Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Tropical Depression Pilandok will not directly affect the country, while the southwest monsoon, or habagat, will continue to prevail over Luzon and the western part of Visayas on Tuesday, according to the state weather bureau.

In the 5 a.m. weather forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, weather specialist Veronica Torres said that Pilandok was last estimated 1,050 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon. It maintained its strength as it was carrying a maximum wind speed of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 70 kph.

‘Walang direktang epekto sa ating bansa at napakababa naman ng tyansang maglandfall sa anumang parte ng bansa,’ Torres said.

(This does not have a direct effect over the country and it has a low chance of making landfall in any part of the country.)

Torres also said that Pilandok will move east-northeastward and then northeastward in the next 24 hours. It may also traverse northwestward and exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

It is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm in the next 12 hours.

Meanwhile, Torres noted that the habagat will bring heavy rains in the western portion of Luzon. She added that Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, and Bataan will experience 50 to 100 millimeters of rainfall on Tuesday due to habagat.

Weather disturbances outside the country

Torres also shared that there are currently three weather disturbances being monitored outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR.

Tropical Storm Saudel, formerly locally named Obet, was last located 965 kilometers west of Extreme Northern Luzon as of 3 a.m. Torres said that because of its east-southeast movement, its chance of re-entering the PAR is not ruled out.

A tropical depression seen 645 kilometers west-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes is not forecast to enter the PAR.

Lastly, a low pressure area 3,000 kilometers east of Southern Luzon has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next 24 hours. Its possibility of entering the PAR is not ruled out.

Malacañang on Tuesday advised motorists to avoid the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) for now after scores were left stranded along sections of the expressway due to severe flooding.

At a briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro dismissed proposals to temporarily suspend toll fees on NLEX, saying that doing so could result in heavier traffic.

‘Bakit ka pa papasok kung traffic na? Wag mo na gamitin muna. I mean, diba? For the meantime, huwag na muna kayong dumaan doon kung hindi naman din siya makakalusot,’ she said.

(Why would you still go there if there’s already heavy traffic? Don’t use it for now. I mean, right? In the meantime, avoid passing through there if you won’t be able to get through anyway.)

‘So anong purpose ng libre? Tanong ko lang. Magandang adhikain ‘yung libre, pero kung ililibre natin, mas maraming sasakyan na papasok. So pag mas maraming papasok na sasakyan mas lalong magkakaroon ng traffic, so dapat nga iwasan muna nila tong NLEX,’ the Palace official continued.

(So what’s the point of making it free? I’m just asking. It’s a good initiative to make it free, but if we make it free, more vehicles will enter. And the more vehicles that enter, the worse the traffic will get. So for now, they should.)

Castro said there was no order from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sanction NLEX operator Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, as the President was focused on finding ways to ease the traffic congestion.

The heavy traffic was caused by severe flooding in the Tulaoc and San Simon Interchange sections in Pampanga, triggered by the overflowing Pampanga River due to persistent monsoon rains.

As of 6:15 p.m. on September 1, heavy traffic was still reported in the northbound and southbound lanes of the Tulaoc (San Simon) and San Simon Interchange.

Despite the heavy traffic, the NLEX corporation said all types of vehicles could pass through Lane 1, while Class 2 and 3 vehicles could pass through Lane 2 of Tulaoc (San Simon).

On Monday, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation said it understood the public’s frustration and apologized for what motorists-especially those traveling with children, elderly passengers, or individuals needing medical attention-had to go through.

Lane 1 of San Simon Interchange is passable by Class 2 and 3 vehicles, except for Class 1 vehicles. Meanwhile, the corporation said that the Libtong, Sta. Rita Northbound Entry, and Pulilan Northbound Entry are temporarily closed to all vehicles while approximately two-kilometer traffic buildup is observed at the Sta. Rita Northbound Exit.

The Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11) said the ‘Kadiwa on Wheels’ featuring the region’s produce opened at the main office in Quezon City on Tuesday, marking the start of its Metro Manila run.

‘There’s durian, mangosteen, pomelo and various other fruits from Davao being displayed,’ DA-11 said in a public post.

The initiative aims to bring the region’s harvests closer to consumers in Metro Manila and other parts of the country while expanding market opportunities for farmers.

The DA central office will host the first leg of sales until Sept. 3, followed by ‘Kartilya ng Katipunan’ near the Manila city hall on Sept. 4.

Subsequent stops include Cebu City on Sept. 10 to 16, Baguio City on Sept. 25 to 28, and World Trade Center in Pasay City on Oct. 8 to 10.

DA-11’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division aims to strengthen market linkages, expand consumer access, and create better opportunities for local growers.

Based on data, the participating farmer cooperatives and associations are the Davao City Durian Industry Development Council and the Durian Industry Association of Davao City.

The target volume of the Kadiwa on Wheels initiative is 70 metric tons.

The NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament will see two experienced coaches call the shots for Lyceum and Mapua.

First, former Magnolia coach Chito Victolero was appointed as the newest shot-caller for the Cardinals, replacing champion tactician Randy Alcantara.

Not long after that, Lyceum tapped former Phoenix mentor Jamike Jarin to return to the collegiate basketball scene and steer the Pirates.

With both tacticians holding pedigrees in the PBA, the competition just got a lot tougher. Just ask San Beda coach Yuri Escueta and Benilde’s Charles Tiu.

‘It’s such a big thing for college basketball and the NCAA to have coaches of their caliber. For me as a a coach, it’ll be a pleasure to play against them and learn from them,’ Escueta told the Inquirer after the Season 102 press conference at Mall of Asia Arena on Monday.

‘You really have to prepare when you face these kinds of coaches. They’re not just ex-professional league coaches but they’re champions as well. They know how to win titles.’

Victolero made a name for himself in the PBA after helping the Hotshots win the 2018 Governors’ Cup title.

Jarin, meanwhile, is definitely no stranger to the NCAA as he steered the Red Lions to the Season 92 title in 2016 via a sweep of Arellano in the Finals.

Now, both coaches are heading back to the Grand Old League, and while Tiu feels it’ll be a challenge for the Blazers, it will also be a welcome addition to the NCAA.

‘They’re great experienced champion coaches. They will all raise the level of basketball in the NCAA,’ said the Fuel Masters mentor.

‘[It] may be bad for us in our chances to win but good for the league overall,’ he added.

The NCAA officially opens the curtain for Season 102 on September 13 at the same venue.

The Department of Education (DepEd) will push through with the national simultaneous school safety drill for active threat scenarios on Sept. 3 to build ‘calm operational confidence,’ noting fear-inducing elements will be strictly banned.

‘Our goal for September 3 is to build calm operational confidence and muscle memory through proper orientation, not fear,’ said Education Secretary Sonny Angara in a statement on Tuesday.

‘Preparedness saves lives, and trauma-informed execution protects our learners,’ Angara added.

The drills followed school shootings in Tacloban and Zamboanga City.

Earlier, the department postponed the Aug. 25 drill to provide ample time to align its simulation with the child-centered and trauma-informed standards of medical and mental health professionals.

Angara emphasized that school safety policies must treat physical security and mental health as inseparable priorities, with the drills now following health professionals’ suggestions.

‘Safety is not just about physical security; it is equally about protecting our children’s peace of mind,’ said Angara on Tuesday.

‘We are working closely with our medical experts and psychiatric societies to ensure our shared priority for the total well-being of our children remains at the center of our implementation,’ he added.

Under existing disaster risk reduction guidelines, DepEd reiterated that the drill will strictly ban all hyper-realistic or fear-inducing elements such as threat simulations, active aggressor role-players, weapons, and graphic elements.

The first active shooter simulation in July featured a mock role-play attacker using a plastic toy pistol.

During the nationwide drill, classes will practice a step-by-step walkthrough on securing entry points, practicing silent concealment away from windows and reviewing evacuation safety routes.

Police authorities are also strictly prohibited from displaying tactical disarming drills and aggressive uniform displays.

Police were urged to conduct external perimeter security, emergency notification systems, testing dispatch response times, and post-incident learner tracking.

Schools will also provide alternative activities to learners with special needs, disabilities or sensory sensitivities recommended by their parents and guardians.

‘Every kid has their own level of strength and understanding, that’s why we can’t conduct a one-size-fits-all approach to safety,’ Angara said.

After the simulation, guidance personnel and school health officers will also provide first aid and post-drill debriefing sessions to students. -With a report from Sheridan Delfino /

Few words were spoken when wreaths were offered at the shrine of Gat. Marcelo H. Del Pilar here on Sunday, Aug. 30, to mark the hero’s 176th birth anniversary amid stormy weather.

The annual commemorative program was cancelled because of the strong monsoon rains on Saturday (August 29) that flooded many streets in this town and other partst of Bulacan province.

Flowers were laid down at the shrine at Sitio Cupang in barangay San Nicolas on behalf of the intended guest of honor Commission on Elections chairman George Erwin Garcia, Bulakan Mayor Vergel Meneses, the National Press Club of the Philippines, the Central Luzon Media Association (CLMA) and the Philippine Masonry.

Marcelo Day is an annual non-working holiday in Bulacan. In 2023, Marcelo Day was also declared as National Press Freedom Day.

Del Pilar, who is historically known for his numerous pseudonyms like the textbook familiar Plaridel. But to Bulacan he is simply remembered as ‘Tata Celo, ‘ the Father of Philippine Journalism.

He was born in San Nicolas on Aug. 30, 1850. He died on July 4, 1896 in Barcelona, Spain while pursuing Filipino enlightenment through the publication of La Solidaridad.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is making it easier for companies to tap the capital market, hoping that simpler and faster registration processes will encourage more businesses to raise funds from the investing public.

The corporate regulator has moved applications for public offerings fully online through the mandatory use of the Online Application for Registration Statements (OARS), while cutting processing timelines.

SEC Chair Francis Lim said the initiative was part of the Commission’s broader push to deepen the domestic capital market by lowering procedural hurdles for companies seeking funds for expansion.

‘By modernizing and simplifying our processes, we hope to encourage more businesses to view and enter the capital market as a viable option for their growth, in line with our agenda to further deepen and stimulate market activity in the country,’ Lim said.

The SEC on Aug. 24 issued Memorandum Circular No. 24, Series of 2026, mandating the use of OARS.

The web-based platform allows companies to electronically submit registration statements and other required filings containing information on their operations and securities being offered.

Except for issuances of debt securities, OARS accepts applications for direct public offerings, follow-on offerings, initial public offerings and first-tranche shelf registrations.

The platform also covers applications under specialized registration programs such as ‘Securing and Expanding Capital for Real Estate Non-Traditional Securities’ and ‘Securing and Expanding Capital for PowerGen Operators and Wholesale of Electricity and Retail Services.’

Applications filed through OARS will be processed within 40 days upon payment of the initial assessment fee.

The SEC may eventually expand the system.

A lawmaker warned on Sunday that ‘increasingly sophisticated’ social media algorithms are deliberately hooking users and exposing minors to age-inappropriate content amid growing concern about online child safety following rising cases of school violence.

‘The evolution of social media platforms’ powerful algorithms makes it more and more difficult for adolescents to avoid illicit content-even if that’s not what they were originally searching for,’ Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos said in a statement.

Social media platforms have been facing mounting global backlash over harmful content and the lack of safety features for users, particularly children.

Lawsuit vs Meta

In the United States, Facebook’s parent company Meta has agreed to pay around $17 billion to over a dozen states to settle a suit accusing it of creating addictive products that harmed young users.

In the Philippines, a series of violent incidents in schools, most recently two shootings separately carried out by students that left five other students dead and scores more wounded, has prompted authorities to look into the possible influence of violent online games and ‘groomers’ on the perpetrators.

‘If we know that these platforms can influence what our children see, think and eventually do, then government has a responsibility to make sure that influence does not become a gateway to exploitation, addiction or illegal drugs,’ Santos said.

He added that drug syndicates are also exploiting online platforms to reach potential victims.

‘They can exploit digital platforms, fake identities, private messaging and algorithm-driven content to reach potential victims, including young people,’ Santos said.

Last week, a Philippine delegation met in Singapore with Meta officials who pledged to work with the government to improve coordination and act on harmful content.

South Korean actor Lee Yong-joo, known for his roles in the hit drama ‘Princess Hours’ and tvN sitcom ‘Blue Tower,’ has died at 44.

According to South Korean media, Lee died on Saturday, Aug. 29 from a cardiac arrest. A close friend announced his death on social media.

‘My friend Lee Yong-joo passed away suddenly. The sudden news is still hard to believe,’ the friend wrote, asking fans and colleagues to remember Lee on his final journey.

Lee’s death has brought renewed attention to his previously disclosed heart condition. In 2013, while promoting ‘Blue Tower,’ the actor revealed that he had been exempted from mandatory military service after being diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick.

Lee said at the time that his mother had been hospitalized with the same condition. The actor was diagnosed with the disease after doctors advised members of his family to undergo medical examinations because of its potential hereditary nature.

Lee began his entertainment career as a model before making his acting debut with a minor role in the 2004 film ‘Doma Ahn Jung-geun.’ He later appeared in MBC’s ‘Hello, Francesca’ and ‘Princess Hours.’

In ‘Princess Hours’ (2006), Lee played Jang Kyung, a high school friend of Crown Prince Lee Shin, portrayed by Ju Ji-hoon.

He went on to appear in the comedy series ‘Unstoppable Marriage,’ the long-running ‘Rude Miss Young-ae’ franchise, ‘The Women’s Room,’ ‘Let’s Eat,’ ‘My Unfortunate Boyfriend,’ ‘Bad Detective’ and the military comedy series ‘New Recruit.’

Lee gained popularity through ‘Blue Tower,’ where he portrayed a new recruit despite having never served in the military. His lack of military experience became part of the story surrounding his casting.

Lee’s wake has been set up at Room 5 of the Bundang Jesaeng Hospital Funeral Hall in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

His funeral procession is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 31, with the burial to take place at the Seongnam City Funeral Culture Complex.

World number three Jessica Pegula conquered US Open first-round nerves to dispatch Elena-Gabriela Ruse on Sunday, kicking off the action on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Pegula broke Romania’s Ruse twice in each set on the way to a 6-3, 6-2 triumph, but it was less straightforward than the score indicated as the 32-year-old veteran felt the weight of playing first on the cavernous show court.

‘Oh yeah, I was so nervous today, always the first round of a slam,’ said Pegula, the 32-year-old who is the highest-ranked American in either the men’s or women’s draw in the final Grand Slam of the year.

‘It’s an amazing honor,’ she said of being given the first match on Ashe. ‘It’s an honor to hold that title, walking out onto Ashe opening day, first match, it’s amazing.’

Pegula is chasing her first Grand Slam title. She came closest with a runner-up finish to Aryna Sabalenka at the 2024 US Open, and she fell to the Belarusian in the semifinals last year.

Pegula saved the only break point she faced, but her nerves showed as she converted just two of her 14 break point chances in the opening set.

That was enough, and she was an efficient two-for-four on break opportunities in the second. She gave herself triple match point with a crisp forehand winner to the corner and after Ruse saved two with booming serves, she secured the win when the Romanian put a forehand into the net.

With the first round now spread over three days, Pegula was looking forward to a couple of days off with a confidence-boosting win under her belt.

‘I get to sit around the site and watch everybody else freak out for the next two days,’ she said.