Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Hollywood Walk of Fame has finally righted a long-standing wrong in the world of pop culture, and frankly, my dear readers, it’s about bloody time! The legendary Robert Englund, the one and only original Freddy Krueger, has at long last received his very own star on that iconic stretch of Tinseltown pavement. Finally cementing his name and joining the ranks of all the Hollywood greats that came before him.

And in what can only be described as a perfect, cinematic stroke of genius, the ceremony happened on Halloween a few days ago, by the time this piece of mine gets posted. Yes, you read that right, he was honored on Halloween! It’s almost as if the man who made nightmares famous orchestrated the timing himself, proving once again that some things are just meant to be. If there was ever a holiday that should be aligned with the name of Robert Englund, it should be Halloween, of course. Robert Englund is the reason why, specifically his timeless portrayal as Freddy Krueger, that Halloween is even more memorable because of all the ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ films that he has done, which have become a tradition to revisit during that spookiest time of the year.

For decades, Robert Englund has been a cornerstone of the horror genre, an icon among icons, the titan of titans of horror, and without a doubt a genuine cinematic legend. When you talk about the Mt. Rushmore of movie monsters-Freddy, Jason, Michael, Ghostface-Englund’s Freddy is always, always, first in the conversation. He didn’t just play an onscreen character; he became an entire cultural phenomenon, a gloved, fedora-wearing, wise-cracking evil force of nature that transcended the big screen and embedded himself into the collective consciousness of a generation, you bet.

Hey, Robert Englund is the reason why so many young people back then, especially young adults, had a hard time sleeping at night, worrying that they might see Freddy Krueger in their dreams, let me correct myself on that, I mean, nightmares! Haha. I myself, after watching my first ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ movie, many years ago, could not sleep well the first night because of it. That is how effective he was, that is how frightening he was, and that is how terrifying Freddy Krueger was!

The truth is, besides being Freddy Krueger, we’ve seen Robert Englund in countless roles over his fifty-year career. The classically trained actor has done everything from stage work to his breakthrough role as Willie in the TV miniseries ‘V.’ But it was in 1984, in Wes Craven’s original ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street,’ that he carved his name into immortality (pun intended) and turned everyone’s attention to his embodiment of Freddy Krueger himself, a life-changing role that 100% would be a match for him beyond his wildest dreams.

Loads of credit go to Robert Englund for helping break the established formula that had gone stale. Why so? Before Freddy Krueger, slashers were mostly silent, unstoppable forces of death, void of any real personality whatsoever. Yes, sure, they were scary, sure, but Robert made death fun. He injected his own brand of twisted personality, dark humor, and a genuine, unsettling humanity into a monster, which changed the game forever. He gave us that signature shoulder dip, that menacing cackle, and that iconic glove, which truly became an extension of his horrifying performance. Speaking at the ceremony, his ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ co-star from the original film, Heather Langenkamp (‘Nancy Thompson’ herself!) lauded his professionalism and the sheer evil he brought to the role, recalling the chills Robert Englund sent down everyone’s spines when he declared, ‘This is God’ on set. Filmmaker Eli Roth, who has become a key modern figure in horror, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing how Robert Englund ‘truly understands how to find humanity, even in a monster.’

Robert Englund reprised the role in seven straight sequels, a crossover with another horror icon, ‘Jason Voorhees’ in ‘Freddy vs. Jason’, and even a TV series, keeping the legacy alive for new fans who discovered the horror icon through modern appearances in extremely popular streaming shows like ‘Stranger Things’. Proving that all those times he portrayed Freddy Krueger did not go to waste because it planted his claws (another pun intended. Haha.) into the deep recesses of people’s minds, and he became more than a lingering thought or memory in the heads of everyone. In fact, I could go as far as saying he lived rent-free in their minds for decades because, before him and after him, there has never been another Freddy Krueger.

Seriously, his ability was to be able to ‘get you’ in your dreams, and if that is not a thought that is scary enough to send a shiver up anyone’s spine, I don’t know what will. That is an insane supernatural power, which made him nearly indestructible and hard to kill, because how can you combat someone or defeat an evil force if you can’t even sleep? So, there were many reasons behind Freddy Krueger’s supernatural power that made him a monster.

So, yes, this star was a long time coming. And I am glad he lived to see the day it happened, because based on how he spoke, it meant tremendously to him that all the times he became Freddy Krueger were well worth it. It is a well-deserved recognition not just of his most famous onscreen character, but of a career filled with genuine talent, originality, and an indelible, undeniable mark on cinematic history, especially in the horror genre. At 78 years old, he’s earned this honor, and the timing could not be more poetic.

As he posed with his star, wearing that iconic claw glove, he gave a shout-out to Wes Craven and ended his speech perfectly: ‘Trick or f****** treat!’ Haha.

Welcome to prime time, indeed, Mr. Englund. This is the moment the horror community, horror pop culture, fandom, and all of us who grew up with Freddy Krueger lurking in our dreams, being afraid to fall asleep, have been waiting for. Because it all means you did your job right as Freddy Krueger. It’s a legendary milestone, and it is 100% deserved.

Residents here began moving to evacuation centers ahead of Typhoon ‘Tino’s’ expected landfall this week, recalling the lessons from Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (international name: Haiyan) that struck the city 12 years ago.

Among the first to leave was Ma. Corazon Liberty Ladrera, who, with her husband and six children, sought shelter at the Tacloban Convention Center (Astrodome) before local authorities issued evacuation orders.

‘We didn’t wait for instructions. We don’t want what happened during Yolanda to happen again,’ she said.

As of Monday morning, 11 families (62 individuals) were staying at the Astrodome, with more expected after Mayor Alfred Romualdez ordered the forced evacuation of residents in coastal and landslide-prone areas.

Moderate to heavy showers were reported by midday.

Romualdez, in a video message, said all city offices and emergency units were on full alert. He also suspended work and classes and imposed a liquor ban as part of precautionary measures.

Other shelters include public schools, barangay halls, and churches.

In Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan said 109 families (1,776 individuals) from 15 coastal villages had been preemptively evacuated to avoid possible storm surges and flooding

Thrust into a bigger role, Adrian Villados has shown tremendous poise and maturity while filling in for Ish Polvorosa as Criss Cross’ lead setter.

Amid Polvorosa’s absence due to a knee injury, Villados’ steady hands have been instrumental in the King Crunchers’ league-best 3-0 start in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.

The proud Arellano University product averaged 25.3 excellent sets per outing in the crowd-darling’s winning run.

For his veteran composure and decisive playmaking, Villados emerged as the first Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live from October 27 to November 2.

Villados tossed up 22 excellent sets, coupled with three points, in Criss Cross’ 25-15, 23-25, 25-23, 25-14 win against PGJC-Navy to open the new conference last Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Arena.

He then followed it up with 20 excellent sets and four points in a 25-14, 25-15, 25-21 sweep over the VNS Griffins three days after.

The young setter’s finest performance came against nine-time champion Cignal, where he dished out an impressive 34 excellent sets in the King Crunchers’ 25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 25-18 statement win over their archrivals on Sunday.

While filling in for Polvorosa is no easy task, Villados credits his veterans and coaches at Criss Cross for providing ample guidance.

‘There’s always some pressure, but I try not to think about it because my older teammates and coaches are there to guide me,’ said the proud Arellano University product.

‘Like coach always says, I just need to contribute to the team, do my role as a setter, and focus on my goals. So that’s what I’m doing, just training hard and staying happy.’

Villados edged out Criss Cross teammates Jude Garcia, Jaron Requinton and Noel Kampton for the weekly plum deliberated by print and online reporters covering the pioneering men’s volleyball league organized by Sports Vision.

Also in the running were Cignal’s Louie Ramirez, UST-Gameville’s Josh Ybañez, Savouge’s Mark Calado and Reymark Betco, and the Alpha Insurance pair of Rocky Motol and Barbie San Andres.

Villados and Criss Cross will now aim for their fourth-straight win on Wednesday against Savouge at the Paco Arena in the action-packed tournament, streamed live and on-demand via the Pilipinas Live app and on www.spikersturf.ph.

Despite their strong start, the young setter knows that Criss Cross’ form remains a work in progress, especially after their second set collapse against the Super Spikers.

‘There’s still a lot we need to work on, especially in the second set where we made a lot of mistakes,’ he said.

‘Like they always say, we take it one game at a time, one point at a time. We just keep training.’

Authorities led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in region 9 arrested what they described as a high-value target in a buy-bust operation on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Barangay Don Andres, Ipil town of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Bryan Babang, regional director of PDEA 9, said a kilo of shabu (crystal meth) worth P6.8 million was recovered during the buy bust operation from the suspect known as alias Boy Blue, 46, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Mahayag town Zamboanga del Sur.

Babang also described Alias Boy Blue as a former seafarer turned farmer.

He said that the seized white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu was inside 10 transparent plastic sachets wrapped with clear tape.

The suspect will be facing charges for violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Babang said.

Lawmakers of the Makabayan bloc on Friday urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to abolish the pork barrel system, saying his latest directive to adopt the new market-based pricing system that he first imposed on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would not be enough to curb corruption in government infrastructure projects.

In a joint statement, ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Rep. Renee Co said pricing reforms would be meaningless if the allocation system that allows politicians to nominate projects in their districts and rig procurement in exchange for kickbacks remained intact.

‘Contractors will simply adjust their operations, and corruption will continue through ghost projects, substandard materials, or inflated quantities,’ they said.

They noted that Marcos’ directive does not address ongoing flood control investigations that could end up without any official being prosecuted.

‘[Pricing] reform is meaningless if those who profited from overpricing remain unpunished and free to continue their schemes,’ they said.

‘Will the president also address who gets to nominate these projects? Will he end the practice of politicians controlling infrastructure funds? Will he dismantle the allocation system that enables corruption in the first place? If not, then this is just a PR stunt-nice to hear, but without real substance,’ they added.

Influence of local pols

The lawmakers were referring to a long-standing DPWH practice of setting aside allocable funds for district engineering offices.

Supposedly, the funds are based on a formula designed to ensure their equitable distribution across district offices.

Both Makabayan lawmakers and civil society groups have flagged this system as a ‘breeding ground for insertions,’ in which politicians nominate projects in their districts, influence contractor selection, and often receive kickbacks set at 20-30 percent of project costs.

They said such a system enabled the majority of the anomalous infrastructure projects now being investigated by the Marcos administration, following revelations of a massive kickback scheme involving DPWH officials, contractors, and politicians.

Last Wednesday, the President ordered government agencies with infrastructure components – including the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, and the National Irrigation Administration – to follow in the footsteps of the DPWH and cut their construction material costs by 50 percent.

‘So let me be clear. The quality of what we build will not be compromised. The only thing weakened will be corruption,’ the President said in a speech before his departure to South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

‘This is the accountability that our citizens deserve. It will not be limited to the public works, but we shall be the norm across all of government,’ he added.

‘Billionaire capture’

The Makabayan legislators said that while they welcomed this move to reduce inflated costs, ‘pricing reforms alone will not eliminate corruption. The root cause remains the pork barrel system that allows legislators and the executive to control, nominate, and profit from infrastructure projects.’

Ibon Foundation executive director Sonny Africa said earlier that Marcos was still being ‘complicit in making the pork flow.’

‘The president feigns surprise at the extent of corruption in his administration. Since taking office, he has overseen the rotten budget process that doles out trillions of pesos in pork to presidential allies to keep their support as well as to not-so-allies to moderate their opposition. He can do this because of his overwhelming control of the annual national budget,’ Africa said in a commentary published by IBON in September.

He added that the Marcos administration’s anticorruption campaign ignores ‘so many other vectors of massive corruption and the abuse of public resources, authority, and power for personal gain.’

Aside from pork-ridden infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and buildings, Africa cited billions of pesos in confidential and intelligence funds, ‘tax cheats’ among the wealthy and businesses, and ‘billionaire regulatory capture’ of utilities and public services as avenues for corruption.

‘Enduring reforms require pressure from outside government-and the most effective measure is a mass movement constantly demanding accountability and forcing a government that feeds off plunder to finally answer to the people,’ he said. /cb

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has served subpoenas to the respondents in the five alleged ghost flood control projects in Bulacan, acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed on Monday.

‘Some of the subpoenas have been personally served in the initial five cases wherein the DOJ has been deputized by the Office of the Ombudsman. That process will start. The respondents and charges have been identified, and soon there will be more,’ Vida told reporters in an interview in Pasay City.

According to Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, the preliminary investigation of the five cases is scheduled on Nov. 10.

Fadullon previously disclosed that the respondents in the ghost flood control projects in Bulacan include former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza.

‘The five cases are focusing on the participation of the District Engineering Office of Bulacan 1. So they are the subject of these cases,’ Fadullon said, adding that the first set of cases also involved a contractor who lent their license to secure a certain flood control project.

The DOJ initially turned over the five cases involving malversation, falsification by public officers, perjury, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices, to the Office of the Ombudsman in October for assessment and review.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla returned the cases, however, to the DOJ to avoid repetition of processes.

‘The five flood control cases filed by the DOJ, we are returning them to them already. They will conduct PI [preliminary investigation], they will work on that, and they will file the cases since they have witnesses, so the process won’t repeat here,’ Remulla said.

DOJ spokesperson Raphael Niccolo Martinez earlier said the agency was working on a one-month period to wrap up its preliminary investigation that will determine if there are sufficient grounds to file the cases in court.

Amid public outcry seeking accountability through immediate filing of cases in court, Vida appealed for patience, saying that the DOJ is evaluating the cases cautiously to ensure that the rule of law and due process are observed.

‘The call is for us to follow the process, no matter how slow it is. The process is moving, but we are trying to move it in the right direction so that what our countrymen hope for can be achieved,’ he said.

Transportation of both passengers and goods from Caticlan to Boracay (and vice versa) was suspended on Monday amid the effects of Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi).

The Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC) implemented a suspension of transportation on both islands starting at 2 p.m. on Monday and will remain in effect until further notice.

‘To ensure passenger safety and to allow vessels to take shelter in preparation for the effects of Typhoon Tino, operations on the Caticlan-Boracay route are hereby cancelled until further notice,’ the CBTMPC said in an advisory.

The province of Aklan is currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 due to the effects of Tropical Tino.

Tino was last spotted 235 kilometers east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and is expected to make its initial landfall over the vicinity of the southern portion of Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, or Dinagat Islands by Monday night at the earliest.

Based on its latest forecast track, Tino is expected to pass through Central Philippines, affecting Visayas and parts of Mindanao and Luzon until it exits the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday.

Authorities in Siargao, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands have ordered the forced evacuation of residents along coastal and flood-prone communities after the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned that storm surges exceeding three meters high would hit the coastal areas within 48 hours as Typhoon Tino makes its landfall.

As of 8 a.m. on Monday, the state weather bureau warned that storm surges exceeding three meters may hit coastal areas in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, and the Dinagat Islands within the next 48 hours.

Pagasa said these areas would be at high risk of inundation due to the combined effects of strong winds and intense rainfall.

General Luna town councilor Bingle Silvosa called on residents to comply with the advisories in a post on her social media account.

According to General Luna’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), local disaster teams have begun mandatory evacuations in low-lying and coastal villages of Siargao Island.

Town officials advised residents to move to designated safe shelters as all fishing, sea travel, and tourism activities-including island-hopping and surfing-were all suspended until further notice.

Authorities reminded residents to prepare Go Bags containing essential items such as food, water, medicines, flashlights, clothes, hygiene kits, and important documents. The public was also urged to secure homes, livestock, and belongings, and to stay away from riverbanks, coastal zones, and steep slopes vulnerable to landslides or flooding.

Tourists staying in beachfront or light-material lodgings were advised to relocate to inland evacuation centers, which can be verified through the official MDRRMO-General Luna Facebook page and local tourism offices.

Officials urged the public to stay tuned for updates from DOST-PAGASA, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office-General Luna, and other official government pages as Tino continues to move across the Caraga Region

Due to the effects of Typhoon Tino on Monday morning, 988 passengers, drivers and helpers were stranded across 42 ports in Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Southern Luzon and Mindanao, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported.

From 12 midnight. to 4 a.m. on Monday, 24 vessels and 302 rolling cargos were also stranded, while 161 vessels and 21 motorbancas were taking shelter across in 42 ports, the PCG added.

The following ports in Eastern Visayas recorded 578 individuals, 248 rolling cargoes and two vessels stranded, while 10 vessels and nine motorbancas were taking shelter:

Sta.Clara Port

Dapdap Port

Looc Port

Guiuan Port

Tacloban Port

Calubian Port

San Juan Port

Benit Port

Liloan Port

Padre Burgos Port

Amandayehan Port

In Central Visayas, the PCG reported 323 people, 54 rolling cargoes, and 19 vessels stranded, while 128 vessels and 12 motorbancas taking shelter in the ports listed below:

Sitio Quasi Port

Santa Fier Port

Medellin Port

Polambato Pier

Hagnaya Port

Carmen Port

Tangil Wharf

Tolido City Port

Talisay City Anchorage

Pier 1 Cebu City

Naga Anchorage

San Fernando Anchorage

Cordova Port

Angasil Port

CGSS Miglanilla

Labonon, Mandaue

Danao Port

Dunggoan Port

Tagbilaran Port

Loon Port

Getafe Port

Talibon Port

Ubay Port

Consuelo Port

Meanwhile, in Southern Luzon, the ports listed below have 69 individuals and two vessels stranded, alongside 10 vessels taking shelter.

Rombon Port

Looc Port

Batangas Port

Balanacan Port

Buyabod Port

The PCG also recorded 18 individuals and one vessel stranded, with 13 vessels taking shelter in the following ports in Mindanao:

Zamboanga Port

Dapitan Port

Earlier, the PCG suspended sea travel in several areas due to rough sea conditions brought by Typhoon Tinio.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) also warned of storm surges all over Visayas, portions of southern Luzon, and portions of northern Mindanao on Monday.

Pagasa advised to cancel all marine activities in the affected coastal areas in the next 48 hours.

Tino will traverse through Visayas, then northern Palawan from Tuesday to Wednesday after making landfall in Eastern Visayas or in Dinagat Islands at midnight or early Tuesday morning.

Vacancy across retail spaces in Metro Manila is seen to decline back to prepandemic levels by next year, especially with foreign brands accelerating their expansion in the Philippines.

Real estate broker Colliers Philippines found that vacancy among retail spaces in the capital region had reached 11.4 percent as of end-September. This is already near the 9.3-percent vacancy recorded in the third quarter of 2019.

By the fourth quarter of next year, Colliers is anticipating this level to further shrink to 9.5 percent and 8.2 percent by 2027.

Colliers research director Joey Bondoc attributed this improvement to the entry of foreign retail brands that typically occupy up to three floors of shopping mall space.

‘Foreign brands have been coming to the Philippines. Some of them already left [previously], but they’re now returning, so it’s a huge comeback for them,’ Bondoc said during a press briefing last week.

A prominent returning entrant is grocery chain Makro, which first debuted in the Philippines in 1996 before officially exiting in 2009.

Ayala Corp. subsidiary ACX Holdings Corp. recently signed a partnership deal with Thai firm Makro ROH Co. Ltd. to launch a new entity, MandCo Corp., which will operate Makro stores in the Philippines. The first branch is set to open within the Ayala Cloverleaf Estate in Quezon City.

Apart from this, many foreign brands have also been steadily widening their footprint across the country and establishing flagship stores in major cities.

For example, Japanese brand Muji, which opened its first Philippine store in 2010, now has 11 branches. It opened its first flagship store in Glorietta 3, taking up 2,600 square meters of retail space with its own bakery, coffee shop, as well as alteration and embroidery services.

Other similar brands expanding are Anko, Ikea, and Nitori.

The food and beverage and fast fashion industries are also among the biggest occupiers. According to Colliers, the former took up 43 percent of upcoming retailers in the third quarter, while the latter accounted for 34 percent.

In choosing to expand in the Philippines, these stores are attracted by the aggressive refurbishment of major developers and their focus on ‘experiential retail,’ Bondoc pointed out.

‘These concepts occupy humongous retail space and entice customers to stay longer and spend more,’ he said. -Meg J. Adonis