ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS
2006 National Newspaper of the Year 2011 National Newspaper of the Year 2013 Business Newspaper of the Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year 2021 Pro Patria Award PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY 2018 Data Champion
BusinessMirror
www.businessmirror.com.ph
A broader look at today’s business
n
Saturday, August 22, 2026 Vol. 21 No. 312
EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS
BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR
(2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS
P25.00 nationwide | 12 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK
‘SINGLE-DIGIT POVERTY RATE MASKING GAPS’ T
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
HE Marcos administration may have reached a single-digit poverty rate ahead of its 2028 target, but economists cautioned that the headline improvement may be masking gaps in how poverty and living standards are measured.
THE Bucao River lahar field where seven sections of the river dike were breached by strong current at the height of heavy habagat rains last week. HENRY EMPEÑO
Zambales declares state of calamity as agri, infra damage hits ₧591.98M By Henry Empeño
I
MEASURING POVERTY, MEASURING SURVIVAL
Two boys use a makeshift boat to salvage recyclable materials from a river in Parañaque City, hoping to earn a few pesos from a junk shop and help their family. The image puts a human face on the debate over the Philippines’ 9.7% poverty rate: If the poverty line is too low, economists warn, a lower poverty rate may not necessarily mean families are living better. NONIE REYES
On Friday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that poverty incidence fell to a historic low of 9.7 percent in 2025, equivalent to 11.08 million Filipinos. This was significantly lower than the 15.5 percent recorded in 2023 and 18.1 percent in 2021. At the household level, poverty incidence declined to 6.4 percent, or 1.90 million families, from
10.9 percent in 2023 and 13.2 percent in 2021. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said reaching the single-digit poverty rate ahead of schedule “demonstrates that expanding economic opportunities, complemented by effective social protection, can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.” Continued on A2
R&I AFFIRMS PHL’S A- CREDIT RATING, KEEPS STABLE OUTLOOK
R
ATING and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I) affirmed the Philippines’ “A-” investment-grade credit rating and maintained its “stable” outlook on improving fiscal balance and expectations of sustained economic growth. The Japanese credit rating agency on Friday announced that it affirmed the sovereign’s Foreign Currency Issuer Rating at “A-” and the Foreign Currency Short-term Debt at “a-1.” “R&I’s affirmation of the Philippines’ A- rating and Stable outlook recognizes the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts and the strength of our economic reforms,” Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go was quoted as saying. R&I said the fiscal balance has improved as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) and the gov-
BA, Zambales—The province of Zambales has declared a state of calamity after sustaining more than P591.98 million in damage to agriculture and infrastructure from the combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon, or habagat, and tropical cyclones “Luis” and “Maymay” in the past two weeks. Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. told BusinessMirror the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution declaring the state of calamity on Wednesday, August 19, upon the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC). The PDRRMC said heavy habagat rains whipped up by the recent typhoons caused widespread flooding, landslides, soil erosion, disruption of transportation, and
damages to houses, agriculture, and critical and lifeline infrastructure, including river dikes and flood-control structures. The disaster also caused the displacement of 5,770 families composed of 17,317 persons, as well as the isolation of residents of Barangay Sta. Fe in San Marcelino town when the bridge connecting the upland barangay was swept away by strong river currents, the council noted. According to consolidated reports from the Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the province sustained more than 22.71 million in damage in agriculture. The agricultural damages include losses of P11.21 million in rice crops, P8.7 million in corn and See “Zambales,” A2
It’s been 43 years since Aug. 21, 1983: and PBBM leads marking of Ninoy Day
See “R&I,” A2
Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (seated) consults with Mayor Elvis Soria and MDRRMO staff on Friday, August 21, about the situation at the isolated Brgy. Sta. Fe in San Marcelino, Zambales. SAN MARCELINO LGU PHOTO
Fiscal tradeoff between revenue, spending to harm growth—Fitch By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
“The government is pursuing fiscal consolidation while balancing economic growth.” — R&I, on its affirmation of the Philippines’ A- rating and stable outlook
ernment debt ratio is likely to ease in the medium term. The debt ratio, at 63.2 percent in 2025, remains manageable and is expected to decline over the medium term due to the “improving” trend in the fiscal deficit path, R&I said. “The government is pursuing fiscal consolidation while balancing economic growth,” it said. “The country has a certain level of debt affordability, given the manageable level of interest payment burden.” Economic expansion is likewise expected to continue, backed by population growth, infrastructure
See “GIR,” A2
L
“Together, let us carry forward the lessons of our history as we continue to nurture a more peaceful and prosperous Bagong Pilipinas. May we all have a solemn and purposeful remembrance.” — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
I
T’S been 43 years since former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was assassinated as he returned from exile in hopes of prodding a dictatorship toward democratic restoration. And on the anniversary of his martyrdom that unleashed
Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
protests leading to a dictator’s ouster, no less than the only son and namesake of former President Ferdinand Marcos led the nation in marking his death. In a statement, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on every Filipino to emulate the example of Aquino, Jr. of being involved in safeguarding the country’s freedom by combatting its modern-day threats, See “Ninoy,” A2
OWER revenue expectations are forcing the Philippines to scale back infrastructure spending, creating a fiscal tradeoff that could weaken growth, complicate efforts to stabilize debt and the sovereign’s “BBB” rating, Fitch Ratings said. In a commentary, the credit rating agency said reduced revenue projections, which have fallen to around 15.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) over the medium term from around 16.5 percent in last year’s framework, are causing “significant adjustments” in the government’s fiscal plans. As a result, the government is planning to reduce infrastructure disbursements to roughly 4 percent of GDP, about 1 percentage point lower over the projection period.
“Weaker public infrastructure spending could weigh on mediumterm growth, although the extent to which lower disbursements will affect growth remains unclear,” Fitch said. Governance reforms could improve spending efficiency and guard the economic impact of lower infrastructure spending levels, while increased use of public-public partnerships and local government units for infrastructure investment could reduce overall government disbursements, it added. In April this year, Fitch revised its outlook on the Philippines’ issuer default rating to “negative” from “stable” while affirming the country’s “BBB” sovereign rating due to “growing risks” around the country’s medium-term growth potential. See “Fitch,” A2
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 61.8660 n JAPAN 0.3913 n UK 84.2120 n HK 7.8909 n CHINA 9.1923 n SINGAPORE 48.6751 n AUSTRALIA 44.0610 n EU 72.2409 n KOREA 0.0446 n SAUDI ARABIA 16.4774 Source: BSP (August 20, 2026)
News BusinessMirror
A2 Saturday, August 22, 2026
Fitch… Continued from A1
“Investment remains well below its pre-pandemic trend; and without a sustained recovery, downside risks to medium-term GDP growth are likely to persist,” the agency said. Second-quarter GDP remained slow at 2.3 percent, dragged by investments and capital formation, which both contracted by 9.2 percent and 8 percent, respectively. “Slower growth is feeding into the fiscal outlook,” Fitch said, noting the government’s deficit target of 5.1 percent of GDP in 2027, which was slower than the 4.8 percent deficit forecast in last year’s medium-term fiscal framework. “Repeated upward revisions to medium-term deficit targets suggest the government continues to prioritize supporting growth over a faster pace of consolidation, leaving risks tilted towards a more gradual reduction in deficits over the next few years,” it added. Fitch said the government has also turned “more cautious” in its growth assumptions and expects medium-term growth to average around 6 percent, although risks are tilted towards weaker outcomes. The ratings agency also sees general government (GG) debt to GDP to increase slightly in the near term before stabilizing over the medium term. “Achieving that outcome will depend considerably on growth performance, investment recovery and the effectiveness of efforts to sustain infrastructure investment,” it said. The GG debt-to-GDP ratio rose to 56.8 percent by the end of 2025, higher than the 53.9 percent recorded by end2024 (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2026/08/17/govt-debt-to-gdp-ratiojumped-56-8-in-2025/).
‘SINGLE-DIGIT POVERTY RATE MASKING GAPS’ Continued from A1
However, Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo A. Lanzona Jr. said the poverty threshold used for the 2025 estimates may not accurately capture living conditions because it remains based on an outdated methodology. “The ruler used to measure or the poverty threshold seems outdated, and that matters for how much we should trust the number,” Lanzona told the BusinessMirror. Based on PSA data, an individual is only considered poor if his or her monthly income falls below the per capita poverty threshold of P2,927 per month, equivalent to P35,121 annually. For a family of five, the poverty threshold is at P14,634 per month. These thresholds were about 5.5 percent higher than the P2,775 monthly per capita threshold and P13,873 monthly threshold for a family of five in 2023. Lanzona pointed out that the PSA had earlier acknowledged concerns over the food component used in setting the poverty threshold, particularly the roughly P21 per-meal budget that critics said was too low to adequately meet basic nutritional needs. The agency has been working on a revised methodology, but this has yet to be incorporated into the latest poverty estimates. “The 5.5-percent increase we’re seeing is consistent with the old, admittedly-too-low
threshold, not the corrected one,” he emphasized.
Living standards skewed
FORMER Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante B. Canlas raised a related concern, noting that the poverty measure does not provide a broad-based picture of people’s living standards. “One criticism of this measure is it’s all based on nominal income but leaves out social indicators like child nutritional status and adult life expectancy,” Canlas told the BusinessMirror. He explained that the PSA’s poverty metric is based on a menu designed to meet minimum caloric requirements, with certain items deemed non-essential excluded from the basket. This means the measure primarily determines whether household income is sufficient to meet a prescribed set of basic food and non-food needs, rather than capturing broader indicators of wellbeing.
Tougher road ahead
THE economists also acknowledged a tougher road ahead for the Marcos administration in sustaining the “gains” from poverty reduction. Canlas warned that the slowdown in gross domestic product in recent quarters, alongside elevated inflation, could put these gains at risk. “As income inequality persists, the poor are likely to experience sharper income declines and slip
further into poverty,” he said. PSA data showed that the economy expanded by 2.6 percent in the first half of 2026, less than half the 5.4-percent growth recorded in the same period last year. Inflation, meanwhile, averaged 5 percent in the first seven months of 2026, significantly higher than the 1.7 percent recorded in the same period last year. Canlas said a further slowdown in the second half could stall poverty reduction, particularly as recent typhoons and flooding threaten to weigh further on economic activity. He added that delays in implementing the minimum wage increase in the National Capital Region could also leave low-income workers at a disadvantage. Lanzona, for his part, said these pressures highlight the importance of viewing recent poverty data with caution. “The poverty rate looks good right now for two reasons that have nothing to do with today’s economy: it reflects last year’s conditions, and it’s measured against a bar that was already considered too low even before this year’s price shocks even started,” he said. The Ateneo economist emphasized that the achievement of a single-digit poverty rate remains reversible, as the current economic squeeze has yet to show up in official poverty data. “Calling this a durable win is premature on two counts: the current economic squeeze isn’t captured yet, and whenever the threshold finally gets the update PSA itself says it needs, poverty could look meaningfully worse overnight—not because people got poorer, but because we started measuring more honestly,” he added.
Poverty gains unlikely to reverse
SECRETARY Balisacan, however, said the gains in poverty reduction are unlikely to be reversed despite the more challenging economic environment this year. “Current developments may slow the pace of poverty reduction, but early indications do not point to a reversal of the gains we have achieved,” he said. He said the government’s priority is to keep families that have moved out of poverty from falling back below the threshold. Sustaining the gains, Balisacan added, will require a recovery in economic growth, stronger investment and productivity, continued job creation, and upskilling and reskilling for emerging sectors.
Zambales… Continued from A1
other high-value crops, P1.1 million in livestock, P1.39 million in fisheries, P1.34 million in agricultural infrastructure, and P61,500 in farm equipment and machinery. PDRRMO head Rolex Estella also said that a total of 256 houses were partially damaged while 32 were totally destroyed during heavy rains from the typhoon-induced habagat. Most of the damaged houses were in Subic town, with 154 showing partial damage and 10 completely wrecked.
Heavy infra losses
DAMAGE to government infrastructure, meanwhile, reached a staggering total of P569.26 million. In particular, seven sections of river dikes along the Bucao River in Botolan, Zambales, which channels lahar deposits downstream from Mount Pinatubo, were totally destroyed, the Zambales 1st Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways reported. With a total length of 2,931 linear meters, the destroyed sections cost a total of P293.1 million while total rehabilitation would cost an estimated P728.14 million,
www.businessmirror.com.ph
R&I…
Ninoy…
investment and inflows of foreign direct investment, it added. However, R&I said this year’s economic growth is “highly likely” to fall below the previous year’s level of 4.4 percent due to slower infrastructure spending affected by stricter validation and governance measures introduced following corruption allegations involving flood control projects. Despite remittances staying stable amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, R&I said rising energy costs have pushed up the cost of living and resulted in muted private consumption. “With the current account deficit and external debt remaining at manageable levels, there is limited concern on the external front,” the rating agency added. Stable surplus items, particularly remittances from overseas workers, continue to provide support, while the trade deficit reflects strong domestic investment and business activity, R&I said. Higher imports of raw materials and intermediate goods for infrastructure projects help in laying the groundwork for future growth, it added. “Considering this structure, R&I believes that the present level of current account deficit does not necessarily have negative implications for the assessment of creditworthiness,” it said. The country’s foreign exchange reserves are also sufficient relative to imports, while net external debt remains low as a share of GDP, limiting external risks, R&I said. The debt watcher also cited the stability of the Philippine banking sector as another factor supporting the sovereign’s credit profile. “The country’s resilience is supported by a sound banking system, an efficient payments system, and a healthy external position,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said in a statement. “The BSP will continue to take a forward-looking and data-driven approach to monetary policy, financial supervision, payments oversight, and external sector management. These efforts help preserve stability and sustain confidence in the Philippine economy,” Remolona added. The Philippines’s sovereign credit ratings remain at investment-grade levels, with R&I and Japan Credit Rating Agency affirming their “A-” ratings. Other major credit rating agencies have also maintained their investment-grade ratings on the Philippines, among them S&P Global Ratings at “BBB+,” Fitch Ratings at “BBB” and Moody’s Ratings at “Baa2.” Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
including disinformation, division, distrust, and civic indifference. “Ninoy’s legacy encourages us to meet these challenges with vigilance and faith in the Filipino people as we work together to deliver meaningful progress for all,” Marcos said in a statement during Ninoy Aquino Day Friday. “This day reaffirms that freedom carries with it a collective duty to respect the dignity and rights of others and to contribute to the good of our nation,” he added. The chief executive assured the people his administration will also play its part in nation-building by continuing to protect the country’s sovereignty, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring that each Filipino continues to enjoy liberty and opportunities. “Together, let us carry forward the lessons of our history as we continue to nurture a more peaceful and prosperous Bagong Pilipinas. May we all have a solemn and purposeful remembrance,” Marcos said. Aquino was the political rival and staunch critic of Marcos’s father, former President Marcos. His death propelled his widow Corazon C. Aquino to the presidency after the 1986 Edsa revolt; and 24 years later, his only son Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, called “Noynoy,” was himself elected President. The former senator was assassinated on August 21 in 1983 at the then called Manila International Airport, which was later renamed after him. His death galvanized a fragmented opposition in the country and those exiled abroad, with massive protests culminating in the 4-day peaceful revolt at Edsa. In 2004, Congress passed into law Republic Act 9256 declaring every August 21 as national nonworking holiday to commemorate the event. Despite the martyred senator’s role in opposing his father, President Marcos recognized that Aquino’s legacy should be commemorated since he played a crucial role in safeguarding freedom, strengthening institutions, and deepening national unity. “Ninoy’s legacy encourages us to meet these challenges with vigilance and faith in the Filipino people as we work together to deliver meaningful progress for all,” he said.
Continued from A1
the DPWH said. Six other slope protection projects in the towns of Masinloc, Cabangan, and Botolan were totally damaged, with losses totaling P390.21 million and repair estimated at P966.24 million. In Subic and San Marcelino towns down south, four river revetment projects collapsed, incurring total damage of P96.85 million, with estimated rehabilitation cost totaling P114 million, the DPWH 2nd Engineering District said. The PDRRMC said the magnitude and geographic spread of the weather impacts indicated a need for provincial-level intervention. “[As] the province continues to experience weather-related threats and the potential for further flooding and landslides, [there is a need for] sustained emergency preparedness, response and recovery operations,” the council added. The PDRRMC said the declaration of a state of calamity will strengthen coordination of response, recovery and rehabilitation measures, and enable government offices and local government units to take necessary actions to protect life and property, restore basic services, provide assistance to affected communities, and implement appropriate recovery and rehabilitation programs.
Continued from A1
Other leaders weigh in
EARLIER on Thursday, the first to issue a statement was former House Deputy Majority Leader and three-term Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, who was among a handful of opposition lawmakers in the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1984. On Friday, commemorative statements were issued by Senators Francis Pangilinan, chairman of the Aquinos’ political party the LP, and Ninoy Aquino’s nephew Sen. Bam Aquino. According to Pangilinan, Ninoy offered his life not just to free people from a dictatorship. “He also offered it for the dream of seeing us truly free—from hunger, poverty, subjugation by powerful countries and from being victims of fake news,” Pangilinan said, in Filipino. August 21, he said, should thus be celebrated not just on the day itself, but “every day, because the struggle Ninoy faced is still very much alive today: those greedy for power, and those abusing human rights,” among others. The hardest part to understand in Aquino’s patriotism and decision to return in 1983, said Bam Aquino, is this: “hindi mo minamahal ang Pilipinas dahil sigurado kang may kapalit. Hindi ka naninindigan dahil alam mong mananalo ka. At hindi ka naglilingkod dahil sigurado kang kikilalanin ka. Ginagawa mo ito dahil naniniwala kang karapat-dapat ipaglaban ang Pilipino, kahit hindi mo alam kung ano ang naghihintay sa iyo.” This, he said, underscores the martyred senator’s famous line, “The Filipino is worth dying for.” Reports by Samuel Medenilla, Butch Fernandez
News
www.businessmirror.com.ph
PHL insurance penetration slips to 1.96%, says commish By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
T
HE Philippines’ insurance penetration rate slipped below the government’s target in the second quarter, falling to 1.96 percent, data from the Insurance Commission (IC) showed. Insurance penetration, or the ratio of total insurance premiums collected to the gross domestic product (GDP), stood at 1.96 percent in the second quarter, 0.8 percentage points lower than the 2.04 percent recorded in the previous quarter. Compared with the same period last year, the rate increased by 0.16 percentage points, from 1.8 percent, due to a “substantial increase” in premium collections by insurance companies, IC said. Second-quarter combined premium collections of the insurance industry jumped by 16.24 percent to P282.91 billion from P243.39 billion a year ago. Bulk of the premium collections was accounted for by the life insurance industry, which rose by 17.91 percent year-on-year to P229.98 billion from P195.05 billion, driven by variable life insurance products.
Meanwhile, premium collections by the non-life insurance industry also grew by 9.96 percent to P44.19 billion from P40.18 billion a year earlier. Mutual benefit associations ( M B A s), l i k e w i s e , p o s t e d a 7.06-percent increase in total contributions, which went up to P8.73 billion from last year’s P8.15 billion. Insurance density, or the average spending of each individual on insurance, also expanded by 15.24 percent to P2,468.63 in the second quarter from P2,142.19 in the comparable period last year. Total benefits paid by the entire industry surged by 16.69 percent year-on-year to P90.87 billion from P77.87 billion. Other key indicators also posted increases, with total assets and net worth reaching P2.761 trillion and P515.549 billion, respectively. “The Commission views these developments as encouraging indicators, underscoring rising public awareness of financial protection, greater insurance adoption, and growing confidence in the insurance industry,” IC said in a statement.
MMPC sees SUV tilt in rainy-season EV demand By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
D
EMAND for electrified SU Vs will get a lift as the rainy season pushes motorists to favor vehicles with higher ground clearance, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) said. The outlook comes as MMPC introduced on Thursday the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in the Philippine market. “With the rainy season currently being experienced in the Philippines, we anticipate that more Filipinos may prefer vehicles with higher ground clearance, particularly SUVs,” MMPC said in responses shared with reporters. The company said the seasonal preference could support demand for electrified SUVs over electrified sedans, as higher-clearance vehicles offer motorists greater confidence on flooded and uneven roads. The Philippine rainy season generally runs from June to November, based on the climatological definition of the state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Further, MMPC’s outlook comes as electrified vehicles continue to
gain ground in the domestic automotive market. Data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) showed electrified vehicles sales jumped 132.7 percent to 31,381 units in the first half from 13,488 units a year earlier. Their share of total industry sales also increased to 15.34 percent from 5.84 percent. For the Outlander PHEV, it is positioned toward upper-middle to upper-income consumers, particularly corporate executives, professionals and business owners in their 40s and 50s, according to MMPC. The company said the model is aimed at consumers seeking an electric driving experience for daily use while retaining longerrange capability and all-wheeldrive performance. The SUV is priced at P2.848 million, with an introductory price of P2.749 million until September 30. MMPC did not disclose its sales target or market-share goal for the Outlander PHEV, the number of units initially available, or its planned vehicle launches for the rest of 2026 and 2027. Most automakers have lately expanded their electrified vehicle offerings amid the rapid growth in the country.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
As storms damage farms, govt urged to avoid simply importing
B
By Ada Pelonia
ROAD coalition Sinag urged the government to halt additional imports amid weather disturbances that disrupted agricultural production.
This, as agricultural damage caused by the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng climbed to P1.73 billion, based on the latest government report. S i n a g E x e c ut i v e D i r e c t o r Jayson Ca inglet sa id tempo rar y supply and logistical disruptions due to the ty phoons should not warrant increased importation.
“When our farmers suffer production losses, the appropriate policy response should first be to restore their capacity to produce— not replace their production with imports,” Cainglet said. Instead, he called for strengthened government procurement of agricultural goods as stipulated under the Sagip Saka Act. “ D i re c t l y p ro c u r i n g f rom farmers will provide immediate
assistance to affected marginal producers, backyard raisers and small fish famers while supplying government programs with locally produced food,” Cainglet said. “This is more sustainable than short-term rescue buying photoops and more beneficial than relying on imported products,” he added. T he gover nment, he sa id , should adopt a “non-negotiable local production first” policy whenever agricultural supply is disrupted. “ M a ny a g r ic u lt u r a l c ro p s can be replanted and harvested within a relatively short period,” Cainglet said. “For affected far mers, the d i f ference bet ween recover y and another season of losses may simply be immediate and easy access to seeds, fertilizer, credit, production assistance
D
AVAO CITY—The regional travel fair opened by the Bangsamoro government harped its long stride from the image of conflict to being the host of corporate agricultural and business expansion and successes in anticorruption in its early period of self-rule. The 18th Regional Travel Fair (RTF) held on August 14-16 in Cotabato City brought together 42 buyers and 89 sellers for business-to-business (B2B) sessions and tourism stakeholders from 12 regions. The three-day event at the Alnor Hotel and Convention Center here was organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines with the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT) and the Department of Tourism (DOT). In his welcome message, Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,
said it provided an opportunity to present a different story of the Bangsamoro. “For many years, the story of BARMM was often associated with conflict. Today, we write another chapter in histor y, one that highlights our breathtaking landscapes and a resilient people who, despite difficult chapters, never stopped believing in peace and a better tomorrow,” Macacua said. Macacua also emphasized that tourism is not only about destinations but also about the people and communities behind them, as the region showcased its destinations, cultural heritage, local products and travel experiences. The fair also held the business-toconsumer (B2C) activity that allowed the public to access discounted domestic travel deals, accommodation packages and airline tickets. See “BARMM,” A4
and a guaranteed market.” He noted that a short-term supply gap should not be addressed through a policy that creates a long-term production deficit. Cainglet also said that while an import decision could address inflation, its consequences can extend beyond the immediate crisis. “More often than not, imports arrive just as local farmers begin harvesting again, the resulting increase in market supply will only depress farmgate prices.” With this, he stressed that imports should only be the last resort. “We must structurally shift from an import-first response toward a production-first strategy,” Cainglet said. “The current weather-related disruption should be treated as an opportunity to strengthen—not weaken—Philippine agriculture,” he added.
₧2 a liter oil price hike next week D
OMESTIC oil prices will likely increase by as much as PHP2.25 per liter next week due to an uptick in prices in the international market. Citing price developments as of Thursday, Leo Bellas, Jetti Energy president, said in a message to journalists Friday that diesel prices are expected to jump between P1.75 and P2.25 per liter and gasoline between P1 and P1.50 per liter. Be l l a s e x pl a i ned t h at “oi l prices climbed due to a rebuild
in the geopolitical premium as prospects for a diplomatic solution to the US-Iran conf lict and nor m a l i z at ion of n av igat ion through the Strait of Hormuz have dimmed.” “With the expiration of the midJune US-Iran MOU [memorandum of understanding] and both sides expressing intentions to take a harder line, markets are pricing in the possibility of a prolonged crisis,” he said. Bellas said additional factors for the higher oil prices include
the “risks to Russian supply following Black Sea loading disruptions due to concerns over the reliability of replacement sour crude to offset the reduced Middle East availability.” “Sustaining the strength of diesel is the still-fragile physical balances, despite improving replacement supply from continued acceleration of outflows from China, as concerns remain over low inventories, reduced Middle Eastern availability through the Strait of Hormuz, and constrained
Win: Senate oversight to balance budget reforms with infra spend to boost growth By Butch Fernandez
A
MID concern about balancing good governance reforms with boosting infrastructure spending to reverse a steady slide in growth, the Senate will continue to exercise strict oversight of the country’s infra spend to safeguard public funds and ensure every peso delivers tangible benefits to Filipinos. Senate President Win Gatchalian gave this assurance on Friday after the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) reported that the government remains on track to meet its P1.3-trillion infrastructure spending target this year despite a fivemonth slide in public works disbursements. “This highlights the need for stricter scrutiny of government infrastructure spending. The Senate will continue to uphold the transparency and accountability measures we embedded in the budget,” said Gatchalian. As former chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, he spearheaded landmark budget reforms to
strengthen fiscal transparency and accountability. DBM data showed infrastructure spending declined by 42.9 percent to P269.4 billion from January to May, compared with P471.5 billion in the same period last year due to stricter review of infrastructure projects. “Infrastructure spending is a key driver of economic growth and job creation. We will ensure that public works funds translate into real economic gains, free from the leakages that have plagued past projects,” he added.
Travel, tourism fair in BARMM moves region beyond conflict mode By Manuel T. Cayon
A3
exports from Russia,” he said. Bellas said the continued military actions in the Middle East are the primary factor for movements in oil prices “due to curtailment of crude feedstock exiting the Strait of Hormuz and disruption of flows from the alternate Red Sea route, although further upside is capped by higher regional supplies from rising India and China outflows.” “Continuing attacks on Russia’s refining sector are further keeping global product supplies tight,” he added. PNA
Marcos declares Sept 14, BARMM elections, a holiday to let people vote
T
O a l low people to cast their vote in the first ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Reg ion in Muslim Mind anao (BARMM) Parliamentary polls, President Ferdinand Marcos declared a special non-working holiday in the region on September 14. T he chief executive issued P ro c l a m at ion No. 1395 l a st Tuesday in preparation for the BARMM elections next month. The new issuance said the declaration aims “to give people of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao the opportunity to actively and fully participate in the election and exercise their right to vote.” Under Republic Act No. 12317, the BARMM Parliamentary Elections will be held on the second Monday of September 2026. It was originally set to be held in May 2022, but was deferred multiple times because of the pandemic and a decision from the Supreme Court. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said there are over 2.39 million registered voters in BARMM. It hopes at least 70 percent of the said voters will participate in the region’s upcoming polls. The poll body said it set up 5,212 clustered precincts in 1,186 voting centers in BARMM. Security in the elections is expected to be enhanced after the ambush that targeted BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua last week. Authorities are still investigating who is behind said attack. Samuel P. Medenilla
A4
News
Saturday, August 22, 2026
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Cebu tightens school security after Bantayan threat, firearm recovery L
La Mesa Ecopark opens Phase 2: ‘BiodiverCity’ has wider spaces
C
By Carmel Pedroza
EBU CITY—Cebu authorities are further tightening security in schools across the province following the arrest of a 21-year-old man over an alleged online threat against a school in Bantayan town and the recovery of a loose firearm from a 14-year-old student in Pinamungajan town.
The two incidents on Thursday, August 20, underscored the need for continued vigilance and closer coordination between schools and law enforcement as Cebu implements heightened security measures ordered by Governor Pamela Baricuatro. In Bantayan, personnel of the Bantayan Municipal Police Station arrested a 21-year-old man at about 11:30 a.m. in connection with an alleged online threat
PBBM TAKES A BREAK FOR LIZA’S BIRTHDAY
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took a break from his busy schedule on Friday as he joined the celebration of the 67th birthday of First Lady Louise “Liza” A. Marcos. In a post in his social media account, the chief executive greeted the First Lady. “My dear Liza, we’re celebrating today a most important day in the calendar; Liza Day! Happy Birthday to the First Lady of every day of my life... and beyond!,” Marcos said. The first couple was married in 1993 and have three sons: House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos III, William Vincent A. Marcos, and Joseph Simon A. Marcos. After going to multiple events earlier this week to determine measures to address severe flooding in Metro Manila, Marcos spent Friday, which was also a non-working holiday for the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Day, attending to personal appointments. The First Lady, who is also involved in organizing government events such as the rehabilitation of the Pasig River and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit, also announced her birthday sabbatical earlier this week. Samuel P. Medenilla
against a school. Police have not publicly identified the suspect. Author ities are investigating the suspect for alleged grave threats and unjust vexation in relation to Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The arrest followed Baricuatro’s earlier directive for the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) and local police units to heighten security in public and
private schools following a school shooting in Tacloban City. “ T he s a f e t y a nd s e c u r it y of ou r st udents, teac hers, and school personnel remain among our foremost priorities,” Baricuatro said, according to the Cebu Capitol PIO. She also stressed the need for schools, communities and law enforcement to remain vigilant, saying, “Our schools should be safe spaces for learning, growth, and hope.” The CPPO, under Provincial Director Police Col. Abubakar Udang Mangelen Jr., has since strengthened police visibility in schools through a one-policeto-school deployment scheme, while directing units to conduct regular security inspections and maintain close coordination with school administrators. The heightened security also played a role in a separate incident in Pinamungajan, where a teacher’s surprise inspection of students’ school bags led to the discovery of a firearm at Lut-od National High School in Barangay Lut-od. At about 3:50 p.m. on Thursday, the teacher found a .357 Smith &
Wesson Magnum revolver inside the bag of a 14-year-old student. The firearm had no ammunition. T he school administration immediately sought police assistance, and responding personnel secured the weapon for documentation and proper disposition. Initial police investigation showed that the firearm allegedly belonged to the student’s grandfather and had been kept inside a cabinet at the family’s residence in Purok Santol, Barangay Lut-od. The minor reportedly took the firearm from the cabinet and brought it to school. Because the student is a minor, authorities turned him over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office while awaiting the arrival of his parents or guardian. Ma ngelen commended t he school personnel for promptly reporting the firearm and coordinating with police. “This incident demonstrates the importance of vigilance and proactive safety measures inside our schools. We commend the school personnel for immediately reporting the discovery and seeking police assistance. Their
prompt action helped ensure that the situation was contained before it could potentially lead to harm,” Mangelen said in a separate statement. He said the CPPO would continue strengthening police presence and coordination with schools throughout Cebu. “ We rema in committed to keeping our schools safe and secure. We encourage school administrators, teachers, parents, and students to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity or dangerous item,” Mangelen added. He, likewise, reminded firearm owners to keep their weapons properly secured and inaccessible to children and other unauthorized persons. The Bantayan arrest and Pinamungajan firearm recovery came amid heightened security concerns following a recent shooting at a senior high school in Zamboanga that left two people dead. Cebu police and provincial authorities have urged students, parents, teachers, school personnel and communities to immediately report threats, suspicious activities and dangerous items.
Gov’t sends ₧1-B aid, shelters 52K evacuees affected by storms–OCD By Priam Nepomuceno
T
HE government has so far sheltered 15,523 families or 52,543 persons affected by the combined effects of Luis, Maymay, and Neneng and the ongoing southwest monsoon (‘habagat’), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Friday. They are staying inside 701
evacuation centers that were activated in light of bad weather. Mariano also said assistance so far extended to affected communities totalled around P1 billion. The evacuees are among the 6,620,335 individuals affected by inclement weather in the past few weeks. These persons are equivalent to 1,905,622 families residing
in Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mimaropa (Region 4B), 5 (Bicol Region), 6 (Western Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), Cordillera Administrative Region and the National Capital Region, OCD public information officer Diego Mariano said in a message to reporters. The number of deaths being
validated remained at 29, along with 19 injuries and three missing. Meanwhile, the number of houses damaged was placed at 2,110, of which 1,884 are classified as “partially damaged” and 226 as “totally damaged.” Mariano also said that infrastructure damage was estimated at PHP4.8 billion, along with PHP1.7 billion for agriculture. PNA
Lacson: Heavier penalties for ‘subornation’ of perjury to curb allege-recant ‘business’ By Butch Fernandez
T
HE rash of recantations by witnesses with supposedly explosive allegations related to the flood-control fund mess indicates a growing “business” in alleging and then withdrawing claims, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said on Friday. With this, he is pushing for heavier penalties against those who induce or force another person to commit perjury, following the recent recantations of “coached witness” Orly Guteza and three of
the “Maleta Boys” regarding their statements claiming to have delivered cash in suitcases to certain personalities. Lacson—himself a victim of allege-recant modus by witnesses in his first term as senator—also sought stricter enforcement of the current Anti-Perjury Law to curb the “lucrative business” of testimonies and recantations, especially those targeting political personalities. “Orly Guteza’s recantation should not end there. Republic Act No. 11594 which we passed in October 2021 has increased the penalty for perjury to ‘prision mayor’. Further, a person who induces another to commit perjury is also liable for being a principal by inducement,” he said in a post on X. Guteza is a former security officer of former Bicol congressman Zaldy Co, who is at the center of allegations of diversion of flood funds to kickbacks and pet projects of politicians. He is believed hiding in France. “I will file a bill imposing heavier penalty and fine for ‘subornation of perjury’ or, if a person induces or forces another to commit perjury,” Lacson said. The person directly offended
or prejudiced by the perjury may file such a complaint against those who induced someone else to commit perjury, according to Lacson. “[T]he person directly offended or prejudiced by the perjury may file. In Guteza’s case—ex Speaker [Martin] Romualdez. If not him for some reason, any public officer charged with enforcing the law,” Lacson added. On T hursd ay, L acson sa id Guteza’s backtracking was “not surprising,” after he observed Sen. Rodante Marcoleta “coaching” Guteza, or prompting him on what to say in Guteza’s affidavit, during the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing chaired by Lacson on Sept. 23 last year. In recanting his earlier statement, Guteza also claimed that Marcoleta and ex-Rep. Michael Defensor had him “testify” in exchange for money and scholarships for his children. In the meantime, Lacson underscored the need to strictly implement Republic Act 11594, which imposes heavier prison terms and fines on those who commit perjury. He noted the backtracking by Guteza and some of the “Maleta boys” had become “a dime a dozen,” and indicates such a practice has
become a profitable venture. “While figuratively, testimonies and recantations are ‘one dime a dozen’ these days, ironically, they have become a lucrative business especially when targeting politicians,” he noted. Lacson added that he and his fellow law makers already increased the penalty for the crime of perjury with the enactment of RA 11594 as a result of the extrajudicial killing (EJK) hearings conducted by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs in 2021, but “apparently its implementation is wanting.” Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by RA 11594, punishes false testimony with prision mayor in its minimum period (six years and one day to eight years), and a fine of P1 million. If the offender is a public officer or employee, the maximum jail time is increased to 12 years, along with perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any appointive or elective position in government. Lacson also pointed out that aside from the heavier penalties in the law, the recantations may not necessarily weaken the cases against those implicated.
A Mesa Ecopark strengthens its role in championing “biodiverCity” or biodiversity in the city, environmental protection and water security as it recently hosted the La Mesa Ecopark its Executive Committee (ExeCom) meeting, welcomed ECO-Content Creators for an exclusive preview and reopened Phase 2. The La Mesa Ecopark ExeCom is composed of duly designated representatives from the Quezon City Government and Manila Water Company and chaired by the MWSS. The La Mesa Ecopark ExeCom provides overall direction and guidance to Manila Water Foundation on the management, stewardship, and future development of one of the last few remaining green spaces in Metro Manila. The La Mesa Ecopark Management Team shared updates on its park rehabilitation efforts, future developments, advocacy programs, and key accomplishments from the past two years. Since the reopening, the La Mesa Ecopark has welcomed 276,202 visitors, planted 20,872 native forest tree species, engaged 170 partners and 5,974 volunteers who clocked 41,140 volunteer hours for environmental conservation efforts. The La Mesa Ecopark ExeCom also approved several proposals, including the implementation of a new P50 entrance fee for non-Quezon City residents. This is foreseen to further support the park’s operations, maintenance, and continuous improvement. Quezon City residents continue to enter for free upon presenting their Quezon City ID. The La Mesa Ecopark ExeCom sustained its commitment to advancing programs that align with the environmental and sustainability goals of the Quezon City Government and the MWSS by ensuring that La Mesa Ecopark remains a vibrant green space that inspires all for climate action. La Mesa Ecopark invited ECO-Content Creators to anticipate the official reopening of La Mesa Ecopark Phase 2. Tapping the power of social media, content creators were given an exclusive preview with a session highlighting the important trees, bird and animal species that call the La Mesa Ecopark their home. The digital creators known for environmental and tourism advocacies were shown the new Phase 2 facilities including the pavilions, the lagoon, Neptune Pond and the scenic Flower Hill. The content creators enjoyed fishing and group activity offerings in the La Mesa Ecopark that enable a fun outdoor experience, healthy lifestyle and a meaningful reconnection with nature. As the La Mesa Ecopark enters an exciting chapter with all three operational phases, the ExeCom commended the dedication of the La Mesa Ecopark Management Team for championing environmental conservation, reforestation, and the promotion of “biodiverCity”. With Phase 2 now open to the public, parkgoers can look forward to even more spaces to explore, sustain an active lifestyle and create lasting memories in one an important green space that clearly speaks about environmental conservation: one that is directly connected to the La Mesa Dam which provides water supply to millions of homes and businesses in Metro Manila.
BARMM. . . Continued from A3
Tourism Promotions B oard Chief O p e r at i n g O f f i c e r M a r i a M a rg a r i t a Montemayor Nograles said the regional trade fair was designed to generate opportunities beyond conventional business matchmaking. “Beyond traditional business matchmaking, the fair serves as a platform for buyers, sellers, and travelers to discover more reasons to love the Philippines while opening opportunities for long-term partnerships,” Nograles said. BARMM tourism officials said the fair provided an opportunity to encourage more travelers to discover the region’s destinations and tourism offerings and MTIT Minister Farserina Mohammad urged travelers to explore the Bangsamoro and experience its diverse destinations and culture. “To today’s travelers, don’t hesitate to discover Bangsamoro. You will be warmly welcomed, not only as a visitor, but as part of our story,” Mohammad said, mostly in Filipino.
OurTime BusinessMirror
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Who takes care of senior spouses who take care of their spouses stuck at home?
‘Q
UIS custodiet ipsos custodes?” is a famous Latin phrase from the Roman poet Juvenal, translated as “Who watches the watchers?” In the same way, who will take care of the husbands or wives who are confined at home 24/7 to attend to the needs of their spouses struck by a debilitating stroke or heart attack, or afflicted with a long, lingering illness such as cancer, impaired kidneys, dementia, severe knee problems, diabetes, and similar health issues common to seniors in their advanced years? Marriages in late life often turn into a patient-caregiver relationship when bodies start to break down in the natural course of life. Consider the case of someone whom I have coffee with at least once a week. I was hoping to write something similar to “Tuesdays with Morrie” a memoir by American author Mitch Albom about a series of visits he made to his former university sociology professor, learning profound life lessons about love and wisdom. Lately, our conversation has veered into his current situation. He reveals that he has chosen to devote his remaining years at home to tend to the needs of his wife, who, like him, is 90 years old and shows symptoms of early stage dementia. Although they have employed a domestic helper and a professional caregiver to watch over her and tend to her needs, his spouse only responds to him. She can’t recognize even her own children sometimes. It is he she asks for when she is awake. She gets agitated when she doesn’t find him at her side. What this means is that he is at her beck and call. When he has to see a friend or colleague out of home, he needs to meet them somewhere near because he can’t be physically far from her. He, however, emphasized to me that he has no problem with his present situation and in fact he has embraced it wholeheartedly. After all, this is what he signed up for when they got married: “In sickness and in health, for better or for worse.” Being a former theater and film actor and director, he says with a wink, “this is Act 3 of my performance on the stage of life.” He tells me of the time when a stranger approached him and said that he was touched and moved by the attention he was giving his wife. On social media, friends say he is a source of inspiration. “I appreciate all those positive comments,” he says. “Nakakataba ng puso (It gladdens my heart), but we can romanticize it only so far because the reality is that it’s hard.” As one sympathetic colleague, now a widower, advised him: “Dapat hindi ka nauubusan ng pasensya. Sinlalim ng dagat.” His case got me and my wife thinking about ourselves as well as all the other elderlies stuck at home. More and more senior couples I know are getting confined at home, taking care of each other, with one spouse immobilized by chronic health conditions that debilitate elderly men and women. Compared to other family members, spouses are more likely to commit to a long-term caregiver role. Who else would have the patience, compassion, endurance? The children? They have their own respective families to take care of. They may drop by for a visit now and then, but they would rather
just give financial help than stay day after day with a parent who demands complete attention. So, let’s not over-romanticize the spousal caregiver role. It is a 24/7 job. No, it is a really another career for the spouse. Beyond the compliments, what senior caregivers really need are concrete and helpful ways to enable them to do a better job. For if society would take care of them, they can do a better job of taking care of their respective spouses who are confined to bed or wheelchairs at home. Aside from caregiving skills, this “spousal caregiver career” requires a specialized set of skills and knowledge, including physical, mental and spiritual conditioning, psychology, geriatric medical knowledge, anger management, spiritual conditioning, among others. May I propose the following ideas for our policymakers to consider in future legislation related to seniors’ wellbeing? 1. Formal training for seniors who become designated caregivers. One of the common challenges of spouse-caregivers is that no one ever told them what to do with a spouse stuck at home by serious ailment. Instead, they are “just doing this by the seat of our pants.” They face questions like: what do I need to know about dementia; how do I put on and change my spouse’s diapers; when should I bring her to the hospital, and so on. A government funded caregiver education and training program should be designed for them, something like “Beginner’s Guide to Being a Spouse Caregiver.” It’s a whole different kind of ballgame that not everyone can play. They need to master it fast. 2. Spiritual counseling Spousal caregivers need someone to advise and guide them and help them develop and strengthen mental and emotional fortitude. A rehabilitation psychologist says strokes and cancer put very different pressure on spouses than other diseases do. Equipping them with positive effective caring strategies is important. I know a few who become depressed for being left alone to do a thankless task. How are they supposed to cope mentally and spiritually with caring for a disabled and being stuck at home for the rest of their lives? My wife once told me: “Pag ako nagka dementia, huwag mo naman ago sigawan at pagalitan.” 3. Financial support in the form of stipend for spousal caregivers Time and again, my 90-year-old friend lets out a heavy sigh: “I love caring for my wife but it’s draining all my savings.” Since not all aged couples can afford to be in assisted living facilities, the government should at least find ways to provide a stipend for full time spousal caregivers. In some countries, there are several government programs, or funding sources, that exist that can pay spouses or family members as caregivers. We urgently need to initiate the development of support measures tailored to spousal caregivers with a limited household income. I can only hope that our policymakers can come up with laws that incorporate the elements of positive spousal-caregiving into effective policies to support spousal-caregivers in the relentless battles they have to fight day in and day out.
Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, August 22, 2026 A5
Malasiqui indigent seniors get ₧3,000 social pension
M
By Hilda Austria
ALASIQUI, Pangasinan—A total of 4,999 indigent elderly in this town received P3,000 each on Wednesday under the national government’s social pension program.
In an interview, Baby Soriano, head of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs here, said the amount is received quarterly by the elderly, which they use to purchase some, if not most, of their basic needs. “This is a big help to them. Since the elderly have needs like maintenance medicines and food,” she said. The Social Pension Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development provides a monthly
stipend of P1,000, distributed quarterly, to qualified beneficiaries. Soriano said the distributed amount is for the third quarter of this year. “We thank President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for all the programs and projects for the elderly,” he said. Remedios Abalos, a 66-year-old beneficiary, said she would use the amount to purchase rice and medicine for her hypertension. PNA
INDIGENT seniors wait for their turn to receive P3,000 each for their quarterly government pension in Malasiqui, Pangasinan on August 12, 2026. The payout, which is for the third quarter of this year, is under the national government’s social pension program. PNA PHOTO BY HILDA AUSTRIA
What’s on your plate could be aging your brain faster By Jona C. Redondo
F
OODS and drinks linked to higher Alzheimer’s and dementia risk in older adults center on ultraprocessed items, sugary beverages, processed meats, excess saturated fats, and alcohol. Emerging research associates these with accelerated cognitive decline through inflammation, insulin resistance, vascular damage, oxidative stress, and other pathways. While diet is one modifiable factor among many (genetics, exercise, sleep, and vascular health also matter), prospective studies and reviews consistently highlight patterns that raise risk, particularly in mid-to-late life. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, involves progressive brain changes including amyloid plaques, tau tangles, and neuronal loss. Diet influences these processes over decades. Protective patterns such as the Mediterranean, DASH, and especially MIND diets— emphasizing vegetables (particularly leafy greens), berries, nuts, whole grains, fish, olive oil, and legumes while limiting certain foods—are linked to lower risk. The inverse points to the foods and drinks that appear harmful.
Ultra-processed foods and processed meats
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs)—industrially formulated products high in additives, refined carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, sugar, and salt, with little whole-food content—stand out as a major concern. These include packaged snacks, ready meals, sugary cereals, soft drinks, and processed meats. Multiple cohort studies and systematic reviews link higher UPF intake to elevated dementia and cognitive impairment risk. A 2026 Harvard-led analysis of more than 5,300 U.S. adults over 50 (Health and Retirement Study data, average 9-year follow-up) found those in the highest UPF consumption group had a 58 percent higher risk of dementia and 46 percent higher risk of mild cognitive impairment compared with the lowest
group. Processed meats contributed particularly strongly. Minimally processed foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unprocessed meats) showed the opposite protective association. Virginia Tech researchers analyzing data from about 4,750 adults aged 55+ reported that extra daily servings of ultra-processed animal products raised cognitive impairment risk by about 17 percent, while sugar-sweetened beverages raised it by about 6 percent. Other UPF categories showed weaker or null links in that analysis. Processed red meats (hot dogs, bacon, sausage, deli meats, salami) specifically elevate risk. Preliminary research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, tracking over 130,000 U.S. adults for up to 43 years, found roughly two servings of processed red meat per week associated with a 14 percent higher dementia risk versus fewer than three servings per month. Unprocessed red meat showed weaker or inconsistent links. A systematic review noted higher processed meat intake associated with greater Alzheimer’s incidence.
Sugary and artificially sweetened beverages
SUGAR-SWEETENED beverages (sodas, sugary teas, fruit drinks) repeatedly appear as offenders. High fructose intake can impair learning and memory in animal models by disrupting insulin signaling and synaptic plasticity in the brain; omega-3s may partially counteract this. Human data link higher free sugar from beverages (especially soda/ fruit drinks) to increased dementia risk in linear or near-linear fashion in large cohorts such as UK Biobank. A 2025 systematic review and metaanalysis of prospective cohorts found higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake associated with a pooled relative risk of about 1.49 for Alzheimer’s disease. Artificially sweetened beverages also showed a positive association in some analyses, though findings are mixed and not universal across all late-life consumption studies. Excess sugar promotes insulin
resistance (“type 3 diabetes” framing of Alzheimer’s in some literature), inflammation, and vascular damage.
Saturated fats, fried foods, and related items
DIETS high in saturated fats (from fatty red meats, full-fat dairy in excess, butter, certain processed items) and fried/ fast foods are flagged in risk models and MIND diet guidance. Older ecological and observational data linked high saturated and total fat intake to higher dementia risk. Trans fats have been particularly concerning. Fried and fast foods contribute to UPF load, inflammation, and poorer vascular health, which is tightly tied to cognitive outcomes.
Alcohol
RECENT large-scale evidence challenges earlier observational suggestions of benefit from light drinking. Genetic (Mendelian randomization) analyses of data involving millions of people, including UK Biobank participants, indicate a dose-dependent increase in dementia risk with greater alcohol consumption and no clear protective effect at low levels. Observational U-shaped curves may partly reflect reverse causation (people reducing intake after early cognitive changes) or confounding. Heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder clearly elevate risk; any intake appears nonprotective in the genetic data.
Expert perspectives and resources
NEUROLOGIST Dr. David Perlmutter emphasizes ultra-processed foods as a primary dietary driver, citing data linking each additional daily UPF serving to roughly 13 percent higher Alzheimer’s risk in some analyses, and frames the disease as heavily metabolic and inflammatory. He discusses these topics in interviews and writings on microglia, insulin resistance, and lifestyle. Dr. William Li has highlighted how saturated and trans fats can raise Alzheimer’s risk (citing figures around 39 percent to 48 percent in relevant research contexts) while omega-3s and
certain dietary patterns lower it, discussing brain vessel health and inflammation in videos. Dr. Michael Greger stresses plant-forward patterns that reduce saturated fat, processed meats, and added sugars, noting associations with substantially lower dementia rates in observational data. Cleveland Clinic clinicians and MIND diet researchers routinely advise limiting the categories above in favor of whole, nutrient-dense foods. Useful expert videos include discussions by Dr. William Li on fats and dementia risk, Dr. Michael Greger on plantbased approaches, Dr. David Perlmutter on UPFs and metabolic brain health, and shorter explainers from institutions like Cleveland Clinic on diet and Alzheimer’s prevention.
Practical implications
THESE associations are primarily observational; randomized trials of longterm diet for Alzheimer’s outcomes are limited, and residual confounding is possible. Still, the consistency across large cohorts, dose-response patterns in several studies, biological plausibility, and alignment with cardiovascular and metabolic research support caution. For older adults and those at elevated risk, reducing UPFs (especially processed meats and sugary drinks), limiting excess saturated fat and fried foods, moderating or avoiding alcohol, and shifting toward MIND/Mediterraneanstyle eating offers a low-risk strategy that also benefits heart health, weight, and overall vitality. Small, sustained changes— swapping a daily soda for water or unsweetened tea, choosing whole-food proteins over processed meats, cooking with olive oil, and filling half the plate with vegetables—accumulate. Diet is powerful but works best alongside physical activity, cognitive engagement, sleep, social connection, and vascular risk management. The evidence increasingly shows that what older adults (and those approaching older age) eat and drink can meaningfully influence the trajectory of brain aging.
DSWD, Davao de Oro sign land donation deal for elderly home
D
EPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and officials from the provincial government of Davao de Oro conducted the ceremonial signing of a deed of land donation on Monday, August 17. The land situated in Barangay Pasian, Monkayo, Davao de Oro will be the site of the Group Home for the Elderly. It will be established as the Older Adult Supportive Integrated Services (OASIS) Village, providing residential care and support for
abandoned, neglected, and at-risk senior citizens. Davao de Oro 1st District Representative Maria Carmen ZamoraMabanglo and Governor Raul Mabanglo represented the provincial government of Davao de Oro as the donor, while Secretary Gatchalian accepted the property donation on behalf of DSWD. DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina Romualdez was also present as a witness to the formal signing. (KI)
A6
Saturday, August 22, 2026 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos
BusinessMirror
businessmirror.lifestyle@gmail.com • www.businessmirror.com.ph
Vice Ganda’s partnership with MediaQuest aimed at helping to revive free TV VICE GANDA (center) flanked by MediaQuest Holdings Inc. chairman Manny V. Pangilinan (left) and president and CEO Ricky Vargas PHOTOS FROM @PRAYBEYTBENJAMIN ON INSTAGRAM
‘W
E all know TV is dying,” said Vice Ganda during a press conference marking her partnership with MediaQuest Holdings Inc. at The Lighthouse at Meralco Center. Under the agreement, Vice Ganda is expected to develop content for TV5, as well as other MediaQuest media and digital platforms. This officially means that she is now a Kapamilya, a Kapuso, and a Kapatid. “She is the Queen of All Networks,” said MediaQuest chairman Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP). For Vice Ganda, the signing of the agreement is a healing experience because she admitted was disappointed when It’s Showtime, the daily noontime variety show he hosted with other celebrities, left TV5’s programming lineup in 2023. “I admit that I felt hurt at the time, but in this industry, we don’t burn bridges. I eventually said yes because I believed in what they wanted to accomplish.” Vice Ganda and MediaQuest intend to revive free
TV in the country in an era where Filipinos consume more content from digital and streaming platforms. “We have the same goal. Our goal is to extend the era of TV, especially in the Philippines. We can only do that if the people involved collaborate and bring together our different capabilities,” said Vice Ganda. “MVP told me, ‘You have what I don’t have, and I have what you don’t have. So why not unite?’” Aside from Vice Ganda and Pangilinan, present at the signing ceremony were Slingshot Studios head
VICE GANDA (center) with Ranvel Rufino (left) of Slingshot Studios and Ricky Vargas, president and CEO of MediaQuest
for partnerships, people and business development Ranvel Rufino, and MediaQuest Holdings president and CEO Victorico Vargas. Pangilinan said MediaQuest is offering Vice Ganda several platforms where the actor-comedian can showcase her talents. “You have built an exceptional career with your exceptional talents. On your own, you have built a distinctive brand, an audience that is not only nationwide but goes beyond the shores of the Philippines, in a career that very few people in this room can match. This event completes the elevation of Vice Ganda to the title of Queen of All Networks,” said Pangilinan. “We offer to you the many platforms, television studios, streaming services, PLDT and Smart, various platforms that we can scale and reach. We offer something to you, a topic that is bigger, better and different to entertain,” he added. Vice Ganda said unity is the key in the effort to keep the era of television alive “Pareho lang kami ng goal din eh. Ang goal namin is mapahaba pa ‘yung era ng television, especially sa Pilipinas, at least. We’re only able to do that if we collaborate.” “Kailangan nilang magsanib-pwersa. ABS-CBN, GMA, TV5, and other platforms. Kahit ‘yung mga streaming platforms nakaka-collaborate rin nila,” she said. No details are available yet about the content but Vice Ganda hinted that it will be fun and funny because he knows that Filipinos want to laugh, if only to forget temporarily the problems they are facing.
OpenAI, Thinking Machines deepen AI partnership in PHL BY RIZAL RAOUL REYES OPENAI and Thinking Machines recently formed a partnership to help Philippine enterprises, growing businesses, and educational institutions to achieve a more secure, practical and organization-wide AI adoption. In a recent media briefing in Makati City, the two companies also highlighted that OpenAI’s Partner Network is designed to help organizations translate AI ambitions into measurable impact by connecting them with partners that bring industry expertise, technical capabilities, deployment experience and strong customer relationships. For Thinking Machines, the Advanced Partner recognition underscores its technical capabilities and delivery track record while highlighting the potential for Filipino talent to develop and deploy world-class AI solutions for businesses and broader societal challenges. “Being recognized as an OpenAI Advanced Partner is an important validation of the capability our team has built over the last decade,” said Niek van Veen, vice president for commercial at Thinking Machines. “What excites me even more is what comes next. Expanding our work together through ChatGPT
Business and ChatGPT Edu enables us to support more organizations, from growing businesses to educational institutions, while continuing to help enterprises deploy AI at scale and developing Filipino talent,” he added. Thinking Machines is one of only 30 companies worldwide to be named an OpenAI Advanced Partner. AI is already becoming a vital part of how Filipinos work. According to the companies, about 40 percent of ChatGPT messages in the Philippines are work-related, highlighting the opportunity for organizations to move from individual use of AI toward coordinated, organization-wide capabilities. They said the evolution of AI is also pushing organizations beyond simple productivity assistance toward more sophisticated, agentic workflows that can change how teams make decisions, serve customers and accomplish tasks. For Philippine companies, however, they said the next challenge is making AI adoption repeatable and sustainable across the organization. Thinking Machines works with enterprises across industries to identify high-value workflows, build AI fluency, redesign processes and deploy AI within existing data, governance and operating environments.
“AI is easy to experiment with; transforming an organization with it is harder,” van Veen said. “The opportunity now is to turn familiarity with AI into organizational capability—embedding it into the way businesses operate, make decisions, and create value.” They said preparing employees to work effectively alongside AI is equally important. The expanded collaboration also places emphasis on making AI accessible beyond large enterprises. Through ChatGPT Business, Thinking Machines said it can support growing businesses seeking to incorporate AI into their operations, while ChatGPT Edu provides an avenue for educational institutions to explore AI-enabled teaching, learning and institutional workflows. The broader approach reflects the changing nature of AI adoption in the Philippines, where businesses of different sizes and educational institutions are increasingly looking for practical applications rather than simply experimenting with generative AI. For the country’s technology ecosystem, the partnership also reinforces the potential of Filipino professionals and technical teams to participate in the development and deployment of advanced AI capabilities.
SONY TO RELEASE ‘LIFELIKE GAMING AUDIO’ WITH PULSE ELEVATE WIRELESS SPEAKER BY PATRICK VILLANUEVA A NEW audio accessory is on the horizon with Sony’s latest Pulse Elevate wireless speaker, featuring what they call “lifelike gaming audio” for desktop gaming or on-the-go. Revealed during Sony’s State of Play, Sony promised that Pulse Elevate would immerse gamers with amazing audio akin to its predecessors, the Pulse Elite wireless headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds. “Pulse Elevate builds upon the immersive nextlevel gaming audio experience we introduced to players with Pulse Elite wireless headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, combining powerful technologies like planar magnetic drivers and PlayStation Link into new form factors for players to experience with their favorite games,” the blog reads. Developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Pulse Elevate can be used on PC, PlayStation, and Mac setups, while also being viable on the go for PlayStation Portal remote players and smartphone users. According to PlayStation, it supports Tempest 3D AudioTech for PS5, which enables the speaker to position audio cues with incredible accuracy. Another feature is its adjustable orientation that lets you fill the room with music or immerse you in gaming. It also has built-in woofers that produce rich bass tones. Online multiplayer gamers would enjoy this new tech as well because it has a built-in mic that has AI noise-reduction features, allowing for an enjoyable communication experience with friends and teammates online. Pulse Elevate also has PlayStation Link ultra-low latency and multi-device connectivity, allowing users to connect via PlayStation Link while also simultaneously connecting to Bluetooth for different needs like music, voice chat, and more. “The wireless speakers feature exceptionally lifelike audio, ultralow latency, and lossless PlayStation Link wireless connectivity,” their blog reads. Pulse Elevate comes in two colors: Midnight Black and White. Pre-orders will be available on September 2, 2026, for local retailers, and is set to release by November 12, 2026. Its estimated price is ₱14,709. More information can be found at tinyurl. com/4my58uut.
Samsung Galaxy... CONTINUED FROM A7 when you’re done and the entire comic book disappears into your pocket. 8. The laptop question. Give me a complicated spreadsheet, a long editing session or several thousand words to write, and I’m still reaching for my computer. But those aren’t the moments where the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra earns its keep. It’s when you’re in the back of a car and someone sends a document that needs checking. When a presentation arrives five minutes before a meeting. When you’re at an airport and don’t want to unpack your laptop. It’s when you need a browser beside Samsung Notes, messages beside your calendar, or a PDF beside the e-mail discussing it. On a conventional smartphone, multitasking usually means becoming faster at switching between apps. On the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, multitasking can mean not switching at all. Now Nudge can take this further by recognizing something actionable onscreen and suggesting a relevant next step or another supported app in Multi Window. Samsung DeX extends things further when you have an external display, giving you a desktop-style workspace from the phone in your pocket. None of this replaces a proper computer for serious, prolonged work. It doesn’t need to. The Fold’s advantage isn’t that you can finally leave every other device at home. It’s that there are fewer moments when you regret doing so. And that brings us back to where we started. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra isn’t for everyone. It shouldn’t be. A phone this expensive doesn’t suddenly become sensible because it has enough impressive specifications. It starts making sense when those capabilities fit into your life— when the bigger screen saves you time, Flex Mode solves a problem, Now Nudge helps you get organized, or you simply rediscover how enjoyable it is to sit down and read. You can find plenty of reasons to want the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. The harder—and far more important—question is whether you’ve found a purpose for it.
www.businessmirror.com.ph • businessmirror.lifestyle@gmail.com
BusinessMirror
Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • Saturday, August 22, 2026
Former Meta engineer Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: says Instagram took a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ approach on kids under 13 BY BARBARA O�TUTAY The Associated Press OAKLAND, California—A former engineering director at Meta who has testified before Congress about child safety on Instagram told jurors Wednesday at a landmark trial that the company took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach on kids under 13 on its platforms. During his second day of testimony, Arturo Béjar said Meta consistently prioritized profits over safety in designing its products, focusing on how often and for how long people used them, even if it was detrimental to their mental wellbeing. “If you step away from the product, they are not going to make any money,” he said. The trial that began Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, pits Meta against the states of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey and is expected to last about six weeks. The four states were among 29 that sued the tech giant in 2023 over child safety and privacy—the other 25 will go to trial later. The company also faces lawsuits in state courts, including one underway in Tennessee. The lawsuit accuses Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms and hide these harms from the public. It also argues that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of federal law. Meta says users must be at least 13 years old to create an account, in line with the law, called the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA. “The attitude in particular on Instagram was ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell,’” Béjar said in response to a question about his perception of the company’s attitude towards users under 13. The company has rejected the claims and said evidence at the trial will show its commitment to safety. “You will hear over the course of this case a lot of important issues, issues like teen mental health, issues like social media, issues like how teens use social media,” Meta lawyer Paul Schmidt said Tuesday. “Those are important issues, and they’re issues where Meta believes that it has a responsibility. It has a responsibility to act on its own. It has a responsibility to try to work with teens and parents in partnership to try to address those questions.”
PLAINTIFFS’ WITNESS SAYS SAFETY WAS AN ‘AFTERTHOUGHT’
BÉJAR worked at Facebook from 2009 to 2015, attracting wide attention for his work to combat cyberbullying. He returned from 2019 to 2021 as a contractor to work on safety issues. He testified before Congress in 2023 about social media and the teen mental health crisis, saying that Meta executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, knew about harms Instagram was causing but chose not to make meaningful changes to address them. In his testimony Wednesday, Béjar said employee performance reviews and compensation for those who worked on user-facing products were mostly focused on user numbers and how long they spend with those products. “In that context, safety was an afterthought,” he said. The states are seeking changes to user experiences for Facebook and Instagram as well as financial damages, which could include billions of dollars in penalties. In a written statement, the office of California’s attorney general said if Meta loses, the amount of any damages would be set by the court. “This case is about stopping Meta from offering a dangerous product to teens, and from lying to teens, families, and the public about the dangerousness of their platforms. The primary remedy under our state consumer protection law is an injunction,” the statement said. Béjar walked through Meta features he said were designed for adults and are “inherently unsafe for teenagers.” This includes video autoplay, which can mean teens see videos that may cause them harm even if they don’t click on them; as well as various counters that track how many people liked, viewed or commented on your content or how many followers you have. Child development experts have noted teenagers are more susceptible to social comparison than adults, so products that reward popularity can be more harmful to their mental health.
AGE VERIFICATION HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR NOT GOING FAR ENOUGH
DESPITE Meta’s statements that it works to find kids under 13 on its platforms and ban them, Béjar testified that he found “tens of thousands” of kids under 13 on Instagram through his research. He said it was “common knowledge” at the company that such young children were on Instagram. “Meta has one of the most sophisticated infrastructures in the world to detect fake accounts,” he said. But despite that, he added, there were “no goals, no metrics” to detect and check kids’ ages who were suspected to be under 13. Over the years, Meta has introduced features it says are designed to make the experience safer for young people. But Béjar said these did not work.
Don’t look for a reason; find a purpose
T
HE last Samsung foldable I reviewed was the Galaxy Z Fold 4. After a few years and several iterations, we were long overdue for a reunion. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is arguably the most expensive mass-market, noncustomized flagship smartphone you can buy in 2026—for now. It starts at ₱123,990 and climbs to ₱165,990 for the 1TB configuration. That’s laptop money. Very good laptop money. With a price tag well into six figures, the obvious question arises: Who in their right mind would spend this much on a phone? After using the Z Fold 8 Ultra for several weeks, I realized that’s the wrong question. This isn’t a smartphone I’d recommend based purely on value for money, nor is it something you buy simply because you want Samsung’s newest and most expensive toy. It starts making sense when you already know exactly what you’re going to use it for. Samsung also made an interesting decision this year by finally attaching the most important word in its flagship vocabulary to the Fold: Ultra. And that word comes with expectations. Yes, Samsung also has the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8, with its new passport-like shape that’s understandably getting plenty of attention. It’s different, fresh and arguably the bigger conversation starter of the two. But novelty isn’t really what the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is chasing; it is helping you achieve your purpose. Here are eight realizations from my time with it. 1. The price. If the price makes you think twice, this probably isn’t for you. Let me explain before that sounds incredibly snobbish. For most smartphones, price-to-performance matters enormously. If one phone gives you 90 percent of another phone’s capabilities for half the price, the cheaper phone is probably the smarter buy. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra plays by slightly different rules. Think business owners, top executives, journalists, creatives, consultants or anyone whose smartphone has become part of their working infrastructure. They might approve documents in the car, check spreadsheets between meetings, review presentations, or go through PDFs without pulling out a laptop. For them, the question isn’t necessarily, “Is this phone worth ₱123,990?” It is: “Will this make what I already do easier?” That’s when the “math” starts “mathing.” The 8-inch inner display, Samsung DeX, multitasking capabilities and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy won’t automatically make you productive. But if you already have a purpose for them, they can make your day easier. 2. Instant Aura. This one’s going to sound superficial until you think about the other things we carry. A nice watch doesn’t make you more punctual. An expensive pen doesn’t improve your handwriting. A tailored suit doesn’t make you smarter. But they communicate something before you’ve said a word. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has that effect. Pull another black rectangular smartphone out during a meeting and chances are nobody notices. Put this on the conference table, open that 8-inch display, and people notice. It has presence. I’m not talking about showing off. I’ve encountered foldables increasingly often at executive briefings, business meetings and press events, and there’s something different about unfolding a screen large enough to review a document or presentation while everyone else is reaching for a laptop.
There are phones you pull out of your pocket, and there are devices that announce themselves when you put them on the table. 3. That camera bump though. At just 4.1mm when unfolded, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is an absurdly thin piece of engineering. Folded, it’s 8.9mm, and weighs just 215 grams despite packing an 8-inch folding display and 5,000mAh battery. But then you turn it around. Calling that camera bump an island would be geographically inaccurate. That thing is a continent. Put the phone on a desk and it doesn’t sit flat. There’s noticeable wobble, and that substantial camera assembly makes the beautifully thin profile feel considerably less thin. There’s also a wonderfully ridiculous contradiction here. Samsung has spent years shaving fractions of millimeters from the Fold, and one of the first accessories I’d recommend is a good case with a kickstand. 4. Flex Mode. One of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra’s most useful positions is neither completely open nor completely closed. It’s halfway. Samsung calls it Flex Mode, and it’s one of the features that separates the Ultra from the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8. With supported apps, the display divides into two working areas, with content above and controls below. Videos can stay on top while playback controls sit underneath; during video calls, the phone supports itself on a desk; and in some apps the lower portion can even function like a touchpad. But the camera may be where Flex Mode makes the most sense. Partially fold the phone, put it on a flat surface and it effectively becomes its own tripod for group photos, timed selfies or videos. For content creators, you can also position the cameras low while keeping the display angled toward you. We usually judge foldables by what they can do completely unfolded. Flex Mode reminds you that one of their advantages is that they don’t have to be. 5. Durability. Smartphone durability has become strangely theatrical. Manufacturers dunk phones underwater, drop them, bend them and subject them to increasingly outrageous stunts to prove they’re no longer fragile. Samsung probably isn’t going to pull an airplane with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. And maybe it doesn’t need to. Samsung’s approach is less theatrical. There’s the Armor FlexHinge, Flex Titanium reinforcement beneath the folding display, Armor Aluminum
construction and an IP48 rating for water and solidparticle resistance. That doesn’t mean it’s dustproof, and IP48 still falls short of the IP68 protection we’re accustomed to on conventional premium flagships. But together, these improvements provide something arguably more important when you’re carrying a six-figure foldable every day: peace of mind. 6. How Ultra is it? This is where I’m going to be difficult. Samsung put Ultra in the name, so it’s fair to judge the phone by the expectations that word creates. The cameras start impressively with a 200MP main camera, joined by an upgraded 50MP ultrawide. Then you get to the telephoto. It’s still a 10MP camera with 3x optical zoom, with digital zoom topping out at 30x. That’s not bad. But on Samsung’s ultimate foldable? At this price? With Ultra in the name? The two 10MP selfie cameras aren’t particularly remarkable either, although the folding design gives you an obvious solution: Don’t use them. Open the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, turn it around and use Rear Cam Selfie. The cover display becomes your viewfinder while you shoot with the much better rear cameras. 7. Turning pages—like a book. Of all the things I expected to enjoy on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, reading wasn’t particularly high on the list. Then I opened Google Play Books. There’s something wonderfully appropriate about reading a digital book on a device you physically open like one. Compatible books can appear across two pages on the 8-inch display, complete with Google’s page-turn animation. For years, the crease has been the thing foldable manufacturers wanted us to stop noticing. Here, instead of an imperfection, it almost becomes the gutter running down the middle of a real book. No, it doesn’t smell like paper. We’re not there yet. As someone who grew up reading comics, things get even better. Comics can be difficult on small screens because dialogue becomes hard to read, while constantly zooming into panels destroys the original page composition. Google Play Books’ Bubble Zoom solves part of that problem on compatible comics. Double-tap a speech bubble and the text enlarges while leaving the surrounding artwork and layout intact. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra gives you the full page when you want to admire the artwork, then enlarges the dialogue when you need it. Close the Fold
SEE “SAMSUNG GALAXY,” A6
A7
Education BusinessMirror
A8 Saturday, August 22, 2026
PBBM to expand scholarships and education aid nationwide
Editor: Mike Policarpio
Organizations called to action this National Teachers’ Month
E
XECUTIVE Secretary Ralph Recto assured students that the Marcos Jr. administration will continue to expand scholarships and educational assistance nationwide to help more Filipinos finish college and secure better opportunities. Speaking to presidential scholars during his recent visit to Cebu, Recto said financial hardship should not force students to abandon their education. The executive secretary told the students in Filipino that the President has great confidence in them, which is why they were chosen as scholars. He relayed the chief executive’s requests: Study hard, finish the course, and when the time comes, use what they have learned to help others.
Under the Bagong Pilipinas Barangay Presidential Scholars Program, five fourth-year college students in every village will receive 20,000 each in financial aid. This year, 210,000 students in more than 42,000 villages nationwide are expected to benefit from the program. Each village has a P200,000 allocation from the Presidential SocioCivic Projects Fund, with P100,000 earmarked for assistance to the five scholars.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. speaks during a recent orientation activity for presidential scholars. RTVM FILE PHOTO/PNA
Cebu City has 5,330 scholars from its 1,066 barangays. Recto said the program forms part of the government's broader effort to expand access to education, from free basic education and tuition in state universities and colleges to scholarships for medicine,
science, graduate studies, specialized courses and other fields. The government official said every scholar who graduates from college represents an investment not only in their individual future, but also in their families and communities. Darryl John Esguerra/PNA
Benilde pioneers master’s program in global governance, management
D 2026 Taiwan MOFA Scholarship Recipients
147 Filipino scholars feted at the 2026 Taiwan Scholarship Awards
A
NEW batch of outstanding Filipino students, selected by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), has received the Republic of China (Taiwan) government’s scholarships. The initiative supports Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, which aims to strengthen regional cooperation and deepen people-to-people ties. This year, 147 Filipino scholars were awarded scholarships to pursue studies in Taiwan. Among them, two students will receive the Taiwan MOFA Scholarship, while 26 students will pursue degree programs under the MOE Taiwan Scholarship. Twenty students will have the TaiwanICDF Scholarship, which supports both academic learning and practical training through industryacademia collaboration. In addition, 99 students were awarded the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship to study Mandarin in Taiwan. Each year, the Taiwan government offers a wide range of scholarships to approximately 2,000 Filipino students. These opportunities include Mandarin language programs, undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies across various academic disciplines, as well as vocational and technical education tracks designed to provide practical skills and internship experiences in relevant industries. On August 6, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines hosted the 2026 Taiwan Scholarship Awards Ceremony in Manila to recognize this year’s recipients. In his keynote, Representative
Wallace Chow congratulated the scholars for their academic excellence and encouraged them to become ambassadors of goodwill by promoting Taiwan as a study destination. Chow also highlighted TECO’s plans to continue strengthening collaborations with top Philippine universities in emerging fields such as electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductors. He encouraged scholars to take advantage of the increasing work and research opportunities in Taiwan. Chairperson and Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Resident Representative Corazon Avecilla-Padiernos emphasized that the Taiwan Scholarship programs aim to cultivate the next generation of Filipino professionals and leaders who can contribute to the country’s development. She also underscored the scholars’ role as a lasting bridge of friendship between Taiwan and the Philippines. Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Service Director Cristine Ferrer also shared a message of encouragement, then echoed Chow’s sentiments that these scholarships serve as beacons of a brighter future for both Taiwan and the Philippines in shared dreams of global connection and academic-industry excellence. Addressing the scholars directly, she urged them to remain rooted in their identity and committed to the country's betterment. Several scholarship recipients shared their motivations for choosing Taiwan as their study destination, reflecting their hopes and ambition to gain academic and cultural experiences that will shape their future careers.
E LA SALLE-COLLEGE OF SAINT BENILDE (DLS-CSB) has introduced the Master in Global Governance and Management (MGGM): the first-ever professional track graduate program in the Philippines which combines the disciplines and principles of international relations and diplomacy, public administration, and management. Jointly offered by the School of Management and Information Technology (SMIT) and the School of Diplomacy and Governance (SDG), MGGM prepares the next generation of civil society leaders to effectively navigate both private and public institutions with an in-depth focus on global governance and management processes grounded in local and national concerns. MGGM offers an innovation-based perspective on economic and societal development, viewing it as a series of humanity’s response-making cycles to the greatest opportunities and challenges in history. It champions well-managed organizations that serve the ends of human rights, human security, and human development embedded in internationally agreed green, resilient, and inclusive development goals or “GRID.” Throughout the program, students will gain a deeper understanding of the transnational nature of diplomacy, governance, and management by analyzing the transnational regimes that seek to address global challenges, questioning why such regimes succeeded or failed, along with the politics underpinning current diplomatic practice and the obstacles to change. MGGM equips learners with competencies in strategic and future thinking in policy-making, business trends, as well as the diplomatic skills, protocols, and practices required to face complex challenges in an unfolding, interconnected, and dynamic global community. It enables them not only to develop a big-picture view of world politics but also to specialize in topical aspects and make an original contribution based on their own research. Students are trained to analyze governance of the global economy
and contemporary issues in international economic relations based on evidence and/or data, and to be adept in conflict management and enhanced negotiation as they address the challenges of governance and business through external and internal factors that contribute to the management of global society. They are molded to be proficient in conflict and negotiation management, able to use various decision-making methods, and develop technological adaptability and resilience. Designed for critical thinkers who seek to develop leading-edge knowledge to help shape the world, MGGM suits individuals who hope to pursue international careers as policy-makers, analysts, and advisers. They may also pursue positions such as administrators, public management consultants, and advocacy workers in the wide array of institutions involved in addressing global problems. It is ideal for government employees who aspire to become career executives; corporate practitioners who aim to deepen their knowledge in international relations and international business; and leaders and managers of international organizations, intergovernmental organizations, and non-government organizations who wish to advance their knowledge in the field. The MGGM requires a total of 33 academic units and one non-academic unit. It will run for six trimesters. For more information, visit benilde.edu.ph/ programs/graduate-programs/master-inglobal-governance-and-management/.
T
HE National Teachers’ Month (NTM) celebration is calling on businesses, civic organizations, academic institutions, government agencies, and community groups to invest in meaningful initiatives that strengthen teachers’ well-being, professional growth, and capacity to deliver quality education. Led by the NTM Coordinating Council (NTMCC), with Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) serving as its lead and secretariat, the movement provides organizations opportunities to help advance teacher support where it matters most. Building on years of successful partnerships, the 2026 celebration aims to create more localized and community-driven initiatives while encouraging partners to align their programs with the priority areas identified by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II). By focusing efforts on teachers’ most pressing needs, every partnership can create deeper, more sustainable impact. “EDCOM II has given us a clearer picture of where our teachers need us most,” said MBFI President and NTMCC Chairperson Philip Francisco Dy. “By aligning our efforts with identified needs, we can maximize the impact of every contribution and create lasting benefits for teachers and learners alike.”
Shared national cause
FOR partner organizations, the movement has become an opportunity to advance their own missions while contributing to a shared national cause. Last year’s celebration brought together 70 partner organizations and reached thousands of teachers nationwide, demonstrating the power of collective action. “Being part of the NTM movement has been a meaningful privilege for [us],” said President and CEO Lawrence Li Tan of the Philippine Amusement and Entertainment Corp. “More than building destinations, we create spaces where learning comes to life, allowing us to celebrate and support teachers every day.” Meanwhile, the Teacher Education Council sees the movement as an important platform for advancing teacher education and elevating conversations on the profession. For Executive Director V Dr. Jennie V. Jocson, “the NTM has reinforced TEC’s
role as the government’s primary agency for teacher education and development. Through the NTM movement, TEC has further expanded the reach and impact of its initiatives, raising greater public awareness of the vital role of teachers while promoting broader conversations on the challenges and opportunities facing both the teaching profession and the teacher education sector.” For City Savings Bank, supporting the NTM reflects its long-standing commitment to educators. Assistant Vice President-Reputation and Brand Management Head Paula Viegelmann-Ruelan said, “Being part of the NTM movement has reminded us why CSB exists: to walk alongside the people who shape our nation. When we invest in educators, we’re investing in every student, every classroom, and every community they touch.”
Responsibility and investment
PARTNER organizations likewise encouraged more institutions to join the movement, emphasizing that supporting teachers is a shared responsibility and an investment in the country’s future. They underscored that empowering educators ultimately benefits learners, communities, and the nation as a whole. “By empowering those who educate, we invest in the future of our learners and our nation. More than educators, Filipino teachers are the bedrock of nation-building,” Dr. Jocson added. “Becoming an official NTM partner is free and open to organizations of all sizes. W het her t hrough e x ist ing corporate social responsibility initiatives or newly developed programs, every contribution helps build a stronger support system for Filipino teachers.” Partners may contribute through initiatives such as professional learning and development, wellness and mental health programs, financial literacy sessions, digital learning and technology support, recognition activities, or other interventions that help teachers thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Organizations interested in joining the 2026 NTM celebration may register through bit. ly/2026NTMPartnerRegistration and become part of a growing coalition committed to creating lasting impact for Filipino teachers—and the generations of learners they inspire.
Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror
Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan
Saturday, August 22, 2026 A9
BEYOND KING’S LANDING
5 ways to enjoy Dubrovnik, Croatia
F
Photos by Jason Thelen
OR many travelers, Dubrovnik is instantly recognizable as King’s Landing from HBO’s Game of Thrones and its prequel, House of the Dragon. Medieval walls, dramatic staircases, and Adriatic coastline transformed this Croatian city into one of television’s most iconic filming locations. But beyond the fantasy world, Dubrovnik is genuinely one of Europe’s most beautiful coastal cities. For Filipinos, visiting Croatia has also become easier. Since Croatia joined the Schengen Area in 2023, Philippine passport holders can enter using a valid Schengen visa. Flights from Manila usually connect through Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Vienna, or Amsterdam via airlines like Qatar Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, or KLM. Applying for a Schengen visa may seem intimidating, but preparation is key. Travelers should apply through the embassy or visa center of the country where they will spend the most time. Requirements typically include a valid passport, roundtrip flights, hotel bookings, travel insurance, proof of funds, employment documents, and a detailed itinerary. Applications are commonly processed through VFS Global. I visited Dubrovnik expecting a “Game of Thrones destination,” but I left realizing it is much more than that. It is a city of seafood dinners by the sea, island-hopping adventures, and sunsets that make you want to stay longer than planned. Here are five practical tips to help you enjoy Dubrovnik smarter.
1. The Old Town has a lot of steps— Travel light or hire a luggage carrier ONE thing many first-time visitors do not realize is that Dubrovnik’s Old Town was built long before wheeled luggage existed.
€30 per adult. If you are traveling on a budget, there is a free alternative many tourists overlook. Walk uphill through Ulica Matije Gupca toward the residential areas above the Old Town. The climb is steep, but once you reach the higher viewpoints, you will get postcard-worthy panoramic views completely free. Personally, I think this route feels more authentic because you also get to experience the quieter side of Dubrovnik away from the crowds. Go before sunset for the best lighting and cooler temperatures.
5. Don’t overbook boat tours The polished limestone streets and endless staircases can quickly become exhausting, especially if your accommodation is inside the Old Town walls. Travel light if possible, or ask your hotel about luggage assistance. Some guesthouses and local porters offer luggage-carrying services for a fee, and honestly, it can save you from arriving completely drained before your vacation even begins. Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable here.
2. Get the Dubrovnik Pass DUBROVNIK is expensive during peak season, so the Dubrovnik Pass is absolutely worth it. As of 2026, the pass costs €40 for one day, €50 for three days, and €60 for seven days. It includes access to the famous City Walls, several museums and galleries, plus public transportation around the city. The best part? The City Walls ticket alone
already costs almost the same as the one-day pass, making it one of the smartest purchases for first-time visitors. One important thing to remember: you can only enter the City Walls once using the pass, so plan your visit properly. Go early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid both the heat and the cruise ship crowds. The walls stretch nearly two kilometers around the Old Town and offer incredible panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea and Dubrovnik’s orange rooftops. You will also recognize several Game of Thrones filming locations along the way.
3. You cannot leave Dubrovnik without eating seafood CROATIAN coastal cuisine deserves far more attention. Because of Dubrovnik’s Adriatic location, seafood here is incredibly fresh. Expect oysters,
grilled octopus, black risotto, mussels, and sea bass almost everywhere. One of the city’s most famous restaurants is Lady Pi-Pi, known for grilled seafood, generous portions, and stunning rooftop views overlooking the Old Town. Expect queues during summer, but it is worth the wait. If you want a more upscale experience, Nautika is known for elegant seafood dining beside the fortress walls. Meanwhile, Proto remains one of Dubrovnik’s classic seafood institutions. Honestly, one of the best experiences in Dubrovnik is simply sitting down for a long seafood dinner with Croatian wine while watching the city slow down at sunset.
4. Skip the cable car and walk up Ulica Matije Gupca THE Dubrovnik Cable Car offers beautiful views, but roundtrip tickets now cost around
REWARDING KYOTO
Japan in a nutshell Story & photos by Benjamin Locsin Layug
W
HEN I close my eyes and think of Japan, I’m picturing Kyoto, the most rewarding city in Japan (I’d go so far as to say that Kyoto is the most rewarding single city in all of Asia) and a place all travelers should visit at least once in their lives. One of Japan’s oldest cities, Emperor Kanmu selected it as the seat of the imperial court in AD 794 and it remained Japan’s capital for more than the next millennium, until Tokyo replaced it in 1869. Serving as the capital for so long has left the city with an incredibly rich legacy, with some 1,600 mysterious Buddhist temples, 400 colorful Shinto shrines and sublime Zen gardens, with 17 of the city’s monuments, temples, shrines, plus one castle being designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites (collectively designated as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto). Japan in a nutshell, Kyoto, the cultural and historical heart of the country, is the best place in all Japan to experience. Kyoto is packed with world-famous sights, but figuring out how to see them all without feeling rushed or totally lost can be a challenge. For the essence of Kyoto’s old-world charm, visit the 360-meter long, cobblestoned Hanami-koji Street in Gion District, the city’s most famous traditional entertainment and geisha district. Many locals and tourists stroll through the district wearing a rented kimono, a wildly popular and culturally embraced activity. Everything you need is provided, from the silk or synthetic kimono sash (obi) to hair styling
and the traditional wooden (geta) or fabric (zori) sandals. Offering an authentic Kyoto experience, this main thoroughfare is lined with stunning, preserved architecture such as wooden merchant houses (machiya), traditional Japanese restaurants (ryotei) and upscale teahouses (ochaya). It also renowned for its exclusive nightlife where geiko (Kyoto’s term for geisha) and apprentices (maiko) entertain guests. The centuries-old Yasaka Shrine, sitting at the eastern edge of the district, is the spiritual heart of the area. A highly photogenic must-see is the Fushimi Inari Taisha, an ancient Shinto shrine famous for its iconic, mesmerizing twin tunnels of closely-packed vermillion gates, known as Senbon Torii (thousands of torii gates) which symbolize a path into the sacred realm. Winding 4 kilometers up the sacred, 233-meter high Mount Inari, these gates are actually donations made by individuals and businesses across Japan. Throughout the grounds, you’ll see countless kitsune (stone statues of foxes), messengers of Inari Ōkami (the patron of agriculture, business, and general success), many of which carry symbolic items like keys (for granaries) or scrolls in their mouths. Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), a Zen Buddhist temple celebrated as one of the most iconic and frequently visited landmarks in the country, is a magnificent example of blending various architectural styles across three floors. Its top two floors are entirely covered in pure, shimmering gold leaf. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it overlooks
SHARIDEN Kinkaku (Golden Pavilion)
CHERRY blossom at Tenryu-ji Temple
KITSUNE (Fox Statue) with a scroll in its mouth
KIMONO-CLAD ladies at Gion District
JINRIKISHA (Japanese rickshaws)
SENBON Torii at Fushimi Inari Shrine
ARASHIYAMA Bamboo Forest
BOAT tours are one of the best experiences in Dubrovnik, especially if you want to visit Lokrum Island, the Blue Cave, or the Elafiti Islands. But here is a tip many travelers do not know: you do not always need to pre-book online weeks ahead. If you walk around the Old Port area in the morning or early afternoon, many operators still have available spots and sometimes offer discounted last-minute rates, especially for sunset cruises or shared tours. Dubrovnik may have become globally famous because of Game of Thrones, but the city’s real magic comes from its atmosphere beyond the screen. It is in the church bells echoing through the alleys, the seafood dinners by the harbor, the endless staircases, and the Adriatic sparkling below the city walls. And once you experience Dubrovnik in person, you realize this place never needed Hollywood to become unforgettable.
a tranquil mirror pond (Kyōko-chi) which reflects the brilliant gold of the pavilion. The pavilion was burnt to the ground in 1950 by a fanatic monk but was painstakingly rebuilt in 1955. As you follow the walking path through the temple’s beautifully manicured gardens, you will pass several weathered miniature Buddhist statues and smaller shrines with a small offering bowls or cups sitting in front. A popular, fun, and traditional activity here is tossing coins at the statues and offering bowls and, if you land a coin in the target, it is believed to bring good fortune or grant a wish. You can also toss coins at the Hakujya-no Tsuka (White Snake Mound) near Anmintaku Pond (which is said to never dry up). The 16-square kilometer Arashiyama Bamboo Grove was a major highlight. Yes, it’s popular. Here, you walk through a series of tourist-packed wooden pathways that weave through the dense thicket of soaring, emerald-green bamboo stalks, mostly moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) that reach dozens of feet into the sky, creating a canopy, an experience that feels surreal. In fact, the rustling sound of the bamboo stalks swaying in the wind was officially recognized as one of the “100 Soundscapes of Japan” by the Ministry of the Environment. Next to the bamboo forest are Tenryuji Temple, one of Kyoto’s most important Zen temples, and Nonomiya Shrine. The latter is famous for its rare, unpainted torii made of unpeeled oak, considered to be the oldest and most traditional style of gate in Japan. The shrine is also a popular spot for blessing in love and safe childbirth. Wandering through the peaceful, stunning garden (created by garden designer Muso Soseki) of Tenryuji Temple, with its reflective pond, surrounded by rocks, and pine trees, and backdrop of the forested Arashiyama Mountains, instantly slowed things down in the best way. It’s a surprisingly rewarding finish that adds a playful edge to the day. Kyoto is the most rewarding destination in all of Japan and it should be at the top of any Japan travel itinerary.
TheWorld
A10 Saturday, August 22, 2026
www.businessmirror.com.ph
China, Indonesia agree to deepen defense ties in high-level talks By Chandra Asmara
C
Bloomberg News
HINA and Indonesia agreed to deepen their military, maritime and technology cooperation in high-level talks in Jakarta on Friday, underscoring Beijing’s growing regional reach at a time of renewed uncertainty over US security commitments in Asia. Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, after meeting his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun, said both countries will expand personnel exchanges and defense-industry cooperation to strengthen military capabilities. Hours later, Foreign Minister Sugiono and China’s Wang Yi agreed to explore greater market access for key Indonesian commodities and deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence, communications satellites, energy and minerals. Wang said the countries would restart fisheries cooperation and promote joint development in the South China Sea, while working toward concluding talks on a regional code of conduct. Sugiono said they also committed to continuing the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project, using sustainable financing and efforts to increase passenger volumes. The meetings came ahead of a second foreign-and-defense ministerial, or “2+2” dialogue due later Friday, and add a new strategic layer to a relationship underpinned by roughly $155 billion in two-way trade last year. They
also highlight President Prabowo Subianto’s effort to deepen ties with both Beijing and Washington, which are competing for influence in the region. Indonesia and the US in April established the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership covering military modernization, training, exercises and operational cooperation. Still, many in Asia are questioning Washington’s commitment to the region, especially after President Donald Trump abruptly curtailed exercises with South Korea. Indonesia’s closer China ties also build on the first 2+2 dialogue in Beijing in April 2025, when Jakarta and Beijing agreed to deepen security and maritime cooperation, including intelligence exchanges, coordinated operations and stronger coast guard ties. The foreign ministers on Friday also launched the first IndonesiaChina Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue and welcomed discussions on a five-year action plan for 2027-2031. China has pushed for a broader strategic role for the partnership.
Japan executes a man convicted of setting fire that killed 5 at a pachinko parlor in Osaka
T
OKYO—A man who killed five people by setting fire to a pachinko parlor in 2009 was hanged Friday in Japan’s first execution by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ‘s government as the country faces growing calls for more transparency and the abolition of capital punishment. Sunao Takami set fire to the crowded pachinko parlor in Osaka by spreading gasoline and throwing a lit match, engulfing the building, killing five and injuring 10 others, Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said. “It caused extremely serious outcomes and dealt a major shock and fear to the society,” he told a news conference, adding “the victims whose lives were taken away must have felt unimaginable pain and fear, and those who suffered injuries ... were forced to live with long-term effects.” “As justice minister, I have ordered an execution after careful and thorough considerations,” he said. The Justice Ministry said the hanging took place earlier Friday. Takami, 58, was convicted of murder, attempted murder
and arson and sentenced to death in a 2011 Osaka District Court ruling. His appeals were rejected in 2016 by a Supreme Court decision upholding the death penalty. Japan now has 100 people on death row, including 43 seeking retrials, Hiraguchi said. Japan has faced growing criticism over its use of the death penalty, as a majority of the international community has abolished capital punishment. Japan and the U.S. are the only two countries in the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations that put people to death. Calls to abolish capital punishment or increase transparency have grown after the 2024 acquittal of the world’s longest-serving deathrow inmate, Iwao Hakamada. Executions are carried out in secrecy in Japan, where prisoners are not informed of their fate until the morning of their hanging. Since 2007, Japan has begun disclosing the names of those executed and some details of their crimes, but disclosures are still limited. See “Fire,” A11
US ramps up Cuba sanctions and detentions of Americans returning from the island
W
KINEW said he understood Carney’s request to mean that restoring US alcohol sales was effectively necessary to complete the deal. The provincial bans on US alcohol have been a particular irritant for the Trump administration, which has pressed Canada to remove restrictions that sharply reduced American liquor sales. Provincial governments do not have a veto over the overall Canada-U.S. agreement, but they control measures such as liquor sa les and some procurement rules that have become part of the negotiations. Eight of Canada’s 10 provinces restrict or ban U.S. alcohol— measures imposed in retaliation for Trump’s previous tariffs on Canadian goods and amid anger over his repeated talk of making Canada the 51st US state. Kinew said Carney strongly pressed premiers to restore U.S. alcohol sales while other details of the agreement were still being
ASHINGTON—President Donald Trump’s administration is increasing pressure on Cuba by imposing more economic penalties on industries in the heavily sanctioned socialist country and broadening enforcement of laws that bar Americans who visit the island from dealings with governmentowned or -affiliated businesses. The Treasury and State departments announced Thursday that they are leveling new penalties against nine state-owned mining, metal and construction companies along with the leadership of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, or ICAP. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the institute is responsible for sponsoring “a vast subversive network in the United States aimed at identifying, cultivating, and radicalizing” Americans. “Just days ago, the regime attempted to use Communist kingpin and despot Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday to reinvigorate this subversive network, ferrying a new brigade of international sympathizers to Havana to network with regime officials,” Rubio said in a statement. “The Trump Administration will not stand by while a hostile foreign power seeks to exploit our freedoms—none of which are afforded to its people—by misleading and corrupting American citizens with lies, spy tradecraft, and other malfeasance as part of the regime’s raison d’être of exporting Marxism, racial resentment, and Communist violence across the world,” Rubio said. Trump’s Republican administration has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Havana, threatening it with potential military intervention even when mired in a conflict against Iran, while also boosting economic sanctions designed to cut off funding for the Cuban government. An oil blockade that the U.S. imposed on Cuba after the American military raid that ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whose country provided Cuba with subsidized oil, has plunged the already economically crippled island into full-blown crisis. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez rejected the sanctions in a post on his official X account, asserting that the United States and Rubio are pursuing the “deliberate aim of harming” the economy “to prevent the provision of basic services to the population.” “In his failed obsession with Cuba, he is now targeting executives and officials from ICAP—an institution that, for over six decades, has promoted friendship, international solidarity, justice, and peace—the exact opposite of what the Secretary of State has always championed in his corrupt policy,” Rodríguez wrote. The latest sanctions follow an operation at the Miami airport last weekend in which several American citizens returning from Cuba after participating in events marking Castro’s birthday were briefly detained, according to US officials. Some of them had their cellphones and other personal electronic devices seized for inspection, the officials said. US authorities had been prepared to detain dozens of returning
See “Trade,” A11
See “Cuba,” A11
SJAFRIE SJAMSOEDDIN and Admiral Dong at the Indonesian Ministry of Defense headquarters in Jakarta, on Aug. 21. EKO SISWONO TOYUDHO/ANADOLU/GETTY IMAGES
Dong said the countries should deepen sec u r it y cooperat ion through Association of Southeast Asian Nations frameworks and serve as an example of defense ties among Global South nations. He also called on them to thwart the “malicious intentions of external forces,” according to a simultaneous translation. But the sensitivity of that cooperation was on display just over a week before Wang and Dong’s visit. China described an interaction between Chinese and Indonesian warships east of Taiwan as a joint “navigation exercise,” while Indonesia called it a routine passing exercise by a frigate returning from Russia and stressed that it wasn’t related to war-fighting.
Taiwan, which China asserts is its territory, condemned the maneuver. The closer security cooperation also comes despite longstanding differences in the South China Sea. A 2024 joint statement between Prabowo and Chinese President Xi Jinping referred to “joint development in areas of overlapping claims,” prompting concern that Jakarta was softening its opposition to Beijing’s sweeping maritime claims. Indonesia later said it didn’t recognize China’s nine-dash line or any overlapping maritime claims, including in waters near the Natuna Islands. Defense ties could extend further into weapons procurement. Indonesia has been considering buying Chinese-made Chengdu
J-10 fighter jets, although no contracts have yet been finalized. Economic cooperation remains central to the relationship. Sugiono said the two countries agreed to strengthen local-currency transactions and financial collaboration, while Wang said Indonesia had committed to providing a fair, transparent and conducive business environment for Chinese companies. There have been some corporate frictions. Chinese companies have complained that tighter Indonesian nickel policies are raising costs and threatening investments, while China’s embassy warned that the policy changes could put about $50 billion of existing and planned investment at risk.
Canadian provincial leader says Trump is a ‘bad person’ as Canada weighs concessions for trade deal
T
ORONTO—The premier of a Canadian province launched a blistering attack on US President Donald Trump on Thursday, calling him a “bad person” and “not to be trusted” and urging Canada to keep fighting rather than rush to make concessions in trade talks with Washington. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Canada has leverage in the talks even as his province weighs restoring U.S. alcohol sales at Prime Minister Mark Carney’s urging to help secure a deal that would avert threatened 50% US tariffs. “Everybody knows the American president by now, he’s erratic, he’s irresponsible, and he’s not to be trusted. And this is the person that we were supposed to make a deal with, and we’re going to make additional concessions for it. That’s why I say you can’t make a good deal with a bad person, because who’s to say it’s not going to be undone?” Kinew said. Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister responsible for CanadaU.S. trade, said Thursday the two countries were close to finalizing an agreement after he returned to Washington to meet again with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. “We’re very close. We continue to make progress,” he said, adding
that Canadian officials would remain in Washington to keep working on the deal. Trump has called the emerging agreement “very fair” to both sides, while tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian imports have been postponed until 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Neither side has released the full terms. Despite his criticism of Trump, Kinew said Manitoba may go along with Carney’s request as part of a “Team Canada” approach. But he urged consumers to keep buying Canadian even if U.S. products return to provincial liquor stores. Other provincial leaders, including the premiers of Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, have publicly backed the direction of Carney’s negotiation. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham said all premiers agreed during Wednesday’s call with Carney to return US alcohol to store shelves, although not every premier has publicly confirmed that position. “I think we should fight. I think Donald Trump is very weak. I think America is weaker around the world today than it was a year ago. He’s about to get slaughtered in the midterms and the cost of living is the number one issue and he’s completely out of touch with the cost of living of Americans,” Kinew said.
“We’ve got the upper hand. They are back on their heels right now. They are coming to us for a deal right now.”
Restoring alcohol sales a sticking point
TheWorld
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Fire. . . Continued from A10
Hiraguchi said he has no intention to change the practice, saying disclosure of additional details would disturb the mental state of the death-row inmates. He defended hanging as a valid method of execution, citing a number of past Supreme Court decisions saying hanging is not considered more cruel than other methods of execution such as lethal injections, electrocution and shooting. AP
Trade. . . Continued from A10
finalized. “I wouldn’t say that he was begging us, but what is the step before begging?” Kinew said. Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, is especially important. Its government-run LCBO, one of the world’s largest alcohol purchasers, sold nearly 1 billion Canadian dollars ($723 million) worth of US products annually before pulling them from shelves last year. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has clashed with Trump before, has not yet commented on the emerging deal. Kinew said Canadians should not buy American products even if they return. “When we put the American booze back on the Liquor Mart shelves, Canadians, leave it there. Spend your money on Canadian products that are going to employ people in our country and that have an administration that respects Canada,” Kinew said. K inew a lso sa id Manitoba could agree to remove formal restrictions on US companies and products, including procurement preferences, while continuing to favor Canadian suppliers in its own purchasing. Kinew said he preferred to keep fighting, noting the U.S. Republican president’s tendency to levy extremely high import taxes and then retreat. He mentioned what’s known as the “TACO” trade, an acronym coined by The Financial Times’ Robert Armstrong that stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” “Do we expect that this is going to be the end of Donald Trump?,” Kinew said. Quebec Premier Chr istine Fréchette, meanwhile, said Carney had answered many of her questions about the emerging agreement but stopped short of endorsing it while the province assesses the economic impact. She said Quebec could restore U.S. alcohol to shelves at the SAQ, the Quebec government corporation that controls most wine and spirits sales in the province, but stressed that the decision would be Quebec’s. Robert Bothwell, a professor emeritus of Canadian history and international relations at the University of Toronto, said Kinew’s criticism reflects a broader Canadian view of Trump. “Kinew speaks for Canada,” Bothwell said. “The majority of the Canadian people hates Trump.” AP
Cuba. . . Continued from A10
activists for secondary screening, but far fewer were found to meet the criteria for the enhanced questioning by Customs and Border Protection agents, the officials said. The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because details of the operation have not been made public, said those detained were eventually released and allowed to enter the US. The officials said anyone detained and released could still face prosecution if it is found they violated US sanctions, which prohibit all transactions with Cuban government-owned entities, including restaurants, hotels and shops. The status of seized cellphones, laptops and tablets, however, was unclear. AP
Saturday, August 22, 2026 A11
Iranian oil supply to Chinese refiners squeezed by US blockade
T
HE amount of Iranian oil that’s readily available to Chinese buyers is rapidly running out, showing the effectiveness of the US blockade of the country’s ports at choking off revenue to Tehran. About 40 million barrels of the Islamic Republic’s crude is sitting on vessels near Singapore, in an area that’s a popular ship-to-ship
transfer location for oil heading to China, according to Kpler. However, only 10% of that, or two supertanker cargoes, remains un-
sold, the data intelligence firm said, citing market participants. The US renewed its blockade in mid-July, and a growing flotilla of Iranian ships are now trapped. At least 41 million barrels of oil is now stuck on vessels inside the Persian Gulf, as are 22 empty tankers, according to Kpler. That’s a blow not only to Tehran, but also to China’s independent refiners, or teapots, the main customers for the crude. “Buyers could face virtually no new Iranian supplies available for late-September delivery onwards,” said Muyu Xu, a senior crude ana-
lyst at Kpler. The Iranians can now charge more, given that almost no supply is available, she said. The squeeze is already showing up in prices. Offers for the Iranian Light grade have risen to as much as $3.50 a barrel above ICE Brent this week, compared with a discount of around $3.50 just a week earlier, Kpler said. The US is now preparing to ra mp up econom ic measu res against Tehran, with Treasury Secretar y Scott Bessent vowing to hit the country with the “greatest coordinated economic
isolation in the history of the world.” While details have not yet been released, Chinese ports or refiners that take Iranian oil could be targeted, which would risk worsening the rift between Washington and Beijing. The hoard of Iranian oil floating off Singapore had previously been growing due to weak demand in China. The recent purchases suggest a possible pickup in consumption by the teapots, who may now have to seek alternative supplies or cut run rates from October. Bloomberg News
China plans new fiscal support Schools are starting to teach AI policies amid growth slowdown literacy. For many, that means
THE Nanjing East Road shopping area in Shanghai, China, on Friday, May 1, 2026. China is seeing signs of a return of inflation as the Iran war pushes up energy costs. BLOOMBERG NEWS
C
HINA is doubling down on a targeted program that’s tapping fiscal resources to drive borrowing by businesses and consumers, with new measures set for launch in the rest of the year as economic growth veers below the government’s annual target. “We’ve been studying and drafting new coordinated fiscal and financial policies that will be introduced in the second half of this year,” Vice Finance Minister Liao Min said at a briefing in Beijing on Friday. The announcement marks the latest attempt by the government to provide a dose of fiscal support for the economy during one of its weakest stretches in years. It also underscores the focus by the authorities on acting carefully to revive domestic demand and expand private spending against the backdrop of mounting fiscal strains at the local level. In his remarks, Liao was referring to the program introduced earlier this year that provided perks including discounted lending backed by fiscal subsidies to companies and consumers, alongside loan guarantees to spur private investment. He didn’t elaborate on what specific new measures are currently under consideration. The creation of the program is “one of the key pillars of this year’s more proactive fiscal policy,” Liao said, adding the authorities will in the future make such fiscal and financial coordination a regular feature of their approach. When unveiled in January, the subsidy incentives for households and companies were backed with 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) from the central budget. Ding Shuang, chief economist for Greater China and North Asia for Standard Chartered Plc, said the new
measures may give the program greater scope without expanding its size or leading to additional fiscal spending. “The emphasis on fiscal-financial collaboration suggests the government would like to leverage the available fiscal resources by tapping financial resources to reap a multiplicative effect,” said Ding. The effort has already been expanded since Aug. 1 to make more types of loans eligible for the interest rate subsidies meant for small and micro businesses and consumers. The package supported more than 20 trillion yuan in new lending during the first seven months of the year, an increase of 4.5% from 2025. Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING Bank NV, was cautious about the impact on the economy of any new measures as part this mix of policies, arguing that they were insufficient to help halt the growth downturn so far this year. If additional policies come primarily in the form of interest rate subsidies, “it’d be marginal,” he said. Government data published earlier in the week showed China’s industrial output, consumption and investment all softened more than expected in July. Pressure on policymakers to step up stimulus is on the rise, given many economists estimate gross domestic product growth has slipped further below Beijing’s annual target of 4.5%-5% after reaching only 4.3% in the second quarter. Still, Liao suggested the Chinese government’s bond quota already planned for this year is sufficient to ensure it will maintain “fiscal spending intensity,” noting there is more than 2 trillion yuan in the allowance available in the coming months. The Ministry of Finance will
guide local governments to issue the bonds, accelerate fiscal spending and strengthen oversight of regions whose pace of expenditure has been slow, in an effort to push for an early start in delivering on projects, he said. “The message is the government — for the moment — will focus on fully utilizing the room under the approved budget to achieve the growth target,” said Ding. “If they manage to do that, most likely there is no need for additional stimulus.” Standard Chartered estimates the government’s broad spending will grow 4.8% year-on-year in the second half of this year if the approved budget is fully implemented, versus a drop of 1.9% in the prior six months. What Bloomberg Economics Says... “The bulk of the remaining budget needs to be deployed this quarter. The fiscal inertia evident in July puts the burden on August and September to do the heavy lifting on economic stabilization. A sharp spending push would set up a key policy window in late September.” —David Qu and Chang Shu
The comments by Liao, who’s also a top Chinese negotiator in trade talks with the US, indicated that concerns in Beijing are growing over the government’s ability to make ends meet while keeping debt risks in check. China will seek to build a “stronger, more consolidated, more balanced and sustainable” fiscal system during its next economic plan through 2030, Liao said. Policymakers aim to consolidate all revenues derived from their use of administrative powers, government credit, and stateowned resources and assets fully under China’s budget management as they seek to “continuously cultivate stable and sustainable fiscal revenue sources,” he said. Authorities also plan to push back “firmly” against any buildup of new “hidden debt” and will conduct a “systemic” review of tax breaks introduced in the past. The goal is to terminate or adjust measures to reduce “fragmented policies” and market distortion, Liao said. The government will also step up a crackdown on illicit local subsidies and build an approval mechanism for new aid, he said, adding that a list has already been created that identifies measures that must no longer be offered. Bloomberg News
helping kids see chatbots’ flaws By Jocelyn Gecker & Russ Bynum The Associated Press
N
ORTH CHARLESTON, S.C—Artificial intelligence chatbots have become the bane of teachers everywhere, but to prepare for the new school year, a group of educators in Charleston, South Carolina, packed into a high school auditorium and talked about inviting AI into the classroom. The teachers and principals watched as an instructor prompted an AI tool to “create a map of the world.” The result drew gasps of disbelief and laughter. Projected on a large screen was a map riddled with bizarre errors. Mali was spelled “Mail.” Egypt was identified as “Sopth.” In place of Libya was something simply called “Africa.” Dozens of other countries’ names were misspelled or written in pure gibberish. “If you ever want kids not to over trust these tools, try the map demo,” said the instructor, Amanda Bickerstaff, founder and CEO of AI For Education, an organization that helps schools draft AI policies and train teachers and students in what she calls safe, ethical and effective use of the technology. After initially trying to ban AI use, a growing number of US public schools are trying a new strategy: encouraging classroom experimentation, partly so students can see its shortcomings, including generative AI’s notorious tendency to “hallucinate,” or fabricate information. AI literacy has become a buzzword of this back-to-school season as educators try to strike a balance between equipping students with the skills they need for an AI-driven future while preventing them from outsourcing their thinking to chatbots. There is no single definition of what AI literacy means, or how it should be taught. Tech giants like OpenAI, Google and Anthropic offer schools training sessions in how to use their AI tools. But for educators, there is a growing consensus that AI literacy is about more than learning how to use generative AI and write good prompts. “Good AI literacy,” said Rebecca Winthrop, director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, “includes knowing when not to use it.”
Some districts build their own approaches on AI literacy
THIRTY-SEVEN states have now published official AI guidance that schools can use as a blueprint. South Carolina is not one of them. So the state’s second-largest school district set out to do it on its own, said Lucas Clamp, deputy superintendent of the 50,000-student Charleston County School District. “It has been a huge endeavor.” A year ago, the district contacted AI for Education, which helped draft guidance for Chicago Public Schools, Houston and dozens of other districts. Phase 1 was laying the foundation. The district developed an AI policy, seeking input from teachers, students and parents. The district organized student focus groups and learned that student AI use was ubiquitous but unguided. Teachers and students said they were navigating the technology on their own and wanted clear rules and instruction.
Studies show a majority of teenagers and teachers nationwide are using AI for schoolwork, but they’re teaching themselves how to use it; very few say they have a technical understanding or have received formal training on how it works. Schools and parents are eager to avoid mistakes made with social media, where kids were left to explore the online world without learning about addictive algorithms, comparison culture and other downsides that have been linked to a youth mental health crisis and dwindling attention spans. As the school year begins in Charleston, Phase 2 kicks in: training. Teachers and middle and high schoolers will get a mix of online and in-person instruction on how AI tools work and how to use them effectively. The student course walks through familiar scenarios—like asking a chatbot to help with a research paper—to show that generative AI might deliver wildly inaccurate information, including made-up studies, with unflinching authority. “Always verify any factual information you get from GenAI, especially for your classwork,” the course advises. A section on data privacy cautions against sharing personal information with AI tools because conversations can be stored, used for data training and potentially leaked. High school teacher Ray Knauer attended the summer training and left with “teachable moments” for his AP Research class. He plans to show examples of AI bias and hallucinations to fuel student discussions. “We’re all trying to figure this out right now: What’s the right balance so we don’t scare students away from AI but don’t encourage them to run to it,” Knauer said. “We have to teach students: You can’t just get an answer and move on. You have to use analytical skills and dig deeper.”
Some states offer top-down guidance on AI in classrooms
UTAH was an early pioneer in taking a statewide approach to AI in education. In 2024, the board of education named Matt Winters as its AI education specialist, making Utah the first state to create a fulltime position overseeing the technology in schools. Over the past year, Winters led AI training for over 7,000 teachers, almost a third of Utah’s public school instructors. He is helping districts shape AI policies, which they are required by state law to have in place by July 2027. “There is a clear method from the top in Utah,” said Chris Agnew, director of the Generative AI for Education Hub at Stanford University. “When you’re tackling big change, it’s easier to have coherence if everyone is singing from the same hymn book.” A handful of other states have since replicated Winters’ post, including Maine, West Virginia and Georgia. In other states, a patchwork of AI approaches has emerged, with variance from one school district to another. Extensive AI literacy training requires steep investment, raising concerns that kids in under-resourced districts might not get the same attention.
A12
Sports BusinessMirror
Saturday, August 22, 2026
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Editor: Jun Lomibao
Palaro standout Della grabs men’s 10-km silver in SEA Open Water Championships
SWIMMERS in the men’s 10-kiometer event plunge into action as Anton Paulo Dominick Della is all smiles on the podium with his silver medal in the men’s 18-19 age group. PSC PHOTO
JAJA SANTIAGO MINOWA dons a Cool Smashers uniform in Victorias City. CREAMLINE PHOTO
Jaja returns, but only briefly, in PVL on Tour
T
HE Premier Volleyball League (PVL) brings the curtain down on its six-week On Tour Showdown Saturday with a starstudded twin bill at the Victorias City Coliseum in Negros Occidental highlighted by the anticipated return of Jaja Santiago, also known as Sachi Minowa after she embraced Japanese citizenship. Creamline, the PVL’s winningest and most popular club, closes out the provincial swing against Galeries Tower at 6:30 p.m., with the Cool Smashers looking to follow up their victory over the Nxled Chameleons in Isabela. But while the spotlight will naturally fall on Creamline, the evening’s bigger story may well be Minowa’s return. The former Chery Tiggo star is set to see action for the Cool Smashers as she begins her stint with the club ahead of the coming PVL Invitational Conference. It marks another significant chapter in the career of the towering middle blocker, who led Chery Tiggo to the historic 2021 PVL Open Conference championship before moving to Japan, where she played for several seasons and eventually acquired Japanese citizenship. Minowa has already had a taste of life in the Creamline colors, playing in a recent friendly against Choco Mucho in Cagayan de Oro. Saturday, however, carries a different feel. “It’s really good to be back. I missed these sort of things in the Philippines,” said Minowa, who recalled her last visit to Negros Occidental as having been during her high school days. “I’m so happy and excited to play here again.” For Minowa, the comeback is about more than simply returning to the court in front of Filipino fans as she also relishes the opportunity to work alongside Creamline’s established stars while learning from a new generation of players. “Overwhelming because there are so many talented players at Creamline and there are young ones, too,” she said. “I’m really excited to learn from the young players and, of course, from the OGs of Creamline.” Minowa is scheduled to pursue a professional career in the US after the Invitational Conference, making her limited stint with Creamline an intriguing one for both the player and the team.
EJ IN COMPANY OF ELITE VAULTERS By Josef T. Ramos
T
WO-TIME Olympian and Asian champion Ernest John “EJ” Obiena saw a historic moment in his return to the 2026 Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland on Friday—and he is really demanding to be a part of it once again soon. Just three days after clearing a season best 5.91 meters and winning a gold medal in Poland, Obiena competed against the world’s elite pole vault ‘King’ Armand “Mondo” Duplantis of Sweden who cleared a historic 6.21 meters to clinch the gold medal. “Amazing,” Obiena, 30, told BusinessMirror in an overseas call a few hours after the competition. “It is a different time, and so happy to witness them jump that high again. I faltered in my moves during the event, but I cannot go on to details. I demand myself for more.” Obiena finished sixth with 5.81
meters—not so closer from Greek Emmanouil Karalis, who had a great showdown with Duplantis, settled for silver with a season best 6.16m, and Australian Kurtis Marschall ended with a bronze after making 5.91m. Norwegian Sondre Guttormsen and American Chris Nilsen settled for fourth and fifth place, respectively, with similar 5.91 meters, but Marchall won the bronze due to a countback. Besides Obiena, three more cleared 5.81m. Americans Zachary Bradford, Sam Kendricks, and KC Lightfoot landed on seventh to ninth spots. French athletes Baptiste Thiery and Renaud Lavillenie dropped to tenth and 11th places with 5.51 meters each. Obiena expressed dissatisfaction to his jump although he was not disappointed. His new coach Marcin Szczepanski from Poland, however, wanted more progress from him as he is jumping along with the
world ’s elite pole vaulters. “He is demanding for more and that is for a fact. So, I really need to improve more in every detail. So far so good, we are doing very well under his guidance at the Olympic training center in Athens. Healthwise is okay,” Obiena added. Obiena attempted to do 5.91 meters but could not make it thrice this time. The last time Obiena came closer with Duplantis was in 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary—where he got a silver with 6.0 meters against Duplantis’ gold winning 6.10 meters on August 26. Obiena also had his moment outclassing Duplantis four years ago in Brussels Diamond League 2022 where he cleared 5.91 meters to win the gold and Duplantis settled for silver with 5.81 meters. His next tournament is another Diamond League leg on Sunday in Silesia, Poland.
EJ OBIENA prepares for takeoff during Wanda Diamond League Lausanne leg competition. FB PHOTO
I
N a rousing international debut, Palarong Pambansa standout Anton Paulo Dominick Della secured an age group silver in the men’s 10-kilometer race kicking off the Fourth Southeast Asia Open Water Championships presented by the presented by the Philippine Sports Commission in Boracay Friday. Della clocked two hours and 20 seconds in placing second in the 18-19-year-old division contested in ideal conditions at the 1.66-kilometer course off the Boracay Newcoast overlooking the Sibuyan Sea. The 17-year-old pride of San Fernando (La Union), who bagged four golds in the last Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur, actually narrowly missed a podium finish in the Open division by a stroke out of the 31 entries who swam. He was just five seconds behind Vietnamese bronze medalist Van Dung Cao (2:00.15) in the event won by compatriot Ngoc Vin Dho (1:58.30) while Mochammad Taufik took bronze (2:00.06). Sharing the spotlight with Della was Dianna Celyn Cruz, who bucked painful hips to bag bronze in the 20-year-old and above women’s class (2:48.17) and finished16th overall in the meet organized by the Philippine Aquatics Inc. and sanctioned by the Southeast Asian Swimming Federation. Cruz wound up 16th overall among 20 entries in the women’s open where Vietnam finished 1-2 courtesy of Kha Ni Nguyen (2:18.29.86) Huynh Tu Uyen Le ( 2:19.26.63) in the meet also supported by the Aklan and Malay local government units. “I swam a tactical race by trying to keep myself in the lead pack,” Della said. “The weather was good from the first to four rounds while from the fift and sixth rounds it was a bit wavy or choppy.” “You need to last long in this kind of race so I drafted behind the lead swimmers so it didn’t get heavy so much before making my move in the last 500 meters,” he added. Della will be back in action early Saturday morning for the mixed relay event where he will be joined by Alex Tiu, Graziella Sophia Ato and Nuche Veronica Ibit. Each swimmer will negotiate a 1,500-meter course, with a male swimmer plunging into action first followed backto-back by two female swimmers before the other male bet caps the anchor leg.
Mondo tops ‘greatest showdown ever’ DUPLANTIS
L
AUSANNE, Switzerland—Mondo Duplantis called his victory Thursday in a vibrant lakeside Diamond League event “the greatest pole vaulting competition ever.” The Olympic and world champion then took two attempts at a new world record of 6.32 meters and just failed to delight a noisy crowd at a pop-up venue near the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. Duplantis had cleared the bar at 6.21 meters—with first-time clearances at each of six different heights—for his best result since March, the month that he raised his own world record to 6.31 at an indoor
meet in his native Sweden. Emmanouil Karalis, Duplantis’ great friend and rival, cleared 6.16 and barely failed on his second attempt at a lifetime best of 6.21. Three more athletes cleared 5.91, which would have been enough to take bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Duplantis raised his world record to 6.25 and silver medalist Sam Kendricks went over 5.95. The high-class competition that lasted two-and-a-half also saw four more men, including Kendricks, clear 5.81. The men’s pole vault in an intimate venue by Lake Geneva in Lausanne has become a traditional curtain raiser for the main Athletissima meeting one day later. On Friday, new Swiss star Audrey Werro is the main attraction in the women’s 800 meters chasing track’s oldest world record set 43 years ago, in which she is now the third-fastest in history.
PNVF meeting Frank Lao (standing, third from left) holds his first executive board meeting after getting elected as president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation with Asian Volleyball Confederation president and PNVF board member Ramon “Tats” Suzara (seated, second from left) as well as (seated, from left) Carmela Gamboa, Jonas Cabochan and secretary-general Donaldo Caringal and (standing, from left) Francis Chad Salimbangon, Rustico Camangian, Sienna Olaso, Rommel Ng (treasurer) and Philippine Olympic Committee secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan (auditor). The other members are Atty. Donn Kapunan (vice president) and Mohamad Bernan Jr. PNVF PHOTO
So’s brilliancy in full display in winning Sinquefield Cup in Missouri
F WESLEY SO proudly poses with his trophy. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
ILIPINO-BORN Wesley So sustained his climb in the world rankings by beating Indian sensation Praggnanandha Rameshmabu in the Armageddon earlier this week and keeping the Sinquefield Cup crown in Saint Louis, Missouri. Wesley So, pride of Bacoor in Cavite, and Praggnanandhaa both finished with 5.5 points after the 10-man, round-robin classical matches, then drew the two rapid playoffs, necessitating the
decider, where white is given five minutes and black four, but only needs a draw to win the match and the $87,500 (P5.39 million) champion’s purse. The 32-year-old So did just that to become the tournament’s winningest with three solo titles, counting his victory in the 2016 Sinquefield Cup. Fabiano Caruana also has three, but shared the title with Levon Aronian in 2018. So, also a three-time United States
champion, drew with German No. 1 Victor Keymer in the first round, before notching back-to-back wins against Dutch star Jorden van Foreest and Caruana. The first World Fischer Random Chess champion, So drew his remaining games against Praggnanandhaa, Maxime VachierLagrave, Anish Giri, and Sam Sevian in succession. Last week, So placed third in the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz behind Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir
Sindarov. With his return to form, So rose to world No. 5, behind Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Caruana and Sindarov. On Sunday, So will try to complete a remarkable month when he plays in the 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals with Caruana, Keymer and Praggnanandhaa. Rated as high as world No.2 in 2017, So crashed out of the top 10 last year, but has since gained ground with solid classical play.