Category: Philippine Star

Two people were killed when an ultralight aircraft crashed in a rice field in this town yesterday morning.

The pilot and his female passenger, whose identities were not immediately available, were declared dead on arrival at the Concepcion District Hospital, according to Col. Franklin Estoro, Tarlac police director.

Witnesses said they saw the single-engine, two-seater plane circling in the air before it lost altitude and crashed in Barangay Panalicsican at around 11 a.m.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the accident, although they are eyeing possible engine trouble, pilot error or weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has suspended the operation of the Woodland Airpark, operator of the light plane that crashed in Tarlac.

The CAAP ordered an immediate assessment of the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft and the operator’s compliance with the aviation safety standards.

Under the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations, ultralight planes are categorized under non-type certificated aircraft and authorized for recreational purposes only.

The aircraft is allowed to operate only within its designated flying club aerodrome and must not fly higher than 800 feet.

Appropriate sanctions await violators, the CAAP said.

There are ordinary burgers, and then there’s the Round-the-World Burger at Plantation Bay, a Real Resort with a Real Spa. A long-time favorite at the resort’s retro-themed Route 66 Diner, this 1/3-pound burger has quietly built its own following among guests who believe a burger should be big, juicy, and worth the calories.

This isn’t some ‘gourmet reinterpretation’ or culinary stunt. It’s simply a great burger – a perfectly grilled all-beef patty with generous toppings and bold, internationally inspired flavors. No shortcuts. No hidden fine print. Just a burger done right.

‘We don’t overcomplicate it. We use quality beef, cook it properly, and let the flavors speak for themselves,’ says executive chef Lee Ramas. ‘People can taste when food is made honestly – and that’s why this burger has its own fan club.’

A burger that knows how to travelEven before guests set foot in the resort, they might already meet the burger – or at least its challenger. Plantation Bay has placed an eye-catching advertisement at the baggage carousels in both the Domestic and International Terminals of Mactan-Cebu International Airport, featuring its cheeky ‘Ramsay Challenge’:

‘Dear Mr. Ramsay, Our burger respectfully challenges your burger.’

We’re not exactly expecting the famous chef to book a flight to Cebu (though we’d welcome him), but the message is clear: this burger stands on its own merits.

Where to find it

Route 66 Diner

All-American comfort food, milkshakes, and a burger that needs no introduction.

Available daily for lunch and dinner.

Why it works

While other restaurants fuss over elaborate plating and clever hashtags, Plantation Bay takes a simpler view: good food should speak for itself. And when a burger earns this much attention, it’s probably doing something right.

Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Ramil) headed out to sea Sunday, October 19 after killing a family of five on the Philippines’ main island Luzon, officials and state weather forecasters said.

The family, including children aged two and 11 years old, were crushed to death in their sleep when a giant palm tree fell on their house near Pitogo, Quezon.

“The entire family was asleep in a house made of light materials,” Governor Angelina Tan of Quezon province told Manila radio station dzMM, adding that a sixth member of the family survived.

Pitogo police official Sonny Ombajino confirmed the deaths, saying they occurred as the storm raked across the south of Luzon overnight.

In the province of Capiz, a 23-year-old vlogger also died during the storm’s onslaught, after she slipped and was swept away by a creek’s current.

At least 47,000 people headed to government-designated temporary shelters across southeast Luzon starting Saturday, local disaster officials said, as the weather service warned of possible coastal flooding and landslides.

Rain continued to batter the island as Fengshen made its way towards the South China Sea on Sunday.

It was expected to track northwest before eventually turning toward Vietnam with gusts of up to 90 kilometres (56 miles) an hour, according to the weather service.

Another year of cyclones. The Philippines is hit annually by around 20 storms and typhoons, which routinely strike areas where millions of people live in poverty.

Typhoon Bualoi (Philippines name: Opong) killed 37 people and forced 400,000 to flee their homes in the northern Philippines.

Scientists warn that tropical storms are becoming more powerful as the planet warms due to human-driven climate change.

Ramil struck as the country was reeling from a series of major earthquakes that killed at least 87 people over the past three weeks.

More than 22,000 people were evacuated in Luzon as Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshan) brought heavy rains and strong winds across southern and central parts of the island.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its situation report Sunday, October 19., 22,311 individuals were evacuated from Calabarzon and Bicol (Region 5) as local governments implemented preemptive measures ahead of Ramil’s landfall.

The storm also disrupted transport operations across the country. At least 39 seaports were affected, leaving 3,242 passengers, 1,050 rolling cargoes, six vessels and seven motor bancas stranded, according to the NDRRMC.

However, the Philippine Coast Guard reported a higher number: 6,560 passengers, 41 vessels, two motor bancas, and 1,911 rolling cargoes stuck at various ports. Another 51 vessels and 29 motor bancas have taken shelter to ride out the storm.

Despite the extensive displacement and travel disruptions, authorities said no damage to infrastructure or agriculture has been reported so far.

Storm status. As of 8 a.m. Sunday, PAGASA said Ramil’s center was located over the coastal waters of Mauban, Quezon, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gusts reaching 90 kph. It was moving west-northwest at 20 kph, prompting Signal Nos. 1 and 2 across several Luzon provinces.

Former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita passed away yesterday at the age of 90.

The announcement was shared by his daughter, Balayan Mayor Lisa Ermita, on social media.

‘It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we, the Ermita family, announce the passing of our beloved father, General Eduardo Ramos Ermita (retired), a dedicated public servant and our guiding light,’ she wrote in her Facebook post.

According to the mayor, her father died peacefully at 8 a.m., surrounded by his family.

‘Our father lived a full life in steadfast service to the Filipino people. As a soldier, he served with honor and dedication during some of the nation’s most challenging times,’ she said.

‘To us, his family, he was simply ‘Papa’ or ‘Lolo Ed’ – our source of wisdom, strength, and unconditional love. The lessons he imparted and the values he lived by are the greatest legacy he leaves behind,’ she added.

Lisa described her father as ‘a true patriarch, not only of our family but also of the entire First District of Batangas.’

Ermita served as executive secretary from 2004 to 2010 under the administration of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He was appointed presidential adviser on the peace process in 2001 and briefly served as acting defense secretary during the Arroyo administration.

A Philippine Military Academy Class of 1957 graduate, Ermita served as deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 1986 to 1988. He was also the representative of Batangas’ 1st District from 1992 to 2001.

In a statement, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) expressed deep sorrow over Ermita’s passing, calling him ‘a pillar of the Philippine peace process.’

‘Throughout his long and distinguished career in public service, General Ermita exemplified the finest qualities of a soldier, a true officer and gentleman, a statesman and a peacemaker,’ Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

Ermita led the peace negotiations with the Moro National Liberation Front from 1992 to 1996.

In 2023, the OPAPRU honored Ermita with the highest distinction award, the Gawad Kapayapaan.

For today’s piece, I am publishing the response of Masbate Rep. Antonio Kho to my Oct. 12 column ‘Ghost projects in Masbate? DPWH, take a look,’ sent through his lawyer.

The letter, signed by lawyer Renfred Tan of Quezon City-headquartered Tan Briones and Associates, sought to clarify information mentioned in the 38-page judicial narrative of some members of the Masbate Quad Media Society Inc. (MQMSI), including the corruption-related complaints filed against Kho, the former provincial governor of Masbate.

See below:

On the alleged judicial narrative detailing alleged ghost projects in Masbate

The document described as a ‘judicial narrative’ is highly suspect. Calling the supposed Aug. 2, 2025 document a ‘judicial narrative’is misleading and erroneously implies that it was filed in court or it emanated from a judicial process.

However, there is no recently filed case, particularly dated Aug. 2, 2025, against Rep. Antonio Kho, especially pertaining to ghost projects when he was still provincial governor. The author mentioned that she got hold of a copy of an Aug. 2, 2025 document submitted by members of the MQMSI. It is not clear where this document was submitted nor is there reason as to why she would describe such document as a ‘judicial narrative’ as it could not have reached the courts. The author has, therefore, falsely attributed judicial credibility to the said document when it has none.

On Arnel Bello, Edarlito Doremon Jr. and Benjamin Gigante representing MQMSI

The article cites findings from Arnel Bello, Edarlito Doremon Jr., and Benjamin Giganten and directly implying that they speak for MQMSI. Per MQMSI president, Ruben Fuentes, these individuals are not authorized to represent the organization and their views do not reflect those of MQMSI.

On the alleged cases filed against Rep. Antonio Kho

The opinion piece mentioned that as a result of the investigation done by supposed members of the MQMSI, they filed various cases with the Office of the Ombudsman against then governor Antonio Kho concerning alleged ghost projects. The article lists 10 alleged ghost projects where complaints were supposedly filed on different dates of Jan. 5, 2023, Oct. 18, 2023 and Dec. 22, 2023. In the same piece, it was likewise mentioned that ‘there were other road projects worth over P234.6 million, but these were dismissed.’

Verily, it is lamentable that the article did not mention that the complaints listed by the author have all been retracted by the Affidavit of Desistance dated March 14, 2024 of Ruben Fuentes, the president of MQMSI, where he explicitly apologized to the then governor Antonio Kho for filing baseless and malicious cases.

For the information of The Philippine Star Editorial Team, the cases against then governor Antonio Kho which were not dismissed or the cases listed in the article, were re-filed by his political rivals through Mr. Jay Alfaro.

However, Mr. Alfaro has also executed an Affidavit of Desistance dated Aug. 12, 2024, wherein he stated that all the complaints he filed together with Benjamin Gigante and Edarlito Doremon Jr. were similar complaints earlier filed by Mr. Ruben Fuentes and were initiated by them at the behest of then incumbent Masbate City mayor Socrates Tuason. Mr. Alfaro went further to state that ‘[we] were merely required by Mayor Tuason to sign these complaints, telling us that since we are media men, being officers of Masbate Quad Media Society, myself being the secretary, the people of Masbate will easily believe that we have the credibility to file these complaints, and that what we are accusing the respondents is true. We were merely used by Mayor Socrates Tuason to enhance his political agenda in the 2025 local elections in the Province of Masbate by maligning and making false accusations against his perceived political opponents.’

Given these circumstances, we submit for the author’s and the public’s information the following:

1. The document supposedly dated Aug. 2, 2025 which the author got hold a copy of cannot be called a ‘judicial narrative’ without factual basis that it emanated from court proceedings. And to use such term recklessly reeks of malice and misleads the reader that the document has credibility when it has none.

2. The fact-finding report by MQMSI and the list of alleged ghost projects that it documented have all been repudiated by the very head of MQMSI, Mr. Ruben Fuentes, and then MQMSI secretary, Mr. Jay Alfaro, through their respective Affidavits of Desistance. It is clear from the said affidavits that the cases are far from being results of a rigorous fact-finding investigation but more of a result of political machinations intended to compromise Antonio Kho’s bid for election. Hence, the relentless filing of cases against him at the time.

I take note of the clarificatory response from Rep. Antonio Kho through his lawyer, and view it as part of an important conversation we must continue to have in our country today on our collective fight against corruption.

I publish it in the interest of fairness, without prejudice to my role as a columnist to search for the truth and accountability, raise questions and contribute to public discourse.

That said, I reiterate what I’ve consistently called for since this flood control mess erupted – a full investigation of ghost projects nationwide and the filing of appropriate charges against the perpetrators.

As for Masbate, the letter itself hints at a deeper reality, a province intertwined with a complex and entrenched political landscape, shaping even its fight for good governance. Like its famed rodeo, it’s thrilling to watch, but dangerous to those who dare to take the reins.

Sen. Bong Go has expressed full support for investigations into alleged irregularities in government infrastructure projects but denied any involvement or connection with the Discaya contractors.

Speaking at a press conference in the Senate on Thursday, Go said he welcomes any probe, stressing that he has no part in any anomaly and has always acted in service to the Filipino people.

‘I welcome any investigation; let the facts speak for themselves,’ he said. ‘I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear because I did nothing wrong.’

Go urged authorities, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Office of the Ombudsman, to focus their efforts on identifying and holding accountable the real masterminds.

He warned against political maneuvering to divert the truth, saying, ‘The people are waiting for those truly responsible to be held accountable.’

The senator denied any personal or business ties with the Discayas, saying his name is being unfairly dragged into the issue.

Go emphasized that he has always observed delicadeza and never interfered in government transactions, even those involving relatives.

He noted that the issue involving the Discayas has resurfaced repeatedly, especially during election periods, and accused certain groups of reviving baseless allegations to smear his name.

‘Don’t smear me with dirt just to make yourselves look clean,’ he said in Filipino.

Go reiterated his support for the ongoing investigation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the ombudsman and other agencies, urging them to ‘let the truth come out’ and ‘go after those truly responsible.’

He also warned against attempts to twist facts and use political attacks as a distraction.

‘Some forces are working to distort the truth so the real culprits escape accountability,’ he said, adding that he trusts Filipinos to discern political noise from facts.

‘I have stood by the people through disasters and crises. I earned their trust through action, not words,’ Go said. ‘I will never waste that trust. Let’s stand by the truth.’

Immunity rejected

Acting Senate Blue Ribbon committee chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo rejected the possibility of allowing alleged players in the multibillion-peso flood control scam to turn state witness, saying those most deeply involved should not be absolved of guilt.

Tulfo was referring to developments before the ICI, where top contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya have refused to fully cooperate after their bid for state witness was quashed.

‘Whether they cooperate or not in the Senate Blue Ribbon hearings, I don’t care, because they are the most guilty,’ Tulfo told dwIZ in Filipino, when asked about the pair’s refusal to testify in the remaining Senate hearings on the flood control controversy.

‘Maybe they can be given protection if they testify, but to be made state witnesses and be absolved of their crimes? That’s too much. They committed the wrongdoing, they got all the money and then they walk free?’ he added. ‘I don’t know where the idea came from to make these crooks state witnesses. It’s just common sense – they stole public funds, and you want to clear them? That’s stupidity.’

Tulfo also denounced any plan to grant immunity to key suspects, including Brice Hernandez, Henry Alcantara and Jaypee Mendoza.

‘That would be a slap in the face of the Filipino people. They stole from us, and now you’ll make them state witnesses? I will never agree to that,’ he said.

Two Sundays ago, the apostles requested of Jesus, ‘Increase our faith.’ Last Sunday, Jesus told the Samaritan who returned with gratitude, ‘Your faith has saved you.’

This Sunday, we close our trilogy on faith as Jesus challenges his disciples, ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’

Our Gospel today (Luke 18:1-8) begins with a parable that pits a persistent widow against an unjust judge. To allow the story to lead us further, we must first clear the way of possible stumbling blocks. First of all, the unjust judge is not supposed to stand for God. Proof: The judge himself says, ‘I neither fear God nor respect any human being.’ The unjust judge is there to make the persistent widow’s character stand out all the more.

One might think that the defining attribute of the widow is her persistence. One might then conclude that the point of the story is that persistence in prayer will get you what you want. No, completing the nine days of Simbang Gabi or any other novena is not a guarantee that you will get your wish. Kulit and kupit are just one letter apart, but kulit is not the key to stealing favors from God.

What is praiseworthy about the widow is her faith. What is faith?

In the Jewish Palestine of Jesus’ time, widows were among the poorest of the poor. To start with, they were women who were not attached to any man. Most women then were not allowed to earn from a trade or a profession, and most also could not own property. (My apologies to the women of today – that was just how things were, and though things are not as oppressive today, we still have a long way to go in advancing how we see and treat women.) Most women then were voiceless and powerless. Imagine then the chutzpah of this widow to confront the judge in her town.

Faith is audacious. I hope we can see that we have this audacity every time we approach God in prayer. Imagine: We dare to call the Creator and Lord of the entire universe our Father. We brazenly bother him for something as trivial as our daily bread or our petty fights with our neighbors. And we confidently believe he cares. Faith is our assurance that indeed, God does care and wants to be intimately involved in the tiniest nooks and crannies of our lives.

There is still much more to learn from the widow. She does not ask the judge to decide in her favor – which is what we would most probably do if we were in her position. Her petition is: ‘Render a just decision for me.’ She is able to go beyond personal preference. She asks not for what is best only for her; she asks for justice – which is what is best for all.

Faith sees beyond our own needs and wants. Faith trusts that what is right for all is also what is right for me. Faith is not just personal; it is communal.

What the widow does is seen as a model of what the parable is all about: ‘To pray always without becoming weary.’ The Greek word for pray that is used here comes from proseuchomai. It is made up of two parts: euchomai, which can be translated as to wish; and pros, which lexically means to or towards. But proseuchomai isn’t just about bringing your wishes to God. Pros goes deeper.

Pros is also the word in that famous line from John 1:1, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ With is our inadequate translation for pros. Jesus Christ isn’t just beside God. Better: Jesus is always oriented towards God, in a dynamic relationship of mutuality, of give and take, of exchange. I guess this is why some Greek scholars see another way of translating proseuchomai: ‘to interact with the Lord by switching human wishes for His wishes as He imparts faith’ (see https://biblehub.com/greek/4336.htm).

If prayer is an intimate exchange with God, to pray then is to approach God and ask him to change our wishes to his. This is what Jesus prayed before he was arrested: ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done’ (Luke 22:42). This is not at all easy. Remember that this scene is also called the Agony in the Garden.

Maybe this is what’s really behind the tradition of bringing a wish to the nine days of Simbang Gabi. After nine days of closely interacting with God in prayer, you can finally say: ‘Not my wish, but as you wish.’ And for sure, God’s wish will be brought to fulfillment.

How can you do this without becoming weary?

This is where the strange story found in the First Reading (Exodus 17:8-13) comes in. The Israelites were in the midst of a battle against Amalek. ‘As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight.’ So two men, Aaron and Hur, had to support Moses’ hands. Is God so petty as to decree Israel’s victory or defeat based on Moses keeping his hands up? I don’t think that is the point of the story. I think the lesson it is trying to teach us is that we can only win our battles if we raise our hands to God, if we pray. And we can only keep our hands up and pray with the support of our community.

Again, faith is not just personal; it is communal.

Jesus, in our Gospel today, promises that the justice we pray for will come ‘speedily.’ In your experience, has God always answered with haste? Or with the Psalmist, do we find ourselves many times lamenting, ‘How long, O Lord?’ Scripture tells us, ‘With the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day’ (2 Peter 3:8). So maybe we should just change our understanding of ‘speedily’?

Faith is patience, yes, but faith is also trusting that even if we don’t see its fruits yet, God has already answered speedily. Maybe all we need to see is the beginning, not the full promise fulfilled. Recall our reflection on the Samaritan who gave thanks to Jesus.

Justice will be done speedily-even when it seems nothing seems to be happening, something is. Even when it seems that God is far, God is near. Faith is holding on to the God who is both near and far. Recall the reflection with which we began this three-week journey of faith.

Maybe much of faith is also re-calling, not just ‘not forgetting,’ but actively calling to mind how we have seen God’s faithfulness in the past and experiencing him calling us again. and again.

The Quezon City government has warned the public against a fake video showing Mayor Joy Belmonte talking about a supposed investment opportunity.

‘Mayor Joy Belmonte is not the one speaking in this video message,’ the city government said in an advisory. ‘This is an AI-generated video being used to deceive the public.’

Several fake videos, including the one showing Belmonte, have recently circulated on social media. Others featured journalists, businessmen and politicians like President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte.

The Quezon City government reminded the public not to provide personal information or click on any links from these accounts.

‘If you need to contact the local government, please call Helpline 122 or reach out to our District Action Offices or message us on the official Quezon city government Facebook page,’ it added.

The city previously warned the public against Facebook accounts and pages impersonating the mayor to lure people into giving up their personal information.

Communities in Aroroy, Masbate received over P10 million worth of relief goods and construction materials from Filminera Resources Corp. and Phil. Gold Processing and Refining Corp. (Phil.Gold) following the devastation of typhoon Opong. The relief operations, conducted from Sept. 25 to Oct. 6, were carried out in close coordination with the Aroroy municipal government to ensure aid reached the most affected barangays.

The beneficiaries of construction materials, relief goods, or both included the barangays of Ambolong, Talabaan, Bangon, Balawing, Pinanaan, Lanang, Jaboyoan, Tinago, Puro, Panique, Amoroy, Capsay, Balete, Concepcion and Luy-a.

In addition to the community aid, Filminera and Phil.Gold also extended financial assistance, amounting around P28 million, to their 758 employees and 1,163 contractors’ employees, underscoring the companies’ commitment to the welfare of their workforce in times of crisis.

The relief efforts were carried out in collaboration with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau – DENR, and industry partners through the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines and the Philippine Nickel Industry Association, with support from: Carmen Copper Corp., Carrascal Nickel Corp., CTP Construction and Mining Corp., Global Ferronickel, Platinum Group Metals Corp., Quarry Ventures Phils. Inc., APO Land and Quarry Corp., TVI-EDCO, Oriental Vision Mining Phils. Corp., ANSECA Dev Corp., Marcventures Mining and Dev Corp., THPAL and PMSEA-MGBV.

Meanwhile, FLS Group Philippines Inc. transported the material donations from Cebu and Manila to Masbate.

Barangay officials and residents welcomed the assistance, noting that the combined food packs and construction materials would help ease recovery efforts.

Both Filminera and Phil.Gold said they remain committed to being ‘responsible partners in progress,’ pledging continued support for the welfare, resilience, and sustainable development of Aroroy’s communities.