Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Sunday said he would step down as chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee after some of his colleagues expressed disappointment over the course of the panel’s inquiry into anomalous flood control projects.

His resignation followed widespread speculation of another Senate shake-up, only less than a month after Sen. Francis Escudero was replaced by Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Also on Sunday, Lacson denied there was another looming change in the Senate leadership. But he noted the sentiments expressed by some of his colleagues as the main reason for his resignation, naming in particular Senators JV Ejercito and Sherwin Gatchalian.

Ejercito earlier remarked that he, along with four other senators, planned to leave the majority bloc after several former and incumbent senators were tagged as being involved in anomalous flood control projects being investigated by the blue ribbon committee.

‘To be honest, I seriously thought about leaving the majority. Because if this is the direction we’re headed, it’s like we’re burning down our own house. We’re neglecting our colleagues, and we’re forgetting who the real culprits are,’ he said.

But he quickly clarified that he would not join the minority.

‘I didn’t say I am moving to the minority. More of being independent, along with some senators,’ Ejercito said.

Sen. Imee Marcos also said she left the group chat of the 20th Congress senators after Lacson took a swipe at her.

Lacson had called on Marcos to attend hearings on the flood control controversy after she said there was confusion if the blue ribbon committee’s probe would continue.

‘Due to the comments I’ve been hearing from my colleagues, one of the options I’m considering is to move on or submit my resignation as chairperson and let them find someone else who can lead the blue ribbon committee,’ he said.

‘Rightly or wrongly, when quite a number of them have expressed disappointment over how I’m handling the flood control project anomalies, I thought it’s time for me to step aside in favor of another member who they think can handle the committee better,’ he added.

‘Pleasure of our peers’

Lacson emphasized that all chairpersons of the committees in the Senate and House of Representatives ‘serve at the pleasure of our peers’ since they were elected particularly by the members of the majority bloc.

‘I’m not serving as chair of the blue ribbon committee at the pleasure of the President of the Philippines, at the pleasure of netizens, at the pleasure of bashers, not even at the pleasure of the public. I serve at the pleasure of my peers,’ Lacson noted.

He said he is preparing his resignation letter to Senate President Sotto and may formally manifest it in the plenary.

But Lacson also emphasized that his stepping down will not stop his continuing fight against corruption.

‘No amount of criticisms from misinformed netizens and partisan sectors can distract or pressure me from doing my job right, but when my own peers start expressing their group or individual sentiments, maybe it is best to vacate.’ ‘Nevertheless, I will continue to fight a corrupt and rotten system in the misuse and abuse of public funds as I have consistently done in the course of my long years in public service,’ he said.

Lacson initially announced in an interview on radio dzBB on Sunday morning that he was considering stepping down from his panel post, but released a statement in the afternoon that he was already pushing through with his plan.

‘If my colleagues are no longer trusting me enough, especially if the majority of them are not happy anymore with my handling of the blue ribbon committee, maybe it’s time for me to consider stepping down as an option,’ Lacson said.

‘Hearings handled well’

Regarding another change in the Senate leadership already widely speculated on Sunday, Lacson told the Inquirer: ‘Not true. It’s the same old rehashed psywar tactic all over again, intended to confuse and sow intrigue among members of the majority.’

There had been speculations, particularly on social media, that senators are eyeing to switch sides and support Senate Minority Leader Alan Cayetano to become the next Senate president.

Lacson said it also had nothing to do with his decision to resign as chair of the blue ribbon committee.

‘All I can say is – I can handle all the pressure. It’s the frustration that’s hard to bear,’ he said.

‘Rest assured that there’s no wavering in my advocacy against the corrupt and rotten system, particularly the misuse and abuse of public funds,’ he said.

Lacson said he continues to support the leadership of Sotto.

‘But if you will ask me, I’ve already experienced his being a Senate President for the longest time, in the past Congress. His system of management is good; he has good leadership. He always goes for consensus, he doesn’t dictate and he doesn’t decide alone. So if you ask me, I’ll continue to support him,’ he said.

But if his colleagues in the Senate think otherwise and believe that Sotto lacks leadership skills, then they can push for another Senate leadership change.

‘That’s how it goes in the Senate, whoever has the majority, whoever has at least 13. whoever is sitting can be replaced by whoever has at least 13 (votes),’ Lacson added.

On Saturday, Senator Gatchalian also said he believes Sotto’s leadership is ‘very stable.’

Lacson also scored the fake news and false narratives that some sectors insisted on circulating-that he is targeting some fellow senators while allegedly protecting members of the House of Representatives perceived to be the ‘masterminds’ of the flood control mess, including former Speaker Martin Romualdez and ex-Representative Elizaldy Co.

‘If you ask me, I would say I handled the hearings well. But there are those trying to disrupt the hearings. In one instance, the hearing had barely started when someone tried to make a distraction. That is why there is a perception that the hearings were not handled well,’ he said.

‘If majority of my peers do not trust me, I am not so numb, I’m not that insensitive not to feel that. They’ve already expressed their sentiments. if that is how my colleagues think, who am I to insist to stay as chair? If in their opinion someone else can handle it, I’ll leave it to them,’ he added.

‘Colleagues’ sentiments’

Lacson disclosed at a caucus on Monday last week that some of his peers also expressed concerns that his remarks about budget insertions could affect the whole institution.

Lacson earlier said that almost all senators of the 19th Congress inserted at least P100 billion worth of items in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), mostly in favor of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), for infrastructure projects, including flood control. He cited documents he had gathered showing these were individual insertions, although they were eventually held ‘for later release.’

He also said that members of the House of Representatives likewise made their own amendments or insertions in the 2025 national budget, with the total exceeding by ‘much, much more’ those made by the Senate.

Citing information he accessed, Lacson said the list of the House members who made insertions in the DPWH’s favor in last year’s GAA was several pages long, with the names in alphabetical order. ‘It was like a roll call,’ he said.

When asked if the amount was larger than the insertions made by senators, Lacson replied: ‘Much, much more.’

He explained that the DPWH received such massive insertions because many lawmakers were likely in collusion with the department’s corrupt officials to get their share of huge kickbacks from projects-even if it meant giving the DPWH a bigger budget than the education sector, which was in violation of the 1987 Constitution.

No offense meant

‘I can actually feel and understand completely the sentiments expressed by my colleagues, at least the members of the majority bloc during our majority caucus, so I explained to them that the mention of ‘almost all senators’ was not intended to put them or the whole Senate on the spot, nor did I have the intention of calling them out particularly,’ he said in a previous interview.

‘The overarching reason for my disclosure or revelation was to point out that we must accept the fact that we are all in crisis owing to the recent anomalies involving the substandard and even ghost flood control projects unearthed in the course of the blue ribbon committee hearings and other similar investigations,’ the senator added.

Lacson reiterated in the radio interview that he was able to explain to his colleagues that it was not his intention to target them.

‘I did not intend to offend them or to bring them down. I just want us all to wake up to the reality that people are mad and we should refrain from making humongous budget insertions,’ he said.

He explained that insertions are not illegal or improper.

‘Insertions are amendments. There is nothing wrong with it. The only time it becomes illegal is when you make an amendment for infrastructure projects, whether flood control related or not, then you meddle in its implementation, and you collect a commission, that’s illegal,’ Lacson said.

Transparency in hearings

Also on Sunday, Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said Lacson’s departure from the blue ribbon panel ‘should now compel the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to conduct a broad, unrelenting and open sweep of all individuals named in both Senate and House hearings, to determine with precision their respective liabilities, and to recommend the filing of appropriate charges.’

Ridon said Lacson’s leadership of the committee ‘yielded the most consequential testimonies and [pieces of] evidence’ compared to all the subsequent hearings on the alleged flood control anomalies, particularly from the affidavits of former DPWH officials.

‘Senator Lacson’s blue ribbon committee hearings exposed not only members of Congress as principal participants in the capture of the national budget at every stage of the budget process but also the involvement of executive officials, particularly in the capture of unprogrammed appropriations, which fall solely within the authority of the executive branch,’ Ridon said.

He also urged the ICI to open its proceedings to the public and establish rules on when proceedings may be held in executive session. -With a report from Keith Clores

As someone who finds meaning in how beauty can reflect care and community, I have a soft spot for artists and brands who use their platforms for something greater than visibility.

Whether it’s a pop-up that benefits artisans or a collaboration that uplifts a marginalized group, I pay attention to instances when fashion chooses to give back. There is something undeniably moving about creativity that does more than express, that contributes.

This is exactly what designer Jor-El Espina is choosing to celebrate as he marks his 20th anniversary in fashion. Rather than simply stage a retrospective or commercial show, he’s using this milestone to spotlight the community.

His culminating showcase, ’20 Design Anthologies,’ will be unveiled at The Bahaghari Gala on Oct. 24, 2025 at the Grand Ballroom of Shangri-La The Fort. It’s a deeply personal collection presented in partnership with the Philippine Financial and Inter-Industry Pride (PFIP) to benefit a cause close to his heart: the Rainbow Youth Academy, a mentorship and empowerment program for LGBTQIA+ youth.

When I attended a preview of the collection, I was immediately struck by the burst of color. There were playful shapes, diaphanous fabrics, and a kind of joy sewn into the very seams. Each piece evoked something whimsical and unafraid but unmistakably Filipino. Even in its fantasy, there was intention.

‘This collection pushes the limits in terms of where I can take Filipiniana dressing,’ Espina shares. ‘I consider this collection as my playground.’

But it’s a playground with purpose. The gala is more than a celebration of his legacy. It’s a fundraiser that ties fashion to education, visibility, and systemic support for queer Filipino youth. The Rainbow Youth Academy, led by PFIP, is designed to provide mentorship, scholarships, and leadership training for LGBTQIA+ students across the Philippines. It isn’t just about access. It’s about belonging. Programs like this help young people not only dream, but be equipped to thrive in environments that haven’t always made space for them.

‘Creativity is not just about making clothes,’ says Espina. ‘It’s also about creating spaces or experiences where stories, identities, and communities can be uplifted. My role as a Filipino designer is not just to create beautiful things. It is also to use my creativity as a tool for empowering others, championing representation, and sparking change.’

In a landscape where many anniversary shows center solely on legacy or brand growth, Espina’s focus on community impact is refreshingly sincere. Even in his most maximalist moments, there is humility in his work. I saw this, not just in the designs themselves, but in the way he spoke about mentorship, particularly his recent collaboration with the Grand Dame of Philippine Fashion: Patis Tesoro.

‘Working alongside an icon like Patis was both humbling and affirming,’ he says. ‘She reminded me that legacy is not only about what we create. It’s also about what we pass on: skills, values, and vision.’

Tesoro’s influence is clear. Her own ethos of honoring craft, while pushing boundaries, mirrors Espina’s approach to this collection. He brings together embroidery, fringe, beadwork, and even corsetry in ways that feel celebratory rather than excessive. The result is a collection that pays homage to tradition while refusing to be boxed in by it.

‘I am always guided by instinct and memory,’ he explains. ‘The textures of piña, the geometry of callado embroidery, or the colors of fiestas-these are details that are inherently Filipino. But I reinterpret and reimagine them into new silhouettes and present new contexts that resonate globally.’

The garments, from what we’ve seen, are not just outfits. They declare visibility, honor heritage, and carry possibility.

Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan appealed to his colleague Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson to reconsider his decision to resign as the chairman of the blue ribbon committee.

In a statement on Monday evening, Pangilinan said no one in the majority bloc sought Lacson’s replacement as the head of the powerful blue ribbon panel.

‘My sense was and is that while there were a number of our colleagues in the majority bloc who disagreed with some earlier public pronouncements made by him, the matter had been threshed out and clarified by him in a majority caucus held last Wednesday Oct 1. No one in the majority bloc sought his replacement as blue ribbon committee chairman,’ said Pangilinan.

‘I appeal to Senator Ping to stay on as blue ribbon committee chairman and appeal as well to our colleagues in the majority bloc to reaffirm our support for him to stay on even as we iron out our differences,’ he added.

Pangilinan said he is hoping that with the renewed support of the majority bloc, Lacson will be convinced to stay on his post.

‘Now more than ever, amidst the political crisis facing the nation, our people are looking for stability and certainty in the state of our affairs and looking to the strength of our institutions to withstand the ongoing crisis and resolve it in favor of truth, transparency and public accountability,’ said Pangilinan.

Earlier, Senate President Vicente Sotto III confirmed the receipt of Lacson’s resignation letter as blue ribbon chairperson.

In a resignation letter dated October 7 and addressed to Sotto, Lacson explained how a number of their colleagues have expressed disappointment with the ‘direction’ of the blue ribbon committee hearings regarding the anomalous flood control projects.

‘Some senators publicly and secretly pursue the narrative that I am zeroing in on several of my colleagues while purportedly protecting those members of the Lower House perceived to be the principal actors in the budget anomalies related to the substandard and ghost flood control projects,’ said Lacson.

But according to him, nothing could be further from the truth.

‘This narrative is categorically false. These misrepresentations are being floated mostly by critics opposed to our efforts to get to the bottom of the flood control anomalies,’ he said.

Lacson underscored that his committee went where the evidence led them, and not by the noise coming from highly partisan political persuasions.

To all my colleagues, let me reiterate: there are no political considerations in any and all my actions related to my handling of the committee hearings and other related activities,’ said Lacson.

Agjanti Miller hadn’t played in a San Beda-Letran rivalry game before. But on Sunday, the rookie guard looked like he’d been built for it.

Miller scored 22 points and grabbed five rebounds, fueling San Beda’s 68-58 win over Letran to stay unbeaten in Group B of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament.

‘There’s really no extra motivation, but every time you play Letran you know they’re a strong team that you really have to prepare for,’ said head coach Yuri Escueta, whose squad now holds a 2-0 record. ‘I even look at them (Knights) as an all-star team, so I tip my hats off to my guys for playing defense and guarding our defensive targets.’

With Yukien Andrada unavailable, Bryan Sajonia stepped up to score 11 points, helping the Red Lions keep their composure in a back-and-forth affair. Miller, though, was the difference-scoring timely buckets, attacking in transition and hitting from deep when San Beda needed separation.

The Red Lions opened the fourth quarter with a flurry to wrest control, and Miller sealed the deal with a two-handed slam in the closing minute.

Letran fell to 0-2, despite a breakout 13-point, six-assist performance from Jonathan Manalili, who also added two rebounds and two steals. Deo Cuajao scored 10, but the Knights couldn’t convert late as San Beda tightened its defense.

Altas, 2-0

In the earlier game, Perpetual Help leaned on a different kind of maturity.

Second-year forward Mark Gojo Cruz played with the poise of a veteran, steering the Altas to a 73-61 win over Lyceum for their own 2-0 start in Group A.

‘I prepared myself with a mindset that even if I’m just a sophomore, I need to lead,’ said Gojo Cruz, who finished with 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. ‘My goal is to lead my team on defense, and today, it’s a bonus that my offense clicked.’

The Altas, coming off a victory over San Sebastian, led wire-to-wire and kept Lyceum at bay with help from Jearico Nunez, who added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Lyceum, which dropped to 0-2, was paced by Renz Villegas’ 18 points. But the Pirates struggled to contain Gojo Cruz’s activity on both ends, and fell behind early in the second half.

The Philippine Navy’s BRP Agta (LC290) delivered more than 44.66 tons of relief and construction materials to Masbate as part of its humanitarian response following the onslaught of Typhoon Opong.

‘The vessel left Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City, Cebu, on Thursday and arrived in the province the next day, unloading cargo-primarily construction supplies for rebuilding damaged infrastructure-intended to support rehabilitation efforts in typhoon-hit communities,’ said Lt. John Emmanuel I. Sison, PN, director of the NAVFORSOL Public Affairs Office.

He added that the operation was conducted in coordination with the Tanging Yaman Foundation, a private partner in the ongoing relief efforts.

‘The successful execution of this mission reflects our continued commitment to stand with our fellow Filipinos during times of need. The Navy remains committed to delivering aid wherever and whenever it is needed,’ said Commodore Salvador G. Lavapie Jr., commander of Naval Forces Southern Luzon, in a statement on Monday

The 2025 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant staged a scaled-down production of its preliminary competition following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that shook the island last Sept. 30.

The preliminary competition was held at a portion of the Lapu-Lapu Ballroom of Bai Hotel Cebu in Mandaue City on Monday morning, Oct. 6, with the event going on a by-invitation only to limit guests.

Originally set as a public affair on Oct. 3 at the JPark Island Resort and Water Park in Lapu-Lapu City, the planned preliminary event was canceled because of the tremor, which also jolted the pageant’s Benefit Gala Night.

The earthquake, with its epicenter traced in Bogo City, left a trail of destruction to property and infrastructure, and claimed the lives of dozens, with northern Cebu the hardest hit. Organizers of the international pageant decided to realign the delegates’ activities to foster solidarity with those affected by the earthquake, and canceled the preliminary competition show and other events.

For four straight days since Oct. 1, the ladies took part in relief missions, including the packing of goods at the Cebu Province Warehouse and at their hotel residence.

On Oct. 3, the ladies got to see the earthquake’s effects up close when they distributed goods to the towns of Daanbantayan, Medellin, and San Remigio in the northern part of the island.

Miss Asia Pacific International Executive Director Jacqueline Tan-Sainz told Inquirer Entertainment that the pageant decided in the last minute to still hold a preliminary competition show, for the sake of the delegates who had prepared for it, and expressed their desire to showcase what they can offer. The delegates were said to be looking forward to a preliminary competition show and had prepared gowns for it, different from the ones that they would use for the finals.

In the simplified staging of one of the most crucial phases of the annual pageant, the ladies paraded in swimsuits by Filipino designer Sonny Boy Mindo, albeit on a much smaller stage than the one they walked on at the Benefit Gala Night.

Among the judges were Belgian beauty Selena Ali, second runner-up in last year’s competition, designers Daniel Manila and Phillip Tampus, life coach Carelle Herrera, and Zanea Strategy Manager Hannah Casaño.

At the end of the preliminary competition, the best-performing ladies were recognized. Adjudged Best in Swimsuit was Anita Rose Gomez of the Philippines, while Brazil’s Isabela Fernandes was proclaimed Best in Evening Gown. The two ladies scored two accolades each during the event. Gomez landed second in the gown contest, while Fernandes was second in the swimsuit segment.

Filipino-American bet Kayla Jane Usison from the United States finished third in the evening gown round, while Belgium’s Jana Janssens, who sustained an injury during the gala night quake, was third in the swimsuit contest.

The preliminary competition is an important event for the pageant because part of the scores that will determine the semifinalists will come from it. The closed-door interview scheduled in the afternoon will also contribute to the ladies’ fate.

The 2025 Miss Asia Pacific International coronation night will be held at the Cebu Coliseum on Oct. 8. Forty-three ladies are competing for the title.

Government procurement data from 2000 to 2021 reveal that construction has consistently dominated spending, while health has remained marginal, even during crises, according to an analysis of PhilGEPS records.

Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao, INQUIRER Metrics data scientist and associate professor at the University of the Philippines, found that construction surged after 2007, capturing more than half of all contracts nearly every year, peaking at over 70 percent in 2018.

‘Even in terms of procurement awards from 2000 to 2021, construction still dominates. It appears to surge after 2007 to capture more than half of all contracts nearly every year, and peaking above 70 percent in 2018,’ Panao noted in his analysis.

He added that this trend intensified under the Build, Build, Build program adopted by the Duterte administration and which prioritized massive infrastructure spending as a driver of national development.

Health procurement lagged behind

In contrast, procurement for health rarely exceeded five percent of total awards. ‘Even during crises – such as the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 – procurement for medicines, hospitals, and medical supplies rarely exceeded 5 percent of total awards,’ Panao said.

The analysis, Panao explained, suggests that while hospitals may be constructed, operational capacity – including medicines, supplies, and equipment – has remained relatively underfunded.

‘This suggests that while hospitals may be built, the operational capacity to deliver care – supplies, equipment, and medicines – is relatively underfunded,’ he emphasized. The imbalance between infrastructure and health spending, Panao noted, ‘raises fundamental questions about whether procurement is truly advancing citizen welfare or primarily generating projects that are politically and visually rewarding.’

The findings come at a time when debates over public spending remain heated. The government’s massive allocations for flood-control projects have been questioned following multiple Commission on Audit (COA) fraud audit reports flagging ‘ghost’ or mismatched projects in Bulacan.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed long-standing weaknesses in the country’s health system. Despite new hospital buildings, shortages in medicines, equipment, and protective supplies were reported in many areas at the height of the crisis.

As discussions on infrastructure and health budgets continue ahead of the 2026 appropriations, the data highlights a long-term imbalance: trillions directed toward construction, while essential health procurement remains comparatively small.

a content creator and former ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ housemate who competed with her twin Jai – is set to tie the knot with her American non-showbiz boyfriend, as she announced their engagement.

Agpangan took to her Instagram account on Saturday, Oct. 4, showing photos of herself accepting her partner Danny’s proposal in Austin, Texas.

‘He put a ring on it! From Tita Joj to Wifey Joj. Forever starts now with you, Danny. What a journey it has been – everything happened in God’s perfect timing. I feel so blessed to have a man who loves so deeply and fully. My soulmate, I love you so much!’ she wrote while adding a bible verse in the caption.

Agpangan also showed a closer look at her engagement ring, featuring a thin silver band, an oval-shaped diamond in the center, and two small diamonds ’embracing the center stone’ in a separate post.

‘My engagement ring means more than I can put into words. It tells a story – the two small diamonds that embrace the center stone honor the bond I share with my twin, Jai, a bond that has shaped who I am. No matter where life takes us, we’ll always be there for each other,’ she wrote.

The content creator also shared that her fiancé chose an engagement ring ‘that captured [her] dreams and gave it an even deeper meaning,’ which she is grateful for.

‘I once had a vision of the ring I dreamed of, but the love of my life chose one that captured that dream and gave it even deeper meaning. For that, I am forever grateful,’ she said. ‘I’m so thankful for a man who understands that Jai will always be a part of me as I step into this new chapter.’

Agpangan also opened up about her engagement with Danny on her vlog, saying their relationship is ‘very lowkey’ but is nonetheless blessed by their families and loved ones.

‘He’s really a great guy. He’s the best. I can’t wait to spend my whole life with him. it’s a lot to process because everything is [happening] so fast, it’s a rollercoaster ride. I’m still processing it but I’m getting there,’ she said.

Joj and Jai entered the ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ house during its ‘Teen Edition 4’ edition in 2012. They finished their journey in fourth place. Myrtle Sarrosa emerged as the season’s Big Winner.

Opening with a mixed martial arts tournament in the late ’90s, a hulking figure emerges from the ring. It’s the first time we see Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in A24’s ‘The Smashing Machine,’ but not the version we picture in the action-packed blockbusters he thrives in.

Beyond the prosthetics that render him unrecognizable, there are no cheesy lines, forced grins, or exaggerated furrowed brows. There’s no money shot of flexed muscles or forced male-gaze scenes. Instead, we glimpse the man behind the fighter-and I dare say, the man behind ‘The Rock.’

‘The Smashing Machine’ retells the life of UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships legend Mark Kerr, played by Johnson. Kerr reigned in the late 1990s, earning the nickname that lends the film its title. But behind the ring and locker room, his championships are shadowed by addiction, personal struggles, and the crushing weight of fame.

His partner-and at times, his emotional anchor-is Dawn Staples, portrayed by Emily Blunt. Their relationship is the antithesis of the usual hero-and-damsel trope. Here, love and career don’t align, instability brews on both sides, and if anything, Kerr becomes the damsel in distress.

Dwayne Johnson as UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships legend Mark Kerr

The machine breaks down

Benny Safdie’s solo directorial debut, one-half of the critically acclaimed Safdie Brothers (Good Time, 2017; Uncut Gems, 2019), reminds us that Kerr’s fighting alter ego doesn’t reflect an indestructible machine-but a fragility that breaks down when all is said and done.

Between stitched wounds and bloodshot eyes, winners in Kerr’s world return to holding rooms bloodied, bruised, and congratulated, their cauliflower ears swelling even more.

For the MMA audience, it ends there. For the fighters-the ‘machines’-life continues bruised and broken. In Kerr’s case, his gears fail outside the ring. His effort to uphold the same public image at home collapses into painkiller addiction. His fight doesn’t end in the cage; his opponent is himself. Safdie and Johnson ask us, humbly and painfully: ‘Have you seen a grown man cry?’-an image they offer while still withholding its full weight.

‘The Smashing Machine’ shows just how vast a fighter’s world really is. Bringing to mind the likes of classics such as Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘Southpaw’ and Tom Hardy’s ‘Warrior’-for these fighters, the familiar grit, anger, and rivalry of the sport feels trivial compared to everything else that happens outside the ring.

Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson

The rock hits its mark

Early reactions to ‘The Smashing Machine’ have been overwhelmingly positive. At its Venice Film Festival premiere, the film received a 15-minute standing ovation, leaving the audience-including Johnson, Blunt, Safdie, and Kerr himself-visibly emotional.

Between stellar performances from his WWE peers, as well as a rumored contractual obligation that prevents him from ever losing on-screen, Johnson has received his fair share of criticism-particularly when compared to the likes of Dave Bautista and John Cena. But as critics and reviewers have praised him for delivering his rawest performance yet, perhaps Johnson has been listening to the noise after all and has promptly guided ‘The Rock’ off the stage.

Manila is a chaotic concrete jungle, thriving in traffic jams and the buzzing nightlife. On a stage of any Manila bar, musicians plug in their guitars, murmuring ‘sound-check’ into the mic for the awaiting audience-whether it’s a full house, or even just one person watching. Then, the first beat of the drum pulses through the air as the band unleashes its sound.

But off-stage, the hustle resumes: schoolwork, corporate life, rising costs, and agonizingly long commutes with an instrument on their back and an amplifier in their grip. Long before stepping foot into the bar, indie musicians must pay their dues through the unseen effort and commitment we rarely see in their set.

Here, we sat down with two rising groups-TBK, an indie-alternative OPM band, and Benchfly, a five-piece indie pop and alternative rock band-to shed light on independent music-making and how their passion continues to drive them despite the daily grind.

Benchfly is a five-piece indie pop and alternative rock band formed in 2019. Their latest release, ‘Quiet Hours,’ speaks for their style of introspective storytelling with melodic guitar backdrops. TBK, formerly known as The Baseball Kids, has been active since its members’ high school years in 2017. As an indie-alternative OPM band, they compose original songs that revolve around love and youth, their most popular single being ‘Shinjuku.’

Describe Manila as a hub for the indie scene.

Kevin (Benchfly): Manila is a melting pot of the indie music scene. The authenticity in the art-[the] intimate lyrics and experimental instrumentals. all that draws listeners in. At the moment, there’s a growing trend of genre fusion. Artists often blend electronic elements with traditional music, creating a uniquely modern OPM sound. There’s also a rise in female-fronted bands that adds diversity.

Yoro (TBK): There are a bunch of local productions that rotate around the Metro Manila ‘circuit of bars and venues.’ Sometimes they have themes. Minsan may mga Japanese cover night, indie night, ’80s, at ’90s. A random person pays to enter a bar with indie bands in it. Sometimes they hear a band they like, then eventually, they’ll look out for their next gig.

BENCHFLY – Quiet Hours (Official Lyric Video)

What are the cost-effective methods you have for gear and practice?

Edric (Benchfly): Invest in a multi-effects pedal. Space-wise and price-wise, there are a lot of choices you can buy online and in physical stores. I have been using my Boss ME-80 for at least six to seven years. It’s okay to buy secondhand equipment as long as you can gauge its quality and condition. Quality over aesthetic. Your real dream guitar can wait.

Yoro (TBK): [Our drummer] Elian’s dad is sound engineer Albert Michael Idioma. Really famous and a big contributor to Filipino cinema. Back when we were starting out in high school, we would practice in the home studio while the Idiomas were still at work. The drum kit was also there. So yeah, we’re lucky that we got to use that for free.

How do you balance late-night gigs with off-stage commitments?

Junelle (Benchfly’s manager): Everyone’s got stuff going on, so we make sure we’re clear about priorities. Sometimes, it means missing out on other things or turning down gig invites if the set times are too late. It’s exhausting, but the energy you get from playing live makes it all worth it.

What’s the hardest thing you face as an indie band?

Miguel (Benchfly): Now that I’m working in the corporate world, finding time for band rehearsals that work for everyone is a real challenge. But no matter how tired we are from day jobs, nothing beats the feeling of performing and connecting with the audience. The energy is just electrifying. While it’s tough, it’s a commitment we all share by making music together.

Elian (TBK): The very concept of pursuing it is hard enough. You have to be accepting and understanding if someone has something going on. Then, this thing that you really love at this moment will have to wait. It’ll wait until it can or it doesn’t [wait] at all. An indie band is rooted in nothing but passion, a pure feeling, which means it’ll always be fleeting.

Yoro (TBK): Adding onto Elian’s point on time, the age gap between the four of us is only one year. There’s the element of distance (we’re all taking different programs in different schools). Eventually, personalities change, and a re-rendering of style and a rehashing of priorities might be in order. We’ve had disagreements, but what really brought us back was our friendship and our wanting to create music together (cheesy as it may sound).

Does ‘making it big’ matter to you?

Edric (Benchfly): Nine to 10 years ago, it would have been the dream. But as you grow older, your responsibilities shift. The idea of ‘making it big’ would be nice. However, with the current ecosystem of social media, it’s best if you have a strong or solid number of fans or friends.

Migz (TBK): It matters to us at some level in this age, where content (especially music) can become viral at any moment, as long as you’re the one who hooks people on your stuff. We aspire to get big, but as independent musicians, it stays a pipe dream until we get that perfect formula of luck, skill, and talent.

What advice would you give to aspiring indie bands?

Eldric (Benchfly): Put your heart into your music, and be smart with your money. Passion is everything, but without solid financial planning, it’s easy to burn out. Also, be sure to network; building connections could open doors in the future. It’s also essential to connect with the fans and your audience; they’ll be the sole reason to keep going.

Zoilo (TBK): A band’s own identity is what makes them stand out. Once you figure that out, embrace it. Just be yourself and keep improving. Conversely, don’t [feel like] you should steal some riffs or licks from bands you like. Make it fit into what you’re writing. Music has always been like that-taking a sound you like before making it your own.