Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Sorsogon officially entered the Guinness World Records on Thursday for making and cooking the largest ‘pili’ nut brittle, a beloved delicacy deeply rooted in the province’s culture and livelihood.

The record-setting activity served as the highlight of the Kasanggayahan Festival 2025, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to witness the historic event.

Mothers, home cooks, students and workers in ‘pasalubong’ centers were among the 260 volunteers who worked inside the provincial gymnasium, stirring giant vats of caramelized sugar and pili nuts for almost five hours.

‘We were all tired, but when we saw the final product, we were proud. This is for Sorsogon,’ said a volunteer cook who identified herself only as Carmela.

The finished brittle measured 144.16 square meters, or a third of the size of a standard basketball court, with a thickness of 0.59 millimeters. It used 1,430 kilos of pili nuts supplied by local farmers.

Provincial administrator Eric Ravanilla said the record attempt was more than just a competition.

‘This showcased unity and highlighted the importance of the pili industry to our people,’ he said in a Viber message.

About 90 percent of the country’s pili production comes from Bicol, said Lovella Guarin, information officer of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Bicol. DA records show that 13,435 farmers grow pili in 142,405 hectares of plantation in the region.

A number of pili processors have been exporting their products to the United States, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Bhem Berango, information officer of the Department of Trade and Industry in Bicol, said Sorsogon had exported P4.95-million worth of processed pili this year.

Defining moment

Cheers erupted as Austin Clark Johnson, official adjudicator of Guinness World Records, formally declared Sorsogon the record holder for the ‘Largest Nut Brittle/Praline’ (pili kunserba) on Thursday.

Gov. Edwin Hamor called the feat a defining moment for Sorsogon.

‘It’s official . Today, we didn’t just make history but we proved to the world that Sorsogon is truly the Pili Capital of the World,’ Hamor said.

In a telephone interview, Herbie Aguas, Department of Tourism Bicol regional director, said the event was a powerful promotion of the local pili

industry.

‘Sorsogon is home to vast pili plantations. This record puts our product and the people on the world map, which has a positive impact on tourism,’ Aguas said.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended sea travel on Friday morning in the easternmost part of Quezon province due to rough sea conditions caused by Tropical Depression Ramil.

The PCG-Southern Quezon station in this city announced the suspension of trips of all vessels/watercraft plying the route within the easternmost portion of Quezon province (Tagkawayan) due to the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 and the ‘potential effects of 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 said in a public notice signed by Ensign Mario Rey Vics, commander of PCG-Southern Quezon.

Voyage of vessels will resume until further notice and upon improvement of weather and sea conditions, the PCG said.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised TCWS No. 1 in parts of Luzon and the Visayas, where strong winds of 39 to 61 kph may be felt within the next 36 hours.

The weather bureau also warned that Ramil may intensify into a tropical storm or even a severe tropical storm before making landfall.

Pagasa said Ramil may pass close to Catanduanes by Saturday morning or afternoon and could make landfall in Aurora

They say Filipinos know the way to everyone’s heart through food.

Perhaps Jollibee Foods Corp. is the most concrete example of this, with its popular Chickenjoy meals already reaching other continents.

And so, it’s no surprise that it’s emerging as a crowd favorite beyond Manila.

Earlier this week, Jollibee Singapore was hailed by the Straits Times as the fast-food restaurant chain with the best customer service in the city-state, winning the hearts of the majority of the 10,000 respondents.

‘This recognition from the Straits Times is a validation of Jollibee’s DNA-that our brand is not only about great-tasting food, but also about spreading joy through consistently great customer service,’ said Dennis Flores, president of Jollibee Group Emeaa (Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia).

And what better proof is there in the age of social media than online reviews? According to the homegrown fast-food chain led by tycoon Tony Tan Caktiong, most of its stores in Singapore have an average rating of four stars on Google. It received the same grade on aggregator delivery sites in Singapore.

‘We are grateful to our customers in Singapore for their trust and appreciation, and we remain committed to providing them with both the delicious meals they love and the service they deserve,’ Flores added.

Well-deserved! -Meg J. Adonis

Nuclear dream alive and well

Tycoon Manuel Pangilinan isn’t letting go of his nuclear dreams for Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), with a fresh batch of nuke scholars flying abroad for training.

Seven additional Meralco engineers are set to gain global knowledge on nuclear, particularly from France, Canada, and South Korea.

Just like the first wave of nuclear hopefuls, the new scholars will also be sent to nuclear technology firms for their internship before returning to the Philippines.

According to the group, Meralco Power Academy has teamed up with globally recognized academic institutions to provide its scholars access to cutting-edge nuclear laboratories, join research on small and micro modular reactors, and be trained by leading nuclear technology companies.

‘We are investing in the future of energy by equipping Filipino engineers with the specialized knowledge and global experience needed in the country’s adoption of nuclear power,’ said Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho.

‘This initiative reflects Meralco’s commitment to building a future-ready energy workforce and supporting the development of safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear energy for the Philippines,’ the executive added. -Lisbet K. Esmael INQ

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has set another hearing with former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez on Wednesday, October 22, ICI executive director Brian Hosaka said.

In a press briefing on Friday, Hosaka said that the commission decided to conduct the second hearing with Romualdez next week to carefully review his affidavit from the first hearing.

‘The commission wanted to go through the affidavit carefully and to read it. To be able to prepare and ask questions,’ Hosaka said.

It was on Tuesday, October 14, when Romualdez faced the ICI after receiving an invitation to ‘discuss his familiarity and personal knowledge as Speaker of the House relative to the National Budget insertions, and as well as the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) flood control projects.’

During the first hearing, Hosaka said the former House speaker denied allegations that he received kickbacks in the implementation of government infrastructure projects in the country.

Romualdez is among the lawmakers implicated in the infrastructure corruption scandal after a former security consultant of resigned Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Zaldy Co accused him of receiving kickbacks from government projects-an allegation he has since denied.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said the government will continue working to ensure that Cebuanos affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck last September 30 can get back on their feet.

In a brief statement following his visit to the Tent City in Bogo City-the epicenter of the temblor-Marcos said he was pleased with the progress in the area compared to his last visit on October 2.

‘We are back here to revisit the hospital and the two Tent Cities to inspect whether we have already delivered the necessary aid to the victims-those who were displaced and lost their homes during the recent earthquake. That’s why we’re here,’ he said.

‘I’m happy to report that everyone whose homes were damaged now has a place to stay, even if it’s just a tent for now,’ Marcos also said.

He also said, ‘For now I think we are okay. We will keep working to make sure everybody is okay, everybody is healthy, and everybody has what they need.’

The President expressed his gratitude to responders and all those who assisted the quake-stricken residents.

‘AI would like to express my gratitude to all our first responders, volunteers, and government agencies. The response has been commendable. I believe we can take pride in assuring our people that whenever there is a need, the government will always be there,’ he said.

Furthermore, he commended the Philippine Red Cross for its initiative to set up makeshift swimming pools for children in the Tent City.

‘The children were understandably shaken by the earthquake-they lost their homes and had to relocate here. But at least now, you can see them laughing and playing again. That means a lot for the mental well-being of our young people,’ he said.

During his visit, Marcos went to the Bayanihan Village in San Remigio town to inspect the modular shelter units turned over by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development for the quake victims.

He then proceeded to the Cebu Provincial Hospital and Tent City, both located in Bogo City.

The September 30 temblor was triggered by an ‘on-land extension of the newly-named Bogo Bay Fault,’ according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

This resulted in 79 reported fatalities, 559 injured people, and destruction to properties.

Hardly have ‘nepo babies’ faded from social media posts, when a video of another form of toxic entitlement went viral over the weekend: a Lexus with blinkers on and protocol plate No. 10 had apparently been involved in a road rage incident, which showed the car’s driver slapping the driver of the multicab for allegedly getting in the way of the ‘VIP’ he was transporting. As one of the SUV’s passengers was heard saying: ‘VIP kami, ginanon kami. Eh kung nabaril namin ‘yan? Delikado ‘yang ginagawa mo, pare!’

That VIP turned out to be Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Special Concerns Ricky Alfonso who has yet to explain to his bosses, Acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez and Land Transportation Office Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao, why he was using the protocol plate meant exclusively for judges of the Court of Appeals and the Sandiganbayan.

Alfonso has since gone on leave, his driver terminated, and investigation into the incident ongoing, said Lopez who also ordered the revocation of protocol license plates issued to officials of the DOTr and its attached agencies.

The restricted use of protocol plates is in accordance with Executive Order No. 56 issued by President Marcos, who authorized it only for top level officials, from the president to senators, House representatives, judges of the Supreme Court, the Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals and Tax Appeals, the military and police chiefs, and so on. While Cabinet secretaries are included in the list, nowhere was there mention of undersecretaries.

Edsa busway

The President’s Administrative Order No. 18 meanwhile prohibited officials from using sirens, blinkers, and similar devices in their motor vehicles.

The incident involving Alfonso recalls similar instances of traffic violations among government officials over the use of the Edsa busway exclusively meant for public buses, ambulances, and marked government vehicles responding to emergencies.

Among those who flaunted their privilege were relatives and staff of two sitting senators, a woman who name-dropped a general, and a movie star turned politician who called out authorities for letting people like him stew in traffic, while the carousel lane had room enough for more than buses.

That Alfonso, a DOTr official-who presumably knows traffic rules-would wantonly violate them shows the skewed sense of entitlement among government officials who hold themselves above the law. The incidents raise questions about the accountability of ‘VIP’ personnel who abuse the perks and privileges of their position. Shouldn’t they hold themselves up as role models to taxpayers who pay their salaries?

Level the playing field

By stripping officials of such VIP-style privileges, Lopez showed how political will can level the playing field to ensure that traffic rules apply equally to all drivers.

Lopez had earlier required senior officials of the DOTr to commute to work at least once a week, starting Sept. 17, 2025. The mandate was meant to ensure that officials would have firsthand experience on the challenges and predicament faced by commuters that would hopefully help them craft more responsive transportation policies. Is this directive still in place? Can the agency post the weekly reports required of its officials that would include proof of their commute, like tickets or time-stamped photos?

In his notice to explain to Alfonso, Lopez emphasized that government officials are constitutionally duty-bound to ‘be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, and act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.’

Exactly. While the Lexus was found to not be Alfonso’s personal property, what was he doing tooling around in a luxury vehicle whose blinkers were meant to part traffic so he could pass through smoothly instead of enduring the traffic woes of the rest of us mere mortals?

Collective disgust

If former DOTr chief Vince Dizon could order the agency to automatically suspend the license of erring motorists for 90 days, shouldn’t Lopez put DOTr officials to a higher standard?

As Lacanilao vowed, the agency is committed to enforcing all laws and regulations ‘without fear or favor, regardless of position or title.’ For a start, the agency can make an example of Alfonso to show it means business. He has betrayed the public trust, and shouldn’t that merit more than just indefinite suspension?

With people’s collective disgust over corruption spilling over, officials shedding their entitlements could at least appease a public already chomping at the bit over the long-drawn out investigations and conviction of the guilty behind the flood control mess.

Malacañang should start the process of imposing accountability, and revoke all special license plates, except for top officials including judges. Revoking such a privilege should make public officials identify with the sufferings of the common people whom they profess to serve.

A Nueva Vizcaya court has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest protesters defying a temporary restraining order (TRO) against demonstrations in Dupax del Norte, after upholding the legality of a mining company’s exploration permit.

Based on the order issued on Oct. 16, 2025, Judge Paul Attolba Jr. of the Bayombong Regional Trial Court Branch 30 directed the PNP to fully implement a standing TRO against protesters and ‘to arrest any persons who willfully disobey, obstruct, or resist the implementation of the said Order, and to file appropriate charges against them for indirect contempt of court and other offenses under existing laws.’

Attolba issued the order due to non-implementation of previous TRO orders ‘brought about by the hostile acts and resistance of the persons maintaining a barricade at the road going to the exploration site.’

The judge through the order explained that when such lawful orders are resisted ‘those responsible may be held in contempt of court’ based on Rule 71, Section 3(b) of the Rules of Court, which provides that a person guilty of ‘disobedience of or resistance to a lawful writ, process, order, or judgment of a court may be punished for indirect contempt.’

‘The TRO issued by this Court is a lawful and binding judicial order that must be respected by all persons, whether parties to the case or not,’ the order read.

‘Willful defiance thereof not only constitutes contempt of court but also an act obstructing the administration of justice, for which those responsible may be arrested and prosecuted,’ it added.

Attolba first issued an initial 72-hour TRO on October 10, 2025, which was later extended to 20 days, or until October 30, 2025.

The TRO was issued in favor of mining company Woggle Corporation, whose Exploration Permit covers 3,101.11 hectares across five barangays in Dupax del Norte.

Woggle Corporation earlier sought the court’s intervention after local residents and environmental groups continued to stage protests against its exploration activities, claiming potential environmental and social impacts on ancestral lands.

Trisha Tubu led the Farm Fresh Foxies to their best franchise start after keeping her squad unbeaten in two games in the PVL Reinforced Conference-the self-confessed favorite tournament of the power-hitting standout because battling against foreign opposition motivates her.

Tubu unleashed 21 points on an efficient 19-of-32 attacking clip to lead Farm Fresh’s 25-19, 25-20, 25-16 sweep of the undermanned Cignal for a 2-0 lead in Pool A on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

‘This is probably our best start to a conference. In past conferences, we usually opened with a loss. But now, we’re starting 2-0, and hopefully we keep it going in the next games,’ Tubu told the Inquirer in Filipino. ‘Every team is competitive since they all have their own imports. As for me, I know I have to do my part. It’s been super exciting because we’re up against a different level of talent now.’

The 24-year-old spiker, who opted to turn pro after one year with Adamson in the UAAP, relished the Foxies rise, giving the credit to coach Alessandro Lodi’s system and culture and the guidance of Ces Molina, Rachel Anne Daquis, Ria Meneses and Jheck Dionela, who are all former Cignal HD Spikers, and rookie setter Alohi Robins-Hardy.

‘I’ve been with the team for quite a while now, and I’ve experienced different coaches and systems. But what stands out with Coach Lodi is that he really wants us to be united. He always says, ‘If one of us has a problem, we all do,’ said Tubu.

‘We used to lack veterans who could guide us mentally, especially when dealing with losses. Sometimes we’d wonder, what are we missing? The skills are there, those can be developed. But what we really lacked was grit, that fighting spirit on the court. The veterans remind us all the time, ‘We’ll receive for you, don’t overthink. If you get blocked, we’ve got your back.’

Tubu believes that Farm Fresh has a good mix of veterans and young players, including Rizza Cruz, Alyssa Bertolano, Jolina Dela Cruz, Lorene Toring, Louie Romero, Ann Monares and Belgian import Eli Rousseaux, who all led to the franchise’s best start.

‘Our team is really a good mix of veterans and young players, and everyone contributes their own ideas. I think that’s a big reason why we’re growing and becoming more solid as a unit. We trust each other,’ she said. ‘There’s no pressure anymore to rely on just one person to score or carry the team. The load is more balanced now, and it makes the game more fun to play. Everything just flows smoothly and easily.’

Rousseaux, who debuted with 38 points last week, delivered 17 points and 11 digs, while Ces Molina haunted her ex-team with 11 points.

Tubu is eager to keep Farm Fresh’s momentum going as she battles top rookie Bella Belen-interestingly, the last player she faced in the UAAP Season 85 in Adamson’s Final Four loss to National University two years ago-on Tuesday next week at the same venue.

The Super Spikers missed Vanie Gandler due to a minor injury, and coach Shaq Delos Santos, who is recovering from the flu in the hospital. Deputy Rico De Guzman called the shots.

Greek import Eva Chantava was the lone bright spot for Cignal with 13 points and seven receptions. Ishie Lalongisip had six points, while PVL on Tour MVP Erika Santos was limited to two points. INQ

Most ‘old’ people use artificial intelligence, or AI, like Google. They ask a question, AI answers. That is the simplest, most basic use of a tool that is slowly shaping our lives, whether we like it or not. In discussions on the use of AI in higher education last year, anxious colleagues did not agree with my position that AI is a tool that we all need to learn to use to move forward. The use of AI for research or writing is still generally seen to be a breach of academic ethics and integrity. I argued that if we follow this line of thinking our colleagues in the sciences and math should ditch calculators and computers for pen, paper, and mental calculation.

I remember the fierce debates that came in the wake of the introduction of affordable Japanese-made pocket calculators in the Philippines. Our grade school math teachers were horrified that the tasks they tortured their students with could then be easily accomplished in seconds. Math teachers at the time believed calculators would dull our minds because they made the multiplication table obsolete. A lone voice spoke in favor of calculator use: our teacher, Mr. Bustamante, who argued that if the principles of math were properly taught and understood, along with calculator use in the primary grades, we would be doing integral calculus by Grade 6. Half a century later, even with calculators, calculus at Grade 6 is still an unreachable dream.

The issue was later reduced not to calculator use, but to the unfair advantage this gave to those whose parents could afford one. The solution was that calculators would be allowed during tests, provided every student had one. In those early days, calculators were battery-operated and had a luminous screen; those powered by light with more legible liquid crystal screens were like science fiction.

In those days, it was difficult to get a telephone line; many had to endure the ‘party line,’ literally shared by two subscribers, which brought out the worst in Filipino behavior. There was no established phone etiquette, so people in conversation would hog the line for hours. We called that ‘telebabad,’ and got angry when the party line interrupted to ask for time on the phone. People would fight over the shared line, exchange expletives, and hang up the phone so the party line could not be used. Long-distance calls were expensive and required passing through an operator. All that seems Jurassic now, in the age of smartphones and messaging apps, like Viber or WhatsApp, that allow international video calls for free.

As an Apple user since high school, I was devastated when I stepped into college, where some teachers refused to accept a dot matrix printout of my papers because it was technically not ‘typewritten.’ With Doreen Fernandez as my freshman English teacher, I learned to love research, but dreaded writing it up because it had to be typewritten with footnotes, endnotes, and bibliography using ‘Turabian.’ This was the kiddie version of the University of Chicago citation style aimed at college research papers that are not meant for publication in academic journals. When my nieces were into the spells and incantations of Harry Potter, I added some to their repertoire that came from my college research papers: ibid. (ibidem ‘in the same place), loc cit (loco citato ‘in the place cited’), op cit (opere citato ‘in the work cited’), inf (infra ‘below’), sup (supra ‘above’), etc. To this, I also added what I saw in my grandmother’s prayer books, uttered forcefully as ‘nihil obstat’ (no objection) and ‘imprimatur’ (let it be printed).

The first challenge in the freshman English paper was typing out the body of the text within invisible margins on short bond paper. This was done by drawing a heavy black border on a piece of paper with a broad-tipped Pentel pen and using this as a guide behind the paper you were typing on. More complicated were the footnotes that required delicate turning of the platen knob to put them in place. Mistakes were fixed with white eraser ribbons or ink. Things are simpler today, with Microsoft Word that can literally cut-and-paste text and automatically place and number footnotes. Citations are handled by the Zotero app.

While all these trials in school and university formed me into the historian I am today, I do not wish these on my students. AI challenges higher education to rethink the assessments we have been doing for decades. Reading assignments and reports, which are staples of university life, were first challenged by ‘CliffsNotes’ that provided summaries and analyses of required texts. Now, AI can take a ‘deep dive.’ Students can tune out of class lectures by recording a professor and asking AI to transcribe, summarize, analyze, and reduce everything to bullet points. AI requires basic skills, like reading long texts. AI-generated summary and analysis remain in the smartphone, not in the mind. AI requires critical thinking to validate the information provided and to know whether AI is correct or wrong. AI learns from your questions and prompts. Will it be able to write my columns? That remains to be seen.

Tropical Depression Ramil maintained its strength as it moves west-southwestward toward the country on Friday afternoon, with 17 areas in Luzon and Visayas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, said the weather bureau.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Ramil was last spotted 640 kilometers (km) east of Juban, Sorsogon, carrying maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour (km/h) and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

It is currently moving at 25 km/h.

‘On the forecast track, the center of Ramil may make landfall over Catanduanes tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 18) afternoon,’ said Pagasa in its latest typhoon bulletin.

Meanwhile, Ramil is forecast to further intensify to the tropical storm category within the next 12 hours as it moves over the Philippine Sea.

‘Further intensification into a severe tropical storm prior to landfall is not ruled out,’ said Pagasa.

With this, Signal No. 1 (winds of 39-61 km/h may be expected in at least 36 hours, along with intermittent rains) is up in the following areas:

Luzon

The southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue)

The eastern and southern portions of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan)

The southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda)

Aurora

The eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Pantabangan, Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, San Jose City, Llanera, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, Peñaranda, City of Gapan)

The eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso)

The northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc) including Pollilo Islands

Camarines Norte

Camarines Sur

Catanduanes

Albay

Sorsogon,

Burias Island

Ticao Island

Visayas

Northern Samar

The northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid)

The northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge)