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Show of force

SPORTING CHANCE – Joaquin M. Henson – The Philippine StarNovember 14, 2025 | 12:00am

The 0-2 start wasn’t exactly what San Miguel Beer coach Leo Au…

SPORTING CHANCE – Joaquin M. Henson – The Philippine Star

November 14, 2025 | 12:00am

The 0-2 start wasn’t exactly what San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria had in mind for the defending PBA Philippine Cup champion. Losing to NLEX by one and Phoenix by six to open this season was a disappointing downgrade from how the Beermen dominated the previous conference where they compiled a 17-8 record, in the process clinching the crown and depriving TNT of a rare Grand Slam.

After the back-to-back defeats, San Miguel bounced back to win five in a row, two by a two-point margin so the run wasn’t totally convincing. But last Wednesday, the Beermen finally got its demolition act together to crush Titan, 158-117, in a dazzling display of force to show they’re not entertaining thoughts of giving up the throne. Before the game, San Miguel was in a three-way tie with Terrafirma and Blackwater for fifth place in the offensive department, averaging 95.2 points. Worse, it was No. 10 in assists with an 18.8 clip, No. 2 in most turnovers at 15.8 a game, No. 11 in three-point percentage (.276) and last place in free throw percentage (.617).

San Miguel’s last outing in the previous conference was on July 25 and its first assignment this season was on Oct.8. June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez were engaged in the FIBA Asia Cup on Aug. 5-17 so their break wasn’t as long as the rest of the Beermen. Still, there was more than enough time to regroup and rearm. Maybe the flat start was because of championship hangover or an extended honeymoon. Whatever the reason, it’s a thing of the past.

Blasting Titan to smithereens wasn’t expected. The Ultra Giant Risers were coming off a 97-86 win over Blackwater and began the conference on a high note, beating Meralco, 100-96. Their 112-111 defeat to Rain or Shine was an aberration. With Calvin Abueva and Joshua Munzon leading the charge, Titan is surely no pushover. In pulverizing the Giant Risers, San Miguel delivered a strong message that there will be no more pussyfooting. The showcase of firepower was frightening as the Beermen scored no less than 36 in each quarter and at the half, had 79 points. Entering the fourth quarter, San Miguel had already tallied 121 points. The Beermen finished with more than 60 points above their average and committed only 12 turnovers, dished off 32 assists and shot .409 from three, .400 from four and .840 from the line. The stats were a far cry from their early numbers.

Eight Beermen scored in twin digits with Perez tallying 26 and Don Trollano, 20. Fajardo registered his first-ever triple double with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in 26:07 minutes, way below his conference average of 36:24 minutes. Austria rested JMF in the fourth quarter as his mop-up brigade put an end to Titan’s misery. San Miguel’s bench contributed an eye-popping 107 points, more than double the league’s top mark of 53.5 from Terrafirma’s relievers. No doubt about it, the Beermen are seriously pursuing back-to-back Philippine Cup titles. Their next assignments are against TNT on Dec. 5, Blackwater on Dec. 13, Terrafirma on Dec. 17 and Meralco on Dec. 19. A twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals is a cinch.

Sta. Cruz church to be named minor basilica

Evelyn Macairan – The Philippine StarNovember 14, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Sta. Cruz parish church in Manila will be declared…

Evelyn Macairan – The Philippine Star

November 14, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Sta. Cruz parish church in Manila will be declared as a minor basilica on Nov. 21, with Cardinal Jose Advincula as mass presider and Balanga, Bataan Bishop Rufino Sescon as homilist.

In a social media post, the parish announced that the solemn liturgical rite of the declaration of Sta. Cruz parish church as the Basilica Minor de Nuestra Señora del Pilar would take place at 2 p.m.

The 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. masses for the day are canceled to give way for a procession.

In March, the late Pope Francis approved the request for the parish to be elevated to a minor basilica, under the patronage of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. A minor basilica symbolizes the parish’s close relationship with the Vatican and the pope.

The Jesuits built the parish church on June 20, 1619, which was originally made of stone and wood. They enshrined an image of Our Lady of the Pillar that came from Spain in 1643, and ministered to predominantly Chinese residents in the area.

The original structure of the church was twice damaged by earthquakes, and then destroyed in the Battle of Manila during World War II. The present building was completed in 1957.

In 1984, then Manila archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin restored the official name of the church to Santa Cruz Parish. He kept Our Lady of the Pillar as its titular patroness and named as secondary patron St. Peter Julian Eymard, founder of the Sacramentinos.

Conspiracy

A LAW EACH DAY (KEEPS TROUBLE AWAY) – Jose C. Sison – The Philippine StarNovember 14, 2025 | 12:00am

George, along with his brother Ronie, attended…

A LAW EACH DAY (KEEPS TROUBLE AWAY) – Jose C. Sison – The Philippine Star

November 14, 2025 | 12:00am

George, along with his brother Ronie, attended the birthday party of his girlfriend, Rica. Also present were Luna, Rica’s friend, as well as Rica’s mother, Rosa, and aunt, Erin. Gino was also there, an enemy of George due to a fistfight that occurred before the party.

As the night grew darker, George and Ronie’s behavior became noticeable. They acted like hawks circling Gino, waiting for the right moment. At around 1:30 a.m., when Ronie threw away his cigarette as a signal, George suddenly pulled out a .38 caliber gun and shot Gino. However, his first shot hit Erin and Rosa instead. Only on the second shot did Gino get hit. Gino and Rosa died, while Erin was injured.

Because of this incident, George and Ronie were charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. After the trial, the lower court found both brothers guilty, ruling that there was conspiracy, even though only George fired the gun. Was the lower court correct?

The lower court was correct in convicting the brothers for the killing of Gino. There was indeed a conspiracy to kill him. Even if Ronie did not fire a shot, his participation as an accomplice made him equally liable, since in conspiracy, the act of one is the act of all.

However, Ronie cannot be held liable for the death of Rosa and the injury to Erin. Only George is responsible for those, as he is accountable for all the consequences of his wrongful act, even those not part of the original plan.

On the other hand, an accomplice cannot be held liable for acts not included in the conspiracy. Therefore, Ronie is not criminally responsible for the killing of Rosa and the wounding of Erin. (People of the Philippines vs. Floro et al., G.R. No. 125909, June 23, 2000)

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Matawalle says Wike-Naval officer clash unnecessary, avoidable

Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, has described Tuesday’s confrontation between Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (F…

Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, has described Tuesday’s confrontation between Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Ahmed Yerima, a naval officer over an alleged land dispute in Abuja as unnecessary and avoidable.

The clash occurred at a site in Gaduwa District, Abuja, where armed naval personnel, led by Yerima, were guarding a disputed plot of land.

Reports indicated that Yerima was acting on instructions from a Zubairu Gambo,
former Chief of Naval Staff.

The altercation escalated after Wike accused the ex-naval chief of unlawfully seizing the land, a claim captured in a viral video, showing the visibly angry FCT Minister confronting the officer.

Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, released on its YouTube channel on Wednesday, Matawalle urged that such disputes should be resolved through official channels rather than through public confrontations.

According to Matawalle, Wike had previously contacted both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who advised him to allow the military to investigate the matter before taking any action.

“What happened between Wike and the officer is unfortunate. When he got there, the officer explained that he was simply obeying orders.

“Wike should not have exchanged words with the officer; he ought to have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors,” Matawalle said.

The Minister emphasised that Yerima acted professionally and strictly in line with orders.

“The officer’s action was lawful because he was trained to be disciplined, loyal, and obedient. Therefore, the young officer only carried out his duty, worthy of commendation,” he added.

Matawalle further stressed that Yerima did not violate any military regulations during the encounter.

37 killed in Peru bus crash

26 people were being treated for injuries

PUBLISHED : 13 Nov 2025 at 17:14

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26 people were being treated for injuries

PUBLISHED : 13 Nov 2025 at 17:14

The remains of a bus that plunged into a ravine about 200 meters deep are seen in Arequipa, Peru, on Wednesday. (Screenshot)

LIMA — At least 37 people were killed and dozens injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in the mountainous Arequipa region of southern Peru, local authorities said on Wednesday.

The fatalities included 36 people who died on site, and another person who succumbed in hospital, said Walther Oporto, Arequipa’s regional health chief, citing firefighters at the scene of the accident.

The death toll was among the highest in a series of bus accidents in recent years in Latin America, and one of the worst recorded in Peru.

Among the injured were an eight-month-old baby and two other children, according to a list shared by local authorities.

The bus company, Llamosas, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Authorities said the bus was travelling on the highway from the coastal town of Chala to the region of Arequipa when it struck a van. The impact sent it careening into a ravine around 200 metres (656 feet) deep.

Photographs published by the local government showed the bus overturned at the bottom of the gully amid scattered car parts and passenger belongings.

The Arequipa government said 26 people were being treated for injuries, three of them in serious condition.

From grab-and-go to stay-and-sip: What Bangkok’s coffee scene says about us

Bangkok’s fix for coffee has always been prevalent, but we can’t help but notice that local chains and independent roasters continue to enter the field and further cement our love of viral shops, long queues, and iced lattes. We’ve even gone so far as …

Bangkok’s coffee entrepreneurs often lead the way in content creation and brand design. If you think all coffee shops are built the same, think again. These days, it’s all about telling the single origin story and reposting it on your Instagram story. We believe that Thai roasters have really upped their game, borrowing a few ideas from coffee capitals like New York or Tokyo, where every corner houses a snapshot-worthy kiosk, or sometimes even a retail concept with its own specialty coffees to go.

Take Songwat, for example. Whilst some may say it’s become populated with tourists, we actually think it’s one of the best streets to visit when you’d like to have a sociable stroll or a date with a glass of cold brew. Take a visit to BEANS Coffee Roaster, an urban hipster haven with its own deconstructed warehouse interior and a signature Songwat blend. A quick stop there can tell you a lot about how Bangkokians are spending their time and money, and where the cultural pulse is currently at. There’s a growing demand for higher-quality coffee at an affordable price. Think specialty beans, varying brewing methods, and attention to craftsmanship and aesthetics. Thais, especially the younger generation of caffeine junkies, are placing more emphasis on where their beans are sourced and how they’re presented. Merely a few minutes walk away, you’ll also come across Songwat Coffee Roasters (SCR), the area’s pioneer in speciality coffee, and where you can grab a good cup of Dirty amid a cozy shophouse setting.

Then, there’s the community part that comes into play. Away from urban malls and lifestyle complexes, independent coffeehouses are tucked away in quiet corners and neighborhoods. Community-focused spots are emerging, and no one does community better than Karo. With three locations spread across Thonglor, Pridi, and most recently, Surasak, each location offers a sense of familiarity, community, and distinctive local blends, with familiar customers on rotation, either from early morning run clubs or those in the neighborhood. Other community-focused places are emerging, such as Hugo Coffee, located just off Rama 4. Hugo actually teams up with run clubs and events to fuel attendees with their signature cold brew.

“It’s about creating a welcoming space where connections can flourish,” say the founders. Pobnar, a specialty coffee shop and roaster in Silom, is so hidden away that you’ll likely walk right past it. Tucked in a small alleyway next to a noodle stand, Pobnar quickly gained popularity among office workers nearby, thanks to its leafy, tranquil setting, wide variety of blends, and newly added loaded sandwiches.

That’s all well and good for the leisurely set, but what about when you’re in need but pressed for time? Enter the grab-and-go segment (but make it TikTok-friendly and high-quality). Wander around One Bangkok or Central World and you’ll see what we mean. From the viral and office workers’ favorite UNO coffee to Rawmat Coffee and Rise, where a handful of seats are available, but it’s prime for takeaway.

There’s something to be said about these characteristics and what they can tell you about Bangkok’s urban dwellers. People are generally tuned into their specific tastes and what they like, whilst paying more attention to coffee quality. In particular, millennials and Gen Z enjoy being part of a community, and global trends and TikTok aesthetics influence a significant portion of this population; it’s a key factor in how we search and discover our go-to products. If we’re not looking to spend time with a carefully brewed cup in Songwat leisurely, then we’re hitting up a tech-enabled grab-and-go kiosk.

Even when prioritizing convenience, the new generation of consumers still looks for design, high-quality coffee, and a reasonable price point. The act of simply leaving your desk to grab an iced latte with a colleague isn’t an errand, but it’s a mid-afternoon treat. Even as consumers pull back on spending amid a sluggish economic backdrop, there’s something about going out to get coffee that resonates and remains one of our most enduring rituals.

Chavisa Boonpiti is a contributor to BitesizeBKK, a digital news outlet.

Many Bangkok streets flooded after early morning downpours

PUBLISHED : 13 Nov 2025 at 08:52

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PUBLISHED : 13 Nov 2025 at 08:52

A section of Ratchadaphisek Road in Chatuchak district is flooded on Thursday morning. Photo by Chatuchak district office.

More than 50 streets in Bangkok including Ratchadaphisek, Pracharat Bampen, Pracha Uthit and Prachasuk roads were flooded due to hours of heavy rain early Thursday morning.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reported that heavy downpours occurred in the capital from 1am to 4.30am and the amount of rainwater peaked in Pathumwan district at 111.5 millimetres, followed by 96.5mm in Ratchathewi and 91.5mm in Bangkok Noi.

More than 50 roads were inundated with flood levels ranging from 5 to 50 centimetres. The flooded roads were in Bung Kum, Wang Thonglang, Din Daeng, Chatuchak, Lat Phrao, Huai Khwang, Ratchathewi, Phaya Thai, Klong Toey, Bangkok Noi, Sathon, Watthana, Bang Khunthian, Laksi, Bang Rak, Dusit and Pomprap Sattruphai districts.

At 6.15am flooding remained on Inthamara 34 Road in Din Daeng district, Ratchadaphisek and Kamphaeng Phet 2 roads in Chatuchak, Pracharat Bampen and Pracha Uthit roads in Huai Khwang, Phahon Yothin Road in Phaya Thai and Sala Daeng Road in Bang Rak.

Sections of Ratchadaphisek Road in Chatuchak district were heavily flooded with water levels ranging from 15 to 50cm deep at 6.15am, according to City Hall. The deepest floodwater was reported on inbound lanes over a total distance of 800 metres near Ratchayothin and Lat Phrao intersections.

At 6.58am the Chatuchak district office reported 20cm deep floodwater on Ratchadaphisek Road between the entrances of Ratchadaphisek 40 and Ratchadaphisek 44 roads. The flooding receded from the section at about 8.30am.

At 7.15am the district office said floodwater receded from the section of Ratchadaphisek Road in front of the Criminal Court. Flooding remained on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road at 8.17am.

Storms, DUs and ECs

This year is another “year without summer” in the Philippines with rains in the past 11 months, similar to the years 2020-2023 when there were 12 months of rains. Exception was 2024 with four hot and dry months because of the big El Nino while we experienced prolonged La Nina from 2020-2023, then this year. Cooling prevailed over warming, at least in the Philippines.

So far, 21 storms have entered the Philippines this year and more than half made actual landfalls. The most recent were Kalmaegi (local name Tino) that devastated Cebu and other provinces in the Visayas and killed 232 people with over 100 missing, then Fung-wong (local name Uwan) that devastated several provinces in Cagayan Valley and North Luzon.

Last Tuesday, the Department of Energy (DOE) gave a press conference on the status of power restoration in the provinces affected by both Kalmaegi and Fung-Wong. Speakers included DOE Secretary Sharon Garin and Undersecretary Felix Fuentebella, National Power Corp. president Jericho Nograles, officials from National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, National Electrification Administration and Meralco.

Meralco reported almost 100 percent power restoration by Nov. 11 while many electric cooperatives (ECs) in Luzon have energized only 64 percent of the municipalities affected.

NGCP reported that in the Visayas, 55 transmission lines were affected but all restored by Nov. 8. In Luzon, 108 transmission lines were affected but 83 have been restored by morning of Nov. 11. From the updates by NGCP, only four lines remain unavailable as of Nov. 12 morning. I appreciate NGCP’s frequent updates, something like four to six times a day and night, including the affected DUs and ECs.

Meralco Power Gen (MGen) announced that during severe storm Kalmaegi, they were able to maintain operations of their power plants in Cebu and Iloilo — Cebu Energy Development Corp., Toledo Power Co., Panay Energy Development Corp. and Panay Power Corp. All four are thermal plants and proved resilient despite strong winds and rains and the absence of sun for days. That is one beauty and advantage of thermal power plants over intermittent plants.

In hard-hit Cebu that experienced few days of blackout and wipe-out of many houses during Kalmaegi heavy flooding, the Visayan Electric Corp. (VECO) announced that by Nov. 10 they have restored power to 95 percent of their customers. Its sister companies like Davao Light and Power also provided assistance to them particularly on damaged lines, collapsed poles and replacement of damaged equipment.

The DOE presscon and reporting of various agencies, government and private was good in informing the public the level of power restorations and where power gaps are still present.

Modernizing electric cooperatives,the case of BATELEC II

Two weeks ago, the Batangas Forum for Good Governance and Development Association Inc. issued a statement supporting the proposed joint venture between Meralco and Batangas II Electric Cooperative (BATELEC II) as the latter continues to provide poor and unreliable service to its customers in franchise area.

The forum is composed of business and civic leaders, professionals and residents of Batangas. They issued a resolution dated Oct. 29, 2025 and signed by its chairman, president, vice president and board of trustees.

The group cited the frequent power interruption problems that disrupt business operations and stifled growth in the affected cities and municipalities of the province. They also cited Meralco’s financial, operational and technical track record, that the private distribution utility (DU) can bring in systems, investments and operational discipline needed to deliver more dependable service to local enterprises and communities — as it has successfully done in Batangas City, Sto. Tomas City and San Pascual.

BATELEC II franchise area includes Lipa and Tanauan cities, plus 15 municipalities — Alitagtag, Balete, Cuenca, Laurel, Lobo, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, Mabini, Padre Garcia, Rosario, San Jose, San Juan, Talisay, Taysan and Tingloy.

Good move by the Batangas Forum. ECs like BATELEC II will not move easily without clamor from its consumer base. Electric cooperatives (ECs) by nature are pampered by politics and politicians, their inefficiencies and wastes are subsidized by taxpayers via subsidies and loans given by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

As shown in the DOE press conference, it is the private DUs like Meralco and VECO that are able to quickly re-energize the storms-affected areas compared to areas covered by ECs.

DUs are superior to ECs on two fronts: (1) DUs are monitored by SEC and not NEA, SEC does not and cannot extend taxpayers money, NEA does. (2) DUs are corporations subject to possible bankruptcy and hence are strict in their financial and technical operations, while ECs are non-corporate cooperatives that are shielded from bankruptcy via NEA protection and political favoritism. There is moral hazard problem when ECs remain shielded from bankruptcy.

For now, I support the Meralco-BATELEC II joint venture as short-term solution to the frequent power distribution problems suffered by residents of the province. Electricity supply there should stabilize, frequent interruption should be avoided. Substantial capital expenditures to modernize the system and some price hike will be expected but it will be justified by more business expansion and job creation-retention in the province.

Over the long term, I believe that all ECs should become private DUs. Real public service to electricity consumers is the abolition of threats of blackout, the assurance of power supply and distribution stability, reliability and security. Cheap but frequent blackout is anti-consumer.

Prime infrastructure unit inks waste fuel deal with Holcim

Maicah Rachel Eugenio – The Philippine StarNovember 13, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A unit of billionaire Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime …

Maicah Rachel Eugenio – The Philippine Star

November 13, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A unit of billionaire Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. has signed an agreement with Holcim Philippines Inc. to supply refuse-derived fuel for the latter’s cement plants in Bulacan and La Union.

Under the deal, Prime Infra’s Prime Waste Solutions (PWS) Pampanga Inc. will supply RDF to support Holcim’s operations and help the cement giant reduce its reliance on traditional fuels.

The supply will come from plastic waste, which is converted into alternative fuels and raw materials using co-processing technology.

Cara Peralta, Prime Infra market sector lead for waste, said the partnership comes at a time when effective waste management and environmentally sustainable business practices are urgently needed.

“It is rare to find like-minded organizations such as Holcim willing to partner with us and make investments in sustainable practices like RDF consumption,” Peralta said.

Holcim senior vice president and Geocycle head Samuel Manlosa Jr. said both companies share a mutual commitment to promoting efficiency and responsible waste management.

Leasing, residential segments power FLI earnings

Richmond Mercurio – The Philippine StarNovember 13, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI), the property arm of the G…

Richmond Mercurio – The Philippine Star

November 13, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI), the property arm of the Gotianun family, recorded a modest five percent net income growth to P3.64 billion from January to September, fueled by strong real estate business and sustained leasing momentum from its retail and office investment properties.

Revenues and other income jumped by nine percent year-on-year to P20.08 billion, supported by growth across all segments.

FLI’s leasing revenues improved by seven percent to P6.13 billion on the back of steady tenant demand and improved occupancy across the company’s office and retail mix.

Real estate revenues likewise grew by eight percent to P12.86 billion, driven by the strength of the company’s residential business and continued contributions from industrial lot sales.

FLI president and CEO Tristan Las Marias said the company’s focused rent strategies continue to bear fruit as seen on improved occupancy rates for its malls and offices.

“While our recurring income portfolio will continue to provide growth in the coming quarters, we are also excited about the accretive potential from the opening of our new malls in Cubao and Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark,” Las Marias said.

“Meanwhile, our residential business grew with our targeted RFO buyer promos and seller incentives, as well as sustained demand for our mid-income home offerings in Visayas, Mindanao and non-NCR Luzon regions,” he said.

FLI said that it continues to strengthen the synergy of its mixed-use portfolio by developing vibrant and community-oriented retail hubs that seamlessly complement its residential communities.

In the third quarter alone, over 8,000 square meters of tenant space started operations, while more than 12,000 square meters were newly leased.

Total operational gross leasable area across FLI’s retail portfolio currently stands at 258,017 square meters with an occupancy rate of 78 percent.

FLI said the company’s strategic focus on flexible and sustainable workspaces also continues to attract diverse industries, from government offices and BPOs to specialized service firms.

The company said that its industrial business, meanwhile, reflects a growing demand and rising investor interest in the sector.

FLI recently closed the sale of an industrial lot to Platinum 7i Holdings Inc., the local unit of Japan-based Nagatsu Precision Mold Co., Ltd., for the development of their manufacturing facility at the Filinvest Innovation Park in Calamba.

It has also recently signed a lease agreement with Astra Otoparts Philippines Inc. for several ready-built factory buildings within the same estate.