Category: Philippine Star

The Cebu Greats gave their earthquake-hit townmates something to cheer about during this tough time.

Facing no tomorrow, the Greats pulled off a vengeful 65-57 victory over their former tormentor Davao Occidental Tigers in the knockout play-in to keep their playoff hopes alive in the Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season on Saturday, September 4, at the Pola Gymnasium in Oriental Mindoro.

‘Among gihatag ang tanan para sa kapwa namo mga Cebuano. Despite sa nahitabo, makapalipay mi nila,’ said star guard Paul Desiderio, who led Cebu with 15 points, five rebounds, and six assists.

‘Una sa tanan, nagpasalamat mi sa Ginoo nga safe among pagbiyahe dire,’ said big man JR Quinahan, who cashed in seven points, nine rebounds, one assist, and one block in a triumphant return from injury.

‘Naninguha gyud mi nga modaog kay amo ning gi-dedicate ning duwaa para sa tanang taga-Cebu labi na sa mga naigo sa grabing linog,’ added the former PBA cager from Mandaue City.’Naa pami isa ka knockout game ug ihatag gihapon namo ang among best para makahatag og kalipay sa mga Cebuano.’

Jun Manzo also tallied 15 points with three assists and a steal for Cebu, which will next face either the Mindoro Tamaraws or the Zamboanga Sikat in another sudden-death duel for the eighth and last spot in the South Division playoffs.

Up to 162 cases of leptospirosis with 15 fatalities were recorded in Negros Occidental as of Sept. 20, according to the provincial health office.

Of the figures, 25 cases with seven fatalities were reported in Bacolod City.

Ma. Girlie Pinongan, provincial health officer, said no increase was reported in the number of leptospirosis cases in 31 municipalities and component cities even as some areas remained flooded in the past few weeks.

Still, Pinongan said residents have been reminded not to wade in floodwaters to avoid contracting the disease caused by the urine of infected rats and other animals as well as contaminated soil and water.

Symptoms include fever or feeling feverish, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache and fatigue as well as vomiting and diarrhea.

Pinongan also reported a continued decline in the number of dengue cases in the past several weeks.

Severe Tropical Storm Paolo has exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) and is now moving west-northwestward across the South China Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported yesterday.

As of 5 p.m. on Oct. 4, Paolo packed maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph while moving at 25 kph toward the west-northwest.

PAGASA said the storm may intensify into a typhoon before making landfall over southern China.

No tropical cyclone wind signal is in effect in any part of the country, as Paolo is already far from the Philippine landmass.

However, its circulation continues to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing cloudy skies with scattered rains and possible localized flooding over Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Zambales and Bataan.

The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, is expected to experience generally fair weather with warm mornings and isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

From today until midweek, most parts of Luzon are forecast to have fair weather with partly cloudy skies and isolated thunderstorms. No significant weather system is expected to bring heavy rains during this period.

In the Visayas and Mindanao, warm and humid mornings are expected from Monday to Wednesday, with chances of rainshowers or thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.

By Tuesday, the southwest monsoon may bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Palawan, the Visayas and parts of Mindanao.

Santo Tomas poured its wrath on listless University of the East, 111-99, for a swift bounceback win to stay right behind unbeaten leader Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball yesterday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Licking their wounds from a 76-69 defeat against the NU Bulldogs – their lone scar so far after slaying title favorites UP and La Salle – the Growling Tigers rubbed off an early nine-point deficit behind a big surge in the middle quarters to improve to solo third at 3-1 midway through the first round.

In the other game, title-holder UP unleashed a staggering 32-12 closeout, including a 22-2 rally, to snap NU’s unbeaten run, 66-59, and jack up its card to 2-2.

The Bulldogs fell to 3-1 for a tie with first-game winner Santo Tomas, missing out on gaining a solo lead now owned by Ateneo (3-0).

Francis Nnoruka (14) and Gani Stevens (10) spearheaded the fightback from a 34-47 deficit late in the third as the Fighting Maroons notched their second straight win after a flat title defense kickoff.

Collins Akowe, after bleeding for a season-low performance against NU due to sickness, regained his groove in style with 18 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and three blocks as Santo Tomas primed up for another gigantic clash against unbeaten Ateneo at their home turf at the Blue Eagles gym next week.

Nic Cabañero rifled in 22 to lead the way in scoring laced by two rebounds, eight assists and two steals while floor general Forthsky Padrigao scattered 18 points, three rebounds, six assists and six steals.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), is the government agency that is charged with the responsibility for Seismology, or the science that deals with earthquakes. It was established thru Executive Order No. 984, on September 17, 1984.

In the United States of America, the primary government agency that studies earthquakes is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This American government office conducts research on earthquake causes and effects, monitors and reports on seismic activity, and assesses earthquake hazards.

An earthquake happens because there is a tectonic shifting of the earth’s crust and the apparent movement that takes place underneath. It is the PHIVOLCS that is our source of such information as the epicenter of the tremor. I understand that the epicenter is the very place on top of the rupture point. It was, however, from the report of the USGS that I got the information that the epicenter of the quake last Tuesday evening, September 30, was about nine kilometers southeast off the shore of Barangay Calape in the town of Daanbantayan. The USGS reported that a fault could be found there. With a depth of the rupture to have taken place only 10 kilometers, it was considered shallow such that the first vibration called in seismic science as the P wave, reportedly the strongest and fastest vibration travelling 5-12 kilometers per second, hit Daanbantayan first. The destruction that followed in Bogo City, Medellin, and other towns, is graphically carried in various social media platforms.

So much for that. This article is not about the unpredictability of earthquakes and other natural disasters. When I had the chance to visit the USGS in California, an official informed me that notwithstanding the advances of science and technology, they are nowhere near predicting when an earthquake is to happen. They expect the so-called ‘Big One’ anytime but they cannot say, for certain, when. He talked about the Great San Francisco Earthquake that occurred on April 18, 1906, registering magnitude 7.9. He further said that the tremor hit near the center of the city. Accordingly, the devastating fires that followed destroyed much of the city, killed an estimated 3,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.

True to the off-tangent nature of this column, this article today is a kind of revision of the few of my earlier writeups. I am talking about sanctuaries which I suggested to our leaders to construct years ago.

I said then, as I say it now, there is a need for the government to build structures in anticipation of calamities like typhoons, floods and fires. I failed to include earthquakes in the enumeration of cataclysmic disasters because of their rarity. But with the devastation of some localities in the northern part of our province caused by the shaking of the earth, the idea of establishing sanctuaries is now an inescapable need. Government planners have a lot to do to meet such emergencies.

The structure that I suggested in my previous articles must be a place to function as a command center from where to respond to emergencies. It has to house identified first responders like firemen, policemen, relief and rescue personnel, and doctors and nurses in comfortable accommodations that do not neglect the demands of privacy rights. Putting them safe and secure under one roof makes communication fast and coordination of needed actions efficient.

In the building, there must be maintained radio and other forms of communications that connect to barangays, firefighting equipment, rescue implements, relief goods, and adequate medical needs and kits. In my earlier articles, I also cited the necessity of providing immediate housing to victims of calamities. The ‘sanctuary’ will answer this. People must not be brought to the schools because these structures are designed for entirely different purpose. Really, education must not be compromised.

Years have passed since my first article calling for the construction of sanctuaries. The havoc wrought by last Tuesday’s earthquake makes it imperative for our leaders to act.

The Mister Global 2025 final competition is set for tonight in Bangkok, Thailand. The Philippines’ representative, Jether Palomo, is in a very unique, pressure-filled position. He aims to achieve a back-to-back victory for the country, as the reigning king is Daumier Corilla.

Jether also follows the stellar performances of his fellow Mister Pilipinas Worldwide kings. Kenneth Cabangcal placed fifth at Mister Supranational in Poland on June 28, Kenneth Marcelino finished first runner-up at Mister Cosmopolitan in Thailand on September 7, and Kirk Bondad is the new Mister International who won the title in Bangkok on September 26.

Like Kirk, Jether is also a Century Tuna Superbods winner. He won in 2024.

At Mister Global, he and the Mister Pilipinas Worldwide Organization were awarded the Best in Country Presentation Video.

During the preliminary round on October 4, Jether wowed the crowd in his refreshing national costume created by Patrick Isorena.

Called ‘SSS,’ it means ‘Solihiya, Sampaguita, and Salakot,’ three iconic elements deeply rooted in Philippine culture and identity.

Isorena explained the ensemble: ‘The solihiya weave, reimagined in the fabric and patterns of the suit, represents Filipino artistry and craftsmanship, a timeless design found in our ancestral homes and heritage furniture. It symbolizes strength, tradition, and the enduring beauty of Filipino ingenuity.

‘The sampaguita, our national flower, cascades in abundance across the costume. Its delicate white blossoms embody purity, humility, and devotion. The floral wings adorned with oversized roses and sampaguita chains serve as a tribute to the grace and resilience of the Filipino spirit.

‘Finally, the salakot, delicately embellished with pearls and beadwork, crowns the ensemble as a proud emblem of our farmers and rural roots. It is a reminder of the hardworking Filipinos whose hands nurture the land and sustain the nation.’

Mister Global is about being a ‘Gentlemen with Essence.’

Jether describes this quality in his own words:

‘A Gentleman with Essence is not defined by titles or appearances, but by the values he lives each day. His essence is authenticity staying true to who he is, even when it is difficult. It is integrity choosing what is right over what is easy. It is compassion treating every person with dignity and respect. He is strong enough to lead, yet humble enough to listen; ambitious enough to dream, yet grounded enough to serve. A Gentleman with Essence builds a legacy not through accolades, but through the lives he touches and the hope he inspires.’

Longtime Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (CEPCA) President Engr. Jerry B. Maratas and his colleagues from the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP)-Disaster Mitigation Preparedness and Response (DMPR) team extended assistance through their line of work to the earthquake-hit areas in northern Cebu.

Maratas, who heads the oldest existing chess organization outside of Manila for 12 years now, made up the first wave of volunteer civil and structural engineers who responded to the appeal of Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival for safety inspection and rapid assessments of buildings and public facilities across the City of Bogo and its neighboring towns that were rattled by the powerful tremor last September 30.

Maratas, a recognized specialist in structural engineering by the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) and a Life Member of ASEP, was joined by engineers Edzel Abastar, Joseph Abellar, Don Acaylar, John Agrabio, Rodolfo Chua, Pedro Adonis Compendio, Ariel de la Cruz, Ramon Gitamondoc, Randy Gopaoco, Wallace Lestano, Mike Manlangit, Joel Paragatos, James Quidilla, Godfrey Ruiz, Leonor Salazar, and Charlon Sollano in lending their expertise to the affected communities.

The founding CEO of Jemar Engineering Services and Celjem Construction and Development Corporation and his colleagues documented the damaged structures and conducted rapid visual screening, initial safety tagging, and referrals for detailed evaluation, prioritizing hospitals, schools, bridges, churches, government offices, and other high-occupancy sites in the service of those in need at this challenging time.-

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has admitted that organizing the fact-finding body at a breakneck speed is a formidable task.

The executive order establishing the ICI has given its executive director 30 days from its effectivity date to determine the committee’s organizational structure, staffing pattern and corresponding qualification standards.

President Marcos signed the order on Sept. 11, leaving the ICI with less than a week to meet its requirements.

Brian Keith Hosaka, ICI executive director, appointed by the President on Sept. 24, confirmed to The STAR that the fact-finding body met with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday to hash out operational details.

Hosaka said the organizational structure and staffing pattern will be submitted early next week.

‘I plan to show it to the members of the commission also before submitting,’ he said in a message.

Staffing is an important component for the nearly one-month-old commission, given the huge mandate – and public expectations – bestowed on the ICI. All eyes are on the three members and the special adviser to get to the root of the multibillion-peso corruption hounding infrastructure projects.

‘The commission is busy organizing itself,’ Hosaka told reporters on Thursday, adding, ‘Things are happening too fast.’

He underscored the need to get its recruitment right because, ‘in any organization, what really is important are the people running it.’

‘We need the proper expertise because what we’re dealing with is not a simple matter,’ Hosaka said in Filipino. ‘We have to get lawyers, engineers and accountants because they assess the evidence received by the commission.’

In the end, he assured the public that while setting up operations is challenging, ‘we will manage.’

While 31 players were cut from last season’s PBA Philippine Cup rosters with no room to relocate, 27 veterans found new teams as the 50th anniversary season reels off tonight.

Among the players struck out from season-opening lineups were Jvee Casio, Mark Borboran, Terrence Romeo, Justin Chua, Jackson Corpuz and Allyn Bulanadi. The list includes Arvin Tolentino, William Navarro and Jamie Malonzo who’ve gone abroad. Some moved to MPBL while others are still waiting for a call or retired.

Veterans who’ve switched teams are Ginebra’s Norbert Torres, Blackwater’s David Murrell, Paul Zamar and Jed Mendoza, Converge’s Rafi Reavis, Magnolia’s Paolo Taha, Javi Gomez de Liaño, Raffy Verano and LA Tenorio (as playing coach), Phoenix’ James Kwekuteye, Francis Escandor, Evan Nelle, Prince Caperal, Bryan Santos and Yousef Taha, Rain or Shine’s Stanley Pringle, Terrafirma’s Jerrick Ahanmisi, Paul Garcia and Prince Rivero, Titan’s Ato Ular, Aljun Melecio, Jeo Ambohot, Von Pessumal and James Martinez and TNT’s Kevin Ferrer and Tyrus Hill.

So far, 14 rookies are on lineups with more expected to join when the MPBL season ends. The signed rookies are Ginebra’s Sonny Estil, Blackwater’s Dalph Panopio and Jack Dumont, Converge’s Juan Gomez de Liaño, Kobe Monje and Mark Omega, Magnolia’s Gab Gomez, Phoenix’ Dave Ando, San Miguel Beer’s Chris Miller and Royce Mantua, Terrafirma’s Ira Bataller and JM Bravo and Titan’s Chris Koon and Mario Barasi. Coming from MPBL include Terrafirma’s Geo Chiu, NLEX’ LJay Gonzales, Meralco’s Jason Brickman, Phoenix’ Will Gozum and Rain or Shine’s Christian Manaytay.

I’m happy to have a spouse who continues to stand by me through all kinds of ups and downs, but my girl besties give me so much joy, as well. They gamely spend hours with me combing countless store racks, dress up a dreary-looking hospital room with the cutest pink bathroom and table accessories, regularly send recommendations for the latest K-dramas to binge on and even babysat me at home during a cancer bout, so my husband could work with less worry.

I truly believe that even the happiest of wives need their besties and I’m no exception. Liza, Rose Anne, Eliza, Nina, Kara, Chona, Janine, Lizette and Kara – to name a few. Life wouldn’t be the same without these girlfriends of 44 years and counting.

Marriage blesses us with a cherished partner to grow old with – but friendship gifts you with soul sisters for the journey. As the years pass, my female besties are more than just lunch dates and shopping companions. They are also anchors and cheerleaders in hard times, and the tears and laughter shared bind us securely, no matter how far or long since the last get-together. Being with my husband keeps me safe and loved, while being with my besties keeps me sane and young.

Husbands don’t do girl talk

Let’s face it: even the most loving husband has his limits. He’ll listen when you complain or vent, and nod along when sharing a story about work or home drama. But like most men, he’s not going to dissect every sarcastic statement uttered to you. Besties however, will dwell on this. They’ll replay the scene, suggest motives and even provide witty should-have-said comeback lines.

Besties keep us young

As women age, responsibilities pile up – kids, aging parents, a career, endless errands and more – so it’s easy to get caught up in routines. But time with girlfriends snaps us out of autopilot. Whether it’s giggling over the shenanigans of household help, taking short trips together, or sending each other silly memes, besties bring out our playful side.

They understand without speaking

It’s great to have people in your life who know you so well. A friend who instantly gets what you mean by your tone, remembers your family dynamics, or can read your mind even before you speak. With besties, you don’t have to give a lengthy backstory to be seen or understood – they already know, which is a big relief.

They are our emotional rechargers

Life always throws curveballs. Even in a stable marriage, it’s natural to face moments of stress, loss or self-doubt so besties are our cushions. They’ll cry, pray with and distract you with laughter until you’re ready to stand tall again. Having women in your corner doesn’t weaken a marriage – they enrich it because after bonding time with them, you go back to your spouse happier, lighter and more whole.

Our other forever

We all yearn for a ‘forever love’ but friendship is another kind of forever. Who doesn’t like celebrating romantic love but the quiet, steady love of a best friend deserves just as much credit. Aside from my husband, I know my besties will walk beside me through the gray hairs, midlife shifts and all other unwritten chapters of my life.

My husband is my forever plus-one but my besties are my forever plus-fun. So don’t feel guilty about spending time with girlfriends. Marriage and women friendships aren’t rivals – they’re teammates and when both are strong, life shines brighter. After all, while husbands and diamonds may be forever, besties sparkle even brighter.