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The Universities and Colleges Athletic League (UCAL) will celebrate its eighth year by adding two more sports in a continuing expansion of its sports programs as one of the fast-rising collegiate leagues in the country.

Following the addition of volleyball, 3×3 and esports last season to its staple basketball tournaments, the league will introduce badminton and table tennis to its sports calendar when the nine-team PG Flex Linolem-UCAL @ 8 kicks off on October 9 at the Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.

Also in the pipeline is U19 basketball next season and more Olympic sports in the next gearing up to a milestone 10th year as UCAL, slowly but surely, mandates all of its member schools to parade teams across all sports for program development and competitiveness.

“We have table tennis and badminton now but all the member schools decided that before we add more, all the schools should have existing programs and competitive teams for a full-force tournament,” said UCAL chairman Horacio Lim, joined by UCAL board trustee Col. Edison Nebrija and PG Flex owner Nelson Gueverra, during the league launch Monday at the Patio de Manila.

Former back-to-back titlist Centro Escolar University will serve as host this season, eyeing a payback in men’s basketball led by champion Olivarez College after its breatkhrough title against the Philippine Christan University (PCU)-Dasmarinas in the finale.

“Bago pa lang po ako as I assume the university presidency last June pero nakalista na po lahat ng plano. Magiging involve ako nang mas malalim sa susunod na season pero syempre for this season, ang wish ay sana mag-champion ulit kami,” said CEU president and chief academic officer Atty. Danilo Concepcion, who also chairs the UCAL Policy Board.

Concepcion, however, puts more premium on the successful UCAL staging with a theme of “Rising to New Heights.”

“We look ahead to another thrilling season of UCAL, one that promises to showcase the very best of our student-athletes. It will not only be a start of the new season but also a celebration of youthful talent, teamwork and the enduring values of fair play and camaraderie,” he said.

“UCAL is rising to new heights. It challenges us to go beyond what has already been achieved. We call on our athletes to push beyond limits, aim higher, play with passion, discipline and integrity.”

After a grand opening ceremony to be graced by CEU legend Franz Ray Diaz who was picked 74th overall by Terrafirma in the PBA Season 50 draft, as well as the cororonation of Mr. and Ms. UCAL, the league will officially usher in the games with men’s and women’s volleyball on October 14 at the University of Batangas.

The much-awaited basketball season featuring CEU, Olivarez, PCU, Diliman, Immaculada Concepcion College, LPU-Batangas, MCU, PWU and University of Batangas then fires off on February 5 at the Paco Arena to headline the second-semester events.

It has been half a century since the Philippine Basketball Association played its first game in April 1975. What started out as a rebellion against the overuse of MICAA players by the BAP has become an enduring symbol of Filipino culture. As the national basketball federation abused players to the point that they could not play for their mother teams for entire years, the only way the team owners could escape was by turning pro. Basketball was not yet an open sport then, and pros were forbidden from international competitions.

The PBA has undergone so many changes in the last 50 years. From a speedy, rough and tumble league to a blueprint of professionalism in Asia. There are not that many of us who still remember those early days. Truth be told, this writer still gets approached by the children – and even grandchildren – who grew up watching the games on television with their elders. Honestly, I sometimes have mixed feelings about it when I realize their age and mine.

The league has undergone so many format changes, rules, regarding eligibility, and even scheduling. The traditional All-Filipino Conference used to be played in the middle of the year. Eventually, it became obvious that it did not allow for the availability of the best possible imports, who were playing in various tournaments overseas. With the current calendar, teams now have a much wider selection of reinforcements to meet their needs. There have been so many magnificent performances by foreign players, a few of whom have stayed or returned to give back to Philippine basketball, like Norman Black, Bobby Parks, Sean Chambers and Daryl Smith, who lived in Cebu until his untimely death after a game there in 2008. There have been two imports per team, high handicaps, and other measures to ensure parity. Some of those who have spent time here have been NBA champions to journeymen who considered the country a second home.

The PBA has had it ups and down as well, with only six teams at one point in the 1980’s, to the robust line-up of 12 franchised it has maintained. The fuel crisis of that decade did the most economic damage, forcing smaller family corporations like Crispa and Galerie Dominique to give up their teams, and even international companies like Toyota to leave the country. It took the league a while to regain its strength. By 1989, a very strong rookie draft class buoyed it up. The following year, new teams, Pepsi, and Pop Cola joined the mix. Teams have come and gone, but it has been business as usual.

Asia’s first pro league has set other historical milestones, as well. The first all-professional basketball team to compete internationally was the PBA selection in the Asian Games in 1990, pre-dating the American Dream Team. That also ended the isolationist attitude of the league as the Philippines was no longer the juggernaut of the continent. As basketball opened up to professionals, there was more reason to deploy our best players to represent the country. And they were all in the PBA.

At the end of the day, two things have continued the fill our imagination when it comes to local basketball. The rivalries and personalities of the PBA have imprinted themselves on our consciousness for generations. Many of us could list all the greats, maybe even in chronological order. Nobody can forget the likes of Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Bogs Adornado, Atoy Co and the dozens who compose the league’s all-time greatest. We have seen it all: fist fights, walkouts, even incarceration. But most of all, we have the innumerable memories: wild cheers, moments captured, the fiercest of competition, the hero worship, and all the indelible images which boosted us up when we needed heroes the most. We have learned so much about life from the PBA. Truly, it is golden, in more ways than one.

Two-time Olympian weightlifter Elreen Ann Ando is starting to become like someone she had envisioned herself to be – a legitimate medal contender in the 2028 edition of the quadrennial event in Los Angeles.

The 26-year-old Cebu native showed a glimpse of that potential by copping a bronze in the women’s 63-kilogram class of the IWF World Championships in Forde, Norway Sunday.

There, the Southeast Asian Games gold winner and Asian Games bronze medalist lifted 131kg to claim the country’s first and only medal in Forde so far.

And it could have been two bronzes had she not lost that one to Colombian Yenny Sinisterra, who had identical 231kg lift but took it on tiebreaks after being the first one to reach that mark.

Sinisterra had only 128kg in clean and jerk but had 103kg in the snatch.

Ando, who had 100kg in snatch, wound up fourth.

North Korean Ri Suk swept all three golds with a 253kg total on a 111kg lift in snatch and 142kg in clean and jerk.

Albert Ian delos Santos, who is just 19 years old in competing against older foes in the men’s 71 kg section, also achieved a milestone, registering 185 kg lift in clean and jerk that set a new world juniors record.

The call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for a National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance is as timely as it can get.

Considering the series of devastating typhoons, billions of pesos stolen by corrupt politicians and government officials through the flood control ghost projects and last week’s Bogo, Cebu earthquake, we all better go on bended knees and pray!

I support the call of the CBCP and any other religious or church group calling for prayers because our national situation feels like being caught between a rock and a hard place. On one end we have the calamities and on the other we have a growing anger and frustration with all the investigations.

Many are worried that people will either give up on legal process and turn to violence, or people will just run out of steam and give up on the Philippines.

Last week, I suggested to friends that we do a silent prayer walk interspersed with praise and worships songs similar to what God instructed Joshua and the Israelites to do around the walls of Jericho. (Joshua 6:1-5)

In summary, the Jericho march tells how God showed up, declared that he had delivered Jericho to Joshua and the Israelites.

For their part, the people had to march around Jericho once every day for six days.

On the seventh day, they were to circle around the walls of Jericho seven times and on the seventh time, the priests were to blow the trumpets while the army and the men shouted out loud! Then the walls fell, the Israelites attacked and destroyed the city.

Most people would find the account ‘fantastic’ while cynics could say it is absurd. You might even say we are not at war or attacking enemy territory. To that I quote St. Paul’s words in Ephesians 6 verse 12: ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’

‘Struggle’ means to fight, to break free against something or someone pinning us down over a period of time. It could be our mindset, eco-political transactional relationships, personal corruption or outright occult practices or inclination to omission rather than confrontation.

For the longest time, Filipinos have fought back with walk-outs, position papers, declarations, noise barrage, molotov and rocks and protest marches. But we never seem to get out of the vicious cycle.

I don’t devalue the risk, effort and sacrifice people make to express their indignation and rage. What I am suggesting is that we might get better results if we also exerted as much effort in prayer power as we do in ‘people power.’

Historically speaking, corruption, politics and abuse of power are forces that Filipinos have been overwhelmed with. It reminds me of King Jehoshapat and the people of Judah who were under attack by an overwhelming force of Moabites and Ammonites. (2 Chronicles 20)

Their chances of survival where slim or none, but instead of surrender, the king called for a fast in Judah and prayers for God to save them. All the people from every town responded.

In response, God sent Jahaziel who said: ‘Listen King Jehoshapat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s’.’

‘You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.’ (2 Chronicles 20:15 and 17)

Go figure. In Jericho they marched, silently prayed and blew trumpets. In Judah, they prayed, fasted, took up their positions in faith and watched as God annihilated their would-be invaders.

Perhaps God intentionally uses absurd or illogical methods, not for fun, but to make a point, that for him nothing is impossible, that ‘we’ did not solve the problem, God did.

Filipinos are very prayerful people. Many Catholics will soon be attending the Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi. Others pray before meals, novenas, the rosary. Christians do annual prayer and fasting during a family medical crisis or during New Year. Pinoy netizens even ask for prayers for other nations in crisis.

Why is it that we go on bended knees during our personal crisis but not ‘consistently’ for our national crisis and tragedy? Inconsistent prayers will not move long-term struggles.

This brings me to part two of the CBCP invitation: public repentance!

Many people ask, ‘Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?’ In the case of the Philippines, it is because we have relied on kanya-kanya, tapang, even entitlement, but never publicly said to God: ‘Forgive us Lord.’

In closing, I leave you with this encouragement from Psalms 37:7-11:

‘Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath.

‘Do not fret – it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them you will not find them, they will not be found.

‘But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged that the government’s investigation into flood control anomalies has implicated some of his allies and that many of those accused are likely guilty.

But Marcos made it clear: all charges must be backed by solid proof.

In his new podcast, Marcos addressed criticisms that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) was being selective in its probe.

While he is aware of pubilc calls for swift justice, the process must prevail and building airtight cases was more important than acting quickly.

‘Much of what we’ve heard are allegations. We have to prove it. You don’t want to go after people who are innocent. Now, we know many of these people are not innocent. But if you’re going to bring them to court, you must have a very strong case,’ Marcos said.

The president cautioned that rushing to file weak cases that might later be dismissed would only set back the government’s anti-corruption drive.

‘We go after the guilty ones. You know, because some of the guilty ones, they’re trying to derail the system,’ Marcos said.

Asked about the investigation’s possible impact on his political allies, Marcos said he was aware that some were already implicated.

Not for ‘political advantage’

While he did not name names, his cousin and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez has been tagged in reports as a recipient of alleged kickback funds.

‘Why would I even start such a thing if it was somehow for political advantage? The reason I brought it up and made it part of the national discourse was quite simply because this could not go on,’ Marcos said. ‘If it kept going, we would discover how deeply entrenched this entire system was.’

Marcos said corruption is not only damaging to the economy but to lives and communities.

He first raised the issue of anomalous flood control projects during his State of the Nation Address in July, triggering investigations that have since exposed widespread corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Billions of pesos are suspected to have been lost to kickback schemes involving contractors and government officials.

Among those implicated are Romualdez, former Senate president Chiz Escudero, and resigned House appropriations chair Zaldy Co, who is currently abroad.

Singer Regine Velasquez shares the sentiments of most Filipinos – a Philippines without corruption.

Regine shared a TikTok AI-generated video of a corruption-free Philippines showing a progressive country.

“Imagine a Philippines without corruption. Bullet trains, world-class cities, thriving communities, and limitless opportunities. What do you think the future could look like?” the TikTok post read.

The gargantuan task, the singer noted, is impossible with corrupt officials.

“Kung hindi ninanakaw pera natin KAYA to eh!!!!!” she said, frustration lacing in her statement.

“The thing is hindi sila marunong mahiya kahit sabihan silang magnanakaw, makapal ang mukha at isinusuka na natin sila, waley pa rin. Magtuturo lang sila ng iba pang magnanakaw hangang maubos na lang nila ‘yung ninakaw nila tapos nakaw uli,” she added.

Regine also questioned the taxes imposed on Filipinos, among which is VAT at 12%, the highest in Southeast Asia.

“In the meantime, we continue to pay taxes na pinagpaguran natin. Ano pa pwede nila lagyan ng tax ano pa!!!!! Baka paggising natin isang araw pati hangin may tax na!!!!!!” she said.

Regine shared how “helpless” she feels waiting for accountability and jail time for those proven corrupt. She also noted how little will change even if a new set of public servants will be elected or appointed. Regine hopes to see effective change even as she is in her mid-50s.

“Anong ba gagawin natin para maituwind ang baluktot na pamamalakad na ito?? At kahit iba ang ilagay natin dyan, I don’t think it will change!!! I’m 55. Konting panahon na lang ang ilalagi namin sa mundo sana man lang maabutan namin ang isang maluwaltahing pamumuhay para sa mga Pilipino,” she wrote on Instagram.

In another post on X, Regine questioned the justice system in the Philippines.

“Hay, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko. Nagagalit talaga ako. Alam n’yo kung bakit hindi natatapos ang kurapsyon?? Kasi walang consequences. Justice is selective,” she said.

Following their safe return to the country, 10 Filipino seafarers who were attacked by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden will receive assistance from the Department of Migrant Workers.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said the government would assist the Filipino crewmembers of the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Minervagratch in finding new jobs.

Cacdac assured the seafarers that they will receive their mandated benefits and entitlements under their employment contracts.

The government will also offer medical services and psychological counseling to the seafarers, he said.

Upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Saturday, the government provided financial and training vouchers to the seafarers.

John Ferriols is making a return to the PBA to be part of former teammate Jeffrey Cariaso’s coaching staff at Blackwater for the league’s 50th season.

The 14-year veteran was among the coaches who will help out Cariaso going into the season-opening Philippine Cup where the Bossing are seen as a team that could potentially make the quarterfinals with a nucleus of young talent.

‘John has been responsible for our bigs since he came over, and kailangan namin siya,’ Cariaso said. ‘We brought him on board which is really crucial for the development of our bigs.’

Blackwater is banking on Ferriols to provide tutelage to its frontline players composed of Abu Tratter, Bradwyn Guinto and Clifford Jopia.

The Davao City-native Ferriols first made a name with the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars in the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association (CAAA), which is now the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI.

He then starred with the Negros Slashers in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) before playing 14 seasons in the PBA from 2003 to 2017 with FedEx, Talk N’ Text (two stints), Alaska, Barangay Ginebra, Rain or Shine, B-Meg and Meralco.

It was at Alaska where Ferriols and Cariaso won a championship together back in the 2007 Fiesta Conference with season Most Valuable Player Willie Miller, import Roselle Ellis, coach Tim Cone and Mike Cortez, who is also a member of the Blackwater coaching staff.

Other members of Cariaso’s staff are first assistant Joe Silva, Aris Dimaunahan, Patrick Aquino, Junjie Ablan, Ryan Alba and Da Olan.-

The government’s decision to realign infrastructure budget to social aid programs risks politicization and fosters dependency among beneficiaries, former Department of Finance secretary Gary Teves said.

While supporting the reallocation of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ flood control budget, Teves urged the government to channel the funds toward programs that support children and development.

‘We disagree with the decision to realign funds to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s social aid programs or ayuda. These programs often become politicized at the local level and make people overly dependent on government aid,’ he said.

The former finance chief said sufficient learning and health care interventions during a child’s early years are vital to ensuring lifelong cognitive development, improved learning outcomes, and overall well-being.

‘Instead of ayuda, we suggest allocating these funds to interventions related to the first 2,000 days of a child such as immunization, supplementary feeding and nutrient programs in schools and communities,’ Teves added.

Among those social aid programs that received additional funding is the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations at P32 billion, still lower than what the DSWD requested at P37 billion. Meanwhile, the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program received a total of P3 billion.

Teves also recommended reducing allocations for foreign travel expenses, as well as confidential and intelligence funds, by redirecting them to more essential sectors such as tourism and skills development.

The battle for mall supremacy in the country heats up as Gokongwei-led property giant Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) gears up to unleash its own massive makeover of its shopping centers.

RLC president and CEO Mybelle Aragon-GoBio said the company is preparing to undertake a major mall redevelopment program, which is expected to be announced within the year.

‘We’re just finalizing the costings. Certainly, the more mature ones or flagship malls will be undergoing redevelopment. Watch out for it. It will be big,’ Aragon-GoBio said.

‘This will be the first of such a scale that we will be announcing. First, we intend to do one that’s of a significant scale, and then, in line with the premiumization, it will be a continuous one,’ she said.

Aragon-GoBio said the plan may entail expansion as well as a refresh of existing malls.

‘Where there is an opportunity to increase gross leasable area (GLA), then we do so. So that’s an expansion,’ Aragon-GoBio said.

‘Otherwise, it’s a redevelopment so that we’re able to command better rates. It’s also because consumer preferences are evolving. So they’re becoming more discriminating. They’re looking for more experiential offerings. So that’s what we’re trying to address through premiumization,’ she said.

RLC, the country’s second-largest mall operator, expanded its retail footprint in Mindanao with the opening last April of Robinsons Pagadian, its 56th shopping mall in the country.

Under its Vision 5-25-50 roadmap, which aims to deliver P25 billion in net income by its 50th anniversary in 2030, RLC targets bringing its mall network to 69 and increasing mall GLA by 50 percent.

Aragon-GoBio said that RLC is also keen on putting up more upscale malls following the success of Opus in Bridgetowne estate.

Since its launch in July 2024, Opus has quickly emerged as Metro Manila’s premier destination for luxury, leisure and lifestyle.

The mall features over 148,000 square meters of curated spaces across five levels.

International dining icons like St. Ali, Il Lupino Prime and Dave and Buster’s have chosen Opus for their Philippine debut.

‘We will be upgrading our existing commercial offerings. So be it new-the new malls will have better deliverables, better specifications, better tenant mixes as well. But then also, we’ll be redeveloping certain flagship malls,’ Aragon-GoBio said.

Other major developers are also aggressively renovating their existing malls.

In 2024, Ayala Land of the Zobel family decided to embark on a massive P13-billion redevelopment of its flagship malls. This initiative will see its four iconic shopping centers – Glorietta, Greenbelt, TriNoma and Ayala Center Cebu – reinvented to cater to evolving consumer preferences.

The company also announced that it is spending an additional P4.5 billion to redevelop four more malls – Ayala Malls Abreeza, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Ayala Malls Fairview Terraces and MarQuee Mall.

The redevelopment is expected to unleash the full potential of Ayala Malls’ retail space as well as enhance areas for convergence and create spaces that challenge retailers to bring their best to the Filipino consumer.

SM Supermalls of the Sy family, for its part, aims to maintain its position as the country’s largest mall developer by implementing an aggressive expansion and redevelopment program over the next five years.

SM is investing over P150 billion in 16 major redevelopments and 12 new lifestyle malls to ensure that its entire portfolio evolves into greener, smarter and more people-centered destinations by 2030.

Megaworld Corp. is also growing its leasing business by bringing its signature lifestyle mall concept to more locations, while introducing new experiences that resonate with today’s consumers.

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls will open malls and commercial projects this year at McKinley West in Taguig, Makati, Alabang West in Las Piñas and Boracay Newcoast in Aklan.