Category: Philippine Star

Amid travel disruptions due to successive typhoons, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has extended the validity of motor vehicle registration and driver’s licenses which expired on Sept. 30.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II announced the extension on Tuesday to assist those affected by typhoons.

‘I issued a memorandum to regional LTO directors down to the district offices regarding the deadline extension,’ Mendoza said.

Under the memorandum, the validity of vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses due on Sept. 30 is extended until Oct. 3, with no fines to be collected during the period.

The order also extended the settlement period for traffic violations that took effect on Sept. 26, giving motorists until Friday to comply.

Mendoza said the extension was necessary after government work in Metro Manila and other affected regions was suspended due to Typhoons Opong, Mirasol and Nando.

About P75 million in ‘ghost’ farm-to-market road projects in Mindanao have been uncovered by the Department of Agriculture.

The DA earlier flagged two projects in the Davao Region and Zamboanga City dated 2021 and 2023.

‘We are talking about five kilometers of road. That’s what we have seen so far,’ Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. yesterday told dzBB.

‘We have identified the contractors. But these are small-time contractors,’ he added.

The contractors are not included in President Marcos’ list of 15 contractors who cornered 20 percent of the P545-billion budget for flood control projects, he noted.

Tiu Laurel maintained that the suspicious road projects are isolated cases and do not reflect widespread issues in the state agency.

‘Technically, these are very small contracts. I think there’s one worth P30 million and then the others had P15 million each,’ he said.

Funds came from the DA’s budget and the projects were implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways, he noted.

The Philippines, he said, is lacking 62,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads.

Auditing the projects is challenging since these are located in far-flung and hard-to-reach areas, Tiu Laurel stressed.

The ongoing Senate inquiry into anomalous flood control projects nationwide has prompted the DA to initiate an audit of farm road projects.

Malrondu means Malabuyoc, Ronda, and Dumanjug. They belong to the blessed second congressional district of Cebu, which has been favored by the gods of rains and floods with a bountiful load of flood-control projects and budgetary allocations. This is also the district where San Pedro Calungsod was born.

The members of Congress, the Calderons, husband and wife, who led this district for the longest time, must have been very blessed too, for bringing home to this district billions of bacon for the favored people. For this is the district of San Pedro Calungsod, the only saint from the whole province of Cebu, who was from the town of Ginatilan. But the blessings of billions worth of flood control projects were not poured by heaven into the town of the saint. They were determined by the gods perhaps by holy geographic coordinates into unknown sites in Malrondu.

These favored towns could appropriately exclaim then: When the blessing rains, it really floods. Malabuyoc, got no less than ?3.3 billion with supposed 38 projects. Ronda, my dear town of gentle people, the beautiful Rondahanons, got a whopping gift from Mount Olympus, an unprecedented amount perhaps ten times its annual budget, or even much more. Ronda got ?2.6 billion for alleged 34 projects. Thirty-four is a bounty because Ronda has only 14 barangays and a population of about 21,000. I do not know where in Ronda these flood control projects are being worked at. But what a blessing from Our Lady of Sorrows.

Dumanjug, the historic land of my late father’s birth, the town that prides itself as the home of the governors, also got an impressive ?2.18 billion. This is the only time when Dumanjug, with 37 barangays, was beaten by Ronda with only 14. But ?2.18 billion is not bad for the home of QM Builders, which, by accident of destiny, is also the very lucky contractor that won in an honest-to-goodness bidding and procurement process. It was also circumstantial that Dumanjug is likewise the home of the Quirante Construction Corp., another lucky start-up. Now Dumanjug is not only home to governors but also to heaven-sent contractors.

It was just a mere coincidence also that the former congressman, who was vice chairman of Zaldy Co’s appropriation committee, was one of the wedding sponsors of QM Builders owner’s son. The question is: who benefitted from such a bountiful load of blessings? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. And it blows my mind. That is what our good friend, the new DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, should look into. Perhaps he should know that the regional director used to be assigned in this district. That director was also allegedly another wedding sponsor in the same wedding. Too many strange coincidences, indeed. The stars are all aligning in the seventh heaven.

It is now of common knowledge that the whole province of Cebu, next only to the number one flood capital of the Philippines, Bulacan, has been favored by the gods in Congress, specifically Zaldy Co’s appropriation committee whose vice chair happened to be the honorable former congressman representing the 7th District of Cebu. Our province, which has admittedly some true and authentic flood problems in Cebu City, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay, and some other cities and towns (but not in Malrondu), got ?25.521 billion for flood control. But why was one-half of the entire budget for flood control diverted to Malrondu? ?12.06 billion out of ?25.521 billion.

And is it true that most of the Malrondu and other Cebu flood control projects fell into the lap of QM Builders, a single proprietorship based in Dumanjug? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. I saw a movie once entitled: “The Gods Must Be Crazy” But since I am from Malrondu, I can say that, with such a large bounty, the gods have made some people and their families very, very happy.

Who are these lucky guys? That is for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to determine and say.

A dashcam video captured the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge shaking strongly as a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu province on Tuesday night, September 30.

The powerful tremor was felt across Cebu City and northern Cebu, toppling buildings and killing at least 19 people as of Wednesday morning. It prompted widespread rescue operations.

A suspected illegal gun dealer was killed while three police officers were wounded in an alleged shootout that broke out in this city on Monday night.

Maj. Edgar Fabregas and S/Sgts. Arvin Ilagan and Karl Ernest Fabonan of the Batangas City police were rushed to the Saint Camillus de Lillis Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.

The fatality, identified as Ronald de Guzman, was killed in a pursuit operation.

Investigation showed the officers met up with a suspected gun dealer identified only as Bonsai in Barangay Bolbok to supposedly buy firearms.

However, the suspect and his companions sensed that they were dealing with undercover police officers, prompting them to draw their guns, triggering a shootout that left the officers wounded.

The suspects fled after the shooting, prompting a chase and another shootout that resulted in the death of De Guzman. A manhunt was launched for De Guzman’s cohorts.

La Salle held on to a 74-72 triumph against the listless Far Eastern University to bounce back from its deflating defeat to University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

The Green Archers banked on their defensive fangs in the clutch after going scoreless in the final minute and nearly losing a five-point lead as Jorick Bautista muffed a game-tying lay-up in the last seven seconds for the win.

La Salle, which beat Adamson, 60-58, but wasted a 12-point lead against the host and dark horse UST, 93-84, thus improved to 2-1. It is behind for solo fourth place unbeaten Ateneo, UST and National University nearing the halfway mark of the first round in its title redemption bid.

Doy Dungo led the way with 17 points on three triples, while Mason Amos, Jacob Cortez and EJ Gollena churned out 14 points each for La Salle, which made it up for the quiet scoring team captain Mike Phillips with only six points on 1-of-7 clip.

Phillips bounced back in other departments though, collaring 13 rebounds and dishing nine assists as the Green Archers almost squandered a lead as high sa 58-44 in the third quarter.

“You really want to win coming off a loss and we had parts in the game where we’re playing really well for that bounce back win but you cannot say that you’re gonna have an easy win in the UAAP,” said assistant coach Caloy Garcia. “FEU came back in the fourth and we just had to figure out our struggles from there.”

Like its last match against the Growling Tigers with a 12-point lead in the third quarter, the Green Archers appeared headed into a blowout but their inexperience with a young core following the departure of two-time UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao showed down the stretch.

La Salle was outscored by FEU, 21-10, in the fourth but its 74-69 cushion on Dungo’s jumper in the 1:22 mark proved to be enough for still a good momentum entering a gigatic duel against archrival Ateneo that’s been on tear at 3-0 after a Final Four miss on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Janrey Pasaol’s 25 points along with the efforts of Mo Konateh (14), Kirby Mongcopa (13) and Jorick Bautista (10) went for naught anew as the Tamaraws slid to 0-3 for a tie at the cellar with University of the East.

Meanwhile, FEU (1-1) scraped past La Salle (1-1), 73-72 in women’s basketball behind MG Manguiat and Amyah Espanol with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

The scores:

First Game

DLSU 74 – Dungo 17, Amos 14, Cortez 14, Gollena 14, Phillips 6, Marasigan 5, Pablo 2, Abadam 2, Daep 0, Melecio 0.

FEU 72 – Pasaol 25, Konateh 14, Mongcopa 13, Bautista 10, Owens 6, Daa 2, Ona 2, Bagunu 0, Montemayor 0, Salangsang 0, Amos 0.

Quarterscores: 21-14, 37-30, 64-51, 74-72

It was not easy, but Alex Eala is heading to the quarterfinal round of the WTA Suzhou Open in China after hacking out a 7-6(5), (3)6-7, 7-5 victory over Greet Minnen Wednesday in China.

Eala and Minnen battled each other in three hours and 18 minutes, but the Filipina finally grabbed the win as she broke her opponent’s serve in the 12th game.

After a hard-fought victory in the first set, the pride of Belgium went toe-to-toe with Eala in the second frame as she won the tiebreak.

It was more of the same in the third set, as the two tennisters could not get enough separation.

Minnen, ranked 106th in the world, tied things up at 5-all in the 10th game, before the World No. 58 held her serve and took the 6-5 advantage.

The Rafa Nadal Academy graduate then denied Minnen from forcing the tiebreak, digging deep to grab the victory.

Eala punched in 50 receiving points compared to her opponent’s 35. Minnen, though, won 84 service points compared to Eala’s 77.

The Belgian player, however, committed 10 double faults which offset her nine service aces.

Eala will now be taking on Viktorija Golubic in the quarterfinals. The Swiss tennister, ranked 70th in the world, defeated Linda Fruhvirtova in the Round of 16.

PetMarra is proud to announce its participation in the annual World Animal Day and Pet Blessing event, organized by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), happening on October 5 at the SM North Edsa Skydome.

The celebration will be a special day of love and gratitude, bringing together furparents and animal lovers. The venue will be open to the public at 10 a.m., inviting everyone in a program of fun activities and surprises.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early, as seating for the main event is on a first-come, first-served basis. Scheduled at 5 p.m., the much-anticipated annual pet blessing will commence.

During the one-of-a-kind mass dedicated for pets, each animal will be individually blessed. This symbolizes the importance of every pet in our lives and our responsibility to protect and cherish them.

This exceptional ceremony offers pet owners and their beloved companions a unique experience to be part of a community that understands the deepness of their bond. It is a truly memorable occasion that reaffirms the commitment to responsible pet ownership.

As one of the major sponsors, PetMarra will be at the forefront of the event with exciting activities and free products for furparents.

It will showcase its range of high-quality products, each crafted to help pet parents provide their furry companions with the best nutrition for a lifetime.

PetMarra’s commitment to quality is evident as its products exceed the rigorous nutritional guidelines of the Association of American Feed Control Officials and are registered with the Bureau of Animal Industry, ensuring the highest standards of safety and excellence.

In a further show of support for the animal community, PetMarra will be giving a special donation to PAWS during the event.

The funds were raised through a special live stream collaboration with Shopee in response to the series of typhoons and floods that have impacted local communities. The donation will match Shopee’s contribution, ensuring a substantial aid to animal welfare efforts.

PetMarra’s collaboration with PAWS on World Animal Day is more than a sponsorship; it is a partnership built on a shared mission to advocate for responsible pet ownership and elevate animal welfare standards.

For many Filipinos, the dream of earning a global education often comes at a cost-literally and figuratively.

It’s a dream that often feels out of reach. The idea of studying abroad entails high tuition fees, long distance and being far from home and loved ones. But what if you could earn an international degree without ever leaving the country?

The collaboration between Mapúa University’s E.T. Yuchengco School of Business, School of Medicine, School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing, and Arizona State University® (ASU) is making the dream of earning a global degree at home possible. Students in the Philippines can now access innovative, world-class, and internationally recognized education without the hefty price tag or the need to move overseas.

‘Through the collaboration, we are able to strengthen our efforts to providing future-ready and globally competitive learning that responds to changing demands of the evolving market. We are preparing our students to be global citizens and this collaboration allows them to work with international peers, adopt global perspectives, and understand how to thrive in diverse environments,’ said Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, president and CEO of Mapúa University.

The modern path to global learning

The collaboration delivers transnational education, a modern approach to learning that involves cross-border ties between two educational institutions. It allows students to take programs and degrees from another university without relocating. By bridging higher education institutions across different countries, transnational education makes global education more accessible to students worldwide. It brings the world’s top universities and their expertise into local campuses and translates their learnings into the context of a student’s home country.

In the Philippines, global education is gaining traction with the government passing the Transnational Higher Education Law in 2019 to expand ‘access to educational services.’ It aims to ‘modernize the Philippine higher education sector and bring international quality standards and expertise into the country.’ This is now redefining what it means to earn a global degree in the Philippines.

The collaboration between Mapúa University E.T. Yuchengco School of Business, School of Medicine, School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing, and ASU® provides students with access to ASU®’s world-class programs and curriculum in the country. Also, the faculty has access to ASU®’s content repository to enhance their teaching materials and practices. This has eliminated economic, geographic and cultural constraints, making global learning accessible to students in the Philippines.

For students aspiring to study abroad, this model presents a compelling alternative: the prestige and intellectual challenge of an international degree, at a fraction of the price. It helps Filipino families achieve global ambitions without uprooting their lives. Beyond cost savings, it also promotes cross-border engagement, improves cultural competence, and prepares students for work in multicultural environments.

Innovation-driven learning

In addition to the integration of global curricula, what makes the collaboration stand out and innovative is the cultural and knowledge exchange between two recognized educational institutions. Mapúa University, and its subsidiaries Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, were all equipped and designed with respective Global Classrooms, enabling students to attend cross-boundary classes in real-time virtually.

Through the Global Classroom, Mapúa students engage with faculty from ASU® and the ASU®-Cintana Alliance network and peers, helping broaden their international perspective and culturally immerse themselves in an international learning environment. This prepares them to tackle real-world challenges while developing cross-border skills that are highly sought by multinational and international employers.

The collaboration also uses cutting-edge technology to enrich learning experiences. Mapúa’s virtual learning environment, augmented by ASU®’s new and relevant practices, allows for highly interactive and immersive learning.

As technology evolves, with remote working and global mobility changing the face of industries across the board, innovative transnational education becomes necessary for graduates to thrive in the workplace of tomorrow. The collaboration positions students at the forefront, imparting the technical and adaptive skills they need.

A global future that starts at home

Students today increasingly seek advanced programs that offer flexibility, local and international relevance, and global competence. Mapúa University addresses this head-on, inviting Filipino students and their families to invest in a future with endless global opportunities.

As Mapúa University’s transnational education continues to evolve, it sets the benchmark for how other universities around the region, and beyond, would deliver global learning. Technology is continuing to blur national borders, and transnational education is now becoming a way forward into accessible, innovative, and future-ready global education for Filipinos.

It was almost a year ago that MREIT first talked about diversifying its portfolio with some retail assets, and while shareholders would obviously prefer to have had this deal completed in the first half of the year, late is better than never. Unfortunately for MREIT holders, nothing has changed. At its heart, this is just a press release that reiterates MREIT’s interest in acquiring retail assets. There’s no approved deal, and in fact, just more hype about MEG’s massive bag of commercial real estate and half-massive portfolio of mall assets. I’m not an MREIT shareholder, but if I were, I’d obviously prefer my management team to spend the REIT’s value on acquiring high-value mall assets as opposed to a massive batch of commercial office buildings amid the long-term decline of the commercial sector. MREIT shareholders are basically flat (excluding dividends) in terms of stock price action since that original announcement was made, far below its non-Villar office/mall combo rivals like AREIT (+8% since November 2024) and RCR (+26% since November 2024).