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Don Trollano took responsibility for San Miguel Beer’s narrow 85-84 loss to NLEX that got their quest to defend the PBA Philippine Cup off to a rough start.

Trollano had a chance to save the Beermen from the jaws of defeat on Wednesday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City in the final seconds, but made an errant decision to go for a pass instead of taking a shot before the buzzer, allowing the Road Warriors to complete a comeback win. ‘That’s on me. It’s my mistake,’ Trollano said. ‘I guess I didn’t calculate how much time was left.’

The Beermen guard was actually leading San Miguel’s bid to preserve the victory with some outside shots in the fourth quarter, and had knocked down a four-pointer in the final seconds that cut the Road Warriors’ lead to one.

JB Bahio’s two missed free throws gave San Miguel a chance to take the victory, but to no avail.

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‘There were no specific instructions for me to be the first option. The only instruction was for the open man to take the shot,’ said Trollano, who finished with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting with five assists and three steals.

A silver lining is that it was only San Miguel’s first game of the conference, and there’s plenty of chances for Trollano to atone for his late-game miscue.

‘I’ll make up for it next time,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Trollano was chosen by the PBA Press Corps as its Mr. Quality Minutes for Season 49 for his impact in the Beermen’s run to the all-Filipino title. The award is equivalent to the Sixth Man of the Year.

Farm Fresh coach Alessandro Lodi was in awe of Belgian spiker Eli Rousseaux after her explosive 38-point performance in her PVL debut, but he also challenged his local players to raise their level for the Foxies to go far in the 2025 Reinforced Conference.

Losing the first set didn’t stop Rousseaux from having a rousing debut as she tallied 31 kills, four aces, and three blocks on top of 15 excellent receptions and eight digs to lift Farm Fresh past Nxled 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-21, in Pool A on Thursday at Dasmariñas Arena here. Lodi said they found not just the right player, but also the right personality to fit his young squad.

‘The good thing I did was picking not only the right player which was kind of easy to do, but picking the right person to integrate very well with these players, to understand them, to not judge them. You have to really find the right player but that’s one part of the deal and the biggest part is finding the right person,’ said the Foxies’ Italian coach.

‘Eli is the perfect person to complement this team, to work with this team, work for the others and the others work for her so we’re very optimistic for this league.’ Rousseaux, a 34-year-old former Belgium national team player, came from a gruesome ankle injury in Turkey last March and dazzled in her first PVL game.

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She thanked Lodi for trusting her and giving her the confidence that led to her major comeback.

‘ I was already really grateful the last couple of weeks being here and feeling healthy again and getting my shape back. Today I just went to this game without expectations whatsoever, to be honest. I just wanted to enjoy volleyball again,’ said Rousseaux.

‘We talked before coming here with Alessandro a lot. I feel that he trusted and helped me to get this level back, and this is something that for sure helped me to go into this game in a very positive way.’

Despite the impressive debut of Rousseaux, the Farm Fresh coach stressed that they can’t rely on the Belgian super scorer alone.

‘She cannot save us, you know? She can’t carry us. This is not fair to expect and we would never expect us. Yes she is gonna be the top scorer but we need more people to contribute, we need to lower her load because we want her to finish this league alive, both for performers’ sake and also for the rest of her career, it’s not gonna end in November. Great job for her,’ said Lodi.

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima recalled her harrowing experience while in detention at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center – where she became a victim in a case of hostage-taking – saying she will forever be thankful for the prayers and support she received.

In a statement on Thursday, De Lima said the hostage-taking incident occurred three years ago – a near-death experience she thought she would not survive.

‘Three years ago today, I faced a near-death hostage-taking – a harrowing experience I didn’t think I would survive, as the hostage-taker was already determined to kill me and then to kill himself after. Sa puntong ‘yon, ipinagpasa-Diyos ko na ang lahat,’ de Lima said.

‘I thank God for saving my life. Laking pasasalamat ko rin sa PNP security force na sumagip sa aking buhay,’ she added.

According to de Lima, this incident makes her even more committed to public service and making the most out of this opportunity.

‘As I value life even more now, I have become even more deeply committed to using this blessing from the Lord as an opportunity to make the most of it – for my loved ones, for the Filipino people and for humanity,’ she said.

‘Habambuhay rin po akong magpapasalamat sa inyong suporta, malasakit at pagdarasal: mula nang magsimula akong maglingkod sa pamahalaan, sa pinakamabigat na pagsubok ng aking buhay, hanggang ngayon na muli po ninyo akong binigyan ng pagkakataong makapagsilbi sa bayan. Tuloy ang laban. Hindi ko po kailanman sasayangin ang inyong tiwala,’ she added.

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De Lima, who was detained at the PNP Custodial Center until November 2023, was taken hostage in October 202 by detainee Feliciano Sulayao Jr., who along with his three other fellow inmates tried to escape the facility.

Sulayao and inmates Arnel Cabintoy and Idang Susukan ganged up and stabbed an officer. Another officer saw the incident and shot Cabintoy and Susukan.

After this, reports said Sulayao ran towards de Lima’s cell, holding her hostage. As negotiations between the officers and the hostage-taker appear to fail, police were then forced to neutralize the suspect, saving de Lima. The former senator, a staunch critic of the past administration, said that she felt that she was going to die because Sulayao told her that since his companions were dead, he might as well die in the custodial center and take de Lima with him. De Lima did not suffer any wounds except from the chest pains and a knife mark as the hostage-taker apparently pressed the knife against her chest.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas yet again reduced its key policy rate by 0.25 percentage point. It is now at 4.75 percent.

The BSP’s decision was contrary to expectations, even as inflation in the Philippines remained below the BSP’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent The BSP said potential electricity rate adjustments and possible increases in tariffs on rice imports could add some upward pressures. Nonetheless, the risks to the inflation outlook are limited as price pressures are expected to ease.

‘The Monetary Board likewise noted that the outlook for domestic economic growth has weakened,’ the BSP said in a statement. ‘This outlook reflects in part the impact on business confidence of governance concerns about public infrastructure spending. Indications of moderating demand also reflect lingering uncertainty from the external environment.’

The increase in consumer prices registered at 1.7 percent year-on-year in September. This was the seventh straight month that inflation printed below 2 percent.

Also, inflation averaged at 1.7 percent from January to September.

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. earlier said that at 5 percent, the benchmark interest rate was at the ‘Goldilocks’ level. This means it is ‘just right,’ neither too high nor too low. Last week, an Inquirer Business poll of 16 analysts showed that 10 of them expected the BSP to keep the policy rate unchanged.

The central bank’s latest move follows three consecutive policy setting meetings when the key rate was lowered by a quarter of a percentage point each time. These meetings were held in April, June and August. INQ

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is stepping up programs to support micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs), which make up over 90 percent of all registered businesses in the country but continue to face low productivity and lack of financing. DTI-Bukidnon provincial director Famelah R.D. Villanueva told reporters that while MSMEs contribute 16 percent of national employment, many remain constrained by outdated technology and limited access to affordable credit.

To boost productivity, DTI provides Shared Service Facilities (SSF) that give cooperators access to modern equipment.

After two years of sustained use, these facilities may be awarded to them free of charge.

Other agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), and PhilMech, also extend equipment support, particularly to agri-based enterprises, Villanueva noted.

On financing, Villanueva admitted many micro-entrepreneurs remain ‘non-bankable’ due to a lack of formal records, prompting them toward exploitative informal lenders. To address this, DTI’s financing arm-the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp.)-offers flexible and more affordable loan schemes, with offices in Malaybalay City and Maramag, and applications accessible online or via Negosyo Centers.

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Bukidnon has 23 Negosyo Centers covering all cities and municipalities except Malaybalay, where the DTI provincial office currently serves as the main hub. Plans are underway to open a dedicated Negosyo Center in the city.

‘MSMEs are the backbone of our economy. For them to thrive, we must ensure access to the right tools, technologies, and financing,’ Villanueva said./coa

The Supreme Court (SC) will conduct an inventory of all projects within the judiciary that may have been contracted to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

This move comes amid the government’s ongoing probe into anomalous infrastructure projects across the country, acting Chief Justice Marvic Leonen said on Thursday during the oath-taking of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla. In his message, Leonen said the SC is already implementing reforms to ensure integrity within its ranks, noting that the Court’s public email address ([email protected]) is open for reports on any corruption involving the judicial body.

‘The Court en banc has also agreed to create a working committee to inventory any and all projects within the judiciary that might have been contracted to and undertaken by the DPWH if any and to report soonest to the chief justice as [to] their status,’ said Leonen.

He then emphasized in the same message that the judiciary will fulfill its part in supporting Remulla in his role as Ombudsman.

‘Remember always: While we enjoy these temporary titles, we should do what we should,’ Leonen told Remulla.

‘We trained for this. Your life, all your challenges, brought you to where you are now. I ask of you, do not fail our people. They continue to suffer,’ he told the new ombudsman. /apl

Thunderstorms are expected to affect parts of Cavite, Bulacan, and Quezon, bringing moderate to heavy rains, lightning, and strong winds on Thursday afternoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued a thunderstorm advisory at 1:24 p.m., warning that the weather effects are expected within the next two hours.

In Quezon, the affected areas will be Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Agdangan, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Pagbilao, Sampaloc, Tayabas, Lucban, Lucena, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Calauag, Lopez, General Luna, Catanauan, Macalelon, Mulanay, San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Buenavista, Perez, Alabat, Quezon and Mauban. Meanwhile in Bulacan, the towns of Marilao, Obando, Meycauayan, San Jose del Monte, Santa Maria, Bocaue and Bulakan are covered by the advisory.

Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal and Batangas are already experiencing similar conditions which may continue within the next two hours and affect nearby areas.

In a separate post, Pagasa reported that Tropical Storm Nakri (international name) has now entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was locally named Quedan.

The agency earlier said that Quedan will not have a direct effect on the country’s weather and sea conditions.

Janella Salvador and Klea Pineda sent fans gushing as the pair shared photos of them being cozy with each other – which some deemed as an apparent confirmation of the actresses’ rumored romance.

Salvador initially shared through her X page on Wednesday, Oct. 8, her photos with Jasmine Curtis-Smith, her and Pineda’s co-star in the queer film ‘Open Endings.’

In the snaps, Salvador and Curtis-Smith are in an embrace at what appears to be a public establishment, with the former seemingly drawing nearer the latter’s face to kiss her on the cheek.

‘Ugh, fine. I’ll stop gatekeeping these photos. [I love you],’ Salvador captioned the post, tagging Curtis-Smith. Pineda chimed in on the thread and shared two photos of her and Salvador in which they can be seen in a much tighter embrace and with them taking turns on kissing the other on the cheek.

‘Sige na nga ako din,’ Pineda said. (Fine, I’ll do the same.)

Salvador then reposted the photos, adding the caption, ‘Ay sus, inunahan ako.’

Netizens flocked to the post, expressing curiosity over the real score between the pair.

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ay sus inunahan ako https://t.co/7x212ZgruX

– Janella Salvador (@superjanella) October 8, 2025

Just last September, Salvador and Pineda were also seen enjoying a concert together.

While the pair have remained mum on their relationship status, Salvador hinted, ‘Kung ano nakikita niyo, ‘yun na ‘yun.’ /ra

Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center has reported an influx of patients following an earthquake that struck La Union on Thursday morning.

‘Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) Emergency Room is experiencing a great influx of patients after the earthquake,’ the Baguio City Health Services Office announced around 1 p.m. in a Facebook post The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) first raised the earthquake’s magnitude to 4.8 before downgrading it to 4.4. Phivolcs noted that the epicenter was located three kilometers east of Pugo, La Union, at 10:30 a.m.

Phivolcs also said that Reported Intensity IV was felt in Pogo and Tubao in La Union and Baguio City.

‘Anyone seeking medical services, first aid, or counseling may go to the Baguio City Health Services Office (BCHSO) located at Teodora Alonzo Street, or to the sixteen (16) District Health Centers within the city,’ the health services office noted. The following district health centers are:

Asin District Health Center

Atab District Health Center

Atok Trail District Health Center

Aurora Hill District Health Center

Campo Filipino District Health Center

Engineer’s Hill District Health Center

Irisan District Health Center

Loakan District Health Center

Mines View District Health Center

Pinsao District Health Center

Quezon Hill District Health Center

Quirino Hill District Health Center

Scout Barrio District Health Center

Pacdal District Health Center

Lucban District Health Center

City Camp District Health Center /mr

More than 19,000 reports have been received to date by the Sumbong sa Pangulo website since its launch on August 11, according to Palace press officer Claire Castro.

As of 9 a.m. Thursday, Castro reported that 19,729 reports had been submitted through the website launched by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. nearly two months ago. ‘When there are no more reports and it’s over.nothing is coming in, maybe it can be closed,’ she also said.

Marcos unveiled the Sumbong sa Pangulo website, allowing the public to submit comments, suggestions, or feedback on flood-control projects in their areas. Marcos said he will personally review each report.

The initiative is part of the government’s investigation into anomalous projects that contributed to flooding in Metro Manila and several other regions during the rainy season. /mr/abc