Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Petro Gazz returned to the PVL Reinforced Conference final for the first time in three years for a shot at its fourth championship.

The Angels survived the eighth-seeded but hard-fighting Akari Chargers, 25-19, 25-17, 15-25, 22-25, 15-13, to make their second PVL finals this year on Thursday at Smart Araneta Coliseum

Petro Gazz eyes its third Reinforced crown and a second title this year after capturing the franchise’s maiden All-Filipino Conference crown last May.

Two-time All-Filipino MVP Brooke Van Sickle will be making her first Reinforced finals and they will face the winner of the last semifinal game between PLDT and ZUS Coffee on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Big Dome.

‘I thought Akari did phenomenal. They pushed us definitely physically and mentally to the max. That was one of the most intense games I’ve played in a very long time,’ said Van Sickle, who had an all-around 23-point game on top of 18 excellent receptions and 13 digs.

‘It was so high stress, which is awesome. As an athlete, you want to be in those situations, and it just makes the win a little bit greater.’ Lindsey Vander Weide, a 2022 Finals MVP and Best Import, steered the Angels back to the finals for the third time in the last four Reinforced editions, delivering 16 points despite suffering a right ankle sprain last Monday’s quarterfinals.

Petro Gazz couldn’t complete a sweep after taking a two-set advantage, losing the third by 10 points and failing to complete a comeback in the fourth.

Tied at 12 in the fifth, Lindsey Vander Weide drilled a clutch cross court kill followed by Fifi Sharma’s attack error to reach match point.

The American import missed her serve, but Grethcel Soltones’ attempt to tie the game sent the Angels to the finals after the ball went out.

‘I think it goes to show it does not matter how we start, but what matters most is how we finish,’ said Brooke, who entered her second PVL finals with dad Gary as head coach. ‘In the beginning of the season it was a little hard. This team. We showed grit. To dog it out from start to finish.’

Myla Pablo sustained her fine form with 14 points after a 26-point explosion to dethrone Creamline in the quarterfinals last Monday.

Pablo set the tone for Petro Gazz’s dominant first two sets after scoring five straight points for a 16-6 lead in the first.

MJ Phillips had 13 points. Rookie setter Jules Tolentino paced the Angels with 27 excellent sets, while Bang Pineda tallied 27 digs.

The Chargers committed seven of their 28 errors in the fifth as Anni Mitchem’s 28-point explosion went for naught.

Ced Domingo delivered 16 points, while Soltones had 12 points, 18 receptions, and nine digs. Akari, which upset the No.1 seed Farm Fresh in the quarterfinals, failed to return to the Reinforced finals after a runner-up finish last year but still has a chance for a bronze medal finish in its final match also on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Minimum wage earners and domestic workers in Eastern Visayas are set to receive an increase in minimum wage starting December 2025, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Thursday.

The DOLE said that the wage increase will cover an estimated 114,126 minimum wage earners and 57,081 domestic workers. This new pay hike will be effective starting December 8, 2025, based on the Wage Orders Nos. RB VIII-25 and RBVIII-DW-06.

All sectors will get a P35 daily wage increase, which will bring the daily minimum wage at P440 (or P11,477 monthly) for the agriculture sector, cottage and handicraft and retail and service establishments with fewer than 10 employees. Meanwhile, the daily minimum wage for non-agriculture sector and retail and service establishments with more than 10 employees will now receive P470 a day, or P12,259 monthly. The domestic workers, or kasambahays, will also receive a monthly increase of P400 for those based in chartered cities and first-class municipalities, which will bring their monthly salary to P6,400. Those who are in other municipalities will get a P300 monthly wage increase, which will raise their monthly pay to P5,800.

The DOLE also said that about ‘162,501 full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage are also expected to indirectly benefit from wage adjustments at the enterprise level in the said region, arising from the correction of wage distortions.’

Meanwhile, the agency noted that retail and service establishments with not more than 10 employees and enterprises affected by calamities can apply for the exemption of the wage increase until February 5, 2026.

It added that barangay micro business enterprises with valid Certificates of Authority from the Department of Trade and Industry are not covered by the minimum wage law.

‘In deciding the amount of minimum wage increases in the region, RTWPB-VII [Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board] balanced the rights of workers to be protected from unduly low pay and of employers to reasonable profits, as well as the overall development objectives of promoting employment and productivity and preventing inflation,’ the DOLE said.

LANDBANK has earned seven major distinctions from leading global financial publications in 2025, recognizing its exceptional performance in inclusive finance, institutional banking, investment banking, and the visionary leadership of its President and CEO. Affirming its leadership in financial inclusion and its stature in the banking industry, the state-run Bank earned a spot on the Forbes World’s Best Banks 2025 list, ranking 5th among nine Philippine banks recognized by the global media company, in partnership with Statista. LANDBANK was also included in the Forbes World’s Best Employers 2025 list, placing 4th in the Philippines and 187th out of 900 organizations worldwide, underscoring its strong workplace culture, employee engagement, and commitment to public service excellence.

LANDBANK was likewise named Best Bank for Diversity and Inclusion and Best Investment Bank for Debt Capital Markets (DCM) at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, in recognition of its pivotal role in structuring and facilitating debt financing across various sectors, and its commitment to reaching and serving underserved sectors and communities.

The Asian Banking and Finance (ABF) Awards also cited the Bank for expanding customer access through innovative, customer-centered services, with the Domestic Retail Bank of the Year – Philippines award.

Beyond these institutional distinctions, LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz received two major leadership recognitions in 2025 – as Best New Banking CEO for 2025 by the Global Banking and Finance (GBF) Awards, citing her transformational leadership and measurable impact in strengthening the Bank’s financial performance and credibility.

Fortune Magazine also recognized PCEO Ortiz as one of Asia’s Most Powerful Women in 2025, ranking 3rd in the Philippines and 72nd on the worldwide list and highlighting her influential leadership in advancing inclusive finance, digital transformation, and public service innovation.

‘These recognitions reflect LANDBANK’s intensified focus on inclusive banking, digital transformation, and service excellence. They are a testament to the dedication of all Landbankers nationwide, whose collective efforts empower our clients and communities while advancing the nation’s broader development goals,’ said PCEO Ortiz.

Sustaining Support to Nation-Building

LANDBANK continues to deliver on its dual mandate as a development and universal bank by channeling its financial strength toward national growth. This year, LANDBANK declared ?33.53 billion in cash dividends to the National Government – the highest in its history and among all government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) – on the back of its strong financial performance.

Through its flagship AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program, the Bank strengthens access to affordable and responsive financing for small farmers, fishers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses. The Program features a lowered interest rate of 3% per annum and simplified application processes, allowing borrowers to secure the capital they need to adopt modern farm practices, scale production, and enhance their overall competitiveness.

Complementing its loan support is the ASCEND (Agri-Fishery Support thru Capability Enhancement for Nationwide Development) Program, which provides training in digital financial literacy, sustainable agriculture, and enterprise development, aimed at empowering borrowers to become full-fledged agripreneurs.

Inclusive Banking for Every Filipino

LANDBANK continues to expand its reach through its ‘phygital’ strategy, seamlessly integrating its physical presence with advanced digital channels. This approach ensures a secure and convenient banking experience while serving the underserved and unbanked. The Bank also recently piloted its Person-to-Merchant (P2M) QR payment facility in Negros Occidental, enabling farmers and MSMEs to conduct safe, cashless transactions.

The Bank maintains a nationwide network of 10,582 customer touchpoints, including 609 branches, 60 lending centers, 3,244 automated teller machines (ATMs), 236 cash deposit machines (CDMs), and 1,091 LANDBANKasama partners, ensuring financial access even in the most remote communities. Customers can also transact free of charge at over 3,800 7-Eleven ATMs nationwide through the Bank’s partnership with Pito Axm Platform, Inc. (PAPI).

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.

Myrna Esguerra moved one step closer to the Miss International 2025 crown after securing a spot in the Top 10 of the competition held in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday, Nov. 27.

From 20 finalists, the competition was narrowed down to ten delegates, with Esguerra being the last one to be called.

Joining Esguerra in the Top 10 are as follows:

Nan Inzai of Myanmar (People’s Choice Award)

Shenci Romaya of Sri Lanka

Rachel Murgel of Canada

Anita Maspons of Dominican Republic

Paola Guzmán Sanchez of Bolivia

Catalina Duque of Colombia

Yollanda Chimbarami of Zimbabwe

Verónica Iglesias of Nicaragua

Melliza Xaviera Yulian of Indonesia

The announcement came after the evening gown segment, where the delegates paraded elegance as they walked the runway to the tune of Kehlani’s ‘Folded.’ Esguerra donned a light champagne-colored pearl-encrusted gown by top Filipino designer Mak Tumang with voluminous blush pink petal shawl.

Tumang is known for making the iconic red lava gown of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, as well as the navy blue and gold preliminary evening gown competition worn by Ahtisa Manalo at the recently staged Miss Universe 2025. The Miss International contestants also heated up the stage in their indigo one-piece swimwear with a deep V-plunge neckline during the swimsuit round.

Earlier in the evening, Esguerra stunned in her national costume: a white gown with pearl details complimented by intricate gloves and headdress.

Reigning queen Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy is set to crown her successor at the end of the night

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson has sounded the alarm over several ‘duplicate’ projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in its 2025 budget, warning that these were designed to ‘confuse and corrupt.’

Lacson, during his interpellation of the proposed DPWH budget for 2026, said the duplicate projects were under the Convergence and Special Support Program (CSSP). He noted that these were ‘significantly bloated every year’ from 2023 to 2025.

According to Senate finance committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian, who sponsored the DPWH budget, the increases were ‘mostly congressional.’

The department’s proposed budget for 2026 is under scrutiny amid an ongoing investigation into billions of pesos worth of allocations for government flood control projects that ended up being lost to corruption over the past years. Ballooning figure

Lacson said the DPWH’s CSSP budget in 2024 showed it had an allotment of P174.088 billion in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2024, but the figure ballooned to P410.91 billion in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The NEP is the budget proposal submitted by Malacañang to Congress, while the reconciled version of the budget proposals coming from the House and Senate is the General Appropriations Bill (GAB). It becomes the GAA once it is signed into law by the President.

For 2025, the CSSP budget grew from P221.499 billion in the NEP to P504.226 billion in the GAA. For 2026, the CSSP had P167.79 billion in the NEP and P234.236 billion in the House version of the budget bill.

Lacson said he found that many projects under the Sustainable Infra Projects Alleviating Gaps (Sipag) had the same names as those under the Basic Infrastructure programs (BIP) but with different amounts.

‘We have to take a closer look at them because we may be giving double appropriations-different programs but the same projects,’ he added.

Double appropriations

He illustrated that among the projects that had ‘duplicate’ allocations in the 2025 budget were the construction of Barangay San Jose-Barangay Bandi Road Package 2 in Barangay San Jose-Barangay Bandi in Donsol, Sorsogon, with P39.433 million under Sipag and P150 million under BIP; road rehabilitation, Phases 1 and 2 in Umingan, Pangasinan (P125 million and P200 million, respectively) under Sipag, and Phase 3 of ‘construction/rehabilitation’ of roads in Umingan (P17 million) under BIP.

Other duplicate projects were the construction of a road at Barangay Guisican, Phase II, in Labo, Camarines Norte (P30 million) under Sipag and Phase 1 of a similarly named project (P100 million) under BIP; and the rehabilitation of a road, Phase 1 from Barangay Naspi to Barangay Abucay in Pilar, Sorsogon (P100 million) under Sipag, and the construction of Naspi-Abucay Road in Pilar, Sorsogon, Phase 2 (P50 million) under BIP.

‘I hope this can be rectified. I can go on and on because we saw so many projects. I hope [DPWH] Secretary [Vince] Dizon will look at the project titles, especially those that are exactly the same or divided into phases but placed under different programs,’ Lacson said.

Gatchalian pointed out that in the case of projects with the same titles and without technical descriptions, the district engineer may have the discretion of how and where to implement the projects.

Late last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed P194 billion worth of projects in the 2025 GAA that were ‘not consistent with our programmed priorities,’ reducing the national budget to P6.326 trillion. Vetoed were a P26.065 billion allocation for the DPWH and another P168.240 billion worth of projects allocated under the controversial unprogrammed appropriations.

The US central bank flagged a growing divergence in consumption Wednesday, with overall spending – a key driver of the world’s biggest economy – pulling back even as higher-end sales stayed intact.

Employment also weakened in recent weeks, while prices continued rising moderately as President Donald Trump’s tariffs squeezed business margins, said the Federal Reserve’s ‘beige book’ survey of economic conditions.

The report underscores the competing pressures that Fed policymakers face, as they decide whether to make a third consecutive interest rate cut at their upcoming meeting in December.

Adding to complications are a US government shutdown that lasted from October to mid-November and delayed the release of economic data that officials typically rely on. The Fed lowered the benchmark lending rate twice this year as the jobs market cooled, but there are growing divisions among its ranks because inflation remains markedly above its two-percent target.

‘Overall consumer spending declined further, while higher-end retail spending remained resilient,’ said the Fed on Wednesday.

It added that some retailers felt a negative hit from the record-long government shutdown, while some of the sources they consult also flagged ‘cautious discretionary spending among consumers.’

Labor market

Meanwhile, ’employment declined slightly’ with some districts seeing weaker labor demand, the report added.

There was also an uptick in layoff announcements, although more districts reported seeing businesses limiting headcounts through hiring freezes and attrition rather than letting people go.

Prices climbed slightly while ‘cost pressures were widespread in manufacturing and retail, largely reflecting tariff-induced increases,’ the Fed said. The Fed’s most recent rate cut brought interest rates to a range between 3.75 percent and 4 percent. CME Group’s FedWatch tool pegs the likelihood of a further 25-basis-points rate reduction in December at 85.1 percent.

The proposed 2026 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) breezed through the Senate’s plenary on Thursday, gaining approval in less than five minutes.

The OVP budget was immediately approved, with no questions asked, in view of parliamentary courtesy given to a co-equal branch of the government.

It was Sen. JV Ejercito who made the motion. No objections were made upon Ejercito’s move.

But prior approval of the budget, known-Duterte ally Sen. Robinhood Padilla stood up to manifest his support for the OVP’s proposed funding.

‘Ako po ay natutuwa sapagkat dito sa ating bulwagan ay atin pong hindi binawasan ang budget ng ating Pangalawang Pangulo bagkus ay dinagdagan. Sapagkat alam niyo po, sa akin pong karanasan sa tuwing may darating na kalamidad, kalungkutan, kamatayan [ay] nandyan po lagi ang ating Pangalawang Pangulo upang makiramay, tumulong-kahit saan pong lupalop sa Pilipinas makikita po natin ang opisina ng pangalawang Pangulo,’

(I am pleased because here in our chamber, we did not reduce the budget of our Vice President; instead, we increased it. Because, as you know, in my experience, whenever calamities, sorrow, or death occur, our Vice President is always there to offer condolences and help-wherever in the Philippines you may be, you will see the office of the Vice President present)

‘Ako po ay masaya at nagpapasalamat sa ating mga kasama. Maraming salamat po at hindi po nagmula sa ating bulwagan ang pang-iipit sa ating pangalawang Pangulo,’ he added.

(I am happy and grateful to our colleagues. Thank you very much, and I am glad that the constraint or pressure against our Vice President did not come from this chamber)

The proposed 2026 budget of OVP amounts to P889 million. It can be recalled, however, that the House of Representatives has already passed a reduced budget of P733.2 million.

Vice President Sara Duterte personally attended the Senate’s session when her office’s budget was presented.

‘Next year na’

Shortly after the presentation of the budget in the plenary session, Duterte herself faced the media for a press conference. She, however, refused to answer media queries and opted to dodge political questions.

‘Thank you, next year na,’ she simply told reporters when she was asked to comment on resigned Zaldy Co’s statements supposedly linking President Bongbong Marcos to the anomalous flood control scandal.

This was also her answer when she was pressed to disclose whether or not her readiness to become Marcos’s successor as president was a political destabilization.

Instead of addressing media queries, Duterte wished the media a merry Christmas and a happy new year. ‘And I wish you good health in the year 2026. We’d like to thank the Senate of the Philippines for approving the OVP year 2026 budget,’ she said.

Bulatlat hailed as a ‘big win’ for press freedom, a court decision voiding a government order to block its website and those of 26 other alternative news outlets at the tail-end of the Duterte administration.

In June 2022, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered internet service providers to block the websites of the 27 independent media and progressive organizations after the National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. alleged that these were supporting terrorist organizations.

On Nov. 18, Judge Catherine Manodon of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court voided the NTC order, citing that it not only lacked legal authority but also violated press freedom and constituted censorship.She also noted that the defendants-NTC and Esperon-failed to prove that Bulatlat posed ‘clear and present danger.’

‘The local court’s decision unblocks all the 27 websites, making this a victory against state censorship, and against the use of ‘anti-terrorism’ rhetoric to justify the violation of free speech and expression,’ Bulatlat said in a statement.

The NTC order was issued on June 8, 2022, at the request of Esperon, who alleged that the outlets were affiliated with or supporting terrorist organizations.

No power to block

On the motion of Bulatlat’s publisher, Alipato Media Center, Inc., the court ruled that NTC had no power to block, restrict, or ‘limit access’ to news websites, saying its mandate covers only regulation, supervision, and adjudication of ‘matters relating to telecommunications services and facilities.’

These include the approval of rates, issuance of certificates of public convenience, and settlement of disputes between operators and subscribers, it noted.

The court also pointed out that NTC cannot invoke Sec. 46(m) of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as a legal basis for its memorandum because restricting online media access requires observance of due process, including the conduct of a hearing or the issuance of a notice.

‘To interpret Sec. 46(m) as granting such power would unduly expand the scope of the law and sanction acts beyond the statutory limits,’ it said in the decision made public on Wednesday. ‘The NTC treated the letter from defendant Esperon as something it had to follow as a ministerial task.’

‘Limits of administrative power’

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, counsel for Bulatlat, called the ruling a ‘clear statement on the limits of administrative power and the continuing need to guard against censorship disguised as regulation.’

‘Bulatlat’s reporting, like that of any media organization, may be contested, criticized, or challenged in the arena of public debate. What the Constitution does not allow is for the state to shut down that discourse,’ NUPL said.

It urged the public to view the court decision as an imperative to treat the press as an entity ‘that can report and publish without fear of being taken down.’

The court also confirmed that access to Bulatlat was indeed restricted even after readers used different internet service providers and devices to access it.

‘Their testimonies show that even if a complete blockage did not occur, the assailed memorandum still resulted in a real and perceivable sense of restriction, as certain users were intermittently or persistently unable to access the site,’ it explained.

Violation of freedoms

The NTC move, as a whole, is a violation of the freedom of the press, speech, and expression guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution, it said.

‘In this case, the blocking of various websites. falls squarely within the ambit of prior restraint because it constitutes ‘government censorship of publication,’ noting that defendants NTC and Esperon failed to justify the existence of any ‘clear and present danger’ posed by the Bulatlat website. ‘No competent proof was presented to show the plaintiff’s publication or operation posed an imminent threat to national security or public order,’ it said.

Amid all the controversies being faced by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), Lupita Jones, Miss Universe 1999, couldn’t help but be impressed with the way the Miss International pageant remained classy all these years.

Jones, Mexico’s first-ever Miss Universe titleholder, was the national director of the Miss Mexico pageant that fields candidates to Miss Universe, until 2023 when she locked horns with MUO over certain policies changes. She is currently the national director of the Miss International Mexico..

But between the two major global pageants, she said Miss International stands out for its emphasis on international culture.

‘I love the Miss International pageant because they really focus on culture, how the candidates can share their countries’ cultures,’ Jones told Inquirer Entertainment.

The Mexican beauty queen granted an interview at the sidelines of the 63rd Miss International pageant’s preliminary evaluation in Yokohama, Japan, on Nov. 24, but begged off from answering questions about Miss Universe.

Her country posted its fourth Miss Universe victory in Thailand on Nov. 21, in a scandal-plagued competition that has birthed controversies all throughout, even after Fatima Bosch’s proclamation as the new queen.

Jones has also publicly declared her disapproval of the current management of the MUO, and how the pageant has been run lately.

In discussing the Miss International pageant, she cited how the delegates also get immersed in Japanese culture through the different visits to different places in the country.

Jones also shared that another thing that she loves about the Miss International pageant as a national director is the organization’s focus on the delegates’ wellbeing by imposing a ‘minimum body index,’ the only competition she knows has one.

‘That means a lot to me, because that means that they take care of the health of the girls, and not push them just to put their health at risk. And that’s what I love about Miss International,’ she said.

When asked about the qualities that she finds in Miss International winners, Jones said she observed that the queens possess classic beauty, very elegant and very articulate in her speech.

She also encouraged the public to follow the pageant. ‘This is the season for beauty pageants, so enjoy! Miss International is one of the classy pageants that we still have. Just support your favorite, and wish the best for the winner,’ Jones said.

Mexico is represented by Natalia Garibay in this year’s Miss International pageant, hoping to post her country’s third win at the final gala in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 27.

Eighty delegates from different countries and territories around the world are competing to succeed reigning queen Thanh Thuy. Binibining Pilipinas Myrna Esguerra is representing the Philippines and is on a mission to obtain the country’s seventh crown.