Category: Philippine Star

Caritas Philippines – the humanitarian, development and advocacy arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – yesterday appealed for donations for victims of Severe Tropical Storm Opong in Masbate and Romblon.

Caritas said that residents of Masbate and Romblon are in need of food packs and non-food items such as essential household items, sanitation kits, potable water with jerry cans, solar lamp with power chargers, generator sets and medicine, especially for treatment of wounds.

Aside from these items, people are requesting for construction materials for rebuilding houses and churches as well as interim livelihood for affected families.

As of Sept. 28, the dioceses of Masbate and Romblon remained without power and have been relying on generator sets.

No formal evacuation centers are available in the provinces, Caritas said.

It said that telecom service is down except for Smart, although the signal is weak, and the supply of medicine is running low.

The source of water in Masbate sustained damage from Opong

The world-class field assembled for International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus has been further strengthened with the addition of two-time Major champion and former World No.1, Dustin Johnson.

Johnson will join fellow Major winners Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, and Louis Oosthuizen for the eagerly awaited tournament which takes place at Sta. Elena Golf Club from Oct. 23-26.

The American, known for an unbeaten Ryder Cup record in five appearances and a spectacular 5-0 at Whistling Straits in 2021, last appeared on The International Series at the 2024 PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, and his comeback is set to electrify the fairways in the Philippines.

With an illustrious career to his name, Johnson’s achievements include winning the 2016 US Open at Oakmont Country Club with a four-under-par 276, and a sensational victory at the 2020 Masters Tournament, where he set a tournament record of 20-under-par. He first rose to World No. 1 in February 2017, holding the position for 64 consecutive weeks – the fifth-longest reign in history. He later reclaimed the top spot in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, spending more than 130 weeks in total as the world’s best golfer.

International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus is the sixth of the nine elevated events on this season’s Asian Tour schedule, offering players from around the globe a direct pathway into LIV Golf through the season-long Rankings race.

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. is among the companies expressing interest in acquiring Villar-owned PrimeWater.

Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said the company is open to considering PrimeWater, should a potential sale by the Villar Group happens.

‘It is still part of the water industry. We are a company in the water sector. PrimeWater is also into water so it’s unlikely that we won’t take a look,’ Fernandez said.

Former senator Cynthia Villar earlier said that her husband, tycoon Manuel Villar Jr., wants to dispose of PrimeWater since it is only being used against them in politics.

PrimeWater, a subsidiary of Prime Asset Ventures Inc., has earlier faced complaints from consumers about its water services.

The company serves over 1.7 million households and treats more than 500 million liters of water daily.

Its service coverage spans from Tuguegarao in Cagayan Province, through Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, the Visayas and extends all the way to Davao City in Mindanao.

Maynilad, meanwhile, is the concessionaire of the government in providing water services in the West Zone of Metro Manila.

The company, which is slated to conduct an initial public offering next month, is jointly owned by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), DMCI Holdings of the Consunji family and Marubeni Corp. of Japan.

MPIC owns about 53 percent of the water utility firm, while DMCI and Marubeni hold 25 percent and 20 percent , respectively.

‘There is interest (in PrimeWater) because they are really a dominant player. They have a lot of different buckets because they are very extensive outside Metro Manila,’BDO Capital and Investment Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said.

‘So they’re a good asset. I guess the question there is the valuation,’ he said.

Loan growth in the Philippines eased to its slowest pace in nine months as lending to businesses moderated in August despite resilient consumer demand, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Preliminary figures showed that loans disbursed by universal and commercial banks, net of their reverse repurchase placements with the BSP, expanded by 11.2 percent year-on-year in August, slower than the 11.8 percent increase in July.

The August reading marked the weakest growth in nine months or since the 11.1 percent pace in November 2024. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, outstanding loans rose by just 0.4 percent.

Bank loans reached P13.62 trillion in August, higher by P1.37 trillion compared to the P12.25 trillion recorded in the same month last year.

The BSP monitors bank loans because these are a key transmission channel of monetary policy.

Bank loans to residents expanded by 11.6 percent, also slower than the 12.4 percent increase recorded in July. Meanwhile, loans to non-residents posted a smaller contraction of 5.9 percent from the 8.1 percent decline a month earlier.

Borrowings intended to finance production activities grew by 9.9 percent, decelerating from 10.8 percent in July.

The rise in disbursements to the volatile real estate sector quickened to 11 percent in August from 10.7 percent a month ago with P2.77 trillion, followed by the electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply sector with a slower increase of 28.1 percent to P1.7 trillion.

The growth in loans extended to the wholesale and retail trade sector slowed to 8.1 percent with P1.51 trillion. Lending also increased for financial and insurance activities (6.9 percent) and information and communication (7.5 percent).

On the other hand, loans to the manufacturing sector fell by 5.5 percent to P1.21 trillion, although this was better than the 6.3 percent decline a month ago.

Consumer loans remained a bright spot, sustaining strong growth of 23.9 percent in August from 23.6 percent in July. The BSP noted that credit card, motor vehicle and salary-based loans continued to drive this segment.

Credit card loans soared by 29.7 percent to P1.07 trillion from P827.43 billion. Auto loans went up by 19.4 percent to P513.06 billion, while salary-based general-purpose consumption loans inched up by 6.4 percent to P164.5 billion.

‘Looking ahead, the BSP will ensure that domestic liquidity and bank lending conditions remain consistent with its price and financial stability mandates,’ the central bank said.

Separate BSP data showed that the growth in domestic liquidity stood at 6.6 percent in August, higher than the 6.2-percent increase in July. Money supply stood at around P18.6 trillion.

The agriculture industry in Negros Occidental has incurred up to P6.3 million in damage due to the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Opong.

Data from the office of the provincial agriculturist showed that as of Tuesday, up to 259 hectares of rice fields in 39 barangays were damaged and 351 farmers were displaced by floodwaters.

Authorities estimated the amounts of damage to crops at P6.12 million, fishery at P182,250 and livestock at P21,261.

Opong affected 12 households in Valladolid town as well as in the cities of Bago and La Carlota.

The office of the provincial veterinarian said that livestock raisers evacuated 36 heads of animals to a rescue center in Moises Padilla before Opong struck.

The Visayas grid was placed under yellow alert for eight hours yesterday after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu and triggered an unplanned shutdown of several power plants.

The alert notice, which was issued when power reserves are low, was raised from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

The NGCP said that power grids in Luzon and Mindanao remained normal.

In the Visayas, the earthquake knocked down 11 plants, adding to the strain caused by 16 other power facilities that have been out of service long before the incident occurred, along with three others that are operating at a reduced capacity.

As a result, 640.6 megawatts of capacity were unavailable to the Visayas grid as of 3 p.m. yesterday, the NGCP said.

Over 800,000 consumer connections across the region experienced blackouts following the earthquake’s impact on 24 power cooperatives, the National Electrification Administration said.

The Department of Energy, meanwhile, has mobilized the entire sector to ensure the immediate restoration of power across affected areas, prioritizing hospitals, water stations and other lifeline facilities.

As Tropical Storm ‘Paolo’ slightly intensifies over Philippine waters, PAGASA has placed parts of Isabela, Quirino and Aurora under Wind Signal No. 2.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin on Thursday, October 2, the state weather bureau last spotted Paolo inching its way towards northern Luzon, about 575 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon.

The tropical storm is moving west northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph and gusts up to 90 kph.

Wind signals

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals No. 1 and 2 now prevail over most of Luzon. No wind signals were raised in Visayas or Mindanao as of 11 a.m.

Signal No. 2 (gale-force winds in 24 hours)

the southeastern portion of Isabela (San Mariano, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, Benito Soliven, Angadanan, City of Cauayan, Naguilian)

the northern portion of Quirino (Maddela)

the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan)

Signal No. 1 (strong winds in 36 hours)

Cagayan

the rest of Isabela

the rest of Quirino

Nueva Vizcaya

Apayao

Abra

Kalinga

Mountain Province

Ifugao

Benguet

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Sur

La Union

Pangasinan

the northern portion of Zambales (Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz)

Tarlac

Nueva Ecija

the rest of Aurora

the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Norzagaray, San Rafael)

the northern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba, Mabalacat City)

the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands

the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Capalonga, Jose Panganiban, Paracale, Vinzons, Talisay, Daet, Mercedes, Basud)

the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan)

and the northern portion of Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Caramoran)

Light to moderate damage is expected for high-risk and medium-risk structures under Signal No. 2, while light to no damage is projected for areas under Signal No. 1.

The state weather bureau also predicted heavy rains over some of these provinces starting Friday, October 3.

Sea conditions

PAGASA has warned provinces near coastal waters of rough to very rough seas reaching as high as 3 to 6 meters, mainly in Isabela, Cagayan, Aurora, Babuyan Islands, Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Quezon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

Mariners are advised to seek shelter and avoid venturing out to sea under these conditions.

Forecast track

Paolo is anticipated to hit land over southern Isabela or northern Aurora on Friday morning as it continues to move west northwestward.

The tropical storm may intensify further into a severe tropical storm and raise Wind Signal No. 3.

The possibility of it reaching typhoon strength before landfall has not been ruled out, but current forecasts show a high chance of Paolo becoming a typhoon once it emerges over the West Philippine Sea.

Snacking doesn’t have to be about guilt or restriction-it can be part of a balanced diet, so says nutritionist Jo Sebastian.

In an Instagram post, Jo shows how mindful snacking can turn a simple bar of chocolate into a moment of joy and balance-an approach that snacks company Mondelez International also champions worldwide.

Scrolling through Instagram, you might stumble upon a post by nutritionist and content creator Jo Sebastian-this time, in her kitchen, with a bar of chocolate in hand.

Her video is refreshingly real: no lists of ‘forbidden foods,’ no guilt-driven messaging. Instead, Jo invites her audience to share a sweet moment and learn about mindful snacking.

Jo is a registered nutritionist-dietitian gaining quite a following on social media for her practical and relatable advice on food, health and overall well-being.

She graduated BS Community Nutrition from the University of the Philippines Diliman and is the founder of the online nutrition coaching community called HEAL with Jo and host of the Donut Box podcast.

Jo’s goal is to make nutrition fun, easy and accessible with a focus on having a healthy relationship with food and the body!

She admits that she once lived with a long ‘not allowed to eat’ list, which only made her crave and binge those very foods later on. It’s a familiar story for many Filipinos, who-according to the 2024 State of Philippine Snacking report by Mondelez International and The Harris Poll-are among the world’s top snackers, often enjoying small bites up to three times a day.

The difference, Jo explains, is that snacking doesn’t have to be a cycle of guilt and restriction. Instead, it can be balanced, satisfying and even joyful.

Her approach is simple:

Step 1: Tune in to cravings. Rather than asking ‘Should I eat this?’ she reframes it to ‘What can I add to make this feel good for me right now?’ That might mean pairing chocolate with fresh berries or nuts, adding fiber and healthy fats to create a more filling snack.

Step 2: Portion it out. Putting your treat on a plate helps create awareness of how much you’re eating, instead of mindlessly snacking straight from the pack.

Step 3: Enjoy. The key is not restriction but paying attention to fullness and savoring the food.

Her message? Food isn’t just fuel-it’s joy, comfort and part of life. And you always deserve to eat.

This philosophy is one that Mondelez International, the maker of well-loved snacks like Oreo, Eden Cheese and Cadbury Dairy Milk, has been championing through its global initiative on mindful snacking.

The company defines mindful snacking as being present and intentional about what and why you’re eating. It’s about finding the right snack, for the right moment and made the right way.

Mindful snacking goes beyond portioning or pairing foods-it’s also about making space for enjoyment.

Research from Mondelez International’s annual State of Philippine Snacking report shows that consumers aren’t just snacking for hunger; they snack for comfort, connection and self-care.

For Filipinos, snacking is woven into daily life-whether it’s merienda with friends, a sweet treat after a long day, or a quick bite between tasks.

What Jo highlights in her post is exactly what Mondelez International hopes more snackers will embrace: that choosing a chocolate bar or a cookie or any type of snack doesn’t have to mean guilt. It can mean balance-adding something nutritious, savoring every bite and knowing when you’re satisfied.

Because at the end of the day, snacks are not just about filling a stomach. They’re about filling a moment. And mindful snacking ensures that every moment is intentional and delicious.

Catholic schools cannot limit themselves to staging protests when corrupt scandals erupt, but must commit to the slower, harder work of forming students who will reject corruption as “normal,” a senior Church leader told the country’s largest Catholic education gathering on Wednesday, October 1.

Bishop Charlie Inzon of Jolo, who chairs the Episcopal Commission on Catholic Education under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), warned that dishonesty has become so normalized that the youth may grow up believing “there is no way out” of it.

‘Systemic dishonesty has become normalized. Our young people. may grow up believing that it simply is the way things are, and worse, that there is no way out, no escape to this reality,’ Inzon told an audience of some 3,500 students, educators and school officials at the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) national convention on Wednesday, October 1.

Inzon delivered the “message of hope” during the first day of CEAP’s national convention yesterday. He chairs the CBCP commission that supports all Catholic educational institutions in the country and was recently appointed as the next Cotabato archbishop.

Resignation as the enemy

Inzon sees corruption not only as a governance issue but as a ‘cultural sickness and spiritual malady’ that erodes truth and conscience. When citizens start to believe no one will ever be held accountable, he said, society slips into what psychologists call ‘learned helplessness.’

‘If corruption is the disease, despair is the poison, and resignation is the enemy,’ the prelate stressed. ‘When this enters our mind. indeed, there is no way out, no escape.”

He warned that corrupt leaders exploit this despair, insulating themselves with ‘systems of immunity and mutual protection’ while convincing themselves that ordinary people are ‘easily manipulated, bought, and silenced.’

While mass protests and movements against corruption have erupted in the past, Inzon noted that they often ‘wane’ and dissolve once anger subsides. Catholic institutions, he argued, cannot solely rely on these actions to fight corruption.

‘Our intervention should not be only dramatic and episodic through protests, but also sustained, consistent, courageous, and persistent,’ the CBCP official said. ‘We must be vigilant not only in the streets, but in our classrooms, ensuring that we do not fall into the cycle of despair and helplessness.’

CEAP operates around 1,500 member schools nationwide and yesterday highlighted the timing of the convention, which coincided with ongoing probes into anomalous public works projects and nationwide calls for accountability.

During a press conference on Tuesday, September 30, CEAP President Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ called on Catholic school alumni implicated in the current corruption scandal to return to the values of ‘truth, decency, social justice, and social transformation.”

Inzon’s message on Wednesday was for Catholic schools to actively shape students not just into competent professionals, but also into citizens who have a strong moral conscience.

‘If our institutions succeed only in producing graduates with technical skills and with beautiful board exam performances but lacking in conscience and social responsibility, then we have failed,’ Inzon said.

Seeds of hope

The bishop also pointed to different signs of resistance to corruption: civic campaigns for accountability, communities rallying to support each other after calamities and youth leading online efforts against corruption.

For Inzon, the mission of Catholic education is inseparable from the country’s political problems. ‘To be a Catholic academic community in this time of national crisis is to live out solidarity,’ he said, urging schools to stand with marginalized communities and ensure education remains accessible to the poor.

‘Hope is saying and telling us that corruption is not our destiny, that dishonesty is not our identity, and that resignation is not the way to go,’ he said.

Determined to bounce back from a disappointing outing in Taiwan, Miguel Tabuena came out swinging with a sizzling five-under 65 in the opening round of the Jakarta International Championship at the Damai Indah Golf PIK Course on Thursday.

Displaying renewed focus and confidence, Tabuena navigated the par-70 layout with precision, stalking early clubhouse leader Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand, who surged ahead with a stunning 64.

Tabuena stood just two strokes behind in a tie for fifth, part of a tightly packed leaderboard chasing the lead heading into Friday’s second round.

Starting his round on the back nine, Tabuena made an early charge with birdies on three of his first eight holes. A bogey on the par-4 18th briefly stalled his momentum, but the two-time Philippine Open winner steadied the ship with a string of pars across the front nine.

He had a chance to move closer to the lead but dropped another shot on the par-4 eighth, settling for a 65.

Despite the missed opportunity, Tabuena’s round was marked by solid ball-striking and a sharp short game. He hit 12 fairways and 13 greens in regulation, while needing just 26 putts – including three scrambling pars – to keep him in the early hunt.

It was a promising start for Tabuena, who is looking to regain consistency after missing the cut at last week’s Taiwan Masters. That followed a strong joint fifth-place finish at the Yeangder TPC, also in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Suteepat Prateeptienchai took advantage of near-perfect scoring conditions to post the early lead with a scorching 63. The Thai golfer carded eight birdies, five of which came on the front nine, to offset a lone bogey on the par-4 15th.

He grabbed a one-stroke clubhouse lead over Roberto Lebrija, Chang Wei Lun, and Wade Ormsby, who posted identical 64s

For his part, Justin Quiban also looked poised for a hot start after opening with three birdies in his first five holes. However, inconsistency crept in on the back nine, as he surrendered three bogeys and managed only one birdie to sign for a one-under 69 – leaving him trailing the early frontrunners.

Young prospect Sean Ramos was also making waves in the afternoon wave. He birdied two of his first five holes after starting on the back nine as posting time, and looked to build momentum as the round progressed.