Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Pageant fans extended an outpouring of support to Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel, making calls to follow the beauty queen on Instagram after Miss Universe Organization (MUO) president Raul Rocha pointed out her supposed less follower count compared to recent titleholders.

Rocha made the remark during a recent interview with Mexican journalist Adela Micha, in which he noted how controversial Miss Universe 2025 titleholder Fatima Bosch gained 3 million social media followers in just a week.

The MUO executive further said that Miss Universe 2023 and 2024 queens Sheynnis Palacios and Victoria Theilvig, who were both crowned under his term as MUO president, likewise marked a notable growth in the number of their social media followers.

He then compared these to Gabriel’s Instagram followers which, he said, had only reached around 800,000 since she was crowned.

A clip from the interview was shared by one Lucas Sigarini on Instagram, eliciting a reaction from Gabriel herself.

‘I’m so tired of being measured by follower count,’ she commented on the post. In a separate post, Gabriel celebrated surpassing the 1 million follower mark on Instagram, thanks to the thousands of new followers she earned in only a few hours.

‘In less than 24 hours, yall got me to 1 MILLION followers! It was never about the numbers, but people have looked down on me just because of my social media follower count,’ she said.

The beauty queen expressed her gratitude to those who have supported her, crediting them for giving her a bigger platform for her passion and advocacies.

‘Maraming salamat sa suporta,’ she continued. ‘It feels crazy to celebrate this, but I’m happy.’

‘Let’s not forget there’s still a whole world out there beyond digital platforms. Human connection and impact is still what’s most important.’ Among those who celebrated with Gabriel were Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza, and Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios.

‘Never about numbers! You are loved!’ Gray said in the comments section.

Sy family-led BDO Unibank Inc. locked in $500 million in fresh funding to support its lending operations, as its recent senior notes issuance received strong interest from global investors.

The five-year fixed rate senior notes, under its medium term note program, saw a blockbuster traction from investors. It was oversubscribed by 3.2 times, with orders hitting about $1.6 billion.

The coupon rate of the senior notes is set at 4.375 percent a year. Settlement is targeted by Dec. 3.

The bank said the fresh funds would back BDO’s growing lending business, as well as support its general corporate purposes.

It tapped Standard Chartered Bank as the sole global coordinator for the transaction.

Standard Chartered Bank, MUFG, and Wells Fargo Securities acted as joint bookrunners and joint lead managers. Last 2022, the firm raised $100 million from its maiden issuance of blue bonds through an investment from the International Finance Corp.

Even with the COVID-19 pandemic rampaging across the world, BDO also raised $600 million from the offshore bond market in July 2020.

Meanwhile, BDO realized a profit growth in the first three months of 2025 as its lending operations expanded, reaching P3.5 trillion. Its earnings went up 4 percent to P63.1 billion, its highest nine-month figure. INQ

A 30-day suspension has been imposed on the franchise of the Bicol Intercity Transport Cooperative, while a 90-day suspension has been imposed on the truck driver’s license after the fatal road crash in Albay.

These orders were announced by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday.

The road crash occurred between the 10-wheeler truck and the UV express van at the Maharlika Highway in Camalig on Wednesday morning, which resulted in 11 fatalities and three injuries, the DOTr said.

Initial investigation indicated that the truck lost its brakes. It collided with the van coming from the opposite direction, and crushed the other vehicle, the department reported.

Albay police chief Police Col. Noel Nuñez told Inquirer in a text message that the van, carrying 14 passengers, was traveling from Guinobatan to Camalig when the truck driver in lost control of the wheels. According to the DOTr, the suspension was enforced by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) the same day the disaster happened.

The LTFRB took control of the 10 land transportation vehicles of the cooperative, stating that it violated the conditions of the Terms and Conditions of Certificate of Public Convenience.

The suspended units will also undergo a roadworthiness test, the LTFRB said.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) issued a show-cause order against truck driver Recson Zamora and the registered owner Miguel Cerdeno.

Zamora may face charges for reckless driving, the LTO said. Acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez sent his sympathies to the families of the victims, promising that those responsible will be held liable.

‘We at DOTr extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. There is no greater pain than losing a loved one. I assure the families of the victims that we will hold those responsible for this road crash accountable,’ Lopez said in a statement on Thursday.

San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper returned to the court in the NBA Wednesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers after missing 3 1/2 weeks because of a left calf injury.

Harper scored seven points in 16 minutes off the bench as the Spurs won 115-102 in an NBA Cup group stage game. ‘It felt good out there just to be back out there with the guys, just contribute any way I can to winning,’ Harper said. ‘Most importantly, we got the win.’

The 6-foot-6 Harper, the No. 2 pick in last summer’s draft out of Rutgers, played well over the first six games of his NBA career before the injury. He averaged 14 points, four rebounds and 3.8 assists, all off the bench.

He was hurt Nov. 2 in a game against the Phoenix Suns, limping off the court after trying to swat away a pass while playing defense.

Although the Spurs are monitoring his minutes, they’re glad to have Harper back.

‘I thought he was great,’ coach Mitch Johnson said. ‘Trying to get his fitness level back to where it was. He’s played five or six games, whatever it’s been. He’s going to be fantastic. His approach was great. We just need to keep getting him in shape and get his reps back.’

Johnson said he plans to play Harper with fellow guards De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.

‘Sky’s the limit with us three,’ Harper said. ‘We all can get to the rim at will, we all can make shots, we can all play-make, so it’s really pick your poison.’

The Spurs are 12-5 despite injuries to multiple key players. Castle (hip) and All-Star big man Victor Wembanyama (calf) were out of the lineup against the Trail Blazers.

Sen. Robin Padilla castigated Palace Press Officer Claire Thursday after she criticized the alleged inconsistencies in resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co’s video statements, as well as the change in his hairstyle.

Instead of guessing whether it was indeed Co who appeared in the video, Padilla advised Castro to just verify this with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

After all, it was not Castro’s job to ask questions, the senator said in a Facebook post.

‘Your mandate is to respond and speak the truth,’ Padilla reminded the Palace official.

Accompanying his FB post was a photo quote of Castro’s remark on Wednesday about the supposed changes, not just in Co’s story, but even in his hairstyle.

According to her, Co should ‘finish all his stories first because every time we criticize his inconsistencies, his story changes along with the hairstyle change in the video.’

In his videos, Co, who has been abroad since July, implicated President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and other ranking officials in Malacañang in the flood control projects mess.

His latest allegation was directed at presidential son and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, who, he said, inserted at least P50 billion worth of public works projects in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 budgets.

Padilla, in the same post, noted Castro’s absence at the budget hearing to answer the senators’ questions personally.

When the Senate tackled in the plenary last Tuesday the proposed budget of the Presidential Communications Office for 2026, the senator played an audio recording allegedly of Castro supposedly talking to trolls.

‘I could have asked you personally whether you are the one they say is in the audio and whether it is true that 50 million is missing from your office, especially since your name has been mentioned on social media, along with the word ‘TROLL,” the senator said.

‘I am the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media. It is my job to ask questions about public information, not to accuse anyone. We each have our own mandates, so don’t try to play me with your long-winded explanations,’ he told Castro.

Castro previously denied earlier reports that former Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jay Ruiz was removed from his position after P50 million supposedly went ‘missing’ from his vault.

Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and the Boston Celtics ended Detroit’s winning streak at a franchise record-tying 13, outlasting Cade Cunningham and the Pistons 117-114 in the NBA on Wednesday night.

The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons squandered a chance to break the record they share with the 1989-90 and 2003-04 championship teams. They are 15-3 two seasons after losing 28 in a row to break the NBA season record.

Derrick White (27 PTS, 6 3PM) credits the TD Garden crowd for their energy tonight in Boston’s W! Brown had 33 points and 10 rebounds, and White scored 11 of his 27 points in the final 4 1/2 minutes to help the Celtics overcome Cunningham’s 42-point night.

With Detroit down 3, Cunningham was fouled near mid-court just as he was about to go up for a 3-pointer. After a review, the officials ruled he was indeed in the act of shooting. Cunningham hit the first two, but missed the third. Payton Pritchard grabbed the rebound for Boston, was fouled and hit two free throws with 2.4 seconds left.

Boston stole a pass before Detroit could attempt a potential tying 3.

Pritchard added 16 points to help the Celtics win for the fifth time in six games.

On Monday, Detroit won at Indiana to match the team record for consecutive victories.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced that no jackpot winner emerged in Thursday’s draws of both SuperLotto 6/49 and Lotto 6/42.

The winning numbers for SuperLotto 6/49 were 03-16-07-35-42-38 with a jackpot of ?23.9 million and no winners. The Lotto 6/42 draw produced numbers 42-26-04-30-21-22, carrying a jackpot of ?15.6 million – also without a winner.

Minor draws also concluded:

6D Lotto – 0-9-0-7-4-4; jackpot ?4,278,961.60; no winners.

3D Lotto

2 PM: 0-6-6 – prize ?4,500; 136 winners

5 PM: 0-4-9 – prize ?4,500; 121 winners

9 PM: 2-4-5 – prize ?4,500; 579 winners

2D Lotto

2 PM: 27-27 – prize ?4,000; 938 winners

5 PM: 09-16 – prize ?4,000; 363 winners

9 PM: 15-13 – prize ?4,000; 111 winners

According to PCSO’s official payout schedule, 3D Lotto’s straight-bet winners receive ?4,500 per 10-peso play, while 2D Lotto winners get ?4,000 per 10-peso play.

Draw schedule

SuperLotto 6/49 draws are held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday; Lotto 6/42 draws occur every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

6D Lotto draws take place on the same schedule as Lotto 6/42 (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). 3D Lotto and 2D Lotto games are drawn daily at 2 PM, 5 PM, and 9 PM.

Ayala Land Inc. unloaded some of its shares in its real estate investment trust AREIT Inc. for P4.19 billion.

In a disclosure to the local bourse Wednesday, the real estate giant said that the 100 million common shares, priced at P41.90 each, had been placed out through UBS AG Singapore Branch, BPI Capital Corporation and Maybank Securities Pte. Ltd.

These were taken up by institutional investors from the Philippines and other overseas markets, including the United States.

Proceeds from this will be settled by Friday.

Ayala Land has yet to provide details on how the group intends to use the fresh funds.

REIT pioneer

The company is one of the major property developers in the Philippine market, with residential developments, shopping centers, offices, hotels and resorts.

AREIT, meanwhile, is the country’s first publicly listed REIT.

Just in October, the firm disclosed that its board of directors had given the go signal to pursue a property-for-share swap with ALI and its subsidiary, Summerhill Commercial Ventures Corp. The agreement involves two commercial mall assets worth P19.5 billion: Ayala Center Cebu and Ayala Malls Feliz in Pasig City. Together, these malls span 375,000 square meters. Once completed by the latter part of next year, this deal will bring AREIT’s assets under management to P158 billion. INQ

Binibining Pilipinas Myrna Esguerra is in high spirits and full of positivity as the final gala of the 2025 Miss International pageant approaches.

‘I feel so fulfilled with everything that has happened, sobrang grateful ko sa lahat ng taong tumulong sa akin [I’m very grateful to everyone who helped me] from the start,’ she told Inquirer Entertainment at the sidelines of the preliminary evaluation held earlier in Yokohama, Japan.

The event was held three days ahead of the final competition on Thursday evening, Nov. 27, at the Yoyogi National 2nd Gymnasium in Tokyo.

Esguerra waited for more than a year to get to Japan for her Miss International competition. She earned her national title at the 60th Bb. Pilipinas pageant in June last year.

‘I really set my expectation on Miss International that it’s gonna be a very great experience for me, and a fun one. And I’m so happy that my expectations were exceeded in a most meaningful way,’ she said.

‘Now that the [final competition] is nearing, I hope that you’ll continue to support me po. Para sa Pilipinas, lalaban po tayo [For the Philippines, we will fight],’ Esguerra declared.

The beauty queen flew to Tokyo earlier this month, ahead of the other delegates, to spend time with the Filipino community in Japan.

‘Here in Japan they taught us how to be kind despite everything that’s happening, despite the competition, the pressure, the nerves,’ Esguerra shared.

‘It’s not expensive to be kind to one another. And I think that’s the most valuable lesson that I learned,’ she continued.

Esguerra shared that she was happy with everything that has happened during the course of the pageant’s activities.

‘I’m really grateful. I feel very blessed. And this is more than what I prayed for, and I’m so happy to be here,’ she said.

Esguerra is hoping to post the Philippines’ seventh Miss International victory, following Gemma Cruz, Aurora Pijuan, Melanie Marquez, Precious Lara Quigaman, Bea Rose Santiago, and Kylie Verzosa

As the holiday season is around the corner and alcoholic beverages may overflow during gatherings, a heart expert has raised the concern of binge drinking and the implications it may bring to health, particularly to the heart.

Dr. Maria Encarnita Limpin, a medical specialist from the Philippine Heart Center, characterized binge drinking as the alcohol consumption of five or more standard drinks within two hours. She also noted that this is classified by the number of drinks consumed, not by alcohol quality. According to the 2023 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) released in December 2024, four in every 10 Filipinos (37.9%) are current drinkers, while six in every 10 Filipinos (58.7%) are binge drinkers. The NNS noted that binge and current drinkers are ‘significantly higher among males.’

With excessive alcohol consumption or binge drinking, Limpin said that this can cause ‘Holiday Heart Syndrome,’ where anyone can develop irregularity in heart rhythm.

‘If there is a timing on heartbeat, let’s say, it slows down, but in cases of Holiday Heart Syndrome, it is really more on a fast heartbeat,’ Limpin said in a media conference on Wednesday.

She also said that HHS’ symptoms include palpitations characterized by rapid and irregular heartbeat, chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, and syncope. Aside from these symptoms, Limpin added that other health problems can occur such as stress, which can cause heart failure.

Who can have HHS?

Limpin said that anyone can experience HHS, even those without existing heart problems. However, she stressed that the chance of contracting this disease ‘might be lower’ for those who have a healthy lifestyle but engage in binge drinking.

‘The problem is the effect of consumption on a regular basis. Its effect will be cumulative. What you consumed today will add up to what you consumed yesterday,’ she said.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, ischemic heart disease, or coronary heart disease was still the leading cause of death of Filipinos in 2024. It accounted for 96,049 cases or 19.3% deaths in the country from January to November 2024.