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Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon urged the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to look into the personalities linked to the anomalous flood-control projects during the Senate and House investigations, following the resignation of Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson as chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

‘The departure of Senator Lacson from the Blue Ribbon Committee should now compel the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to conduct a broad, unrelenting and open sweep of all individuals named in both Senate and House hearings, to determine with precision their respective liabilities, and to recommend the filing of appropriate charges,’ Ridon said in a statement on Sunday. According to Ridon, Lacson’s leadership in the said committee ‘yielded the most consequential testimonies and evidence’ compared to all the subsequent hearings on the alleged flood-control anomalies, particularly from the affidavits of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials.

He cited that the testimonies of ex-DPWH District Engineer Henry Alcantara, ex-DPWH Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, and ex-DPWH Assistant District Engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza all revealed before the Senate that contractors, DPWH officials, legislators and executive officials are involved in the controversy.

‘Senator Lacson’s Blue Ribbon Committee hearings exposed not only members of Congress as principal participants in the capture of the national budget at every stage of the budget process but also the involvement of executive officials, particularly in the capture of unprogrammed appropriations, which fall solely within the authority of the executive branch,’ Ridon declared. Apart from his wishes that the ICI would call on all the individuals named during the hearings, he also asked for the committee to publicize its investigation.

‘ICI should open its proceedings to the public, establish rules on when proceedings may be held in executive session,’ Ridon told the Inquirer.

Ridon also wished Lacson well, adding that he is sure the senator ‘will continue to pursue his advocacies for good governance and accountability in whatever capacity he chooses in the future.’

Lacson stepped down as the chair of the blue ribbon committee on Sunday following criticisms from his fellow Senators that the probe into the anomalous flood-control projects was not being handled properly. /mr

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 9 dismantled a drug den and arrested five individuals, including two minors, in Barangay Sta. Maria here on Friday (Oct 3).

PDEA-9 regional director Bryan Babang said the operation was on account of a search warrant issued by a local court.

In the course of the search, the operating team found and eventually seized 16 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected meth weighing around 10 grams with an estimated market value of P68,000.00, along with other drug-use paraphernalia like disposable lighters with improvised needles, aluminum foil strips, scooping devices, and a glass tube, Babang said.

Babang identified the arrested suspects as alias Julius, 36, a construction worker who is alleged to be the one maintaining the drug den, alias Bryan, 27, and alias Glenia, 57.

The two minors were turned over to social welfare authorities for appropriate intervention.

The arrested suspects are to face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Babang said.

An international organization monitoring the situation of non-Moro indigenous peoples (NMIPs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), has condemned the recent attack against a Teduray elder in Maguindanao del Sur and called for greater protection for the minority tribe.

The Climate Conflict Action (CCA) said in a statement on Friday that since 2019, Rommel Lupos was the 102nd non-Moro indigenous person killed in BARMM.

Lupos was beheaded by still unidentified men on Sept. 30, the eve of observance of Indigenous Peoples Month this October. According to the Timuay Justice and Governance, the indigenous political structure of the tribe, the suspects in the brutality are likely those who had warned Lupos to vacate from his farm as they wanted to occupy the land.

‘Each killing is a reminder that promises of protection remain empty, and justice remains out of reach,’ the CCA said.

It asserted that ‘without justice, there is no protection.’

CCA said the BARMM Indigenous Peoples Code has failed to protect those it claims to defend, and neither has the entire security infrastructure of the government nor the leaders and custodians of the BARMM government.

The group re-echoed the sentiments of the non-Moro indigenous youth who said: ‘This violence is not random-it is systemic.’

The CCA said the killings were designed to sow fear, drive the Teduray away from their ancestral lands, erase their identity, and elicit another round of revenge killings.

‘We need results beyond mere statements. We need accountability. The government must deliver justice for NMIPs. They need concrete actions and policies that will make them feel more secure in their everyday life – to be able to farm their lands, to go to school without fear, and work towards a bright future for their families and generations to come,’ the CCA pointed out.

Twice member Jeongyeon may miss the group’s world tour stops in Singapore and Malaysia, following her absence from the Philippines concert.

‘We cannot confirm whether Jeongyeon will appear at the Singaporean and Malaysian shows. What we can say for sure at the moment is that she will not be performing at the Bulacan show,’ a JYP Entertainment official told The Korea Herald, Friday, Oct. 3.

On Thursday, the agency announced on the group’s fan platform that the singer would not join the Twice ‘This is For’ World Tour Bulacan concert scheduled for Saturday. She had performed at the group’s concert in Macao on Sept. 27-28.

‘We sincerely apologize to fans who have been waiting for the concert for a long time. This was an unavoidable decision made with the artist’s health and recovery as our top priority,’ JYP Entertainment said.

Jeongyeon had been active in the group’s sixth world tour since it kicked off in Seoul on July 19, performing in four Japanese cities and most recently in Macao. News of her sudden absence just a week after the Macao shows has heightened concern among fans.

The singer has faced recurring health challenges over the years. She underwent surgery for a herniated disc in 2020 and went on hiatus in 2021 after being diagnosed with panic disorder. Though she returned in June 2022, she took another short break two months later due to side effects from steroid treatment and recurring panic attack symptoms. /ra

For a second time, Annabelle McDonnell is representing the Philippines in the international arena, as she receives her official sash bearing her country’s name for The Miss Globe 2025 pageant.

At the ‘sashing ceremony held in Albania on Oct. 4 (Oct. 5 in Manila), the delegates received their official sashes from reigning queen Diana Moreno.

McDonnell, who had previously competed in the inaugural Miss Charm pageant in 2023, has earned the right to compete in The Miss Globe 2025 pageant after winning in the recent Binibining Pilipinas competition.

Her first International pageant was a surprise appointment that came after she finished as first runner-up in the 2022 Miss Universe Philippines pageant.

McDonnell took over the Miss Charm Philippines title after Ashley Subijano Montenegro abdicated the throne to seek another national title. She finished second overall in the international pageant.

The Bb. Pilipinas queen appeared at The Miss Globe’s sashing ceremony in a white Renee Salud gown, with a matching cape that draped over her arms.

‘Some snaps from last night [stars emoji]. did you know we’re going on a road trip outside of Tirana for this year’s edition of [The Miss Globe]?’ McDonnell said when she posted her photos on social media.

She hopes to win the title four years after Maureen Montagne brought home the crown in 2021. Ann Colis was the first Bb. Pilipinas beauty to win in the international pageant’s current iteration. She received the crown in 2015.

The Miss Globe 2025 finale show will be held in Tirana, Albania, on Oct. 15 (Oct. 16 in Manila). Montagne will be one of the hosts of the ceremonies. /ra

The long and winding 50th season of the PBA tips off Sunday with the opening of the centerpiece Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

And there will be a lot of burning questions that will seek answers. Except maybe one. June Mar Fajardo is expected to take home a ninth MVP trophy, an incredible and unprecedented number considering that no one else has won more than four-and that the well-liked San Miguel Beer center didn’t set out on this path in the first place.

‘Who would have thought?’ Fajardo said in Filipino. ‘I was never a huge basketball fan [when I was younger], but here I am possibly winning another MVP.’

Everything else about the season will be answered as the games proceed. Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia, who will square off at 7:30 p.m. following the Leo Awards and the traditional opening ceremonies, will try to shed light on some of those mysteries that will hover over the golden season set to run until December 2026 with the usual three-conference format.

Ginebra’s Tim Cone and Magnolia rookie coach LA Tenorio are looking to end their respective teams’ title droughts, among the subplots going into the longest season that the league has ever had.

Winning a championship right away seems to be the least of Tenorio’s concerns.

‘The team is learning and I’m also learning,’ Tenorio told the Inquirer recently. ‘I still have a lot of things that I need to know and I think the comfortability [as a head coach] will come in if I know my players are ready and well-prepared. And that’s my job.’ The Gin Kings and Hotshots are two of the biggest threats to the Philippine Cup reign of their other sister team, San Miguel, who are hell-bent on extending their dominance in the PBA’s centerpiece event.

The Beermen and Fajardo will have a lot of help in CJ Perez and Jericho Cruz while rookie Chris Miller, who is 34, may show up as a potential steal the way he’s played in tune-up games.

The Beermen foiled the Grand Slam bid of TNT, which is eager to go back to its winning ways with a healthy roster and some new additions that included pesky guard Jio Jalalon, who joined the Tropang Giga as an unrestricted free agent on Saturday.

There’s plenty of talk that Converge may spoil the SMC-MVP party following the arrival of rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño, while its fellow independent team Rain or Shine may do so if it can get over the hump of four successive semifinal exits with free agent pickup Stanley Pringle.

Meralco aims for a repeat of its 2024 Philippine Cup title run, NLEX seems hungry to rebound from a near semis appearance, while Blackwater may sneak into the playoffs with the selection of rookie guard Dalph Panopio.

Titan Ultra, the new kids on the block, look to go through some growing pains even as a young Phoenix squad hopes to get some wins under rookie coach Willy Wilson.

Another rookie coach, Ronald Tubid, tries to defy low expectations of a ragtag Terrafirma team while it awaits the arrival of No. 1 overall pick Geo Chiu later in the conference, at the earliest.

Seven films from the Philippines have made it to the shortlist of the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) 2025, cementing the country’s strong presence at the biennial event.

Now in its seventh edition, the festival will run from Nov. 12 to 15 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. From more than 200 submissions – the highest in AIFFA history – only select entries made the cut, with the Philippines landing seven coveted slots.

The films representing the country are Sheron Dayoc’s ‘The Gospel of the Beast,’ Dominic Bekaert’s ‘An Errand,’ Louie Ignacio’s ‘Avenida,’ Petersen Vargas’ ‘Some Nights I Feel Like Walking,’ Zig Dulay’s ‘Green Bones’ and ‘Firefly: The Movie’ and Derick Cabrido’s ‘Mallari.’

Rain Yamson III, AIFFA’s liaison officer for the Philippines, announced the shortlist and called the achievement another testament to Filipino creativity. ‘Filipino filmmakers are limitless already. We’re now able to expand. Southeast Asia now appreciates our work,’ he said.

AIFFA festival director Livan Tajang, represented in Manila by Fadhilla ‘Dillah’ Abdulla, highlighted the Philippines’ unwavering support. ‘We look forward to the Philippines bringing a lot more movies in the coming years. The country has been very supportive through the years,’ Abdulla told reporters at a recent media gathering. She also noted that AIFFA has seen historic Filipino winners, including National Artist for Film Nora Aunor, actress Cherie Gil and filmmaker Joseph Israel Laban – all of whom have since passed away, but not before being honored by the festival. Since its founding in 2013, AIFFA has drawn around 300 industry professionals from across Asean and beyond. Alongside screenings and the Gala Night, the 2025 edition will feature workshops, masterclasses, exhibitions, and a new category: the Borneo Documentary Awards.

For Filipino artists, AIFFA has long been both a competition and a celebration. Actor Tommy Alejandrino (‘The Baseball Player’) fondly recalled the camaraderie: ‘We partied almost every night. But we were also very professional about it. We met a lot of filmmakers there. It was such a great experience.’

Filmmaker Christian Paolo Lat (‘Solace’) emphasized the festival’s opportunities for cultural exchange: ‘The most memorable was meeting (Korean celebrity) Rain because I’m a big fan of his. He was the special guest and I saw him during the awards night. I’ve always looked up to him as an actor and as a dancer. The trip was also made memorable by meeting filmmakers from other countries. Overall, it was an amazing experience.’

Roman Perez Jr., who previously screened ‘Kaluskos’ and ‘Sitio Diablo’ at AIFFA, praised the festival’s openness: ‘Bringing ‘Sitio Diablo’ there was tricky since Malaysia is an Islamic country, but they allowed the film to be screened even though there were a lot of love scenes, rape scenes, and drugs. It was shown uncut. I’m thankful to AIFFA because there were no barriers. The best part was, they know all about Vivamax in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. They were looking for me, and they asked: ‘Who is the Vivamax director here?”

Past winner Max Eigenmann, who won best actress for ‘Kargo’ in 2023, also joined the announcement. Looking back, Eigenmann reflected on her connection to her aunt Cherie – herself an AIFFA Best Actress winner in 2017: ‘She’s always with me. I got a tattoo of her initials here – that’s CG.’

The festival will culminate in the Gala Night at the Colosseum, Pullman Hotel Kuching, where 12 AIFFA awards will be presented. With seven contenders in the running, the Philippines once again heads into the festival as one of its strongest forces. /ra

The magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Bogo City, Cebu, a few days ago reminds us of the fragility of human-made structures when tested by nature’s force. Age-old churches, modern malls-everything can collapse in seconds. We are taught, again and again, that while disasters may be natural in origin, their consequences are largely shaped by the society in which we live.

That same truth applies to our politics. The earthquake is an apt metaphor for the destructive reckoning triggered by the exposé of massive corruption in flood control projects. Reputations hastily built on tainted money and instant power crumble quickly. And the collapse rarely stops with the principal actors. It spreads, dragging with it institutions, public figures, and communities once thought unbreakable.

In the age of unvetted social media and AI-fabricated images, there is almost no limit to who or what can be tarnished. We saw this in Obando, Bulacan, where a parish council, fearful of being stigmatized, hurriedly returned a pickup truck donated by former district engineer Henry Alcantara once it became clear that the patron is at the center of the nation’s biggest plunder of public works funds. A truck is easy to give back. But what if it was an entire church built with funds from donors now facing corruption charges? How does one return a whole building?

The pursuit of legitimacy takes many forms. The other day I saw a digital card purporting to document the 25th-wedding-anniversary renewal of vows of former congressman Zaldy Co and his wife at the Vatican. The inclusion of a photo showing Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle with the couple seemed designed to smear the Cardinal and cast doubt on the Church’s moral authority by linking him to a lavish celebration. Guests were supposedly flown in from Manila and billeted at an expensive hotel, all paid for by the now disgraced Co. I found no report of this event in mainstream outlets or credible databases, so the post may well be fake. But, fake or real, such posts can target anyone of Tagle’s stature, especially since he is based in Rome and known to welcome kababayans seeking his blessing.

Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology helps us see why reputations founded primarily on money are so brittle. Unlike old wealth, which has had time to distance itself from its sometimes questionable origins, new fortunes rush to buy legitimacy. The usual route is predictable: run for office or bankroll campaigns; join elite clubs and gated enclaves; show up at high-profile weddings; send children to exclusive schools; bankroll cultural events. Over time, these investments in economic, social, and cultural capital may yield what Bourdieu calls ‘symbolic capital’-the good name, honor, and legitimacy conferred by society’s gatekeepers: the Church, the state, universities, and award-giving bodies.

But symbolic capital is perception-based. It evaporates once the public sees the money behind it is dirty. Respectability borrowed from bishops, award-giving foundations, or universities (that dispense honorary degrees in exchange for buildings or endowments) vanishes overnight when their complicity is exposed. That is why corruption scandals, especially in highly unequal societies like ours, are so destabilizing. They strip away the aura of legitimacy, laying bare the inequalities and collusions that sustain the entire rotten system.

The flood control scandal has not only sparked outrage at the plunder itself. It has unleashed a broader questioning of political power and wealth. On social media, images proliferate that mock and expose the pretensions of the powerful. What is striking is that this anger comes from all sides-not just the left. That makes its subversive power unprecedented.

This reckoning could unravel more than the corruption of government. It could expose the complicity of the banks that laundered the money, the media that muted criticism, the churches that blessed dubious donations, and the courts that looked the other way. A comprehensive crisis of institutional credibility is unfolding in front of us, even before we can clearly formulate the alternative.

Such a crisis can easily spiral into recriminations and mistrust. But it may also spawn an ethical counterculture durable enough to sustain a new social movement-one that demands an overhaul of our political and economic systems, and transforms the way we produce and distribute wealth, the way we educate the young, and the way we care for our communities and the natural environment.

Earthquakes leave behind ruins but they also open space for rebuilding. The question is whether this powerful quake in our political life will leave us trapped in the rubble of our discontent, or give us the courage and determination to build anew.

Beauty queens and the stars of the Premier Volleyball League were among the muses for the opening of the PBA’s 50th season on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ahtisa Manalo, who will represent the country in this year’s Miss Universe, served as muse of Magnolia during the traditional ‘palabas’ that drew some famous names from the entertainment industry. Last year’s Miss Universe bet Chelsea Manalo represented Meralco while actress Sue Ramirez was back for the same duty, this time for crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra.

Ramirez previously was the muse of TNT in the 2022 opener at the same venue.

PVL On Tour and Invitational champion PLDT had Mika Reyes, Jessy de Leon, Majoy Baron, Savi Davidson and Kianna Dy on hand for PBA, even as Chery Tiggo standout Pauline Gaston was the muse of Phoenix. Other participants were Miss Universe Philippines contestants Chelsea Fernandez for Blackwater and Eloisa Jaud for Terrafirma, reigning Miss International Philippines Myrna Esguerra and Mutya ng Kapampangan 2023 Salma Emam for Converge.

NLEX had beauty queen and actress Pearl Gonzales, Rain or Shine tapped content creator Pattie Paraiso and defending Philippine Cup titleholder San Miguel Beer was joined by Caroline Eyer.

Among the artists who entertained the crowd were Randy Santiago, Jett Pangan, Mitoy and Mike Hanopol while Jamie Lim and Almira Teng hosted the ceremonial rites.

Lim, daughter of the late great Samboy Lim, was San Miguel’s muse in last year’s opening ceremonies.

By virtue of Republic Act No. 11086, signed by then President Rodrigo Duterte, Sto. Tomas was converted into a component city of Batangas province. Strategically located on the boundary of Laguna and Batangas, Sto. Tomas has emerged as a thriving industrial hub with a land area of 10,032.38 hectares and a population of 226,772, based on the latest census. Nestled at the foot of the legendary and scenic Mt. Makiling, the city blends progress with natural beauty. Although recognized only recently as the fourth city of the province-after Lipa, Tanauan, and Batangas-Sto. Tomas is one of its oldest towns, established in 1666. Its name was given by the Dominican missionaries in honor of St. Thomas Aquinas. Sto. Tomas also contributed immensely to the pages of Philippine history, as it prides itself as the birthplace of the national hero General Miguel Malvar, the last Filipino general to surrender to the Americans.

Oct. 7, 1660

Residents of Pampanga province rose against Spanish colonizers in what became known as the Kapampangan Revolt of 1660, or the Maniago Revolt. The uprising was sparked by resentment toward the forced labor policy and the compulsory sale of native products paid under the ‘bandala,’ where payment came only in promissory notes. Leading the revolt was Francisco Maniago, a native of Mexico town, who boldly blocked the mouths of the rivers of Pampanga to cut off trade with Manila. The rebellion quickly gained momentum as Pangasinenses, Cagayanos, and Ilocanos joined the fight, and it inspired uprisings in Northern Luzon as well. The rebellion ended when the Spaniards accepted the demands of the people. The MassKara Festival held in Bacolod City is considered one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines. It showcases dancers donning carnival-inspired costumes and masks on the streets and in a stadium on the final day. The festival was born in 1980 to ease the collective grief of Negrenses following a severe economic crisis caused by the collapse of the sugar industry and the sinking of the Bacolod-bound MV Don Juan that had left over a hundred dead and missing. The festival’s masks, representing the many ‘happy faces’ of Negrenses, have since evolved into a festivity that fosters optimism, resilience, and unity-while showcasing the artistry and creativity of Bacolodnons. This year’s festivities boast a wide array of cultural and sectoral activities, including street and dance competitions, sports tournaments, talent shows, a beauty pageant and more.

Sagingan Festival (Sept. 13 to Oct. 20)

The Sagingan Festival is a celebration held in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, honoring the town’s primary agricultural product-bananas. With some 30 varieties, bananas stand as the heart and soul of Tubod’s culture. The town’s progress and heritage were also deeply intertwined with this beloved fruit. More than just a tribute to the harvest, the Sagingan Festival showcases the strength, unity, and unwavering spirit of Tubod’s locals. This year’s month-long celebration bursts with color and energy through sports competitions, beauty pageants, concerts, and fireworks displays. It also features meaningful events such as a trade fair, job fair, mass, civic parade, kasalan ng bayan (mass wedding), and an environment day celebration. -NATHALIE GRACE ADALID, INQUIRER RESEARCH