Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Cybersecurity firm Fortinet warned businesses and consumers to brace for a potential spike in cyberattacks during the holiday season. This, as increased spending and remittances could create more opportunities for online fraud.

Bambi Escalante, Fortinet’s country manager for the Philippines, said Filipinos are especially vulnerable to this due to the expected rise in overseas Filipino worker (OFW) remittances and their long Christmas celebrations.

‘In the holiday season, that’s when there would be a lot of financial transactions that don’t ordinarily happen the rest of the year, such as remittances from our OFWs, us buying gifts, online purchases, online transactions,’ Escalante said in a year-end briefing in Makati.

‘Now that the holidays are here, I’m sure there will be a resurgence of online scams again,’ she added.

Escalante added that work stoppages over the holidays could also leave businesses exposed to cyberattacks.

‘People take vacations, or there are network freezes, and nobody’s manning the data center or the network or looking at what’s happening, then the cyber criminals can just attack any industry,’ she warned. Cybercrime as an industry

As technology advances, cybercrimes are also growing more sophisticated and specialized, said Jonas Walker, the director of threat intelligence for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East at Fortinet.

Walker noted that artificial intelligence (AI) is lowering the barrier for launching attacks. The technology even prompts malicious actors to develop their own AI models.

Fortinet predicts that by 2026, cybercrime will have evolved into an organized industry comparable in scale to global sectors.

‘The findings clearly show that cybercrime is no longer an opportunistic activity, it is an industrialized system operating at machine speed. As automation, specialization, and AI redefine every stage of the attack lifecycle,’ Walker said.

‘Cybersecurity has become a race of systems, not individuals, and organizations will need integrated intelligence, continuous validation, and real-time response to stay ahead of adversaries who measure success by throughput, not novelty,’ he added. INQ

Brazil and Portugal will dispute the right to become the inaugural winner of the Fifa Futsal Women’s World Cup after taking down their rivals in Friday’s semifinals at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Two goals inside the first minute allowed Brazil to take down Spain, 4-1, in a battle between the top two countries in the Fifa rankings while Portugal racked up six goals in the first half on its way to beating Argentina, 7-1.

The final is set Sunday at the same venue to conclude the 16-day competition which the Philippines is hosting.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. after Spain and Argentina meet in a consolation match for third place at 5 p.m.

Ana Luiza and Amandinha put Brazil ahead just 61 seconds into the contest before Debora Vanin made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half.

Spain pulled one back seconds later behind Ale de Paz, but Luana Rodrigues added another for Brazil with eight minutes to go in the match.

Lidia Moreira and Fifo each had a brace for Portugal as it raced to a 6-0 lead at halftime before Ines Matos scored one early in the second half.

Mailen Romero scored for Argentina with less two minutes before the buzzer to avert a shutout.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has strengthened the implementation of its School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) and Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (Aral) initiative as part of ongoing efforts to accelerate learning recovery nationwide.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara visited Talon and Moonwalk Elementary Schools in Las Piñas City, both recognized for championing the programs, and lauded teachers and Aral tutors for their success in helping struggling readers catch up.

At Talon Elementary School, 575 learners were initially identified as struggling readers at the start of the school year. By midyear, the number dropped to 233.

‘That’s due to the work of our teachers, Aral tutors, because of their intervention, they learned how to read, those over 300 students out of the 575,’ Angara said in an ambush interview.

Overall, 71 percent, or 342 learners, exited the Aral program after meeting grade-level reading standards.

The school also ranked first in the division’s National Achievement Test (NAT).

The education chief said similar efforts are now already in place nationwide, a first time for DepEd, as it is being rolled out in all public schools.

Meanwhile, the Moonwalk Elementary School was acknowledged as the division’s 2nd Best SBFP Implementer.

Overall, it has catered to 789 feeding program beneficiaries as it implemented an innovative strategy.

The education chief, however, assured continuous improvement and implementation sustainability as the agency secured a budget boost from the Senate alongside wider opportunities for collaboration with local government units (LGUs).

Universal feeding

Under the Senate-approved General Appropriations Bill, the SBFP budget will be P28.66 billion to cover universal feeding for Kindergarten to Grade 1 and extend feeding to 200 days for targeted learners, including severely wasted, wasted and adolescent pregnant students in higher grade levels. Milk will be sourced from local farmers, while food products will come from DOST-FNRI-certified suppliers.

Angara also highlighted strengthened collaboration with LGUs under the updated Joint Circular on the Special Education Fund, allowing local governments to support early-grade feeding, literacy, and learning recovery programs.

‘With wider areas now eligible for LGU funding, schools can expect faster and more appropriate support without waiting for action from the national level,’ he said.

After being included as respondent in the flood control-related cases in Bulacan before the Department of Justice (DOJ), former Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla said he will not back down.

Rather, Revilla emphasized that he will face the allegations against him with courage and determination.

‘I have lived my life facing all challenges thrown my way. I didn’t run, I didn’t hide. I didn’t back down then, I won’t back down now,’ Revilla said in a statement on Saturday.

‘And because the truth is on my side, I will face it with courage and determination,’ he noted.

On Friday, the DOJ Spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez said Revilla and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co ‘were admitted as additional respondents in the cases involving SYMS Construction and Trading.’

Martinez said the cases are currently pending preliminary investigation, adding that Revilla was given a few days to submit a counter-affidavit.

The former senator, meanwhile, said in the statement that the accusations against him are ‘not only lies but simply unbelievable.’

‘I am an easy target being used to muddle the truth, but the truth will always come out. My name is being used to deflect from the truth-but the truth, never, can be covered up,’ the former senator said.

‘Together with you, I believe that in the end, those who are truly guilty will be held accountable-for justice and for the people,’ he likewise said, addressing the public.

On Wednesday, Revilla had been included in the recommendation submitted by the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to the Office of the Ombudsman for charges, including plunder, in relation to the flood control anomalies.

ICI chair Andres Reyes earlier said the referral was based on the affidavits of former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who previously accused Revilla of seeking a 25 percent commission-totaling P125 million-on flood control projects.

Revilla has since denied Bernardo’s allegations. /mr

Zanjoe Marudo lamented the prevalence of fake news on social media as he shrugged off rumors that he and his actress wife Ria Atayde had supposedly separated.

The actor addressed the breakup claims during the media conference of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Fest entry ‘UnMarry,’ where he is a cast member, on Friday, Dec. 5.

‘Wala na kong reaksyon sa mga ganyan kasi napakarami na talagang fake news na lumalabas sa YouTube,’ he said.

(I don’t react to that anymore because fake news have been spreading on [social media, particularly YouTube.])

Marudo admitted that a lot of people abroad have also reached out to him to confirm if the rumors were true.

‘Ang daming tumatawag sa akin from the States [na nagtatanong], ‘Uy, ano totoo ba? Totoo ba?’ [Sabi ko], ‘Bakit yan ang libangan niyo?” he recalled, laughing.

(Many people from the US had called me, asking if the rumors were true. I told them, ‘Why is that your hobby?’)

‘Kasi gusto nilang malaman para iku-kuwento nila sa mga kaibigan nila do’n na hindi totoo,’ he continued. (Because they want to know the truth so that they can tell it to their friends there.)

Further speaking about his approach toward such matters, Marudo credited the changes he made to improve himself.

‘Siguro yung dating version ko na insecure, matagal magdesisyon, walang bilib sa sarili, ‘yun ‘yung mga binago ko,’ he stated. ‘Then gumanda ‘yung pananaw ko sa buhay. Naging maganda ‘yung relationship ko sa mga tao, at ngayon may masaya na kong pamilya.’

(The previous version of me was insecure, indecisive, and had no self-confidence, so I changed that. My perspective in life has since changed. My relationship with other people also improved, and now I have my own happy family.)

Marudo and Atayde got married in a civil wedding in March 2024, then welcomed their firstborn Sabino the following September. /ra

La Salle will have some sort of momentum-and a lot of history on its side-coming into Saturday when the Green Archers clash with the National U Bulldogs for the second Finals berth of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.

Unbeaten in three Final Four series against the Bulldogs, La Salle is also seeking to become the first fourth seed in six years to knock out the tournament No. 1 and make the title series when they clash at 3:30 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum for the right to face defending champion University of the Philippines for the crown.

For La Salle, this could mean a third straight year in the finals and a chance to regain the title from the Fighting Maroons.

And it would cap a roller-coaster campaign that had its stars sidelined because of injuries and some of its players suspended, which resulted in a 2-3 start and had pundits writing the Archers off early.

Coach Topex Robinson couldn’t have spoken about their campaign better.

‘Well, for us, it’s really been hard to make it here. It wasn’t given to us. We earned it,’ he said after an 87-77 win over the Bulldogs on Wednesday in the first game. ‘We’re just blessed to have these players that are really willing to give up their own agenda heading into the season just to contribute.’

The Archers are now in full strength with Kean Baclaan and Mason Amos back from serious leg injuries, but National U coach Jeff Napa remains confident that they will finally be able to solve the La Salle puzzle in the Final Four.

Figuring it out

‘Of course, they (Archers) have a psychological edge,’ Napa said in Filipino. ‘We just need to figure out how to handle this situation and challenge. We’re still positive, even though it’s definitely a challenge.’

Napa could easily point a finger at what happened in the Game 1 loss.

‘The important thing for us is to play as a group and as a team,’ he said, as only Jake Figueroa delivered with 20 points and 10 rebounds. ‘There are some things we need to fix, especially with the other players.’

La Salle is seeking to become the first school since the University of Santo Tomas in 2014 to make the Finals as the fourth-ranked team. The Tigers actually pulled out the trick first in 2013, before the Bulldogs duplicated it a year later to win the championship, which snapped a 60-year title wait.

Meanwhile, the Maroons are back in the title series after carving out an 82-81 victory over the Growling Tigers also on Wednesday and UP gets some sort of an advantage by having a longer recovery time of a full week with Game 1 for the crown to be played on Wednesday.

Meghan Markle has reached out to her estranged father Thomas Markle, who recently underwent an emergency surgery in the Philippines to amputate his left leg, according to her spokesperson.

‘I can confirm she has reached out to her father,’ the spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex told PEOPLE magazine on Friday, Dec. 5.

Further details on the father and daughter’s communication were not immediately revealed to the public.

Thomas, who has been residing in the Philippines with his son and Meghan’s half brother Thomas Jr., was rushed to the hospital last Dec. 2 after being gravely ill.

‘His foot turned blue and then black. It happened very quickly. I took him to a local hospital and they did some scans and an ultrasound and said the leg had to be amputated,’ Thomas Jr. told British media outlet Daily Mail.

‘There was no option. I was told the leg had to be removed and it was a case of life or death,’ he added.

Thomas Jr. further noted how he was informed by the doctors that the next few days were ‘critical’ for his father.

‘His left leg has been removed below the knee. They were worried about infection setting in,’ he stated.

Thomas has been in an intensive care unit and is set to undergo another procedure to remove a blood clot, as per Thomas Jr.

Thomas, who has been estranged from Meghan since her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, reportedly moved to Cebu with Thomas Jr. last May. /ra

Backhoes, loaders and trucks in Porac town, Pampanga, hummed back to life on Friday as 40 quarry operators resumed extracting Mt. Pinatubo sand and gravel, while some 850 haulers took turns loading aggregates after two weeks of protests over alleged additional taxes.

The local government did not set up checkpoints or roadside collection desks starting at 1 a.m., a field check by the Inquirer showed.

This meant the proposed additional P100-on top of the P50 service fee and P50 ecological tax-was not collected, according to Lennard Lansang, president of the protesting Porac Truckers and Haulers Association Inc.

The so-called ‘double taxation’ triggered the protest, Lansang said. ‘The amended tax ordinance has not been approved and we were not called to a hearing,’ Lansing revealed.

Mayor Jaime ‘Jing’ Capil and the local treasury office did not reply to calls or messages seeking confirmation about the noncollection. Municipal treasurer Bernadette Duya has resigned, acting treasurer Albert Sotto retired on Nov. 30, and the new treasurer has yet to assume office.

Income lost

During the two-week protest that began on Nov. 21, haulers stopped transporting materials to Luzon buyers, leading to nonpayment of the original amount approved in the local ordinance.

With a minimum of 3,000 trucks and a P100 tax per truck, the local government must have lost P300,000 daily-or P4.5 million in 15 days-Lansang estimated.

He used an old Kapampangan proverb to describe the municipal government’s predicament: ‘Mantun lang kagatang, menugse lang kasalikap’ (‘They wanted only a few kilos but ended up throwing away the entire rice bin’), Lansang added.

Conditions

Even as it agreed to lift the protest, the Association of Porac Sand and Gravel Quarry Operators informed Capil in a Dec. 3 letter that its 40 members operating 170 hectares of quarry sites ‘will not procure further prepaid municipal ecological tax receipts’ starting Friday until the local government provide a valid ordinance authorizing the change in the amounts and manner of collection; a judicial ruling on the legality of the prepurchase practice; and a written legal basis showing that the prepurchase scheme is allowed under the Local Government Code of 1991.

The association also declined to serve as a collection agent for the service fee and ecological tax.

Lansang said haulers will only pay the P100 approved in the tax ordinance and will resist paying any additional amounts.

Two operators filed administrative cases against Capil before the Pampanga Provincial Board last week for alleged grave abuse of authority and several other violations.

During the protest, quarry operators and haulers reported foregone income amounting to P128.25 million.

The provincial government lost around P40 million in revenues for social and medical services, according to Romeo Dungca, head of the quarry regulatory unit, Kalam.

Calvin Abueva rallied Titan Ultra back from a double-digit deficit to edge Terrafirma, 111-108, that kept itself within striking distance in the quarterfinal race of the PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Abueva scored the go-ahead basket with a minute left, then swatted a Jerrick Ahanmisi jumper before making an outlet pass for Joshua Munzon to put the Giant Risers ahead 109-106 after being down by 15 in the second period.

Titan Ultra later heaved a sigh of relief as Ahanmisi’s attempt at a game-tying three rolled out before time expired.

The Giant Risers improved to 3-6 for ninth spot, trailing Meralco and Barangay Ginebra with identical 3-4 slates.

Abueva finished with 20 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, four steals and three blocks while Munzon topscored for Titan with 21.

Von Pessumal added 12 before he takes a break from PBA duties to represent Gilas Pilipinas in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Terrafirma dropped to 1-7 after suffering its sixth consecutive defeat and squandering a 37-22 lead in the first half.

Jerrick Ahanmisi had 20 points while Mark Nonoy had 18 for the Dyip.

The silver-and-white Val Taguba gown with light, flowy attachments that 2025 Miss Universe third runner-up Ahtisa Manalo showcased on the finale stage in Thailand earned gasps from delighfully surprised spectators. And the ensemble came with matching custom-made shoes.

Filipino shoe designer Jojo Bragais crafted a unique pair of crystal shoes made just for the seasoned pageant queen. ‘Ahtisa messaged me, and talked to me. Sabi niya, ‘Kuya, gawan mo ako ng shoes’ (She said, make my shoes),’ he told Inquirer Entertainment in an interview.

Manalo was the only beauty queen he made clear straps for, and Bragais said the inspiration was from years ago. He said he met the then 18-year-old lass from Quezon Province back in 2016 when she was thinking of joining Binibining Pilipinas.

‘She was in jersey shorts with a hole, and her shirt was loose. She looked shabby, you could tell she was not well off. But she’s beautiful. In my eyes she was Cinderella,’ Bragais shared.

‘Those crystal shoes were entirely her idea, although in my eyes she has been groomed by fairy godmothers,’ he added. Manalo’s stylist Patty Yap first approached Bragais for shoes to match the gown for the finale.

He said he did not see what the gown’s design would be, but was only told that it would be white with silver. ‘I told them if they wanted to use the Ahisa tribute design that I was not able to finish. So I sent them my execution, and they told me it was perfect for the finals,’ Bragais said.

The concept was from Manalo and her team, but the design itself was all from Bragais, he revealed. This resulted in a pair of crystal shoes with platforms, and clear straps with silver accents.

He asked Manalo and Yap about the overall aesthetic of the finale look, and how high the beauty queen wanted the heels to be. Bragais also made sure to make her legs look longer, and give the shoes thicker heels ‘for better balance.’

But style considerations were not the only factors that required a custom pair for Manalo. Bragais revealed that the queen has unique feet that may get difficult to find the perfect shoes for.

‘Her toes are long. She’s in the slim category and we don’t have that. Her foot’s length is for a size 8, but her width is only for a size 7, that is why it’s challenging to find the right pair for her,’ he shared.

For the swimsuit round, Manalo sported a modified version of the strappy heels named after 2024 Miss Grand International Christine Juliane ‘CJ’ Opiaza, customized to fit her feet.

And avid pageant fans and aspirants may get to walk in the shoes that helped make the beauty queens’ dreams come true. Jojo Bragais, the brand, will throw a Christmas Clearance Sale where the items will be at their lowest prices ever.

Those interested in getting their own Bragais shoes may visit the flagship store on Scout Borromeo in Quezon City to catch the sale event from Dec. 11 to 17. Pageant titleholders are also expected to drop by to greet shoppers. /ra