BusinessMirror May 12, 2025

By Troi Santos

NEW YORK, NY—FilipinoAmerican composer and percussionist Susie Ibarra has been awarded the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music for her composition Sky Islands, a groundbreaking work inspired by the high-altitude rainforest ecosystems of Luzon in the Philippines. The award was announced alongside two other Creative Capital Awardees: Percival Everett, who won in Fiction for James, and Branden Jacobs-Jen-

kins, who took home the Drama prize for Purpose Commissioned and supported by Creative Capital, Sky Islands premiered in July 2024 at the Asia Society in New York and has been hailed as a powerful ecological and cultural soundscape. The Pulitzer committee described it as “challenging the notion of the compositional voice by interweaving the profound musicianship and improvisational skills of a soloist as a creative tool.”

In a heartfelt message on her

official Facebook page, Ibarra expressed gratitude:

“Thank you for the outpouring of love and support this week when I heard the incredible news of winning the Pulitzer Prize in Music for Sky Islands. I was overwhelmed by your kindness and joy and would like you to know it’s a mutual feeling and I’m grateful.”

Sky Islands was composed during Ibarra’s 2024–2025 fellowship with the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program, where she focused on sound research and environmen-

tal music. “To complete my fellowship with a world premiere of my oratorio Kundiman love songs for our wildernesses and a Pulitzer Prize for high-altitude Sky Islands music is beyond a gift,” she added. The composition was performed by an acclaimed ensemble featuring Ibarra herself, percussionist Levy Lorenzo, flutist Claire Chase, pianist Alex Peh, and the Bergamot Quartet. It incorporates kulintang-inspired gong patterns, bamboo percussion, and

RECESSION IN U.S. TO HIT

PHL HARD—ECONOMISTS

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

ARECESSION in the United States will only spell bad news for the country as a significant share of Philippine exports continue to be shipped to America, according to economists.

In a recent briefing, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Chief Economist Albert Park said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had already laid down a 38- to 40-percent probability of a recession in the US happening, which indicates that this could happen.

It can be noted that in the first quarter of 2025, the US economy contracted 0.3 percent, which was below analyst expectations for the period.

“Obviously a recession in the US is a drag on the world, but in particular the Philippines, that’s exporting a fair amount of its profit to the US. So, not good news,” Park said in a briefing.

ADB Macroeconomics Research Division Director Abdul Abiad said, however, that a closer look at the economic performance of the US showed the main drag to GDP growth was imports.

Abiad said consumption and investment growth in the US was “quite decent” mainly due to the frontloading that is happening in expectation of the tariffs. On the Philippines and other economies in the region, Abiad said opportunities could still exist given that most of the goods needed in the country come from Asia and the rest of the world.

BUT SUSTAINING STATUS

MILAN, Italy—Attaining Upper Middle Income Country (UMIC) status has been the goal of the Philippines for some time and the government believes 2026 is the year it breaks into this income classification. However, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Philippine Country Director Pavit Ramachandran said it is one thing to get classified as a UMIC but it is another to be able to sustain it. There have been countries that slipped back even after moving up income classifications.

In an ADB Independent Evaluation report in 2016, after the Asian Financial Crisis, Indonesia slipped back to lower income country (LIC) status. The report showed Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and former Soviet Union

republics also slipped to LIC status between the 1990s and mid2000s.

“We want to make sure that this transition to upper middle income [country status] is sustainable because we’ve seen with other countries [they] can become a UMIC, but then you can slip back. So the sustainability of that transition is important,” Ramachandran told BusinessMirror Ramachandran said the Philippines is “tracking well” on the road to become a UMIC, and ADB has been there to support the government through mega projects that help address development constraints that will help attain and keep a UMIC status.

“I think the Philippines is

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

weekend to ensure the reliable and continuous delivery of electric

ity across the country for the 2025 midterm elections. The Department of Energy (DOE) said the Energy Task Force Election (ETFE) headed by Undersecretary

DRUMMING UP A PULITZER Filipino-American composer Susie Ibarra performs “Sky Islands” at the Asia Society in New York. The Pulitzer-winning piece draws from Luzon’s high-altitude rainforests, blending kulintang-inspired rhythms with contemporary classical music.

contemporary classical techniques, reinforcing Ibarra’s commitment to integrating Philippine traditions into a global musical vocabulary.

Ibarra also announced the upcoming release of a trilogy of albums under her label, Habitat Sounds, beginning with Parallels and Confluence: Bugang and Pasig River, a piano quintet set for release on September 12, 2025. Preorders are available at susieibarra.com. She also relaunches her weekly blog, Sound Health Habitat Journal, chronicling her ongoing research, teaching, and music-making journey. Subscriptions are free via susieibarra.com/ soundhealthhabitatjournal.

Born in California and raised in Texas, Ibarra is known for blending Western classical music with Filipino indigenous traditions. She co-founded Song of the Bird King, a nonprofit focused on cultural preservation and environmental advocacy, and has received numerous honors including the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a fellowship from the Asian Cultural Council.

Creative Capital congratulates all three Pulitzer-winning artists for 2025, marking a moment of historic significance for boundary-pushing American art.

Comelec pushes early vote for vulnerable constituents

By Bless Aubrey Ogerio @blessogerio

TOease the crowds and protect those most at risk, the Commission on Elections urged senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to vote as early as 5:00 a.m., which is a two-hour window ahead of the regular 7:00 a.m. precinct opening.

“I hope we reach 12 million senior citizen voters. For PWDs, I hope we get 530,000 or even more. I hope all of them show up and cast their vote,” Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia told reporters in Filipino on Sunday, May 11. Garcia said the early voting window is meant to give vulnerable groups a smoother, more comfortable voting experience. With 10 to 12 million voters potentially availing themselves of the early schedule, it could also help decongest polling places later in the day.

However, those who miss the early morning slot need not worry. Vulnerable voters can still cast their ballots during regular voting hours.

“If they can’t make it before 7:00 a.m., they’re still welcome to vote anytime from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.,” Garcia assured.

He also called on poll workers to show courtesy and compassion, especially toward voters from vulnerable sectors. The poll body chief emphasized that no documentation should be required to identify as a PWD or to receive voting assistance.

“Let’s make it a matter of minutes to let them vote because of their situation,” he said. “You don’t need to present medical certificates to vote.”

Comelec also clarified that individuals assisting vulnerable voters will be allowed to accompany them during early voting hours.

As of March 2024, the National Commission of Senior Citizens reported that only 4.4 million seniors are officially registered in its database, or about one-third of the estimated total elderly population.

Meanwhile, the National Council on Disability Affairs logged 1.9 million PWDs as of January 8, or roughly 1.6 percent of the population.

Despite fluctuating voter turnout rates in recent years, Garcia expressed optimism about this year’s midterm elections.

Comelec said voter turnout in midterm elections usually hovers around 63 to 65 percent. In 2019, only 18 percent of overseas voters cast their ballots, much lower

Energy…

the integrity of the electoral process by proactively preventing power disruptions during and after the polls.

The ETFE is composed of key government energy agencies, the private transmission concessionaire, generation companies, distribution utilities, and other relevant institutions. It is mandated to ensure seamless coordination of preemptive measures and rapid response protocols to support an uninterrupted and secure power supply throughout the election period.

It has activated contingency protocols, completed nationwide readiness assessments, and confirmed the availability of sufficient power reserves. Central to these preparations is the full activation of command centers across the energy sector, including those of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), National Electrification Administration (NEA), Manila Electric Company (Meralco), and the DOE’s own Energy Sector Emergency Operations Center (Eseoc).

These command centers are operating on a 24/7 basis until May 13.

“All hands are on deck. The entire energy sector is fully mobilized and working in full coordination to ensure an unimpeded and reliable power supply, along with adequate fuel availability, for tomorrow’s National and Local Elections,” said DOE Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla.

Meanwhile, Meralco assured customers that it is on full alert, with its personnel and crews ready to immediately respond to any possible electricity service concerns.

Meralco crews and personnel are already on standby to ensure stable and reliable service in over 3,000 polling precincts, canvassing centers and vital election sites located across the franchise area throughout the election period.

“Historically, Meralco’s franchise has had no major troubles during elections. Nonetheless, we have put in place contingency measures in case of isolated outages or service interruptions. Our personnel across the organization will be ready to respond 24/7, with our crews strategically positioned across our franchise area and our customer care group on standby for the immediate resolution of any electricity-related trouble before, during, and after the elections,” Meralco Vice President and Head of

than in 2016 and 2013.

However, in the 2022 national elections, turnout jumped to 40.59 percent abroad and a record-breaking 83.5 percent in the Philippines. This is the highest in the country’s history, according to the poll body.

Pre-voting enrollment extended

COMELEC also announced that the pre-voting enrollment for internet voting among Filipinos abroad has been extended until noontime of May 12.

Garcia said the extension was cleared after tech experts confirmed it wouldn’t require any changes to the voting system’s source code.

“The answer is ‘No, there’s no problem with that.’ Therefore, it can be extended,” Garcia said in Filipino.

As of now, enrollment remains modest, hovering at around 240,000 enrollees. While still low, Comelec said it’s already an improvement compared to the numbers in 2018.

Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said.

Meralco’s crews, along with over 160 generator sets and 470 floodlights, are set to be deployed in strategic areas, to ensure prompt response to possible electricity service concerns.

Meralco inspected schools to be used as polling precincts ahead of the May 12 election and conducted maintenance and upgrading activities to make sure its distribution network and facilities are in good condition. Meanwhile, PLDT and Smart, together with the group’s corporate arm, PLDT Enterprise, host the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) Command Center at their facility in Sampaloc, Manila for this year’s national and local elections.

“PLDT and Smart’s alliance with the PPCRV is built on a shared and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Philippine elections. Equipped with servers, network infrastructure, internet connectivity, mobile devices, and other communication tools, the Command Center enables PPCRV to coordinate the work of over 450,000 volunteers across the country,” said Blums Pineda, SVP and Head of Enterprise Business Group at PLDT and Smart.

The site serves as the nerve center of PPCRV’s election operations enabling the civic society organization to gather data in real-time and process transmission audits as part of its advocacy for a Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful, Peaceful (CHAMP) polls.

Accredited by the Commission on Elections, PPCRV volunteers will collect the physical copies of pretransmission election returns (ERs) from automated counting machines across the country. These documents are then forwarded to the Command Center and compared with the digital ERs transmitted through the Automated Election System to ensure consistency. And with advances in digital technology, PPCRV’s parallel count will now include local races, enhancing transparency across all levels.

The PLDT Group, through its corporate arm PLDT Enterprise and data center arm VITRO, Inc., has signed a partnership with Comelec in support of a more transparent and secure midterm elections. VITRO data centers house two of the three critical server clusters that will receive data directly transmitted by automated counting machines in the upcoming polls.

tracking well to become a UMIC. And I think the kind of work we’re doing in the Philippines, in some ways, is already along those lines,” Ramachandran said.

“There are still, of course, some structural challenges to continue to address around, especially on the human capital side [such as] education [and] health,” he also said. Efforts to address infrastructure constraints include addressing the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters like typhoons, floods, and even earthquakes. After all, Ramachandran said, a fault line traverses part of Metro Manila. He said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) is already doing an overall assessment of this, particularly on contingency planning. ADB, he said, is in contact and coordinating with Jica on these efforts.

“We’ve got a lot of infrastructure investments in and around Metro Manila, as you know. So that’s a discussion we are having, we will have with our government counterparts in terms of strengthening preparedness, ensuring greater resilience of assets, but also, of course, local communities. And then that relief efforts, recovery can happen as soon as possible, including the deployment of instruments like the CDF [Climate Disaster Fund],” Ramachandran said. Supporting the government when it comes to disaster resilience, disaster risk financing, and other naturebased investments are part of the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) of ADB in the Philippines, which was released in September 2024. The strategy intends to help the country sustain its growth in the medium term. Based on the CPS, ADB’s sovereign lending for the Philippines is expected to total $24 billion between 2024 and 2029. Under the CPS, ADB will intensify its support for initiatives that benefit low-income households, promote regional economic growth corridors through flagship infrastructure investments, and shift focus to emerging sectors like clean energy, blue economy and nature-based investments. Apart from these, ADB said attaining and sustaining the UMIC status will require food security efforts, especially given the current global environment where net food importers like the Philippines are affected by high tariffs on various commodities.

Apart from achieving greater regional cooperation to smoothen global and regional trade, Ramachandran cited the need for some adjustments on the supply side in order to ensure not only affordability but access to food items.

“It’s not only on the tariff side. I think there’s a lot that needs to happen on the supply side as well in terms of access to finance, access to insurance, access to technology,” Ramachandran said.

“So I think it’s got to be that and of course, irrigation is still a constraint in a number of rural areas. So I think it’s that package of interventions that’s going to be very important,” he added. In line with this, the ADB announced here that it is increasing its financing for food and nutrition security in Asia and the Pacific to $40 billion by 2030 as more people struggle with surging food prices and the threats of climate change.

In a briefing on the 58th Annual Meeting here on Sunday, ADB President Masato Kanda said this is a $26-billion increase from the $14 billion average between 2022 and 2025. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/05/05/adb-hiking-foodnutrition-funds-to-40b/).

In the Philippines, food accounts for 34.78 percent of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Income Households and 51.38 percent of the index for Bottom 30 percent of households or the poorest Filipinos. Transportation, meanwhile, accounts for 9.03 percent of the All Income Household CPI and 6.12 percent of the CPI for the poorest 30 percent of households. Last year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said jobs in the country’s agriculture sector accounted for one in every four jobs in December 2023. The DA said 24.4 percent of the 50.5 million employed in December were in the agriculture sector, or around 12.3

Monday, May 12, 2025

Marcos: Go out, elect honest, qualified bets

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie & Samuel P. Medenilla

P@sam_medenilla

RESIDENT Marcos called on the moe than 68 million registered Filipinos voters to elect honest and qualified candidates, who will prioritize the country’s interests, in the 2025 Midterm polls.

Marcos said the election is an opportunity for the public to effect changes in the government by choosing the officials, who will advocate for reforms.

“This election will let us exercise our right [to vote] and fulfill our responsibilities as Filipino citizens. This is an opportunity to hear each other’s voices and express the dreams that are important to you and the nation,” he said in Filipino in a video message posted in his social media account on Sunday.

“So let’s vote. Choose someone who is honest, caring, and capable of serving,” he added.

The President also urged voters to assist the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other concerned government agencies to make sure the elections will

be peaceful.

He said the differences of political beliefs should not cause chaos and division among the electorate.

“We fight for our future at the ballot box. Not in the streets. Not with violence,” Marcos said.

BusinessMirror will join NewsWatch Plus and dwIZ-Aliw Channel 23 and Pilipino Mirror to provide “credible, and fast-paced reporting” about the 2025 NLE. (Samuel Medenilla)

Legislator calls on people to vote

A SENIOR lawmaker on Sunday called on Filipinos to exercise their right to vote in Monday’s election stressing that this democratic act empowers citizens to choose leaders capable of steering the country toward inclusive and sustainable development.

Outgoing Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said voting is one of the most powerful tools in a democracy.

“All of our able electors must go out and vote come Election Day and not pass up this splendid opportunity to exercise this priceless right to choose the national and local leaders believed

genuinely committed to, and capable of, leading our people to a Philippines where the greatest good for the greatest number is sacrosanct,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte expressed confidence that voters will make informed decisions and choose candidates who will help sustain the country’s economic momentum in the post-pandemic period.

Villafuerte also echoed the reminders from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for voters to fully shade the ovals beside the names of their chosen candidates and to refrain from making other marks in their ballots, as well as to make sure to know, preferably ahead of Election Day, the voting centers and polling precincts where they are supposed to cast their ballots.

Finally, he encouraged the public to remain vigilant and help safeguard the integrity of the election process to ensure that the true will of the people is upheld.

Imee takes a dive

SEN. Imee Marcos slipped to 17th place with only 25.9 percent support, signaling her possible exclusion from the Magic 12.

Political observers say her de -

clining numbers may reflect a silent but significant shift within the so-called “Solid North,” many of whose voters have grown disillusioned with her political maneuvering and divisive rhetoric.

Likewise, Camille Villar, daughter of billionaire tycoon Manny Villar, dipped to 15th place at 27.2 percent amid persistent controversies hounding a water company owned by her family. The negative press coverage over service interruptions and alleged profiteering appears to have hurt her chances with middle-class and urban voters.

In contrast, the latest nationwide survey by McHenry & Associates revealed a surge in public support for former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao—both now statistically tied within the Top 11-12 bracket of preferred senatorial candidates.

The May 5–7 poll, conducted among 3,700 adult respondents nationwide, showed Abalos garnering a strong 33.2 percent support rating, while Pacquiao followed closely with 33 percent. Their rise came amid signs of weakening support for other high-profile candidates.

Migrant-worker advocates seek arrest of former Cebu politician

AMIGRANT advocate group called for the arrest of former Cebu City councilor Niña Mabatid and her co-accused after the Department of Justice (DOJ) junked their motion of reconsideration on the large-scale illegal recruitment case that they were facing.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Migrante International lauded the decision of the DOJ, which it said will help give justice to the victims of visa consultancy companies Pinoy Care Visa Center and Opportunities Abroad Visa Processing Services, which was allegedly operated by Mabatid and her cohorts.

“There is still hope that all the victims will finally get full justice, and that is when Mabatid is finally arrested and prosecuted,” Migrante International’s rights and welfare assistance program coordinator Vicky Casia said. Casia said they got reports that Mabatid threatened and intimidated the victims of their illegal recruitment operations.

Migrante International assisted 11 victims of the said scheme in filing illegal recruitment complaints at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The victims claimed they were told by Pinoy Care Visa Center and Opportunities Abroad Visa Processing Services told to apply for student visas so they can be employed in Canada. They were charged by the said firms P94,000 to over P100,000 each.

UNIFIL, Migrante’s Hong Kong chapter, said Mabatid and co-perpetrators have also defrauded 20 more overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong.

Mabatid earlier denied the said allegations and claimed those were politically motivated since she is running to be reelected as councilor in the 2025

Pinoy Catholics told to pray for Pope Leo XIV

IN response to some Filipinos who expressed disappointment that none of the three anticipated “papabile”cardinals from the Philippines were elected as the new pope, the country’s top Catholic leaders reminded the faithful that the papal conclave is not a political contest.

Instead of focusing on expectations, they called on Filipinos to unite in prayer for the newly elected pontiff, Pope Leo XIV. During an online news conference on Friday evening (Philippine time), Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who is based in Rome, acknowledged that some reactions stemmed from the public’s experience with political elections.

“Maybe those kinds of reactions are normal. Sometimes people approach this with a political mindset where there are candidates, and you vote for one against the other. That’s not how the conclave works,” Tagle told reporters.

The former Manila archbishop also recognized the overwhelming support he and the other Filipino cardinals received, but emphasized that the recently concluded conclave should be seen as a spiritual experience—not a worldly process.

“We are all disciplined enough not to think of ourselves as candidates. That kind

of internal discipline is essential. There are no candidates here promoting themselves or their fellow countrymen,” he added.

The archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Jose F. Advincula likewise encouraged the public to pray for Pope Leo XIV, whom he described as now carrying a heavy burden as the new shepherd of the global Church.

“Although we may see being a pope as an honor, it is also a very great responsibility. The Holy Father truly needs our prayers for his pastoral ministry and the sacrifices he will make,” Advincula said.

Their statements come as some faithful expressed uncertainty about the kind of

Teodoro to attend 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial

By Rex Anthony Naval

of National Defense

ECRETARY

SGilberto Teodoro Jr. will fly to Berlin to attend the 2025 United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial which will be held on May 13 to 14.

“Secretary Teodoro is expected to speak during the pledging session, where

he will announce the Philippines’ new contributions to UN peacekeeping. The country is anticipated to present substantial pledges to further support global peace operations, pursuant to the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” Defense Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.

The 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial

serves as a key platform for member states to demonstrate political support.

The meeting also provides an opportunity where member states can announce pledges aimed at enhancing mission effectiveness, ensuring peacekeeper safety, and advancing the future of peace operations.

“The event will convene defense and

National and Local Elections. She and her co-accused were indicted on November 11, 2024. Last Monday, the DOJ rejected their motion for reconsideration and recommended that they be indicted for syndicated illegal recruitment and estafa.

The victims had faced intimidation from Mabatid’s camp, including threatening letters from her lawyer regarding potential lawsuits. Mabatid also made cyberlibel accusations against lawyer Daisy Mandap, editor of The SUN Hong Kong, following that newspaper’s coverage of the case.

Samuel P. Medenilla

leadership Pope Leo XIV will bring.

The Filipino cardinals reminded the public that popes are not meant to be replicas of their predecessors.

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio S. David said every pope brings his own personality and style of leadership, and these differences should be respected.

David, the bishop of Caloocan, added that the Church remains rooted in its traditions but continues to evolve to meet the needs of the people.

“We leave that to the personality of the new Church leaders. We also respect the statements they have to make through their style of leadership. Let us not expect them to be photocopies,” he said.

Justine Xyrah Garcia

foreign ministers from around the world to reaffirm their commitment to peacekeeping and explore innovative approaches to strengthen future missions,” Andolong, the spokesman for the DND, said.

He added that the Philippines remains a committed peacemaker and is steadfast in supporting UN peacekeeping reforms and initiatives to ensure more agile, inclusive, and effective peace operations in today’s evolving global security landscape.

Comelec to PNP: Arrest vote buyers on sight

By Justine Xyrah Garcia

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday order the police to arrest vote vote buyers who are caught in flagrante delicto or in the act even if they are not the subject of arrest warrants.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia made the statement after the National Police’s (PNP) Legal Service expressed concern that warrantless arrests might be unlawful.

“The reason vote-buying remains rampant is because no one gets arrested. Maybe it’s because people think they can’t be apprehended without a warrant. But if a crime is happening in front of you, would you really go to court first just to get one?” Garcia told reporters in an ambush interview.

Garcia clarified that police officers, as deputized agents of the Comelec, have the authority to act immediately.

“When we say law enforcement authorities are Comelec’s agents, we mean their actions represent the commission. Our instructions bind them. So if we say arrest them, they must act to stop vote-buying,” he said.

Comelec data shows around 500 vote-buying complaints have been filed so far, with 200 individuals already served with show cause orders.

They said reports of vote-buying are now “nationwide.”

Garcia expects the number to rise even more as the May 12 elections draw closer.

“We need all law enforcement agencies to help. Comelec can’t act alone. We can’t just point to someone and expect them to be arrested. We need officers with us,” he said.

Under Section 37 of Comelec Resolution 11104, law enforcement officers are allowed to make a warrantless arrest if a person is seen committing or attempting to commit votebuying, vote-selling, or misuse of government resources.

An y money, goods, sample ballots, or campaign materials used in the act must be seized, properly documented, and submitted as evidence.

Garcia stressed the urgency of stopping vote-buying, calling it the “widest form of electoral fraud.”

“It’s extremely unfair to candidates who don’t have money, who don’t resort to buying votes, and who rely on platforms and hard work—only to be beaten by someone with cash and shortcuts,” he said.

Bet told: Explain allegations

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives to explain allegations of vote buying hurled against him.

Through a Show-Cause Order (SCO), the Comelec Committee on Kontra Bigay directed candidate, who is seeking reelection, to respond to allegations that he facilitated a recurring activity of picking up groups of individuals in passenger vans, bringing them to a building, and providing them with cash and food packages.

The Parañaque Rep. Gustavo Tambunting was given three days upon receipt of the SCO to explain why no election offense or disqualification case should be filed against him.

“The video and photo evidence attached to the complaint visibly show individuals boarding vans, going inside the building, and leaving the same with food packages,” the SCO said. According to the complaint submitted to the Comelec, the same groups of individuals who have received cash and food would then board the vans and brought back to where they were picked up. The complaint said the distribution of the cash and food were done in a privately owned building.

The photos attached to the complaint show that the vans used to transport the groups of individuals and parked infront of the building where the alleged vote buying took place bore campaign posters of Tambunting.

Fake news

IN addition to vote-buying, Garcia said the Comelec is also battling fake news spreading on social media just days before the polls.

The commission has been actively debunking claims about alleged fraud in the election system.

There have also been reports of individuals posing as Comelec officials using fake IDs and letters, offering to secure election victories for a fee.

Garcia called on voters to help stop the spread of disinformation.

“Why don’t we ask those who keep talking about election fraud—why are they silent on vote-buying?” he said.

Instead of circulating falsehood, Garcia urged the public to focus on vote-buying, which he called the “worst” threat to the country’s democracy.

“Vote-buying must not be part of our culture. It degrades the dignity of poor Filipinos whose votes are being bought,” he added.

‘Disqualify mayoral bet’

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has been formally asked to disqualify Michelle de Guzman Mabulo as a candidate for mayor in San Fernando, Camarines Sur, for allegedly peddling fake news against her family’s political rivals.

In a joint complaint-affidavit Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte and Gov. Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte said their filing of the case against Mabulo for her disqualification as a poll bet was “without prejudice to the institution of other criminal and civil complaints against her” for alleged violation of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) in making false accusations online against the Villafuertes.

While Mabulo is running for mayor in San Fernando, her husband and outgoing mayor Fernando Mabulo is running for congressman in the province’s Second Legislative District against Luigi Villafuerte, the incumbent governor.

“We are executing this Complaint-Affidavit to attest to the truth of all the foregoing and to cause the prosecution of respondent Mabulo for violation of the above-mentioned crime. We reserve the right to present additional evidence which are not readily available to us at the moment,” the Villafuertes said in their joint complaint-affidavit.

The Villafuertes said that Mabulo had accused them of vote-buying in posting on her Facebook page last May 1 a photo of five folded P1,000 bills on the side of a letter supposedly signed by the two complainants.

In her Facebook post, Mabulo stated that: “Ano ito?Totoo ba ito? Kaya mayong nagigibo sa probinsya ta, mabakal na lang kada election.”

Translated in Tagalog, Mabulo’s post means: “Anoito?Totoobaito?Dahilwalanagagawa so probinsya, bibili nalang tuwing eleksyon.”

They said this Facebook post, which has been shared and circulated 660 times thus far, was “false and deceptive news” as they have “never engaged in any form of vote-buying and have strictly complied with all elections laws in the present and all the past elections.”

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Trump’s 17% tariff on PHL goods worries CL exporters

CBy Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

ENTRAL Luzon exporters fear that the recent imposition of 17-percent additional tariffs by Washington would adversely affect thousands of the region’s workers and their families as they rely on the US market for a significant portion of their revenues, particualrly in the sectors of electronics, garments, processed food, furniture, houseware items and handicrafts, a position paper of the exporters group in the region said.

The position paper prepared by the Philippine Exporters Foundation, Region 3, Inc. (Philexport Region 3), said the group “strongly opposes the recent imposition of a 17-percent tariff by the United States government on Philippine exports.”

“This policy shift stands to significantly undermine the competitiveness of our member companies, disrupt existing trade relationships, and pose severe economic challenges to our region’s export-driven enterprises,” Philexport Region 3’s position paper read.

Explaining the impact of Washington’s tariff policy on the region’s members, the group said this measure may lead to: “erosion of competitiveness, loss of market share, reduced export earnings and employment and stifled growth and investment.”

On the possible loss of competitiveness, the group explained that the tariff “will immediately raise the cost of Philippine goods in the US market, making them less attractive compared

Emirates. . .

Continued from A14

In the first four months of 2025, there were 12,257 inbound tourists from the UAE, 12.85-percent less than the same period in 2024, but 186 percent more than the same four-month period in 2019.

As this developed, the Philippines generated some P1.18 billion in sales leads at this year’s ATM, after meeting with travel buyers for four days, according to a separate statement from the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the DOT. The Philippine delegation included 21 travel and tour operators, hotels and resorts, and representatives from the airline industry.

ATM attendance

TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles said, “The four-day exhibition showcased the coun -

US tariffs. . .

Continued from A14

They explained that furniture making in the Philippines extends beyond mere commercial activity as “it is deeply intertwined with our cultural heritage through practices such as wood carving, weaving and other artisanal crafts.”

“This cultural dimension adds intrinsic value to our products and distinguishes them in the global marketplace,” the three furniture industry groups also noted.

to products from countries with more favorable trade terms.”

In addition, the regional group said that its member companies will be forced to either absorb a substantial portion of this cost, “drastically reducing their profit margins and potentially leading to unsustainable operations, or pass the increased price onto American consumers, making our products less attractive and ultimately leading to a decline in sales volume.”

“This erosion of competitiveness will make it exceedingly difficult for our exporters to maintain their market share in the US,” the Central Luzon export group said.

In particular, it noted that small and medium enterprises, which make up a significant portion of the region’s membership, “will be particularly hardhit as they have limited resources to absorb the added cost or quickly pivot to new markets.”

As to losing market share, the group noted that many of its members operate in “highly price-sensitive sectors.”

“A 17-percent increase in landed cost may result in loss of contracts and clients, who may shift to more cost-competitive suppliers from other countries,” the position paper of Philexport Region 3 read.

The groups also expressed concern on the possible reduction in export earnings and loss of jobs.

“For many of our member small and medium enterprises [SME], the US market represents a crucial export destination. A significant decline in sales due to the tariff could force these companies to scale

try’s diverse tourism offerings, featuring our world-class beaches, family-friendly holidays, and Muslim-friendly, halalcertified tourism products. Capturing over 55,000 visitors, this initiative underscores our commitment to strengthening ties and boosting tourism arrivals from the Middle Eastern, European, American, and Asian markets.”

The Philippines’s consistent participation at the ATM has been credited as among the reasons the country has attracted more tourists from the UAE and Gulf State economies. Through the ATM, the Philippines has been able to showcase the halal-friendly practices and programs of its tourism destinations and accommodation establishments.

In 2024, the Philippines was cited among the Emerging Muslim-friendly non-OIC (Organization of Islamic Countries) destinations in the world by the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) report. The

Data cited by the industry groups showed the Philippine furniture industry’s market value at $844 million in 2024, and projected to reach $1.7 billion by 2033.

The industry currently sustains 5.6 million direct jobs and indirect jobs combined.

Philippine furniture exports to the US surged 25 percent from $79.5 million in 2023 to $99.7 million in 2024, according to the data cited by the industry groups.

“As the sector faces the imminent threat of a 17-percent US tariff on Chapter 94 furniture exports, urgent and coordinated government action is needed to protect this industry and the millions who depend on it,” the furniture industry groups stressed in their position paper.

down operations, reduce production, and ultimately lead to job losses, impacting thousands of workers and their families across Central Luzon,” the export group underscored.

Meanwhile, these exporters also pointed out that the tariff “creates an atmosphere of uncertainty for exporters and investors.”

“Long-term business plans may be put on hold, and potential investments in expansion, technology, and capacity building may be shelved due to reduced profitability,” Philexport Region 3 also pointed out in its position paper.

With these challenges foreseen by the region’s exporters, they called on the government to initiate “urgent high-level diplomatic discussions with US trade authorities to negotiate the reversal or reconsideration of the tariff policy.”

They also appealed for “immediate support mechanisms from concerned government agencies, including financial assistance, tax relief, and market diversification programs to help affected exporters cushion the blow.”

To strengthen industry resilience in the country, meanwhile, the group called for the creation of an ad hoc committee involving relevant government agencies and industry leaders in crafting programs to mitigate impact of this tariff increase to exporters.

The group also highlighted the need to pursue new and strengthened trade agreements with other major markets to reduce dependence on a single market and to ensure “long-term sustainability” of Philippine exports.

Philippines placed 43rd in the GMTI 2024 ranking of destinations in the world, and 12th among non-OIC nations.

“The Philippines has focused on building capacity to welcome Muslim tourists through various initiatives. These include increasing the availability of Halal food across the destination and integrating Muslim-friendly amenities at major tourist spots. Tourism Authorities have placed Halal tourism high on their agenda, evidenced by their actions to enhance the Halal tourism portfolio and raise awareness among tourism stakeholders about the values and practices important to Muslim travelers. This includes significant efforts to boost the number of Muslimfriendly accommodations and dining establishments. Through these dedicated initiatives and the strategic promotion of its rich cultural heritage and beautiful landscapes, the Philippines is steadily becoming a favored destination for Muslim travelers,” said the GMTI report.

The Philippine furniture industry has been dubbed the “Milan of Asia,” owing to its “ability to blend traditional techniques with modern design trends,” the groups said.

Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) Frederick D. Go, who led Philippine delegates in recent talks with the US Trade Representative in Washington D.C., said they were able to raise the concerns of various local export industries, including semiconductors, electronics, coconut, garments, furniture, and food processing over the negotiations with Washington regarding the additional tariffs imposed by the United States on Philippine exports. (See: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2025/05/08/ phl-furniture-makers-told-diversifyexport-markets/)

Polls see Abra bristling with cops, troops

By Mau Victa

MORE than 600 police officers from different parts of the Cordillera Administrative Region have been deployed to Abra to ensure that elections in the province proceed smoothly.

In addition, the Cordillera police commander, Brig. Gen David Peredo, said in a news conference at Camp Col. Juan

Villamor in Bangued, that 200 more Army personnel have been dispatched to the violence-prone province.

Peredeo added that he would set up his own command post and will be present in the province during the electoral exercise.

He confirmed that there were 11 election-related incidents in Abra during the campaign period. The latest incident was the burning of Dangdangla Elementary School in the capital town of Bangued on Wednesday night. The school was supposed to serve as the polling center for residents of barangay Dangdangla. Three classrooms were damaged. Although the rooms were widely spaced, the fire appeared to have spread rapidly, affecting around 70 percent of the school. The Bureau of Fire Protection is still investigating the cause of the blaze.

Israeli airstrikes kill 23 Palestinians in Gaza amid blockade, aid distribution controversy

By Wafaa Shurafa The Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza City— Israeli airstrikes overnight and into Saturday killed at least 23 Palestinians in Gaza, including three children and their parents whose tent was bombed in Gaza City, health officials said.

The bombardment continued as international warnings grow over Israeli plans to control aid distribution in Gaza as Israel’s blockade on the territory of over 2 million people is in its third month.

The UN and aid groups have rejected Israel’s aid distribution moves, including a plan from a group of American security contractors, ex-military officers and humanitarian aid officials calling itself the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Among the 23 bodies brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours were those of the family of five whose tent was struck in Gaza City’s Sabra district, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

Another Israeli strike late Friday hit a warehouse belonging to UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, in the northern area of Jabaliya. Four people were killed, according to the Indonesian Hospital, where bodies were taken.

AP video showed fires burning in the shattered building. The warehouse was empty after being hit and raided multiple times during Israeli

ground offensives against Hamas fighters over the past year, said residents including Hamza Mohamed.

Israel’s military said nine soldiers were lightly wounded Friday night by an explosive device while searching Gaza City’s Shijaiyah neighborhood. It said they were evacuated to a hospital in Israel.

Israel resumed its bombardment in Gaza on March 18, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.

Ground troops have seized more than half the territory and have been conducting raids and searching parts of northern Gaza and the southernmost city of Rafah. Large parts of both areas have been flattened by months of Israeli operations.

Under Israel’s blockade, charity kitchens are virtually the only source of food left in Gaza, but dozens have shut down in recent days as food supplies run out. Aid groups say more closures are imminent. Israel has said the blockade is meant to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages and disarm. Rights groups have called the blockade a “starva -

tion tactic” and a potential war crime.

Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of siphoning off aid in Gaza, though it hasn’t presented evidence for its claims. The U.N. denies significant diversion takes place, saying it monitors distribution.

The 19-month-old war in Gaza is the most devastating ever fought between Israel and Hamas. It has killed more than 52,800 people there, more than half of them women and children, and wounded more than 119,000, according to the Health Ministry. The ministry’s count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed thousands of militants, without giving evidence.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped over 250 others. Hamas still holds about 59

hostages, with around a third believed to still be alive.

Hamas released a video Saturday showing hostages Elkana Bohbot and Yosef-Haim Ohana, who appeared under duress. They were abducted during the October 7 attack from a music festival where over 300 people were killed. Hamas released a video of them a month and half ago and has released several videos of Bohbot alone since then.

Protesters on Saturday night rallied once more in Tel Aviv to demand a ceasefire that would bring all hostages home.

“Can you grasp this? The Israeli government is about to embark on a military operation that could and will endanger the lives of the hostages,” Michel Illouz, father of hostage Guy Illouz, told the gathering, referring to the plan to vastly expand operations in Gaza.

Tensions resurface as India and Pakistan accuse each other of violating ceasefire hours after reaching deal

By Riazat Butt, Aijaz Hussain & Rajesh Roy The Associated Press

ISLAMABAD—India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire Saturday after USled talks to end the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades but accused each other of violating the deal just hours later. The ceasefire had been expected to bring a swift end to weeks of escalating clashes, including missile and drone strikes, triggered by the mass shooting of tourists last month that India blames on Pakistan, which denies the charge. But multiple ex-

plosions were heard in two large cities of Indian-controlled Kashmir hours after the countries agreed to the deal.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said late Saturday that “there had been repeated violations of the understanding arrived between the two countries” and accused Pakistan of breaching the agreement.

“We call upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility,” he said at a news conference in New Delhi. Misri said the Indian army was “retaliating” for what he called a “border intrusion.” In Islamabad, Pakistan’s Foreign Min -

istry blamed Indian forces for initiating the ceasefire violation. The ministry said Pakistan remains committed to the agreement and its forces were handling the situation with responsibility and restraint.

“We believe that any issues in the smooth implementation of the ceasefire should be addressed through communication at appropriate levels,” the ministry said.

The first word of the truce came from US President Donald Trump, who posted on his Truth Social platform that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire: “Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a speech Saturday that his country agreed to the ceasefire in the larger interest of peace in the region and hoped all the outstanding issues with India, including the long-running dispute over the Kashmir region, would be resolved through peaceful dialogue. Misri said the head of military operations from both countries spoke Saturday afternoon and agreed “that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, and in the air and sea.”

However, hours after the agreement, explosions heard by residents in Srinagar and Jammu in Indian-controlled Kashmir were followed by blackouts in the two cities. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, said in a post on social media: “What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!!”

Working toward a broader agreement

CONFLICT between India and Pakistan is not rare, with the two countries having periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British India in 1947.

The ceasefire in the latest hostilities came after the countries fired volleys of cross-border missile strikes Saturday, when India said it targeted Pakistani air bases after Islamabad fired several high-speed missiles at military and civilian infrastructure in Punjab state. Pakistan said it responded with retaliatory strikes.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he and Vice President JD Vance had engaged with senior officials from both countries over the past 48 hours. They included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sharif, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir.

Rubio said the two governments agreed to “start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.”

See “Tensions,” A9

RUSSIA’S PUTIN PROPOSES DIRECT TALKS WITH UKRAINE IN ISTANBUL ON MAY 15, ‘WITHOUT

By Samya Kullab & Joanna Kozlowska The Associated Press

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin proposed restarting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, “without preconditions,” an offer that came in response to Ukraine and its allies urging Moscow to commit to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face additional sanctions.

Putin referenced the unsuccessful 2022 peace talks that took place in Istanbul in March, shortly after Moscow’s full-scale invasion, and proposed “restarting” them without preconditions in remarks to reporters in the early hours of Sunday.

“We are committed to serious negotiations with Ukraine,” Putin said, adding that he doesn’t rule out agreeing to a ceasefire later, in the course of direct talks with Ukraine.

Putin’s proposal came after leaders from four major European countries threatened to ratchet up pressure on Moscow if it does not accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that they offered on Saturday in a strong show of unity with Kyiv.

The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland said their proposal for a ceasefire to start on Monday was supported by US President Donald Trump, whom they had briefed over the phone earlier in the day.

Trump has called for Ukraine and Russia to meet for “very high-level talks,” saying they are “very close to a deal” on ending the bloody three-year war.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously said he was ready for peace talks, but only after a ceasefire is in place.

Moscow’s proposals

PUTIN said that Russia proposed several ceasefires in recent months—a halt on strikes on energy infrastructure, which Ukraine had agreed to, a unilateral 30-hour Easter truce and another unilateral ceasefire on May 8-10 that has since expired.

Ukrainian officials said Russia repeatedly violated all of those.

Putin on Sunday accused Ukraine of sabotaging “these initiatives time and time again” and launching multiple attacks on Russia.

In March, the United States proposed an immediate, limited 30-day truce, which Ukraine accepted, but the Kremlin has held out for terms more to its liking.

Putin on Sunday once again said the Kremlin needs a truce that would lead to a “lasting peace” instead of one that would allow Ukraine to rearm and mobilize more men into its armed forces.

He said he would speak to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and ask him to facilitate the peace talks on May 15.

Shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Turkey hosted unsuccessful talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators aimed at ending the hostilities. The proposed deal reportedly included provisions for Ukraine’s neutral status and put limits on its armed forces, while delaying talks on the status of Russian-occupied areas.

Moscow has blamed Kyiv and the West for the talks collapsing.

Putin said that “those who truly want peace cannot but support” his proposal to restart the peace talks.

‘A very important signal’ ZELENSKYY, speaking to reporters alongside the European leaders in Kyiv on Saturday, called their meeting “a very important signal.”

In a joint statement, as published on Zelenskyy’s official website, the five leaders called for a ceasefire “lasting at least 30 days” from Monday, to make room for a diplomatic push to end the war.

“An unconditional ceasefire by definition cannot be subject to any conditions. If Russia calls for such conditions, this can only be considered as an effort to prolong the war and undermine diplomacy,” the statement read.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that the US would take the lead in monitoring the proposed ceasefire, with support from European countries, and threatened “massive sanctions...prepared and coordinated, between Europeans and Americans,” should Russia violate the truce.

Macron traveled to Kyiv with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

“This is Europe stepping up, showing our solidarity with Ukraine,” Starmer said.

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, said Saturday that a “comprehensive” 30-day ceasefire, covering attacks from the air, land, sea and on infra -

PRECONDITIONS’

structure, “will start the process for ending the largest and longest war in Europe since World War II.”

Meanwhile, Putin on Saturday held a series of bilateral talks with foreign officials who had attended Moscow’s own celebrations marking the defeat of Nazi Germany, in an apparent attempt to underscore the West’s failure to isolate it on the global stage. Putin’s interlocutors included To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and the leaders of Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and the Palestinian Authority.

Europe threatens more sanctions if Russia ignores ceasefire offer PROGRESS on ending the three-year war has seemed elusive in the months since Trump returned to the White House, and his previous claims of imminent breakthroughs have failed to come to fruition. Trump has previously pushed Ukraine to cede territory to Russia to end the war, threatening to walk away if a deal becomes too difficult.

Since the start of US-mediated talks, Russia has kept up attacks along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, including deadly strikes on residential areas with no obvious military targets.

The ceasefire would include a halt to fighting on land, sea and in the air. The European leaders threatened to ratchet up sanctions, including on Russia’s energy and banking sectors, if Putin did not comply. The priority was to make it too costly for Russia to keep fighting in Ukraine, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

When asked how the monitoring mechanism would work, Sybiha told The Associated Press the details were still being discussed. Addressing skepticism over whether fresh sanctions against Moscow, which has so far managed to keep fighting in the war, Merz said “almost all member states of the European Union and a large coalition of the willing around the world are determined to enforce these sanctions even if our initiative of the weekend should fail.”

The leaders also discussed security guarantees for Ukraine.

Building up Kyiv’s military capabilities will be a key deterrent against Russia and require supplying Ukraine with robust quantities of arms to deter future attacks and investing in its defense sector. A force comprised of foreign troops could also be deployed as an added “reassurance” measure, Macron said. He said details about potential European deployments to Ukraine were still being finetuned. No mention was made of NATO membership, still Kyiv’s top choice for a security guarantee. Earlier on Saturday, the European leaders joined a ceremony at Kyiv’s Independence Square marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. They lit candles alongside Zelenskyy at a makeshift flag memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers and civilians slain since Russia’s invasion.

Russian attacks continue RUSSIAN shelling in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region over the past day killed three residents and wounded four more, local officials said. Another civilian died Saturday as a Russian drone struck the southern city of Kherson, according to regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin. The US Embassy in Kyiv on Friday warned of a “potentially significant” Russian air attack in the coming days, without giving details. Russia in November gave the US brief advance warning before striking Ukraine for the first time with its Oreshnik intermediaterange ballistic missile, an experimental hypersonic weapon that Putin claimed could travel at 10 times the speed of sound. Ukrainian Telegram channels linked the embassy’s warning to reports of an imminent flight ban by Moscow over the Kapustin Yar military training and rocket launch complex. A similar flight ban preceded November’s strike. There was no immediate comment from Russian officials. Trump said last week that he doubts Putin wants to end his war in Ukraine, expressing new skepticism that a peace deal can be reached soon, and hinted at further sanctions against

Angel R. Calso

PALESTINIAN children scrape a pot for leftover food after all meals were distributed at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Friday, May 9, 2025.

No breakthrough announced as US-China tariff negotiations continue in Switzerland

By Paul Wiseman, Didi Tang & Jamey Keaten The Associated Press

GENEVA—President

Donald Trump said “great progress” was being made in ongoing USChina talks over tariffs menacing the global economy, and even suggested a “total reset” was on the table as tariff negotiations are set to continue Sunday in Switzerland.

No major breakthrough was announced in discussions that lasted over 10 hours between US officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and a delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Still, Trump struck an upbeat tone.

“A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner,” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“We want to see, for the good of both China and the US, an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!”

He gave no further details, and officials at the White House also offered little information during and after the opening day of discussions.

Trump’s post followed an official telling The Associated Press that talks would continue Sunday. The official requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, which could help stabilize world markets roiled by the US-China standoff. They’ve been shrouded in secrecy, and neither side made comments to

reporters as they left. In an editorial late Saturday, China’s official Xinhua News Agency said the talks had come about “at the request of the US side”—noting an earlier point of contention—and said China agreed to them “after taking full account of global expectations, national interests and appeals from US businesses and consumers.”

“Whether the road ahead involves negotiation or confrontation, one thing is clear: China’s determination to safeguard its development interests is unshakable, and its stance on maintaining the global economic and trade order remains unwavering,” Xinhua said.

“Talks should never be a pretext for continued coercion or extortion, and China will firmly reject any proposal that compromises core principles or undermines the broader cause of global equity,” it added.

Several convoys of black vehicles left the residence of the Swiss ambassador to the UN in Geneva, which hosted the talks aimed at deescalating trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies. Diplomats from both sides also con -

firmed that the talks took place.

The opening day of negotiations were held in the sumptuous 18thcentury “Villa Saladin” overlooking Lake Geneva. The former estate was bequeathed to the Swiss state in 1973, according to the Geneva government.

Trump’s assessment aside, prospects for a major breakthrough appeared dim when the talks opened. Still, there is hope that the two countries will scale back the massive taxes—tariffs—they have slapped on each other’s goods, a move that would relieve world financial markets and companies on both sides of the Pacific Ocean that depend on US-China trade.

Trump last month raised US tariffs on China to a combined 145 percent, and China retaliated by hitting American imports with a 125 percent levy. Tariffs that high essentially amount to the countries’ boycotting each other’s products, disrupting trade that last year topped $660 billion.

And even before talks got underway, Trump suggested Friday that the US could lower its tariffs on China, saying in a Truth Social post that “ 80 percent Tariff seems right! Up to Scott.”

Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, noted it will be the first time He and Bessent have talked. She doubts the Geneva meeting will produce any substantive results.

“The best scenario is for the two sides to agree to de-escalate on the ... tariffs at the same time,” she said, adding even a small reduction would send a positive signal. “It cannot just be words.”

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has aggressively used tariffs as his favorite economic weapon. He has, for example, imposed a 10 percent tax on imports from almost every country in the world.

But the fight with China has been

Economic jitters and soaring gold prices create frenzy for US jewelry merchants

By Jaimie Ding

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES—At the biggest jewelry center in the United States, Alberto Hernandez fired up his machine on a recent day and waited until it glowed bright orange inside before shoveling in an assortment of rings, earrings and necklaces weighing about as much as a bar of soap: just under 100 grams, or 3.2 troy ounces. Minutes later, the bubbling liquid metal was cooling in a rectangular cast the size of a woman’s shoe. An Xray machine determined it was 56.5% gold, making it worth $177,000 based on the price of gold that day. As gold prices soar to record highs during global economic jitters, hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of gold are circulating through the doors of St. Vincent Jewelry Center in downtown Los Angeles on any given day. Many of the center’s 500 independent tenants, which include jewelers, gold refiners and assayers, say they have never seen such a surge in customers.

“Right now, we’re seeing a lot of rappers and stuff melting their big pieces,” said Alberto’s nephew, Sabashden Hernandez, who works at A&M Precious Metals. “We’re getting a lot of new customers who are just getting all of their grandfather’s stuff, melting it down pretty much.”

Gold’s current rally comes as President Donald Trump issues everchanging announcements on tariffs, roiling financial markets and threat -

ening to reignite inflation.

In response, people across the country are flocking to sell or melt down their old jewelry for quick cash, including middlemen like pawn shop owners. Others, thinking their money might be safer in gold than in the volatile stock market, are snapping it up just as fast.

Los Angeles jeweler Olivia Kazanjian said people are even bringing in family heirlooms.

“They’re melting things with their family’s wedding dates and things from the 1800s,” Kazanjian said.

She recently paid a client for a 14-karat gold woven bracelet with intricate blue enamel work that could be turned into a brooch. The customer walked away with $3,200 for the amount of gold contained in the piece measured in troy ounces, the standard for precious metals equivalent to 31 grams.

But Kazanjian doesn’t plan to melt the piece. The real artistic and his -

torical value was a lot more, she said.

“It’s just stunning…and you won’t see that kind of craftsmanship again,” Kazanjian said, adding she has persuaded some customers to change their minds about melting items.

“It’s a piece of history, and if you’re lucky enough to inherit it, it’s a piece of your family.”

Businesses on the sales side of the action, offering gold bars and other material, also are working hard to keep up with the frenzy.

“Stuff comes in and it goes right out,” said Edwin Feijoo, who owns Stefko Cash for Gold in Pennsylvania and receives shipments from customers across the US looking to sell their gold. “Everybody’s busy right now.”

Business hasn’t been good for everyone, though.

For some jewelers who source their products from places abroad like Italy, Turkey and China, the combination of high gold prices and added tariffs have cut into profit margins and hurt

demand.

“Our profit margins are so razor thin here,” said Puzant Berberian, whose family founded V&P Jewelry inside St. Vincent in 1983. Berberian said he recently paid an extra $16,000 on a package from overseas.

Customers also are feeling “sticker shock” when they can’t afford the things they used to. A chunky, 14-karat gold bracelet weighing about 10 grams (0.32 troy ounces) might have sold for around $600 last year, but now it’s closer to $900, Berberian said.

Some believe those trends could continue, both for consumers and businesses.

Customers hoping to buy bullion “think gold will go up” even more, according to Sam Nguyen, whose business, Newport Gold Post Inc., has bought and sold gold and other precious metals at St. Vincent for five years. While gold has cooled from its record high of $3,500 per troy ounce, Nguyen thinks it could reach $4,000 to $5,000 by year’s end.

Jeff Clark agrees. The founder of The Gold Advisor, which provides investment advice, said he wouldn’t be surprised if gold prices continue rising since the metal is considered a haven for people to park their money when there is anxiety about a possible recession.

“History shows it has gone much higher in the past,” Clark said, referring to a frenzy in the 1970s when the average price of gold increased 17-fold amid double-digit inflation rates. “If the fear and uncertainty continue in the general populace, the prices are going to keep going up.”

the most intense. His tariffs on China include a 20 percent charge meant to pressure Beijing into doing more to stop the flow of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States.

The remaining 125 percent involve a dispute that dates back to Trump’s first term and comes atop tariffs he levied on China back then, which means the total tariffs on some Chinese goods can exceed 145 percent.

During Trump’s first term, the US alleged that China uses unfair tactics to give itself an edge in advanced technologies such as quantum computing and driverless cars. These include forcing US and other foreign companies to hand over trade secrets in exchange for access to the Chinese market; using government money to subsidize domestic tech firms; and outright theft of sensitive technologies.

Those issues were never fully resolved. After nearly two years of negotiation, the United States and China reached a so-called Phase One agreement in January 2020. The U.S. agreed then not to go ahead with even higher tariffs on China, and Beijing agreed to buy more American products. The tough issues—such as China’s subsidies—were left for future negotiations.

But China didn’t come through with the promised purchases, partly because Covid-19 disrupted global commerce just after the Phase One truce was announced.

The fight over China’s tech policy now resumes.

Trump is also agitated by America’s massive trade deficit with China, which came to $263 billion last year.

Trump slaps hefty tariffs on Switzerland IN Switzerland Friday, Bessent and

Greer also met with Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter.

Trump last month suspended plans to slap hefty 31 percent tariffs on Swiss goods—more than the 20 percent levies he plastered on exports from European Union. For now, he has reduced those taxes to 10 percent but could raise them again.

The government in Bern is taking a cautious approach. But it has warned of the impact on crucial Swiss industries like watches, coffee capsules, cheese and chocolate.

“An increase in trade tensions is not in Switzerland’s interests. Countermeasures against US tariff increases would entail costs for the Swiss economy, in particular by making imports from the USA more expensive,” the government said last week, adding that the executive branch “is therefore not planning to impose any countermeasures at the present time.”

The government said Swiss exports to the United States on Saturday were subject to an additional 10 percent tariff, and another 21 percent beginning Wednesday.

The United States is Switzerland’s second-biggest trading partner after the EU—the 27-member-country bloc that nearly surrounds the wealthy Alpine country of more than 9 million. US-Swiss trade in goods and services has quadrupled over the last two decades, the government said. The Swiss government said Switzerland abolished all industrial tariffs on January 1 last year, meaning that 99 percent of all goods from the United States can be imported into Switzerland duty-free.

Wiseman and Tang reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.

South Korean conservative party fails in bid to switch presidential candidates

By Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea—South Korea’s embattled conservative party canceled then reinstated the presidential candidacy of Kim Moon Soo within hours as internal turmoil escalated ahead of the June 3 election.

Saturday’s chaotic U-turn, after a failed attempt to replace Kim with former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, underscored the People Power Party’s leadership crisis following the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law imposition in December, which possibly doomed the conservatives’ chances of winning another term in government.

Kim, a staunch conservative and former labor minister under Yoon, was named the PPP’s presidential candidate on May 3 after winning 56.3 percent of the primary vote, defeating a reformist rival who had criticized Yoon’s martial law. But the PPP’s leadership, dominated by Yoon loyalists, had spent the past week desperately pressuring Kim to step aside and back Han, whom they believed stood a stronger chance against liberal Democratic Party frontrunner Lee Jae-myung.

After talks between Han and Kim failed to unify their candidacies, the PPP’s emergency committee took the unprecedented step early Saturday of nullifying its primary, canceling Kim’s nomination and registering Han as both a party member and its new presidential candidate. However, the replacement required approval through an all-party vote conducted through an automated phone survey, which ultimately rejected the switch on Saturday night.

“While we cannot disclose the figures, the vote on switching the candidate was rejected by a narrow margin,” party spokesman and lawmaker Shin Dong-wook said. Kim, who had denounced the party’s attempt to replace him as an “overnight political coup,” was immediately reinstated as the candidate and plans to officially register with election authorities on Sunday, according to the party.

“Now everything will return to its rightful place,” Kim said in a statement.

Kim, 73, was a prominent labor activist in the 1970s and ‘80s, but joined a conservative party in the 1990s, saying he gave up his dream of becoming a “revolutionist” after witnessing the collapse of communist states. Since then, he has served eight years as governor of South Korea’s Gyeonggi province and completed three terms in the National Assembly. Han served as acting president after Yoon was impeached by the legislature in December and officially removed by the Constitutional Court in April. He resigned from office May 2 to pursue a presidential bid, arguing his long public service career qualifies him to lead the country amid growing geopolitical uncertainty and trade challenges intensified by the policies of US President Donald Trump. Han, who had called for unity after being promoted as the candidate, said in a statement that he “humbly accepts” the voice of party members. Han and Kim have lagged well be

Rice imports fall despite lower prices–report

TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia

HE slide in international prices did not translate into more rice purchases for the Philippines, based on the latest government data which indicated that arrivals as of May 2 declined.

Figures from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed that rice import arrivals during the period reached 1.32 million metric tons (MMT), 21.33 percent lower than the 1.67 MMT recorded in the same period last year. However, BPI data showed that that inbound shipments of rice are starting to pick up, with arrivals reaching 417,626 in April from the monthly average of 395,536.90 MT recorded in the

first quarter.

Of the volume that arrived in the Philippines, 1.12 MMT came from Vietnam, which stood as the country’s top supplier. Thailand trailed behind as it accounted for 86,271.13 MT.

The Philippines also purchased rice stocks from other countries, such as Pakistan (71,125.68 MT), India (21,457.52 MT), and Myanmar (13,577 MT).

The agency has approved and

Nestlé to raise prices of some US chocolate on high cocoa costs

NESTLÉ USA is increasing prices for some chocolate products due to commodity costs, a sign that sweet treats will stay expensive for consumers in the near term.

The US division of Nestlé SA, the world’s largest food company, will raise prices of its Toll House morsels, baking cocoa and fudge kits starting June 23, according to a memo viewed by Bloomberg News.

The hikes follow letters sent from the company at the end of last year to some of its commodity suppliers in which Nestlé asked them to reduce prices, provide rebates and in some cases even cancel supply contracts altogether, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the information is private. Some suppliers declined to do so, according to the people.

The letters were specific to each supplier and detailed what the company wanted for a number of products it buys, including sugar and coffee, the people said.

Prices for chocolate and some food items are still rising even as overall grocery inflation moderates. Tight supply pushed up cocoa futures to a record late last year, prompting price hikes, which are testing consumers’ appetite to pay up for snacks.

Nestlé and its rivals have faced surging cocoa and coffee costs over the past year, prompting price increases to protect margins. Those hikes were the main driver of Nestlé’s better-than-expected sales growth in the first quarter, with Chief Executive Officer Laurent Freixe saying the Swiss group is taking “as much price as we can to cover our costs while being mindful of the consumer response in a competitive environment.”

Nestlé will communicate specific price changes to products at a later date, according to the memo. Price changes for consumers will be decided by retailers, which weigh a range of factors including competition.

The Toll House price increases come after “exhausting efforts to offset aggravations due to increased commodity costs,” according to Nestlé’s memo. The changes aren’t due to recent tariffs, the company said in the memo.

Nestlé is seeking to deliver CHF700 million ($843.6 million) in cost savings in 2025, primarily through procurement. A Nestlé spokesperson said

issued 2,736 sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) for the purchase of 2.27 MMT of imported rice.

DA officials had projected lower rice imports for this year on the back of an expected rebound in local palay output and improved weather conditions.

In particular, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said shipments will decline this year after arrivals of the food staple from other countries reached an all-time high of 4.8 MMT in 2024.

“The reasonable level of rice imports [this year is between] 3.8 MMT to 4 MMT,” De Mesa told reporters in a previous interview.

The agency is targeting to produce 20.46 MMT of rice this year by improving yield. The Philippines’s rice harvest in 2023 reached a record 20.06 MMT.

Cheaper staple

LAST March, the Department of Agriculture (DA) noted that

India’s decision to lift its ban on the export of non-basmati rice contributed to the increase in global rice supply.

As a result, the DA said international rice prices dropped to their lowest levels in over two years, with some varieties settling below $380 per metric ton (MT).

In its report, the World Bank said international quotations for rice are expected to fall this year owing to ample global supply.

The World Bank projected that rice prices will drop by 29 percent in 2025, largely due to sufficient global stockpile and relaxed export restrictions by India, the world’s

leading rice exporter.

“Global rice production in 2024-25 is expected to increase by 2 percent, with production in India—which accounts for about 40 percent of global exports— forecast to rise by 5 percent,” the international organization said in its recent commodities market outlook report.

It also expects rice quotations to remain stable next year as the slight rise in output tallies with the same level of growth in demand.

“Rice prices are projected to be stable in 2026 as preliminary estimates for the 2025-2026 season from the International Grains Council indicate that a small increase in global supply will be matched by a similar increase in consumption.”

This bodes well for the Philippines, the world’s top rice importer, which bought nearly 5 MMT of the food staple from other countries last year.

Govt tweaks poultry import rules to prevent price spikes

Tthere’s been a significant rise in cocoa costs over the last two years and the company is implementing price increases after careful consideration of the macroeconomic environment and efforts to navigate higher costs. No additional cocoa products will be affected at this time.

New York cocoa futures soared last year to a record near $13,000 a ton, as poor weather and disease hit crops in West Africa. While prices are now down about 30% from the peak on expectations of a small surplus, cocoa is still far costlier than historical levels.

Arabica coffee futures also reached a record earlier this year, as dry weather hurt top grower Brazil’s output.

Economists, investors and companies are keeping an extra-close eye on prices following years of higher inflation that have reduced the purchasing power of some consumers. Expansive, fast-changing tariffs from US President Donald Trump are expected to further increase prices of some goods. US consumer confidence dropped in April to an almost five-year low due to growing pessimism about the economy and the labor market.

Nestlé has been struggling in North America, which was one of the company’s weakest-performing regions in the first quarter. It was also one of the few areas where average prices declined. The Swiss food company lost market share as inflation-wary consumers turned to cheaper alternatives — something that CEO Freixe has pledged to ease by cutting prices on products such as frozen pizzas in the US.

Sweets, coffee and eggs are among items that are outpacing overall grocery inflation of low single digits, according to US government data. Average unit prices of US chocolates have risen about 18 percent to $3.45 for the 4 weeks ended April 19, compared with two years earlier, according to research firm NIQ.

Higher chocolate prices have dented volume for some food companies as consumers stay cost-conscious. Hershey Co. said earlier this month that prices of everyday chocolates are up 8 percent year-to-date while volume is down 4.5 percent.

Meanwhile, Mondelez International Inc. said recently it’s reconfiguring its chocolate business to offer a range of pack sizes while keeping prices low for certain key products. Bloomberg News

HE government will allow other accredited countries to export chicken to the Philippines under a new policy that effectively expands Manila’s regionalization scheme.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Administrative Circular (AC) 9, which outlined the requirements for accredited countries that wish to secure bilateral recognition of areas free of animal diseases like bird flu.

“Worldwide yearly occurrence of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) can impact global food security by affecting the poultry industry and restrict the international trade of live birds

and poultry meat, and in turn affect prices and impact national economies,” AC 9 read.

Under the regionalization agreement, the Philippines will restrict shipments of live birds and their products only from certain areas with confirmed avian flu cases instead of imposing a country-wide ban.

“The occurrence of HPAI from exporting countries and the imposition of a whole country temporary ban limits the sources of day-old chicks, parent stocks and poultry meat, which in turn affects the prices.”

Currently, the Philippines has an HPAI regionalization agree -

ment with the United States and the United Kingdom.

For the US, a state-wide ban should only be imposed if there are three or more counties affected by bird flu.

However, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) OIC-Director Christian Daquigan said the US can now apply for regionalization per county, given the new rules.

Meanwhile, figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the country’s farm production inched up by 1.9 percent in the first quarter, buoyed by the crops, fisheries, and poultry subsectors. The livestock subsector was a laggard as African swine

BAI: Local red onion inventory lower by 34%

THE country’s red onion stocks shrank by over a third year-on-year, based on data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

Figures from the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed that the nationwide red onion inventory as of May 2 slid by 34.21 percent to 112,948 metric tons (MT) from the 171,672 MT recorded in the previous year.

Of the current stocks, BAI noted that 112,683 MT came from local production following peak harvest, while the remaining 264

Farmers’

MT were imported.

Last year, the local harvest accounted for most of the red onion inventory at 171,668 MT. The country’s red onion stocks in 2024 were locally produced owing to a bumper harvest, which prompted the agency to withhold the issuance of import permits.

Meanwhile, BPI estimates showed that the current inventory would be replenished by midNovember.

The agency said 41,792 MT of red onions will be harvested this month, bringing the total stocks to 154,796 MT.

coop

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

ANEW marketing agreement between the Araneta Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association Multipurpose Cooperative (AFARBAMCO) and NVM Marketing Inc., opens up a valuable market outlet for black rice in Valencia City, Bukidnon.

The agreement, forged through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), allows AFARBAMCO to market high-quality black rice at NVM’s Farmers Market in Valencia City, providing greater exposure and direct access to health-conscious consumers.

The agreement was formalized during a ceremonial signing attended by representatives from DAR Bukidnon, NVM

Total supplies are expected to last for 264 days or until January 21 next year, based on the assumed annual per capita consumption of 1.872 kilos.

Meanwhile, the country’s yellow onion inventory was estimated at 18,953 MT. Of which, 18,731 MT were locally produced while 222 MT came from imported stocks.

The Philippines is expected to produce 3,345 MT of yellow onions by end-May, with the additional supply lasting for 152 days or until October 1.

The DA authorized the im -

fever (ASF) crimped hog output. The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) noted that the growth in poultry mirrored the shift in consumer preference amid elevated prices of meat products like pork and the lingering effects of ASF. “We can see a little shift in the consumption pattern of consumers to the poultry sector as a source of protein due to higher prices of meat, especially of hogs, and the continuing effect of ASF,” PCAFI President Danilo Fausto said.

“This can be seen in the good performance of chicken and egg production and decrease in growth of the hog sector.” Ada Pelonia

portation of 4,000 MT of red and yellow onions as stocks thinned out. The agency said this should only plug the projected shortfall in domestic supply in February. The government allowed the purchase of 3,000 MT imported red onions and 1,000 MT imported yellow onions. DA officials said local onion harvest peaks in the first quarter.

Retail prices of local red onions range from P90 to P160 per kilo, based on the government’s latest price monitoring report. Local white onions range from P80 to P150 per kilo, while imported white sell for P130 to P140 per kilo. Ada Pelonia

seals marketing deal with firm–DAR

Marketing, Inc., and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) who are members of the AFARBAMCO.

“The collaboration ensures a dedicated space at the farmers’ market for the cooperative’s produce, supporting ARB’s incomes and consumer demand for nutritious, sustainably grown rice.”

Black rice, also known as purple rice or forbidden rice, is mostly glutinous rice. There are several varieties of black rice, including the Indonesian black rice, Philippine heirloom balatinaw black rice, pirurutong black glutinous rice, and Thai jasmine black rice.

Scientists said the bran hull, or the outermost layer of black rice, contains high levels of anthocyanin pigment found in food. The grain has a similar

amount of fiber to brown rice, and like brown rice, it has a mild, nutty taste.

The Philippines is known to produce aromatic colored rice, including black rice, because of its deep black color and unusual turns deep purple when cooked. Grown organically and in mountainous areas, these colored rice varieties are said to be more nutritious than white rice, and they command higher value in the market, both here and abroad.

“This partnership is a huge step forward for our cooperative,” said an AFARBAMCO representative. “We are deeply thankful to the DAR for helping us reach new markets. This opportunity improves our ARBs’ livelihoods and promotes black rice’s health benefits.”

DAR Provincial Agrarian Re -

form Program Officer (PARPO) II Juliene R. Manlunas highlighted the importance of empowering ARBs through sustainable livelihood initiatives.

“This project reflects DAR’s commitment to helping ARBs thrive by connecting them with reliable market partners.”

The initiative is expected to boost AFARBAMCO’s visibility, ensure a steady market for their produce, and contribute to the local economy by supporting Bukidnon’s agricultural sector.

AFARBAMCO is a cooperative of ARBs committed to sustainable farming and the promotion of locally produced goods. NVM Marketing is a key player in local agri-business, bridging farmers and consumers through quality, community-based markets.

PHOTO BY NONIE REYES

PHL semiconductor industry needs govt support to succeed

THE Philippines is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities in the global semiconductor industry, but it’s in danger of missing the boat. Despite having the necessary elements to expand its share in the global market, the country is trailing behind its neighbors, particularly Vietnam and Thailand. Industry experts say that with stronger government backing, the Philippines could leapfrog its way into development and become a leader in innovation on the global stage. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Despite the brains, Pinoys missing the semicon boat,” May 10, 2025).

The global semiconductor market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with sales reaching $167.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025, an 18.8-percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. The market is projected to surpass $600 billion in total revenue for 2025, with an expected yearover-year growth rate of 10-15 percent, fueled by rising demand in artificial intelligence, 5G, automotive, and cloud computing sectors.

However, the Philippines is lagging behind its regional competitors, particularly Vietnam, which is proactively backing its industries with solid support. Vietnam has moved ahead of the Philippines, and it’s not just about sustaining its manufacturing sector, but also exploring new investment opportunities. The Philippines’s share in assembly, and packaging has been contracting in recent years, and its previous advantage of low labor costs is no longer as compelling. Rising living costs make it harder for the country to stay competitive, and the industry is falling behind. The country risks being compared to Laos, Cambodia, and Bangladesh, instead of being recognized for its technological advancements.

The government has named semiconductors a priority sector, but there is little evidence of meaningful action. The country needs increased government support, and programs need to be put in place to support the industry. The outdated education curriculum is another critical bottleneck, with the curriculum not aligned with industry needs, and a lack of government awareness about the existence and potential of IC design in the Philippines.

Industry leaders are taking matters into their own hands, initiating internal training programs and building partnerships with universities nationwide. Xinyx Design, the largest IC design house in Southeast Asia, has launched LAB by Xinyx, a premium learning platform designed to equip senior high school students, undergraduates, and industry professionals with globally competitive OS design training.

The government needs to prioritize the semiconductor industry, which requires minimal investment, but skilled talent, computers, and electronic design automation tools. By focusing on the semiconductor industry, the government can support critical sectors such as the military and infrastructure. The industry needs partners who can help bridge the gap between education and employment, and nurturing local semiconductor talent can support critical sectors and ensure continuity even when global supply chains are disrupted.

It’s time for the government to take action and provide solid support to the industry. The Philippines has the talent and capability to become a center for scientists and innovators, and reduce dependence on other countries. The future of Filipino engineering is promising, and IC design engineers have long been among the highest-paid professionals abroad. It’s time to empower the future of Filipino engineering and take advantage of the opportunities that the semiconductor industry has to offer.

The power in every vote

TRISING SUN

ODAY, nearly 68 million Filipinos will step into polling stations across the country to cast their votes in the 2025 midterm election—a democratic exercise that will shape not only the next three years but also the lives of generations to come. It is a rare opportunity for us all to take part in deciding the nation’s direction and to influence the policies that will affect our families and the future of our children.

The sheer scale of this election is staggering: over 18,000 officials will be chosen, from senators and representatives to governors, mayors, and councilors. They are the people who will write laws, allocate budgets, and make decisions that touch the daily realities of every Filipino. The Senate, for example, will see 12 of its

24 seats contested, and the House of Representatives—all 317 seats— will be filled anew.

What makes this election especially remarkable is the voice of the youth. Millennials and Gen Z now comprise about 63 percent of the voting-age population and 68 percent of registered voters. For many, this

is their first or second time to vote, and the choices made will echo for decades. This generation has grown up in a world of rapid change—digital revolutions, economic upheavals, and global challenges. Their priorities and hopes are reshaping the national conversation, and so their participation is essential.

It’s easy to be swept up by personalities and campaign promises, but the heart of this election lies in the issues that matter most to ordinary Filipinos. Surveys show that voters are looking for leaders who can provide food security, create jobs, and ensure access to health services.

These are not abstract concerns: 52 percent of Filipino families consider themselves poor, and 27.2 percent have experienced involuntary hunger in recent months. Among self-rated poor families, the hunger rate is even higher at 35.6 percent. The scars of the pandemic, persistent inflation, and social inequality are

still fresh. Tax policy, government spending, and economic reform are not just talking points—they affect millions of Filipinos daily. Choosing wisely does not mean finding the perfect candidate—we all know there is no such thing. It means looking beyond the surface, asking hard questions, and thinking about the kind of future we want for our children and grandchildren. It means demanding concrete plans, not just promises; integrity, not just popularity. It means remembering that every vote is both a right and a responsibility.

History will remember this election for the choices we will make today. So for the sake of our children, let us choose with our heart, our mind, and our conscience. Let us make sure that the next chapter of our story as a nation is something that we can be proud of—one that reflects our hopes, our values, and our unwavering commitment to a better future for every Filipino.

Once-powerful NSC sidelined by Trump as Rubio takes the helm

DBy Natalia Drozdiak, Kate Sullivan & Eric Martin

ONALD TRUMP is taking his time naming a permanent replacement for his National Security Adviser. But he’s already sent a clear message: the job once held by figures like Henry Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezinski won’t matter in his administration nearly as much.

T. Anthony C. Cabangon

Lourdes M. Fernandez

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Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace

Angel R. Calso, Dionisio L. Pelayo Ruben M. Cruz Jr.

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Rolando M. Manangan

BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines. Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725. Fax line: 813-7025. (Advertising Sales) 893-2019; 817-1351, 817-2807. (Circulation) 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. E-mail: news.businessmirror@gmail.com www.businessmirror.com.ph Printed by BROWN MADONNA Press, Inc.–Sun Valley Drive KM-15, South Superhighway,

Even before he removed Mike Waltz from the post on May 1, the president had cut the staff and influence of the National Security Council, relying instead on his own instincts and a close cadre of loyalists like New York real estate mogul Steve Witkoff for diplomatic missions and key decisions.

On Saturday, Secretary of State— and acting NSC director—Marco Rubio announced that he and Vice President JD Vance had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan hours after the two countries’ militaries targeted each other’s bases, fueling fears of an all-out war.

As Trump tries to resolve wars in Ukraine, Gaza and on the IndianPakistani border, expand US reach from Greenland to Panama and redraw the rules of global trade, Trump has sidelined the NSC, a body whose leader and senior staff were often pre-eminent voices in the shaping of US foreign policy. That was especially true under President Joe Biden, whose national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, was one of his closest and most influential confidantes.

“People like Witkoff and Trump himself are looking at things and saying, I can handle this. I can do this. I don’t need these experts, because the experts were wrong,” said Cedric Leighton, a former senior military intelligence officer. “We’re looking

at people who are not necessarily enamored with traditional areas of expertise.”

Trump has long promised to eradicate what he calls the “deep state” —longtime government staff who he accuses of seeking to sabotage his initiatives. He often asks everyone in the room what their view of a particular topic is, even if they’re not subject-matter experts, according to people who’ve sat in meetings with him.

His allies say the NSC was overdue for cutbacks, having grown bloated under previous presidents who relied heavily on it to shape policy.

“The job of the Secretary of State and State Department is to make foreign policy again, and the NSC should be the interagency implementer of that,” said Mauricio Claver-Carone, the administration’s envoy for Latin America.

For the moment, Trump added the national security adviser responsibilities to Rubio’s already sprawling portfolio. Rubio joked this week about the extra work.

“They said one of the things we want you to look at is consolidation,” Rubio said in a speech Wednesday. “Can you take, for example, what today are four jobs and just give them all to one person? And I said that sounds like a great idea. We should do that across the government. Little

did I know they just meant me.”

Trump has said he could take as long as six months to fill the job permanently. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff who “is at the top of the totem pole” for the post, has little foreign policy experience. But he’s one of Trump’s longest-serving and closest advisers who’s helped lead the administration’s crackdown on immigrants. He’s also added his voice to some policy discussions, including on plans to attack Yemen’s Houthis that were later revealed by an Atlantic magazine reporter.

“The National Security Council works with President Trump’s Cabinet and senior leadership team to implement his national security policy by putting the American people first,” spokesman Brian Hughes said. “The president has assembled an unparalleled team of experts who are making our country safer by carrying out President Trump’s agenda.”

Still, the lack of preparation of the team Trump is leaning on has fueled fears that US is at risk of major mistakes given his ambitions to overhaul US foreign policy. The NSC, which at its most senior level includes the adviser, the vice president, secretaries of state and defense and others, was created in 1947 to coordinate foreign, defense and domestic policy across the government to ensure the president looks at multiple factors when making decisions.   Experts in their own right, NSC staff typically tap into agencies across the government to pull together important information for the president to see, according to Emily Harding, a director at the National Security Council under President George W. Bush.

“If you skip that step then it’s hard to know for sure that the president has taken into account all the information he needs to take into account before he makes a decision,” said Harding, now a vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Some top NSC jobs are still unfilled, while many mid-level staff have been sent back to their home agencies. Several recent appointees were ousted after far-right activist Laura Loomer raised doubts to the president about their loyalty to him.   The weight of national security adviser has varied across administrations. Kissinger, who like Rubio combined the job with the post of top diplomat, opened up US relations with China and was the key adviser as American involvement in the Vietnam War wound down under President Richard Nixon. As national security adviser to George H.W. Bush, Brent Scowcroft helped push through Germany’s reunification. Waltz, a former US House member, brought experience on major issues even if he lacked the long resume of some of his predecessors. His hawkish track record reassured some Republicans concerned Trump might veer too far into isolationism. But his ouster—the first highprofile administration departure of Trump’s second term—came after Waltz inadvertently added an Atlantic journalist to a Signal chat group discussing pending US attacks on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The chat, which was created in March, included Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as well as Miller, and revealed details of plans for strikes by American military personnel. Bloomberg

Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

The significance of Pope Leo XIV’s name and message for

global social justice

OUR new Pope’s selection of the name “Leo XIV” is of great significance to workers and farmers in the Philippines and across the globe.

On May 15, 1891 (feast day of St. Isidore the Farmer), his predecessor Leo XIII issued the encyclical, “Rerum Novarum” (Of New Things). This document laid down the Catholic Church’s basic teaching on the fundamental need for social justice in the ordering of society.

While recognizing the right to private property and rejecting the extremes of unbridled capitalism and socialism, Rerum Novarum underscored the imperative of spreading material wealth to all.

This social encyclical gave par-

As an organization grounded in the social teachings of the Church, the Federation of Free Farmers warmly welcomes His Holiness Leo XIV and his message of care and support especially for working men and women.

ticular importance to the rights of workers and farmers to receive just wages and fair treatment and to organize themselves freely into unions and associations.

As an organization grounded in the social teachings of the Church, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) warmly welcomes His Holiness Leo XIV and his message of care and support especially for working men and women.

Recruiter woes compound as tariffs sting global labor markets

By Maggie Shiltagh, Rachel Phua & Rachel Yeo

RECRUITERS across Europe and the US had a dismal start to the year. US President Donald Trump’s tariffs are now dimming their prospects for the rest of 2025.

Earnings in the sector largely missed the mark, reflecting the current harsh labor market on both sides of the Atlantic—US job openings and hiring are down, with vacancies also lower in the UK and Germany.  Almost unanimously, recruiters warned that US trade policy is weighing on hiring activity. “We’re already operating on a relatively low level of hiring,” Randstad NV Chief Executive Officer Sander van’t Noordende said on an earnings call.  Trump’s back-and-forth is only worsening existing challenges as cost pressures and a worrying global outlook extinguish hiring budgets.

Temporary recruitment—which makes up the majority of staffing firms’ gross profit with the exception of PageGroup Plc.—looked like it was stabilizing sequentially in the US at the end of last year after the post-Covid rush for help. “The whole recovery has been thrown into disarray” after Trump’s trade war started, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Analyst Stuart Gordon said.

Lower attrition for permanent roles adds an extra challenge. Hesitancy by employers to get rid of staff after being badly burned during the pandemic, coupled with employees nervous about the job market staying put in their roles, has stunted movement on either side. “At the moment we’re sitting in a kind of vacuum,” Gordon said.

In the US and Europe, “the permanent recruitment market is really, really slowing down,” Denis Machuel, chief executive at Swiss recruitment giant Adecco Group AG, told Bloomberg in an interview. Clients are in “wait-and-see mode.”

Hays Plc. saw fees in Germany, its largest market, decline 9 percent as an automotive slowdown has held back hiring. The number of newstarter temps in the sector was down about 50 percent year-on-year, Chief Financial Officer James Hilton said on an earnings call.

“If there’s one place where we have seen some impact, it’s automotive,” Randstad’s Van’t Noordende said.

The unfolding trade war is making it hard to see where to go from here, UK staffing firms Robert Walters Plc and Hays said, with the latter seeing challenges persist into 2026. Meanwhile, British businesses shed workers at the fastest pace since the start of the pandemic in March, ahead of a hike in employment costs in April.

“If you took the uncertainty out of it we’re probably pretty close to the trough, but this is going to elongate any visibility for a recovery” BI’s Gordon said.  American groups Robert Half

Trump hails progress after first day of US-China trade talks

By Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Enda Curran & Jenny Leonard

SENIOR US and Chinese negotiators spent hours behind closed doors in Switzerland on Saturday as they held high-stakes talks that offer the clearest opportunity yet for the two countries to de-escalate their trade war, with President Donald Trump calling it a “very good” meeting.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are leading the negotiations expected to span two days in Geneva, marking the first publicized, inperson talks since President Donald Trump imposed 145 percent levies on China and Beijing retaliated with 125 percent tariffs on many American goods and new export controls on rare earth minerals.

“A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner. We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!”

US trade chief Jamieson Greer is also participating in the sessions. The discussions, which took place at the Swiss mission to the United Nations in Geneva, have concluded for the night and are expected to continue Sunday, according to a person familiar with the matter who demanded anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks.

Both sides have sought to project confidence they hold the upper hand, yet the status quo carries major risks.

The unfolding trade war is making it hard to see where to go from here, UK staffing firms Robert Walters Plc and Hays said, with the latter seeing challenges persist into 2026. Meanwhile, British businesses shed workers at the fastest pace since the start of the pandemic in March, ahead of a hike in employment costs in April.

Inc.—which mainly recruits for office workers—and ManpowerGroup Inc. both reported results that disappointed investors, citing caution among clients as the main factor. Manpower also cut its dividend by half.

Possible opportunity

ONE silver lining might be firms that don’t want to take the risk with permanent recruitment due to a lack of visibility are turning to more flexible labor, Adecco’s Machuel said. The company has seen “modest positive momentum” in its hiring numbers since April, according to a statement.

There’s also some hope in US companies expanding their production domestically, said Sean Puddle, Robert Walter’s North America managing director, pointing to KimberlyClark Corp. and Apple Inc. Their billion-dollar plans to bolster US manufacturing could boost job creation in construction and manufacturing.

“The big question is how long it will take to translate to the ground level, and how much of a dropthrough it will have on the labor market,” Puddle said in an interview. Prices of their goods could also rise, sapping consumer confidence and fueling job losses if business costs go up.

Further afield, China—already grappling with fewer job openings, layoffs and pay cuts before the tariffs—has vowed to strengthen support for employment as trade risks mount. Recruiters there are signaling a trough.

Online talent service platform

Tongdao Liepin Group said the midto high-end recruitment market is still in the process of bottoming out and recovering, seeing the number of job postings stabilizing toward the end of 2025. Hiring demand for traditional sectors, such as consumer goods, hasn’t recovered, Jefferies analysts including Thomas Chong wrote in a March note.

Peer Kanzhun Ltd. expects recruitment spending to bottom out from last quarter, Chief Financial Officer Yu Zhang said, expecting an upward trajectory post-Chinese New Year.

The tit-for-tat has rattled financial markets while threatening product shortages and higher prices for American consumers, raising pressure on Trump to find a way out of his standoff with Xi Jinping. The Chinese leader sought to fortify his nation’s economy ahead of the talks, but data show signs of weakness.

The meeting in Switzerland is an “important step in pushing toward a resolution” of the problem, while an eventual solution will require sufficient patience and determination, as well as support from the international community, the official Xinhua News Agency said in a commentary released Saturday while the

talks were ongoing. The state-run news agency also reiterated China’s determination to safeguard its national interests and maintain order in international trade.

The US president has sent mixed signals about his desired outcome for the meetings. Trump has repeatedly said he is unwilling to lower tariffs without Chinese concessions, though he nonetheless on Friday volunteered that an 80 percent levy “seems right.”

“We have to make a great deal for America,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office late Friday. “I think we’re going to come back with a fair deal for both China and us.”

Bessent on Wednesday downplayed any potential outcome, telling lawmakers talks were at an early stage and the focus was on lowering tensions rather than reaching a comprehensive deal. But Trump himself said Thursday he anticipated “substantive” progress. Other US officials have emphasized the opportunity to defuse the conflict.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Fox News Friday evening that there was “no chance” that tariffs would be completely paused, no matter the outcome of the weekend talks. If those negotiations go well, he added, the levies “come down to a human level. To a level where we do business. There are significant tariffs, the president is going to keep significant tariffs on trade with China. That is his objective. That’s his expectation. That should be everybody’s expectation.”

China is taking a guarded approach, setting expectations low ahead of the negotiations and viewing them more as exploratory than likely to yield an immediate grand bargain. Xi’s representatives will be measuring how serious their US counterparts are in seeking a breakthrough, said Wu Xinbo, director at Fudan University’s Center for American Studies in Shanghai and

“A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner. We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!”

an adviser to the foreign minister.

Both economies, with a combined gross domestic product of $46 trillion, have a lot to lose if talks falter. Tariffs at the current level will obliterate 90 percent of bilateral trade, according to a Bloomberg Economics estimate.

Fallout from the trade fight has already appeared, portending more economic pain to come absent an agreement.

Shipping volume from China to the US has slumped. And in China, factories that make everyday consumer items have slowed or idled assembly lines. Two-way annual trade between both countries is around $700 billion, and China has an estimated $1.4 trillion of portfolio investments in the US.

The conflict has prompted Beijing to expand trade with other markets, with exports to the US plummeting by 21 percent. Trade data published Friday show shipments from China to the European Union soaring by 8 percent last month.

Meanwhile, China’s domestic economy is plagued by lackluster manufacturing figures and a deflationary spiral unlikely to improve as competition in the domestic market intensifies amid a weak labor market.

While the US economy continues to hold up, analysts are warning that goods shortages will begin to surface in the form of empty shelves in the weeks and months ahead, threatening jobs, especially those in trucking, logistics and retail. The Federal Reserve has warned of rising uncertainty. The US economy contracted at the start of the year for the first time since 2022, though a gauge of underlying demand stayed firm.

The consequences of the US-led

trade fight are ricocheting across the globe. The World Trade Organization slashed its forecast for merchandise trade this year and now expects volume to decline by 0.2 percent—almost 3 percentage points lower than it would have been without the trade war. The International Monetary Fund in April sharply lowered its growth expectations this year and next, warning the outlook may deteriorate further.

For Trump, a top goal is rebalancing trade, with the president reiterating Friday he wants to see Beijing open its markets to the US. Trump also has repeatedly signaled he views access to the American market as key leverage to force concessions.

“They have a lot to gain” from the talks, Trump told reporters Thursday. “They have far more to gain than we do, in a sense.”

But China sees tariffs as just one aspect of a broader move by the US to limit its rise. To Beijing, the conflict is not just a trade war, said Regina Ip, Hong Kong lawmaker and convener of Chief Executive John Lee’s cabinet. It threatens its very survival, she said.

“China’s determined to take it on the chin—‘don’t kneel’—they’re taking a very hard line,” she said. But, she warned: “Both sides must play their cards very carefully. They must make every move very carefully not to escalate.”

Even a week before the talks, Washington and Beijing were trading barbs over who had initiated them.

One US priority heading into the negotiations was securing an easing of Chinese export restrictions on rare earths used to make magnets used in everything from robots to jet engines.

The Trump administration also wants China to curb fentanyl trafficking by stifling the flow of precursors used to make the opioid. However, continued progress on that issue could be made on a separate track, outside of the Geneva talks.  China said it has forcefully cracked down on the fentanyl trade, and has even said Washington owes it a “big thank you” for its efforts.  With assistance from Colum Murphy, Rebecca Choong Wilkins, Daniel Flatley and Shiyin Chen/Bloomberg

Wall Street plays long game as deals go private

By Claire Ruckin

AKKR & Co. debt sale shows how far Wall Street is willing to go to keep leveraged underwriting business from slipping away to private credit after periods of turmoil.

After losing a €1.1 billion ($1.24 billion) buyout financing assignment to direct lending rivals, banks including Jefferies Financial Group Inc. and Citigroup Inc. kept themselves on the private equity giant’s payroll by agreeing to extend low-fee revolving credit for KKR’s acquisition of Karo Healthcare.

In exchange, KKR will allot them a part of the fee on the deal they lost to private lenders led by Apollo Global Management Inc., according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the matter is private. Banks are set to pocket around 40 percent of the 1.75 percent underwriting fee, the people said.

The unusual arrangement hints at efforts to maintain relationships during bouts of market volatility that can win them business later. Banks often steer clear of undrawn credit facilities with negligible fees, agreements that tie up capital that could be used to make more profitable loans. If they offer them at all on a leveraged deal, it’s usually in conjunction with more lucrative term loans or high yield bonds.

Now, however, Wall Street’s leveraged finance desks, which chased fee-rich deals to reel in a third of investment-banking revenue in recent years, are in no mood to fritter away some of their edge like they did in 2022. After taking losses on “hung deals” back then, they came to regret their reluctance to back acquisitions

and provide undrawn credit while direct lenders made inroads into their business.

“Banks are continuing to evolve,” said Jeremy Duffy, a partner at law firm White & Case LLP who advises on leveraged finance. “They are acutely aware of the onward march of private credit and are reacting accordingly.”

Yet 2025’s wild market gyrations have already pushed borrowers toward private credit funds that can ride out volatility better than banks.

Karo’s bank lenders, which include HSBC Holdings Plc, alongside KKR Capital Markets, extended about €175 million in undrawn facilities. What went unused is the €1.1 billion of drawn debt they’d committed for the buyout of the Swedish consumer-health company.

KKR hadn’t yet countersigned the agreement, the people said, and eventually opted for a private unitranche, a blend of junior and senior debt, of the same size. More than 10 lenders including Apollo, Jefferies and CVC took part in what became possibly the tightest-ever pricing for a European direct lending deal despite the market turmoil.

KKR decided to pay some of the traditional lenders a fee anyway because for about 10 days in early April, before private lenders stepped in, the banks were carrying that risk amid the tumult. Spokespeople for KKR, HSBC and Citi declined to comment. A representative for Jef -

feries didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

With undrawn loans now a possible bargaining chip for banks, speculation is rising over how soon they’ll come across a situation similar to Karo’s.

One that’s being closely watched is the acquisition of Spanish waste management services business Urbaser. Private credit funds and banks are competing to underwrite a package that includes over €2 billion of drawn debt. At the same time, any buyout could require €1.5 billion or so of guarantee and revolving credit facilities, people with knowledge of the matter said earlier this month.

“It is not surprising that banks are taking a longer-term view on maintaining and nurturing relationships in this market,” said Sabrina Fox of Fox Legal Training, a leveraged finance expert. “Even if that means short-term loss, there is a much higher potential for long-term gain.”

Week in review AT the Milken Institute Global Conference this week, key players in private credit talked up their next “golden opportunity” as they look for bargains amid the recent market gyrations.

US high-grade corporate bond sales surged this week to about $45 billion, the highest level since March. It’s the latest sign that markets are reopening after being shut for part of April amid escalating trade wars. Even companies that will likely face pressure from global tariffs, including Apple and General Motors, tapped the market.

Thawing markets are spurring banks that were stuck with $6 bil-

lion of buyout debt amid the tariff turmoil to look for ways to start offloading it to investors. Companies financed in the private credit market started showing signs of stress in the first quarter, according to recent results from business development companies. For decades buyout firms largely stuck by the maxim that lenders got looked after first when one of their businesses was in trouble. Those days are now over. Far from priority, or even equal, treatment, many creditors are getting shoved ever further back in the line.

Citigroup Inc. is ramping up lending to private equity and private credit groups, working to catch up with peers like JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. after the bank spent years on the sidelines.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is set to lead about $6.5 billion in debt financing to support private equity firm 3G Capital’s purchase of footwear maker Skechers. There were a series of notable bankruptcies this week: Rite Aid Corp. filed for bankruptcy again, less than a year after completing a restructuring that was supposed to turn the troubled pharmacy chain around. The company won court approval to run an expedited process to sell customers’ prescription information to rival pharmacies as it prepares to unload or close its stores.

WeightWatchers, known for its diet programs once endorsed by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, filed for bankruptcy after struggling to compete with drugs like Ozempic and the rise of TikTok fitness influencers. With assistance from Rheaa Rao/ Bloomberg

BusinessMirror

US tariffs imperil 2030 PHL goal to be Asia furniture hub

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE17-percent additional tariff

imposed by the United States on Philippine exports could derail the local furniture industry’s 2030 vision of establishing the Philippines as Asia’s design innovation hub and a global leader in high-end furniture, according to local furniture industry groups.

In a position paper addressed to Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque, the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines, Inc. (CFIP)-National, Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation (PFIF) and Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation (CFIF) said the tariffs imposed by the US on Philippine exports “threaten the industry’s 8-percent annual growth target and 2030 roadmap to become Asia’s design innovation hub.”

The groups are urging the Phil-

ippine government to, “prioritize tariff exemptions for Philippine furniture in PHL-US trade talks, leveraging our reciprocal hardwood sourcing strategy.”

In return, these groups emphasized the furniture industry’s commitment to increasing US hardwood imports “as a gesture of reciprocal trade partnership.”

The furniture industry groups also cited their “strategic” industry commitments amid the recently imposed additional tariffs.

In their position paper, they bared plans to shift from Asian material sourcing of hardwood to US hardwoods “to enhance sustinability and quality.”

The sector is targeting a 50-percent increase in US hardwood imports to meet global certification standards.

Currently, 75 percent of wood and wood products used by the industry are imported, primarily from Asian countries (plywood, sawn hardwood). The groups said domestic supply is limited due to “constrained forest resources.”

Meanwhile, US hardwoods account for a small share (about 2 percent in 2020) of imports.

As to labor upskilling, these groups aim to expand Tesda-led programs for US hardwood processing and circular design and protect 45,000 livelihoods tied to artisanbased production.

The said retaining zero-percent tariffs on exports to the US is “pivotal” to achieving the industry’s 2030 vision.

“By supporting this material transition, the government can transform a trade barrier into a

EMIRATES PUSHES PHL AS KEY DESTINATION, ADDS FLIGHTS

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror

DUBAI’s Emirates Airline will help promote the Philippines as a key destination in the world.

$300-million export opportunity while advancing sustainable industrialization,” the groups’ position paper said.

No threat to US furniture makers AS the local furniture industry prayed for the retention of zero export duties to the United States, they pointed out in their position paper: “The Philippine furniture industry does not pose a competitive threat to American domestic furniture manufacturers, as the majority of Philippine exports to the United States are not upholstered products, which constitute approximately half of the US furniture market.”

Instead, the country’s furniture exports primarily consist of items crafted from indigenous natural materials such as rattan, abaca, and other fibers—that are not readily available in the United States, the groups added.

“These products leverage traditional Filipino craftsmanship and weaving techniques that are unique to our country and not replicated by US manufacturers,” the furniture industry groups underscored.

What Matters Coworking + Playlab: Happy blend of parenting and productivity for mothers

By Francine Medina

CO-WORKING spaces have become the go-to place for working mothers, especially those who work remotely or run small businesses. The house with kids could get crowded or may not have any room at all for office tasks. Or, distractions happen when there’s no household staff and mom’s just doing it alone. Coffee shops, on the other hand, could get noisy and the cost of food and drinks can break one’s wallet.

life was when my first child, my son, was born. It was really the shock of having zero kids to one kid. And people were not kidding when they said how much it will change you as a person—physically and mentally.”

There would be days when she’d find herself carrying her baby with one arm, while the other arm has her hands on her laptop.

“ Was this it? Is this how life will be from now on? Do I have to give up my career? Do my aspirations for business don’t matter so could be a good mom? Of course, I want to be a mother because I love my kids and I want to be there for them as much as I can,” Macabagdal asked herself.

Eventually, she was inspired to study various parenting styles around the world. Next, she applied her new knowledge in the Filipino family setting. The information motivated her to start a co-working enterprise where mothers, or parents in general, can also bring their little ones to work.

Family-friendly space

“In our culture, we usually have extended family members helping us. So, what if we create a space that would combine the chance for us to work productively but at the same time, bring

our kids with us. What better way to teach them to become good adults by emulating us because that’s how they learn. They imitate their parents or the people who are important to them,” she told Garcia.

Fortunately, said Macabagdal, her hubby Jommel supported her idea for a unique coworking space concept. The couple brought their learnings from building offices through the years to establish their latest enterprise. She narrated, “So we then created a space that was safe, interactive, and playful. The space was designed by a fellow working mother with a young daughter.

Camille admitted that it took months before they were able to chalk up a name for the business. But, she said, “We thought, why are we making this space complicated? What is this all about? We thought it’s about the things that are really important to us, which is work-life balance so that we could have the chance to flourish as our career-driven selves and find our space in the world.”

“Of course, our kids will grow up. They’re separate people and you want them to grow into their best selves. And you only have a small role in

This commitment was made by one of the world’s leading airlines in an agreement signed with the Department of Tourism (DOT), on the sidelines of the recent Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) in Dubai.

In a news statement, the DOT quoted Emirates Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations, Far East Orhan Abbas as saying: “Emirates began serving the Philippines nearly 35 years ago, making it one of the longest-served destinations across our entire global network. Our continued partnership reflects the strength and popularity of this Southeast Asian destination—not only for leisure travelers but also businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Under the memorandum of agreement, the DOT and Emirates will draw up plans and strategies to “promote the Philippines in Middle East, Mediterranean, and European markets,” as well as “work on expanding flight routes and frequencies to key destinations in coordi-

that but at the same time you’ll also have a very important chance to influence and shape their lives. So, yeah, those are the things that matter to us. The name of the business just came to us,” she said.

Flexible space and terms

The pioneering family-friendly co-working space, What Matters Coworking + Playlab, is spacious with clean and simple interiors that engage users and members to get into work mode. The hub has work stations, a collab area consisting of an enclosed booth with comfy lounging seats, and a meeting room that can accommodate 10 to 15 people. Access to individual lockers are provided and coffee and other refreshments are available in the pantry area. What Matters has virtual office services as well.

for spending time while moms are working, the Playlab has a full schedule of classes that truly guarantee no dull moment for the young ones.

Playlab has trained teachers who can conduct three-hour learning and creative sessions with the little ones. Parents can opt to have their children in a small play group or just

nation with other government agencies and relevant sectors.” The carrier has 28 weekly flights from Dubai to Manila, Cebu, and Clark, equivalent to 22,700 weekly seats.

40K tourists from UAE IN turn, the DOT will promote Emirates’ programs and initiatives. “By creating a strategic framework for joint marketing and advertising initiatives, we aim to significantly boost visitor traffic from Emirates’ extensive global network. This collaboration between the Department of Tourism and Emirates not only strengthens our tourism sector but also fosters deeper cultural ties between our regions,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

According to DOT data, over 40,000 tourists from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—composed of seven emirates including the capital, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai—arrived in the Philippines last year, close to a 300-percent increase from the arrivals in 2019. Due to recent changes in the DOT’s data collection, there is no certainty that the 40,000 were purely foreign citizens, or include overseas Filipinos residing there.

monthly or weekly packages, What Matters can also make special arrangements. “We can adjust fees according to the needs of the client. For our events space, we also collaborate with clients regarding their particular requirements.”

Thriving and growing together

“It warms our hearts every time parents tell us that their kids had a good time,” commented Camille. “It’s something that makes me happy because it takes a lot for a mom to entrust their kids to strangers. And during the little ones’ first time to be at Playlab, you will see kids wanting to be with their mommies and calling out for them.”

“But really, just give them more time and then you’d see them, they haven’t forgotten about their mommies but the kids are just having so much fun from the play lab’s many activities and playing with their peers that, sometimes, it’s already 4 pm but they still want to play. The kids would say, ‘No, no, no!’ and that’s how we know that their stay had been fun and worthwhile.” Camille is looking forward to expanding What Matters Coworking + Playlab in different communities “from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. We hope to bring it to these places especially since it’s a community-based concept. It builds up on what is there. Like, in every city, there are startups and there are a lot of parents who want to achieve their dreams.”

“We want these parents

how working from home or remotely can be isolating, What Matters also conducts seasonal social events, forums, and workshops for upskilling. Camille remarked that although they have

Freshly Brewed

Camille Macabagdal, owner of What Matters Coworking + Playlab, talks about the co-working space she set up together with her husband Jommel, with BusinessMirror's Labor reporter Justine Xyrah Garcia.

BusinessMirror Labor reporter Justine Xyrah Garcia

Camille Macabagdal, owner of What Matters Coworking + Playlab

MGen: Power facility of PLP to begin operations in Q2

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

PACIFICLIGHT Power Pte. Ltd. (PLP), a subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), will operationalize within the quarter its 100-megawatt (MW) “fast start” power generation capacity in Singapore.

MGen President Emmanuel Rubio reported last week that the project is “due to commence operations in the second quarter of 2025.”

The so-called fast start facility can quickly ramp up electricity or boost the delivery of electrify faster when needed.

This 100-MW fast start facility and an 800-MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant are PLP’s power assets in Singapore. Aside from these two, PLP is set to build a 600-MW hydrogen-ready CCGT facility on Jurong Island. The project is

scheduled to be operational in January 2029. The proposed plant will also feature Singapore’s first large-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The new plant will be capable of using at least 30 percent hydrogen from inception and will have the ability to utilize 100 percent hydrogen in the future depending on market and regulatory demands.

“We are not only addressing Singapore’s growing energy needs but also setting a new standard for integrating efficiency and environmental responsibility in power generation. Together with our partners, we are paving the way for a greener and more resilient energy future in the region,” said Rubio. PLP is a joint venture between MGen and First Pacific Co. Ltd. MGen reported that PLP delivered 5,820 gigawatt hours last year, up 2 percent recorded in 2023. Its net income stood at P13.3 billion, lower compared with 2023 due to market correction that led average rates to fall to S$86 per megawatt hour (MWh) from S$104.7/MWh in the previous year, affecting non-fuel margins.

On the local front, MGen and partners secured the green light of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to proceed with the integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Batangas. MGen owns 40.2 percent interest in two gas-fired power plants—the 1,200 MW of South Premiere Power Corp. and 1,275 MW of Excellent Energy Resources Inc., as well as an LNG import and regasification terminal.

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK

to be taken by the market positively.” Broker 2TradeAsia said despite first-quarter GDP growth of 5.4 percent missing expectations, some upward momentum has been observed in local equities, supported by stronger-thananticipated household consumption and favorable inflation dynamics.

“Despite softer growth, earnings thus far, particularly in consumer and banking names, have proven resilient, and with election tailwinds extending into the second quarter, the broader picture remains constructive for local risk assets.”

It advised to monitor volume as momentum may pick up post-election once the political noise clears and fiscal visibility improves. Support for the main index is at 6,200 points, while resistance is at 6,500, and secondary at 6,600.

STOCK PICKS

MAYBANK Securities maintained its buy rating on Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) after its first-quarter income was in line with its estimates.

“Earnings growth was propelled by the 4.2 points improvement in operating income margin to 33.7 percent owing to better product mix in property development segment—houses, commercial and industrial lot sales,” it said.

“Apart from intact earnings, we also see

NUCLEAR STANDOFF

Why India and Pakistan fight differently

By Riazat Butt | The Associated Press

ISLAMABAD,

Pakistan—India and Pakistan have fought three full-scale wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947. They’ve also had dozens of skirmishes and conflicts, including one atop a glacier dubbed the coldest and highestaltitude battlefield in the world.

The latest escalation follows a deadly gun attack on tourists that India blames Pakistan for—Islamabad denies any connection. But they don’t fight wars like other countries.

The dominant factor is their nuclear weapons arsenal, a distinct way of deterring major attacks and a guarantee that fighting doesn’t get out of hand, even when the situation is spiraling.

Here’s how—and why—India and Pakistan fight the way they do: Their nuclear arsenals can destroy each other “PAKISTAN and India have enough nuclear weapons to wipe the other side out several times over,” says security analyst Syed Mohammed Ali, who is based in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital. “Their nuclear weapons create a scenario for mutually assured destruction.”

Both countries have “deliberately developed” the size and range of their stockpile to remind the other about the guarantee of mutually assured destruction, he adds. Neither country discloses their nuclear capabilities but each is thought to have between 170 and 180 warheads that are short-, longand medium-range. Both countries have different delivery systems— ways of launching and propelling these weapons to their targets.

The arsenals are a defensive move to prevent and deter further fighting, because “neither side can afford to initiate such a war or hope to achieve anything from it,” Ali says. It might not look this way to the outsider, but nuclear weapons are a reminder to the other side that they can’t take things too far.

But the secrecy around their arsenals means that it’s unclear if Pakistan or India can survive a first nuclear strike and retaliate, something called “second-strike capability.”

Th is capacity stops an opponent from attempting to win a nuclear war through a first strike by preventing aggression that could lead to nuclear escalation.

Without this capability, there is, in theory, nothing to stop one side from launching a warhead at the other.

Kashmir at the crux of the dispute

INDIA and Pakistan have each laid claim to Kashmir since 1947, when both gained independence, and border skirmishes have created instability in the region for decades. Each country controls a part of Kashmir, which is divided by a heavily militarized border.

The two archrivals have also fought two of their three wars over Kashmir—a disputed Himalayan region divided between them where armed insurgents resist Indian rule.

Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels’ goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.

Border flare-ups and militant attacks in India-controlled Kashmir have prompted New Delhi to take an increasingly tough position on Islamabad, accusing it of “terrorism.”

In the latest conflict, India punished Pakistan by hitting what it said were sites used by Pakistanbacked militants linked to a gun massacre last month.

A conventional military imbalance

INDIA is one of the biggest defense spenders in the world, with $74.4 billion in 2025, according to the Military Balance report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies. It’s also one of the world’s largest arms importers.

Pakistan is no slouch, spending $10 billion last year, but it can never match India’s deep pockets. India also has more than double the number of active armed forces personnel than Pakistan does.

W hile India’s armed forces are traditionally focused on Pakistan, it has another nuclear neighbor to contend with, China, and it is increasingly concerned with maritime security in the Indian Ocean. Those are two factors that Pakistan doesn’t have to consider in its security paradigm.

Pakistan’s long and narrow shape, together with the outsized role of the military in foreign policy, makes it easier to move the armed forces around and prioritize defense.

A pattern of escalation and defusing

NEITHER Pakistan nor India are in a hurry to announce their military moves against the other and, as seen in the current flare-up of hostilities, it can take a while for confirmation of strikes and retaliation to surface.

tore apart millions of Hindu and Muslim families in one of the world’s largest peacetime migrations. Many fled their homes and lost their property, never imagining that they would not be able to return. At least 15 million people were displaced.

Both nations lay claim over Kashmir WITHIN months, both India and Pakistan laid claim over Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region.

K ashmir’s Hindu ruler wanted to stay independent, but local armed

But both launch operations into territories and airspace controlled by the other. Sometimes these are intended to damage checkpoints, installations, or sites allegedly used by militants. They are also aimed at embarrassing or provoking—forcing leaders to bow to public pressure and respond, with the potential for miscalculation.

Many of these activities originate along the Line of Control, which divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. It’s largely inaccessible to the media and public, making it hard to independently verify claims of an attack or retaliation.

Such incidents raise international alarm, because both countries have nuclear capabilities, forcing attention back to India and Pakistan and, eventually, their competing claims over Kashmir. No desire for conquest, influence or resources PAKISTAN and India’s battles and skirmishes are away from the public eye.

August 1947, Britain divided India, its former colony, into two countries—Hindumajority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. The fate of Kashmir—then a princely state—was left undecided. E xcitement over independence was quickly overshadowed by some of the worst bloodletting that left up to 1 million people dead as gangs of Hindus and Muslims slaughtered each other.

It divided millions of families CREATING two independent nations also

Strikes and retaliation are late at night or early in the morning and, with the exception of the drone attacks on Thursday, they mostly take place away from densely populated urban centers. It shows that neither country has the desire to significantly harm the other’s population. Attacks are either described as surgical or limited. Neither country is motivated by competition for resources. Pakistan has huge mineral wealth, but India isn’t interested in these and, while there are stark ideological differences between Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan, they don’t seek control or influence over the other.

Other than Kashmir, they have no interest in claiming the other’s territory or exercising dominance.

PAKISTAN’S Rangers soldiers, bottom, and Indian Border Security Forces soldiers, top, parade during a daily closing ceremony at the Wagah, a joint post on the Pakistan and India border, near Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, May 5, 2025. AP/K.M. CHAUDARY

this September 27, 1947, file photo, Muslim refugees crowd onto

bound for

stan, as it leaves New Delhi, India. AP

A look at the 1947 Partition’s troubled legacy

Embrace the sun: Your ultimate guide to a confident, fresh summer

SUMMER is here. Whether you’re heading out for a weekend getaway, running errands in the city, soaking up the sun, or just at home escaping the scorching heat, having the right essentials is a must.

If you haven’t packed your summer must-haves yet, and you’re still on the hunt of finding the perfect essentials, don’t sweat it. Leading Filipino-owned direct selling company Personal Collection (PC) has got you covered with products that keep you fresh, confident and protected all day. From skincare that gives you that much-needed glow to deodorants that stay strong even under the sun, these summer picks will help you make the most of every moment without the sticky, sweaty stress.

STAY FRESH AND SWEAT-FREE ALL DAY

WE know how uncomfortable it can be during long summer days, having that sticky feeling brought on by the intense heat. But let’s face it—sweat happens, and you can only feel refreshed after a well-deserved shower. PC’s Check Winter Fresh Moisturizing Antibacterial Soap provides the perfect balance of protection and hydration, delivering 99.99 percent germ-kill efficiency while locking in moisture for up to 24 hours.

Finish your routine with PC’s Check 72 Hours Antiperspirant Deodorant to seal in the freshness for an all-day protection. It comes in two variants: Check On The Go Fresh for women with a refreshing powdery scent; and Check Energetic Fresh for men with a revitalizing oceanic clean fragrance. Both are formulated to keep skin smooth and moisturized without darkening your underarms, and are dermatologically tested, laboratory tested, and clinically certified for reliable protection. Finally, end every summer day with another refreshing shower using Check Winter Fresh, so you feel the intense cooling freshness even at night.

BE YOUR SUNNIEST SELF

WITH SUMMER-READY LIPS

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Mister Pilipinas Worldwide 2025:

DEEMED some of the finest of today’s Filipino men, the winners of Mister Pilipinas Worldwide 2025 held a victory press conference at Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila on May 6. The new Pinoy kings are Mister Pilipinas Cosmopolitan 2025 Kenneth Rios Marcelino (Mister PlayTime) from Laguna, Mister Pilipinas Eco International 2025 Kitt Cortez from San Juan, Mister Pilipinas Global 2025 Jether Palomo from Taguig, Mister Pilipinas Supranational 2025 Kenneth Cabungcal from Dumaguete (Mister Pablo Best in Runway), Mister Pilipinas International 2025 Kirk Bondad from Baguio (Mister Arete), Mister Pilipinas Manhunt International 2025 Raven Renz Lansangan from Pampanga (Mister Glen’s Magazine Boy/Mister Photogenic), and Mister Pilipinas Man of the Year 2025 Michael Angelo Toledo from Cebu City.

Heading into the pageant, which culminated on April 28 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater hosted by Miss Supranational 2023 First Runner-up Pauline Amelincx, six of the winners previously held national titles: Palomo was Mister Tourism World 2023 1st runner-up and Century Tuna Superbods 2024 winner; Bondad was Mr. World Philippines 2024 and Century Tuna Superbods 2022 winner; Cortez was Mister Tourism International

Philippines 2022; Cabungcal was Man of the World 2024 first runner-up; Toledo was Mister Fitness Supermodel World 2023 third runner-up; and Lansangan was a 2017 Mister International finalist. Because of the high caliber of the candidates, this year’s edition is considered to have elevated male pageantry in the Philippines. Here are the winners’ main takeaways after the finals night:

n TOLEDO: My most memorable experience from this journey was the bond that I created with different people. We all have different personalities, different backgrounds and the way this journey connected us was so real and genuine that we really bonded and we made new brothers along the way and I think that’s the most memorable experience I’ve had during this year.

n LANSANGAN: For me it’s the one where we’re having photo shoots because we get to experience our own personalities and also get to know each other and the bond that we formed with each and every one of us so the brotherhood is there and hopefully it will turn into a family.

n BONDAD: I think one interesting aspect is when you put a lot of guys in a room where essentially the concept is a beauty contest, we are still at the end of the day guys. We have a very interesting bonding when it comes to bantering and humor that respectfully I don’t think would be very appropriate in a lot of people’s eyes but this is the way how we are really forging like real relationships. I think that it’s very interesting to see because I’ve been in many positions where assembly setting was like that and it’s always the same. I feel like this is how we break a lot of social barriers. As you know, particularly guys and I think it’s very nice to see that this happened on the very first day and I think this makes us also grow closer.

n CABUNGCAL: For this pageant, I think my

From ski trails and hiking paths to the urban jungle

WEARING a pair of Salomon shoes means embracing an aesthetic that’s out of the ordinary. Every pair is bold, stylish, and high performance. And this is not part of any press release from the brand but I feel that I can wear a pair of Salomon shoes anywhere from the hiking trail to a party.

The heritage of Salomon is trail running and skiing. The brand was founded as a metal workshop in 1947 in Annecy, France. In 2018, Salomon launched its Sportstyle category for urban and outdoor lifestyles. Salomon took its classic silhouette and added details like Quicklace closures and rugged Contragrip outsole in streetwear-appropriate colorways and finishes. It was when Rihanna wore a pair of XT-6s that Salomon became as mainstream as possible. By the way, Rihanna also wore a pair of Salomons during her 2023 Super Bowl performance. In the Philippines, Salomon (under Anta Group PH) recently opened its second and largest store at SM Mall of Asia, Pasay. The first store is only 100 sqm.  Salomon celebrated the launch in true hybrid fashion, bridging the worlds of trail and trend. Special guests included Steven Tan, president of SM Supermalls, John Manalo, Marvin Tan from

SARSA, and Jaye Lim from Overland Kings who talked about their collaborations with Salomon.

“We are refreshing Salomon’s look and this look is different from what we have seen in the past years. The brand already has its fans. What we bring to the table is the lifestyle aspect. We still have the sports aspect but with lifestyle, we are trying to widen the customer base,” said JP Paglinawan, general manager for ANTA Group PH and Salomon.

Guests at the store opening were treated to an exclusive exhibition of several of the brand’s highlighted design collaborations, one of which was the MM6 Maison Margiela x Salomon XT-4 Mule. This is now officially available in the Philippines for the first time. The model merges Margiela’s minimalist, deconstructed aesthetic with Salomon’s technical trail heritage, reimagining the iconic XT-4 in a bold slip-on silhouette.

biggest takeaway is about also valuing my time with my family because my lola died during the Holy Week. So, perfect timing that I was able to go home and spend real time with my family. I realized that I’m so busy touching on my dreams that I forgot to spend time with my family. That’s something that’s very important also, a reminder for us to also have time with our family, to value and treasure our time with them.

n PALOMO: I’d say the No.1 thing I’ve learned throughout this pageant journey, being the youngest among all the winners right now, I learned that I’m always a student even when I graduate college next year. That I’ll always be learning because I’m inspired by some of the people that I sit with here and I’m always inspired by them and I can keep it for sure.

n CORTEZ: Some of my greatest takeaways from this, I think, I share those takeaways with my brothers—the brotherhood, the camaraderie, the bond—that we had. But then for the sake of saying something different, I think I would like to say, the hosting opportunities that have come with me being a candidate. I had those things even before I won and even after I won. So, it was really an amazing experience for me to be able to step into a much greater platform hosting prestigious events [like the Miss Universe Philippines 2025 national costume showcase].

n MARCELINO: Aside from the sponsors are the places we went to like Boracay, the Playtime, and the shoots. There’s also the unexpected friendship with the organizers, the media and also the sponsors. To the candidates I know some of them have advocacies like being a father, being a candidate at 30-plus years old, a fitness trainer and me, I’m a makeup artist, and I believe our advocacies have inspired people throughout our journey at Mister

SM Store renews ties with esteemed NGOs for projects

SM Store has reaffirmed its commitment to corporate social responsibility through the renewal of its partnerships with esteemed local and global non-government organizations (NGOs). These partnerships are central to SM Store’s ongoing efforts to uplift underserved Filipino children, women, and families, creating a lasting and meaningful impact on communities across the Philippines.

SM Store has renewed its partnerships with UNICEF Philippines, World Vision Philippines, Tahanang Walang Hagdanan and Good Neighbors International.

As part of its continued advocacy to make a positive difference, SM Store

has placed donation boxes in branches nationwide, inviting loyal customers to contribute to these causes. With the generous support of its shoppers, SM Store has raised a significant amount of funds, which are used to help its NGO partners fulfill their respective advocacies and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need. In collaboration with World Vision, SM Store has contributed to uplifting agricultural communities by fostering entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.

These same donation efforts have also made a significant impact on the lives of people with disabilities through Tahanang Walang Hagdanan—empowering them to gain greater independence and even represent the Philippines in Southeast Asia’s Paralympic sports.

The Shop & Share movement empowers customers to make a difference through their purchases, transforming everyday shopping into opportunities to create a positive impact. Since its launch, the initiative which supported hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries in need, particularly those in remote and marginalized areas, by

mobilizing assistance to deliver critical aid, community-building programs, and broaden access to education and healthcare.

As a result of these efforts, thousands of students have received school kits, shoes, hygiene kits, toys, and digital learning materials. In addition, the program has supported farming communities by providing agricultural tools—benefiting hundreds of communities across 38 provinces nationwide.

The partnerships with local and global organizations have made it possible to address critical issues like education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation. Together, SM Store and these esteemed organizations are working to uplift vulnerable communities and provide essential support where it is needed the most.

As SM Store renews and deepens its relationships with these partners, it remains dedicated to creating long-term, sustainable change. By working hand-in-hand with these organizations, SM Store continues to play a vital role in improving the lives of Filipino families, bringing hope, empowerment, and opportunities to those who need it the most.

SM Store’s Shop & Share for Education

NGO Gen4Juan officially starts operations in the PHL

ROOTED in faith, service, and national transformation, the non-government organization Gen4Juan officially launched on April 25, 2025, pledging to uplift communities through strategic initiatives on the church, environment, youth, and elderly.

Peter Eric Pardo, Chairman of Gen4Juan, described the inception as groundbreaking and substantial, stating, “This is the birth of a movement, a commitment to building a future where faith, compassion, and service shine brightly to help build a community that is grounded on empathy and love.” The acronym “Gen4Juan” signifies “Generation for Juan,” where the “4” symbolizes the NGO’s four core advocacies, and “Juan” represents their primary focus: their fellow Filipinos.

Rooted in a mission to empower a new generation of “KaJuans,” these four core pillars and advocacies include: Church, focused on strengthening faithbased involvement in community development; Environment, dedicated to promoting stewardship and sustainable practices; Young Juans, aimed at equipping young leaders through mentorship, formation, and advocacy; and Elder Juans, committed to honoring and supporting senior citizens through care and companionship initiatives.

“This is an inter-generational movement by the people and for the—connecting the wisdom of the past with the energy of the present,” said Gen4Juan Vice Chairman Adrian Reyes. “Through unity, we can create a future that reflects our highest values as a nation.” Consequently, Marketing Director Gel Gomez mentioned that the launch signifies the beginning of collaborative programs such as clean-up drives, intergenerational mentorship forums, youth leadership summits, and parish-bashed outreach for senior citizens between churches, civic organizations, schools, and local government units among key cities and provinces.

During the event, Padro recalled that the initiative started with a shared desire between him and Reyes to assist their parishes’ scholars following a mass announcement.

“We decided to meet and invited like-minded individuals who shared our passion for charity. What started with one batch of scholars grew steadily as more joined, eventually becoming Gen4Juan,” he added.

Since then, the NGO has formally formed a set of officers, board of trustees, consultants, and partners. It is also registered with the Securities and Exchange

Commission (SEC), has its own office in Parañaque, a bank account, and is now registered with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Under the leadership of Chairperson and Executive Director Peter Eric Pardo, the Gen4Juan Board of Directors comprises Vice Chairman Adrian Joseph Reyes; Corporate Secretary Michelle Talavera Pardo; Program Director Maila De Leon; Fundraising and Partnership Director Mildred Laygo; Creatives and Content Director Ross Ann Dalida; Digital and Social Media Director Gabrilelle Salvador; and Marketing Directors Gel Gomez and Che Tolosa. Meanwhile, Gen4Juan’s Board of Trustees includes Daryl Aloya, Robert A. Guillermo, Leonora Mangahas Mosqueda, Maria Patricia Prahinog, Prof. John Carlo Perez, RSW, LPT, MSSW, and Xenia Grace D. Lim.

The collaborative efforts of Gen4Juan are supported by Jomar B. Soriano, Renalyn A. Gomez, Mary Ann G. Guillermo, Ella “Mickey” Alfaro, Jaisa P. Candelaria-Abante, Isabella Generol, Gwenn Serino, Marcial J. Samarista III, Roger John Smith,

IMTAP,

PSMEX 2025 Kick Off with Grand Opening at World Trade Center Manila

THE 2nd International Machinery, Tools & Accessories Philippines (IMTAP 2025) and 3rd Philippine Subcon & Manufacturers Exhibition (PSMEX 2025)

officially opened on May 8, 2025, with a wellattended and high-energy ceremony at the Lobby of Hall A, World Trade Center Metro Manila.

The event welcomed hundreds of industry leaders, government officials, exhibitors, and professionals from the manufacturing and subcontracting sectors. The program commenced at 10 am with the Invocation, Colors performed by the University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA, followed by the National Anthem.

Hermie O. Flores, President of the Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines (AIAP), and Ms. Angelica Andrea P. Barrios, Marketing Director of MAI Events Management, delivered the welcome remarks, acknowledging sponsors, partners, and special guests.

Keynote messages were delivered by Engr.

DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo M. Angara and PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Dr. Edwin M. Mercado

PhilHealth, DepEd

partner to ensure health coverage for all learners

IN a significant step towards ensuring the health and well-being of public school students, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Department of Education (DepEd) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 8, 2025 at the Department of Education head office in Pasig City.

Under the agreement, DepEd will adopt mechanisms necessary for PhilHealth registration, transforming schools into health-promoting learning environments and school clinics into efficient providers of primary care. By making sure that all enrolled learners are properly registered with PhilHealth, affordable and quality health services will become more accessible to children. Moreover, PhilHealth commits to facilitate the registration of not only the learners but also their families to a Konsulta Package Provider for them to access primary care services.

Robert O. Dizon, Executive Director of the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC), for IMTAP 2025 and Tereso O. Panga, Director General of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), for PSMEX 2025 Dennis Y. Chan, Chairman of AIAP, delivered the official Exhibit Opening Message, followed by the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 11 am, signaling the official launch of the exhibitions.

Attendees then participated in a photo session and exhibition tour which showcased the latest in tools, machinery, subcontracting services, and advanced manufacturing technology.

The ceremony was hosted by DJ Samantha of 96.3 Easy Rock, who brought energy and warmth to the proceedings. With the successful launch of IMTAP and PSMEX 2025, the event continued through May 10, offering a premier platform for networking, business development, and knowledge-sharing among global and local industry players.

New Vibes, New Finds at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls

AS we enter the month of May, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls unveils an exciting array of new experiences that combine style, flavor, and cultural immersion. From international coffee havens to chic spots that embrace culinary traditions, here’s a curated selection of the latest destinations that are perfect for every taste and occasion. Starbucks IFC at Uptown Bonifacio A modern haven for coffee aficionados, the newly opened Starbucks at

Cangrejos

Sunnies

Ysabella Minette Manzanilla, and Hailey Zariya Cardenas, Little Juan.

In addition to the launch celebration, the event also commenced Gen4Juan’s “SaveThySoles,” a fundraising project to provide black leather shoes for 400 youths to use at school and church. In a symbolic demonstration of this initiative’s success, a ceremonial handover of the shoes was conducted with priests and altar servers representatives from the recipient parishes: National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Parish in Parañaque; Mary Immaculate Parish, also in Parañaque; Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish in Pasay; Mary Immaculate Parish of Salawag, Dasmariñas, Cavite; and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Carolina, Naga. As their journey toward the goal began, Pardo urged everyone to embrace Gen4Juan’s vision. “This journey isn’t just ours, alone. Each and every one of us has an important role to play. Let us be the generation that doesn’t wait for change, but becomes the change itself,” he concluded.

“The future this landmark partnership offers is one with healthier children that will transition to adults with better health-seeking behavior,” said PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Dr. Edwin M. Mercado. This strategic shift towards preventive care for students also aims to improve overall learning and productivity with lesser absences and lower medical costs for children with chronic conditions.

DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo M. Angara expressed the agency’s support for the initiative, “This is what we envisioned when we passed the Universal Health Care. Importante ay may tiwala ang tao na makakakuha sila ng serbisyo [It is important that people have confidence that they will get the service.].” This partnership aligns with the government’s broader goals of achieving Universal Health Care. In ensuring we provide quality healthcare for our children, we set the stage for improving the health and well-being of all Filipinos.

For more details, members may call PhilHealth’s 24/7

In the photo are, from left, Gen4Juan Representatives, Jomar Soriano, Daryl Aloya, Michelle Talavera-Pardo, and Maria Patricia Prahinog who led the ceremonial handover of shoes to Mons. Claro Matt Garcia, representative of Sta. Clara de Montefalco, Pasay City.

(L-R) Mr. Dennis Chan (AlAP Chairman), Mr. Sherwin Ricaflanca (IECEP Treasurer), Hon. Alma F. Argayoso (DT|-FTSC Assistant Secretary), Mr. Willie Estoque (AIAP Executive Director), Mr. Tereso Panga (PEZA Director General), Engr. Archelle Baculi (PSME President), Engr. Robert Dizon (Executive Director MIRDC), Mr. Rangsant Srimangkorn (Royal Thai Embassy Chargé d' Affaires), Mr. John Lee (AIAP Chairman Emeritus), Ms. Angel Barrios (MAl Marketing Director), Mr. Hermie Flores (AIAP President) taken at the ribbon cutting ceremony for IMTAP 2025.

IS POLITICAL PR FOR YOU?

WITH the midterm elections on the horizon, politics is big news. And seasoned communicators are aware that behind every news item, every politician is a public relations specialist.

Is political PR for you? In an article in Detern, Kinga Edwards shares with us Everything You Need to Know About Political PR. Public Relations is an essential part of political life, and it’s the role of PR Managers to “keep a finger on the pulse and react quickly as soon as everything gets out of control.”

To begin with, why is PR such an important component of the work of politicians? Edwards cites reasons for its importance.

n PR helps gain vital exposure and creates a positive image. THROUGH organizing confer -

n PHLPOST RELEASES POSTAGE STAMPS FEATURING ICONIC PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS KNOWN WORLDWIDE MANILA, PHILIPPINES—In cel -

ebration of the vibrant and diverse c ultural heritage of the Philippines, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) proudly released a s pecial set of stamps and souvenir sheets showcasing iconic Philippine Festivals.

“ It is a great honor to celebrate these festivals not only in parades and performances but also in our unique way, through commemorative stamps and philatelic frames t hat preserve these moments in time and share their stories across the country and around the world,” Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos said.

Fi lipino festivals are renowned worldwide for their vibrant celebrations, rich cultural heritage, a nd strong community spirit. They are a source of immense pride for Filipinos, showcasing the coun -

try’s unique traditions and artistic e xpressions. The diversity of these festivals, from religious processions to flower festivals, reflects the country’s diverse regions and history.

T his colorful collection features dynamic illustrations from some of the country’s most beloved celebrations, including the Kadayawan Festival (Davao City), Panagbenga Festival (Baguio City), Singkaban Festival (Bulacan), and Sinulog Festival (Cebu City).

Each stamp captures these cultural events’ spirit, joy, and artistry through vivid imagery and t raditional costumes, highlighting the regional pride and communal unity that these festivals bring. From floral parades to religious processions, the stamp series pays tribute to the unique ways Filipinos celebrate life, faith, and tradition.

Each of these festivals tells a unique story. The Singkaban Festival in Bulacan, celebrated with a rches of bamboo and traditional artistry, honors the province’s deep-rooted love for culture and history, a celebration of art, talent, and patriotism. The Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City, also k nown as the Flower Festival, blossoms with the beauty of nature and t he creativity of the Cordilleran

ences, political debates, and looking for opportunities, events that a politician can attend increase their awareness. That’s because how the public perceives politicians can affect the outcome of future elections.

“Getting the necessary [positive] exposure can be challenging,” says Edwards. “It’s not easy being a PR manager—one needs to be strong, steady and cautious. It they don’t, the party or individual may gain undesirable publicity.”

n PR helps ease a political crisis. SINCE politicians are constantly in the spotlight, they are prone to slip-ups and unexpected crises. In addition, opposing parties are constantly highlighting the negative. It’s the PR’s role to put out the fire before any damage is done.

people. It is a tribute to Baguio’s recovery and the natural charm of the highlands.

Kadayawan Festival in Davao City is a thanksgiving celebration that showcases the wealth of the region’s harvest and the rich cultural tapestry of its eleven indigenous tribes. It is a true symbol of u nity in diversity.

The Sinulog Festival in Cebu City brings together spirituality and celebration. With the beat of drums and dance in honor of the Sto. Niño is a powerful expression of faith and Filipino devotion p assed down through generations.

During the Philippine Festival Stamps launched last April 25, 2025, held at Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo Manila, the Bulacan Singkaban Dancers of the C ity Tourism Office vividly presented each festival dance.

P HLPost has printed 10,000 copies of (Block of Four) 16 on sheets of stamps sold at P16 each. The stamps were laid out by PHLPost’s in-house graphic artist, Jose A ntonio A. Jayme. The Stamps are now available at the Manila Central Post Office Post Shop located a t Annex 1 Bldg. Manila Central Post Office compound, Liwasang Bonifacio.

n Political campaigns build a candidate’s and party’s reputation.

METICULOUSLY crafted campaigns can utilize a range of communication strategies from speeches to press releases on social media and advertisements to establish a favorable image.

Whether it’s “highlighting a candidate’s strengths, policy initiatives, or emphasizing a company’s core values, these campaigns aim to garner support, foster trust, and ultimately influence public opinion.”

What are the elements of political public relations? In one article, Jesper Stromback and Spiro Kiousis highlighted:

1. News Management

Holding news conferences, creating press releases and monitoring these is essential in news management

2. Issue Management

This involves how politicians and their parties prioritize, develop, and convey critical issues. For these, PR Managers can use tools like position papers, platform statements, speeches, debates, etc.

3. Evaluation Management

An evaluation process is necessary to measure the results of PR

n STRATWORKS EXPANDS PORTFOLIO WITH KEY WINS, STRENGTHENS REPUTATION AS BRAND LOVE AGENCY

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Stratworks, a prominent and awardw inning integrated marketing communications agency, has announced a s eries of significant new account wins, further solidifying its position as a top digital marketing agency in the Philippines. The agency has been appointed communications partner by Geely Motors Philippines, Raemulan Lands, Inc., and McCormick Philippines. These wins underscore Stratworks’ growing reputation as a brand love agency and preferred partner for multinationals and top category leaders seeking to build strong brand equity and foster deep consumer connections. The agency is expected to leverage its expertise to enhance the reputations and cultivate lasting brand love for these d iverse organizations.

Stratworks’ success in securing these accounts is a testament to its proven track record of delivering impactful and purpose-driven work. The agency’s strategic approach, combined with its creative prowess, has consistently resulted in campaigns that resonate with audiences a nd drive tangible results. This re -

activity, and helps pinpoint areas of improvement.

From a PR perspective, Edwards says that being a politician means complying with several rules to maintain and positive professional image. Here are her top seven.

1. Preparing for the worst

This means preparing a strategy and crisis communication plan, which should be “flexible— and easy to modify. Time is of the essence in an ever-changing situation.”

Its always best to have a Plan B. All sorts of scenarios increase the likelihood that an image will not be negatively affected.

2. Creating an emergency response team

Political leaders should have a team of people who are always on hand in case of PR incidents. The team should consist of experienced, trusted individuals who can work under time pressure and know exactly what to do. The team should speak with one voice and adapt quickly to new and challenging situations.

3. Apologizing first, then taking action later

Trying to cover up a PR crisis is one of the important taboos in

cent expansion of its client portfolio highlights Stratworks’ ability to cater to a wide range of industries, from automotive and retail to real estate and food, demonstrating its versatility and adaptability as a digital marketing and PR agency. Stratworks provides a comprehensive strategic planning service to ensure all campaigns are aligned with the client’s business objectives.

Stratworks’ commitment to creating “love” for its clients’ brands is e xemplified by its award-winning work on campaigns such as the First Philippine Mount Everest Expedition, which celebrated Filipino re silience, the Jollibee Family Values Awards, which champions the i mportance of family, and PLDT Home’s Madiskarte Moms, which empowered mothers. These initiatives have not only garnered industry recognition but have also fostered strong emotional connections b etween brands and consumers. As an award winning PR agency in the Philippines, Stratworks continues to set the bar for creative and strategic storytelling. The newly acquired clients represent a diverse range of industries a nd significant players in their respective fields. Geely Motors Philippines is a dynamic automotive brand

the golden rules of politics. It will only worsen the situation. Instead, a good response is to take responsibility and own up to a mistake appropriately. This is especially true when a situation is taking place in social media.

4. Monitoring is of the essence. The social media team should be on high alert. Tools like Determ can detect any mention of a particular topic. The tool constantly monitors the internet in real-time, and each mention a sentiment: positive, neutral, and negative.

5. Listening is key. It has been observed that most politicians have problems listening to people. Listening is essential; and more importantly they should listen to their team first. They shouldn’t take any action without consulting their team first and finding the best solution.

6. Avoiding impulsive reactions Put external communications on hold until you have a chance to assess the situation correctly. If not, a politician’s words, which can sometimes be loaded with emotion, can easily be used against them.

7. Being transparent In the digital era, where any misstep can go viral, it’s essential to take transparent actions. All lies come out so quickly, so a reputation sometimes can be damaged.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chair.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

k nown for its innovative vehicles and growing presence in the Philippine market. Raemulan Lands, I nc. is the largest socialized housing developer in the Philippines, playing a crucial role in providing affordable homes to Filipino families. McCormick Philippines is a trusted household name, renowned for its wide array of high-quality spices, herbs, and flavorings that enhance the Filipino culinary experience.

“We are thrilled to welcome Geely, Raemulan, and McCormick to the Stratworks family,” said Mark Christian Parlade, Managing Director of Stratworks. “These wins re flect our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional re sults and building strong, lasting partnerships. Our vision for growth and innovation is centered on creating work that not only meets business objectives but also cultivates ge nuine brand love and makes a positive impact. We are immensely grateful for the trust these leading c ompanies have placed in Stratworks, and we are excited to embark on this journey with them.”

Stratworks invites other prospective clients to connect and discover how its strategic and creative approach can elevate their brands and drive meaningful engagement.

R oglic moved into the pink jersey, albeit only just. Tarling, who rides for Ineos Grenadiers, finished the 14-kilometer route through the Albanian capital of Tirana in 16 minutes and seven seconds. He faced a nervous wait to see if any of the following 58 riders could beat his time. Roglic went close but crossed the line just a second slower, to the obvious relief of Tarling, who shook his head and smiled wryly in the leader’s chair.

“It’s not nice, I don’t want to do it again,” Tarling said with a laugh when asked about the wait. “It was a long day for 13k...Primoz really scared me so, yeah, it was stressful there.” I t was a first Grand Tour stage victory for Tarling, who also became the youngest Giro time trial winner in history at 21.

“I c an’t believe it to be honest. I’ve been trying and I’m so happy,” he added.

Jay Vine was third, three seconds slower than Tarling.

R oglic’s overall lead was slender. The Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe rider has an advantage of just a second over Mads Pedersen, who won the opening stage  on Friday.

“It’s like a beautiful surprise,” Roglic said. “I mean, okay, you know that you are strong, but that doesn’t mean that you know how fast everyone else will go. At the end was really close today, one second off, so really, really happy about it.” Mathias Vacek moved into third overall, five seconds behind Roglic.

T he Giro remains in Albania  for Sunday’s third stage. The hilly 160-kilometer (99-mile) leg starts and finishes in the coastal city of Vlore, which is directly across the Adriatic from the Italian region of Puglia, where the race will resume on Tuesday after a rest day.

The race ends in Rome on June 1.

“For me, it doesn’t change the plan overall much,” Roglic said about taking the pink jersey so early. “The plan is to have it on while arriving in Rome.

“Pedersen, for tomorrow is a good stage again for him. So we will see what will happen. Probably they will take it back.” AP

Pope Leo XIV plays tennis, a certified White Sox fan

ROME—It was fitting that when Pope Leo XIV was elected, the Italian Open tennis tournament was being played just up the road from the Vatican.

Because tennis is the sport that the first American pope likes to play.

“I consider myself quite the amateur tennis player,” Leo, the Chicagoborn Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost, said in a 2023 interview with the Augustinian Order after taking over the Vatican’s powerful Dicastery for Bishops following years as a missionary in Peru.

“Since leaving Peru I have had few occasions to practice so I am looking forward to getting back on the court,” Leo added. “Not that this new job has left me much free time for it so far.”

W hile the Mediterranean climate in Rome makes tennis a year-round outdoor sport and there are courts all over the capital, Leo will likely have even less time to play now that he’s the pope. But Greek pro Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has been ranked as high as No. 3, said he would be happy to hit some balls

with Leo if he finds the time. Why not?” Tsitsipas said when asked by The Associated Press after winning his second-round match on Friday. “I feel like figures like this maybe can teach humans things.… I feel lucky that I was here when that got announced.”

Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, said she nearly joined the crowds running to St. Peter’s Square when she got an alert on her phone that a new pope had been elected.

“But I realized with the match the next day it’s probably not smart to run like a mile sprinting,” Gauff said after winning her opening match.

“Hopefully he watches some women’s tennis,” Gauff said. “I don’t know if popes go to sporting events ... but maybe he’ll come to a match in the future.”

W hen Leo was elected and then introduced at the Vatican on Thursday, first-round tennis matches were being played at the Foro Italico. An image of Leo was shown on the Campo Centrale scoreboard during a changeover of Jacob Fearnley’s win over Fabio Fognini. And on the outside walls

of the Philippines women’s volleyball Finals on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Vange Alinsug scoing 21 points and three-time Most Valuable Player Bella Belen notching a triple-double of 19 points, 15 digs, and 10 excellent receptions. De La Salle’s

Football to fight climate change

Suarez suffers controversial loss against Mexican world champion

By Josef Ramos

keep his World Boxing Organization super featherweight belt on Sunday at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.

Suarez, a late bloomer in pros, looked in control over Navarrete, whose face was almost covered by his own blood that forced American referee Edward Collantes to stop the fight with a second left in the eighth round. The scorecards gave Navarrete the win—78-75, 77-76 and 77-76.

And controversy took over.

Collantes viewed Suarez’s left straight to the Mexican’s left eyebrow in the sixth round as a head butt, forcing representatives of the California Boxing Commission to review the video of the fight.

T he video, however, was inconclusive and the commission upheld the referee’s decision.

“Clear punch—clear as the sun here in the Philippines,” Suarez’s manager, Luis “Chavit” Singson said. “Charly was robbed of a victory and boxing fans, even non-Filipinos, know that.”

We will file an appeal,” he said.

“Charly deserves the win and the world title.”

Bob Arum, whose Top Rank promoted the fight, also said it was a clear punch—and not a head butt.

“It looks to me clearly as a punch, but I believe the California boxing commission will order an immediate rematch,” Arum, 93, said. “If it is

of the stadium, a jumbo screen was tuned to a news channel covering the announcement of the new pope.

Leo’s brother says the new pope is also a fan of the Chicago White Sox baseball team.

Pope Leo XIV a White Sox fan IT’S the biggest victory for the struggling Chicago White Sox in a long time.

Pope Leo XIV is a White Sox fan—and the organization is embracing the news.

Robert Prevost is the first pope from the US in the history of the Catholic Church and his brothee John said the Chicagoborn missionary cheered for the White Sox. “Proud moment

for Chicago,” White Sox manager Will Venable said before Friday night’s game against Miami. “It’s awesome.” It was initially reported that the new pope was a Cubs fan. The team congratulated Pope Leo XIV in a post on X that had a picture of Wrigley Field’s iconic marquee with the message: HEY, CHICAGO. HE’S A CUBS FAN!

But John Prevost set the record straight in an interview with WGN-TV. «He was always a Sox fan,” John said. AP

TTHE “Beautiful Game” is said to do so much more than the actual reason for the sport—it has seen a Christmas truce between warring nations.

B y the same token, two nations have gone to war because of a result and is used to fight racism. It is a source of national pride and brings together people when politics won’t.

It is used for charitable causes such as UNICEF’s activities.

N ow, here’s a new one—in the Marshall Islands, the fledgling game is used to bring much needed awareness and action to the effects of climate change on the Marshall Islands.

W hen you hear of the Marshall Islands, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is these islands are used to test nuclear weapons. So one has to wonder about radiation sickness or even Godzilla. R ecently however, football has gained a foothold around the chain of a thousand-plus islands’ population

Junior Philippine Golf Tour VisayasMindanao Series starting on Wednesday. With division winners from the first leg in Mactan Island returning to chase back-to-back titles, the challenge is clear—but for Bacolod’s young golfers, so is the opportunity.

Ana Marie Aguilar leads a strong Bacolod contingent in the girls’ 7-10 division where they will capitalize on their familiarity with the tight, tricky layout. She will be joined by fellow Negrense hopefuls Cecilia Jalandoni and Anezka Golez, all

of under 40,000 people. Unfortunately, they do not have FIFA-regulation pitches and can only play futsal to take advantage of the dozens and dozens of basketball and volleyball courts as the latter two are the most popular in this sovereign nation.

Yes, it is no longer part of the American Commonwealth. Remember when UNICEF’s logo first adorned FC Barcelona’s kit? That was massive. It called greater attention to UNICEF’s activities especially among the young. W hile that might be apples and oranges because the Marshall Islands aren’t playing in FIFA-sanctioned events, they do sport on their national kit designs of their flora and fauna as well

determined to challenge Cebu’s Denise Mendoza, the runaway winner of the Mactan leg. In the older age brackets, Gabriela Regino and Chelsea Ogborne are looking to spoil Brittany Tamayo’s bid for a second straight crown in the girls’ 1114 category of the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. Tamayo, who pulled off a comefrom-behind win in Mactan, faces a tougher test against several fresh challengers, including Davao’s Johanna Uyking and Cebu’s Andrea Borromeo. In th e boys’ 11-14 division, Bacolod’s Isaac Locsin and Zach Casil will challenge Bukidnon’s Ralph Batican, who dominated the Mactan leg with a four-stroke victory and with runner-up Ken Guillermo confirming his participation, a wide-open and exciting battle is expected.

Jr golf action shifts to Bacolod City

JOSHUA TARLING