Jasha Gamao

Veteran para swimmer Ernie Gawilan delivered a stellar performance to capture Team Philippines’ first gold medal at the 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya on October 20, 2026.

Dominating the pool from start to finish, the Filipino champion successfully defended his crown in the Men's 400m Freestyle S7 final with a blistering time of 4:56.72. His emphatic victory set an inspiring tone for the entire national delegation as they begin their campaign on the continental stage.

Gawilan outstripped his fierce rivals in a decisive showcase of endurance and technique. China's Yilong Zhang secured the silver medal after touching the wall at 5:01.36, while Singapore's Wei Soong Toh rounded out the podium to take home the bronze with a time of 5:24.23. 

Gawilan’s triumph reaffirms his status as a legendary figure in Philippine sports and solidifies his place among Asia's elite para athletes.

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The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) officially launched the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Games in Camarines Sur, bringing vibrant traditional athletics to the forefront of national grassroots sports development. 

Designed to preserve cultural heritage while fostering unity and inclusivity, the event celebrated the athletic prowess and deep-rooted identity of the region's indigenous communities.

Local athletes demonstrated extraordinary strength, agility, and camaraderie across a diverse lineup of traditional events. 

Competitors went head-to-head in archery (Pana), arm wrestling (Bunong Braso), and games of strategy and balance like Tubigan, Santaren, Burutungan nin Lubid, Kadang-Kadang sa Bagol, Guruyudan sa Palapa, and Tatsian sa Pili. 

The lively competitions highlighted not only physical endurance, but also the enduring cultural traditions passed down through generations.

Organized in close partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and municipal leaders of Libmanan including Mayor Son Marfil, Vice Mayor Ariel Oriño, and Councilor Gerardo Miraflor Atienza Jr. the event underscored a shared commitment to community empowerment. 

Moving forward, the PSC reiterated its mission to expand access to sports, ensuring indigenous heritage thrives and no community is left behind.

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PASAY CITY—Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito highlighted the vital role of infrastructure in driving long-term economic development as he weighed in on the ₱197-billion allocation for key railway projects under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP). 

The proposed spending plan prioritizes flagship transport projects, including the North-South Commuter Railway and the Metro Manila Subway.

In a statement, Senator Ejercito emphasized that spending on rail networks extends far beyond simply reducing travel times for commuters. He stressed that rail infrastructure acts as a fundamental investment in job creation, business expansion, and new economic opportunities across the country. 

“Ang railway infrastructure ay higit pa sa pagpapabilis ng biyahe. Ito ay puhunan sa trabaho, investments at bagong economic opportunities.” Senator JV Ejercito said in a social media post.

Improved transport connectivity between cities and provinces enables a smoother flow of workers, goods, and services, effectively spreading progress beyond crowded urban centers.

“Kapag mas mahusay ang koneksyon ng mga lungsod at lalawigan, mas nagiging madali ang paggalaw ng mga manggagawa, produkto at negosyo, at mas lumalawak ang pagkakataon para sa pag-unlad sa labas ng mga pangunahing urban centers.” The lawmaker added.

As the head of the panel overseeing the national budget, Ejercito reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that public funds are directed toward high-impact projects. 

He assured the public that the Senate Finance Committee will thoroughly scrutinize proposed allocations to guarantee that infrastructure investments deliver clear, long-lasting benefits to Filipino workers, local businesses, and communities nationwide.  

The Senate's review of the 2027 national budget comes as lawmakers aim to balance aggressive infrastructure development with nationwide economic inclusivity. 

With major transit projects in the pipeline, Senate deliberations are expected to focus on maximizing the economic returns of these massive public investments while evaluating unfunded regional rail developments.

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PASAY CITY—Lawmakers push to overhaul the country's energy laws, demanding stronger government authority to protect Filipino consumers from sudden fuel price spikes and persistent power supply disruptions. 

During the Senate Committee on Energy hearing on Thursday, October 15, 2026, legislators, government officials, and industry stakeholders gathered to review sweeping amendments to the Oil Deregulation Law. 

The proposed reforms focus on granting the executive branch emergency regulatory powers during global oil crises and establishing a national petroleum reserve to safeguard the nation’s fuel supply.  

At the center of the panel's review is Senate Bill No. 2435, which aims to overhaul the nation's energy security framework by creating strategic and operational fuel reserves. 

The bill proposes designating a dedicated government fuel security agent authorized to execute temporary market interventions whenever a national fuel emergency is declared. 

By instituting these safeguards, lawmakers seek to enforce price transparency, compel accountability among oil players, and insulate domestic markets from volatile global crude prices.

Senate Committee on Energy Chair Senator Erwin Tulfo made it clear that while market competition plays a vital role in keeping oil prices competitive, the government cannot remain passive when external shocks threaten the public. He stressed that state agencies must be empowered to act decisively during extraordinary market spikes:

“Let me emphasize that this Committee recognizes the role of market competition in promoting efficiency and ensuring the availability of petroleum products. Pero hindi po ibig sabihin na tutunganga na lang ang pamahalaan when extraordinary circumstances arise that threaten public interest,” Senator Tulfo asserted.

Expanding the urgent scope of the inquiry, Senate President Win Gatchalian confronted representatives from the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) over long-standing power supply failures. 

Senator Gatchalian demanded aggressive oversight to curb soaring electricity bills and resolve recurring grid bottlenecks and supply alerts—particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. He called for comprehensive audits of capital costs and fuel pass-on charges while urging regulators to penalize abusive and underperforming power distribution utilities.

Underscoring the growing frustration of Filipino consumers, Gatchalian urged energy regulators to step up and deliver concrete solutions to chronic power issues:

“Sawang-sawa na ang mga consumers natin dito sa mataas na presyo ng kuryente, perennial red and yellow alerts. We need to solve this. So, kaya ko pinapatong ito sa table, even though it's not the topic, to remind you na ito ang problema na kinakaharap natin. Headlines to parati in the last few months,” SP Gatchalian emphasized.

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PASAY CITY—The Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation took a decisive step on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to overhaul the Philippines' outdated anti-espionage laws. Led by Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente C. Sotto III, lawmakers convened top defense, intelligence, and technology officials to craft a formidable legal defense against modern cyber threats, covert foreign operations, and rapidly changing technological risks. 

Representatives from key security bodies including the Department of National Defense, Philippine National Police, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and Department of Information and Communications Technology unanimously backed the urgent legislative drive.

Senate leaders underscored that archaic espionage legislation leaves dangerous gaps in national defense, hindering the government from prosecuting modern threats effectively. 

Pointing to heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and persistent harassment from neighboring nations, Sotto asserted that updating these laws is vital for national survival and sovereignty. He stressed that the reform aims to balance ironclad defense with democratic integrity, establishing clear legal standards while guarding against power abuses.

“By modernizing our espionage laws, we can build a stronger legal framework that responds to present-day threats while upholding justice and the rule of law,” Senate Pro Tempore Sotto declared.

Highlighting the rapid evolution of digital threats, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged national security and intelligence agencies to confront modern espionage with utmost urgency. Senator Gatchalian pointed out how emerging tools like artificial intelligence have drastically accelerated the speed and scope of intelligence gathering, requiring immediate legal and operational adjustments to keep foreign actors at bay.

“Artificial intelligence is now here with us, in our pockets, through our cellphones. Ganyan po kabilis ang pagbabago ng teknolohiya. It is really timely that we need to take these anti-espionage or espionage concerns very seriously,” Gatchalian stated.

Senator Erwin Tulfo called on intelligence agencies to upgrade their technical capabilities to detect advanced surveillance devices used by foreign operatives. He cited an alarming recent incident involving the arrest of several Chinese nationals caught using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanners to map strategic locations across the Philippine archipelago. 

Senator Tulfo stressed that law enforcement must master these emerging threat vectors to neutralize foreign spy operations before they compromise national safety.

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