Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Passengers escaped unhurt after a truck carrying commuters and cargo was swept by a flash flood and overturned while attempting to cross a river in Sergio Osmeña town, Zamboanga del Norte on Friday, Oct. 2.

Initial reports gathered on Saturday showed that the vehicle was traversing the Yabo River in Barangay San Isidro when it was caught by raging waters.

Eyewitnesses said the truck was midway through the crossing when the water level rapidly swelled. The driver tried to maneuver through the surge, but the engine stalled, leaving the vehicle stranded in the middle of the river.

Moments later, the strong current tipped the heavy vehicle onto its side.

Members of the Barangay Marapong quick response team immediately conducted search and rescue operations, safely extracting all commuters and crew from the vehicle.

Local authorities reported no serious injuries among the passengers.

However, several pieces of personal belongings and cargo were swept downstream by the torrent.

Authorities noted that most of the passengers aboard the truck were residents heading to western villages of the municipality, including Barangays Nebo, Marapong and Nazareth.

Local disaster response agencies have reiterated warnings to commuters and drivers against attempting to cross riverways during heavy rainfall or sudden surges in water level, particularly in inland and mountainous barangays.

Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape, taekwondo gold medalist, will bear the flag for a proud Team Philippines during the parade of athletes in Sunday’s closing ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.

‘He’s deserving [of] that honor,’ said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino on the eve of the closing ceremony set for 5 p.m. (Manila time) also at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium, where the hosts opened the games two weeks ago.

‘It will be a recognition not only for Jeus but also for taekwondo, which finally won its first Asian Games gold medal since 1994, when the sport became a medal event in the games,’ Tolentino added.

Yape topped the mixed virtual taekwondo-an open-gender event that combines the combat sport with virtual reality and motion-tracking technology-last Friday to highlight a best-ever 1-3-1 gold-silver-bronze haul by the Filipino jins.

He also clinched bronze in men’s individual poomsae.

Also joining the closing ceremony are silver medalist Juliana Mykhail Candelaria, ?Tachiana Keizha Mangin and Kurt Barbosa of taekwondo and ?Carlo Paalam of boxing.

Paris Olympics boxing bronze medalist Aira Villegas and weightlifting world junior champion Albert Ian de los Santos carried the country’s flag during the opening ceremony on Sept. 19.

The city government of Laoag in Ilocos Norte has designated Fridays as an exclusive slaughter day for hogs raised by local farmers, giving them priority at the Laoag City Slaughterhouse.

Mayor James Bryan Alcid issued Executive Order No. 017, series of 2026, limiting Friday slaughter operations to locally raised hogs, the city’s Information, Communications and Media Office said Friday.

Hogs from other municipalities will not be accepted on Fridays unless the supply from local raisers is insufficient.

The Office of the City Veterinarian, in coordination with barangay officials and the city slaughterhouse, will verify the origin of hogs and enforce sanitation and meat inspection requirements.

The order also sets recommended price guidelines for hogs and pork. The suggested liveweight price ranges from P165 to P180 per kilogram, depending on the hog’s weight, while the recommended retail price for pork is P310 per kilogram, down from P330.

The city government said the measures aim to support local hog raisers, strengthen local production and keep pork prices reasonable. /jaccording to the city government, it also recommended a retail price of P310 per kilogram for pork, down from the current P330 per kilogram.

The city government said the measures are intended to strengthen local hog production, protect the livelihood of local hog raisers and help maintain safe and reasonably priced pork in the market.

World No.1 Elena Rybakina could not regroup and fell to 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva in the second round of the China Open on Saturday in Beijing.

The 27-year-old from Kazakhstan was playing her first match since seizing the top ranking on her US Open win in New York, but Armenia’s Charaeva triumphed 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a clinical comeback.

‘I don’t have words,’ said Charaeva, who is making her Beijing debut.

‘This is incredible,’ the 24-year-old said.

‘She’s (an) amazing player, and for me it’s kind of just dream come true,’ she said of Rybakina.

‘I will be really happy to stay some more days in Beijing,’ she added. ‘Never stop believing, I guess.’

Rybakina got off to a solid start, but seven double-faults ushered the momentum into the hands of her opponent.

Wind rattled the closed-roof stadium, with both players serving as thunderous claps echoed over the court.

A supportive crowd tried to rally Rybakina back into contention, but Charaeva held serve to win the match in two hours and 11 minutes.

Charaeva faces Briton Sonay Kartal in the third round.

It was 8 p.m. on a Monday after class. I was in a jeepney heading home from the job I had applied for when the song playing in the background got my attention.

‘Mahal na ang bigas, pati lata ng sardinas; ngunit kung mamahalin kita ngayon, sabay tayong magugutom.’

For others, these words may simply be about love. But for me, they carry a deeper meaning.

Reaching the dream of graduating from college is already difficult, but fighting for it becomes even harder when every step comes with a cost. It is not only the lessons that I have to think about, but also my boarding house rent, transportation, food, and other daily necessities. I have slowly realized that in this world, hard work alone is sometimes not enough, and when life becomes difficult, every dream comes with sacrifices.

I never experienced studying inside an expensive coffee shop as some students do. Not because I did not want to, but because I knew I could not afford it. Aside from the high prices of coffee, I also did not want to compare myself with other students who had more opportunities than I did.

My friends once invited me to do research in a coffee shop. That was when I truly felt the difference between our situations. I was surrounded by students using expensive laptops and tablets for studying and reviewing. The coffee they were drinking was almost equivalent to the amount I needed for food for three days. I was not jealous of what they had; instead, I was hurt by the reality that some things I needed to work extremely hard for were ordinary things for others.

That moment taught me that poverty is not only measured by the amount of money in your pocket. Sometimes, the hardest part is realizing that you have to work twice as hard just to reach a place that others can easily access.

I still cannot believe how I managed to finish two years of college without owning a laptop. There were moments when I wondered how I survived all the requirements that needed technology I did not have. While others had their own devices for projects and reviews, I relied on an old cellphone given to me by my parents.

That simple cellphone became my companion during countless nights when I needed to search for information, read lessons, and prepare for classes. Through its small screen, I tried to reach dreams that sometimes felt too far away. It may not have been as fast or convenient as the devices others used, but it reminded me that a lack of resources should never become a reason to stop pursuing my goals.

I realized that sometimes you do not notice how heavy your burdens are because your desire to survive becomes stronger than your exhaustion. When you focus on your dream, you learn to endure tiredness, hunger, and uncertainty. Some battles are not fought because they are easy, but because they are worth fighting for.

I have applied for almost every possible job I could find just to have extra money for expenses. It was never easy to balance studying and searching for work, but I continued because I knew my dream depended on my willingness to sacrifice.

I will never forget that time when I chose to walk home instead of riding a jeepney. I only had P15 left and decided to save it for a job opportunity I was hoping to get. Unfortunately, I was not accepted for that job.

It was painful to realize that even after giving everything you could, there are still times when it is not enough to achieve what you hoped for. It is difficult to fight for your dreams when your opponent is not only exhaustion and fear, but also the lack of financial support. There are days when you no longer ask yourself if you still want to dream; you only ask how you will survive that day.

It feels good to dream, but fulfilling a dream is never easy. It is easy to tell someone to dream big, but it becomes difficult when not everyone starts from the same place. Some people are given more resources, support, and opportunities, while others have to build their own path just to reach the same destination.

Education is indeed a privilege. It is an opportunity that not everyone receives. That is why even during the moments when I want to let go, I choose to hold on. Because no matter how expensive rice and other necessities become, my dream is still worth more.

I am one of the students who has seen the realities of the world. I learned that it is not enough to love the dream itself; you must also learn to love the process of reaching it.

Even though education has become expensive, it still cannot overcome my love for my dream. If I was able to survive two years of college without a laptop and with limited financial support, then I know I can continue this fight.

Because the darkness of the challenges I face today will never be stronger than the light of the dream I continue to pursue. Someday, I will look back on the nights I walked home, the moments I endured, and the times I almost gave up. And I will tell myself:

Falsifying an affidavit of cohabitation may render a marriage without a license void from the beginning, the Supreme Court said.

In a ruling dated Feb. 24 and made public Friday, the high court said the marriage was invalid because the couple falsely claimed in their affidavit that they had lived together for at least five years, a requirement for contracting a marriage without a license.

The decision upheld rulings by the Court of Appeals in 2021 and 2022 and the Regional Trial Court in San Jose, Antique, in 2016.

The case stemmed from a petition for declaration of nullity filed by the husband in 2013. He argued that the affidavit of cohabitation he had signed with the woman was false because he had worked overseas for three of the six years they claimed to have lived together.

The couple had attempted to marry without a license in May 2009, claiming they had been living together since 2003.

Under the law, a couple who have lived together as husband and wife for at least five years and meet other requirements may marry without securing a marriage license.

The 14-year-old student killed in the Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School was laid to rest Saturday as family, classmates, teachers, friends and church members gathered to bid her farewell and call for justice.

‘Dianne,’ not her real name, was buried at Banga Holy Trinity Memorial Park more than two weeks after the shooting that left three students dead, including the alleged 16-year-old gunman, and six others wounded.

During a necrological service on Friday, Dianne’s family and members of the Youth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, where she was an active member, called on authorities to uncover the truth, hold those responsible accountable and deliver justice for the victims.

The family also thanked those who had offered support and sympathy as they mourned her death, saying they hoped to eventually get answers about what happened to her.

Dianne’s remains were brought from the family home to the IFI church around 6 a.m. Saturday for the funeral service.

Among those who came to say goodbye was ‘Roy,’ 14, Dianne’s classmate and best friend who survived the shooting and was later recognized for helping classmates escape during the attack.

Roy said Dianne was kind and thoughtful and that their memories together would stay with him.

‘She was very kind and friendly. I’m really glad that I got to know her because some of my best memories with her were when we helped each other with our projects, spent time together and laughed in our classroom,’ he said.

‘I’m really thankful that I got to know her because she was one of my best friends,’ he added.

Before Dianne was laid to rest, Roy thanked her for the memories and kindness she shared with their classmates, friends and churchmates.

‘Wherever you are now, Dianne, fly high. Thank you for all the memories, thank you for being in my heart, and thank you for being my best friend,’ he said.

Survivors home

All six students hospitalized after the shooting, including Roy, have been discharged and are now home.

The last to leave the hospital was a Grade 9 student who suffered a head injury and underwent surgery at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City.

South Cotabato Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Rolly Doane C. Aquino said the student was already home, although her vision remained unclear during his latest visit.

Kieffer Alas’ confidence stood out in Ateneo’s 87-76 win over National University in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament at Philsports Arena on Saturday.

Despite struggling early, Alas took the big shots down the stretch to help the Blue Eagles rally from 17 points down and beat the Bulldogs.

The highly touted rookie knew he was cold from the field heading into the fourth quarter.

But, as his dad and coach Louie Alas would say, when you have the clutch genes, you just have it.

‘Like what my dad-slash-coach said, it’s just in you,’ Alas said, after dropping 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. ‘Confidence is very important because that’s how big time plays are made.’

ACE.

‘There’re so many good players in the world but you can see who’s above the rest when they keep on going. The results just showed in the fourth quarter.’

Before the payoff period, Alas only had 10 points for the Blue Eagles.

But when it mattered most, the former La Salle-Zobel exploded and scored 10 points just in the fourth quarter.

Alas also scored seven in the Blue Eagles’ 12-4 game-deciding run down the stretch that gave Ateneo an 82-74 lead with 1:07 left.

He looks to keep up his hot streak when Ateneo takes on La Salle in the first rivalry game of the season at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.

Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio on Saturday called for the full disclosure of government programs that received amendments during House deliberations on the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027.

The House Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) began reviewing the amendments on Thursday.

Tinio said P77.86 billion, or 67 percent of the P116.32 billion in approved amendments, went to seven programs vulnerable to legislative or executive discretion.

These included Department of Public Works and Highways capital outlays, the Local Government Support Fund, farm-to-market roads, the Health Facilities Enhancement Program, Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations.

‘These amendments show that pork has not disappeared from the national budget. It has merely been repackaged under institutional amendments, local government support, infrastructure lump sums, and cash assistance programs,’ Tinio said.

He said the seven programs had a combined budget of P841.71 billion, nearly half of the government’s projected 2027 deficit.

Their combined allocation increased 12.5% in the proposed 2027 budget, compared with a 2.1% increase in the 2026 enacted budget, Tinio said.

‘Dapat maging bukas sa publiko ang buong budget trail-mula sa nagmungkahi, patungo sa pinondohan, hanggang sa aktuwal na gumastos. Kung walang transparency sa pinagmumulan at paggamit ng pondo, mananatili itong pork barrel kahit palitan ang pangalan,’ he said.

(‘The entire budget trail must be open to the public-from the proponent and the funded project to the entity that actually spent the money. Without transparency regarding the source and utilization of funds, it will remain ‘pork barrel’ regardless of any name change.’)

The BARSc approved an additional P4.091 billion for the LGSF, which had a proposed allocation of about P58.53 billion under the 2027 National Expenditure Program.

Tinio also cited P11.49 billion in approved amendments for the DPWH and P4.96 billion for farm-to-market roads.

He said none of the approved amendments had been itemized.

‘Dapat malaman kung alin ang binawasan para madagdagan ang mga nasa proposal. Para sa mga infrastructure projects, dapat malinaw din kung sino ang proponents, district representative man o party-list, para may accountability,’ he said.

(‘It is necessary to identify which items were reduced to fund the additions in the proposal. For infrastructure projects, the proponents-whether a district representative or a party-list representative-must also be clearly identified to ensure accountability.’)

Tinio also questioned special provisions allowing agencies to modify the programs, saying these suggest that some projects included in the amendments may not be implementable as proposed.

He also called for a higher Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) for government workers, saying no additional funds were provided despite calls to raise the proposed P500 monthly increase.

A 100-kilo tiger shark accidentally hooked during a traditional jigging competition in Caluya, Antique, was released alive back into the sea on Saturday, Oct. 3, in another remarkable encounter with the rich marine life surrounding the island municipality.

The shark, locally called ‘bagis,’ was caught at around 10:30 a.m. by Barangay Alegria Kagawad Lanie Mesullo while participating in the Oktoberfest 2026 Traditional Jigging Competition, according to licensed fisheries technologist and biodiversity researcher Flord Nicson Calawag.

Calawag identified the animal as a tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), one of the largest predatory shark species in the world.

Instead of bringing the shark ashore, Mesullo removed the hook and released the animal back into the waters of Caluya.

The unusual catch did not qualify for the competition, but its safe release highlighted the importance of returning non-target marine species to their natural habitat.

Mesullo is no stranger to exceptionally large catches. On Aug. 18, 2025, he also caught a giant grouper weighing about 150 kilos in Caluya waters, according to information provided by Calawag.

Tiger sharks are large, wide-ranging predators found in tropical and warm-temperate seas. The species is classified as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

The latest encounter also recalls a rare tiger shark stranding in Antique a decade ago.

On March 1, 2016, a pregnant tiger shark washed ashore in Barangay Ipil in Barbaza town and later died. Residents recovered 30 live pups from the mother and released them into the Cuyo East Passage, the body of water between Antique and Palawan. Calawag was among those who helped identify the shark at the time.

The Caluya catch also comes less than a month after other unusual marine wildlife encounters were documented in Antique. In September, a juvenile dugong was rescued in Caluya while an adult dugong was found dead in neighboring Sebaste, underscoring the diversity of marine species occurring in the province’s coastal waters.