Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Leyte First District Rep. Martin Romualdez attends the Independent Commission on Infrastructure’s probe on flood-control anomalies on Tuesday, October 14.

Romualdez says he is willing to share all the information he knows with the investigation body.

Easterlies and localized thunderstorms will affect parts of Luzon and Visayas on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the weather bureau said.

In its 5 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that the following areas will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms due to easterlies, the hot and humid winds from the Pacific Ocean.

Metro Manila

Calabarzon

Bicol Region

Eastern Visayas

Cagayan

Isabela

Nueva Vizcaya

Quirino

Aurora

Nueva Ecija

Bulacan

Marinduque

Oriental Mindoro

The rest of Luzon and Visayas will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

In Mindanao, localized thunderstorms will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Low-pressure area

Meanwhile, the low-pressure area being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has a medium chance of developing into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours.

‘But in the coming days, the possibility of it developing into a full-fledged storm is increasing,’ Pagasa’s weather specialist Chenel Dominguez said during a weather forecast.

She added that the LPA is likely to enter PAR on Thursday or Friday and will be locally named Ramil.

The LPA was last spotted 1,785 kilometers east of Southern Mindanao. /mcm/abc

Patrick Sleat has been one of the more dynamic players in the Perpetual Help lineup despite being a newcomer.

The former Far Eastern University guard has his teammates to thank for that.

‘I guess I really have to give the most credit to my teammates because they really welcomed me,’ Sleat said, fresh off a 72-67 win over Arellano at Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.

‘When I got here last year, everyone was excited. I used last year as preparation to get to know my future teammates.’

Sustaining his fine form, Sleat contributed big once more for the Altas against the Chiefs.

Sleat did a bit of everything with 12 points, three rebounds, three blocks, one assist and a steal to keep Perpetual Help spotless after four games. The last time the Altas opened the season 4-0 was in 2015, when Scottie Thompson and Bright Akhuetie were running the show.

‘I guess our bond outside the court is getting stronger and that bond is showing inside the court,’ said Sleat, who was named NCAA Player of the Week after averaging 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1 steal and 1.8 blocks.

The Altas shoot for a fifth straight win on Wednesday against Letran at San Juan Arena.

Chery Tiggo may have lost its first two games to start the PVL Reinforced Conference, but Mylene Paat was grateful to finally return to action after being out for more than a year due to a shoulder injury.

Paat suffered a supraspinatus tear-a muscle in the rotator cuff-in her left shoulder that required her to go under the knife. ‘Honestly, I was so happy. I didn’t expect to be on the court that long today. So my mindset has always been: every time I get subbed in, I’ll give my best and perform,’ said Paat, who contributed eight points off the bench in Chery Tiggo’s 25-11, 22-25, 29-27, 17-25, 15-7 loss to Akari on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

‘And I’m just really grateful that my coaches are starting to trust me more, even if I’m not yet 100 percent back to form.’

The former league MVP reflected on her journey, stressing the importance of mental strength and a strong support system.

‘I went through a lot. But even during those tough times, I never completely left training. While the team was practicing, I’d be there too, recovering on the sidelines. So I still saw what was going on, I still felt connected,’ said Paat. ‘During my recovery, there were so many ups and downs, or honestly, more like downs, downs, and more downs. But now, I feel like I’m slowly rising again.’

‘Mental strength is everything, especially after an injury like this. This was the most major injury I’ve ever had. But I think it actually helped me become mentally tougher. I learned a lot about patience, especially since my recovery took so long,’ she added.

The former Alas Pilipinas captain thanked her husband and Kazakh volleyball player Sergey Rezanov, who pushed her to keep going amid adversities.

‘Even when we were apart, he’d call me just to say things like, ‘It’s time for your range of motion exercises,’ and kept pushing me to stay consistent. He always reminded me, ‘Don’t get lazy. This is your path. And if you ever go back to zero, embrace it. Go through everything,’ she said. ‘I’m really thankful to him-he’s been such a big part of my comeback, encouraging me to push and play again.’

As she continues to regain her old form, Paat preaches patience as she continues to work her way into regaining her old form.

‘Even if I don’t get something right the first or second time, I know I’ll get it eventually. It’s all about sticking with it,’ Paat said. ‘What we need now is to finish strong. Endgame execution. We need more composure during those crucial moments and tighter sets. It’s all about our mentality, staying calm and tough inside the court.’

Chery Tiggo tries to get into the winning column against Petro Gazz on Saturday in Ilagan City.

The House of Representatives on Monday voted 287-12-2 to pass the P6.793-trillion national budget bill on third and final reading before it adjourned for its monthlong break, even as the specter of unprogrammed appropriations (UA) and other ‘pork’ projects still hung over its version.

In a speech addressing the plenary, Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III said House Bill (HB) No. 4058 might not be perfect, but ‘we made sure nothing was hidden, nothing was concealed, with the goal to ensure that every penny of the tax paid by our citizens is given back to them in the form of opportunities, services, and hope.’

Among the salient provisions of HB 4058 is the P1.28-trillion allocation for the education cluster – the highest in the country’s history – as well as the reduced budget for the Office of the Vice President to P733 million after Vice President Sara Duterte repeatedly refused to defend her office’s proposal.

The bill also retains the P255-billion cut from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and which was realigned mainly to the agriculture (+P53.7 billion) and the health (+P90.7 billion) sectors.

Appropriations committee chair and Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing called this year’s budget cycle ‘unprecedented,’ citing efforts such as inviting civil society watchdogs as ‘nonvoting observers’ and abolishing the practice of convening the notoriously opaque small committee and replacing it with the public budget amendments review subcommittee.

Problematic provisions

However, the 12 lawmakers who voted against HB 4058 said the chamber still ‘missed the call of the times’ to craft a truly responsive bill when it voted to retain several problematic provisions in the House general appropriations bill (GAB).

Those who voted ‘No’ acknowledged Suansing’s efforts at reforms, but ‘why did we still insist on P250 billion for unprogrammed funds?’ Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice asked.

Civil society watchdogs have been calling for the abolition of the UA, which are standby funds that can be tapped only when new revenue or loans materialize, amid revelations that they have been used to fund anomalous government projects.

‘This budget process was our opportunity to answer the persistent calls from the people to expunge the vestiges of corruption. But we still missed the call of the times,’ Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña said.

Echoed Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno: ‘(This is basically) P243 billion that is simply handed over to the Executive even though it is not clear how it will be used and where it will go.’

‘Not only should it be zeroed, but it should be NO, NO,’ Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima noted.

‘Pork,’ patronage

Beyond the UA, other lawmakers also noted that the 2026 House GAB still fell short of the needs of the vulnerable and the marginalized.

Kabataan Rep. Renee Co, for example, noted that a closer look at the allocations for the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education would show that students would get only around P100 a day, in contrast to P2,522 per policeman and P4,629 per soldier per day.

Representatives Sarah Elago (Gabriela) and Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers), meanwhile, echoed budget watchdogs’ concerns over the additional P32.06 billion for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation; the P14.82 billion increase in the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers; and the increase of P26.73 billion for the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients programs. Tinio specifically criticized the guaranteed share of each legislator in the DPWH’s P881.3-billion budget, which amounts to P230 million per congressman and P3.2 billion per senator.

Former Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday said he is willing to publicize his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) should the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) require it.

Romualdez said this after attending an ICI hearing where he was invited to discuss his ‘familiarity and personal knowledge’ on insertions in the national budget and flood control projects.

Asked if he would be willing to publicize his SALN if needed in the investigation, the lawmaker responded in the affirmative.

‘I will do [so] at the [insistence] of the commission,’ said Romualdez during a chance interview after the hearing.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka said he would inform the commission members about Romualdez’s willingness to make his SALN public.

‘We’ll probably take that up in the commission and I’ll inform the three,’ said Hosaka.

‘If they decide to ask the former speaker about his SALN, then probably they will do that in the next few weeks,’ he added.

Newly installed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla previously announced that he intends to make SALNs of public officials public.

He is also planning to subject them to lifestyle checks. /apl

The state weather bureau is monitoring two low-pressure areas (LPA), one of which is inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the LPA outside PAR, designated as 10e, has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours, although it may become one in the coming days.

LPA 10e was located 1,780 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao.

Another LPA, identified as 10f, is located inside PAR but is unlikely to develop into a tropical depression within 24 hours. It was located over the coastal waters of Vinzons, Camarines Norte.

Meanwhile, Pagasa’s prior forecast said that easterlies – the hot and humid wind coming from the Pacific Ocean – and localized thunderstorms might bring cloudy skies and scattered rains across the Philippines.

Pagasa encourages the public to continue monitoring updates for further developments. /apl/abc

Cavite Rep. Francisco ‘Kiko’ Barzaga arrived late and missed his own ethics hearing in the House of Representatives on Monday.

The reason? The 27-year-old lawmaker admitted he stayed up late ‘playing games’ on his computer.

‘My hearing was already over when I arrived. I was very busy last night. I was just playing games with my computer,’ he said in an ambush interview at the House.

The lawmaker briefly joined a protest outside Forbes Park Village in Makati City late Sunday night, where demonstrators called for the resignation of President Marcos amid allegations of corruption in his administration.

Last month, members of the National Unity Party (NUP), led by Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, filed an ethics complaint against Barzaga, citing his ‘unusual behavior’-including his sudden declaration of a speakership bid and alleged ‘lewd’ photos posted on social media.

Puno said the party believed Barzaga might have committed four violations: not acting in a manner that reflects creditably on the House; engaging in acts contrary to law, good morals, customs, and public policy; conduct that incites seditious activity; and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and unbecoming of a member of Congress.

2,000 cops deployed

Barzaga, a former NUP member, left the party after Puno reportedly accused him of plotting to oust then Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Meanwhile, no untoward incidents were reported at the rally that Barzaga led outside Forbes Park Village, according to the Philippine National Police.

The rally ‘finished around 4:20 in the morning, and they dispersed,’ said PNP public information chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño.

In a Facebook post on Sunday afternoon, Barzaga urged people to join the rally, saying they would ‘enter the homes of (former Ako Bicol Rep.) Zaldy Co and (former Speaker and Leyte Rep.) Martin Romualdez’ as part of the protest.

Co and Romualdez had been linked to anomalies flagged in government flood control projects. They earlier denied the allegations.

At the Camp Crame flag-raising ceremony on Monday, acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the PNP deployed about 2,000 police officers to secure rally sites across five areas in Metro Manila over the weekend.

Nartatez did not specify these areas where the protest actions took place.

The PNP had previously said it was on alert for anticorruption rallies by civic groups set every Friday starting Oct. 10.

The Trillion Peso March movement announced the weekly protests on Oct. 7, aiming to sustain its campaign against government corruption after its Sept. 21 rally. The protests were triggered by alleged kickbacks and other acts of corruption by government officials in collusion with private contractors in public infrastructure projects.

No less than Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and ‘Wicked’ director Jon M. Chu personally chose the three Filipino best friend duos who won the ‘Awiting Wicked: For Good’ competition.

The chosen duos, along with their TiktTok accounts, are: Fatima Soria (@only_ftma) and Pia Casing (@piazzicato); Jezza Quiogue (@jezzaquiogue_) and Nowi Alpuerto (@nowialps); and, Kyle Quinco (kwisssy6) and Tiffany Vistal (@tiffanyshanevistal).

Universal Pictures Philippines, which is the local distributor of the ‘Wicked’ movie, announced the winners on its TikTok page on Monday.

‘So many of you have shown your own special versions of ‘For Good’ with the world. We’re here to tell you that we heard them and we love you all even more,’ said Erivo. ‘Congratulations to the chosen best friend duos, and thank you to all the talented singers from across the Philippines who submitted.’

‘You have further proven that you are all so tremendously talented,’ Grande chimed in. ‘We’ve been so touched by your renditions and we can’t wait for you all to hear our version when the movie comes out.’

The six winners will get a chance to record their own rendition of the song ‘For Good,’ and star in a music video. They will also get to meet the Oscar-nominated Erivo, Grande and Chu in the Singapore premiere of ‘Wicked: For Good,’ the sequel to the Oscar-winning musical film.

‘Wicked: For Good’ will be screened in Philippine theaters on November 19 as last year’s global cinematic cultural sensation, which became the most successful Broadway film adaptation of all time, reaches its epic, electrifying, emotional conclusion.

Directed once again by Chu, and starring the spectacular returning cast, led by Erivo and Grande, the final chapter of the untold story of the witches of Oz begins with Elphaba and Glinda estranged and living with the consequences of their choices.

The film is produced by returning Tony and Emmy winning powerhouse Marc Platt p.g.a. and by multiple Tony winner David Stone. The executive producers are Stephen Schwartz, David Nicksay, Jared LeBoff, Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox.

The first film, Wicked, released in November 2024, earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won the Oscars for Costume Design and Production Design. To date, the film has grossed $750 million worldwide.

‘Wicked: For Good’ is based on the generation-defining musical stage play with music and lyrics by legendary Grammy and Oscar winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, from the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire. The screenplay is by Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. The film score is by John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. /edv

The forgotten shelter that survived Tacloban’s 1944 superstorm. Not far from today’s ruined shoreline of Tacloban once stood a US naval base that faced another monster storm- long before Supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’ or Haiyan made the city a global byword for loss.

In December 1944, Typhoon ‘Cobra’ struck Leyte with 225-kilometer-per-hour winds and a 6-meter storm surge. Contemporary records show that the typhoon destroyed 80 percent of all structures on the base-except for 39 of 43 Quonset huts, which remained intact. Four others suffered only bent panels and torn seams. Engineers concluded that anchorage and geometry, not cost or material thickness, determined survival.

That small statistic-Tacloban 1944-may be one of the most important but least remembered chapters in Philippine resilience history. For those semicircular corrugated-steel huts, conceived in wartime Rhode Island and shipped 16,000 km through submarine-infested seas, had already solved problems we still agonize over today: rapid shelter construction, climate resistance, modularity, and affordability.

The engineering of necessity. The Quonset hut emerged from a desperate American wartime equation. Canvas tents rotted within weeks under Pacific monsoons; wooden barracks required carpenters and timber that many islands did not have. In early 1942, a team led by Otto Brandenberger was told to design a structure that could be manufactured in the United States, shipped flat, assembled in one day by untrained hands, and survive typhoons, monsoons, and 130-degree heat.

Their solution broke every architectural rule. They eliminated internal wooden frames, letting the corrugated steel skin itself carry the load in compression. The curved arch deflected wind and shed rain like a seashell; the ridges stiffened the thin metal as though each were a tiny L beam. Panels bolted together into a continuous ring, making the entire hut act as one enormous spring. It could flex, not fight, the wind.

By 1944, over 160,000 Quonset huts dotted the Pacific-from Guadalcanal to Samar-housing 6 million troops. When Typhoon Cobra hit the Philippines, their field test became legend among engineers: the aerodynamic hut endured while concrete crumbled and wood disintegrated.

From war relic to Filipino backdrop. After the war, thousands of surplus huts found new life across the archipelago. In Manila and Quezon City, they became classrooms, dormitories, and chapels. At the University of the Philippines in Diliman, students in the 1950s ate, socialized, and even bowled in Quonset huts between Vinzons Hall and Narra Residence. They were the quiet cousins of another wartime leftover-the US Army jeep that Filipinos transformed into the jeepney.

Yet, while the jeepney entered our cultural imagination, the Quonset hut faded from view. Few remember that it had withstood a superstorm in Tacloban seven decades before Haiyan, or that it embodied the very principles we now call build back safer.

A missing page in our resilience memory. Why does this matter? Because the Philippines remains a frontline laboratory for climate extremes. Each year, we rebuild as if starting from zero-forgetting that we once built smarter. The Quonset hut is not nostalgia; it is a manual for survival written in corrugated steel.

The Quonset hut idea is an innovation challenge for our youthful engineers, architects, and builders. Here’s how it might look with bamboo and local materials mixed in: (1) arch-based compression shell: can be replicated with engineered bamboo ribs and woven bamboo (sawali) or composite skins (marine plywood); (2) flat-pack logistics: mirrorable with locally prefabricated kits; (3) elevated foundations: adopt the wartime tension-anchor idea using screw piles or concrete stilts in flooded plains; and (4) ventilation systems: incorporate ridge vents and end-louvers as in the 1945 tropical versions.

Quonset huts design teaches that speed and strength can coexist; that ordinary people can assemble safety with basic tools; that geometry can substitute for expensive materials; and that design-when driven by necessity and tested by wind-can save more lives than speeches about corruption ever will.

When Yolanda flattened Tacloban in 2013, no one invoked that earlier storm, that earlier proof of concept. The Philippines had forgotten that it once hosted a global benchmark for storm-resistant architecture. Our institutional memory, like many of our archives, had rusted away.

The Quonset hut deserves to be romanced again-not as scrap metal, but as inspiration. It is time to revisit this humble arch that once protected soldiers and students alike and ask what it can teach a nation still rebuilding roofs after every typhoon.