#WalangPasok: November 2, 2017 special non-working holiday in some areas

MANILA, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte's Proclamation No. 50 did not include November 2, 2017 as special (non-working) holiday throughout the country but some local government units declared suspension of classes and work in observance of All Souls' Day.

While October 31 and November 1 were declared holidays, at least two (2) LGUs said the additional holiday on November 2 will give more time in observing the tradition. Filipino families commemorate and pay homage to the deceased family members on All Souls' Day.

On Monday, Cauayan City Mayor Bernard Faustino M. Dy released Administrative Order No. 03 citing a special non-working day on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Tacloban Mayor Cristina Gonzalez Romualdez has issued Executive Order 2017-10-076 for the temporary suspension of classes for all levels in public and private schools and work in all government offices in Tacloban City on November 2.

"As influx of people is expected at the cemeteries, the celebration may cause overcrowding, traffic congestion and inconvenience to the public," the local declaration said.

Check out list of areas where classes and work have been suspended for Thursday, November 2, 2017 for the commemoration of All Souls' Day:

• Cauayan City, Isabela - all levels, public and private; work, gov't and private
• Tacloban City - all levels, public and private; gov't work

Note: This is a developing story. Help us crowdsource class and work suspensions by sharing in the comments section or tweeting @mysummitexpress.

— The Summit Express

'Bagyong Ramil' PAGASA weather update November 1, 2017

MANILA, Philippines - The low pressure area (LPA) south southwest of Masbate City, Masbate has developed into a tropical depression and was named "Ramil," state weather bureau PAGASA said in its 5:00 a.m. update on Wednesday, November 1, 2017, a regular holiday for All Saint's Day (Undas).

Satellite image as of 6:30 a.m. on November 1, 2017. Image courtesy of DOST-PAGASA.

At 4:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression "Ramil" was estimated based on all available data at 115 km West of Roxas City, Capiz (11.7 °N, 121.7 °E).

'Bagyong Ramil' has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It is forecast to move West at 20 kph.

Forecast Positions:

• 24 Hour(Tomorrow morning): 245 km West of Coron, Palawan(11.8°N, 118.0°E)
• 48 Hour(Friday morning):120 km North Northeast of Pagasa Island, Palawan(12.0°N, 114.5°E)
• 72 Hour(Saturday morning): 245 km West Northwest of Pagasa Island, Palawan(12.1°N, 112.2°E)
• 96 Hour(Sunday morning):655 km West Northwest of Pagasa Island, Palawan(12.4°N, 108.3°E)

Tropical cyclone warning signal (TCWS) No. 1 (30-60kph expected in 36 hrs) was raised over three areas: Northern Palawan including Calamian Group of Islands (Luzon); Aklan and Antique (Visayas).

'Bagyong Ramil' is expected to traverse the Calamian Group of Island today. Residents under TCWS #1 including Metro Manila, Bicol region, CALABARZON, rest of MIMAROPA are advised to be alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

PAGASA added that the estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to occasionally heavy rains within the 200 km diameter of the tropical depression.

The weather central advised that sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon.

— The Summit Express

Filipinos Gear Up for #UNDAS2017 Exodus

MANILA, Philippines – With Undas now underway, many Filipinos have already begun their yearly journey by land, sea and air to visit their departed family members in their respective provinces. To make this year’s observance of Undas more organized, several government agencies, media, and private companies have turned to Twitter to issue news advisories and tips for the benefit of Filipinos celebrating this religious tradition. And as a live platform, Twitter has become a real-time source for Filipinos to find and share important information about the impact of #UNDAS2017 on public safety and traffic.

Photo Credit: BatangBaler.net

As millions more will be flocking to the different cemeteries in the next few days, Filipinos travelling to the final resting places of their departed should check out the Twitter accounts of key resources that provide latest updates on traffic and transportation conditions, as well as public safety announcements.

READ: Undas 2017 PAGASA weather forecast

Those traveling by car should expect heavy traffic because of the holidays and check the Twitter accounts of major tollway operators such as @SkywaySOMCO, @officialSLEX, NLEX and Star Tollway handle for any vehicular accidents or traffic updates. Motorists should also check the official Twitter account of the Metro Manila Development Authority (@MMDA) for alerts on number coding and road closures.

ADVISORY: Manila Police District (MPD) Traffic Advisory: Oplan Kaluluwa 2017. #mmda pic.twitter.com/M8VvQdqmLB

— Official MMDA (@MMDA) October 27, 2017

Coding is LIFTED on Oct. 31, 2017 EXCEPT Las Piñas. For Nov. 1, 2017, coding is LIFTED as well for Metro Manila including Las Piñas. #mmda

— Official MMDA (@MMDA) October 30, 2017

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA @MIAAGovPH) has been inspected for Undas-readiness and their Twitter account contains news about flight and airport conditions so those traveling by air may know if any disruption to their travel should be expected.

October 31, 2017 (Tuesday)
Cancelled flights due to bad weather

5J 325/326 Manila – Legaspi – Manila

5J - Cebu Pacific

— NAIA (@MIAAGovPH) October 31, 2017

The Philippine Coast Guard (@PhilCoastGuard1) monitors and reports passenger traffic in ports and sea conditions so those taking boats and ferries to their destinations should first check travel guidelines for safety and convenience.

OPLAN BIYAHENG AYOS: #Undas2017 Monitored passengers to all ports/piers as of 12noon today, October 31 (Total Outbound Passengers – 71,896)

— PhilippineCoastGuard (@PhilCoastGuard1) October 31, 2017

Several companies also pitched in to ensure the safety of #Undas2017. Motorists could check out the Twitter accounts of the top gasoline companies in the Philippines @CaltexPH, @Petron_Corp, and @Shell to find out the nearest petrol stations along their route and avoid running out of fuel in the middle of their journey.

With several sources of live Undas-related news updates on Twitter, Filipinos can have a smooth-sailing journey towards a more meaningful #UNDAS2017.

— The Summit Express

Undas 2017 PAGASA weather forecast

MANILA, Philippines - State weather bureau PAGASA is monitoring a Low Pressure Area (LPA) which affects parts of the country on "Undas" holidays - October 31 to November 2, 2017.

Satellite image as of October 31, 6:30 p.m. Photo credit: DOST-PAGASA

In the weather forecast as of 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31, PAGASA said the LPA was estimated based on all available data at 60 km South Southwest of Masbate City, Masbate(11.9N, 123.4 E).

The LPA, not expected to intensify into a tropical depression, triggers cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the areas of Visayas, Bicol Region and the provinces of Marinduque, Romblon and Mindoro.

Meanwhile, northeast Monsoon is affecting Northern and Central Luzon as well as Metro Manila.

FORECAST WEATHER CONDITIONS
Place	Weather Condition	Caused by	Impacts
The provinces of Aurora, Quirino and Quezon	Cloudy skies withscattered rains and thunderstorms	Tail-end of Cold Front	Possible lightning and scattered light to moderate with occasional heavy rainswhich may cause flooding/landslides
Visayas, Bicol Region and the provinces of Marinduque, Romblon and Mindoro	Cloudy skies withscattered rains and thunderstorms	LPA / Tail-end of Cold Front	Possible lightning and light to moderate with occasional heavy rains which may cause flooding/landslides
Mindanao and Palawan	Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms	Localized thunderstorms	Possible isolated lighting, strong winds and occasional heavy rains
Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon	Cloudy skies with light rains	Northeast Monsoon	-

— The Summit Express

#WalangPasok: Class, work suspensions on Monday, October 30, 2017

MANILA, Philippines - Some local government units announced class and work suspensions for Monday, October 30, 2017, ahead of the nationwide holidays on October 31 and November 1.

The local declaration gives more time for the families to prepare for the observance of All Saints Day and All Souls' Day (Undas 2017).

On Sunday night, Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada announced that classes in all levels, public and private, as well as work in all government offices have been suspended on October 30 (Monday).

The announcement excludes the departments of the City of Manila which are in charge of health, engineering, traffic, disaster management and public services. In addition, Estrada added that suspension of work in private offices will be at the discretion of their management.

Check out list of areas and schools where classes and work have been suspended for Monday, October 30, 2017 (refresh page for the updates):

• City of Manila – all levels, public and private (includes government work, see details above)

Note: This is a developing story. Help us crowdsource class suspensions by sharing in the comments section or tweeting @mysummitexpress.

— The Summit Express

UNESCO, DTI, and CHED push innovative entrepreneurship education

MANILA, Philippines - The youth will play a crucial role in the future of the country’s economy with 70 percent of the Philippine population aged below 30. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recognizes by identifying young entrepreneurs as the nation’s hope. However, reforms must be made in the educational system to help them reach their full potential. “If we want to make smarter entrepreneurs, we should start by changing the mindset of the young through the establishment of entrepreneurship education,” Sec. Ramon Lopez, Chairperson of the DTI said.

CHED Chair, Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan (center) with (from lef)t Senior Program Coordinator for the Women and Gender Institute of Miriam College Prof. Aurora De Dios, Miriam College President Dr. Rosario O. Lapus and Educational Innovation and Skills Development (EISD) UNESCO APEID Bangkok Chief Mr. Libing Wang, and 6th UNESCO APEID Meeting on Entrepreneurship Education Chair, Dr. Antonio M. Lopez.

Sec. Lopez posed this challenge at the 6th UNESCO-APEID (Asia-Pacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development) Meeting on Entrepreneurship Education held in Manila. The three-day conference brought together delegates, educators, and policy makers from UNESCO, DTI, and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to discuss how to advance youth entrepreneurship in the Asia-Pacific region.

In his keynote speech, Sec. Lopez stressed the importance of collaboration among nations to progress as a collective: “This meeting is an opportunity for our countries to learn from each other in advancing entrepreneurship education in our society.”

He specified the steps needed to achieve this goal and highlighted the importance of the youth’s role in national development. “The way to foster an entrepreneurial mindset is establishing a more advanced ecosystem, policies, and programs for competence building. That is what this meeting is all about: establishing an innovative entrepreneurship education that would reshape the mindset of the youth towards the journey of entrepreneurship,” Sec. Lopez said.

Sec. Lopez added: “Our young entrepreneurs can help create stability and drive sustainable development via economic growth, employment generation, innovation, and poverty alleviation.”

Here are some insights from this year’s UNESCO-APEID Meeting:

Creating policies aligned with ASEAN’s developmental goals

To be aligned with ASEAN’s developmental goals, government policies must be formed to support young entrepreneurs and their businesses. The approval of Republic Act No. 10679, also known as the Youth Entrepreneurship Act, was a step forward in this direction. “With this law, government agencies like DTI, CHED, the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are obliged to develop and promote entrepreneurship and financial literacy among the youth,” Sec. Lopez said.

Better equipped universities

In order to set a strong foundation for future business owners, universities must have the necessary tools for educating them. CHED Chairperson Dr. Patrcia Licuanan addressed this need in her speech: “All institutions offering BS Entrepreneurship must be able to provide a business incubation facility that must be equipped with a business center that provides students access to conference rooms, computer units with internet, telephone lines, facsimiles and the like.”

Technopreneurship

Part of CHED’s efforts in preparing future entrepreneurs is to form them into tech-savvy individuals through the implementation of a mandatory 3-unit elective on Technopreneurship included in the New General Education Curriculum that takes effect in 2018. “In early 2015, CHED inked a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine S&T Devolopment Foundation Manila Inc. (PhilDev S&T) with the goal of producing Filipino engineers who can transform their ideas and innovations into economic enterprises,” Dr. Licuanan explained.

Empowering women

Dr. Licuanan’s speech highlighted the opportunity to further support the vital role of women in economic development. “An international study on entrepreneurship revealed that 70 percent of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) start-ups in the Philippines are led by women,” she stated.

— The Summit Express

2017 PBA Rookie Draft: Standhardinger officially joins SMB for the top pick

MANILA, Philippines - As expected, Christian Standhardinger was chosen number 1 overall pick by San Miguel Beermen (SMB) in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft event on October 29 at Robinson’s Place Manila.

Christian Standhardinger joins San Miguel Beermen for the 1st overall pick. Photo Credit: Philstar

Prior to the start of Ginebra-Meralco sudden death Game 7, Commissioner Chito Narvasa approved the proposed trade between Kia and SMB where the Beermen will have the 1st pick of this year’s Rookie Draft while Picanto will have Rashawn McCarthy, Jay-R Reyes, Ronald Tubid and SMB’s 2019 1st Round Pick.

The trade garnered different reactions from the fans and some of the PBA players. Even the approver, Commissioner Narvasa himself didn’t avoid the criticism. But newly appointed Team Manager, Joe Lipa, defended the team’s decision on letting go of their precious pick to fortify Kia Picanto in the league’s standing.

Lipa stated that 3 players are better than one and a single player can’t make the team better. He also highlighted his new players’ strength specifically Jay-R Reyes, a big man who can run and score from the outside.

As the annual Philippine basketball event started, Commissioner Chito Narvasa has officially opened the 2017 Rookie Draft and the San Miguel Beermen has officially picked the 6’8” Fil-German Christian Standhardinger.

Standhardinger has proven himself to be a top scorer and tough defender during his Gilas Pilipinas tenure. Playing alongside with the 4-time MVP June Mar Fajardo will give SMB another chance to win more titles. However, Christian Standhardinger will not be available this coming All-Filipino Cup as he has just signed a 6-month contract for the Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions in the ABL.

NLEX Road Warriors on the other hand selected King Eagle Kiefer Ravena. During the the Governor’s Cup eliminations, Coach Yeng Guiao expressed his intention to get Ravena that will bring depth to his backcourt.

On pick number 3, Blackwater Elite opted for a big men in person of Reymar Jose who will complement its current center Poy Eram.

Jason Perkins went to Phoenix Fuel Masters at the 4th pick. While Alaska Aces chose Jeron Teng at the 5th spot. Perkins and Teng both played for De La Salle University and won a championship together. Jeron Teng who’s a legit scorer, will definitely help the Aces improve their standing come Philippine Cup opener next month.

PBA D-Leaguer Robert Herndon Jr. was selected by Globalport Batang Pier at the 6th pick and Rain Or Shine obtained Letran Knight Rey Nambatac for pick number 7.

For the 2nd time and for the 8th pick, Phoenix Fuel Masters chose a big man: Sidney Onwubere who stands at 6’5”. The former Emilio Aguinaldo General is expected to bring more firepower to his new team.

Lervin Flores went straight to Star Hot Shots for pick number 9. Coach Chito Victolero opted for a big man who can back-up veteran Jean Marc Pingris and Ian Sangalang.

Unheralded Mark Tallo joins TNT Jayson Castro and Roger Pogoy in the backcourt while 6’5” Jon Gabriel joins Moala Tautuaa and Kelly Williams in the front court for the 10th and 11th pick respectively.

Governors Cup Champions Barangay Ginebra picked former UP Maroon and gunner Jett Manuel for the last pick of the 1st round.

Surprisingly a handful of notable draftees went teamless on the 1st round. The likes of Davon Potts, Julian Sargent, Biboy Enguio and Joseph Gabayni were still hopeful to be on any team come 2nd round.

Here’s the summary of 2nd, 3rd and 4th round picks:

Second Round:

1st Pick - John Grospe (NLEX Road Warriors)
2nd Pick - Joseph Gabayni (Star Hotshots)
3rd Pick - Emil Palma (Blackwater Elite)
4th Pick - Julian Sargent (Star Hotshots)
5th Pick - Louie Vigil (San Miguel Beermen)
6th Pick - Davon Potts (Alaska Aces)
7th Pick - Jomari Sollano (Rain Or Shine)
8th Pick - Gwynne Capacio (Star Hotshots)
9th Pick - Jayson Grimaldo (Phoenix Fuel Masters)
10th Pick - Monbert Arong (TNT Ka-Tropa)
11th Pick - Wilson Baltazar (Phoenix Fuel Masters)
12th Pick - Andreas Cahilig (Globalport Batang Pier)

Third Round:

1st Pick - Chris De Chavez (Kia Picanto)
2nd Pick - Gabriel Dagangon (NLEX Road Warriors)
3rd Pick - Biboy Enguio (Blackwater Elite)
4th Pick - Roldan Sara (Phoenix Fuel Masters)
5th Pick - Zachary Nicholls (Globalport Batang Pier)
6th Pick - Pass (Alaska Aces)
7th Pick - Michael Juico (Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters)
8th Pick - Jebb Bulawan (Meralco Bolts)
9th Pick - Thomas Torres (Star Hotshots)
10th Pick - Dave Moralde (TNT Ka-Tropa)
11th Pick - Jerome Ortega (San Miguel Beermen)
12th Pick - Elmer Cabahug (Barangay Ginebra)

Fourth Round:

1st Pick - Arvie Bringas (Kia Picanto)
2nd Pick - Felix Apreku Jr. (NLEX Road Warriors)
3rd Pick - Kyle Neypes (Blackwater Elite)
4th Pick - John Casino (Phoenix Fuel Masters)
5th Pick - Gian Abrigo (Globalport Batang Pier)
6th Pick - Pass (Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters)
7th Pick - Pass (Meralco Bolts)
8th Pick - Pass (Star Hotshots)
9th Pick - Pass (TNT Ka-Tropa)
10th Pick - Joseph Nalos (San Miguel Beermen)
11th Pick - Pass (Barangay Ginebra)

Fifth Round:

1st Pick - Christian Geronimo (Kia Picanto)
2nd Pick - Pass
3rd Pick - Jhon Sumido (Blackwater Elite)

Among the 44 draft hopefuls, Jeremiah Dela Pena was the only draftee who was not selected. The Rookies will undergo rigorous training under their new teams and will fight for roster spots that will ensure them long-term contracts.

— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express

‘Good samaritan’ Grab driver killed by carnappers posing as regular passengers

MANILA, Philippines - A Grab driver who once went viral for helping a passenger undergoing dialysis, was shot dead by unidentified suspects who posed as regular passengers. The ride-hailing platform company on Saturday, October 28, condemned the ruthless act and said that investigation is underway.

Photo Credit: Facebook/Divine Lactao Ornum

Grab driver Gerardo Amolato Maquidato Jr was once hailed as a “model driver” for giving a free ride to a passenger who was on her way to pick up a bag of blood for her dialysis. The passenger, unfortunately, died but her family was able to thank Maquidato in person. Grab even awarded Maquidato for his compassionate service.


But sadly, such compassion is indeed rare in this world, for “good samaritan” Maquidato was mercilessly shot dead on Thursday night, October 26.

According to police reports, a witness heard a gunshot at around 7:50 in the evening on Thursday. A lifeless body was then seen being pushed out of a silver Toyota Innova as the unidentified suspects sped away using the vehicle.

It was Maquidato’s nephew, Rex Mer Solitario who first posted online about the incident. Grab Philippines released a statement confirming that Maquidato is a Grab driver. This prompted Grab to coordinate with the Philippine National Police - Highway Patrol Group to heighten their security as there has been a noted increase in the number of incidences of carnapping among Grab taxis.

Grab’s statement said, “Grab has taken steps in working on a tech solution that would decrease, if not completely hamper, the chances of carnapping incidents involving Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) – that have apparently been the latest target of lawless elements.”

It added a reminder to their drivers, “We encourage our driver-partners to be vigilant, and to use 911 hotline for emergency cases.”

The company had extended their condolences to the bereaved family of Maquidato. Grab Philippines stated, “Our prayers and sympathies go out to Mr Maquidato’s family. He was a good father to his 4 children, a good friend to many of his fellow drivers, and a good driver who was always willing to outserve his passengers. He will be missed.”

— Sally, The Summit Express

Filipino Colloquial Words: How Lodis Gave Werpa to Ordinary Talk

‘Lodi ka talaga orb! Petmalu! More werpa to you!’

Today’s Filipino social media is teeming with these words. Millennials, our ‘tatis and totis’, and even the ‘damatans’ are familiar with this trend. But what, exactly, do these mean and why are they so popular these days? How can we be lodis with werpas to become petmalu?

1. Lodi

Photo Credit: imdengerard Facebook

From the context of the Facebook post above, ‘Lodi’ is the reversed form of ‘Idol’. It is used to address celebrities or a familiar person who did something impressive.

2. Petmalu

Photo Credit: imdengerard Facebook

‘Petmalu’ is the reversed form of ‘Malupet’, which in Filipino slang means amazing, incredible, or simply cool.

3. Werpa

Photo Credit: BV Patrol Facebook Page

Based from how PowerPoint was changed to WerpaPoint, ‘Werpa’ is the reverse of ‘Pawer’, which is how some Filipinos pronounce ‘Power’. It is used to give support to someone.

While these three are the top frequently used reverse words nowadays, some other notable slang terms are ‘Orb’ for ‘Bro’, ‘Rapsa’ for ‘Sarap’ or delicious, and ‘Matsala’ for ‘Salamat’ or thanks.

Now that we’ve got the meanings out of the way, why exactly are these so trending today? Where in the world did these terms emerge from?

Root of the Trend

It all started within the Facebook group called What’s Your Ulam, Pare (WYUP). As their description states, they are a group focused on daily food experiences. Members mainly post photos of their food-for-the-day which ranges from picturesque gourmet dishes to plainly silly ones snapped for comedic purposes.

They started seven months ago, but only gained much online traction when the millennial members started to very much appreciate the slang terms used by the older members. Words like lodi, petmalu, and werpa flooded the comments sections. And soon enough, the colloquial words began to spread like wildfire through Filipino social media, like how we see them today.

However, while the trend today is mainly credited to the group, Reddit Philippines’ imaginelyrics begs to differ.

Photo Credit: Reddit

According to the user, the practice of reversing Filipino words has been around since the 90s. In the comments section, another user added that it goes beyond the 90s. And, true enough, the words astig (tigas or badass), ermat/erpat (mater/pater or mother/father), and olats (talo or lose) have been around even before lodi, petmalu, and werpa were trending.

So, now that we know that the Filipino language is a colorful and ever-expanding one, how should we receive this trend?

Some people find it ‘jeje’:

Photo Credit: Twitter/kkesekocchi

Some people make intellectual predictions:

Photo Credit: Twitter/jomiggambe

Some people defend our evolving language:

Photo Credit: Twitter/thatcherjeane

But most of all, even one of the Philippines’ historical figures and one of its National Artists joined in the trend even before it was trending:

Photo Credit: Twitter/TheRainBro

While this lodi, petmalu, and werpa trend is receiving mixed reactions from the netizens – quite a number of which are negative responses – it is important to keep in mind that it is a natural tendency for people to adapt their language. As a study by Luke Strongman points out, identity is created from language to adapt to different situations. This trend is no exception, as some millennials find amusement in expressing themselves through saying these new colloquial terms.

Whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing depends on each person. Marcelo H. del Pilar, however, seemed to think it is.

Photo Credit: Twitter/RanSheeran

More werpa, mga petmalung lodi!

— Kaye Lara, The Summit Express

Ginebra wins back-to-back Governors Cup titles!

MANILA, Philippines - The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is your 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup Champions! Ginebra survived Meralco’s late scary run in the final canto as they sent the Bolts home, 101-96 on Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

This is it! Meralco vs Ginebra in a do-or-die game, win or go home! Good sign for Ginebra as they bucketed the first basket followed by a Meralco turnover and a long three pointer from Justin Brownlee.

Ginebra clogged the shaded area to prevent Allen Durham from muscling his way up and limit the Bolts to shoot from the lower percentage angles. Despite the glue-tight defense, Meralco managed to stay close with Ginebra in the early phase of the opening quarter.

Ginebra looked scary in the first period as the Kings drained multiple treys and scored a handful in the paint. In contrast, Meralco started to shoot blanks and committed more turnovers which Ginebra converted into fast break points that lead to 27-19 advantage after the first 12 minutes.

Barangay Ginebra continued to rain threes and block shots as they began the 2nd period. To his dismay, Coach Norman Black immediately called a timeout to stop the bleeding.

In Spite of the timeout, Ginebra still surged and Meralco kept on missing. Worried and anxious, Coach Black burned another time out to find a solution to Ginebra’s unstoppable offensive onslaught.

Reynel Hugnatan ended the scoring dry spell in the 4-minute mark as he sank a floater. However, the Bolts trailed 19 big points with plenty of time remaining before the half ended.

Jared Dillinger was the only brave Bolt who kept on fighting until the 1st half wrapped up as he managed to cut the lead to 15, 52-37. Dillinger unleashed 11 points while veteran Ginebra guard LA Tenorio topped all scorers with 13 at the halftime break.

Allen Durham, this conference’s Best Import might have met his kryptonite. “The Hulk” surprisingly jotted only 6 points as he entered the third. Durham even got blocked multiple times and had butterfingers that cause turnovers.

In the contrary, Ginebra got nothing but all good looks in all sides of the floor whether from the inside or outside. Barangay escalated its lead to 20 with just 2 minutes gone by in the beginning of the 3rd period.

Allen Durham who was an obvious sleeper in the first half completed a dunk and one plus a triple as a retaliation to Ginebra’s scoring barrage. Fact, Allen Durham’s triple at the 8-minute mark was his first in the series after 18 attempts.

LA Tenorio was simply uncontainable in this game. The former Ateneo Eagle already had 21 point with 14 more minutes to go in the ballgame. His fellow alumnus Chris Newsome however, had a bad night with only 4.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2017 Governors Cup Finals MVP: LA “Tenyente” Tenorio! Tenorio finished with game-high 26 points backed-up by Justin Brownlee who had 23. Photo Credit: Philstar

Tenyente Tenorio closed the third with another jump shot for the 81-64 lead.

The Bolts somehow got closer to Ginebra and was able to lower the lead to just a dozen, courtesy of guards Anjo Caram and Baser Amer. But Meralco couldn't really get its momentum. Every time Meralco had a run, it will only be momentarily as Ginebra promptly fired back.

Anjo Caram’s 2 fast break points broke the Ginebra double-digit lead and placed his team behind by just 9 points with over 4 minutes remaining in the game. Coach Tim Cone, bothered by Meralco’s run, requested for a ceasefire to talk things over.

The 2-minute warning was announced by the coliseum barker with Meralco’s hope in winning the crown was slowly dimming as Ginebra’s lead was escalated to double figures anew.

With 71 ticks remaining in the ballgame, Cliff Hodge got fouled out and Ginebra’s lead was 7, 100-93.

Jared Dillinger’s three pointer cut the lead to just 4 with 40 seconds left in the game clock. Meralco posted a 7-0 blitz and saw a tiny chance of upsetting Ginebra.

Meralco had its chance but it was too late. At the final horn, Barangay Ginebra ended the series 4-3 with a nail-biting 101-96 win over the brave Meralco Bolts in front of 54,086 die hard PBA fans.

Watch full video replay.

On behalf of The Summit Express, we congratulate the Barangay Ginebra for winning the 2017 Governors Cup Finals for the 2nd straight. Never Say Die!

— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express

LIVE STREAM: Ginebra vs Meralco Game 7 PBA Governors' Cup Finals 2017

MANILA, Philippines — Will the Kings clinch a historic title repeat or the Bolts win a breakthrough championship?

The Barangay Ginebra and Meralco squads are in grudge match tonight, October 27, 2017 for the Game 7 of the PBA Governors' Cup Finals series at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Photo Credit: pba.ph

Ginebra supporters who have previously dominated attendance at the world's biggest indoor arena are expected to flock again setting a new record for a PBA game, including the Finals, in the history of the 42-year old league.

The final battle which is set at 7:00 p.m. will be suspense-filled with both team hungry for the elusive title.

"Truly it is. There's nothing more exciting or suspense-filled than playing in a Game Seven. The best thing that you can do is to enjoy the opportunity. That's really the best approach," Ginebra coach Tim Cone shared on PBA.ph website.

"We're now in the same situation as they are -- one game to end the season. We just have to find a way to keep our guys fresh and come back to win the championship Friday," said Meralco coach Norman Black.

Black said his team will rely again on the Magnificent 7 which includes two-time Best Import Allen Durham, Reynel Hugnatan, Chris Newsome, Garbo Lanete, Jared Dillinger, Amer Baser and Cliff Hodge.

Watch the Game 7 of 2017 PBA Governors' Cup Finals on livestream (video courtesy of sports.tv5.ph/live):

Here are the live updates courtesy of PBA:

Tweets by pbaconnect
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Game	Schedule	Venue	Final Score	Winner
1	October 13 7:00 pm	Quezon Convention Center, Lucena, Quezon	102-87	Ginebra
2	October 15 6:30 pm	Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City	86-76	Ginebra
3	October 18 7:00 pm	Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City	94-81	Meralco
4	October 20 7:00 pm	Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City	85-83	Meralco
5	October 22 6:30 pm	Philippine Arena, Bocaue, Bulacan	85-74	Ginebra
6	October 25 7:00 pm	Philippine Arena, Bocaue, Bulacan	98-91	Meralco
7	October 27 7:00 pm	Philippine Arena, Bocaue, Bulacan	TBA	TBA

Who will be the 2017 Governors' Cup champions?

— The Summit Express

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Movie Review: Three’s a charm for Marvel’s God of Thunder

*Minor Spoilers Ahead*

It is no secret that the “Thor” franchise hasn’t performed quite as well as “Iron Man” or “Captain America” series. Known for its dark color scheme and more grim backdrop, the Marvel sub-franchise has tapped “What We Do In The Shadows” director Taika Waititi to breath new fresh air in the series.

Chris Hemsworth as Thor in ‘Thor: Raganarok’/Marvel Studios

The Kiwi filmmaker’s vision for “Thor: Ragnarok” seems to have renewed people’s interest in the God of Thunder, with his quirky sense of humor and vivid visual style -- reminiscent of Jack Kirby’s trippy comic book spreads. Aside from its aesthetics, there is also noticeable tone shift making Thor a lot less uptight-looking, perfectly encapsulating the levity the MCU films have always been known for.

The God of Thunder’s third solo outing will subject Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the rest of Asgard under its most dangerous and formidable foe in Hela (Cate Blanchett). As the Goddess of Death starts her take-over of the demigod’s home planet, he has to resort to his own capabilities, unfortunately, without the help of his trustee hammer, the Mjolnir, to save his kingdom and its people. Luckily, the Asgardian prince will find support from his newly recruited team made up of old Avengers pal Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), franchise newbie Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), and even his conniving brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston).

Cate Blanchett as Hela in ‘Thor: Raganarok’/Marvel Studios

If anything, Waititi’s voice in “Thor: Ragnarok” seems to be front and center -- something that it is not really usual to hear from a Marvel movie. The risk have and that is the good thing in terms of changing things up and trying new ways of storytelling to keep fans interested. Hemsworth himself said that it was a conscious decision on his part to offer something fresh to Thor’s followers. But it was not all fun and games, the film still needed to play within the Marvel sandbox and contribute to the narrative arc that the franchise has been treading since 2008’s “Iron Man.” The result is a hero’s journey to self-rediscovery with a perfect mix of comedic genius and MCU tropes.

Despite valiant efforts to deviate from the norm, “Ragnarok” still suffers some of the franchise’s recurring problem, but its deemed acceptable due to the fact that folks behind it tried to course correct themselves via the movie. For instance, Marvel has always had villain problems, and while Hela is far from a multi-dimensional antagonist, she is a step-up from Thor’s old foes including the forgettable Malekith. Still, it would not have hurt for the film to shed a bit more of light regarding her motivations where people actually think twice if there is an angle that her actions can be justified. Good thing, Waititi took an unexpected route that will presumably have huge impacts on the franchise moving forward.

Mark Ruffalo as Hulk, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie and Tom Hiddleston as Loki in ‘Thor: Raganarok’/Marvel Studios

The threequel may be far-removed from the bigger MCU (Waititi shares that it was intentional), but it will have repercussions in next year’s much-anticipated “Avengers: Infinity War.” For starters, Odinson will be the link between Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their cosmic counterparts -- the Guardians of the Galaxy.

For Marvel’s most loyal supporters, “Thor: Ragnarok” is an exhilarating experience at the cinema -- with its callbacks that do not only serve Thor, but Hulk and even Loki, as well. As for the casual movie-going audience, the film still offers a great time, with its brand of humor that works for almost everyone.

Watch full trailer here:

— ALD, The Summit Express

RESULTS: October 2017 ECE, ECT board exam Performance of Schools

MANILA, Philippines - The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) hailed the top performing schools in the October 2017 Electronics Engineer (ECE) and Electronics Technician board exam as results were released this Thursday, October 26, 2017 or in three (3) working days after the exam.

PRC conducted the licensure exam in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro,Cebu, Davao, Lucena and Tuguegarao on October 21 and 22, 2017 for ECE and October 23 for ECT.

ECE BOARD EXAM RELATED RESULTS

• LIST OF PASSERS: October 2017 ECE board exam results
• LIST OF PASSERS: October 2017 ECT board exam results
• TOP 10 PASSERS: October 2017 ECE, ECT board exam topnotchers

The top performing schools in the October 2017 Electronics Engineer (ECE) Licensure Examination as per Commission Resolution No. 2010-547 series of 2010: WITH 50 OR MORE EXAMINEES AND WITH AT LEAST 80% PASSING PERCENTAGE

List of top performing schools will be posted here once announced...

The top performing schools in the October 2017 Electronics Technician (ECT) Licensure Examination as per Commission Resolution No. 2010-547 series of 2010: WITH 50 OR MORE EXAMINEES AND WITH AT LEAST 80% PASSING PERCENTAGE

List of top performing schools will be posted here once announced...

Meanwhile, here's the performance of schools in the October 2017 ECE and ECT Licensure Examination in alphabetical order as per R.A. 8981 otherwise known as PRC Modernization Act of 2000 Section 7(m) "To monitor the performance of schools in licensure examinations and publish the results thereof in a newspaper of national circulation":

List of performance of schools will be posted here once announced...

PREVIOUS EXAMINATIONS

In the October 2016 Electronics Engineer board exam, University of the Philippines (UP) - Diliman was the lone top performing school garnering 100% passing rate or 53 examinees passed the series of tests. In the Electronics Technician exam, University of Santo Tomas (UST) got the highest place, 98.85% or 86 out of 87 passed.

In the October 2015 ECE board exam, UPD was also hailed as the top performing school, 86.96 % or 40 out of 46 passed. Meanwhile, De La Salle University (DLSU) - Lipa led the schools for ECT after obtaining 98.11% or 52 out of 53 passed the exams.

Here's the overview of top performing schools in the previous examinations.

Electronics Engineer (ECE)

Exam Date	SCHOOL	NO. OF EXAMINEES	NO. OF PASSERS	% PASSED
October 2017	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
April 2017	MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY-ILIGANINSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	27	24	88.89%
October 2016	UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINESDILIMAN	53	53	100%
April 2016	UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINESDILIMAN	21	19	90.48%
October 2015	UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINESDILIMAN	46	40	86.96%
April 2015	NONE	N/A	N/A	N/A

Electronics Technician (ECT)

Exam Date	SCHOOL	NO. OF EXAMINEES	NO. OF PASSERS	% PASSED
October 2017	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
April 2017	MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY- MANILA	83	83	TBA
October 2016	UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS	87	86	98.85%
April 2016	MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYMANILA	98	98	100.00%
October 2015	DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-LIPA	53	52	98.11%
April 2015	DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA	52	52	100.00%

UPDATES

The Summit Express will update this page immediately once the results are out online. You may also monitor release of results on PRC's official website (prc.gov.ph).

— The Summit Express

PBA Finals: Meralco shuts down Ginebra to force do-or-die Game 7

MANILA, Philippines - No confettis and colorful balloons for tonight as the Meralco Bolts tied the series to 3-all after pushing Ginebra to the edge of the cliff, 98-91 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Wednesday, October 25, 2017.

Allen Durham along with Reynel Hugnatan postponed Ginebra’s victory party as they evened the series 3-3. Photo Credit: Philstar.com

Coach Norman Black tweaked his starters for Meralco’s do-or-die game number 6. Instead of going for Baser Amer, he opted to start Garvo Lanete to provide early firepower for the Bolts. Lanete took the first shot of the game and drew the first blood from the outside followed by another trey by Reynel Hugnatan.

The starting unit of Coach Black worked well for his team as they beat Ginebra in a foot race and garnered an early advantage of 12-4. Surprised by the Bolts’ attack, Coach Tim Cone was forced to waste a timeout to cut Meralco’s momentum.

Greg Slaughter on the other hand, began to heat-up in the shaded area and was unstoppable. Likewise, Allen Durham was unguardable underneath the basket even with Slaughter’s wide arms over him.

First quarter was pretty lopsided in favor of Meralco 29-17.

Ginebra made a 7-0 run as the 2nd period started. But Meralco immediately bounced back to add more digits to its margin that led to another ceasefire called by Coach Cone after seeing a 14-point, 38-24 advantage by the men in blue.

Meralco established its 20-point lead, its biggest so far in the series, in the 4:41 mark of the second. Jared Dillinger who was silent in the opening quarter finally woke up and contributed significant points to his team’s lead.

Justin Brownlee had a fair share in the 2nd period as he tried to get closer with Meralco by draining triples. Ginebra trailed Meralco by 17 points after the 1st half, 54-37. Both imports led all scorers with 13 points apiece.

During the halftime, the gallant soldiers who just came home after their tour of duty in Marawi were introduced to the 54,000 paying patrons inside the Philippine arena and were given a tribute for their bravery and heroism. Players from both teams met the soldiers in the center court to personally thank and honor them.

As the third quarter unfolded, Ginebra finally found its rhythm and managed to cut the lead down to 11. This time, Coach Norman burned an unnecessary timeout to stop the raging Gins.

The Bolts started to turn the ball over and it happened multiple times. Coach Black called a mandatory timeout as Barangay trimmed the margin to just a single-digit or 9-0 blitz from as high as 20 big points in the first half.

Big shot after big shot were unleashed by both squads. Ginebra had the chance to lower the lead to just 6 points but Meralco guards Baser Amer and Garvo Lanete took over the scoring chores of Allen Durham who was neutralized by fellow import Justin Brownlee.

Joe Devance closed the 3rd quarter from the downtown and again brought the Meralco lead down to just 6 points, 75-69.

Meralco had no other choice but to win the game in order to send the series to a sudden death come Friday so they opened the final canto strong and managed to bring its lead back to double-digit courtesy of Hugnatan and Durham.

Cliff Hodge who just got married yesterday uttered a joke prior to the game that their honeymoon is postponed because basketball comes first. Hodge surged and sacrificed his body to protect their lead and to live one more day.

It was really a roller coaster ride for Meralco and Ginebra as both teams exchanged baskets and momentums. Midway of the last quarter, Ginebra found themselves down by 6 points again, 88-82.

At the final 2 minutes of the game, it was still everybody’s ball game as Ginebra was behind by 7 points, 93-86.

Meralco luckily got offensive boards and used the clock wisely. The Bolts patiently held the ball until they found the open man. Reynel Hugnatan placed the icing on the cake with a big trey to postpone Ginebra’s victory party.

98-91 is the final score and both teams will have a day-off to prepare for their grudge match on Friday at the Philippine arena.

— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express

Bonifacio Global City is now PLDT Fibr-powered SmartCity

MANILA, Philippines - Leading telecoms and digital services provider PLDT has recently completed its program to roll out fiber-powered broadband facilities in the Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a thriving business and residential center in Taguig City, providing its residents with Fibr-fast internet speeds.

Bonifacio Global City. (Mjdiamzon/Wikimedia Commons)

All residential buildings in BGC are now Fibr-powered by PLDT HOME. Among these buildings are One Serendra, Two Serendra, Bellagio One, Two and Three, Arya Residences, The Icon Residences, The Beaufort, One McKinley Place, 8 Forbestown Road, Essensa East Forbes, Pacific Plaza Towers, and all upcoming residential buildings in BGC such as the Grand Hyatt Manila Residences, Uptown Parksuites, High Street South Block’s One and Two Maridien, and Verve Residence Towers, East Gallery Place, West Gallery Place, and the Park Triangle Towers.

“As a cosmopolitan community, BGC residents have a strong demand for high-speed broadband given their digitally-driven lifestyles. PLDT HOME Fibr fulfills this demand,” said PLDT FVP and Head of Home Business Marco Borlongan.

“BGC residents can now enjoy ultra-fast broadband speeds for lag-free browsing, gaming and streaming via the game-changing Roku Powered TVolution. This entertainment box offers Cignal TV, and over 100 streaming channels including Netflix, iflix, and YouTube. The powerful connection from PLDT HOME Fibr will also enable families to enjoy the benefits of PLDT’s SmartHome security devices such as the home monitoring system Fam Cam, the cyber security platform Fam Zone, and the multi-functional kiddie gadget Smart Watch. They can also now sign up for the country’s first-ever Whole Home WiFi service — the first intelligent Home Wi-Fi technology in the Philippines, designed to blanket the entire home with wireless connectivity,” Borlongan added.

A former military base, BGC is now one of the country’s fastest-growing commercial business districts and residential communities. It is home to many of the country’s major industries and a preferred location for many global brands and foreign investors. BGC is also a popular cultural and leisure destination for city dwellers, with its open spaces, sports fields, parks, art installations, museums, cinemas and diverse array of dining options.

“PLDT Home Fibr is the future of broadband. With our aggressive nationwide fiber network roll-out, we are ushering in a future for Filipino families where world-class internet is accessible to everyone. Our network program for the year is on track and we will continue our mission to give more Filipinos access to high-speed broadband,” said PLDT FVP and Head of Consumer Business for Market Development Oscar A. Reyes Jr.

As of end-June, PLDT’s fiber facilities have passed 3.3 million homes. PLDT is expected to expand its Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) coverage to about four million homes passed by the end of 2017. It is also deploying hybrid technologies to allow existing customers connected via copper facilities to enjoy fiber-like speeds.

PLDT has invested around P300 billion or nearly US$6 billion over the last decade to roll out the country’s most extensive fixed and wireless network infrastructure which now has 150,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables designed to support the Filipinos’ growing use of fixed and mobile data.

— The Summit Express

Isabel Granada in coma after collapsing in Qatar

MANILA, Philippines - 90’s singer-actress Isabel Granada is now in a critical condition after she collapsed on Tuesday, October 24.

Isabel is in Doha, Qatar with her husband, Arnel Principe-Cowley as she was invited as a celebrity speaker for Philippine Trade Tourism Conference.

Isabel’s dear friend, Bianca Lapus has been consistently asking for prayers and giving updates on her Facebook page.

Earlier, she posted, “I would like to ask for healing prayers for my dear friend, sis Isabel Granada.”

"She was rushed at the Heart Hospital Hamad Medical Corp. Now at HGH (Hamad General Hospital) in Qatar.”

"I have not communicated with her family yet. I’m waiting for updates. But the initial info I got is from our dear Robby Tarroza, according to his post, Isa is in critical condition. Massive internal bleeding in the head. Aneurysm”

“She suddenly collapsed lang daw.”

But a few hours, she posted an update, “UPDATE: ISA IS IN A COMA NOW. She was rushed at Heart Hospital and status was post cardiac arrest.

"But according to the nurse I chatted with in Qatar, she was transferred to Hamad Hospital and its confirmed she has internal bleeding and aneurysm.

"She will undergo a major operation anytime now.

"But according to the respiratory therapist she had 6 times cardiac arrest.”

Our prayers are with Isabel.

The Summit Express will be posting more updates on Isabel’s condition.

— Sally, The Summit Express

LIVE STREAM: Ginebra vs Meralco Game 6 PBA Governors' Cup Finals 2017

MANILA, Philippines — End of Extend? The Barangay Ginebra Kings are seeking for a historic title repeat while the Meralco Bolts are hoping to fight for another day in the crucial Game 6 of the 2017 PBA Governors Cup best-of-seven championship Finals on Wednesday night, October 25 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

It's a do-or-die for Meralco Bolts in Game 6 of the 2017 Governors' Cup Finals. Photo by pba.ph.

The Gin Kings who have won a total of 9 championships have never scored a title repeat. This time, the team promised to put a new leaf on the their francise history.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted they took advantage of their familiarity of the arena while the Best Player of the Conference Greg Slaughter said they get their inspiration from the crowd, "It's truly a blessing to be here and play before the fans."

RELATED STORY
Ginebra vs Meralco PBA Finals Governors' Cup 2017: livestream, schedule, results

Meralco coach Norman Black hopes to get more from his starters to keep their rally alive.

"I wish we could get a lot more out of our starters. I hope we get better contributions from Baser Amer and Chris Newsome," Black said in a report from PBA website.

Game time is set at 7:30 p.m.

Watch the Game 6 of 2017 PBA Governors' Cup Finals (best-of-seven series) on livestream (video courtesy of sports.tv5.ph/live):

Here are the live updates courtesy of PBA:

Tweets by pbaconnect
— The Summit Express

WATCH: Graphic novel and masterpiece 'Tabi Po' premieres on Sari Sari

Growing up, we were told countless tales about this infamous miscreation in Philippine folklore known as aswang. Always depicted as a flesh eating and ruthless creature hunting for its prey, is that what they really are – mindless killing ghouls?

From left: AJ Muhlach as Elias, Luis Alandy as Tasyo and Phoebe Walker as Sabel in "Tabi Po."

Cignal TV, through its SARI SARI Channel, brings you a brave and bold TV series about the lives of aswangs in “Tabi po.”

Tabi Po tells the story of Elias, a neophyte aswang. Born from a tree during the country’s Spanish era, Elias embarks on a journey with two older aswangs, Tasyo and Sabel, in the quest to understand their true nature. Along the way, Elias meets Salome, a sex slave of the friars, and falls in love with her. In the middle of a rising revolution, Elias is forced to face his own battles – his love for Salome versus his hunger for flesh, the growing rift between himself and Tasyo, the society's stigma with aswangs, and the battle with his own inner demons.

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Stories Behind the 5 Scariest Places in the Philippines

Unlike anything on TV now, Tabi Po shows love, beauty, amidst the horrific lives of these creatures called aswang. Where did they come from? What is their purpose? Is there more to the massive killing, gore and bloodshed typically associated with them? Know the untold stories behind the aswang in this new cinematic tv masterpiece.

This series is a TV adaptation of Mervin Malonzo’s best-selling graphic novel series with the same title that won the National Book Awards for Graphic Literature. Directed by award-winning director Paul Basinilio, Tabi Po stars a powerhouse cast led by Luis Alandy as Tasyo, Phoebe Walker as Sabel, Jourdanne Castillo as Salome, and AJ Muhlach as Elias.

Find out which side will prevail, Elias’ true bloodthirsty nature or his deep feelings for the girl he loves the most. This epic tale premieres on October 27, 2017, and will air every Friday at 8:00 PM until December 1, 2017. Catch it on the SARI-SARI Channel, brought to you by the Philippines' premier pay TV provider, Cignal TV.

WATCH: "Tabi Po" official trailer (video courtesy of Cignal TV)

— The Summit Express