Category: Philippine Star

The printing of over 90 million official ballots for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) next year is set to begin today, the Commission on Elections said.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the National Printing Office (NPO) would start the printing of about 69 million official ballots for the barangay polls and another 23 million for the youth elections.

‘It is the first time in the history of Comelec and NPO that we will print more than 90 million ballots. It is the first time we are printing this many ballots,’ Garcia said, adding that the needed ballots could even reach 95 million as the poll body will conduct voter registration starting this month until next year.

Garcia said the Comelec and NPO agreed to start the printing this early because of the huge number of ballots and other accountable forms that need to be printed.

Unless stopped by the Supreme Court, the BSKE will be held in November 2026.

The PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2026 will be held from February 17-20, 2026, the International Cycling Union – the sport’s international federation known by its acronym UCI – announced on its website recently.

The national road championships will again be staged in and around a technical course with Tagaytay City as the main hub and the municipalities of the Eighth District of Cavite and First District in Batangas Province as the other major routes.

PhilCycling president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, also the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said the 2026 nationals will also showcase the brand new Tagaytay CT Velodrome, which will host the 2026 Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) – headed by Malaysian Dato’ Amarjit Singh Gill – Track Championships from March 25-31.

This marks the first time in 31 years that the Philippines is hosting the Asian track championships – the last time was in 1995 when the country hosted both the Asian Road and Track Championships at the Amoranto Velodrome – which was demolished to give way to a football pitch – in Quezon City and Subic.

The 2026 nationals will actually begin with the Criterium races on February 16, followed by the Individual Time Trial on February 17 and the Road Races from February 18-20.

Categories will be in the Elite, Under 23, Juniors and Youth both for men and women.

A Masters category will be incorporated in the nationals’ program to determine the country’s representatives to the Asian Road Championships in Saudi Arabia – the ACC has yet to announce the dates.

And as usual, the top performers in the Juniors races will be included on the national team to the Asian championships as incentive.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology yesterday reported heightened seismic activity in Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon, as Phivolcs data showed 72 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours.

In its 9 a.m. advisory, Phivolcs said the earthquakes, classified as volcano-tectonic events, were caused by rock fracturing beneath the northern sector of the volcano at depths of less than 10 kilometers.

Degassing activity in the active vents was described as ‘very weak to weak,’ while sulfur dioxide emissions averaged 31 tons per day on Oct. 9, which is below the baseline level of 200 tons per day.

‘These parameters indicate shallow hydrothermal activity beneath the volcano,’ Phivolcs said.

Despite the uptick in activity, Phivolcs raised only Alert Level 1 or low-level unrest over Bulusan Volcano – an alert that means ‘abnormal condition but no eruption is imminent.’

Authorities reiterated the strict prohibition of entry into the four-kilometer permanent danger zone, and urged vigilance within the two-kilometer extended danger zone on the volcano’s southeast sector due to possible hazards such as pyroclastic density currents, rockfall, ashfall and ballistic projectiles.

‘Communities that experience ashfall must take all necessary precautions and use protective masks or wet cloth to prevent ash inhalation, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, persons with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, expecting mothers and infants,’ Phivolcs said.

The agency also advised civil aviation authorities to warn pilots against flying close to the summit due to potential ash hazards. It urged residents living near rivers and streams on the western slopes to be alert for possible lahars if heavy rainfall occurs following a phreatic eruption.

The history of Philippine cinema is scattered with classic narratives and gems of a golden age that still resonate deeply in the present day.

Sari Dalena’s “Cinemartyrs” tackles one lesser-known chapter of this history, as alternative filmmaking began to decline before a new millenium began, and the integral part female filmmakers played in getting Philippine cinema to where it is now.

The film stars Nour Hooshmand as a young director who decides the shoot on the site of where hundreds were slaughtered, after being tested by a committee belittling her skills.

“As soon as the camera starts rolling, angry spirits are awakened, and the lives of her team and the villagers are put in peril. The brutal traumas of history echoing to the present day,” the movie’s synopsis goes.

“Cinemartyrs” went on to win the Special Jury Prize at the 21st Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, winning also Best Director for Dalena and Best Original Musical Score for veteran composer Teresa Barrozo.

It tied with “Habang Nilalamon ng Hydra ang Kasaysayan” and “Child No. 82 (Anak ni Boy Kana)” for the most awards, ahead of Best Feature Film winner “Bloom Where You Are Planted” – a documentary about three land activists from Cagayan.

Philstar.com spoke with Hooshmand and co-star Bong Cabrera about the messages of “Cinemartyrs,” both about the difficulty of filmmaking and the difference it makes with women at the helm.

Cabrera reflected on a speech that deputy festival director Tess Rances gave when the 21st Cinemalaya officially opened, taking a dig at lawmakers recently tagged in corruption.

“While millions of taxpayers are skimmed by politicians who are supposed to be in service of them, artists scrape the bottom of the pot to bring their ideas to life,” Rances said at the time, urging the government to allocate funds for the arts, particularly for programs dedicated to film.

The actor, a resident artist of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, stressed how difficult it was to make movies without government support, amplified further by rampant corruption.

Hooshmand chipped in that financial constraint is a big challenge in filmmaking, and it pushes artists to be more creative with the resources they have.

“Also tackled in ‘Cinemartyrs’ [ay] yung process of filmmaking, the joys and rewards, and how hard it is to actually bring a film to life,” Hooshmand added, comparing it to giving birth.

The actress also said the film showcases how female directors work, which is very different fromt the way men do art.

“Merong inequality ‘to na I think the film addresses in such an interesting way,” said Hooshmand to which Cabrera added, “It is a different layer as well because it’s a film about women making films.”

Hooshmand had supporting roles in the Cinemalaya films “When This Is All Over” and “Blue Room” (both with Juan Karlos Labajo), the latter by 2022 Best Director winner Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan, but this is her first time leading a cast.

She dedicated her role to family and peers but noted that much collaboration was involved. Cabrera even pointed out to Philstar.com that it took Dalena two decades to work on the project.

Intercut into “Cinemartyrs” are guerilla filmmaking-inspired clips from Dalena’s documentary “Memories of a Forgotten War” and many archival footage from pre-war LVN Pictures.

The studio was considered the leader in Philippine film production prior to its 2005 closure after almost 70 years, and Dalena was allowed to such clips with the approval of fellow director Mike de Leon before he passed away last August.

Speaking of women in Philippine cinema, veteran filmmaker Raquel Villavicencio appears in “Cinemartyrs,” as do revered director Lav Diaz and National Artist Kidlat Tahimik.

Cabrera humorously referenced seeing a post comparing “Cinemartyrs” to the Marvel movie “Avengers: Endgame” because of how it puts together legends of alternative cinema.

Also in the extensive cast are Cedrick Juan, Angel Aquino, Iana Bernardez, Nor Domingo, Ligaya Amilbangsa, Soliman Cruz, Shane Bernabe, Roven Alejandro, Dexter Macaraeg, Emmanuel Dela Cruz, and Rolando Inocencio, among many others.

“Lucky kami actually, I consider myself lucky na kasama ako sa pelikulang ‘to with all these legends,” Cabrera said.

Hooshmand added it was inspiring to see giants of Philippine cinema supporting Dalena, and it stems from their friendship beyond the film’s story, “Hearing them, seeing them, feeling their energy on set is really a big push for us to do better.”

Tahimik, who plays himself, shared invaluable thoughts about his filmmaking process which makes Hooshmand more grateful to hear first-hand as both a character and artist.

The two actors clarified to Philstar.com that Villavicencio, Diaz, and Tahimik are only actors in the film and did not have any direct input in the production.

Cabrera recently starred in Diaz’s “Magellan” and he described the director as being very chill, collaborative, and having lots of respect.

“That’s the thing about making film. You have to work with people you love working with and consider friends and family so that yung pelikula na magagawa ninyo ay maganda kakalabasan,” said Cabrera.

“And you trust them that alam na nila yung ginagawa nila, alam na yung ginagawa nila,” Hooshmand ended. “You play your own parts.”

Gen Zs are stepping up as the apparent heirs to the thrones at the MVP Group of Companies, with the big boss himself – business titan Manuel V. Pangilinan – acknowledging that they are the ones who are next in line.

Pangilinan has noted that there are indeed succession issues in the group, which includes industry giants PLDT, Manila Electric Co. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

At 79, Pangilinan is currently the chairman and CEO of all these three big companies, and also chairs several other companies within the group.

But the man they call ‘MVP’ still has plenty of firepower left, and hanging up his jersey could still be far down the line.

‘I’m still alive, right, after 10 years? Why do you think we bought hospitals? Their mission is to invent a potion,’ Pangilinan said in jest during the 57th FINEX Annual Conference last Friday.

Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Health is the country’s largest private hospital group, with 28 hospitals currently in its portfolio.

‘Anyway, it’s in front of my face,’ Pangilinan said when asked about how succession planning is coming along for his group.

He said that a team has been organized to look into succession issues within his business empire.

‘It is a very severe issue for us and I know that. So that’s why there’s a big effort by the group to identify, already all the way down to the college level, who could be the next CEOs,’ Pangilinan said.

‘They’re looking at the full suite of, up to the fourth down from my level, from the CEO level. The one downs, the two downs, the three downs, down to the fourth downs who are still in college,’ he said.

Pangilinan added: ‘We have to look at that and especially Gen Zs. So most likely the next, well, very likely the next CEO of Meralco, PLDT, etc., or any company for that matter in the world, will probably come from the ranks of the Gen Zs. So we have been talking to Gen Zs, trying to understand them.’

Pangilinan described Gen Zs, born approximately between 1997 and 2012, as a generation that is ‘very mobile’ and ‘very fluid.’ He also previously referred to them as representing ‘a new breed of wolves’ who are disruptive.

‘They’re just different. So we need to understand that. And this new generation of kids are most likely products of the internet and to harness that kind of values and attitude they have, different from ours, will change this nation to the nation of innovators and transformers, right?’ Pangilinan said.

The tycoon earlier acknowledged that ‘even the finest old compasses must one day allow younger hands to steer the ship,’ admitting that leadership is not a chair to sit on forever, but a torch to pass on.

‘Succession is not merely about finding replacements and nurturing them for the future, but is about creating space for growth, about recognizing when our wisdom must give way to their energy, when our experience must make room for their ingenuity,’ Pangilinan said.

The future may be looking bright for the MVP Group, but Pangilinan’s successors will certainly have very big shoes to fill.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has confirmed the onset of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific, warning of above-normal rainfall and heightened risks of flooding and landslides across parts of the country in the coming months.

In a statement issued Friday, PAGASA said cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific – first observed in August – have persisted and strengthened, reaching the La Niña threshold of -0.5°C sea surface temperature anomaly in September 2025.

‘Periods of cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that started in August 2025 continue to persist and further strengthened, reaching La Niña conditions threshold,’ PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando said.

La Niña is declared when the monthly sea surface temperature anomaly falls to -0.5°C or lower, with projections indicating that the three-month average anomaly will remain at or below that threshold.

According to PAGASA, several climate models suggest that La Niña conditions will persist at least until the December-February 2025-2026 season.

Malacañang has approved a long-term plan that seeks to support the country’s creative industries, a sector that employs more than seven million Filipinos.

The Philippine Creative Industries Development Plan (PCIDP) was adopted through Memorandum Circular 103, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by the authority of President Marcos on Oct. 7.

The plan is a comprehensive blueprint that enumerates the objectives, strategic actions and initiatives designed to unlock the creative industry’s full potential.

‘The effective implementation of the PCIDP 2025-2034 requires the active support and cooperation of all national government agencies, instrumentalities, local government units and the private sector,’ the circular read.

The Philippine Creative Industries Development Council, which was formed by the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, will lead the implementation of the plan. It will also review the plan every three years from the date of its execution.

Marcos noted that the country’s national development plan recognizes the Philippine creative industries as key generators of jobs and economic value.

Through the plan, the government is laying down the strategy in strengthening the foundation of a creative ecosystem where creativity can flourish and Filipino talent can thrive, he added.

‘The Filipino people are innately creative. From the designs of our local weavers to the cutting-edge innovations of our tech entrepreneurs, the Philippines is brimming with talent and potential that deserves to be nurtured and showcased on the global stage,’ the President said in the foreword of the 166-page plan.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the creative economy consists of several industries, namely audio and audiovisual media activities; digital interactive goods and service activities; advertising, research and development and other artistic service activities; symbols and images and other related activities; media publishing and printing activities; music, arts and entertainment activities; visual arts activities; traditional cultural expression activities; and art galleries, museums, ballrooms, conventions and trade shows and related activities.

The plan presents a vision to make the Philippines the premier creative hub of Asia by 2030. The government aims to strengthen the Philippine creative ecosystem by 2028 through capacity building and digital transformation, and to turn the country into a beacon of culture-led innovation and the preferred partner of the global creative community that showcases leadership on the world stage by 2030.

By 2034, the creative industries are envisioned to help transform the Philippines into a more prosperous, inclusive and resilient society.

The plan enumerated five priorities, namely, ignite Filipino ingenuity through creative hubs and clusters; boost creative entrepreneurship through research and development and cutting-edge technology; regenerate cities and local economies through sustainable innovations; strengthen the global brand through international collaborations; and foster the next generation of creatives through capacity-building and leadership development.

The creative economy at current prices amounted to P1.94 trillion in 2024, higher by 8.7 percent than P 1.78 trillion in 2023, the latest PSA data showed. The sector accounted for 7.3 percent of the gross domestic product and employed 7.51 million people last year.

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading its version of the proposed P6.79-trillion national budget for 2026, keeping in place hundreds of billions in unprogrammed appropriations that the Senate has vowed to zero out when the measure reaches their chamber.

Lawmakers on Monday, October 13 voted 287-12 for the General Appropriations Bill on third and final reading, with two abstentions. The spending plan is the largest in the country’s history and also includes an education budget that equals to some 4.1% of the gross domestic product, crossing the 4% international benchmark for the first time.

But the bill’s retention of around P214 billion in unprogrammed funds – amounts that can be tapped only when excess revenues or new financing become available – has drawn backlash from opposition lawmakers who voted against the budget bill on Monday.

Budget experts and watchdogs have long warned against the bloat of standby funds under the Marcos administration due to its lack of transparency, especially when compared to just having projects as line items in the budget.

Intact despite opposition. Senate President Tito Sotto has already said he would push to remove the allocations, which total about P214 billion after earlier cuts by the House. Senate finance committee chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is expected to lead the upper chamber’s scrutiny once the bill reaches the Senate floor later this month.

The House last week rejected a motion by Rep. Chel Diokno (Akbayan) to completely zero out the unprogrammed appropriations. House appropriations panel chair Rep. Mikaela Suansing (Nueva Ecija) said the subcommittee for budget amendments had already cut P35 billion worth of infrastructure projects from the fund and argued that the remaining amount was needed to cover commitments under foreign-assisted projects that were not included in the main budget.

However, in voting against the House’s version of the budget, Rep. Cielo Krisel Lagman (Albay, 1st District) said she remained “disturbed” by the inclusion of unprogrammed appropriations, which remain prone to abuse in its current form.

The lawmaker said she’d only accept unprogrammed appropriations if Congress stops three abuses: lawmakers sneaking in pet projects through “arbitrary insertions,” moving already-budgeted funds into the unprogrammed appropriations, and padding the standby funds beyond what the executive branch proposed – which happened in 2024 and 2025.

‘Pork barrel.’ Similarly, Rep. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers), House deputy minority leader, tagged the funds as “presidential pork barrel” that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can spend on his own say-so. Rep. Sarah Elago (Gabriela Partylist) pegged the unprogrammed funds as having “no clear beneficiaries” and “a pork feast for the powerful and scraps for the people.”

The House earlier realigned P255 billion away from flood control projects amid an ongoing probe into anomalous public works projects. About P102 billion went to social services: P32.6 billion for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s crisis assistance program, P14.82 billion for TUPAD jobs for disadvantaged workers, and P56 billion for science high schools, higher education agencies, and state universities.

In just a year after picking up a racket for the first time, Hayb Anzures has become one of the most influential figures in Philippine tennis, championing the sport’s revival through the staging of the inaugural Gentry Open Tennis Championships in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

‘For just one year into tennis, the feeling and excitement are different compared to when I play basketball, football, or golf. The tennis community is so vibrant and welcoming,’ said Anzures, now one of the sport’s most passionate backers.

Anzures, 31, a business management graduate from Far Eastern U, said he was inspired by the success of Alex Eala, prompting him to bring his energy and resources into helping local tennis.

‘The rise of Alex Eala on the world stage has given local tennis something to cheer for. I felt I had to do something to contribute and help further develop the sport in the local scene,’ he said.

With a P2 million total prize, the Gentry Open now stands as the biggest local tennis tournament in terms of cash rewards, surpassing even the storied Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open.

Leading automotive firm Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) is expanding its vehicle offering with the introduction of the all-new ATIV subcompact sedan this month.

In a statement, TMP said the ATIV to be launched on Oct. 24, will have a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) variant, the company’s lowest priced electrified model.

The ATIV is designed to meet the evolving needs of Filipino consumers, particularly professionals and young families looking to make their first or additional vehicle purchase.

‘The all-new Toyota ATIV is another statement of Toyota’s continued mission to bring electrified mobility within reach of more Filipinos,’ Elijah Sue Marcial, first vice president for vehicle sales operations at TMP said.

‘We know choosing your first car and an electrified model at that, can be a bold decision, so the ATIV makes it simple and easy by delivering modern HEV features, while providing peace of mind with reliability, safety, ease of ownership and joy of use,’ she said further.

Available in both hybrid and gasoline options, the ATIV features fuel economy, ease of maneuverability, modern safety and intelligent technology.

It is equipped with safety features such as pre-collision system, automatic high beam, lane tracing assist and lane departure alert.

In addition, all ATIV models include multiple airbags, anti-lock brake system with brake assist, vehicle stability control, blind spot monitor and ISOFIX child restraint systems.

The ATIV HEV variant is priced at P1.198 million, while the same variant in the attitude black mica color is available at a higher P1.208 million.

Meanwhile, the ATIV 1.5 G CVT variant is priced at P1.069 million. The Ativ 1.3 E CVT is available at P980,000, while the 1.3 E M/T variant costs P916,000.

Customers can see the ATIV up close during the launch to be held from Oct. 24 to 26, at the BGC Amphitheater in Taguig City.

Customers can also visit Toyota’s dealerships to learn more and be among the first to get the new ATIV.