Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

As the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) enters its second season with a four-point line, commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed the arc is here to stay-at least for the foreseeable future.

‘I think it will stay forever,’ Marcial said, before backtracking: ‘As long as I’m commissioner, the four-point line will be used.’

The 2024-25 season served as a trial run for the innovation and the results are in: PBA teams attempted 2,298 shots from the four-point area, converting 554 for a 24.1 percent success rate across three conferences. TNT won both import-laden titles while San Miguel Beer clinched the Philippine Cup.

TNT ranked last in four-point shooting (17.9 percent, 32-of-179), while San Miguel shot above the league average by hitting 65-of-258 (25.2 percent).

Magnolia made the most of the rule tweak, hitting a league-best 32.4 percent (83-of-256), thanks largely to snipers Paul Lee, Peter Alfaro, and Jerrick Ahanmisi. Lee led all locals with 31 makes, while Ahanmisi-who recently signed a one-year deal with Terrafirma-followed with 28. Alfaro, meanwhile, led the league in efficiency at 57.1 percent (8-of-14).

Blackwater was second overall in percentage, making 67-of-233 (28.8 percent), driven by import George King’s 42 makes on 123 attempts. Phoenix (28.3 percent), Meralco (26.6), and Terrafirma (25.5) rounded out the top five.

Below San Miguel in efficiency were NLEX (23.3 percent), NorthPort (19.3), Converge (19.1), Rain or Shine (18.3) and Barangay Ginebra (18.2).

Marcial noted that Fiba had requested data on the four-point line’s use, though it’s unclear whether basketball’s global body was satisfied or if other leagues are seriously considering the idea.

While the rule has produced dramatic moments-most notably a pair of four-point game-winners by import Scotty Hopson in the Governors’ Cup-it still divides opinion. Some teams use it opportunistically or out of desperation.

But when the 2025-26 season opens on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum with a clash between rivals Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia, the arc will be there.

Marcial often compares the four-point argument to the debate on who was the best actor to portray James Bond on the silver screen. ‘There are people who like it, there are people who don’t,’ Marcial said.

House members on Friday threatened to slash the proposed P902.8-million budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) after Vice President Sara Duterte skipped, for the second year in a row, the plenary deliberations on the matter.

Adding to the acrimony was a letter Duterte wrote to the House appropriations committee saying she would attend the budget hearings on two conditions.

First is for President Marcos to also personally defend the proposed P27.3-billion budget for the Office of the President.

Second is for the House committee on good government to confirm that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had already lifted its lookout bulletin orders on her staff. The committee was the same body that looked last year into Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds.

‘Barest minimum’

Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez, a member of the appropriations committee said the panel decided not to reply to Duterte’s letter, while other lawmakers scoffed at her demands.

‘Enough is enough, enough of her brattiness,’ Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima said.

‘If she can afford to show up in the Senate and applaud the former Senate President in his privilege speech, which is definitely not part of her mandate as the Vice President, why can’t she spare a few moments of her time attending the official function as Vice President to defend the budget of her office?’ De Lima said.

She was referring to the speech delivered by Sen. Francis Escudero on Oct 1, which railed against former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said Duterte was already being unreasonable, warning that the House would further reduce her budget ‘at the proper time.’

ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio also served notice that the OVP budget might be brought down ‘to its barest minimum.’

‘Such a waste’

It was actually the Department of Budget and Management that raised the proposed OVP budget to P902.8 million, after the OVP submitted a lower request of P733 million, that same amount it got last year.

Tinio also drew attention to Duterte’s recent trips abroad. ‘She keeps saying that she spent for these trips out of her own pocket, but she herself admitted that because she is the Vice President, it is the Filipino people paying for the travel expenses of her staff and security detail,’ he said.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, vice chair of the appropriations panel, said it was ‘such a waste that [Duterte] didn]t go because she could have at least defended and explained to the plenary why she needed that increase.’

Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon told reporters ‘The Vice President is not in a position to make demands [which show] . her lack of respect for the budget process.’

On Thursday night, the House voted in plenary to terminate deliberations on the OVP budget. This means any changes must now be made during the period of amendments, which starts next week up to Oct. 13.

Since she broke her ties with Marcos beginning with her resignation as education secretary in June last year, Duterte’s proposed budget for her office became drastically reduced by the appropriations committee then headed by Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.

In a better time, such as the start of the Marcos administration, she could propose a much higher budget-like the P2.3 billion which Co approved in 2022.

But last year, the Vice President was left with her current budget of P733 million after Co-who would soon be embroiled in the corruption scandal over flood control projects-slashed the OVP’s budget by more than P1 billion. He even reminded Duterte’s staff that funds allotted to her office were ‘the people’s money.’

About three months after confirming the breakup of her three-year relationship with Katrice Kierulf, Klea Pineda declared that she has moved on and has been getting better by the day.

Pineda opened up about this in an interview on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda’ on Friday, Oct. 3. The actress visited the show along with Jasmin Curtis-Smith to promote their upcoming queer film ‘Open Endings.’

‘This is about love, heartbreak and exes. Have you moved on, Klea?’ show host Abunda asked.

Pineda initially laughed off how the host smoothly injected the topic into their conversation, then answered, ‘Have I moved on? I think yeah. Paunti-unti (little by little).’

Pineda, however, admitted that her recovery process has not been linear. ‘May mga pasulpot-sulpot na feeling. Normal naman ‘yon after ng breakup pero I think nagiging better naman ako every day.’

(I still feel things here and there. It’s normal after a breakup, but I think I have been getting better every day.)

Further speaking about her relationship with her ex-girlfriend, the actress said they are not enemies but are also not friends.

‘We’ll get there,’ Pineda continued, expressing hopes to rebuild her friendship with Kierulf. ‘Sa ngayon, masyado pa kasi sigurong fresh.’ (For now, it’s still fresh.)

‘Sa ngayon, siguro wala pang reason para mag-connect kami ulit and nire-respeto ko rin ‘yung healing process niya,’ she added. (Maybe there is no reason for us to reconnect at the moment, and I also respect her healing process.)

During the interview, Pineda also intrigued the host when she was asked during the Fast Talk segment about her thoughts on having a relationship with a co-star.

‘Why not?’ she said.

Abunda later asked Pineda about Janella Salvador, her other co-star in ‘Open Endings’ who is being romantically linked to her and is also being accused as the supposed third party in her split with Kierulf.

‘I think nadamay lang naman ‘yung pangalan ni Janella kasi nga magkasama kami sa film,’ Pineda spoke in defense of her fellow actress. ‘Maraming rason kung bakit kami naghiwalay ni Katrice pero labas si Janella do’n. Walang third party.’

(I think Janella only got involved because we were working together in a film. There are a lot of reasons why Katrice and I broke up, but Janella is not one of those. There is no third party.)

Pineda and Curtis-Smith then expressed their admiration for Salvador, nodding in agreement with the show host’s remarks about the celebrity mom being ‘blooming.’

Then asked if Salvador is the type she would fall in love with, Pineda replied, ‘Why not? Walang reason na hindi magugustuhan si Janella.’ (There’s no reason to not like Janella.)

Both Pineda and Salvador have remained mum on the real score between them. /ra

The passing of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Speaker Pangalian Balindong is a ‘tremendous loss’ for the people of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), according to a top presidential aide.

Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo described Balindong as a ‘pillar of the Bangsamoro government’ whose contributions are ‘deeply etched in the history of the region.’

Lagdameo pointed out that the Speaker’s commitment to peace and the welfare of the Bangsamoro people should guide current and future regional leaders. ‘Speaker Balindong’s efforts and legacy must not only be honored but also carried forward by those in leadership. His vision for peace, reform, and development in the Bangsamoro should continue to inspire governance in Barmm,’ Lagdameo said in a statement.

He added that the reforms and initiatives championed by the late Speaker in the Bangsamoro Parliament are foundational to the region’s current peace and progress.

Balindong, who died on October 2 at age 85, left behind a long legacy of public service. He represented Lanao del Sur in Congress, first from 1995 to 1998, and then from 2007 to 2016, and served as a member of the BTA Parliament from 2019 until his death.

He was also a prominent advocate for the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the landmark legislation that established the Barmm.

Lola Amour, BINI and Dionela are among the artists who earned the most nominations at the 38th Awit Awards, with the ‘Raining in Manila’ hitmakers leading with five nods, including the coveted Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

Trailing behind the funk-pop band are BINI and Dionela, who tied with four nominations. Other artists recognized by the award-giving body, the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), are SunKissed Lola, SB19 and BenandBen, to name a few.

Further details on the 38th edition of the Awit Awards’ awarding ceremony are yet to be announced.

Here is the full list of nominees:

Record of the Year

‘Nene’ by SunKissed Lola

‘Heartache Generation’ by Ena Mori

‘Marilag’ by Dionela

‘Love Is’ by The Ridleys

‘Namimiss Ko Na’ by Lola Amour

Album of the Year

‘Talaarawan’ by BINI

‘Olaholah’ by SunKissed Lola

‘The Traveller Across Dimensions’ by BenandBen

‘Alegorya’ by Munimuni

‘Superpower’ by Zild

‘Lola Amour’ by Lola Amour

Song of the Year

‘Sining’ by Dionela and Jay R

‘Ikot’ by Over October

‘Misteryoso’ by Cup of Joe

‘Pagbigyan’ by Sugarcane

‘Namimiss Ko Na’ by Lola Amour

Best Collaboration

”Pag Ang Puso ang Nagsabi’ by JM Dela Cerna and Marielle Montellano

‘Ligaw na Bullet’ by Denise Laurel and Skusta Clee

”Di Ko Kasalanan’ by Demi and GinsandMelodies

‘Sining’ by Dionela and Jay R

‘Within’ by Ladine Roxas and Kris Lawrence

‘Sa Kahapon’ by Dilaw and Janine Berdin

Best Performance by a New Group Artist

‘Aminin’ by Naiba

‘Hi, Tita’ by Sala

‘Bituin’ by Letters from June

‘Walang Humpay’ by 12th Street

‘Alak’ by Karilyo

Best Performance by a New Solo Artist

‘Alintana’ by Muninn

‘Panggap’ by Plume

‘Sickreet’ by Ryannah J

”Di Maipagkakaila’ by Ia

‘Kahit ‘Di Ako Ang Gusto Mo’ by Patricia Heart

‘Seryoso’ by Lottie Bie

Best Performance by a Group Artist

‘Triumph’ by BenandBen

‘Tayo Na Lang’ by Nobita

‘Lampara’ by Press Hit Play

‘One Sided Love’ by G22

‘Sige, Sayaw!’ by Dear Dahlia

‘Nilalang’ by Dilaw

Best Performance by a Solo Artist

‘ATM’ by Ice Seguerra

‘I’ll Be Somebody You Want’ by Jolianne

‘Pauwi Na ‘Ko (Dito Ka Na Lang)’ by Dwta

‘Marilag’ by Dionela

‘Alas Dos Na!!!’ by Janine Berdin

‘Fake Faces’ by Felip

‘Umaycan’ by Noel Cabangon

Best RandB Recording

‘Tango’ by Jarlo Base

‘Marilag’ by Dionela

‘Sining’ by Dionela and Jay R

‘Call Me What You Want’ by Elise Huang

‘Fighting for You’ by Thyro Alfaro and JP Bacallan

Best Jazz Recording

‘Superfunk’ by GundamFunk

‘Get It Right’ by Nicole Asensio and Solo .Cal

‘Careless Fools’ by Debonair District and Jacques Dufourt

‘Remedios Circle’ by Alvin Cornista, Chuck Stevens, Abe Lagrimas Jr., Tim Lyddon and Dave Harder

‘What Is It All About?’ by Nicole Asensio and Solo .Cal

Best Rap/Hip-hop Recording

‘Subomoto (Hev Abi remix)’ by Zae and Hev Abi

‘Kalakal’ by SB19 and Gloc-9

‘Utang Clan’ by Gloc-9

‘Ako Lang ‘To’ by XYVRL

‘Marikit sa Dilim’ by Juan Caoile, Kyleswish and Jawz

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

‘Salamin, Salamin’ by BINI

‘Tension’ by Peyton

‘Eksena’ by YARA

‘Come Over’ by Pop Money Worldwide, Carrot Mayor, SHNTI and Aunt Robert

‘Hilo’ by Paul Pablo

Best Traditional/Contemporary Folk Recording

‘ATM’ by Ice Seguerra

‘Ito Lamang’ by Project: Romeo

‘You’ll Never Feel Alone Again’ by Earl Generao

‘Nandiyan Pa Ba?’ by 6cyclemind and Gloc-9

‘Huling Liham’ by Paham and Dwta

Best World Music Recording

‘Sarung Banggi’ by Overheat and Camsur Made

‘You Did It’ by KAIA

‘Chinese Restaurant’ by Nicole Adeya

‘Careless Fools’ by Debonair District and Jacques Dufourt

‘Sabado’ by SinoSikat?

‘100 Mensahe’ by Dan Gil and Marga Jayy

Best Alternative Recording

‘Homeostasis’ by Barbie Almalbis

‘A Gentle Reminder to Rest’ by Amateurish

‘Bulaklak sa Buwan’ by Ely Buendia

‘Namimiss Ko Na’ by Lola Amour

‘Wala Nang Saysay’ by Meds

Best Rock/Metal Recording

‘Orange’ by Amateurish

‘The Risk’ by Faspitch

‘Bawal Lumingon’ by CHNDTR

‘Dahas’ by Kjwan

‘Pano’ by Caren Tevanny

‘Dragon’ by Mayonnaise

Best Pop Recording

‘Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo’ by Itchyworms

‘Dilaw’ by Maki

‘Toyo’ by KZ Tandingan

‘Yoko Na’ by Josh Cullen and Al James

‘Hoodie’ by Dionela and Alisson Shore

Best Ballad Recording

‘Ethereal’ by Pappel

‘Lagi’ by Ica Frias

‘Kasing Kasing’ by Juan Karlos and Kyle Echarri

‘Medyo Ako’ by Juan Karlos and Moira Dela Torre

‘Ihilak Lang Na’ by Morissette

”Di Ko Masabi’ by Stell

Best Instrumental Recording

‘Nang Buo Kong Buhay’ by Jay Gomez and Yvette Parcom

‘SuperFunk’ by Gundam Funk

‘See You on the Other Side’ by Lustbass and RJ Pineda

‘Good Nights’ by Lustbass

‘Remedios Circle’ by Alvin Cornista, Chuck Stevens, Abe Lagrimas, Jr., Tim Lyddon and Dave Harder

Best Inspirational Recording

‘Beautiful Day’ by The Company

‘Little World Changer’ by Belle Mariano

‘Ningas ng Pag-Asa’ by Jamie Rivera and 92AD

‘Dahil Sa’Yo’ by Viola Natividad

‘Face of God’ by December Avenue

Best Novelty Recording

‘Da Coconut Nut (DJ Sandy Remix)’ by Giani Sarita and DJ Sandy

‘Walang Label’ by Eugene Layug

‘Wala Akong Pake’ by Johan Kyle and ANNUHBAE

‘Art Song’ by Pinkmen

‘Atras Abante’ by Introvert Fiesta and Aji

Best Recording by a Child or for Children

‘Ang Init Init’ by Imogen

‘The Phonics Song’ by Teacher Cleo

‘Tadhana (Easy Lang)’ by Giani Sarita

‘Jesus, Best Friend’ by Ateneo Boys Choir

‘Nasa Palad Mo’ by Ateneo Boys Choir featuring Marcel Roy S. Navarro and Generoso R. Maquirang IV

Best Original Soundtrack

‘lyo’ from ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ by Darren Espanto

‘Maskara’ from ‘Lavender Fields’ by Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez

‘Ulit Ulit’ from ‘Pamilya Sagrado’ by Regine Velasquez

‘Uuwian’ from ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?’ by BGYO

‘Sa Akin Siya’ from ‘Asawa ng Asawa Ko’ by Crystal Paras and Jeniffer Maravilla

‘Nagbago ang Daigdig’ from ‘My Guardian Alien’ by Zephanie

‘Aabutin ang Tadhana’ from ‘Chasing in the Wild’ by Hyacinth Callado

Best Christmas Recording

‘Hesus Aming Hari’ by Jonathan Manalo, John Roa, EJ De Perio, Vee Jay Dela Calzada, Diwa, Hazel Faith, Shekinah Gram, Viola Natividad, Caleb Santos, Jacob Sean Bacal, Naomi, Jessi Ferrer, Elizabeth Clemente and Ezekiel Clemente

‘Ganito ang Pasko’ by Sparkle Singers

‘Weather with You’ by Lucas Pison, Chezka

‘Noche Buena’ by Jan Roberts

‘Paskong Mag-Isa’ by Debonair District

Best Regional Recording

‘Kasing Kasing’ by Juan Karlos and Kyle Echarri

‘Ihilak Lang Na’ by Morissette

‘Ang Paghuwat’ by Morissette and Ferdinand Aragon

‘Umaycan’ by Noel Cabangon

‘Buhi’ by Ferdinand Aragon

‘Dili Na Lang’ by Jolianne

‘Panata’ by Tothapi

Music Video of the Year

‘Salamin, Salamin’ by BINI; produced by Roxy Liquigan, Carlo L. Katigbak and Carlos Jorge Reyes; directed by Kerbs Balagtas

‘Namumula’ by Maki; produced by Jonathan Bacala; directed by Kerbs Balagtas

‘Cherry on Top’ by BINI; produced by Roxy Liquigan, Carlo L. Katigbak and Carlos Jorge Reyes; directed by Kerbs Balagtas

‘Kalakal’ by SB19 and Gloc-9; produced by 1032 Lab and lana Cris Forbes; directed by Alanshiii and XY Pintoy

‘Tagpi-tagping Piraso’ by Ely Buendia; produced by August Lyle Espino, Cedric Hornedo, Lemuel Francia and Geoffrey Collera; directed by August Lyle Espino

Best Cover Art

‘Patibong’ by Gracenote; RJ Villanueva and Darwin Hernandez

‘The Traveller across Dimensions’ by BenandBen; Jether Dane Guadalupe, Katrina Urmatam and Puppeteer Studios

‘Kalakal’ by SB19 and Gloc-9; Louis Duran and IC Forbes

‘I’m Okay’ by Moira Dela Torre; Equinox Manila Productions, Moira Dela Torre, Jason Maxx and Artu Nepomuceno

‘Misteryoso’ by Cup of Joe; Nica Angeles and Gian Bernardino

Best Remix Recording

‘Welcome to My World’ by Jonathan Manalo and Theo Martel

‘Love Is the Answer’ by Jonathan Manalo, Moy Ortiz and The Company

‘small town (crwn’s crying in the parking lot edit)’ by crwn

‘different. (kenyama remix)’ by kenyama

‘WHITE ROOM (Reimagined ver.)’ by ena mori

Best Musical Arrangement

‘Nobya’ by Franz Sacro and Choi Padilla

‘Bittersweet’ by Ashlee Mickaela Factor and Alyssa Janine Cruz

‘Namimiss Ko Na’ by Lola Amour

‘Get It Right’ by Gabe Dandan

‘Umaycan’ by Kahlil Refuerzo

Best Engineered Recording

‘Pahinga’ by Nikhil Armanani

‘Nobya’ by Carlo Jay Cruz

‘Pauwi Na’ko (Dito Ka Na Lang)’ by Brian Lotho

‘Segundo, Siguro’ by Axel Fernandez

‘Namimiss Ko Na’ by Rene Serna

In an era when ‘anyone can post, react, or go viral,’ the printed word commanded the spotlight as the United Print and Multimedia Group (UPMG) held its third General Membership Meeting on Sept. 18.

With the theme ‘Credibility Advantage: How Print Builds Trust in a Digital World,’ the meeting held at Kingsford Hotel Manila gathered publishers, editors, advertisers, and industry leaders for a day of dialogue on how trusted journalism can guide audiences amid the information overload.

UPMG president Vivienne Motomal, the concurrent assistant vice president of the Journal Group of Publications, opened the program with a message that both underscored print media’s resilience and noted the challenges faced by the industry in upholding its standards. ‘It feels good to be gathered in this room with people who share a deep-seated belief in the power of the printed word,’ she said.

Motomal acknowledged the swift rise of digital media but stressed print’s enduring role: ‘In this chaos, what does the reader yearn for? They yearn for an anchor. A source they can trust. When a person holds a newspaper or a magazine in their hands, they are holding a tangible commitment to journalism.’

AI as next disruptor

Credibility remains the industry’s strongest currency, she said. ‘This is why, even in the digital age, our role is more critical than ever. The future is a credible hybrid where print and digital can work together to build a complete, trustworthy media ecosystem.’

In his keynote address, Lucien Dy Tioco, executive vice president of Philstar Media Group, traced the arc of media transformation, recalling how the once ‘traditional’ press now competes with algorithm-driven feeds.

‘Fast forward to the present time, we now live entirely different from how we were 15 years ago,’ he said, noting how people scroll for headlines, binge shows, and check influencers for tips without a second thought. But with these conveniences came serious consequences. ‘Technology has brought a more toxic conversation on social media, strong political biases that breed divisiveness, bigger and bolder online scams, and worse of all, fake news to help distort public opinion,’ he noted.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI), Dy Tioco added, is the next disruptor: ‘In just over a year, AI technology is quickly being applied in almost everything . We need to fight for our place now.’

But reaffirming the value of print, he said: ‘We write news with a journalistic edge. We curate news according to national importance. We create content to foster objectivity and calm. That is what the world needs right now. We need to exist because we fight for the truth.’

Safeguards vs fake news

The panel discussion that followed had Angel Guerrero, vice president of UPMG and publisher of Adobo Magazine as moderator, drawing more insights from Dy Tioco and Jack Jacinto, vice president for public and member relations of Pag-Ibig Fund.

Jacinto underscored the public sector’s reliance on credible media outlets: ‘Our organization knows this and values credibility, which is why we support print.’

The panelists highlighted the meticulous processes behind print-fact-checking, rigorous editorial process, and context-rich reporting-as essential safeguards against fake news.

Science of narrative

They also called on publishers to present a united front to policymakers, again emphasizing print’s permanence and credibility as irreplaceable strengths even as technology reshapes the means of distribution.

The morning open forum tackled AI verification tools and the expansion of media literacy programs, reinforcing UPMG’s shared values that uphold trustworthy content.

The afternoon session shifted the focus to the science of narrative. Von Cruz and Bernz Soriano from The Nerve, a Manila-based narrative intelligence and data-forensics firm, demonstrated how their technology goes beyond social listening to trace how both authentic stories and misinformation move through digital ecosystems. Their investigative platform maps influence networks and identifies the sources of viral falsehoods, insights that can help newsrooms and advocacy groups respond swiftly and accurately.

By showing how narrative forensics can complement traditional reporting, The Nerve presentation perfectly aligned with the meeting’s theme: combining data-driven innovation with journalism’s timeless commitment to credibility.

New members

Also presenting UPMG’s annual report, Motomal cited the group’s latest partnerships and achievements in the publishing sector. Two new member organizations – Simpol.ph and Philippine Graphic – were also officially inducted.

Festivities continued with raffle draws and a warm welcome from Jericho Feliciano, director of sales of Kingsford Hotel Manila, who commended UPMG’s dedication to responsible journalism. To formally close the event, Roda Zabat, UPMG auditor and The Manila Times vice president for sales and marketing, asserted that print, far from being obsolete, is instead evolving into a powerful hybrid with digital platforms. -CONTRIBUTED

The P214.9 million jackpot prize for the Grand Lotto 6/55 is still up for grabs, according to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Saturday, October 4.

In its evening draw, no one matched the winning combination for the Grand Lotto 6/55, which was 25-28-01-42-13-50.

Jackpot prize would have been P214,989,254.80. Aside from this, PCSO likewise noted that no bettor won the Lotto 6/42 draw, which has an P8,895,388.00 winning prize.

The lucky combination was 41-06-40-04-36-01.

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

Storm damage and an import freeze on rice may have pushed up inflation to a seven-month high in September, though price growth likely stayed within the central bank’s target.

The consumer price index may have sped up to 2 percent based on the median estimate of 14 economists polled by the Inquirer this week. That would outpace August’s 1.5 percent increase and mark the fastest pace since February, when inflation hit 2.1 percent.

Even so, the estimate fell within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) forecast range of 1.5 to 2.3 percent for September. Both the consensus and the central bank’s projections suggested inflation would remain within the official 2 to 4 percent target band.

Nicholas Mapa, chief economist at Metrobank, said heavy rains and crop damage from recent storms appear to have nudged inflation to 2.5 percent last month, the highest estimate among the analysts in the survey.

‘We expect a pickup in inflation. Upside pressure: vegetables and fish post the spate of storms. Downside pressure: electricity prices,’ Mapa said.

‘Pump prices also could be a source of downside pressure but to a lesser extent as gasoline and diesel costs increased on a m-o-m (month-on-month) basis, tracking global markets,’ he added.

Jun Neri, lead economist at Bank of the Philippine Islands, estimated September inflation at 1.9 percent. He flagged ‘rising rice costs’ as a major driver, citing the government’s suspension of grain imports.

Still, he noted that ‘lower electricity rates, relatively cheaper vegetables and softer oil prices’ were helping offset pressures. He also pointed to an influx of inexpensive Chinese exports avoiding higher US tariffs, which may continue to temper prices in the months ahead.

May be higher than forecast

‘Looking ahead, inflation risks are skewed to the upside as favorable rice base effects fade, with the extension of the import suspension through year-end adding pressure,’ Neri said.

‘Nonetheless, we still project inflation to staying at 2 percent level through December, but could climb above 3 percent in the first half of next year due to base effects and potential supply shocks from possible supply-chain disruptions linked to Trump’s tariffs,’ he added.

The stretch of subdued price gains could influence the central bank’s next policy steps. Last August, the BSP trimmed its benchmark rate by a quarter point to 5 percent-a level Governor Eli Remolona Jr. described as ‘Goldilocks’, neither too low to fuel inflation nor too high to choke economic growth.

Market observers said the BSP’s easing cycle was close to running its course. But Remolona kept options open, signaling the Monetary Board could consider another reduction at its October or December meetings if demand shows signs of weakening.

Sarah Tan, economist at Moody’s, said the BSP may hit the pause button at its meeting on Oct. 9, citing the need to assess how the earlier rate cuts have flowed through the economy, particularly their impact on domestic demand and lending activity. INQ

There is a certain choke hold only balikbayan boxes have on me-a grip that starts the moment Mama calls and says, ‘Anak, may pinadala ako.’

From that very second, I’m caught in this strange, sweet kind of waiting. Days begin to move more slowly. Weeks stretch so long they almost feel cruel. Every knock on the gate makes my chest tighten-my mind racing with a single question: Could it be here already?

Waiting for a balikbayan box is its own kind of ritual. It is not just about expecting something new, but about anticipating something that traveled oceans with my mother’s hands behind every choice inside. The thrill lies not in the size of the box or on the brand of the items she sends, but in the knowledge that somewhere, far away, she walked into a store, picked something up, and thought, ‘This is for my anak.’

When the day finally comes and the box arrives, it’s impossible to play it cool. There it stands by the door-heavy, corners bruised from the long journey, sealed with enough tape to survive a storm. My name sits in one corner, written in her careful yet hurried handwriting, the kind that suggests she was thinking about a hundred other things while making sure it was legible.

I cut the tape open. And before I even see what’s inside, it hits me.

The smell.

That distinct balikbayan box smell-the one I could recognize anywhere. It’s a mix of fabric softener, cardboard, and something else I can never quite name. It’s the scent of her home mixing with mine, of two worlds colliding inside a cardboard frame. That smell clings to the clothes, seeps into the pillows, and wraps itself around every zipper, button, and fold. And for children like me, whose parents work abroad, it’s more than a smell. It is a presence. It is the closest thing to a hug from Mama I can get.

Inside, there are always the essentials. Shirts that still carry their store creases. Shoes so pristine-I hesitate to wear them. Sometimes there’s a kettle, shiny and untouched, replacing the one that’s been sputtering in our kitchen for years. There are pillows-soft, plump, inviting-as if she thought about how I sleep at night. There are bags that feel like she personally tucked in every zipper, double-checking if it was good enough for me.

But every item tells a bigger story. Each piece of clothing is a shift she worked past exhaustion. Each appliance is a meal she skipped so she could save a little more. Each pillow is a night she went to bed thinking about home, about me. People outside this life might just see things-pasalubong (gifts)-but I see sacrifices folded neatly in plastic wrap.

I have grown up hearing what it’s like to be an overseas Filipino worker. I know the words: homesickness, culture shock, and loneliness. I’ve heard Mama talk about the cold mornings, the long hours, the language she had to twist her tongue to speak. But hearing those stories is nothing compared to living in the space her absence leaves. You learn that there’s a different kind of quiet in a house where a parent is missing-not silence exactly, but a hum of longing that lingers in every corner.

That’s why the balikbayan box is more than just a box. It’s a bridge. It’s a piece of her that manages to cross the miles and the seas between us. It’s proof that even when she’s far away, she is still present in the ways that matter most. And when the box is emptied, I never see it as disposable. Sometimes I keep it in my room, stacking old toys or school projects inside. Other times, it becomes a makeshift table, standing steady in a corner. But to me, it has never been just cardboard-it’s a chapter of my life that I can touch.

Years from now, when the tape has yellowed and the sides have softened, it might look like nothing special to anyone else. Just another used box. But I’ll remember the excitement it carried into our home, the scent that made me stop and close my eyes, the way it turned an ordinary day into something worth holding on to.

I will remember how it taught me that love can travel across oceans and still arrive whole. I will remember that it was never really about the shirts, the shoes, nor the kettles-it was about the hands that packed them, the heart that chose them, and the miles they crossed to get to me.

The balikbayan box is not just a container of goods. It is a container of stories, of sacrifices, of a mother’s love stretched thin but never broken. And every time I open one, my smile will always reach the heavens-because in that moment, even just for a while, Mama is home.

The box that kept me close to her, even when she was oceans away.

Heavy to intense rain showers are forecast over Metro Manila and three provinces in Luzon on Saturday afternoon, the state weather bureau said.

In its thunderstorm advisory issued at 2:25 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the following areas are expected to experience heavy to intense rain showers with lightning and strong winds within the next two hours:

Metro Manila

Nueva Ecija

Tarlac

Zambales

The weather condition is already being experienced in the following areas, which may persist for two hours and may affect nearby areas:

Bulacan (San Ildefonso, Dona Remedios Trinidad, San Rafael, Angat, Pandi, Bustos, Baliuag, Santa Maria, Norzagaray)

Cavite (Kawit, Cavite City, Noveleta, General Trias, Imus, Dasmarinas, Tanza, Rosario, Trece Martires, Maragondon, Naic, Ternate, General Emilio Aguinaldo, Magallanes, Indang)

Bataan (Limay, Mariveles, Hermosa, Dinalupihan)

Batangas (Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Santa Teresita, Alitagtag, Nasugbu, Tuy, Calatagan, Lian, Balayan, Santo Tomas, Tanauan)

Pampanga (Lubao, Floridablanca, Sasmuan, Candaba, San Luis, Apalit, San Simon)

Laguna (Pila, Victoria, Los Banos, Bay, Calauan, Nagcarlan)

Quezon (Burdeos)

Rizal (Cardona, Binangonan)

‘All are advised to take precautionary measures against the impacts associated with these hazards, which include flash floods and landslides,’ Pagasa said.

The weather bureau earlier reported that even though Severe Tropical Storm Paolo (international name: Matmo) exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday morning, it still had a direct effect across Luzon.

Paolo was last located 440 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, packing a maximum sustained wind speed of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 135 kph. /mr