Marcos urges Filipinos to turn Undas spirit into acts of kindness

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday called on Filipinos to extend the spirit of remembrance during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day to acts of compassion, particularly toward people who are struggling.

In his message for Undas, Marcos said the devotion Filipinos show in honoring their departed loved ones should also be reflected in how they treat those around them, including those who need help and understanding.

‘If we can make time to revere those who have passed, we can also make room to listen to those who struggle, and let that same concern guide our society and the work of government,’ he said.

Marcos said the sacrifices of departed loved ones and the selfless service of saints should inspire Filipinos to find purpose in helping others and sharing their burdens.

‘Their lives call on us to make the most of the time entrusted to us and to find lasting purpose in every kindness we give and every burden we help carry for others,’ he said.

Marcos also described the annual observance as an opportunity for Filipino families to reunite while remembering the lives and legacies of their departed relatives.

He noted that some families travel great distances to visit cemeteries, offer prayers and recall memories shared with their loved ones.

‘Even in their absence, those we have lost continue to bring us closer together, keeping alive the bonds that have made the Filipino family and the whole nation resilient and strong through challenges,’ the president said.

All Saints’ Day is observed every Nov. 1, while All Souls’ Day falls on Nov. 2. The observance traditionally brings millions of Filipinos to cemeteries, columbaria and memorial parks across the country to honor and pray for their departed loved ones.

Undas passenger volume decline noted at QC bus terminal

Fewer passengers traveled from a bus terminal in Quezon City during this year’s Undas break, with rising fares cited as one possible reason.

At the Solid North bus terminal in Cubao, there were more vacant seats in the waiting area than those already occupied by passengers around 9:20 a.m. on Sunday, which also falls on the commemoration of All Saints’ Day.

According to Nelson Danieles, the terminal’s ticket master, around 599 passengers booked a trip to Baguio from Oct. 30, 11:30 p.m. to Oct. 31, 10 p.m. Meanwhile, approximately 2,100 passengers were bound to Pangasinan on Saturday.

‘Last year kasi, mas maraming pasahero kaysa ngayon,’ Danieles told INQUIRER in an interview.

(There were more passengers last year than this year.)

Danieles also agreed with the observation of the terminal’s dispatcher that the fare increase affected this year’s passenger count.

‘Tumaas ang pamasahe, totoo yon. Oo kasi tumaas ang pamasahe dito sa kahit anong terminal, tumataas ang pamasahe,’ Danieles added.

(The fares increased.)

Danieles shared that the fare for the terminal’s trip to Dagupan, Pangasinan last year was estimated at P540, but it rose to over P600 for this year.

The LTFRB recommended the fare increase for PUVs in March 2026.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. suspended its supposed implementation, noting that ‘it was not the time to raise fares for our countrymen’ as ‘we still have problems due to the war in the Middle East.’

Six months later, the implementation of the fare increase finally pushed through.

Bus firm Victory Liner earlier called on the national government to lift the suspension of fare hike implementation as it lamented the rising cost of operational costs. It noted that as fuel prices increase, fuel accounts for approximately 45-60 percent of their operating costs. The firm’s appeal was also supported by other groups such as Provincial Bus Operators Associations of the Philippines, Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigan Bus sa Pilipinas, Southern Luzon Bus Operator Association, and Mega Manila Consortium.

JV, Lacson: Budget ‘bicam’ open to all, sparing none

Senate finance committee chair Sen. JV Ejercito and vice chair Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson promised that they would spare no one, including the son of President Marcos, from scrutiny during deliberations by the bicameral conference committee on the P7.2-trillion national budget, which is alleged to be filled with insertions akin to pork.

Ejercito, responding to calls from business groups and civil society to open the bicameral deliberations to the public, on Saturday said that the hearings would be livestreamed. Congress will resume its session on Nov. 9.

‘Having more eyes on the budget will help us spot any unvetted projects or last-minute insertions that may be introduced during the bicam,’ Ejercito said in a statement.

‘A national budget should be a direct reflection of the people’s priorities, their basic needs,’ he said. ‘From the first hearing to the final bicam, we want every single peso in the 2027 budget to be accountably and transparently allocated.’

Watchdogs invited

The bicam has often been referred to as the ‘third congress’ for holding the power to realign public funds and introduce amendments to the proposed budget away from the public eye.

Ejercito said that all Senate finance committee budget hearings would also be livestreamed to allow the public to follow through the deliberations of each agency in real time.

He said that apart from livestreaming the hearings, they have invited business coalitions, civic groups, and watchdogs to help the Senate scrutinize the House-approved version of the 2027 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

The public may monitor the bicameral deliberations using BetterGov.Ph, whose budget transparency portal is already embedded in the Senate website (https://budget-transparency-portal.senate.gov.ph).

Sandro, too? ‘Absolutely’

Lacson, who has gained recognition for his close scrutiny of government spending, said he and the others in the Senate majority bloc were on the same page as Ejercito about being fully transparent in the upcoming budget deliberations.

An allocation of P4.4 billion for public works projects in the congressional district of the son of President Marcos, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, who is also the House majority leader, has drawn sharp rebukes from critics, describing it as undue privilege.

Lacson said in an interview with OneNews on Friday that the President’s son and his budget allocation, which is the single biggest amount for a district in the entire country, will ‘absolutely’ come under scrutiny.

‘Our attitude now is to go gung-ho. If anyone gets run over, so be it. There will be no exceptions, otherwise the exception could become the general rule,’ Lacson said.

‘That’s where it starts. When some things are scrutinized while others are not, that’s when the bargaining starts,’ he added.

ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio also had noted that the P4.4 billion for Ilocos Norte’s First District Engineering Office, if approved, would be the biggest net increase among 198 engineering offices around the country.

The amount is also a part of the 6,212 new infrastructure projects worth about P180 billion that were believed to have been inserted into the 2027 national budget allegedly in the form of pork barrel.

In a five-point demand for a clean and responsive budget, which they presented to lawmakers in a statement last week, more than 30 business and civil society groups said Congress should not allow any insertion that lacks technical justifications.

The groups specifically flagged more than P180 billion worth of items added to the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which is at the center of the flood control corruption scandal.

They warned that funding questionable ‘insertions’ at the expense of legitimate infrastructure and health programs could result in another major corruption scandal similar to the flood control kickback scheme.

‘The 2027 budget must not repeat that history,’ they said.

‘Shameless’

Lacson said that the open budget deliberations would be a good platform to expose ‘shameless’ lawmakers who attempt to add funds to the budget for their benefit even after the Supreme Court recently flagged at least P467 billion in disputed funding increases in the 2024 and 2025 national budgets.

This includes the P449.5 billion in unprogrammed appropriations added to the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and a P17.992-billion increase in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Special Road Fund under the 2025 GAA.

‘As I said, it’s not just about being vigilant-we should also resort to shaming, because sometimes, some people truly have no sense of shame left,’ Lacson said.

In his State of the Nation Address in 2025 that launched the investigation of the flood control scandal, the President castigated those involved in corruption, famously saying, ‘Mahiyan naman kayo!’ (Have some shame!)

Not the right message

Former Budget Secretary Florencio ‘Butch’ Abad said that the Marcos administration was ‘not sending the right message’ by giving the President’s son the biggest allocation in infrastructure projects.

In an oblique defense of the allocation for the infrastructure projects of the President’s son, Malacañang press officer Claire Castro said last week that all House members want to take care of and improve their respective districts.

‘If a congressman’s projects are in order and the funds allocated for them will be used properly, who would have any reason to oppose them if the funding is sufficient to improve a district?’ she said. ‘And just to be clear, this isn’t specific to Congressman Sandro Marcos. I’m speaking in general terms.’

Tight security, traffic schemes ensure orderly Undas in Caraga

Thousands flocked to public cemeteries and memorial parks across Caraga starting Oct. 31, as local governments mobilized security forces, medical teams, and maritime enforcers to maintain order during Undas 2026.

In Butuan City, families began arriving early on Sunday at Uraya Memorial Gardens in Barangay Bancasi to light candles and offer prayers for their departed loved ones.

Anticipating heavier crowds through the weekend, city officials implemented an extensive traffic rerouting scheme around major cemetery corridors to prevent gridlock.

In Surigao City, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) launched intensive roving and monitoring operations across cemeteries, transport terminals, and critical transit hubs starting Oct. 31.

Surveillance focused on high-traffic areas, including the Surigao airport, central bus terminal, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) facility, Lipata port, and Gateway Crossing, as well as outlying barangays with communal burial sites.

At sea, the Maritime Industry Authority-Region 13 carried out its ‘Oplan Byaheng Ayos: Undas 2026,’ stationing inspection teams at key sea passenger hubs.

Monitoring focused on passenger volume and vessel safety compliance at the ports of Surigao, Lipata, Dapa on Siargao Island, and Butuan, as well as the Surigao City Boulevard, as inter-island holiday traffic peaked.

On land, the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, CDRRMO, and municipal health workers set up joint checkpoints and assistance desks along major intersections to maintain peace and order and provide prompt emergency medical response.

In San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, the local government imposed a curfew on public cemetery visits from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and temporarily suspended burials in all cemeteries from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 as part of its Undas observance.

Visitors are prohibited from bringing alcohol, sound systems, karaoke setups, or gambling materials.

NLEX into last four

Making it a nightmarish Halloween gig for Phoenix, NLEX took the fastest route into the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup semifinals.

Committed to ending the race-to-three quarterfinal series in Game 3, the Road Warriors hit overdrive right in the opening period to seal the deal with 137-89 romp last night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The 48-point verdict, which came after a pair of tight victories, 97-92 and 124-117, sent NLEX into its first Final Four appearance since the Season 46 edition of the Governors’ Cup in 2021-22.

It marked their first semis under debuting coach Jimmy Alapag and only the third overall for the franchise since joining the league in 2014.

Alapag’s troops will face the winner of the Last-8 duel between Rain or Shine and Converge, which is currently tied at 1-1, in another best-of-five dispute beginning Dec. 4.

Robert Bolick was the ‘Halloween killer’ on the loose, starting the carnage with his 16-point barrage spiked by an insane 2-of-2 clip from the three and 2-of-3 from four that powered NLEX to a 43-21 tear.

‘Sabi nga ni coach, bihirang-bihira yung ganitong opportunity, kailangang samantalahin namin,’ said Bolick, who finished 23 to go with five assists and four rebounds in leading NLEX’ closeout efforts.

Bolick said he was actually channeling the playoff attitude of Alapag during his heydays.

’Sh*t happens,’ until it happens to Bato

The camp of international fugitive Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa has complained about the P50-million bounty offered for his arrest, calling it baseless and claiming that it puts his life in danger. His allies, led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, are demanding ‘fairness’ and insisting that he be accorded due process.

The hypocrisy is breathtaking. This is the same Bato who served as chief implementer of Oplan Tokhang, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody and abusive war on drugs that killed thousands and terrorized communities in the name of peace and order. If Bato fears for his life because the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against him, what of the countless lives his Tokhang campaign put in danger, particularly those of the poor? His allies demand fairness, but what of the victims of extrajudicial killings whose only semblance of due process was a piece of cardboard tied to their dead bodies, branding them as drug pushers? Apparently, due process is a right when Bato needs it, but a luxury when the accused are poor and powerless.

Who could forget Bato’s infamous response when asked about the innocent young people and minors killed during the drug war? Calling them ‘collateral damage’ was apparently not enough. He dismissed their deaths with the callous remark, ‘Sh*t happens.’ That is how he treated Filipino lives, as though they were nothing more than pieces of dog sh*t someone happened to step on.

But now that his own life is at stake, suddenly, every precaution matters. His life is so precious that his lawyers have repeatedly gone to the Supreme Court seeking a temporary restraining order against the ICC warrant. For Bato, sh*t happens to everyone else. But when it comes to him, it becomes a national concern.

I can understand why Bato might be growing paranoid. He now has P50-million reasons to be scared. The bounty changes the dynamics of the manhunt. Suddenly, those who have been protecting or coddling him have P50-million reasons to reconsider their loyalties. He has P50-million reasons to suspect everyone around him, while those searching for him have P50-million reasons to become more determined, or finally take off their blinders. At that price, even the most loyal might begin to negotiate.

Of course, P50 million is small change compared with the hundreds of millions of pesos allegedly plundered by politicians, some of whom belong to Bato’s own bloc in the Senate. But maintaining a fugitive life is not cheap, either. How much would it take to keep people quiet, secure their loyalty and ensure that nobody gives him away? There is only so much trust a fugitive can place in people who know that a fortune could be theirs for turning him in. Sooner or later, someone might decide that P50 million is a better deal. Where, then, will Bato find the money to keep everyone loyal?

Bato’s demands for fairness, due process and personal safety are telling. They amount to an implicit indictment of the very police force tasked with bringing him to justice. Does he no longer trust the institution he once headed? Is he suggesting that the police cannot be trusted to act fairly? Or is he afraid that his life might be in danger in their hands?

If so, his fears are not entirely unfounded. After all, this is largely the same police force that implemented the bloody drug war he helped lead. How ironic. The very institution that reportedly used a reward system to incentivize Tokhang operations is now conducting a manhunt for a fugitive whose arrest comes with a substantial bounty. Authorities are disqualified from collecting the reward because arresting him is simply part of their job. But in a country where people have found ways around all sorts of rules, it would be wishful thinking to assume that nobody will try to find a way around this one.

If Bato genuinely wants due process, believes in his innocence and fears for his safety, then the most sensible course of action is to surrender to the authorities. He cannot demand the protection of the law while doing everything in his power to evade it. And if he is worried about his health and safety, the ICC detention facility in The Hague is hardly the hell he might want Filipinos to imagine. Just look at his former boss, Digong. He appears healthier than before.

More importantly, if Bato wants a fair opportunity to prove his innocence, the ICC offers a forum whose independence is less vulnerable to the political pressures and patronage networks that have long plagued our broken justice system. It cannot simply be bent to the will of political dynasties, intimidated by armed groups or made to operate according to the whims of political patrons. Its independence is precisely what makes it a threat to those accustomed to wielding power without answering for the consequences.

And here lies the problem. Bato’s sudden devotion to fairness and due process rings hollow coming from someone who helped lead a campaign in which thousands were killed without anything resembling a fair hearing. If he truly believes in the principles he now invokes, he should stop hiding and face the charges against him. That would mean submitting himself to a process his camp cannot control, a court his allies cannot intimidate and a judgment he cannot dictate.

This is what Bato fears most. Not the P50-million bounty. Not even the prospect of detention in The Hague. But the possibility that, for once, neither his political connections nor their old tricks will be enough to save him.

Rainy All Saints’ Day expected in parts of Luzon

Rains are expected in parts of Northern Luzon on All Saints’ Day, November 1, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its Sunday weather forecast, PAGASA said a shear line is affecting the eastern section of Northern Luzon, while the northeast monsoon, locally known as *amihan*, is affecting the rest of the region.

Mainland Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga and Isabela may experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms due to the shear line.

PAGASA warned of possible flash floods or landslides in these areas due to moderate to, at times, heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the *amihan* may bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains to Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Abra and Benguet.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA warned that severe thunderstorms may still trigger flash floods or landslides in affected areas.

Typhoon outside PAR

PAGASA is also monitoring Typhoon In-Fa outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

As of 3 a.m., the typhoon was located 2,290 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon.

It had maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 190 kph.

In-Fa was moving east-northeastward at 10 kph.

Learning never stops for Ateneo prized rookie after falling short anew vs La Salle

Another Ateneo-La Salle game, another learning experience for Kieffer Alas.

Following a tight overtime loss against rivals Green Archers, the Ateneo guard said that tough losses give them more opportunities to learn as the Final Four race heats up.

The Blue Eagles suffered a 76-73 overtime loss against La Salle on Saturday evening.

This pushed them to a 5-5 win-loss record, while La Salle rose to solo third with a 6-4 slate.

After the game, Alas underscored that it will give them invaluable insight as the pressure rises in the Final Four race.

‘The losses don’t feel good, but the experience felt good because I feel like it’s a learning experience that we can bring. We lost both games, big crowds, so I guess that’s a learning thing for us,’ the rookie, who finished with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, told reporters.

‘And like what my dad [Coach Louie Alas] says, our maturity in a way, especially with crowds like these, because those are the types of tests we’re gonna face, especially if God’s willing we make the Final Four. The arena’s gonna be full for sure, so I guess losses like this are lessons for us,’ he added.

In the first round, Ateneo also dropped a 76-83 decision against La Salle.

In that game, the Green Archers pulled away in the final few minutes to grab the win.

On Saturday, Ateneo had chances to go for the win, but breaks of the game went their rivals’ way.

Alas had a chance to go for the win in regulation with the ballgame tied at 66-all, but his shot missed.

‘I just missed, honestly. It was a broken play, but I feel like I had the one-on-one opportunity against [Henry] Agunanne. I just missed. I feel like that was the best shot we could’ve gotten,’ he said.

‘We live and we learn, right? I take that shot every time, honestly. It’s just a matter of it goes in or it doesn’t go in,’ he added.

But now, with four elimination round games remaining, Alas is optimistic with the Katipunan-based squad’s chances of making the semifinals.

‘We’re going to stay locked in. So, like what I said, just keep the faith, keep on believing. I personally believe it’s just a bump in the road,’ he said.

‘Honestly, I think it’s a 50% chance to make the final four because we’re 5-5, ‘di ba? So, yeah, it’s just up to us, honestly. It’s not even with the skills, it’s just the willingness. So, I feel like we got that. We’ve been through worse.’

Bulldogs boost twice-to-beat bid

National U firmed up grip of the second spot and shored up its twice-to-beat drive with a repeat win over Santo Tomas, 75-71, in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bulldogs erected an early 12-point lead and fended off multiple rallies by the Growling Tigers to jump to 7-3 and stay within striking distance of the pace-setting University of the Philippines (7-2).

More than that, NU dodged a bullet from Santo Tomas that could have dragged it to the tightrope middle pack featuring five teams with four or five losses.

Mo Diassana led the way with a 16-point, 19-rebound double-double while his twin tower partner PJ Palacielo had 14 points and six boards.

The Bulldogs, who needed no game-winner this time around after Reinhard Jumamoy’s triple in the first round for an 87-85 escape act, drew solid coverage from Kenshin Padrones and Tebol Garcia with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

‘It’s a good win for us kasi isa rin sa contenders ‘yung UST. Good thing for us, lumabas ‘yung effort namin in the last minutes. It’s all about mindset and effort every game,’ said NU coach Jeff Napa, wanting no complacency after wasting a twice-to-beat edge last season as the No. 1 seed.

Later, titlist La Salle pulled off a 76-73 overtime escape act from archrival Ateneo to gain solo third place at 6-4. It’s a repeat win for the Green Archers after an 83-76 win in the first round as the Blue Eagles slid to 5-5.

BARMM stakeholders lauded for successful polls

A Catholic bishop has lauded all stakeholders for the peaceful and democratic election of Bangsamoro’s first chief minister and other BARMM officials under its regular parliamentary government.

Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue (CBCP-ECID), described the development as a historic step in the region’s peace process.

Bagaforo welcomed the election of Abdulraof Macacua, emphasizing the importance of a peaceful transition to the new Bangsamoro leadership.

The bishop’s statement came after Macacua secured 51 votes against 27 for former Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim in the October 30 selection during the inaugural session of the first regular Bangsamoro Parliament. One member abstained and another was absent.

Bagaforo also commended the MILF and its leaders, led by Chairman Ahod ‘Al Haj Murad’ Ebrahim and Vice Chair Mohagher Iqbal, for a peaceful and democratic transition from its interim administration.

The election marked a significant political development for the region, formally ending the seven-year administration of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and ushering in its first regular parliamentary government.

Bagaforo described Macacua’s election as ‘a historic step for the peace process,’ noting that he is the first to hold the chief minister’s office under the newly established regular BARMM government.

The CBCP-ECID also recognized the MILF’s role in ensuring a peaceful and orderly transfer of leadership, a development that underscores the importance of democratic processes and the continuing commitment to the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the MILF.

‘On behalf of the CBCP-ECID, we express our support and solidarity with the new Bangsamoro government and Parliament,’ Bagaforo said.

‘The Church will continue to walk with our Muslim brothers and sisters, with Indigenous Peoples, and with all communities in the region in dialogue, friendship, and the common work of building a just and lasting peace,’ he added.

The bishop also expressed hope that the new administration would pursue open and just governance, giving due attention to the welfare of all communities in the region, including Muslims, Christians, Indigenous Peoples and other sectors.

The peaceful selection of Macacua also reflected the message delivered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the inaugural session, when he described the establishment of the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament as a milestone in the peace process between the national government and the MILF.

‘This day is a milestone in the peace process between the National government and MILF, marking the transition from armed struggle to peaceful democratic governance,’ Marcos said.

The president also called on the new parliamentary coalition to uphold ‘unity, statesmanship, and cooperation’ as it assumes responsibility for governing the region.

He stressed that the success of the new political arrangement should not be measured solely by the conduct of elections or the peaceful selection of its leaders, but by their capacity to translate the gains of peace into responsive governance, economic opportunities and better public services.

‘Above all, it means ensuring that the dividends of peace are felt in the daily lives of every Bangsamoro family,’ Marcos said, underscoring the responsibility of the new government to make the transition meaningful to ordinary people.

The president likewise reaffirmed the national government’s support for Bangsamoro autonomy and its democratic institutions, assuring the region that the national government stands with its people.

‘Your success is the success of the country. Hinding-hindi namin kayo pababayaan,’ Marcos declared