The cost of this trolling on just one Facebook column will likely be charged to us taxpayers.