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MANILA, Philippines --- Marck Espejo wasn't satisfied with his performance in the Asian Games but he heaped praise on his teammates for stepping up in the Philippine men's volleyball team's brief but fruitful campaign in Hangzhou, China. Espejo only scored a total of 22 points in three games with reduced playing time, admitting his late arrival affected his showing in the Philippines' first participation in the Asiad men's volleyball in 49 years. "Hindi ako satisfied sa performance ko since nawala ako sa team. Galing korea tas dumeretso ako dito parang nawala siguro yung connection ko with the team and familiarity," said Espejo after scoring eight points in their 19-25, 14-25, ...

Keep on reading: Espejo not satisfied with performance but proud of PH team’s showing

  MANILA, Philippines --- Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Spokesperson Teresita Daza on Thursday said they are still waiting for the assessment on the environmental damage in Rozul Reef, but that the DFA is ready to support legal actions that the country might pursue against the culprits. "The DFA understands that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) is exploring legal options that the country may pursue. The DFA stands ready to contribute to this effort and will be guided by the OSG on these matters," said Daza in a statement on Thursday evening. The Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier reported that coral reefs in Rozul reef, where Chinese militia vess...

Keep on reading: DFA ready to support legal actions on WPD reef damage

MANILA, Philippines--Dynamic Herb Cebu was likewise given a rude welcome in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup after being blanked by visiting Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown, 3-0, on Thursday at Rizal Memorial Stadium. The defeat which came after conceding the opener before the break and two more in the second half left all three clubs from the Philippines Football League with setbacks to begin their continental campaigns at home. Shintaro Shimizu broke the ice shortly before the first half stoppage before goals from Orn Chanpolin and Andres Nieto in the 54th and 83rd added more misery to the Gentle Giants in the biggest match at this point of their young club history....

Keep on reading: Dynamic Cebu also loses in AFC Cup debut

  MANILA, Philippines --- State volcanologists on Thursday said that Taal Volcano began emitting volcanic smog (vog), which could adversely affect one's health effects and damage crops and infrastructure. "Since 12:30 PM today, volcanic smog or vog has been observed over Taal Lake by the Taal Volcano Network and has lingered over the region until present," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its latest advisory. The development led several local government units in Batangas to suspend Friday classes. Vog consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas such as sulfur dioxide which is acidic and can cause irritati...

Keep on reading: Volcanic smog detected over Taal Volcano, health advisory up

MANILA, Philippines --- Bryan Bagunas liked what he saw from the Philippine men's volleyball team despite the short Asian Games campaign in Hangzhou, China. The Filipino Spikers ended their first Asian Games appearance in 49 years after losing to Japan, 19-25, 14-25, 23-25, on Thursday at Deqing Sports Centre Gymnasium two days before the Asiad officially opens. The Philippines (1-2) failed to make the top two in Pool F with Japan (3-0) and Indonesia (2-1) advancing to the next round. But for Bagunas, the men's volleyball program was able to show its improvement, proving that they belong in the continental competition. "Nakita ko naman po yung improvement ng (Philippine) ...

Keep on reading: Bagunas in awe as PH men’s volleyball team puts up fight in Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines---A rare four-peat may be in play for Letran but that's not the only goal of new coach Rensy Bajar. Despite the Knights being earmarked as the team to beat for NCAA Season 99, Bajar said his team is still a work in progress with a brand new lineup at his disposal. "For us, this is what I always tell the team; every practice, we need to improve our system and chemistry. We need to fix those. Maybe in this coming NCAA season, our maturity will be developed in every game," said Bajar during the NCAA Season 99 press conference at Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday. "Those are my wishes heading forward so that in the end, we'll have a seamless run and at the same ...

Keep on reading: NCAA: Letran still groping for improvement, chemistry

    MANILA, Philippines --- Several municipalities in Batangas have suspended classes in all levels in public and private schools on Friday due to volcanic smog, or vog from the Taal Volcano. The municipalities that suspended Friday classes are Lian, Calatagan, Lemery, Nasugbu, Taal and Balayan, Meanwhile, the municipality of Tuy has suspended classes in the elementary to senior high school levels in public and private schools. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has observed vog, as well as gas emissions from the TaaL Volcano since the first week of September. The volcano is currently in Alert Level 1. Phi...

Keep on reading: Classes suspended in parts of Batangas over Taal volcanic smog

ISTANBUL - Turkey's central bank raised its key interest rate by a lofty 500 basis points to 30 percent on Thursday, marking a second month of aggressive tightening after President Tayyip Erdogan set aside his long opposition to tight policy. The bank reiterated it is ready to raise rates further as needed to rein in inflation that leapt to nearly 59 percent in August and is expected to rise into next year. It has hiked rates by 2,150 basis points since June. The lira slipped to 27.105 to the dollar after the decision, just shy of its all-time low touched last month. In a Reuters poll, economists forecast a 500-basis-point hike with forecasts ranging from 27.5 percent to 31 perc...

Keep on reading: Turkey hikes rates to 30% to strengthen hawkish turn

MANILA, Philippines---The NCAA will feature more returning events for its 99th Season, which officially begins on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena. "New Heroes of the Game" is the theme for NCAA Season 99. "We know the student-athletes have been excited to get back to full competition so we do expect a much higher level of competition and excellence," said Dr. Vincent K. Fabella, Season 99 policy board president of host Jose Rizal University. "We're following the Fiba World Cup so that level of excitement is there so we hope you enjoy the 99th season." https://x.com/MeloFuertesINQ/status/1704729085606592867?s=20 Badminton and table tennis will return to the spotlight...

Keep on reading: More events return for ‘special’ NCAA Season 99

Yes, the real OG is now open in BGC! So, if you happen to pass by The Verve, and you smell a whiff of the all-too familiar freshly baked breadsticks, stop and step inside the newest Olive Garden branch. Olive Garden's generosity in food, service, and experience is appreciated in over 900 stores globally, including the Philippines, where it successfully opened its first branch at SM Mall of Asia on September 12, 2022, in Glorietta 3 on January 9, 2023. Now, only after a year, Olive Garden opened its third home in 26th St., The Verve, Bonifacio South Street, Taguig City. Like its predecessors, Olive Garden at The Verve opened with a ceremonial pasta twirl led by Zachary Reams,...

Keep on reading: Olive Garden opens its third branch at The Verve, BGC

MANILA, Philippines---After a breakout campaign last year, Kurt Reyson is primed to be the new main man for defending champion Letran in the NCAA Season 99. With the guard trio of Fran Yu, Brent Paraiso and Tommy Olivario now in the PBA, Reyson is expected to take the next step and lead the Knights in their crusade to a rare four-peat. "It really went in my direction because this will be an exposure for me. I can show my real game because in the past few seasons we had a lot of veterans and now it's my moment. We have a lot of new players and they all listen to me," said Reyson in Filipino during a press conference on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena. "Before, I was already a ...

Keep on reading: NCAA: Kurt Reyson ready to seize his moment in final year for Letran

MANILA, Philippines --- Malacaang remained silent on the 51st anniversary of the declaration of martial law. Asked by reporters for a statement regarding martial law on Thursday, the Palace declined to issue one.All appeared to be business as usual in Malacaang. This day commemorates the day when the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared martial law in 1972. While Marcos Sr. was ousted during the People Power Revolution in 1986, his family would eventually find their way back into power in both local and national government. READ: Fast facts on martial law This includes the highest leader of the land, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. READ: Marcos' martial law: G...

Keep on reading: Palace silent during martial law anniversary

MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippine men's volleyball team put up a gallant stand against world No.5 Japan in the third set but it wasn't enough as the Filipino Spikers ended their Asian Games campaign with a 19-25, 14-25, 23-25 loss on Thursday at Deqing Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China. After losing the first two sets, the Filipino Spikers refused to go down without a fight, unleashing a 10-5 start in the third frame capped by Steve Rotter's attack. The Japanese got their act together as Hirohito Kashimura tied the set at 16-all and went to a neck-and-neck duel. Bryan Bagunas kept the Philippines afloat with back-to-back attacks for a 22-21 lead but the Philippine...

Keep on reading: Filipino Spikers end Asian Games campaign with loss to Japan

MANILA, Philippines --- Of the P3 billion allocated funds, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Thursday said it has so far distributed P417,086,500 worth of fuel subsidy to drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs). According to the LTFRB, the total subsidies distributed translate to a total of 63,864 drivers and operators of PUVs. Of the total, 23,047 PUV operators and drivers were given their subsidy on Sept. 13, while 40,817 received theirs on Sept. 14. The distribution of fuel subsidies was then halted due to the spending ban for the barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections, but was resumed on Wednesday, Sept. 20 after the...

Keep on reading: LTFRB says P417-M worth of fuel subsidy already distributed

MANILA, Philippines --- A civilian and a fireman were hurt in a fire that transpired in a storage warehouse for socks and shoes in Barangay Catmon, Malabon City. Based on the report from the Bureau of Fire Protection - National Capital Region (BFP-NCR), the fire started at around 9:50 p.m. on Monday. It took the authorities overnight before they were able to declare it as "fire out" at 6:03 a.m. on Tuesday. On Thursday, the BFP-NCR identified the victims who were injured by the fire. 21-year-old Joan Pagaduan suffered from an abrasion on her left knee and a sprained right ankle. The firefighter, on the other hand, was identified as 32-year-old Fire Officer 3 Vincent Jan D...

Keep on reading: Civilian, fireman hurt in Malabon warehouse fire

Since it's been more than 20 years since Bea Alonzo and Dennis Trillo worked together in "K2BU," they admitted that they were initially awkward during the first few days of filming their reunion project "Love Before Sunrise," until they eventually found their rhythm. Alonzo said sharing the spotlight with Trillo "feels familiar," but "it's all new" during the show's press conference, while noting that she can always "trust him" despite the awkwardness. "For me, it feels familiar but at the same time, it's all new. I got this feeling because there's this level of familiarity kasi sabay kaming ni-launch sa Star Circle (because we're both launched in Star Circle)," she said, in re...

Keep on reading: Bea Alonzo says she is Dennis Trillo’s ‘fan from the sidelines’

MANILA, Philippines---Jose Rizal University will embark on a new journey in NCAA Season 99 but coach Louie Gonzales made sure to acknowledge two of his former wards' recent accomplishments. John Amores, who became known for the wrong reasons last NCAA season, was picked by Northport in the fifth round of last week's PBA Draft, much to the delight of Gonzales. However, Gonzales stressed that "redemption" isn't the word to describe the new endeavor of Amores, who hopes to turn over a new leaf. https://x.com/MeloFuertesINQ/status/1704760795824021967?s=20 "Me personally, I can't take the word 'redemption' for John. He made a mistake and he's sorry for that but knowing Joh...

Keep on reading: JRU coach hopes PBA draftee John Amores gets to show ‘true ability’

Kathryn Bernardo is in South Korea where she received her Outstanding Asian Star award at the Seoul International Drama Awards for her performance in the ABS-CBN drama series"2 Good 2 Be True." In her acceptance speech during an awarding ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 23., Bernardo dedicated her award to the staff and crew of the 2022 TV show, as well as to the nurses and health care workers. In theMae Cruz-Alviar-helmed series, Bernardo played the role of Alyson, a nurse who went to care for an elderly patient with Alzheimer's Disease. The teledrama, which premiered in May 2022, was shot at the height of the pandemic. "I fell in love with this project not only because of its s...

Keep on reading: Kathryn Bernardo receives Outstanding Asian Star award in South Korea

MANILA, Philippines --- Officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) met with other international agencies and companies at the Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference (GICC) 2023 on Tuesday and Thursday in South Korea. The country's officials at the event were DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan, senior undersecretary Emil Sadain, with DPWH Unified Project Management Office operations project directors Ramon Arriola III and Benjamin Bautista, according to a release on the agency's Facebook page. They met with the South Korean Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Hee-ryong Won, as well as with other world infrastructure leaders in bilateral meetings. ...

Keep on reading: DPWH execs meet with int’l agencies at infrastructure conference in South Korea

MANILA, Philippines --- The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has asked the House of Representatives to restore the around P90-billion worth of funding that was removed in the proposed 2024 budget, claiming that it would be crucial to ensuring food security and preparing for the El Nio season. Letters sent by NIA Acting Administrator Eduardo Guillen to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez --- copies of which were released to House reporters on Thursday --- showed the NIA head is asking for the restoration of their proposal of a P132.3 million budget for 2024. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), which prepares the National Expenditures Program (NEP), alloca...

Keep on reading: To fight El Niño: NIA asks House to restore P90-B budget that DBM slashed