THE Philippines, the world’s leading supplier of seafarers, has been re-elected to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 biennium—affirming its leadership in global shipping and its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of maritime workers.
The Philippine Embassy in London said Manila’s re-election under Category C reflects a renewed vote of confidence from the IMO’s 176 Member States and the wider maritime community. It highlights the Philippines’s unmatched contribution as the world’s premier provider of highly skilled seafarers who power the global supply chain and keep international trade moving.
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
By Ada Pelonia
exports grew by over a third to 39.8 percent from $2.1 billion in the same period last year.
“The Philippines offers not only its membership to the Council, but its vision of a maritime world safer, more sustainable, and more equitable for all, anchored in steadfast commitment to multilateralism,”
Ambassador Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Permanent Representative to the IMO, said.
Global seafaring powerhouse
THE Philippines represents 25 percennt of the global maritime workforce, the largest nationality serving the international merchant fleet. More than 500,000 Filipino seafarers crew ships worldwide, ensuring the steady flow of goods and energy across oceans.
The country has been an IMO member since 1964 and a Council member since 1997, consistently championing maritime safety, security, search and rescue, and envi-
ronmental protection.
Louder voice for seafarers–Marina THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) welcomed the re-election as a stronger platform to advocate for seafarers.
“It means a louder voice for seafarers, their rights, safety, and wellbeing. We raised the flag,” Administrator Sonia Malaluan said. As the maritime sector undergoes rapid transformation—from digitalization and automation to decarbonization—the Philippines’s voice has become more essential. Its election strengthens partnerships with IMO Member States and reinforces its role in building a resilient global maritime sector. Under its renewed mandate, the Philippines seeks to advance the human rights, safety, and wellbeing of seafarers as enshrined in
The latest figures exceeded the all-time high value of coconut-based products exports and shipments of coconut oil last year at $2.6 billion and $2.22 billion, respectively, spurred by tight supply and booming demand for the crop.
Historical data from the World Bank showed that the average price of coconut oil rose to $2,589 per metric ton (MT) in October.
Shipments of coconut oil held the lion’s share in the product group among other products, as it leaped by 35.8 percent to $2.32 billion from $1.71 billion in the same period of 2024.
THE peso’s recent slide will result in a higher peso value of the government’s foreign-currency debts, according to National Treasurer Sharon P. Almanza.
Asked whether the government is on track to lower its outstanding debt by the end of 2025 despite the recent weakening of the peso, Almanza said the projections assumed a weaker foreign exchange rate.
“So it will really affect the revaluation of our foreign currency debt,” Almanza told reporters. The government aims to bring
down its outstanding debt to P17.359 trillion by the end of the year, based on an exchange rate assumption of P57 to the US dollar.
However, the peso has been trading at P58 levels in the past weeks, after sinking to an alltime low of P59.17 against the US dollar on November 12.
This is the lowest that the peso has ever closed, already exceeding the previous record high closing rate of P59.13 on October 28. According to local economists, the peso has been weighed down by local governance issues and
strong global demand for the greenback. Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, told the BusinessMirror that the weaker peso makes the government’s foreign debt higher in peso terms, even if the exchange rate is still close to where it was a year ago.
“[It’s] still possible, especially if anti-corruption measures/reforms and other fiscal reform measures are taken seriously,” Ricafort said, when asked if the government could still lower its outstanding debt by end-2025.
This could be achieved through reduced and more disciplined government spending, as well as increases in tax revenue collections to narrow the budget deficit in the coming months, he added. Currently, the government’s outstanding debt is at P17.455 trillion as of end-September 2025. This is down by 0.07 percent from P17.468 trillion as of end-August 2025. By the end of 2026, the government projects its total outstanding debt to reach P19.057 trillion, using a foreign exchange rate of P57. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
The World Bank projects coconut oil prices to average at $2,505 per MT this year, higher than the average price of $1,519 per MT posted in 2024. Earlier, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) projected that the country’s earnings from the tropical oil would hit a new record high this year. (See: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2025/06/12/ coco-oil-earnings-seen-rising-on-demand-high-global-prices/)
Based on PSA data, the country’s outbound shipments of desiccated coconut also surged by 76.3 percent to $431.20 million in January to October from $244.52 million in the previous year. Revenues from other coconut products also grew by 55.5 percent to $104.39 million from $67.15 million. Despite the uptrend in most coconut-based goods, export earnings from the outbound shipments of copra meal or cake dropped by 15.8 percent to $46.68 million from $55.44 million. Meanwhile, PSA data also showed that the country’s revenues from fruits and vegetables exports during the reference period jumped by 20 percent to $2.35 billion from $1.96 billion.
Banana shipments led the category, growing by 28.5 percent to $1.29 billion from last year’s $1 billion, based on PSA data.
Of the pineapple-based products, only exports of pineapple juice posted growth, as it rose by 20.8 percent to $114.62 million from $94.86 million a year ago.
Shipments of canned pineapple slipped by 5 percent to $174.93 million from $184.14 million, while those of pineapple concentrates slumped by 15.9 percent to $16.26 million from $19.33 million.
MSRP on red, white onions set at ₧120 a kilo from Dec. 1
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
THEDepartment of Agriculture (DA) will impose a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) on red and white onions at P120 per kilo starting December 1 in a bid to tame prices ahead of the holiday season.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that while delayed import arrivals have slightly reduced supply, these did not justify prices shooting to a high of P300 per kilo, triple what officials said was a fair market price.
“There may be some tightness in supply, but that’s no excuse for runaway prices. At current market levels, it already smacks of profiteering,” Tiu Laurel said in a statement.
masterminds of corruption. We don’t need another slogan—we need real
He added that the landed cost of imported onions currently stands at around P60 per kilo, which means that a P120 ceiling allows for reasonable margins along the supply chain.
“At P120, everyone—from importers to logistics providers to retailers—still earns a decent profit,” he said.
DA officials said the price cap would help restore order to a market that veered from reasonable pricing amid
action before Christmas,” she said.
‘Wake up, open your eyes’
DURING his Advent homily, Cubao Bishop Elias Ayuban framed the season as a call to national awakening.
tight supply and “opportunistic markups.”
For his part, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) Director Junibert De Sagun said onion retailers were generally receptive to the proposed cap during a recent consultation. However, this came with a condition that the supply should be delivered to them at around P90 per kilo.
De Sagun noted that retailers also requested that the price cap be implemented only once new shipments arrive. This will avoid squeezing existing inventories purchased at higher prices.
With this, the agency said the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) has committed to supplying imported onions at P90 per kilo on a cashon-delivery basis. Shipments are expected to arrive within two weeks, positioning the DA to implement the cap in early December.
He noted that while Advent is traditionally associated with quiet anticipation, it also invites believers to confront uncomfortable truths about what is happening around them.
“Jesus is telling us: wake up, open your eyes, look at what is happening around you. Do not let corruption become ordinary. Do not let lies sound like the truth. Do not let the suffering of the poor fade into background noise,” he said.
Corruption, he added, is not merely theft but an attack on the nation’s future—diverting funds meant to build classrooms, strengthen hospitals and support livelihoods.
As such, the Cubao priest said that Filipinos should remain alert, discerning and actively engaged in the search for truth.
“Advent is not a season of passivity. Advent is a season of holy vigilance. Pagmulat ng mga mata, paggising ng mga puso at pagbangon ng bayan,” Ayuban added.
The National Capital Region Police Office estimated that about 4,000 individuals were at the monument as of 5 p.m., with the crowd peaking at 5,000 earlier in the day.
Caritas Philippines also reported that 86 dioceses held simultaneous Trillion Peso Prayer Rallies nationwide.
Manila protest faced hurdles IN Manila, the Baha sa Luneta 2.0 rally in Rizal Park wrapped up by 12:30 p.m.—but not without early-morning disruptions.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said police initially blocked their team from setting up the stage, telling organizers that protests were not allowed in Luneta.
“This is clearly intended to sabotage the protest, discourage people from joining the rally, and suppress the demand to make Marcos Jr accountable for the large scale corruption in the government,” the group said in a statement.
Bayan noted that their September 21 protest likewise proceeded in Luneta without a permit.
They added that the November 30 mobilization had already been coordinated with both the Manila local government and the MMDA, pointing to publicly announced road closures and the deployment of MMDA portalets as proof that the event had been cleared in advance.
Despite the early obstruction, Bayan and its allied groups were eventually able to set up equipment, allowing the program to begin at 10:30 a.m.—a program where speakers and sectoral groups openly renewed their calls for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte to resign.
Meanwhile, stakeholders also called for tighter monitoring of import volumes and arrival schedules to prevent market manipulation and ensure local farmers are not displaced or harmed by sudden influxes.
Despite this, concerns were raised about potential farmgate price increases due to reduced planting and recent typhoon-related crop losses.
Officials, however, assured growers and traders that any ceiling on local onions would remain subject to further consultation and adjustment should farmgate prices rise sharply.
As such, the DA stressed that the goal was not merely to lower prices temporarily but to stabilize the onion supply chain. This means protecting consumers from sudden spikes while ensuring farmers and retailers are treated fairly throughout the holiday season.
The original plan was to march to Mendiola after the Luneta program. However, police blocked the route, forcing protesters to hold the continuation of the program along C.M. Recto Avenue, where an effigy of Marcos and Duterte was destroyed.
The Recto Avenue program lasted only 30 minutes after organizers reported a generator malfunction.
The NCRPO estimated that roughly 3,000 participants joined the Luneta program, with a similar crowd size later gathering in Recto despite the rerouting. Authorities deployed thousands of policemen around the vicinity of Mendiola. They also installed barbed wire and sealed off roads as far as 300 meters from the Mendiola Peace Arch.
The heightened security posture followed the violent incidents reported during the September 21 rally, which included the burning of a 10-wheeler truck and a motorcycle near Ayala Bridge, crude bombs hurled in Mendiola, and the ransacking of a budget hotel in Recto.
No casualties were reported, though at least 216 people were arrested following the September 21 incident.
‘Palace feels, hears people’ PRESIDENTIAL Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said Malacañang is fully aware of the public’s rising anger as thousands continue to gather in protests.
However, Gomez urged the public to still allow the investigations to move through proper channels.
He stressed that investigators are prioritizing solid case buildup as the administration wants evidence strong enough to ensure that no one evades accountability this time—even those considered major players in the scheme.
“We need to observe due process in all of this…It has only been three months since the President exposed this, and many have already been charged, more will be charged, and some have already been arrested,” he said.
Gomez also expressed satisfaction over the largely peaceful turnout of protest actions nationwide.
He said the administration remains committed to safeguarding freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“Well, so far we are pleased with our rallies. The other spokesperson has already said that the administration believes in freedom of expression and that we protect our people’s right to peaceably assemble. And we are glad that, so far, the rallies we’ve seen have remained peaceful,” Gomez said in a separate interview.
to invest in Hotel101-Davao and Hotel101-Libis Bridgetowne, by purchasing a condominium-hotel (condotel) unit. Spot cash price for a unit in Davao is P5.58 million and in Libis, P6.95 million, according to Brian K. Ong, Head of Public Relations for the Hotel101 Group, in a message to the BusinessMirror
MOU signing THE hotel group signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalizing its support to the BBST with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on November 27, 2025. Through BBST, the government agencies help create opportunities for livelihood, entrepreneurship, savings, investments, and improve financial literacy for OFWs and their families.
“Today’s signing on IPON Tourism marks the newest and most expansive component of our partnership with the DMW,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco during the signing ceremony. “This pillar opens pathways for OFWs to engage in tourism through industries covered by our private sector partners—as investors or entrepreneurs. Opportunities include condotel investments, offering structured and credible options for long-term financial security, among others,” she added. Frasco also commended Hotel101 “for its success in bringing a homegrown Filipino brand to the world and for opening accessible investment pathways in the accommodation sector.”
The first Filipino company to be listed at the Nasdaq in the United States, Hotel101 is a homegrown brand with a vision to build 1 million hotel rooms worldwide. Its Nasdaq listing is a “testament to Filipino ingenuity and perseverance on the global stage,” said Magabo. Starting from Hotel101-Manila and Hotel101-Fort, the Group will be expanding in 2026 to Davao, Cebu, and overseas to Madrid and Niseko, “followed by many other countries, as we pursue our grand vision of bringing the Filipino hotel brand Hotel101 to 100 countries worldwide,” he added. “This expansion is not just about hotels, it’s about creating a network where every Filipino as a guest or as a unit owner feels at home anywhere in the world,” he underscored.
‘The Happy Room’ AS of November 25, 2025, Hotel101 Global has a market capitalization of US$1.9 Billion (P112 billion) and is poised to become one of the major generators of dollar inflows to the Philippine economy. Ong explained that OFWs can purchase “The Happy Room,” which is Hotel101’s signature condotel unit, in any of the company’s properties, the price of which will depend on the location of the property.
The Happy Room measures 21 square meters, and has one queen bed and one single bed (sleeps up to three persons), a 55-inch TV, ensuite bathroom with hot shower, kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave oven, a room safe, universal outlets and a work desk, complimentary WiFi, and individually controlled airconditoning and heating units. Hotel101 will handle the guest bookings for the OFW’s unit, with the latter receiving a 30-percent share in gross hotel revenues. Also, the OFW-investor will receive a 10-night complimentary stay voucher—five nights at the hotel, where they are invested, and five nights at any Hotel101 property worldwide.
The Hotel101 Group is the global hotel expansion concern of property developer DoubleDragon Corp., led by business tycoons Edgar “Injap” J. Sia II and Tony Tan Caktiong. In the first nine months to September this year, DoubleDragon’s net income remained unchanged at some P2.55 billion, year-on-year. It reported a 6.2 percent growth in hotel revenues.
Dela Rosa goes ‘missing’ at Senate since ICC arrest warrant floated, youth group calls for sanctions
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
YOUTH group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) has urged Senate President Vicente Sotto III to discipline Sen. Ronald dela Rosa over his continued absence during plenary sessions without reason.
Dela Rosa’s absence coincided with the time reports floated that he was next on the International Criminal Court’s crosshairs for issuance of an arrest warrant.
“It is unbecoming of a public servant to not attend plenary sessions and defend his committee’s budget on the 2026 General Appropriations Act,” SPARK said.
Dela Rosa has been absent since November 11, prompting Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to take over and defend the 2026 budget as committee chairman of the
Department of Defense and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Gatchalian said dela Rosa will not be sanctioned or suffer any penalty for not attending the plenary sessions, the youth group recalled.
“If a worker does not show up to work, they get no pay and may even be suspended if they continue to miss work for longer days. Meanwhile, senators such as dela Rosa continue to receive wages from people’s taxes despite not showing up at work,” SPARK added.
Pinay worker confirmed dead in Hong Kong fire
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
FILIPINO female over -
Aseas worker has been confirmed dead in the Tai Po apartment blaze, the Philippine Consulate General announced Saturday night.
The Consulate did not provide further details about the victim, except a tribute highlighting a story common to many migrant workers from the Philippines:
“Far from her native home, she had made innumerable sacrifices to provide a better life for her family.”
Consul General Romulo Victor Israel said one Filipino woman was injured while rescuing her ward.
The fire claimed 128 lives, including a firefighter, and left 79 others injured.
The Consulate reported 79 Filipinos are declared safe, while the
whereabouts of 12 more Filipinos are still being verified. They are not yet considered missing but are believed to be residents of the affected area.
A Special Enquiry Counter has been set up at Tai Po Complex to assist affected Filipinos.
The blaze, which engulfed seven of the complex’s eight towers, spread rapidly through scaffolding netting and flammable foam panels used in renovations.
Police arrested three construction executives on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence; they were later detained by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Authorities said 44 bodies remain unidentified and about 150 people are unaccounted for. The city has lowered flags to half-staff, with Chief Executive John Lee leading a three-minute silence as families mourn the victims. With AP
The group argued that as public servants, the same sanction should also apply to senators who do not do their job. The responsibility to discipline the senators and ensure that they are delivering public service falls to Sotto as the Senate President.
“We challenge Senate President Sotto: If you value your leadership and the integrity of the Senate as Senate President, you should lead in filing an ethics complaint against dela Rosa rather than airing it to social media and let the Ethics committee deliberate the
merits of the complaint.” SPARK proposed that dela Rosa should also be removed as the chairman of the Committee on National Defense.
Dela Rosa, as chief of the National Police, was the chief enforcer of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs which saw the killing of some 6,000 to 30,000 alleged drug traffickers and users. Duterte is now detained in prison at The Hague, the Netherlands awaiting trial for crimes against humanity that involves his war on drugs.
THE Armed Forces (AFP) on Sunday thanked the Association of General and Flag Officers (Agfo) for coming out with the “Manifesto of Unwavering Support and Solidarity” that strongly rejected destabilization calls and expressed full confidence in the present military leadership.
“This expression of confidence from leaders who dedicated the prime of their lives to [unformed] service, deeply affirms the shared commitment of both active and retired officers to uphold the Constitution, respect civilian authority, and preserve the professionalism of the military institution,” it added.
Group claims ‘cancerous growths’ remain in proposed ’26 natl budget
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio
LTHOUGH the Senate in -
Atroduced positive reforms in the budgeting process, the Roundtable for Inclusive Development (Rfid), a coalition of civil society, business, and religious leaders, on Sunday issued a sharp warning that “many cancerous growths” remain in the proposed 2026 national government budget.
The Rfid said it welcomes several important reforms introduced by the Senate Committee on Finance chaired by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian in the chamber’s version of the 2026 national budget. It added this reflects a genuine opening for reform—essential steps for restoring public confidence in our budget process.
“At a time when Filipinos face widening inequality, rising prices, underemployment, climate emergencies, chronic childhood malnutrition, and a learning crisis, we cannot afford a budget shaped by patronage, opacity, and misplaced priorities,” Rfid said in a statement.
Notwithstanding that the country needs a 2026 budget that is transparent, rights-based, nature-based, and aligned with the long-term development needs of the nation, the Rfid said the Senate’s actions show that meaningful reform is possible—“but we flag serious concerns that must
be corrected before the approval of the budget by the Senate plenary, and the bicameral conference committee”
Rfid commended the Senate for the following improvements in the Committee Report:
n Cutting pork and patronagebased projects we flagged by more than half—from P260 billion in the House to P110 billion in the Senate version.
n Reducing risky infrastructure line items we are monitoring by P77 billion, from P677 billion to P600 billion.
n Removing the entire P45 billion “shadow pork” for unprogrammed appropriations (Sagip) that had been used in previous years as a backdoor for questionable flood-control projects.
n Adding P94 billion to the education sector, which stands at P1.2 trillion (3.9 percent of gross domestic product), reaching up to P1.3 trillion or 4.4 percent of GDP if retirement and life insurance premiums, local government special education funds, BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mndanao) education budget, and other items are included.
n Opening Senate hearings to broad sectoral participation and committing to livestream the bicameral conference committee,
a historic step affirmed by a unanimous vote on Senate Concurrent Resolution 4.
n Developing the Senate budget transparency portal, soon with machine-readable formats to aid civil society budget monitoring.
n Advancing important structural reforms such as the Independent People’s Commission Bill led by Senator Francis Pangilinan and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and the Cadena Act for transparency, led by Sen. Pablo Benigno Aquino IV, now both pending second reading.
Rfid said these reforms have proven that the Senate is willing to listen, strengthen accountability measures, and improve alignment between public spending and development goals. These are steps in the right direction, “but they will not be enough unless matched with decisive action on the remaining gaps identified by our budget monitoring partners in civil society.”
Nevertheless, Rfid pointed out that many “cancerous growths” remain such as pork remains large at P110 billion, cuts to rights-based social protection and healthcare, confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) remain inflated, among others.
“We cannot allow our people to beg politicians for the social services we need to get by right. This level of patronage and opaque
spending crowds out rules-based, needs-based programs—especially for our poorest households,” said Rfid.
“Cancerous pork has invaded many of our social institutions. In the Social Welfare and Labor departments, the patronage-driven programs threaten to replace the rights-based 4Ps. In the Department of Health, the inhumane guarantee letter system threatens the rights-based national health insurance program in PhilHealth. Even in the Commission on Higher Education, the Tulong Dunong program threatens rights-based universal free college,” Rfid added.
Rfid said the Senate increased CIFs by P0.6 billion to P11.6 billion, still including offices outside the security sector—such as the Office of the President, at P4.5 billion. “Investigations into previous CIF controversies, including those of the Vice President, also remain unresolved. We demand accountability over the use of these funds,” said the Rfid.
Rfid and other civil society partners urged the bicameral conference committee, to prioritize reallocating pork and patronage funds rules-based and rightsbased social protection (4Ps, Universal Health Care, PhilHealth), science- and nature-based flood management for the major river basin masterplans to prevent disasters,active transport and service contracting, education quality
and learning recovery.
It also recommended removing unprogrammed appropriations, crafting a special provision in the Department of Public Works and Highways to update its highway, bridge, and flood control design manuals to comply with accessibility, climate, and nature-based standards, consulted with a multisectoral group of scientists and citizens, ensuring fiscal accountability by resolving the PDIC and PhilHealth cash sweeps and protecting institutions that safeguard public deposits and contributions, reducing the budgets of the House and the Senate, at a time of the greatest corruption scandals in the country’s history in which many within their ranks are implicated, and ensuring greater transparency in their use of funds, among others.
To prevent another flood-control scandal, another year of underfunded health care, another generation of learners left behind, Rfid said there is an urgent need to strengthen budget transparency, participation, and accountability at every stage of the budget cycle: preparation, authorization, execution, and accountability that strengthens democracy.
“We call on the Senate plenary and the bicameral conference committee to pass a pork-free, transparent, rights-based, and nature-based 2026 budget that truly serves our country,” Rfid said.
Solons, labor group hit DTI on ₧500 Noche Buena budget
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
@joveemarie
& Justine Xyrah Garcia
LAWMAKERS on Sunday said the Department of Trade and Industry’s claim that a Filipino family can prepare a Noche Buena for just P500 reveals “a dangerous disconnect” between government officials and the everyday realities of Filipino households.
At the same time, the party-list group of a labor center said over the weekend that the remarks show how government officials are “out of touch” and “completely out of tune with the harsh reality our people live everyday.”
Party-list Reps. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro and Elijah San Fernando of Kamanggagawa criticized the estimate, saying it ignores soaring food prices and the daily financial hardships faced by ordinary families and described the P500 figure
Erwin Tulfo
as “an insult to workers and ordinary Filipinos.”
Ridon, House Committee on Public Accounts chairperson and Trade committee member, Terry Ridon of the Bicol Saro Party-list, along with Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Elijah San Fernando, criticized the estimate, saying it ignores soaring food prices and the daily financial hardships faced by ordinary families. They described the P500 figure as “an insult to workers and ordinary Filipinos.”
Ridon said the DTI’s pronouncement is “detached from actual household spending” and fails to reflect what a proper Filipino Christmas meal looks like.
“This is not the first time the Department of Trade and Industry has insisted that P500 is enough for an ordinary family’s Noche Buena. They’ve made this claim before; the only difference now is that it is Trade Secretary Cris -
tina Roque herself saying that this amount is acceptable and sufficient.”
Ridon emphasized that Filipinos are not demanding extravagant meals, only that the government ensures holiday essentials remain affordable.
San Fernando, for his part, challenged Roque to join him in an actual market visit to prove her claim, warning that statements like these erode public trust at a time when families face rising prices, stagnant wages, and uncertainties amid ongoing controversies.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Sunday said recent statements from the DTI and Malacañang claiming that P500 is enough for a family’s noche buena “insult” the country’s workers who continue to struggle with stagnant wages and rising costs.
Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza, nominee of the
FBy Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
IRST-TERM Sen. Erwin Tulfo is crafting an enabling bill paving the way for the provision of health insurance through a health card for Guard (PCG) personnel, in honor of their gallantry and sacrifice for the country, particularly those assigned to safeguard the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Tulfo raised this recommendation during the recent Senate plenary deliberations of the 2026 PCG budget, pointing out the need for upscaled medical benefits for PCG personnel while awaiting the completion of the Philippine Coast Guard General Hospital, expected to be completed by 2028 to serve personnel and their dependents.
“It will take three years before their
TUCP party-list group, said over the weekend that the remarks show how government officials are “out of touch” and “completely out of tune with the harsh reality our people live everyday.”
“You can never ask everyday Filipinos to shrink their noche buena just because the Government refuses to raise their wages, especially at this time when our people are marching against the trillions squandered on inexistent and substandard flood control projects while our workers are still being denied the long-overdue P200 legislated daily wage hike,” Mendoza added.
Last week, Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque said P500 can cover a “basic noche buena,” noting that the amount reflects a simple, non-extravagant household celebration.
“It’s actually basic Noche Buena handa that’s almost complete na rin,” Roque told reporters on Fri -
hospital is completed, so the Coast Guard personnel should, in the meantime, be given some sort of a health card so our sailors have peace of mind while deployed in the West Philippine Sea,” Tulfo said, partly in Filipino. Tulfo, who serves as an Auxiliary Commodore of the PCG, then queried: “If our Coast Guard personnel get sick, do they have medical benefits... coverages? It’s hard when you’re in the middle of the sea, then your wife calls and says your child is sick… what will you do? That is so distracting.”
Sen. JV Ejercito, sponsor of the agency’s budget, revealed that PCG personnel are currently covered only by the state insurer, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, since they are still waiting for the completion of the PCG General Hospital. Further, for 2026, PCG requested a budget for its Emergency Medical Fund.
Advised to slow down, Aliling stays firm on reforms
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
HOUSING Secretary Jose Ramon
Aliling on Thursday said that some individuals had advised him to “slow down” in taking firm positions, but he maintained that he would continue pursuing reforms within the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
Aliling’s comments came as corruption issues involving flood control and other public works projects are being investigated by the authorities, though DHSUD has not released details linking these inquiries to its own operations.
“Whatever consequences come from our fight against corruption, wherever we end up and wherever we are brought, until the last second of our service, we will not give up this fight,” he said in Filipino during the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for a pilot rental housing project at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Earlier, he introduced an eight-point agenda that included zero tolerance for corruption, stronger internal controls and stricter oversight of funds and project implementation across housing and urban development programs. Yet, the department has yet to adopt a new overall housing production target after discontinuing its earlier goal of constructing three million units.
As of October, 63,000 units had been completed under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, which began in 2022. The agency said it remained “far” from its 2028 projection of 300,000 units. Further government data showed that a total of 399,671 housing units, both direct and indirect, had been provided under the Marcos administration. DHSUD projected output to reach 734,005 units by 2028, with 300,106 units to come from direct housing programs and 433,899 units through indirect financing.
day. “It’s a celebration that’s actually for those that just want ‘iyong regular na handa. Kasi not everybody wants to celebrate ‘iyong ostentatious…iyong sobra-sobra.”
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made a similar point, saying P500 can be sufficient depending on one’s “strategy,” citing lowercost options such as “cheap ham,” pre-packaged chopsuey, rice noodles, and soy sauce.
Mendoza said these explanations overlook the persistent gap between wages and household requirements, adding that workers are left balancing essential expenses while government wages remain unchanged.
He added that the government cannot expect to regain public confidence while defending a P500 noche buena budget yet opposing a long-sought P200 across-the-board wage hike.
See “Noche Buena,” A5
However, this was rejected by the Department of Budget and Management and was not included in the National Expenditure Program submitted to Congress.
“They’ re working out there in the West Philippine Sea, their boats are being bumped by alien forces. They risk being in an accident. This is a serious matter. Maybe it’s time we make sure there is medical coverage for every Coast Guard personnel,” Tulfo added.
Since his time as a member of the House of Representatives, Tulfo has been advocating for the modernization of the Coast Guard, especially with the ongoing tension due to the WPS dispute. And recently, Tulfo was also recognized by the PCG Auxiliary for his commitment and support to its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response efforts.
House panel consolidates bills mandating natl minimum wage
THE House Committee on Labor and Employment is now finalizing the consolidation of five measures seeking to establish a unified National Minimum Wage System—signaling a major step toward ending what lawmakers described as long-standing wage disparities across regions.
The committee, chaired by Cavite Rep. Ramon Jolo Revilla III, adopted the consolidation of House Bills 55, 94, 3266, 4102 and 5924, with Revilla’s own proposal serving as the primary framework for a substitute bill. The measure aims to correct what he called the “flaws” of the current wage-setting structure.
Revilla said the bill seeks to establish a “just, fair, and single minimum wage system” anchored on the value of labor rather than the worker’s location.
“That is why we are removing the provincial wage tiers and abolishing the old wage board system. This is not just about raising numbers on paper; it is about correcting a system that has long been unfair and, at times, diminishing the dignity of workers. I want to emphasize that no worker should be left behind, and their wages should provide comfort—not add to their burdens,” he said.
Revilla pointed out that provincial wage tiers have divided Filipino workers for decades, leaving those performing the same jobs with different pay simply because they live outside Metro Manila. Revilla’s proposal, along with other similar bills now pending in his committee, mandates the NWPC to set a national minimum wage that cannot be lower than the prevailing rate in the National Capital Region.
To help employers adjust—particularly small and medium enterprises—the measure includes a three-year transition period. Employers would implement 30 percent of the wage gap in the first year, 35 percent in the second year, and the remaining difference in
See “Wages,” A5
House bloc seeks probe on handling of civil forfeiture, related processes
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
LIBERAL Party (LP) lawmakers in the House of Representatives have filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into how civil forfeiture and related mechanisms under existing laws are being implemented, particularly in relation to the illgotten or unexplained wealth of public officials and employees implicated in the flood control projects controversy.
Through House Resolution 524, the LP bloc seeks to examine the status of recovering properties unlawfully acquired by public officials or employees under Republic Act 1379, or the Unexplained Wealth Law, and RA 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
The goal, lawmakers said, is “to identify possible gaps in procedure and implementation, recommend remedial legislative measures to improve the effectiveness of the government’s anti-corruption mechanisms, and ensure accountability in public service.”
Council (AMLC), should file civil cases seeking the forfeiture and preservation of frozen assets. “If these cases were indeed filed, what their status is and how many or how much assets are affected are not mentioned in news reports,” it noted.
It added that there have been no public updates or media statements from the Office of the Ombudsman regarding forfeiture proceedings under RA 1379 for individuals linked to the flood control controversy.
to organized corruption amid the biggest corruption scandal in the country’s history.”
Given the apparent underutilization of the civil forfeiture tools under RA 1379 and RA 9160, and in light of legal experts’ findings that amendments may be needed to improve their effectiveness, the lawmakers stressed the need for a comprehensive legislative inquiry. This would determine the level of implementation of both laws, identify gaps, and recommend remedial legislation, including possible amendments.
Complaint-based labor inspections to continue despite moratorium
ALTHOUGH the Department of Labor and Employment ( DOLE ) has suspended routinary labor inspections until December 31, the agency clarified that complaint-based inspections will proceed, especially in cases involving potential risks to workers.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said that the temporary suspension only covers routine checks, not incidents where workers report possible violations or imminent danger.
The resolution explained that the state employs both conviction- and non-conviction-based forfeiture to recover ill-gotten or unexplained wealth. While conviction forfeiture focuses on punishing criminals, nonconviction forfeiture centers on recovering unlawfully obtained assets regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. RA 1379 addresses unexplained wealth of public officials, while RA 9160 targets monetary instruments, properties, and proceeds involved in a broad range of unlawful activities.
President Marcos earlier revealed that the AMLC had frozen P12 billion worth of assets, including P4 billion worth of air assets belonging to former party-list congressman Zaldy Co, along with 3,566 bank accounts, 198 insurance policies, 247 motor vehicles, 178 real properties, and 16 e-wallets.
But LP bloc argued that the assets recently recovered by the government “appear to be a pittance compared to the estimated hundreds of billions of pesos lost
The House LP lawmakers include Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima, the nominee to the House of the party-list group Mamamayang Liberal (ML); and Reps. Edgar R. Erice of Caloocan City, Adrian Michael A. Amatong of Zamboanga del Norte, Arlene J. Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands, Jaime R. Fresnedi of Muntinlupa City, Cielo Krisel B. Lagman of Albay, and Alfonso V. Umali Jr. of Oriental Mindoro.
“Routine inspection remains to be suspended but the Advisory recognizes that complaint of workers requiring inspection has to be acted especially in prioritity areas where the need to inspect might be imperative and necessary to prevent harm and danger to workers, particularly during disruptive events,” Laguesma said in a text message on Saturday.
Aside from those arising from complaints, Labor Advisory 14 Series of 2025 also detailed other circumstances where the agency will still intervene despite the moratorium on routine inspections.
Aside from complaint-driven inspections, Labor Advisory 14 outlines several situations where Dole will still intervene during the suspension period. These include Occupational Safety and
Health investigations following natural or human-induced disasters, as well as technical safety checks such as inspections of boilers, pressure vessels, and electrical or mechanical installations. The advisory also permits inspections in high-risk establishments identified under Department Order 252, Series of 2025, like healthcare facilities and mining or quarrying sites; and in industries expected to see peak activity during the holiday season— such as manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, pyrotechnics, and public transportation.
Technical and advisory visits for micro establishments will likewise proceed “ MONITORING of compliance with correction orders, conduct of mandatory conferences and other related activities arising from previously conducted inspection activities, and issuance and enforcement of compliance orders shall continue in accordance with Department Order 238, Series of 2023,” it noted. As of July 2025, Dole has inspected 27,654 establishments nationwide and is targeting 28,500 for the year.
Justine Xyrah Garcia
The LP bloc said that under RA 9160, its implementing rules, and the Supreme Court’s rules on civil forfeiture, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), on behalf of the Anti-Money Laundering
Fire hits Senate, Sotto assures vital documents not damaged
FIRE broke out at the Senate building early Sunday morning, but Senate President Vicente Sotto III assured that all important documents, including those involving the Blue-Ribbon committee inquiry into the multi-billion flood
The AFP also said Afgo’s message is a powerful reminder that unity within the ranks, past and present, remains one of the military’s greatest strengths.
Agfo, an organization of retired and active general- and flag-officers from the AFP, National Police (PNP), Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), earlier issued a statement rejecting destabilization calls even as it expressed support to the present military leadership.
The group issued the manifesto following “current political noise and agitations from certain sectors calling for the AFP to withdraw support from the duly elected President and Commander-in-Chief.”
from A4 the third year. Exemptions under the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) Act will remain applicable. Revilla stressed that the reform is not merely technical but a long-overdue correction. “The goal is to ensure that a worker’s compensation reflects the value of their labor—not the limitations of their region,” he said. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
moving forward,” he added. Sotto added that the Senate’s maintenance team will be working round the clock to dry and restore the Session Hall to ensure it is fully ready for Monday’s session. Butch Fernandez
“We strongly condemn and reject any calls for the AFP to engage in unconstitutional acts or military adventurism. We strictly invoke Article XVI, Section 5 of the Constitution, which mandates the Armed Forces shall be insulated from partisan politics and that no member of the military shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any partisan political activity except to vote,” it said. Likewise, Agfo expressed its full vote of confidence to the AFP leadership and commended the military for its “steadfast refusal to be swayed by partisan interests and their firm resolve”to keep the Armed Forces united, professional, and loyal to the Constitution.
It also declared that the sanctity of the Constitution, and the principle of civilian supremacy over the military are the cornerstone of Philippine democracy and principles that they have sworn to protect during their active service and even during retirement.
“We urge Secretary Roque and Undersecretary Castro to stop lecturing Filipinos how to stretch their budgets that are already stretched to the breaking point. Rather than setting what should be ‘enough,’ the Government must ensure that everyday Filipinos earn enough, either by taking less through taxes or giving more through wage increases,” Mendoza also said.
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US pushes peace framework with Ukrainian negotiators ahead of Moscow talks with Putin
WBy Josh Boak The Associated Press
EST PALM BEACH, Fla.—Top Trump administration officials are meeting Ukrainian negotiators in Florida this weekend, pushing to broker an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine and setting the stage for key talks planned this week in Moscow with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, were expected to sit down with a Ukrainian delegation to further hash out the details of a proposed peace framework—talks that come at a sensitive moment for Ukraine as it continues to push back against Russian forces that invaded the country in 2022.
On Friday just before the Florida sit-down, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who up until that point had been the country’s lead negotiator in talks with the US. The announcement came after Yermak’s home was searched by anti-corruption investigators. Zelenskyy’s government has been roiled by fallout from a scandal over $100 million embezzled from the energy sector through kickbacks paid by contractors, causing newfound domestic pressures for Zelenskyy.
It was only a week ago that Rubio had met with Yermak in Geneva, with each side saying the talks had been positive in putting together a revised peace plan.
Now, the Ukrainian delegation includes Andrii Hnatov, the head of Ukraine’s armed forces; Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister; and Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s
security council, Zelenskyy has said. Diplomats have been focused on revisions to Trump’s proposed 28-point plan developed in negotiations between Washington and Moscow. That plan was criticized as being too weighted toward Russian demands. It had initially envisioned Ukraine ceding the entire eastern region of the Donbas to Russia—a sticking point for Kyiv.
The plan—which Trump has since downplayed as a “concept” or a “map” to be “finetuned”—would also impose limits on the size of Ukraine’s military, block the country from joining NATO, and require Ukraine to hold elections in 100 days. Negotiators have indicated the framework has changed, but it’s not clear how its provisions have been altered.
Trump said on Tuesday that he would send Witkoff and perhaps Kushner to Moscow this week to meet with Putin about the plan. Both Witkoff and Kushner, like Trump, hail from
the world of real estate that values dealmaking over the conventions of diplomacy. The pair also were behind a 20-point proposal that led to a ceasefire in Gaza.
Zelenskyy wrote on X that the Ukrainian delegation would “swiftly and substantively work out the steps needed to end the war.”
In his nightly address on Saturday, Zelenskyy said the American side was “demonstrating a constructive approach.”
“In the coming days it is feasible to flesh out the steps to determine how to bring the war to a dignified end,” he said.
On Saturday, Russian drone and missile attacks in and around Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv killed at least three people and wounded dozens more, officials said. Fresh attacks overnight into Sunday killed one person and wounded 11 others, local officials said, when a drone hit a nine-story apartment block in the city of Vyshhorod in the Kyiv region.
Pope
wraps up Turkey visit and heads to Beirut to try to give Lebanese hope after years of crises
By Nicole Winfield & Abby Sewell
Associated Press
ISTANBUL, Turkey—Pope Leo XIV wrapped up his visit to Turkey on Sunday before heading to Lebanon, where he aimed to bring a message of hope to its long-suffering people and bolster a crucial Christian community in the Middle East.
Leo had two key appointments in Istanbul before flying to Beirut: a prayer at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and a divine liturgy with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, whose invitation to commemorate an important Christian anniversary was the impetus for Leo’s visit.
Leo processed into the Armenian cathedral in a cloud of incense as a male choir chanted. He praised the “courageous Christian witness of the Armenian people throughout history, often amid tragic circumstances.”
It was a reference to the World War I-era slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.
Pope Francis had termed the massacre a “genocide,” angering Turkey, which denies a genocide took place. Leo was more diplomatic in his words on Turkish soil.
On the second leg of his maiden papal trip, Leo will visit Lebanon at a precarious moment for the small Mediterranean country after years of successive crises. He is fulfilling a promise of Pope Francis, who had wanted to visit for years but was unable to as his health worsened.
Francis often quoted St. John Paul II, who in 1989 said Lebanon was more than just a country, it was a “message” — a message of fraternity and coexistence. Under Lebanon’s power-sharing system, the country’s president is always a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament a Shiite.
A Muslim-majority country where about a third of the population is Christian, Lebanon has always been a priority for the Vatican, a bulwark for Christians throughout the region. After years of conflict, Christian communities that date from the time of the Apostles have shrunk.
Leo was expected to try to encourage Lebanese who believe their leaders have failed them, and to encour-
age Lebanese Christians to stay or, if they have already moved abroad, to come home.
“The Holy Father is coming at a very difficult moment for Lebanon and for our region,” said Bishop George, archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut. Lebanese are worried about the future, he said, and still fear a possible return to all-out war with Israel.
“In this difficult moment, the pope’s visit is a sign of hope. It shows that Lebanon is not forgotten,” he told reporters ahead of the visit.
A series of crises and no accountability IN 2019, the country’s currency and banking system collapsed and many Lebanese saw their savings evaporate. The financial crisis drove shortages of electricity, fuel and medicine.
Another disaster followed in 2020, when hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate improperly stored at the Beirut port detonated in an explosion that blasted through the surrounding neighborhoods, killing 218 people, wounding thousands more and causing billions of dollars in damage.
The highlight of Leo’s Lebanese visit will come on his last day, Dec. 2, when he spends time in silent prayer at the site of the Aug. 4, 2020, blast and meets with some of its victims.
Lebanese citizens were enraged by the blast, which appeared to be the result of government negligence, coming on top of the economic crisis. But an investigation has repeatedly stalled, and five years on, no official has been convicted.
There are hopes among Lebanese that Leo will demand accountability from Lebanon’s political class and insist that there can be no peace without truth and justice.
Another important moment will come when Leo meets with young Lebanese. He is expected to give them words of encouragement, amid the decades-long flight abroad, while also acknowledging their disillusionment over the failures of generations before them.
See “Pope,” A12
The
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks to the press at the US Mission to International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. MARTIAL TREZZINI/KEYSTONE VIA AP
Russian attacks kill 3 as diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine gain momentum
By Isobel Koshiw
KThe Associated Press
YIV, Ukraine—Russian drone and missile attacks in and around the Ukraine’s capital killed at least three people early Saturday, officials said, as the country’s representatives traveled to the US to work on a renewed push to end the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X that the delegation, headed by national security chief Rustem Umerov, was on its way to “swiftly and substantively work out the steps needed to end the war.” A US delegation is then expected to travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the second half of next week.
The Kyiv City Military Administration said two people were killed in the strikes on the capital, and a woman died, and eight were wounded in a combined missile and drone attack on the broader Kyiv region, according to the regional police.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that 29 people were wounded in Kyiv, noting that falling debris from intercepted Russian drones hit residential buildings. He also said the western part of Kyiv had lost power.
US President Donald Trump last week released a plan for ending the nearly four-year war. The 28-point proposal heavily favored Russia, prompting Zelenskyy to quickly engage with American negotiators. European leaders, fearing for their own future in the face of Russian aggression, scrambled to steer the negotia -
Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday. Nov. 29, 2025. AP PHOTO/EFREM LUKATSKY
tions toward accommodating their concerns.
Trump said Tuesday that his plan to end the war had been “fine-tuned” and that he’s sending envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia to meet with Putin. He suggested he could eventually meet with Putin and Zelenskyy, but not until further progress has been made in negotiations.
Trump administration officials were meeting in Florida this weekend with their Ukrainian counterparts. The meeting was set to include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, according to a US official who requested anonymity to describe meeting details not made public.
Zelenskyy announced Friday that the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who was also the country’s lead negotiator in talks with the US, after anti-corruption investigators searched Yermak’s residence. The unprecedented search at the
heart of Ukraine’s government was a blow to the Ukrainian leader, risking the disruption of his negotiating strategy at a time when Kyiv is under intense US pressure to sign a peace deal.
Zelenskyy will travel to Paris on Monday for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron’s office said the two leaders will “discuss the situation and the conditions for a just and lasting peace, in continuity with the Geneva discussions, the American plan, and in close coordination with our European partners.”
In Russia, a major oil terminal near the port of Novorossiysk stopped operations Saturday after a strike by unmanned boats damaged one of its three mooring points, according to a statement from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, or CPC, which owns the terminal.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense
Council of Ukraine, confirmed that Ukraine had carried out the attack.
“Ukrainian special forces worked on the Russian Federation, its energy sector and infrastructure. In particular, naval drones managed to destroy one of the three oil tanker berths of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium in the Novorossiysk area,” he wrote on Telegram.
Months of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries and terminals have aimed to deprive Moscow of the oil export revenue it needs to pursue the war.
Meanwhile, Kyiv and its western allies say Russia is trying to cripple the Ukrainian power grid and deny civilians access to heat, light and running water for a fourth consecutive winter, in what Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing” the biting cold.
A Ukrainian security service official from the SBU, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of their operations, said that Ukraine used domestically produced Sea Baby naval drones to strike two oil tankers in the Black Sea said to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” that evade sanctions.
The Kairos and Virat tankers were struck in quick succession late Friday afternoon, prompting rescue operations. Crew members on board both vessels were reported to be safe.
The SBU official sent a video of the alleged attack, purporting to show the destruction of two tankers at sea.
Associated Press writer Josh Boak in West Palm Beach, Fla., contributed to this report.
programmed gross borrowings for this year.
By Chan Ho-Him & Huizhong Wu The Associated Press
HONG KONG—Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has raised questions about corruption and negligence in the renovations of the apartment complex where at least 128 people died.
An intense fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court complex in Hong Kong’s northern suburbs Wednesday afternoon, with flames covering seven of the eight towers. The complex was home to some 4,800 residents, some of whom had raised safety concerns about the renovations more than year before the fire.
Police on Wednesday arrested three men from a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence. They were released on bail but then arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the authority said Saturday night, pointing to their leadership role in the renovations.
ICAC had also previously arrested seven men and one woman associated with the project.
against the company over breaches of safety regulations for working at height in the construction and convictions in two of the cases resulted in fines of totaling 30,000 Hong Kong dollars ($3,850). The company also was fined three times in 2023 for separate violations unrelated to the Tai Po project. First responders also found that some fire alarms in the complex, which housed many older people, did not sound when tested, said Andy Yeung, the director of Hong Kong Fire Services. He did not specify how many were not working or if any of the others were.
Intense blaze took days to put out IT took firefighters a day to bring the fire under control, and it was not fully extinguished until Friday morning—some 40 hours after it started.
the Manila Declaration of September 2025, while supporting the IMO’s push for sustainable shipping in line with international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The maritime industry faces pressing challenges: piracy, shadow fleets, geopolitical tensions, climate change, cyberattacks, and a shortage of skilled seafarers. In recent years, the IMO has responded with stricter emissions rules, port State control enforcement, pollution response training, and digitalization initiatives to safeguard global shipping.
Council membership
THE IMO Council is the organization’s executive organ, supervising its work between Assembly sessions. It is composed of 40 Member States elected for two-year terms:
n Category (a): China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, UK, USA
n Category (c): Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey
The Philippines’ seat under Category C reflects its unique role as the world’s leading supplier of seafarers and its advocacy for maritime safety, sustainability, and seafarer welfare.
Next steps
THE newly elected Council will convene its 136th session on December 4, 2025, to select its chair and vicechair for the biennium.
The Philippine delegation to the 34th IMO Assembly was led by Ambassador Locsin and included officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Marina, Department of Transportation, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Migrant Workers, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Association of Maritime Training Centers Inc., and the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific.
n Category (b): Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, UAE
bills) and bonds (T-bonds), up from P67.464 billion a year earlier.
According to Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, the lower gross borrowings logged in October is consistent with the bigger budget surplus during the month that reduced the need to borrow more funds.
Ricafort also noted that the government’s reduced reliance on foreign borrowings in recent years, partly to mitigate foreign exchange risks, contributed to the lower gross borrowing requirements.
In addition, there are fewer government securities maturing in the fourth quarter of the year and this reduced the requirement to service existing debt, Ricafort said.
Moreover, interest cuts by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the US Federal Reserve brought down interest payments of the government, lowering the need to borrow for debt servicing.
“Going forward, anti-corruption measures and other priority governance reforms would help narrow budget deficits and also fundamentally reduce the need for additional NG borrowings,” Ricafort said.
10-month borrowings
DURING the 10-month period, total gross borrowings reached P2.483 trillion, up by 2.18 percent year-on-year from P2.429 trillion.
The latest figure is already equivalent to 95.5 percent of the government’s P2.6-trillion
Gross domestic borrowings grew by 9.12 percent to P2.033 trillion as of end-October 2025, from P1.863 trillion in the same period a year ago.
More than half of the gross domestic borrowings came from fixed-rate T-bonds, which amounted to P1.123 trillion.
The rest of the debt was sourced from T-bills at P184.2 billion, fixed-rate treasury notes (P300 billion) and retail treasury bonds (P425.613 billion).
Gross external borrowings, meanwhile, declined by 20.64 percent to P449.353 billion as of end-October 2025 from P566.247 billion a year ago.
The amount was raised by the Treasury through project loans (P85.376 billion), program loans (P172.012 billion) and global bonds (P191.965 billion).
In February this year, the government issued multi-tranche global bonds totaling $2.25 billion, comprising a 10-year $1.25 billion tranche and a 25-year $1.0 billion tranche, along with a €1 billion bond.
The government borrows to meet its spending requirements, as well as to finance its budget deficit, which settled at P1.11 trillion as of end-October 2025.
The Treasury said the year-to-date deficit remains in line with the government’s fiscal consolidation goal at 70.83 percent of the revised full-year target of P1.56 trillion. Meanwhile, the government’s outstanding debt hit P17.46 trillion as of end-September this year.
This is down by 0.07 percent from the P17.468 trillion recorded as of end-August.
Police have not identified the company where the suspects worked, but documents posted to the homeowners association’s website showed that the Prestige Construction & Engineering Company was in charge of renovations. Police have seized boxes of documents from the company, where phones rang unanswered Thursday.
Officials also said they were investigating the materials used, both the netting on the scaffolding and the foam panels covering windows, and their role in the blaze.
Residents found safety issues a year before fire
FOR almost a year, some residents at the Wang Fuk Court complex had been raising safety concerns to Hong Kong authorities about the scaffolding materials being used in the renovation project, according to documents reviewed by the AP, specifically about the netting that covered the scaffolding.
Hong Kong’s labor department in a statement on Saturday confirmed it had received such complaints, adding that officials had carried out 16 inspections of Wang Fuk Court’s renovation project since July 2024, and had warned contractors multiple times in writing that they must ensure they met fire safety requirements. The city even carried out an inspection as late as one week before the fire.
The labor department said it had reviewed the product quality certificate of the netting and that it was in line with standards, but that the safety netting had not been the previous target of inspections.
Preliminary investigations showed the fire started on a lower-level scaffolding net of one of the buildings. It then spread rapidly as the foam panels caught fire, said Chris Tang, the city’s secretary for security. Police also said they had been looking at the highly flammable foam panels.
“The blaze ignited the foam panels, causing the glass to shatter and leading to a swift intensification of the fire and its spread into the interior spaces,” Tang said.
The labor department said later on Saturday that three prosecutions were brought
Crews prioritized apartments from which they had received emergency calls during the blaze but were unable to reach in the hours that the fire burned out of control, Derek Armstrong Chan, a deputy director of Hong Kong Fire Services, told reporters. Twelve firefighters were among the 79 people injured in the blaze, and one firefighter was killed.
Even two days after the fire began, smoke continued to drift out of the charred skeletons of the buildings from the occasional flare-up.
More bodies may be found WHILE more bodies might be recovered, authorities said, crews have finished their search for anyone living trapped inside.
Authorities said Saturday they need to identify 44 more bodies out of the 128 recovered. About 150 people remain unaccounted for. The dead included two Indonesian migrant workers, the Indonesian foreign ministry said Thursday. About 11 other migrants from the country who were working as domestic helpers in the apartment complex remain missing, Indonesian Consul General Yul Edison said Friday. Near the site of the fire, Sara Yu held the hand of her 2-year-old son, Dominic, as they each placed a single white rose into a growing cluster of the flowers in a small children’s playground.
“I brought the kids here because I want them to understand that living in this world is something to be cherished,” she said, holding back tears.
Outside a building close to the scene of the fire where family members came to identify loved ones from photographs, people placed bouquets of white roses, lilies and carnations. “More than 128 innocent lives, what did they do wrong?” asked a sign placed among the flowers. The city lowered flags to half-staff in mourning, and Chief Executive John Lee, led a three-minute silence Saturday from the government headquarters with officials all dressed in black.
Researcher Shihuan Chen in Beijing and writer David Rising in Hong Kong contributed to this report. Wu reported from Bangkok
The group also urged its supporters to line up along the road the papal convoy will take from the airport to the presidential palace to pay their respects. Hezbollah—a primarily Shiite group— has allied with several Christian political groups in the country, including the Free Patriotic Movement and Marada Movement. However, the Christian party with the largest parliamentary bloc, the Lebanese Forces, is an opponent of Hezbollah and has criticized the group for pulling the country into a war with Israel.
Sewell reported from Beirut.
HONG KONG Chief Executive John lee, center, and other officers observe a moment of silence for the victims of the deadly fire that started Wednesday at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s New Territories, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. AP PHOTO/CHAN
RESCUERS search for victims after a drone hit a residential building during Russia’s night missile and drone attack in
NFA keen on deal with FTI for aging rice stocks
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE National Food Authority (NFA) plans to forge an agreement with the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) as “a last resort” if the upcoming auction of aging rice stocks this month fails to attract sufficient bidders.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said he would seek approval from the NFA Council to enter into a negotiated contract with a government-owned or -controlled corporation (GOCC) like the FTI, should the second round of auction on December 5 fail to attract bidders again.
“We have an option in our rules that if this still fails, we can enter into a negotiated arrangement or transaction with GOCCs like FTI and give them the aging rice stocks,” Lacson told reporters on the sidelines of the recent Kadiwa ng Pangulo Expo 2025.
However, the NFA chief said this is a measure of last resort and that he is optimistic that the agency will be able to sell the rice stocks during the auction.
“This is just a worst-case scenario, since I think many would participate in the auction because
“But I will ask the NFA Council for approval, so that there won’t be problems and no one will think that something’s wrong. Then the FTI would manage the aging rice... the point is we should release the aging rice stocks.” Lacson said the NFA Council has the discretion to revise the rules if there are no takers for the aging rice stocks.
FAO: Transboundary animal diseases pose urgent threat to global food security
THE Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Friday urged member countries to reinforce global partnerships to prevent and control transboundary animal diseases (TADs), warning they are one of the most urgent threats to global food security and economic stability.
Speaking at an Information Session on the new Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD) at FAO headquarters in Rome, FAO Director General Qu Dongyu cautioned that recent funding cuts risk undermining decades of progress in managing and responding to these diseases when global risks are intensifying.
For more than 20 years, the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) has served as FAO’s operational backbone on animal health, supporting more than 50 countries and consistently demonstrating that prevention costs far less than responding to crises.
“We cannot afford to destroy what has taken decades to build,” Qu said. “The cost of prevention is far lower than the cost of inaction.”
FAO said TADs are highly contagious diseases that cross borders rapidly. As animals and humans live in closer proximity and global movements increase, these diseases are spreading faster—from animal to animal, farm to farm, and country to country.
Recent major outbreaks include African swine fever, which since 2007 has spread to over 50 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas; foot-andmouth disease (FMD), endemic in Africa and the Near East but causing a major outbreak in Europe in 2025; and highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The global farmed animal sector, valued at $1.6 trillion to $3.3 trillion, faces severe risk from TADs. Annual livestock losses range from $48 billion to $330 billion, with aquaculture experiencing an additional $10 billion in yearly disease-related losses. In endemic regions alone, FMD outbreaks, as an example, lead to an estimated $21 billion per year in lost production and vaccination costs.
“TADs disrupt food production, food safety, trade, livelihoods, and farmer incomes erasing years of development
there’s an import ban and we don’t have enough imported rice,” Lacson said, adding that the farm gate price of palay has gone up to P18 per kilo.
“Our purpose is twofold: to have
gains in days. Outbreaks can devastate smallholders, disrupt trade, strain budgets, fuel antimicrobial resistance, and even spill over to humans. These risks are amplified by expanding trade, increased animal movements, and the impacts of the climate crisis.”
With global demand for livestock and aquaculture products rising, and with livestock underpinning the livelihoods of 1.9 billion people, the stakes are higher than ever. Aquaculture now provides half of all seafood and freshwater fish. These sectors are vital for nutrition, jobs, and economic opportunity, especially in lowand middle-income countries.
“Now, we must protect those achievements, and scale them up, before the next crisis strikes,” Qu said.
Since 2004, FAO and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have co-led the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs), coordinating efforts to reduce TAD threats to food security, livelihoods, and safe trade.
ECTAD’s global network of over 400 professionals has also provided essential disease intelligence, rapid field response, surge support, and coordination with partners to help countries contain outbreaks at their source—preventing local threats from becoming global emergencies.
During the 44th Session of the FAO Conference earlier this year, members called for a renewed initiative to safeguard this core work by mobilizing resources, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring sustained long-term support to countries.
In response, FAO has developed a new model to close existing gaps and incorporate Member guidance for stronger, more resilient animal health systems.
FAO’s proposed GPP-TAD introduces a sustainable approach built on shared responsibility, country leadership, and expanded engagement with regional bodies, the private sector, and financial institutions.
The new funding model focuses on four key features: innovative partnerships; an integrated system for coordinated action; country-led mechanisms; and sustainable, longterm impact. This approach aims to reduce outbreaks, disruptions to trade, economic losses, and health risks—while expanding opportunities for growth.
corporate receipts and also to prepare for the upcoming harvest to ease the space in our warehouses.”
The NFA conducted the first auction of aging rice stocks in
October, but Lacson said it failed as only a few participants joined the bidding. He said the grains agency lowered the floor price by at least P2
per kilo in its bid to attract more bidders in its December auction. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2025/11/17/nfa-slashes-auction-floor-price-for-aging-rice/)
Under the revised scheme, the NFA will sell 1.16 million 50-kilo bags or 57,920 metric tons (MT) of aging rice with a total transaction value (TTV) of P1.44 billion. The minimum acceptable price (MAP) for rice stocks stored in warehouses for more than three months to six months is P25.16 per kilo; for more than six months to nine months, P24.63 per kilo; over nine months to 12 months, P23.84 per kilo.
For rice stocks aged over 12 months to 15 months, the MAP stands at P23.31 per kilo, while for those aged more than 15 months to 18 months, and over 18 months, the floor price is P22.52 per kilo. For the initial auction, the NFA introduced a graduated pricing scheme, with floor prices ranging from P27.96 to P25.01 per kilo depending on how long the rice has been stored. Under current rules, the grains agency’s rice stocks are considered “aging” starting from the third month after milling.
Traders urged: Report groups offering rice import allocations
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) warned importers about unscrupulous groups peddling bogus rice import allocations in a bid to make money quickly.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco
Tiu Laurel Jr. said he received information that certain individuals were offering supposed “allocations” that would allow importers to bring in rice as early as December.
“This is fake news, this is a scam,” he said, warning those behind the scheme: “We are on to you.”
He said the rice import ban remains in force until December 31, in line with the government’s
directive to stabilize palay prices and shield local rice farmers from financial distress.
The DA noted that the initial two-month import freeze imposed in September helped push palay prices in key provinces such as Isabela and Nueva Ecija up to P13 to P14 per kilo, from around P8 before the ban.
As harvest season peaked and the moratorium neared its original end date, the agency said farmgate prices once again softened, prompting the government to extend the ban through year-end.
Despite this, the DA chief said solicitation forms have begun circulating among rice millers,
importers, and traders in Cebu, claiming that those who sign up “will be able to import by December” and receive guaranteed allocations.
The agency said a sample form styled with “official-sounding” language asked the DA secretary to acknowledge a list of “participating miller-importers” with supposed import volumes from previous years, and implied that signatories would be included in a “food security program in 2026.”
As such, the DA urged industry players to remain vigilant and immediately report any similar solicitations.
The country’s rice arrivals slid by nearly 15 percent through October
following the temporary ban slapped by the government on the imported staple. Figures from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed that rice imports fell by 14.78 percent to 3.3 million metric tons (MMT) in the January to October period from the 3.87 MMT posted last year. Of this, only 31,101 metric tons (MT) of rice entered the country last month, from the average of 362,761 MT in the preceding months.
Despite the temporary ban slapped on foreign shipments of the staple grain, the DA projected that rice stocks would remain ample. Ada Pelonia
Why the world’s top coffee producer is switching up its beans
IN the coming years, coffee from Brazil might start to taste a bit different.
The South American country is the world’s biggest producer of arabica, a mild variety of coffee bean. But as climate change makes it harder to grow those beans, some farmers are investing in robusta, which produces a more bitter bean but can tolerate higher temperatures and is more resistant to diseases.
Brazil’s traditional coffee growing regions, which largely produce arabica, have been beset by more intense and frequent droughts, and hotter temperatures. Arabica is still the country’s main coffee export, but robusta production is now grow-
ing at a faster rate: by over 81 percent over the past 10 years, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, which tracks global coffee production.
For Brazil, robusta provides an opportunity to remain the world’s largest coffee supplier in the future even as the effects of climate change intensify, says Fernando Maximiliano, Coffee Market Intelligence Manager at StoneX, a financial services company.
“It wasn’t necessarily demand that resulted in the growth of robusta production,” he adds. “In reality, climate problems and losses in arabica were the main factors that contributed to stimulating robusta growth.”
For the past three years, arabica coffee production in Brazil has grown at a rate of around 2 percent to 2.5 percent annually, while robusta production has risen about 4.8% -annually. This year’s growing season, robusta hit a nearly 22-percent increase, a record harvest, according to StoneX. This means that robusta production has stood out for its ability to better cope with more adverse weather conditions and also for its profitability, analysts say.
In warmer areas of Brazil where arabica can’t grow, coffee producers are finding ways to produce robusta and mitigate the impact of hotter temperatures. Planting coffee trees under the shade of native trees and other species is one of these techniques.
“This way it will remain productive, it will stay a little more moist, so it won’t degrade so easily,” Jonatas Machado, commercial director of Café Apuí, an agroforestry robusta coffee producer in the Amazon region.
A different bean
VIETNAM is the world’s biggest robusta producer, but Brazil is catching up, and it could surpass the Southeast Asian country due to a well-structured supply chain, according to analysts at Rabobank, a financial services company.
Robusta has a higher caffeine concentration and a stronger taste
than arabica. But younger generations pay less attention to the type of coffee they drink or its roast, and tend to prefer customized options, adding in things like milks, creamers and syrups, which hide the flavor of the beans.
“They’re not so much about the origins, the tasting notes,” said Matthew Barry, global insight manager for food, cooking and meals at market research firm Euromonitor International. If coffee prices keep rising, consumers might also gravitate towards robusta, which costs less. In Europe, the gap between robusta and arabica prices will likely be even wider in the coming years. A new law will require that imported commodities are certified to show they did not originate from recently deforested or degraded land, though its implementation date is still unclear. Instant coffee, which is mostly made with the robusta variety, is excluded from these rules. That carveout could increase the demand for robusta-based products, according to Rabobank.
The EU is the largest consumer of instant coffee, accounting for almost 50 percent of global revenue, according to Grand View Research, a business consulting firm.
While robusta tends to be cheaper than arabica, its prices have been reaching record highs. Bloomberg News
A WORKER sweeps rice grains at a National Food Authority warehouse in FTI, Taguig City in this BusinessMirror file photo.
Positive S&P rating for PHL requires continued vigilance
IN a significant vote of confidence for the Philippine economy, S&P Global Ratings recently affirmed its “BBB+” long-term and “A-2” short-term sovereign investment-grade credit ratings, maintaining a positive rating outlook. More than a technical assessment, this affirmation serves as a powerful endorsement, signaling stability and potential to provide the nation with a critical advantage for sustained development. (Read the BusinessMirror story: S&P affirms PHL credit rating, but flags risks, November 28, 2025).
The immediate benefits of an investment-grade rating are tangible and farreaching. For the government, it translates to cheaper borrowing costs, freeing up valuable resources that can be channeled directly into essential public services and much-needed infrastructure projects. For the private sector, it means more affordable financing, fostering an environment conducive to business expansion and, critically, job creation. As Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go aptly stated, this ultimately “supports our goal of uplifting the life of every Filipino.” S&P’s optimistic outlook, suggesting a potential rating upgrade in the next two years, is based on several significant strengths. The ratings agency recognizes the Philippines’ strong external position, solid growth prospects, and improving fiscal performance.
The country’s economic recovery over the past three years has been robust, underpinned by reforms aimed at improving business and investment conditions. The passage of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE More) Act, alongside the liberalization of critical sectors like telecommunications, power generation, and transportation (including 100 percent foreign ownership in renewable energy subsectors), are cited as catalysts for attracting foreign direct investments.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr.’s confidence in the country’s “favorable long-term economic growth prospects” and its substantial gross international reserves further reinforces this optimistic view.
However, S&P’s assessment is not without its caveats, serving as important guideposts for continued vigilance. The positive outlook could be revised to “stable” if the country’s long-term trend growth significantly erodes, leading to a deterioration in the government’s fiscal and debt positions.
Persistently large current account deficits, which could structurally weaken the external balance sheet, also pose a risk. While the ongoing investigation into some infrastructure projects is expected to slow GDP growth this year, S&P believes it will not derail the country’s healthy long-term growth trajectory.
Similarly, despite intensified political pressure and protests, S&P does not foresee political instability, noting that the direction of policymaking remains committed to pro-business and pro-growth conditions.
The pandemic, as S&P noted, weakened the fiscal reserves that had been carefully built up over years of careful management. The associated extraordinary policy responses led to a deterioration in the government’s fiscal and debt settings. Nevertheless, the agency recognizes that fiscal consolidation is ongoing, with deficits gradually coming down and the debt burden stabilizing. The Department of Finance’s “catch-up plan” to carefully manage and direct spending towards highimpact projects is a crucial step in this direction, ensuring that public funds are utilized efficiently to stimulate growth and provide essential services.
In essence, S&P’s latest assessment paints a picture of a resilient economy with strong fundamentals and a clear commitment to reform. The “positive outlook” is a powerful incentive, an affirmation that the Philippines is on the right track towards a potential upgrade. Yet, it is not a guarantee. It is a call for sustained effort, prudent fiscal management, and a relentless focus on addressing the identified vulnerabilities.
The path to a higher credit rating, and more importantly, to a more prosperous and equitable future for all Filipinos, demands unwavering dedication to sound economic policies and effective governance. The foundation has been laid; the challenge now is to build upon it with unwavering resolve.
Opinion BusinessMirror
DTI’s 500-peso fantasy
ERISING SUN
VERY Christmas, Noche Buena is that one time when families try to forget how hard the year has been. So when the DTI says P500 is “enough” for a family’s Noche Buena, some people feel offended because it’s another reminder of how far official claims are from their everyday reality.
On paper, the DTI’s breakdown seems realistic: P500 for a “basic” spread for a family of four, based on its own price guide, with a short list of items like ham, spaghetti, or macaroni salad—as long as you watch portions and make a few trade-offs. Treated as a pure budget exercise, you can probably put together a bare Noche Buena within that amount if
you’re willing to cut corners on quality, quantity, or variety. But, really, it’s not just about the price of spaghetti. People are reacting because a family that has spent 12 straight months tightening its belt deserves a modest but dignified celebration. And then there is the issue of corruption, something that inevitably enters the Noche Buena conversa-
tion. When people hear about billions lost to rigged contracts, ghost projects, or overpricing, it is hard not to mentally convert that into how many Pinoy families’ salo -salo could have been funded with more than P500.
Besides, many Filipinos have already been doing what the DTI suggests: planning menus carefully, buying store brands, sharing expenses with extended family, or turning to potluck arrangements. These strategies have kept many Christmas tables from going completely empty.
Public messaging should not stop at teaching people how to live with less, but also face the harder question of why so many have to. A more compassionate approach would admit that, for most families, P500 won’t be enough for the ideal Noche Buena— and then clearly explain what’s being done by the government to make life less difficult for everyone when the holidays are over.
For example: closing the leaks in
Enduring strength: The University of the East’s transformative impact on Filipinos
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big-t icket infrastructure projects, protecting consumers from abusive pricing, and creating more decent jobs for Pinoys. That kind of honesty won’t magically lower the cost of ham or macaroni, but it would at least show people that the government understands and cares. Whether a family manages Noche Buena on P500, P1,000, or decides to skip the party altogether this year is a deeply personal decision. What citizens reasonably expect from those in office is not supermarket miracles, but a realistic connection between their statements and what people actually live through every day. Filipinos have always been resilient (yes, that word again). But the bigger task now is ensuring that the country’s resources are managed with integrity and competence so that, in the years ahead, fewer families will have to ask if there will be anything left after corruption has taken its share.
LITO GAGNI
HERE are moments in a nation’s life when memory stops being a private archive and becomes a public resource—a wellspring of meaning, a compass for renewal. The recent University of the East (UE) Alumni Reunion was one such moment. Beneath the bright lights of fellowship and nostalgia, I felt something deeper stirring: a whisper from the country’s past calling its sons and daughters to reclaim their unfinished work.
UE has never been just a campus. Long before it stood as a university, it was a promise—the promise that poverty must never be a barrier to possibility. Its founder, Dr. Francisco T. Dalupan Sr., had seen firsthand how a college degree could change the destiny of an entire family. And so he built an institution where the doors swung wide for the children of clerks, vendors, drivers, factory workers—young Filipinos who carried not privilege, but potential. For decades, many UE students lived that truth. They survived on allowance scraped together by relatives, endured cramped boarding rooms, relied on hand-me-down textbooks, and walked long distances just to attend their classes. In the 1970s, when UE’s enrollment soared to a staggering 68,000 students, the campus became a living tapestry of struggle and aspiration—dreamers packed into classrooms, hallways buzzing with ambition, the smell of
mimeographed notes and cafeteria meals filling the air. From these humble ranks rose names that would one day tower over Philippine business and public leadership.
Dr. Andrew L. Tan, now the billionaire behind Megaworld, Emperador, and Alliance Global, once walked from his home to the Recto campus because money for fare was a luxury.
Dr. Cezar T. Quiambao, the man who reengineered the LTO through IT innovation and later backed PPPs like the Skyway and STAR Tollway, once drove jeepneys part-time to make ends meet.
And Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua, who began building his ALC Group with diverse businesses ranging from memorial parks to hotels, and from pawnshops to banks had to work at an early age and as a young man with little more than resolve in his pocket. Their stories were not excep -
UE has never been just a campus. Long before it stood as a university, it was a promise—the promise that poverty must never be a barrier to possibility. Its founder, Dr. Francisco T. Dalupan Sr., had seen firsthand how a college degree could change the destiny of an entire family.
tions—they were the UE way. That night at the reunion, looking at retirees who once built empires from scratch, public servants who shaped policy, educators who lit the flame for the next generation, and journalists who carried the burden of truth-telling, I saw the clearest proof of UE’s resolute promise: that brilliance is not inherited—it is earned.
In those days, UE even celebrated its triumphs with bonfires—fiery markers of Accounting graduates who dominated the CPA board exams. Former SSS president Corazon de la Paz, the first non-European to head the International Social Security Association, rose from Dalupan’s bold experiment: the UE Honors Class, designed to make excellence accessible to those without pedigree. It worked—spectacularly. For years, UE was synonymous with CPA topnotchers, the campus glowing with pride as the night sky lit up in celebration.
In many ways, the UE story is the Filipino story: flawed but fearless, battered but unbroken, underestimated but unstoppable. And as we stood together, raising our voices for the alma mater that shaped our sense of grit and purpose, the night
crystallized into a collective intuition—that this is the time to rebuild, to support, to uplift the next generation of Warriors who will carry the torch far beyond our years. After all, that Warrior spirit is etched in the “graduates” of the DAWN, the university’s student paper where its editors and budding reporters learned to put to bed the paper in an era where the university did not have any course on newspapering: where the challenge boggles the mind as the student editors and writers craft headlines that will be accommodated within the allotted column space and learn what stories to put on the front page and what stories to publish as feature stories with the box and a photo to accompany the same.
UE students learned from the school of hard knocks, their grit and determination a function of their desire to better their lot. They endured cramped classrooms with a teacherstudent ratio of one to 55 and there is always that pandemonium that accompany the steps and walkways every time the bell rings the end of classes.
UE students were a hardy lot, accustomed to congested library rooms, and with fire in their heart quieting the rumbling complaint of their stomach. And now, the UE graduates, like the rest of the citizenry are confronted with the need for nation-building especially at this crucial interlude in the country’s existence. And there is a need for a new battle cry even as it tries to exorcise the demons of its funding constraints for a basketball team that could match the huge money well of
See “Gagni,” A15
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II
LOAs, loud voices, and a ‘Bagong BIR’ moment
BJoel L. Tan-Torres
DEBIT CREDIT
ARELY two years after steering the BIR through a period of innovations and digital transformation, Commissioner Romeo “Jun” Lumagui—by most accounts doing reasonably well and leaving several reforms in motion—has been replaced by Atty. Charlito “Charlie” Mendoza on November 15, 2025. Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Mendoza served as Department of Finance Undersecretary for the Revenue Operations Group, where he oversaw the nationwide operations of both the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC). He also served as BOC District Collector of the Port of Cebu from 2019 to 2022, where his term was marked by record-breaking collections, improved trade facilitation, and strong enforcement against smuggling.
Atty. Vener Baquiran has likewise been appointed to a re-created post of Deputy Commissioner for Special Concerns. He served as BOC District Collector for the Manila International Container Port in 2018, Deputy Commissioner for the Revenue Collections Monitoring Group in 2019, and Deputy Commissioner for the Assessment & Operations Coordinating Group in 2023. Just recently, news accounts disclosed that Deputy Commissioner Baquiran was reposted to head the BIR Deputy Commissioner for Operations, exchanging position with BIR career official Atty. Marissa Cabreros. Are these changes indicative of a forthcoming “Bagong BIR” phase in tax administration? This may be the direction since the first few days of Commissioner Charlito “Charlie” Mendoza and Deputy Commissioner Baquiran at the BIR have been anything but quiet.
Even before they could fully settle into their offices, the BIR was already at the center of a political and social media storm. Senators called press conferences to denounce alleged “money-making schemes” involving Letters of Authority (LOAs) for BIR audits. A Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is forthcoming. Business owners and practitioners aired horror stories on radio, television, and social networks about harassing audits, arbitrary assessments, and “negotiations.” Hopefully, this sensational news will not divert attention from the ongoing flood control investigation and prosecution.
For an institution already struggling with trust issues, LOAs suddenly became three letters that many taxpayers feared—and politicians and media loved to attack.
Against this backdrop, Commissioner Mendoza’s first major move was the issuance of Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 107-2025 last November 24, 2025. ( https://bir-cdn.bir.gov.ph/BIR/pdf/ RMC%20No.%20107-2025.pdf ). RMC17-2025 provides for two mandates.
First, it puts the brakes on LOAbased field audits and related enforcement activities for a defined period. This gives taxpayers immediate breathing room while the BIR deals with the solutions to address issues about BIR audits. It also prevents year-end audits from becoming leverage for improper “settlements” during the Christmas season—a
Gagni. . . Continued from A14
its rivals. With just P5 million, a pittance compared to the budget of other schools that is at least 10 times that, the Warriors try to play their best in the basketball games. But more than the need to carry the emblem for the Warriors in their quest for UAAP glory, there is a far more noble purpose that awaits us and that is by lending a Warrior voice for unity in the country now roiled by corruption issues on ghost flood control projects. After all, the Philippines is better than its current shadows and there is a need for us
TEven before they could fully settle into their offices, the BIR was already at the center of a political and social media storm. Senators called press conferences to denounce alleged “moneymaking schemes” involving Letters of Authority (LOAs) for BIR audits.
long-standing concern of the business community.
Second, RMC 107-2025 formally orders a review and overhaul of the LOA and audit framework and protocols. A technical working group is tasked to recommend reforms that are risk-based, data-driven, and anchored on due process. I hope that this BIR committee will dialogue and get feedback from the various stakeholders affected by the LOA and BIR audit. These include the taxpayers, tax practitioners, Professional and business associations, and others. They have a lot to contribute to reforming the contentious BIR audit and assessment process.
The reaction from the private sector has been encouraging. Business groups, chambers of commerce, and professional associations have publicly welcomed the temporary halt and review. Many see RMC 107-2025 as a necessary corrective step after years of LOA fatigue—multiple audits on the same taxpayers, vague document demands, and assessments perceived as arbitrary and disconnected from the taxpayer’s actual operations.
The temporary stoppage of the LOA activities and establishment of a study group to recommend improvements in the BIR audit process is an early and strong signal from Commissioner Mendoza and Deputy Commissioner Baquiran that the “Bagong BIR” will pursue longneeded reform in the BIR enforcement system.
Joel L. Tan-Torres was a former Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He has also held various positions, including Dean of the University of the Philippines School of Business, Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, Tax partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co., and SyCipGorres and Velayo & Co., and director of various corporate boards. He is a Certified Public Accountant who ranked No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He has his own tax and consultancy practice in JL2T Consulting and can be contacted at joeltantorres@yahoo.com.
to have resolve in ensuring that the nation’s fractured soul is made whole once more for the next generations. Now is the time for all good men to hearken to: “Isang Tinig, Isang Bayan.” Not merely a slogan. Not even a rallying cry. But a commitment: that in an age of noise, the UE Warriors will be the steady voice; that in a season of fragmentation, we will stand for unity; that in a nation aching for purpose, we will choose courage. Because when a community speaks as one, a nation begins to heal. When a university remembers its roots, people rediscover their strength. And when alumni come home not just to celebrate but to serve—there, the future begins.
Corruption is at its peak since it has been legislated and systematized by our supposed “fathers” in this country. Unscrupulous leaders have protected each other’s back for the longest time to the point of enjoying that immunity from prosecution. Public funds have been diverted to the pockets of powerful families in unprecedented fashion. Fashionably in the form of luxury vehicles and ingeniously transported through luggage! From millions to billions, from 10 percent to 30 percent of kickbacks, some of these leaders, in all branches of government, have been leading our country and our people on this road to perdition.
Lest we forget, the supposed spender and accountable officer of more than one hundred million confidential funds, some of which were spent in a record time, remain to be a popular leader in this nation of one hundred million Filipinos. At the rate things are going, civil society with its protest actions and relentless barrage of information dissemination about corruption appear to have “checked” the King. President Bongbong Marcos (BBM) is now put on defense, as one of the key authors of these anomalous budget insertions has identified the most powerful po -
Road to perdition Confucianism,
Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
THE PATRIOT
HERE was once a movie whose main characters, father and son, were on a path of destruction during the Great Depression in the United States. The title—“Road to Perdition”— showcases the father’s desire to prevent his son from following him down a path that may lead to eternal damnation. It is natural for any father to lead their children to a better path, having known the consequences of any choice leading towards perdition. If we are to equate these father and son characters to our country’s leaders and its people, then the road is getting wider and easier to navigate.
litical family in this country as one of its beneficiaries.
Zaldy Co has implicated not only former Speaker of the House and presidential cousin, Martin Romualdez, but also BBM himself in this latest and perhaps biggest corruption scandal. BBM, who supposedly exposed this anomaly, has found himself at the short end of the stick. But a checkmate is far from happening as my political analyst friends would say. There have been government people investigated, implicated, and arrested. Yet, the bigger fish are far from being held accountable. They have fled the country and will use whatever ill-gotten resources they have to continue to evade the rather short-arm of the law of the land. Fortunately, the long arm of the law of the Lord still works and will always work. With Catholic dioceses nationwide participating in the November 30 protest action, the collective voices of all believers ought to be better heard. LAIKO, an umbrella organization for lay Catholic groups in the Philippines, has invited all faithful citizens to join this second Trillion Peso March to “cry out for justice, for change, and for true accountability.” LAIKO aspires to have “our voices rise above fear and apathy” to awak-
Ien the nation and allow our faith to move the country away from this road to perdition. The Church Leaders Council for National Transformation (CLCNT), a coalition of Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Muslim and Indigenous groups, has made the similar call—join the protest to express outrage over the alleged systemic graft and corruption.
The Trillion Peso March Movement, organized by those seeking truth, justice, and accountability, released a public manifesto calling on every Filipino to “join the collective struggle for a transparent, honest and accountable government.” I believe that most of the moderates, myself included, simply demand BBM to expedite the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases, with no special treatment of friends and families.
Some demand resignation, others ask for a transition government if not a revolution. These drastic or draconian solutions can only result to greater violence and national instability. Making a U-turn from this road to eternal damnation can be complicated unless people who want to make a turnaround are united towards a common cause.
The most famous and greatest U-turn in biblical history was done by the apostle Paul. The Damascus Road experience tells us the conversion of Saul, from being one the stronger prosecutors of Christians to being one of the best promoters of the Christian faith. On his way to Damascus to arrest all persons who were associated with Jesus, Saul was startled and blinded with a bright light. He heard the voice of Jesus who asked him, “Why are you persecuting me?”
The book of Acts narrated the commission of Saul (now Paul) as His ambassador/spokesperson to the non-believers of Christ, to turn them from darkness to the light. At Damascus, Paul went for three days without eating or drinking before
regaining his sight. The “Damascus Road experience,” which equates to a dramatic conversion, can be repeated by leaders in this country with the help of prayerful people. Some believers I have encountered receive Christ as their Lord and Savior in a life-changing experience. I describe my conversion as more of a gradual understanding of the truth of the gospel, with the help of Jesus followers, after a series of unfortunate but purpose-filled events in my life.
We need leaders in this country to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. To genuinely consider Him as Lord, they must simply obey and respond like Saul: “What do you want me to do?” When our Almighty God is truly in the hearts of our leaders, they ought to commit and say: “Lord, may your will be done and may you use me to do it.” Such was the experience of Saul on the Damascus Road.
To be transformed and make that U-turn, our leaders should relinquish negative traits for godly qualities that serve God’s purpose. Ultimately, invoking the presence of our Almighty God and inviting Jesus into our lives initiate the journey away from the road to perdition. “Anything apart from Jesus will never be enough,” as one pastor said. We must remain angry against corruption but we should remain calm in getting rid of it, with the peace of Christ who controls everything around us.
Siegfred has a diversified set of education and experiences which has made him a game changer and a servant leader in organizations such as the Philippine Army, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, a US based software development company called Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine Airlines and SM Prime Holdings. His professional degrees came from the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. He has delivered leadership and management talks in government agencies. Siegfred is a former soldier and a lawyer by profession, a teacher by passion, and a writer with a mission.
Catholic Christianity, and geopolitics
By Henry Go
N a world where alliances shift rapidly and disputes over territory, trade, and influence dominate headlines, can moral integrity become a nation’s strategic advantage? History demonstrates that civilizations endure not only through military or economic power but through ethical wisdom guiding decisions. Asian philosophy, Catholic teaching, and insights from Western leaders converge on principles of virtue, human dignity, and compassion, offering a blueprint for credible, durable diplomacy.
By harmonizing the Confucian virtues of 德 (“de,” moral virtue), 礼 (“li,” right conduct), and 仁 (“ren,” benevolence) with Catholic teachings on charity and justice, leaders cultivate trust, reduce tension, and sustain peace. Credibility, fairness, and empathy are strategic assets in any international system. As Dr. Henry Kissinger observed: “The task of the leader is to establish the moral foundations on which policy and power can rest.” (World Order, 2014). This resonates with “de,” reminding nations that integrity sustains influence.
Confucian ethics: Harmony through virtue
CONFUCIAN ethics emphasizes harmony achieved through self-cultivation and social responsibility. Moral virtue embodies ethical authority; right conduct reflects respect and propriety; benevolence calls for compassion and empathy. Confucius notes in Analects 論語 13:23 (English translation by D.C. Lau, 1979): “The superior man is easy to serve and difficult to please. If you try to please him in any way which is not accordant with right, he will not be pleased.” In Analects 26:4: “The superior man has a dignified ease without pride; the mean man has pride without a dignified ease.”
Cu ltivating “de,” “li,” and “ren” parallels what diplomacy demands: clarity of purpose, moral courage, and credibility in leadership. Dwight D. Eisenhower once observed, “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” Ethical per-
suasion, rooted in respect and propriety (“li”), reinforces both Confucian and practical principles of leadership.
Catholic teaching: Human dignity and justice
CATHOLIC social teaching complements Confucian ethics by emphasizing the dignity of every human person, the pursuit of justice, and the primacy of peace. The Catechism of the Catholic Church observes: “The dignity of the human person is rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God” (Article 1700) (USCCB, 2025).
From the encyclical Pacem in Terris (Pope John XXIII, 1963): “Every believer in this world of ours must be a spark of light, a center of love, a vivifying leaven amidst his fellowmen.” Ethical leadership humanizes power, aligning ambition with service rather than domination. Both Confucian and Catholic traditions converge on one principle: moral authority anchors influence, legitimizes governance, and fosters durable cooperation. The statement, commonly attributed to Kofi A nnan (former UN Secretary- General)—“We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race”— echoes the universal call to human dignity and benevolence (“ren”).
Ethics as strategy in geopolitics CREDIBILITY and legitimacy are as vital as military or economic strength. When ethics is treated as strategy, moral capital becomes a nation’s rar-
est currency. Honoring truth, respecting agreements, and upholding justice builds trust, while deceit and arrogance isolate even the powerful. “De” becomes indispensable in statecraft, while “ li” and “ren” guide diplomacy and relationships. John F. Kennedy’s principle—that a nation must “pay any price, bear any burden…to assure the survival and the success of liberty”—demonstrates how moral courage can be applied strategically.
Ethical diplomacy in practice
PRACTICAL diplomacy demonstrates the power of ethical credibility. Asean, through its recently concluded 46th Summit in Kuala Lumpur (May 2025), adopted the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Asean 2045: Our Shared Future. The declaration emphasizes Asean’s commitment to unity, centrality, consensus-based decision-making, and a people-centered approach in a rules-based regional architecture (Asean, 2025).
This approach mirrors “li” in action: patience, respect for sovereignty, and consensus guide negotiations rather than coercion or unilateral pressure. Similarly, recent events illustrate that neighborly cooperation and humanitarian concern can outweigh territorial tensions. Recently, China extended humanitarian aid to typhoon-affected areas in the Philippines despite ongoing South China Sea disputes (GMA News Online, “China gives $2.4 M relief aid to PHL after deadly typhoons,” Nov. 2025).
This demonstrates that ethical behavior, guided by “ren” and Catholic charity and justice, fosters trust, reduces tension, and sustains peace. Proverbs 27:10 reminds us: “Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.”
Similarly, border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia in July 2025 resulted in civilian evacuations. Ethical principles—“de” and “ren”—call for proportionality, empathy, and prioritizing peaceful resolution (Reuters, November 2025).
Ethics in economics and technology ETHICS underpins prosperity. Fair trade, equitable labor conditions, and environmental responsibility form the moral foundation of longterm growth. Catholic teaching affirms that “the economy should serve people, not the other way around” (USCCB, Economic Justice for All, 1986), and that work participates in God’s creation. Confucian harmony balances profit and righteousness: the superior man thinks of “de”, while the small man thinks only of gain. In a rapidly changing technological world, moral stewardship requires innovation that uplifts rather than dominates, empowering human dignity.
Humility, empathy, and ethical diplomacy
LEADERSHIP today requires humility and empathy. Pride breeds confrontation; humility opens cooperation. “Ren” and Catholic charity converge in ethical diplomacy that recognizes the human face behind every flag. Confucius wrote: “I was not born with knowledge, but being fond of antiquity I was quick to seek it” (Analects 7, D.C. Lau, 1979). Pope Francis echoes this ethic: “Peace is not just the absence of war; it is the building of a civilization of love.” Ethical diplomacy replaces zero-sum competition with shared responsibility for peace, development, and the future. Earning respect in a multipolar world
GLOBAL harmony cannot be imposed; it must be earned. Respect grows from consistent fairness and compassion. Confucius: “The superior man is easy to serve and difficult to please…” (Analects 13:23, D.C. Lau, 1979). Catholic teaching emphasizes human dignity as the foundation for justice and peace. When ethics informs policy and virtue guides diplomacy, cooperation replaces coercion. Leadership guided by virtue lays the groundwork for enduring peace and stable global relations.
Monday, December 1, 2025
2nd Front Page
BusinessMirror
OFWS CAN NOW BE TOURISM INVESTORS THRU HOTEL101
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror
OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFW) intending to permanently return or retire in the Philippines can now participate in the country’s tourism industry by investing in a leading hotel group.
Church: No to junta, revgov; yes to reform vs. corruption
AMIDBy Justine Xyrah Garcia
growing public furor over corruption, the Catholic Church on Sunday pressed for a peaceful and democratic reform, rejecting calls for a junta or revolutionary government during a Bonifacio Day protest that doubled as a national day of prayer and outrage.
political discourse—junta, revolutionary government, transitional councils—would only deepen instability.
“A tragedy awaits us if we go down that road...We reject proposals for a transitional council or revolutionary government because we refuse to turn the Philippines into a banana republic. We also reject military or civilian juntas, even if bishops are offered positions. It is clear to us that our role is not politics or governance,” David said in Filipino.
Freedom of Information Act; the Budget Transparency Act; a comprehensive review of the party-list system; and amendments to the Local Government Code to expand community participation.
Political dynasties, he added, remain a “malignant cancer” in the society which enables patronage politics and the culture of dependency.
“Hotel101 proudly steps forward to offer investment opportunities to OFWs that are transparent, accessible, and rewarding,” said Group General Manager Charley Magabo. “To our OFWs: You are not just contributors to the economy—you are partners in progress. This initiative gives OFWs a stake in the hospitality industry and a passport to experiences in key destinations in the Philippines and across the globe.”
In particular, the hotel group is offering OFWs an opportunity
In a news statement, the Hotel101 Group said it is participating in government’s Balik Bayani sa Turismo (BBST) Program, which champions IPON Tourism, that aims to successfully reintegrate OFWs into mainstream society through sustainable and productive investment and livelihood endeavors.
The November 30 gathering at the Edsa People Power Monument marked the second major mobilization under the Trillion Peso March Movement, a coalition of Catholic and other religious leaders, youth formations, and socio-civic groups demanding full accountability for the alleged trillion-peso corruption in flood-control projects.
Its first mass action was held on September 21, the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.
This time around, two separate mobilizations were held in Metro Manila—the second one at Luneta in Manila, where organizers faced
hurdles from police units, causing delays in their program.
Both the Edsa and Luneta marches ended peacefully, though.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said Malacañang is is not ignoring the scale of public outrage.
“We can feel the people’s anger… This is all I can say: we feel you, we hear you, and we will not disappoint you,” he said in a television interview.
No to shortcuts–Cardinal David AT Edsa on Sunday, Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David warned that “shortcuts” being floated in the
David, the former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), also cautioned against forcing the resignation of officials.
He said dismantling institutions— and not corruption—would end up derailing accountability efforts.
“We came here to Edsa because we reject quick fixes. We should not burn down the whole house when what we need is to catch and hold accountable the rats and cockroaches destroying our society,” he added, describing the corruption crisis as a symptom of long-standing legal and political failures.
The Cardinal urged Congress to finally move long-pending reforms: an anti-political dynasty law; the
Caritas Philippines President and Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo echoed the appeal, stressing that the public must stay focused on exposing corruption and recovering stolen funds.
“Respect the Constitution. No to military junta. No to revolutionary government…It is important that reform starts with dismantling political dynasties and stopping the abuse of the party-list system. Pass the reforms,” Bagaforo said. Youth groups also pressed Malacañang to act. Akbayan Youth National Chairperson Khylla Meneses urged President Marcos to activate accountability mechanisms.
“BBM, the Marcos family drama series has no subscribers left. The youth’s demand is simple: accountability. File cases and punish the
By VG Cabuag
THE Hotel101 Group’s formalizes its support to the government’s reintegration program for OFWs on November 27, 2025 by signing an MOU with the DOT and DMW. From left: DMW
Undersecretary Felicitas Bay, Hotel101 Group’s Head of Public Relations Brian K. Ong, DMW
Sec. Hans Leo Cacdac, DOT Sec. Christina Garcia Frasco, Hotel101 Group GM Charley Magabo, and DOT Usec. Maria Rica Bueno. PHOTO FROM HOTEL101
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Companies
BusinessMirror
MGen to build solar farm in Iloilo
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THEnewly-formed partnership between Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen) and Saudi Arabiabased energy developer ACWA Power is undertaking its first solar power project in Iloilo.
“We are looking at land in Concepcion, Iloilo. That’s our first project with them. They’re also eyeing land on their own. The first project with them is solar in Iloilo. We already signed contract to sell around 120 hectares,” said MGen President Emmanuel Rubio.
In June this year, MGen announced its partnership with ACWA Power to jointly develop renewable energy (RE) projects, particularly solar power. The partnership combines ACWA Power’s global leadership with 78.8 gigawatts (GW) of capacity including record solar
tariffs and MGen’s expertise across 4,953 megawatts (MW) of diversified assets.
MGen’s first RE project with ACWA Power will have a capacity of 120 MW to 125 MW to be generated from solar power. The project maybe completed in less than a year, Rubio added.
“The value that ACWA will bring in is their experience and their relationship with established EPC [engineering, procurement, construction] firms. Hopefully, they can make this project very competitive.”
The partnership was formalized during the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last June.
ACWA Power operates as a developer, investor, and operator in renewable energy and green hydrogen, and is also the world’s largest private water desalination com-
pany.
MGen said ACWA Power can boost its chances of being awarded a contract should it join the sixth round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA-6). “We’re open to GEA6,” said Rubio.
Under GEA-6, up to 200 MW of waste-to-energy (WTE) will be offered to interested developers. WTE projects, according to the Department of Energy (DOE), will utilize thermal combustion technology and will source feedstock within Metro Manila and highly-urbanized cities. The projects must be ready by 2028.
Of the 200-MW installation target, 10 MW will be allocated for Metro Manila; 10 MW, Davao; and 10 MW each for Bacolod, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro, with an allowance of 30 MW to meet the target.
Caap taps PLDT for airports digital infra
By Lorenz S. Marasigan
T‘Legal
tussle over Midas Hotel is still unresolved’
TBy VG Cabuag
HE Villaraza and Angcangco
Law Office confirmed over the weekend that a case involving DigiPlus Interactive Corp. and its business partner, former Ako Bicol Representative Elizaldy Salcedo Co, is pending in a Pasig court.
In a statement, the law firm said the case concerns an arbitration over the valuation of Midas Hotel and Casino along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay.
DigiPlus won the case in the arbitration court.
Co’s firm Eco Leisure and Hospitality Holdings Co., however, is appealing the decision in a Pasig Court.
“We confirm that there was an arbitration case and DigiPlus won the case. The other party filed an appeal before a Regional Trial Court in Pasig, and the case remains unresolved.”
tified as Co’s partner in a Midas Hotel. The partnership went sour years ago, according to lawyer Jesus Falcis. Falcis narrated how Co’s Eco Leisure and DigiPlus have been embroiled in a years-long feud, an issue that resurfaced just hours after authorities raided Midas in search of executives of Co-linked firm Sunwest Corp. last Friday.
“DigiPlus wanted out of Midas Hotel,” Falcis wrote on a Facebook post explaining that the gaming giant wanted to divest from the hotel with a “problematic” business partner.
He said when DigiPlus found a buyer for the hotel, Eco Leisure invoked its right of first refusal and offered to acquire DigiPlus shares for P2.5 billion.
Caap facilities such as the Civil Aviation Training Center and the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center will also be covered.
PLDT Enterprise will deploy fiber optic network infrastructure to each airport, See “PLDT,” B2
HE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) has tapped the corporate services arm of PLDT Inc. to enhance the digital infrastructure of 16 airports across the country. Under the deal, PLDT Enterprise will provide dedicated internet access and structured connectivity to airports including Clark, Tuguegareo, Bicol, Puerto Princesa, Laoag, Bacolod Silay, Tacloban, Kalibo, Mactan, Zamboanga, Davao, General Santos, Laguindingan, and Pagadian.
DigiPlus in its amended annual report in April this year reported that the case is docketed as Civil Case R-PSG-22-02495-SP, Regional Trial Court, Pasig City, Branch 268.
The law firm statement comes after a social media page on Friday noted that the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s freeze orders on Co’s bank accounts, could bode well for DigiPlus.
Publicly-listed DigiPlus was iden-
DigiPlus accepted the offer in good faith, but Co’s firm reneged on its promise and insisted on paying just P1 billion. Falcis claimed that Co’s Eco Leisure refused to pay the full P2.5 billion agreed amount because DigiPlus allegedly owes them billions of pesos of unpaid reimbursement.
When DigiPlus refused to give in to the demand of Co’s company, he said Eco Leisure filed an arbitration case and lost.
Eco Leisure appealed the ruling before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court in 2022, a case which remains pending until today.
Miss Philippines Earth 2007 Jeanne Harn: Taking Your Future Into Your Own Hands Is Your Defining Moment, Not the Crown
By Vincent Peter Rivera
While many beauty queens follow the familiar path into show business after winning a title, Miss Philippines Earth 2007 Jeanne Harn chose a road that felt more authentic to her: mentorship.
In a recent episode of BusinessMirror’s Freshly Brewed, Harn spoke with Labor Reporter Justine Xyrah Garcia about the transformation that shaped her into a multifaceted professional long after her reign.
“I’m the CEO and co-founder of Imahe Academy, a personality development school,” she said. “I also conduct workshops for corporate companies.”
Extensive Expertise
HER expertise is wide-ranging. Apart from running her academy, she offers personal image consultation, color analysis, modeling, pageant, and hosting workshops. Her professional direction was a natural evolution, having already built a solid career in sales.
“I worked for multinational companies for a long time,” she shared. “So right after Miss Philippines Earth and Miss Earth, I went corporate. I worked in sales.”
Despite her corporate success, she remains connected to her beauty queen roots, regularly hosting and
judging pageants. Still, her most important roles, she emphasized, are being a mother and a wife.
Gaining ThroughConfidence Pageantry
HARN’s pageant journey began early, driven by her desire to overcome deep shyness.
“At four years old, I already knew I wanted to become a beauty queen,” she said, recalling how she admired “the beautiful ladies” she saw on screen.
But the dream didn’t come easily.
“I grew up being very clumsy because I was very shy. I felt so insecure,” she admitted. The crown was, for her, a catalyst for change.
“I felt that being a beauty queen would make me feel better and more confident,” she said. “That was my first inspiration.”
Harn joined 14 pageants, beginning at age 12, before clinching the Miss Philippines Earth 2007 crown. She recalled the moment vividly: “To be honest, I didn’t have anything in my mind. It was so blank
when I won. It was surreal.”
It took days for the victory to sink in.
Preparation as Her Foundation
LOOKING back, Harn credits her success not to natural beauty or intelligence, but to the discipline instilled by her mother, a former teacher. The most valuable lesson she learned, and now teaches, is the power of preparation.
“Practice and preparation are vital in competition,” she said. “And not just there. In life, in any career, you have to prepare.”
She admitted she often wasn’t the standout candidate: “In all my competitions, I wasn’t the most beautiful or the smartest.” But she trained relentlessly from age 14. “It took me years to practice a lot of the things I do in the pageant scene.”
The Transformative Effect of Miss Earth AMONG all the pageants she joined, Miss Philippines Earth remains her favorite because of its unique advocacy.
“Miss Philippines Earth and Miss
Earth are different because of the environmental focus,” she said.
Joining the pageant broadened her understanding of environmental issues. “It changed my perspective and gave me the information I needed to have more heart for the environment.”
Harn said Miss Earth is life-changing even for nonwinners, who often join school tours teaching Grade 2 students about environmental issues and solutions.
“It’s not just a pageant where the crown is the ultimate goal,” she emphasized. “Everyone is welcome to help in our advocacy.”
The platform also sharpened her communication skills. While other pageants focused on smiling and waving, Miss Philippines Earth required candidates to constantly speak and give environmental speeches—one reason Harn believes Miss Earth queens are strong communicators.
Life After the Limelight UNLIKE many titleholders who enter showbiz immediately after their reign, Harn sought a quieter path.
Having modeled internationally before becoming Miss Earth Philippines, she made an unexpected choice: “I wanted to be quiet. So I went to corporate.”
Finishing her education was a priority—a value instilled by her mother, who even declined a film offer for Harn during high school.
Although she accepted occasional acting roles later, including appearances on “Pasion de Amor” and “Ang Probinsyano,’ she found the industry too demanding.
Her real focus was the corporate world. She worked in sales for multinational companies such as Nestlé Philippines, Mac King Foods International, and Associated British Foods.
Interestingly, she kept her pageant life separate from her corporate credentials.
“I never mentioned being a beauty queen on my résumé,” she said. “It’s not going to help.”
Venturing Into Entrepreneurship
AFTER more than a decade in corporate sales, Harn took the leap into entrepreneurship by
establishing Imahe Academy. Her motivation was deeply personal.
“My first agenda was to have more time with my family,” she said, viewing the business as both a passion project and a retirement plan.
The idea wasn’t new; professors and colleagues had long encouraged her to conduct pageant and personality development training. Wanting formal credentials, she studied Image Mastery at the International Image Institute in Toronto.
Now more than a year old, Imahe Academy offers personality development, pageant training, hosting and modeling workshops, and personal image consultations including color analysis.
Harn finds the work immensely fulfilling, especially witnessing her students’ growth. She believes pageantry, far from superficial, builds essential life skills.
“The confidence I built—how I answer interviews, how I present myself, the integrity, the discipline— it’s a test of character,” she said. “Resilience, resourcefulness, kindness—lahat.”
Now as a mentor, she imparts two major pieces of advice to aspiring beauty queens and anyone seeking confidence: Just do it, and prepare.
“I join even if I’m not ready,” she said. “I’m glad I didn’t say no.” She stresses that opportunities won’t always wait for perfect readiness.
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. I’ve believed in that motto since I was a kid,” she said.
For those interested in enrolling at Imahe Academy, visit its website and social media pages at www.imahe-academy.com and @ImaheAcademy. You can also follow Jeanne Harn on her socials at @JeanneHarn, and listen to her podcast Your Harness.
• Watch the full episode on BusinessMirror’s YouTube channel. New episodes of “Freshly Brewed” air every Monday at 10 a.m. on YouTube,Facebook,andX.
Jeanne Harn, a former Miss Philippines Earth, talks about the career path she took after her reign with Justine Xyrah Garcia, BusinessMirror's Labor Reporter.
Levanta, Triconti team up for wind project in Quezon
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
LEVANTA Renewables (Levanta), Actis’ pan-Southeast Asia renewable energy (RE) platform, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Triconti Windkraft Group (Triconti) to jointly develop the Atimonan Onshore Wind Project in Quezon Province.
The wind power project has a potential capacity of 100 megawatts (MW) with an investment cost of about P8.7 billion. It was one of the projects award-
PLDT…
Continued from B1
along with network distribution equipment and cable infrastructure to extend connectivity to designated areas and users.
The company will also develop a unified front-end interface to streamline user access, with customization options for individual airports.
ed under the Government Energy Auction 4 (GEA-4), scheduled for commercial operation in 2028. It is expected to add significant clean power capacity to the grid and
support the Philippines’s goal of achieving 35 percent RE share in the national energy mix by 2030.
“Partnering with Triconti brings together their deep local knowledge and Levanta’s proven development track record across Southeast Asia. The Atimonan Wind Project reflects our shared confidence in the Philippines’ renewable energy sector and its ability to attract long-term foreign investment,” said Levanta Renewables CEO Pramod Singh.
Triconti Windkraft President Lila M. Rosenberger said winning GEA4 was just the start. “Our job now is to make good on that commitment-moving these projects from paper to power. Working with Levanta gives us the strength and expertise to deliver efficiently and ensure this wind farm brings lasting benefits to communities while advancing the
country’s energy independence.”
Levanta Renewables is a leading RE company in Southeast Asia. It oversees all stages of its projects, from development and financing to construction, operations, and maintenance. It is targeting to achieve an operating capacity of 1.5 gigawatts (GW) by 2028.
Triconti Windkraft Group, meanwhile, is a Filipino-Swiss joint venture focused on wind energy development in the Philippines. It manages projects from site identification to ready-to-build status ensuring full-cycle delivery.
With a pipeline of over 4 GW of onshore and offshore wind projects, Triconti is among the country’s largest independent developers and the first to secure offshore wind service development contracts from the Department of Energy.
Globe digital brand unveils new services
By Lorenz S. Marasigan
GLOBE Telecom Inc.’s digital brand GOMO launched a range of new services on late Thursday aimed at capturing younger Filipino consumers, introducing what it calls “first-in-market innovations” designed for mobile-first lifestyles.
The new offerings include borderless data packages, bundled fiber and mobile internet, and app-specific data conversion features.
“At GOMO, we believe staying connected should never hold you back,” said Dom Brucal, Head of GOMO Philippines. “This season, we want every Filipino to enjoy a truly unstoppable holiday.”
The product lineup includes UNSTPPBL GBs, which GOMO positions as the first borderless data service in the Philippine market. The offering allows subscribers to use data allocations both domestically and internationally without purchasing separate roaming packages or changing SIM cards.
GOMO also launched UNLI Fiber + Data, a converged product that bundles unlimited fixed broadband
and mobile data under a single subscription. The service aims to address demand for integrated home and mobile connectivity solutions. The company’s ‘Mo Creds feature enables subscribers to convert data allocations into unlimited access to specific applications including Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok.
GOMO also announced WanderJoy, a cross-border travel rewards program developed in partnership with eight telecommunications operators across the Asia Pacific region. The program provides benefits including airport lounge access, accommodation discounts, and travel-related perks. The initiative is supported by a GOMO Travel SIM/eSIM product offering instant activation for international use. Globe reported consolidated gross service revenues of P121.7 billion in January to September, slightly below the P124 billion posted in the
“We are proud to partner with Caap to bring world-class connectivity solutions to Philippine airports. This initiative is not just about improving internet access but about enhancing travel experience and creating new opportunities and advancements within these airports,” PLDT SVP Blums Pineda said.
“By strengthening our digital infrastructure, we are enhancing operational efficiency and elevating the overall passenger experience to meet global standards. With reli-
able and secure connectivity, Caap is committed to future-proofing the Philippine aviation industry by developing smarter and more sustainable facilities.”
Caap Director General Raul Del Rosario said the initiative supports the agency’s digital transformation efforts, noting that leveraging digital connectivity solutions will “ensure that its airports are well-equipped to support increasing passenger traffic and operational demands.”
STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK
LAST WEEK SHARE prices extended its gains last week, with the main index returning to the 6,000-point level, due to positive investor sentiment.
The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gained 25.11 points to close at 6,022.24 points.
“The bourse is still considered on a downtrend however as it has not yet surpassed its October 20 peak of 6,141.87 points,” Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco, senior research analyst at Philstocks Financials Inc., said.
“As of last Friday’s closing, the market is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.1 times, below its last five years’ average of 17.3 times.”
Average volume of trade was higher, valued at P7.53 billion. Foreign investors, who cornered about half of the trades, were net sellers at P3.21 billion.
Most of the sub-indices ended in the green, led by the broader All Shares index that gained 149.82 points to close at 3,568.34 points, the Financials index rose 12.26 to 2,004.50, the Industrial index lost 24.92 to 8,625.63, the Holding Firms index increased 158.54 to 4,855.98, the Property index added 7.58 to 2,218.47, the Services index fell 29.77 to 2,375.31 and the Mining and Oil index surged 1,175.90 to 13,715.01.
For the week, gainers outnumbered losers 124 to 98 and 32 shares were unchanged.
Top gainers were Golden MV Holdings Inc., Grand Plaza Hotel Corp., Jackstones Inc., Philweb Corp., Dizon Copper-Silver Mines Inc., Ferronoux Holdings Inc. and Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp.
Top losers, meanwhile, were NiHAO Mineral Resources International Inc., Primex Corp., Citystate Savings Bank Inc., Italpinas Development Corp., Apollo Global Capital Inc., DITO CME Holdings Corp. and Benguet Corp. B shares.
THIS WEEK
SHARE prices may continue to rise at the start of the last month of the year.
Tantiangco said investors are expected to look towards upcoming economic data for clues that would aid them in their decision making.
“Investors are expected to look towards the Philippines’ November inflation data, with a low print expected to boost sentiment as it would support BSP rate cut expectations,” he said. “Investors may also take cues from the S&P Global Philippines Manufacturing PMI. Finally, investors may monitor the peso’s movement with a further appreciation expected to help the local market.”
Broker 2TradeAsia said the index will waltz around the 6,000 zone, with intraday moves highlighting its attempt to disentangle from corruption headlines.
“Short-term catalysts include November 30’s nationwide protests, which could spike volatility but underscore long-term reforms badly needed to finally reduce country risk that has plagued equities.”
The central bank’s expected final rate cut on December 11 is supported by stillbenign inflation but underwhelming economic print.
“Expect policy to double-down on accommodative measures to buoy confidence, especially on the infra and capital formation side. Heading into 2026, tempered optimism prevails.”
Chartwise, the PSEi may continue to test the 6,000 level. If it is able to hold its position, this will be considered as its support while next resistance is seen at 6,150, Tantiangco said.
STOCK PICKS
BROKER Maybank Securities gave a hold advise on the stock of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. as its third quarter performance remained soft, with earnings at just 60 percent of its forecasts as coal prices continued to normalize and non-cash mine-development costs rose.
“We cut our 2025 and 2026 earnings by 27 percent and 30 percent on lower coal assumptions, bringing our target price down 26 percent to P26,” it said.
“While coal markets are expected to stay subdued through 2026, we maintain our hold call supported by SCC’s strong dividend profile, with a 2026 yield of 7 percent.”
Semirara Mining’s shares closed last week at P29.10 apiece.
Meanwhile, the broker still gave a buy
Banking&Finance
ENSURING A FUTURE This undated photo courtesy of ING Hubs B.V. Philippine Branch shows its employees participating in coastal cleanup efforts. According to the company, it achieved a 23.5-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, more than double its annual target, by transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy across its offices. Employees spearheaded initiatives that diverted 8,900 kilograms of textile waste, planted over 20,000 trees, and donated 95 units of blood in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross. CREDIT: ING HUBS B.V. PHILIPPINE BRANCH
Before chasing agentic AI, fix your generative AI adoption problem
ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI)
has already become a natural part of daily life. From smart home devices to digital assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, people regularly rely on AI without even realizing it.
From automating cutting-edge tasks to supporting creativity, the promise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) to revolutionize productivity and innovation is clear. These tools provide quick answers, automate routines, and enhance convenience, further solidifying the idea that if AI is used well, it can not only improve the quality of life but also increase efficiency. Its widespread personal use highlights an important reality: if AI can streamline everyday tasks, then businesses have even more reason to adopt and capitalize on such powerful technology within the workplace.
However, integrating AI into the professional workspace requires more than just making the tools available to employees. Such tools must be carefully tailored to the specific demands of a job before it can be effectively integrated into the workplace.
However, despite organizations investing heavily in Gen AI, with an expected annual growth rate of 36.6 percent from 2023 to 2030, only 0.5-3.5 percent of employees’ work hours are spent using these tools. Further, research from KPMG shows that over half of companies report no improvement in performance or profitability from their digital transformation efforts over the past five years.
This lack of return on investment suggests that the implementation of AI capabilities is not strategic enough. It also indicates that opportunities to maximize employee engagement are being missed.
Driving Gen AI adoption in the Philippines
IN the Philippines, generative AI is increasingly recognized as a driver of productivity and innovation. According to a policy note by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), AI adoption has significant potential to boost economic growth, improve efficiency, and create opportunities for workforce upskilling.
Despite this potential, workplace adoption in the country re-
DBP eyes to raise over ₧10B to fund loan program in ’26
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
OFFICIALS of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) are eyeing to raise more than P10 billion in new funds next year to support its lending programs as monetary easing prospects create an environment favorable to more borrowing.
DBP President and CEO Michael O. De Jesus told reporters last week that the bank will offer peso-denominated bonds in the second half of 2026, as part of its P150-billion bonds program.
The bank has a tentative size in mind, but it will not be more than P10 billion, added DBP Executive Vice President Carel D. Halog.
As for the tenor of the debt papers,
mains limited. In a recent report by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, only 14.9 percent of companies currently use AI tools, with adoption concentrated in large companies and urban centers, particularly in ICT and BPO sectors.
Many smaller businesses lag behind due to gaps in awareness, digital skills, funding, and infrastructure. This highlights the growing divide between large and small businesses, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies to support AI adoption among smaller organizations.
Recognizing these challenges, experts emphasize the importance of a thoughtful, tailored approach.
“Gen AI must account not only for being tailored to the specific responsibilities, needs, and workflows of each role but also for the differences in resources and capabilities between larger and smaller companies. Deploying AI without a clear strategy risks confusion, underutilization, or resistance, particularly among smaller businesses. Thoughtful planning and a commitment to complementing human creativity and expertise are essential,” said Technology Consulting Principal and Data, AI & Innovation Lead Doris Aura B. Pastoriza.
By putting these principles into practice, Filipino businesses can not only adopt AI effectively but also create an environment where employees feel empowered to explore and leverage these tools. This approach enhances efficiency, supports human creativity, and builds a strong foundation for future technologies, ensuring companies are well-positioned to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving, AI-driven economy.
This excerpt was taken from the KPMG Thought Leadership publication “Before chasing agentic AI, fix your generative AI adoption problem.”
Halog said the bank is looking at a medium-term tenor, but it would still depend on investor demand.
“As a borrower, you want to extend your duration and lock in your rates while it’s still low, right? Because when it goes up, you capture the lowest. As an investor, you don’t want to lock in. So it’s a balance between supply and demand,” Halog said.
“If you want to go longer, the
investor wants to make less. So you meet at this equilibrium level, which is somewhere in between,” he added.
In July 2025, the DBP raised P8.25 billion—above its minimum target of P5 billion—from its dual local bond offering under its expanded P150-billion bond program.
The proceeds will be used for the state-run lender’s general corporate requirements including funding source diversification, balance sheet expansion and broadened support for strategic lending activities.
Rate cuts
THE reduction in policy rates would bode well for the DBP, as current economic conditions point to an easing cycle.
“The outlook for the rates, with the GDP (gross domestic product) at 4 percent, [the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] can’t afford to hike the rates,” Halog said.
“In fact, even without the rate
hike, we’re looking at a GDP probably of not higher than 5 [percent],” he added, noting that the Philippine economy is consumerdriven but consumer confidence is low and government spending is weak.
The DBP official said he expects a rate cut in December, followed by two more 25-basis-point cuts in 2026 as inflation continues to cool.
“More or less, that’s the signaling we’re getting from the BSP,” Halog said, adding that next year’s rate cuts would depend on inflation.
“If the numbers are good, if the growth is weak, they’ll probably cut more aggressively,” he said.
Larger, 50-basis point moves are unlikely, given the BSP’s preference for gradual adjustments and the sixmonth lag in monetary transmission.
While monetary transmission to the broader economy takes time, Halog said that lending rates in the financial markets, including DBP, adjust more quickly.
53rd Asean Banking Council Meeting held successfully
THE 53rd Asean Banking Council Meeting was successfully held on November 21 at Novotel Yangon Max Hotel, Yangon in Myanmar, read a statement issued by the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) last week. The meeting was hosted by Myanmar Banks Association (MBA) and was well attended by over 150 senior banking executives in person and virtually from the 10-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
At the Council Meeting, members endorsed the proposals of its three permanent committees: Cooperation in Finance, Investment, Trade and Technology (Cofitt); Asean Inter-Regional Relations (IRR); and, Banking Education. Cooperation in Finance, Investment, Trade and Technology
THE Cofitt endorsed a set of dispute resolution processes and operating rules for adoption by cross-border payment corridors in Asean.
The guidelines, developed in close collaboration with the Asean payment switch members of the Asian Payments Network, will help enhance transparency and efficiency in cross-border QRpayment dispute resolution processes within Asean, to engender greater trust and confidence in these transactions among customers and merchants. The comprehensive guidelines define clear responsibilities of the various parties involved, such as the consumer, bank, merchant, and switch, for dispute scenarios that could arise from each step of a cross-border QR payment.
The committee also agreed to publish two white papers to advance an ecosystem approach for combatting scams in Asean.
The first paper, which was developed together with the NUS Asian Institute of Digital Finance, provides a “toolbox” of anti-scam measures for Asean banks, comprising commonly adopted controls as well as context-specific measures.
The second paper focuses on how other beneficiaries of the digital economy can help put up a more comprehensive fight against scams. The paper makes
briefs
the case for an ecosystem approach to manging digital fraud in Asean and recommends proportionate responsibilities that could be undertaken by non-bank digital economy participants, including telcos, social media companies, e-commerce platforms and digital payment platforms.
Cofitt members committed to take onboard the recommendations of the first paper within their own banking sector. The Committee would also be updating the Asean Central Bank Governors and Asean Digital Ministers on this initiative and seek their support to take forward the ecosystem approach against scams.
Regular meetings will also be organized to continue sharing of best anti scam practices among members, and success stories of engaging regulators and non-bank ecosystem participants on the ecosystem approach to fight scams. The meetings would also strengthen links between anti-scam units of banks to enhance cross-border anti scam efforts.
The committee was also updated on the regional Digital Trade Connectivity initiative that seeks to facilitate the digitalisation of end-to-end practices and processes relating to cross-border trade transactions.
Committee on Asean InterRegional Relations
THE Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) successfully concluded the 2025 Asean IRR Study Tour to Hong Kong, featuring key sessions with The Hong Kong Association of Banks, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Limited, ZA Bank, WeLab Bank, Mox Bank, Hong Kong Cyberport and Financial Services Development Council.
For 2026, the Committee agreed for the study tour to continue to be held physically to enhance networking and collaboration among National Banking Association members.
The topics of interest proposed were as follows:
n Sustainability (green financing, transition finance, climate action).
n Artificial Intelligence.
n Cross-border payments and connectivity.
n SME digital onboarding and supply chain financing.
n Cybersecurity and ESG reporting.
The study tour 2026 venue for these topics would be selected based on a poll which will be conducted by Asean IRR Secretariat.
During the Asean IRR discussions, sustainability was a major focus, with members updating on their countries’ sustainable banking initiatives.
A proposal from The Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) for a MoU with the Asean Bankers Association was deliberated at the Asean IRR Committee. The consensus was supportive of the proposed MoU which will facilitate close communications and sharing of best practice between HKAB and ABA members. ABM remains committed to fostering collaboration and advancing the industry’s role through impactful programs like the Asean IRR Study Tour.
Committee on Banking Education
THE Committee on Banking Education convened with representatives from 10 Asean jurisdictions to review progress on regional banking education initiatives and adopt new directions for crossborder collaboration.
Among the key outcomes, the Committee welcomed the NUS Asian Institute of Digital Finance’s (AIDF) readiness to formalise partnerships either directly with National Banking Associations (NBAs) or through the ABA. Members were encouraged to initiate exploratory discussions that would later expand into broader academic, regulatory, and industry engagements. The Committee likewise affirmed that NBAs may pursue partnerships under the BAP-led Treasury Certification Program (TCP), which has completed all preparatory requirements and now stands ready for wider Asean participation.
The Committee further endorsed continued alignment with Singapore’s Financial Services Skills Framework (FSSF), recognizing its value in help -
➔ SG firm, Visa Inc. ink deal HITPAY Payment Solutions Pte. Ltd. announced last week a partnership with Visa Inc. to expand card payment acceptance in the Philippines. According to HitPay CEO Aditya Haripurkar, the company expects the partnership will enable small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to process both in-store and online transactions. Haripukar said the agreement, the value of which the company didn’t disclose, comes as digital commerce in the Philippines grows rapidly, which is fueled by surging consumer demand for cashless and seamless shopping experiences. By integrating HitPay’s payment platform with the scale and connectivity of Visa’s acceptance solutions platform, the partnership ensures more local merchants can offer card payments across channels to match evolving customer expectations and expand their reach beyond cash. Rizal Raoul Reyes ➔ Security Bank taps AI firm Security Bank Corp. announced it entered into a partnership with Wiz Holdings Pte. Ltd, a regional leader in AI–powered voice automation, for the lender’s digital transformation agenda and enhancement of customer engagement. The value of the agreement, formalized in a signing ceremony on November 17, was not disclosed. The lender said it plans to integrate
ing jurisdictions identify their core strengths and emerging “power centers” for interregional knowledge exchange. Members agreed to strengthen their respective national banking skills frameworks, with a long-term objective of building a coherent regional ecosystem for banking education and training. The meeting also reaffirmed support for the ABA Training Portal, directing that it be maintained with quarterly updates, refreshed access credentials, increased member engagement, and expanded utility, including serving as a repository for NUS-AIDF white papers and content on emerging fields such as tokenisation.
The ABA Committee meeting in Myanmar highlighted a wide range of forward-looking initiatives from NBAs across the region. Singapore presented its ongoing study on workforce transformation in the age of GenAI, while Malaysia and Singapore reported joint efforts to develop a GenAI-enabled skillsassessment tool. Thailand affirmed its readiness to share its expanding library of e-learning and social-media materials to support broader financial literacy campaigns. Indonesia and Malaysia outlined their respective training programs, noting the potential availability of regional scholarships.
The Committee also took note of emerging centers of excellence in Islamic finance in Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia, underscoring the region’s deepening collaboration in specialized financial disciplines.
Finally, the Committee highlighted the importance of more continuous sharing of initiatives throughout the year and agreed to collaborate on a dedicated workstream on financial literacy, focusing particularly on consumer safety and fraud prevention. The meeting concluded with a unified call to sustain momentum, deepen cooperation, and reinforce Asean-wide capability building in support of a resilient and future-ready financial sector.
The 54th Asean Banking Council Meeting will be held in the fourth quarter in Philippines and hosted by the BAP.
PREY BY DAY:
How civilians became the mark in Russia’s drone hunts in Ukraine
By Hanna Arhirova The Associated Press
KHERSON, Ukraine—When
Olena Horlova leaves home or drives through town outside the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, she fears that she’s a target. She believes that Russian drones could be waiting on a rooftop, along the road or aiming for her car.
To protect herself and her two daughters, the girls stay indoors, and she stays alert—sometimes returning home at night along dark ro ads without headlights so as not to be seen.
After living through the occupation, refusing to cooperate with R ussian forces and hiding from them, Horlova, like so many other residents, found that even after her town was liberated in 2022, the ordeal didn’t end.
K herson was among the first places where Russian forces began using short-range, first-person view, or FPV, drones against civilians. The drones are equipped with livestreaming cameras that let operators see a nd select their targets in real time. The tactic later spread more than 300 kilometers (185 miles) along the right bank of the Dnipro River, across the Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.
The United Nations’ Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine says the attacks leave little doubt about their intent. In an October report, the commission said that the attacks have repeatedly killed and wounded civilians, destroyed homes and forced thousands t o flee, concluding that they amount to the crimes against humanity of murder and forcible transfer.
“We live with the hope that one day this will finally end,” Horlova said, her voice trembling. “What matters for us is a cease-fire, or for the front line to be pushed further away. Then it would be easier for us.”
Hunting those who survived HORLOVA lives in Komyshany, a village just outside Kherson and only 4 k ilometers (2½ miles) from the Dnipro River, where the level of intense a ttacks has remained the same, despite Ukrainian forces retaking the c ity from Russian occupation in November 2022—about nine months a fter Russia launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24 of that year. But the war didn’t end there. Instead, it shifted into a phase in which t he area has effectively become what locals and the military term a “human safari,” describing it as a testing g round where people are often the target of drone attacks.
Horlova says that FPVs often land on rooftops when their batteries run low and then wait out.
“When people, cars or even a cyclist appear, the drone suddenly lifts o ff and drops the explosive,” she said. “It’s gotten to the point where they even drop them on animals— cows, goats.”
Human hunting AT ONE of Kherson’s main hospitals treating drone victims, 70-year-old Nataliia Naumova is recovering after a strike by a Shahed drone, which c arries a heavier explosive than FPV drones, left her with a blast injury to her left leg on Oct. 20. She says the strike hit during the night as she waited at a school in the village of Inzhenerne, where she had been temporarily sheltered, for an evacuation bus that was due to arrive the next morning.
“ There were so many drones flying over us,” she said, adding that s he rarely left home even after its windows were shattered and boarded up. “People there survive, not live. I never thought such a tragedy would happen to me.”
Dr. Yevhen Haran, the hospital’s deputy medical chief, says the injuries from drone strikes range from a mputations to fatal wounds.
She believes that civilians are hunted as “revenge” for the celebrations that broke out when Kherson w as liberated.
nels routinely share videos of the attacks, often with mocking captions a nd threats of more.
The report from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine says the attacks have spread terror among civilians and violated their right to life and other fundamental human rights. Investigators found that Russian units on t he occupied left bank of the Dnipro carried out the strikes and identified specific drone units, operators and commanders involved. They also noted that Russian Telegram chan -
The UN commission said that it examined Russian claims that Ukrainian forces had launched drone attacks on civilians in occupied areas, u nable to conclude its investigation because it lacked access to the territory, couldn’t ensure witness safety a nd didn’t receive answers from Russian authorities.
Invisible dome INTERCEPTIONS obtained by The Associated Press from the 310th Separate Marine Electronic Warfare Battalion show Russian FPV drones that appear to be hunting for vehicles. The videos capture drones flying low over roads and locking onto m oving or parked cars—often pickups, supply vehicles, sedans and even c learly marked ambulances—before diving for a strike.
The commander of the 310th Battalion, which protects the skies over 470 kilometers (nearly 300 miles) of southern Ukraine, including Kherson, says at least 300 drones fly toward the city every day. In October a lone, the number of drones that flew over Kherson was 9,000.
“This area is like a training ground,” said the battalion’s com -
mander, Dmytro Liashok, a 16-year m ilitary veteran and one of Ukraine’s early pioneers in electronic warfare.
“They bring new Russian crews here to gain experience before sending them elsewhere.” The AP couldn’t independently verify the claim.
Despite the sheer volume of drones—a figure that excludes other types of weapons like artillery and glide bombs—his forces manage to neutralize more than 90 percent, he said.
According to the UN human rights office, short-range drone attacks have become the leading cause of civilian casualties near the front line.
L ocal authorities say that since July 2024, more than 200 civilians have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded in three southern regions, with most victims being men. Nearly 3,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed.
During a surprise visit to Kherson in November, Angelina Jolie described the constant overhead threat a s “a heavy presence.”
“There was a moment when we had to pause and wait while a drone flew overhead,” she wrote on Instagram. “I was in protective gear, and f or me it was just a couple of days. The families here live with this every single day.”
“It’s simply hunting for people. There’s no other name for it,” he said. He says patients wounded in Russian attacks, including drone strikes, a rrive at the hospital every day. Last month alone, it treated 85 inpatients and 105 outpatients with blast injuries, all from shelling and drone s trikes. It’s also the only hospital in the area equipped to handle the most serious cases.
Haran himself came under FPV drone fire on Aug. 26 while driving from nearby Mykolaiv with his w ife. Rescuers stopped their car on the highway, warning that a drone was overhead.
“I pulled in behind them. The drone circled and, on the next pass, flew straight into their vehicle—the driver’s door,” he recalled. Shrapnel tore through the front car, while his, parked behind, shielded him. He reached the hospital with a hypertensive crisis and was later treated for a concussion. “Sometimes I still lose words and feel unsteady,” he said. “It all happened in less than 10 minutes.” For people in Kherson, the experience of occupation, and the moment t he city was freed, still shapes how they endure the constant drone attacks.
“We held out until liberation— we’ll hold out until peace as well,” he said.
COMMANDER of the 310th Battalion, Dmytro Liashok, a 16-year military veteran and one of Ukraine’s early pioneers in electronic warfare, talks with the Associated Press in the frontline city of Kherson, Southern Ukraine, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. AP/EFREM LUKATSKY
covered with
anti-FPV-drone net, a road sign reading “Attention/Danger/Enemy Drones,” at the approaches to the frontline city of Kherson, Southern Ukraine, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.
Women working wonders
‘IF I am Miss Universe, I want to be a role model for all the young girls and let them know that you too can make it. Go in those rooms where you think you don’t belong, shine, and make sure you assume your identity,” so went the winning statement of Miss Côte d’Ivoire Olivia Yacé which reverberated across the Universe.
This clarion call is not just for the impressionable youth, but also for impassioned ladies who know how to get things done.
BEA ZOBEL JR. AND SOFIA ZOBEL ELIZALDE: CHAMPIONS OF ARTISANS
IN its 12th year, the Designers’ Holiday Bazaar (DHB) and its philanthropic thrust are stronger than ever. It continues to support the finest in Filipino fashion and accessories, food, home and local crafts, and wellness and personal-care products while raising funds for Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI) and STEPS foundation scholars.
Presented by GCash and Globe, the country’s groundbreaking first nonprofit initiative bazaar is ongoing until December 7, and is located at The Gallery & Amphitheatre at Greenbelt 5 and at the Main Activity Center and the Palm Drive Activity Center in Glorietta.
“We always believed that passion can take many local talents to great heights when given the right support. More than a marketplace, the Designers’ Holiday Bazaar is a platform that makes dreams come true, potentials realized, and goals achieved. Every patron gets to be a part of this mission. It’s a collective effort that inevitably makes Christmas shopping more meaningful,” said Sofia Zobel Elizalde, curator and co-founder.
Bea Zobel Jr., co-curator and co-founder, echoed: “We are always on a mission to give back to the Filipino community, and one of the ways we are able to achieve this year after year is the DHB. It’s always heartwarming to see both consumers and beneficiaries benefit from DHB. Families take home beautifully crafted products from different regions of the Philippines, while artisans gain greater visibility and scholars receive vital support. It’s quite inspiring, even for us, and it moves us to do better and aim higher every time.”
JOSIE CRUZ NATORI: FEMININE ALLURE
THE pioneering Fil-Am designer unveils her namesake Natori brand’s Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection she calls “The Many Layers of Natori.” A rich exploration of texture, color and artistry, the range is true to her feminine allure aesthetic. It features sculptural details, 3D embellishments, and shimmering sequins in earthy neutrals such as taupe and heather gray with warm shades of ruby red. The fabrics are soft, flirty, fluid crepe knits, techno crepe, and shibori-inspired Japanese taffeta.
“HER STORY” AT CROWNE PLAZA
RISING designer Rhon Balagtas led the sartorial
storytelling in “Her Story: Celebrating Every Woman’s Milestones,” held at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, in collaboration with JMG Infinity Events. The gala show celebrated the strength, style, and stories of women, as embodied by Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz and Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago
“At Crowne Plaza, we believe that true hospitality goes beyond service—it’s about creating meaningful experiences and supporting purposeful causes.
‘Her Story’ was not only a celebration of women’s achievements, but also a reflection of our advocacy for sustainability, cultural preservation, and giving back to the community. We were honored to provide a stage where fashion meets purpose,” said Patria Puyat, the cluster general manager.
REGINE ANASTACIO: HER FASHION JOURNEY
FROM Manila to Bangkok to Singapore to New York, Regine Anastacio’s adventures has shaped her world-view, and thus of “Woven,” her digital magazine.
“It was in NYC, the city of intersections, that I
launched ‘Woven,’ which is my love letter to fashion’s intersections. It explores how style is always entangled with memory, migration and community,” she explained. “It also shows how cross-cultural fashion shapes identity and positions me as a voice with an international perspective.”
In Manila, she remembers the Maria Clara, the traditional Filipino gown stitched in delicate piña fabric embroidery, a symbol of elegance and history woven into her childhood. Her world widened in Bangkok, where at only seven years old she marveled at the elegance of Chut Thai, draped shawls and handwoven silks worn during festivals, garments carrying centuries of Thai heritage.
In Singapore, Regine, then 14, was charmed by Orchard Road and the global luxury houses that stood beside rising Asian designers, teaching her to see fashion as both cultural expression and global industry.
“In New York, thrift stores and flea markets became my laboratories of style. If Singapore had shown me structure and polish, New York opened
my eyes to reinvention. Here, garments carried second lives, patched, repurposed, or styled in ways that broke rules,” she mused. “In this city, individuality mattered more than labels, and this spirit resonated deeply with my own journey of piecing together cultures.”
THE MRS. EARTH 2025 QUEENS OF TEAM USA
THE Mrs. Earth International 2025 Grand Finals will be on December 8, 2025 at the SMX Convention Center. It seeks women who “embody the beauty, intellect and compassion for our one and only home, our Mother Earth.”
Ahead of the competition, the reigning queens of Team USA, composed of Filipino-Americans, hosted a meet-and-greet with the media. They are Shania Heart Lomboy, Miss Lady of the Earth International USA 2025, a Washington content creator and student currently pursuing Associate in Fine Arts; Isabel Scalzo, Mrs. Earth International USA 2025, from Tucson, Arizona, but originally from Pangasinan, and is a nursing assistant and realtor; Angie Crisanto Johns, Mrs. Earth International Elite USA 2025, is a Washington resident with an associate degree in accounting, and presently working as a management system analyst; and Estella Fullerton, Mrs. Lady of the Earth International Elite USA 2025 and national director of Mrs. Earth International USA, living in Montana but hailing from Cotabato City.
WILHELMINA LORRAINE MARTIN TAN: PRODIGY QUITE remarkable that at 17, Wilhelmina Lorraine Martin has already performed a solo recital with the Manila Symphony Orchestra Music Academy on October 18, 2025 at the GSIS Theater in Pasay City.
Wilhelmina is currently pursuing the International Baccalaureate diploma at the British School Manila, where she takes Higher Level Music as part of her academic program. When at about 10, she was introduced to the MSO, which she credits for honing her artistic range.
“My voice teacher was also connected with the orchestra. Some of my classmates trained with him too, and that’s how I eventually joined. When I started, it was mostly classical. Later, we began performing Disney songs, Broadway pieces, and eventually pop music. That variety helped me explore who I am as an artist,” the soft-spoken teen said.
This year, she earned the ABRSM Level 2 Certificate in Music Performance with Merit, receiving an impressive total of 18 academic credits.
Besides studying both classical and contemporary vocal performance, Wilhelmina completed a shadowing experience with GMA Network, immersing herself into the world of television and music production, talent development, and live-show coordination.
What’s more, she is a kart-racing enthusiast and an environmentalist, leading a project that transformed discarded plastic bottles into eco-brick benches for a school in Pampanga.
It’s music, though, that she’s most passionate about.
“When I started, it was mostly classical. Later, we began performing Disney songs, Broadway pieces, and eventually pop music,” Wilhelmina noted. “That variety helped me explore who I am as an artist,” she added in an endearingly modest way.”
T
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AWN ZULUETA LAGDAMEO is back at Marie France after two decades of concentrating on her being a wife and mom, and this time she is joined by her daughter Ayisha. When she was 36, Dawn’s purpose for going to Marie France was post-natal slimming. Things have changed and her priorities right now are her health and wellbeing.
“At my age I am really looking more for blood circulation, helping to ease the muscle pain, the joint pain. Things that are brought by menopause,”
how her goals have changed and these days, she is looking to improve her blood circulation and ease the muscle and joint pain.
For her concerns, Dawn incorporates Marie France’s “Trifecta for Wellness” into her routine: Wonder Axon, Endospheres, and Celluform. This trio of treatments works on different aspects of the body, from strength and mobility to skin health and recovery.
Ayisha, who is a ballet dancer, is at Marie France because a growth spurt has made her body awkward. She recalls feeling joint and knee pain, which she mistook for injuries. Then, she went to a doctor who told her that it was a growth spurt.
Like her mom, Ayisha likes Endospheres, which addresses the everyday discomfort like frozen shoulders, stiff joints that usually comes with menopause and other age-related changes. Endospheres stimulates lymphatic drainage and improving circulation and eases aches in the shoulders, lower back, and knees. This helps Dawn and Ayisha move more freely and feel lighter after each session.
For the mother-and-daughter tandem, their wellness sessions together have become
bonding time as they manage their wellness concerns. Dawn’s new goals reflect a shift not only in her own priorities but also in Marie France’s. The brand is marking its 40th anniversary by embracing a more holistic approach to health and wellness, helping clients not just look good but also feel stronger, healthier, and more confident at every stage of life.
Get connected with Marie France through https://mariefrance.com.ph/, or through their social media pages on Facebook or Instagram.
MHR Lands Major Recognitions in Two Prestigious Hospitality Awards in the PHL
Megaworld Hotels & Resorts (MHR) continues to make remarkable strides in the Philippine hospitality industry as it takes home accolades from two of the country’s most prestigious award-giving bodies — the 11th Virtus Awards and the 28th Mabuhay Awards. These recognitions highlight not only MHR’s creativity and talent pool, but also its unwavering commitment to purpose-driven leadership, inclusivity, and Filipino hospitality.
“These recognitions are a humbling reminder of what truly drives Megaworld Hotels & Resorts—our people. Their love for their work and their passion continues to elevate our service and our culture. Therefore, behind every marketing campaign and every milestone is a team that pours genuine heart, creativity, and purpose into their craft. And when love becomes part of one’s purpose, it radiates authentically — guests feel it, colleagues feel it, and the entire organization grows because of it,” Cleofe Albiso, Managing Director of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, said. At the 11th Virtus Awards held in Parañaque on October 16, 2025, with the theme “Paths and Bridges: Leading the Way and Building Continuity,” MHR’s “100% Muslim-Friendly Accommodation Establishment” marketing campaign was hailed as the Marketing Campaign of the Year, besting 12 other hotel groups nationwide, making it a second consecutive win for the group after “Ang Sampaguita” received the same award last year.
The judges described the campaign as “authentic, inclusive, and commercially impactful — a purpose-driven innovation that addressed an untapped market with meaningful results.” They further commended
MHR for demonstrating leadership with sincerity, cultural respect, and a strong sense of national purpose while achieving tangible business outcomes.
This pioneering initiative positioned MHR as the Philippines’ first Muslim-Friendly Hotel Chain, with all of its properties recognized by the Department of Tourism as Muslimfriendly accommodation establishments. It also gained international acclaim at the Halal In Travel Awards in Singapore last June, where MHR was applauded for elevating the country’s readiness to welcome Muslim travelers.
Moreover, MHR was awarded the Philippine Tourism Excellence Award last September for its efforts in promoting Muslim inclusivity and the Filipinization of hospitality through its signature brand of service - the Sampaguita.
The awards night also showcased the strength of MHR’s talent pool, with 13 associates from various properties emerging as national finalists in the categories of Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate, Manager, and Leader.
MHR also took home two major awards at the 28th Mabuhay Awards, widely regarded as the “Oscars of Philippine Hospitality,” held on November 14. The event coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Association of Human Resources Managers (AHRM) and carried the theme “Galing ng Pilipino, Ginto ng Buong Mundo,” honoring the world-class service of Filipino hospitality professionals.
Maria Bianca Villanueva, Accounts Payable Associate of Twin Lakes Hotel, earned the Heart of the House Award in recognition of her dedication and excellence in back-ofhouse operations. Meanwhile, Hanna Kristina Tiongson, People Management & Development Manager of Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, was named HR Leader of the Year, marking another back-to-back victory for MHR following Trixie Tan’s win in 2024. MHR sent a strong lineup of 30 nominees for the Mabuhay Awards. Their triumphs reflect the company’s Circle of Happiness philosophy — a culture anchored on love for God, self, family, work, and country. This framework continues to guide MHR’s people toward finding joy and meaning in their daily work, where passion for service meets purpose and authenticity.
This culture of care and empowerment is strengthened by MHR’s Great Place To Work® certification, which it has proudly achieved for three consecutive years. With 90% of employees affirming that MHR is a great place to work and an 87% Trust Index Score reflecting strong confidence in its leadership, the company continues to nurture an environment where innovation, inclusion, and excellence thrive.
MHR’s triumphs in both Virtus and Mabuhay Awards cements its standing as a trailblazer in Philippine hospitality — one that bridges commercial success with cultural empathy, and strategy with heart.
Wilcon Depot Receives Special Recognition at HCG’s 30th Anniversary
Depot received a special recognition from HCG Philippines during its 30th anniversary celebration. This honor commemorates the companies’ longstanding brand partnership, which plays a vital role in strengthening the Philippine home improvement industry. The event was held at the Solaire Grand Ballroom. Influential guests and industry partners arrived in elegant traditional Filipino baro’t saya ensembles,
paying homage to the event’s theme, “Rooted in Heritage, Shaped by Innovation.”
During the program, HCG expressed its gratitude to Wilcon Depot by presenting a special recognition award in appreciation of the company’s consistent support over the years. Even prior to HCG inaugurating its local manufacturing facility, the Belo family of Wilcon Depot believed in the brand’s potential. Wilcon supported HCG’s locally produced solutions, an early act of trust that contributed significantly to HCG’s strong foundation today.
HCG Chairman Patrick Chiu and HCG Board Member Scott Chiu shared heartfelt remarks of gratitude. They expressed deep reverence and tribute to the people, business associates, and communities that have been instrumental to HCG’s growth over the past three decades.
HCG Philippines President Eugene Lin also delivered a visionary address, introducing the brand’s forward-looking roadmap. He reaffirmed HCG’s commitment to delivering world-class home solutions for many more years and announced the launch of new product lines designed to meet evolving customer needs.
Wilcon Depot’s continued support for HCG reflects their shared dedication to innovation and their commitment to providing high-quality home improvement solutions to Filipino households.
For more information about Wilcon, visit www.wilcon.com.ph or follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or subscribe and connect with them on Viber Community, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Or you may contact Wilcon Depot Hotline at 88-WILCON (88-945266) for inquiries.
Pizza Hut’s new pizzas are made for the most adventurous foodies
PIZZA Hut has always been a place for those who live curiously and crave more than the ordinary. And now, these adventurous foodies are in for a treat once more with its newest offerings promising a journey through rich textures, bold tastes, and unexpected delight: the new Truffle Mushroom Crunch Pizza and the Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza, here for a limited time only.
The Truffle Mushroom Crunch Pizza is hearty, rustic, and delightfully crispy. Made with creamy truffle sauce, mozzarella cheese, and truffle oil for a rich aroma, it is then topped with mushroom slices from China, shoestring potatoes from the US, and truffle herb seasoning and parmesan cheese from New Zealand. It’s like walking through a forest of flavor where every bite is decadent yet cozy, perfect for those who enjoy a touch of earthy sophistication.
Filipina teen walks for NATULIQUE at World Beauty Forum 2025
Amulti-hyphenated Filipina teenager, Cara Adrillana, who is also a musician, beauty and fashion enthusiast, and aspiring pastry chef, took the spotlight in Bangkok, Thailand this month as one of the featured beauty walkers for NATULIQUE, the Danish hair and beauty brand known for its sustainable, organic, and ecoconscious products.
With her fresh energy and effortless presence, she brought Gen Z representation to an international stage that champions clean beauty. The event was held at the megahub True Digital Park on November 5, 2025 headed by NATULIQUE Thailand’s talented head stylist Ms. Sayumporn with her dynamic team.
As Cara continues her journey in fashion and wellness, her momager and mentor shared a message that guides her through every milestone: “Positivity, brilliance, and kindness will always shine even without stepping on anybody or trying to overshadow one’s light. Always give it your best, be in the moment, and do things with integrity and kindness, but never allow anybody to step all over you.”
Her Bangkok walk marks a rising chapter for Filipino youth making waves in the region: confident, smart, conscious, and proudly representing her roots, her
Cara Adrillana country, and her culture.
Her participation was supported by brands that share the same advocacy for responsible, youthful, and forward-thinking beauty: CAD Clinic, Porma PH, Treasure Earth, Bread Lounge,
Lemon, and Clear Summers.
SPRINGBUILD Development Inc.
marked a key milestone with the blessing of its new corporate office in Barangay Pasong Camachile II, General Trias, Cavite. This reflects the company’s growth from modest beginnings into a rising player in the regional real estate industry.
Located along the expanding Open Canal Road corridor, the new headquarters symbolize SPRINGBUILD’s growing credibility and longterm commitment to building communities that are not only accessible but also thoughtfully planned. The company has since focused on a mission: to deliver smart, well-designed homes that help Filipino families thrive in rapidly urbanizing areas.
“This new space reflects the journey we’ve taken from learning the ropes on the ground to developing entire communities,” said Jen Trinidad, CEO of SPRINGBUILD.
Trinidad brings with her 23 years of solid experience in the Philippine real estate industry. Having worked with some of the country’s largest and most respected property developers, she leads the company with a deep understanding of how to build homes that truly meet the needs of Filipino families.
“It symbolizes our dedication to provide buyers with a delightful experience in home purchase and our perseverance to discover better ways to get things done when faced with challenges. We have confidence in what we’ve built, and where we are headed next,” she added.
Founded in 2016, SPRINGBUILD started as a house repair provider in Cavite. By 2019, it transitioned into outsourced services for a prominent local developer, managing everything from marketing and sales to construction and loan processing. This shift
laid the groundwork for its evolution into a full-service residential developer focused on the needs of the Filipino middle market.
As infrastructure continues to improve and key developments rise throughout Cavite, many Filipino families are making the move beyond Metro Manila. The growing ease of travel, access to quality schools, reliable transport networks, and the emergence of multiple business districts across the province have transformed Cavite into a highly attractive residential destination.
SPRINGBUILD is responding to this shift by developing low-density, purposefully planned communities that offer residents the space and flexibility to thrive in a fastchanging environment. The company also holds key land banks in General Trias (4.5 hectares) and Naic (12 hectares), providing a strong foundation for scaled expansion.
SPRINGBUILD’s Michelle House Model, located in San Miguel Subdivision in Molino, Bacoor, is designed with functionality and comfort in mind. It offers a generous usable floor area of 158.10 square meters on a typical 240-square-meter lot, with a price range between P8 to P10 million. The layout emphasizes breathing space and includes open areas ideal for family gatherings and everyday moments.
“Our goal has always been to offer more than just housing,” shared Michelle Lleva, Operations Manager, SPRINGBUILD. “We aim to provide real solutions to the everyday challenges of Filipino families,” Lleva added. As it continues to grow, SPRINGBUILD remains rooted in its original purpose: to build communities where families can live well, connect meaningfully, and grow with confidence.
To make every adventure even more exciting, both pizzas can be enjoyed with any of Pizza Hut’s crusts! Choose Pan Pizza for that classic pizza indulgence, or Mega Crunch for that distinctly cracker-thin crust. There are also the Stuffed Crust and Ultimate Cheesy Bites for those who want more out of every slice.
These creations are available for a limited time only! Enjoy these together with your other favorites from Pizza Hut by visiting your nearest store for dine-in and take-out orders. You can also order for delivery by calling the (02) 8911-1111 hotline, logging on to www.pizzahut.com, with a few taps via the Pizza Hut mobile app, available for Android and iOS devices; or through Pizza Hut’s official delivery partners GrabFood and foodpanda (prices may vary)! And lastly, make sure to follow and give Pizza Hut a like on Facebook, Instagram, and X so you won’t miss out on the latest news, updates, and offers.
The Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza delivers a playful mix of sweet, spicy, and savory. Made with pulpy tomato sauce from the US and mozzarella cheese from Australia, New Zealand, and the US, it is then topped with pepperoni and cream cheese from Denmark, and fresh basil for added freshness. Finally, it is drizzled with hot honey syrup from Thailand, adding a warm, sweet kick in every bite. It’s a flavor adventure for those who want something familiar with a sweet-spicy twist.
Virtus Awards Chair Rose Libongco, HSMA’s President Loleth So, Director for Public Relations Cielo Reboredo, Director of Programs Jennylyn Santillan and Virtus juror Jos Ortega joined the MHR executives Cleofe Albiso, Managing Director, Art Boncato, Group General Manager, Claire Bernabe, Head of Sales and Strategic Partnership, and Cluster General Managers Avinash Menon and Sonny Alvaro.
Seamora, Alpaca
In the photo are, from left, HCG Philippines Board of Director Scott Chiu, Wilcon Depot President and CEO Lorraine Belo-Cincochan, EVP - CPO Careen Belo, Audrey Belo, EVP - Treasurer Mark Belo, HCG Philippines Chairman Patrick Chiu and Board of Director Alex Wu.
With the Truffle Mushroom Crunch Pizza and Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza, Pizza Hut invites adventurous foodies to explore, taste, and enjoy the brand’s bold flavors in new and exciting ways.
MMFF 2025: Reel power, real stories
THE 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) carries the theme “A New Era for Philippine Cinema.” It is, as Harvard scholar Joseph Nye described, an act of soft power, the ability of culture to influence via attraction rather than coercion. Each December, the festival becomes a mirror of Filipino identity and imagination.
This year’s eight films show a cinema in transition, seeking wider inclusion while still balancing conscience and commerce. The themes strengthen what keeps us connected in an age of distraction.
THEME 1: Mothers, Families, and the Ties That Heal CALL Me Mother” tells the story of Twinkle, a single queer mom whose adopted son Angel can be legally hers only if no one claims him within three months, a deadline that tests her love when Mara enters their lives. Written by Daisy C. Cayanan, Daniel S. Saniana, and Jun Robles Lana, the film stars Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre.
“Rekonek” weaves six stories of Filipinos forced offline, from a family of influencers rediscovering life beyond screens, to strangers finding comfort in a landline queue, and an artist facing a false accusation. In a climate shaped by what Jonathan Ong and Jason Cabañes call digital disinformation, the film restores faith in presence and conversation, and is writ -
VIBER CRO CRISTINA CONSTANDACHE ON EASING THE CUSTOMER JOURNEY, SUPER APPS, AND HER TECH EXPERIENCE FROM THEN TO NOW MANILA, PHILIPPINES—“When I first stepped into tech, it felt a lot like surfing a tide. You can’t control everything, and it can be unpredictable, but staying alert and open helps you keep moving forward.” This was how Cristina Constandache, Chief Revenue Officer at Rakuten Viber, painted her initial experience upon joining the field. As Viber rapidly grows and expands its features and reach, Cristina let us in on what’s next for Viber in this exclusive exchange with adobo Magazine.
“The pace of change in tech has always been rapid, and over the years I’ve seen that technology doesn’t just evolve—it transforms lives. Every innovation opens doors to new behaviors, new habits, and new ways for people and businesses to interact,” she noted.
She explained that since those early days, the pace in technological advancement has only picked
ten by Jericho Aguado, Leovic Arceta, and Kat Naval, starring Carmina Villaroel, Gloria Diaz, Alexa Miro, Gerald Anderson, and Zoren Legaspi. Both works remind us that the Filipino family endures through persistence.
THEME 2: Justice, Memory, and the Burden of Time
“MANILA’S Finest” is set in the 1970s, as Homer, Conrad, and Billy, the “Three Musketeers” of the police force, investigate killings in a slum where teenage victims are dismissed as troublemakers, a crisis that unsettles Homer as protests rise during the First Quarter Storm and the declaration of the New Society. This film echoes Dr. Crispin Maslog’s belief that communication’s highest duty is integrity, where truth must never yield to power. It is directed by Raymond Red, written by Michiko Yamamoto, Moira Lang and Sherad Anthony Sanchez, and stars Piolo Pascual.
“Shake, Rattle and Roll: Evil Origins” tracks a long arc of horror, beginning in 1775 when four
up speed. She observed that people don’t want different apps to do different things, but rather simple, fast, and meaningful experiences in the places where they already spend their time.
“It’s a reality that has shaped how I think about building products and experiences that actually fit into people’s lives, not just add another notification to the pile,” she said.
Reflecting on her journey with tech, Cristina shared: “For me, the most rewarding part of tech has always been this element of novelty. Being part of an industry that touches billions of lives daily is incredibly motivating. It requires persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace change, but it also offers the chance to lead transformation—to help shape how people communicate, how brands engage, and ultimately, how technology integrates seamlessly into modern life. That’s what keeps me inspired every day.”
Challenges are part of the game in business
ON the topic of challenges, Cristina shared that it’s just part of every business to have and face them. “It’s part of the game,” she noted. But ultimately, how you look at and tackle those challenges are what define you.
“I keep three things in mind:
You can’t be prepared for everything, but you can stay ready to adapt; don’t chase trends just because they’re popular—focus on making them useful; and remember, the way you look at a challenge can turn it into an opportunity.”
She pointed out that in the Philippines, there’s a thriving digitally engaged population. People spend over 5 hours a day browsing the internet on mobile. Yet many businesses are hesitant to embrace digital channels, especially small to medium businesses. “In the Philippines, a lot of businesses—around 73 percent—have been called ‘digitally indifferent.’ They tend to react to changes rather than actively embracing them. And if you think about how much SMBs drive the local economy, that’s actually a huge opportunity to step in, innovate, and help shape how they connect with customers,” she added.
“[Viber] saw a chance to expand our business solutions in ways that are accessible to companies of all sizes, allowing them to reach customers where they already spend their time. This ranges from Viber for Business solutions for larger companies to offerings for micro, small and medium businesses, such as Business Accounts, Marketplace, and Ads Manager,” Cristina shared how Viber took on this
holy women bring a chest from a Spanish ship to a nunnery and unleash a dark force, resurfacing in 2025 at a Halloween party in an abandoned hotel and peaking in 2050 when drought turns the Philippines into a wasteland ruled by heat-born aswangs serving a dark being called Bestia. A former farmer turned monster hunter discovers a family link to this evil in a film directed by Shugo Praico, Joey De Guzman, and Ian Loreños, featuring a multi-actor cast. Both films show that memory, when faced honestly, becomes resistance.
THEME 3: Love, Freedom, and the Right to Choose “I’M Perfect” centers on Jiro and Jessica, two adults with Down syndrome who find love and companionship, until Jessica becomes ill and passes away, leaving Jiro anchored by their shared memories and the acceptance she offered. The film is directed by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernado, produced by Nathan Studios, Inc., and stars Krystel Go and Earl Amaba.
challenge and turned it into an opportunity.
Now, the number of Viber Business Accounts opened by small businesses is growing by more than 100 percent month over month on average. On the other hand, large businesses are also actively embracing Viber with the goal of interacting with their customers.
Cristina said: “For me, the lesson is simple: obstacles aren’t roadblocks, they’re doors. And every time the landscape shifts, there’s a chance to rethink, adapt, and create solutions that benefit everyone—users, brands, and the broader digital ecosystem. That mindset is what keeps us agile, innovative, and ready for whatever comes next.”
Making the customer journey easy WITH Viber being a messaging platform at its core, Cristina recognizes the importance of trusted and unintrusive communications between customers and businesses on the app. “Customers want to have uninterrupted journeys that start and finish within one platform. They don’t only expect to receive marketing messages from your brand in a convenient channel—they want to complete transactions within the same platform,” she clarified. She went further to explain
“Love You So Bad” follows Savannah, a confident college senior torn between LA, who brings out her boldness, and Vic, who challenges her to grow, compelling her to decide the kind of woman she wants to become and the love she is ready to choose. It is directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar, produced by ABS-CBN Film Productions, GMA Pictures, and Regal Entertainment, and stars Bianca De Vera, Will Ashley, and Dustin Yu.
“Unmarry” shifts between Celine, who seeks an annulment from her husband Stephen while fighting for custody of their daughters, and Ivan, who tries to save his marriage with Maya, their paths crossing at the law office of Atty. Jackie, lawyer, and YouTube host of “Walang Butas ang Batas.” Through repeated encounters, they form a friendship that allows them to heal and consider the possibility of a new beginning, in a film directed by Jeffrey Jeturian, produced by Quantum Films and Cineko Productions, and starring Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo.
that the longer and more complicated the checkout process is, the more likely that customers—in fact, almost a quarter of them— abandon their carts altogether. “We see this trend at Viber and are building an ecosystem where businesses can reach and interact with customers at each stage of their journey.”
Cristina also mentioned that brands invest in platforms to reach customers across their journey, only to end up using a third of that. And with a lot of content vying for attention, it’s also easy for messages to get lost in the clutter. She continued: “Brands need to cut through the noise using the most efficient channel, without being intrusive. This leads Viber to maintaining trust and security, which remain front and center for customers. Users are more aware than ever of privacy risks, and any misstep can quickly erode confidence. For brands who want to invest smartly, finding a channel that allows seamless end-to-end experience in a secure and trusted environment is key.”
The rise of super apps MODERN technology makes life easier in so many ways. And in the case of applications and services, “super apps” are now common in many countries in Southeast Asia.
THEME 4: Friendship, Integrity, and the Search for Meaning “ BAR Boys: After School” reunites Torran, Erik, Chris, and Josh ten years after law school, as they face burnout, heartbreak, and uncertainty and come together to care for their ill mentor, Justice Hernandez. The film is directed by Kip Oebanda, produced by 901 Studios, and stars Carlo Aquino, Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda, Kean Cipriano, and Odette Khan.
A Cinema of Connection and Conscience VIEWED together, these films illustrate what British policy adviser Simon Anholt calls a nation’s competitive identity, reputation shaped not by slogans but by behavior made visible. The MMFF invites reflection as much as a spectacle. How we tell our stories determines how we are seen and how we see ourselves. To hold film, media, and institutions to the same ethical lens is, in every sense, A PR Matter.
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier organization for PR professionals around the world. Rowena Capulong Reyes, PhD is the vice president for Corporate Affairs of Far Eastern University (FEU). She is an executive committee member of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2025 and heads its education committee. She was formerly the Dean of FEU Institute of Arts and Sciences and Colegio de San Juan de Letran. She is the immediate past president of the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE), serving two terms.
We are devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@ gmail.com.
A super app, as Cristina described, is “one place for everything you need.”
“On average, app users spend 77 percent of their time on their top 3 apps, and almost half of that time in one single app. Imagine one place where you can chat, book services, buy, run your own business, date, make money transfers and more—that’s the app that we are building at Viber,” she explained.
In the case of Viber specifically, Cristina noted that they are already in the league of super apps: “Our users in the Philippines can chat, date, run businesses, access services and more—all within Viber. At the same time, Viber gives brands more opportunities to interact with their customers in the native environment. We are the only app that provides the super app ecosystem for businesses which lets brands reach and interact with their customers at each stage of their customer journey. And we are gradually expanding our suite to businesses of all sizes.”
She describes their strategy as a super app to be about creating meaningful daily touchpoints for users—whether they’re messaging friends, dating, or interacting with businesses. And the ecosystem only expands further with each new launch.
Semis seats at stake as futsal worlds KO stage starts
Sigh of relief for Coach Norman?
COACH Norman Black finally gets to put his team together in training on Monday for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games men’s 5x5 basketball competition. But Black doesn’t have the luxury of time because he has 13 days before the Philippines’ first game against Malaysia at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok.
We start training at 2 p.m. at the Moro [Lorenzo] Gym [Ateneo],” Black said on Sunday. “So far, we are still in the process of finalizing the lineup so by
tomorrow night we will have it.” He added: “It is a little bit challenging having to deal with this, but I’m still going to put the best team on the court and defend the championship.” At Black’s disposal—if ever they’re available from their club and school duties—are Matthew Wright, Thirdy Ravena, Michael Philips, Geo Chiu, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman, Remy Martin, Dave Ildefonso, Jamie Malonzo, Allen Ladi, Jamie Malonzo and Veejay Pre.
B lack’s other concern is whether or not Thailand would temper down on dual passport holders—and
That Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry
Tnaturalized players after having banned Justin Brownlee.
“I’ll find out tomorrow [Monday] if Michael Philips and Remy Martin are in Thai approved lineup,” Black said.
Philips is a Filipino-American playing for De La Salle and Martin is a former US NCAA Division 1 player out of University of Kansas. Brandon Rosser-Ganuelas, another Filipino-American now with TNT Tropang Giga, according to Black, was already red flagged by Thailand.
O n former Ginebra power forward Jamie Malonzo, Black said he’s cleared to play.
HE Philippines goes for a two-game sweep of Guam in their International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 2027 World Cup Asia Qualifiers duel this time before a home crowd at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Katipunan.
Head coach Tim Cone and his wards are heavily favored to repeat after blowing almost to smithereens the Guam team, 87-46, at their home court Calvo Field House last Friday.
But overconfidence’s not in Cone’s vocabulary.
“Nothing more important than getting a win,” Cone said. “Of course, we always want to protect our home court and well in front of fellow Filipinos, that is always the major goal.”
Justin Brownlee was true to form against Guam with 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting with Dwight Ramos contributing 10 points and AJ Edu and June Mar Fajardo adding eight points each for a solid start in Pool A that also includes New Zealand, and Australia. Australia, meanwhile, whipped New Zealand, 84-79, in the other qualifier.
Sixteen teams are divided in four pools for the Asia qualifiers with the top three from each group advancing to the second round—with a potential 2-0 card at Guam’s expense, Gilas Pilipinas could be well on its way to going deeper into the tournament.
The second round will be divided into two groups and the top seven teams will join host Qatar in the World Cup set August 27 to September 12 in 2027.
C one said the Friday blowout’s now a thing of the past and Monday’s match is a serious matter to handle.
“The game [Monday] is particularly important because it guarantees us a place in the second round which is crucial to advancing to the World Cup,” Cone said. “We will take nothing for granted.”
Reigning FIBA Asia Cup champion Australia and New Zealand are up next for Gilas Pilipinas in February and March next year for the second window of the qualifiers. San Miguel Beer spitfire Jericho Cruz, a Filipino-Guamanian, played superb for Guam with 17 points. Josef Ramos
“Jamie [Malonzo] is okay. He is not red-flagged, but let us see how it goes out on Monday,” he said. Several on Black’s are playing in Japan and South Korea but their contracts provide them the luxury of heeding national team duties.
The Philippines is in Group A with Malaysia and Vietnam while host Thailand is in Pool B with 2022 champion Indonesia, Singapore and Myanmar.
After facing Malaysia at 11:30 a.m. on December 14, Gilas Pilipinas meets Vietnam on December 14 at the same time at the end of pool play.
A fter a one-day break, the
playoff round begins on December 17 while the championship round is set on December 19.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino, meanwhile, called on Thai organizers to decide with finality on the country’s 5x5 roster.
We only have a few days left. It is okay for us to disqualify whoever they like as long as they give us the final list,” Tolentino said.
T he Philippines has won 19 of 22 titles in SEA Games men’s basketball since 1977—Malaysia won in 1979 and 1989 while Indonesia prevailed in Hanoi in 2022.
Sports Club launches
on Monday. World No. 6 Argentina, which stamped its class
courts
A cut above the rest The National University (NU) Pep Squad cements its place as the most successful University Athletic Association of the Philippines cheerdance team by claiming
of 20,129 on Saturday at the
Mall of Asia Arena. Embodying the spirit of
ninja, NU wins with 695 points, followed by the Adamson University Pep Squad (659 points), Far Eastern University Cheering Squad (658.5),
University of the East Pep Squad (623), University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe (618.5), University of the Philippines Pep Squad (558), De La Salle Animo Squad (546.5) and the Ateneo Blue Eagles (436.5). UAAP IMAGES
By Josef Ramos
PADEL Pilipinas founder Sen. Pia Cayetano (second from right) joins (from left) Bloomberry
NORMAN BLACK has only 13 days starting on Monday to polish his team to a luster. PBA IMAGES
