Category: Philippine Star

Known as the City of Pines and Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio City is a premier tourist destination and home to a vibrant community of over 366,000 residents.

Beyond its cool climate and scenic beauty, Baguio is also known for its strong commitment to sustainability and progress, with its local government consistently championing projects aimed at creating a livable, inclusive and creative environment for its Baguio 2043 vision.

Helping to illuminate this vision is no other than the world leader in lighting, Signify. Together, Signify and the Baguio LGU have embarked on a transformative lighting project that not only enhanced the city’s visual charms but also propelled significant progress across various sectors.

In an interview with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the LGU was using traditional streetlights and was paying P4.9 million a month. But when they made the switch from high-pressure sodium lamps (HPS) to low-wattage LED lights, not only did it generate significant savings for Baguio, but it also resulted in more safety and security for people due to better illumination.

‘Ang naging vision namin, Baguio 2043-a liveable, inclusive and creative Baguio,’ Mayor Magalong shared.

‘When we transitioned to LED, mas maliwanag pa…ang binabayaran nalang natin (ay) umaabot ng P1.5 to P1.6 million as compared sa P4.8 million. Ang savings namin is around P30+ million a year sa lighting pa lang,’ he added.

The impact of Philips lighting solutions extends beyond simply making streets brighter. It also lights the way to meaningful progress on tourism, public safety, good governance and the city’s overall environmental footprint.

Glowing reviews from tourists

Baguio’s picturesque views, bustling night markets and city activities added another layer of attraction with the help of reliable and appealing lighting.

Visitors have taken notice, describing a better experience with just a touch of the power of effective lighting.

“This is my second time roaming around the Baguio Night Market,” shared Sophia, a Balikbayan tourist. ‘And the first time I went here, it was not well-lighted. So I think it’s better na ganito siya kaliwanag. Kasi mas maayos siya and better experience siya for visitors.’

Local businesses also felt the benefits of the improved lighting system. Lighting, while often overlooked, holds a profound power to transform experiences and environments, making them better.

Shining the light on good governance

The Baguio LGU’s commitment to good governance and efficient resource management is the cornerstone of its operations. The partnership with Signify, in particular, reflects a meticulous approach to ensuring public funds are utilized effectively for the highest quality outcomes.

‘One of the things we are proud of here in Baguio is that there is no corruption,’ Mayor Magalong shared. ‘That’s why our principle of good governance is very strong. And you have to make sure also that there’s due diligence in choosing the right brand.’

‘We have to make sure that our suppliers are so aligned with our principle of good governance as well. That’s why for me, I would rather go for Philips because we have already tested it,’ he added.

The consistent quality and reliability of Signify’s Philips brand played a crucial role in the LGU’s decision. With this, Signify also underscores its commitment to providing innovative, sustainable lighting solutions that genuinely contribute to urban development and the well-being of communities.

The project in Baguio indeed serves as a powerful testament to how intelligent lighting can foster progress and create a better future.

The signify promise

Raghuraman Chandrasekhar, country leader for professional business at Signify Philippines, also echoed the same sentiment: ‘Taxpayers’ money is sacred, it is hard-earned. This drives us to win the trust of the government and the Filipino people. Given this, Signify works hard to execute LGU lighting projects right the first time. All of us at Signify owe this promise to everyone, and we are committed to working hard to keep this pledge.’

Signify remains committed to providing reliable, energy-efficient and future-ready lighting solutions across the Philippines. The story of Baguio City is a shining example of how, through collaboration and innovation, a city can light its way to a more sustainable and secure future.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has warned public officials against using the Senate’s current leadership turmoil to weaken or redirect investigations into corruption in flood control projects, saying such a move would ‘heighten public suspicion of a cover-up.’

In a statement on Monday, October 6, CBCP President Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David said the public is watching closely amid several unanswered questions into the alleged multibillion-peso anomalies in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects despite weeks of hearings.

‘After the revelations of massive anomalies in flood control projects, any move to change Senate leadership or redirect investigations now would only heighten public suspicion of a cover-up,’ the CBCP statement read.

The CBCP also called on all public officials to uphold the integrity of the ongoing inquiries and allow the newly formed Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to ‘investigate fully and freely, without political interference from any branch of government.’

Lacson’s resignation

The CBCP statement comes after Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said over the weekend that he would submit today his resignation as chair of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon committee, which has been conducting an inquiry into irregularities in flood control allocations.

Lacson, in stepping down from his chairmanship, cited the ‘disappointment’ of several colleagues over his handling of the hearings.

His exit has fueled talks of another leadership shake-up, barely a month after Sen. Chiz Escudero was replaced by Senate President Tito Sotto III.

Sen. JV Ejercito earlier told reporters he and four other senators had considered leaving the majority bloc after the Lacson-led Blue Ribbon committee started to turn its focus on senators involved in the anomalies in flood control projects.

Lacson had earlier revealed that nearly all senators had inserted at least P100 billion worth of items in the 2025 budget, much of it for DPWH projects. That disclosure, according to some senators, risked damaging the Senate’s collective reputation.

Budget insertions themselves are not anomalous. However, the practice of doing so has drawn controversy as it has been abused to allegedly funnel billions of pesos into projects that are either non-existent (ghost projects) or subject to kickbacks.

Lacson’s resignation is now widely seen as an attempt to prevent instability in the upper chamber, appease the majority and, in effect, keep Sotto at the top.

Speculation over another leadership change has been growing as reports alleged some senators were considering backing Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano for the top post.

Within the Senate, however, senators have denied that Cayetano was poised to take over. Lacson has also dismissed the rumors as ‘rehashed psywar tactics intended to sow intrigue among members of the majority.’

‘Let the truth flow freely’

In its statement, the CBCP called on both Congress and Malacañang to demonstrate that they ‘serve the common good, not partisan power.’

‘We strongly oppose any attempt to pre-empt or derail the investigation through backroom deals, leadership takeovers, or selective justice,’ the statement added. ‘A nation cannot heal when its moral arteries are clogged by corruption and self-interest.’

They warned that attempts to sidestep the inquiry or silence investigators would only deepen public cynicism about corruption and erode confidence in the government’s anti-graft efforts.

The bishops also called for protection of whistleblowers and technical personnel ‘who come forward in good faith,’ noting that many such workers had been exposed to harassment or political pressure in past investigations.

‘No to a whitewash. Yes to full accountability,’ the statement declared. ‘Only through truth can our nation begin to rebuild trust and ensure that flood control no longer becomes another flood of corruption.’

The CBCP also expressed support for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure – the body the president created last month to investigate corruption in public works – but emphasized that its hearings must be open to the public.

The ICI was created precisely to restore public trust, the CBCP said, and its work must proceed ‘thoroughly, transparently, and without fear or favor.’

The CBCP earlier called for a National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance to be held tomorrow, October 7.

Police seized P11 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Barangay Talaban in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

The Maritime Police said two men from Zamboanga City and Jolo in Sulu were caught unloading 190 boxes of Fort, Pure and Berlin cigarettes but failed to produce documents to prove proper importation.

Both men are detained at the Himamaylan City Police Station pending the filing of charges for violation of Section 1401 of Republic Act 10863 (Unlawful Importation) and Section 6 of Republic Act 10643 (Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products Act of 2014).

A Swiss man convicted of possessing and distributing child abuse materials has been arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Heinz Arbenz, 66, is suspected of visiting Southeast Asian countries to victimize children after escaping criminal proceedings in Switzerland.

Immigration agents intercepted Arbenz on Sept. 29 as he attempted to depart for Bangkok.

Arbenz reportedly stayed in the Philippines for over three weeks.

New charges were filed against him last year following his convictions in 2017 and 2021.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado denounced the presence of another foreign predator in the country.

Arbenz is being held at the Bureau of Immigration detention facility in Taguig pending deportation.

It has been half a century since the Philippine Basketball Association played its first game in April 1975. What started out as a rebellion against the overuse of MICAA players by the BAP has become an enduring symbol of Filipino culture. As the national basketball federation abused players to the point that they could not play for their mother teams for entire years, the only way the team owners could escape was by turning pro. Basketball was not yet an open sport then, and pros were forbidden from international competitions.

The PBA has undergone so many changes in the last 50 years. From a speedy, rough and tumble league to a blueprint of professionalism in Asia. There are not that many of us who still remember those early days. Truth be told, this writer still gets approached by the children – and even grandchildren – who grew up watching the games on television with their elders. Honestly, I sometimes have mixed feelings about it when I realize their age and mine.

The league has undergone so many format changes, rules, regarding eligibility, and even scheduling. The traditional All-Filipino Conference used to be played in the middle of the year. Eventually, it became obvious that it did not allow for the availability of the best possible imports, who were playing in various tournaments overseas. With the current calendar, teams now have a much wider selection of reinforcements to meet their needs. There have been so many magnificent performances by foreign players, a few of whom have stayed or returned to give back to Philippine basketball, like Norman Black, Bobby Parks, Sean Chambers and Daryl Smith, who lived in Cebu until his untimely death after a game there in 2008. There have been two imports per team, high handicaps, and other measures to ensure parity. Some of those who have spent time here have been NBA champions to journeymen who considered the country a second home.

The PBA has had it ups and down as well, with only six teams at one point in the 1980’s, to the robust line-up of 12 franchised it has maintained. The fuel crisis of that decade did the most economic damage, forcing smaller family corporations like Crispa and Galerie Dominique to give up their teams, and even international companies like Toyota to leave the country. It took the league a while to regain its strength. By 1989, a very strong rookie draft class buoyed it up. The following year, new teams, Pepsi, and Pop Cola joined the mix. Teams have come and gone, but it has been business as usual.

Asia’s first pro league has set other historical milestones, as well. The first all-professional basketball team to compete internationally was the PBA selection in the Asian Games in 1990, pre-dating the American Dream Team. That also ended the isolationist attitude of the league as the Philippines was no longer the juggernaut of the continent. As basketball opened up to professionals, there was more reason to deploy our best players to represent the country. And they were all in the PBA.

At the end of the day, two things have continued the fill our imagination when it comes to local basketball. The rivalries and personalities of the PBA have imprinted themselves on our consciousness for generations. Many of us could list all the greats, maybe even in chronological order. Nobody can forget the likes of Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Bogs Adornado, Atoy Co and the dozens who compose the league’s all-time greatest. We have seen it all: fist fights, walkouts, even incarceration. But most of all, we have the innumerable memories: wild cheers, moments captured, the fiercest of competition, the hero worship, and all the indelible images which boosted us up when we needed heroes the most. We have learned so much about life from the PBA. Truly, it is golden, in more ways than one.

Various animal welfare advocates have filed a petition before the Office of the Mayor, raising objections to portions of the Cebu City Animal Welfare Ordinance, which they described as potentially causing ‘deplorable injustice and cruelty.’

In a 12-page petition addressed to Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, the groups sought the suspension and amendment of specific provisions of Ordinance No. 2526, Series of 2019, also known as the Animal Welfare Ordinance of Cebu City.

The petitioners argued that certain sections of the measure are ‘prejudicial to the marginalized and indigent sectors, particularly to pet owners.’

Among the provisions they questioned were: Extortionate and Unwarranted Fees Imposed on Registration and Public Services and Fines for Failure to Comply; Mandatory Submission of Pets for Animal Population Control (Spay and Neuter); and Undue Prejudice Against Marginalized and Indigent Pet Owners in Favor of Pet Breeders in the Reproduction or Procreation of Companion Animals.

‘Unfortunately, it seems that there has been a vital element glaringly wanting in the crafting process of the ordinance,’ they said.

They added that adequate public consultations with animal welfare groups, stakeholders, and affected pet owners may have been excluded during the drafting of the measure.

As a result, they said, some provisions turned out to be ‘arbitrary, prejudicial against pet owners, anti-poor, utterly oppressive, and unconstitutional.’

In line with this, the petition calls for the suspension and amendment of certain provisions of the ordinance, particularly those they described as imposing ‘extortionate and unwarranted fees and fines.’

They cited Section 28 of the ordinance, titled Fees, which sets registration fees at ?200 and registration with microchip at ?600.

According to the petitioners, even the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 does not require pet owners to pay a registration fee.

‘If this is the case, then it would appear that the anti-rabies vaccine is not really free as prescribed by the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 and this Ordinance, and, as a consequence, the pet owners, notwithstanding the responsible ones, are being systematically penalized, compelled to subsidize the anti-rabies vaccine, and forced to shoulder the lucrative operation,’ their petition further reads.

While acknowledging Cebu City as a ‘progressive local government’ where 94 percent of households own pets, they said the imposition of such fees could be ‘preposterously staggering.’

To them, this constitutes a form of ’emotional blackmail’ to allegedly ‘unnecessarily’ fund the operations of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) at the expense of marginalized pet owners.

Under this section, they recommended retaining the existing spay and neuter fees for dogs and cats but urged the city to refrain from imposing additional on-the-spot or incidental charges for supplies.

The petitioners also raised concerns over Section 5 of the same ordinance, which they described as ‘utterly defective, oppressive, and discriminatory.’

According to them, the provision implies the possibility of indiscriminate mass culling of aspins (asong Pinoy) and puspins (pusang Pinoy), while favoring registered pet breeders over marginalized pet owners.

They noted that nowhere in Republic Act No. 9482, or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, does it state that spaying or neutering is a mandatory responsibility of pet owners.

‘The Cebu City Government, unnecessarily blinded with misguided overzealousness, has made it a priority the implementation of the so-called ‘Animal Population Control Program’ spearheaded by the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF),’ they said.

The petitioners urged the city mayor, vice mayor, and members of the City Council to amend provisions of the ordinance that they consider unlawful and oppressive, saying these work ‘to the extreme prejudice of pet owners, particularly the marginalized and indigent.’

Actress Angel Aquino shared that her life is an “open book” and revealed in a TV interview that she also likes girls.

In “The Daily Dish” of Bilyonaryo New Channel, Angel was asked if there is something that people still do not know about her.

‘Oh, I don’t know, my life’s an open book. I like girls? There. Well, a lot of people are in denial – sila talaga ‘yung in denial,’ she said.

She then clarified her “I like girls” statement.

‘Wait, can I just correct that because I said I like girls. You know that might sound – especially with social media – it might sound weird,” she said.

“I’m saying I fall in love with also with girls and women. They might think it, you know, it can sound weird kasi if you just if you take it as is,’ she added.

In the same interview, Angel was also asked what she would do if she had a billion pesos to spend.

‘I’d be so happy. I will build my pet hotel and make sure that there’s space for my beautiful pets to run around. I will help people with education because I think that education is very important,’ she said.

Angel shared that she has six dogs. She initially saw taking care of them as a “chore,” but then gradually fell in love with them, one of whom was her sister’s pet.

‘I was sent through school by Tulong-Dunong which is an Ateneo scholarship program and I want to help that – I want to be able to give back,’ she added.

A highly motivated Cebu Greats hope to hurdle one final obstacle in their playoffs bid in the Manny Pacquiao presents Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season.

Again, the Greats will face a daunting challenge as they lock horns with host Mindoro Tamaraws in a knockout play-in match today (Monday, October 6) at the Pola Gymnasium in Oriental Mindoro.

Both sides brace for a dogfight as eighth and last spot in the South Division playoffs is at stake in their 6 p.m. encounter.

Cebu gained one more lifeline after booting out the Davao Occidental Tigers in its first play-in assignment last Saturday, October 4.

Now, they are aiming for another season-extending against the Tamaraws.

The winner of their sudden-death duel will next tackle the top seeded Quezon Huskers in a best-of-three series.-EBV

Under our country’s election laws, a scheduled election exercise can be postponed, cancelled or reset to another date. Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code empowers the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to decide whether or not to postpone any scheduled election if there is any widespread acts of violence or terrorism or force majeure.

Two scheduled elections were reset one after the other, though not due to any of the three reasons.

At our Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum last Wednesday, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia cited this amid issues on the resetting of two elections originally scheduled for later this year. A veteran election lawyer before he was appointed to head the seven-man poll body, Garcia conceded this Comelec’s mandate to other acts of three co-equal branches of the government. Supposedly an independent constitutional body, the Comelec though has no other option but to comply.

On the same day of our Kapihan news forum, the Supreme Court (SC) handed down its ruling as final and executory to postpone the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliament elections. From Oct.13, or next Monday, the SC ordered the Comelec to hold it not later than March 2026.

On the other hand, it was the 19th Congress that postponed the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) slated originally on Dec.1 this year. Under Republic Act (RA) 12232 signed by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (PBBM), it will be held instead on the first Monday of November 2026 – which falls on Nov. 2.

A very compelling opinion piece about the SC ruling on the BARMM Parliament elections was published by the Mindanao Varsitarian, the official publication of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City. It was written by Al-sulkry Abdullatif who, from his Facebook account, is a young man in his 20’s and a student at MSU.

More or less, the young writer reflected much of the sentiments of the BARMM people, especially youth leaders like him. Here it goes:

‘The SC’s ruling that Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 58 and its replacement, BAA 77, are unconstitutional is a hard reset that the BARMM badly needed. What many feared – that the inaugural parliamentary elections of the region would be marred by political machinations – has now been confirmed by the country’s highest court.

‘BAA 58, passed in 2023, sought to redraw parliamentary districts within BARMM. Critics argued that it was riddled with irregularities and unfairly favored political interests. BAA 77, passed in 2024 to replace it, was supposed to correct those flaws but instead retained the same gerrymandering patterns, cementing suspicions that both measures were crafted for political expediency rather than genuine representation.

‘Let’s be honest: These laws were never about empowering the Bangsamoro people. BAA 58 and BAA 77 were hurriedly crafted to redraw parliamentary districts in a way that reeked of political expediency. The timing, the process and the intent all pointed one way – narrow, self-interested agendas. In short, these were not the people’s laws, but politicians’.

‘To those who bled and cried to gain the right to self-governance, this is a bitter betrayal. BARMM was the result of decades of struggle, negotiations towards peace and untold lives lost. To watch its first elections be reduced to a gerrymandering game is a mockery of that legacy.

‘The SC’s directive to delay the polls until March 2026 is not a setback – it is a safeguard. It prevents the region’s democratic foundations from being built on rotten ground. After all, what is the purpose of conducting elections on time if the rules themselves are unconstitutional? That would not be a celebration of democracy, but its parody.

‘Comelec Chairman George Garcia put it best: ‘It’s back to zero for Comelec.’ And it is indeed. But this ‘zero’ is also an opportunity to get things right. The ball is now in the hands of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA)’s court and it has until Oct. 30, 2025 to come up with a constitutional, legitimate and transparent apportionment of seats. The BTA cannot afford to fail in this task.

‘Critics would say that another extension negates the people’s mandate. But let us not mistake speed with progress. If another year is the price of having fair and credible elections, then so be it. The Bangsamoro was not constructed to be a playground for dynasties. It was constructed to give back dignity and representation to a people long denied the same.

‘Let there be no doubt: ‘Better a delayed election built on legitimacy than a rushed one built on betrayal.’

‘This decision is also a warning to politicians – within and outside the region – that the peace process is not theirs to play games with. The fruits of autonomy are not politicking chips for survival. They are the hard-won fruit of collective sacrifice, and they must be fiercely defended.

‘Let us be clear: gerrymandering is thievery. It is the stealthy stealing of voices, the cutting of communities into shreds for the exclusive advantage of the few. And in the Bangsamoro, where lives were taken to ensure self-determination, this theft is unthinkable.

‘The Bangsamoro people have waited decades for representation and justice. They can wait a few months more if it means their first parliament shall be founded on legitimacy, not treachery. The SC has acted. Now it is time for the BTA to do the same – with transparency, candor and with the people as the focal point of every decision.

‘And to those who spearheaded BAA 58 and BAA 77 through the cracks of authority: recall that this decision is not merely a judicial setback. It is a public rebuke. It says to the Bangsamoro people, ‘Your struggle is not for sale.’

‘The message is clear: you cannot hijack the Bangsamoro dream for personal ambition. You cannot steal peace bought at the price of blood. You cannot re-draw the map of sacrifice to suit your ambition.

‘The voice of the people has been heard. Now, accountability must follow. #Bangsamoro’

The national government’s debt service ballooned to more than P600 billion in August, driven by a surge in domestic amortization payments that the administration shelled out during the period.

Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that the government increased its debt payments in August, as it paid P664.72 billion in obligations from P186.22 billion in the same month last year.

About 90.5 percent of the debt service pile consisted of amortization payments at P601.61 billion in August, which was 4.5 times the P133.44 billion in August 2024.

Domestic payments accounted for a significant portion of amortization payments at P597.88 billion, rising by from last year’s P122.03 billion.

On the other hand, external amortization payments for August declined by 67.3 percent to P3.73 billion from P11.4 billion in the same month the previous year.

Amortization spending covers repayment of the loan’s principal, essentially reducing the government’s debt.

Furthermore, the remaining 9.5 percent of the debt service pile in August was allocated to interest payments, amounting to P63.1 billion. This means that the national government had shelled out nearly 20 percent higher than last year’s level of P52.78 billion.

Interest payments cover the government’s borrowing costs, ensuring the timely fulfillment of obligations and maintaining trust with domestic and foreign lenders.

Divided into segments, the government issued P24.85 billion in fixed-rate Treasury bonds (T-bonds), P16.87 billion in retail T-bonds and P4.62 billion in Treasury bills (T-bills) for August.

The Treasury conducts weekly auctions of government securities to raise funds, which are used to support vital public services, infrastructure and development projects that benefit communities in the country.

Short-term T-bills mature in 91, 182, or 364 days, offering quick returns, while long-term T-bonds extend beyond 20 years, ensuring steady funding for government financing needs.

For the eight-month period, the government’s total debt service slipped to P1.54 trillion from P1.55 trillion in the same period last year.

Latest Treasury data showed that the national government’s outstanding debt slightly declined to P17.47 trillion as of the end of August from a record P17.56 trillion as of the end of July.

While the government debt declined, it is P120 billion above the 2025 ceiling of P17.35 trillion.

For the last quarter, the national government will borrow P437 billion through short-term bills and long-term bonds.