Pcos said he will push for region-wide guidelines on Artificial Intelligence (AI) use and a consensus on the reciprocal tariff imposed by the United States (US) during the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit and other related meetings in Malaysia this week. In his pre-departure speech at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Sunday afternoon, the chief executive stressed the importance of AI in the economic development of Asean.
“I will also highlight the Philippines’s commitment to the development of a common regional framework for ethical and responsible AI or Artificial Intelligence aligned with Asean values,” he said.
While some Asean member countries, including the Philippines, have initiated bilateral talks with the US on the reciprocal tariff, he said the regional bloc should complete the process of coming out with a joint position on the matter, which was initiated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
“Considering the many different situations that the member
states of Asean have concerning the trade—concerning trade and specifically the tariff schedule imposed by the United States, we must find a way to find consensus amongst the disparate situations that the different member states are operating under,” Marcos said.
United States President Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs ranging from 10 percent to as high as 125 percent on imported goods in April in his bid to correct the alleged “unfair trading” practice of other countries.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that the tariffs may cause a global economic slowdown.
Aside from addressing digital disruption and economic volatility, Marcos said other issues, to be tackled in the Asean Leaders’ Summit on May 26 and 27 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, which is still under civil war, and climate change. Marcos said he hopes the discussions will result in a futureready Asean that is not only “competitive, but also people-centered and sustainable.”
“As always, our participation in the Asean Summit reaffirms our dedication to deepening regional
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. recently told reporters that they are working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on this undertaking.
The exercise is being done to be more precise in terms of inflation targeting. Currently, the inflation target of the BSP is 2 to 4 percent until 2028. The central bank chief explained why they plan to veer away from setting a target denoted as a range.
By Jonathan L. Mayuga
groups on Sunday extended their heartfelt gratitude to outgoing Secretary Maria Antonia-Yulo Loyzaga for her exceptional leadership as the country’s chief steward of environment and natural resources. Yulo-Loyzaga is credited with introducing a science-based, multistakeholder approach to conservation that involves national government agencies, local government units, the private sector, the scientific community, the academe, and communitybased groups.
“I was seriously thinking of just having a point, a level, target level, because the band kinda says, ‘If we’re at 3.9 [percent] that’s just as good as three, and I don’t feel that way. Three [percent] is better than 3.9 [percent],” Remolona said. However, setting an inflation target of zero would not be ideal for a growing economy. It can be noted that inflation is an indicator of demand which is needed in growing
Loyzaga will be replaced by Department of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla. YuloLoyzaga was appointed by Marcos Jr. and took her oath on July 19, 2022.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to Hon. Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga for her exceptional leadership as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
In separate message posts in their official social media accounts, the Philippine Eagle Foundaiton, Zoological Society of London, and World Wide Fund for Nature—Philippines shared their sentimental goodbyes to Yulo-Loyzaga, who tendered her resignation in compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for the mass resignation of members of the official cabinet.
“During her tenure, we witnessed a T
HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) does not intend to reduce the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) of banks anytime soon.
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. recently told reporters that if the Monetary Board will reduce the RRR, that decision may only come next year.
In February, the Monetary Board reduced the RRRs by 200 basis points (bps) for banks, unlocking billions in funds. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/02/22/bsp-to-cut-rrr%e2%82%b1330-b-funds-seenunlocked/).
“It’ll likely be for next year because we’re trying somewhat to make the yield curve more reliable, which means managing liquidity in
the system better than we have,” Remolona told reporters, speaking partly in Filipino.
The reserve requirement is a minimum amount of deposits and deposit substitutes that banks should set aside in liquid cash. These set-aside funds, required by central banks, cannot be lent out by banks.
The latest reduction in the RRR placed the rate for Universal and Commercial Banks (UKBs) at 5 percent and digital banks at 2.5 percent.
There is no reserve requirement for thrift banks—this was removed in February—as well as for rural and cooperative banks, which were removed in 2024. (https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/09/21/bsp-cuts-banksrrr-in-bid-to-spur-growth/).
This means, if a UKB received a
deposit of P100,000, 5 percent of
this amount or P5,000 should be set aside as liquid cash.
Reducing and removing the ratio for banks, therefore, allows financial institutions to increase lending and investment in securities, foreign exchange, and other assets as well as financial instruments.
The reduction in the RRR in February was estimated to have poured P330 billion into the banking system. These additional funds increase the liquidity in the banking system, which could lead to faster inflation.
Remolona explained that this is what BSP is trying to manage. He said the BSP has been issuing its own bills to mop up excess liquidity to prevent it from causing prices to surge.
“We’ve been issuing large amounts of BSP bills in an effort
to absorb the liquidity...that’s in the system. Reserve requirements expand that liquidity that’s in the system. So we’re trying to manage that,” Remolona said. The BSP said in February it will reduce the RRR for UKBs, as well as non-bank financial institutions with quasi-banking (NBQBs) functions, by 200 bps to 5 percent. Similarly, the RRR for digital banks will be trimmed by 150 bps to 2.5 percent while thrift banks will see a 100bps cut, bringing their reserve requirement down to 0 percent.
during the reset process,” said Dimalanta, adding that the cost for each approved capex project is currently considered only for the purpose of computing the permit fee and does not reflect the final cost as approved.
The ERC said it has accelerated its approvals of various capex projects of NGCP in previous months, aimed at easing overloaded transmission lines and transformers and adding new connection points in various areas in Luzon and Visayas to prevent load curtailment and power interruptions amid the rising electricity demand.
However, all costs remain subject to validation and optimization during the reset process for the subsequent regulatory period, which means that the costs associated with each project already approved in the prior period will be reviewed based on actual use and expenses incurred. This is in accordance with the procedures laid down in the ERC Resolution No. 08, Series of 2022 or the Amended Rules for Setting of Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR) and other relevant issuances of the Commission.
“These capex projects are critical in strengthening our power grid, to ensure a more reliable and secure electricity supply for Filipino households, businesses and industries. But at the same time, it is also important to emphasize that the final costs of these projects will still undergo careful review and deliberation by the Commission to ensure consumers pay only for what is necessary and reasonable,” Dimalanta added.
Tourist arrivals still sluggish at 2.1M in January-April ’25
VISITOR
arrivals in the Philippines continued to slip for the fourth straight month this year, with major markets like South Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia accounting for the sluggishness.
Department of Tourism (DOT) data showed there were 2.1 million tourists from January to April this year, 0.82 percent less than the arrivals in the same period in 2024. The four-month data was also 26 percent lower than the arrivals in prepandemic January to April 2019. The DOT earlier reported a 0.60-percent dip in arrivals to 1.65 million in the first quarter this year.
Of the total arrivals in the four months of this year, foreign tourists accounted for 1.93 million, 3.2 percent less than in 2024. Overseas Filipinos, or Philippine passport holders permanently residing abroad, reached 170,815, up a significant 37.5 percent than last year.
Under its National Tourism Development Plan of 2023-2028, the DOT’s goal is to attract 8.4 million inbound visitors in 2025. Last year, 5.95 million tourists arrived in the country,
far less than the DOT’s 7.7-million target. A tourism properties expert believes only 6 million tourists will arrive this year. (See, “‘Foreign tourist arrivals stay unchanged at 6 million for 2025’,” in the BusinessMirror, April 9, 2025.)
Rising crime vs Koreans ARRIVALS from South Korea were 468,337 in the first four months of the year, 18 percent lower than the same 2024 period. Rising criminal incidents victimizing Korean nationals in the Philippines have reportedly discouraged visitors from that country.
The South Korean embassy recently issued a travel advisory, warning its citizens to avoid going out late at night unless absolutely necessary, “given that armed robberies, deaths, abductions, and other serious crimes against Korean nationals are fre -
quently occurring and the deteriorating crime situation…” The advisory was issued after two Koreans were robbed at gunpoint on May 17 in Bonifacio Global City, a posh and supposedly safe enclave in Taguig.
The arrivals were cushioned mainly by data from the United States, up 9 percent to 360,799; followed by Japan at 156,532 (+18.14 percent); Australia at 111,113 (+19.44 percent); and Canada at 99,152 (+16.42 percent).
However, only 92,659 tourists from mainland China arrived from January to April, a 34.4-percent drop from the same period in 2024, putting it in sixth place among the Philippines’ key source markets for tourists. With the economy in China still coasting along this year, its citizens have reduced their travel budgets and have been mainly visiting destinations with relaxed visa policies. (See, “Less than 1% of Chinese see PHL as desirable vacation destination,” in the Business -
Mirror, April 28, 2025.)
No action yet on Frasco MANILA had also suspended the rollout of its electronic visa platform in China due to ongoing tensions with Beijing over the West Philippine Sea, as well as rising crime cases involving Chinese citizens in the country.
Other key markets that contributed to the arrivals this year include: Taiwan at 69,593 tourists, 11-percent less than in JanuaryApril 2024; the United Kingdom at 65,923 (+7.8 percent); Singapore at 50,009 (-1.07 percent); Germany at 37,088 (+2.6 percent); France at 36,702 (+19 percent); and Malaysia at 31,030 (-6.3 percent).
Meanwhile, Malacañang has yet to act on the courtesy resignation of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco as of presstime. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called for a mass courtesy resignation of his Cabinet following the defeat of a number of his senatorial bets in the midterm elections. Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
cooperation and advancing the wellbeing of every Filipino and the entire Southeast Asian community,” he said.
While the President is in Malaysia, Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III will serve as caretakers of the government.
Among the Cabinet officials who accompanied Marcos to Malaysia were Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz, PCO undersecretary Claire Castro and Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Leo Tereso Magno. DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro already arrived in Malaysia on May 24 for the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting. But outgoing DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo will continue to head the Philippine delegation during the foreign ministerial meetings with his counterparts in Asean and other dialogue partners such as the United States, Japan, Australia, China, India and the European Union. Marcos arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 5:41 pm on Sunday.
deeper alignment between science and policy, a stronger voice for Indigenous communities, and a renewed commitment to protecting our country’s natural heritage,” the PEF said.
“A leading voice in climate governance, she consistently championed climate adaptation and mitigation as national priorities—recognizing the critical role of forests, biodiversity, and communities in building a more resilient and secure future,” PEF added. The PEF, the DENR’s main conservation partner in the conservation of the critically endangered Philippine eagle and their habitats, said it remains committed to working with DENR and all partners in pursuing its shared mission of saving the country’s national bird and restoring forests.
“Maraming salamat Secretary Loyzaga. Your legacy will take flight with every eagle soaring free,” the group said.
In her Facebook Account, Edwina D. Garchitorena, Country Director of the Zoological Society of London, likewise thanked the outgoing secretary for her exceptional leadership at the DENR.
“Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga exemplifies integrity-driven leadership with a genuine concern for people and the planet,” she said.
Garchitorena further said Yulo-Loyzaga’s steadfast commitment to science and the whole-of-society approach has led the DENR toward policies that serve the Filipino people while safeguarding and restoring the country’s rich biodiversity.
She cited Yulo-Loyzaga’s initiatives in “advancing blue carbon ecosystem restoration which highlighted her forward-thinking perspective—strengthening our coastlines, supporting local economies, and helping the counry adapt to the effects of climate change.”
The ZSL-Philippines hailed Yulo-Loyzaga’s advocacy for nature-based solutions and
working closely with communities, environmental organizations and other governmental bodies to implement solutions. Through Yulo-Loyzaga’s leadership, the DENR has opened doors for meaningful collaborations across sectors, bringing together civil society, private sector, local communities, other governmental agencies, and international partners—forging strong partnership[s and highlighting the vital role of communities in environmental protection is a testament to her belief in grassroots empowerment, the group stressed.
WWF-Philippines, for its part, cited Loyzaga’s deep commitments to science, integrity, and collaboration, which have guided the country’s efforts in addressing climate and environmental challenges, with people and nature at the heart of every solution.
Yulo-Loyzaga has reminded the environment sector that the government cannot do it alone, thus opening vital channels for collaboration across various sectors and stakeholders, it added.
“She deeply understood that interdependence and connection are key to building resilience. She urged us all to connect the dots across time, sectors, geographies, and generations. Systems thinking continues to shape our shared work,” WWF-Philippines shared.
Yulo-Loyzaga’s “grit and determination” in enabling the release of funds for the construction of the Tubbataha Marine Ranger Station was praised for focusing a spotlight on the protection of critically endangered species and marine research.
Among Yulo-Loyzaga’s last acts were the cancellation of a 2002 Supplemental Agreement with a real estate firm, in effect cancelling a contract for the construction of 5,000 housing units near the Masungi Georeserve, a Protected Area in Rizal; and publicly sharing the result of the cumulative impact assessment that warned about the potential adverse effects of 22 land-reclamation projects in Manila Bay to environment and livelihood of small fishers, and the risk of more flooding in low-lying areas, particularly Metro Manila.
Speaker raises alarm on AI MEANWHILE , in a separate but related development, the leadership of the House of Representatives has raised alarm over the increasing misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to spread disinformation, influence political outcomes, and weaken democratic institutions. He called for global cooperation and legislative action to counter these threats. In his keynote address at the 29th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) in Madrid on Thursday, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez appealed to parliaments worldwide to take on the “invisible battles” being fought through AIdriven propaganda, cyberattacks, and data manipulation.
“In an age when misinformation, cyber warfare, and AI disruption threaten the very fabric of our societies, the need for vigilance and unity among democracies has never been greater,” Romualdez said. He highlighted the Philippine-led resolution adopted during the 45th Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, which promotes coordinated national strategies on responsible AI use. The resolution—aligned with the Asean Digital Masterplan—encourages member states to harness AI for innovation while protecting citizens from potential abuses.
“Forums like the PI-SF allow us to expand these initiatives globally. Here, we are not merely exchanging intelligence—we are building solidarity, mutual understanding, and the legislative muscle to defend freedom and prosperity in this rapidly shifting world,” the Speaker stressed.
The PI-SF, chaired by former US Congressman Robert Pittenger, hosted by the Spanish Senate, brings together legislators and security experts to forge consensus on tackling global intelligence and cybersecurity threats. With a report by Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
the economy. For an economy like the Philippines, Remolona said it is possible that a target of 2 percent is “good enough” to prevent inflation spikes while allowing the economy to grow.
“Let me just say the reason it’s not zero is because in a growing economy you have to allow relative prices to change, and when you allow relative prices to change, they tend to be sticky downwards. So allowing them to change means some inflation. And so it constrains the economy if you have too low a target,” Remolona explained.
This change in the inflation target may be possible, at the latest, a year from now. The government just had discussions with the IMF recently ahead of the Article IV Consultation Mission.
In these discussions, they said the government should continue to pursue tax reforms, including raising taxes. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/05/24/raise-taxespursue-reforms-to-hit-fiscalgoals-phl-told/).
In a statement after a recent visit to the Philippines, IMF Team Leader Elif Arbatli Saxegaard said tax reforms should also ensure ef -
fective control of tax incentives as well as enhance VAT efficiency and improve tax administration. Saxegaard said the fiscal deficit has already narrowed to 5.7 percent of GDP in 2024 from 6.1 percent of GDP in 2023. However, she said, more needs to be done to achieve the deficit targets and “create more space for priority spending.”
Earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed inflation averaged 1.4 percent in April 2025, the slowest rate since the 1.2 percent posted in November 2019. Inflation in the first four months of the year averaged 2 percent, the low-end of the government’s inflation target set by the Development Budget Coordination Committee in December 2024.
Riders to LTFRB: Do not suspend motorcycle taxis
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
AGROUP of motorcycle taxi riders has slammed the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group (TWG) for ordering the suspension of MOVE IT’s operations allegedly without consulting affected stakeholders—putting the livelihoods of around 14,000 riders at risk.
In a formal appeal, the Motorcycle Taxi Community Alliance of the Philippines criticized the TWG for making a sweeping decision that threatens jobs and undermines the goals of the government’s motorcycle taxi pilot program
TWG, while Mendoza sits as its vicechairman.
Legislators laud hiring of 26,000 DepEd personnel
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM & Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
LAWMAKERS on Sunday lauded the President’s order to the Department of Education to immediately hire 26,000 teachers and non-academic personnel
ementary, and high school levels.” A senator on the other hand said the hiring of 10,000 non-teaching personnel is a step in the right direction for improving the education sector and boosts the earlier initiatives to hire 16,000 teachers in time for the opening of the new school year.
Limit teachers to teaching
SEN. Joel Villanueva said this will also fulfill DepEd Order 2, series of 2024, which ordered the immediate removal of administrative tasks of public school teachers, he added
“Kami po ay magalang na humihiling ng muling pag-aralan ang nasabing kautusan, na magdudulot ng pagkawala ng kabuhayan para sa humigit-kumulang 14,000 na mga rider sa buong bansa,” Alliance Chairman Romeo Maglunsod said in the appeal.
“Naniniwala po kami na ang kautusan ay inilabas nang walang sapat na konsultasyon sa komunidad ng mga rider,” Maglunsod added.
The appeal was submitted to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III and Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Vigor Mendoza II. Guadiz serves as chairman of the
“Kami po ay taos-pusong nananawagan na pakinggan ang aming panig, lalo na’t ang layunin ng pilot program ay upang maisulong ang legalisasyon at suporta para sa motorcycle taxis, at hindi upang ipagkait ang hanapbuhay ng mga masisipag na Pilipino.”
The TWG’s April 29 order directed
MOVE IT to cut its Metro Manila rider pool from 15,000 to 6,836 and to cease operations in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, where the company has 3,000 riders in each city.
Maglunsod called on the TWG to reconsider the order and reorient its policies toward protecting both rider welfare and commuter needs.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has since ordered the suspension of the directive, pending resolution of MOVE IT’s motion for reconsideration filed on May 1.
At the House of Representatives, an outgoing congressman said the hiring of 16,000 public school teachers for School Year 2025-26 “will significantly improve teacher-student ratios—an essential step toward enhancing learning outcomes and addressing persistent gaps in the public education system.”
Outgoing Camarines Sur Rep. and Governor-elect Luis Raymund Villafuerte said this move is seen to alleviate classroom congestion and lighten the workload of academic personnel througout the country.
“Praise God for this development—we’ve long been pushing to expand the budget for the hiring of teaching personnel in the ALS [Alternative Learning System], as well as in the kindergarten, el -
“The need for additional personnel has long been called for by teachers who are saddled with nonteaching tasks. During the consultations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education [Edcom2] where I sit as commissioner, we found out that teachers carry over 50 ancillary and administrative tasks, including serving as canteen manager, 4Ps and schoolbased feeding coordinator, Gulayan sa Paaralan overseer, among others. These tasks keep the teachers away from the classrooms,” Villanueva said in a statement.
Congressman assails US travel advisory on PHL
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
ASENIOR lawmaker on Sunday strongly protested a recent United States travel advisory that warns Americans against traveling to the Philippines due to heightened safety risks, calling it “unfair and biased.”
Re-elected Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to summon US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson to demand an explanation for the advisory. He also called on President Marcos to direct the DFA, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, and the Department of Tourism to account for their actions since the US State Department issued the warning on May 8.
“This is an unfair, shotgun warning. There are certainly many places in our country that are safe for tourists. The United States should review this advisory. We do not deserve this unfair treatment from our No. 1 ally,” he said. Rodriguez stressed that the advisory paints the Philippines in a negative light internationally, potentially discouraging not only Americans but also other foreign tourists, thus harming the country’s vital tourism sector.
He specifically highlighted its perceived bias against Mindanao.
“It discourages not only Americans but other foreign tourists as well from visiting the Philippines. It will surely hurt our tourism sector,” he said.
“It is, likewise, particularly biased against our beloved island, Mindanao,” he added.
The May 8, 2025, US State Department travel advisory places the Philippines under “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.”
However, it designates specific areas with higher risk: “Do Not Travel to: The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, and Marawi City in Mindanao, due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping, and Reconsider Travel to: Other areas of Mindanao due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.”
The advisory’s summary states that“terroristsandarmedgroupshave carried out kidnappings, bombings,
and other attacks targeting public areas like tourist sites, markets, and local government facilities in the Philippines. Violent crimes are also common in the Philippines, such as robbery, kidnappings, and physical assaults. Protests happen in the Philippines and could turn violent and-or result in traffic jams and road closures with limited capacity of the local government to respond.”
The State Department issuance also advises US government employees working in the Philippines to “obtain special authorization to travel to certain areas of the country.”
While the entire Philippines is under Level 2, Mindanao (excluding Davao City, Davao del Norte, Siargao Island, and Dinagat Islands) is under Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”).
Marawi City and Sulu, including the Sulu Sea, fall under Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”), with the advisory warning that the “US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in these areas.”
Guo, 30 others face 62 money laundering cases
By Ashley J. Manabat
TPimentel pushes 6-year term for barangay, SK officials
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
OUTGOING Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel
III on Sunday pushed the House of Representatives’ proposed six-year term for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, counted from their election in 2023.
Pimentel, who ran but lost in the race for congressman of a district in Marikina but may still be proclaimed if his opponent were disqualified by the Commission on Elections, said the adjustment is necessary to avoid holding the next barangay elections in 2028, which coincides with the presidential polls.
“Let’s not exhaust the Filipino people,” Pimentel said. “Right after electing a new President, vice president, senators, and congressmen, do we really want to send voters back to the polls for barangay elections? It’s too much.”
The House of Representatives has already passed a bill extending the term to six years. The Senate’s version, however, is limited to four years. In the bicameral conference committee, where both chambers meet to reconcile differing versions
of the bill, Pimentel said he would push for a six-year term starting from 2023, when the current barangay and SK officials were elected—effectively setting the next elections in 2029.
“I will propose that the six-year term begin from 2023, the year they were elected,” Pimentel said. “That means the next barangay elections will be in 2029, avoiding overlap with the 2028 presidential elections and giving our communities a period of political stability.” The senator further explained that a six-year term would give barangay officials enough time to implement programs, allow continuity in local governance, and give the electorate a break between major elections.
“Barangay leaders are at the frontlines of service delivery,” Pimentel said. “They need time and stability to see projects through—whether it’s health programs, infrastructure, or disaster response systems. We can’t expect meaningful impact if we’re constantly cutting their terms short.”
Pimentel said his proposal will help break the cycle of delayed barangay polls and bring more predictability to the local electoral calendar.
The DOJ alleged that Guo committed 26 counts of violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act for engaging in transactions involving proceeds from unlawful activity, five counts for the conversion, transfer, or use of these illicit proceeds, and along with 30 co-accused, 31 counts for conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses.
This is the eighth criminal case filed against Guo, who was earlier indicted for alleged qualified trafficking in persons, civil forfeiture, graft, material misrepresentation, and falsification of public documents. She was also implicated in four other pending investigations of
HE Department of Justice on Friday filed 62 money laundering cases against dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo who is also known as Guo Hua Ping and 30 others for their alleged involvement in an extensive criminal network linked to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Pogo). The charges filed at the Regional Trial Court in Tarlac, and docketed as Criminal Cases 10237-25 to 10298-25, stem from a months-long investigation led by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in coordination with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (Paocc), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
alleged falsification by a notary public, perjury, and obstruction of justice, violations of the Anti-Dummy Law, and qualified trafficking and graft which involved Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) personnel.
PAOCC said the filing marks an intensified national effort to put an end to illegal Pogos and combat financial crimes through a whole-ofgovernment strategy together with the DOJ, AMLC, NBI, SEC, and the National Police (PNP).
“This landmark case illustrates the government’s resolve to dismantle the financial machinery enabling transnational criminal enterprises. The scale and coordination required here show how essential it is for our
law enforcement and justice system to act with unity, precision, and resolve,” the Paocc chief, Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, said.
The DOJ has also requested the transfer of Guo’s case to the Regional Trial Court in Pasig, following a June 19, 2024 Supreme Court resolution designating it as the special court for Pogo-related offenses in Luzon.
On May 21, Guo personally submitted her counter-affidavit in the preliminary investigation into graft, falsification, and tax evasion charges filed by the NBI. She is also set to appear before Pasig RTC Branch 167 on May 28 for a pending qualified trafficking case. Guo is presently detained at the Pasig City Jail.
House supermajority grows as most LP members join
AMAJORITY of Liberal Party (LP) members have formally joined the widening supermajority in the House of Representatives backing the continued leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez in the 20th Congress—bringing the total number of supporters to 285, with 278 having already signed formal declarations.
Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Quezon said the move highlights a growing consensus across party lines that Romualdez remains the most unifying, competent, and effective leader to steer the House during the critical second half of the Marcos administration.
Comelec
cites lapses in DQ case vs Bagong Henerasyon
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
HE Commission on Elections
T(Comelec) has dismissed a disqualification petition filed against the Bagong Henerasyon (BH) party-list group, clearing the way—though not yet final—for the group’s return to Congress after a brief legal hurdle.
In a three-page resolution released on May 22, the Comelec’s First Division ruled that the petition lodged by lawyer Russel Stanley Geronimo failed to comply with basic procedural requirements, including proper service of the petition to the respondents.
necessary to verify the information stated in the petition.
Despite the dismissal of the disqualification case, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia clarified to reporters on Friday that BH will not yet be proclaimed, as the petitioner still has the option to file a motion for reconsideration.
During the proclamation of winning party-list groups on May 19, Comelec held off BH’s proclamation, alongside Duterte Youth, over concerns that one of BH’s nominees may have violated Section 261(i) of the Omnibus Election Code.
The provision bars civil servants, military and police personnel and other government workers from engaging in partisan political activities.
“As of today, 285 House members have expressed support for Speaker Romualdez, with 278 lawmakers having already signed formal declarations—including four out of six members of the LP who are now part of the larger movement for legislative continuity and national stability,” Suarez said.
“Speaker Romualdez has earned the trust of the current and incoming members of the House through principled, results-oriented leadership,” he added. “What we are
The expanding supermajority now includes key political parties such as Lakas-CMD, Nacionalista Party (NP), National Unity Party (NUP), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI), and now, the Liberal Party.
Twitnessing is no longer just support from traditional allies—it’s a political groundswell cutting across the entire spectrum,” he added.
Suarez emphasized that Romualdez has responded to President Marcos’ call for results-oriented governance, as seen in the swift passage of the administration’s priority legislative measures in the House.
For many legislators, the lawmaker said the decision of most LP members to support Romualdez signals confidence in his steady leadership and legislative competence—qualities considered crucial in navigating the complex challenges ahead.
“Leadership in the House is about bringing people together to pass meaningful laws. Speaker Romualdez
HE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are in the best position to verify whether individuals named “Chel Diokno” and “Marian Rivera”—names that surfaced in documents tied to the disbursement of Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential and intelligence funds—are real people and not just namesakes of well-known public figures, a lawmaker said on Sunday.
House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong said the request for verification seeks to determine the authenticity and existence of these individuals after their names appeared on allegedly dubious acknowledgment receipts related to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) under Sara Duterte. “In fact, the agencies that are tasked and also have the capacity to really as -
has done that, time and again,” Suarez said. “The unity we now see among House members reflects a collective commitment to stability, progress, and responsible governance under his stewardship.”
This comes after Suarez earlier declared that the race for the speakership in the 20th Congress is effectively over, with Romualdez enjoying the clear backing of an overwhelming majority.
“This is already a supermajority,” Suarez reiterated. “It’s done. The Speaker has the numbers.”
“He has kept the House focused on outcomes that matter. That’s what institutions need—leaders who work quietly but deliver consistently,” Suarez added. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
sess and verify whether a certain ‘Chel Diokno’ is indeed apart from the Chel Diokno that we know. There could be another ‘Chel Diokno’ who worked as an intelligence informant and who genuinely received funds,” Adiong said.
Adiong noted that not all acknowledgment receipts were presented during the hearings conducted by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.
“In fact, just a portion of the acknowledgment receipts were at that time available to the Good Government [committee] that we were able to see discrepancies,” he added.
He pointed out issues in the documents, such as identical names signed in different locations and mismatched signatures under the same name.
“As new information emerges, we saw
“Petitioner did not submit an affidavit stating the reasons or circumstances as to why personal service was not feasible, or that respondents refused to receive the petition, or that respondents’ whereabouts could not be ascertained,” the order read.
Named as respondents were the party-list group itself, Rep. Bernadette Herrera, first nominee Robert Gerard Nazal Jr. and fifth nominee Maria Editha Alcantara.
Section 5(2) of Comelec Resolution 9366 provides that petitioners are required to serve a copy of their petition to the respondent via personal service. If this is not possible, they must explain the reasons through a sworn affidavit. In this case, no such affidavit was submitted.
In addition, the petitioner failed to attach a copy of the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONCAN), which the poll body said was
the need to enlist the help of the PSA and NBI to go through the remaining receipts and validate whether the individuals named are real and if the signatures are authentic,” he added.
Meanwhile, Adiong defended the appointment of Mamamayang Liberal Rep.elect Leila de Lima to the House prosecution panel in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying her inclusion poses no conflict of interest and that her deep knowledge of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) will bolster the case.
Adiong, who represents Lanao del Sur, described De Lima’s appointment as “legitimate, strategic, and fully compliant” with the House’s rules, dismissing criticisms citing her long-standing political rift with former President Rodrigo Duterte, the Vice President’s father.
In response, BH filed an urgent motion on May 22 seeking immediate proclamation, asserting that the party-list group and its nominees did not commit any election violations.
Shortly after the Comelec first division’s ruling, Herrera expressed relief and gratitude, saying the partylist could finally breathe easy.
“These past few days have been frustrating,” she said in Filipino in a video posted on BH’s social media accounts. “We were surprised when we weren’t included in the Comelec proclamation. We didn’t even know a petition was filed against us.” Herrera insisted that since its first term in 2010, BH has maintained a “clean and consistent campaign style,” adding that the allegations of partisan political activity caught them off guard.
“There’s no conflict, because our rules simply state that a member of the House can be part of the prosecution panel. Congresswoman Leila de Lima will be a member of the House of Representatives in the 20th Congress,” Adiong clarified. He also noted that House rules allow the inclusion of external legal experts in impeachment proceedings, as seen during the 2012 trial of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“The House is also allowed to enlist private lawyers. We saw this during the Corona impeachment when private legal practitioners appeared as part of the prosecution team,” he explained. The lawmaker said De Lima’s track record and legal experience make her especially qualified to help prosecute the verified impeachment charges involving the Duterte administration’s drug war. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
Asean must deepen integration and stay united to tackle US tariffs, Malaysia says
By Eileen Ng The Associated Press
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—
Southeast Asian nations must accelerate regional economic integration, diversify their markets and stay united to tackle the fallout from global trade disruptions resulting from sweeping US tariff hikes, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Sunday.
Mohamad, opening a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, also reiterated the bloc’s call to warring parties in Myanmar to cease hostilities in a deadly civil war that has killed thousands and displaced millions of people since a 2021 government takeover by the military.
ing from tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration ranging from 10 percent to 49 percent. Six of the association’s 10 members were among the worst-hit with tariffs ranging from 32 percent to 49 percent. This would likely affect Asean’s targeted growth forecast of 4.7 percent this year, trade officials said.
wait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Asean’s unity is crucial as the region grapples with impacts of climate change and disruption from the malevolent use of artificial intelligence and other unregulated technologies, Mohamad said, adding that Asean’s centrality will be tested by external pressure, including a superpower rivalry.
“External pressures are rising, and the scope of challenges has never had higher stakes,” he said. “”It is therefore crucial that we reinforce the ties that bind us, so as to not unravel under external pressures. For Asean, unity is now more important than ever.”
Asean members have refused to take sides, engaging the US and China, which are both key regional trading and investment partners.
Asean remained committed to help war-torn Myanmar, which is recovering from a March earthquake that killed more than 3,700 people, Mohamad said.
Myanmar’s military leaders were barred from attending Asean meetings after refusing to comply with Asean’s peace plan, which includes negotiations and delivery of humanitarian aid.
“We call on the stakeholders in Myanmar to cease hostilities, and to extend and expand the ceasefire, to facilitate the long and difficult path towards recovery,” Mohamad said.
Indonesian president and Chinese premier meet to discuss expanding trade during US trade war
By Niniek Karmini The Associated Press
JAKARTA, Indonesia—Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday to discuss ways to expand trade and investment during the US global trade war and as economic globalization faces headwinds.
Li arrived in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, on Saturday afternoon for a three-day visit to Southeast Asia’s largest economy. It was the first stop of his first overseas visit this year.
Indonesia and China are member states of the Group 20 major developing countries and emerging economies and of BRICS.
Li brought 60 Chinese prominent businesspeople for his address to the Indonesia-China Business Reception on Sunday evening. He emphasized in his remarks that China’s economy has achieved rapid growth this year despite increasing external challenges.
“The current international situation is a stalemate,” Li said at the event which was also attended by Subianto, “Unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, bullying behavior is increasing.”
He called on all countries to seek common ground while resolving differences through dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Subianto expressed gratitude to the Chinese government and its companies “that have participated in our economy, created jobs, transferred technology and built trust among all businesses, especially in our homeland.”
He also invited Chinese businesspeople to invest more in Indonesia. Two-way trade exceeded US$147.8 billion last year, growing by 6.1 percent. Li said for nine consecutive years, China has been Indonesia’s largest trading partner, and its Belt and Road cooperation program has seen substantive progress, including nickel smelting plants and Whoosh, the commercial service of Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway which has been operating since October 2023, carrying nearly 10 million passengers.
Indonesia wants a larger role in supplying nickel and other raw materials to China’s fast-growing electric car makers.
Li noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement which was held by Asian and African countries in Indonesia’s Bandung city, when the world was at a historical crossroads more than seven decades ago.
Asean members, many of which rely on exports to the US, are reel -
“Asean members are among those most heavily affected by the US-imposed tariffs. The US–China trade war is dramatically disrupting production and trade patterns worldwide. A global economic slowdown is likely to happen,” Mohamad said. “We must seize this moment to deepen regional economic integration, so that we can better shield our region from external shocks.”
Asean has not been able to secure a meeting with the US as a bloc. But when US President Donald Trump last month announced a 90-day pause on the tariffs, countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam swiftly began trade negotiations with Washington.
The meeting of foreign ministers preceded a planned Asean leaders’ summit Monday in Malaysia, the bloc’s current chair. In a bid to bolster economic partnerships, Asean leaders also are scheduled to hold a joint summit Tuesday with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council comprising Bahrain, Ku -
Myanmar’s crisis has challenged the credibility of Asean, which has been hampered by its long-held policy of non-interference in each other’s affairs.
After informal consultations with bloc members, Mohamad said Saturday that Asean has to step up efforts as Myanmar’s problems had spilled over borders with a growing number of refugees fleeing to neighboring nations and rising transborder crime.
Malaysia’s efforts now focus on de-escalation of violence and greater access to humanitarian aid, but he said plans for political dialogue between the conflicting parties would be challenging due to a “trust deficit.”
India, Pakistan battle for global sympathy after border truce
By Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Kamran Haider, Dan Strumpf & Swati Gupta
TWO weeks after pulling back from the brink of all-out war, India and Pakistan are now racing to win over global opinion. Both sides are sending delegations to global capitals to influence international perception of the conflict, as tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals continue to simmer.
New Delhi this week dispatched seven teams of diplomats and lawmakers to capitals of some 30 countries, including in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America as part of its publicity campaign. The delegates have been told to detail Islamabad’s history of supporting militants, and its alleged involvement in the deadly April 22 attacks in the India-administered part of Kashmir, which triggered the latest conflict. India is also pushing back against the perception—reinforced by US
President Donald Trump’s socialmedia posts—that the two sides were equals in their dispute over the territory of Kashmir, and that they had agreed to mediated peace talks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday ruled out talks with Pakistan and vowed military action if faced with further terrorist attacks.
Separately, India’s foreign minister told Dutch broadcaster NOS that the May 10 truce was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan, refuting Trump’s claim of brokering the ceasefire.
“For many Indians, Trump’s messaging on mediation amounts to drawing a false equivalence by treating India and Pakistan the same,” said Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst based in Washington. “This is a major setback for New Delhi, given that it amounts to a victory for Islamabad in the battle of narratives that has endured even after the fighting stopped.” Pakistan is also planning its own diplomatic initiative, though on a much smaller scale. Its government has said it’s sending seven officials to three European capitals and the US to make the case that it, not India, is the victim.
The dueling efforts are playing out almost two weeks after both countries agreed to a ceasefire, following days of intense drone and air strikes and artillery and small arms exchanges between the two nations.
The fighting touched off after India blamed Pakistan for what it called a terrorist attack that killed 26 civil -
ians, mostly Indian tourists. Pakistan denied responsibility.
Trump’s attempt to take credit for the ceasefire has frustrated Indian officials, as have his assertions that trade was used as a bargaining chip to negotiate the truce. New Delhi has denied those claims as well as a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the two sides agreed to begin talks on a broad set of issues at “a neutral site.”
In their diplomatic outreach, a main focus of the message from Indian officials will be Pakistan’s alleged links to terrorism and its purported involvement in the April 22 attack on civilians, said Rajeev Kumar Rai, a member of parliament who is part of a delegation visiting Spain, Greece, Slovenia and Russia.
The teams will specifically raise Pakistan’s alleged support for UNdesignated terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, according to officials familiar with the outreach, who asked not to be identified because the discussions were private. They will also inform foreign officials that India remains resolved to respond to future violence in a manner it deems fit, they said.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking further information.
Of the nations on India’s list to visit, roughly a third are members of the Organization of Islamic Countries, a multilateral body that claims to speak for the Muslim world. Pakistan is also a member of that group,
and has lobbied it for greater intervention in the Kashmir conflict.
New Delhi also aims to target Pakistan’s economy, which is only beginning to recover from a prolonged crisis. India plans to urge the Parisbased Financial Action Task Force to take renewed action against Pakistan, a government official said on Friday in New Delhi. The anti-money laundering watchdog removed Pakistan from its terror-financing list in 2022, easing its access to trade and investments. India wants Pakistan returned to the gray list, the official said.
For its part, Pakistan has said the goal of its outreach is to highlight what it says are its “consistent and constructive efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region,” according to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan. It said its officials will “expose India’s propaganda campaigns.”
The Pakistan officials will also bring up India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty—a critical watersharing pact—that can have serious long-term consequences for Pakistan. “Breaking the treaty at will is irresponsible behavior,” said Khurram Dastgir Khan, who is part of Pakistan’s delegation. “If the water issue is not solved, then we are looking at another war in six to ten years,” he said.
New Delhi suspended the treaty, which governs the distribution of waters from six rivers flowing from the Himalayas, after the Kashmir attacks.
With assistance from Khalid Qayum, Faseeh Mangi, Ruchi Bhatia and Sanjit Das / Bloomberg
The Bandung spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation has played a pivotal role in the unity and cooperation of the Global South countries, Li said. “More than seven decades later, the world is once again at an important crossroads,” Li said.
On Sunday, Subianto hosted Li in a ceremony at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Li is also scheduled to meet with Indonesian parliament members on Sunday. He will head on to Malaysia on Monday where he and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will address the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit, attended by leaders from Southeast Asian countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Associated Press journalists Andi Jatmiko and Achmad Ibrahim in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
North Korea detains 3 shipyard officials over failed launch of a naval destroyer
SBy Hyung-Jin Kim The Associated Press
EOUL, South Korea—North Korea authorities have detained three shipyard officials over the recent failed launch of a naval destroyer, an incident that leader Kim Jong Un said was caused by criminal negligence, state media said Sunday.
The 5,000-ton-class destroyer was damaged Wednesday when a transport cradle on the ship’s stern detached early during a launch ceremony attended by Kim at the northeastern port of Chongjin. Satellite imagery on the site showed the vessel lying on its side and draped in blue covers, with parts of the ship submerged.
The vessel is North Korea’s second known destroyer. The failed launch was subsequently an embarrassment to Kim, who is eager to build greater naval forces to deal with what he calls US-led military threats.
North Korea launched its first destroyer, also a 5,000-ton-class ship, with massive fanfare last month. The ship is North Korea’s largest and most advanced warship and state media reported it is designed to carry various
weapons including nuclear missiles. Law enforcement authorities detained the chief engineer, head of the hull construction workshop and deputy manager for administrative affairs at Chongjin Shipyard, who they said were responsible for Wednesday’s failed launch, the official Korean Central News Agency said.
Hong Kil Ho, the shipyard manager, also was summoned for questioning, KCNA previously reported. Kim blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for what he called a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.” In an instruction to investigators Thursday, North Korea’s powerful Central Miliary Commission echoed Kim’s position, saying those responsible “can never evade their responsibility for the crime.”
North Korea denied the warship suffered major damage, saying the hull on the starboard side was scratched and some seawater flowed into the stern section.
North Korea said Friday it needed about 10 days to make repairs, but many outside observers said the country likely understated the damage.
Renewed Israeli strikes in Gaza claim 79 lives, including doctor’s 9 children
By Sally Abou Aljoud & Samy Magdy
The Associated Press
CAIRO—The bodies of 79 people killed by Israeli strikes have been brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours, Gaza ‘s Health Ministry said Saturday, a toll that doesn’t include hospitals in the battered north that it said are now inaccessible.
Nine of a doctor’s 10 children were among those killed in Israel’s renewed military offensive, colleagues and the Health Ministry said.
Alaa Najjar, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, was on duty at the time and ran home to find her family’s house on fire, Ahmad al-Farra, head of the hospital’s pediatric department, told The Associated Press.
Najjar’s husband was severely wounded and their only surviving child, an 11-year-old son, was in critical condition after Friday’s strike in the southern city of Khan Younis, Farra said.
The dead children ranged in age from 7 months to 12 years old.
Khalil Al-Dokran, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry, told the AP that two of the children remained under the rubble.
Israel’s military in a statement said it struck suspects operating from a structure next to its forces, and described the area of Khan Younis as a “dangerous war zone.” It said it had evacuated civilians from the area, and “the claim regarding harm to uninvolved civilians is under review.”
Earlier on Saturday, a statement said Israel’s air force struck over 100 targets throughout Gaza over the past day.
The Health Ministry said the new deaths brought the war’s toll to 53,901 since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel that sparked the 19 months of fighting.
The ministry said 3,747 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel resumed the war on March 18 in an effort to pressure Hamas to accept different ceasefire terms. Its count doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Israel’s pressure on Hamas has included a blockade of Gaza and its over 2 million people since early March. This week, the first aid trucks entered the territory and began reaching Palestinians since the blockade began.
COGAT, the Israeli defense body overseeing aid for Gaza, said 388 trucks had entered since Monday. About 600 trucks a day had entered during the ceasefire.
Warnings of famine by food security experts, and images of desperate Palestinians jostling for bowls of food at the ever-shrinking number of charity kitchens, led Israel’s allies to press the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow some aid to return.
Netanyahu’s government has sought a new aid delivery and distribution system by a newly established US-backed group, but the
United Nations and partners have rejected it, saying it allows Israel to use food as a weapon and violates humanitarian principles.
Israel may now be changing its approach to let aid groups remain in charge of non-food assistance, according to a letter obtained by the AP. Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid but the UN and aid groups deny there is significant diversion.
Hospitals in Gaza are again reporting attacks and other Israeli pressure.
The Health Ministry said 11 security personnel have been trapped at the European Hospital in southern Gaza following heavy gunfire and airstrikes since at least Tuesday. Dr. Saleh Hams, director of the nursing department, said patients were evacuated after an Israeli strike on May 13. Hams said the security staff stayed behind to protect from looting, and that it was the only hospital in Gaza offering neurosurgery, cardiac care and cancer treatment. Israel said it will continue to
strike Gaza until Hamas releases all of the 58 remaining Israeli hostages and disarms. Fewer than half of the hostages are believed to be alive since the October 7 attack, in which militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 others.
Hamas has said it will only return the remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from the territory. Netanyahu has rejected those terms and has vowed to maintain control over Gaza and facilitate what he refers to as the voluntary emigration of much of its Palestinian population.
“The Israeli government and its leader have a clear choice: deal or war, saving lives or abandonment,” Liran Berman, brother of hostages Gali and Ziv Berman, told a weekly rally in Tel Aviv as families and supporters again demanded an agreement that would bring everyone home.
AlJoud reported from Beirut.
War crime allegations: Israeli use of human shields in Gaza was systematic, soldiers and former detainees tell the AP
By Sam Mednick & Samy Magdy The Associated Press
TEL AVIV, Israel—The only time the Palestinian man wasn’t bound or blindfolded, he said, was when he was used by Israeli soldiers as their human shield.
Dressed in army fatigues with a camera fixed to his forehead, Ayman Abu Hamadan was forced into houses in the Gaza Strip to make sure they were clear of bombs and gunmen, he said. When one unit finished with him, he was passed to the next.
“They beat me and told me: ‘You have no other option; do this or we’ll kill you,’” the 36-year-old told The Associated Press, describing the 2 1/2 weeks he was held last summer by the Israeli military in northern Gaza. Orders often came from the top, and at times nearly every platoon used a Palestinian to clear locations, said an Israeli officer, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. Several Palestinians and soldiers told the AP that Israeli troops are systematically forcing Palestinians to act as human shields in Gaza, sending them into buildings and tunnels to check for explosives or militants. The dangerous practice has become ubiquitous during 19 months of war, they said. In response to these allegations, Israel’s military says it strictly prohibits using civilians as shields—a practice it has long accused Hamas of using in Gaza. Israeli officials blame the militants for the civilian death toll in its offensive that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. In a statement to the AP, the
military said it also bans otherwise coercing civilians to participate in operations, and “all such orders are routinely emphasized to the forces.”
The military said it’s investigating several cases alleging that Palestinians were involved in missions, but wouldn’t provide details. It didn’t answer questions about the reach of the practice or any orders from commanding officers.
The AP spoke with seven Palestinians who described being used as shields in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and with two members of Israel’s military who said they engaged in the practice, which is prohibited by international law. Rights groups are ringing the alarm, saying it’s become standard procedure increasingly used in the war.
“These are not isolated accounts; they point to a systemic failure and a horrifying moral collapse,” said Nadav Weiman, executive director of Breaking the Silence—a whistleblower group of former Israeli soldiers that has collected testimonies about the practice from within the military.
“Israel rightly condemns Hamas for using civilians as human shields, but our own soldiers describe doing the very same.”
Abu Hamadan said he was detained in August after being separated from his family, and soldiers told him he’d help with a “special mission.” He was forced, for 17 days, to search houses and inspect every hole in the ground for tunnels, he said.
Soldiers stood behind him and, once it was clear, entered the buildings to damage or destroy them, he said. He spent each night bound in a dark room, only to wake up and do it again.
The use of human shields ‘caught on like fire’
RIGHTS groups say Israel has used Palestinians as shields in Gaza and the West Bank for decades. The Supreme Court outlawed the practice in 2005. But the groups continued to document violations.
Still, experts say this war is the first time in decades the practice— and the debate around it—has been so widespread.
The two Israeli soldiers who spoke to the AP—and a third who provided testimony to Breaking the Silence— said commanders were aware of the use of human shields and tolerated it, with some giving orders to do so. Some said it was referred to as the “mosquito protocol” and that Palestinians were also referred to as “wasps” and other dehumanizing terms.
The soldiers—who said they’re no longer serving in Gaza—said the practice sped up operations, saved ammunition, and spared combat dogs from injury or death.
The soldiers said they first became aware human shields were being used shortly after the war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, and that it became widespread by the middle of 2024. Orders to “bring a mosquito” often came via radio, they said—shorthand everyone understood. Soldiers acted on commanding officers’ orders, according to the officer who spoke to the AP.
He said that by the end of his nine months in Gaza, every infantry unit used a Palestinian to clear houses before entering.
“Once this idea was initiated, it caught on like fire in a field,” the 26-year-old said. “People saw how effective and easy it was.”
Hundreds of prisoners exchanged between Russia and Ukraine as large-scale attacks on Kyiv intensify
By Illia Novikov & Alex Babenko The Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine—Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds more prisoners Saturday as part of a major swap that amounted to a rare moment of cooperation in otherwise failed efforts to reach a ceasefire.
The exchange came hours after Kyiv came under a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack that left at least 15 people injured, and authorities in Ukraine said the capital again came under a combined aerial drone and missile attack early Sunday, injuring 11. The attack is still going on.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia’s defense ministry said each side brought home 307 more soldiers on Saturday, a day after each released a total of 390 combatants and civilians. Further releases expected over the weekend are set to make the swap the largest in more than three years of war.
“We expect more to come tomorrow,” Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel. Russia’s defense ministry also said it expected the exchange to be continued, though it did not give details.
Hours earlier, explosions and antiaircraft fire were heard throughout Kyiv as many sought shelter in subway stations as Russian drones and missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital overnight.
In talks held in Istanbul earlier this month—the first time the two sides met face to face for peace talks since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion—Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each.
‘A difficult night’ OFFICIALS said Russia attacked Ukraine with 14 ballistic missiles and 250 Shahed drones overnight while Ukrainian forces shot down six missiles and neutralized 245 drones—128 drones were shot down and 117 were thwarted using electronic warfare.
The Kyiv City Military Administration said it was one of the biggest combined missile and drone attacks on the capital.
“A difficult night for all of us,” the administration said in a statement.
He described a 2024 planning meeting where a brigade commander presented to the division commander a slide reading “get a mosquito” and a suggestion they might “just catch one off the streets.”
The officer wrote two incident reports to the brigade commander detailing the use of human shields, reports that would have been escalated to the division chief, he said. The military said it had no comment when asked whether it received them.
One report documented the accidental killing of a Palestinian, he said—troops didn’t realize another unit was using him as a shield and shot him as he ran into a house. The officer recommended the Palestinians be dressed in army clothes to avoid misidentification.
He said he knew of at least one other Palestinian who died while used as a shield—he passed out in a tunnel.
Troops unsuccessfully pushed back, a sergeant says CONVINCING soldiers to operate lawfully when they see their enemy using questionable practices is difficult, said Michael Schmitt, a distinguished professor of international law at the US Military Academy at West Point. Israeli officials and other observers say Hamas uses civilians as shields as it embeds itself in communities, hiding fighters in hospitals and schools.
“It’s really a heavy lift to look at your own soldiers and say you have to comply,” Schmitt said.
One soldier told the AP his unit tried to refuse to use human shields in mid-2024 but were told they had no choice, with a high-ranking officer saying they shouldn’t worry about international humanitarian law.
The air raid alert in Kyiv lasted more than seven hours, warning of incoming missiles and drones. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitalii Klitschko, warned residents ahead of the attack that more than 20 Russian strike drones were heading toward the city. As the attack continued, he said drone debris fell on a shopping mall and a residential building in Obolon. Emergency services were headed to the site, Klitschko said.
Separately, 13 civilians were killed on Friday and overnight into Saturday in Russian attacks in Ukraine’s south, east and north, regional authorities said.
Three people died after a Russian ballistic missile targeted port infrastructure in Odesa on the Black Sea, local Gov. Oleh Kiper reported. Russia later said the strike Friday targeted a cargo ship carrying military equipment.
Russia’s defense ministry on Saturday claimed its forces overnight struck various military targets across Ukraine, including missile and droneproducing plants, a reconnaissance center and a launching site for antiaircraft missiles.
A complex deal THE prisoner swap on Friday was the first phase of a complicated deal involving the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side.
It took place at the border with Belarus, in northern Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. The released Russians were taken to Belarus for medical treatment, the Russian Defense Ministry said. POWs arrived at the medical facility in the Chernihiv region for a second day on Saturday. But for many their arrival was bittersweet.
Those who were not reunited with their loved ones took solace in the released POWs providing some information about when their relatives were last seen.
Anna Marchenko, the daughter of a missing Ukrainian serviceman, was elated when a released POW said they had seen her father.
Posting on X, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called it “clear evidence that increased sanctions pressure on Moscow is necessary to accelerate the peace process.”
Posting on X, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke of “another night of terror for Ukrainian civilians.”
“These are not the actions of a country seeking peace,” Lammy said of the Russian strike.
Katarina Mathernová, the European Union’s ambassador to Kyiv, described the attack as “horrific.”
“If anyone still doubts Russia wants war to continue—read the news,” Katarina Mathernová wrote on the social network.
Air raid alert in Kyiv
THE debris of intercepted missiles and drones fell in at least six Kyiv city districts. According to the acting head of the city’s military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, six people required medical care after the attack and two fires were sparked in Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district.
The Obolon district, where a residential building was heavily damaged in the attack, was the hardest hit with at least five wounded in the area, the administration said.
Yurii Bondarchuk, a local resident, said the air raid siren “started as usual, then the drones started to fly around as they constantly do.” Moments later, he heard a boom and saw shattered glass fly through the air.
“The balcony is totally wiped out, as well as the windows and the doors,” he said as he stood in the dark, smoking a cigarette to calm his nerves while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
“This is such a big news. It’s like a fresh breath of air,” she said. “I didn’t see him, but at least it’s some news. At least it’s news that gives us the opportunity to continue to breathe and live in peace.”
However, the exchange—the latest of dozens of swaps since the war began and the biggest involving Ukrainian civilians so far—did not herald a halt in the fighting.
Battles continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed, and neither country has relented in its deep strikes.
After the May 16 Istanbul meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the prisoner swap a “confidence-building measure” and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that there has been no agreement yet on the venue for the next round of talks as diplomatic maneuvering continued.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would give Ukraine a draft document outlining its conditions for a “sustainable, longterm, comprehensive” peace agreement, once the ongoing prisoner exchange had finished.
Far apart on key conditions EUROPEAN leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts while he tries to press his larger army’s battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land.
The Istanbul meeting revealed that both sides remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting. One such condition for Ukraine, backed by its Western allies, is a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement.
As Pope Leo XIV faces scrutiny, victims of abusive Catholic group say he helped when others didn’t
By Nicole Winfield & Franklin Briceño The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY—Pope Leo XIV made plenty of enemies helping dismantle a powerful Catholic movement whose leaders physically, sexually, spiritually and psychologically abused members. As Leo’s past record of handling clergy sexual abuse cases comes under scrutiny, victims of the now-disgraced group are stepping up to defend him.
These survivors say that starting in 2018, when Robert Prevost was a bishop in Peru, he met with them. He took their claims seriously when others did not. He got the Vatican involved and worked concretely to provide financial reparations for the harm they had endured.
They credit him with helping arrange the key 2022 meeting with Pope Francis that triggered a Vatican investigation into the group, known as the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, that resulted in its suppression earlier this year.
“What can I say about him? That he listened to me,” said José Rey de Castro, a teacher who spent 18 years in the Sodalitium as the personal cook for its leader, Luis Fernando Figari. “It seems obvious for a priest. But that’s not the case, because the Sodalitium was very powerful.”
A conservative army for God FIGARI founded the Sodalitium in Peru in 1971 as a lay community to recruit “soldiers for God.” It was one of several Catholic societies born as a conservative reaction to the leftleaning liberation theology movement that swept through Latin America starting in the 1960s. At its height, the group counted about 1,000 core members and several times that in
three other branches across South America and the United States. It was enormously influential in Peru and has its US base in Denver.
Starting in 2000, stories about Figari’s twisted practices began to filter out in Peru when a former member wrote a series of articles in the magazine Gente. A formal accusation was lodged with the Lima archdiocese in 2011 but neither the local church nor the Holy See took concrete action until former member Pedro Salinas and journalist Paola Ugaz exposed the practices of Sodalitium in their 2015 book “Half Monks, Half Soldiers.” In 2017, a report commissioned by the group’s new leadership determined that the charismatic Figari was “narcissistic, paranoid, demeaning, vulgar, vindictive, manipulative, racist, sexist, elitist and obsessed with sexual issues and the sexual orientation of SCV members.” The report found that Figari sodomized his recruits and forced them to fondle him and one another, that he liked to watch them “experience pain, discomfort and fear,” and humiliated them in front of others to enhance his control over them. Yet when members found the courage to escape and denounce the abuses they suffered, they say they often met a wall of silence and inaction from the
Peruvian Catholic hierarchy and the Holy See. Both were slow to act against a movement that had been formally approved by St. John Paul II’s Vatican, which had looked fondly on conservative, wealthy movements in Latin America, like the similarly-disgraced Mexican-based Legion of Christ.
Prevost stands out BUT not Prevost, whom Francis made bishop of Chiclayo, Peru in 2014 and later was elected vice president of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference. He headed the bishops’ commission created to listen to victims of abuse, and became a critical “bridge” between victims and Sodalitium, the victims say.
Rey de Castro, the former Figari cook who got out in 2014 and now teaches public policy to Peruvian police, turned to Prevost in 2021. He had been critical of a 2016 Sodalitium reparations program that, according to the group, provided some $6.5 million in academic, therapeutic and financial support to nearly 100 Sodalitium victims over the years.
He and Prevost met in the offices of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference and stayed in touch via text message up until Prevost’s election as pope.
From the start, Rey de Castro said, “Prevost was very clear in saying ‘For me, Sodalitium doesn’t have
a charism,’” the church term for the fundamental inspiration and reason for a religious movement to exist. After their 2021 meeting, Prevost helped arrange a confidential settlement with Sodalitium, he said.
“For Prevost to get the Sodalitium to do something just was exceptional, which was more or less what happened,” he said in an interview in Lima.
Salinas and Ugaz, for their part, say Prevost also stepped in when the Sodalitium started retaliating against them with legal action for their continued investigative reporting on the group. After the Sodalitium’s archbishop of Piura, José Eguren, sued Salinas in 2018 for defamation, Prevost and the Vatican’s ambassador to Peru helped craft a statement from the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference backing the journalists.
“It was the first time that anyone had done anything against the Sodalitium publicly,” Ugaz said. “And not only did they make this declaration, but they communicated with Francis, told him what was happening and Francis got mad.”
Ugaz and Salinas provided years of e-mails, text messages and anecdotes dating back to 2018 to demonstrate how committed Prevost was to the cause of the Sodalitium victims. While not all his initiatives succeeded, Pre -
vost stepped in at critical junctions.
“I assure you I share your concern and we are looking for the best way to get the letter directly to the pope,” Prevost wrote one victim December 11, 2018, about getting a letter from Sodalitium victims to Francis.
“I will continue working so that there is justice for all those who suffered at the hands of Sodalitium,” Prevost wrote another victim on December 23, 2018. “I ask forgiveness for the errors of the church.”
After the Sodalitium criticism accelerated against Ugaz and Salinas, Prevost helped arrange for Ugaz to meet with Francis at the Vatican on Nov. 10, 2022, during which she laid out her findings and convinced Francis to send his top sex crimes investigators to Peru.
Their 2023 investigation uncovered physical abuses “including with sadism and violence, “ sect-like abuses of conscience, spiritual abuse, abuses of authority including the hacking of Ugaz’s communications and economic abuses in administering church money. The probe also identified a publicity campaign some Sodalitium members had mounted against critics.
The investigation resulted in Francis taking a series of initiatives, starting with the April 2024 resignation of Eguren which Prevost handled. It continued with the expulsion of Figari, Eguren and nine others, and finally the formal dissolution of the Sodalitium in April this year, just before Francis died.
The Sodalitium has accepted its dissolution, asked forgiveness for “the mistreatment and abuse committed within our community” and for the pain caused the entire church.
“With sorrow and obedience, we accept this decision, specifically approved by Pope Francis, which brings our society to an end,” the group said in an April statement after the decree of dissolution was signed.
There was no reply to an email sent to the group with specific questions about Prevost’s role.
Prevost now a target LEO’S record of handling sex abuse cases while he was an Augustinian superior and bishop in Peru has come under renewed scrutiny since his election May 8. And overall, one of the biggest challenges facing history’s first American pope will be how he addresses the clergy abuse scandal, which has traumatized thousands of people around the world and devastated the Catholic hierarchy’s credibility.
The idea Prevost might have enemies as a result of his tough line against the Sodalitium was crystalized in a recent podcast hosted by Salinas on Peru’s La Mula streaming platform. Salinas dedicated most of the hourlong episode to reading aloud seven years of glowing correspondence between Sodalitium victims and Prevost. But he also said Prevost had become the target of a defamation campaign asserting he covered up for abusers. Salinas blamed the campaign on Sodalitium’s supporters trying to discredit the new pope.
One of the cases in question is Prevost’s handling of abuse allegations made in 2022 by three sisters against one of his priests in Chiclayo. The diocese and Vatican say Prevost did everything he was supposed to do, including restricting the priest’s ministry, sending a preliminary investigation to the Vatican’s sex crimes office, offering psychological help to the victims and suggesting they go to Peruvian authorities, who archived the case because it happened too long ago.
Nine days after Peruvian authorities closed the case, Prevost was named to head the Vatican’s office for bishops and left the diocese. The Vatican archived the case for lack of evidence, but it was reopened in 2023 after it gained traction in the media. Victims’ groups are demanding an accounting from Leo.
Briceno reported from Lima, Peru.
By Marc Levy & Paul Wiseman The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump said Friday that US Steel will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh as part of what he called a “planned partnership” that seemed to signal that he’ll approve a bid by Japan-based Nippon Steel to make a big investment in the iconic American steelmaker, if not buy it outright. Still, Trump’s statement left it vague as to whether he is approving Nippon Steel’s bid after he vowed repeatedly to block the deal to prevent US Steel from being foreign-owned. More recently, Trump suggested that Nippon Steel would invest in US Steel, not buy it, and one union official suggested Friday that the federal government will have a role in the company’s management going forward. But investors seemed to take Trump’s statement as a sign that he’s approving some sort of merger, sharply pushing up US Steel’s shares, and the companies issued approving statements.
Nippon Steel said the partnership is a “game changer—for US Steel and all of its stakeholders, including the American steel industry, and the broader American manufacturing base.” US Steel said it “will remain American, and we will grow bigger and stronger through a partnership with Nippon Steel that brings massive investment, new technologies and thousands of jobs over the next four years.”
Nippon Steel’s nearly $15 billion bid to buy US Steel was blocked by former President Joe Biden on his way out of office and, after Trump became president, subject to another national security review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
In his statement Friday, Trump said that “after much consideration and negotiation, US Steel will REMAIN in America, and keep its Headquarters in the Great City of Pittsburgh.” What Trump called a “planned partnership” will add $14 billion to the US economy, he said, although it wasn’t clear what the terms of the deal would be or who would control US Steel under the arrangement. Neither company explained Friday how the
PERUVIAN investigative journalist Paola Margot Ugaz Cruz talks with the Associated Press near St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Monday, May 19, 2025. AP PHOTO/GREGORIO BORGIA
Irri: Proper diagnostic tools key to fighting rice diseases
THE International Rice Research Institute (Irri) said the use of proper diagnostic tools and awareness of rice disease symptoms are crucial to ensuring accurate and effective disease management.
Irri Senior Associate Scientist
Gilda Jonson said the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), PCR, and RT-PCR tests will guide rice disease management.
“Because multiple rice viruses can cause overlapping symptoms, knowledge and awareness of symptoms and identification of insects present in the field are necessary to avoid misidentification,” she said in a statement which was available on the Irri website as of Sunday morning.
Jonson was part of the team of Irri scientists led by Van ScheplerLuu which probed reports of “unusual yellowing and stunting” in the LAV666 rice variety, locally known as Jackpot 102, from local agriculture offices.
The scientists said they initially suspected that the rice plants in Laguna were infected with tungro or orange leaf disease, but further tests confirmed a co-infection of Rice Grassy Stunt Virus (RGSV) and Rice Ragged Stunt Virus (RRSV), also known as “yellowing syndrome.” These viruses are “common”
in rice, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. However, Irri noted that these could affect panicle exertion in severe cases.
Farmers and field technicians also reported high populations of brown planthoppers or Nilaparvata lugens (BPH), which are known to transmit RGSV, RRSV, and instances of hopper burns in nearby fields.
According to Irri, the yellowing syndrome first appeared in rice fields in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, in 1989 wherein rice plants affected by the disease showed a spreading growth pattern, stunted growth, and yellowing leaves.
Studies by Vietnam-based Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute researchers showed that rice virus infections were pegged to have caused a loss of around 800,000 metric tons (MT) of rice by 2005.
The Irri team urged farmers to practice synchronized planting, immediate plowing of infected stubbles, and cautious use of insecticides to prevent resurgence. It added that planting varieties resistant to these diseases or to BPH is the recommended long-term control.
The scientists also encouraged local government units to remain vigilant in monitoring, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Offices.
Ada Pelonia
Palawan planters shift to organic farming—DAR
By Jonathan L. Mayuga
TO boost production, reduce costs, and increase yields, agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Narra, Palawan, are transitioning to organic farming methods.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Palawan said the Mariwara Pag-Asa MultiPurpose Cooperative in Barangay Princess Urduja, Narra, Palawan, is now better equipped to practice sustainable agriculture after a two-day training on organic vegetable and corn production conducted by the agency under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP).
The training aimed to enhance the skills of the ARBs in organic farming, enabling them to increase productivity, reduce farming costs, and protect their health and the environment. Participants received hands-on instruction in soil preparation, crop management, and eco-friendly farming techniques from TESDA-accredited assessor Melchor Gabua (NC II).
“This training is not just about producing crops, it’s about cultivating resilience and selfreliance among our ARBs. Through organic agriculture, we are helping ARBs not only increase their yields but also protect their health, land, and livelihood for generations to come,” said ARPO I Nita San Juan, CRFPSP Provincial Point Person, who facilitated the training.
The training is part of DAR’s ongoing efforts to promote climate-resilient and inclusive rural development, helping ARBs adapt to environmental challenges while improving their livelihoods by equipping members of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) with the knowledge and resources needed to thrive in a changing
climate and agricultural landscape.
DAR Palawan organized the training in partnership with the DAR Municipal Office of Narra, led by Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Elenita Sandalan.
Turnover of facility MEANWHIE DAR said it has turned over a P300,000 greenhouse to an agricultural cooperative to boost food security and improve farmers’ livelihoods in Barangay Medina, Magallanes town, Cavite.
The agency said 86 ARBs of MagallanesSamahang Magsasaka Ng Kay-Apas at Medina (Magsamakame) stand to benefit from the 50-square meter facility, which is equipped with top ventilation for heat regulation and an overhead misting irrigation system with a pump set. It is designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 100 kph, ensuring durability, year-round crop protection, and increased productivity.
“This greenhouse is a huge help. We are very thankful to DAR for their continuous support. Through this, our harvest will be more secure, and our income opportunities can grow,” said Mariano Maligaya, chairman of Magsamakame. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between DAR and Magsamakame during the turnover. Under the agreement, DAR will continuously monitor and evaluate the greenhouse’s operation and management, having already procured the initial capital outlay for the cooperative.
The group, for its part, committed to servicing the needs of its ARBs by properly managing, operating, and maintaining the greenhouse efficiently and economically, ensuring its profitability and taking full responsibility for its upkeep.
‘New policy averts spikes in canned food prices’
By Ada Pelonia
THE suspension of poultry shipments from Brazil due to the outbreak of bird flu would not disrupt chicken supply and result in higher prices of processed meat products, according to an industry group.
The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) said the government’s accreditation efforts would cushion the impact of the temporary ban on Brazil poultry on the Philippines’ meat supply.
“With the aggressive new accreditation policies of [the Department of Agriculture], we are now a lot better equipped to handle this major supply chain disruption,” Pampi Director Jet Ambalada told the BusinessMirror
He noted that the group is “actively sourcing” from Poland, considered the European Union’s biggest poultry producer, United States, Canada, and Argentina. They also plan to get hold of shipments from Spain, Russia, and Paraguay, he added. “[So,] I don’t expect any major disruptions.”
The Pampi official also noted that most meat processors tend to keep a minimum of 30-day inventory,
while other have an inventory that would last for over 120 days.
Brazil was the country’s top supplier of chicken in the first quarter, particularly for mechanically deboned meat (MDM) typically used in hot dogs, sausages, and canned meat products.
It accounted for 68 percent of the country’s MDM supply during the reference period, based on government data.
A Bloomberg report noted that Brazil supplies more than one-third of the global export market, and its longstanding status as a nation free from bird flu had so far given local producers an edge against competitors including the United States in the past few years.
Meanwhile, Ambalada said the group is asking the DA to grant the South American nation bilateral recognition of areas free of animal diseases like bird flu.
“We have also requested DA to fasttrack the regionalization of Bra-
zil so that it can resume supplying poultry to us.”
Under the regionalization agreement, the Philippines will restrict shipments of live birds and their products only from certain areas with confirmed bird flu cases instead of imposing a country-wide ban.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said imposing a country-wide ban amid the occurrence of avian flu cases hampers the trade of poultry products, which in turn, affects prices of the commodity.
This year, the DA will grant accreditation to eight countries to export meat products to the Philippines. Some of the countries that secured Manila’s nod were Chile, Paraguay and Thailand.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Administrative Circular (AC) 9, which outlined the requirements for accredited countries that wish to secure bilateral recognition of areas free of animal diseases like bird flu.
“Worldwide yearly occurrence of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza [HPAI] can impact global food security by affecting the poultry industry and restrict the international trade of live birds and poultry meat, and in turn affect prices and impact national economies,” the circular read.
Currently, the Philippines has an HPAI regionalization agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom.
Project to address child labor in Cotabato City
COMMUNITY members and parents of child laborers in Cotabato City have received training in duck raising and floating vegetable gardens for climate-resilient income and sustainable livelihoods.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) through its Achieving reduction of child labor in support of education (ARISE) Project spearheads the skills training and livelihood development in flood-prone areas of Cotabato City. The project, funded by the government of Japan, aims to introduce duck farming and floating vegetable gardens as viable income-generating activities.
The livelihood support was implemented in partnership with the Cotabato City Agriculture Office and the Integrated Resource Development for Tri-people Inc. (IRDT). The Cotabato City Agriculture Office played a vital role in facilitating the transfer of technology.
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ranks third in the country for the highest number of child
laborers, according to a 2022 study, as a rider to the Labor Force Survey in 2022 by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
To address this issue, the ILOJapan project focuses on improving education, economic empowerment, and social mobilization, alongside enhancing regulatory frameworks and institutional development.
Duck raising and floating gardens offer a climate-resilient income source for communities in floodprone areas. These innovative solutions thrive in environments like Poblacion 9, where traditional livelihoods are often disrupted by floods.
“We can still earn an income if this continues because the floating garden will not be destroyed even when there are floods. The ducks, when they lay eggs, can be used to make salted eggs and balut,” said 23-yearold Alibai Fatima, a former child laborer in the Poblacion 9 dumpsite.
Parents of child laborers were identified and profiled through the project’s pilot test of the Child Labor Monitoring System, developed
in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), local governments and key partners in Cotabato City and South Upi. This system enables community members to understand and identify hazardous and worst forms of child labor, such as working in dumpsites.
“We have lived in the dumpsite for 10 years. Three of my children work with me at the dumpsite for our family to survive. We were identified and profiled to be part of this training. Our income from scavenging is not enough, and this will help us,” said 30-year-old Fatima Pantao.
A referral system, including Community-Based Service Outlets (CBSO), will be established to support the livelihoods of parents of child laborers, while also continuing efforts to monitor and address the worst forms of child labor.
A community support organization that brings together floating vegetable gardeners, will foster strong ties with the local government. This will make it easier to link with agricultural organizations and
markets through the ICCAFC (Independent Component City of Agriculture and Fishery Council) and Agribusiness Banner Program. Further training in financial literacy and organizational management will provide ongoing support and skill development.
“The duck raising and floating garden can help increase our income. We can sell our vegetables in the market and grow our business as a community. This ILO project can also withstand floods. The garden will simply absorb and float. We also build it using resources such as water hyacinths, which are abundant in our area. These water hyacinths will also be used to create handicrafts,” said Misuari Ulama, vice president of one of the community organizations in Poblacion 9.
The trainings were held in Cotabato City at the Climate Smart Agriculture Training Center and the Senior Citizen Hall, which provided the training venue for free. The duck raising and floating garden setups were done through handson training in Poblacion 9.
Europe’s dry spring raises fears for wheat and barley harvests
F
ARMS across wide swaths of Europe are parched after an unusually dry spring, evidence of the increasing threat of climate change to homegrown grains. The sunny stretch follows a winter marked by long periods of low rain and snowfall in key crop-producing regions. Total precipitation in Europe from February through April was below long-term averages, according to data from the University of Maine’s Climate Change Institute.
“Conditions are quite worrisome,” said Andrew Pedrini, a meteorologist with Atmospheric G2. As climate change drives more extreme weather in Europe it is straining food supplies. Poor growth of wheat and barley, staples used in everything from bread to beer, has raised concerns of higher prices across the grocery aisles.
If the dryness persists it would be a second consecutive season of weather-related setbacks for farmers. Last year unrelenting downpours left fields in the UK and France too sodden to plant and Black Sea crops were hit
by unseasonable cold snaps and drought. Models from the European Centre for Medium-term Forecasting show periods of heavy rain across Europe in late-May and early June, but those are expected to be short-lived and unlikely to reverse the drying trends.
Already, warmer-than-usual temperatures and a lack of rain have caused some damage to winter crops — currently in a crucial stage of kernel development. Their size and quality will determine whether the produce is used for human consumption or turned into animal feed.
In northeast France, about 30 percent of the wheat and barley on Philippe Heusele’s farm has already been damaged by the dry soil. The remaining crops are in desperate need of water.
“We have a very important fortnight ahead of us,” said Heusele, who is also president of international relations at industry group Intercereales. “It’ll be critical.”
In the United Kingdom too, farmers have warned of damage, with data showing “how dry springs can reduce yield, and quality,” AHDB analysts George Craddock and Helen Plant said in a recent note.
The European Union is currently forecast to produce 136 million tons of wheat next season, according to the US Department of Agriculture, a return to near-normal levels after last year’s washout.
But the European Drought Observatory has warned of worsening drought conditions across the north and east, magnified by unusually frequent and persistent highpressure weather patterns this spring. That has blocked moist North Atlantic air from moving east across Europe, said MetDesk meteorologist Matthew Dobson. Some of the continent’s key wheat producers—such as Poland and Ukraine—have experienced one of the driest October-to-April periods “in at least the last decade,” Dobson said. Still, there is a chance of periods of intense rainfall over the summer, though it might not prove helpful to farmers, according to Atmospheric G2’s Pedrini. Extreme heat could supercharge outbreaks of severe thunderstorms with heavy rain and larger hailstones. “We are definitely not in a good place to start the summer.” Bloomberg News
Navigating uncertainty: PHL’s strategy after the US credit downgrade
THE recent decision by Moody’s Ratings to downgrade the United States’ credit rating from Aaa to Aa1 marks a significant moment in global finance—one that reverberates far beyond American shores. For the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), this development has triggered a critical reassessment of its investment strategy, particularly concerning its holdings of US Treasuries. BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona’s acknowledgment that this downgrade is a “big thing” underscores the gravity of the situation for markets worldwide, including the Philippine economy. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “US credit rating downgrade ‘a big thing’ for PHL–BSP,” May 24, 2025).
US Treasury securities have long been regarded as the bedrock of global financial stability—the ultimate safe haven and the most liquid asset available to central banks. The downgrade signals growing concerns over the US’s fiscal trajectory, specifically its rising debt levels, and challenges the once-unquestioned supremacy of American creditworthiness. For the BSP, which holds a substantial portion of its reserves in US dollars and Treasuries, this is a moment that demands careful deliberation.
Governor Remolona’s comments underscore the ongoing tension between the persistent dominance and liquidity of the US dollar, and the emerging risks posed by the recent credit rating downgrade. While the US dollar remains the world’s primary reserve currency and continues to play a pivotal role in international trade and finance, the downgrade serves as a warning that this dominance is not immutable. The BSP’s openness to reducing its US Treasury holdings reflects a prudent approach to risk management—hedging against potential volatility while recognizing the dollar’s current indispensability.
The global financial landscape is gradually witnessing efforts toward de-dollarization, a shift that could reshape international monetary dynamics over the long term. Examples such as the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit transition to invoicing trade in euros highlight that even entrenched practices can change, albeit slowly. For the Philippines, the fact that its trade invoicing remains dollar-based, despite China being its top import source, underscores the dollar’s deep-rooted significance in commerce.
Yet, as Governor Remolona rightly points out, the safe haven status of the dollar may erode over time. This slow, incremental shift is a signal for policymakers and financial institutions worldwide to diversify reserves and explore alternative assets and currencies. For the Philippines, diversification strategies should balance the need for liquidity, safety, and returns while remaining responsive to evolving global trends.
The recent downgrade of US Treasuries by Moody’s is more than a rating adjustment; it’s a clear warning that those managing reserves need to be extra cautious and ready to adapt their strategies. The BSP’s measured response exemplifies responsible stewardship in uncertain times. While the dollar’s dominance endures for now, the Philippines must prepare thoughtfully for a future where the global financial order may look very different. Sound policy today will ensure that the country remains resilient, secure, and prosperous amid shifting tides in international finance.
The resilience and achievements of Filipino women
MRISING
SUN
ARCH is not the only month when we should celebrate women and their achievements because the spirit of Women’s Month reverberates, as it should, throughout the year. Filipino women, in particular, are widely recognized for their resilience, creativity, and determination—generations of Filipino women have shaped the country’s identity and progress.
Education is one bright spot. Women in the Philippines are outpacing men in college completion. However, the transition from education to the workforce is not always seamless. Despite the country’s strong global ranking on gender equality—17th in the world, with 78.4 percent of the gender gap closed, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023—women’s labor force participation remains
low at just 49 percent, one of the lowest rates in the East Asia and the Pacific region. Men, by contrast, participate at a rate of about 76 percent. This gap has remained largely unchanged for decades, a reminder that social norms and caregiving responsibilities continue to shape women’s choices.
The wage gap is another persistent challenge. Women earn about 85 percent of what men do for simi-
lar work, and their contributions are often undervalued, underpaid, and overlooked. The burden of caregiving falls disproportionately on women, who juggle jobs, household duties, and parenting with little support. This “care gap” is now a focus of national policy, with the government and organizations like Oxfam working to finalize a Care Economy Policy Framework to promote shared responsibilities and ease the load on women.
Violence against women also remains a pressing issue. Nearly one in five Filipino women—about 18 percent—have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse by an intimate partner, according to the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). This reality underscores the urgency of ongoing advocacy, legal reforms, and the need for safe spaces and support systems for survivors.
Despite these challenges, the mood among women’s rights advocates is hopeful and determined. Campaigns like #JuanaSays and #WEcan-
beEquALL amplify women’s voices from marginalized sectors. Digital platforms and social media have become powerful tools for storytelling and mobilization, connecting women across geographies and generations. In various communities all over the nation, women come together at bazaars, summits, and forums, sharing knowledge and resources. The “Pakigduyog: Women’s Summit” is an example of events that bring together government agencies, private companies, and civil society. This one offers free medical and legal services, a bazaar for and by women, and breakout sessions on topics ranging from financial literacy to mental health.
The story of women in the Philippines is not just about overcoming obstacles, but also about dreaming of a brighter future, about women in boardrooms and classrooms, on farms and in factories, in homes and hospitals. Their resilience, creativity, beauty, and solidarity are shaping a nation where every woman’s potential can flourish.
A colossus of faith and tourism: The Saint Vincent Ferrer Statue in Bayambang
T. Anthony C. Cabangon
Lourdes M. Fernandez
Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug
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G. Reyes D. Edgard A. Cabangon Benjamin V. Ramos
Aldwin Maralit Tolosa
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IN the quiet town of Bayambang, Pangasinan, where rice paddies stretch wide and tradition runs deep, stands a monumental figure that pierces the sky and commands reverence: the St. Vincent Ferrer Statue, the world’s tallest bamboo sculpture. Officially standing at 50.23 meters (164.8 feet), this towering tribute to the town’s patron saint is not just a feat of engineering—it is a statement of faith, pride, and boundless potential.
Plans are afoot for the Guinness Book record holder to become a tourist attraction that could become a pilgrimage haven for Catholics and nonCatholics alike with initially a Prayer Park and soon hotels to accommodate tourists. So far, locals are greeted with the towering figure, a colossus of faith and tourism that is visible from afar, and which could provide a new push for tourism dollars the country needs.
The St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park, where the statue resides, is now more than just a pilgrimage site. It is a burgeoning tourist attraction with the potential to transform Bayambang into a hub for faith tourism, cultural appreciation, and local economic development. The statue serves as a magnet for devotees, architecture enthusiasts, and travelers in search of the unique and the profound. With proper infrastructure, partnerships with travel agencies, and im-
mersive experiences such as guided tours, storytelling exhibits, and festivals, Bayambang could evolve into Northern Luzon’s spiritual landmark— the Rome of Pangasinan, if you will. This statue is not merely an object of admiration. It is a call to arms for local pride, an opportunity for job creation, and a narrative waiting to be shared with the world. It signals what is possible when faith meets vision, and when local governments invest not just in concrete and steel, but in identity and legacy.
The St. Vincent Ferrer Statue is not just a record-breaker—it is a testament of the Filipino spirit: devout, daring, and deeply rooted. In an age where concrete jungles sprout overnight, Bayambang dares to tell a different story—one etched in bamboo and belief, strength and sustainability. Having visited the statue countless times, especially when I go back to my roots,
the statue is simply awesome. And as tourists gaze upward at the saint’s outstretched hand, they’re not just witnessing a marvel—they are reminded of a town’s unwavering conviction to stand tall, dream big, and elevate its legacy into the heavens. And for starters, the first-class municipality is home to Nina’s Cafe, a quaint restaurant that serves Carmen’s Best.
Saint Vincent Ferrer (1350–1419) was a Dominican friar renowned for his powerful preaching, tireless missionary work, and miracles. Known as the “Angel of the Apocalypse,” he traversed Europe during a time of schism and strife, bringing both fire and solace to the faithful. Ferrer was canonized in 1455 and remains a towering figure of Roman Catholic devotion. For Bayambang, he is more than a saint—he is a spiritual foundation, a protector, and a beloved symbol of the town’s heritage. It is no surprise then that Bayambang chose to honor him not just with a church or chapel, but with something as grand and awe-inspiring as a colossal statue made of bamboo—a material as humble as it is symbolically rich in Filipino culture.
Bayambang is no stranger to breaking records. In 2014, it grilled its way into the Guinness World Records with the longest barbecue in the world, stretching eight sizzling kilometers. That initial taste of global recognition whetted the town’s appetite for more. Plans were hatched to break another record—this time for the most number of sky lanterns flown—but environmental regulations clipped those ambitions. Undeterred, then Mayor Cezar Ter-
rado Quiambao, inspired by his wife Mary Clare Phyllis Quiambao and their shared devotion to St. Vincent Ferrer, pivoted to an idea as bold as it was beautiful: a bamboo colossus, unmatched in scale and reverence. The realization of this dream took a village—608 men and one woman, to be precise—laboring over 10 months to breathe life into a concept that merged ancient materials with modern technology. The statue is wrapped in 22,626 bamboo panels, supported by a steel spine and a deep concrete foundation designed to withstand the brutalities of typhoons. The bamboo, carefully engineered and imported, is not only sustainable but also a nod to the country’s deep-rooted connection with nature. Its polygonal structure, composed of around 5,000 geometric panels, was meticulously modeled using 3D polygon technology. The head alone, with its curls and details, required 700 polygons—a feat of craftsmanship and digital precision. When Guinness World Records adjudicator Swapnil Dangarikar confirmed its height on April 5, 2019, Bayambang didn’t just break a record—it made history. The statue became the town’s towering tribute to the 400th anniversary of its parish and the 600th death anniversary of the saint himself. The St. Vincent Ferrer Statue is not just a record-breaker—it is a testament of the Filipino spirit: devout, daring, and deeply rooted. In an age where concrete jungles sprout overnight, Bayambang dares to tell a different story—one etched in bamboo and belief, strength and sustainability.
Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II
Intellectual property practice for CPAs
AJoel L. Tan-Torres
DEBIT CREDIT
Part one
FTER the discussion in my last column on the Intellectual Property Academy (IP Academy), operating under the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), I proceed to discuss the relevance and opportunities available for my fellow Certified Public Accountants in Intellectual Property practice. Lawyers have long been practicing in this field, but I believe that CPAs can competently engage in this area, perhaps even more than lawyers.
The understanding and practice of IP plays an important role in business, finance, and accounting. Whether in audit, tax, consulting, or corporate finance, CPAs increasingly encounter IP-related matters, particularly in valuation, financial reporting, taxation and regulatory and strategic decision-making.
The primary International Financial Reporting Standard that governs the accounting treatment of intangible assets, including intellectual property rights, is International Accounting Standards 38 (IAS 38) on: Intangible Assets. This was originally issued by the International Accounting Standards Committee in September 1998. IAS 38 defines an intangible asset as an identifiable, non-monetary asset without physical substance. This IAS provides the rules for the recognition, measurement, amortization, and impairment of intangible assets. Clearly, for years since 1998, the accountancy profession has issued guidelines to govern the financial reporting and accounting treatment of intangible assets and IP.
There are several key matters addressed by CPAs in the financial reporting and disclosures in financial statements. The CPAs assess whether the IP meets the capitalization criteria for recording as an Intangible Asset in the company’s books and records. CPAs should also determine the Amortization policies on time period and the method to use. The CPA should conduct Impairment Testing to determine if an intangible asset’s carrying amount exceeds or is lower than its fair value, resulting in a recognition of gain or loss.
In taxation, CPAs should be familiar with the tax rules and laws governing the deductibility of intangible assets’ amortization, and losses. They should also know the tax rates that will apply to IP-related transactions, including payment of royalties, and the recognition of gains and losses in the actual sale of IPs, or when impairment impacts are recognized.
On a more specialized area, CPAs should be familiar with Related-Party transactions and Arm’s Length Pricing on transactions involving IP between related parties (e.g., parent and subsidiary companies) for internal revenue taxation purposes. Other tax issues that have been recently raised that may have an impact on IP matters are the characterization of the transactions (whether these are royalty payments, payments for the purchase of goods or services) and what income source rule will apply (source of income based on place of rendering, payment, or consumption of service or product). There are recent developments in taxation that impact the taxation of intangible assets. In 2024, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 5-2024 that clarifies the tax treatment of cross-border services in light of the Supreme Court (SC) En Banc Decision in Aces Philippines Cellular Satellite Corp. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, GR 226680, dated August 30, 2022. The following are the relevant In this decision, the SC ruled that the service fees arising from the transmission of satellite signals to users in the Philippines from a satellite in outer space and
Wise counsel
Tan Indonesian control center were considered as Philippine-sourced income and thus, subject to withholding taxes in the Philippines. The SC applied the situs of the source rule of “benefits-received” theory in determining that the income is Philippine-sourced since the place of consumption of the output or result now is to be considered in determining the taxability of a transaction. As a result of the SC decision, through the RMC, the BIR expanded the coverage of the “benefitsreceived” principle to include crossborder services on (i) Consulting services; (ii) IT Outsourcing; (iii) Financial services; (iv) Telecommunications; (v) Engineering and Construction; (vi) Education and Training; (vi) Tourism and Hospitality; (viii) and other similar services. Thus, for these services, which may include those arising from intangible properties and IP, these are taxable in the Philippines.
Subsequently, the BIR issued RMC 38-2024, which provided that the SC case does not automatically apply to international service provision or cross-border service agreements. However, despite the clarifications in this RMC, taxpayers and practitioners still have several concerns and questions. In CTA Cases No. SCA 0018 and 0020, several banks, including Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation-Manila Branch, filed a petition for restraining order on the implementation of RMC 5-2024, which the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) denied. As the BIR continues to enforce the taxation of cross-border service transactions, I am sure that there will be more tax issues that will be raised on the taxation of royalty payments and other IP-related transactions. This will surely include the issue of whether value-added tax (VAT) is also impossible on the transactions covered by RMC 38-2024.
In October 2024, Republic Act 12023, otherwise known as the VAT on Digital Services Act which amended the VAT provisions of the Tax Code to include digital services within the VAT system where a 12 percent VAT will be imposed for such digital services consumed in the Philippines, whether provided by resident or nonresident digital service providers. Revenue Regulations No. 3-2025 was recently issued, providing for the implementing rules and guidelines for this VAT on DSP beginning June 1, 2025. Moving forward, I am certain that there will be tax questions raised on the imposition of this 12 percent VAT on the digital services of certain transactions on IP and intangible assets. The CPAs and other tax practitioners should be aware of the opportunities and risks in matters involving IP and intangible assets.
To be continued
Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, and Tax partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He has his tax and consultancy practice and can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com and his firm JL2T Consultancy.
THE PATRIOT
HE revamp has begun. And it will continue until the President is pleased. From a presidential call for members of his Cabinet to submit courtesy resignations to a Memo from the Executive Secretary to include “Heads of Agencies of Cabinet rank, other Heads of Agencies, Presidential Advisers/Assistants” to tender their “unqualified courtesy resignation,” this revamp, either for optics or recalibration purposes will be a table topic in tandem with the looming impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte.
Many were retained, some were let go. Among the first to be “let go” was Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga. She was perceived to be out of the country more often than most and have underperformed according to recently reinstated Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. Loyzaga will be reportedly given another Cabinet position, in case a new Department will be created by law. I had little interaction with DENR. I only met with the DENR leadership, not under erstwhile Sec. Toni, when I was overseeing the reclamation projects of SM Prime. When Sec. Toni was handpicked by President Bongbong Marcos (BBM) to lead DENR, I was impressed and inspired given my ample knowledge of her advocacy work in the environmental space. I felt the same thing in the presidential selection of former DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, my former boss in Philippine Airlines. After all, a person entrusted to lead an agency regulating projects that affect the environment (or transportation) ought to know what needs to be done. In the case of former DENR Sec. Toni, it is worthy to share how stakeholders perceive the way she managed the department. One project proponent for a genuinely sustainable, inclusive, equitable and resilient mining described Sec. Toni as the best SENR, with whom he was “honored, humbled and privileged to collaborate with in 40+ years of working with grassroots communities and IPs, social license, environmental campaigns and mining
projects.” This project proponent also lauded the Leadership Team assembled by Sec. Toni, two of which were my colleagues in law school— Ignatius Rodriguez and Juan Miguel Cuna. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) also came out with a letter praising the works of Sec. Toni and her team particularly in the department’s initiatives such as “geospatial database and the development of a natural capital accounting system” that laid the foundational value of ecosystems, “not just in principle, but in policy and practice.”
I was once a regulator and I share the mantra of former Sec. Toni that government cannot fix the problems of the country alone. It takes a team effort. I understood the value of open communications and close collaboration with all stakeholders, civil society and academe included in particular, perhaps in the same vein as Sec. Toni. Sometimes it leaves me wondering where could she go wrong in DENR given a set of wise counsels and the right mantra in government regulation. Was it really a case of underperformance or a case of political accommodation? The fate of the rest of these officials in the executive department will ultimately depend on the President’s perception on their “underperformance” or “under delivery,” using the words of Bersamin. I say the word “perception” given that BBM cannot directly observe and see what the rest of his Cabinet members are doing or not doing. The role of any wise counsel in any organization is to therefore provide the decision maker with any and all
information that can lead to a more fair and reliable perception for better assessment and wiser conclusion. To let go or retain, to appoint or to shuffle, are some of these decisions that can be poorly made depending on the perception given to President BBM. Naturally, any perception will be variable depending on the angle where and how the observer looks at a certain situation.
From my own point of view, BBM was given wise counsel, regardless of its ultimate or hidden objective, when he decided to request all heads of departments and agencies to submit resignations. I hope he also gets good counsel in retaining the old ones and in selecting new ones. He should be guided deliberately and patiently since unwise decisions are oftentimes made in haste or under duress. A wise counsel for BBM is one who is genuinely concerned for the country as opposed to the administration. After all, the BBM administration is a mere steward of the country and does not own it. A wiser counsel for BBM is one who is brutally honest and objective, experienced in the area where guidance is needed, and exercises enough courage and gentleness to tell BBM the truth even if it hurts. But the wisest counsel for BBM in this critical stage of his administration is one who is biblically sound, spiritually mature, and aware of the blind spots. These blind spots are the things that BBM cannot see either because they are purposely hidden from him or he simply fails to see them because of the many things that cloud his vision. The wisest counsels can hopefully convert the political agenda of those around BBM to a God-led vision of a faith-filled citizenry under a strong and united republic. Since he became the leader of this nation until today where his allies are pushing for the impeachment of his running mate VP Sara Duterte, President BBM has been echoing unity. Whether genuinely aimed for or dictated for political survival, BBM has to receive counsel from those who can help review the strengths and weaknesses of his decisions in the next few days rather than listen to those who simply tell BBM what he wants to hear. In recent months, there have been efforts from a group of retired generals
UAAP 87 closes with UP turning over hosting duties to UST
TKuwentong Peyups
HE powerful drumbeats of the University of the Philippines (UP) Varsity Pep Drummers reverberated for the last time for Season 87 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) during the closing ceremonies on May 20, 2025 at the MOA Arena.
Drumming adds to the visual and cultural experience of the UAAP games as its rhythmic beats and energy create an exhilarating game atmosphere for fans and players.
UP President Atty. Angelo “Jijil” Jimenez, chairman of UAAP Season 87, has officially turned over the hosting responsibilities for UAAP Season 88 to Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P. of the University of Santo Tomas (UST).
“At the start of this season, Season 87, we have sent a message that we, in the UAAP, are not just mere competitors, but we are a community. At the end of this truly incredible journey, we can say that we have lived up to that promise. Indeed, eight schools, one league, all united in service to the nation, all united in promoting the love for the game, and all united to the transformation of the students of our schools who will be future leaders of the country,” Jimenez said during the closing ceremonies.
The UAAP is an athletic association of eight Metro Manila universities in the Philippines, composed
of UP, Ateneo de Manila University (AdU), De La Salle University (DLSU), Far Eastern University (FEU), National University (NU), University of the East (UE), and UST. FEU, NU, UP, UST are the original members that formed UAAP in 1938. Adamson and UE joined in 1952, followed by Ateneo in 1978 and DLSU in 1986.
Each school has its own moniker: Soaring Falcons for Adamson, Blue Eagles for Ateneo, Green Archers for DLSU, Tamaraws for FEU, Bulldogs for NU, Red Warriors for UE, Fighting Maroons for UP, and Growling Tigers for UST.
UP is this Season’s host, followed by UST next season, FEU, NU, Ateneo, DLSU, Adamson and back again to Season 86 host UE.
UP earlier hosted UAAP 12 times for seasons 12 (1949–50), 16 (1953–54), 20 (1957–58), 26 (1963–64), 31 (1968–69), 36 (1973–74), 42 (1979–80), 46 (1983–84), 54 (1991–92), 62 (1999–2000), 71 (2008–09) and 78 (2015–16).
and clergy people to volunteer their knowledge from experience to serve as wise counsels for BBM. Until now, it has been ignored, unfortunately. The Bible is replete with stories about disastrous consequences when unwise counsels surround the decision maker as in the case of King Rehoboam in 2 Chronicles 10 who favored the counsel of the young and inexperienced over the counsel of the wise elders. In the book of Proverbs, the Bible reiterated the role and value of wise counsel—“let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (Proverbs 1:5), “Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” ( Proverbs 19:20-21) and “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.” (Proverbs 12:15-16). We all need wise counsel. I had one in my father, Salvador Mison, when he was still alive as I sought guidance in making critical decisions, especially in my Army career and while in public service. I am still blessed with wise counsel in the person of Pastor Gary Galvez as I continue to navigate the challenges ahead in my life. Of course, the wisest counsel I have dwells within me, the Advocate and Comforter, the Holy Spirit. All I need to do is to invoke His presence in all things that I do, big or small. May our President BBM find or be surrounded by wise counsel now more than ever. Whatever he decides on the fate of his cabinet officials and leadership team is not just about him or his family or his administration anymore; it is more about finding God in all things that he will decide on as a steward of this nation.
A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.
UAAP Season 87 opened on September 7, 2024 with the theme “Stronger, Better, Together,” with performances by homegrown talents: Eraserheads, the UP Symphony Orchestra, Concert Chorus, Kontra Gapi, hip-hop dance group “UPeepz,” indie musician Johnoy Danao and the Maroon 4 composed of Slapshock guitarist Lean Ansing, Franco bassist Dave Delfin, and Moonstar88’s drummer Bon Sundiang and vocalist Maysh Baay.
The UAAP schools compete in 28 events from 15 sports to vie for the overall championship title.
UP teams that emerged champions for Season 87 are basketball and athletics in the men’s division, and badminton for women’s division as well as street dance.
UP teams that ranked second placers are softball and swimming in women’s division with chess, fencing, and judo in the men’s division.
UP teams that won as third placers are badminton, chess rapid, football, swimming and tennis for men’s division with athletics, fencing and tennis in women’s division.
Three UP women athletes were awarded Most Valuable Players (MVP): Anthea Marie Gonzales for badminton, Nickole dela Cruz for softball and Jufe Anne Cocoy for tennis. Shan Clar was MVP for men’s badminton.
Three athletes from the UP Integrated School (UPIS) were also awarded MVP: Justine Hallare for boys’ basketball, Liv Abegail Florendo for girls’ swimming, and Rom Ivan Eguia for boys’ table tennis. Season 87 is UP’s fourth cham-
pionship title in Men’s Basketball with their first title all the way back in 1939 (Season 2) then followed it up 47 years later in 1986 (Season 49) then 36 years later in 2022 (Season 84). UPMBT members that were named MVP include Fort Acuña (1968), Eric Altamirano (1986), Bright Akhuetie (2019), and Malick Diouf (2021). Aside from Season 87, UP was champion in athletics in the men’s division in Seasons 1 to 3 (1938–41), 12 (1949–50), 14 to 15 (1951–53), 20 (1957–58), 26 to 30 (1963–68), 38 to 42 (1975–80), 44 (1981–82), 81 (2018–19), and 85 (2022–23). UP women’s badminton team is Season 87 champion along with Seasons 58 to 63 (1995–2001) and 77 to 79 (2014–17).
The street dance competition preceded the closing ceremonies with UP emerging as the champion in the collegiate level. It is UP’s fourth title along with their three-peat from 2013 to 2016 — and the win tied them with DLSU for the most championships in UAAP street dance history. As UAAP closes its curtains for Season 87, the torch is passed to UST for Season 88 with the theme “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action,” which marks UST’s return as host since Season 79 in 2016.
“I am very confident that UST will improve on what we have done, and they are going to demonstrate true sports and the values of holistic growth that they are known for since history,” Jimenez added.
As the light dims in MOA Arena, the battle of the drummers ended UAAP Season 87.
Dennis Gorecho
Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
Monday, May 26, 2025
BusinessMirror
BIR pushing use of ₧12-B fund vs illicit tobacco trade
THEBy Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
Bureau of Internal Revenue
(BIR) is seeking to tap a longunclaimed P12-billion fund set aside by a 1968 law meant to strengthen enforcement, as the government intensifies its crackdown on illicit tobacco trade amid declining revenues.
During a recent online forum, BIR Assistant Commissioner Jethro Sabariaga said that Republic Act No. 5447, signed in 1968 by former President Ferdinand R. Marcos Sr., sets aside 1 percent of all collections from specific taxes on Virginia-type cigarettes and duties on imported lead tobacco to the BIR.
“For the past years, the BIR has not claimed anything from that fund… Several attempts have been made by the BIR to claim that fund, but this is often refused,” Sabariaga said.
The fund, which has ballooned to P12 billion, could provide crucial support to the BIR’s Illicit Trade Task Force (IITF) for tobacco products, Sabariaga told BusinessMirror It is also exploring whether the fund’s use can be expanded to cover other excise-taxed products, including alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages, “to promote public health and reduce related harm,” Sabariaga said. Specifically, the law states that the BIR’s share must be used for the purchase of strip stamps, apparatus, equipment, as well as for the improvement and adoption of modern methods for the effective enforcement and tax collection on Virginia-type cigarettes and tariffs on imported leaf tobacco.
The provision on the 1-percent allocation was written as “shall be retained” by the BIR, meaning the funds should have been directly carved out of collections.
However, the government shifted to a modernized tax collection system where tax payments go through Authorized Agent Banks (AABs)—a practice not contemplated by the law at the time it was enacted.
“Hindi pa naku-contemplate noon na sa bangko binabayad ang excise taxes,” Sabariaga said.
As a result, the money that should have been withheld by the BIR was automatically transferred to the Treasury, creating procedural barriers in accessing it now.
Sabariaga said the BIR is currently in talks with the Treasury to recover the fund, which could support the agency’s illicit trade enforcement operations.
The government has been searching for ways to plug excise tax leakages caused by the rampant smuggling of illicit tobacco into the country.
Figures from the Philippine Tobacco Institute showed that the rate at which illegal tobacco products are being traded, consumed, or encountered in the Philippines soared to an all-time high last year to 18.2
Freshly Freshly Brewed
Apercent, a 240 percent surge from only 5.4 percent in 2020.
Last year, the government suffered a revenue loss of P54.4 billion in excise tax on tobacco products alone, while P34.9 billion and P49.3 billion were also lost in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The illicit tobacco trade is further projected to cost the government P240.3 billion in tax leakages over the next years.
To curb this, House Bill No. 11360 was proposed to lower the tax rates for cigarettes and vape products to 2 percent every even-numbered year starting in 2026 and by 4 percent every oddnumbered year from 2027 until 2035, from the annual 5 percent increase.
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means will no longer address the provisions related to cigarettes in the bill after conducting three hearings on the measure.
The creation of an interagency task force against the illicit trade of excisable products is eyed, as well as strengthening the regulation of vape products by implementing a flavor ban to discourage youth from consuming the commodity.
TBy Lenie Lectura
HE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is assessing the impact of the Court of Appeals order prohibiting the agency’s top official from taking part in the rate reset proceedings involving the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said her office is set to release the complete and final order on NGCP’s 4th Regulatory Period (RP) reset application this month. “This was the target even before the CA decision came out,” she said via Viber.
Over the weekend, the CA’s Special 11th Division, acting on the petition for certiorari filed by NGCP, granted the grid operator’s motion for inhibition. It said that Dimalanta “should have recused herself from further participating” and that there was “evident bias and partiality against the petitioner.”
“We now need to study the implication of the CA decision,” commented the ERC chief.
The ERC earlier announced that it has completed the deliberations on NGCP’s 4RP, covering the 2016 to 2022 period. The official order has yet to be released but there was already a notice of the decision issued in which the grid operator was
allowed to recover nearly P30 billion in under-recoveries, leading to an increase in transmission charges. The amount will be recovered in seven years which translates to an additional P0.1013 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in transmission charges to be collected over the next 84 months from the consumers. This amount covers the P0.0629/ kWh average increase in basic transmission charge and an additional P0.0384/kWh corresponding to the under-recovered portion of the increased in the Maximum Allowable Revenue (MAR).
Dimalanta is still hopeful that the order will be released this month. NGCP filed its 4RP rate reset application in December 2022. The regular rate-reset process is usually a forward-looking exercise that requires NGCP to submit forecast expenditures and proposed projects over a five-year regulatory period. Also, the ERC clarified last week that while it has approved several capital expenditure (capex) projects of the NGCP, the costs for these projects have not yet been finalized or approved yet.
“The individual applications cover approvals for them to undertake the project. The approval of the costs will only come in
MANA’s architect Jose Carlo Mateo: Building values and connections
By Francine Medina
t a young age, Jose Carlo Mateo was already exposed to the pioneering vision of his architect father, Orly Mateo, in building sustainable and future-ready communities. The child whose playground was his father's project sites is now the CEO and Principal Architect of MANA Consultancy, Inc. (MCI) and continuing the dream his father built.
In the latest episode of digital show “Freshly Brewed,” Mateo sits down with BusinessMirror’s multi-media content producer and host John Eiron Francisco to talk about trends and the future of architecture in the Philippines.
“I grew up surrounded by design so I pretty much grew up with architecture in my environment. I’m a second-generation architect, my siblings are architects. We were really exposed early on to the job site. Also, my dad had a home studio. As an eight-year-old, I would be playing on the floor right in front of his desk. We grew up watching my dad at work,” Mateo told Francisco.
Mateo also recalled that come Christmas time, his father would drive them around Makati to enjoy the buildings elaborately festooned with festive lights and life-sized belens that were part of the area’s holiday decoration contest. Besides that, his father would also proudly point out the buildings designed by his then-firm.
“At an early stage, I was in awe that somebody can make creative ideas that come from one’s mind and then, through time and a lot of work, the idea gets to be built. From something in your imagination to something very physical. At an early age, that was my enlightenment about architecture,” he continued.
Studying architecture became a natural course for Mateo. He studied BS Architecture in UST and became a licensed architect.
He remembers the first project where he was given free rein by his boss, Architect Orly. “Every architect is proud of their first project. Mine was an office building in Quezon City. It was my first because my dad allowed me to fly solo. It’s very special because felt my father’s trust, that I can do the project on my own. It was a first-time experience and I had a lot of learnings.
“One of the things I learned is that design, architecture, and the construction of a building is actually more of the people who will be in that space than about the
design. The buildings we design are actually a reflection of the people who will be moving in them,” Mateo mused.
Alongside his growing roles in MCI, he continued to level up his education by taking Development Management at the Asian Institute of Management and Applied Project Management at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. To further sharpen his expertise in the field, he also took training programs in Construction Contract Management and Construction Management under the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) in Singapore that, besides enforcing standards of quality, also offered training programs.
But Mateo wasn’t just your typical “CEO”—or, child of owner, as they say. For two years, after joining in 2005, his entry point at his father’s Mana Architecture & Design was to work as architect and design manager. For the next 17 years and 11 months, from 2007 to the present, he served as architect and managing partner for the said firm. During this period, he was gradually gaining practical experiences as well as deepening his leadership skills.
In January 2022, two milestones happened. First, the company was incorporated and renamed MANA Consultancy, Inc. (MCI). Second, Mateo was handed the proverbial torch by his father and became its CEO.
Mateo’s leadership came at a challenging time when “pivot” and “digital transformation” were the buzzwords of the moment. It was the
tail-end of the pandemic but the economy was just beginning to recover from the global financial shocks caused by Covid-19.
But rather than slow down operations, the MANA team started to look for new windows for opportunities. Mateo said, “When the pandemic hit, the goal was to survive—as all other companies did. Very soon after the lockdown, the firm realized that we will survive this. We didn’t let go of any of our people.”
“We had a paradigm shift, going from surviving to thriving that I really loved because to me and to our team, thriving is outward looking. Surviving is inward looking, it’s all about survival instinct. We had an outward outlook, we knew we will survive the pandemic, and we knew that we can serve.”
Mateo described the importance of being a collective: “Even with the uncertainty, the community that we created in our firm served as our support system. The exchange of messages at the time, it really felt like war times. Checking in on people wasn’t just about making sure we were okay but also making sure our peers, our community are okay.”
Rebranding and expansion
With a mindset geared towards agility and thriving, the growing prospects that were being presented to MANA Architecture & Interior Design needed a new configuration in the company.
“MANA was an architectural firm and
then we expanded our expertise so that we can provide a holistic and strategic support for our clients. Meaning, besides architecture, we also offered all the allied design services such as engineering, interior, landscape, and lighting design, all the way to pre-feasibility studies. We diversified and it opened a lot of opportunities for us,” Mateo said during the “Freshly Brewed” interview.
The architect as leader
From being involved in the esteemed design firm’s landmark projects to being a pathfinder for MCI’s next chapter, Mateo mentioned that his father has been his guiding force in his ongoing leadership journey.
“My father always told us to stay true to our values and success will follow. All projects face immense difficulties. You get pulled into so many directions and it’s a balancing act. You make sure you satisfy so many considerations. And you have to make sure that in making decisions, you have to stay true to your values.
“It’s very important that our company is our Northern star so that our team members are empowered to make their own decisions at their levels and for as long as they stay true to our values. It gives them the confidence to make their own decisions,” Mateo added. His father was an important role model
in his work at MCI, but Mateo has also come into his own as a guiding light to the team. Mateo admitted, “There was a bigger focus on leadership. I went from being part of the team to leading the team. Not just leading the team but also mentoring the new leaders of the organization. That became one of my focuses—to mentor the new leaders of the team.” Admittedly, the MCI CEO noted, every day presents challenging tasks. But again, he stressed, it's all about shifting one's mindset. “It’s overwhelming every day. It’s an everyday struggle but when I wake up in the morning, I wake up with gratitude. So, while it is overwhelming, I turn on the switch to go from overwhelmed to grateful. Meaning, with all the things that we aim to do, it can get daunting. But at the same time, instead of saying ‘we need to do this,’ we say, ‘we get to do this.’ That mindset automatically makes us feel we’re lucky to have the opportunity to do this.”
Creative collaboration
There is a distinct contemporary aesthetics when it comes to an MCI project. Consider the towering Ongpin Tower in Binondo, which is a handsome synergy of the futureready financial district and its centuries-old heritage. The next months will indeed be exciting and busy times for MCI, which is set to work on a number of hotels, a retail center, and corporate interior projects. Yet, the architect in Mateo will always emphasize that creating spaces doesn’t begin with the structure and the materials that will be used to build the architect’s vision. Rather, Mateo asserted, it will always begin with the people who will be breathing, living, or working in these spaces. Thus, connections and collaborations with clients and partners will always be at the heart of an MCI project. “It all starts with the client interview. Empathy is important. We need to hear the story of our clients. While interviewing them and learning their story, we also try to find shared values. As I said, values are important to us. Once we connect, our imagination is triggered. That’s how the process starts,” Mateo explained. • Watch the
MANA Consultancy Inc. CEO Jose Carlo Mateo speaks about the trends and the future of architecture with BusinessMirror's multimedia content producer John Eiron Francisco.
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
By VG Cabuag @villygc
DMCI Homes Inc., the property development arm of engineering conglomerate DMCI Holdings Inc., said the increase in the cancellation of its condominium units resulted in the availability of more ready-for-occupancy (RFO) and rent-toown units.
like this there’s a flight to quality; buyers are now picky. They study the better quality and much better value for money,” Austria said, adding that the housing sector may normalize in about two years.
Prior to the pandemic, he said many of DMCI Homes’ projects were pre-sold before it was completed. Currently, they have about 3,000 unsold units.
Austria said, however, that in other countries, pre-selling of a certain project is not usually practice.
Under the rent-to-own scheme, Austria noted that tenants have three years to decide on whether they will purchase their unit or continue renting it.
He said the scheme is a “win-win proposition” for both the developer and the buyer.
For instance, the company was able to achieve its target revenues for its Prisma project in Pasig because of the price increase. The rest of the revenues will turn into profits when all the other units are sold.
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
SMART Communications Inc. is banking on growing 5G usage and device adoption to help stabilize its wireless revenues, following a strong first-quarter performance marked by rising data traffic.
Anastacio R. Martirez, the COO of Smart, said the wireless unit of PLDT Inc. is now “ahead of its nearest competitor” with 40.9 million active mobile data users with 5G data traffic jumping more than 80 percent year-on-year and 5G device adoption surging by about 60 percent quarter-on-quarter.
tinuing to grow, supported by strong 5G networks.” Smart’s mobile network now covers 97 percent of the population and runs on PLDT’s nationwide fiber backbone.
In the first quarter, PLDT posted P53.4 billion in gross service revenues, up 2 percent, and P8.8 billion in telco core income, down 6 percent year-on-year.
“It’s just a matter of time. The cash flow is just slower,” Austria said.
Alfredo Austria, DMCI Homes president, said high interest rates burden the buyers in the form of costly amortization. The high cost of the unit, meanwhile, is borne by the developer. These are the main problems of the housing industry, at least in Metro Manila. He said aside from the RFO units, which now number to about 2,000, rent-to-own properties are now also becoming “prevalent.”
TBy Lenie Lectura @llectura
HE Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corp. has moved the deadline for the submission of bid proposals for the privatization of the 797-megawatt (MW) Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) Hydroelectric Power Plants to end-June this year.
“The management of PSALM reiterates that the proposal submission date for the CBK power plants is on June 30, 2025,” the state firm announced. The deadline was moved from June 16.
PSALM added that it is committed in disclosing relevant and updated information pertaining to the privatization of the CBK assets located in Lumban, Majayjay, and Kalayaan in Laguna. All inquiries on the privati-
“We still see increased sales (of DMCI units). Normally in a crisis
zation status of CBK can be accessed through the official website of the state firm.
The asset is being privatized on an “as is, where is” basis, which means the buyer must accept the property in its current condition and at its present location.
Last month, PSALM held a preproposal conference for nine interested bidders--Thunder Consortium, Giga Ace 11 Inc., First Gen Prime Energy Corp., Semirara Mining & Power Corp., Hexa Philippines Holdings Inc., Marubeni Corp., Korea Water Resources Corp., Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc., and San Miguel Global Power.
Thunder Consortium consists of Aboitiz Renewables Inc., Electric Power Development Co., and Sumitomo Corp.
“We aim to inform interested
He also said most of the defaults in the Philippines come from those who had decided to stop paying higher monthly amortizations.
“Sometimes, it’s a lifestyle choice. Will they sacrifice a big part of their funds and set it aside for amortizations? Will their sacrifice their lifestyle, like dining out? Some chose not to make those sacrifices,” he said.
companies ahead of time of the documentary requirements to successfully participate in the bidding process for the CBK power plants. This conference is also an opportunity for parties to inquire on any lingering issue regarding the bidding for CBK,” PSALM Vice President for Privatization and Asset Management Arnold C. Francisco said.
CBK was contracted to CBK Power Co. Ltd. under a 25-year Build-Rehabilitate-Operate-Transfer Agreement. The cooperation period started in February 2001 and will expire in February 2026.
PSALM had announced that there will be a rebidding process for the privatization of the CBK “to optimize the assets to be privatized and provide maximum value to its stakeholders.”
DMCI Homes had a 56-percent increase in contribution to DMCI Holdings’ income to P1.4 billion in the first quarter, from the previous year’s P879 million, driven by newly recognized accounts, higher income from forfeitures and rentals and stronger finance income.
The government expects the CBK privatization to generate up to P100 billion.
“The shift to 5G is improving how our network runs—making it more efficient, supporting LTE and especially 5G users, and strengthening everyday mobile experiences. This momentum puts us in a better position to steady our revenues and to keep growing the individual segment.”
Revenues from Smart reached P21.3 billion in the first quarter of 2025. Mobile data contributed P18.8 billion, or 88 percent of the total.
“We’re focused on growing data traffic year after year and staying ahead of the competition,” Martirez said. “The company does not see the same softening trend as the rest of the industry, with data traffic con-
Reported income for the period stood at P9 billion, down by 8 percent mainly due to foreign exchange losses. Last week, PLDT announced that it scrapped plans to sell part of its data center business—previously valued at around $1 billion—as the telco giant shifts focus to building up operations at its newly launched hyperscale facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Manuel V. Pangilinan, who chairs the telco, said in a chance interview that the company has halted the sale process pending the performance of its Vitro Sta. Rosa (VSR) site, whose full commercial operations started just a few weeks ago.
“There have been efforts recently to do that,” Pangilinan said, referring to the sale. “But I think it’s best to try to build the business. We just launched our data center in Santa Rosa. There are actual locators there already, more foreign than local, but we still have quite a bit of space to fill up.”
SHARE prices may rise this week as investors are expected to “digest” factors that could improve sentiment.
Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco, senior research analyst at Philstocks Financials Inc., said President Marcos Jr.’s decision to keep his economic team intact may ease concerns over the Philippines’s economic policies. “Signals from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. of two more possible rate cuts this year may also strengthen market confidence. However, concerns over the outlook of the US’ fiscal position amid risks of increasing debt may continue to weigh on the bourse. Investors are also expected to watch out for fresh leads particularly on the trade negotiations with the US.”
2TradeAsia said that as the midyear unfolds, markets are pivoting their gaze from inflation to growth, or the lack thereof.
“Recent data continues to paint a murky global picture as cooling consumption, softened corporate sentiment, and the lagged effects of tighter policy and trade frictions are starting to trickle to corporate earnings,” it said.
“The administration’s recent Cabinet reshuffle is understandably jarring from a market noise perspective, but keeping the core economic team intact should provide a degree of continuity at the very least. This should help anchor expectations, especially as fiscal activity is expected to pick up in the second half via infrastructure rollouts and delayed spending programs.”
Chartwise, the local market may retest the 6,400 level. If it continues to hold ground, then 6,400 would be considered as its support while resistance would be at 6,600, Tantiangco said.
STOCK PICKS
MAYBANK Securities gave a buy rating on the stock of Monde Nissin Corp. after its first-quarter income was in line with forecast.
“We make no changes to our earnings forecasts and maintain our buy rating and target price of P12 on APAC’s [Asia Pacific] consistent performance and strategy. Upside risks are better-than-expected Quorn EBITDA [earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization] recovery path and minimal 2025 impairment charges.”
Monde Nissin’s shares were last traded on Friday to close at P6.72 apiece.
Meanwhile, the broker also gave the same buy rating on the stock of MacroAsia Corp. after its core income was aligned with its 2025 forecast.
“Business volume growth across all segments drove a 6 percent year-on-year revenue increase.”
Maybank said it maintained its 2025 earnings forecast for the year and target price of P8.20, implying a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.4 times.
“Key factors to watch are LTP’s [Lufthansa Technik Philippines Inc.] lease negotiations ahead of its August 2025 expiry, account absorption until first half 2025, easing ground-handling/food segment cost pressures and strong second quarter seasonality boosting earnings growth.”
MacroAsia’s shares were last traded at P3.80 apiece. VG Cabuag
Fed to take in stride another month of tame inflation
By Vince Golle & Craig Stirling Bloomberg
THE Federal Reserve may take comfort that tariffs have yet to materially boost official inflation readings, but policymakers will continue to suggest interest rates are on hold until they better understand the coming impact of US trade policy.
Figures on Friday are projected to show the US personal consumption expenditures price index excluding food and energy—the Fed’s preferred gauge of underlying inflation—probably rose 0.1 percent in April after no change a month earlier, based on a Bloomberg survey.
While the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on April price data will be modest, the tradepolicy fingerprints are expected to become more apparent as soon as next month, according to many economists. And with the job market showing few signs of outright stress, Fed officials are content to keep interest rates steady until trade policy changes are reflected in the data.
Wednesday’s release of minutes from the Fed’s meeting earlier this month may reinforce that approach, as could speeches from regional Fed presidents including Neel Kashkari and John Williams. Chair Jerome Powell gives baccalaureate remarks at Princeton University on Sunday.
At the same time, US economic growth is expected to cool over the course of the year, with many businesses becoming more guarded about the outlook as tariffs boost costs and weigh on consumer sentiment. The government’s price figures will be accompanied by a fresh read on household demand.
Economists anticipate outlays for goods and services rose 0.2 percent in April after a 0.7 percent March advance, excluding the effect on inflation. That indicates more restrained household spending at the start of the second quarter, a reflection of growing anxiety about personal finances and the labor market.
The holiday-shortened week for economic data also includes the government’s second reading of firstquarter gross domestic product, April durable goods orders, and a pair of consumer confidence surveys.
In Canada, the economy appears likely to miss the Bank of Canada’s forecast of 1.8 percent annualized growth in the first quarter, with industry-based figures so far pointing to a 1.5 percent expansion in data on Friday. Canada’s head of state, King Charles III, will lay out Prime Minister Mark Carney’s priorities in a speech on Tuesday marking the opening of Parliament that will shed more light on spending plans.
Asia
THE wave of economic readings from Asia continues, with key growth indicators from India and Taiwan as well as central bank decisions in South Korea and New Zealand.
Observers will get a better sense of how Trump’s trade war is hitting commerce, starting with Hong Kong’s April trade data due on Monday. On Wednesday, Sri Lanka publishes trade figures for April. Thailand and the Philippines release data on April exports and imports Friday. Production across the region, the world’s factory floor, will also be in
Banking&Finance Competition Commission OKs InLife’s purchase of Generali
Tfocus. China on Tuesday is set to report industrial profits for April, an area under increased pressure as deflation and the trade war weigh. India releases industrial production figures on Wednesday, which are forecast to have slowed. And South Korea and Japan report April industrial production on Friday that are also expected to slow—and in Japan’s case contract—as demand wanes.
South Korea’s central bank is seen cutting rates on Thursday by a quarter point, to 2.5 percent, to support growth. They’ll follow New Zealand’s monetary authorities, which are expected to lower the key policy rate by a quarter point to 3.25 percent on Wednesday. South Korea also releases April retail sales and May consumer confidence in the coming week.
Japan reports a ream of data on the rest of the economy. That includes April producer prices on Monday, followed by May consumer prices for Tokyo on Friday. The jobless rate was likely unchanged in April, and retail sales on Friday are set to show that activity remained largely steady.
Other major releases include India’s first-quarter GDP reading on Friday, which is forecast to have strengthened. Australia will get April readings on consumer price inflation, which has been running hot lately, and retail sales, which are likely to remain steady.
Elsewhere, Macau on Thursday reports its hotel occupancy rate for last month, an insight into Chinese tourism in Asia’s casino capital.
Europe, Middle East, Africa THE working week will be shorter in several countries. As with the US, the UK has Monday off, while Thursday is a holiday across northern continental Europe.
With the European Central Bank lining up for a further rate cut in June, Thursday marks the start of a pre-decision blackout period for officials. Policymakers scheduled to speak before then include President Christine Lagarde on Monday, as well as governors of the French and German central banks.
Several reports in the euro region are likely to interest investors, with inflation numbers scheduled in all four of its top economies, starting with France on Tuesday. Price growth there is seen staying at 0.9 percent. The other three are scheduled for Friday, with results at 1.9 percent anticipated in Italy and 2 percent in both Spain and Germany. Together, those economies account for more than 70 percent of the overall euro area. If the surveys are accurate, May will mark the first time in eight months, and only the second time since 2021, that annual consumerprice growth hasn’t exceeded the ECB’s 2 percent goal in any of those countries. In a quieter week for UK data, speeches by Bank of England chief economist Huw Pill on Wednesday, and Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden and Governor Andrew Bailey on Thursday, may draw the most attention.
In Switzerland, export numbers for April, when the country initially faced 31 percent tariffs from the US, will be released on Tuesday. Sweden’s economic tendency survey comes the same day, while the Riksbank will release its financial stability report on Wednesday. Swedish GDP numbers are due on Friday.
By Ada M. Pelonia
HE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has allowed the Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd. (InLife) to acquire Generali Life Assurance Philippines, Inc. (Generali Philippines).
In its decision dated May 7, the PCC noted that the transaction would not substantially lessen competition in the relevant markets.
The PCC Mergers and Acquisitions Office (MAO) initiated a Phase 1 review of the transaction last 8 April to determine if it raises competition concerns under the Philippine Competition Act (PCA).
However, following an assessment of market conditions and a comprehensive review of submissions from both merger parties and third-party feedback, the MAO
THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has remitted P2.04 billion in dividends to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
In a statement, the BCDA noted that this marked a 30.68-percent surge from last year’s P1.56 billion and represents 80 percent of the agency’s net earnings in 2024.
The figure was above the 50 percent minimum stipulated under Republic Act 7656 (the Dividend Law), and exceeded the call by the Department of Finance (DOF) for government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) to remit at least 75 percent of their net income.
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
STATE-RUN Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) booked a net income of P13.29 billion in the first quarter, enabling it to contribute P33.53 billion in dividends to the national government.
LandBank reported on Sunday that its net income grew 11 percent year-on-year to P13.29 billion in the first quarter from P11.98 billion. This is also higher by 32 percent from its target of P10.06 billion for the period.
With its sustained momentum from last year’s financial performance, LandBank remained the top dividend contributor among state-run firms for the second consecutive year, declaring a record P33.53 billion in cash dividends.
Last year, the bank remitted P32.12 billion in dividends, the highest among government corporations.
According to LandBank President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz, the dividends underscore the state lender’s support for government priorities that “uplift lives and communities” across the country.
“It also reflects our strong financial foundation and vital role as a pillar of inclusive growth, ensuring that our sustained performance translates into real and lasting impact,” Ortiz added.
“LandBank’s record-breaking dividend reflects the institution’s solid fundamentals and strategic
concluded that InLife’s acquisition of Generali Philippines would not substantially lessen competition in the relevant markets.
This finding was arrived at given the presence of significant competitive pressures from numerous existing competitors, the ease of entry into the relevant markets, and the ability of customers to easily switch between providers given the broad availability of products across various distribution channels.
Furthermore, regulatory oversight and consumer preferences,
“This milestone underscores BCDA’s growing fiscal contribution driven by efficient revenue generation and expenditure management,” read a statement issued by the agency.
According to the BCDA, some P3.13 billion was also remitted as a share of asset disposition proceeds collected in 2024, slated for distribution to several beneficiary agencies including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The agency also paid P46 million in guarantee fees to the BTr in relation to the government’s loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Project.
bolstered by diverse product offerings and numerous brokers, further limit incumbent firms’ ability to raise prices or diminish service quality.
The PCA empowers the PCC to review mergers and acquisitions. This would ensure that such transactions do not lead to a substantial lessening of competition within relevant markets or adversely affect consumer welfare.
InLife and Generali Philippines are licensed life insurance providers in the country that offer traditional life insurance products. The array includes individual and group coverage with medical-benefit riders as well as standalone health insurance plans.
Notification thresholds
EARLIER, the PCC raised the merger notification thresholds to P8.5 billion for the size of party (SOP) and P3.5 billion for the size of transaction (SOT) starting March 1.
In a statement, the PCC said the new thresholds replaced the previous SOP of P7.8 billion and SOT of P3.2 billion, which were in effect from
Overall, these figures bring the BCDA’s total remittance to the BTr to P5.21 billion as of mid-May.
“The BCDA’s record-high dividend remittance is a proof of the agency’s robust financial position, driven by our unwavering commitment to transform former military bases into bustling economic hubs through high-impact public-private partnerships,” BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang said through the statement.
“More than contributing to the state coffers, these dividends will provide crucial support for the national government’s programs and further fuel our collective efforts to foster inclusive and sustainable
briefs
financial management,” Finance Secretary and LandBank Chairman Ralph G. Recto said.
Total assets of LandBank rose to P3.426 trillion in the first quarter, up by 5 percent from P3.268 trillion in the same period last year, on the back of expansions in loan and investment portfolios.
The bank’s gross loan portfolio went up by 8 percent to P1.58 trillion, while investments climbed by 14 percent to P1.50 trillion in the first quarter, driven by growth in both trading and non-trading portfolios.
Customer deposits also increased by 5 percent to P3.02 trillion from P2.87 trillion a year ago.
Meanwhile, LandBank’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development (AFRD) loan portfolio reached P844.61 billion as of the first quarter, accounting for 53.4 percent of its total gross loan portfolio of P1.58 trillion.
Nearly 28,000 new small farmers and fishers were supported during the period, bringing the total beneficiaries assisted to 4.04 million nationwide, through direct lending, credit conduits and capacity-building interventions.
Further, LandBank climbed to fifth place in Forbes’ Best Banks 2025 survey in the Philippines from eighth last year.
The bank was also recognized among the World’s Best Employers for the second year in a row, ranking fourth in the Philippines in 2024 as the only government institution on the list.
March 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025. The agency added that notifications filed before March 1, 2025, ongoing mergers and acquisitions (M&As) reviews, and transactions already decided by the commission will not be affected.
“As the Philippines’s antitrust authority, the PCC reviews M&As to prevent deals that could substantially lessen competition in the relevant market,” the agency said.
“Even if a transaction falls below the notification thresholds, the PCC may still initiate a review motu proprio, or on its own initiative, if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that the transaction could significantly harm competition or preliminary findings suggest it already has.”
Notification is required when both the SOP and SOT thresholds are met. The SOP refers to the total value of assets or revenues of the ultimate parent entity of any party to the deal. The SOT refers to the total value of assets or revenues of the acquired entity.
economic growth in the country,” Bingcang added. Under the law, all GOCCs should declare and remit at least 50 percent of their net earnings as dividends. To further boost the national government’s non-tax revenues, the DOF has asked GOCCs to raise this to at least 75 percent.
The BCDA, pursuant to Republic Act 7227 (Bases Conversion and Development Act), is also mandated to contribute a portion of its income from the sale, lease or joint venture developments of former military camps in Metro Manila to the AFP for its modernization program, as well as other beneficiary agencies.
Ada M. Pelonia
CCC gets unmodified opinion from COA
➔ THE Climate Change Commission (CCC) has received its 10th consecutive unmodified opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA) for its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024. This unmodified opinion affirms that the CCC’s financial statements present fairly the agency’s financial position, financial performance, cash flows, changes in net assets/equity, and the comparison of budget and actual amounts, in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards. The audit was conducted in accordance with the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions and the COA has confirmed that there were no material misstatements or irregularities found during the audit process.
➔ China, Indonesia sovereign wealth funds boost ties
CHINA and Indonesia agreed to step up ties between their economies during Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Jakarta, including one on investment involving their sovereign wealth funds. Both their central banks signed a MOU on a framework for bilateral transactions in local currencies during a ceremony witnessed by Li and President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday. The two countries will boost cooperation on tourism and agricultural exports, while wealth funds China Investment Corporation and Danantara Indonesia entered an investment agreement. No details were provided. Bloomberg News
➔ Flybits touts credit card bringing augmented reality to banking FLYBITS is testing a credit card that will let users keep a closer eye than ever on their transactions. The Toronto-based company says it has developed a technology that uses generative AI to project visualizations of spending habits and transaction history onto the smart glasses of users when they look at the physical card. The XRCard—which also offers voice interaction—removes the need for a mobile app, Flybits said in a press release. The product is catered to millennials who increasingly prefer “participatory digital experiences” over more traditional interfaces, Flybits CEO Hossein Rahnama said in the statement. The card is currently being tested through “pilot programs with select partners,” according to the statement. Bloomberg News
➔ China publishes draft guidance for online-platform merchant fees THE Chinese regulator has published draft guidelines for fees online platforms charge third-party merchants, an important source of revenue for companies including JD.com, Meituan and PDD Holdings Inc. Companies that operate online platforms should charge reasonable fees and take into account factors like the operational status of merchants with which they do businesses, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the country’s anti-monopoly regulator, said in a statement on Sunday. The regulator said the deadline for feedback on the draft guidance is June 3. Bloomberg News
PEDESTRIANS in the Times Square neighborhood of New York. PHOTOGRAPHER: YUKI IWAMURA/BLOOMBERG
Trump’s ‘Beautiful’ Bill: Tax cuts, work rules—and a $25-B missile shield
By Kevin Freking & Lisa Mascaro The Associated Press
HOUSE Republicans are getting closer to passing President Donald Trump’s tax breaks, spending cuts and beefed-up border security as Speaker Mike Johnson attempts to pass the package over unified Democratic opposition by Memorial Day.
House committees have labored for months on the legislation, which exceeds 1,000 pages and is titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a nod to Trump himself.
GOP divisions have narrowed but continue as fiscal conservatives worry the bill doesn’t do enough to curb Medicaid spending, while Republicans from competitive swing districts have expressed concerns about the prospect of their constituents losing access to health coverage and food assistance for constituents.
Democrats say they will fight what House party leader Hakeem Jeffries calls “this extreme and toxic bill.”
Here’s a look at what’s in and out of the legislative package so far:
Tax cuts for individuals and businesses
REPUBLICANS look to make permanent the individual income and estate tax cuts passed in Trump’s first term, in 2017, plus enact promises he made on the 2024 campaign trail to not tax tips, overtime and interest on some auto loans.
To partially offset the lost revenue, Republicans propose repealing or phasing out more quickly the clean energy tax credits passed during Joe Biden’s presidency, helping to bring down the overall cost of the
tax portion to about $3.8 trillion. The bill includes a temporary boost in the standard deduction— a $1,000 increase for individuals, bringing it to $16,000 for individual filers, and a $2,000 boost for joint filers, bringing it to $32,000. The deduction reduces the amount of income that is actually subject to income tax.
There is also a temporary $500 increase in the child tax credit, bringing it to $2,500 for 2025 through 2028. It then returns to $2,000 and will increase to account for inflation.
The estate tax exemption rises to $15 million and is adjusted for inflation going forward. One of the thorniest issues in negotiations has been how much to raise the state and local tax deduction, now capped at $10,000. That’s been a priority of New York lawmakers. A tentative agreement has been reached to increase that “SALT” cap to $40,000 for incomes up to $500,000, with the cap phasing downward for those with higher incomes.
Several of the provisions Trump promised in the campaign would be temporary, lasting roughly through his term in office. The tax breaks for tips, overtime and car loan interest expire at the end of 2028. That’s also the case for a $4,000 increase in the standard deduction for seniors.
Among the various business tax provisions, small businesses, including partnerships and S corporations, will be able to subtract 23 percent of their qualified business income from their taxes. The deduction has been 20 percent.
Businesses will temporarily be allowed to fully expense domestic research and development costs in the year they occur and the cost of machinery, equipment and other qualifying assets. This encourages businesses to invest in ways that enhance their productivity.
Parents and older Americans face work requirements for food assistance HOUSE Republicans would reduce spending on food aid, what is known as the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, by about $267 billion over 10 years.
States would shoulder 5 percent of benefit costs, beginning in fiscal 2028, and 75 percent of the administrative costs. Currently, states pay none of the benefit and half of the administration costs.
Republicans also are expanding the work requirements to receive food aid. Under current law, ablebodied adults without dependents must fulfill work requirements until they are 54, and that would change under the bill to age 64. Also, some parents are currently exempt from work requirements until their children are 18; that would change so only those caring for a dependent child under the age of 7 are exempt.
And new work requirements for Medicaid A FOCAL point of the package is nearly $700 billion in reduced spending in the Medicaid program, according to CBO.
To be eligible for Medicaid, there would be new “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours per month of work, education
or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. The new requirement would not kick in until January 1, 2029, after Trump leaves office. People would also have to verify their eligibility for the program twice a year, rather than just once.
Republicans are looking to generate savings with new work requirements. But Democrats warn that millions of Americans will lose coverage.
An estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by at least 7.6 million from the Medicaid changes, and possibly more with other changes to the Affordable Care Act.
No taxes on gun silencers, no money for Planned Parenthood and more REPUBLICANS are also using the package to reward allies and disadvantage political foes.
The package would eliminate a $200 tax on gun silencers that has existed since Congress passed the National Firearms Act in 1934. The elimination of the tax is supported by the NRA.
The group Giffords, which works to reduce gun violence, said silencers make it more difficult to recognize the sound of gunfire and locate the source of gunshots, impairing the ability of law enforcement to respond to active shooters.
Republicans are also looking to prohibit Medicaid funds from going to Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion care. Democrats say defunding the organization would make it harder for millions of patients to get cancer screenings, pap tests and birth control.
‘MAGA’ kids $1,000 savings accounts
“MAG A” is shorthand for Trump’s signature line, “Make America Great
Again.” But in this case, it means “Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement.”
For parents or guardians who open new “MAGA” accounts for their children, the federal government will contribute $1,000 for babies born between Jan. 1, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2028.
Families could add $5,000 a year, with the account holders unable to take distributions before age 18. Then, they could access up to 50 percent of the money to pay for higher education, training and first-time home purchases. At age 30, account holders have access to the full balance of the account for any purpose.
Funding for Trump’s mass deportation operation
THE legislation would provide $46.5 billion to revive construction of Trump’s wall along the US-Mexico border, and more money for the deportation agenda.
There’s $4 billion to hire an additional 3,000 new Border Patrol agents as well as 5,000 new customs officers, and $2.1 billion for signing and retention bonuses. There’s also funds for 10,000 more Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and investigators. It includes major changes to immigration policy, imposing a $1,000 fee on migrants seeking asylum—something the nation has never done, putting it on par with few others, including Australia and Iran.
Overall, the plan is to remove 1 million immigrants annually and house 100,000 people in detention centers.
More money for the Pentagon and Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ THERE’S also nearly with $150 billion in new money for the Defense Department and national security.
It would provide $25 billion for Trump’s “Golden Dome for America,”
a long-envisioned missile defense shield, $21 billion to restock the nation’s ammunition arsenal, $34 billion to expand the naval fleet with more shipbuilding and some $5 billion for border security.
It also includes $9 billion for servicemember quality of life-related issues, including housing, health care and special pay.
Tax on university endowments and overhaul of student loans
A WHOLESALE revamping of the student loan program is key to the legislation, providing $330 billion in budget cuts and savings.
The proposal would replace all existing student loan repayment plans with just two: a standard option with monthly payments spread out over 10 to 25 years and a “repayment assistance” plan that is generally less generous than those it would replace.
Among other changes, the bill would repeal Biden-era regulations that made it easier for borrowers to get loans canceled if their colleges defrauded them or closed suddenly. There would be a tax increase, up to 21 percent, on some university endowments.
More drilling, mining on public lands
TO generate revenue, one section would allow increased leasing of public lands for drilling, mining and logging while clearing the path for more development by speeding up government approvals.
Royalty rates paid by companies to extract oil, gas and coal would be cut, reversing Biden’s attempts to curb fossil fuels to help address climate change.
In a last-minute add, Republicans also included a provision authorizing sales of hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah, prompting outrage from Democrats and environmentalists.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May20, 2025, in Washington. AP/ALEX BRANDON
www.businessmirror.com.ph
CELEbr ATE A YEAr of firsTs AT soLAirE rEsorT NorTh
PreMIer luxury destination solaire resort north celebrates its first anniversary, marking a year of redefining luxury, entertainment and hospitality in Quezon city. since its grand opening on May 25, 2024, the resort has welcomed guests into a world of firsts, from unveiling the breathtaking glass sculpture, The Mangrove, to launching 13 exquisite dining destinations, hosting world-class entertainment, and delivering unparalleled staycation experiences. As Quezon city’s first luxury integrated resort, solaire resort north sets the standard for elegance, indulgence, and unforgettable moments. secure your most awaited escape with solaire resort north’s First Anniversary room offer, which includes a luxurious staycation and a buffet breakfast for two at FresH. Guests can enjoy specially curated first-inspired dishes, exclusive treats, and a relaxing break throughout May.
The anniversary weekend also promises an extraordinary lineup of entertainment and experiences. dining becomes even more irresistible with exclusive first-inspired creations at solaire resort north’s restaurants. Guests can indulge in a succulent steak at Finestra, authentic sisig at Manyaman, a dreamy milkshake at Trattoria e dolci, a mini cake at the Lobby Lounge, and a luscious dessert at café Mangrove. And the festivities do not stop there. on June 7 and 8, solaire resort north proudly presents Finding Your north, its first-ever grand celebrations expo. This extraordinary event will be the largest of its scale in Quezon city, bringing together top-tier planners, creatives and industry leaders in one place. Whether guests are planning a dream wedding, a milestone birthday, or an intimate gathering, Finding Your north offers expert guidance and inspiration for life’s most memorable moments.
More information can be found at sn.solaireresort. com/solaire-north-anniversary, or e-mail sn.reservations@ solaireresort.com.
AwArd-wiNNiNG susTAiNAbLE shoE dEsiGN ChAmpioNs LGbTQiA+ pridE enTerPrIsInG designer Fred Leysa showcased the complexities of the gender spectrum in “Alkab,” an awardwinning shoe design which weaved traditional Filipino craftsmanship with contemporary techniques. named after the reverse of the word bakla, a Filipino term for gay, the concept stemmed from the young artist’s struggle to find shoes that fit both his masculine feet and feminine style.
“Growing up, I remember watching Sex and the City, The Devil Wears Prada and Pretty Woman,” he recalled. “Just like most gay boys, I would dress up and act like the women in these shows, but never found the shoes to complete the dream.”
“I wanted my version of carrie’s Manolos, or Andrea’s chanel boots, but it felt impossible because nothing fit me,” he added. “For years, I would squish my feet into ill-fitting women’s shoes designed with no intent to be worn by men.” Leysa thanked his former professor at de La salle-college of saint Benilde, risqué designs founder and ceo Tal de Guzman, for introducing him to the shoe-making industry.
“Through her workshops, I noticed my footwear needs were different, and that very few brands in the global market cater towards this niche,” he explained. “By making my own pair, I learned to love my feet and relive the various fantasies I was never able to realize simply because the shoe didn’t fit.” With this, the Benilde Fashion design and Merchandising graduate had one goal in mind: To be one of the designers the LGBTQIA+ community may turn to for their statement shoe.
“When I talk about queer footwear, it’s not just women’s shoes that are available in men’s sizes or vice versa. These are designs that holistically cater to the LGBTQIA+,” he clarified. “I want to give the community options because the market was limited.”
Alkab, his first piece, is a boot within a boot. With “layers” as its keyword, it is a reflection of the diverse personas which make LGBTQIA+ members uniquely beautiful. It is a play on the experience of coming out and features a lacing system that resembles a corset—a staple in any drag queen’s wardrobe.
“It is a tribute to the different faces we wear to conform to society while living our truth,” Leysa stated. “As someone who identifies as gender-fluid, I put on masks depending on how safe I feel around a person.”
Leysa, who serves as an educator in his alma mater, drew inspiration from a Ben Farrales gown he admired at the Benilde Fashion Museum Archives during a textile conservation workshop.
“Alkab was put together by various Filipino craftsmen,” he stated. “It highlighted the might of the Filipino sapateros, weavers, carvers, and plateros and reflected the beauty and resilience of our LGBTQIA+ community.”
The piece was created for the 10th Filipino Footwear design competition, spearheaded by the department of Trade and Industry, the department of science and TechnologyPhilippine Textile research Institute, and the Philippine Footwear Federation Inc.
Among several contenders, it was chosen as the Lady’s Boots category Winner. It was then hailed as the Grand champion for its bold concept, masterful textile manipulation, and thoughtful storytelling.
Through the tilt, Alkab has been chosen to be one of the country’s representatives at the 14th International Footwear design competition in Guangzhou, china.
Binibining Pilipinas 2025 Evening Glam Eleganza
THE legacy of elegance continues at the 61st Binibining Pilipinas Pageant Press Presentation at the Novotel Manila Araneta City on May 22. Fans can get to see live and up-close this year’s candidates at the Lagoon in Gateway Mall 2 on May 28, the Grand Parade of Beauties on June 7 and the coronation night on June 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Hosting the preliminary swimsuit and evening gown competition at the Monet Ballroom was actor Wize Estabillo with Binibining Pilipinas International 2024 Myrna Esguerra and Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2024 Jasmin Bungay serving as co-hosts.
After the 36 Binibinis strutted down the runway in their swimwear from Dia Ali by Justine Aliman, they flaunted their high-fashion evening gowns by some of the country’s established and emerging creatives.
Leo Almodal designed for Binibini 30 Blessie Villablanca from Antique, a “dentistry student and child welfare advocate who believes that every smile starts with safety, care, and a nurturing environment.”
Raymart Ortillano designed for Binibini 29 Glycelle Achurra Navares from South Cotabato, a “registered nurse who advocates for children’s welfare, championing their health, well-being, and right to a brighter, empowered future.”
Chico Estiva designed for Binibini 23 Joanna Francez Batalang from Ilocos Sur, who “champions youth and women in leadership, turning advocacy into action through real community impact.”
Daniel Manila designed for Binibini 22 Anna Carres de Mesa from Batangas Province, a Certified Public Account who extends her numbers-driven precision to advocate for out-of-school youth “because every child deserves a second chance at learning.”
Val Taguba, who created the coronation gown of Maria Ahtisa Manalo at Miss Universe Philippines 2025, designed for Binibini 7 Annabelle Mae McDonnell from Iligan City, who was a runner-up at Miss Universe Philippines 2022, a model and events host with a heart for children and who “dedicates her efforts to protecting children’s rights, working with Save the Children Philippines to ensure every child is seen and heard.”
I
Russel May Cordero designed for Binibini 03 Jercy Raine Cruz from Makati City, a “businesswoman and model who believes in the power of volunteerism: using time, talent, and heart to uplift communities, spark awareness, and drive lasting change.”
Manny Halasan, the go-to designer of Miss Universe Asia 2024 Chelsea Manalo, designed for Binibini 02 Liiya Patricia Santiago from Bulacan, a “proud Licensed Professional Teacher who believes that every word a child learns lays the foundation for a brighter tomorrow. Through her advocacy for child development and basic literacy, she nurtures young minds one meaningful lesson at a time.”
Jheboi Ramos designed for Binibini 13 Stella Tanglao Zacarias from Quezon City. Of his “Sinta”
worn, it speaks. A statement piece that reshapes the evening gown narrative—modern, fearless, unforgettable.”
IQs of renowned physicists Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, who are believed to have had IQs around 160.
“She stuns in a hand-embellished Maison Glademir Echavarre gown inspired by the golden reflections of Malabon’s iconic waterways. With fluid beadwork and a striking silhouette, it mirrors the city’s quiet strength and enduring grace—elegance in motion on the Binibini stage.” n
A piece of paper that means many things to women
consIder Tempo to be a girl’s tissue brand. You’d have to admit that there’s something very feminine about paper hankies, a product which Tempo is known for. This paper hankie is so iconic for many women that its role has changed from being a piece of paper to blow one’s nose with to something to blot oil from the face with or even to help remove makeup at night. I once went on a trip to Hong Kong in July (it was hot and humid) and I forgot to pack hankies. I survived with a pack of Tempo regular Hanky. Tempo is also a brand that’s synonymous with Hong Kong. For years, Tempo paper hankies have been favorite pasalubongs from people who traveled. Whenever someone would bring home a pack for me, I’d try to make it last as long as possible. The brand originated from Germany in the
Great depression. Tempo is derived from speed and stride in German and it was a convenient replacement for cotton handkerchiefs because German housewives spent a lot of time ironing them. Tempo is now in the Philippines on TikTok shop and shopee and I got to meet sisters erica and eda plus their sister-in-law Wendi sy, and they brought the brand to the country. The three entrepreneurs are in the business of bringing in mommy-and-baby brands such as Beaba and ergobaby. Like many girls and women, they are also Tempo users.
“We were offered to bring in dryers [a diaper brand] by the company that also manufactures Tempo and we took the chance because we also love the brand,” said erica. erica and Wendi are fans of the regular hanky because of its quality. “It’s the perfect blend of strength and softness. It’s gentle on the skin and, best of all, it does not tear easily and it removes residue on the skin,” said Wendi. eda, on the other hand, likes the 3-ply Kitchen rolls because they’re very effective in wiping down fish and steak prior to cooking. As moms, erica, eda and Wendi also appreciate
enTrePreneUrs erica, Wendi, and eda sy are the women
Why Tala Continues to be a Trusted Partner for Filipinos
FOR the ninth consecutive year, Tala has been recognized for its impactful service and innovation as a fintech company by global media house Forbes, with its inclusion in the Forbes 2025 Fintech 50 list. The Fintech 50 is an annual list highlighting top businesses that are transforming finance by improving the cost, efficiency, and access of financial services through technology.
“We’re honored and grateful that Tala is included once again in the Forbes Fintech 50 list. This is a great way to mark our 11th year of serving the global majority by addressing the gaps of financial inclusion through our services,” said Moritz Gastl, General Manager of Tala Philippines.
This global recognition also came in time for the eighth anniversary of Tala Philippines. Since 2017, it has achieved several milestones in fulfilling its mission for the financially underserved such as forging a landmark loan channeling partnership worth P2.75 billion with Maya Bank in the past year. This has helped broaden and improve Tala’s services, ensuring millions more Filipinos get access to credit.
Exercising leadership in the financial landscape, Tala was one of the sponsors in the publication of the Digital Lending Report by the FintechAlliance PH, which was unveiled during the 2024 Singapore Fintech Festival.
Tala is also one of the founding members of the Consumer Lending Association of the Philippines (CLAP), signifying its commitment to employ only the best lending practices in its operations.
The company has taken great strides in extending its impact, while growing exponentially as one of the pioneering online credit providers in the Philippines.
In the Philippines, Tala has recorded the
highest number of new borrowers since the pandemic in 2024. To date, it has a total of 3.6 million customers in the country, with over 23.6 million loans totalling to P113.6 billion disbursed to customers. Tala is able to positively impact their financial situation by enabling them to better manage their budget and seek additional sources of income.
The continued loyalty of Filipino customers to Tala’s financial services is reflected in its high customer repeat rate that stands at 94 percent. Three out of four customers also share the sentiment that Tala cares about their financial wellbeing.
Tala also promotes the importance of financial literacy to its customers. Through TALAkayan with Salve Duplito, a series of
workshops catering to various sectors of the Philippines, participants were taught the basics of personal finance and money management, equipping them with helpful tools they can use in their financial journey.
“Our vision for Tala this year is to grow our customer base in the Philippines to 30 million, reaching new users from more regions while constantly improving our services for our existing customers,” said Gastl. “As the trusted financial partner of the global majority, we want to emphasize how financial services like credit can be a catalyst for change and long-term growth.”
Start your journey with a trusted financial partner like Tala by visiting tala.ph and downloading the official Tala app.
SM Store Partners with GCash This Back-to-School Season
F you are a GCash user and frequently shop at SM Store, you are in for a real treat. SM Store has entered into a partnership with GCash, the country’s leading e-wallet platform.
SM Store is the country’s ultimate destination for school supplies, uniforms, shoes, tech and everyday essentials. This year, SM Store is leveling up the shopping experience through an exciting partnership with GCash, giving Filipino families more reasons to shop smart.
From May 26 to June 1, 2025, GCash users get an extra 10 percent off on their back-to-school haul at SM Store with a minimum spend of P3,000 when you pay with GCash. The offer is available in all SM Store branches nationwide and also applies to purchases made via SM Store’s Personal Shopper service (as long as payment is made instore using GCash). Even better, this added discount comes on top of existing markdowns and promotional offers, making it the best time to stock up and save. With this special promo, SM Store and GCash make it easier for parents and students to breeze through their shopping lists—whether they need new uniforms, everyday wear, school bags, writing materials, or digital essentials like headphones and calculators. It’s all here at SM Store, and it’s even more affordable when you check out with GCash. This collaboration between SM Store and GCash is a partnership built to empower today’s Filipino families—making back-to-school shopping not just easier, but more rewarding.
So don’t just shop—shop with GCash. Head to your nearest SM Store or message your favorite Personal Shopper, and enjoy exclusive savings with GCash. Because at SM Store, there’s always more in store for you.
Sogo Food Restaurant is a Surprisingly Perfect Date Spot
THE magic of storytelling transcended borders as the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines and the Quezon City Public Library came together for “Once Upon Our Lands: PhilKor Puppet Show,” a special cultural event celebrating the timeless folktales of Korea and the Philippines. The event brought young learners on a shared journey through the vibrant stories of both nations—igniting their imaginations and deepening their appreciation of each other’s cultures.
Held at the Quezon City Public Library, the event welcomed children and families for an engaging storytelling session that spotlighted beloved tales from Korea and the Philippines – “Myth of Dangun” and “Malakas and Maganda.”
With eyes wide and smiles bright, kids listened intently as the stories unfolded, learning, laughing, and discovering the heartwarming values embedded in both cultures’ literary traditions.
The experience didn’t end with storytelling. Participants explored their creativity through handson activities inspired by the tales. Children delighted in
Tala is among the eight personal finance fintech companies globally that made this year’s Forbes Fintech 50 list, highlighting its initiatives to shape a more inclusive financial system for the global majority.
A Laugh Story: How laughter and political satire can be a platform for communication
IAM a product of the UP College of Media and Communication where I graduated with a degree in broadcast communication and a master’s in communication research many decades ago. As a student in the ‘70s, commuting from home to Diliman was never a problem.
But over the last several years, traveling from the South where I live to the University of the Philippines Diliman campus is not something I do very often, given the usual traffic.
However, the 2025 edition of “Live A.I.D.S. 35: A Laugh Story,” presented by UP SAMASKOM at the Ignacio B. Jimenez (IBG)KAL Theater last May 8th, was an extraordinary occasion that prompted me to make this an exception.
The comedy variety show was worth the 4-hour lead time we allotted to get to the venue in the UP campus. My daughter Monique and I thoroughly enjoyed and savored the two hours of sharp wit, infectious laughter, political satire and thoroughly surprising performances by the students.
This year’s show was the 35th edition of the popular comedy/ musical/ variety show that started in 1985. It is also the longest running comedy musical variety show which is presented yearly by the UP SAMASKOM (Samahan ng Mass Comm) an organization composed of students from the UP College of Media and Communication which also marked its golden anniversary this year.
UP SAMASKOM is a recognized university-wide academic performing organization housed by the College of Mass Communication which was founded in 1974. It has been a family for
FROM VIEWS TO VENUE: HOW CHOWKING STIR-FRIED SUCCESS ON GOOGLE AND YOUTUBE
MANILA, PHILIPPINES—In today’s fast-casual dining industry, cutting through the noise to drive both brand love and business results is no easy feat. But Chowking, one of the Philippines’ most beloved quick-service restaurant brands, has found the perfect recipe—one that combines powerful storytelling on YouTube with smart automation through Google’s Performance Max for Store Goals.
Faced with the challenge of reigniting brand preference and driving store traffic—particularly to pro -
mote drive-thru as another channel to enjoy the brand—Chowking partnered with Google and mHive (GroupM–A WPP Company) to craft a full-funnel marketing approach. The result? A campaign that moved beyond just views and awareness to deliver store visits and business outcomes.
A YouTube-First Strategy to Drive Demand AT the heart of Chowking’s campaign was a bold, strategic choice to go YouTube-first. The platform’s extensive reach, now surpassing linear TV, combined with its powerful storytelling, made it the perfect stage to re-engage customers and reignite brand momentum.
Using high-impact formats like the YouTube Masthead, along with AI-powered Video Reach and Video View Campaigns, Chowking ensured its message was seen by the right
students from all walks of the university, who have a passion for communication and self-expression.
Throughout the academic year, UP SAMASKOM organizes various events such as digital productions, webinars and statements on relevant media issues, and the annual comedy variety show - Live A.I.D.S. which stands for (Ang Istoryang Dinebelop ng Samaskom).
Live A.I.D.S. was actually inspired by the Live Aid fund raising benefit concert organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1985 for the benefit of the famine in Ethiopia.
Today, Live A.I.D.S. is recognized as a platform for growth, experience and connection that discovers and nurtures aspiring performers, writers, creatives and talents, both in front of and behind the stage. It has provided experience, confidence, exposure and an opportunity to perform for students and has paved the way for the showbiz careers of several popular alumni, such as Kuya Kim Atienza, RS Francisco, Raymond Lauchengco, Wency Cornejo, Ate Glow, Michelle O’ Bombshell, Tuesday Vargas, Mrs. Tan, and Jervi Wrightson (KaladKaren), among many others.
The comedy and musical production has likewise spawned some talents who work behind the scenes such as ABS-CBN’s head of TV Production, Star Magic chief and Pinoy Big Brother Head Director Laurenti (Loren) Dyogi and ABS-CBN Global Head of Creative Services, Ned Legaspi.
The last time we watched Live A.I.D.S was in 1991 when my niece Anna Margarita “Boozy” Lumawig Santa Ana, a Batch 88.1 SAMASKOM alumna performed a couple of songs and since that time I had never been able to go back although I kept hearing sensational reviews about it over the years and I would always tell myself: I have to watch it next time. However, due to the pandemic, work, schedules and other obligations, I never got around to actually doing it.
And before I could even say 35, Live A.I.D.S. turned 35 and UPSAMASKOM celebrated its golden! Thankfully, my dear friend Tessa Jazmines was able
audience, at scale. Within just six weeks, the campaign reached more than 60 percent of the Philippine population and 80 percent of YouTube users.
The payoff? A 138 percent spike in search interest for Chowking during the campaign period—clear evidence that the videos didn’t just entertain, they sparked action.
Converting Engagement to Store Visits with Performance Max
TO transform this surge in awareness into foot traffic, Chowking launched Google’s Performance Max for Store Goals. Performance Max is like a one-stop shop for digital ads—it uses Google’s AI to run and optimize campaigns across YouTube, Search, Maps, and the whole Google ecosystem, helping brands reach the right customers and drive real business results.
This AI-driven solution connects
to connect me with this year’s organizers so we were able to purchase tickets online.
The show opened with today’s sexiest newscaster Karen Kaladkaren aka Jervi Wrightson, a UP SAMASKOM alumna in a Disneyland setting and she was a sight to behold in her beautiful Snow White costume and her black hair and red lips. But it was her funny lines that kept
with the brand’s Google Business Profile and automatically delivers personalized ads across Search, Maps, YouTube, and other Google surfaces—optimizing in real time to drive branch traffic.
Performance Max provided a seamless bridge between digital engagement and real-world outcomes. By using tools like causal impact analysis and maps data analysis, Chowking was able to isolate the effect of the campaign and measure true business impact. The results were clear:
n 617 percent increase in impressions on Chowking’s Google Business Profile
n 19 percent increase in store navigations across more than 500 branches, nationwide!
This showed that Performance Max wasn’t just boosting visibility— it was directing people to Chowking locations and generating real, onthe-ground, and measurable results.
the audience enthralled as she proceeded to enumerate the various cute dwarfs and who their counterparts were in real (political) life. So, who do you think were Happy, Grumpy, Dopey and Sleepy? I’ll just have to keep you guessing.
Some of the unforgettable parts of the show which kept us laughing nonstop was the nurse who delivered an entire revelation of her life as a nurse and the many adventures and challenges she faces in the ER—from admitting patients to dealing with very demanding relatives to delivering bad news to them in various modes.
And of course, there was a portion called “Who’s Got Talent at the Hague”—a hilarious take on the situation at The Hague, where the contestant who gets the Golden Buzzer wins a ticket to “take him home.”
Ever new and always relevant no matter what decade or sociopolitical situation, Live A.I.D.S. teases and provokes with good vibes, laughter and sharp social commentary.
We asked some people involved in the show for their comments and here’s what we got:
“The show provides a stage to showcase extraordinary talents, build confidence, create opportunities to shine, and prepare you to step into the real world of entertainment,” shares Jervi Wrightson, (popularly seen as Karen Kaladkaren a TV newscaster) a UP SAMASKOM alumna and seasoned performer, veteran writer, production member, and former resident officer.
Tessa Jazmines, UP College of Media and Communications professor, BusinessMirror columnist, a best friend and my beloved colleague in Public Relations has been helping LIVE A.I.D.S. for several years now and when I asked her what she enjoys most about this show, she said:
“Live A.I.D.S. 35: A Laugh Story stays true to the show’s trademark of sharp wit and infectious humor. It tells funny stories with biting sarcasm and wows the audience with comedy, music, production numbers and social commentary. It carefully weaves satire into their view of Philippine society, does a fly-by
A Collaborative Recipe for Success THE campaign was made possible through close collaboration between Chowking, Google, and mHive. With mHive’s end-to-end campaign support and deep expertise in Google’s solutions, the team was able to plan, execute, and continuously optimize the campaign for maximum impact.
“YouTube gave us the expansive reach and emotional connection to reignite brand love, while Performance Max helped us translate that into real results in-store. This collaboration, together with Google and mHive enabled us to scale on digital engagement directly into physical branch traffic,” said Jeff Cape, Chowking’s Head of Digital & PR.
“The partnership between Google, Chowking, and GroupM allowed us to achieve both brand love and business results. The combination of a powerful storytelling, with the automation of PMax, we were able to seamlessly
as well on pop culture and sociopolitical issues and playfully takes on viral trends and current events.”
Anna Margarita Boozy Lumawig-Santa Ana, 88.1 (former Live A.I.D.S. performer now based in Vancouver, Canada):
“Live A.I.D.S. will always be a core memory for me. The rehearsals were intense but fun. They would last until 2 am and even if I had a class the following day, I did not mind at all because the high I felt far outweighed the tiredness in my body. It was also in SAMASKOM where I met some of my dearest lifelong friends. I was fortunate to watch the show when I came home last year and one of the best parts was shouting ‘Go SAMASKOM!’ with the residents and my fellow alumni.”
John Kenneth De Leon, Director of Live A.I.D.S. 35: A Laugh Story: A Laugh Story brings together diverse tales and testimonies and tells stories of triumph and challenges with laughter and wit, mixing humor with heart. Behind every laugh there’s a story, and this show ensures that each story stands and speaks out against pressing social issues. We have shown how humor can be a powerful tool for truth, and a powerful force for reflection and change.
Bravo and kudos to the 2025 Live A.I.D.S. 35 team, actors and UP SAMASKOM. May your creative tribe increase, and your shows persist and inspire more communication students to make a difference.
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premiere association for senior communications professionals around the world. Joy Lumawig-Buensalido is the President and CEO of Buensalido PR and Communications. She was past Chairman of the IPRA Philippine chapter for two terms.
PR Matters is devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@ gmail.com.
translate online engagement into real-world store visits, particularly promoting our drive-thru channel. It’s a testament to how strategic collaboration can deliver tangible and measurable business outcomes,” said Mica Esteban, Senior Global Media Manager for the Chowking Brand.
“Chowking’s success highlights the impact of digital marketing done right! By harnessing the expansive reach of YouTube and the precision of Google Performance Max, the campaign seamlessly transformed online engagement into store visits, delivering measurable business results for the brand,” said Prep Palacios, Head of Industries at Google Philippines.
Chowking’s success offers a compelling playbook for brands looking to go beyond reach, impressions, and clicks—and build campaigns that not only capture attention but also contribute to meaningful business growth.
THE director of Live A.I.D.S. 2025 John Kenneth De Leon
TESSA JAZMINES (right) welcomes this columnist to the opening night of Live A.I.D.S.
JERVI WRIGHTSON (KaladKaren)
going to be feted by the French tennis federation for all that he accomplished on the red clay.
“Celebrating the King,” was the way the event was described on social media by the official Roland-Garros feed. There was no exact time for the start of the ceremony, only word that it would begin after the three day-session matches in Chatrier would finish—so perhaps somewhere around 5 or 6 p.m. local time. There were plenty of active players on the program for Day 1 of the year’s second Grand Slam tennis tournament, of course, from No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka to two-time major runnerup Jasmine Paolini, from US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton to Paris Olympics medalists Zheng Qinwen and Lorenzo Musetti. None, though, was likely to draw as much attention and adulation as the 38-year-old former player with 22 total Grand Slam titles and known to all as Rafa,” who played his final competitive match in the Davis Cup in November.
Some folks did not think the tribute to him after a loss in his last appearance there lived up to what it should have been, and event director Feliciano Lopez had to defend it Other tournaments put off holding celebrations for Nadal this season, including Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome. It just seemed fitting to all that
the next big show should come at the site of so many of those lefty uppercut forehands, so many sprints to reach seemingly unreachable shots by opponents, so many triumphs. This is the way Nadal described the fans in Paris: “They give me the love and the support every single second I have been on court.” They were expected to pack the house on Sunday andit sounded as if some players planned to take in the scene, too, although at least one, four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek, was going to need to make sure it wouldn’t interrupt her preparation for
Celebrating the King!
competition.
“I need to be aware that, for sure, I’m going to cry,” Swiatek said. “I would love to be there, because we should all kind of get together and celebrate Rafa and what he did for our sport and what kind of inspiration he was and still is.” Stefanos Tsitsipas—twice a Slam finalist, including at the 2021 French Open—joked that Nadal won the trophy 29 times in Paris.
“It will be tough,” Tsitsipas said, “to see him go away.” AP
ranks No. 24 in world polo rankings
MTaduran satisfied with split decision win
By Josef Ramos
PEDRO TADURAN is back home with the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimum weight championship belt he retained via a split decision victory over Japan’s Ginjiro Shigeoka last Saturday at the Intex Osaka, Japan.
It was a close call of some sort for Taduran, 28, who validated his ninth-round stoppage 10 months ago when he snatched Shigeoka’s belt in Otsu.
“That’s fine with me,” said Taduran of the split decision carved from the 115-113, 113115 and 118-110 scorecards of judges Gil Co of the Philippines, Dave Braslow of the US and Katsuhiko Nakamura of Japan, respectively.
“They said it should not have been a split decision, but I have no problem with that,” said Taduran, now a three-time world champion.
International matchmaker Sean Gibbons, also Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions president, was all praises for the champion from Libon,
IKEE ROMERO brought the Philippines to the world polo map by being the first Filipino to break the top 25 of the World Polo Tour (WPT) amateur rankings. Romero, a former congressman and an avid sportsman, steered his way to No. 24 with 110 WPT points he earned through a stunning debut at the 2025 Gauntlet of Polo, the most prestigious and demanding polo series in the world.
He did not only becomes the highest-ranked Filipino in WPT history but also surpassed Thailand’s Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and Brunei’s Mateen Bolkiah as Southeast Asia’s top amateur polo player.
The Gauntlet of Polo—often called
at stake, the pressure is on for elite junior golfers as they vie for ranking points and division titles in the ICTSI Caliraya Springs
Never say die Sunderland
Albay, but suggested the victory should have been uninanimous for Taduran.
“They tried to rob him but Pedro was not to be denied,” Gibbons said. “What a win for Philippines, what a win for Pedro.”
Taduran, who was treated to a hero’s welcome at the airport upon his arrival on Sunday afternoon, confessed he felt some stiffness in his legs in the first four rounds.
“I could not move earlier, I do not know why. But as the fight went on, I became comfortable,” he told BusinessMirror.
Taduran improved his winloss-draw record record to 18-4-1 with 13 knockouts while Shigeoka, who was rushed to the hospital after the fight, dropped to 11-2 with nine knockouts.
Gibbons said that Taduran could be up for a unification fight with World Boxing Organization minimum weight champion Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico later this year.
the “Olympics of Polo”—is held at the National Polo Center in Florida and comprises three iconic tournaments— the CV Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup and US Open Polo Championship.
For more than a century, the hallowed turf has been the playground of Argentine, American and European titans, but in 2025, the thunder of Filipino hoofbeats broke through the silence, rewriting history in a sport once thought to be out of reach for Southeast Asians.
“It still feels surreal. To be among the top 25 is a huge honor—but it’s more than a personal milestone,” Romero said.
“This is a triumph for every Filipino who dares to dream, for a nation that never had a place on this field—until now.”
Juniors PGT Championship—part of the nationwide series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. (PGTI). Fresh off his victory in the Sherwood leg, Patrick Tambalque leads a stacked boys’ 15-18 division and expect fireworks as he takes on a powerhouse field that includes Zachary Villaroman, John Paul Agustin, Geoffrey Tan and Enzo Chan, along with promising newcomers Kristoffer Nadales, Nathan Belandres and Vincent Ilagan.
The girls’ premier division is set for
Romero’s GlobalPort Polo Team delivered one of the Gauntlet’s most unexpected and inspiring runs as they toppled global powerhouses La Dolfina/Tamera and Park Place— teams that eventually claimed the series’ top honors.
GlobalPort surged to the semifinals of the CV Whitney Cup, came within striking distance in the USPA Gold Cup and fell heartbreakingly short in the US Open quarterfinals, losing 11–10 to La Dolfina/Catamount after leading by a goal with just 80 seconds remaining.
Romero’s team also placed second in the USPA Bronze Cup and captured the Sterling Cup—further cementing their legitimacy on the global stage.
another dramatic showdown—Levonne Talion and Rafa Anciano, fierce rivals throughout the season, are locked in a gripping battle for dominance.
Talion staged a sensational eight-stroke comeback to edge Anciano in a sudden-death thriller at Eagle Ridge in April, but Anciano bounced back with strong performances at Sherwood Hills and a dominant win at Splendido Taal—where Talion was absent—making her the frontrunner heading into Caliraya.
PBBM tells children athletes in Palaro: Pursue your dreams
By Samuel P. Medenilla
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on the thousands of student athletes in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa that Ilocos Norte is hosting to excel in their events by following the examples set by the country’s sports icons. “Like them, just continue to pursue your dreams. Train every day, study
Manotoc at the Ferdinand E.
Memorial Stadium in Laoag City.
Marcos said the Palaro will “hopefully pave the way for future Filipino athletes, who will compete in the Olympics and Asian Games and follow the footsteps of iconic Filipino sports person such as Manny Pacquiao, Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio for boxing; Hidilyn Diaz for weight lifting; Carlos Yulo for gymnastics; EJ Obiena for pole vaulting, and Alex Eala for tennis. He reminded the participants of the importance of the values of sportsmanship, which focuses on discipline, camaraderie, and love for sports, as well as a persistent attitude,” he said. “Remember: The person who fights does not lose. Losers are those who fail to try.” He added:”Winners are those who try, and maybe they fail, but then try again and don’t stop trying until they win and succeed.” The President also recognized the important role of those who support the students athletes, including their parents, teachers, coaches and other family members.
“I also pay tribute to your parents, grandparents, godparents, uncles, aunts and all those who have guided you,” he said. “They have contributed time, money and prayers to support your dream. Around 15,000 delegates from 20 athletics associations representing 18 regions, the National Academy of Sports and Philippine Overseas Schools, are participating in the Palaro which Ilocos Norte is hosting for the first time since 1968. After a day devoted to Filipino ethnic sports were played on Sunday while competitions for secondary and elementary school athletes go full blast Monday.
MIKEE ROMERO is the first Filipino to break the
of the World
WORLD champion Pedro Taduran (center) with wife Mary
