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Eumir Marcial recognized the heavy expectations that came with fighting in the co-main event of Thrilla in Manila’s 50th anniversary.

Even greater than the privilege of being one of the headliners in a historic anniversary special was the burden of living up to the spirit of arguably the greatest fight in history-one where boxing behemoths Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier went at it in a brutal 14-round slugfest a half century ago.

It seemed an improbable task, but Marcial and Venezuelan counterpart Eddy Colmenares understood the assignment.

‘When we faced off during the weigh-in, he said something to me in Spanish and I can understand Spanish. He told me, when we step into the ring, it’s going to be an all-out war,’ said Marcial in Filipino.

‘That’s exactly what happened. It was war indeed.’

Sure, Marcial and Colmenares are nowhere near Ali and Frazier’s stature. There was no history and bad blood between them and no world titles on the line either.

They were merely two undefeated middleweight prospects committed to performing as promised from the get-go.

But when the final bell rang after 10 agonizing rounds, the two relentless warriors exchanged smiles and hugged it out while the Araneta Coliseum crowd was on its feet-they knew they put up a memorable performance.

In that moment, the scorecards didn’t seem to matter. From almost everyone’s perspective, both fighters won after a performance that paid homage to the original Thrilla in Manila that happened inside the same coliseum walls.

‘Tonight is memorable. It’s my 30th birthday and the 50th anniversary of Thrilla in Manila,’ said a bruised and bloodied Marcial, who survived a pair of knockdowns and eked past Colmenares by majority decision to capture the vacant WBC International title early Thursday.

‘This is such a meaningful belt for me because of what I had to go through to earn it on my birthday,’ added the Zamboanga City native, who improved his record to 7-0 with four knockouts.

It was a gutsy performance by Marcial in a back-and-forth battle of attrition where he found himself on the verge of a humiliating knockout loss.

‘When he knocked me down in the third round, I thought it was over for me. I told myself, this is it, I’m going to lose,’ Marcial admitted.

But the Olympic bronze medalist turned near-disaster into a defining moment.

‘It was a close call. But I heard the crowd cheering for me. The support was overwhelming and I drew strength from our home fans. I didn’t want to let them down.’

Sasha Bytsenko and Bella Belen kept Capital1 in the race for the top three in Pool A after stopping Cignal, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21, in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Friday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Bytsenko fired 23 points from a 22-of-56 attacking clip and had 12 excellent receptions, while rookie Belen had 11 points and 14 digs to push the Solar Spikers’ record to 2-2.

‘We prepared and worked hard for this game. I’m really happy because we were able to apply our game plan today. It wasn’t just about individual effort, it was truly a team effort,’ said Belen in Filipino. ‘We supported each other not only through scoring points but also in other skills and areas. I’m just really happy because all the hard work we put in over the past 10 days has finally paid off.’

Capital1 has a chance to get the third spot in Pool A when it battles Choco Mucho, which is currently 2-1 with an ongoing match against Farm Fresh, on November 4 at Mall of Asia Arena. The top three teams of Pool A battle the bottom three of Pool B.

Leila Cruz also stepped up with eight points. Iris Tolenada paced the Solar Spikers with 16 excellent sets and had four points, while libero Roma Mae Doromal had 15 digs and 14 receptions.

‘I’m very happy and very proud of them because we work as a team. Since the first point, we knew we had a plan and we followed. And even if we had to make some changes, we did. We adjusted the team, especially in the third set,’ said Capital1 coach Jorge Souza De Brito. ‘Even if they make adjustments there, we get a big distance. And then they got super close. We adjusted at the right moment.’

Cignal finished Pool A with a 2-3 record. It faces ZUS Coffee, Creamline, and either Akari or Petro Gazz in another round robin.

Katrin Trebichavska carried the Super Spikers with 22 points. Erika Santos was limited to nine points, as Rose Doria Aquino added eight. Vanie Gandler also returned to action but only saw limited action in the first two sets with two points.

Not only does Malacañang deal with past problems of previous presidents, but also with literal ghosts that haunt the presidential office.

Palace employees shared their spine-chilling paranormal experiences while at work in a nearly 14-minute video special by the Radio Television Malacañang and the Presidential Communications Office, titled ‘Malacañang Horror Stories,’ in time for the spooky season of Halloween.

One story was that of Master Sgt. Ramsam Gordo, who has been working as a presidential guard for 28 years, recounted one time during his midnight duty in making rounds within the Palace landing when he heard children playing around 1 a.m. at the Rizal Hall.

When he went upstairs to confirm, he found no one and even went inside further, but to no avail.

‘I went to check every side because the children may just be hiding, but there was no one there at all,’ Gordo said in Filipino in the Halloween clip special, realizing that this may just be another encounter of spirits inside the presidential palace.

Another time he recalled was when he was placed on duty at Gate 4 of Malacañang, from which anyone can see the Palace main lobby due to its close distance. While on duty, Gordo saw three men wearing barongs, whom he all assumed were also guards stationed there.

In his experience, Gordo said only two security aides should have been present since it was already 1 a.m. When he approached one of the guards, he told him there were only two of them at that time. The security aide said he may be being spooked out by Gordo.

When his fellow presidential guard at Gate 4 took a photo of the Palace’s main lobby-with no one in there-they spotted someone wearing a barong

Rian Cortel, a Malacañang employee for 18 years, recounted the time when he was a housekeeping staff member when they were holding a late-night vigil.

Almost all the lights shut off, and Cortel went upstairs to notice a couple in white just staring out the glass window. He told the two that their venue for the vigil was downstairs, but received no response.

Cortel then realized that this may just be another encounter with spirits in the Palace.

For 11 years, Laylanie de Dios has been a Palace employee, and over time, she has had ‘many’ paranormal experiences, such as a supposed doppelganger or spiritual double, and children playing around the halls of Malacañang.

She also shared that she had been feeling the presence of ghosts in different parts of Malacañang, such as on the stairs, where she said she saw a priest in maroon clothing, and on the ground floor, where she saw marching soldiers wearing native hats.

One time, De Dios recalled how she and one of her colleagues were taking a nap at the old stockroom in the afternoon when suddenly a man stepped over them.

The kitchen did not escape the presence of ghosts as Malacañang chef Katrina Matias also had eerie experiences while at work at the old kitchen. Two instances were when a man wearing a chef’s black jacket passed by the hallway and when a nurse was watching her cook.

Matias also recalled a time during the pandemic when she was on a video call with her daughter. During the call, she showed her workmate to her daughter, who noticed there were two of them.

This led her to believe that what her daughter saw was a doppelganger.

Rhiza Mullet, also a Palace employee, meanwhile shared stories of her haunted encounters, one story was when a waiter greeted her in the morning on her way to her office.

When she felt cold after that, she noticed that the man had suddenly disappeared along the hall. She asked her co-workers about the man whom she described as always wearing a smile and how he greeted her.

‘They were all stunned,’ Mullet said of her co-workers who told her that the man she was referring to had died of COVID-19. ‘That waiter was known for being such a workaholic. Because they were too busy to work, maybe they hadn’t distinguished whether they were still alive or not.’

Another encounter was her tour around the Palace. Everything turned out fine, but I was shocked to see an angry-looking man when they were telling stories about how they sat on the presidential chairs placed in one corner.

Mullet said she accidentally looked in the eyes of that man and immediately avoided, but felt the man near him.

‘My hands got cold.I just told myself I don’t hear him or that he’s not real at all,’ she said.

The Department of Health (DOH) is currently on a Code White alert status to prepare for possible health-related incidents amid the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Friday.

Herbosa, in a video uploaded by DOH on its Facebook page, said that the department is not on a holiday, as public health officers have been deployed to expressways, cemeteries, and other places of convergence, as many Filipinos travel to their provincial homes.

The DOH chief reminded the public, especially those with maintenance medicines, to always bring their pills with them.

‘The Department of Health is not on holiday, we’re on what you call alert status (Code White) because every year, this is the time when our fellow Filipinos travel back home to their families and loved ones, their relatives in cemeteries. I have two medical teams here, we have two ambulances stationed, so (each team) we have four doctors here, and four nurses, so they can really attend to cases,’ Herbosa said after visiting an emergency tent at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx).

‘My reminder as Secretary of Health, do not forget your anti-hypertensive medicines, do not forget your anti-diabetic medicines, eat enough before traveling,’ he added.

Herbosa also urged motorists to be more patient on the road as heavy traffic flow is almost certain along the country’s major thoroughfares.

‘It’s very important that you bring your medicines, but leave your worries at home,’ he said.

‘If you will drive at this time, it is almost sure that there is heavy traffic flow because everyone wants to go home, we will all reach our relatives. Do not rush, give way to others, and practice road courtesy,’ he added.

According to Herbosa, they also advise people with influenza-like symptoms to stay at home, and those who cannot stay indoors to practice proper cough etiquette and frequent hand washing.

‘Another advice is if you have symptoms, influenza-like illnesses, to stay at home. This is the Department of Health’s warning: Stay safe, practice public health measures, cough etiquette. When you cough, cough on your elbow, or it would be better to cover it, and then throw the tissue properly after. And also frequent hand-washing,’ he said.

‘In all cemeteries with large crowds, our medical teams are present to respond.) Especially if it is a large cemetery, they cannot exit immediately; cars cannot enter, so you have to walk. However, if you’re of an advanced age, you might collapse. So it’s very important that we will just bring our first aid and medical stations closer,’ he added.

DOH also released several road safety reminders like the proper wearing of helmets for motorcycle riders, and the use of seatbelts for those inside cars.

As early as Thursday night, traffic started to build up over Metro Manila’s major land gateways to the north and south-the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEx)-as more individuals began returning to their provinces’ homes for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

On Friday, traffic at NLEx is lighter than expected, as many offices and local governments have decided to suspend work on Friday.

Only eastbound traffic will be allowed along the segment of Bonny Serrano Avenue in front of the San Juan City Cemetery for the commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, or Undas, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

Westbound motorists coming from Epifanio delos Santos Avenue will be rerouted to 2nd Avenue, then Mariposa Street and C. Benitez Street before emerging back onto Santolan Road heading to Ortigas Avenue, MMDA Swift Traffic Action Group (STAG) commander Bong Nebrija told reporters in an interview at the San Juan City Cemetery on Friday.

The scheme is set to be implemented on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, according to the San Juan City government in a separate advisory.

‘Later, if the traffic along Bonny Serrano is already heavy, if many of our citizens come here and park on both sides of the street, we might start the one-way scheme,’ Nebrija said in Filipino.

Tents for flower and food vendors line up the eastbound lane of Bonny Serrano near San Juan City Cemetery.

Nebrija said the MMDA shared tents with the San Juan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to assist cemetery-goers.

Visiting hours at the San Juan City Cemetery are from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) on Thursday said it is seeking the assistance of its counterparts in Malaysia and Singapore to keep watch on the three air assets registered to the companies of former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co.

‘We are coordinating with civil aviation authorities in these countries where they went, and we are asking for them to monitor [the aircraft],’ Caap Director General Raul del Rosario told reporters a day after the regulatory agency reported locating the three aircraft in the two Southeast Asian neighbors.

As to the remaining 10 air assets being linked to Co that are still in the Philippines, Del Rosario said they had been doing only ‘maintenance flights’ and that Caap would continue to monitor their movements.

In all, the 13 aircraft are believed to be worth P5 billion, according to earlier estimates given by the regulatory agency.

They all came under scrutiny as Co, who left for abroad in August and later resigned as a congressman, got increasingly embroiled in a corruption scandal where he and several other officials, including two incumbent senators, have been accused of receiving kickbacks from public works projects.

Co’s two AgustaWestland helicopters have been tracked in Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia after they left the country on Aug. 20 and Sept. 11, respectively, while a Gulfstream aircraft has been in Singapore since Aug. 16, based on Caap’s monitoring.

Del Rosario on Thursday said passenger manifests obtained by Caap showed that Co did not use any of the three aircraft for recent overseas trips. Their flight plan, however, only showed a one-way flight, he noted.

Registered in PH

Del Rosario on Wednesday said the three aircraft located abroad could not yet be sold since they were still registered in the Philippines.

On Thursday, he said one way for Philippine authorities to recover Co’s air assets is through a freeze order issued by the Anti-Money Laundering Council and a court-ordered forfeiture order.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure has recommended the filing of plunder, bribery, and corruption charges against Co and five other officials for allegedly being part of a multimillion-peso kickback scheme behind public works projects.

Many younger Filipinos are eager to protect their families from life’s uncertainties, but few are financially prepared for one of its most certain events – death.

This comes from a research conducted by PhilPlans First Inc. in April 2024 and covered 400 respondents. Results show that 78 percent of Gen Y and Gen Z Filipinos consider family protection as the most important benefit of insurance, and 67% identify ‘loss of life’ as the unforeseen event they most want protection for in the next three years.

However, only 24 percent include burial assistance in their plans, ranking it 10th among 11 choices.

Reluctance to plan

‘Filipinos are naturally caring and family-oriented, but we often shy away from planning for life’s end,’ PhilPlans president and CEO Monico V. Jacob said in a statement.

‘Being prepared for the inevitable is actually an act of love and responsibility. Planning ahead eases emotional and financial burdens for our loved ones,’ Jacob said.

He said that recognizing this gap, the pre-need arm of the Philippines First Insurance Group (PFI Group) has designed a plan that offers enhanced benefits beyond the standard memorial plan which provides immediate cash assistance and 24/7 support.

Dubbed Memorial Fund Plus or PMF Plus, the plan also provides an annual benefit growth of 3 percent.

Further, PhilPlans is backed by over 300 mortuary partners nationwide and even offers a Living Cash Benefit to help plan holders with their immediate and future needs.

‘We designed the plan to provide peace of mind for families when the time comes,’ Jacob said. ‘It ensures that memorial expenses are covered, allowing families to focus on what truly matters-honoring and remembering their loved ones.’

‘It is our hope that many would take All Saints’ Day as a time to also reflect on taking steps toward ensuring lasting care and security for the next generation,’ he added.

The Alas Pilipinas under-16 girls’ volleyball team features high school standouts from across the country as it seeks to showcase its young talent and gain international experience in the 2nd Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship here.

Team captain Xyz Rayco of Saint Michael College of Caraga leads the squad composed of players from the University of Santo Tomas, Gracel Christian College Foundation Inc. in Taguig, Rafael B. Lacson Memorial High School in Talisay, Kibawe Bukidnon, Leyte National High School, Canossa Academy Lipa, and Sagay, Negros Occidental.

Head coach Edwin Leyva will steer the team alongside deputies Oliver Balse and Lerma Giron, with Karl Chan as team manager.

The lineup includes opposite spiker Merish Beltran (GCCF), outside hitters Kristel Mirasol (RBLMHS), Nadeth Herbon (LNHS), Princess Sajulga (Kibawe), and Kim Peralta (UST). Setters Resty Jane Olaguir (GCCF) and Mischa Ysabel Ambrocio (UST) will orchestrate the plays, while libero Frances Ramos (SMCC) anchors the floor defense. Middle blockers Cristina Gale (Sagay), Jhenica Sadia (GCCF), and Megan Hernandez (Canossa Lipa) complete the roster. The Philippines is grouped in Pool B with defending champion Japan, its first opponent on Saturday at 11 p.m. (Philippine time) at Princess Sumaya Hall.

Alas Pilipinas is also scheduled to face Iran but has already secured a 3-0 win after Saudi Arabia withdrew from the competition. Lebanon’s withdrawal from Pool A also gave host Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Hong Kong automatic wins.

China, the 2023 Asian U16 runner-up, headlines Pool C with Kazakhstan, Qatar, and South Korea, while Pool D is composed of Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Australia, and India.

The tournament will be held in two venues: the Prince Hamza Arena, which hosts Pool A and Pool C games, and Princess Sumaya Hall, where Pool B and Pool D matches take place.

The top two teams from the four groups advance to the knockout quarterfinals.

PXP Energy Corp. reported a larger net loss in the first nine months of 2025, but the listed upstream oil and gas firm may soon bounce back following the awarding of three new petroleum service contracts (SCs).

In a disclosure to the local bourse on Thursday, the company said its core net loss had widened to P32.8 million from a year ago’s P17.8 million.

Consolidated net loss attributable to equity holders of the parent firm also surged to P39.8 million from P14.8 million.

Its top line also dropped by 22 percent to P50.3 million from P64.8 million.

This was as sales volume fell by 13.5 percent to 414,124 barrels. This was coupled with a 13.8-percent decrease in average crude price, reaching $70 per barrel from last year’s $81.2 a barrel.

PXP Energy, however, noted that its Galoc operations continued to provide ‘stable output despite being at the tail end of field life.’

Consolidated costs and expenses, meanwhile, also increased to P84.2 million from P78.2 million.

Although it has long been in the red, the group may see a recovery as PXP Energy, together with its partners, received three petroleum SC from the government earlier in October, covering SC 80 and 81 in the Sulu Sea and SC 86 (Octon Block) in Northwest Palawan.

The Sulu Sea blocks-SC 80 and SC 81-are jointly administered by the Department of Energy and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao through its Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy.

Octon Block

SC 86, meanwhile, covers the Octon Block in Northwest Palawan, an area adjacent to established producing oil fields.

‘The signing of these contracts marked a major expansion of PXP’s exploration portfolio-entering a key frontier basin and strengthening its presence in a proven petroleum province,’ it said.

‘The company remains focused on preserving liquidity and maintaining operational readiness while progressing early-phase technical assessments for SC 80 and SC 81, alongside further subsurface work and building on studies previously conducted by the former SC 6A Consortium in SC 86,’ PXP Energy added.

Several mausoleums were burglarized and damaged at the Memorial Gardens in Barangay Lumbia here, ahead of the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day or ‘Undas.’

Merlyn Taghoy, who visited to the cemetery on Monday, October 27, to clean the family mausoleum, noticed that neighboring mausoleums had missing iron window grills, doors and even galvanized iron roofs.

She said such was not the case during her previous visit last September 24.

she said there were also signs of a failed attempt to saw off the iron grills of their family mausoleum.

Guia Apostol, who posted a similar complaint on social media, said burglars took practically all the grills from their family mausoleum.

Cemetery caretaker Boy Santiago counted at least 30 mausoleums with missing iron grills and roofs.

Lt. Col. Jerwin Cagurin, Pagadian City police chief, said they immediately conducted an investigation and found out that the culprits are minors