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The University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu Fighting Maroons edged past the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Kicking Jaguars, 1-0, to barge into the win column of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 25 football tournament over the weekend at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Jaybe Abasolo scored the lone goal at the 20th minute for UP Cebu, which now holds an even 1-1-1 win-loss-draw record.

USJ-R suffered its second setback with one draw.

In the other collegiate matchup, the University of San Carlos (USC) Golden Booters and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Kicking Panthers fought to a 1-1 standoff.

USC’s John Cyril Sinoy broke the ice with just six minutes gone by in the game.

But USPF’s John Rey Arino sank the equalizer at the 64th minute resulting in a stalemate.

In the juniors division, the Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC)-Cebu Greywolves beat the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles, 1-0, to stay unbeaten with two victories and a draw.

Yuki John Ceniza delivered the game-clincher for Don Bosco at the 50th minute.

In the other result, the USJ-R Jaguar Cubs triumphed for the first time at the expense of the San Carlos School of Cebu (SCSC) Baby Warriors, 1-0.

Louie Vincent Fernandez drilled on the winning goal for the Jaguar Cubs at the 14th minute.

In a country where the Christmas season begins almost as soon as September arrives, it’s easy to take for granted how deeply this celebration runs in our veins. Christmas, for us Filipinos, is not just a date on the calendar, it is where faith, family, food, and festivity converge into a months-long period of joy and togetherness.

This year, the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID) has found a refreshing, almost poetic way to interpret that spirit. In their latest exhibition, D.O.C.E. or Designs Of Christmas Exhibit, the graduating class of 2025 translates the Filipino Christmas into twelve remarkable interior design spaces. Each one a love letter to that wonderful time of the year we all hold dear.

As Interior Designer and PSID Vice President of Academic Affairs Victor Ruel Pambid explains, this is a landmark showcase for the school.

‘This year, for the first time, PSID graduates mount an interior design exhibit on Christmas designs as seen and experienced from twelve different styles and trends,’ he says. ‘Different adaptations and interpretations of holiday homes are showcased in twelve interior design booths emphasizing variety, creativity, and ingenuity in classic, chic, cosmopolitan designs with a splash of Christmas flavor.’

Design as a reflection of the Filipino heart

Interior design is often seen as a luxury, something only the well-off can indulge in. But PSID’s exhibit reminds us that design, at its core, is about creating spaces that nurture our lives.The way a home feels – warm, safe, or joyful –shapes the wellness of those who live in it. That’s why I see this exhibit not merely as a showcase of aesthetic brilliance, but as a celebration of how design contributes to family well-being and emotional health.

As Pambid further notes, ‘the exhibit creates an atmosphere of functionality and style and finds inspiration from Christmas stylings and decorations — providing twelve different ways on how the season can be expressed stylishly from an interior design standpoint.’

Imagine walking through the twelve galleries. One evokes the nostalgia of a Victorian Christmas, while another bursts with the rhythm of Rio’s Carnival. A minimalist monochrome lounge captures quiet sophistication, while a rustic Baguio dining space draws families around the table. Each space captures a different mood, but all of them share one thing: a sense of belonging.

And isn’t that what Christmas is about? A place to come home to, a room where laughter fills the air, and a table where stories are told repeatedly. Even in this fast-changing digital age, it is comforting to know that the traditions we hold dear, like family reunions, Noche Buena, and Simbang Gabi, can still find a place in modern, thoughtfully designed homes that reflect both beauty and purpose.

A classroom dressed in tinsel

For PSID, D.O.C.E. is not just an exhibit but a classroom that has come to life. Each student, under the guidance of their mentors, has transformed theory into practice, design principles into living experiences. It’s this quality education in motion, where imagination meets research, and creativity meets discipline, that gives hope for the next generation of Filipino designers.

In a world where trends change as fast as TikTok videos, these young designers remind us of the timeless values that never go out of style: craftsmanship, cultural pride, and attention to detail. They have not only created beautiful rooms; they’ve trained their minds to think critically, collaboratively, and compassionately. Skills our country needs in every profession, not just in design. Their work shows that education, when done right, is transformative. Because it creates not just skilled workers, but thoughtful citizens who design with empathy.

As a woman who has navigated both the media industry and motherhood, I know how powerful environment can be in shaping our moods and relationships. A thoughtfully designed space can become a refuge, a source of inspiration, or a healing ground. The PSID exhibit, in this sense, aligns with my lifelong advocacy for wellness through mindful living,that our surroundings can help us live better, kinder, and more balanced lives.

The Filipino Christmas, reimagined

Through the Twelve Styles of Christmas, PSID decorates our collective imagination. It reclaims the joy of Christmas from the commercial noise and grounds it back into meaning: design that brings people together.

Whether it’s a Brazilian-inspired living room full of color, or a minimalist teal-and-lilac dining space that calms the senses, each setting reminds us that Christmas is not one-size-fits-all. It’s a mosaic of traditions, colors, and cultures — just like us Filipinos.

And perhaps that’s the true beauty of it all: our ability to reinvent tradition without losing our soul. It is in this creativity that we see the heart of the Filipino spirit: resilient, resourceful, and radiant.

Since 1979, PSID has been a breeding ground for design excellence. But this year, they’ve gifted the public something more than a visual treat. They’ve given us ideas on how to make our own homes more meaningful. Because when design uplifts, when education empowers, and when creativity connects us to one another, we move closer to the kind of community we dream of.

So this Christmas, whether your home is grand or humble, let it be designed with love.

After all, the best interior design begins not with furniture or lights, but with the people who fill the space with laughter, faith, and warmth. And that, I believe, is the truest style of Christmas

If you wish to see creativity come alive and experience twelve ways to reimagine the Filipino Christmas, I invite you to visit the PSID Designs of Christmas Exhibit, now open to the public this October at the 17th Floor, Greenhills Tower. Admission is free. Doors are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Monday to Thursday) and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Friday to Sunday).

Following the death of a worker, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is looking into the possible occupational safety and health violations in the collapse of an elevator wall at a construction site in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on Monday.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the DOLE-National Capital Region would determine if a work stoppage order must be issued.

Laguesma assured assistance for the family of the deceased construction worker, Arvin Loria, and three others who were injured during the incident.

The DOLE reminded employers to strictly comply with occupational and safety health regulations.

On a day marked by shifting fortunes and hard-earned gains, James Ryan Lam and Fidel Concepcion carved out a pair of 70s to seize the joint lead midway through the P3.5-million ICTSI Apo Golf Classic here on Wednesday.

Facing the punishing demands of the fabled Apo Golf and Country Club layout, Lam and Concepcion again matched outputs for the second straight day in separate flights, tallying identical 141s over 36 holes – marking a rare return to the top of the Philippine Golf Tour leaderboard for both.

Lam showed grit and poise while playing alongside veteran Elmer Salvador. He fired three birdies against a lone bogey, nearly adding another on No. 2, before a failed up-and-down on the par-3 fourth slowed his charge. He scrambled through the rest of the round, settling for a 36-34 card.

‘It’s a day-long grind,’ said Lam, visibly spent after his round. ‘You really need to hit it better on this course. I’m just lucky I managed to keep my score together.’

The Apo Golf course remains a brutal test, with its narrow fairways, penal roughs and slick greens punishing even the most seasoned players. Familiarity offers no guarantees – locals haven’t been spared from its challenges either.

Concepcion, who struggled with three costly three-putts in the opening round, avoided that pitfall this time. ‘I didn’t have any three-putts today, so that’s a plus,’ he said. ‘My birdie putts were much closer, and I even holed a long one – about 25 to 30 steps – on No. 8.’

Despite the demanding conditions, Concepcion said he has no plans to adjust his strategy.

‘No changes – I’ll stick to what I’m doing now and just keep making solid shots,’ he added. ‘This course is really tough. It can bite you hard if you find yourself in the wrong position.’

Salvador matched the leaders’ two-under card after opening with a 72, using his experience to navigate the treacherous layout. He finished at 142, just a shot off the lead, and now stands alone in third.

‘Nakuha ko na lang sa experience kaya naka-70,’ said Salvador. ‘Masama driving ko, pero na-inspire ako kay Lam – ang lakas pumalo.’

Fellow local bets Elee Bisera, Zanieboy Gialon and Tony Lascuña, along with Nilo Salahog and Guido van der Valk, bunched at joint fourth with 143s – just two strokes behind the leaders.

Lascuña, seeking to end a lengthy title drought, produced a bogey-free 70 to stay within striking distance. ‘Medyo nag-click lahat pero madami pa ring missed chances,’ he said.

Bisera dazzled with back-to-back birdies on No. 13 and 14, but faltered with bogeys on the front nine, closing with a 72. Gialon had a rollercoaster round – overcoming three early bogeys with four birdies across nine holes, only to bogey the ninth for an even-par finish.

Salahog and van der Valk both turned in resilient 71s to stay in the mix, showing composure on a course that continues to test every facet of a golfer’s game.

Defending champion Jhonnel Ababa, who nipped van der Valk in a playoff last year, posted a 71 to tie Korean Jaehyun Jung (70) at 145 – just four shots off the pace.

With a mere four-stroke gap separating the leaders from ninth place and 40 players surviving the cut at eight-over 154, the stage is set for a wild and unpredictable finish.

Lam, whose last win came at Luisita in 2018, admitted the long wait for another title has reignited his hunger – but he knows rest is key.

‘Nothing different,’ he said of his approach. ‘I’m just gonna take some rest. Hopefully, I’ll wake up fresh and hit it better – which is what’s needed on this course.’

At Apo, where patience is as valuable as power, the leaderboard remains volatile. Any lapse in focus can lead to a swift downfall.

Those securing the final slots for the last two rounds with eight-over totals included Korean Tae Won Kim (74), Michael Bibat (75), Mars Pucay (75), Tom Marcelo (76), and Dan Cruz (78).

Missing the cut were 2024 Palos Verde leg winner Lloyd Go (79-153), rising junior star Ralph Batican (75-154), and multi-titled local ace Jay Bayron (73-155).

New construction projects declined in August as the number of approved building permits went down by two percent from a year ago amid rising costs of materials and unfavorable weather conditions.

Preliminary data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the number of construction projects from approved building permits decreased to 14,340 in August from 14,627 in the same month last year.

While the number of approved construction projects went down, the value of these projects increased by 14 percent to P58.66 billion in August from P51.38 billion in the same month a year ago.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies senior research fellow John Paolo Rivera said in an email that the decline in approved building permits ‘likely reflects a confluence of headwinds such as rising material and labor costs, tighter financing and higher borrowing rates and the after-effects of major weather disruptions and election-related spending slowdowns.’

PSA data showed that residential buildings accounted for the bulk or 9,820 of the approved construction permits in August. This is 5.3 percent higher than the previous year’s 9,325 residential construction projects.

The value of residential building projects approved in August slid by 13 percent to P18.96 billion from P21.86 billion in the same month last year.

Meanwhile, the number of approved non-residential building projects fell by 13 percent to 2,849 in August from 3,291 projects in the same month last year.

In terms of value, non-residential projects approved in August rose by 42 percent to P28.16 billion from P19.86 billion in the same month of 2024.

Approved permits for additions – increases in the height or area of an existing building – went down by 28 percent to 348 in August from 483 permits in the same month last year.

When it comes to value, the amount of this type of projects approved in August plunged by 79 percent to P499.52 million from P2.32 billion in the same month a year ago.

Alterations and repair of existing structures approved in August also decreased by 18 percent to 955 in August from the previous year’s 1,164.

Approved alterations and repairs in August amounted to P3.59 billion in August, 29 percent higher than the previous year’s P2.77 billion.

Permits for other construction projects rose slightly to 368 in August from 364 in the same month of 2024.

The value of other construction projects surged by 64 percent to P7.45 billion in August from P4.56 billion in the same month a year ago.

‘Looking ahead, I expect permit approvals could continue to taper for the rest of the year unless input costs ease and credit conditions improve as residential and non-residential developers may hold off on new applications amid weaker demand and cost uncertainty,’ Rivera said.

The Bureau of Corrections has opened a weeklong visitation in all prisons and penal farms under BuCor as part of the observance of National Correctional Consciousness Week.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. announced the initiative after approving the recommendation of Deputy Director General for operations Gil Torralba.

The extended visitation, which runs from Oct. 20 to 25, allows visiting hours from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to strengthen familial ties among inmates.

Under regular schedules, prison visits are allowed from Wednesday to Sunday. Inmates of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP)’s maximum security compound may receive visitors from Tuesday to Sunday.

Meanwhile, 500 inmates were transferred yesterday from the NBP in Muntinlupa to the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City as part of BuCor’s efforts to decongest Bilibid in preparation for its closure by 2028.

I knew the sender and he is one of those people who seldom calls unless it’s important or necessary. Considering my circle of friends, I generally assume the person is going to ask for advise on a personal or spiritual matter.

Yes, that is one of the signs that you’re officially ‘mature,”getting on in years’ or have become wise as you aged, with emphasis on ‘aged.’ I remind myself that it is a privilege to gain such trust or confidence that people are willing to share their pain or fear.

My friend called because his son requires surgery within the week and after a ‘Go-No/Go-Go’ process, the doctor wants to cut and remove gall stones from his son.

Like many middle-class Filipinos, they can no longer afford the commercial rates charged by physicians and hospitals. The professional fee of the surgeon was P160,000 and they are still preparing for the aftershock charges of the hospital.

The parents have pooled their resources in terms of HMO, savings, even soliciting help from the LGU and I think DSWD. But all that would not be enough when the total is summed up.

So, my friend is staring at the dire possibility of burning their credit cards and kiss Christmas celebrations goodbye! He reached out in desperation to ask for any amount of help that our discipleship group might be willing to give just to lessen his load.

This situation is all too common and true for many Filipinos, even for those working in the corporate world. We want the best for our loved ones and ourselves, so we instinctively rush to the well-known and well-marketed private hospitals.

Unfortunately, we have misled ourselves into believing that HMOs, PhilHealth and savings will cover the cost of minor to medium-type surgery. Sorry, they no longer do.

People now pay several hundred thousand to several million pesos, with no guarantee of full recovery. We are forced to ‘ransom’ family because we are emotional hostages at the mercy of private health practitioners.

It was honestly painful and humbling to hear my friend ask for financial assistance and to learn that he even approached the LGU for ‘indigent assistance’ that Cong. Tractors have been using for their glorification.

I advised my friend to seriously consider going to my favorite government hospital, the Rizal Medical Center, since he was a resident of Pasig.

In case some readers missed the article, yes I was confined at the ICU of the Rizal Medical Center for three days due to Atrial Fibrillation or AFIB. The care and expertise were superb and even as a regular paying patient the rates were below affordable.

None of us want to take away resources from indigents and the poorest of the poor, but when corporate employees can no longer afford private hospital charges and doctor’s fees, we have become ‘The New Poor.’

How else do you define it? You have to sell your allegiance to the company for HMO coverage, you humiliate yourself lining up for the pittance that PCSO extends, you go to the LGU with a begging bowl for P15,000 to P30,000 maybe, and for the next six months to a year you learn what it’s like to be ‘poor’ because of credit card debts.

In the final chapter you max out credit cards, sell cars or hock your land title for emergency medical loan. And while you are doing it, private hospitals and GOCC hospitals bill you by the day as if you were an ATM machine.

My friend and his family still has to decide if they go to ‘public’ or suffer the consequential indignities of going to a private hospital. Either way, our group will surely help out.

So, what should all of us learn and do about the situation?

For starters, guys like Secretary Ted Herbosa should ‘raise the bar’ and change the reputation of government hospitals as ‘hospitals for the poor.’

Malacañang and the DOH should work at improving the reputation of public hospitals and show the public that things have improved over the decades. Even the media should do its part to make up for the negative portrayal of government hospitals and public health.

Government hospitals should be built and run as proper hospitals for all Filipinos and by that I mean don’t squeeze them to fit. We always talk about lack of beds and rooms because we squeeze hospitals into lots that are too small or not ideal for hospitals.

Make more rooms and increase beds for paying patients as well as improve laboratory services by applying correct planning, project management and future proofing based on population growth and aging and sustainable funding.

The perfect example is how the Philippine government improved public schools, made salaries highly competitive thereby convincing many parents that it was alright to transfer their children to public from private!

The Department of Health should take ownership of its infrastructure. Working with counterpart agencies such as the DPWH, DILG or LGU may be necessary.

But as Secretary Herbosa now realizes, ownership and control must be fiercely defended and done by the DOH. Raise the bar, make public hospitals good for all Filipinos, regardless of status.

If the DepEd did it, so can the DOH!

The Philippines’ largest business group is offering to partner with the government in fighting corruption through project monitoring.

At yesterday’s Philippine Business Conference and Expo, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) told Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon that the private sector can aid the government’s anti-corruption drive.

‘We consulted our area vice presidents and different groups. Not just the PCCI, but all the other associations. We want to be together in this to help,’ said PCCI chairman for science and technology Ferdinand Ferrer.

The PCCI can enter into an agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways to engage with the DPWH’s citizen participatory audit, he noted.

Dizon said the DPWH’s problems are systemic and changing personnel would be insufficient.

State officials should end the unabated, continuing and excessive corruption by instituting strict monitoring, transparency and accountability mechanisms across all levels of governance, the PCCI said.

Investing in artificial intelligence and emerging digital technologies will enhance efficiency, transparency and effectiveness in public service delivery, the group asserted.

AI tools can be used in evaluating and studying government projects, Ferrer said.

Blockchain would be effective in protecting documents, he added.

As for the bidding process, Ferrer said the government can use the private sector’s procurement tools.

Dizon said the government is planning to launch a transparency portal.

The Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the Bicameral Conference Committee to livestream its deliberations on the 2026 national budget, saying transparency should become ‘the standard practice and the norm moving forward.’

‘Transparency in legislative deliberations strengthens public trust and ensures that accountability remains at the heart of governance,’ the Ombudsman said in a statement on October 22.

The anti-graft body lauded the decision to air the bicameral committee proceedings on the P6.793-trillion spending plan, saying such openness allows the public to better understand and engage with the democratic process.

‘Democracy thrives best when its processes are seen, understood, and scrutinized by the very people it serves,’ the statement read.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had earlier announced that the bicameral sessions on the national budget would be livestreamed to ‘encourage transparency’ and make clear who proposed any questionable insertions or changes.

Marcos said he had discussed the plan with Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Faustino Dy III ahead of the bicameral deliberations.

The House approved the proposed P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill for 2026 on October 13 through House Bill 4058.

The move comes as the administration faces heightened public scrutiny over alleged irregularities in infrastructure allocations, with calls for greater transparency in budget preparation and deliberations.

During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July, Marcos said the government was prepared to operate under a reenacted budget for 2026 if Congress passed a version inconsistent with his administration’s priorities.

Last year, the president vetoed P194 billion in questionable line items from the P6.326-trillion 2025 budget, citing inconsistency with government programs.

Sy-led BDO Unibank Inc. has reaffirmed its commitment to food security and inclusive growth by supporting the continued expansion of Bounty Fresh Group Holdings Inc., one of the country’s largest fully integrated poultry producers.

Charles Rodriguez, executive vice president and head of BDO’s Institutional Banking Group, said the partnership reflects the bank’s broader commitment to national development.

‘At BDO, supporting companies like Bounty Fresh Food goes beyond financing,’ Rodriguez said. ‘We share a vision of nation-building – one that empowers communities and uplifts the lives of Filipinos.’

Through its continued partnership with agribusiness leaders, BDO said it aims to advance food sustainability and strengthen the country’s agricultural value chain, in line with national efforts to achieve long-term food security.

From its beginnings as a modest family-run enterprise, Bounty Fresh Food has evolved into a major player in the agri-food industry, with brands such as Bounty Fresh and Chooks-to-Go becoming household names.

The company is recognized for pioneering traceable and antibiotic-free poultry production and for developing a nationwide food system that is both resilient and inclusive.

‘Food security and nutrition have always been at the heart of our purpose,’ Tennyson Chen, chairman of Bounty Fresh Group Holdings, said.

‘We entered the agri-food space to contribute to these national priorities while helping professionalize and boost the local poultry sector,’ Chen added.