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Another day, another issue when it comes to women’s sports in the Philippines. For those who may not have caught the development that happened near the end of September, a report revealed that the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) was operating under a new payment structure for referees this season: referees working women’s games were reportedly paid only P2,000 per game, compared to P3,000 for the men’s collegiate division and P2,500 for the men’s juniors division.

These new rates are higher for men’s games, while the women’s games rate is P500 lower than the previous season.

Two prongs don’t make a right

For those who may not see what the issue is with that, it’s two-pronged. The first prong is, of course, that the UAAP management has found a way to undercut referees’ pay despite the league making what we can only assume is a lot of income from a glut of brand sponsors, ticket sales, and a solid TV deal. Refereeing is still a tough job that requires a lot of experience and knowledge of the game, no matter who’s playing it, which is why they deserve to be paid fairly.

Second, and the more important issue: Paying referees less to officiate women’s games essentially tells everyone that that side of the sport is less skill-intensive, therefore not requiring as much compensation, aside from the gender bias and double standards, of course. UAAP Commissioner Jai Reyes pretty much admits this in his statement after the controversy blew up, saying: ‘Mas mabilis ang laro sa lalaki, so mas mahirap siyang pituhan (Men’s games are faster, and so are harder to officiate).’

On his part, Reyes has also attempted to downplay the entire controversy by posting a photo with a smiling female referee, implying that they didn’t take any issue with his policy.

Women speaking up for women

Of course, we’re in 2025 and thankfully, a lot more people know better (especially with the recent rise of women’s basketball), so the backlash was swift.

Players and their coaches, who are actually in the trenches of these games, called it out. Senator Pia Cayetano, an athlete in her own right, has stated publicly that this new system is actually a violation of both the Magna Carta for women and local labor laws. Women’s rights and welfare partylist Gabriela, through Rep. Sarah Elago, reinforced the call for both paying referees right and valuing women’s sports properly.

Women’s sports advocacy group Go Hard Girls has even started a public petition to the Philippine Commission on Women to address the UAAP’s regressive policy.

‘This policy does more than reduce pay-it reinforces outdated stereotypes and undermines the legitimacy of women’s basketball,’ said Go Hard Girls founder Ceej Tantengco-Malolos in the letter. ‘It discourages referees from officiating women’s games, threatens the quality of competition, and signals to athletes that their games are less worthy of professional standards.

‘It communicates that women are second-class athletes in their own league, and that top-tier officiating is essential for men but optional for women. Furthermore, the implication that underperforming referees will be relegated to the women’s division and high-performing referees will be promoted to the men’s division poses a risk to the safety of the women athletes and the fairness of the games.’

‘Referees officiating women’s games undergo the same training, spend equal time in the arena, and are tasked with upholding the same standards of fairness and safety-yet are paid less. In an already challenging economy with rising costs of living, this is unacceptable.’

They deserve better

Women in the field are already thankful for the exposure and the petition.

‘On behalf of the Women’s Basketball Officials Association (WBOA), we sincerely thank you for raising this issue and for courageously standing up for gender equity in sports,’ says Ivy Rose Villar, a female referee with the WBOA, about the petition.

‘We can’t take one step forward with decisions that take three steps back,’ says Kitkat Torre, sportswriter and courtside reporter for the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. ‘2025 is the year for our female referees, athletes, coaches, and members of the sports community to be given the credit they deserve.’

The good thing is that it’s pretty clear, even to the non-basketball or women’s sports fan, how damaging and backwards the mere pay reduction is. Of course, there are still those who aren’t caught up to speed in the 21st century, but I like that, for the most part, we don’t have to explain ad nauseam why this isn’t a good look.

If anything, that’s a glimmer of hope-even if it seems like the UAAP may not be budging on this (until real legal action is threatened).

Why do we work so hard? Is it the desire to accumulate material things, to provide comfort for ourselves and our families, or to feel that we are living out our purpose? Whatever the reason, many of us fall into what Arianna Huffington calls a delusion: that to be more, we must do more.

When I was younger, sleep was never an issue. I could attend school, go out late with friends, and still make it to my morning class. Later, in my early career, I wore sleeplessness almost like a badge of honor-staying in the office burning the midnight oil, heading straight into early presentations, and pushing through long days without a second thought. Back then, I thought less sleep meant more productivity, more ambition, more of me.

When heavy fatigue deepens into stress, it often spills over, and those we love most become the unintended bearers of our moods

But time has a way of humbling us. Our bodies eventually remind us that rest is not optional. Today, as a wife to a loving and supportive husband, a mother to three beautiful tween girls, a homemaker, and an entrepreneur, I understand this more deeply. Juggling multiple roles can be rewarding, but it is also demanding. Sometimes the toll shows up in small but undeniable ways, like a twitching eye. When heavy fatigue deepens into stress, it often spills over, and those we love most become the unintended bearers of our moods. Perhaps this is the body’s way of speaking firmly yet tenderly that it is time to recover.

My hope is that for many of you, it doesn’t have to reach that point-where your body is the one telling you what your mind has long ignored.

Sleep is not the enemy of productivity, but its greatest ally

And so, I’ve learned that sleep is not the enemy of productivity, but its greatest ally. It is not a weakness or overindulgence, but it is a serious investment in longevity, clarity, and well-being. If we splurge on anything, let it be on the place where we spend a third of our lives: our bed.

The luxury of rest

We splurge on handbags, cars, gadgets, meals, and trips-each giving us joy, but often in passing. True renewal, however, lies in the kind of luxury that lasts: deep, restorative sleep. Getting at least seven to eight hours is a serious investment in both longevity and productivity.No sleep sanctuary is complete without its foundation: a truly good mattress and set of pillows. I favor Sealy Posturepedic-there’s something magnetic about the way it supports, cradles, and restores-paired with goose-down pillows. The best ones today are soft and free of the sharp quills that once made them troublesome. With quality and care, they stay comfortable for years, turning every night into true recovery.

True renewal, however, lies in the kind of luxury that lasts: deep, restorative sleep

Linens, too, shape the experience. The old myth that higher thread counts guarantee quality has long been dispelled. What matters most are the quality of the fibers and the weave. Egyptian cotton, with its long-staple fibers, borne of the Nile’s good weather and fertile soil, offers a softness that endures, making it the gold standard to this day. Percale lends a crisp, cool finish, while sateen offers a smoother, more indulgent drape. The right choice is less about labels and more about what feels best for your body and lifestyle.

Brands like Frette understand this instinctively. Their sheets are not merely functional; they are sensual, even ceremonial. Add your own touches-monogrammed pillowcases, the weight of a perfect blanket, or the ritual precision of hospital corners-and the bed transforms. It ceases to be just furniture and becomes a sanctuary, one that welcomes you night after night.

Creating a sanctuary

A bedroom designed for recovery should feel like a hotel suite tailored just for you

A bedroom designed for recovery should feel like a hotel suite tailored just for you. Hotels like The Four Seasons understand the business of sleep, with beds so inviting you remember them long after check-out. Even business hotels such as Microtel by Wyndham know that true hospitality begins with rest-because in the end, everybody dreams better on good sleep.

Bedside tray filled with things that soothe the senses

A bedside tray for your trinkets and prayer beads. A carafe of water infused with lemon or grapefruit. Lighting that adjusts with your mood-bright enough for a book, soft enough for winding down. Scents that soothe the senses, like my favorite-lavender and vanilla. Even the discipline of making your bed each morning transforms the space-because what greets you at night is not chaos, but calm. All these are not excesses; they are signals to the body that it is safe to rest, that the day is done.

The bed is more than a bed

Our beds are not just for us. They are where children crawl in with stories of their day, where pets claim their corner, and where partners share quiet conversations before sleep. They are spaces of intimacy, hospitality, and connection.For some, they are also spaces of faith. Prayers whispered in the stillness, reflections made before the lights dim. For others, they are spaces of leisure-a favorite show on Netflix, a breakfast tray on a lazy Sunday, a novel that lulls the mind into dreaming, and sometimes, a place of deep contemplation.In this way, the bed is both private and shared, sacred and practical, always restorative.

Rethinking achievement

If there is one thing you should splurge on, it’s sleep

The world often tells us to achieve more, accumulate more, and be more. But real achievement often begins in the quietest of places: a well-rested body, a clear mind, and a soul at peace.

High performers in every field know this. Jeff Bezos connects his best decision-making to getting eight hours of rest. Arianna Huffington rebuilt her empire around the philosophy of recovery. Roger Federer, one of the greatest athletes in history, called sleep ‘the ultimate performance enhancer.’ Even Bella Hadid, at the height of her modeling career, considers sleep essential to beauty and well-being.

The world often tells us to achieve more, accumulate more, and be more. But real achievement often begins in the quietest of places: a well-rested body, a clear mind, and a soul at peace

Their success, whether in boardrooms, catwalks, or courts, rests-quite literally-on sleep. So perhaps the true luxury is not another hour of work, but the indulgence of closing our eyes in a bed that welcomes us, restoring body, mind, and spirit.Splurge where it counts. Splurge on your sleep.

Bedside rituals

Transform your bedroom into a sanctuary for recovery with thoughtful details-quiet luxuries that signal it’s time to rest:

Bedside carafe: infused water with orange or grapefruit (minus the skin) for hydration

Quality sheets: Egyptian cotton or linens by Frette, with the thread count that suits your comfort

Personal style: Monogrammed pillowcases, textures, and colors that reflect your taste

Calm scents and atmosphere: Soothing fragrances, good air, and the right temperature to lull you into deep rest

Rosary or prayer beads: Grounding rituals to center the spirit

Soft night lamp: Warm light for reading without disturbing others.

Trinket tray: To gracefully hold your watch, eyeglasses, jewelry, Tempur sleep mask, and phone

Alarm clock: To wake you gently, without letting you reach for your phone first thing in the morning

A good book: A screen-free companion for winding down

Sleepwear (or lack of it): From crisp cotton or silk to a favorite worn-in tee, the best choice is whatever lets your body breathe and helps you rest with ease

Sleep tech: Oura Ring helps track patterns, heart rate, and deep sleep, guiding you toward better rest

You don’t see many sapphic love stories in Philippine cinema. That’s exactly why ‘Open Endings’ matters, said Leanne Mamonong, who plays one of the film’s leads.

One of Cinemalaya 2025’s standout entries, ‘Open Endings’ is about four queer women, all exes turned friends, whose bond is tested when one of them makes a life-changing decision. Leanne plays Mihan, while Janella Salvador is Charlie, Jasmine Curtis-Smith is Hannah, and Klea Pineda is Kit.

‘The simplest explanation is that it’s about friendship,’ said Jasmine. ‘But how simple it is, that’s how complicated it also gets.’

Leanne echoed that sentiment, saying representation was what drew her to the project. ‘We can handpick only a few sapphic films in Philippine cinema,’ she said. ‘It’s important that we keep telling these stories – and that’s the part we play in this film.’

And yes, as the title suggests, there are no neat bows here. ‘You have to watch it to know why it’s titled that way,’ teased Klea. Janella added: ‘It lives up to its title.’

Each actress brings her own brand of truth to the story. Leanne describes Mihan as someone who’s not exactly closeted, but ‘very careful about how she presents herself because she wants to protect her loved ones.’ Her character’s commitment issues, she hinted, add emotional weight to the film. Jasmine’s Hannah is ‘the mother of the group,’ the glue that keeps everyone together. ‘She’s the one with a sense of reason, and also the source of conflict,’ she said.

Klea’s Kit, meanwhile, is the lovable chaos. ‘She’s the loudest, the most makulit, the kind of friend you always have around,’ she said.

Janella’s Charlie is ‘fiery, chaotic, messy,’ she described. ‘She’s got a lot going on, but she’s so fun to be around.’

While ‘Open Endings’ brims with witty banter and hugot-worthy lines, its emotional core runs deep, said Jasmine. ‘For me, the most challenging was the second-to-the-last scene with Leanne,’ she shared. ‘I won’t spoil what it is, but our hearts and minds went to such a deep place. We pulled it off, and we’re very proud.’

Janella also pushed boundaries, literally. ‘There’s one scene that I did for the first time in my entire career,’ she revealed. ‘It wasn’t difficult, but I got really nervous.’

For Klea, who recently came out publicly, this project hits close to home. ‘You’ll see a different Klea Pineda in this movie,’ she said. ‘I enjoyed almost all of my scenes. You’ll understand why when you watch it.’

The cast’s chemistry is another highlight. ‘Even though we didn’t have a lot of time together before shooting, we clicked instantly,’ Jasmine said shortly before the film’s gala screening recently. ‘That doesn’t always happen on the first go, but we gelled – and it shows on screen.’

Behind the camera, directors Nigel Santos and writer Keavey Reyes built what the actresses describe as a ‘safe space.’

‘Sobrang appreciate namin sila kung paano nila kami inalagaan sa set,’ said Klea.

‘They deserve their flowers,’ added Janella. ‘You rarely get a really well-written, well-directed sapphic film. This was made with so much love.’

Jasmine agreed. ‘We even had an acting workshop, a SOGIE workshop, and an intimacy coordinator,’ she said. ‘We really felt protected, and we felt well protected on the set.’

The 2025 Cinemalaya runs until Oct. 12.

The 50th anniversary kickoff of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) served as a gathering of beauty queens, with titleholders serving as the teams’ muses, led by Miss Universe Philippines 2025 Ahtisa Manalo.

Aside from Manalo, her 2025 national pageant batchmates, Laguna’s Eloisa Jauod, and current The Miss Philippines-Cosmo Chelsea Fernandez were also at the PBA kickoff event.

Fernandez waxed emotional as she shared a photo of a pageant observer’s page wherein the three of them are posing side by side with their respective muse sashes. ‘My queens,’ she posted.

Manalo will represent the Philippines in the coming Miss Universe pageant in Thailand next month, while Fernandez will compete in the Miss Cosmo contest in Vietnam in December.

Also among the muses was 2024 Binibining Pilipinas International Myrna Esguerra, who is set to compete in the 63rd Miss International pageant in Tokyo, Japan, next month.

‘My First PBA opening appearance (I’m so lucky because Queen Ahtisa was also present and I finally got the opportunity to have a picture with her),’ she posted on Instagram.

Manalo was also a Binibining Pilipinas titleholder and was sent to the 2018 Miss International pageant, where she finished second overall.

Also at the event was Manalo’s Miss Universe Philippines predecessor Chelsea Manalo, the reigning Miss Universe Asia.

The PBA kicked off its golden anniversary in a grand celebration held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the Araneta City in Quezon City on Sunday, Oct. 5.

Property giant SM Prime Holdings Inc. isn’t just dominating the real estate market, as its real power move is on its rooftops.

Last July, SM Prime switched on the country’s largest rooftop solar photovoltaic system on top of a commercial building at SM City Fairview.

With nearly 7,000 solar modules across 4.3 hectares, about 11 percent of the annual electricity consumption of this mall is now sourced from the sun.

With efforts to go green traced back to a decade ago, the Sy family-led group now boasts of solar panel systems across 48 malls and properties. This means that more than half of the group’s 88 shopping malls in the country are now harnessing the power of the sun.

All output combined, this allows SM to generate about 72 megawatt peak (MWp) of renewable energy-which is like operating a power generation facility as big as the Capa Wind Farm of ACEN Corp. in Ilocos Norte.

This initiative has also put the property giant in the 2025 edition of the World Intellectual Property Organization (Wipo)-Green Technology Book, a flagship publication of the United Nations Wipo that highlights energy technologies.

‘This milestone is a testament to the foresight of our executive committee chair, Mr. Hans T. Sy. He saw early on that clean energy would be essential to resilient communities, and this continues to guide SM Prime in building sustainable and future-ready developments,’ said SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim.

For the executive, slowing isn’t an option as SM has set a bolder goal-hit 100 MWp before 2025 ends.

SM Prime’s target just shows sustainability runs in the family, with parent SM Investments Corp. seeking wider presence in the renewable energy space: from geothermal and solar sources to wind. -Lisbet K. Esmael

Asiabest’s next step

Nearly eight years without operations and a failed entry into the gaming market did not dampen the mood of Asiabest Group International.

Instead, it seemed to fuel its resolve even further.

The company, now eyeing the rapidly growing infrastructure sector, just closed a P150-million deal to acquire shares in its sister company, Concrete Stone Corp. (CSC).

Asiabest disclosed on Tuesday it had bought a 1.85-percent stake in CSC for a ‘discounted price’ of P15 per share.

CSC, established in 2018, is described as ‘one of the largest suppliers’ of construction materials in the country. It’s a subsidiary of Industry Holding and Development Corp., a registered holding firm with interests in manufacturing and raw material processing, construction and logistics led by businessman Francis Lloyd Chua.

As a refresher, we can recall that Asiabest announced plans in January to transform into an infrastructure holding firm via the P510-million entry of PremiumLands Corp. (PLC), the real estate firm of Chua.

PLC bought the 66.67-percent stake of Tiger Resort Asia Ltd., the operator of Okada Manila, in Asiabest.

Time will tell if this is the best move for Asiabest, which is operating in the infrastructure sector that is currently in hot water. -MEG J. ADONIS INQ

Is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ready to be a grandfather? His answer: ‘Yes, please.’

In the final part of BBM Podcast Episode 5, which aired on Wednesday, Marcos was playfully asked what advice he would give to any girl who wants to be his daughter-in-law or make him a grandfather.

‘Well, I’m at the stage in my life where I would say, yes, please. But I would also add good luck. Knowing my sons, good luck with that,’ he said.

Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos have three sons: Joseph Simon, William Vincent, and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander ‘Sandro’ Marcos.

Rep. Marcos’s love life has made headlines in recent weeks after actress Alexa Miro confirmed that she had a five-year relationship with the presidential son.

In the podcast, the president was also asked how he bonds with his sons, given their different personalities.

‘I don’t know. I don’t really have to think about it because I’ve always treated them as whole persons. I never sort of said, this is a child you need to. For example, I never did baby talk. I thought that’s the most silly thing to do. And I just dealt with them as people,’ he explained.

‘But over the years, we’ve already developed a way of relating. And each one is very different. But they all crack me up. They all make me laugh a lot,’ he added.

Marcos also took time to recognize his wife for devoting her time and knowledge to public service.

‘Once she gets hold of something and she decides to do it, she actually gets it done. And she’s very effective,’ he said.

‘She’s a smart girl. I mean, what can I say? I mean, and her legal trainer-her legal training serves her well,’ he added.

During the reopening of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on September 30, Marcos melted the hearts of the audience as he described how ‘lucky’ he is to be Araneta-Marcos’ husband.

‘Truly, I could not have asked for a better partner in this journey of service,’ he said./mcm

Alexa Miro, who just came from a breakup with presidential son Sandro Marcos, turned emotional while performing her version of Rockstar’s ‘Ika’y Mahal Pa Rin’ at the reality game show ‘Sing Galing.’

The actress earlier confirmed her five-year relationship and breakup with Sandro, the Ilocos Norte’s first district representative and the son of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos.

In the show’s episode aired on Sunday, Oct. 5, Miro, who was among the Sing-lebrities, sang the song as part of the game.

The first lines of the song was sang by hosts Randy Santiago, K Brosas, and Donita Nose who briefly joined Miro on the stage. While the three were singing, it can be noticed that Miro was holding her chest then covering her eyes and mouth.

When it was her turn to sing, Miro appeared to have struggled as her voice broke from tearing up. Miro’s emotions became more evident when she sang the line, ‘Ika’y mahal pa rin.’ She was also seen wiping her cheeks before the hosts returned to the stage.

Miro has yet to publicly comment about her performance as of this writing.

Miro previously confessed that she kept her relationship with Sandro from the public ‘for safety purposes’ since he is part of the first family. The actress also earlier named fellow actress Franki Russell as the alleged third party in the split.

‘Nasaktan kasi talaga ako sa mga huling kaganapan kaya siguro naramdaman ko na baka panahon na para magsabi ng totoo,’ Miro said of her admission. (I was really hurt by the recent events so I felt this might be right time to tell the truth.)

Nonetheless, Miro said she is open to reconciling with Sandro, saying she ‘will always have love for him.’

Senator Erwin Tulfo will automatically assume the chairmanship of the Senate blue ribbon committee if no one takes the post vacated by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson.

Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto earlier named Sens. Raffy Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Francis Pangilinan, Pia Cayetano, and Risa Hontiveros as candidates for the post.

So far, Sen. Raffy has officially declined, while Ejercito is still contemplating, Sotto told reporters in a message late Tuesday night.

‘Erwin could be a good choice. If no taker, automatically the vice chairman steps in,’ he added when asked about the possibility that no one would be interested in taking Lacson’s place.

Sen. Erwin is the only vice chairman of the blue ribbon committee, according to Sotto.

‘He has expertise and experience in investigative journalism. Matapang pa! (He is also brave!)’ The Senate chief added in a separate message to reporters.

At present, Sen. Erwin heads two committees: games and amusement, and social justice, welfare, and rural development.

His brother, Raffy, already said on Tuesday that he would humbly decline if offered the blue ribbon panel chairmanship, as he does not want to lose focus on his three committees. He currently chairs the committees on labor, migrant workers, and public services.

While grateful to be considered for the post, Ejercito said he is aware of his limitations.

‘There are others who are more capable of chairing this important committee,’ he said in Filipino.

Pangilinan, meanwhile, said it would be ‘unwise to accept a fourth committee’ as he now chairs the committees on agriculture, justice and human rights, and constitutional amendments.

‘I have championed the country’s food security and agriculture sector for the last 15 years. I believe it is in helping address the serious and dire challenges of the agri sector that I can best serve our country with my utmost,’ he said in another statement.

He was also hoping that Lacson would change his mind, but the latter is firm with his decision.

Lacson resigned on Monday as chairman of the blue ribbon panel amid its investigation into corruption allegations hounding the government’s flood control projects.

‘In the course of the current investigation, which has implicated some senators in the flood control mess, a number of our colleagues have expressed disappointment [over] the ‘direction’ of the blue ribbon committee, which this representation chairs,’ he said in his letter to Sotto.

‘Furthermore, some senators publicly and secretly pursue the narrative that I am zeroing in on several of my colleagues while purportedly protecting those members of the Lower House perceived to be the principal actors in the budget anomalies related to the substandard and ghost flood control projects,’ he added.

The Office of the Ombudsman will review the complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte over alleged misuse of confidential funds (CFs) by her office and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure, according to newly appointed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.

The 64-year-old former justice secretary made the remark following his appointment on Tuesday afternoon.

‘Actually, those reports are already with the Ombudsman. We will open them, study them, and question those who are currently in charge – as well as those who had the duty to handle the cases before we arrived,’ Remulla said in Filipino.

Apart from Duterte, respondents of these complaints also include other DepEd and Office of the Vice President (OVP) officials, like Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez, Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, former DepEd officials Sunshine Fajarda, and Edward Fajarda, among others.

Last year, Duterte’s office drew criticism for the alleged misuse of its 2022 confidential funds, which became the subject of an investigation by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

During the hearings, two officials from the OVP admitted to releasing millions in CFs to security officer Col. Dennis Nolasco and Col. Raymund Lachica, the head of Duterte’s security group.

OVP special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta said she turned over all the funds to Lachica, who was assigned to manage them.

Similarly, former DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda said he released the department’s CFs to Nolasco, whom Duterte had designated to disburse the funds.

The panel’s findings showed that Acosta encashed P125 million per quarter between late 2022 and 2023, while Fajarda encashed P37.5 million per quarter in 2023.

Moreover, two names – Mary Grace Piattos and Kokoy Villamin – listed in the acknowledgment receipts (ARs) for confidential fund expenditures of both the OVP and DepEd, could not be found in the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) records.

In September, Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo confirmed that the OVP’s P125-million CF in 2022 was spent in just 11 days – shorter than earlier reports claiming it was exhausted in 19 days.

The Commission on Audit’s 2023 report, released in December, also showed that the OVP spent over P375 million in 2023 – triple the amount recorded the year before. /mr

Alas Pilipinas player Steven Rotter is officially engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Sophia.

Rotter shared photos of his October 5 proposal, which took place during their 11th anniversary celebration with the breathtaking view of Yosemite National Park as the backdrop.

‘You’re my best friend and my rock, and since the beginning, I knew you were the one I wanted to spend forever with. I am so lucky that 11 years later I finally get to call you my fiancée, ‘Rotter wrote.

The Filipino-American spiker celebrated the milestone back home in California.

The Filipino-American spiker missed Alas’ historic FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship after he was ruled ineligible due to federation issues.

Rotter explained that he needs to change his federation from USA Volleyball to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, despite representing Alas Pilipinas since 2023.

The Spikers’ Turf Finals MVP still watched every game to cheer for his teammates, who finished 19th out of 32 nations with a historic win over Egypt and narrowly missed the round of 16 after a heartbreaking five-set loss to Iran.

Rotter is also preparing for the Spikers’ Turf season with the Cignal HD Spikers, who are returning to action this month.