Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Celebrities including Eric Quizon, Dina Bonnevie and Marjorie Barretto took time off their busy schedules to visit the graves of their departed loved ones as the Philippines marked Undas, which spans three days – Oct. 31 during the Halloween, All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2).

Quizon gave a glimpse of his visit to the grave of his late dad, Comedy King Dolphy, on Friday, Oct. 31, at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.

‘I decided to come earlier before it gets busy at the Heritage Park. I said a little prayer for my Dad in commemoration of All Souls’ Day. I was surprised to see a wreath of flowers from the city of Manila! Thank you, Manila!’ Quizon captioned his post.

Bonnevie, on the other hand, traveled all the way to Ilocos to visit her husband Deogracias Victor ‘DV’ Savellano’s resting place.

‘I made the trip just with my sister and friend by my side. I miss him so much. I miss his voice, his singing, his embrace, his love!’ wrote the actress.

Bonnevie reflected on her grief and expressed her hope that ‘God will help her understand why things had to happen this way.’

‘This time, my mother-in-law is also gone. I did not stay in our house but stayed in a hotel and felt their absence deeply. I can’t bear staying in our room; it still hurts too much,’ she expressed.

‘Life truly changes after losing loved ones. Yet, even through sadness and crying so much, I find comfort in cherishing the happiest times we shared and the love that will always remain in my heart. I used to call him my king, my love, my life, and he used to call me his queen,’ continued the seasoned actress.

Barretto, meanwhile, marked the 40 days since the death of her older brother Mito, who died last Sept. 23.

‘They say the soul’s journey ends today. You are free now, surrounded by light and peace, watching over us with the same quiet strength you always had. There is not a moment in the past 40 days that I do not think of you. I feel your loss more and more every day. I miss you so much. We all do. You would have been happy to see us celebrate you today. We love you always and forever,’ she captioned the post.

On the other hand, Matet de Leon, who had already visited the grave of her mother, Nora Aunor, asked fans to visit the late Superstar and offer her a little prayer.

‘I decided to bring some of her favorites when Mickey and I visited her the other day,’ she wrote on Facebook. ‘Sana po, madalaw ninyo siya. Mapag-sindihan ng candle and offer a little prayer for mom.’

Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe shared on social media that the resting place of her parents, Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces, has a corresponding QR code at the entrance for the visitors who would like to watch the tribute video dedicated to the late actors.

‘Sa mga bibisita sa Manila North Cemetery ngayong Undas at mapapadaan sa himlayan ni FPJ at Susan Roces, wag sana ninyong palampasin ang pagkakataong mapanood ang inihandang tribute video na puno ng mga classic scenes mula sa kanilang mga pelikula. Makikita ang mga poster sa entrance ng musoleo; kailangan niyo lamang i-scan ang QR code gamit ang camera ng inyong cellphone para mapanood ang mga obra ng Hari at Reyna ng Pelikulang Pilipino!’ read the caption.

Natural disasters from June to October this year have left more than 10,700 schools damaged and disrupted classes for over 1.1 million learners across the country, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

The total estimated losses to school properties reached P29.5 billion, following the combined effects of earthquakes, typhoons and other calamities that hit 18 regions, 78 provinces and 809 cities and municipalities from June 16 to Oct. 22, the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) said in a report.

At least 7,920 schools sustained structural damage, with Region 7 (Central Visayas) reporting the highest number of affected schools at 1,709, followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region (1,307) and Region 11 or Davao region (1,011).

The report noted 31,622 classrooms with minor damage, 8,905 with major damage and 9,405 totally destroyed classrooms. The estimated reconstruction cost was pegged at P60,000 for minor, P600,000 for major, and P1.4 million for totally damaged classrooms.

Earthquakes, which struck Cebu and Davao areas with devastating effects between late September and early October, accounted for 58.8 percent of the disasters reported, while hydrometeorological events such as floods, landslides and typhoons made up 40.9 percent. Fire incidents constituted 0.3 percent.

In total, 2,520 water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and 314,863 learning materials were damaged, along with 12,442 pieces of school equipment, the report said.

Impact

The DRRMS said 1,148,847 learners and 69,827 teachers and staff were affected by the disasters. Of these, 2,908 learners and 376 personnel were reported injured.

As classes were suspended in nearly 90 percent of affected schools, DepEd shifted to alternative learning delivery modes.

About 10,448 schools used modular distance learning, 4,319 implemented blended learning, 522 adopted flexible learning options and 414 continued via online distance learning.

Despite widespread disruptions, 10.5 percent of schools managed to continue onsite classes without suspension.

DepEd said it continues to coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways, local government units and other agencies to fast-track school repairs and build disaster-resilient facilities.

The DRRMS emphasized that the frequency and intensity of disasters underscore the need for sustained investment in climate adaptation, early warning systems and infrastructure retrofitting to ensure that learning continues despite crises.

The area at the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape polluted by the wastewater spill caused by a breached lagoon of a distillery company has increased to about 3,000 hectares, from the initial estimated 400-hectare affected site, the Environment Management Bureau-Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR) reported.

This developed as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas (BFAR-7) has advised against collecting and consuming dead fish and other aquatic organisms from the affected coastal waters off Bais City and Manjuyod town in Negros Oriental.

Vicente Losbañes, EMB-NIR acting director, said that a boat survey conducted on Thursday of the strait’s discolored waters determined the increase in the affected area.

The death of fish and other marine life has occurred mostly close to the shorelines of Bais City and Manjuyod, he said.

The livelihoods of residents in 17 barangays in Bais and Manjuyod have been affected, he added.

A collapsed wall of the 20-hectare waste water lagoon of the Universal Robina Corp. Bais Distillery, which produces ethanol from molasses, on Sunday triggered the massive spill into the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS).

The company, in a statement, said the collapse was due to earthquake-induced cracks exacerbated by heavy rains on Sunday. It assured it would double down on containing the spill. Economic impact

The Negros Oriental Provincial Board, on Friday, convened an emergency hearing to determine how to contain the spill.

Glynda Descuatan, vice chair of the Negros Oriental Tourism Council, expressed deep concern over the environmental and economic damage, noting its particular effect on tourism, with numerous dolphin-watching and White Sandbar tours along Tañon Strait cancelled.

Gov. Manuel ‘Chaco’ Sagarbarria assured the provincial government would provide assistance to affected families and committed the province’s full support in rehabilitation efforts , said a post on the Negros Oriental Facebook page.

His administration committed to ensuring accountability and swift action from all involved parties to restore both community welfare and environmental integrity, the statement added.

Health precaution

The advisory against consumption of fish gathered from the affected area is a health precaution, as the dead aquatic life may contain harmful pathogens, chemicals, and pollutants that pose risks to human health, said BFAR Central Visayas Regional Director Mario Ruinata.

‘(Amid) concerns about possible health risks from eating contaminated seafood, the public is advised to refrain from fishing, collecting, and gathering aquatic organisms, such as but not limited to finfish, crustaceans, and seaweeds, in the affected areas,’ said Ruinata.

He also noted that concerned authorities are actively working to resolve the issue.

Bais City officials, led by Mayor Luigi Marcel T. Goñi, has asked URC in a meeting on Wednesday to collect the dead fish and other aquaculture affected in the North Bais Bay.

The ten Bais coastal barangays affected by the spill were Tamisu, Katacgahan, Biñohon, San Isidro, Tangculogan, Talungon, Olympia, Okiot, Capiñahan, and Looc. URC has since undertaken rehabilitation of the affected lagoon and has committed to provide financial assistance to the affected fisherfolk from both Bais City and Manjuyod, the city government Bais said in a Facebook post.

In a statement released on Tuesday, URC Bais Distillery said that multi-sectoral efforts were under way to contain the wastewater spillage from a breach in their lagoon wall that was caused by ‘earthquake-induced cracks, exacerbated by unexpected continuous heavy rains the past few days’.

URC also said they were closely collaborating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for immediate containment, proper cleanup, and full compliance with environmental standards.

The ashes of Emman Atienza – Kim Atienza and his wife Felicia’s daughter who passed away in the United States – are finally home with her family in the Philippines.

Felicia showed the social media personality’s urn placed on a table at their home, surrounded with flowers, a wooden cross and a portrait of her from when she was a kid.

‘Heaven has gained a beautiful angel,’ Felicia wrote on her Instagram page on Saturday, Nov. 1. ‘My precious Emman is wrapped in His eternal love where there is no more sorrow.’

Addressing her late daughter, she continued, ‘Emman, your laughter and spirit will echo loudly in Heaven. One day, we will be together again, my love, my mini-me.’

Felicia also included in her post the details of Emman’s wake on Nov. 3 to 4 in Taguig.

Emman, who was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder, passed away at their family home in Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 22. She was known for her content about lifestyle, mental health awareness, and social issues.

Her sudden death came weeks after she opened up about her struggles with anxiety and online hate.

A low-pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) became a tropical depression early Saturday morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The tropical depression was last spotted 1,430 kilometers (km) east of northeastern Mindanao, Pagasa specialist Grace Castañeda said in the agency’s morning weather forecast.

The cyclone is packing maximum wind speeds of up to 45 km per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 55 kph while moving westward at 15 kph.

Castañeda said the tropical depression does not have an effect yet on the country.

Once the cyclone enters the PAR, it will be given the local name Tino.

‘The possible landfall is over Eastern Visayas or Caraga area by Tuesday morning. But, if the tropical cyclone moves faster, it may make landfall over these areas by Monday evening,’ Castañeda explained.

‘In terms of intensity, this tropical cyclone will intensify while it is moving over the Philippine Sea and it is possible it will intensify into the typhoon category before it makes landfall,’ she added.

Pagasa may raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over Eastern Visayas and Caraga by Sunday as the tropical depression approaches the country, according to Castañeda.

Further, the cyclone may already bring rains over the country by Sunday night or Monday morning over Eastern Visayas and Mindanao.

‘The uncertainty is still rather high over the track and other scenarios of this tropical cyclone,’ Castañeda noted.

‘We need to consider the cone of confidence in which in the next few days or hours, the track may go further north or south,’ she added.

Capital1 swept Cignal on Friday, with a gutsy 25-23, 25-23, 25-21 win, giving top rookie pick Bella Belen the opportunity to say that there’s a lot of potential in the young Solar Spikers squad that stayed in the top-three conversation in Pool A play of the PVL Reinforced Conference at FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City.

‘This is a really good sign that our team is starting to gel and that we’re getting more comfortable with our system,’ said Belen, a three-time UAAP MVP and four-time champion with National University, in Filipino after tallying 11 points and 14 digs in helping Capital1 snap Cignal’s two-game winning streak.

After losing two of their first three games, Belen now believes that the Solar Spikers are slowly getting the right mix of young players and local veterans as well as Ukrainian Sasha Bytsenko, who had 23 points, working as one unit.

‘We really practice that kind of situation-when the game is close and we have to catch up,’ she said. ‘Earlier, we told ourselves that as long as Cignal hasn’t reached 25 yet, we still have a chance to win the set.

‘We just held on, focused on doing our responsibilities as players and we managed to catch up.’

Asked about her progress in her first four games as a pro, the 23-year-old outside spiker remained determined to showcase her all-around talent to help Capital1 reach greater heights.

‘Ever since I started playing, I’ve really focused on defense since I’m not that tall (to be a dominant offensive player),’ she said. ‘It’s easier for me to read the opponents, especially when they’re attacking.

‘I think that’s one of my advantages. I can help guide our defense at the back because, as sweepers, we cover a lot of the court,’ Belen went on. ‘I’m really happy because every time we manage to dig the ball, it’s not just me, it’s a team effort.’

With a 2-2 record, Capital1 can close the first round with a top-three finish when they battle Choco Mucho on Nov. 4 at the Mall of Asia Arena-the replay of the opener after they clashed and lost last Oct. 7 without imports due to the International Transfer Certificates dispute.

‘There’s still another game coming up, so I’m very excited to see what else we can improve on and bring into the next match,’ Belen said.

Capital1 coach Jorge Souza de Brito told his team to make the most of their second chance against Choco Mucho.

‘This is already a new match, it’s a new game, a new opportunity for us,’ he said.

Cignal finished Pool A with a 2-3 record, facing ZUS Coffee, Creamline and either Akari or Petro Gazz in another round robin.

Katrin Trebichavska carried the Super Spikers with 22 points. Erika Santos was limited to nine points, as Rose Doria Aquino added eight. Vanie Gandler saw limited action in her return with two points.

Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado on Friday has ordered an immediate investigation into a new case of coral vandalism discovered off Panglao Island, one of the province’s prime diving destinations.

On Friday morning, a diver found a table coral etched with the words ‘Just Dive’ in the reef off Napaling Point in Barangay Tangnan, a popular dive site in Panglao.

The diver immediately reported their discovery, along with videos and photos of the defaced coral, to a staff of the governor who in turn alerted Aumentado about the incident.

Disheartening

Aumentado condemned the act as ‘deeply distressing,’ saying it not only damages the marine ecosystem but also undermines the province’s tourism industry.

‘It’s disheartening that some people seem to take pleasure in destroying our natural resources or sabotaging our tourism,’ Aumentado said in a statement.

The governor directed the Panglao municipal government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the province, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the Bohol Environment Management Office to conduct a thorough investigation to identify and penalize those responsible.

Aumentado said the provincial government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Bohol’s marine resources and preserving the island’s natural beauty, which continues to draw both local and international tourists.

This was not the first time Panglao’s reefs have suffered from human-inflicted damage. In 2024, authorities discovered corals with graffiti at the Estaca snorkeling area near Virgin Island, prompting the site’s closure after confirmation of vandalism.

In January this year, reef rangers also reported damage at the Napaling dive site caused by irresponsible divers who stepped on live corals

When Gilas Pilipinas coach Norman Black was asked why he chose Mike Phillips to be included in the Philippine men’s national basketball pool for the Southeast Asian Games, he kept his explanation short and simple.

‘I wanted guys who could possibly be elevated to the men’s team in the future,’ Black, a multi-titled tactician in the collegiate and pro ranks who knows talent when he sees one, said.

And when Phillips heard Black’s sentiments, he came close to choking up.

‘That’s something. I’m kind of speechless, actually, to be honest,’ the La Salle big man recently said.

‘I don’t know what to say because it’s really a dream of mine as well as my relatives’,’ he went on. ‘I’m just trying to take things one step at a time. I don’t want to get too ahead of myself.’

When the budding big man heard Black’s sentiments, he almost lost his train of thought, almost getting a boost of energy after spending a lot of it in posting 14 points and 12 rebounds in the Green Archers’ 84-72 win over the University of the East in the second round of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.

At one point after the buzzer, Phillips looked gassed up after pushing La Salle into a second-place tie of a muddled up Final Four race with a 6-3 record.

Yet, when the topic of Gilas came around, the young bruiser suddenly wore a smile that spanned from ear to ear.

Playing for the Philippines in the SEA Games isn’t a foreign idea to Phillips, by all means. He had helped Gilas win gold in the 2023 edition in Cambodia, where they faced a souped-up home squad for the gold.

The idea of being a full-fledged member of the National Team, though, is something that Phillips fancies.

Phillips and, unsurprisingly, his relatives on his Filipino side.

So once the December SEA Games roll on, the 6-foot-8 center wants to do nothing but prove Black right and show why he, too, can be a member of coach Tim Cone’s Gilas crew.

‘I need to prove myself even if I was already part of the SEA Games in 2023,’ the UAAP season 88 MVP frontrunner said. ‘I still need to prove myself (and) I’m blessed to be in that conversation. I want to prove him right.’

And in usual Mike Phillips fashion, he hopes to achieve just that with the grace of God.

‘If it’s God’s will, I really hope to be part of Gilas.’

Some of the Philippines’ key farm commodities face headwinds after certain Southeast Asian nations secured favorable trade concessions from the United States, according to an industry group.

Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. president Danilo Fausto said the government must exercise caution in handling trade matters with the US government, noting that certain prime commodities ‘might be in danger.’

According to separate briefers released by the White House, the US will maintain the 19-percent tariff on exports from Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia, as announced earlier.

However, America will adopt zero tariffs on certain products from these Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) members.

These agreements aim to provide ‘exporters unprecedented access to each other’s markets,’ the White House said.

One of the major provisions of these deals is the commitment of Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia to addressing and preventing non-tariff barriers to US agricultural and food products in their markets.

Prime commodities

‘We have to tread carefully on how we deal with this because it will affect our local prime commodities. It will affect our inflation, our consumers and productivity,’ Fausto said in a recent interview.

‘At a first glance, you can see that we’re at a disadvantage-why are we excluded? They (US) are using our land for EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement), which they need for the protection of the Pacific area? Why aren’t we part of it?’ he told reporters.

Fausto also warned that such US trade policies could undermine the local farm sector, including protected commodities such as rice, sugar, pork and chicken.

‘You have to follow what the US is doing with other countries. The same terms and conditions should be implemented by these three countries to qualify for a zero tariff in the US, which will be detrimental to the industry, especially the protected commodities that we have,’ Fausto said.

‘We do not like that. It will kill our local [industry], especially the protected [commodities],’ he added.

Exports

As of this writing, the Philippines is slapped with a 19-percent tariff on goods bound for the US market. However, certain export items are excluded from reciprocal tariffs, such as desiccated coconuts, coconut meat and coconut oil.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. previously said government negotiators were pushing for tariff exemptions on some Philippine products that are produced, planted, manufactured or processed in the United States.

The Lingayen Airport in Pangasinan is closed until Sunday afternoon, November 2, to make way for visitors going to a nearby cemetery, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.

‘The airport is located adjacent to the Lingayen Public Cemetery and has long served as a shortcut for cemetery visitors heading to the graves of their loved ones,’ CAAP explained in an advisory on Saturday morning.

‘With thousands expected to flock to the area, airport operations during Undas pose safety and security concerns for both the public and flight operations,’ it added.

The temporary closure came through a notice to airmen (NOTAM) in effect from 7 a.m. on Friday, October 31. It will remain in effect until 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 2.

The NOTAM covers the Lingayen Airport’s flight operations, as well as the operations of the three flight schools there.