Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The delegates of the 2026 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant continued their exploration of Cebu and went to the northern part of the province to experience the diversity of Cebuano culture.

The ladies went to the coastal city of Danao on the northeastern portion of the main island on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and was welcomed by former Cebu 5th District Rep. Red Durano.

They then proceeded to Bantayan Island on the same day and greeted the people of the town of Santa Fe, another coastal municipality, and even paid a courtesy visit at the municipal hall.

The delegates then retreated to Anaya Villas Resort, for a relaxing beachfront stay with a view of the Visayan Sea, to recharge for another full day of exploring the towns of Santa Fe and Bantayan on the first of October.

This is the second straight year that Cebu is hosting the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant. Last year, however, the initial activities were held in Manila. This time, all events are set across the different towns and cities of the province.

The ladies are scheduled to explore the whole province, and will next visit the destinations in southern Cebu, before heading back to Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island for the pageant’s homestretch and major activities.

The preliminary competition will be held at JPark Island Resort in Lapu-Lapu City on Oct. 7. There, the delegates will parade in swimwear and evening gown to help secure their spots in the semifinals.

Reigning queen Isabela Fernandes from Brazil will crown her successor at the conclusion of the 2026 Miss Asia Pacific International Grand Coronation Night at Mactan Expo in Lapu-Lapu City on Oct. 10.

Gabrielle Galapia, 2026 Miss World Philippines Second Princess, is representing the Philippines. She is on a mission to score the country’s sixth victory in the international pageant, the first and longest-running global beauty contest founded in the Philippines.

Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team showed on Thursday that the land purchases of Duterte’s spouse, Atty. Manases Carpio, match those declared in the vice president’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

This, as defense counsel Atty. Lindon Bacquel cross-examined Davao City Register of Deeds IV Kathy Florence Baldonado and Samal Deputy Register of Deeds III Marco Pineda.

Both persons earlier testified that the documents in their registries did not match the SALN declarations of Duterte.

Matina property in Davao City

In Carpio’s supposed July 2024 purchase of a 379-square-meter parcel of land located in Matina Crossing, Talomo, Davao City priced at P6 million, Baldonado said the property was not in the 2025 SALN of Duterte.

She said that the deed of sale and the transfer certificate of title of the Matina Crossing property does not match in terms of price, and location, to any of Duterte’s declared properties.

In refuting this, the defense presented an August 2024 tax declaration to show that the P6-million lot in the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) is the same as a property declared in the SALN located at Brgy. 74-A in Matina, Davao City.

Baldonado identified that the property in the tax declaration had the same identification number of the P6-million property in the TCT.

Samal Acting Register of Deeds Atty. Marco Pineda (Photo from NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / INQUIRER.net)

The document read that the property had an assessed value of P82,046.

Upon reviewing Duterte’s 2025 SALN, the Brgy. 74-A property had the same exact assessed value, Baldonado also stated.

Bacquel explained the differing locations on the two documents, saying that Brgy. 74-A is Matina Crossing, and asked the court to take judicial notice of maps proving such.

‘We looked further into it, and there’s actually an official Facebook account of Brgy. Matina 74-A Davao City,’ Bacquel added.

Samal property

On the other hand, Pineda was also confronted with the documents to show otherwise.

He earlier testified that Carpio’s supposed P3-million Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) land did not match any of the properties declared in Duterte’s SALN

Bacquel presented another tax declaration of a Carpio property in San Isidro-Kaputian, Samal with the same property identification as the P3-million lot in Brgy. Matanos, Kaputian.

Though also differing in declared locations, Pineda later said that the locations may change due to shifts in tax mapping.

In 2019, its assessed value under the tax declaration stood at P346,960, and Pineda identified the same in a property declared in Duterte’s 2024 SALN.

Pineda earlier noted, however, that the property in the SALN Bacquel was referring to had an acquisition date of 2013, while the deed of sale of the property in contention states that it was acquired in 2018.

He said: ‘Based on the patent distinction that the value or cost of acquisition is not that same as that appearing in the deed of absolute sales at the same time the year.’

He explained that this is ‘because it was acquired, as per the perusal of the deed of absolute sale, in 2018, but this one is 2013 (in the SALN).’

In reconciling the five-year gap in acquiring the properties, Presiding Officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero referred to Duterte’s previous SALNs.

‘In the SALN of the vice president in 2015 and 2016 and 2017, she declared a property in IGaCos, stating that she bought a property in 2013. But it first appeared only in her SALN in 2015,’ Escudero said.

‘And then, she wrote installment in 2015, deferred installment in 2016, which she described as deferred installment again in 2017, and in 2018, declared it as a sale,’ the senator-judge noted.

Afterwards, Escudero asked Pineda if it is possible that the property was only declared in 2018 when it was fully paid.

Instead of a direct answer, Pineda responded that a deed of sale is only registered once ownership is transferred.

Pangasinan province’s economy grew by 4.3 percent in 2025 and maintained its lead in the Ilocos region, posting P408.45 billion in economic output as poverty incidence dropped to 8.6 percent.

This was based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) during the 2025 Provincial Product Accounts Dissemination Forum in Binmaley town on Tuesday (Sept. 29).

Pangasinan’s output rose by P16.83 billion from 2024’s P391.62 billion. It accounted for 53.1 percent of the Ilocos Region’s economy and contributed 2.30 percentage points to the region’s 4.5 percent growth.

‘Poverty incidence likewise declined from 16.1 percent in 2023 to 8.6 percent in 2025. The number of Pangasinan residents living below the poverty threshold fell to 277,340 from 512,690 – a reduction of 235,350 individuals,’ the Pangasinan government said in a statement.

It cited provincial programs supporting livelihood and basic services, including corporate farming, Kadiwa activities, employment facilitation, expanded access to education through the Pangasinan Polytechnic College, and the modernization of provincial hospitals

Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chair and CEO Jose ‘Joey’ Javier Reyes refuted rumors that he had resigned from his post after his previously-approved business-class privilege for an official trip to Spain was withdrawn.

The rumors arose after Reyes expressed his frustration over receiving a memo from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) saying that the privilege granted to him had been withdrawn following a review of the travel arrangements and government rules on official travel.

The notice was issued on Sept. 11, a few days before Reyes was supposed to fly to Spain to sign a co-production agreement.

Reyes was unable to make the scheduled trip and instead sent a representative to attend on his behalf.

‘After all the hard work, all it took was the stroke of a memo to disavow all the sacrifice invested to fulfill what was required and to deliver credible results,’ he said through his Facebook page last Sept. 16. ‘But that is bureaucracy and despite all these decades of human experience, I am still a neophyte in the domain of government. I was infuriated. Frustrated. Insulted.’

Reyes then addressed the resignation rumors during his speech at the closing event of the Philippine Film Industry Month on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

‘Surprise! Hindi ako resigned, contrary to popular rumors that sent me trending this afternoon,’ he said. ‘I’m very much alive and still part of the FDCP.’

Reyes explained during the event that while he was hurt and insulted by the withdrawal of the approval, he understands and respects the decision. He nonetheless underscored that he would have appreciated being given more time to adjust to the change, given that he had already scheduled appointments in Spain.

In a message sent to INQUIRER.net, Reyes said he will not resign over this issue because he has ‘so much work to do.’

Meanwhile, in a separate Facebook post after the event, Reyes also seemed to have playfully alluded to the resignation rumors.

‘Philippine Film Industry Month done. Honoring members of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino for their nearly five decades of hard work assessing Filipino movies/ Now the program is over and I haven’t had dinner. I am ‘resigned’ to war cheese and crackers when I get home,’ he wrote.

The Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) of the House of Representatives on Thursday approved an additional P16 billion to the Department of Agriculture budget in amendments for next year.

The move aims to further support farmers, fisherfolk, and the agriculture sector and strengthen programs to prepare them for the looming super El Niño.

Under the P7.2-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2027, the budget allocated to DA was around P198.45 billion.

The subcommittee, composed of select lawmakers from major political parties and the minority bloc, began deliberations on the proposed amendments to the budget for next year.

Among the eight line items introduced by the subcommittee includes an additional P500 million to the expanded fertilizer assistance program, with a current budget of P14,443,499,000.

The chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, also moved to allocate funding to the Solar Pump Irrigation Project that was initially not included in the 2027 NEP budget, amounting to P125 million.

The chairperson also allotted P105,000,000 to the provision of hybrid solar-powered ice plants program, in a bid to support air-to-water technology for the coastal and remote fishing communities.

‘In fact, they are already piloting two areas for the solar ice plants, particularly using air-to-water technology. So these are highly potential opportunities for the fishery sector,’ Enverga explained when asked about the pilot program.

A budget request for the implementation of the Agri-Transport and Support Infrastructure Projects under DA amounting to P150,000,000 was also presented.

The chairperson said that the cable car systems would be cheaper for high-value crops being planted in the mountainous areas, compared to the high costs of farm-to-market roads.

‘So rather than building costly farm-to-market roads, these would be trams that would transport goods from one mountain to another, which would be much cheaper and more economical for our production system in high-value crops,’ he said.

An additional P4,960,224,000 was also proposed to be included in the P16 billion budget to farm-to-market road programs.

Meanwhile, an additional P500,000,000 under the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority was also introduced for the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of fish ports. Under the 2027 NEP, it has an allocation of P2,100,000,000.

Enverga also proposed an additional P100,000,000 for high-value crops to the existing P1,700,308,000 budget.

House committee on appropriations chairperson Rep. Mikaela Suansing proposed P10,000,000,000 for the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk to ensure the agriculture sector is prepared for the impact of the super El Niño.

‘Another measure we wish to take to ensure our 2027 budget is fully prepared for a ‘super El Niño’ -is to allocate funds for the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk,’ she said.

More than 1,200 bamboo culms were planted at a National Greening Program site at the Talaytay Protected Landscape in the Aurora town of Dinalungan as part of efforts to restore degraded forest areas.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon said the planting activity led by its community office in Casiguran town was held in Barangay Dibaraybay in observance of Philippine Bamboo Month last September.

The Talaytay Protected Landscape covers about 3,526 hectares, straddling Dinalungan and Casiguran, and protects the Talaytay River watershed.

It was originally established as a watershed forest reserve in 1990 before it was declared a protected landscape in 2000 under Proclamation No. 283.

DENR-Casiguran community head Ariel Mendoza said the National Greening Program promotes bamboo propagation because the plant helps restore degraded lands, absorb carbon dioxide, and reduce soil erosion.

The activity drew more than 85 participants from the Dibaraybay barangay government, Talaytay Protected Landscape Occupants Association Inc., Bantay Kalikasan ng Dinalungan Aurora Inc., and the Casiguran municipal environment office

Vice Ganda, Mon Confiado, Michael V., Nadine Lustre and more Filipino actors and shows are set to represent the country at the 2026 Asian Academy Creative Awards after clinching national wins in different categories.

Vice Ganda earned the Best Actor in a Leading Role honor for her role in ‘Call Me Mother,’ while Confiado earned the Best Actor in a Supporting Role accolade for his performance in ‘Salvageland.’

Michael V. won the Best Actor/Actress in a Comedy Role for ‘Pepito Manaloto: The Story Continues.’ Lustre, for her part, earned the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for her portrayal in ‘Love, Siargao,’ while the film emerged as Best Original Production by a Streamer.

Moises Zee was also honored in the Best Cinematography (Fiction) category for ‘Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence,’ while ‘I’mPerfect’ director Sigrid Bernardo earned Best Direction (Feature Film).

Other national winners include Onat Diaz (‘The Silent Noise’) for Best Direction (Scripted); Lawrence Ang (‘Drug War Conspiracy of Silence’) for Best Editing; Rico Hizon (‘Rated R: The Rico Hizon Podcast’) for Best Entertainment Host; Charms Espina (PTV News Tonight) for Best Factual Presenter; and Jonathan Guillermo and Shugo Praico (‘Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence’) for Best Screenplay.

Other notable national wins were secured by Filipino films and TV shows including ‘The Voice Kids Philippines’ 2025 – Grand Finale Episode for Best Adaptation of an Existing Format (Non-scripted); ‘It’s Okay To Not Be Okay’ for Best Adaptation of an Existing Format (Scripted); ’58th’ for Best Animation; ‘Bubble Gang’ for Best Comedy; ‘The Atom Araullo Specials: Baby maker’ for Best Documentary One-off; ‘Drawing on Water – The History of the West Philippine Sea’ for Best Documentary History; ‘Reporter’s Notebook: Saving Babies’ for Best Documentary Series; ‘The Silent Noise’ for Best Drama Series; ‘Kontrabida Academy’ for Best Feature Film; ‘Drew’s Travels: Boracay Through the Eyes of the Locals’ for Best Lifestyle Program; ‘Stars On The Floor’ for Best Music or Dance Program; ‘One at Heart, Jessica Soho: Tacloban School Shooting’ for Best News Program; and ‘The Master Cutter’ launch trailer for Best Promo or Trailer.

The national winners from the Philippines are set to compete in their respective categories against winners from Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, and other countries.

The 2026 Grand Final Winners will be revealed during the awards ceremony in Singapore on Dec. 3.

The Philippines hurdled the second round of voting for the 2026 Miss Grand International pageant’s ‘Country’s Power of the Year’ online poll, and is moving on to Round 3.

But if in the first two rounds the public had 48 hours to vote, this time the voting period will only run for 24 hours. The third round of voting started on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 9 P.M. (PST), and will close on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 9 P.M. (PST).

What also makes the third round a tighter race for the qualifiers is the removal of the social media component for voting. Votes will only be accepted via the Miss Grand International pageant’s official voting portal.

And with the elimination of the social media component, there will no longer be any free votes for the pubilc. Every vote is worth THB35 (approximately P65). The pageant announced that the votes will also be counted for the race for ‘Miss Popular Vote.’

Reina Filipinas Angelica Lopez is representing the Philippines in this year’s competition. The country advanced to Round 2 of voting by ranking third in the list of 40 qualifiers.

The Top 40 ladies for the ‘Country’s Power of the Year’ voting were split into four equal groups, and only the Top 2 ladies from each group made it to Round 3. At the end of the round, only four ladies will move on to Round 4.

Joining the Philippines in the Top 8 for the voting for ‘Country’s Power of the Year’ from Group C was Guatemala. The qualifiers from Group A were Tanzania and Chile, Ecuador and Pakistan for Group B, and Vietnam and Paraguay for Group D.

The Philippines won ‘Country’s Power of the Year’ in last year’s competition, with Filipino delegate Emma Tiglao eventually claiming the crown at the end of the competition.

Reina Filipinas Pres. Jojo Bragais is campaigning vigorously to raise enough votes for the Philippines to move on to Round 4. He has tapped his business contacts and friends, and appealed to the pageant titleholders that he has sponsored in the past, to help the country’s campaign.

The 2026 Miss Grand International pagant is taking place in Thailand. The ‘Grand Final’ will be staged at MGI Hall in Bangkok on Oct. 10. Seventy-six delegates from around the world are competing this year.

Pangasinan province’s economy grew by 4.3 percent in 2025 and maintained its lead in the Ilocos region, posting P408.45 billion in economic output as poverty incidence dropped to 8.6 percent.

This was based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) during the 2025 Provincial Product Accounts Dissemination Forum in Binmaley town on Tuesday (Sept. 29).

Pangasinan’s output rose by P16.83 billion from 2024’s P391.62 billion. It accounted for 53.1 percent of the Ilocos Region’s economy and contributed 2.30 percentage points to the region’s 4.5 percent growth.

‘Poverty incidence likewise declined from 16.1 percent in 2023 to 8.6 percent in 2025. The number of Pangasinan residents living below the poverty threshold fell to 277,340 from 512,690 – a reduction of 235,350 individuals,’ the Pangasinan government said in a statement.

It cited provincial programs supporting livelihood and basic services, including corporate farming, Kadiwa activities, employment facilitation, expanded access to education through the Pangasinan Polytechnic College, and the modernization of provincial hospitals

Lawyer Kathy Baldonado of the Davao City Register of Deeds takes her oath as a prosecution witness in Article II of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, which covers alleged unexplained wealth, false SALNs and business interests. In her offered testimony, Baldonado is expected to testify on a property registered to Duterte’s husband, Manases Carpio, in Barangay Matina, Davao City, reportedly valued at P6 million, which the prosecution says could help establish an alleged undeclared asset in Duterte’s SALN