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The Small Basketeers Philippines-Passerelle Twin Tournaments organized by the BEST Center blasted off last week at the Claret School of Quezon City with 12 teams competing.

Milo sports head Carlo Sampan and Fr. Victor Sadaya, Claret School director, helped usher in the long-running competition for grade school basketball hopefuls that has been recognized in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Hall of Fame.

Vying for the SBP crown are Claret School of QC, Colegio San Agustin, La Salle College Antipolo, La Salle Greenhills, Lourdes School Quezon City and Lourdes School Mandaluyong. Competing in the Passerelle Division are Claret School of QC, Don Bosco Technical Institute Makati, La Salle Greenhills, Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, Paref Southridge School and University of Santo Tomas.

Cebuano basketball star June Mar Fajardo capped yet another dominant year by winning his record-extending ninth PBA MVP award on Sunday, October 5, during the Leo’s Annual Awards for Season 49 presented by ArenaPlus.

The 35-year-old San Miguel Beer franchise player bagged the league’s highest individual award by runaway fashion, amassing a total of 3041 points by topping the statistics (1688), media votes (855), and players’ votes (518).

In his 11-year pro career, only twice has Fajardo not walked away with the MVP trophy – during his rookie season in 2012 and in 2020 when he went down with a fracture on his right tibia and missed out completely the entire season.

When he went down with the career-threatening injury, the 6-foot-11 giant from Pinamungajan thought everything was over.

‘Nung na-injured ako, nung nabali yung tibia ko, maraming nagsabi na hindi na ako makakabalik sa PBA. Kahit ako nag-cross yun sa isip ko na baka hindi na nga ako mabakalik,’ he recalled of that grueling experience he suffered during the pandemic season.

But here he was five years after, bagging a record ninth MVP award, a feat that hasn’t been achieved in the 50-year of Asia’s oldest professional league.

He beat out Robert Bolick of NLEX (1941) and Northport’s Arvin Tolentino (1901).

Fajardo, Bolick, and Tolentino made up the Mythical 1st Team along with Calvin Oftana (TNT) and CJ Perez (San Miguel).

Meanwhile, RJ Abarrientos of Barangay Ginebra was adjudged Rookie of the Year and won over Rain or Shine’s Caelan Tiongson and Sedric Barefield of Blackwater.

The No. 3 overall pick in the Season 49 draft totaled 1971 points to the 1505 of Tiongson and 1424 of Barefield.

Former PBA greats and players attended the hour-long event led by four-time MVP Ramon Fernandez and 1995 MVP winner and Bulakan, Bulacan Mayor Vergel Meneses, while also present were former Commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios and former PBA Board Chairman and now Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Pato Gregorio.

The entire PBA Board led by Chairman Ricky Vargas and Commissioner Willie Marcial acted as award presenters.

Comprising the Mythical Second Team are Scottie Thompson (Barangay Ginebra), Roger Pogoy (TNT), Justin Arana (Converge), Japeth Aguilar (Barangay Ginebra), and Zavier Lucero (Magnolia).

Fajardo led the All-Defensive Team members together with Glenn Khobuntin (TNT), Lucero, Stephen Holt (Barangay Ginebra), and Joshua Munzon (Northport).

Munzon was also the recipient of the Most Improved Player Award, while Rain or Shine’s Gian Mamuyac was given the Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award.-PBA.ph.

Various animal welfare advocates have filed a petition before the Office of the Mayor, raising objections to portions of the Cebu City Animal Welfare Ordinance, which they described as potentially causing ‘deplorable injustice and cruelty.’

In a 12-page petition addressed to Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, the groups sought the suspension and amendment of specific provisions of Ordinance No. 2526, Series of 2019, also known as the Animal Welfare Ordinance of Cebu City.

The petitioners argued that certain sections of the measure are ‘prejudicial to the marginalized and indigent sectors, particularly to pet owners.’

Among the provisions they questioned were: Extortionate and Unwarranted Fees Imposed on Registration and Public Services and Fines for Failure to Comply; Mandatory Submission of Pets for Animal Population Control (Spay and Neuter); and Undue Prejudice Against Marginalized and Indigent Pet Owners in Favor of Pet Breeders in the Reproduction or Procreation of Companion Animals.

‘Unfortunately, it seems that there has been a vital element glaringly wanting in the crafting process of the ordinance,’ they said.

They added that adequate public consultations with animal welfare groups, stakeholders, and affected pet owners may have been excluded during the drafting of the measure.

As a result, they said, some provisions turned out to be ‘arbitrary, prejudicial against pet owners, anti-poor, utterly oppressive, and unconstitutional.’

In line with this, the petition calls for the suspension and amendment of certain provisions of the ordinance, particularly those they described as imposing ‘extortionate and unwarranted fees and fines.’

They cited Section 28 of the ordinance, titled Fees, which sets registration fees at ?200 and registration with microchip at ?600.

According to the petitioners, even the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 does not require pet owners to pay a registration fee.

‘If this is the case, then it would appear that the anti-rabies vaccine is not really free as prescribed by the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 and this Ordinance, and, as a consequence, the pet owners, notwithstanding the responsible ones, are being systematically penalized, compelled to subsidize the anti-rabies vaccine, and forced to shoulder the lucrative operation,’ their petition further reads.

While acknowledging Cebu City as a ‘progressive local government’ where 94 percent of households own pets, they said the imposition of such fees could be ‘preposterously staggering.’

To them, this constitutes a form of ’emotional blackmail’ to allegedly ‘unnecessarily’ fund the operations of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) at the expense of marginalized pet owners.

Under this section, they recommended retaining the existing spay and neuter fees for dogs and cats but urged the city to refrain from imposing additional on-the-spot or incidental charges for supplies.

The petitioners also raised concerns over Section 5 of the same ordinance, which they described as ‘utterly defective, oppressive, and discriminatory.’

According to them, the provision implies the possibility of indiscriminate mass culling of aspins (asong Pinoy) and puspins (pusang Pinoy), while favoring registered pet breeders over marginalized pet owners.

They noted that nowhere in Republic Act No. 9482, or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, does it state that spaying or neutering is a mandatory responsibility of pet owners.

‘The Cebu City Government, unnecessarily blinded with misguided overzealousness, has made it a priority the implementation of the so-called ‘Animal Population Control Program’ spearheaded by the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF),’ they said.

The petitioners urged the city mayor, vice mayor, and members of the City Council to amend provisions of the ordinance that they consider unlawful and oppressive, saying these work ‘to the extreme prejudice of pet owners, particularly the marginalized and indigent.’

The Philippines remains at a critical stage in its digital development. Connectivity underpins education, commerce and daily life, yet the country still trails its Asian neighbors in the infrastructure needed to support growing demand.

As of 2025, the Philippines has under 38,000 cell sites, short of the estimated 50,000 required to serve more than 113 million mobile users. By comparison, Indonesia operates over 121,000 sites, Vietnam around 90,000, and Myanmar has already surpassed the Philippines in tower density. This gap continues to affect the reach and reliability of mobile and internet services nationwide.

Globe’s mobile network now covers 96.13% of the Philippine population, serving more than 106 million people, though about 4.2 million Filipinos remain outside coverage. The company invested P56.2 billion in 2024, mostly for network upgrades.

Globe said its mobile network now covers a million Filipinos, giving them reliable signals for calls, internet use, and daily communication. Still, around 4.2 million people remain outside coverage, highlighting the need for continued expansion.

To address this, the telco said it continues to build and upgrade its network. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, it rolled out 487 new towers, upgraded nearly 4,000 sites with LTE, and activated 235 additional 5G sites. Today, its 5G network supports over 9.5 million devices nationwide.

The push extends to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs), where 600 operational sites are already live, with a target of 700 by year-end. Industry-wide plans between 2025 and 2028 aim to bring more than 1,000 new towers to these underserved communities.

‘Every tower we build brings Filipinos closer to opportunity, better education, stronger businesses, and more connected communities,’ said Carl Cruz, Globe President and CEO. ‘Expanding our network is how we ensure the Philippines stays competitive in Asia’s digital future.’

These efforts are backed by strong investments. In 2024, Globe said it spent P56.2 billion in capital expenditures, the bulk of which was directed toward strengthening and expanding its network.

The company said challenges remain in building new infrastructure. Lengthy permitting processes, difficulties in site acquisition, and local restrictions continue to slow down expansion. Globe has called for streamlined processes and closer coordination with stakeholders to accelerate network deployment.

Asia’s digital race highlights the importance of reliable infrastructure. Each new tower strengthens the country’s digital backbone, enabling students to access online learning, allowing small businesses to connect with markets, and helping families stay connected across the archipelago.

Globe’s ongoing projects show the scale of investment needed to close the gap and keep pace with regional neighbors. Expanding tower density and improving service reliability remain central to positioning the Philippines competitively in the digital economy.

College of St. Benilde overcame a shaky first two sets and completed a sweep of University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 28-26, 26-24, 25-18, to secure a second round seat in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup yesterday at the Paco Arena.

The Lady Blazers snatched their second win in as many outings and climbed to solo top spot in Pool D of the tournament, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.

Veteran Zam Nolasco delivered 12 points from seven attacks, three kill blocks and two aces, and her leadership kept CSB together during anxious moments in the closing stretches of the first two frames.

‘Alam namin ang sasabihin ni coach (Jerry Yee) so kami na lang ang gumawa ng talk sa isa’t isa. Yung mga lapses namin sa first and second sets siguro dahil nag-relax lang din kami. During the third set dun na namin talaga inilabas ang laro namin and gusto na naming tapusin,’ Nolasco said.

The Lady Blazers raced to an early lead in the third frame and even built a 20-14 advantage. Unlike in the previous sets, CSB maintained a safe distance from the Lady Altas to finish the match in straight sets.

Whose nerve was struck?

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro posed this question to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who resigned last week from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

Magalong had expressed surprise that he was not supposed to serve as an investigator but merely adviser to the ICI.

‘I think I struck a nerve,’ Magalong said last week, adding that he ‘may have hit too close to home.’

‘Whose nerve?’ Castro asked last Friday on One News’ ‘Storycon,’ as she urged Magalong to name names instead of making insinuations.

She maintained that President Marcos did not ask Magalong to resign, adding that her earlier announcement was merely based on what Marcos said: a review of Magalong’s dual role as mayor and ICI adviser to ensure that it would not violate the Constitution.

Castro confirmed that Magalong held a position as member of the commission, but he declined as he did not want to resign as Baguio mayor.

Magalong earlier called out Castro over a recent press briefing that supposedly cast doubt on his role at the ICC.

Castro also denied that the ICI would simply duplicate the responsibilities of other government agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Ombudsman.

‘Based on EO (Executive Order) 94, (the ICI’s mandate) is recommendatory. They will gather the documents, and they can recommend the filing of a case to the ombudsman or the DOJ,’ Castro said.

‘It will be easier on the part of the DOJ or ombudsman if the documents are already complete and they will just check it,’ she added.

Although the DOJ, through the National Bureau of Investigation, can also investigate alleged anomalies in infrastructure projects, Castro noted that these agencies also handle other cases.

‘It will be easier if there is an investigating body that is focused (on issues on infrastructure),’ she said.

Several legislators are pushing for a law that will institutionalize an independent body tasked to probe alleged anomalies in flood control and other infrastructure projects.

Proponents noted that the ICI, which was created only through the President’s EO, lacks powers as it is merely fact-finding in nature.

Castro maintained that even if it was created by the President, the ICI is an independent body and Marcos has no control over its process.

She made this remark after the ICI drew flak over its decision not to make public its hearings on the anomalies.

‘It will be up to the ICI to determine its policies since it is independent from the executive. The President will not interfere. Whatever process they decide to take will be entirely within the ICI’s discretion,’ she said.

The Philippines and Japan have committed to enhancing cooperation in agricultural trade and technology, with Manila pressing Tokyo to remove tariffs on Philippine bananas and improve market access for pomelo, and Japan seeking to export fresh grapes to the Philippine market.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Japanese Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro met on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Agriculture and Forestry Ministers Meeting to discuss trade, technology transfer and sustainability collaboration.

Tiu Laurel said the Philippines raised concerns over banana tariffs, which currently reach 18 percent, making exports less competitive. Despite remaining as Japan’s top supplier, the country’s banana market share in Japan fell to 75 percent in 2024 from 94 percent in 2023 amid increased competition from Ecuador and other countries.

Asked at a news conference if banana tariffs were addressed in the talks, Tiu Laurel said: ‘Yes… (Koizumi) promised to look into it.’

He added that while Manila continues to explore tariff-free access through the Common Effective Preferential Tariff framework, it is also considering a bilateral trade arrangement to accelerate market access.

Japan, the Philippines’ second-largest importer of agricultural and fishery products in 2024, with purchases exceeding $1 billion, is also seeking to expand exports to Manila.

Koizumi confirmed Japan has submitted a pest risk analysis and technical documents to the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry in support of its request to export fresh table grapes.

Tiu Laurel proposed expanding the existing Philippines-Japan Memorandum of Cooperation to cover fisheries, smart agriculture, mechanization, postharvest technology, pest and disease management and diagnostic laboratory upgrades.

Tiu Laurel welcomed Japan’s ongoing support under the ASEAN-Midori Cooperation Plan, aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural development and climate resilience, and thanked Japan for its recent rice donation to disaster-affected communities through the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve Tier 3 Program.

The ministers also discussed the Joint Crediting Mechanism, which encourages the adoption of alternate wetting and drying technology in rice farming to reduce methane emissions and conserve water.

The two countries also agreed to hold the second Philippines-Japan Joint Committee on Agriculture next year, ahead of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.

Japan invited the Philippines to participate in GREENxEXPO 2027, an international horticulture exhibition in Yokohama.

After an overwhelming turnout for blood donation drives, medical authorities and volunteers are now urgently appealing for human milk donors to support infants most vulnerable in the ongoing crisis following the recent 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Northern Cebu.Over the course of two days, October 2 and 3, more than 1,100 individuals responded to the call for blood, resulting in 860 units collected at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) alone.

These donations are being distributed free of charge to patients in need, in line with the Department of Health’s Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) policy.

Additional mobile blood drives organized by the DOH Subnational Blood Center for Visayas yielded another 475 units across multiple sites, including the DOH CVCHD, Zuellig Pharma Corp., WCE Balamban, and community centers in Basak-Pardo and Talisay.

A separate campaign gathered 173 more units, bringing the total to more than 1,500 units of blood collected in just three days.

The response was so strong that VSMMC announced adjustments to its blood collection schedule to manage resources and ensure optimal use.

Walk-in donors on October 3 were accepted only until 4:00 p.m., with later slots reserved for pre-registered donors.

The next blood donation activities are scheduled for October 11 and 18, with donor processing from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

With the blood supply stabilized, attention has now turned to the nutritional needs of infants-particularly those under six months old-who face heightened risks due to disrupted access to clean water and safe feeding alternatives.

Health officials said that breastfeeding remains the safest and most reliable source of nourishment in emergencies and are urging lactating mothers to consider donating breastmilk.

In an advisory issued by VSMMC, the hospital emphasized that formula milk donations are discouraged because of the increased risk of infection from diarrhea, pneumonia, and other illnesses when clean water is unavailable.

Instead, the public is encouraged to provide cooked meals and ready-to-eat food to support families and sustain lactating mothers.

For mothers who are able, the appeal is clear: donate breastmilk and help save lives.

The VSMMC Human Milk Bank Unit is accepting donations daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Interested donors may contact the following numbers for coordination: 0929-560-1087 (Human Milk Bank Unit), 0927-872-4132 (Nurse Erin), 0933-865-0904 (Nurse Anna), and 0947-643-8520 (VSMMC Breastfeeding Support Group).

The shift from blood to breastmilk underscores the evolving nature of Cebu’s disaster response-one rooted not only in emergency care but also in long-term recovery and community solidarity.

From students and senior citizens to health workers and volunteers, the outpouring of support has revealed a deep reservoir of compassion and resilience.

As VSMMC puts it, ‘Rebuilding begins not only with bricks and plans, but with the fierce, human kindness that binds us.’

As the pilot run for Package 1 of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) nears, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival inspected the Fuente Station and ordered immediate rectifications on several structural and electrical works.

According to the Cebu City Public Information Office, Archival led an inspection on Saturday (October 4), which was intended to ensure the safety, functionality, and readiness of the station.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) representative Jude Campomanes joined Archival in the inspection. Campomanes assured the mayor that his directives would be properly conveyed to their contractor for immediate action.

However, the same report stated that Archival was ‘dismayed’ over the current condition of the station after assessing that it did not meet ‘his expectations in terms of quality and workmanship.’

The mayor, who is a professional engineer, then called for urgent resolution of the issues to avoid delays and ensure that the facility meets the standards expected of a major public transport infrastructure.

Among the issues identified for rectification were the bolt foundation cut-off or covering, retightening of junction boxes, sealing of electrical pipe holes and junction boxes, replacement of missing bolt glass and cleanout cover, and water flow testing.

Archival also ordered the completion of manhole cover, and grouting, replacement of soil in plant boxes and installation of cleanout totems, adjustments in the gen-set area, including fencing and pipe elbow corrections, and design changes in electrical housing.

Archival further ordered the rectification of gutters and transition roof cleaning, replacement of rusted bench bolts, nuts, and washers, relocation of electrical pipes and uni-strut foundations, and finishing of flooring and drainage works at the station.

It was reported that the Cebu City Government, alongside the CBRT management, is now in the process of finalizing, refining, and adjusting the routes for Package 1, as the initial commencement of the dry run has been moved to a later date instead of being held on September 29, 2025.

In a previous interview, Archival remained firm on testing the CBRT stretch from South Road Properties (SRP) to Ayala. He currently recommends this route and has also requested the rectification of issues around the stations that the buses will be traversing.

‘Ako ng gi request nila nga limpyohan,’ said Archival.

This came after he personally observed electrical wires protruding along the route. He is also seeking to fast-track the installation of bollards to separate the dedicated lanes from mixed traffic.

As for the markers and directional lanes, Archival said he has also requested their installation from the DOTr and the CBRT management, adding that it is supposed to be part of their responsibility.

According to Archival, the absence of concrete markers and directional lanes can cause traffic congestion. He added that this could also be attributed to the lack of traffic analysis, which has not yet been submitted.

‘Ang importante sad naa gyuy enough nga personnel nga maka guide gyud sa rota, kay kini man gung mga sakyanan usahay mag inday-inday,’ said Archival.

With this, Archival also plans to propose designated loading and no-unloading zones to further regulate traffic outside the CBRT lanes.

‘Mao ni akong i bring up nila kay lisod kaayo nga ako kang mag sigeg analyze,’ said Archival, adding that traffic congestion during CBRT operations must be addressed.

In line with this, he also directed that the number of traffic personnel from the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) be determined to fully assess deployment of personnel along the CBRT stretch.

Moving forward, Archival said they will intensify information dissemination regarding traffic schemes but emphasized that the dry run is still not comparable to the actual commencement of Package 1.

Two foreign student-athletes rose above everyone else in exciting Week 2 of the UAAP Season 88 basketball tournaments.

After starting its campaign winless in three games, Far Eastern University finally cracked the win column, sending a timely message to the rest of the league that it is still here to contend, thanks to the heroics of the towering Mo Konateh, who dominated inside the shaded area.

Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas remained unharmed in its two-game run for the week, as Oma Onianwa made wonders on both ends for coach Haydee Ong and company, improving their record to 3-0.

Owing to their stellar performances for their respective schools, Konateh and Onianwa were named the Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Players of the Week presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the period of October 1-5.

Konateh helped the Tamaraws avoid a 0-4 hole with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting inside the arc, a sizeable 21-rebound output, three assists, and two blocks in their 64-58 triumph over Adamson University on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

While he grabbed the much-needed boards all game long, Konateh found a crucial block on Emmanuel Anabo while the Soaring Falcons were trying to claw their way back late in the game, 1:26 left in regulation, to keep the gritty Adamson side at bay.

“That’s what we expect from him [Mo Konateh] and I was glad that he really stepped up today,” FEU coach Sean Chambers said, praising the 6-foot-10 Gambian.

He averaged 16.0 points, 15.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block to win a highly contested vote among the scribes covering the collegiate beat.

Konateh, last season’s Mythical Team member, bested Ateneo de Manila University’s Dom Escobar and Shawn Tuano, La Salle’s Mike Phillips, UST’s Nic Cabañero, and UP’s Harold Alarcon for the citation that has Discovery Suites and Buffalo’s Wild Wings N’ Things as sponsors.

As Chambers coined it, the Tamaraws “had their moments” against their past opponents, including De La Salle University, to which they lost by a slim margin, 72-74, on Wednesday at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.

By then, Konateh still put up big numbers of 14 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Onianwa, on the other hand, was unstoppable as she fueled the Growling Tigresses with an 18-point, 15-rebound showing en route to a 76-62 victory over defending women’s hoops champion National University – a much-anticipated Finals rematch that ultimately became a lopsided encounter in their favor on Wednesday right inside their España campus.

During that game, the Onianwa-led UST overpowered the boards with a whopping 78 rebounds – a staggering 43 from the offensive glass, compared to NU’s 37 boards in total and six offensive.

The Nigerian center then again had a fine performance of 17 points and six rebounds in just 19 minutes of play as the Tigresses overwhelmed University of the East with a 57-point shellacking, 99-42, on Saturday to defend home turf anew.

As they currently ride on an unbeaten run, Ong is already looking forward to Onianwa matching up against Ateneo’s back-to-back MVP and Gilas Pilipinas Women standout Kacey Dela Rosa, as well as FSA Sarah Makanjoula.

“Of course, very important si Oma. At least ngayon, we’re not undersized na against kina Kacey [dela Rosa] tsaka [Sarah] Makanjoula,” said Ong.

“With the help of Oma, at least we can do one-on-one defense against Kacey or meron pa rin kaming itu-tweak sa depensa, but Oma will be a big help against Kacey sa Saturday.” the UST tactician added.

Onianwa, who had averages of 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in just over 22 minutes per game, garnered a unanimous nod over Cheska Apag of Adamson, Dela Rosa of Ateneo, Amyah Español of FEU and Tin Cayabyab of NU.