Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Ejae – a Korean-American singer-songwriter best known for taking on the singing voice of Rumi in ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ – announced that she will release her new single ‘In Another World’ on Oct. 24.

The singer-songwriter took to her Instagram account on Saturday, Oct. 4, to announce her new single, saying it will ‘give life’ to all of the songs she had written since then.

‘I’ve decided I want my artist project to give life to those songs, so people can laugh, dance, or cry with me and the amazing collaborators who helped create them. There’s one song that feels like the perfect place to start,’ she said.

‘Writing this song helped me through a hard time, and I hope that sharing it can help others too. It’s called ‘In Another World’ and is releasing on 10/24/25,’ she continued.

Ejae also opened up about how the past few months have been a ‘crazy ride’ since ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ was propelled into the limelight, while thanking those who sent love along her way.

‘The past few months have been a crazy ride. I mean, I was just on SNL!!! I’m so humbled and grateful for the love I’ve received as a songwriter and the singing voice of Rumi from ‘KPop Demon Hunters,” she said. ‘Getting so much exposure so quickly has been strange, exciting, and truthfully a little scary.’

Ejae added that while she is grateful to be acknowledged as an artist, she ‘became comfortable behind the scenes’ through the years. Along the way, she eventually realized that she didn’t want to define herself with the ‘traditional view of an artist.’

‘People keep referring to me as an ‘artist’ or a ‘star’ – which is everything 11-year-old EJAE dreamed of, but over the years, I became comfortable behind the scenes, and I didn’t think I was meant to be an artist. Recently, though, I realized I don’t need to box myself into being the traditional view of an artist,’ she said.

‘To me, an artist is someone who uses their art to express themselves, and songwriting is my art. For years, writing has been my therapy, my way of coping, celebrating, making sense of the noise in my head. Along the way, I wrote some songs that never found the right home. Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far. I know my journey is still being written, and I am so grateful to anyone willing to tune in,’ she further explained.

Born Kim Eun-jae, Ejae was a former SM Entertainment trainee for almost 10 years before leaving the agency sometime in 2011. She then moved to the US and transitioned to songwriting.

Before ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ she had written several hit K-pop songs including Red Velvet’s ‘Psycho’ and ‘Birthday,’ aespa’s ‘Drama’ and ‘Armageddon,’ and Twice’s ‘Last Waltz,’ to name a few. She also wrote the majority of the soundtrack of ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’

It was an ordinary Tuesday night, almost 11 p.m., the tailend of my 10-day duty at Bantayan District Hospital, 137 kilometers from Cebu City. The kind of night when fatigue turns corridors into silence. Then, like Green Day’s lyric about September ending, the earth jolted us awake.

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Bogo City and several northern Cebu towns on Sept. 30, 2025, at 9:59 p.m. Sixty-eight lives lost. About 366,360 affected. Nearly 80,000 families displaced. Governor Pam Baricuatro, just 142 days into her term, rushed to Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo, set up a command center, and appealed for help. Cebu answered, at least for the first two days.

San Remigio’s recreational center collapsed. Bantayan’s centuries-old church lost its facade. In Bogo, buildings fell like Lego bricks.

In Metro Cebu, the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge swayed. High-rises were inspected for cracks. Hospitals evacuated patients to the streets. At Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), obstetrician Dr. Grace Rabago delivered a baby in the rain, nurses shielding mother and child with umbrellas.

The province had not felt a quake this strong in years, yet the memory was too familiar. Twelve years earlier, Oct. 15, 2013, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake devastated Bohol. More than 200 dead. The same CCMC was crippled, abandoned, and reduced to a glorified parking lot. Successive mayors staged ribbon-cuttings, but no real hospital rose. Ironically, in 2020, when COVID-19 struck, the city built a ‘temporary quarantine facility’ in just 10 days. But a permanent hospital? Still a promise. The pandemic itself claimed 66,684 Filipino lives out of 4 million confirmed cases.

Twenty-four days after the 2013 quake, Typhoon ‘Yolanda,’ then one of the strongest typhoon in recent world history, slammed Guiuan, Tacloban, and Palo before striking Cebu’s Daanbantayan and Bantayan Island, Iloilo’s Conception, and Palawan’s Coron. Some 6,452 lives lost.

Bohol, still reeling from its earthquake, was left gasping as the world’s attention pivoted to Tacloban. Fast forward: Dec. 16, 2021, Typhoon ‘Odette’ battered Cebu and killed 410. Pandemic protocols evaporated overnight, proof that government memory is even shorter than public patience.

I lived through all of these. I sutured earthquake wounds outside Bantayan Hospital after this year’s quake. I was in Tacloban the day before Yolanda hit, and escaped just in time. I was at home when the 2013 quake struck, and when Odette toppled Cebu’s power lines in 2021.

I also witnessed Yolanda’s global response. Some countries sent aid and doctors to Tacloban and Palo. Humanity, for a moment, outshone politics. Yet at home, calamity funds became receipts without accountability. Relief goods arrived late, some never at all. Yolanda’s housing projects remain unfinished, substandard, or ghost. The Pharmally scandal taught us that in the Philippines, disaster is always a business opportunity.

Last Wednesday, stranded in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, I could not sail out, the port to San Remigio was damaged. At Kota Beach, I found the skeletal frame of an unfinished hotel tied to a former presidential adviser. It survived not because of structural integrity, but because corruption is earthquake-proof. Untouched, incomplete, and immune to collapse, a ghost project in broad daylight.

Today, passing through Medellin’s Kawit port and Sogod, I saw families begging for food and water on the roadside. Alongside them were convoys of private donors, NGOs, and volunteers, hashtags optional. Uniformed men clustered in Bogo, doing their duty.

But strip away the press releases, the photo ops, the Facebook resibos, and what remains is hunger. No electricity. No potable water. No certainty about tomorrow. Aid trickles; hunger floods. This is the paradox of Filipino resilience: our altruism shines brightest when institutions collapse into darkness. We are always ready to help one another when storms rage and earthquakes, but our leaders remain experts only at rebuilding facades, never foundations.

Twelve years after Bohol and Yolanda, we are still asking: How many disasters will it take before this country learns to build not just buildings, but memory, accountability, and foresight? If resilience is our national virtue, then forgetfulness is our national sin.

As communities in Masbate continue to recover from the devastation brought by Typhoon Opong, Manila Water has mobilized a dedicated relief team and deployed a mobile water treatment plant and water tanker to provide much-needed potable water to affected residents.

The company’s swift response comes amid challenges in aid distribution, as national and private relief efforts are also deployed to Cebu following the powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the province just days after the typhoon. Despite this, Manila Water has extended its support to both disaster-hit areas.

In Masbate, Manila Water has so far distributed 24,000 liters of potable water to an estimated 16,000 individuals from Barangays Bagacay, Pinamarbuhan, Tabuk, and Malatukan. These are running totals as of the morning of October 6, with relief operations still ongoing.

The company’s mobile water treatment plant, capable of producing 3,000 liters per hour through conventional treatment and 1,500 liters per hour via reverse osmosis, is currently sourcing raw water from the Mandali River in Mobo, Masbate. An alternative water source has also been identified at Barangay Lalaguna’s irrigation system to ensure continuous operations.

Manila Water’s relief efforts in Masbate were made possible through close coordination with the Office of the Civil Defense – National and the Office of the Civil Defense Region V, which served as the company’s ground coordinator.

Their support enabled efficient deployment and ensured that potable water reached the most affected communities. ‘Access to clean water is critical in the aftermath of disasters. Our team in Masbate is working closely with local authorities to ensure that affected families have safe drinking water as they begin to rebuild,’ Manila Water Communication Affairs Group Director Jeric Sevilla said.

While focused on Masbate, Manila Water has also extended support to Cebu, where its subsidiary continues to supply potable water to municipalities affected by the recent earthquake.

Manila Water remains committed to delivering life-saving water access and supporting communities in times of need.

At 76, most people slow down.

But for Queruben ‘Tatay Ruben’ Abella, every step he takes is a testament that age-and worn-out shoes-are no match for a determined heart.

Abella, a farmer from Barangay Candelaria in Dagohoy town, was among the more than 4,000 runners who joined the 4th Alturas Pink Run on Sunday in Tagbilaran City. The annual event, organized by the Alturas Group of Companies, aims to raise awareness and funds for cancer patients in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Despite his age, Abella conquered the 21-kilometer race in 2 hours, 37 minutes and 4 seconds-a remarkable feat that earned admiration from fellow runners and spectators alike. Last year, he clocked a faster time of 1 hour, 56 minutes and 29 seconds.

Abella said he intentionally took it slow this year, having joined two marathon events just weeks earlier.

Tried and tested shoes

He shared that muscle cramps hit him midway through the race, but the ointment he carried eased the pain just enough for him to keep going.

‘I was not tired at all. I fought until the end,’ he said in Cebuano at the finish line, smiling through exhaustion and triumph.

Yet what captured the crowd’s hearts wasn’t just his endurance, but the pair of old, hole-riddled shoes he wore.

‘These are my favorite,’ he said, smiling as he pointed at his tattered sneakers. ‘They’re light and comfortable. I’ve run many races with them.’

He said he purchased the shoes from an ukay-ukay (thrift store) and he intentionally punched holes in the shoes to improve ventilation and prevent water from pooling inside when he ran through rivers.

Abella has been running since he was 14, joining marathons across the Visayas and Mindanao. The Alturas Pink Run was his 22nd marathon, and his second time participating in the event.

But for him, this run was not about medals or records: ‘I joined to help raise awareness for cancer. It’s a worthy cause, and it makes running more meaningful.’

A former boxing trainer, Abella spends most of his days tending to his 20-hectare banana farm. Running, he said, keeps him strong-both in body and spirit.

He and his wife, Pilar, 67, have five children and eight grandchildren who proudly cheer him on in every race.

Inspiration

For Mary Grace Ido-Bernaldez, Alturas Pink Run organizer, the event was more than just a race-it’s a powerful movement to raise breast cancer awareness and support cancer patients and survivors.

She said Abella has become the living emblem of the event’s message of hope and perseverance.

‘Tatay Ruben isn’t just a participant-he’s our inspiration,’ Bernaldez said. ‘He reminds everyone that it’s never too late to do something good and to live with purpose.’ /cb

Yields on short-dated government debts went up during Monday’s sale of Treasury bills (T-bills) as investors await the inflation data and the central bank’s next policy decision this week.

Auction results showed the Bureau of the Treasury was able to raise its target amount of P22 billion via T-bills.

The offering was 3.4 times oversubscribed after attracting total tenders amounting to P74.5 billion.

Even so, the 91-day debt paper fetched an average rate of 4.983 percent, higher than the previous offering’s 4.828 percent.

The average yield for the 182-day T-bill stood at 5.128 percent, up from last week’s 5.075.

Lastly, investors asked an average rate of 5.228 percent for the 364-day securities, higher than the preceding auction’s 5.171 percent./tad

Coach Tim Cone couldn’t focus on anything other than Barangay Ginebra’s dismal loss at the hands of former pupil LA Tenorio and Magnolia to open the PBA’s 50th season.

‘I’m happy for LA, sad for myself,’ Cone said as the Gin Kings absorbed an 80-73 defeat in the Philippine Cup on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

There was a lot of talk about the coaching battle between Cone and Tenorio coming into the game, which ended with the Hotshots taking control for the majority of the contest.

‘You guys are making a big deal out of it,’ Cone said of the faceoff with Tenorio. ‘We’re friends. It’s the same thing when I played against Chot Reyes or Jeff Cariaso, or Johnedel Cardel, or Willy Wilson. They’re all my ex-players, ex-coaches, Luigi Trillo, you know. It’s the same.

‘It’s much bigger for LA than it was for me tonight. Put it that way. It was his first game, he’s gonna remember it. I’m gonna forget this one really quickly,’ added Cone.

Ginebra got 16 points and 17 rebounds from Stephen Holt, but Scottie Thompson was scoreless and Japeth Aguilar could only produce five points and five rebounds.

The Gin Kings also turned the ball over 21 times.

‘Too many turnovers, not enough effort on defense, didn’t execute tonight, didn’t play a very good game at all,’ Cone lamented.

‘Give credit to them, they were more prepared than we were. They looked sharper, looked better.’

For Sari Dalena, bringing the Cinemalaya film ‘Cinemartyrs’ is an act of retelling forgotten massacres through the perspective of a guerrilla filmmaker armed with a shoestring budget and awareness of the political landscape.

‘Cinemartyrs’ revolves around a young filmmaker (Nour Hooshmand) intending to tell stories of forgotten massacres that wrecked the Philippines. However, plagued by the undermining of her environment, she takes it upon herself to push forward with her film. As she visits present-day war-torn locations with her crew, they find themselves haunted by the spirits of those who perished in the massacres.

‘It is a story that has something to do with time, ‘yung paggawa ng pelikula ay tungkol sa mga karanasan ko at pinagdaanan ng mga babae sa paggawa ng dokumentaryo about karahasan, war atrocities, iba ang experience kapag babae ang gumagawa,’ the filmmaker told Inquirer Entertainment.

(It is a story that has something to do with time. It is about creating films about my experiences and what female filmmakers go through in creating documentaries about abuse and war atrocities; the experiences are different when a woman does them.) ‘Cinemartyrs’ is Dalena’s first Cinemalaya entry, although she already applied to be part of the film festival in its first-ever iteration. ‘Of course, I applied for different projects pero ito pala ang tamang panahon (now is the right time),’ she said of the feat, noting that the 20-year wait to be accepted was worth it.

With some scenes set in Jolo, among the factors that Dalena considered in the production process were the technicalities, traveling to Jolo (and, if it’s safe enough), and the ongoing political landscape.

‘Will I get the right response [from the audience] or is it the right time to talk about it? Sa palagay ko, maraming nangyari [sa pelikulang ito] kasi sinamahan ang Filipino-American War, feeling ko meron siyang mirroring. Somehow, hindi ko na-decide na gagawin ko ‘to, parang natumbok ko ‘yung time to say something,’ she said.

(Will I get the right response from the audience, or is it the right time to talk about it? For me, a lot of events happened in this film, such as the Filipino-American War. I feel like it mirrors the events now. I somehow didn’t decide that I would push forward with this. It was the timing that dawned on me that I needed to say something.) Another noteworthy element that was touched on in ‘Cinemartyrs’ was how it was rooted in guerrilla filmmaking, a kind of style defined by low budgets, a small crew, minimal equipment, and real-time filming without obtaining permits or prior notice from those involved.

‘Pinapakita ko ang guerrilla filmmaking style before Cinemalaya, ito ‘yung zero budget, ginagawa na namin noon pa,’ Dalena said. ‘Even before Cinemalaya, we were doing rag-tag-style filmmaking na walang artista and all that. I want it to be reflected here, working with katutubos and communities.’

(I want to showcase what guerrilla filmmaking style looks like, even before Cinemalaya. This is characterized by zero budgets, which we have been doing for quite some time. Even before Cinemalaya, we were doing rag-tag style filmmaking with no actors. I want it to be reflected here, including working with katutubos and communities.)

With this in mind, Dalena explained that the film’s events happen sort of like a collage, instead of the usual straightforward style, hoping that viewers will appreciate the magic behind it.

‘Makikita natin na ang pagkaka-tagpi tagpi ng storya is more of a collage, it’s not too straightforward. I hope that it will be a magical and mystical experience,’ she said. ‘Maganda siya ikwento ngayon to encourage filmmakers na kaya mong gumawa ng magandang kwento nang hindi dumidikit sa network or big studios. These personal films can be an important voice.’

(You can witness the stories done in a collage-like format. It’s not too straightforward. I hope that it will be a magical and mystical experience. It’s good to tell this story now to encourage filmmakers that you can create a beautiful story without relying on networks and big studios. These personal films can be an important voice.) Joining Hooshmand in the film are Angel Aquino, Cedrick Juan, Lav Diaz, Kidlat Tahimik, Ligaya Amilbangsa, Soliman Cruz, Bong Cabrera, Laila Ulao, Giancarlo Abrahan, Iana Bernardez, Nor Domingo, Danny Palisa, Andre Miguel, and Victor Medina.

The cast is also composed of Yian Gabriel, Kobe Sanchez, Shane Bernabe, Roven Alejandro, Nelson Dino, Rob Rownd, Dax Alejandro, Air Salazar, Dexter Macaraeg, Emmanuel Dela Cruz, and Rolando Inocencio.

One of the scariest things about graduating from college (aside from crippling unemployment rates) is the consequent difficulty in finding new relationships beyond university. As connections seem to flourish best due to proximity, the absence thereof can make socialization feel like quite a chore. I thought my introvert self would be exempt from this, but I ended up seeking third spaces-social surroundings other than your home or workplace-as early as a month before graduation.

Three months after I graduated, I could feel the increased importance of socializing with intent, and it seems like the metro has also seen the need for that. Whether you’re an introvert, an extrovert, or a mix of both, depending on the day, here are three social mixers I’ve personally tried, catered to different personalities and vibes.

For extroverts: Never Strangers

Singapore-based concept Never Strangers has found a second home in the Philippines, hosting numerous mixers at Yes Please in Bonifacio Global City. The mixer uses algorithm-powered Matchbox to match every registrant based on questions that cover everything from political preferences to romantic habits.

Never Strangers promises every guest a match based on their personalities and principles-categorizing their dating parties from their age (they have parties for people in their 20s to 30s vs. 30s to 40s) to their SOGIE identification through LGBTQIA+-first events.

In a mixer I joined, guests were divided into tables and had a deck of cards for icebreakers, where they were asked to reveal their camera rolls and search histories. There was even a game of two truths and a lie. Human bingo was also part of the mixer activity roster, asking for anyone who could speak more than seven languages or people who had twins.

If you’re not looking for ‘The One,’ Never Strangers also hosts what they call Friends Mixers, which match people up platonically. Regardless of romantic or platonic intentions, a Never Strangers event seems to best fit extroverts, as one can expect a night of partying and putting oneself out there.

For ambiverts: Timeleft

Timeleft is not a dating app, but its algorithm-based matching understandably has people thinking otherwise. Through comprehensive questions similar to Never Strangers’ Matchbox algorithm, Timeleft would put you in a table for five at a restaurant in your chosen city. The twist? You only find out about your restaurant the morning of your dinner, and you only get hints of the ages and jobs of your tablemates the night before it. Dinners happen every Wednesday in key locations such as Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Ortigas, and Quezon City.

Unlike Never Strangers, where key social activities were facilitated by a team of organizers, Timeleft leaves the social activities up to the table’s discretion. While there was a card game available on the app for icebreakers, tables like mine opted for more free-flowing conversations over dinner instead.

With Timeleft, you can expect a more intimate social setup due to their five-per-table quota. Smaller groups strike a balance for extroverts who are comfortable with taking charge of the conversation and introverts who want to try chiming in. The elements of mystery leading up to a dinner also add some allure, which makes Timeleft a prime choice for ambiverts.

For introverts: Sinag Muse

A digital-first community can be found in Sinag Muse: a collective that doubles as a newsletter and event organizer. Seeking to provide a safe space for people to feel less alone, Sinag Muse allows their audience to meet like-minded individuals with shared tastes and the overall desire for a creative community. Their newsletter dishes no-BS advice and sharp insight, packaged in aesthetically pleasing visuals, reminiscent of the internet’s early days, and this energy is made to feel warmer during their onsite events.

Events with Sinag Muse are hosted at the Sinag House, a condominium unit with a cozy and welcoming ambience conducive to a plethora of activities. From pizza-making to PowerPoint nights about exes, Sinag Muse embraces quirks and niches like they’re second nature. A personal recommendation, however, would be their Bare Minimum Book Club. For 90 uninterrupted minutes, Sinag Muse invites you to read a book of your choice-or borrow one from their selection. After your reading time, you’re invited to talk as much (or as little) about your book in a casual group sharing session.

And did we mention that you get complimentary snacks and free-flowing wine, too?

Sinag Muse’s commitment to fostering a very specific kind of vibe has been highly encouraging for people to take part in their community, online or offline. In particular, the collective’s penchant for low-commitment, ‘bare minimum’ events allows its audience to quickly get comfortable with finding a place for themselves in the community. While socialization is inherent, Sinag Muse operates in a way that enables each guest to stay in touch with their individual perceptions and behaviors during their events, providing an ideal avenue for introverts who want to try something new.

Try and try until you succeed

As more of us crave organic ways to socialize, it’s still important to manage expectations when going to events like this. You probably won’t find a friend group that rivals those of ‘Friends’ and ‘Sex and the City,’ nor will you likely meet your soulmate at first try, but that’s par for the course, and frankly, completely fine.

After all, we meet everyone for a reason, and weak ties-the relationships we have with acquaintances and casual friends-are instrumental to discovering new information or opportunities we wouldn’t have had access to otherwise.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Pleasure of our peers’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Hearings handled well’

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

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

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

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

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

Lacson said he continues to support the leadership of Sotto.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Colleagues’ sentiments’

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

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

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

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

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

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

No offense meant

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

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

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

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

He explained that insertions are not illegal or improper.

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

Transparency in hearings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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