Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

With a new contract and a new coach, expectations are high that Zavier Lucero could raise his game to another level for Magnolia going into the PBA season.

But Lucero, in his third season in the league and second with the Hotshots, has one thing in mind.

‘I just want to win,’ Lucero said.

Lucero unleashed the talents he hardly showed in his rookie campaign with NorthPort while recovering from an ACL injury and became arguably Magnolia’s best player in Season 48 with energy on both ends.

That also paved the way for Magnolia to reach an agreement with Lucero on a two-year deal despite rumors that the University of the Philippines product may have been headed elsewhere, particularly overseas.

He averaged 14.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 blocks in Season 49, where Magnolia absorbed quarterfinal exits in all three conferences. Those finishes are among the reasons why the Hotshots made some changes, beginning with the appointment of Barangay Ginebra legend LA Tenorio as coach coupled with the addition of Javi Gomez de Liano in a trade with Terrafirma.

With Magnolia keeping the core of Mark Barroca, Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang intact, Lucero hopes to put the Hotshots in a position to be among the contenders, especially in the season-opening Philippine Cup where San Miguel Beer is the defending champion, TNT is eager to build on its near Grand Slam and Barangay Ginebra always in the running.

‘I understand that I will always be on the floor and that I have God-given talent that should help us,’ Lucero said. ‘But it’s a team game. I can’t do it by myself and none of us can do it by ourselves.

‘So it’s just about putting it together and contributing what I can. And the main thing is just not seeing my stats on offense, I’m just trying to make sure I’m solid on defense and do what I’m supposed to be doing.’

Taal Volcano erupted early Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

According to Phivolcs’ bulletin, the eruption ended at 2:15 a.m.

Alert Level 1 remains raised at Taal Volcano.

‘ATM: Ongoing eruption at Taal Volcano. Details to follow. Alert Level 1 prevails over Taal Volcano,’ Phivolcs said on its social media accounts.

‘UPDATE: The eruption has ended at 02:15 AM,’ it added.

In its 8 a.m. report, Phivolcs added that the eruption produced a 2,500 meter-high plume that drifted northwest. Alert Level 1 or low level of unrest remains raised in the area.

According to the state seismologists, sudden steam or phreatic eruptions, volcanic earthquakes, thin ashfall and emission of poisonous gases are still possible under Alert Level 1.

Residents are urged to stay at homes unless absolutely necessary, to wear face masks and eye protection when going out and to follow the advice of authorities. /mcm

The local government of San Remegio, Cebu, confirmed that a 10-year-old child died during the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck at 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

In an interview with Inquirer, Maria Divina Nacionales of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said the child was struck by a hollow block after their house in Barangay Looc collapsed during the quake.

According to initial information from the MDRRMO, the child’s entire family was asleep when the earthquake occurred, leaving the child inside.

‘There was also an elderly companion with them who was rescued first, and the child was left behind,’ Nacionales said.

She added that they have received up to four reports of casualties, but as of this writing, they could not yet confirm them due to difficulty reaching affected areas.

‘Our situation is very difficult right now. We cannot respond quickly because a bridge also collapsed, making those areas inaccessible,’ Nacionales said.

As of now, the San Remegio MDRRMO and the police are still verifying reports of other casualties in the town

A Muntinlupa court has granted state prosecutors’ motion to withdraw their bid seeking the reversal of the acquittal of Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima in one of her drug cases-putting an end to the controversial legal battle that drew the ire of legal experts and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla himself.

In an order issued on Sept. 30, Presiding Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara of the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 204 granted the prosecution’s motion to withdraw its July 14 filing and declared the case ‘closed and terminated.’

‘To reiterate and emphasize, every acquittal becomes final immediately upon promulgation and cannot be recalled for correction or amendment,’ Alcantara said.

Citing the 2017 case of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo v. People (G.R. No. 220598), the court emphasized that granting the state’s motion for reconsideration would violate the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy, since it would effectively reopen the prosecution and subject the accused to a second jeopardy despite their acquittal.

‘Considering that this case already involves an acquittal, the Court shall exercise sound discretion and allow the withdrawal of the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration,’ it added.

The case was the second of three drug charges from which De Lima has been cleared.

It was remanded to the trial court after the Court of Appeals, on April 30, ordered the RTC to submit a revised ruling that would ‘clearly and distinctly state the facts and legal basis’ for acquitting De Lima and her co-accused Ronnie Dayan of conspiracy to commit drug trading.

After the RTC issued a lengthy revised decision, a panel of prosecutors sought to revive the case by filing a motion for reconsideration on July 14.

Remulla and Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, however, later stepped in and ordered the withdrawal of the motion.

‘It should not have been filed in the first place,’ Fadullon told reporters in July.

Justin Arana knows that he and Converge can’t take their tuneup victory over San Miguel Beer over the weekend at face value, saying that the real measure will be known once real games are played in the season-opening of the PBA Philippine Cup.

‘We do take this as a win, but we’re not satisfied,’ Arana told the Inquirer in Filipino after the 114-99 mangling of the powerhouse Beermen at Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong City.

Preseason games are used primarily as a dress rehearsal, with coaches spreading the minutes while also tinkering with things to be executed before the season tips off this Sunday. That was exactly the case in this anticipated exhibition between both teams.

Converge is seen as a potential spoiler to the dominance of the usual contenders in San Miguel, TNT and Barangay Ginebra, especially after the selection of Juan Gomez de Liaño created a talented five-man combo with Arana, Justine Baltazar, Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston.

The FiberXers showed their quality against the Beermen, breaking away from a 51-all tie at halftime behind that core, along with rugged big man Pao Javillonar, to pull off another win, the fourth straight since Gomez de Liaño began to suit up in the preseason.

But then, San Miguel didn’t go into the contest like the usual San Miguel, as June Mar Fajardo played sparring minutes, CJ Perez and Chris Ross opted to be spectators and coach Leo Austria opted to give his 34-year-old PBA rookie Chris Miller much exposure as he could.

And those are things that Arana and the FiberXers acknowledged.

‘June Mar didn’t play like the June Mar that we know and CJ didn’t play,’ said Arana. ‘Tuneup games are more about scouting and adjustments. Like I said, we won, but we’re not satisfied because the goal is to get wins during the season.’

San Miguel, meanwhile, is going into the Philippine Cup as defending champion after denying TNT’s quest for a historic Grand Slam last July.

Fajardo is expected to be in his best form once the conference starts, while Jericho Cruz could take some of the confidence from his Finals Most Valuable Player award and role in Guam’s entry to the qualification for the quarterfinals game of the Fiba Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Perez, however, could be doubtful for the start of the conference due to an ankle injury sustained with Gilas Pilipinas in the same continental competition.

But there might be some optimism toward Miller, picked ninth in the Draft, as he showed some promise on offense during the tuneup contest. While he’s a PBA greenhorn, Miller has been playing overseas for the past decade, most notably in Europe. INQ

The local bourse extended its losing streak to the seventh consecutive session on Tuesday. Domestic politics and the weak currency continued to weigh on market sentiment, leading to more investors taking cover amid the uncertainty.

By the closing bell, the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) had lost 0.74 percent or 44.14 points to end at 5,953.46.

Likewise, the broader All Shares Index shed 0.43 percent or 15.55 points to close at 3,620.79.

A total of 1.57 billion shares worth P9.09 billion changed hands, stock exchange data showed.

The index remained in the red territory as investors remained cautious about domestic uncertainties, said Luis Limlingan, head of sales at stock brokerage house Regina Capital Development Corp.

Flood control scandal

On Monday, the Senate blue ribbon committee confirmed that resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez would be invited to the next hearing on the billion-peso flood control scandal.

This is the latest development in the corruption behind the projects. Twenty-one politicians and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways are possibly facing charges.

At the same time, Limlingan said traders were closely watching the weakening peso.

International Container Terminal Services Inc. was the most actively traded stock as it lost 1.95 percent to P471.60 each. It was followed by BDO Unibank Inc., down 1.56 percent to P132.90; Ayala Land Inc., down 3.56 percent to P24.35; RL Commercial REIT Inc., down 3.84 percent to P7.26; and SM Investments Corp., down 0.68 percent to P735 per share.

Others were Ayala Corp., down 1.95 percent to P482.80; Bank of the Philippine Islands, up 3.6 percent to P115; SM Prime Holdings Inc., down 1.32 percent to P22.45; DigiPlus Interactive Corp., up 2.23 percent to P25.25; and Manila Electric Co., down 0.19 percent to P530 each.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 129 to 79, while 45 companies closed flat, stock exchange data also showed.

Young Filipinos know what it takes to stay healthy, but far fewer follow through, highlighting ‘significant’ gaps between awareness and action.

This is based on a new Manulife Philippines study that surveyed 500 respondents nationwide, 40 percent of whom are in Metro Manila.

The survey found that while 83 percent described themselves as knowledgeable about health and wellness, only 76 percent were taking sufficient action.

Millennials and Gen Zs, the study noted, often fell short of their own standards.

On nearly every health measure, the insurer said, practice lagged behind awareness.

About 78 percent of respondents agreed that monitoring sleep quality was essential, but only 63 percent actually did so. The same pattern held true for nutrition, blood pressure, body weight and cholesterol.

The gap was even starker when it came to behavior. While nearly three-quarters of respondents said maintaining a balanced diet was crucial, just 58 percent said they followed one.

Fewer still reported practicing good sleep habits, exercising regularly, balancing work and life, or avoiding smoking.

‘Filipino Millennials and Gen Zs face notable health and wellness gaps,’ the study concluded.

Without a stronger shift from awareness to action, it warned, younger Filipinos could face mounting risks to their long-term well-being and quality of life.

‘While wellness may be a recognized priority, many young Filipinos struggle to consistently practice key health behaviors-especially women, who report a larger gap in achieving work-life balance,’ it added.

Key challenges

The study also found that stress was the most frequently cited obstacle to healthier living, with 64 percent of respondents blaming it for keeping them from their desired level of well-being.

Other barriers included excessive screen time (48 percent), sleep deprivation (45 percent), lack of exercise (42 percent) and poor diet (39 percent).

Millennials reported feeling the strain the most: 69 percent said they struggled with stress, compared with 58 percent of Gen Z respondents.

The two generations also differed in their approach to health and longevity. Millennials placed greater emphasis on physical health and family relationships, while Gen Zs said they were more focused on finding a sense of purpose.

For both, however, maximizing lifespan was not the goal. Just 13 percent of respondents said living as long as possible was a priority.

Security Bank Corp. has appointed Victor Lee Meng Teck, a Singaporean veteran banker, as its new president and CEO effective early January 2026.

Lee, the former CEO of CIMB Singapore, will replace Sanjiv Vohra after more than six years.

Vohra will remain as senior advisor to the board once he steps down next year, Security Bank said in a stock exchange disclosure on Tuesday.

‘We’re grateful to Sanjiv for his steady leadership during one of the most challenging periods in recent history,’ Security Bank chair Cirilo Noel said. Vohra was appointed months before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which paralyzed economies across the globe.

Seamless transition

‘His vision and dedication have left the bank stronger, more resilient and well-prepared for the future,’ Noel added.

For his part, Lee is recognized for spearheading the growth of CIMB Singapore, doubling the bank’s revenue and raising return on equity to nearly 20 percent, according to Security Bank.

‘As we welcome Victor, we’re confident this seamless transition will allow us to sustain momentum and capture new opportunities,’ Noel noted.

Lee’s appointment comes two months after Security Bank announced the early retirement of Eduardo Olbes, its chief financial officer. Olbes, who first joined Security Bank 15 years ago, became senior advisor to the president and CEO on Aug. 11.

Contractor couple Cezarah ‘Sarah’ and Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya arrived at the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) office in Taguig City to serve as resource persons in the commission’s hearing on Tuesday, September 30.

The media tried to get Sarah’s and Curlee’s statements regarding their cases, but they declined to comment.

The Discayas are currently under investigation for alleged involvement in anomalies in flood control projects. /cb/abc

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has urged Congress to reallocate funds for the completion of the long-delayed Edsa busway system in the 2026 national budget.

‘The government’s commitment to ease the plight of bus commuters must be met,’ MAP president Alfredo Panlilio and MAP Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Eduardo Yap said in a letter dated Sept. 24.

In their letter addressed to acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Senate Committee on Public Affairs chair Raffy Tulfo and House committee on transportation Chair Franz Pumaren, MAP said Congress now had the opportunity to reallocate funds to complete this project within a year.

‘Since the government is not inclined to appropriate funds for flood control projects, funds there can be more ideally reallocated to the Busway System,’ Panlilio said.

Panlilio said ‘no meaningful budget allocation’ had been provided for this project, except for a few hundred million pesos.

Almost 100,000 bus commuters depend on the busway for their daily commute, causing severe congestion in Manila Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3) used as makeshift points for five years now, the group said.

‘While this interim arrangement has been acceptable during the initial test period, severe congestion has been a daily grind for both MRT-3 and Busway commuters in the already over-crowded MRT-3 stations,’ the letter added.

Slow progress

MAP said only four out of more than 20 busway-dedicated stations have been completed: Guadalupe, Buendia, Taft Avenue and Roxas Boulevard stations. Two others, North Edsa and Ortigas stations, are being built through private sector donations.

It said the busway stations could be ‘easily completed’ next year if the projects would be auctioned off in batches to large and reputable contractors.

These are Kamuning, Cubao/Araneta, Santolan, Camp Aguinaldo, Corinthian Gardens, Highway Hills, Estrella St. (Rockwell), Ayala/Edsa, Magallanes, Malibay, F.B. Harrison, MOA/J. Diokno, Aseana/Macapagal and Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.

‘In addition to other ancillary facilities, this system must be equipped with overhead bridgeway to the station platforms along the road median beside the MRT3 trackway, and provided with convenient access for the physically-challenged commuters,’ the letter read.

The group proposed finalizing a schematic busway system plan to connect, at least, Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and other major routes.

It also recommended developing a comprehensive Metro Manila Busway System to complement rail systems that are existing or under construction.