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Catholic news publication editors from across Asia will gather in Manila for the SIGNIS Asia Catholic News Publication Editors’ Roundtable 2.0 on October 19 and 20 at a hotel in Manila.

The two-day meeting will precede the SIGNIS Asia Assembly, scheduled from October 21 to 25, 2025 in Tagaytay City, Cavite.

The participants will represent Catholic news publications from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, East and West Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor Leste.

The roundtable’s main purpose is to reflect on how Catholic-based news is being communicated today, to explore ways of extending its reach in order to bring the Good News to wider audiences across Asia, and to build a collaborative Catholic news network in the region.

Key themes to be addressed include:

What would Asian Catholic news media look like in 2030?

Where do we preach? Finding the Catholic voice and visibility in the digital wild

Bridging the divide: Keeping the faith alive in an increasingly secular and screen-soaked Asia

Stronger together: Building a collaborative Catholic news network in Asia

Serving both as a strategic dialogue and a platform for collaboration, the Editors’ Roundtable will set the tone for the SIGNIS Asia Assembly, where Catholic communicators, media practitioners, and church leaders will continue discerning the future of faith-based communication in the region.

As part of its vision to make New Clark City a top sports destination, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) to build the Philippine Tennis Center.

BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang and Philta Secretary General John Rey Tiangco formalized the partnership.

‘This project ensures every Filipino child with a dream of becoming a tennis player has the chance to pursue it,’ said Bingcang.

BCDA has allocated 10 hectares for the center, which will meet international standards and support grassroots development and youth training. The initiative aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and aims to boost sports tourism and economic growth.

‘New Clark City is the perfect location because of our shared vision for sports tourism,’ Tiangco said.

New Clark City already hosts world-class facilities, including a World Athletics-certified stadium with a gallery that can seat 20,000, a World Aquatics-approved center with 2,000 seats¸ a 525-unit Athletes’ Village and the National Academy of Sports, with plans for a dormitory and dining hall for 400 student-athletes.

Also present at the signing were BCDA chairperson Larry Paredes and Philta Executive Director Marie Antoinette Mendoza.

On a rain-slick September night, Rockwell Center’s brand-new Proscenium Theater opened not with a whisper, but with gunfire. The inaugural show-9 Works Theatrical’s staging of The Bodyguard The Musical-began with a flash and the crack of a gunshot, immediately pulling the audience into the world of danger, fame, and love that defines the story.

The Proscenium Theater makes its intent clear the moment you step inside. Its tiered seating curves upward in an elegant rise, ensuring visibility. Unlike many other theaters where rear seats relegate you to staring at the back of the audience’s heads, here you can follow the on-stage action no matter where you are. It is a theater built to amplify moments like that opening gunshot: immediate, visceral, and impossible to ignore.

Based on the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in their breakout roles, The Bodyguard The Musical follows rising star singer Rachel Marron as she grapples with both the dazzling demands of her newfound fame and the lurking threat of a dangerous stalker. To protect her, Frank Farmer, a former Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard, is hired. What begins as a tense professional arrangement grows into a complex relationship, as Rachel and Frank navigate trust, vulnerability, and romance.

Grammy-nominated artist and West End sensation Christine Allado as the leading lady sparkles on stage. Her riveting performance entirely embodies both sides of the role, whether it be the global superstar or the woman caught between love and fear. Her crystalline voice was the production’s centerpiece, bringing both strength and vulnerability to Whitney Houston’s powerhouse repertoire.

Opposite Allado was Matt Blaker, the British West End actor cast as Frank Farmer. With roles as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera and Billy Flynn in Chicago, Blaker brought a measured, stoic restraint to the role. His Frank was all brooding restraint, providing a dramatic counterweight to Allado’s freedom-loving Rachel.

What begins as a tense professional arrangement grows into a complex relationship to the tune of Whitney Houston’s legendary hits like ‘I Have Nothing,’ ‘Run to You,’ and ‘I Will Always Love You’.

One of the most striking technical choices was the use of separated stages paired with video projections. Frequently, actors performed on one plane while music video-style visuals, pre-recorded sequences, or stylized backdrops played on another. Initially impressive, this overused framing device lost its novelty and became a crutch.

The power of theater as a medium lies in immediacy: proximity, presence, and intimacy. Too often, the production leaned on effects better suited for film, neglecting the very intimacy that makes live theater distinct.

And yet, when the production leaned on stagecraft and trusted the medium, it soared. For instance, the karaoke bar scene in Act 1 used a physical bar set and the energy of multiple ensemble actors to make the world feel lived-in and alive. Ensemble actors filled the space with the messy energy of a night out-laughing, bantering, spilling drinks, and singing off-key. Rachel and Frank’s relationship softened here, in a moment that relied not on projection screens but on on-stage chemistry and atmospheric design.

Act 2 started strong with the most fully realized use of the stage all evening. The stage was stripped down, featuring only a bed as its central prop. The silence was heavy, the lighting tightly focused. That simplicity funneled every ounce of attention to the characters onstage, their proximity, their dialogue, and their emotions. Restraint in setting the scene drew the audience into the world closer than any projection could.

These scenes, more than any technical flourish, reminded the audience why theater endures.

The production’s devotion to the 1992 film was both its strength and its Achilles’ heel. The music-the late, great Whitney Houston’s canon-is both the production’s gift and burden. While audiences were thrilled by the live renditions of iconic songs, their placement in the story often felt disjointed. Instead of emerging naturally from character and circumstance, numbers occasionally halted the narrative, resembling a greatest-hits concert stitched onto a plot.

Costume design, however, was a consistently strong department. Not only was the fashion period appropriate, but it feels like something taken right out of a superstar singer’s wardrobe. Rachel’s many performance ensembles are as glamorous as the life she leads, and even her ‘off-duty’ everyday attire marks her as someone who could never quite blend into the crowd.

Lighting was less successful. In ensemble-heavy moments, the absence of clear focal cues leaves you unsure where to look. Costumes were sometimes the only clue as to who the eye should land on. Bright spotlights during concert scenes often shone directly into the audience, creating discomfort and broken focus.

What the show makes very clear is that it loves the original Bodyguard film-its music, its moments, its aura. That love is both a strength and a limitation. While audiences relished hearing Houston’s timeless songs, the show risked losing sight of the very qualities that could have set it apart from the film as a theatrical production in its own right.

As the very first production to christen the Proscenium Theater, The Bodyguard The Musical was bold and ambitious. It was neither flawless nor hollow: at its core, it offered moments of brilliance-especially when it embraced theater’s unique strengths rather than imitating cinema.

Perhaps that is fitting for a debut: a promise for what this new stage could grow into. If the Proscenium’s next productions build on these lessons, this new venue could quickly become a space where Filipino audiences experience productions that not only dazzle but also truly move.

A laptop, a TV, a printer- for many city dwellers, these are everyday essentials. In schools, these are basic tools used routinely for learning and teaching. Electricity is a given- plug in a device, flip a switch, and the lights come on.

But in last-mile schools, electricity is a rare privilege. For students and teachers in these remote areas, multimedia equipment is virtually non-existent. Lessons are taught with chalk, blackboards, and paper- humble tools that, while noble, limit the ability to spark creativity and innovation.

And yet, despite these challenges, educators in these underserved public schools continue to show up, driven by purpose, resilience, and heart. It’s remarkable, even heroic, how they persevere to help their students gain equal footing with their urban counterparts.

What fuels their dedication? For many, it is the act of giving back. It’s a return to their roots, to the very schools that shaped them, and to the teachers who became their ‘second parents’. These are educators whose love and devotion paved the way for generations.

This World Teachers’ Day, Manuel V. Pangilinan-led One Meralco Foundation (OMF) shines a light on two such inspiring individuals: Analyn Miñao and Jonel Elnar. They are teachers whose stories remind us that even in the most remote corners of the country, hope and excellence still thrive.

‘Teachers returning to their roots is a unique heroic act that gives inspiration to the many young students in these last mile schools. We honor them by our commitment to ensure that educators who answer this call are supported with resources they need, like electrification, to keep spreading light and hope for the next generation,’ One Meralco Foundation President Jeffrey O. Tarayao said.

Echoes from a second-grade classroom

The inspiration for Analyn, who grew up in Punta Baja, Rizal, Palawan, came from a teacher she encountered in only one school year. Her second-grade teacher Sabina Lugo Lorenzo became her earliest mentor, guiding her on cursive writing and learning English. Having no electricity in their remote community and no other means to access information during that time, the young student clung to her teachers’ words of wisdom as guidance.

Analyn carried her teacher’s reminder by heart: ‘Kapag ikaw ay inutusan, dapat ito ay sundin mo nang may paggalang, na may kasamang ngiti sa mga labi at hindi nang may pagsimangot at pagdadabog.’ When her parents-both of whom were unable to finish elementary school-told her to study hard and do what she can to rise from poverty, she followed with a smile, in many times selling banana cue at school to earn money for pencils and papers that she would use for her lessons.

Analyn, the only college graduate in their family, brought this reminder with her to school as a teacher, inspired to become like her beloved Ma’am Lorenzo. Echoing her teacher’s words to the kindergarten students of Calupisan Elementary School, located in the remote mountains of Rizal some 200 kilometers south of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, Analyn encourages the young indigenous Palaw’an students to learn, even though many are fatigued from a two-hour walk from home to school and sometimes lack basic school supplies.

The lack of electricity and other equipment hamper the learning outcomes of students, but for Analyn, the reward is seeing her kindergarten students learning how to identify letters, numbers, and symbols, and even start to learn how to write despite these challenges. ‘Lubos na kasiyahan ang nararamdaman ko tuwing nakikita kong dahan-dahan silang natututo dahil sa unang araw ng pagpasok nila, karamihan sa kanila ‘di pa marunong humawak ng lapis o hindi nakakakilala ng kahit na anong simbulo, numero, o letra. Napapangiti ako dahil nakikitaan ko sila ng kumpiyansa sa kanilang kakayahan, lalo na kung meron nang marunong magbasa sa kanila ng mga salita.’

Potential found in a young island student

Jonel Elnar calls the islands of Calaguas in Vinzons, Camarines Norte his home. The Eugenia M. Quintela Memorial High School served as his second home, where he learned about the world through his teachers’ lenses.

Finding himself teaching in his former classrooms, he credits two people for sparking his interest in education: Teacher Eunice Elep who taught him English, and Teacher Michelle Orsolino, who taught him Science and honed his communication skills. He remembered how they instilled confidence and challenged him to become the best student he could be, encouraging him to join storytelling competitions and besting other students in science quiz bees. ‘Tumatak sa isip ko ang sabi nila na mag-aral kami nang mabuti para maging maayos ang aming buhay at makawala sa kahirapan,’ he recalled.

Inspired, he left the island to pursue a degree in education on the mainland. Seeing a computer for the very first time was a realization of how lacking the learning experience was on his island, affirming his decision to go back and serve as an educator.

‘Na-realize ko po na kahit sino ay may kakayahang maging guro, pero hindi lahat ay kayang maging guro sa island schools. Maraming kakulangan sa facilities at mahirap ang pagtawid, pero matututo ka na pagbutihin at mahalin ang trabaho mo dahil makikita mo ang tiyaga ng mga mag-aaral mo,’ said Jonel, fondly called by his students as Sir Jones.

‘Masaya po sa pakiramdam kapag ‘yung mga students ko noon ay nagme-message sa akin na Sir, I’m taking education po, lalo ‘pag English Major and sinabing na-inspire sila sa akin.’

Re-energizing education for a brighter future

Bridging gaps in last mile schools, OMF, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), brought solar technology to these remote communities through its School Electrification Program (SEP). Providing an alternative energy source, the electricity brings light, ventilates classrooms, charges teachers’ laptops for continuous access to the learning equipment, powers their television sets so students have access to digital and visual materials, and allows them to print learning materials in school so teachers like Analyn and Jonel find support so they can continue to maximize their teaching potential and focus on inspiring their students.

Jonel experienced firsthand the difficulties studying without electricity, and he can only marvel at the change light has brought to their island: ‘Namulatan kong mag-aral nang tukarol o gasera (kerosene lamp) lang ang gamit kapag gumagawa ng assignment. Ngayon, mas maliwanag na ang bukas ng aming mga estudyante. Hindi lang po ang mga classroom namin ang lumiliwanag, ganun din po ang future ng aming mga mag-aaral,’ he shared.

Gone are the days when teachers were the only source of information; students and teachers can now use gadgets to supplement their learnings. ‘Ngayon, ang mga estudyante may awareness na malayo pa ang mararating nila dahil nagkaroon na sila ng mas malawak na perspective dahil sa edukasyon. Ang iba sa kanila nangangarap na ngayon maging engineer, pilot, o pati flight attendant.’

Analyn, who for years lamented the scarcity of resources in their school, is now hopeful that her students will be more excited to attend classes where multimedia equipment is used, and that teachers can provide better learning materials thanks to electricity and technology.

With these opportunities given to the Palaw’an children, Analyn is also hopeful that the parents would be encouraged to invest in their children’s education beyond elementary school. ‘Sana’y maging hamon ito sa mga magulang na makita ang ganda ng mundong naghihintay sa kanila dala ng maayos at may de kalidad na edukasyon, na ang biyayang iyon ay mapatapos nila ang kanilang anak na magiging daan para makahanap ng marangal na trabaho na maaaring magpabago sa takbo ng kanilang pamumuhay.’

Light that sustains comes in different forms: from the sun that powers schools, to the inspiration given by teachers who change lives with their kind and encouraging words. For dedicated teachers like Jonel and Analyn, the sparks of hope are enough to sustain their hearts for their students and their community. More than just a profession, teaching is truly a calling.

‘Ang inspirasyon na nakuha ko noon kay Ma’am Lorenzo, at ang mga tulong na pinaabot sa aming munting paaralan, lahat ng ito ay nakatulong para maging mas epektibo akong guro para sa susunod na henerasyon. Taos puso akong nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagmamalasakit at inspirasyon sa guro na tulad ko,’ a grateful Analyn shared.

Icon Manny Pacquiao announced the upcoming revival of Thrilla in Manila for its 50th celebration anniversary with full blockbuster fight cards featuring world champion Melvin Jerusalem, Eumir Felix Marcial and Marlon Tapales on October 29 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Although the original Thrilla in Manila between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier on October 1, 1975, at same venue is far different with this one, the hall of famer Pacquiao assured that the fights including Jerusalem’s world title fight are going to be competitive and exciting.

‘I feel blessed to bring to life the 50th celebration of Thrilla in Manila. This is a world championship and a celebration. This is a tremendous help to our boxers that they get to fight in international promotions like this,’ Pacquiao said in a latest news conference.

Jerusalem will be defending his World Boxing Council (WBC) minimum weight title against South Africa’s Ayanda Kuse while Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Marcial battles undefeated American Eddy Colmenares in a non-title middleweight bout.

Former unified champion Marlon Tapales meets Pakistani Nadil Baloch in an eight-round super bantamweight non-title bout, and super bantamweight Carl Jammes Martin squares off against Thailand’s Aran Dipaen.

Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, will be fighting also in the card against Thailand’s Patumpong Saengarun in a middleweight non-title bout.

Pacquiao also announced that the relatives of Ali and Frazier will be among the guests in the event including former world champions.

To paraphrase William Patrick Corgan, ‘Today is a great day in my life.’ from the song ‘Today’ off their second album, Siamese Dream.

I was grinning ear to ear watching the Smashing Pumpkins for the first time in my life. How lucky can someone like me be?

I saw Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin in the prime of their careers, but that was with Zwan at the Irving Plaza in New York when they were promoting Mary, Star of the Sea; their one and only album.

I was also grinning from ear to ear then, as the band was stocked with alternative rock heroes – Filipino-American David Pajo was from post-hardcore band Slint, bassist Paz Lenchantin was from alternative metal supergroup A Perfect Circle, and guitarist Matt Sweeney became known during his time with math rockers Chavez. Even more cool was I was able to get a photo with Lenchantin and Pajo (Corgan was chatting with Albert Hammond Jr. of the Strokes and Evan Dando of the Lemonheads at that time).

I missed the Smashing Pumpkins show in Manila in 2012 when they were promoting the album, Oceania, which, in my opinion, is their last great album and outside the band’s classic line-up.

So, I wondered if I’d ever get to see the Pumpkins.

If it were just Billy Corgan, I wouldn’t have watched as much as I am a fan of his. After all, I had seen him with Zwan. What sweetened this was James Iha, who returned to the band in 2018, and of course, Jimmy Chamberlin, who, as I always say, reminded me of a young Keith Moon during his younger years.

There’s a new guitarist, the vivacious Kiki Wong, whom I first saw on TikTok.

And of course, Jack Bates on bass, who is the son of one of the greatest bassists this world has ever known in Peter Hook of Joy Division and New Order, and his current band, the Light.

Now, if only D’Arcy Wretzky returned.

As the band raced through their classic hits, I remembered how much their songs were an integral part of my young adult life in the 1990s. It would be easy to say that they never cut another great album after the Machines of God in 2000. But they did with the brilliant Oceania in 2012 and the surprisingly good Oh Shiny Oh So Bright in 2018.

Watching them on this special night, I was minding the trio of guitarists – Corgan, Iha, and Wong as to who would play what riffs and lines. And I was also observing Bates’ bass playing and how I was having to do a double-take because at times, I thought I was seeing Peter Hook (except for how the latter uses his bass like a lead guitar).

While Corgan, Iha, and Chamberlin are obviously older, what I loved was the interplay between the former two.

The contentious early years of the band saw its descent into chaos and eventual dissolution. But now. as they hit senior citizen age in a year or so, it was good to see smiles.

Besides, since Iha’s and Chamberlin’s return in 2018, they have cut four albums; their longest since 1991’s Gish, all the way to Machina II where they put out six albums.

I couldn’t help but notice that on the band’s left side of the stage are what I thought of the moment, their ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame wing’ – they should be one day – of Corgan, Iha, and Chamberlin. On their right side were Wong and Bates. Although Wong crossed over to the other side, as did Iha on a couple of occasions, Bates stayed put.

Just saying.

And I loved that it was a longer setlist than their show in Korea. It made the evening special for the sold-out crowd at the Big Dome.

People might say that the band has seen better days. Maybe. But as evidenced by their recent albums that have been acclaimed, the Smashing Pumpkins are still rocking away. ‘Rock Invasion’ indeed.

It is 5:59 in the morning, September 30, and I am still grinning from ear to ear.

Most kids know about ants more than you think they know. Thanks to the fable ‘The Ant and the Grasshopper,’ which taught children the value of working hard and saving for rainy days.

In reality, however, children know only of two types of ants: The friendly black ants that mysteriously appear inside the jar of cookies and table sugars, and the fearsome red ants, the ‘unfriendly’ creature with a powerful bite that can make even the bravest of children cry in pain.

As teenagers, we learn about bigger red ants-the ‘hantik’-the ‘giant’ red ants we all fear of the most. They all seemed to be protecting the trees we climb in our backyard for a taste of our favorite fruits.

New ant species

Did you know that conservatively, there are more than 10,000 ant species already known to science, and perhaps 10,000 more species are still out there, waiting to be discovered?

A new species of ant was recently discovered from Mt. Isarog Natural Park in the Bicol Peninsula by David Emmanuel M. General, a Research Associate Fellow at the National Museum of Natural History.

Scientifically named Temnothorax melanieae n. sp., it is the first species described from the Philippines.

It is distinguished by the 11-segmented antennae with a 3-segmented club, a longitudinally gently convex clypeus with a median carina, an absent metanotal groove, and an acutely cuneiform petiole.

The species is known in colder in regions, and it was the first time that such a species was recorded in the Philippines.

General told the BusinessMirror that the discovery was rare but not very surprising because Mt. Isarog is known for its cool temperature.

Ants everywhere

But did you know that ants are everywhere on the planet?

Anson Tagtag, chief of the Wildlife Resources Division, a unit under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) said ants are part of biodiversity and they are recognized for their ecosystem values.

‘Every species has ecosystem values. Any organism must be conserved. Incidentally, ants are almost always dismissed,’ Tagtag said in an interview on September 28.

While ants may be considered ‘pests’ when they ‘invade’ homes, in their natural habitats, they play very important roles.

They consume carcasses, in the process eliminating rotten flesh of dead animals that may eventually cause or trigger a pandemic, if uncontained.

Ants are opportunistic omnivores. According to experts, their diets vary by species but they generally include carbohydrates, such as nectar, fruits, and sugary human foods, which explains why they often invade homes; proteins like dead insects; and meat and fats, including animal remains.

Welcome development

The discovery of a new species of ants in the Philippines is a welcome development, considering that many ant species remain undiscovered.

‘This is a great discovery as it expands the known range of the genus Temnothorax Mayr. There are well over 10,000 ant species worldwide, present in all but the coldest regions like Iceland, Greenland, and Antarctica,’ says Gregg Yan, executive director of Best Alternatives.

‘In 1994, Harvard University Professor Edward Wilson claimed that the world’s ants, estimated then at 10 thousand trillion individuals, weighed more than the world’s human population [this was eventually debunked.especially now that people are eating more fast food and are getting fatter each year!].’

Deeper understanding

Yan said every species discovery gives people a deeper understanding of the planet’s rich biodiversity, while potentially catalyzing the advancement of medicine.

‘For instance, some ant species have been found to have peptides that can help regulate blood sugar, leading to new anti-diabetic medicines. Ants with bites that can cause great amounts of pain can show bioprospectors novel ways of developing painkillers. For all we know, the cure to cancer, HIV, Alzheimer’s, and other incurable diseases may lie in the bodies or secretions of unknown plants, animals, or fungi,’ he added.

Only by finding and studying these species can we find out if nature has the ‘keys to unlock new doors for science in general and medicine in particular,’ he said.

Novel discovery

Responding to a BusinessMirror inquiry about whether ants could be invasive species, international biodiversity expert Theresa Mundita S. Lim said the newly discovered species is entirely novel and has not been recorded anywhere else in the world, making it highly unlikely to be an invasive alien species.

Lim, a former DENR-BMB director and executive director of the Asean Centre for Biodiversity, said in contrast, there are well-documented examples of invasive ants, such as the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), which is native to South America.

‘This species has already been introduced in several regions, including the United States, China, South Korea, Australia, and parts of Southeast Asia. These ants deliver painful stings that can cause severe allergic reactions in humans and are known to outcompete native ant species, resulting in serious ecological imbalances and biodiversity loss,’ she said via Messenger on September 30.

Not all ants are ants

Lim said not all ants are actually ants, citing, for instance, the infamous ‘white ants’ abhorred by many for destroying human homes.

‘As for white ants, I believe you’re referring to termites, which are not ants but are sometimes mistaken for them due to their social behavior and appearance,’ she said.

‘While I am not a termite expert, I know that termites are generally considered pests in human settings because they feed on wood and cellulose, often damaging wooden homes and structures. However, in their natural habitats, termites play a vital role in the ecosystem,’ she explained.

Termites, often referred to as white ants, help break down dead wood and plant material, converting them into organic matter that enriches the soil, Lim said.

‘In forest ecosystems, their populations are naturally regulated by predators, such as certain birds, and in Palawan, by pangolins, which are known to feed on them. Termites typically live in soil or burrows and act as ecosystem engineers by aiding in nutrient cycling and soil formation,’ she pointed out.

Human encroachment

Pointing out that it is not ants that really invade human homes, but the other way around, Lim said that as humans build structures close to or over their habitats-and as natural predators decline due to habitat loss-termites are forced to consume available wooden structures, leading to the perception of them as pests.

‘According to the article by General, ants in the genus Temnothorax have previously been recorded in countries in Southeast Asia, like Vietnam, but the newly described species, Temnothorax melanieae, is the first species in this genus recorded in the Philippines. This, thus, becomes another remarkable addition to our native insect biodiversity,’ she said.

Lim explained that ants, in general, play crucial ecological roles. They help decompose organic waste, such as leaves, turning them into nutrient-rich substrates that enhance soil fertility, thereby supporting forest regeneration and plant productivity.

‘Ants also serve as prey for a wide range of species, forming an essential link in food webs. Without our native ants, not only would soil health and plant growth suffer, but the food sources for natural predators that depend on them would also decline-ultimately disrupting the entire ecological pyramid, including impacts that reach us humans at the apex,’ she said.

In a world where many children spend hours glued to gadgets, nine-year-old Jeremiah Immanuel ‘Jiro’ Romanillos from Manila has found a different way to use his screen time-by mastering the art of yo-yo.

Jiro, a Grade 4 student at Legarda Elementary School, turned YouTube tutorials into a training ground, learning and perfecting complex yo-yo tricks from online videos.

On Saturday, October 4, he represented young players at the Philippine National Yo-Yo Competition held at SM San Mateo. Competing in the Amateur 1A-U12 division, he spun, swung, and performed his way to a fourth-place finish, demonstrating how passion and perseverance can take a child far-even at a young age.

In the same category, Asher Villena took the championship, followed by Arkyne Gaibe Nepumuceno in second place and Josh Daniel Cabetingan in third.

As early as five, Jiro showed a competitive streak, challenging relatives to speed-solving Rubik’s cubes.

He has also balanced his hobby with academics, maintaining first honors while dedicating hours to yo-yo practice.

Beyond competitions, Jiro aspires to a science-driven career, aiming to work at NASA or a similar agency.

When a group of leading scientists and nutrition experts unveiled a global diet plan several years ago, few expected it to ignite one of the fiercest food debates in recent memory. Their central prescription seemed innocuous: For an increasingly populous planet to thrive, wealthy nations should eat less meat and more plants.

But soon after publication, the report from the EAT-Lancet Commission became a lightning rod. The authors were subjected to threats, accused of elitism and targeted in social media campaigns backed by the meat industry. Some policymakers embraced its recommendations, while others, particularly in the US, dismissed it as a ‘woke’ attempt to take away meat from people’s plates.

Round two of that debate has now arrived. Pulling from fresh data and input from experts in more than 30 countries, the commission released a second version of its report on Friday, doubling down on largely the same message: Eat less meat, and more beans, nuts and vegetables – especially if you live in the rich world. The shift could prevent about 15 million premature deaths a year globally and cut farm emissions by 15%.

‘By improving diets we would improve the environment,’ said Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard University and co-chair of the commission. ‘There’s an element of urgency here that has only grown since the last time.’

Food systems account for about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, driven largely by animal farming, which is a major source of methane and a drain on land and water resources. Even if the world transitions away from fossil fuels, food alone could push temperatures past the 1.5°C threshold needed to limit warming. The onus falls disproportionately on the wealthy: The richest 30% of the world’s population are responsible for more than 70% of food-related pressures, the report said.

The commission’s so-called ‘planetary health diet’ resembles the Mediterranean diet and other traditional ones around the world, with recommendations presented as ranges that allow flexibility, according to Willett. It’s not pushing veganism, but simply supporting the idea that animal-sourced foods should be optional, moderate and guided by a ‘1+1’ principle: one dairy serving and one other animal protein source daily. ‘It allows for cultural diversity and individual preferences,’ Willett said.

The biggest changes will hit the meat and dairy industries. Production of beef, goat and lamb must fall by one-third from 2020 levels through 2050, the report says, and global herds of cattle and other ruminants have to shrink by about a quarter. Still, the report makes clear that diet change alone won’t be enough. Reducing food waste and increasing agricultural productivity are also crucial.

The updated commission report, dubbed EAT-Lancet 2.0, was prepared by a panel that included experts in livestock, economics, nutrition and climate. It underwent peer review and was funded by organizations including the Rockefeller Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The first version was widely cited after its publication in 2019, appearing in more than 600 policy documents. Cities such as Milan, London and Tokyo pledged to align public food procurement with its recommendations. Policymakers saw it as a ‘go-to’ guide for integrating sustainability into dietary guidelines, said Tim Benton, professor at the University of Leeds and a food security expert.

Yet its rollout has been limited. Global meat consumption is still climbing and alternative protein sales are faltering. The pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and soaring food prices have eroded political and consumer appetite for sustainability. Meanwhile, the political climate has shifted with the rise of right-wing populism. The manosphere and MAGA-influenced machismo have fueled the popularity of the carnivore diet.

‘The political power of the livestock sector and then this kind of right-wing populism that ‘no one’s gonna tell me that I can’t eat meat ‘- all of those things come together to mean that the EAT-Lancet was quite a juicy target for what we now would call the anti-woke agenda,’ Benton said.

For some of the report’s leading figures, the backlash has been deeply personal.

Gunhild Stordalen, the physician who co-founded the EAT Foundation and coordinated funding for the report, was cast online as part of a ‘Davos elite.’ An investigation later found evidence of orchestrated efforts to discredit the study. Critical social media posts, amplified by a network of ‘misinfluencers’ with ties to the livestock industry, used the hashtag #yes2meat, according to the nonprofit Changing Markets Foundation, which warned last week of a fresh campaign against the update.

The new report attempts to answer some earlier criticism, including claims that its focus was too Western and ignored local diets or affordability. This time, the emphasis is on ‘just’ food systems: Almost half of the world’s population does not have access to affordable healthy diets, fair wages and safe environments.

The commission says that while the Global North must cut back sharply, parts of the Global South may need to increase animal protein intake to address malnutrition – though not to the levels seen in wealthy countries.

Delivering those changes, the report argues, will require new policies, from subsidy reforms to taxes, to ensure that healthy food is affordable and accessible. Stordalen said the commission will take the updated report on a global roadshow to highlight its impact in different regions and cultures. It’s also set to host dialogues with anyone from farmers and chefs to consumers and doctors.

‘We are bringing all key stakeholders to the table to have conversations, brave conversations, and really trying to change mindsets,’ she said.

Pope Leo XIV has offered prayers and condolences to victims of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu on Tuesday night, newly installed Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy said on Thursday.

Uy said he received the message through Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown.

‘The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown, called me to convey the Holy Father’s heartfelt sympathies for all the survivors of the earthquake, and his prayers for the eternal repose of the victims,’ Uy said.

He added that the pope assured the faithful of his spiritual closeness as communities grieve and begin recovery efforts.

The death toll from the quake has risen to 72, while 294 were injured, according to the report released by authorities as of October 3.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also reported that a total of 170,959 people have been affected, and 20,000 people remain displaced as of Thursday.

It also said that at least 53 cities and municipalities have been placed under a state of calamity.

Several churches were damaged, prompting the Archdiocese of Cebu to suspend their use until structural assessments are completed.

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan, built in 1886, partially collapsed.

In an advisory, the archdiocese directed parishes in hard-hit areas to refrain from celebrating Mass inside the churches until engineers declare the buildings safe.

It also ordered inspections of all churches and rectories in the archdiocese.

‘Refrain from using your churches until the proper experts have carried out the assessment and declared the structures safe for use,’ it added.

However, despite the strong tremors from the magnitude 5.1 aftershock early in the morning on October 3, a 6 a.m. Mass was held at Kapilya de Sta. Rosa de Lima, said the shrine’s Facebook post.

On October 1, the shrine posted a photo with the caption saying the images of Santa Rosa de Lima and St. Martin de Porres at the ‘safety of the parish convent.’

A separate photo showed the ‘unscathed’ retablo image of Santa Rosa de Lima image wrapped in unused plastic bag for protection from heavy rains and dust.

‘Other than the tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is kept, the miraculous retablo image of Santa Rosa de Lima was one of the few images in the shine that wasn’t damaged by the earthquake! The other unscathed images so far is the Virgen del Carmen, and the Immaculate Conception,’ the Facebook post said.

An earlier BusinessMirror report said that in Bantayan portions of the façade of the 1863 Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol also gave way during the tremor.

In his homily for the Feast of the Guardian Angels on October 2, Uy urged the faithful to embody the mission of the angels by helping those in need.

‘In these difficult days.we are invited to show the spirit of the angels by sharing whatever we can-food, clothing, shelter, prayers, and even our time,’ said Uy, who was installed just early in the day on September 30 when the magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurred in the late evening.

‘Every act of generosity becomes a way of guarding, guiding, and comforting others.’ he said.

Uy added that to be an angel for someone is ‘to protect the weak, to accompany the lonely, and to give hope to those who have lost much.’

‘This is the best way to honor our guardian angels: by imitating their mission of love,’ he said.

On Wednesday, the archbishop visited several parishes severely affected by the earthquake and offered prayers at the Daanbantayan District Hospital for the injured.

On October 1, the morning after the powerful earthquake, Uy extended his condolences to families who lost loved ones in the tremor that struck northern Cebu.

‘My condolences to all who lost their loved ones because of the earthquake. May the Lord grant you strength and hope,’ Uy said in a statement.

He called on communities to remain united in prayer and mutual support as they recover from the disaster.

‘In times of hardship, let us all unite in prayer and mutual help,’ he said.

The quake struck at 9:59 p.m. on September 30, with the epicenter about 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the tremor had a shallow depth of 5 kilometers, making it widely felt across the Visayas, as well as parts of Mindanao and the Bicol region.

The Cebu archdiocese urged the faithful to place their trust in God during this period of uncertainty.

‘We continue to pray to our Loving Father for calmness and strength in the midst of these trials. We entrust ourselves, our families, and our communities into His merciful hands. May the Lord shelter us under His wings, protect us from every harm, and guide us to safety and peace,’ it said.