Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Gabe Norwood announced on Thursday that he will retire at the end of Rain or Shine’s campaign in the season-opening PBA Philippine Cup.

Norwood bared his intentions to hang it up after 17 seasons through a video posted on the Elasto Painters’ social media, describing his final run as ‘One Last Flight.’ ‘The journey has been nothing short of incredible,’ Norwood said as part of a 65-second video the team produced. ‘I’ve poured everything I had in this game, and in return it has given me more than I have asked for.’

The member of George Mason University’s Cinderella run to the 2006 US NCAA Final Four was the No. 1 overall pick of Rain or Shine in the 2008 Rookie Draft and has been among those responsible for bringing the franchise out of its early struggles.

He was part of all Rain or Shine’s two PBA titles in the 2012 Governors’ Cup and 2016 Commissioner’s Cup while also earning multiple accolades, namely his seven-time membership to the All-Defensive Team, winning three times the Sportsmanship Award and the Rookie of the Year and Mythical Team selections in 2009.

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Norwood was also named to the All-Rookie Team in 2009 and claimed the Defensive of the Year plum in 2010, both honors given by the PBA Press Corps.

But Norwood’s biggest legacy is perhaps his multiple stints with the national team, first in the 2007 Fiba Asia Championship and the gold-medal run in the Southeast Asian Games that same year.

It catapulted him to many duties representing flag and country, most notably the 2013 Fiba Asia Championship and the 2014 Fiba World Cup where Norwood dunked on NBA player Luis Scola during Gilas Pilipinas’ match against Argentina in Seville, Spain.

After the shock over massive anomalies in flood control projects, now come more jaw-droppers from the questionable costing of farm-to-market roads (FMRs).

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian revealed on Wednesday that over P10 billion worth of FMRs programmed under the 2023 and 2024 national budgets have been ‘extremely overpriced.’

One project, for example, cost 23 times more than the standard price set by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), while others saw markups of up to 70 percent, further bloating the project cost.

These discoveries were made at the hearing of the Senate committee on finance, which Gatchalian chairs, on the proposed P176.7-billion budget of the Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DPWH set a P15,000 per meter standard cost for FMRs, but this could go as low as P10,000 if the ’30 percent’ markup was trimmed.

Gatchalian noted that many FMRs funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) under 2024 Fiscal Year (FY) cost P30,000 per meter, or twice that of the P15,000 benchmark set by the DPWH.

‘Cost overshoot’

The Bicol region logged the biggest number of FMR projects with what Gatchalian called a ‘cost overshoot.’

The region’s 80 projects could have cost only P520 million, but went up to P1.7 billion because of the 68-percent markup amounting to P1.18 billion.

This was followed by Eastern Visayas with 33 projects that were allocated P791 million, with a 70 percent, or P555 million, cost overshoot. This meant that the projects should have cost only P236 million without the markups.

Topping the list of extremely overpriced projects was the ongoing road concreting in Barangay San Roque in Tacloban City.

The 2024 GAA allocated P100 million for the project, which only has an actual length of 0.287 kilometers, putting its cost per meter at P348,432.06 or 23 times more than the P15,000 DPWH standard price.

In addition, the project’s contractor could not be found in the DPWH Civil Works Contracts Database.

‘This is not just extremely overpriced,’ Gatchalian said. ‘[It is] extremely, extremely, extremely overpriced.’

‘Have you not detected this extreme overpricing? If the P15,000 [cost per meter] is already overpriced in your opinion, this one is P348,000 per meter,’ he told Tiu Laurel.

The agriculture chief said such figures were ‘shocking,’ but added that these questions were better answered by the project implementer, the DPWH.

Co project

It was also revealed in the same hearing that another overpriced project in Albay was handled by Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp., which was co-founded by Christopher Co, brother of former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co.

Zaldy Co, who recently resigned as congressman, chaired the powerful committee on appropriations of the House of Representatives from July 2022 to January 2025.

The concreting of FMRs from Barangay Kidaco to Barangay San Roque in Daraga, Albay, was allocated a P46-million budget in the 2024 GAA and had a length of only 0.37 kilometers but cost P124,324.32 per meter over eight times the standard P15,000.

Other areas that were flagged with extremely overpriced projects under the 2024 GAA were Camarines Sur (P263,157.89 per meter), Bulacan (P193,548.39), and Eastern Samar (P169,902.91).

‘For me, this is an obvious sign of corruption,’ Gatchalian said.

Tiu Laurel had vowed to look into the matter.

Familiar contractors

Gatchalian further revealed that three contractors who bagged the most number of FMR projects were also among the top 15 firms that secured the biggest amount of flood control projects nationwide, as revealed by President Marcos last August.

These three were EGB Construction Corp., Hi-Tone, and Road Edge Trading and Development Services.

EGB cornered P242.1 million worth of FMR project awards for FY 2024, which was the second highest on Gatchalian’s list, only behind GCI Construction and Development Corp., which bagged the largest number of projects at P288.5 million.

Hi-Tone bagged the third biggest FMR awards at P221.8 million, while Road Edge got P98 million.

No coincidence

Gatchalian said it was no coincidence that the Bicol region topped the total number of overpriced FMRs, with Hi-Tone cornering the third-biggest road contracts.

‘I think it’s not coincidental that the biggest region that got FMRs is Region 5 (Bicol Region), and the company that got the third biggest number of contracts was connected to Zaldy Co,’ Gatchalian said in Filipino.

These fresh revelations come on the heels of a major corruption scandal involving flood control projects, which prompted congressional inquiries and the creation of an independent commission to investigate the suspected collusion between lawmakers, government officials, and contractors to embezzle billions of pesos from the country’s coffers.

Amid all this, a nationwide and widespread Sept. 21 protest took place, and rumors of a coup emerged, which the military later denied.

Two southwesterly windflows and localized thunderstorms are forecast to bring scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of the country, the state weather bureau said Thursday, Oct. 9.

In its 4 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Metro Manila, the Visayas, Mindanao, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, and the Bicol Region will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms due to the southwesterly windflow a current blowing from the southwest.

The rest of Luzon will see partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated showers or thunderstorms.

Tropical Storm Nakri

Pagasa is still monitoring Tropical Storm Nakri, which is outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Nakri is expected to enter PAR this Thursday afternoon or evening and be locally named as Quedan.

‘However, if it does, it will only pass through the northeastern boundary of the PAR and will not have any direct impact on any part of the country,’ reported Pagasa Weather Specialist Chenel Dominguez during the 5 a.m. weather report.

Nakri was last located 1,505 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph while moving northwest at 25 kph.

Taal Volcano in Batangas recorded 10 earthquakes in 24 hours, down from 20 the previous day, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Thursday, Oct. 9.

From October 1 to 9, a total of 78 volcanic earthquakes and four tremor episodes were recorded. In comparison, Phivolcs documented 189 volcanic earthquakes and 129 tremors in September.

The four tremors occurred during the two phreatic eruptions on Oct. 2.

Phivolcs defines volcanic earthquakes as those ‘generated by magmatic processes or magma-related processes beneath or near an active volcano.’ Volcanic tremors are ‘continuous seismic signals with regular or irregular oscillations and low frequencies (typically 0.5 to 5 Hz) that can last for more than a minute.’

In its latest update, Phivolcs reported the emission of 1,892 metric tons (MT) of sulfur dioxide from Taal’s main crater. The gas plume rose 600 meters before drifting southwest, which the agency classified as a ‘weak emission.’

No upwelling of hot volcanic fluids was observed in the Main Crater Lake on Taal Volcano Island (TVI), locally known as ‘Pulo,’ at the center of Taal Lake.

Phivolcs also noted the absence of ‘vog,’ or volcanic smog, during the latest observation.

The agency reminded the public that Alert Level 1 remains in effect over Taal Volcano, ‘which means that it is still in an abnormal condition and should not be interpreted as having ceased unrest or the threat of eruptive activity.’

When Cebuana Lhuillier Bank (CL Bank) launched its flagship program Iponventure in 2024, the goal was simple yet ambitious: to make saving second nature for every Filipino, no matter their income level. Just a year later, that vision has caught the world’s attention. At the 2025 Globee® Awards, Iponventure Program, spearheaded by Cebuana Lhuillier Bank – a subsidiary of PJ Lhuillier Inc., – was named Best CSR Initiative, a recognition that shines a spotlight on the bank’s innovative approach to financial inclusion.

At the center of Iponventure are tools that may seem modest but have sparked remarkable change. The IPONBOX, a physical savings container handed out to more than 700,000 households, became a tangible reminder that every peso saved counts. Meanwhile, the Micro Savings Account, which requires only ?50 to open, broke down barriers that had long kept underserved Filipinos out of the formal banking system. Together, these two simple tools became stepping stones to financial empowerment.

But Iponventure is more than just products it is a movement. Large-scale activities like the Jumbo Travelling IPONBOX brought the savings habit into communities in festive, engaging ways. Campaigns such as Cebuana Lhuillier Savings Day, reward programs, surprise branch activations, and partnerships with financial influencers extended its impact nationwide. Even CL Bank employees got involved, driving grassroots initiatives that made saving relatable and fun.

The results have been transformative. By the end of 2024, Iponventure exceeded its targets with more than 1.1 million Micro Savings Accounts opened. IPONBOX users demonstrated improved saving behaviors, reflected in higher average balances. These milestones are not just numbers they represent families building cushions for emergencies, individuals taking the first steps toward their dreams, and communities learning that financial stability can be achieved through small, consistent actions.

Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, sees the recognition as both validation and motivation. ‘This award is a testament to our mission of nurturing a culture of saving among Filipinos,’ he said. ‘Through Iponventure, we empower individuals and communities to take charge of their finances and secure their futures.’

The Globee® Awards, also known as the Golden Bridge Awards®, honor organizations worldwide that bring measurable innovation and impact. For CL Bank, the award underscores a deeper truth: Iponventure is not just corporate social responsibility. It is proof that banking, when designed with purpose, can drive lasting social change.

ACEN Corp. is providing an additional P1.9-billion capital to subsidiary Natures Renewable Development Corp. (Naredco) to support solar power operations.

In a disclosure on Wednesday, the energy unit of the Ayala Group said it subscribed to about 420,000 redeemable preferred shares. These are priced at P4,527.16 apiece.

The company said the injection of funds will help Naredco finance its operating expenses. A portion of the investment will also be used to settle Naredco’s debts.

Naredco is a joint venture between ACEN and Cleantech Renewable Energy 4 Corp. Acen holds a 60-percent interest.

Naredco operates the Cagayan Solar Power plant. It can generate energy at a peak of 133.464-megawatts. It can power some 75,000 households.

Expansion

Just last week, ACEN also injected about P900 million for its wind power project in the provinces of Quezon and Laguna.

Giga Ace 6 is the group’s special purpose vehicle for the development of the 553-MW onshore wind facility. This is called the Quezon North Wind Power project.

The group has a roster of renewable energy projects here and abroad. It hopes to grow its portfolio to 20,000 MW by 2030. Currently, it has 7,000 MW.

Focusing on renewables, ACEN officially divested from its remaining diesel-fired plants last September. These include Bulacan Power Generation Corp., One Subic Power Generation Corp. and CIP II Power Corp.

These firms serve as special purpose vehicles that manage power plants in Luzon. These include a 52-megawatt plant in Bulacan, a 116-MW facility at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and a 21-MW plant in La Union.

‘The divestment will help ACEN achieve its goal of 100-percent renewable energy generation by end-2025,’ the company said earlier.

ACEN is also aggressive in advocating for the potential use of transition credits for the early retirement of coal plants.

The PVL caps 2025 with the Reinforced Conference, bringing back international flair as imports add spice to the league’s year-end offering.

Games are held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at the usual venues-Smart Araneta Coliseum, FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan, and Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

The league is also scheduled to make stops in key cities, including Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite, Ynares Center Montalban in Rizal, Capital Arena in Ilagan City, and Passi Arena in Iloilo.

Zelda Williams, daughter of the late actor-comedian Robin Williams, urged the public to stop sending her artificial intelligence (AI)-generated videos of her father, saying she doesn’t want to see them.

The American actress and filmmaker made the appeal in a now-expired Instagram Story, where she reiterated that the AI-generated videos are a ‘waste of time and energy.’

‘Please, just stop sending me AI videos of Dad. Stop believing I wanna see it or that I’ll understand, I don’t and I won’t. If you’re just trying to troll me, I’ve seen way worse, I’ll restrict and move on,’ she said.

‘But please, if you’ve got any decency, just stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone even, full stop. It’s dumb, it’s a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it’s NOT what he’d want,’ she continued.

Zelda also stressed that AI-generated content of real people ‘condenses down [their] legacies’ for TikTok and other social media platforms, likening it to ‘over-processed hotdogs.’

‘To watch the legacies of real people be condensed down to ‘this vaguely looks and sounds like them so that’s enough,’ just so other people can churn out horrible TikTok slop puppeteering them is maddening,’ she said.

‘You’re not making art, you’re making disgusting, over-processed hotdogs out of the lives of human beings, out of the history of art and music, and then shoving them down someone else’s throat hoping they’ll give you a little thumbs up and like it. Gross,’ she further said.

Doubling down on her frustration toward AI, Zelda said to stop calling it the ‘future.’ ‘AI is just badly recycling and regurgitating the past to be reconsumed,’ she said. ‘You are taking in the Human Centipede of content, and from the very end of the line, all while the folks at the front laugh and laugh, consume and consume.’

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Zelda, who is the daughter of Robin and film producer Marsha Garces Williams, and is popular for voicing Kuvira in the hit animated series ‘The Legend of Korra.’ She also directed Liza Soberano as one of the stars of the Hollywood movie, ‘Lisa Frankestein,’ topbilled by Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse.

Her father, Robin, is one of the greatest actor-comedians of all time, died in August 2014 after a battle with depression amid his struggle with Lewy body dementia. He was 63 years old.

A magnitude 2.5 earthquake struck off the town of Calatagan in Batangas province on Thursday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

According to Phivolcs, the epicenter of the minor tectonic earthquake, which occurred at 4:51 p.m., was located 21 kilometers southwest of the town. It had a depth of 98 kilometers.

A tectonic earthquake is caused by sudden movements along faults and plate boundaries.

Phivolcs said the tremor is not expected to cause any damage or aftershocks. Another magnitude 2.5 tectonic tremor also hit Calatagan on Oct. 6.

Calatagan is located 71 kilometers from Batangas City and 131 kilometers from Metro Manila.

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Batangas is among the most seismically active areas in the Philippines, primarily due to the Lubang Fault situated between Mindoro Island and Batangas.

The Philippines sits along the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. /mr

Artists and youth groups here staged a series of cultural performances on Tuesday, calling for an end to what they described as the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza.

The event featured workshops on theater, placard-making, poetry, and zine creation. It culminated in a small protest rally, where participants showcased the performances and artworks produced during the workshops.

The protest marked the second anniversary of the Israel-Hamas conflict’s escalation into intense airstrikes and ground assaults, which Palestinian health authorities say have claimed around 60,000 lives.

Earlier this year, the Philippines-Palestine Friendship Association (PPFA) condemned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for continuing trade relations with Israel despite the reported atrocities. Anna Patricia Adiaz, a representative of the newly formed group Baguio for Palestine, explained that focusing on protest art was a conscious decision aimed at broadening the movement beyond traditional mass rallies.

‘Creative dimension’ ‘In Baguio, many artists actively engage in social issues, so it made sense to add a creative dimension to our advocacy,’ she told the Inquirer.

‘Artists are there, and we’re trying to make our campaign more creative and palatable to the public, so their participation is important,’ she added in Filipino.

The program featured cultural performances, including children singing an original song created during the workshop. An exhibit displaying information on the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict was also set up.

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Gabriel Siscar, one of the event’s organizers, noted the importance of inclusivity in pro-Palestinian campaigns, especially since Baguio for Palestine had only been established a few days prior.

‘We’re trying to build connections with more groups, including artist collectives and students,’ he said in Filipino.

Siscar noted that art provides a powerful tool to amplify calls against Israeli and US aggression.