Mister Philippines finished 2nd runner-up at the Mister Global 2026, Miss Asia Pacific PH placed 3rd runner-up

PH bet MJ Ordillano finishes 2nd runner-up at Mister Global 2026; Miss Asia Pacific Int'l PH placed 3rd runner-up

JADE VERONIQUE YAP
GMA News
October 11, 2026

Philippine bet MJ Ordillano finished as second runner-up at the Mister Global 2026 pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday night.

Ordillano advanced to the Top 3, where he competed against representatives from Türkiye and Nigeria for the title.

Türkiye’s Dilhan Divrikli was crowned Mister Global 2026, while Nigeria’s Bethel Mbamara was named first runner-up.

During the question-and-answer round that determined the Top 3 finalists, Ordillano was asked what quality is most important in a good man.

Ordillano highlighted the importance of loving unconditionally, drawing inspiration from his grandmother, who raised him and showed him the meaning of love through her sacrifices, patience, and courage.

“It’s a privilege to be loved by the globe, but most importantly, it is a [greater] privilege to have the opportunity to [love] others whom you’ve never even met," he said.

In the final question, the Top 3 finalists were asked how they would bring people closer together despite their cultural and religious differences.

Ordillano emphasized his commitment to advocating for people with disabilities and those facing mental health challenges.

He also said he would use the Mister Global platform to reach people, return their love, and serve as a role model.

Meanwhile, Philippine bet Gabrielle Galapia finished as third runner-up at the Miss Asia Pacific International 2026 pageant held at the Cebu Coliseum on Saturday night.

Galapia advanced to the Top 5, competing against representatives from Mexico, South Africa, Costa Rica, and Thailand for the crown.

Thailand’s Sofia Sasiwararin Atsawahirankarn was crowned Miss Asia Pacific International 2026, while Costa Rica’s Gia Franceschi finished as first runner-up and South Africa’s Nompumelelo Amandla Malindi as second runner-up.

Mexico’s Itzel Borbon completed the Top 5 as fourth runner-up. —JCB, GMA News

Three Philippine beaches among top 15 in the world

Three Philippine beaches among top 15 in the world: Condé Nast

The Star (Malaysia)
11 Oct 2026

MANILA: Luxury magazine Condé Nast Traveller (CNT) has named Coron, El Nido, and Boracay among the top 15 beaches in the world, the only country to get three spots on the list.

Based on the 2026 CNT Readers’ Choice Awards, Coron ranked fourth with a score of 93.32; Boracay, eighth with 91.49; and El Nido, 10th with 91.27.

The 15 best beaches are:

Veligandu Island Beach, Maldives, 97.55;

Mounday’s Bay, Anguilla, 94.71;

Ao Nang Beach, Thailand, 94;

Coron, Philippines, 93.32;

Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos, 93.04;

Mambo Beach, Curaçao, 92;

Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas, 91.71;

Boracay, Philippines, 91.49;

Holbox Beach, Mexico, 91.38;

El Nido, Philippines, 91.27;

Bora Bora, French Polynesia, 91.21;

Cas Abao Beach, Curaçao, 91.14;

Iztuzu Beach, Turkey, 90.82;

Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica, 90.46; and

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 89.79

Palawan and Boracay were also named among the world’s best islands, with the former topping the Asia category.

Palawan ranked first, besting Phu Quoc and Condao in Vietnam, Koh Lanta and Phuket in Thailand, and Langkawi in Malaysia, while Boracay placed 7th, followed by Koh Samui, Thailand, and Bali and Lombok in Indonesia.

Most of the destinations made it to the CNT “top islands” list in Asia, including both Palawan and Boracay, but with Phu Quoc overtaking the rest as rank 1. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN

Philippine rice variety earns bronze medal award at World Rice Conference 2026

Bronze in the bowl: Philippine rice earns global recognition

DA Press Office
11 October 2026

Rice may be a staple on the Filipino table, but earning a place among the world’s finest grains is no small feat. After all, being a national obsession does not automatically make rice world-class.

At the 2026 International World Rice Conference in Makati City, the Philippines took home bronze, proving that local rice can hold its own in an increasingly competitive global market—even if it rarely gets the limelight.

Myanmar claimed the World’s Best Rice title, Vietnam took silver, and India and Thailand received Special Honorable Mentions. The Philippines secured bronze in a competition organized by The Rice Trader and its partners, where national pride was welcome but could not substitute for quality.

The Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM), led by Rowena Sadicon, nominated the country’s entry and submitted a local rice sample for evaluation. A panel of chef judges, dubbed the “Lords of Rice,” put the contenders through double-blind judging, assessing aroma, cooked texture, grain quality and overall eating experience.

In short, this was no contest won by waving the flag over a steaming pot. The rice had to do the talking.

The Department of Agriculture, under Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., supported the Philippine entry alongside the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program.

“This recognition affirms that Philippine rice can compete on the world stage,” Tiu Laurel said, emphasizing the need to turn the achievement into lasting benefits for farmers through research, higher productivity and better access to quality rice. He also pointed to Filipino rice’s potential in global markets.

That is where the real test begins. A medal can raise the profile of Philippine rice, but it cannot automatically deliver better farmgate prices, higher farmer incomes or more affordable rice for consumers. International applause is encouraging; what matters is whether farmers hear the cash register ring, too.

As PhilRice Executive Director Dr. John de Leon has emphasized, a stronger rice value chain must connect agricultural research and improved farm production with quality on consumers’ plates. That requires more than promising varieties. Good seeds, sound farm management, careful harvesting, proper milling and efficient distribution all help determine whether rice lives up to its reputation.

The Philippine delegation also included rice breeders Thelma F. Padolina and Emily C. Arocena, whose work on Mabango 3 (NSIC Rc 218 SR) helped earn silver at the 2025 competition. Their achievement underscores the value of sustained agricultural research in turning local expertise into internationally recognized quality.

Bronze may not occupy the top step of the podium, and it will not solve the rice sector’s structural problems overnight. But it offers something worth cultivating: proof that Philippine rice belongs in the global conversation about quality.

For a country where rice is both daily nourishment and a national preoccupation, the medal deserves celebration. The next harvest of success, however, must reach beyond the podium—and all the way to the farmer’s pocket and the Filipino dining table. ### (By DA – OSEC Comms)

The Philippines ranked sixth out of 84 countries in young adult's mind health

PH places 6th worldwide in young adults’ mind health

Cristina Eloisa Baclig

Inquirer.net

10 October 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines ranked sixth out of 84 countries in mind health for adults aged 18 to 34, with a Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) score of 59, according to an analysis by Inquirer data scientist Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao.

Panao analyzed data from Washington-based nonprofit Sapien Labs’ Global Mind Health in 2025 Report, the annual report of the Global Mind Project, which tracks mind health and well-being among internet-enabled populations worldwide.

The report uses the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ), a composite measure based on 47 aspects of mental function across six dimensions: Mood & Outlook, Social Self, Drive & Motivation, Adaptability & Resilience, Cognition, and Mind-Body Connection.

The MHQ ranges from -100 to +200, with scores reflecting a spectrum of mental well-being and functioning.

“Even though the Philippines does not rank among Asia’s wealthiest economies, it appears to fare better than most when it comes to mind health,” said Panao, an associate professor at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman.

The Philippines tied with Indonesia in the global ranking and placed ahead of several relatively affluent Asian economies.

South Korea ranked 14th, Malaysia 31st, Singapore 44th, Vietnam 46th, China 80th, Japan 82nd and Taiwan 83rd, while Hong Kong ranked last at 84th.

The Philippines also ranked 16th among adults aged 55 and older, with an MHQ score of 110, Panao said.

Panao clarified that the results do not mean Filipinos are unaffected by mental health problems.

“Although these figures do not imply that Filipinos are impervious to mental health problems, they do suggest that economic prosperity does not always equate with better psychosocial well-being,” he said.

He noted that the report showed a contrast between economic development and mind health, with some countries having high levels of economic development but low mind health scores.

Panao cited Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong as particularly striking examples.

The report also examines several factors that may help explain differences in mind health, including family connections, spirituality, age of first smartphone exposure and consumption of ultra-processed food.

“As to what might explain this, the report points to a number of factors, including weakening family connections, declining spirituality, earlier exposure to smartphones and, believe it or not, greater consumption of ultra-processed food,” Panao said.

The Philippines ranked eighth among respondents aged 18 to 24 in terms of family bonds and fifth among those aged 55 and older, according to Panao’s analysis.

The country’s older population also ranked first in the report’s measure of spirituality.

Panao, however, said the Philippine result comes with an important qualification because the report does not cover the entire population.

“Although the Philippine result is encouraging, there is an important qualification,” he said.

“The report measures internet-enabled populations rather than the entire population of each country,” he added.

According to Panao, the survey is based on self-selection and reaches only people who are online, willing to participate and able to complete a 15-minute questionnaire. /dm

PH eyes Bulacan as global AI hardware gateway

PH eyes Bulacan as global AI hardware gateway

Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas
GMA News 
09 October 2026

The Philippines is eyeing Bulacan as a gateway for artificial intelligence (AI) compute hardware for Asia and the world, as part of a long-term industrial strategy that extends beyond the planned Pax Silica hub in New Clark City.

According to Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, the proposed gateway would leverage the Bulacan Special Economic Zone and Freeport, overseen by the Bulacan Economic Zone Authority (BEZA), and its proximity to the New Manila International Airport (NMIA).

Under the vision, Bulacan would serve as a hub for consolidating components sourced from across the region, assembling them into AI compute hardware, including server racks, and shipping the finished products to global markets.

“Could an airport-centered economic zone eventually become a global technology, logistics, and distribution gateway? I believe it is worth imagining, but this is really a longer-term vision,” Rodolfo said during the 2026 FINEX Conference in Pasay City.

The DTI official said the concept would involve bringing in components from countries such as Singapore and Malaysia, assembling and integrating them locally, and testing and validating the finished products before exporting them.

“Halimbawa, meron kang mga ginagawang components, pero hindi naman natin lahat kayang gawin. May mga manggagaling sa Singapore, may manggagaling sa Malaysia. Ang importante, ma-aggregate mo, tapos ma-assemble mo, tapos malipad mo kaagad ‘yung racks papunta sa kung saan man,” he said in an interview.

(For example, you make components, but you cannot do it all. There will be those coming from Singapore, from Malaysia. What is important is you are able to aggregate and assemble, and ship the racks immediately to the markets.)

“Ayun ‘yung concept — components arrive, advanced manufacturing, integrated sa BEZA, complete manufacturing, tapos lipad kaagad. So parang ano ‘yan, connecting to the world na. Ganda niyan ‘pag natuloy,” he added.

(That’s the concept — components arrive, undergo advanced manufacturing, integrated at BEZA, go through complete manufacturing, and are then immediately shipped out by air. So it’s essentially about connecting to the world. It would be great if this pushes through.)

The proposed gateway would, however, depend in part on the development of NMIA,, the P740-billion aviation project in Bulakan, Bulacan, being built by San Miguel Aerocity Inc., targeted to cater to 100 million passengers yearly once complete. Operations are set to start in 2028.

“Kung meron ka nang airport, tapos meron ka pang ecozone na malaki, it raises the possibility that it can be your AI gateway. Kasi ang labanan dito sa AI, ‘yung pabilisan,” Rodolfo said.

(If you already have the airport and you have a large ecozone, it raises the possibility that it can be your AI gateway. Because in AI, the competition is all about speed.)

The proposed Bulacan gateway is eyed as the fifth node in the country’s industrial push. The first being advanced manufacturing in New Clark City, the second on integrated circuit design, the third on critical minerals and mineral processing, and the fourth on AI computing infrastructure including data centers.

“The fifth node is the AI Global Connectivity and Distribution node. What we design, what we build must reach the world. And this is where we see a long-term opportunity in Bulacan,” Rodolfo said. —AOL, GMA News

BINI has become the first Filipino act nominated for Favorite Global Music Star

BINI makes history as first Filipino act nominated at Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards

Jan Milo Severo 
Philstar.com
October 9, 2026 

MANILA, Philippines — P-pop girl group BINI has become the first Filipino act nominated for Favorite Global Music Star at the 2026 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.

The eight-member group, composed of Jhoanna, Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha and Sheena, will compete against international acts Taylor Swift, Zara Larsson, Tyla, Olivia Dean and Tame Impala in the global music category.

Asia’s representatives in previous editions were predominantly K-pop acts, including BigBang in 2017; BTS in 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022; Blackpink in 2019, 2023 and 2024; and Stray Kids in 2025.

The nomination comes days after BINI won Artist of the Year and Tour of the Year for its Signals World Tour 2026 at the Filipino Music Awards 2026, held Tuesday.

The group is also among the performers announced for LaLaLa Fest Manila 2027, which will take place on January 14, 2027. British singer Olivia Dean is set to headline the festival.

Dried mango to be sent to space

Pinoy pride: Dried mangoes are headed for space soon

Karl Jerome M. del Mundo, DOST-STII
Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
October 9, 2026

If we send Filipinos to space, what will they eat?

This is the question the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) and its partners are exploring through the Philippine Space Mango Program.

The program looks at how the iconic Carabao mango—the Philippine national fruit—can be developed into a food product suited for long-duration space missions and other challenging environments.

“We’re taking the Carabao mango and exploring how it can be part of the Filipino story in space,” said Gina B. Abrera of DOST-PNRI, project leader of the program. “We want a product that can travel far, represent our identity, and remind future astronauts of home.”

The initiative brings together DOST-PNRI, the University of the Philippines Diliman for food science expertise, the Philippine Space Agency for alignment with the national space roadmap, and the Batangas Mango High Value Growers Agriculture Cooperative (BAMAHGACO) as mango farmer-partners.

The program is one of the featured DOST initiatives at the 2026 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) to be held in General Santos City from November 25–29, 2026. It is also seen to support broader efforts to strengthen the Philippine dried mango industry and its competitiveness in international markets, as well as to explore food solutions for emergency and disaster-response situations.

“We’re not just thinking about nutrition. We’re thinking about identity, comfort, and home,” Abrera said. “By 2035, the Philippines aims to send its first astronaut to space. That person will need food that reminds them of home.”