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It has become a great source of anxiety to enjoy things nowadays, especially aesthetic things.

‘Men are from Mars, women are from Venus.’

‘Girls go to college to get more knowledge, boys go to Jupiter to get more stupider.’

The first was popularized by the counselor John Gray in 1992 to express the differences between the two sexes. The second is a schoolyard rhyme used by young girls to shoo away the taunts of their male classmates.

Be it innately biological or socially constructed, at this age, young boys are less likely to bare their emotions, as they would rather bare their teeth. Boys are indeed rougher, more rambunctious, more loud and mischievous: no wonder the term boisterous sounds like it has the word ‘boy’ built into it. And it carries on through high school and into the early years of college. But when these boys, now young men, are exposed to the culture of higher learning in academia; they come to realize the aesthetic aspects of life that are far more entertaining than the drivel they were used to in their youth.

Art, culture, music, film, literature-all these things suddenly become a more dominant dimension in their lives. It usually occurs at the point in late adolescent development when they become more interested in things other than themselves. The development of a boy to a young man begins in the crucible of genuine life experiences, compounded by the beauty and truth these experiences reveal. And this beauty and truth is reflected and further extended in the art and aesthetic around them.

These young men begin to read, to listen, to seek, and to curate what they seek. They begin to think more deeply, to contemplate. The general anxiety of achievement that hangs before most young men no doubt helps fuel this attitude. They begin to pay attention to what they wear, and to how the outside can more accurately reflect the inside. Their tastes move beyond mere chorizo and chicken (though we still indulge) and they take their first sip of bitter coffee or grassy-tasting tea. And they seem to like it.

All of a sudden, they realize that the outside is more conducive to genuine experiences than the inside. They go out more, and they either revel in nature and sport or in the quiet solitude of a cafe they have chosen to gatekeep from others. Young men, be they the brusque and highly masculine or the quaint and intellectual, seek to enrich their ‘experiencing’ as most men do. That’s why-for the most part- we like classical literature, traditional or Greco-Roman aesthetics, and/or dream of pursuits of grandeur that give our life meaning beyond our boyish compulsions.

Why would one ever hate that?

There is a popular and persisting notion that the only thing that truly motivates the male animal is carnal desire. From that, another notion springs forth: that men only act ‘cultured’ to attract women. These men have been called performative. I do not deny their existence. But when a label like that is thrown into a crowd, the explosion usually maims innocent bystanders, too. And when people started calling them ‘performative,’ seemingly all men became more anxious to explore their aesthetic sensibilities. At least in public. Now that that label has died down in relevance, I invite my fellow young men to go out and enjoy their aesthetic pursuits in peace.

Sartre called this ‘the Gaze’; be it the gaze of women, the gaze of other men, or the gaze of society. This ‘gaze’ casts a shadow of doubt and anxiety that threatens the freedom and autonomy of an individual and leads them to live their life in bad faith. That they shouldn’t be themselves, but be someone else more socially acceptable. And there is nothing more performative, in my mind, than that. Authenticity is a golden apple at this time of our lives, but we must keep reaching for it. And in reaching for it, we must live freely and authentically for it. For when you perform a character, all the praise and adulation goes to that character, not to you, not to who you truly are. Just as fans can come to hate a character and adore its actor, in ‘performance,’ you furnish a pagan idol for worship that only looks like you, but isn’t actually you.

Read your favorite book, order your favorite coffee, play your guitar or violin wherever you want to, speak your mind freely on things you believe in. Be moral, be ethical, of course. But in the space between the good and the bad, you have the freedom to seek the experiences that will build you up to who you will be one day. To perform a character is to build a facade, a facade that one day might not be stable enough for you to stand on. In Montaigne’s own words, ‘I shall see to it, if I can, that my death makes no statement that my life has not made already.’

Don’t worry, you are not ‘performative.’ You’re just a dude, we all are.

Former police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. underwent a lie detector test at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday.

This is in connection with his affidavit wherein he said he delivered suitcases of cash to Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte.

He reportedly made the deliveries at the instruction of his former boss, former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

In a Viber message to reporters, the NBI said Gracioso’s pretest and interview started at 3:30 p.m.

After conducting encoding and explanations, his actual polygraph exams and test proper began at 5:39 p.m. and finished at 6:30 p.m.

‘No results yet. The Polygraph Division is still processing,’ the NBI said, noting that ‘the division is on it working overtime.’

This is the second time that Gracioso took the polygraph test at the NBI.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag earlier said the former police officer’s first lie detector test was in June.

The test then covered only information about his identity and his relationship with the individuals mentioned in his allegations. Matibag said the result was ’99 percent accurate.’

Matibag also said Gracioso’s second test would be more ‘tedious’ and specific in tackling his narrations.

Gracioso is saying that he delivered suitcases of cash amounting to over P2 billion to Vice President Duterte, P1 billion to former President Duterte, and P100 million to Rep. Duterte.

The former cop said he brought the funds in tranches starting in 2018, supposedly upon the instructions of Velasco.

Vice President Duterte earlier released a statement to deny Gracioso’s allegations, emphasizing that she does not know him.

‘My lawyers are awaiting an official copy of the Gracioso affidavit from the NBI so they can begin working on the cases to be filed against him,’ Duterte said.

‘Once we are done dismantling the lies contained in his testimony, it will end up in the trash bin-just like the one from Ramil Madriaga,’ she noted.

Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena tripped on the wet runway at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium during practice.

Morning rain had left the surface slick, and a misstep sent the Filipino pole vault star crashing, scraping his left arm and leaving him with fresh burns hours before the day’s biggest battle.

By nightfall, Obiena had turned that stumble into a statement.

‘Some slippage. I had an accident this morning. I tripped and fell,’ Obiena said, pointing to the burns on his arm. ‘It is what it is sometimes. It’s not the best condition, but the jumps are not terrible.’

The 30-year-old world No. 11 closed his season with a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, clearing 5.75 meters to beat a 12-man field before soaring over 5.91 meters on his final attempt to break his own Games record of 5.90 meters set in Hangzhou three years ago.

It was Obiena’s 10th victory of the year, capping a long season with a continental crown earned under relentless rain-and the constant pressure of delivering like only he can.

From February to September, Obiena competed across continents, collecting medals along the way.

With his rediscovered joy for competition, it looks like Obiena will keep his schedule filled next year. ‘I’ll just keep doing what I do,’ he said. ‘I have a different perspective in my event. The things that I do, I’m enjoying it again. I’m happy to be going in training, I’m happy to be here and compete. I’m happy to take the risks, the highs and the lows of the sport.’

The conditions were far from ideal, with the rain bringing back memories of the difficult weather Obiena endured at the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia three years ago.

Still, Obiena was the only athlete to clear 5.75 meters. China’s Yao Jie and Li Chenyang both managed 5.70 meters to take silver and bronze, respectively.

With the gold secured, Obiena went after something more.

He pushed the bar to 5.91 meters.

Obiena cleared it on his final attempt, matching his season best from Poland and adding another Games record to a résumé that already includes the Asian record of 6.00 meters and back-to-back Asian Games titles.

It was a fitting finish to a season for Obiena, who can now be content after a highly successful year.

‘I’m satisfied. The Games record was already won,’ Obiena said. ‘I think I have a good jump in me. That’s pretty much the story. I’m better, that’s for sure. I’m getting smarter.’

Meanwhile, Carlo Paalam will try to move closer to the gold that has eluded the country’s boxing team since Guangzhou in 2010.

The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist will face Kazakhstan’s Makhmud Sabyrkhan in the semifinals Wednesday at Nishio Gymnasium.

Jedric Daa had the tall task of defending La Salle’s guards in Far Eastern University’s 90-78 win in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

But when Daa was credited for the struggles of the Green Archers’ backcourt threats, he quickly deflected the praise to FEU’s big men.

‘That wasn’t just because of me,’ he said, candidly, in Filipino. ‘The bigs also did their parts on why that happened.’

‘When I get beat, they pick up on defense. That wasn’t all because of me. I thank them for that.’

Daa’s defense, backed by FEU’s interior presence, helped frustrate La Salle’s playmakers.

Jacob Cortez struggled mightily from the field with just six points on an abysmal 2-for-8 shooting night.

When La Salle turned to its bench and called on Joaquin Tovera, he also managed just eight points on 3-for-9 shooting.

Daa, meanwhile, did his job on offense much like he did on defense, contributing 10 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal for the Tamaraws.

‘I had to run all over the court guarding Cortez and he just blows right past me but it’s okay because, again, our big men were there.’

The Inquirer has earned several finalist nominations in the 48th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), with its articles recognized for placing people’s experiences at the center of reporting under this year’s theme, ‘Preserving Human Voices and Faces.’

The finalist entries span special features, investigative reporting and news coverage, reflecting the newsroom’s commitment to telling stories that go beyond headlines and statistics to document the lives, struggles and experiences of people affected by some of the country’s most consequential issues.

‘Lives Lost Too Soon: Children Not Spared in Duterte Drug War’ by Kurt Dela Peña and ‘Where Priests Train for Battles of ‘Liberation” by Gillian Villanueva were among the finalists in the Best Special Feature category.

The drug war story moved beyond casualty figures to tell the stories of young victims whose lives were cut short during police operations, alleged vigilante-style killings and anti-drug raids. Meanwhile, the spiritual liberation story offered a rare look at Asia’s first Catholic exorcism center, exploring how the Catholic Church prepares priests for the ministry of exorcism, with a focus on spiritual discernment and pastoral care as priests respond to complex challenges faced by Filipino faithful.

For the Best Investigative Report category, Cristina Eloisa Baclig’s ‘Dead and Drowned: Cemeteries Vanish as Seas, Floods Rise’ examined a little-seen consequence of climate change and worsening flooding: the disappearance of cemeteries in vulnerable communities.

Focusing on Hagonoy, Bulacan, the report documented how rising waters, land subsidence and persistent flooding have transformed once-accessible burial grounds into submerged spaces, making it increasingly difficult for families to visit and honor their departed loved ones.

The Inquirer also secured finalist spots in the Best News Coverage category.

A two-part special report, ‘Debt service eats up biggest slice of budget pie’ and ‘PH debt stock projected to hit P19T by end of 2026,’ by Krixia Subingsubing, Nyah de Leon and Dexter Cabalza, with Inquirer Research, examined the country’s growing debt burden and how debt service consumes a significant portion of the national budget.

The series traced the legal and historical roots of the Philippines’ debt and examined what the growing obligation means for government spending and the resources available for public services.

Also recognized in the category was a series of reports from The Hague, Netherlands, by Kathleen de Villa covering the International Criminal Court proceedings involving former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The series included ‘ICC prosecutor shrugs off Duterte defense hitting media, witnesses,’ ‘From ICC press row: Du30 not in court ‘just feels wrong” and ‘When the drug war ‘Pieta’ reached The Hague.’

Through courtroom reporting, interviews and human-interest storytelling, the series documented the proceedings and the people surrounding a historic case before the ICC, giving readers an on-the-ground view of developments in The Hague.

Established in 1978 by the Catholic Church in the Philippines, the CMMA recognizes excellence in media that promotes truth, human dignity and Christian values. It honors media practitioners, artists, storytellers and content creators whose work promotes moral responsibility, social awareness and the common good.

Justin delos Santos is taking time away from the lucrative Japan Golf Tour to fulfill a dream.

‘Definitely an honor to represent the Philippines,’ Delos Santos told the Inquirer as he flies the three stars and the sun to Nagoya as part of the national golf team that will be shooting to win gold for the first time in the last three editions of the Asian Games.

‘I’ve always said I’ve wanted to compete for the Philippines to try and give the country the representation it deserves,’ the 31-year-old said as he forms a trio made up of Miguel Tabuena and Carl Corpus that will try to win the country its first men’s golf title in 40 years.

‘It’s my reasoning for playing [the Asiad] over the Japan Tour event the same week,’ he said after giving up his slot on the ¥150-million (around P60 million) Drugstore Cosmos Cup of the JGTO, his home tour for the last seven years.

Ramon Brobio, now the national coach who is with the men’s and women’s teams in Nagoya, won the 1986 gold medal in Seoul, South Korea, and the country has not won a title in these Games since Yuka Saso, then still playing for the Philippines, led a women’s sweep in the 2018 edition in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Even with the men’s field stacked with a lot of world-class talent-with multitime PGA Tour champion Tom Kim flying in straight from the Presidents Cup in Illinois to lead the fight for the Koreans-Delos Santos has utmost confidence in the team he’s on.

‘I want gold. It’s as simple as that,’ Delos Santos declares as action gets going at Kasugai Country Club on Wednesday.

‘I’m confident in myself as well as our team to perform.’

Of most of the foreigners seeing action in the Asiad, Delos Santos is one of the few who knows a little something about the game in Japanese courses. It’s an advantage he hopes to take full advantage of and share with Tabuena and Corpus.

‘It’s definitely nice to have the event be in a [country] I’m already comfortable in, as this is obviously a new experience for me,’ he explained. ‘So that familiarity will be big for me.’

Kim is the highest-ranked player in the men’s field, while China’s Ruoning Yin, the former world No. 1 and major championship winner, headlines the 45-strong women’s field which counts Bianca Pagdanganan, Pauline del Rosario and amateur Rianne Malixi, an All-American at Duke University.

The home team is also stacked with Keita Nakajima, who played on the PGA Tour full time this season after finishing inside the top 10 of the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) last year, and Kazuki Higa, the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit champion last year.

‘Salamat at naalala mo si Jazz,’ Dennis Trillo stated in his social media post, seemingly directed to fellow actor Patrick Garcia, who admitted to being remiss in his financial obligations to his son with Jennylyn Mercado.

Garcia, in his interview with Ogie Diaz, belied allegations that he had abandoned Mercado while she was pregnant with their son Jazz, claiming that he had tried to reach out to her and even offering to accompany her to maternity checkups.

He, however, admitted that he was abroad when she finally gave birth to their son. He also said that he had not been physically able to see his son in recent years, or provide financial assistance for his needs.

Mercado is now married to Trillo, with whom she has a four-year-old daughter named Dylan. Trillo has also legally adopted Jazz as his own son.Following Garcia’s revelations, Trillo took to his Instagram Story on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

‘Hindi ako pabor sa bashing, pero salamat at naalala mo si Jazz dahil na bash ang anak mo. Spread Love not Hate [red heart emoji],’ Trillo wrote.

Aside from Trillo, Mercado likewise urged the public to stop the bashing and respect their respective families.

Mercado’s management agency, Aguila Entertainment, meanwhile, said the actress ‘will not comment or grant any interviews regarding Patrick Garcia’s statements on Ogie Diaz’s YouTube channel.’

‘Everyone is entitled to share their story on whatever platform they choose. In this case, Jennylyn would rather not share her side of the story out of respect for the privacy and peace of mind of both her family and Patrick’s,’ the agency added.

It also asked the public to stop directing hate toward Garcia and his family, particularly his daughter Michelle, who is now undergoing a K-pop Professional Training Program at SM Universe Singapore.

‘Jennylyn asks the public to stop the hate and refrain from bashing Patrick’s family, especially his daughter, Michelle,’ the talent agency said.

The statement added that Mercado and her son, Alex Jazz, are ‘living a good and happy life’ with Trillo, their daughter Dylan, and Trillo’s son Calix.

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Becky Aguila’s statement

But Mercado’s longtime manager Becky Aguila was not as forgiving.

In a separate Facebook post, Aguila, speaking not as Mercado’s manager but as ‘second mom,’ lashed out at Garcia for seemingly disturbing the peace among them.

‘Sa dami ng pagkukulang mo ke Jen lalo na kay Jazz, mas inintindi mo pa magpa interview to protect your daughter from bashers at the expense of Jen and Jazz,’ she said.

The talent manager also questioned why Garcia did not reach out to her if he had concerns, saying she could have helped facilitate a conversation with Mercado and Trillo as she criticized Garcia for reviving an issue that Mercado had chosen to leave behind.

Aguila also disputed Garcia’s account of their past, saying, ‘Pasensya na Patrick pero ‘yung truth mo maraming kulang at dagdag.’

‘All I can say is that you never deserved Jen’s love in the first place. And you will never earn my respect,’ Aguila concluded her statement.

Garcia’s statements

The statements came after Garcia recently spoke about his nearly two-decade-old breakup with Mercado, whom he dated in 2007.

At the time, Mercado announced that she was pregnant with Garcia’s child. The couple separated while Mercado was pregnant with their son, Jazz, who was born in August 2008.

In his recent interview with Diaz, Garcia denied that he abandoned Mercado during her pregnancy, saying he was not present because, according to his account, Mercado did not want him to be there.

Garcia said he had kept his version of events to himself for 18 years because he thought it would be better for everyone to move on.

The ‘Tabing Ilog’ actor said he decided to speak after his daughter Michelle, 13, allegedly experienced online bashing connected to his past with Mercado.

The celebrity dad also addressed his relationship with Jazz, saying he last saw his son in 2017 and had provided financial support until that year.

The 2026 Miss Asia Pacific International delegates took a brief break from their tour of Cebu for a yoga session and to practice their ‘pasarela’ (pageant walk) with experts.

Before their turn on the runway in front of the judges, the 38 official delegates of this year’s competition strapped on their heels for a pasarela crash course with Antonio Gonzales in Lapu-Lapu City on Sept. 24.

The pasarela coach and founder of MUSE Philippines counts international and national titleholders among his trainees, including reigning Miss Charm Philippines Apriel Smith, Miss Worldwide Philippines Nicole Borromeo and 2025 Miss Eco International Alexie Brooks.

‘The Miss Asia Pacific International 2026 candidates took on an empowering Pasarela Training Session with Antonio Gonzales of MUSE, sharpening their runway skills, posture, and stage presence as they continue their journey toward the crown,’ the pageant posted on social media.

And after the physically demanding activity, the ladies got to relax on Sept. 29. They woke up early to greet the morning sun at TOPS, an open-air event venue in Cebu City, for a yoga session with Dawata founder Sepfry Grace.

With a panoramic view of Cebu City as their background, the ladies worked on finding their balance and getting their spirits attuned for the upcoming pageant activities. The session was capped with post-yoga puto (rice cake) and sikwate (hot chocolate).

‘Thank you for receiving Dawata so warmly and allowing us to be part of your wellness journey here in Cebu. It was such a beautiful sight to see women from different countries moving, breathing, slowing down, and simply being together,’ the wellness center posted on social media.

The Miss Asia Pacific International Organization shared photos from the session on social media. ‘A beautiful moment to slow down, reconnect, and recharge as they continue their journey toward the crown. Thank you, Teacher Sepfry and Dawata, for guiding our candidates through this meaningful wellness experience,’ the pageant said.

The 2026 Miss Asia Pacific International Grand Coronation Night will take place at Mactan Expo in Lapu-Lapu City on Oct. 10. Reigning queen Isabela Fernandes from Brazil will crown her successor at the end of the competition.

Bronny James seems to realize that the wildest part of LeBron James’ decision to change teams before his 24th NBA season is the fact he left his son behind to do it.

Bronny is still with the Los Angeles Lakers after his 41-year-old father’s departure for the Philadelphia 76ers. The younger James enters his third NBA season this week still working to win a rotation role with the team that drafted him in 2024 in the family’s adopted hometown.

Bronny and LeBron spent the past two seasons as the NBA’s first father-son teammates, an achievement LeBron said was comparable to any of his championship rings. But the top scorer in league history decided his hunger for another title was greater than his desire to stay by Bronny’s side.

In his first extensive public comments on this unusual situation Monday, Bronny confirmed he isn’t the least bit angry or disappointed by his dad’s departure.

He’s already well aware that when your father is LeBron James, many things are bigger than you.

‘Happy for him, and excited for where their season goes,’ Bronny said. ‘I’m excited to see him on Christmas, excited to play against him on Christmas. It’s going to be good.’

The 76ers visit the Lakers on Dec. 25.

While LeBron’s enthusiasm for being an engaged father to his three children is well-documented, Bronny said he didn’t have extensive discussions with his father about the move.

‘We’re men of very little words when it comes to talking about business and what we’re going to do and how we feel about each other,’ Bronny said with a smile. ‘It wasn’t really much, to be honest with you. He’s got his own path and I’ve got my own, so he knows that I want to make a name for myself and want to continue my career and keep growing as a player, and he knows I’ll want to focus on that, so he decided to (move).’

And while LeBron meets his new teammates and settles into Philadelphia this week, his son is getting back to work with the Lakers. LeBron won’t be a constant presence in the locker room and on the road to dispense guidance and leadership to his son – and he won’t be around for Bronny’s 22nd birthday next week, either.

That’s all fine for Bronny, who wasn’t fazed while he went through his first Lakers media day without his father’s massive presence and booming voice nearby.

‘Feels like he’s not here,’ Bronny said at the Lakers’ training complex. ‘I don’t really have an opinion on that. That’s my dad. I’ve spent almost 22 years with him, so just another experience that I’m going to be a part of, and I’m excited how it’s going to feel during the season. So I’m looking forward to it.’

LeBron said this week that he left the Lakers to chase his fifth championship ring. The unspoken part of that declaration is James’ apparent belief he’s closer to a title in Philadelphia than in Los Angeles, where his Lakers won just one playoff round in the past three seasons.

But Bronny is optimistic about the Lakers’ chances to build an exciting – and pointedly younger – core around NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic and prolific guard Austin Reaves. New center Walker Kessler should be a sharp upgrade under the opponents’ basket and on lob finishes, and he’s just one of nine new players hoping to win roles with Los Angeles.

‘Everyone is young, so there’s a lot of energy flowing around, and I think we feed off each other,’ Bronny said. ‘I don’t know yet, because we haven’t played a game, but because we’re young and we’re finding a way to get close to each other, I think we can feed off each other’s energy. There’s going to be a lot of guys that can go out and give full effort, turn up the game, and we can probably play fast because of how young we are. … We have a good chance of making it far.’

LeBron ended this family partnership right when Bronny appeared to be on the verge of breaking through to a regular role. Bronny played regularly down the stretch last season and into the playoffs while Doncic and Reaves were sidelined by injury, teaming up with his father for significant minutes in the Lakers’ first-round upset of the Houston Rockets.

Bronny wants to continue his growth as a secondary ballhandler and a point-of-attack defender, two roles in which he excelled for long stretches last spring. His father won’t be around for tips and critiques, but Bronny is ready to figure out some things on his own – and with ample help from his teammates and coaches, of course.

The New York Knicks are still deciding if they will become the first NBA champions to visit the White House under President Donald Trump, coach Mike Brown said Tuesday.

The president has traditionally invited the reigning champions, but that has not been the case under Trump. No team went during his first term or after he was elected again in 2024.

But Trump and Knicks owner James Dolan are close. They sat together when Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, and Dolan indicated after the Knicks won the championship that an offer would be accepted. The Knicks held their first practice of the new season Tuesday and Brown was asked if there was a determination about a White House visit.

‘No, it’s still something that our guys, or the organization, is internally discussing and, you know, whatever we decide to do, we’ll all do together,’ Brown said.

The Boston Celtics made the first trip by a champion in 1963, and President Barack Obama, who is a basketball fan, hosted the winner every year he was in office.

But Trump has feuded with some NBA players, saying during the 2018 NBA Finals that he wouldn’t invite whichever team won, after Golden State’s Stephen Curry and LeBron James, then with the Cleveland Cavaliers, said their teams had no interest in a visit.

The 2025 champion Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t visit the White House last season, saying the timing did not work out.

Teams often try to arrange their visit when they are in Washington to play the Wizards. The Knicks are scheduled for those games on Dec. 18 and March 16.