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National University clawed out of an 11-point hole to drop the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 56-54, in their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament matchup Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Bulldogs, who absorbed their first loss in the tournament in their last game against the University of the Philippines, dropped a massive 15-2 bomb late to grab the come-from-behind win.

Jake Figueroa spearheaded NU with 17 points, three assists, three steals, two blocks and two rebounds. Jolo Manansala and Gelo Santiago chipped in nine markers for NU, which rose to 4-1 this season.

‘Credit sa mga players, especially itong dalawa. Siyempre, actually, hindi lang sila. Grabe yung defense namin, kasi hindi kami makahulog e. Grabe yung shooting, field goal percentage namin,’ NU head coach Jeff Napa said.

‘At least, confidence lang to take the shot, to take the risk, hats off sa kanila and alam nilang binigay nila kahit anong nangyari. Players na yun, hindi na ako yun. Players na nagpanalo nun, it’s all their heart, it’s all their effort,’ he added.

The game was tight through the final minutes of the third quarter, with a split from the line by Mark Parks making it a one-point deficit, 38-39, with two minutes left in the frame.

But back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers by AJ Fransman and Monty Montebon gave Adamson a commanding 48-38 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

Steve Nash Enriquez snapped the blitz with a triple of his own, but deuces by Matty Erolon and OJ Ojarikre gave the Soaring Falcons a 52-41 lead.

However, this turned out to be the only points of Adamson in the next four minutes as the Bulldogs bared their teeth both on offense and defense.

Eleven straight points by NU, capped by a Figueroa jumper, tied things up at 52-all with 2:26 remaining.

A short stab by Cedrick Manzano gave Adamson the lead anew, 54-52, but an and-one play by Figueroa pushed Adamson ahead for good, 55-54.

On the other end, Fransman had the chance to answer back, but his layup missed.

After a miss by Santiago in the next possession, Adamson had the chance to go for the win, but Figueroa stole the ball. He then sank a layup to put the cherry on top of NU’s comeback victory.

Manzano paced Adamson with 16 points and four rebounds, while Earl Medina had nine markers for the 1-4 Falcons.

NU shot 18-of-55 from the field good for 32.7%, compared to Adamson’s 33.3% shooting. However, the Bulldogs made 17 of their 24 free throws, compared to Adamson’s 10-of-13 clip.

Adamson will try to snap their three-game losing streak against the still-winless University of the East Red Warriors on Saturday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. On the other hand, the Sampaloc-based squad will take on the La Salle Green Archers on Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

Nearly half of the country’s teachers are handling subjects outside their field of specialization, a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) revealed.

According to the ‘Taught Off-Guard: When Specialization and Teaching Assignments Do Not Match,’ 43 percent of teachers are assigned to subjects for which they lack formal training or credentials.

Meanwhile, 32 percent are partially matched (handling both specialized and non-specialized subjects) while only 25 percent are teaching in full alignment with their academic background.

Mismatch refers to the practice of assigning teachers to disciplines for which they lack specialized credentials.

It is a global phenomenon that negatively affects teachers’ work, students’ learning and teachers’ well-being, confidence and self-efficacy, the study added.

To correct this, the study noted that recruitment policies must prioritize and enforce teacher-subject matching, supported by systemic reforms starting from pre-service teacher education.

It also stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between teacher education institutions, the DepEd and other agencies to ensure more responsive planning and sustainable teacher development.

‘Professional development programs should be expanded, optimized and made widely accessible to sustain teacher competence and close specialization gaps,’ the PIDS said.

Echoing the study’s findings, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) also reported that teacher-subject mismatch remains widespread, with 62 percent of public high school teachers assigned to teach outside their area of expertise.

The commission pointed to longstanding issues in DepEd’s hiring policies, which often prioritize teacher availability over subject-matter proficiency.

To address the issue, the study urged the Commission on Higher Education to enhance its quality assurance frameworks, conduct regular audits of teacher qualifications and invest in infrastructure aligned with curriculum demands – particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and technical-vocational fields.

Bonus release

In a separate development, the DepEd and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) jointly announced the approval and upcoming release of the 2023 Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for qualified teaching and non-teaching personnel.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Harmonization of National Government Performance Monitoring, Information and Reporting Systems (AO25 Task Force) endorsed DepEd’s eligibility.

According to the DBM, the department earned an 80-point score in the eligibility criteria, which made it qualified for the highest PBB rate of 52 percent of the monthly basic salary.

This rate reportedly marked a significant improvement from 45.5 percent in 2021 and 48.75 percent in 2022.

With the approval, a Teacher I, with a basic salary of P27,000, is now expected to receive around P14,040 for fiscal year 2023.

‘The approval of the 2023 PBB for DepEd workforce reflects our shared commitment to recognize the hard work and vital contributions of our educators to national development. With the strong support of President Marcos, we are ensuring that performance and dedication are rewarded accordingly,’ Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.

DepEd will coordinate with DBM for the issuance of special allotment release orders and notices of cash allocation to ensure prompt disbursement of the bonuses.

Regional and division offices will be notified once funds are ready for release.

‘Our teachers and education personnel are the backbone of our nation’s future. This bonus is a testament to their unwavering dedication. We thank our partners in government for their continued support in uplifting the teaching profession,’ Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

A bettor in Quezon City was the solo winner of the P223.5-million Grand Lotto 6/55 jackpot on Monday.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Melquiades Robles said the winner, who bought a ticket at a lotto outlet in Barangay Mariana, guessed the combination 21-27-51-19-14-53, which had a prize of P223,580,197.60. Twenty-six bettors won P100,000 each.

Theater and TV actress Pinky Amador posted a clip about fighting fake news that prominently features a food brand associated with broadcaster Anthony ‘Ka Tunying’ Taberna.

Pinky is seen walking towards a kiosk of Ka Tunying in an undisclosed location. As she nears it, she turns to the camera while pointing at the signage, ‘Bibili sana ako ng fake news.’

‘Ingat po tayong lahat sa mga papapakin natin. Maging mapanuri sa mga balita, iwasan ang pagpapakalat ng maling impormasyon,’ she wrote on the caption of her clip uploaded on her Instagram and Facebook pages. She also used the hashtags #Satire, #LabanSaFakeNews and #KurakotIkulong.

Ka Tunying is the name of Taberna’s bakeshop chain that sells baked goods, coffee and Filipino food. It has kiosks in the malls and airports.

Taberna recently made news after his past endorsements of an insurance firm linked to the controversial contractor couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya resurfaced. The insurance firm, Stronghold Insurance Company Inc., welcomed Taberna in a 2022 Facebook post as its first endorser.

Stronghold is reportedly the provider of bonds for Discaya’s Department of Public Works and Highways’ flood control projects. The firm said in a statement it is “not privy” to the contract between the contractor and the government. It also denied any links to the Discaya couple.

Taberna also made news after saying in his vlog that Sen. Risa Hontiveros made budget insertions for infrastructure projects in this year’s proposed national budget. Hontiveros has denied the allegations.

ZUS Coffee carved out a gritty 24-26, 25-23, 17-25, 26-24, 15-7 victory over Akari in the kickoff of the PVL Reinforced Conference at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal beset by a league issue with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

The PVL-PNVF clash resulted to the Reinforced Conference opening minus the supposed imports.

In what became an all-Filipino duel, the Thunderbelles emerged triumphant versus the Chargers in a five-setter with Riza Nogales leading the way for the winning team with 15 points.

Also coming through were Jovelyn Gonzaga and Chinnie Arroyo, who each fired 14 hits while Fiona Ceballos, Kate Santiago and Alexis Miner contributed 13, 11 and 10 points, respectively.

In the deciding set, it was the Thunderbelles who surged with poise and precision, orchestrating a decisive 7-0 closing run to turn a shaky 8-7 edge into a runaway win.

‘Sobrang hirap mag-adjust. Parang lahat kami nangangapa kasi biglaan ‘yung balita na hindi pa pala pwedeng maglaro ang imports,’ said ZUS Coffee libero Alyssa Eroa.

No go for imports

The beautiful peace that Philippine volleyball has enjoyed the past few years has been broken.

It was breached yesterday after its two biggest stakeholders – the pro league and the national federation – clashed due to the latter’s refusal to endorse the International Transfer Certificates of the foreign players eyeing to play in the PVL Reinforced Conference.

Without PNVF’s nod, international players couldn’t get the needed approval from the FIVB, the sport’s world governing body, and would not be able to play in the import-laced conference.

‘The PVL regrets to inform the public that the foreign guest players will not be permitted to participate in the ongoing season-ending conference until their ITCs are duly approved,’ said PVL organizer Sports Vision in a statement yesterday.

The PVL lambasted the PNVF and called the latter’s behavior as ‘unprofessional’ and ‘obstructionist.’

The league claimed it was never remiss in the timely submission of all documentation – including signed clearances and final endorsements – but the PNVF, for curious reasons, just decided to withhold its final nod.

This delay not only disrupts the tournament’s competitive integrity but also jeopardizes the careers and contracts of professional players who traveled to the Philippines in good faith.

The PVL stressed that it remains committed to following international volleyball protocols and upholding the integrity of the sport.

Nicole Whisenhunt once again reaffirmed her reputation as one of Manila’s most refined jewellers with the unveiling of her latest Heritage Collection – a stunning curation that bridges the golden elegance of the 1950s with the sleek sophistication of contemporary design. Held in an intimate, stylish setting at the Leon Gallery International, the event celebrated the enduring artistry of fine jewelry, showcasing vintage and antique treasures from iconic maisons such as Bulgari, Tiffany and Co., Marina B, Hemmerle and Georges L’Enfant alongside Whisenhunt’s own creations.

Each piece in the collection told a story of heritage, craftsmanship, and the artistry that transforms adornment into history. The jewels shimmered not only with beauty but also with the rich cultural and design legacies they represent, reminding guests that jewelry, at its finest, is wearable art.

The evening opened with a VIP dinner that perfectly complemented the collection’s allure. Guests savored Nomad Caviar, paired with Perrier-Jouët champagne and select wines from Project Vino, creating an experience of pure indulgence. Adding a touch of Parisian luxury, Guerlain loot bags echoed the event’s theme of timeless sophistication.

Nicole enthused, ‘Jewelry stands parallel to art – especially pieces with history, which go beyond beauty. Jewelry carries not only elegance but also cultural and design value. These are preserved art forms in their own right. I am very proud to have them presented in a setting that recognizes their significance. Each reflecting the timeless artistry that continues to inspire us today.’

Nicole’s Heritage Collection is more than a showcase of exquisite jewels – it is a celebration of eras, emotions, and elegance reborn – reminding us that true style transcends time, living on through craftsmanship, memory, and the enduring sparkle of beauty itself.

The local stock market bounced back as investors welcomed the country’s September inflation which fell within the forecast range of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index capped off yesterday’s session with a 1.39-percent or 83.51-point jump to 6,083.83.

The broader All Shares index likewise improved by 0.8 percent or 29.27 points to settle at 3,673.22.

‘The local market bounced back following its drop near the 6,000 support as investors hunted for bargains,’ Philstocks Financial research manager Japhet Tantiangco said.

Tantiangco said the market took positively the country’s latest inflation print in September, which remained benign.

Inflation quickened to 1.7 percent in September from 1.5 percent in August, but fell within the BSP’s 1.5 to 2.3 percent forecast for the month. It averaged 1.7 percent from January to September, below the government target of two to four percent for this year.

‘The favorable inflation figure supports the country’s consumer outlook and raises the possibility of further easing by the BSP,’ Tantiangco said.

All counters finished in the green, with financials leading the charge with a 2.23-percent surge.

Total value turnover declined slightly to P10.34 billion from the previous day’s P12.12 billion.

Market breadth was positive as advancers edged out decliners, 97 to 92, while 60 issues did not change hands.

ICTSI remained as the session’s top traded stock, this time climbing by 0.89 percent to P512.50 per share.

It was followed by Ayala Corp. which grew by 1.42 percent to P484.40 and URC which soared by 5.23 percent to P74.50.

Forty-five years ago, corruption in government was one of the major issues which led to EDSA People Power and the change in government. A few months before the event, at the lowest ebb of our country, I wrote a widely appreciated article in the leading newspaper titled, ‘Values – Cornerstones of a Society’s Destiny.’ My contention then was that changing some people in government, changing a whole government or even changing the system of government will not solve our problems as long as we do not change our values. Our country’s history since then has proven this view correct.

Today, almost half a century later, corruption has not only persisted through several administrations, but has become progressively worse, costing up to 40 percent of our annual national budget per some estimates. This easily amounts to trillions of pesos.

To solve the problem, successive leaders have created (in addition to the Constitution-mandated Office of the Ombudsman) special commissions, i.e., Presidential Commission Against Graft and Corruption (Magsaysay); Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (Macapagal-Arroyo); Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (Duterte). All these special bodies ‘eventually disappeared into irrelevance,’ as a columnist put it.

Today, to keep the Filipino people’s ire from boiling over in the face of unmitigated corruption in the use of government funds for its flood control projects, President Marcos Jr. again created another special body, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, to investigate and take appropriate action against all perpetrators, regardless of their position or influence. Once again, our long- suffering countrymen’s hopes and expectations for the full accountability of all guilty parties have been revived.

But judging from past experience, many still ask if this latest move will really provide the lasting solution our country needs. Will identifying, prosecuting, convicting and imprisoning some guilty parties in government and their accomplices in the private sector prevent future epidemics of corruption? Or are these steps just superficial band-aid remedies, as our long history has shown?

I strongly believe that the solution lies not in short-term fixes, but in a long-term reset of our values system (including values we preach but whose opposites we practice). The solution I propose is a generational task, but its fruits are also generational. It is realistic, not just a pie-in-the sky aspiration. I’m referring to institutionalizing in our schools a values education program, starting in the primary grades and covering all levels in our K-12 curriculum.

Why do I know this works? Because it is at the heart of the basic education system of the only ASEAN country which is exemplary in many aspects of national life – economic, political, civic and social. I refer to Singapore, the first and at present the only first world country in the ASEAN community. Singapore has zero tolerance for corruption in public service, and its anti-corruption culture is reinforced by proven, effective measures to root out and severely penalize offenders.

Let’s look at what Singapore has done to get to where it is today. An integral pillar of Singapore’s pursuit of its national vision is its basic education system, which places strong emphasis on character development and values education. This is institutionalized in what it calls Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), a cross-disciplinary program that permeates the educational curriculum, starting in the primary grades (the child’s earliest academic experience). As the name implies, CCE’s goal is to produce citizens with good moral values, civic awareness and social skills with which they can positively and productively engage their total environment.

Using Singapore’s decades-long (since 1959) CCE model as a guide and without reinventing the wheel, my simple proposal is to make character development and values education an integral part of our own basic education system (K-12). This calls for recalibrating our present system beyond the intermittent teaching of Civics and GMRC (good manners and right conduct), which might not even be part of the present curriculum. A paradigm shift in the training and attitude of teachers is also called for, because in Singapore, ‘every teacher is a CCE teacher.’

In my view, deeply instilling the right values in our youth at the earliest possible age is the most effective and lasting solution, not only to endemic corruption, but to other social ills that plague our country today. Ultimately, it is also the key to changing our fortunes as a people.

To end this piece, think about this: Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig has become the rare ‘poster boy’ for integrity and good governance by a young leader in government. Imagine if we had a hundred, a thousand or even a hundred thousand Vico Sottos in public service. This is what a deliberate, encompassing values education can help accomplish, as Singapore has been proving to the world for a long time.

Fandoms will collide following the announcement of a surprise collaboration between Jisoo of the Korean girl group Blackpink and former One Direction member Zayn Malik.

Jisoo had been teasing a duet with an unnamed male artist for the new digital track “Eyes Closed,” eventually revealing the collaborator was Zayn.

“A duet is near,” one post teased, while another said, “Two voices, one orbit. Coming soon.”

The artist even shared a snippet of the song after confirming Zayn as her duet partner.

“We should fall in love with our eyes closed, better if we keep it where we don’t know,” goes part of the chorus sung by both artists. “The nights we’ve been in, the names and the faces of who we were with.”

“Eyes Closed” is Jisoo’s latest piece of music after her “Amortage” extended play earlier this year that featuring the tracks “Earthquake,” “Your Love,” “Tears,” and “Hugs and Kisses.”

The Korean singer is currently on a world tour with Blackpink, which will make a stop in the Philippines this November, just several months after Jisoo staged her first solo fan meet in the country.

Zayn had previously attended one of Blackpink’s concerts in New York last July with Khai, his daughter with ex-partner Gigi Hadid.

The British artist recently announced that he will be having a residency in Las Vegas beginning January next year and will be reuniting with fellow One Direction alum Louis Tomlinson for a Netflix docu-travel series.

Mon Confiado and Jericho Rosales play Emilio Aguinaldo and Manuel Quezon, the Philippines’ first and second presidents, in TBA Studios’ upcoming movie “Quezon.”

However, given the chance, the two actors would not attempt to throw their names into the political arena.

At a press conference for “Quezon” last October 7 at the historic Manila Hotel, both Rosales and Confiado were asked if they would consider entering politics.

Both answered in the negative, with Confiado first saying he never had interest in politics nor did it ever cross his mind to become a politician, and to strike his point home he admitted being unable to handle the responsibility without knowledge on governance.

To explain his answer, Rosales shared about his recent trip to Tanzania and South Africa with his girlfriend Janine Gutierrez, and singled out a walking tour in Cape Town about the late Nelson Mandela.

The anti-apartheid activist Mandela previously served as president of South Africa and was a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

“We just need leaders who really care, genuinely and sincerely care,” Rosales quoted what a guide said at the end of the tour.

Rosales said that everything can be learned – pointing out he bounced around schools, learned English from watching television and never finished college – including acting and the arts, but what separates individuals is a commitment to lead.

“‘Pag wala sa puso mo at hindi talaga genuine sa’yo ang pag-care at pagsilbi sa isang tao, hindi mangyayari ‘yun, ano pa ang isang bansa?” Rosales posited.

The actor stressed his craft is his biggest love, and rhetorically asked how could he set that aside for a position of power.

“Paano ko sasabayan ang isang bokasyon at ang pamumuno ng isang bansa,” Rosales ended. “Hindi biro maging presidente, so ang hinihiling namin ay ang puso mismo ng isang presidente.”

Starring with Rosales and Confiado in “Quezon” are Karylle, Romnick Sarmenta, JC Santos, Angeli Bayani, Bodjie Pascua, Joross Gamboa, Ketchup Eusebio, Jake Macapagal, Therese Malvar and “Game of Thrones” star Iain Glen as Leonard Wood.

Benjamin Alves will reprise his role as a younger Quezon while Arron Villaflor and Cris Villanueva will once again play the fictional character Joven Hernando at different ages.

“Quezon” directed and co-written by Jerrold Tarog will hit Philippine theaters nationwide beginning October 15.