Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Rep. Leila M. de Lima on Tuesday called on the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and President Marcos Jr. to expedite the selection of the next Ombudsman in light of the ongoing investigations into anomalous government projects.

In a statement, De Lima said the state watchdog post must not be left vacant for too long ‘so that cases can continue to progress, those who should be held accountable can be held accountable, and the people can achieve justice.’

Her statement comes after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)’s recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman to file criminal and administrative charges against former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co and 17 others over an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

The project was implemented by Sunwest Inc., a company Co founded.

The Ombudsman is also expected to play a greater role in the broader anti-corruption crackdown ordered by President Marcos Jr.

However, as of Sept. 30, Mr. Marcos has yet to appoint an Ombudsman, which has remained pending since former Ombudsman Samuel Martires retired on July 27, 2025.

As of last week, the JBC said it would hold its deliberations on the vacancy ‘in the coming weeks’ instead of last Sept. 19 to give Sen. Francis Pangilinan, the new chair of the Senate committee on justice, time to review the applications.

The current acting ombudsman is Dante Vargas, who so far has ordered the suspension of 16 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects.

Still, ‘given the extent of the collusion and the number of legislators and government officials involved in the anomalous flood control projects, there is a need for a regular Ombudsman who can truly focus on and respond to the complaints that land in their office,’ De Lima said.

The former justice secretary added that it was all the more imperative for an Ombudsman to oversee the proceedings as the office was expected to receive additional complaints as the ICI investigation progressed.

She expressed hopes that the future Ombudsman appointee would also address the unnecessary and unfortunate dismissal of cases due to inordinate delays in fulfilling its mandate under the Constitution. ‘As the country’s Tanodbayan, the Ombudsman should champion the government’s anti-corruption efforts. It must be swift, serious, and fair in filing solid cases against erring public officials who plunder the nation’s wealth,’ she said.

Lip Sync Assassin walked away as one of the big winners at the recently concluded CinePride Film Festival in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Precious Paula Nicole, star of the short film, bagged the award for Best Lead Performance, while Jon Galvez was honored as Best Director. Nicole also got a Special Citation for Best Performance at the Sinag Maynila 2025 Awards Night. The win was celebrated as they returned to The Philippines through a press conference that featured a special screening of Lip Sync Assassin.

Nicole and Galvez shared the victory with the local film, LGBTQIA+, and drag communities. Nicole said that the role was something meant for her as she got the call from Galvez two weeks after she manifested the opportunity. Galvez, on the other hand, always thought that Nicole would be perfect for the movie while he was writing the script. ‘Complex nga ‘yung character ni Sampaguita pero kailangan puno siya ng puso kasi willing siyang ibigay ang lahat lahat para sa pamilya. And meron din akong nakitang parang magic kay Precious even when I was following her career in Drag Race na ‘yun eh all heart lagi ang binibigay niya.’

Lip Sync Assassin follows the story of Sampaguita, a drag queen who also works as a contract assassin so she can earn extra for her daughter and ill mother. Galvez tags it as a breadwinner story which partly resonates with his previous experience as an OFW based in Singapore. The movie also features Star Magic’s Argel Saycon plus drag queen favorite Hana Beshie. At the press conference, Nicole reflected on how she never says no to a challenge and hopes her recent milestone as an actress encourages more people to dream big. ‘Mahirap siya talaga, ako nga po after 20 years nangyari sa akin yung pag-arte, pero hindi ko binitawan.’ Lip Sync Assassin was screened at select movie houses all throughout the metro until the end of September thanks to Sinag Malaya 2025.

CinePride Film Festival was held last September 11-14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. It serves as a global celebration of LGBTQIA+ stories through film debuts, workshops, and panel discussions. This year’s films featured international drag legends BenDelaCreme, Monét X Change, and Jinkx Monsoon.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said it may look into banks after a congressional inquiry flagged large cash transactions linked to a flood control scandal, although the watchdog declined to say whether such an investigation was already underway.

The state-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), meanwhile, ‘strongly refuted’ any insinuations of irregularity in its handling of government contractor accounts, stressing that all questioned transactions had complied with mandated procedures.

AMLC Executive Director Matthew David told the Inquirer that under its supervisory and investigative mandates, the council also examines potential administrative and criminal liabilities of covered entities, including banks and their employees, for compliance lapses.

Still, David stopped short of saying whether the AMLC had opened a specific probe, citing confidentiality rules.

Sanctions

But he said the AMLC may check whether banks and other covered entities were meeting their legal duties, including vetting clients under ‘know your customer’ rules, keeping proper records, and filing required transaction and suspicious activity reports on time.

‘Noncompliance with these obligations may result in enforcement actions under the Enforcement Action Guidelines, and administrative sanctions under the Rules of Procedure in Administrative Cases,’ David said, adding that failure to submit required reports may also give rise to liability under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

‘The AMLC remains committed to upholding the integrity of the financial system and ensuring that all covered entities adhere to their legal obligations in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing,’ he continued.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has launched its probe into potential vulnerabilities of concerned banks in relation to transactions involving flood control projects. The review, it said, was aimed at determining the scope of any lapses and holding lenders accountable where shortcomings are found.

The BSP opened the inquiry following explosive testimony in congressional hearings, where witnesses described large cash withdrawals and deliveries to lawmakers allegedly tied to irregular flood control projects.

Photos of stacks of banknotes submitted as evidence of kickbacks to legislators intensified public anger, sparking mass protests on Sept. 21. The AMLC has issued more than 700 freeze orders covering bank accounts, insurance policies and other assets of individuals linked to the alleged scheme.

At a Senate hearing on Sept. 25, senators questioned contractor Sally Santos, who admitted withdrawing P457 million in cash in just two days from a LandBank branch in Bulacan. Santos, owner of Syms Construction Trading, is among several contractors implicated in the flood control scandal.

Lawmakers also pressed Ma. Lilibeth Lim, the branch manager who authorized the withdrawal. Lim reasoned out that since the account was tied to a government agency, it was not treated as suspicious. Under existing laws, transactions involving P500,000 or more in cash must be reported to the AMLC as a covered transaction.

In a statement on Monday, LandBank said the funds were legitimate government allocations under the annual national budget law, not private or unverified sources. Therefore, it argued that the bank, ‘or any other financial institution, has no legal authority to block or question duly appropriated government disbursements.’

‘LandBank reiterates that its role is to faithfully execute banking transactions in accordance with law and regulatory standards, and not to assume investigatory functions outside its legal mandate,’ it added.

Last Sept. 28, the nation should have remembered the birthday of Wenceslao ‘Bintao’ Vinzons. But few did. Many young Filipinos have never even heard his name. Among the older generations, his story has faded into the footnotes of World War II. And yet, in a time when the country is engulfed by scandal after scandal-when public office is reduced to the pursuit of family wealth, dynasty, and kickbacks-Vinzons’ life and death strike with the force of an indictment.

We are living through a crisis of corruption and impunity. The images seared into the public imagination are obscene: bundles of thousand-peso bills stacked on tables, waiting to be delivered as kickbacks; words like tara and obligasyon now part of the common tongue, as if plunder were as ordinary as breathing. Politicians shrug off exposés, tighten their seat belts, and ride out the storm. They know anger can be loud but fleeting. What is left is a public demoralized, persuaded that the Philippine government is little more than a criminal syndicate in barong tagalog.

This is why Vinzons matters now. Born in 1910 in Indan, Camarines Norte, he became the UP student council chair and editor of the Philippine Collegian. He was a visionary, farseeing, brilliant advocate for a pan-Malay union. He founded Young Philippines, a political party of law students who insisted that the youth was not a waiting room but a vanguard. At 24, he was a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention. At 27, he was governor. At 29, a congressman. But his true test came not in the halls of lawmaking but in the forests of Bicol.

When Japan invaded, Vinzons organized 2,800 guerrillas in Camarines Norte. His command was one of the earliest, fiercest resistance groups in the country. For the Japanese, neutralizing Vinzons was essential. When he was captured in 1942, they offered him collaboration: help pacify the resistance in exchange for his life. He refused.

But the refusal did not cost him alone. The Japanese retaliated by executing six members of his family-his father Gabino, his wife Liwayway, his sister, and two of his children. An unborn child was lost with Liwayway. Vinzons knew this was likely. He chose the nation anyway.

This is the staggering reversal. In the Philippines, the family has always rivaled the state for the loyalty of its citizens. Politicians rationalize dynasties as the necessary scaffolding of competitiveness for public office. But Vinzons turned this proposition on its head. He chose to sacrifice his family so that the nation-and the families of 2,800 guerrillas under his command-might live.

Measured against that, how obscene is today’s corruption! We have a President who, in his State of the Nation Address, could only scold the corrupt with the rebuke: ‘Mahiya naman kayo.’ But shame without civic grounding means little. What we lack is the civic virtue that once allowed a 31-year-old congressman to die rather than betray his people. The civic duty that animated Vinzons has all but dissipated.

Corruption begins in the mind. It thrives in the rationalization that ‘everyone does it,’ that loyalty to family excuses betrayal of the nation. Every time we sing ‘ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo,’ we should remember that Vinzons lived and died those words-and that his sacrifice should shame our officials who equate patriotism with lining the pockets of their kin.

The tragedy is not only that Vinzons is forgotten. It is that his sacrifice has not become the beacon it should be. In a time when young people flood the streets in anger at corruption, his story should guide them. He embodied what it means to be a Filipino youth activist: principled, fearless, incorruptible. He was, in every sense, the father of student activism, the proof that youth is not preparation but power.

If our institutions are to regain legitimacy, they must show the courage Vinzons showed-not in death, but in action. Arrest and prosecute the guilty, no matter their family name. Make the national budget a paragon of transparency. Empower civil society and youth organizations to act as watchdogs, armed with technology and civic discipline.

Otherwise, public rage will flare and fade, as it always has. But if we take Vinzons seriously-if we allow his forgotten name to rebuke us-we may yet recover the civic virtue to save this democracy. He died at 31, but he has not finished speaking to the Filipino spirit and soul.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) significantly cut its growth forecasts for the Philippines to below 6 percent, citing external headwinds that could weigh on investments. The ADB trimmed its outlook for the country in 2025 to 5.6 percent, from its old estimate of 6 percent, according to the Manila-based lender’s flagship Asian Development Outlook report released Tuesday.

For 2026, the ADB slashed its forecast to 5.7 percent from 6.1 percent before.

While the revised 2025 prediction would settle near the lower limit of the government’s 5.5 to 6.5 percent target, the ADB’s downgraded 2026 forecast would fall short of the official 6 to 7 percent goal for next year.

‘In the Philippines, forecasts are lowered as global trade uncertainty dampens investor sentiment,’ the Bank said.

‘However, low inflation and an accommodative monetary policy are expected to support domestic demand in the near term,’ it added.

The Italians proved they were still the Kings of Volleyball as they ruled the FIVB Men’s World Championship for the second consecutive time after outlasting the young Bulgarian side, 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-10, in front of a tournament-best 16,429 crowd at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

More than keeping Italy on top of the world, team captain and now two-time Best Setter Simone Giannelli put a spotlight on the importance of cementing their legacy in the Philippines, which has volleyball as a rising sport, and inspiring the Filipino youth.

‘It’s very important because we have all things but all around the world is not like this,’ he said.

‘I think that we have to do something great with our presence in every country [that we] visit,’ added Giannelli after displaying his playmaking brilliance to bring out the best in Italy’s Yuri Romano, Mattia Bottolo and MVP Alessandro Michieletto.

Giannelli was one of the six players, Alas Pilipinas captain Bryan Bagunas also among them, who were painted on the mural of an outdoor court in Parañaque, in the Volleyball Legacy Art Project.

‘I’m very grateful for what the Filipinos did for me,’ he said. ‘Because that playground, it’s amazing, the artist I want to know him and to congratulate him, to thank him and all the volleyball family because it was an amazing initiative. The Volleyball Foundation is very, very good because it makes good things for the sport.’

The hosting of the Men’s World Championship will probably change the landscape of Philippine men’s volleyball after the best of the best, like Italy, surprise runner-up Bulgaria and World No.1 and bronze medalist Poland, showcased their talents here to inspire a new generation of Filipino youth, along with Alas Pilipinas, which proved it belonged on the world stage.

Giannelli, who has won championships for their national team and several clubs overseas, has important advice for the Filipinos who showered him and his team and other participating countries with love.

‘Never in my life [have] I thought that I would be representing a court in the Philippines, in Manila, and to be there forever. It’s amazing for the kids. The message that I can give to them is to try to be a good person,’ said the 2022 World Championship MVP.

‘[Being good] is what we need now, and enjoy the sport and stay together with your friends and family and make the sport great.’

Bottolo, who rose to the occasion in the final, firing seven aces to finish with 19 points, was grateful to the Filipinos for making them feel at home.

‘Being far away from home for three weeks, just training and hotel, was really tough for us. This is the World Championship, and if you want to play that, you have to live this toughness. The Philippines has helped us a lot because your people are incredible,’ said Bottolo. ‘They treated us very well every day, so I have to say thank you very much.’

Romano, who unleashed 22 points in the final, agreed. ‘The fans, the fans are crazy, we feel all their love and we feel they cheer for us. It’s very fun to be here,’ said Romano. INQ

There is something almost sacred about the way we care for ourselves when no one is watching. These moments are unfiltered and unperformed, rituals that ask for no applause and require no audience.

For me, the heart of it has always been the shower. When I say naked, I do not just mean without clothes. I mean stripped of the day’s weight. In the shower I am free. I am not performing beauty. I am experiencing it. A shower after heartbreak, a long night out, or even after a good cry is one of the quickest ways to feel like me again. It is therapy disguised as hygiene. Science agrees with what instinct already knows. Hot water soothes tense muscles, opens pores, and softens the skin so products are absorbed more effectively. It also releases endorphins, which explains why long showers can feel meditative.

Cold water tells a different story. Dermatologists say it tightens pores, reduces inflammation, and boosts circulation. Researchers have even found that it can trigger a natural dopamine rush. Whether I linger in heat or finish with an icy rinse, I step out, feeling changed.

Gestures of care

Then there are the products, which become their own quiet language. I have always preferred body wash. While bar soaps are timeless, they can strip natural oils and may harbor bacteria when left in humid spaces. Liquid cleansers tend to be more hygienic and hydrating, and for my dry skin, that makes a difference. But beyond utility, there is something indulgent about body wash. The creamy texture, the fragrance, the lather. It transforms a basic task into something almost luxurious. I also keep Aesop’s Geranium Leaf Body Scrub in my shower for when I want something more transformative, a polish that leaves me feeling renewed.

Lately, skincare has become an even deeper act of presence. What used to be a simple two-step routine has grown into something more layered. I now alternate between nine thoughtfully chosen products: hydrating serums, exfoliants, nourishing oils. I have grown especially fond of Good Molecules, but I also reach for the elegance of Clé de Peau. Occasionally, I borrow a little La Mer from my mother’s vanity.

Lately, skincare has become an even deeper act of presence. What used to be a simple two-step routine has grown into something more layered. I now alternate between nine thoughtfully chosen products: hydrating serums, exfoliants, nourishing oils.

It is not about luxury for the sake of it. It is about how it all feels. My skin, once perpetually dry, now feels cared for. Every step is a gesture of respect toward the body I live in.

I never go through these rituals in silence. Music fills the room as I take my time, giving each step its own rhythm. I even dance a little. A ‘dancey dance’ between serums and oils. It makes me smile. It reminds me that beauty does not always require a mirror. Sometimes it is just about feeling good where you are.

Well-being without tension

A few days ago, I stayed at The Westin Manila. I arrived open but exhausted, hoping for a pause I had not made time for. The experience was serene in the best way. It centered rest and invited reflection without demanding it.

On my first afternoon, I was welcomed at the Heavenly Spa, where a full-body massage unraveled the tension I have been holding for months. That massage, followed by sunset yoga on the top floor with the city glowing in streaks of gold, grounded me more than I expected. I embraced my body’s full range of motion, each stretch peeling back a deeper layer I had not realized I was holding. The next morning, I stayed in and gave my body what it asked for: rest. I eventually made my way to their Wellness Market, where I tried a scoop of King Kim’s sugar-free ice cream, which surprised me with its richness. I also picked up a pack of Earth Desserts’ tablea crisps, a healthy treat that I will be repurchasing. The entire space was designed to support well-being without overwhelming the senses, allowing me to be fully immersed in my own rhythm.

The privilege of inner peace

What I love about these rituals is how ordinary they are. They are not reserved for the wealthy or glamorous. They are available to anyone with water, a little soap, and a willingness to be present. Of course, I know not everyone has that access. A long shower, a massage, even stillness. These are all privileges. That awareness makes the rituals more meaningful. Whenever I enter the water or press serum into my skin, I try to treat it as a blessing.

It was my grandfather who taught me to think this way. He swore by his routine, long before I understood why. His skin carried proof of that. Even now, when I smooth on oil or layer something hydrating, I think of him. There is something beautiful in the idea that private acts of care can leave such visible legacies.

Sometimes, these rituals are what prepare us to meet the world with more intention. The way I oil my legs, brush my hair, or dry off with a fresh towel is not about vanity. It is about acknowledgement. I was here. I am still here. And I am worthy of care.

That weekend stay reminded me of that. It showed me that slowing down is not an indulgence. It is a form of listening. And what my body said back was simple: ‘Thank you.’

Because in the end, these small acts accumulate. They are not wasted minutes. They are not vanity. They are checkpoints. Tiny reminders that I am alive. That I am worth showing up for, even when no one else is watching.

Some senators are now reluctant or a bit ‘allergic’ to the term ‘insertion’ in the budget, which has become associated with questionable flood control projects.

Sen. JV Ejercito reiterated during Monday’s hearing of the subcommittee on finance that there was nothing improper with lawmakers proposing amendments after deliberating on the proposed budget of a government agency.

‘Maybe it’s just not being understood because of the issues. Now, some people have become afraid-whenever they hear ‘amendment’ or ‘insertion,’ they think it’s something bad. But not all amendments or insertions are bad, because if they improve, enhance, or supplement effective programs, then they are very important. And that’s part of our job-to make sure we function better,’ he said during the hearing.

‘We’ve become somewhat allergic to the word ‘insertion,” Ejercito later added, noting that it is through legislative interventions or amendments that legislators could help improve an agency’s programs.

Meanwhile, Sen. Loren Legarda rued how the Senate ‘has been unfairly brutalized’ because of amendments in the budget, also referred to as ‘insertions.’

But she noted government agencies are the ones seeking additional funding whenever they present their budget proposal to Congress.

Take the case of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), which asked the Senate during Monday’s hearing to realign some items in its budget to other locally funded projects.

At the start of the hearing, Acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez appealed to senators to reconsider their budget, as the ‘bulk’ of the agency’s capital outlay for infrastructure is for railway projects.

Lopez then said that, as ‘part of a department initiative,’ the DOTr was requesting some ‘reallocation or realignment’ that it deems important and necessary to fund other locally funded projects.

‘I’m glad that Secretary Lopez mentioned that because in the past days, including today, the Senate has been unfairly brutalized regarding proposed amendments, which were called insertions,’ Legarda said.

However, she said, she has yet to see an agency that does not request additional allocations during budget season.

‘When the Senate adds (funding), we’re judged, and people will say we are already amending, which is our constitutional duty. But for those who perhaps do not understand or are unaware of the process, they call it an ‘insertion.’ So we’re caught in a bind,’ Legarda said. ‘That’s not an insertion-that is a carefully studied amendment by the Senate, and that is part of the Senate’s duty,’ she further said. /das/abc