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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday it rescued 10 Chinese after their tugboat lost engine power off Palawan.

The vessel identified as M/Tug Virgo was reported adrift about 43 nautical miles off Coron on Monday.

Coast Guard District Palawan dispatched BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403), which located the tugboat the following day near Linapacan town. According to the PCG, all 10 crew members were declared to be in good condition after undergoing medical checks.

The vessel’s master told authorities they had departed Malaysia and were bound for China when the engine failed.

To prevent further risk, the Coast Guard vessel began towing the tugboat on Monday toward El Nido, Palawan, where it is awaiting assistance from its shipping company, which has arranged repairs and a rescue tug.

‘This successful operation highlights the Coast Guard’s unwavering commitment to safeguard lives and vessels at sea, whether foreign or domestic, within the Philippine maritime jurisdiction,’ the PCG said in a statement.

The incident adds to a series of maritime emergencies in Philippine waters this year, with the Coast Guard noting it routinely responds to vessels in distress regardless of flag or nationality.

The PBA officially approved Pureblends Corporation’s purchase of the NorthPort franchise, with the team to be known as the Titan Ultra Giant Risers.

Official schedules and rosters for the upcoming 50th season revealed the new team’s official name, which had been an open secret for weeks even when the sale was still pending league approval.

Other details of the deal have yet to be revealed as of posting time, as the league was holding a press conference for the upcoming season at Shangri-La The Fort in Bonifacio Global City.

In attendance during the presscon is Titan Ultra’s team governor Emilio Tiu.

Pureblends reportedly purchased NorthPort’s lock, stock and barrel for P90 million but the PBA had to undergo a stringent review of the sale.

Despite that, Pureblends officials led by owner Bryann Calantoc were already dealing with the team’s affairs despite still being known as NorthPort during the Rookie Draft and tune-up games.

But the team had to wear white shirts instead of playing jerseys during last week’s Media Day.

Calvin Abueva, however, created buzz on social media last Monday by showing the team’s jersey with the logo of Titan Maxx, a dietary supplement. The team, though, opted to go with the name Titan Ultra.

What was supposed to be a night of glamor and charity had a frantic conclusion as the 6.9 magnitude earthquake halted the benefit gala night of the 2025 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant here.

The quake’s epicenter was traced to Bogo City some 95 kilometers – or close to 3 hours – away, from where the pageant event was being held in the capital city.

Just as the 43 delegates were making their exit from the runway at the ballroom of Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City on Tuesday evening, Sept. 30, the hall shook and the ladies frantically ran to different directions as they sought cover.

The international pageant was holding the event to raise funds for Operation Smile through ticket sales for the fashion show of Philippine ternos designed by Cebuano designers, showcased by the delegates.

A silent auction of luxury bags and statement pieces was also conducted to help gather additional funds for the nonprofit organization, while a live bidding was held for items from Cebuano furniture designers Kenneth Cobonpue and Vito Selma, London-based fashion designer John Herrera, and jewelry maker Oro China.

After the successful bidders were announced, the ladies took the runway in their Filipiniana flair of different fabrics, silhouettes and styles. Reigning queen Janelis Leyba and second runner-up Selena Ali showcased the creations of renowned Cebuano fashion icon Cary Santiago.

Belgium’s Jana Janssens was chosen by Santiago as the Best in Philippine Terno, while Herrera picked Alejandro Godinez Jr. as the Best Philippine Terno Designer, his creation paraded by the Philippines’ Anita Rose Gomez.

Grace under pressure, chaos

After the awards were handed out and just as the program was about to close, the floor started shaking, and the crystal pieces from the chandeliers started swaying. The tremor was so strong that the wine glasses and water goblets on the tables tumbled. Some guests rushed outside the ballroom, while the others ducked and went under the tables, including some of the ladies. When the tremor stopped, hotel staff members guided the guests to safety, leading them out to the parking lot.

In her panic, reigning Miss Asia Pacific International queen Janelis Leyba from the United States could be seen in the video hurling off her crown as she tried to leave the stage.

Many of the ladies took off their high heels and rushed outside barefoot, some of them clutching their long skirts as Eva Patalinjug, the pageant’s president, instructed them to follow the ushers to safety while looking out for everyone’s welfare.

The police was deployed to the scene, followed by a rescue team. Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro, who attended the gathering, was seen consulting her staff, asking about the province’s current situation and hurrying out of the vicinity.

Janssens had to get help from others to get to safety as she hurt her leg after jumping from the stage. She was later rushed to the hospital for tests and treatment. She had since been declared out of danger and has already joined her fellow delegates. As soon as the guests gathered at the designated evacuation area, the hotel setup a help desk at the parking lot. Staff members distributed towels for some of the guests who needed additional covering.

Slippers were handed out to those who had taken off their shoes, and for guests seeking relief from running in the high heels that they have been wearing all night.

Staff members also handed out bottled water as the hotel’s security team assessed the situation. And even if the ballroom was just located on the second floor, the ladies and the production team had to wait for hours before they were allowed backstage.

The ladies, still in their terno, sat on the chairs laid out by the staff members on the parking lot, as more seats were being setup in the evacuation area. But just as the hotel was winding down its sweep of the property, it started raining and the guests were ushered to shelter, with staff members hurriedly handing out umbrellas and helping guests seek cover.

The lobby on the ground floor was the first to be made available for the guests to settle in and collect themselves. The chairs set up in the parking lot were moved to the area for guests to use again.

And at the homestretch of the assessment for structural integrity, the hotel laid out a spread of warm dishes, breads, other food items and drinks for the guests who are awaiting further instructions.

The delegates and the production team were then allowed to return backstage, and the ladies were able to slip into more comfortable clothes. They then also got their meals from the spread.

A couple of hours after midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 1, the ladies were then guided to the buses that would take them to their hotel residence in Mandaue City that has also finished conducting an assessment for structural integrity.

Several other activities have been planned for the ladies in the province, under the Cebu local government’s partnership with the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant. But many of the items in their calendar have been put on hold as of this writing.

The provincial government of South Cotabato is sending rescue and medical responders and relief goods for victims of the deadly 6.9 magnitude earthquake that jolted Cebu province Tuesday evening.

South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo ordered the deployment of rescue and medical teams, as well as relief assistance, as part of the province’s solidarity and humanitarian response to the tragedy.

‘Early in the morning, relief goods and hygiene kits from the people of South Cotabato will be heading to Cebu,’ Tamayo said in a statement.

He said the relief assistance, as well as rescue and medical teams from the province, will be under the disposal of Cebu Gov. Pam Baricuatro or her designated incident command center, as they are familiar with the situation on the ground.

Rolly Doane Aquino, head of the South Cotabato Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said they immediately prepared the relief goods that will be transported to Cebu, hopefully within the day.

He said the rescue and medical teams would be sent to the quake-struck province through a commercial plane.

Aquino said his office is coordinating with the Cebu provincial government and their PDRRMO counterparts on where to deploy the responders and relief assistance from South Cotabato.

The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu on Tuesday night killed at least 22 people, damaged heritage churches and other structures, and knocked out power in parts of the central Philippines, the Inquirer reported.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) initially measured the quake at magnitude 6.7 before upgrading it to 6.9. It occurred at 9:59 p.m., with the epicenter located 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu, at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers. The U.S. Geological Survey initially recorded a magnitude 7.0 before revising it downward, it added.

Authorities warned of more fatalities due to significant damage suffered in northern Cebu due to the shallow depth of the quake

The provincial government of Bohol is extending assistance to Cebu following the deadly 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the province Tuesday night.

Governor Aris Aumentado announced that the province is sending P5 million in financial aid, along with a team of 16 medical and rescue personnel, two ambulances, and a rescue vehicle to help quake-hit areas in Cebu. The team is scheduled to leave Bohol at 1:30 p.m. today.

‘This is our help for Cebu. Our team will be heading there this afternoon,’ Aumentado said after presiding over an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning with local agencies to assess the situation. While Cebu bore the brunt of the earthquake, Bohol sustained minimal damage. Some school buildings in Sevilla, Balilihan, Ubay, Bien Unido, and Guindulman reported minor cracks that were deemed non-hazardous.

Hospitals across the province remain fully operational.

At the Gov. Celestino Gallares Medical Center in Tagbilaran City, 87 patients were briefly evacuated Tuesday night as a precaution, but they were later returned indoors after engineers cleared the hospital building as safe. Road networks remain passable, except for two bridges in Dauis town. The Castel Bridge is open only to light vehicles, while the Borja Bridge is operating on a single-lane basis due to structural concerns. The tremor, which struck at 9:59 p.m., caused a temporary power outage across Bohol and sent residents rushing to the streets in panic.

Classes and government work in the province were suspended on Wednesday to allow safety inspections of public infrastructure./coa

Team strategy and communication will be key elements for the North and South squads as they open their three-day, three-format duel for the right to be called the first ICTSI Junior Elite Finals champion starting on Wednesday at the ultra-exclusive The Country Club layout in Laguna.

Four-ball action opens up play where each of the four members from three different age-groups of each team will play, leaving the onus on team captains to pick out the proper tandems for the crucial head start.

Alternate play (foursomes) will be the format on Thursday before the culminating singles are held the day after, as the team that wins 24.5 points first will have bragging rights.

‘Keep the ball in the fairway and greens in regulation,’ Team North coskipper Ryan Tambalque said when asked of team strategy. ‘[We want]them [to] enjoy the game. I’m confident in our players-and they’re all good, strong players.

‘Whichever way we pair them, I know they’ll do their best.’

South skipper Alfred Gaccion, meanwhile, exuded quiet confidence.

‘The opposing team is equally equipped, so we’re focusing on a balanced fielding of players,’ Gaccion said. ‘Fortunately, we have strong representatives in every age division.’

Gaccion singled out the girls’ 15-18 division as a potential game-changer as he has a team that is loaded to the brim. Tashanah Balangauan, Crista Miñoza, Precious Zaragosa and Mikela Guillermo make up his squad. INQ

University of Santo Tomas coach Pido Jarencio was officially listed as team governor of Terrafirma for the PBA’s 50th season, which starts this weekend.

Jarencio’s name was listed on the team’s official roster carrying the said capacity after serving as team manager of NorthPort for the last few seasons. The PBA legend has been rumored to join the Dyip for weeks, and was tightlipped when he was asked by The Inquirer after the UAAP Season 88 press conference.

He had different roles during his time with NorthPort, first as a coach before he switched roles with Bonnie Tan in 2023.

Several NorthPort officials left while the Batang Pier were in the process of being purchased by Pureblends Corporation, with team governor Erick Arejola now with Magnolia as assistant team manager.

Waiyip Chong, NorthPort’s assistant team manager, now serves as Terrafirma’s team manager while Jeff Napa and Jarencio’s son Jared is now part of Ronald Tubid’s coaching staff.

Terrafirma enters the season with a bevy of new players after failed bids to sell the franchise to Starhorse and the Zamboanga Valientes.

The Dyip selected 6-foot-9 Geo Chiu as the No. 1 overall pick in the Rookie Draft, but will only be available after his MPBL campaign with the Abra Weavers.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday assured victims of Typhoon Opong in Masbate province that the government would support them until they can fully recover.

Speaking at Nursery Elementary School in Masbate City, Marcos personally extended his sympathies and led the distribution of relief goods to affected families.

‘The government is here to help. We will provide all your needs, especially those of displaced families. Food packs will be continuously distributed, and hygiene kits will be given to prevent the spread of illness,’ Marcos said in his speech.

The President said the Department of Health (DOH) has been deployed to monitor the health of evacuees, while mobile kitchen trucks have been stationed in the area to provide hot meals.

In addition to food assistance, the government will also provide P10,000 in cash aid to affected families to help them purchase medicine and other needs for infants.

‘Don’t worry, the government will continue to support you even after you leave the evacuation centers,’ Marcos said.

He also announced that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos had donated water purifying machines to ensure clean drinking water in the community.

To address communication needs in the aftermath of the disaster, Marcos said the government had sent generator sets and Starlink internet terminals to the affected areas.

The Department of Education (DepEd), he added, is already working on the repair and reconstruction of damaged classrooms.

Before ending his visit, Mr. Marcos called on residents not to hesitate in seeking help from local and national agencies.

‘Do not hesitate to speak up if you have any needs. Tell the DSWD, the provincial or municipal government. Whatever you need, we will provide. With a little patience and prayer, we will recover. We are here to support you,’ Marcos stressed./coa

Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito expressed full support for the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) after five of his priority bills and advocacies were included in the list of 44 bills in the 20th Congress identified by the Marcos administration and Congress leaders during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting.

The said bills include the Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act, the amendments to the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law, Magna Carta for Barangays, amendments to Masustansyang Pagkain or the Expanded Feeding Program, and the proposal to regulate online gambling.

‘It is truly the right time for these proposals, and it is also good to see that the administration considers them important-especially when it comes to improving our infrastructure. Once we immediately pass the master plan, we can avoid unplanned and piecemeal projectso,’ Ejercito said.

‘I am determined to work closely with my colleagues and the Executive branch to deliver reforms that matter most to our people,’ he added.

With the MIND Act, Ejercito said the long-term blueprint will have a clear and institutionalized direction for infrastructure development that will transcend political terms.

On the UHC Act amendments, Ejercito stressed that the implementation and funding of the UHC Act must be strengthened to ensure that every Filipino truly benefits from quality and accessible healthcare.

The lawmaker from San Juan also underscored the importance of empowering local communities through the Magna Carta for Barangays.

‘The barangay is the heart of governance. By giving our barangays the right tools, resources, and autonomy, we are strengthening the very foundation of our democracy.’

Ejercito likewise emphasized that child nutrition and protection from social harms remain central to his priorities. ‘No child should go hungry. The goal is to expand our feeding program.’

Ejercito also supports the effort of the Marcos administration to regulate online gambling in the Philippines. He emphasized that stronger safeguards and regulations are needed to protect Filipino families and communities from these risks.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed to Cebu one of its largest ships carrying doctors, nurses, and emergency equipment to aid victims of the deadly earthquake that struck northern part of the province on Tuesday.

The BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) was scheduled to sail from Manila on Wednesday afternoon to deliver medical teams and relief supplies to communities hardest hit by the magnitude 6.9 quake, the PCG said.

In a statement, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said portable water desalinators would also be sent to northern Cebu to help hospitals and evacuation centers whose water systems were damaged by the quake.

‘Rest assured that the PCG will respond fast and right in support of the whole-of-nation action for the recovery of the affected communities,’ Gavan said.

Moreover, additional Coast Guard assets are being mobilized from other regions.

The Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao is sending two 44-meter vessels, while Northeastern Mindanao is dispatching another to augment ongoing operations in Central Visayas. Search-and-rescue K9 units are also being deployed: a team of seven handlers with six working dogs boarded a Philippine Air Force C-130 for Cebu City on Wednesday morning, while other SAR personnel are arriving from Cagayan de Oro and Ormoc.

3 Coast Guard members dead

The Coast Guard also confirmed that three of its members, Seaman Second Class Lawrence Palomo, Apprentice Seaman Jujay Mahusay, and Apprentice Seaman Er Cart Dacunes, died when the San Remigio Sports Complex where they were staying in collapsed during the quake. Support teams have been dispatched to assist their families.

‘We extend our sincere condolences to the families of our fallen personnel. Their dedication to the service and camaraderie with our fellow uniformed men and women will always be remembered. The PCG stands in full solidarity with their loved ones and will ensure that they receive the utmost support,’ PCG Commandant Gavan said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Wednesday that the earthquake left ‘as high as 60’ people dead across northern Cebu. The council, however, cautioned that the numbers remain subject to validation as reports continue to arrive from the ground.

The NDRRMC said assessments of damaged infrastructure are also ongoing as search and rescue operations continue