Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The passing of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Speaker Pangalian Balindong is a ‘tremendous loss’ for the people of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), according to a top presidential aide.

Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo described Balindong as a ‘pillar of the Bangsamoro government’ whose contributions are ‘deeply etched in the history of the region.’

Lagdameo pointed out that the Speaker’s commitment to peace and the welfare of the Bangsamoro people should guide current and future regional leaders. ‘Speaker Balindong’s efforts and legacy must not only be honored but also carried forward by those in leadership. His vision for peace, reform, and development in the Bangsamoro should continue to inspire governance in Barmm,’ Lagdameo said in a statement.

He added that the reforms and initiatives championed by the late Speaker in the Bangsamoro Parliament are foundational to the region’s current peace and progress.

Balindong, who died on October 2 at age 85, left behind a long legacy of public service. He represented Lanao del Sur in Congress, first from 1995 to 1998, and then from 2007 to 2016, and served as a member of the BTA Parliament from 2019 until his death.

He was also a prominent advocate for the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the landmark legislation that established the Barmm.

Lola Amour, BINI and Dionela are among the artists who earned the most nominations at the 38th Awit Awards, with the ‘Raining in Manila’ hitmakers leading with five nods, including the coveted Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

Trailing behind the funk-pop band are BINI and Dionela, who tied with four nominations. Other artists recognized by the award-giving body, the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), are SunKissed Lola, SB19 and BenandBen, to name a few.

Further details on the 38th edition of the Awit Awards’ awarding ceremony are yet to be announced.

Here is the full list of nominees:

Record of the Year

‘Nene’ by SunKissed Lola

‘Heartache Generation’ by Ena Mori

‘Marilag’ by Dionela

‘Love Is’ by The Ridleys

‘Namimiss Ko Na’ by Lola Amour

Album of the Year

‘Talaarawan’ by BINI

‘Olaholah’ by SunKissed Lola

‘The Traveller Across Dimensions’ by BenandBen

‘Alegorya’ by Munimuni

‘Superpower’ by Zild

‘Lola Amour’ by Lola Amour

Song of the Year

‘Sining’ by Dionela and Jay R

‘Ikot’ by Over October

‘Misteryoso’ by Cup of Joe

‘Pagbigyan’ by Sugarcane

‘Namimiss Ko Na’ by Lola Amour

Best Collaboration

”Pag Ang Puso ang Nagsabi’ by JM Dela Cerna and Marielle Montellano

‘Ligaw na Bullet’ by Denise Laurel and Skusta Clee

”Di Ko Kasalanan’ by Demi and GinsandMelodies

‘Sining’ by Dionela and Jay R

‘Within’ by Ladine Roxas and Kris Lawrence

‘Sa Kahapon’ by Dilaw and Janine Berdin

Best Performance by a New Group Artist

‘Aminin’ by Naiba

‘Hi, Tita’ by Sala

‘Bituin’ by Letters from June

‘Walang Humpay’ by 12th Street

‘Alak’ by Karilyo

Best Performance by a New Solo Artist

‘Alintana’ by Muninn

‘Panggap’ by Plume

‘Sickreet’ by Ryannah J

”Di Maipagkakaila’ by Ia

‘Kahit ‘Di Ako Ang Gusto Mo’ by Patricia Heart

‘Seryoso’ by Lottie Bie

Best Performance by a Group Artist

‘Triumph’ by BenandBen

‘Tayo Na Lang’ by Nobita

‘Lampara’ by Press Hit Play

‘One Sided Love’ by G22

‘Sige, Sayaw!’ by Dear Dahlia

‘Nilalang’ by Dilaw

Best Performance by a Solo Artist

‘ATM’ by Ice Seguerra

‘I’ll Be Somebody You Want’ by Jolianne

‘Pauwi Na ‘Ko (Dito Ka Na Lang)’ by Dwta

‘Marilag’ by Dionela

‘Alas Dos Na!!!’ by Janine Berdin

‘Fake Faces’ by Felip

‘Umaycan’ by Noel Cabangon

Best RandB Recording

‘Tango’ by Jarlo Base

‘Marilag’ by Dionela

‘Sining’ by Dionela and Jay R

‘Call Me What You Want’ by Elise Huang

‘Fighting for You’ by Thyro Alfaro and JP Bacallan

Best Jazz Recording

‘Superfunk’ by GundamFunk

‘Get It Right’ by Nicole Asensio and Solo .Cal

‘Careless Fools’ by Debonair District and Jacques Dufourt

‘Remedios Circle’ by Alvin Cornista, Chuck Stevens, Abe Lagrimas Jr., Tim Lyddon and Dave Harder

‘What Is It All About?’ by Nicole Asensio and Solo .Cal

Best Rap/Hip-hop Recording

‘Subomoto (Hev Abi remix)’ by Zae and Hev Abi

‘Kalakal’ by SB19 and Gloc-9

‘Utang Clan’ by Gloc-9

‘Ako Lang ‘To’ by XYVRL

‘Marikit sa Dilim’ by Juan Caoile, Kyleswish and Jawz

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

‘Salamin, Salamin’ by BINI

‘Tension’ by Peyton

‘Eksena’ by YARA

‘Come Over’ by Pop Money Worldwide, Carrot Mayor, SHNTI and Aunt Robert

‘Hilo’ by Paul Pablo

Best Traditional/Contemporary Folk Recording

‘ATM’ by Ice Seguerra

‘Ito Lamang’ by Project: Romeo

‘You’ll Never Feel Alone Again’ by Earl Generao

‘Nandiyan Pa Ba?’ by 6cyclemind and Gloc-9

‘Huling Liham’ by Paham and Dwta

Best World Music Recording

‘Sarung Banggi’ by Overheat and Camsur Made

‘You Did It’ by KAIA

‘Chinese Restaurant’ by Nicole Adeya

‘Careless Fools’ by Debonair District and Jacques Dufourt

‘Sabado’ by SinoSikat?

‘100 Mensahe’ by Dan Gil and Marga Jayy

Best Alternative Recording

‘Homeostasis’ by Barbie Almalbis

‘A Gentle Reminder to Rest’ by Amateurish

‘Bulaklak sa Buwan’ by Ely Buendia

‘Namimiss Ko Na’ by Lola Amour

‘Wala Nang Saysay’ by Meds

Best Rock/Metal Recording

‘Orange’ by Amateurish

‘The Risk’ by Faspitch

‘Bawal Lumingon’ by CHNDTR

‘Dahas’ by Kjwan

‘Pano’ by Caren Tevanny

‘Dragon’ by Mayonnaise

Best Pop Recording

‘Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo’ by Itchyworms

‘Dilaw’ by Maki

‘Toyo’ by KZ Tandingan

‘Yoko Na’ by Josh Cullen and Al James

‘Hoodie’ by Dionela and Alisson Shore

Best Ballad Recording

‘Ethereal’ by Pappel

‘Lagi’ by Ica Frias

‘Kasing Kasing’ by Juan Karlos and Kyle Echarri

‘Medyo Ako’ by Juan Karlos and Moira Dela Torre

‘Ihilak Lang Na’ by Morissette

”Di Ko Masabi’ by Stell

Best Instrumental Recording

‘Nang Buo Kong Buhay’ by Jay Gomez and Yvette Parcom

‘SuperFunk’ by Gundam Funk

‘See You on the Other Side’ by Lustbass and RJ Pineda

‘Good Nights’ by Lustbass

‘Remedios Circle’ by Alvin Cornista, Chuck Stevens, Abe Lagrimas, Jr., Tim Lyddon and Dave Harder

Best Inspirational Recording

‘Beautiful Day’ by The Company

‘Little World Changer’ by Belle Mariano

‘Ningas ng Pag-Asa’ by Jamie Rivera and 92AD

‘Dahil Sa’Yo’ by Viola Natividad

‘Face of God’ by December Avenue

Best Novelty Recording

‘Da Coconut Nut (DJ Sandy Remix)’ by Giani Sarita and DJ Sandy

‘Walang Label’ by Eugene Layug

‘Wala Akong Pake’ by Johan Kyle and ANNUHBAE

‘Art Song’ by Pinkmen

‘Atras Abante’ by Introvert Fiesta and Aji

Best Recording by a Child or for Children

‘Ang Init Init’ by Imogen

‘The Phonics Song’ by Teacher Cleo

‘Tadhana (Easy Lang)’ by Giani Sarita

‘Jesus, Best Friend’ by Ateneo Boys Choir

‘Nasa Palad Mo’ by Ateneo Boys Choir featuring Marcel Roy S. Navarro and Generoso R. Maquirang IV

Best Original Soundtrack

‘lyo’ from ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ by Darren Espanto

‘Maskara’ from ‘Lavender Fields’ by Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez

‘Ulit Ulit’ from ‘Pamilya Sagrado’ by Regine Velasquez

‘Uuwian’ from ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?’ by BGYO

‘Sa Akin Siya’ from ‘Asawa ng Asawa Ko’ by Crystal Paras and Jeniffer Maravilla

‘Nagbago ang Daigdig’ from ‘My Guardian Alien’ by Zephanie

‘Aabutin ang Tadhana’ from ‘Chasing in the Wild’ by Hyacinth Callado

Best Christmas Recording

‘Hesus Aming Hari’ by Jonathan Manalo, John Roa, EJ De Perio, Vee Jay Dela Calzada, Diwa, Hazel Faith, Shekinah Gram, Viola Natividad, Caleb Santos, Jacob Sean Bacal, Naomi, Jessi Ferrer, Elizabeth Clemente and Ezekiel Clemente

‘Ganito ang Pasko’ by Sparkle Singers

‘Weather with You’ by Lucas Pison, Chezka

‘Noche Buena’ by Jan Roberts

‘Paskong Mag-Isa’ by Debonair District

Best Regional Recording

‘Kasing Kasing’ by Juan Karlos and Kyle Echarri

‘Ihilak Lang Na’ by Morissette

‘Ang Paghuwat’ by Morissette and Ferdinand Aragon

‘Umaycan’ by Noel Cabangon

‘Buhi’ by Ferdinand Aragon

‘Dili Na Lang’ by Jolianne

‘Panata’ by Tothapi

Music Video of the Year

‘Salamin, Salamin’ by BINI; produced by Roxy Liquigan, Carlo L. Katigbak and Carlos Jorge Reyes; directed by Kerbs Balagtas

‘Namumula’ by Maki; produced by Jonathan Bacala; directed by Kerbs Balagtas

‘Cherry on Top’ by BINI; produced by Roxy Liquigan, Carlo L. Katigbak and Carlos Jorge Reyes; directed by Kerbs Balagtas

‘Kalakal’ by SB19 and Gloc-9; produced by 1032 Lab and lana Cris Forbes; directed by Alanshiii and XY Pintoy

‘Tagpi-tagping Piraso’ by Ely Buendia; produced by August Lyle Espino, Cedric Hornedo, Lemuel Francia and Geoffrey Collera; directed by August Lyle Espino

Best Cover Art

‘Patibong’ by Gracenote; RJ Villanueva and Darwin Hernandez

‘The Traveller across Dimensions’ by BenandBen; Jether Dane Guadalupe, Katrina Urmatam and Puppeteer Studios

‘Kalakal’ by SB19 and Gloc-9; Louis Duran and IC Forbes

‘I’m Okay’ by Moira Dela Torre; Equinox Manila Productions, Moira Dela Torre, Jason Maxx and Artu Nepomuceno

‘Misteryoso’ by Cup of Joe; Nica Angeles and Gian Bernardino

Best Remix Recording

‘Welcome to My World’ by Jonathan Manalo and Theo Martel

‘Love Is the Answer’ by Jonathan Manalo, Moy Ortiz and The Company

‘small town (crwn’s crying in the parking lot edit)’ by crwn

‘different. (kenyama remix)’ by kenyama

‘WHITE ROOM (Reimagined ver.)’ by ena mori

Best Musical Arrangement

‘Nobya’ by Franz Sacro and Choi Padilla

‘Bittersweet’ by Ashlee Mickaela Factor and Alyssa Janine Cruz

‘Namimiss Ko Na’ by Lola Amour

‘Get It Right’ by Gabe Dandan

‘Umaycan’ by Kahlil Refuerzo

Best Engineered Recording

‘Pahinga’ by Nikhil Armanani

‘Nobya’ by Carlo Jay Cruz

‘Pauwi Na’ko (Dito Ka Na Lang)’ by Brian Lotho

‘Segundo, Siguro’ by Axel Fernandez

‘Namimiss Ko Na’ by Rene Serna

Senior health advocates on Thursday called on local government units (LGUs) to protect high-risk groups like the elderly against influenza-like illnesses (ILIs), emphasizing that delayed vaccination could lead to severe and costly flu complications. This, after the Quezon City government reported that the ILIs have surpassed the epidemic threshold, with 152 cases reported from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13. The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. also reported a 10-percent increase in patient admissions, noting that hospitals are ‘mostly full’ as the rainy season intensifies. Bayan Bakuna lead convenor Mikaella Jeleene Salinas Asoy said vaccine allocations from the national government remain uncertain. According to health experts, seniors face the highest risk of severe flu complications, including pneumonia and heart attacks. Hospitalization costs for such can range from P10,000 to P30,000. Household transmission rates can reach 13 to 32 percent, with flu spreading aggressively among school-age children. Older persons who live with or help care for grandchildren who may unknowingly bring the virus home become at a greater risk. ‘The reported spike in cases highlights the urgent need for preventive measures,’ Asoy said. ‘Vaccination remains the most proven, cost-effective way to protect the elderly population,’ she added. She urged families to accompany their elderly loved ones to barangay health centers and inquire about vaccine availability. She noted that such community demand can help LGUs prioritize vaccination programs and ensure that seniors are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The P214.9 million jackpot prize for the Grand Lotto 6/55 is still up for grabs, according to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Saturday, October 4.

In its evening draw, no one matched the winning combination for the Grand Lotto 6/55, which was 25-28-01-42-13-50.

Jackpot prize would have been P214,989,254.80. Aside from this, PCSO likewise noted that no bettor won the Lotto 6/42 draw, which has an P8,895,388.00 winning prize.

The lucky combination was 41-06-40-04-36-01.

The Grand Lotto 6/55 is drawn every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, while the Lotto 6/42 is every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Storm damage and an import freeze on rice may have pushed up inflation to a seven-month high in September, though price growth likely stayed within the central bank’s target.

The consumer price index may have sped up to 2 percent based on the median estimate of 14 economists polled by the Inquirer this week. That would outpace August’s 1.5 percent increase and mark the fastest pace since February, when inflation hit 2.1 percent.

Even so, the estimate fell within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) forecast range of 1.5 to 2.3 percent for September. Both the consensus and the central bank’s projections suggested inflation would remain within the official 2 to 4 percent target band.

Nicholas Mapa, chief economist at Metrobank, said heavy rains and crop damage from recent storms appear to have nudged inflation to 2.5 percent last month, the highest estimate among the analysts in the survey.

‘We expect a pickup in inflation. Upside pressure: vegetables and fish post the spate of storms. Downside pressure: electricity prices,’ Mapa said.

‘Pump prices also could be a source of downside pressure but to a lesser extent as gasoline and diesel costs increased on a m-o-m (month-on-month) basis, tracking global markets,’ he added.

Jun Neri, lead economist at Bank of the Philippine Islands, estimated September inflation at 1.9 percent. He flagged ‘rising rice costs’ as a major driver, citing the government’s suspension of grain imports.

Still, he noted that ‘lower electricity rates, relatively cheaper vegetables and softer oil prices’ were helping offset pressures. He also pointed to an influx of inexpensive Chinese exports avoiding higher US tariffs, which may continue to temper prices in the months ahead.

May be higher than forecast

‘Looking ahead, inflation risks are skewed to the upside as favorable rice base effects fade, with the extension of the import suspension through year-end adding pressure,’ Neri said.

‘Nonetheless, we still project inflation to staying at 2 percent level through December, but could climb above 3 percent in the first half of next year due to base effects and potential supply shocks from possible supply-chain disruptions linked to Trump’s tariffs,’ he added.

The stretch of subdued price gains could influence the central bank’s next policy steps. Last August, the BSP trimmed its benchmark rate by a quarter point to 5 percent-a level Governor Eli Remolona Jr. described as ‘Goldilocks’, neither too low to fuel inflation nor too high to choke economic growth.

Market observers said the BSP’s easing cycle was close to running its course. But Remolona kept options open, signaling the Monetary Board could consider another reduction at its October or December meetings if demand shows signs of weakening.

Sarah Tan, economist at Moody’s, said the BSP may hit the pause button at its meeting on Oct. 9, citing the need to assess how the earlier rate cuts have flowed through the economy, particularly their impact on domestic demand and lending activity. INQ

There is a certain choke hold only balikbayan boxes have on me-a grip that starts the moment Mama calls and says, ‘Anak, may pinadala ako.’

From that very second, I’m caught in this strange, sweet kind of waiting. Days begin to move more slowly. Weeks stretch so long they almost feel cruel. Every knock on the gate makes my chest tighten-my mind racing with a single question: Could it be here already?

Waiting for a balikbayan box is its own kind of ritual. It is not just about expecting something new, but about anticipating something that traveled oceans with my mother’s hands behind every choice inside. The thrill lies not in the size of the box or on the brand of the items she sends, but in the knowledge that somewhere, far away, she walked into a store, picked something up, and thought, ‘This is for my anak.’

When the day finally comes and the box arrives, it’s impossible to play it cool. There it stands by the door-heavy, corners bruised from the long journey, sealed with enough tape to survive a storm. My name sits in one corner, written in her careful yet hurried handwriting, the kind that suggests she was thinking about a hundred other things while making sure it was legible.

I cut the tape open. And before I even see what’s inside, it hits me.

The smell.

That distinct balikbayan box smell-the one I could recognize anywhere. It’s a mix of fabric softener, cardboard, and something else I can never quite name. It’s the scent of her home mixing with mine, of two worlds colliding inside a cardboard frame. That smell clings to the clothes, seeps into the pillows, and wraps itself around every zipper, button, and fold. And for children like me, whose parents work abroad, it’s more than a smell. It is a presence. It is the closest thing to a hug from Mama I can get.

Inside, there are always the essentials. Shirts that still carry their store creases. Shoes so pristine-I hesitate to wear them. Sometimes there’s a kettle, shiny and untouched, replacing the one that’s been sputtering in our kitchen for years. There are pillows-soft, plump, inviting-as if she thought about how I sleep at night. There are bags that feel like she personally tucked in every zipper, double-checking if it was good enough for me.

But every item tells a bigger story. Each piece of clothing is a shift she worked past exhaustion. Each appliance is a meal she skipped so she could save a little more. Each pillow is a night she went to bed thinking about home, about me. People outside this life might just see things-pasalubong (gifts)-but I see sacrifices folded neatly in plastic wrap.

I have grown up hearing what it’s like to be an overseas Filipino worker. I know the words: homesickness, culture shock, and loneliness. I’ve heard Mama talk about the cold mornings, the long hours, the language she had to twist her tongue to speak. But hearing those stories is nothing compared to living in the space her absence leaves. You learn that there’s a different kind of quiet in a house where a parent is missing-not silence exactly, but a hum of longing that lingers in every corner.

That’s why the balikbayan box is more than just a box. It’s a bridge. It’s a piece of her that manages to cross the miles and the seas between us. It’s proof that even when she’s far away, she is still present in the ways that matter most. And when the box is emptied, I never see it as disposable. Sometimes I keep it in my room, stacking old toys or school projects inside. Other times, it becomes a makeshift table, standing steady in a corner. But to me, it has never been just cardboard-it’s a chapter of my life that I can touch.

Years from now, when the tape has yellowed and the sides have softened, it might look like nothing special to anyone else. Just another used box. But I’ll remember the excitement it carried into our home, the scent that made me stop and close my eyes, the way it turned an ordinary day into something worth holding on to.

I will remember how it taught me that love can travel across oceans and still arrive whole. I will remember that it was never really about the shirts, the shoes, nor the kettles-it was about the hands that packed them, the heart that chose them, and the miles they crossed to get to me.

The balikbayan box is not just a container of goods. It is a container of stories, of sacrifices, of a mother’s love stretched thin but never broken. And every time I open one, my smile will always reach the heavens-because in that moment, even just for a while, Mama is home.

The box that kept me close to her, even when she was oceans away.

Heavy to intense rain showers are forecast over Metro Manila and three provinces in Luzon on Saturday afternoon, the state weather bureau said.

In its thunderstorm advisory issued at 2:25 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the following areas are expected to experience heavy to intense rain showers with lightning and strong winds within the next two hours:

Metro Manila

Nueva Ecija

Tarlac

Zambales

The weather condition is already being experienced in the following areas, which may persist for two hours and may affect nearby areas:

Bulacan (San Ildefonso, Dona Remedios Trinidad, San Rafael, Angat, Pandi, Bustos, Baliuag, Santa Maria, Norzagaray)

Cavite (Kawit, Cavite City, Noveleta, General Trias, Imus, Dasmarinas, Tanza, Rosario, Trece Martires, Maragondon, Naic, Ternate, General Emilio Aguinaldo, Magallanes, Indang)

Bataan (Limay, Mariveles, Hermosa, Dinalupihan)

Batangas (Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Santa Teresita, Alitagtag, Nasugbu, Tuy, Calatagan, Lian, Balayan, Santo Tomas, Tanauan)

Pampanga (Lubao, Floridablanca, Sasmuan, Candaba, San Luis, Apalit, San Simon)

Laguna (Pila, Victoria, Los Banos, Bay, Calauan, Nagcarlan)

Quezon (Burdeos)

Rizal (Cardona, Binangonan)

‘All are advised to take precautionary measures against the impacts associated with these hazards, which include flash floods and landslides,’ Pagasa said.

The weather bureau earlier reported that even though Severe Tropical Storm Paolo (international name: Matmo) exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday morning, it still had a direct effect across Luzon.

Paolo was last located 440 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, packing a maximum sustained wind speed of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 135 kph. /mr

When people started raving about how the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament wasn’t going to be a two-school race anymore, it was Ateneo and host University of Santo Tomas that bolstered their argument.

Slowly, National University is begging to differ.

And in a season where several games have been decided by the finest of margins, the Bulldogs have fueled their 3-0 (win-loss) slate with dominating performances on both ends of the floor.

NU, anchored on a league-best percentage from the floor (43.8), is the second-best offensive team in the league (77.3 points per game) and is the best among the eight schools in defense, surrendering just 64.7 ppg-a testament to the grit that the team brings every ball game.

‘Their character-I don’t question that anymore,’ NU coach Jeff Napa said.

If there are any questions at all, they will come from defending champion University of the Philippines who are hoping to at least shut down at least half of NU’s two-way dominance, which the Bulldogs hope will carry them to a fourth straight victory.

The Maroons struggled to a 0-2 start in the season before finally getting their groove in a 92-75 rout of lowly University of the East.

‘Winning in this way helps us realize how important it is to play together,’ UP coach Goldwin Monteverde said. ‘It’s not just about talent. Quick decision-making and chemistry matter, too.’

But beating a winless team doesn’t quite pose the same challenge as trying to halt a juggernaut.

NU enters Saturday’s matchup against UP at University of Santo Tomas’ Quadricentennial Pavilion boasting the best net rating in the league at +12.7 points per game.

No team is within four points of that rating.

And NU is not just doing good on both ends of the court. The Bulldogs are great at turning stops into points.

Napa’s wards are leading the league in points scored off turnovers, averaging 19.3 per game. And despite being one of the worst three teams when it comes to protecting the leather, the Bulldogs have done a great job of running back on defense-surrendering just 7.7 points per game off their errors, best in the league.

That’s a +11.6 in turnover points-and again, no team is within four points of that. The Bulldogs take the court against the Maroons after the opening game between UST and UE, which starts at 2 p.m.

Lihangin Wind Energy Corp. (LWEC) will build point-to-point transmission facilities to directly connect its wind park in Northern Samar to the power grid.

LWEC secured on Thursday the Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of its proposed project. That is, to develop its own point-to-point transmission facilities for its 206.25-megawatt San Isidro Wind Power Project in Northern Samar.

LWEC is a joint venture of Aboitiz Renewables Inc., Vivant Energy Corp. and Singapore-based Vena Energy.

The facilities would be linked to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines’ (NGCP) Calbayog substation. However, NGCP will operate and maintain these facilities.

LWEC said building the transmission assets was necessary to supply the grid system with added power.

Online by February 2026

The firm tapped Powerchina Philippines Corp. as its engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the said planned transmission facilities.

The wind park is designed to have 33 wind turbine generators, with commercial operation expected by February 2026.

‘LWEC is one with Department of Energy’s vision of boosting the generation of electricity from renewable sources and reducing the environmental impact brought by the use of traditional fossil fuels,’ it said in a separate document.

The group also said that the timely completion and operation of the wind project could jack up the Visayas’ electricity needs. The grid was placed under ‘yellow’ and ‘red’ alert ‘several times’ last year due to thin reserve margins.

In a yellow alert, the power supply can still meet demand, but it will serve as a warning that when a plant breaks down one way or another, it will result in brownouts.

A red alert, meanwhile, means that supply is no longer sufficient to meet demand. Brownouts could happen if demand is not managed. INQ

In an era when ‘anyone can post, react, or go viral,’ the printed word commanded the spotlight as the United Print and Multimedia Group (UPMG) held its third General Membership Meeting on Sept. 18.

With the theme ‘Credibility Advantage: How Print Builds Trust in a Digital World,’ the meeting held at Kingsford Hotel Manila gathered publishers, editors, advertisers, and industry leaders for a day of dialogue on how trusted journalism can guide audiences amid the information overload.

UPMG president Vivienne Motomal, the concurrent assistant vice president of the Journal Group of Publications, opened the program with a message that both underscored print media’s resilience and noted the challenges faced by the industry in upholding its standards. ‘It feels good to be gathered in this room with people who share a deep-seated belief in the power of the printed word,’ she said.

Motomal acknowledged the swift rise of digital media but stressed print’s enduring role: ‘In this chaos, what does the reader yearn for? They yearn for an anchor. A source they can trust. When a person holds a newspaper or a magazine in their hands, they are holding a tangible commitment to journalism.’

AI as next disruptor

Credibility remains the industry’s strongest currency, she said. ‘This is why, even in the digital age, our role is more critical than ever. The future is a credible hybrid where print and digital can work together to build a complete, trustworthy media ecosystem.’

In his keynote address, Lucien Dy Tioco, executive vice president of Philstar Media Group, traced the arc of media transformation, recalling how the once ‘traditional’ press now competes with algorithm-driven feeds.

‘Fast forward to the present time, we now live entirely different from how we were 15 years ago,’ he said, noting how people scroll for headlines, binge shows, and check influencers for tips without a second thought. But with these conveniences came serious consequences. ‘Technology has brought a more toxic conversation on social media, strong political biases that breed divisiveness, bigger and bolder online scams, and worse of all, fake news to help distort public opinion,’ he noted.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI), Dy Tioco added, is the next disruptor: ‘In just over a year, AI technology is quickly being applied in almost everything . We need to fight for our place now.’

But reaffirming the value of print, he said: ‘We write news with a journalistic edge. We curate news according to national importance. We create content to foster objectivity and calm. That is what the world needs right now. We need to exist because we fight for the truth.’

Safeguards vs fake news

The panel discussion that followed had Angel Guerrero, vice president of UPMG and publisher of Adobo Magazine as moderator, drawing more insights from Dy Tioco and Jack Jacinto, vice president for public and member relations of Pag-Ibig Fund.

Jacinto underscored the public sector’s reliance on credible media outlets: ‘Our organization knows this and values credibility, which is why we support print.’

The panelists highlighted the meticulous processes behind print-fact-checking, rigorous editorial process, and context-rich reporting-as essential safeguards against fake news.

Science of narrative

They also called on publishers to present a united front to policymakers, again emphasizing print’s permanence and credibility as irreplaceable strengths even as technology reshapes the means of distribution.

The morning open forum tackled AI verification tools and the expansion of media literacy programs, reinforcing UPMG’s shared values that uphold trustworthy content.

The afternoon session shifted the focus to the science of narrative. Von Cruz and Bernz Soriano from The Nerve, a Manila-based narrative intelligence and data-forensics firm, demonstrated how their technology goes beyond social listening to trace how both authentic stories and misinformation move through digital ecosystems. Their investigative platform maps influence networks and identifies the sources of viral falsehoods, insights that can help newsrooms and advocacy groups respond swiftly and accurately.

By showing how narrative forensics can complement traditional reporting, The Nerve presentation perfectly aligned with the meeting’s theme: combining data-driven innovation with journalism’s timeless commitment to credibility.

New members

Also presenting UPMG’s annual report, Motomal cited the group’s latest partnerships and achievements in the publishing sector. Two new member organizations – Simpol.ph and Philippine Graphic – were also officially inducted.

Festivities continued with raffle draws and a warm welcome from Jericho Feliciano, director of sales of Kingsford Hotel Manila, who commended UPMG’s dedication to responsible journalism. To formally close the event, Roda Zabat, UPMG auditor and The Manila Times vice president for sales and marketing, asserted that print, far from being obsolete, is instead evolving into a powerful hybrid with digital platforms. -CONTRIBUTED