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The NCAA Season 101 hasn’t been kind to Lyceum.

That may all change after Tuesday, though, following the Pirates’ upset of San Beda, 78-66, at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

At least, that’s what coach Gilbert Malabanan is hoping for.

‘We feel very happy. It’s good to be back on the winning track,’ Malabanan said. ‘Hopefully, this is the start of our team’s peak.’

The Pirates started the season flat, dropping their first five games in Group A.

Lyceum would soon break through at the expense of Jose Rizal University, but only to be followed by a two-game skid.

On Tuesday, the Pirates snapped out of their slump after stunning the Group B leaders Red Lions for just their second win of the season.

‘They showed our best game of the season, not just by winning but with their communication and trust,’ Malabanan said.

‘They sacrificed their scoring, rebounding, everything, for the sake of this team. I think that’s what we really need to do. Sacrifice,’ he added.

Much like Malabanan, Joshua Moralejo is also hoping that the team was finally able to find the winning formula.

Moralejo played hero for Lyceum, finishing with 24 points, highlighted by a fourth-quarter scoring surge, five rebounds, four assists and a steal.

‘Last year, we were unpredictable; anyone could step in and be the best player. But this season, I think that is not the case anymore,’ the 5-foot-10 guard said.

‘We just grabbed the opportunity because in the past games, we would always collapse late in games. We saw a chance to win and we grabbed it,’ he added.

The Order of Merit (OOM) race for the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) season that’s about to end is down to practically a three-man fight, with Angelo Que holding a slight lead over Keanu Jahns and Fidel Concepcion having an outside chance heading into the final leg in two weeks at Valley Golf.

Que, the 46-year-old former PH Open champion, is enjoying a rejuvenated season after winning twice already and contending in almost all legs, making P1.561 million thus far, with Jahns, also a two-leg champion, just over P77,000 behind in second.

Concepcion, the Australia-based 31-year-old who broke through at Apo Golf two weeks ago, has P1.250 million in earnings, with only a win at Valley and Que and Jahns failing to make the cut giving him a clear win for a first OOM crown.

Antonio Lascuña, the durable five-time OOM champ, acknowledged the changing of the guards, so to speak, as he is mired at No. 8 after an up-and-down season that had him making just close to P600,000.

‘There are a lot of younger, stronger players out there now,’ Lascuña, who won the last of those OOMs last year at 54, told the Inquirer in Filipino on Monday after practice at Manila Southwoods. ‘I sort of know that my time as a dominant player has come. And I have learned to accept that.

‘But that doesn’t mean that I am not capable of winning again,’ he said with a smile as he now shuttles between the PGT and some senior events. ‘I feel I still have a couple of good years left where I can win. I just can’t do it all season long like before.’

An interesting race for the 30th spot is also up, as the top 30 will get invites to the rich The Country Club Invitational in February, a P6 million event that always opens up the PGT season, where P1.5 million is awarded to the champion.

Que and Lascuña have won that multiple times, and the key for some is just to get outright slots there before they can even think of winning.

On the bubble this year are three South Koreans and veterans Jonel Ababa, Mars Pucay, Geraldo Rosales and Marvin Dumandan, with all needing strong Valley play from Nov. 18 to have a chance.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is enhancing security for anti-corruption protests scheduled for November 30, aimed at preventing a repeat of the violence that erupted during demonstrations last September.

Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the national police force has overhauled its deployment strategy and crowd-control protocols ahead of the rallies.

‘We have learned lessons from the Sept. 21 rally in Manila that turned violent,’ Nartatez said in a statement on Tuesday.

‘We are ready to respond to any eventuality during the protest actions on Nov. 30,’ he added.

The Sept. 21 rally was held to mark the 52nd anniversary of the 1972 martial law and to denounce irregularities in government flood control and other infrastructure projects.

Violence broke out at the foot of Ayala Bridge and the Mendiola Peace Arch during the two major rallies-the Baha sa Luneta protest at Rizal Park and the Trillion Peso March at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.

The clashes left at least two people dead and led to the arrest of more than 200 individuals, including about 90 minors.

Human rights advocates criticized the police for allegedly failing to exercise maximum tolerance during the dispersal operations.

Despite the unrest, organizers of the Trillion Peso March said they plan to stage a larger protest on Nov. 30, the birth anniversary of revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio, to continue pressing their anti-corruption campaign.

For the November demonstrations, Nartatez said the PNP will deploy more personnel on the ground and maintain a visible presence in key protest areas.

He said police officers have been instructed to observe maximum tolerance but will not hesitate to act against violent or destructive behavior.

Nartatez said the PNP is coordinating with organizers to ensure the safety of both demonstrators and the public.

‘We seek the cooperation of our kababayan to make sure the protests remain peaceful,’ Nartatez said. /gsg

Tension erupted anew within the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) after its pageant host organization led by Nawat Itsaragrisil brought Thai police officers to confiscate merchandise and other promotional materials carrying the name of a Philippine-based online gaming platform.

Nawat is the franchise owner of Miss Universe-Thailand, which is in charge of the promotional activities and organizing the country’s hosting of the 74th edition of the global pageant. He is also the founder of another international pageant, the Miss Grand International.

In a statement, Miss Universe-Thailand said its mother organization promoted Playtime as one of its sponsors associated with online casinos, which is illegal in Thailand.

‘Following the recent incident during the 74th Miss Universe Thailand event, it has come to our attention that the [MUO] has promoted one of its sponsors associated with online casinos, an activity that is strictly illegal under Thai law,’ read the statement.

‘As the official host of the 74th Miss Universe Thailand, Miss Grand International Public [Co. Ltd.] hereby clarifies that the Company has no involvement whatsoever with such activities or any form of publicity related to online casinos. The said promotion was carried out solely by the [MUO].’

Cuban pageant content creator Luis Portelles claimed the Thai police barged into the hotel where the Miss Universe candidates were staying. It was MUO that brought in the Filipino company that operates Playtime, a PAGCOR-licensed online casino, as the pageant’s ‘official journey partner.’

Various promotional campaigns between the company and MUO have been posted on both parties’ social media pages as early as October, but Nawat did not raise any concerns back then.

Nawat vs Rocha Another source of controversy was the arrival of a makeup team in Bangkok sent by MUO president Raul Rocha, but without Nawat’s knowledge. The Thai organizers had already tapped an official makeup sponsor to handle the pageant’s requirements for the duration of the competition.

Rocha’s Legacy Holdings in Mexico holds half of the organization’s stake. The other half is still with Bangkok-based JKN Group of erstwhile MUO CEO Anne Jakrajutatip, who stepped down in June following an issue with the Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission.

Before his acquisition of half of MUO, Rocha was a rookie in the pageant industry. His first staging of the Miss Universe pageant in his home country of Mexico last year was heavily panned by observers.

When Jakrajutatip left MUO, problems within the organization began coming into light.

This became evident on November 2 when candidates started to arrive in Bangkok.

Social media pageant page Critical Beauty reported that MUO barred content creators and vloggers from covering pageant activities and following delegates until Nov. 17.

But Nawat issued his own clarification and designated another coordinator to handle members of the media and online content creators, different from the one initially assigned by MUO.

Barbed quips

Tension further escalated when a video of Nawat scoring the MUO for its supposed inability to mount an international event began making the rounds of social media.

‘They don’t know how to run a pageant. I already told them! If they give me the passwords, I’d help post. But they’re so protective of everything and doing nothing,’ he said in Thai when he was asked by a netizen why the Miss Universe pageant’s official social media pages have not been very active in posting updates.

‘Just let them be. Everything has to be asked. [That] is the problem, that everything has to be asked of Mr Raul [Rocha], Regina. Can’t even find him. Where is the social media department? They are not active at all. But we won’t following up with them anymore. We’re done giving advice. Now we’ll take the lead,’ he further said, referring to Regina Sotres, who is MUO’s social media manager.

Nawat’s outburst came after the MUO released a statement declaring his online voting for a special dinner is not an authorized activity sanctioned by the organization.

The Thai organizing committee shot back at MUO and said it holds ‘the rights to manage and execute such promotional activities within our territory’ as the host organization.

Rocha, for his part, threw shade at Nawat in his personal social media account and posted an image of the significant stock market price drop of Miss Grand International Public Co. Ltd.

Thai connection

Earlier this year, Nawat took on the task of being on top of Thailand’s hosting of the Miss Universe pageant this year, after he secured a five-year license to select the country’s Miss Universe delegate, from 2025 to 2029. Jakrajutatip was fully behind the movement back then. Mario Bucaro has stepped in to succeed her as CEO by the end of October, or more than four months since Jakajutatip vacated the post.

This is the fourth time that Thailand is hosting the Miss Universe pageant, but the first time for Nawat and MGI to organize the competition.

The last time the country hosted the Miss Universe pageant was in 2018 when Catriona Gray won the crown for the Philippines. The staging and the entire run of the competition in Thailand drew praise from pageant fans. It was mounted by TPN Group, the Thai licensee of Miss Universe before Nawat snagged the franchise.

Reigning queen Victoria Kjær Theilvig is set to crown her successor at the Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi, northwest of Bangkok, on Nov. 21.

Ahtisa Manalo, who hails from Quezon, is representing the Philippines in the competition, and is hoping to bring home the country’s fifth Miss Universe crown.

The Philippine National Police on Monday said it would investigate a police officer-vlogger for his ‘Bring Me Challenge’ viral videos in which he asked viewers to surrender a drug user or pusher and unlicensed firearms in exchange for cash.

‘This is not in our police operational procedures,’ acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said at a press briefing in Camp Crame.

‘The ACG (Anti-Cybercrime Group) and the DIDM (Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management) are now conducting an appropriate investigation for the act that he committed,’ Nartatez added.

ACG director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang said they have already identified the police officer. The PNP also called the attention of his immediate supervisor, who requested him to take down the videos.

PNP public information chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño did not name the law enforcer concerned but said he was assigned to the Talisay City Police Station under the Cebu Police Provincial Office. He has since been relieved and assigned to an administrative post pending the outcome of the investigation.

Although the Inquirer was able to track down the social media page where the videos appeared, it opted not to name the police officer concerned until it is able to get his side.

Monetary incentives

In his Oct. 31 post, the police officer-vlogger told viewers that he was offering P2,000 and P5,000 for every drug user and street-level drug pusher, respectively, who would surrender.

Then, in a Nov. 2 post, he asked viewers to surrender unregistered firearms, saying they will be compensated based on the condition and caliber of the weapon.

Tuaño said the posts were done at the officer’s own initiative, while the money he offered came from his own pocket. It was not known, however, if any of his viewers took up his offer.

In a statement, the PNP said that while the videos were intended for personal social media engagement, these were ‘inappropriate and inconsistent’ with the professional standards expected of its personnel, given the sensitive nature of the anti-illegal drugs campaign.

‘The PNP stresses that all online activity by its personnel-whether personal or official-must reflect the conduct and operational procedures that guide service to the public,’ it added.

‘This incident serves as a reminder to all members of the PNP to exercise prudence in social media use and to ensure that personal actions never compromise the honor and credibility of the PNP,’ it said. /cb

Water levels in Aklan’s three major irrigation dams have risen above or near their normal operating elevations as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to the latest advisory from the National Irrigation Administration in Western Visayas (NIA 6), which continues to monitor the effects of Typhoon Tino on the province’s waterways.

In Barangay Agdugayan, Ibajay, the Panakuyan River Irrigation System (RIS) recorded a water elevation of 16.10 meters above sea level (masl), higher than its normal operating level of 15.50 masl, placing it under a yellow or warning status, although still below the critical threshold. Both of its two sluice gates remain closed as of reporting time.

Meanwhile, the Aklan RIS-East in Barangay Sigcay, Banga, registered an elevation of 18.70 masl, exceeding its normal 18.20 masl. The NIA classified this within the warning range. No sluice gates have been opened.

At the Aklan RIS-West located in Barangay Kinalangay, Malinao, the water elevation was 18.20 masl, matching its normal operating level. The dam’s two sluice gates also remained closed.

The increase in elevation stems from continuous rainfall brought by Typhoon Tino across Western Visayas, which has already caused flooding in parts of Capiz and Aklan. NIA engineers said they are keeping close watch over the dams to ensure downstream safety and irrigation stability for rice-producing municipalities such as Banga, Ibajay, and Malinao.

‘All three dams are under close observation,’ the NIA Western Visayas office said, adding that the situation remains under control. The office urged residents in low-lying and downstream communities to stay alert for further rainfall or dam discharge advisories, especially if the storm intensifies or prolongs.

The public may contact NIA Region VI’s emergency hotlines, 0951-1227-056 and 0956-5562-463, for updates or coordination.

Officials reminded farmers and communities downstream that even small rises in water levels can cause rapid river swelling under sustained rainfall. Local DRRMCs have been placed on standby for any necessary preemptive evacuation should water discharges be needed

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), with the help of Metro Manila mayors, will assess the integrity of government-owned and ‘lifeline’ infrastructure as part of mitigation measures against earthquakes.

In a meeting on Tuesday, the Metro Manila Council, under the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), approved MMDA Resolution No. 25-018 titled ‘Adopting the Infrastructure Audit Manual of the DILG.’

This resolution follows the DILG’s issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 2025-071 last July, which called on local government units (LGUs) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of infrastructure within their jurisdictions, noting the country’s susceptibility to natural disasters.

‘We all know that earthquakes have constantly hit the Philippines, and one of the most vulnerable is Metro Manila. In fact, there is a Jica (Japan International Cooperation Agency) study which says that when the ‘big one’ occurs, it would be catastrophic,’ MMDA Chair Don Artes said during the meeting.

Artes was referring to a 2004 study conducted by the Jica, together with the MMDA and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), which projected that 34,000 people may die should a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, known as the ‘big one,’ strike Metro Manila.

‘Many will die. Many will be wounded, and a lot of our infrastructure will be damaged. This is a good program by the DILG regarding the conduct of an infrastructure [audit] to mitigate the effects [of an earthquake],’ said the MMDA chief.

According to Jon Paulo Salvahan, DILG undersecretary for plans and programs, the infrastructure audit program will focus on LGU-owned and ‘lifeline’ infrastructure, which refer to buildings that provide essential services, such as hospitals and schools.

Even privately-owned hospitals and schools will be covered by the audit, said the DILG.

‘We can also use the audit results to assess the national standards for local government infrastructure development,’ Salvahan said.

Under the program, a local infrastructure audit team composed of engineers and building officers will be formed to conduct the assessment of buildings using tools developed by the DILG, in partnership with other agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Meanwhile, regional offices of the DILG, together with private stakeholders and civil society organizations, will be in charge of establishing learning hubs that will educate the audit team on how to conduct the assessment.

So far, the DILG said 137 buildings in three pilot regions have undergone infrastructure audits.

A developing super typhoon is forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) later this week, the state weather bureau said Tuesday.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the weather system was a low-pressure area monitored outside the PAR, which has strengthened into a tropical depression.

It was last located 1,985 kilometers (km) east of Northeastern Mindanao, maintaining sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 70 kph.

Pagasa said it is moving 20 kph westward and is predicted to eventually move west-northwestward and enter PAR on Friday evening or on Saturday.

‘In terms of intensity, this TC (tropical cyclone) is forecast to intensify over the Philippine Sea throughout the forecast period,’ Pagasa said in an advisory.

‘It may eventually reach typhoon category on Thursday (Nov. 6) and super typhoon during the weekend,’ it emphasized.

Pagasa then said that based on its TC Threat Potential Forecast, a landfall over the Philippine landmass ‘is becoming more likely.’

‘However, the exact landfall location and time remains highly uncertain, considering that the forecast is more than five days ahead,’ said the bureau.

It noted the tropical cyclone is not yet directly affecting the country, but rough sea conditions are expected in the northern and eastern seaboards starting Saturday.

Once it enters PAR, Pagasa will name the cyclone Uwan.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has called for more volunteers to help produce family food packs (FFPs) at its center in Pasay City, in preparation for relief operations for communities affected by Typhoon Tino.

According to the agency, volunteers are welcome at the Luzon Disaster Resource Center (LDRC) from Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with two shifts scheduled: morning (8 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and afternoon (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.).

‘Every helping hand contributes to saving lives and restoring dignity to disaster-stricken families. Volunteers contribute to DSWD’s ‘Buong Bansa Handa’ objective of ensuring the readiness of the Department, especially in the provision of relief assistance in times of crisis,’ DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a statement on Tuesday.

Dumlao said the production of FFPs remains a priority to ensure the immediate distribution of relief goods to affected families, particularly in areas already bearing the brunt of the storm.

Sen. Robin Padilla expressed on Monday his support for the impending return of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson as chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee, which has been investigating anomalous flood control projects.

Padilla conceded that the nine-man minority bloc has no authority to reinstate Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who served as chair of the powerful committee before Lacson replaced him following a change in the Senate leadership in September.

‘While I know that our fellow countrymen in the minority bloc favor Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, we cannot insist on our preference because the minority does not have the authority to appoint the chairperson of the committee,’ he said in a Facebook post.

‘We in the minority bloc do not have the ability to reinstate Senator Rodante Marcoleta as chair of the blue ribbon committee because we lack the numbers. There are only nine of us in the minority,’ Padilla added.

The minority senators are Senate Minority Leader Alan Cayetano, Padilla, Marcoleta as well as Francis Escudero, Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, Imee Marcos, Ronald dela Rosa and Christopher Go.

Escudero, Villanueva and Estrada are among those being investigated for allegedly receiving commissions from ‘ghost’ or substandard ghost projects. They have repeatedly denied the allegations against them.

In the meantime, Padilla asked the public to remain calm, saying it would not help the Senate if its members continue to quarrel among themselves over the chairmanship of the blue ribbon panel.

No takers

‘The Blue Ribbon Committee has practically turned into a Red Ribbon one, as no one wants to lead it anymore,’ he said in jest, adding, ‘It’s good that Senator Panfilo Lacson has now returned to take the helm.’

At the same time, Padilla also urged the public to trust in Lacson’s renewed leadership in the committee.

‘Let us also be thankful that from the majority bloc, he will be the one to once again chair the Blue Ribbon Committee-rather than the other senators whose political colors are openly displayed, which could lead to more mudslinging that would only drag the Senate deeper into the quicksand,’ he said.

Resignation trigger

Lacson resigned as committee chair last month, saying in a letter dated Oct. 7 to Senate President Vicente Sotto III that several of their colleagues had expressed disappointment with the ‘direction’ being taken by the panel in its hearings on anomalous flood control projects.

According to Lacson, some of the senators were under the impression that he was intent on pinning down some of them while supposedly protecting House lawmakers who had been linked to the controversy.

But just more than a week later, Sotto said in various media interviews that most of their peers in the majority bloc wanted Lacson to be reinstated.

Lacson is expected to be reelected as blue ribbon committee chair when the Senate resumes its session on Nov. 10. /cb