Inquirer Breaking News

MANILA, Philippines---Jarred Brooks stayed true to his word and took down Joshua Pacio to claim the strawweight world title on Saturday at ONE 164 at Mall of Asia Arena. Fighting with calculated aggression, Brooks executed the perfect game plan en route to a unanimous decision win. "Utmost respect to Joshua Pacio," said Brooks, who was very vocal about knocking out Pacio in leading up to their showdown. "I know I have choice words... I love the Filipino people. I really wanna show my heart. I've been the heel a lot my last fights and I'm a good person." https://twitter.com/ONEChampionship/status/1599066464333332480 With Pacio's loss, the Philippines and Team Lakay are ...

Keep on reading: ONE: Joshua Pacio loses to Jarred Brooks on points, yields strawweight title

We're thankful for the conversation," declared actor Jake Cuenca, who is once again the subject of social media buzz after a video clip from the trailer of the movie "My Father, Myself"---where he is seen kissing costar Sean de Guzman---went viral and became the subject of various memes. At a media gathering to promote the Joel Lamangan dramatic piece, Jake said: "When we look at comments, it's natural that we simply choose what we see. Taking note of the negative comments is the same as seeing a thousand comments on my Instagram saying otherwise. A lot of people are commenting that they find the story beautiful and that they have never seen something like it before." The film,...

Keep on reading: Jake’s controversial kissing scene in MMFF entry sets social media abuzz

Lav Diaz's dramatic piece "Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon," which features John Lloyd Cruz as lead actor, won the Special Jury Prize in the main competition category of the 53rd International Film Festival of India in Goa on Monday. For Diaz, however, what's more important than winning awards and receiving recognition is that his movie is able to "encourage interaction and extensive discourse on culture, as well as on the condition of the world and of its people." "The award is merely a bonus. You don't ask for one or expect people to give it to you. You should let your work speak for itself. When you receive one, this means people realized the value of your work so you say thanks," ...

Keep on reading: Lav Diaz-John Lloyd Cruz movie wins in India fest

  This Presumptuous Player (PP) is what young people would describe as GGSS or "gwapong-gwapo sa sarili." If we're talking about looks and talents, PP is neither here nor there. But thanks to his prominent connections, he still manages to book different projects. PP fancies himself as some sort of heartthrob whose influence---or at least his proximity to it---will have ladies fawning over him. Once in a taping bubble, PP---in true GGSS fashion---made advances to a handful of his costars. Surely, at least one of them will find him an irresistible catch. He was wrong. "None of the girls took his bait," a mole said. Some might say there's nothing wrong with trying. Bu...

Keep on reading: Narcissistic actor flirts with costars, but no one took the bait

MANILA, Philippines --- Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo, former undersecretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and former Build, Build, Build committee chair, has donated copies of her book, "Night Owl," to the National Library of the Philippines for distribution to public libraries nationwide. The book was formally accepted by National Library Director Cesar Gilbert Adriano. "Night Owl" narrates the country's journey towards improved lives and abounding opportunities brought about by Build, Build, Build --- the massive infrastructure program of then-President Rodrigo Duterte. It includes a chapter on the digital infrastructure agenda of President F...

Keep on reading: Lamentillo donates copies of her ‘Night Owl’ book to National Library

MANILA, Philippines---Geje Eustaquio's bid back to world champion status in ONE Championship took a big hit on Saturday. Eustaquio, the former flyweight champion from Team Lakay, was knocked out in the first round by China's Hu Yong at ONE 164 at Mall of Asia Arena. "I promised myself that I will be a world champion," Yong said through a translator. "My goal was to beat him in the first round and I got him." Nursing a cut near the eye, the 33-year-old Eustaquio got decked after taking a solid right on the chin that ended the fight. Eustaquio won the flyweight belt back in June 2018 after outpointing Adriano Moraes. But he lost it right away seven months later in a r...

Keep on reading: ONE: Geje Eustaquio absorbs first round KO

MANILA, Philippines---Brandon Vera on Saturday announced his retirement after a 20-year career in mixed martial arts. Vera called it a career after losing to Amir Aliakbar by TKO in the first round of their heavyweight clash in ONE 164 at Mall of Asia Arena. "Pasensya na. Kababayan, ang tagal ko nang ginagawa 'to mga 20 plus years na (I'm sorry. To my fellow Filipinos, I've been doing this for a long time. It's been 20 plus years)," said Vera, addressing the Filipino crowd. "Eto ngayon (and now) you just witness The Truth's very last fight in MMA. I wish I could've come out with a win," added Vera, who also said he broke his hand during the fight. The 45-year-old Vera onc...

Keep on reading: Brandon Vera retires from MMA after loss at ONE 164

President Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday hailed Iran's Islamic Republic as a guarantor of rights and freedoms, defending the ruling system amid a crackdown on anti-government protests that the United Nations says has cost more than 300 lives. Meanwhile, a top state security body said that 200 people, including members of the security forces, had lost their lives in the unrest, a figure significantly lower than that given by the world body and rights groups. The protests, in their third month, were ignited by the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police enforcing strict mandatory hijab rules. The demonstrations have turned into a popular rev...

Keep on reading: Iran state body reports 200 dead in protests

MANILA, Philippines---Other than winning the elusive NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament championship, coach Charles Tiu also has one more mission in my mind. Tiu wants to help his players prove their past teams wrong for cutting them off their lineup. "I tell them, 'You know, you guys were cut by your school for one reason or another. That's why we have something to prove. Let's prove to everybody that they made mistakes and let you go,'" said Tiu in the Howie Severino Podcast. So far, the top coach's challenge is being accepted in a positive way by the Blazers' top players. Will Gozum, a star in the NCAA Jrs. division with Mapua in 2018, started his collegiate ca...

Keep on reading: NCAA: Playing with chip on their shoulder, Blazers out to prove their worth

MANILA, Philippines---Drex Zamboanga continued his resurgence while Jeremy Pacatiw bounced back on Saturday. Zamboanga notched his fourth straight win after a hard-earned unanimous decision win over Team Lakay's Adonis Sevilleno at ONE 164 at Mall of Asia Arena. Pacatiw, also of Team Lakay, rebounded from his knockout loss to Fabricio Andrade last February by stopping Tial Thang of Myanmar in an action-packed bantamweight bout. "I'm very motivated because a lot of good people surround me," Pacatiw (11-5) said. "Huge respect to Tial Thang. He's very tough and very talented. Someday we will face again," he added. The victory made it a double celebration for the Zamboanga...

Keep on reading: ONE: Drex Zamboanga, Jeremy Pacatiw pull off victories

  ATHENS, Greece -- The British Museum and the Greek prime minister are in the "advanced stage" of "secret talks" over the "possible return" of the Parthenon Marbles, local media reported on Saturday.   The ancient sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, were taken from the Parthenon temple in Athens in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin and have been held by the British Museum ever since. Greece wants them returned.   The behind-the-scenes talks between British Museum chair George Osborne and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis "have been taking place in London since November 2021," daily newspaper Ta Nea reported.  ...

Keep on reading: UK, Greece in ‘secret talks’ on Parthenon Marbles — report

  MANILA, Philippines --- Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada wants to further scrutinize the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund, adding that he has so many questions about the sovereign wealth fund (SWF). "We have to scrutinize it. We have to debate it extensively, at ako personally, marami din akong pwedeng maitanong (me personally I have so many questions about that)," Estrada said in a statement. "There are a lot of questions that can be raised. First of all, saan nila kukunin 'yung pera? (Where would they get the money)," Estrada said in a statement. The proponents of the bill said the SWF will maximize the profitability of investible government assets for the bene...

Keep on reading: Jinggoy Estrada wants further scrutiny of Maharlika fund

In a painful 3-2 loss against Ghana on Monday, one bright spot for South Korea was the stellar performance of Cho Gue-sung, who scored a brace in his first World Cup. With South Korea down 2-0 heading into the second half, Cho scored at the 58-minute mark with a header from Lee Kang-in's cross. Just three minutes later, he soared above the defense for the second goal, this time assisted by Kim Jin-soo. This is the first time a Korean has ever scored more than once in a World Cup match. Only three Koreans have more World Cup goals than Cho: Ahn Jung-hwan, Park Ji-sung, and the incumbent South Korean captain Son Heung-min, who each have three. Cho, 24, has only recently joi...

Keep on reading: Not just a pretty face: Cho Gue-sung earns fame with heroics for Korea at World Cup

MANILA, Philippines---Jhanlo Sangiao continued his torrid start after a quick submission victory over fellow Filipino Anacleto Lauron in ONE 164 Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena. Sangiao finished off Lauron with a rear-naked choke after 1:48 in the opening frame. "I'm very confident. I know I'm stronger [than him]," Sangiao, son of Team Lakay founder Mark, said. "I felt [that] I can put him down and submit him," he added. "I always practice my rear-naked choke in the gym." https://twitter.com/ONEChampionship/status/1599017506231840771?s=20&t=1hdphDGlZ5M60ISCr7qQAA The 20-year-old Sangiao hiked his record to 5-0. His latest victory was Team Lakay's first after its ...

Keep on reading: ONE: Confident Jhanlo Sangiao ready for ‘anyone’ after latest win

DOHA---World Cup favorite Brazil is racing to overcome injuries to key players as it prepares for its last-16 match against South Korea on Monday, after a heavily changed side lost 1-0 to Cameroon on Friday night. Neymar is still recovering from an ankle injury suffered in their debut win against Serbia, and they have only one pure full back available after left back Alex Telles suffered a knee injury in the Cameroon game. Starting full backs Danilo and Alex Sandro are out after injuries suffered earlier in the competition and their availability is still unclear. With their ticket already booked for the next round after two wins, Tite on Friday made nine changes to the team ...

Keep on reading: Brazil hampered by injuries ahead of last 16 match vs South Korea

  MANILA, Philippines --- President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos on Saturday said his goal is to make sure that every Filipino child will have a Christmas, adding that Christmas is for the children. "I have always believed that Christmas is really for the children, so we have done everything that we can to make sure that every Filipino child has a Christmas," the President said ina brief speech during the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacaang. "That is something that I think is a good goal for us in this Christmas, since we have been blessed, all of us, despite all of the challenges we have faced, here we are, we have been blessed," he added...

Keep on reading: Bongbong Marcos: Make sure every Filipino child has a Christmas

MANILA, Philippines---Jenelyn Olsim's fears heading into her fight against Meng Bo ringed true on Saturday. Wary of her opponent's knockout power, Olsim took a vicious elbow from Bo, who proceeded to finish off the Team Lakay warrior with the ground and pound just 24 seconds into their catchweight bout. The Chinese veteran's quick victory kicked off ONE 164 at Mall of Asia Arena, the first event held in the Philippines since the pandemic. https://twitter.com/ONEChampionship/status/1599004196988067842?s=20&t=1hdphDGlZ5M60ISCr7qQAA The 25-year-old Olsim lost for the second time in three fights as she failed to follow up her split decision win over Julie Mezabarba last J...

Keep on reading: ONE: Jenelyn Olsim suffers 24-second KO vs Meng Bo

MANILA, Philippines---The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) has added a new coach to call the shots for the country's beach volleyball program. PNVF President Ramon "Tots" Suzara confirmed they have acquired the commitment of Brazilian coach Joao Luciano Kiodai to coach the Philippines' beach volleyball squads. "Coach Joao's arrival is a big boost to the national beach volleyball in as much the same way as Coach Jorge is to the volleyball teams," said Suzara. Kiodai went straight to work after arriving in the country on Tuesday, preparing the national team for their Volleyball WorldBeach Pro TourFutures stint happening at Subic Bay San Court from December 8 to...

Keep on reading: Brazilian coach tapped for PH beach volleyball teams

    ILIGAN CITY------Brownouts happening in localities of the Zamboanga Peninsula may not necessarily be due to deficiencies in the transmission service of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), a company official said. NGCP corporate communications officer Beth Ladaga said some of the power outages may be due to technical adjustments carried out by the distribution utilities. Ladaga clarified that NGCP already lifted its manual load dropping (MLD) order affecting the region and parts of Lanao del Norte on Nov. 29. The order meant reducing the power load on lines serving the region as company personnel were clearing grown trees under these i...

Keep on reading: NGCP not all to blame for brownouts in Zamboanga Peninsula, official says

  MANILA, Philippines --- The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Saturday said it will investigate reports that some Edsa Carousel (Edsa Busway) bus drivers are collecting fares from commuters. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is implementing 24/7 free rides on the Edsa bus carousel for the whole month of December. "Iimbestigahan ng Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board ang mga balita na naniningil pa rin ang mga PUB (public utility bus) drivers sa Edsa Busway," the LTFRB said in a statement. (The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board will investigate the reports that public utility bus drivers are sti...

Keep on reading: LTFRB to probe reports of bus drivers charging fares in Edsa Busway