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The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has ordered the immediate suspension of the safety certificates of motorized banca M/B Rose Marie 1 and fast craft MV Ocean Jet 788 following separate maritime incidents in Cagayan and Bohol.

In a statement on Sunday, November 1, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the incidents occurred on October 31.

The vessels are prohibited from operating while their certificates are suspended and must undergo safety inspections before they can be cleared as seaworthy.

Initial reports indicated that rough sea conditions and uncontrolled movement of livestock caused M/B Rose Marie 1 to partially submerge in waters between Dalupiri and Fuga islands in Cagayan at around 8:15 a.m.

All eight people aboard, including the captain, survived the incident. Six of the 11 livestock animals aboard died.

Hours later, at around 10:57 a.m., MV Ocean Jet 788 encountered an electrical failure while maneuvering to dock at the Port of Tagbilaran in Bohol.

According to the DOTr, the power disruption affected the vessel’s bridge engine remote control and throttle system, temporarily compromising its maneuverability.

Both vessels remain barred from operations pending safety inspections and technical assessments by MARINA.

For an archipelagic country like the Philippines, security at sea is inseparable from the daily lives of our people. It affects the fisherman going out before sunrise, the ships carrying fuel and food and the businesses that depend on reliable deliveries. When we discuss defense cooperation, these are the interests we must keep firmly in mind.

The proposal announced by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Cebu last Wednesday for a US-ASEAN Framework for Defense Cooperation therefore deserves serious consideration. Speaking before Southeast Asian defense chiefs, he called for a practical framework to guide cooperation over the coming years, including stronger maritime awareness and closer cooperation among naval forces.

There are important details still to be worked out. A proposed framework should not be mistaken for an agreement already concluded, much less a new collective defense treaty. Its value will ultimately depend on what participating countries are prepared to contribute, what activities they agree to undertake and whether these produce measurable improvements in regional security.

The Philippines should take an active part in shaping this discussion. We have every reason to support arrangements that strengthen our ability to protect our people and exercise our lawful rights. We also have a responsibility to ensure that cooperation serves our national interests and contributes to a more stable neighborhood.

One of the more useful points Hegseth made was his recognition that the United States and ASEAN need not agree on everything to cooperate where their interests meet. That is a realistic basis for diplomacy. Countries have different histories, security concerns and economic relationships. An effective regional initiative must make room for those differences.

ASEAN members will naturally examine the proposal through their own national circumstances. Some may welcome broader cooperation; others may prefer a more cautious pace. We should approach discussions with patience and respect. Building confidence requires listening carefully to what our neighbors consider useful and accepting that common ground sometimes emerges through modest but sustained efforts.

A sensible starting point would be helping countries understand more clearly what is happening in their surrounding waters. Maritime domain awareness may sound technical, but its purpose is straightforward: detecting vessels, identifying unusual activity and sharing relevant information promptly. Better information can help authorities respond to emergencies and reduce the danger of incidents being misunderstood.

For Filipino fishermen, the question is whether stronger cooperation can help make their working lives safer. For our maritime personnel, it is whether they have adequate equipment, reliable communications and the training needed to perform difficult duties professionally. These practical concerns should help determine priorities as the proposed framework takes shape.

Joint training could also address search and rescue, disaster response and communication during encounters at sea. Countries can develop habits of cooperation in these areas while delivering benefits their citizens readily understand. In a region exposed to destructive storms and other natural disasters, improving the ability to assist one another should command broad support.

We must, however, be clear about the purpose of closer defense ties. The objective should be to prevent conflict and discourage coercion while keeping diplomatic channels open. Stronger capabilities carry a corresponding obligation to exercise restraint. Professional conduct and reliable communication become especially important when vessels and aircraft operate near one another under tense circumstances.

Differences with China must continue to be managed through diplomacy, with a firm commitment to lawful maritime rights. We should pursue constructive engagement wherever possible. Respectful relations require candor, including the ability to discuss serious disagreements without allowing every aspect of the relationship to become hostage to them.

At the same time, cooperation with the US should be judged by its consistency and practical results. Announcements must be followed by sustained attention, appropriate resources and programs that respond to regional needs. Southeast Asian countries should have a meaningful voice in setting the agenda, including how cooperation is carried out and evaluated.

For our part, we must continue investing in our own capabilities. Partnerships can support our efforts, but we remain responsible for strengthening our institutions, maintaining equipment and preparing personnel. Public confidence also depends on responsible spending and clear explanations of how defense investments help protect the country. Every peso must have a defensible purpose. Security cooperation will earn broader support when people see its connection to economic opportunity.

Investors need confidence that commerce can continue without disruption. Coastal communities need safe access to their livelihoods. Families need dependable supplies and affordable essentials. A peaceful maritime environment helps create the conditions in which these everyday needs can be met.

As this year’s ASEAN chair, the Philippines can encourage a practical discussion that Singapore can carry forward next year. We should help identify achievable priorities and invite our neighbors to shape them together. Success should be measured by greater trust and competence, with arrangements that countries can sustain beyond a single meeting.

We should also ask how progress will be assessed. Regular consultations could establish whether information reaches the right agencies, whether exercises improve coordination and whether smaller participating countries receive useful assistance. Keeping expectations realistic from the beginning would strengthen credibility. A framework that delivers a few worthwhile improvements can build the confidence needed for deeper cooperation over time, provided governments remain accountable for commitments they choose to make to citizens.

The Cebu proposal gives us an opening worth pursuing. Our task is to help turn it into cooperation that protects sovereignty and makes miscalculation less likely. The Philippines should bring both resolve and an openness to dialogue to that effort. Filipinos deserve the confidence of knowing that their country is responsibly preparing for uncertainty while working steadily for peace.

Actress Rhian Ramos resembled Nikki from the hit indie horror flick ‘Obsession,’ while the family of Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado opted for some of the scariest characters from the ‘Conjuring’ universe.

Rhian’s Sunday Instagram post showed her dressing up as Nikki, the unfortunate character in the 2025 breakout film about a shy man who uses a store-brought willow to make his girl best friend fall in love with him.

‘Freaky Riri,’ Rhian wrote on her caption on her Instagram carousel showing herRhian is not the only one who looked to the movies for inspiration.

Dennis and Jennylyn, together with their three kids, dressed up as iconic scary characters from popular horror films.

Jennylyn chose Valak, the demonic entity dressed as a nun, while her daughter, Dylan, is made up as Annabelle doll. These two characters are part of the popular ‘Conjuring’ horror cinematic universe created by James Wan.

Dennis, meanwhile, opted to dress as Art the Clown from the Terrifier films. Their two boys, Calyx and Alex Jazz, went as Michael Myers from the ‘Halloween’ film franchise and Ghostface from the ‘Scream’ movies, respectively.

Rumored couple Klea Pineda and Janella Salvador opted to put a twist to the popular BL or bromance series about two ice hockey players, ‘Heated Rivalry.’

The other stars also dressed their favorite characters in the two most popular balls in town: New Nocturnals organized by Raymond Gutierrez and Shake, Rattle and Ball by Tim Yap.

The foreign contingent seeing action in the 108th Philippine Open presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will not lack the firepower, with former Asian Tour Order of Merit winners John Catlin of the United States and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond leading the field.

The finale of the Tour’s 2026 season will be held from November 12 at the Masters of Manila Southwoods here, and Catlin and Janewattananond still have shots at winning their second OOM with a victory and take Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolpasert out of No. 1.

Catlin will come to the Philippines seeking to win a seventh national open title – and one which is the oldest in Asia.

“You know, anytime you can win a national open, I think it just adds a little bit of extra prestige,” Catlin, who has also won in Australia, England, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Ireland, said after triumphing in Hong Kong last May. “Anytime you can win a national open is just incredible.”

Catlin won twice in his OOM year in 2024, and one of them was a victory in Macau where he shot the Asian Tour’s first sub-60 score, a 59 in the third round to finish with a 23-under tally before beating David Puig in the first hole of sudden death of the International Series event.

The Asian Tour had said that the top 20 in the OOM are committed to play the $1-million (around P64-million) championship, as Tangkamolprasert tries to finish No. 1 for the first time in a long career.

Travis Smyth of Australia is running second, with Ian Syman of South Africa shooting to end the season with the second win of his career after he had broken through in Taiwan last May.

Taichi Kho of Hong Kong is running fifth behind Catlin, and the 2023 Rookie of the Year is also looking for his second win of the season after ruling the defunct IS stop in Morocco.

Miguel Tabuena is the highest-ranked Filipino in the Open field this month, sitting at No. 447 in the world and looking for a follow-up to his last win on local soil that literally came at his home course of Sta. Elena close to 14 months ago.

A full field of 132 players will answer the starting gun on November 12, with the Philippines to enter as many as 29 players.

Angelo Que, who ruled the local PGT’s OOM after a decent finish in the finale at Apo Golf on Friday, will be one of three former champions entered counting Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and Berry Henson of the United States, who beat Jay Bayron at Wack Wack East more than a decade back

Actor and pet owner John Arcilla called for an investigation after reports that remains of pets entrusted to a crematorium were instead dumped in a vacant lot in Bulacan.

The award-winning actor took to social media on Sunday to call for accountability and an investigation into the incident.

Arcilla shared that all 11 of his dogs that died of old age or illness had been cremated.

He said pet owners who pay for cremation services deserve to know whether their pets received the services they paid for.

“KAILANGAN ma-investigate lahat ng pet crematoriums at ma-double-check ang kanilang facilities kung able and capable ba silang mag-operate as crematoriums. Kung hindi at kahina-hinala ang kanilang operations, DAPAT IPA-CLOSE ITO, at ipakulong ang mga sangkot dito,” Arcilla wrote.

He stressed that pet owners spend significant amounts on such services because they consider their pets part of their families.

“HINDI ITO OVERREACTION. We pay a good sum for these services. For the love of our pets, whom we consider members of our families,” Arcilla said.

The actor also tagged animal welfare groups, including the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), which has called on affected pet owners to pursue legal action.

The fearless Ifugao ‘Wonder Boy’ puts his boxing future on the line against Mexican warrior David Picasso in a scheduled 10-round featherweight fight at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia early this morning (Manila time) with the consequence weighing heavily on the WBO No. 1 superbantamweight contender in his 126-pound debut.

Carl Jammes Martin, 27, has trained three months in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, preparing for the toughest test of his career. MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said it’s a huge opportunity for Martin to showcase his wares. ‘Carl has to fight his fight and we’ll find out what he’s made of,’ said Gibbons. ‘He’s got the skills to win and fight at this level. He’s superbly coming out and he feels good. It’s a big night for Carl.’

Battling overseas isn’t a concern for Martin who’s beaten Mexicans twice in Mexico and once in Nevada. He’s called out Naoya Inoue and John Riel Casimero to a duel, showing no fright and no respect. Martin’s climb to the top has been meteoric, turning pro in 2016 weighing 110 pounds and later invading the flyweight, superflyweight, bantamweight and superbantamweight ranks. If Martin decides to stay in the featherweight class, a win over Picasso, who’s rated No. 2 by WBC and No. 8 by WBA, would be a major step forward.

Picasso, 26, has a 33-1-1 record, with 18 KOs compared to Martin’s 28-0, with 21 KOs. Last year, he lost a decision to Inoue in Riyadh. The right-handed Picasso has a five-inch reach advantage over Martin, a southpaw, and will use it to keep the Filipino a safe distance away from engaging at close quarters.

The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) is seeking greater private sector participation in addressing water security risks as climate change, rising demand and infrastructure gaps threaten water supply and business operations.

The business-led disaster resilience organization on Tuesday launched the four-year Building Resilience through Inclusive Development and Gender Equality (BRIDGE) Project, funded by the Government of Canada, to strengthen water management and climate resilience in Antipolo and Baguio.

‘Businesses can improve water-use efficiency, reduce avoidable losses, explore water reuse where appropriate and incorporate water-related risks into operational and investment decisions,’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said.

PDRF president Rene Meily said the initiative would work with water concessionaires, local governments and other partners, particularly in addressing the needs of women and Indigenous peoples.

‘Clean water is a right. Its availability and use are critical for both communities and businesses,’ Meily said.

Antipolo and Baguio, both implementing partners of the project, face challenges involving rising demand and limited local government resources.

Antipolo Vice Mayor Roberto Puno Jr. said the city’s population was approaching one million, driving demand for water and wastewater services.

‘A lot of the issues come with simply not having enough resources to tackle these issues. We’re in need of personnel who are specially trained; we’re in need of data, feasibility studies,’ Puno said.

Baguio City Environment and Parks Management Office head Rhenan Diwas said immediate concerns such as water security require more extensive solutions than smaller, annual environmental programs.

‘Some environmental challenges can be resolved through fragmented, smaller annual programs, but immediate issues like water security require an ambitious solution. That can only be done when the government taps into the support of the private sector,’ Diwas said.

Manila Water president and CEO Roberto Jose Locsin called on international partners to prioritize local capacity-building to ensure investments generate lasting benefits.

‘I would like to see international partners focus on building local capacity and putting in place the fundamental structures that will enable investments to deliver lasting benefits, even beyond the grant period,’ Locsin said.

Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said the company works with Dumagat communities on livelihood opportunities and watershed protection through tree planting and maintenance.

The company also supports low-income communities through Samahang Tubig Maynilad, which helps organize local water associations, and its Pag-asa sa Patubig Partnership, which works with social enterprises to expand water access in underserved areas.

More than 900,000 Filipinos have purchased the P20 per kilo rice from the government in September, according to the Department of Agriculture yesterday.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said 961,346 Filipinos purchased 21.4 million kilos of the P20 rice, an increase from the April data of 838,695 buyers.

He said this is the highest monthly turnout since the Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! initiative was launched in May 2025.

Tiu Laurel said the affordable rice program has helped more than 5.6 million Filipinos from January to September while supporting local farmers.

Data from the DA showed 135.98 million kilos of rice were sold since the start of the year in Kadiwa stores.

‘If each beneficiary represents an average Filipino household, this means around 22.4 million have been fed by the P20 rice program,’ Tiu Laurel said.

The DA said the initiative eased food costs for households as rice takes a nine percent share in an average Filipino household’s budget.

President Marcos said he wants to sustain the affordable rice program until he steps down from his post in June 2028.

Banks expect stronger demand for loans this quarter while keeping lending standards largely unchanged despite lingering economic uncertainty, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Results of the BSP’s latest Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey (SLOS) showed that 80.8 percent of respondent banks expect to maintain their credit standards for business loans in the fourth quarter, higher than 71.2 percent in the previous quarter.

For household loans, 85.7 percent of banks expect lending standards to remain unchanged, up from 77.1 percent in the third quarter.

Credit standards refer to the rules banks use in approving loans, including interest rates, collateral requirements, loan amounts and repayment terms. The results suggest that banks are becoming less inclined to tighten lending requirements.

For business loans, the share of banks expecting to tighten credit standards declined to 17.3 percent from 28.8 percent. Meanwhile, 1.9 percent intends to ease lending rules, compared with none previously.

For household loans, the share of banks expecting tighter standards fell to 11.4 percent from 17.1 percent, while those expecting easier requirements declined to 2.9 percent from 5.7 percent.

Despite the softer tightening bias, banks cited uncertainty over the economic outlook, deteriorating borrower profiles and reduced willingness to take risks as factors that could prompt stricter lending requirements.

Meanwhile, banks anticipate stronger borrowing appetite from both businesses and consumers in the October to December period.

For enterprise loans, 69.2 percent of banks expect demand to remain unchanged, down from 75 percent in the previous quarter.

However, the share of banks expecting higher business loan demand rose to 26.9 percent from 19.2 percent, while those anticipating weaker demand declined to 3.8 percent from 5.8 percent.

The BSP attributed the expected pickup to higher financing requirements for inventories and accounts receivable, or money owed to businesses by their customers, as well as limited access to alternative funding sources.

A similar trend emerged in household lending, where 37.1 percent of banks expect demand to increase in the fourth quarter, nearly double the 20 percent recorded in the previous survey.

Meanwhile, 60 percent expect household loan demand to remain unchanged, down from 71.4 percent, while only 2.9 percent anticipate a decline, compared with 8.6 percent previously.

Banks expecting higher household loan demand cited stronger consumer spending, more attractive bank financing terms and increased housing investment as major drivers.

The BSP survey gathered responses from 55 out of 60 banks between Sept. 2 and Oct. 6.

The quarterly survey covers universal and commercial banks, thrift banks and rural banks. It tracks changes in banks’ lending policies and their assessment of borrowing demand, providing an indication of future credit conditions in the economy.

Economists expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to raise interest rates again in December, with some seeing further tightening in early 2027 as persistent inflation, elevated oil prices and peso depreciation continue to threaten price stability.

Analysts from Citi, Oxford Economics, Security Bank and Chinabank Research see another rate increase as increasingly likely following the Monetary Board’s larger-than-expected 50-basis-point hike last week, which brought the benchmark interest rate to 5.50 percent.

While Citi, Oxford Economics and Security Bank expect another 25-basis-point increase in December, their outlooks diverge for next year. Citi sees the policy rate climbing to six percent by February 2027, while Oxford Economics expects the BSP to hold rates steady after December. Chinabank, meanwhile, sees the possibility of monetary easing being delayed until late 2027 or early 2028.

The BSP’s benchmark interest rate influences borrowing costs across the economy, with higher rates intended to curb demand and prevent inflation from becoming more entrenched.

The central bank’s latest move marked its fourth consecutive rate hike this year, bringing cumulative increases to 125 basis points as authorities sought to contain broadening price pressures and prevent inflation expectations from rising further.

In its latest assessment, Citi said the BSP’s more aggressive monetary tightening reflected growing concerns over the persistence of inflation, particularly as elevated fuel prices feed into transport costs, food distribution and other goods and services.

‘We call for at least a 25-bp hike in December, followed by another 25-bp hike in the first meeting of 2027 which we expect would be in February,’ Citi said. This would bring the policy rate to six percent by early 2027.

However, it warned that the benchmark rate could climb as high as 6.25 percent if the peso depreciates more sharply in the coming months, potentially prompting a larger 50-basis-point increase in December.

The bank expects inflation to peak around April next year, with monetary easing potentially beginning in late 2027 or early 2028 as price pressures gradually subside.

Headline inflation accelerated to 7.2 percent in September from 6.1 percent in August, while core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items, rose to 4.7 percent from 4.1 percent.

Similarly, Oxford Economics expects another 25-bp increase in December as higher food and energy prices generate stronger second-round effects, or the broader impact of initial price increases on wages, transport fares and other goods and services.

Oxford Economics assistant economist Jun Hao Ng said he expects inflation to average 5.9 percent this year and 4.5 percent in 2027, with the peso’s depreciation further strengthening the case for continued monetary tightening.

He also noted that the country’s gross international reserves fell by 8.8 percent year-on-year in September to their lowest level in three years, adding to concerns over the economy’s external position.

Meanwhile, Security Bank chief economist Angelo Taningco also anticipates a 25-basis-point increase at the Monetary Board’s Dec. 17 meeting, bringing the policy rate to 5.75 percent.

Taningco said the central bank’s larger-than-expected October adjustment appeared aimed at containing accelerating inflation and rapid peso depreciation.

Security Bank expects inflation to remain above seven percent in the final three months of 2026, averaging 7.4 percent in the fourth quarter, before moderating next year.

Given the BSP’s ongoing monetary tightening campaign, Security Bank also no longer expects a reduction in banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) this quarter.

The RRR refers to the portion of deposits that banks must maintain as reserves rather than lend out. Security Bank now expects the ratio to remain at five percent instead of being reduced by 200 basis points as previously anticipated.

Chinabank likewise said another rate hike in December was becoming increasingly likely, although the case for further tightening would depend on incoming inflation and economic growth data.

However, Chinabank cautioned that monetary policy may have limited effectiveness in addressing supply-driven inflation arising from El Niño, transport fare adjustments and higher food prices.

It also pointed out that minimum wage adjustments have been more moderate than initially expected, while the extent to which government spending could support domestic economic activity in the second half of the year remains uncertain.