Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The upcoming stock market debut of Maynilad Water Services Inc. is seen to jolt life into the lethargic equity capital market, according to Security Bank Capital Investment Corp.

Margaux Lee, head of coverage and origination at SB Capital, on Wednesday told reporters Maynilad’s initial public offering (IPO) was oversubscribed among institutional investors. This, notwithstanding corruption issues plaguing the domestic political landscape.

‘We see that there’s still a lot of interest, especially from foreign investors,’ Lee said during a press briefing.

Cornerstone investors

She was referring to International Finance Corp. and Asian Development Bank. Respectively, the two institutions pitched in $100 million and $145 million into Maynilad’s IPO.

Lee added that Maynilad’s offering was likewise seen to perform well in the secondary market.

SB Capital was tapped as one of the domestic co-lead underwriters of Maynilad’s P34.33-billion IPO. It represents the country’s biggest stock market debut since Monde Nissin Corp.’s P48.6 billion in 2021.

SB Capital president and CEO Virgilio Chua said investors would likely gauge the performance of Maynilad post-IPO before deciding whether to come back to equities.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index has lately been struggling to break through the elusive 6,100 barrier.

In the Aug. 12, 2025 edition of your paper, columnist Richard Heydarian asked, ‘Who should Marcos support?’ (see ‘Succession: Who should Marcos support?’) I wish to contribute my two cents here.

Heydarian wrote that Sen. Risa Hontiveros was his choice for president with former Philippine National Police chief Nicolas Torre III as her running mate. I agree that this was not a bad choice. As one who wished that the Dutertes would not return to power for reasons Heydarian has been saying, I would gladly support his choice if the two decide to run as presidential and vice presidential candidates in 2028.

But I still wish that former Vice President Leni Robredo would run again in 2028. This is despite the misgivings of some due to her silence after the last election, where she ran and ‘lost.’ A few have expressed disappointment in her for not protesting the results of the elections, which computer experts like the TNTRio are expounding on after they allegedly found evidence of computer manipulation.

The trio of former acting secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology Eliseo Rio Jr., former Commission on Elections Commissioner Gus Lagman, and former Finance Executives Institute president Franklin Ysaac alleged that it was ‘highly improbable if not impossible’ for Comelec to have been able to count the over 20 million votes reported within one hour of the poll precincts’ closing. Their petition was filed before the Supreme Court. The filing fizzled out, after which they turned to the Comelec, which then acceded in writing to their petitions. In a Dec. 12, 2024 report, the Supreme Court ruled that a writ of mandamus: ‘Comelec cannot be compelled to grant or deny a request for ballot recount.’

Why Robredo did not file a protest is, in my opinion, understandable. An election protest is very expensive. In the protest of President Marcos when he ran and lost to Robredo in the vice presidential contest, he was required by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal to pay P500 for each precinct to be counted. He paid a total of P66,223,000 for the 132,446 precincts covered by his case. He had the money. If Robredo were to file a protest, she may be asked by the PET to pay at least P500 for each precinct to be counted, but did she have the money like Mr. Marcos had?

A protest would just be like a shot at the moon. There was an outpouring of support for her during the campaign. That river of pink in one of Manila’s boulevards, where her supporters sang Ariana Grande’s song ‘Break Free,’ was proof of that support, as were the hundreds of thousands of supporters who flocked to her campaign rally in Batangas, where attendees brought their own food and drinks, which they shared with others.

Some say that Robredo should have asked her supporters to contribute funds to finance the election protest. They may be willing to give, but in my humble opinion, she did not want to abuse their generosity as they had already made great sacrifices during the campaign. Aside from that, given the huge amount needed to finance the protest and the person now heading the Comelec, any protest would be futile.

Robredo is quiet about the prospects of running again. She may be testing the waters in the sea of public sentiment as well as the opinions of Liberal Party leaders. With all due respect to Heydarian, I believe that Robredo should be given another chance. I believe that the grassroots of support are still intact and that when watered, they will come alive and grow even stronger.

Halloween 2025 is shaping up to be one for the books don’t worry, not the Death Note kind. Whether you’re in the mood for a feast, a forest adventure, or a full-blown party, the metro has something for every kind of thrill-seeker. Here’s your ultimate roundup of where to celebrate Halloween this year.

Once upon a Halloween at Newport World Resorts

This year, Newport World Resorts brings a touch of fantasy to the spooky season with Once Upon a Halloween a lineup of themed dining experiences and family activities across its hotels.

At Manila Marriott Hotel, families can step into Once Upon a Swamp on Oct. 26, where a whimsical Sunday lunch buffet priced at P3,688 comes with trick-or-treat adventures and themed desserts like the pumpkin mascarpone cake and Dracula finger cookies.

Meanwhile, Sheraton Manila Hotel’s Myth and Madness brings Filipino folklore to life through a buffet experience, while Oori Korean Restaurant adds a K-twist to the celebration.

Families looking for a cozy staycation can head to Holiday Inn Express Manila, offering a room + access pass package for P7,500. The deal includes breakfast for two and entry for one adult and one child to Spooky Swamp Fest a fun-filled Halloween bash at The Greatroom packed with games, themed activities, and surprises for kids.

For those who prefer an elegant affair, Hotel Okura Manila sets the mood with a Halloween-themed dinner buffet at Yawaragi on Oct. 31, while Sora Pool Bar keeps the spirit flowing with special Halloween drinks available until November.

Mystery and mayhem in Intramuros

The walls are whispering again. Intramuros Investigation 4 by Mystery Manila returns from Oct. 24 to Nov. 9, giving thrill-seekers a chance to uncover chilling stories within the city’s historic walls. Choose your path on foot (P899/head) or on bike (P999/head) and chase clues with your team as you try to solve a mystery that refuses to stay buried. Book at booknow.mysterymanila.com.

Into the forest at Masungi

Trade club lights for moonlight because Masungi Georeserve in Tanay, Rizal, has the perfect Halloween activity for you.

From Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, this sanctuary invites guests to join Masungi After Hours: Halloween Special a rare chance to wander its limestone landscape beneath the stars.

Each evening offers four adventure slots at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and 11 p.m. The guided night walk lasts three to four hours and costs P2,000 per guest or P1,800 per person for groups of three or more.

Do note that registration does not guarantee an immediate slot you’ll receive an approval email once confirmed. To speed up the process, make sure to provide complete details for all participants, as incomplete entries cannot be processed. Register at bit.ly/MasungiAfterHours2025.

Photo from Masungi Georeserve/Facebook

andFriends Halloween pre-party cave rave

What is Halloween without pre-party Halloween? Timeless Collective PH, andFriends Fest, and Incanta are joining forces for the andFriends Halloween Party: Cave Rave on Oct. 25 at Incanta. The beats start dropping at 9 p.m. and won’t stop till late.

Icons after dark by Good Gang

Good Gang is turning up the heat this Halloween with Icons After Dark, happening on Oct. 31 at Brooklyn Warehouse, Recto. Known for their crowd-pulling parties and celebrity appearances, including James Reid, the collective is bringing Manila’s trendsetters together for a night of music and self-expression.

Poblacion Halloween street party

Photo from Z hostel/Official Website

This list wouldn’t be complete without the Poblacion Halloween street party a tradition where the fun spills out of the bars and into the streets.

Known for its nightlife, Poblacion transforms into one massive costume parade. It’s the perfect spot for spontaneous bar-hopping, dancing under neon lights, and showing off your best look because in Poblacion, everyone comes to see and be seen.

Madhouse: Halloween Party and Night Market

Step into the rabbit hole and embrace the chaos at Madhouse, a Halloween party and night market hosted by Socialista Club at Stratosphere Events Place. Expect killer beats from headliners @wedontcareuk, Curious Creatures, and more as you lose yourself in this twisted wonderland of sound and style. The event kicks off on Oct. 30, from 8:00 p.m. onwards, with tickets available for P800 online or P1,000 at the door.

Because people tend to act differently on camera, it is still better for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to keep its proceedings closed to the public.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s caution came after retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr., chair of the ICI, announced Wednesday in a Senate hearing that the commission would begin livestreaming its proceedings next week.

‘To be honest, I’d prefer not to livestream it because people tend to act differently when there’s a public audience. These are commissioners they’re human too and if there’s already a public watching, their demeanor or approach might change,’ Gatchalian said in an interview.

Instead of a real-time broadcast, the senator suggested that the ICI release the transcripts of its hearings.

‘So the public can still follow [what’s happening],’ he pointed out.

‘It’s really different when there’s a camera. People tend to act differently your behavior changes, how you project yourself. That’s what I’m worried about, so let’s wait and see,’ he added.

Created by President Marcos Jr. through Executive Order No. 94 issued last September, the independent body was empowered to investigate every government infrastructure contract awarded within the last 10 years, including the recent corruption allegations surrounding the flood control works.

Several lawmakers, including senators, have been accused of conniving with some government officials and private contractors to defraud the government of billions of pesos through the flood control projects.

The city government here has proposed a P6.6-billion executive budget for 2026, with the City Engineer’s Office and City Health Office receiving the lion’s share of allocations, while the Environment, Tourism, and Agriculture offices landed among the least funded. According to the General Fund by Office of the proposed 2026 budget, the City Engineer’s Office leads with P1.02 billion in proposed funding, or about 15.5% of total spending – reflecting the city’s continued focus on road construction, drainage improvement, and flood-control projects.

Next is the City Health Office, which is slated to receive P885.4 million (approximately 13.4%), earmarked for hospital operations, public health programs, and disease prevention efforts.

Following closely is the City Social Welfare and Development Department (CSWD), with P712.6 million (10.8%), for maintaining pandemic recovery and social protection initiatives for children, seniors, and vulnerable communities.

The City Mayor’s Office and City General Services Office round out the top five, with P498.3 million (7.5%) and P420.2 million (6.3%), respectively – covering executive operations, community assistance, and city maintenance.

‘Our goal is to make the budget work for people’s everyday needs – infrastructure, health, and social protection remain our anchors. We are investing where impact is most immediate,’ Mayor Rolando Uy said in his budget message.

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At the lower end of the list, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) received P67.5 million, and the City Agriculture Office, which was allotted P54.2 million, together accounting for barely 1.8% of the total budget.

The Tourism Office got P39.8 million, followed by the City Sports Development Office with P32.6 million, and the City Cultural Affairs Office with P28.4 million.

Budget Officer Percy G. Salazar certified that the figures are ‘true and correct’ and that projected receipts are reasonably collectible within 2026.

City planning officials said the spending plan aligns with the administration’s ‘Build, Heal, and Protect’ agenda, prioritizing core services but calling for efficiency among offices with smaller funds.

‘Every peso must count. We are committed to transparent governance and measurable results,’ the mayor added.

Myla Pablo has long established herself as one of the best outside spikers in the country, winning several championships and a pair of PVL MVP trophies.

But with 2022 Best Import and Finals MVP Lindsey Vander Weide back this year and sharing the outside hitter position with Brooke Van Sickle, Pablo has embraced a new role as Petro Gazz’s starting opposite spiker. The 32-year-old star has been thriving so far after scoring 12 points in Petro Gazz’s 29-27, 25-22, 19-25, 17-25, 15-11 escape against the erstwhile-unbeaten Akari in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

‘It was actually my first time playing opposite with an extended playing time, and I just accepted the role Coach Gary gave me,’ Pablo told the Inquirer in Filipino.

‘My main goal for the team is really to focus on blocking and helping out on the court. Even if I don’t get to score much, I know my teammates can step up. So I just try to contribute through my blocks and defense.’

Pablo also cherishes reuniting with Vander Weide and Van Sickle, with whom she won two separate championships-the 2022 Reinforced and the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conferences, respectively.

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‘Kudos to my two teammates. They’ve been working so hard during training and in games. That’s why we all try to support them and give our best contributions on the court to help the team win,’ she said.

She credited new coach Gary Van Sickle for helping her adjust to her new position and guiding the team through its early-season transition.

‘With Coach Gary, the adjustment wasn’t hard at all because he’s very chill. Whenever he sees something that could help me improve, he talks to me about it during training or in games,’ said Pablo.

After back-to-back wins to improve to a 2-1 record, Pablo hopes Petro Gazz continues to get its groove, gunning for a third straight win against ZUS Coffee on Tuesday.

‘Right now, things are going pretty well. Lindsey’s really starting to find her rhythm. In our first two games, she was still adjusting, but now she’s back to playing her game. After our loss to Creamline, we all talked about what adjustments we needed to make, and it turned out well,’ she said.

This article is part of a series of special reports leading up to the 28th anniversary of INQUIRER.net on October 26, 2025.

For 28 years, the INQUIRER.net has been at the forefront of Philippine journalism. But our legacy isn’t measured in years alone – it’s defined by our commitment to our readers. Early on, we recognized that data – not guesswork – must guide what we publish.

Our success is rooted in using data to understand our audience’s needs, interests and challenges, making this a foundational element of our journalism.

At the INQUIRER.net, we embrace the reality that our audiences are not all the same. We speak to the informed citizen who values governance updates, the economic analyst tracking market movements, the proud kababayan celebrating our athletes’ victories, the weather-wary mother planning her children’s schedule, the everyday hopeful who regularly checks lotto results, the culinary explorer looking for the next favorite dish on our lifestyle pages, and the devoted follower seeking the latest from their idols.

This deep, empathetic understanding allows us to craft a comprehensive content experience that resonates with every facet of Filipino life.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, we have gone beyond recognizing the value of data-we are now actively driving our content and distribution strategy with insights drawn from our platforms. This evolution extends beyond shaping our main product; it empowers our entire operation. Our goal is to transform data into actionable intelligence that ensures our reporting remains relevant and indispensable to the Filipino public, adapting to their changing habits across all channels.

During the 2025 elections, we provided voter education materials in multiple formats-long-form articles for loyal INQUIRER.net readers, carousels for our social media followers and videos for subscribers who prefer to consume information through audio-visual means. In recent years, the media industry has faced challenges of sustainability and relevance as technology has leveled the playing field for all types of content and information sources. Yet our ability to listen to our audience’s sentiments has allowed us to evolve.

With the help of artificial intelligence, we have amplified these sentiments in our reporting. During the last State of the Nation Address, we contextualized audience feedback alongside the government’s report on the state of the country. We organized reader comments into topics that illustrated the main areas of concern and showed whether they agreed or disagreed with the administration’s statements.

Our continued success relies on embracing data innovation that enables us to identify gaps in our reporting and continually improve the experience we offer our readers. Moving forward, the INQUIRER.net is focused on building predictive systems that anticipate audience needs and optimize distribution across every platform.

By applying innovative data processes in our newsroom, we ensure that we are not merely reacting to the news cycle-but proactively serving the Filipino public with journalism that is timely, responsive, and always ahead of the curve.

The Pasig City Regional Trial Court has denied the request for hospital arrest of televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.

‘The motion for hospital arrest filed by accused Apollo Quiboloy is hereby denied for lack of merit,’ the court said in an order made public Thursday.

In his request, Quiboloy, through his lawyer, had asked the court to place him under hospital arrest either at the Philippine Heart Center or the Medical City, citing ailments including persistent shortness of breath, accompanied by intermittent fever, muscle pain, and cough while in detention at the Pasig City Jail.

His request also mentioned that he also suffers from hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, dyslipidemia, pulmonary tuberculosis, and recurrent bouts of pneumonia. Considering his health condition as well as his advanced age of 75, he was already hospitalized once last year and twice this year.

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The court, in denying his request, leaned heavily on the Sept. 30, 2025 progress report submitted by Pasig City Jail Superintendent Lloyd F. Gonzaga containing a clinical abstract of Quiboloy’s attending physician at the Pasig City General Hospital, as well as his medical and diagnostic examinations at the Heart Center.

Based on the clinical abstract, Quiboloy’s vital signs have improved, and he no longer complains of his health as of Sept. 24.

The court also pointed out that Quiboloy was already cleared for discharge by the pulmonary, cardiology, and nephrology services on Sept. 25 and 26, respectively.

‘The records clearly establish that his medical needs are being adequately and consistently attended to while in the custody of the Pasig City Jail, and that he continues to receive appropriate, timely, and sufficient medical care at the Pasig City General Hospital, under the supervision of competent medical professionals,’ the court said.

Quiboloy and four other Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) associates are all facing qualified human trafficking charges before the court. /mr/abc

There are two things that Angelo Que feels a Filipino would need to do to at least contend in the star-studded and rich International Series (IS) Philippines presented by Bingo Plus that tees off on Thursday at Sta. Elena.

‘Playing with composure will be crucial,’ Que told the Inquirer in Filipino when asked to assess the chances of homegrown bets seeing action in the $2-million (around P116M) event where four major champions are entered. ‘And of course, we all need to putt well, considering we all know the course.’

Que is one of the 11 Filipinos seeing action, and is given a fair chance considering that he has teed it up against strong international fields in the Asian Tour and won in the past.

‘It’s not an easy golf course, even with our local knowledge,’ Que added. ‘It’s tough and it’s long because it is soft [as a result of weeks-long rains].’

Led by Masters

Former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson and fellow ex-Masters champions Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel, as well as ex-British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen, banner the 144-strong field, with Miguel Tabuena coming in as the top Filipino hope with several IS participations under his belt.

The very best of the Asian Tour have also invaded local shores, counting reigning Order of Merit winner John Catlin of the United States, and LIV Golf mainstay Marc Leishman of Australia are also players to watch.

‘This is a very strong field, probably the strongest [the country] has seen,’ Que said. ‘We just need to not get ahead of ourselves.’

Que tees off at 7:40 a.m., with Tabuena in a marquee group together with Johnson and Oosthuizen that gets it going at 11:40 a.m.

The well-manicured Sta. Elena has been spruced up to world-class shape despite the rains in the past few weeks. And this is exactly why Que feels that the layout poses a big challenge.

But it could still be a high-scoring tournament, considering the caliber of the field that Tabuena said is made up of ‘world-class players who can adjust pretty quick.’

The National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) and other media organizations on Wednesday condemned the murder of radio broadcaster Noel Bellen Samar and urged authorities to bring people behind the attack to justice, as police vowed to make the case their ‘topmost priority.’

Samar, 54, a blocktime commentator of radio station dwIZ and manager of online media platform Kadunong ITV, died around 2 p.m. Tuesday at Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center in Legazpi City. Samar, on Monday. He was shot and wounded by two suspects on separate motorcycles while he was driving his motorcycle along Maharlika Highway at Barangay Morera in Guinobatan town.

‘We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and the entire media community in Bicol as we also urge our colleagues to be cautious in their daily activities,’ NPC president Leonel Abasola said in a statement.

Abasola called on authorities to secure Samar’s family and ensure swift justice for his killing.

‘Every attack on a journalist is an attack on press freedom itself,’ he said, urging government agencies, law enforcement authorities and media workers to work together in addressing violence against journalists.

Political commentaries

Abasola also encouraged media practitioners in the region to report any form of harassment or intimidation to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, noting that similar threats have been reported in Bicol.

In an interview, Ronie Beren, dwIZ station manager, said Samar was ‘a great loss for the company.’

‘He was a professional blocktimer who hosted his program ‘Bull’s Eye’ with passion and integrity. Although we rarely saw him in person since he broadcast remotely, he was consistent in his commentary,’ Beren said.

Samar, he said, mainly tackled political and social issues in his program.

‘We will review all of his aired programs to see if there’s anything that might have offended anyone,’ Beren said.

Reynard Sevillano, chair of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Albay chapter, expressed ‘deep sorrow’ over Samar’s death.

‘We strongly condemn this incident. This tragic event once again sows fear among media practitioners, especially since this is not the first time such a crime has occurred. What is truly disheartening is that many of them remain unresolved and without justice,’ he said.

‘We also appeal to concerned agencies and institutions to provide greater protection and security for journalists,’ Sevillano added.

Ruel Saldico, president of the Bicol Press Club, also urged the government to take stronger action to protect journalists.

‘The media industry wants assurance that justice will be served for the victim. We hope the government will help and support the bereaved family,’ he said.

The Bicol regional police and the Albay provincial police have launched a pursuit and formed the Special Investigation Task Group ‘Samar’ to probe the killing.

In a statement, acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said they had leads in Samar’s murder.

‘We are expediting the process but we also want to ensure that the evidence gathered will stand in court,’ Nartatez said, although he did not give details on information that investigators were pursuing.

Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr., Bicol regional police director, said, ‘Solving this case is our topmost priority. The cold-blooded killing of [Samar] is an outrage that strikes at the heart of our community’s sense of safety and justice.’

‘We will not rest until justice for Noel Samar is served,’ Babagay said.