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‘Be fair.’

Following a tough outing against the National University Bulldogs, University of Santo Tomas big man Collins Akowe insisted that officials should ‘not be biased.’

Akowe struggled against the frontline of NU, finishing with 11 points on 2-of-7 shooting from the floor, to go with five rebounds and two assists.

He had four fouls in the ballgame, which limited his effectiveness on the defensive side of the ball.

In comparison, Akowe currently is averaging 15.2 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

After the game, Akowe said that he believes he did not struggle in the game.

‘The thing is I couldn’t get more touches and I just couldn’t do my part of the job. Boxing out, getting rebounds. Yeah, there wasn’t any really struggle for me,’ he said.

‘[The foul trouble] was because I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t know if I’m going to touch the person because the fouls they were calling were just, I don’t know. I can’t even play defense anymore because any silly touch, they call a foul. I have scratches all over me, no foul. It is what it is, man. It’s the UAAP, I’m used to this,’ he added.

The 6-foot-10 banger stressed that he is used to the physicality, but he yearned for questions for supposed questionable calls.

‘The thing is, I’m used to it, but you don’t need to be biased. You gotta be fair, I’m used to it. If you bump me, I bump you. It’s easy. Don’t be biased, don’t pick a side. I was bumped several times, no fouls and all of that. But for me, I didn’t even touch, like, several times and they were calling fouls,’ he said.

‘That alone even [expletive] up, sorry for the language, [expletive] up my mental health. I don’t know, I wasn’t able to focus on the game because I was scared of touching these guys boxing out. Because, man, the referees, I don’t know, bro.’

Akowe also looked mortal in their first round clash with NU, where he was held to 11 points and eight rebounds.

UST is now down to four elimination round games. With a 4-6 win-loss record, the Tigers would most likely need to sweep their remaining games.

‘We have four more games, hopefully we get to win the last four games and see where fate takes us.’

The Marcos administration has waged a credible war against corruption that has resulted in some big fish, senators included, landing in jail. The same administration has also done a credible job of bringing corrective remedies to flood control projects. There have also been serious attempts to bring assistance to those suffering from hunger and extreme poverty.

In spite of all these and other attempts to help a poverty-stricken population, the performance approval rating for this administration remains very low. Several attempts are being experimented to try and achieve a much higher approval rating. For example, the administration’s trouble shooter Vince Dizon, who was assigned to correct the DPWH problems, has now been moved to the transportation sector to ease the transport woes of the ordinary commuter.

I predict that all these will not attain its objective of improving the administration’s trust ratings. I think this administration needs to learn a lesson from the administration of past US president Bill Clinton. During Clinton’s campaign for the presidency and his term as president, his administration had only one directive which was summed up in the slogan, ‘It’s the economy, stupid.’

The President must realize that if the economy continues in its present state, his approval rating will never increase significantly. This is the reason that the overwhelming majority of the population, especially the lower class, will continue to ignore even impeachment trials and corruption scandals, with their attention focused primarily on how the state of the economy is affecting their lives. The problem of the economy right now is not simply ‘concerning’ but is actually approaching a critical period.

One of the most serious challenges that any economy can experience is stagflation. This is particularly dangerous because it combines three economic problems: rising prices, slow economic growth and increasing unemployment. Under normal circumstances, inflation is often associated with a growing economy where consumers have more money to spend and businesses are expanding their operations. However, stagflation creates a different and much more difficult situation.

Prices continue to increase even when economic activity becomes weaker and people’s purchasing power declines. For developing countries like the Philippines, the threat of stagflation could lead to an economic depression. The Philippine economy depends heavily on imported petroleum, food commodities, raw materials and other essential products.

Consequently, international conflicts, oil price increases, supply chain disruptions, currency depreciation and global economic uncertainty can directly affect domestic prices and production costs. The important question is not simply whether the Philippines is experiencing inflation but whether the country could enter a long period in which inflation remains high while economic growth slows down.

Understanding stagflation can help the Philippine government develop policies that can protect businesses, workers, consumers and the overall economy. Stagflation is a combination of two terms: stagnation and inflation. It refers to a situation where economic growth becomes weak or nearly stops. Businesses experience declining demand, investments become limited, production slows and employment opportunities become fewer. Inflation, meanwhile, refers to the continuous increase in the general prices of goods and services, reducing the purchasing power of money.

This combination called stagflation means people are experiencing a more expensive cost of living while the economy is failing to create enough opportunities for them to improve their financial or livelihood situation.

Stagflation is a very rare economic situation. Among the historical examples when this happened was the 1973 oil crisis when the oil embargo was imposed by oil-producing countries. However, this is not a common economic occurrence.

The average Filipino is having difficulty looking for a decent job while at the same time is suffering from the continuing increase of prices of basic commodities. The government must take some immediate action to alleviate the lives of the average Filipino. One way of stabilizing or increasing the value of the peso is to either convince or mandate wealthy Filipinos to bring back their funds from foreign countries to the Philippines. If the wealthy business sector refuses to bring back their money, then the government must take drastic measures.

The business sector is urging Congress leaders to remove insertions in the proposed 2027 budget. This is a laudable proposal. But the business sector must also put their money where their mouth is and show their patriotism and love of country by bringing back their foreign-based funds and investing in productive enterprises in the Philippines.

During its remaining term, this administration must take the following steps: it must expand irrigation and agricultural modernization; improve farm-to-market roads and cold storage facilities; increase renewable energy investments; improve access to financing for small and medium sized enterprises and it must somehow eliminate corruption, especially in government procurement and implement anti-corruption measures.

Instead of raising taxes, additional funds can be raised by eliminating corruption in revenue-generating agencies like the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

The Philippines must not wait before stagflation becomes a full blown economic crisis before taking action. Prevention, responsible economic management, stronger domestic industries and public accountability are far less costly than recovering from a prolonged period of economic stagflation.

More than 1.16 million people had visited Manila’s two major public cemeteries by mid-afternoon Sunday, November 1, as Filipinos marked All Saints’ Day.

The Manila North Cemetery recorded an estimated 976,200 visitors as of 3 p.m., according to the latest available count from the Manila Police District.

An hour earlier, the cemetery had logged 811,200 visitors.

Meanwhile, the Manila South Cemetery had recorded 186,350 visitors as of 2 p.m., according to figures cited by the Manila city government.

The latest available tallies from the two cemeteries bring the combined number of visitors to at least 1,162,550.

Officials had expected heavy crowds during the Undas observance.

November 1 and 2, marking All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, respectively, are special non-working days.

One definition of a saint is someone who is already in heaven beholding God. The first reading today (Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14) gives us a good image of this: ‘a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue, [standing] before the throne and before the Lamb.’

The response to the psalm, ‘Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face,’ not only echoes the definition above but adds the sage advice that if we want to find ourselves beholding God in the life to come, we must seek him while we are still here on earth.

Our Gospel today (Matthew 5:1-12a) tells us how we can see God’s face. ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,’ the first Beatitude proclaims. But what does it mean to be spiritually poor? Just as the materially poor beg for their daily bread, the poor in spirit are those who take on the posture of beggars who lift up empty hands to God, recognizing they are nothing without him. Self-sufficiency can blind us; accepting our ultimate dependence on God can help us see him more clearly.

‘Blessed are those who mourn….’ Those grieving after losing a loved one surely feel deeply impoverished. We can only hope that the mourning doesn’t bury them under despair but urges them to seek out the One who promises that death is not an end but only the beginning of a new chapter. But the mourning in this Beatitude also refers to grief over sins, especially the sins we feel powerless to resist. The face of God comes like the sun in the mourning, comforting us, forgiving us, and strengthening us to try again.

‘Blessed are the meek….’ The Greek word translated as meek is pras. Biblical meekness is not weakness but God’s power exercised with his gentleness. Jesus uses the same word to describe himself, ‘Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart’ (Matthew 11:29). And Jesus lived out this meekness on the cross, when he could have come down and smote his torturers, but instead still prayed for them, ‘Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ When we are able to say the same words in prayer for those who have hurt us, we must have gotten a glimpse of God’s face.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,’ because they are actually hungering and thirsting for the God of righteousness. So, too, those who are merciful-they are seeking the God of mercy. And the peacemakers-they are trying to make peace because they are looking for the God of peace.

‘Blessed are the clean of heart….’ To know what it means to be ‘clean of heart,’ we consider its opposite: to have a heart that is cluttered. If there are too many things taking up space in our lives, God may be pushed to a hidden nook or cranny and be forgotten. The ‘clean of heart’ are those who discard extraneous things to make room for what is truly essential. Then we will indeed see God.

‘Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,’ like St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr. His bold preaching of Jesus led to his stoning. ‘But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God… and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55-56). I have always found a sobering message in the fact that we celebrate the feast of St. Stephen the day after Christmas. If we have truly seen Christ, then we must be ready to be martyrs, too-not always in the giving up of our lives but in living as faithful witnesses to Jesus.

All the Beatitudes have promises attached to them. Most are expressed in the future tense: They will be comforted; they will inherit the land; they will be satisfied. The futurity helps us cling to God in hope. It reminds us that even when our earthly labors seem to bear no visible fruit, our longing is not in vain. The ultimate fulfillment awaits the moment we step into eternal glory and finally gaze upon God face-to-face.

But the very first and the very last Beatitudes break the silence of the future to declare: ‘Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.’ The Kingdom is not merely a distant destination; it is an enduring reality now-already broken into our world, even as we await its fullness. And lest we miss it, the first part of every Beatitude is expressed in the present: not ‘Blessed will you be,’ but ‘Blessed are you….’

This shift in tense moves us beyond the transactional and into the transformational. God’s grace comes not only as a wage to be paid later. God’s grace is also life to be lived now. Goodness is its own reward because right action refines the soul.

In the Ignatian tradition, we recognize a deep spiritual law: We become what we contemplate. When we live out meekness, mercy, and peace, we are not simply performing moral duties. As we gaze upon the One who is the pure source of all meekness, mercy, and peace, we are inspired to become meek, merciful, and peaceful. By beholding God, we do not merely acquire virtues. We are transformed into his likeness, reflecting the face of God to a world that does not always see him.

Your prayer assignment this week:

Aside from the providential timing of the feast of St. Stephen, another pair of feast days has always brought me a quiet joy. November 1 is All Saints’ Day. November 2 is All Souls’ Day. But most of us Filipinos visit the resting places of our dearly departed not on November 2, but on November 1. I think this is a powerful testament of hope and faith-a bold belief that our loved ones whom we miss are already with God in heaven.

But that hope and faith can also be lived out right now. As Belinda Carlisle sings:

They say in Heaven, love comes first

We’ll make Heaven a place on Earth

Ooh, Heaven is a place on Earth

Celebrity chef Josh Boutwood admitted feeling more relieved than excited after seeing his Makati restaurant Helm retain its two Michelin stars from last year’s inaugural Philippine selection.

Boutwood, sporting his familiar handlebar mustache, spoke to reporters after Thursday’s Michelin Guide 2027 unveiling and food showcase, which featured dishes from several chefs, including him.

“I feel a lot more relief than than I do excitement because obviously retaining those stars is gonna be always gonna be a challenge,” Boutwood said.

He thanked his “wonderful” team for their work in helping Helm retain the distinction.

Helm remains the only two-Michelin-starred restaurant in the Philippines.

Eight other restaurants retained their one-star distinctions: Asador Alfonso, Celera, Gallery by Chele, Hapag, Inatô, Kása Palma, Linamnam and Toyo Eatery. Another Makati restaurant, Flow, joined the one-star list this year.

No restaurant in the Philippines has received three Michelin stars.

Boutwood said Michelin recognition is difficult to predict, noting that even strong kitchens can have bad service days and never know when an inspector might be dining.

“At the end of the day, I was never expecting to retain the two stars,” he said.

“In our humbleness, we take every day as it comes to ensure that we craft these experiences for our guests that are personal and exciting and memorable.”

Boutwood said he was also pleased to see more restaurants from Pampanga on this year’s list. The province was not included in the inaugural Philippine selection last year. It was a sticky issue since the province has a reputation for being a culinary destination.

“I love that there’s more inclusions from Pampanga. I love that the selection of restaurants is very diversified, which represents our culture a lot more. I love that fact,” Boutwood said.

Apag Marangle in Guagua and Tito Boy in Pampanga are among the 31 Bib Gourmand restaurants in the 2027 list. Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy and Souq, meanwhile, are among the 86 Michelin-Selected restaurants.

“We were all rooting for everyone and we’ll continue rooting for everyone in the years to come,” Boutwood added.

Tito Boy restaurant manager Clyde Joshua Zafra also received the Michelin Service Award.

Collective effort

Helm is not Boutwood’s only concept on the 2027 list. His other restaurants Ember, Juniper and The Test Kitchen retained their Michelin-selected recognition.

But for Boutwood, putting the Philippines on the global culinary map is a collective effort.

“I don’t see ourselves as the prominent one to do that. I look at it more collectively as an industry,” he said.

“Restaurants are personalities of our country, and if we can all work together to really promote globally, that’s what we are going to do. It’s not my job alone; it is us as an industry as a whole.”

The corporate executive chef of The Bistro Group said even restaurants that did not make the 2027 list still contribute to showcasing Philippine cuisine to a wider audience.

World No. 6 Caitlin Simmers and World No. 14 Yolanda Hopkins wasted no time making their mark as the World Surf League Championship Tour made its historic Philippine debut at Cloud 9 here yesterday, with the Filipino wildcard entries still on standby.

Simmers announced her intentions early, unlocking a near-perfect barrel for a 9.00 to oust fellow American and world champion Caroline Marks and effectively end Marks’ mathematical chances for a second world title.

A heat later, Hopkins – fifth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – delivered the first major upset of the inaugural WSL Philippines Pro Presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, knocking out world No. 3 Gabriela Bryan to throw the title race wide open.

The Philippine wildcard entries remained on standby as officials ran only the first two heats of the women’s competition, awaiting next swell.

Most awaited is Filipino pride Marama Tokong’s showdown with Brazilian powerhouse Samuel Pupo.

Simmers vs. Marks was billed as a world champion clash, and Simmers made sure it lived up to it.

The Californian found rhythm behind the curtain at Cloud 9, threading a deep backside barrel before laying down a hammer finish on the inside to post a 9.00. She backed it up with a 6.17 for a 15.17 total, well clear of Marks’ 9.00 (5.50 + 3.50).

‘Honestly, I keep telling people it’s one of my favorite waves on the planet because it’s just really tight, and you kind of have to do some exciting things in the spaces you get. It’s pretty hard to just do your stock-standard couple of turns on it,’ Simmers said of Cloud 9.

Hopkins held her composure in tricky four- to six-foot conditions to post a 5.27 and a 4.83 for a 10.10 heat total. Bryan, who struggled to find rhythm in the shifting lineup, could only muster a 7.00 (4.00 + 3.00).

The result arranged a quarterfinal showdown between Hopkins and Simmers.

The Senate majority will spare no one as it scrutinizes questionable items in the proposed 2027 national budget, Sen. Ping Lacson said Sunday, November 1.

“All means all,” Lacson said as he backed Senate finance committee chairman JV Ejercito’s effort to remove “unwarranted, whimsical and corruption-prone items” from the House-approved bill.

The scrutiny would extend to projects linked to politically influential lawmakers, including public works allocations for the congressional district of presidential son Rep. Sandro Marcos of Ilocos Norte, Lacson said.

Asked in an interview with One News whether those projects would be reviewed, Lacson replied: “Yes, absolutely.”

Lacson said Marcos’ district received the largest net increase under the House version of the spending bill. He added that senators were united in correcting questionable allocations, even those linked to allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

DPWH projects under review

The review will cover thousands of public works projects added after the executive submitted its National Expenditure Program.

The number of Department of Public Works and Highways projects rose to 16,244 in the House-transmitted General Appropriations Bill from 11,420 in the executive proposal, according to Lacson’s office.

Lawmakers introduced 6,271 projects that had not undergone initial executive review, his office said.

Ejercito secured a commitment from the DPWH to remove infrastructure projects lacking complete supporting documents before plenary deliberations unless the agency submits the requirements by Nov. 3.

Budget watchdogs have also flagged projects without supporting documents as a major risk in the House-approved bill.

Transparency measures

Lacson said the Senate majority also supported greater transparency in the remaining budget deliberations.

Ejercito has said civil society groups would be invited to observe the bicameral conference committee, whose proceedings would also be livestreamed.

The majority agreed to retain transparency measures introduced under former finance committee chairman and now Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Lacson said.

He added that he was unaware of any majority senator seeking to insert pet projects into the bill.

“In the Senate, I don’t know if anyone would dare insert pet projects. I don’t think so,” Lacson said in Filipino. “When we chat, I can feel the sentiment of my colleagues.”

The Senate will resume plenary sessions on Nov. 9. Debates on the proposed 2027 budget are expected to begin Nov. 23.

Rising Filipino boxing star Carl Jammes Martin scored the biggest win of his promising career after stunning former world title challenger David Picasso of Mexico on points to annex the WBC silver featherweight title early Sunday (Manila time) at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Martin, the 27-year-old pride of Lagawe, Ifugao, finished strong in the last two rounds to make up for an seventh-round flash knockdown and edge the favored Picasso by split decision.

The unbeaten Filipino won the 10-round bout with scores of 94-95, 95-94 and 96-93 for his 29th victory in as many fights.

And it came against the biggest name in Martin’s resume in Picasso, a one-time world championship challenger who tried his luck against pound-for-pound Japanese star Naoya Inoue in 2025.

After losing to Inoue on points in a failed bid to become the unified WBC, IBF and WBO super bantamweight champion, Picasso moved up in weight and stopped countryman Maicol Rincon in August this year to win the same minor belt he lost Sunday to Martin.

It was a close, chess match-type of a fight Sunday as both fighters measured each other out and traded shots. But Picasso made significant headway in the seventh round when he dropped Martin with a short jab to the face.

The Filipino quickly beat the count and was visibly in no danger, even protesting that he instead tripped.

Martin proceeded to land solid blows to Picasso’s head and body to make a strong case in winning the last two rounds.

‘Just patience,’ Martin said on the ring after the fight when asked how he adjusted after the crucial knockdown.

The victory put the power-punching Martin, who has 21 knockouts under his name, in a position for a world title shot.

Picasso, for his part, fell to 33-2-1 (with 18 KOs).

It is Halloween as I write this and the usual party-goers have shown up in their spookiest best.

But as we all know, here in this nation of 117 million, real life is even scarier than any horror movie or Halloween character.

The problems we face are chilling enough and one such unfolding horror story is the Super El Niño.

I’m anxious just thinking how bad it will be when we experience the worst.

The warnings have come. The creeks are drying up and soil moisture has been declining. These are clearly connected warnings of El Niño’s growing pressure on water supply, farms and livelihoods.

Agricultural land will be drastically affected by the scorching heat and with the soil drying up, there will be fewer crops to plant and harvest, and less food on our tables.

What to do then?

We must recognize these signs early and act on them. This way, authorities can help communities prepare before conditions worsen.

The real measure of preparedness is how that window is used.

Early warning

I recently read in the news that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is utilizing technology to anticipate environmental threats.

Props to the agency for turning to data and science to develop a better response to El Niño.

For instance, the DENR said it has operationalized an early warning framework by deploying automated weather stations, satellite heat stress mapping and Geographic Information System-based risk modeling (Philippine News Agency, Oct. 31).

This sounds geeky but Environment Secretary Juan Miguel ‘Mitch’ Cuna said that to put it simply, these tools help translate environmental data into field alerts that can guide authorities on the ground.

This then enables stakeholders to undertake early intervention, equipping field teams and local officials to act before severe damage occurs.

According to the PNA report, the DENR’s regional offices have put these efforts into practice.

In Central Luzon, DENR Region 3 issued coral bleaching alert updates in May, June and July 2026, drawing on satellite-derived sea surface temperature heat stress analysis from DOST-PAGASA and the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

After marine waters off Aurora reached Coral Bleaching Alert Level 1, provincial environment offices in Aurora, Bataan and Zambales were directed to monitor reefs and report bleaching incidents through the Philippine Coral Reef Bleaching Report Portal, the DENR also said.

In the north, particularly in the Ilocos Region, an integrated Red Flag Alert System connects the DENR with DOST-PAGASA and local disaster risk reduction and management offices.

Ten strategically located ranger stations equipped with lookout towers support early detection of wild land fires.

At the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Caraga, the Protected Area Management Office uses weather station data to track local heat indices, rainfall deficits and water level changes. These observations support detailed peatland fire risk maps and targeted patrols in vulnerable areas, the DENR also said.

In Catanduanes and Masbate, the DENR offices monitor weather stations daily and map signs of environmental stress. They watch out for dry forest patches and drying creeks to support local drought advisories and water conservation measures.

Protecting resources

Alongside early warning and early intervention, the DENR is also strengthening the natural systems that sustain farming through dry periods.

Measures include bamboo growing, soil conservation structures and water impounding systems, the DENR said.

These complement the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to sustain production and address farmers’ immediate needs.

In Capas, Tarlac, the DENR said its provincial office is promoting water-efficient nursery operations, including drip irrigation and improved seedling propagation. It is also developing an ecotourism park with extensive bamboo plantations and specialized nursery facilities.

Moving forward, the DENR said it also plans to expand agroforestry demonstration sites in major river basins, incorporating drought-tolerant native trees and bamboo.

These efforts, for sure, put El Niño preparedness into practice.

Hopefully, by detecting threats early, authorities can better direct action where it is needed and protect, preserve and conserve the soil and water that our country depends on.

A P10-billion investment

Last week, I also had the chance to visit the La Mesa facilities of Maynilad to see how they are preparing for El Niño.

During a briefing there, I learned that the West Zone concessionaire has undertaken nearly P10 billion worth of rehabilitation and improvement works at its facilities over several years for water system resilience efforts.

The major rehabilitation and improvement works cover treatment improvements, enhanced water recovery and raw water augmentation systems, additional raw water storage and related facility upgrades.

‘These improvements give us additional operating flexibility as raw water conditions change and support our continuing preparations for potentially drier conditions associated with El Niño,’ Maynilad COO Christopher Jaime Lichauco said.

Maynilad vice president and head of water supply operations Ronaldo Padua likewise held an extensive briefing on the La Mesa facilities.

After that I walked up to him because I just wanted to ask if water firms like Maynilad would call for a temporary halt to car wash activities.

Instead, he said households can do their part by being very conscious about water usage, car wash activities included.

For sure, every drop counts in this looming dry season. Hopefully, we survive this and other horrors that may come with the Super El Niño – high electricity prices, heat stroke, fire risks and much more.

Since when has meatloaf become a frightful treat for Halloween? Just this once perhaps, when it takes on the form of a cupcake and pairs up with creamy mashed potatoes piped on top of it to look like a mummy with large protruding eyes.

This “boo”-tiful play on traditional meatloaf is a perfect Halloween-themed treat for lunch or dinner, especially if you are gathering as a family at the cemetery or mausoleum to honor your dearly departed Lolo and Lola.

Potatoes USA-Philippines shares this recipe of Mummy Mashed Potato Meatloaf Cupcakes to make things more exciting.

Mummy Mashed Potato Meatloaf Cupcakes

Ingredients:

For the meatloaf cupcakes:

1 1/2 lbs. (680 grams) ground beef (80/20 for moisture; can substitute with half-beef, half-pork or turkey for flavor)

1 1/2 cups (120 grams) panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

3/4 cup (180 grams) whole milk

2 eggs (100 grams)

1 pc. (90 grams) small onion, grated or finely diced

2 cloves (6 grams) garlic, minced

1/2 cup (50 grams) carrot or zucchini, grated

2 tbsps. (30 grams) ketchup

2 tbsps. tomato paste

2 tbsps. (30 grams) Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. (5 grams) Dijon mustard

1 tsp. (6 grams) Kosher salt

1/2 tsp. (1 gram) black pepper

1/2 tsp. (1 gram) smoked paprika

1/2 cup (120 grams) ketchup, mixed with 2 Tbsps. (25 grams) brown sugar (glaze for meatloaf)

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a muffin tin with parchment cupcake liners to ensure that the meat doesn’t stick.

2. In a small bowl, soak breadcrumbs in milk until they form a loose paste.

3. In a large bowl, combine soaked crumbs, eggs, onion, garlic, grated vegetables, ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix gently.

4. Add ground meat last, mixing just until combined.

5. Chill mixture in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

6. Divide mixture into 12 portions and press into muffin liners. Roll into giant meatballs before pressing into the muffin tin so that they bake more evenly. They should mound above the rim of the tin.

7. Spread 1 tsp. glaze (made from 1/2 cup ketchup and 2 tbsps. brown sugar) over each meatloaf cupcake.

8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until internal temperature hits 160°F (71°C).

9. Remove from oven. Rest for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

For the mashed potatoes:

2 lbs. Russet potatoes

1 cup (240 grams) whole milk

6 tbsps. (85 grams) butter

Kosher salt, as needed

Ground black pepper, as needed

Frozen green peas, to garnish (as ghost eyeballs)

Procedure:

1. Peel potatoes and cut into uniform, 2-inch pieces to ensure they cook evenly.

2. Add diced potatoes to a bowl of cold water and let them sit for a few minutes. Starch should sink to the bottom of the bowl. Then rinse 2 to 3 times or until the water runs clear.

3. Transfer potatoes to a large pot and add enough cold water to cover them by about 1 to 2 inches.

4. Over high heat, bring the pot of water to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook potatoes for about 15 minutes or until they are fork-tender and offer no resistance when pierced with a knife.

5. Once cooked, drain the potatoes in a colander and allow them to sit for 1 to 2 minutes to release steam.

6. If using a ricer or food mill, place it over another pot to catch the potatoes as they pass through. You can also use a masher or whisk to mash them directly in the pot you used to boil them.

7. Warm your milk and butter in a separate small pot. Gradually add your warmed milk and butter to the potatoes, gently folding them in with a rubber spatula.

8. Give your mashed potatoes a taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, if needed.

9. To assemble: Once the meatloaf cups and mashed potatoes are slightly cooled, scoop into a piping bag with a large flat tip or sandwich bag with the corner snipped off.

10. Pipe mashed potatoes on top of meatloaf cupcakes in strips to form a mummy shape.

11. Add some frozen peas for eyes. Serve and enjoy.