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Yesterday morning, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck La Union, with other parts of northern Luzon, including Baguio City, feeling the tremors.

So far as of this writing there have been no reports of damage, while one report claims someone died of a heart attack in Baguio City while the quake was happening.

Now the people there can’t help but be on alert for aftershocks, no doubt having been appraised of what quakes can do and how devastating they can be following what happened in northern Cebu recently.

Speaking of aftershocks, as of yesterday noon, a total of 10,006 aftershocks have been recorded following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit northern Cebu.

If anything else, this should show us that it’s not quite over yet and, more importantly, that quakes are more unpredictable compared to other natural disasters.

Let’s not be fooled that quakes can be predicted with precision. Yes, there are general patterns that we can observe and analyze, but we can never say when a quake will strike somewhere specific and how strong it will be.

So if someone shares a post in social media that a quake will happen somewhere at a certain time, take it with a grain of salt and don’t immediately share it.

Let’s also not be fooled into thinking that we won’t get shaken just because a quake happened somewhere else. La Union is quite far from where the current aftershocks are being concentrated and recorded. We are sure they never saw it coming, but it came anyway.

These latest developments should remind us that unlike other natural disasters, earthquakes can strike anywhere without warning. While typhoons or tsunamis can be observed forming from a ways off, seasons of drought or flood can be predicted months ahead with a high degree of accuracy, and volcanic eruptions give off many warnings signs, earthquakes are still far off from becoming predictable.

What’s the best we can do about it? Nothing much, except take measures to make our homes and critical infrastructure resilient, not live in hazard zones, and be prepared to deal with what happens after.

Back like he never left.

After missing significant time last season, Rey Nambatac showcased his brilliance anew as he helped the TNT Tropang 5G blast the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 93-78, in their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup matchup Friday at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.

Nambatac, who missed a few months in last season’s All-Filipino Cup, finished with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists for TNT in 30 minutes of play.

The guard out of Letran said he was ‘very excited’ to play once again.

‘Parang four months mahigit yata akong hindi nakapaglaro e. So, siyempre, ito talaga yung pinaghahandaan ko,’ he told reporters after the game.

He bared that he was really out of shape, but thanked his teammates for stepping up.

‘Good thing naman, yung mga teammates ko, huge shout out to all my teammates kasi talagang pinush hard nila ako noong training camp namin. And to be honest, wala talaga ako. Out of shape ako Nahirapan ako noong una,’ he stated.

‘But then again, nagkaroon ako ng opportunity na makarecover. Makuha ko yung rhythm ko, yung timing ko. And ayun nga, ito, unti-unting nagbunga.’

After a close encounter in the first half, TNT started to pull away in the third quarter.

The Tropang 5G led by one, 45-44, early in the third frame before Nambatac scored seven points in his team’s 8-2 run as TNT grabbed a 54-46 lead.

While the Fuel Masters were able to pull themselves closer, the Tropang 5G’s hot offense was just too much to handle as they broke the game wide open in the fourth period. The latter took a 16-point lead, 81-65, after a split from Nambatac.

Ricci Rivero tried to will the Fuel Masters back into it, but a 3-pointer by Kelly Williams slammed the door shut on any comeback attempt.

Calvin Oftana backstopped Nambatac with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Simon Enciso and newcomer Kevin Ferrer had 12 markers apiece.

Tyler Tio and Jason Perkins powered Phoenix with 12 points apiece while Kai Ballungay added 11 markers for the Fuel Masters, who were held to 40.8% shooting and were forced to commit 14 turnovers.

‘There were stretches na masakit sa mata yung offense namin. But, as always, we relied on our defense. Okay lang if we’re not making our shots or if our offense is not as smooth as we want it to be, but as long as we can make stops, that’s the most important element of our gameplan,’ TNT head coach Chot Reyes said.

TNT will be back in action next Saturday against Converge, while Phoenix will return to play on October 22 against the NLEX Road Warriors.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck off the coast of Manay, Davao Oriental on Friday, October 10, and the magnitude 6.9 tremor that struck Cebu 10 days earlier, are completely unrelated, Phivolcs said.

At a press conference, Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol dismissed concerns that the earthquake this morning was triggered by the earlier tremors in Cebu, explaining that these come from entirely different fault systems.

“All independent earthquake generators… Walang kinalaman yung isa sa Philippine Trench dun sa Bogo Bay Fault (The Philippine Trench has nothing to do with Bogo Bay Fault),” Bacolcol said.

Both faults are “independent” and located far from each other geographically. Bacolcol added: “The activity of one will not induce or trigger the acitivity of the other.”

The Philippine Trench, one of six active trenches around the Philippines, was the origin of Friday’s quake that struck 9:43 a.m., prompting tsunami warnings. At least two people have been reportedly killed.

The September 30 Cebu quake came from the Bogo Bay Fault, an underwater fault that hadn’t moved significantly in over 400 years.

Bacolcol pointed to historical patterns showing the Philippine Trench regularly generates powerful earthquakes. A magnitude 7.5 quake hit the same area in 1921, followed by an 8.3 tremor in 1924, a 7.2 in 1929, and a 7.6 in 1952. All were along the Philippine Trench, Bacolcol said.

The Cebu earthquake devastated the municipalities of Bogo, Daanbantayan, and Medellin, killing at least 74 and completely destroying over 5,000 homes.

As of October 10, around 8,000 persons remain displaced.

Friday’s Davao quake was felt across Mindanao and as far as Cebu City, where residents still on edge from last month’s earthquake felt Intensity IV-level shaking. Over 200 aftershocks followed the Davao tremor, with the strongest so far reaching magnitude 5.8.

State seismologists have lifted the tsunami warning triggered by the magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck off the coast of Davao Oriental on Friday, October 10.

Phivolcs issued a tsunami warning in several Visayas and Mindanao coastal areas after the quake, and residents were told to immediately evacuate.

A tsunami was detected by the Tandag Surigao Del Sur Sea level Monitoring Station for Tsunami Detection at 10:20 a.m. It measured around 30 centimeters.

‘Any effects due to the tsunami warning have largely passed and therefore. Department of Science and Technology-PHIVOLCS has now cancelled all Tsunami Warnings issued for this event,’ the agency said in a bulletin.

The earthquake that struck Davao was felt in several localities in the area. Several local government units have suspended classes and government work to give way for safety checks.

The regional Office of Civil Defense has already raised a Red Alert status over the affected area.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ordered for the evacuation of residents in affected areas and reassured them that help was on the way.

Banks have started enforcing new limits on large cash withdrawals and payouts in line with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)’s latest directive aimed at curbing money laundering and promoting traceable transactions.

In a customer advisory, BDO Unibank Inc. said that starting Oct. 7, cash withdrawals of over P500,000 per banking day, or its equivalent in foreign currency equivalent, would require additional documents in compliance with BSP Circular 1218.

Under the circular, financial institutions must cap large-value cash transactions at P500,000 unless the amount is processed through traceable channels.

The new rule, approved by the Monetary Board on Sept. 18 and taking effect in early October, requires enhanced due diligence (EDD) for customers seeking to withdraw or encash beyond the P500,000 threshold.

These clients must present valid identification and proof of legitimate business purpose, such as documentation for hospital bills or supplier payments.

Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) announced that starting Oct. 4, customers who need to withdraw more than P500,000 would be asked to provide a valid ID and supporting documents.

‘Customers will be asked to submit additional identification information and/or proof of a legitimate business purpose for large cash out transactions exceeding P500,000,’ BPI said.

Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) said the new rule seeks to ‘promote secure and transparent banking,’ noting that single or multiple withdrawals are now capped at P500,000 per banking day.

‘Large value cash transactions or withdrawals above P500,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency must be processed only through traceable channels, such as check payments, fund transfers or digital platforms,’ Metrobank said.

It added that clients might be asked to provide identification or other supporting papers to verify the purpose of the transaction.

Other lenders such as the Philippine National Bank (PNB), Bank of Commerce and Union Bank of the Philippines have also issued advisories to customers outlining compliance procedures.

PNB reminded depositors to notify branches two banking days in advance for over-the-counter cash withdrawals above P500,000 and to submit supporting documents, while BankCom stressed that withdrawals exceeding the limit ‘may require enhanced verification’ and proof of fund source.

UnionBank likewise said that ‘withdrawals above P500,000 would now be subject to EDD procedures’ and urged clients to use traceable alternatives such as online fund transfers and digital payments.

According to the BSP, the new policy was introduced after risk assessments found that cash-based transactions remain vulnerable to money laundering, terrorism financing and other illicit fund flows.

By requiring stricter checks and documentation, regulators aim to promote transparency and preserve the integrity of the financial system.

The central bank said the regulation covers both banks and other BSP-supervised financial institutions. Violations or suspicious activities must be reported through suspicious transaction reports.

The policy, however, has drawn mixed reactions online. Several social media users, particularly small business owners, expressed frustration over the stricter requirements and said that the P500,000 daily cash limit could disrupt operations and delay payments to suppliers.

Others described the need to submit additional documents as ‘a hassle,’ noting that many legitimate businesses still rely heavily on cash transactions for day-to-day expenses.

Amber Kinetics, a leading designer of long-duration flywheel energy storage systems (FESS), marked a milestone in renewable energy deployment with the signing of a formal agreement with Indian Energy (IE), a 100% Native American-owned and operated microgrid developer. The agreement covers the purchase of containerized flywheel systems, as well as an exclusive Strategic Development Agreement granting Indian Energy the rights to market Amber Kinetics’ technology across all Native American reservations in the US.

This announcement follows the successful testing, installation and commissioning of Amber Kinetics’ containerized flywheel systems at the historic Miramar site (former Top Gun base) in San Diego last June. The additional order, destined for installation with the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians in Alpine, California, further strengthens Indian Energy’s role in advancing large-scale energy resiliency solutions for tribal and defense communities.

The partnership positions Amber Kinetics to address a market potential of up to 18,000 flywheel units across Native American reservations, representing nearly $1 billion in opportunities-excluding additional prospects in Canada and Mexico. Amber Kinetics manages a facility in Batangas for the manufacturing, assembling and testing of flywheels. It also set up a demonstration site at De La Salle University in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, the world’s first flywheel innovation hub.

Allen Cadreau, founder and CEO of Indian Energy, added: ‘Energy security is at the heart of sovereignty. By joining forces with Amber Kinetics, Indian Energy is proud to bring a technology that is safe, durable and purpose-built for the needs of our people. This partnership enables tribes across the country to take control of their energy future with systems that protect our lands, our economies and our ways of life. What we are signing today is more than a business agreement-it is a commitment to clean energy independence for Native Nations.’

Luis Juan Virata, chairman of Amber Kinetics, said: ‘This agreement with Indian Energy represents a defining moment for Amber Kinetics and for the future of resilient, sustainable power in North America. By pairing our proven flywheel technology with Indian Energy’s deep expertise and trusted relationships across tribal communities, we are creating a pathway for true energy sovereignty. Together, we will demonstrate that long-duration, safe and unlimited cycling storage is not only viable, but essential to powering communities for generations to come.’

The two parties developed their agreement with the assistance of Innova Capital Partners, a global private investment firm focused on disruptive innovators. Innova develops unique opportunities across sectors where its investment expertise and operational capabilities create value. The October 1 signing is not only a business milestone but also a bold step toward clean energy sovereignty-ensuring Native American tribes have access to reliable, safe, and sustainable energy solutions that secure their communities for generations to come.

It has been awhile since I’ve been invited to a tech launch, so I was very excited to attend the event of Huawei Philippines last week.

That night, they proudly introduced their latest lineup of innovative wearables, led by the highly anticipated Huawei Watch GT 6 Series. This new series combines cutting-edge technology, an industry-leading 21-day battery life, and advanced health and sports tracking features, all designed to empower Filipinos to train smarter, live healthier, and elevate their personal style.

They brought the Watch GT 6 Series to life through immersive experience zones that highlighted key scenarios like trail running, in-depth cycling performance metrics, and comprehensive health and fitness monitoring. Attendees explored how the devices seamlessly support active lifestyles through hands-on demonstrations.

A highlight of the launch was the feature of professional cyclist Mervin Corpuz, the celebrated MPTC Tour of Luzon Sprint King. Through a showcase of his training journey, the event demonstrated how the Watch GT 6 Series enhances his performance on the road, providing precise cycling metrics, reliable tracking, and advanced tools that support his demanding regimen.

Adding to the excitement, Huawei also showcased the Watch Ultimate 2 and the Watch D2, the latter set to receive new features such as Timed Blood Pressure Measurement through an upcoming OTA update, which will start on October 15, further expanding its versatile wearable ecosystem designed to complement diverse lifestyles.

The Watch GT 6 Series uses TruSense System 2.0 for more accurate tracking of sleep, heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, and emotions. The GT 6 Pro adds a special heart health app that alerts you to irregular heartbeats and gives detailed ECG information.

For athletes and outdoor lovers, the Watch GT 6 Pro features a highly accurate positioning system, perfect for trail running, cycling, and hiking. Cyclists can also use new features that measure power and performance without extra devices.

Safety is improved with Fall Detection and altitude sickness alerts, helping keep users safe during activities. The watch also includes a smart coach to guide training and recovery.

In terms of design, the Watch GT 6 Series blends elegance with exceptional durability, built with aerospace-grade titanium alloy, sapphire glass, and a nanocrystal ceramic back. Its ultra-bright 1.47-inch AMOLED display with slimmer bezels delivers an immersive experience for both workouts and daily wear.

Users can easily switch straps for different looks and personalize their watch with animated stickers, pet dials, and five-second video watch faces.

The lighter, more compact Watch GT 6 features an ergonomic fluoroelastomer strap, while the Watch GT 6 Pro has an added 40m freediving-grade water resistance, making it perfect for everything from intense workouts to swimming and even formal occasions.

With its high-silicon stacked battery architecture, the Watch GT 6 Series lasts up to 21 days between charges, supporting the demanding lifestyles of athletes, explorers, and busy professionals.

Both the Watch GT 6 and Watch GT 6 Pro deliver smart connectivity designed for life on the go, supporting offline maps, music playback, Bluetooth calling, and smart notifications. With GCash Watch Pay now compatible with iOS as well as Android and HUAWEI devices, users can enjoy secure, effortless cashless transactions straight from their wrist, no matter which smartphone they use.

Empowering users to stay healthy, fit, and connected, the Watch GT 6 Series combines style, durability and smart features for today’s active lifestyles. It transitions seamlessly from workouts to everyday wear, reflecting Huawei’s commitment to innovation that enhances real life.

Aligned with Huawei’s global message, ‘Now Is Yours’, the series inspires everyone to take charge, express themselves, and live actively with technology that’s powerful, inclusive and inspiring.

A former chairman and former treasurer of a barangay in Manila were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for graft for allegedly demanding advance ‘commission’ from a supplier in exchange for a contract to supply various materials.

In a 48-page decision promulgated on Sept. 30, the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division upheld the ruling of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 39 finding Ephraim Maniquis and Regielyn Lauriaga, former chairman and treasurer, respectively, of Barangay 52, Zone 4 in Manila guilty of violating Section 3(b) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

‘The evidence established beyond reasonable doubt all the elements of violation of Section 3(b) of Republic Act 3019, as amended. Hence, conviction of accused-appellants is proper,’ the Sixth Division’s decision read, referring to the provision that ‘prohibits a public official from soliciting and accepting gifts, favor or percentage in connection with any government transaction in which the public official has the capacity to intervene.’

Maniquis and Lauriaga were sentenced to six years and one month to 10 years in prison and perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

The P73,320 they received from the private complainant was ordered ‘confiscated and forfeited in favor of the government.’

According to the case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2015, Maniquis and Lauriaga demanded P73,320 from complainant Franco Espiritu, owner of FRCGE Trading, as their ‘advance share’ or commission in exchange for awarding to Espiritu’s firm a contract to provide the barangay various supplies and materials.

‘The Court finds the private complainant’s testimony clear and consistent, that he yielded to the amount requested by the accused-appellants despite the absence of details regarding the project and bidding because he relied on their assurance that he would emerge as the winning bidder in a transaction where both accused-appellants had the duty to intervene under the law,’ the Sixth Division ruling read in part.

Besides, the anti-graft court added, ‘the mere act of requesting, demanding or receiving a gift, share, present, percentage or benefit in connection with a contract or transaction that the public officer has to intervene is already punishable under law, regardless of whether or not the contract or transaction is perfected or consummated.’

Top Line and TOP [link] said its board of directors approved on Oct. 8, 2025 the reclassification of 800 million unissued common shares with a par value of P0.10 each into preferred shares, as the company gears up for capital-raising activities amid plans to expand its fuel importation and distribution operations. In a series of disclosures, TOP said the move-still subject to regulatory and stockholders’ approval-will give the company ‘flexibility in the issuance of shares’ as it explores funding options such as private placements, follow-on offerings, and/or debt issuances. As part of its broader expansion drive, the board also approved new equity investments in two subsidiaries: P185.6 million for Topline Logistics, which recently secured registration from the Bureau of Customs, a key requirement for import operations, and P199.5 million for Light Fuels Corp., which operates the company’s retail station network.

MB bottom-line: Love this move in theory. As I mentioned to TOP’s CEO Erik Lim back in September when I interviewed him as part of my Inside the Boardroom series, I thought the incredible runup in TOP’s price presented the company with a great opportunity to monetize that demand with some kind of follow-on offering. While this isn’t the common share follow-on that I was thinking of, it’s still something that will give TOP a wider array of funding options to finance its expansion. The thing that I like overall is the idea that expansion is a given. Perfect score if that expansion could get funded through equity, but a prefs sale works too.

This is the ideal condition for us to be in as we go about our temporal affairs, especially in business and politics, and in the more complicated and challenging sector of the new technologies. We should be as technically competent as possible in these areas, but what is even more important than that is for us to be spiritually healthy.

Otherwise, there is no way but for us to be misusing and abusing the elements involved in these temporal affairs. And as a consequence, it would just be a matter of time before some disaster, especially in the moral and spiritual aspects, would befall us.

We should see to it that all our temporal affairs, especially those that have very significant impact on the lives of many people, should be guided by the laws God has given to all the things of our life, foremost of which is for us to do all for the glory of God. (Deo omnes gloria!)

Let us always remember that we are notorious for simply following our own ideas, our own estimation of what is right and wrong according to some worldly standards that in the end would just lead us to self-indulgence, and thus goes against the common good and our innate duty of love toward God.

We need to do things always with God and for God, since Christ said it very clearly: ‘He who is not with me, is against me; and he who gathers not with me, scatters.’ (Lk 11,23) To do things with God and for God is not an optional thing. It is a necessity for us, considering who we really are. Of course, to do things with God and for God should be done freely, and not forcibly.

To be technically competent means having the skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to perform tasks or work in a specific field or area effectively. An example would be a software engineer needed to be proficient in coding languages, a mechanic who knows how to do engine repair.

Those in business, for example, should be knowledgeable about data analysis and tech literacy, financial management, strategic planning, communication and leadership tools, etc. While those in politics should be conversant in policy analysis and development, public communication and media literacy, data-informed decision making, legislative and regulatory knowledge, etc.

Spiritual health is a matter of knowing how to discern the abiding promptings of the Holy Spirit. In this regard, we cannot overemphasize the need to make use of certain helpful acts of piety, like regular mental prayer, presence of God all throughout the day, continuing study and formation regarding our spiritual life.

We need to be more wary of our duty to take care of our spiritual powers. Our spiritual powers are mainly our intelligence and will, our thinking, judging, reasoning, and loving. These need to be managed and supervised well, seeing to it that they are rooted properly and are oriented toward their proper objects and not simply allowed to drift and flow wherever they are blown by our bodily and worldly conditionings.

St. Paul talks about the distinction between the carnal man and the spiritual man, and we should make the right choice and develop it to its maturity. St. Augustine warns us not to allow our soul, our spiritual powers, to become carnal by consenting to the affections of the flesh.

Caring for our spiritual powers means exerting realistic effort to always find reasons, motivations, and ways to relate all our thinking and loving to God and all souls.