Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Residents of Quezon province yesterday marked the 148th birth anniversary of former president Manuel L. Quezon with a tribute.

The ceremony, held at the provincial capitol, brought together local and national government officials who highlighted the legacy of the ‘Father of National Language’ and the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth.

The celebration was led by Quezon Gov. Angelina Tan, Vice Gov. Third Alcala and Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr.

The program opened with a holy mass, followed by a wreath-laying at the Quezon Monument.

Tan said the most meaningful way to honor Quezon’s legacy is through faithful and responsible public service.

She urged residents to stay united amid differences in opinions and beliefs, saying that diversity of views should not prevent people from working toward a common goal.

The ceremony reminded people that Quezon’s ideals – love of country, national unity and dedicated public service – remain relevant to this day.

Policemen seized a big volume of Indonesian-made cigarettes, neatly piled inside a van-type truck, intercepted at a checkpoint at Sitio Marayag in Barangay Bayanga Norte in Matanog, Maguindanao del Norte on Tuesday morning, August 18.

Local executives and officials of the Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Police Office separately said on Thursday that policemen and Bureau of Customs personnel in Cotabato City are together validating the value of the confiscated cigarettes.

Municipal and barangay officials who supported the operation placed at no less than P7 million their estimate of the seized cigarettes with Indonesian brands.

Barangay officials in Bayanga Norte and investigators from the Matanog Municipal Police Station told reporters on Thursday that truck driver Arniel Alegarbes and his helper, Jaytonie Isidro, were supposed to deliver the illegal merchandise to retailers in different towns in Maguindanao del Norte and in Cotabato City

Captain Steffie Salanguit, spokesperson of the Police Regional Officer-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, said different police units were involved in the operation that resulted in the confiscation of the smuggled cigarettes, to be turned over to customs officials for their bureau’s proper disposition.

The Philippines has participated in men’s rugby 7s in only two of seven Asian Games, finishing fifth in 2014 and ninth in 2022. But the Volcanoes, coming off a bronze finish in last year’s SEA Games and back-to-back Unions Cup championships, are aiming for a record performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Oct. 1-3.

Six players from the 2022 Asian Games are on coach Josh Sutcliffe’s roster for the coming competition. The holdovers are captain Kai Ledesma Stroem, 28, Tommy Gilbert, 30, Donald Coleman, 28, Raph Barberis, 25, Luc Smith, 25 and Rob Fogerty, 29. Others on the squad are Charles Warren, 23, Jacob Soriano, 29, Ned Stephenson, 34, Harrison Blake, 32, Michael Blatteis, 26, Jason Schirmer, 25 and Edlen Hernandez, 36. The lineup is loaded with veterans. Nine players were on the last SEA Games team and five were on the 15s brigade that won the Unions Cup in Thailand last July.

Rugby 15s and 7s were both played at the Asian Games in 1998 and 2002 but starting 2006, the calendar only booked 7s (an Olympic sport since 2016). In the SEA Games, the 7s game was played in 2007, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2025 with the Philippines claiming two golds (2015, 2019), silver (2007) and bronze (2025). The 15s game features 15 players (eight forwards, seven backs) and two 40-minute halves while the 7s game has seven players (three forwards, four backs) and two seven-minute halves, sometimes extended to two 10-minute halves for the final. The 7s game is described as more physically demanding than the 15s because there are less players on the same field size, meaning more running, more action and more scoring opportunities.

Philippine Rugby Football Union national team director Steve Mommaerts notes that since 2004, the sport has organically grown locally to include over 1,000 locally-born players. ‘The PRFU started as a union made up of foreigners but is now 99 percent local players,’ he adds. ‘Many of those players come from lower income situations with the same passion for the game as those from other backgrounds. Rugby creates an environment where everyone is an equal part of the team. The sport is growing here and looking for more exposure. We’re now preparing for the Asian Games and our team will include both local and Philippine heritage players. We’re inviting corporate sponsors to join us in our journey,’ Ada Milby is the PRFU president and Lorie Baclagon is the operations manager. Milby recently announced that Manila will host the Unions Cup and Women’s 15s next year.

Asian Games and SEA Games veteran Barberis, who started playing rugby at six, is looking forward to Nagoya. ‘Philippine rugby has given me so much over the years and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to represent the country once more in a different team environment,’ he says. ‘I strongly feel that the values from rugby – the camaraderie, relentless attitude to win – apply to all parts of our lives. My dad was a no-nonsense coach whose approach shaped me as a player. My mom and sister are a massive support system and my teammates are also an inspiration, keeping me honest and getting me to play above myself.’ There are 12 competing rugby 7s teams in Nagoya. The Volcanoes play Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates on Oct. 1 then Singapore the next day. The playoffs begin on Oct. 2 with the medal matches on Oct. 3.

The Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) has deployed personnel to 278 public and private schools across the province following the deadly shooting at a private high school in Zamboanga City on Tuesday.

CPPO said police personnel conducted security visitations and deployments at 223 public schools and 55 private schools across Cebu.

The move came after Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro directed the CPPO provincial director and all chiefs of police to heighten security in public and private schools following the Zamboanga shooting.

‘The safety and security of our students, teachers, and school personnel remain among our foremost priorities,’ Baricuatro said.

She also called for continued vigilance and stronger coordination among police, schools and communities, stressing that schools must remain safe places for students.

‘We must remain vigilant and united in protecting our children. Our schools should be safe spaces for learning, growth, and hope,’ Baricuatro said.

Acting on the directive, CPPO Provincial Director PCOL Abubakar Mangelen Jr. ordered the deployment of police officers under a one-police-to-school scheme implemented at the city and municipal levels.

The deployment is being reinforced by school visitations, security inspections and coordination with school administrators to deter possible threats and ensure a faster response to security concerns.

Danao City had the highest number of schools covered at 14, followed by Talisay City and Santander with 13 each. Badian and Minglanilla recorded 12 schools each, while Pinamungajan had 11.

Barili, Catmon, Samboan and Tabogon each had 10 schools covered, while San Remigio had eight.

The operation also reached schools in urban centers and far-flung communities across the province.

Mangelen said the 278-school deployment reflects the CPPO’s effort to strengthen preventive policing in educational institutions.

‘The safety of our students and the entire school community is our priority,’ said Mangelen.

He said police visibility should also help build closer ties between law enforcement and school communities, urging officers to remain visible, approachable and responsive.

Mangelen appealed to school administrators, teachers, parents, students and the public to immediately report suspicious activities, threats or other security concerns to the nearest police station.

‘If there is anything unusual or concerning, report it immediately. Early reporting can help us prevent an incident before it happens,’ he noted.

Two male police trainees have been arrested for allegedly sexually molesting a female trainee in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

The incident reportedly occurred during a weekend gathering of officers at a beach resort where the trainees had a drinking session, according to a report received by Misamis Oriental police director Col. Al Abanales.

The suspects, aged 27 and 28, were placed under police custody pending the results of investigation and filing of proper charges against them.

Abanales appealed to the public, especially netizens, to refrain from speculating or spreading unverified information that could compromise the investigation.

Despite repeated opposition from the Department of Education, schools are again serving as evacuation centers amid the continuing heavy rainfall and massive flooding.

The government appears set to finally address the problem. Under the P7.2-trillion national budget proposed for 2027, P3.06 billion has been allocated for evacuation centers across the country.

It looks like a positive development. The sorry state of the typical evacuation center is among the top reasons for the refusal of many people to abandon their homes for timely evacuation even when a powerful typhoon approaches or there are warnings of a volcanic eruption.

School gyms are typically used as evacuation centers, and there is always a lack of bathrooms, sanitation facilities and clean water for the many families seeking temporary shelter. Overcrowding in an area that often lacks tents or even dividers also facilitates the spread of diseases especially among children and the elderly. Many families also need special areas for their pets.

Perhaps the proposed funding for 2027 will address these problems. But Sen. Panfilo Lacson is leery of the uniform lump sum of P180 million allocated to each of the country’s 17 regions, with key details such as project locations not provided.

Regions face varying disaster risks and evacuation centers must be tailored for these needs. Some regions may need more evacuation centers, he pointed out.

As the nation has seen, any lump sum appropriation, with officials given wide discretion to decide how the funds are spent, is also prone to abuse and corruption.

Lacson, who has been scrutinizing the national budget for many years now, also flagged the whopping P2.46 trillion – about 34.1 percent of the total – allotted to various social services including aid handouts.

He noted that with the general elections set in May 2028, the 2027 outlay could effectively serve as an election budget, with politicians finding ways of using public funds in aid of their election.

Ayuda programs in particular are popular tools of politicians for self-promotion. While direct aid is not bad per se, Lacson said ayuda must be balanced with long-term development spending.

The flood control program lacks this long-term approach. Local and national government officials can’t even agree on who should take the lead in developing an integrated master plan for a long-term flood management program.

Judicious fund utilization is critical in getting the flood control projects and evacuation centers that we need. Every spending item in the proposed national budget must be subjected to close scrutiny.

There was a time when TV night was an unmissable household activity, way before each person got their own screen on their phone, computer, or tablet. Watching TV meant gathering in the living room at the exact same hour, squeezing onto the same sofa, sharing a bowl of popcorn or chips, and experiencing every twist, turn, cliffhanger, and even commercial break together in real time.

But over the past decade, personalized algorithms, individual mobile feeds, and doomscrolling gradually turned into an increasingly solitary habit, as everyone retreated into their own favorite titles, in their own time. Now, a subtle yet meaningful shift is taking place.

Across generations – especially among young Millennials and Gen Zs – there is a growing desire for slower, more intentional experiences. Just as vinyl records, film cameras, journal writing, and board game nights have seen a resurgence, people are rediscovering the unique warmth of shared viewing, even when the medium they’re watching remains digital. According to MNTN Research, younger generations are more likely to watch ‘connected TV’ together – Gen Zs have one of the highest co-viewing rates of any generation, followed by Millennials. Family TV nights may just see a comeback as a simple yet meaningful way to reconnect.

In Filipino culture, entertainment has always been a collective experience. Whether it’s dissecting character motives, laughing over comical mishaps, or gasping at a jaw-dropping plot twist, reacting to a shocking scene alone doesn’t feel the same as experiencing it with family and friends. Watching together can turn ordinary television moments into an event.

Only a few series showcase the power of group viewing, like the ‘House of the Dragon’ Season three with its recent finale on HBO Max. The eight-episode season has expanded in scale – with massive battles, shifting loyalties, and epic dragon scenes, setting the stage for an epic finale.

The best part is, making these living room moments effortless shouldn’t require juggling multiple bills or worrying about lagging connections. That’s where the new PLDT Home Fiber Unli All Plan 1499 comes in. Designed to power full-household connectivity and entertainment, the plan comes bundled with a standard HBO Max subscription, giving families front-row access to the entire ‘House of the Dragon’ series, alongside an expansive collection of hit movies, HBO Originals, and fan-favorite series.

Beyond streaming, PLDT Home Fiber Unli All 1499 delivers a comprehensive home connection – combining unlimited fiber internet up to 200 Mbps with Cignal TV, landline calls, and 9Gb Smart mobile data. It ensures that while the main TV is hosting a Westeros watch party, other household members can seamlessly connect, browse, or stream their own favorites without compromising the home’s connection quality.

This means the family can have a viewing party together, whether it’s ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ or other originals like ‘Euphoria,’ ‘The Last of Us,’ ‘Succession,’ and more. More importantly, it means everyone gets a stable viewing experience at home, turning individual time into family time.

In a fast-paced world dominated by quick clips and isolated scrolling, bringing back family TV night is a simple yet powerful way to pause, reconnect, and create shared memories right at home.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is looking for ways to help vegetable farmers in Benguet recover after their crops were damaged by continuous rains.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. directed the DA-Cordillera to assess the situation and take necessary steps to help farmers address the situation.

This developed after shipments of unsold Chinese cabbage and carrots were reportedly discarded along the Labey-Lacamen Road in Tublay town.

DA-Cordillera chief Jennilyn Dawayan said the cabbage shipment was traced to a farmer from Barangay Gambang in Bakun town who harvested the vegetables on Aug. 13.

The produce was transported to La Trinidad, but was stuck for two days and two nights while lined up to enter the trading center.

Due to continuous rains, the cabbage developed signs of rotting and became unfit for the market.

The truck was pulled out and the vegetables were dumped in a vacant lot.

The shipment of carrots was owned by a farmer in Amlimay, Buguias, who harvested four tons of the crop on Aug. 11, but was able to sell only 700 kilos at the trading center the next day.

Up to 5,800 kilos of crops were wasted in both incidents of vegetable-dumping due to bad weather, long queues and congestion at trading centers.

Orly Guteza, a retired Marine and alleged bagman of former Rep. Zaldy Co, has recanted his previous testimonies before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, saying that he was pressured by detained lawmaker Sen. Dante Marcoleta and former lawmaker Mike Defensor into fabricating allegations against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In an affidavit of recantation obtained by Philstar.com, Guteza detailed how he was ‘used’ to publicize the alleged involvement of Romualdez in the anomalous flood-control issues, which he now admits were entirely fabricated.

‘Ginawa ko ang salaysay na ito upang ilahad ang tunay na pangyayari at kung paano ako nahimok at nilinlang na magsalita sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee noong Setyembre 25, 2025, sa ginagawang imbestigasyon nila patungkol sa ‘Flood Control issue’ sa kasalukuyang panahon,’ Guteza said.

(I executed this affidavit to state the true events and to disclose how I was pressured and deceived into speaking before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on September 25, 2025, during their ongoing investigation into the current ‘Flood Control issue.’)

The setup

According to Guteza, the plot began on Sept. 24, 2025, when he was invited to a dinner meeting at a restaurant in a hotel in Pasay City.

The meeting was arranged by Defensor’s driver, known as “Djiango.”

Upon arriving, Guteza was met by Defensor and a man named Mark, who is the husband of Defensor’s daughter.

Defensor reportedly pressured Guteza to claim that he witnessed money being hauled from the residence of Co.

Despite Guteza repeatedly telling Defensor that he had never seen any suitcases of money being delivered or counted, Defensor insisted on drafting an affidavit containing the false claims.

‘Sabi ko, sir, ‘wag na po kasi nabanggit na po sina Paul at Mark ‘yan ang mga susi sa lahat ng katanungannila sa Senado, sir. Sabi niya ‘Hindi’ at pilit na sabi nya, ‘sulat lang natin bahala na si Sen. Dante [Marcoleta]’,’ Guteza’s affidavit read.

Marcoleta’s direct involvement

According to Guteza, Marcoleta personally edited the draft affidavit on Mark’s laptop to refine the Tagalog translation and sharpen the allegations.

Guteza recalled that Marcoleta, after reading the affidavit, called it the “missing link” because it directly connected Romualdez to the alleged payoffs. When Guteza expressed hesitation and suggested that other executive assistants, Paul and Mark, should testify instead, Marcoleta refused.

According to Guteza, Marcoleta explained that Paul and Mark could not testify because they are members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and could face expulsion from their church.

Instead, Marcoleta and Defensor pressured Guteza to take the fall, promising him cash and educational scholarships for his children.

Guteza admitted that out of fear, confusion, and the lure of “sweet promises” of financial and educational aid, he agreed to the scheme. He confessed that he had absolutely no direct contact with Speaker Romualdez and never witnessed any deliveries of suitcases to Romualdez’s alleged residence in Forbes Park.

To pull off the deception during the Senate hearing on September 25, 2025, Guteza even went back to the notary public to manually alter the year on his affidavit from “2025” to “2024” to hide the lies written in the document.

During the actual Senate session, Guteza served as Marcoleta’s “resource person.” He recalled being scolded by the Senator during the privileged time for “ad-libbing” instead of strictly following the prepared script.

Abandoned

Following his Senate appearance, Guteza said he realized he had been abandoned.

After the session, he attempted to speak with Marcoleta, but the senator ignored him. Guteza was then made to sign a waiver refusing Senate security and was left to walk out of the Senate premises entirely alone.

New pressure rejected

Guteza also revealed that on Sept. 27, 2025, a staff member from Marcoleta’s office contacted him again, offering the contact number of lawyer Rowena Guanzon to help “correct” his affidavit so it could be used as evidence for a case filing on Sept. 29, 2025.

This time, however, Guteza refused to cooperate to avoid being used once again by “people thirsty for power.”

“I made this sworn statement freely and voluntarily, and I swear that everything stated here is the truth based on my knowledge and belief,” Guteza said in Filipino.

In a social media post, Guanzon denied Guteza’s allegations, calling him a ‘liar’ and saying that she was never a consultant for Marcoleta.

‘I don’t practice law anymore,’ Guanzon said.

Marcoleta and Defensor are currently detained in Quezon City due to plunder charges.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick Gregorio fulfilled his commitment to the grassroots lifters of the Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Gym in Zamboanga City, as the PSC officially turned over a new batch of weightlifting equipment to the facility.

For Gregorio, the delivery of equipment was more than a logistical act. It was a promise kept.

‘This is about building dreams. By equipping the home of our local weightlifting community, we are laying the foundation for the next generation of Olympic icons,’ he said.

The simple yet meaningful ceremony was attended by representatives from the PSC, including Executive Assistant Lito Cinco from the Office of Commissioner Matthew Gaston, Assistance and Coordination Division OIC Anna Ruiz, and Engr. LJ Bujawe.

Local sports leaders City Councilor Elbert Bong Atilano and Sports Development Officer Cecilia Atilano joined the turnover, alongside 21 grassroots athletes, coaches Allen Jayfrus Diaz and Emelita Diaz, and Asian Youth and Junior medalists Alexsandra Ann Diaz and Jhodie Peralta.

The Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, who built the gym after her Rio 2016 silver medal, expressed joy at seeing young lifters benefit from the upgrade.

‘Dahil sa weightlifting equipment na ito, tuloy-tuloy ang training ng mga atleta ng Mampang weightlifting club sa weightlifting gym na pinatayo ko last 2017,’ said Diaz-Naranjo.

‘Masaya akong makita na maraming kabataan ang sumusubok ng weightlifting at nangangarap maging isang medalist,’ she added.

The turnover marks a significant boost for Zamboanga’s weightlifting community, ensuring that young athletes have access to international-standard equipment and a nurturing environment.

‘Grassroots development is the lifeblood of Philippine sports. Every barbell lifted here is a step closer to producing champions who will one day carry our flag on the world stage.’

For the PSC, it is a reaffirmation of its mission to empower grassroots athletes and strengthen the pipeline of future champions.