Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Response time to 911 calls sped up by 39.6 percent in the past month, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday.

In a statement, the PNP said its average response time improved from 4.62 minutes to 2.79 minutes from Sept. 11 to Oct. 17, 2025.

Further, it said the revamped 911 system handled 19,761 ‘legitimate’ emergency calls during the said period, with only 2,736 found to be prank calls.

Although it did not provide a more detailed breakdown of the calls made to the system from Sept. 11 to Oct. 17, the PNP noted that there were 3,539 calls for traffic-related incidents and 5,302 calls for public order disturbances.

‘To prevent abuse of the system, the Unified 911 is also equipped with an automated filtering and blocking mechanism that detects repeat prank or nuisance calls,’ the PNP explained.

‘Once flagged, the offending number is automatically blocked from making further calls to the hotline – ensuring that emergency lines remain open for genuine distress calls,’ it added.

The revamped 911 system was launched last Sept. 11 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, combining the police, hospital and fire emergency services.

Not even a week has passed since Emma Tiglao was crowned as Miss Grand International 2025, and she immediately got to work, gracing a show at the Bangkok International Fashion Week.

Tiglao, who made a historic back-to-back win for the Philippines at the Miss Grand International tilt, started her duties by penning a heartfelt message to the Thai-based pageant organization on Instagram on Sunday, Oct. 19.

‘With a heart overflowing with gratitude. I am still in awe that this dream has become my reality. Thank you, Miss Grand International Organization @missgrandinternational, Papa @nawat.tv, Mama @teresa.mgi, for trusting me with this once-in-a-lifetime honor,’ she said.

The beauty queen also thanked her countrymen for standing by her pageant journey, saying their support is proof of how Filipinos can ‘stand as one nation, one heart, and one voice.’

‘To my beloved fellow Filipinos – this journey became our story because of you. Your ‘1 million heart reacts’ were more than just likes; they were symbols of bayanihan, of unity, of love that echoed across the world. You showed everyone what it truly means to stand as one nation, one heart, and one voice,’ she said.

‘From the very beginning until this moment, you held my hand through every step, every challenge, and every triumph. For that, my heart beats with gratitude,’ she continued.

Tiglao, looking elegant in a fur midi dress with strategic cut-outs and long sleeves, then made her first appearance as the reigning titleholder at the FlyNow show of the Bangkok International Fashion Week.

‘Let’s get started! Stepping into my first moment as your Miss Grand International 2025 here at Bangkok International Fashion Week 2025,’ she captioned her post.

A pageant veteran in her own right, Tiglao first competed at Mutya ng Pilipinas 2012, Binibining Pilipinas 2014, Miss World Philippines 2015, Binibining Pilipinas 2019, and Miss Intercontinental 2019, before earning the right to represent the Philippines at the Miss Grand International 2025 tilt.

Aside from the coveted golden crown, Tiglao bagged the Country’s Power of the Year award, which automatically secured her Top 22 spot.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public against buying counterfeit rabies vaccines after it received reports regarding the circulation and administration of the fake products in various health facilities, establishments, and unauthorized distribution channels.

Data from the Department of Health shows that there have been 260 cases of rabies recorded in the country from January to Sept. 20 this year.

It urged the public, including health-care professionals, to only buy rabies vaccines from licensed drug establishments.

The FDA said a facility’s license to operate and the registration status of a vaccine can be checked through its online verification portal: verification.fda.gov.ph.

The public may also report suspected counterfeit vaccines by sending an email to the FDA at [email protected], by clicking the ‘Report’ tab at fda.gov.ph, or by calling the Center for Drug Regulation and Research through its telephone No. (02) 8809-5596.

Those who may be experiencing adverse drug reactions may also file a report through the link: bit.ly/FDAPHReportSideEffect. -GILLIAN VILLANUEVA

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Monday condemned the shooting of radio broadcaster Noel Bellen Samar in Guinobatan, Albay, calling it an attack on press freedom.

Samar, 54, who is affiliated with Kadunong ITV and DWIZ in Legazpi City, was shot at around 9 a.m. along Maharlika Highway in Morera village.

He sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen and is undergoing critical medical treatment at a local hospital.

The Philippine National Police launched a nationwide manhunt for the assailant and has activated a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG ‘Samar’) to lead the probe and gather evidence.

‘More than just hunting down the gunman or gunmen, it is crucial that we uncover the motive behind this heinous attack and bring the masterminds to justice,’ Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr., PTFoMS executive director said in a statement.

‘This act of violence is not only an attack on Mr. Samar but also an assault on press freedom in the country. We must send a strong message that such acts will not be tolerated,’ he added.

Torres said PTFoMS has deployed a team on the ground and is closely monitoring the investigation to ensure it is ‘thorough, impartial, and swift.’

Tropical Storm Fengshen, locally known as Ramil, exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday morning but continued to bring strong winds to parts of Luzon, the state weather agency said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that in its 11 a.m. bulletin, Pagasa recorded Ramil’s location at around 440 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

It was moving northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph) and was expected to continue to move northwestward to westward on Monday before turning west-southwestward on Tuesday morning.

Ramil had maximum sustained winds of 85 kph and gusts of up to 105 kph, Pagasa added.

While no wind signals were raised, Pagasa warned that the trough of Ramil and the easterlies would whip up strong winds over the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Occidental Mindoro.

Rough seas were also expected off the coast of those areas within the next 24 hours, Pagasa also reported.

Ramil made four landfalls in Luzon while the central and southern portions of the country were still recovering from a series of strong earthquakes.

The cyclone’s onslaught left seven people dead, including two children.

In total, it affected 133,196 people in four regions, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Additionally, 375 classrooms in Luzon were damaged by Ramil, the Department of Education reported on Sunday evening.

Bang Pineda has always been a disruptor in the Philippine fashion scene – a designer unafraid to push boundaries, blur lines, and question the very rules of style.

This October 22, 2025, he returns with his much-anticipated fashion show, State of Bang, staged at the iconic Tower One and Exchange Plaza, Ayala Triangle Gardens.

This new collection is not just about clothes. It’s a trilogy of thought, movement, and rebellion. Three narratives – White Noise, In the Gray, and Off Grid – each capturing a state of being, a question of identity, and a challenge to convention.

White Noise: The Shape of Curiosity

Pineda opens with purity – but not the fragile kind. His all-white series asks: what does it mean to wonder?

The silhouettes sculpt armor out of innocence, while draped fabrics become visual metaphors for questions taking shape.

White becomes less about absence and more about potential – a blank canvas for discovery. Sheer layers expose the bravery of vulnerability, while cutouts symbolize gaps in knowledge waiting to be filled.

It’s not silence, and it’s not chaos. It’s curiosity, raw and awake.

In the Gray: The Art of Becoming

The second act is a meditation on limbo – that uncomfortable, unresolved middle ground between what was and what will be.

Here, shades of gray dominate: from soft ash to deep charcoal. The garments are intentionally imperfect, with raw seams, asymmetry, and unfinished drapes. These choices reflect the beauty of transition, the strength of uncertainty, and the elegance of being ‘in progress.’

This is fashion that doesn’t demand answers – it simply honors the tension of becoming.

Off Grid: Rules Rewritten in Denim

The finale is loud, rebellious, and unapologetic. Streetwear at its most evolved, Off Grid reimagines denim not as tradition, but as a manifesto. Distressed, patched, oversized, and splashed with unexpected colors, denim here becomes the uniform of refusal – a refusal to be boxed in or defined.

Silhouettes are broken and rebuilt. Jackets move like questions. Pants twist with perspective. Hoodies carry unexpected structures. The language is clear: freedom, disruption, and unapologetic individuality.

It’s streetwear not as nostalgia, but as mindset: unboxed, unbothered, and unapologetic.

The State of Bang

Together, the three narratives form a conversation: the spark of curiosity, the tension of transition, and the rebellion of self-definition.

State of Bang is less a fashion collection and more an exploration of the human condition – how we ask, how we change, and how we claim space.

On October 22, Pineda isn’t just showing clothes. He’s showing states of being. And true to his form, he’s showing us that fashion is not just about what we wear – it’s about how we move through the world.

Defending champion San Miguel Beer finally entered the win column in the PBA Philippine Cup after leaning on CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter to beat Rain or Shine, 111-93, on Sunday at Ynares Center in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Perez scored 23 points on top of six rebounds, four assists and two steals while Lassiter bucked what looked like a severe hit on his nose to make all of his 18 in the second half as the Beermen ended an unusual 0-2 start in their title defense.

June Mar Fajardo added 17 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two steals while Juami Tiongson chipped in 11 for San Miguel.

San Miguel won after dropping its first two matches at the hands of NLEX and Phoenix while also picking up some momentum going to Dubai when it plays sibling rival Barangay Ginebra next Sunday.

Adrian Nocum scored 17, Jhonard Clarito posted 16 points and nine rebounds and skipper Gian Mamuyac got 16 but Rain or Shine dropped to 1-1 which spoiled the debut of veteran guard Stanley Pringle.

Pringle made 11 points and four assists for the Elasto Painters, whose next opponent are the Blackwater Bossing on Friday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

It was close encounter until the latter stretch of the second with Tiongson hitting some shots and Perez knocking down a four-point shot before the horn that made it 46-34 for the Beermen at the break.

Lassiter shook off the inadvertent hit he sustained from a driving Santi Santillan with less than seven minutes to play in the second and connected on three triples in the third that enabled San Miguel to sustain its double-digit advantage for most of the way.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended sea travel on Sunday morning, October 19, in the provinces of Romblon, Marinduque, and Batangas due to rough sea conditions caused by Tropical Storm Ramil.

The PCG stations in the three provinces announced the temporary suspension of voyages for all vessels and watercraft traveling within their respective area of responsibilities starting 5 a.m., citing the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 and the possible effects of the inclement weather.

‘All vessels are reminded to take precautionary measures and be extra vigilant in monitoring the movement of the typhoon if deemed to be affected by said weather disturbance,’ the PCG in Romblon, Marinduque, and Batangas said in a public advisory posted on their respective Facebook pages.

Voyages will resume only upon improvement of weather and sea conditions, the PCG said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s 5 a.m. update warned: ‘Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels. All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside.’

In its latest update, Ramil was located over the coastal waters of Alabat, Quezon.

Ramil is moving at 25 km per hour (kph) west northwestward, carrying maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 90 kph.

The state weather bureau predicted that Ramil will make another landfall over the vicinity of Quezon province on Sunday morning. Ramil made its first landfall in Gubat, Sorsogon past 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 18.

After making landfall in Quezon, Ramil was forecast to traverse the Southern-Central Luzon landmass before emerging over the coastal waters of Pangasinan or Zambales in the afternoon or evening, Pagasa said.

‘It will then continue moving generally northwestward until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tomorrow (20 October) morning or noon,’ it added.

Marcio Lassiter felt it was imperative to shake off getting elbowed in the nose and help defending champion San Miguel Beer end a winless start in the PBA Philippine Cup.

Lassiter scored all of his 18 points in the second half to emerge as one of the main reasons why the Beermen defeated the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 111-93, on Sunday at Ynares Center in Rodriguez, Rizal.

That despite Lassiter having to be taken to the locker room with 6:59 left in the second quarter when he got hit inadvertently by a driving Santi Santillan in what he described as something that happened ‘in the blink of an eye.’

‘I’m just glad that I was able to come back because I’m not sure if I have to be rushed to the hospital or what not,’ said Lassiter.

‘But I just want to help the coaches, help my teammates out in getting this win because we’re desperate because we’re at 0-2, and we can’t afford to go down 0-3,’ added Lassiter, who plans to have his nose checked out.

The 38-year-old went 7-of-14 from the field, with three coming from the three-point arc along with six rebounds in 21 minutes for the Beermen.

He was averaging 8.5 points on 50-percent shooting with 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 2.0 steals in the first two games when San Miguel lost to NLEX and Phoenix.

‘Everyone plays through injuries, and mine probably looked worse and I hope it’s nothing,’ Lassiter said. ‘But you do have to sacrifice and those sacrifices, hopefully, motivate everyone to come out and play harder. And we know that there’s a sense of urgency coming out tonight.’

Due to inclement weather brought by Tropical Storm Ramil, 16 flights in and out of Manila on Sunday were canceled, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) announced.

According to Caap, 1,748 passengers were supposedly onboard for the 16 flights altogether.

Listed below are the canceled flights:

Philippine Airlines

PAL2014, Manila to Tuguegarao

PAL2015, Tuguegarao to Manila

PAL2932, Manila to Basco

PAL2933, Basco to Manila

PAL2688, Manila to Basco

PAL2689, Basco to Manila

Cebu Pacific Air

CEB506, Manila to Tuguegarao

CEB507, Tuguegarao to Manila

CEB508, Manila to Tuguegarao

CEB509, Tuguegarao to Manila

CEB196, Manila to Cauayan

CEB197, Cauayan to Manila

CebGo

SRQ6113, Manila to Naga

SRQ6114, Naga to Manila

SRQ6117, Manila to Naga

SRQ6118, Naga to Manila

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was raised in Manila on Sunday as Tropical Storm Ramil moves closer to a landfall in Quezon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration.