Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Sofia Andres recounted being overcome by fear and panic as she was at a filming set in Cebu when the 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the island on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

The actress narrated her experience through her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

‘Been filming in Cebu when the earthquake struck yesterday. Terrified, and the panic of being away from family hit me so hard,’ she said. Despite her frightening experience, Andres said she attended a commitment in Dumaguete, where her restaurant business with her partner Daniel Miranda is located.

‘But today I’m in Dumaguete, supporting each other, working nonstop, building dreams together,’ she added. ‘Life must go on, and I just keep praying for the best.’ In a separate post on her page, Andres further reflected on how the tragedy was an apparent reminder ‘how fragile everything can be.’

‘When the [6.9] magnitude earthquake struck, I was terrified, the panic, the rush of fear, and the thought that I was away from Manila, away from my family. That feeling of distance in moments like this is something I’ll never forget,’ she lamented.

‘Still, here I am now in Dumaguete, showing up because life doesn’t stop. Hustling, working hard, pushing myself for the dreams I’ve committed to. It’s not easy being far but I know this journey is shaping me in ways I can’t yet see,’ she added. ‘Sometimes I wish I could just pause, but life keeps moving. All I can do is pray for strength, for safety, for peace in the middle of uncertainty. And I remind myself these sacrifices, these risks, this constant hustle it’s all for something bigger than me.’

Positive results from the government’s investigation into corrupted flood control projects may be the only savior of the stock market after dipping to a six-month low, according to the operator of the local bourse.

Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) president and CEO Ramon Monzon told reporters on Wednesday that the market’s ‘very bad’ performance was due to the weak investor sentiment.

‘The market’s No. 1 ally is confidence,’ Monzon said on the sidelines of the Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines’ digital library launch.

What could trigger the benchmark index’s recovery, Monzon noted, would be ‘very positive results’ from Congress’ probe into anomalous flood control projects. Relief after 7 days

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) managed to snap its seven-day losing streak and reclaim 6,000 on Wednesday, mostly because of bargain hunters taking advantage of cheap prices.

Local stocks also tracked the upbeat Wall Street sentiment overnight despite the shutdown of the U.S. government. By the end of the session, the PSEi surged by 1.22 percent, or 72.57 points, to close at 6,026.03.

Likewise, the broader All Shares Index added 0.93 percent, or 33.83 points, to end at 3,654.62.

A total of 2.46 billion shares worth P6.8 billion changed hands, stock exchange data showed.

Benign inflation

Apart from bargain hunting, the index was also able to break free from its losing streak because of expectations that September inflation remained within the government’s target range, said Japhet Tantiangco, research head at Philstocks Financial Inc. The PSEi recently slipped below 6,000 as investors took cover amid mounting corruption allegations involving high-ranking government officials.

This significantly affected confidence, said Monzon, who joined the Sept. 21 rally on EDSA with other PSE staff members. This was to show the PSE’s solidarity with the Filipino people in calling for an end to corruption.

‘A very good, credible investigation [is] the only thing that can bring back confidence,’ Monzon added. Active stocks

All subsectors emerged from the red territory, with mining stocks showing the best recovery.

International Container Terminal Services Inc. was the most actively traded stock as it jumped by 3.05 percent to P486 each, followed by Philippine Seven Corp., down 3.42 percent to P41; BDO Unibank Inc., up 4.06 percent to P138.30; Ayala Land Inc., up 0.21 percent to P24.40; and Bank of the Philippine Islands, down 2.61 percent to P112 per share.

Defending champion Mapua opened its NCAA Season 101 campaign with a dramatic 90-89 double-overtime victory over Lyceum on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With team captain Clint Escamis fouling out late in regulation, it was JC Recto who carried the Cardinals in crunch time. The veteran forward tallied 16 points and nine rebounds, delivering clutch plays in both overtime periods to lift Mapua past a gritty Lyceum side. ‘I just let my instincts take over,’ said Recto, who was thrust into the spotlight after Escamis exited with only eight points. ‘All I thought about was doing whatever the coaches asked me to do.’

Recto tied the game at 80-all with a three-point play in the first overtime, neutralizing a late Pirates surge. He did it again in the second extra period, converting another and-one to pull Mapua even at 87-all in the final minute.

With the game knotted and time winding down, it was rookie guard Cyrus Cuenco who sealed the win. Fouled by Lyceum’s Lance Aurigue with 12 seconds left, Cuenco calmly hit the second of two free throws to give Mapua the final lead. Cuenco finished with 14 points, while Earl Sapasap and Yam Concepcion chipped in 16 and 13 points, respectively, for the Cardinals, who began their title defense with a statement win.

Mapua, which won the NCAA title last season after ending a decades-long championship drought, showed its depth and resilience despite missing key contributions from Escamis down the stretch.

The loss spoiled a strong effort from Lyceum’s Renz Villegas, who poured in 23 points. Michael Versoza also registered a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, but the Pirates failed to close out the game on multiple opportunities.

MANILA, Philippines-La Salle survived a furious fourth-quarter rally to edge Far Eastern University, 74-72, and return to the win column of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Green Archers dodged a late-game bullet when FEU’s Jorick Bautista missed a wide-open layup with seven seconds left that could have tied the game. La Salle then ran down the clock to seal the victory.

Coming off a tough loss to University of Santo Tomas, La Salle improved to 2-1 for solo fourth place ahead of their rivalry clash with Ateneo on Sunday. ‘Coming off a loss, you really want to win. We had stretches where we played really well, but in the UAAP, you can’t expect easy wins. FEU came back strong,’ said La Salle deputy coach Caloy Garcia.

La Salle led by as many as 13 points heading into the fourth, 64-51, but saw its cushion quickly evaporate. FEU stormed back behind Mo Konateh, Janrey Pasaol, Bautista, and Jedric Daa, cutting the deficit to one, 69-70, with 2:25 left. But Mason Amos and Doy Dungo answered with clutch baskets to push La Salle ahead, 74-69. Bautista buried a triple to make it 72-74 with under a minute to play, before missing the game-tying attempt in the final seconds.

Dungo, a former UST Tiger Cub, led La Salle with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting in place of the injured Kean Baclaan (ankle sprain).?’I just stepped up because we were short on players. I stayed composed and ready,’ said Dungo.

Amos added 14 points, four assists, and three rebounds, while Jacob Cortez also had 14 points. EJ Gollena contributed 13 points and eight rebounds. Mike Phillips, though limited to six points, hauled down 13 boards and dished out nine assists.

FEU dropped to 0-3, joining University of the East at the bottom of the standings. Pasaol paced the Tamaraws with 25 points, while Konateh had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Mongcopa added 13 points and Bautista finished with 10.

FEU faces Adamson next on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

University of Santo Tomas coach Pido Jarencio was officially listed as team governor of Terrafirma for the PBA’s 50th season, which starts this weekend.

Jarencio’s name was listed on the team’s official roster carrying the said capacity after serving as team manager of NorthPort for the last few seasons. The PBA legend has been rumored to join the Dyip for weeks, and was tightlipped when he was asked by The Inquirer after the UAAP Season 88 press conference.

He had different roles during his time with NorthPort, first as a coach before he switched roles with Bonnie Tan in 2023.

Several NorthPort officials left while the Batang Pier were in the process of being purchased by Pureblends Corporation, with team governor Erick Arejola now with Magnolia as assistant team manager.

Waiyip Chong, NorthPort’s assistant team manager, now serves as Terrafirma’s team manager while Jeff Napa and Jarencio’s son Jared is now part of Ronald Tubid’s coaching staff.

Terrafirma enters the season with a bevy of new players after failed bids to sell the franchise to Starhorse and the Zamboanga Valientes.

The Dyip selected 6-foot-9 Geo Chiu as the No. 1 overall pick in the Rookie Draft, but will only be available after his MPBL campaign with the Abra Weavers.

Classes are suspended in several areas of Cebu on Wednesday, October 1, following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake Tuesday night.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the earthquake’s epicenter was located 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu, at a depth of 5 kilometers. The tectonic quake occurred at 9:59 p.m Classes are suspended in the following:

Lapu-Lapu City: all levels, public and private schools

Carcar City: face-to-face classes in public schools; secondary schools, Carcar City College

San Fernando: all levels, public and private schools

Cebu City: all levels

Alegria: all levels

Mandaue City: all levels, public and private schools

Talisay City: public elementary and secondary schools

Tabogon: all levels, public and private schools

Bogo City: all levels, public and private schools

Minglanilla: all levels, public and private schools

Consolacion: face-to-face classes; pre-school to college

Barili: all levels

Liloan: all levels, public and private (including work) Phivolcs also said aftershocks and damage to properties are expected./mcm

When it comes to training, consistency is everything. Fitness isn’t built overnight-it takes weeks, or even months, of putting in the work. But the trick is to stay active every day, while still knowing when to rest. And that balance is what makes progress stick.

The challenge? Travel. Being away from home can easily throw us off our rhythm. But with a little planning, you don’t have to lose momentum. Here are some ways to stay fit, even when you’re out of town.

Being away from home can easily throw us off our rhythm. But with a little planning, you don’t have to lose momentum.

Time your trips around training

One smart move is to use travel as your built-in recovery week. After pushing your body with consistent workouts, we all need days of unloading to bounce back stronger. So if you can, plan your trips during these lighter phases. More experienced athletes sometimes push harder before traveling, then scale back while away-just doing light cardio or bodyweight movements to maintain baseline fitness.But if that’s not your style, no problem. The key is adjusting your mindset and routine, so you keep moving, even if it’s not your usual setup.

Bodyweight workouts

Don’t underestimate bodyweight training-it’s not ‘just for beginners.’ You can break a serious sweat with no equipment at all. YouTube is full of solid routines, but here’s a simple one you can try:

Circuit training (minimal rest between moves, one to two minutes of rest between rounds):

Push-ups (as many as possible)

Chair dips (12 to 15 reps)

Lunges (alternating, as many as possible)

Squats (15 to 20 reps)

Spiderman plank (15 to 20 reps per side)

V-ups (15 to 20 reps)

Plank (as long as you can)

Run it out

Running is the ultimate travel workout-simple, effective, and you can do it almost anywhere. Just pack your shoes and a weather-appropriate outfit. But before you head out, check if the area is safe for running or ask locals where it’s best to go.

Sample session:

15-minute warm-up jog

6 reps of four minutes of running, then one minute of walking

20-minute steady jog or brisk walk

5-minute cool down Try yoga

When I first tried yoga, I thought it would be easy. Big mistake. Fifteen minutes in, I was sweaty, shaking, and way out of my comfort zone. That’s the beauty of yoga-it challenges strength, flexibility, balance, breathing, and focus all at once. Perfect for travel since you don’t need much space.

Walk more (skip the cab)

Travel is the perfect excuse to walk more. Instead of always booking a cab, try taking public transport or just exploring on foot. Not only do you burn calories and log steps, but you also get to experience the city more authentically. Depending on your destination, safety and convenience may vary, so do your research. But even five to 10 kilometers of walking a day adds up fast.

Pro tip: Wear comfy sneakers, carry extra shirts, and don’t be shy about using Google Maps if you get lost.

Final thoughts: It’s not about being perfect

No matter where you’re headed, keep in mind that trips can double as both rest and movement opportunities. Mix in recovery (stretching, yoga, or even breathwork), adjust your routines, and remember, fitness isn’t about being perfect. We train so we can enjoy life more, not to let workouts control us.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to decide on Wednesday whether it will postpone the first Bangsamoro parliamentary polls following the suspension of preparations for the elections.

During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay on Wednesday, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia shared this development, noting that the seven-person Comelec en banc will hold its session to decide on this matter.

‘Maybe later in the afternoon, the Commission on Elections will have a decision whether to postpone [the elections] or not,’ Garcia said.

The Comelec suspended the preparations for the elections, starting September 17, in compliance with the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court to the poll body and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority from implementing Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 77, the law that redistributes the seven seats originally allocated to Sulu province.

Garcia earlier said the poll body was eyeing the postponement of the Bangsamoro elections on the recommendation of its Project Management Office and law department, in the absence of a clear law guiding the distribution of parliamentary districts in the region.

Garcia also shared that the poll body received position papers from all stakeholders, with many of them recommending the postponement of the elections.

Garcia noted that the pendency of the case of the BAA No. 77 before the Supreme Court and the TRO will be the basis of their decision on the postponement.

However, Garcia said the poll body is not blaming the Supreme Court for the status of the cases in relation to the elections filed before the high court.

He added that the Comelec could invoke the poll body’s powers to postpone the elections under Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code.

The provision states that the Comelec shall postpone the elections ‘for any serious cause such as violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, and other analogous causes of such a nature that the holding of a free, orderly and honest election should become impossible in any political subdivision.’ /cb

Ayala Corp. has signed a deal to bring another grocery format to the Philippines, this time United Arab Emirates-based Spinneys, which will likewise mark its debut in Asia.

Under the partnership, Ayala will hold a 60-percent stake, while Spinneys will own the remaining 40 percent, Spinneys said in a press statement issued in Dubai dated Sept. 30.

The partnership marks Spinneys’ first venture outside of the Gulf area.

The company said this was ‘aligned with its strategy to broaden its geographic footprint by entering structurally attractive high-growth markets.’

The collaboration is also seen to signify Ayala’s growing stake in the retail sector, as it continues to bring more international brands to the Philippine market.

New chapter

Just recently, Ayala signed a deal to bring warehouse club Makro to the country.

‘Spinneys’ expansion into Southeast Asia marks an exciting new chapter for us. The Philippines offers significant long-term growth potential, with strong economic fundamentals, a growing affluent population, and increasing demand for high-quality offerings,’ said Sunil Kumar, CEO at Spinneys.

‘With a growing middle and upper-income population, the Philippines is seeing a clear shift in consumer expectations creating a strong opportunity for a modern, premium retail offering like ours. Our partnership with Ayala combines its deep local knowledge with our operational expertise, providing a strong foundation to grow in a measured way. As we enter this next phase, we’re delighted to be bringing our highquality and fresh offering to a new region,’ Kumar added.

Ayala president and CEO Cezar Consing said the country’s oldest conglomerate was honored to be the first partner of Spinneys as it ventures outside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Trade with GCC

‘We hope this investment will catalyze trade and investment between the Philippines and the GCC. At Ayala, we take pride in partnering with some of the world’s leading companies and working alongside them to bring world-class products and services to the Philippines,’ he added.

Retail holding firm Spinneys Holding 1961 has been operating in the UAE since 1961. It became a publicly-listed company in 2024.

Based on its 2024 annual report, it had at least 80 stores in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Revenues last year stood at AED 3.2 billion ($870 million) while net profit amounted to AED 290 million ($78.95 million).

Its core focus is food, with more than 85 percent of retail revenues generated from food products. Within the food segment, it focuses on ‘fresh’ food, which makes up more than 63 percent of total retail revenues.

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck late Tuesday night in Cebu, causing power outages in Tagbilaran, Bohol and sending residents fleeing into the streets.

The quake occurred at 9:59 p.m., with a depth of 10 kilometers and an epicenter 17 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In Barangay Booy, residents rushed out of their homes. ‘I ran for fear,’ said John Rey, who was watching television when the quake hit.

Business Process Outsourcing employees evacuated Alta Citta, while some nurses and patients at Gov. Celestino Gallares Medical Center were also forced to leave hospital buildings over safety concerns.

It was still raining past 10:30 p.m.

Phivolcs reported Intensity III in San Fernando, Cebu, and Intensity II in Laoang, Northern Samar. Instrumental Intensity VI was recorded in Cebu City and Villaba, Leyte.

Authorities have yet to report casualties or major damage as assessments continue.

Phivolcs also warned that aftershocks are possible in the coming hours and days, urging the public to remain alert and follow safety protocols