Obiena went up against seven vaulters, including three top 10 contenders, and failed to clear 5.70m thrice to settle for third place. 5 Menno Vloon of the Netherlands took the gold with a 5.75m jump and tried to clear 5.85m thrice but failed. 16 Bo Kanda Lita Baehre of Germany (5.45m) and No. Actually, EJ just set a personal best of 5.70m with 16 steps at the SEA Games. The same deadline applies for vaulters to qualify through their world rankings which are determined by earned competition points.

FIVB affirms Liao’s mandateMANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Volleyball Federation, now under the leadership of president Tonyboy Liao, has got the blessings of the FIVB, the sport’s world governing body. “The FIVB hereby informs you that the election process at the Philippine National Volleyball Federation satisfies the legal and administrative requirements in compliance with the FIVB regulations,” said FIVB head of legal and general counsel Stephen Bock in a letter to PNVF Friday.

Revilla medical quarantine ends this weekFormer senator Bong Revilla arrives at the Sandiganbayuan on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. The anti-graft court ordered his detention at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas following his surrender over a malversation case in the Bulacan flood control scam. BJMP spokesman Jayrex Bustinera yesterday said the situation inside the Quezon City Jail has remained normal, with no reported health or security concerns during the quarantine period. He also confirmed that the Sandiganbayan conducted a surprise inspection of the Quezon City Jail amid a petition seeking Revilla’s transfer to another detention facility. Once the quarantine ends, Revilla is expected to join the general jail population, where BJMP policy limits occupancy to no more than 10 detainees per cell, with one bed per inmate.

A male immigration officer was guiding OFW passengers towards a special or dedicated lane while saying: “Dito po kayo sa lane ng OFW. Dito po kayo, dahil kayo ay mga VIP.” (Please pass through the OFW Lane, because you are VIPs.) I still remember that second-class feeling but last Friday upon our arrival, things were different. We regularly hear complaints about how jampacked the immigration counters get or that the processing is slow. Many passengers usually think only about check-in and departure time but forget to factor in processing time at immigration counters.

Pope names new Kalibo bishopPope Leo XIV delivers the Regina Caeli prayer from the main central loggia of St Peter's basilica in The Vatican, on May 11, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Pope Leo XIV on Saturday appointed Fr. Cyril Villareal as the new bishop of Kalibo in Aklan, succeeding Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc who retired in June 2025. According to CBCPNews, the pontiff named the 51-year-old priest on Jan. 24 as a bishop, transferring him from the Archdiocese of Capiz to Kalibo. Villareal has been the parish priest of St. Thomas of Villanova parish in Dao, Capiz since July 2024.

‘GDP growth falters, misses 2025 target’Photo shows the skyline at the Ortigas Business Center in Pasig. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine economy likely grew below the government’s 5.5 to 6.5 percent target in 2025 and at a slower pace compared to 2024, according to economists. This brings the full-year 2025 growth projection to 4.5 percent, below the 5.7 percent full-year expansion in 2024. For her part, Moody’s Analytics assistant director-economist Sarah Tan said the economy likely posted a 5.3-percent growth in the fourth quarter last year, bringing the estimated full-year growth for 2025 to 5.1 percent. Data on the country’s fourth quarter and full-year 2025 economic performance will be released on Jan. 29.

We saw it during the scandal-plagued presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, when separate impeachment complaints were filed against her and then vice president Noli de Castro. It became routine for a weak impeachment complaint to be filed against GMA at the start of every regular session of Congress. Critics suspect that the Marcos administration has borrowed a page from GMA’s book in the filing of the first impeachment complaint against BBM last week. Joseph Estrada, following his ouster as president, had filed an impeachment complaint in 2003 against then chief justice Hilario Davide Jr. Leni Robredo as vice president also faced an impeachment complaint in 2017, but no congressman endorsed it.

Works on P5.2 billion Taguig transport hub start soonTaguig City is the ninth most populous area in the country. Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), the builder of the Taguig City Integrated Terminal Exchange (TCITX), is working on completing the final design of the project this quarter. Costing P5.2 billion, the TCITX is the Taguig counterpart of the PITX, which is estimated to handle more than 160,000 motorists and 5,200 vehicles daily. Pastor said the Department of Transportation is still looking for a location for the northern integrated terminal exchange. Although the DOTr is willing to finance the delivery of a northern integrated terminal exchange, it is open to the possibility of bidding it out as a public-private partnership.

Vehicle sales accelerate to record high last yearAccording to the sales figures from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI), Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) and other available industry data, the country’s total vehicle sales reached 491,395 units last year, 3.7 percent higher than the previous record of 473,842 set in 2024. Of the total industry sales in 2025, CAMPI and TMA members contributed 463,646 units, down slightly from the 467,252 units sold in 2024. Electrified vehicles (xEVs) continued to gain ground last year, with total sales reaching 58,905 units, 142.5 percent higher year-on-year. In December 2025, total industry sales reached 47,371 units, making it the strongest monthly performance since 2017. Of CAMPI and TMA’s total sales last year, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. accounted for the biggest share at 49.49 percent.

VP Sara condemns attack on soldiersMANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte condemned the terrorist attack on an Army team that led to the death of four soldiers in Lanao del Norte on Jan. 23. Gilbert Arnoza and June Calga, and a Private Laniton lost their lives during the attack. The soldiers belonged to the civil-military operations battalion of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division and were engaged in a humanitarian mission. Duterte appealed to government agencies to pursue those responsible for the attack and bring justice to the victims. Nartatez said that close monitoring have long been part of government protocol to preserve gains in peace and development efforts in Mindanao.

Pagcor sets gross gaming revenue share for sports bettingPhoto of an individual engaging in an online gambling site. MANILA, Philippines — State gaming regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) has set its share in the gross gaming revenues (GGR) of bookies for both live and virtual sports betting. In a memorandum order issued last Jan. 19, PAGCOR Electronic Gaming Licensing Department head Jessa Mariz Fernandez set PAGCOR’s share rates as 15 percent of the GGR for live sports games and 30 percent of the GGR of virtual sports games. The GGR share rate was set after a Jan. 8 meeting of the PAGCOR board of directors wherein it approved amendments to the Regulatory Framework for the Fees and Rates on Gaming venue Operations. “The above PAGCOR Share Rates shall apply retroactively to November 2025 billing period as originally scheduled,” Fernandez said.

He announced his succession plan months earlier, naming his replacement along with the timeline for his retirement. As a management discipline, succession planning is deemed critical, especially to investors and other stakeholders. It is fine for strategic business unit heads to provide a succession plan, but does the CEO need to worry about that? The matter of strategy and marketing depends on management and its continuing succession line. Warren Buffett, in our example above, gives this warning: “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.” A clear succession plan is sure to provide a good cover after high tide.

29 trafficking victims back from CambodiaThe DMW said the victims arrived on Jan. 23 on a Philippine Airlines flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay. MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-nine human trafficking victims were recently repatriated from Cambodia, according to the Department of Migrant Workers. A DMW “salubong team” led by Migrant Workers Assistant Secretaries Maria Regina Angela Galias and Jerome Alcantara welcomed the repatriates. Migrant Workers Assistant Secretary Venecio Legaspi is leading a team helping victims process their travel documents. The team is coordinating with the Migrant Workers Office-Singapore and the embassy in Phnom Penh, ensuring victims’ safe return to the Philippines.

‘Flood control probe should not be trial by headline’Pedestrians cross on a makeshift pathway along P. Burgos Street in Manila as gutter-deep floodwaters cover the road following a heavy downpour on September 6, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — House committee on good government and public accountability chair Rep. Joel Chua yesterday requested the Senate to refrain from what he described as “trial by headlines” in their inquiry into the flood control controversy. Due process protects the innocent as much as it punishes the guilty,” Chua said. “The allegations aired in the Senate are logically and physically impossible,” Fajardo said. Chua said that when evidence exists, it should be presented and examined through proper legal and institutional processes, but cautioned against naming people in public forums in the absence of proof.

Government earmarks P7.8 billion for upgrade of 19 airportsHouse minority leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan said the fresh funding will help strengthen inter-island air connectivity, boost tourism, support small businesses and generate employment in the regions. MANILA, Philippines — Nineteen airports across the country have been allotted a total of P7.8 billion by the Marcos administration this year to upgrade facilities and improve travelers’ experience. He identified the following airports as recipients of facilities development funding under the 2026 General Appropriations Act: New Dumaguete Airport, P2.5 billion; Tacloban Airport, P741.7 million; Mati Airport, P700 million; Laoag International Airport, P507.3 million; New Naga Airport,P444.6 million; Ormoc Airport, P433 million; Busuanga Airport, P415 million; Candon Airport, P350 million; New Manila International Airport, P200 million; Catbalogan Airport, P200 million; Kalibo International Airport, P195.5 million; Camiguin Airport, P150 million; Bukidnon Airport, P150 million; Daet Airport, P150 million; Bicol International Airport, P150 million; Central Mindanao (M’lang) Airport, P100 million; Siargao Airport, P100 million; and Antique Airport, P99.5 million. He also noted that Busuanga Airport, Siargao Airport and Cauayan Airport will get additional funding of P70 million, P23 million and P160 million, respectively, for night-rating improvements. The move is intended to revive tourist arrivals from China and is expected to increase passenger traffic at major gateways and regional airports across the country.