Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘But if you will ask me, I’ve already experienced his being a Senate president for the longest time, in the past Congress. His system of management is good; he has good leadership. He always goes for consensus, he doesn’t dictate and and he doesn’t decide alone. So if you ask me, I’ll continue to support him,’ he said. ‘Now, if in the views of my colleagues, he is also lacking in leadership.that’s how it goes in the Senate, whoever has the majority, whoever has at least 13. whoever is sitting can be replaced by whoever has at least 13 (votes),’ Lacson added.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Banking MandAs

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

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

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

uring legacy

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

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

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

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

‘Exceptional’

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

Austin Reaves scored 20 points and Bronny James added eight while the Los Angeles Lakers lost their preseason opener 103-81 to the Phoenix Suns on Friday night with LeBron James and Luka Doncic sitting out.

James is progressing deliberately in his return from a minor nerve injury to begin his record 23rd NBA season, while Doncic is also ramping up with caution after his busy summer playing for Slovenia at EuroBasket. Both superstars watched from courtside while the rest of the Lakers lost to the new-look Suns, who jumped to a 27-point lead in the third quarter.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game that Doncic will play at some point in the preseason, and he is hopeful LeBron James also will get at least one preseason game. Redick wants one preseason game with what he called ‘a dress rehearsal’ for the regular season with the Lakers’ full roster.

Bronny James hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter for his only field goal. He went 1 for 7 on 3-point attempts.

Devin Booker scored 24 points and Dillon Brooks added 10 in his first game for Phoenix, which acquired the veteran agitator from Houston in the seven-team trade of Kevin Durant in July.

The Lakers opened their preseason in the same Coachella Valley arena where Bronny James first played alongside his famous father in Los Angeles’ two preseason games here one year ago. With 40-year-old LeBron watching from courtside this time, Bronny was in the Lakers’ first substitution group, and he played nearly 23 minutes. Bronny, who turns 21 years old on Monday, didn’t make a shot in the first half and occasionally got beat on defense, but he hit five free throws and worked to run the Lakers’ offense.

By virtue of Republic Act No. 11086, signed by then President Rodrigo Duterte, Sto. Tomas was converted into a component city of Batangas province. Strategically located on the boundary of Laguna and Batangas, Sto. Tomas has emerged as a thriving industrial hub with a land area of 10,032.38 hectares and a population of 226,772, based on the latest census. Nestled at the foot of the legendary and scenic Mt. Makiling, the city blends progress with natural beauty. Although recognized only recently as the fourth city of the province-after Lipa, Tanauan, and Batangas-Sto. Tomas is one of its oldest towns, established in 1666. Its name was given by the Dominican missionaries in honor of St. Thomas Aquinas. Sto. Tomas also contributed immensely to the pages of Philippine history, as it prides itself as the birthplace of the national hero General Miguel Malvar, the last Filipino general to surrender to the Americans.

Oct. 7, 1660

Residents of Pampanga province rose against Spanish colonizers in what became known as the Kapampangan Revolt of 1660, or the Maniago Revolt. The uprising was sparked by resentment toward the forced labor policy and the compulsory sale of native products paid under the ‘bandala,’ where payment came only in promissory notes. Leading the revolt was Francisco Maniago, a native of Mexico town, who boldly blocked the mouths of the rivers of Pampanga to cut off trade with Manila. The rebellion quickly gained momentum as Pangasinenses, Cagayanos, and Ilocanos joined the fight, and it inspired uprisings in Northern Luzon as well. The rebellion ended when the Spaniards accepted the demands of the people. The MassKara Festival held in Bacolod City is considered one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines. It showcases dancers donning carnival-inspired costumes and masks on the streets and in a stadium on the final day. The festival was born in 1980 to ease the collective grief of Negrenses following a severe economic crisis caused by the collapse of the sugar industry and the sinking of the Bacolod-bound MV Don Juan that had left over a hundred dead and missing. The festival’s masks, representing the many ‘happy faces’ of Negrenses, have since evolved into a festivity that fosters optimism, resilience, and unity-while showcasing the artistry and creativity of Bacolodnons. This year’s festivities boast a wide array of cultural and sectoral activities, including street and dance competitions, sports tournaments, talent shows, a beauty pageant and more.

Sagingan Festival (Sept. 13 to Oct. 20)

The Sagingan Festival is a celebration held in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, honoring the town’s primary agricultural product-bananas. With some 30 varieties, bananas stand as the heart and soul of Tubod’s culture. The town’s progress and heritage were also deeply intertwined with this beloved fruit. More than just a tribute to the harvest, the Sagingan Festival showcases the strength, unity, and unwavering spirit of Tubod’s locals. This year’s month-long celebration bursts with color and energy through sports competitions, beauty pageants, concerts, and fireworks displays. It also features meaningful events such as a trade fair, job fair, mass, civic parade, kasalan ng bayan (mass wedding), and an environment day celebration. -NATHALIE GRACE ADALID, INQUIRER RESEARCH

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck off Bogo City in Cebu on Sunday morning, according to the state seismology bureau.

In its earthquake bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the epicenter of the earthquake was located 14 kilometers east of Bogo City in Cebu.

The Phivolcs added that the earthquake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 10 kilometers. It also said that Reported Intensity II was recorded in Daanbantayan, Cebu while Instrumental Intensity I was measured in Villaba, Leyte, Abuyog, and Carigara in Leyte. The agency also noted that the earthquake was an aftershock of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit the city last September 30. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Sunday reported 71 deaths from the strong quake.

Meanwhile, the agency said that no damage to property and aftershocks were expected from the magnitude 4.4 earthquake.

Adamson escaped Far Eastern University, 57-56, to earn its first win in the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball tournament Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

After losses to UP and Ateneo, the Lady Falcons leaned on Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 standouts Elaine Etang and Cheska Apag to give new coach Jed Colonia his maiden victory.

‘Lahat ng games namin boiled down to the dying seconds. It’s a great feeling,’ said Colonia. ‘We’ve been giving ourselves chances to win, and it’s the effort and heart in the last few possessions that decide the game.’

Adamson nearly lost a 14-point lead before Apag hit a free throw and Etang buried a clutch triple for a 57-51 edge. FEU answered with free throws and a three-pointer by Victoria Pasilang to cut it to one, but Apag’s steal sealed the win.

Apag finished with 18 points, six steals, five rebounds and two assists. Etang added 12 points, six boards and four assists.

Adamson improved to 1-2, tying FEU for fifth place. The Lady Falcons face defending champion National University next on October 8, still at MOA Arena.

Amyah Espanol and Pasilang had 15 points apiece for FEU, which plays UP on Oct. 12 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

‘I will study hard so when I finish school, I can be with my mother again someday,’ Mary (not her real name) said as she finished a second cup of ice cream.

Sept. 11 was a busy afternoon at the Kalipay Negrense Foundation in Bacolod, where she and other children welcomed guests, including representatives of the US Embassy in Manila and journalists who were also there to attend a seminar on human trafficking.

Mary told the Inquirer she did not want to return to her father who, she said, had physically abused her and her siblings while their mother worked abroad.

‘Beg and steal’

Now a Grade 7 student, she lives at Recovered Treasures, a residential care facility run by Kalipay that shelters survivors of child trafficking, child labor, abuse, abandonment, neglect, malnourishment and orphanhood.

She cannot recall much about how she and her siblings ended up there, but this she knows-she is good at math, loves to sing and dance, and dreams of becoming a painter.

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Kalipay rescued another minor-Cedrick, a 9-year-old boy from Leyte who was trafficked with other children and forced to beg for money at fiestas.

Cedrick stopped going home because he had nothing to eat there, recalled Kalipay executive director Mhel Sillador.

Instead, he joined a group that brought children from one fiesta to another until they reached Bacolod, where they were abandoned by the syndicate.

Hard realities

‘They beg and steal. So what they do is they gather at the end of the day and [count their earnings] while an the adult cooks their food,’ Sillador said.

Three years later, Kalipay reunited Cedrick with his family-an emotional moment, Sillador said, because the boy felt abandoned and even asked them, ‘Why didn’t you look for me?’

Mary’s and Cedrick’s stories are just two of many exposing the hard realities Filipino children face-the abuse and trafficking that remain widespread despite the government’s crackdown, with minors forced into labor or online sexual exploitation, or sold under the guise of adoption and recruitment.

Nongovernmental organizations like Kalipay play a vital role in complementing government efforts to combat trafficking-rescuing children, providing safe spaces, helping survivors recover and rebuild their lives.

Advocacy programs for children in Negros have made substantial progress, according to Sillador. But he also noted the still prevalent reality that ‘no matter how educated and civilized our community seem to be, . sexual abuse, child labor and child trafficking still exist in the island.’

He also pointed out that Kalipay does not follow the usual routine of simply feeding, bathing and clothing rescued children.

‘Horrible beginnings’ Sillador emphasized the value of education, as he cited a 14-year-old girl among the many children rescued by Kalipay who did not know how to read or write-not because of special needs but because they were never introduced to schooling.

Treasures, the nonprofit’s care facility, currently houses 106 children, with more than 38 of them under protective custody-meaning they have pending cases in court.

‘[Regarding] a significant number of them, the perpetrators are at large and the cases involve certain syndicates,’ he said.

Sillador recalled the ‘horrible beginnings’ of the foundation, when its education program meant sending children to the nearest public school.

‘A lot of our kids feared going out because of the trauma they underwent. In 2016, we were able to put up our very own school and we eventually partnered with UST (University of Santo Tomas) Angelicum College.’

He said this partnership was particularly beneficial to the children, since they could ‘graduate with a UST diploma, which is very good for them when they apply for college.’

Alternatives

Kalipay’s ultimate goal is to reintegrate the children with the community, Sillador said, because ‘no matter how much love and care we give these children, no matter how nice, probably,.our facility is, there’s no substitute for the love and care that can be given by their own family.’

When that is not possible, the foundation works to provide alternative family placement through adoption or foster care, or to prepare children for independent living by giving them access to college or vocational education.

Apart from Kalipay, other nongovernmental organizations, such as the International Justice Mission (IJM) are also working with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, an agency of the Department of Justice, in fighting child trafficking, especially illegal acts online. In its campaign against online sexual exploitation of children, IJM monitors such activities as livestreaming of child sexual abuse-with its considerable market of sex offenders.

Despite the collective efforts by the government and groups, such as Kalipay and IJM, formidable challenges remain in prosecuting sex trafficking, especially as it involves child victims.