Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

University of the Philippines survived a big scare from winless University of the East, hacking out a 91-81 comeback win to seize solo leadership in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball yesterday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Fighting Maroons turned it up in the middle quarters to buck an early 10-point deficit on their way to a third straight win and, for now, a solo view atop the summit with a 5-2 record at the end of the first round.

James Payosing, former NCAA Finals MVP from San Beda, collared 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead seven Fighting Maroons in double digits.

That scattered offense plus the stinging defense in the second half was the one thing that thrilled coach Goldwin Monteverde, not delving too much on an early deficit against a squad that has not won in almost three seasons.

‘Naunahan kami ng UE. But in a way, that’s one test for the team, coming from behind and playing tough defense para makabalik sa game,’ said Monteverde, the author behind UP’s emergence from a punching bag to now a UAAP powerhouse with five straight finals appearances.

‘Along the way siyempre kailangan namin matuto to start strong. I guess as we go along sa season, we’ll learn to do those.’

A decade before Monteverde’s turn at Diliman, UP reeled to 27 consecutive losses from Season 75 to 77 (2012 to 2014) for then the second-longest skid in league history just behind Adamson’s 35 in 1999 to 2002.

With this gutsy win, the Fighting Maroons dragged the Red Warriors to a tie for that drought. Another loss by the UE to start the second round next week would complete the vindication.

But yesterday wasn’t a walk in the park.

On the heels of a 69-67 escape act from a 13-point deficit against Adamson, UP’s struggle continued with another slow start as it trailed by 33-43 in the second period.

However, UP turned to its championship experience to turn things around. Led by Payosing, the Diliman hoopers launched a 12-5 rally to strike within 45-48 at the turn. It was all UP from there.

Later, Santo Tomas clamped Ateneo to a season league-low clip of 26.7 percent for an 80-68 defensive clinic, ending Round 1 with back-to-back victories for 4-3. The Blue Eagles slid to 3-4.

In women’s basketball, Karylle Sierba fired a career-best 35 as titlist UST (5-0) zeroed in on a Round 1 sweep with a 90-67 demolition of Ateneo.

The Philippines continued to stay optimistic despite suffering painful defeats in wheelchair basketball, table tennis and badminton in the 5th Asian Para Games yesterday as it hopes to strike in other sports such as swimming and athletics starting Monday.

The Filipinos, a determined 69-strong contingent, will have a full day to prepare for the coming battles in different fronts hoping to strike gold early and try to meet their target of four to five mints.

For Sunday, Team Philippines will be in attendance for the opening ceremony at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium with taekwondo’s Allain Ganapin and table tennis’ Lhey Marie Manginsay as flag bearers and Francis Diaz as chef-de-mission.

Then it’s off to the races the next day.

‘We’re definitely hoping and praying that the tide swings to our favor when swimming and athletics open on Monday,’ said Diaz.

With chess’ exclusion from the nine-day meet already dealing a big blow to the Nationals’ campaign, it will now be up to battle-tested tanker Ernie Gawilan to carry most of the load. He is the only remaining gold medalist out of the 10 the country won the last time in Hangzhou, China three years back.

‘Gagawin natin lahat para sa bansa,’ said a strong-willed Gawilan, who will plunge into action in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 where he copped the gold in Hangzhou and the men’s 200m individual medley SM7 where he had the bronze.

Gawilan will not be alone, though, as there are others who could deliver the goods, too, like another veteran Gary Bejino, a double bronze winner in Hangzhou, and a fast-rising Angel Otom, who is being tipped to come through also at the Rainbow Hall of the Nippon Gaishi Hall.

Over at the Paloma Mizuho Sports Park, expect thrower Alyana Nunez to lead the way along with wheelchair thrower Cendy Asusano, who has lorded over the ASEAN Para Games in the past.

In table tennis at the Sky Hall Toyota, Leo Macalanda succumbed to China’s Chen Chao, 0-3, Wilfred Redulla fell to Thailand’s Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri, 0-3, Lhey Manginsay lost to China’s Mao Jingdian, 0-3, Smith Cartera dropped a 0-3 duel with China’s Peng Zhengyang, and Johna Pena suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat to another Chinese, Wang Rui.

A Grade 6 student stabbed and wounded a schoolmate who allegedly bullied him at a school in this city on Friday.

The student, son of a school security guard, reportedly attacked his schoolmate from behind with a folding knife as the victim was walking at the Macabalan Elementary School (MES) in Barangay Macabalan.

Reports said the victim was on his way to a classroom located on the third floor of a building when he was stabbed. He was rushed to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center for treatment.

The suspect was brought to the police station for proper disposition.

Investigation showed that the night before the attack, the student reportedly told his father that a schoolmate has been bullying him.

The suspect said the victim insulted and called him names.

The incident prompted police and barangay officials to discuss security measures with administrators and teachers of the MES to prevent similar incidents from happening on campus.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson described as unfair the move of three minority senators who opposed the Senate Electoral Tribunal’s ruling that dismissed the quo warranto petition against Lacson’s fellow majority member Sen. Erwin Tulfo.

Lacson was reacting to news that the SET on Friday met and dismissed the quo warranto petition seeking the removal of Tulfo as senator over citizenship issues, with six members voting in favor and three against.

Sens. Robin Padilla, Camille Villar and Pia Cayetano reportedly voted against the majority decision.

‘Senate Electoral Tribunal: Justice and fairness went out of the window when three minority senator-members voted in favor of an out-of-time motion for reconsideration filed by a petitioner without legal standing,’ Lacson posted on X.

‘Their motive may be deeper than personal issues against Sen. Tulfo,’ he added.

Members of the SET composed of senators and Supreme Court justices met at the Senate on Friday to deny the motion for reconsideration filed by the petitioner Berteni Causing for being filed beyond the prescribed period and for failing to comply with filing and service requirements of the SET rules.

Causing’s appeal had sought to reverse the SET resolution dated March 2 summarily dismissing his quo warranto petition for being insufficient in form in his allegations that Tulfo was ineligible to be senator for not being a Filipino citizen and belonging to a political dynasty.

According to a press release signed by SET secretary Luis Jose Geronimo, six members of the SET voted in favor of denying the appeal while three voted against.

Lacson lauded the three Supreme Court justices and three other senators who based their decision on the procedural flaws of the petition.

‘More on the Senate Electoral Tribunal: Let’s give credit to the three SC justice-members and the other three senator-members who undoubtedly knew the obvious procedural flaw which resulted in a 6-3 vote, thus dismissing the motion for reconsideration,’ Lacson said.

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen chairs the SET, with fellow SC Justices Henri Jean Paul Inting and Ramon Paul Hernando as members.

Cayetano, Padilla and Villar sit in the SET for the minority bloc, while Sens. Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino and Lito Lapid sit for the majority.

Reporters sought the minority senators’ side for their reaction yesterday but they have yet to issue a statement.

The General Assembly of the United Nations Organization, proclaimed in 1970, that ‘states shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state xxx’. This principle of international law was desecrated by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan, when he said ‘If we want to use force, we may easily win.’

We all know that an ambassador like him is the highest-ranking diplomatic representative sent by one sovereign state, China in this case, to another, the Philippines in this present circumstance. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Jing serves as the direct personal representative of Chinese President Xi Jin Ping. He represents solely the official policies and interests of China. His utterances are never expressing just his own personal views on state matters.

Jing was confident of the military superiority of China over the Philippines. A fleet comparison supplied by the internet showed that China has 477 warships, 61 submarines, three air craft carriers while we have 88 warships, no submarines, and no aircraft carriers. In the air force arsenal of China, there are 1,800+ fighter and attack jets and strategic bombers while we have 268 aircrafts consisting largely of light transport, utility helicopters, and a small fleet of fighter/attack planes. China has an active military personnel count of approximately 2,035,000 (with around 510,000 in reserve), while the Philippines has an active military force of about 150,000 to 160,000 (with around 130,000 to 131,000 in reserve).

The dictionary defines threat as a statement that suggests something harmful is going to happen. When Jing said ‘If we want to use force, we may easily win,’ he was suggesting that harm will happen to the Philippines. The threat became unmistakably clear when viewed in the context that China wanted the Philippines to resort to bilateral discussions regarding events happening in the West Philippine Sea instead of our continued protest against their incursions into our Exclusive Economic Zone. His usage of the conditional word IF was but a diplomatic cover to the Chinese promise of harm to our country. Since he is the official representation of the policies of China, his statement fell squarely under the 1970 UN General Assembly quoted in the first sentence of this article.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. immediately reacted to the statement. Our president was correct! He felt the violation done by the ambassador saying that it sounded ‘very much like a threat and it was not a very diplomatic statement to be made’. Jing, even if he wears the ambassadorial tag, is only a guest of the Philippines. He doesn’t have the slightest reason to threaten his host. His threatening language is the worst undiplomatic lingo that has no place in international relations. His abusive pronouncement breaches our dignity.

Let’s put his veiled threat in proper context. The Right of Legation which is a right of a state to send diplomatic missions to other states is recognized in international law. But while this right is acknowledged to be fundamental, it isn’t automatic. No state can be compelled to establish diplomatic relations with another state. Apropos, the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations governs the conduct of diplomats like Jing. While he enjoys diplomatic privileges, he definitely isn’t privileged to threaten our country with harm. Jing must be declared persona non grata. Persona non grata is a Latin phrase that means an “unwelcome person”. That’s our right in international law. Under Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a host country, like the Philippines, can declare any foreign diplomat like Jing persona non grata at any time without needing to explain why. Then, we have to ask Chinese authorities to remove him from the Philippines and repatriate him to Communist China.

A slew of Filipino aspirants chase Grandmaster and Woman Grandmaster titles as the Philippines hosts the 7th ASEAN Individual Chess Championships from November 2-10 at the AMORAP in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental.

International Masters Jem Garcia, Pau Bersamina, Michael Concio, Jr., MJ Bacojo and Christian Gian Karlo Arca and FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri are the host country’s best bets to emerge as its newest GM after Daniel Quizon became one two years ago in the Budapest Olympiad.

Ruelle Canino, along with fellow WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza and Olympiad teammate Mhage Sebastian, should be at the forefront at snaring that WGM title and becoming the second one to achieve such feat after Janelle Mae Frayna emerged as one nine years ago.

Interestingly, the 18-year-old Canino snared the WIM title in last year’s edition of the same tournament also in Misamis Occidental where she finished second behind eventual winner International Master Evgenija Ovod of Russia.

This time, Canino is eyeing the higher reward – the WGM title – in a strong field spearheaded by a battery of WGMs in Frayna, Nguyen Thi Mai Hung and Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Vietnam, and Altan-Ulzii Enkhtuul of Mongolia, plus Ovod, who will be back to defend her crown.

Apart from this, the NCFP is also hosting two more international tournaments – the Misamis Occidental Philippine International Championship scheduled November 10-17 also at the AMORAP, and the AQ Prime International Open Chess Championship slated November 17-25 in Quezon City.

GM, WGM, IM and WIM norms and direct FM and WFM titles are at stake in those two events.

Barangay Ginebra’s quarterfinal hopes just got a massive boost.

The Gin Kings blasted the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 106-89, in their PBA Governors’ Cup matchup Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Scottie Thompson filled up the statsheet in the wire-to-wire win with 29 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks. Jordan Murphy added 28 markers and 13 boards in the win.

It was a close game through the second quarter, with a 3-pointer by Marcellus Earlington making it a 43-46 deficit for Phoenix.

But Ginebra found a higher gear and unleashed a backbreaking 17-0 run capped by a trey by Jeremiah Gray to push the lead to 20, 63-43. This set the tone for the rest of the game, with the Gin Kings taking a lead as high as 26 points, 86-60, heading to the fourth.

The deficit was too big to erase for the Fuel Masters.

Gray and Japeth Aguilar chipped in 12 points each for the winning team.

Earlington had 22 points and nine rebounds, as well as two assists and a steal, for Phoenix. Ricci Rivero and Kai Ballungay were the only other Fuel Masters in double digits with 10 each.

Ginebra rose to solo fourth place in Group B play, for now, with a 4-5 win-loss record while Phoenix, already assured of a quarterfinal spot, dropped to 5-4.

The squad is now ahead of Meralco (4-6) and Blackwater (3-6) for the final remaining playoff spot.

Cagayan Rep. Joseph Lara and his relatives are being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman for possible plunder in connection with billions of pesos worth of government contracts awarded to three construction firms owned by his family.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Lara is facing complaints for plunder and graft in connection with infrastructure projects awarded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to his companies.

Included in the probe are Lara’s wife, Zarah Rose; their children Joseph Joshua, Joseph Jeremy, Joseph Kyle and Joseph II, and their daughter-in-law, Jessa.

Lara, who served as vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations in the 19th Congress, allegedly maintained financial interests in three private firms – Pulsar, JDL5 and JLL Pulsar construction corporations – while holding public office.

‘It was supposed to be a divestment, which we think did not really happen because the money paid to these companies still went to his private bank account,’ Remulla said.

The ombudsman said Lara allegedly amassed about P10.02 billion in ill-gotten wealth in conspiracy with members of his family.

Anti-graft investigators cited a report of the Anti-Money Laundering Council, which showed Lara received P1.9 billion from his relatives and affiliated entities as well as from DPWH offices between 2019 and 2025.

The ombudsman said the lawmaker received about P3.8 billion from the DPWH, affiliated construction firms and joint ventures tied to government infrastructure projects.

Lara and his wife allegedly acquired additional financial interests amounting to approximately P6.1 billion linked to DPWH infrastructure contracts.

The complaint alleged that Lara and some members of his family concealed their identities as owners of the construction companies.

Remulla said the ombudsman would continue examining financial transactions and corporate arrangements that may have been used to conceal prohibited interests in government contracts.

He said the allegations remain subject to preliminary investigation, during which Lara and the other respondents will be given an opportunity to answer the complaints and present their defenses.

The preliminary investigation will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant the filing of criminal charges before an appropriate court, Remulla said.

Pistachio has always been a favorite nut of bakers and pastry chefs. Unfortunately, since it is a premium kind of nut and is imported, it leans towards the expensive side, and so other nuts have to be used if the goal is to make affordable cakes, pastries, and desserts.

But since Dubai’s Pistachio Chocolate Kataifi Cake became trending worldwide, people seemed to become more willing to spend on the good stuff, and so the Dubai trend never really waned. It even became stronger, transforming from cakes and pies to cookies and bars and, now, pudding.

Count on celebrity chef Jackie Ang Po to catch on with the trend, as she is constantly updating and experimenting to bring the latest trends to the fore. She recently caught on this trending Japanese dessert, Pistachio Pudding, which is easily available in convenience stores in Japan. She experimented on it, found it easy to make, and now she is sharing the recipe.

Japanese-style Pistachio Pudding

Ingredients:

For the pudding:

1 1/2 tbsps. gelatin

1/3 cup fresh milk

2 cups fresh milk

1/3 cup condensed milk

1/3 cup DLA Pistachio Paste

1/4 cup Arla Cream Cheese

1 1/2 tbsps. Arla Butter

For the caramel:

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup + 1 tbsp. water

2 tsps. gelatin

Procedure:

1. Bloom the gelatin for the pudding in 1/3 cup fresh milk.

2. Heat 2 cups fresh milk, condensed milk, and DLA Pistachio Paste. Once it is warm and the paste has melted, add cream cheese and butter.

3. Microwave the bloomed gelatin until the gelatin has melted and add this to the milk mixture. Mix well and pour into desired molds and chill to set.

4. For the caramel, add gelatin to water and set aside.

5. Caramelize the sugar in a pan. Do not mix. Allow the sugar to caramelize to a golden hue on its own, then add water and gelatin mixture.

6. Once the tops have set, even though they are not yet fully set, pour the caramel sauce over the pistachio pudding.

7. Chill in refrigerator to set fully before serving.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has called on concerned government agencies, health experts, school officials, and local government units (LGUs) to discuss air quality concerns and establish clearer guidelines for class suspensions amid worsening air conditions in Metro Cebu.

The Cebu provincial government will hold an open forum on air quality and class suspensions on Tuesday, October 20, at 3 p.m. at the Capitol Social Hall in Cebu, following also an increase in respiratory consultations.

The meeting will bring together pediatricians, pulmonologists, representatives of the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), private schools, city and municipal LGUs, parent-teacher associations (PTAs), and health and disaster risk reduction officers.

The forum aims to clarify how air quality readings should guide decisions on suspending classes, when such suspensions should be considered, and how schools can continue learning activities while protecting students’ health.

In a statement, Baricuatro said the provincial government recognizes the concerns of parents, teachers, and students over air quality and class suspensions, stressing that children’s health and safety remain a priority.

Baricuatro said the gathering would provide stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss the available evidence, hear from experts, and work toward practical guidelines that would help communities make informed decisions.

Class suspension guidelines

The governor said the discussions would also cover the timely release of announcements so that families and schools would have sufficient time to prepare for possible class suspensions.

However, she clarified that decisions on localized class suspensions remain with the respective mayors, in coordination with education authorities and in accordance with national policies.

The provincial government intends to work with LGUs and partner agencies to improve coordination and provide clearer guidance on responding to air quality concerns.

‘Ang ato mao ang paghatag ug avenue for everyone to discuss, understand the evidence, and work towards practical guidelines,’ Baricuatro said.

The planned forum comes as respiratory consultations at four hospitals increased by 26.8% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year.

Data obtained from the Department of Health-Central Visayas (DOH-7) showed that the four hospitals recorded a combined 3,524 respiratory consultations from July to September this year, up from 2,778 during the corresponding period in 2025.

The increase has highlighted the need for closer monitoring amid reports of poor air quality in Metro Cebu. However, the available figures do not establish a direct link between air pollution and the rise in respiratory consultations.

At the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), respiratory consultations reached 1,217 in the third quarter of 2026.

The supplied hospital summary placed the number of consultations during the same period last year at approximately 956 to 996.

VSMMC recorded 465 respiratory consultations in July, compared with 300 in July 2025. Consultations in

August also increased to 405 from 285 a year earlier.

The number declined to 347 in September, from 411 during the same month last year.

Pneumonia was the leading specific diagnosis in VSMMC’s third-quarter figures, accounting for 530 consultations. The hospital recorded 221 cases in July, 157 in August, and 152 in September.

Other recorded conditions included bronchitis, with 106 cases; nasopharyngitis and tracheitis, with 101 combined cases; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with 89 cases; and asthma, with 47 cases.

The hospital data provide a snapshot of respiratory consultations but do not establish whether the illnesses were caused or aggravated by air pollution.

Air quality advisory

In its air quality update as of 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, the DENR-EMB Central Visayas classified Metro Cebu’s air quality index (AQI) at 128, or ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups.’

The agency identified localized emission sources, particularly motor vehicles, industrial operations, and area-specific activities, as the main drivers of current air quality levels.

Unfavorable weather conditions, including low temperatures overnight and in the early morning, as well as very low wind speeds, were also contributing to the suspension and trapping of fine particulate matter.

At a separate monitoring station in Barangay Cabitoonan, Toledo City, the AQI was recorded at 10, which was classified as ‘good.’

The EMB advised people with respiratory illnesses, including asthma, to limit outdoor exertion. It also encouraged the public to monitor official air quality updates and advisories.

The DOH-7 has also urged residents to limit outdoor activities, particularly prolonged exposure to polluted air, and to keep indoor spaces clean and well-ventilated.

Those who need to go outside, especially members of vulnerable groups, were advised to wear properly fitted N95 or KN95 masks when necessary.

Residents experiencing severe coughing or difficulty breathing were urged to seek medical attention. The health department also said health facilities in the region had measures in place in case the haze led to an influx of patients experiencing breathing difficulties.

Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and contribute to health problems, including coughing, breathing difficulties, and irritation of the eyes and throat.