Inquirer Breaking News

Actress Sylvia Sanchez said she may not know much about the wedding that her son, Arjo Atayde, is planning with fiancee, Maine Mendoza, but there's one thing she is most certain: That the couple intends to have a child right away. "They said they want to become parents while they're still young so they can watch over their child better. Arjo wants his relationship with his child to be like the one he has with his own parents, parang barkada," Sylvia told Inquirer Entertainment over dinner recently. "I think Maine has a similar barkada bond with her parents. She also recently told me, 'Tita, at this time, magkakaapo ka na.' She gave me a specific period, but I don't want to reve...

Keep on reading: Maine and Arjo want to have kids right away, says mom Sylvia

AMMAN --- Dozens of demonstrators angry over worsening economic conditions in Syria stormed the governor's office in the southern city of Sweida on Sunday and set fire to parts of the building amid a heavy exchange of gunfire, the authorities and witnesses said. Earlier, more than 200 people had gathered around the building in the center of the Druze-majority city, chanting slogans calling for the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad, they said, amid spiraling prices and economic hardship. Syrian state media said tens of "outlaws" stormed the governor's office and burned files and official papers. Three witnesses told Reuters the governor was not in the building which ...

Keep on reading: Protesters storm governor’s office in Syrian, gunfire heard

MANILA, Philippines --- Schonny Winston was not on La Salle's bench during its do-or-die playoff game against playoff as he spent his final UAAP season from the stands with his father on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena. Winston, who was the Season 85 first-round top scorer before suffering from a calf injury, quoted a report stating "he cannot come with the team." "Calf strain lol? ... a torn calf. I will always support my brothers whether I'm allowed on the bench or have to buy tickets to the game. Can't stop my love for them," tweeted Winston after La Salle's 80-76 loss to Adamson. The two-and-through guard missed four games and only played a total of 22 seconds in the last t...

Keep on reading: UAAP: Schonny Winston says he has torn–not strained–calf as he watches La Salle exit from stands

MANILA, Philippines---Rhenz Abando helped Anyang KGC in their win against the Seoul Samsung Thunders, 77-73, in the Korean Basketball League at Jamsil Gymnasium on Sunday. The former Letran Knight finished with five points, two rebounds and two blocks in Anyang's bounce-back victory after losing to Daegu on Saturday. Omari Spellman was the centerpiece in KGC's offense with a double-double of 22 points and 15 rebounds. Daegu KOGAS Pegasus continued their winning ways after defeating Suwon KT SonicBoom, 71-63, at Suwon KT Arena. SJ Belangel played for 22 minutes but only tallied two markers, two boards and a block. Murphy Holloway powered the Pegasus to the win with 26 mark...

Keep on reading: KBL: Rhenz Abando, Anyang KGC bounce back

MANILA, Philippines --- With their season on the line, Adamson coach Nash Racela told Jerom Lastimosa to take over in the payoff period. The veteran guard did just that--leading the Soaring Falcons back to the Final Four for the first time since 2018 and eliminating the depleted La Salle, 80-76, in the playoff for No.4 of the UAAP Season 85 men's basketball tournament on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena. But it wasn't just his scoring that impressed Racela the most. "Sabi ko nga kay Jerom, takeover na, ikaw na, sabi ko laruin mo na. But nilaro niya ng tama that's actually the reason why I'm so happy kasi nilaro niya nang tama," said Racela. (I told Jerom to take over, you lea...

Keep on reading: UAAP: Jerom Lastimosa takes over ‘the right way’ for Adamson

MANILA, Philippines---St. Benilde star Will Gozum was highly disappointed with how Letran's Pao Javillonar guarded him in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball finals on Sunday. Javillonar was seen squeezing Gozum's behind in the 4:57 mark of the third quarter of the Knights' 81-75 win, much to the dismay of the big man. "Maybe that's how he is, his character, maybe that's how he was raised, I don't know," said Gozum. "Maybe that's how his attitude is. We don't tolerate that kind of player. Physicality, I can take, but all that? Any player would probably be disappointed," the MVP frontrunner also said. With Javillonar on his tail, Gozum still finished with a doubl...

Keep on reading: NCAA: Will Gozum disappointed over Pao Javillonar’s butt-squeezing

MANILA, Philippines---College of St. Benilde key player Migs Oczon is questionable for Game 2 of the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball finals against Letran. Oczon was subbed out of the game in the first two minutes of Game 1 after sinking a three-point shot over the Knights' Kyle Tolentino. The third leading scorer for Benilde landed awkwardly on Tolentino's foot and tweaked his left ankle. Hewas unable to return for the remainder of the game. "I know he got hurt, I'm surprised the referees didn't call a foul. Tolentino came up to me and apologized and I don't doubt that. I don't think he's out to hurt any guys. The other players I can't say the same," said Tiu after their Ga...

Keep on reading: NCAA: St. Benilde’s Migs Oczon questionable for Finals Game 2 with injured ankle

  BERLIN, Germany -- Germany's defense ministry has raised serious concerns about the planned purchase of US-made F-35 fighter jets, part of the country's military modernisation drive, according to documents seen by AFP. Berlin announced in March it would buy 35 of the warplanes made by Lockheed Martin to replace its ageing Tornado fleet, in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But the defence ministry has raised concerns about "delays and additional costs" in the nearly 10 billion euro ($10.5 billion) purchase, according to a classified letter to parliament's budget committee. Risk factors range from upgrading work needed at air fields that will host the F-35s,...

Keep on reading: Concerns mount about Germany’s F-35 jet purchase plan

MANILA, Philippines--Rain or Shine kept it together in the most critical of times to survive NLEX 110-100 Sunday night at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, finally rounding out the playoff cast of the PBA Commissioner's Cup. Import Ryan Person---finally assertive---had 24 points and nine boards for the Painters, who are advancing as the No. 8 seed and will have the gargantuan task of taking on visiting juggernaut and twice-to-beat Bay Area Dragons in a quarterfinal duel set this Friday. "This steam is still learning. These are young guys. I'm just glad that we're able to do what we were unable to pull off during the Magnolia game---which is to hold on.," said head coach Yeng Guia...

Keep on reading: NLEX: Rain or Shine fends off NLEX to complete quarterfinals cast

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran has scrapped its morality police after more than two months of protests triggered by the arrest of Mahsa Amini for allegedly violating the country's strict female dress code, local media said Sunday. Women-led protests, labelled "riots" by the authorities, have swept Iran since the 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin died in custody on September 16, three days after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran. Demonstrators have burned their mandatory hijab head coverings and shouted anti-government slogans, and since Amini's death, a growing number of women have failed to wear the hijab, particularly in parts of Tehran. "Morality police have nothing t...

Keep on reading: Protest-hit Iran abolishes morality police

MANILA, Philippines--Jerom Lastimosa ushered the Adamson Falcons back to the Final Four after prevailing at the expense of the La Salle Green Archers, 80-76, in a make-or-break affair on Sunday night at the UAAP Season 85 men's basketball tournament. Lastimosa fired 11 of his 22 points in a crucial stretch in the third quarter that put the Falcons in the thick of the fight and sank the marginal free throws along with Joshua Yerro en route to Adamson's return trip to the semifinals since the 2018 season. The Falcons forged the Final Four meeting with the top-ranked Ateneo Blue Eagles, who possess a twice-to-beat edge and can immediately progress to the best-of-three championship...

Keep on reading: UAAP: Jerom Lastimosa, Adamson eliminate La Salle to secure Final Four berth

MANILA, Philippines---Despite tallying a career-high in the opening game of the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament finals, Louie Sangalang again emphasized he does not need any awards. Sangalang outplayed the frontrunner for MVP Will Gozum with 24 points, the highest-scoring output of his career, and 10 rebounds. The bruiser was a favorite for MVP in the early parts of the elimination round but his suspension after the Knights' game against Mapua had disqualified him from competing for the plum. "For us, individual awards are not important. We only have one goal. Even if none of us gets an award, it's fine as long as we get the championship," said Sangalang after the...

Keep on reading: NCAA: With title within reach, Louie Sangalang not yearning for individual awards

Every day is now a "no bones day" as Noodle, the 14-year-old pug famous for his "bones or no bones" predictions on TikTok, passed away on Friday, Dec. 2 (Manila time). His owner, Jonathan Graziano, broke the unfortunate news in a video posted on his TikTok account Saturday, Dec. 3. "It's incredibly difficult. It's a day that I always knew was coming but never thought would arrive," he said. @jongrazIt has been the privilege of my life to care for Noodle these past 7 years. The sweetest man there has ever been and will ever be. original sound - Jonathan Graziano adopted Noodle when the pug was just seven years old. The duo rose to TikTok fame in 2021 after Graziano po...

Keep on reading: No more ‘bones day’: Famous TikTok pug Noodle dies at 14

MANILA, Philippines---Finally, the time has come for the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant to stage a coronation program three years after it last mounted a competition. The national contest took a break in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tonight, 40 ladies from around the country and from different overseas Filipino communities will compete at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City at 7 p.m. Four main titles are at stake---Mutya ng Pilipinas 2022, Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International, Mutya ng Pilipinas-World Top Model, and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities. The runners-up will also receive special titles---Mutya ng Pilipinas-Luzon, Mutya ng Pilipinas-...

Keep on reading: The stage is set for the 52nd Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant; Alamat, G22 to perform

MANILA, Philippines---Letran trumped College of St. Benilde, 81-75, in Game 1 of the Finals to move within a win away from the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball championship on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday. The Knights, who can wrap up the coveted three-peat on December 11, limited the Blazers to only eight points in the fourth quarter. "Before the start of the series, someone asked us what our advantage is against CSB. For one, experience is there because we've been playing for the championship before this," coach Bonnie Tan said. With Letran leading by just one in the final period, 70-69, Kurt Reyson and King Caralipio sank huge buckets down the stretch to exte...

Keep on reading: Letran shuts down St. Benilde in Game 1, nears NCAA crown

MANILA, Philippines --- Some of the most well-traveled Filipinos in the world are set to convene during the assembly of the Philippine Global Explorers (PGE) on Dec. 27. The Philippine Global Explorers (PGE) is a non-profit Filipino global travel community organization, whose members are Filipinos who have traveled to at least 20 countries around the globe. It has close to 100 official members and over 900 associate members. Its members include PGE U.S. West Coast Chapter Coordinator Odette Ricasa, the first Filipino who visited all countries in the world in August 2022; PGE Chairman and President Riza Rasco, who is poised to become the second Filipino to visit all countries...

Keep on reading: Philippines’ most-renowned travelers to gather on Dec. 27

MANILA, Philippines --- La Salle staved off a gritty University of Santo Tomas side, 74-69, in their do-or-die Final Four game to forge a best-of-three championship series with the defending champion National University in the UAAP Season 85 women's basketball tournament on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena. The Lady Archers leaned on the double-double performances of Fina Niantcho and Bettina Binaohan with the Cameroonian center leading the way with 18 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Binaohan posted 17 points on 3-of-5 shooting from deep to go with 10 boards, two assists, and two steals as she offered their win to the seniors and their past players with La Salle en...

Keep on reading: La Salle ousts UST to arrange UAAP women’s basketball Finals battle vs NU

Maricel Soriano said she does not fear losing fame as she already prepared herself should the time come when she needs to end her showbiz career. Maricel discussed this when her actress niece Meryll Soriano asked her, "Takot ka bang malaos? (Are you afraid of losing fame?)," as seen in a vlog on the Diamond Star's YouTube channel on Saturday, Dec. 3. "Hindi, kasi nung bata ako sinasabi na nila... [na] lahat ng bagay may katapusan," she stated. "Kaya dapat lagi kang handa... kasi hindi pwedeng hindi ka maging handa dahil parang buhay din ang [show business], hindi mo alam kung anong maaaring mangyari." (No because since I was young, people have already been telling me that e...

Keep on reading: Maricel Soriano not afraid of losing fame: ‘Lahat ng bagay may katapusan’

    DONETSK REGION, Ukraine -- On the roads leading to the front in Ukraine's war-torn east, every morning begins with a familiar scene -- soldiers filling up trucks, sipping steaming coffee and catching up between bites of fresh hot dogs. Wrapped in buns, toasted and served with an array of condiments, the spirit-raising snack is served at petrol stations, kiosks, and bakeries across the country. Near the front, some petrol stations offer them free to men in uniform, often resulting in long queues and sold-out stock. "It's like a tradition to come here for a short pit stop to drink a cup of good coffee and eat a nice hot dog," said a 57-year-old soldier figh...

Keep on reading: War dogs: sausages bolster the fight in eastern Ukraine

MANILA, Philippines --- Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad defends its crown when the UAAP Cheerdance Competition brings back its traditional rules on Saturday next week at Mall of Asia Arena. Despite being limited to a three-minute performance and 15 performers without a presence of drums last May, the FEU Cheering Squad shone the brightest with a near-flawless performance that honored the band Queen and end a 13-year title drought. Six months later, the defending champion is raring to perform again with a routine that will honor the songs of Francis Magalona as the league reverts to the pre-pandemic tournament format. "We just go back to the old rules, 15-25 perfo...

Keep on reading: FEU Cheering Squad seeks repeat as UAAP Cheerdance returns to old format