Category: Philippine Star

This World Teachers’ Day brings to mind the wonderful teachers that I have met – individuals who have transformed lives through their dedication and service. As I deepen my engagement in the Philippines, I am reminded of the enduring Australia-Philippines partnership on education, and our joint commitment to supporting teachers as key contributors to sustainable development and the future of our nations.

For more than three decades, education has been a central pillar of Australia’s development assistance to the Philippines. Australia’s support for education has evolved over that time – from an initial focus on building physical classrooms and teacher training, to supporting curriculum design and national policies and reforms, including Kindergarten to Grade 12 reforms. Now, as Strategic Partners, our development assistance is focused on partnerships and an exchange of knowledge, as we address shared challenges. While the nature of our support has changed over the years, Australia has consistently been a champion for teachers.

In my recent conversation with Secretary of Education Sonny Angara, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Kiko Benitez and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, I recognized a strong convergence of priorities. There is a unified vision to ensure education is adaptive and aligned with the evolving demands of the labor market.

Australia is closely collaborating with the Philippines on a new program to enhance senior high school education. Our new investment, Education Quality for Inclusive Prosperity (EQUIP), will support economic development by helping ensure school leavers have the skills they will need for the job market. EQUIP aims to contribute to professional development for teachers, guidance counselors and school leaders. It will also help students to develop technical skills through industry exposure, work immersion programs and by gaining nationally recognized qualifications.

This commitment to education extends across the archipelago, including Muslim Mindanao. Through the Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao, Australia is supporting the Philippines’ long-standing peacebuilding efforts by improving the delivery of quality education. I hold in high regard the vital role teachers play in advancing peace through education and I am eager to listen to their stories when I visit the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The personal connections nurtured through our education partnership is a key part of the bilateral relationship between Australia and the Philippines. Today, over 25,000 Filipino students are studying in Australia, making the Philippines the sixth largest source of international students. Filipino students have greatly enriched Australia’s community.

Through the Australia Awards program alone, more than 4,500 Filipino scholars have graduated since 2004 – many are now leading in various fields, including education. These alumni are driving progress across the Philippines, forming one of the region’s most vibrant networks. As living bridges between Australia and the Philippines, they bring values of innovation and inclusion to their work, creating lasting impact. Their achievements reflect the dedication of teachers who first sparked curiosity and helped shape the leaders of this generation and the next. I hope to meet more of them throughout my time in the Philippines.

To ensure Filipino students have the best possible experience in Australia and receive a world class education, Australia is introducing reforms. These reforms respond to misuse of the student visa system and seek to strengthen regulations for education providers and students in an effort to ensure the integrity and sustainability of a system that has long welcomed global learners. Filipino students are a vital part of this story and continue to be warmly received. Australia upholds a strong commitment to provide secure and supportive learning environment. Through this sustained relationship, Australia stands alongside the Philippines in advancing human capital development.

Education remains a cornerstone of the Australia-Philippines partnership, reflecting collective goals for inclusive growth and regional resilience. As we mark the final day of Teachers’ Month in the Philippines, we honor the teachers whose unwavering service enriches societies and fosters cross-cultural understanding. We also celebrate how education continues to deepen the long-established relationship between Australia and the Philippines. From classrooms in Mindanao to lecture halls in Canberra, teachers contribute to peace, stability and prosperity. I look forward to expanding these partnerships during my time in the Philippines, learning from Filipino teachers and witnessing how our shared commitment to education drives cooperation across both nations and the region.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said that he is considering stepping down as the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

In a statement sent to reporters on Sunday, October 5, Lacson explained that he is contemplating resigning from the committee due to expressions of disappointment from some colleagues regarding its handling of the investigation into alleged anomalous flood control projects.

“Since all chairpersons of the Senate committees are elected by our peers, I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues, particularly the members of the majority,’ Lacson’s statement read.

‘Rightly or wrongly, when quite a number of them have expressed disappointment over how I’m handling the flood control project anomalies, I thought it’s time for me to step aside in favor of another member who they think can handle the committee better,” he added.

In a DZBB interview, Lacson said he is preparing his resignation letter and may “formally manifest it in plenary when the Senate resumes its session.”

On October 4, Lacson announced that the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged anomalous flood control projects had been canceled.

Lacson said he had initially scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, October 8, at the request of Sen. JV Ejercito, specifically to summon former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa regional director Gerald Pacanan.

Pacanan was one of ten DPWH officials who had received a show-cause order from DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon regarding their alleged lavish lifestyles and involvement in substandard projects.

However, due to the unavailability of necessary documents and conflicts with other hearings, Lacson said they canceled the probe until further notice.

He explained that, to maximize the discussions, he had checked with the Department of Justice regarding the availability of the supposed “tell-all” affidavits of the Discaya couple.

Furthermore, he contacted the Office of the Executive Judge of the Manila Regional Trial Court to verify whether they had concluded their investigation into possible violations involving the notarized document concerning Orly Guteza, former security consultant Rep. Zaldy Co (Ako Bicol Partylist), and Lawyer Petchie Espera.

Will People Power Begin on Nov. 30?

The anger on the revelations about the substandard and ghost projects of the floor control programs has reached another level. It is turning out to be a total fight against corruption. The last few weeks have revealed that substandard and ghost projects are not limited to flood control but include other public works projects like farm to market roads, bridges, school buildings, health centers and even a personal project of First Lady Liza Marcos which was supposed to be a building in Intramuros meant for the film industry.

There are now reports emerging about graft and corruption in the Department of Education, Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture.

I recently received a letter from someone who has been closely following events regarding the substandard and ghost projects of the government. The letter contains a few proposals on how the fight against corruption should continue.

Here is the letter:

‘The public should continue to press all the three branches of government for major reforms. As for the executive branch, particularly for hard infrastructure projects, the corruption should be plugged by first addressing whether these are the right projects specified in the NEP (National Expenditure Program) and GAA (General Appropriations Act).’

I am sure the writer meant that the executive branch should ensure that there are no insertions and illegal amendments to the NEP and GAA.

‘Second, did the implementing agency or office conduct a truly competitive public bidding to determine the right cost?

‘In order to ensure the right quality, did the agency with independent entities inspect the progress and completion of the project as to compliance with the project specifications?

‘There is also the need to change the measure of an agency’s performance based on financial disbursements as the principal metric of an agency’s performance needs to be changed.

‘The role of the COA (Commission on Audit) needs to be changed to pre-audit and not just post-audit.

‘As to Congress, the influence of legislators over the implementing office – district engineers – has to be addressed.’

The most difficult reform is to determine how the implementing agency will be forced to conduct a truly competitive bidding process. There must be a way to ensure that the bidding is truly made public.

In the past, there have been different ways that have been attempted to remove the influence of legislators – senators, congressmen, local government officials – over the implementing office. During the term of President Noynoy Aquino, it was felt that the removal of the pork barrel system achieved this objective. However, recent events have shown that the removal of the pork barrel system simply led to another means of graft and corruption due to the undue influence of legislators over the entire process.

Moving on to another topic, I want to express again my strongest appeal to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to listen to the public clamor for the hearings to be made public. In the last couple of weeks, in every gathering that I have attended, I have heard constant speculation relating to what is happening in the hearings. There are even supposed leaks going around and all of this is not healthy for this whole process.

There must be a way of addressing this need of the public to know what is going on. The hearings could take months or even more than a year before a final report is released to the public. If the ICI does not want the public to know what is going on, this could lead to a frustrated public that will look for solutions on the streets, rather than the courts of law.

Perhaps a reasonable compromise could be found that will satisfy the need for the public to have access to what is going on and the desire of the ICI to maintain confidentiality until all information has been thoroughly verified. This is a very serious challenge that the ICI should address or face possible consequences.

The issue of graft and corruption has become a worldwide phenomenon today. It has caused violence in the streets, especially by the youth sector in Nepal and in Indonesia. The most recent countries where this is now happening are Morocco and Tunisia. In Nepal, the president had to resign and was immediately replaced.

The ICI should feel that they have a tremendous responsibility to ensure that public frustration does not begin with the public becoming frustrated and losing total trust in the integrity of the ICI. If this happens, the next step will be a resort to people power or even worse, to violence or a coup d’etat.

On Nov. 30, there will be a second Trillion Peso March. Hopefully, there will only be a single united rally, unlike the Sept. 21 rallies which were held separately.

It may sound like a cliché, but the Philippines is truly at a crossroads today. Perhaps the direction of our future may be decided long before the 2028 elections.

Miguel Tabuena rattled off five straight birdies on the back nine to shoot a sizzling 65 and salvage a share of 11th place in the Jakarta International Championship, won by Australian Wade Ormsby in a sudden-death playoff on Sunday in Indonesia.

Tabuena, who dropped to a tie for 51st after back-to-back 71s at the par-70 Damai Indah Golf PIK course, struggled early despite opening with a birdie on the par-5 first. He settled for a string of pars and dropped a shot on the par-3 seventh for a 35.

But the two-time Philippine Open champion mounted a spirited comeback in the last nine holes, his birdie on No. 10 igniting a five-hole tear that vaulted him up the leaderboard. He closed with four straight pars to post a 30 and a five-under round, ending with a total of eight-under 272 – for a share of 11th alongside seven others.

That was just four strokes off the winning mark of 268 set by Ormsby and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, who both carded closing 69s. Ormsby eventually clinched the title with a routine par on the first playoff hole – the par-4 18th – where Vincent faltered after finding water on his approach.

Tabuena’s strong finish is expected to boost his confidence ahead of the upcoming Asian Tour event in Macau in two weeks.

Meanwhile, fellow Filipino Sean Ramos, who climbed to joint 14th after a gritty third-round 68, couldn’t maintain his momentum. Despite carding four birdies, he offset them with four bogeys for an even-par 70, dropping him to a tie for 19th at 273 – still a commendable showing in this International Series event.

Justin Quiban closed with a 69 to finish tied for 66th at 281.

Ormsby and Vincent, tied with India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar after 54 holes, battled neck-and-neck all day. Ormsby took an early edge with birdies on the second and fourth, while Vincent responded with a birdie at the seventh after birdying the first hole. Both bogeyed the ninth and made the turn with matching 34s.

Vincent pulled ahead with a birdie on 13, but bogeyed the 16th after missing the green, opening the door for a playoff.

Bhullar, who had birdied the first hole, stumbled with three bogeys on the front nine. He fought back with birdies on the 11th and 14th, but his round unraveled late with two double bogeys in the last four holes, finishing with a 74 and a tie for 19th alongside Ramos.

The drivers and operators’ group Manibela has expressed support to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) public transport modernization program.

According to Manibela president Mar Valbuena, the LTFRB has shown openness and accountability when it consulted operators and transport cooperatives as part of efforts to make the modernization program more inclusive.

Valbuena criticized some groups for asking LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III to resign over alleged ‘irregularities’ in the agency.

‘The reason some groups are asking Guadiz to resign is because some of their demands were not granted,’ Valbuena said.

Earlier, the LTFRB reaffirmed its commitment to fully implement the program, assuring stakeholders that reforms in the sector remain a top priority.

Guadiz said the LTFRB continues to exert all efforts to ensure that the transition to a modernized transport system proceeds without interruption.

He added that the agency has been working closely with government financing institutions to aid operators of modernized jeepney fleets meet their loan obligations under the program.

On Aug. 8, 2025, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy alert, announcing it will no longer use the ‘Dates for Filing’ chart in calculating a child’s age under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA-age). Instead, it will return to its previous practice and use the ‘Dates for Filing’ chart for all Adjustment of Status applications filed on or after Aug. 15, 2025.

Applicants may still use the Dates for Filing chart when determining when an adjustment application can be filed with USCIS. This new policy only affects the CSPA age calculation.

By way of background, a child’s CSPA age is calculated by subtracting the number of days a petition was ‘pending’ from the applicant’s age on the date a visa becomes available. A visa is considered available on the latter of (1) petition approval or (2) the date a visa became available in the Visa Bulletin.

However, the monthly visa bulletin has two charts concerning visa availability: the dates for filing chart and the final action dates chart. Since 2023, USCIS has calculated a child’s age based on whether a visa was available (or the priority date was current) on the dates for filing chart, which was more advantageous to children, as a priority date became current much sooner than on the final action dates chart. Under this new policy change, the date a visa becomes available will be based on the Final Action Dates.

This could also create a problem or dilemma because a child in the US could file for adjustment of status based on the dates for filing chart, but that is no guarantee they would eventually be CSPA eligible, as they must then wait for the priority date to become current in the final action dates chart in order to determine if they can benefit from the CSPA. If they do, everything is fine. But if they filed for adjustment of status using the date for filing chart, and it is later determined that they aged out under the final action dates chart, their adjustment will be denied. With a denial, it’s possible that under the Trump administration, a notice to appear (NTA) could be issued.

In all honesty, this new policy (which is actually a return to the policy that had been in effect since 2002) will now treat children within the US (seeking the adjustment) and children outside the US (who are consular processing) the same way. This is because since 2023, USCIS had been using the date for filing chart, whereas the embassy had always relied on the final action dates chart. As a result, a child could be refused a visa if consular processing, but that very same child would be CSPA eligible if adjusting status. Therefore, a child’s CSPA eligibility depended on whether they were within or outside the US. In fact, I have had some consultations dealing with children who aged out in the US embassy in Manila. However, had they been in the US adjusting status (and using the date for filing chart), their green card would have been approved.

Also, be aware there is the additional CSPA requirement that the child must ‘seek to acquire’ a visa within one year of visa availability. This could be accomplished by submitting their adjustment of status or DS-260 within one year of visa availability. In other words, even with the child’s age calculated to be under 21 using the final action dates chart, the child has a one-year deadline to apply for their visa, or they lose CSPA benefits.

If you have any questions or issues about CSPA eligibility, you should consult with an attorney, who can evaluate your situation and assist in determining if your child qualifies.

Malacañang has declared special non-working days in four towns, two cities and a province to allow residents to participate in local celebrations such as founding anniversaries, festivals and historic events.

Proclamation 1045 declared Oct. 9 a special non-working day in San Isidro, Surigao del Norte,which will celebrate its 66th founding anniversary.

Proclamation 1046 declared Oct. 16 a holiday in Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur for the celebration of the town’s 68th Foundation Day.

Oct. 20 will be a special non-working day in Batac City in Ilocos Norte as provided under Proclamation 1047 to mark the 159th birth anniversary of Gen. Artemio Ricarte.

Proclamation 1048 declared Oct. 28 a special non-working day in Dingle, Iloilo for the commemoration of the Cry of Lincud, the first declaration of revolution against Spain in Iloilo and Panay Island.

Proclamation 1049 declared Oct. 29 a special non-working day in Mati City in Davao Oriental for the Sambuokan Festival.

Oct. 30 will be a special non-working holiday in San Isidro, Davao del Norte as provided under Proclamation 1050 for the celebration of the Sikwate Festival.

Proclamation 1051 declared Nov. 4 a special non-working day in Quezon province to commemorate the death anniversary of national hero Apolinario dela Cruz, also known as Hermano Puli.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called on the faithful to join a National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance in light of the calamities and corruption that continue to plague the nation.

In a letter to dioceses, CBCP president and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David announced that the observance will be launched on Tuesday, Oct. 7, coinciding with the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

‘In the spirit of the prophetic exhortation of Baruch, which is a prayer of national confession and contrition, and in the context of the calamities that continue to afflict our land, we call for a National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance to be launched on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary,’ David said.

Prayers will be held in all parish churches, chapels and homes starting Tuesday and every succeeding Sunday leading up to the Feast of Christ the King on Nov. 23, as part of a sustained supplication for mercy and renewal.

‘This act of national contrition is also a step in our journey of synodality – walking together as God’s people, listening to the Spirit and to one another, in humility and hope,’ he said. ‘As we mark this pilgrimage year of hope, we cling to the promise of the Apostle Paul: ‘Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

David urged the faithful to pray ‘with contrite hearts and steadfast trust, through the intercession of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary,’ for national healing and renewal.

The CBCP also released the official prayer titled ‘A National Cry for Mercy and Renewal,’ which implores God to hear the voices of the people ‘as we walk in the valley of darkness.’

It likens the Filipino people to ‘a stray sheep that has fallen from the cliff, clinging desperately to a brittle branch, crying out for rescue.’

LA Tenorio’s head coaching era has started off triumphantly.

The Magnolia Hotshots welcomed Tenorio and the 50th season of the PBA with a bang after fending off Barangay Ginebra in a wire-to-wire affair, 80-73, in the Philippine Cup opener Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Zavier Lucero powered the Hotshots with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Jerom Lastimosa and the comebacking Javi Gomez-de Liano chipped in 14 markers apiece.

‘It was really hard, first of all, emotionally. I have to battle and really challenge my mind that it’s not about me and Coach Tim [Cone], it’s about Magnolia versus Ginebra. But, I just want to thank the players and my coaching staff. I really want to credit them, because they really guided me,’ Tenorio told reporters after the game.

‘Alam nila na mahirap especially in this kind of atmosphere. For the players, they were really ready going to this game, I really appreciate their effort, their fight, their focus coming to this game,’ he added.

The Hotshots erected a 15-point advantage, 63-48, with 10:10 remaining after a James Laput jumper.

But a 9-0 run, built by a layup by Japeth Aguilar, a 4-pointer by Jeremiah Gray and a 3-pointer by newly crowned Rookie of the Year RJ Abarrientos, sliced the deficit to six, 57-63, with 8:38 left.

However, huge shots by Lucero, Gomez-de Liano, Mark Barroca and Jerom Lastimosa kept the Gin Kings at bay.

The game was still within reach after a jumper by Stephen Holt that put them within striking distance, 69-78. Misses and turnovers by Ginebra, however, made it difficult for them as the clock melted.

Magnolia started the game waxing hot with 10 unanswered points, pumping the advantage to 14, 21-7, after a layup by Lucero.

But Ginebra was able to tow itself to within two points, 24-26, but could not tie or take the lead.

Rome dela Rosa chipped in 12 points for the Hotshots.

Holt had an all-around game for Ginebra, finishing with 16 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and a steal. Gray added 13 markers, while Troy Rosario and Abarrientos tallied 12 and 11, respectively.

Investigation on massive corruption should expand from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the Department of Health (DOH), Mayor Benjamin Magalong said on Friday.

‘Not only DPWH – what’s happening in DOH is getting close, too,’ Magalong said after corruption complaints were filed against Health Secretary Ted Herbosa and five other officials, specifically for misusing P44.6 million worth of government-bought psychiatric medicines, allegedly given to a private group.

‘Si Herboza, malapit na yan,’ he said in radio interview.

Lawmakers have also flagged DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).

Many health centers supposedly built under the program turned out to be unfinished or unusable, and some were even described as ‘ghost’ facilities.

Lack of staff has made many of them non-operational. Magalong is part of Mayors for Good Governance.

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, however, questioned Magalong’s own record, citing his P110-million Baguio tennis and parking facility project linked to Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction.

Magalong, who resigned from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure on ‘conflict of interest’ concerns, may need to present more solid proof of corruption in the DOH, as he did in the case of the DPWH, according to his detractors.

Even before his shortlived stint as ICI adviser and investigator, he claimed to have already submitted documents and other pieces of evidence to President Marcos to back up his allegations against officials linked to anomalies in flood control projects.