Clark Khobutin registered the first triple-double in the UAAP Season 88 junior basketball tournament yesterday, leading the National University Nazareth School (NUNS) to a 93-82 victory over Adamson University at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. He posted 17 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals, and one block as the Bullpups rolled …
Monthly Archives: October 2025
Proactive stance: Bacolod’s drive vs. online child exploitation cited
By CESAR JOLITO III An international anti-trafficking group has hailed the Bacolod City government for its intensified efforts to combat the Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) — a growing cybercrime that has victimized an alarming number of Filipino minors. The International Justice Mission (IJM), a global human rights organization, praised the city’s proactive stance …
Twin quakes jolt Sipalay, halt classes
By CESAR JOLITO III Two earthquakes struck Negros Occidental’s Sipalay City yesterday morning, prompting the temporary suspension of morning classes in some public schools in nearby localities. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the first tremor occurred at 5:58 a.m. with a magnitude of 3.5, a depth of three kilometers, and …
21st Cinemalaya Film Festival: ‘Layag sa Alon, Hangin at Unos’
By Dennis Gorecho “Layag sa Alon, Hangin at Unos” is this year’s theme of the 21st Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, reflecting the festival’s decades of weathering every storm of its era. “Cinemalaya promises to serve as a vessel for top-tier visual storytelling that ignites imagination and amplifies diverse voices in cinema, anchored by the …
No premium, no problem
By Herman M. Lagon Once upon a time, poorly written essays made teachers sigh. These days, they make teachers smile. A clumsy sentence or an awkward phrasing now feels like proof of something human — unpolished, yes, but unprompted. In 2025, many educators have come to quietly cherish the mess, especially in a world where …
Bacolod to extend P2-M aid to Bogo City
By CESAR JOLITO III Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya announced that the city government will donate P2 million in financial assistance to Bogo City in Cebu province, one of the areas severely affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake on September 30. Gasataya said the move underscores Bacolod’s commitment to extending solidarity and support to fellow local government units …
Group opposes GMO ordinance, urges protection of organic farming
By CESAR JOLITO III A group has expressed strong opposition to the proposed provincial ordinance regulating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Negros Occidental, emphasizing the need to protect farmers, food security, and the province’s reputation as the Organic Capital of the Philippines. In a statement issued on Monday, October 6, the MASIPAG Provincial Consultative Body …
Lacson: Gov’t ‘reset’ could help restore public trust
By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson described as a “difficult but popular” proposal the suggestion of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano for the country’s top officials to step down from their posts. Cayetano earlier called on the president, vice president, senators, and members of Congress to resign amid the growing …
Gov’t interventions in place for NegOr’s dwindling abaca industry
The abaca industry in Negros Oriental is dwindling, prompting authorities to implement innovations and interventions to fortify the sector, an official said yesterday. Nena Locsin, provincial chief of the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), told the Philippine News Agency that abaca production has sharply declined over the past five years since the COVID-19 pandemic. “In …
‘Habagat’ season ends; ‘amihan’ likely in coming weeks
The weather bureau announced yesterday the termination of the southwest monsoon or “habagat” season, signaling the transition to the northeast monsoon or “amihan” season. “A gradual change of the country’s weather pattern has been observed due to the strengthening of the high-pressure system over East Asia and the southward migration of the intertropical convergence zone,” …