Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

P-Pop girl group XONARA showcased what authentic, flavorful vibes taste like at their first-ever Bonchon Fanverse in SM Fairview, following the successful launch of their brand ambassadorship for the Eat 7 campaign.

As the new faces of the original Korean chicken favorite of Filipinos, XONARA brings to life the seven classic Korean ‘chikin’ flavors of Bonchon-each matching the members’ distinct vibes and personalities. Lucky fans got to indulge in the ultimate fan meet experience, enjoying up-close interactions and memorable moments with XONARA.

Every XONARA member brings one Bonchon flavor to life with an undeniable vibe: Eurekah’s bold and creative spirit shines through ‘Soy Garlic,’ while Dominique’s fearless edge finds its perfect match in ‘Honey Citrus.’ Lei embodies the fiery, confident character of ‘Spicy,’ Namie brings her signature bubbly energy to ‘Crunchy Garlic,’ and Tin’s ambitious, passionate drive naturally pairs with ‘BYN Bonchon Yangnyeom.’ Ella’s effortless grace captures the elegance of ‘Snow Cheese,’ and Megumi delivers a punch of sassiness with ‘Golden Crunch.’

The ‘EAT 7′ campaign highlights Bonchon’s seven crave-worthy flavors crafted to suit every mood and taste, showcasing Bonchon’s signature Korean chicken expertise through OG flavors that continue to champion Filipinos’ love for variety, self-expression, and unique experiences.

‘We believe that everyone has their own unique vibe, and that’s what makes each of us special. Through Bonchon’s EAT 7 campaign, we get to celebrate our different personalities and express ourselves in our own flavorful ways. We hope our fans are inspired to embrace who they are, find the flavors that match their vibe, and always remember that being yourself makes you shine,’ said Eurekah, the girl group’s leader and main rapper.

From fun surprises to an intimate QandA session, XONARA brought the hype and served up unforgettable moments with lucky fans who won Bonchon’s Fanverse raffle. The event brought together Bonchon’s signature Korean-inspired taste and XONARA’s fresh P-pop energy, giving the fans a unique experience like no other.

XONARA then upped the ante with a surprise drop of Bonchon’s new ‘Blind Box’ where fans can get a free XONARA Exclusive Premium Item when they order any of the featured meals from participating Bonchon stores: 2pc Chicken + Café Koreano (or any drink), Dosirak Meal + Café Koreano (or any drink), or the Bonchon Fanverse Meal featuring Chicken Rack with Cheese Balls and Tteokbokki. The excitement doesn’t stop here! Fans can also take their Fanverse experience to the next level by signing up and posting a TikTok video for a chance to meet and greet XONARA this November 2026.

The undisputed highlight of the day was a chaotic and hilarious game of ‘Who’s Most Likely To.’ The XONARA members let their guard down, teasing each other and showing off the genuine, endearing group dynamics that have quickly earned them a dedicated fanbase.

To close out the successful launch, fans were treated to a Meet and Greet and Photo Op, securing photocard-worthy moments with the new ambassadors.

‘Welcoming XONARA to the Bonchon family was an incredible experience. Seeing the energy, passion, and excitement of the fans firsthand showed us just how powerful this connection is. Bonchon has always been about bringing people together over great food, and we’re thrilled to give fans a memorable way to celebrate their vibes with their favorite idols,’ said Scott Tan, Managing Director of Bonchon Philippines.

You can still catch XONARA’s latest EAT 7 video ad here and discover which of the seven flavors fit your vibe.

The Cebu Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 20 has denied, for lack of merit, a petition to stop the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) from allowing cargo vessels to use the facilities of Cebu South Harbor and Container Terminal Corp. (CSHCTC).

In an eight-page order dated Sept. 25 rejecting the bid for a restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction, the court said the petition failed to establish a clear legal right to justify injunctive relief.

Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp. (OPASCOR) has asked for a restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction against CPA General Manager Francisco Comendador III and CSHCTC.

It said, allowing vessels to dock and berth at CSHCTC’s private port violated the government’s existing regulations and the terminal’s permit.

The court, however, said the petition failed to establish that it had a clear and unmistakable right that was entitled to protection from possible violation, the most important requirement for the issuance of an injunctive order.

It noted that before such a right could be recognized, the court would first have to determine whether the CPA violated Administrative Order No. 02-2010 and its board resolutions and whether CSHCTC was operating beyond the terms of its permit, issues that remained contested and were also under review by the Department of Transportation.

‘Thus, OPASCOR has failed to establish the first requisite for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction,’ the court said.

The court added that it could not find any urgency to issue a writ of preliminary injunction.

It noted that the petitioner acknowledged that a cargo operator transfered its operations to CSHCTC in 2024, but the petitioner did not seek injunctive relief until more than two years later.

Such act, the court said ‘belies its claim of urgency.’

‘OPASCOR likewise failed to establish irreparable damage,’ the court said.

‘Damages are irreparable within the meaning of the rule relative to the issuance of injunction where there is no standard by which their amount can be measured with reasonable accuracy.’

The court further noted that issuing a TRO could effectively resolve the legal dispute before a full trial on the merits of the complaint.

Local stocks edged lower on Friday, extending their losing streak to five sessions as high oil prices, elevated Treasury yields, and a weak peso weighed on investor sentiment.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) slipped 0.01 percent, or 0.44 point, to close at 5,629.03.

Philstocks Financial Inc. said the contraction in the country’s manufacturing sector, reflected in the SandP Global Philippines Manufacturing PMI for September, added to market pessimism.

Investors also remained cautious ahead of next week’s inflation data release, the brokerage said.

Luis Limlingan, head of sales at Regina Capital Development Corp., said the local index ended lower as selling pressure persisted, despite some bargain hunting toward the close that was not enough to lift the index.

‘Intraday, the market breached the 5,500 level as investors remained cautious amid the continuing conflict in Iran,’ Limlingan said.

‘Market sentiment was further weighed by a DBS Bank report projecting the peso could breach P64 to the US dollar in the fourth quarter of 2027,’ he added.

Trading remained subdued, with net value turnover reaching P5.56 billion. Foreign investors ended the session as net sellers, recording net outflows of P1.25 billion.

Property stocks posted the strongest sectoral performance, rising 0.44 percent. Services posted the steepest decline, down 0.47 percent.

DigiPlus Interactive Corp. led index gainers, climbing 5.96 percent to P8 per share. Semirara Mining and Power Corp. was the biggest index decliner, shedding 4.96 percent to P13.40 per share.

The trough of Severe Tropical Storm Choi-Wan, which remains outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), is expected to bring rain showers over parts of the Visayas and Mindanao on Friday, according to the state weather bureau.

In its morning weather forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms are expected over Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, Central Visayas and Mindanao due to the cyclone’s trough.

The rest of the Visayas will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, Pagasa said.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will generally have fair weather, although isolated rain showers or thunderstorms may occur due to localized thunderstorms.

Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina said Choi-Wan has a low chance of entering the PAR.

As of the latest advisory, the severe tropical storm was located 2,495 kilometers east of Northern Luzon.

‘Hanggang this weekend, magpapatuloy po ‘yung pagkilos ng Bagyong Choi-Wan pa hilaga, patungo sa may bahagi nga ng Japan,’ Badrina said.

(Until this weekend, Choi-Wan will continue moving north toward parts of Japan.)

Choi-Wan was packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 115 kph. It was moving west-northwestward at 10 kph.

Badrina said Choi-Wan is expected to continue intensifying and could reach typhoon strength.

Alas Pilipinas’ Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara completed a historic bronze medal run in the Asian Games 2026 women’s beach volleyball event.

A day after their semifinal heartbreak, Progella and Pagara eked out a come-from-behind 13-21, 23-21, 15-13 win over China’s Cao Shuting and Dong Jie to secure the podium finish on Thursday at Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court.

The young duo never wavered despite getting dominated in the opening set and the Chinese taking the match point, 20-19, in the second, digging deep to force a decider.

Tied at 10 in the third, Progella and Pagara pulled away, 14-12, before Dong’s overpass handed the Filipinos the bronze.

The University of Santo Tomas stars celebrated with Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons and the rest of the Alas delegation after securing the Philippines’ best Asian Games beach volleyball finish since the sport was introduced at the 1994 Hiroshima Games.

Progella and Pagara had kissed their gold medal hopes goodbye after absorbing a heartbreaking 21-23, 18-21 loss to Thailand’s Taravadee Naraphonapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawade on Thursday.

Progella and Pagara lost only one game during their run, winning five straight after a 3-0 pool campaign, then beating the quarterfinals and upsetting top seed Japan in the semifinals.

Born raised, and educated in the last century, I am envious of young students and budding historians because they literally have primary sources at their fingertips-or should I say, at the flick of a mouse. These were not readily available when I first visited the National Library and the National Archives 40 years ago. Frankly, I would sell my soul to be young again, but only with my mature, data-filled mind. Oscar Wilde was correct to lament that ‘youth is wasted on the young.’

Every week, I patiently reply to student requests for help with assignments for the basic undergraduate course ‘Readings in Philippine History.’ From these messages, it is clear that the course required by the Commission on Higher Education kills enthusiasm for historical research and learning. Its acronym is quite apt: ‘RIP-H’ (Rest In Peace, History).

The assignments come in two forms. The first is the classroom debate, where students are divided into two opposing groups to argue controversial issues in Philippine history: the authenticity of Rizal’s handwritten Retraction from Masonry, the site of the first mass (Limasawa or Masao), or whether Balintawak or Pugad Lawin is the true site of the ‘First Cry’ of the Philippine Revolution in August 1896. While the issues are indeed debatable, I believe teachers should provide instruction in basic research and analysis.

During debates, students must argue from fact rather than opinion or conjecture. Finally, the debate should end with some form of resolution.

The second form of assignment is the submission of a recorded interview with a historian presented in a short video. The questions asked often spoon-feed the answers and analysis that students should accomplish on their own. When I ask what background research they did before the interview, students admit they did no library or online research because they did not know where or how to look for primary and secondary sources. The end product is just a video. I always require a written component to an oral or video report, complete with citations and footnotes-the hard evidence of actual research and analysis.

Navigating a library or archive trains the mind to think and plan how to locate physical books. I do not harbor nostalgia for the card catalog in the age of the Online Public Access Catalog (Opac), which allows a researcher to locate a book before even stepping into a library or archive. While Opac gives you the location and data for a book, the card catalog is a lesson in patience. You have to physically sift through cards by author, title, or subject. It takes going through many other cards before finding what you are looking for, but in the process, you get a lay of the land and sometimes find relevant materials you did not know existed.

Over the years, I have also come to realize that research is an exercise in hope. When you are handed a bundle or box of documents, you do not always find what you are looking for. You spend days with nothing to show, but then there are days when you have a eureka moment with the very first folder. On the days I go home empty-handed, I am not discouraged; I return another day in the hope that what I seek, I will find-eventually.

I recently saw a copy of the prewar Graphic in a pile of books meant for shelving at a university library. I brought it to a librarian and asked who had borrowed it-that’s the ‘maritess’ in me. I asked where it came from because I had never seen it on the shelves before. When the librarian checked her computer, the bound prewar Graphic did not appear on Opac. She dug deeper and found a list of prewar Philippine periodicals not accessible to researchers unless requested. I was looking for a specific issue from December 1936. It was on the list but could not be immediately located. I declined a microfilm copy because it was in grayscale and I needed to take a photo from the actual physical magazine. At the photoduplication department, I chatted with staff and praised their work preserving brittle materials. The ‘missing’ Graphic magazine was eventually found in another part of the library.

Teaching at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman long before proper salary adjustments were made was not lucrative, but I stayed on because of two things: the students who challenged me to be better at my craft, and access to the UP Main Library. Faculty members were allowed into the stacks of the Filipiniana section. While mere mortals had to request books, I was able to browse shelf by shelf, book by book, stumbling upon many things that ended up in my columns and lectures. I have been granted this same privilege in many other libraries since. Going shelf by shelf gave me an education in the physical state of books and their various editions-firsthand knowledge that guided the collection of materials that now form my personal reference library. This firsthand experience comes in handy when I discuss rare Filipiniana with librarians in the libraries abroad where my work has taken me.

I sound like an old man these days, but sharing my experience may help the next historians who will eventually replace me.

Alex Eala exited the 20th Asian Games without the finish she wanted, and a missed opportunity left the Philippines without one of its bright gold medal hopes.

But settling for a bronze did not diminish Eala’s faith in her improving game, nor did it dent the optimism of Team Philippines’ gold chase.

Eala bowed out in the women’s singles semifinals after a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss to China’s Wang Xiyu at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.

‘I feel like I have no regrets. I think physically I’m better, more mature, more experienced,’ Eala said. ‘I think everything all around has improved.’

The bronze added to Eala’s Asian Games medal collection while contributing to a Philippine campaign that had produced 22 medals as of Thursday evening.

Team Philippines stood at three golds, five silvers and 14 bronzes, with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino still hopeful of a late push before the Games close Sunday.

‘We still have three chances to pray in church before Sunday,’ Tolentino said. ‘Last three days, still hoping for more golds.’

The POC chief pointed to several remaining events as possible medal sources, including boxing, judo, jiu-jitsu, golf, padel and team sports.

‘That’s how it is. Some fall, others step up,’ Tolentino said. ‘God willing, we still have other sources.’

‘We should be able to surpass four,’ he added, referring to the four golds that the country won in Hangzhou three years ago.

But the one gold the Philippines would have celebrated wildly disappeared during a semifinal that swung dramatically after Eala claimed the opening set.

‘I had a couple of ups and downs during the match,’ Eala said. ‘That’s something I have to talk about with my team and process.’

The 21-year-old Filipino had opportunities to reach the final but could not hold off Wang after the Chinese player recovered from losing the first set.

Eala nevertheless saw her latest Asian Games appearance as another measure of the progress she has made since her previous campaign.

One of the highlights of her stay in Nagoya came when she learned that tennis great Rafael Nadal, her longtime mentor and inspiration, had written about her after she was named to TIME’s TIME100 Next 2026 list, which recognizes emerging figures in various fields.

‘I’m so incredibly honored, and even more so that Rafa himself wrote a piece, so I’m thankful,’ Eala said. ‘It’s a humbling experience to be among the list of people who are super inspiring, so I’m very grateful.’

The country’s national carbon intensity continues to rise despite growing private-sector efforts to cut emissions, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) said.

At the recent Philippine Net Zero Conference 2026, CCC Secretary Robert E.A. Borje said the local market’s fossil carbon dioxide emissions have jumped by 25 percent since 2021.

‘At the national level, the absolute emissions trajectory still moves, however, in the opposite direction,’ Borje said.

The Philippines, along with 174 countries, signed the Paris Agreement-an international treaty on climate change that aims to keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C.

The Philippine government has committed to cut emissions by 75 percent by 2030. It hopes to achieve this by pursuing support from public-private partnerships and additional financing from foreign groups.

Borje stressed the private sector’s crucial role in meeting the target.

However, big corporations need to focus more on their respective efforts. He noted that out of the 137 listed Philippine firms, only 20 companies have clear, year-to-year carbon information.

Without disclosing the entity, he said one major firm logged 230 tons of emissions in just four minutes of operations.

‘That scale tells us where the greatest leverage lies. Individual choices matter, but bending the national curve will require decisions about assets, contracts, technologies, and capital,’ he said. The Net Zero Carbon Alliance (NZCA) earlier urged the government to provide stronger support to achieve the goal. The Philippines remains the only country in Southeast Asia with no net zero target.

Allan Barcena, executive director of the NZCA, said the government must still ‘set the direction and the tone,’ as its participation is crucial to accelerating private-sector efforts.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday urged parents to watch for behavioral changes among their children as he called for greater vigilance to prevent school violence following a series of incidents involving students.

The call came after school shooting incidents in Tacloban City, Zamboanga City, and South Cotabato that resulted in several deaths and injuries.

‘Bantayan po natin nang mabuti ang ating mga bata, ang ating mga anak. Bantayan po natin na hindi sila nasasama sa mga ganyang klaseng kagagawan. At ito po ay hindi madaling gawin, kailangan po nakabantay tayong lahat at sabay-sabay tayong lahat,’ Marcos said in his remarks after visiting Patul Elementary School in Santiago City, Isabela.

(We must closely watch over our children, our young people. We must make sure that they do not get involved in these kinds of acts. This is not easy to do-we all need to be vigilant and work together.)

‘Sabay-sabay, kasama ang mga magulang – siyempre kayo ang una na kailangan tingnan ninyo ‘yung mga kabataan kung nagbabago, magiging masyadong malungkot o masyadong galit o lahat na, basta kailangan bantayan,’ he continued.

(We must do this together, including the parents. Of course, you are the first ones who need to watch your children for changes in their behavior-if they become unusually sad, angry, or anything else. We simply need to keep a close eye on them.)

Marcos stressed that protecting young people is a shared responsibility among parents, teachers, and the government.

‘Pareho ‘yung national government pati local government, kailangan po tayong lahat ay magkaisa at tulungan natin at bantayan natin na tiyakin na ang mga bata, ang mga anak natin ay makapag-aral nang mabuti at sila ay ligtas at walang masamang pangyayari ang ating makikita muli,’ Marcos said.

(We need everyone-the national government and local governments-to work together and help ensure that our children can study well and remain safe, so that we do not see any more unfortunate incidents.)

On Wednesday, reports of a shooting incident at Isulan National High School in Sultan Kudarat province made rounds on social media, which Education Secretary Sonny Angara later tagged as a false alarm.

This was not the first time Marcos assured the public of government action on school violence. In a speech in Pasay City on Sept. 28, he said the government was committed to providing parents and communities with the knowledge and resources needed to prevent similar incidents.

‘Hindi katanggap-tanggap ‘yung mga pangyayari na nakita natin sa Tacloban, sa Zamboanga, sa South Cotabato. At ito talaga ay dumudugo ang puso, hindi lamang ng mga pamilya, kapamilya ng mga nasawi, kung hindi ang buong bansa,’ Marcos said in his speech.

(What happened in Tacloban, Zamboanga, and South Cotabato is unacceptable. It truly breaks our hearts, not only the families and relatives of those who died, but the entire country.)

Investors can buy into GCash operator Mynt Inc.’s initial public offering (IPO) at P6.60 per share, after the company set its final offer price 34 percent below the earlier P10 ceiling.

On Oct. 1, the company confirmed the price in a notice addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange.

At P6.60, the final offer price is P3.40 below the earlier ceiling.

COL Financial chief equity strategist April Lynn Tan earlier said investors should not automatically see a lower offer price as a warning sign about the company.

‘The market is really so weak, and if you want to raise capital, then, you know, you have to make the stock more attractive, so you price it at a cheaper price,’ she said.

She urged investors to look beyond the price adjustment and examine Mynt’s financial performance, particularly whether its profitability remains on an upward path.

GCash has 41.5 million monthly active users, equivalent to nearly 56 percent of the country’s adult population.

Its ecosystem serves 7.5 million active borrowers and includes 17.9 million savings accounts, 9.2 million investment fund accounts, and about 2 million local stock market accounts.