Category: Philippine Star

The Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College (TRAC) has a long history of leadership issues. Its quality of education has also been problematic.

For decades, the institution struggled with instability and weak governance. It is an SUC Level 1 institution, the lowest classification for state universities and colleges.

This is the reason why I decided to take over as chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of all public universities in the BASULTA region in 2022. I wanted to help the Sulu State College and Basilan State College become full-fledged state universities. I also wanted to contribute to improving the quality of education in TRAC.

The realities on the ground shocked me. Faculty members were teaching agriculture subjects even if they did not pass the PRC Agriculture Licensure Examination (ALE). Not surprisingly, the TRAC passing rate for the ALE over the past years has been very low.

The recruitment and promotion of faculty were also suspect. Many professors became permanent without vertically aligned academic credentials or lacked research publications.

As a result, all of its degree programs had no Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC). The deadline of COPC compliance under the PRC-CHED Joint Circular No. 1 has passed, and the students may be unable to take their licensure examinations.

But things were starting to turn around. For the first time, TRAC had a president who retired honorably and with a clean slate – a rare milestone in its institutional history. The BOT initiated a serious review of the appointment of new faculty members in compliance with CHED and civil service rules. The UPLB College of Agriculture included TRAC in its PHASE II ALE Review project and will explore a capacity-building project for the TRAC faculty.

Unfortunately, that momentum now appears to be stalling as the college finds itself once again entangled in allegations of nepotism, unethical leadership practices and questionable governance procedures.

I have been informed that several stakeholders have already lodged complaints before the Ombudsman for Mindanao seeking accountability on these issues.

The complainants reportedly accuse the newly-elected president of grave misconduct, dishonesty, malversation of public funds and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

At the heart of the controversy are appointments allegedly made by the president. Instead of selecting faculty who meet the standards of the CHED, relatives were reportedly appointed to positions for which they lacked the necessary qualifications.

The complainants claim that these appointees were installed despite the existence of more qualified faculty members with advanced degrees and professional eligibility. These acts, according to the complaints, not only show blatant nepotism but also put TRAC’s acquisition of the COPC in jeopardy. Students were further dismayed to discover that some classes were being handled by stand-ins, with appointed instructors failing to attend sessions.

Equally troubling are allegations that the Office of the President had been converted into a private residence. Photographs showing the president and the vice president for academic affairs in sleeping attire inside the office are now circulating. The complaints allege that this misuse of government property inflated electricity and water bills, turning a public office into a private convenience.

There were also complaints of students being compelled to pay an additional P800 during enrolment, with only P600 accounted for as the cost of a school shirt for the school’s founding anniversary. No official receipts were issued, contrary to government requirements on the collection of funds.

The complaints claim that this collection was not authorized or discussed in the BOT meetings, but was imposed solely upon the instruction of the college president through the VP for academic affairs.

The complaints also point to a drainage project beside the gymnasium that was constructed without Board approval or compliance with procurement laws. Instead of a transparent bidding process under RA 9184, a Memorandum of Agreement was supposedly entered into with a favored contractor. Stakeholders allege that this amounted to misuse of public funds, malversation and violations of anti-graft statutes.

Equally troubling is the contention that the president unilaterally replaced the TRAC Board secretary without complying with CHED guidelines. The Board secretary was reappointed during the first quarter TRAC Board meeting. Under CHED rules, Board secretaries serve the Board, not the president, and are coterminous with the newly elected president.

The recent events highlight the fragility of public trust when leaders are perceived, rightly or wrongly, as poor stewards of education and resources. For the students, faculty and parents who invested their hopes in the college, these accusations, if not resolved, will cast a long shadow that will affect the credibility of TRAC as an educational institution.

The public expectation is always simple: accountability, transparency, compliance with government rules and a return to the values that make higher education a public trust.

These grievances must be investigated with dispatch by the ombudsman, the TRAC Board of Trustees and CHED. The president’s side on the accusations must be heard to ensure that due process is observed.

Until these matters are resolved, the story of TRAC will not be one of improving academic quality but of more troubles – troubles that undermine its mission and jeopardize the dreams of students to complete their education and have a better life.

Amid increasing public scrutiny, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong yesterday defended the construction of the P110-million sports and parking facilities in Burnham Park, saying the contract was aboveboard.

In an interview with The STAR’s online show ‘Truth on the Line,’ Magalong insisted there was no corruption involved in the awarding of the contract to the Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction Corp.

‘Malinis po ‘yan, walang kalokohan (That’s clean, no shenanigans),’ Magalong said, noting the city government is committed to upholding transparency in infrastructure development.

He stressed that when the contract was won through open bidding, the corruption scandal involving the Discayas had not yet come to light.

Magalong said the completion of the project was rushed as the contractor had promised to finish the facilities in January this year.

The rushed completion of the project raised concerns regarding the structural integrity and safety of the facilities.

‘Since January, we have been collecting P20,245 in unliquidated damages every day. We have so far collected P6.6 million,’ he said.

Magalong said the city government has yet to pay the contractor P27 million in remaining balance of the cost of the contract.

He said St. Gerrard resorted to subcontracting or hired another company to undertake the construction. The city government was not immediately informed about the matter, causing concerns about the quality and reliability of the facilities.

Despite the issue, Magalong said the city government allowed the contractor to proceed with the repair and finishing works as filing of charges would further delay the completion.

He said the city engineering office is monitoring the repair.

‘If the defects of the facilities will persist, we will be compelled to file charges against the contractor,’ Magalong said.

The project has drawn flak as it is being undertaken by a company owned by the Discayas, who are currently embroiled in controversial and substandard flood-control projects of the government.

This piece of good news nearly fell below the radar.The Department of Energy (DOE) announced this week the signing of eight new Petroleum Service Contracts (PSCs) for oil exploration. The deals went though a transparent and competitive selection process as required by law. Altogether, the eight contracts translates into $207 million in investments over a seven-year period.

Significantly, one of the contracts sealed involves exploration and, hopefully, extraction of natural hydrogen. This is considered green fuel with many possible applications in industry and transport.

$207 million is not a staggering sum. But these contracts represent something truly consequential for the country’s energy security. Since 1989, when the Malampaya wells began producing natural gas for the country, there has been a drought of new investments for oil and gas exploration.

Somehow there was a misfit between standing policy and investor expectations. Exploration is a capital-intensive and high-risk venture. It requires mobilizing the best technologies for geological and geophysical surveys as well as extensive seismic and aeromagnetic studies.

Securing our energy future is a task that cannot be undertaken small scale. It requires inviting in the best companies in the world to take a stake in energy exploration and, ultimately, energy production.

We have vast natural resources on land and in our seas. We have been slow in exploiting these resources for national development because of many hindrances. The main deterrent for potential investors is the uncertainty and unpredictability of exploration projects due to unclear or nonexistent regulations.

The few global companies capable of undertaking exploration projects for oil and gas are not there to do charity or perform philanthropy. They expect firm assurance of profitable return for venturing in exploration.

The DOE under the leadership of Sharon Garin worked hard to clear the uncertainty. The eight deals announced this week became possible after the DOE committed to providing special allowances for the service contractors. The goal was to reinvigorate investments in our upstream energy industry.

Department Circular No. DC2025-09-0017, titled ‘Grant of Special Allowances for Petroleum Service Contractors,’ implements constitutional mandates to protect exploration investors. This served as an open invitation for all those willing to invest in uncovering our vast natural resources.

The new circular offers service contractors special allowances deductible from gross proceeds. While preserving government’s 60 percent share, operating expenses of up to 70 percent will be reimbursed. This offers not just relief but also assurance to investors that government is committed to playing its part in harnessing the country’s natural resources for development.

Additionally, government is introducing additional allowance for marginal petroleum operations when annual operating expenses surpass the 70 percent recovery allowance. To encourage production in the newly discovered petroleum fields in frontier regions, the DOE is offering a five percent allowance on gross proceeds to the initial commercial development.

The grant of the special allowances mentioned above is inspired by successful policy models adopted by Malaysia and Indonesia that offer more substantial exploration investment incentives. Our two neighbors offer a more generous package including reduced tax rates, accelerated capital allowances, investment allowances and export duty waivers.

Because of the generous fiscal incentives they offer, the economies of our two neighbors have successfully attracted investors to help grow their upstream energy sectors. This is the reason our two neighbors are well ahead of us in this regard.

The new incentives for exploration continues our government’s effort to build up our upstream energy production. Two years ago, government extended Service Contract 38 which governs the Malampaya gas field. Two new wells are being dug in the service area with $893 million in additional investments.

The two new wells are of critical importance. They will extend the availability of indigenous natural gas on which a large part of our power production relies – until new fields are developed.

We may not see full energy self-sufficiency in our lifetime. But the innovative energy policies recently adopted move us towards a robust upstream energy industry.

Overstated

The Palace was quick to react to SEC Chairman Francis Lim’s pronouncement that P1.7 trillion in market capital evaporated over the recent weeks because of uncertainty created by the raging infrastructure corruption scandal.

At first glance, that did seem to be a gross overstatement. Our equities market is small even by regional standards. Such a volume of loss would have been truly earthshaking.

It turns out the loss quoted was from an erroneous report circulating in social media. Lim was quick to acknowledge his error. The real estimate of market loss during the specified period under consideration amounts to P180 billion.

The corrected estimate is roughly just a tenth of the first figure quoted by Lim. Still, given the smallness of our capital market, a loss of P180 billion is still awesome.

The raging corruption scandal is taking a tremendous toll on our economy. We will likely end the year with GPD growth below even our most conservative estimates. Acknowledging the corrosive impact of the corruption scandal on our economic performance, the BSP and the Monetary Board surprised the market by cutting interest rates by 25 basis points.

Lowering the interest rate regime intends to spur business activity. But this will also take a toll on the peso. We have the distinction of having both the worst performing stock market and the worst performing currency in Asia.

As promised by Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, the distribution of financial assistance to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) will begin today, October 11, 2025, in their respective barangays.

This rollout follows the completion of the senior citizens’ aid distribution earlier this week.

The city prioritized senior citizens not only because of their age but also due to their significantly larger population. Cebu City has over 90,000 registered senior citizens, while the number of registered PWDs is estimated at around 15,000 based on recent local government records.

The Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) will oversee the barangay-level distribution to ensure accessibility and proper verification.

Beneficiaries are reminded to bring their valid PWD identification cards to claim their financial assistance.

This initiative forms part of Cebu City’s broader social protection efforts and aligns with Republic Act No. 10070, which mandates local government support for PWDs through institutionalized programs and the establishment of Persons with Disability Affairs Offices (PDAO).

For the residents of Barangays Kal-anan and Tapul in Tabogon, Cebu, yesterday was not just the arrival of relief goods, but also the advent of their hope following days of uncertainty and fear caused by the Sept. 30 earthquake that shook northern Cebu.

The Freeman Foundation, the civic arm of The Freeman and Banat News, traveled more than 87 kilometers from Cebu City to conduct a relief distribution for hundreds of quake-affected families in the two barangays of Tabogon.

Tabogon was among the hardest-hit areas when the quake struck, damaging houses and displacing residents who are now struggling to rebuild their lives amid aftershocks and changing weather.

In the situational report released by the Cebu Provincial Government, Tabogon recorded a total of 14,122 affected families from the earthquake. There were 244 individuals reported injured, and five confirmed dead.

A total of 452 relief packs were distributed to households in Barangay Kal-angan, while 404 packs were handed out to residents in Barangay Tapul.

Each pack contained rice, canned goods, noodles, towels, and even clothes – simple items, yet priceless and the most needed, for those who have lost much.

Melandro Mendoza, general manager of The Freeman, personally joined the distribution. He shared that The Freeman Foundation has been serving the public for more than 21 years, often extending aid to reach those in dire need.

‘Ngayong may calamity, gusto rin nating makapagbigay ng tulong sa mga apektadong pamilya,’ Mendoza said, adding that Tabogon was chosen as the Foundation’s first area of focus because most other relief operations were concentrated in Bogo City, considered the Ground Zero of the earthquake.

‘Sinubukan naming mag-reach out sa mga hindi napupuntahan ng relief,’ he said. In Barangay Kal-anan, residents gathered early to welcome the team, grateful that help had reached them despite their town’s distance from the city.

One of them, 76-year-old Eliseo Dungog, who is also the Purok president, could not hold back his emotions as he received the relief pack. ‘Akong dako’ng pasalamat sa The Freeman . pasalamat ko nga kinasing-kasing nga nihatod diri sa barangay,’ he said.

Dungog shared that the quake left many traumatized, with several residents still afraid to sleep inside their damaged homes. ‘Puros jud ‘mi na trauma. Swerte lang jud ‘mi nakagawas sa balay,’ he added.

Some of them, he said, have yet to return to work due to financial constraints. ‘Karon nangatawa lang ‘mi ani pero deep inside, dako jud kaayong problema,’ he admitted.

Meanwhile, 67-year-old Helen Berdon said the traumatic memory of that terrifying day remains vivid. She was injured when shards of glass from a window struck her during the quake. ‘Nasamad ko diri (cheeckbones) kay naigo ko sa bildo,’ she recalled.

Their house was heavily damaged, forcing her and her family to seek temporary shelter in a makeshift tent near the elementary school. ‘Lisod jud kaayo. Maglisod ‘mi og katog kay mahadlok basin mobalik nasad og linog,’ Berdon said.

Her voice trembled as she described how she, her children, and grandchildren shared the cramped tent. She said their greatest need now is a permanent home – a place to rebuild their lives, especially with Christmas drawing near.

‘Hapit na pasko, pero wa mi kabalo asa mi ani magsugod,’ she said while wiping tears from her eyes. Despite their tribulation, Berdon and her neighbors found comfort in knowing they were not forgotten.

The sight of volunteers from The Freeman Foundation carrying relief packs, she said, brought them hope that better days will come.

The relief operation of the Freeman Foundation was made possible through the generosity of several donors and partner institutions, including AppleOne Group, Diamond Suites and Residences, Twinbee Print Ads, the University of the Visayas, Solea Mactan, Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp., and Barangay Sto. Niño Captain Lourdes Ramirez.

Numerous individuals also extended monetary and in-kind donations, showing that compassion continues to thrive even in difficult times.

As the team prepared to leave, the smiles and waves of gratitude from the residents were a reminder that even the little act of kindness can mean so much to those who have lost nearly everything.

Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) leads nine Philippine companies in this year’s roster of the World’s Best Employers drawn up by Forbes magazine.

SMC, which employs 56,622 people, was again the highest ranked Filipino firm on the Forbes 2025 list at No. 42 among 900 companies worldwide.

The company, which operates in various segments such as beverages, food, packaging, energy, fuel and oil and infrastructure, placed No. 89 in last year’s rankings, which included a total of 850 firms.

Ayala Corp., the country’s oldest conglomerate, came in as the second best employer among Philippine companies on the list at No. 139. The group was listed as having 64,000 employees.

Two companies in the banking and financials services industry – Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. and Land Bank of the Philippines – followed at No. 154 and no. 187, respectively.

Taipan Lucio Tan’s LT Group Inc. is ranked at No. 421, while the Century Pacific Group of the Po family is at No. 453.

Completing the Filipino firms on the list are Asian food conglomerate Jollibee Foods at No. 455, the Sy family’s BDO Unibank at No. 585 and Gokongwei-led budget carrier Cebu Pacific at No. 770.

Overall, topping this year’s list is Microsoft, followed by Delta Airlines at No. 2 and Alphabet at No. 3.

Completing the top 10 are Adobe, BMW Group, NVIDIA, Sony, IBM, Apple and Lego Group.

Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey more than 300,000 employees in over 50 countries to come out with its 2025 World’s Best Employers list.

Corporations eligible for the ranking are those employing more than 1,000 people and operating globally.

Forbes said the participants noted how likely they were to recommend their employer to family and friends, and rated the company on criteria such as salary, career advancement opportunities, work-life balance and company reputation.

Historically, Filipino public service has been deeply rooted in religious and moral beliefs, evolving from pre-colonial traditions to a system founded on nationalism and love. Before the arrival of the Spanish, pre-colonial Filipinos had their own religious beliefs centered on deities like Bathalang Maykapal. The babaylan or katalonan, who were priestesses and healers, held a highly regarded position and their beliefs influenced political and social life. The practice of trial by ordeal during this time is an example of the strong religious influence on policy.

The Spanish introduced a new belief system that led to the conversion of many Filipinos. This period, known as the Frailocracy, saw an incomparable amalgamation of the Church and State, where friars had significant influence over political and economic affairs. Despite the abuses of the Frailocracy, Filipinos never lost their core sense of morality.

The American occupation brought religious impartiality and forbearance, which allowed Filipinos to practice various religions. This value was later reinforced in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which recognizes the establishment and practice of religion.

The Philippines now observes a submissive secularism, meaning the state is neutral toward religion and acknowledges the church’s role as the core of Filipino moral values. The Constitution even begins by ‘imploring the aid of Almighty God,’ demonstrating the enduring moral and spiritual foundation of the nation.

The culture of Filipino public service is a direct product of this historical evolution, encompassing the pre-colonial, colonial and republican eras. Public service is not just about meeting people’s essential needs; it’s about making people understand its ways. Holding a public office is seen as a privilege and a public trust, which is a duty to serve the public rather than a right. As per the 1987 Philippine Constitution, this public trust requires public servants to be conscientious, prioritize the common good and public interest above all and avoid conflicts of interest.

Additionally, public servants must observe values such as equity and justice, accessibility for all, national growth and patriotism. The delivery of public service must be founded in love, which is intrinsically linked to nationalism.

Filipino nationalism in public service can be regarded as a unique language of morality because it embodies the religious, humanist and nationalistic spirit that reflects love for the country, fellow citizens and God. This moral foundation ensures that government actions and policies are directed toward the common good.

Although there is a separation of Church and State under what is called passive secularism, it does not mean opposition to religion; rather, it allows the church to participate by offering moral perspectives in policymaking. This kind of relationship, as expressed in the Panatang Makabayan, reflects the high level of democratic values among Filipinos.

Ultimately, the standard of genuine public service lies in whether it is rooted in nationalism and love – a spirit that endures through time and is deeply embedded in the nation’s history and culture.

The European Union has released pound 750,000-or roughly P50.8 million-in humanitarian aid to help communities affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu last week.

In a statement late Friday, October 10, the EU said the funding will go toward emergency relief for displaced families, including shelter, clean water and sanitation.

‘The European Union expresses its solidarity with the people affected by the earthquake,’ the delegation said, adding that it is monitoring the situation ‘for possible further assistance.’

Of the total allocation, pound 250,000 (P16.9 million) will support the Philippine Red Cross in delivering cash assistance, tents, household items, and healthcare services to those who lost their homes. The funding forms part of the EU’s contribution to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Disaster Response Emergency Fund.

This latest release adds to the pound 7.3 million (P495 million) in humanitarian aid the EU has already allocated to the Philippines this year, including pound 1.3 million (P88 million) in assistance after typhoons that hit the country in July and September.

The aid will be channeled through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, or ECHO, the EU’s disaster response arm based in Brussels.

‘With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year,’ the statement said.

The EU said it remains ready to provide additional assistance as the impact of the quake continues to be assessed.

Devastating quakes. The Cebu earthquake left 74 people dead and displaced thousands after it struck off the province’s northern coast on September 30.

Another severe tremor at magnitude 7.4 struck of the coast of Davao on Friday. Authorities are still assessing the damage as the area is still affected by subsequent quakes and tsunami warnings.

I have long wanted to write about greener choices when it comes to tourist destinations because it’s not only a good thing to do for Mother Earth, but a smart thing to do. And I am excited to tell you about Barangay Marang Marang in Isabela City, Basilan on the Indigenous People and women side, and Banwa Private Island on the other end of the economic spectrum, being an exclusive location worthy of being in the 100 best places to visit list.

They share many commonalities except for price. Marang Marang is reachable by boat from mainland Isabela and is amongst mangroves where we were served Basilan’s pride – pure Excelsa coffee, brewed right on the rafts where the women of Marang Marang entertain visitors. We were afloat rafts with comfortable seats, plenty of tables and delicious local fare. Along with coffee we had rice cakes, sweet potatoes and bananas. The women of the community regaled us with stories of how they live catching shrimps and other seafood found in the river/mangrove areas.

I wanted to recommend the community to be part of the Slow Food movement, as they were preserving local heritage, local food culture, which is the women association’s main source of business. Their first international recognition, however, is being a Green Destination. And they surely passed the bar to be named such as I had observed when I last visited Basilan.

On another island, Palawan, we drove through clean highways from Puerto Princesa airport to Roxas, a nice, comfortable two-hour ride until we reached the north side to get our ride across to Banwa private island. A one-of-a-kind amphibian they call the Iguana brought us to this paradise on the Sulu Sea. It is a dot on the map, a mere eight hectares of unspoilt beauty where the owners decided it should be a liveable, breathable and the epitome of sustainability.

First off, they found drinking water – digging 500 feet into the ground and after several unlucky tries, they found the source of good water. They then found a company who could filter and bottle and even make a sparkling version of this wonderful much-needed resource.

Next, they managed to remove the mosquitoes, which is a tourists’ nightmare in the tropics. They invested in over 70 mosquito catchers spread all around the island, which ensures that no mosquito will bother the guests. That already spells paradise to many. Another pesky beach companion are sandflies or niknik which they also managed by gathering all the seagrass near the shore, which becomes breeding ground of these flying pests. By gathering the seagrass and putting them in sacks to be disposed off somewhere in the sea, the sandflies have nowhere to breed on the island.

Next item on the list is food, of course. Every tourist or guest would have preferences and food allergies to avoid. The chef, a young man named Gian who trained long enough in Finland and Manila, creates menus from vegetables found in their own organic farm (across the island), local seafood and an occasional steak or lamb chop, but mostly seafood.

Breakfast starts with lamayo, a local marinated fish -prepared along with eggs and garlic rice. Or you may want house baked croissants or pain au chocolat, also prepared by in-house pastry chef Christian.

Lunch is set either at the main dining or on the shore, depending on weather conditions. In the villas – and there are only six in the whole island – you may also prepare your own coffee, tea and drinks and savor house made cookies like cashew sable, chocolate barks and little fruit-infused bonbons.

Dinner could be a freshly-caught local lobster or local fish like snapper or grouper. The salads are well-made with local cheeses from Davao, Brazilian spinach from their farm and a variety of freshly-made house dressings. I was surprised that they even had fresh sambal, as one of the chefs did train in Malaysia and in Arabic kitchens.

The menu is thought of with sustainability in mind as all the ingredients are sourced locally and using these local fruits and nuts, the chef is able to prepare even ice cream with a touch of cashew (abundant in Roxas) or local Robusta and Arabica coffee beans. The chocolate bonbons either have langka (jackfruit) or ube (purple yam) and a Robusta coffee ganache.

Next on the list are their strict rules on conservation. Not only of local plants like mangroves and other island species, but of marine life. A recreation manager named Bernard can lead you on a ‘low tide’ walk where you can see stingrays, eels and sea cucumber and the whole food chain of fish as you wade noisily and actively in the shallow water. You need to make your movements felt so the creatures you may step on accidentally can get out of harm’s way. There also is a chance to snorkel and see more water inhabitants, as well as serious scuba diving for some guests (not me, unfortunately).

The owners are strict observers of conservation and founded a non-profit called Aquos Foundation to do just that – conserve what you find on the island and off it. They also make sure the communities are taught marine conservation and sustainability, lest they forget these in the pursuit of tourist dollars.

In our first example, Marang Marang, the city government of Isabela City in Basilan is the prime mover and enabler of the coastal community. In both these examples, although far from each other in price points, the idea is the same – conserve Nature and think of sustainability.

Green destinations are truly possible in this country and I can imagine 7,000 more islands doing the same. Palawan as seen in Puerto Princesa can be the shining example of political will to keep a province or city clean. Children are born into clean culture and grow up practising this ‘no littering’ concept and living it. ‘Kaya pala,’ we all said. That simply means ‘it can be done.’ Every island can indeed be a green destination.

The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors dealt the Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs their first defeat, 51-47, in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 25 basketball tournament on Thursday, October 9, at the Cebu Coliseum.

Trailed by a hairline, 41-42, after three quarters, the Warriors seized the upper hand, 46-43, in the final five minutes before hanging on to a precarious four-point triumph.

Kyle Maglinte was the lone double-digit scorer in the low-scoring game, churning in 14 points, two rebounds, one assist, and three steals as the Warriors evened their record at 2-2.

The injury-depleted Cheetahs, on the other hand, saw their three-game winning streak come to a screeching halt.

In high school play, the five-peat seeking Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu(SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles escaped the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers, 65-63, for their second straight win.

The Baby Panthers valiantly fought back after being down by six points late in the game to pull within a matchstick, 63-64, but Lian Kent Basa split his charities in the last three seconds to settle the final tally for the Magis Eagles.

The Baby Panthers actually had one last shot to steal the match but Luke Brent Dy misfired on a desperate 3-pointer as the time expired.

Basa finished with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals while Henry Kristoffer Suico produced a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds with four assists for the Magis Eagles.

Jhonrey Recio added 10 points, four rebounds, one assist and two blocks for the only unbeaten team in the juniors division.

Dy tallied 14 points with nine rebounds, two steals and a block while Champ Davidson Brigoli had 12 points, four rebounds and one steal but to no avail as the Baby Panthers fell to 2-2.