For Thomasians, this year’s October was extremely eventful. As we racked our brains studying for the preliminary exams, the world kept its usual course. The storm of headlines made it a demanding month to juggle academics and real-world issues.

For those left in the dust, here are the top stories of October 2024 you should know:

1. COC filing period draws interesting applicants

(Photo by Edd Gumban/PhilSTAR)

October began with an influx of headlines as aspiring politicians filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the upcoming 2025 national and local elections.

The eight-day period of filing made much noise as well-known names announced their candidacies. Among them are preacher Apollo Quiboloy, running for senator; Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. who is seeking reelection; and former Manila mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, who is running for mayor again. Meanwhile, influencers like Rosmarie “Rosmar” Tan-Pamulaklakin, also joined the fray.

This raised questions among Filipinos. Some wondered if there should be stricter requirements for those seeking political positions. Others expressed their concerns with the growing number of political dynasties, pointing to the need to pass anti-dynasty legislation.

The COC filing period was characterized by political conflict, dynasties, and questionable qualifications; this also serves as a reminder for us to be mindful of who we vote for in the coming elections.

2. Controversial ‘Atio’ case arrives at a conclusion

(Photo by Miguel Angelo Sumalinog/TomasinoWeb)

The Manila Regional Trial Court on Oct. 1 found 10 Aegis Juris Fraternity members guilty of violating the Anti-Hazing Law in the death of Civil Law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in fraternity initiation rites in 2017.

The court sentenced the fraternity members to 20 to 40 years of imprisonment and were ordered to pay 600,000 pesos in damages to Castillo’s family.

Following the verdict, Castillo’s parents said they hold the University responsible for what happened. “It’s about time heads should roll in UST,” said Castillo’s father. They also called for the University to review its rules, which could have prevented their son’s death.

In response, Nilo Divina, the dean of the Faculty of Civil Law, disagreed with Castillo’s parents, emphasizing that the incident was the fault of certain individuals while saying that UST is dedicated to upholding policies that promote student welfare.

3. Olivia Rodrigo holds ‘Guts’ tour in the Philippine Arena

(Photo by Josiah Antonio/ABS-CBN News)

Singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo made waves in the Philippine Arena for the Manila leg of her Guts World Tour on Oct. 5. The sold-out show featured hit songs such as Driver’s License and Traitor.

The half-Filipina artist described the concert as a “dream come true,” expressing how important it was for her to hold a show in her home country.

The Manila stop of the Guts tour was a Silver Star Show, which allowed fans to buy tickets for a flat price of 1,500 pesos. Proceeds from the show were donated to Jhpiego, a charity dedicated to women’s health.

The show was not free from controversy as some fans posted about their experiences with other attendees who lacked concert etiquette—particularly those who cut in lines or filmed inconsiderately. Some celebrities, like actress Andrea Brillantes, were at the center of these allegations, leading them to release statements to clear their names.

4. UST remains the Philippines’ No. 3 in THE World University Rankings

(Photo by Ricardo Magpoc Jr./TomasinoWeb)

The University of Santo Tomas kept its ranking as the country’s third-best university in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025. Sitting at the 1,501+ bracket, UST shares its third-place ranking with De La Salle University, Mapua University, and Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.

This comes as the University maintained its standing in the different criteria used to rank universities. The University scored 19.8 points for teaching, 9.7 points for research environment, 33.6 points for research quality, 20.4 points for industry, and 64.4 points for its international outlook.

Ateneo De Manila University remains the country’s number one university, followed by the University of the Philippines in second place.

5. K-Pop group RIIZE’s whirlwind of events

(Photo from SM Entertainment)

Fans of K-Pop group RIIZE had a turbulent month, starting with the group’s announcement that member Seunghan would return after a 10-month hiatus on Oct. 11. He was previously on break after his pre-debut information was leaked.

His return was met with celebration from fans, but was cut short after the band’s management, SM Entertainment, announced that Seunghan was leaving the group on Oct. 13.

The announcement came after some fans complained about Seunghan’s return. Arguing that his past actions tainted the group’s image, some even sent funeral flowers to SM’s headquarters to demand his removal.

RIIZE’s fans are now divided, with one side hoping for Seunghan’s return while the other adamant that he should be out of the group permanently.

6. Seventeen makes a return with Spill The Feels

(Photo from Pledis Entertainment)

K-Pop group Seventeen made a comeback with their 11th mini-album Spill The Feels featuring the title track Love, Money, Fame on Oct. 14.

Love, Money, Fame features DJ Khaled and has a more laid-back sound compared to the group’s previous release, Maestro. The group released its music video on the same day as the album.

Spill The Feels marks the group’s first release as they enter their 10th year, and as members Jeonghan and Jun announced their break from the group’s activities and ongoing world tour. The album features six songs, showing off Seventeen’s range as they perform in units or in full.

The group unveiled the title song during their concert in South Korea, kicking off their 17 IS RIGHT HERE world tour. Seventeen will return to the Philippines on Jan. 18 and 19.

7. Eya Laure at a crossroads with PVL team

(Photo by RM Chua/OneSports)

Former UST Golden Tigress Eya Laure is set to leave her professional volleyball team, Chery Tiggo Crossovers, following the exit of her other teammates on Oct. 14.

Laure is at the center of a contract buyout, with multiple teams looking to snag the star player. However, her exit is allegedly complicated by a non-compete clause, which may prevent the athlete from signing with a new team.

Prior to her supposed exit, Laure did not play with Chery Tiggo for the recent invitational conference as she focused on playing for the Alas Pilipinas Women’s National Volleyball Team.

8. One Direction’s Liam Payne passes away

(Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)

British singer-songwriter Liam Payne died on Oct. 17 after falling off a third floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Payne was 31.

The singer’s body was found by police following a call from hotel staff saying that one of their guests was being disorderly due to substance use. Initial investigation revealed that Payne was under the influence of drugs before his fall.

Payne was a member of the boy band One Direction. Following the group’s hiatus, he pursued a solo career. Payne was seen attending bandmate Niall Horan’s show before his death.

Since his passing, various celebrities, including his former bandmates, have expressed their gratitude to Payne and their sympathy for his family. Fans also flooded social media with their messages for the late singer.

9. VP Sara ‘exposes’ UniTeam alliance in press conference

(Photo by Bonz Magsombol/Rappler)

Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio detailed her falling out with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in a press conference on Oct. 18.

Duterte said she was deceived by Marcos and his family during the 2022 presidential and vice-presidential campaign season.

“Ginamit nila ako para manalo sila,” she said. Duterte also recounted that Senator Imee Marcos asked her to run so that the Marcos-Duterte tandem could beat then-presidential candidate Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo in the polls.

The vice president claimed that Marcos was an incompetent president, insisting that he had put the country “on the road to hell.” Duterte also made scathing remarks about the president’s dead father.

The president has yet to respond to Duterte’s comments. However, several senators and officials condemned her statements.

10. Tropical Storm Kristine ravages parts of Luzon

(Photo by Jonathan Cellona/ABS-CBN News)

The end of the month was marked by strong winds and rains as tropical storm Kristine hit the Philippines last Oct. 21. Kristine brought record-high levels of rain in Luzon, specifically in the Bicol and Calabarzon regions.

Due to the severe flooding, residents in Bicol had to climb up their roofs, waiting for rescue. Batangas was also devastated by high floods and landslides as a result of continuous rain. Volunteers provided relief goods and rescue services, but were stalled due to high flooding and blocked roads.

As of Oct. 26, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that the storm resulted in 85 deaths, 70 injuries, and 41 missing.

From shocking showbiz news to devastating storms, October surely left no time for a breather. Still, this is all the more reason to use the University’s Undas break as an opportunity to recuperate before we face the remaining months of the year.