Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Air quality in Iloilo City remained a health concern early Thursday as fine particulate pollution reached a level classified as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ amid haze affecting parts of the Philippines.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region 6 said its Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station at the Garden of Love in Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz district, recorded a PM2.5 rolling 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) average of 150 as of 5 a.m.

The reading falls under the ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ category, prompting the agency to advise children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with existing respiratory or heart conditions to limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities.

Sensitive individuals were also advised to reduce their exposure to outdoor air whenever possible.

PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller. Because of their extremely small size, these particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs and pose greater health risks, particularly to people with underlying medical conditions.

DENR-EMB Region 6 has been closely monitoring air quality in the Metro Iloilo airshed as haze continues to affect several areas of the country.

The agency said the haze may be associated with smoke and transboundary haze from ongoing wildfires in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

The results from other ambient air monitoring stations will be released once available.

DENR-EMB Region 6 said monitoring across the Metro Iloilo airshed would continue while haze conditions persist, with updated readings to be posted through its official channels for public guidance.

The latest reading underscores continued concern over air quality in Iloilo after authorities stepped up monitoring this week amid reports of haze affecting Western Visayas and other parts of the country.

The San Jose Water District in Dinagat Islands has suspended its entire water supply operation after a large fire swept through a watershed area and reached facilities serving communities in three towns.

The shutdown came as the province recorded a dangerous heat index of 45 degrees Celsius at noon on Thursday, raising concerns over residents’ access to water amid extreme heat.

The water district said the fire began around 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, in Sitio Palo Doce, Barangay Doña Helen in Basilisa town. It spread rapidly by 3 p.m. the following day.

The blaze eventually reached the pumping station in Sitio Manoligao, Barangay Del Pilar in Cagdianao, and moved toward the upper portion of the watershed in Barangay Cuarinta, San Jose.

The fire remained active in parts of the watershed as of Thursday, said the water district.

Clearing operations, a rapid damage assessment, and needs analysis were underway to determine the condition of the water facilities and the extent of the damage.

‘Water supply operations will resume once the status of our facilities is declared safe and secure,’ the water district management said in an advisory.

Repair and restoration work will begin immediately after the assessment, it added.

The shutdown comes as residents contend with dangerous heat.

At noon Thursday, the air temperature reached 34°C, with a dew point of 27°C, producing a heat index of 45°C-classified as ‘danger.’

Under such conditions, prolonged exposure or physical activity may cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke.

Residents were advised to drink plenty of water, avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, wear light-colored clothing, use umbrellas, and limit strenuous activities during midday and afternoon. They were also advised to avoid alcoholic drinks.

The water district appealed for patience and cooperation, acknowledging that the shutdown would worsen the existing water shortage

Our priority is public safety and the restoration of water supply service at the earliest possible time,’ it said.

Asia Rose Simpson delivered Filipino flair on the 2026 Miss World stage with a quick glimpse of the folk dance ‘Pandanggo sa Ilaw’ during the pageant’s ‘Dances of the World’ showcase.

The 18-year-old youth advocate appeared in a pink ‘Traje de Mestiza’ by designer Renel Suarez, complete with a floral headdress and ‘candles’ in her hands and on her head.

Simpson and the rest the 110 delegates each had their own moments on stage at the April 2 Square in Nha Trang, Vietnam, for the ‘Hello Vietnam, Hello World show held on Wednesday evening, Sept. 2.

The ladies were presented in four batches, according to their continental groupings, with the Asia and Oceania group closing the show.

‘Dances of the World’ used to be incorporated in the coronation show, with only a few delegates getting solo spots while the rest of the delegates danced with them in the background, all in their traditional attires.

But as in the previous staging in India, the Miss World Organization mounted a separate show to showcase the dances from the different countries, and all the delegates had their solo spots.

‘Simpson embodies the timeless elegance of Pandanggo sa Ilaw, a cherished Filipino dance where light, movement, and tradition come together in perfect harmony,’ the Miss World Philippines Organization posted on social media, sharing photos of the delegate in her ‘traje.’

Simpson has taken huge strides in her quest for the ‘blue crown.’ She had already secured her spot in the Top 40 for winning the ‘Head-to-Head’ Challenge for the Asia and Oceania group.

She also garnered placements in the Top Model and Sports Challenges, in Beauty with a Purpose, and even placed third in the Talent contest.

Simpson hopes to become the second Filipino woman to win the Miss World title, 13 years since Megan Young scored the Philippines’ first-ever victory in the international pageant in 2013.

The Miss World pageant is holding its 73rd edition this year to celebrate its 75th anniversary. The new queen will be crowned on Sept. 5, also in Nha Trang.

Another portion of the tail dike in Minalin, Pampanga collapsed early Thursday morning due to the strong river current.

Minalin Mayor Philip Siojo Naguit said part of the San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin Tail Dike at Barangay San Nicolas is now impassable to all three-wheel and four-wheel vehicles.

In a social media post, the mayor also said only residents on motorcycles who are buying necessities are allowed to pass along the partially damaged tail dike road.

Naguit said the collapsed portion is about 60 meters away from the section of the tail dike at Barangay Sta. Catalina that was breached by raging currents on August 30.

The Sta. Catalina portion of the tail dike is currently being reinforced by the Department of Public Works and Highways to mitigate flooding in affected villages.

Meanwhile, Naguit appealed to boat owners and helmsmen fetching passengers in deeply flooded areas of his town to be more considerate in charging fees.

‘I am making a sincere appeal to boat operators. I know I cannot regulate your rates, but we are in a time when our fellow citizens are struggling financially. I hope you will not raise your charges. I understand you are working to earn a living, but please do not take advantage of the situation,’ he said in the vernacular. The mayor did not reveal how much the fees are being contested.

Several Minalin residents who commented on the post lauded the mayor’s appeal.

‘Thank you for pointing out the boat fare. It is so expensive. I hope no one takes advantage of the situation because it is heartbreaking to see those who cannot afford the fare forced to wade and walk through the dirty water,’ a Minalin resident said.

Senate majority leader Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri on Thursday cleared the air on his statement expressing exhaustion for working 12 hours a day.

His remark came amid the coinciding schedules of the second regular session, the budget hearings and the impeachment trial in the Senate.

When the impeachment court was discussing its potential schedule for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in consideration of the chamber’s urgent legislative work, Zubiri had said he was ‘very tired,’ having to go to the Senate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. almost daily.

His pronouncement was met with scrutiny from netizens who pointed out that his exhaustion does not compare to lower to middle-class earners who work the same hours for less income.

Some said that it is part of a lawmaker’s job to work long hours when necessary.

‘It doesn’t matter if I’m tired. We will do our job as senators and impeachment court judges. If we have to work 24/7, we will do it 24/7,’ Zubiri said in a media briefing.

The senator also explained that he was being ‘honest’ about his condition at that time.

‘I just mentioned my present condition at that time, because it was very difficult to juggle the three very important activities of the Senate,’ he explained.

‘It was the first time that there was an impeachment, a budget and a legislative session,’ he said.

In a social media statement, Zubiri further explained that his message was primarily on the schedule of all their present duties.

‘This was my only point yesterday: Time must be maximized for the impeachment trial, regular session and budget season because these are important,’ he said.

‘The goal: To finish these three properly, on time, and still be sane,’ he added.

Since July 29, the Senate has been holding impeachment proceedings and plenary sessions every Mondays to Wednesdays.

With budget hearings now at play, the Senate approved the temporary suspension of rules to allow the finance panel’s budget hearings to simultaneously be held during plenary sessions after the impeachment trials from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m

The door is now open for Bennie Boatwright to possibly make his Gilas Pilipinas debut sometime later this year after a bill for his naturalization lapsed into law.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. neither signed nor vetoed the bill after Aug. 31, thus paving the way for Boatwright to possibly suit up in the fifth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers in November.

Boatwright, however, will have to process his Philippine passport and take an Oath of Allegiance before his citizenship becomes official, thus ruling out any chance of reinforcing Gilas for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Nonetheless, Gilas coach Tim Cone is thrilled that Boatwright could soon get his chance at joining the team.

‘Bennie is a great guy and will be a great representative for the country. We’re happy he finally received his papers,’ Cone said.

The 6-foot-10 became a candidate for naturalization in 2024, shortly after reinforcing San Miguel Beer to that year’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup title.

But the process took longer, largely due to an injury, before getting the nod of both the House of Representatives and the Senate a few months ago.

With Boatwright’s impending Gilas stint, the team will soon have an additional option at the naturalized player spot, especially now with Justin Brownlee nursing an injury that kept him out of the recent Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers window.

Late country music legend Dolly Parton will get a new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, after the original one was vandalized, officials have announced.

The United States has been in mourning since the death of the beloved singer last week at the age of 80.

Fans flocked to her home state of Tennessee to pay homage to the musician, philanthropist and entrepreneur, as President Donald Trump ordered flags on government buildings be flown at half-staff.

They also laid flowers and left candles on the star in the heart of Hollywood that commemorates her decades-long career.

But on Monday, vandals scratched the star, which was dedicated in 1984, leaving Parton’s name badly defaced, with video on social media showing the damage.

Ana Martinez of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said the tribute items left on the star had been cleared in anticipation of already-scheduled work to repair cracks when it was vandalized.

The Hollywood Historic Trust, which maintains the thousands of stars along Hollywood Boulevard, said a replacement star would be ready within days.

‘The Hollywood Historic Trust and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce are proud to honor the legacy of Dolly Parton with a replacement of her star,’ the organization wrote on Instagram.

‘The new star will be available for viewing this Friday.’

American actress Carla Jeffery, best known for portraying cheerleader Bree in Disney’s ‘Zombies’ film franchise, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 1. She was 33.

Jeffery’s death was confirmed by her management company, Alexanders Talent Management, through a statement shared on the actress’ Instagram page on Thursday, Sept. 3.

‘It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Carla Jeffery, who passed away on September 1, 2026, at just 33 years old,’ it said. ‘For more than 20 years, we had the privilege of watching her grow into a beautiful, vibrant, and incredibly talented woman whose radiant smile could light up any room.’

‘As Bree in Disney’s hit ZOMBIES franchise, Carla shared her joy, humor, and bright spirit with audiences around the world. Carla was more than a client; she was family,’ it continued. ‘Our hearts are with Carla’s family and loved ones during this devastating time.’

While the cause of death was not immediately disclosed, the talent management company appealed to the public to respect the privacy of Jeffery’s family during this difficult time.

‘Rest beautifully, Carla, Your light will never be forgotten,’ it added.

Among those who expressed grief over Jeffery’s passing were her ‘Zombies’ co-stars Milo Manheim, Trevor Tordjman and Freya Skye.

In 2022, Jeffery revealed that she had been battling epilepsy since she was 18. At the time, the actress also opened up about a time when she suffered a seizure on the set of ‘Zombies.’

‘I’ve had this for years, and it’s not going anywhere. I just have to work around it,’ she said. ‘I’m going to keep doing what I love, and at the same time, use my story to help others. I want to be an inspiration. I want you to know that you can do what you want to do despite it all.’

Jeffery began her acting career at the age of 12, starring in the 2006 movie ‘Phat Girlz.’ Before ‘Zombies,’ she also appeared in Nickelodeon’s ‘iCarly,’ the TV series ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ the sitcom ‘Miss Guided,’ and in Disney’s ‘Good Luck Charlie’ and ‘Shake It Up.’

Jeffery starred in the first three films of the ‘Zombies’ franchise, and voiced the character of Bree in ‘Zombies: The Re-Animated Series’ released in 2024.

Sen. Jose ‘Jinggoy’ Estrada on Thursday declined to enter a plea to the graft and plunder charges against him before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.

This prompted Sandiganbayan Fifth Division Chairperson Associate Justice Zaldy Trespesses to enter a not guilty plea for the senator, who entered the courtroom walking with crutches following his left knee snapping last week.

Estrada is accused of receiving a total of P573.75 million in kickbacks for infrastructure and flood control projects in the National Capital Region, Bulacan and Occidental Mindoro that were included in the 2025 national budget.

Before being arraigned, Estrada’s legal counsel, Laurence Arroyo, said his client waived the reading of the information against him.

Upon questioning by Trespesses, Estrada confirmed that he understood the implications of him waiving the reading of the information.

Arroyo also confirmed that their camp maintained their petition filed last July 29 to allow Estrada to post bail for the plunder charge.

Plunder is a non-bailable case, but bail may be granted if the court finds that the evidence of guilt is not strong.

The preliminary conference for the case was set for Monday afternoon, September 11.

The senator is charged alongside then-South Manila District Engineering Office (DEO) chief Manny Bulusan, then-Quezon City 1st DEO chief Arturo Gonzales Jr. and then-North Manila DEO assistant chief Denryl Caesar Cortuna.

All accused were taken into government custody and committed to the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas last June 1.

Bulusan, Gonzales and Cortuna pleaded not guilty to the charges against them last June 4, but Estrada’s arraignment had been delayed due to several pending motions.

An arraignment, in which the accused is required to enter a guilty or not guilty plea, formally begins the criminal proceedings.

After his arraignment, asked about his physical well-being, Estrada briefly told reporters, ‘Okay lang. According to my doctor, it’s up to me if I want the surgery on my left knee.’

(I’m okay. According to my doctor, it’s up to me if I want the surgery on my left knee.)

Estrada’s left knee snapped while he was preparing for a check-up at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City last week.

His orthopedic doctor told reporters that he had recommended Estrada to undergo a surgery to treat the meniscus tear on his left case.

Estrada was previously charged alongside former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

However, on Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division granted a motion by state prosecutors to exclude Bonoan from the graft and plunder charges against him, Estrada, Bulusan, Gonzales and Cortuna.

The move to exclude Bonoan came amid a bid by the Office of the Ombudsman to use him as a state witness in other cases related to the flood control corruption scandal.

‘We will exhaust all legal remedies available to us as advised by my lawyers,’ Estrada said as he exited the courtroom, reiterating his earlier statement on Bonoan’s exclusion.

Bonoan had been under hospital arrest since last June at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame due to several illnesses.

Ignoring the harsh monsoon weather, the sons and daughters of World War II veterans celebrated the 81st year since Imperial Japanese Army Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita formally surrendered at Camp John Hay, ending the Pacific leg of the global war in September 3, 1945.

Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan said the war was a terrible experience for Filipinos who suffered the brutality of Japanese military occupation for four years, particularly in Baguio which became Yamashita’s last stronghold when Allied Forces began liberating towns that was invaded.

Recently dubbed as ‘Victory Day,’ September 3 is memorialized for Yamashita signing Japan’s surrender documents in the presence ofAmerican Generals Arthur Percival and Jonathan Wainwright.

Historians recently pointed out that Camp John Hay was also where the Pacific War began, when it was attacked by Japanese fighters on December 8,1941 shortly after Japan’s attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 – making Baguio pivotal to the Pacific War.

The battles did not end with Yamashita’s surrender after he was cornered by indigenous Filipino guerrillas and Allied soldiers in Ifugao’s Kiangan town on September 2, because ‘mopping operations’ took days here and in the Visayas, said Miguel Villa-real, Philippine Veterans Bank First Vice President for Marketing and Communications, and a veteran’s son.

The 66th Infantry Regiment, composed of Igorot soldiers and guerrillas who served as the Resistance in this part of the country, proved instrumental in freeing Baguio and other Cordilleran towns from the Japanese, Domogan said.

Before the celebration at Baguio’s Veterans Park in front of Burnham Park, the group unveiled a repainted monument and a marker at Naguilian Road which represents one of the three gateways opened by the Igorot Infantry Regiment and American soldiers as they battled to liberate the summer capital.

Domogan said the end of the Pacific War and the end of World War II as a whole led ‘to the (global) realization of democratic principles, and affirmation of human rights and the dignity and self respect among nations which we have been aspiring for after centuries of colonial domination.’

Villa-real and Domogan again urged Malacañang and Congress to make Victory Day a national non-working holiday. ‘September 3 is not just about Baguio. It is about the whole nation,’ the lawmaker said.