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The province of Zambales was placed under an orange rainfall warning on Friday evening, October 3, amid the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paolo, according to the state weather bureau.

The orange rainfall warning indicates 15 to 30 millimeters of rainfall within the next three hours, indicating that flooding remains a threat in the area.

A yellow warning level, on the other hand, is forecast in Bataan, Tarlac, and Pampanga.

Areas under the yellow warning level are expected to receive 7.5 to 15 millimeters of rain within the next three hours, and flooding is also possible in flood-prone areas.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rains with occasional heavy rains are expected over the following areas within the next three hours:

Metro Manila

Rizal

Cavite

Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta)

Laguna (Cabuyao, Calamba, Santa Rosa, Binan, San Pedro, Mabitac, Santa Maria)

Batangas (Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Balayan, Balete, Batangas City, Bauan, Calaca, Calatagan, Tanauan, Cuenca, Ibaan, Laurel, Lemery, Lian, Lipa, Mabini, Malvar, Mataasnakahoy, Nasugbu, San Jose, San Luis, San Nicolas, San Pascual, Santa Teresita, Taal, Talisay, Tingloy, Tuy, Santo Tomas)

The same weather condition is affecting Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, which may also persist for three hours.

Based on the 5 p.m. bulletin of Pagasa, Paolo was last located over the coastal waters of Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur, packing a maximum sustained wind speed of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of 165 kph.

Signal No. 3 was raised over seven areas in Luzon, while several other areas were under Signal Nos. 2 and 1.

A small piece of good news amidst the flood and tsunami of bad. I read in Radio Veritas Asia and other sites that the Parish of San Pascual Baylon-National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Salambao in Obando, Bulacan has announced that a donated Nissan Navara pickup will be returned to its donor. The bleeding-heart donor is none other than Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) former OIC regional director Henry Alcantara, who is on the list of the first 21 persons who will face charges of graft, bribery, and malversation of public funds for alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. You may read the full Inquirer banner story online: see ’21 face raps: Lawmakers, DPWH execs, contractors.’ (9/27/25)

On the list besides Alcantara are three senators-Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva, and Jinggoy Estrada-as well as former Sen. Bong Revilla, Ako Bicol party list Rep. Zaldy Co, former Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy, Carleen Villa, businessman Maynard Ngu, et. al. The list will become longer.

As to the Nissan Navara, the parish council said in its social media post that the vehicle was turned over to the parish on June 1, 2024. It was accepted ‘in good faith’ to be used as a transport vehicle for the Virgin of Salambao image when it visits different parishes. The council explained: ‘It was given wholeheartedly, and we accepted it without judgment on the intention of the giver.’ Imagine the Birhen ng Salambao onboard a vehicle of suspicious origins. I had attended a fiesta in Obando, where childless couples dance on the streets and pray to be blessed with children. Salambao is a native contraption used by fishermen.

Given the quicksand of their own making that the likes of Alcantara and his ilk are in, the parish council decided: ‘We are now taking the necessary steps to return it properly, to the rightful person, or institution, through the appropriate legal process. This decision follows the guidance of the Diocese of Malolos and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.’ It added that ‘If this caused concern to the Church and the faithful, we sincerely apologize.’

Bulacan was the epicenter of the corruption in flood control projects that came to light last month following massive flooding in the province and elsewhere, and the staggering wealth of DPWH-linked contractors whose misdeeds continue to be exposed. Billions of people’s money has gone into the pockets of a few who thought nothing of what their greed has wrought on millions of Filipinos who suffered immensely, not only in Bulacan but all over the Philippines, citizens deprived of the services they deserved.

On donations to churches, charitable organizations, and the like, one would expect that these groups are the most likely beneficiaries of excess wealth, be it ill-gotten or hard-earned. Pampalinis ng konsiyensia (to cleanse one’s conscience), as the saying goes. As to the recipients of purloined largesse, the churches especially, shouldn’t there be a way for the church leaders to know where the huge donations are coming from? Especially if these are delivered in the form of cash. Can’t the beneficiaries demand checks for, say, more than P20,000 instead of mounds of cash? This way, there would be a money trail in case.

It had been reported that a religious formation house and seminary for a locally founded religious congregation for men had received donations from Janet Napoles. The ‘pork barrel queen’ is now serving time for several crimes at the Women’s Correctional.

Remember the sport utility vehicles that were given to unsuspecting bishops during the Arroyo presidency? ‘Unsuspecting,’ if we give them the benefit of the doubt. The SUV donations gave rise to the word ‘Mitsubishops’ (derived from Mitsubishi, the car manufacturer) that tarnished the image of shepherds of the flock. That is the Pinoy way of getting even-by ridicule. If I remember right, some bishops did try to return the SUVs.

Pope Leo XIV, when he was bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, was said to buy secondhand vehicles and fix them so his priests could use them in their ministries. Here was an Augustinian friar who served as prior general of his order twice over and with a doctorate in canon law, doing his bit as a car mechanic.

Years ago, a friend of a certain age, now deceased, confided in me that a lawmaker known to her personally asked her if he could channel money through a foundation which she was part of. Money laundering, what else. She politely said no. No theatrics, just no.

With the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu two days ago and claimed the lives of 72 (as of this writing), one could not help but wonder if lives were lost also because of substandard public infrastructure.

There are many ways to be corrupt, but there are also many ways not to be.

As authorities ended search and rescue operations in northern Cebu following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Tuesday that killed 72 people and injured 366 others, the focus now shifts to relief and rehabilitation.

On the ground, however, the bigger picture of the victims’ dire condition has only begun to emerge, with President Marcos ordering the rush construction of a ‘tent city’ in Bogo City to temporarily shelter residents who were displaced by the earthquake.

‘So we had a little bit of a hard time because we had nowhere to put displaced families because we weren’t sure about evacuation centers. So our decision was to get big tents and set them up,’ Mr. Marcos said during his visit to Bogo City, considered ground zero of one of the deadliest natural disasters to hit the province in recent memory. Thirty of the casualties came from the city.

The President said the national government would tap the Philippine Red Cross to deploy its medical field tents, which were used at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as staging and isolation wards.

He ensured these tent facilities would have adequate supply of food, water and electricity through generator sets if necessary.

All accounted for

The Presidential Communications Office said more than 65,000 families were affected, with many of the thousands displaced opting to stay on open fields or in makeshift houses made of light materials due to fears of strong aftershocks.

Three evacuation centers remained open as of Thursday morning, hosting at least 171 families or 471 people.

Search-and-retrieval operations were officially terminated Wednesday night after authorities accounted for all missing persons, said Philippine National Police Public Information Office chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuano.

‘The concentration now is on relief and rehab operations,’ Tuano said at a news briefing Thursday. ‘We are working closely with local governments, [the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Public Works and Highways], and other agencies to restore order and help communities recover as quickly as possible.’

Office of Civil Defense spokesperson Junie Castillo said also on Thursday that local government units (LGUs) reported no unaccounted residents during a morning briefing at the Incident Command Post.

‘As of today, there are no reported missing, even from the LGUs. The assumption is all are accounted for,’ Castillo said in a phone interview. ‘Some private rescue teams have already been told they may demobilize unless they want to continue helping with relief or debris clearing.’

He said aftershocks remain a major concern, preventing many residents from returning indoors even if their homes were found structurally safe.

‘Even if their houses were not damaged, people are still afraid to go back inside because of the frequent tremors,’ Castillo said.

‘It is traumatic for survivors who already experienced the quake,’ he added.

Instead of staying in designated typhoon evacuation centers, thousands have sought refuge in open areas away from falling debris.

Clearing operations

Castillo also reported that most major routes in northern Cebu have been cleared making them passable again, though some local roads and damaged structures will take more time to clear.

‘Vehicles can now reach Bogo from Cebu City. The priority now is debris clearing in critical facilities, and relief for affected families,’ he said.

‘The focus has now shifted fully to relief, rehabilitation, and supporting displaced communities,’ Castillo said.

The Philippine National Police has deployed more than 2,200 officers to Central Cebu and nearby provinces to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Tuano said 2,250 personnel from Police Regional Office 7 and nearby units remain on the ground, conducting security, medical assistance, retrieval, road clearing, and transport operations.

‘Since Tuesday, our personnel have been deployed not only for rescue and retrieval but also to secure communities, assist in medical response, and provide transportation and logistics,’ he said. ‘As directed by the President, our focus now is on relief and rehabilitation, while ensuring security in affected areas to prevent looting.’

Authorities confirmed that 34 police stations and two headquarters sustained varying levels of damage, while six patrol vehicles were affected. Communications equipment, however, remained functional.

Despite the devastation, Tuano said no incidents of looting or major crimes had been recorded.

‘We maximized police visibility in affected areas. Even our personnel, though victims themselves, have not stopped working. Many of them have had little to no sleep,’ Tuano said.

Brig. Gen. Antonio Marallag, deputy director of the Directorate for Police Community Relations, reported that 37 police personnel were affected by the quake, including 36 uniformed officers whose homes were damaged.

‘We have made sure that while some of our personnel are victims themselves, there are sufficient forces left to assist communities,’ he said.

Restoration work

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) announced that electricity services in Eastern Visayas have been fully restored.

In its 10 p.m. advisory, the NGCP said the Leyte-Samar subgrid was completely restored at 7:12 p.m., ensuring normal power supply in the region despite several transmission lines in other parts of the Visayas still being down.

Earlier, the NGCP placed the Visayas grid on yellow alert after reserves fell below the required level. This was lifted at 9 p.m. after available capacity reached 2,239 megawatts against a peak demand of 1,950 megawatts.

A yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.

The NGCP assured the public that transmission services in the Visayas grid are now under normal operations and that restoration work on remaining affected facilities continues. -With reports from Leo Udtohan, Micheal B. Jaucian, Morexette Erram, Joey A. Gabieta, and Yolanda Sotelo

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Friday the Philippines will chair the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) in 2026, giving the country a key role in shaping Southeast Asia’s approach to digital governance and urban resilience.

The chairmanship was formally turned over on Sept. 9 by Malaysia’s Deputy Secretary-General Mohd Hazli Bin Ahmad Adnan to Interior Undersecretary Marlo Iringan during the ASCN’s 8th annual meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

In his remarks, Iringan said smart communities are not just about building high-tech systems but about practical improvements in daily life.

‘They are real solutions that improve daily life-faster services, safer streets, more efficient mobility, and stronger resilience,’ he said.

Iringan pointed to projects such as Manila’s e-government services, Cebu’s automated traffic system, and Davao’s transport and security upgrades as examples of how smart city initiatives directly benefit communities.

According to the DILG, the Philippines is also advancing its own framework through the Developing Resilient, Innovative, Vibrant and Efficient Smart Local Governments Nationwide (DRIVEN) Program, developed with the World Bank. The initiative aims to create a national smart governance platform linking local government units with technology and infrastructure partners.

Iringan added that the country’s chairmanship will emphasize accountability and resilience in local governance. He noted the recent inclusion of Cauayan City in the ASCN as an example of how smaller LGUs can meet smart city standards.

Established in 2018, the ASCN links 35 cities across the region to pursue sustainable and innovative solutions to urban challenges.

The DILG said the chairmanship will allow the Philippines to highlight the role of local governments in regional efforts on modernization and climate resilience.

At least 500 families here and in Cagayan de Oro City lost their homes on Thursday due to massive fires that swept through their communities.

In a coastal strip of Barangay 21-C here, a huge blaze that raged around 5 p.m. cut through five sub-villages until it was put out at past 7 p.m.

Village chief Joenard Gabrillo said the fire gutted at least 400 housesAs of Friday morning, personnel of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) were still accounting for the total number of affected families who are temporarily sheltered in the gymnasiums of Barangay 21-C and Barangay 22-C.

Each family is allocated a modular tent. CSWDO also operates a mobile kitchen that provides meals for the families.

Acting Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte II visited the displaced families in the evacuation centers on Thursday night, leading the distribution of relief supplies and vowing financial assistance.

On Friday morning, some of the affected residents returned to their houses to scavenge for whatever valuables remained, such as roofing sheets that could be sold as scraps. In Cagayan de Oro City, 89 families of Barangay 17 were left homeless in a fire that broke out around 12:30 p.m.

The displaced families are currently setting up makeshift shelters under the Marcos Bridge, not far from their old community.

Village chief Anthony Atterviry said the gutted houses also hosted students and workers as boarders./coa

Aby Maraño is looking forward to the much-anticipated comeback of Mylene Paat, the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference MVP, who is set to bolster the revamped Chery Tiggo EV Crossovers.

The Crossovers, led by Maraño, impressed in the preseason with a runner-up finish in the PVL on Tour and fourth place in the Invitational.

But what excites the Chery Tiggo captain most is the return of her best friend and fellow former national team standout.

‘She’s coming back. But that’s not really my story to tell. I’m just proud of her. Seeing the results of her recovery journey is amazing,’ Maraño told the reporters in Filipino. ‘It’s so fulfilling to see her back, not just because she’s my best friend, but also because her presence on the court is something else. She brings a different energy.’

Paat’s return, along with Cuban import Yunieska Batista, gives Maraño confidence that the Crossovers can sustain their momentum.

‘I’m really hoping we can bring all the learnings from the PVL on Tour into this conference,’ she said. ‘And with the chemistry we’ve built with Yunieska, I hope it becomes a real strength for us as we compete. We want to be able to go toe-to-toe with the strong teams this conference.’

‘We’re a hardworking team. It’s the same feeling we had during the PVL on Tour that we’re not expecting much, just focusing on what we could do together as a team. And for me, I’m really excited to see how our current chemistry will hold up against other teams, especially there are foreign players and some of the Alas players have returned to their teams. This conference will definitely be more competitive and challenging,’ she added. Maraño describes the chemistry with Cuban import Yunieska Batista as ‘chef’s kiss’ as she joins forces with Ara Galang, Ren Peñafiel, Jasmine Nabor, Imee Hernandez, and Jen Nierva.

‘She’s a very mature player, really easy to get along with on and off the court. She’s not picky, she adjusts well, and she doesn’t give off that ‘VIP import vibe’ that you sometimes see. She’s super humble and a really good follower,’ she said. ‘I can really feel that she respects us local players, especially me. We’re actually the same age, which makes our dynamic even better. Now I feel like I have more support when it comes to leadership, especially with her, Ara, and Mylene all contributing.’

ACEN Corp. is injecting P900 million into its wind power project, seen to be the biggest such facility in the Philippines straddling the provinces of Quezon and Laguna.

In a disclosure on Thursday, the listed energy arm of the Ayala Group said it had executed a loan deal with its subsidiary Giga Ace 6 Inc. for the Quezon North Wind Power project.

Giga Ace 6 is the group’s special purpose vehicle for the development of the 553-megawatt (MW) onshore wind park.

Earlier this year, the unit had also obtained P34.4 billion from the Bank of the Philippine Islands, BDO Unibank, Inc. and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

A total of P70 billion of investment is needed to develop the major wind project, according to ACEN.

2 phases

The company said it had also previously extended infrastructure and transmission asset support for the project’s Phases 1 and 2.

Phase 1, which is expected to be finished by late 2026, has a generating capacity of 344.5 MW. Phase 2, meanwhile, will involve 208 MW and completion is seen by the end of 2027 or early 2028.

The project is located in the towns of Mauban and Real in Quezon as well as Paete and Kalayaan in Laguna.

With a series of renewable energy projects sprouting here and in its foreign markets, ACEN has an ambitious goal to hit 20,000 MW of capacity by 2030.

Portfolio

ACEN’s clean energy portfolio currently stands at 7,000 MW.

Overseas, the company has projects in Australia, Vietnam, Laos, India and Indonesia.

In the first half of 2025, the firm saw a sharp drop in its net income, reaching P763 million from P6.3 billion, blamed on a one-time loss from its Vietnam wind parks.

Flooding is imminent in several parts of Luzon as Typhoon Paolo continues to bring heavy rain this Friday, Oct. 3.

In its 11 a.m. heavy rainfall warning, Pagasa placed Zambales and Bataan under the Orange Rainfall Warning, which means flooding is threatening and residents should be ready to evacuate if needed.

Batangas, Cavite, and several towns in Quezon-Tayabas, Atimonan, Pagbilao, Lucena, Tiaong, San Antonio, Dolores, Sariaya, Candelaria, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Calauag, Lopez, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, Mulanay, San Narciso, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Polillo, Burdeos, Panukulan, Jomalig, Patnanungan, San Francisco, and San Andres-were under a Yellow Rainfall Warning, indicating possible flooding in flood-prone areas.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila, Rizal, Pampanga, Bulacan, Laguna, and Tarlac, along with other parts of Quezon province, were experiencing light to moderate rain with occasional heavy rain that could persist throughout the day.

Pagasa noted that rainfall could be higher in mountainous areas, with impacts worsened by earlier downpours. /abc

Tickets for the inaugural Fifa Women’s Futsal World Cup that will start on Nov. 21 at Philsports Arena in Pasig City can now be availed online, and fans won’t need to spend a fortune to witness the Filipina5 and some of the best in the indoor scene strut their wares.

Fifa and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) said tickets for the group stage are priced at P1,399 for premium seating and P699 and P499 for the lower and higher sections of the general admission, respectively.

Prices are for each doubleheader, as there will be three matchdays that are going to have four games, and can be purchased through the tickets section of Fifa’s website.

World Cup tickets were made available last Sept. 27 after a presale period.

The Philippines will play host to the first staging of the competition, and joins 15 other nations that were divided into four groups.

The Filipina5 will face Poland in the opening doubleheader of the competition while they’ll also take on Morocco on Nov. 24 and Argentina on Nov. 27 in Group A.

Also in the tournament are Spain, Thailand, Colombia and Canada in Group B, Portugal, Japan, New Zealand and Tanzania in Group C and Brazil, Iran, Italy and Panama in Group D.

Coach Rafa Merino and his Philippine squad are currently in Japan as part of their buildup for the World Cup. The Filipina5 also faced their Japanese counterparts in a friendly.

During their stay, the squad was able to catch up with Paris Olympics double gold medalist Carlos Yulo, who is also training with the national gymnastics team.

Yulo even joined the team in a social media video to promote the upcoming World Cup.

The highly anticipated Klook Travel Fest 2025 is set to return this year, bringing some of the biggest and most irresistible travel deals to Filipino travelers. The three-day festival will run from October 10 to 12, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM at SM Mall of Asia Main Atrium.

‘We’re very excited to be launching this year’s Klook Travel Fest! We’ve strategically patterned our promotions with the results of our Klook Travel Pulse from earlier this year to make sure we’re giving our Klookers deals aligned with what they’re actually looking for,’ Ulla Roqueza, Klook Philippines’ Associate Director for Marketing, shared.

Visitors can look forward to Buy-1-Get-1 Flash Deals, all-day travel freebies, surprise giveaways, and exclusive 50% off promotions, or vouchers with savings of up to ?10,000. Designed to inspire and empower travelers to explore more for less, the event offers unbeatable deals across a wide range of destinations, including the Philippines, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

Deal after Deal, Day after Day

Going to Singapore soon? Score a surprise deal for tickets to different activities in Mandai Wildlife Reserve – from its world-famous Singapore Zoo, the Amazon River Quest at the River Wonders, a nighttime discovery at the Night Safari, to a feathery meet at Bird Paradise, or even an adventure in the multi-layered Rainforest Wild Asia. Discover where adventure, education, and conservation blend into one. If boating is your family’s bet, keep your eyes peeled for flash offers you can enjoy when you purchase Disney Cruise Lines for an aquatic adventure aboard with Duffy and friends – from its themed areas, magical entertainment, and exquisite dining, it’s a holiday you’ll never forget.

Buy 1 Get 1 when Visiting Vietnam

If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, this year’s festival has you covered with Buy 1 Get 1 Attraction Tickets for Sun World Vietnam. Look over the stunning views of rich forests and hills from the Sun World Ba Na Hills cable car or ride the breathtaking Alpine Coaster, one of the many attractions in the famous Fantasy Park. More of a beach person? After all the fun at Aquatopia Water Park and Exotica Park, Sun World Hon Thom offers immaculate white beaches, as well as the world’s longest cable car overlooking pristine blue waters. You can also bag tickets to Sun World Fansipan and take the scenic route to the peak of Fansipan Mountain. With options ranging from monorails and funiculars to cable cars and even hiking, the trip is easily customizable to suit your needs and interests.

Whether for family trips or solo travel, Sun World’s recreational parks are perfect for travelers and groups of all ages!

Hot Deals to Hop Around Hong Kong

Explore the beauty of Hong Kong after securing hot discount drops for activities across Asia’s World City. The Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car is a whole experience in itself that’ll sweep you off your feet with a scenic ride to the Ngong Ping Village. BigBus Hong Kong, on the other hand, is a guided open-top bus tour that takes you around the lush city of Hong Kong. Visit the iconic Ocean Park Hong Kong, where adventure awaits, whether you’re exploring the zoo or going on a thrilling ride. Don’t forget the magical Hong Kong Disneyland, where you can experience eight different themed lands that transport you to the magical world of Disney.

Get Even More Discounts with our Payment Partners

After adventuring through all that this year’s Klook Travel Fest has to offer, double down on your deals and get an extra PHP 500 off when you pay with GCash! Get an additional 10% off both local and trending destinations (like Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan), as well as 0% installment for 6 months when using GGives. Maya users get an exclusive 20% off first-time hotel bookings and an extra 15% off on experiences and transport for both local and international destinations. Check out with BDO Credit Cards and Debit Cards to get 15% off your total basket for optimal savings that can be used during your upcoming holiday instead!

Meet Your Favorite Klook Kreators

Awarded the title Kreator of the Year in 2025, you’ll find Jax Reyes gracing the Klook Travel Fest 2025 stage with his TikTok-famous travel hacks! Also in attendance is the real and relatable Marvin Samaco, with his easy-going itinerary inspiration and budget travel tips. Famous travel Kreator, The Poor Traveler, will also be making an appearance to share helpful travel tips for first-timers. Expect more of your favorite Klook Kreators to step into the spotlight throughout the three exciting days of this travel fest.

How to Prepare for Klook Travel Fest 2025

Make sure you don’t miss out on this year’s festivities by following these five simple steps:

Download the app through the Google Play Store or the Apple Store.

Book the Klook Travel Fest 2025 FREE Admission Ticket in Manila and download your free admission QR code for scanning upon entrance.

Stay updated on all things Klook Travel Fest 2025 by following Klook’s Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Study up by learning how to use the platform!

Prepare all your essentials, like your government ID, your Klook App, and your admission QR code.

Make sure to visit the Klook Travel Fest 2025 for this year’s most exciting travel fest yet! Download the Klook app through the Google Play Store or the Apple Store to discover unforgettable experiences. For more information, follow Klook on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.