Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Daniel Dubois showed up late, got knocked down early and still beat Fabio Wardley to become a two-time heavyweight champion on Saturday.

Dubois stopped Wardley in the 11th round to win the WBO heavyweight title at the Co-op Live arena after reportedly being delayed by traffic on his arrival.

Wardley dropped Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) just 10 seconds into the bout with an overhand right, and again in the third round, but the former IBF champion rebounded both times and dominated from there by landing heavy rights that produced swelling and bleeding on Wardley’s face.

FIGHT OF THE YEAR?!

Highlights from Daniel Dubois’ comeback victory vs Fabio Wardley to become heavyweight champion again #WardleyDubois on DAZN pic.twitter.com/68oKnpW86g

‘I know I’ve got heart, bundles of heart, I’m a warrior in there,’ said Dubois, whose resolve had been questioned in the past. ‘What a great fight, what a great battle. I’m No. 1 again.’

Wardley absorbed blow after blow without going down before referee Howard Foster halted the bout early in the 11th.

It’s the first professional loss for Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs). He was making his first title defense.

‘He’s a durable guy… a great warrior,’ Dubois said. ‘It was an honor to be in the ring with him.’

Dubois lost his IBF belt to Oleksandr Usyk via a fifth-round knockout at Wembley Stadium last July. It was his second loss to Usyk.

Dubois could be on a collision course with rising star Moses Itauma, who was ringside. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri has said after Itauma’s demolition of Jermaine Franklin he’ll recommend the British southpaw become the WBO mandatory challenger.

Frank Warren, the promoter for both Dubois and Wardley, said in the ring, however, that there’s a rematch clause in the contract.

Usyk holds the WBA, WBC and IBF belts. The 39-year-old Ukrainian’s next bout is against former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

London light heavyweight Zak Chelli scored a big upset by stopping Cuban southpaw David Morrell in the 10th round. Chelli (17-3-1, 9 KOs) called out WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez, who also holds titles at cruiserweight. Morrell (12-2, 9 KOs) had gone the distance with Benavidez last year, losing on points after 12 rounds.

Jack Rafferty (27-0-1, 18 KOs) made a successful welterweight debut against 37-year-old Ekow Essuman (22-3, 8 KOs), whose corner retired their fighter after six rounds.

Malacañang on Sunday denied Sen. Imee Marcos’ claim that the administration is coercing lawmakers to vote in favor of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

‘There is greater credibility when every accusation is backed by evidence,’ Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

She also said some high-ranking officials have become ‘accustomed to relying merely on speculation.’

‘It seems FPRRD’s practice of creating intrigue and planting evidence is highly contagious. Do not emulate it!’ Castro said, referring to former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the vice president’s father.

In a video statement on Sunday, Sen. Marcos, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s estranged eldest sister, alleged that some members of the House of Representatives and the Senate were facing intimidation and threats of cases if they refused to support the impeachment of Vice President Duterte.

She said some lawmakers were allegedly being threatened with cases before the Office of the Ombudsman if they would not vote in favor of the impeachment complaint against the vice president.

The senator also claimed that other agencies, including the Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, and Securities and Exchange Commission, were allegedly being ordered to pursue possible legal actions against those who refuse to support the impeachment move.

Sen. Marcos also said some lawmakers complained that their respective allocations were marked ‘for later release (FLR),’ stalling projects for their constituents or leaving them without funding.

‘Is this right? There is already bribery, and now there are threats as well. What is happening to our country?’ the senator said.

She did not disclose who among her fellow lawmakers were receiving such threats.

FLR items are budget appropriations in the General Appropriations Act that are not immediately released by the Department of Budget and Management.

They are withheld pending the submission of special requirements or compliance with specific conditions.

The House is set to hold a historic vote tomorrow to affirm its Committee on Justice report finding probable cause in the impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte.

Under the 1987 Constitution, at least one-third of all House members – or 106 votes out of the 318-member chamber – would be enough to approve the Articles of Impeachment and immediately transmit them to the Senate for trial.

Magnolia locked up the fifth seed after a 93-76 win over Meralco, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Hotshots chalked up their third consecutive victory, upping their mark to 7-5.

‘We just played how we should have in our system,’ veteran guard Paul Lee said, after finishing with 13 points, three rebounds and three assists in the win.

‘All we knew was, we were all ready for whatever was going to happen with our flow because you never know when you’ll be open. Whoever’s the best available player, we just fed him and that’s what happened.’

In this case, it was import Clint Chapman, who spearheaded the Hotshots’ wire-to-wire win with 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Meralco shot just 32.8 percent from the field, including 6-of-21 from long range, while Magnolia shot a decent 10-of-21 from distance.

The Bolts saw their three-game winning streak snapped but remained in fourth with an 8-4 record. Their final playoff seeding, however, could still change.

A win by TNT over Barangay Ginebra later will bump Meralco to third. The Gin Kings victory, meanwhile, keeps the Bolts in fourth.

Marvin Jones and Javee Mocon finished with 14 points each for Meralco.

Covid took so many lives at the height of the pandemic, and nothing could have prepared Gina Salido, 45, from the desolation that engulfed her when the deadly virus claimed her husband, Luigi.

‘I never saw it coming – being a single mom. From day one of being a widow, the reality struck me right away. I immediately felt lost,’ she recalled.

She was crying to high heavens. ”Bakit ako? Bakit ako na naman,’ I said. I had been through so much, and I was also battling lupus and then, this… becoming a widow. I asked myself, ‘How in the world can I go on?’ she said.

At first, she felt like she was carrying the weight of the world all by herself, going about without a direction. The hardest days were what used to be the happiest – birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, school awards, Mother’s Day.

And then it hit her. There is no time to wallow in self-despair because she had to take care of their child, then just 10 years old. There are school bills to pay, food to put on the table, basically life going on as usual. It was as if the most important man in her life had not gone away for good, and the world could not wait for her to recover emotionally quickly enough.

Eventually, the passage of time had dulled the pain somewhat. It helped that Gina had a growing child, a daughter, who was going through her own teenage phase, who needed her mother with her. She had to be both mother and father. She had to really be present at this point in her daughter’s life.

‘Imagine being a mom and a dad at the same time. Despite of my illness, I’m blessed to have a strong body,’ she said.

Gina said she didn’t mind working two, sometimes three jobs, at the same time just to help make ends meet. She realized that because of the hardships that she had to go through, she has become so much stronger than she thought, so much more able to face challenges.

‘I had to be strong because my daughter needs me, and she deserves a mother who can stand tall through it all. Not broken, not wasted but someone who can raise her not just to be a princess but a warrior who carries kindness and strength in her heart,’ she said.

Now, the pain is still there as she still misses Luigi, but the tears have lessened. She is doing fine. Surviving. Thriving.

As Iza Calzado enjoys watching her daughter Deia grow up, she hopes her daughter will become more independent than she is and be a changemaker, rather than a survivor.

Calzado, who is the cover girl of Smart Parenting with Deia and her husband Ben Wintle, smiled as she shared what she hopes to see in her daughter in the future at a Mother’s Day fair in Quezon City.

‘I hope she grows up to be kind, loving, and independent. Sana (I hope) she’s more independent than me. I hope she is compassionate. I hope that she has courage. And she’s not just a survivor, she’s a changemaker,’ she told Inquirer Entertainment.

‘There’s nothing wrong with merely surviving; that’s already a win in itself – but of course, it’s a wish for everyone. Of course, as a mother. I want for her to thrive,’ she added.

The actress also said she is aware that it adds more pressure to Deia’s shoulders, but she hopes that she’s living by example.

‘I want her to create some impact and change in this world. I know that’s a lot to put on one’s shoulders, but I hope that I am leading by example, and I want her to know that it’s going to be tough,’ she added.

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When asked how it feels to see Deia coming into her own, Calzado said the experience is ‘more fun and more challenging’ as her daughter becomes more aware of the world around her.

‘You have to become more mindful of the things you say and do,’ the actress said of her day-to-day.

Calzado also shared that she is rediscovering life in her own way as Deia learns more about herself and the world around her.

‘She’s discovering herself. You’re also discovering life through my relationship with her, so it’s a very interesting time. We’re both in that discovery and learning phase. I mean, every day is a discovery phase, but now, more than ever, it requires more active participation from her,’ she said.

Why Iza still believes having kids still matters

As the discussion shifted to the challenges of having children in this day and age, Calzado responded with an understanding expression, even adding, ‘Yes, ang hirap ng buhay ngayon (Life is harder now),’ but she maintained that there is still goodness in being a mother.

‘I was 39, and I didn’t want to have kids. But God gave me a kid. But I realized that it’s not like my problems went away; I am still very, very challenged, and I struggle a lot. But it gives you purpose,’ she said. ‘But [Deia] is not my only purpose. Hindi lang siya dapat ang buhay ko (She shouldn’t be the only focus of my life).’

Still, the ‘Moments of Love’ star encourages having a child, saying it still matters, but it is about taking a leap of faith, especially when it is one’s destiny. ‘I think you should take a chance and take a leap of faith.’

‘In my opinion, life is not meant to be all about you. You don’t really have to be a parent to not just be about you,’ she continued. ‘But, one of the best ways for you to get out of your self-centeredness is to have someone else to hold you accountable, have someone to live for, to fight for, and to be inspired and challenged by.’

With Deia growing and changing in front of Calzado’s eyes, she is enjoying the moment of having her daughter close by her side.

Social media personality and Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) Network founder Franco Mabanta and four others have been released from detention after posting bail in their robbery extortion case, where they allegedly tried to blackmail former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

According to a document provided by the National Bureau of Investigation, the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 167 on Saturday ordered their release after they posted bail of P120,000 each.

Mabanta and his four coaccused were arrested in an NBI entrapment operation on May 5 and were detained at New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City after inquest proceedings.

‘Accordingly, the Chief of the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Corrections Detention Facility located at Building No. 14, New Bilibid Prison BuCor Compound, Muntinlupa City is directed to release respondents,’ the court order read.

The four other respondents are PGMN finance officer Ericson James Pacaba, incorporator John Alexander Vasquez Gomez, and employees Jardine Christian Requio Serrano and Franco Jose Gallardo.

To press dismissal

They first tried but failed to post bail on Friday. Their lawyer, Bernice Rodriguez, said they were ‘exhausting every possible legal remedy available just to ensure that the case will be dismissed and that our clients will be released as soon as possible.’

Mabanta and the others were arrested by the NBI on a complaint filed by Romualdez saying the PGMN executive demanded P350 million, eventually lowered to P300 million, in exchange for not releasing a video purportedly linking the Leyte congressman to corruption in the House of Representatives.

While in NBI custody, Mabanta denied that he tried to extort money from Romualdez. A PGMN statement quoting its founder dismissed the NBI operation as a ‘setup.’

Through a spokesperson, Romualdez later issued a statement saying PGMN was ‘twisting the narrative,’ saying any exposé materials it claimed to possess should be submitted to proper authorities and not used ‘as leverage in exchange for money.’

‘That is what PGMN did: They purportedly produced a video that was allegedly ready to run several weeks ago and yet chose not to release it. That is not journalism, that is extortion … Such conduct undermines legitimate journalism and damages public trust in genuine media institutions,’ the lawmaker said through lawyer Elaine Atienza.

Streets and walls in this agro-industrial town were once again turned into vibrant canvases as the 13th Mandala International Festival ran from May 8 to 10, showcasing artworks that celebrate agriculture, culture, and community life.

As part of the festival’s street art activities, the Kintab Artist Group from Bicol completed a mural in Barangay Lumbac depicting a farmer resting under a tree, accented by colorful carabaos at Big Ben Wall 2.

The Arte Bauan group from Batangas transformed the Barangay Hall wall in Poblacion into a lively scene of farm family life, while the Talinhaga Artists from Bulacan highlighted the dignity of rice planting on the Mendoza family wall in Barangay Cutcot.

Pulilan Junior Artists and Baguio Visual Artists also contributed works at the Kidney Aid Dialysis Center and Big Ben Wall 1, blending themes of hope, healing, and rural life.

Ahead of the festival, the Bulacan Kapok Collective unveiled a multicolored carabao installation atop the public market in Poblacion, reimagining the town’s iconic kneeling carabao symbol.

Artists from Pampanga, including Herminigildo Pineda, also returned to the festival, linking past works with present themes on agriculture and land conversion.

Meanwhile, the Hardin Creative Artists Group from Nueva Vizcaya traveled nine hours to join the event, calling the festival an inspiration for regional art communities.

The three-day celebration also featured lectures on visual arts and cinema, documentary screenings, and the inauguration of the ‘Posong Malaki’ sculptural monument at the town plaza.

Organized by JEFARCA Arts and Historical Society Inc., the festival gathered about 120 local and international artists from countries including Australia, India, and France.

With the theme ‘Art, Earth, Action,’ this year’s Mandala runs alongside Pulilan’s lead-up to the annual Kneeling Carabao Festival in honor of San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers

In the gospel, Mary Magdalene is often defined by her commitment to serving Jesus. Gab Pangilinan, who portrays the character in the Manila staging of Webber and Rice’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ is committed to discovering her human side throughout its run.

Pangilinan spoke of how Mary’s humanity struck her most as she approached the character, adding that she focused on what Mary stood for and believed in, particularly her faith in Jesus.

‘When we were rehearsing for it, one of the notes I had was portraying Mary in a truthful, honest, and natural way, which is what it’s supposed to be. I am so excited for people to see that Mary,’ she said in a media event for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ emphasizing that the musical was about showing the human side of Jesus, Judas, Caiaphas, Pilate, Annas, Peter, Simon, and King Herod.

‘It’s the truth of what she stands for, what she believes in, and it all boils down to what the story is trying to say. We all know the characters, but I think what’s so beautiful about this is how human every single person is,’ she continued.

Touching on Mary’s theatrical history, Pangilinan said she is inspired by her fellow Filipino theater actress, Joanna Ampil, who portrayed her on the West End in the 1990s, and reminded herself to focus on getting to know her better.

‘It was getting to know her more. For me, just connecting with a fellow Mary years after just made me more excited,’ she said, sharing that she received a supportive message from Ampil when she got the part. ‘There was more excitement than surprise, fear, or anxiety. There is excitement to share this version of Mary and the production with Manila.’

Mary as a way to get out of her comfort zone

Though Pangilinan has been part of the theater industry for quite some time, bringing Mary Magdalene to life was a step out of her comfort zone. For one, it’s her first time entering rehearsals where she didn’t know anyone.

‘For the first time in a really long time, I had to come into a rehearsal room where I didn’t know anyone. It took me out of my comfort zone, and I’ve been in the industry for a while – more than a decade,’ she said. After all, Pangilinan has been part of several local productions, so it’s no surprise that she knows everyone.

‘Our industry is small. We know everyone we work with. We make these connections, some of whom are family, friends, and colleagues,’ she continued. ‘Every single time I enter a new room, there’s always someone to latch on to. We have our comfort zone, the people we love working with, and the people with whom we know exactly what is going to go.’

This, for Pangilinan, is in itself a matter of ‘mental preparation,’ since vulnerability is a part of theater. ‘When you enter a room without knowing what the process is going to go, and you have to be so open, and so vulnerable, I’m just so lucky that it’s these people I ended up with,’ she said, referring to her castmates.

The actress said that while she loves the local theater scene, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ reminded her why she fell in love with the industry in the first place.

‘I love the Philippine theater scene and how it developed through the years, but this particular production is reintroducing me to my love for theater and why I entered it in the first place. I’m just happy to be a part of it,’ she said.

Aside from Pangilinan, the cast includes Luke Street, Javon King, Ethan Hardy Benson, Grant Hodges, and Kodiak Thompson.

The Manila staging runs from May 2 to 31 at The Theatre in Solaire in Parañaque.

Barangay Ginebra clinched the No. 2 spot with a 93-86 victory over TNT to end the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round on Sunday night at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Gin Kings hiked their record to 9-3, setting up a quarterfinals date with the Phoenix Fuel Masters (6-6).

‘I think they played a good game like they wanted to but I don’t think it’s a big deal that they lost,’ coach Tim Cone said.

Barangay Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos and Tim Cone after the win over TNT.

‘TNT can turn it around in a heartbeat and find themselves in the finals easily and that’s a team that everybody’s eyes have to be on.’

Ginebra closed out TNT with a 7-2 spurt capped by a basket by RJ Abarrientos for a 91-83 cushion with 48 seconds remaining.

Abarrientos finished with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. Justin Brownlee recorded 18 points and 15 rebounds.

TNT suffered its third straight setback despite Bol Bol dominating with 33 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Calvin Oftana was the lone Tropang 5G local to hit double-digit scoring with 11.

TNT slid to the eighth seed with a 6-6 record and will face top seed NLEX (10-2), which ended the elims with a four-game winning streak. The top four tea

Tropical Storm Caloy (international name: Hagupit) is forecast to weaken to a tropical depression but its trough or extension may trigger rains in the Visayas and Mindanao on Sunday evening, the state weather bureau said.

‘Caloy will not have a direct impact on any part of the country, but later its trough or extension could possibly bring rains to parts of Visayas and Mindanao,’ Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather specialist Veronica Torres said in Filipino in a 5 a.m. update.

Caloy was last spotted some 925 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao, moving west-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph).

Pagasa added that the tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph.