Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The story is told about a wife who lost her husband whom she loved so much. On the day of his burial, as a sign of her undying love and devotion, and with hope that they will still be in communication, she slipped into the coffin her husband’s cell phone. Imagine her surprise when three days after the burial, she received a text message from him which read: ‘Here na me. Follow na you!’ Today is All Souls’ Day, the commemoration of the faithful departed. In today’s Gospel (John 6:37-40), Jesus tells His disciples: ‘For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.’ What a tremendous gift, what a blessed assurance that we have received from the Lord! Death is one of the most painful, if not the most painful and troubling moment of our lives. The pain of losing a loved one is never really gone. We just learn to cope and accept in time. What makes our painful goodbye bearable and meaningful is our faith in the resurrection and the promise of eternal life. In death, we don’t say goodbye, but ‘until we meet again, in the resurrection!’ Yes, our souls live on. On a personal note, I look forward to eternity and to be reunited with my loved ones again. What a reunion that would be! In that kingdom where there are no more tears, no more pain, no more problems, and no more goodbyes, I look forward to singing our praises unto God, together with those who have gone ahead of us. Too much heaven in our minds? Precisely, the thought of heaven should make us strong in our resolve to live meaningful lives on earth. Eternal life should motivate us to live beautiful, earthly lives. Someone once said in jest that there is no signal for cell phones in the cemetery. Why? Because there are many ‘dead spots’ there! Today, let us ask the Lord to help us see and revive whatever ‘dead spots’ we have in our lives, in our character, in our relationships. Today we pray that the Lord will heal and cleanse us of whatever or whoever prevents us from truly following Him. Life is short, and death is certain. Someone once asked: Why do we frantically hold on to our earthly life which we cannot prolong, and forget eternity which we cannot avoid and which surely awaits us all? For those who are so engrossed in worldly treasures and agenda, remember, we carry nothing with us when we leave this world. And for those who are so worried about death and dying, remember, no one among us will leave this world alive. Think about this: ‘Only in God are we truly safe and secure; anything else is false security; whether you are surrounded by mighty walls of stone, a comfortable home, or a secure job, no one can predict what tomorrow may bring; our relationship with God is the only security that cannot be taken away.’ Travel light. This is the thumb rule for all of us who are on the way. We are all pilgrims in this world. We are not immigrants here! There are people who claim that they need provisions along the way, that’s why they have to keep money and wealth in their pockets. May I ask: how much money do you need in this life? When is enough really enough? May I remind you, too, that when your pockets get too heavy, you will find the journey difficult and cumbersome. And, if you are too laden, you may not be able to reach your final destination. Sige. Ikaw rin. Bukod sa mahihirapan ka sa biyahe, baka hindi ka makarating (Careful, aside from making the journey difficult, you may not reach your destination). It is unfortunate that some people continue to fill their pockets with lots of cash, and lots of trash as they travel on. What are you carrying in your pocket now? Remember, the heavier the pocket, the heavier the heart; the lighter the pocket, the lighter the heart. This is a beautiful time of the year. The fields are ready for harvest. Christmas is just around the corner. Even the weather is milder. Yes, we expect more pleasant times ahead. We hope also for better times ahead for our country and for our people. Let us continue to pray to the Lord of the harvest that we will have more good leaders in our land. Think about it: We all will die, sooner or later. We carry nothing with us when we leave this world except the faith we have lived and the love we have shared. May we have no regrets in the end that we loved God and people too little, too late, just because we loved ourselves too much. A moment with the Lord:

Help us not to forget that we have a soul that will live on after our earthly sojourn. Amen.

The Iloilo City government has preemptively suspended in-person classes at all levels on Monday, November 3, ahead of Tropical Storm Tino. Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu announced on Sunday that the suspension would remain ‘until further notice.’

‘This measure aims to ensure the safety and preparedness of our students, teachers, and school personnel as the city braces for the possible effects of the weather disturbance,’ she said in the advisory.

She also urged residents in coastal and low-lying areas to prepare for preemptive evacuation, in coordination with their respective barangay officials.

‘Ilonggos are further advised to stay vigilant, monitor official weather updates, and avoid unnecessary travel, especially in flood-prone areas,’ she added.

The city government conducted its Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment last Saturday, November 1, in preparation for the storm’s impact.

Before the city’s announcement, West Visayas State University in La Paz District also suspended in-person classes across all campuses due to the impending storm.

Recent reports from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration indicate that the Visayas region will experience rains from Tino, which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 8 a.m. on November 2.

The upcoming 3rd International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships in the Philippines could serve as a fast track to global stardom for the sport’s rising stars, according to a top official from the FIG.

‘Don’t underestimate the junior world championships. I think this can be a springboard quickly to the senior level,’ said FIG Communications Head Paul O’Neil, speaking after the recent 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta.

Set from Nov. 20 to 24 at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom in Newport World Resorts, the event marks the first time the junior meet will be held in Southeast Asia.

O’Neil pointed to recent examples like Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka, who won the men’s all-around gold at the Paris Olympics after topping the same event in the inaugural junior worlds in Gyor, Hungary, in 2019.

Disaster authorities in Western Visayas are on full alert as Severe Tropical Storm Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) threatens to unleash devastation reminiscent of Super typhoons Yolanda in 2013 and Odette in 2021.

In a virtual emergency meeting of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-6) on Sunday, council chair and Office of Civil Defense (OCD-6) Regional Director Raul E. Fernandez said full-scale preparations were underway as forecasts indicated that Tino could reach super typhoon strength and cross directly over Panay Island by Tuesday, November 4.

‘The potential impact mirrors the intensity and path of Yolanda and Odette. We urge all local DRRMCs to prepare for worst-case scenarios, ensure timely evacuation, and coordinate closely with national agencies,’ Fernandez said.

Supertyphoon Yolanda struck on November 8, 2013, claiming over 6,000 lives and affecting approximately 16 million people across the Visayas. Odette, which hit on December 16, 2021, caused over P47 billion in damage, destroyed a million homes, and killed more than 400 people.

According to data from the Predictive Analytics for Humanitarian Response (PAHR) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas (DSWD-6), around 466,044 families-or 2.33 million people-could be affected. Western Visayas, the most populous region in the Visayas, has a population of 7.9 million based on the 2020 census.

To bolster response capacity, DSWD-6 has pre-positioned 99,955 family food packs (FFPs) in Oton, Iloilo, and in 55 local government units across the region. Another 10,000 FFPs were en route from the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Cebu, alongside 3,118 ready-to-eat food packs and 10,047 non-food items ready for immediate deployment.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has also mapped 3,227 barangays in 101 towns and cities as highly susceptible to floods and rain-induced landslides-raising the possibility of widespread evacuations once the rains intensify.

Forecast

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned that Tino could bring heavy to torrential rains, violent winds, and storm surges, potentially prompting the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 across Western Visayas. Gale warnings are also expected for coastal waters.

Fernandez stressed that early coordination and pre-emptive evacuation are critical, particularly for coastal and low-lying communities.

‘Early action saves lives. We cannot afford complacency,’ he said.

The RDRRMC has outlined two possible scenarios: Tino makes landfall as a strong typhoon directly traversing Panay Island; or Tino intensifies into a super typhoon, cutting across either the northern or southern corridors of the island.

As of Sunday, all regional disaster response clusters have been placed on full activation, with local governments ordered to prepare evacuation centers, secure logistics, and issue early warnings. With the painful memories of Yolanda in 2013 and Odette in 2021 still fresh, Western Visayas braces once more-this time determined that readiness and swift response will keep tragedy from striking twice.

As October ends and the first cool whispers of ‘amihan’ drift across the fields of Panay, kitchens in Western Visayas begin to stir with a familiar rhythm.

The mortar and pestle echo against wooden tables; the scent of coconut milk, banana leaves and newly harvested rice fills the air. Long before the candles are lit in the cemeteries, the living are already cooking for the dead.

For many Ilonggos, Tagkaralag-All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days-is not only a time for cemetery visits or novena prayers. It is a ritual of food and memory, a time when the boundary between the living and the departed softens like rice simmering in coconut creamFood as offering

In many barangays across Iloilo, the faithful still practice what elders call ‘ginkalag’-the act of offering or ‘stealing’ food for the souls. Rejie Palmos, a professor from the West Visayas State University, recalls how neighbors once allowed others to pick fruit or harvest produce for communal cooking. ‘They would let you take bananas or cabugao (pomelo) from their yards,’ he says. ‘The food was believed to be ‘taken by souls,’ but really, it was shared by the living. People would cook it together, eat it together. Tagkaralag was the time for generosity.’ In the barrios of Miagao, he adds, residents will usually eat by the sidewalks or barangay plazas before Nov. 1. The other practice is ‘panguyang’ where cooked food is placed on a small altar with a candle and water. ‘It’s our way of feeding the souls when they visit,’ says Palmos. ‘We cook from our harvest, offer a portion to them first, before anyone eats.’

In Guimbal, residents join each other in gathering bananas and chicken for what they believe are offerings to the spirits. ‘Kuno abi ginkawat sang kalag-but actually, buhi ang nagkuha (We pretend these were stolen by the spirits, but actually it was the living who got them,’ is the explanation. ‘It was really just sharing.’

That connection between the soil and the soul, between harvest and remembrance, traces its roots to pre-Hispanic Visayan rituals of thanksgiving to the anito and umalagad-the guardian spirits of the land and family. Centuries later, that reverence has survived, now dressed in Christian prayers and flickering candles. The harvest and the hearth

‘We cook the first fruits or harvest rice,’ shares Ruth Anotado Lebes of Guimaras, who is now based in Canada. ‘We make them into ibos or pilipig, the traditional rice snacks that, in the old days, we still pounded by hand in a mortar (lusong). We visit the cemetery, and on our way home, we stop by our relatives’ houses to reconnect and eat Ilonggo kakanin, our native rice delicacies. Most likely during Nov. 1, Ilonggo kakanin is served or shared with neighbors. The smell of rice or pilit (glutinous rice) fills the air because we use the new harvest.’

She recalls the scent that defined her childhood. ‘I can always associate Nov. 1 with the smell of freshly harvested rice being cooked or pan-fried. Then we make baye-baye (sweet toasted rice and coconut delicacy), pilipig (pounded glutinous rice), ibos (sticky rice wrapped in palm leaves), suman (sweet glutinous rice roll steamed in banana leaves), and kalamay hati (coconut jam made from sugar and coconut milk). All of them are home-cooked.’ Welcome home

As dusk falls on Nov. 1, homes across Western Visayas glow softly with candlelight. ‘By 6 p.m., we make sure we’re home from Mass,’ says student Margarette Rose Fernandez. ‘We light candles at every door because our elders believe it welcomes the souls. And we can’t close the doors until the candles are done.’

Content creator Andrea Ortega Guanco remembers the same scene from her childhood: ‘We light candles by the door and keep it open until evening, to guide the souls of loved ones back home. There’s also food offered, sometimes their favorite dishes and a nine-day novena for the dead.’

In some towns like Zarraga, the ritual begins even earlier. ‘We pray for the souls every night from Oct. 24 until Nov. 1,’ shared high school teacher Jenifer Rivera. ‘That’s how my family has done it since I was in first grade.’ The feast of the living

Beyond the household altars, ‘Undas’ is also a time of sharing. In Capiz, Antique and Iloilo, children once went door to door chanting or praying for the souls-a practice called ‘pangalagkalag.’

‘We’d go from house to house asking for suman or inday-inday,’ says Luvenia Cardiel. ‘Then we’d gather the leftover candle wax and mold it into a ball to make floor wax!’ she adds with a laugh.

Eric Gasataya, from Guimbal, calls it ‘mangalag-ngalag’: ‘We share galu-galu pilit-sticky rice sweets-with our neighbors, then hold novenas. It’s like our version of a neighborhood feast for the souls.’ High school teacher Roldan Cablas remembers how his village turned Nov. 1 into a kind of moving meal. ‘At night, we’d go house to house and eat what each family cooked-suman (sticky rice cake wrapped in banana leaves), kalamay hati (thick coconut caramel/jam), muasi (sweet glutinous rice balls rolled in grated coconut and sugar) and alupi (steamed cassava cake wrapped in banana leaves).’

‘We’d carry a burning coconut leaf to light the way. Aside from eating, may take-home pa,’ he adds. Faith, rituals

Even as some of these practices fade, traces of them remain in the rhythm of Undas. The prayers, the food, the light-they still bind families to both memory and meaning.

In an age of store-bought candles and preordered flowers, there is something quietly enduring about the Ilonggo kitchen on the eve of All Souls’ Day-the rice steaming in the pot, the soft crackle of banana leaves, the hands folding offerings meant for those unseen. In the end, Undas in Western Visayas is not merely about mourning. It is about feeding the soul-ila kag aton man (theirs and ours).

Gather ’round, readers, for a glorious moment has arrived in the world of horror cinema! Paramount Pictures has finally, and I do mean finally, unleashed the official movie trailer for the highly anticipated ‘Scream 7’, and it is a love letter to the long-running franchise’s rich, sometimes complicated, but always bloody history. Let’s just get the main highlight out of the way: Neve Campbell is back as ‘Sidney Prescott’! Yes, you read that correctly. After her notable absence in ‘Scream VI’, the original ‘final girl’ makes her grand return to Woodsboro, or wherever the new Ghostface decides to wreak havoc, and the official movie trailer is all the better for it.

Honestly, let’s all get real here and wake up to the reality that a Scream movie is not going to be complete without the involvement of Neve Campbell as ‘Sidney Prescott’ because she is the anchor of the franchise after all, whether previous directors realized it or not. At least now, the wrongs are being corrected, and the longtime fans will benefit most from this with her return. Not surprisingly, the teaser dropped on Thursday, October 30, just in time for the Halloween season (kudos to the marketing team for that bit of seasonal synergy), and has instantly become the talk of the town, albeit with some online discourse surrounding prior casting controversies. It was perfect timing.

But purely from a cinematic point of view, this trailer serves up some serious impactful chills and a massive dose of familiarity for longtime fans, but, beyond those two strengths, what I saw was a really great story to be told, because to me, the premise reminded me of a mix of ‘Halloween (2018)’, ‘Panic Room’ and a few other horror-thriller-suspense, movies of the last thirty years. You can tell that this is going to be contrastingly different in the best possible way without going off the rails like some of the Scream entries that strayed too far in some aspects because based on those aforementioned movie influences alone the official movie trailer for ‘Scream 7’ in creative direction that are going to give this a brand new feel to it in this upcoming film from the Scream franchise.

A deep dive into slasher mayhem

The official movie trailer wastes no time in establishing the stakes. ‘Sidney Prescott’ has built a new, quiet life with her family, but her past inevitably comes back to haunt her when a new Ghostface killer emerges (ala ‘Halloween (2018)’), targeting her daughter (played by Isabel May). ‘I’m gonna burn it all down,’ a chilling voiceover proclaims in the trailer, setting a dark tone for the seventh installment. Hearing that altered voice gave me a bit of goosebumps that I never felt in any of the recent 2 Scream entries, because this one had that ‘bite’ behind it and reminded me so much of the first Ghostface and not the copycat ones or inspired killers to follow in his footsteps.

I also want to mention that this upcoming film has a strong meta-feel to it, I would not go as far as saying ‘breaking the fourth wall’, but it is definitely self-aware to a degree of everything and that was bound to happen given that all the Scream movies for the better part has followed only one timeline which is a relief because it prevents the franchise from becoming convoluted.

From those observations of mine, there is another return to form and authenticity, this time one that happened behind the scenes. What makes this entry particularly interesting is that original Scream creator and writer Kevin Williamson is in the director’s chair for the very first time, following the passing of the legendary Wes Craven. Kevin Williamson, who penned the original movie, ‘Scream 2’, and ‘Scream 4’, knows this franchise inside and out, and it shows. The trailer has a classic feel to it, focusing on the suspense, mystery, and psychological terror that made the original films so iconic, memorable, and enduring all these decades later.

While watching the official movie trailer, I was trying to put my finger on it as to why this exactly feels so ‘classic Scream’; there are no specific words or the perfect choice of vocabulary to explain why. But it just feels right, and to have that immediate, almost instinctive feeling indicates to me that everything will go well for ‘Scream 7’ because once you feel that specialness in the trailer, then that is already a virtual guarantee that this will do extremely well with the fanbase and general moviegoers of every age that can watch this legally in cinemas.

Realistically, do any of you believe even for a second that the last ‘Scream’ movie was really the last? Absolutely not. There is still a demand to watch these movies for many reasons, and it goes beyond the usual horror fanbase that has been established but has spilled over to more general moviegoers who are either curious to know what the fuss is all about or want to watch a brand-new entry as soon as it comes out. The thing is, a lot is going on for the Scream movies to still be watched because the fanbase is still there.

The return of beloved familiar faces

But the nostalgia doesn’t stop with Neve Campbell. Brace yourselves: Matthew Lillard, David Arquette, and Courteney Cox are also reprising their roles! That’s right, the original gang is back together. Lillard’s return as ‘Stu Macher’ is shocking, considering his supposed demise in the first film, a detail the internet has been buzzing about since his initial hints earlier this year that he was coming back in some form or another. But the thing with all these horror franchises? No one stays dead forever, and there will always be a way to bring back long-gone onscreen characters.

We also see the return of newer veterans like Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, who join a star-studded cast including Isabel May, Joel McHale, and Anna Camp. I am glad that they opted for these stars and faces, because they were the ones that stuck out among the newer crop of onscreen characters added to the franchise, and they would be compatible on an on-screen basis with the original returning cast members reprising their onscreen roles for this one.

But this isn’t just about the return of the most important onscreen characters; there are subtle nods to the killed-off ones from the original movie, and eagle-eyed fans have also spotted a heartfelt nod to the late, great ‘Tatum Riley’ (originally played by Rose McGowan), as the trailer reveals, Sidney Prescott’s daughter is named Tatum. It’s these little details that remind us why this franchise has such a dedicated fanbase, because the memories of longtime fans go all the way back to the original film, and their attention to detail is something that has always been rewarded. I know I have said this in my previous entertainment article regarding moviegoers, but they are all analytical to a degree, and almost all of them are ultra-attentive to detail. Hey, what a fantastic time, I say to be a moviegoer. Almost all of them think like me. Final thoughts

The ‘Scream 7’ official movie trailer is everything fans could want: scary, nostalgic, and full of potential greatness from the get-go. Despite the behind-the-scenes drama that led to a major creative overhaul, to me, it was a blessing in disguise because it brought back the integral pieces that started with and were built upon, such as Neve Campbell returning as ‘Sidney Prescott’ and others following suit, which effectively pivots the focus back to the core foundation of the franchise.

I mean, c’mon, they were the reason, and when I say ‘they,’ I am talking about Neve Campbell and the rest of her co-stars from the original film that made Scream an immediate, credible, believable, and most importantly for any movie studio, bankable film to make because you had immense star power in all of them.

The truth is, and I can say this with utmost confidence in it, that ‘Scream’, the original film, which I got to watch at my cousin’s house when I was maybe a bit too young at the time, was the reason why terms like ‘Smart Horror’ and ‘Modern Psychological Horror’ started. It all came from and originated in that once viewed experimental film from 1996 that was super successful at the box office, that not only revived a genre that was on its dying legs and had gone past its popularity in cinemas, but it brought new life to the entire movie genre by developing a working formula for horror and creating an antagonist that was not paranormal or supernatural in nature. Imagine an evil human being holding a knife, disguised in a Halloween-esque costume, who had a habit of calling his victims was all it took. The approach was very different at the time. I would even say it was revolutionary.

Yet, despite not being paranormal or supernatural, Ghostface manages to be a legitimate threat to the onscreen characters, who were all his prey, but more so, it was a convincing evil force for moviegoers to be scared of. ‘Scream’ proved that you don’t need monsters or boogeymen or things that creep in the night to give people a frightful, suspenseful, and scary good time in the cinema; you just need a believable threat that kills and is also hard to kill.

And to have most of them return is something that will put the trajectory of the Scream franchise into overdrive because, believe me, you, the faithful fanbase, don’t care at this point that all of them are middle-aged; what the moviegoers see are them being the onscreen characters and nothing more. There is a sense of acceptance on the part of the fanbase that they have grown old with these beloved onscreen characters. So, naturally, they see no problem with them being older because, to a large degree, the fictional people they have been portraying are timeless. Personally, I don’t mind seeing Neve Campbell again reprise her most famous role, because in my eyes, she is still as awesome as she once was all those decades ago. I am convinced from the official movie trailer that this is the Neve Campbell that the franchise needed to come back already.

AC Bonifacio has been confirmed to join the cast of the upcoming film ‘Perfect Girl,’ which also stars ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ stars Arden Cho and May Hong, as well as Nancy McDonie of Momoland.

Bonifacio’s casting was confirmed in a Deadline report on Oct. 31, with the film confirmed to be a ‘Scream meets Black Swan’ kind of thriller.

Also part of the cast are K-pop idols Siyoon (Billlie) and Chaerin (Cherry Bullet), as well as solo artist Jeon Somi, Peter Lee Jae Yoon, Samantha Cochran, Ally, Adeline Rudolph, and John Kim.

The film revolves around a K-pop ‘super group’ preparing for their debut when they encounter a mysterious new girl.

‘With only four spots available in the band and the final cut a week away, the competition is off the charts. When a talented and mysterious new girl is introduced at the last minute, things start to get strange – girls are being hunted and attacked one by one, but who is responsible for the carnage, and more importantly. who will make the final cut?’ the report said.

It will feature six original songs from Korean music label The Black Label, home of Jeon. It was also the agency who co-produced the soundtrack of ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’

‘Perfect Girl’ is directed by Hong Won-ki, although its release date has yet to be announced.

Bonifacio is best known for her eye-catching performances on the ‘ASAP’ dance floor, various shows, and her social media platforms. She started her entertainment career as the winner of ‘Dance Kids’ with co-duo Lucky Ancheta in 2016.

She also appeared in an episode of ‘Riverdale’ in 2021, and is part of the cast of ‘Roja,’ ‘High Street,’ ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll Extreme,’ and ‘Lolong.’ She was also a housemate of ‘Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition.’

Several local government units (LGUs) across the country suspended classes on Monday, Nov. 3, in preparation for the effects of Tropical Storm Tino (international name: Kalmaegi).

Tino was last spotted 955 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, moving westward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph) at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Currently, Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands are already at Signal No. 1Below is the list of areas that have declared suspension of classes on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Eastern Visayas

Samar – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Southern Leyte

Silago – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Leyte

Carigara – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Northern Samar

San Isidro – all levels (public and private)

Central Visayas

Cebu province

Alcantara – all levels (public and private)

Alegria – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Aloguinsan – all levels (public and private)

Argao – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Asturias – all levels (public and private)

Carcar City – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Bohol – all levels (public and private)

Lapu-Lapu City – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Western Visayas

Aklan

Balete – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Ibajay – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Kalibo – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Malay – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

New Washington – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Antique

Caluya – face-to-face classes only, preschool to senior high school (public and private) until Nov. 4

Libertad – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Pandan – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Patnongon – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

San Jose de Buenavista – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Sibalom – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Capiz

Maayon – preschool to senior high school (public and private) until Nov. 4

Panitan – all levels (public and private)

Pontevedra – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Roxas City – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Iloilo province

Batad – all levels (public and private)

Carles – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Estancia – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Oton – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Pavia – all levels (public and private)

Sara – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Iloilo City – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Negros Island Region

Negros Occidental

Bago City – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Don Salvador Benedicto – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

La Carlota City – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Manapla – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Moises Padilla – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Pulupandan – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Sagay City – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Toboso – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

Bacolod City – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 4

The provincial governments of Samar and Eastern Samar have suspended classes at all levels and work in all government offices from November 3 to 4, as Tropical Storm Tino threatens to bring heavy rains and strong winds over Eastern Visayas.

In Executive Order No. 21-2025 issued on Sunday, November 2, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan ordered the suspension of classes in both public and private schools, as well as work in all government offices, except for personnel involved in peacekeeping, disaster response, health, sanitation, and traffic operations.

Also on Sunday, Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone issued an executive order suspending classes and government work on the same dates to ensure public safety amid possible flooding, landslides, and other weather-related hazards.

Both governors released their directives following advisories from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), which placed parts of Eastern Visayas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 on November 2. As of 10 a.m. Sunday, Pagasa said Tino was located 955 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 105 kph.

The storm is moving westward and may make landfall over Eastern Samar or the Dinagat Islands late Monday or early Tuesday (November 3-4). Pagasa also warned that Tino could intensify into a typhoon within 24 hours.

Earlier, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Eastern Visayas strongly advised the deferment of all non-essential travel to and from the region starting November 2 until weather conditions improve.

The advisory was issued to prevent disruptions in transport, sea travel, and logistics due to expected strong winds, rough seas, and heavy rainfall.

Several local government units and state universities across Eastern Visayas have likewise announced the suspension of classes and work due to Tino. /mcm

Alas Pilipinas under-16 girls team pushed defending champion Japan to its limits before absorbing a 17-25, 25-21, 16-25, 20-25 loss in the 2nd AVC Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship on Saturday at Princess Sumaya Hall here.

After getting dominated by Japan in the first set, Alas girls, composed of high school players from different provinces, never wavered and bounced back in the second frame, powered by Xyz Rayco and Nadeth Herbon. Merish Beltran also had her moment, helping Alas mount a 19-14 lead in the second set before Rayco and Jhenica Sadia put on the finishing touches to equalize the match. Japan caught fire in the third and dominated Alas to regain the lead, but the national youth team, inspired by the OFWs in Jordan watching and cheering for them, never gave up and even held a 12-9 advantage in the fourth off Madele Gale’s ace.

However, the trio of Ren Sugimoto, Miko Takahashi, and Rina Hayasaka restored the order for Japan.

After Sadia’s quick attack pulled the Philippines within one, 21-20, Japan responded with four consecutive points, capped by back-to-back kills from Hayasaka to seal their first Pool B win.

‘I’m really happy with the kids’ performance. Considering we only had two weeks to prepare, they still did well. Unfortunately, some of them started to feel the effects of overtraining, so a few were hurting and a bit worn out,’ said Alas coach Edwin Leyva. ‘But overall, the team’s performance was impressive, and it turned out even better than we expected.’

‘The team jelled quickly. It wasn’t like what we feared at first, that they might struggle to connect since they came from different places. Our main issue before was communication because of the different dialects, but they managed it well. They played great, and I’m very happy with how they performed,’ he added. Rayco and Herbon led Alas with nine points each. Gale and Beltran had six points apiece, while Sadia had three.

Alas seeks to bounce back in a must-win game against Iran on Sunday, 11 p.m. (Manila time) to make it to the quarterfinal. ‘We’ll apply everything we learned in Japan in our next game because we know it’s still going to be a tough fight. We’ll keep giving our all and keep fighting until the end,’ Rayco said.

Sugimoto and Takahashi powered Japan with 16 points each. Hayasaka had 13 points. Kana Mizuno and Nozaki also stepped up with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Japan goes for a group sweep against Iran on Monday.