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TIM CONE will be working with a pool of 16 players-instead of 12-for the 2027 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asian Qualifiers that start this November.

‘The [16-member] pool gives Coach Tim [Cone] a buffer for any.but hopefully not injuries to our players,’ Samahand Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al S. Panlilio said on Thursday.

Three players-who Panlilio and Cone called ‘logical adds’-are RJ Abarrientos, 6-foot-11 Ange Kouame and Quentin Millora-Brown with Kai Sotto being the pool’s 16th member but is still recovering from his injury.

Abarrientos, according to Panlilio who’s known by his alias ASP, is not a surprise addition because he’s been practicing with Gilas and is Cone’s point guard at Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Millora-Brown, or QMB, Panlilio said, is also a welcome addition to the pool, while Kouame is an able backup to Justin Brownlee as a naturalized player.

‘We know that the Asian qualifiers are a tough competition,’ Panlilio said.

‘QMB’s a no-brainer, of course. And RJ and Kouame have been practicing with us since the last window. So, they are all ‘logical adds,” Cone said.

There are four groups in the Asian Qualifiers-the Philippines is with Guam, Australia and New Zealand in Pool A-and the top three will be advancing further in the event.

With Brownlee in the pool are AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo, Kevin Quiambao, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos and Carl Tamayo.

Millora-Brown is a 6-foot-10 former University of the Philippines big man who’s playing for the Macau Black Bears in the East Asia Super League.

Kouame was in Cone’s team that won the gold medal in the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games two years ago.

Gilas travels to Guam on November 28 and will host the same team on December 1 and plays at home against New Zealand on February 26 and Australia on March 1.

THE first batch of the 141-athlete Team Philippines will fly to Manama on October 17 five days ahead of the opening ceremony of the second Asian Youth Games (AYG), according to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino on Thursday.

The mission, Tolentino said, is to match or surpass the two gold medals Pauline Lopez (taekwondo) and Mia Legaspi (golf) won in the last edition in Nanjing, China, in 2013.

‘We have strong chances at the gold medals in the combat sports, but we’re not discounting production in other fronts,’ said Tolentino, adding that the AYG is the second largest multi-sport competition in the continent after the Asian Games.

The Filipino athletes are competing in 19 of the 26 sports programmed by host Bahrain for the AYG, which started in 2009 in Singapore but were shelved twice in 2017 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

Jiu-jitsu has the most number of athletes with 17, followed by taekwondo with 16 and wrestling with 13 in the AYG where Bahrain included its domestic sport of camel racing as well as beach wrestling.

The Philippines is also competing in wolleyball (12), teqball (6), golf (6), triathlon (2), MMA (5), muay (12), athletics (8), boxing (6), cycling (6), weightlifting (6), table tennis (6), badminton (8), beach wrestling (3), aquatics (3), kurash (4) and pencak silat (2).

Tolentino said that in the last AYG meeting in Manama, the hosts announced that 4,250 athletes are competing and will be joined by 900 team and technical officials and 700 coaches.

In organizing the games, the hosts listed a 1,200 work force and 300 volunteers as they aim to surpass expectations.

The second batch of athletes, coaches and team officials are flying on October 20.

China dominated the Nanjing games by winning 71 of the 231 gold medals with Thailand emerging as the best Southeast Asian country with 17 golds, followed by Singapore with 14 and Vietnam five.

A LAWMAKER has called on the government to conduct a comprehensive review of the country’s public infrastructure to ensure it can withstand natural disasters following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the coast of northern Cebu on Tuesday night.

Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez stressed the need to address the public’s ‘growing fear and distrust’ of government-built facilities, which he said are increasingly revealed as substandard, posing threats to life and safety during calamities.

‘Even as we have yet to assess the full extent of the destruction caused by the earthquake, it is also urgent that the government conduct a thorough review of the disaster-worthiness of all public infrastructure,’ said Benitez.

‘First expose the shoddy work, punish those guilty for it, then take the necessary steps to ensure that no public building, road, or bridge will contribute to loss of life, injury, and damage to property,’ added Benitez.

Meanwhile,Party-list Rep. Robert Nazal of Bagong Henerasyon called on Congress to include post-earthquake rehabilitation funds in next year’s budget.

‘I will make sure the 2026 budget includes specific funds for post-earthquake rehabilitation for the towns and barangays hit hardest,’ Nazal said.

He said of the role of government agencies in ensuring safety: ‘We will remind the Department of Human Settlements, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government that they must prioritize public safety through properly built houses and infrastructure.’

Meanwhile, Benitez, who serves as lead convenor of the Visayan Bloc in the House of Representatives, expressed solidarity with those affected by the calamity and assured that aid would be provided.

‘I wish to express my solidarity with the people of Cebu who have been impacted by the recent earthquake,’ he said. ‘Cebuanos can rest assured that their brethren in Bacolod and across the Visayan Bloc are ready to extend assistance to help them recover as quickly as possible.’

The Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that the earthquake has so far claimed 72 lives, with more than 250 injured.

Biyaheros, get ready for an earlier Sunday adventure!

Beginning on September 28, popular travel show Biyahe ni Drew can now be seen on a new timeslot, promising more thrilling and captivating adventures that viewers should not miss. Hosted by award-winning host and ‘ultimate biyahero’ Drew Arellano, the program airs every Sunday at 6:10 pm on GTV.

Last week, Biyahe ni Drew kicked off its new schedule with an adventure to the breathtaking province of Sarangani, known for its stunning landscapes and rich culture. Drew was joined by Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre’s Ashley Rivera.

The pair took on the exhilarating challenge of white-water tubing on the Pangi River, recognized as one of the cleanest rivers in Mindanao. Known for his adventurous spirit, Drew put his skills to the test, with Ashley right there with him ready for the action.

The friendly rivalry continued in the kitchen as Drew and Ashley faced off in a cooking showdown. Using vannamei shrimp, they competed to see who could whip up the most delicious dish. They also tried tinagtag, a local delicacy prepared using a unique cooking method.

Biyahe ni Drew airs Sundays at 6:10 pm on GTV. Global Pinoys can also tune in via the GMA International channel, GMA Life TV.

A GRAND party kicks off a season-long celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

The league gets the ball rolling at the Green Gate of the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday where it will hold a four-hour Fans Day in honor of what the PBA calls its lifeblood.

Players will be interacting with the different fans club in a meet-and-greet event that also features performances by some of the country’s top bands.

Various PBA merchandises are also on sale in the venue.

From the Big Dome, the festivity then shifts to Ortigas Center later in the night when the league hosts a first ever fellowship that traces the 50-year history of Asia’s pioneering pro league.

Former and current players have been invited in the celebration at the Meralco Theater along with officials, managers, team staff, members of the press and PBA employees-all past and present.

Entertainment will be provided by Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano and a host of others as they serenade the guests with songs from 1975 onwards-representing five decades of the PBA’s existence.

Members of the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players and Hall of Famers will also be recognized during the program, according to Commissioner Willie Marcial.

‘We’re inviting all of you to the PBA 50th year reunion where we will honor everyone who’s been involved in the league for the past 50 years,’ said Marcial as he urged everyone to extend the invitation in behalf of the league.

The celebration continues Sunday when the league holds the annual Leo Awards at the Novotel Manila, to be followed later in the day by the ushering of Season 50 at the Big Dome, and capped by the lone opening game between long-time rivals Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia.

Marcial said more former players are expected to attend the Sunday gathering.

With over 19,000 learners affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struct northern Cebu, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara assured parents and teachers that education will continue as immediate emergency measures are being addressed.

Angara stressed that the Department of Education (DepEd) will rely primarily on modular learning, the most practical mode for communities with damaged classrooms or limited connectivity.

Policies on lesson packets and the Dynamic Learning Program are also set to be finalized next week, with emergency funds for learning materials to be released right after, the DepEd said.

The DepEd Learning Systems Strand (LSS) is also coordinating with Schools Division Superintendents for context-specific interventions once immediate emergency measures are addressed.

To minimize lost school days, estimated at about one month in the hardest-hit areas, DepEd will also establish Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) in Bogo and nearby Cebu towns to prioritize early grade learners and resume limited face-to-face classes sooner.

‘Bayanihan ang susi. Dapat mabilis ang aksyon ng lahat para mas mabilis din makakabalik ang ating mga guro at mag-aaral sa normal na klase,’ Angara said.

On Thursday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Angara, and other national government officials on visited Bogo, Cebu to provide immediate assistance and assess the impact of the earthquake that damaged thousands of classrooms and communities.

Marcos led the situation briefing together with Angara and other Cabinet Secretaries, including Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Public Works Vince Dizon, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. They also assessed the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy, one of the hardest-hit campuses, where at least three buildings were not declared safe for occupancy.

Damaged classrooms

As of 11 p.m. on October 1, the DepEd reported 5,587 classrooms sustained minor damage, 803 major damage, and 1,187 were totally destroyed in Cebu schools. There were 950 teaching and non-teaching personnel affected.

‘Sa gitna ng trahedya, kailangan mas maagap tayong tumulong para hind rin maputol ang pag-aaral ng ating mga mag-aaral. Habang inaayos ang mga paaralan, agad tayong maghahatid ng alternatibong paraan upang may gabay, pag-asa, at direksyon silang mahahawakan,’ Angara said.

Subject to further validation by field offices, a vetted list will then be endorsed for joint DepEd-Depatment of Public Works and Highways validation to determine costs.

The department noted that reconstruction funds will be downloaded immediately.

Recovery kit

The DepEd chief also distributed nearly 90 EduKahon teaching and learning recovery kit.

DepEd also said that those in affected areas declared under a state of calamity may avail of Special Emergency Leave under CSC rules.

The DepEd added that unaffected regions are mobilizing resources to extend support, including financial aid, to affected teachers.

The Philippines has always lived in rhythm with fire and water. Storms cross our seas each year, earthquakes pulse beneath our feet, volcanoes remind us that the earth here never fully sleeps. Yet lately, nature’s restlessness feels sharper, as if something heavier presses down on the land. It is not only corruption or division that weighs us down, but also poverty, millions enduring hardship in fragile homes, daily survival always one disaster away.

This is a feedback loop we have created. The choices made by leaders, the neglect of basic needs, and the exploitation of land and resources build up like pressure in the soil. When rivers are clogged with garbage, they spill over. When forests are cut and mountains mined, the ground softens and collapses. When urban growth outpaces planning, floods arrive even with ordinary rain. The unrest of society is written into the environment, and the environment answers back.

Symbols matter. The flood that drowns a barangay is more than rainfall; it is the weight of unkept promises. The quake shakes more than houses; it shakes the fragile confidence of communities left to rebuild alone. Taal’s rumble is not just magma rising; it is the reminder that imbalance beneath the surface will always find release. These disasters are natural, yes, but their impact grows heavier when human neglect, inequality, and poverty feed them.

Consider the pattern. Metro Manila floods with rains that no longer need to be historic. Taal rumbles in Batangas, a reminder that the volcano’s fire is never truly dormant. In Cebu, a recent earthquake shook communities still piecing together stability after years of storms and economic strain. Each event has scientific explanation, but they also form a phenomenon: a mirror showing us what happens when a nation ignores its own fractures.

And yet, even in the cycle of collapse, renewal is possible. After every storm, we see neighbors carrying one another to safety. After every quake, families share food and light with strangers. Communities rise from rubble with little more than determination. These gestures shift the current. They remind us that resilience, while often romanticized, is real; and it is the nation’s truest strength.

But even as disasters repeat, the cycle of blame feels just as relentless. Each time, officials deflect responsibility; some leaving the country temporarily, others permanently, as if distance absolves them. Agencies point fingers at one another, investigations stretch into years, litigation drags on without convictions. We have witnessed this before: stories buried by the next great breaking news, accountability dissolved by the sheer pace of crisis. In this endless carousel of blame, guilt is diluted, and the people remain stranded in the floodwaters, standing on cracked soil, breathing ash.

Healing is not only material but spiritual. A country constantly bracing for the next flood or tremor cannot heal if its people never pause. To pause is to reclaim breath, to sit in silence long enough to hear what the land is telling us. Reflection does not erase poverty or corruption, but it steadies the spirit, creating space for clarity and compassion. Better this pause, this prayer, than the chaos of anarchy; for we are, at our core, a nation of prayer.

When a nation learns to pause, it changes its vibration. The energy of panic and bitterness softens into the energy of resilience and care. The earth, too, feels this shift. A people that breathes together, reflects together, and prays together sends a signal to the land: we are ready to heal with you, not against you.

Maybe it is time for the people to pause, to breathe, and to join in healing the nation-so that the land, too, can finally rest.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday formally proclaimed the first nominees of Abono, Ang Probinsyano, and Murang Kuryente to take over the three party-list seats in the House of Representatives once reserved for Duterte Youth.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said the proclamation capped the poll body’s monthslong deliberations after Duterte Youth lost its bid to stop the cancellation of its registration.

On September 30, the clerk of the commission issued a Certificate of Finality and Entry of Judgment, affirming that the August en banc decision voiding the group’s registration was final and executory.

‘They will fulfill the three seats supposedly to be awarded to the Duterte Youth after the en banc decision disqualifying them became final and executory,’ Garcia said in a press conference.

Abono’s Robert Raymond Estrella, Ang Probinsyano’s Alfred delos Santos, and Murang Kuryente’s Arthur Yap received their certificates of proclamation after their groups each secured one seat in the May 2025 polls.

Abono garnered 254,474 votes, Ang Probinsyano 250,886 votes, and Murang Kuryente 247,754 votes.

Chairman Garcia said the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) followed the same formula applied in the disqualification of An Waray, where the next party-list in line was proclaimed to fill the vacancy.

‘The decision of the NBOC is based on the recommendation of the Commission’s Law Department and Supervisory Group.At the same time, we also applied Banat vs. Comelec. The Supreme Court said an integer cannot be treated as a person. That’s why we went down to three, consistent with what we did in the An Waray case,’ he explained.

Duterte Youth had won 2.33 million votes, the second-highest tally among party-list groups in the May elections, which would have entitled it to three seats.

But the Comelec en banc declared its registration void ab initio for failure to comply with mandatory requirements of publication and hearing when it first sought accreditation in 2019.

The Supreme Court did not act on its petition for a temporary restraining order within the 30-day period, effectively sealing its disqualification.

Estrella, delos Santos, and Yap will now join the House as party-list representatives for a full three-year term ending June 30, 2028.

THE country’s fish unloading volume rose by over 9 percent in August, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) reported.

In its latest briefer, the PFDA said the fish unloading volume in the reference month grew by 9.7 percent to 46,458.20 metric tons (MT) from the 42,354.45 MT posted in the same period last year.

The General Santos Fish Port Complex held the lion’s share of the total unloading record delivered to consumers in August at 23,716.08 MT. This was higher than the 19,718.79 MT recorded in the previous year.

PFDA noted that the Navotas Fish Port Complex, the largest RFP in the country, trailed behind as it unloaded 16,211.08 MT of fish, higher than the 15,809.70 MT of fish products delivered to consumers in the same period last year.

For its Luzon ports, the agency said the Lucena Fish Port Complex unloaded 1,752.3 MT of fish products in August, up from the previous year’s 1,669.05 MT.

The Bulan Fish Port Complex in Sorsogon delivered 860.9 MT of fish in the reference month, according to the agency. It was lower than the 1,328.10 MT last year.

The PFDA said the sole port in the Visayas-Iloilo Fish Port Complex-managed to supply 2,843.4 MT of fish to consumers in August, from 2,724.86 MT.

Meanwhile, the country’s Mindanao ports-Zamboanga Fish Port Complex and Davao Fish Port Complex-supplied 704.55 MT and 360.57 MT of fish, respectively.

The agency also said the Sual Fish Port delivered 9.31 MT of fish products in the reference month.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier issued memorandum orders that allowed the Philippines to import fish and aquatic products.

Such a move is aimed at ensuring a stable supply amid successive typhoons and the upcoming closed fishing season.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed MO 47, which stipulated the guidelines on the implementation of the certificate of necessity to import (CNI) 55,000 MT of frozen fish for wet markets covering the period of October to December.

Only registered importers under Fisheries Administrative Order 259 can participate in the importation program under CNI 55,000 MT.

In a separate document, Laurel also issued MO 46, authorizing the importation of 22,000 MT of various frozen seafood. The CNI covers the period September to December.

Such an import order followed the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMC) recommendation to ‘provide a wider range of choices of affordable fish’ and ‘cater to the market demand.’

Starting next year, overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan will benefit from the pending decision of Taiwan to raise the monthly minimum wage to NT$29,500 (P56,381.85), according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

It will be a 3.18 percent increase to the prevailing monthly minimum wage NT$28,590 (P54,642.61) in Taiwan. The Taiwanese government also raised the hourly rate from NT$190 (P363.14) to NT$196 (P374.60).

The higher rates, will take effect on 1 January 2025 once it is approved by the Executive Yuan-the highest administrative body in the self-governing island. It is the 10th successive year Taiwan implemented such an increase.

DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac welcomed said wage hikes in Taiwan, which he said will help thousands of OFWs cope with rising cost of living.

‘We are very grateful to the Taiwanese government and labor organizations for their efforts to implement this wage hike,’ he said in Filipino in a statement.

‘This news is a victory for all workers in Taiwan, especially for our OFWs,’ he added.

The DMW chief assured that they will ensure that OFWs will benefit from the said increase.

Based on the latest government data, of the 200,000 Filipinos in Taiwan, 170,000 are workers.