Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

EXO will resume their group activities with a fan meeting in South Korea in December and an album; however, Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin won’t be participating in the fan meet.

The K-pop boy group’s fan meeting has been confirmed by their label, SM Entertainment, and is set to take place at the Inspire Arena on December 13 and 14. It was also hinted that a new song will be performed.

The fan meeting will only feature members Suho, Lay, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun. This is notably the first time Lay will be present in group activities in four years since EXO’s 2021 album ‘Don’t Fight the Feeling.’

At the same time, it’s unknown if Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin will be present in their upcoming eighth album, which is scheduled for a 2026 release. The announcement comes two years after Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin – who are currently part of INB100 Entertainment – went public with concerns about contract terms and transparency on profit distribution. Last September, the trio and SM failed to reach a settlement in their first court-led mediation.

EXO debuted as a 12-member unit in April 2012 with two units, EXO-K and EXO-M. Kris, Luhan, and Tao eventually left the group in 2014 and 2015. Meanwhile, Lay – while he’s still part of the group – focused on his solo activities in China for the time being.

The eighth album marks three years after their 2023 record, ‘Exist,’ which includes the title track ‘Cream Soda.’

Known for their vocal prowess, EXO is one of the biggest groups of K-pop’s Third Generation. Some of their hit songs include ‘The First Snow,’ ‘Growl,’ ‘Wolf,’ ‘Call Me Baby,’ and ‘Love Me Right,’ to name a few.

Philippine political discourse in the past decade has been dominated by three competing narratives. On one hand, there are the zealots of ‘political will,’ namely those who believe that all we need to solve the complex problems of a 100-million-strong nation in the 21st century is a ‘strongman.’ The appeal of this mystical ideology is uncanny: no need to understand the root causes of societal problems-just blame it all on deracinated liberals and feckless technocrats, who have failed to positively transform our nation since the return of democracy after decades of failed dictatorship.

The ‘strongman syndrome,’ however, has an even deeper attraction, namely what philosophers, such as Hannah Arendt, described as the ‘will to obedience.’ Instead of critically thinking for oneself and painstakingly advocating for long-term reforms, just submit to a secular savior. A consummate politician with a visceral understanding of human nature, former President Rodrigo Duterte was the perfect candidate for this narrative of ‘political will.’ By promising to magically solve all major problems, Duterte managed to captivate the imagination of millions of folks desperate for change.

In response to the predictable failures and catastrophes of Dutertismo, a second narrative gained momentum. Unwilling to accept the overwhelming rejection of Philippine liberalism, a significant section of pro-reform thought leaders pushed for the quasi-elitist ‘bobotante’ narrative, except this time with a twist. Instead of reflecting on the shortcomings of several reformist-liberal administrations, or resorting to the traditional elitist sneer against proletariat voters, they enthusiastically emphasized how ‘disinformation’ is the primary reason behind the ascent of authoritarian populism.

For them, Dutertismo was ‘trouble in paradise’ instead of an organic reflection of mass discontent with liberal politics. According to this narrative, too many folks were supposedly fooled by bots and algorithms to appreciate the fruits of liberal democracy. All we need to do, therefore, is simply fight disinformation-and the rest will follow. In response to the obvious deficiencies of both ‘it’s all disinformation’ and ‘it’s all political will’ schools of thought, a third alternative has emerged in recent years. In contrast to the authoritarianism of Dutertismo and the elitist moralism of its direct competitor, civil society leaders, such as Cardinal Virgilio David, have espoused a more compassionate and humanist perspective that acknowledges both the fundamental dignity and political agency of all voters as well as the centrality of the rule of law.

Interestingly, however, what all three narratives have in common is a shared revulsion at the evil of corruption. In fact, one of the continuities between former President Benigno Aquino III’s ‘daang matuwid’ and Duterte’s ‘not even a whiff of corruption’ political narratives was their supposedly zero-tolerance policy toward corruption. The third narrative, meanwhile, is more politically aspirational, since it has yet to put a truly progressive candidate in Malacañang. What all three narratives also have in common is the presupposition that much of the ills of our society stem from the corrupt nature of our ruling class-and their manipulation of the broader masses.

A careful examination of public policy evidence, however, provides a more nuanced picture, whereby the relationship between corruption and national development is arguably the opposite. A cursory look at the global Corruption Perception Index, for instance, shows that the richest countries, regardless of divergent culture or political systems, tend to have the lowest corruption rates. Meanwhile, the Philippines has almost an identical CPI score with Thailand, Turkiye, and Brazil, which have almost twice our per capita income levels and remarkably more diversified and industrialized economic bases. Longitudinally, many of today’s most advanced societies used to be just as corrupt as the Philippines when they were at our level of development. Think, for instance, of the French Third Republic, when it had almost the same per capita income as the contemporary Philippines. Logically, therefore, corruption seems to be more of an effect rather than a causal factor here. What cutting-edge economic development literature shows is two-fold: (i) higher levels of economic development create pro-reform constituencies and institutional reforms that reduce corruption; and (ii) similarly corrupt nations can have divergent developmental levels due to the differences in their economic policies and state capacity.

Corruption is evil, but it’s more of a structural effect of decades of bad economic policies, weak state institutions, and suboptimal political literacy. Aside from holding corrupt officials accountable, our priority should be civic education, smart economic policies, and overall creation of equitable prosperity and democratic mobilization, which would make vote-buying, electoral manipulation, and graft in government more prohibitive.

Kim Atienza shared that his daughter Emman’s remains will be coming home to the Philippines from the United States, and that her wake will be held in Manila.

The TV host said this through his Instagram page on Monday, Oct. 27, while sharing a portrait of his youngest child.

‘Thank you so much for all the messages of comfort to the family. We may not be able to reply but we appreciate you all,’ he said.

‘Details of the wake in Manila will follow. Emman will be home,’ he concluded.

The comments section was once again filled with celebrities’ offers of prayers and words of comfort to the Atienza family.

Kim’s older daughter Eliana, for her part, expressed her longing for her sister through her Instagram page.

‘I miss you, Emman, with everything that I am and will ever be. I see you in the sunlight between the tree canopy and in the endless stars I know must be there, hidden by city lights,’ she wrote.

‘We were supposed to co-create a better world where our children could play together, and we could laugh knowing we fought and struggled to build this for them,’ she continued. ‘I hope this message reaches you wherever you are. Call me soon, okay?’

Emman, who was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder, had been active on social media where she shared content about lifestyle, mental health awareness and social issues.

Emman passed away at their home in Los Angeles, California. Her sudden death – which came weeks after she opened up about her struggles with anxiety and online hate – was confirmed by her family last Oct. 24.

As the nation prepares to visit departed loved ones this Undas, the Manila Police District (MPD) has urged parents to keep children and pets at home, warning that overcrowded cemeteries pose serious health and safety risks.

In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, MPD spokesperson Maj. Phillip Ines said cemeteries in Manila are expected to be packed with visitors starting October 31.

Ines reminded the public of safety protocols and prohibited items.

‘Alcoholic beverages are not allowed, as well as deadly weapons and loudspeakers. Overnight stays and vending are also prohibited,’ he said in Filipino.

‘We also appeal to the public not to bring pets, as they might become stressed inside the cemeteries due to the large crowds,’ he added.

He explained that animals could easily become agitated by the noise, heat, and congestion inside cemeteries.

Ines also urged parents not to bring small children unless necessary.

‘We are appealing to parents; if possible, please don’t bring your children,’ he said in Filipino.

He added that children brought to cemeteries will be given identification tags bearing their parents’ or guardians’ contact information to help authorities reunite them if they get lost.

Ines also said that prohibited items will be strictly confiscated as part of the MPD protocol.

‘We’ve long been reminding the public not to bring the items we mentioned. If they still do, we will confiscate them,’ he said in Filipino.

The MPD will also deploy medical teams and health personnel, in coordination with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and nearby hospitals, to respond to emergencies.

‘We already have a security plan identifying nearby hospitals for each location-the Manila North, South, La Loma, and Chinese cemeteries,’ he said.

Ines reminded the public to follow cemetery regulations, plan visits early, and prioritize safety-especially by leaving children and pets at home during the annual observance

After he was previously linked to Franki Russell, Enrique Gil is once again at the center of dating rumors, this time with a young content creator named Andrea Brown, after their ‘intimate’ photos went viral on social media.

The speculation about a possible romance between the two began after photos which featured the actor and Brown posing closely together in casual settings were shared on X (formerly Twitter) by one of Gil’s anonymous fans.

One of the photos showed Brown leaning on Gil’s shoulder, while she appeared to be sitting on his lap. Another image showed the pair’s mirror selfie.

The online post also included a screenshot of a woman claiming to be Brown’s mother, stating that her daughter is only 17 years old, as well as a video of Gil and Brown dancing inside a room. The anonymous fan who posted the photos claimed that Gil and Brown have been talking since June.

‘Quen and Andrea Brown have been in contact since June, and they’ve been meeting up regularly this month. A few weeks ago, they had a staycation at The Farm Batangas, with Quen covering all the expenses. He’s also offering her a role in a project he’s producing,’ asserted the fan. As of this writing, neither Gil nor Brown has issued a statement regarding the authenticity of the photos or the dating rumors, but they are currently following each other on TikTok and Instagram. After netizens flooded Brown’s TikTok page with comments relating to Gil, the content creator asserted that she is not a minor.

Gil was previously in a relationship with actress Liza Soberano for eight years until the actress confirmed their separation in August of this year.

FPJ Panday Bayanihan Lawmaker Representative Brian Poe has urged stronger national action to ensure emerging technologies lead to inclusive growth and public accountability, as he addressed innovators, policymakers, and industry leaders at the Global Emerging Tech Summit (GETS) 2025 held at the Bataan People’s Center.

With this year’s theme focused on ‘Driving Innovation Through Digital Bayanihan,’ Poe emphasized that the country’s digital progress must be guided by shared responsibility and reinforced democratic values.

‘Our prosperity in this new era will depend on our ability to lift each other up-not by carrying homes on our backs, but by carrying ideas, opportunities, and the burden of governance together,’ he said.

‘Innovation must always have a soul, and that soul is bayanihan.’

Poe outlined a three-pillar legislative approach aimed at building a secure and human-centered digital economy:

* Philippine Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (HB 01196)

Establishes the Artificial Intelligence Development Authority to ensure ethical, transparent, and people-first AI deployment.

* Career Transition Assistance Act (HB 02766)

Supports workers impacted by automation through reskilling programs, wage subsidies, and guaranteed job reintegration, particularly for those in the BPO and creative sectors.

* National Budget Blockchain Act (HB 04489)

Introduces a tamper-proof public ledger to track government spending in real time, enhancing transparency and eliminating opportunities for corruption.

He noted that the blockchain transparency initiative is aligned with broader national efforts, including parallel proposals in the Senate such as SB 1330, known as the ‘Blockchain the Budget Bill,’ which seeks to place the entire national budget on-chain for public visibility from release to auditing.

Poe also commended the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for advancing government digitalization programs such as eGOVchain, which promotes blockchain use in public services to improve transparency, efficiency, and cybersecurity safeguards.

Highlighting Bataan as a case study for regional innovation, he pointed to the province’s thriving economic zones, expanding digital economy, and strong collaboration among local government, national agencies, and private firms in building a future-ready startup ecosystem.

‘The Philippines is ready to move beyond isolated pilots toward integrated partnerships that deliver undeniable national impact,’ Poe said.

‘No institution can achieve this vision alone. True innovation happens when we combine technology and solidarity.’

He also reiterated that emerging technology must always uplift Filipino communities rather than leave them behind.

‘It is not how fast we innovate, but how fair and ethical that innovation becomes,’ he said.

‘The future will not wait, but it will belong to those who choose to build it together.’

Alpha Insurance found an edge on the court-and on the bench-with Billie Anima and JM Apolinario guiding the Protectors to a strong start in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.

Anima and Apolinario, both assistant coaches in the Premier Volleyball League, helped orchestrate Alpha’s 19-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-22 upset of back-to-back bronze medalist Savouge on Monday at FilOil EcoOil Center.

New recruit Barbie San Andres delivered 19 points on debut, teaming up with Anima in the clutch as the latter came up with key blocks to close out the final two sets.

‘It’s a big advantage,’ said head coach Mike Santos, who also coaches with PLDT. ‘It’s not hard to coach them because they already know what they’re doing. That’s our goal as players-to be able to teach others. For them, it’s easy because they already have that experience.’

Anima, also part of Petro Gazz’s staff, scored eight points, including six blocks. Apolinario, who assists at Galeries Tower, tallied 14 excellent sets. INQ

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas was voted the new president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas following an election of members on the board of trustees.

The SBP bared Vargas’ ascension as the third head of the national basketball federation, succeeding Al Panlilio. Panlilio previously served as SBP president for two terms that started in 2016.

Founding president Manny Pangilinan was elected chairman, June Cheryl Chaye Cabal-Revilla as vice chairman, Robert Uy as vice president, Marievic Anonuevo as corporate secretary and Lennie Nocum as treasurer while Erika Dy remained as executive director.

San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua and Converge team governor Archen Cayabyab, meanwhile, joined Vargas and Pangilinan as representatives from the commercial and professional sector. SMC’s Jacob Ang also filled one of the four additional slots to the board, former SBP executive director and PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios became Mindanao representative while Ryan Reyes, who recently retired after playing almost two decades in the PBA mainly for TNT, was named player representative.

The election came after the SBP ratified its by-laws during a National Congress held last May 9 at Meralco Gym.

The Philippines continued its memorable run at the Asian Youth Games, securing two more shots at gold as its best-ever campaign gained more momentum.

Leo Mhar Lobrido punched his ticket to the boxing semifinals and Alas Pilipinas stormed into the Final Four of girls’ volleyball, keeping the country’s gold hopes alive heading into the tournament’s final stretch.

Lobrido showed composure in the closing seconds of his light flyweight quarterfinal bout against Sri Lanka’s Binul Dulnada Dewasiri Narayana, winning at Exhibition World Bahrain to assure the Philippines of at least a bronze. His semifinal bout offers a shot at upgrading that into gold.

The national girls’ volleyball team also booked a place in the medal rounds after a confident 25-16, 20-25, 25-16, 25-18 victory over Chinese Taipei at Isa Sports City. Despite dropping the second set, Alas Pilipinas leaned on the steady hands of Sam Cantada and Rhose Almendralejo to recover and take control.

‘We’re happy because we got the win,’ said Rihanna Cris Navarro. ‘We really worked for this. It was a knockout game, and we needed to reach the top four to get a chance at the gold.’

With unbeaten Iran next, Navarro didn’t hesitate when asked to rate their chances: ‘On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d say 10. We really believe we can do this, and we’ll fight for it-for the country.’

The Philippines currently has a haul of six golds, five silvers and six bronzes at press time. Already, it is the best performance by a Philippine team at the event, besting the two golds the country won in the 2013 edition.

Weightlifting also yielded more reasons to celebrate, with Princess Jay Ann Diaz, niece of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, clinching bronze in the 44-kg clean and jerk with a 78kg lift. Jay-r Colonia added another bronze in the boys’ 56kg with a 137kg effort.

The day wasn’t without setbacks-losses in taekwondo, table tennis and cycling trimmed the Philippine delegation’s haul-but the highlights underscored a breakout showing.

Almost 200 workers nationwide had sought legal assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) last September, the agency said on Monday.

In a statement, DOLE reminded workers that it offers free legal assistance nationwide through its Public Assistance and Complaints Unit (PACU), in an effort to reinforce its role as a ‘trusted avenue’ for legal guidance on labor-related complaints.

‘Through its team of lawyers, PACU provides free legal assistance for claims such as unpaid wages and wrongful dismissal in strict accordance with established legal procedures,’ DOLE said.

According to the agency, a total of 191 walk-in clients were accommodated by PACU last September.

DOLE noted that 16 of these clients were persons with disabilities, while 23 were senior citizens.

Most of the workers were from Metro Manila, Dole said, while others were from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Central Luzon, and nearby provinces.

The most common issues raised by the workers included money claims and termination of employment, comprising 42 percent of complaints.

Meanwhile, concerns about management prerogative formed 14 percent while issues regarding social welfare benefits were at 11 percent.

Meanwhile, the remaining 29 percent included other labor concerns such as separation pay, grievances, floating status, minimum wage, temporary layoffs, unauthorized deductions, and cases pending before the National Labor Relations Commission.

A majority of the concerns, at 132, were also classified as ‘simple matters,’ while the rest, at 59, required in-depth legal evaluation, DOLE said.

In April last year, the agency served 169 walk-in clients, 116 phone queries and 921 email queries seeking legal guidance and assistance.

To avail of free legal services, the public may consult in person by visiting the PACU office at DOLE’s office in Intramuros, Manila, or through phone call at (02) 8527-3000 local 607.

‘Through the PACU, the department affirms its commitment to its mission of fostering just and equitable employment relations to ensure that every worker in the country has access to fair, timely, and humane labor protection,’ DOLE said.