Bayanihan spirit: Ukrainian ace thanks Filipino fans for timely donations

 By Mark Rey Montejo

Nearly a week after her US Open second-round showdown against Alex Eala, Oleksandra Oliynykova experienced the warmth of the "bayanihan" spirit thousands of miles away from her own home.

Oleksandra Oliynykova, of Ukraine, reacts during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships against Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Oleksandra Oliynykova, of Ukraine, reacts during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships against Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Nearly a week after her US Open second-round showdown against Alex Eala, Oleksandra Oliynykova experienced the warmth of the "bayanihan" spirit thousands of miles away from her own home.

The 25-year-old Ukrainian expressed her gratitude after her Filipino supporters contributed to her fund-raising activity which is aimed at boosting her country's military campaigns in the ongoing war against Russia.

“I want to thank you once again for all the kindness and meaningful support you’ve shown! I also have a little update to share: our website is now available in Tagalog, especially for my wonderful supporters and friends from the Philippines,” Oliynykova wrote.

The Kyiv, Ukraine native is hoping to raise 240,000 UAH (Ukrainian hryvnia) or around P338,022 to acquire generators, charging stations and other essential power equipment.

Those hardwares will be used by Ukraine’s 433rd Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems.

“Thank you so much to everyone who supports, helps, shares, and stands with us,” said Oliynykova. “Let’s keep helping Ukraine together.”

Last Sept. 4, Oliynykova battled Eala in the second round of the final major which ultimately ended in a 6-1, 6-4 victory by the Filipina tennis ace.

The Notebook: The Musical' brings Allie and Noah's enduring romance to Manila

By John Legaspi

Published Sep 11, 2026 05:34 pm

“When I disappear, where do I go?” That’s one of the questions Allie asks in “The Notebook: The Musical.” It is a poignant question that captures the heart of the musical: What happens when memories begin to fade, and how do we hold on to the people and moments that make us who we are?

Morissette Amon as Middle_Allie and Laurence Mossman as Middle Noah (Photos: Jyllan Bitalac, Sherie Bolo, and Theatre Group Asia)

The latest production by Theatre Group Asia at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City brings one of the most iconic love stories to the Philippine stage, marking the first international staging of “The Notebook: The Musical.” The production takes everyone on an emotional ride as they follow the romance and drama that goes into the love story of Allie and Noah through the different stages of their lives.

Fans were first introduced to their story in 1996 through Nicholas Sparks’ novel. In 2004, “The Notebook” graced the big screen as a movie, gaining a bigger audience all over the world. The two eventually became the source material for the Broadway musical, featuring music and lyrics by acclaimed singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and a Tony-nominated book by Bekah Brunstetter.

Sheena Belarmino as Younger Allie and Benedix Ramos as Younger Noah

On Sept. 2, “The Notebook: The Musical” officially made its international debut in Manila, and, as expected, it brought audiences to tears as they relived the enduring romance of Allie and Noah—a love story shaped not only by passion and choice, but also by memory, time, and the inevitable changes that come with growing old.

For its Manila run, “The Notebook: The Musical” features a stellar roster of Filipino talent, including Carla Guevara Laforteza, Floyd Tena, Markki Stroem, Felicity Kyle Napuli, Omar Uddin, Jillian Ita-as, Shaun Ocrisma, and Kathleen Francisco. Sheena Belarmino, Morissette Amon, and Celeste Legaspi perform as young, middle, and older Allie, respectively.  Benedix Ramos, Laurence Mossman, and Rody Vera represent the different stages of Noah’s life.

Celeste Legaspi as Older Allie and Rody Vera as Older Noah

Applause and flowers are in order for the entire cast, whose performances bring the beloved story to life with sincerity, tenderness, and emotional depth. Sheena and Benedix perfectly captured the innocence and intensity of young love and its all-consuming nature. Morissette, a powerhouse vocalist, proved that she is more than a singer as she portrayed the complexity of adult romance with Laurence, who portrayed Noah’s quiet strength and gentle vulnerability.

For many, it is a rare sight to see Filipino theater icons Rody and Celeste perform onstage. And watching them as older Noah and Allie is a moving experience. Their subtle playfulness, warmth, and natural chemistry make their portrayal touching, causing many to shed tears inside the theaters. They are proof that, even as time goes by, true talent never loses its brilliance.

‘The Notebook: The Musical’ takes audiences behind the pages and into a world of love, memory, and second chances.

‘The Notebook: The Musical’ takes audiences behind the pages and into a world of love, memory, and second chances.

‘The Notebook: The Musical’ takes audiences behind the pages and into a world of love, memory, and second chances.

‘The Notebook: The Musical’ takes audiences behind the pages and into a world of love, memory, and second chances.

For us, one of the major highlights of the production is its scenic design. It perfectly transports viewers to a coastal town in the Mid-Atlantic with its charming homes, lush surroundings, and evocative waterfront setting. The balcony, in particular, evokes the romance of a Shakespearean play, creating an intimate space where Allie and Noah’s love unfolds before us.

At its core, director Nicholas Polonio sees Allie and Noah as deeply human—flawed, complicated, and vulnerable in ways that make them relatable. As he puts it, “A life without flaws is not much of a life at all.” And perhaps that is what makes their story resonate: Love is not only about how fearlessly we show it, but also how willing we are to receive it. “The Notebook: The Musical” reminds us that while memories may disappear, the love behind them can endure—and sometimes, that is enough to keep us from ever truly disappearing.

“The Notebook: The Musical” runs until Sept. 20 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit Makati. Tickets are available through TicketWorld, with prices ranging from ₱900 to ₱5,500.

Stocks slide for second day as surge in crude ignites inflation fears

Local equities fell for a second straight session as escalating Middle East tensions stoked fears of persistent inflation, prompting investors to trim risk assets amid weakening peso and elevated global borrowing costs. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped 37.42 points, or 0.61 percent, to close at 6,061.81 on Friday, Sept. 11. Read more

The price of unpreparedness

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published Sep 12, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Sep 11, 2026 04:49 pm

The economic disparity between the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces is often measured in infrastructure. Last month, however, it was measured in kilowatts. While Luzon enjoyed a 34.2 percent drop in wholesale electricity prices in August, the Visayas and Mindanao regions faced an extraordinary price shock that exposed just how fragile the regional energy grid really is.

In the Visayas, spot market power prices jumped 64.9 percent last month to ₱18.59 per kilowatt-hour. In Mindanao, the spike was even worse, soaring 88.2 percent to ₱19.56. Data from the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) shows these are the highest rates recorded since the wholesale electricity spot market began operating in those regions.

The immediate trigger was due to combination of thin margins and bad timing. Unexpected shutdowns at major power plants forced grid operators to run expensive backup generators to prevent widespread blackouts. Visayas registered its supply fall 2.6 percent to 2,201 megawatts against a hovering demand of 2,094 megawatts. That leaves almost no breathing room.

On the other hand, Mindanao faced its own 7.3 percent supply drop alongside a five percent demand increase, and sending power across the water to help Visayas only stretched its local grid further.

This is not due to bad luck or bad weather, but the direct result of delayed long-term planning. Building a power plant and connecting it to the transmission grid takes three to five years. The severe shortages hitting the central islands today stem from generation investments and line expansions that should have been locked in half a decade ago.

The Department of Energy (DOE) officials acknowledged as much, admitting that the government is now scrambling to catch up to demand that was easy to predict.

Today, the real-world costs are already hitting home. At a recent economic forum in Cebu, local business owners laid out what these daily disruptions mean on the ground.

Rotational brownouts force factories in industrial hubs like Mandaue City to stop assembly lines, reset sensitive equipment, and swallow higher operating expenses. While larger firms can afford to invest in solar arrays or alter work shifts to survive, smaller enterprises face immediate margin compression that threatens their survival.

Unreliable power also undermines regional efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). Local governments can host international trade summits and pitch regional growth stories, but pitch decks do not mean much if the lights flicker out during the meeting. Foreign investors require basic utility security, not promises of relief years down the road.

Energy officials say immediate relief is on the way as six offline plants prepare to restart operations. Looking further ahead, the government points to new baseload and renewable projects secured through the Green Energy Auction Program, scheduled to come online between 2028 and 2031 for Cebu, Bohol, Panay, and Negros.

Yet, with El Niño threatening to dry up hydro reservoirs in the fourth quarter, waiting until 2028 is a tall order for businesses struggling to keep their doors open today.

To keep the Philippines’ southern economies moving, energy regulators, grid operators, and government agencies must stop working in silos. They need to clear regulatory backlogs, fast-track environmental clearances, and fix transmission bottlenecks that leave existing power stranded. Free market mechanisms are designed to price scarcity, but when prices stay this high for this long, they cease to be a signal and start acting as a tax on local enterprise. The country cannot afford a setup where Luzon enjoys cheap power while Visayas and Mindanao pay top peso  just just to keep the lights on.  

Ai-Ai delas Alas on Gerald Sibayan's wedding: 'Expected ko na yan'

By Carissa Alcantara

Published Sep 11, 2026 10:24 am

Ai-Ai delas Alas issued a statement regarding news of her ex-husband, Gerald Sibayan, getting married.

On the show "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda", the comedian and actress said that she was expecting it to happen.

"Alam naman natin na mangyayari yan. Expected ko na yan nung hiniwalayan niya ako. Kailangan niya na mag-stay sa Amerika kaya kailangan niya na magpakasal," Ai-Ai said.

She maintained she doesn't harbor any ill feelings towards Gerald but she hopes he won't do the same thing he did to her with his new wife.

"Sana lang, huwag niyang gawin sa iba ang ginawa niya sa akin. Hayaan na natin siya. At least, naka-suit siya, hindi naka-polo lang. Basta ang alam ko, English speaking ang babae na pinakasalan niya kasi isang buwan bago ako iniwan ni Gerald, Ingles na rin ang pakikipag-usap niya sa akin," she added.

Ai-Ai thanked fans for their support and said she has moved on from her past with Gerald.

"Maraming salamat po sa mga nagpapadala sa akin ng mga mensahe na suporta. Maraming salamat sa walang sawa na pagmamahal ninyo sa akin mula noon hanggang ngayon. Wala po kayong dapat ipag-alala.

"Okay na okay po ako, sa tulong ni Lord at ni Mama Mary. huwag na po kayong magpaapekto sa pagpapakasal niya dahil hindi naman po ako apektado. Matagal na po akong moving forward,” she ended.

Ai-Ai and Gerald got married in December 2017 at Christ the King Parish Church in Greenmeadows, Quezon City. They renewed their vows in Las Vegas in 2022 but announced their separation in 2024.

HAPPY MOMENTS

 

From time to time I love silence. I love quietness. – Do you observe that we live in a real frightening, loud world? At every corner of our daily life are innumerable chances of being covered up with sometimes unbearable din and noise. The loud outcry gives me the needle. We don’t have nerves of steel forever.

I am not really a fan of going out at night. If you ask me how to spend a lovely evening after a hectic and stressful and, especially, noisy day – plain and simple.

The nicest occurrence is the silence, the intimate taciturnity, which can even “weld” people or partners together. It might sound just like an idiomatic expression, but believe me; not being forced to talk is great! No, I don’t mean that we have nothing to say to each other any more – or, he or she won’t listen to a special reason… . I am talking about a deep understanding between people, who are together and are able to share time in quiet and silent happiness.

After a long and strenuous day, it is a real big comfort to sit and lean back, read all the (old!) newspapers and magazines from the last days and weeks while enjoying a glass of wine and a handful of peanuts. A crossword puzzle is easier to solve while having a “silent” radio program in the background, instead of a “roars to hell” television show.

Try it. It’s indeed relaxing after traffic woes, the heat and dust of the day, telephones’ ringing, machine rattling, meetings and never ending discussions. Why should we talk right now?

Feeling safe and secure, inseparable, indestructible with peace in our minds and our surroundings, this is what we really mean to each other, understanding without words. At home, somewhere in the garden, at a beach – there are many wonderful places. And, suddenly out of the blue from the bottom of our heart and from the depth of comfort and ease, we might be able to speak about things, which couldn’t be discussed earlier. A good talk grows – but without compulsion or constraint or obligation, desperate or being forced.

Try it, and it might feel like walking hand-in-hand on a lonely sand beach, such as “once upon a time” with our first partner. And, unexpectedly: we become silent again AND thankful for it.

We really seldom take a break. We spend too much time in this terrible and frightful loud world… 

Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. But it is not something that can be demanded from life, and if you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of unhappiness said already William Robertson Davies (28 August 1913 – 2 December 1995) who was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor

Never forget: A smile never goes out of style. All it takes for anyone to live a happier life is to live it one smile at a time. Be your own reason for your happiness. Believe you can, and you’re halfway there. Bringing the sun wherever I go. Chin up, buttercup!

THE COLORS OF MY LIFE

 

By

 Klaus Döring

 -

Saturday, September 12, 2026

SOME people view life as a complex mixture of every human feeling, while others reduce it to simple dualities. Violet stands for joy, indigo for knowledge, blue for peace, green for love, yellow for tranquility, orange for sanctity, and red for strength. The union of all these rays creates energy within human beings and guides us through life with seven precious qualities from God.

The Ups and Downs of Our Life. We all live our lives through the prism of our experiences and emotions. And, naturally, we all want to live a happy life.

Therefore, the colors of life that we discover throughout our journey on Earth represent the different ways in which we see and interpret the world around us.

I have always been fascinated by Celine Dion’s song “The Colour of My Love”: “I’ll paint my mood in shades of blue; paint my soul to be with you…” and “I’ll paint the truth, show how I feel…” The colors of love are also the colors of life.

Passion and ignorance — our intense emotions and our uninstructed or unlearned behavior — are not always justifiable reasons for pardoning the guilty. Those words may sound rough and unpleasant, but sometimes they need to be expressed clearly and directly so that they reach our minds and hearts.

However, the weight of evidence may point to the fact that failure to see the different colors of life can lead to unnecessary death and injury. We may be barreling down the tracks of life with plenty of people in tow. Our decisions can influence friends, relatives, colleagues, and others in our daily surroundings. I don’t like your style? Still, you belong to the colors of my life…!

The colors of life are not always colorful. Many times, we may also find ourselves going through black-and-white periods.

What makes your life colorful? Be curious; make it your mission to discover new ideas, places, people, and interests. Be expressive; don’t be afraid to speak your mind and communicate your feelings to others. Take the initiative; don’t sit around waiting for permission to do what you love.

Life is full of colors. In our lives, we see bright colors — the happy, hopeful, and positive moments that make life beautiful. But life would not be complete without challenges and problems. Just as a picture needs contrast, the colors of life would not be complete without the darker ones.

Here is another important person. He was born in a stable. His friends were fishermen. He never traveled far beyond his homeland. He died in disgrace while he was still a young man. And yet, through the centuries and around the world, Jesus of Nazareth, through his life and teachings, has inspired more people than anyone else who ever walked this earth. He, too, became one of the most important colors of my life!

***

Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, X (Twitter), or LinkedIn, or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN

Making a difference

 

The Daily Guardian is a renascent Iloilo-based publishing firm and media outfit with bureaus across Western Visayas and beyond. Led by Iloilo's most respected journalists, we pledge to tell the Ilonggo story as seen through the various lenses of society so that every side may be told.

BUREAUS:Kalibo Boracay Roxas Bacolod Antique Guimaras Manila.

September 12, 2026

By Klaus Döring

Our globe and its population bear innumerable strange facts. In many people’s opinion, this world shows mostly worrying characteristics and symptoms nowadays. No wonder. Just try to consume and digest today’s headlines and news from all around the globe.

It is a world with quickly bridged distances — our Mother Earth is becoming smaller and smaller. Any tourist, even with little time and only a small budget, can travel to other faraway cultures. But joining them, as well as different races and religious communities, requires, first of all, great care, tact, instinctive feelings, empathy, and logical ideas.

The stranger whom we meet for the first time during a business meeting, for example, may be an uncommon, odd, and extraordinary guy. He may be someone from a foreign country who speaks another language and whose skin is of another color. He may be a migrant, a restless hiker, or an expatriate in our neighbourhood.

The foreigner beside you and me can become a provocation or a challenge. Strangeness can become exoticism. Maybe that’s why my family and I decided to move to the Philippines. On the other hand — going abroad can open other and even better horizons. We must not feel like “a stranger in paradise.” By the way, I never did, since I have toured around the globe many times.

However, a migrant bears a juxtaposition of optimism (even calculated optimism!), confused feelings, nostalgia, and homesickness. Yes, guys, during the first two years of my expat life in the Philippines, the round-trip ticket was always on my mind because no one among us can escape his native roots.

But I am really a lucky guy. I experienced amazing tolerance in the Philippines. A real, practiced tolerance. Already during my first business meetings, I met supportive, forbearing, and broad-minded people. A wonderful mix of different cultures without giving up their own identity. …

Every new challenge in a strange country means a change. Changes in life are necessary and important. Let’s alter or make a difference; let’s put one thing in place of another; let’s shift; let’s quit one state for another; let’s put on fresh clothing. Let’s burn the “lock fat” away. And remember: nothing comes from nothing.

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Do to others as you would have them do to you

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published Sep 10, 2026 12:02 am

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Many of us are familiar with the so-called Golden Rule, which is put in a positive statement by Jesus in the Gospel (v 31; Mt 7:12).

In Matthew, the Golden Rule is immediately followed by the challenge to enter the narrow gate. The Golden Rule is not an easy thing, but it is also not impossible. In Luke, the statement is immediately followed by the challenge to love even the undeserving.

Luke challenges us to have the right motivation if we are to abide by the Golden Rule. We do good to others not for the intention of receiving the same treatment from the beneficiaries of our goodness.

We do good to others because in doing so we are recognizing not only the goodness in us but also the goodness in them. How do we practice the Golden Rule in our everyday life?

Do we practice it with the right motivation, recognizing the goodness in each one rather than expecting others to repay us for our good deeds? Can we do good even to the undeserving?

First Reading • 1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13

Brothers and sisters: Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. If anyone supposes he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if one loves God, one is known by him. 4 So about the eating of meat sacrificed to idols: we know that there is no idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.

Indeed, even though there are so-called gods in heaven and on earth (there are, to be sure, many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and through whom we exist. But not all have this knowledge. There are some who have been so used to idolatry up until now that, when they eat meat sacrificed to idols, their conscience, which is weak, is defiled.

Thus, through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to destruction, the brother for whom Christ died. When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their consciences, weak as they are, you are sinning against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to sin.

Gospel • Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?

“Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.