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Shaping what’s next for the brand and solidifying its commitment to create meaningful smoke-free experiences, IQOS marks a bold new chapter with its ground-breaking, boundary-blurring collaboration with acclaimed Filipino-American artist Jefrë Manuel.

Last September 26 at Uptown Bonifacio in Taguig City, IQOS and Jefrë unveiled the result of their exciting, month-long partnership- the first of two 10-ft installations coined ‘Curious Icons.’

“This collaboration with Jefrë is a statement about progress and possibility,’ said Gijs de Best, president of PMFTC Inc., the Philippine affiliate of Philip Morris International.

“It encourages audiences to embrace innovation, creativity and new perspectives. By engaging with the world of art and design through Jefrë’s visionary work, IQOS is signaling its evolution as a brand that champions forward-thinking ideas and resonates with audiences on a deeper, more human level.”

Jefrë explained that while skylines of Manila continue to inspire him, two emotions intrigued him for IQOS: Power and Pleasure. This became his theme for Curious Icons, sculpting a pair of 10-ft statues portraying Power and Pleasure.

He added that the key design element of the Curious Icons is the ‘window’ on their faces, which is actually the IQOS logo.

‘The key for me was more than a logo. It was a window. A window for opportunity, a window into people’s journeys, and a window for creativity. This idea of creativity through curiosity is reflective of the brand campaign,’ Jefrë expressed.

Beyond becoming iconic landmarks, the Curious Icons also stand as an invitation to see the world and ourselves in new ways.

In Jefrë’s case, he was challenged to transform his art for the IQOS collaboration.

Channeling the brand’s core value of curiosity, he said, ‘As an artist, I’m always curious about how I can evolve in my art.’

Through IQOS, his first brand collaboration in the Philippines, his art became ‘more personable.’ He created miniature, hand-sized versions of Pleasure, which allowed viewers to interact and touch his work at IQOS Stores in SM Aura, Bonifacio High Street and SM Mall of Asia for a limited time only.

He was glad with how people could get eye-to-eye with the miniatures, look through the windows in their faces-as opposed to looking up at his towering monuments in Metro Manila.

For his part, IQOS Brand Manager Henry Martin Yap related, ‘When we were going through the design process, we were really looking at our shared values. Curiosity, progress and discovery are something that’s-as Jefre would say-symbiotic in terms of relationship to art.’

Yap further said, ‘We also wanted to focus on building more meaningful connections with the audience and I think art is a good vehicle for us to be able to do that.’

Beyond innovating products such as smoke-free alternatives for individuals moving away from cigarettes, IQOS also continues to blur boundaries and create dialogues in technology, art and design by collaborating with talented Filipino creatives.

‘What you can expect from these types of collaborations is that we’re always looking to do more,’ Yap enthused.

The IQOS x Jefrë collaboration is a testament to this. It’s a powerful fusion of technology and art that represents a striking symbol of transformation and progress.

Seventeen Filipinos believed to be victims of human trafficking have been deported from Malaysia, according to the Bureau of Immigration.

In a statement released yesterday, the BI said the victims, who illegally stayed in Malaysia between 2022 and 2024, arrived in Zamboanga on Saturday onboard the motor vessel Antonia.

Four of the victims belonged to a family including the parents and their two sons. They were reportedly recruited in 2023 and left the country through a port in Jolo, Sulu onboard a speed boat.

The head of the family was promised a job at a palm oil company with a monthly salary of 2,000 ringgit.

The wife and two sons later followed and worked in the same company.

After two years, the family sought the help of authorities because they reportedly suffered abuses at the hands of their employer.

Six other deportees said they each paid 1,700 ringgit to be able to enter Malaysia illegally.

They said that as they were approaching the port, they were told to jump into the water to avoid detection by Malayasian authorities.

The victims said they were employed in a palm plantation owned by a Chinese national.

The rest entered Malaysia through the same illegal route. They were reportedly detained for five months before they were deported.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said intensified monitoring is needed to stop human traffickers from exploiting the southern maritime route to Malaysia.

‘The backdoor remains a dangerous corridor for illegal migration and human trafficking. We call for a stronger coordination among law enforcement agencies, local government units and communities in the region to tighten security and prevent further abuse of our kababayan,’ Viado said.

He thanked the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for mapping out high-risk points and working with police and local authorities to address the security gaps.

The victims were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for assistance and debriefing.

The archers found their marks as former champion Baguio City seized the lead in Day 3 of the 2025 Batang Pinoy at the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University IBED Quadrangle here.

Jianna Rose delos Reyes and Jeptha Caleb Fernandez bagged three golds each as Baguio hit a 10-gold harvest in the opener of the archery competitions to propel the Summer Capital to the leaderboard with 23 gold, 10 silver and 13 bronze mints.

‘Medyo ni-nerbyos po ako kasi first Batang Pinoy ko po ito, pero nag-training po kasi ako nang matindi so parang sinabi ko sa sarili ko na prepared ako,’ said Delos Reyes, a Grade 12 student from the Philippine Science High School.

Delos Reyes set the tone by ruling the girls’ 12-under 30m compound divisions, firing 334 and 346 for two golds. She totaled 680 for a trifecta.

Fernandez hit 324 and 319 for 643 overall to rule the 14-under division.

The Manjuyod White Sandbar in Negros Oriental has been closed temporarily due to the contamination of the local water supply.

In an order issued on Monday, Mayor Raffy Alipio Andaya said the water discoloration was caused by wastewater discharged from a collapsed dike in a lagoon of a nearby distillery company.

Alipio said the dike sustained cracks from an earthquake and heavy rainfall that occurred in the past few days.

He said the contamination poses health and environmental hazards,which required immediate preventive actions to ensure the safety of visitors, residents and stakeholders.

The municipal government and its disaster risk reduction and management council are coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other concerned government agencies for the conduct of water quality testing, assessment and monitoring.

Drag fans were treated to a Sunday brunch filled with fun, amazing drag performances, and dose of shade at the “Shady Brunch” held recently at Vice Comedy Club.

This “Shady Brunch” edition was made special by the participation of “Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale” international queens Yuhua, Siam Phusri, Kitty Space, and Ivory Glaze.

The event took place the Sunday right after Brigiding, who was also present, was crowned the competition’s winner.

Aptly called “Shady Brunch: Afam Edition”, the international queens engaged in the iconic Reading challenge with the local queens led by Brigiding,

Both sets of queens threw shade at the other and the audience were encouraged to vote “Pak” if the read was a slap, or “Wiz” if it was a flop.

The jam-packed venue had a very festive atmosphere with fans cheering on their favorite queen. International fan favorites Yuhua and Ivory Glaze even interjected Filipino words in their respective reads, much to the delight of the crowd.

Other queens present at the special Shady Brunch were “Slaysian Royale” runner-up Vinas Deluxe, finalist Arizona Brandy, another alum Bernie, and “Drag Race Philippines” winners Precious Paula Nicole and Captivating Katkat.

Brigiding, Vinas, and Precious make up the Divine Divas and competed on the inaugural season of “Drag Race Philippines,” but making the event more significant was the participation of NAIA Black and Shewarma – the winner and runner-up of rival reality competition “Drag Den” Season 1.

Produced by Adonis Events, the “Shady Brunch” is a very well-received variety show that continues to enliven the local drag scene.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported an underspending of more than P100 billion in the third quarter of this year, attributing the shortfall primarily to delays and controversies surrounding the flood control projects implemented under various government agencies.

Despite the decline in government spending, DBM Assistant Secretary Romeo Matthew Balanquit noted that economic growth hinged on how the private construction sector responded to corruption issues, adding that the decline in the state’s spending was offset by private expenditure in the second quarter.

‘In fact, what is happening now, based on the third quarter disbursement report in cash operations report, we have an underspending of P157 billion. So that means and that is because of the flood control,’ he told reporters.

Data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that the national government’s budget deficit narrowed to 9.2 percent to P248.1 billion in September from the P273.3-billion deficit posted in the same month last year.

The decline was primarily driven by a slowdown in the administration’s revenue collection on top of a decrease in the national government’s spending.

Balanquit said the state’s spending will be adjusted in the fourth quarter as they will be able to fast track due to items in the wait list.

From March 28 to May 12, the Commission on Elections imposed a 45-day ban on public works spending. From January to August, the government spending on infrastructure is down by 5.6 percent to P798.4 billion, compared to P845.3 billion in the same period last year.

Balanquit expressed optimism that the private sector would take a more active role in driving economic growth and highlighted the country’s current inflation rate as a positive indicator that could boost household consumption, along with the lower interest rates.

‘That means we’re expecting that the investment, the private sector, have reacted positively in that action of the central bank. But it’s true, on the government side, we might not be able to contribute in the third quarter. But in the fourth quarter, we’ll recover,’ he said.

The DBM official noted that the underspending is expected to be offset by the higher expenditures in the fourth quarter, as the agency aims to meet the programmed full-year disbursement, emphasizing that the administration will never run out of items to fund.

DPWH diverted P50 billion

The Department of Public Works and Highways had diverted at least P50 billion from unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024 national budget, including P30 billion for flood control projects, which Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said was in violation of the government’s infrastructure master plan.

‘This means DPWH officials have become comfortable with funding such projects even if this means violating the government’s master plan,’ Lacson said in Filipino over radio dzBB.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) dismissed a social media post alleging that one of the Discayas’ luxury cars was being driven around Metro Manila.

The BOC had seized several of the Discaya’s vehicles after they failed to prove that they were legally imported.

In a statement to reporters on Tuesday, October 18, the BOC said that the Rolls-Royce shown in the viral video has a different plate number from the one seized from the Discaya couple.

“The said Rolls-Royce, along with other luxury vehicles confiscated from the Discaya family, remains under the official custody of the BOC. All seized vehicles are securely stored under the strict supervision of the Customs Police, safeguarded by physical barriers, security personnel, and inventory controls that prevent any unauthorized access, movement, or release,’ the bureau said.

No seized property may be taken out of the compound without proper authority, stressed the BOC.

‘Any unauthorized release, tampering, or movement of seized items constitutes a serious violation punishable under existing customs laws and regulations, including administrative and criminal penalties,’ the bureau said.

The BOC did not specify the source of the original post, but it showed a screenshot of a story claiming to have gotten information that the Discayas’ Rolls-Royce was seen roaming around Makati, near the Trump Tower.

No charges will be filed against the person who posted the false information, said the BOC, adding that it understood that people were frustrated and confused.

The Discaya couple is one of the focal points of the infrastructure corruption scandal. In a sworn affidavit presented to the Senate, the couple admitted to participating in a kickback scheme with lawmakers, saying that they were being coerced into it.

Classes at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) were suspended yesterday after a series of mild earthquakes rocked several areas in Laguna.

The temblors, ranging from magnitudes 1.8 to 3.2, occurred in Alaminos and Los Baños, with intensities felt in Calamba, Carmona and San Pablo as well as in Cavite and Quezon province.

‘A magnitude 3.2 earthquake rocked Alaminos at 12:34 p.m. and was followed by a magnitude 1.8 in Los Baños at 1:12 pm,’ the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

Philvocs said that earlier, earthquakes of magnitudes 2 and 1.5 rocked Los Baños at 11:31 a.m. and 11:28 a.m., respectively.

Battle-scarred setter Jia de Guzman skipped her return to Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League for a bigger purpose – help the country win a medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.

De Guzman was named as Alas Pilipinas’ captain in the 19-strong squad that was finalized yesterday by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

Apart from De Guzman, Alyssa Solomon, Bella Belen, Angel Canino, Eya Laure, Shaina Nitura, Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma, Justine Jazareno and Vannie Gandler were named to the pool.

The rest were Kat Tolentino, Julia Coronel, Dawn Catindig, Mars Alba, Jen Nierva, Alleliah Malaluan, Dell Palomata, Amie Povido and Maddie Madayag.

The same pool will temporarily leave their respective PVL and collegiate teams to join a training camp from Nov. 15 to 30 in Japan or Chinese Taipei.

Meanwhile, the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles extended their sizzling run in the PVL Reinforced Conference, dismantling veteran-laden Petro Gazz Angels, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre yesterday.

Earlier, Akari bounced back from a heartbreaking five-set loss with a 25-11, 25-23, 25-23 win over Galeries Tower.

Fifa Laopakdee rewrote golf history by becoming the first player from Thailand to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course on Sunday. The 20-year-old overcame a six-shot deficit in the final round to defeat Japan’s Taisei Nagasaki with a birdie in the third play-off hole and win the prestigious Championship. The triumph came with an invitation to the Masters Tournament and an exemption into The Open in 2026. This is his blog from Dubai.

It means the world to me. To pull off the win is amazing and it was a great battle. At the start of the day, I said to myself, it’s just another round of golf and to go out there and try to play your best golf and whatever happens, happens. I tried to not pressure myself this year because I’ve been putting pressure over the past few years at this event where I kind of choked at the end. This year, I felt like I could just go out and have fun.

When I played the Asia-Pacific Amateur for the first time in Thailand in 2022, I had zero expectations. After that Championship where I finished T-5, I told myself that I could win this. I have the potential and I could play in this event for another three or four years. So at the start of each year, I always looked forward to this event the most.

Knowing I could potentially win this Championship, it gave me the focus and confidence in my practice and all the things you do daily, and as time went by, I grew and became more mature. At the start of the week in Dubai, I told the media I’m more mature now than three years ago. I’m also more confident and I guess I’m heading in the right track for my golf career.

I was laughing and singing songs with my caddie walking down the fairway on 18 in regulation. We rock a lot of Bruno Mars during the final round, like Marry You, Just the Way You Are. It’s a nice, happy vibe. I didn’t know I had shot five under on the back nine as I just tried to have fun, and took it shot?by?shot.

I look up to Jeeno Thitikul (current women’s World No.1). My parents and her parents, and our coaches, our agencies, are very close. They always talk to each other, and we support each other no matter what. Watching Jeeno dominate women’s golf and how she controls herself, how she reacts to good shots and bad shots is remarkable. She always smiles and she always laughs at bad shots. She’s played a huge role in how I want to be on the golf course, and I try to mimic her attitude and I feel it is helping my game go up to the next level.

Jeeno is an exceptional golfer and person. I was on the national team with her for a couple of years before she turned professional. She has always been the person who inspired me the most. Even though she is super talented, she is an extremely hard worker. She also has a unique personality that very few people have. She is fun to hang out with, and she always radiates positive energy.

I started singing during my rounds when I began playing college golf at Arizona State University. There are a lot of big events and playing with other top guys, I feel a lot of pressure. I don’t know when I actually started to sing, but it’s worked out. I’ve been doing it every week.

I think all the Thai fans have been waiting for such a long time for a Thai amateur to compete in the Masters and The Open. With this win, I feel I’ve gained so many fans. It’s amazing for me, my parents, the Thai fans and for my country.

I’ve been watching the Masters since I was very young, maybe when I was 2 or 3years old at the time Tiger Woods was dominant. I think the Masters was the first event I watched on TV with my dad and I think it’s why I started to love golf. I think that specific event brought me here. I’ve watched every Masters since then and I get emotional watching someone win. Being able to follow that path with the professionals, it’s just unreal.

I’m also looking forward to The Open. One of my coaches in Thailand, he lives in Royal Lytham so I think he’s not far from Royal Birkdale. He’s probably as excited as I am. I also watched a lot of The Open through the years. It’s going to be a challenge with the cold weather and tough conditions but I’m looking forward to the challenge. When I was like 8 years old, I played links golf in Scotland once and it was pouring rain and gusting. I was crying. It was not the best memory for me.

And why is my name Fifa? Well, my dad just loves football. It was between Fifa or Uefa. Thank God it’s Fifa.