Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Health officials are monitoring 73 suspected Hepatitis A cases, with residents concerned about the sharp rise in cases in Barangay Lurugan, a village surrounded by vast multinational pineapple plantations.During an emergency meeting of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) on Wednesday, City Health Officer Dr. Michael Escalante reported that confirmed infections in Barangay Lurugan have climbed from six to 14. Two cases were recorded in neighboring Barangay San Carlos.Of the 73 suspected Hepatitis A cases, authorities said most of those infected are students aged 10 to 19.

Pru Life UK marked its 30th anniversary in the Philippines by celebrating the people and partnerships behind its three-decade journey of protecting Filipino families and helping strengthen their financial security.

Pru Life UK President and Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Chakrabarty (6th from left) is joined on stage by Department of Finance Assistant Secretary Kristine Joy Diaz-Teston (7th from left), together with Pru Life UK Chief Agency Officer Jeff Ang; Prudential plc HR Business Partner Kanishk Chauhan; Pru Life UK Interim Chief Information Technology Officer Tabish Masroor; Pru Life UK Chief Operations Officer Kristine De Monteverde; Pru Life UK Chief Operations, Technology and Transformation Officer Adnelle Valeza; (right-left) Pru Life UK Chief Risk Officer Andrew Chow; Pru Life UK Chief Strategy and Planning Officer Adam Burge; Pru Life UK Chief Financial Officer Matthew Donnery; Pru Life UK Chief Legal, Government Relations, and Sustainability Officer Atty. Calvin Kohchet-Chua; Pru Life UK Chief Actuary Beth Villahermosa and Pru Life UK Chief Customer and Marketing Officer Franchette Cardona.

The anniversary celebration culminated in Pearls of Gratitude, a milestone gala held at Foro de Intramuros, bringing together around 400 customers, partners, government and business leaders, agency leaders and key internal stakeholders who have contributed to the company’s growth and impact over the past three decades.

Through personal stories, special tributes, and curated performances, the company looked back on the relationships and shared achievements that have shaped its journey while reaffirming its commitment to serving more Filipinos in the years ahead. The programme featured performances by National Artist for Music Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

‘As we celebrate this milestone, we remain grateful for the trust, support, and collaboration that have shaped our journey and made this achievement possible,’ said Pru Life UK President and CEO Sanjay Chakrabarty. ‘Over the years, we have had the privilege of working alongside our partners to drive innovation, expand access to financial solutions and create positive outcomes for customers and communities. We look forward to building on these partnerships and continuing to make a meaningful difference in the years to come.’

Central to the anniversary is 30 Stories of PRUtection, a campaign featuring real-life journeys of trust, care, and resilience from the company’s clients, agents, and leaders. The stories highlight how protection can help people navigate uncertainty, care for their loved ones, and move forward with greater confidence.

Pru Life UK President and CEO Sanjay Chakrabarty (8th from right) is joined by British Ambassador to the Philippines Sarah Hulton OBE (7th from the right); together with Prudential plc Chief Transformation Officer Kenneth Rappold (8th from left), Prudential plc Chief Product Officer Sanchit Maini (6th from right); Prudential plc Chief Government Relations and Policy Officer Steven Chan (9th from right); Pru Life UK Board member Teh Opinion (5th from right); National Artist of the Philippines for Music Ryan Cayabyab (7th from left); and musical performers Martin Nievera (4th from right); Gian Magdangal (6th from left) and wife Lara Maigue (5th from left); and the Ryan Cayabyab singers.

Since establishing its presence in the Philippines, Pru Life UK has grown alongside generations of Filipino families, helping them protect what matters most and prepare for the future. Through 30 Stories of PRUtection, the company places these human experiences at the heart of its anniversary, recognising that its three-decade journey is ultimately defined by the lives it has helped protect.

The campaign also reinforces Pru Like UK’s ‘Count on Us. Count on PRU’ marketing campaign and its regional platform, Promises, made real, which encourage people to take meaningful steps toward the future they envision for themselves and their loved ones. Together, they reflect the company’s commitment supporting Filipino families through life’s different stages and challenges.

National Artist of the Philippines for Music Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, together with the Manila Symphony Orchestra, serenaded guests with special performances during Pru Life UK’s 30th anniversary gala.

As it enters its next chapter, Pru Life UK remains committed to expanding access to protection and financial solutions that give more Filipinos the confidence to pursue their goals, fulfill their promises, and face important life decisions knowing they can Count on PRU.

More than 2,000 registered fisherfolk and about 50 backyard fishpond operators in Odiongan, Romblon, could be affected by the increasingly hot weather and rising sea temperatures, according to the municipal agriculture office.

Ocean warming is disrupting fishing conditions: fish move away from shallow, warmer areas, forcing marginal fisherfolk to venture farther offshore in search of catch.

The situation could affect the livelihood of thousands of fishing families who depend on coastal waters for their daily income and food.

As an initial response, the Municipal Agriculture Office is preparing a market study for the possible establishment of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) under the government’s KALAHI (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan) program, according to a report from the Philippine Information Agency in Romblon.

FADs are structures placed at appropriate depths to serve as artificial shelter or aggregation areas where fish can gather.

The proposed project aims to help fisherfolk locate fishing grounds more efficiently by providing designated areas where fish are expected to congregate.

The municipal government is reviewing the project’s feasibility as part of measures to help local fisherfolk cope with changing marine conditions.

Besides municipal fisherfolk, backyard fishpond operators could be affected by changing sea conditions as their production may be sensitive to extreme heat and water temperature. changes

The situation highlights small-scale fisherfolk’s vulnerability to changes in marine conditions, particularly as rising temperatures alter the distribution and availability of fish in coastal waters.

Classes at all levels in public and private schools, as well as government work, in General Santos City will be suspended until further notice following the magnitude 5.6 earthquake off Davao Occidental.

In an advisory, the General Santos government said the suspension of government work will take effect Thursday, Oct. 8.

Meanwhile, in-person classes at all levels in both public and private schools in the city are suspended on Friday, Oct. 9. Classes will shift to an alternative mode of learning.

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake earlier struck 28 kilometers northwest of Balut Island in Sarangani, Davao Occidental, at 4:07 p.m.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially reported that the tremor had a magnitude of 6.4 in its Earthquake Information No. 1.

The local government said the suspension would allow concerned authorities to conduct structural inspections and safety assessments of establishments.

‘The public is advised to remain calm, stay alert for aftershocks, and follow official advisories,’ it said in the advisory.

The House Committee on Tourism has approved seven measures declaring various sites in Romblon as tourism destinations, tourism development areas, ecotourism and heritage sites.

The measures were among 102 House bills that the committee considered during its latest meeting, according to the Philippine Information Agency in Romblon.

The approved bills include House Bill No. 4026, which seeks to declare Concepcion town a Tourism Development Area, and HB 4027, which seeks to establish Banton as an Ecotourism and Heritage Destination.

Also included is HB 4229, which proposes to declare Romblon a tourism destination.

Three other measures cover specific attractions in San Agustin: HB 4428 for the Blue Hole Underwater Park, HB 4429 for the Ruins of Cotta, or ‘La Fuerza de Guintigui-an,’ and HB 4430 for the Gorda Point Lighthouse.

The seventh measure, HB 9299, seeks to declare Calatrava as a Tourism Destination.

The 102 bills also included proposals concerning tourism capitals, tourist protection and safety, and the declaration and development of tourism and ecotourism destinations.

The proposed declarations are expected to develop and promotion of Romblon’s natural, underwater, and cultural attractions as tourism sites.

As financial services become increasingly interconnected, cyberthreats are growing in scale and sophistication, making scams more convincing, criminal networks more organized and the stakes higher than ever. Today, cybersecurity is no longer simply an information technology issue, it is a vital consumer issue, a critical business imperative and a national priority.

Paradigm shift: Hacking the human, not the fortress

The common image of a bank’s cybersecurity team was that of engineers building higher digital fortress walls, including creating strong firewalls, complex algorithms and robust infrastructure.

While these safeguards remain critical, the nature of financial cybercrime has shifted: modern fraudsters are shifting from ‘hacking the bank’ towards ‘hacking the human.’

Cybercriminals are now exploiting emotions such as fear, urgency and panic.

Masquerading as legitimate banking institutions, government agencies or telecom providers, they use sophisticated social engineering methods to trick unsuspecting individuals into voluntarily opening the gates from within.

Whether through convincing phishing emails, fraudulent text messages or deceptive phone calls, threat actors bypass digital parameters by tricking users into handing over One-Time Passwords (OTPs), personal identification numbers or login credentials.

As cybercriminals become more coordinated and their tactics more sophisticated, we are now seeing a fundamental truth: no single institution can defeat the ever-evolving ingenuity of cybercriminals on its own.

It is no longer enough to build higher walls around our own bank while the broader ecosystem remains exposed.

A siloed defense is a failed defense.

When stolen funds move across payment rails from one bank to another, fraud rapidly evolves from an isolated incident into a systemic problem.

To counter this, we need a whole-of-ecosystem framework that unites our entire society behind three distinct operational pillars.

Pillar 1: Empowering the public as the first line of defense

A resilient digital roadmap begins with continuous education and engagement across every level of society.

We can deploy the most sophisticated encryption in the world, but if a customer or employee is manipulated into handing over an OTP or clicking a malicious link, the perimeter is breached from within. Therefore, our primary line of defense is not a firewall; it is an informed, vigilant and empowered human network.

Empowering the public requires us to foster active digital literacy across the entire consumer spectrum, ensuring that security advocacy reaches beyond corporate borders to engage the broader business community, youth groups, academic institutions and senior citizens.

Public fora such as Bank of the Philippine Islands’ (BPI’s) 4th Annual CyberProtect Conference, held on July 30, under the theme ‘Defend as One: Building a United Front Towards Consumer Protection,’ provide a vital platform to dissect the modern cyberthreat landscape.

As threats evolve alongside emerging technologies like artificial intelligence or AI through deepfake audio, automated phishing scripts and sophisticated identity spoofing, public education must continuously upgrade society’s collective understanding of best practices and defense mechanisms.

By transforming passive users into active guardians of their own security, comprehensive community engagement equips everyday consumers to recognize red flags, reject deceptive requests and protect their digital transactions confidently.

Pillar 2: Equipping bankers as front-line protectors

The second pillar of defense relies on collaborative defense among financial operators.

Fraudsters do not operate in silos; they function through agile, interconnected networks.

Working closely with industry bodies like the Bankers Association of the Philippines, specifically through its Anti-Fraud Subcommittee, financial institutions are institutionalizing a coordinated response to financial crime.

This includes establishing real-time protocols for rapid information sharing to track and intercept illicit fund transfers, harmonizing fraud detection algorithms and transaction controls across member banks, and enforcing consistent operational countermeasures to respond swiftly to compromised accounts.

Regulatory compliance should never be viewed as a passive, check-the-box exercise. Rather, it represents an active operational asset that builds and sustains public trust.

Harmonizing digital banking innovation with regulatory standards ensures that every new payment rail, digital feature or financial product undergoes consumer protection screening before reaching the public.

Working in close alignment with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) ensures that operational policies translate regulatory mandates into practical defense.

Grounding strategy in forward-looking BSP compliance guarantees that as digital banking expands, our growth is always backed by security, accountability and public trust.

Pillar 3: Strengthening law enforcement through active collaboration

The final pillar consists of law enforcement agencies that turn threat intelligence into decisive action.

Active collaboration connects government agencies, regulators, law enforcement and industry partners to address threats no single organization can solve alone.

An important element of this collaboration is institutionalizing technical capability through specialized training.

An example is BPI’s CyberAcademy, a public-private initiative designed to bridge the gap between banking fraud operations and legal authorities.

Through its partnership with the Department of Justice-Office of Cybercrime and the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group, the prosecutors and police investigators gain a shared operational language and practical understanding of financial cybercrime, strengthening their ability to investigate and prosecute these cases effectively.

In tandem with capability building, enforcing policies like the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act empowers authorities to freeze illicit accounts quickly, target money mules and dismantle cybersyndicates.

Standardizing digital evidence protocols and establishing direct operational channels convert complex investigations into swift, successful prosecutions.

Defending as one

At its core, banking is a business built entirely on trust.

Consumer protection is about far more than securing numerical balances on a digital screen; it is about safeguarding the dreams, hard-earned savings, and livelihoods of everyday Filipinos, including small business owners, working parents, students, and retirees who rely on us every day.

This commitment to trust is more important than ever as we celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, and all the more significant as BPI marks its 175th anniversary in 2026.

Under the theme ‘Protecting 175 Years of Trust in a Digital World,’ we highlight how empowering the public, equipping front-liners, and strengthening law enforcement allows us to build an unbroken shield against cyberthreats.

Together, let us defend trust. Together, let us protect consumers. Together, let us stand as one.

Bishops from Capiz province have urged government and business leaders to heed the Diocese of Kalibo’s concerns about the consequences of gambling’s proliferation following the opening of a casino hub in Boracay.

The Diocese of Kalibo recently reiterated its opposition to gambling and its implications for the lives of many Filipinos who engage in it. This came after a six-story casino hub opened at Station 0 in Barangay Yapak, Municipality of Malay, on Boracay Island.

In a solidarity statement, Bishops Victor Bendico (Metropolitan Archbishop of Capiz) and Narciso Abellana (Bishop of Romblon) said the concerns expressed by the Diocese of Kalibo ‘deserve serious attention.’

‘As pastors of neighboring local Churches, we share its concern for the consequences that the spread of gambling may have upon our people, particularly upon families and those who are poor and vulnerable,’ the bishops said.

The bishops acknowledged that while Boracay is in the pastoral care of the Diocese of Kalibo, what happens there also concerns the neighboring dioceses, particularly on the issue of gambling and its impacts on the lives of many Filipinos.

‘We therefore add our voice to that of the Bishop of Kalibo and ask our public officials, business leaders, and all who bear responsibility for the future of Boracay to listen carefully to the concerns raised by the local Church,’ they added.

They also emphasized that ‘decisions affecting a community should be judged not only by the income they may generate, but also by the kind of life and society they help to form.’

The bishops also called on the faithful to view the concerns raised by the Diocese of Kalibo as an appeal to conscience and care for others, and not as an attack against anyone.

Creative director Toni Potenciano knows a good plot when she sees one. Once she and her partners, Jake Aycardo and Ryan Serrano, saw this old edifice, she knew it was time to bring Kodawari’s new concept to life.

‘We were looking around Quezon City (QC), and we realized that this was the perfect place to do it,’ ponders Potenciano. ‘We observed that people in QC have a different energy. There are more people during the morning and in the afternoon who just want to hang out.’

Toni Potenciano of Kodawari

Toni Potenciano

Best known for their gyudon and chilimansi noodles, as well as their memorable Studio Ghibli-esque spaces, Potenciano brings the same whimsical elegance to Kodawari’s new home in Tomas Morato. But rather than rehashing the formula that led them to a massive loyal following and a Michelin Selected nod, Potenciano sees the QC outpost as an introduction of something new for the brand: an all-day brunch and cafe concept.

‘But you can still order the classics,’ she clarifies.

Sensory and sultry space

Kodawari interiors by C+Y Design Studio

Kodawari interiors by C+Y Design Studio

After discovering the building on random drives around Tomas Morato, the team, together with C+Y Design Studio, overhauled the former live music venue and outfitted the multilevel, broken-plan ‘home’ with the distinct Kodawari touch.

From the entryway decorated with en plein air art (the same wallpaper in their Salcedo branch’s restroom), guests can either browse the konbini for merchandise on the left or go directly to the main hall on the right that opens up into the main multi-tiered space. Unlike standard layouts and designs, Potenciano eschews uniformity in favor of a zonal visual experience that intends to resonate with a diverse range of customers.

Kodawari konbini

Kodawari konbini

‘Because the location is so residential, we’re testing the hypothesis of [Kodawari as a] cafe here,’ says Potenciano, who is keen on understanding the QC customer’s behavior. But the decision to find a homey setting that can translate Kodawari in a new environment isn’t just a good move; it’s also a testament to the team’s connections with the city.

‘When we were deciding between going south (which I think we will do) and north, we felt strongly about here kasi dito kami galing,’ shares Potenciano. ‘In a way, we were a little more confident that we knew the market a bit just because we were the market.’

‘Because the location is so residential, we’re testing the hypothesis of [Kodawari as a] cafe here’

The result is a sensory, at times sultry, third place atmosphere, part creative time capsule and part artsy fun house. There are references to the Kodawari identity without resorting to replication or rigidity. Raxenne Maniquiz’s morning and night stained glass Gyudog art lurks on the mezzanine level, while Addi Panadero’s illustrations embrace the local context as flowers found in QC and UP’s Sunken Garden unfurl and droop on the menu.

Up another level is a private karaoke room that can accommodate up to 16 people.

Private karaoke room

Private karaoke room

Kodawari’s cafe-centric offerings

But the new branch reveals something important, too. It positions them closer to north-based customers who want to try Kodawari or visit the restaurant frequently without trekking to their Makati and BGC locations. Non-QC patrons also have good reasons to deliberately go out of their way: the Kodawari cafe menu.

Featuring brunch options, sandwiches, dessert, and coffee (especially the cashew dirty) and matcha, the refresh brings a whole new dimension to the Kodawari experience. Among the new items, Aycardo’s take on the hefty French toast of golden brioche with mixed berry compote is crisp and creamy yet doesn’t collapse on itself.

Non-QC patrons also have good reasons to deliberately go out of their way: the Kodawari cafe menu

‘We were trying to decide if we would feed into the pancake trend, but we decided on making a really, really good French toast,’ explains Potenciano.

Other hearty choices include a comforting grilled cheese using emmental, mozzarella, provolone, and gouda on sourdough as well as a tapsilog that is the perfect homage to the city where ‘silog’ culture is believed to have originated.

French toast

French toast

‘The conversation we were having was: ‘Would the tapsilog be redundant to the gyudon’… pero naisip namin na having a tapsilog is an essential QC breakfast… and it’s exciting. It’s served differently from the gyudon; it’s served on a flat plate, naka-mold ‘yong rice.’

Drink pairings, desserts, and third space ambiance

Elsewhere, Moonbug Matcha supplies Uji matcha for their beverages while they partnered with Bondy Aportadera’s Hatch Coffee for their coffee lineup. Desserts such as the sesame oil hazelnut tres leches and strawberry pistachio tartelette are created in collaboration with a pastry consultant ‘to pair well with coffee.’

Sesame oil hazelnut tres leches

Sesame oil hazelnut tres leches

Beyond the signature products, Kodawari QC is also banking on its third place atmosphere to serve customers craving more opportunities to find a community.

But judging by the absence of 15-minute chairs and instead opting for plush booths and comfortable banquettes, dwell time isn’t a problem here. Potenciano is intentional in letting Kodawari QC provide the platform with which guests can transition from solo dining and bouts of productivity to casual connections.

Kodawari is located at 120 Scout Lazcano Street, Diliman, Quezon City, and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

A total of 19 applicants are vying for a Supreme Court post that will be vacated on Nov. 16 upon the compulsory retirement of Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) will interview the 19 applicants starting Oct. 13.

Of the 19 applicants, the JBC will interview eight, while it will skip interviews for the other 11 because their previous interviews for vacancies remain valid.

Those who will no longer be interviewed are Court of Appeals Associate Justices Nina Geluz Antonio-Valenzuela, Ramon Mariño Bato Jr., Ramon Alcala Cruz, Maria Elisa Sempio Diy, Myra Virtucio Garcia Fernandez, Fernanda Lampas-Peralta, Ronaldo Roberto Martin, Walter Ong, Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda, and Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Maria Rowena San Pedro.

Set to be interviewed are Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Lily Villareal Biton, Aldwin Flora Alegre of the Bureau of Immigration, Jason Rueda Barlis of the Legal Education Board, Gamaliel Cordoba of the Commission on Audit, Solomon Mateo Hermosura of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, German Lichauco II, and Ernesto Maceda Jr. of the Commission on Elections.

The council said: ‘The public may submit a sworn complaint, report, or opposition against any of the candidates through mail to the JBC, 2nd floor of SC-CA building on Maria Orosa Street, Ermita, Manila, Padre Faura Street or personal submission in three legible copies, or by electronic mail to [email protected] not later than 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 19, 2026.’

The JBC, the seven-member council constitutionally tasked to screen nominees for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman, is chaired by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

After screening, the JBC will come up with a shortlist that will be submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has 90 days from the vacancy, the retirement date of Lazaro-Javier, to make a choice.

The replacement of Lazaro-Javier will be the second appointee to the Supreme Court.

The Philippines and France have agreed to strengthen their agricultural collaboration, focusing on farm trade, research, food safety, animal health, and climate-resilient agriculture.

‘Our partnership with France is important as we work to make Philippine agriculture more productive, competitive and resilient,’ Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement on Thursday.

‘Stronger cooperation means greater opportunities to bring in technology, knowledge and investments that can benefit our farmers and strengthen our food systems,’ he added.

Consequently, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said a major component of the partnership is the signing of a work plan to import table and seed potatoes from France.

At the same time, the Bureau of Agricultural Research advanced discussions with France’s Directorate General for Education and Research on joint agricultural research and innovation.

Talks focused on Philippine initiatives on Regenerative and Resilient Agriculture and PUNLA Pilipinas, a proposed national system for producing and distributing clean, high-quality planting materials.

Both countries also explored expanding cooperation with the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD), which includes joint research, graduate education, scientific exchanges, and researcher mobility.

Potential focus areas include mango and banana production, aquaculture, agroecology, climate resilience, sustainable landscapes and emerging agricultural technologies.

To secure access to the French market, the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards and its French counterparts discussed certification, labeling, traceability and conformity assessment to help Philippine organic products meet the European Union’s requirements.

Bureau of Animal Industry Director Christian Daquigan met with France’s Chief Veterinary Officer Emmanuelle Soubeyran to discuss animal health issues affecting agricultural trade, including highly pathogenic avian influenza, African swine fever regionalization, Lumpy Skin Disease and changes to the European health stamp.

‘France also signaled support for training Philippine veterinary personnel in biosecurity, transboundary animal disease control, border controls and risk-based inspection,’ the agency said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine delegation likewise met with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to explore possible support for climate-resilient agriculture, research and innovation, geographical indications, organic agriculture and the marine and blue economy.