Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The month of November marked several huge losses in pop culture. Yesterday, I wrote about the impact of Stan ‘The Man’ Lee, and last night I realized why I should not write about Kevin Conroy, also. Since their passing was respectively only a few days apart, and to celebrate one’s life is never too late, never taken for granted. And honestly, I believe on my part, if you are as deeply ingrained in comic books as I have been for many decades, it is a responsibility to honor all of these heroes of mine and of millions of others all over the world.

Because without them, our young lives, growing up in a decade that was full of wonder, amazement, and discovery of what was out there in terms of entertainment, would have never been the same without these special individuals, and today, I give my respect to the only definitive voice of Batman, the late, great Kevin Conroy.

November 10, 2024, marks the second death anniversary of a man who didn’t just play a comic book character; he became the character. Kevin Conroy, the legendary voice behind the Dark Knight for three decades, passed away on November 10, 2022, at the age of 66 after a short battle with cancer. The fact that he continued to provide his voice for Batman in various forms of media despite being revealed later on that he knew he was dying, what does this say about this man?

Kevin Conroy wanted to lend his voice as much as he could while he could for the fans and not just for himself. Kevin Conroy displayed a greater sense of duty here, as he kept doing his voice acting knowing that time is longer on his side, and does that not remind you of the fearless spirit of Batman himself? Indeed, it does without a doubt.

To say he was the ‘best’ Batman is an understatement. For legions of fans, myself included, he was the only Batman. The voice you hear in your head when you read a Batman comic, or watch any modern interpretations of him in animated shows and video games. That’s Kevin Conroy. From the moment he first uttered those now-legendary lines in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, he set a perfect standard that no live-action actor, no matter how good their chin acting, has managed to surpass or even reach.

Kevin Conroy not only got into the character’s psyche, but he became it each time he was in the voice booth recording his lines for Batman: The Animated Series. Even now, when I have watched the interviews, documentaries, and clips uploaded of him recording his lines in the early 90s, you could see the focus, the attention to every nuance, pronunciation, and enunciation of his words, and the mastery of his voice acting was second to none. He was a master of his work. A genius without a doubt, that is for sure.

His genius lay in his understanding of the duality of Bruce Wayne and Batman. Other actors played Batman as a disguise and Bruce Wayne as the real person. Kevin Conroy knew better. As he once explained, Bruce Wayne was the mask, the ‘charming, debonair, playboy’ persona, while Batman was the truth, the tormented soul. His ability to switch between the two with just a subtle vocal shift was, in a word, perfection.

The legacy he leaves behind is vast and influential. To learn on my part that he voiced the Caped Crusader in over 60 different productions is astounding, including films like Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, numerous animated series, and the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham video game franchise, including Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. He even made a live-action appearance as an older Bruce Wayne in the CW’s ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ crossover event in 2019, a moment of pure fan service that felt incredibly earned. His portrayal resonated because it had depth, vulnerability, and a commanding authority that felt inherently, genuinely ‘Batman.’

Kevin Conroy will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and a legion of fans worldwide. But his voice, that one-of-a-kind voice that defined justice and the night for an entire generation, will never truly fade.

He is gone, but his legacy is as eternal as the Dark Knight himself.

Rest in peace, Kevin Conroy. You are the Batman.

San Beda leaned on Agjanti Miller’s late-game heroics to pull away from Jose Rizal University, 65-56, in Group B action of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at the San Juan Arena.

Clinging to a 59-56 lead in the final two minutes, the Red Lions turned to Miller, who buried back-to-back triples to shut the door on the Heavy Bombers and secure an 8-3 record-the best mark in the group.

Miller finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.

‘I took a little step back in this game because I’ve been sick all week, so this is like a first game back for me,’ Miller said. ‘At the last second, the ball came to me and I just had to put the game away.’

Bryan Sajonia paced San Beda with 18 points on 50 percent shooting.

JRU slipped to 6-6, falling a game behind fourth-place Letran (6-5). Allen Laurenaria and Shawn Argente scored 12 points each for the Heavy Bombers in the loss.

Resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co’s allegations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered P100 billion in insertions in the 2025 budget and got kickbacks afterward made ‘no logical sense,’ Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said on Saturday.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Tiangco – himself a budget reform advocate – said Co’s statements ‘don’t make sense,’ as the President did not have to wait until the last minute to make his ‘insertions.’

This developed after Co broke his silence Friday to claim that Marcos, through former Speaker Martin Romualdez, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, maneuvered to insert P100 billion at the bicameral conference committee deliberations for the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Co made his assertions in a five-minute video sent to reporters and uploaded on Facebook Friday morning.

But ‘if he (the president) had, say, pet projects worth P100 billion, then he should have included that in the National Expenditure Program (NEP),’ Tiangco said, referring to the spending plan crafted by the Executive through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and deliberated by Congress.

Tiangco said that while he was in no position to deny Co’s allegations on behalf of the President, he recalled a November 24, 2024, meeting with Marcos, Romualdez, and himself when the President supposedly berated Romualdez for the ‘massive corruption’ happening in Congress.

In that meeting, which lasted for one and a half hours, Marcos supposedly confronted the Speaker about projects allegedly removed from the NEP and the growing corruption allegations in the House.

‘In the 30 years that I’ve known him, that was the first time that I saw him mad,’ Tiangco said. ‘He was really fuming.’

Marcos then read from a list of NEP projects that he claimed had been removed or altered without the executive’s knowledge, and which he read directly from his cellphone.

Tiangco said the meeting reinforced his belief that any irregularities in the 2023-2025 budgets were between Romualdez and Co.

‘Everything that went wrong. only Martin should answer for it,’ said Tiangco, who is also his cousin-in-law.

Also, Tiangco said Co’s assertion that he could only accommodate P50 billion in insertions for the President contradicted the much larger amendments the House eventually pushed.

At one point in his video, Co claimed that he approached Pangandaman to ask whether it’s possible to include only P50 billion from the President’s request and the rest would be placed in the unprogrammed funds instead, which is also subject to the approval of the Office of the President.

‘But how can it be that he could only do P50 billion, when the House managed to do P209 billion in insertions?’ Tiangco pointed out, referring to the various changes that Congress made to the NEP in its own version of the budget bill.

Co’s timing, Tiangco said, suggested the former congressman was trying to deflect accountability for accepting kickbacks from anomalous projects.

‘He did not deny that he received money, even if he said he didn’t get any for himself. What he is trying to do now is frame someone else, that he passed on the money he got,’ said Tiangco.

He argued that if Co truly wanted to prove his allegations, he should release the full documentation of the small committee that handled the budget insertions.

Tiangco, who has been pushing for the revocation of Co’s passport, must also come home and subject himself to formal legal processes, such as putting his testimony under oath.

A lone bettor won the P5.9-million jackpot in the Lotto 6/42 drawn on Saturday, November 15, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said.

According to PCSO, the winning numbers for the 9 p.m. draw in the Lotto 6/42 were 06-11-03-09-18-29.

The exact amount that the lotto bettor will take home is P5,940,000.

The winner has one year from the draw date to claim the prize, as specified in Republic Act 1169 or the law on PCSO lotteries.

PCSO likewise said the jackpot can be claimed at its main office in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

Meanwhile, no one won the Grand Lotto 6/55 draw, which now has a winning prize of P122.4 million.

The lucky combination was 11-52-14-21-30-07.

The Lotto 6/42 is drawn every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, while the Grand Lotto 6/55 is drawn every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

National University is not about to take things for granted, being just a win away from a four-peat in the Shakey’s Super League Preseason Unity Cup.

‘We will take a breather, but we won’t relax,’ prized rookie Sam Cantada said in Filipino after the Bulldogs had taken a 1-0 lead over University of Santo Tomas in the title series with a 15-25, 25-23, 25-17, 13-25, 15-12 nail-biter at Rizal Memorial Coliseum. ‘It’s not over until it’s over.’

And that’s a good mindset for the rest of the team, because the Growling Tigresses are just itching for payback in their Game 2 collision set on Saturday after Santo Tomas had conked out in the stretch of the series opener by giving up the last five points.

‘The series is not yet over, and we will bounce back,’ Santo Tomas coach Shaq delos Santos said. ‘We still have a chance, and we intend to cash in on that.’

After also helping NU to the National Invitationals leg championship in Davao, Cantada has stood at the forefront of the Bulldogs’ game and the product of the National U-Nazareth School program and ex-Alas Pilipinas U18 mainstay has a rare chance for a hat trick of achievements.

Cantada powered NU-Nazareth School to its first-ever Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League and also copped tournament MVP in her high school swan song. She then earned Best Player honors after leading the Lady Bulldogs to the National Invitationals throne in an impressive senior debut.

And how Angge Poyos, setter Cassie Carballo, the comebacking hitter Reg Jurado and libero Detdet Pepito play on Sunday will determine whether the Tigresses can take this series to a decider, which is scheduled for Wednesday if needed.

Macau point guard Damian Chongqi had a tough assignment on Saturday: go head-to-head against Meralco’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

It wasn’t an easy night for the Black Bears, who fell 92-74 to the Bolts at Cebu Coliseum. But Chongqi, despite the loss, was still quite satisfied to go up against a talent like RHJ.

‘He’s a great player. Obviously, he played in the NBA for years so it’s fun to compete on a high level against that player,’ he said of Hollis-Jefferson.

‘He has great size, plays really hard, is very physical and he’s a good defender. He got to put on a show for the fans for a good cause so it’s fun to play in front of the crowd like that.’ Hollis-Jefferson fed off the rowdy Cebuano crowd, registering a double-double of 34 points and 11 rebounds with five assists and two steals to match for Meralco’s second straight win.

He didn’t just feed off the Cebuanos’ love, he also almost drowned in it.

Fresh off the win, Hollis-Jefferson was the last Meralco player to reach the dugout with fans swarming him inside the hardwood. When security escorted him away from the court, though, fans still flocked his way.

Chongqi understood why the crowd adored Hollis-Jefferson.

‘It’s always an honor to play for a cause like this. Just being here and seeing the local fans come out is a humbling feeling. I’m just blessed to do this at a high level and do it for charity,’ Chongqi said.

The streaky point guard was no slack for the Black Bears whatsoever, managing to finish with 25 points and four assists despite the squad’s season-opening loss.

The Philippine National Police said Saturday it has placed its forces on full alert ahead of three days of protests, deploying personnel across Metro Manila and tapping reinforcements from other regions to ensure public safety.

PNP acting chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said units have been fully mobilized since Thursday evening, with officers strategically positioned in key areas and backed by nationwide contingents.

‘Our personnel are ready to respond to any situation. We respect the public’s right to peaceful assembly and are committed to keeping the gatherings safe, orderly, and secure,’ Nartatez said.

The rallies, include the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) gathering at Rizal Park in Manila and the United People’s Initiative (UPI), a group of retired military officers, at the EDSA Shrine and People Power Monument in Quezon City.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy 16,433 personnel to maintain peace and order during the simultaneous events. Maj. Hazel Asilo, NCRPO spokesperson, said 8,641 officers will come from the NCRPO itself, with an additional 7,792 from other regional police offices providing reinforcement.

Police said a comprehensive security plan has been activated covering ground operations, traffic management, intelligence monitoring, emergency response, and maritime patrols. Authorities also urged commuters, residents, and participants to follow safety reminders and cooperate with officers on the ground.

Earlier, the PNP has pledged to exercise ‘maximum tolerance’ while ensuring that public safety remains its top priority throughout the three-day assemblies.

In sports, we often celebrate the medals but overlook the journey. We applaud the champions on the podium, share their photos, and claim their victories as symbols of local pride. Yet behind every medal is a story of preparation, resources, care, and sometimes, neglect. ‘Batang Pinoy’ may not have only told us which cities have the best athletes but also uncovered which ‘good governance’ is focused toward the welfare of the people and bringing the best out of them.

The richest city outside Metro Manila, Baguio, ranked number one in the unofficial medal tally of Batang Pinoy 2025 as of Nov. 3, followed by another wealthy city, Pasig. Unfortunately, the first place was snatched again by Pasig in the final medal tally, making it their second year of breaking Baguio’s previous winning streak. Note that both cities proudly champion good governance. However, I find it ironic that the richest city outside Metro Manila can’t even extend proper comfort and attention to the very athletes that they proudly feature in the Baguio City Public Information Office. Could it be that the Baguio delegation could have secured the first place only if they were given proper support? For the ‘City of Fines,’ money is definitely not a problem, but prioritization is.

Pasig’s athletes were shuttled to the airport and housed in the four-star Greenleaf Hotel Gensan, complete with access to a pool for recovery after games, as seen in the Facebook post of Pasig Sports Karate. Meanwhile, according to an interview with a Baguio athlete and coach, they had to arrange their own transport, sleep on classroom floors, and even line up just to use a single comfort room. The lack of institutional attention extended beyond the athletes. Even coaches that were tasked to train champions were forced to shoulder responsibilities that the city could have managed.

Baguio is currently operating on a P3.6 billion budget approved by the local legislative body as the city’s annual budget. Definitely an extra expense for the comfort of the athletes will not hurt the entire budget. In fact, it will even help them be true to their words in claiming to aim to maintain being the ‘Education Center of the North.’

Sleeping on the floors and fighting for one comfort room may be framed as part of the experience of having a ‘resilient Filipino spirit,’ but it should not always be the case, especially if their city has the resources to provide them the ease they deserve. The official competition dates of Batang Pinoy were announced on May 20 by the Philippine Sports Commission, long enough for the city to arrange buses that will transport the Baguio delegation to the airport and house them in a more comfortable place.

Coaches became travel agents, coordinators, and guardians on top of what their job description says, when in fact the city has its own councilor for sports that has the manpower to arrange it themselves and at least, lift these worries from the coaches’ shoulders. Instead of directing their focus on guiding the athletes, coaches were left to make amends on how they would even reach General Santos City and bring the medals back home.

Even as Mayor Benjamin Magalong and other city officials and city sports council officers graced the opening ceremonies, their presence could not make the beds of the athletes softer as they lay in their mats spread across classroom floors.

Although athletes and coaches were grateful for the support that they received, such words reveal that even the bare minimum now feels like a privilege. Lifted worries of transportation from their shoulders, a proper rest, and a city that recognizes their fullest potential could have brought out the best version of these talented athletes. Only if their attention was solely allotted to training and making sure that they will be in their best condition, maybe, just maybe, they could have had the victory they haven’t tasted since 2023.

I admire that they are still grateful for what was given to them. They were glad that at least this time, there were more athletes sent to Batang Pinoy. At least this time, they were able to compete without pulling out the majority of the cost from their own pockets. Nonetheless, even though the support finally reached the bare minimum, athletes with such talents shouldn’t be forced to endure a support that gives them just enough when the giver expects them to give their all, or even beyond their capacities. Athletes are not asking for too much compared to what they give.

Baguio’s athletes may have brought home the medals, but their journey exposed the cracks in the city’s priorities. Real victory lies not only in the medals and the applause given to them. It also lies in how the people who earned them were cared for. After all, good governance should not only be seen in posts and heard in speeches, but in how leaders show up when no one is watching. If Pasig could ensure comfort, what hindered Baguio-with more than enough resources-from providing similar care?

Ruth Jedidiah L. Durolfo is a journalism major at the University of the Philippines Baguio.

In front of her mother and relatives, Savi Davison put on a show on Saturday.

Buoyed by her family’s support, Davison poured in a new career-high of 36 points, as PLDT fended off Chery Tiggo, 26-28, 25-12, 25-16, 25-13, for a triple tie at 6-1 with Farm Fresh and ZUS Coffee in the PVL Reinforced Conference.

The Filipino-Canadian hitter was happy to get the win and set a new career-high with her mom, Barbara, watching at Ynares Center Montalban here.

‘I’m just glad that she was here for it. I know that she’s always in my mind, in my heart. I’m just glad that she’s here physically. I feel super comfortable playing in front of her. It doesn’t change much, she has been there throughout my whole career,’ said Davison.

After PLDT dropped the opening set, Davison caught fire and was nearly unstoppable in the last three sets to surpass her previous high 34 – set twice this year. ‘I’m just happy that we won. I honestly wasn’t keeping track of how many points I was scoring. I was just happy that we were able to create gaps and win the last three sets comfortably with a little bit of points between us,’ said Davison.

The PVL Invitational MVP, one of the blocking leaders, continues to evolve into a well-rounded player, showing steady floor defense, 14 excellent receptions, and 10 digs, in addition to her 36-point explosion.

‘I want to give credit to the coach because they gave me the template. So, it’s just up to me to execute when the game comes through. I was just in the right spots that they told me to be in,’ she said. ‘I put the ball where they told me to put it. It’s more like the mental effort, I think, more than the physical effort at this point.’

PLDT coach Rald Ricafort said Davison’s outburst is the result of dedication and hard work.

‘That’s really the result of all her hard work from the time she arrived here. We’re happy that all the effort is paying off, and in today’s game, she’s the one who really delivered,’ Ricafort said.

PLDT ends its elimination round against Petro Gazz on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena at 6:30 p.m.

National University overcame an early 18-point deficit to beat University of the East, 83-74, and clinch the first twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Final Four on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bulldogs climbed to 11-2 for their fifth straight win, securing the program’s first semifinals edge since Season 76 (2013) after finishing just 5-9 last year.

Head coach Jeff Napa acknowledged NU’s flat opening half, where the Bulldogs trailed 53-35 before flipping the game late in the third quarter.

‘Our first half showing was unusual. We were too relaxed, maybe the players through UE won’t come out and play,’ Napa said.

‘In the dugout, I only had a simple thing to say: ‘Is this the level you want to play in now that we’re headed to the Final Four? If you want to succeed in the next level, you need to show your best.”

UE, now 0-13, controlled the first two quarters behind Tope Lagat, Precious Momowei, Wello Lingolingo, and Jhon Jimenez, taking a 42-31 halftime lead and pushing the margin to 18 early in the third. But NU responded with a 20-4 surge sparked by Jolo Manansala, Omar John, and Mark Parks, trimming the deficit to 57-55. The Red Warriors still led 61-56 entering the fourth, but the Bulldogs unleashed a decisive 19-2 run behind PJ Palacielo, Jake Figueroa, John, and Manansala to seize a 75-63 advantage with under three minutes left.

UE went without a field goal for most of the fourth until Lagat scored with 1:16 remaining.

‘I guess I’m peaking somehow,’ said Manansala, who fired 17 of his 21 points in the second half. ‘I’m thankful to my teammates and coaches that their trust is still there. I won’t be able to put up those stats if it weren’t for them.’

John posted 14 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks, while Figueroa added 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Francisco added 12 and Palacielo chipped in 11.

NU faces University of Santo Tomas on November 23 at Mall of Asia Arena to close out the eliminations.

Lagat led UE with 17 points, including 11 in the first half. Momowei added 14 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. Dylan Despi had 11 points, seven assists, and five steals, while Jimenez finished with 10.

The Red Warriors-now on a 19-game skid dating back to last season-will try to avoid a winless year when they meet Far Eastern University next Saturday.