Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela-Meralco Bolts snapped out of their two-game slide in the EASL on Saturday, using a strong start as buffer en route to an 85-76 victory over the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots at Capital Arena here.

Or did they?

The visiting Taiwanese squad put the result under protest, citing a Fiba rule restricting teams to two imports per quarter.

‘In the second quarter, four import players played together on the floor, two more players than allowed by Fiba rules,’ Pilots coach Iurgi Caminos told reporters here in a post-game briefing.

Bolts coach Nenad Vucinic shrugged off the protest and conceded that ‘it is the right of the Pilots to say on whatever will be their allegations.’

He, however, said he would accept responsibility on the matter.

Riding on the crest of a 14-4 run in the first quarter, the Bolts never looked back and deflated the spirited rally of the Pilots to break into the win column of Season 3.

Asian import Mohammadsina Vahedi of Iran led the Bolts with 22 points, two rebounds, seven assists and one steal.

‘I am surprised that a lot of fans watched the game and that we played for them. I hope they enjoyed the game as much as we do,’ he said.

Vahedi matched the 22 points of import Ismael Romero, who also tallied 14 rebounds, four assists, one steal and one turnover.

The Bolts led by as many as 22.

Bolts import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the Pilots’ Lu Chun Hsiang marked EASL milestones by joining the league’s 200-point club. Hollis-Jefferson scored 15 points to up his career total to 207 while Lu scored 17 points for a 215-point total.

Last season, Lu led the league in total points with 158. Hollis-Jefferson returned this year after posting 145 in the 2023-24 campaign.

In the first quarter, the Bolts stormed to a 23-14 lead and never looked back, padding their lead into 16 in the third quarter at 66-50.

Lu slowed the Pilots with his six turnovers.

‘I think I played pretty well and because of the lot od pressure, I committed many turnovers, but I am happy to play despite losing the game,’ he said.

Lu’s teammate, Setric Millner Jr. topscored with 19 for the team while William Artino tallied 15 points.

Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) is already close to making landfall in Aurora, said the state weather bureau on Sunday evening.

Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 remains hoisted in four areas, including the northern and central portions of Aurora.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) latest typhoon bulletin as of 8 p.m., Uwan’s last location was logged in 85 kilometers (km) east-southeast of Baler, Aurora, or 125 km northeast of Infanta, Quezon.

The super typhoon is currently moving northwestward at 30 km per hour (km/h) while carrying maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 230 km/h.

‘On the track forecast, the center of the eye of Uwan will make landfall at or near its peak intensity (e.g., as a super typhoon or an upper limit of typhoon) over Aurora (i.e., anywhere along the coastline from Baler to Casiguran) Sunday night or tomorrow (10 November) early morning,’ said Pagasa.

However, Pagasa reminded the public ‘not to focus on the center track as it may still shift within the limit of the forecast confidence cone.’

This means heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surges may still be experienced far from the landfall point or center track, and even in areas outside the forecast confidence cone.

Areas under Signal No. 5 where winds greater than 185 kph are expected in at least 12 hours are as follows:

Luzon

The southern portion of Quirino (Nagtipunan)

The southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur)

The northeastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Carranglan, Pantabangan)

The northern and central portion of Aurora (San Luis, Baler, Maria Aurora, Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran)

The following areas, meanwhile, are under Signal No. 4:

Luzon

The southern portion of Isabela (San Agustin, Jones, Echague, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Cordon, City of Santiago, Ramon, San Isidro, Angadanan)

The rest of Quirino

The rest of Nueva Vizcaya

The southern portion of Mountain Province (Tadian, Bauko, Sabangan)

The southern portion of Ifugao (Tinoc, Asipulo, Lamut, Kiangan, Lagawe, Hingyon, Hungduan)

Benguet

The southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem, Cervantes, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Suyo, Sigay, Galimuyod, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Salcedo, San Esteban, Santiago)

La Union

Pangasinan

The rest of Aurora

The rest of Nueva Ecija

The northernmost portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz)

The northeastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Paniqui, Gerona, Victoria, Pura, Ramos, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, La Paz, City of Tarlac, Santa Ignacia)

The easternmost portion of Pampanga (Candaba)

The eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Norzagaray, San Rafael)

The northern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez)

The northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar, Real), including Polillo Islands

Signal No. 3 or winds of greater than 89 kph up to 117 kph in at least 18 hours is hoisted in the following areas:

Luzon

The southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Tuao, Enrile, Solana, Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Iguig, Piat, Amulung, Santo Niño, Alcala, Rizal)

The rest of Isabela

The northwestern, central, and southern portions of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao, Calanasan)

Abra

Kalinga

The rest of Mountain Province

The rest of Ifugao

Ilocos Norte

The rest of Ilocos Sur

The rest of Zambales

Bataan

The rest of Tarlac

The rest of Pampanga

The rest of Bulacan

Metro Manila

Cavite

Batangas

The rest of Rizal

Laguna

The rest of Quezon

Marinduque

Camarines Norte

Camarines Sur

Catanduanes

On the other hand, Signal No. 2 or winds greater than 62 km/h and up to 88 km/h in at least 24 hours is raised in:

Luzon

Babuyan Islands

The rest of mainland Cagayan

The rest of Apayao

Occidental Mindoro

Oriental Mindoro

Romblon

Albay

Sorsogon

The northern and western portions of Masbate (City of Masbate, Mobo, Aroroy, Balud, Mandaon, Milagros, Baleno, Uson), including Ticao and Burias Islands

Areas under Signal No. 1, with winds 39 km/h to 61 km/h to be expected in at least 36 hours, and intermittent rains:

Luzon

Batanes

The rest of Masbate

The northern portion of Palawan (Taytay, Dumaran, El Nido, Araceli, Roxas, San Vicente) including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands

Visayas

Northern Samar

Eastern Samar

Samar

Biliran

Leyte

Southern Leyte

Bohol

Cebu

Siquijor

Negros Oriental

Negros Occidental

Guimaras

Iloilo

Capiz

Aklan

Antique

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Saturday said the International Criminal Court (ICC) had allegedly ordered the arrest of Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, a potential coaccused of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte who is charged with crimes against humanity.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, however, indicated that the former Philippine National Police chief won’t be joining Duterte in an ICC detention facility in The Hague, the Netherlands, anytime soon.

‘I have it on good authority-because this is a public interest (radio) program-that the ICC has issued a warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa,’ Remulla said in an interview with the dzRH radio show ‘Executive Session.’

Pressed on whether the information was confirmed, Remulla said, ‘I think so. I would say so.’

‘I have it on good authority,’ he reiterated.

Asked to comment on Remulla’s disclosure, Bersamin said that the ICC might have issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, but it has yet to transmit the order through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

It was upon an Interpol request that Philippine authorities arrested and surrendered Duterte to the ICC in March to face charges of crimes against humanity for the thousands killed in his drug war.

Asked whether the same process would be applied to the senator, Bersamin said, ‘Not anymore.’

He said the Supreme Court recently approved new rules on extradition ‘requiring a prior resort to a court before the person subject to extradition may be brought out of the country.’

Remulla also said that the new rules would have to be applied in the case of Dela Rosa.

According to Remulla, the Department of Justice (DOJ), through the Office of the Chief State Counsel, will have to file a request for Dela Rosa’s extradition with an extradition court. The Solicitor General will represent the government in the proceedings, he said.

Different tune earlier

In January, Bersamin said the Philippine government would act ‘favorably or positively’ to a request by the ICC to take custody of any person linked to the court’s investigation of Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity.

He said the ICC no longer had jurisdiction over the Philippines after Manila withdrew from the Rome Statute that established the tribunal in March 2019.

‘But that does not necessarily mean that the order of the ICC, coursed through the Interpol, is to be ignored,’ he said.

Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III said that the arrest of any senator within Senate premises would not be allowed, but arrests outside were ‘no longer our concern.’

‘I am not [privy] to the warrant being issued,’ he told reporters. ‘But as I have said in the past and in consultation with some members of the Senate, to preserve the dignity of the Senate, and as a matter of institutional courtesy, we cannot allow any senator to be arrested in the Senate premises.’

Legal immunities

The 1987 Constitution provides certain legal immunities to members of the Philippine Congress, including privilege from arrest for any offense punishable by imprisonment of not more than six years while Congress is in session.

Human rights group Karapatan on Saturday warned the Senate leadership that it would be complicit in ‘harboring a criminal’ if it shields Dela Rosa from arrest.

‘He must face justice-alongside Duterte and all officials who ordered, enabled, and covered up these atrocities,’ Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said in a statement.

‘To Senator Sotto: there is no dignity in protecting those responsible for widespread killings, torture, and the criminalization of the poor,’ Palabay said.

Neither the DOJ nor the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which has supervision over the PNP, had confirmed that the ICC had issued the arrest warrant against Dela Rosa.

The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, which coordinates with Interpol on behalf of the government, has not received any ‘red notice’ against Dela Rosa, according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the Ombudsman’s younger brother.

In Cebu for aid drive

A red notice is a request circulated by Interpol across the globe to locate and arrest a person pending extradition or other legal proceedings.

Dela Rosa has not issued any comment as of this writing.

The senator on Thursday and Friday distributed aid in several areas in Cebu devastated by Typhoon ‘Tino’ (international name: Kalmaegi).

On his Facebook page on Saturday, he referred to a statement by his lawyer, Israelito Torreon, who said they had no ‘independent confirmation’ of Remulla’s report.

‘If proven true, we trust that the Philippine government will act in accordance with the rule of law, and that any such action shall pass through the proper local judicial confirmation process consistent with our Constitution, due process, and the sovereign rights of the Republic of the Philippines,’ Torreon said.

The spokesperson for the ICC has yet to confirm the issuance of the arrest warrant.

Arrest ‘is certain’

The ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP), which could have likely applied for the warrant, refused to comment ‘on ongoing investigations.’

‘[Confidentiality] is essential to protect the integrity of investigations and to ensure the safety and security of victims, witnesses, and all those with whom the office interacts,’ the OTP said in an email to the Inquirer.

Kristina Conti, a lawyer for the drug war victims, said that an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa ‘is certain from what victims know and what the prosecution has presented.’

‘It is up to the Marcos administration to enforce his arrest and surrender to the ICC,’ said Conti.

Dela Rosa, who had served as Davao City police chief under Duterte, was repeatedly cited in the prosecution’s urgent application for the latter’s arrest warrant as a ‘longtime ally’ who developed ‘tokhang,’ which instructed the police to knock on the doors of suspected drug users and pushers to ask them to surrender before they later ended up dead.

The OTP, in its ‘pre-confirmation brief,’ also attributed to Dela Rosa a promise-made weeks before Duterte was to assume the presidency in July 2016-to immediately scale up the Tokhang model. This promise came with a threat: ‘If someone fights back, they’ll die. If nobody fights back, we’ll make them fight back.’

It also pointed out that on his first day as PNP chief, he issued the Command Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016, which launched ‘Project Double Barrel,’ a national replication of Duterte’s anti-illegal drug policy in Davao City.

Should there be an arrest warrant, Conti said that the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber may request for his ‘arrest and surrender, and not extradition’ to the Philippine government or the country where he may be found, regardless of whether it is a state party to the Rome Statute or not.

Form of cooperation

‘Surrender is a form of cooperation with the ICC, which is an international court, by member-and even non-member states,’ she said in a Facebook post.

The Rome Statute says that the ICC may simply send a ‘request for the arrest and surrender of a person . to any State on the territory of which that person may be found and shall request the cooperation of that State in the arrest and surrender of such a person.’ The state party should then comply in line with its own national laws and the provisions of the Rome Statute.

In contrast, the extradition process of the Supreme Court, which takes effect on Monday, would be tedious as it involves requests made by a state to another state, Conti said, noting that the ICC is not a state

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Western Visayas warned that rains from Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong) may cause landslides and flooding in Antique province.

During a virtual Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment and Scenario Building session on Saturday, November 8, the regional MGB presented their rainfall accumulation forecast.

The MGB’s report, which was also based on the 72-hour model of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), indicated 78 barangays in four Antique municipalities that were at risk. These comprise 33 barangays in Barbaza, 26 in Laua-an, 18 in Tibiao, and 1 in Bugasong.

Based on their susceptibility to hazards, the MGB’s assessment indicated that 34 barangays would be at very high risk for rain-induced landslides, including:

Baghari, Binanu-an, Calapadan, Embgranga-an, Idao, Integasan, Langcaon (Evelio Javier), Lombuyan, Mablad, Magtulis, Mayabay, Mayos, Nalusdan, Narirong, and Soligao in Barbaza;

Igsoro in Bugasong;

Bongbongan, Canituan, Guiamon, Laua-an, Magyapo, Maybunga, Omlot, Pandanan, San Ramon, and Virginia in Laua-an; and

Alegre, Amar, Importante, Malabor, Pitac, Salazar, Tigbaboy, and Tuno in Tibiao.

The same report also lists 66 barangays that are at very high risk for flooding from Uwan, including:

Baghari, Beri, Biga-a, Binangbang, Binangbang Centro, Binanu-an, Calapadan, Capoyuan, Embrangga-an, Esparar, Idao, Igpalge, Igtunarum, Integasan, Ipil, Jinalinan, Lanas, Langcaon (Evelio Javier), Lombuyan, Mablad, Mayabay, Mayos, Nalusdan, Narirong, Palma, San Antonio, San Ramon, Soligao, Tabongtabong, and Tig-Alaran in Barbaza;

Igsoro in Bugasong;

Bongbongan, Casit-an, Guiamon, Igtadiao, Jinalinan, Lactudan, Latazon, Laua-an, Lupa-an, Mauno, Maybunga, Necesito (Paniatan), Oloc, Omlot, Pandanan, Paningayan, Pascuala, San Ramon, Santiago, Tigunhao, and Virginia in Laua-an; and

Bandoja (Lupa-an), Castillo, Esparagoza, Importante, Malabor, Natividad, Pitac, Salazar, San Francisco Sur, Santa Ana, Santa Justa, Santo Rosario, Tigbaboy, and Tuno in Tibiao.

Antique has experienced several landslides and flooding due to rains over the last few months, with the most recent, from Typhoon Tino, claiming one death in Anini-y town.

In a video uploaded by the Antique Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Western Visayas regional director Raul Fernandez said that they have released a memorandum urging local government units (LGUs) to conduct preemptive evacuation in hazard-prone areas.

Antique PDRRMO chief Broderick Train on Sunday said they have already initiated a preemptive evacuation on Saturday, and likewise issued a directive encouraging LGUs to conduct their own evacuations, especially for those near coastal areas and major river systems.

The provincial government also pre-deployed provisions and equipment to augment the capacity of northern Antique DRRMOs, as well as to monitor the activation of barangay DRRM committees.

As to the barangays logged by the MGB, Train said that they have already notified the four LGUs and conducted pre-emptive evacuation. Equipment from the provincial government and the Department of Public Works and Highways have also been pre-deployed in these areas

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Baler, Aurora, temporarily halted movement of its response teams on Sunday afternoon to ensure the safety of responders and personnel as Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) nears the province.

According to the Baler MDRRMO in an advisory, the ‘No Movement, No Rescuers’ policy was implemented at exactly 5 p.m.

‘This measure is intended to ensure the safety of all responders and personnel amid the continuous heavy rains and strong winds brought by Super Typhoon Uwan,’ the office said.

With this, all rescuers and agency personnel are encouraged to stay in safe areas and suspend any field activities until clearance or a go-signal is issued by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and MDRRMO Baler.

‘The primary goal of this measure is the safety of everyone. Please remain indoors, avoid going outside, and continue to monitor official advisories from MDRRMO Baler and the local government,’ the MDRRMO said.

Despite this, the MDRRMO told Baler residents to contact 09205941906 in case of any emergency.

As of 6:47 p.m., the MDRRMO also reported that the entirety of Baler currently has no power.

Baler-as well as other parts of the central portion of Aurora-is among the areas currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 where winds greater than 185 kilometers per hour are expected in at least 12 hours.

The state weather bureau also forecasts Uwan to make its initial landfall within the central portion of Aurora. /cb

Somebody once commented that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, but for some, their bodies have become basilicas!

Today is the Feast of Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. In today’s Gospel (Jn 2, 13-22) Jesus cleansed the temple of vendors and money changers and in anger exclaimed, ‘Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.’ We all need cleansing, not only in our bodies, but also in our character, in our families, in our relationships and especially so, in our country these days, even in the Church.

What’s this ‘marketplace’ that Jesus was so angry about? It’s simply money, and all the things money can do to a person. Money can contaminate and ruin a person’s life, values, and relationships. When we become involved in the marketplace, we also sooner or late get involved in greed, deceit, and manipulation. Have you turned your life into marketplace? Have you allowed the marketplace in your very home? When money comes into the picture, the purest and cleanest thoughts, convictions, and even values can become obscured. When money talks, people begin to lose their sense of sight, hearing, speaking, and even their sense of feeling.

‘Marketplace’ is not so much a place, but an attitude, a way of thinking, where everything has a price and anything can be sold or bought. You know you have the marketplace in your heart when you see everything and everyone from the point of gain and profit. In the marketplace, it is difficult to find friendship, values, self-sacrifice, and yes, even God.

As we go about our lives, we encounter different levels of good. The first is the level of LOOKING GOOD. This is the level which we are busy with most of the time. What others say is what matters on this level. The second level is FEELING GOOD. This is the level where what we say or feel about ourselves is the center of our attention. The third level is that of DOING GOOD. There is a value outside that makes me do good things. Then there is the level of simply BEING GOOD. This is the level where goodness emanates from a heart that wants to please God. The problem with many of us is that we put priority over looking good and feeling good, over doing good and being good. Just be good and everything else will follow.

Our task as Christians is to find and keep finding God in the marketplace. We have to keep on pointing to Him, even in the marketplace. It is easy to find God and feel God in a convent or a monastery. But the greater challenge is to be aware, to welcome, and to make present our God in the marketplace.

At the end of the day when everything is quiet, we will be left alone with ourselves minus our titles, positions, and possessions, minus our masks and put-ons; may we encounter God who loves us without conditions. And at the end of our lives, may we be embraced by God who will whisper to us, ‘My child, you did not need those masks and luggage when you were still alive. All that you needed was already in you, deep inside.’

Speaking of housecleaning, many of us would do well to look into our hearts and dispose of many unnecessary and burdensome sins, bad habits, and negative thoughts and feelings. Life is short. Time spent on negative thoughts and deeds is wasted time. A good confession is always a good starting point. When was the last time you made a good confession? When was the last time you made a resolve to confess your sins, do penance and amend your life?

Still on housecleaning, with Christmas just around the corner, let us take time to get rid of ‘excess baggage.’ No matter how much we rationalize (and we are good at it!), we cannot justify our holding on to so much when a lot of people around us have so little or nothing at all. Please share, and share generously until it hurts, and hurts no more. Remember, we are only stewards, and we are accountable to God in the use and disposal of our time, talents, and treasures. Indeed, to whom much is given, much is required.

Cleanse our house Lord, especially the Lower House and Upper House in our country, of thieves, moneymakers, and money changers! If only we could! We should! But how? The challenge goes to the executive and judicial branches of our government, and the Church, too, and to the very heart of each one of us. Yes, cleanse our hearts, oh, God!

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, cleanse us all. We need your Holy Spirit to make us whole and pure. Amen.

Even as strong winds and heavy rains from Super Typhoon Uwan battered Eastern Visayas, a fire broke out early Saturday morning, Nov. 9, in Barangay Iniguihan of Bato town in Leyte, destroying more than 80 houses and five commercial establishments, the Bureau of Fire Protection-Eastern Visayas (BFP-8) reported.

The blaze, which occurred at around 4:30 a.m., spread rapidly through the community as powerful winds from Typhoon Uwan fanned the flames, making it difficult for firefighters to contain the fire immediately.

According to initial reports from Fire Senior Inspector Anos of the BFP-Bato Fire Station, the fire affected 106 families and destroyed an estimated 680 square meters of residential and commercial property.

The fire completely burned 82 residential houses and five commercial structures. No fatalities were reported, although one firefighter suffered an eye injury due to irritation while battling the blaze.

Responding units included firefighters from Bato, Matalom, Hilongos, Bontoc, Inopacan, Maasin City, Sogod, Hindang, Baybay, and Hilongos, who worked together to bring the fire under control amid the super typhoon..

The fire had gone up to a third alarm by 4:40 a.m. before it was declared under control at 6:30 a.m. It was fully extinguished by 6:45 a.m., according to the BFP report.

Authorities estimated the total damage at ?1.6 million. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

Officials noted that strong winds brought by Super Typhoon Uwan likely contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, complicating firefighting operations as the region continued to experience power outages and flooding from the typhoon

When many thought the drama in this year’s Miss Universe pageant has already subsided, another episode unfolded, this time involving members of the media.

Journalists and online content creators were reportedly prevented from covering an official pageant activity on Sunday, Nov. 9, in Phuket, Thailand, where the delegates have flown to after staying for about a week in Bangkok.

Several accounts from Filipino platforms whose representatives are covering in Thailand disclosed that they were barred from entering the venue of the day’s event, and only members of Thai media were allowed inside.

Filipinos and other nationalities who secured accreditation to cover the 74th Miss International pageant in Thailand were among those who were prevented from covering, according to these accounts.

Also among those who were not allowed to follow the delegates for the day’s event were representatives from Telemundo, a Spanish-language media company based in the United States, and is an official broadcast partner of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant.

This is not the first time that the media got involved in this drama-filled edition of Miss Universe. Even before the candidates were officially welcomed in Bangkok on Nov. 2, social media pageant page Critical Beauty reported that content creators and vloggers were not allowed to cover until Nov. 17.

But Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of the Miss Grand International Public Co. Ltd. that handles Thailand’s hosting of this year’s international pageant, issued his own clarification into the matter and announced a media coordinator different from the one designated by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO).

It has only been a week since the Miss Universe pageant season started, but several incidents have already taken the spotlight away from the contestants because of the feud between Nawat and MUO Pres. Raul Roca.

On Nov.2, the MUO said an online voting initiative promoted by Nawat and a corresponding special dinner with the leading candidates were not authorized. He then mentioned in Thai in a live video that the organization does not know how to run a pageant.

The next day, Nawat brought in Thai Police to confiscate materials bearing the name and logo of a Philippine online gaming company, citing Thai laws that ban casinos. MUO brought in the company as the pageant’s ‘official journey partner.’

On Nov. 4, Nawat was seen in a live video in a heated exchange with Mexico’s Fatima Bosch, prompting her to walk out. Several other delegates, as well as reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig, followed her out of the hall.

The following day the Miss Universe pageant posted a video of Rocha delivering a speech, and admonishing Nawat for his behavior towards Bosch. He also said MUO was considering legal action against Nawat, and is limiting the Thai personality’s involvement in the pageant’s activities.

Nawat broke down before cameras on Nov. 5, and appeared to be crying as he said he did not intend to cause harm on anyone. He also appeared on stage anew, while the delegates were still there, to clear his name before a global audience.

The 74th Miss Universe pageant is set to conclude on Nov. 21 via a final competition and coronation show at the Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi, northwest of Bangkok. More than 120 delegates are competing to succeed Theilvig, inlcuding the Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo. /edv

From innovative palay seeders in farm fields to smart recycling systems, Filipino ingenuity is rewriting what ‘made in the Philippines’ means.

On Nov. 6, five Filipino innovators received the inaugural Presidential Filipinnovation Awards from the National Innovation Council and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev).

‘This initiative underscores our dedication to supporting Filipino innovators who are developing impactful solutions to the country’s most pressing challenges,’ DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan says.

‘It is one of the government’s flagship programs for building a dynamic innovation ecosystem that fosters collaboration, creativity and the growth of homegrown technologies,’ he adds.

Each awardee took home P3.5 million worth of prizes, including P2.5 million in cash, a presidential medallion, a plaque, a trophy and a post-competition support package.

Here are the five winners.

Mark Bantugon

Pili Seal

Mark Bantugan, a 26-year-old engineer, remembers how, during every typhoon, his parents made him and his siblings chew bubble gum to stick onto their leaky roof.

The memory stuck, quite literally, and sparked his idea to create a sustainable, two-in-one adhesive and sealant using the sticky resin of pili trees.

‘We champion circular economy and environmental sustainability by transforming this agricultural pili waste resin into a high-value product,’ Bantugan says.

Pili Seal is pitched as an adhesive and sealant for metal surfaces, wood materials, paper-based components, various plastics, ceramic surfaces, tiles, glass, brickwork and composite materials.

Once its life cycle has ended, the residual material can be converted into a fertilizer.

Bantugan hopes Pili Seal’s win could allow them to launch the product into the business-to-consumer market, as they only have business-to-business operations currently.

‘We try to cater to different sectors. For example, we have an ongoing project collaboration with the Department of National Defense for bullet adhesive, and then we have aviation, construction,’ he says.

Delfin Cuevas Jr.,

Palatak Palay Seeder

Inspired by his mother’s years of farming by hand, Delfin Cuevas Jr., an engineer from Oriental Mindoro and former overseas worker in Canada, aims to modernize rice farming by combining direct seeding with manual transplanting. This can offer local farmers a practical alternative to labor-intensive methods.

The 17-kilogram planting device transfers the seed directly into the soil. Compared to bulky, mechanized seeders that require trained operators, the Palatak is lightweight, easy to use and designed for everyday farmers-shortening the rice growth cycle from around 112 days to just 100.

The device also features a built-in soil opener and closer that ensures the seeds are immediately buried, making them more resilient to weather changes and threats from birds and rats.

According to Cuevas, local farmers can also save up to P10,000 per hectare with the device, as it requires only around P1,000 for transplanting, compared with the usual P10,000 to P12,000.

Since its launch in October 2024, it has sold nearly 700 units across 69 provinces nationwide. The unit is priced at P55,000 each.

‘It (award) is a big help for us because it’s a big help for Filipinos,’ he says. He is hoping that more local government units (LGUs) can procure the device for small farmers.

Mari Martinez

RezBin

In a bid to encourage more people to segregate their waste, Mari Martirez is using artificial intelligence (AI) gamification to power a smart bin with a reward system.

RezBin is an online platform that evaluates recyclables through AI-based assessment and rewards users with points to encourage participation.

‘What our system does is we transform any ordinary recycling bin into a tech-powered smart bin from the comfort of your own office, school, or residential area. It’s basically a reward system for recyclables,’ Martinez says.

Through the RezBin app, users simply scan the QR code on a partner recycling bin, snap a photo of their recyclables, and earn points they can exchange for more than 250 rewards and raffle prizes.

Launched in November 2024, Martinez hopes to partner with local government units (LGUs) to expand the reach of their app.

‘One of the main things we’re going to work on is focusing on the community side. So we build micro-communities of recycling communities inside our platform, and we will be expanding to other cities,’ he says.

Martinez adds that this can aid LGUs in tracking if their constituents comply with the Solid Waste Management Law.

From Iloilo, RezBin has so far expanded to Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Quezon City and San Juan. Ediphi

Among the five winners, the lone women founders stood out with Ediphi, a virtual reality training platform that helps students in the hospitality and service sectors develop real-world skills.

‘We have always believed in helping people find the best way to use their skills that they need to get the careers that they’re dreaming of,’ say founders Cristina Carl and Vanessa Jopillo.

‘We found that this is a really great way because you can get world-class training at the level of any other international training company. Filipinos can compete,’ they add.

Ediphi’s AI-powered virtual trainer, ‘Yumi,’ serves as the personal guide by offering real-time feedback, tailored learning paths and actionable insights. It allows learners to immerse themselves in hands-on training experiences.

The idea for the virtual reality training platform was born during the pandemic, at the height of the academic freeze and shift to online learning.

According to Carl and Jopillo, their win paves the way for pilot runs in two public schools, bringing Ediphi to students in Nueva Ecija and Bukidnon. The pilot also aligns with Ediphi’s goal to reach out to underserved communities across the country and help them navigate the workforce. Bambujett

After two decades of working in agriculture, Reginald Magnaye is out to prove that bamboo can be far more durable than most people think.

With Bambujett, Magnaye created the first commercial bamboo treatment system in the country using a one-size-fits-all rubber fitting.

‘Right now, the market is still not very open to using bamboo because of the cultural perception that bamboo is a cheap and non-durable material,’ Magnaye says. ‘We need to keep on creating proof to show people that bamboo is a natural, elegant and long-lasting material.’

According to Magnaye, starch inside bamboo reduces its durability, leaving it prone to termites and fungal growth.

His Bambujett system solves this by applying pressure through a rubber fitting to remove the starch and inject treatment solutions, resulting in termite-resistant poles called ‘Evergreen Kawayan.’

Traditional bamboo treatment takes about two weeks of soaking, while the modified method shortens the process to eight to nine hours by heating the solution beforehand. But Magnaye says Bambujett cuts that lead time to just one hour.

With the win, Magnaye hopes they can build three more facilities in Davao to further develop the market and partner with farmers.

‘There are still many aspects of improvement. In terms of our innovation, we are still improving it. The real challenge will be creating the market,’ he says. INQ

Xolo Maridueña is preparing to set sail, as he was confirmed to star as Portgas D. Ace in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of ‘One Piece’ season three.

Maridueña’s casting was confirmed by the streaming service in a press release. The series’ third installment will begin filming later this year in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Mexican-American actor will be joining ‘Oh, Mary!’ star Cole Escola in season three, with the latter recently confirmed to star as theatrical assassin Bon Clay. Further details on the cast are yet to be announced.

Also known as ‘Fire Fist’ Ace, Portgas was the captain of the Spade Pirates before he was asked to join the Whitebeard Pirates in the original anime. The character is often seen shirtless with a machete and a large hat.

Maridueña is notable for starring as Miguel Diaz in the Netflix action series ‘Cobra Kai,’ as well as Jaime Reyes and Blue Beetle in the DC’s ‘Blue Beetle,’ both of which helped him rise in popularity.

Based on the beloved anime of the same name, the live-action adaptation of ‘One Piece’ premiered on the streaming giant in August 2023. Season two will premiere in March 2026.

Just like the anime’s original storyline, it tells the story of the Straw Hat Pirates – led by Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) – in an expedition to uncover the legendary ‘One Piece’ which has long remained a mystery. /edv