Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake that rocked Davao Oriental on Friday morning has left the provincial health-care system severely strained, with Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital (DOPH) in Manay town, the area nearest the epicenter, sustaining major damage.

Davao Oriental was also rocked on Friday night by a magnitude 6.8 quake following at least 792 aftershocks. This was succeeded by a magnitude 5.8 temblor on Saturday night, while a magnitude 5 quake struck Zambales province.

Overwhelmed

Saturday’s temblors marked the fifth and sixth to hit the country in less than two weeks since the Sept. 30 quake in northern Cebu.

Following the Friday quake at 9:43 a.m. in Davao Oriental, DOPH staff rushed patients out, as some of the hospital’s wall and ceilings began to crack. But no one was reported hurt.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Saturday, after inspecting the hospital, that it was no longer safe for occupancy.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian had ordered enclosed tents set up outside as admission wards and emergency rooms so DOPH could continue to accommodate more patients.

Marcos’ instructions

As expected, other cases had to be referred to Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center (DOPMC) in the provincial capital of Mati City.

Personnel of the Office of Civil Defense observed that DOPMC’s capacity was suddenly overwhelmed by the high number of admissions.

On Saturday, the Philippine Red Cross set up a 10-bed medical tent at that hospital’s compound and deployed six volunteers to support its medical staff.

Dizon, Gatchalian, Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Mindanao Development Authority Chair Leo Tereso Magno made the rounds in Davao Oriental on Saturday, upon instructions by President Marcos to fast-track rescue and relief efforts.

‘The President’s paramount concern is the safety and well-being of our people in the earthquake-struck areas,’ Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said. ‘On the instructions of the President, all concerned front-line agencies were tasked to work round-the-clock to provide rescue and relief operations.’

As of Saturday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 1,265 residents were brought out of their homes but 7,915 more had to be evacuated.

Dizon said all national roads have been cleared and authorities are now focusing on making provincial and municipal roads passable.

Gatchalian said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has ensured that enough food and other relief supplies are provided to displaced families. In Tarragona town, the DSWD has set up tents for them in the municipal hall grounds.

Angara said the Department of Education (DepEd) has released P139.4 million for disaster victims in Davao Oriental, Cebu and Masbate, adding that DepEd has conducted an assessment of quake-damaged schools in these provinces.

Doublet quake

The education chief said 575 schools have estimated repair costs so far totaling P2.23 billion. A total of 1,006 schools in the province have been affected by the quake, he said.

According to an initial report by the provincial government of Davao Oriental, some 70,142 families from 10 component towns and one city were affected by the quake. A total of 225 houses were reported destroyed while 471 were damaged.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) classified Friday’s temblors in the province as a doublet quake because the 7:12 p.m. temblor had a magnitude of 6.8. The agency said this exceeded Friday morning’s ‘magnitude 7.4 quake less one magnitude,’ which equals magnitude 6.4.

The 792 aftershocks between the doublet quake affected 41 other areas in Davao Oriental besides Manay.

Friday’s quakes in the province, which were felt throughout Davao region and even as far as the Visayas, affected 8,436 people, or 3,519 families, according to an initial report on Saturday by the NDRRMC.

The death toll was still at seven, the figure reported by authorities on Friday night, while 360 were injured and there were no missing cases yet.

Saturday’s quake had a depth of 10 kilometers and had its epicenter at 62 km southeast of Manay, the same coastal town directly affected by Friday’s quakes.

Acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has instructed police directors in the Davao and Caraga regions to inspect all police facilities for possible structural damage.

‘We are also verifying the condition of our communication equipment, vehicles, and other operational assets that may have been impacted by the earthquake,’ Nartatez said.

Meanwhile the European Union said it has allotted 750,000 euros (P50.52 million) for victims of the Sept. 30 quake in Cebu.

The funds, released under the administration of the Philippine Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies, will provide emergency relief, such as temporary shelter, water, sanitation, and cash assistance to displaced families, the bloc said in a statement.

Zambales quake

In Zambales, the quake’s epicenter was 19 km east of Cabangan town and had a depth of 100 km, Phivolcs said in its bulletin on Saturday night.

This was followed immediately by another bulletin reporting a magnitude 2.7 aftershock barely an hour later at 6:15 p.m.

The tremor’s epicenter was 25 km east of Botolan town with a depth of 99 km.

Before the aftershock, Phivolcs said Intensity III was felt in Cabangan and the capital town of Iba, while Intensity II was felt in the towns of Botolan, Subic and San Marcelino.

Perpetual Help continued its surprise run in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament, improving to an unblemished 4-0 (win-loss) start in Group A after defeating Arellano, 72-67, at Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.

While that win may say something on paper, coach Olsen Racela is choosing not to look at it any more than part of the team’s objective of making things less challenging in the latter stages of the tournament.

‘This isn’t really a statement, but we’re trying to get as many wins as possible to get in a better position in the next round,’ he said.

‘Yes, having four wins is a big thing, but we can’t rely on that. We still have nine games. There’s a long way to go. We can’t relax and we’ll keep going.’

The Altas showed they have the firepower to go toe-to-toe with the Group A teams, with wins over San Sebastian, Lyceum and, more importantly, defending champion Mapua.

But beating those three squads-all by double figures-had little to do with their offense as it did with their elite league-leading defense. Perpetual is surrendering the fewest points per season at 61.8 points per game, about six points better than the next-best defensive squads. And they’re doing it with consistent defensive rating game-by-game splits of 79.9, 82.9, 85.5 and 85.5 for a league-best 83.5.

Patrick Sleat exemplified this focus on defense, mixing three blocks and a steal to his team-best 12 points against the Chiefs.

And their offense is backing that defense well.

‘Coach wants us to create for one another. Because that’s what the coach wants, that’s what we do inside the court,’ he said.

‘You can even see it outside the court because our bond grows stronger every time,’ he added.

Helping Sleat overcome the Chiefs were Mark Gojo Cruz and Josiah Alcantara, who finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

‘We had to play possession by possession,’ said Gojo Cruz, who finished the team captain. ‘We didn’t need to run with them in transition. We just reminded each other to stay focused and take the best shot.’

Arellano dropped to a 1-2 record. The Chiefs are the only team that Perpetual didn’t beat by double figures so far.

Perpetual will face a stern test this Wednesday with a showdown against a Letran squad that has finally found its form.

Deo Cuajao paced the Knights for its first win of the tournament with an 84-80 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College.

‘Earlier, when I saw one of my shots go in, I knew it was going to keep going,’ he said after scoring 23 points with six buckets from the three-point area.

Cuajao’s shooting from beyond the arc braced Letran’s vast improvement there. The Knights made 35.7 percent of their shots against the Generals after making just 21.7 percent in their first three losses.

Jonathan Manalili and Aaron Buensalida both tallied double-doubles in the victory to help Cuajao. Manalili registered 12 points and 13 assists while Buensalida turned in 12 points and 11 rebounds. ‘Of course, cohesiveness and chemistry take time,’ said Letran coach Allen Ricardo. ‘I’m hoping little by little, we can start peaking as a team.’

Key officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) met in Davao Oriental on Saturday, following the twin quakes that struck the province the previous day.

In a press release, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, along with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and MinDA Chairperson Leo Magno, visited affected communities to check on the effects of the tremors on infrastructure, such as roads and school buildings.

‘We are here upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. because he really wants to provide the fastest relief as fast as we can,’ Dizon said.

Based on the initial assessment of the DPWH, all national roads in the Davao Region remain passable, although one local road sustained damage due to landslides triggered by the tremors.

The DPWH said it has mobilized quick response teams to assist in clearing operations and is conducting a detailed evaluation of public structures, including hospitals and school buildings.

It will also devote all its resources to assist in the immediate construction of medical tents and evacuation sites. Dizon said the government’s priority is to ensure that affected residents receive immediate assistance and that essential infrastructure remains functional as directed by the president. /cb

National University regained the solo lead after holding off La Salle, 82-78, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Jake Figueroa scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and grabbed eight rebounds to power the Bulldogs, who climbed to 5-1 for a half-game lead over second-running University of Santo Tomas. PJ Palacielo and Paul Francisco also hit double digits with 16 and 13 points for NU, which shot 56 percent from the field.

‘Our motivation was the fact that in our preseason games, we couldn’t win against La Salle,’ said NU guard Reinhard Jumamoy after scoring all of his eight points in the fourth quarter.

‘We brought our learning from those losses and luckily we got that win today.’

The Green Archers, who absorbed their second consecutive setback in just a span of a week, suffered a double whammy after losing forward Mason Amos to an injury in the fourth quarter.

Mike Phillips notched a double-double of 15 points and 16 rebounds, but couldn’t keep La Salle from sliding to 2-3. Guards Jacob Cortez and Kean Baclaan added 15 and 11, respectively.

Baclaan kept the Archers alive late after his 3-pointer cut the Bulldogs’ lead to one with still seven ticks to go. After Jumamoy sank two free throws to give NU an 81-78 cushion, La Salle blew its chance to tie after LeBron Jhames Daep committed a traveling violation.

NU (5-1) faces Ateneo (4-2) on Saturday at Araneta Coliseum.

The government of the day-the administration of President Marcos Jr. and Congress-is not the entire state. Its failures may expose flaws in the Constitution, but they do not necessarily undermine the viability of the constitutional state itself.

It is worth keeping this distinction in mind amid the growing calls questioning the Marcos government’s capacity to curb corruption. Even in the absence of political consensus, institutional stability can endure. In modern society, conflict is almost a ritual feature of democracy, pitting government against opposition within rules set by the Constitution-the anchor of stability from election to election.

Still, the deficiencies of governance cannot be ignored. Corruption today afflicts not just agencies involved in procurement but seems rooted in Congress and the budgetary process itself. It has seeped into the very organs meant to ensure accountability, including the Commission on Audit.

Mr. Marcos now faces a serious credibility crisis. From the evidence revealed in congressional hearings, while big-time corruption erupted during Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency, it flourished during the Marcos administration’s first three years in office. The young Marcos cannot escape responsibility for it. The kindest interpretation is that he underestimated its extent when he dared to address it in his State of the Nation Address last July. The harsher view is that he tolerated it until confronted by the sheer brazenness of ghost projects.

His main advantage is that he is president, able to act swiftly to stay ahead of the crisis. He began by overhauling the Department of Public Works and Highways, epicenter of the scandal, replacing the ineffectual Manuel Bonoan with the more visible and assertive Vince Dizon as secretary. He then created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), a fact-finding body tasked to investigate corruption in public works.

The ICI has no prosecutorial powers, but its implicit purpose is to demonstrate that the government can investigate itself credibly and impartially. To do so, it must operate transparently-communicating regularly with a public weary of secrecy and conspiracies. While private hearings may be justified to protect witnesses and preserve evidence, the failure to provide prompt and regular briefings was a mistake. In the absence of clear updates, rumor and speculation fill the void. Even a brief, livestreamed media update every few days would reinforce public trust.

Another hopeful step is the appointment of a new Ombudsman-an office empowered by the Constitution to investigate and prosecute graft. Properly used, it can act on its own initiative and need not wait for formal complaints. Had it been more proactive, the ICI might have been unnecessary. Given the gravity of the scandal, speed is crucial. The quicker charges are filed, and trials commence at the Sandiganbayan, the better the chances of preserving the credibility of the constitutional order. The straight-talking former Justice Secretary Boying Remulla seems perfect for the role.

Asset recovery must also proceed without delay. The country has seen how sequestered or frozen assets quietly disappear when cases drag on. With stronger post-Edsa laws, it should now be easier to seize unexplained wealth. The government must show that corruption will no longer pay.

This reckoning began with high-profile figures, but the problem runs through every level and branch of government. The cleansing must be comprehensive. Much can still be achieved in the next two years if urgency is matched by resolve.

Yet the deeper reset can come only with the 2028 national elections. That will be the opportunity to confront the political dynasties that have long treated public office as hereditary property and government as a source of family income. These are the same clans that have corrupted the party-list system and perpetuated the politics of patronage. If the outrage now sweeping the nation is to mean anything, it must lead to their decisive defeat.

We have less than three years to turn this anger into a movement for renewal-one that reclaims the republic from those who mistake it for a cluster of fiefdoms. The process of building that movement has to begin with the self-questioning of our own everyday failures to recognize the difference between what is private and what is public, and to act ethically in conflict-of-interest situations.

Transport group Manibela will hold a transport strike from October 13 to 15 in protest against the Department of Transportation-Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT).

Manibela claimed that the DOTr-SAICT has been brutal towards drivers despite following the committee’s rules.

‘This is due to the continuous pressure and torture by the DOTr-SAICT on drivers who, even though their vehicles or units are complete and in good condition, are still being ticketed and fined heavily,’ Manibela reasoned.

The transport strike will begin at 12 a.m. on Monday, and a protest rally is also set to happen at 6 a.m. on the same day at the Petron-Commonwealth Avenue Philcoa, Quezon City.

‘The head of DOTr-SAICT, Assistant Secretary Tracker Lim, is the husband of DUMPER (Drivers United for Mass Progress and Equal Rights) Partylist Representative Claudine Bautista Lim, who should be taking care of and helping the basic problems of drivers and operators but instead is just letting the drivers belittle and make them suffer,’ Manibela said.

Manibela, while acknowledging the need for roadworthiness, also hoped that it is not ‘used as a tool to abuse small drivers who don’t make a lot.’

The group previously alleged that the DOTr-SAICT has been apprehending jeepney operators without proper justification.

Due to these arrests, the group tagged as ‘anti-poor,’ drivers and operators are purportedly forced to use their earnings to pay the fine.

The Fraternitas Scintilla Legis and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Misamis Oriental chapter condemned the killing of lawyer and anti-corruption advocate Niruh Kyle Antatico in Patag village here on Friday, October 10.

In an official statement, the Fraternitas Scintilla Legis denounced the ‘cold-blooded murder’ of their brother, calling Antatico ‘a man of integrity, courage, and principle’ who devoted his life to justice and transparency in public service.

‘We grieve his tragic and untimely death, but we refuse to let his voice be silenced,’ part of the fraternity’s statement read. ‘The bullets that took his life will never extinguish his cause.’

Antatico was shot dead in broad daylight by still unidentified assailants.

The group urged law enforcement agencies – including the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice – to ‘conduct a thorough, impartial and speedy investigation’ and ensure that ‘the perpetrators and those who ordered this heinous act be brought to justice-swiftly and without exception.’

The fraternity called for justice for Antatico and for every ‘servant of truth who refuses to be silenced.’

The IBP Misamis Oriental chapter called the attack a ‘grave assault on the rule of law.’

The chapter noted that Antatico, a former employee of the National Irrigation Administration-10, had been known for exposing alleged corruption in government offices.

‘Any attack on a person seeking accountability is an attack on the rule of law itself. We cannot allow fear and impunity to erode the foundations of justice and public service,’ the IBP’s statement read.

The chapter urged investigators to pursue every lead, including the possibility that the murder was connected to Antatico’s anti-corruption efforts. It also encouraged anyone with information to come forward.

‘Through collective vigilance and civic courage, we can help ensure that accountability and justice prevail,’ the IBP added.

Both organizations praised Antatico as a ‘champion against corruption and a voice of truth.’

His fraternity vowed that his legacy ‘will continue to burn in the hearts of those who believe that integrity in public service is not negotiableAuthorities have yet to identify the gunmen involved in the fatal attack, which was reportedly captured on dashcam footage.

Only hours after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla reported for work on the weekend, he told journalists that investigators are already looking at around 100 to 200 people involved in the flood project anomalies that have emerged since September.

Of the 200, the newly minted ombudsman said, there are about 67 ‘Cong-tractors’ (or, congressmen-contractors) who may be easier to pin down than the others.

‘Of the 67, there are about 12 to 15 low-laying fruit ready for plucking,’ Remulla said at his first press briefing at the Ombudsman’s headquarters in Quezon City. ‘As for the rest, we may have to build up the cases far more.’

‘We know that the cases are there, but how do we prove it? That’s our job, to prove charges that stand in court,’ he said, noting that some cases are already awaiting processing from Ombudsman lawyers while others are in varying stages of development, as court cases go.

Will anyone even go to jail

But Remulla assured journalists that the Office of the Ombudsman has the skills and experience to catch many of the perpetrators and send them some time, although some are easier to prove than others, while others cost more time than most.

Remulla said that he has yet to finalize the new rules and guidelines for the public’s easier access to the statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN), but even then, the rules would still have to be validated with common practices, particularly the light of the new legislation on privacy rights.

He said the reforms he envisioned include making public the SALNs of public officials and subjecting them to lifestyle checks.

However, he mentioned certain conditions before the document is released, including a possible ‘information sharing’ agreement with members of the press who would need the SALN for producing investigative reports.

‘I want to open this office to the public. We are supposed to be the ‘sumbungan ng bayan,’ (public complaint center),’ Remulla told reporters at a press conference.

The former justice secretary said the SALNs of former President Rodrigo Duterte, President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte would be among those that could be accessed beginning next week.

He also said he was ‘open’ to the possibility of making SALNs dating back to 2016 available for scrutiny.

‘This is public information that we’re looking for. We are talking about transparency here, so let’s go all the way,’ he said.

Memorandum

Remulla said he would issue a memorandum next week, possibly on Oct. 15, that would reverse restrictions placed by former Ombudsman Samuel Martires.

He, however, emphasized that there had to be ‘requesting parties’ for an official’s SALN and that there should be an ‘undertaking’ in making these requests.

‘They (SALNs) could be weaponized. There should be an undertaking when someone requests a SALN,’ he explained.

On Tuesday, shortly after his appointment as the new Ombudsman was announced by Malacañang, Remulla said he was also considering an arrangement with the media, especially in cases where SALNs would be used for investigative reports.

‘What’s the reason for requesting the SALN? If it’s for investigative journalism, maybe the findings can be shared, exactly all the findings should be shared with the Office of the Ombudsman also, so [we’re] not left in a lurch, not left in a void . In releasing information, we [also] get information,” he said.

Remulla again floated the idea on Friday: ‘When you have that article and you discover facts . It’s about information sharing, after all. You want information, okay; but you give me information also.’

Restricted release

He also raised the possibility of redacting certain details from the copies of the SALNs cleared for release, to accord due privacy to the officials’ personal matters.

Remulla said he also intended to tap the public’s assistance in conducting lifestyle checks through ‘crowdsourcing of information.’ ‘We will open a line for that,’ he said, adding the process would be fine-tuned and ‘old-timers’ in the government would be consulted before releasing the memo. /cb

La Salle is hoping for the best after forward Mason Amos went down with a knee injury during a loss to National University on Sunday.

Amos collided with the Bulldogs’ Gelo Tolentino at the 6:51 mark of the fourth quarter and stayed down on the floor in pain while clutching his right leg. He did not return after being wheeled out of the court. ‘Based on what he (Amos) told us, he heard a pop in his knee,’ La Salle coach Topex Robinson said after the Green Archers’ 82-78 loss in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

‘It’s accidental, it can happen to anybody. At this point, we’re just hoping that he’ll be okay,’ he added.

Amos’ injury deals a big blow to La Salle’s campaign, which is off to a rough 2-3 start. La Salle’s Mason Amos is currently being attended to by medical personnel after a collision with National U’s Gelo Santiago Despite being tagged as title favorites before the season began, the Green Archers absorbed their second consecutive defeat in just a span of a week after falling to fierce rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles last Sunday.

Amos, the former Ateneo cog who had seven points and four rebounds prior to the injury, is set for an MRI.

‘Those things really happen and what we’re hoping for right now is a positive result on his checkup.’

Fyang Smith bared that she has often been subjected to reprimand by her management amid her actions and remarks that made headlines and became fodder for criticism.

As she navigates the world of show business, including the onslaught of criticisms thrown her way, Smith said she is learning from her mistakes and vows to do better.

Smith, who was named the Big Winner in ‘Pinoy Big Brother (PBB): Gen 11’ in 2024, opened up about how she was dealing with controversies in an interview with entertainment insider Ogie Diaz on his YouTube channel on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Among them were viral clips of herself claiming that her ‘PBB’ season was ‘unbeatable,’ which earned the ire of fans of other PBB celebrity batches; a video supposedly hitting a security guard; and of herself making faces at fans.

‘Lagi akong pinapagalitan ni Direk Lauren [Dyogi]. may mga nababasa ako sa management ko ng, ‘Hindi man lang pinagsasabihan si Fyang? Wala ba silang magawa?’ Every day akong pinapagalitan sa office. Hindi naman sila galit [palagi], pero pinagsasabihan para i-correct ang wrongdoings ko,’ she said, referring to her management Star Magic where Dyogi serves as the head.

(Direk Lauren Dyogi would get mad at me all the time. I would read comments about my management, saying, ‘Don’t they reprimand Fyang? Aren’t they doing anything?’ I would often be reprimanded in the office. They’re not mad at me all the time, but they would reprimand me to correct my wrongdoings.)

The ‘PBB’ alum also pointed out that some of the issues were indeed mistakes she made when ‘she didn’t know better,’ saying that she often makes an effort to reflect on them.

”Yung iba d’un, past ko na ‘yun eh, tapos binabalik ng mga tao. Mali ko talaga ang mga nangyari sa’kin before and inaamin ko naman ‘yun kay Direk Lauren. Every time kapag pinapatawag ako, na-adapt ko po ‘yung mga sinasabi niya [and] pumapasok naman po sa utak ko,’ she said.

”Yung masama ugali ko, attitude, lalakero, lumaki ang ulo, ganyan. Paulit-ulit na lang. pero sa’kin sa pagkakamali ko, ang sasabihin ko is, hindi ako anghel at hindi rin naman ako demonyo. Hindi ako perfect,’ she continued.

Her side of the story

During the interview, Smith was asked to clarify some of the recent issues that she had faced. One of these was when she claimed that her ‘PBB’ batch was the best, wherein she clarified that it was a ‘spliced’ video.

‘Noong sinabi ko ‘yun, wala pa pong ‘[PBB] Collab,’ super happy and proud ako sa batch namin [kaya] masasabi ko na best batch siya for me. Siguro, naging mali lang ang dating sa tao kasi spliced video siya,’ she said.

‘May explanation ‘yun [na sinabi ko] na batch namin ‘yun, siyempre proud ako sa batch namin. Sinabi ko rin na ‘Guys, support PBB collab.’ Na-misinterpret lang ako ng mga tao,’ she continued.

The former housemate also addressed another video of herself allegedly hitting a marshal during a gig. In her words, she said she considers the marshal, ‘Kuya Bravo,’ as family.

‘Si Kuya Bravo, hindi marshal ang tingin ko sa kanya. Ang tingin ko sa kanya ay friend, tropa, and family. Kasi every time na may ganap ako, lagi siya ang nasa tabi ko,’ she said, sharing that he was the marshal assigned to her when she was on hotel arrest prior to entering the ‘PBB’ house.

‘Hindi naman nila nakikita paano kami mag-bond off-cam. Before ‘PBB,’ nag-hotel arrest kami and si Kuya Bravo ang nagbantay sa’kin n’un. And after ‘PBB,’ siya talaga ni-request kong maging marshal ko,’ she added, sharing that she even invited him to her birthday party.

When asked about the claims that she would ‘make faces’ at anyone, including her fans, Smith clarified that her facial expressions would often be misinterpreted by other people.

‘Ang ingay ng mukha ko. Lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat, lahat ng taga-suporta namin ni JM, friends namin. Kada ganap namin, pare-parehong mukha ang nand’un. lagi kaming nagkikita, parang wala lang, gan’un ang bond namin. Kapag nagkikita kami, kahit anong gawin ko, ginagaya nila ako. gan’un ang love language namin, parang bardagulan,’ she said.

Amidst all the controversies, Smith said she takes note of every criticism thrown along her way, and that she doesn’t take them negatively.

‘Merong criticism [done] in a nice way so I take them as constructive, kasi ‘yung iba talaga, may sense ang sinasabi,’ she said. ‘Every time na nakakabasa ako n’un, tinutuldukan ko talaga. The next time na [mangyayari ‘to], hindi ko na gagawin, tine-take ko na lang siya as constructive and para sa ikabubuti ko naman ‘yun.’ Smith, who recently wrapped her digital series ‘Ghosting,’ is set to star in the upcoming film ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll Evil Origins,’ an entry to the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival.