Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

If you thought modern heavy music had run out of ways to completely shock the system, think again. Falling in Reverse frontman Ronnie Radke has never been one to play by the rules of the industry, but his latest single, ‘Joseph,’ completely shatters the ceiling of expectations.

Serving as a spiritual and literal successor to the chaotic masterpiece ‘Ronald,’ this explosive anti-war metal epic is not just a song; it is a seismic cultural event for the heavy music landscape. Named after Radke’s own middle name, ‘Joseph’ acts as a massive powder keg. It achieves what many music enthusiasts believed to be impossible reuniting Slipknot’s legendary frontman Corey Taylor and System of a Down’s iconic visionary Serj Tankian on a single track for the very first time in their decades-long illustrious careers.

An engineered electronic and djent assault

The song itself is a masterclass in sonic whiplash, meticulously engineered alongside collaborators like Jason Richardson and Luke Holland. It opens unexpectedly with a darkly elegant, piano-driven melody and an atmospheric choir. Radke sets a somber, haunting tone, contemplating the relentless gears of the global war machine and the human collateral left in its wake. But just as you settle into the melody, the track shifts gears into overdrive with rapid-fire raps, blistering metal arpeggios, and a pulse-pounding electronic beat.

The unprecedented gathering of music icons

The genius of ‘Joseph’ lies in how perfectly it utilizes its iconic guest stars. Corey Taylor emerges in a storm of fury, delivering an old-school Slipknot masked, rapid-fire verse aimed squarely at institutional violence and systemic failures. His signature, powerful gravelly roar injects a raw, frantic adrenaline into the mix, complete with a clever nod to Radke’s early days in Escape the Fate.

After a punishing, djent-heavy breakdown, the instrumental pivots beautifully into jazz-chord territory, allowing Serj Tankian to shine. Tankian’s contribution is distinctly operatic, haunting, and poignant, utilizing his signature vocal style to reflect on the historical and ongoing horrors of genocide.

Cinematic chaos meets chart dominance

To accompany this auditory assault, the band released a jaw-dropping, high-budget music video directed by Jensen Noen. The video is a surrealist, cinematic feast featuring plane crashes, high-speed motorcycle chases, and a literal mountain of skeletons that visualizes the track’s apocalyptic themes. Seeing Radke, Taylor, and Tankian performing together onscreen is a surreal moment that cements this collaboration as an instant classic. Following the massive streaming success of their standalone collaborations like ‘God Is a Weapon’ with Marilyn Manson, Falling in Reverse has proven once again that they are the premier provocateurs of modern rock. ‘Joseph’ is a manic, chaotic, and completely unhinged epic that demands to be heard.

Duyog Bangsamoro, a national multisectoral coalition supporting the Bangsamoro peace process, welcomed on Sunday the assumption of the first elected parliament in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In a statement, the coalition of 15 civil society organizations said the convening of the first-ever elected 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament is a ‘long-delayed milestone’ and a significant step toward genuine autonomy as envisioned by the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The first parliamentary elections were conducted last Sept. 14 after four postponements since the region’s establishment in 2019.

It also welcomed the election of inaugural Chief Minister Abdulraof ‘Sammy Gambar’ Macacua, who secured a 51-member majority of the Members of Parliament (MPs).

According to Duyog Bangsamoro, Macacua has consistently said the CAB must be substantively fulfilled before the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sign an exit agreement.

The coalition said it expects Macacua to work with every MP, ‘with rightful respect for all voices and the role of the minority including any opposition bloc within,’ and with all sectors of the BARMM, while safeguarding the region’s autonomy from ‘undue external influence.’

Macacua succeeded MILF Chair Ahod ‘Al Haj Murad’ Ebrahim, who served as interim chief minister when the region was governed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which was abolished with the assumption of the elected MPs into office on Oct. 30.

Duyog Bangsamoro urged the new Parliament to protect and advance the laws passed by the BTA, including the antidynasty and gender quota provisions in the BARMM Electoral Code and Local Governance Code, the Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples’ Act, and the Bangsamoro Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Act.

The group also called for reforms on the spread of firearms, gerrymandering, corruption and nepotism and other pressing regional issues.

The coalition warned that major commitments under the CAB’s normalization phase remain unfulfilled on both the government and MILF sides, including the decommissioning of MILF fighters and their promised socioeconomic package.

It called for the remaining milestones to be completed within the next year as the group recommitted to working with the GPH, the MILF and the Bangsamoro Parliament toward achieving that goal.

Duyog Bangsamoro’s prominent members include former Teresita Quintos Deles, presidential peace adviser during the Aquino administration, and Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, government chief peace negotiator who signed the CAB with the MILF in 2014.

Much work ahead

Ebrahim vowed to continue advancing genuine reforms, moral governance, peace, and meaningful development for the Bangsamoro people.

He made the assurance despite failing to clinch the chief minister position during the first regular parliament’s inaugural session on Oct. 30.

Neither Ebrahim nor Mohagher Iqbal, MILF vice chair, was elected as deputy minister or earned committee chairmanships during the election of officers.

Despite that, Ebrahim vowed to continue advancing the welfare and development of the Bangsamoro region.

‘There is still much work to be done, and we continue to encourage every Bangsamoro to unite, participate, and take an active role in building a more prosperous, peaceful, stable, and stronger Bangsamoro,’ Ebrahim said in a statement on Saturday.

Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento praised Ebrahim for demonstrating a ‘spirit of statesmanship.’

‘Today, as the Bangsamoro enters a new chapter with the election of its Chief Minister and Parliament Speaker, I wish to recognize MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim for demonstrating the spirit of statesmanship I had hoped to see, placing the greater interest of the Bangsamoro above political differences,’ Sarmiento said in a Facebook post.

Sarmiento said Ebrahim’s lifelong advocacy for peace and meaningful self-governance showed that autonomy ‘is not merely about political power, but about empowering people, unlocking economic opportunities, and realizing the Bangsamoro’s fullest potential.’

A 71-year-old fisherman drowned after falling into a river in the town of Tagkawayan, Quezon, on Sunday evening, Nov. 1, police said.

The victim, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, was walking along Aloneros Bridge in Barangay Cabugwang at around 6:30 p.m. when he accidentally fell into the river, according to a report from the Quezon police on Monday.

Residents recovered his body after nearly two hours of search and rescue operations.

Police said the victim’s remains would undergo a post-mortem examination to help determine the cause of death.

For now, police recorded his death as a ‘drowning incident.’

John Mark ‘Marama’ Tokong gave the Filipino crowd plenty to cheer about after beating Brazilian World No. 11 Samuel Pupo to advance to Round 2 of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour Philippines Pro at Cloud 9 here Sunday.

Tokong put up 16.60 points on waves of 8.60 and 8.00, while Pupo could only manage 11.00 in their opening-round heat.

Surfing before a big home crowd, Tokong handled the pressure well, making the most of the six-to-eight-foot waves under light conditions.

He admitted that competing in front of his fellow Filipinos was not easy, but he tried not to think too much about the pressure once he got into the water.

‘It’s crazy and amazing. There was a lot of pressure, but I just told myself to relax, keep things simple and enjoy the waves,’ Tokong said.

He could hear his family, friends and supporters cheering from the shore whenever he came out of a wave. For the Filipino surfer, that made the experience even more special.

‘I’m not doing this just for myself, but also for my family, friends, fans and especially the Philippines. Representing my country is very important to me,’ he said.

With one round behind him, Tokong is now looking forward to his next heat, hoping to give the Filipino fans another performance to cheer for.

Surfers who lose in the opening round will still receive US$13,000 (around P830,000), while the champion will collect US$80,000 (approximately P5.1 million).

Around 200 rice farmers from Maguing and Poona Bayabao in Lanao del Sur received fertilizer assistance after participating in a training program on improving rice production and adapting to climate change, particularly the effects of El Niño.

The Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur, through its Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), conducted the training on the PalayCheck System as part of its flagship agriculture and livelihood program.

In a post on its official Facebook page, the provincial government said the participants received either urea or complete fertilizer to support their rice production.

Last week’s training covered farmer profiling, pre- and post-training assessments, and cost and return analysis to help farmers improve their knowledge and adopt more effective rice farming practices.

It also focused on climate-resilient agricultural techniques to prepare farmers for changing weather conditions and the potential impact of El Niño on their crops and livelihoods.

The provincial government acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), represented by Agriculturist I Baimona Ditual, and Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Asral Barauntong, particularly in the fertilizer distribution.

In Poona Bayabao, MAFAR Agricultural Technologist Zenaida Daud and Municipal Information Officer Mojib Romero also underscored the importance of training in helping farmers deal with the effects of El Niño.

‘Through this initiative, OPAg continues to promote improved rice production and climate-resilient farming practices to help sustain farmers’ livelihoods,’ the provincial government said.

The program is part of the provincial government’s efforts to strengthen agricultural productivity and support farmers through technical training and farm inputs.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported a generally peaceful and orderly observance of Undas 2026 nationwide, recording more than 40.7 million visitors in cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria nationwide from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2

‘Based on reports from the ground, this year’s Undas was generally peaceful and orderly, reflecting the discipline of our personnel and the cooperation of the public,’ said PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. in a statement on Monday.

The PNP said 40,740,246 visitors had been recorded in 5,311 burial sites from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.

A total of 1,695,440 visitors were recorded as of 6 a.m. on Monday.

Police also reported confiscating a total of 6,499 prohibited items from cemeteries nationwide.

These included 879 pointed or bladed weapons, 62 alcoholic beverages, 2,817 lighters, 1,739 cigarette and vape products, 180 cooking materials, and 397 flammable substances.

Nartatez said initial field reports indicated that security measures effectively managed the influx of cemetery visitors and travelers during the annual observance.

Over 166,000 police personnel and force multipliers were deployed to secure cemeteries, transport hubs, and other public areas.

Police assistance desks and emergency response teams were also stationed to assist cemetery visitors, especially children, senior citizens, and those requiring immediate help.

‘Our priority was to ensure people could honor their loved ones safely, and we are encouraged by the results of our collective efforts,’ Nartatez said.

The Philippines can no longer afford to mistake economic growth for economic transformation. The International Monetary Fund in 2024 reported that Philippine labor productivity remained below its prepandemic trend, while medium-term potential growth was revised downwards from 6.5 percent before the pandemic to 6.0-6.3 percent.

The 2024 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas study on total factor productivity (TFP) supports these findings, indicating that Philippine productivity was below its prepandemic level, with estimated TFP growth in 2022 ranging from -1.9 percent to 0.8 percent, depending on the trend estimate.

A critical question can be raised: Did the Philippines restore its productive capacity after the pandemic, or merely resume activity without rebuilding its foundations and making it resilient to external shocks?

The economy contracted by 9.5 percent in 2020, rebounded 7.6 percent in 2022, then slowed to 5.5 percent in 2023.

Yet, a recovering gross domestic product (GDP) does not necessarily mean a recovering productive potential. Growth has gone downhill since then.

During the pandemic, businesses closed, investment collapsed, workers lost jobs and firms’ accumulated knowledge, supplier relationships and production routines were disrupted.

These losses may have shifted the country’s production possibility frontier (PPF) inward, thereby reducing the economy’s productive capability.

As proof of this weakened productivity capability, the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office initially reported that Philippine investment fell by about 34 percent in 2020 from the 2019 level. Pandemic scarring is later seen to have cut annual potential growth by an average of 1.69 percentage points from 2022 to 2024, with roughly two-thirds due to slower physical capital accumulation.

These losses compounded long-standing weaknesses. The Philippines has struggled to build a broad industrial base and move agricultural workers into higher value-added activities.

Consumption, supported partly by overseas Filipino workers’ remittances, stays central to domestic demand. Remittances are indispensable to households, but consumption cannot substitute for a productive economy generating technological progress, sustained productivity gains and better-paying jobs.

The missed opportunity in 2022

The strong GDP growth in 2022 offered an opportunity to rebuild the economy’s productive capacity. Instead of chanting growth, the government could have pursued a coordinated industrial strategy to restore investment, upgrade technology, develop skills and reconnect domestic suppliers to production networks.

Technology is central since machinery alone is insufficient. Productive capacity depends on firms’ ability to acquire, operate, adapt and improve technology, which decides whether investment raises productivity and enables more sophisticated production. Without it, the country risks being trapped in lower value-added activities despite participating in global markets.

A capability-driven industrial policy could have found and subsidized functionally upgraded industries that specialize in nonroutine jobs and produced incomes according to their ability to develop technological change, create domestic value and generate productive linkages.

To do this, public support must be conditional, transparent and time bound, tied to measurable improvements in productivity, technology adoption, workforce skills and export performance.

Crucially, these capabilities could have spread beyond large enterprises. Supplier development programs could have trained micro, small and medium enterprises to adopt technology, meet quality standards and become reliable suppliers to advanced firms.

Assistance could have been judged by capability improvements, not the number of beneficiaries. Investment, education, trade, innovation, development finance and infrastructure could have been coordinated to support this transformation.

The cost of misguided policy

Reforms beginning in 2022 required costly public investment, but wrong policies carried costs as well. Early intervention could have preserved viable enterprises, skilled workers and supplier relationships before deterioration made rebuilding harder. It could have accelerated productive investment and strengthened domestic firms before subsequent headwinds intensified.

A stronger industrial base would not have insulated the Philippines from global commodity price shocks, tighter monetary conditions or weaker external demand. However, more productive firms, diversified production and deeper domestic supply chains could have provided greater capacity to adapt, sustain output and protect employment. Better paid productive jobs would have strengthened household welfare and confidence.

Appropriate reform would necessarily have increased immediate government spending. Its potential advantage however, was lowering the longer-term cost of rebuilding lost capabilities while expanding the productive base from which future income and public revenue could grow.

This required disciplined support for viable firms, measurable performance targets, withdrawal of aid from persistent underperformers and safeguards against indiscriminate subsidies and corruption.

Rebuilding productive capacity

The pandemic did not cause all the structural weaknesses, but it exposed and deepened them. Not pursuing capability-building reforms decisively during the recovery left the country vulnerable to subsequent shocks and allowed further erosion of its productive potential.

The government must urgently move beyond managing the economy’s immediate pressures and commit to a disciplined industrial policy that builds productive capabilities, upgrades technology and diffuses them across domestic firms.

Every year of delay risks widening the gap between what the Philippines produces today and what a stronger industrial base could produce. Without decisive action, economic stagnation will no longer be merely a looming risk. It could become this administration’s defining legacy.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Monday demanded that the government help end impunity for crimes against journalists and take decisive action to protect media workers.

The call came as the world observed the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on Nov. 2.

In a statement, the NUJP stressed that impunity is not a new problem and that every new attack highlights the need for stronger accountability mechanisms and more decisive government action.

‘NUJP has long called for justice for journalists who have been killed, accountability for those behind the attacks, and concrete measures to protect media workers. Yet, these calls continue to be made as cases remain unresolved and attacks persist,’ it said.

‘Government commitments must be measured by the cases resolved, perpetrators held accountable, and journalists protected-not by statements and promises alone,’ the group added.

The NUJP further said that ‘there can be no genuine press freedom where journalists are killed, threatened, or silenced with impunity.’

It also stressed that there can be no justice while those responsible for media killings remain free and those who seek the truth continue to face danger.

‘A dangerous place for journalists’

The NUJP Media Safety Office has documented 266 incidents of attacks and threats against media workers and at least 12 journalists killed under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Only three of these killings have been classified as non-work-related, based on data from the Presidential Task Force on Media Security.

‘The Ampatuan Massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 people, including 32 media workers on November 23, 2009, remains one of the starkest examples of impunity in the country. Seventeen years after the massacre, the victims’ families continue to seek full justice,’ it said.

‘While the December 2019 convictions marked an important development, the case remains far from resolved. Appeals by the convicted individuals remain pending before the Court of Appeals and dozens of other accused remain at large,’ the NUJP also said.

The NUJP also noted that the fight for justice continued for photojournalist Reynaldo ‘Bebot’ Momay, whose remains have never been recovered.

In August 2026, Momay’s daughter again appealed to the Court of Appeals to recognize him as the 58th victim of the massacre, following the trial court’s refusal to include him in the list of victims.

Developments in cases

Meanwhile, the NUJP acknowledged developments in other cases, which it said showed that accountability is possible and must be pursued.

One such development was the conviction of two men for the 2019 murder of Kidapawan broadcaster Eduardo ‘Ed’ Dizon, seven years after he was killed.

The recent arrest of a suspect in connection with the shooting of Capiz broadcaster Jay Lavapiez was also a step toward accountability, the NUJP said.

‘These developments matter. But arrests and convictions must not be treated as the end of the pursuit of justice. They must be followed through with proper investigations, prosecution, and accountability for everyone involved,’ the statement read.

‘In the Lavapiez case, authorities must establish the roles of everyone involved, including the gunman and those who may have ordered or financed the attack. All responsible must be brought before the courts.’

The NUJP also lamented that the failed attempt to arrest former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag in Ifugao on Nov. 1 highlighted ‘how accountability can remain elusive, particularly when those facing charges are powerful or influential.’

Bantag remains wanted in connection with the killing of broadcaster Percival ‘Percy Lapid’ Mabasa and the death of alleged middleman Cristito Villamor Palana.

‘The continued failure to bring him before the courts underscores the need for authorities to sustain efforts to locate and arrest him so that he can answer the charges in court,’ the NUJP said.

Furthermore, the killings of Gerry Ortega and Mabasa also underscore the need to pursue justice beyond holding the direct perpetrators accountable.

It said that those who ordered, financed, or enabled these crimes must also face justice. The recent killing of broadcast journalist Adrian Loterte in Daraga, Albay, on Oct.12, 2026, is another reminder that the threat of violence against journalists persists, the NUJP said.

Gloria Diaz is going international again, and will be returning to pageantry to bring her signature sass to a global audience as she is set to join the selection committee for the second season of MGI All Stars.

The 1969 Miss Universe titleholder and first Filipina to win the crown has been known to cause pageant candidates to squirm in their heels with her sharp questions. And while only a few have survived and ended up winning, almost all of her ‘victims’ bowed out of the competition.

Because of this, many pageant observers coined the phrase ‘Gloria Diaz curse,’ and have warned candidates about the high probability of losing the crown if they pick the beauty queen to ask the question.

MGI All Stars made the announcement about Diaz’s inclusion in the MGI All Stars Season 2 Selection Committee on social media on Sunday evening, Nov. 1. Aside from being credited as Miss Universe 1969 titleholder, she was also cited for being an award-winning actress and TV personality.

Diaz will be joining returning judges Psi Somut Scott from Thailand, Osmel Sousa from Venezuela, and Omar Harfouch from Lebanon. Pageant coach Lu Sierra from the United States and 2026 Miss Grand International first runner-up Shyare Andrade from Ecuador will also be part of the committee.

MGI All Stars is a groundbreaking competition that gathers participants who have already competed in international pageants for a chance at redemption. It is organized by the same team behind the Miss Grand International pageant based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Its first season was held in May, with 2025 Miss Universe finalist Vanessa Pulgarin from Colombia winning the crown and $100,000. She stands to win up to $1 million if she successfully defends her title in two more consecutive editions. The Philippines’ Gazini Ganados finished in the Top 5 in that edition.

This time, three candidates from the Philippines are confirmed to take part in Season 2. Miss Eco International 2025 Alexie Mae Brooks and Miss International Queen 2025 finalist Anne Patricia Lorenzo Diaz earned their way into to competition by winning at the inaugural Reina Filipinas pageant in August, while Miss World 2019 and Miss Universe 2023 veteran Michelle Marquez Dee is a direct entrant in the competition.

The contestants are expected to arrive in Bangkok later this month, while the final competition is set on Dec. 12 at the MGI Hall at Bravo BKK.

Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan on Monday urged the government to intensify its crackdown on hoarders, profiteers, and cartels as the country braces for the impact of a strong El Niño on food production and prices.

He also called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Price Coordinating Council and other concerned agencies to strengthen market monitoring and enforce applicable price freezes in areas declared under a state of calamity.

He said these agencies should recommend the imposition of price ceilings when warranted under the law to protect consumers from unreasonable price increases.

‘We should not profit from the impending calamity that will further afflict our countrymen, especially farmers and fishermen who also buy food from the market. During times of crisis, consumers must be protected against exploitation,’ Pangilinan said.

According to him, authorities should investigate and prosecute individuals and entities engaged in hoarding, profiteering, and cartel activities that seek to exploit the threat of drought and water shortages to manipulate food supply and prices.

‘[They should] gather evidence and pursue criminal and administrative cases against those responsible for illegal price manipulation. Enforcement must not end with frontline sellers. We must target the very top, the big business owners behind these syndicates,’ said Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform.

Under Republic Act No. 7581, or the Price Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 10623, the prices of basic necessities in areas declared under a state of calamity are automatically frozen at their prevailing levels or placed under automatic price control, unless otherwise declared by the president.

Pangilinan also warned that public officials who conspire in or knowingly conceal violations of the Price Act may be held accountable.