Davao City to send rescue teams to quake-hit Cebu

 

By Keith Bacongco

DAVAO CITY – The city government is preparing teams to assist in the rescue efforts in the earthquake-affected areas of northern Cebu province.

In a statement, the City Information Office (CIO) said the city government is coordinating with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to determine the needs in disaster-hit areas.

“Yes, we will send help to Cebu,” the CIO said. “While ground assessments are ongoing, Davao City 911 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams, along with our medical teams and psychosocial workers, are now ready to be deployed. We are also preparing food items for the affected areas,” it added.

City emergency and disaster response units are on standby for deployment as soon as coordination with Cebu authorities is completed, the CIO added.

The city government has been sending different forms of assistance to disaster-hit areas in different parts of the country.

The city’s 911 USAR is equipped with among the most advanced emergency response equipment in the country.

Meanwhile, Sultan Kudarat province Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu has extended his solidarity with people of Cebu following the magnitude-6.9 earthquake.

“We especially convey our solidarity with Gov. Pam Baricuatro as she leads her people through this time of great sorrow and challenge. We recognize the immense burden placed upon Cebu’s communities and leadership, yet we believe that with unity, courage, and faith, Cebu will rise again,” Mangudadatu said.

He added that the people of Sultan Kudarat grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, including those who were injured and displaced. “Please remember that Sultan Kudarat is with you in prayers, in spirit, and in support.”

PHIVOLCS also reports 2,461 aftershocks, including a magnitude 5 tremor felt last night.

 The death toll has now climbed to 72, with nearly 300 injured, according to the NDRRMC. PHIVOLCS also reports 2,461 aftershocks, including a magnitude 5 tremor felt last night.

Let’s continue keeping Cebu in our thoughts and hope every family stays safe in the days ahead.

: Aldo Banaynal/The Freeman, Mark James Rocamora Kapalac

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'Birit' is back: The Bodyguard, The Musical

By Philip Cu Unjieng

Published Oct 2, 2025 12:10 am | Updated Oct 2, 2025 08:15 am

The cast of 'The Bodyguard, The Musical'

9Works Theatrical Production introduces the public to the Proscenium Theater at Rockwell Center, Makati, via a nostalgic musical romp called The Bodyguard, The Musical. Inspired by the 1992 film that starred Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, the musical has a Book by Alexander Dinelaris. It is directed by Robbie Guevara, with Musical Direction by Daniel Bartolome. It runs until Oct. 19, so book your tickets for this veritable memory-laden sing-along.

The musical stars Filipina Christine Marie Allado, who has established a name for herself in the West End of London. She was Peggy Schuyler in the award-winning production of Hamilton: An American Musical, and portrayed Vanessa in the West End production of In the Heights.

Playing the title character is fellow West End regular Matt Blaker, who has been in the productions of Phantom of the Opera and Jersey Boys. Here in The Bodyguard, Allado takes on the role of Rachel Marron, while Blaker is Frank Farmer.

The likes of Sheena Palad, as Rachel’s sister, Nicky, Elian Santos as Rachel’s son, and Giani Sarit, CJ Novato, Tim Yap, and John Joven Uy are among the many who support the two main characters. It’s a tight-knit cast, and as in the hit movie, it’s all about a former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from a mystery stalker.

The book of this musical, I have to admit, leaves nothing much for those who have already watched the film. The scenes aren’t much more than devices strung along to bring us to the next song, the following production number. And that is for me the letdown in this musical adaptation. It really relies too much on the singing and belting of ‘birit’ tunes to turn the performance into a success.

Fortunately for us, Christine Allado is a genuine powerhouse, keeping the audience entranced and hanging on every note. Matt Blaker acquits himself well, proving he can sing and move with the best of them when given the opportunity. Sheena Palad, as Rachel's sister, also has a great set of pipes, and when the two sisters come together for one show-stopping production number, we are truly amazed. In the old days of Filipino musical acts, it would be like putting Regine Velasquez and Lani Misalucha on one stage, singing a song together.

The best scene for me would be the one in the karaoke bar. It’s genuinely funny, and the comedy and lightness are sustained. It’s a setting where you actually feel bad to leave, as you're having so much fun. Most of the other scenes are merely filler for the next song, a costume change, or a stab at drama. And I’d blame the material itself.

Still, the songs are without question the reason you bought a ticket to this show, and you won’t leave disappointed. It’s a true crowd-pleaser, and I won’t be surprised if there’s an extended run for this musical. Nostalgia, Whitney, The Bodyguard, and great singing - what more could you ask for in a musical? I was waiting for Tim Yap to belt out a tune, too!

 

Help pours in for quake-hit Cebu; Phivolcs warns of aftershocks

Patients wait outside Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo City after a strong earthquake struck the area in Cebu province. (AP Photo)

After the devastating earthquake in Cebu, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman urged national agencies to immediately activate their quick response funds (QRF), with the source fund now standing at ₱8 billion. Read more

Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado sent a 16-person medical team to Cebu and pledged P5 million financial assistance. Read more

The Department of Education (DepEd) said it has mobilized immediate assistance to schools and communities hit by typhoons and the recent earthquake. Read more

Cebuano celebrities and public figures have taken to social media to call for unity, prayers, and tangible aid following the devastation that struck their home province. Read more

Members of the diplomatic community expressed their sympathies to the earthquake victims. Read more