Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

‘Dreamboi,’ a film that initially earned two X ratings from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), emerged as the biggest winner of the inaugural CineSilip Film Festival, bagging the majority of the major awards, including Best Film and Best Director.

The CineSilip jury recognized the Rodina Singh-helmed film for its story on trans representation when it comes to addressing desire, as well as other entries on the festival’s awards night on Monday, Oct. 27. The jury was composed of filmmakers Erik Matti and Joy Aquino, as well as Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino member Tito Valiente.

Here is the full list of winners:

Best Film: ‘Dreamboi’

Second Best Film: ‘Pagdaong’

Third Best Film: ‘Haplos sa Hangin’

Best Director: Rodina Singh for ‘Dreamboi’

Best Actor: Martin del Rosario for ‘Haplos sa Hangin’

Best Actress: Angela Morena for ‘Pagdaong’

Best Supporting Actor: Migs Almendras for ‘Dreamboi’

Best Supporting Actress: Chloe Jenna for ‘Maria Azama Best Porn Star’

Best Screenplay: ‘Haplos sa Hangin,’ Sonny Calvento and Mikko Baldoza

Best Editing: Arnex Nicolas, ‘Dreamboi’

Best Cinematography: Malay Javier, ‘Dreamboi’

Best Musical Score: Paulo Almaden, ‘Haplos sa Hangin’

Best Sound: Immanuel Verona and John Buquid, ‘Dreamboi’

Best Production Design: Chips Day Abando, ‘Dreamboi’

Newly installed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed Tokyo’s commitment to help bolster the resilience of the economy and infrastructure in the Philippines.

Takaichi met with President Marcos in Kuala Lumpur to hold a Japan-Philippines summit. This was on the sidelines of the latest iteration of the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit held in the Malaysian capital.

The Japanese and Philippine leaders held their bilateral talk for about 20 minutes, according to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Takaichi, the first woman to be Japan’s Prime Minister, assumed office last Oct. 21

During their talk, Takaichi stated Tokyo’s intention to contribute to food security in the Philippines, particularly through the provision of equipment for postharvest rice processing.

Japanese grant

Last Oct. 16, Tokyo and Manila exchanged notes on the Japanese grant aid for the establishment of a rice processing facility at the National Food Authority’s premises in Cauayan City, Isabela.

The project cost is estimated at P810.98 million. Of that amount, Japan will provide 1.7 billion yen or P664.53 million. This will be done through the Economic and Social Development Program backed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The project will increase NFA’s capacity to buy palay and enhance the agency’s postharvest processing, handling and storage efficiency.

Also, Takaichi said Japan intends to advance cooperation with the Philippines on nuclear energy.

Clean energy

Related to this, she noted that Tokyo and Manila have signed a memorandum pertaining to a comprehensive energy cooperation. This happened during the Asia Zero Emission Community meetings, which was also held in Kuala Lumpur, but earlier this month.

The cooperation entails capacity building, knowledge exchange, collaborative pilot projects, and policy dialogue. It covers key areas such as renewable energy, grid integration, energy storage, hydrogen, ammonia, liquefied natural gas, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage.

Meanwhile, the Singapore-based Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (Amro) in a statement called for a renewed push toward deeper regional integration.

‘By broadening our sources of growth, we can strengthen the resilience of all Asean+3 economies,’ said Yasuto Watanabe, director and CEO of Amro.

In Kuala Lumpur, Asean welcomed its 11th member, Timor-Leste. The other 10 are the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The so-called Asean+3 economies also include China, Japan, and South Korea.

Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 51 points, the first Jazz player to reach 50 in the regular season since Karl Malone in 1998, and Utah beat the Phoenix Suns 138-134 in overtime in the NBA on Monday night.

Markkanen helped the Jazz recover after they blew a seven-point lead in the final 19 seconds of regulation, scoring seven points in the extra period. He also finished with 14 rebounds.

Markkanen made all 17 free throws and topped his previous best of 49 points set on Jan. 5, 2023. It was the most by a Utah player in the regular season since Malone had 56 against Golden State on April 7, 1998.

Keyonte George had 26 points and 10 assists, while Walker Kessler had 25 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Jazz.

Devin Booker scored 24 of his 34 points after halftime and Grayson Allen added 23 for the Suns. Jalen Green (hamstring) and Dillon Brooks (groin) were out for Phoenix but Mark Williams returned from a knee injury with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

George made a running bank shot with 40 seconds left in OT to snap a tie and Markkanen made two clinching free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining.

The Jazz led most of the game and were up 122-115 after George’s free throws with 23 seconds left in regulation. But Booker made two 3-pointers and the Jazz later fouled him leading by three with 4.9 seconds to play.

Booker made the first free throw and Williams scored after the rebound of his missed second shot to force overtime. Markkanen’s baseline jumper rimmed out as time expired in regulation.

The Jazz (2-1), expected to finish near the bottom of the NBA, are a rebound away from being undefeated (a 105-104 loss to Sacramento).

The Suns (1-3) have lost three straight.

In this coastal town constantly battered by tidal waters from Manila Bay, even the dead are not spared-their resting places relocated time and again to escape the floods.

For Israel Saguinsin, 34, a Bulacan State University professor and one of the leaders of Tindig Hagonoy that protested anomalous flood control projects here, high tide flooding is not just a nightmare exclusive to the living.

From the flooded Hagonoy Catholic Cemetery on Mabini Street in Barangay San Sebastian, Saguinsin’s family transferred the remains of his grandparents to Raymundo Memorial Park in 2010.

But years later, that private cemetery also began sinking under floodwaters, forcing the family to relocate their loved ones again in 2022-this time to the flood-free Cherubim of Heaven Memorial Park in Barangay San Pedro.

Still, not all of the remains of Saguinsin’s dead relatives have been moved.

‘It is even harder for those in the ordinary cemetery or whose tombs are in the grounds because they are deeply soaked in floodwater, unlike those in the mausoleums,’ he told the Inquirer on Monday.

Tidal schedule

Saguinsin said that even the relocation of remains from a submerged cemetery depends on the tidal schedule, as graves can only be exhumed when waters temporarily recede.

For Mac Vengco-Bergantin, 39, visiting her departed loved ones has also become impossible. This year, she will light candles for her grandparents and cousin at her home in the City of Malolos instead of at their graves in Raymundo Memorial Park in Sto. Niño-Poblacion, which has been inundated for months.

‘There are times that the ground surface is seen when the tidal level is low and if the waters are pumped out, but we don’t know if that will happen this coming All Saints’ Day. We also need to relocate our loved ones for good. But we don’t see it happening this time because that would be costly,’ she said.

According to Jerome Crisostomo, Hagonoy’s disaster response officer, both the Hagonoy Catholic Cemetery in Mabini and the Peralta Cemetery in San Sebastian remain submerged under tidal floods nearly all year long.

‘These two cemeteries in Barangay San Sebastian are located in the far end. Even the streets and the approaches are flooded. If it is not high tide, the flood leaves mud and other debris. Visiting the dead is as messy and as troublesome as the daily encounter with high tide,’ Crisostomo said.

He said road upgrades had not helped, worsening flooding in low-lying areas.

This year, he noted, the high tide level on All Saints’ Day is expected to reach about a meter (3 feet), and water has receded more slowly in recent years.

While several public cemeteries remain flood-free, families in San Sebastian continue to endure the brunt of the town’s worsening subsidence and tidal intrusion.

For the family of the late Bulacan journalist Dino Balabo, the decision to bury him outside their hometown was prompted by necessity.

When Balabo died on Sept. 1, 2014, his family interred him at Paombong Memorial Park and transferred the remains of their father there as well. When their mother passed away the following year, she was buried in the same cemetery.

‘It is really terrible to live here now. Boat is almost the regular means of transportation,’ said Joyce, Balabo’s widow.

The National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) is monitoring possible anti-corruption rallies even amid the upcoming observation of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day or Undas.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) previously said it was deploying over 31,000 officers to handle security amid the anticipated influx of travelers.

‘We can’t ever discount the possibility that protesters will take this opportunity to gather. That’s why part of our preparations is our deployment,’ NCRPO Public Information Office chief Maj. Hazel Asilo said.

‘Our RSSF (Reserve Standby Support Force) is ready to be deployed in case there would be lightning rallies or protesters from different locations here in NCR,’ she added, later adding that 600 officers from the regional unit were prepared to be dispatched.

Following rallies leading up to and on Sept. 21 triggered by alleged anomalies in flood control projects, the Trillion Peso March movement announced protests every Friday ahead of a planned Nov. 30 demonstration.

The PNP said it was on alert for the weekly protest-actions.

Uratex Dream completed a rare three-peat as the premier local club ruled the Red Bull Half Court National Finals for the third straight year.

Gilas Pilipinas Women standout Kaye Pingol joined forces with Lexi Pana to lead the squad to a commanding 22-8 win over sister team Uratex Tibay in the championship game last Saturday at Parqal in Aseana City. Joining them were fellow national team member Hazelle Yam and veteran Sam Harada as the Peachy Medina-owned Uratex squad earned another ticket to the Red Bull Half Court World Final in Dubai from November 27 to 29.

‘We’re so happy to keep this championship and it only motivates us to do better now that this will be our third time on that grand stage,’ said Pingol, the Philippines’ No. 1-ranked women’s 3×3 player.

Uratex Dream came close to the title last year, finishing as runner-up to Tokyo Verdy of Japan, 11-8, in the Grand Final at Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York. Pingol and Harada were holdovers of that unit alongside Afril Bernardino and Eunique Chan. ‘Of course, we always want to win and we want to redeem ourselves from last year,’ said Pingol.

The Dream went undefeated in the tournament, defeating Aguilas Hoop Jeep, 16-8, in the semifinals. In the men’s division, Taho Story ruled to book its own ticket to Dubai.

The quartet of Nikki Monteclaro, Mikey Macaballug, Jordan Rios, and Ik Apuru prevailed over Fit N’ Grind, 9-5, in a closely contested final.

BTS leader RM will deliver a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit Korea 2025 at the Gyeongju Arts Center in North Gyeongsang Province on Wednesday, Oct. 29, spotlighting the growing soft power of K-culture.

RM is set to speak on the second day of the summit from 3:05 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. His presentation, part of a cultural session, will focus on ‘Cultural and Creative Industries in the APEC Region and the Soft Power of K-culture.’

While details of his remarks have not been disclosed, RM is expected to draw on his experience as the leader of BTS – one of the most influential K-pop acts worldwide – to discuss the global impact and significance of Korean culture.

On its official website, APEC 2025 described RM as ‘a creative powerhouse and avid art enthusiast,’ noting that he is ‘renowned for crafting profound lyrics inspired by various art forms’ and for ‘his philosophical approach to music and ability to push creative boundaries through innovative collaborations.’

The APEC CEO Summit, the largest private-sector forum linked to APEC 2025, brings together top business and government leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region. This year’s event, with the theme ‘Beyond, Business, Bridge (3B),’ will explore new partnerships through cross-border innovation and collaboration.

The two-day APEC CEO Summit will feature 20 sessions, special addresses and leaders’ speeches by 85 speakers, covering a range of global issues including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, finance, cultural industries, digital currencies, energy transition and supply chain resilience. RM will be the only K-pop artist to take part as a speaker, representing Korea’s cultural influence on the global stage.

Hybe, the parent company of BTS’ label Big Hit Music, is participating as a diamond sponsor – the APEC CEO Summit’s highest sponsorship tier – and is the only entertainment company among official sponsors.

Hybe will operate a promotional booth at the Gyeongju Arts Center to showcase its global business network spanning the US, Japan, China, Latin America and India, as well as highlight its multi-label artists’ achievements and the fan culture symbolized by K-pop light sticks.

Three weather systems – the northeast monsoon, or ‘amihan,’ intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), and a low-pressure area (LPA) are forecast to trigger rains nationwide this coming All Saints and All Souls Day or ‘Undas’ weekend, according to the state weather bureau.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (Pagasa) on Tuesday reported that the northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies with rain to Batanes and Babuyan Islands from Thursday to Friday.

Isolated rains are also forecast in Apayao, Abra, and Ilocos Norte, Pagasa added.

Rain due to LPA, ITCZ

Meanwhile, an LPA is forecast to form over the waters east of the Visayas, and together with the ITCZ, will bring scattered rains in the following areas:

Visayas

Mindanao

Metro Manila

Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon )

Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan)

Central Luzon

The rest of Cagayan Valley

La Union

Pangasinan.

On Saturday, November 1, the combination of the LPA and ITCZ will bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in the areas listed below:

Visayas

Metro Manila

Calabarzon

Mimaropa

Bicol Region

Aurora

Zamboanga Peninsula.

Meanwhile, Cagayan Valley will have rains, while Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will have isolated light rains, Pagasa added.

Scattered rains due to the ITCZ and the LPA will prevail in Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Bicol Region and Western Visayas on Sunday November 2, while the northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies with rains to Cagayan Valley, CAR and Aurora and the Ilocos Region.

Senator Loren Legarda has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct a comprehensive review of questionable infrastructure projects in the 2025 budget, emphasizing that potential savings from overpriced or poorly implemented projects should be redirected to urgently needed social infrastructure, especially education.

During the continuation of the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the DPWH’s proposed 2025 budget, Legarda raised concerns over projects amounting to nearly 1 trillion pesos that may still reflect outdated or inflated cost estimates.

‘Another source of savings, if I may, would be questionable 2025 projects,’ Legarda said.

‘I believe there is still 1 trillion worth in projects being implemented. So what do you do with those already being implemented but based on the cost of materials alam niyo na na-overpriced? Dapat mag-renegotiate, at dapat ay ibaba iyong presyo maski may kontrata dahil puwede naman iyan, may mga provisions naman sa New Government Procurement Act. Hindi tayo dapat patuloy na magpaloko sa mga nag-o-overprice. Things will not simply straighten out on their own by 2026 if we allow ?1 trillion worth of projects to remain overpriced,’ the senator explained.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon acknowledged Legarda’s concerns and assured the committee that the DPWH has begun implementing cost adjustments to reflect the current, lower prices of materials.

‘For 2025, for those that have not yet been procured, we will apply already the new cost of materials,’ Dizon said.

‘For those that have already been awarded and are already ongoing. We will consult on papaano natin mahahabol, if kaya, iyong mga ongoing na at awarded na, but for those na hindi pa, definitely po we will apply the new cost already, we will not wait for 2026, we will apply the new cost already now.’

The four-term senator also urged DPWH to submit a district-level breakdown of projects that can be renegotiated or terminated, consistent with the President’s advisory to lower the Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA).

‘May we receive from the engineering districts a list of projects not yet implemented that can generate savings from renegotiated contracts based on the President’s advisory on lowering the DUPA? Second, for ongoing projects na alam niyong overpriced naman at niloloko tayo, bago pa makapasok ang bagong team, maaari niyo namang i-terminate ang mga ito – nagawa niyo na rin naman ito sa ibang distrito, ‘di ba?’ Legarda asked.

Legarda emphasized that DPWH has both the authority and responsibility to pursue contract renegotiations and terminations where warranted.

‘So the DPWH can actually do a sweep of these projects ongoing for 2025, terminate those that it can terminate, or renegotiate for a lower price based on the President’s advisory for a lower DUPA, so that we can generate more savings,’ Legarda said.

Dizon confirmed that DPWH has already taken action against erring contractors.

‘Yes, in fact, we have terminated already based on the cases that have been filed as well as the licenses that have been canceled,’ Dizon said.

‘We have terminated several already, particularly all the contracts of the Discaya companies as well as their joint venture partners, as well as the other companies where we have filed, companies such as Wawao, SYMS. We will consult with the Office of the Solicitor General, and we will see papaano natin mahahabol ito,’ Dizon added.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, Legarda underscored the need to redirect potential savings toward school infrastructure.

‘Iyong savings na sinabi po ni chair kanina, na gusto niya ngayon na-i-allocate, huwag na pag-antayin ang mga tao, iyong kay Presidente pa lang, 45 o 50 billion na iyon, assuming lang sa classrooms,’ Legarda said.

‘I would assume, ‘pag classroom, hindi naman siguro madadaya, hindi naman siguro ma-ghost, hindi naman siguro subject to anomang anomalya o korapsyon, at magiginhawaan ang ating sektor ng basic education. Sang-ayon ako sa sinabi ng Chair na iyong kaya nang ma-save ngayon, i-re-allocate na natin sa ibang imprastraktura, at ang aming bias ay edukasyon, para sa school building.’

Legarda’s remarks underscore her commitment to fiscal discipline and prioritizing education in national infrastructure planning.

Bulacan 6th District Rep. Salvador Pleyto has denied insinuations of him allegedly receiving money from contractor-couple Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya, asking the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to release the supposed reports.

Pleyto was reacting to a recent interview made by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, wherein the lawmaker was named as one of the alleged politicians and personalities who received money from the Discayas, according to AMLC’s reports.

‘It has come to my attention the recent interview of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla citing an AMLC report that allegedly linking my name as one of the individuals who received ‘remittances’ from the Discayas prior to me being elected as congressman,’ Pleyto said over the weekend.

‘I strongly condemn these accusations and insinuations against me. In the interest of truth, accountability and due process,’ he noted.

‘I am formally requesting the AMLC to provide an official copy of the said report or any related document which my name was mentioned or implicated, in order for me to properly and responsibly address any findings or insinuations made therein,’ he added.

According to Pleyto, he is ready to ‘cooperate with the AMLC or any other competent authorities to ensure that the truth will come out,’ for him to clear his name.

‘Until such time that I have a copy of the official report from the AMLC, I urge the public to refrain from drawing conclusions or spreading unverified information that may cause undue harm to my personal reputation, both as a private person and a public servant,’ he said.

Pleyto’s name was mentioned by Remulla last Thursday, when he tagged Benguet lone district Rep. Eric Yap as the ‘person of interest’ behind a construction firm involved in the complaint filed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over anomalous flood control projects in La Union.

The DPWH’s complaints were made by Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon – for malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents against DPWH officials, Silverwolves Construction Corporation, and St. Timothy Corporation – for separate flood control projects in the two provinces.

‘For Silverwolves Construction Corporation, the person of interest here is Congressman Eric Yap, who is known to be the beneficial owner of the company,’ Remulla said in a press conference.

‘He divested from it a few years ago, supposedly. But there’s still reason to suspect that he’s still the beneficial owner of the company, so there’s clear conflict of interest punishable also under RA [Republic Act] 3019,’ Remulla explained.

Remulla then said that they found out through the AMLC that the Discayas allegedly sent money to ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Edvic Yap, brother of Eric, around 2019 or 2020. After this, they tagged Pleyto.

‘We received a transmission of money from AMLC that went to Edvic Yap so we saw the pattern. They have something to do with the contracts because we saw the transmission of money from the Discayas,’ Remulla pointed out.

‘The other one was not yet a congressman but a congressman now. The other one is Salvador Pleyto, congressman from Bulacan. He is one of those tagged by the AMLC as recipients of the Discayas’ remittance,’ he said.

The highlight on anomalous infrastructure projects came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his fourth State of the Nation Address, condemned government officials and contractors who allegedly earned kickbacks, adding that they should be ashamed of themselves.

Eventually, Marcos released a list of contractors, and observers were quick to establish links between contractors and lawmakers and other politicians like Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, Senate President Francis Escudero and Sarah Discaya, who previously sought Pasig City’s mayoral post.

The Discaya couple eventually appeared before the Senate and admitted that they paid off several lawmakers just for projects to be implemented.

Due to their testimonies, both Curlee’ and Sarah Discaya were considered as ‘protected witnesses’ by the Department of Justice – back when Remulla was still leading the agency.

But on Monday, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said that there is no chance that the Discayas will qualify as state witnesses with the magnitude of their alleged involvement in the infrastructure project corruption scheme.