Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

TECNO and internationally acclaimed artist Angélica Dass today unveiled the Philippines portrait gallery of 100 Portraits of Becoming. Featuring portraits of 20 compelling people and personal stories, the new collection is live on TECNO’s global story archive. 100 Portraits of Becoming is a two-year global documentary portrait project, spanning five countries and powered by TECNO Universal Tone imaging technology. The Philippines marks its second chapter, following its successful launch in Kenya.

For the Philippine chapter, themed ‘See Beyond Labels,’ Angélica Dass photographed 20 individuals in Manila whose lives intersect with solo motherhood in diverse ways. The gallery honors a powerful truth: behind every societal label is a human life shaped by many roles, deep relationships and personal ambitions, reminding us that no one should be defined by a single societal label or a single title like ‘solo mom’.

This creative direction is rooted in the realities of Filipino family life. According to publicly available data, the country has an estimated 14 to 15 million solo parents, with women accounting for about 95% of them. An estimated 2.19 million Filipinos worked overseas in 2024, with women making up 57.2% of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). Behind these figures are individual lives that are far more layered. This is the space the Philippines chapter sets out to explore.

Captured on the CAMON Slim 5G with TECNO Universal Tone, the Philippines chapter of 100 Portraits of Becoming naturally connects with CAMON Slim 5G’s ‘Make It Lighter’ philosophy, using technology to make expressive photography feel more accessible, intuitive and open to more people.

The Stories Behind the Portraits of 20 People

Through their portraits, that broader context becomes personal, revealing very different experiences of work, family, care and becoming.

Some stories come from working solo mothers themselves. Others are told through the perspectives of adults raised by solo mothers, multi-generation families, Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) caregivers, and media or community advocates who work closely with women and families. These diverse narratives highlight a pervasive challenge: the social tendency to let a single label define an individual’s entire life and capability.

To challenge these stereotypes, their discussions addressed core questions surrounding work, family, and identity – How does motherhood intersect with professional ambition? How do grown children raised in solo-parent families reflect on their upbringing? And what structural support, choices and personal wisdom help families navigate everyday life?

Ultimately, these stories reveal a richer, more nuanced picture of modern family life of solo mothers and women in general: women building fulfilling careers while raising children, multi-generational networks sharing caregiving responsibilities, adults drawing strength from the mothers who raised them, and individuals continuously pursuing their own ambitions.

Portraits of 20 people connected to solo motherhood from the Philippines chapter now are joining the global 100 Portraits of Becoming on TECNO’s official website, where their images and stories can be explored together.

Her Many Ways of Becoming

Among the 20 participants is Ely Haig, a solo working mother, breadwinner, advertising professional and competitive amateur padel player.

Ely became a mother just as her career was taking off. For a time, she stepped back from opportunities and focused on taking care of everyone around her. Later, she found a different kind of diskarte: knowing what matters to her, then finding ways to make room for her career, her daughter, side projects and padel.

‘Being a good mother shouldn’t mean leaving yourself behind,’ said Ely. ‘I want people to see more than a solo mom. A mother, yes, but also a creative, a career woman, an athlete, still becoming.’

Twinkle Dimayuga Zamora raised two children as a solo mother before turning her own experience into community support. She later founded MAMA, Mothers Advocating through Ministry and Action, an initiative supporting solo mothers and their children. Her diskarte is simple: ask for help, communicate openly and build a village. ‘Sometimes the strongest thing a mother can do is say, ‘I need help,” she said.

Eunice N. Angeles, a fourth-year nursing student, was raised by a solo mother who later became an OFW in Qatar. Growing up, she watched her mother keep finding opportunities and making difficult choices to create a better future for them both. That confidence became something Eunice feels she inherited. ‘I want people to see what I grew up with: confidence, determination and the courage to find my own way.’

These stories reflect different expressions of their own diskarte: the wisdom, resourcefulness and choices women draw on to navigate life in their own way. More stories from the 20 portraits can be explored in the Philippines gallery of 100 Portraits of Becoming, part of TECNO’s global story archive.

An Opportunity to See Behind the Portraits

For Angélica Dass, the Philippines chapter is an opportunity to move from a shared social context to the individual lives within it. Across the 20 portraits, she encountered different ambitions, relationships, personalities and ways of navigating everyday life.

‘What stayed with me was the realization that ‘solo motherhood’ is only one part of a person’s identity. Through the stories shared with me and the moments we created during the portrait sessions, I was reminded that behind every label there is a person with their own ambitions, relationships, choices, and dreams. No single label can tell us everything about who someone is.’

To ground these stories in authenticity, the portraits were photographed on location across Manila in environments directly tied to each participant’s daily life-whether a workplace, a family home, or a familiar community space.

The creative approach echoes the campaign’s core philosophy: leaving space to portray work, ambition, relationships, humour and daily routines – the rich parts of everyday life that extend far beyond a single role or a single label.

From Kenya to the Philippines, and Beyond

All portraits in the Philippines were photographed by Angélica Dass using the TECNO CAMON Slim 5G, supported by TECNO Universal Tone technology.

TECNO Universal Tone was developed to more accurately represent a broad spectrum of human skin tones in mobile photography. Within 100 Portraits of Becoming, that capability supports a wider idea at the heart of the project: seeing people as they are, with greater accuracy and attention to individuality.

‘What moved us about the Philippines chapter was seeing how naturally motherhood, work, ambition and personal identity can coexist in the same life,’ said Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO. ‘We hope technology can play a small part in helping people be seen more fully, and their stories better understood.’

The Philippines marks the second stop of 100 Portraits of Becoming, following the project’s launch in Kenya in July 2026. Over two years, the initiative will bring together 100 portraits across multiple countries, building a story archive of people, stories and possibilities.

In Kenya, the project explored how people move beyond inherited narratives about place and the future. In the Philippines, the lens turns to family, identity and the roles people carry, looking beyond the first label to the person, the people around her, and who she is still becoming.

And with the Philippines now joining the archive, more portraits, more stories and more ways of becoming are still to be unveiled in more countries.

A critical assessment of previous development initiatives, which usually ignored women’s circumstances and frequently made them worse, served as a catalyst for the creation of contemporary gender analysis frameworks. Nongovernment organizations (NGOs) developed alternative solutions centered on giving women access and opportunity instead of depending on subsidies as a result of this insight.

This shift solidified two main ideological perspectives in development: the family-centered approach, which frames motherhood as a woman’s primary role and uses the family as the basic unit of analysis, and the woman-centered (feminist) approach, which acknowledges both women’s productive and reproductive roles, using the individual woman and her economic contributions as the unit of analysis.

Three main frameworks for gender-aware planning are based on these changing attitudes. By methodically mapping women’s triple role (reproductive, productive, and community work) and differentiating between transformative strategic gender needs, which seek to radically alter current power disparities, and practical gender needs, which address pressing needs, the Moser framework is useful for gender planning. By comparing a project’s focus across five hierarchical levels of equality, from simple welfare to ultimate control, the women’s empowerment (Longwe) framework offers a diagnostic tool to evaluate its potential for achieving equality.

Lastly, by concentrating on cross-cutting disparities (gender, class, and race) and analyzing how power dynamics are perpetuated through institutional structures like the state, market, community, and family/kinship, the social relations approach provides a comprehensive, structural perspective. In addition, the Philippine Commission on Women advocates for gender mainstreaming as the primary government approach to incorporate gender equality into all programs and policies.

With all these historical perspectives and approaches to gender equality and development, we are able to appreciate the role of NGOs and other civic and social organizations in the promotion and realization of a fair and just society that acknowledges the individual uniqueness and universal human rights of all genders. The campaign for gender equality, whether for women or LGBTQIA+ communities, is not only their fight; it is a moral and social collective responsibility that everyone must share. Moreover, the Family-Centered Approach and Woman-Centered (Feminist) Approach are equally significant in laying out a concrete plan of action for working toward social equality and justice.

There is no greater or lesser approach between the two because the latter recognizes the role of women in building a family. Moreover, Moser’s framework values the role of women, which is incomparable. It must be pointed out that gender needs are social needs; therefore, attending to these gender needs enables every citizen to live in a fair and just society. To put all these into action requires mainstreaming gender in all aspects of society, at home, in school, in the economy, in the government, and in religion.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday warned local government units (LGUs) against corruption in the use of P8.6 billion in disaster funds, saying those who profit from the suffering of their fellow Filipinos would face legal consequences.

Marcos issued the warning during the ceremonial turnover of Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program (DRRAP) funds to disaster-hit LGUs at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañang Palace.

The national government has allocated P8.6 billion in rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance to 306 LGUs to help them recover from the impacts of typhoons, earthquakes and the 2024-2026 Kanlaon Volcano eruption.

‘Pera po ito ng taong bayan at para ito sa mga kababayan nating nasalanta. Hindi ito pondo para pagkakitaan at hindi rin ito pondo para [sa] sinumang gustong magpayaman sa gitna ng ating mga nararamdaman na trahedya,’ he said.

(It is the people’s money and is intended for our fellow Filipinos who have been affected by disasters. This is not a fund to profit from, nor is it a fund for anyone who wants to enrich themselves amid the tragedies we are experiencing.)

‘There must be no room for corruption in this program. Bawal ang ghost project. Bawal ‘yang mga komisyon. Bawal [ang] mga substandard na rehabilitation project,’ he added.

(There must be no room for corruption in this program. Ghost projects are prohibited. Commissions are prohibited. Substandard rehabilitation projects are prohibited.)

Marcos said the first batch of more than P6 billion had been released, while the second batch of more than P2.5 billion had already been approved and was being disbursed to LGUs.

The funds are intended to support rebuilding damaged roads, bridges, public buildings, and evacuation centers, as well as restoring agriculture, housing, education, health services, and local livelihoods.

During his speech, Marcos also urged LGUs to strengthen their capacity to document and report disaster impacts to the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, saying timely and comprehensive reports would help the national government assess communities’ needs and provide targeted assistance.

He called on local officials to use the funds wisely and serve their constituents with honesty and diligence, warning that anyone who attempts to take advantage of disaster victims for personal gain would be held accountable.

Aspiring young journalists received their first introduction to newsroom work as Inquirer.net welcomed a new batch of volunteers through an orientation program in Makati City on Friday, Oct. 30.Held at work.able, Robinsons Summit Center, the session covered the fundamentals of news gathering, reporting and storytelling, as well as the responsible use of artificial intelligence in journalism.

Inquirer senior manager for digital strategy Ralph Gurango led the orientation, introducing participants to the history of the Inquirer Volunteers program and their roles as contributors to the news organization.

Three resource speakers shared their expertise to guide the volunteers.

Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter Kathleen de Villa opened the session with an overview of the volunteer program and its potential to help aspiring writers pursue careers in media. She also discussed the fundamentals of news gathering and effective news communication.

Inquirer Volunteers

Inquirer volunteers during the orientation on Oct. 30, 2026, in Makati City.

Carl Javier, executive director and chief AI ethicist of Data and AI Ethics PH, and co-vice president of the Asian American Journalists Association-Philippines Chapter, discussed the responsible use of artificial intelligence as a reporting tool, emphasizing the need to keep journalism grounded in facts.

Inquirer.net social media specialist and 2025 Inquirer Volunteer Ranne Mirasol concluded the discussion by sharing her experiences in the program, offering the new batch a firsthand account of what they can expect as volunteers.

Launched in 2016 as Inquirer Volunteers Corps, the program seeks to encourage students from various schools to get involved in covering significant events and telling stories that shape the nation through INQUIRER.net.

It was relaunched in December 2021 to allow students to assist in covering the 2022 presidential elections and welcomed another batch of student volunteers in 2025, further expanding its pool of contributors and continuing its commitment to developing young storytellers and aspiring journalists.

Advocacy groups are urging regulators to distribute Move It’s more than 55,000 excess riders among other motorcycle taxi platforms to protect their livelihood.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier imposed a P555.75-million penalty on the company for exceeding its authorized allocation of 17,746 rider-partners in Metro Manila by more than 55,575 riders.

Move It has since appealed the LTFRB’s resolution.

In a press conference on Wednesday, the National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines and Digital Pinoys said many riders had joined the platform without knowing it had already exceeded its authorized allocation.

Ronald Gustilo, national campaigner of Digital Pinoys, said the riders should not be blamed for the company’s decision to take in more drivers than its authorized limit.

‘The company is not the victim here. The victims are the public, especially the riders. It was almost like a scam because the riders who applied did not know that Move It had already exceeded its authorized allocation,’ he said.

PLDT continued to have Creamline’s number, dealing the erstwhile-unbeaten defending champion its first defeat, 25-19, 25-27, 25-23, 25-23, in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series on Thursday night at Philsports Arena.

Savi Davison brought out her A game anew with 22 points on top of 19 excellent receptions and eight digs to send the High Speed Hitters to their third straight win with a 3-2 record tied with Farm Fresh and Choco Mucho.

‘I think we have to be aware that we might drop a set to Creamline because they’re a very strong team. You know, how can we stay close in score? How can we, you know, bawi agad?’ said Davison.

‘Like I said, always going up against Creamline is going to be a tough match. And after the two first losses, I think, I don’t want to say a wake-up call, but I think we’ve been working harder in the gym and technically as well as. We’re just trying to do it for each other at this point, and everyone is contributing, so it’s working out really well.’

Dell Palomata chipped in 13 points. Alleiah Malaluan also stepped up for PLDT with 10 points off the bench, while Mika Reyes nailed four blocks for six points, including the game-winning rejection on Bernadeth Pons.

Davison and the High Speed Hitters pulled away in the fourth set, reaching match point at 24-21 before Pangs Panaga and Bea De Leon saved points to cut the deficit to one. Reyes then nailed a block on Pons. Creamline called for a net-fault challenge, but it was unsuccessful.

Creamline dropped to a 4-1 record in second place, losing to PLDT in seven of their last eight meetings, including the past two Invitational Conference games, where the High Speed Hitters shattered their title hopes with Jaja Santiago-Minowa.

Kianna Dy was also instrumental for PLDT with eight points. Kim Fajardo paced the team with 17 excellent sets, while libero Kath Arado had 14 digs.

PLDT, which continued to miss its recovering coach Rald Ricafort, takes on Farm Fresh Tuesday next week at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Pons led the Cool Smashers with 14 points and 10 digs. De Leon had 11 points. Jema Galanza was limited to nine points but had 14 digs. Lorie Bernardo chipped in eight points, while Panaga, Alyssa Valdez, Michele Gumabao, and Tots Carlos added seven each, with Jia De Guzman tossing 20 excellent sets.

Creamline seeks bounce back against sister team Choco Mucho on Thursday next week at the Big Dome.

Thirty former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Agusan del Sur took another step toward full reintegration into civilian life after completing a six-day deradicalization and values formation workshop, a social welfare official said.

Razel Montemor, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office Chief, said the former communist guerrillas attended the workshop held late last month at the Balay Kalandang Halfway House in Sitio New Leyte, Barangay Awa, Prosperidad town.

The mainstreaming program was conducted along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion (26IB).

Throughout the week, participants engaged in group reflection sessions, personal development workshops, and spiritual counseling.

The former NPA rebels were also briefed on the benefits available under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

To aid their transition, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) enrolled the returnees under its Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), while the provincial government distributed relief food packs to their families.

Ma. Lourdes Martinez, DILG provincial director, emphasized that sustained psychosocial support and government presence remain critical in preventing former fighters from returning to the armed movement.

Military and local officials said similar interventions will continue across the province to safeguard peace gains and shield vulnerable communities from rebel resurgence.

Zeinab Harake and Bobby Ray Parks Jr. couldn’t contain their joy as her children, Lucas and Bia, are now officially Parks following the completion of their legal adoption process.

The couple shared the milestone through her YouTube vlog on Wednesday, Nov. 4, recalling how they started the adoption process even before they got married in June 2025.

‘Legally, Parks na kaming tatlo,’ Harake said.

‘Lagi kong sinasabi sa mga vlog and interviews ko na kung may pangarap ako sa buhay ko ngayon, hindi na materyal… Ang goal ko talaga is magkaroon kami ng birth certificate na pare-parehas kami ng apelyido,’ she noted. ‘And then Daddy Ray came.’

Harake expressed her gratitude to Parks, underscoring how he did not only marry her but also embraced her two children as his own.

‘Mahirap siya na process pero it’s all worth it,’ Parks, for his part, said of the adoption.

During the vlog, the couple also opened up about their experience and acknowledged the dedication and sacrifices of the social workers who assisted them. Harake also expressed hope that the government would provide more attention and resources for social work services.

‘Saludo po ako sa inyong lahat, and sana po talaga lumawak pa ang resources niyo. ‘Yun po talaga ang prayers namin,’ Harake said.

Harake took Lucas into her care when she was still single, while Bia is her daughter with her former partner, rapper Skusta Clee.

Cup of Joe vocalist Gian Bernardino revealed that he once had a crush on fellow OPM artist Maki, recalling that they were already friends when he developed feelings for the ‘Dilaw’ hitmaker.

Bernardino made the admission during their appearance on the recent episode of ‘Gandang Gabi Vice’ for the deep truth segment.

When Vice Ganda asked when it happened, the Cup of Joe frontman replied, ‘Siguro mga 2025. Friends na kami nu’n.’

Vice Ganda then turned to Maki and asked whether he would prefer someone to openly confess their feelings for him.

‘Gusto ko ‘yung sinasabi sa akin para hindi ako naiilang,’ Maki answered.

Vice Ganda complimented both singers, saying it’s given that people would develop feelings for them or, let alone, each other.

‘Give ko kay Gian. Mahirap bang ma-crush-an si Maki? Ang pogi ni Maki. Wala pang talent. Wala pang porma. Wala pang ugali ‘yun ah. Mukha pa lang,’ the host quipped.

‘Pogi si Gian. Ang ganda pa ng kulay ni Gian. At maganda ang personality,’ the comedian added.

Bernardino first opened up about his sexuality in 2025, identifying himself as pansexual.

‘I’m a pansexual man. I get attracted to anyone regardless of gender identity,’ he said, recalling that he had childhood crushes on both boys and girls.

The singer also discussed the importance of LGBTQIA+ representation in the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) scene, saying he hoped to become one of its advocates.

‘I think it broke stereotypes,’ he said. ‘I feel like there are young, aspiring artists na naghihintay ng ganitong klase ng representation in the OPM scene.’

Cup of Joe earlier announced that they will take a temporary hiatus following its upcoming concerts in December, even as the band assured fans that they will return ‘stronger.’

Higher metal prices nearly doubled OceanaGold Philippines Inc.’s (OGP) net profit in the nine months ending September, despite lower sales and production.

The local unit of Australian-Canadian mining company OceanaGold Corp. reported a net income of $95.6 million from January to September, a 95-percent surge from the same period a year ago.

Revenue rose 37 percent to $434.4 million, as higher gold and copper prices offset lower sales, making this the main driver of revenue growth.

Gold prices averaged $4,535 per ounce, up 40 percent, while average copper prices climbed 45 percent to $6.35 per ounce.However, metal production declined, ending at 64,500 ounces of gold and 9,300 tons of copper.

OGP sold 66,300 ounces of gold, down 3 percent, while copper sales decreased by 12 percent to 9,300 tons.

‘During the third quarter, we continued the safe and responsible production of gold and copper in line with our guidance. With today’s gold prices and another solid quarter of operating performance, we generated strong Free Cash Flow of $51 million. We announced another healthy quarterly dividend for our shareholders,’ OGP president Joan Adaci-Cattiling said.

OGP said it remains on track to achieve this year’s production target of 85,000 to 105,000 ounces of gold and 13,000 to 15,000 tons of copper.’Production is expected to increase in the fourth quarter, driven by improved underground mining rates,’ it added.

Cattiling said the mining company has continued to advance its organic growth projects, which include ramping up underground mining rates and accelerating drilling.

Moreover, OGP completed an advanced drilling program at True Blue, a mineralization area situated 800 meters northeast of the Didipio mine.

Technical work is underway to evaluate the potential for a future Mineral Resource estimate.

OGP laid out its ongoing projects amid the uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict, even though its impact remains limited and supply chains have continued to support normal business operations.

‘Though there has been no disruption to operations to date, conditions remain uncertain, and the conflict has contributed to broader inflationary pressures across global energy and commodity markets, increasing the cost of diesel, freight, consumables and other operating inputs used throughout the business,’ the firm said.