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A 21-year-old man was rushed to hospital after he was stabbed by his 15-year-old co-worker during a drinking spree Wednesday evening in Barangay Casisang, Malaybalay City.

Lt. Col. Joepet Paglinawan, Malaybalay City police chief, said the victim and the 15-year-old boy-both employees of a hardware store in Landing, Barangay Casisang-were drinking alongside colleagues when the intoxicated teenager provoked the older man to a fistfight.

The victim initially disregarded the minor’s provocations.

The situation escalated when the suspect went to his parked motorcycle, retrieved a knife, and stabbed the victim in the chest and waist.

The victim also sustained defense wounds on his right hand.

Co-workers at the scene intervened, disarmed the suspect, and alerted local authorities.

Responding elements from the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office secured the scene and transported the victim to the Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center (BPMC), where he is recovering.

The suspect, classified as a Child in Conflict with the Law (CICL), was turned over to the Malaybalay City Police Station along with the recovered weapon for processing under applicable juvenile welfare laws

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s go signal for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to submit Vice President Sara Duterte’s tax records to the Senate impeachment court was not politically motivated and is in compliance with the law, Palace press officer Claire Castro said on Thursday.

Included in the documents are tax records of Duterte, her husband Mans Carpio, and other businesses allegedly linked to the couple.

‘Kung ano ang sinasabi ng batas, kung ano ang proseso, susunod po ang Pangulo. So kung ‘yan ang sinasabi po at kinakailangan na magbigay siya ng approval sa BIR para mabuksan ang tax records nila VP Sara at ni Atty. Mans Carpio at ito naman ay para sa katotohanan. Hindi niya po ipagkakait ang katotohanan sa ating mga kababayan,’ she explained.

(The President will abide by what the law dictates and the established processes. So, if the law requires him to grant approval to the BIR to open the tax records of VP Sara and Atty. Mans Carpio-and this is done in the interest of truth-he will not withhold the truth from the Filipino people.)

Castro acknowledged that Marcos’ approval could set a precedent, allowing future presidents facing impeachment to block the release of their own tax records.

However, she maintained that Marcos’ decision was intended to help uncover the truth surrounding Duterte’s impeachment trial.

‘Hindi po magiging hadlang si Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa paglabas ng katotohanan,’ she said.

(President Marcos Jr. will not stand in the way of the truth.)

She also took the lead in commenting on allegations that it was politically motivated.

‘Sa lahat naman ng pagkakataon kapag ang Pangulo ay gumagawa ng naayon sa batas pero mayroong tinatamaan, laging sasabihin nila politicaly motivated. So saan pupunta, saan gagawi ang Pangulo?’ she said.

(Whenever the President acts in accordance with the law but affects certain people, they always claim it is politically motivated. So, what’s the President supposed to do?)

‘Kahit ano pang sabihin ng iba basta ang alam ng Pangulo siya ay tumutupad sa proseso, siya ay tumutupad sa batas, kahit siya pa ay paringgan o bigyan ng negatibong impresyon hindi matitinag ang Pangulo,’ Castro continued.

(No matter what others say, as long as the President knows he is adhering to the process and the law, he remains undeterred-even in the face of snide remarks or attempts to cast him in a negative light.)

The BIR earlier confirmed to the INQUIRER that it has already secured authorization from Marcos to produce the records.

BIR representatives submitted the records to the Office of the Clerk of Court before the 9 a.m. deadline set by the impeachment court.

No bettor won the jackpot prizes in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Super Lotto 6/49 and Lotto 6/42 draws on Thursday, July 30.

Super Lotto 6/49 draw result: 36-25-44-02-47-01. Jackpot prize: ?25.07 million.

Lotto 6/42 draw result: 26-17-23-39-15-38 Jackpot prize: ?13.37 million

The 6D Lotto winning combination was 0-9-5-7-6-1 for a top prize of about ?2.90 million, with no winner.

Minor games

3D Lotto (2 p.m.): 9-6-5 – ?4,500 prize; 162 winners

3D Lotto (5 p.m.): 2-0-9 – ?4,500 prize; 258 winners

3D Lotto (9 p.m.): 2-6-0 – ?4,500 prize; 374 winners

2D Lotto (2 p.m.): 03-14 – ?4,000 prize; 164 winners

2D Lotto (5 p.m.): 22-15 – ?4,000 prize; 76 winners

2D Lotto (9 p.m.): 17-13 – ?4,000 prize; 122 winners

Draw schedule

Lotto 6/42 draws are held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, while Super Lotto 6/49 draws take place every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of its third Airbus A350-1000, its anchor aircraft for long-haul and trans-Pacific flights.

Registered as RP-C3512, the next-generation wide-body jet arrived in Manila on Wednesday from Airbus’ delivery hub in Toulouse, France. The aircraft is part of PAL’s order for nine A350-1000s placed in 2023.

This delivery cements PAL’s position as the first and only carrier in Southeast Asia to operate the A350-1000.

In a statement, PAL said the aircraft’s arrival reinforces the airline’s ongoing fleet modernization and long-haul growth strategy.

According to the airline, RP-C3512 will make its maiden commercial flight on Aug. 5 with a nonstop Manila-San Francisco flight operating every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Starting in September, it will operate the service daily.

Six more A350-1000s are scheduled to join PAL’s fleet by 2028. The first aircraft arrived in Manila in December 2025, while the second was delivered last May.

The addition also expands the list of long-haul destinations served by the A350-1000 to cover San Francisco. The aircraft currently serves PAL’s nonstop flights to New York and Toronto.

Kadayawan Festival

As previously announced, PAL will also deploy the A350-1000 on domestic flights for a limited time in August.

To accommodate an expected surge in travel for the Kadayawan Festival, the aircraft will operate the Manila-Davao route on Aug. 13 and Aug. 16.

Even before receiving the full delivery of its 2023 order, PAL had already expanded its commitment to the A350-1000.

At the Farnborough International Airshow held in England earlier this month, PAL signed an agreement with Airbus to purchase nine additional A350-1000s, with options for five more. If all options were exercised, the airline’s A350-1000 fleet could grow to as many as 23 aircraft.

At the time, Lucio Tan III, president and COO of PAL Holdings Inc., said the ‘A350-1000 will continue to define the future of our international operations for many years to come.’

Can we be honest? No one actually enjoys lugging around a massive camera bag for shoots. And while we’re not seeing the era of the heavy camera rig ending anytime soon, the folks at vivo are making a seriously strong case for content creators to leave the hefty gear at home and trade it for the new vivo X300 Ultra.

If you’re a run-and-gun creator who is completely over packing all the extra lenses, external monitors, and finicky three-axis gimbals, here is a friendly breakdown of the serious tech packed into this slim, pocketable device vivo has co-engineered with the optic legends at ZEISS.

1. A full quartet of dedicated ZEISS master lenses

We’ve all been there: you switch from your phone’s main lens to the ultra-wide, and suddenly the colors look totally different and muddy. The X300 Ultra fixes that annoying problem by giving all four of its cameras the royal, main camera treatment.

The 14mm Ultra-Wide: This uses a 50 MP Sony LYTIA 818 sensor. Thanks to clever Multi-ALD tech, reflectivity stays under 0.1%, and its Super Blue Glass stops those annoying ghosting artifacts and flares from ruining your shots.

The 35mm Documentary Prime: Perfect for natural, human-scale storytelling, this one packs a huge 1/1.12-inch, 200 MP Sony LYTIA 901 sensor. It also features a 12-bit ADC HDR pipeline and special noise reduction, all wrapped in a premium ZEISS T* coating for crisp, clean medium shots.

The 85mm Telephoto for close-ups: This lens rocks a 200 MP resolution and ultra-sensing HP0 sensor that meets strict ZEISS APO color standards. So, your close-up shots stay razor-sharp and perfectly true-to-life without weird color fringing. With up to 60 fps AF Tracking, you also get improved focus tracking and motion-freeze performance.

The 50 MP ZEISS Ultra-Sensing Front Camera: Vloggers and selfie-shooters get the exact same premium optical treatment. It features a high-resolution 50 MP sensor capable of recording crisp 4K video at up to 60 fps. Because it shares the same underlying ZEISS color science and clarity as the rear array, you can seamlessly cut between a gorgeous B-roll sequence and a quick piece-to-camera without your footage looking mismatched.

2. True gimbal-grade stabilization (no extra gear required)

Want smooth zoom footage without the shakes? Usually, that means balancing a heavy motorized stabilizer. The X300 Ultra saves your wrists by building a massive 3° Gimbal-Grade OIS system right into the housing of its 85mm lens.

With a CIPA 7.0 rating for handling physical movement, it lets you track action or shoot handheld telephoto sequences with effortless stability. That’s one less piece of bulky gear to pack.

3. A data-rich 4K 120 FPS 10-Bit log pipeline

Beautiful glass doesn’t mean much if the software crushes your video file into mush. The X300 Ultra gives editors plenty of creative freedom with a super high-end recording suite:

10-Bit Log Video: You can shoot flat color profiles across all lenses. This keeps dynamic range high so you can easily lift shadows and recover highlights in your editing software without nasty color banding.

APV 422 Codec and ACES Workflow: It uses professional-grade video encoding to keep all that beautiful data tidy. It’s also fully compatible with the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES), meaning your B-roll will blend right in next to footage from high-end cinema cameras.

On-set 3D LUTs: Inside the all-new Pro Video Mode, you can import your own custom .cube files directly. This lets you preview your final color grade in real-time while shooting or bake it straight into the video for quick sharing.

4. Thermals and power built for long shoot days

Pushing a phone to record at 4K 120 fps is intense, but the X300 Ultra won’t break a sweat or throttle performance halfway through recording a scene.

Advanced liquid cooling vapor chamber: It sports a massive 5800 mm² liquid cooling setup under the hood to pull heat away from the processor fast.

Cold-resistant battery: It runs on a massive 6600 mAh BlueVolt semi-solid-state battery built for extreme weather, meaning it can happily keep shooting even in freezing temperatures down to -20?.

Extended low-battery life: If you find yourself running on empty in the middle of a shoot, there’s no need to panic. The phone features an optimized low-power state that gives you Instant Wake, a crucial safety net to lock in your ongoing tasks and last couple of shots and safely save your files.

5. Instant cinematic texture and professional audio

If you need to hand over a video quickly without spending hours in editing, the phone has some incredibly fun, stylized tools built right in.

Film Style preset: This instantly gives you a cinematic look by framing your shot in a wide 2.4:1 aspect ratio at 4K 24 fps. It even mimics cinematic motion blur, film grain, and subtle vignetting automatically.

Quad-Mic Audio Recording Master: It uses four dedicated microphones and smart software to cleanly capture sound. You can toggle handy presets like ‘Indoor Vocals’ or ‘Outdoor Vocals’ to isolate your voice and block out noisy backgrounds.

6. A tactile, production-ready design

Design-wise, the phone pays homage to classic analog cameras, featuring a nice, knurled texture ring around its big circular lens array. In the Philippines, it comes in a sleek Steppe Green finish that looks and feels polished.

It also pairs very nicely with Mac and iPad ecosystems for speedy file transfers. Plus, if you really want to deck it out, it supports optional custom add-ons like a SmallRig Pro Video Rig Kit (which offers a rugged phone cage and side handles) or a dedicated vivo Imaging Grip Kit for physical shutter and zoom buttons.

7. Intelligent Telephoto Extenders for incredible reach

When you are shooting from the back of a venue or trying to capture far-off action, a standard focal length just won’t cut it. Instead of relying on blocky digital zoom, the X300 Ultra achieves true long-range optical focal lengths by pairing with its dedicated, Kepler-inspired optical extenders (available for separate purchase). Just flip the Telephoto Extender switch in your camera app, and you are ready to shoot from afar.

The 200mm Equivalent Extender Gen 2: This compact powerhouse delivers a 2.35x magnification factor using a Kepler-inspired optical design. Packed with 2 groups of 15 high-transmission glass elements, it manages to squeeze all that performance into a highly portable frame measuring just 96 mm in length and weighing 153g. It’s the perfect option for reducing your setup’s size and weight for easier portability without compromising your image quality.

The 400mm Equivalent Extender Gen 2 Ultra: When you need maximum reach, this beast steps up with a 4.7x magnification factor. It features an advanced layout of 2 groups of 15 high-transmittance glass elements-including five ultra-low dispersion

elements and one glass aspherical element-specifically designed to minimize chromatic and spherical aberrations. Measuring 116 mm in length and weighing just 248g, it delivers outstanding telephoto performance to capture distant subjects with exceptional sharpness.

Pro-grade stabilization at distances: You won’t have to worry about shaky frames. Even with these extenders attached, you get robust physical stabilization. When paired with the X300 Ultra, the 200mm Extender achieves CIPA 6.5 Professional Stabilization, while the 400mm Ultra Extender holds steady at CIPA 4.5 Professional Stabilization.

Our verdict? For a long time, the unwritten rule of content creation was that you needed a massive, intimidating camera rig if you wanted your project to look polished and professional. But as technology evolves, we’re being convinced that the best camera for the job is no longer the heaviest and most expensive one, but the one that gives you the highest fidelity with the least amount of friction.

By packing uncompromising ZEISS optics, true physical gimbal stabilization, and a data-heavy 10-bit Log pipeline into a single pocketable housing, the vivo X300 Ultra doesn’t just assist your production; it’s fully equipped to run the whole show.

Whether you are shooting a cinematic travel vlog, a high-end commercial project, or a fast-paced documentary, this device proves you don’t need a massive gear bag to deliver a premium, main-camera performance.

Get the vivo X300 Ultra for Php 109,999 in vivo concept stores nationwide or online via the vivo e-store.

An 11-year-old girl was found dead following an apparent drowning incident at around 10:20 p.m. on Wednesday in Barangay Bogo, Pagadian City.

Lt. Col. Lee Eric Humpa, Pagadian City police chief, said their personnel responded immediately after receiving a report of the incident.

The victim’s lifeless body was recovered from the river and brought to her residence.

Initial investigation disclosed that the victim and her cousin had attended a dance practice for a school activity earlier that afternoon. When she failed to return home, her family, with the help of relatives and neighbors, launched a search.

Information later revealed that the two children had taken a shortcut across a river despite continuous heavy rainfall and strong currents. The cousin managed to cross safely, but the victim reportedly turned back and was swept away.

At about 10:20 p.m., the victim’s uncle discovered her body lodged against a large log, with her head trapped between rocks along the river.

The City Health Office conducted a post-mortem examination, while the City Social Welfare and Development Office provided psychosocial intervention to the victim’s cousin.

Her remains were subsequently brought to a funeral home

The Philippine economy may have lost further momentum in the second quarter, with growth slipping to another postpandemic low as stubborn inflation weighed on consumer spending and weak business confidence curbed investment.

This is according to University of Asia and the Pacific (UAandP) economists, who lowered growth forecast for the April-to-June period to 2.5 percent from the previous estimate of 2.6 percent. If realized, it would be weaker than the already subdued 2.8 percent expansion in the first quarter.

In its latest The Market Call report, UAandP said there were signs of relief in June after oil prices had eased following a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Inflation slowed to 6.4 percent from 6.8 percent a month earlier, though it remained more than double the 3 percent target of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

That respite, however, appears to have been short-lived. As the Gulf conflict enters its sixth month, renewed fighting has sent global crude prices back to more than $100 a barrel, raising costs for oil-importing economies like the Philippines.

‘Some soft recovery is underway, though persistent above-target inflation and subdued business optimism may undermine the recovery narrative,’ the economists said.

UAandP warned that the outlook remained overshadowed by what it called a triple threat: higher oil prices, an outsized minimum wage increase and severe El Niño conditions. Together, those factors are seen to push inflation beyond 7 percent again, forcing the BSP to keep monetary policy tight.

Since April, the central bank has raised its benchmark interest rate by a cumulative 50 basis points to 4.75 percent in an effort to contain inflation, though higher borrowing costs also risk further slowing economic activity.

UAandP said mounting inflationary pressures could drive long-term government bond yields higher and prompt an additional 50 basis points of rate hikes from the BSP.

Even so, it expects the local financial markets to remain largely range-bound until there is clearer progress toward peace in the Middle East.

‘Trading will likely center around second quarter earnings reports, with some leeway in store as companies signaled conservative forward earnings guidance in the thick of the Middle East conflict,’ the report said.

Sen. JV Ejercito has filed a bill seeking to exempt workers earning up to P50,000 a month, or P600,000 annually, from paying income tax.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ejercito explained he filed Senate Bill No. 2341 to amend the National Internal Revenue Code and exempt employees earning P600,000 or less annually from income tax, essentially raising the current tax-exempt threshold of P250,000.

‘This is not just a tax reform measure. It is for our middle-income earners who work hard, pay their taxes, and continue to contribute to the economy despite the high cost of living. They are the true backbone of our economy,’ said Ejercito in the bill explanatory note, which he filed on July 26.

‘Our tax system must remain responsive to the changing economic realities faced by every Filipino family,’ he added.

Citing a Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2024 Labor Force Survey, Ejercito then noted that an estimated 17.6 million full-time wage and salary workers in the private sector earn less than P600,000 annually and could benefit from the proposed measure.

Hence, pushing the amendment would ease the burden on hardworking Filipino workers and increase their take-home pay.

‘This measure primarily aims to reduce the tax burden of Filipino middle-class workers, safeguard their take-home pay, and strengthen their purchasing power,’ he said.

Furthermore, Ejercito also stressed that the proposal is not merely a temporary response to inflation but a long-term measure intended to help Filipino families.

‘Our primary objective in proposing this measure is not to offer temporary relief, but to provide Filipino families with decent take-home pay from their hard-earned income. This measure seeks to acknowledge the value of middle-income earners and address their current vulnerable position,’ the senator said.

The bill also echoes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call during his penultimate state of the nation address on Monday, July 27, to expand the coverage of income tax exemptions and ease the burden on Filipino workers amid the rising cost of living

Alex Eala marveled at the growing support she has received at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, where tournament organizers said fans have flooded them with inquiries about her matches.

Tournament chairman Mark Ein said the event has received an overwhelming number of inquiries about Eala since announcing her participation last month.

‘Over the last month, the ticketing team says at least 80%, if not more, of the requests in this tournament are about when is Alex Eala playing?’ Ein said in a story on the WTA website.

‘When you look at the amazing players here and how many great stars there are, it says something about Alex’s following,’ he added. ‘Earlier this year, our team said, this is a phenomenon that’s spreading, and we should try to get Alex to come to Washington. Having her here is honestly one of the really great things that’s already happened this year.’

The 21-year-old Eala, who advanced to the quarterfinal after beating China’s Zheng Qinwen and Canada’s Leyla Fernandez, said she was honored to learn of her impact on tennis fans.

‘I think it’s incredible. Of course, Washington, D.C. is a really big event, a really popular event. So, I mean, it makes me feel loved, what can I say? And it makes it more exciting to play here,’ she said.

Embracing the platform

As she continues to put the Philippines on the tennis map, Eala said she remains mindful of the influence that comes with her growing profile.

‘I think with the platform that I have, it’s important for me to be aware of the impact that I hold also. And I learned through bits and pieces of what people and the fans themselves tell me,’ Eala said.

‘And I understand that I represent a lot. I represent a minority. I’m the first Filipina to kind of make it at this stage in tennis. And that doesn’t just go for the Philippines necessarily, but maybe another nationality or another little girl who maybe didn’t see a pathway before that. I’m really grateful for everyone who supports me. They’re the reason I have this platform at the end of the day. And it just adds to how meaningful my job is to me. I know that brings you great joy.’

Entering the Mubadala quarterfinal, Eala admitted that she also feels pressure being a crowd favorite, but it’s all about keeping herself locked in in every match.

‘There’s definitely pressure. I mean, I’m a competitive athlete, so there’s pressure. But I think the obligation also comes to myself,’ Eala said. ‘I’m a very self-demanding person. I’m a very ambitious person. So I’m definitely happy and welcoming to everyone who wants to support me as well and go along on this journey. But I know that this is my journey first and foremost, and I have the expectations I have on myself. ‘

A Grade Six pupil was found in possession of an unloaded .38-caliber revolver inside a public elementary school in Almeria, Biliran on Wednesday, prompting police and social welfare authorities to intervene amid heightened concern over the involvement of minors in school-related incidents.

The firearm was confiscated from the pupil at the Pulang Bato Elementary School after school officials alerted personnel at the Almeria Municipal Police Station during a police school visitation at around 2:50 p.m.

Police said the school principal turned over a .38-caliber revolver without ammunition that reportedly had been taken from the child.

School CCTV footage showed that the pupil entered the school’s comfort room, where he showed the gun to another minor.

Authorities also learned during their initial intervention that the pupil and the minor were close friends.

A photograph reportedly showing the two together in the school comfort room was also considered as part of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police, however, did not disclose the identity of the other child or provide further details about the photograph.

The discovery comes just weeks after the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where two students aged 14 and 15 were arrested in connection with an attack that killed three students and injured 20 others.

Police said firearms were used in the incident, prompting authorities to strengthen security measures and coordination with schools across Eastern Visayas.

The Tacloban shooting has heightened concerns over how minors gain access to firearms and the need for schools, parents, law enforcement agencies, and local governments to work together to prevent similar incidents.

Following the recovery of the firearm in Almeria, responding police officers coordinated with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, the barangay chairman, the school principal, and the child’s parent.

After the necessary interview, assessment, and counseling, the child was turned over to the parent for appropriate diversion proceedings in accordance with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

The recovered firearm was brought to the Almeria Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition.

The Biliran Police Provincial Office said it would continue strengthening its Safer Schools Initiative through regular school visits, coordination with school administrators and local officials, and community engagement

The police urged parents, teachers, and community members to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities or security concerns involving schools to authorities for immediate verification and appropriate action.