Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia trades his guitar for the big screen in ‘Padamlagan,’ a Cinemalaya period film rooted in his native Bicol – and told entirely in the Bicolano language.

For Buendia, the film isn’t just another creative challenge. It’s personal. ‘It’s going back to my roots,’ he told Inquirer Entertainment. ‘I was there when it happened. I was two years old when it happened. I knew all these people-they were my parents, uncles, aunties. I knew exactly the world in which they lived. It’s my offering to them, to relive their experiences through this movie.’

‘Padamlagan’ revisits the Colgante Bridge tragedy in 1972, when over a hundred lives were lost just days before Martial Law was declared. Buendia plays Doring, a father searching for his missing son (Esteban Mara) amid the chaos. It’s ‘a heavy role,’ he admitted, one with ‘hardly any ray of sunlight’ in the character’s journey.

The story feels uncomfortably resonant today. ‘It could just be a coincidence,’ Buendia said, ‘but then I don’t believe in coincidences. This problem has been deep-seated in our culture for decades. The fact that Jenn (Romano, director) was drawn to it means it really has to be told.’

As a father, he drew from his own relationship with his child. ‘It’s something I don’t want to happen in real life, of course. Being a father to a son – and the dynamics between the two characters – I definitely put some of those emotions into the scenes with Esteban.’ Asked whether he prefers acting or music, Buendia saw no rivalry. ‘It’s two different industries, but collaboration is at the heart of both. In a band, you compromise, you work with others. Filmmaking is the same. That’s what I love about it.’

Language itself became both a challenge and a triumph. Romano noted how contemporary Bicolano had to be adapted for authenticity. Buendia, despite speaking the language, struggled with archaic words. ‘Some didn’t register because they were so old. We had one scene that took a long time because I couldn’t memorize the lines. Even though I speak the language, the deep words were still hard. It was like ‘Shogun,’ even the Japanese actors had a hard time because the language was archaic.’

For co-star Sue Prado, the difficulty was worth it. ‘So many things happen in this country that are metro-centric. But Martial Law happened nationwide. Some important stories are left behind. To be part of those who tell the truth – that’s my goal. It’s my duty as a human being.’

Mara added that regional stories deserve more attention. ‘Since it’s a Bicol film, hopefully, when people from other places see it, they’ll be inspired to tell their own regional stories. That’s also part of the advocacy of our producer (Kristine de Leon) with her work with regional filmmakers.’

De Leon admitted how difficult it was to fund the project. ‘This is very hard to finance because it’s regional and uses regional language. Cinemalaya is shown at the center, but our film is really for the Bicolano audience. People generally don’t like reading subtitles. I believe there are so many beautiful stories from regional filmmakers. Also, Jenn is a female filmmaker. She has a different perspective of history. Usually men are the ones telling history. One of our goals is the elevation of regional cinema.’

Buendia said the project was an easy yes. ‘The story really got me. They gave me a pitch deck, and it was like a thesis. I got to know the director through her objectives and passions, and I shared them. Obviously, it’s a Bicolano project so I just had to do it.’

Romano traced her inspiration back to archival research at the University of the Philippines. ‘I encountered a 1972 report on the tragedy in Naga. The last headline in September 1972 was the Colgante Bridge tragedy and then the declaration of Martial Law. After that, there was a media blackout. For someone who did not experience that period, it sparked my curiosity.’ Casting leaned toward actors with Bicolano roots: Buendia from Naga, Prado from Libmanan, and Mara from Sorsogon. De Leon recalled pitching to Buendia: ‘We were so nervous. But if you watch him here, you won’t see the Ely Buendia you know. As an actor, his portrayal of Doring is heartbreaking.’

With its mix of historical tragedy, heavy emotions, and deep Bicolano roots, ‘Padamlagan’ feels both timely and timeless. For Buendia, transitioning from music to acting isn’t just a side project, but a homecoming.

In the Philippines, which has one of the highest rates of stunting in children under five years old at 26.7 percent-higher than the global average of 22.3 percent-chronic hunger is a problem that threatens future generations.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), around 18 percent of children in the Philippines, or about 2 million, are severely ‘food poor.’ This not only points to a lack of calories but a deficiency in nutrients crucial to children’s growth and development.

Last July, Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan filed a bill seeking to address this problem by providing all public school learners from daycare centers, kindergarten to Grade 12 with fortified meals for breakfast directly sourced from the produce of local farmers and fisherfolk.

These meals could provide a lifeline for these poor children. They are not mere ‘ayuda’ nor ‘free food,’ but they create ripple effects on children’s health, well-being, and learning abilities.

Many countries have launched successful feeding programs: Thailand’s school lunch program, which is similar to Pangilinan’s measure, has reduced malnutrition and improved academic performance; South Korea’s free school meal program introduced in the early 2010s has been credited for significantly reducing behavioral issues in schools; and Brazil’s national school feeding program has been used as a benchmark for similar programs.

National feeding program

The country has a national feeding program policy under Republic Act No. 11037, but its scope is limited to undernourished children in daycare, kindergarten up to Grade 6. The Pangilinan proposal would expand the coverage up to Grade 12 and hit two birds with one stone: feed poor students and support local farmers and fishermen.

In its Year Two Report published last year titled ‘Fixing the Foundations: A Matter of National Survival,’ the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom II) underscored the role of nutrition and feeding as the foundation of quality education.

The commission acknowledged that the Philippines has made strides in improving the well-being of Filipino children in recent years.

‘(However), millions of Filipino children remain chronically malnourished, facing challenges such as poor health, inadequate nutrition, and limited learning capacity,’ it stated, noting that one in four Filipino children under five years old still experiences stunting.

Social inequity

In August, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) backed Edcom II’s call to government agencies, legislators, and local government units to take immediate action. It said undernutrition and malnutrition are a stark manifestation of social inequity, where only 25 percent of Filipino children aged six to 12 months meet the recommended energy intake; the rest were deficient in protein and healthy fats, essential for their physical growth and development.

‘Socioeconomic disparities further exacerbate these challenges, limiting many children’s access to essential early childhood care and development services. These inequities hinder their ability to achieve optimal health, learning, and productivity outcomes,’ Edcom II said.

It added that addressing these disparities demands a comprehensive approach that integrates quality early childhood education, health, and nutrition programs.

The CBCP cited the grim consequences: 48 percent of Grade one to three students are not prepared for their grade level, 80 percent of Grade three students struggle with multiplication, division, and geometry, and 30 percent are not functionally literate.

Global labor market

This has manifested in the Philippines’ poor performance in the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), where it ranked 76th out of 81 participating countries in reading, math, and science.

This would have a severe impact on the competitiveness of younger generations in the global labor market, which puts a premium on a higher skill set.

Pisa noted: ‘Raising quality of education and protecting health, especially in the early years, will equip the next generation with the skills they need to meet the demands of higher productivity and higher paying jobs. Investing in the skills of this young population is essential to fuel future growth and increase household incomes.’

Without institutional help, however, poor Filipino children will be trapped in an endless cycle of poverty.

While a ‘free meal’ may be inconsequential to others, it represents a lottery ticket to many poor Filipino families that could help them escape poverty.

Perpetual Help extended its winning start in Group A of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament, defeating winless Lyceum, 73-61, on Sunday at Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The Altas, coming off a win over San Sebastian two days earlier, leaned on sophomore guard Mark Gojo Cruz, who finished with 18 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. ‘I just prepared myself and my mind that even though I’m a sophomore, I need to lead,’ said Cruz. ‘My goal is to do good on defense and offense is just a bonus.

Jearico Nuñez added 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Royce Orgo and Jhan Sleat chipped in nine apiece for the Altas, who improved to 2-0.

Renz Villegas led the Pirates with 18 points as Lyceum dropped to 0-2.

Perpetual will face fellow unbeaten Mapua (2-0) on Wednesday for Group A leadership at the same venue.

Manny Pacquiao is targeting a January 2026 ring return against WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero.

The specifics of the potential bout are still being determined, with both camps already in the final stages of discussion. ‘Still negotiating, but we’re just finalizing it,’ said Pacquiao recently during a press conference for the Thrilla in Manila 50th anniversary slated later this month.

Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39KOs) is still going strong despite turning 47 years old this December.

He nearly beat a much younger champion in his athletic prime in Mario Barrios despite coming off a four-year retirement.

Barrios, also six and a half inches taller, barely kept his WBC belt after settling for majority draw in a fight many believed was won by Pacquiao. The outcome denied Pacquiao’s shot at history, failing to become the second-oldest boxing world champion.

Romero (17-2, 13KOs) will be 17 years younger than Pacquiao if the fight goes as planned.

He won the vacant WBA (Regular) title after beating Ryan Garcia by unanimous decision last May at Times Square in New York City and was elevated to full champion three months later after Jaron Ennis relinquished the WBA (Super) crown.

The WBA (Super) strap was the same world title Pacquiao held after he beat Keith Thurman back in July 2019. He then lost it following a stunning upset to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021.

After a flurry of offseason moves and a reshaping of the NBA Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks are poised to be a factor this year.

And while four-time All-Star Trae Young is still the team’s fulcrum, a second All-Star will need to emerge if the Hawks are to fulfill expectations. Enter Jalen Johnson. The Hawks’ 6-foot-9 forward is entering his fifth season out of Duke coming off a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery last January and ended his season. He lasted only 36 games, but he continued his ascent with career-highs in points (18.9), rebounds (10.0), steals (1.6), blocks (1.0) and minutes (35.7).

‘I’m just excited for a basketball game,’ Johnson said at the team’s practice facility Thursday. ‘It’s been a long time since January, so I’m excited to get out on the court, preseason, training camp. I’m excited to be full go and fully healthy going into the season.’

Johnson spent part of his summer training with LeBron James after he was cleared to resume basketball activities. He said his conditioning is up to par and he has worked most on his shooting in the offseason. The first few days of training camp have been spent getting acclimated to the new rotational pieces the Hawks have acquired, such as Kristaps Porzingas, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard.

And while Johnson is trying to fit in with them, Hawks coach Quin Snyder feels the newcomers will fit in nicely with Johnson.

‘Other guys on the team benefit from Jalen because of his play-making ability,’ Snyder said. ‘Jalen is such a good passer and willing passer that he’s ready to play-make even more. . (With the new lineup), he will be in spacing situations where he can just catch and shoot. We want him to do that, just to let it fly. We trust him in that regard.’ Johnson shot 35.5% from 3-point range in 2023-24, but that number dipped to 31.2% last season. Should his outside shooting become more reliable, it will open up his ability to drive. Johnson is one of the Hawks’ best at getting out and finishing in transition, and has been since he came into the league.

Snyder said he has noticed in the early part of training camp that Johnson has been more focused on defensive details, which shows his maturation as a player. Johnson hasn’t been able to experience a full season in his two years as a starter. He played 56 games in 2023-24 because of ankle and wrist injuries, and then missed 46 games last season.

‘The key for any young player in getting better is to embrace the things they need to work on, just to be painfully honest with yourself about how can I get better and then to work,’ Snyder said. ‘He’s done a real good job in the portions of the season, early in the season that he did play, I think he’s been able to take that and really work on things and apply them.’

Snyder described Johnson as hungry to play and has hopes he will continue to progress and be a key component of the team this season.

For World Teachers’ Day, teachers and education advocates called on the government to ensure teachers’ welfare and transparency in budgeting and accountability as they denounced the impacts of corruption on the education system.

In a press conference organized by E-Net Philippines, a non-government organization engaged in policy advocacy for education reforms, teachers slammed corruption in infrastructure projects in the country, emphasizing that while they struggle with delayed salaries and benefits, billions of pesos are allocated to ‘ghost’ flood control projects.

‘The ghost, substandard, and poorly built flood control projects have caused massive flooding in communities, forcing students and their families to leave their homes. This may be one reason why nearly a million children were unable to enroll, according to DepEd [Department of Education],’ Prof. Flora Arellano, president of E-Net Philippines, said in a statement on Sunday. Arellano also said that the education sector is not spared from corruption, as the DepEd previously reported that over 1,000 classrooms built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were turned over despite being ‘incomplete.’

Education Secretary Sonny Angara then estimated that the classrooms cost between P2.5 and P3.7 million. He noted that while the funding for their construction was under the DepEd’s budget, it was the DPWH that bid out the projects to contractors.

Aside from this, the teachers questioned the use of Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) funds for its alleged investment in online gambling and overpriced laptops. Sen. Risa Hontiveros previously said that the GSIS invested P1 billion of its funds in online gambling platform DigiPlus. She then questioned why the GSIS is using public funds as a capital for gambling.

With this, the E-Net Philippines called on the government to heed their demands:

Full implementation of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, which includes hazard pay, hardship allowance, and medical benefits;

Salary upgrading and timely release of teachers’ benefits nationwide;

Audit and reform of DPWH’s infrastructure contracts and the suspension of classroom turnover until they are fully compliant;

Transparent budgeting and public accountability to ensure citizens’ access to monitoring of contracts, project status, and budget;

Protection of GSIS fund and redirection of public money to teachers’ welfare and education needs;

Safe, inclusive, and adequately-funded classrooms, especially for the alternative learning system, special education program, Madrasah, and indigenous peoples’ education; and

Commitment from DepEd leadership to work with teachers’ groups in enacting education reforms.

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) signed a memorandum of agreement to formalize and strengthen their collaboration in delivering high-quality, technical-vocational education in senior high school (SHS).

The primary objective of the agreement is to ensure that the SHS Technical Professional (TechPro) track complies with Tesda training regulations, and that DepEd teachers possess the requisite competencies and certifications to effectively deliver the technical-vocational courses.

By aligning institutional processes, resources, and standards, the collaboration seeks to ensure the consistent delivery of quality-assured curricula by qualified educators, ultimately supporting the development of students’ foundational and technical skills. This will enhance their employability and facilitate a seamless transition to further education, training, or employment.

Flexible options

Under the agreement, DepEd is responsible for identifying and endorsing SHS TechPro teachers for enrollment in Tesda’s Trainers Methodology I (TM1) programs, as well as those that need updating in their qualifications. The department will also develop learning resources in consultation with Tesda, monitor the implementation of the curricula, and ensure that SHS learners undergo assessment for national certification.

For its part, Tesda will offer flexible access to training courses for teachers, including online and in-person options for DepEd teachers. Tesda will provide crucial technical assistance to align DepEd’s curricula with its official Training Regulations, ensuring that learners acquire industry-aligned skills.

The agreement, signed by Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Tesda Director General Kiko Benitez aims to ensure the work readiness and global competitiveness of Filipino graduates.

‘Our goal has always been to ensure that every Senior High School graduate is equipped not just with knowledge, but with real-world skills. This partnership with Tesda is a critical step in fulfilling that promise,’ Angara said. Benitez recognized Tesda role in the partnership ‘to ensure that the skills being taught are the skills that industries actually need. By embedding our Training Regulations and certification processes directly into the Senior High School system, we are creating a seamless pathway for students from education to employment. This collaboration carves the path for industries to have a pipeline of skilled talent ready to contribute from Day One.’

Long-standing mismatch

The partnership addresses the longstanding need to resolve the mismatch between DepEd’s SHS programs and Tesda’s guidelines. Recommendations by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) have consistently emphasized the need for alignment between DepEd’s and Tesda’s programs, including its push to increase funding for the assessment of SHS-TVL graduates.

Findings in the EDCOM 2 Year Two Report showed that, while about 53.9 percent of SHS graduates pursue higher education, a significant number enter the workforce in private establishments or informal employment.

This is further supported by a 2023 report of the Philippine Institute of Development Studies which found that children induced to attend SHS tend to earn higher wages and are more likely to be employed in middle-skill jobs compared with junior high school graduates.

DepEd and Tesda agree to undertake joint monitoring of SHS-TechPro programs offered in DepEd schools, as well as to map public and private technical vocational institutions, with the aim of strategically expanding the Joint Delivery Voucher Program (JDVP) to enable students to pursue a wider range of technical-vocational electives.

The two agencies also commit to engaging with industry stakeholders to ensure curriculum relevance and provide valuable work immersion opportunities for students. The agreement will be effective for a period of three years upon signing, with DepEd and Tesda working towards enhancing technical-vocational offerings under the SHS pilot come June 2026.

Despite public clamor to immediately jail all personalities involved in the flood control mess, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he does not want a rushed and haphazard investigation, as that may backfire on his administration’s anti-corruption campaign.

For the President, mere accusations and testimonies, even in congressional hearings, would not hold up in court in the absence of proof.

‘We know many of these people are not innocent. But if you’re going to bring them to court, you must have a very strong case,’ Marcos said in an interview with Philip Cu-Unjieng of the Manila Bulletin and his childhood friend as part of his BBM Podcast.

A teaser of the latest episode of the podcast was released by the Presidential Communications Office on Sunday.

‘Look, what would happen if we rushed the investigation? We would have incomplete and unclear evidence. But we still pursued the filing of cases. The result: We lost the cases. Can you imagine that right now?’ the President said.

‘I think that would be much, much, much worse,’ he added.

The President created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate all the anomalous government infrastructure works, most especially flood control projects, in the past 10 years. The results of its inquiry would be used to recommend the filing of charges against all those involved.

Almost a month after the fact-finding body’s three members were appointed, the ICI has conducted numerous closed-door hearings and summoned different government officials and contractors involved in the flood control mess.

However, it has only publicized one interim report, which urged the Office of the Ombudsman to recommend the filing of graft charges against 18 individuals, including resigned lawmaker Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co, over the substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro worth P289.5 million. The public, including lawmakers, also urged the ICI to open its hearings to the public for the sake of more transparency and accountability. The ICI, however, was hesitant to accept the proposal, stressing it wanted to ‘avoid trial by publicity and will not allow itself to be used for any political leverage or agenda by any individual or group.’ In a previous episode of his podcast, the President said he was committed to going after the ‘big fish’ behind the corruption-tainted flood control projects once the ICI investigation concludes.

For him, the rotten system could be fixed only by jailing the contractors and government officials involved in numerous irregularities surrounding publicly funded infrastructure projects over the years.

The boos rained down from all corners of the Mall of Asia Arena. On Sunday night, Ateneo fans made sure Mason Amos understood the extent of the enmity he created by swapping his blue uniform for green.

The jeers were loud. Personal. Unrelenting.

Turns out, they weren’t needed. Amos knew exactly what he was getting into. ‘That’s how they feel,’ he said with a shrug, moments after La Salle’s 81-74 loss to Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament. ‘That’s how they’ll feel for the rest of the season.’

The 6-foot-7 forward, who transferred from Ateneo to La Salle before last season, struggled in his first rivalry game wearing the other shade of school pride. He played more than 25 minutes but finished with just six points, two rebounds and two assists. ‘I had a bad game,’ he admitted. ‘But we all have bad games. I’ll keep improving.’

It wasn’t just the missed shots or the stats. Amos was also tasked to guard Kymani Ladi, who wound up with 15 points for the Blue Eagles-another detail that underscored his tough night.

Still, Amos didn’t search for excuses.

La Salle dropped to 2-2 with the loss, but Amos quickly turned the page. His eyes are now set on bouncing back when the Green Archers face National University next Sunday at UST’s Quadricentennial Pavilion.

And whatever noise he heard Sunday night, he is wading right through it.

‘I just have to keep moving forward,’ he said.

The long and winding 50th season of the PBA tips off Sunday with the opening of the centerpiece Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

And there will be a lot of burning questions that will seek answers. Except maybe one. June Mar Fajardo is expected to take home a ninth MVP trophy, an incredible and unprecedented number considering that no one else has won more than four-and that the well-liked San Miguel Beer center didn’t set out on this path in the first place.

‘Who would have thought?’ Fajardo said in Filipino. ‘I was never a huge basketball fan [when I was younger], but here I am possibly winning another MVP.’

Everything else about the season will be answered as the games proceed. Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia, who will square off at 7:30 p.m. following the Leo Awards and the traditional opening ceremonies, will try to shed light on some of those mysteries that will hover over the golden season set to run until December 2026 with the usual three-conference format.

Ginebra’s Tim Cone and Magnolia rookie coach LA Tenorio are looking to end their respective teams’ title droughts, among the subplots going into the longest season that the league has ever had.

Winning a championship right away seems to be the least of Tenorio’s concerns.

‘The team is learning and I’m also learning,’ Tenorio told the Inquirer recently. ‘I still have a lot of things that I need to know and I think the comfortability [as a head coach] will come in if I know my players are ready and well-prepared. And that’s my job.’ The Gin Kings and Hotshots are two of the biggest threats to the Philippine Cup reign of their other sister team, San Miguel, who are hell-bent on extending their dominance in the PBA’s centerpiece event.

The Beermen and Fajardo will have a lot of help in CJ Perez and Jericho Cruz while rookie Chris Miller, who is 34, may show up as a potential steal the way he’s played in tune-up games.

The Beermen foiled the Grand Slam bid of TNT, which is eager to go back to its winning ways with a healthy roster and some new additions that included pesky guard Jio Jalalon, who joined the Tropang Giga as an unrestricted free agent on Saturday.

There’s plenty of talk that Converge may spoil the SMC-MVP party following the arrival of rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño, while its fellow independent team Rain or Shine may do so if it can get over the hump of four successive semifinal exits with free agent pickup Stanley Pringle.

Meralco aims for a repeat of its 2024 Philippine Cup title run, NLEX seems hungry to rebound from a near semis appearance, while Blackwater may sneak into the playoffs with the selection of rookie guard Dalph Panopio.

Titan Ultra, the new kids on the block, look to go through some growing pains even as a young Phoenix squad hopes to get some wins under rookie coach Willy Wilson.

Another rookie coach, Ronald Tubid, tries to defy low expectations of a ragtag Terrafirma team while it awaits the arrival of No. 1 overall pick Geo Chiu later in the conference, at the earliest.