Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Mayon Volcano in Albay spewed ash again Friday morning, generating a grayish plume, state seismologists reported.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the ash emission from Mayon’s crater occurred at 9:08 a.m.

‘This event generated a 150-meter-tall grayish plume that drifted to the east-northeast as recorded by the VMCB (Calbayog Observation Station) RasPi Camera,’ the agency noted.

Phivolcs has been monitoring moderate volcanic unrest at Mayon in recent days.

On Thursday morning, state seismologists recorded a weak ash explosion from the volcano’s summit crater.

It generated a grayish plume that rose 500 meters before drifting east-northeast.

Before this, the agency recorded two volcanic activities at Mayon’s crater on Wednesday: an ash emission at 8:30 a.m. that generated a grayish plume drifting east-northeast, and a weak ash explosion at 1:57 p.m. that also generated a grayish plume, which reached 1,500 meters before drifting east-northeast.

Mayon is currently under Alert Level 2, signifying a moderate level of volcanic unrest.

Phivolcs said entry into the six-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone and the flying of any aircraft close to Mayon Volcano are prohibited.

Some hotels become landmarks. Others become part of a city’s memory.

For nearly four decades, Mandarin Oriental Manila was one of those places. It welcomed business leaders sealing deals, diplomats navigating delicate conversations, families marking milestones and generations of guests who saw the hotel as a familiar fixture in the capital’s social life.

More than a decade after it closed its doors, the luxury hospitality brand is preparing for a homecoming.

Set to open on Dec. 14, Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila will rise above Ayala Triangle Gardens.

But this is not simply a revival of a familiar name.

The new property represents a fresh interpretation of luxury hospitality-one that blends global standards with distinctly Filipino character.

Standing nearly 99 meters above the heart of Makati, the hotel occupies one of the country’s most prominent addresses. Nestled beside Ayala Triangle Gardens and surrounded by the commercial district’s offices, restaurants, galleries and retail destinations, it places guests at the center of a city that continues to evolve as a regional business and lifestyle hub.

For Mandarin Oriental, the return carries both symbolic and strategic weight.

‘Our return to Manila marks an exciting new chapter for Mandarin Oriental,’ says Laurent Kleitman, the group’s chief executive.

Kleitman describes the Philippines as one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and culturally rich nations, adding that the new hotel aims to capture Metro Manila’s energy through design, experiences and the brand’s signature service.

The reopening also reflects the growing importance of Metro Manila within the region’s travel landscape. Just a short drive from the international airport, the hotel is positioned to serve both business and leisure travelers arriving from key cities across Asia, the Middle East and North America.

The property will feature 275 rooms and suites, five dining and bar concepts, an expansive spa and wellness floor, as well as a range of event spaces designed for everything from corporate gatherings to weddings and cultural celebrations.

Its design draws heavily from the Philippine landscape and local craftsmanship. Guest rooms will incorporate natural materials, warm wood tones and woven details, while large windows invite sunlight and sweeping views of the city and surrounding greenery.

The hotel is also designed with multigenerational travel in mind. Spacious accommodations, connecting rooms and family-focused suites seek to address the changing needs of travelers who increasingly prioritize shared experiences.

Food is another defining feature. Dining concepts will showcase contemporary Cantonese, Filipino and international cuisine, while highlighting local ingredients and craftsmanship. The goal is not merely to serve visitors, but to create gathering spaces where residents and travelers can intersect.

Perhaps nowhere is the Filipino influence more evident than in the wellness facilities. Spanning 800 square meters, the spa and wellness floor will overlook Ayala Triangle Gardens and feature a 25-meter outdoor swimming pool. Treatments will draw inspiration from traditional Filipino healing practices such as hilot and sukob ng manggagamot, combining indigenous techniques and native botanicals with modern wellness approaches.

For Ayala Land, which partnered with Mandarin Oriental on the project, this marks another chapter in Makati’s continuing transformation.

‘The return of Mandarin Oriental represents a defining moment for Makati,’ says Jaime Urquijo Zobel de Ayala, head of Urban Estates Group at Ayala Land. ‘We are proud to welcome back a brand that has long been part of the city’s cultural and social fabric. As Makati continues to evolve and redefine urban living, the reopening of Mandarin Oriental reflects our commitment to innovation, excellence and world-class experiences. It also sets a new benchmark for luxury hospitality in the Philippines.’

Its Grand Hall can accommodate up to 1,000 guests and is complemented by additional function rooms, meeting spaces and direct access to Ayala Triangle Gardens for outdoor gatherings.

When Mandarin Oriental Makati, Manila opens its doors later this year, it will not simply bring back a celebrated hotel brand. It will reconnect a city with a piece of its past while introducing a new generation of travelers to a distinctly Filipino vision of luxury.

Alex Gonzaga has officially stepped into motherhood as she and her husband, Mikee Morada, finally welcomed their firstborn.

This was confirmed by the actress-TV host’s shapewear brand, which shared a congratulatory post for the couple via its social media pages on Thursday, Aug. 27.

‘This just in. Our Sizzies family just got bigger!’ it said. ‘Sending the biggest, most heartfelt congratulations to our OG Sizzie, [Alex].’

While Gonzaga has yet to respond to the greeting, she liked the post, which featured a photo of her and Morada from their maternity shoot.

Gonzaga has yet to make an official announcement as of this writing.

Gonzaga and Morada, who tied the knot in 2020, confirmed her pregnancy last May.

The Ironman 70.3 series goes deep in the north for the first time next year when Laoag City hosts a leg on March 14, underscoring the popularity the sport is gaining in the country.

Ilocos Norte’s capital will put its heritage and legendary Ilocano spirit on full display when the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike and 21.1-kilometer run race is flagged off.

Also known as the Sunshine City, Laoag’s appeal as a race venue extends beyond its roads and coastline as it offers a warm, almost always-summer character that lends itself naturally to a race weekend.

Laoag also brings together heritage and contemporary city life with its historic streets, local markets and long-standing Ilocano traditions coexisting with a growing modernity which will give athletes and their families plenty of reasons to stay longer and explore beyond race day.

Registration is now open. For details, visit www.ironman.com/races/im703-laoag.

For the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc., the race represents an opportunity to expand the Philippine Ironman experience into a destination with its own distinct character.

The addition of Laoag as a venue further strengthens the Philippines’ position as a major destination for endurance racing in the region. With Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events having been held in the country since 2009, the arrival of a new host city reflects both the continued growth of the local triathlon community and the enduring appeal of the Philippines to international athletes.

With its oceanfront start, fast northern roads, historic urban setting and easy access to the cultural and culinary attractions of Ilocos Norte, the Laoag stop is poised to offer more than a new race on the calendar. It is also an invitation to experience the north from the saddle, on foot and beyond the finish line.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from Taal Volcano in Batangas province increased over the past 24 hours amid continued seismic unrest, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Friday (Aug. 28).

Taal released 381 metric tons of sulfur dioxide, although the emission level remained classified as ‘weak.’ The figure was higher than the volcano’s average daily SO2 emission of 271 metric tons recorded from Aug. 20 to 27, according to Phivolcs’ morning bulletin.

The volcano also remained seismically active during the monitoring period.

Phivolcs detected 18 volcanic earthquakes, accompanied by a volcanic tremor that lasted for 504 minutes.

On Aug. 27, state volcanologists recorded 32 volcanic earthquakes and one tremor. The previous day, the agency logged 17 earthquakes and one tremor.

From Aug. 20 to 25, Taal recorded a total of 162 volcanic earthquakes and nine episodes of volcanic tremor.

Phivolcs defines volcanic earthquakes as those ‘generated by magmatic processes or magma-related processes beneath or near an active volcano.’

‘Unlike tectonic earthquakes that are produced by faulting, volcanic earthquakes are directly produced by many processes and are, therefore, much more varied in characteristics,’ the agency explained.

Volcanic tremors, meanwhile, are continuous seismic signals with regular or irregular oscillations and low frequencies, typically ranging from 0.5 to 5 hertz, that can last for more than a minute.

Phivolcs also reported no upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the main crater lake on Volcano Island, which is located at the center of Taal Lake.

No volcanic smog, or ‘vog,’ was also observed during the monitoring period.

Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1, indicating a low level of volcanic unrest.

A total of 44,003 children aged 6 to 59 months in Oriental Mindoro have been vaccinated against measles and rubella as the province continues its Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA).

The figure represents 51.05 percent of the province’s target of 86,196 children, according to the Ligtas Tigdas tracker of the Department of Health in MIMAROPA as of 7 a.m. on Aug. 27.

The tracker also showed that 41,970 children, or 48.69 percent of the target, had received Vitamin A supplementation.

The vaccination campaign continues across Oriental Mindoro to reach eligible children and protect them against measles, locally known as tigdas, and rubella or tigdas-hangin.

Health workers, local governments and partner organizations are working together to bring vaccination services closer to communities, including through fixed and temporary vaccination posts.

Parents and guardians are being urged to have their children vaccinated even if they do not have vaccination records.

They may bring children aged 6 to 59 months to the nearest fixed or temporary vaccination post until Sept. 4, 2026, according to the latest advisory from health authorities.

Among Oriental Mindoro’s municipalities and cities, Bulalacao recorded the highest MR vaccination coverage at 66.49 percent, with 3,448 of its 5,186 target children vaccinated.

It was followed by Roxas with 62.80 percent (3,817 of 6,078), Naujan with 56.99 percent (5,664 of 9,938), San Teodoro with 54.24 percent (1,037 of 1,912), Gloria with 53.95 percent (2,542 of 4,712), and Victoria with 51.52 percent (2,524 of 4,899).

Calapan City recorded 6,261 vaccinated children, equivalent to 51.46 percent of its 12,167 target.

Other towns have narrowed down their vaccination coverage rates: Pinamalayan, 50.96 percent; Baco, 50.23 percent; Bansud, 49.01 percent; Pola, 49.01 percent; Puerto Galera, 48.60 percent; Mansalay, 46.72 percent; Bongabong, 35.33 percent; and Socorro, 36.80 percent.

With more than 42,000 eligible children still not recorded as vaccinated against measles-rubella as of Aug. 27, health authorities continue to appeal to parents and guardians to take advantage of the extended campaign.

One of the country’s most influential business groups is pressing the Marcos administration to take a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to dubious line items in the proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 national budget, urging it to do away with the ‘opacity’ surrounding the budget process.

In a statement on Thursday, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) stressed that the 2027 budget process is a litmus test for the government which is still reeling from the flood control corruption mess that has not only put graft in the public spotlight but also dampened investor confidence in the country.

It likewise described the 2027 budget as an opportunity for both Mr. Marcos and Congress to confront corruption concerns head-on.

As such, MAP said both the executive and legislative branches, along with government agencies involved in preparing and implementing the budget, should uphold the ‘highest standards of transparency, integrity and accountability in the use of public funds.’

‘The national budget is not government money. It is the people’s money. It comes from taxes paid by Filipino workers, consumers, and businesses, as well as from debt that will ultimately be borne by present and future generations,’ its statement read.

Follow every peso

‘The government therefore has an obligation to account for how every peso is allocated, spent, and translated into actual benefits for the Filipino people,’ it added.

MAP, a 1,400-member group comprising some of the Philippines’ top business executives, called for ‘zero tolerance’ for hidden insertions, questionable appropriations, favored contractors, ghost or substandard projects, unexplained realignments and the use of public funds for political accommodation or personal gain.

Such items have ‘no place in a government that claims to uphold good governance and fiscal responsibility,’ it said.

In particular, MAP wants greater scrutiny during congressional deliberations and the bicameral conference, where changes to the spending plan can be introduced before the final budget is submitted to the President for signing.

All material amendments and insertions should also be fully disclosed, including their proponents, amounts and intended purposes, it said.

‘The complexity of the budget process must never become a shield against public scrutiny or accountability,’ it said.

But transparency should not end once the General Appropriations Act is signed, MAP stressed.

The business group wants Filipinos to be able to trace public funds from appropriation and release through procurement, contract award, implementation, completion and eventual audit.

Blockchain technology

For major infrastructure and government projects, MAP said the public should be able to determine how much was appropriated, which contractor received the award, how much was actually disbursed and whether taxpayers ultimately received what was promised.

One way to achieve this, MAP said, is through the proposed Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability Act, which seeks to use technology, including blockchain, to make government spending more transparent and traceable.

Only when the government drops its ‘business as usual’ approach to the budget process can it truly rebuild public trust and restore confidence in the integrity of government spending, according to MAP.

The Philippine junior fencing team is turning its attention to next year’s Asian and world championships after collecting individual medals and valuable ranking points at the 2026 Southeast Asian Fencing Federation Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Eight Filipino fencers from different clubs reached the podium, led by 16-year-old Oscar Del Castillo, who won gold in the men’s cadet epee and silver in the junior division.

Willa Galvez, 15, added a bronze in junior women’s foil, while Hagia del Castillo took silver in cadet women’s foil. Yuna Canlas, Victoria Ebdane, Papina Torre, Jethro Chan and Don Reyzel Geronimo also earned bronze medals in their respective events.

The results gave the young fencers ranking points that will count toward their overall standings, along with points earned from international competitions such as the Asian Cadet Cup and Philippine Fencing Association junior and cadet tournaments.

‘It’s not just the medals. Equally important are the points we’ll get from the SEAFF because they will be added to our overall ranking points,’ Del Castillo said recently at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

The ranking race resumes Aug. 29 and 30 with the third and final leg of the PFA Junior and Cadet tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

‘It’s going to be an exciting third leg because it’s the final leg, and the points every fencer will get are very crucial,’ Galvez said.

Ebdane, 16, said competing internationally is also important for the experience gained against foreign opponents.

‘It’s important as an athlete to compete in as many international competitions as we can,’ Ebdane said. ‘Playing against players from other countries will push me to be better, both locally and internationally.’

In previous years, the top four fencers in the cadet and junior rankings represented the Philippines in the Asian and world championships.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will begin flying daily to Melbourne in November as it seeks to capture stronger demand during the year-end travel season and further strengthen its foothold on the Philippines-Australia market.

This will mark an increase from the current five weekly flights that PAL operates to Melbourne and make the route its third daily service to Australia, alongside Sydney and Brisbane. The airline also operates three weekly flights to Perth.

PAL’s daily Melbourne service will begin on Nov. 19.

‘Travelers from the Philippines and across PAL’s international network will enjoy easier access to Melbourne, while Australian travelers can connect seamlessly via Manila to destinations throughout the Philippines, Asia, North America and the Middle East,’ PAL said in a statement on Thursday.

Melbourne is an important part of PAL’s international network, having been among its earlier overseas destinations when the flag carrier began serving the Australian city in 1971.

To date, PAL operates the most flights and serves the most destinations linking the Philippines and Australia.

Under the expanded schedule, PAL will depart Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8:20 p.m. daily and arrive in Melbourne at 7:30 a.m. the following day. The return flight will leave Melbourne at 9:20 a.m. local time and arrive in Manila at 2:25 p.m.

Apart from boosting passenger capacity, PAL said the additional flights would provide more cargo space, helping support Philippine exports and strengthen trade links between the two countries.

In July, the Lucio Tan-led carrier also announced it would add flights to Perth during the holidays and deploy larger aircraft on selected Sydney and Brisbane services.

‘These seasonal enhancements are designed to support the strong demand from Filipino communities in Australia, holiday-makers and visiting friends and relatives traveling during the year-end peak season,’ the carrier said.

In the first half of 2026, PAL’s passenger volume fell 3.1 percent to 8.2 million, while its passenger load factor eased to 78.9 percent from 81.6 percent a year earlier.

Over the same period, the carrier swung to a net loss of $25.1 million as fuel expenses surged to $674.5 million, driven primarily by higher jet fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict.

The Philippine peso weakened below the 62-per-dollar level to hit a new record low on Friday morning, as investors weighed the central bank’s latest rate hike decision.

The local currency opened the session at 62.05 per dollar before touching an intraday low of 62.25.

This surpassed the previous all-time low level of 61.995 recorded on Aug. 19.

The slump happened after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas delivered another quarter-point hike that brought the policy rate to 5 percent. The central bank said the latest tightening action was a ‘preemptive’ move against emerging risks to the inflation outlook.

On Thursday, the Philippine peso dropped 23.8 centavos to a record closing low of 61.888 per dollar.

The currency surpassed its previous record closing low of 61.847 set on July 24. It touched an intraday low of 61.89 before paring losses.