THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said the Mile Hi property in Camp John Hay in Baguio City is up for bidding as it aims to redevelop this property into an eco-hostel property with retail and dining spaces.
In a statement on Wednesday, BCDA said it has “auctioned off the lease and redevelopment” of the 6,647-square-meter Mile Hi property as the state-run firm aims to boost the local economy and tourism sector.
Under the proposed plan, it said the site will be redeveloped into
an “eco-hostel with upscale retail and dining spaces along Sheridan Drive in Camp John Hay.”
The 25-year lease agreement will enable the restoration, renovation and upgrading of the Mile Hi property into a modern commercial hub “while preserving its historical essence and promoting environmental sustainability,” the BCDA said.
“This initiative is projected to attract a significant influx of tourists and further solidify Camp John Hay’s position as a leading leisure destination in the Philippines,” said BCDA.
The state corporation, which regained control over the 247-hectare John Hay property in January said the Mile Hi project builds on
the BCDA’s “strong” track record in Camp John Hay, where over P1 billion in investments has been generated since the property’s recovery.
BCDA said the property has been experiencing a “wave of private sector investments,” particularly from Metro Pacific Investments Corporation subsidiary Landco Pacific Corporation which is managing The John Hay Hotels, as well as Golfplus Management Inc. and DuckWorld Philippines that oversees John Hay Golf.
Moreover, businesses such as Stern Real Estate Development, Amare La Cucina, and Top Taste Trading have also committed investments to the area.
BCDA explained that the Mile Hi
property—named for its “unique elevation approximately one mile above sea level”—holds a “special place” in Camp John Hay’s history.
“Once a popular indoor recreation center featuring a bowling alley, billiard and ping-pong tables, arcade games, and a fondly remembered snack bar, the site is poised for a new chapter,” BCDA said.
BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang said “By attracting private sector investment and creating new commercial opportunities, we are not only enhancing the camp’s appeal as a premier destination but also generating employment and stimulating economic activity for the benefit of the community and the nation.”
EXPORT CUTS, TAXES ON COMMODITIES FLAGGED
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
THE imposition of higher export taxes has increased prices and reduced the global supply of critical raw materials—a situation which the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said was caused by the decision of governments, including the Philippines, to raise state revenues.
In the Inventory of Export Restrictions on Industrial Raw Materials 2025, OECD said export restrictions on industrial raw materials increased by more than five-fold between 2009 and 2023. The bulk or 94 percent of these restrictions in 2023 were imposed by The People’s Republic of China, Viet Nam, Burundi, the Russian Federation, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe and Laos.
“The incidence of export prohibitions, the most restrictive form of export restriction, has increased significantly since 2019. In fact, they were the most frequently introduced type of restriction in 2022 and the second
By Joel R. San Juan
Comelec eyes ‘fastest’ canvass, proclamation in election history
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
FOR the first time in Philippine election history, the Commission on Elections may complete all major post-election processes and announce the winners just days after the midterm polls. Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said on Wednesday that they are targeting to finish the canvassing of all votes for senators and party-list groups— from municipal, district, provincial, and city boards of canvassers, as well as overseas posts—by Thursday, May 15.
If the timeline holds, Garcia said the 12 winning senators and some party-list groups could already be proclaimed by Saturday. “In previous elections, canvassing would take two weeks. Sometimes, by the second day of canvassing, we’d only get three COCs in. Yesterday, we already canvassed 58. That’s a first. We’re hoping to reach 100 today,” Garcia told reporters.
The Comelec en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), is required to canvass a total of 175 COCs: 82 from provinces, 26 from highly urbanized cities, 64 from overseas voting posts, one from local absentee voting, and two from legislative districts. As of May 13, just a day after the elections, the NBOC had already canvassed 58 COCs—or 33.14 percent of the total. Garcia assured the public that
Lakas solidifies position as ‘party to beat’ in ’28
WITH 574 winning candidates nationwide, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party has solidified its position as the country’s dominant political force in the country.
Initial reports from Lakas-CMD Executive Director Anna Capella Velasco said that the party’s internal election monitoring indicates significant wins nationwide, securing one Senate seat, 104 seats in the House of Representatives, 15 governorships, 22 vice governorships, 24 city mayorships, 23 city vice mayorships, and 385 municipal mayorships.
Velasco noted that reports from 26 areas, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), specifically Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte, Region IX (Sulu), and Region X (Lanao del Norte), are still being finalized, with updated figures expected in the coming days.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD, characterized the election results as “a sweeping vote of confidence” in the party’s leadership and commitment to public service.
“This is not just a win for Lakas-CMD. This is a strong signal from the Filipino people: they want steady hands, clear direction, and leadership that puts service above self,” Romualdez said.
“We are being called to do more—to govern better, to listen harder, and to deliver faster. That’s exactly what we intend to do,” Romualdez added.
He underscored that the strength of Lakas-CMD lies not just in its numbers, but in the trust it continues to earn in every province, city, and town it serves.
“From the northern tip of Luzon to the southern reaches of Mindanao, the message is the same: the people want continuity, they want performance, and they want public servants they can count on,” Romualdez said.
‘Team Solido para Progreso’ PRESIDENT Marcos’ Partido Federal ng
Pilipinas (PFP)-endorsed Ralph Vincent “RV” Evardone for governor and Christopher “Sheen” Gonzales for the province’s lone congressional seat have ruled the local elections in Eastern Samar. Evardone believed the people favored the brand of public service his father, outgoing Gov. Ben Evardone, had focused on—collaborative leadership.
In a major electoral upset, Gonzales, sonin-law of House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, has unseated incumbent Rep. Maria Fe Abunda in the race for Eastern Samar’s lone congressional seat.
Gonzales, the former Eastern Samar vice governor and mayor of Guiuan, clinched victory with a commanding lead of 177,413 votes over Abunda’s 106,781, as officially proclaimed Tuesday, May 13, by the provincial board of canvassers.
Maria Fe Abunda, sister of television host Boy Abunda, was seeking a third and final term.
The congressional seat Gonzales won was previously held by Libanan for nine consecutive years.
Gonzales’ victory was bolstered by widespread local support, including the backing of 19 out of Eastern Samar’s 22 incumbent mayors, who signed a public manifesto endorsing his candidacy.
In contrast, only three mayors aligned themselves with Abunda.
Meanwhile, Libanan is poised to begin his second term as the representative of the 4Ps party-list after the group secured nearly 1.5 million votes in Monday’s midterm elections.
“This vote of confidence from the Filipino people is a clear affirmation of the work we have done—and a powerful motivation for us to work even harder to improve lives,” Libanan said in a statement.
The 4Ps party-list garnered the fourthhighest number of votes nationwide, trailing only behind Akbayan, Duterte Youth, and Tingog.
The group’s 1.5 million votes represented an improvement of 650,000 votes from its 2022 tally. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
Brawner commends troops for job well done in polls
By Rex Anthony Naval
GEN. Romeo Brawner Jr., Armed Forces (AFP) chief of staff, on Tuesday night lauded all military personnel for a job well done at the just-concluded May 12 midterm elections which was described as “generally peaceful” by law enforcement authorities.
“As the 2025 National and Local Elections draw to a close, I extend my deepest personal gratitude to all the men and women of the AFP for their dedicated and professional service in support of this important democratic exercise,” he added.
House impeachment prosecution team to include de Lima, Diokno
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
ALEADER of the House of Representatives on Wednesday expressed strong support for the inclusion of former senator Leila de Lima and human-rights lawyer Chel Diokno in the House prosecution panel for the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
House Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun described their potential involvement as a “powerful reinforcement” in the ongoing pursuit of truth and accountability.
“With some prosecutors unable to continue in the 20th Congress, we welcome the possibility of including new members like former senator de Lima and Attorney Diokno in the prosecution panel,” Khonghun said in a statement.
“They are both lawyers, both consistent defenders of human rights, and both long-time critics of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs—exactly the kind of voices we need to restore accountability,” he added.
De Lima is poised to return to the House as a representative of the Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list group, while Diokno is expected to secure a seat as the first nominee of Akbayan, which is currently leading in the ongoing party-list race.
Both party-list groups are allied with reformist blocs and democratic coalitions that support initiatives aimed at demanding accountability from former President Duterte and his allies.
MAMAMAYANG Liberal Rep.-elect
Leila M. De Lima and Akbayan Rep.-elect Chel Diokno have accepted an invitation from Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez to serve on the prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a statement, de Lima emphasized that her decision stems from a sense of duty and principle.
“The House Speaker has invited me to serve on the prosecution panel for the upcoming impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. I have accepted,” she stated.
“I have always stood for truth, accountability, and the rule of law—across different administrations, regardless of political affiliation. That commitment remains unchanged,” she said.
In a separate statement, the Akbayan Party has announced that it will join the House prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Duterte once the Senate convenes as an impeachment court.
“Akbayan Party has been invited by the House of Representatives to be part of the House prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, once the Senate convenes as an impeachment court,” the statement read.
“As the principal endorser of the first impeachment complaint and after thorough party deliberations, we extend our full support to this historic process of accountability,” the party stated.
Diokno will represent the party on the House prosecution panel, said the group.
the Constitution. Khonghun, a prominent member of the House “Young Guns” bloc, underscored that the trial must proceed with utmost transparency and resolve.
“This is bigger than politics. This is about restoring the people’s faith in public institutions. And if leaders like incoming Reps. De Lima and Diokno are willing to help prosecute the case, the House should welcome them with open arms,” Khonghun, who represents Zambales, said.
Original team loses 2 members
THE House prosecution team, tasked with the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, is facing changes following the 2025 midterm elections.
With the trial set to start in July, coinciding with the 20th Congress, at least two new members will have to be recruited to fill vacancies within the 11-member team after General Santos City Rep. Loreto Acharon and Ako Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon failed to secure reelection.
These losses created openings on the prosecution team.
Conversely, several other House prosecutors secured comfortable victories.
Representatives Gerville Luistro (Batangas), Ysabel Maria Zamora (San Juan), Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo), and Jonahan Keith Flores (Bukidnon) were re-elected, as were unopposed incumbents Romeo Acop (Antipolo) and Arnan Panaligan (Oriental Mindoro).
list group faces an uphill battle, currently ranking 28th.
Earlier, Gutierrez said the House may opt to replace this member in the prosecution team.
Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V said he House prosecution team continues to prepare for the impeachment trial, ensuring that all necessary legal strategies and evidence are in place once the Senate convenes as an impeachment court.
Ortega, who represents La Union, emphasized that they are readying for all possible scenarios, including a fast-tracked trial.
Quadcomm
IN addition, the House’s Quad Committee key leadership group— experienced a major overhaul.
Three of its five top leaders, Reps. Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte), Dan Fernandez (Santa Rosa City), and Joseph Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod partylist group), are term-limited and will be leaving the House.
Co-chairman Bienvenido Abante (Manila), who chairs the Committee on Human Rights, lost his re-election bid.
Only overall vice-chairman Romeo Acop (Antipolo) will return to the 20th Congress.
Barbers is the overall chairman of QuadCom and chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, Fernandez is the chairman of the Committee on Public Order and Safety, Abante is the chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, and Paduano is the chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts.
House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chairman Joel Chua (Manila) also won reelection.
“You have once again proven that the AFP remains a steadfast and nonpartisan pillar of democracy,” he added.
Brawner also lauded the Filipino citizenry for their active participation and vigilance in the May 12 elections adding that such actions are what give life to democracy.
“Let me assure everyone that the AFP’s role in safeguarding our democratic institutions does not end today. We remain fully committed to support the Commission on Elections, the Philippine National Police, and other agencies as we move forward— protecting the peace, respecting the will of the people, and upholding the rule of law. Together, let us continue to build a stronger, more secure, and more democratic Philippines,” the AFP chief concluded.
Brawner also said the “unwavering commitment” of AFP personnel in securing polling places, transporting election materials, or protecting Filipino citizens in vulnerable areas—has been crucial in ensuring a fair, orderly, and reliable election.
May 12 polls less violent than barangay elections
THE National Police (PNP) has validated 46 election-related incidents (ERIs) from the start of the election period on January 12 up to the election day on May 12.
The PNP Public Information Office chief, Col. Randulf Tuaño, said the ERIs are fewer compared to the 105 incidents logged during the Otober 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, but higher than the 27 ERIs reported in the 2022 presidential polls.
“This year’s polls were notably more peaceful compared to previous elections, with only a few election-related incidents reported in areas such as the BARMM [Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao] and Abra,” Tuaño said in a news conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“Nonetheless, these incidents were isolated, and no failure or postponement of elections were recorded anywhere in the country,” he added. Law enforcers recorded 3,100 gun ban violators and confiscated 3,190 firearms as of May 12. The liquor ban violators on May 11 and 12 reached 232, while 43 cases of vote-buying and vote-selling were recorded from Jan. 12 to May 12. He said charges will be filed against all individuals found in violation of election laws. Tuaño said all PNP units nationwide will remain on full alert status as the canvassing and proclamation continue. Under a full alert status, police personnel are required to be in the duty posts at all times and all leaves and furloughs are cancelled. PNA
“Realistically, no one is more suitable to be on the prosecution panel. De Lima endured years of unjust detention. Diokno has defended countless victims of abuse. Their presence would send a clear message: the House is serious about this impeachment [case],” Khonghun added.
Duterte is facing an impeachment trial before the Senate acting as an impeachment court, with charges that include the alleged misuse of confidential funds, falsification of documents, and culpable violation of
Lead prosecutor and minority leader Marcelino Libanan is poised for re-election, with his 4Ps partylist leading in its category.
However, Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez’s 1-Rider party-
The QuadCom has been tasked with getting to the bottom of the complex and deeply entrenched criminal activities linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo), including the illegal drug trade and the extra-judicial killings associated with the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Pimentel to Comelec: Rule on Teodoro’s disqualification
TBy Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
HE fight for one of Marikina’s congressional seats is far from over.
On Wednesday, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III pressed the Commission on Elections en banc to swiftly rule on the disqualification case against Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy”
Teodoro, his rival for a congressional seat who is leading in partial, unofficial tallies.
Pimentel, who first became a senator by having a sitting senator unseated in 2010, later became a Senate President.
Pimentel, a bar topnotcher, maintained that Teodoro is not eligible to run for congressman as ruled by the Comelec First Division on December 11, 2024, which cancelled the certificate of candidacy (COC) of the embattled and suspended Marikina mayor.
“Marcy Teodoro is not eligible to run for congressman because he played around with the constitutional requirements for this important office,” Pimentel said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We have raised this issue from the very start since October 2024 and the Comelec First Division sided with us in December 2024,” Pimentel pointed out.
“The unofficial vote count of one legislative district cannot override the constitutional requirements,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel said the Comelec should swiftly resolve the legal issue “as this has been pending since the last quarter of 2024.”
Pimentel expressed confidence that the Comelec en banc will sustain the decision of the First Division which unanimously ruled to cancel Teodoro’s COC for “material misrepresentation.”
The division concluded that Teodoro had established legal residence in Marikina’s
Second District—specifically in barangay Tumana—prior to the filing of his candidacy, and failed to meet the one-year residency requirement for congressional aspirants in the First District.
Citing a series of legal documents, sworn testimonies, and official IDs, the Comelec found that Teodoro’s claim of having returned to barangay San Roque, First District, in April 2024 was not supported by credible, overt acts required to re-establish domicile under election law.
Notably, documents he submitted to the court as late as September 2024 still bore his Tumana address.
“By declaring in his COC the contrary, despite knowing fully well that he did not meet the minimum residency requirement, Teodoro committed material misrepresentation which this Commission cannot countenance,” the Comelec ruling stated.
Teodoro argued that his legal pleadings
Airport police nabs 5 suspected thieves
By Nonie Reyes
FIVE suspected thieves engaged in filching the belongings of unwary airport users of “salisi” were arrested on Sunday by members of the Airport Police Department (APD) after a brief chase and weeks of surveillance at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA Terminal 3). Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) General Manager Eric Ines said the five suspected thieves, were linked
to several thefts between April 28 and May 5, 2025, often targeting sleeping or distracted passengers during 10:00- 11:00 p.m. security shift change. The group ruse involves one member distracting victims (passengers) while the others members stole unattended bags or devices. Ines said with the help of the New Naia Infrastracture Corporation (NNIC) security personnel five of the estimated ten members of the group were arrested, with two managing to escape during
a brief chase and recovered from the arrested suspects two mobile phones and a laptop. The Airport Police filed three cases theft against the arrested members of the group as well as resistance and disobedience to persons in authority, and attempted escape before Pasay City Prosecutors Office.
Authorities are investigating their possible links to other crimes in Metro Manila.
Ines commended the personnel involved in the operation, saying, “this successful arrest reflects the dedication
contained the Tumana address due to an error by his counsel, but, Pimentel noted, the Comelec rejected this defense, stating that a notarized document carries a presumption of truth, and that a candidate is presumed to be aware of the contents of the documents he signs. The decision also cited Teodoro’s updated driver’s license reflecting his Tumana address and testimonies from residents near his supposed First District address who attested they had not seen him residing there. Under the law, a congressional candidate must have resided in the district for at least one year prior to election day. While a return to a former domicile is legally allowed, it must be demonstrated through an actual move, the intent to remain, and the abandonment of the previous domicile—all of which the Comelec said Teodoro failed to prove.
of our airport police and our strong collaboration with NNIC, and underscores our commitment to safeguarding all passengers while making clear that we will not tolerate criminal activity at Naia.” In an advisory, the APD chief, Col. Bing Jose, urged passengers to stay alert, avoid leaving their belongings unattended, and report any suspicious activity to uniformed officers. He also encouraged victims of similar incidents to visit the APD Headquarters, assuring the public that airport police are doing everything possible to keep passengers safe and are always ready to assist.
WESM prices shrink in Q1
TBy Lenie Lectura @llectura
HE Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) prices in the first quarter of the year went down to P3.68 per kilowatt hour (kWh) from P4.56 per kWh in the same period last year despite increased demand led by higher temperatures in March, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said. The lower WESM rates resulted in an average of 7.7 percent decline in generation rates nationwide year-on-year.
Geographically, Luzon and Visayas recorded substantial drops of 11.5 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively, while Mindanao posted a modest .5 percent decline.
Generation rate fell to P5.80 per kWh from P6.28 per kWh.
“Generation rates continued on a downward trend in the first quarter of 2025, prompted by low WESM prices in January and February,” the ERC reported.
“This reflects the benefits of a new or additional power supply and steady operations of the spot market. Despite external cost pressures, we saw a significant
drop in average generation rates, and this demonstrates that effective market monitoring works,” ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said.
Among the external pressures cited by the ERC are elevated Indonesian coal prices, higher liquefied natural gas landed costs, and a weaker peso.
Indonesian coal rose to $123.8 per metric ton (MT) in the first quarter of the year from $120.20 in the same period last year. The landed cost of LNG, meanwhile, has been on an upward trend since 2024. Lastly, the ERC said, the peso remained
weaker at P58 to $1 from P56.
The ERC said the sustained decline in the first quarter allowed most regions in the country to experience record-low rates since the pandemic-driven surge that peaked in 2022.
“The ERC will continue to closely monitor electricity rate movements and spot market dynamics to stay ahead of emerging issues in our sector. As the country’s energy regulator, it is our mandate to ensure all stakeholders perform in a fair and transparent manner,” Dimalanta added.
DA eyes speedy project implementation
TDENR leads nationwide clean up of election waste
TBy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
WO days after the elections, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia
Yulo-Loyzaga ordered the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) and its field offices nationwide to lead the collection, repurposing, reusing, and recycling (3R) of campaign materials.
Yulo-Loyzaga also directed the DENREMB to work with the civic group Green Convergence and other nongovernment partners in reducing the ecological footprint of plastics, posters, and tarpaulins, in particular.
a party,” said Cris Luague, Zero Waste Campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition. Among the factors identified that have contributed to reduced littering in most voting centers were: 1) the active campaign of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) towards an eco-friendly electoral exercise; 2) the prohibition on campaigning on May 11 and 12, including the ban on the distribution of sample ballots; 3) the availability of trash bags or bins in high traffic spots; 4) the constant sweeping by school janitors and the deployment of waste and sanitation workers by local governments; and 5) the retrieval of discards such as plastic bottles by informal waste workers.
However, the group observed that areas surrounding some schools were often found littered with campaign materials such as sample ballots, leaflets, hand fans, and tarpaulins, as well as single-use beverage and food plastic packaging left on sidewalks and street corners.
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE Department of Agriculture (DA) wants to fast-track the implementation of critical projects and ensure the actual disbursement of funds.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary
Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stressed the urgency of delivering results for the government’s ongoing projects during the agency’s latest Management Committee (ManCom) meeting.
In particular, he noted the P20-perkilo rice program, the construction of cold storage facilities, streamlining guidelines
for the Daily Price Index critical to the AntiAgricultural Economic Sabotage (AGES) Law, and fine-tuning proposals to align with the new procurement law.
Laurel said the agency should prioritize its most important projects to ensure timely delivery and meet the expectations set by Congress.
“We must ensure that we meet our targets, especially those Congress-approved targets,” he said. “But more than that, we must guarantee that the funds for these projects, at the very least, are disbursed, not just obligated.”
The DA said Laurel’s directive comes as the agency is “under pressure to deliver tangible outcomes, particularly in addressing issues related to rice affordability.”
For one, the DA chief emphasized that the success of the affordable rice program is a “top priority” for the agency.
“We need to increase production. The blueprints we created last year were strong—but plans without execution are nothing. Now, we act—with urgency, with discipline, and with results that can be seen and felt,” Laurel said.
Furthermore, he also highlighted the need to expedite the development of cold storage facilities, ensuring that all proposed projects comply with the latest procurement regulations.
The DA chief also stressed the importance of implementing the Daily Price Index, which is crucial to stabilizing farm prices as part of the AGES Law.
Meanwhile, Laurel also focused on strengthening the department’s internal performance evaluation system.
“I will closely monitor the performance of our operating units through the performance appreciation system,” he said, ensuring the agency’s work aligns with its broader goal of improving the sector.
The development of the Performance Appreciation System was initiated by DA Management, which recognized the need for a unified Performance Rating System across the entire department.
Initially, the Planning and Monitoring Service, Financial and Management Service, and Field Operations Service worked together to develop the evaluation criteria. Additional offices with oversight functions were later engaged in finalizing the criteria.
“Let us remain focused on delivering reliable services, strengthening our programs, and supporting the growth of our agriculture sector,” Laurel said.
“Together, through shared effort and continuous improvement, we can build a department that delivers meaningful outcomes for our farmers, fishermen, and the communities we serve.”
Clark intl airport obtains ACI Level 1 accreditation
LUZON International Premiere Airport Development (Lipad) Corp., the operator of the Clark International Airport (CRK), said on Wednesday that the northern gateway has been awarded Level 1 accreditation under the Airport Customer Experience Accreditation program of Airports Council International (ACI).
ACI’s website, said Level 1 accreditation “signifies that the airport has established customer experience as a core priority, clearly communicated both internally to staff and externally to the public.”
At this level, the airport has laid the groundwork for a structured approach to service by actively gathering and analyzing customer expectations, satisfaction levels, feedback, and complaints.
“We can see a clear message that customers are a top priority through your mission statement and external communications. What’s particularly impressive is that your efforts go beyond simply communicating a customer-focused message to
passengers—you also aim to embed this mindset internally among staff, ensuring that it is reflected in actual service delivery through clear goal-setting and execution,” the ACI was quoted as saying.
Lipad President and Chief Executive Officer Noel Manankil said the recognition affirms CRK’s progress in prioritizing passenger satisfaction and underscores its commitment to improving service delivery.
“This recognition affirms our mission to prioritize passenger satisfaction at every touchpoint. It is a testament to the hard work of our entire team and our shared goal of delivering exceptional airport experiences aligned with global standards,” he said.
The ACI program is the only global initiative dedicated to guiding airports through a structured framework to enhance customer experience across eight domains—including governance, strategy, measurement, service design, and innovation.
Lorenz S. Marasigan
“Organizations like Green Convergence, a multi-sectoral coalition dedicated to promoting sustainable development and environmental awareness in the Philippines, will serve as valuable allies in this initiative, providing guidance and resources for effective recycling efforts,” she added.
Yulo-Loyzaga also encouraged the public to actively participate in the collection of campaign materials, ensuring that these items are sent to recyclers. “After all, being responsible stewards of the environment demonstrates our love for our nation and our commitment to a brighter future for all Filipinos.”
Her directive addresses the pressing issue of environmental pollution, particularly the alarming waste that chokes rivers and degrades natural landscapes. The materials discarded after elections could end up in waterways, leading to increased pollution, habitat destruction, and a decline in biodiversity.
“However, the upside of this initiative is profound,” Loyzaga said. “By repurposing campaign materials, we protect biodiversity in our lands and our oceans, while at the same time creating economic opportunities and fostering household uses that benefit our communities.”
Following Loyzaga’s directive, Assistant Secretary for Environment and EMB Director Jacqueline Caancan instructed all EMB regional offices to organize postelection clean-up activities and collection of tarpaulins until May 17 or within five days after the elections. She added that the regional offices must also report the quantity of recovered campaign materials and where these were sent for reuse, repurposing, or recycling.
Caancan said that regional offices are working with local governments on the location of drop-off points, provision of information on proper recycling and upcycling techniques, as well as data on the types of materials that can be repurposed, reused, and recycled.
Decrease in noticeable–grouplittering
ECOWASTE Coalition welcomed the noticeable decrease in littering inside but lamented the unchecked littering outside polling places. Generally, however, the group’s Basura Patrollers reported that schools used as polling places are “generally litter-free.”
“For sure, there were bits and pieces of trash in the school premises. But it was unlike past elections when littering was more evident as if litterbugs were having
EcoWaste Coalition earlier appealed to all candidates to take the lead in postelection clean-ups and demonstrate true leadership by taking responsibility for the waste they generated during the campaign period.
“We call on all political parties, partylist groups and candidates to take full responsibility for the environmental impact of their campaigns by ensuring the proper retrieval, clean-up and management of their campaign materials,” reiterated Luague.
To realize a truly “basura-free” electoral exercise—inside and outside the voting centers and throughout the election season—EcoWaste Coalition drew up some action points for the Comelec and concerned stakeholders to consider.
These include the strict implementation of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, prohibiting littering and requiring the mandatory segregation of discards at source, among other requirements, by incorporating waste prevention and reduction measures into electoral guidelines, including requiring candidates to prepare and put into action an ecological solid waste management plan for their campaign.
The strict enforcement of RA 9003 must be supported with accountability mechanisms to penalize violators.
The group also called to strengthen the enforcement of Comelec Resolution 11111 on the use of environmentally sustainable election propaganda, particularly the prohibition on posters and other campaign materials that are not “environmentally acceptable.” As defined in RA 9003, “environmentally acceptable shall refer to the quality of being reusable, biodegradable or compostable, recyclable, and not toxic or hazardous to the environment.” All candidates were also asked to utilize environmentally acceptable campaign materials, and to hold them accountable for the environmental impact of their chosen materials, including their retrieval and management, through an extended candidate responsibility policy, and ensure compliance by all candidates and parties to the mandatory conduct of post-election clean-up drive, and to require them to conduct activities like tree planting for carbon offsetting.
Maintenance med importer gets ₧31.75-M tax refund
THE Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has granted a P31.75 million tax refund claim filed by a local importer of maintenance medicines for erroneously paid taxes in 2020.
In a 19-page decision of the CTA’s Third Division dated May 9, 2025, the court granted the petition filed by Novartis Healthcare Philippines Inc. (NHPI) on June 27, 2022. Records showed that from July 1 to December 31, 2020, NHPI imported certain prescription drugs and medicines from foreign suppliers, Novartis Pharma AG and Novartis Saglik Gida Ve Tarim, to be sold in the Philippine retail market.
To allow the release of the imported products from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the firm paid value-added tax (VAT) on the said importations.
On April 8, 2022, petitioner filed with the Bureau of Internal revenue (BIR) an application for refund or issuance of a Tax Credit Certificate (TCC) claiming the total amount of P31,773,256.85, representing the alleged erroneous payment of VAT on the importation of prescription drugs and
medicines for diabetes and hypertension during the subject period, pursuant to Sections 109, 204(c) and 229 of the Tax Code, as amended. Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, the importation of prescription drugs and medicines for diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension are exempt from VAT beginning Jan. 1, 2020. NHPI filed the petition before the CTA owing to the alleged inaction of the BIR.
“Having proved the existence of all the conditions required under Section 109[1] [AA][i] of the Tax Code, as amended, for VATexemption, petitioner [NHPI] has likewise proved that the VAT it paid on the subject importations were indeed erroneous,” the CTA said in its ruling.
“In sum, considering that petitioner timely filed its administrative and judicial refund claims, and that the VAT paid on its importations of prescription drugs and medicines during the subject period, to the extent of P31,754,263.4... petitioner is entitled to the refund of the said amount.” PNA
Marcos confident legislative agenda will pass despite mixed Senate results
DBy Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
ESPITE only six of his 12 endorsed senatorial candidates making it to the Magic 12, President Ferdinand Marcos is still confident his legislative agenda will still push through in the 20th Congress, according to Malacañang.
He is now also looking forward to the creation of a “legitimate” opposition in the Senate based on the initial results of the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE).
In a press briefing last Wednesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said they are confident the newly elected senators, regardless of their political affiliation, will help the Marcos administration in passing laws, which will benefit the public.
“So, whatever their [political] color, the President really welcomes the unity of our leaders to address any problems and provide solutions to the needs of our countrymen,”
EU election observers say
TCastro said in Filipino. “Let us repeat, no matter what color it is, the newly elected officials should think that they will work for the country, for the people—not for personal interests or the interests of their friends or the people they are promoting,” she added.
Partial, unofficial results BASED on its partial and unofficial results of the 2025 NLE as of 11:51 a.m. last Wednesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported that Senator Christopher “Bong” Go got the highest votes with 26,488,360. He was followed by come backing senators Paolo “Bam” Benigno IV with 20,637,081; reelectionists senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa with 20,271,626 as well as ACT-CIS partylist representative Erwin Tulfo with 16,815,533; former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan with 15,088,033. Coming in sixth place was Sagip partylist representative Rodante Marcoleta with
giving of ‘ayuda’ part
14,910,218; former senator Panfilo Lacson with 14,857,071; former senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III with 14,596,537; Senator Pia Cayetano with 14,306,842; Las Piñas representative Camille Villar 13,359,922; as well as senators Lito Lapid with 13,121,087 and Imelda “Imee” Marcos with 13,037,861.
Of the said top 12 senatorial candidates, only Tulfo, Lacson, Sotto, Cayetano, Villar and Lapid were supported by the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas (APBP).
The others in the Magic 12, namely Go, Dela Rosa, Rodante, were endorsed by former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban).
Senator Marcos, the President’s sister, was initially part of the APBP senatorial slate. She later left the alliance and was endorsed by Vice President Sara Duterte. Aquino is a candidate of the Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino, while Pangilinan
is affiliated with the Liberal Party. Midterm Referendum
CASTRO said Marcos was “satisfied” with the initial results of the senatorial race in the 2025 NLE even if half of the senatorial bets he endorsed did not make it to the top 12.
Some critics of the administration such as former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, attributed the outcome of the 2025 NLE to the waning popularity of the President after the first three years of his term Castro denied the said remarks citing the results of the relatively high trust and performance rating from survey firms such as Pulse Asia and OCTA Research.
She said the President is confident still enjoys significant support from the public.
“The President still believes that the people still have great support for the current administration. Let’s remember, the latest survey shows the President’s high trust rating,” Castro said.
of massive vote-buying during May 12 elections
Legitimate opposition
THE Chief Executive, she said, also supports a “legitimate” opposition, which can provide constructive criticism to his administration.
However, she said the Marcos administration will continue to fight “obstructionists” lawmakers, who are trying to present themselves as oppositionists.
“Legitimate oppositionists are those who fight for the interest of the country and the people, and not for personal interests; obstructionists—will do nothing but detract and see nothing good in what the government is doing and only want to advance their own interests,” the Presidential Communications Office undersecretary said.
Obstructionists can also be identified if they were to “create fake news or make statements that could damage the government without any basis,” according to Castro.
“We will respond to these [false information] immediately,” Castro said.
Senator Risa Hontiveros said the return of Aquino and Pangilinan, will help boost
the ranks of the “legitimate” opposition in the Senate.
Impact on the impeachment WHEN asked how the outcome of the 2025 NLE senatorial race will affect the ongoing impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, Castro stressed that the President has no involvement in the said process.
“There is no news regarding the President’s pursuit of impeachment or the impeachment trial of VP Sara,” she said.
“So we oppose and deny that. There is no mention of any attempt to oust or remove the Vice President from office,” she added. Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero earlier said the impeachment trial against Sara Duterte will start on 30 July 2025.
The House of Representatives has voted to impeach the Vice President last February due to the alleged fund misuse of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, while it was under Duterte’s administration.
PPCRV: Vote count faced ‘birth pains’ but now nears completion
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) described as “entrenched and endemic” the votebuying that took place prior and during the May 12 midterm elections.
The rampant vote-buying, according to the EU-EOM representatives, was done through cash and goods and the distribution of welfare payouts or popularly known as “ayuda.” They also detected “bidding wars” among candidates in order to lure support from voters.
The issue about buying was included in the EU-EOM’s preliminary findings which it announced during Wednesday press conference held in Manila.
“We heard many times that there was more gold in this election. EU observers witnessed several credible indications and received reports of vote-buying through cash and goods as well as distribution of ayuda,” Chief Observer Marta Temido said. Temido traced the problem of votebuying to poverty, where people would exchange their votes for some food or small amounts of money or short-term benefits to ease their life’s daily struggle.
“Vote-buying remains entrenched and endemic and requires a major engagement to be adequately addressed,” Chief Observer Marta Temido said.
Deputy Chief Observer Sánchez de Nogués said their observers in the field recorded vote-buying activities in areas
such as Bohol, Davao Oriental, La Union, Palawan, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur and several other areas.
“So this practice is highly-entrenched and we have received reports, in some cases witnesses, which is even difficult because we are also quite highly-identified as election observers. But, we still have some evidence of those practices,” Nogues said.
Vladimir Prebilič, head of the European Parliament delegation, noted that the illegal activity “negatively affected the level playing field” among candidates in the elections.
“We believe that steps should be taken to guarantee this important aspect of the electoral procedures in accordance with international standards,” he said. The group also observed that threads on vote buying were prominent online with 1,434 posts towards the end of the election campaign.
These posts, the EU-EOM said, generated a total of 599,330 reactions in engagements, commented on 105,232 times, viewed by over 740,051 people and shared 160,725 times.
Likewise, the EU-EOM observers raised concern over the election-related violence that resulted in the death of 30 people including several candidates and election officials.
While these incidents were less severe compared to previous elections in the country, Temido stressed that there should be” no room for violence” in a democratic country such as the Philippines.
“Violence is not a matter of statistics,
Human rights lawyer Kaka Bag-ao makes a Congressional comeback in Dinagat
By Erwin M. Mascarinas
GENERAL Luna, Surigao del Norte—For the fourth time, human rights lawyer and former Dinagat governor Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao has defeated a scion of the Ecleo dynasty, winning the lone congressional seat of Dinagat Islands in the 2025 midterm elections. With a margin of 6,611 votes, Bag-ao secured 36,958 votes, defeating incumbent Representative Allan Uno Ecleo, who gained 30,347 votes, based on the Certificates of Canvass (COCs) posted on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) website.
While Ecleo won in four of the seven towns in the island province, Bag-ao got a boost in her overall tally as she gained a large margin of votes from the towns of Cagdianao, Tubajon, and her hometown of Loreto.
In a statement from her official Facebook account, Bag-ao emphasized that her victory is not hers alone, but a shared achievement with the people of Dinagat.
“Thank you for strengthening your voice in this election. For me, this is not just a vote for my return as your Representative, but a great expression of trust and responsibility that you have given me, to bring your voices to Congress; to ensure that public funds go to programs that improve our communities; and to make sure every Dinagatnon has a fair chance each morning to rise with strength to face challenges and hope that our dreams will be fulfilled,” said Bag-ao.
Bag-ao, who formed an alliance with the incumbent Governor Nilo Demerey Jr., whom she faced against during the 2022 gubernatorial race on the island, thanked the newly formed Bag-ong Dinagat Joint Alliance (BDJA), a coalition of candidates from the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Liberal Party of the Philippines, and Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party.
Under the BDJA, Bag-ao ran alongside Demerey, and Vice Governor candidate Jade Ecleo, the only member of the Ecleo family who ran with her this time, and whom Bag-ao had previously defeated in 2016 when she ran against her for the same congressional seat.
Bag-ao emphasized the importance of moving away from divisive politics in Dinagat, saying it was time to choose love, the kind that unites the people of the province.
“I will truly strive to be your voice in all services and programs in our district, and in the laws we will fight for in Congress. am confident we can achieve this as long as we remain united as partners in progress,” Bag-ao added.
Bag-ao’s decades-long political rivalry with the powerful Ecleo family, long tied to the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), a group widely considered a cult founded by Ruben Ecleo Sr. began when she defeated Gwendolyn Ecleo, the youngest daughter of Ruben Sr., for the same congressional seat in 2013.
Since then, Bag-ao has earned the moniker “Dragon Slayer” for taking on and breaking through the entrenched Ecleo political stronghold.
She won again in 2016 by defeating Jade Ecleo for the congressional seat, then successfully ran for governor in 2019, defeating Benglen Ecleo, Gwendolyn’s brother, on her first gubernatorial bid.
Bag-ao’s only loss came in 2022, not to an Ecleo, but to Demerey, who ran under the Ecleo-aligned slate and defeated her reelection bid for governor.
This 2025 election, Team Uno, the Ecleo slate, suffered a significant defeat in the top government position as Allan lost the congressional seat, Sonny Llamera lost the gubernatorial race, and Benglen Ecleo failed in his reelection bid for vice governor.
Before entering politics, Bag-ao served as the lead counsel for the Sumilao farmers, who walked the 1,700-kilometer distance from Sumilao, Bukidnon, to Manila in 2007 to press their land claim under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
Bag-ao is an alternative lawyer and a human rights advocate. She has been active in various alternative law groups that work to advance the rights and welfare of marginalized communities, particularly women, farmers, fisherfolk, and indigenous peoples.
it is about human rights,” Temido pointed out. Prebilič also condemned these violent incidents which he said were “utterly unacceptable.”
Elective posts controlled by political dynasties
LIKEWISE , Temido said they observed that elective positions are dominated by political dynasties, making the country’s election less competitive due to voters’ limited choice.
She noted that more than half of the registered groups for party list or 86 out of 155 are allegedly linked to political families or business interests, which lack clear connection with the group they are representing, thus “negating the objective of genuine sectoral representation.”
The EU-EOM added that according to the Comelec, around 20 percent of the candidates for the House of Representatives district seats ran unopposed, while 60 percent of these uncontested seats were affiliated with Lakas-CMD, the majority party in Congress.
“EU observers received reports that some candidates in the House of Representatives district races came under pressure to withdraw. Some interlocutors opined that in several cases candidates with the same or similar names stood in the elections only to confuse voters,” it added.
Furthermore, the EU observers said nearly half of the provisions of the 1985 Omnibus Election Code are no longer applicable, “undermining the legal certainty of the texts, including those related to international election observation.”
They added that the several laws and regulations have already superseded some provisions of the election code.
The EU-EOM had deployed close to 100 observers from its different member states since March upon the request of the Philippine government.
However, the EU-EOM lamented that despite prior arrangement with the Comelec, their observers were not granted full access to polling precincts without a clear explanation.
Temido said the decision not to allow their observers inside polling precincts was only relayed to them four days before the elections.
“We were very surprised and shocked,” Temido said.
“If the Comelec had told the European Union that access to voting precincts was not granted to international observers, you can be sure that we would not be here today,” she added.
Temido said the Comelec suggested that their observers watch the proceedings inside the polling precincts through a window.
However, the EU chief observer said, the proposal is not compatible with the group’s methodology and that “to look through a window is not to observe.”
“Consequently, the Mission did not deploy its full team of 226 observers as originally planned. As only a very limited number of observations of the polling was made, the mission is not in a position to assess the voting process in accordance with its established methodology,” Temido explained.
The EU-EOM said it would release its final assessment and recommendations within two months.
THE Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Wednesday expressed confidence in the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) updated vote transmission setup, describing early delays as typical “birth pains” in the rollout of a more transparent system.
PPCRV national coordinator Arwin Serrano said the initial hiccups in receiving election returns (ERs) were expected with the introduction of new infrastructure.
“It’s similar to when we implement a new setup—there are birth pains,” Serrano told reporters in Filipino at the Manila Hotel Tent City. “It’s possible that preparations weren’t thorough enough, which caused confusion with the initial data that came in.”
In the past elections, ERs from counting machines were sent to the city or municipal board of canvassers, the Comelec central server, and a transparency server.
For the 2025 midterm polls, each of the authorized monitoring groups, namely PPCRV, NAMFREL (National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections), the dominant majority party, and the dominant minority party, now receives ERs through dedicated servers. Another server, meanwhile, provides data access to accredited media organizations.
Serrano welcomed the change, saying it strengthens transparency and reduces confusion about the ownership of transmitted data.
“We used to be mistaken as the sole handler of the transparency server,” he said, referring to Republic Act 9369, or the Election Automation Act, which mandates joint access
WB exec tags low-hanging fruits to improve quality of PHL education
By Cai U. Ordinario
IMPROVING the quality of education in the country may be a herculean task but there are low hanging fruits that can be tapped to attain this goal.
In a forum at the Seameo Innotech on Wednesday, World Bank Country Director of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam Zafer Mustafaoğlu said the government can start with teachers and the quality of teachers.
Mustafaoğlu said based on international experience the culture of teaching and the qualities of teachers and the overall teaching profession can help improve educational outcomes.
“I would think that in terms of lowhanging fruits, certainly focusing on teaching quality, profession, and that’s a very important aspect, and the World Bank has
been putting a lot of emphasis on teaching qualification and that they are able to teach, so that is one aspect that actually could be focused very quickly on,” Mustafaoğlu said.
During the forum, Department of Economic, Planning and Development (Depdev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan asked for lowhanging fruits in the education sector given the results of the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS).
Based on the FLEMMS, there were 7.111 million Filipinos who cannot read and write. This is composed of more males at 3.965 million who are considered illiterate while the remaining 3.146 million are women.
“This (teachers and teaching quality) comes across in all international experience studies as one big factor. That’s why we are focusing on that one. But again, we will need to think (of) this as part of a broader conducive environment and not as a single
No extension of SOCE filing, bets told
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has reiterated that there will be no extension for the filing of Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) for all candidates in the 2025 midterm elections.
Comelec Spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco on Wednesday reminded national and local candidates that the filing period is strictly 30 days after election day, or until June 11.
“There will be no extension. Supreme Court decisions are clear, Comelec has no authority to amend the deadline because the law itself sets the 30-day period,” Laudiangco said in a media briefing.
Under Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166, all candidates and party-list treasurers are required to submit a “full, true, and itemized” account of their election contributions and expenses within 30 days after the election.
The same provision states that no elected official can assume office unless they have submitted their SOCE. This also applies to the political parties that nominated them.
Failure to comply bars their winning candidates from assuming their posts.
Laudiangco emphasized that SOCEs may not be filed via email, as the poll body needs to physically examine all original documents, attachments, and signatures submitted by candidates.
“Wherever you filed your certificate of candidacy, that’s also where you must file your SOCE. We also require a soft copy. Even if you lost, you still have the obligation to submit your SOCE,” he added.
Failure to file the required statements constitutes an administrative offense, subject to a fine ranging from P1,000 to P30,000.
O ffenders have 30 days from the receipt of notice to settle the penalty; otherwise, it may be enforced through a writ of execution against their assets.
Repeat offenders face higher fines—from P2,000 to P60,000—and may be perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
Justine Xyrah Garcia
measure,” Mustafaoğlu, however, said.
The World Bank official said efforts to improve education also include making the sector resilient to disaster and risk given that the Philippines is one of, if not the most vulnerable to climate change.
Mustafaoğlu said rising temperatures and strong typhoons could hinder the delivery of education services through reduced learning days.
This now highlights a third point that must be prioritized—technology. Through the access to technology, teachers can improve their teaching methods as well as allow the delivery of education to continue despite interruptions caused by high temperatures or strong typhoons.
Mustafaoğlu said supporting efforts in this regard is what the World Bank is currently working on with the Department of Education and the Department of Public
among several groups. “Now, each of us has our own server.”
On concerns over vote discrepancies observed in early results, Serrano clarified that these were due to timing issues in transmission and have since evened out.
“We’re now at 98 percent, while they’re [Comelec] at 99 percent. Besides, we have what we call an unofficial parallel count, and the random manual audit has already begun,” Serrano confirmed. Earlier, Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia rejected allegations of vote manipulation. He explained that fluctuations reported in some tallies were caused by duplicate data entries that were not automatically filtered out, not by fraud.
As of Tuesday evening, PPCRV had received physical copies from 5,406 of over 91,000 clustered precincts. These are used to validate digitally transmitted results in their unofficial parallel count.
Addressing calls for a hybrid or manual vote recount, Serrano said existing laws don’t provide for that process.
“As long as that hasn’t been amended, we can’t directly comment on the desire of some groups to implement what they call a hybrid [system],” he said, pertaining to the Election Automation Act. The Comelec launched its random manual audit on Wednesday, covering 762 precincts and one overseas vote. The audit, being held at Citadines Bay City Manila in Pasay, is expected to run for about 45 days.
Works and Highway.
“The whole idea is to really increase the resilience of the schools so that the school day losses are reduced for several reasons. And also, the overall strength of the classrooms or overall teaching methods,” Mustafaoğlu said. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed among individuals 5 years old and over, 6.9 percent or about 7 out of 100 individuals cannot read and write or are classified as illiterate.
Among r egions, BARMM had the highest proportion of individuals aged 5 years and over who cannot read and write at 14.4 percent.
T he proportion of individuals aged 5 years and over who cannot read and write was higher among males (7.6 percent) than females (6.1 percent).
B y age group, the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.
May 15, 2025
Israeli Gaza airstrikes kill 48 people, including 22 children, hospitals say
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip—At least 22 children were killed in Gaza overnight Tuesday and early Wednesday in a punishing series of Israeli airstrikes on homes in northern Gaza, according to local hospitals.
The strikes killed at least 48 people in total, the Indonesian Hospital in Jabaliya reported. The strikes came a day after Hamas released an Israeli-American hostage in a deal brokered by the United States, and as President Donald Trump was visiting Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was “no way” Israel would halt its war in Gaza, dimming hopes for a ceasefire.
The Israeli military refused to comment on the strikes, but had warned residents of Jabaliya to evacuate late Tuesday night due to Hamas infrastructure in the area, including rocket launchers.
In comments released by Netanyahu’s office Tuesday, the prime minister said Israeli forces were just days away from a promised escalation of force and would enter Gaza “with
great strength to complete the mission.... It means destroying Hamas.”
The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in a 2023 intrusion into southern Israel. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 52,800 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants or civilians.
Israel’s offensive has obliterated vast swaths of Gaza’s urban landscape and displaced 90% of the population, often multiple times. AP
Zelenskyy awaits Putin in Turkey for peace talks amid US, European pressure; Kremlin silent on attendance
KBy Samya Kullab & Illia Novikov
The Associated Press
YIV, Ukraine—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he will be waiting for his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in the
Turkish capital this week to conduct face-to-face talks about the more than 3-year war, amid heavy pressure from the US and European leaders to reach a settlement.
Putin hasn’t yet said whether he will be at the talks, which US President Donald Trump has urged the two sides to attend as part of Washington’s efforts to stop the fighting.
Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv that he will be in Ankara on Thursday to conduct the negotiations. He will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the two will wait for Putin to arrive, he said.
Zelenskyy said he would “do everything to agree on a ceasefire, because it is with (Putin) that I must negotiate a ceasefire, as only he can decide on it.”
Zelenskyy said that if Putin chooses Istanbul to hold the meeting, then both leaders will travel there from Ankara.
“If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader added that if Putin doesn’t show up, European and US leaders should follow through with threats of additional and heavy sanctions against Russia.
Trump, who is on a four-day Middle East trip, said Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would attend the talks. Special envoy Steve Witkoff also is set to take part, according to a US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview plans that have not been made public.
Washington has been applying
strong pressure on both sides to come to the table since Trump took office in January with a promise to end the war. Military analysts say that both sides are preparing a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield, where a war of attrition has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said Monday that Russia is “quickly replenishing front-line units with new recruits to maintain the battlefield initiative.”
German leader says ball is in Putin’s court INTERNATIONAL pressure has been growing to push Ukraine and Russia into finding a settlement.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pressed again for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as he met his Greek counterpart in Berlin on Tuesday.
“We are waiting for Putin’s agreement,” he said.
“We agree that, in case there is no real progress this week, we then want to push at European level for a significant tightening of sanctions,” Merz added. He said that “we will focus on further areas, such as the energy sector and the financial market.”
Merz welcomed Zelenskyy’s readiness to travel personally to Turkey, “but now it is really up to Putin to accept this offer of negotiations and agree to a ceasefire. The ball is exclusively in Russia.”
Russia isn’t saying whether Putin will attend talks
OVERNIGHT , Russia launched 10 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said. It was Russia’s smallest drone bombardment this year.
The Kremlin hasn’t directly responded to Zelenskyy’s challenge for Putin to meet him in person at the negotiating table.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined for the second straight day Tuesday to tell reporters whether Putin will travel to Istanbul and who else will represent Russia at the potential talks.
“As soon as the president considers it necessary, we will make an announcement,” Peskov said.
Russia has said that it will send a delegation to Istanbul without preconditions.
European leaders say Putin is dragging his feet
ZELENSKYY won’t be meeting with any Russian officials in Istanbul other than Putin, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, said Tuesday on a YouTube show run by prominent Russian journalists in exile.
Lower-level talks would amount to simply “dragging out” any peace process, Podolyak said.
European leaders have recently accused Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts, while he attempts to press his bigger army’s battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land.
Russia effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, starting Monday, that was demanded by Ukraine and Western European leaders, when it fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine. Putin instead offered direct peace talks.
But the wrangling over whether a ceasefire should come before the talks begin has continued.
“Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations with Russia, but a ceasefire must come first,” Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said Tuesday.
Negotiations are impossible while “the Ukrainian people are under attack by Russian missiles and drones around the clock,” Yermak said in a video address to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2025.
Putin has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government, especially Zelenskyy himself, saying his term expired last year. Under Ukraine’s constitution, it’s illegal for the country to hold a national election while it’s under martial law, as it now is.
Zelenskyy dismissed claims that a decree enacted by him in 2022 prohibited him from meeting Putin, saying that the claim was Russian propaganda.
Putin and Zelenskyy have only met once, in 2019.
In the war’s early months, Zelenskyy repeatedly called for a personal meeting with Putin but was rebuffed. After the Kremlin’s decision in September 2022 to illegally annex four regions of Ukraine—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia—Zelenskyy issued the decree declaring that holding negotiations with Putin had become impossible.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said that this decree affected other Ukrainian officials who were directly negotiating with the Russian leader.
AP writers Geir Moulson in Berlin and Matthew Lee in Antalya, Turkey, contributed to this report.
Trump says he will ease sanctions on Syria, moves to restore relations with new leader
By Zeke Miller, Bassem Mroue & Aamer Madhani
The Associated Press
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will ease sanctions on Syria and move to normalize relations with its new government to give the country “a chance at peace.”
Trump made the announcement shortly before he was set to meet Wednesday in Saudi Arabia with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the onetime insurgent who last year led the overthrow of longtime leader Bashar Assad. Trump said the effort at rapprochement came at the urging of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi de facto ruler, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“There is a new government that will hopefully succeed,” Trump said of Syria, adding, “I say, good luck, Syria. Show us something special.”
The developments were a major boost for the Syrian president, who had been imprisoned in Iraq for his role in the insurgency following the 2003 US-led invasion of the Arab country. Al-Sharaa was named president of Syria in January, a month after a stunning offensive by insurgent groups led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, that stormed Damascus, ending the 54-year rule of the Assad family.
The US has been weighing how to handle al-Sharaa since he took power in December. Gulf leaders have rallied behind the new government in Damascus and want Trump to follow, believing it is a bulwark against Iran’s return to influence in Syria, where it had helped prop up Assad’s government during a decadelong civil war.
Then-President Joe Biden left the decision to Trump, whose administration has yet to formally recognize the new Syrian government. Sanctions imposed on Damascus under Assad also remain in place. Before Trump spoke, the White House said he had “agreed to say hello” to the Syrian president while in Saudi Arabia. The comments marked a striking change in tone from Trump and put him at odds with longtime US ally Israel, which has been deeply skeptical of alSharaa’s extremist past and cautioned against swift recognition of the new government.
Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling US forces in Iraq after the USled invasion and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq. The US once offered $10 million for information about his whereabouts because of his links to al-Qaida.
Al-Sharaa came back to his home country after the conflict began in 2011 and led al-Qaida’s branch that used to be known as the Nusra Front. He later changed the name of his group to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and cut links with alQaida.
He is set to become the first Syrian leader to meet an American president since Hafez Assad met Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000.
Syria has historically had fraught relations with Washington since the days of the Cold War, when Damascus had close links with the Soviet Union and later when Syria became Iran’s closest ally in the Arab world. The removal of the Assad family could change the track. Ibrahim Hamidi, a London-based Syrian analyst, said Trump’s planned meeting with al-Sharaa marks a “strategic shift” for the country.
“The Syrian-American meetings in Riyadh open the gate for the two sides to start discussing issues of disagreement between them in a positive atmosphere,” said Hamidi, editor-in-chief of the Arab magazine Al Majalla. “This is important.”
PALESTINIANS evacuate patients from the European hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, after it was hit by an Israeli army airstrike, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The Israeli military said it had carried out a strike targeting what it said was a Hamas “command and control center” located beneath the hospital. AP/MARIAM DAGGA
UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to journalists during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. AP/EVGENIY MALOLETKA
Trump faces legal challenge as businesses, states argue his tariffs exceeded his power
By Paul Wiseman & Lindsay Whitehurst The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—President
Donald Trump is waging a trade war without getting approval from Congress: He declared a national emergency to slap import taxes—tariffs—on almost every country on earth.
The president is now facing at least seven lawsuits that argue he’s gone too far and asserted power he does not have.
A three-judge panel of the US Court of International Trade, which deals specifically with civil lawsuits involving international trade law, held the first hearing on the challenges Tuesday morning in New York. Five small businesses are asking the court to block the sweeping import taxes that Trump announced April 2—“Liberation
Day,’’ he called it. Declaring that the United States’ huge and long-running trade deficits add up to a national emergency, Trump invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPPA) and rolled out 10% tariffs on many countries. He imposed higher— up to 50%—“reciprocal’’ tariffs on countries that sold more goods to the United States than the US sold them. (Trump later suspended those higher tariffs for 90 days.)
Trump’s tariffs rattled global markets and raised fears that they would disrupt commerce and slow US and global economic growth.
Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel and director of litigation at the nonprofit Liberty Justice Center, said the president is exceeding the act’s authority. “That statute doesn’t actually say anything about giving the president the power to tariff,’’ said Schwab, who is representing the small businesses. “It doesn’t say the word tariff.’’
In their complaint, the businesses also call Trump’s emergency “a figment of his own imagination: trade deficits, which have persisted for decades without causing economic harm, are not an emergency.’’ The US has, in fact, run a trade deficit—the gap between exports and imports—with the rest of the world for 49 straight years, through good times and bad. But the Trump administration argues that courts approved President Richard Nixon’s emergency use of tariffs in a 1971 economic crisis. The Nixon administration successfully cited its authority under the
1917 Trading With Enemy Act, which preceded and supplied some of the legal language used in IEPPA.
The legal battle against Trump’s tariffs has created unusual bedfellows, uniting states led by Democratic governors with libertarian groups—including the Liberty Justice Center—that often seek to overturn government regulation of businesses. A dozen states have filed suit against Trump’s tariffs in the New York trade court. A hearing in that case is scheduled for May 21.
Kathleen Claussen, a professor and trade-law expert at Georgetown Law, said Tuesday’s hearing and another scheduled for the states’ lawsuit in the coming weeks will likely set the tone for legal battles over tariffs to come. If the court agrees to block the tariffs under the emergency economic-powers act, the Trump administration will certainly appeal. “It strikes me this probably is something that has to be decided by the Supreme Court,” she said.
And if the cases do go to the Supreme Court, legal experts say, it’s possible the justices will use
conservative legal doctrines they cited to rein in government powers claimed by Democratic President Joe Biden administration to strike down or limit tariffs imposed by Trump, a Republican.
The US Constitution gives the power to impose taxes—including tariffs—to Congress. But over the years lawmakers ceded power over trade policy to the White House, clearing the way for Trump’s expansive use of tariffs.
Some lawmakers now want to reclaim some of the authority they’ve given up.
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, for instance, have introduced legislation that would require presidents to justify new tariffs to Congress. Lawmakers would then have 60 days to approve the tariffs. Otherwise, they would expire.
But their proposal appears to stand little chance of becoming law, given most Republican lawmakers’ deference to Trump and the president’s veto power. “That train has left the station,’’ said
trade lawyer Warren Maruyama, who was general counsel for the Office of the US Trade Representative in the administration of President George W. Bush. For now, many American businesses are struggling to cope with Trump’s tariffs, which have lifted America’s average tariff to the highest level since 1934—even after a trade truce with China was announced Monday, according to Yale University’s Budget Lab. Victor Schwartz of New York City has spent the last 39 years building a business importing wine and spirits from small producers across the world. The tariffs are hitting his business hard. His customers want regional wines from around the world, so he can’t just shift to American vintages. And the state requires him to post prices a month in advance so it’s tough to keep up with Trump’s ever-changing tariffs. His business—V.O.S. Selections—is one of the five plaintiffs in Tuesday’s hearing. “It’s a race against time,” he said. “Will we get through it? I’m not sure exactly.”
India disputes Trump’s claim of trade concessions in India-Pakistan ceasefire
By Rajesh Roy The Associated Press
NEW
DELHI—The
Indian government on Tuesday disputed
US President Donald Trump’s claim that the US-mediated ceasefire between India and Pakistan came about in part because he had offered possible trade concessions.
Addressing a weekly news conference, Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesman for India’s foreign ministry, said top leaders in New Delhi and Washington were in touch last
week following the Indian military’s intense standoff with Pakistan, but that there was no conversation on trade.
“The issue of trade didn’t come up in any of these discussions,” Jaiswal said, referring to the conversations held between US Vice President JD Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar.
Following Saturday’s understanding between India and Pakistan to stop military action on land, in the air and at sea, Trump told reporters on Monday that he had
offered to help both nations with trade if they agreed to de-escalate.
“I said, come on, we’re going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let’s stop it. Let’s stop it. If you stop it, we’ll do a trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade,’” Trump said.
“And all of a sudden, they said, think we’re going to stop,” Trump said, crediting trade leverage for influencing both the nations’ decision. “For a lot of reasons, but trade is a big one,” he said.
The militaries of India and Pakistan had been engaged in one of their most
serious confrontations in decades since last Wednesday, when India struck targets inside Pakistan it said were affiliated with militants responsible for the massacre of 26 tourists last month in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan has denied any links to the attackers.
After India’s strikes in Pakistan, the two sides exchanged heavy fire along their de facto borders, followed by missile and drone strikes into each other’s territories, mainly targeting military installations and airbases.
The escalating hostilities between the nuclear-armed rivals threatened regional
peace, leading to calls by world leaders to cool down tempers.
Trump said he not only helped mediate the ceasefire, but also offered mediation over the simmering dispute in Kashmir, a Himalayan region that both India and Pakistan claim in entirety but administer in parts. The two nations have fought two wars over Kashmir, which has long been described as the regional nuclear flashpoint.
New Delhi also declined Trump’s offer for mediation on Tuesday.
“We have a longstanding national position that any issues related to the federally
controlled union territory of Jammu and Kashmir must be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. There has been no change to the stated policy,” Jaiswal said.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said late Tuesday that Pakistan was expelling a staff member of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, accusing him of unspecified inappropriate activity and giving him 24 hours to leave the country.
The Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed contributed to this story from Islamabad.
Inflation cooled again even as some tariffs took effect, but economists don’t expect that to last
By Christopher Rugaber Ap Economics Writer
WASHINGTON—Inflation
cooled for the third straight month in April even after some of President Donald Trump’s tariffs took effect, though economists and many business owners expect inflation will climb by this summer.
Consumer prices rose 2.3% in April from a year ago, the Labor Department said Tuesday, down from 2.4% in March and the smallest increase in more than four years. On a monthly basis, prices rose modestly, increasing 0.2% from March to April after falling 0.1% the previous month, the first drop in five years.
Grocery prices dipped 0.4% from March to April in what will come as a relief to many people stretching family budgets for the basics. It was the biggest decline in food costs at home since September 2020, the government said. Egg prices fell sharply, declining 12.7%, the most in 41 years. Yet they are still 49% higher than a year ago.
Overall, the report suggests tariffs haven’t yet impacted prices for many items. Economists say the impact will more likely be seen by June or July. The 10% tariff on all goods that took effect April 5 could take two to three months to feed into the inflation data. And many companies stockpiled products earlier this year, enabling them to delay price hikes in hopes that
the trade war will cool. The cost of clothing, which is mostly imported, declined 0.2% from March to April, Tuesday’s report said. New car prices were unchanged. And grocery prices fell despite fears that tariffs on some goods from Mexico would boost food costs.
“It’s early days for tariff effects,” said Laura Rosner-Warburton, co-founder of MacroPolicy Perspectives and formerly an economist at the Federal Reserve’s New York branch. “More will come in May, June, and July. There are plenty of price increases already scheduled and on the way.”
And there were some early signs that the duties are having an impact. Computer prices rose 0.3% from March to April, a category that is heavily imported from China and usually sees mild price declines. Sporting goods and toys, where many products are imported, also saw increases. And a category that includes baby strollers and car seats also got more expensive.
Still, excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices
were also muted, rising 2.8% in April compared with a year ago, the same as in March. On a monthly basis, they increased a mild 0.2%.
Economists watch core prices because they typically provide a better read on where inflation is headed.
Rosner-Warburton noted that some prices fell as business weakened, particularly in travel. Air fares and hotel prices dropped noticeably last month, contributing to lower inflation, but that may have been driven by a decline in foreign visitors to the U.S.
Some companies have raised prices and others have said they plan to do so as a result of the duties. Mattel Inc., the maker of Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars, said earlier this month it would have to raise prices on some products. The company makes 40% of its products in China.
Tool maker Stanley Black & Decker said it raised prices in April and plans to do so again in the July-September quarter because of higher tariffs. And executives at Procter & Gamble, the consumer products giant that makes household name brands such as Crest toothpaste, Tide detergent, and Charmin toilet paper, said last month it will likely have to pass on higher prices to consumers as soon as July.
Only some early tariffs imposed by Trump were in effect in April, including 25% duties on steel and aluminum and 25% on some imports from Canada and Mexico. Trump’s initial 20% import taxes on goods from China were also in place. The steel and aluminum duties will take time to feed through into consumer products, such as cars, and may not affect retail
prices for months.
Trump’s huge 145% import taxes on Chinese goods were reduced to 30% in a deal announced Monday, with some of the higher tariffs on pause for 90 days. Retailers and importers had largely stopped shipping shoes, clothes, toys, and other items when the duties were so high, but many will now resume importing from China, which should reduce the chances of empty shelves this fall.
Yet the additional 30% duties, on top of other import taxes, will likely affect prices. The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, a trade group, says children’s shoes from China will now pay a nearly 100% tariff, because the latest duties are on top of previous import taxes.
Matt Priest, president and CEO of the FDRA, said that the cost of shipping goods from China will likely rise as many companies
scramble to get orders to the US during the 90-day window.
“We’re not out of the inflationary cost woods yet,” he said.
And economists say average tariffs are now at about 18%, roughly six times higher than before Trump took office and the highest in about 90 years.
Consumer prices cooled noticeably in February and March, prompting Trump to claim repeatedly on social media that there is “NO INFLATION.” Inflation has fallen to nearly the 2% target set by the Federal Reserve, the agency charged with fighting higher prices.
The Fed would have likely been gearing up to restart interest rate cuts in the absence of tariffs because inflation is down. It reduced its benchmark rate three times last year. However, it has since frozen rates while it awaits further evidence of how the tariffs—and other policy changes, such as im -
migration restrictions and potential tax cuts—affect the economy. The smaller import taxes on Chinese goods will limit the damage to the US economy, but combined with all the other tariffs, economists forecast they will still slow growth this year and worsen inflation.
The Yale Budget Lab, for example, estimates the tariffs will lift prices 1.7% and cost the average household about $2,800 this year.
“This is still a very, very substantial tariff hike, but it will take a while” to show up in the inflation data, Alan Detmeister, an economist at UBS, said.
Many small businesses are relieved that the US has cut its tariffs on goods from China but say they still aren’t sure what their costs will be for the remainder of this year, or whether they can avoid raising prices themselves.
Rick Woldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources, an educational toy company, said that the 145% tariffs would have pushed his tariff bill to $100.2 million from $2.3 million last year. He paused shipments and production but is now strategizing how to work with the lower tariffs. He has 13 containers stored in warehouses in Los Angeles, which allows importers to defer duty payments for up to five years. And he may bring $11 million of goods from China and pay the 30% tariffs, but he’s not sure how to price them.
“We just don’t know what our costs are,” he said. “We do not know what our tariff costs are. We do not know what our freight costs are.”
AP Retail Writer Anne D’Innocenzio contributed to this report from New York.
CHILDREN’S clothing sits stacked on a table for shoppers in a Costco warehouse Thursday, January 23, 2025, in Sheridan, Colo. AP/DAVID ZALUBOWSKI
Trump’s Middle East visit comes as his family deepens its business, crypto ties in the region
By Will Weissert
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—It’s not just the
“gesture” of a $400 million luxury plane that President Donald Trump says he’s smart to accept from Qatar. Or that he effectively auctioned off the first destination on his first major foreign trip, heading to Saudi Arabia because the kingdom was ready to make big investments in US companies.
It’s not even that the Trump family has fast-growing business ties in the Middle East, ones that run deep and offer the potential of vast profits.
Instead, it’s the idea that the combination of these things and more— deals that show the close ties between a family whose patriarch oversees the US government and a region whose leaders are fond of currying favor through money and lavish gifts— could cause the United States to show preferential treatment to Middle Eastern leaders when it comes to American affairs of state.
Before Trump began this week’s visit to
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, his sons Eric and Donald Jr. had already traveled the Middle East extensively in recent weeks. They were drumming up business for The Trump Organization, which they are running in their father’s stead while he’s in the White House.
Their travels included Eric Trump announcing plans for a glitzy, 80-story Trump Tower in Dubai, the UAE’s largest city. He also attended a recent cryptocurrency conference there with Zach Witkoff, a founder of the Trump family crypto firm, World Liberty Financial, and son of Trump’s do-everything envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
“We are proud to expand our presence in the region,” Eric Trump said last month in announcing that Trump Tower Dubai was set to start construction this fall.
The presidential visit to the region came as his children work the same part of the world for the family’s money-making opportunities puts a spotlight on Trump’s willingness to embrace foreign dealmaking as president— even in the face of mounting concerns that doing so could tempt him to
shape US foreign policy in ways that benefit his family’s bottom line.
Nowhere is the potential overlap more prevalent than in the Middle East
THE Trump family’s business interests in the region include a new deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar, partnering with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by that country’s sovereign wealth fund.
The family is also leasing its brand to two new real estate projects in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, in partnership with Dar Global, a London-based luxury real estate developer and subsidiary of private Saudi real estate firm Al Arkan.
The Trump Organization has similarly partnered with Dar Global on a Trump Tower set to be built in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and an upcoming Trump International Hotel and luxury golf development in neighboring Oman.
During the crypto conference, meanwhile, a state-backed investment company in Abu Dhabi announced it had chosen USD, World Liberty Financial’s
stablecoin, to back a $2 billion investment in Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Critics say that allows Trump family-aligned interests to essentially take a cut of each dollar invested.
Then there’s the Saudi governmentbacked LIV Golf, which has forged close business relationships with the president and hosted tournaments at Trump’s Doral resort in South Florida.
“Given the extensive ties between LIV Golf and the PIF, or between Trump enterprises more generally and the Gulf, I’d say there’s a pretty glaring conflict of interest here,” said Jon Hoffman, a research fellow in defense and foreign policy at the libertarian think tank the Cato Institute.
He was referring to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which has invested heavily in everything from global sports giants to video game maker Nintendo with the aim of diversifying the kingdom’s economy beyond oil.
Trump further announced in January a $20 billion investment for US data centers promised by DAMAC Properties, an Emirati company led by billionaire Dubai developer
Hussain Sajwani. Trump bills that as benefiting the country’s technological and economic standing rather than his family business. But Sajwani was a close business partner of Trump and his family since long before the 2016 election.
White House bristles at conflictof-interest concerns
ASKED before he left for the Middle East if Trump might use the trip to meet with people tied to his family’s business, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was “ridiculous” to “suggest that President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit.”
“The president is abiding by all conflictof-interest laws,” she said.
Administration officials have similarly brushed off such concerns about the president’s policy decisions bleeding into the business interests of his family by noting that Trump’s assets are in a trust managed by his children. A voluntary ethics agreement released by the Trump Organization also bars the firm from striking deals directly with foreign governments.
But that same agreement still allows deals with private companies abroad— a key departure from Trump’s first term, when the organization released an ethics pact prohibiting deals with both foreign governments and foreign companies. The president, according to the secondterm ethics agreement, isn’t involved in any day-to-day decision-making for the family business. But his political and corporate brands remain inextricably linked.
“The president is a successful businessman,” Leavitt said, “and I think, frankly, that it’s one of the many reasons that people reelected him back to this office.”
Timothy P. Carney, senior fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said he doesn’t want to see US foreign policy being affected by Trump’s feelings about how other countries have treated his family’s business.
“Even if he’s not running the company, he profits when the company does well,” Carney said. “When he leaves the White House, the company is worth more, his personal wealth goes up.”
Vitarich earnings surge on higher chicken prices in Q1
By Vg Cabuag @Villygc
VITARICH Corp., a feed and poultry producer, said its net income surged to P241.6 million in the first quarter from the previous year’s P6.22 million.
Revenues grew 9 percent to P3.19 billion from the previous year’s P2.93 billion, primarily driven by higher nationwide pricing of chicken products and sales of day-old pullets.
This growth was partially offset by lower volumes sold and reduced pricing for feeds due to the limited supply of day-old chicks in the market, the company said.
“This performance boosts our outlook and reinforces our confidence in navigating an evolving macroeconomic environment.
As we move through the year, short-term disruptions such as the shortage of day-old chicks may continue but we remain focused on pursuing a range of opportunities that we believe will further strengthen our business and fuel sustained growth in the years ahead,” Rocco Sarmiento, the company’s CEO, said.
“Based on current visibility, we have scheduled additional breeder orders for the second and third quarters to manage supply disruptions. We also expect to increase capital expenditure over the course of the year related to our investments in poultry houses, in line with our strategic priorities.”
In its food division, revenues accelerated 27 percent to P2.22 billion, reflecting higher prices amid the ongoing supply challenges for day-old chicks that affected volumes. Foods comprised almost 63 percent of revenues from 59 percent in the prior year.
In feeds division, revenues were down 4 percent to P1.01 billion, with lower pricing and flat comparable sales volumes. Feeds accounted for 28 percent of revenues from 36 percent last year.
Meanwhile, revenues of its farm division more than doubled to P301.7 million, benefiting from the introduction of day-old pullets from NOVOgen, a French leader in layer genetics, as well as a higher net gain on the fair value of biological assets, in line with improved selling prices at the end of the period. Farms now represent 8 percent of revenues from 4 percent.
Govt implements measures to prop up local meat supply
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has rolled out initiatives that aim to beef up the country’s meat supply.
Agriculture Undersecretary Constante Palabrica announced last Wednesday that the DA will grant accreditation to eight countries to export meat products to the Philippines within the year. Some of the countries that secured Manila’s nod were Chile, Paraguay and Thailand.
Palabrica said Thailand and Taiwan, will export ducks and breeder pigs, respectively, to the Philippines. For Chile and Paraguay, the accreditation will cover all meat products.
The government recently allowed shipments from 23 meat plants in Portugal and Russia, which was formalized through respective department orders (DO) issued by the DA.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed DO 5 and 6, which authorized the individual accreditation of six foreign meat establishments (FMEs) of Portugal and 17 FMEs of Russia.
Portugal will export pork to the Philippines, while Russia will ship beef, pork and poultry such as chicken, turkey, and duck into the country.
Regionalization
MEANWHILE Palabrica noted that Poland and the United States were among the exporters that sought to secure bilateral recognition of areas free of animal diseases like bird flu via the regionalization scheme. 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.
Currently, the Philippines has a high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) regionalization agreement 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, Palabrica noted that the US has applied for regionalization per county, given the new rules.
“We’re moving fast on the regionalization. Rest assured that it will be done [within the year],” Palabrica told reporters in a press conference on Wednesday.
Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed the Philippines imported 472,211 metric tons (MT) of chicken last year. The United States was the country’s second leading supplier, accounting for 158,159 MT. Ada Pelonia
PHL grain imports to rise on strong demand—report
agency said in its latest report.
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE Philippines will import 2 million metric tons (MMT) of corn next year due to brisk demand for food and animal feeds, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In its latest report, the USDA attributed the increase in the Philippines’ purchases of imported corn to the “robust demand supporting sustained growth.”
“Based on an evaluation of data from the Government of the Philippines, FSI [food, seed, and industrial] consumption of corn has been revised higher to 4.2 million tons for 2024/25 and 2025/26,” the international
The USDA also projected that purchases of the key ingredient for animal feeds would reach 1.75 MMT this year.
In 2026, the international agency said it expects corn output in the Philippines to settle at 8.3 MMT.
New record
MEANWHILE the USDA said Philippine rice imports may again hit record-high next year despite the projected rebound in local paddy output of the staple grain.
The international agency noted that the country’s rice imports could reach a record 5.5 MMT next year, owing to the continued growth in consumption.
“The Philippines is expected to remain the largest global rice importer,” the USDA said.
It also expects the country’s rice shipments to hit 5.4 MMT this year, with the 100,000 metric tons (MT) increase in 2026 due to the “growth in population, increased tourism, and continued importance as a staple,” the agency said.
In 2026, the USDA expects palay production in the country to settle at 12.3 MMT in milled terms.
Rice arrivals
FIGURES from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed that rice import arrivals as of May 2 reached 1.32 MMT, 21.33 percent lower than the 1.67 MMT recorded in the same
Mega Prime Foods sets sights on new export markets
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
MEGA Prime Foods Inc. is keen on tapping new markets for its sardine products in its bid to increase the share of exports in sales to 10 percent by the time it goes public in three years.
Marvin Tiu Lim, chief growth and development officer of Mega Prime Foods, said the company is aiming to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) in the next two to three years.
“It is on the table because we really want to share this story, this company with the Filipinos, with other investors because we believe in it so much. And think given the right management team, given the right brands that are out there for acquisition, and given the right plan for future growth, we can take this Filipino company globally,”Lim told reporters in an interview in Quezon City on Wednesday.
He said executives of Mega Prime Foods have been talking about going public in the last five years as the firm aims to be “more transparent, more corporate—a good corporate governance in place, being more professional.”
While the IPO is still two to three years
down the road, he said Mega Prime Foods is trying to “bring out more products, acquire new brands,” adding that the firm recently acquired Jimm’s Coffee.
He said the firm’s plan to go public may coincide with its plan to become “more aggressive” in exporting its products.
“We’re definitely eyeing new export markets. I think Egypt is one,” Lim said, adding, “Exports is 5 percent of our sales. Hopefully, we grow that to 10 percent because we’re more aggressive in the next two to three years.”
He said some of the canned sardine maker’s largest export markets are Dubai, and Canada but he noted that Mega Prime Foods is also shipping its products to Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom.
“Dubai, UAE is very big. Canada, we’re also very big there. Canada, we’re also very big there. So, usually where a lot of OFWs are, they miss the taste of sardines. They want the Pinoy taste, the homemade taste. But that’s why we do this. We want to elevate sardines, the Filipino sardines.
It’s not only for Filipinos,” he added.
Lim said Mega Prime Foods is expecting to corner 30 percent share of the local sardine market this year after it had been officially endorsed
by Medical Wellness Association (MWA) as a “superfood,” a recognition supported by a sixpoint scientifically based nutritional criteria that highlights food safety and nutrition wellness.
“We’re not only expecting to sustain it [market share] but grow it massively because we’re the only brand that has this certification. So, we expect a lot of market share growth hopefully this year,” he said.
Currently, Mega Sardines can produce up to 3 million cans a day across its Batangas and Zamboanga plants in the country.
The Mega Sardines manufacturing plant in Sto. Tomas, Batangas which was inaugurated in March 2023 has two production lines and can produce 500,000 cans of sardines a day, while the Zamboanga plant has eight production lines, according to Lim.
He also said Mega is making its own cans “so it’s easier for us to control the quality, control the cost. Because as you know, if you are a can
producer or a canning plant, you have to transport the cans from the plant to the other plant. You’re basically transporting air.”
“It’s a waste of crude oil, it’s a waste of environment, it’s a waste of space. So, we built it in the line-up so it’s vertically integrated. And we’ve always been known as a vertically integrated company.”
Mega Prime Foods said US-based MWA’s endorsement of Mega Sardines as a “super
wellness, especially when preparing meals for their families. With the product being rich in omega-3, high in vitamins, and processed with world-class safety, we can say it’s more than a pantry essential—it’s a food that supports overall health.”
Substandard Chinese car batteries flood PHL, endangering lives and local battery industry
THE alarming influx of low-quality car batteries from China is a big problem. This troubling situation underscores the urgent need for increased vigilance and swift action, as the uncontrolled spread of these substandard products puts motorists at risk and threatens the economic well-being of local businesses.
Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza, chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), has sounded the alarm, particularly regarding the automotive batteries that have been entering the market without proper oversight. Reports on the joint operations conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Trade and Industry are particularly alarming. The seizure of close to P100 million worth of car batteries that lacked the required Imported Commodity Clearance (ICC) is a clear indication of the scale of the problem. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Group warns vs substandard car batteries,” May 8, 2025).
Dr. Arranza succinctly summarized the situation: “Regarding automotive batteries, we have found two key issues—first, there are batteries on the market without an ICC, which is illegal; second, some batteries have obtained an ICC despite being substandard in quality.”
As local manufacturers raise their voices against this issue, it is imperative for government regulators to take immediate and decisive action to uphold industry standards. The proliferation of substandard automotive batteries in the market—both with and without ICC—suggests that some individuals at the DTI-BPS and BOC may not be fully adhering to the civil service standards we expect. Addressing these issues is crucial to protect millions of Filipino motorists and consumers.
The specific case of two Chinese car battery brands—Oursun and Superstart—is particularly appalling. Laboratory tests have shown that these car batteries fail to meet international quality standards, and can even melt when subjected to simulation of cranking and discharging. The consequences are severe: these substandard car batteries have the potential to explode or ignite at any moment, endangering the lives of our motorists.
The FPI is right to call for an intensified campaign against substandard products, and we add our voice to this call. The DTI-BPS and the Bureau of Customs must investigate how these substandard car batteries entered the market and take swift action to remove them from circulation.
Furthermore, the government must launch an information drive to educate the country’s 38 million vehicle owners about the dangers of these products. Consumers must be informed about the risks associated with using substandard car batteries and the benefits of choosing locally manufactured products that meet international standards. We also urge the government to work closely with industry groups, such as the FPI, to ensure that our regulatory system is robust and effective in preventing the entry of substandard products. It would do well for the DTI-BPS to intensify their inspection and testing of imported products, and the BOC must ensure that importers comply with all relevant laws and regulations.
We must act quickly to address this problem. We urge the government to implement concrete measures to protect our citizens and support local manufacturers. The safety of millions of Filipino motorists is at stake.
BusinessMirror
T. Anthony C. Cabangon
Lourdes M. Fernandez Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug
Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso, Dionisio L. Pelayo Ruben M. Cruz Jr.
Eduardo A. Davad
Nonilon G. Reyes
D. Edgard A. Cabangon Benjamin V. Ramos Aldwin Maralit Tolosa
Rolando M. Manangan
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Inflation’s low, trouble’s
still high
TJohn Mangun
OUTSIDE THE BOX
HE Philippine economy is a tightrope walker, juggling low inflation while walking on a wobbly Balance of Payments deficit. All the while, the world situation is throwing rotten tomatoes.
As of April 2025, headline inflation stands at a serene 1.4 percent, the lowest since 2019 and trending downward. With a GDP growth rate of 5.4 percent in the first quarter, down from 2024’s 5.6 percent, the country still outpaces most Asian peers, trailing Vietnam’s 6.9 percent but besting Indonesia’s 4.9 percent. Sounds like a tropical paradise. But is the economy firing on all cylinders, or are we ignoring some warning lights?
For perspective, 2024’s average inflation was 3.2 percent. The Asian Development Bank projects 3 percent for 2025 assuming global chaos behaves. The BSP pegs it at 3.3 percent, snugly within its 2-to-4 percent target range.
But the Q1 2025 GDP growth of 5.4 percent fumbled the 5.7 percent consensus and the 6-to-8 percent target, signaling softness.
Further, beneath the overall calm lurks a Balance of Payments (BOP) deficit fueled by a sluggish services export sector. We see shades of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, when
capital fled Thailand faster than tourists from a monsoon. But let us not kid ourselves: a projected $4 billion 2025 BOP deficit—0.8 percent of GDP—means capital inflows are running way behind capital outflows. Not good.
Our BOP deficit stems from a wider Current Account Deficit, driven by import growth and a slowdown in services exports like Business Process Outsourcing and tourism. The BOP shortfall could strain foreign exchange reserves and pressure the peso.
As of now, it remains a polite “could.”
Risks loom like uninvited guests. La Niña, expected to linger until mid2025, threatens agricultural supply chains. Global commodity price volatility remains a wildcard testing the BSP’s dovish resolve. Last month, I chatted with a rice farmer in Nueva Ecija. “One bad storm,” he said, “and my harvest’s gone.” His optimism, like the inflation and growth outlook, feels fragile.
Now, let’s talk money flowing
The Philippines struts the tightrope, flaunting low inflation like a fiesta banner. But one slip—a La Niña deluge or BPO bust— and we are not just stumbling, we are crashing. Rate cuts, farm aid, or tourist VAT refunds will not save us. Watch BSP reports like a typhoon warning. Trouble is still high, and only fools bet on clear skies.
in—or not. Low inflation is the Philippines’ neon sign, flashing “Invest here!” to Foreign Direct Investment and portfolio inflows. Stable prices scream safe haven, especially with the peso holding its ground, backed by reserves covering seven to eight months of imports. It is like a sari-sari store with enough stock to weather a typhoon.
The BSP’s rate cuts sweeten the deal, slashing borrowing costs for businesses and juicing GDP growth. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto swears this sparks jobs and investment. But global headwinds—like the US Federal Reserve hitting pause on rate hikes—could dim the party lights, choking capital flows. Armchair economists cheer rate cuts as the holy grail of growth. They forgot 2008, when cheap money blew up bubbles, not bank accounts. Still, the BSP’s playing a slicker game, dodging that trap. But here is the real kicker: our services exports are stumbling. Business Process Outsourcing, once our golden goose, is getting pummeled. Tourism?
It is limping, outshined by Thailand’s beaches and budget deals. Our BPO workers are in a cage match with AI bots, job reshoring, and cutthroat competition while Boracay begs for tourists who would rather party in Phuket. Low inflation keeps costs down, but it is not Superman swooping in to save the day. These sectors, our foreign exchange lifelines, are dragging the current account into a deeper hole.
Remittances, projected around $35 billion, offer some relief and provide a buffer. And their real value is bolstered by low inflation. Yet, localization policies in places like Saudi Arabia cap their growth. The financial account, thankfully, holds firm with FDI and portfolio inflows. The BSP’s cautious easing is a calculated bet—nurture growth without igniting inflation or startling investors. The services export slowdown exposes structural flaws. Low inflation shines as a beacon, attracting capital and softening the balance of payments deficit’s sting. The Philippines struts the tightrope, flaunting low inflation like a fiesta banner. But one slip—a La Niña deluge or BPO bust—and we are not just stumbling, we are crashing. Rate cuts, farm aid, or tourist VAT refunds will not save us. Watch BSP reports like a typhoon warning. Trouble is still high, and only fools bet on clear skies. E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.
Harvard expands lawsuit against US as funding feud deepens
By David Voreacos & Janet Lorin
HARVARD University expanded its lawsuit Tuesday against the Trump administration for freezing billions of dollars in federal funds, ratcheting up the high-stakes legal battle between the wealthiest US university and the White House.
University lawyers revised their lawsuit on the same day the federal Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism said the government terminated $450 million in grants to Harvard. The US earlier froze more than $2.2 billion in funding, citing the university’s handling of alleged discrimination on campus.
In its new complaint, Harvard cited several actions taken by the administration since the university’s initial lawsuit on April 21. It claims federal agencies illegally halted the flow of funds because the university refused to submit to government control over its academic programs. President Donald Trump asserts that Harvard has failed to protect Jewish students from antisemitism and fostered a climate of discrimination.
As with their earlier complaint, Harvard’s lawyers asked a federal
judge in Boston to bar the government from enacting the funding freeze and declare that the US violated its First Amendment right to free speech.
“The freezes and terminations will chill Harvard’s exercise of its First Amendment rights,” according to the amended lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston. “Harvard will be unable to make decisions regarding its faculty hiring, academic programs, student admissions, and other core academic matters without fear that those decisions will run afoul of government censors’ views on acceptable levels of ideological or viewpoint diversity on campus.”
The Education Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The latest escalation comes amid one of the highest-profile standoffs
in Trump’s efforts to remake much of the US economic and cultural landscape. The funding cuts at Harvard are already imperiling research projects as well as the broader ecosystem that thrives off their existence and helps drive the Massachusetts economy.
The amended complaint makes the same basic claims as the April 21 lawsuit—that a wide range of government agencies violated the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act by abruptly cutting off funding to Harvard. US District Judge Allison Burroughs has set a July 21 hearing in the case.
A representative for Harvard referred questions for comment on Tuesday’s cuts to the amended complaint.
The lawsuit refers to a May 6 letter from the National Institutes of Health that formally terminated $2.2 billion in awards, saying its grants “no longer effectuate agency priorities” because of “recent events at Harvard University involving antisemitic action.”
That letter cited “Harvard’s ongoing inaction in the face of repeated
and severe harassment and targeting of Jewish students.” While NIH will generally let a grant recipient take “appropriate corrective action” after a suspension, it said “no corrective action is possible here.” Harvard received similar letters on May 9 from the US Department of Agriculture and on May 12 from the Departments of Energy, Defense, and Housing and Urban Development, according to the complaint. Harvard President Alan Garber has twice publicly rebuked the Trump administration for threatening the school’s independence. On Monday, he wrote to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, denying allegations of partisan political bias and warning government “overreach” threatens key freedoms. On Tuesday, the antisemitism task force hit back.
“Harvard’s campus, once a symbol of academic prestige, has become a breeding ground for virtue signaling and discrimination,” the task force wrote. “This is not leadership; it is cowardice. And it’s not academic freedom; it’s institutional disenfranchisement.” With assistance from Akayla Gardner/Bloomberg
Thursday, May 15, 2025
BusinessMirror
ERC names 40 GenCos that got SCOs for report lapses
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THEEnergy Regulatory Commission (ERC) identified on Wednesday the power generation companies (GenCos) that failed to submit complete fuel purchase documents.
The regulator said Thursday it issued 40 show-cause orders (SCOs) to Anda Power Corporation (APC), Angeles Power Inc. (API), Bukidnon Power Corporation (BPC), Calamian Islands Power, Corp. (CIPC), Delta Power, Inc. (DPI), DMCI Power Corp. (DPC), DMCI Masbate Power Corporation (DMCI-MPC), Kepco SPC Power Corporation (KSPC), King Energy Generation, Inc. (KEGI), Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd. (MPPCL), Minergy Power Corporation (MINERGY), Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), North Bukidnon Power Corporation (NBPC), OrMin Power, Inc. (OPI), Palawan Power Generation, Inc. (PPGI), Panay En-
ergy Development Corporation (PEDC), Peakpower Soccsargen, Inc. (PSI), Peakpower Bukidnon Inc. (PBI), Peakpower San Francisco, Inc. (PSFI), Power One Corporation (POC), Powersource Philippines Energy, Inc. (PSPEI), San Miguel Energy Corporation (SMEC), SMC Consolidated Power Corporation (SCPC), Siquijor Island Power Corp. (Sipcor), San Miguel Consolidated Power Corporation (SMCPC), SPC Island Power Corporation (SIPC), Strategic Energy Development Inc. (Sedi), Therma Luzon, Inc. (TLI), Toledo Power Corporation (TPC), Western Mindanao Power Corporation (WMPC), FDC Misamis Power
ALI eyes pact in ’25 with new hospitality partner
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror
AYALA Land Hospitality saw a 10-percent increase in revenues to P2.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025, year-on-year, on the back of higher occupancy and room rates.
In a recent investors’ briefing, Augusto Bengzon, chief finance officer and treasurer of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) said, “Occupancy and room rates continue to be very healthy. The average occupancy for all our hotels is currently at 70 percent, five-percentage points better than last year, and 56 percent for our resorts, on par with prior years’ levels.”
The hospitality arm has a total of 4,264 rooms, of which 600 are branded under partner hotel-management firms, while 3,268 are under ALI’s own Seda hotel brand. The rest of the keys are under the resorts—El Nido (184), Lio Bed and Breafasts (50), and Sicogon B&Bs (102). It will also be opening a new 276-room Mandarin Oriental Makati in 2026.
As this developed, Anna Maria Margarita B. Dy, ALI president and chief executive officer announced the company’s plan “to acquire a 500key, five-star hotel in Metro Manila, forming new hotel partnerships.” New World or Dusit?
WHILE she did not identify the target hotel, rumors have been rife in the hospitality industry that it could be the 598-room New World Makati Hotel, pressed by the financial challenges of its parent company—New World Development Co. Ltd.—to unload. New World’s lease contract with ALI expires in 2039, but a separate real estate source said the hotel purchase would play into the property developer’s ongoing redevelopment program, which also includes the renovation of its leasing spaces and mall in Greenbelt 1. Industry sources added that New World may still retain management of the five-star Makati hotel, but it will be rebranded as a Rosewood Hotel. New World Hotels and Resorts is now part of the Rosewood Hotel Group, an international hospitality company privately owned by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises. New World Development reported
a core operating profit from continuing operations of some HK$6.9 billion (US$885.6 million) last year, 18 percent less from 2023, on a 34-percent drop in revenues to HK$35.78 billion (US$4.6 billion).
Another possible candidate is the 500-room Dusit Thani Manila, another five-star property within the mall and hotels area in Makati which ALI also wants to redevelop. Although Dusit wants to retain ownership of its hotel, an official earlier told the BusinessMirror that ALI had also discussed with them the possibility of purchasing the hotel building, but allowing Dusit to retain management of the iconic property. The Thai hospitality company’s lease contract expires in 2027.
P600-M capex spent on hospitality WHILE it continues to operate in the red, Dusit International has managed to cut its loss to 237 million Baht (US$7.2 million) in 2024, from 570 million Baht ($17.3 million) in 2023. In the Philippines, the firm has expanded its footprint by lending its management expertise to several hotel developers. (See, “Dusit International to add 9 PHL hotels in portfolio,” in the BusinessMirror, April 1, 2025.)
ALI’s other hotel partners are the Accor Group (Fairmont Hotels and Raffles) and IHG Hotels and Resorts (Holiday Inn).
The property developer reported spending P600 million in the first quarter of 2025, as it continued to renovate and invest in more rooms. There are 4,058 hotel rooms in the company’s pipeline, “88 percent of which will rise in our estates,” said Dy. Four hotels are currently under renovation, she added, “three of which were fully closed for faster project delivery. Excluding these hotels, hospitality revenues rose 25 percent, yoy.” She said five more hotels are scheduled for renovation by the first quarter of 2026, but did not identify them. In the same briefing, Mariana Zobel de Ayala said the current hotels under renovation—Seda at the Abreeza Mall in Davao and Cagayan de Oro, and Lagen Resort in El Nido—will be reopened by the third quarter of 2025. Holiday Inns and Suites Makati is the fourth property to be tackled: “We are phasing the renovation. We’ve already begun with the rooms.”
Corporation (FDC), GNPower Dinginin, Ltd. Co. (GNPD), GNPower Mariveles Energy Center, Ltd. Co. (GMEC), Mapalad Energy Generating Corporation (MEGC), Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC), Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC), and Supreme Power Corporation (SPC).
According to the ERC, they failed to comply with the directive to submit complete fuel purchase documents necessary in validating the reasonableness of generation charges being passed on to consumers.
The Commission sought the GenCos’ explanation for failing to act on ERC’s letter-orders issued between December 2022 and March 2024, requiring the submission of complete sets of fuel cost data and documents covering the period from January to October 2022. The goal is to ensure that only reasonable and justifiable fuel expenses are charged to consumers in the exercise of its regulatory mandate.
The GenCos must submit the required documents and a verified explanation within 15 days from receipt of the SCO. They must justify why no administrative penalty should be imposed for their failure
to comply with ERC’s directives, in accordance with Sections 43(o) and 43(r) of Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira), and with the terms of their ERC-approved power supply agreements (PSAs) with various distribution utilities (DUs).
Fuel invoices must be submitted on a monthly basis to support passthrough fuel costs reflected in the billings of GenCos. These invoices are necessary for DUs to verify whether the volume, price, and efficiency rates of pass-through costs fall within the formula and cap prescribed by the Commission in the Order or Decision approving the implementation of their PSAs.
If no sufficient basis is found for the recovery of the costs, they cannot be charged to consumers, or must be refunded if already billed.
“The ERC continues to conduct rigorous fuel audits to make sure that only fair and reasonable costs are being charged by our regulated entities. We owe it to the Filipino consumers to protect them from unnecessary charges and ensure that they’re not paying more than they should for electricity,” ERC Chairperson and CEO Monalisa C. Dimalanta said.
TBy Ada Pelonia
HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to lift the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork amid the persistently elevated quotations of the commodity.
Agriculture Undersecretary
Constante Palabrica said the MSRP’s implementation faced setbacks due to crimped hog output, as the sector is still reeling from the lingering effects of the African swine fever (ASF) and the surge in demand owing to the midterm elections.
“[The MSRP] will be lifted, and then we’re going to study it and come out with a better MSRP policy,” Palabrica told reporters in a press conference on Wednesday.
“This will be studied along with the stakeholders and sectors involved,” he said.
Earlier, the DA imposed an MSRP for pork in its bid to curb the spike in prices of the commodity.
The MSRP for freshly slaughtered carcass is P300 per kilo, P350 per kilo for pigue (leg/ham) and kasim (shoulder), and P380 per kilo for liempo (pork belly).
However, industry sources noted that while farmers sell at P230 per kilo, viajeros sell “sabit ulo” at P330 per kilo instead of P300, thus bringing up retail prices.
Meanwhile, Palabrica said the government has negotiated with
big farms to purchase pigs and determine which markets they could bring the cheaper pigs bought in its bid to pull down prices.
The Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) earlier forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CP Foods) to pilot a three-month program that will allow CP Foods to supply 100 live hogs daily at a discounted price.
These hogs will be sent directly to a slaughterhouse in Caloocan, where the distributors and viajeros will receive them rather than transporting them from various farms. These will be processed for fresh pork and delivered to different retailers in various wet markets.
Palabrica noted that by next month, the hogs purchased from CP Foods would be doubled to 200 per day. Their target is to reach around 500 hogs daily.
“We’re now negotiating every month thereafter a 100-pig increase, and not only with CP [Foods]. We’re looking for other farms which can supply us with our own set price,” he said.
“If we get this at P230 per kilo, then we can supply pork in the market at a lower price.” Retail prices of pork ham in Metro Manila markets range from P365 to P400 per kilo, while pork belly is being sold from P390 to P470 per kilo, based on the latest government price monitoring report.
studied
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to study the proposal to raise the maximum amount of insurance claims for private vehicles which will be involved in road crashes with public utility vehicles (PUV). “This is for additional protection for all those who may
fall victim to negligence or road accidents,” Palace Press Office Claire Castro said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday. She said DOTr will determine if the reform is proper and timely. She made the remark after the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drives Association of the Philippines (Altodap)
KAKA’S COMEBACK: FISHERFOLK ADVOCATE
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Petrochem, property units drag JG Summit earnings
By VG Cabuag @villygc
JG Summit Holdings Inc., the holding firm of the Gokongwei Group, said its income plummeted by 61 percent to P4.3 billion in the first quarter from the previous year’s P11 billion.
The company said this is due to the absence of last year’s P7.9-billion
Robinsons Bank and Bank of the Philippine Islands merger as well as losses from its petrochemical business.
Excluding these factors, the company said its core income would have fallen by only 7 percent to P7.4 billion from the previous year’s P8 billion, the company said.
Consolidated revenues reached P98.2 billion during the period, a slim 1-percent increase from P96.6
billion last year.
The performance during the period was driven by the sustained leisure demand plus recovering domestic consumption, it said.
The company said it saw robust uptake for travel, malls and hotel offerings as well as “green shoots” in consumption for its food and beverage products.
“These outweighed the expected decline in residential and petrochemical revenues.”
“We continue to build on the momentum brought about by the strategic interventions we have implemented in the second half of last year. This is evident across our core units in food, with its branded consumer foods business posting double-digit volume growth and airline, with strong passenger and cargo volumes,” JG Summit President and CEO Lance Y. Gokongwei said.
For its real estate firm, he said its investment portfolio continues to counterbalance the weakness in the residential segment. He also noted that its new businesses in logistics and airport operations are now profit generating.
“We are hopeful that the encouraging trends we are seeing in improving consumer sentiment brought about by the tempering inflation coupled with the favorable forex and oil prices will help accelerate demand and translate
to better topline growth and improving margins for the balance of the year.”
JG Summit Olefins Corp. saw a decline in its petrochemical sales as production stopped with the plant shutdown, which the company initiated in January.
Total revenues fell 46 percent to P7.6 billion, even with the 24-percent expansion in its fuels trading business providing cushion.
As approved by the JG Summit board, its petrochemical arm will be on a prolonged shutdown for at least two years, as market challenges in the global petrochemical industry persist.
During this period, the focus will be on preserving the assets in the plant complex while evaluating strategic options for the business moving forward. Meanwhile, its liquefied petroleum gas trading arm, Peak Fuel Corp., will continue to operate, the company said.
Monde Nissin income slides in Q1
MONDE Nissin Corp. on Wednesday said its income fell by 21 percent to P2.73 billion in the first quarter from the previous year’s P3.48 billion.
Net sales of the SkyFlakes biscuits and Lucky Me! Noodles maker rose a slim 3 percent to P20.88 billion from last year’s P20.31 billion. This was driven by the performance of the Asia Pacific branded food group—from biscuits, packaged cakes, and culinary, partly offset by a slight decline in noodles and the challenges affecting the meat alternative business.
The domestic business grew by 4 percent for the quarter, but its core noodle brand under Lucky Me! posted a slight decline. According to Nielsen, Lucky Me!
increased its market share by 1.6 percentage points to 68.6 percent from 67 percent last year. According to Kantar, Lucky Me! brand continues to be the number one most chosen food manufacturing consumer brand for the past 10 consecutive years in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, international business, which only accounts for 6 percent of branded business, inched up by 2 percent primarily due to good growth in noodle sales despite the tepid performance of its biscuits business in the North American market.
The North American business was partly affected by the replenishment timing in fourth quarter 2024 and uncertainty related to recent economic and geo-political development in the United States
during the quarter.
Net sales in the meat alternative segment, meanwhile, slid by almost 4 percent on a reported basis and declined by 6 percent on a constant currency basis to P3.29 billion due to continued category challenges particularly in the United Kingdom market.
“Sales in the UK market were down while sales in the US and rest of the world had increased versus prior year,” the company said. “Quorn market leadership (was) strengthened with biggest share gain of any brand through wins in both chilled and frozen.”
For the year, the company expects a mid-single-digit growth rate for its branded business, while the revenue challenges for its meat alternative business may taper off. VG Cabuag
NGCP awaits ERC decision on rate petition
TSan Miguel income jumps fourfold in Q1
CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. on Wednesday said its first-quarter earnings surged more than fourfold to P43.4 billion from the previous year’s P8.9 billion, mainly due to a one-time gain from the partial sale of power assets and foreign exchange gains.
Core net income, excluding nonrecurring items, grew 31 percent to P19 billion, the company said.
Revenues declined 8 percent to P360.9 billion from the previous year’s P392.71 billion, mainly due to weaker crude prices affecting the fuel and oil segment, and lower contributions from the power business following the deconsolidation of the Ilijan Power Plant.
Stronger sales results from the food, hard liquor and infrastructure units helped offset the decline, the company said.
“We had a good start to the year. Despite some challenges, our businesses remained resilient and continued to perform well. We will keep moving forward, grow responsibly, and make sure more Filipinos benefit from the progress we are making,” San Miguel Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang said.
San Miguel Global Power posted P42.5 billion in revenues, down 4 percent year-on-year due to the deconsolidation of the Ilijan Power Plant.
The decline was partly offset by strong contributions from its other power
facilities and battery energy storage systems, or BESS.
Operating income rose 21 percent to P10.7 billion. Reported net income reached P26.4 billion, including a P21.9 billion gain from the asset sale. Excluding the gain, net income was still up by more than double to P4.5 billion, the company said.
Petron Corp. grew its net income by 2 percent to P4 billion, backed by strong domestic sales, steady operations and improved margins.
SMC Infrastructure, meanwhile, reported a 7-percent rise in revenues, driven by the continued growth of its toll road operations. Operating income increased 10 percent to P5.3 billion, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) went up b 6 percent, with margins steady at 78 percent. The company’s cement business, which include Eagle Cement, Northern Cement and Southern Concrete Industries, reported consolidated revenues of P8.9 billion, down 4 percent yearon-year due to lower average selling prices amid heightened competition from imports and soft demand. Despite these challenges, the group posted a 1-percent increase in sales volume, the company said.
Operating income stood at P1.6 billion, while EBITDA declined 5 percent to P2.5 billion. VG Cabuag
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
HE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is adopting a “waitand-see strategy” while hoping that a performance-based regulation is implemented in the future to reflect the true cost of its investments.
The grid operator was referring to the 4th Regulatory Period (4RP) petition it filed before the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The ERC had said it completed its deliberations on the 4RP rate reset of NGCP, covering the years 2016 to 2022.
While the final decision has yet to be released by the ERC, it initially said last month that it resolved to adopt the Maximum Allowable Revenue (MAR) of P335.78 billion for 2016 to 2022, using “As Spent” approach and adopting a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 11.33 percent.
MAR refers to the maximum amount that NGCP is allowed to earn annually to recover its operational expenses like operating expenditures and capital expenditures.
“We received a notice of decision. It’s just an issuance, like a summary of their decision on our fourth regulatory period. But we haven’t officially received the final determination. So, that covers the period 2016 to 2022. So, the next regulatory period, the fifth regulatory period covering
2023 to 2027, 2023 to 2027, that hasn’t come out yet. Although, it’s being heard already. So, we’re waiting for that. For the sixth regulatory period starting in 2028, of course, our intention is to file a lot of papers on time so that the performance-based regulation of forward-looking can be implemented again. So, hopefully, by the sixth regulatory period, it will be regularized,” said NGCP Vice President and Spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza during a press briefing.
The ERC has been saying that it will soon issue the formal order on NGCP’s 4RP. “Without having seen that, we still can’t say what will be the implementation strategy or the implementation schedule or if that would even be included in the final determination.
The official one is the complete one. And how badly do you need that? Of course, our recovery is based on that. So, it’s really necessary because any business that should be run properly, the expenses should be recovered so that you can fund the next expenses,” added Alabanza.
Meanwhile, NGCP said consumers can expect lower transmission rates this May, following a significant reduction in both transmission wheeling rates and ancillary services (AS) rates for the April 2025 billing period.
Overall equivalent average transmission rates for the April 2025 billing period dropped by 28.45 percent to P1.0904 per kilowatt hour (kWh), from March’s P1.5240/kWh. The decrease was driven by reductions in both transmission wheeling rates and AS rates.
Transmission wheeling rates are what NGCP charges for its primary service of delivering power, while AS rates pertain to the pass-through costs for power supplied by AS providers to stabilize the grid during power supply-demand imbalance. AS charges are remitted directly to generating companies with bilateral contracts with NGCP, and to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) for the AS sourced from the Reserve Market.
Banking&Finance
Banking during the war
WE recently commemorated the “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor) on April 9. Previously called the “Fall of Bataan,” it is the culminating event of Philippine Veterans Week, which was declared in 1989 to honor Filipino War Veterans on April 5 to April 11 every year.
While Philippine Veterans Week is a holiday commemorating World War II in the Philippines, not much has been written about this period of the tragedy and triumph of humanity. The war was felt in the country on December 8, 1941, when Japan bombed Camp John Hay in Baguio, Clark and other targets just hours after Pearl Harbor was attacked. By Christmas, the Japanese 14th Army landed on the La Union side of the Lingayen Gulf, historical records show. Meanwhile, the bombings continued well into the Yuletide season; and one can only imagine the apprehension gripping people during that period.
At that time, banks were already playing a major role in the Commonwealth—an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States that existed from 1935 to 1946. As early the mid-thirties, the threat of war loomed and the authorities were preparing for that contingency.
In her book “Tradition of Excellence,” Maria Teresa Colayco wrote that when the War broke out, there were already 17 banks in the country: 11 domestic and six foreign. On December 26, 1941, banks were ordered by US Government to turn over assets such as gold, valuables, bonds and securities; mostly collateral from clients. Just before New Year’s Day of 1942, these assets were on the way via submarine from Corregidor to the United States for safekeeping. The timing could not have been better because the Japanese Imperial Army marched into Manila on January 2, 1942.
At the onset, many Filipinos
Upbeat investors gobble up long-term debt instruments
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
Tthought that the “emergency” would last only a few months and that US military might could easily deal with the invaders. Under “War Plan Orange,” MacArthur ordered Filipino troops to go to the Bataan Peninsula and defend it until reinforcements arrive. The “Boys in Bataan” heroically held their ground.
All the other territories in Southeast Asia had already capitulated by February 1942. The British Malaya (Malaysia), French Indochina (Vietnam) and the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) have bowed to Japan’s unforeseen war-making capability.
Beyond human endurance, the Boys in Bataan defended the peninsula bravely until April 9, 1942, when they were ordered to surrender. That began what many consider to be the darkest chapter in Philippine history. There are more stories to be told about banks and currency during the Japanese Occupation, but I will save those for another day.
When the War ended on September 3, 1945, the herculean task of rebuilding the war-ravaged country came next and, with that, the rehabilitation of its economy. Soon, most of the assets safekept in the US were returned intact. However, because US law banned its re-export, the gold were held and sold to the US Mint, the proceeds of which were credited back to the owners.
What’s interesting to note was the extent of how the government officials and bankers worked together to protect the assets of the public. That primordial motivation continues to this day; perhaps even more so. And this is one reason why banks remain as one of the safest means to protect your assets.
Miguel Angelo “Mike” C. Villa-Real is a past president of the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP) and is currently its director for Publicity. Villa-Real is also the head of Veterans Bank’s Marketing Communications and Consumer Protection Group. He can be reached at mcvillareal@veteransbank.com.ph. The writer’s views do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror and the BMAP.
remits ₧377.5M to LGUs, communities
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THE Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (Psalm) Corp. has turned over to local government units (LGUs) and various communities over P377 million to support electrification and livelihood programs, among others.
The amount is made up of P135,796,591.90 in ER 1-94 remittances and P241,708,468.65 in the “Share in the National Wealth,” or SNW, funds for 2024. Under ER 1-94, generation companies are required to donate one centavo per kilowatt-hour of total electricity sales to their respective host communities where they operate their power facilities. In the case of Psalm, the ER 1-94 financial benefits were sourced from Agus and Pulangui Hydroelectric Power Plants (HEPPs), as well as the Sual, Pagbilao, and Bakun power plants under Independent Power Producer Administrator (IPPA) arrangements.
This is pursuant to Section 66 of Republic Act (RA) 9136 (Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, or “Epira”).
The ER 1-94 program supports electrification, livelihood, development, reforestation, watershed management, health, and environmental
enhancement projects. Psalm said these initiatives undergo a rigorous evaluation process led by the Department of Energy (DOE). Meanwhile, under RA 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, LGUs are entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds from the utilization and development of national wealth within their jurisdictions. For the Psalm, these proceeds come from the one percent of the gross sales or receipts from the preceding calendar year. The SNW funds are intended to directly benefit the inhabitants of host communities.
The SNW proceeds, on the other hand, came from: the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan HEPPs; the Agus and Pulangui HEPPs; and, the Bakun and San Roque power plants. The latter two are also under IPPA contracts.
Initially, the National Power Corp. was responsible for remitting both ER 1-94 and SNW funds to the DOE. However, in 2010, these functions were transferred to the Psalm. Since then, SNW proceeds have been directly remitted to the municipal treasurers of host communities, while ER 1-94 funds—originally still funneled through the DOE— have been remitted directly to generation companies beginning 2021, in accordance with DOE’s Circular 2018-08-0021.
HE national government raised a total of P40 billion through its issuance of dual-tranche Treasury bonds last Wednesday after results of the midterm election and easing tariffs between the world’s two largest economies assuaged investors on future risks.
According to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort, some “positive surprises” in the elections last Monday, particularly in the Senate votes, partly led to increased market confidence.
Ricafort added that Beijing’s and Washington’s decision to pause a tariff tiff is another allaying factor. That move, he said, temporarily jolted the US stock market to its highest level, erasing all of the losses since US President Donald Trump declared a “Liberation Day.”
“The election results, especially at the House of Representatives and at the Senate, would determine the level of support for the administration for the next three years to pass various reform and other priority measures that require legislation, such as eco -
Pagcor
THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) remitted P12.67 billion in dividends to the National Treasury as part of its contribution to nation-building.
A statement issued by the Pagcor last Wednesday read that its latest remittance makes up 75 percent of Pagcor’s 2024 net income, which amounted to P16.76 billion. The amount is higher than the 50-percent remittance mandated under Republic Act 7656 (Dividends law).
Pagcor Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco was quoted in the statement as saying that the remittance is in line with an order for government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to advance an additional 25 percent dividend “to support government spending.”
The Department of Finance (DOF)
nomic, tax/fiscal, and other reforms that improve the conduciveness of the country’s environment for more business activities, investments, and other economic opportunities that support long-term economic growth and development that is more inclusive and lift more people up from poverty,” Ricafort said.
Local investors’ upbeat mode prodded the auction committee of the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) to make a full award of the reissued 3-year and 20-year tenor T-bonds offered this week.
The 3-year T-bond was met with strong demand as bids reached P63.922 billion, which was 4.3-times oversubscribed vis-à-vis the P15 billion initially offered.
Yields of the 3-year T-bond averaged 5.703 percent, down by 7.6
basis points from 5.779 percent set during the previous auction for the same tenor nearly two months ago.
Rates of the 3-year debt papers ranged from a low of 5.650 percent to a high of 5.750 percent.
The average yield was also higher than the comparable 3-year Philippine Bloomberg Valuation Service Reference Rates (PHP BVAL) rate of 5.7900 percent as of May 13, 2024.
The government IOUs, with a remaining term of two years and nine months, fetched a coupon rate of 3.625 percent.
According to Ricafort, there is market appetite for the 3-year Tbonds with lower market risk by holding the bonds until maturity.
He explained that the average yield declined after monetary officials recently revealed more dovish signals. The possibility of a 75-basis points reduction in key policy rates for the rest of the year grew as inflation slowed to 1.4 percent in April, Ricafort added.
The easing in the pace of price spikes “provided greater leeway for future rate cuts and also amid the stronger peso exchange rate recently, among the best in 14 months,” he said.
Meanwhile, the auction committee also generated P25 billion from the 20-year T-bond offer despite the average yield increasing due to lower demand.
The average yield of the 20-year T-bond went up by 11 basis points to
has increased the mandated dividend remittance rate of GOCCs to the national treasury to at least 75 percent of their net earnings last year from the minimum 50 percent to improve non-tax revenue collections.
Broken down, about P8.45 billion of the remittance represents the mandatory 50-percent government share of Pagcor’s net income. About P4.22 billion accounts for the 25-percent advance that may be applied to future obligations.
Pagcor booked a net income of P4.22 billion in the first quarter of the year on the back of strong gaming revenues. This is 23-percent higher than the P3.43 billion recorded in the same period last year.
Revenues from electronic games and e-bingo segment contributed more than half to the total gaming revenues,
WITH commodity prices going down and employment in the Philippines steadying, Filipinos have more room to invest in financial protection amid more stable economic conditions, an executive of Allianz PNB Life Insurance Inc. said.
In a news briefing last Wednesday, Allianz PNB Life Head of Investments Henry Yang said the insurance industry, much like the Philippine economy, is insulated from ripples that the US sweeping tariffs created in the world economy.
“Luckily, the Philippines is around threefourths internal consumption, so our economic growth may not be impacted by it that much,” Yang said adding that the reciprocal tariffs imposed on the Philippines are slightly lower than the rest of Asian countries.
“You’ll feel the effects; but it’s not going to be terrible,” Allianz Global Investors Singapore Ltd. CEO Jason Fong added.
Fong said that anytime there’s good progress in trade, especially in China and the United States, it’s going to be good for the market. He was referring to news that Beijing and Washington agreed to impose a pause on their tariff tiff for 90 days.
Under the pause, the US will reduce tariffs imposed on Chinese imports to 30 percent from 145 percent for the next three months.
Meanwhile, China’s tariffs on US imports will decrease to 10 percent from 125 percent.
As trade tensions de-escalate, Yang said
it is “still stable” for the Filipinos right now.
“[There’s] not much trouble when it comes to employment and there’s also a little more slack when it comes to inflation because inflation is a bit easier nowadays.”
Inflation fell to 1.4 percent in April, slower than the 1.8 percent recorded in March and significantly lower than the 3.8 percent in April 2024. It was also the lowest inflation rate since November 2019’s 1.2 percent.
Meanwhile, the country’s unemployment rate in March 2025 was at 3.9 percent, marginally up from 3.8 percent in February and the same figure in March last year.
Still, Yang said there is still so much that could happen in the future that could put Filipinos in a standstill. As such, Filipinos can invest according to the risks they are willing to take.
Right now, Allianz PNB Life has P120 billion in assets under management (AUM) and the insurer is looking to grow the amount this year to P135 billion, a 12.5-percent increase.
This is expected to be driven by higher sales productivity and targeting customers’ needs, Yang said. Premiums earned by Allianz PNB Life amounted to P32.129 billion in 2024, higher by 23.06 percent from P26.107 billion in 2023.
reaching P14.32 billion in the first quarter.
Pagcor’s total contributions to nation-building (CNB) during the period reached P18.9 billion, a 21.5 percent increase from the P15.56 billion posted during the same period a year ago.
6.486 percent from the previous rate of 6.376 percent posted three months ago. Yields for the long-term debt papers ranged from 6.375 percent to 6.618 percent.
However, the average yield was higher than the 25-year PHP BVAL yield of 6.2503 percent as of May 13. Demand for the T-bond amounted to P27.890 billion, only 1.1 times oversubscribed than the P25 billion planned offering. The coupon rate settled at 6.875 percent. “The 20-year tenor is too long and subject to market risks if investors decide to sell before maturity, so subject to market forces,” Ricafort said.
The subdued demand could also be due to the recent issuance of the 10-year fixed-rate Treasury notes that siphoned off some of the excess peso liquidity from the financial system, he added.
In May, the Treasury will borrow a total of P160 billion through T-bonds, while P100 billion will be borrowed through Treasury bills. The Marcos Jr. administration will borrow P2.545 trillion this year, following an 80:20 mix in favor of local sources. The government’s outstanding debt reached P16.683 trillion as of the first quarter, up by 11.78 percent year-on-year from P14.925 trillion (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/05/08/national-government-debt-hits-record-p1668-trillion-as-of-end-march/).
According to the Pagcor, Tengco turned over the dividend check to Deputy National Treasurer Eduardo Anthony G. Mariño III on May 14.
“This substantial dividend contribution will go a long way in boosting our fiscal resources and furthering the administration’s development agenda,” Mariño was quoted in the statement as saying. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
Health&Fitness
Lupus: Why early diagnosis is crucial and how doctors are working to
By Candy P. Dalizon Contributor
LUPUS, an autoimmune disease affecting at least 5 million people worldwide and disproportionately impacting women, presents daily challenges for 30 to 50 out of every 100,000 individuals in the Philippines. Often described as a “mimicker disease,” lupus is notoriously complex to diagnose due to its wide range of overlapping symptoms.
“Let’s talk about Lupus,” urged Dr. Juan Javier Lichauco, past president of the Philippine Rheumatology Association (PRA), during a recent event commemorating World Lupus Day.
“It’s often a mimicker disease, masquerading as other illnesses. By bringing it into the light, we ensure Filipinos living with its daily struggles receive the early attention and treatment they deserve,” said Dr. Lichauco. Accounting for roughly 70 percent of lupus cases, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a long-term autoimmune disorder with no known cure. This condition arises when the immune system malfunctions and attacks healthy parts of the body, including the skin, joints, and vital organs.
“We call it a multi-systemic, auto-immune, chronic disease with a relapsing and remitting course—it’s unpredictable. It’s not contagious, it’s not cancer, but it can affect many organs,” explained Dr. Lichauco.
He shared that it is often said that no two lupus patients are alike, and their varied presentations frequently complicate diagnosis. A significant portion of patients, up to 74 percent, can experience moderate to severe disease. When discussing severe cases, this can range from extensive skin conditions, such as widespread rashes affecting a large surface area of the body.
Furthermore, severe lupus can affect major organ systems like the kidneys, potentially leading to endstage renal disease or renal failure if left untreated. Consequently, lupus patients face numerous significant
challenges.
“We know that there is a delay in the diagnosis of lupus from the onset of symptoms if it takes up to three to seven years before the diagnosis is made. And one of the main reasons is that people are not aware about the condition. It’s not a very common condition,” said Dr. Lichauco.
PRA efforts to address delay in diagnosis
DR . Auxencio Lucero, current PRA president, concurred that the presentation of lupus is very variable and that not all patients present the same way. He pointed out that there are a lot of possible manifestations in patients with lupus, and sometimes a primary care physician may not be able to correlate the individual manifestations with lupus.
“What can be correlated with the right doctor, for example, a rheumatologist? And hence, this leads to a delay in the diagnosis of the patient and therefore that also leads to a delay in proper management of the patient,” said Dr. Lucero.
“And as the head of PRA at the moment, we’ve been trying to address the issues at multiple levels. Number one, through education. So for education, we want to increase the level of awareness of our young doctors,” he added. Starting with medical students, PRA aims to help them recognize the importance of early diagnosis for patients with autoimmune conditions like lupus. Furthermore, PRA ensures that residents, particularly Internal Medicine trainees and other relevant
improve it
Editor:
Use of skin lightening products connected to decreased levels of depression–study
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
IN our society, having a light skin tone is perceived to be more beautiful. However, a number of lightening products may be harmful and pose health risks.
THE roundtable on lupus awareness and advocacy brought together leading rheumatologists, patient advocates, researchers, and medical professionals to address the persistent challenges of lupus care in the country.
specialists in training, are equipped to diagnose it early by attending medical conferences and conventions, among others.
Ongoing programs
DR. Lucero also cited programs that PRA is currently doing, one of which is developing benefit packages for different types of rheumatological conditions, especially lupus.
“And then once this is done, what we intend to do with this is present it to PhilHealth, and I hope that with a proposal, we’ll be able to come up with Z packages similar to the way they do it with cancer or heart procedures,” he added.
Another ongoing project of the PRA is the development of local Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), currently led by renowned rheumatologist Dr. Sandra Navarra. These locally adapted CPGs aim to align with how Filipino doctors manage the condition, addressing the current reliance on international CPGs that may not be entirely applicable to the local context.
“The purpose of developing the CPGs is that once finished, we will present it to PhilHealth. If they accept it as a good CPG, then it becomes a formal document of the government, and PhilHealth can actually cover medications based on these CPGs,” said Dr. Lucero.
World Lupus Day
DR. Lichauco pointed out the importance of the event dubbed “Transforming Lupus Care: Partnering for Better Outcomes for Filipinos Living with SLE” held on May 8, 2025 in Makati City.
“First is May 10 which is the World Lupus Day. This is a global call for action to remind ourselves of the importance of this important condition. We must remember that nine out of 10 patients with lupus are females. We are also celebrating Mother’s Day. Therefore, it is important for us to remind ourselves of the importance of protecting the welfare of our female patients with lupus and also empowering them,” said Dr. Lichauco. “It affects the way you work, study, and have fun with your family. There’s fatigue, pain, and fear because you know something inside your body is not working properly,” said Marilyn Mana-ay Robles, president of the Lupus Foundation of the Philippines.
Progress Through Collaboration and Innovation
“TODAY, lupus is no longer a death sentence. With proper care, patients can live full, productive lives. Our bold ambition is to bring new transformational therapies for multiple immune-mediated diseases, including lupus. We want to move beyond symptom control—our goal is remission, and eventually, a cure,” said Dr. Cyril Joseph Tolosa, Medical Affairs Director of AstraZeneca Philippines, a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company.
He further noted, “There is growing hope, but hope without action is not enough. We must collaborate— clinicians, patients, advocates in the private and public sector—to close the diagnosis gap and ensure equitable access to care.”
For more information and resources on SLE, visit AstraZeneca’s website regarding SLE.
Patient-centered approach is key when using technology for pre-natal care
By Rory Visco Contributor
THE wonderful journey of motherhood in the Philippines, fortunately, is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation, thanks much to the availability of technology. Even in the remote parts of the country, expectant mothers are having an easier time in navigating through their pregnancies by blending traditional care and digital technology.
Dr. Bianca Katrina Villanueva, a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and a member of the Subcommittee on Breastfeeding of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS), during the TVUP Health Updates webinar series titled “Ano ang Latest sa Pagbubuntis: Pre-Natal Care in the Digital Age,” said that globally, 84 percent of women use the internet to seek information related to their pregnancy.
“There’s no recent data yet in the Philippines but studies do show a strong interest among pregnant women to utilize technology for health-related purposes. This signifies a major shift where mothers are no longer passive recipients of information. Gone are the days where they just wait for their next consultation to know more about their pregnancy and are actively seeking knowledge online,” Dr. Villanueva said.
A new study from the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila revealed that using skin lightening products (SLP) is associated with decreased levels of depression and reduced stress among Filipino emerging adults or young Filipino adults aged between 18 to 29.
Authored by Dr. Zypher Jude Regencia as part of the requirements of his Ph.D. program in Health Sciences at the College of Medicine - UP Manila, the study was meant “to shed light on the role of colonialism in the success of the Filipino SLP industry.” White is beautiful
RESULTS of the study support the idea that colonialism and globalization influenced the way people look at a lighter complexion.
Many people among colonized countries believe that “white is beautiful” and social privilege and prioritization existed for people with lighter skin.
A nationwide online survey conducted between October 2022 and April 2023 gathered responses from 3,127 Filipino emerging adults or young Filipino adults between the ages of 18 to 29 regarding SLP use.
The term “emerging adulthood” was coined by Professor Jeffrey Jensen Arnett from the Department of Psychology at Clark University in Massachusetts and refers to the period between the late teens until the twenties.
Aware of the active ingredients MAJORITY of the respondents or 64 percent were aware of the active ingredients in SLPs and believe that there are benefits to having lighter skin tones. Thirty- four percent of the participants use SLP at least once a day, and 28 percent once a week.
“Poor mental health conditions, including symptoms of depression and trauma, may drive the use of more SLPs. For some, there exists a positive perception regarding skin lightening. It increases self-esteem, makes one healthier, and expands social engagements,” the dissertation, titled “Effect of Body Image Perception and Skin Lightening Practices on Mental Health of Emerging Filipino Adults: A Mixed Methods Approach” the study revealed.
Increased anxiety levels INTERESTINGLY, it pointed out that “the frequency of SLP use suggests being related to anxiety levels in which high frequency of use increased anxiety levels.”
Lastly, once-a-week use of SLP may “decrease the stress levels among the participants.”
The author warned that SLP may lead to fragile skin, poor wound healing, scarring, and the need for corrective surgery owing to exposure to hazardous chemical agents which may be present in SLPs.
Government campaigns in addressing the health risks and harms associated with skin-lightening are more effective than commercial approaches, Regencia also said.
The dissertation is slated to receive international recognition from the SSEA Jeffrey Jensen Arnett Dissertation Award in June 2025 in Charleston, South Carolina.
Commission on Population Development pushing 3 programs in Central Luzon
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes Contributor
THE Commission on Population and Development (CPD) recently said it is aggressively promoting responsible parenthood, gender equality, and sustainable population growth in Central Luzon.
Some of the most searched topics of interest, she said, are fetal development, symptoms, complications, pre-natal tests and nutrition, activities, and stages of delivery. Some of the benefits in using the Internet is that it helps reduce their anxiety, personal support, emotional connection, and helps build their confidence. However, Dr. Villanueva said some mothers do not tell their doctors what they discovered during their search on the Internet. “Even some patients upload their laboratory results to chatgpt or any artificial intelligence [AI] platforms for interpretation of the results.”
Millennials, Gen Z pregnant moms’ concerns
SHE cited some of the popular sites and applications like Google, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, and of course, Facebook, that are used by patients to access information. The factors that influence their popularity are ease of access and their relatability since they are able to watch people with the same condition they have, the community and support, plus the language and cultural relevance. As to what millennials and Gen Z pregnant moms’ concerns are, trending topics that Dr. Villanueva noted in a simple Google search are concerns on pre-existing health conditions, possible complications of their pregnancy, mental health or concerns
She added that the need of expectant mothers to use the Internet during the course of their pregnancy was driven by factors such as the need for information, ease and speed of access, and finding people with the same situation.
about developing anxiety or depression during pregnancy and the significant rise of postpartum depression, work-life balance or how to balance the demands of their work and their pregnancy, the financial strain of consultations, supplements, diagnostics, and also going towards delivery and of child care, options for doctors so they search through forums by asking patients who already delivered in a certain hospital or have been delivered or attended to by a certain doctor.
Birthing options are also very popular searches like mode of delivery, are they candidates for normal delivery or C-section, or if they had C-section before, are they candidates for VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). Another concern, Dr. Villanueva said, is about body image and post-partum recovery, the societal pressures like when they see other mothers who have fantastic figures even if they just gave birth. Next is environmental factors in baby’s health. “There’s a growing awareness of environmental toxins and their potential impact on pregnancy and the baby’s health.”
Also of interest are parenting styles and how to do it right since millennials and Gen Z’s are often portrayed as conscious and involved parents. “This can lead to anxieties about choosing the right parenting styles so we have to be ready to talk to patients about these.”
Adapting to needs with technology
DR. Villanueva presented ways on how to apply technology to pre-natal
care and especially patient education. Among these are digital platforms like EMRs (Electronic Medical Records) and also online consultations for telehealth and remote monitoring can be used for managing patients for prenatal care. “With telehealth, we can offer faster interpretation of laboratory and ultrasound results. There’s no need for them to go back to the hospital after a few days upon getting the results for efficient reporting, also for safekeeping of records and documents, and reduce patients’ exposure to infections.”
Next is reliable mobile applications specifically for pregnancy so that patients can know what happens to their pregnancy week by week, educate them about topics like nutrition exercise and mental health, which she said will further empower the patients to take a proactive role in their well-being. Some of these apps include menstrual cycle tracking, pregnancy tracker for weekly monitoring, and contraction timing.
Finally, Dr. Villanueva said that when using the Internet, it is important to prioritize reputable sources, evaluate critical information, understand the limitations of online information, use of the Internet as a tool to enhance and not replace healthcare, and privacy protection. “Technology is revolutionizing access and convenience. The Internet is a double-edged sword for information so we have to guide our patients to reliable digital resources, and this is where balanced patient-centered approach is key.”
In an article posted on the website of the Philippine Information Agency, Lourdes Nacionales, CPD Regional Director, reiterated that the agency is serious about balancing fertility rates, ensuring family planning accessibility, and promoting gender-responsive development policies.
Nacionales said family planning plays an important role in boosting economic stability to enable families to make informed decisions about the number and spacing of their children.
Total fertility rate
SHE said the Philippines has achieved success in reducing its total fertility rate to an average of two children per woman. This is the result of intensified family planning efforts in collaboration with national government agencies, civil society groups, and the media.
However, Nacionales expressed concern on some young couples who are opting not to have children, which, if unchecked, could result in demographic and economic challenges similar to those faced by countries like Japan and Singapore.
“At this point, we are not yet at risk of a population decline, as our median age in Region 3 remains young at 26 years old,” she said.
Nevertheless, she said balance is key.
“We want to maintain a sustainable population growth rate that supports economic stability and family well-being,” Nacionales said.
Aside from family planning, CPD also actively advocates for gender equality and women’s empowerment as integral components of population and development policies.
More work needed
NACIONALES said that while the country
has one of the smallest gender gaps among developing nations, more work is needed to achieve true equality.
“Initiatives for women’s empowerment aim to ensure equal opportunities, as women still face societal challenges. We need to continue promoting gender-responsive programs to bridge the remaining gaps,” she added.
In response, she said CPD continues to w ork with the Department of Health and local government units to provide access to free modern family planning methods such as pills and condoms, ensuring that reproductive health services reach communities effectively.
Nacionales also underscored the need for parents to take an active role in educating their children about reproductive health and responsible decision-making.
Misinformation SHE pointed out that misinformation and lack of proper guidance contribute to issues such as teenage pregnancy and early marriage.
“Open discussions within families about reproductive health and sexuality education can help prevent unintended pregnancies and promote responsible decision-making among young people,” she said.
Additionally, CPD reiterated its commitment to promote responsible parenthood, gender equality, and sustainable population development as key pillars for national progress.
“Through continued collaboration with stakeholders, the agency aims to create a society where every individual can make informed choices about their reproductive health and future,” Nacionales said.
Anne Ruth Dela Cruz
PHL, Qatar discuss strengthening of ties in 2nd joint consultation meeting
THE Republic of the Philippines and the State of Qatar convened their second joint consultation meeting on political matters at the Department of Foreign Affairs on May 8.
Foreign Affairs undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and Asean Affairs
Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro led the Filipino delegation, while Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ secretary general Dr. Ahmad Hassen M.A. Alhammadi headed the Qatari side.
Story & photo by Michael
“Wes” Cabangon
HE Philippine Embassy in Beijing
Tmarked its 50th anniversary with a cultural and trade showcase— an event that highlighted opportunities for both the Filipino community and businesses back home.
The event on April 26 featured a variety of booths that promoted Philippinemade goods and services, as well as tourism packages: from products supported by the Department of Trade and Industry, to fresh juice stalls and travel exhibitors.
Heads of the two delegations also had a candid exchange of views on matters affecting their respective regions.
After the meeting, Lazaro and Dr. Alhammadi signed an aide memoire affirming both sides’ readiness to fur-
The high-level meeting reviewed the progress of the countries’ cooperation on political and economic matters, as well as cooperation in the fields of energy, defense, health, education, youth, sports and tourism. Possible exchanges of highlevel visits to strengthen relations between the two countries were also discussed.
Envoy: Defense deal with UAE vs. cyber warfare threats underway
ADEAL that would expand Philippine-United Arab Emirates (UAE) cooperation in the area of defense, including countering cyber warfare threats, is “in the works.”
Amb. Alfonso Ver who is the Philippines’ envoy to the UAE said the defense agreement would help facilitate the possible acquisition of traditional armaments and tools against cybersecurity warfare threats, as well as new technologies, among others. Possible training and information exchange between the two states are also being considered. He told the Philippine News Agency that talks on defense had been going on for quite some time, but gained new impetus recently “as we pivoted our interests.”
The diplomat declined to comment further, but assured that that the two governments are hoping to sign the agreement soon.
This development unfolded as Manila and Abu Dhabi explored more areas of cooperation beyond issues on migration and oil sourcing.
Last April 21, the two governments signed the “Agreement on Security Cooperation,” which enables joint efforts to prevent, detect and combat various forms of transnational and organized crime.
This year too, the Philippines and UAE signed the “Treaties on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Extradition and Transfer of Sentenced Persons.”
During his time as Foreign Affairs assistant secretary for Middle East Affairs from 2021 to 2023, Ver championed Manila’s policy reevaluation toward the Middle East. From transacting with the region mainly through the lens of oil importation, overseas Filipino workers, and Organization of the Islamic Conference facilitation or the so-called “three Os,” Manila has doubled efforts over the years to expand its partnership with the region in broad areas of cooperation, especially economic.
With the UAE, Ver said Manila also hopes to “sign soon” a centerpiece economic deal called the “Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement” “as a clear example of the shift from the three Os.” Beyond defense, Manila and Abu Dhabi are aiming to sign investment pacts for essential minerals and expansion of air services, which the envoy said are “fields heretofore overlooked.” Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA
ther boost bilateral ties and outlining the concrete steps to take to give effect to existing partnerships.
The political consultations serve
as
Instituto Cervantes features series of films from Castilla y León regions
THIS May, Instituto Cervantes Manila, the Castilla y León Film Commission and the Embassy of Spain will present a series by filmmakers from Castilla y León.
The film series aims to provide an insight into the film production in the said region, with productions by local directors and talents who make use of traditions, history and current situations in the territory as the framework for their screenplays, in an attempt to create a Castilian-Leonese cinema.
The movie series includes four feature films and three shorts. They will be shown every Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Instituto Cervantes in Manila. Each screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring the filmmakers and Kristine Guzmán who is the head of Castilla y León Film Commission.
On May 15, the film series will screen “Yo, mi, me, conmigo” (2024, 14 mins.) directed by Alicia Van Assche. The short documentary is about sheep pastor Nemesio from Babia, León. He lives as he did a century ago: without running water, and at times without electricity. His way of life is now a viable option for a group of people who need calm and those who seek to silence the mental noise.
The documentary is complemented by the drama-thriller feature film “Pastoris” (2024, 108 mins.) directed by Pablo Moreno. It traces the life of Domingo, who returns home after having been given up for dead in the war. Everything has changed—even his family. He becomes the piece that does not fit into society. The possibility of a job that could bring him some benefits arises: shepherding a flock
of sheep from Salamanca to the winter pastures of Extremadura. Domingo begins the journey through magical places, showing the strange and fascinating customs of the shepherd society. He is not aware that the dangers are not only on the road, but within himself. This film was shot in Palra: a Leonese dialect that is conserved in the region.
The third screening will take place on May 22, with “Las calles de Granada” (2023, 14 mins.), a short directed by Isabel Medarde. Set in 1941, it features the traditional patronal feast of the Virgin of Manzaneda. After the procession and mass, the villagers proceed the festival livened by La Orquestina de León. The festive atmosphere is cut short when the two girls Socorro and Lola start a fight over Narciso. To everyone’s amazement, the girls relive, during the dance, the brawl narrated in the song that La Orquestina is playing: “The Streets of Granada.”
It will be followed by “Secundarias” (2023, 81 mins.) directed by Arturo Dueñas. Filmed in plan sequence featuring a group of actresses preparing for the premiere of the play “Letters to the Emperor
at the Teatro Calderón in Valladolid” which is about the last days of Emperor Charles V at the Monastery of Yuste in September 1558 surrounded by the most important women in his life. But things do not go as planned.
The series will conclude on May 29 with “La Controversia de Valladolid” (2023, 70 mins.) helmed by Juan RodríguezBriso. The film revolves around a debate between Bartolomé de las Casas and Ginés de Sepúlveda. Both held two historically antagonistic positions about the natural rights of Native Americans during the mid-16th Century. Almost 500 years later, a small group of experts analyze what is considered the first debate in history on Human Rights.
All films will be screened in their original Spanish language with English subtitles at the Intramuros branch of Instituto Cervantes: 855 Calle Real, San Luis Complex, Intramuros, Manila. Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, firstserved basis. For more information, visit Instituto Cervantes’ web site: www.manila.cervantes.es or follow it on Facebook: InstitutoCervantesManila.
Cultural demonstrations that included a class in Filipino martial arts arnis underscored the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to promote its cultural exports in China.
Ambassador of the Philippines to Beijing Jaime FlorCruz emphasized to the locals the importance of the events in bridging people-to-people ties: “[Enjoy a sampling of our various attractions that may be found in] the streets of Manila, the hills of Bohol, the white powdery sands of Boracay, and the heritage houses and churches of Vigan.”
The event also allowed China-based Filipinos to connect and network, particularly through the “Filipino Community in Beijing” or “FilComBei,” which has grown
into a platform for regular gatherings, support systems and cultural exchanges. The event was also seen both as a “soft power” strategy and a market signal: a rising interest in Filipino products, tourism and creative industries among consumers. For Philippine businesses and exporters, the occasion presented a proper avenue to explore cross-border partnerships and market-entry strategies—particularly in sectors such as food, wellness, tourism and education.
As the Philippines continues to strengthen its ties with China, cultural and community-led initiatives such as these are deemed to play an increasingly vital role in shaping perception, while opening new doors for both cultures and peoples.
US and PHL hold joint training to counter hazardous materials trafficking in seaports
DTRA instructors and facilitators from the Office for Transportation
during a course exercise.
THE United States government, through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and International Counterproliferation Program, recently hosted a maritime security training to enhance Philippine government’s efforts in countering maritime trafficking of hazardous chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials.
During the “Targeting and Risk Management Workshop” held in Manila, DTRA experts and Filipino facilitators from the Philippines’ Office for Transportation Security (OTS) trained 35 representatives from various national government agencies in identifying, targeting as well as interdicting illicit vessels and cargoes that traffic hazardous components of weapons of mass destruction in different maritime domains. It also included “train-the-trainer” activities to sustain the agencies’ efforts in identifying maritime security operational and doctrinal gaps.
Participants included representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry’s Strategic Trade Management Office, Department of Transportation’s OTS, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority, Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns, Philippine Nuclear Research Insti-
tute, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, and Philippine National Police’s Maritime Group.
In his remarks, Dir. Jose S. Embang Jr. of the Anti-Terrorism Council Program Management Center’s (ATC-PMC) CBRN office thanked DTRA for its support in helping the Philippines refine its tracking methods and response procedures for potentially hazardous unauthorized materials discovered at seaports. He added that the efforts contribute to national and global security.
“We value our longstanding partnership with ATC-PMC and their unwavering efforts to strengthen Philippine CBRN policy and legislation,” said DTRA chief Nicholas DeDominici at the US Embassy. “We anticipate continued engagement with ATC-PMC, the National Maritime Center, and the Philippine interagency in support of initiatives that reinforce the ironclad commitment between our two countries.”
The workshop is part of DTRA’s efforts to help boost interagency cooperation within Philippine government agencies; improve their capabilities in countering WMD proliferation and responding timely and effectively to maritime security incidents; and strengthen US-Philippine cooperation in support of a secure, prosperous, free and open Indo-Pacific Region.
the primary dialogue mechanism between two foreign ministries. The third bilateral consultations will be hosted by the Qatari side.
USEC. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and Sec. Gen. Dr. Ahmad Hassen M.A. Alhammadi
DFA-OPD/JEFFREY MENDOZA
Security guide students
ARNIS demonstration
Meralco, AFP Reserve Command partner to strengthen disaster preparedness
MANUEL V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command (AFPRESCOM) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to form a military reservist unit to further strengthen disaster preparedness and energy resiliency.
The agreement paves the way for the creation of the Meralco AFP Affiliated Reserve Unit that will allow the military to tap into Meralco’s specialized skills and expertise in power distribution and infrastructure to energize critical facilities to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities. The partnership will also complement the manpower and assets of the military during local or national emergencies and disaster incidents.
After
“This only means that the task in handling or addressing the national security issues of our country is not only in the hands of a few, but is a shared responsibility by all,” BGen.
Ferdinand Geminic P. Ramirez, commander of the AFPRESCOM, said during the signing of the agreement.
Department of Energy Undersecretary and military reservist Felix William Fuentebella witnessed the signing of the agreement and hailed the partnership as a “must” as he commended Meralco for its active role in pursuing energy security.
Under the agreement, Meralco employees are encouraged to volunteer as reservists to
help protect the company’s critical electricity distribution infrastructure during crises, participate in emergency response operations and security drills, and ensure business continuity during national emergencies.
“This partnership is about ensuring energy resilience whether in times of natural calamities or manmade challenges,” Meralco First Vice President and Head of Networks Froilan J. Savet said.
The initiative also serves as an avenue for Meralco employees to actively contribute to national security, disaster response, and emergency preparedness while continuing their professional careers within the
1 year, Okada Foundation, KnK partnership bears
fruit with successful community gardens across the Philippines
MORE than a year after the partnership between Okada Foundation Inc. (OFI) and Kabisig ng Kalahi (KnK) was launched, a bountiful harvest continues to bless the community gardens that were established across different parts of the country.
Meaningful progress was also reported in the joint effort to combat malnutrition and improve food security across the Philippines, as the collaboration of OFI and KnK, through its community building platform in multiple barangays, empower families to grow their own food and generate income.
KnK founder and director Victoria Wieneke expressed her gratitude and pride in the success of the initiative. “I was so thankful for such a productive year. With the help of Okada Foundation, we were able to reach many communities and make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Wieneke. “Even nearby communities began reaching out to us, hoping to participate.”
The partnership was focused on two flagship programs: the Food Share Program (FSP) and the Complementary Nutrition Program (CNP). These seek to improve food access, promote nutrition, and support sustainable livelihoods.
OFI President James Lorenzana highlighted the need to address hunger at the grassroots level, recalling the beginning of their partnership with KnK. “We recognized that food security was a fundamental issue we needed to prioritize,” he explained. “Working with them reaffirmed Okada Foundation’s mission to tackle malnutrition and empower communities through sustainable solutions.”
The FSP involved the creation of
community gardens and training for families in basic agriculture. In Barangay Dayap, Calauan, Laguna, 60 families received rice assistance and farming guidance to help them grow their own food or sell crops for income.
Following its initial success, the program expanded to Barangay La Mesa, Calamba and Barangay Diezmo, Cabuyao in Laguna, as well as Dolores and General Nakar in Quezon Province.
Wieneke shared the visible impact of the gardens. “Beyond the joy of seeing families come together, we saw real changes,” said Wieneke. “Families were eating healthier, and the gardens became an added source of livelihood.”
In addition to food assistance,
beneficiaries received educational materials for local libraries, reflecting the program’s dual focus on nourishment and learning. Lorenzana reiterated that the initiative encourages self-reliance through a “pledgeto-work system,” promoting self-reliance and skill-building alongside immediate aid.
One solo-parent beneficiary shared how the program gave her a chance to earn extra income. In addition to harvestable crops, she received a high-speed sewing machine that helped support her family further.
The president of the Putol Farmers Association echoed the program’s impact and how they no longer had to worry about where to get rice to feed their families. “Nutritious meals came from our communal garden,” they said.
company.
“Through this partnership, we can elevate Meralco’s emergency preparedness and disaster response capabilities. Rest assured that Meralco will not only keep the lights on, we stand ready to support the AFP and the Filipino people whenever we are needed,” Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho said.
As an active partner of the government in nation-building and an advocate of public safety, Meralco welcomes opportunities where it can leverage its industry expertise to contribute to the country’s shared goals.
Araw Hospitality Group Hosts First Media Premiere
IN
a groundbreaking initiative, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has partnered with international game developer and publisher MOONTON Games to become the official banking partner of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Professional League (MPL) Philippines, the country’s longestrunning and most-watched esports league.
As esports continues to gain global recognition as a professional and competitive industry, with millions of fans, athletes, and established leagues, this collaboration marks the firstever partnership between an esports league and a banking institution to revolutionize the banking experience of gamers and strengthen the Bank’s presence among tech-savvy and mobilefirst customers, making banking more accessible for gamers while reinforcing BPI’s commitment to digital innovation.
The Bank mounted offline and online activities for the community in the MPL Philippines Arena to introduce Digital Deposit Accounts, Insurance, Investments, and Loans—all tailored to support the fast-paced, mobile-first lifestyles of techsavvy consumers. Through its partnership with MPL PH, BPI is seeking to empower the gaming community, enabling them with reliable, convenient, and innovative banking solutions to support them on their road to financial wellness.
Aruga, the loyalty program Araw Rewards, and a merchandise line called Araw Lifestyle. With each project, the group aims to enhance every traveler’s journey while uplifting a distinctly Filipino ethos.
The event opened with a conversation featuring Araw Hospitality President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier.
Reflecting on the group’s vision, Lhuillier shared: “Each Araw property reflects this vision — vibrant, characterfilled, and rooted in genuine connection. At Araw, we go beyond the regular stay — we create meaningful moments.
Founded in 2019, Araw Hospitality Group has quickly grown into a dynamic force in the Philippine travel industry. Its portfolio includes a diverse range of properties designed for distinct travel experiences: from the secluded elegance of Lihim Resorts in El Nido, to the beachfront charm of One Hagdan Villas in Boracay and Bacau Bay Resort in Coron. Nawa Wellness in Batangas offers a tranquil retreat, while the UNWND Boutique Hotels in Makati, Calatagan, Dumaguete, and Camiguin cater to vibrant, culturally immersive stays. The highly anticipated UNWND Prime in Siargao is set to open later this year.
The group introduced “Araw Aruga,” Araw’s corporate social responsibility program, presented by Cybille Barcebal, CSR and Wellness Manager. “Araw Aruga” is built on the principle of creating meaningful hospitality experiences, placing sincere community engagement and sustainable development at the core of every initiative.
Through a landmark partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Araw Hospitality aims to foster deeper, more respectful connections with Indigenous communities—supporting efforts to preserve cultural heritage and create spaces where these communities can thrive. Representatives from the NCIP were also present during the launch to mark this important collaboration.
“BPI is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation, providing banking solutions that meet the unique demands of this fast-paced, digital-first world. But the impact goes beyond offering products; BPI is deeply committed to building long-term financial security for professional esports players and coaches by equipping them with the tools and knowledge to manage their finances well beyond their gaming careers,” said Ma. Cristina “Ginbee” Go, BPI’s Head of Consumer Banking.
Lee Viloria, Head of PH Business Development and Partnerships at MOONTON Games, said, “We are delighted to welcome BPI into MPL Philippines, the country’s most-watched esports league. This landmark partnership cements the first-ever collaboration of an esports league with a universal bank in the Philippines and is aligned with our mission to further expand the esports ecosystem through collaborations with brands that share the same vision with us.”
“This historic partnership benefits our fans with BPI’s programs curated for the MLBB esports and gaming community. We are one with BPI in showing our young fans available platforms and programs to develop healthy and lifelong financial habits, especially at a young age. We are thrilled to have MPL Philippines as BPI’s partner in pushing for financial inclusion among our community,” added Matthew Chan, PH Head of Esports at MOONTON Games.
A group of women from Barangay Padre Garcia, Batangas holding a bountiful harvest of Pechay.
Tour champ Wiggins: I’m lucky to be alive
LONDON—Former Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins has revealed he became addicted to cocaine after retiring from cycling.
In an in terview with British newspaper The Observer, the fivetime Olympic gold medalist said he is “lucky” to be alive.”
There were times my son thought I was going to be found dead in the morning,” the 45-year-old Wiggins said. “I was a functioning addict. People wouldn’t realize. I was high for most of the time for years.”
T he British cyclist was a gold medalist in four straight Olympics from 2004 and won the Tour in 2012. He retired in 2016.
In 2022, he made an allegation in an interview with Men’s Health UK magazine that he was sexually groomed by a coach—whose name he did not reveal—when he was 13 years old.
In a s oon-to-be-published autobiography, The Chain, Wiggins detailed how his life spiraled into a cycle of debt and addiction after retirement from the sport.
Wiggins told the Observer his cocaine addiction became a “really bad problem” and he was “walking a tightrope.” He quit his addiction a year ago, the newspaper said.
“I already had a lot of self-hatred, but I was amplifying it,” he said. “It was a form of self-harm and self-sabotage. It was not the person I wanted to be. I realized I was hurting a lot of people around me.”
Dennis receives suspended sentence over wife’s death
IN Adelaide, Australia, former Olympic cyclist and world champion Rohan Dennis received a suspended sentence on Wednesday over what was termed a “tragic accident” that led to the death of his wife, fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins.
T he 34-year-old Dennis appeared in South Australia District Court after earlier pleading guilty to a charge of committing an aggravated act likely to cause harm.
Dennis was arrested after Hoskins, 32, was struck by his vehicle in front of their home at Medindie in Adelaide’s north on December 30, 2023. Hoskins suffered serious injuries in the crash and died at Royal Adelaide Hospital. The court was told that the couple had argued over kitchen renovations before Dennis left their home and drove away. The court also heard that Hoskins
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Thursday, May 15, 2025
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph
Editor: Jun Lomibao
Former basketball stars among winners in polls
JBy Josef Ramos
UST like movie personalities, athletes were in the thick of the race in last Monday’s mid-term elections with the most prominent among them—boxing icon and a former senator and presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao—obviously losing his charm outside the ring after crashing out of the senatorial race.
Pacquiao, an eighth-division professional boxing champion who will be inducted in the Boxing Hall of Fame next month, was 18th in the Commission on Elections tally with his more than 10 million votes accounting for only 15 percent in comparison with front-runner Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who got more than 26 million votes.
Incidentally, Go’s considered as the most active chairman of the Senate Sports and Youth Committee during his first term as senator.
San Juan City, meanwhile, has the
most number of former athletes, pro basketball players in particular who were either reelected or elected— former De La Salle center Francis Zamora as mayor and James Yap, Ervic Vijandre and Don Allado as councilors. Zamora, incidentally, beat Philippine Basketball Association legend Philip Cezar for the position.
As former athletes, we know how to lead and how to be a role model and we are all glad to be given opportunity to serve and emphasize the value of discipline,” Yap, who last played for Blackwater, told BusinessMirror on Wednesday.
Another PBA legend, Vergel Meneses, earned a third term as Bulacan (Bulacan) mayor, Robert “Dudut” Jaworski Sr. was reelected vice mayor of Pasig City, while elected councilors in their respective cities, towns or provinces were Jeric Teng and GJ Ylagan (Gumaca, Quezon), Jervy Cruz (Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija), Gary David (Dinalupihan,
Bataan) and former volleyball player Wewe Medina (Orani, Bataan).
Charo Soriano, one of the more prominent volleyball stars from Ateneo, got her seat back as councilor in Tuegagarao City.
L osing their bids were Renren Ritualo as councilor in San Juan, Olympian and champion swimmer Eric Buhain in the First Congressional District in Batangas, Monsour del Rosario as vice Mayor in Makati City and Dondon Hontiveros as Cebu City mayor.
A lso unfortunate in their council bids were Paul “Bong” Alvarez in Manila, Bonel Balingit in Cebu City, Danny Ildefonso in Urdaneta City and Gilbert Malabanan in San Pedro, Laguna.
had jumped onto the hood of the car during the incident.
Dennis on Wednesday was sentenced to one year, four months and 28 days in jail, to be suspended for two years. The sentence was reduced from two years and two months because of his guilty plea and he’s been placed on a two-year good behavior bond. His li cense was also suspended for five years.
“I accept you have a sense of responsibility for all that occurred, I accept you have anguished over what could have been different if you had acted in some other way,” Judge Ian Press said Wednesday. D ennis showed little emotion
when Press sentenced him.
“ Given your plea of guilty, your remorse, that you are the sole carer for your young children, and given all your other personal circumstances and the circumstances of the offending, I am satisfied that good reason exists to suspend that sentence,” the judge said. The offense carried a maximum sentence of seven years in jail but lawyer Jane Abbey asked that her client receive a suspended sentence, which was not opposed by the prosecution.
During sentencing submissions in in April, Amanda Hoskins said her daughter had loved Dennis “and I know that you would never intentionally hurt her.” AP
‘Bella’ queen of UAAP women’s volleyball for record third time
HICAELA “BELLA” BELEN
Mhoisted the Most Valuable Player trophy to become only the third player to win the most prestigious individual award in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament.
Moments before Belen—22 and playing her last season with National University (NU)—joined Ateneo phenom Alyssa Valdez (2013 to 2015) and Far Eastern University (FEU) star Ailyn Ege (1999 to 2001) in the record books, the Bulldogs stayed alive for a fifth straight men’s crown with a gutsy 25-20, 22-25, 25-15, 18-25, 15-11 victory in Game 2 to force sudden death against the Tamaraws on Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Bulldogs leveled the best-ofthree series to 1-1 while derailing the Tamaraws’ bid for a record 26th
who also won two MPV crowns as a junior player. “I also want to thank my family for their unwavering support, my teammates, coaches and to our manager, Engineer Mariano “Bing” See Diet.” Belen compiled a league-leading 96.226 statistical points (SPs)—she ranked fourth in scoring with 246 points, No. 1 in spiking with a 37.76 percent success rate and had the mose 30 aces (0.57 per set).
On defense, she placed fifth in digs (2.79 per set) and third in receptions (44.44 percent) to also run away with the Best Server, Exceptional Player of the Season and Best Outside Spiker awards De La Salle’s Angel Canino also won a second Best Outside Spiker title in her three-year UAAP career. The other individual awardees were Adamson University’s Shaina Nitura (Rookie of the Year), De La Salle’s Shevana Laput (Best Opposite Spiker) and Amie Provido (Best Middle Blocker), University of the Philippines (Best Middle Blocker), NU’s Camilla “Lams” Lamina (Best Setter) and De La Salle’s Lyka De Leon (Best Libero).
LECCE, Italy—Casper van Uden won a bunch sprint at the end of the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday for the biggest victory of his career, while Mads Pedersen kept hold of the leader’s pink jersey. Van Uden, a Grand Tour debutant who rides for Team Picnic-PostNL, edged out Olav Kooij as the three-week race resumed in the heel of Italy after the opening three stages in Albania. I t was only the fifth-ever professional win for the 23-yearold Dutch cyclist and a first in nearly a year.
“I didn’t do it alone. We did it with the whole team, all the boys here, and all the staff back at HQ as well. They did super work,” Van Uden said.
“I don’t think it’s a surprise. I know the boys and everyone really believes in me, so sometimes I have to find that belief in myself a little bit, but this helps. And everyone from the team, they do a really good job helping me believe in myself and it pays off. ” Maikel Zijlaard was third at the end of the mostly flat, 189-kilometer route from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Alberobello to Lecce, to complete and all-Dutch podium for the first time in the Giro’s history. Pedersen was fourth to maintain a seven-second lead over pre-race favorite Primoz Roglic and his 14-second advantage over Mathias Vacek.
“It was a hectic final, especially like the rest of the day was quite easy, but the final was really something special,” Pedersen said. “Wide roads and then narrow roads and so on. So a stressful day in the end, but all in all it was okay, we made it.”
It was certainly a long day for lone breakaway rider Francisco Muñoz. The Spanish cyclist spent 133 kilometers up front on his own after escaping right from the start—and shaking his head when he saw no one had followed him. Wednesday’s fifth stage finishes at another World Heritage site as it ends in Matera, which is renowned for its “Sassi” or ancient cave dwellings, after a 151-kilometer route from Ceglie Messapica. The Giro ends in Rome on June 1 AP.
BRADLEY WIGGINS reveals he became addicted to cocaine after retiring from cycling saying “he was a functioning addict and
most of the time for years.” AP
PACQUIAO MENSES PUMAREN YAP SORIANO
CASPER VAN UDEN prevails in a bunch sprint in Stage 4.
ROHAN DENNIS is sentenced to one year, four months and 28 days in jail, to be suspended for two years. AP
MHICAELA “BELLA” BELEN is all smiles as she closes out her league campaign with another prestigious individual award.
Tcreated by Maglalatik dancers and the sumptuous presentation of its famous delicacy will once again fill the streets of Biñan—also known as “The City of Life”—as it welcomes the 15th Puto Latik Festival on May 15 to 23. But more than just a merrymaking event, this year marks a conscious stride towards continuing the city’s deep-rooted traditions and rich heritage.
An annual celebration highlighting the city’s revered Puto Bi ñan (steamed rice cake) and the traditional Filipino folk dance, Maglalatik, residents and visitors alike will witness the said dance performance and other key activities such as the land float competition, street dancing showdown, beauty pageants, talent competition, cultural shows, sectoral gatherings, and public service events.
Together with the Araw ng Biñan, Puto Latik is one of the two principal festivals of Biñan City that serves as a communal event for its 24 barangays to showcase their diverse talents, signature products, and vibrant culture.
“This year’s Puto Latik Festival is a historical milestone for the City of Biñan because it symbolizes the enduring culture of
the city,” announced Atty. Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila Jr., City Mayor of Biñan. “This is a celebration of people, products, and camaraderie all over Biñan.”
Historically rich festival
The first Puto Latik Festival was observed in 2010 and was introduced under the vision of then-Mayor, now Representative Marlyn “Len” Alonte-Naguiat. Initially, this celebration was held during the first week of February, coinciding with the annual Araw ng Biñan (Biñan Day).
In 2017, the Puto Latik Festival underwent a significant change with the move of its observance to May 15. This shift was the result of thorough research and deliberation by the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts, and Tourism Office (BCHATO). Consequently, the festival was transformed into a more extensive nine-day celebration dedicated to San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers and of Biñan, as May 15 marks his feast day. This annual observance every May was further validated by City Ordinance No. 14-(2016).
The Maglalatik has been traced historically as an offering dance to San Isidro Labrador, a tradition intended to invoke blessings for agricultural abundance—adding more relevance to the essence of the festival.
A celebration of Arts, Culture, and Tradition
Biñan’s dedication to the arts and culture seals its reputation as a creative city. This year, the city’s commitment culminated in the prestigious “Living Cultures Destination of the Year” award at the Philippine Tourism Awards (PTA), a recognition bestowed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) CALABARZON Office. This accolade recognizes Biñan’s unwavering efforts in preserving and promoting its rich cultural heritage through vibrant local festivals, engaging art and cultural workshops, and enriching community-based tourism programs, ensuring traditions thrive while offering educational and immersive experiences for visitors.
Dr. Bryan Jayson “BJ” Borja, City of Biñan Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer, emphasized their long-standing vision to preserve the rich heritage of the city by raising public awareness. According to him, “Understanding our cultural, historical, and artistic heritage fosters a natural and authentic embrace of our roots and a genuine love for our homeland.”
He explained that this love eventually leads Biñanenses to safeguard their culture and identity. Thus, as part of the holistic approach to sustainable tourism, the City of Biñan annually holds engaging and festive programs to show-
case its creative legacies.
“Doing these staple competitions are not simply events that we wanted to conduct. Ultimately, we use them as platforms to incorporate the elements of puto and Maglalatik in order to reinforce its essence and relevance while making it fun and immersive,” mentioned Dr. Borja.
A cherished tradition is the Land Float Competition, which will challenge participating barangays to creatively design floats that highlight their unique offerings and products.
Another captivating highlight of the 15th Puto Latik Festival is the street dancing competition, which will showcase the participants’ rhythmic and artistic interpretations of the city’s heritage and culture through compelling performances. Several dance groups will be displaying their unique choreographies in this year’s contest.
Other trademark events are the Mr. and Ms. Biñan, Miss Biñan Gay Queen, and Little Mr. and Ms. Biñan pageants. These events celebrate the charm and sense of purpose of the Biñanenses, promoting inclusivity and showcasing the beauty of the city’s people.
Meanwhile, the Puto Biñan Cook-off will challenge chefs, culinary students, and home cooks to incorporate the local rice cake into innovative dishes and transform it into various delicious culinary creations.
To strengthen and sustain the transmission of Biñan City’s cultural knowledge and traditions, the week-long Puto Latik Festival will likewise feature educational and cultural summits to safeguard the essence of Maglalatik and puto products.
“From May 21 to 23, we have added a Gawang Biñan Trade Fair. This fair aims to feature the historically and culturally significant products of Biñan, including those made by magpuputo (puto makers), magsusurbetes (sorbetes makers), magchichinelas (slipper makers), magsasapatos (shoemakers), and magsusombrero (hat makers). They will be provided space at the plaza to showcase their offered products,” said Dr. Borja, explaining the festival’s activity. Empowering Biñanenses through tourism
For many years, Biñan has consistently gained recognition in promoting its history and heritage. In 2023, the city’s outstanding efforts in fostering tourism growth, preserving cultural heritage, and championing sustainable tourism were recognized with the prestigious Grand Champion Trophy in the Best TourismOriented LGU Award category at the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP)-Department of Tourism Pearl Awards. Our mission this year is to celebrate our
heritage and people through a comprehensive and sustainable tourism approach during the Puto Latik Festival,” Dr. Borja told BusinessMirror. “Tourism will serve as our vehicle for sharing the arts, culture, and traditions of Biñan.”
The City Vice Mayor of Biñan, Angelo “Gel” Alonte, supports this vision by encouraging both small and large entrepreneurs to showcase their locally-made products. He stated, “We will empower our local entrepreneurs to feature their signature products to attract more visitors and allow them to discover the wonders of Biñan.”
Biñan City boasts a total of 8,549 active businesses, including 711 new ventures and 7,838 renewed ones. The Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO) is optimistic that the 15th Puto Latik Festival will significantly benefit, in particular, the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“T hese elements are all interconnected. From the moment visitors arrive and utilize our local transportation, such as jeepneys and tricycles, to their consumption of local food purchased from our vendors during their stay, they are directly supporting our fellow Biñan residents while simultaneously experiencing the heritage of our city,” Vice Mayor Alonte added. Additionally, the festival will leverage social media to broaden its reach and promotion. Live streams of various events will be available on the BCHATO official Facebook page, where announcements and updates will also be posted for public information.
Honoring history and tradition
With the annual theme (since 2010), “Makiisa. Makisaya. Makisayaw,” the Puto Latik Festival invites everyone to immerse themselves in Biñan’s legacies: Culture, heritage, and tradition.
The highlight of last year’s festival was the fact that all barangays participated in all festivities of Puto Latik,” Rep. AlonteNaguiat commented. “The healthy competition among different groups and barangays is a symbolism of their love for the city which contributed to the general success of the Puto Latik.”
City officials led by Mayor Arman Dimaguila pose at a photo booth during the opening of the Puto Latik Festival.
A participating barangay performs in the Puto Latik Festival Street Dancing Competition held at Plaza Rizal.
C2 Thursday, May 15, 2025 | www.businessmirror.com.ph
BIÑAN CITY: MODEL PLACE FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
As Biñan City marks the 15th celebration of the Puto Latik Festival, it is fitting to recall the following breakthroughs
By Vincent Peter Rivera
THE City of Biñan has long held a significant place in Philippine history and heritage. Its relevance is deeply rooted in being the hometown of the national hero, José Rizal; the location of his mother, Teodora Alonso’s ancestral home, the Alberta Mansion; and the presence of 1918 Plaza Rizal, a monument created in his honor.
A lso touted as the Premier Heritage and Trade Capital of the South, Biñan has consistently
demonstrated its capacity for fostering economic growth. The Biñan City Tourism Website (experiencebinan.com) highlights the largest public market in both Laguna province and the CALABARZON Region where retailers from neighboring
municipalities frequently converge on the city proper to procure goods and merchandise for resale.
Further, Biñan City serves as a regional commercial nucleus, evidenced by its numerous banking institutions and the burgeoning number of commercial
establishments and modern shopping centers.
Consequently, the city’s enduring efforts towards preserving its heritage and excellence in flourishing its economic capabilities has earned significant achievements and
numerous recognitions.
A s Biñan City marks the 15th celebration of the Puto Latik Festival, it is fitting to recall the following breakthroughs that have led to its progressive transformation and etched a positive impact in the lives of its people:
n GAPAS - Gawad Serbisyong Mahusay Rank 1
n GAPAS - Gawad Serbisyong Mahusay Rank 1 (2022 assessment)
n Most Outstanding CSWD Officer of the Philippines (Component City Category)
n Gawad Ulat-Most DSWD Supportive Radio Station
n Special Award Category for LGU Implementing SWD LawsMost Comprehensive Report
n Special Award Category for LGU Implementing SWD LawsGood Practice Award
n Protective Programs and Services - Model LGU
Implementing Social Supplementary Feeding Program
n Protective Programs and Services - Model LGU
Implementing Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens
n Protective Programs and Services - Model LGU
Implementing Persons with Disability Office (PDAO)
n Social Welfare Development Laws Prime Mover 2023
n Lingap sa Mahirap Program
n Solo Parent Subsidy
n 100,000.00 cash grant local fund for centenarian
n 5,000.00 cash gift for 85 years old
n Birthday Cash Gift for Person With Disability (PWD)
n Biñan City Development Center
n Monthly allowance for PWD association President, ASCAB President,VAWC desk Officer, Solo Parent Association
President
n Paglaray Award-Most Comprehensive SWD report
n Paglaray Award-SWD Monitoring Champion
n Social Protection
n Newly opened and operational Biñan City Hospital (Ospital ng Biñan)
n Women Health Center
n Vaccination Sites and Vax on wheels during Covid 19 pandemic
n Super Health Center
n Bronze Achievement Award - City Epidemiology & Surveillance Unit for outstanding Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) Surveillance (CHOI)
n Bronze Achievement Award - Routine Immunization, ranking as a Top 3 City for Fully Immunized Children (FIC)
in 2024 Midyear Coverage (CHOI)
n Bronze Achievement Award - Routine Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccination (BOPV) 2024 Midyear Coverage (CHOI)
n Gold Achievement Award - Chikiting Ligtas Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (BOPV SIA) (CHOII)
n Center for Womens Health (Cervical Cancer Screening, Digital Mammography)
n Medical Mission
n Surgical Mission
n Cataract Operation
n Operation Tuli
n Alis Bukol Operation
n Cleft lip and Cleft palate operation
n Medical Assistance Program:
n Alagang Len Card
n Outstanding GAD implementer FY 2020-2022 and 2022-2024 HEALTH COMPLIANCE AND RESPONSIVENESS
n Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients
n Outstanding Performance of PhilHealth Konsulta Provider
n National AIDS and STD prevention and control program
n exceptional Dedication and Outstanding Contribution in expanding HIV Services
n Excellence award for HIV treatment retention
n Highest number of TB cases initiated on treatment among the private health facilities
n Certified rHIVda Confirmatory Laboratory (CrCL)
n Exemplary award in Newborn Screening test
n 3rd Place for the implementation of the Philippine Population and Development Program (PPDP) on Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) from the Commission on Population and Development (CPD)
n Establishment of E-Plano Application to 24-Barangay Health Center
n Global Self-Reliant City in Family Planning and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Award from the Zuellig Family Foundation and The Challenge Initiative
GOVERNANCE AND HUB FOR CULTURE
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Of Rice Cake and Rhythm: Celebrating the Heritage of Puto Biñan and Maglalatik
By Arvin Jay B. Bongon
IN the storied heart of Biñan, Laguna, where old streets and ancestral houses whisper echoes of the past, two enduring symbols continue to nourish the city’s cultural soul: the world-renowned Puto Biñan and the folk dance, Maglalatik. Far more than just a delicacy and performance, these cultural icons breathe life into the Biñan Puto Latik Festival—an annual celebration that pulses with Biñanense pride, creativity, and community resilience.
Puto Biñan: A Taste of Home and History
In a country where every province boasts its own version of rice cake, Puto Biñan has risen as a singular masterpiece. Unlike the familiar putong puti that often plays second fiddle to savory dishes like dinuguan, this Biñan specialty takes center stage. Large and round like a pizza, soft yet moist, and lavishly topped with grated cheese, slices of salted egg, and a sweet drizzle of condensed milk—Puto Biñan is meant to be savored on its own, a dish both comforting and celebratory.
Its story is as rich as its flavor. The recipe traces back to the 1920s, to a woman named Petronila “Nila” Samaniego—a housewife in a time when the kitchen was often the only space society allowed women to thrive. But Aling Nila did more than cook; she sparked a quiet revolution. In 1925, her homemade rice cakes, steamed over ipa (rice husks) in her backyard in Barangay San Vicente, gave birth to “Original Nila’s Puto.” What began as a homegrown endeavor blossomed into a tradition, setting the gold standard for what would become known far and wide as Puto Biñan. It has set the benchmark for quality and taste, inspiring a flourishing league of renowned Puto Biñan makers including Aling Menay, Aling Pacing, and Reyes Puto —each one carrying forward the legacy while adding their own touch. At a time when Filipino women were beginning to reclaim space in the public sphere, Aling Nila’s puto became more than food; it became a source of income, pride, and community.
It’s said that the name "Puto Biñan" took root as vendors would board passing trains at the old Binyang PNR Station, balancing trays of the delicacy on their heads, calling out to travelers. “Nariyan na ang mga magpuputo ng Biñan!” (Here come the puto vendors of Biñan) became a familiar refrain, embedding the name—and the pride—in the minds of locals and visitors alike. Today, nearly a century later, Aling Nila’s descendants continue her legacy. From boxed delicacies to pocket-sized treats hawked in markets and sidewalks, Puto Biñan has woven itself into the everyday life and celebrations of every Biñanense—from fiestas and Noche Buena to simple afternoons of rest.
Maglalatik: The Battle Dance of Faith and Festivity
Where Puto Biñan delights the palate, the Maglalatik ignites the spirit. This iconic folk dance—equal parts spectacle, story, and tradition—brings to life a playful mock battle between Christian lowlanders and Muslim Moros, waged not over land or power, but over latik— the golden, fragrant residue from simmered coconut milk.
Dancers donning vivid red (for the Moros) or blue (for the Christians) trousers move with martial
grace, their torsos, hips, thighs, and hands adorned with halved coconut shells. With each swift strike of hand to shell, a percussive rhythm builds—resonant, playful, and unmistakably Filipino.
Maglalatik unfolds in four parts: Palipasan and Baligtaran dramatize the conflict, while Paseo and Escaramuza offer reconciliation. Legend says the Moros win the skirmish and take the prized latik , but the Christians seek peace—offering not vengeance, but baptism. It’s a story told in beats and bodies, one that reflects a deeper truth about Biñan: its embrace of diversity, its value for peace over division.
The origins of Maglalatik are deeply rooted in Biñan’s own history. During the Spanish era, the present- day barangays of Loma and Zapote were once a unified community. Strong men from both sides are said to have performed the dance using coconut shells, their movements blending competition and camaraderie. The dance became a centerpiece of town fiestas, performed both in homes during
the day and as part of processions in honor of San Isidro Labrador— the patron saint of farmers and Biñan’s own spiritual guardian.
Once an agricultural hub known as Hacienda de San Isidro Labrador de Biñan, the city has held onto Maglalatik as a living emblem of its past. It is now one of the main highlights of the annual Biñan Puto Latik Festival celebrated
every May 15 to 23, where tradition, taste, and talent come together in a celebration of culture and community.
Biñan Puto Latik Festival: A Living Tradition
The Biñan Puto Latik Festival is more than just a nine-day celebration. It is a cultural assertion—a declaration that tradition, when cherished and lived, need not fade into the margins of modernity. At its heart are two icons deeply woven into the identity of the city: the humble but proudly made Puto Biñan and the spirited, coconut-shell-clad folk dance known as Maglalatik.
In this annual gathering, these two cultural treasures are not merely showcased—they are lived. Puto Biñan, soft, savory, and generously topped with cheese and salted egg, is not just sold and served. It is reimagined and remastered by
local makers in the Puto Biñan 2.0 Cook-off challenge, a competition that dares to blend tradition with innovation. Meanwhile, Maglalatik does not stay confined to stage performances. It marches down the streets, surges through processions, and excites the city with every rhythmic clash of shell on shell—its dancers channeling centuries of devotion, skill, and local pride.
Together, they form the core of the Biñan Puto Latik Festival. They are not just centerpieces of culinary, and performance showcases but living symbols of Biñan’s enduring connection to its agricultural roots, its traditions, and its patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. These aren't just relics for display. They are expressions of people who know that heritage must be celebrated to survive.
But the city's commitment doesn’t end with the festival. Through the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO), efforts to preserve and promote Puto Biñan and Maglalatik go far beyond May. Both are formally recognized in the city’s local cultural inventory, serving
as essential markers of identity and guides for protection. They’re integrated into the city’s comprehensive Tourism Development Plan and Cultural Management and Development Plan, ensuring that they remain front and center in cultural policymaking. Puto Biñan is served to guests at national and international events, showcased in trade fairs, and promoted through partnerships with various institutions. Maglalatik, on the other hand, continues to dazzle in city-wide events and holds its rightful spotlight every February during the city’s annual Folk Dance Festival. The city also encourages research into these cultural expressions, knowing that understanding leads to deeper appreciation—and preservation. In Biñan, Puto Biñan and Maglalatik are not losing relevance. The city reminds everyone—local or guest, young or old—that culture is not static. It evolves, it engages, and, most importantly, it unites. They are the taste and tempo of a festival that feeds both body and spirit, anchoring a city firmly to its past while dancing confidently into the future.
From left, BCHATO Head Dr. BJ Borja, Mayor Arman Dimaguila, and Vice Mayor Gel Alonte pose for a photo in front of an arch inspired by Puto Biñan and the Maglalatik dance.
Puto Latik Festival street dancers parade through Biñan in vibrant costumes with coconut shell halves accents, carrying Puto Biñan replicas in tribute to the traditional Maglalatik dance and the city’s culinary heritage.
The Original Nila’s Puto Biñan. PHOTO CREDITS BY BENZ BORJA
City officials unveil the local historical marker dedicated to the “Magpuputo ng Biñan,” honoring generations of traditional Puto Biñan makers.
