Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

While a bevy of Filipino and part-Filipino beauty queens joined the massive protest rally against corruption at the People Power Monument in Edsa in Quezon City on Sept. 21, a reigning Paraguayan pageant titleholder was also among the flood of people.

Yanina Gomez, Paraguay’s delegate to the 74th Miss Universe pageant next month, attended the ‘Trillion Peso March’ denouncing corruption in government projects attended by tens of thousands of protesters.

The Paraguayan human rights lawyer and teacher revealed this when she faced members of Filipino media at the Yugen Group headquarters in Taguig City last month.

The company helped bring her to the country, and has arranged for her to train under Filipino mentors to prepare for the 2025 Miss Universe pageant. And on the day of the rally, she said the car she was in got stuck in traffic. When the driver told her what had caused it, she said she did not hesitate to take part in the rally.

‘I participated in one like this in Paraguay. And I’m so happy here the people use their voice to make a difference. Because we need to grab now, don’t repeat the same, because money needs to go to things that make life better for the people,’ she told Inquirer Entertainment in an interview.

Gomez said she got inspired when she saw 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray onstage, and knew she made the right decision to get off the car, and cancel her supposed appointment.

She also said that she was aware that several other beauty queens from the Philippines had taken part in the same rally, including reigning Miss World Krishnah Gravidez, one of the several Filipino pageant girls that she looks up to. They both competed in the recent staging of the Miss World pageant in India.

‘No more people in the streets need to go hungry, no more children in the school need to go hungry. [There must be] good transportation, because here it’s one big problem, traffic every day, and how many times we spent in the traffic too,’ Gomez said.

The Paraguayan beauty queen lamented the traffic situation in the country, something she personally endured while staying in Manila, and noted the need for an efficient mode of public transportation.

She also addressed Filipino government officials: ‘Be honest, because the people are tired. And this is one big message and lesson for everthing. And this is one big example for other countries that are tired, leaving their house to commute,’ Gomez pleaded.

Speaking to Flipinos, she said, ‘Go, make the difference, and use this to serve as an example for the world. And I’m happy to participate because it’s one big lesson for me. And many, many people are so tired of this situation.’

Gomez will be among the more than 130 delegates from around the world, including the Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo, who will be competing to succeed reigning Miss Universe Victori Kjær Theilvig.

Rufa Mae Quinto said that while she has yet to process the death benefits of her late husband Trevor Magallanes, she knows that they’re just there as her husband worked hard for them and wrote about them in his journal.

Quinto revealed this to select members of the press during the grand opening of a food and beverage ingredients store where she served as a celebrity guest on Friday, Oct 3, in Quezon City.

‘Wala pa kasi, una, hindi pa ako nakakabalik sa America [.] Yung benefit naman yan, forever na benefit na yan. Kaya, pag uwi ko doon, ‘yun ‘yung aasikasuhin ko. Para sa amin ‘yon na mag-ina, pinaghirapan ng asawa ko ‘yon. Lahat ‘yon ginawa niya. May journal siya. Sinabi niya na ‘yun ang gusto niya,’ she shared.

(I haven’t received anything because I haven’t been back to America [.] Those benefits are forever. So, when I get home, that [processing] is what I’ll take care of. It’s for us, mother and daughter; my husband worked hard for it. He did all that. He had a journal. He said that’s what he wanted.)

The comedian is occupied with work at the moment as she recently joined season 4 of ‘Your Face Sounds Familiar,’ alongside appearances for brand endorsements.

Quinto said that keeping herself busy is one of her coping mechanisms after her husband’s death, yet she admitted that she still weeps from time to time.

‘Nalilibang ako, pero minsan, after three days na busy, ganon pa rin; umiiyak pa rin ako. Never na siguro mawawala ‘yon, ‘yung never ka iiyak, pero magpapause kapag busy ako. I think, pinaka masakit mawalan ng asawa, may anak pa kami. Dalawa kaming nakakamiss sa kaniya,’ expressed the comedian.

(I have fun, but sometimes after three days of being busy, I still cry. It will probably never go away, the one where you never cry, but it would pause when I’m busy. I think the most painful thing is losing a husband; we have a child. We both miss him.)

The ‘Booba’ star expressed her gratitude to the people who are there for her and her daughter Athena, whom she shared is dealing with a trauma of her own due to her father’s loss.

‘I just have to be there beside her (Athena). ‘Yung pinakamagagawa ko lang, siyempre, ayusin ko ‘yung sarili ko. Then, ipakita ko sa kaniya yung mga bagay na maganda (The best I can do, of course, is fix myself. Then, I can show her the good things),’ she said.

Quinto previously revealed that Magallanes died in July of natural causes, and no foul play was reported in the autopsy for his sudden death.

Magallanes was a financial analyst and a police officer for the San Francisco Police Department in the U.S. He also worked in the U.S. Air Force before his death. /ra

‘You are what you eat. I’m sure you’ve heard that many times,’ Kim King, nutritionist and founder of Kim King Wellness, tells us. We are in her kitchen, surrounded by a plethora of books.

But where a regular kitchen may house cookbooks and recipes, King’s library is of a more specific niche-from titles on bone broth and collagen, to books about diets like keto and paleo, and even a range that covers recipes from vegetarian to carnivore.

On one end of the kitchen-what she calls her ‘office’-are a selection of meals and food items by her eponymous wellness brand. Stacked neatly are bowls containing a colorful array of dishes, alongside rows of intriguing broth lattes in bottles, and even fruits and vegetables, some of which are being fermented in jars. She excitedly tells us she’ll have us try the dishes, too.

She took a Master’s in Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen in the UK, pursued further studies at Ateneo de Manila University, and took up human physiology at Harvard

Rooted in a passion for good food

Her passion for food-good food, at that-has been rooted in deeply personal experience. She’s enjoyed cooking even when she was younger, and even had a dream of becoming a doctor. But to fulfill the wishes of her father, she instead went into the hospitality industry. Even then, the call towards the health field remained.

She later took a Master’s in Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen in the UK, pursued further studies in Ateneo de Manila University, human physiology at Harvard, and even studied perinatal and pediatric nutrition after becoming a mom. The more King experienced, the more her interests grew-and so did her list of educational credits.

And still, at just 36 with five children and a thriving business, King is bursting with energy. She tells us it’s all because of good food.

‘When I see food now, I don’t have cravings. I see it as ‘I’m going to eat so I can perform well in life,” King says. ‘When you see food as support to unleash your best potential as a human being, you become more mindful of what you put in.’

Building good habits

King’s holistic interest in various aspects of health informs every decision in the household. It goes beyond what’s on the dinner table, reflected in every corner and feature of their home.

With five young kids, King considers this an important time to instill good and healthy habits. ‘They copy what they see,’ she says of her children. ‘My rule at home is, ‘If it’s in the house, everyone can eat it.’ That’s why I’m so mindful of what I bring in.’

In the kitchen, a wall is filled with lists-detailing schedules and allergies of each member of the family. Part of this schedule is also a curious detail: each day features a family member on cooking duty.

‘I want them to know how to prepare healthy food,’ King says. It’s more than just preparing them for the future; it’s also helping her kids to love the process. She proudly shares, ‘It excites them. In fact, minsan nag-aagawan pa sila. ‘Can it be me na lang today?” Being responsible for the day’s meals also boosts the kids’ feelings of confidence and independence, both valuable traits for King. Fostering a love for music and fitness

King appears to run a tight ship, but there’s a lightness around their household-and I mean this beyond their high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Throughout our shoot, music reverberates through their home, coming from their treasure trove of a living room that also doubles as a music room.

In this space, a collection of guitars hangs on the wall, while a corner is filled with an assortment of instruments, from piano to drums. ‘We really value arts and music,’ King shares. She points out a few special guitars from her husband Atticus’ collection, while he settles down in front of the piano to practice.

All her kids are also learning music. It’s good for their development, she says-and like everything she shares with us, there’s science to back it up.

‘The science shows that any type of art will make the brain function better. It will push the brain cells and neurons to be at [their] optimal level. But nothing can beat music; it’s still the most potent medicine for your brain,’ she explains.

Aside from the musical instruments, various fitness tools and equipment accentuate the King family home-exercise rings and rope hang from the ceiling, in the threshold leading to a bathroom, near the dining table, and in the garden, a wall dotted with colorful handgrips and footholds for bouldering. At first, it’s all seemingly random, but it’s actually thoughtfully placed.

To build habits, King says, it’s important to surround yourself with the tools that will encourage it. ‘I equip my environment where I can thrive, where it becomes convenient for me to excel.’ She cites the SAID (Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands) principle as an inspiration, which in essence states that the body specifically adapts to the type of demands or stress placed on it.

With the equipment being placed around areas of the house they frequent, it’s easier to be reminded to incorporate movement into their routine. From her family to yours

King’s children are following in her footsteps. Aside from her eponymous brand, Kim King Wellness, King also leads several other food and wellness brands, each with different specialties. The Gut Gang, for example, is a playfully healthy approach to yogurt.

‘It’s actually the brand of my kids,’ she shares. The yogurt brand was the fruit of conversations between them. ‘I told them, ‘You know what, if you want to help mama, make something that will help more people.” The Gut Gang thus focuses on creating gut-friendly snacks and treats like zero-sugar, high-protein frozen yogurt.

King also works with Victoria Bites, the 24/7 food brand of Victoria Court. Established in the 1980s as a Filipino comfort food brand, Victoria Bites, now with King’s involvement, has taken strides towards further improving the quality of their dishes.

‘When I stepped in, I said, ‘I have to [make] some changes. If you’ll allow me, I can handle it,” King continues, emphasizing that she could only sell what she can eat. ‘The costing is not that different. But the science there-if the food is cooked in canola oil or vegetable oil, it’s more palatable. It rewires your brain to eat more. My goal is not to make people eat more; my goal is to make people eat quality food and feel satiated, not bloated, after.’

‘I want people to eat Filipino food and not feel heavy and sluggish. I want to give people access to good and healthy food,’ she adds.

Making healthy food accessible

King acknowledges that it’s difficult, especially now, to truly eat healthy. But it’s a challenge she’s passionately taking on. ‘I feel that the reason we don’t eat so well is [that] we don’t have access to quality food. The system is not designed to make it easier for us.’

‘It’s the lack of education and the lack of accessibility. Most of us have to work eight hours a day, and who really has the time to prepare [food]? You have a family to feed, you have a career to build,’ she says. Her brands-making food made with quality ingredients more accessible-and her consultation work are her ways of addressing the gaps in the system.

‘I really want to push that advocacy,’ King says. ‘There’s so much potential that we have, if only we knew that food is connected to all of those things we want to unleash. It boils down to, if you are healthy to begin with, you will feel limitless.’

University of Santo Tomas became the first team to breach the 100-point mark in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at its own Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Growling Tigers dismantled University of the East, 111-99, with Nic Cabañero leading the way on offense as usual.

The graduating guard, though, deflected the credit and said his teammates pushed him to headline the highest-scoring output of a UAAP team in recent years.

‘It’s my fifth year here in the UAAP, I already know our approaches with different teams and I just stick to the system given to me,’ he said after UST improved to 3-1.

‘Without my teammates, I wouldn’t score this much. They just give me confidence,’ he added.

Cabañero tallied a team-high 22 points to go along with eight assists, three rebounds and two steals in the squad’s third win of the season.

The Growling Tigers’ victory is also the second-highest scoring output of any team in the post-pandemic era, just behind La Salle’s 112-83 win over-coincidentally-UST in 2022.

Cabañero had plenty of help as Forthsky Padrigao and Collins Akowe also posted 18 points apiece in the win.

UST looks to unload more high-powered offense when it faces Ateneo next Saturday at Blue Eagle Gym.

The local government here has launched ‘Tabang Kauban,’ a relief drive for the province of Cebu many of whose residents were affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck on September 30.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD) chief Nick Jabagat said the city will send non-food relief items, including mats, tarpaulins, and ropes for setting up tents and sleeping arrangements. The items are expected to be dispatched as soon as possible.

Jabagat said residents who wish to contribute may coordinate with the CDRRMD.

Jabagat added that they hope to provide sleeping-related supplies amid the dire need for shelter, especially among those who were left homeless.

The Philippine government is pushing for tariff exemptions on local products not produced in the United States, as trade talks with Washington continue.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said tariff negotiators are aiming at this concession. This, even if US President Donald Trump’s tariff policy was not discussed in the recently concluded Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) agriculture and forestry ministers’ meeting in Manila.

‘They (US-Asean Business Council) have mentioned that there is openness, there’s a possibility of exemptions on certain products that are not produced, planted, manufactured or processed in the US,’ Tiu Laurel said on Thursday.

‘The Philippines will be pursuing that angle . as we knew about the position recently,’ he said in a press briefing on the 47th meeting of the Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry.

Tiu Laurel also said the US tariff was raised in informal talks.

‘But in general, the discussion on tariffs is mostly done over lunch by a simple question: have you resolved or have you closed . do you have a final agreement on the US tariffs with your country or the United States?’ he added.

Tiu Laurel earlier said the Philippines and its neighbors remain on a level playing field. That is, since the reciprocal tariffs imposed on Asean countries are relatively the same.

‘But of course, we are here to hopefully find ways to negotiate with America,’ he said.

‘The US delegation also mentioned that there might be certain exemptions to the imposed tariffs and that’s part of what we’ll look for during this meeting,’ he told reporters.

‘Mutually beneficial’

Angel Ignacio, undersecretary of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, did not provide additional details about trade discussions. Ignacio only said the government will work on securing ‘an optimal and mutually beneficial rate’ for both countries.

The US government slapped a 19-percent tariff on Philippine exports to America, nearly the same import duty imposed on Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

According to an issuance promulgated by the White House, certain export items are excluded from the reciprocal tariffs announced by Trump such as desiccated coconuts, coconut meat and coconut oil.

Tiu Laurel said the high-level meeting held in Pasay City discussed increasing trade among the regional bloc ‘so that we can rely on each other first rather than rely on others that are far away.’ Aside from bolstering the region’s resilience to trade uncertainties, the agriculture chief said the gathering also tackled exploring other markets to promote Asean products. /rwd

Over 5,000 aftershocks have occurred in the aftermath of the earthquake that jolted northern Cebu on Tuesday evening, September 30, and killed 70 individuals, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In a Viber message to reporters, Phivolcs said that as of 2 p.m. on Saturday, the number of aftershocks from the magnitude 6.9 quake in Bogo City, Cebu, had reached 5,336.

Of these, 22 were felt, while 1,038 were plotted.

Their magnitude ranges from 1.0 to 5.1.

Phivolcs earlier said the aftershocks from the magnitude 6.9 earthquake could persist for weeks.

On Friday, the state seismology department reported that its quick response team found the fault that caused the strong quake, adding that it was located in Sitio Looc, Brgy. Nailon, Bogo City. /mr

The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is stepping up safeguards when handling government transactions, vowing closer scrutiny of cash withdrawals as a flood control probe widens.

DBP president and chief executive Michael de Jesus said the state-run lender had moved to shore up safeguards at front-line units that handle government transactions, instructing them to exercise ‘more vigilance and prudence’ when red flags emerge, particularly those triggered by adverse media reports.

He added that the bank is also exploring new monitoring scenarios to broaden its ability to detect other cash-based transactions.

‘The Bank is primarily focused on operationalizing compliance . specifically on the setting of additional layers of controls and requirements, which extends to all types of customers and transactions, including those involving government agencies and offices,’ de Jesus told the Inquirer.

‘We shall also be undertaking a series of education and awareness campaigns on these recent regulatory issuances to sustain heightened level of compliance culture within the organization,’ he added.

The stricter stance comes as banks face growing pressure to show they can detect and block suspicious transactions.

This, after congressional hearings featured testimonies describing vast sums of money being withdrawn in cash and allegedly funneled to lawmakers tied to irregular flood control projects.

Photos of stacks of banknotes-presented as evidence of kickbacks-have fueled public outrage and sparked protests in the capital last month.

LandBank claps back

In one session, senators grilled contractor Sally Santos, who admitted withdrawing P457 million in cash over just two days from a Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Bulacan.

Santos, owner of Syms Construction Trading, is among several contractors accused of channeling state funds into the scheme.

LandBank, meanwhile, ‘strongly refuted’ any insinuations of irregularity in its handling of government contractor accounts, stressing that all questioned transactions had complied with mandated procedures.

LandBank said the funds were legitimate government allocations under the annual national budget law, not private or unverified sources. Therefore, it argued that the bank, ‘or any other financial institution, has no legal authority to block or question duly appropriated government disbursements.’

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has launched its probe into potential vulnerabilities of concerned banks in relation to transactions involving flood control projects.

The review, it said, was aimed at determining the scope of any lapses and holding lenders accountable where shortcomings are found.

JM Ibarra had no clear plan or idea of what he would do after his stint in ‘Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Gen 11.’ For all he knew, he would just return to his hometown in Quezon province and continue living a normal life. But at the urging of his screen partner, ‘PBB’ season’s winner, Fyang Smith, and those around him, he decided to explore showbiz and give acting a shot. Who knows, he may well discover a talent yet untapped.

Much to his surprise, after taking a crash course on the Meisner acting technique last year, Ibarra immediately fell in love with the craft. It was challenging-‘magulo sa utak, masakit sa damdamin’-but nonetheless fulfilling and eye-opening.

‘I enjoy stepping into a different world through my characters, and leaving JM behind for a while. It makes me realize that the world is so much bigger and doesn’t just revolve around my own outlook’

‘I enjoy stepping into a different world through my characters, and leaving JM behind for a while,’ he says at a recent press conference. ‘It makes me realize that the world is so much bigger and doesn’t just revolve around my own outlook.’

First film lead role

From reality television to fan meetings and online content, Ibarra is now embarking on full-fledged acting projects. These include the fantasy romance digital series ‘Ghosting,’ opposite Smith, and his first movie lead role in ‘Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana,’ which is an entry to the ongoing Cinemalaya Film Festival-a surprise, he admits, since he didn’t expect to be doing indie films this early in his career.

JM Ibarra stars in ‘Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana’ | Photo from JM Ibarra/Facebook

‘It’s nerve-wracking seeing my face on the screen, reading the script, and hearing ‘3, 2, 1. action!” the 25-year-old shares. ‘Pressure!’

Directed by Tim Rone Villanueva, ‘Child No. 82’ is a fantasy dramedy that explores themes of social issues and family identity. The film follows Max (Ibarra), a 16-year-old high school student rumored to be the 82nd illegitimate child of the recently deceased Maximo ‘Boy Kana’ Maniego Jr. (Vhong Navarro)-the biggest action star in Philippine cinema.

‘It’s nerve-wracking seeing my face on the screen, reading the script, and hearing ‘3, 2, 1. action!” the 25-year-old shares. ‘Pressure!’

With his pregnant teenage girlfriend and their baby’s future on the line, Max embarks on an adventure to prove he is Boy Kana’s son and secure an inheritance. But first, he must reach Boy Kana’s casket before the public viewing ends at midnight. However, hundreds of fans and not a few villains stand in his way.

A timely concept

The premise effectively makes his character a nepo baby-a concept that feels especially relevant today.

‘It’s a social issue, so marami talagang makaka-relate dito na Pilipino,’ Ibarra says of the film. ‘It touches on a very current issue, because Max, the character I portray, is the illegitimate child of a famous figure. So technically, he’s an unacknowledged nepo baby.’

JM Ibarra | Photo from JM Ibarra/Facebook

In his desperate quest for identity and inheritance, Max inevitably faces a daunting choice: Will the glittery promise of his father’s celebrity status blind him, or will he find the clarity he needs in the complicated legacy of the man who was ‘Boy Kana’?

‘Mabubulag ba siya sa luxury? O malinawan ba siya sa katotohanang sasambulat sa kanya habang nilalakbay niya ang pagkakakilanlan ng ama niya?’ Ibarra says.

‘Now that I’m earning my own money, you start to understand better what people are fighting for,’ Ibarra relates. ‘Where do our taxes really go?’

Amid the ongoing flood control corruption scandals and the public outrage over the lavish lifestyles of ‘nepo babies,’ Ibarra couldn’t help but reflect on the issue. Truth be told, the subject of taxes rarely crossed his mind, and it never really occurred to him that buying the things he enjoyed already meant he was actively contributing to the government.

‘Now that I’m earning my own money, you start to understand better what people are fighting for,’ Ibarra relates. ‘Where do our taxes really go?’

Lessons from the veterans

Ibarra admits that he’s still not fully confident in his acting skills. But thanks to his more seasoned co-stars-Navarro, one of his favorite actors growing up, and Rochelle Pangilinan, who plays Max’s mother-Ibarra has grown more confident in his role and more comfortable on set.

JM Ibarra with co-star Rochelle Pangilinan | Contributed photo

‘More than technique, I also learned about socializing. Since I’m shy and reserved, they made an effort to approach and encourage me on set,’ Ibarra shares. ‘They guided me from start to finish, so I was really touched by their kindness.’

Beyond acting, he also learned that while talent is important, it’s not the be-all, end-all of the entertainment industry. Attitude is just as important-a reality Navarro reminded him of. ‘You have to be good at taking care of relationships. You have to be respectful to everyone-the director, co-stars, the staff, ‘ he says. ‘That’s something I won’t forget.’

‘You have to be good at taking care of relationships. You have to be respectful to everyone-the director, co-stars, the staff, ‘ he says. ‘That’s something I won’t forget’

From Pangilinan, Ibarra realized that new coworkers bring new opportunities to learn. ‘The more jobs I take on, the more people I meet-and I can learn from all of them if I stay open,’ he says. ‘Now, every time I start a new project, I try to be like a sponge, soaking it all in.’

And soak it in, he will, as he continues to expand his career beyond the love team. While Ibarra enjoys working with Smith-and fans are hoping that they do more projects together-he points out that growth wouldn’t be possible if they box themselves in.

‘We’re happy, and our friendship grows every time we work,’ Ibarra says. ‘But we also want to explore as much as we can. That’s part of our vision as actors.’

Typhoon ‘Paolo’ (international name: Matmo) lashed Luzon on Friday, triggering widespread floods, power outages, evacuations and infrastructure damage across northern and central Luzon as it made landfall in Dinapigue, Isabela.

The latest weather disturbance happened while the country has yet to recover from the series of destructive storms that hit most of Luzon and the Visayas last month and while still coping with the deadly magnitude 6.9 earthquake that crippled northern Cebu province on Sept. 30.

‘Paolo’-packing sustained winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour and gust of up 201 km/h-when it hit Isabela, slightly weakened as it crossed the mountainous areas in northern Luzon but not before leaving a trail of damage across the Cagayan Valley Region, which is composed of the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

In Mariveles, Bataan, rampaging floodwater rose as high as chest deep, or at least 4 feet, with many residents trapped in their houses, as shown in a viral video posted at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook by one of the residents, ‘MJ Martin,’ who was seeking rescue.

In Isabela and Cagayan, strong winds toppled trees and road signages, while thousands of sacks of palay and corn left out to dry were drenched by rain, adding to farmers’ losses.

Farmer Inocencio Bayucan, 50, lamented the sharp drop in farmgate prices due to the inclement weather caused by the recent tropical cyclones.

‘Lugi manen (we again suffered losses),’ he said, noting palay prices now fetch only P8 to P10 per kilo compared to the P20 average in past cropping seasons.

In Echague town, Isabela, at least 500 families were preemptively evacuated due to rising rivers, while another 500 families in northern Cagayan were moved to higher grounds and evacuation centers.

Dam release

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines reported power interruptions affecting Isabela Electric Cooperative 1 and Ifugao Electric Cooperative at 10:26 a.m. after the Santiago-Alicia 69kv line tripped. Restoration efforts were still ongoing.

In Quirino, heavy rains flooded roads and spillways in Diffun and Aglipay. The Diffun-Santiago road in Purok 6, Barangay Isidro Paredes was declared impassable to light vehicles, while the San Francisco spillway in Aglipay was submerged.

The National Irrigation Administration said Magat Dam, which straddles the boundary between Isabela and Ifugao. began releasing water through six spillway gates starting 1 p.m. on Friday, reaching a cumulative 12-meter-high release by 5 p.m.

Magat Dam’s total water discharge was estimated at 1,761 cubic meters per second, which could raise water levels by half a meter at Tuguegarao’s Buntun Bridge within 20 hours.

In Pampanga, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council raised alert levels from blue to red, requiring round-the-clock operations from local disaster councils. As of 2 p.m. on Friday, at least 60 villages in San Fernando, Sta. Ana, Apalit, Candaba, Macabebe, Minalin, and San Simon were flooded.

Class suspension

In Zambales, classes were suspended in several towns and Olongapo City while government offices in San Narciso town also suspended work starting 3 p.m. on Friday, except for essential services.

In Zambales’ San Marcelino town, a portion of a riprap collapsed beside a house in Sitio Oit, Barangay Sta. Fe, spilling rocks and mud onto the road and blocking passage. Clearing operations are underway.

In Olongapo City, the river level at Kalaklan Bridge rose to 1.6 meters by 3:20 p.m., breaching the warning threshold of 1.5 meters.

The Philippine Coast Guard earlier suspended sea travel across Zambales due to rough seas.

Floodwaters also submerged parts of Barangay Balon-Anito in Mariveles, Bataan, on Friday afternoon, while six other low-lying villages were inundated and rendered impassable to small vehicles.

Earlier that day, a landslide occurred in Zone 6, Barangay Camaya, also in Mariveles, amid heavy rains.

No one was reported injured.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 over the southwestern portion of Isabela, the northwestern portion of Quirino, northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the southern portion of Abra, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur and the northern portion of La Union. Warnings in effect

TCWS No. 3 was hoisted over the northern and central portions of Aurora, the rest of Isabela, the rest of Quirino, the central portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, the central portion of Abra, the rest of Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Sur, and the rest of La Union.

TCWS No.2 was raised over the central and southern portions of Cagayan, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, the rest of Abra, the central and southern portions of Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Nueva Ecija, the northern portion of Tarlac and the northern portion of Zambales.

Batanes, the rest of mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Ilocos Norte, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the rest of Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga, the rest of Zambales, the northern portion of Quezon, including Polillo Islands, and Camarines Norte remained under TCWS No.1.

According to Pagasa, Paolo’s center of the eye was estimated to be northeast of the vicinity of Mayoyao, Ifugao at 2 p.m on Friday while moving west northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph). It packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph.