The Freeman

07/06/2026

Our front page today, June 8, 2026.
The Freeman’s printed edition is available at newsstands in Cebu City and province.

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07/06/2026

LOOK | ENTERTAINMENT: 'THE PERFECT DAY’ 💍💝

Content creator Ayn Bernos shared on social media on Sunday that she is now engaged to her boyfriend, Michael Fria.

“So excited to love you for the rest of our lives,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

Aside from her educational content on TikTok, Bernos was known as a former beauty pageant candidate in the Miss Universe Philippines 2021.

| Photos by Gerard Tristan Intimate Wedding Photo via Instagram/Ayn Bernos via Philippine Star

07/06/2026

TECH UPDATE | A Beanie that Could “Read Your Thoughts"?

The Sabi startup recently made waves in unveiling a beanie that can "read" a wearer's thoughts. The “device" in question is fitted with around 70,000 to 100,000 miniature EEG sensors woven into its fabric, and is portended to be a type of brain-computer-interface that allows users to operate gadgets with their thoughts.

Reportedly backed by venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, the device is different from current BCI systems in that it won't require medical implantation to properly function. The device is expected to roll out by the end of the year, with a baseball cap version in development.

07/06/2026

ENTERTAINMENT: 'TINRY KO NA AYUSIN'

Ryan Bang has confirmed that he and his ex-fiancée Paolo Huyong have split up.

| via PhilSTAR Life

Ryan and Paola have been hounded with breakup rumors since last year.

07/06/2026

‘PAALAM LUZ, HINDI KA NAMIN MALILIMUTAN’ ❤️‍🩹

Broadcast journalist Kara David mourned the death of Luz Balagtas, the man diagnosed with tuberculosis, whose last moments of his life were featured in David's recent “I Witness” documentary, “Kapit-Hininga.”

“Sa kanyang pamamalaam sa mundo, sinamahan siya ng imahen ng Poong Nazareno at ng mga kapwa niya deboto. At pagdating sa Manila North Cemetery, nagpaulan ng tubig ang mga bumbero — pagpupugay at pasasalamat sa isang tapat na alagad ng Panginoon,” David wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Balagtas, a resident of Tondo, Manila, detailed in the documentary that he got infected with TB in August 2025. His parents, both struggling to make ends meet, tried to avail their son of free medicines from a health center, but they were advised to buy them at pharmacies. A non-governmental organization then reached out to Luz’s family to provide him with free medication.

“May panahon bang nagalit ka sa Panginoon?” David asked Luz. “Wala po, ma’am. Pero nagtanong po, ‘Bakit ako?’ Wala naman po akong masamang ginawa,” he answered with tears.

Balagtas died at age 27, despite TB being now fully curable with proper treatment that can be provided by public hospitals or health institutions in the country.

| Photos courtesy of Kara David/FB via Philippine Star

07/06/2026

FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE OF HERUELA:CEBU GREATS BEEF UP ROSTER WITH ALTAMIRANO AND ECHAVEZ ON BOARD

The Cebu Greats/MJAS Zenith quickly reloaded following the departure of Fil-Am guard Brian Heruela by adding homegrown talent Elmer Echavez and former PBA cager Ichie Altamirano to their roster in the ongoing Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Season 8.

Cebu lost a vital cog when Heruela, a six-time PBA champion, left the team to play for the Mindoro Tamaraws in a shock mid-season move.

But the Greats immediately beefed up their roster by acquiring Echavez and Altamirano, as per Cebu team owner Samson Lato.

"Nagpabata ta para makasabay ta sa mga batan-on," said Lato.

A former collegiate standout with the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars who also made his mark in commercial leagues, the Talisay City-native Echavez looks forward to his pro debut this Thursday, June 10, when the Greats take on the Parañaque Patriots at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

"Gi-target gyud na siya (Echavez) namo kay kugihan, dako na siya og ma-contribute sa team," said Lato.

Meanwhile, Lato said Altamirano has already asked permission to leave Blackwater Bossing and is now ready to suit up for the Greats.

The 5-foot-11 sentinel from Antipolo City previously donned the jerseys of the Muntinlupa Cagers, Negros Muscovados, Quezon City-Toda Aksyon, and Zamboanga-SIKAT in the MPBL.

"Naa pa mi ipuno nga duha ka players para mas malakas ang team," said Lato.

Cebu currently holds an 8-3 record, winning six of their last seven games.

| via Emmanuel Villaruel/Photos from Echavez and Altamirano's Facebook

07/06/2026

SPORTS: CHASE TOWER RUNS-CEBU COMPLETES HISTORIC THREE-PEAT IN DAYO23 STREETBALL

Chase Tower Runs (CTR)-Cebu turned to the heroics of Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Carl Tamayo as it staged an incredible comeback from a double-digit deficit to fend off Tikas Kapampangan, 23-18, and complete a historic three-peat in the men’s division of Dayo23 Streetball Invitational on Sunday, June 7, at the Patricia Paraiso Sports Complex in Tondo, Manila.

The win was a breath-taking ending for a nerve-wracking campaign of CTR-Cebu under the guidance of coach Paul Joven, who had to grind through a 14-13 nailbiter over the Grand Canyon Tarlac in the semifinals to keep their grandslam dream alive.

In the race-to-23 final, things went bleak at first for the Cebuano cagers as they fell into a deep 10-point hole, 4-14, early on.

But they aren't back-to-back champions for nothing.

With team owner Chase Cokaliong cheering for them at the top of his lungs on the sidelines, a highly inspired CTR squad launched a sizzling 14-4 counterattack to knot the count at 18-all.

It was then that the 6-foot-8 Tamayo stole the show.

The Changwon LG Sakers big man in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) sank a crisp 3-pointer before hitting a mid-range jumper from the left wing in a dazzling five-point blitz that lifted CTR to crowning glory for the third consecutive time.

Aside from etching their names in stone, Team CTR also pocketed P500,000 for topping the two-day tournament featuring some of the best streetball teams in the country.

“Our team is represented by pure Cebu and Vismin talents and I am very proud to showcase them to the whole country and in some aspects the world because this is a Jordan-brand sponsored event," said Chase Cokaliong.

In the women's category, Team Hustle also achieved a grand slam feat after holding off the Hoopjeep Aguilas, 24-21.

| via Emmanuel Villaruel / Screenshots from SLAM Philippines

07/06/2026

SPORTS: CASIMERO, LLOVER MEET CONTRASTING FATES IN JAPAN

Filipino boxers John Riel “Quadro Alas” Casimero and Kenneth “The Lover Boy” Llover meet contrasting fates in Japan last Saturday, June 6.

Casimero, a three-division world champion known for his power-punching skills, scored five knockdowns before finishing off an overweight Mexican Luis "Pantera" Nery in the fourth round.

The 37-year-old Casimero downed Nery three times in the opening session and once each in the second and third before stopping the hapless Mexican for good in round four with a solid right straight-left cross combination.

Casimero improved to a 36-5-1 now spiked with 25KOs. Nery fell to 37-3 with 28KOs.

Meanwhile, Llover lost by split decision to American Michael Angeletti in a battle of undefeated fighters that was also an International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight title eliminator.

Llover, 23, made an impression in the first three rounds only to lose steam thereafter.

At the end of the 12-round clash, Thai judge Cherdchai Srirat scored 115-112 for Llover but Saemi Okaniwa of Japan and Carl Zappia of Australia tallied 115-112 and 116-111, respectively, for Angeletti, hence, the split verdict.

Llover tasted his first career defeat after going 17-0 with 12KOs while Michael Angeletti raised his clean slate to 15-0 with 8KOs.

In the same card, another Pinoy fighter in Vince "Kamikazee" Paras (25-5-1, 19KOs) bowed to Aoi Yokoyama (5-0, 1KO) by unanimous decision in their eight-round bout.

| via Emmanuel Villaruel / Fightnews photo by Sumio Yamada

07/06/2026

LOOK | ENTERTAINMENT: Viva One stars Willbert Ross and Bea Binene sparked kilig and excitement among fans with the official teaser of their upcoming series, "Love U Lots".

Directed by Victor Villanueva, the show is set to premiere on July 24, exclusively on Viva One's streaming platform.

| via VIVA TV/YouTube via Latestchika.com

07/06/2026

LOOK: From purposeful mission to uplift food MSMEs to advocacy-driven initiative, here’s the motivational insights in the Grand Food Bazaar held at the Water Garden, Festival Mall on May 29-31, 2026.

Thank you for celebrating this year with us, Kalokals! See you in Year 5! 👀✨