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Gloria Diaz is going international again, and will be returning to pageantry to bring her signature sass to a global audience as she is set to join the selection committee for the second season of MGI All Stars.

The 1969 Miss Universe titleholder and first Filipina to win the crown has been known to cause pageant candidates to squirm in their heels with her sharp questions. And while only a few have survived and ended up winning, almost all of her ‘victims’ bowed out of the competition.

Because of this, many pageant observers coined the phrase ‘Gloria Diaz curse,’ and have warned candidates about the high probability of losing the crown if they pick the beauty queen to ask the question.

MGI All Stars made the announcement about Diaz’s inclusion in the MGI All Stars Season 2 Selection Committee on social media on Sunday evening, Nov. 1. Aside from being credited as Miss Universe 1969 titleholder, she was also cited for being an award-winning actress and TV personality.

Diaz will be joining returning judges Psi Somut Scott from Thailand, Osmel Sousa from Venezuela, and Omar Harfouch from Lebanon. Pageant coach Lu Sierra from the United States and 2026 Miss Grand International first runner-up Shyare Andrade from Ecuador will also be part of the committee.

MGI All Stars is a groundbreaking competition that gathers participants who have already competed in international pageants for a chance at redemption. It is organized by the same team behind the Miss Grand International pageant based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Its first season was held in May, with 2025 Miss Universe finalist Vanessa Pulgarin from Colombia winning the crown and $100,000. She stands to win up to $1 million if she successfully defends her title in two more consecutive editions. The Philippines’ Gazini Ganados finished in the Top 5 in that edition.

This time, three candidates from the Philippines are confirmed to take part in Season 2. Miss Eco International 2025 Alexie Mae Brooks and Miss International Queen 2025 finalist Anne Patricia Lorenzo Diaz earned their way into to competition by winning at the inaugural Reina Filipinas pageant in August, while Miss World 2019 and Miss Universe 2023 veteran Michelle Marquez Dee is a direct entrant in the competition.

The contestants are expected to arrive in Bangkok later this month, while the final competition is set on Dec. 12 at the MGI Hall at Bravo BKK.

Abner Hizarsa was on his way to his daughter’s school in Subic, Zambales, to bring her lunch when he was abducted by unidentified armed men in a van without a license plate on March 21, 2007.

Until today, his common-law wife, Cresencia dela Cruz, and his three children have yet to find out where Hizarsa was taken.

‘All the places where we could find him… nearby hospitals in case someone wounded or dead was brought there, we asked for him. Up to here, in Manila. In Camp [Tolentino] in Bataan, Camp Aguinaldo, Camp Crame. We searched all of those places,’ she told the Inquirer in Filipino.

‘But all of them, they are in denial. They don’t know anything,’ she added. Hizarsa is just one of nearly 1,900 ‘desaparecidos,’ the spanish word for ‘disappeared’ used to describe those who are victims of enforced disappearances, whose families gathered at Claret School Chapel in Quezon City to remember their loved ones on All Souls’ Day.

Unlike most families who are able to visit the final restong place of their departed relatives, families of desaparecidos remain unaware if their loved ones are still alive or where their remains are.

They could only offer white roses to photos of their missing kin during a brief program held on Monday, which is part of a yearly gathering meant to voice out their continuing call for justice.

‘Of course, there’s always the hope that victims of enforced disappearances are still alive. This [event] is a way for families to come together and create that kind of hope and to also voice out our demand to surface all victims of enforced disappearances,’ Cristina Guevarra, spokesperson for the human rights group Karapatan, told the Inquirer.

‘As said in a poem, ‘at least give them the ruined body or even just bones, just so they have somewhere to light a candle or offer flowers,” she added.

While no one has come forward and admitted to abducting Hizarsa, Dela Cruz noted that he had previously worked as the spokesperson of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)-Bataan.

She said that because of his role in the NDFP, Hizarsa has also been imprisoned four times before his abduction.

He was first detained in 1978, before being released and imprisoned again in 1981, 1987 and 1990.

Among those most affected by Hizarsa’s disappearance was his daughter, who was only nine years old at the time of his disappearance.

Dela Cruz noted that their daughter, the youngest of their three children, had also been the one ‘closest’ to Hizarsa.

‘She still asks questions, until today. She cries when we talk about it,’ said Dela Cruz.

Even now, almost 20 years later, Dela Cruz said her family rarely talks about what happened to Hizarsa.

But amid her painful experience, Dela Cruz said she is able to find strength to keep searching for justice through these yearly gatherings with other families of desaparecidos.

‘I always look forward to these gatherings of other families with missing kin, because this is where we draw my strength from. Of course, for other families, there is closure. For us, there is none. That’s why we get our strength from these gatherings,’ said Dela Cruz.

Guevarra noted that under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., there are already 15 victims of enforced disappearances, with the most recent one being Gerald Gestole who was abducted in Laguna in 2024.

Since the term of then – President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., she said there are already over 1,900 victims of enforced disappearances.

She noted, however, that these numbers refer to only those who were documented, and could be even higher.

‘We are seriously lagging behind in terms of finding their remains or finding out what happened to them,’ she said.

Guevarra called out the government for failing to implement the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012, stressing that not a single perpetrator of enforced disappearances has been held accountable.

‘The law is nothing right now for the victims, so we are also calling for a review of the law and make it useful for the victims and their families,’ she said.

I may have intuitively, though fearlessly, foretold the ascent of Alexander G. Gesmundo to the highest post in our judiciary. On Jan. 6, 2006, in my cluttered chamber as the two-week-old chief justice (CJ), I inducted him as a new Sandiganbayan magistrate. After formally administering his oath of office with both of us in our official robes, I matter-of-factly offered him my seat so he could sign his appointment papers. Spontaneously, I told the inductee whom I had never met before, ‘Please, sit down on my chair. One day, you will occupy it.’

AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, 15 YEARS LATER, on Apr. 5, 2021, he was appointed the 27th chief justice of the Philippines. Remarkably, CJ Gesmundo neither sought his nomination to the post nor coveted the appointment. Though not the most senior or second most senior justice at the time, his ascension was nonetheless accepted by all the justices-a tribute to his modesty, intellectuality, collegiality, and integrity. They knew his ascent did not involve political bargaining or calculated ambition; it was the natural culmination of a life devoted to humility in greatness.

Without fanfare or publicity, he took his oath as the primus inter pares of the Supreme Court before Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe (who normally should have been a shoo-in for the top post), with the Court en banc as witnesses. Unlike prior chiefs who were sworn in by the President at Malacañang, this act of independence from the appointing authority endeared him to his colleagues.

Over the years, CJ Alex and I have grown quite fond of each other. At my request, he has faithfully chaired the board of judges of the legal scholarship program of the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity (FLP) for five years since his appointment. Graciously, he welcomed the finalists into the inner sanctum of the Supreme Court-a privilege reserved for a select few-where he and the board conducted their interviews. Even beyond that, he inspired the interviewees to champion liberty and prosperity under the rule of law, a legal philosophy he shares with FLP.

HE INHERITED A JUDICIARY BESET BY THE RAVAGES of the pandemic and a huge backlog of cases. Undaunted, he spearheaded a reform agenda called the ‘Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027,’ a five-year blueprint to guide the judiciary toward case decongestion, enhanced legal education, technology-driven court processes, coupled with a steadfast protection of constitutional rights.

Though passionate in forging digital transformation, he nonetheless always stressed that technology is merely a means; justice for our people remains the ultimate end. Thus, he pioneered the Court’s framework on ‘human-centered augmented intelligence’ to ensure that innovation supports, rather than supplants, human judgment.

Anchored on this vision, he ensured the accessibility and responsiveness of the courts to ordinary citizens. As he so simply but eloquently summarized, ‘[t]he majesty of the [Supreme] Court shines clearest and brightest in our devotion to rendering justice swiftly, without fear or favor.’

A brief survey of his key decisions reveals a passion for substantive justice over technicality. He consistently interpreted the law to humanize it. In People v. Pagal (Sept. 29, 2020, en banc)-in which he acquitted the accused of murder despite his guilty plea-CJ Gesmundo opened his ponencia with a quote from Cicero, asserting that essential justice for the poor transcends the immense power of the state to prosecute.

Truly, the words of justices carry a god-like finality, immortalized in jurisprudence, read, debated, and admired (or despised) long after they pass from this Earth. Despite this rather intoxicating power, CJ Alex kept to his characteristic humility and relied on his conscience and private prayers to guide his every decision.

NOTABLY, HE FOSTERED COLLEGIALITY IN THE COURT. He listened intently to his peers, welcomed divergent views, and did not impose his will. When tempers flared during difficult debates, he would quietly arbitrate to preserve institutional unity.

His modest, selfless approach to leadership stems from his reverence for the office. Indeed, he views his headship more as a divine calling and less as a worldly achievement. True, he did not seek the top office in the judiciary, but our country is infinitely better because he accepted the call to it. Surrendering to a duty larger than himself, he personified the constitutional duty of ‘proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence.’

On Nov. 5, CJ Alex will reach the compulsory retirement age of 70 and regain his freedom after his long exile on the quiet, secluded peaks of Mount Olympus. I am personally delighted that he has accepted his election as an FLP trustee, effective Nov. 6.

As president of the association of retired justices, I will gladly welcome him as the most junior member of our group. Our retired (but not retarded) colleagues will join him in pursuing personal passions or hearing his quiet reflections about the high office he once held-remembering the humility with which he served it, and the greatness with which he left it.

An unexpected loss did not faze Lilia Vargas when her balikbayan niece arrived from Ireland on Monday after suffering a miscarriage.

On Monday, All Souls’ Day, Vargas waited for the arrival of her niece and three nephews at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

The four of them work in Ireland.

Lilia was hoping to meet her three-month-pregnant niece Lilith, who, unfortunately, had a miscarriage a month prior.

‘We were surprised… We thought we were going to have a grandchild. It turns out she had a miscarriage,’ Lilia told the Inquirer in an interview.

Despite the tragic news, Lilia kept a wide smile on her face, excited that she finally got to spend time with family, whom she had not seen in four years.

Homecoming

‘Let’s just leave it at that. We’re happy that, because of the Lord, they got home. The flight was okay. The trip was okay. They arrived safely. Everything was okay,’ she said.

Lilia also noted the importance of spending time with family, excitedly sharing that she would be taking her niece and nephews to Bacolod City.

‘It’s important for me and my family to meet up to bond. Let’s get together because there will come a time when you want to see each other, but then you can’t… So while there’s time to go, go ahead, go, go,’ she explained.

It was apparent that Lilia was the type to see the bright side of things, even in difficult times.

Support system

Talking to the Inquirer, Lilith said she was 11 weeks pregnant when she ended up at the hospital due to bleeding.

The cause is unknown, she was told. But with a month-long visit to her home country already set in stone, Lilith said that being close to family is the support she needed.

If you thought modern heavy music had run out of ways to completely shock the system, think again. Falling in Reverse frontman Ronnie Radke has never been one to play by the rules of the industry, but his latest single, ‘Joseph,’ completely shatters the ceiling of expectations.

Serving as a spiritual and literal successor to the chaotic masterpiece ‘Ronald,’ this explosive anti-war metal epic is not just a song; it is a seismic cultural event for the heavy music landscape. Named after Radke’s own middle name, ‘Joseph’ acts as a massive powder keg. It achieves what many music enthusiasts believed to be impossible reuniting Slipknot’s legendary frontman Corey Taylor and System of a Down’s iconic visionary Serj Tankian on a single track for the very first time in their decades-long illustrious careers.

An engineered electronic and djent assault

The song itself is a masterclass in sonic whiplash, meticulously engineered alongside collaborators like Jason Richardson and Luke Holland. It opens unexpectedly with a darkly elegant, piano-driven melody and an atmospheric choir. Radke sets a somber, haunting tone, contemplating the relentless gears of the global war machine and the human collateral left in its wake. But just as you settle into the melody, the track shifts gears into overdrive with rapid-fire raps, blistering metal arpeggios, and a pulse-pounding electronic beat.

The unprecedented gathering of music icons

The genius of ‘Joseph’ lies in how perfectly it utilizes its iconic guest stars. Corey Taylor emerges in a storm of fury, delivering an old-school Slipknot masked, rapid-fire verse aimed squarely at institutional violence and systemic failures. His signature, powerful gravelly roar injects a raw, frantic adrenaline into the mix, complete with a clever nod to Radke’s early days in Escape the Fate.

After a punishing, djent-heavy breakdown, the instrumental pivots beautifully into jazz-chord territory, allowing Serj Tankian to shine. Tankian’s contribution is distinctly operatic, haunting, and poignant, utilizing his signature vocal style to reflect on the historical and ongoing horrors of genocide.

Cinematic chaos meets chart dominance

To accompany this auditory assault, the band released a jaw-dropping, high-budget music video directed by Jensen Noen. The video is a surrealist, cinematic feast featuring plane crashes, high-speed motorcycle chases, and a literal mountain of skeletons that visualizes the track’s apocalyptic themes. Seeing Radke, Taylor, and Tankian performing together onscreen is a surreal moment that cements this collaboration as an instant classic. Following the massive streaming success of their standalone collaborations like ‘God Is a Weapon’ with Marilyn Manson, Falling in Reverse has proven once again that they are the premier provocateurs of modern rock. ‘Joseph’ is a manic, chaotic, and completely unhinged epic that demands to be heard.

Business sentiment improved slightly in September, though companies remained pessimistic as stubbornly high inflation, a weakening peso and geopolitical tensions continued to weigh on confidence, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

A nationwide survey of 515 companies showed the business confidence index rose to -8.4 percent from -10.9 percent in August. The negative reading, however, meant pessimists still outnumbered optimists.

Businesses cited persistent inflation, the peso’s depreciation, the prolonged conflict in the Middle East and weather-related disruptions to operations as reasons for their downbeat outlook.

Their expectation of future inflation also worsened. Companies now expect price growth to hit 5.7 percent over the next 12 months, up from their previous forecast of 5.4 percent.

Firms anticipating faster price increases pointed to continued oil price hikes, uncertainty over the outcome of the US-Iran conflict and further weakness in the peso.

The survey comes as the BSP steps up its fight against inflation. In October, the central bank surprised markets with a jumbo 50-basis-point interest rate increase, bringing its benchmark policy rate to 5.5 percent.

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. cited risks from elevated oil prices, potentially sharp wage increases and food supply disruptions linked to the ongoing El Niño episode.

The central bank expects inflation to average 6.1 percent this year, well above its 3-percent target. It also raised its inflation forecast for 2027 to 6 percent from 5.4 percent, although it expects price growth to ease to 3.3 percent in 2028.

Despite the tighter monetary policy, businesses expect their overall cash position to improve, with fewer firms anticipating financial constraints. Access to credit, however, is expected to remain tight.

Hiring plans also became more cautious, as the share of companies intending to increase their workforce over the next 12 months declined. By contrast, more firms in the industry sector said they planned to expand operations.

Looking ahead, businesses were less optimistic about the near-term outlook. The confidence index for the next three months fell to 20.9 percent from 24.6 percent in the previous survey, reflecting diminished expectations for business conditions.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has monitored 9,643 passengers at ports across the Southern Tagalog provinces during a six-hour period on Monday, All Souls’ Day, as authorities maintained heightened security during the Undas season.

The Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog recorded 6,750 outbound passengers and 2,893 inbound passengers from 6 a.m. to noon on Monday.

During the same period, PCG personnel inspected 52 vessels, including 39 roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels, and 24 motorized bancas.

The monitoring was conducted under Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Undas 2026, the Department of Transportation’s initiative to ensure safe and orderly travel during the annual observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

The PCG placed its districts, stations and substations under heightened alert from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3 to strengthen maritime safety and security measures amid increased passenger movement.

A couple of years ago, I started hearing the unthinkable. Expats, I was told, who’d long loved living in the Philippines, no longer viewed Metro Manila as a plum post. From traffic to climate, red tape, and services, the country was increasingly considered hopelessly inefficient, backward, and downright unpleasant compared to neighbors, Filipinos and expats alike had long considered hopelessly provincial and boring. To me, it marked the end of an era stretching back to the 1980s when the Asian Development Bank built a new headquarters and surrounding enclaves were favored as expat residences.

A similar stretch of time, 33 years, separates two speeches by two Zobels. The first, titled ‘Democracy is development,’ was delivered by Jaime Zobel de Ayala on Oct. 23, 1993. The second was the keynote address at the Makati Business Club’s 45th anniversary by Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

Zobel Senior reflected on the role of government in economic development when memories-and wounds-of the dictatorship were still fresh, but the newly restored democracy had already committed its share of mistakes.

‘Conventional wisdom favors maximum free enterprise and minimum government. The historical truth is that effective government is indispensable to economic progress. When government works, the economy succeeds,’ he said.

He listed what government does and what happens when it’s remiss in its duties:

‘Without law courts, there is no sanctity of contracts, therefore, no security of trade.

‘Without police, there is no security of property, therefore, no reason to invest in industry.

‘Without publicly built and maintained roads, rails, ports, bridges and telecommunications, commerce can only crawl.’

But then as now, there was the preoccupation with success and failure: our neighbors versus ourselves, and beyond, marked, he said, by ‘government, not just as catalyst, but as leader and main actor in rapid economic development.’

His prescription? ‘What is needed is not more imperious orders, but the same laws, rules, and regulations evenly applied.’ As for the rest, ‘The last thing we need is a change of form of government … What is needed is to stay the course …. Let us shun quick fixes and slick slogans. There is no easy way out.’ He added, ‘Let us pay our taxes, but let us make our officials pay if they misuse our taxes. Only in a democracy can we do that.’

By and large, he articulated what public opinion has been saying in the generation since; his son did something similar: ‘Business cannot thrive over the long term in a society that is not itself thriving,’ he said. ‘As global companies diversify their supply chains, we should think beyond which company, industrial park, or sector secures the next investment,’ because in a dog-eat-dog world, ‘a more important question to ask is whether the Philippines itself is winning.’ But to do so, he suggested, requires ‘an honest conversation.’

The ongoing disruption of institutions and systems globally means that global multinationals are actively diversifying their supply chains from the hubs that traditionally dominated, just as shipping is finding new pathways beyond the choke points that the Suez and Panama Canals have become. Seeking new paths for supply chains is an opportunity the Philippines is increasingly missing: Zobel Junior cited a steep decline in foreign direct investment as proof of this and anecdotal evidence of fewer international investors coming to Manila to look at prospects. The demographic ‘sweet spot’ enjoyed by the country is thus relatively underutilized, while the digital economy, which is already at 10 percent of gross domestic product, is in danger of not meeting its potential because of domestic handicaps.

He enumerated five fundamentals required if we are to attract long-term investments:

Talent: Do we have the required workforce and high-level productivity?

Infrastructure: Is the country’s infrastructure modern enough to handle the influx?

Energy: Is there sufficient, reliable, and transition-ready energy?

Regulatory environment: Is the local regulatory landscape friendly to foreign capital?

Institutional stability: Is the environment predictable and secure for multibillion investments?

Zobel Junior proposed that ‘we can remain fierce competitors in the marketplace, while recognizing that there are areas where collaboration creates greater value for everyone,’ identifying what he calls the three pillars of national advancement: education, citizen health, and reliable livelihood generation where the private sector can help scale up ‘social infrastructure.’ The Ayala Corp.’s own efforts include investing in its Healthway Medical Network (filling the need for affordable health care), partnering its own drugstore networks with local government units to support PhilHealth needs, and its own social outreach efforts to bring medicines and health care to remote barangays. In education, it is working to provide workforce-ready curricula to schools and to support greater capacity and quality in education for 3- to 5-year-olds. For sustainability and mobility, it is supporting the transition to electric fleets for private companies and LGUs, and renewable energy for municipalities.

The now-retired generation might remember former President Fidel V. Ramos’ ‘Team Philippines’ approach, which he lacked the charisma to sell.

Filipino wildcards John Mark ‘Marama’ Tokong and Jayuard Alciso dazzled the home crowd before seeing their campaigns come to an end in the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour Philippines Pro at Cloud 9 on Monday morning.

Tokong bowed to Australian world No. 7 Ethan Ewing, while Alciso suffered a setback against familiar rival Kanoa Igarashi of Japan.

Fresh from a memorable win in his previous heat, the Siargao native known as the ‘King of Cloud 9’ tried to keep his momentum going but found himself up against a tough opponent in Ewing.

came away with 11.54 points, short of Ewing’s 14.50, as the Australian moved on to the next round.

Still, the defeat did little to take away from Tokong’s experience of competing against one of the surfers he had looked up to for years.

The Filipino admitted he felt surprisingly at ease sharing the lineup with Ewing, whom he considers one of his idols. He was also pleased to discover how friendly the Australian was outside the competition.

‘I got my hand. I was so comfortable, like when I was starting against this guy. He’s one of my idols. And I can’t believe he’s kind of like a friend. He’s very nice, and he knows what he’s doing,’ said Tokong.

For Tokong, the event was also an opportunity to see how far Siargao has come, with surfing helping put the island on the map and bringing in visitors from different parts of the world.

He hopes the close ties among residents and local businesses will remain as the island continues to attract tourists.

‘This island is so beautiful. Before, back then, all the travelers here, I was a surfer, and now there are so many people who know this place because of the waves, the island and especially the community here in Siargao. It’s so special, and this is why I love our island because the community is so good. The business community here on the island is really like we’re helping each other, and this is how important it is for me. I just wish that we’re going to keep going like this,’ added Tokong. Alciso, meanwhile, came close to making a late charge against Igarashi but ran out of time to turn the heat around. The Asian Games bronze medalist managed just 4.17 points on his final wave as the 30-minute heat came to a close, leaving him short of Igarashi’s 12.90 total.

Igarashi built his winning score with a 6.67 on his third wave and a 6.23 on his fourth, enough to keep Alciso at bay and secure his place in the next round.

Asian Games gold medalist Igarashi, meanwhile, had nothing but praise for Alciso, whom he faced in last month’s Asian Games, describing the Filipino as a talented surfer.

‘He’s such an amazing surfer. I was competing with him in the Asian Games last month and he’s such an amazing talent and he had such a good heat yesterday,’ said Igarashi.

Around 200 rice farmers from Maguing and Poona Bayabao in Lanao del Sur received fertilizer assistance after participating in a training program on improving rice production and adapting to climate change, particularly the effects of El Niño.

The Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur, through its Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), conducted the training on the PalayCheck System as part of its flagship agriculture and livelihood program.

In a post on its official Facebook page, the provincial government said the participants received either urea or complete fertilizer to support their rice production.

Last week’s training covered farmer profiling, pre- and post-training assessments, and cost and return analysis to help farmers improve their knowledge and adopt more effective rice farming practices.

It also focused on climate-resilient agricultural techniques to prepare farmers for changing weather conditions and the potential impact of El Niño on their crops and livelihoods.

The provincial government acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), represented by Agriculturist I Baimona Ditual, and Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Asral Barauntong, particularly in the fertilizer distribution.

In Poona Bayabao, MAFAR Agricultural Technologist Zenaida Daud and Municipal Information Officer Mojib Romero also underscored the importance of training in helping farmers deal with the effects of El Niño.

‘Through this initiative, OPAg continues to promote improved rice production and climate-resilient farming practices to help sustain farmers’ livelihoods,’ the provincial government said.

The program is part of the provincial government’s efforts to strengthen agricultural productivity and support farmers through technical training and farm inputs.