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The construction firm cofounded by resigned Ako Bicol party list Rep. Elizaldy Co and another owned by the Discaya couple are among the companies included in complaints related to bid rigging and manipulation that were referred by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the government’s antitrust body for the possible filing of cases.

In its referral to the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), the DPWH claimed that St. Timothy Construction Corp., Wawao Builders, IM Construction Corp., SYMS Construction Trading, and officials and employees of the DPWH in Bulacan, as well as Sunwest Inc. and officials and employees of the DPWH regional office in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) may have violated the Philippine Competition Act (Republic Act No. 10667), which was signed into law in 2015.

The PCC was created in January 2016 to implement the national policy of prohibiting anticompetitive agreements, abuse of dominant position and anticompetitive mergers and acquisitions.

As the antitrust authority of the country, the PCC is mandated to conduct inquiry, investigate, and hear and decide on cases involving violations of the PCA, its implementing rules, and other competition laws.

Investigations on possible violations of the PCA can be triggered by a verified complaint, motu proprio or PCC’s own initiative to look into a case, or a referral by a concerned regulatory agency.

Top contractors

Co is a cofounder of Sunwest while St. Timothy is owned by the family of contractors Pacifico ‘Curlee’ and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya. These companies were among the top 15 construction firms that bagged the most number of flood control projects from the government from 2022 to 2025.

‘The referrals include inspection reports, bid documents, and other relevant documents that may support the PCC Competition Enforcement Office’s (CEO) ongoing preliminary inquiry into possible bid-rigging and collusion among contractors,’ the PCC said in a statement on Friday.

The DPWH said officials and employees of the agency’s Mimaropa office were also allegedly involved in the case since ‘despite irregularities surrounding flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro, regional officials failed to act and, instead, continued the projects awarded to Sunwest, Inc.’

This was on top of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s (IFI) move, asking the Office of the Ombudsman to study the filing of graft complaints against Co and 17 others, including DPWH officials and Sunwest, over an allegedly substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro worth P289.5 million.

Co, the former chair of the House appropriations committee in the 19th Congress from 2022 to 2025, was accused of getting billions of pesos in kickbacks by contractors and DPWH officials who testified in congressional inquiries into flood control projects. Co had repeatedly denied these allegations.

In a separate complaint, the DPWH cited Wawao, IM Construction, SYMS, St. Timothy and officials and employees of the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office over alleged irregularities in the procurement of several flood control projects in the province unearthed during congressional hearings.

According to the agency, preliminary evidence, including the admissions of Curlee Discaya and former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo before the Senate blue ribbon committee, ‘also suggests collusion among the involved contractors and officials’ which violates the Section 14, Chapter III of the PCA which prohibits certain anticompetitive agreements between competitors.

Fines

Christian Loren de los Santos, director of the PCC CEO, said they were gathering evidence, such as bid submissions and possible communication exchanges, to determine whether government officials and employees and the contractors violated the law.

‘The referrals follow testimonies presented during recent congressional hearings on the flood control controversies, which may likewise be used as evidence in the PCC’s investigation,’ the commission said.

Under RA 10667, entities that are found guilty of engaging in anticompetitive agreements such as bid-rigging may face administrative fines that vary based on the number of offenses committed.

A fine of up to P100 million may be imposed on the first offense. For the second offense, the fine ranges from P110 million to P275 million.

For the third and subsequent offenses, the fine increases to a range of P165 million to P275 million.

Entities that enter into any anticompetitive agreement may face imprisonment of two to seven years and pay a fine of not less than P50 million but not more than P250 million.

‘When the entities involved are juridical persons, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on its officers, directors, or employees holding managerial positions, who are knowingly and willfully responsible for such violation,’ the law states.

According to the PCC, individuals or entities involved in cartel conduct, including bid-rigging, price fixing, market allocation or output restriction, may apply for its leniency program.

Through this initiative, the antitrust body offers immunity from suit or a reduction of administrative fines for voluntarily disclosing their participation in anticompetitive agreements and cooperate fully with its investigation. Full immunity, however, is granted to only one applicant per violation.

Prominent cases

PCC has handled some prominent cases in the past.

It was involved in the review of PLDT and Globe Telecom’s joint acquisition of San Miguel Corp.’s telco unit in 2016 for almost P70 billion.

However in July 2016, PLDT and Globe sued the antitrust body for launching a review and sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) or writ of preliminary injunction to stop the PCC’s investigation. The TRO was issued on Aug. 26, 2016. In February 2017, the Court of Appeals issued a rare gag order against PCC at the request of PLDT.

In May 2017, PLDT and Globe Telecom completed their acquisition of SMC’s telco assets, making their final joint payment to SMC while defying the competition watchdog’s request to hold off until the courts make a final ruling.

In August 2019, the PCC signed a memorandum of agreement with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to collaborate on investigations that involve power sector players.

The PCC was reportedly assessing whether power plant outages were valid ‘unplanned breakdowns’ that inevitably affected supply conditions or were actually ‘manipulated’ in order to raise electricity prices.

It earlier said it would look into allegations of possible collusion or abuse of dominance of certain power generators following ‘simultaneous shutdowns that may have caused an artificial supply shortage and consequently a hike in electricity prices.’

In September 2024, the PCC CEO charged a group of vegetable traders for entering into anticompetitive agreements for the supply of imported onions in the Philippines.

As the PCC’s investigative and prosecutorial arm, the CEO claimed that these vegetable traders, despite being competitors, conspired to manipulate the onion market in the Philippines from 2019 to 2023. The traders, who imported onions from China, the Netherlands, and India, allegedly worked together to control prices and limit competition. -WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH

Here we go: it’s a familiar story, isn’t it? Tell me if you have heard this one before. When a promising band bursts onto the scene with what could be a viral moment, the cynical among us wait for the bubble to burst, for the fleeting fame to fade into a footnote. But when Mexico’s Villarreal sisters – Daniela (guitar and vocals), Paulina (drums and vocals), and Alejandra (bass) – made waves with their absolutely amazing cover of Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’ back in 2014, something was different about them, and it got people wondering more about this ‘cover band’ and if they really were one, because there are a ton of them on YouTube and other platforms. But something kept making me and millions of other music aficionados rewatch their cover videos.

There was something obviously intangible there. There was that all-elusive ‘spark’ and fire in these sisters right from the get-go. They were not a mere talented cover band; they were not just doing it for attention and a chance to show everyone what they had as a band. People noticed right away that something was brewing here with the three Villarreal sisters. And from that pivotal moment on, people were put on notice to keep an eye out for them in the near future as they continue to develop, refine, and hone their musical skills and evolve out of being labeled a ‘cover band.’

Indeed, I have seen and heard of bands like this before, we all have, but this wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan gimmick; it turned out to be a promise. What promise, you ask? It was a promise that rock and roll, in its rawest, most unadulterated form, was not just alive but thriving in the hands of three prodigiously talented teenagers, out not only to make a name for themselves but determined to carve their own path along the way in an already overcrowded music industry.

Fast forward a decade, and The Warning are not just the real deal – they are a reckoning. For anyone who thinks modern rock lacks substance, soul, or shredding, a deep dive into their discography is a mandatory – and magnificent – re-education as to why they are the real deal.

What sets The Warning apart from the ‘noise,’ based on the more common perception of most, without really listening? It always goes back to the fundamentals, executed with a level of precision and feeling that is rare. While many bands rely on polished studio wizardry from their sound engineers for radio airplay, rotation on music channels, and streaming, The Warning’s power is in their musicianship and their profound, intuitive connection as siblings. They are a perfect example of that. As three siblings operating as one cohesive, well-oiled machine, they bulldoze everyone else of their generation around them with a craftsmanship that has become second to none.

As I take a moment to process everything. I have not seen a rock band like The Warning in a very long time; in fact, the last time I ever saw a band of siblings that were this effective, tight-knit, and as extremely coordinated as a unit was The Corrs, and I did not mention Oasis, because it has to be compared to at least three siblings in a band, but the music of The Corrs brand is not something I would voluntarily want to listen to. On the other hand, The Warning is something I am all for, because they are unique, distinctive, and almost incomparable to anything else out there.

Now I am surprised, even a bit shocked, as to why we have not heard more from them on our side of the world. Realistically and logically, The Warning should be at the top of everyone’s short list of must-listen-to rock bands now. Let your discerning ears be your guide and judgment.

Now, here is my little breakdown on the musical profile of each member of The Warning:

Let’s start with Paulina, the percussive engine of the band. Even Metallica’s Kirk Hammett noticed her talent when she was just a pre-teen, exclaiming that ‘the drummer kicks maximum ass!’. From the complex rhythms of ‘Money’ to the frenetic energy of their live performances, her drumming is a force of nature – technically brilliant, dynamic in sound, and ferociously powerful.

Daniela’s guitar work is a revelation, channeling classic influences while forging a path all her own. Her riffs are heavy, her solos are soaring, and her stage presence is nothing short of commanding, which makes her the perfect frontwoman.

Alejandra, on bass, provides the thunderous backbone, holding the sonic fortress together with a powerful and intricate low end. Her bass lines are more than just rhythmic; they are melodic and dynamic, proving that a bass guitar can be as effective as a lead instrument in its own right.

Collectively, and beyond their instrumental technical prowess, The Warning write songs with a maturity that belies their age. Their lyrical themes aren’t just about the usual relationships, breakups, and rebellion; they tackle complex topics like themes of social unrest with raw, unfiltered, and honest emotion. Some of my favorite tracks like ‘Choke,’ ‘Error,’ and ‘Dust to Dust’ showcase a songwriting depth that connects with their dedicated loyal fan base, called the ‘Warning Army,’ on a deeply personal level.

Besides that, these three sisters as a band are important for several reasons because, in an era of masterfully manufactured pop, flash-in-the-pan bands, and fleeting viral trends that amount to nothing in the long run, The Warning offers a refreshing return, in fact, more like a reminder, to the core of what makes rock music great, or any full band, if you want to call it that, when it is in the hands of the most capable of musicians.

Without question, Paulina, Daniela, and Alejandra are legitimate ‘old school’ in spirit musicians, they not only know the fundamentals but also the most advanced playing techniques (again that is important because it covers all aspects), and they are unapologetically fierce about it, proving to be committed to their craft, and possess an almost unheard of evolution from raw (cover band)-to-premiere (signed to two major record labels) talent in this modern era of mainstream music.

In short, to put it simply, The Warning is not manufactured. They were not created in a recording studio or put together by a team, but they were real musicians to begin with. It’s not like: ‘Ms. Showgirl’: Taylor Swift, haha.. Just saying.

So, if you’re a classic rock or even a hard rock fan lamenting the state of abysmal modern music or a younger listener searching for something with genuine grit, bite, and substance, the time to listen has arrived. Take note: The Warning has been around for a decade already, but they still feel brand-new, and yet each time I revisit their music and check out any of their new tracks, watch their live concerts, and listen to their brand-new albums, they only keep on improving by leaps and bounds, and that is why it is best to no longer wait around; you’ve been warned. No pun intended. Give The Warning a fair chance, and prepare for a rock-and-roll revelation through their songs.

Lastly, before I forget, I dedicate this all-out rock and roll piece to all the ‘Swifties’ out there!

May ‘The Warning’ be with all of you. Haha.. /ra

The Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on alleged flood control anomalies set for next week has been cancelled, the committee’s chair and Sen. Ping Lacson confirmed Saturday.

In a Viber message, Lacson said he already informed Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III of the cancellation ‘until further notice.’

According to Lacson, he initially scheduled a hearing on Wednesday, October 8, upon the request of Sen. JV Ejercito to summon former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa regional director Gerald Pacanan.

Pacanan was included in 10 DPWH officials who received a show-cause order from Secretary Vince Dizon to explain their reported lavish lifestyle and involvement in substandard projects.

‘To maximize the discussions, I checked with the DOJ if the supposed ‘tell-all’ affidavit/s of the Discayas were already available. Corollary to that, I also checked with the office of the executive judge of Manila RTC if they have concluded the investigation on the possible violations of the notarized document involving TSgt Guteza and Atty Espera,’ Lacson likewise said in the message.

The senator said both of the affidavits and the notarized document would not be ready within a week.

‘Having been informed that both would not be ready within one week, not to mention that the BRC hearing will conflict with the budget and CA hearings, I informed SP Sotto of the cancellation until further notice,’ said Lacson. /mr

The delegates of the 2025 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant did not just stop at packing relief goods in their effort to help those affected by the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that rocked the province on Sept. 30.

After volunteering to help pack goods at the Cebu Province Warehouse for two consecutive days, the ladies went to three towns in the northernmost tip of the island to deliver not just aid, but to provide cheer to the people.

Loaded in two buses, and accompanied by trucks carrying relief goods, including water and uncooked rice, 32 of the 43 delegates to this year’s competition rolled out their mission to Daanbantayan, Medellin, and San Remigio.

Miss Asia Pacific International Executive Director Jacqueline Tan-Sainz told Inquirer Entertainment in an interview at the covered court of Barangay Poblacion in San Remigio that the three towns were strategically chosen.

‘We did a research, and Bogo is really popular in terms of media, in places hit by the earthquake. But all the northern parts of Cebu were hit equally. So these are the areas not reached by help, so we really prioritized these areas,’ she explained.

At the chapel of a small community in Daanbantayan where several families are taking shelter after the earthquake, the ladies met a large group of residents.

There, they played with the children, comforted their parents and grandparents, and handed out aid. Little boys and girls flashed huge smiles as they approached the delegates for hugs.

The ladies then proceeded to the municipal hall of Medellin to deliver a truckload of goods, which still included gallons of potable water and sacks of uncooked rice.

In San Remigio, they personally handed out bags of relief goods and gallon-bottles of drinking water to the residents, most of whom still do not have access to potable water.

Belgian beauty Selena Ali, second runner-up in last year’s competition, joined the ladies, and offered assistance to her compatriot Jana Janssens, who was in crutches after sustaining a minor injury during a commotion when the earthquake struck.

‘I believe it’s the right thing to do, to start giving to the people back and helping. Pageants are not about only beauty and about competing on stage. But it is about our hearts, and showing that we care about people. So it’s great that we can do this instead of our normal activities. And it feels amazing to be helping all of the victims of the earthquake,’ she told Inquirer Entertainment.

Ali said she became emotional when she saw the devastation caused by the earthquake on the houses and other structures, and the people on the streets begging for food and water.

‘It’s something that we only see in movies. And normally I don’t go through this myself. It’s heartbreaking to know that people lost their homes. But still that’s something the Filipino mindset is all about. The people are still smiling when they see us. And it’s so amazing that there’s so much love even in these hard times,’ she shared.

The Miss Asia Pacific International organizers opted to ditch all the planned activities prior to the final competition, and realigned the pageant to serve as a vehicle for relief missions.

The earthquake halted the pageant’s benefit gala night on Sept. 30 just as the ceremonies were about to close. It happened on the delegates’ first day in the province. The coronation night will still push through at the Cebu Coliseum on Oct. 8. /ra

The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is stepping up safeguards when handling government transactions, vowing closer scrutiny of cash withdrawals as a flood control probe widens.

DBP president and chief executive Michael de Jesus said the state-run lender had moved to shore up safeguards at front-line units that handle government transactions, instructing them to exercise ‘more vigilance and prudence’ when red flags emerge, particularly those triggered by adverse media reports.

He added that the bank is also exploring new monitoring scenarios to broaden its ability to detect other cash-based transactions.

‘The Bank is primarily focused on operationalizing compliance . specifically on the setting of additional layers of controls and requirements, which extends to all types of customers and transactions, including those involving government agencies and offices,’ de Jesus told the Inquirer.

‘We shall also be undertaking a series of education and awareness campaigns on these recent regulatory issuances to sustain heightened level of compliance culture within the organization,’ he added.

The stricter stance comes as banks face growing pressure to show they can detect and block suspicious transactions.

This, after congressional hearings featured testimonies describing vast sums of money being withdrawn in cash and allegedly funneled to lawmakers tied to irregular flood control projects.

Photos of stacks of banknotes-presented as evidence of kickbacks-have fueled public outrage and sparked protests in the capital last month.

LandBank claps back

In one session, senators grilled contractor Sally Santos, who admitted withdrawing P457 million in cash over just two days from a Land Bank of the Philippines branch in Bulacan.

Santos, owner of Syms Construction Trading, is among several contractors accused of channeling state funds into the scheme.

LandBank, meanwhile, ‘strongly refuted’ any insinuations of irregularity in its handling of government contractor accounts, stressing that all questioned transactions had complied with mandated procedures.

LandBank said the funds were legitimate government allocations under the annual national budget law, not private or unverified sources. Therefore, it argued that the bank, ‘or any other financial institution, has no legal authority to block or question duly appropriated government disbursements.’

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has launched its probe into potential vulnerabilities of concerned banks in relation to transactions involving flood control projects.

The review, it said, was aimed at determining the scope of any lapses and holding lenders accountable where shortcomings are found.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has authorized the importation of onions, carrots and broccoli in small quantities to alleviate rising food prices due to weather disturbances.

On the sidelines of the 47th Meeting of the Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA has observed significant price spikes in certain agricultural goods based on their recent monitoring.

Tiu Laurel said the price of red onion, for instance, increased to as much as P140 to P160 per kilogram (kg) about one or two weeks ago, ‘which is kind of too much.’

‘I have a feeling that the remaining local are being held back a bit [to maximize profits], so that’s why I ordered silently to import last week,’ Tiu Laurel said.

‘We are now addressing that and hopefully inflation will stabilize . as we have already ordered the importation of white onions, red onions, carrots, broccoli to augment the supply disruption due to storms, rains and floods,’ he said.

Before harvest

The agriculture chief said he allowed the entry of 3,000 to 5,000 metric tons (MT) of red onions until about one month before the harvest season for this commodity starts in February.

As for carrots, Tiu Laurel said the DA allowed the importation of ‘a few hundred tons’ to assess the situation, as prices have surged as well. These can come from China and the Netherlands.

‘The importation of carrots from China is done on a trial basis. It is the first time we have allowed it. Carrots from New Zealand and Australia have been allowed for a long time, but prices are quite high,’ he told reporters.

As of Friday, the farm sector incurred P2.93 billion in losses, according to the DA’s latest bulletin on the southwest monsoon (‘habagat’) and tropical cyclones Mirasol, Nando and Opong.

The weather disturbances damaged 213,164 MT of agricultural produce in 84,267 hectares of land, mostly rice and high-value crops.

Per the DA’s price monitoring of Metro Manila markets, carrot retailed from P200 to P300 per kg as of Sept. 30, higher than last year’s P80-P160 per kg.

The Filipino musical film ‘Song of the Fireflies’ will have separate screenings at the Soho International Film Festival and the Newport Beach Film Festival in the United States.

The movie is competing under the World Feature Film category at the Soho Film Fest in New York. It is set to be screened on Oct. 11.

‘We’re very excited and thankful to be part of this year’s Soho International Film Festival,’ said film director King Palisoc. ‘We hope the audience gets to experience the magic in the film the same way we did while making it.’

The ‘Song of the Fireflies’ will also be showcased at the Newport Beach Film Festival in Orange County, California, on Oct. 22, as part of the International Spotlight official selection.

Among those who will be attending the screenings is cast member and producer Rachel Alejandro.

‘We invite the Filipino community in New York, New Jersey and Southern California to come out and support ‘Song of the Fireflies’ which celebrates Filipino excellence in singing and music,’ she said.

‘Truly, music and singing are our ‘Pinoy Superpowers’ as proven by the back-to-back wins of Sofronio Vasquez III in ‘The Voice’ and Jessica Sanchez in ‘America’s Got Talent,’ she added.

Just last May, the film was recognized at the 58th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival where it was given the Platinum Remi Award. It won big as well at the 2025 Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) in March, clinching five accolades.

The movie is also one of the seven Filipino films that vied to represent the country in the Oscars.

Aside from Alejandro, other cast members include Morrisette Amon, Noel Comia Jr. and Krystal Brimner. The ‘Song of the Fireflies’ also has scheduled local screenings on Oct. 11, 12, 17 and 18 at the Ayala Museum. /ra

Net satisfaction in President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos (PBBM) turned slightly positive in June, from being slightly negative, for the first time in his term, the previous April-see ‘Second Quarter 2025 Social Weather Survey: Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s net satisfaction rating rises to +10 in June 2025 from -10 in April 2025’ (www.sws.org.ph, 9/30/25), which has all the numbers cited here.

A Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll asking for public satisfaction with an official uses the phrase ‘nasisiyahan sa paggawa ng kanyang tungkulin’ (satisfied with the performance in her or his function), with answer-choices of very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied. The net score is the sum of the favorable, minus the sum of the unfavorable, answers.

Net +10 is the lower end of the 20-point band that SWS calls ‘moderate,’ and -10 is the upper end of the 20-point band called ‘poor.’ Any single-digit score is ‘neutral,’ whether positive or negative, since it’s statistically similar to zero. Thus, PBBM got one ‘poor’ grade on his scoresheet before the middle of his term, and recovered from it quickly.

The history of satisfaction ratings. For comparison, the lowest net satisfaction score of former President Corazon Aquino was +7, in November 1990 and April 1992. Former President Fidel Ramos had a +1 in October 1995 and a +2 in December 1995. Former President Joseph Estrada had a +5 in December 1999 and March 2000, and a +9 in December 2000. Those three presidents never scored negatively in the SWS surveys. (In the case of former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., I recall a net satisfaction score of +15 in 1985, by an SWS-precursor. I know nothing for any earlier president.)

Our singularly unpopular president was Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who had her first negative score in November 2003, at -3. Her next negative score was a -6 in October 2004; it was never positive again, up to June 2010. Her net satisfaction quarterly averages in each year were: -25 in 2005, -16 in 2006, -9 in 2007, -33 in 2008, -35 in 2009, and -7 in 2010. The SWS term is ‘bad’ for scores of -30 to -49; it is ‘very bad’ for -50 to -69, which happened to her twice, the worst being a -53 in March 2010.

On the other hand, the lowest net satisfaction score of Benigno Aquino III was +11 (March 2015), while the lowest score of Rodrigo Duterte was +48 (September 2017). It is noteworthy that Duterte was personally very popular, while at the same time his (a) deadly and indiscriminate ‘war on drugs’ and (b) friendly attitude towards China were very unpopular.

The average net satisfaction scores for the aggregate of SWS surveys under the past presidents are: Corazon Aquino +35, Ramos +38, Estrada +33, Arroyo -7, Aquino III +45, and Duterte +62. The running average for Marcos Jr. is a ‘good’ +32, as of June 2025.

‘Trust ratings’ are different. An SWS trust rating uses the word pagtitiwala (trust), and pertains to an individual simply as a person, not as a functionary responsible for doing something for the Filipino people. A trust rating, rather than a satisfaction rating, is appropriate for checking the popularity of foreign officials, the Pope, businessmen, entertainment personalities, and the like.

But SWS does obtain trust ratings of politicians, from time to time, upon request. For instance, in the media release, ‘SWS confirms the June 2025 survey items sponsored by the Stratbase Group on public trust in the Philippines’ top officials’ (www.sws.org.ph, 7/15/25) one can find the following:

This shows that public trust in PBBM as a person also rebounded from May to June, like his net satisfaction score. However, it appears that public trust in him (as well as in his cousin Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez) is not as adequate as trust in Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Francis Escudero. I wonder if this is worrisome to some politicians.

Defending champion Mapua continued its fine start in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament following a 90-87 victory over Arellano at San Juan Arena on Saturday.

The Cardinals followed up their season-opening 90-89 win in double overtime win over Lyceum.

After struggling against the Pirates, Clint Escamis returned to form with 29 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists and three steals to overwhelm the Chiefs.

‘I really wanted to bounce back from that game,’ Escamis said, who only had eight points before fouling out in the fourth quarter against Lyceum.

‘I know my teammates got my back but I know I still needed to perform today, lead and facilitate for the team to serve as a good example.’

Helping Escamis on offense for the Cardinals were Cyrus Cuenco, Cyril Gonzales and Cyrus Nitura, who scored 14, 12 and 10 points respectively.

The Chiefs began their season with a close defeat but not without the efforts of Basti Valencia and Renzo Ablera, who scored 13 and 12.

While a bevy of Filipino and part-Filipino beauty queens joined the massive protest rally against corruption at the People Power Monument in Edsa in Quezon City on Sept. 21, a reigning Paraguayan pageant titleholder was also among the flood of people.

Yanina Gomez, Paraguay’s delegate to the 74th Miss Universe pageant next month, attended the ‘Trillion Peso March’ denouncing corruption in government projects attended by tens of thousands of protesters.

The Paraguayan human rights lawyer and teacher revealed this when she faced members of Filipino media at the Yugen Group headquarters in Taguig City last month.

The company helped bring her to the country, and has arranged for her to train under Filipino mentors to prepare for the 2025 Miss Universe pageant. And on the day of the rally, she said the car she was in got stuck in traffic. When the driver told her what had caused it, she said she did not hesitate to take part in the rally.

‘I participated in one like this in Paraguay. And I’m so happy here the people use their voice to make a difference. Because we need to grab now, don’t repeat the same, because money needs to go to things that make life better for the people,’ she told Inquirer Entertainment in an interview.

Gomez said she got inspired when she saw 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray onstage, and knew she made the right decision to get off the car, and cancel her supposed appointment.

She also said that she was aware that several other beauty queens from the Philippines had taken part in the same rally, including reigning Miss World Krishnah Gravidez, one of the several Filipino pageant girls that she looks up to. They both competed in the recent staging of the Miss World pageant in India.

‘No more people in the streets need to go hungry, no more children in the school need to go hungry. [There must be] good transportation, because here it’s one big problem, traffic every day, and how many times we spent in the traffic too,’ Gomez said.

The Paraguayan beauty queen lamented the traffic situation in the country, something she personally endured while staying in Manila, and noted the need for an efficient mode of public transportation.

She also addressed Filipino government officials: ‘Be honest, because the people are tired. And this is one big message and lesson for everthing. And this is one big example for other countries that are tired, leaving their house to commute,’ Gomez pleaded.

Speaking to Flipinos, she said, ‘Go, make the difference, and use this to serve as an example for the world. And I’m happy to participate because it’s one big lesson for me. And many, many people are so tired of this situation.’

Gomez will be among the more than 130 delegates from around the world, including the Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo, who will be competing to succeed reigning Miss Universe Victori Kjær Theilvig.