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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has recalled sensing an unexplained presence during his childhood visits to the Baguio Mansion House.

Also known as the official summer residence of the Philippine president, the mansion is shrouded in eerie tales of unexplained encounters shared by visitors and its caretakers.

‘Noong bata kami, pumupunta kami doon pag Holy Week. Siguro, hindi ko alam, baka imagination lang namin, pero talagang para kaming may nararamdaman,’ Marcos said at Radio Television Malacañang’s The Baguio Mansion House Horror Stories.

(When we were children, we used to go there during Holy Week. Maybe it was just our imagination, I don’t know, but we really felt a presence.)

He said such experiences were not limited to visitors, as the mansion’s caretakers had also shared accounts of unexplained sounds and occurrences.

‘Yung mga tumira doon, lalo na yung mga bantay doon. Sila mismo nagsasabi na talaga meron silang mga nararamdaman, may naririnig, may mga pangyayari na hindi nila masyadong ma-explain,’ Marcos said.

(Those who lived there, especially the caretakers, would tell us themselves that they experienced strange sensations, heard things, and witnessed events they could not fully explain.)

Marcos said these unexplained experiences could be linked to Baguio’s history during World War II, when intense fighting in the city claimed the lives of numerous American, Filipino, and Japanese soldiers.

‘Maraming na ano diyan noong gera, noong panahon ng giyera, yung labanan, matindi yung labanan sa Baguio, paakyat ng Baguio. Kaya’t maraming sundalo diyan ang nasawi, maraming casualty diyan na Amerikano, Pilipino, Hapon,’ he said.

(Many people died there during the war, when the fighting in Baguio was intense, particularly during the advance toward the city. Many soldiers were killed there, including Americans, Filipinos, and Japanese.)

‘Kaya’t siguro yung mga iba doon ay naiwan na sa Baguio at nakikibisita sa atin pagka tayo ay nakikibisita doon,’ he added.

(Perhaps some of them never left Baguio and still visit us whenever we go there.)

The Baguio Mansion House was originally built as the summer headquarters for governors-general during the American colonial period before becoming the official summer residence of the Philippine president.

The prosecution’s decision to withdraw three of the four impeachment charges against Vice President Sara Duterte was partly driven by concerns that the defense would prolong the proceedings by presenting an extensive lineup of witnesses.

House Deputy Speaker and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin said Duterte’s defense lawyers seems pursuing procedural delays that could prevent the Senate impeachment court from reaching a timely decision on the allegations. ‘Napakalinaw po na yung direksyon ng depensa ay to delay, delay, and divert,’ Garin said. In an interview with Marinduque News, Garin defended the prosecution’s decision on Oct. 13 to withdraw Articles I, III and IV, maintaining that the decision was intended to concentrate the proceedings on the unexplained wealth charge rather than allow prolonged litigation over multiple allegations.

‘Kaya rason na gumalaw din yung prosekusyon, kasi hindi naman pwedeng manaig ang taktika ng pagpapatagal at pagpapatagal, dahil ang usapin dito ay accountability o sagutin ang mga katanungan,’ Garin explained.

The defense maintained that the withdrawal prevented it from formally answering charges that had already been aired publicly.

However, the prosecution pointed out that in July, it proposed an alternating presentation of evidence, under which the defense would answer each impeachment article immediately after prosecutors completed presenting their evidence on that charge. The defense rejected the arrangement, with lawyer Michael Poa previously arguing that the prosecution must first present its complete case and establish which evidence had been admitted before Duterte could be required to respond. ‘Alam mo, the defense has nobody to blame but themselves,’ Garin maintained, rejecting complaints that the withdrawal deprived the vice president of the opportunity to answer allegations already discussed in court. ‘Kasi unang-una pa lang, paulit ulit nang sinasabi ng prosekusyon, gawin nating alternate, grave threat, then sasagutin ng depensa,’ Garin recalled. ‘Ah, confidential funds, then sasagutin ng depensa. Subalit sila yung umayaw,’ Garin added, referring to the defense’s refusal to adopt the proposed article-by-article sequence.

‘Kaya nga yung sinabi nilang, unang-una pa lang, 90 na yung kanilang witnesses doon pa lang sa grave threat,’ Garin disclosed, citing a figure that has not been independently established as the final number of witnesses the defense would actually present.

Garin also pointed out that the defense was able to extensively cross-examine the witnesses presented by the prosecution.

‘Pero kung titingnan naman natin, they were able to cross-examine the witnesses at hindi tinutumbok nang diretso ang mga alegasyon, kundi ito ay nililihis,’ Garin argued. The Senate impeachment court eventually approved the prosecution’s withdrawal of three articles.

The defense will start presenting its evidence on Article II involving alleged unexplained wealth starting Nov. 9.

Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson has cautioned authorities against publicly disclosing operational details in the intensified search for Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, saying secrecy is essential when law enforcers pursue a high-profile target.

‘SSSHHH… : When pursuing a high-profile target or handling a sensitive live case, secrecy discipline is key, unless disinformation is necessary to flush the quarry into the open,’ Lacson said in a post on X on Sunday.

The Philippine National Police has stepped up its manhunt for Dela Rosa after a one-week ultimatum for the senator to surrender, issued by PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., expired on Friday. The search is unfolding amid a P50-million reward announced by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla for information leading to the senator’s arrest.

Lacson, who was PNP chief from 1999 to 2001 and Dela Rosa’s superior at the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force, said authorities should not immediately publicize ‘solid’ information that could help solve a case until after the operation is completed.

He stressed that sensitive information should be disclosed ahead of time only as a deliberate strategy to flush out the quarry.

‘We’re just really quiet and only when the [target] was caught or neutralized that it would be telegraphed,’ Lacson said in an earlier interview. ‘For sure, Sen. Dela Rosa has been monitoring. And if he believes that his location has already been pinpointed, he’s not stupid to stay there.’

Lacson also acknowledged that releasing information could, in some circumstances, be a deliberate tactic to draw a wanted person out of hiding or avert bloodshed. But he said such a decision should be left to the police, which have wider access to intelligence.

‘We’ll just leave it to the PNP because they know better. They have broader access to intelligence information,’ he said.

Operational secrecy

The PNP announced on Oct. 28 the launch of round-the-clock hotlines for tips on Dela Rosa’s whereabouts. PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co presented five mobile numbers that the public may call or text with verified information. Co warned that people who deliberately submit false information or make prank calls could face criminal charges.

‘This is an official law enforcement resource, these are the numbers, and you can be criminally charged if you play with them,’ he said.

The PNP said it had received no new information on whether Dela Rosa intended to surrender. Co also said negotiations remained ongoing with a supposed armed group allegedly protecting the senator in Mindanao.

Nartatez issued the one-week surrender ultimatum on Oct. 23, saying police operations would proceed regardless of the reward or the deadline. The PNP has not publicly disclosed further operational details.

Dela Rosa is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with alleged crimes linked to the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.

The senator has been in hiding since November 2025 after learning that an ICC warrant had been issued against him.

Legal challenge

In a manifestation dated Oct. 27, Dela Rosa’s lawyers renewed their plea for the Supreme Court to act urgently on a motion for reconsideration filed in June and issue a temporary restraining order against any attempt to arrest him for eventual surrender to the ICC.

The lawyers, from the firm of Israelito Torreon, argued that the P50-million bounty and Remulla’s description of Dela Rosa as ‘armed and dangerous’ heightened the threat to the senator’s constitutional rights, particularly his right to life.

‘No court has found petitioner Dela Rosa to be armed and dangerous,’ the lawyers told the high court. They argued that the label could signal to police operating units that armed resistance should be expected, creating circumstances in which lethal force was more likely to be used.

‘Coupled with a bounty and a declaration abandoning restraint, the designation places petitioner Dela Rosa’s right to life under Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution in present and serious danger,’ they said.

Dela Rosa left the Senate building in the early hours of May 14 after the ICC arrest warrant was unsealed.

He is accused of murder in connection with killings during the drug war while he was PNP chief from 2016 to 2018. He is also named as an alleged co-perpetrator in the ICC’s separate crimes against humanity case against Duterte, which concerns the former president’s anti-drug campaign.

Remulla had earlier said on Sept. 8 that authorities knew Dela Rosa’s location. On Oct. 19, he said the senator was in Mindanao under the protection of an armed group and warned that an arrest attempt could lead to 10,000 deaths. The PNP has not independently detailed those claims.

Dela Rosa appeared in the Senate on May 11 to vote in the chamber’s leadership election. He left the premises days later, after a shooting incident, and has not made a subsequent public appearance.

In the modern economic landscape, mental health is no longer merely a public health concern or an employee welfare benefit; it is an imperative driver of national productivity and macroeconomic resilience.

For the Philippines, a country whose growth trajectory is fueled heavily by a young, tech-savvy workforce, the business process outsourcing industry and service sectors, human capital is the primary engine of development.

To maximize this economic potential, mental well-being must be positioned at the core of labor policies, workplace design and national legislative frameworks.

A mentally healthy workforce translates directly to higher innovation, reduced absenteeism, lower turnover and maximized output across all economic sectors.

This will be a 3-part series to delve a little into different areas where mental health is an imperative, picking up from the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) General Membership Meeting Panel on Oct. 16, featuring Sen. Risa Hontiveros as speaker and Jeannie Goulbourn and Dr. Edgardo Juan Tolentino as panelists, with Agnes Gervacio as moderator.

Operationalizing Republic Act. No. 11036 and inclusive employment

In my nearly four decades across the telecommunications and healthcare sectors, I have spent countless hours in executive boardrooms analyzing operational efficiency, capital allocation and bottom-line growth.

Yet across every balance sheet and strategic plan, one truth remains undeniable: human capital is the ultimate driver of national productivity. Parallel to my corporate career, my time as a front-line volunteer for the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation’s Hopeline exposed me to the deeply human side of this equation.

Sitting with individuals in their moments of acute crisis taught me that psychological well-being is not an abstract personal matter-it is the foundational infrastructure of human capability.

When RA 11036, the Philippine Mental Health Act, was enacted eight years ago, it marked a historic shift by recognizing mental healthcare as a fundamental right.

However, as business leaders, we know that policy declarations on paper do not automatically yield economic productivity.

Execution does

Today, as a member of MAP and its health committee, my personal mission extends beyond promoting basic awareness of the law.

We must urgently operationalize RA 11036 across our organizations so that millions of working Filipinos can experience its tangible benefits in their daily lives.

Translating policy into daily workplace practice

To bridge the gap between statutory intent and workplace reality, corporate compliance must move past passive measures, like annual wellness webinars or printed employee handbooks.

Implementing the Mental Health Act alongside our Occupational Safety and Health Standards requires embedding actionable mental wellness protocols into the operational bloodstream of our companies.

First, businesses must establish clear, confidential and stigma-free pathways for professional psychological support.

This means integrating robust Employee Assistance Programs and telemental health services into standard health benefit packages.

Second, managers and middle supervisors must be trained in basic psychological first aid and empathetic leadership.

Front-line leaders are the first line of defense; equipping them to recognize early indicators of burnout, anxiety and severe stress prevents preventable medical leave and voluntary attrition.

Third, operationalizing the law demands structured workplace accommodations.

Flexible work arrangements, temporary duty reassignments and manageable workload adjustments should be viewed not as operational disruptions, but as strategic retention tools that safeguard valuable talent.

Unlocking the potential of mentally challenged and neurodivergent workers

A critical, yet underutilized, dimension of RA 11036 is its explicit alignment with RA 7277, the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

The Mental Health Act affirms that individuals with psychosocial, neurological and mental health conditions retain full legal capacity and the fundamental right to meaningful employment.

Integrating mentally challenged and neurodivergent individuals-such as those living with clinical depression, bipolar disorder, adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum conditions-into the formal labor market is not merely an exercise in corporate social responsibility. It is an economic growth strategy.

Neurodivergent individuals frequently bring exceptional attention to detail, innovative problem-solving abilities and unique analytical perspectives that enrich organizational culture and foster creative problem-solving.

When employers provide reasonable accommodations-such as structured daily routines, sensory-friendly workspaces and clear performance frameworks-these workers thrive.

Integrating this population directly increases household incomes, reduces reliance on state support and expands our national tax base.

Call to action as business leaders: Build a resilient economic future

As routine tasks become increasingly automated, the true competitive advantage of the Philippine economy lies in complex human capability. Mental health issues like presenteeism-where employees are physically present but cognitively disengaged-cost the global economy billions annually in lost output.

By actively implementing RA 11036, breaking down social stigma, and opening our doors to individuals facing mental health challenges, we build a resilient, highly productive workforce.

Investing in workplace mental wellness is not a corporate expense; it is a high-return investment in our nation’s economic future.

Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan on Monday urged the government to intensify its crackdown on hoarders, profiteers, and cartels as the country braces for the impact of a strong El Niño on food production and prices.

He also called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Price Coordinating Council and other concerned agencies to strengthen market monitoring and enforce applicable price freezes in areas declared under a state of calamity.

He said these agencies should recommend the imposition of price ceilings when warranted under the law to protect consumers from unreasonable price increases.

‘We should not profit from the impending calamity that will further afflict our countrymen, especially farmers and fishermen who also buy food from the market. During times of crisis, consumers must be protected against exploitation,’ Pangilinan said.

According to him, authorities should investigate and prosecute individuals and entities engaged in hoarding, profiteering, and cartel activities that seek to exploit the threat of drought and water shortages to manipulate food supply and prices.

‘[They should] gather evidence and pursue criminal and administrative cases against those responsible for illegal price manipulation. Enforcement must not end with frontline sellers. We must target the very top, the big business owners behind these syndicates,’ said Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform.

Under Republic Act No. 7581, or the Price Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 10623, the prices of basic necessities in areas declared under a state of calamity are automatically frozen at their prevailing levels or placed under automatic price control, unless otherwise declared by the president.

Pangilinan also warned that public officials who conspire in or knowingly conceal violations of the Price Act may be held accountable.

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.

David Licauco and Ashtine Olviga are not treating other popular love teams as competitors as they prepare for the premiere of their first lead series together, the Filipino adaptation of the hit Korean drama ‘Fight for My Way.’

The two actors, who previously worked with different screen partners, said they are happy with the success of their fellow artists and believe everyone has their own path in the entertainment industry.

Olviga, who was previously paired with Andres Muhlach, said she does not see other love teams as competition.

‘Ako po, I really don’t compete with anyone and happy po ako sa success ng nakukuha ng ibang mga kasamahan namin sa Viva,’ she said during the grand mediacon of ‘Fight for My Way.’

‘Naniniwala rin po ako na kung para sa kanila ‘yon, ‘yun ang para sa kanila and I have my own din po,’ she added.

Licauco, meanwhile, who was previously paired with Barbie Forteza, agreed with his new leading lady and praised Viva One for providing opportunities for everyone.

‘I agree with what she said na ‘yung Viva One, ang galing nilang magpasikat ng mga artista,’ he said.

‘I feel like hindi lang siya sa artista but also sa mga director, production. Yung leaders ng Viva, I feel like very intact that’s why yung mga artista ay binibigyan ng magandang platform, magandang shows,’ he added.

Olviga also addressed how she deals with negative comments and toxic fans, saying she chooses to understand them rather than retaliate.

‘Hindi po kasi natin maiiwasan ‘yung mga ganoong klase ng tao so ako po, tina-try ko na i-understand na lang sila,’ she said.

‘Na baka may pinagdaanan sila na masama o masakit kaya yun ang way nila to cope with pero at the same time, I don’t encourage na i-continue nila yung ganoong kind of behavior,’ she added.

The actress also encouraged people to be kinder to one another, noting that everyone has their own struggles.

‘Tulad ng sabi ko before pa na lahat tayo naman, may pinagdaraanan, so kung magiging mabuti tayo sa kapwa natin or magbibigay lang tayo ng smile, ano ba naman yung magbigay ng encouragement kesa i-pull natin yung mga tao pababa?’ she said.

‘Fight for My Way’ is Viva One’s first-ever Korean series adaptation, based on the popular South Korean drama about friends pursuing their dreams while navigating love and friendship.

Aside from Olviga and Licauco, the series also stars McCoy de Leon and Aubrey Caraan. It is set to premiere on Viva One on Nov. 20.

Despite problems with the economy, this year’s profit for flower vendors outside the Manila South Cemetery is enough to make ends meet as they see fewer competitors this year.

With arranged flowers lined up in the sidewalk, Bryan Amoyan is ready to pack his products once the gate of the cemetery closes at 9 p.m.

The 40-year-old vendor told the INQUIRER that they have been selling flowers since October 29, Thursday. He added that this is part of his family business of flower arrangements.

‘Thirty eight years na kaming nagbebenta ng bulaklak,’ Amoyan said, noting that he has been helping with family business since he was 14 years old.

(We’ve been selling flowers for 38 years already.)

Amoyan also said that they also offer flower arrangements for churches, and other occasions.

He added that this year’s profit is better than last year, but it was, as he pointed out, because of fewer competition this year.

He also said that many vendors were not allowed to sell their products this year as they were only given a designated area outside the cemetery.

As the flower vendor sources out their products from Dangwa flower market in Sampaloc, Manila, he also pointed out that the prices of flowers continue to increase.

This year saw an economic slowdown, as the inflation rate for September surged to 7.2 percent, which was slightly greater than August’s record of 6.1 percent.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, food inflation rose from 4.6 percent to 6.7 percent in September, driven by vegetable prices rising to 10.7 percent.

It was also in February this year when the Middle East conflict broke out, which drastically affected the prices of fuel products, particularly diesel.

Meanwhile, Arjay Racho has been selling flowers and candles outside the cemetery since October 28, Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Racho told the INQUIRER that he currently works as a factory worker and he has been selling flowers every Undas since he was 10 years old.

Unlike Amoyan, Racho said that last year’s profit was much higher than this year’s Undas commemoration.

‘Okay ang benta, [sapat] sa pang-araw-araw… Tama lang, pangkain,’ he said in a separate interview.

The police recovered about 5,700 liters of suspected illegally obtained diesel fuel in General Santos City, following a report received through the government’s 8888 hotline.

The Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12) said its operatives responded to a report of alleged diesel pilferage and illegal distribution at around 3:37 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, in Purok Saydala, Barangay Tambler.

Police found no one at the reported location but discovered 27 drums containing approximately 5,700 liters of diesel fuel believed to be connected to the alleged illegal operation.

The drums were immediately turned over to Police Station 5 for safekeeping, documentation and further investigation.

Further investigation identified a woman, alias ‘Glad’, as the owner of the property where the drums were discovered.

PRO-12 said criminal charges were being prepared against her, subject to further evaluation of the evidence to establish her possible involvement and determine the applicable violations of law.

Police said the investigation was continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the liability, if any, of other persons involved.

PRO-12 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Alan B. Manibog urged the public to continue reporting suspected illegal activities and cooperating with authorities.

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte could wrap up by the end of November, the House’s lead prosecutor said on Sunday, which could mark the end of a months-long proceeding that has exposed alleged misconduct by the early presidential favorite.

In a statement, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, the chief prosecutor in the impeachment case, said this was ‘possible’ if Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team limits its presentation to 10 trial days from 30 days under the Senate impeachment court’s June pretrial order.

Luistro’s projected timeline hinged on expectations that Duterte’s defense team will cut the trial days it will seek to rebut the allegations hurled by prosecutors.

‘They will be requesting 10 trial days, and it all will be a full day,’ the Batangas lawmaker said in Filipino. ‘If this extends beyond 10 trial days, it may spill over into December.’

Still, the trial will take far less time than what was initially expected after prosecutors streamlined the case to focus solely on the charge that Duterte amassed unexplained wealth and failed to truthfully disclose her assets, Luistro said.

‘What is clear is that the defense requested 30 trial days, according to our pretrial order,’ she pointed out. ‘However, those … pertained to four articles of impeachment. At this point, only one remains.’

‘But at any rate, we are all hoping and praying that, hopefully before Christmas, this impeachment trial will be concluded so we can have closure and we can all move on,’ Luistro added.

’16 votes’

In a separate statement, Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said prosecutors could likely secure 16 votes to convict Duterte if she would not appear in her Senate trial and explain the wealth she allegedly accrued while in office.

‘If the vice president chooses not to attend and fails to address or answer the questions raised by the [Anti-Money Laundering Council], the banks, the [Bureau of Internal Revenue], the [Securities and Exchange Commission], and our forensic analyst, reaching the 16 votes becomes highly probable,’ she said in Filipino.

Forensic financial analyst Alexander Cabrera, a prosecution witness, testified in September that Duterte may have hidden at least P817 million in assets since 2022.

‘That is precisely why it is crucial for our vice president to attend,’ Garin said in Filipino. ‘When you are the respondent in an impeachment trial, it is vital that your voice is heard and your explanation is presented.’

Duterte was initially charged with alleged betrayal of public trust, amassing unexplained wealth, violating the Constitution, committing graft and bribery, and issuing grave threats against President Marcos.

Last month, prosecutors withdrew three of the charges and only retained the unexplained wealth charge.