Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

In a full-circle moment, Alex Eala met her childhood hero, Maria Sharapova, as a guest on the tennis legend’s podcast, Pretty Tough.

The episode featuring the Filipino sensation premieres on Thursday (Manila time). Sharapova posted a video teaser on her Instagram. In the short clip, Eala even showed Sharapova a picture of her with the five-time Grand Slam winner and former World No. 1 taken in 2010.

During Eala’s historic Wimbledon campaign last July, she drew praise from Sharapova, who called her ‘a star’ following her second-round win over then-defending champion Iga Swiatek.

One of the sport’s brightest stars with a massive following, Eala has been a hot commodity on and off the court.

Apart from being the biggest draw in Grand Slams and other major tournaments, Eala has also made rounds on the global fashion circuit, with high-profile appearances in New York and Paris Fashion Week. She was recently at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2027 show at Grand Palais in Paris shortly after winning bronze at the Asian Games in Japan.

The 21-year-old Eala is having a banner season, highlighted by her first WTA Tour title at the Washington Open and rise to World No. 18.

Robb Guinto became emotional as she confirmed that she and Yasser Marta have broken up while denying that she was unfaithful to the actor.

Guinto addressed their breakup in a Facebook Live video on Monday, Oct. 6, saying she decided to speak out after feeling that her name and her family’s reputation were being affected by the issues surrounding their relationship.

‘Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako magsasalita. Hindi para linisin ko ‘yung sarili ko or kung anuman. Nakita ko kasi nasisira ‘yung pangalan ko,’ she said.

‘Ang sakit lang kasi hindi lang ako ang naaapektuhan kundi pati yung mga magulang ko, ‘yung mga kamag-anak ko,’ she added.

The VMX star said she was hurt that their relationship problems had been discussed publicly instead of being resolved between them.

Guinto also dismissed claims that she may have been unfaithful to Marta, saying her busy schedule and reduced communication were not signs that she was seeing someone else.

‘Tang*na, hindi ko naman siya niloloko,’ she said in tears. ‘Hindi naman puwedeng ganoon. May mga ka-meeting ako. Hindi naman kailangan maya’t maya magme-message ako.’

Guinto said that Yasser had already broken up with her before appearing on ‘Fast Talk With Boy Abunda,’ where he became emotional while discussing their relationship.

‘In the first place, bago siya magpainterbyu, nakipaghiwalay na siya sa akin,’ she said. ‘Tapos sasabihin niya okay na kami, magsisinungaling siya sa press na okay kami. Na kami pa?’

The actress’ statement came days after Marta became emotional as he told Boy Abunda that he and Guinto were still together, yet acknowledged that they were going through something and declined to discuss their private issues.

Guinto and Yasser first met while working on the film ‘Desperada, ‘ with their relationship beginning after they became friends on the set. They said their connection deepened during the film’s production in late 2025.

It appears that the long hours of the impeachment trial are finally taking its toll, as both the prosecution panel and the clerk of court secretariat were scolded for some minor inefficiencies during the proceedings on Wednesday.

During the latter part of the trial, Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero called out the assisting counsel for the prosecution for failing to be of help to public prosecutor and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan, who was presenting witnesses from insurance companies from which Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio had purchased policies from.

Escudero said the assisting counsel should have been prepared to show the documents that the prosecution was confronting the witness with – who in this case was Manulife Head of Manage and Review Value Stream Malu Salanguit.

‘What seems to be the problem? What’s the name of the assisting counsel? What seems to be the problem? You don’t have a copy of the document?’ Escudero said the assisting counsel.

‘If you have a copy – to abbreviate the proceedings Honorable Suan, kindly just confront the witness with your copy if your assisting counsel cannot find it, you should have prepared. The assisting counsel should have been prepared for this already,’ he added.

Escudero also reminded Suan that the witness would not know which particular document he was referring to if he only mentions the marking number – as witnesses were not present when the evidence was pre-marked.

‘What is the copy that the witness is looking at right now, Honorable Suan? Again, you’re referring to an exhibit, she does not and is not familiar and aware with the exhibits that we pre-marked. That’s why assisting counsel is there to show her the exhibit you want her to look at and identify,’ Escudero said.

‘Your Honor, may I approach the witness?’ Suan asked.

‘Yes, kindly do so if it will help abbreviate the proceedings,’ Escudero added. ‘Chair instructs the assistant counsel to kindly prepare the documents, the other subsequent documents for this witness and the other witnesses.’

After the prosecution and the defense finished presenting questioning Salanguit, Escudero focused his attention to the clerk of court, as it took some time before they were able to situate Pru Life Chief Legal, Government Relations and Sustainability Officer Calvin Kohchet-Chua.

‘The clerk of court, through the OSAA (Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms), is kindly instructed to, kindly situate the witness to the witness stand already and to kindly be more efficient in terms of calling the witness from the holding room, so that we don’t unduly waste time,’ Escudero noted.

Since last Thursday, the Senate Impeachment Court has conducted whole-day trials, from 10 a.m. to at some points beyond 6 p.m. However, the trial on Wednesday went past the 7 p.m. mark as the court finished hearing the testimonies of bank and insurance company representatives.

Duterte is being tried before the Senate Impeachment Court over four main allegations. As of now, the prosecution is presenting evidence of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which focuses on her alleged unexplained wealth and her supposed failure to disclose these in her SALNs.

Discussions have shifted to Duterte’s bank accounts, after the prosecution’s witness, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura, testified on Monday that the council indeed flagged several transactions involving Duterte and her relatives worth P4.4 billion.

At one point, Buenaventura testified that Duterte and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, had made P193 million worth of unique bank transactions in just one day – on March 28, 2014.

Later on that day, Buenaventura testified that CALE88, the food company owned by Carpio that produces banana chips, got over P319,326,770.41 worth of funds from China – confirming the allegations made by former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

On Tuesday, Duterte’s lawyers were able to secure confirmation from AMLC that there was no document showing the Chinese government’s involvement with companies that sent funds to CALE88.

However, Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros eventually noted that her team studied the background of the two companies that transacted with CALE88 – China National Township Enterprises and the Beijing Jianweifang Food Company – revealing possible ties to the Chinese government.

Based on their research, Hontiveros said that China National Township Enterprises used to be directly under China’s Ministry of Agriculture, being a state-owned agricultural enterprise.

Canadian actor Simu Liu, who’s known for his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has tied the knot with his non-showbiz fiancée, Allison Hsu.

Celebrity news website TMZ said on Monday, Oct 5, that the couple tied the knot in France over the weekend. A publicist for Liu later confirmed it to CBC News.

Liu, 37, and Hsu, 30, got married almost four years after they went Instagram official in November 2022 when Hsu shared a photo of herself with Liu, using a smiling emoticon as the caption.

The couple made their red-carpet debut on Nov. 29, 2022, when they attended the premiere of American action comedy ‘Violent Night’ (2022) in Los Angeles.

Liu is best known for playing the Asian superhero Shang-Chi in Marvel blockbuster ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ (2021), before playing rival Ken in fantasy comedy film ‘Barbie’ (2023).

Hsu is the vice president of digital marketing at record label Interscope Records and was featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 music list in 2022.

The couple announced their engagement on May 11, 2025, with a joint post on Instagram. Among the photos were Liu proposing to Hsu near the Eiffel Tower and Hsu displaying a diamond ring.

‘Us forever,’ she wrote in the caption. They shared a photo of them kissing in another Instagram post on the same day.

Celebrity news website TMZ said on Monday that the couple tied the knot in France over the weekend. A publicist for Liu later confirmed it to CBC News.

Liu, 37, and Hsu, 30, got married almost four years after they went Instagram official in November 2022 when Hsu shared a photo of herself with Liu, using a smiling emoticon as the caption.

The couple made their red-carpet debut on Nov. 29, 2022, when they attended the premiere of American action comedy ‘Violent Night’ (2022) in Los Angeles.

Liu is best known for playing the Asian superhero Shang-Chi in Marvel blockbuster ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ (2021), before playing rival Ken in fantasy comedy film ‘Barbie’ (2023).

Hsu is the vice president of digital marketing at record label Interscope Records and was featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 music list in 2022.

The couple announced their engagement on May 11, 2025, with a joint post on Instagram. Among the photos were Liu proposing to Hsu near the Eiffel Tower and Hsu displaying a diamond ring.

‘Us forever,’ she wrote in the caption. They shared a photo of them kissing in another Instagram post on the same day.

‘From weekends in Paris, day trips to Palm Springs, long nights on set, afternoons vegging on the couch and everything in between, I choose you forever and always,’ Liu wrote.

Hsu shared more photos of the proposal on Instagram on Dec. 31, 2025, writing: ‘Best day of 2025, and the best year ahead.’

Liu quipped in the comment section: ‘Pretty stressful one for me.’

Hsu hinted on Instagram on Sept. 1 that the wedding was around the corner with a post of her bachelorette party in Tulum, Mexico.

‘Miss to Mrs with all my b****es,’ she wrote, sharing photos of the trip with a group of friends and herself in different bridal suits.

Liu will reprise the role of Shang-Chi in the upcoming superhero film ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ which is scheduled to open in Singapore cinemas on Dec 17.

To tighten security across Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) has deployed 110 newly trained community ‘lead scouts’ to serve as force multipliers on the ground.

The new Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active Auxiliaries (CAAs) completed their basic military training on Tuesday at the 4th Infantry Division Training School in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The Army expects the new militiamen to augment regular troops by securing vital installations, gathering local intelligence, and supporting law enforcement agencies.

Major Gen. Marion T. Angcao, 4ID commander, emphasized the CAFGU members’ crucial role as community-based frontliners, given their familiarity with the local terrain.

‘As frontliners, you are one of the most important forces of our Armed Forces. Because of your experience, knowledge of the area, and courage, you make a significant contribution to protecting our communities,’ Angcao said during the closing ceremony yesterday.

He noted that the CAAs act as the military’s eyes and ears on the ground, often spotting developments first and guiding regular forces toward the appropriate response.

‘You are our lead scouts – the first to see, the first to recognize the situation, and the first to guide our forces toward the right and safe direction. That is why we are deeply grateful to our CAAs,’ Angcao added.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has temporarily banned fishing and sailing in waters off Puerto Princesa and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park on Oct. 10 which form as a designated ‘drop zone’ for possible rocket debris from a planned Chinese space launch.

The sea restrictions will take effect from 3:20 a.m. to 3:49 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, according to an advisory issued by BFAR in Mimaropa.

The advisory, BFAR-MPRL-2026-008, said the affected waters need to be cleared in connection with the scheduled launch of a Long March 12 rocket from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Wenchang, at the Chinese province of Hainan.

BFAR said rocket debris was not expected to fall on land or inhabited areas within Philippine territory based on the span of the drop zone.

However, it warned that ships, fishing boats and other sea vessels passing through the area could potentially be damaged by falling debris.

There was also a possibility that remaining rocket debris could float in surrounding waters and eventually be carried by currents toward nearby shorelines, according to the advisory.

BFAR, in coordination with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), advised fishermen, seafarers and the public to avoid approaching or collecting suspected rocket debris that may be found at sea or on shore.

PhilSA warned of possible hazards from residual toxic substances, including rocket fuel, and recommended the use of appropriate personal protective equipment when necessary.

Unemployment in the country eased for the first time in three months to 5.3 percent in August, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Wednesday.

The latest print marked an improvement from the four-year high of 6 percent recorded in July, equivalent to 2.77 million jobless Filipinos, down from 3.14 million the previous month.

This came as the employment rate rose to 94.7 percent during the month from 94 percent, bringing the number of employed Filipinos to 49.79 million from 49.21 million.

The labor force participation rate likewise increased to 64 percent from 63.6 percent. This represented 52.56 million Filipinos in the labor force, up from 52.36 million.

Another positive sign was the decline in the underemployment rate, which covers workers seeking additional jobs or longer working hours to increase their income. The rate eased to 11.9 percent from 12.9 percent, representing 5.9 million underemployed Filipinos, down from 6.33 million in July.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Wednesday that he would ask Vice Mayor Jeryll Harold Respicio of Reina Mercedes, Isabela to undergo a drug test.

This move comes following an outburst by the local official during a Sangguniang Bayan session.

‘I’ll have him undergo a drug test first. He seems out of his mind. That’s all,’ said Remulla during an ambush interview.’I advise that we give him a drug test because his behavior looks like that of an addict,’ the secretary observed.

‘Is there any normal vice mayor who acts like that? He seems out of his mind, as if he wasn’t elected,’ Remulla said.

‘There was an abuse against a person in authority when he shouted at the police officer, who was just standing there,’ he noticed.

‘But we are still investigating, and I am leaving it to Gov. (Rodolfo) Albano to handle it. Not me for now,’ the secretary added.

Ateneo got its first win in the UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball tournament after beating rival La Salle, 79-66, at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.

The Blue Eagles improved to 1-2, dropping the Green Archers to the same record.

‘I’m very happy that we got our first win today. We just remembered what coach PJ (Navarro) said, which was, we can lose to everyone, just not La Salle,’ said Ateneo star Kacey Dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa, fresh off winning a silver medal in the recently concluded Asian Games, led Ateneo with a double-double of 26 points, 13 rebounds that went with five steals, four assists and two blocks.

Seng Calago helped Ateneo with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Alyssa Rodriguez chipped in 12 points while Sarah Makanjuola dropped 10.

Meanwhile, BJ Villarin led the Lady Archers with 21 points, six steals and five rebounds. Kyle Go contributed 13 points, while Marga Dueñas finished with 12 points and five steals.

Earlier, Adamson also got into the win column after beating UP, 67-60, for a 1-2 record.

Cheska Apag scored a team-high 23 points in the win while Elaine Etang contributed 16 points, three rebounds and two steals for the Lady Falcons.

UP also dropped to 1-2 despite Shane Cunanan’s 14-point out. Louna Ozar also added 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Halloween came early at the Miss Grand International 2026 as delegates showcasing mythological creatures during the national costume competition, with the Philippine bet Angelica Lopez wearing a sinister-loking ‘mangkukulam’ (witch) outfit.

Lopez gave the grand treatment to an otherwise scorned figure in Philippine folklore when she paraded in a massive 19-kilogram creation by designer Patrick Isorena during the pageant event held at the MGI Hall at Bravo BKK in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 7.

The show has been one of the most highly-anticipated events of the annual international competition, with the ladies pulling out all the stops to deliver breathtaking costumes that are inspired by their countries’ culture and heritage.

Lopez carried a huge figure of a mangkukulam on her back, with large hands attached to strings. The beauty queen was depicted as the figure’s rag doll, complete with needles sticking out around her.

The rag doll’s face pops out to reveal Lopez, who powered through her routine while carrying the heavy creation. She punctuated her performance by pulling her ‘heart’ covered in sparkling red stones, with cascading beads made to appear like dripping blood.

‘This is more than a costume. It is a tribute to the stories that shaped our imagination, the traditions passed down through generations, and the powerful spirit woven into our Filipino heritage. Ancient lore. Mystical power. Filipino soul,’ she posted when she shared photos of her costume on social media.

Isorena is one of the most sought-after designers of national costumes for pageantry. His clientele includes Miss Grand International titleholders Christine Juliane ‘CJ’ Opiaza, and Emma Tiglao, the reigning queen.

Later tonight, the delegates will once again go onstage at MGI Hall for the crucial Preliminary Competition, where they will compete in swimsuit and evening gown.

Opiaza, Tiglao, and their predecessors Luciana Fuster and Isabela Menin, who all hosted the National Costume Competition, will also return for the Preliminary Competition.

The 2026 Miss Grand International ‘Grand Final’ will be on Saturday evening, Oct. 10, also at MGI Hall. Lopez is hoping to score a ‘three-peat’ for the Philippines.

Voting for ‘Miss Popular’ is ongoing online, and fans can help Lopez earn a guaranteed slot in the semifinals by securing for her the highest number of votes.