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‘It’s important to dream big’; Eala working to become world No. 1 By Randy M. Caluag
VOL. XL • NO. 172 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2026
‘Eala mania’ takes tennis by storm PBBM, Congress, sporting greats hail Alex for her grit, fighting spirit
WHEN Alexandra “Alex” Eala left her Quezon City home at 13 to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, Spain, she carried little more than a racquet bag, a relentless work ethic and a dream that once seemed distant for a Filipino tennis player. Eight years later, that dream has become reality. Eala capped a remarkable run at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington by rallying past top seed and world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, to capture her first WTA 500 singles title. The victory lifted the 21-yearold to a career-high world No. 20, making her the first Filipino in the Open Era to crack the WTA Top 20 and win a main-tour WTA singles title. “I’m taking it step by step and just focusing on what I need to do
next. It’s a big thing to take in, and I’m so super proud of what I was able to accomplish, but it definitely fuels me more,” Eala said in an earlier interview.
Sports pedigree Athletic success runs in Eala’s family. Her mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, was a swimmer, winning a bronze medal in the women’s 100-meter backstroke at the 1985 Southeast Asian Next page
Jessica Pegula, former world no. 3
By Joyce Pañares, Jeremiah Sevilla, Maricel Cruz, Ram Superable and Joel Zurbano
T
HE Washington Times called her “Alexandra the Great.” The WTA in a social media post said: “All aboard the Eala express.” Naomi Osaka, former world no. 1
For millions of her Filipino fans – including young girls “with ruffled socks, lightup shoes and chubby cheeks” – she has inspired devotion from a nation that has long been focused on basketball or boxing. Watch parties have been organized, fans have stayed awake to witness her every game, and online quote cards bearing the phrase embroidered on her visor – “Kapag lumago, hindi na hihinto” – have flooded social media accounts of Pinoys here and abroad. Next page
‘Where in the world is Mary Grace Piattos?’ THE House prosecution panel on Tuesday said it plans to request a subpoena for the infamous “Mary Grace Piattos” to compel her attendance at the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. In an ambush interview, House private prosecutor lawyer Lorna clarified however, that the prosecution has yet to find Mary Grace Piattos---one of the supposed recipients of confidential fund payouts from the Office of the Vice President (OVP). “I will subpoena Mary Grace Piattos,” Kapunan told reporters.
Elina Svitolina, former world no. 3
ADULATION. A joyful Alexandra Eala revels in the crowd’s adulation after winning the women’s singles championship match against Jessica Pegula of the United States on the final day of the Mubadala DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on August 3, 2026 in Washington, DC. Eala triumphed over Qinwen Zheng, Paris Olympics Gold Medalist; Leylah Fernandez, Mubadala defending champion; Elina Svitolina, former world no. 3; and Naomi Osaka, former world no. 1 before beating Pegula, former world no. 3, in three sets. AFP
Qinwen Zheng, Paris Olympics Gold Medalist
Next page
Sandiganbayan justices stand by Revilla bail ruling By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday stood by its decision granting bail to former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. as the prosecution continued presenting evidence in his malversation
trial over the alleged ghost P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan. The anti-graft court also set Aug. 12 for the testimony of former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan, one of the prosecution’s remaining witnesses. Bonoan is expected to testify fol-
lowing the court’s earlier denial of the prosecution’s bid to drop him as an accused in a separate graft case involving Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. Prosecutors had sought to discharge Bonoan as an accused so he could Next page
Leylah Fernandez, Mubadala defending champion
‘Bonoan, Maleta Boys have no more credibility as state witnesses’ FORMER Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan and the so-called “maleta boys” have no more credibility as state witnesses in the flood control scam, according to a public interest and human rights lawyer. In an interview with radio dzBB, lawyer Antonio Zoleta Bucoy said that based on the testimony of ex-DP-
WH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo whom the Ombudsman has recruited as a state witness, Bonoan allegedly received 15-percent kickbacks from flood control projects. He estimated that the former DPWH chief must have received up to P3 billion. “According to Usec. Bernardo, Secretary Bonoan got 15 percent in kickbacks, Next page
OFF SCARBOROUGH SHOAL. A US Carrier Strike Group joins Philippine and Japan ships during a maritime exercise off the contested Scarborough Shoal from July 21-25, 2026. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
AFP confirms China naval drills off Panatag By Vince Lopez and Rex Espiritu THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday confirmed China’s recent military drills near Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, AFP spokesperson for the WPS Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the drills were monitored from July 31 to Aug. 1 and involved the deployment of five warships, one replenishment ship, two hovercraft, two helicopters, and an unidentified number Next page
CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS. Former Commission on Audit (COA) state auditor Roderick Wamil resumes his
testimony before the Senate impeachment court as the direct examination on the alleged irregularities in the disbursement of the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education. Lino Santos