Category: Philippine Star

Junmilardo Ogayre refused to blink and punched out an escape win.

Under relentless fire from Mongolia’s Gantumur Lundaa, the 27-year-old Filipino stood his ground, countered with surgical precision and gutted out a hard-earned 3-2 split decision in the men’s -60kg preliminaries yesterday in this city 50 kilometers south of Nagoya.

Ogayre drew the nods of judges from Guatemala, Bulgaria and Argentina while losing those from Uzbekistan and Mauritius in the slam-bang fight – a needed boost for Team Philippines after Aira Villegas’ fall the previous day.

It was no masterpiece. It was survival in a fight enjoyed by the loud crowd at the Nishio Gymnasium.

Lundaa came out like a freight train from the opening bell – pressing, crowding, pinning Ogayre to the ropes and daring him to brawl.

Ogayre didn’t.

The former Asian Championships bronze medalist kept his cool, snapped his jab and punished every reckless charge with clean counters inside.

The Filipino was effective and efficient, enough to steal the first two rounds on four of five judges’ cards and build the cushion he needed.

Then came the scare.

Slowing down in the final round, Ogayre got caught and the referee stepped in with a standing eight-count as Lundaa hunted for a knockout.

The Mongolian took the last round, 10-9 across the board, but the math was already done. Ogayre had done just enough.

With the split win, Ogayre advanced to face Nepal’s Roka Magar, pushing the six-man Philippine boxing team to 2-1 – bouncing back from Villegas’ tough opening loss, with Norlan Petecio earlier delivering the first win.

Climbing into the ring in the next few days are Olympic medalists Nesthy Petecio (women’s -60kg) and Carlo Paalam (men’s -55kg), plus Riza Pasuit (women’s -54kg).

Filipino tennis star Alex Eala got a warm welcome from fans in Singapore as she prepares for her next match at the Singapore Tennis Open.

In an Instagram story, Eala showed fans chanting her name and cheering her on before she joined them for a selfie.

Eala is set to face Tatiana Prozorova in the Round of 16 of the WTA 500 tournament.

The 21-year-old Filipino recently reached a career-high No. 18 in the WTA rankings.

End of the road for Gilas Pilipinas women.

The Philippines bowed out of the Asian Games’ women’s five-a-side basketball quarterfinals after falling against Chinese Taipei, 83-71, Thursday at the Aichi International Arena in Japan.

Gilas put up a fight but ultimately ran out of fuel against Chinese Taipei.

Afril Bernardino topped Gilas with 23 points, seven rebounds and an assist in the loss, while Stefanie Berberabe and Janine Pontejos had 12 markers apiece.

After trailing by as much as 16 points, 42-58, in the third quarter after a deuce by Chen Yen-Yu, the Philippines stormed back with a 14-3 run capped by a Bernardino fast break finish to slice it to five, 56-61, with 29.8 seconds remaining in the frame.

But a 9-0 counter run, capped by a jumper by Peng, pushed Chinese Taipei back up 14, 70-56, with 9:15 left in the game.

The Philippines, though, tried to claw back anew. A Pastrana transition finish inched them closer, 64-72, with 5:45 remaining, but timely shots by Huang Ling-Chuan, Peng Szu-Chin, Han Ya-En and Chen kept themselves at arm’s length.

While Gilas tried to mount a comeback, they could not do so as they could not slice the deficit to single digit once again.

Hsiao Yu-Wen had a massive double-double of 14 points and 17 rebounds in the win. Huang added 13 points while Han finished with 11.

Kent Pastrana tallied 11 points off the bench. Naturalized player Elizabeth Means was held to just four points and three rebounds, as well as a game-worst +- of -27.

Chinese Taipei will now face either Japan or Thailand in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, China and Korea will take on each other for a finals spot.

Michelin Guide is returning to the Philippines for a second year to unveil its restaruant selection for 2027, just as the Michelin Star finishes its centenary.

The guide confirmed that its inspectors went around the Metro Manila, nearby provinces, and Cebu for establishments worthy of a Michelin Star, Bib Gourmand, and Michlein Selected recognition.

“Their latest discoveries point to a dining scene gathering momentum in intriguing ways,” said the guide. “With new voices emerging, established talents taking unexpected turns, and Philippine cuisine appearing in forms both anchored in heritage and distinctly of the moment.”

It credited the Philippine capital for leading with “chef-driven restaurants, tasting menus, and ambitious contemporary concepts,” while Cebu is strong for its “lechon, seafood, charcoal-grilled dishes, and convivial home cooking.”

Inspectors also looked into dishes that express regional identity, “where recipes passed down through generations sit alongside more contemporary and polished dining experiences,” therefore unfolding “a broader culinary landscape drawn from tradition, local character, and a growing appetite for destination dining.”

In these regional visits, the guide’s inspectors found “greater consistency, technical confidence, and a deeper engagement with local ingredients and culinary history.”

The bright acidity of Filipino cooking was brought about by calamansi, kamias, and tamarind, while beverages are paired by native spirits, tropical fruit, coffee, spices, and herbs.

“Together, these details speak to a cuisine becoming more articulate about where it comes from – and more assured about where it is going,” the guide said.

The new batch of Michelin restaurants will be revealed on October 29 at the Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts. 2026 honorees

The following were honored by the Michelin Guide for the inaugural edition in the Philippines and are among the primary establishments for recognition once more.

Michelin Star

Helm (Two Stars)

Asador Alfonso

Celera

Gallery by Chele

Hapag

Inato

Kasa Palma

Linamnam

Toyo Eatery

Michelin Bib Gourmand

Abaseria Deli and Cafe

Bolero

Brick Corner

Cabel

Cochi

Cur8

Em Ha Noi

Esmen

Halong

Kumba

La Pita

Lampara

Lasa

Los Tacos

Manam at the Triangle

Morning Sun Eatery

Palm Grill (Diliman)

Pares Batchoy House

Pilya’s Kitchen

Sarsa

Some Thai

Tacqueria Franco

The Pig and Palm

The Underbelly

Your Local

Michelin Selected

12/10

Abli

Aida’s Chicken

Antonio’s

Ato-Ah

Aurora

Automat

Ayà

Benjarong

Blackbird

Butcher Boy

Cantabria by Chele Gonzalez

Canton Road

Carmelo’s Steakhouse

Chie Chie’s Pancit Batil Patung

China Blue

Cirkulo

Coco

Cru Steakhouse

Deo Gracias

Dip

El Poco Cantina (Malate)

Ember

Enye by Chele Gonzalez

Esmeralda Kitchen

Fong Wei Wu

Fresca Trattoria

Ginza Nagaoka

Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill

Goxo

House of Lechon

Iai

Juniper

Kamakura

Kei

Kodawari (Salcedo)

Lantaw (Compostela)

Locavore (Taguig)

Lola Helen

Lore

Lusso (Legazpi)

Mamacita (Taguig)

Man Ho

Maya

Metiz

Mirèio

M?dan

Now Now

Oak and Smoke

Offbeat

Old Manila

Osteria Antica

Origine

Pablo

Papillon

Pares Pares (N. Escario)

People’s Palace

Ramen Ron (Makati)

Sala

Seva

Sialo

Socarrat

Spices

Steak and Frice

Summer Palace

Super Uncle Claypot (Makati)

Tandem

Taupe

Terraza Martinez

The Test Kitchen

Txanton

Uma Nota

Umu

Yamazato

Going topless, shirtless, or half-naked in public places is now prohibited in Daanbantayan following the approval of a new municipal ordinance covering both men and women.

Municipal Ordinance No. 11-2026 applies to both men and women within the territorial jurisdiction of Daanbantayan, including those who appear without customary top apparel covering the upper half of the body.

The ordinance prohibits the act in public places such as public streets, plazas, government offices, and other areas considered accessible to the public.

It was approved on third and final reading by the Sangguniang Bayan during its regular session on September 4, based on Resolution No. 644-2026.

The measure, filed by Sangguniang Bayan Member Jose Maria C. Gastardo, was unanimously approved by the body.

The ordinance states that it was enacted to regulate conduct in public places, maintain public order, prevent disturbances, and promote community welfare.

It cited Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991, which provides local government units with powers necessary and appropriate for efficient and effective governance and for the promotion of the general welfare.

The measure also cited the Safer Cities Initiative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police, which aims to make communities safer by lowering crime rates and restoring public order.

Under Section 3 of the ordinance, ‘Topless (Shirtless) or Half-Naked’ refers to ‘the act of appearing bare-breasted or without any customary top apparel covering the upper half of the body.’

The prohibition, however, does not cover all circumstances where a person may be without customary upper-body clothing.

The ordinance exempts cultural practices, religious rituals, infants and breastfeeding mothers, as well as activities at beaches, resorts, private properties, and sporting events.

Specific work environments are also exempted, including construction workers or laborers working under extreme heat.

Violators face escalating penalties depending on the number of offenses.

A first offense carries a warning or community service, while a second offense is punishable by a P1,000 fine.

For the third and succeeding offenses, violators may face a P2,000 fine or imprisonment, as provided under the ordinance.

The Philippine National Police, barangay tanods, and municipal enforcement teams will be responsible for enforcing the measure.

It also provides a ‘no contest’ option allowing an apprehended individual who does not wish to contest the violation to voluntarily pay the administrative fine to the Municipal Treasurer within 24 hours from the time of apprehension.

The ordinance will take effect 15 days after its posting at the municipal hall bulletin board and at least two other conspicuous public places within Daanbantayan.

Hope springs eternal for the Philippines as it aims to come through in the last five rounds for a shot at a top 10 finish in the 46th World Chess Olympiad at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The Filipinos, currently in a 30-country logjam at 29th spot with eight match points, were battling the Argentines while Filipinas, in a 30-nation tie for 28th, were clashing with Kyrgyzstan in the seventh round at presstime.

‘We’re still optimistic of a potential top 10 finish,’ said national women’s coach Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales.

For it to happen though, the Philippines, which is being sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, would have to start pulling the rug from high-rated opponents.

But so far, they have not done it yet and lost the two times they faced higher-seeded rivals with the men’s squad falling to Azerbaijan and host Uzbekistan 2 and the women succumbing to Hungary and Spain.

It could start happening in the seventh round if the stars align.

The men’s best-ever finish of seventh place came in 1988 in Thessaloniki, Greece where Grandmaster Eugene Torre, now the national men’s team coach, was then the top board player while the women’s highest effort in recent times was the 24th place performance two years ago in Budapest, Hungary.

It was also in the Hungarian capital where the Filipinas earned a Category B gold.

Another thing to aspire for was the P1 million promised by delegation head and Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal, Sr. for a top 10 finish.

The government, through the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), has so far frozen a total of P24.7 billion in assets of alleged corrupt officials linked to the multibillion-peso flood control scam ordered investigated by President Marcos in 2025.

This was revealed during plenary deliberations on the P7.2-trillion national budget at the House of Representatives, when Rep. Presley de Jesus (Philreca party-list) asked AMLC budget sponsor Rep. Ma. Isabel Sagarbarria how has the agency been faring in its efforts to help recover ill-gotten wealth.

Sagarbarria, of Negros Oriental’s second district, replied that these assets have been ‘preserved’ by the AMLC and that the P24.7-billion figure was as of January this year, and that it might even go up.

From the time the flood control scandal broke out in 2025, the lawmaker disclosed that half or 15 of the 30 freeze orders issued by the Court of Appeals have been tied to corruption cases. They included 14 flood control cases covering about P20.2 billion preserved assets.

In the first half of this year – from January to June – 18 of the 28 civil forfeiture petitions in various courts were also linked to corruption cases, covering around P15.7 billion in preserved assets, Sagarbarria added.

There are also five active freeze orders reaching more than P1 billion, now pending before a regional trial court.

In relation to flood control anomalies, 22 petitions have been filed in courts as of Sept. 16 this year covering about P16 billion in preserved assets. All in all for this year, the courts have issued 106 forfeiture orders covering P2.17 billion in total assets.

Of the amount, an estimated P774 million has been returned to the victims of various crimes, P166 million has been turned over to the national government and P119 million transferred to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The AMLC’s proposed budget for 2027 was not challenged during plenary deliberations.

In late August, the AMLC secured a freeze order against the assets of a lawmaker that it refused to identify, but whose case involved ‘projects worth billions of pesos.’

‘The case arose from investigations by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, as well as a separate administrative inquiry by the House of Representatives,’ the AMLC said.

The AMLC said the appellate court ‘found probable cause that the assets were linked to violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, or Republic Act 3019.’

‘In a Resolution dated 25 August 2026, the CA ordered the freezing of the assets of the lawmaker, a construction company linked to the legislator, and other associated individuals,’ the AMLC added.

‘Although the lawmaker claimed he had divested himself of his interest in the construction business before assuming public office, records showed he continued to receive proceeds from the business while in public office, indicating he continued to exercise control over the construction companies.’

The freeze order covers 55 bank accounts and four insurance policies. The AMLC said it remains steadfast in carrying out its mandate to protect the integrity of the Philippine financial system and uphold the rule of law.

Through close coordination with partner agencies, the AMLC said it would continue to pursue measures authorized under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, as amended, to identify, trace, preserve, and recover assets linked to corruption and other unlawful activities.

The way I see it, the Bureau of Immigration needs to settle into some sort of compromise if it really wants to proceed with its planned new border system that will cost passengers – Filipinos and foreigners alike – $4 or P240 for a one-way international ticket to or from the Philippines.

A round-trip will cost $8 or P480 per passenger and this fee will be added to one’s airline tickets.

If the BI thinks passengers won’t notice this because it will be incorporated in the ticket, it is mistaken. Most passengers look at each item in the airline ticket – the numerous taxes, fuel surcharge, etc. Every peso counts.

Thus, if the BI really wants to implement the project, it must be reasonable about the fee and transparent about the whole project.

The so-called Civil Aviation and Immigration Security Services is a major PPP aimed at modernizing the country’s border management infrastructure across 11 international airports, one major international seaport and six mobile border crossing stations.

It is an unsolicited proposal submitted by US-headquartered Securiport LLC through the PPP Center of the Philippines in May 2023.

The Department of Justice, the designated approving body under Republic Act 11966 or the PPP Code, approved the project on Dec. 2, 2025.

With a project cost of P10.7 billion, the proponent Securiport LLC and the BI will charge a user fee of $4 or P240 per one-way passenger.

But I did my own number crunching and here’s what I learned. With a concession period of 20 years and a project cost of P10.7 billion, the proponent only needs P500 million in revenue annually to recover the cost.

A user fee of $0.29 or P17 per one-way passenger (multiplied by 29 million passengers) translates to roughly P500 million a year.

On the other hand, at the current proposed rate of $4, Securiport would rake in P6.6 billion in revenue a year and would recover the P10.7-billion project cost in less than two years.

Yet passengers will pay the user fee of $4 for the contract period of at least 20 years.

This rate of return is excessive. The implementing rules and regulations of the PPP Code require a reasonable rate of return only for single-bid solicited projects. CAISS, on the other hand, is an unsolicited project.

It’s good that the BI wants to improve our border security to prevent the entry of illegal aliens and stop the trafficking of our kababayans anywhere in the world.

But didn’t it already launch a similar program last year?

This is the Advanced Passenger Information System and Passenger Name Record data.

This was done with the help of the United Nations Countering Terrorist Travel Program, which helps countries detect and prevent the movement of terrorists and serious criminals.

Using the system, the BI had already flagged an Interpol-listed passenger nine hours before landing in July 2026.

If this works, what do we need the new system for?

Higher cost for tourists

Besides, an additional $4 per one-way international passenger would certainly affect tourism.

As it is now, we are lagging behind other Southeast Asian countries in tourism. Many foreigners are opting to visit Vietnam instead of traveling to the Philippines. Everyone’s talking about Da Nang, a coastal city in Vietnam, for instance, and how easy it is to go there and how much more affordable to visit compared to the Philippines.

Vietnam has significantly outperformed the Philippines in international tourism arrivals.

Last year, our Southeast Asian neighbor welcomed 21.2 million foreign visitors compared to the Philippines’ roughly 5.9 million.

Higher fees will also hurt OFWs

Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado said last month during a budget hearing at the House of Representatives, that overseas Filipino workers won’t be paying the fee themselves but their employers.

However, immigration experts quoted in news reports say the proposed imposition of border fees would inevitably add to the travel costs of about 1.7 million OFWs who return to the Philippines each year for vacation.

Recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani, according to the reports, said that employers usually only cover the travel costs for outgoing travels to their job site.

This means that OFWs intending to fly back to the Philippines would have to shoulder their own border fee.

Who are the proponents?

Another question stakeholders raised is: who is the local partner of Securiport in the Philippines?

Perhaps the local partner can provide more details on the project as well as the parameters regarding the critical and highly sensitive data it would collect from departing and arriving passengers?

Securiport itself, as I said in my column last Tuesday, has had some issues in other countries such as in Gambia where a national audit found out that it had months of unpaid government share.

The BI should provide more details on this if it is determined to push the project forward. And if we need to pay for it, we need to know where our money will go.

Keeping our borders safe is important but it’s not just about implementing a new system or platform.

It’s also making sure that the BI goes after corrupt personnel who are in cahoots with illegal recruiters trafficking our kababayans abroad and fixers bringing illegal aliens inside the country.

Two off-duty non-uniformed soldiers were killed in an ambush at an unlit stretch of a highway in Barangay Ladia in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte at about dusk Wednesday, September 23.

Captain Steffie Salanguit, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and senior officials of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division separately told reporters on Thursday that the slain Pfc. Jobert Labuson, 44, at Pfc. John Mark Dumaguing both belong to the 7th Infantry Battalion.

Labuson and Dumaguing, riding a motorcycle together, had just procured food supplies from stores in another barangay and were returning to their roadside detachment in Barangay Ladia when they were attacked by men armed with pistols.

Their attackers, also riding motorcycles, immediately escaped, leaving them sprawled at one side of the highway, their gunshot wounds bleeding profusely.

Labuson and Dumaguing died, about two hours after they were waylaid, at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Cotabato City, where their companions in the 7th IB and emergency responders brought them for treatment.

Local executives and traditional Moro community leaders in Sultan Kudarat, one of the 12 towns in Maguindanao del Norte, had condemned the incident, which left the two soldiers belonging to the 7th IB, a unit of the 6th ID, dead.

The scene of the ambush is less than 20 kilometers north of Cotabato City, where the regional capitol of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is located.

Doctor and beauty queen Gabrielle Henry, who represented Jamaica at Miss Universe 2025, is suing the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and its owners on several claims, including negligence following her tragic fall during the contest’s preliminary round.

On November 19, 2025, Henry stumbled off the stage and fell onto the floor after completing her evening gown walk.

The live feed did not capture the fall, but videos taken by the audience showed people rushing to Gabrielle’s aid. She was quickly wheeled out on a stretcher as the event continued.

Henry was immediately brought to a Bangkok hospital and confirmed to have suffered intracranial hemorrhage with loss of consciousness, a fracture, facial lacerations, and other significant injuries as a result of the fall.

The ophthalmologist remained in Thailand for a few more weeks before being cleared for a return to Jamaica to continue her recovery and treatment.

MUO said at that time that it would assume full and immediate responsibility for the incident, covering all hospital, medical, and rehabilitation expenses, as well as the accommodation and living costs of Henry’s family who stayed with her in Thailand.

It also said that it would fund the medically escorted repatriation flight back to Jamaica, as well as any future medical expenses arising from the incident. The lawsuit

Earlier this week, Henry filed at the Delaware Superior Court a lawsuit against MUO and its two parent companies, JKN Legacy Inc. and Legacy Holding Group USA, owned respectively by Anne Jakrajutatip and Raul Rocha.

Henry is suing the other parties for five claims: negligence, premises liability, negligent hiring, retention and supervision, and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The beauty queen claimed she followed the rehearsed choreography until she fell around five feet through an “unmarked and uncovered stage opening,” which contained both lighting equipment and concrete.

Another claim in the lawsuit is that intense lighting facing her during the walk impaired her visibility, therefore leading to the fall, which caused her “unconsciousness, traumatic brain injury with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, frontal lobe hemorrhagic contusion, and subdural hemorrhage.”

Other contestants allegedly complained about the pageant’s lighting and staging conditions which, after the fall, was “modified to add bright white lights to illuminate the edging of the stage.”

Henry called it “the most traumatic moment” of her life and that media coverage of the incident “caused, and continues to cause, severe emotional distress distinct from, and in addition to, the distress arising from her physical injuries.”

The doctor was unable to resume her medical residency and the injuries left her to suffer “neurological and cognitive symptoms,” which require ongoing care, rehabilitation, and follow-ups.

Response

MUO issued a statement to People magazine saying it had not yet received paperwork regarding the lawsuit. The organization said it would not comment on the matter.

“Responsibility for the production of the 74th Miss Universe competition in Thailand, including the venue, the stage, and on-site safety, rested with the host and production entities, Miss Grand International (MGI) and Miss Universe Thailand, under the direction of Nawat Itsaragrisil,” MUO said.

Itsaragrisil is the owner of the MGI pageant and Thai franchise of Miss Universe. He holds a high-ranking role within the MUO, but as of recent weeks, has been facing his own issues related to reigning Miss Universe Fatima Bosch.

MUO claimed that “when MGI and Miss Universe Thailand failed to cover Henry’s hospital expenses and left her unattended,” it “stepped in and paid them, despite having no obligation to do so.”

MGI was mentioned in Henry’s lawsuit, althought while it was in charge of the event’s staging, lighting, and safety, MUO “retained and exercised control over the manner and means” of the same.

Henry additonally claimed that MUO was unable to maintain a safe stage by leaving the opening unguarded, unmarked, and unbarricaded, and failed to know about MGI’s “unsafe staging and production practices.”

MUO confirmed it paid for Henry’s treatment in specialized Jamaican hospital but has since not received any request or claim for additional medical expenses nor a response for Henry to become a goodwill ambassador for Miss Universe.

Mexico’s Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe 2025, but even that was deemed a controversy by many in the global pageant community.

The diamond edition of Miss Universe will take place this November in Puerto Rico, where the Philippines’ Bea Millan-Windorski vies to win the country’s fifth crown.