Coronavirus Lockdown: Volleyball Growth, Satire Post, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government. 

 Post-pandemic Filipino concert-going habits have been difficult to predict. 

https://tribune.net.ph/2025/08/22/live-nation-ph-exec-filipino-concertgoers-harder-to-predict-post-pandemic

Working as the Operations Manager for Live Nation Philippines, Bey Pascua told DAILY TRIBUNE on Friday that Filipino audiences are not easy to please or predict.

“No, definitely not,” Pascua said. She explained that the pandemic shifted Filipinos' interests and preferences, especially when it comes to concerts, as people have become more discerning and practical.

“Many people really want to attend concerts where they get more value for their money,” she said, highlighting perks like VIP inclusions and meet-and-greet opportunities with artists they genuinely admire. She added that if the performer is someone audiences have only recently discovered or don’t know much about, people tend to be “less motivated to pay to see them live.”

Speaking about the pandemic and its impact on the live events industry, Pascua shared that they managed to weather the crisis by leveraging online platforms. “We actually did a lot of events online, whether through streaming or virtual engagements,” she said.

Pascua revealed that she’s always envisioned herself in the industry, having looked up to her mother, who was also involved in live entertainment. “She’s been my idol ever since,” she confessed, adding that she never needed to look elsewhere for inspiration. Her passion for the industry was ignited early on, watching her mother perform onstage. “I saw how much work she put into it, how passionate she was, and how many people she made happy,” Pascua shared.

Now a professional in the same field, Pascua acknowledged that the journey is far from smooth. Quoting a saying, she noted, “You can be the sweetest peach in the world, but there will always be somebody who doesn’t like peaches.” Though she admits to feeling sad or upset at times, she reminds herself not to let the emotions take over and instead chooses to “move on to the good part.”

This seems more like business as usual than being specifically pandemic related. Who doesn't hesitate to pay for acts they don't know much about?

The Ibalong Festival in Legazpi City is kicking off and promises to be more vibrant than ever. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/22/ibalong-festival-2025-kicks-off-in-legazpi-city

The two-week Ibalong Festival 2025 officially kicked off Friday here with Mass, followed by an opening parade from Saint Raphael Church to Ibalong Park in Barangay Puro.

Mayor Hisham Ismail announced temporary road closures on Saint Raphael Church, Legazpi City Boulevard, and Barangay Puro to give way to the festivities, advising motorists to avoid the affected routes.

The city government expects between 100,000 to 200,000 tourist arrivals during the festival, which was seen as a major boost to the city’s tourism and local economy.

“With the scheduled concert of popular P-pop girl group BINI, we expect a large influx of visitors not only from across the Bicol region but also from other provinces nationwide,” Ismail said.

He added that various activities and cultural showcases are lined up to make this year’s festival more vibrant, after years of subdued celebrations brought about by the pandemic, calamities, and other challenges.

A key highlight of the festivities will be the “Festivals of Festivals” street presentation, where different local festivals across Albay will compete in a grand cultural showcase.

The Ibalong Festival pays tribute to the epic heroes Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong, whose legendary exploits form part of the Ibalong epic, a tale that celebrates the bravery and cultural heritage of the Bicolanos.

In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, Department of Tourism (DOT)-Bicol regional director Herbie Aguas emphasized the importance of reviving the Ibalong Festival in strengthening the region’s tourism industry.

“Albay has been leading in tourist arrivals, and the Ibalong Festival will further boost this momentum,” Aguas said, citing the recent success of the Bicol Loco Festival, which drew thousands of visitors and left most hotels in the province fully booked.

“I don’t want to frame this as competition since every province has its own strengths in tourism. But the Bicol Loco Festival proved to be a huge help in drawing tourists, and with the Ibalong Festival, we can expect arrivals to rise even higher,” he added.

This is the second year of the festival since being suspended during the pandemic. Was it not vibrant enough last year?

Mactan-Cebu International Airport aims to be a center of post-pandemic growth. 

https://www.regionalgateway.net/connectivity-at-philippines-mactan-cebu-international-airport/

In the heart of the Philippines, Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is emerging as a strong regional player with impressive post-pandemic growth and plans to become a central transit point for the island nation’s thriving tourism industry – the first transfer hub in the country.

The second largest airport in the Philippines’ recovery tells a story of remarkable transformation. After seeing traffic decimated by Covid, MCIA experienced an 81 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger traffic in 2023/24, reaching 10 million.

It is hoping to add another 20 per cent growth this year. Domestic traffic has now not only recovered but surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and while international traffic has not yet reached its previous peak, the airport is confident it will do so in 2025.

“We have been growing very fast,” Julius Neri, MCIA’s General Manager, tells Regional Gateway. “Our domestic traffic has already surpassed pre-Covid levels and we expect international traffic to catch up shortly.”

The most significant challenge remains the absence of Chinese travellers, who were previously the airport’s second-largest market but who have stopped travelling in such numbers as a result of geopolitical issues and visa complexities.

To compensate for the diminished Chinese market, Cebu Airport has been aggressively diversifying its international routes. Recent launches include direct flights to Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam and a groundbreaking route by United Airlines via Tokyo’s Narita Airport – marking the first regular service by a US carrier to Cebu.

The airport is also preparing to welcome Jetstar’s direct flights to Brisbane in November, with “several more destinations in the pipeline” according to Neri.

The Korean market has emerged as a particular bright spot, currently supporting 12 daily flights, with South Koreans ranking as MCIA’s number one inbound visitor group.

The airport’s leadership attributes this success to Korean travellers’ love for warm-weather destinations, and favourable visa arrangements.

“Koreans love our beaches, especially during their winter,” says Neri, highlighting the appeal of Cebu’s tropical climate.

MCIA is also turning to India. The Indian market presents obstacles, with current visa processes for those wishing to visit the Philippines requiring physical embassy interviews, seen as a significant deterrent for potential travellers.

The airport’s infrastructure is designed to support a substantial expansion of passenger numbers.

The existing configuration can accommodate up to 18 million passengers annually, while the figure currently hovers around 11.8 million, leaving significant room for growth.

A recently completed second parallel runway, set to be operational by June 2025, will increase operational efficiency by 25 to 30 per cent, enabling those figures to grow.

“When the second runway is operational, we’re going to rehabilitate and repair our main runway,” says Neri. “After that is done, then we can talk about operating both.”

The runway strategy is designed to extract maximum benefit for the airport. While the two runways are too close to operate independently, MCIA plans to use one for take-offs and another for landings, creating a more streamlined operational model in pursuit of higher traffic flows.

Perhaps most exciting in the airport’s plans is its “Cebu Connect” transfer hub – the first of its kind in the Philippines.

This system, launched last year, allows international travellers to connect to domestic flights without leaving the terminal, with automatic luggage transfer and simplified immigration processes.

Neri says: “We are situated in the centre of the Philippines, within a one-hour flight of over 90 per cent of tourist destinations. Connectivity is crucial in an archipelago of over 7,000 islands. We want to provide our arriving tourists with as seamless connectivity as possible.

“Unlike in the other airports in the country, you can just connect directly within the domestic terminal. Your luggage is all transferred [and] you progress through immigration and customs without having to step out of the terminal. That’s a first in our country, and it’s been doing very well.” 

Currently, the airport offers transfers for passengers switching between domestic flights on the same airline.

By focusing on strategic route expansion, infrastructure development, and technological innovation, Cebu Airport is positioning itself as a model of post-pandemic airport recovery.

As global travel continues to rebound, Cebu Airport appears ready to lead in the region.

Domestic travel is up while international arrivals lag behind with the absence of Chinese tourists being to blame. 

Cebuana artist Maria Victoria “Bambi” Beltran was accused of cyber libel during the pandemic for a satirical post about Cebu City becoming "the epicenter in the whole solar system.” She has been acquitted. 

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/visayas/court-clears-charges-cebu-artist-bambi-beltran-covid-satire-post/

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 in Cebu City has granted the demurrer to evidence of Cebuana artist Maria Victoria “Bambi,” Beltran who was accused of spreading “fake news” during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Presiding Judge Merlo Bagano granted the demurrer in an order dated August 14, effectively dismissing the last case filed against Beltran.

Beltran, an award-winning writer and recipient of the 2020 Deutsche Welle Freedom of Speech Award, was arrested on April 18, 2020, for a Facebook post regarding the surge of COVID-19 cases in Sitio Zapatera, Barangay Luz, Cebu City.

In her post, Beltran wrote: “9,000+ new cases (all from Zapatera) of COVID-19 in Cebu City in one day. We are now the epicenter in the whole solar system.”

The late Cebu City mayor Edgardo Labella shared Beltran’s post and warned her that she would be arrested for spreading “fake news.” The same day of that post, Beltran was arrested without warrant and detained for three days.

Beltran was charged with cyber libel, violating Republic Act No. (RA) 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, and unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances.

On August 17, 2020, the Cebu Municipal Trial Court Branch 3 dismissed the cyber libel case against Beltran for lack of jurisdiction. In September 2020, the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 3 in Cebu City dismissed the cases related to the violation of RA 11469 and RA 11332.

The RTC Branch 14 dismissed the last charge. According to Bagano’s order, the prosecution failed to establish that Beltran’s Facebook post was false or made to mislead the public, adding that prior to the publication of her post, there were news outlets that had already reported that Sitio Zapatera was the epicenter of COVID-19 cases in Cebu City.

“In light of these prior reports, the Facebook post made by the accused…appears to be a satirical or hyperbolic commentary rather than a deliberate dissemination of false information,” Bagano wrote.

“Without proof that the content of the post was knowingly false or malicious, criminal liability cannot be imposed,” Bagano concluded. 

Similarly, Judge Yvonne Artiaga of the Cebu Municipal Trial Court in Branch 3 stressed in her 2020 dismissal order that what Beltran posted was purely satire and affirmed that it was protected speech.

The court rightly recognized the satire and dismissed the charges. That won't recoup the time and money wasted over the whole situation. 

Philippine volleyball continues to rebound post-pandemic. 

https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/pvl/kobe-shinwa-coach-captain-laud-ph-volleyball-growth-literally-a5172-20250823

KOBE Shinwa University schooled ZUS Coffee in its first game back in the Philippines, eight years since lifting the 2017 Philippine Superliga (PSL) Invitational Cup title.

Nearly a decade later, Kiyokazu Yamamoto remains the champion school’s head coach, as they finally set foot in the PVL after aborting their initial comeback three years ago due to the pandemic.

It might be a different team he’s bringing in a different league against different opposition, but there’s been one striking change Yamamoto noticed in their first few days back in Manila.

The Japanese mentor actually held an unpopular opinion - inside Philippine volleyball circles, at least - that Filipino players grew taller and more defensive nearly a decade later.

“It's been eight years since I came here. After eight years, I saw Philippine volleyball and how Philippine volleyball has changed,” Yamamoto said in Nihonggo following their 25-24, 27-25, 25-17 sweep of the Thunderbelles to open the 2025 PVL Invitational Conference.

“Yes, the level of the defense has improved a lot. And the height of the players has increased a lot. Not only the middle players, but also the other players. The number of players with high performance has also increased a lot.”

Kobe Shinwa captain Sakura Furuta echoed the sentiment and cited how she had to regularly adjust to ZUS Coffee’s taller defense, which didn’t even have 6-foot-2 Thea Gagate.

“The Philippine team [ZUS Coffee] has many tall players. In west side Japan where we play, there aren’t a lot of tall university players,” she said. “Our strategy today was focused on getting past tall players.”

With an average age of 19, the inexperienced Japanese side looks to sharpen their craft in the week-long tournament against some of the PVL’s powerhouse squads.

“Most of the members who came here this time, except for the captain, had almost no experience abroad,” Yamamoto said.

“The most important thing was how to get used to the environment in the Philippines now that we were given a hard schedule of practice.”

This time it's a Japanese team setting foot in the Philippines for the first time since the pandemic who is stealing the spotlight.