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Honor of Kings has officially launched a Tagalog localization as part of its latest major update. Players can now switch both in-game text and voice-overs to Tagalog, making every match feel closer to home.

Honor of Kings has previously released Filipino-specific voice packs since its global launch last year. Previous voice packs including those for Edgar “ChooxTV” Dumali, for popular esports duo Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna and Danerie “Wise” Del Rosario, and vlogger Joel ‘Malupiton’ Ravanera, and the most recent version from esports announcer Mara Aquino.

‘Honor of Kings deeply values the Filipino community, one of our most vibrant and engaged player bases. Tagalog isn’t just a language – it’s a feeling of comfort and belonging. We’re proud to bring this experience to our players and are open to exploring other Philippine languages and dialects in the future,’ said Isabelle Eloriaga, product manager at Honor of Kings Philippines.

The voice pack, which was part of the Honor of Kings: Thrilling update, also introduces new content such as the heroine Umbrosa, Fallen Austren, Spriteling companion, and the Ultimate Awakening game mode.

The local league of Honor of Kings, the Philippines Kings League (PKL) Fall Season, is on its sixth and final week of its regular season. Top contender Blacklist International and defending champions Boom Esports are looking to secure the upper-bracket advantage, while WETRND Esports, ACT Esports Club and Elevate have also booked playoff spots.

The top four teams in the PKL Fall Season will qualify to the Honor of Kings International Championship, which will be held in the country this November. There, the top 16 teams in the world will compete for the title of Honor of Kings World Champion.

Dismissing the allegations as part of a smear campaign, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta has denied any conflict of interest involving his wife’s role in insurance firms linked to contractors under investigation in the flood control scandal.

Marcoleta clarified that his wife Edna serves only as an independent director and audit committee chair at Stronghold Insurance Co. Inc.

‘They didn’t even bother to research what an independent director means. An independent director cannot qualify if you have relatives who own the company. You must be independent. Your role is only to protect the minority shareholders,’ Marcoleta said in Filipino over radio dzRH.

His remarks came after reports surfaced that Stronghold had provided bonds to companies owned by Curlee and Sarah Discaya, who are under investigation for allegedly cornering ghost and substandard flood-control projects.

The senator, who previously chaired the Senate Blue Ribbon committee leading the probe, has drawn attention for his handling of the Discayas’ testimony.

During a suspended hearing, Sen. Panfilo Lacson questioned Marcoleta’s perceived protectiveness toward the Discayas, which he immediately denied.

According to a Bilyonaryo news report, a notarized acknowledgment in 2022 showed that Sarah, through Alpha and Omega Contractor, personally transacted with Stronghold for a bond obligation.

Records further revealed that Marcoleta’s wife also sat on the 2023 board of Milestone Guaranty and Assurance, which issued a P19.29-million bond for Elite General Contractor, another Discaya-owned firm.

The bond covered a P192.9-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, which Senate investigators later flagged as non-existent.

Despite the links, Marcoleta rejected insinuations that his wife’s affiliations compromised his independence as a legislator.

‘That’s what they want to suggest. All they want is to destroy [my reputation] in any way possible,’ he said.

Stronghold Insurance has also denied any link to the alleged corruption scandal, saying recent reports unfairly malign the company and Marcoleta’s wife.

The firm clarified that Edna was elected to the board only in February 2024 and holds no role in management or bond issuance decisions.

Stronghold explained that surety bonds for DPWH projects are a legal requirement and available to all qualified contractors, noting that ‘the Discaya-owned firms were simply just one of their many clients.’

The country’s luxury property landscape continues to gain prominence, and in this niche market stands The Velaris Residences-a residential masterpiece in Bridgetowne, which has proven itself worthy to be called the best in this category.

The recent PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards proudly announced The Velaris Residences North Tower as Best Condo Development (Philippines), Best Luxury Condo Development (Metro Manila) and Best Condo Interior Design-distinctions that affirm that it’s more than real estate, but a new standard of elevated living.

Is it because of the global expertise, partnerships, intentional design or a commitment to a lifestyle that goes beyond walls and ceilings? What exactly does it take to earn such recognition?

1. Born from a visionary partnership

Behind The Velaris Residences is RHK Land Corporation, the joint venture between Philippine real estate giant Robinsons Land and Hongkong Land. The collab merges local knowledge of the market with a legacy of world-class developments across Asia.

The global-local synergy in this debut project let RHK Land make its mark in the industry, collecting prestigious awards along the way and cementing its credibility among Philippine luxury residences.

2. Intentional design

In real estate, a strong design philosophy is the recipe not just for great awards, but for generations of happy clients.

The Velaris Residences believes that every space must be purpose-driven and enhance the lives of its residents.

The 40-story North Tower-an addition to the three-tower enclave-showcases this philosophy by offering one- to four-bedroom layouts that maximize natural light and provide seamless flow between spaces.

There are spacious indoor patios in the one- and one-and-a-half-bedroom units, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors. Then there are double-volume living spaces in four-bedroom, townhouse and penthouse suites, creating a sense of grandeur and openness not often seen even in this market.

Every unit is equipped with smart home technology, from biometric digital door locks to app-controlled lighting and air conditioning, as well as smart mirrors in larger units.

Privacy is so important that private lifts are included in two-bedroom units and above, with a 2:1 unit-to-elevator ratio for smaller residences.

Elegance is not only the finishing touch but the foundation. Natural stone, engineered wood and other premium materials are carefully applied, all while keeping the units versatile enough for discerning residents.

3. Top-notch amenities

The awards have also recognized The Velaris Residences for its unrivaled lifestyle offerings. Specially curated for leisure, wellness, productivity and community, the North Tower’s amenities rival those of five-star resorts.

Upon arrival, residents are greeted by a grand plaza and five exclusive lobbies-each promising privacy and calm.

For relaxation, there’s an indoor Japanese sento with wet and dry sauna on the fifth floor podium. Outside, residents can marvel at an outdoor sento and sculpture garden.

For those with active pursuits, The Velaris Residences has a badminton and pickleball court, a lifestyle gym with dance and cycling studios, an Olympic-length infinity pool and, of course, a golf simulator studio.

Enjoy the garden lounge with floating daybeds, or let the children play at the Kids Club. A treetop playground, camping grounds and a dedicated children’s pool, pool bar and family deck, banquet hall and a party pool with underwater seating complete the family-centric lineup of amenities.

The North Tower also responds to modern needs with a business lounge with meeting room and a creative studio, encouraging residents to embrace hybrid work in style.

Meanwhile, smart lockers, secure mailrooms and a residents’ portal app ensure seamless contactless living, from booking amenities to managing deliveries.

Crowning it all is the North Tower Velaris SkyClub on the 40th floor. This sanctuary in the clouds comes with a wine gallery, cigar room, private theater, casual and gourmet dining areas, SkyLounge, SkyBar and SkyDeck.

It’s up to the residents to enjoy it either as an escape or a stage for life’s grandest celebrations, right at home.

4. Location with lasting value

Awards also take into account the location. The Velaris Residences rises within Bridgetowne, an emerging 30-hectare township along the C5 corridor that links Quezon City, Pasig City and Taguig City.

The property stands beside two majestic landmarks-The Victor, a 200-foot art installation by world-renowned artist JEFRË, and the scenic Bridgetowne Bridge, designed by Mañosa and Co.

These icons contribute to the project’s long-term value, alongside the township’s master-planned mix of business and leisure spaces.

Investors and residents can be confident that the C5 growth corridor is poised to become a new megalopolis, with Bridgetowne as the centerpiece-ensuring that owning a unit at The Velaris Residences is not just a lifestyle statement, but also a sound, future-proof investment.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show-cause order to a rider for allowing a child to ride on a motorcycle without a helmet in Baclaran, Parañaque.

The incident was recorded on camera by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s Special Operations Group-Strike Force head Gabriel Go from his vehicle along Roxas Boulevard.

The viral photo received around 3,000 reactions, mostly likes and crying emojis.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said the motorcycle rider and one of the two back riders had helmets. The child, who was sitting in the middle, had no protective gear.

‘That compromises the safety of what appears to be family members, especially the child,’ Mendoza said.

The vehicle’s registered owner was ordered to appear at the LTO central office in Quezon City on Oct. 2.

‘Once the identity of the motorcycle rider is established, his driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days,’ the LTO said.

Cebuana Lhuillier continues to champion financial inclusion by joining the government-led Lab for All caravans, a nationwide initiative that brings both healthcare and community empowerment to underserved Filipinos.

Guided by its vision of financial inclusion and empowerment for every Filipino, the company integrates its business expertise and Corporate Social Responsibility advocacies to ensure that communities gain not only access to medical services but also the financial tools needed to build better futures.

‘At Cebuana Lhuillier, we believe in empowering Filipinos to build better futures for themselves and their families,’ says president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier.

‘Our participation in the Lab for All caravan aligns with our mission to bring financial services and opportunities directly to the communities that need them most.’

Lab for All is the flagship healthcare initiative of First Lady Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos, supported by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Beyond providing healthcare through free medicines, consultations and mobile laboratory services, the program also emphasizes entrepreneurship and innovation, linking local talents with experts and investors for lasting community impact.

Since the launch of the first caravan in Batangas City in May 2023, Cebuana Lhuillier has been a consistent partner in 47 Lab for All events-from Tacloban and Sorsogon to Quezon City and General Santos.

At each stop, the company’s Kanegosyo Centers have offered invaluable resources: Cebuana Micro Savings accounts paired with complimentary Ipon Boxes that transform saving into a rewarding habit, ProtectMax Insurance plans that shield families from financial shocks and hands-on workshops guiding aspiring entrepreneurs toward sustainable businesses.

These initiatives uplift communities and strengthen family resilience by addressing every stage of the financial journey-saving, protecting and building.

The success of Lab for All demonstrates the extraordinary progress that can be achieved when public and private sectors unite with a shared purpose. Just as Lab for All delivers much-needed healthcare to underserved communities, Cebuana Lhuillier brings the promise of financial inclusion, accessibility and livelihood support-ensuring that every Filipino not only survives, but thrives.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is likely to extend the current rice import ban until the end of the year to help stabilize farmgate prices, with new measures also being prepared to support local farmers.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said yesterday he met with President Marcos last week, where they agreed to extend the ban by at least 30 days.

‘It is possible that the ban could be extended until the end of the year, depending on the situation,’ Tiu Laurel told reporters in an interview at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.

‘I also talked to our rice millers and local rice traders last week. They are actually requesting the import ban to be extended until the end of this year,’ he added.

Tiu Laurel said the price of palay, or unhusked rice, has dropped again, prompting the government to consider extending the import ban and drafting additional measures to support local farmers.

Among these measures is an executive order that will prohibit local government units and other government offices from buying imported rice to help rice farmers.

Tiu Laurel also said the government may increase tariffs once the import ban ends and will issue an executive order to set a floor price for rice.

Another measure to ease rice prices is to sell P20 rice for one month to households in typhoon-affected areas such as Masbate and Eastern Samar.

Each household could buy up to 30 kilos of the staple grain, the agriculture official said.

The 60-day rice import ban that began in September was implemented by the Marcos administration to help stabilize farmgate prices and shield local farmers during the harvest season.

During his 2022 election campaign, Marcos pledged to lower the retail price of rice to P20 per kilo, a commitment that has since drawn close public attention to both price fluctuations and government actions in the rice sector.

Whenever the photographer would yell “wacky!” during a shoot, the very definition of it confuses me. The quickest wacky pose I know is to raise two of my fingers and form it into a finger heart. The gesture became popular during the hit of the K-drama wave, where characters used it to portray a cute kind of love, happiness, or just to strike a pose. However, its context has changed in the Philippine setting when top contractor Sarah Discaya used a finger heart to convey a message to the public.

Discaya has become a household name since they were named by the president as one of the top contractors in the country. Their projects span the entire nation, with many believed to be anomalous. Reports say they allegedly operate nine companies with the same nature of business, sometimes even competing against each other in public biddings. Talk about monopolizing infrastructure projects and taking advantage of the system by placing prices higher than what the market offers today. Many were quick to notice their seemingly fast ascension in the social ladder, coupled with lifestyles that are lavish, glittering, and very much devoid of the ordinary Filipino’s struggle.

Recent news about substandard flood control projects uncovered by the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas brought more attention to the issue. Inspectors found works that were either incomplete or below standard, raising public suspicion about the kind of contractors the government entrusts with taxpayers’ money. This is where the finger heart of Discaya becomes more than just a pose. It becomes a symbol of irony: a cheerful gesture masking the weight of corruption and inefficiency that Filipinos continue to endure.

We cannot just finger heart our way into finding who the real culprit is in this whole scandal. It may be a sign of positivity, but it is also an insult to those who are trying their best to put out the truth for everyone to know. The investigations done by agencies like the NBI are not for show; they require utmost effort, long hours, and persistence, because they too want justice for the taxes that come out of people’s pockets. There is nothing to be joyous about this whole situation, especially as the issue seems to drag on. The bigger fear is that it will eventually be forgotten, buried under the next wave of headlines.

I would like to finger heart those who are joining the cause in calling for accountability. They deserve to use this gesture among themselves because they are in unity to get to the bottom of things. Their voices on the streets are not in vain, as they have become part of a bigger cause. It is one that challenges the very positions of power in government today or perhaps, it should be the other way around. We should be the ones finger hearting those who are now slowly being held accountable. After all, true love for a country is not expressed in cute poses but in the courage to stand for what is right.

Public Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon has issued new budget guidelines for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), starting with a new policy on proposed budgets for project consultants.

In an order issued Sept. 22, Dizon outlined guidelines on the preparation, review and updating of Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for consulting services under locally funded and foreign-assisted projects of the agency.

Under Department Order No. 184, Dizon said the ABC will now strictly serve as the ceiling for bid prices in locally funded consulting projects. Any offer that goes beyond the ABC will be disqualified outright.

For foreign-assisted projects, the ABC is referred to as the estimated project cost. The agency said EPCs must follow the rules of donor or lending institutions, but stressed that no increase beyond the approved loan or grant amount may proceed without clearance from oversight agencies such as the Department of Budget and Management or the Department of Economy, Planning and Development.

Compared to earlier rules, the new order imposes tighter controls by mandating documented market scoping, automatic disqualification of bids above the ceiling and higher-level approvals for any cost adjustments in foreign-assisted projects.

Previous rules introduced during the time of former DPWH secretary and now Sen. Mark Villar had set a ‘management fee’ as the ABC for the project consultancy contract which took into consideration the actual cost of services to be rendered by the consultant. This called for the computation of a remuneration cost, overhead cost, a ‘social charge’ and the ‘management fee’ as well as a multiplier formula, not counting a ‘contingency’ fund.

The new guidelines also direct the DPWH Bureau of Design to validate all ABC packages and issue updated costing guidelines annually to reflect changes in law, funding rules or market conditions.

The new rules take effect immediately and supersede Department Order No. 99, Series of 2018.

Dizon had previously ordered the lifting of the suspension on procurement activities for all locally funded infrastructure projects, but had imposed interim guidelines for strict disclosure rules on the part of prospective bidders as well as the livestreaming of the bidding events.

Blockchain

Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said it is supporting a multisectoral initiative to put the government’s national budget on the blockchain.

ICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda said the agency was providing full support to an ongoing collaborative effort which has drawn the participation of US-based global blockchain technology leader Polygon Labs and local tech partners led by Bayani Chain.

Aguda said the DICT recognized the merit in using blockchain technology as a solution against corruption.

‘Blockchain is a platform for data, with immutability. It cannot be erased or changed,’ Aguda said.

‘From a record keeping standpoint, you have an immutable ledger, meaning that ledger will forever be there, (serving like) a single version of the truth,’ he noted.

FPJ Panday Bayanihan party-list Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares said the push also had support in both houses of Congress, with him filing House Bill 4489 to put the national budget on the blockchain.

A child’s birthday is a cherished memory, especially when they can freely run around and share the fun with friends and family in a space built just for them.

Located on the fourth floor of The Podium in Ortigas, Kinetix Kids is a play-gym, activity, and specialized training center. It is a one-stop shop where kids can play, enroll in special classes, and celebrate important milestones.

Since opening in November 2024, the place has become a popular venue for children’s parties. It has become an ideal party place in Ortigas that offers flexibility for family celebrations.

The event hall can accommodate up to 120 guests and offers flexible options for shared or exclusive access to the amusement area. The smaller hall can accommodate around 60 guests. Tables, chairs, and a basic sound system are included with the venue.

According to marketing manager Shalla Yu, a wide variety of party themes, from “outer space adventures to jungle explorations, and of course, the ever-popular character-inspired parties” were already held in the venue.

“What makes it fun is watching how kids fully dive into it and turn our space into their own little world,’ she added.

The place can host more than just birthdays; families can also celebrate graduations, christenings, Christmas, Halloween, or any other themed parties they can imagine. The venue can also accommodate organized playdates for groups of 10 or more children, with optional catering for snacks and desserts.

The establishment offers food and beverage services through its own arm, Kinetix Kitchen. They also have accredited food suppliers.

For an even more magical party, it has its own mascots, Aki, Ava, and Tobi.

“Just let our events team know in advance if you’d like them to make an appearance, and we’ll be happy to include them in your party package,” marketing head Shalla said.

Events director Albee Barretto emphasized the “mix of fun and convenience” that the play-gym provides.

“Parents don’t have to stress, and kids get the celebration of their dreams,” he said. “Plus, the space itself is designed to keep the energy high and the kids fully engaged. When you celebrate here, you get both peace of mind and a party that stands out.”

Monday, Oct. 6, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, is the Mid-Autumn Festival, the second most important festival for Chinese all over the world (the most important is, of course, the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival). It is also a festival celebrating the moon, which is at its fullest and brightest on that night.

In ancient agricultural China, the post-autumn harvest was a time of plenty, a time to thank the gods for a good yield of crops. The term Mid-Autumn (zhong qiu or tiong chiu in Hokkien) first appeared in the Confucian classic Rites of Zhou and the custom of the Mid-Autumn Festival took root in the Tang dynasty. It was in the Northern Song dynasty that the date for the festival was fixed on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. The mooncake, on the other hand, first appeared in the following Southern Song dynasty.

Central to the Mid-Autumn Festival is the mooncake (so some people call it the Mooncake Festival), a round pastry filled with lotus paste or bean paste, embellished with a salted egg yolk (or two), nuts and butong pakwan (thus the urban legend of the old aunties on the second floor of the bakery cracking watermelon seeds with what teeth they still have).

A popular legend has it that during the Yuan dynasty, rebel leaders hid messages inside and distributed mooncakes to call on the people to ‘rise up and revolt’ against the Mongol overlords.

These days mooncakes have become quite fancy with flavors like ube, cheese and even truffle and, since these are often given as gifts, come in ornate containers that can double as jewelry boxes. The traditional bakeries still use the old tin boxes though.

Since the Tsinoy community is predominantly Hokkien from Fujian province, the dice game or pua tiong chiu has taken root here. The game supposedly dates back to the 1600s, invented by Koxinga (an honorific title meaning ‘Lord of the Imperial Surname’ given to the general Zheng Chenggong) to boost the morale of his homesick troops during the Mid-Autumn Festival, since they were stationed in southern Amoy (now Xiamen, in Fujian) to retake Formosa (Taiwan) from the Dutch.

When we were kids we’d hie off to my Amah (grandma)’s house to pua tiong chiu. The game involved six dice and a large bowl (if one of the dice jumps out of the bowl you lose your turn), and a rule book tells you what dice combinations get you what prize. Traditionally, prizes were different sizes of hopia mongo, starting from the smallest at about an inch and a half in diameter to the full 12-inch one. A set consists of 63 hopia in increasing sizes – 32 of the smallest, then 16, eight, four and two, until the Big Kahuna or tsiong guan.

The problem was what to do with all that hopia after the game; the entire household had hopia for merienda for two days (by the third day the mongo filling became dry and hard). So the modern iteration of the game involves prizes other than hopia – anything from candy, toys and trinkets to appliances (I once won a toaster oven) and jewelry to cash. But I haven’t yet heard of any family or group that had a suitcase full of cash as the tsiong guan – but then I don’t move in the circles of contractors and congressmen.

The sums are jaw-dropping. It is mind-boggling how amounts like P125 million, P3.6 billion are so casually thrown around, like P36 or P125. So even if their share is only – ONLY – two percent, it’s still a pretty penny. No wonder they can afford Rollses and Lambos, Ferraris and Benzes – paid for in cash – while the salaried worker has to shop around for the best financing deal to buy a Toyota, which will not be able to go through the lampas gulong floods because the pumping station is not working and the obstructed creek was not dredged and has overflowed.

I still can’t wrap my little round head around how P457 million can be withdrawn from one bank in one day – how many Rimowa suitcases or duffel bags and how many vehicles did it take to transport all that moolah to.whose house? Or shouldn’t I ask?

At the rate top government officials are being implicated in this grand thievery – where there’s smoke there’s fire, right? – the ranks of government, especially the legislature, could be seriously depleted, which might actually be a good thing, one positive to come out of this gargantuan mess.

Although, of course, at this point nobody is guilty; all of the accusations are baseless, politically motivated demolition jobs meant to tarnish reputations. And all charges will be answered in due time, at the proper forum – which I interpret as guilt-speak for ‘give me time to come up with a plausible explanation as I consult my highly paid crisis PR consultant and lawyers.’ There are a few mea culpas – undersecretaries, district engineers – but I’m waiting for the catch of the day, the Big Fishes.

These shenanigans have been going on for years, decades even, with the cast of unsavory characters changing with each change of administration (tenured civil servants are not affected by such changes). Many have said the problem is systemic, meaning it’s ‘rooted in the fundamental structure of the organization or society, such as a corrupt government system, rather than being a problem caused by a few bad individuals.’

Thing is, it’s looking like ‘bad individuals’ have infiltrated the entire system, controlling large parts of it in fact. So who’s going to fix the system? How do we fix the system? The ‘bad individuals’ will corrupt any system that’s put in place; we got rid of PDAF, only for it to be replaced by congressional insertions.

The Queen of Hearts – from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – may have a solution: ‘Off with their heads!’