Category: Philippine Star

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) gained international recognition after winning a Silver Stevie award for their 2023 Annual Report titled ‘One Clark’ at the 2025 International Business Awards held last Oct. 10.

The award was given under the Best in Publications Government Agencies category during the awarding ceremony at the Corinthia Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal.

BCDA said the recognition highlights its efforts to promote transparency, good governance and effective communication while showcasing its key contributions to national development.

‘Thank you to the International Business Awards for the meaningful recognition given to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and for once again recognizing our commitment to building better and greater cities while supporting the modernization of our Armed Forces,’ BCDA chairperson Hilario Paredes said.

‘This recognition from IBA stands as a testament to the hard work, collaboration, and purpose-driven communication that have defined our organization. Earning this award reflects our steadfast commitment to telling BCDA’s story with clarity and integrity,’ BCDA vice president for public affairs Leilani Barlongay-Macasaet added.

The ‘One Clark’ report was chosen from more than 3,800 nominations across 78 countries for its clear presentation of BCDA’s development milestones, project performance, and strategic transformation of former military bases into economic centers.

This latest Silver Stevie is the third international recognition for the ‘One Clark’ report, following its Gold Quill Award of Excellence from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and a Silver Stevie at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.

Despite denials from the Marcos administration, pork barrel is still alive and well in the 2026 national budget, according to members of the militant Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives.

‘There is no pork barrel in the budget. Patently false. Pork barrel exists through congressional ‘allocables’ for infrastructure, party-list allocations, and presidential pork in Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA) and Confidential and Intelligence Funds,’ Makabayan said in a statement.

The bloc said it is disingenuous for some officials and lawmakers to invoke the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF.

‘While PDAF was struck down in 2013 for allowing lump-sum appropriations, today’s system of district allocations achieves the same result – district engineering offices receive equal amounts as if divided among lawmakers,’ Makabayan said.

‘This system enables lawmakers to nominate projects, influence biddings, choose contractors, and receive kickbacks. If there is no system like this, we will not go as far as this level of corruption,’ it added.

The Makabayan bloc includes Reps. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers), Renee Louise Co (Kabataan) and Sarah Jane Elago (Gabriela women’s party).

In their joint statement, they assailed the House leadership for trying to hide P695.78 billion in pork barrel insertions consisting of ‘hard pork’ or infrastructure ‘allocables’ for lawakers’ pet projects and ‘soft pork’ for social welfare programs through which politicians can exercise patronage.

‘There is no pork in Unprogrammed Appropriations. Another falsehood. UA contains a dangerous backdoor through Special Provision No. 10, which gives DBM (Department of Budget and Management) wide latitude to realign funds within UA,’ Makabayan said.

‘While House leadership removed explicit infrastructure items, Special Provision No. 10 allows Malacañang to funnel money into infrastructure anyway,’ it added.

It also said Unprogrammed Appropriations give the President unchecked discretion, and thus are unconstitutional.

‘The Constitution provides for supplemental appropriations bills – a transparent process through Congress, not a presidential blank check,’ Makabayan said.

It also described as ‘myth’ the Marcos administration’s claim that the budget prioritizes agriculture, education and health.

‘While highlighting the P255 billion realignment from flood control, House leadership hides what else moved in the budget. There remains P174 billion for infrastructure projects lodged in the district engineering offices which are local centers of corruption and are concrete examples of ‘allocables.’ Based on our computation there are at least P230 million per congressman and P3.2 billion per senator of pork or ‘allocables,” the bloc said.

Makabayan also said that the claim that Unprogrammed Appropriations decreased in 2026 is misleading.

‘UA in 2025 NEP was P158 billion, which then ballooned to P243 billion during bicam. Malacañang proposed a smaller UA in the NEP to avoid scrutiny, then allowed this to be inflated during the during bicam when public attention wanes,’ it said.

Meanwhile, Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Leviste is seeking a reduction of government spending as well as of taxes such as the value-added tax.

The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed a complaint for graft filed against former Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia in connection with the issuance of a quarry permit for a river desiltation project.

In a resolution dated Aug. 29 and obtained by journalist only yesterday, the ombudsman dismissed ‘for lack of probable cause’ the complaint filed against Garcia and private respondent Anthony James Limchesing, general manager of Shalom Construction Inc.

State prosecutors said Garcia did not violate Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits public officials from giving unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to a private party or from causing any party, including the government, undue injury.

The ombudsman’s five-member special panel of investigators led by Ryan Medrano said the complaint has no legal and factual bases, and failed to establish the respondents’ willful intent to violate the law.

The investigation stemmed from a complaint filed by a certain Moises Garcia Deiparine early this year.

The complainant alleged that in May 2024, Garcia issued the quarry permit even as Shalom Construction Inc. did not secure the required environmental compliance certificate or certificate of non-coverage from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Deiparine alleged that the permit was issued without any prior study or consultation with other concerned government agencies.

Garcia had maintained that the issuance of the permit was aboveboard and was borne out of necessity to address the looming water crisis in the province.

She said the issuance was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and other concerned government agencies, and had undergone consultation with local governments.

In a decision promulgated on July 16 and approved by then ombudsman Samuel Martires, Garcia was found guilty of administrative offenses of simple misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Garcia was suspended for one year without pay, but since she was no longer in office, the ombudsman converted the penalty to a fine equivalent to her basic salary of six months.

I’m no blogger nor am I a content creator or a so-called influencer and neither am I a vlogger – all of which I believe have been proven to greatly impact the lives of so many Filipinos here and abroad. In truth, in recent months, too many people of diverse professions, even the street vendor or the parking valet, participate so strongly on issues that are currently affecting our country.

While I am just an old-fashioned journalist who also did some broadcast work for a little over a decade and for an advocacy I loved but not loved by many, that being education, I continue to impart what I can to help others learn. I love radio. It has always been my platform to share with others on how we can help make the educational experience better for everyone. At RJ AM, I always carried the tagline of ‘bringing the streets into the classroom and the classroom to the streets’ – that was because I firmly believed that learning must always be applied and multiplied. I still do.

Especially today when there is so much happening around us and the need to protect and at the same time advance our youth is at stake. In the social media world, for example, learning continues to evolve as this has provided all of us a platform for instant communication and access to many resources as well as making various connections that enable people to collaborate anytime from anywhere. I didn’t really get that from AM radio until we started to connect our programs to social media platforms for better reach.

It is truly amazing what technology has done our lives. It has at the same time also revealed so much about who we are – including how we think and act. The challenge that the Filipinos are facing today, however, lies in the fact that we are sadly too polarized, as there is just so much political strife. You are either pro or anti somebody and sadly, this dominates the narrative and even more so the headlines.

I’ll be honest and say that I felt this coming a few years back and fast forward to today, I have been hoping to see something fresh – new perspectives that help shape the way we think, especially for the young people. When it came to matters that I generally considered close to my heart, such as issues on insurgency and national security and how this continues to affect our democracy and political landscape, with the next generation in my opinion still being a heavy target, I somewhat fearfully expressed how politics might affect the discourse.

I also worried about the long-standing problems in the educational system and the ways we learn about many different things in this incredibly complex century that includes artificial intelligence and other strategies necessary to be at par with the rest of the world. As I continue to navigate social media in my lifelong educational journey, I am thrilled to discover one new media player that is rapidly and, quite frankly, doing big things across the board, across multiple generations and, more importantly, regardless of color.

Peanut Gallery Media Network or PGMN is giving us a fresh perspective on how we see things instead of the usual spectacle of escalating feuds and enabling people to participate in better conversations to attain significant changes in areas of interest that are at the moment overloaded by extremely polarizing information. While I am not undermining the issues or any issue for that matter, at the very least, I think that PGMN is leveling the playing field with real conversations instead of telenovela types of discussions and elevating the issues relevant to national interests.

When I reflect on my own education journey, considering this is lifelong, I stand on the basis of colorless possibilities that should be explored and made available to everyone by expanding the narrative and turning them into fruit-bearing discussions. By doing so, we also successfully put an end to destructive disinformation. It’s time to veer away from the overly exploited zarzuela plot types that are not helping Filipinos who need to think beyond this playbook so that we can finally understand what the real problems are and, more importantly, help in the solution.

As a teacher who has always promoted the idea of thinking out of the box, PGMN looks like it ‘gets’ what the young people are looking for and in turn is inspiring them to participate in nation building. As a teacher, I like that. Considering that the young ones feel like they are often not part of the conversation, a network such as PGMN is giving them a voice.

Sometimes things start small but, sometimes, it is also in the small things where change and revival can happen. They say that Gen Z’s are ‘shaking things up’ across the political, cultural and even economic landscapes but I also think that they can make a lasting impression with the help and wisdom of the older generations, especially the Gen X connectors – something you may not expect out of the so-called latch key generation.

As both a teacher and a Gen X-er myself, one can’t help but be thrilled in finding the much needed ‘force’ that could finally put the splintering pieces together. Maybe it’s easier said than done – maybe it’s peanuts. But just like Charlie Brown said, keep looking up – that’s the secret of life.

Young actress Andrea Brillantes signed a contract with MQuest Ventures, becoming a Kapatid after 15 years with ABS-CBN under Star Magic.

Andrea was joined in her contract signing by several MQuest and TV5 executives led by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan and Jane J. Basas.

The actress later expressed to entertainment reporter MJ Marfori her gratitude and excitement for her future plans.

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.

“Madaming mga first time ko palang gagawin sa gagawin kong project,” Andrea teased to her fans.

We are facing nine years of darkness if our string of bad luck continues: three remaining years of BBM and six years of the brat, assuming the surveys are right and she will be elected in 2028.

Our only hope now is for BBM to get out of his lackadaisical mode and move as if his life depends on it. Those bastards responsible for this massive corruption scandal must go to jail soonest. Otherwise, an unspeakable nightmare is our future.

It’s the fault of our voters who stupidly elected two people with no proven ability for good governance. Both are just nepo babies of previous strongmen. What is happening now shouldn’t be surprising.

In the face of this trillion-peso robbery of the treasury, the sitting nepo baby should be eager to save his ass. A recent survey showed the brat at the top of the list of candidates who may be elected president in 2028. That’s not counting the possibility that the old man may croak at The Hague. That should give BBM nightmares.

BBM may not mind being exiled the second time but his children’s future will be dim.

As I pointed out in a past column, it all starts with BBM. He signed the budget used to legally scam the taxpayers. He failed to veto the provisions that provided the legal means for carrying out ghost projects. His DBM Secretary didn’t warn him that he is signing the permission for ghost projects.

In a sense, there is blood in BBM’s hands. There is no way BBM can claim he didn’t know. His son is Deputy Speaker and should have known and should have told him about the insertions in the budget. Unless they are also looking forward to the fruits of insertions.

That’s why BBM should make a clean breast of it, admit his shortcoming that allowed the mess to happen and ask the people to trust him to fix things. A mea culpa will improve credibility.

Then, BBM should move fast. instruct government prosecutors to follow the advice of Kim Henares to pick the low hanging fruits right away.

‘Tingin ko yung ghost projects madaling file-an ng kaso kasi lahat yan documentation lang. Mayroong bidding, may award ka, may binayaran ka, puntahan mo yung project, wala kang nakita, yan ang kaso. Wala ka nang kailangang ibang ebidensya. Puede nang i-file yan.’

Oo nga naman. What could be simpler? And the ball gets tossed to the Sandiganbayan. Because these cases look like open and shut cases, continuous hearing of a week may get guilty verdicts. And the first set of culprits, DPWH district engineers and contractors, march off to jail.

Substandard projects may require expert testimony or maybe not. Most of these substandard projects are obviously damaged and that’s proof enough of the crime committed. More district engineers and more contractors can be jailed quickly.

Jailing the district engineers and some contractors will buy BBM some time. What will test BBM’s sincerity is how he deals with the political fat cats on top of the corruption value chain.

Principal suspects include his own cousin and the resigned congressman now apparently seeking refuge in Europe. Then there are the senators and more congressmen who made the insertions in the first place.

What is worrisome now is the possibility that BBM underestimates this seething anger over corruption. Politicians including BBM may think they are in the clear and even stop pretending to clean up. Then we lose the momentum in the fight against corruption.

The full-page ad expressing the collective sentiment of our business sector on the corruption scandal is welcome. But hopefully, they are not just riding the tide of public clamor for reforms. The responsibility of the business sector does not end with publishing that ad.

‘This wasn’t a PR move,’ Apa Ongpin of the Makati Business Club said. ‘Our members were crying out for a statement. They were emotionally appalled and kept telling us, ‘We have to say something.”

Say something! Of course, we all have to say something. But the business community should do more than saying something. Getting the bastards to jail is a complicated process that needs support beyond expressions of disgust.

There are things the business community can do to follow through.

The Ombudsman, the DOJ and DPWH need trained eyes, hands and feet to help them go through all those documents to strengthen the cases to be filed. Can all those organizations that signed the statement contribute to a fund to hire lawyers, engineers and accountants to help?

Don’t think bid rigging has ended because the rats at DPWH are laying low. Credible contractors should join biddings if only to keep the bastards honest.

It is no secret that big business contributes big money to politicians during campaign seasons. Can they please remember how badly they felt the past few weeks when the same politicians come to collect their expected contributions?

How about refusing to support any politician implicated in this corruption mess? There are some business risks in denying politicians who think such donations are their birthright. But it is hypocritical for business to denounce corruption today and go on financially supporting corrupt politicians.

Given the nationwide network of all the corporations behind the organizations that signed that manifesto, can they organize monitoring teams to check on public works projects in their areas? Catch ghost projects early.

Get the professional associations of engineers, accountants, lawyers, doctors, etc. to throw out of their organizations those involved in corruption cases. Work with the PRC to revoke the licenses.

Make it socially undesirable to be seen living the high life financed by stolen funds from the national treasury.

Nine years of darkness, most likely more, is upon us. We must move as one to stop this madness. Let everyone drill that in everyone’s head.

Malacañang on Friday, October 24, distanced itself from the Sandiganbayan’s decision to acquit Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile and other alleged cohorts, telling the public to respect the court’s decision.

The anti-graft court acquitted Enrile, his former staff member Gigi Reyes and businesswoman Janet Napoles of the remaining graft charges in connection with the pork barrel scam.

‘Igalang po natin kung ano ang desisyon ng korte,’ Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Friday. (Let us respect the decision of the court.)

Asked if the Sandiganbayan’s ruling may cause the public to doubt the government’s ability to convict alleged plunderers, Castro maintained that the Palace had no hand in influencing the court’s decision.

‘There is a separation of powers and we need to respect this because if not, we will not respect the decision of the courts, the country will become chaotic,’ Castro said in Filipino.

The country’s anti-corruption mechanisms have recently come under fire following the suspected multibillion-peso kickback scheme in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

A secret deal?

One of the senators tagged in the DPWH flood control scam is Sen. Joel Villanueva. Ombudsman Boying Remulla recently sought to reinforce a previous ruling by then Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to dismiss Villanueva from office over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

However, her successor, Samuel Martires, had apparently granted Villanueva’s motion for reconsideration in a ‘secret decision.’

Castro said that if this decision is true, it is worrisome and may cause the people to doubt the country’s justice system.

The Palace expressed faith in Remulla’s capability as the new Ombudsman to probe the matter.

Nearly 9,000 officers from the National Capital Region Police Office will be deployed across Metro Manila during this year’s observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, the NCRPO said yesterday.

The NCRPO will be on full alert starting Oct. 31 – a special non-working holiday.

‘Our preparation for Undas is anchored on anticipation, coordination and compassion,’ said NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin in a statement yesterday.

He said 8,575 personnel from the five districts, regional headquarters, regional mobile force battalion and support units will be stationed in cemeteries, worship places, major thoroughfares, transportation hubs and ‘rally convergence points.’

An additional 1,330 police officers will conduct anti-criminality operations, including beat and mobile patrols, checkpoints, traffic management and medical assistance.

Metro Manila is home to some of the largest cemeteries in the country, including Manila North Cemetery, Manila South Cemetery, Libingan ng mga Bayani, Manila Memorial Park and La Loma Cemetery.

Aside from Undas, the NCRPO is preparing for the White Friday protests on Oct. 31.

‘Even with simultaneous rallies expected across the region, our goal is to maintain peace without compromising the rights of the people,’ Aberin said.

Meanwhile, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport said the NAIA is ready to accommodate from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5 some 1.3 million passengers, including Filipino balikbayans and overseas workers who will join this year’s Undas.

New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. chairman Ramon Ang said the country’s main airport will become the best airport after its rehabilitation as he, along with NNIC general manager Angelito Alvarez and Manila International Airport Authority chief Eric Ines, showed Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez improvements done at the terminals, including the facial recognition kiosk in airline counters, drop bags and immigration e-gates.

‘From the worst airport, NAIA will become the best airport after rehabilitation,’ Ang said.

Alvarez said passenger experience has also improved with the on-time performance rated above the global standard of 85 percent.

Maximum police visibility for holidays

Beyond Undas, Mayor Isko Moreno ordered the Manila Police District (MPD) to implement maximum police visibility, particularly in the capital city’s busiest districts as the Christmas season approaches.

During a meeting yesterday, Moreno ordered the MPD to ‘deploy additional personnel and conduct round-the-clock patrols in high-density areas such as Binondo, Recto, Quiapo, Ermita, Malate and the University Belt.’

Moreno said police presence would be augmented by barangay personnel who will be tapped to ensure peace and order during the holidays.

‘Police officers should be on the roads, they should be seen and felt by the people. We want residents and visitors to feel that they are safe during the holidays,’ Moreno said in Filipino.

For the host country, this couldn’t have unfolded any better.

Miguel Tabuena, the Philippines’ homegrown golf hero, delivered a masterclass Friday at the Sta. Elena Golf Club that electrified local fans and reignited hopes for a memorable finish.

Just a week after celebrating his 31st birthday, the diminutive yet dynamic shotmaker produced one of his finest rounds in recent memory – a near-flawless display of power, precision and poise that set the International Series Philippines ablaze.

And not to be outdone, Angelo Que produced his own moment of brilliance as dusk settled over the course, capping a blazing start with an equally fiery finish to card a superb 65 and catapult himself into joint fourth at 135 alongside four others.

Suddenly, the Philippines found itself not with just one, but two legitimate contenders in the thick of the title chase – a sight that ignited fresh hopes among the home crowd.

Coming off a steady but unspectacular 70, Que wasted no time announcing his intentions. The amiable Manila Southwoods pro, known for his fearless shot-making and unflappable demeanor, came out firing – birdieing four of the opening nine holes to rocket up the leaderboard. He carried that momentum into the back nine with another birdie on No. 10, shaking up the standings and reminding everyone why he remains one of the country’s most accomplished shotmakers.

A lone bogey, the result of a missed green midway through his round, briefly slowed his charge. But Que, drawing on the experience that has brought him three Asian Tour titles and two Philippine Golf Tour victories this year alone, refused to fade.

As the sun dipped low and shadows lengthened across the fairways, he closed out with a flourish worthy of the moment – three birdies in his last four holes, each one greeted with growing anticipation from the galleries that had begun to sense something special unfolding.

His late-round surge vaulted him into a share of fourth with Yosuke Asaji (66), Soomin Lee, Wang Wei-Hsuan, and Matthew Cheung (all 67s), just five strokes behind leader Sarit Suwannarut.

With Que now joining Tabuena near the top of the board, the host country suddenly boasts two aces within striking distance of the top prize – a scenario that could turn the weekend into a rousing showcase of local pride and resilience.

Trailing the Thai leader by five strokes, Tabuena teed off early, determined to make a move. Starting on the par-5 10th, the two-time Philippine Open champion quickly went to work – opening with a birdie, then adding fireworks to the morning with a spectacular hole-in-one on the par-3 14th that sent the gallery roaring.

Not done yet, he eagled the par-5 16th and closed the backnine with another birdie on the 18th, completing a sizzling six-under 30 on his first nine holes.

It was a breathtaking stretch that had almost every kind of scoring highlight possible in golf – a birdie, an ace, an eagle and another birdie – all in one stretch that turned Sta. Elena into his personal stage.

By the time he reached the turn, Tabuena was suddenly in the clubhouse lead at nine-under overall, his name atop the leaderboard sending a wave of excitement across the fairways and among Filipino fans following every shot.

He wasn’t finished. After a steady par on No. 1, Tabuena rolled in back-to-back birdies on the next two holes, momentarily threatening to pull away. Though the ‘law of averages’ caught up with him with a bogey on No. 4 and a cooling run of pars afterward, he still capped the round with an explosive 65 – a 35-30 masterpiece that showcased not just talent, but timing and temperament.

Statistically, it was not a perfect round – 11 fairways hit, 15 greens in regulation and 28 putts. But in golf, moments matter more than math, and Tabuena’s brilliance came exactly when it mattered most.

‘It’s not every day you make a hole-in-one, but I was glad I kept it together after that,’ said Tabuena, smiling as fans crowded the ropes. ‘That eagle on 16 was a perfect seven-wood – that’s a hole I know very well, and that’s my favorite pin position there. It was a green light all the way.’

His return to form couldn’t be better timed. Just a week removed from turning 31 and still fresh from a forced withdrawal at the SJM Macao Open due to a neck spasm, Tabuena showed no signs of rust. Instead, he looked energized – feeding off the home crowd and the familiarity of Sta. Elena, his home club.

‘There’s a lot of golf to be played,’ he said cautiously. ‘But it’s been six years since my last ace – and only my second in a competition. To have it happen here, in front of friends, family, and home fans, it means a lot.’

Even with Suwannarut regaining the overall lead at 14-under 130 after a fine 66, Tabuena’s 134 kept him within striking distance – just four shots back heading into the weekend.

Japan’s Kazuki Higa joined Tabuena at second after a 69.

And with two rounds left in this $2 million championship, the door remains wide open.

Former Masters champion and LIV Golf star Patrick Reed also surged into contention with a 66 to tie for ninth at 136 with Denzel Ieremia (67) of New Zealand and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar (69), while seven others, including former Major winner Charl Schwarzel (66), former Asian Tour No. 1 Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand (69) and former Philippine Open champion Stevel Lewton of England (63) posted identical 137s for a share of 12th.

Meanwhile, Justin Quiban rallied with a 68 to post a 138 total, good for a share of 19th place.

The other local hopefuls, however, struggled to keep pace and fell by the wayside.

Sean Ramos actually made a strong charge with a 68 for a 142 aggregate, but missed the cut by one.

Keanu Jahns settled for another 72 for a 144 total, while Carl Corpus stumbled with a 73 for a 145. Aidric Chan also turned in an even-par 72 for the same 145 aggregate.

Clyde Mondilla, who opened with an impressive 69, skied to a 77, also for a 146, while, Rupert Zaragosa and Enrico Gallardo finished with 149s after 75 and 76, respectively.

But the spotlight, unquestionably, belonged to the hometown favorites.

Tabuena and Que’s inspired performances didn’t just lift them up the leaderboard – it lit up the entire tournament. Even Dustin Johnson, Tabuena’s flightmate and former world No. 1, must’ve felt the heat as he stumbled to a 73 after an opening 67 to fall to joint 37th at 140, 10 shots off the pace.

For fans, though, this second round was a showcase for the two Pinoy aces – their stirring resurgence from morning to afternoon felt straight out of a movie script.

With their confidence surging and the crowd rallying behind them, the final two rounds promise to be a festival of Filipino pride and world-class golf. If Tabuena and Que can sustain their form, they won’t just be contending – they’ll be inspiring a new generation of local golfers who witnessed how brilliance, patience and heart can converge in a single unforgettable day at Sta. Elena.

For fans, though, this second round belonged to Tabuena – and his resurgence couldn’t be better scripted.

With his confidence surging and the crowd rallying behind him, the final two rounds promise to be a festival of Filipino pride and world-class golf. If Tabuena can sustain this form, he won’t just be contending – he’ll be inspiring a new generation of local golfers who witnessed how brilliance, patience and heart can converge in a single unforgettable day at Sta. Elena.

Following the lightning protests at the doors of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the Palace again asked protesters to remain patient as the fact-finding body does its work.

Protesters from the People Surge National Alliance of Disaster Survivors and the Kalikasan People’s Network stormed the ICI office in Taguig City, attempting to push past the gates of the commission while decrying the lack of transparency and arrests related to corruption.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the government is currently working to address the corruption scandal.

Castro said that there were many cases to be filed, with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon already filing several complaints.

‘Hindi po dapat siguro mainip ang ating mga kababayan hanggang nandiyan po at may nagtatrabaho at ang intensiyon naman po ay maganda, para po mapanagot ang dapat mapanagot,’ Castro said in a press briefing on Friday, October 24.

(I think our countrymen should not be impatient while there are people working and their intention is good, so that there can be accountability.)

Castro told the protesters to let the system work, and that they should not be too negative about what the government is doing.

A DPWH on fire

The DPWH is currently the focal point of government corruption, with billions of pesos suspected of being funneled through the agency in kickback schemes. Several high-ranking officials have been tagged in the scheme, including House lawmakers and senators.

A fire recently hit the DPWH Bureau of Research and Standards in Quezon City, with many suspecting the agency of tampering with evidence. Initial findings ruled it a case of short circuit.

Asked if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is satisfied with the current explanation, the Palace reiterated that the investigation into the case is still ongoing.

While the DPWH has said that no vital documents were destroyed and that they are already digitizing the materials, several agencies still suspect foul play, including the National Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Ombudsman.