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The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. has reached out to authorities in the United States after reports of Filipino seafarers being denied entry at several US ports in recent months.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 22, the Philippine embassy said it has contacted the US Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security on the matter.

“It has been informed that the denial of entry for the concerned seafarers was done in accordance with existing U.S. laws, regulations and policies,” the embassy said.

It added that it would continue engaging with the two agencies ‘to ensure that mandatory consular notification is observed in such cases.’

The embassy also pointed to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) as the lead agency in providing employment assistance to affected seafarers.

‘The DMW has previously stated its readiness to provide assistance,’ it said.

The embassy statement did not specify how many Filipino seafarers had been affected or where the denials of entry occurred.

During a Senate hearing in August, Migrant Works Undersecretary Bernard Olalia bared that at least 93 Filipino seafarers have been deported by the US government as of mid-2025. Most or 87 of the 93 were deported after US President Donald Trump began his second administration in January.

The same DMW official said none of the 93 deportees ‘were ever arrested for having in possession of child-pornographic materials. No cases were filed against them.’

A labor advocacy group, International Seafarers Action Center, earlier flagged the ‘unjust and inhumane’ treatment of over 100 Filipino seafarers in the US from April to July this year, including the arrest and later deportation of 21 Filipino crew members from the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine at the Port of Norfolk, Virginia.

The Filipino crew members of Carnival Sunshine had reportedly been held under guard overnight and deported the next day without being given due process.

Broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is making a large-scale investment in another data center that can carry up to 100 megawatts, to be built in either the Visayas or Mindanao.

Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy said they are scouting for a site in either the Visayas or Mindanao where his company would put up its potentially biggest data center.

He said the facility would generate an initial capacity of 20 MW, but this can be raised to as high as 100 MW, depending on the demand.

Converge is planning to locate its next data center in either Visayas or Mindanao to enhance the quality of connectivity services outside of Luzon. Converge’s data centers are currently in Luzon, namely, in Angeles, Pampanga – where Uy hails from – and in Caloocan City.

By setting up the data center outside of the metro, Uy is hoping to give consumers in Visayas and Mindanao a quicker link to a facility where applications and information are stored. Simply put, this translates to better internet reliability and speeds for subscribers in the regions.

Uy is preparing Converge to invest more on data centers as it has connected to two submarine cable projects, one spanning Asia-Pacific, the other reaching Northeast Asia.

Recently, the Bifrost Cable System has achieved ready-for-service status and is being geared up to begin data transport by November or December.

Bifrost is the world’s first subsea cable bridging Singapore and the US West Coast via Indonesia through the Java Sea and Celebes Sea, making it more than 20,000 kilometers long.

Converge invested at least $130 million to hook into Bifrost, which is able to move data between Singapore and the US in under 165 milliseconds. Bifrost injects an additional 260 Tbps capacity for Asia-Pacific.

Converge is also a party to the Southeast Asia-Hainan-Hong Kong Express Cable System, which extends for over 5,000 kilometers. The project traverses multiple segments of Asia, particularly Hainan, China; Hong Kong; Malaysia; the Philippines and Singapore.

Subsea cable projects facilitate the transfer of data among and between territories, consequently benefiting consumers by improving the speed of uploading and downloading digital content.

They are complemented by data centers, another important asset in the digital era, as they safely keep the applications and information of tech giants like Amazon, Google and Meta.

Only one RFID sticker is now required for vehicles passing through all Luzon tollways.

The government, through the Department of Transportation, began implementing yesterday its ‘One RFID, All Tollways’ project that allows motorists to choose between Autosweep or EasyTrip as provider of radio frequency identification or RFID stickers for their vehicles.

‘Sometimes, you loaded the one for NLEX, but forgot the one for TPLEX. As a result, you have to queue to pay, a waste of time that you should have devoted to sightseeing, bonding with family and work,’ President Marcos said at the launch of the One RFID, All Tollways in Laguna.

‘We listen to the appeal of our countrymen. We studied the problem and we came up with a good solution. Starting today, only one RFID sticker is needed for the toll expressways for the entire Luzon,’ Marcos added.

Also at the launch, acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the program would significantly ease travel for motorists using Luzon tollways.

Under the new system, users have to affix the RFID sticker inside the car, or specifically behind the windshield, and not anymore on the headlights. After selecting their provider, motorists would have to visit a service center to have the other RFID sticker on their vehicle removed.

‘This has gone through a stress test, so it means that it is working. If there are small instances of problems, it is either the RFID is defective or you have to check your account if it has a negative balance,’ Lopez said.

Luzon’s tollways include the Skyway, South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), STAR Tollway, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAx), Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), NLEX Connector, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX) and C5 Southlink.

President Marcos noted that under the two-card system, motorists have to use Autosweep when passing through TPLEX or Skyway and Easytrip when going to NLEX or SCTEX. This requires them to maintain and fund two accounts.

Marcos said a system for group or fleet accounts, which he said comprise a ‘very small minority’ would be launched next year.

‘We aim to have a seamless travel from north to south of Luzon. Reduce unnecessary stress. Reduce unnecessary delays,’ the Chief Executive said.

‘This reform in the RFID system is part of our larger objective to make our infrastructure more modern, connected and responsive to the needs of every Filipino,’ he added.

The President thanked Metro Pacific Investments Corp. led by its chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan and San Miguel Corp. led by its chairman and CEO Ramon Ang for ‘being part of the solution,’ describing them as ‘stellar partners in the private sector.’

‘This is once more proof that together, we can create innovative solutions to the everyday challenges faced by our people,’ Marcos said.

The government has lost close to P600 billion from cases dismissed in courts due to ‘inordinate delay’ in prosecution, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said yesterday.

‘It’s very alarming. This has to stop. There’s much negligence, we have to stop this habit. We should have a way of tracing who is responsible for what,’ Remulla said at a briefing.

The P600 billion, he said, spans the last 15 years. The problem, he said, may have stemmed from dilatory tactics employed by defense lawyers to prolong trial, mostly of graft cases.

Remulla said he would be pushing for shortening the period of evaluating whether cases are dismissible – from 72 hours to 48 hours – to avoid political theatrics.

The period of preliminary investigation will also be reduced from the allowable one year to only 60 days. The fact-finding phase will also be limited to 60 days.

‘From evaluation to fact-finding to preliminary investigation to prosecution, it stretches to one year. It has to stop. We have to either dismiss or file it. Dalawa lang yan. Walang matutulog dapat. Everything has to move,’ he said.

Remulla also vowed to raise the standards for the filing of cases – from determining probable cause to establishing reasonable certainty of conviction to prevent the weaponization of the ombudsman and to have cases promptly subjected to trial.

The ombudsman said his office is already crafting revised rules on preliminary investigation and would have them published once completed. He said the rules would be crafted in such a way that no rights would be violated.

Remulla said he also hopes to initiate a dialogue with the judiciary – including the Supreme Court – to address the delays in cases, as well as other problems besetting the justice system.

The local stock market snapped its three-day losing streak, posting slight gains amid bargain-hunting activities.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index inched up by 0.16 percent or 9.46 points to finish yesterday’s session at 6,093.53.

The broader All Shares index, on the other hand, remained in the loss column, slipping by 0.11 percent or 4.07 points to 3,657.85.

‘The local market bounced back from a three-day decline as bargain hunting prevailed,’ Philstocks Financial research manager Japhet Tantiangco said.

Tantiangco said that positive cues from Wall Street also helped in yesterday’s rebound.

Total value turnover improved to P5.24 billion from the previous day’s P3.65 billion.

However, Tantiangco said that trading was still considered anemic as many investors stayed on the sidelines amid lingering uncertainties.

Sectoral gauges were dominated by those in the red, with mining and oil posting the biggest drop at 2.96 percent.

Services and industrial indexes, meanwhile, recorded increases of 1.10 percent and 0.38 percent, respectively.

Market breadth remained negative as decliners crushed advancers, 127 to 84, while 47 issues were unchanged.

ICTSI was still the most actively traded stock, climbing by 2.04 percent to P550 per share, followed by Ayala Land which fell by two percent to P22 and JG Summit which surged by 3.75 percent to P24.90.

With the aim to spark conversations on saving, Metrobank posed the question: ‘Para saan ang ipon mo?’ among Filipinos in key lifestyle and business hubs in the metro.

Printed on bold statement shirts, oversized tote bags, oversized newspapers and cookies-Metrobank ambassadors asked Filipinos to scan a QR code that led to a survey seeking to uncover the many reasons Filipinos save.

Hundreds of Filipinos shared their aspirations on the survey, which spilled over to their social media accounts-from planning that long-awaited barkada trip, to building an emergency fund, to launching a small online business. The message was clear: every Filipino has a goal worth saving for.

Riding this conversation is the launch of Metrobank’s eSavings account. Now, Filipinos can easily and securely kick-off their savings journey with Metrobank.

Go from goal-setting to goal-getting

Forget the long lines and paperwork-Metrobank now allows new accountholders to easily and securely open a savings account in 10 minutes through the Metrobank app.

Metrobank eSavings is a secure digital account that allows first-time Metrobank deposit clients to save, manage, and grow their money. More than that, with just a P2,000 minimum deposit balance, accountholders get access to a suite of benefits to save smarter and achieve their long-term goals with ease.

Enjoy these perks when you open a Metrobank eSavings account:

Interest of up to 4.5% p.a.* on your savings when you avail of Online Time Deposit: By placing your funds on Metrobank’s online time deposit feature, you’re giving your savings an extra boost. Metrobank offers flexible holding periods for your funds-ranging from one month, so you can access your funds easily, to one year, so your funds can yield higher interest. For more details, visit https://www.metrobank.com.ph/accounts/time-deposit

InstaPay fee rebates of up to 4x a month: Everyday transactions are made lighter on your wallet as you get rebates on the fees for four InstaPay transfers each month.

Free 1 year AXA Life Insurance: If you open a Metrobank eSavings account until December 31, you get a one-year life insurance coverage that’s worth double the average amount of your average daily balance (ADB) in the past three months, giving you peace of mind from life’s uncertainties.

Your Metrobank eSavings account not only allows you to get closer to your savings goals-it also serves as the first step towards having a trusted financial partner in achieving your long-term goals.

Now that you’re a Metrobank client, it’s easier for you to secure your first credit card, a home loan for your first condo, or an investment to grow your money to new heights.

With Metrobank, you have a reliable growth partner, helping you save not just for today’s goals, but for your future self.

Make the move your future self will thank you for. Open a Metrobank eSavings account now via the Metrobank App-download it today on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Actress and former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Angelie “Lie” Reposposa clapped back at a meme featuring her and British fiancé Paul Joshua Marsden.

Lie reposted a meme that compared how Tagalog and Bisaya individuals succeeded in life.

The post showed under the Tagalog portion a woman working behind a computer while underneath Bisaya was a photo of her and Paul, implying their success was defined by dating or marrying foreigners.

In reposting, Lie quipped she was only responding to the meme out of boredom.

“FYI: Hindi kano ang sagot sa kahirapan. Kahit alien pa jowain mo, kung wala kang diskarte sa buhay, broke ka pa rin,” she wrote.

“Bisaya man o Tagalog, pareho lang tayong Pilipino – magkaiba lang, ‘yung iba may manners, ‘yung iba may WiFi pero walang respeto,” Lie ended.

In the comments section, Lie asked social media users to spare her and her boyfriend from any issues and to “mind their own dishes.”

One comment gaining traction said “Why not? At least di napunta sa tambay lang sa kanto HAHAAHHA” to which Lie responded, “Okay lang tambay basta may trabaho.”

Lie competed on “Pinoy Big Brother: Otso” where she finished in 6th place behind Fumiya Sankai, Kiara Takahashi, and winner Yamyam Gucong.

That batch also featured Kaori Oinuma, Karina Bautista, Diana Mackey, Franki Russell, Seth Fedelin, Criza Taa, and future BINI members Sheena Catacutan and Gwen Apuli.

Lie and Paul got engaged in February 2023, a couple of months after going public with their relationship.

Singer-songwriter Davey Ryan Edward Langit has passed away, his wife Therese has confirmed. He was 38 years old.

The couple had previously shared that Davey was diagnosed with rare spinal infection last August, affecting his back and function of his legs.

Therese announced Davey’s passing in a Facebook post, saying he “fought fiercely ’til the very end” and was “so loved the past few days” and thanking everyone for filling Davey’s heart with gratitude, community and hope.

Fellow artists held benefit concerts for Davey, including one last October 15 attended by the likes of Nyoy Volante, Gian Magdangal, Lara Maigue and Yumi Lacsamana.

Another benefit show was slated for October 31 helmed by singer-songwriters Ebe Dancel and Noel Cabangon.

“Davey loved life more than anyone I’ve ever met,” Therese wrote. “He jumped off 75-meter free falls, rode the most frightening roller coasters, savored food, danced goofy, lit up every room with his warmth, his jokes, and loud laughter, and he loved LOVED music and songwriting with such fire.”

Memorials for Davey will be held at the Phoenix Memorial Chapels in Santa Rosa, Laguna, from October 23-26 and at St. Peter Urdaneta from October 27-29.

“Thank you for being part of Davey’s life. He loved each and every one of you,” Therese ended.

Davey rose to fame on the first season of “Pinoy Dream Academy,” getting expelled on Week 13 after receiving the lowest number of fan votes. Yeng Constantino would go on to win the competition.

Some of the songs he performed on the show were James Ingram’s “There is No Easy Way” and Sharon Cuneta’s “Miss Kita Kung Christmas”, as well collaborative performances of Sponge Cola’s “Jeepney”, Joey Ayala’s “Karaniwang Tao”, Rico J. Puno’s “No Touch” and Brownman Revival’s “Maling Akala”.

Davey would go on to establish a career in songwriting, also releasing singles of his own like “Selfie Song”, “Wedding Song”, “Breaksary”, “Dalawang Letra”, and in collaboration with Yeng the tracks “Cool Off” and “Time In”.

Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez insisted he never met with anyone to influence the Maharlika Investment Fund, even as allegations mount tying him to a convicted fraudster reportedly advising the sovereign wealth fund.

In a statement sent to Philstar.com on Wednesday, October 22, Romualdez called the latest claims against him ‘false and baseless.’ He denied colluding with any individual involved in the Maharlika Investment Fund, a measure which he authored and lobbied for in 2022.

‘I join the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) in completely denouncing the false and baseless allegations published by certain online sources,’ Romualdez said.

His statement came after Malaysia-based investigative news outlet Sarawak Report alleged that convicted fraudster and money launderer Patrick Mahony had served as an adviser to the Maharlika fund and ‘frequently’ met with Romualdez.

‘I have never had any discussion, meeting, or communication with any individual regarding investments, advisory roles, or management decisions involving the Maharlika Wealth Fund,’ Romualdez said.

‘The reports attempting to link me to such matters are entirely unfounded, misleading and malicious,’ he added.

The British-Swiss national, who once sat on PetroSaudi’s board, was sentenced to prison by a Swiss court in 2024 over his role in a multibillion-dollar embezzlement scheme involving Malaysia’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB.

While Mahony remains free with his appeal still pending, Sarawak Report said he had returned to Manila to advise officials behind the country’s Maharlika Investment Fund.

Since the exposé was published on October 20, the MIC categorically denied the ‘damaging allegations,’ saying Mahony does not serve as its adviser or consultant. It also maintained that the firm has ‘never engaged’ with him.

The 1MDB has been seen as comparable by some to the Maharlika fund, which uses government funds in state-run banks to invest in assets, the stock market, foreign currencies and infrastructure to spur economic growth. Critics, however, warn that the fund carries similar corruption risks to other sovereign funds, which were seen in 1MDB.

Romualdez has been embroiled in several corruption allegations, particularly after his cousin, President Bongbong Marcos, ordered an investigation into irregular flood control projects.

These projects have been at the center of government-wide probes that uncovered alleged kickback schemes, where lawmakers were said to have received commissions from funds they allocated for infrastructure projects.

Some personalities have accused Romualdez of being among the masterminds behind the alleged manipulation of the national budget, particularly during his three-year tenure as House Speaker under the Marcos administration.

The Leyte lawmaker has so far cooperated with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, appearing at a hearing he was asked to attend following a subpoena.

But as investigations continue to widen, Romualdez faces mounting pressure to dispel questions over his role in both the Maharlika and flood control kickback controversies.

All members of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board will now be barred from holding any ownership in construction firms to avoid a conflict of interest, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said Wednesday, October 22.

The move, Roque said, is one of several reforms the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is rolling out to clean up the body that licenses builders amid ongoing government investigations into anomalous flood control projects.

Roque told reporters of the planned prohibition at a press conference after she appeared before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Wednesday.

“We discussed several major changes, but we will still finalize everything,” Roque said. “But [for] example, for the PCAB board, we already made some changes that a board member cannot own a construction company because it’s conflict of interest.”

Created through Republic Act 4566, the PCAB licenses and regulates all construction contractors operating in the Philippines. The accreditation is mandatory for any firm bidding on government infrastructure projects and is widely required for major private construction as well.

A member of the board, Roque said, “should have a construction background, meaning they could be an engineer part of a construction firm,” but not own a construction firm.

All current PCAB board positions will soon be filled with new appointees pending presidential approval, Roque said. The agency will also get a new executive director.

“We’ve submitted a lot of names. First they have to have 10 years of experience,” Roque said. “They are actually very well respected in the construction [industry],” she added.

PCAB drew criticisms from senators in September over their deemed ‘leniency’ toward contractors involved in questionable flood control projects.

During a hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, senators grilled then-PCAB chair Pericles Dakay over the agency’s failure to investigate or sanction firms accused of cornering flood control contracts and recycling blacklisted companies under new corporate names. Lawmakers, including Senators Erwin Tulfo and Vicente Sotto III, cited cases where firms previously suspended by the DPWH were later relicensed by PCAB.

Dakay is the owner and CEO of Dakay Construction and Development Corp.

New oversight

The DTI, Roque added, is also creating a new layer of oversight to the licensing process. Previously, PCAB board members had sole authority to approve licenses. Now, applications will first go through the Office of the Secretary for review before reaching the board.

“There’s an additional check now in the Office of the Secretary to make sure we double check that they are really following the rules,” Roque said.

The department is also considering barring relatives of blacklisted contractors from obtaining licenses, though Roque said this measure awaits recommendations from the ICI and Department of Public Works and Highways.

New license applications have stalled as the department develops stricter guidelines, Roque said, which has left legitimate businesses waiting for approval.

“Not everybody’s fraud. Many people just want to do business,” Roque said, noting that even legitimate contractors have been caught in the reform process. “They employ a lot of people. And they also have payables which means they also affect other industries.”

The top 15 contractors that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier exposed for cornering billions worth of flood control projects will soon see their licenses revoked, Roque added.

“We’re in the final stages already,” the DTI secretary said, adding that appeals would likely not be possible.