Category: Philippine Star

Red-hot University of the Philippines trounced winless University of the East, 101-70, to notch its fifth straight triumph and reclaim solo lead in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball yesterday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The Fighting Maroons jumped to a 12-point advantage in the opening frame and never stepped on the brakes on their way to a 31-point victory and a 7-2 card while dealing the Red Warriors their 29th straight loss.

UP, which scored a closer 91-81 win in the first round, had no mercy in the rematch. And the Maroons broke a tie with idle NU (6-2), in hot pursuit of a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.

Fresh from a 30-point career-best outing in a double overtime win over Santo Tomas, Veejay Pre had an efficient 14-point job in 21 minutes of play laced by six rebounds and five assists.

Gani Stevens and Choi Palanca produced 13 and 12 points, respectively, with Elliot Dimaculangan (9), Dicachi Ududo (9), Kio Franco (8), Sean Alter (8) and Miguel Yniguez (7) throwing in help in a scattered attack.

‘We played so hard and sustained our energy from our last games. It’s our fifth game in the last two weeks and what we liked about it was everybody came to play,’ said deputy coach Christian Luanzon.

‘The excitement of the players off the bench was there and I think it’s the first game where all 16 players played. Coach Goldwin (Monteverde) is proud of that as we sustained our intensity.’

UP never trailed in the match and led by as many as 34 points.

Tope Lagat and Mo Tañedo were the lone bright spots with 23 and 11 points, respectively, for the Red Warriors.

A change in railway strategy is becoming more imminent for the Department of Transportation (DOTr), as delays in big-ticket projects have required the payment of P1.8 billion to lenders.

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has thus instructed rail officials to wrap up pre-construction works, especially on right-of-way (ROW), before the DOTr applies for loans.

Data shared with The STAR showed that the government has been billed commitment fees of up to P1.76 billion by lenders as of July.

Lenders collect commitment fees on borrowers based on the unused portion of a loan, so the longer a borrowing is untapped, the higher the charge. It compels borrowers to maximize their loans and finish their projects on time.

However, Lopez said commitment fees on rail projects have been piling up yearly. The DOTr is forced to hold out the use of loans because projects face ROW delays.

‘We try to avoid as much as possible the commitment fees (because) when you enter a contract, and the government itself has delays because of right-of-way and everything, lenders charge us,’ Lopez told The STAR.

The first project the DOTr wants to test out its new strategy on is the Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4), the proposed 12.7-kilometer line between Ortigas and Taytay, Rizal.

Lopez said the DOTr wants to clear pre-construction requirements for the MRT-4 before it signs a loan with the Asian Development Bank.

The ADB will lend $1 billion to the Philippines to construct the MRT-4. This will be paired with another loan, worth $650 million, from Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

However, the ADB’s latest project data sheet pushed the approval timeline for the loan to March 2030. For Lopez, the adjustment grants the DOTr more time to complete engineering design and site acquisition.

The DOTr will also be busy completing the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), both of which would only be finished by early 2030s due to delays.

‘As much as possible, we don’t want to increase our loans for now, so we would finish first the NSCR and the subway,’ Lopez said.

The MRT-4, though dwarfed by the NSCR and MMSP, will serve the commuting demand in one of the busiest thoroughfares in Metro Manila – the Ortigas-Rizal corridor.

Based on initial plans, the MRT-4 will host 10 stations in its alignment, running through Quezon City, Pasig, Cainta and Taytay. It is expected to reduce travel time between Taytay and Ortigas to just 30 minutes, from three hours right now.

As such, the DOTr is bent on establishing an exclusive bus lane in Ortigas for the meantime. The project will span 30.5 kilometers, reaching up to Aurora Boulevard, with 65 stops in the pipeline.

Lopez said the DOTr is identifying how a busway in Ortigas would look like, because emulating the one in EDSA may be challenging to do given the difference in infrastructure availability.

EDSA is able to host a median busway – with stations in the middle – since the highway is built with an existing railway in the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

Aside from the Ortigas-Aurora corridor, the DOTr is planning to set up busways on C5 Road and Quezon Avenue, which are also lacking rail transport.

PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio is aiming for the stands to crack a homerun for Philippine baseball as his campaign to transform the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex into a vibrant hub opens a new chapter in rehabilitating the revered diamond that will be the battleground for the 15th Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA) East Asia Cup on Dec. 7-13.

The renovation is expected to be completed on or before Nov. 30 with work on a 24/7 basis. The baseball stadium was inaugurated in 1934 with American legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig belting homeruns in an exhibition game. There are marks on the stadium walls indicating how far their balls sailed. Several refurbishments were made through the years but none as extensive as the effort initiated by Gregorio.

PABA secretary-general Mike Asuncion said once finished, the baseball stadium will deliver a Wimbledon appeal. ‘Eyesore elements have been removed,’ he said. ‘Our countrymen will be proud. We’re laying out an all-weather artificial turf compliant with BFA recommendations. The centerfield homerun fence has been extended to 400 feet. There will be lights to enable night games and an electronic scoreboard, about 12 feet tall, without touching the old, iconic scoreboard which is slated for later crafting. It will be a software-operated standard ballpark electronic digital LED scoreboard and it’s already in Manila, to be mounted soon. Safety wall paddings will be added around the field. And you won’t recognize the lockers once they’re done. The homerun markers will be replaced by a proper Hall of Fame tribute specially re-designed, a better testament to our baseball heroes. Everything will be cleaned up inside and out. Crowd seating will be 5,000.’

Gregorio said PSC isn’t just transforming facilities but also mindsets. The inauguration of the baseball stadium is set on Dec. 6 with the first game of the BFA East Asia Cup scheduled the next day. The championship contest will be on Dec. 12.

The Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs scored a vengeful 76-64 victory over the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars to stay atop of the college division standings in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 26 basketball tournament Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Jhon Loufred Diamante bagged 16 points, while Kenneth Babalcon stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, four rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and a steal as the Cheetahs stretched their league-best record to 9-1.

Junil Bulan added 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block for the Cheetahs, who avenged their 60-62 overtime loss to the Jaguars in their first-round meeting last September 24.

Alcher Obra produced a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, along with two steals, while El John Lacaya chipped in 12 points, two rebounds, five assists and three steals but their efforts proved futile as the Jaguars dropped to 5-4.

In the other collegiate matchup, Ray James Enriquez stole the show with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals as the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors got even with the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters by the slimmest of margins, 59-58.

Real Einer Aureo tallied 13 points with seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks, while James Tawacal contributed 10 points, six rebounds and three assists as the Warriors improved to 6-4.

Ricofer Sordilla fired 18 points, four rebounds, five assists and a steal, while Maverick Eligoyo posted 17 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal for their efforts went for naught as the Webmasters fell to 5-5.

In the juniors division, reigning five-peat champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles and the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) kept their undefeated records intact.

Lian Kent Basa delivered an all-around performance with 13 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and six steals, while Jacob Javelosa and Gabriel Gonzales nailed 13 points apiece as the Magis Eagles soared to their sixth straight win with a 67-56 defeat of the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons.

Carl Torreon sizzled with 18 points, while Kyle Francis Bayog churned out 11 points, two rebounds, five assists and two steals as UCLM prevailed over the UC Junior Webmasters, 79-61, in a battle of sister teams to remain unbeaten at 7-0.

In another game, Skeril Miez Basilisco chalked up 14 points and eight rebounds, while Mark Ivan Geraldez had 12 points, four rebounds and five assists as the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Junior Wildcats edged the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers, 61-59, to claim sole possession of second place with a 7-2 slate.

Everything is in place for the inaugural Kayu Inter-BPO Pickleball Tournament on November 16 at the Portside Courts across Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

‘The event aims to provide a fun and engaging platform for participants to showcase their skills, build meaningful connections, encourage a healthy and active lifestyle, and strengthen relationships within the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) community through friendly competition,’ said Kayu chairman Harrison Go.

‘Ultimately, the tournament seeks to foster unity, collaboration, and a positive work-life balance while creating an enjoyable and memorable sporting experience for everyone involved,’ Go added.

The tournament will feature men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles categories.

Eight teams have so far confirmed their participation: Xignex Digital Solutions, JustPressOne International, ContactPoint360 Stallions, Stark BPO Services, Sentria, Evo Tech, Fusion CX, and Emata.

Players from four other companies have also expressed their intent to see action.

Go said they are targeting a total of 20 competing teams.

The deadline for registration is November 10. Those interested to join may contact tournament commissioner Jano Macahasa at 0998-2046014.

The champions in each category will receive P5,000, while the second and third placers will take home P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.

No matter how you fight it, you sometimes feel blue.

The whole month of August found the country, mostly the Western side, dripping wet and devastated from all the heavy rains and flooding brought about by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) reacting to weather disturbances like Low Pressure Areas (LPAs), Tropical Depressions (TDs), and Tropical Storms around the country. Now the weather system is shifting to Amihan, and this does not guarantee better days, because there is also the El Niño phenomenon to adjust to.

When your world is a little topsy-turvy and you’re feeling blue, it is always nice to turn to a good book, as words have a way of uplifting your spirit, making you feel less alone, offering hope, and feeding your soul with positivity and joy.

To help beat the blues, Fully Booked has come up with a list of eight Hopecore books to indulge in for when the world is a little harsh, a bit too tough and rough, and you need a certain kind of magic that only words can give to make you walk on sunshine once again.

1. ‘Devotions: Selected Poems’ by Mary Oliver

“Devotions” is a collection of poetry by the late Mary Oliver. It contains her works from her early years as a young poet to her reflections as a senior citizen, and culminates in her final collection published in 2015 before her passing.

From poems about the hatching of bird eggs to her love for her dog to her relationship with poetry, Oliver invites readers to look beyond everyday life. This is the kind of book that fills you with wonder about the world – no matter which page you open. Oliver, who writes poignant verses about nature and the full spectrum of human emotions, reminds readers to pause, pay attention, and not take anything for granted.

2. ‘We Burned So Bright’ by TJ Klune

“We Burned So Bright” follows husbands Don and Rodney on a cross-country road trip as the Earth is about to be annihilated by a black hole. With just three weeks left before the end of the world, they head for Washington to settle an unfinished business. Their journey brings them into the lives of a variety of strangers, each coping with the impending doom in a different way.

As the world around them slips away, they reflect on their lives and their love: Was it enough? Did they live fully? Would they choose differently if given another chance?

Heartbreaking yet tender, this book shows us that life is fragile and poses a haunting question: ‘Amidst the inevitable doom, is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?’

3. ‘I Eat the Stars’ by Sarah Wilson

It’s hard to ignore the feeling that something is deeply wrong with the world today. If you feel this way, award-winning journalist and author Sarah Wilson says you’re not alone. For years, Wilson herself grappled with disillusionment and hopelessness. In her search for answers, she wrote this book.

Drawing on years of research and conversations with philosophers, poets, energy futurists, climate scientists, leaders, and spiritualists, she takes readers on an intimate and enlightening journey.

This is far from an easy read, as Wilson confronts her readers with harsh truths, but she also offers a way to find light amid these dark and troubled times: ‘a way to live a meaningful, human life with agency amid what is going on. And one that can best carry us forward into our new era.”

4. ‘The Correspondent’ by Virginia Evans

Meet Sybil Van Antwerp. She’s a saucy septuagenarian, a retired lawyer, a mom, a sister. Living alone, she spends her time quietly, reading and writing letters to various people. She writes to her brother, sister-in-law, children, former workmates, famous people, and one person whom she writes to often yet never sends the letter.

Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has. But when a letter from the past resurfaces, she’s compelled to revisit one of the most painful periods of her life. Moving, funny, and uplifting, “The Correspondent” reminds us that it’s never too late to make peace with the past, embrace change, and discover that life can still hold unexpected surprises.

5. ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ by Cheryl Strayed

Prepare your highlighter and sticky notes because you will need them when you read this book, which is brimming with quotes that strike a deep chord.

“Tiny Beautiful Things” is a collection of The Rumpus’ Dear Sugar advice columns. Anonymous letters reveal the writers’ deepest pains, and Sugar (later revealed as Cheryl Strayed) offers raw, unfiltered advice.

But this isn’t your typical advice column. Strayed pours herself into each letter with fierce empathy, as though ‘pulling out her heart with her bare hands.’ She approaches each problem from every angle, pulling out truths from deep within her soul to offer wisdom that is at once devastating, moving, powerful, and brutally honest.

6. ‘The Secret Garden’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett

“The Secret Garden” is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers with its heartfelt story of transformation and renewal. It follows the life of Mary Lennox, a young orphan sent to live with her distant and reclusive uncle in a sprawling, gloomy manor. Spoiled, lonely, and ill-tempered, Mary has never truly known love – or how to give it.

Everything changes when she discovers a hidden garden that has been locked away for years. As she tends the neglected garden and watches it come back to life, something within her begins to blossom as well. Her newfound wonder and joy soon spread to those around her, proving that even the most wounded hearts can heal.

Filled with friendship, hope, and the restorative power of nature, “The Secret Garden” remains a beloved story for readers of all ages.

7. ‘A Walk in the Wood: Meditations on Mindfulness with a Bear Named Pooh’ by Joseph Parent

When life gets too noisy and overwhelming, pick up a book that serves as a peaceful retreat and invites you to stay present. This book allows you to take a walk in the woods with Winnie the Pooh, your gentle guide to the transformative practice of mindfulness.

Whether you’re seeking peace of mind, a way to manage stress, or simply a moment of calm on a busy day, Pooh offers a simple yet profound answer: ‘Just two things to do to truly be Pooh – just be present and be kind.’

Released just in time for the long-beloved bear’s 100th anniversary, this sweet and charming book encourages you to slow down, pay attention, and fully embrace the world around you, one step at a time.

8. ‘The Anthropocene Reviewed’ by John Green

‘To fall in love with the world is to look up at the night sky and feel your mind swim before the beauty and the distance of the stars.’

In “The Anthropocene Reviewed,” bestselling author John Green turns his attention to the strange, beautiful, and heartbreaking experiences of being human. Based on his popular podcast of the same name, this collection of essays examines different aspects of life in the Anthropocene – the current geological age defined by humanity’s impact on the planet – and rates them on a five-star scale.

From the wonder of sunsets and the joy of laughter to the complexities of the internet, human connection, and our relationship with the natural world, Green finds meaning in the everyday and the extraordinary.

These essays explore grief, hope, love, and the fragile beauty of existence. When the world feels dreary, this book might help you wade through the darkness and see it in a little brighter, a little more hopeful way.

Gunmen killed a barangay councilor and four others in separate attacks across the adjoining provinces of Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte, as well as the Bangsamoro region’s Special Geographic Area (SGA) within a span of just 36 hours.

Tricycle driver Hashim Buyogan Hadji Esmael, died instantly from gunshot wounds sustained in an attack on Monday morning, October 26, in Barangay Dicalungan, Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.

Officials of the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office separately told reporters that witnesses saw one of two men riding a motorcycle shoot Esmael in the head as they approached his tricycle before speeding away.

Two of the five fatalities in the separate attacks between Saturday and early Monday, Munsari Abpi and Usop Ugod, were riding together on a motorcycle when gunmen ambushed them on a highway in Barangay Iganagampong, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao del Sur, on Sunday night, October 25. Both died instantly.

Capt. Steffie Salanguit, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, separately told reporters on Monday that the assailants fled immediately after the attack, leaving Abpi and Ugod lifeless beside the concrete road.

Two armed men shot dead barangay councilor Saddam Barra on Saturday morning in front of his roadside store in Barangay Macabiso, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte.

The assailants of Bara, a member of the barangay council in Macabiso, escaped on a getaway motorcycle amid the commotion triggered by the gunshots that reverberated through the scene.

Gunmen aboard a minivan also shot dead motorcycle rider Alex Talungon with pistols on Saturday in Nabalawag, a town in the Bangsamoro SGA. Nabalawag is one of the eight towns in the Bangsamoro SGA, which was created just two years ago. All eight towns are under the autonomous regional government but are located within Cotabato province in Region 12.

Talungon was on his way to the town center of Nabalawag when he was attacked from behind by armed men aboard a minivan along a secluded stretch of highway in Barangay Nabalawag Nabalawag municipality. He died instantly from multiple gunshot wounds, according to local executives and officials of the Nabalawang Municipal Police Station.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being given a growing number of responsibilities in military affairs, and the role of human judgment in military operations is shrinking rapidly, the head of the United Nations’ independent disarmament research institute warned.

United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) Director Robin Geiss said on Tuesday that AI is being widely used on the battlefield and AI was increasingly ‘on track to crowding out human decision-making’ in the sector.

‘Crucially, this comes at the expense of human judgement, including in the nuclear domain,’ Geiss said.

Many of these evolving AI systems are opaque, and the UNIDIR chief warned they are increasing the risk of error, miscalculation and therefore of unintended escalation.

Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. is targeting the Visayas and Mindanao as new markets for its natural gas business.

Through subsidiary Prime Midstream, Prime Infra is exploring opportunities to extend its reach beyond Luzon and help ensure a reliable power supply amid continued market volatility.

‘We envision this as a supplier and distributor for all types of industries – be it for power generation or industrial uses and the like,’ Prime Midstream president and CEO Donnabel Kuizon Cruz said.

Prime Midstream operates a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Batangas, which complements indigenous gas from the Malampaya field to supply major power plants in the province.

The company took control of the terminal after acquiring a 60-percent stake from Lopez-led First Gen Corp., which retained a 20-percent interest, matching that of Japan’s Tokyo Gas.

Cruz stressed that both indigenous gas and imported LNG play a vital role in ensuring energy security and managing exposure to fuel price volatility spurred by escalating geopolitical tensions abroad.

‘In terms of the volatility of the market, indigenous gas price is usually historically lower than LNG prices, be it spot or term LNG. So it helps to cushion the market price spikes that LNG experiences,’ said Cruz, also president of Prime Energy.

Prime Energy operates the Malampaya deep-water gas-to-power project, the country’s first and only indigenous gas resource that supplies about 13 percent of Luzon’s electricity needs.

With the onset of a Super El Niño, Cruz said gas-fired power plants would help keep the lights on, particularly in the evening when solar generation declines.

‘We see ourselves being asked to deliver more than our capacity now, which means that very reliable and affordable power sources are still much needed,’ she added. ‘Gas-fired power plants must continue to operate in this manner.’

Green, as they say, is the color of money and nature.

That is why for SM Investments Corp., the parent company of the SM Group, going green makes business sense.

SM Investments believes that the most meaningful sustainability investments are those that make a company stronger. It is simply part of how the group, led by the Sy family, runs its businesses, which span retail, banking, property and other high-growth sectors.

SM Investments is a perfect example of what happens when a company treats sustainability spending as an investment rather than an expense. It proves that going green is about more than meeting environmental goals; it is about making business stronger and more resilient.

So, where does sustainability actually improve the business?

In SM’s case, the benefits are felt across the board – from reducing costs and enhancing reliability to improving operational efficiency. Through investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable financing, the company is demonstrating how sustainability can be integrated into business operations and investment decisions.

‘We see sustainability as part of good governance, guiding our decisions, strengthening accountability and supporting our long-term growth while creating value for our stakeholders,’ Frederic DyBuncio, SM Investments president and CEO said.

Built on years of investment in efficiency and renewable energy across the group, SM Investments is targeting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2040, and is on track to do so.

In 2025, the group raised its renewable energy sourcing to 31 percent of total electricity consumption from 27 percent in the previous year, with the expansion of cleaner energy use pursued across its businesses.

As part of its broader energy efficiency initiatives, the group has installed more than 200,000 solar panels across its properties, helping generate electricity and reduce dependence on grid power.

SM Supermalls, which operates the largest network of shopping centers in the Philippines, has been ramping up its sustainability initiatives with rooftop solar photovoltaic systems and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations being installed in more malls nationwide. A total of 76 out of SM’s 90 malls across the country have been equipped with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Alfamart likewise recently installed solar panels at its Saraiya Distribution Center in Quezon Province with a solar peak capacity of 120.28 kilowatt-peak, helping improve operational efficiency within its supply chain network.

SM Investments has also expanded its renewable energy investments through wholly owned subsidiary Philippine Geothermal Production Co. (PGPC), which operates the Mak-Ban and Tiwi steam fields in the Provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Albay. PGPC supplies geothermal steam that can generate up to 400 megawatts of clean renewable energy to power households, offices and industrial facilities around the clock. The Mak-Ban and Tiwi steam fields in Laguna and Albay alone can generate enough geothermal steam to power up to hundreds of thousands of households annually.

New geothermal steam fields in five areas in Luzon have the potential to provide up to 400 additional megawatts of clean, renewable geothermal power for the country are also currently being developed by PGPC.

Beyond its own operations, the group is helping support the country’s energy transition through BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest bank. BDO has deployed around P1.2 trillion in sustainable financing, including support for 71 renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of 6,165 MW. China Banking Corp., for its part, provided P72 billion in financing for energy access, renewables and energy efficiency projects in 2025.

The group, from its retail business to banks and logistics companies, has likewise been reducing its plastic footprints in its packaging and influencing consumer behavior to use less plastic. Integrated property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc., for its part, has teamed up with Japanese waste processing firm GUUN CO., LTD to convert waste back into new materials at their first waste processing factory in Consolacion, Cebu. SM has likewise installed RDC-labeled (recyclable, disposable, compostable) bins across various properties nationwide to further enhance the development of waste conversion.

SM Markets, the group’s umbrella brand for SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket and Savemore, has ushered in greener retail practices in encouraging the use of eco-bags over single-use plastics since 2007.

With the SM Group continuing to thrive amid evolving market conditions and economic cycles, its decision to treat sustainability spending as an investment rather than an expense demonstrates that going green, indeed, makes business sense.