BusinessMirror June 14, 2025

PHL OIL SUPPLY, PRICES STABLE AMID M.E. ATTACK

By Lenie Lectura

ENERGY Secretary Raphael Lotilla said Friday fuel supply and pump prices in the country remain stable amid the escalating tension between Israel and Iran, with new developments sparking fears of an all-out war that could inflame the Middle East.

“If prices rise significantly, we’ll monitor and assess the actual impact. We should avoid speculation and unnecessary alarm. Current petroleum prices are still far from the peaks we experienced early in this administration,” Lotilla said.

He briefed reporters as oil prices jumped by as much as 13 percent and Asian shares trended lower after Israel launched a major attack on Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities, and describing its nuclear ambition as an “existential threat.”

Reuters reported that oil prices increased by more than $4 per barrel, the highest in almost five months, after Israel struck Iran. The attacks on Iranian nuclear and military targets raised the risk of an all-out war between them, according to an Associated Press report.

“An Israeli attack on Iran poses a top 10 of our global risk, but Asian markets are expected to recover quickly as they have relatively limited exposure to the

conflict and growing ties to unaffected Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” the AP report quoted Xu Tiachen of The Economist Intelligence as saying (See related story in World, A10).

As for Lotilla, the outgoing Philippine energy chief said: “Even during past spikes that exceeded $100 per barrel, we managed. Let’s also hope there’s no disruption in the Gulf of Hamas, which remains critical to Saudi

response, Iran launched drone strikes and vowed “severe punishment,”

program reached new heights. AP/LEO CORREA

exports.” Lotilla’s news conference is possibly his last before he formally assumes the post as the new secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

However, should the tension worsen in the Middle East, Lotilla said the agency will immediately convene stakeholders to address the issue. “Oil companies also face market pressure. When fuel prices

Continued on A2

TBy Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

HE Department of Finance (DOF) projects to generate P25.06 billion within the next three years from a bill, ratified by Congress, reforming the outdated tax structure governing the mining sector.

In a statement on Friday, the DOF said the Congressional bicameral conference committee signed the bicameral report on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 2826 and House Bill No. 8937, or the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Mining Act, on June 11. The bill is one of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s (Ledac) priority measures for the 19th Congress, and was supported by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. “I thank Congress for its swift ratification of this long-overdue reform. With this proposal, we are providing a straightforward and streamlined fiscal policy to encourage more investments in our mining sector,” Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto was quoted as saying.

Recto said the bill will open the country’s rich mineral potential

‘Mangrove belt to shield PHL from climate risks’

By Samuel P. Medenilla & Jonathan L. Mayuga

THE rising threat of extreme weather on coastal areas due to global warming has prompted almost 50 fisher, youth, scientists, civil society organizations, environmental advocates, and local government units to call on President Ferdinand Marcos to push for the passage of the National Coastal Greenbelt (NCG) bill.

On Thursday, these groups, which include the international ocean advocacy group Oceana, submitted their letters to the Office of the President with the hope it will persuade the chief executive to include the bill in his priority legislation for the upcoming 20th Congress.

Mangrove Matters Philippines (MMPh) Executive Director Leo Anthony Castro said the legislation is a “potent weapon against global warming” since mangroves can store up to five times more carbon than rain forests.

Oceana Acting Vice President Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio said the NCG will help in the preservation of the country’s existing mangrove forests.

“The passage of the National Coastal Greenbelt bill will stop arbitrary cutting of mangroves along coastal areas to pave the way for infrastructure and so-called coastal development that will lead to more disaster than benefits to the people,” Eisma-Osorio said.

Under Oceana’s proposed draft of the bill, a National Coastal Greenbelt Action Plan will be established to include an inventory on the status of coastlines

and foreshores, including the status of mangroves, beach forests, settlements, structures and fishponds within 100 meters from coastal areas. It also contains an operational plan for the rehabilitation, reforestation or afforestation of designated priority coastal greenbelts

LIFELINE

MANGROVES MATTER

She stressed the importance of institutionalizing the sciencebased preservation of existing mangrove forests since 80 percent of the replanting efforts in such areas usually fail.

“It failed because the wrong species was planted in the wrong [coastal] zone. Or it was planted in a different ecosystem like in seagrass or in deep water. That’s right, we have sea level rise that we have to consider. There are areas where the water is really rising,” she explained.

Oceana noted that over 50 percent of the country’s 500,000 hectares of mangrove forests in the 1990s were lost due to rapid coastal development and resource exploitation.

Oceana Campaign Specialist Mae Chatto said they hope President Marcos will back NCG so it can be finally passed into law.

During the 19th Congress, she said the House of Representatives passed its version of the bill, but only as part of the Integrated Coastal Management bill. However, it was stalled at the committee level in the Senate. Besides the President, the groups are trying to secure the support of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and returning Senator Paolo “Bam” Benigno Aquino IV.

“We are refiling it in the 20th Congress and doubling our efforts so it can get passed,” Chatto said.

Mangrove Matters THE letters were collected after the youth from Mangrove Matters Philippines (MMPh) and Oceana

Xi plays long game on US-China trade as Trump seeks quick wins

By Bloomberg News

WHILE Donald Trump hailed the outcome of trade talks in London, Xi Jinping walked away with an understated strategic gain: a negotiating process that buys China time and helps defuse the threat of more harmful tariffs and technology curbs.

Shortly after two days of negotiations wrapped, Trump declared Wednesday on social media that a deal had been “DONE” to restore the flow of critical magnets from China, and pledged to lift curbs on student visas. Hours earlier, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick revealed Washington would unwind its recent tech curbs, if niche metals essential to US auto and defense firms now flowed fast enough. China’s focus was very different.

A People’s Daily commentary on Thursday — Beijing’s most substantial comments so far on the talks — made no mention of export controls. Instead, the Communist Party mouthpiece touted an “institutional guarantee” established in Geneva for the two sides to bridge differences via a “consultation mechanism.” In a long-awaited leaders’ call before the London negotiations, Xi told Trump the importance of using this channel, it added. The contrast illustrates a dis-

connect in how the world’s biggest economies want to manage their trade dispute, and broader rollercoaster relationship. While Trump seeks quick deals done directly with top leaders, Xi favors a framework led by his lieutenants that wards against being blindsided. Such haggling could drag on for years, with the “Phase One” deal from the first trade war taking most of Trump’s first term.

“Xi is playing a longer game on US-China trade. His time in office is simply much longer than Trump’s,” said Christopher Beddor, deputy China research director at Gavekal Research.

“That’s not to say there’s never any short-term thinking, but the lack of term limits presents very different incentives than for Trump.”

While slow-walking negotiations allows China the chance to assess how hard a bargain Trump drives with other nations, the lingering uncertainty is bad for business, he added.

Xi showed last week he can be flexible, getting on the phone with Trump as ties spiraled, breaking from the protocol to set up such an interaction. In the Biden era, then National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Foreign Minister Wang Yi would huddle in foreign locations for days before their leaders spoke directly, managing outcomes and expectations.

While the Geneva talks last month wrapped with an identical USChina statement, suggesting a degree of alignment, that accord quickly fell apart over US claims China reneged on a promise to release shipments of rare earths. Beijing says it always intended to keep in place a permit process, which American companies complained moved so slowly some factories were forced to pause production.

The lack of a detailed read out from either side this time around has left much in doubt, including on what Beijing committed to on the export of niche metals used in everything from fighter jets to electric vehicles.

Lutnick told CNBC on Wednesday that China was going to approve “all applications for magnets from the United States companies right away” — a sweeping claim that appeared to leave plenty of room for disappointment.

Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong pledged his country would “fully consider the reasonable needs and concerns of all countries in the civilian sector,” at a regular press briefing in Beijing on

Thursday, adding that approval work was being strengthened.

“The Chinese incentive is also to keep cards close to their chest, and not make a lot of proclamations about what they have or have not committed to,” said Arthur Kroeber, founding partner and head of research at Gavekal. “There is a lot of leeway for them within the whole export licensing regime.”

One approach could be to restart enough export licenses so commercial buyers aren’t stymied, but not so much that firms can stockpile, thus blunting Beijing’s future leverage, he added.

Adding to the fuzziness, Trump declared on social media that China now faces a 55-percent charge, a number that appears to include levies introduced during his first presidency. It also combines a 10-percent baseline duty imposed by Trump and a 20-percent tax tied to fentanyl trafficking — an area where Beijing was seen as having room to negotiate if it stepped up scrutiny of its companies.

Lutnick cast doubt on that, and raised questions about the nature of future negotiations, saying that tariffs on China would “definitely” stick at their current level. That suggests a 90-day pause set to expire in August on Trump’s blanket 145-percent rate was now irrelevant. Such a position also dilutes the incentive for Beijing to offer concessions in future trade talks, if tariffs can’t budge.

While China has felt the pain from US levies, with exports to the world’s largest economy plunging 34 percent in May, Trump appears to be in the bigger hurry to get a deal.

His administration is facing a self-imposed July 9 deadline to either strike pacts with dozens of global

Oil...

Continued from A1

rise significantly, consumers cut back on travel, which can lead to traffic improvements and more efficient logistics. So there’s a countereffect that benefits delivery systems. We’ll keep discussing this with the DOE and other agencies if it becomes a major issue.” Lotilla said that while the Philippine government has no control of the situation, he hopes that the conflict would become less intense. “Our concern now is avoiding further escalation in the Middle East, particularly in petroleum and natural gas supply. Hopefully, the

trading partners or reimpose sweeping tariffs. In a sign of the Republican leader’s growing impatience, he warned Wednesday that he will soon send letters to countries saying, “this is the deal, you can take it or leave it.”

Exemplifying that willingness to keep things moving, Trump’s team in a rare move this week put export controls on the negotiating table — previously, such tools have been justified with national security concerns, and were largely off limits.

Watering down that rationale could open the door to more cooperation, and advance Trump’s stated goal to “open up China to American trade.” Still, China is unlikely to agree to large purchases of goods that compete in areas where Beijing is looking to build self-sufficiency and nurture its own national champions.

Rebalancing their economies, a concept touted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, could involve attracting more Chinese investment into the US. Policy whiplash by the Trump administration might deter many Chinese companies from pouring money into the US economy, even if Xi were to encourage them to do so.

Addressing these issues will take time, presumably requiring long discussions using the mechanism that China and US included in what Beijing called their “hard won” agreement.

“Some people say that the result of the London talks was just a framework,” said Zhu Junwei, a former researcher in the People’s Liberation Army who is now director of American research at Grandview Institution in Beijing. “It’s better to have a framework than have nothing.” With assistance from Jing Li and Lucille Liu / Bloomberg

parties involved can de-escalate. He said, “While these recent events are concerning, if you’ve been following oil supply trends, there’s pressure for prices to stay around $60 to $70 per barrel. Opec+ is gradually easing supply restrictions, which should stabilize prices. By next year, global supply may exceed demand.”

DOE Undersecretary Alessandro Sales, for his part, said that “in the medium term, the pressure is for oil price to be stable in that region.”

“When I say low, it’s between $60 and $70 because the Opec+ has already made a decision to gradually ease the restriction of their supply.... There are estimates that by next year because of this, loosening up of their restrictions, the world supply will be an ‘oversupply’ by close to a million barrels,” Sales said.

Mangrove Belt…

launched last month the Dear Mr. President campaign.

“Mangroves store up to five times more carbon than other tropical forests; they are our greatest weapon against global warming. Let us protect what is left and restore what we can. Prioritize the National Coastal Greenbelt Bill,” said MMPh executive director Leo Anthony Castro.

Eisma-Osorio emphasized the bill’s importance in integrating disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods into coastal barangays.

“The passage of the National Coastal Greenbelt bill will stop arbitrary cutting of mangroves along coastal areas to pave the way for infrastructure and so-called coastal development that will lead to more disaster than benefits to the people. Mangroves are the lifeline of Filipinos. These are not for sale nor should be destroyed to pave the way for unbridled so-called coastal development,” she said.

Local environmental advocates in Cebu City recently celebrated the halting of a P97-million road-fill project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that threatened centuryold mangroves in Barangays Inayawan and Cogon Pardo.

The order, issued by Acting Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros, was based on findings by city environmental officers and calls from the Coastline Management Board.

“Although a few communitybased mangrove restorations have been successful for years, what happened in Cebu shows us the pervading threats to our mangroves. Not every mangrove forest will be lucky enough to be saved unless a national policy catches up. This fight to save our last remaining mangrove forests in Cebu and elsewhere is deeply personal. We need the President to act now to protect our coastal ecosystems and communities. This initiative by advocates to write to President Marcos reflects the widespread public demand for immediate action to protect our coasts and secure the future of vulnerable communities,” explained Osorio, who is also a long-time environmental defender from Cebu.

Govt eyes P25-B revenue from mining tax reforms

Continued from A1

and position it as a major player in mineral production.

“It ensures a just return for our non-renewable resources, drives investments that create jobs, and strengthens our position as a key player in the global minerals supply chain—especially for critical minerals that are essential to clean energy transition,” the Finance chief added.

According to the DOF, the reform will simplify the fiscal system, guarantee the government’s fair share of revenues, strengthen

environmental safeguards and provide fiscal predictability and stability for investors.

Under the proposed measure, only royalties will be imposed, which is the share of the government from the extraction of the non-renewable resource, for mines operating within a mineral reservation.

Particularly, the measure imposes a margin-based royalty tax on mines outside mineral reservations and a windfall profits tax on all mining operations, with the approved version streamlining both taxes into fewer tiers to simplify compliance and administration while curbing tax avoidance. The tax distinctions on mining agreements will also be removed, while a mechanism to ensure the government will obtain its fair share from the extraction of these non-renewable sources will be introduced.

The bill also includes ringfencing provisions to prohibit the consolidation of income and expenses across multiple mining projects owned by the same taxpayer and prevent the offsetting of losses from unprofitable projects against the earnings of more profitable ones.

Additionally, the reform will institutionalize mechanisms for transparency and accountability to ensure that mining companies make accurate and timely payments to the government, as well as to host and neighboring communities.

These measures aim to reduce revenue leakages from practices such as questionable transfer pricing, enhance tax collection, and promote sound governance in the sector, the DOF said.

“Now that we’re nearing the finish line, we hope this measure truly unlocks the potential of our country’s mineral wealth and contributes to sustainable economic growth,” Ways and Means Subcommittee chairman and bill sponsor Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito was quoted as saying.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Saturday, June 14, 2025

DA, DOLE roll out ₧20 rice scheme for Pinoy minimum wage earners

By Ada Pelonia

THE

Department

of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday launched the nationwide rollout of the P20 rice program for minimum wage earners.

“This isn’t just about rice—it is about dignity. It is about proving that government can deliver for the Filipinos who need it most,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.

For Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, expanding the program to include minimum wage earners would advance the government’s goal of supporting the country’s most vulnerable sectors.

“It would mean a lot for a minimum wage earner to have access to P20 per kilo rice. If he is allowed to purchase 10 kilos...he could save P100 or P200 that he could spend on other essentials. It would greatly improve his purchasing power,” Laguesma said.

DOLE noted that nearly 120,000 minimum wage earners from over 500 establishments nationwide would initially benefit from the joint partnership.

The agency expects these figures to grow as more

companies join the program.

The government launched the cheaper rice program last month, with the aim of reaching up to 14 million Filipinos, particularly vulnerable sectors such as solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and indigents. Rice sold under the program is sourced from stocks purchased by the National Food Authority (NFA) from local farmers.

President Marcos ordered the DA to expand and sustain the program through 2028.

The agency noted that congressional leaders have publicly endorsed the initiative, which is expected to benefit as many as 60 million Filipinos.

“While critics raise concerns about long-term viability and potential market disruptions, for many low-income workers, the sight of P20 rice is more than a promise kept—it is a daily reprieve and a rare taste of economic justice,” the DA said

The agency is proposing a P10-billion budget to sustain the P20 per kilo rice program in 2026. This proposed budget is double the current P5 billion from the Office of the President’s contingency fund.

Groups file petition in SC vs ‘25 zero budget for PhilHealth

AGROUP of health advocates on Friday filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the zero allocation given to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in the 2025 national budget.

The petition questions the constitutionality of Congress’s failure to appropriate the earmarked revenues from sin taxes that should be allocated to the state health insurer.

The petition also seeks to mandate the automatic appropriation of the earmarked revenues from tobacco and sweetened beverages taxes for PhilHealth, as provided under Republic Act 11346, and to order the government respondents to account for and transfer the unremitted revenue share from the said taxes for the premium contributions of PhilHealth’s indirect contributors from years 2023 to 2025. For the year 2025 alone, the earmarked funds from tobacco and sweetened beverage taxes dedicated to PhilHealth should at least be P69.81 billion, petitioners said.

The petition also orders government respondents to account for and transfer PhilHealth’s share from the revenues of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) from years 2019 to the present, as mandated by the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.

The respondents include Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, the Congress of the Philippines, the Department of Finance and its attached agency the Bureau of Treasury, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Health and PhilHealth, as well as Pagcor and PCSO.

Petitioner, Social Watch Philippines, which has been monitoring the health budget since 2006, called Congress’s zero budget allocation to PhilHealth in the 2025 budget an insult to all its members.

“The zero budget allocation for the PhilHealth premium contributions of indirect contributors, which includes senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and poor and vulnerable Filipinos, is a clear manifestation of the state’s abandonment of its duty towards the fulfillment of UHC. This neglect is not just a policy issue, but a matter of life and death for these marginalized groups,” said Jessica Reyes-Cantos, co-convenor of Social Watch

Philippines.

Petitioner and health advocacy group Medical Action Group (MAG) PhilHealth members deprived of their premiums are in immediate danger of suffering direct injury due to this budget shortfall, as healthcare costs remain inaccessible and unaffordable for them.

Likhaan Center for Women’s Health, a nonprofit organization that provides health services to communities, echoed MAG’s sentiment, noting the challenges patients face in accessing healthcare due to the limited coverage PhilHealth provides.

“We witness the daily struggle of patients and members of the communities in accessing health care due to the low share that PhilHealth covers for health services, which sometimes results in patients avoiding further treatments because of the necessary co-payments that they cannot afford. These would not have been the case if there were sufficient resources put to proper use by PhilHealth for the needs of its members,” said Dr. Sylvia EstradaClaudio, Chair of the Board of Likhaan.

Other advocates

PSLINK, representing public sector workers, said:

“This petition is about defending the people’s right to health, ensuring public accountability, and stopping the grave abuse of power by both the Legislative and Executive branches of government.”

PS Link said in a statement. “Congress failed to fully allocate PhilHealth’s share from Sin Tax revenues, in clear violation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law and the Sin Tax Laws, which require the automatic appropriation of these funds for Philhealth. Worse, Executive agencies have also failed to remit the mandated shares from Pagcor and the PCSO to PhilHealth — funds that should have been released quarterly since 2019.

“Based on initial computations, these failures have led to the denial of at least P332 billion in earmarked public funds for PhilHealth. These funds were legally mandated and intended to strengthen the UHC system, especially for the poor and marginalized communities. Their non-release is not only unconstitutional, but a betrayal of public trust and a clear abandonment of government’s duty to the people

Smart taps Salesforce Commerce Cloud to build digital storefront

SMART, the mobile unit of telecommunications giant PLDT, recently announced it will implement Salesforce’s Commerce Cloud to create a unified digital storefront delivering a seamless and engaging experience for its more than 50 million subscribers across both prepaid and postpaid. Smart will also use Salesforce AI solutions to

recommend the right plans for customers depending on their needs, improving the customer experience.

The telco uses MuleSoft to enable seamless data integration across internal and third-party systems, delivering a connected customer journey across all touchpoints.

See “Cloud,” A4

Palace: President can’t dictate to Congress on wage hike bill

By Samuel P. Medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has no power to “dictate” on Congress to pass the legislated wage hike, according to Malacañang.

Palace Press Office Claire Castro made the remark after the Kabataan Partylist accused the chief executive of “killing” the bills, which will raise wages for private sector employees by P100 (Senate version) or P200 (House version).

“Is President Marcos Jr. a dictator? No, he

is not. Let’s just leave that issue to Congress for now,” she said in a Palace press briefing on Friday.

Kabataan Partylist said the harmonized version of the bills would have been passed had Marcos ordered Congress to pass it. For her part, House of Representatives (HOR) spokesperson Princess Abante blamed the Senate for the “death” of the wage hike bill after the latter supposedly refused to convene a bicameral conference committee on the last night of the 19th Congress session. The Senate leadership, however, had

earlier twitted the HOR for suddenly passing the wage bill, after sitting on it for more than one year since the Senate approved its version.

Senator Joel Villanueva expressed his reservation on the HOR version of the bill, which he said was “too high.” Leading business and employer groups, as well as economists, had warned of the adverse impact of a P200 legislated wage hike, which would cover only a small segment of the worker population, while leaving in distress many small establishments, which account for over 90 percent of Philippine businesses.

Last week, the HOR passed on third and final reading House Bill (HB) No. 11376, which will implement a P200 across-the board wage hike. The Senate had passed its own version, Senate Bill No. 2534, last year, grating workers a P100 wage increase.

Castro reiterated the President did not oppose a legislated wage hike since it will help workers cope with rising cost of living as long as its effects are carefully studied.

Even without the new bill, she said the regional wage boards are currently conducting reviews for possible wage adjustments in their

Post June 12 note: Battle of Marawi helped Katipunan to consolidate

DAVAO CITY—A less-known yet historically significant siege of the interior Central Mindanao city of Marawi actually helped catalyze and consolidate Filipino forces to stage the Philippine Revolution of 1898, Bangsamoro historians have claimed.

The Bangsamoro Information Office quoted Ruhollah Hussein Alonto, a Bangsamoro researcher, as saying that a Battle of Marawi in 1895 “paved the way to empowering the Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK), the Philippine revolutionary group that started the independence riots against the Spaniards”.

“Because Ramón Blanco was mobilizing

5,000 Spanish forces, all the resources of the Spanish colonial government were focused here in Mindanao. The Katipuneros were given the opportunity to organize,” Alonto said in an interview in Manila, the gist of which was posted by the information office. Alonto said Ramón Blanco Erenas Riera y Polo, the first Marquess of Peña Plata, was a Spanish brigadier and colonial administrator sent to the Philippines during the Spanish colonization. Thus, Alonto said, the Battle of Marawi allowed Katipuneros “to structure themselves and strengthen their forces against the invaders.”

“From the lens of Philippine histiriography, we can see here the convergence of Bangsamoro history and Philippine history, the same quest for independence,” he said.

The Katipunan was founded three years before the 1895 Battle of Marawi.

The Bangsamoro region’s parade float in the 127th Independence Day on June 12 also highlighted the Maranao warriors› great contribution to the success of the Katipuneros against Spanish colonizers, resulting in Philippine independence.

Roslaine Alonto-Sinarimbo, Bangsamoro director-general of the Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Tourism (MTIT),

said the “pioneering participation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao [BARMM] in the Independence Day celebration at the national level is an avenue to disseminate the Bangsamoro story to a wider audience”.

“We need to tell and retell our stories to the whole of the Filipino nation that we share the same dream and path; we have our common aspiration without fighting one another,” Sinarimbo said.

“We need to look at the same shared prosperity. If we are peaceful, the rest of the Philippines is peaceful and progressive,” she continued. Manuel T. Cayon

Fecal coliform bugs El Nido beach hosting Ayala Land’s resort

LIO Beach, where AyalaLand Hospitality’s (ALH) resort in El Nido town in Palawan is located, has been contaminated with fecal coliform, although it is still technically considered safe for swimming.

In the latest water sampling results of the Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), a copy of which was obtained by the B usiness M irror the fecal coliform level of Lio Beach was 79 out of 100 most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliters (mL). While the EMB gave Lio Beach a passing mark, the areas, such as Lio Port and the Lio Runway, were marked “failed” at 240 MPN per 100 mL, and 630 MPN per 100 mL. The water sampling was made on September 20, 2024. Other coastal areas in El Nido which failed EMB’s water sampling tests were Lamoro Beach (130 MPN/100 mL), Nacpan Port (240/100), Masagana (350/100), Maligaya (130/100), Corong-Corong Cove III (540/100), Maramegmeg II (240/100). Environmental guidelines have determined 100 MPN/100 mL as the allowable limit, which is described as swimming pool quality.

A government source who spoke on background said the situation at Lio Beach and its surrounding areas was

not surprising. “Lio River is where the government STP (sewerage treatment plant) dumps its product water that’s not even properly processed. So it goes out to Lio Beach.” As of April this year, however, EMB-Mimaropa took down the results of its water sampling tests that have been taken since 2019.

Major property developer Ayala Land Inc. owns the 320-hectare Lio Estate, where its tourism arm, ALH, operates hotels. The latter’s guests do water activities at Lio Beach. ALI, which also operates the only airport in El Nido, said in a statement sent to the BusinessMirror: “Lio Estate follows water monitoring protocols to ensure the health and safety of our guests. Water quality is tested regularly by a DENR-accredited third-party laboratory.”

The company added: “The most recent results from Feb 2025 on our Lio Beach sample show fecal coliform levels at 11 MPN/100 mL—well below the DENR’s standard of 200 MPN/100 mL for recreational coastal waters.”

‘Sorry’ to Celeste Legaspi

THIS developed as Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga failed to comment on the continuing issues of

tourists falling ill in El Nido due to poor water quality, with the latest victim being award-winning singer Celeste Legaspi. (See, “Celeste Legaspi sings the blues about El Nido,” in the BusinessMirror, June 8, 2025.)

DENR Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Rochelle Elena A. Gamboa in a Viber message said, “Sorry to hear about what happened to Ms. Celeste Legaspi and her party. [We’re] getting info from the [EMB] Region 4A. Will revert with the requested statement as soon as I have it.”

Legaspi recently posted on Facebook that she and her party fell ill after brushing their teeth with tap water and eating at local restaurants on the mainland, even if they drank bottled water.

On April 8, 2025, the Municipal Health Office of El Nido warned about rising cases of diarrhea in the municipality, after monitoring online and social media comments. “Ensure that the water you drink is safe and clean. If you are unsure about the quality of the water, bring it to a rolling boil for at least one minute or purchase commercial water that has been filtered safely,” the health office advised.

In 2022, the Department of HealthMimaropa confirmed 567 cases of diarrhea among tourists in El Nido, as well as the

presence of e.coli bacteria in various businesses, water refill stations, and the local water distribution system. Over the years, posts from tourists having fallen ill in El Nido have filled social media, and travel guide platform Tripadvisor has a separate topic about it from members.

80 DOT-accredited establishments

ACCORDING to the Department of Tourism, accredited accommodation establishments in El Nido include five hotels, five resorts, and 70 Mabuhay accommodations (e.g. tourist inns, pension houses, motels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, and other similar establishments). As of 2023, half a million tourists visited El Nido.

El Nido is among the most popular destinations for tourists due to its crystalclear azure waters, high limestone cliffs, and white-sand beaches. Until about the early 2000s, tourists mainly visited the four island eco-resorts of El Nido Resorts, now owned by ALH, which had pioneered sustainable practices.

A tourism boom soon followed after inexpensive accommodations were established on the mainland, a number of them owned by local politicians.

Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

respective jurisdictions. “But for now, we have a current process and if you will remember that every year the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board studies these [wage rates] and in every region, in every place, our countrymen are seeing an increase in their salaries or wages,” Castro said.

TUCP weighs in

THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), meanwhile, said in a statement on Friday that the administration “missed out on making

great history—wage legislation being the last hope to uplift millions of lives of the overworked and underpaid after 36 long punishing years of a broken wage-setting system.”

TUCP added, “Workers see this as both a failure of political will and the national spirit of the Executive and Legislative who refuse to recognize that poverty wages means a class of the permanently poor.

“So

PrimeWater improvements reported, but takeover of districts a last resort

THE government is considering taking over the water districts under the PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. if the VIllar-owned water concessionaire fails to improve its services, according to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Friday, LWUA Jose Moises F. Salonga stressed, however, that they will only consider the option together with rescinding the service contract of the said firm as a last resort.

“Now, I believe the contracting party has obligations to meet, so we will start there. Once they meet those, we’ll cross the bridge when we get there,” he said.

In April, President Ferdinand Marcos ordered LWUA to investigate the alleged poor water service and exorbitant fees of PrimeWater.

PrimeWater recently made it to the headlines after LWUA linked the lack of water services to two public schools in Malolos, Bulacan. A similar issue was identified in a public school in San Miguel, Bulacan, which is covered by the services of Pamana Water Corporation of Lucio Co.

LWUA will come out with a report on other private and public schools with existing water service issues by next week. Salonga reported PrimeWater was able to restore the water services of the two schools in Malolos as of Friday.

He said they are now finalizing the report on the quality of PrimeWater’s service nationwide.

“We will give that to the President. And after he has assessed the facts, we will then be able to share the contents of the report,” Salonga said. He said they will use the report to come out with short-term solution and a long-term systemic solution on the complaints against PrimeWater.

LWUA said it is currently validating reports that there are already improvements in the areas under PrimeWater as it implements its catchup plan to improve the quality of its service.

“There is some improvement. Marginal improvement but yet, we have to verify those things. Even their complaints are verified by us; we don’t do that haphazardly,” Salonga said.

Samuel P. Medenilla

Much awaited anti-Pogo bill inching closer to law

AMUCH-AWAITED anti-Pogo bill meant to avoid a repeat of years of policy and enforcement errors that spawned so much fiscal and security problems is inching close to enactment.

After going through extensive and detailed investigations conducted by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the Anti-Pogo Act of 2025 is now one step closer to becoming law.

This developed after the House of Representatives adopted the Senate version of the bill, which bans the establishment, operation, and provision of services related to offshore gaming and Pogo activities in the Philippines.

The measure also held accountable those who assist in the unlawful entry or exit of individuals using invalid or fraudulent travel documents.

The proposed legislation seeks to permanently outlaw POGOs in the Philippines.

lead the winding down and eventual closure by December 31 of the operations of legitimately registered companies.

Since October 2022, the Gatchalian committee has been assessing the social costs and economic impact of Pogos in the country, including issues with regulation and enforcement.

“This reinforces the President’s order to stop the Pogos and bar their entry into the country,” said Gatchalian in Filipino, citing reports that over 9,000 foreign nationals linked to Pogos remain at large.

Also on Friday, Senator Bong Go affirmed full support for a total Pogo ban as he welcomed approval of the anti-Pogo bill which he coauthored.

“This strategic collaboration with Salesforce is a pivotal step in our digital transformation journey,” said Gilbert Gaw, FVP and Head of IT and Transformation Office, Smart and PLDT in a press statement.

“Leveraging Salesforce Commerce Cloud’s robust architecture and omni-channel features, we are creating a seamless and intuitive platform that empowers our customers with greater convenience and access to our full suite of products and services. This initiative will not only elevate customer satisfaction but also fuel business growth by enabling continuous innovation,” he added. Salesforce is the world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) customer relations management CRM providing trusted and autonomous AI with Agentforce and best-in-class apps for sales, service, marketing, commerce, and IT — all on one integrated platform.

enhancing convenience.

This includes the purchase of new devices, applications, and renewals of phone plans, and porting of mobile numbers amongst other transactions. The storefront’s cloud-based architecture helps provide improved scalability and reliability while a mobile-first design supports omnichannel experiences.

Gaw said the project will be handled by Salesforce’s Professional Services team, in collaboration with Smart to help ensure end-to-end delivery and seamless implementation. Once complete, he said Smart customers will be able to complete transactions online that previously required visits to physical stores, significantly

Gaw said Smart also uses Service Cloud and Marketing Cloud to push their digital transformation and better serve evolving customer needs. By integrating Commerce Cloud, he said Smart will be able to accelerate order management and fulfillment for a better customer experience, efficiently driving revenue growth and

customer retention. Smart is also exploring extending this unified digital storefront platform to its enterprise segment.

Abraham Cuevas, Regional Vice President and Country Manager, Philippines, Salesforce expressed optimism of the collaboration between the two companies.

“We are excited to empower Smart with a modern, AI-ready platform that will enable them to connect with their customers in a more personalized and engaging way. This transformation will not only streamline their e-commerce operations but also position them for continued success in the Philippines’ competitive telecommunications landscape.”

Rizal Raoul Reyes

Once enacted, the law will establish an Administrative Oversight Committee (AOC), to be led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), tasked with ensuring the law’s effective implementation.

The PAOCC had played a pivotal role the past year in identifying, investigating and neutralizing all suspected illegal Pogo operations, which were tied to crimes like human trafficking, cyber scamming, kidnapping and torture and detention, and money laundering.

A lot of the information unearthed during the Gatchalian-led hearings validated or was similarly raised in years-long hearings by the Committee on Women led by Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, who has long advocated the closure of all Pogo operations.

At the July 2024 State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a permanent ban on all Pogos in the country, and directed state gaming agency Pagcor to

“As a coauthor of this measure, I have long called for the permanent banning of POGOs,” Go stressed, warning that offshore gaming has been linked to various crimes and social problems that endanger the safety of Filipino communities. Go emphasized that ensuring the safety and well-being of Filipinos must take precedence over any revenue-generating economic activities associated with POGO operations.

SBN 2868 provides for the complete revocation of all licenses, accreditations, and permits granted to POGO operators and service providers. It mandates the immediate termination of offshore gaming operations and the forfeiture of all assets derived from them. The bill also criminalizes the recruitment of Filipino workers for such operations, holding violators accountable under anti-human trafficking laws. Penalties include imprisonment ranging from six to twelve years, and fines of up to P5 million, with harsher penalties imposed on public officials found to be complicit. SBN 2868 explicitly repeals Republic Act No. 11590, the law enacted earlier which originally imposed tax regulations on offshore gaming operations. Butch Fernandez

EJAP holds annual infrastructure forum

THE Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP), the country’s premier organization of business journalists, will hold its annual Infrastructure Forum on June 16, Monday, at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City. With the theme “Government Infrastructure Program: What’s Been Achieved and What’s Next,” the forum aims to tackle government and private sector initiatives toward achieving modernized transportation and internet infrastructure. Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon will deliver his keynote address highlighting the agency’s

Time BusinessMirror Our

Japan steps up support for elderly Filipino descendants seeking nationality after WWII

166,000 Davao seniors get ₧300-million financial aid

By Che Palicte

DThe City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) announced on Wednesday that it has distributed nearly PHP300 million in annual financial assistance to 166,663 senior citizens in the city.

In a radio interview,

Ruth Naive, the focal person of the Senior Citizen Welfare Program, said all elderly beneficiaries received PHP1,500 each for their 2024 subsidy and that preparations for the grant of 2025 financial assistance are now underway.

clean its master list by removing duplicate entries, deceased seniors and those with identical OSCA numbers.

LINAPACAN, Philippines—Some people who were born to Japanese fathers and Filipino mothers before the end of World War II and have remained in the Philippines since the war ended are unable to obtain Japanese nationality due to insufficient proof of their fathers’ Japanese citizenship.

As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, the Japanese government is strengthening its support for these people, who are now elderly.

the meeting. They laughed as they noticed the similarities between their faces and those of Naoaki and Yasuhiko, including their eyes, noses and beards.

“We are currently working closely with the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) to begin the payout process for the 2025 budget by August,” she said, adding that this year’s budget will maintain the standard subsidy at P1,500 per senior citizen.

Naive also noted that OSCA is actively undertaking efforts to

Naive urged seniors to update their identification cards, particularly those whose IDs were issued in 2022 and earlier, to assist OSCA in its master list cleansing efforts.

She also clarified that while there is no fixed deadline for updating the ID card for existing beneficiaries, seniors who turned 60 in the previous year do have a specific deadline for their registration. PNA

Last month, Esperanza Morine, 87, who lives on the island of Linapacan in the western Philippines, and her sister Lydia, 85, met two relatives from the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa. It was the first meeting between the sisters, who obtained Japanese nationality last September, and a Japanese relative. The relatives were Naoaki and Yasuhiko Morine, aged 49 and 40, respectively. They were in tears as they shook the sisters’ hands and made a video call to other relatives in Okinawa. Several dozen relatives living on Linapacan and elsewhere also joined

Shanghai embraces smart technology to build intelligent elderly care homes

By Huang Xiaohui People’s Daily

IT was just past midnight at Jinyang elderly care home in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area when nurse Zhao Zhanping received an alert on her phone, indicating that Wang Mingxiang on Bed No.2, Room 324 needed immediate attention as abnormal blood pressure was detected. Zhao rushed to the room without hesitation.

The first to detect the issue wasn’t a caregiver but a smart mattress under the elderly resident. At the same time, Wang’s family received the same alert on their phones.

Thanks to the real-time monitoring system, Wang, who has a history of cerebral infarction, was promptly taken to hospital and treated in time.

At Jinyang elderly care home, smart mattresses represent just one of many intelligent devices now integrated into daily operations. In the lobby of the facility stands a large electronic display, an information system that provides real-time monitoring of residents’ health statuses, clearly showing the time, location, and status of any risks and interventions.

“While this system serves as the brain of our operations, the smart devices installed throughout the facility function like eyes and skin — constantly sensing and feeding information back to the center,” explained Chen Xue, director of the care home.

“Bathrooms and showers are highrisk areas for falls. The ceiling lights here double as ‘electronic radars’ as they illuminate the room and also detect falls or other emergencies,” Chen told People’s Daily.

Shanghai is one of China’s most rapidly aging cities. According to municipal plans, the city aims to establish at least 100 smart care homes by the end of 2025, with more than 70 already built so far.

“The original purpose of building smart elderly care homes in Shanghai is to enhance institutional efficiency and improve service delivery through technology,” said Li Sujin, deputy director of the elderly services division

at the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau. According to Li, Shanghai is expanding the implementation of tech-enabled elderly care products in institutions, and building a more professional, efficient, and integrated smart care ecosystem.

For frontline workers like caregiver Chen Juxiu, the digital transformation has already made a noticeable difference. While assisting 96-year-old Zhong Jianmei with bathing, Chen simply pressed a button and a robotic transfer device co-developed by the care home and a tech firm automatically lowered its arms and footrests to lift the resident from her wheelchair and move her into the shower area.

“Assisting seniors with limited mobility used to be really challenging,” Chen recalled.

“I remember once it took four caregivers to lift a 90-kilogram resident. Now, with this robot, one person can safely complete the task—less physical strain, lower risk.”

Jinyang elderly care home is managed by Puhui Pension Service, which oversees 16 facilities. “Staff shortages and an aging workforce are real challenges,” said general manager Gao Wanjie.

“With smart devices taking over repetitive, physically demanding tasks, our caregivers can focus more on providing personalized, highquality services, and on addressing

the emotional needs of our residents.”

For 95-year-old He Junmian, one of the first residents to move into the upgraded smart facility, the change is evident: “Caregivers now have more time to talk with us, and the service feels warmer and more attentive,” she said. Her old call bell has been replaced with a visual intercom system, making it easier to reach staff when assistance is required.

From obstacle-avoidance wheelchairs and robot servers to AI-powered chess companions, smart eldercare homes are introducing a growing array of age-friendly innovations that benefit both residents and staff.

“With continued innovation and new technologies being applied, we envision future care homes evolving into elderly care industry hubs,” Gao added.

According to Chen Xue, the average monthly fee at Jinyang is around 5,000 yuan ($694), a mid-to-low price by Shanghai standards. “Our prices haven’t increased with the smart upgrades,” she noted.

But she also emphasized: “When using smart technologies, we must always take into account how residents feel. Technology can never fully replace the warmth of human care. A truly intelligent care home must combine efficiency with empathy.”

The Morine sisters were born to Kamata Morine, a native of Okinawa who moved to the Philippines before World War II, and a Filipino mother.

As the Japanese and Philippine legal systems at the time required children to take their fathers’ nationality, the sisters should have been registered as Japanese.

Kamata died in March 1945, shortly before the end of the war. The remaining family avoided using the surname Morine and hid their links to Japan, out of fear of persecution amid strong anti-Japanese sentiment in the Philippines, which had

been occupied by Japanese forces.

As a result, they became stateless. Around a decade ago, the sisters learned that they could apply for Japanese nationality. This made them feel a strong desire to be recognized as Japanese.

After finding their parents’ marriage records and relatives in Okinawa, the Morine sisters obtained Japanese nationality.

Meanwhile, others in similar situations have died without finding such proof and gaining Japanese nationality.

According to the Japanese government, more than 1,600 such people have acquired Japanese nationality so far.

Meanwhile, 49 people are still seeking to obtain it, and their average age is above 80.

During his late April visit to Manila, the capital of the Southeast Asian country, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with Japanese descendants in the country and said the government will help them obtain Japanese nationality and temporarily return to Japan. At the meeting, Carlos Teraoka, 94, told Ishiba that he wanted Japan to recognize “my belonging to my homeland.”  Teraoka sought swift measures, saying, “This is a humanitarian issue related to personal dignity, and there is no time to spare. Jiji Press/PNA

₧3,000 pension a big help: Albay senior citizens thank provincial government

SBy Connie Calipay

OME 4,400 indigent senior citizens from three towns and one city in Albay province have started receiving their pensions from the provincial government covering January to June this year.

In a report on Wednesday, the Albay Provincial Information Office said each elderly had received P3,000 in a four-day distribution that started on Monday and will run for the whole week. There was no scheduled distribution on Thursday, Independence Day.

The beneficiaries are from RapuRapu with 515 senior citizens; Camalig with 1,818; Oas with 1,318; and in Ligao City with 811.

The beneficiaries were validated by the PSWDO, Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of the area where they reside.

In a recorded interview, Eden Gonzales, beneficiary from Caracaran, Rapu-Rapu, during the payout of social pensions at the Batan Covered Court, thanked the Albay provincial government for the pension.

WWII vets are rock stars in France as they hand over the duty of remembering

By John Leicester | Associated Press

MAHA BEACH, France—

OThe D-Day generation, smaller in number than ever, is back on the beaches of France where so much blood was spilled 81 years ago. World War II veterans, now mostly centenarians, have returned with the same message they fought for then: Freedom is worth defending.

In what they acknowledge may be one of their last hurrahs, a group of nearly two dozen veterans who served in Europe and the Pacific is commemorating the fallen and getting rock-star treatment this week in Normandy — the first patch of mainland France that Allied forces liberated with the June 6, 1944, invasion and the greatest assembly of ships and planes the world had

known.

On what became known as “ Bloody Omaha “ and other gun-swept beaches where soldiers waded ashore and were cut down, their sacrifices forged bonds among Europe, the United States and Canada that endure, outlasting geopolitical shifts and the rise and fall of political leaders who blow hot and cold about the ties between nations.

In Normandy, families hand down D-Day stories like heirlooms from one generation to the next. They clamor for handshakes, selfies, kisses and autographs from WWII veterans, and reward them with cries of “Merci!” — thank you.

Both the young and the very old thrive off the interactions. French schoolchildren oohed and aahed when 101-year-old Arlester Brown told them his age. The US military

D-Day

was still segregated by race when the 18-year-old was drafted in 1942. Like most Black soldiers, Brown wasn’t assigned a combat role and served in a laundry unit that accompanied the Allied advances through France and the Low Countries and into Nazi Germany. Jack Stowe, who lied about being 15 to join the Navy after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, said he gets “the sweetest letters” from kids he met on previous trips.

“The French people here, they’re so good to us,” the 98-year-old said, on a walk to the water’s edge on Omaha. “They want to talk to us, they want to sit down and they want their kids around us.”

“People are not going to let it be forgotten, you know, Omaha, these beaches,” he said. “These stories will go on and on and on.”

Angel R. Calso

Gonzales said the assistance she received will be used for her medical needs. Another set of beneficiaries from other towns and cities of Albay were scheduled to receive their pension next week. PNA

PHOTO from CIO PHOTO shows smart devices at

YASUHIKO MORINE, Esperanza, Lydia, and Naoaki (from left) meet for the first time on Linapacan island in the Philippines on May 25, 2025. JIJI PRESS

SENIOR citizens from 50 barangays of Camalig town in Albay province wait for their turn as they receive their social pension from the Albay provincial government on June 10, 2025. Each eligible individual received P3,000. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALBAY PIO

BusinessMirror

New eye laser technology is described as ‘life-changing’

THE popular eye surgery Lasik, which stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, forever changed how the medical profession looked at vision. Lasik has been a lifechanging procedure, correcting refractive errors and enhancing vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Since Lasik, there have been many other advancements in vision correction procedures, and Fatima University Medical Center Antipolo (FUMC) in Antipolo has an Eye Laser Center that offers Filipinos advancements in eye care innovation in the country.

“FUMC has a long and successful track record of achieving outstanding results for our eye care patients, and this latest advancement further solidifies our commitment to healthcare excellence,” said Dr. Vicente Santos, president of Fatima University Medical Center. The FUMC’s Refractive Laser Center houses the Zeiss Visumax 800 femtosecond laser, which is the machine behind Zeiss Smile pro, a cutting-edge laser vision correction procedure.

The Zeiss Smile pro (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a minimally invasive refractive surgery designed to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism.

The Zeiss Visumax 800 femtosecond laser uses to reshape the cornea through a tiny incision that is only a few millimeters wide, thus preserving its biomechanical stability and reducing post-operative dry eye. With the laser procedure completed in just nine seconds, the Zeiss Smile pro has little or no downtime.

In terms of safety, Santos explained that the laser’s speed ensures that the cornea is not affected by the heat. The laser also has a built-in video recorder, and the recording gets sent to Germany so it becomes a source of information about the procedure and provides help for what can be done in the future.

FUMC is considered a trailblazer in ophthalmology in the Philippines and the region. It installed Southeast Asia’s first 3D operating microscope and laser technologies for cataract surgeries.

Dr. Nikki Payawal was one of the first Filipinos to undergo the Zeiss Smile pro procedure. She calls the experience life-changing.

“The next day right after the procedure, I packed all my glasses, all my contact lens cases and solutions, put them in a box, and threw it away. In a 15-minute procedure, my world completely changed. Now I can drive without any of it,” said Payawal, a pulmonologist.

“Our integration of Zeiss SMILE pro underscores our dedication to pioneering the future of laser vision correction in the Philippines, providing Filipinos with the latest technology available, complemented by our caring and professional medical experts and staff,” said Santos. “FUMC has a long and successful track record of achieving outstanding results for our eye care patients, and this latest advancement further solidifies our commitment to healthcare excellence.”

FUMC has been at the forefront of delivering exceptional eye care for decades, combining medical expertise with the latest advancements in vision correction. As one of the country’s leading hospitals, FUMC provides comprehensive eye care services, ensuring that patients receive personalized treatment from highly skilled ophthalmologists and eye care specialists.

Beyond laser vision correction, FUMC offers a comprehensive range of eye care services, including routine check-ups and advanced treatments for various eye conditions. Schedule a consultation at FUMC Antipolo to experience how the center’s expertise and care can transform vision and quality of life. ■

Resident Evil: Requiem goes back in Raccoon City

BY PATRICK VILLANUEVA

FANS of the Resident Evil franchise are infected with a nostalgic yet bittersweet emotion as the trailer revealed the next setting of RE ’s new installment: returning to Raccoon City.

Resident Evil: Requiem will follow the story of FBI agent and technical analyst Grace Ashcroft, daughter of Raccoon Press Investigative Reporter Alyssa Ashcroft (Resident Evil: Outbreak), getting sent to Raccoon City years after its bombing to investigate a series of deaths with a pathological similarity of others they have been investigating.

However, the crime scene is at Wrenwood Hotel where Grace’s mother was murdered. This forces her to face a traumatic past while performing the investigation.

AS Filipinos commemorated Araw ng Kalayaan (Independence Day) on June 12, it’s the perfect time to reflect not just on our country’s sovereignty but also on a more personal kind of liberation: financial freedom.

Achieving prosperity and abundance is no longer a pipe dream reserved for the wealthy. With the right mindset, tools and support, every Filipino can take control of their finances and build a future free from debt, stress and hand-to-mouth living.

Hailed by The Asian Banker as the Best Digital Bank in the country, CIMB Bank Philippines believes that financial freedom can start with small, practical steps. Whether you’re starting your career, managing a growing family, or looking to open a small business, CIMB Bank PH has the right tools to help you take charge. Here are some practical ways to pave your way towards financial independence: ■ START WITH A SMART SAVINGS PLAN.

DESTROYED RACCOON CITY

FOR many, including this writer, this is where it all started. On the trailer, it showed the remnants of the bombed zombie-infested city. The crater where the missile landed was also shown to the fans.

The rubbles of the destroyed Raccoon City Police Department where Leon Kennedy (RE2), Claire Redfield (RE2), and Jill Valentine (RE3) had their encounters was iconic to say the least. Moreso, the remains of the Goddess Statue was still standing, albeit deformed, in the precinct.

There have also been reports of Resident Evil’s poster boy Leon Kennedy making a comeback as the main character, or at least a playable character, in RE9. However, he was not seen anywhere in the trailer so we might have to wait for further confirmation.

An important part of achieving financial freedom is having enough savings. But not all savings accounts are created equal. When looking to store your hard-earned money in a savings account, consider accounts that give you better returns. While traditional banks often give less than 1 percent interest per annum (p.a.), CIMB Bank PH’s

UpSave account has a base rate of 2.5 percent interest p.a., which can go even higher with the bank’s special promos. For instance, you can earn as much as 10 percent interest p.a. until June 30, 2025 as part of CIMB Bank PH’s

A NEW EXPERIENCE

STILL, fans shouldn’t be blinded by nostalgia as our return to Raccoon City will be different. As fun as it is to go back, the place seems nothing but rubble. Still, it is great to see that some parts of the RPD seem intact and should it be one of the playable places, we already know our way around. Moreover, it is hinted in the trailer that we will get to see flashbacks of Alyssa Ashcroft’s investigation about the Wrenwood hotel. It’s exciting to see that even after years of the city being destroyed, there are still stories left to unpack.

Gameplay-wise, there are rumors that the ninth installment will be an open world, letting you explore more freely. But there has yet to be a confirmation. Nevertheless, the game’s release is set to be in February 2026. So, fans don’t have to wait longer to

Tech firm warns of rising advancement of fraud in PHL, Asean

BY RIZAL RAOUL REYES

NOTWITHSTANDING the rapid digital growth experienced by the Philippines and its Asean neighbors, full-cycle verification and ongoing monitoring platform Sumsub recently warned one of the most urgent challenges accompanying this growth is the rising sophistication of fraud, which puts pressure on businesses and institutions to strengthen their identity verification processes while staying compliant with evolving regulations.

“The Philippines—and the broader Asean region—has seen rapid digital growth, creating both opportunities and new risks for the digital economy. In the Philippines, this challenge is compounded by a high incidence of fraud,” Penny Chai, vice president, APAC, Sumsub, told BusinessMirror in an e-mail interview.

Citing Sumsub’s APAC Identity Fraud Report 2024, the country recorded the fifth highest fraud rate in APAC. As fraud schemes become more complex, she said compliance teams must constantly adapt, balancing security with user experience while ensuring adherence to local requirements.

Recent regulatory developments like the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act aim to address these gaps, but implementation introduces another layer of complexity. Organizations now face heightened expectations around monitoring, reporting and institutional accountability—all of which require more sophisticated internal systems and clearer compliance protocols.

At the same time, Chai said identity verification in the Philippines is evolving. With over 84 million digital IDs issued, she said the groundwork is being laid for a more secure digital ecosystem.

However, fragmentation across platforms and institutions presents a challenge: compliance teams must work with inconsistent standards, limited interoperability, and differing levels of ID verification maturity depending on the channel or partner involved.

“Regionally, cross-border operations are further complicated by Asean’s fragmented regulatory environment. Despite efforts to harmonize through initiatives like the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement, each country continues to maintain its own policies on data protection, onboarding and verification—posing ongoing challenges for companies operating across multiple markets,” Chai explained.

Chai said digital exclusion remains a key concern as large segments of the population in many Southeast Asian countries still lack access to formal financial systems.

“Compliance frameworks must account for this by enabling inclusive and flexible identity verification, ensuring that security and compliance do not come at the cost of accessibility,” Chai said.

In a region as diverse as Asia Pacific, APAC, Chai said there’s no one-size-fits-all approach in tackling the rapid changes in technology. She added governments must tailor their strategies based on where they are in their digital journey, whether they’re more advanced digital economies or emerging markets.

For more advanced digital economies where digital infrastructure is mature and mass adoption is already underway, Chai said governments should now shift their focus toward enhancing fraud prevention, ensuring interoperability across systems, and promoting accessibility for all citizens. These efforts are critical to achieving broader and more inclusive digital participation at scale.

In contrast, she said emerging markets still face foundational challenges. Their priority should be on building a robust digital infrastructure, promoting integration between public and private digital systems, and addressing digital exclusion to bring more people into the digital economy.

“Without these cornerstones, the benefits of digital transformation will remain out of reach for many,” she said.

Gerard S. Ramos

Stick with nature: Filipino inventor Mark Bantugon develops Pili Seal for safer, greener aircra�t repairs

HE was just an intern when the smell hit him. Not jet fuel. Not grease. Not engine oil or metal dust. This was different— chemical, suffocating, and unmistakably out of place in a country that prides itself on natural ingenuity. Inside a hangar at Lufthansa Technik Philippines, surrounded by towering aircraft and precision engineering, Mark Kennedy Bantugon encountered the sharp, unpleasant odor of industrial sealants.

It was a moment of discomfort most engineers would brush off. But Mark couldn’t.

As a young aeronautical engineer, trained to solve problems with systems thinking, he sensed there had to be a better way. What he didn’t expect was that the answer wouldn’t be found in a lab—but in the discarded resin of a native Filipino tree, the Pili.

FROM CHEWED GUM TO CHEMISTRY

BEFORE he was a global innovator, Mark was a kid in Batangas with dirt under his fingernails and ingenuity in his bloodstream. He grew up on a farm, where every tool had multiple lives and waste was repurposed out of necessity.

“I grew up with dirt on my hands,” he recalls. “I enjoyed my childhood years basking in the sunlight on a farm, tilling the fields, engaging with different animals, and immersing myself in nature. I have been exposed to various plants, trees and animals, and have learned about their waste materials.”

His early experiment with sealants started from these childhood experiences. “Every time a typhoon hit our hometown, our parents would force me and my siblings to eat chewing gum which we eventually used to cover the holes in our ceiling to prevent water leaks,” he recalled. “That became our personal pain point.”

In high school, he started experimenting with local tree resins as sealants. While most kids were memorizing formulas, Mark was boiling sap and testing stickiness. His interest only deepened during his undergraduate studies in aeronautics, where he began to notice the stark contrast between the hightech precision of aviation and the low regard for the materials that held it all together.

TURNING WASTE INTO A WIN

DURING his internship at Lufthansa Technik, Mark observed the realities of applying these sealants up close. Technicians had to wear protective gear to avoid inhaling fumes. The material was difficult to dispose of. The entire process felt outdated—and unsustainable.

At the same time, he was aware that the perfume industry was producing large amounts of waste resin from pili trees. This by-product, discarded after essential oil extraction, caught his attention. “Before I discovered pili, I experimented with different kinds of trees,” he said.

“But I think the reason why the pili tree stood out for me was because of two important characteristics: one, its resin is very sticky making it ideal for sealants and adhesives. The second one is that its scent is very fragrant. It’s a good replacement for alternative and commercial sealants that usually have strong unpleasant scents.”

That’s when everything clicked.

After years of solo research and development, late nights in borrowed labs, and a level of determination that would push him to the brink of collapse— literally, during one stretch where he formulated 84 prototypes in 36 hours, ultimately suffering a seizure from exhaustion—Mark finally arrived at a solution that would meet the technical demands of aviation

requirements vital to aircraft safety.

The aviation industry has relied for decades on polysulfide-based sealants, which are effective but often hazardous. According to Mark, “Our business model is circular. This means the residuals of the product can be converted into fertilizers. We don’t add to the disposal issue of the environment because the excess sealant can be converted into safe fertilizer.”

Their internal studies showed that about 10 percent to 15 percent plant growth was observed after applying the converted fertilizer on vegetation within two weeks.

Mark is also advocating for packaging to be returned for recycling. “We’re giving incentivization to our customers when they return the packaging. Then, the leftover sealants in the packaging are converted into safe fertilizer which we donate to local pili farmers to cultivate more pili trees.”

He admits the motivation goes beyond sustainability: “One of the risks that may arise in our business is the consistency of the supply of pili, so we need to have this mitigation to prevent issues specifically when demand for our product increases.”

FROM BICOL TO THE WORLD

THE genius of Pili Seal extends beyond the lab and into the hands of the people. Today, through Pili AdheSeal Inc., Mark works directly with over 15,000 Filipino farmers—many of whom previously had no use for the discarded resin from their pili harvests. His company not only purchases the waste resin at fair prices, but also extracts the essential oils for use in perfumes, then repurposes the remaining substance for the sealant formula. His support hasn’t gone unnoticed. “There are so many farmers who have been reaching out to me, offering to contribute raw materials,” he shared. His innovation journey on pili has led him to be recognized by various prestigious award-giving bodies, spanning local and international stages. These notable entities include the James Dyson Award,

Commerce and Industry and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, to name a few.

Mark was also named the first PILIpino Inventor, receiving the Wipo National Awards for Inventor, considered the highest award by the Wipo. He was also recognized as one of the 2023 Young Explorers under Human Ingenuity Category by the prestigious National Geographic Society; with the James Dyson Award in 2021, Tatler Asia Generation T Leaders of Tomorrow in 2022, Youth Achiever Award for Science & Technology in 2024 by Unicef, and the Grand Winner at the Asia CEO Awards 2024 under Most Innovative Company of the Year.

Recently, he was also declared the grand winner of the Australia Green Economy Innovation Challenge, besting over 130 startup applications, and securing a partnership to pilot his product with BlueScope Company, a leading global steel company based in Australia. “We’re on our pilot testing with a project for BlueScope Company. When it passes, they may become one of our customers in the future. This signifies that our sealants can be used in steels, but we’re also open in other industries because we believe our product is very diverse in application.”

He’ll be heading to Reykjavik, Iceland for the ceremony where his Pili Seal innovation will be showcased. “We will be showcasing the product through a television format. It’s no longer a competition; it’s just to share the technology to the audience where European government representatives will also be present,” he shared excitedly.

At home, he’s currently finishing his Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering by Research at Mapúa University, funded by the Department of Science and Technology, to further develop different grades of Pili Seal for various industries.

SMELL OF INNOVATION

IT’S easy to think of innovation in terms of glossy

gadgets and billion-dollar valuations. But Mark’s story reminds us that some of the most transformative ideas come not from tech hubs but from childhood memories, natural waste, and a deep desire to do better.

Pili Seal doesn’t just improve aviation safety. It reshapes how we think about innovation itself: not as a race to the future, but as a careful walk back to what’s been right in front of us all along.

There’s a quiet kind of genius in turning something forgotten—tree resin tossed aside by the perfume industry—into a life-changing, industry-shifting material. But that’s what Mark Bantugon does best: he finds value where others don’t look.

What he’s created with Pili Seal is a kind of innovation that resonates. Sticky, yes. But also steady, circular, and unmistakably Filipino. Because sometimes, the smartest way forward is to stick with nature—and remember exactly where you came from. ■

Hackers already working on breaking Nintendo Switch 2

LESS than 24 hours upon its release, user David Buchanan or “@retr0.id” on Bluesky, a microblogging social media service similar to X, uploaded a short video seemingly proving that he has already “got in” inside the newly released Nintendo Switch 2. Prior, Nintendo continuously boasted about their latest console’s security, even having updated their End-User License Agreement to reserve the right to “brick” or render a device useless once they detected tampering.

Moreover, reports from hackers who got early access to the device claimed the Switch 2 was unhackable. This was weeks prior to the console’s release.

Hackers, being puzzle-solvers in nature, may have taken their warning as a challenge. And retr0.id took the first step in hacking Nintendo’s latest console.

WHAT WAS THE HACK?

DAVID claimed on Bluesky his hack against Switch 2, with a caption “userland ROP on day 1.” Under it was a video of a “framebuffer graphics demo” inserted by him. ROP means return-oriented programming, allowing a hacker to execute codes even in the presence of security defense.

His exploit, he clarified, “don’t have native code exec, this is all in a userland ROP context.”

While it does not have much use, it could be a start of finding more vulnerability issues underlying the Switch 2.

YouTuber “Low Level,” a creator focused on cyber security and software security, however, explained that more work needs to be done before the hacking turns into a complete jailbreak or bypassing the manufacturer’s restriction.

He said that as of now, the hacking has only reached the user-level. For a complete hack to occur, hackers need to find a vulnerability on the kernel or bypass the secure world of the device.

NEXT STEP

CURIOSITY still remains with David as his next step could be understanding the motherboard of the device.

In Bluesky, he jokingly asked, “So who’s gonna be the first to sacrifice a switch 2 for board scans.” He also seemed disappointed that there were no board scans that has been done as of writing. “I was hoping the people who already did the die shots would also do board scans but apparently not,” he posted.

While incomplete, hackers have already set foot on the device. For now, we’ll have to wait for more developments from the hackers, but moreso with Nintendo on how they would patch up these kinds of vulnerability in their system to maintain their claims of being “unhackable” with the Switch 2. PATRICK VILLANUEVA

EDCOM 2: Philippine college courses heavy on gen. education, but lacking in practical training

PHILIPPINE college programs heavily emphasize general education (GE) courses, but fall short in offering internships and hands-on training.

This was the result of discussions at a recent House Committee on Basic Education hearing, where Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) Technical Panel for Teacher Education chair Dr. Edizon Fermin highlighted the imbalance in the current higher education curriculum.

“Currently, [42 percent of our credit structure is GE, because of the component’s wide scope in our higher education. It turns out that all our graduates’ minor is in GE, because of the configuration of exit courses in the key disciplines, even if there are] college-readiness standards,” Dr. Fermin explained. He proposed that transferring or “downloading” some GE subjects to the senior-high school (SHS) curriculum could reduce college-program duration by at least one semester, helping students graduate sooner. Echoing these concerns, EDCOM 2 executive director Karol Mark Yee cited initial findings from a Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) research, which noted that national college programs exceed global norms: “The study shows that across the board, college courses in the Philippines exceed requirements in Asean, Australia and [the European Union, with most Bachelors programs being ‘GE-heavy,

Sen. Gatchalian hails Senate approval on proposed Phil. Sci. HS system expansion

By Butch Fernandez

SENATOR Win Gatchal -

ian has lauded the Sen -

ate’s third reading approval of the Expanded Philippine Science High School System (PSHS) Act, or Senate Bill 2974.

The proposed measure which the senator co-authored and co-sponsored seeks to establish the PSHS System under the administrative supervision of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It provides that there shall be at least two PSHS campuses in each administrative region, with the exception of the National Capital Region where the PSHS main campus is located.

No province, however,

EDUCATORS SPEAK

shall have more than one PSHS campus.

Gatchalian pointed out that the proposed measure will give more learners the opportunity to receive quality science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. According to the Year Two Report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM 2, qualified students were unable to study in the PSHS System over the past three years because of the lack of slots.

Gatchalian, who is EDCOM 2’s co-chairperson, remarked in Filipino that the PSHS System’s expansion will reach more students, who will have the opportunity to receive quality STEM education.

internship-light.’ This means Filipino students end up with dozens more units compared to those from] other countries.”

House Committee chair and EDCOM 2 co-chairperson Representative Roman Romulo also referenced the PIDS study, which said that when GE subjects were dropped, CHED technical panels added more.

“But the thing is, we went over and beyond: A lot were added, and many students found it hard to graduate,” Romulo explained

At the hearing, the Department of Education (DepEd) presented its revised SHS curriculum. The updated framework reduces the number of core subjects to five, aligning them closer with CHED’s required GE courses. By “downloading” these courses to SHS, the department aims to ease the college curriculum load and eliminate redundancy.

Beyond core courses, DepEd plans to offer a menu of elective subjects tailored to academic or career interests, ensuring students are both college- and career-ready.

Concerns, cautions HOWEVER, concerns were raised that this flexible elective system might result in students bypassing foundational content required in college.

to eliminate overlap with high school coursework.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

(NU) continues to redefine the Philippine higher education landscape by prioritizing accessibility while promoting academic excellence.

With its president RJ Ermita at the helm, NU has positioned itself as a progressive scholastic institution that provides quality, affordable education that is close to students’ areas of residence. The university’s expansion strategy reflects a deliberate effort to reduce financial and geographic barriers in tertiary education.

Backed by the strategic partnership with the Sy family and SM Group, NU’s transformation into a top-tier university is anchored on values-driven education and community impact. The institution has gained national recognition for its strong board exam performances, topnotchers in key

licensure fields, and widespread program accreditations. Its core values prove that holistic formation is central to NU’s mission. Beyond academics, NU has also become a force in Philippine collegiate sports, especially with its latest victories in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ (UAAP) Season 87. Ermita cited sports excellence as key to uniting the NU community: from players, to its to alumni—under a culture of discipline and determination.

BM EDUCATION: NU is one of the leading universities in the Philippines. What sets it apart from other top learning institutions?

ERMITA: The university focuses on three pillars: quality, affordability and accessibility. We are proving that high-quality edu -

CELEBRATING a decade of digital marketing innovation, the Digital Marketing Association of the Philippines (DMAP) will unlock the next evolution of customer engagement as it hosts this year’s edition of the annual Digital Congress (DigiCon) with the theme: “The Age of ‘I’: Personalization in a Connected World” on October 16 to 17 at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

Now in its 10th year, the major digital convention will gather global and local industry experts, thought leaders and technology pioneers who will dive into navigating the complexities of personalization in an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven world, unlocking strategies for scalable, impactful connections.

DigiCon 2025 will offer attendees opportunities to learn, interact, and collaborate through five focused tracks: Data Science

Bold vision: NU sets the bar high on quality education, widened access & winning culture

cation doesn’t have to be expensive. As of Academic Year 2024 to 2025, NU operates 14 campuses across the country, serving around 70,000 students. We also reduce the added costs students usually incur for dormitories and transportation by bringing NU campuses closer to where students live.

Please share the strategy behind NU’s partnership with SM, and the notable achievements that have arisen from it. AS a legacy project of the Sy family, the partnership aims to develop productive Filipinos— whether as career professionals or entrepreneurs—who can contribute meaningfully to national development. This commitment is evident in our strong performance in national licensure exams. In 2024, we were named

Representative Stella Quimbo cautioned that while student choice is important, a balance must be maintained to avoid repeating subjects at the college level.

In response, CHED assured the committee that it is working closely with DepEd in embedding key GE competencies into the SHS curriculum. Through its reconstituted technical panels, the commission is also reviewing higher education programs

“CHED and DepEd should work together in providing a list that considers what students will need in college while also giving them leeway for their interests,” Yee said. “The goal is to ensure that the electives students choose in SHS can meet potential prerequisite requirements for college, while also allowing their other elective choices to be credited later on.” Romulo explained that “the new SHS curriculum’s core subjects mirror the [GE subjects’ competencies in first-year college. Effectively, it will be phased out in college. CHED at DepEd agreed that the three GE subjects can be found in Arts, Araling Panlipunan and Good Manners and Right Conduct or GMRC].” He added that possibly, “there can be one semester less in college.” At the hearing’s conclusion, the lawmaker urged both agencies to work closely together for better alignment of basic and higher education programs.

DMAP’s 10th DigiCon to discuss in-depth personalization

& customer engagement

and Analytics, Digital Commerce and Retail, Digital Brand Building, Business Transformation, and Innovation. These tracks, along with various practical and immersive activities, will enable attendees to explore the latest trends and emerging technologies in personalized marketing, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration among industry professionals.

“We are entering an era where personalization is paramount.

This year’s theme celebrates the transformative power of technology to create unique, meaningful connections with customers,”

DigiCon 2025 chair Alan Fontanilla said. “In this rapidly evolving digital landscape, brands must navigate how to cultivate personal experiences in a connected world, driving stronger brand loyalty and effective customer experience.

DMAP DigiCon 2025 will be the destination to empower digital

as a Top Performing School in Nursing and Sanitary Engineering, and produced nine board topnotchers.

Our programs not only build skills and knowledge, but also foster strong character, guided by NU’s core values of integrity, innovation, resilience, compassion and patriotism. We’ve received 24 academic accreditations from the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation or PACUCOA, and certification from the Philippine

marketers to navigate this era and explore the future of personalized experiences.”

In the tech and AI world, brands leverage personalization to create more engaging and relevant customer experiences by using algorithms to analyze data and predict behaviors, then tailor content, recommendations and marketing messages. About 71 percent of consumers expect personalization, while companies with high growth see 40 percent more revenue from it, underscoring the critical role of personalization in meeting consumer expectations and driving customer satisfaction.

This year’s theme is a testament to DMAP’s mission to futureproof the industry by providing crucial insights and skills, empowering marketers to stay ahead of the curve in the digital age amid evolving consumer behaviors and rapid technological shifts.

Computer Society’s Information and Computing Accreditation Board or PICAB for our Bachelor of Computer Science and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology programs. Since 2018, we’ve expanded to 11 new campuses, revitalized NU Manila, and integrated the NU Nazareth School.

Certainly, there have been several achievements by NU in the last decade.

BEYOND expansion, NU has earned the Commission on Higher Education’s Autonomous Status— a recognition of our sustained quality assurance, academic excellence and institutional maturity.

We’ve also cultivated a strong research culture. NU now ranks 13th among Philippine higher education institutions in research productivity, with 756 publications and 3,239 citations.

Our university has also excelled in athletics, collecting 14 championship titles, 11 silver finishes, and four bronze trophies. Notably, we achieved a historic backto-back golden double in men’s and women’s volleyball at UAAP Season 87.

“Filipinos are even more connected and changing their habits digitally, so digital marketers must possess new levels of expertise and adaptability,” DMAP president Miko David said. “[We commit to leading the industry in navigating this complex landscape, providing key insights] and skills necessary to thrive in an era of hyper-personalization. We continue to strive toward fostering an ecosystem where innovation thrives, and where professionals are equipped to shape the future of digital engagement.” Building on past successes, DigiCon 2025 expects to attract more than 2,000 attendees from various sectors, including marketing, advertising, business, academia, media and innovation. Early registration is now open to the public. To secure spots and learn more about the event, visit https://www. digicon.com.ph or send an e-mail to conference@dmap.com.ph.

How does NU choose its campus locations for expansion?

WE look at underserved areas with young and growing populations that lack sufficient access to higher education. Our expansion also considers our academic strengths aligning with the needs of each community. The goal is to improve education quality locally, while significantly contributing to regional development.

NU has gained popularity through its participation in the UAAP. What drives its sports success?

OUR success in the UAAP has boosted school pride and brought the community closer together. Sports builds camaraderie among students, faculty, staff, alumni— and even fans. Our winning culture is the result of collaboration among dedicated players, passionate coaches, committed team managers, and strong institutional support. NU’s Board chair Dr. Hans Sy, his siblings, and their families have been instrumental, reminding us to always “stay focused, stay hungry, and stay humble.”

PRESIDENT RJ Ermita of NU

Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan

ON SACRED GROUNDS Rome and Vatican City beyond the conclave

Story & photos by Joshua Berida

WHEN

Pope Francis died, questions about his successor were all over the news. Every Catholic waited with bated breath on who the new head of the Catholic Church will be.

The names of Asians and Africans were on the shortlist. Everyone thought the next Pope would be from a developing country. It took a couple of weeks before the Vatican announced the election of a new Pope. The election of the first pope from the United States of America caught the world by surprise. Cardinal Robert Prevost or Leo XIV became the new leader of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025.

This news made me reflect on my short visit to Rome and Vatican City. Rome or also known as the Eternal City is home to some of the world’s most renowned architectural wonders. I had the privilege to walk within the walls of the Colosseum. The latter is a centuries old structure that has withstood the test of time. Gladiator tournaments, public executions, re-enactments of events, and dramas just to name a few. Thousands of spectators screaming their lungs out, cheering and jeering must’ve been a sight to behold. The Roman Forum is a reminder of a great civilization. The contrast between the old and modern in Rome is obvious.

After visiting some of the most famous attractions of Rome, I set my sights on Vatican City. The Vatican as an enclave and independent state headed by the pope only dates to 1929. However, the city’s history and influence over not only the church but of Rome is much longer.

Upon entering Vatican City, the first thing visitors will see is St. Peter’s

Square. The obelisk will immediately grab your attention as it stands more than 80 feet tall. The square was designed in such a way so that the largest number of people can hear the pope’s mass and receive his blessings.

I met a few Filipinos working around the Vatican or just visiting. After exploring the square, I didn’t enter the famous basilica yet. I booked a time slot to enter the museums and see the Sistine Chapel.

The history of the church (and the papacy) spans centuries. This has

led to the conversion of billions of people to Christianity. Despite the good things the church has done, it has its own flaws, scandals, and mistakes. Some would tie colonialism and imperialism to the spread of Christianity outside of Europe. You’ve probably seen (in full or partially) the numerous documentaries, movies, series, news, and other types of content about the church’s flaws and good deeds. All these thoughts ran through my mind as I explored the Vatican Museums.

The museums are a repository of art, frescoes, statues, and other items the church has accumulated over the centuries. I couldn’t help but linger a little longer at a painting or frescoes that depict the church’s history. It was information overload from the start of the tour until it finished. The large crowds that moved in and out of the vast complex can be stressful. European masters such as Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Raphael and Bernini are just a few of the renowned names that contributed to the religious art you’ll

find inside the museums. You’ll spend a lot of time looking up at the frescoes and admiring the attention to detail that the artists put into their work. The highlight of a trip to the Vatican is experiencing the Sistine Chapel. Various renowned artists of their time decorated the walls and painted the frescoes of the chapel.

FYI: visitors can’t take pictures inside the Sistine Chapel. If you think the previous rooms had beautiful frescoes, the ones here will leave you in awe. Arguably the most fa -

mous painting you’ll see here is Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” wherein a miniscule gap between the two fingertips of man and divinity separate each other. The Sistine Chapel is also where the election of a new pope takes place. After a visit to the museums, I finally went to St. Peter’s Basilica, the last stop of my itinerary. The idea of building the church during the leadership of Pope Nicholas V in the middle of the 15th century. However, the laying of the first stone only took place in 1506. Much like the Vatican Museums, it took a collaboration of artists and popes over the centuries to complete the basilica. Michelangelo was the chief architect from the time of Paul III until his death. Renaissance and Baroque art populate the interiors of the basilica. My brief visit to Vatican City was an eye opening experience. The city’s history spans centuries and the artworks from the European masters of the Renaissance and Baroque periods were truly awe-inspiring.

App launched to enhance visitor experience in Intramuros

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror

TOURING the walled city of Intramuros has now become less tedious as information on its historical sites are now accessible through a newly launched digital application. The Intramuros Administration (IA) gave a preview of the new digital gateway to the heritage city app. intramuros.gov.ph at the Centro de Turismo on Wednesday, just in time for the Philippines Independence Day celebration, after an official signing ceremony between IA, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the CIIT College of Arts and Technology, which collaborated on the project. IA Administrator lawyer Joan Padilla explained: “This new app is designed to enhance the

mation and services more accessible and user-friendly. From

of Intramuros as a monument to the Hispanic period of Philippine history. To date, there have been four million visitors to Intramuros, eight percent more than the 3.7 million, who visited in the first half of 2024.

attached agency of the Department of Tourism tasked with the orderly restoration and development

Padilla told the BusinessMirror , “No government funds were spent” on developing the app. She

added that, “Visitors can also access links to site booking platforms and tour reservations.” The app likewise includes real-time updates on events and announcements, and supports IA’s sustainability goals by promoting digital information access and reducing paper use across visitor centers, she noted.

Instead of being a stand-alone app to be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play, visitors can open the app website on their phone’s browser and save it on their device’s home page. Padilla explained, “The decision was to go for the web-based app because of the need to constantly update the content therein, which would be tedious if it’s a downloadable app.”

She said the launch represents Phase 1 of a broader digital transformation initiative by IA. Also being developed by the DOST and CITT, she said, are improvements to expand the application’s features and enhance the user experience. “QR code for AR [augmented reality] will be part of the next phase,” she disclosed. This will allow visitors to point their phone cam and scan a QR code, which will then give them an immersive experience of a historical site or artifact.

“Beyond tourism, the app also strengthens our commitment to public service delivery where our stakeholders, partners, and the public, will soon be able to access essential services such as permit applications,

event coordination, and other administrative processes through the Intramuros App,” said Padilla in her speech at the app launch. Under Marcos Jr. administration, government agencies have been directed to “streamline government services and modernize public service delivery. [The Intramuros App] marks a significant step forward in enhancing both tourism and regulatory services within Intramuros,” she noted. Development of the IA App has long been pushed by the DOT as a way to encourage more visitors to tour the iconic heritage site in Manila. Under the National Tourism Development Plan for 2023-2028, the DOT seeks to develop tourism products that emphasize, for one, cultural experiences. This means “focusing on building deeper narratives and understanding of stories of place, people, and community.”

It includes emphasizing “the significance of heritage sites [and] integrating sites with living culture, including food and festivals, traditional arts and crafts, and others.”

THE Colosseum in Rome

INSIDE the Vatican Museums you’ll find depictions of Christendom and important events throughout its history.

ST. Peter’s Square

THE Intramuros App is aimed at enhancing the overall tourism experience by making key information regarding sites, tours, events, among others, more accessible to visitors.

INTRAMUROS Administrator lawyer Joan Padilla responds to questions from the media at the launch of Intramuros App on June 11 at the Centro de Turismo.

INSIDE St. Peter’s Basilica

VATICAN City

THE interiors of St. Peter’s Basilica is a work of art. RELIGIOUS and depictions of history are on display within the walls of the Vatican Museums.

TREVI Fountain in Rome

VESTIGES of an ancient civilization

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Israel hits Iran’s nuclear and missile sites, prompting Iranian drone-strike retaliation

By Jon Gambrell & Josef Federman The Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates— Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program and killed at least two top military officers, raising the potential for an allout war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq.

The strikes came amid simmering tensions over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program and appeared certain to trigger a reprisal, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning that “severe punishment” would be directed at Israel. Hours later, Israel’s military said it had begun intercepting Iranian drones launched in retaliation.

An Israeli official said the interceptions were taking place outside of Israeli territory, but did not elaborate. The official spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement.

Iraq said more than 100 Iranian drones had crossed its airspace, and a short time later neighboring Jordan said its air force and defense systems had intercepted several missiles and drones that had entered its airspace for fear they would fall in its territory.

Israel’s attack on Iran hit several sites, including the country’s main nuclear enrichment facility, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. Later in the morning, it said it had also destroyed dozens of radar

installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran.

The leader of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami, was confirmed dead, Iranian state television reported, a development that is a significant blow to Tehran’s governing theocracy and an immediate escalation of its long-simmering conflict with Israel.

The chief of staff of Iranian armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, was also confirmed dead by Iranian state television. Other top military officials and scientists were believed to have been killed.

In Washington, the Trump administration, which had cautioned Israel against an attack during continued negotiations over Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, said that it had not been involved and warned against any retaliation targeting US interests or personnel.

Still, it seemed likely the US suspected an attack could be in the offing, with Washington on Wednesday pulling some American diplomats

from Iraq’s capital and offering voluntary evacuations for the families of US troops in the wider Middle East.

Israel calls attacks preemptive strikes on Iran’s nuclear program

ISRAELI leaders cast the preemptive assault as a fight for the nation’s survival that was necessary to head off an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs, though it remains unclear how close the country is to achieving that or whether Iran had actually been planning a strike soon.

“It could be a year. It could be within a few months,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said as he vowed to pursue the attack for as long as necessary to “remove this threat.”

“This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival,” he said. Israel is believed to have carried out numerous highly secretive attacks on Iranian soil over the years, though it has rarely acknowledged them. Most have been aimed at Iran’s nuclear program, though Iran has also accused Israel of targeting its natural gas pipelines and of assassinating Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Over the past year, Israel has also been targeting Iran’s air defenses, hitting a radar system for a Russian-made air defense battery in April 2024 and surface-to-air missile sites and missile manufacturing facilities in October.

Some 200 Israeli aircraft took part in Friday’s operation, hitting about 100 targets, Israeli army chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said, adding that the attacks were ongoing.

In the aftermath, Defrin said Iran had launched more than 100 drones toward Israel and that “all the defense systems are acting to intercept the threats.”

Israel, Iraq, Iran and Jordan shut down their airspace to all flights as a precaution.

Iran confirms top officials and scientists killed KHAMENEI issued a statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency. It confirmed that top military officials and scientists had been killed in the attack.

Israel “opened its wicked and blood-stained hand to a crime in our beloved country, revealing its malicious nature more than ever by striking residential centers,” Khamenei said.

For Netanyahu, the operation distracts attention from Israel’s ongoing and increasingly devastating war in Gaza, which is now over 20 months old.

There is a broad consensus in the Israeli public that Iran is a major threat, and Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, a staunch critic of Netanyahu, offered his “full support” for the mission against Iran. But if Iranian reprisals cause heavy Israeli casualties or major disruptions to daily life, Netanyahu could see public opinion quickly shift.

Netanyahu expressed hope the attacks would trigger the downfall of Iran’s theocracy, saying his message to the Iranian people was that the fight was not with them, but with the “brutal dictatorship that has oppressed you for 46 years.”

“I believe that the day of your liberation is near,” the Israeli leader said.

Multiple sites in the Iranian capital were hit in the attack, which Netanyahu said targeted both nuclear and military sites. Also targeted were officials leading Iran’s nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that an Israeli strike hit Iran’s uranium enrichment facility at Natanz and said it was closely monitoring radiation levels.

The strike on Iran pushed the Israeli military to its limits, requiring the use of aging air-to-air refuelers to get its fighter jets close enough to attack. It wasn’t immediately clear if Israeli jets entered Iranian airspace or just fired socalled “standoff missiles” over another country. People in Iraq heard fighter jets overhead at the time of the attack. Israel previously attacked Iran from over the border in Iraq.

Tension had been growing for weeks ahead of attacks

THE potential for an attack had been apparent for weeks as angst built over Iran’s nuclear program.

President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he did not believe an attack was imminent but also acknowledged that it “could very well happen.”

Once the attacks were underway, the US Embassy in Jerusalem issued an alert telling American government

workers and their families to shelter in place until further notice.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel took “unilateral action against Iran” and that Israel advised the US that it believed the strikes were necessary for its self-defense.

“We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in a statement released by the White House.

Trump is scheduled to attend a meeting of his National Security Council on Friday in the White House Situation Room, where he is expected to discuss the conflict with top advisers. It is not clear if he plans to make public remarks on the strikes. Israel has long been determined to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a concern laid bare on Thursday when the Board of Governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency for the first time in 20 years censured Iran over its refusal to work with its inspectors. Iran immediately announced it would establish a third enrichment site in the country and swap out some centrifuges for moreadvanced ones.

Even so, there are multiple assessments on how many nuclear weapons it could conceivably build, should it choose to do so. Iran would need months to assemble, test and field any weapon, which it so far has said it has no desire to do. US intelligence agencies also assess Iran does not have a weapons program at this time.

In a sign of the far-reaching implications of the emerging conflict, Israel’s main airport was closed and benchmark Brent crude spiked on news of the attack, rising nearly 8%. Both Iran and Israel closed their airspace.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel

SMOKE billows from an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on Friday, June 13, 2025. Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday, with explosions booming across Tehran. AP/VAHID SALEMI

Noem vows to continue immigration crackdown despite protests, court challenges in Los Angeles

By Krysta Fauria, Olga R. Rodriguez & John Seewer The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES—Homeland

Security Secretary Kristi Noem pledged to carry on with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown despite waves of unrest across the US.

Hours after her comment Thursday, a judge directed the president to return control to California over National Guard troops he deployed after protests erupted over the immigration crackdown, but an appeals court quickly put the brakes on that and temporarily blocked the order that was to go into effect on Friday. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals scheduled a hearing on the matter for Tuesday.

The federal judge’s temporary restraining order said the Guard deployment was illegal and both violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded President Donald Trump’s statutory authority. The order applied only to the National Guard troops and not Marines who were also deployed to the LA protests. The judge said he would not rule on the Marines because they were not out on the streets yet. Gov. Gavin Newsom who had asked the judge for an emergency stop to troops helping carry out immigration raids, had praised the order before it was blocked saying “today was really

Israel. . .

Continued from A10

about a test of democracy, and today we passed the test” and had said he would be redeploying Guard soldiers to “what they were doing before Donald Trump commandeered them.”

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the president acted within his powers and that the federal judge’s order “puts our brave federal officials in danger. The district court has no authority to usurp the President’s authority as Commander in Chief.”

The developments unfolded as protests continued in cities nationwide and the country braced for major demonstrations against Trump over the weekend.

‘This is only going to continue,’ DHS chief says of raids NOEM said the immigration raids that fueled the protests would move forward and agents have thousands of targets.

“This is only going to continue until we have peace on the streets of Los Angeles,” she said during a news conference that was interrupted by

Katz warned that in the aftermath of the strikes, “missile and drone attacks against Israel and its civilian population are expected immediately.” “It is essential to listen to instructions from the home front command and authorities to stay in protected areas,” he said in a statement.

shouting from US Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who was forcibly removed from the event.

Newsom has warned that the military intervention is part of a broader effort by Trump to overturn norms at the heart of the nation’s democracy. He also said sending Guard troops on the raids has further inflamed tensions in LA.

So far, the protests have been centered mostly in downtown near City Hall and a federal detention center where some immigrants are being held. Much of the sprawling city has been spared from the protests.

On the third night of an 8 p.m. curfew, Los Angeles police arrested several demonstrators who refused orders to leave a street downtown. Earlier in the night, officers with the Department of Homeland Security deployed flash bangs to disperse a crowd that had gathered near the jail, sending protesters sprinting away.

Those incidents were outliers. As with the past two nights, the hours-long demonstrations remained peaceful and upbeat, drawing a few hundred attendees who marched through downtown chanting, dancing and poking fun at the Trump administration’s characterization of the city as a “war zone.”

Elsewhere, demonstrations have picked up across the US, emerging in more than a dozen major cities. Some have led to clashes with police and hundreds have been arrested.

Noem calls action in LA a blueprint

T HE immigration agents conducting the raids in LA are “putting together

As the explosions in Tehran started, Trump was on the lawn of the White House mingling with members of Congress. It was unclear if he had been informed, but the president continued shaking hands and posing for

a model and a blueprint” for other communities, Noem said.

She pledged that federal authorities “are not going away” even though, she said, officers have been hit with rocks and bricks and assaulted. She said people with criminal records who are in the country illegally and violent protesters will “face consequences.”

“Just because you think you’re here as a citizen, or because you’re a member of a certain group or you’re not a citizen, it doesn’t mean that you’re going to be protected and not face consequences from the laws that this country stands for,” she said.

Noem criticized the Padilla’s interruption, calling it “inappropriate.” A statement from her agency said the two met after the news conference for about 15 minutes, but it also chided him for “disrespectful political theater.”

Padilla said later that he was demanding answers about the “increasingly extreme immigration enforcement actions” and only wanted to ask Noem a question. He said he was

pictures for several minutes.

Trump earlier said he urged Netanyahu to hold off on any action while the administration negotiated with Iran over nuclear enrichment. “As long as I think there is a (chance

handcuffed but not arrested.

“If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question, I can only imagine what they are doing to farmworkers, to cooks, to day laborers throughout the Los Angeles community,” he said.

Military involvement escalates in LA

THE administration has said it is willing to send troops to other cities to assist with immigration enforcement and controlling disturbances—in line with what Trump promised during last year’s campaign.

Some 2,000 Guard soldiers were in the nation’s second-largest city and were soon to be joined by 2,000 more, along with about 700 Marines, said Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, who is in charge of the operation.

About 500 of the Guard troops deployed to the Los Angeles protests have been trained to accompany agents on immigration operations, Sherman said Wednesday. The Guard has the authority to temporarily de -

for an) agreement, I don’t want them going in because I think it would blow it,” Trump told reporters.

Federman reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi,

tain people who attack officers, but any arrests must be made by law enforcement.

States face questions on deploying troops WITH more demonstrations expected over the weekend, and the possibility that Trump could send troops to other states for immigration enforcement, governors are weighing what to do.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has put 5,000 National Guard members on standby in cities where demonstrations are planned. In other Republican-controlled states, governors have not said when or how they may deploy troops.

A group of Democratic governors earlier signed a statement this week calling Trump’s deployments “an alarming abuse of power.”

Hundreds arrested in LA protests THERE have been about 470 arrests since Saturday, the vast majority of which were for failing to leave the area at the request of law enforcement, according to the police department. There have been a handful of more serious charges, including for assault against officers and for possession of a Molotov cocktail and a gun. Nine officers have been hurt, mostly with minor injuries.

Rodriguez reported from San Francisco and Seewer from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Julie Watson in San Diego, Jesse Bedayn in Denver, and Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.

Amir Vahdat and Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran; Melanie Lidman and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel; Eric Tucker in Washington; Bassem Mroue and Abby Sewell in Beirut, Lebanon; and David Rising in Bangkok contributed to this report.

US Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., is pushed out of the room as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a news conference regarding the recent protests in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 12, 2025. AP/ETIENNE LAURENT

Sports

Editor: Jun Lomibao

By Aldrin Quinto

MARCK ESPEJO is pleased to be part of a talented squad that delivered a fine performance for the home crowd, but noted that the Alas Pilipinas roster is still evolving and it could be much different when the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship is held in September.

Nobody is a shoo-in for the team and coach Angiolino Frigoni is keeping his cards close to his chest.

“As of now, we are still not really complete,” Espejo said. “But I believe this is the squad that will compete in the AVC [Asian Volleyball Confederation] Nations Cup in Bahrain.”

The Alas Pilipinas Invitationals provided a stage for the national players to dazzle in front of the home crowd, with Espejo, Owa Retamar, Louie Ramirez, Steven Rotter, Peng Taguibolos, Kim Malabunga shining bright. University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player Ken Datu also seized the moment as Alas Pilipinas completed a threematch sweep, with four-set wins over South Korean club Hyundai Capital Skywalkers and Indonesian pro league champion Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi.

Buds Buddin also grabbed his share of the limelight with crucial points in

None’s shoo-in for Alas at world championship

the decider. Espejo, fittingly, capped a 30-point performance with a thunderous attack that sealed a thrilling five-set triumph against the Thailand national team on the final day to the delight of the big crowd on Independence Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The squad looks like it’s beginning to take shape, but the final roster will not be known until the general meeting before the FIVB World Championship set September 12 to 28.

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania—JJ

Spaun is still new enough to the US Open, and a newcomer to the brute that is Oakmont, that he was prepared for anything Thursday.

He wound up with a clean card and a one-shot lead on an opening day that delivered just about everything.

Scottie Scheffler had more bogeys in one round than he made had the entire tournament when he won the Memorial—he shot a 73, his highest start ever in a US Open, four shots worse than when he made his Open debut at Oakmont as a 19-year-old at Texas.

Patrick Reed made the first albatross in 11 years at the US Open when he holed out a 3-wood from 286 yards on the par-5 fourth—he finished

ALigaya ng Panginoon will hold a charity golf tournament at the Alabang Country Club on Monday in celebration of its 50th year. Proceeds of the Ligaya Golden Jubilee Golf Cup will go to the various mission works of Ligaya ng Panginoon— including evangelization, pastoral work, service to the poor and health care assistance.

with a triple bogey.

Bryson DeChambeau was 39 yards away from the hole at the par-five 12th and took four shots from the rough to get to the green.

Si Woo Kim shot a 68 and had no idea how.

“Honestly, I don’t even know what I’m doing on the course,” Kim said. “Kind of hitting good but feel like this course is too hard for me.”

Through it all, Spaun played a steady hand in only his second US Open.

He played bogey-free and finished with 10 straight pars for a 4-under 66 on America’s toughest course hosting the major known as the toughest test in golf.

He matched the low opening round in

“I will make a list, a big list, 18 players. And from them, I will select,” coach Angiolino Frigoni said. “Of course, we will have more opportunity to play. They have more chance to be on the 14 for the World Championship.”

Inspired play from super sub Buddin BUDS BUDDIN showed Alas Pilipinas has assembled a gifted team from the stars to the last man, providing clutch hits when his number was finally called in the crucial stretch against Thailand.

Patience is a virtue, the National University star who turns 24 later this month said.

“In this kind of system, I’m used to just waiting. Waiting for my time,” Buddin said. “I’m okay with that kind of job.”

US Opens at Oakmont—Andrew Landry also shot 66 the last time here in 2016— and it was no mystery. Good putting never fails at any US Open, and Spaun holed five par putts ranging from 7 feet to 16 feet to go along with four birdies.

“I didn’t really feel like I’m going to show a bogey-free round 4 under. I didn’t really know what to expect especially since I’ve never played here,” said Spaun, playing in only his second US Open. “But yeah, maybe sometimes not having expectations is the best thing, so I’ll take it.” Oakmont lived up to its reputation with a scoring average of about 74.6 despite a course still relatively soft from rain and moderate wind that didn’t stick around for

“Because at NU, we also have a loaded squad. I just have to be always ready to contribute,” he said. “And I’m very happy to be part of this national team.” Buddin said he will treasure the moment playing alongside long-time idol Marck Espejo and that it is extra special because the Philippines pulled off the win over Thailand.

“Of course we can’t say for sure when we’ll get to play together on the court again so I’ll cherish this. It’s a dream come true for me.”

Espejo also hopes ti iinspire more players and for Alas Pilipinas’ success to help men’s volleyball grow even bigger.

“It’s fulfilling to know that I can motivate others, and I’m glad men’s volleyball is experiencing this boom,” he added.

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Pacers aren’t celebrating. The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t panicking.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals scoreboard is what it is—Pacers 2, Thunder 1—going into Game 4 of the best-ofseven title series on Friday night. Everybody can count to four, and everybody can see that Indiana is in a better position right now than Oklahoma City, But the Pacers know if they were to partake in such thinking, that would be dangerous.

“There’s nothing to get excited about right now,” Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton said. “We’re still a long way away.”

An even-keeled approach, for certain. The Thunder are going about business the same way.

“I just think we stay pretty emotionally even in all of the different experiences,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “You really see that when we win. I think if you’re going to get high on the wins, then the natural opposite of that is to get low on the losses. This team doesn’t really swing violently between those two things. Never has.”

Indiana grabbed control of the series on Wednesday night in a 116107 win, a game in which the Pacers’ bench—led by Bennedict Mathurin’s 27 points in 22 minutes and TJ McConnell’s 10 points, five assists and five steals in 15 minutes—outscored Oklahoma City’s reserves, 49-18. The Thunder starters were more than fine in Game 3: Oklahoma City opened the game with a 15-6 run, then started the third quarter—with the starters all on the floor—with an 8-0 burst. Add up those seven minutes of play and it was Thunder 23, Pacers 6. Add up the other 41 minutes of the game and it was Pacers 110, Thunder 84.

“It’s got to be a killer edge to beat these guys,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’re going to be an underdog in every game in this series.... It’s a daunting challenge. Anything less than a total grit mindset, we just don’t have a chance.” If Oklahoma City finds a way Friday, it goes home with a 2-2 series tie and two of the final three games of the series set to be played in its building. A loss, and it’s 3-1—the sort of hole that few teams in NBA history have escaped.

“I think just the competitive greatness for this team has to be at an all-time high,” Thunder guard Alex Caruso said. “To be able to go on the road and win a game is a difficult thing in the playoffs, but especially staring 3-1 down in the face. You got to really get your mind right and get ready for the preparation that it’s going to take to go out there and compete for 48 minutes and get the win.”

Turner update MYLES TURNER , who had five blocks for Indiana in Game 3, including two against Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren with about two minutes left—first a three-pointer and then a six-footer on the same possession—is dealing with an illness. Turner was with the Pacers for film on Thursday and then was sent home. It seems like Indiana expect that he will play in Game 4. Indiana hasn’t lost back-to-back games in three months. Oklahoma City hasn’t done so in two months. The Thunder are 6-0 after losses since early April, 5-0 after losses in these playoffs. AP

The tournament also seeks to promote friendship and camaraderie among golf aficionados for a worthy cause. Hole-in-one prizes for the tournament which has a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start are a Club Car Tempo+ golf cart and Vespa S125 scooter. The tournament is still open for sponsorships for platinum package (P200,000), gold (P100,000), silver (P50,000), bronze (P25,000) and donor (P10,000)—sponsorship form is at www.lnp50golfcup.com/#sponsorregistration.

out of the vibrant charismatic renewal experience of the early 1970s.

For more details, visit www. lnp50golfcup.com or email lnp50golfcup@gmail.com. Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon is a family-based, trans-parochial covenant community in Metro Manila which grew

For 50 years, group has been committed to its mission of bringing people into a personal relationship with Jesus, raising up Christ-centered servant leaders, and actively engaging in pastoral, evangelistic, and socio-civic outreach—especially among the poor and marginalized.

THE Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 Subic Bay this Sunday promises a fast, furious and thrilling battle of physical stamina and mental fortitude over a new race course.

“We have slightly modified the bike course and introduced a new run route to keep things fresh and exciting,” race director Julian Valencia said.

The revamped course still features the signature 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run, but with new twists and challenges to test even the most seasoned triathletes.

The new bike route introduces a more technical layout with sharper turns, rolling roads and extended flat stretches that will demand tactical precision and sustained power output and the latest run course winds through more exposed and potentially wind-swept paths. The organizing Sunrise Events Inc. ensured a seamless and safe race experience, marshalling all necessary resources to support athletes throughout. Enhanced safety protocols include additional medical personnel, improved course signage, hydration stations and continuous on-course monitoring.

“The team has worked tirelessly to make this event both memorable and safe, Valencia said. “We’ve implemented enhanced safety protocols, including increased medical support, clearer course markings, and continuous monitoring throughout the race to ensure the well-being of all participants.”

THE Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton shoots around the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderin Game 3 on Wednesday in Indianapolis. AP

Labagala and Bernard Yang.

JJ SPAUN goes four under through eight holes and makes pars the rest of the way. AP