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The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) has cleared Maynilad Water Services Inc.’s planned initial public offering (IPO) this month, which has attracted more international cornerstone investors.

Maynilad has submitted its preliminary prospectus for its upcoming IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the PSE, paving the way for the start of its roadshow to institutional investors in the coming days.

The PSE announced yesterday that it has approved Maynilad’s IPO of up to 2.29 billion common shares at an offer price of up to P20 per share.

The IPO consists of up to 1.66 billion primary common shares to be issued and offered to the public, up to 24.9 million primary common shares to be allocated and offered to First Pacific Co. Ltd., overallotment option shares of up to 249.05 million primary common shares as well as upsize option shares of up to 354.7 million secondary common shares to be offered by Maynilad Water Holding Co. Inc.

With the International Finance Corp. (IFC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) serving as lead cornerstone investors, Maynilad’s latest preliminary prospectus showed six other international cornerstone investors, including the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, acting through its Mobilising Capital through Listed Products (MOBILIST).

The participation of MOBILIST as a cornerstone investor in the offer is subject to the finally determined offer price not exceeding P15 per common share.

Also participating in the offer are abrdn Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., a fund management company incorporated under the laws of Malaysia providing asset management services; Maven Investment Partners Ltd., a proprietary trading firm incorporated under the laws of England and Wales; the Maybank Group’s fund management arm Maybank Asset Management Singapore Pte. Ltd.; global asset management firm Robeco Switzerland Ltd. and QRT Master Fund-Torus Fund SP.

The IFC and the ADB are looking to invest up to $245 million in Maynilad as cornerstone investors for its upcoming P45.77-billion IPO.

IFC has agreed to participate as a cornerstone investor in the offer, with an investment size of up to $100 million in peso equivalent, at a subscription price of up to P15 per offer share, subject to certain closing conditions and customary requirements.

Meanwhile, the ADB is currently considering participating as a cornerstone investor in the offer, with a potential investment size of up to $145 million in peso equivalent, at a subscription price of up to P15 per offer share.

Joining as domestic cornerstone investors are BDO Capital and Investment Corp., BPI Asset Management and Trust Corp., Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. and Security Bank Corp-Trust and Asset Management Group.

The offer period for Maynilad’s IPO is scheduled from Oct. 23 to 29, with Maynilad targeting a listing date of Nov. 7.

Maynilad said the submission of its preliminary prospectus forms part of the company’s ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements in connection with the proposed IPO.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has launched the development of an electric passenger ferry, which aims to provide a cleaner and more efficient transport option for Metro Manila commuters.

Led by project head Dr. Lew Andrew Tria, the initiative received P54.3 million in funding under the DOST’s Grants-in-Aid program.

The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Maritime Industry Authority, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Inc.

The e-ferry is designed to help ease road congestion, reduce the transport sector’s fuel dependence and cut pollution in Pasig River and other waterways.

The system also aims to spur economic activity by improving mobility for commuters, businesses and tourists along key routes.

According to the DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development, the ferry will operate along the Pasig River, connecting Pasig, Makati, Mandaluyong and Manila, with possible extensions to Marikina, Taguig and towns surrounding Laguna de Bay.

The e-ferry features an aluminum catamaran hull with a 40-passenger capacity and a crew of three.

DOST officials said the project supports the government’s goal of promoting sustainable urban mobility and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from public transportation.

In an urgent measure to prevent Basilan from plunging into darkness, government officials approved yesterday measures to address the persistent energy shortage and stop the local utility’s P4.3-billion debt from ballooning.

Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, National Power Corp. president Jericho Nograles and National Electrification Administration administrator Antonio Almeda discussed the looming energy crisis and multibillion-peso debt of the Basilan Electric Cooperative (Baselco) to the National Power Corp. (Napocor).

Hataman proposed a revised payment scheme between Baselco and Napocor and urged town mayors to support the power firm’s disconnection efforts against delinquent customers.

He underscored the critical power situation in the province with Baselco’s debt reaching P4.3 billion.

The power agencies highlighted the problem of power pilferage, noting that out of 600,000 residents, only 45,000 have operational meters – a disparity that contributes significantly to system losses and electricity pilferage.

Napocor pledged an initial P200 million to rehabilitate the electric cooperative’s infrastructure, part of a larger P600-million commitment.

Australian professional rugby league football club the Brisbane Broncos won its seventh National Rugby League (NRL) title, its first in 19 years, thanks in part to contributions to star Filipino-Australian prop Payne Haas.

Payne was included in this NRL season’s Dally M Team of the Year and Players’ Dream Team, the latter voted by fellow players, and top of four weekly awards from the NRL Fantasy League.

But amid the push for rugby glory, the former Philippine U-16 player has also been putting a lot of effort into finding ways to secure the release of his father Gregor.

The senior Haas was arrested last year in Cebu following an Interpol red notice of due to a criminal case that was filed against him in Indonesia.

Indonesia’s national narcotics board also issued an arrest warrant against Gregor in January that year due to drug smuggling, with Indonesian authorities claiming Gregor is linked to the Mexico-based Sinaloa drug cartel – one of the world’s largest drug trafficking organizations.

Gregor denies the allegation he shipped five kilograms of methamphetamine from Mexico. If he were put on trial in Indonesia and found guilty, the crime is sufficient for the death penalty.

The older Haas is still detained at the Bureau of Immigration Bicutan Detention Center in Taguig’s Bagong Diwa and Payne’s been looking for different avenues to secure his freedom.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Payne has met with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade numerous times but to no avail.

Payne – who is also of Swiss and Samoan descent, which is why he represents the latter internationally – has even expressed concern for his father’s physical and mental condition in detention, seeking help from local contacts to bring his father home.

“I can’t control what my dad does,” Payne said in a previous interview. “That doesn’t make me less of a man because of what my dad does. That’s the life he chose. I grew up with my parents day to day and I know who they are as people.”

His mother Joan Taugua is incarcerated after a horrific December 2022 car crash in the Gold Coast that resulted in three fatalities. Earlier that July she was arrested for assaulting two casino security guards.

“They’ve made their mistakes, but I can’t control that. That’s their decisions and their life. But my parents also did a lot for me. It’s not all bad about my parents. They’ve made me who I am today,” Payne added.

Payne later also said he doesn’t want his kids to grow up in an environment like his own childhood. Payne has two children, Lalita and infant Luckee, with his partner Leilani Mohenoa and is the legal guardian of two younger siblings.

Last May the Court of Appeals blocked court order releasing Gregor from the custody of immigration authorities and remains detained.

The Embassy of Spain in Manila, through its Cultural and Education Office and the Instituto Cervantes, kicks off its month-long celebration of the Spanish National Day this October with a series of cultural events open to the public.

These events, ranging from movies and history to exhibits, design and engineering, are bound to pique anyone’s interest or passion.

Exhibits have long been a mainstay on the calendar of events. Not to be missed is the exhibition Mezcla: Interwoven Cultures and the Mantón de Manila, in collaboration with the Ayala Museum, which will run from Oct. 10, 2025, to Feb. 22, 2026.

The public may also view two ongoing exhibits: Four Centuries of Spanish Engineering Overseas, a permanent exposition displayed at the Centro de Turismo in Intramuros; and A Synergy of Ventures: The Post War Art Scene, hosted by the Ateneo Art Gallery in commemoration of Fernando Zobel’s centennial birth, running until February 2026.

Top Spanish industrial designer Héctor Serrano will take center stage at three leading Philippine universities: DLSU-St. Benilde (October 14), UP Diliman (October 15) and the University of Santo Tomas (October 16).

The world-renowned Spanish National Design Awardee for 2024 will present a conference entitled The Journey in Between, offering students and art and design enthusiasts a glimpse into the creative and design processes that have shaped his 25-year career. The public may also catch him at Manila FAME on October 17 and at the closing of Manila Design Week on October 18.

Spain’s preeminent expert on the Philippines, Lola Elizalde, will deliver three conferences: Permeable Borders: Interactions between Population Groups in 19th Century Philippines (October 14, Casa Azul, Intramuros); Modernizing an Old Empire? Controversies over the Introduction of a Reformist Policy in 19th Century Philippines (October 15, Centro de Turismo, Intramuros); and Leisurely Legacies: Social Histories of Recreation in the Spanish Philippines (October 16, UP Diliman).

October would not be complete without the Spanish film festival Pelikula, which will showcase movies from Spain and Latin America from October 10 to 16.

This year’s edition is made extra special with short films created by young Filipino filmmakers, including one in the Philippine creole Chabacano, highlighting the enduring Spanish influence on local languages.

As part of the celebration of the Spanish language alongside Pelikula 2025, the 7th edition of Jornadas de ELE Manila will take place on October 24 and 25 at UST.

Focused on lesson planning, content sequencing, and didactic resources, this annual event for Spanish teachers is organized by Ateneo de Manila, UP Diliman and UST, in collaboration with the Education Office of the Embassy of Spain and the Instituto Cervantes.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Cebu last week, local gaming communities from PUBG Mobile and Honor of Kings rallied together to extend aid to affected families through charity livestreams and donation drives.

PUBG Mobile Philippines launched #NinongPUBGMCares Stream For a Cause, a three-day initiative that brought together twelve online personalities and streamers. Their combined efforts, along with the support of their respective fanbases, resulted in the delivery of essential goods to families in San Remigio, Cebu City. The donations included 1,000 cans each of sardines and meatloaf, 1,000 packs of instant noodles, 500 five-liter bottles of water and 40 25kg sacks of rice.

‘We’re very grateful to the PUBGM community for making the ‘stream for a cause’ a success. Thank you to all our inaanaks who donated their time and resources,’ PUBG Mobile Philippines team saud in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Honor of Kings Philippines community organized #HOKbayanihan Stream For a Cause, a three-day stream relay featuring 17 esports personalities and content creators and familiar faces from the local Philippine league such as Mara Aquino, Mark Adrian ‘Butters’ Jison, and Chantelle Hernandez. The event raised in-kind donations of canned goods, instant noodles, water bottles and sacks of rice that were distributed to the Municipality of Medellin in Cebu.

The earthquake that struck Cebu last September 30 had a magnitude of 6.9 and triggered over 8,000 aftershocks, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). The off-shore fault that had caused the earthquake, now identified as the Bogo Bay Fault, had not moved in the past 400 years and is still being monitored by PHIVOLCS.

It’s October once again, and between National Mental Health Month and Halloween festivities, fear is on my mind.

The last time I wrote about fear was almost four years ago, with much of the world still in the midst of anti-COVID-19 measures. I can think of no other time in recent history that was so dominated by fear, in every facet of our lives, than the throes of the pandemic. But even now, when the virus has been relegated to background noise in the minds of those fortunate enough not to live with its after-effects, fear remains prevalent.

I do not necessarily say this as an indictment of the present day. The fact is that fear is simply a fact of human life. It is one of the earliest emotions we experience and, for many, one of the last as well. It is one of the clearest of emotions – we may be confused as to whether what we feel is love or not, but we are almost always certain if we are afraid. Fear is like a gas that expands to fill its vessel, something that we cannot look beyond. We are taught to look at fear as a negative emotion, taught to be brave and fearless and to not succumb to its pull.

But for all that, fear is still something that many of us – as individuals and as a culture – actively seek out or use. Fear is the instrument that many parents use to keep their children in line, to keep them safe. Fear of the law is what states use to maintain order when it comes to those who would otherwise act against (what is defined as) the public good. Fear is something many seek out, thrilling to scenes of carnage and tragedy in film or literature. A catharsis through play, the ability to experience our fears in a safe space.

That is not the kind of fear that we need to be careful of. As I wrote before, fear is something that has a place in our lives – it is the price we pay for being able to imagine our future, and an essential shortcut that protects us from immediate threats. But the danger of fear lies with that very nature – it allows us to act quickly precisely because it is a shortcut, specifically cutting out reasoning in favor of reaction. In the world we live in today, however, reason can and must play a role in filtering what we fear.

Fear is not only biological – it is learned, transmitted and expressed through culture. And what can be learned can be unlearned, or learned in a different way. If we fear the wrong things, the results can be catastrophic: we see that with children whose parents were more afraid of vaccines than of the diseases they inoculated against. If we fear the right things, but to a disproportionate degree – the so-called ‘probability neglect’ where a potential risk produces such an intense emotional response that we confuse the possible with the probable – then we not only risk making similarly bad decisions but also damaging our mental health.

In the modern times we live in, where the internet is a click away – a repository of unverified information and algorithms meant to affirm our biases – if mere statements and anecdotes are enough to inspire great fear, or even anger or hate, then we will rapidly overwhelm our mind’s capacity to deal with these fears and emotions. Fear serves a role, yes, but as an engine of action, whether it be fight or flight. A fear of too many things will paralyze us, prevent us from taking action and keep us from taking the steps we need to in order to protect ourselves and those we love from real and immediate dangers. What good is such fear then?

It is this kind of unreasoning fear that we must guard against, this kind of fear that we must unlearn. Information is not the same as education, and in these times of AI-enabled mistakes and misinformation, it is all the more important that we teach Filipinos to think critically and to cultivate an attitude that values investigation and verification. To take our time before arriving at conclusions, to examine evidence, biases and contradictions. To arrive at our decisions in ways that are transparent and accountable, not just based on tradition, gossip, speculative theories or gut feelings.

There is no shame in feeling fear. Fear is a natural function of being human, of living within a culture. Fear tells us a lot about ourselves, because what we are most afraid of will usually point to what we most desire to protect. We can use our own fear to keep us safe, to change our environment, to better our world.

But this is only possible for so long as we have a fear that acts as a motivating force, not as a shackle. A fear that approximates what historian and diplomat Alexis De Tocqueville called the ‘salutary fear,’ which ‘makes men keep watch and ward for freedom, not with that faint and idle terror which depresses and enervates the heart.’

And if so much unreasonable fear is caused by the unknown, then the cure for it then is to know – to learn, to discover, to educate and empower ourselves with the truth. As the scientist Marie Curie said: ‘Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.’

May we all understand more, and fear less, in the coming days.

Two weather systems could bring cloudy and rainy weather to certain areas in the country today, based on projections of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The northeasterly wind flow will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms in the provinces of Quezon and Aurora, as well as partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms in Cagayan Valley region and the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Apayao, according to the agency yesterday.

The southwest monsoon is expected to weaken further in the coming days, according to PAGASA.

The weakening of the southwest monsoon would lead to the transition to the northeast monsoon, which brings cooler winds to the northeastern parts of the country, PAGASA weather specialist John Manalo said.

Meanwhile, the regions of Western Visayas, Negros Island, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the province of Palawan may experience cloudy and rainy weather because of the intertropical convergence zone.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience localized thunderstorms.

The agency continues to monitor the movement of a typhoon close to the northeastern edge of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

The typhoon, with international name Halong, was located at 2,005 kilometers east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon as of 3 p.m. yesterday. It was carrying maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph and was moving west-northwest at 10 kph.

Kapamilya star Angelica Panganiban spoke candidly on how some celebrities become addicted to illegal drugs and alcohol to deal with pressure in their careers.

Appearing as a guest on Alyssa Valdez’s Spotify podcast, Angelica admitting being an actor is a very hard job.

“Alam mo kung ano yung mahirap na hindi naiintindihan ng mga tao? Akala nila yung mga artista, sasabihin nila, ‘Ah, ano iyan, wild iyan, ganito iyan, pariwara iyan,'” she began. “Makakarinig at makakarinig ka talaga ng mga ganu’n. Pero ang hindi nila alam, hindi naman sila mga artista. Hindi niyo alam ang pinagdadaanan namin every scene.”

Angelica said that their mental states are affected by the different emotions given during taping.

An example she gave was grieving a death in one scene, happily celebrating a birthday in another, then followed by a triggering scenario.

“Uuwi ka ng bahay na ang daming nangyari sa iyo, mentally. So, hindi ka talaga makakatulog,” Angelica added.

As a result, Angelica said many celebrities turn to addiction, eventually needing rehabilitation or else risk wrecking their lives.

“May ibang tao, ang takbuhan nila is alcohol or drugs. Nakaka-escape na sila, e [sa reayalidad ng buhay]. Parang gagaan ang loob mo, and then kahit paano, maitutulog mo,” Angelica continued.

“Gigising ka, it’s another day. Parang di mo na alam ulit yung nangyari kahapon. Para siyang blackhole, parang pag pinasok mo puwede ka niyang higupin. Magiging masamang tao ka na lang din.”

She did point out there are some professional actors who are capable of “snapping out” and distance themselves from performances.

Angelica then shared how she broke down back in 2009 as a result of too many projects – at the time she was working on “Rubi,” “I Love You, Goodbye,” “Banana Sunday,” “Kris TV,” and “ASAP,” on top of guestings.

She recalled one time breaking down in front of fellow actor John Pratts while at a taping for a comedy show, “Sino mag-aakala na may chance at makakaramdam ka ng depression o kaguluhan ng isip mo habang surrounded ka ng masasayahing tao? Pero wala, e, nangyari lang talaga siya.”

“Iyak ako nang iyak. Sabi ko, hindi ko na kilala yung sarili ko. Ang dami kong ginagawa,” she went on. “Tapos napo-portray ko sila with flying colors, pero si Angelica, wala na, wala na siya. Nasaan siya? Tapos iyak ako nang iyak.”

Angelica ended with the realization that being an actress is not her ultimate dream but becoming a mother to daughter Amile and a wife to husband Gregg Homan.

Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) head Raquel Arce has denied claims made by a former traffic enforcer that he was allegedly dismissed from service for failing to meet a supposed ‘quota.’

Arce clarified that the CCTO has no quota policy, but follows an ‘individual performance target’ system.

Mayor Nestor Archival likewise denied issuing any directive requiring traffic personnel to meet quotas to keep their jobs. He said he would not comment on complaints that have not been formally filed and only surfaced on social media, but encouraged concerned employees to file their grievances properly.

According to Archival, there is no such directive under his administration, and he sees no need to investigate further.

‘Kay og unsay sakto mao ra gyud nay buhaton. Kaysa manakop kag di angay dakpon aron managhan, that’s not fair,’ Archival said.

He added that the CCTO could not impose such a policy without his approval, noting that the agency’s guidelines are set by the Traffic Management Council (TMC), which has no provision for quotas.

‘Mogawas man nga kung naa koy ten (apprehensions) nya nagtrabaho ko’g tarong, unya ang akong area walay dakponon, mapugos ka’g pangdakop sa mga tawo nga dili angay. so wala jud ko mosulti nila nga panakop mo dira aron modaghan ta’g kwarta,’ he said.

In a separate interview, Arce said the term ‘quota’ may have originated from traffic enforcers themselves and was never officially adopted by the department. She explained that the CCTO follows a performance target system applied across all city departments.

For traffic personnel, she said, performance targets include the number of apprehensions-but this is not the sole basis for contract renewal. Enforcers are also rated on how effectively they manage and control traffic in their assigned areas.

Each enforcer’s performance, including apprehensions, is rated, and they are expected to issue at least two citation tickets a day.

‘So sa pagkakaron, makaingon jud ko, labi na gyud nga atong mga drivers, pwera sa maayo ha, ang atong mga drivers, mga badlongon kaayo, kanang duha ka citation tickets gamay ra gyud na sa usa ka traffic enforcer kung magtrabaho,’ Arce said.

‘Now moingon siya (traffic enforcer in question) nga wala kaayo syay dakop kay nag-man sya sa traffic, does it mean nga eight hour siyang naa sa tunga sa dalan?’ she added.

Arce said most traffic enforcers are deployed mainly during peak hours. The personnel in question, she added, issued only 12 citation tickets over two and a half months, compared to others who had at least 100 within the same period.

She clarified that the individual was among 70 traffic enforcers whose contracts were not renewed. However, Arce sought the mayor’s approval to reconsider 35 of them based on their performance.

The controversy surfaced after a certain Jemmer Cabingatan Cabajar Bacon posted a video on social media showing himself burning his CCTO uniform-worth around P4,000-while claiming that he and others were not renewed for failing to meet a quota.

‘Kami gatarong mi’g trabaho pero wa mi i-renew kay wala mi ka quota, mao nay rason sa opisina,’ he said in the video, where he also voiced the sentiments of other non-renewed enforcers.

In response, Arce maintained that setting reasonable targets is part of an enforcer’s mandate to implement traffic laws-not a quota system. She emphasized that the personnel in question was not renewed due to poor work performance, not the number of apprehensions.

‘Ang-ang man og ako syang pangayoan og pila ka tonelada nga basura nga iyang nakuha sa mga sapa nga ang iyang mandate is traffic enforcer man sya to enforce the law,’ Arce said.