Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

A dramatic Friday night win over Jordan did nothing to widen the margin of error for Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

The Filipinos know they need to set aside an 82-81 victory and go for another favorable result when they host Iran on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

‘From our calculations, we got to win five or six in this round,’ coach Tim Cone said ahead of the 8 p.m. matchup, which the Philippines must win in hopes of closing in on the standings in Group E.

For Cone, defeating Jordan was just half the job, and beating Iran would check a major task box.

Gilas’ win over Jordan and Iran’s loss to New Zealand, also in overtime, made the standings interesting for the Philippines. While Australia is running away from the pack with a 7-0 (win-loss) record, Jordan and Iran fell into a tie with New Zealand at 5-2.

The Philippines, meanwhile, has three wins in seven matches.

Sunday will also see New Zealand playing Syria at 2 p.m., and Jordan taking on Australia at 5 p.m. at the same venue. The Jordan-Australia game could also have some implications in Gilas’ World Cup bid.

But Cone said they won’t rely on other results.

‘We got to take care of our own business,’ he said. ‘This (Jordan win) is like halftime for us, but we haven’t won anything. We have to win the whole thing. Right now, it’s just halftime and we got another [half] to play.’

Momentum is something Gilas hopes to maximize, not only because of the way it won, but also because it is playing at home once more.

The win was cemented by Kai Sotto’s game-saving block in the end, Kevin Quiambao’s go-ahead three, CJ Perez’s clutch buckets and Scottie Thompson’s defense and hustle.

Sotto’s presence justified what many believe-that he’s the missing piece to the Gilas puzzle since he last played for the national team in 2024. Perez, on the other hand, put up what is arguably his best performance on the international level.

Perez also set up the pass for Quiambao, whose three gave Gilas the lead for good. Thompson, however, remained a polarizing figure, with fans either praising the intangibles he provided or ruing his five-second inbound violation that almost cost the game.

One concern being determined at press time is the status of Carl Tamayo, who scored eight points, for Sunday. The former University of the Philippines standout rolled his left ankle during the third quarter. Cone hinted that he may tweak his roster by replacing him with either Justin Arana or RJ Abarrientos if he can’t go.

The low-pressure area inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) developed into Tropical Depression Pilandok on Sunday morning, state meteorologists said.

As of 10 a.m., Pilandok was last spotted 1,225 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon, moving west northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Pilandok has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph, and gusts of up to 55 kph, Pagasa added.

But the state weather bureau noted that the cyclone is ‘less likely to make landfall over the country and will remain far from the Philippine landmass.’

It also noted that Pilandok is expected to be a ‘short-lived’ tropical cyclone and is likely to weaken over the Philippine Sea by Tuesday, Sept. 1.

From today, Pilandok is forecast to move west-northwestward until Monday, Aug. 31.

Then its movement will shift northwestward to north northwestward until it dissipates, Pagasa said.

Actress Gee Canlas accused her estranged husband, actor Archie Alemania, of physically assaulting her during their marriage, including allegedly breaking two of her ribs and strangling her twice.

Canlas made the allegations in an interview with Ogie Diaz uploaded on YouTube on Saturday, Aug. 29, where she responded to Alemania’s recent interview about their separation.

Canlas said she watched Alemania’s interview and wanted to correct some of his statements and provide context about their relationship.

Addressing Alemania’s claim that he felt he was being provoked during their arguments even as he tried to remain quiet, Canlas recalled an incident where she said the actor became violent toward her.

‘Everything I say in this interview is backed with evidence […] He wanted me to talk. He was forcing me to agree with him about something […] He got a tumbler and he went to hit me on the side of my head behind the ear. Tumunog ‘yung skull ko,’ she recalled.

Canlas also recalled another fight that she said resulted in her sustaining two fractured ribs and eventually prompted them to stay at her parents’ house.

‘The reason we ended up staying at my parents house is because he broke my ribs. Two fractured ribs. I wrapped my whole body around him to stop him from leaving. He pushed me then pinuruhan niya ako, punch na parang boxing. Nawala ‘yung hininga ko. The next thing I know nagising ako sa kama na naka curl up, parang hipon,’ she said.

According to Canlas, the incident happened at their old house. She said her therapist advised her to leave the environment because of the trauma, which led to them staying at her parents’ home.

Canlas also disputed Alemania’s characterization of her as someone who was constantly nagging, saying their arguments stemmed from a lack of communication because he would allegedly walk away instead of discussing and resolving their problems.

She said Alemania told her mother about the incident involving her ribs, but instead of apologizing, he allegedly tried to justify his actions.

‘Blame the daughter for something that he did. And in spite of that, my mom mediated pa for us,’ Canlas said, adding that her father did not know about her fractured ribs because she was protecting Alemania.

Later in the interview, Canlas recalled another alleged incident of physical abuse, saying Alemania strangled her twice during their marriage.

‘He ended up strangling me. In the course of our marriage, he did that twice,’ she said. ‘When it was good, it was good. When it was bad, it was bad.’

Canlas also said Alemania would give her the silent treatment after their fights, with some instances allegedly lasting for months.

‘The whole time na di kami nag-uusap, dadaan-daanan ako niyan, lasing, uuwi 5 am, so ‘yung sinasabi niyang walking on eggshells saan,’ she said, adding that her parents did not intervene in their problems despite the couple living under the same roof.

Canlas also addressed Alemania’s earlier statement quoting the Bible: ‘Husbands love your wives. Wives submit to your husbands.’

She said marriage should be a ‘give and take’ process but cautioned against what she described as ‘blind submission.’

‘But there’s also such a thing as blind submission. Hindi ka pwede magsubmit kung feeling mo hindi best interest nung tao, ‘yung kapakanan ng pamilya mo […] There is no trust. There is no respect,’ she said.

The actress likewise disputed Alemania’s description of himself as a ‘dakila’ or devoted husband, bringing up an alleged instance of infidelity that she said she discovered after leaving him.

‘What if I tell you I have proof that you were sleeping with someone the time that we’re together,’ she said, adding that she did not want to disclose the nature of the alleged proof at the moment.

Canlas also said she chose to remain with Alemania amid his legal issues involving singer-actress Rita Daniela, who accused him of making unwanted sexual advances toward her.

‘I decided to stay with him, with the legal issues that he has, in hopes na makita niya ‘yung loyalty and devotion ko sa kaniya. Masalvage pa ‘yung marriage namin kahit papaano,’ she said.

Canlas said she eventually realized she needed to end the relationship after she surprised Alemania on his birthday, only for them to end up fighting again.

‘I remember in my head. So be it. I’m done. I felt like I could no longer do anything to make him happy,’ she said.

The actress also said she had to sell her wedding and engagement rings to help provide for her family while Alemania was struggling financially amid his legal case.

Canlas said she and Alemania were undergoing marriage counseling before she learned about Daniela’s complaint. She said she had also been waiting for Alemania to come clean about something after he was fired from the television series ‘Widows’ War.’

‘So when we were working on our marriage, he was trying to cover up a lie at the same time. Tapos nung nalaman ko na, he cups my face, and tells me, ‘I need you to be strong. I need you to be brave,’ Bakit hindi sorry? Instead of apologizing, inutusan pa ako maging strong,’ she recalled.

‘He never said sorry for what happened. He never said sorry to my parents. Both of my parents are pastors,’ she added.

Canlas said she confronted Alemania about what happened with Daniela, but he denied it. The actor continued to deny the allegations in his recent interview.

‘Doon sa interview niyo, important bang sabihin na naging babaero ka for people to believe na hindi ka nang mamanyak. I’ll never know what happened in that car, silang dalawa lang nakakaalam non,’ she said.

In October 2025, Alemania was found guilty of acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code in connection with the complaint filed by Daniela.

Despite her experiences, Canlas said she remains hopeful about finding love again. Asked if she still loves Alemania, she replied, ‘No. I think I love myself now.’

‘Hindi ‘yung nangyari sakin ang magiging story ko. That’s just a chapter. There are better days ahead, including someone,’ she added.

Canlas also said she is not currently open to co-parenting with Alemania.

‘In what world would I want to co-parent with someone, who doesn’t respect me in the very least. How can I expect him to create a safe environment for our son,’ she said.

Sept. 3, 2006

The National Historical Institute installed a national historical landmark in the Cuartel of Imus in Cavite to commemorate the ‘Labanan sa Imus.’ On Sept. 1, 1896, the forces of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and Col. Jose Tagle attacked the friars and guardia civils who had taken refuge in the Casa Hacienda. The following day, revolutionaries led by Tagle launched another attack while Aguinaldo and his men were fighting in Bacoor. Finally, on Sept. 3, 1896, additional Spanish forces under Gen. Ernesto de Aguirre were defeated. Aguirre’s sable de mando fell during this battle and was captured by the revolutionaries. This victory served as an inspiration to the revolutionaries as they fought for independence.

Sept. 3, 2022

Calaca was converted from a municipality into a component city of Batangas through a plebiscite, which ratified Republic Act No. 11544, signed by then President Rodrigo Duterte on May 26, 2021. Once a barrio of Balayan situated on the left bank of the Bolbok River, Calaca was established as a town on May 10, 1835. Prior to its conversion to a city, it was already emerging as one of the fastest-growing local economies in Calabarzon and was known as the ‘Power Town in South Luzon.’ Today, Calaca is a third-class city with a population of 92,281, as of the 2024 Census.

Sept. 4, 2025

The provincial government of La Union and the Baguionas Farmers and Coffee Growers Association (BFCGA) signed a deed of donation for La Union’s first coffee processing facility located in Barangay Libbo, Bagulin. The 78-square-meter facility was funded P2.9 million under Republic Act No. 7171, or the Support for Virginia Tobacco Farmers Act. Construction began on November 18, 2024, and was completed on May 29, 2025. The facility is now operated by BFCGA, whose members are mostly robusta coffee farmers from the indigenous peoples community. Its 33 farmer-members collectively cultivate 30.55 hectares and yield about 400 kilograms of green coffee cherries annually. They supply coffee beans to popular establishments in the surfing town of San Juan.

This week’s festival

Siargao Food and Wine Festival (Aug. 26 to Aug. 31)

The Siargao Food and Wine Festival is the country’s first community-led, island-wide culinary festival that’s taking place in Siargao, Surigao del Norte. In partnership with the Department of Tourism, the festival carries the theme, ‘Building a Better Island, One Bite at a Time.’ It celebrates the people, produce and traditions that shape the island’s food culture through collaborative dining experiences, workshops, markets and community gatherings. The six-day festival offers a series of immersive experiences, including a gala opening on Aug. 26, Ocean Day on Aug. 27, Coconut Day on Aug. 28, Producer Day on Aug. 29 and Community Day on Aug. 30. It will culminate on Aug. 31 with a closing celebration and recognition.

Hadang Festival (Sept. 1 to Sept. 8)

The Hadang Festival is celebrated in Calbayog City, Samar. The festival is named after ‘Hadang,’ which is an ancient ritual dance offering to spirits for blessings such as a good harvest, healing or protection from violence. In 2025, it was declared as the city’s official festival through Ordinance No. 2025-27-658. The ordinance also formally ended the use of the Sarakiki Festival, which had previously been hyphenated with Hadang. This year’s celebration includes a beauty pageant, ‘Hinadang nga Bulawan, ‘Uyag Kinahimat-an,’ Hadang ritual street dancing competition and grand showdown, concert, fiesta carnival and culminates with the town fiesta on Sept. 8.

Incumbent Dasmariñas City Mayor Jennifer ‘Jenny’ Barzaga has been proclaimed as the new congressional representative of Cavite’s fourth district, replacing her son, who was expelled for his unruly behavior by the House of Representatives on June 2, 2026.

Barzaga won by a landslide, garnering 201,893 votes out of the 258,371 ballots cast during Saturday’s special elections.

At second was former vice mayor Raul Rex Rosario Mangubat, who received only 30,373 votes; followed by former councilor Jacinto Frani Jr. with 24,350; Marvin Dupal-ag with 1,184; and Leysander Ordenes with 561.

The total number of votes cast, meanwhile, reflected a voter turnout of 57.75 percent.

With Barzaga’s victory effectively keeping the congressional seat within the family, the Barzagas’ political dominance in Dasmariñas will also continue, extending the dynasty’s hold over the city to nearly three decades since Elpidio ‘Pidi’ Barzaga Jr. first became mayor in 1998.

Based on partial and unofficial votes as early as 8:30 p.m., Barzaga already led the special congressional race by a significant margin, placing first at 185,668 votes. The nearest rival was former vice mayor Raul Rex Rosario Mangubat, who, at this point, only garnered 23,208 votes.

Mangubat also eventually conceded based on the partial results alone, congratulating Barzaga on her win and expressing thanks to his supporters.

Andy Roddick was playing fellow legend Roger Federer in a special fan event as a drum-up to the US Open when he looked at the stands and saw Alex Eala sitting there.

‘I saw [you] and I said [to myself], ‘If I had her groundstrokes, I would win this set,” Roddick told Eala during a live recording of his popular podcast, ‘Served.’

Eala, laughing, shot back: ‘If I had your serve, I would win [a lot].’

The exchange between the rising star from the Philippines and the well-loved American legend was a snapshot of how comfortable Eala has grown with her skyrocketing fame-and how expertly she’s been navigating through it despite her relative youth.

‘[E]verything that has been coming my way is continuously uncharted territory for me. So, I’m experiencing a lot of things for the first time,’ Eala told Roddick during the show. ‘And … it’s been a journey to learn my relationship with the fame, … the exposure. I understand the importance of what I represent, who I represent, what values I carry on court [and] the culture I carry on court. But at the same time, it was important for me to understand that it’s the culture that’s important, and it’s what I represent that’s important, and it’s not so much just me as an individual.’

‘I think a reason also why I have such a big following is because people see themselves in me. So, I’m representing those people, and it’s not really just me on the stage.’

Her comfort level and her maturity when it comes to handling that fame will be important as she kicks off her US Open bid on Monday, when she battles Mary Stoiana (11 p.m., Manila time).

Eala has kept herself busy in the days leading to that matchup, playing mixed doubles with Felix Auger-Aliassime and then headlining another US Open fan-favorite event, the Stars of the Open exhibition. All her appearances, even during the Roddick podcast, proved the strength of her drawing power.

And in New York, that power will get amplified. The US Open site in the Flushing Meadows is about a 15- to 20-minute train ride from Woodside, which has a strong Filipino presence. Queens itself is home to a huge number of immigrants from the Philippines, guaranteeing jam-packed arenas for Eala’s matches.

That kind of spotlight heat could make a normal 21-year-old wilt.

But time and again, Eala has proven she is no ordinary 21-year-old.

‘I think I’ve experienced so much growth in the past year and so many milestones in my career,’ the world No. 18 said during the pretournament press conference. ‘I think there are so many lessons in particular in terms of … work ethic, obviously being in this environment a lot more.’

And while people have recognized the things she has done for tennis, not just for the Philippines but for the sport in general with the new audiences she has been drawing in, Eala brushed off the suggestion.

‘[E]very single WTA player and every single ATP player has contributed to the world of tennis and its history just by being here and by putting in the work every single day,’ Eala said. ‘So although there are certain things like the media and the things that you mentioned that make me stand out, I think that I’m a drop in the ocean when it comes to these things. And the more I’m on tour, the more I learn about the history. Of course, this year, having had the pleasure to play doubles twice with Venus, I’ve learned a lot about her mentality on court, but also things about how she championed equal prize money with her sister and things like that.’

‘And maybe the regular player on tour who’s not so exposed [in] the media, what they’ve had to work towards and what they’ve had to work through to get to where they are now is so inspiring in itself. So there are so many stories behind the scenes that you might not even realize. So that really keeps me humble.’

‘It keeps me motivated to work harder and … stay among these incredible people.’

A group of health advocates urges lawmakers to impose a tax of P80 or higher on vape products, saying that current government proposals are insufficient to prevent access and addiction.

In a statement, lead convenor Jaime Galvez Tan of the Health Philippines Alliance (HPA) said: ‘The proliferation of these products has accelerated the early onset of chronic heart and lung diseases among our youth.’

‘Allowing young people to develop chronic health conditions early in life guarantees staggering medical costs for our healthcare system down the line. Hence, taxing these products at P80 or higher is an indispensable preventive health measure,’ said Tan, former health secretary.

Unified tax

The group noted that the Department of Finance and the Department of Health had earlier proposed a unified tax of P72.93 by 2027 for cigarettes, heated tobacco products and vape products.

But it argued this tax rate ‘remains insufficient to curb access and prevent addiction,’ adding that ‘weak tax rates endanger Filipino youth and place a heavy burden on our healthcare system.’

HealthJustice Philippines, a member group of the alliance, also rejected a proposal to lower taxes on vapes to P15 per milliliter, describing it as ‘a veiled attempt of the tobacco and vape industry to introduce more addictive products to our youth and hook them to long-term addiction.’

‘We cannot allow lower tax rates that enable more addictive substances, like nicotine salt vapes, to proliferate in the market,’ said lawyer Benedict Nisperos, legal consultant of HealthJustice Philippines.

He said eight countries of the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations have already imposed a total ban on vape products, while the Philippines ‘continues to allow the sale of these addicting and health harming products.’

‘Predatory marketing’

‘Slashing tax rates further, paired with an already lenient Vape Regulation Law [or Republic Act No. 11900], effectively invites more predatory marketing aimed straight at young Filipinos,’ Nisperos said.

In an earlier statement, the House committee on ways and means said it is studying proposals to adopt a unified excise tax rate for salt nicotine and freebase nicotine products, with the goal of addressing disparities that may influence consumer behavior and cause market distortions.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez had proposed a unified excise tax of P15 per milliliter during a hearing on Aug. 25.

He noted the importance of setting a rate that raises revenue without driving consumers toward illicit products

Tom Cruise stood up from his chair in front of 40 race-car drivers, jumped over a row of potted plants and directly onto a stage.

It was his first of many stunts to come at Daytona International Speedway.

The 64-year-old Cruise announced Saturday he will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in a follow-up to ‘Days of Thunder.’ He waved the green flag on it hours before the Cup Series’ regular-season finale at Daytona and then showed up for the pre-race drivers’ meeting.

‘It’s not just about racing,’ Cruise told the packed room that included NASCAR executives, fans, corporate sponsors and military personnel. ‘It’s about the community and the people here. There’s something very special about racers and the whole community. It’s a culture, and I was very proud to be able to reflect that in the first ‘Days of Thunder,’ and I am honored to share it with the world.’

‘That’s basically what we’re going to really go for with this one. Give the audience that opportunity to understand what it is as a team, as a community, what it is for NASCAR, and the speed, the excitement and all that danger and stuff.’

Anne Hathaway will co-star as a team owner and engineer in the film scheduled to be released by Paramount Pictures on June 2, 2028.

Cruise will serve as a producer alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper. Jonathan Levine is set to direct the script written by Will Staples. Bruckheimer, Harper and Staples joined Cruise at the drivers’ meeting.

Cruise posed for pictures with anyone who asked and shook hands with military members before getting whisked away in a black SUV. He was expected to spend some time during the race on pit road – about as close to the action as possible without being behind the wheel.

The Hollywood Reporter reported in November 2024 that Cruise had talked to Paramount about a follow-up to his 1990 NASCAR racing film. The original was a critically panned summer blockbuster that was largely lampooned throughout the NASCAR industry for its exaggeration and overindulgence.

It has since become a cult favorite in NASCAR circles and is still quoted by race fans to this day.

‘Rubbin’, son, is racin” – the immortal line from crew chief Harry Hogge, played by Robert Duvall – still lives on today.

Riding high from his ‘Top Gun’ fame and having grown up racing cars on the ‘back streets of Kentucky,’ Cruise had an idea for a movie based on fast cars and the characters who raced them. And so began the making of ‘Days of Thunder.’

Cole Trickle was loosely based on the late NASCAR driver Tim Richmond. Four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, now vice chairman at Hendrick Motorsports, openly lobbied for Cruise to bring a ‘Days of Thunder’ sequel to life.

Gordon and Cruise have become friends over the years – Cruise showed up at a 2015 NASCAR banquet to honor the retiring Gordon – which could boost the prospect of Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports’ involvement in a sequel.

The movie introduced NASCAR to a wider audience that had very limited exposure to stock-car racing before that summer. There had been racing movies before – think ‘Thunder Road,’ ‘Grand Prix,’ ‘Stroker Ace,’ or even ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ – but none that had depicted NASCAR in such a mainstream style.

NASCAR has seen more swings and misses than checkered flags when it comes to its portrayal on the big or small screen since ‘Days of Thunder.’ For every ‘Talladega Nights,’ there are 10 more bombs such as comedian Kevin James’ ill-fated Netflix’s comedy series, ‘ The Crew.’

Cruise is a safe bet to deliver a hit – and to handle many of his own stunts. He did when in the original and still recalled a memorable one at Daytona.

‘Last time I was at this track, actually, I was on the backstraight and I was shooting with two very heavy cameras traveling – I don’t know, 180 miles an hour – and suddenly the hood was off of the car,’ Cruise said. ‘The sun is setting and I’m trying to get all my lines out before we lost the light.

‘And, suddenly, the whole car was in flames. It turned from a barbecue to a bonfire on the backstraight. Couldn’t even get the crew to come in and help me just because radio (communications) didn’t work in the backstraight. I hear that’s still possible, correct? You guys didn’t fix that. Well, that’s good.’

The Supreme Court should ‘police the judiciary’ and look into cases of individuals convicted of graft who have been able to post bail at the discretion of lower courts, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Saturday.

Remulla made the statement on the same day the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) announced the opening for the position of Chief Justice.

The former justice secretary was frustrated with how the Sandiganbayan and regional trial courts (RTCs) have been handling graft and corruption cases that could drag on for years, even decades.

‘The problem is courts are too forgiving that they do not imprison those that should be imprisoned,’ Remulla stressed in his weekly radio show, ‘Executive Session,’ on dzRH. ‘If you have been convicted by a lower court, convicted by the Sandiganbayan, convicted by the RTC for graft, you should already be in prison.’

‘Hopefully the Supreme Court, of course they are our friends, should police the judiciary properly. They should really monitor [the cases] and set deadlines,’ he added.

Under the Rules of Court, being admitted to bail even after conviction of graft or violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act that are not punishable by reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment is subject to the trial court’s discretion.

Remulla stressed that courts are too lenient when it comes to such cases even when those found guilty already lost ‘presumption of innocence’ and their right to bail.

Search for new chief justice

He said if they push through with the rules on allowing bail, the grant should be steep and should be set at the cost of damage committed by the convicted person.

Remulla noted that his office is already working on an inventory showing the status of individuals sentenced to prison upon conviction of graft-whether they indeed went to prison or they were able to escape serving time because they were granted bail.

But he said that it is still up to the courts, especially the Supreme Court, on how to properly implement bail rules and how to expedite resolution of cases.

The JBC said it would be accepting until Oct. 13 this year applications and recommendations for the new top magistrate who will succeed Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who is set to retire on Nov. 6.

Gesmundo became the 27th chief justice of the Supreme Court in April 2021, a little over a year before President Rodrigo Duterte finished his term. He was a Sandiganbayan justice before Duterte appointed him to the high tribunal as associate justice in 2017.

Next to him by seniority is Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2010 by then President Benigno Aquino III.

Of the current 15 high court justices, including Gesmundo, only Leonen and Justice Alfredo Caguioa were appointees of Aquino; and only Justice Raul Villanueva was appointed by President Marcos.

The rest were appointed by Duterte, including Justice Filomena Singh, who was appointed at the eleventh hour, just a month before the ex-President stepped down in June 2022.

The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) urged residents living along the shores of Laguna de Bay to remain vigilant after the lake’s water level rose above its critical high-water mark on Saturday afternoon amid persistent rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon, or ‘habagat.’

‘Due to persistent torrential rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and a Low Pressure Area (LPA), the water level of Laguna de Bay has exceeded its critical high mark of 12.50 meters, reaching 12.58 meters,’ the LLDA said in an advisory issued shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29.

The agency said the 12.58-meter water level was recorded at 3 p.m. The LLDA considers 10.50 meters the lake’s critical low-water level and 12.50 meters its critical high-water level.

‘Residents living along the shores of Laguna de Bay are strongly advised to remain vigilant and closely monitor official public announcements,’ the agency said.

It also advised lakeshore residents to prepare for possible flooding and strictly follow local evacuation protocols if heavy rainfall persists.

The state weather bureau had earlier raised a red rainfall warning over Metro Manila and eight areas in Luzon due to heavy rains associated with the southwest monsoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of potentially dangerous flooding in areas under the red warning.

According to the LLDA, Laguna de Bay had reached its critical high-water level of 12.50 meters in the past week before rising further to 12.58 meters on Saturday.

The agency noted that Laguna de Bay serves as a natural catch basin for water from watersheds in Laguna and Rizal provinces, as well as parts of Metro Manila. Rising lake levels therefore increase the risk of flooding in low-lying communities along its shores.

The LLDA urged local government units (LGUs) and residents in vulnerable areas to remain prepared and closely monitor developments.

Authorities were also advised to keep drainage systems and tributary rivers leading to the lake clear of obstructions to help minimize flood risks.

Located between Laguna province to the south and Rizal province to the north, Laguna de Bay is the Philippines’ largest lake and one of Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lakes by surface area, covering approximately 911 to 949 square kilometers.