Filipina tennis star Alex Eala has bowed out of the WTA 250 Japan Open after a loss to Czech teenager Tereza Valentova in the round-of-32 on Tuesday, October 14. The 18-year-old Valentova overpowered Eala, 6-1, 6-2. The Czech teen, currently ranked 78th by the WTA, came into the main draw as the top seed in …
Monthly Archives: October 2025
Shoulder the burden: Solons want SRA’s swift action in sugar price slump
By CESAR JOLITO III Lawmakers in the Negros Island Region (NIR) called for immediate and decisive intervention from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) over the sharp and continuing decline of sugar prices, which could place the livelihoods of thousands of sugarcane farmers in jeopardy. In a joint statement, Negros Occidental Representatives Julio Ledesma IV (1st District), …
Bacolod council eyes higher fines vs. mendicancy
By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City government may soon impose higher fines on individuals caught begging and giving alms in public areas — including members of the Badjao community — under a proposed amendment to the city’s Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance. The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Committee on Social Services said the amendment seeks to update penalties …
Female examinees outnumber males in the 2025 Bar
By Dennis Gorecho For the second consecutive year, female examinees outnumbered males in the Bar Examinations. Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, chairperson of the 2025 Bar Examinations, noted that among the 13,193 admitted to take the exams, there were 6,673 women, comprising 51 percent compared to 4,764 men. The statistics highlight the …
When authority figures trump hard facts
By Herman M. Lagon In a world that often turns to titles, uniforms and reputations for reassurance, it’s easy to assume that those in power must always be right. We’re taught early to trust the doctor, the teacher, the elder, the politician. But sometimes, our trust goes too far — crossing into blind faith. That’s …
C3 to release partial report on NegOcc flood control projects
By CESAR JOLITO III The Council for Concerned Citizens (C3) is set to release this week its partial report on their ongoing investigation into various flood control projects across Negros Occidental. In a radio interview yesterday, C3 convener Atty. Ceasar Beloria said their probe has been extensive, covering infrastructure projects implemented from 2022 to 2025, …
7 hurt as ‘horror train’ overturns
By CESAR JOLITO III Seven individuals, including three minors, sustained minor injuries after a horror train ride overturned at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds on Sunday night, October 13. Police Station 4 commander, Major Marc Joel Reclamado, said around 10 people were on board the moving attraction when it lost balance and toppled …
GAWA: Importation top culprit in sugar price drop
By CESAR JOLITO III Industry leaders and labor advocates point to the importation of sugar as the main culprit behind the price collapse. “This is already a recurring problem with sugar importation always being the culprit,” Wennie Sancho, secretary-general of the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA), said in a statement. Sancho said local prices …
Bacolod deploys teams to check status of public school buildings
The Bacolod City government yesterday deployed five teams to inspect the condition of structures in 40 elementary and secondary schools across the city following the series of strong earthquakes in the past two weeks. Mayor Greg Gasataya has ordered the suspension of classes in all public schools for two days starting Monday, October 13, to …
Grenade blast rocks rent-a-car shop
By CESAR JOLITO III A rent-a-car shop in Bacolod City’s Barangay Tangub was attacked with a grenade early yesterday morning, leaving the owners and their two children shaken but unharmed. Police said the incident occurred when still unidentified suspects, who were reportedly riding a motorcycle, threw multiple grenades at the premises in Purok Villa, Bangga …