Marcos, Angara praise schools, partners behind PH’s PISA gains

Inquirer.net - Sep 28, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara led on Monday the national recognition of all those behind the Philippines’ historic gains in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). These included educators, learners, parents, local government leaders, and public and private partners. Attending the thanksgiving gathering at President Corazon

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Eala makes fast start as weather and transport woes hit Asian Games

Sep 28, 2026

Eala makes fast start as weather and transport woes hit Asian Games

NAGOYA, Japan — Philippines tennis trailblazer Alexandra Eala was in ruthless mood at the Asian Games on Monday as rain disrupted some events and Japanese organisers faced renewed accusations of mismanagement. Eala launched her title charge with victory in just 55 minutes against the outclassed world number 517 Patcharin Cheapchandej. Eala, ranked 18 and favorite for gold in Nagoya, thrashed the Thai 6-1, 6-0, after the bad weather delayed the start and forced the match inside onto a smaller court. Top seed Eala will face Taiwan's UK-born eighth seed Joanna Garland in the quarter-finals. Eala, 21, last month became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title. Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting, the Olympic champion who was thrust into a major gender row at Paris 2024, guaranteed herself at least a bronze medal. Lin defeated North Korea's Won Un Gyong in the women's 60kg class in Nagoya to reach the semi-finals, as she chases a second Asian Games gold. The 30-year-old told AFP ahead of the Games that she had considered retiring after the Paris Olympics but wanted to carry on fighting in part to defy those who questioned her eligibility. Lin and Imane Khelif of Algeria were disqualified from the 2023 world championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after the organization said they failed unspecified gender eligibility tests. However, the IOC allowed them to compete in Paris, saying they were victims of "a sudden and arbitrary decision" by the widely discredited IBA. Both went on to win gold. Rain fell steadily throughout the evening on the athletics, where Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage embellished his fast-growing reputation with men's javelin gold. China extended their dominance in diving, where they are unbeaten, as the country's overall haul of golds swelled to 131 by Monday evening. Hosts Japan are a distant second in the medals table and South Korea third. 'Rain has ruined everything' India and Pakistan stayed on course to meet in the men's cricket final after both quarter-finals were abandoned because of rain and a sodden outfield. Pakistan went through first against Hong Kong without a ball being bowled under competition rules that say the highest-seeded side progresses. A few hours later, with rain in the air, India progressed against Afghanistan with no prospect of play. "We played two matches here on this ground, so we know the condition very well, but unfortunately the rain has ruined everything," said Afghanistan's Mohammad Akram. Sri Lanka play Nepal and Bangladesh face Malaysia in the last two quarter-finals on Tuesday. However, more rain is forecast. Cricket and tennis were not the only sports to face disruption, with softball also hit with a delay. Golf is due to start Wednesday but the wet weather ruined practice. 'Totally unfair' Organizational chaos again dogged the Games when the official bus carrying the Pakistan men's volleyball team went to the wrong venue. Pakistan's group game with Uzbekistan had to be pushed back 45 minutes. "This is another mismanagement by Japan at the ongoing Asian Games," Pakistan captain Murad Jehan said from the bus in an Instagram video. "We have a very important game and the bus driver does not know in which gymnasium we are going to play," he said in the clip with a caption reading, "Embarrassing situation at Japan Asian Games 2026. Totally unfair." He added: "We couldn't expect this in Japan. There is a lot of mismanagement." It is more embarrassment for red-faced organizers of the Games, where there have been numerous complaints about the accommodation and transport. Pavel Eygel of Uzbekistan became the fourth athlete of the event to be provisionally suspended for failing a doping test. The canoeist, who had been due to compete on Tuesday, tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine.