Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Stan Wawrinka’s Grand Slam career ended Monday when the 2016 U.S. Open champion lost 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-0 to Matteo Berrettini.

Wawrinka won the last of his three major titles in Flushing Meadows when he beat Novak Djokovic in the final 10 years ago. At 41, he was given a wild card into the event in what he has said will be his final season before retiring.

‘I’m going to miss it for sure. I’m going to miss it big time. I love the game,’ Wawrinka said before he was honored on the court by U.S. Tennis Association officials.

The match appeared remarkably similar to the meeting between the same players at Wimbledon, when Berrettini won a four-setter, with each going to a tiebreaker.

But after Wawrinka had his serve broken to start the third set – despite winning a key point when video review was used – Berrettini quickly pulled away.

Wawrinka made his 18th U.S. Open appearance. He initially thought he wouldn’t get a goodbye to the tournament when the USTA gave its final men’s singles wild card to American Patrick Kypson, who is ranked No. 115.

Wawrinka had already come to New York, so decided to return home last Monday to Switzerland. When Kypson withdrew with an injury, Wawrinka learned Wednesday the wild card would be given to him, so he returned to New York, a city he said he learned to love.

‘I found a way to play my best tennis here,’ he said.

Wawrinka was ranked as high as No. 3 and also won titles at the Australian Open and French Open.

The video review was called for to see whether Wawrinka made contact twice on a volley. Following a lengthy review and protest from Berrettini, who was booed even after he and Wawrinka stood arm and arm and shared a laugh, the shot was confirmed as legal.

Berrettini had the fans cheering him again after the match ended, when he clapped his hand onto his racket and pointed it toward Wawrinka.

‘Delighted to share the court against this legend of our sport once again,’ Berrettini said.

A tornado tore off the roof of a house in Barangay Pudoc Norte here shortly after midnight Tuesday as tornadoes or tornado-like winds were reported in several other parts of the province over the past two days.

The tornado struck at about 12:10 a.m., according to initial reports. No injuries were immediately reported.

The latest incident followed tornadoes that swept through parts of Ilocos Sur on Monday afternoon, sending roofing materials and other debris flying.

In nearby Caoayan town, residents also reported another ‘ipo-ipo’ or twister, prompting warnings for residents to remain alert.

In Bantay town, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) conducted inspections and clearing operations in areas affected by a reported tornado.

Bantay Vice Mayor Samuel G.F Parilla II said the response team assessed the affected areas, removed debris and other obstructions, and monitored conditions to ensure residents’ safety and keep roads and public areas accessible.

On Monday, strong winds swept through the municipality of Cabugao at around 5 p.m., with videos shared by residents showing roofing materials and other debris being lifted by the winds.

A similar weather event was reported in Barangay Zapat, Sinait, while strong winds damaged five beach cottages in Barangay Sulvec, Narvaca.

A video posted by the Barangay Sulvec government showed barangay officials and police officers helping clear the damaged cottages.

Authorities were continuing to assess the extent of damage in the affected communities.

No fatalities or injuries were reported from the tornado incidents, according to the latest available reports

Creamline made quick work of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, 25-18, 25-16, 25-6, to stay unbeaten in the PVL Invitational Conference on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 11-time champion club, boosted by international player Jaja Santiago-Minowa, remained formidable for a 2-0 record in the week-long tournament.

The Cool Smashers unleashed a 10-0 start in the third and led as many as 17 points after Alyssa Valdez’s kill block, 18-1, en route to a 19-point domination that only lasted for 12 minutes.

Minowa led the collective effort with 12 points off nine attacks and three blocks. Jema Galanza had 12 points, 10 digs, and six excellent receptions, while Tots Carlos added 12.

Team captain Alyssa Valdez added nine points and had 10 digs, as Creamline leads the six-team field, as Nxled, PLDT, Farm Fresh, and Thailand’s EST Cola all tied at 1-1.

‘We’re really happy, especially with how we played in the third set,’ said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses in Filipino.

‘Yesterday, our third set wasn’t very smooth, so we made sure to improve today. It was a lesson for us to play better in the third set. Everyone really helped each other to get the win.’

Creamline takes on Farm Fresh on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

The Cool Smashers dominated the Vietnamese in attacking, 49-19, and blocking, 11-4.

Ho Chi Minh remained winless in two games, taking on PLDT next, also on Thursday at 4 p.m.

Dang Thi Kim Thanh had eight points, while Le Thi My Xuyen added six.

A speeding van that allegedly lost its brakes caused the deaths of six people and wounded several others in a shocking road accident in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur at around 12 p.m. on Tuesday.

A police report said the crash at the national highway in Barangay Paglaum (not Poblacion as reported earlier) occurred when a speeding silver metallic passenger van lost its brakes, hit a motorcycle and rammed into a parked wing van.

The van was bound for Pagadian City from Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The impact pushed the wing van forward, causing it to collide with a moving Kawasaki Bajaj motorcycle with sidecar, whose driver sustained minor injuries.

Responders found the van’s front portion severely damaged, with its driver trapped in the wreckage.

Five victims – three men and two women – died on the spot due to severe injuries.

Dr. Patrick Kean Toledo, of the Dumalinao Rural Health Unit, confirmed the deaths of the five passengers and the van driver, who died in the hospital.

The other injured individuals, including passengers and motorcycle riders, were rushed to hospitals in Pagadian City for immediate medical treatment.

The total number of injured was still unknown as of posting time.

Authorities said all vehicles involved were secured as investigation continues to determine liability.

Digital lender JuanHand allows consumers take out additional loans within their credit limit without first settling their existing debt, boosting lending options as bank credit growth slows.

Loans extended by big Philippine banks grew 9.8 percent year-on-year in June, the slowest pace in four months, as borrowers become more cautious about taking on debt, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Bank lending growth fell to 12.1 percent in May, while outstanding loans reached ?17.33 trillion at the end of June.

Against this backdrop, JuanHand introduces a top-up loan that lets eligible borrowers apply for additional funds while they still have an existing loan.

The additional borrowing must remain within the borrower’s available credit limit and meet JuanHand’s eligibility requirements.

WeFund Lending Corp., which operates JuanHand, uses an artificial intelligence-powered underwriting tool to assess borrowers. The system can approve applications in as little as five minutes, the lender says.

Borrowers can take out loans of up to ?50,000, with daily interest rates starting at 0.025 percent, depending on the loan terms and the borrower’s eligibility.

‘As financial services become increasingly digital, our responsibility goes beyond providing access to credit. We also have a role in helping Filipinos become more informed, vigilant, and confident when navigating the digital financial ecosystem,’ WeFund president and CEO Francisco Roberto Mauricio said.

FinVolution Group, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, owns JuanHand’s Philippine operations. It has disbursed more than P116 billion in loans to over 20 million Filipinos.

The rollout comes as Filipinos increasingly use digital lenders, e-wallets and digital banks to access financial services outside traditional banking channels.

However, allowing borrowers to take out additional funds while an existing loan remains unpaid could also increase their debt burden. Borrowers remain subject to the interest rates, fees, and repayment terms of each loan.

JuanHand requires applicants to provide a registered mobile number and one valid identification card before its automated system evaluates their profile.

Philippine factory activity expanded to a near-decade high in August as easing inflationary pressures boosted new orders and renewed business confidence.

SandP Global said Tuesday the country’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 54.9 in August from 51.8 in July, marking its highest growth since December 2016.

‘The Filipino manufacturing sector continued to build momentum in August, moving on from the flat performance seen in the previous quarter, when activity was affected by the conflict in the Middle East,’ Maryum Baluch, SandP Global Market Intelligence economist, said.

‘Encouragingly, production rose at its fastest pace since 2016, helped by stronger demand conditions. Firms responded by increasing both purchasing and hiring to keep up with greater production needs. At the same time, cost pressures eased, and confidence about the year ahead improved to a 21-month high,’ she added.

Two Philippine Army officers took center stage at Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Tuesday as they testified about military certifications that the Department of Education (DepEd) used to support its liquidation of P112.5 million in confidential funds in 2023.

Col. Manaros Boransing II told the Senate impeachment court during Day of the impeachment trial that the Army did not receive any funds from Duterte’s offices-whether regular or confidential-to finance the 2023 Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) or the Information Education Communication (IEC) campaign.

Boransing, however, said DepEd could have used its own regular budget for the programs, although he had no knowledge of whether confidential funds were used.

Col. Magtanggol Panopio, meanwhile, testified that a certification he issued for the youth summit was not a valid supporting document for liquidation before the Commission on Audit (COA).

Panopio said he was shocked to learn that DepEd had used the certification to justify its expenses and told Sen. Joel Villanueva that he personally believed the use of the document was improper.

The two officers were presented by the House prosecution to shed light on how military certifications were obtained and used by DepEd under Duterte’s leadership.

Their testimonies are expected to form part of the prosecution’s case on the alleged misuse of confidential funds under Article I of the Articles of Impeachment.

Meanwhile, Presiding Officer Sen. Francis Escudero issued a blanket prohibition on Tuesday barring witnesses at the impeachment trial from possessing or accessing earpieces, mobile phones, smartwatches, and similar communication devices while testifying.

Escudero made the announcement to correct misinformation about previous witness, OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, after the court determined that a viral image allegedly showing Ortonio wearing an earpiece during his testimony was AI-generated and false.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III also weighed in on the ongoing debate over suspicious names on OVP confidential fund acknowledgment receipts, stating that a name may be considered an alias only if there is an actual person behind it.

Sotto said that if no real person exists behind a name, it must be treated as fictitious or fake, not merely an alias.

Signatories on the receipts included names resembling food brands, fruits, and local politicians, such as Mary Grace Piattos, Miggy Mango, and Kristine Applegate Estrada.

After the session, public prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua said the prosecution may have three or four witnesses remaining under Article I, covering the confidential fund allegations, with defense lawyer Michael Poa set to take the stand next.

Poa, who stepped aside temporarily from his role as defense spokesperson out of deference to the court, is expected to face questions about military certifications he helped obtain for DepEd.

Chua said the prosecution would decide on its next set of witnesses after Poa’s testimony, estimating about one week before they rest their case on Article I.

Malacañang on Tuesday urged government officials to be sensitive about what they wear in public while acknowledging that some may opt for designer clothes simply because these attires are what they are accustomed to wearing.

The remarks came after Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, her son – Vice Governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda, and San Fernando City Mayor Vilma Balle-Caluag faced backlash for wearing luxury designer clothes while inspecting communities devastated by flooding caused by monsoon rains.

Social media users were quick to identify and call out the Pinedas and Caluag over their designer pieces during the flood inspection, including a Balmain set, a Prada T-shirt, Burberry jackets, and Calvin Klein leggings.

‘Public service is not measured by what leaders wear. It is seen in their actions-whether they are visible and present to help,’ Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said at a briefing when asked whether Malacañang has a message for local officials on the issue.

The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees states that public officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income and shall not indulge in extravagant displays of wealth.

In what appeared to be a defense of the officials’ choice of clothing, Castro said that while the public may find the items expensive, they may be relatively inexpensive for the officials themselves.

‘Hindi natin alam kung ang pagsusuot ng branded na iyan ay mura na sa kanila,’ she said.

(We don’t know whether wearing those branded clothes is actually inexpensive for them. It really depends on their circumstances.)

‘So, depende, depende sa kanila. Baka iyan ay-kung sa atin na ordinaryong tao ay napakamahal, baka sa kanila ay mura lang iyan dahil yan ang kanilang nakagawian,’ she said.

(What may be very expensive for us ordinary people may be relatively cheap for them, especially since that may simply be what they are accustomed to wearing.)

‘But still, siguro kailangan din maging sensitive kasi lalong-lalo na, kung iyong mga kababayan natin ay nakakaramdam ng hirap, trauma at kalungkutan,’ Castro continued.

(But still, I think they need to be sensitive, especially when our fellow Filipinos are experiencing hardship, trauma and grief.)

Castro also said there were officials who dressed simply but were unable to serve the public.

‘Mayroon pong mga iba, napakasimple ng dating – t-shirt, pants. Yung iba, nagpapaulan pa, pero wala namang natutulong,’ she said.

(There are others who come across as very simple-wearing just a T-shirt and pants, or even braving the rain, yet they don’t actually contribute anything.)

‘So mas maganda po na tingnan ang lider sa trabaho, sa gawa. Hindi po sa damit,’ she added.

(So, it is better to judge a leader by their work and actions, not by their attire.)

Governor Pineda apologized for the incident, calling it a ‘wake-up call,’ given the public’s suffering from the floods.

Leading online stock brokerage COL Financial is bullish on the earnings prospects of listed companies for the rest of the year after second-quarter results proved more resilient than expected despite inflation and higher raw material costs.

April Lynn Tan, chief equity strategist at COL, said corporate earnings could sustain their momentum in the second half as consumer demand remained steady even amid price pressures.

‘We’re quite hopeful that it will continue in the balance of the year,’ Tan said.

One of the major surprises in the second quarter, she said, was that the impact of the US-Iran war on businesses was not as severe as initially feared.

Raw material prices climbed during the period, while elevated inflation threatened to weaken household spending.

But consumers continued to spend, albeit with a greater focus on essentials.

Companies selling food and cheaper products were, therefore, relatively resilient, Tan said.

‘Demand didn’t collapse. It wasn’t as affected as it would have been if prices went up much higher,’ she added.

Another factor was the movement of oil prices. After rising sharply in March and April, oil did not climb beyond $100 per barrel, helping limit the increase in raw material costs.

Companies were also able to implement price increases to cushion the impact of higher costs on their operations.

These factors helped corporate earnings perform better than COL had anticipated during the second quarter, according to Tan.

For the second half, the brokerage is banking on relatively stable oil and commodity prices to support both corporate profitability and consumer demand.

‘We’re quite hopeful that the price of oil and commodity prices will stay relatively stable in the second half of the year, allowing the companies to continue earning good profits and allowing demand to remain stable,’ Tan said.

The haze possibly linked to ongoing fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia may be swept over the western portions of the country due to strong winds brought by the southwest monsoon, or ‘habagat,’ the state weather bureau said.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration weather specialist Benison Estareja said during the 5 p.m. weather advisory that, based on its satellite image, the haze may affect the western section of Visayas and Mindanao, as well as Mimaropa.

He explained that the air particles came from Kalimantan in Indonesia and are being pulled by the southwest monsoon.

‘Itong mga papupusaw na kulay galing po dito sa may Kalimantan sa may central part ng Sabah dito sa may Indonesia ay inaasahan pong kikilos dahil unti-unting tinutulak nga nitong southwest monsoon or habagat patungo dito sa western side ng ating bansa,’ he explained.

(‘These fading colored areas-originating from the Kalimantan region in the central part of Sabah, Indonesia-are expected to move, as they are gradually being pushed by the southwest monsoon toward the western side of our country.’)

Estareja advised the public to constantly monitor the air quality index (AIQ) of their respective areas in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) issued advisories.

The DENR-NCR reported early Tuesday that several areas in Metro Manila recorded high PM2.5, which refers to fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter, wherein AIQ reached up to ‘acutely unhealthy levels’.