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The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers outlasted the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 98-89, in a triple-overtime thriller in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tourney Saturday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.

It took seven total periods, but the Tigers kept their composure as the Blue Eagles ran out of fuel in the third overtime.

Nic Cabanero powered UST with 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 43 minutes and 43 seconds of play. Former Ateneo guard Forth Padrigao and rookie center Collins Akowe chipped in 20 markers apiece.

After a split from the line by Akowe and a late turnover by Jared Bahay forced the third overtime, UST ran away almost immediately, taking an insurmountable 94-85 lead after a jumper by Akowe.

Jaden Lazo finally put Ateneo on the board, but a 3-pointer by Kyle Paranada gave the Tigers a double-digit lead, 97-87, with 1:33 left.

Ateneo still tried to recover, but timely misses by Lazo and Kymani Ladi made it harder for them.

A split from the line by Akowe iced the game, as a pair of free throws by Ladi set the final score.

After the Tigers trailed by as much as 12 points in the first quarter, they quickly clawed out of the hole and took the lead in the second quarter after an and-one play by Cabanero, 31-30, setting the stage to a back-and-forth game.

In the fourth quarter, Padrigao hit a booming triple to send the game to overtime, as neither side could break free.

In the first extension period, the two teams traded treys as Padrigao’s triple made it level at 72-all.

But a clutch shot by Gelo Crisostomo gave UST a 74-72 advantage. However, a jumper by Shawn Tuano equalized things anew.

Cabanero tried to win it for the Espana-based squad, but missed, setting up a Ladi triple that could have won it. However, the latter’s shot was blocked by Crisostomo as time expired.

Come the second overtime, UST took control, going up 80-75 after Akowe’s freebies.

But Bahay sparked Ateneo with a 10-4 run, capped by a Joshua Lazaro jumper, to help Ateneo ahead, 85-84.

Akowe, though, was be fouled in the next possession and he split his charities to tie things up once again.

Ladi and Cabanero then traded misses, as the game went to the third overtime.

Crisostomo had his best game of the season thus far, with 18 points and 17 rebounds to go with four assists and a block for UST. Mark Llemit added seven markers.

Bahay powered Ateneo with 17 points and six rebounds. Ladi and Dom Escobar chipped in 14 and 13 markers, respectively, while Tuano and Divine Adili tallied 12 and 10 points.

UST rose to 4-1, while Ateneo, which lost two games in a row, dropped to 4-2.

Earlier in the week, Rain or Shine veteran Gabe Norwood announced that this will be his ‘last flight’ as he aims to retire at the end of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.

Norwood, on Saturday night, became the hero in the Elasto Painters’ 96-95 overtime win over the Meralco Bolts at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

The debuting Painters trailed by as much as 13 points in the fourth quarter, but they erased that as Norwood forced the overtime period with a tip-in.

He finished with 11 points and three rebounds in almost 29 minutes of play.

After being down by as much as 13 points, 74-87, in the fourth quarter following a jumper by Chris Newsome, the Painters unleashed a massive 14-2 run capped by a 4-pointer by Caelan Tiongson to make it a one point game, 88-89, with about 17 seconds left in regulation.

A split from the line by Newsome pushed Meralco ahead, 90-88.

With a shot to either tie it or get the lead, Rain or Shine went to Adrian Nocum, who missed two jumpers. Norwood, though, cleaned up the second miss with a tip-in to tie things up with 1.2 seconds left.

Newsome then missed the game-winning 3-pointer, as time expired.

In the extra five minutes, Michael Malonzo and Anton Asistio gave Rain or Shine the much-needed breathing room to grab a 94-90 advantage.

Chris Banchero, however, hit a 3-pointer to slice the deficit to one, 93-94.

Caelan Tiongson answered with a jumper of his own, before Banchero’s layup set the final score with 1:43 left.

Both teams then exchanged misses down the stretch, as Newsome and Allein Maliksi failed to push Meralco ahead for good, enabling the Painters to hold on.

After the game, Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao acknowledged that they wouldn’t have won the game without Norwood.

“Well, Gabe played a really good game today. Offense and defense. He put in those crucial two points, I think, to tie,’ he said.

‘Gabe’s playing well. He’s still a really important part of the team. And we could not have won this game without Gabe,’ he added.

Guiao stressed that he thought they were about to lose, but he asked his team to give their best.

‘We struggled. We almost lost the game. It was actually looking like a losing game in the last three or four minutes. But we found a way. I think that’s character,’ he stated.

‘You know you have a good team when, in spite of a lot of things not going your way, you still find a way to win. I think that’s a sign that we have a really good group and we beat a really tough team,’ he added.

Tiongson carried the load for Rain or Shine with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Keith Datu backstopped with 11 markers and seven boards, while Adrian Nocum and Andrei Caracut had 10 apiece.

Bong Quinto and CJ Cansino powered Meralco with 18 points apiece. The former had 10 rebounds, while the latter had eight boards.

The Bolts dropped to 0-2 in the conference.

Young golfers from Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) and Xavier School made their presence felt in different divisions after five rounds of action in the 2025 edition of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) Inter-School.

ICA, one of the rising golf programs in the country in the girls category, is leading the Division 1 of Lower School where the team is the defending champion, and has grabbed the the top spots in Middle School Division 3 and Junior High Division 3.

On the other hand, Xavier – the reigning champion in Junior High – leads all teams in Divisions 1 and 3, and is also up in Lower School Division 3, Middle School Division 2, and Senior High Division 1.

Other schools that have also made solid performances so far and are on top in their respective categories are De La Salle Zobel in Lower School Division 2, Home School Global in Middle School Division 1, PAREF Southridge in Senior High Division 2, Brent International School Manila 2 in Senior High Division 3.

JGFP president Oliver Gan said that they tweaked the format to make it more exciting.

‘After the first five rounds we categorized the schools by placing them in Divisions 1, 2 and 3, and from there they continue to battle out the rest of the way until the finals to determine the champions,’ said Gan.

Action continued this weekend, October 11 and 12, and will also do so on October 19.

Hosting the event is Summit Point Golf and Country Club in Lipa and The Vineyard Golf Club in Tanauan, Batangas.

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck the eastern part of Zambales on Sunday afternoon, October 11, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Phivolcs said the quake, which was tectonic in origin, hit at 5:32 p.m., with its epicenter located 19 kilometers east of Cabangan, Zambales, at a depth of 100 kilometers.

Aftershocks are expected, the agency added.

State seismologists reported the following ground intensities in parts of Luzon:

Intensity 3

Cabangan and Iba, Zambales

Intensity 2

Calumpit, Bulacan

San Fernando, La Union

Guimba, Nueva Ecija

Bani, Dagupan City, PANGASINAN

Santa Ignacia, Tarlac City

Ramos, Tarlac

Botolan, Subic

San Marcelino, Zambales

Felt in the metro. Tremors were also reportedly felt in parts of Metro Manila.

For the residents of Barangays Kal-anan and Tapul in Tabogon, Cebu, yesterday was not just the arrival of relief goods, but also the advent of their hope following days of uncertainty and fear caused by the Sept. 30 earthquake that shook northern Cebu.

The Freeman Foundation, the civic arm of The Freeman and Banat News, traveled more than 87 kilometers from Cebu City to conduct a relief distribution for hundreds of quake-affected families in the two barangays of Tabogon.

Tabogon was among the hardest-hit areas when the quake struck, damaging houses and displacing residents who are now struggling to rebuild their lives amid aftershocks and changing weather.

In the situational report released by the Cebu Provincial Government, Tabogon recorded a total of 14,122 affected families from the earthquake. There were 244 individuals reported injured, and five confirmed dead.

A total of 452 relief packs were distributed to households in Barangay Kal-angan, while 404 packs were handed out to residents in Barangay Tapul.

Each pack contained rice, canned goods, noodles, towels, and even clothes – simple items, yet priceless and the most needed, for those who have lost much.

Melandro Mendoza, general manager of The Freeman, personally joined the distribution. He shared that The Freeman Foundation has been serving the public for more than 21 years, often extending aid to reach those in dire need.

‘Ngayong may calamity, gusto rin nating makapagbigay ng tulong sa mga apektadong pamilya,’ Mendoza said, adding that Tabogon was chosen as the Foundation’s first area of focus because most other relief operations were concentrated in Bogo City, considered the Ground Zero of the earthquake.

‘Sinubukan naming mag-reach out sa mga hindi napupuntahan ng relief,’ he said. In Barangay Kal-anan, residents gathered early to welcome the team, grateful that help had reached them despite their town’s distance from the city.

One of them, 76-year-old Eliseo Dungog, who is also the Purok president, could not hold back his emotions as he received the relief pack. ‘Akong dako’ng pasalamat sa The Freeman . pasalamat ko nga kinasing-kasing nga nihatod diri sa barangay,’ he said.

Dungog shared that the quake left many traumatized, with several residents still afraid to sleep inside their damaged homes. ‘Puros jud ‘mi na trauma. Swerte lang jud ‘mi nakagawas sa balay,’ he added.

Some of them, he said, have yet to return to work due to financial constraints. ‘Karon nangatawa lang ‘mi ani pero deep inside, dako jud kaayong problema,’ he admitted.

Meanwhile, 67-year-old Helen Berdon said the traumatic memory of that terrifying day remains vivid. She was injured when shards of glass from a window struck her during the quake. ‘Nasamad ko diri (cheeckbones) kay naigo ko sa bildo,’ she recalled.

Their house was heavily damaged, forcing her and her family to seek temporary shelter in a makeshift tent near the elementary school. ‘Lisod jud kaayo. Maglisod ‘mi og katog kay mahadlok basin mobalik nasad og linog,’ Berdon said.

Her voice trembled as she described how she, her children, and grandchildren shared the cramped tent. She said their greatest need now is a permanent home – a place to rebuild their lives, especially with Christmas drawing near.

‘Hapit na pasko, pero wa mi kabalo asa mi ani magsugod,’ she said while wiping tears from her eyes. Despite their tribulation, Berdon and her neighbors found comfort in knowing they were not forgotten.

The sight of volunteers from The Freeman Foundation carrying relief packs, she said, brought them hope that better days will come.

The relief operation of the Freeman Foundation was made possible through the generosity of several donors and partner institutions, including AppleOne Group, Diamond Suites and Residences, Twinbee Print Ads, the University of the Visayas, Solea Mactan, Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp., and Barangay Sto. Niño Captain Lourdes Ramirez.

Numerous individuals also extended monetary and in-kind donations, showing that compassion continues to thrive even in difficult times.

As the team prepared to leave, the smiles and waves of gratitude from the residents were a reminder that even the little act of kindness can mean so much to those who have lost nearly everything.

The Clergy for Good Governance (CGG), including voices from the Archdiocese of Cebu, has denounced proposals for snap elections, a revolutionary government, and mass resignations as misguided responses to corruption.

In a strongly worded statement, the clergy stressed that what the country needs is not an abrupt change in political leadership but a change of conscience and a renewed commitment to justice.

‘We say this with moral clarity: The answer to corruption is not a snap election-it is a snap of conscience,’ the clergy declared.

Their message, delivered with pastoral urgency, called on national leaders to confront wrongdoing not through political maneuvering but through moral accountability and the full force of the law.

The statement reflected the clergy’s deep concern over the human cost of corruption. They spoke of ‘the mother forced to choose between medicine and rice, the father ashamed he cannot send his child to school, and the families fractured by migration in search of a future.’

‘Every stolen peso has a face, a name, a soul crying out to God,’ the clergy said, emphasizing that corruption is not an abstract issue but a daily injustice that affects real lives.

On August 22, members of the clergy gathered at the Senate not as protesters but as priests-praying with breaking hearts and calling on leaders to return to moral responsibility.

They vowed to return, bearing ashes as a sign of repentance, to remind officials that power is temporary but justice is eternal.

Their call, they said, is ‘not for shame but for salvation, not for rhetoric but for reform.’

The clergy rejected selective justice and political shortcuts, urging the prosecution of all those guilty of plunder regardless of rank or affiliation. They demanded the return of stolen public funds and the permanent disqualification of corrupt officials from public office.

‘No resignation, no political maneuvering can erase the injustice done to the Filipino people,’ the statement read.

Echoing this stance, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), urged Filipinos to uphold the rule of law and reject drastic measures such as coups, military rule, or snap elections.

‘Let the rule of law work. What we need is not a new election term-but long prison terms for the plunderers,’ Cardinal David said earlier in a homily at the Birhen ng Fatima Mission Station in Caloocan City.

He cautioned against dismantling institutions built to serve the common good.

‘If a child gets dirty, we bathe the child-but we throw away the dirty water, not the child,’ he said.

‘The same goes for government. Even if it fails us, we must not throw it away-it’s something we have built together. Let’s repair it, guard it, and make it work.’

Cardinal David also warned that removing corrupt officials without systemic reform would only perpetuate the problem.

‘Even if all the corrupt officials were to die, they would just be replaced by others like them,’ he said. ‘We are all part of the problem; therefore, we must all be part of the solution. We must help dismantle this culture of corruption.’

As public frustration grows over alleged irregularities in government flood control projects, the clergy’s message serves as a sobering reminder: true reform cannot be achieved through political shortcuts. It must be built on truth, justice, and the consistent application of the law.

‘Repentance must be seen in reform, not rhetoric,’ the CGG statement concluded.

Tennis has found a new major backer – and with him comes renewed hope that the sport can reclaim its lofty place in Philippine sports.

‘For just one year into tennis, the feeling and excitement are different compared to when I play basketball, football, or golf. The tennis community is so vibrant and welcoming,’ said Hayb Anzures, president of Gentry Timepiece, and head of the organizing committee for the Gentry Open Tennis Championships, which blasts off Friday at the world-class 2,000-seat, 11-hard-court Tennis Center inside Colegio San Agustin in Bulacan.

‘The rise of Alex Eala on the world stage has given local tennis something to cheer for, and I felt I had to do something to contribute and help further develop the sport in the local scene,’ added Anzures, a 31-year-old Business Management graduate from Far Eastern University.

With a whopping P2-million total prize pot, the Gentry Open now stands as one of the biggest local tennis tournaments in terms of cash rewards.

‘The men’s singles champion will receive P300,000, and we’ll be giving cash prizes and special gifts from our sponsors up to the 15th place in the main draw,’ said Anzures, who also led officials and guests in the ceremonial serve during the tournament’s opening rites.

Headlining the star-studded field are the country’s top two players, AJ Lim and Eric Jed Olivarez, who will lead a power-packed mix of veteran campaigners, rising stars, and fearless young guns all eager to battle for supremacy in what is shaping up to be the most anticipated local tennis event of the year.

The women’s singles draw is equally competitive, with rising stars Mikaela Vicencio and Tiffany Nocos headlining the field in pursuit of the P100,000 top prize, while the runner-up will pocket P50,000.

The tournament, which runs until October 19, is held in partnership with Palawan Pawnshop, Palawan Express, and Palawan Pay as the Official Event and Tournament Partners.

‘The Gentry Open is more than just a tournament – it’s a movement to elevate tennis as a mainstream sport in the Philippines,’ said Anzures. ‘Through the support of Palawan Express and our platinum sponsors, we’re creating a stage that unites passion, performance, and purpose.’

Presented by GWM – Great Wall Motor Philippines, the Gentry Open 2025 enjoys strong backing from its platinum sponsors: Hiess?nce, Purse Maison, Mobile Cart, Primoshine, Sole Avenue, Dear Face, PDAX, Darling’s Fine Jewels, Luxetrust by Amethyst, The Watch Reserve, and Guapo Car Care Solutions. These brands share Gentry’s vision of fostering excellence, innovation, and national pride through sport.

Beyond competition, the Gentry Open 2025 also aims to position Bulacan as an emerging hub for tennis and sports tourism – laying the foundation for what organizers envision as an annual national sporting tradition.

To make heritage education more accessible to grassroots communities, the National Museum of the Philippines-Cebu (NMP-Cebu) has formally introduced its ‘Mobile Museum Boxes’ project to Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival during a courtesy visit at City Hall the other day.

Led by NMP-Cebu head Audrey Dawn Tomada, the team presented the initiative as part of its outreach efforts for Local Government Month 2025.

The Mobile Museum Boxes are curated traveling exhibitions designed to showcase Cebu City’s rich natural and cultural heritage – including endemic flora and fauna, historical artifacts, and cultural symbols that reflect the city’s identity.

These boxes are more than just displays; they are intended to serve as bridges between museums and communities. NMP-Cebu hopes that students and residents in far-flung barangays can experience the museum, even if they cannot visit it in person.

Mayor Archival welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm, emphasizing its potential to deepen heritage awareness among Cebuanos.

The visit also reinforced institutional ties between the Cebu City Government and NMP-Cebu, with both parties expressing their commitment to jointly promote, protect, and preserve Cebu’s cultural and natural assets.

In a social media post, NMP-Cebu extended its gratitude to the mayor: ‘Daghan kaayong salamat, Mayor Archival, sa mainiton nimong pagdawat sa National Museum Cebu diha sa imong buhatan.’

A powerful tectonic earthquake shook the Philippines yesterday (Oct. 10) morning, sending tremors from Luzon to Mindanao and prompting tsunami warnings and emergency responses across multiple regions.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded the magnitude-7.4 quake at 9:43 a.m., with its epicenter located 62 kilometers southeast of Manay, Davao Oriental.

The quake originated at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers and is now considered one of the strongest ever recorded in the country.

Interestingly, while the Davao quake struck in the morning, a separate and deadly tremor in Bogo City, Cebu occurred at 9:59 p.m. on September 30-ten days earlier. It was a magnitude-6.9 quake, traced to the Bogo Bay Fault, that caused widespread destruction across northern Cebu and triggered over 10,000 aftershocks, many of which continue to this month.

Yesterday, the strongest shaking was felt in Mindanao, surpassing even the magnitude of the Bogo quake, but instrumental readings confirmed Intensity IV in Cebu City as well as in Talisay City.

Mandaue City, Toledo City, and several municipalities here, including Alcoy, Argao, Carcar, and Tuburan were at Intensity III. Bogo City, which previously experienced stronger tremors, registered only Intensity II this time.

Other towns such as Barili, Boljoon, Oslob, Samboan, and Sogod reported Intensity II, while Danao City, Lapulapu City, and the towns of Alegria, Carmen, Catmon, Consolacion, and Daanbantayan felt the quake at Intensity I.

PHIVOLCS issued a tsunami warning shortly after the Davao quake, urging the immediate evacuation of coastal communities in Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Eastern Samar.

The Tandag Sea Level Monitoring Station recorded a 30-centimeter wave at 10:20 a.m. By early afternoon, PHIVOLCS lifted the warning, stating that the threat had passed and no further tsunami bulletins would be issued.

Earthquake have also been recorded throughout the day in Batanes; Bangui, Ilocos Norte; Batangas; Surigao; Socorro, Oriental Mindoro; Camarines Sur; Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental; Zamboanga; Lianga, Surigao del Sur; Dinapigue, Isabela; Wao, Lanao del Sur; Danglas, Abra; Sabtang, Batanes; and Saranggani Island.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed that all airports under its jurisdiction remain operational. Minor cracks were observed at Dipolog Airport’s logistics building (Zamboanga del Norte), but no major damage was reported.

Two flights bound for Davao City-GAP2813 and CEB963-were diverted to Mactan-Cebu and General Santos City airports, respectively, as a precaution.

CAAP assured the public that it continues to closely monitor airport operations and is conducting inspections to ensure structural integrity and passenger safety.

PHIVOLCS continues to monitor aftershocks and advises the public to remain vigilant. Residents are urged to secure heavy objects, review evacuation plans, and stay updated through official channels.

Cebu province reaction

As the tremors were also felt across Cebu Province, Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro was prompted to suspend classes and government work as a precautionary measure.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) immediately went on alert as reports of shaking came from several local government units (LGUs) across the island. The Capitol also carried out an evacuation of employees and guests after a noticeable tremor was felt in the compound.

Classes were suspended in several towns and cities in Cebu, spanning all seven districts. Many LGUs announced the suspension of classes at all levels, while others extended the suspension until further notice pending safety inspections.

In the 1st District, Sibonga, Minglanilla, Carcar City, Talisay City, Naga City, and San Fernando suspended classes in all levels. In the 2nd District, Argao, Santander, Dalaguete, Samboan, and Boljoon also implemented the same precautionary measure.

Barili, Tuburan, and Aloguinsan in the 3rd District ordered class suspensions, with Tuburan declaring the measure effective until further notice.

In the 4th District, Bogo City, San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Bantayan, and Medellin all suspended classes indefinitely.

For the 5th District, the municipalities of Poro, Compostela, Carmen, Sogod, Catmon, Borbon, Liloan, and Danao City suspended classes. Danao City also declared a half-day work suspension for all government offices.

In the 6th District, Consolacion and Cordova suspended classes in all levels, while in the 7th District, Alegria, Alcantara, Dumanjug, Malabuyoc, Moalboal, Ronda, and Ginatilan made similar announcements.

Baricuatro expressed worries and solidarity with the people of Davao Oriental, writing in her post, ‘Davao, Cebu is with you.’

Cebu City reaction

Yesterday (Friday), when Cebu City felt Intensity 4 from the mag-7.4 quake in Davao Oriental, the city government enforced primary safety protocols, including the evacuation of buildings and premises.

Cebu City Hall was not spared, as Mayor Nestor Archival led employees outside the building. Teams from the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), headed by Councilor Dave Tumulak, immediately swept through the edifice to assess its structural integrity.

Despite this, Archival opted to suspend all City Hall operations for the day and close its doors to the public as a preventive measure against any unforeseen disaster.

‘Si mayor naniguro lang nga luwas pud atong nga empleyado kay we know nga if naa gani linog naa gyud na’y aftershocks … para pagpa-minus sa kabalaka,’ said Tumulak.

Tumulak said the city councilors themselves will spearhead the monitoring of each barangay and assess the extent of any damage, in case another earthquake strikes the city.

‘Para mapadali ang impormasyon nga atong makuha kay usa sa atong problema nga na-encounter tungod ani’ng sunod-sunod nga linog, ang communication,’ said Tumulak.

The councilor said this move also ensures that the disaster teams in each barangay are properly supervised through the city councilors. Based on their initial assessment yesterday, the barangays did not sustain any major damage following the latest quake, he said.

Currently, Tumulak said they have already recommended that each barangay implement disaster preparedness measures starting from every household and family. This is necessary to ensure proper response during disasters and to prevent further accidents.

‘To counter the trauma, kinahanglan og training, self, and sa mga pamilya diri sa atong dakbayan,’ said Tumulak.

Mandaue City reaction

Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito ‘Jonkie’ Ouano has announced the suspension of face-to-face classes in all levels for one week starting Monday, October 13, to give students and families time to recover from recent earthquake episodes and to ensure public safety.

During the suspension, all public schools in the city will shift to asynchronous learning through the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM). Private schools have likewise been advised to adopt similar arrangements.

Mayor Ouano said the City Government is coordinating closely with the DepEd Mandaue City Division to mobilize manpower for psychosocial therapy programs in schools to help students and teachers cope with the emotional impact of the quakes.

‘Nakita ug nadungog namo inyong mga concern, mga Mandauehanon. Rest assured that the City Government is closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary precautions,’ Ouano said on his social media page.

The announcement came after more than 70 students across Mandaue City were given medical assistance following the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck Davao Oriental yesterday morning.

According to the Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Buddy Ybañez, at least 47 students from Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School-Main Campus were affected.

Seven experienced difficulty breathing, 20 felt dizzy, 11 hyperventilated, and five suffered panic attacks. Twelve were taken to the Mandaue City Hospital, while one student lost consciousness.

At the school’s annex campus, 13 students were also assisted-four complained of dizziness and nine experienced hyperventilation. Two were brought to the hospital, while 11 others were treated on-site.

At Subangdaku Technical Vocational School, eight students were attended to-six had difficulty breathing and two lost consciousness, though all were later cleared for discharge. One student from Cabancalan National High School also received assistance after hyperventilating.

CDRRMO personnel Tash Villaflor told The Freeman that their team continues to monitor schools across the city to ensure the safety and well-being of all students following the quake.

In a separate incident, at least two female Grade 6 students from Mandaue City Central School were rushed to the hospital after experiencing hysteria and difficulty breathing during the tremor.

Clinic teacher Jennyvieve Ledama said around five students initially showed similar symptoms, but others were calmed down and given first aid. The two, however, were brought to the hospital after becoming weak and nearly fainting. She added that their parents said both students have a history of anxiety-related attacks.

All other students in the school were confirmed safe, with most fetched by their parents. The school’s Medical Emergency Response Team remained on standby to provide immediate care and assistance.

Mayor Ouano himself was not exempt from the quake’s impact. Right after attending an event, he and other city hall employees evacuated the building when tremors from the 7.6-magnitude quake were felt.

Ouano later announced that only a skeletal workforce would be on duty at the city hall yesterday. ‘After the quake this morning, October 10, we immediately declared no classes in all levels-both public and private,’ he said.

He said a skeletal force, or a limited number of personnel were retained at the City Hall to ensure essential transactions to continue, such as those handled by the City Treasurer’s Office.

Departments providing critical services, such as the CDRRMO, Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM), and City Health Office (CHO), remained on full duty.

After the quake, Ouano ordered the MCDRRMO, Office of the Building Official (OBO), and City Engineering Office to re-inspect the 48 public schools, particularly the 16 schools previously sustained partial damage by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake on September 30.

Aside from the city’s 48 public schools, the mayor also directed engineers to reassess the public market after its canopy collapsed and three columns were found cracked. ‘Mao na siya ang initial nga gipangbuhat karon,’ Ouano said.

The city government continues to assess the structural safety of school buildings and other public facilities following the series of tremors that have recently affected parts of northern Cebu.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) launched a series of bilateral maritime exercises along Carcar Bay yesterday, October 10, marking the culmination of the VCG’s five-day port visit to Cebu.

The visit was held under the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on maritime cooperation signed during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Vietnam in January 2024.

The MOU aims to strengthen strategic partnership and solidarity through the continued exchange of port visits between the two maritime agencies.

The VCG, aboard the Vietnamese vessel CSB 8002, was in Cebu from October 6 to 10, coinciding with ongoing relief efforts following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu on September 30.

As part of their humanitarian mission, the VCG donated 32 sacks of rice and 10 boxes of noodles from their ship’s food supply, which were transported by a PCG vessel to Barangay Ilihan, Tabogon, Cebu. Medical assistance was also provided to quake victims in the area on Wednesday, October 9.

Before their departure, the PCG and VCG held joint maritime drills in Carcar Bay focusing on search and rescue, firefighting, and oil spill prevention.

Both coast guards successfully demonstrated all simulation exercises before members of the Cebu media, even as a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Davao Oriental and was felt in Cebu yesterday.

As a gesture of respect and gratitude, the PCG rendered ‘passing honors’ to their Vietnamese counterparts through a ceremonial exchange of courtesies.

Before sailing home, the Vietnamese guests raised the Philippine flag aboard the CSB 8002, symbolizing solidarity and camaraderie between the two nations.

In an interview, PCG Chief for International Affairs Commodore Algier Ricafrente underscored the importance of joint exercises in ensuring that personnel are equipped with the proper knowledge and procedures for maritime operations.

Ricafrent said such trainings enhance interoperability between the two countries, particularly in addressing maritime incidents involving search and rescue, firefighting, and oil spill response.

‘Kining exercise nga himoon karong adlawa, mao pod ni ang makatabang para sa atoang interoperability sa ilaha kung naa tay ma-encounter na insidente sa dagat,’ he said.

(Today’s exercise will help strengthen our interoperability with them in case we encounter incidents at sea.)

Ricafrente also shared that the PCG will offer an 11-month Coast Guard Senior Executive Course to Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, as discussed during their bilateral meeting with the VCG.

He added that a leadership development program for young officers will soon be implemented to further strengthen maritime cooperation between the Philippines and other nations.