Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The benchmark for global rice prices went up by almost 10 percent in September, mostly driven by higher prices of Indica rice variety, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

The FAO All Rice Price Index (Farpi) reached an average of 110.5 points in September, a 9.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This is the highest average on record since January this year.

Monthly, the global rice price index was 1.4 percent higher.

Cause of hike

The Farpi mainly attributed the increment to Indica prices, which averaged 115 points, also its highest on record for 2026. It climbed 11.9 percent from a year ago and 2.6 percent above their August levels.?

‘This increase marked the sixth consecutive monthly rise of Indica quotations, and it positioned them at a 20-month high,’ the FAO said. ‘Prices in all the other market segments were down by 0.5 to 2 percent in September.’

‘Falls were largely the result of weak demand, although in the Japonica market, new crop arrivals and onsetting harvests also contributed,’ it added.

The index noted that Indica rice’s export quotations increased across much of Asia last month, except in Myanmar and Vietnam, which decreased amid poor buying interest.

Market uncertainties

The FAO cited market uncertainties following news reports that the Philippines had suspended the issuance of import clearances for shipments from Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam until mid-November.

Outside the archipelago, in India, robust sales to African markets continued to bolster prices, with strong local demand for brokens also underpinning quotations of lower quality supplies.

Likewise, rice prices pushed upward in Pakistan despite fresh demand remaining limited, as harvesting delays heightened seasonal tightness.

Thailand’s price quotations closed above August levels due to previously sealed deals and weather concerns on production.

‘However, much of the increase mirrored firmness toward the earlier part of the month, with Thai prices easing thereafter amid a dearth of fresh orders and a depreciation of the baht,’ the FAO said.

As soon as I turned around after praying to the various Marian images in the hospital lobby, I saw a cute, little girl, who must have been around 5 years old, head in my direction. I was pleasantly surprised when she gently took my hand and pressed the back of it to her forehead, after which she smiled widely and said, ‘Thank you.’ I was both touched and pleased because, for one thing, this traditional greeting of respect is not practiced as often as before, and, secondly, I didn’t know what I did to deserve her gratitude. Her mother came up to me and shared that they had just participated in a hospital activity. It was around 5:30 p.m., and I remembered that earlier that morning a younger colleague had excitedly told me that there was going to be a signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Department of Education (DepEd) and our institution. The child’s mother went on to say that she was very thankful to our hospital for spearheading the program. Because of it, her child, who was undergoing treatment for leukemia, wouldn’t have to miss out on learning and could do so at her own pace. ‘Iba po dito, maging doctor, nurse, attendant, lahat po, kahit pagod, mababait po ang mga tao dito. Wala kaming masasabi. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.’

Her words got me misty-eyed, and I had to blink hard to hold back the tears. Just a few weeks prior to that chance encounter, I was engaged in a conversation with the same colleague who was telling me about a patient that they had sadly lost because he preferred to attend school rather than be on time for his dialysis sessions. She had always wished that our patients on long-term care who were hospitalized or attended to in our outpatient clinics because of chronic illness would have an opportunity to have a formal education. I understood where she was coming from. This was not only a way that they could continue learning but, more importantly, create a semblance of normalcy in their young lives.

Her dream, and I am quite certain, that of everyone who worked for it, had just been realized. Finally, our patients would have a chance to keep in step with their peers through the Alternative Learning System of DepEd. The ultimate goal is to ensure that patients wouldn’t have to leave the hospital or their bedside to attend class. Teachers from three public schools alongside volunteers who were involved even prior to the formalization of the agreement would be in attendance. Schedules, content, activities, and instructional materials would be provided for eligible patients. To my knowledge, we are the first hospital involved in such an initiative, and it is our hope that this would be replicated in other health facilities.

I chose to write about this for the dreamers and the doers, individuals looking for purpose or direction, those wanting to contribute both their time and effort but thinking that what they will contribute would be small, even insignificant, and selfishly, as a reminder for me and the others to focus on opportunities that are available rather than concentrate on what is missing, or who choose to start from the very beginning. As they would say, aim for the low-hanging fruits.

To map out how her dream had come to fruition, she started with a clear goal but an even higher purpose. She had a defined plan, and though she had her share of challenges, she was determined to carry it through no matter how long it took. She has always walked her talk, and in her pursuit, managed not only to get a team of like-minded doctors, but ultimately to win the support of the chief of the medical center.

All these provide evidence that anyone can dream big, especially if the intention behind it is to provide help to the majority. In the absence of politics to color honest intentions, things have a way of falling into the right places, making the journey a little smoother and easier to traverse. While it takes a lot of heart and a selfless spirit, one must also have the ability to lead with integrity and accountability. People, at least for the ones who choose to look closely, will always see you for who you are and not how you present yourself in the long run. If they see that you mean well, there wouldn’t be any need to explain or feel discouraged.

Help will always come in a thousand different ways and allow you to keep on dreaming bigger.

Actor Joseph Marco marked his birthday this year by spending time with nearly 600 rescued animals at a shelter.

Marco, who turned 38 on Oct. 4, shared photos from the celebration on Instagram on Saturday, showing him posing with rescued cats and dogs, including some animals with injuries. He and his supporters also distributed food packs to the animals.

‘Celebrated my birthday today surrounded by almost 600 beautiful souls. My heart is so full,’ Marco wrote. ‘The greatest gift is being able to give love, even in the smallest ways. Truly a birthday I’ll never forget.’

The actor thanked his supporters, the Josephaholics and Josephelite Squad PH, for spearheading the activity as well as Red Cubs Pet Patrol PH for welcoming them to the shelter.

Marco has been vocal about his love for animals, particularly cats. He currently has 19 rescued cats. He earlier took in a kitten he found dehydrated on top of a vending machine.

In March, Marco said his passion for cats began after he rescued a kitten that he found drowning. He eventually became more involved in caring for stray animals and has continued bringing food for cats he encounters on the streets.

Marco made his acting debut in the 2007 series ‘La Vendetta.’ He later landed a major role in the 2010 teleserye ‘Sabel,’ starring opposite Jessy Mendiola and the late AJ Perez.

Marco went on to appear in the television dramas ‘Pasion de Amor,’ ‘Wildflower’ and ‘Los Bastardos.’ He also starred in the films ‘Talk Back and You’re Dead,’ ‘My Rebound Girl,’ and ‘Dear Other Self.’

His most recent major project is the Viva One series ‘My Husband Is a Mafia Boss,’ in which he starred opposite Rhen Escaño as Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Roswell. The series concluded its run in September.

Karapatan on Monday condemned the shooting of a pregnant member of the New People’s Army (NPA) by suspected military agents in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Lawyer Maria Sol Taule, deputy secretary general of Karapatan, said the shooting of a certain Arnida Cuaton Maguiguilid on Sept. 19 was ‘a violation of international humanitarian law.’

‘The pregnant NPA member, also vulnerable due to her condition, clearly had hors de combat status,’ she pointed out. ‘Despite this, she was shot in the back, which crippled her and endangered her unborn child as well.’

Citing earlier local reports, Karapatan said Maguiguilid, who was on medical leave from the NPA and seven months pregnant, was about to enter the gate of the boarding house where she was staying in Barangay Visayan when she was shot.

Maguiguilid was brought to the hospital by her housemate, where she was ‘seized’ by elements of the Philippine Army (PA). She was presented before the media on Sept. 24 as a ‘surrenderee.’

The military distanced itself from the Sept. 19 incident and insisted that it only came into the picture to facilitate her surrender.

‘Our immediate concern was to ensure that she was safely brought under government care and provided the medical attention she needed,’ Maj. Ruben Gadut, spokesperson for the PA’s 10th Infantry Division.

Pressure to surrender

Karapatan, in a statement, also pointed out how the 93rd Infantry Battalion published pictures of a 7-year-old child on its Facebook page to pressure her mother, an NPA member, to surrender.

The military, it said, ‘made a show of throwing a birthday party for the child and published photos of it online as part of a psywar operation.’

For Taule, ‘the publication of the child’s pictures for military purposes violated child rights and was likewise contrary to international laws of war.’

She stressed that the 4th Geneva Convention of 1949 states that civilians, especially children, must be treated humanely.

‘Posting the child’s name, photograph and location while giving her mother an ultimatum to surrender was not only inhumane and exploitative; it was tantamount to holding the child hostage to compel her mother to do something against her will,’ she said.

Presiding officer and Senator-judge Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero on Monday reminded all parties before the Senate impeachment court to observe civility and professionalism as tensions continued to rise in the proceedings, including those arising from ‘rantings or tantrums inside or outside the courtroom.’

Escudero made the pronouncement right at the beginning of the 33rd day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial in which he acknowledged how emotions were now running high at the current stage of the hearings.

In his opening statement, Escudero called on all those involved in the proceedings not to lose heart in performing their duties, urging them not to stoop to retaliation and to disregard any outbursts, remarks, or expressions of animosity.

‘We will be focused on our job at hand, and that is to try and decide this impeachment case based on the evidence with justice and with fairness. We shall not be distracted or detracted by the rantings or tantrums of anyone inside or outside this courtroom,’ said Escudero.

‘Because at the end of the day it’s not about me, it’s not about you, it’s not about any of us here. Rather, it is about the country, our people, accountability, justice, and fairness,’ he added.

Escudero also reminded both parties before the court, particularly lawyers, of Canon II Section II of the Philippines’ Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability or CPRA which covers dignified conduct.

‘The justice system cannot function objectively when the professionals charged with administering it cannot even be polite to one another,’ said Escudero, quoting Sandra Day O’Connor, who served as the first female associate justice of the US Supreme Court.

‘…our duty is not to prevail over one another but to assist this court in the fair and orderly administration of justice,’ he added.

Escudero also addressed non-lawyers, this time citing the words of US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy: ‘Freedom may be born in protest, but it survives in civility.’

This, he said, covers not just counsel to the parties, but also witnesses and putative witnesses, public officials, commentators and observers alike.

While Escudero did not specify what particular instances of ‘rantings or tantrums’ he was referring to, on Friday, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV lashed out against Escudero for not issuing a subpoena for him – being the only witness listed by the prosecution in its manifestation for Article II of the Articles of Impeachment who did not get an order.

For Cheerful Homes owners Andrew and Aiko Amante, moving to Mabalacat opened the door to a more manageable and balanced life they never imagined possible.

Before that move, they were dreading Monday mornings. Not because of the work ahead, but because of the goodbye that came with it.

For the past year, Sunday nights meant packing bags, loading the car, and making the long, exhausting drive back to Baguio, leaving their restaurants and a piece of their peace of mind behind.

‘Every week, ganun na lang,’ Andrew recalls, his voice carrying the weight of those memories. ‘Andito kami sa Pampanga for the weekend, tapos uuwi kami sa Baguio Sunday night. Tapos Monday morning, nag-aalala ka na agad kung okay ba ‘yung restaurant.’

Betting on Mabalacat, Pampanga

The Amantes had built something they were proud of: Amante’s Ribs and Steak and Chiisai Izakaya, two restaurants in Mabalacat, Pampanga. It was a deliberate choice. As Baguio residents, they saw what was happening in Pampanga: Clark Freeport expanding, a new airport rising, and businesses pouring in.

‘Nakita namin ‘yung potential ng Mabalacat,’ Andrew explains. ‘Clark is booming. Maraming opportunities. Pero more than that, it’s a city na may room para lumago ang negosyo namin.’

But their plan to manage the business from 250 kilometers away quickly fell apart. They thought they could survive as ‘weekend managers,’ driving down on Fridays and rushing back to the mountains on Sundays. Reality set in quickly.

The breaking point was the emotional cost. ”Yung weekends namin, supposedly para sa pamilya pero we spend time sa daan, sa traffic, sa pagod. Wala kaming pahinga,’ Andrew says.

The decision became clear: they had to move to Mabalacat. It wasn’t easy leaving Baguio, their hometown, where their families lived. But the restaurants were their future, and they needed a home that allowed them to be hands-on daily, not just on weekends. They found it at Cheerful Homes by SMDC.

The 10-Minute Difference

The restaurants are a ten-minute drive from their front door. Ten minutes. Not five hours. Not a weekend trip.

‘Before, kailangan naming planuhin ang buong linggo para lang makapunta sa restaurant. Ngayon, araw-araw kaming nandun,’ Aiko says, relief evident in her voice. ”Pag may issue sa umaga, nandoon ako. Then, in ten minutes, nasa bahay na ako.’

But the real magic happens after closing. When the dinner rush ends, they simply get in the car, and ten minutes later, they’re home.

Cheerful Homes didn’t just solve their commuting problem; it gave them a complete ecosystem for their family’s daily needs. When the pantry runs low, SM Clark is a quick drive away. When Andrew needs to fly in supplies, Clark International Airport is practically in their backyard. When their son needs to go to school, it’s a stress-free trip.

”Yung location ng Cheerful Homes, pinag-isipan talaga,’ Andrew explains. ‘Grocery, airport, school, business district, lahat nandito.’

The project is gated and secure, which matters when you’re running a business late at night. ”Yung peace of mind, hindi mo mababayaran ‘yon,’ he says. ‘Alam mong kahit nasa trabaho ka, safe sila.’

On rest days, you’ll find the Amantes at the clubhouse. Andrew grills something experimental from the menu while Aiko catches up on reading and their son splashes in the pool with the neighbor kids. For a family that moved away from everything they knew, that gated community became their new home.

A Price That Makes Sense, A Life That Finally Does Too

For a young couple building a business and planning for the future, the affordability of Cheerful Homes wasn’t just a pleasant surprise; it was a strategic advantage.

That investment dream isn’t hypothetical. The Amantes are already looking at purchasing at least one more unit in the same development, this time as a passive income property.

But for the Amantes, the real return on investment isn’t just in property value. It’s in the time they’ve reclaimed. Andrew still works long hours, but now, when the dinner rush ends, he doesn’t have to brace himself for a long drive back to Baguio. He doesn’t have to miss bedtime stories or morning hugs.

”Yung oras na naibigay sa amin ng Cheerful Homes, hindi lang convenience ‘yun,’ Aiko says, smiling. ‘Family time ‘yun for us.’

Sometimes, all it takes is finding the right house in the right location-a place that gives back time for your family and a home that makes room for creating more memories. And for a young family trying to build a life, that’s not just a short drive. That’s everything.

Municipal officials inspected a portion of the shoreline in Barangay Talabaan Proper in the Occidental Mindoro town of Mamburao on Sunday, Oct. 4, after residents reported a foul smell that had persisted for nearly two weeks.

Residents said the odor became noticeable after weeks of rain brought by the southwest monsoon.

During the inspection, officials found stagnant water along the shoreline, apparently caused by sand and other materials blocking the natural flow of water.

Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Aris Ramos said the odor may have come from decaying grass, coral, leaves and other organic materials buried under sand deposited along the shore by strong waves.

The municipal government plans to use a payloader or backhoe to clear the blockage and restore water flow.

Mayor Glicerio Almero III led the inspection with disaster risk reduction, health, veterinary and environment officials, as well as police and barangay officials. The team also used a drone to survey the area for other possible sources of the odor.

Almero urge residents and barangay officials to continue monitoring the shoreline and report any changes to the municipal government.

Photos from sources show the office vacated by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada as former Senate president pro tempore was stripped bare.

This is where Sen. Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III will have to rebuild his new office as the current Senate president pro tempore.

Sotto, in a message to the Inquirer on Monday, confirmed that this was indeed the condition of the office when it was turned over to them.

On Monday night, Lacson appeared to poke fun at the matter and posted what seems to be an AI-generated photo of Sotto working on a monobloc table and chair and a lamp.

‘Poor Senate President Pro Tempore Tito Sotto. Naka-monobloc table and chair at lampara na lang. Mistulang ‘barebones’ ang bago niyang opisina,’ he said in a post on X.

(‘Poor Senate President Pro Tempore Tito Sotto. He’s left with just a monobloc table and chair and a lamp. His new office looks like ‘barebones.”)

‘NAKA MONOBLOC TABLE AND CHAIR AT LAMPARA NA LANG’ LOOK: Sen. Ping Lacson pokes fun at Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto IV’s newly turned-over Senate office.He posted what seems to be an AI-generated image of Sotto working with only a monobloc table, chair,… pic.twitter.com/jEo2ntqoth

(It’s because the previous occupant dismantled everything – from the floor tiles, walls, and cabinets to the toilet fixtures and wall outlets – they stripped it all bare.)

According to lawyer Marian Lucinario from Sotto’s office, they were ‘shocked’ when they saw the condition of the office.

‘Sen. Sotto has been in the Senate for so long, and with all the office transfers that have happened within this building, this is the first time I’ve seen an office left in such an unusable condition,’ she told the Inquirer in a message.

When asked if this was a normal occurrence, Lucinario said the matter was ‘unprecedented.’

‘The usual practice is only to remove your furniture and make sure not to damage the floors and wall. Senate is only renting this building from the [Government Service Insurance System] (GSIS). Permanent fixtures including electric sockets are GSIS property,’ she explained.

Asked again whether there was any correspondence from Estrada’s office regarding the turnover, Lucinario said they have so far not received any.

Prior to Estrada’s occupancy, Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson used the office as then Senate president pro tempore.

Lucinario said, this was ‘definitely not the condition of the office upon turnover to them by the previous occupant, Sen. Lacson.’

Malacañang is confident President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign the proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 national budget before year-end, avoiding a repeat of last year’s delay.

In a briefing on Monday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the 2027 national budget should be passed by Congress on schedule, acknowledging that the process took longer than expected last year.

‘It should be,’ Castro told reporters when asked if the Palace was confident that Congress would approve the spending bill on time.

She declined to provide a timeline for the passage of the 2027 budget, saying circumstances could still change.

Despite this uncertainty, Castro said President Marcos has not yet certified the 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) as urgent.

This authorizes the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, to approve a bill on second and third reading on the same day, bypassing the usual three-day waiting period.

The 20th Congress will go on recess from Oct. 10 to Nov. 8, with legislative work, including budget hearings, generally suspended until the regular session resumes on Nov. 9.

Current rules of both the House and Senate allow their respective committees to conduct hearings while sessions are adjourned to ensure continuity in pending legislation and oversight matters.

Castro recalled that the passage of the 2026 GAB and its transmittal to the Office of the President (OP) took longer than expected, which also delayed the Palace’s review of the measure.

Marcos was only able to sign the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2026 on Jan. 5, as Malacañang needed about two weeks to review the enrolled GAB.

With that development, the national government worked on a reenacted 2025 budget of P6.326 trillion for five days.

Malacañang, however, downplayed the delay, saying it would not disrupt government operations.

A coastal protection project that combines Dutch water-management expertise with the indigenous knowledge of a coastal community in this city is drawing interest from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and European countries as a potential model for addressing tidal flooding, land subsidence, and other effects of climate change.

Nearly 100 delegates from Asean and European countries visited the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) coastal protection project in the island village of Pamarawan during a three-day cross-learning program held Sept. 28 to Sept. 30.

The program, themed ‘Beyond the Risk: Strategic Choices for Climate Change Resilient Countries in Asean,’ brought together delegates from the Netherlands, Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Asean member states, including representatives of the Asean Secretariat. The Dutch ambassador to the Philippines also joined the visit, according to Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad.

The Pamarawan NbS project covers about 14 hectares of coastline and shoreline defenses along Manila Bay. It uses locally available and discarded materials, including oyster shells, bamboo and coconut shells, to help protect the community from tidal waters and storm surges.

Natividad said the project grew out of an initial North Manila Bay Flood Protection Strategy study conducted by Dutch water-management firm Royal HaskoningDHV, which was tapped by the city government to develop the project’s detailed engineering design.

The project is considered the Philippines’ first large-scale NbS initiative of its kind, according to the city government.

Pamarawan, an island barangay adjacent to Manila Bay, can only be reached by boat.

Cross-learning program

Natividad noted the cross-learning program was conceptualized by Asean and European leaders during the International Water Week in Singapore in August. The program aims to allow participating countries to study the Malolos project and explore how similar approaches could be adapted to their own coastal communities.

But while the project draws on international expertise, Natividad said much of its implementation relies on the indigenous knowledge and labor of Pamarawan residents.

‘It is our people in Pamarawan who build all these,’ Natividad told the Inquirer.

He said the project seeks to restore shorelines that had been damaged by tidal waters and strong storm surges.

‘There were sea walls and dikes that were constructed by the government, but these were wrecked,’ Natividad added, attributing the worsening flooding problem to what he described as corruption, substandard materials, and so-called ghost projects.

Unlike conventional ‘gray’ infrastructure such as concrete seawalls, dikes, and floodwalls, the project uses natural materials to work with the environment.

‘This is a green project. This is Malolos’ way of trying to solve its tidal and fluvial problems without the use of concrete and cement. We are building with nature, not against nature,’ Natividad shared.

The project’s breakwaters, made partly from discarded oyster shells and bamboo, are designed to reduce the force of waves and tidal surges from Manila Bay while trapping sediments and debris carried downstream.

Climate change

Natividad said flooding in the area has been aggravated by rising sea levels due to climate change and the continued sinking of land.

While concrete dikes and walls can cost billions of pesos, he said, mangroves and bamboo can continue to grow even as land subsidence and sea-level rise persist.

The trapped sediments are expected to gradually raise the elevation of the shoreline and create conditions favorable for mangrove growth.

The city government has allocated P70 million for the project, which began construction in 2024 and is targeted for completion this year.

Natividad said the project could serve as Malolos’ contribution to global efforts to address tidal flooding, land subsidence, and other environmental challenges associated with climate change.

‘Even international communities want to adopt our Nature-based Solution project. It was first recognized in the international scene. It has been known in Malolos, then later in other towns and cities in our province and now, at the national level,’ he noted.

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon cited the Malolos NbS project as one of the flood-mitigation initiatives that the agency is considering for other coastal communities during a meeting with Bulacan officials on Sept. 18.

Dizon also visited the Pamarawan project on Sept. 29.

Natividad said Malolos hopes to share its approach with other coastal communities across the country.

‘We are an archipelago. We will restore nature as part of the solution. Imagine if the entire country will be greened through this project. We have already restored the elevation of our shoreline and our coastal areas because of the mangroves,’ he stated.