Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Far Eastern University finally barged into the win column at the expense of Adamson, 64-58, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday.

Mo Konateh dominated in the paint to power the Tamaraws with a monster double-double of 18 points and 21 rebounds, while Kirby Mongcopa added 15 points. Janrey Pasaol turned in another all-around performance with 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

This time, though, his efforts didn’t go to waste as the Tamaraws chalked up their first victory after a 0-3 start.

‘I only got this kind of confidence from him (coach Sean Chambers) throughout my career,’ Pasaol said in Filipino at Mall of Asia Arena. ‘I’ve been trying to repay his trust in our practices so it’s good that I got to do it in the game,’ he added.

Monty Montebon was the sole double-digit scorer for the Falcons, who slid to 1-3, with 14 points that went with seven rebounds.

The University of the Philippines and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. hatched a three-year strategic partnership to prepare Filipino students for leadership in an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven global economy.

‘Today, we witness not merely a ceremony but a symphony: the convergence of two great institutions united in purpose and committed to our nation’s digital future,’ says UP president Angelo Jimenez. ‘This alliance stands at the threshold of transformation where academic aspiration meets industrial innovation, where scholarly pursuit embraces technological achievement.’

The agreement establishes collaboration frameworks across critical technology domains, including AI and machine learning, cloud computing infrastructure, cybersecurity, smart manufacturing and digital business transformation.

The partnership is seen to directly benefit UP students, especially students in the AI program, computer science, computer engineering, electronics engineering and business administration programs.

‘This collaboration represents more than skills development. It’s about creating a sustainable pipeline of Filipino technology leaders,’ says Dennis Anthony Uy, Converge CEO and cofounder. ‘Through strategic partnerships like this, we can ensure that Filipino talent not only competes globally but drives innovation domestically.’

Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda hails the partnership as a transformative tool to improve absorptive capacity for various digitalization programs of the government, as well to foster innovation.

Three-phase approach

The partnership begins with exploratory initiatives and deepens integration by 2026.

Phase One launches the ‘Future Forward Management Trainee Program,’ a nine-month pilot targeting graduating students with intensive training in AI, product development and digital technology. This aims to address the critical gap between academic learning and industry application that has long challenged higher education.

It also leverages the strategic relationships of Converge with technology leaders, providing UP students access to best practices that align with global benchmarks in digitalization and competitiveness. This is while maintaining strong foundations in Filipino values and innovation.

Beyond traditional boundaries

Beyond conventional internship models, the partnership introduces innovative collaboration mechanisms, including student competitions and hackathons focused on AI-driven solutions, campus speaker series featuring industry leaders, speed mentoring programs and codeveloped curricula integrating AI with business applications.

The long-term vision includes establishing a ‘Converge Innovation Lab @ UP’-a dedicated space for research, prototyping and real-world AI applications to serve as a model for industry-academia collaboration.

Peter Sy, UP vice president for digital transformation, says, ‘We’re not just preparing students for existing jobs-we’re empowering them to create new industries and solutions.’

Addressing national digital competitiveness

The agreement includes provisions for exploring social responsibility programs that will extend opportunities to underserved but high-potential students, ensuring that digital transformation benefits Filipinos from all backgrounds.

Faculty-industry exchange programs will enable UP professors to gain industry insights while providing Converge access to cutting-edge research and academic perspectives, creating an enriching two-way knowledge flow.

The agreement includes annual review mechanisms and extension possibilities.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Cayetano said: ‘What if we all just resign and allow a snap election from the president, vice president, senate, and congress, with one important addition – no incumbent from the above can run for one election cycle.’

Cayetano suggested this while stating that Filipinos ‘have lost trust in government and government officials.’ He even affirmed this, saying ‘politicians are suspects.’

The senator also stated that public officials shouldn’t be afraid of stepping down.

‘If we truly serve them, then starting over shouldn’t scare us. Because real change starts with radical honesty – and the courage to admit when it’s time to step aside,’ Cayetano continued. A series of anti-corruption protests has ensued since the beginning of September due to the revelations that several government officials are allegedly involved in the supposed flood-control project anomalies.

‘National government has its bureaucracy and will continue to run. Governors, mayors and barangay chairpersons are generally trusted and will be in place,’ Cayetano added.

‘No drama, no excuses, no recycling. Just a clean slate for the Filipino people. A turning point leading to renewal and revival. Instead of People Power. Sacrifice from People’s Servants!’ he said.

Among the government officials accused in the flood-control controversy are executives from government agencies, members of the House and the Senate.

Amidst these conversations, several changes in the legislative branch have also occurred.

Former Senate President Francis Escudero was replaced by Senator Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III, shortly after Escudero was accused of allegedly receiving ‘kickbacks’ from the government-funded flood-control projects.

Later, Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez stepped down after being linked to the same controversies, stating that he did not want to stain the name of the president, and was shortly replaced by Isabela 6th District Representative Faustino ‘Bojie’ De Guzman Dy III.

Former Ako-Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co also resigned from the Congress after being tagged as the ‘mastermind’ behind the substandard or ‘ghost’ flood-control projects. Among the executive departments, the secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Manuel ‘Manny’ Bonoan resigned in the middle of the investigations into the government agency.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. has secured the support of the United Kingdom for its upcoming stock market debut, signaling strong demand for what would be the country’s largest-and last-initial public offering (IPO) this year.

In its preliminary prospectus dated Oct. 3, Maynilad said it now had a cornerstone investment agreement with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through its Mobilising Capital Through Listed Products (Mobilist) program. The concessionaire clarified, however, that the participation of Mobilist as a cornerstone investor would be finalized only if the IPO price does not exceed P15 per share.

This also goes for International Finance Corp. and Asian Development Bank, both of which are considering investing $100 million and $145 million, respectively.

The Mobilist program is an initiative by the British Investment Partnership that aims to support infrastructure development and green transition in Southeast Asia.

Last year, it chipped in $12.5 million into the IPO of Edgar Saavedra-led Citicore Renewable Energy Corp.

Since then, the UK government has committed to boost trade and investment flows to the Philippines, particularly looking at sustainability-related projects.

For its part, Maynilad recently received the Philippines’ first Green Equity label, which would allow it to attract more investors by tagging its shares as ‘green’ prior to its offer.

‘We are proud to reach this point in Maynilad’s story,’ Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez said in a statement on Sunday night.

‘Our journey has always been guided by a clear mission-to deliver safe, sustainable and reliable water and wastewater services to our customers,’ he added. ‘The submission of our preliminary prospectus marks another step in that mission, as we open the door for broader public participation while continuing to comply with all regulatory processes.’

Apart from Mobilist, asset management firm Robeco Switzerland Ltd. is also participating as a cornerstone investor for an investment size of up to $20 million.

Others are Maybank Asset Management Singapore Pte. Ltd., Maven Investment Partners Ltd. – Hong Kong Branch, abrdn Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. and QRT Master Fund SPC – Torus Fund SP.

Maynilad plans to raise up to P34.33 billion from its IPO. The offer period is scheduled from Oct. 23 to Oct. 29, with listing on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange set on Nov. 7.

The final price will be determined on Oct. 20.Maynilad, whose service area covers the West Zone of the Greater Metro Manila area, also recently confirmed it was ‘looking’ at a potential buyout of the Villar group’s PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp.

The families left behind by eight victims of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs vowed on Saturday not to be cowed into silence or abandon their long struggle for justice.

But during the inurnment rites of the 11th batch of victims whose remains were placed at the Dambana ng Paghilom (Shrine of Healing) in Caloocan City, the families chose to honor them not as victims, but as people who may have been flawed but loved by many.

They were Adrian Romero, 18; Darwin Dacillo, 24; Regie Boy Jaranilla, 24; Ronnel Obenita, 30; Vicente Rufino, 24; Alex Bigonte, Jr., 47; Marlon Ballonico, 50; and Artemio Lusadio, 61.

They are part of Program Paghilom, started by Father Flaviano ‘Flavie’ Villanueva, who seeks to exhume victims of extrajudicial killings (EJK), have the bodies autopsied before they are finally cremated, so their loved ones can finally mourn for them at their final resting place. Diorenda Ballonico, the sibling of Marlon, who was gunned down by men in a motorcycle in 2020, said: ‘We will not allow him to be just a name in a long list of [deaths] soon to be forgotten. We will not stop calling for the truth. We will not stop looking for justice, not only for my brother but for all of us who are victims of this violence.’

‘We lost him without a trial, without an opportunity to explain, without respect for his character. This is the reality of EJK victims. A system that kills not just the person, but also the family and the hope for justice and trust in the system that should be protecting us,’ she said.

Nimfa, a sister of Alex who was shot dead multiple times in 2020 by unidentified men who barged into his house, said she has been finding it difficult to adjust to the loss of her closest sibling.

Her only partner

‘He was my only partner in taking care of one of our siblings who is a PWD (person with disability). He was actually the one who did most of the work,’ she said in an interview, breaking into tears.

She could not accept that he was not given his day in court. ‘I wish they just followed the law [and gave him due process].’

The partner of Darwin Dacillo, a victim at the height of the drug war in 2016, said she was enraged by the developments in Duterte’s murder charges in the ICC.

‘It’s like they come up with stories just to delay the hearings,’ she told the Inquirer.

A dozen armed men who were said to be police officers broke into their house and chased Dacillo, who hid in the gap of their ceiling. The killers then shot him dead in various parts of his body and tortured him after, peeling his tattoo off, strangling him with a belt and beating him up.

Dacillo was with Romero, who was only a teenager when they were gunned by alleged police officers the day after Christmas. Romero’s mother said that his son begged for his life, but the next day, he found out that his son was already dead.

Jaranilla, another victim, was picking vegetables from their backyard in the wee hours of May 4, 2020, in Caloocan City, when masked men came up to him to shoot him. He tried to jump off a nearby river, but the bullet still caught his body.

Rufino, who was held in Quezon City Jail on drug charges before he was freed due to lack of evidence, was not exonerated in the eyes of the killers. Unidentified men still went after him and gunned him down in his house in January 2020.

Also in the same month, policemen, who were with a barangay watchman, stormed the house of Obenita and ruthlessly killed him and two others.

More than 100 urns

An elderly, Lusadio was playing chess when he was killed by a gunshot by unknown suspects. He was rushed to the hospital, but he died 10 days later due to gunshot wounds in his liver, diaphragm and stomach.

More than 100 urns of EJK victims, many of whom died by gunshot wounds either by police or unidentified armed men, under the program are now kept at the shrine in La Loma Catholic Cemetery.

Despite the pain and grief that the families are reeling from, Villanueva reminded them that they gained a family in Program Paghilom. He also urged them to continue the fight not only for their loved ones, but for the country.

Seven films from the Philippines have made it to the shortlist of the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) 2025, cementing the country’s strong presence at the biennial event.

Now in its seventh edition, the festival will run from Nov. 12 to 15 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. From more than 200 submissions – the highest in AIFFA history – only select entries made the cut, with the Philippines landing seven coveted slots.

The films representing the country are Sheron Dayoc’s ‘The Gospel of the Beast,’ Dominic Bekaert’s ‘An Errand,’ Louie Ignacio’s ‘Avenida,’ Petersen Vargas’ ‘Some Nights I Feel Like Walking,’ Zig Dulay’s ‘Green Bones’ and ‘Firefly: The Movie’ and Derick Cabrido’s ‘Mallari.’

Rain Yamson III, AIFFA’s liaison officer for the Philippines, announced the shortlist and called the achievement another testament to Filipino creativity. ‘Filipino filmmakers are limitless already. We’re now able to expand. Southeast Asia now appreciates our work,’ he said.

AIFFA festival director Livan Tajang, represented in Manila by Fadhilla ‘Dillah’ Abdulla, highlighted the Philippines’ unwavering support. ‘We look forward to the Philippines bringing a lot more movies in the coming years. The country has been very supportive through the years,’ Abdulla told reporters at a recent media gathering. She also noted that AIFFA has seen historic Filipino winners, including National Artist for Film Nora Aunor, actress Cherie Gil and filmmaker Joseph Israel Laban – all of whom have since passed away, but not before being honored by the festival. Since its founding in 2013, AIFFA has drawn around 300 industry professionals from across Asean and beyond. Alongside screenings and the Gala Night, the 2025 edition will feature workshops, masterclasses, exhibitions, and a new category: the Borneo Documentary Awards.

For Filipino artists, AIFFA has long been both a competition and a celebration. Actor Tommy Alejandrino (‘The Baseball Player’) fondly recalled the camaraderie: ‘We partied almost every night. But we were also very professional about it. We met a lot of filmmakers there. It was such a great experience.’

Filmmaker Christian Paolo Lat (‘Solace’) emphasized the festival’s opportunities for cultural exchange: ‘The most memorable was meeting (Korean celebrity) Rain because I’m a big fan of his. He was the special guest and I saw him during the awards night. I’ve always looked up to him as an actor and as a dancer. The trip was also made memorable by meeting filmmakers from other countries. Overall, it was an amazing experience.’

Roman Perez Jr., who previously screened ‘Kaluskos’ and ‘Sitio Diablo’ at AIFFA, praised the festival’s openness: ‘Bringing ‘Sitio Diablo’ there was tricky since Malaysia is an Islamic country, but they allowed the film to be screened even though there were a lot of love scenes, rape scenes, and drugs. It was shown uncut. I’m thankful to AIFFA because there were no barriers. The best part was, they know all about Vivamax in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. They were looking for me, and they asked: ‘Who is the Vivamax director here?”

Past winner Max Eigenmann, who won best actress for ‘Kargo’ in 2023, also joined the announcement. Looking back, Eigenmann reflected on her connection to her aunt Cherie – herself an AIFFA Best Actress winner in 2017: ‘She’s always with me. I got a tattoo of her initials here – that’s CG.’

The festival will culminate in the Gala Night at the Colosseum, Pullman Hotel Kuching, where 12 AIFFA awards will be presented. With seven contenders in the running, the Philippines once again heads into the festival as one of its strongest forces. /ra

While Rochelle Pangilinan has been acting for quite some time, she considers ‘Child No. 82’ as ‘food for my soul,’ as it allowed her to explore more of herself as an actress.

‘Child No. 82,’ an action-adventure film that marks the full-length directorial debut of Tim Rone Villanueva, tells the story of Max (JM Ibarra) finding out he is the son of the late action star Maximo ‘Boy Kana’ Maniego Sr. (Vhong Navarro). Max is in a race against time to prove that he is indeed the biological son, much to the worry of his mother (Rochelle Pangilinan).

‘Itong Cinemalaya, pangarap kong makasama rito. Habang kumakain kami [noong press con] at tinitingnan ko ang mga kasama ko rito, iniisip ko na matataba talaga ang utak nila. ‘Child No. 82′ is food for my soul. Gusto ko talagang gumaling sa pag-arte, at isa ito sa paraan na nakikita ko na mas gagaling ka pa dapat,’ Pangilinan told Inquirer Entertainment on the sidelines of the festival’s launch.

(It’s been my dream to be part of Cinemalaya. While eating, I observed the others here in this festival. I’m in awe of how great their minds are. ‘Child No. 82’ is food for my soul. I always wanted to grow as an actress, and this is one of the ways where I can improve.)

As a mom to her daughter Shiloh, Pangilinan confessed that she doesn’t want most of the film’s events to happen in real life, especially when it comes to figuring out one’s identity.

‘Maraming makakarelate rito na nanay na lumalaban araw-araw para lang buhayin ang anak nila at siyempre, ang anak nilang Gen Z na maraming pinagdadaanan pero [nonetheless], masaya pa rin silang magi-ina,’ she said.

‘Maraming eksena rito na pinagdaanan ni JM ay ayokong mangyari sa anak ko, isa sa kinatatakutan ko ‘yun. Isa sa natutunan ko rito bilang isang working mom ay sisiguraduhin na lagi akong nasa tabi ng anak ko,’ she continued.

(A lot of moms can relate to this, especially to those who fight every single day to raise their children. Gen Zs who also go through so much can also relate to this. But to clarify, we have a happy mom-and-son relationship here. I don’t want my daughter to go through the experiences that JM has been through here. It’s one of the things I’m scared about. What I also learned as a working mom is to always be by my child’s side.) The actress opened up about learning from Villanueva, her co-stars, and the film’s creatives, sharing that Villanueva is the kind of filmmaker who focuses on solutions whenever problems arise.

‘Kapag may nangyayaring problema, laging solusyon. Hindi niya iniisip ang problema, sino may kasalanan, sa kanya ko nakuha ‘yun. Nagagamit ko siya sa tunay na buhay,’ she said.

‘Nakakatuwa lalo na sa mga bumuo ng pelikula, nag-pay off lahat ng pinaghirapan. Ibang klase sila. Lahat sila, alam nila ang ginagawa nila kahit kanino ka magtanong sa set. Alam kung anong kukunan, professional lahat, ayokong matapos ang araw. Kahit mahirap ang eksena, masaya kami,’ she added.

(When problems arise, he always focuses on the solutions. He doesn’t stay on the problem and who is at fault, I got that from him. I apply that trait in real life now. It makes me happy seeing the hard work of everyone involved pay off. They’re so good. They know what they’re doing – no matter whom you ask in the set. They know where to shoot. Everyone was so professional. I didn’t want the day to end. Even if the scenes were hard, we were happy.)

When asked if she’s ready to accept an acting award, Pangilinan said: ‘Hindi ko siya ine-expect pero kung binigay sa’kin, sino ako para tumanggi? Extra blessing ‘yun. Hindi ako umaasa pero [sana] mapanood [lahat ng pelikula], enough na ‘yun for me.’

(I don’t expect to receive an award. But if they would give it to me, who am I to pass it on? It’s an extra blessing. I don’t want to hope for it too much, but I hope I can watch all of this year’s films. That’s enough for me.)

Aftershocks are expected from a magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck off the waters of Ilocos Norte town on Sunday morning, the state seismologist said.

In its earthquake bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the epicenter of the earthquake occurred 63 kilometers west of Currimao in Ilocos Norte at 9:45 a.m.

Phivolcs said that the earthquake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 10 kilometers.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said he continues to support the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Asked whether the leadership of Sotto remains stable after former and incumbent lawmakers were implicated in an ongoing investigation of public works corruption, Lacson said: ‘I don’t know, that’s what’s in my colleagues’ minds.’

‘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 and he doesn’t decide alone. So if you ask me, I’ll continue to support him,’ he said. ‘Now, if in the views of my colleagues, he is also lacking in leadership.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.

Lacson’s statement came following Sen. JV Ejercito’s recent remark that he, along with four other senators, planned to leave the majority bloc after several former and incumbent senators were dragged into the investigation of anomalous flood control projects by the Senate blue ribbon committee.

Sen. Sherwin ‘Win’ Gatchalian, however, said on Saturday that he believes Sotto’s leadership is ‘very stable.’

Banking luminary Xavier P. Loinaz – a pillar of risk management, innovation and credit discipline at Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) – died on Oct. 4, about a week short of his 82nd birthday.

A BPI community post said on Sunday they were deeply mourning the passing of Loinaz, also known as ‘XP’ at BPI, where he had served as CEO for 22 years and board member for another 16 years.

‘XP was a captain of industry who steered BPI through local political turmoil and global crises. His 22-year presidency set benchmarks in responsible and innovative banking, and led the technology and operational transformation of the Philippine banking industry,’ the community said.

‘To us at BPI, Xavier Loinaz was not only a visionary leader but also a mentor and an inspiration. He taught us discipline, integrity, and the importance of serving with purpose. The innovations he introduced, and the people he guided, continue to carry his legacy forward,’ BPI president Jose Teodoro Limcaoco said.

‘We will always be grateful for his steady hand and his belief in the Filipino spirit. He leaves behind an institution made stronger by his leadership-and a family of bankers who will forever remember him with respect and gratitude,’ added Limcaoco.

Loinaz was BPI president from 1982 to 2004, helping the bank navigate episodes of political turbulence and economic crises, including two people power revolutions, coup d’ etat attempts, the debt crisis and the Asian financial crisis.

Banking MandAs

At the helm of BPI, Loinaz took the big steps and embarked on a number of mergers and acquisitions (MandAs) to take BPI to a certain scale and size. Four significant MandA deals were done during his term: Family Bank in 1985, CityTrust Banking Corp. in 1995, Far East Bank and Trust Company in 2000 and DBS Philippines in 2002.

The purchase of Family Bank from the Gotianun family in 1985, even at a time of growing political unrest, allowed BPI to enter the higher-margin consumer banking space. This became BPI Family Bank, which was eventually integrated into the parent bank.

Beyond his term as BPI president, Loinaz had continued to serve on the board of Southeast Asia’s oldest bank until 2020, when he resigned for health reasons. He previously survived a bout with pancreatic cancer, industry sources said.

uring legacy

‘His legacy endures through the leaders he nurtured with intellectual rigor, responsibility and discipline, and in his pioneering spirit that lives on in BPI,’ the community said.

When Loinaz retired as board member of BPI in 2020, Ayala Corp. chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala credited him for cultivating BPI’s strong credit culture, building its reputation as a ‘safe haven’ in times of crisis and for growing the bank to be one of the country’s largest.

Under his leadership, BPI introduced to the Philippines automated teller machines (ATMs) as well as the concept of bancassurance.

Including his board directorship at Globe Telecom and Ayala Corp., Loinaz served the Ayala group for four decades.

‘Exceptional’

Loinaz’s successor, Aurelio Montinola III, said in 2012 when he accepted the prestigious MAP Management Man of the Year award: ‘At BPI, I had the good fortune of working with Vic Pacis in corporate banking, and then with Xavier Loinaz everywhere else. All were demanding, never satisfied, and uncompromising; therefore, I learned the hard way how to get things done in an exceptional manner.’