THE investment climate in the Philippines remains stable despite allegations of massive graft and corruption involving highranking government officials, according to a mining industry leader.
Michael Toledo, chairman of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) and Head of Government Relations and Public Affairs Group of the MVP Group, spoke to reporters in a chance interview at the sidelines of the Philippines Conference organized by Stratbase in Makati City on Friday.
“Naturally, the reports about graft and corruption will somehow affect investment confidence in the Philippines, but I have talked to my colleagues and they remain upbeat. We will recover,” he said.
TBy Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
HE country’s health maintenance organization (HMO) industry posted a threefold increase in its net income as of the third quarter this year, according to the Insurance Commission (IC). Latest data from the IC showed that net income of HMOs amounted to P2.44 billion from January to September 2025, a 205-percent increase from the P800.9 million posted in the same period a year ago.
He also attributed this confidence to what he described as decisive action taken by the Marcos administration in going after those involved in the flood control corruption scandal.
“As you know, he is addressing the problem head-on,” he said. Toledo was among the panelists in the session dubbed, “Leveraging Sustainable Investment for Inclusive Growth,” wherein he spoke about the favorable investment policy environment, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s directive.
Total HMO revenues rose by 22.59 percent year-on-year to P73.12 billion during the ninemonth period from P59.65 billion.
Total membership fees amounted to P71.13 billion, which accounted for almost 98 percent of the industry’s total revenues. Meanwhile, expenses of the HMO industry also went up by 20.01 percent to P70.63 billion as of end-September 2025, from last year’s P58.85 billion. The increase in revenues managed to outweigh the expenses, with healthcare benefits and claims
but I have talked to my colleagues and they remain upbeat. We will recover.”
He said the President is pushing for a better mining situation wherein the Philippines will not only produce raw ores, but will also go into downstream processing of minerals to take advantage of the growing demand for green minerals.
amounting to P54.96 billion in the nine-month period.
“The HMO industry delivered a commendable performance this quarter, as majority of the companies demonstrated stronger profitability and wider market reach. This underscores the industry’s continued reliability in supporting Filipinos’ healthcare needs,” Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo A. Regalado said.
The HMO industry’s total assets increased by 27.59 percent year-on-year to P98.81 billion as of end-September 2025 from P75.87
Toledo said in the MVP group, they continue to talk to prospective investors for the Silangan mine of Philex Mining Corp., adding that a lot of investors are expressing interest because of the prospects.
“As far as our companies [are concerned], we have not experienced investors backing out. It also goes [for] some of my colleagues in the mining sector,” says Toledo.
Currently, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines is looking forward to the release of the implementing rules and regulations of the new Mining Fiscal Regime law signed by Marcos Jr.
He said the COMP remains committed to responsible mining, and members of the group are even going beyond mere compliance through the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative.
He said TSM is pushing to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals through various programs that benefit the community, as well as the environment.
billion as of end-September 2024. Of the total assets, P18.54 billion was classified as invested assets.
Further, HMOs’ total liabilities grew by 30.98 percent to P84.09 billion as of the third quarter this year from P64.20 billion in the same period last year, due to infusions in claims and other reserves.
Total equity, meanwhile, stood at P12.72 billion, reflecting an upward movement of 8.94 percent. Per the IC, the notable taper-
By Manuel T. Cayon
“What it told us is that the taxis will be launched on November 28 and the units are already in the port,” Cambaya said.
The EV taxi operation will be under the company name of Green and Smart Mobility VinFast.
He said the EV taxi operation will be across Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, with an investment of $500 million. He said the investor will hire as many as 20,000 workers. It started operation in Luzon on June 10.
“He is looking for a distributor for their EV vehicles. And second, the company will act as taxi operator similar to Grab for their EV taxis,” he said.
The company has EV taxi operations in its own home country Vietnam, as well as in Laos and Indonesia.
DOT addresses tourist safety after robbery spree in Makati
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) is grappling with a spate of bad publicity about the Philippines, and reaching out to more foreign tourists in a bid to convince them that their safety remains top of mind for the government.
This developed as Japanese nationals have reportedly been robbed at gunpoint especially around an enclave of Japanese-run eateries dubbed “Little Tokyo,” in the Mile Long complex in Makati.
In a Viber message, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco told the BusinessMirror, “We assure our Japanese friends that their safety remains a paramount priority, especially now that we enjoy a positive trajectory of arrivals from Japan as we have seen in the past months of 2025. These unfortunate incidents do not define the
MICHAEL TOLEDO, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) chairman: “Naturally, the reports about graft and corruption will somehow affect investment confidence in the Philippines,
“DOT,”
MINERS from different mining companies in the country participate in the Mine Safety Field Demonstration competition during the
Japan unveils $135-billion stimulus package to combat inflation and boost voter support
By Erica Yokoyama and Akemi Terukina Bloomberg
JAPANESE Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet approved the largest round of extra spending since the Covid-19 pandemic, deploying funds to address the frustrations of voters in a package that may unsettle investors scrutinizing the nation’s finances.
The stimulus plan includes ¥17.7 trillion ($112 billion) in general account spending, the Cabinet Office said Friday. Those outlays would likely be funded via an extra budget, and they mark a 27% jump over what her predecessor rolled out a year ago. The total package is valued at ¥21.3 trillion ($135 billion), with the bulk of the measures aimed at price relief.
The biggest portion will go to price relief, totaling ¥11.7 trillion. That includes provisions to dole out ¥7,000 in subsidies for gas and electricity bills for each household over three months through March, a one-off ¥20,000 cash handout per child and ¥2 trillion in funds to aid regions.
That includes a provision to dole out ¥7,000 in subsidies for gas and electricity bills for each house
hold over three months through March at a cost to the government of ¥500 billion. Takaichi will also spend ¥400 billion for ¥20,000 cash handouts per child and ¥2 trillion in funds to aid regions.
“The initial amount they’d set aside was already large, but toward the end we could see the kind of process unique to a minority government, where they had to factor in opposition parties’ cooperation,” said Saori Tsuiki, senior economist at Mizuho Research & Technologies. “If the larger amount sends an unintended message to markets or overseas and ends up adding to yen-weakness risks, we may have to discount the expected economic impact of the package.”
The sizable allocation for price relief highlights Takaichi’s commitment to tackling persistent
inflation, which has fueled voter frustration and contributed to the ouster of her predecessors. Data Friday showed that Japan’s key price gauge has stayed at or above
the Bank of Japan’s 2% target for 43 straight months, marking the longest such stretch since 1992.
Among other measures to counter inflation, about ¥1 trillion was set aside to abolish the gasoline tax, a measure first proposed by opposition parties including the Liberal Democratic Party’s new junior coalition partner Ishin. Raising the income tax–free threshold, another idea originally from opposition parties, was also adopted, costing ¥1.2 trillion. These price measures together are expected to push down the overall inflation gauge by an average 0.7 percentage point from February to April, according to the Cabinet Office.
The package includes ¥1.7 trillion to strengthen defense and diplomatic capabilities, with ¥1.1 trillion allocated to help raise defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product this fiscal year after Takaichi moved the targeted timeline forward by two years. Another ¥7.2 trillion will be allocated for investment related to crisis management.
Takaichi earmarked ¥700 billion in reserve funds to address damage caused by natural disasters and incidents caused by bears. Public support for Takaichi’s cabinet so far remains strong, according to local polls. An ANN survey conducted last weekend showed her approval rate rising 8.8
points to 67.5%, with a majority of respondents expressing hopes over her economic package.
Bond issuance will likely exceed last year’s levels, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Concerns over rising debt pushed yields on 5- and 10-year government bonds to their highest since 2008 earlier this week, while longer-dated yields climbed further. The yen weakened past 157 per dollar, its softest since January, prompting verbal warnings from senior officials.
“It is clear that Japan will face higher spending pressure on social security, interest payment and national defense for some time,” said Rain Yin, sovereign analyst at S&P Global Ratings. “However, our sovereign rating on Japan has already factored in Japan’s longstanding weakness in the fiscal balance and its extremely high government debt burden. This assessment is unlikely to worsen substantially from further weakening at the margin.”
The government estimates that the package will lift the nation’s GDP by an average of about 1.4 percentage points per year on an annualized basis for three years assuming the measures take effect during that span, the government said. The economy posted its first contraction in six quarters in the July–September period partly due to the US tariff impact. On that note, the economic package pledges to strengthen the financial foundations of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance to ensure the implementation of a $550 billion investment fund that was a key part of Japan-US tariff agreement. It also says it will explore new funding sources to invest in sectors critical to economic security, such as shipbuilding, quantum technology and critical minerals. With assistance from Yoshiaki Nohara
unwavering—warm, welcoming, and rooted in excellent service— and we remain committed to upholding the trust and confidence of the Japanese community.”
Arrivals up 16%
AFTER being sluggish for a long period of time, the number of tourists from Japan has been increasing, making the market among the top growth performers this year.
Data from the DOT showed that from January to October, 369,546 Japanese nationals arrived in the Philippines, up 16.04 percent from the same period in 2024. These includes arrivals of Japanese nationals from countries other than Japan, which put the market in third place as a tourism source.
According to the South China Morning Post, more than 20 cases
of robberies of Japanese nationals have been recorded in the last 12 months beginning October 2024, and cited by the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines. The supposed “wave of robberies” has pushed Japanese firms in Metro Manila to restrict their employees from going out in the evenings to enjoy the local nightlife.
Said pause in the evening excursions has resulted in lower sales of Japanese-run eateries in Little Tokyo, the publication added. While most of the robberies occurred while Japanese nationals were walking in the evening, one robbery was reported to have happened inside an establishment. (https://tinyurl.com/2s4685ra)
This is the third time the Tourism Secretary has had to reach out to foreign tourists to convince them of their safety in the Philippines. The DOT had recorded a continued drop in South Korean visitors this year, following a cases of theft in the posh residential and commercial area of Bonifacio
Global City. Years ago, a few South Korean nationals were killed by criminal syndicates as well.
Sokor slide
WHILE South Koreans continued to top the list of foreign nationals visiting the Philippines, their numbers have dropped by 20.56 percent to 1.04 million in the 10 months to October 2025.
Then just this month, Frasco again asked foreign tourists not to cancel their trips to Cebu, following the recent earthquake and typhoon, which hit the province. (See, “DOT to international visitors: Keep visiting Cebu,” in the BusinessMirror, Nov. 12, 2025.)
The DOT is hoping for a turnaround in the overall tourism picture with the recent policies allowing visa-free entry of Indian nationals to the Philippines, and the resumption of the electronicvisa scheme in mainland China. The agency projects inbound visitors to reach 6.7 million in 2026.
ing of the capital stock account, to P6.86 billion from P8.93 billion, occurred in line with the reclassification of equity accounts to appropriately reflect Contingency Surplus, pursuant to Section 2.7 of IC Circular Letter No. 2025-11.
“Collectively, these developments reflect the sustained growth and strengthened financial position of the HMO industry—providing a promising foundation for further innovation, more effective regulation, and improved delivery of accessible and reliable healthcare,” Regalado said.
JAPAN’S Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives for a cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo, Friday, November 21, 2025. YUKI SATO/KYODO NEWS VIA AP
Projects to modernize PHL aviation ramped up–Caap
By Vincent Peter Rivera
THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) has unveiled ongoing initiatives to modernize the country’s aviation system, outlining plans for immediate infrastructure upgrades, workforce development, and stronger international cooperation to meet evolving global aviation standards.
The commitment, reaffirmed at the recent Philippine Aviation Summit 2025, serves as the authority’s strategic move to ensure local air travel needs are met and are on a par with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
“We are here to lead transformation—through infrastructure development, investment opportunities, regulatory reforms, and a culture of safety embedded in every aspect of our operations,” said CAAP Director General Retired Lt. Gen. Raul Del Rosario. System upgrades and key initiatives
AMONG the initial projects implemented was the successful upgrade to the Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system last year.
The update, aimed at safer and more efficient flight operations management, cost $1.5 million and was completed in the early morning hours of October 1, 2024.
Alongside these key modernization initiatives are the procurement of a State Safety Oversight Management System (SOMS) to enhance monitoring and regulatory compliance, and streamlining efforts to simplify internal processes to deliver faster and more transparent services for operators and stakeholders.
Privatization and market growth
WHEN it comes to infrastructure, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program continues to fast-track airport upgrades across the country, with major gateways transitioning to private operators to accelerate development and improve the overall passenger experience.
For instance, the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) were officially handed over on September 14, 2024 to the New Naia Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) consortium, led by companies like San Miguel Corporation (SMC), under a 15-year concession deal aimed at massive upgrades.
Meanwhile, the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) transferred O&M responsibilities to the Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC) consortium on June 16, 2025 for a 30-year concession to expand its capacity.
Similarly, Laguindingan Airport (CAG) also transitioned to private management with the Aboitiz group, covering a 30-year concession.
With these airport privatizations, the authority hoped to hit the strong growth forecasts. CAAP Deputy Director General for Operations Retired Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez underscored that the Philippines is on track to become one of the world’s most dynamic aviation markets.
Citing the Airport Council International (ACI) World Traffic Forecast, Briguez noted that the Philippines’ global ranking is projected to climb from 19th in 2042 to 14th in 2052 in total passenger traffic volume.
“This reflects not only steady growth in passenger volumes but also the nation’s expanding connectivity, infrastructure development, and influence in the global aviation landscape,” Briguez said.
Investing on workforce and sustainability BEYOND upgrading the systems and infrastructure, CAAP also emphasized a holistic modernization by equally upskilling the people. Amneris Gabriel, Acting Chief of the Human Resource Management Department, stressed the importance of developing a highly competent and future-ready workforce.
To achieve this, the Authority launched a strategic workforce development program, aligned with Icao’s “People First” Strategy, to produce a skilled Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP).
See “CAAP,” A5
Scrutiny of irrigation projects tighter after lump sums out
By Butch Fernandez
THE removal of lump sum items in the proposed 2026 budget of the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) will now enable scrutiny of irrigation projects – also in focus lately for being graft-ridden— to be implemented, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said on Friday.
“Another safeguard that we have instituted in the budgeting process is the removal of lump sums. So that the ghost projects won’t be repeated, the goal is to institute line items and ensure that exact coordinates and the precise lengths of irrigation projects are clearly specified,” Gatchalian said during the plenary deliberations on NIA’s budget.
“Our constituents can more easily track now if there are irrigation projects being set up in their places, and what is their status,” he added.
The chair of the Senate Committee on Finance had earlier flagged lump sums and undetailed line items in the proposed NIA budget. He identified these as P10 billion worth of national irrigation systems, P5 billion worth of communal irrigation systems, other irrigation systems sub-program worth P630 million, extension and expansion of existing irrigation systems sub-program worth 851 million, establishment of pump irrigation sub-program worth P4 billion, and special irrigation subprogram worth P2 billion for
a total of P26 billion.
The spotlight has recently been focused on irrigation projects in the wake of revelations that corruption attended the billions in flood-control projects nationwide.
Balog-balog project fiasco
EARLIER on Thursday, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said the NIA owes taxpayers a clear explanation for the wastage of funds in the long-delayed Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project in Tarlac, which remains unfinished despite receiving P7.006 billion from 2015 to 2020 alone.
Lacson expressed this concern during the interpellation of the proposed 2026 budget of NIA, recalling that he raised similar questions about the project in 2020.
“We should take this up not just in the budget deliberations. I think we should focus on the delayed projects and obvious wastage of public funds, particularly in the Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project,” Lacson said, speaking mostly in Filipino.
Lacson noted that some P7.006 billion had been appropriated for Balog-Balog’s Phase 2 alone from 2015 to 2020.
Phase 2 was originally expected to be finished in 2018 but remains unfinished. In November 2020, Lacson noted a comparison of images of the project as of September 2019 and his staff’s inspection in November 2020 showed virtually no change. “Halos walang nangyari [Almost nothing happened},” he noted at the time. He added that in 2018, the COA flagged Balog-Balog’s five contracts as accounting for P7.7 billion or 37 percent of P20.7 billion worth of delayed projects nationwide, one of the highest aggregate contract costs among delayed NIA projects.
“I think the NIA has a lot of explaining to do. In the Balog-Balog Project’s case alone, there seems to be a lot of anomalies,” Lacson said. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who raised the issue in his interpellation of the NIA budget, noted the NIA requests P261 million yearly supposedly for the maintenance and repair of the Balog-Balog project. Marcoleta proposed that a review of the project be undertaken, while Finance Subcommittee Chairman Francis Pangilinan— who sponsored the NIA’s proposed 2026 budget - said they will monitor the review to determine the way forward.
PSA
Puerto Princesa PHL’s fastest-growing city, Iligan is fastest in Mindanao:
By Manuel T. Cayon
DAVAO CITY—Palawan’s Puerto Princesa was the country’s fastest growing city last year, and Iligan City was the fastest in Mindanao, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in its latest disclosure of provincial accounts performance.
While only two Metro Manila cities were in the list and occupying the lower rung, Metro Manila dominated, however, the top 10 list of cities in terms of level and share to the national gross domestic product in 2024.
Puerto Princesa City posted a whopping 9.8-percent growth rate based on the GDP growth performance as seen through its Provincial Product Accounts. The PPA measures the economic performance, or GDP growth, of a province or highly urbanized city.
Iligan City came in second among the highly urbanized cities with its 8.8-percent growth, followed by another Mindanao City, Butuan, with 8.7 percent growth.
PHL backs Palestine reconstruction, Asean push for a two-state peace
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THE Philippines pledged to help Palestine in its massive reconstruction efforts and vowed to rally Asean to amplify support for the two-state solution, as Foreign Affairs Secretary Lazaro welcomed the first-ever visit of a Palestinian Foreign Minister to Manila since diplomatic ties were established 36 years ago. At a joint press conference with Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine, Secretary Lazaro underscored the Philippines’ readiness to provide technical and vocational training assis -
tance and capacity-building support for Gaza’s recovery, while also affirming Manila’s commitment to champion Palestine’s cause within Asean when the country assumes the regional bloc’s chairship next year.
Building cooperation, reconstruction support THE two ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Political Consultations, creating a structured mechanism for regular dialogue.
Lazaro said the framework will allow both sides to “take stock of our bilateral relations, identify areas of cooperation, and promote
our common interests,” with inaugural consultations expected next year.
The ministers also agreed to fast-track the talks for a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, aimed at facilitating greater interaction among policymakers.
The Philippines expressed readiness to provide technical and capacity-building assistance to Palestine, through the DFA’s attached agency Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines.
“We have accumulated a wealth of experiences and vast practices
See “Palestine,” A5
Tacloban City of Leyte, posted 8.2 percent to place fourth, and tailed by Davao City, which had 7.9 percent.
In succession were Bacolod City of the Visayas, with 7.7 percent, Makati City, with 7.35 percent, Malabon City, with 7.27 percent, Iloilo City, with 7.1 percent and Cebu City, with seven percent.
The PSA said all the 33 highly urbanized cities in the country expanded their economies last year, with all top 10 cities growing faster than the national GDP expansion rate of 5.7 percent.
The highly urbanized cities are the highest classification for cities in the country and are defined by having a minimum population of 200,000 and an annual income of at least P50 million.
In terms of share to the national GDP, the picture changed dramatically.
Eight Metro Manila cities, topbilled by Quezon, Makati and Manila, dominated the list that heavily contributed to the country’s total wealth. Only Davao City
and Cebu City were able to enter the crowd.
All three top sharers in the GDP contributed more than one trillion pesos each. Quezon City contributed P1.33 trillion, comprising six percent of total GDP that year, followed by Makati, with P1.2 trillion share and Manila with P1.04 trillion.
Taguig City gave P656.31 billion to the GDP, three percent part of the total GDP, and Davao City contributed P574.72 billion, followed by Pasig City, with P513.24 billion, Parañaque City, with P366.44 billion and Pasay City, with P359.09 billion.
Cebu City was eighth of the highly urbanized cities, which contributed P334.48 billion to the county’s GDP and Mandaluyong City shared P320.43 billion.
The country posted a GDP of $461.62 billion, a growth of 5.7 percent from the 2023 GDP of $437.06 billion. This growth was below government growth target of between six percent to 6.5 percent.
PLDT, Smart ramp up audit of network sites
THE Philippines’ largest fully integrated telecommunications company PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are ramping up the strategic audit of the energy management performance of their critical network sites and base stations across the country.
This series of audit sessions reinforces the Group’s continuing focus on operational resource efficiency, aimed at optimizing network reliability and customer service, while also reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Initial audit sessions were recently held in Pampanga and Batangas sites, and succeeding ones are lined up for Visayas and Mindanao facilities.
“While our network facilities enable achievement of our customer experience
and revenue targets, we recognize that these are also among our most resourceintensive assets, especially in terms of energy consumption and costs,” said PLDT Vice President and Head of Network Facilities & Field Operations Alvin Ilano.
In 2024, PLDT and Smart’s network sites and facilities contributed to 86 percent of the overall PLDT Group’s energy consumption.
“These audit sessions are thus crucial in generating targeted improvements that help reduce our overall consumption and directly impact both network reliability and cost-effectiveness,” explained Ilano.
Audit activities include site inspections to check on various conditions that contribute to energy efficiency, including See “PLDT,” A5
Marcos names Navy’s Abayon as new chief of the PSC
AMID persistent noise of a new destabilization plot, President Ferdinand Marcos has appointed a veteran Navy official as his new Presidential Security Command (PSC) chief. Acting Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave M. Gomez confirmed the designation of Commodore Andro Val P. Abayon as the new commander of PSC.
Abayon will replace Brigadier General Peter B. Burgonio as PSC head.
“Abayon was designated as acting PSC head while Burgonio was designated as acting division commander of the 8ID [Infantry Division],” Gomez said. Burgonio, a former Philippine Army (PA) Intelligence Regiment acting commander, took over the helm of PSC in March after the arrest of two Chinese nationals and three Filipinos, who were suspected of conducting espionage activities around the Malacañang complex in Manila earlier this year.
Since he assumed the presidency in 2022, Marcos has already named four PSC heads.
Aside from Abayon and Burgonio, the two other PSC chiefs under the Marcos administration were General Ramon P. Zagala, and Philippine Air Force (PAF) Brig. General Jesus Nelson B. Morales Abayon’s new assignment comes a week after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced it is looking into the alleged involvement of some government officials and former uniformed personnel in a destabilization attempt.
AFP also said it is now looking into the possible involvement of other countries in funding the recent anti-government demonstrations conducted by the United People’s Initiative.
Samuel P Medenilla
With desilting, PBBM vows to prevent new Cebu floods
By Samuel Medenilla
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos
Jr. has committed to prevent major flooding in Cebu by next year with the successful desilting and construction of new infrastructure in the island province.
The chief executive made the statement during the launch of the Oplan Kontra Baha in Metro Cebu at the Mahiga Creek on Friday.
The President said the decades of neglect from the government in
PHL’s
desilting of waterways in Cebu has contributed to the heavy flooding of the island province after it was devastated by Tropical Cyclone Tino (international name: Kalmaegi).
The extensive damage caused
by Typhoon Tino to homes, infrastructure and agriculture in Cebu has prompted its local government unit to place the province under state of calamity.
The layers of sediments, the President said, have greatly reduced the carrying capacity of the said waterway.
“I ask local officials when was the last time it was dug up and cleaned up. They don’t remember [it] ever. So it’s probably the first time in decades,” he said in Filipino.
Marcos wants the creeks to undergo regular desilting each year.
Aside from the desilting of the said creek, he said the Sabo dams will also be constructed in the said waterway
“The Sabo Dam is not [just] a
Asean chairship agenda focus: SCS
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THE Philippines has set out an ambitious agenda for its 2026
Asean Chairship, prioritizing three flagship deliverables: a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, the conclusion of the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), and progress on new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, incoming Asean Foreign Ministerial Chair, underscored the urgency of these initiatives: “The foreign ministers in 2023 already mandated that this code of conduct should be finished within three years... technically, until July 2026.”
Asean and the Chairship role FOUNDED in 1967, Asean today represents 11 member states with a combined population of over 662 million. Its mission is to promote peace, stability, and economic integration across Southeast Asia.
The Asean Chair rotates annually among member states. The chair does not wield
executive power but plays a critical role in setting the agenda, convening summits, facilitating consensus, and representing Asean externally. Past chairs have left distinct imprints—Vietnam steered Asean through the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, while Indonesia in 2023 pushed climate commitments.
For the Philippines in 2026, the chairship is an opportunity to demonstrate Asean’s relevance amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry.
South China Sea:
A binding Code of Conduct
ASEAN and China first pledged to establish a COC in 2002, but negotiations have dragged on for over two decades.
The Philippines hopes to conclude talks during its chairship, grounding the agreement on Unclos to reduce risks of conflict amid escalating maritime confrontations.
Lazaro emphasized Asean unity: “As Asean Chair, bilateral matters will be set aside...the issues of Asean should be first and foremost.”
One of the milestone issues in Asean–China negotiations is the legal character of the COC.
dam that collects water. What it does is it also controls the flow of water. It is not just one dam, there are probably three, four, maybe five more going downstream,”
Marcos said.
He said he is now calling for the appropriation of sufficient funding for the implementation of the said infrastructure projects.
To sustain the said initiatives, Marcos also reiterated the importance for the government to coordinate with the private sector and other stakeholders.
“We need strong coordination with our local government. We also need strong coordination with the private sector. And when that happens, we can do this kind of project that will be great,” he said.
Code, digital pact, Canada FTA
For years, talks have stalled over whether the agreement should be declaratory or binding.
Lazaro stressed Manila’s position: “The Philippines, for one, is of the view that it should be legally binding.”
A binding COC would mark a significant step forward from the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which has been criticized as toothless.
Asean members remain divided— some wary of antagonizing China, others pushing for stronger guarantees. The Philippines’ insistence reflects its reliance on Unclos and its experiences with maritime confrontations.
Digital integration
ASEAN’S digital economy is projected to reach $2 trillion by 2030.
DEFA, slated for signing in 2026, would be the world’s first region-wide digital economy pact, covering cross-border data flows, cybersecurity, e-payments, and paperless trading.
Lazaro noted: “The Asean would conclude its negotiations, hopefully, and obviously the signing of the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement within 2026.”
Sotto pushes for reforms to better PDL’s conditions
SENATE President Vicente C. Sotto III has raised concerns on overcrowded facilities for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), and sought clear measures to resolve this in the 2026 budget. During interpellation at the budget deliberation of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), he sought to addess as well the weakness of health provisions, livelihood opportunities, and reintegration programs for those set for parole.
Trade expansion:
FTAs with key partners
ASEAN already has a comprehensive FTA with Australia and New Zealand (AANZFTA), which was upgraded in 2025 to modernize trade rules and reduce barriers.
The Philippines will push for its full implementation while advancing Asean’s first-ever FTA with Canada.
Lazaro explained: “There will be negotiations for the first-ever Asean–Canada Free Trade Agreement, and an upgraded Asean–Korea FTA. Australia–New Zealand is almost finished.”
She added: “Given the unpredictability of US trade policy...Asean must strengthen intra-Asean trade and partnerships with other countries.”
Navigating regional fault lines
THE Philippines’ chairship comes at a time of heightened strain:
On the Myanmar crisis, Myanmar’s junta continues to refuse to comply with the Asean Leaders’ Five-Point Consensus. Lazaro was recently appointed Special Envoy to continue
See “SCS,” A5
Dizon says ‘only the beginning’ as DPWH accelerates reforms
THE Marcos administration’s anti-corruption and infrastructure reforms took center stage at the second day of the Pilipinas Conference 2025, with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon declaring that “something is really going to change” as the government intensifies efforts to hold officials accountable, recover public funds, and overhaul long-standing systems vulnerable to abuse.
Addressing leaders from business, civil society, the diplomatic corps, and government, Dizon described the current moment as an “unprecedented situation,” stressing the administration’s resolve to pursue accountability “no matter who they are, no matter how close they are.”
“We will follow the evidence wherever it takes us,” he said.
“Please do not judge the President on his words...Please judge us on our actions.”
Dizon outlined the rapid actions taken in recent months, emphasizing that “this is only the beginning.”
“Sixty-seven individuals...we have filed cases...We have submitted 10 cases to the Philippine Competition Commission...So, just in these 10 cases alone...up to P2.5 billion can be recovered from the contractors who have been accused of rigging bids,” he noted.
He added: “We have formally charged 25 people, we have issued 34 show-cause orders... and we have already suspended 20 people in a little over two months...P6.3 billion in frozen assets have been done in just a little over about two months [which] is unprecedented.”
Dizon noted that numerous suspected ghost projects remain under investigation, but stressed that infrastructure delivery cannot stall: “My job at the DPWH is to build stuff...We have to continue building bridges, roads, schools, and hospitals.”
“We must help people to account, but we’ve also got to establish proper merit...to bring in talented people,
honest people, and young people,” he added.
Digitalization, transparency DIZON also unveiled key transparency initiatives, including the soon-to-launch DPWH Transparency Portal. “This will be a benchmark for all government agencies…All the contracts are going to be there…the livestreaming of procurement is going to be there.” “All these things aren’t just words. These are concrete, bold actions.”
Stratbase Institute President Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said public frustration over corruption has reached overwhelming levels. “97 percent of Filipinos consider [corruption] widespread...90 percent say there’s collusion,” he said. “People are angry. And people demand and want transparency and accountability.” He stressed that governance reform requires shared responsibility. “It takes all of us in this room to work with government. It takes all of us in the Philippine private sector to institutionalize inclusive governance… The people are demanding something. Something drastic, substantial, sincere, and specific,” Manhit underscored. Manhit warned that corruption-driven uncertainty threatens growth: “Who would like to invest in this kind of political uncertainty? And who suffers? The Filipino people....Accountability, accountability, accountability— that’s what we need.”
The day’s discussions also featured top business leaders— Edgar Chua (Chairman, Makati Business Club), George Barcelon (Chairman, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry), and Toti Chikiamko (President, Foundation for Economic Freedom)—who shared insights on the economic landscape and policies needed for sustained growth. Now on its 10th year, the Pilipinas Conference brought together the country’s top economic, business, and governance leaders to address the structural challenges shaping the Philippines’ future.
Northern Luzon Alliance declares ‘unequivocal support’ for Speaker Dy
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
Let’s make it regional or Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao because a study that got shows that when their families stop visiting them, that’s when they join gangs and get into trouble,” Sotto added, speaking partly in Filipino.
On PDLs’ medical needs
“We want that, and we should also remove [the national penitentiary in] Muntinlupa.
Sotto noted that the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa has a capacity of only 5,678 but is currently housing 21,996 PDLs. Meanwhile, the Correctional Institute for Women, which ideally accommodates 1,280, is now holding 2,940. Responding to Sotto’s concerns, DOJ budget sponsor Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said, “We are planning regional prisons so that not everybody is concentrated here, they’re thinking of building regional prison facilities.”
GATCHALIAN reported that the daily medical allowance for PDLs has increased from P15 to P20. He also noted: “I was advised by General [Gregorio Pio] Catapang [Jr.] that PDLs are covered by PhilHealth.” Sotto then asked whether PDLs may also be coordinated with the Department
See “Sotto,” A5
THE 39-strong Northern Luzon Alliance in the House of Representatives on Thursday issued a manifesto declaring its “unequivocal support” for Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III as it highlighted the Speaker’s leadership, character, and steady hand in guiding the House of Representatives.
House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro”Marcos III of Ilocos Norte led the signing of the manifesto, together with Deputy Speakers Kristine Singson-Meehan of Ilocos Sur and Francisco Paolo Ortega V of La Union.
In a two-page declaration, the alliance— composed of lawmakers from Regions I and II and the Cordillera Administrative Region
CAR—said its support is grounded on conviction, unity and trust.
“We speak not by reason of political alignment or expediency, but out of conviction, experience and an unwavering belief in the Speaker’s leadership, integrity and steady hand in guiding the House of Representatives,” the manifesto said.
The group affirmed its unified stance across all provinces in Northern Luzon.
“We, Members of the House representing the proud provinces, cities, and districts of North Luzon—from Ilocos to Cagayan Valley, from the Cordilleras to the northern frontiers of Central Luzon—stand as one in affirming our full, firm and unwavering confidence in the capable and impartial leadership of Speaker Bojie Dy III as he steers the House toward meaningful legislation, political stability and national progress.”
The lawmakers said Speaker Dy has demonstrated “steady and unifying leadership,” respect for local autonomy, and a clear legislative agenda focused on economic recovery, agriculture, infrastructure, peace and order, youth development and regional growth.
“In his leadership, we see stability. In his example, we see fairness. In his direction, we see continuity and progress,”the manifesto read.
The alliance urged all House members to rise above political noise, saying “the nation must move forward from the division, paralysis and unnecessary distractions of a poisoned political atmosphere.”
It called on all House members and sectors to help strengthen the institution, safeguard democratic processes by affirming Dy’s speakership, and advance legislation that uplifts every Filipino.
“Our stand is not rooted in personalities but in principle, not in factional interest but in the collective good, and not in partisan
noise or pressure but in clarity of purpose,” the group added.
The bloc emphasized that its support for Dy is unwavering.
“As we offer Speaker Dy our solid, immovable and unequivocal support, we reaffirm our unity grounded in shared values, history and aspirations for the people of North Luzon and the entire country,” it said.
“We resolutely stand behind him with the full weight of our mandate, our districts and the trust of our people.”
In closing, the alliance said history will show that Northern Luzon chose unity.
“With one united voice, we uphold Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III. With one firm resolve, we continue the work for the Filipino people. With one steadfast heart, we move forward together.”
Other members of the alliance include Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba; Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald V. Singson; La Union Rep. Dante S. Garcia; and Pangasinan Reps. Arthur F. Celeste, Mark O. Cojuangco, Ma. Rachel J. Arenas, Georgina P. De Venecia, Ramon N. Guico Jr. and Marlyn Primicias-Agabas.
From Region II, the bloc includes Cagayan Reps. Ramon C. Nolasco, Baby Aline VargasAlfonso and Joseph “Jojo” L. Lara; Isabela Reps. Antonio Tonypet T. Albano, Ed Christopher S. Go, Ian Paul L. Dy, Joseph S. Tan,
Faustino Michael Carlos T. Dy III and Faustino G. Dy III; as well as Timothy Joseph Cayton of Nueva Vizcaya, Midy N. Cua of Quirino and Ciriaco B. Gato Jr. of Batanes.
From the CAR, the alliance counts
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Romualdez insists on innocence as DPWH, ICI
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
recommend raps
reflect the truth.”
FORMER House Speaker Ferdinand
Martin Romualdez has affirmed his innocence in connection with the multibillion-peso flood control projects, following the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s (ICI) recommendation to file plunder, graft, and bribery charges against him.
Romualdez’s statement was read on Friday by his legal counsel, Atty. Ade Fajardo, shortly after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) released their joint findings involving more than P100 billion worth of flood control contracts allegedly cornered by firms linked to former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co from 2016 to 2025.
“I willingly submitted myself to the ICI’s fact-finding process, appeared voluntarily, and remained in the country,” Romualdez said in the statement. “Throughout all these proceedings, no sworn or credible evidence has ever linked me to any irregularity, and again, my conscience remains clear.”
He emphasized that the case is now with the Office of the Ombudsman.
“I trust in the Ombudsman’s impartial and thorough review and evaluation,” he added. “I do so with confidence that a fair and complete assessment of the record will
the age and performance of equipment, capacities of cooling systems, and layout of facilities. Sessions also aim to equip PLDT and Smart’s network field personnel with practical knowledge of energy management strategies and skills to analyze performance data, enabling continuous improvement and encouraging employee ownership of energy efficiency programs within their respective sites.
“By gathering firsthand insights from the field and engaging directly with employees in our local sites, we gain a clearer understanding of operational realities and develop more responsive and effective energy management strategies, including empowering our people to initiate and take direct action,” added Ilano. As PLDT and Smart aim to deploy a comprehensive energy management system
Earlier on Thursday, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said his office may be able to file a case against Romualdez within six to nine months, as the investigation into alleged flood-control anomalies continues.
Speaking at a forum on the flood-control scandal organized by the Office of the UP Law Dean, Remulla said the review has been ongoing for about 40 days and involves determining which specific legal violations may be supported by evidence. He said he will not proceed unless the factual record is complete. (https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2025/11/21/ ombudsman-sets-6-9-month-windowon-flood-case-filing/)
On Thursday, the DPWH and ICI concluded that there was sufficient basis to recommend criminal charges against Romualdez and Co, citing alleged irregularities in the award and execution of flood control projects across the country. Investigators said the contracts showed patterns of bid manipulation and favoritism benefiting construction companies associated with Co. Co has denied wrongdoing, claiming he merely followed instructions while serving as appropriations chair. Romualdez, for his part, reiterated in his statement that he has cooperated fully with the investigation and expects the Ombudsman to sift through the evidence without political pressure.
that aligns with internationally recognized standards, PLDT and Smart Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios highlighted the Group’s complementing goals of lowering operational GHG emissions and environmental footprint.
“Efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand. Every improvement we make in energy use not only enhances operational performance—it also helps lower costs and reduces our emissions, strengthening our commitment to a low-carbon future,” she said.
The PLDT Group follows a decarbonization roadmap with a strategic commitment to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 40 percent by 2030, anchored on efficiency initiatives that lower fuel and energy use, and transition to the use of cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. These efforts contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly on Goal 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy and Goal 13 on Climate Action.
With Sandigan warrants out vs Zaldy Co et al, PBBM seeks quick arrest
By Samuel P. Medenilla
ON the heels of the Sandiganbayan issuing its warrants of arrest against former Ako Bicol Party list representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and 17 others for their alleged involvement in flood control anomalies, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he wants authorities to immediately arrest the suspects so they can be held accountable.
In a brief video message posted on his social media account on Friday, the chief executive said the ongoing campaign of his administration against public works irregularities have finally started yielding results with the impending arrests.
This after the Ombudsman formally filed
charges of graft and malversation of public funds against Co and the other individuals in relation to the construction of P289.4million substandard river dike in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro based on the pieces of evidence submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“This is not [based on] speculation. This is not [based] on a tale. This is [based on] real evidence,” Marcos said in Filipino.
“They will be arrested, brought to court, and held accountable to the law. [They will not] be given special treatment and treated lightly,” he added.
The President said he already has the list of the 17 other individuals, who are also
facing arrests, but the Palace said it will not be released to the public for now to prevent them from going into hiding.
Romualdez’s case
IN a separate video clip, Marcos also backed the looming investigation of the Ombudsman on the possible involvement of his cousin, former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, in the flood control projects mess.
“We are confident that the Ombudsman only follows the evidence, and where the evidence takes us, that’s where our investigation will go,” Marcos said in Filipino.
In September, Romualdez resigned as House Speaker and was replaced by Isabela Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III to give way to
investigations on possible involvement in flood control projects irregularities.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” C. Remulla said Romualdez may be held accountable for gross negligence for allowing Co to allegedly commit malversation involving a river dike in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
Marcos has committed to make sure his campaign against anomalous public works, which he started during his fourth State of Nation Address (Sona) last July 25, will result in the prosecution of those behind the said irregularities.
“I started all of this and I will finish it, so please expect that we will continue to do this even though so much time has passed,” Marcos said.
Chinese intel systems mapping a PHL national networks–expert
By Lorenz S. Marasigan
THE Philippines is explicitly listed among countries whose national networks are being systematically mapped and integrated into Chinese intelligence systems, a former top intelligence official disclosed at the Pilipinas Conference 2025.
Francisco Ashley Acedillo, former Deputy Director General for Cyber and Emerging Threats of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Nica), revealed that leaked intelligence from Chinese cybercontractor KnownSec exposed an “industrialscale reconnaissance system...directly targeting” Philippine critical infrastructure, government systems, and key institutions.
“This confirms that our critical infrastructure, government systems, and key institutions are under active surveillance,” Acedillo said, adding that the leak revealed a “Key Target Library” containing 378 million IP addresses and 3.4 million domains across foreign governments, military, telecommunications, finance, and energy sectors.
The intelligence system reportedly compresses China’s operational reaction time from weeks to hours when new vulnerabilities emerge, creating what Acedillo described as an “asymmetric advantage where Chinese
operators can quickly exploit weaknesses in Philippine systems.”
Acedillo said the leaked data includes warehouses containing LinkedIn datasets, telecom records, Telegram user information, e-commerce transaction logs, and credential dumps, “suggesting potential compromise of Filipino citizens’ personal data and communication channels.”
“The systematic mapping of critical infrastructure suggests pre-positioning for potential cyber operations during periods of geopolitical tension,” Acedillo warned, noting particular concern given regional maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
Acedillo said there are three overlapping challenges defining the Philippine security context: persistent maritime coercion in the West Philippine Sea; the rapidly expanding attack surface created by the country’s digitizing economy; and the Philippines’ position within a competitive regional cyber ecosystem where state-linked operators from China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran conduct espionage and influence activities.
He said China has developed a comprehensive approach merging state, military, academic, and private sector capabilities, with their hacking contest ecosystem serving multiple purposes from talent identification to vulnerability discovery.
“What makes this approach particularly concerning is how it enables China to maintain plausible deniability while developing capabilities that directly threaten our critical infrastructure and sovereignty,” he said. “Our intelligence indicates that Chinese cyber operations increasingly align with their broader maritime coercion strategy in the South China Sea.”
Acedillo proposed several measures, including validating national exposure using adversary-emulation tools, hardening perimeter systems across government and key sectors, strengthening public-private partnerships, and enhancing regional engagement through Asean forums.
He also suggested the passage of a National Cybersecurity Law and the establishment of a Philippine Cyber Force as the fourth branch of the Armed Forces.
‘Cybersecurity is national security’
ACCORDING to Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres Manhit, cybersecurity plays a critical role in ensuring a safer Philippines.
“Threats increasingly emerge from the digital domain: unseen, borderless, and asymmetrical,” he stressed, noting how deepfakes and foreign information manipulation now “blur traditional security boundaries.”
“Cybersecurity is not only about technology; it is about trust,” Manhit added.
“Cybersecurity is national security...Protecting our digital domain is a shared responsibility among the state, the private sector, and the international community,” he added.
Investors’ role
DEPARTMENT of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda called for investors to prioritize cybersecurity, as it is a crucial step toward “digital resilience.”
“By investing in digital defense, you are not just guarding data, but safeguarding our economic future,” he said. Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya highlighted the rapid escalation of cyberattacks globally, citing Japan’s monitoring data showing cyberattack-related communications surging from 63 billion packets in 2015 to 686 billion in 2024.
“No single nation can address threats in cyberspace alone. International cooperation is indispensable,” he said.
He affirmed Japan’s commitment to enhance the Philippines’s cybersecurity capabilities through initiatives like the Asean-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Center, which has trained 4,400 personnel across the region.
This includes continuous training in specialized courses such as the Comprehensive Air Traffic Service Course (CATS), Airfield Lighting and Power Technician (ALPT), and Aeronautical Information Service Comprehensive Course (AISCC).
of Health (DOH) for access to Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP) or through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.
Sotto highlighted existing livelihood initiatives, citing the exhibit of artworks by PDLs at EVIA Mall, owned by former Senate President Manny Villar, and cited Letran Calamba’s yearlong jail ministry.
Complimenting this initiative, Sofia Paula Fulmaran, Officer-in-Charge of the Strategic Planning Division, affirmed Caap’s commitment to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) compliance and CORSIA alignment, positioning the effort as a strategic move toward a greener sector.
Seeing the potential for income generation, Sotto asked, “What are your programs and plans for the livelihood of the PDLs to help them support their families even though they are in detention and are not trafficking in drugs?”
Gatchalian responded that income earned directly benefits the PDLs, “BuCor encourages them to come up with livelihood because they earn from it.”He added that skills training and livelihood programs with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are being offered so that PDLs can start small businesses or gain employable skills prior to parole.
Reintegration
BUCOR also has reintegration programs and corresponding budget allocations for Persons Restored of Liberty (PRL). However, Sotto clarified: “Although reintegration is not within the mandate of the BuCor, reformation is.”
Malaysia’s groundwork. The Cambodia–Thailand border dispute is another headache. Despite a peace accord signed in 2025, clashes and landmine incidents have reignited tensions. Lazaro remarked: “Ceasefires, like any ceasefires around the world, are always fragile and have to be helped and assisted by all of us.” On the South China Sea dispute, ongoing
confrontations risk undermining Asean’s credibility if consensus on the COC falters. Meanwhile, US tariff uncertainties keep shaking the markets. New reciprocal tariffs have hit Asean exports, with garment and electronics sectors particularly vulnerable. Asean centrality is also at risk. Analysts warn that great-power rivalry and internal divisions are eroding Asean’s central role in the Indo-Pacific. Lazaro countered: “I never felt that there was a loss or even an erosion of Asean centrality...we will continue to strengthen Asean centrality.”
Continued from A3
in this area of technical and vocational education and training, which may be relevant to the development agenda of Palestine,” Lazaro said.
Shahin added that additional MOUs on education, higher education, and diplomatic training are “in the pipeline.”
Lazaro reiterated the country’s“unwavering support for the two-state solution, regarded as the only viable path toward peace and stability in the region.”
She emphasized that the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state and respect for its right to selfdetermination are “imperative to achieving lasting peace.”
Minister Shahin welcomed the Philippines’ stance, describing her first visit as “very productive and very good.”
She praised the Philippines’ voting record in the United Nations on the issue of Palestine, noting that its official response has been “to our satisfaction.”
Manila, she noted consistently supports the two-state solution, opposes aggression in Gaza and violations in the West Bank, and expressed confidence that the Philippines will continue to stand with the Palestinian people in their “struggle for liberation.”
She also remarked on the warmth of her reception: “We have been received with a lot of warmth...thank you for the words of support and for the warm welcome.”
Public sentiment in the PHL BEYOND official diplomacy, Shahin acknowledged public support within the Philippines.
She noted that the Palestinian Authority had “monitored the rallies that have taken place in the Philippines, with one having some 200,000 people.”
She added that there has been “relevant
support against what was happening in the Gaza Strip” and even cited that a road in one province has been named “Palestine.”
In her words, “there has been enough support.”
Shahin highlighted the immense challenges facing Gaza, noting that reconstruction costs are estimated at $67 billion.
She stressed that rebuilding cannot proceed without security: “You cannot embark on reconstruction if there is no security.”
On justice, she underscored the need for accountability: “Any perpetrators of violence, any violators of international law should be held to account, regardless of who they are.”
Displacement concerns
BOTH officials also tackled rumors about an organization named Al-Majd Europe, allegedly behind the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to Southeast Asia.
Shahin confirmed that the Palestinian Authority is investigating, describing the group’s actions as “a displacement and part of an ethnic transfer process.”
She thinks that Israel must be involved, since “nobody can leave Gaza without special arrangements with the Israeli side.”
Lazaro categorically denied claims that displaced Palestinians would be flown to the Philippines: “That is not true. We can categorically say it is not true.”
She clarified that any decision on refugee acceptance would require consultations with multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Immigration.
ASEAN Chairship and regional role
LOOKING ahead, Lazaro announced that the Philippines will assume the Asean Chairship next year, noting that bloc has consistently supported the two-state solution.
She added she “would not be surprised” if Asean issues another statement on Palestine under the Philippines’ leadership. Northern.
Continued from A4 Palestine. . .
R. Chungalao, Kalinga Rep. Caroline B. Agyao and Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Y. Dalog Jr. as members.
Party-list reps from the North also signed the manifesto, including Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching B. Bernos, PHhilreca Party-list Rep. Presley De Jesus, ABONO Party-list Rep. Robert Raymund M. Estrella, United Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Milagros A. Magsaysay, FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe, Ako Ilokano Party-list Rep. Richelle Singson, KM Ngayon Na Party-list Rep. Kenneth Paolo Tereng, ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo, and LPGMA Party-list Rep. Allan U. Ty.
businessmirror.lifestyle@gmail.com
Steam unveils machine to compete in console wars
By Patrick Villanueva
Review: Huawei Watch Fit 4
BEFORE the Huawei Watch Fit 4, I have used a Garmin smartwatch for almost three years without any problems. I won the Huawei Watch Fit 4 in a raffle and initially wanted to give it away but changed my mind because I wanted to try something affordable than the Garmin watch.
For reference, I use smartwatches to keep track of my pulse rate and other health and fitness milestones, including the number of steps I take everyday. I also like wearing a smartwatch because it reminds me when I’ve been standing or sitting too long and need to move.
At 27g (I think it’s 35g with the watch strap) with a thickness of 9.5mm, the Huawei Watch
Fit 4 is priced at around P6,500. It comes in a box with its own charger, which is the magnetic type. The one I got has a black fluoroelastomer bracelet. Fluoroelastomer is a special-purpose fluorocarbonbased synthetic rubber. I love how in the weeks that I have used the watch, I have never gotten a rash or any irritation from the bracelet.
The design, I am not going to lie, is very similar to the Apple Watch, but unique at the same time
The Huawei Watch Fit 4 runs on Huawei’s HarmonyOS 5.1. The user experience is generally smooth, navigation is intuitive, access to notifications is user-friendly, and the health metrics are comprehensive.
The Huawei Watch Fit 4 has a highly responsive 1.82-inch, 480 x 408 resolution AMOLED touchscreen. The key upgrade from the Fit 3 is brightness, which has been boosted from 1,500 to a peak of 2,000 nits. The screen doesn’t have the same sapphire crystal glass protection as the Watch Fit 4 Pro, but the Gorilla Glass, which is on many of the smartphones that we use, is enough protection. I have had no issues with the screen nor the display although I wish it would be slightly more responsive. By the way, while writing this review, I learned that you can now create watch faces using AI stickers so that would be something nice to explore.
True to its name, the Huawei Watch Fit 4’s strength is in fitness. The 24/7 monitoring will give you a broad picture of your vital signs and there are regular nudges for you to move or workout. The smartwatch also introduces ECG functionality, which is very helpful. There is also a health community feature that lets you link other accounts to yours. So you can, for example, link your parents or kids and get updates on their wellbeing.
Because the Huawei Watch Fit 4 is very light, you can wear it 24/7 and enjoy the detailed insights provided by sleep tracking. You will be informed how many hours you’ve slept and how many times you got up during the night.
Notifications for calls are clear. I have message notifications muted but I assume they come through instantly, too. You can also use the phone to manage your music playlist and make quick payments using e-wallet platforms. You can also type actual messages on your watch and take screenshots (something I have not mastered).
One more thing I like about the Huawei Watch Fit 4 is the 10-day battery life. This is a feature that’s good for travel because who wants to bring a smartwatch charger when you travel, right?
Overall, the Huawei Watch Fit 4 is a good affordable option over more expensive smart watches. If you want more features, there is a Pro version.
OPPO, DOT forge milestone collaboration to showcase beauty of PHL
LEADING global smart device brand OPPO and the Department of Tourism (DOT) have officially sealed a landmark partnership to strengthen the local tourism industry by showcasing scenic Philippine destinations through the lens of OPPO’s most innovative and cutting-edge smartphone technologies.
Under the banner “OPPO Loves The Philippines,” the collaboration reflects a shared vision to inspire the world to discover countless reasons to Love the Philippines through stunning, authentic, and AIempowered visual storytelling.
It aims to highlight the country’s diverse and often unexplored destinations—including lessknown freshwater and underwater attractions— through captivating imagery and user-generated content across digital platforms.
“OPPO Philippines believes technology should serve people and strengthen communities.
By Rizal Raoul Reyes
A LEADING provider of Virtual Office and business services in the Philippines, Voffice is not only focusing on coworking services but also virtual office and service offices. “On top of that is the business solutions because a lot of our clients’ experience is not knowing where to go for help to get their business going,” Aldrin Enrile, general manager of VOffice Philippines told Businessmirror in a recent interview in their Ortigas branch.
“When we started 13 years ago, we were one of the few early players. In fact, I think we were only three in the business then, and the other two were, I
This landmark partnership with the Department of Tourism allows us to fulfill our desire to uplift lives. We are here to help more people see the Philippines the way Filipinos do,” said Joanarc Sales, associate marketing director of OPPO Philippines.
The partnership will leverage OPPO’s creator community and content production expertise through targeted skill-building initiatives for the DOT network—equipping tourism teams with both the tools and knowledge to champion tourism as a digital movement that celebrates the country.
“The ceremonial signing between the Department of Tourism and OPPO honors and symbolizes our united commitment to pursue tourism advocacies that ultimately contribute to nation-building. This partnership is anchored on the DOT’s advocacies of sustainability, responsible tourism, inclusiveness in our tourism promotion and development, and effective communications,” said
would say, the grandparents of the industry.
A virtual office gives businesses a physical address and office-related services without the overhead of a long lease and administrative staff. With a virtual office, employees can work from anywhere but still have things like a mailing address, phone answering services, meeting rooms, and videoconferencing. Right now, Enrile said VOffice is leading in terms of virtual offices, providing various services such as company incorporation services, accounting, and legal services. It has legal partners to ensure it can provide actual legal consultation if a client requires services it needs. “Anything
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
As part of this initiative, OPPO will equip the DOT’s Tourist Rest Areas with advanced technologies to enhance convenience, safety, and the overall traveler experience. Tourism Information Desks will become one-stop hubs offering realtime updates and assistance through OPPO’s IoT solutions, while Hop-On Hop-Off Tours will benefit from smarter, more seamless mobility innovations powered by OPPO’s smart ecosystem.
For OPPO, the partnership reinforces its broader commitment to nation-building and cultural appreciation. By enabling local content creators, tourism workers, and communities to produce compelling digital narratives, OPPO aims to spark renewed pride in the Philippines’ rich natural and cultural heritage.
More information can be found at www.oppo. com/ph/, or OPPO Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
It is a
machine, capable of performing 6x better than a Steam Deck. More than that, even though it hosts SteamOS, it is customizable so users can put their preferred operating system (OS), be it Windows, Linux, or macOS. It can also play games on 4K with 60 frames-per-second. It comes in 512GB and 2TB storage, all expandable with memory cards. It is also optimized for streaming.
Next, the Steam Controller Puck is a plug-andplay controller that works seamlessly with Steam. It boasts next-generation thumbsticks (using TMR technology for better reliability and feel), high definition rumble (powerful motors for haptics), and grip-enabled gyro (for better aim). It also has a trackpad, motion control, and Steam button. You can seamlessly connect to all Steam machineries using the Steam Controller.
Lastly, the Steam Frame is similar to a VR headset in that it is a goggle which you can see games within. But its unique selling point is that the Steam Frame is also actually a PC, capable of running verified Steam games in their library as a stand-alone gear, running on SteamOS. It also supports live streaming. Steam Frame also has a developer kit so game developers can create games optimized for the tech.
Will this new tech from Steam surpass the two giants in the console wars? Hard to say because according to an article by Digital Foundry, a tech reviewer who got a first-hand demonstration of the Steam Machine: while they were impressed with it, the spec sheet leaves the battle between the Xbox Series S and the standard PlayStation 5, leaning closer to PS5 with a few caveats.
While it is not bad, he reported that the problem lies within Steam Machine’s graphics processing unit (GPU) as it lags behind its competitors. Additionally, it only has a VRAM of 8GB compared to Xbox and PS5’s 10GB and 16GB RAM allocation.
However, with many people constantly frustrated with the latest decisions made by both companies behind the dominant consoles in terms of pricing, modeling, and experience, Steam’s great impression in the community, with many dubbing it as a “good monopoly” due to its superb service, wide range of games, and affordable pricing compared to its competitors, puts it on top of the list. Its only caution remains to be the hardware’s pricing as Valve has yet to release its pricing, with many speculating it to be around $600 to $1200.
Still, with it coming out next year, we should learn more about it in the next few weeks or months. If you want to learn more about the tech, you can visit https:// store.steampowered.com/sale/hardware
Bound for the Badlands: Philippine champions head to the Predator League Finals in India
N
Iand
and extinction.
As the Asia Pacific Predator League 2026 approaches, that same spirit of relentless pursuit echoes through the journey of the Philippine champions who fought their way through a packed SM North Edsa Annex and now prepare to face the region’s fiercest competitors in New Delhi, India. Like Dek, these homegrown squads understand that the greatest battles often happen far from home, in landscapes that demand focus, precision, and a willingness to outthink and outlast the competition.
The Philippine qualifiers, held over two electrifying days last weekend, set the tone for this ascent. The local stage was a crucible of talent, community energy, and tactical brilliance. Fans crowded the venue, their cheers reverberating through as the nation’s most formidable e-sports teams clashed for the right to step into the international arena.
Day 1 belonged to Dota 2, a battleground defined by veteran instincts and razor-sharp decision-making, while Day 2 marked a double milestone: the introduction of League of Legends to the Predator League and a high-caliber VALORANT showdown that showcased the evolution of the Philippine FPS scene.
Emerging from this gauntlet were Kukuys, Team Nemesis, Oasis Gaming, and NAOS Esports, each earning their place through resilience, skill, and a hunger for something greater.
Among them, Kukuys carved the most dramatic story of the tournament. Their ascent was not the slow burn of a team gradually piecing its run together; it was a fierce reversal powered by unorthodox ideas and unshakeable confidence. Their finals opponent, Execration, carried the weight of being reigning champions. With seasoned players like Justine “Tino” Grimaldo and Bryle “cml” Alvizo anchoring the roster, Execration opened the series with brutal efficiency. Mark “Bob” Urbina’s flawless Slardar performance established immediate dominance, and Game 2 seemed to continue the narrative of control as Execration leveraged superior drafting and lane pressure to secure another win, even with a risky fountain dive along the way.
Down 0–2, most teams would have cracked—but Kukuys decided the hunt was far from over. Charles “lewis” Santos stepped into the spotlight with a pivotal Ursa showing, supported by Djardel “DJ” Mampusti’s expertly played Hoodwink that kept the team alive during a grueling 45-minute slugfest. It was in this moment that the tide began to turn. Captain Carlo “Kuku” Palad, famously comfortable in strange and unpredictable drafting territory, turned to two surprising carry choices—Batrider and Bristleback—to challenge Execration’s momentum. These unconventional picks blindsided their opponents and opened
the path for Kukuys to execute one of the tournament’s most compelling reverse sweeps. As the final Ancient fell, the new champions raised the Predator Shield to the roar of an ecstatic crowd, proof that innovation and composure under pressure can overturn even the steepest deficits.
Team Nemesis, meanwhile, earned the country’s final Dota 2 slot for India in the battle for third place, which carried as much weight as the championship match. Their opponents, Interactive Philippines, entered with youthful energy and a desire to prove themselves. Yet the presence of Marc Polo “Raven” Fausto—whose years of international experience have forged him into one of the Philippines’ most dependable carries—proved decisive. With consistent control and disciplined teamplay, Nemesis outmaneuvered their opponents and secured their place on the international stage. Their win completed the trio of Philippine Dota 2 representatives heading to New Delhi: the unpredictable brilliance of Kukuys, the hardened resolve of Execration, and the steady lethal precision of Team Nemesis.
The story on the VALORANT side had a similar intensity, shaped by Oasis Gaming’s determination to reaffirm its status as one of the country’s most formidable FPS teams. Their match against Xipto Esports unfolded like a series of tactical pivots and emotional swings. On Sunset, Mark “Marky” Tuling set the tone with a commanding Yoru performance that immediately placed Oasis in the driver’s seat. Abyss amplified this momentum as Jon Michael “tesseract” Piga’s clinical Sova play dismantled Xipto’s rhythm. But Game 3 shifted the narrative when John Timothy “JA” Arone erupted with 31 frags on Corrode, forcing Oasis to regroup. The recovery came on Bind, where Jhian “Zeus” Dela Vega—one of the country’s most feared Raze players—powered the final
push that overwhelmed Xipto’s defenses. Oasis eventually claimed the Predator Shield and the P200,000 prize, a victory that secured their seat among the region’s best at the Grand Finals.
Adding to the historic nature of this year’s tournament, League of Legends made its maiden appearance, with NAOS Esports asserting dominance over West Point Esports—Academy. Their victory marks a new frontier for the local scene, which continues to expand across genres and titles. Although LoL is only beginning its Predator League journey in the Philippines, NAOS now carries the distinction of being the first squad to represent the country in this title under the Predator League banner.
As all these victories converge, the narrative shifts toward India—the next battlefield, the foreign terrain where everything familiar becomes uncertain. New Delhi becomes the Genna of Predator: Badlands, a landscape filled with rivals that have sharpened their blades in their own local hunts.
Teams from Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and emerging South Asian esports scenes will arrive with their own stories, their own scars, and their own reasons to fight. On that stage, there will be no home-court advantage, no familiar sound of local cheers, and no guarantee that strategies forged in the Philippines will hold up against the changing tides of APAC competition.
Yet this is exactly the kind of trial that tempers champions. Much like Dek’s journey across treacherous terrain, each Filipino team enters the APAC Predator League not only to survive but to prove that their victories at home were not luck or circumstance, but the result of skill honed through countless battles. In India, they will encounter contrasting playstyles, unconventional
drafts, and players whose reputations have been built beyond the borders of their home regions. The challenge will not simply be mechanical skill—it will be adaptation, endurance, resilience, and the courage to make bold calls when the pressure peaks.
This year’s Philippine delegation embodies a compelling spectrum of the country’s esports identity. Kukuys carries the rebellious, unpredictable spirit that thrives under pressure. Team Nemesis brings maturity and tempered discipline to the field. Execration, though defeated locally, remains a symbol of veteran grit that has survived through generations of Philippine Dota. Oasis Gaming approaches the international arena with controlled aggression and tactical intelligence, while NAOS Esports enters as the pioneering force of a new Predator League title. Collectively, they reflect a truth long known to Filipino esports fans: when the stakes rise and the battlefield expands, Filipino competitors often find a way to punch above their weight.
As the APAC Predator League 2026 Grand Finals draw closer, the hunt becomes the defining metaphor of this journey. These athletes are not tourists visiting India; they are hunters entering rival territory. They carry the legacy of a passionate esports nation on their shoulders, and whether they return victorious or not, their willingness to step into the Badlands marks them as contenders worth watching.
And so, as the countdown to New Delhi continues, one truth becomes clear. In the realm of esports, just as in Predator: Badlands, greatness is not given. It is taken—claimed through perseverance, instinct, courage, and the relentless desire to hunt for something bigger than yourself. The Philippines has earned its place in this year’s grand finals. Now, it enters the Badlands to prove why it belongs there.
Saturday, November 22, 2025
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Time BusinessMirror Our
Study: Gray hair linked to body’s anti-cancer defense mechanism
Gene Hackman tragedy highlights elder care crisis in aging America
By Kahli Zietlow
GBy Ramon Monsalve Jr.
RAY hair may be more than just a sign of aging as it could reflect the body’s natural defense mechanism against cancer, according to new research from the University of Tokyo.
A study published in Nature Cell Biology revealed that white hair results from damaged stem cells in hair follicles that self-eliminate to prevent the development of melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
Researchers led by Emi Nishimura and Yasuaki Mohri analyzed stem cells responsible for producing melanocytes—the pigment cells that give color to hair and skin.
They discovered that when these stem cells suffer serious DNA dam-
age, they stop renewing themselves and self-destruct, preventing the damaged cells from dividing and spreading potentially cancerous mutations. This process leads to gray or white hair.
The process is driven by the activation of key signaling molecules that trigger cell self-elimination.
However, under exposure to certain carcinogens, such as ultraviolet B radiation, the same stem cells may continue to renew and proliferate.
While researchers emphasize that gray or white hair does not directly protect against cancer, the study provides new insights into how the body’s defense systems balance between cell death and uncontrolled growth.
“These findings reveal that the same population of stem cells can
Bachelor of Science in Garbology?
ACOLLEGE degree in Garbology will most likely repel parents.
It not only stinks, since it has the smell of trash, but it’s also not the kind of educational attainment a son or daughter will take pride in.
You may laugh all you want but a B.S. degree in Garbology could land your son or daughter a good slot in the profitable Waste and Recycling Industry, a job that can command a monthly pay scale ranging from $40,000 to $100,000 a year in the US.
It could be any of these job titles: Waste Management Specialist, Environmental Engineer, Waste Treatment Plant Operator, or Recycling Coordinator. If you’ve never heard of these uncommon job titles, you’ll soon be hearing them more and more as the world transitions to the new Green Economy.
First, what is Garbology anyway?
Simply stated, Garbology involves the scientific study of what to do with our human trash and waste. Garbology graduates will play a vital role in finding better ways not just to manage our waste, but to stop the creation of it in the first place. The ultimate goal is not to study waste per se but to make zero waste. Imagine your son inventing new and revolutionary ideas for upcycling discards, such as, for example, fruit and vegetable peelings, used plastic toys, computer parts, batteries, and other throwaways. Envision your daughter working in a lab growing a type of bac-
teria that eats styrofoam or plastics.
Think of the positive impact. If we have enough garbologists, we will prevent tons and tons of garbage from reaching our designated landfills, many of which are now reaching their full capacities. It’s not just plastics but textile and metal waste. Not to mention food and chemical wastes.
The garbologist will be at the center of the waste and recycling in dustry that operates on an enormous scale, touching nearly every sector of the economy. Because of that scope, the job and career options in this grow ing industry are unusually diverse, with real opportuni ties to build a career, whether you stay on the operational side or move into management over time.
needed in the Green Economy. Global demand for workers with green knowhow rose by 11.6 percent over the last year, whereas the supply of such workers only rose by 5.6 percent.
What is alarming is that we are not producing skilled green workers fast enough to enable a full-speed transition to a green economy. If the world doesn’t start educating and training enough manpower in big numbers, it is estimated that by 2050, the target year for achieving universal zero carbon, roughly half of jobs in the green economy will lack qualified workers.
This is why degrees related to environmental protection like Garbology are no laughing matter.
Our national leadership must wake up. It should take immediate steps not only to make the teaching of climate education urgent and imperative at all levels, it must also make the offering of new specialized green courses mandatory in our current college education system at the soonest possible time.
This is all good to know, but... but. Where can one enroll for such a course? No college or university offers a 4-year degree in Garbology. In its single-minded focus on more “appealing” courses to corner as many paying students as possible, our college educational system has been caught napping as businesses have been shifting to economic circular models of production and disposal of materials.
The truth is garbologists are just one of the group of specialists now urgently
To address this green demand, traditional courses must be recalibrated, repurposed or reinvented to make them responsive to the needs of green manufacturing practices and building codes.
Architecture will need to shift to green architecture. Engineering will need to become oriented to the needs of the circular economy in which production and manufacturing will be geared to achieving zero waste. Even accounting and business management courses will need to integrate environmental and social costs and benefits into traditional financial reporting.
But more importantly, new courses in special ecology related fields will have to be designed, and new curricula will have to be developed.
Garbology should be among the first green courses offered in college. Why?
Because humankind must prioritize
follow opposing fates (exhaustion or expansion) depending on the type of stress and microenvironmental signals,” Nishimura said in a statement.
“This redefines hair graying and melanoma not as unrelated events, but as divergent outcomes of stem cell responses to stress.” Anadolu/PNA
preventing the Earth from becoming a wasteland.
To make it palatable to parents and prospective students, let’s give Garbology a more appealing name: Skupidiology, derived from “skupidia,” the Greek word for garbage or rubbish. Whatever name you call it, the scientific study of garbage is where we should start. It is a game changer, the ideal gateway for new green courses in college.
Happily, most young people are now eco-aware, especially the college educated Gen Zees. In one recent survey, they rightly see the worsening climate crisis as a threat to human existence. More than half of them (61 percent) want to work in a green job in the next five years.
But beyond the demand and the attractive pay, one compelling reason for young people to pursue a green course in college is to take an active part in the universal mission to rescue our future.
Whether you like a hands-on approach or prefer working at a desk, you can choose a green career path based on the environmental impact you wish to make. Whether you’re a student of garbology, renewable energy, environmental engineering, wildlife biology or meteorology, consider yourself arrayed with tomorrow’s green heroes.
As it stands now, life on earth hangs in the balance. We can’t afford to dilly-dally. So, parents, universities, industries, government, let’s get our act together to provide an army of green-educated human power for our planet’s survival.
Let’s heed the call of Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG: “We have to skill-up Generation Z now, starting with the teaching of climate education in all schools globally. It doesn’t matter what motivates us to do this, be it giving them job security, growing industry or saving the planet, pick your reason – but we should be doing it regardless.”
Garbology degree for your son or daughter? By all means, yes! It’s the best investment you can make as a parent, not only for your child’s future, but the world’s as well.
After 100 years, soldiers’ messages found in a bottle
By Rod Mcguirk | The Associated Press
far, with the exception of one meal which we buried at sea.”
The ship was “heaving and rolling, but we are as happy as Larry,” Neville wrote, using a now faded Australian colloquialism meaning very happy.
Neville wrote that he and his comrades were, “Somewhere at Sea.” Harley wrote that they were, “Somewhere in the Bight,” referring to the Great Australian Bight. That’s an enormous open bay that begins east of Adelaide and extends to Esperance on the western edge.
HOLLYWOOD legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in February 2025. Hackman had been living with Alzheimer’s and depended on Arakawa as his full-time caregiver.
Disturbingly, postmortem data suggests that Arakawa died of complications from pulmonary Hantavirus several days before her husband passed. The discordant times of death point to a grim scenario: Hackman was left alone and helpless, trapped in his home after his wife’s death.
The couple’s story, while shocking, is not unique. It serves as a warning for our rapidly aging society. The US population is aging, but most Americans are not adequately planning to meet the needs of older adulthood.
As a geriatric physician and medical educator, I care for older adults in both inpatient and outpatient settings. My research and clinical work focus on dementia and surrogate decision-making.
In my experience, regardless of race, education or socioeconomic status, there are some universal challenges that all people face with aging and there are steps everyone can take to prepare.
Aging is inevitable but unpredictable
AGING is an unpredictable, highly individualized process that varies depending on a person’s genetics, medical history, cognitive status and socioeconomic factors.
The majority of older Americans report a strong sense of purpose and selfworth. Many maintain a positive view of their overall health well into their 70s and 80s.
But at some point, the body starts to slow down. Older adults experience gradual sensory impairment, loss of muscle mass and changes in their memory. Chronic diseases are more likely with advancing age.
According to the US Census Bureau, 46% of adults over age 75 live with at least one physical disability, and this proportion grows with age. Even those without major health issues may find that routine tasks like yard work, housekeeping and home repairs become insurmountable as they enter their 80s and 90s.
Some may find that subtle changes in memory make it difficult to manage household finances or keep track of their medications. Others may find that vision loss and slowed reaction time make it harder to safely drive. Still others may struggle with basic activities needed to live independently, such as bathing or using a toilet. All of these changes threaten older adults’ ability to remain independent.
The costs of aging
NEARLY 70 percent of older Americans will require long-term care in their lifetime, whether through paid, in-home help or residence in an assisted living facility or nursing home.
But long-term care is expensive. In 2021, the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program reported that the average hourly rate for in-home care was $27. An assisted living apartment averaged $4,800 per month, and a nursing home bed cost nearly double that, at a rate of $276 per day.
Many Americans may be shocked to discover that these costs are not covered by Medicare or other traditional medical insurance. Long-term care insurance covers the cost of long-term care, such as in-home care or nursing home placement. However, what is covered varies from plan to plan. Currently, only a small minority of Americans have long-term care insurance due to high premiums and complex activation rules.
I am not aware of any high-quality, peer-reviewed studies that have demonstrated the cost effectiveness of long-term care insurance. Yet, for many Americans, paying for care out of pocket is simply not an option. Medicaid can provide financial support for long-term care but only for older adults with very low income and minimal assets—criteria most Americans don’t meet until they have nearly exhausted their savings.
Those receiving Medicaid to cover the costs of long-term care have essentially
no funds for anything other than medical care, room and board. And proposed federal financial cuts may further erode the limited support services available. In Michigan, for example, Medicaidcovered nursing home residents keep only $60 per month for personal needs. If individuals receive monthly income greater than $60—for instance, from Social Security or a pension—the extra money would go toward the cost of nursing home care.
Those who don’t qualify for Medicaid or cannot afford private care often rely on family and friends for unpaid assistance, but not everyone has such support systems.
Planning for the care you want
BEYOND financial planning, older adults can make an advance directive. This is a set of legal documents that outlines preferences for medical care and asset management if a person becomes incapacitated. However, only about 25 percent of Americans over 50 have completed such documentation. Without medical and financial powers of attorney in place, state laws determine who makes critical decisions, which may or may not align with a person’s wishes. For instance, an estranged child may have more legal authority over an incapacitated parent than their longterm but unmarried partner. Seniors without clear advocates risk being placed under court-appointed guardianship—a restrictive and often irreversible process. In addition to completing advance directives, it is important that older adults talk about their wishes with their loved ones. Conversations about disability, serious illness and loss of independence can be difficult, but these discussions allow your loved ones to advocate for you in the event of a health crisis.
Who’s going to care for you?
FINDING a caregiver is an important step in making arrangements for aging. If you are planning to rely on family or friends for some care, it helps to discuss this with them ahead of time and to have contingency plans in place. As the Hackman case demonstrates, if a caregiver is suddenly incapacitated, the older adult may be left in immediate danger.
Caregivers experience higher rates of stress, depression and physical illness compared with their peers. This is often exacerbated by financial strain and a lack of support. It helps if the people you will be relying on have expectations in place about their role.
For instance, some people may prefer placement in a facility rather than relying on a loved one if they can no longer use the bathroom independently. Others may wish to remain in their homes as long as this is a feasible option.
Connecting with available resources THERE are local and federal initiatives designed to help aging adults find and get the help they need. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently launched the GUIDE Model to improve care and quality of life for both those suffering from dementia and their caregivers.
This program connects caregivers with local resources and provides a 24-hour support line for crises. While GUIDE, which stands for Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience, is currently in the pilot stage, it is slowly expanding, and I am hopeful that it will eventually expand to provide enhanced coverage for those suffering from dementia nationwide.
The Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly helps dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid recipients remain at home as they age. This program provides comprehensive services including medical care, a day center and home health services.
Area agencies on aging are regionally located and can connect older adults with local resources, based on availability and income, such as meals, transportation and home modifications that help maintain independence. Reprinted from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Kahli Zietlow is a
A NEW study revealed that white hair results from damaged stem cells in hair follicles that selfeliminate to prevent the development of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. ANADOLU PHOTO
Editor: Mike Policarpio
Education Dept. assures recovery & learning continuity after Tino, Uwan
THE Department of Education (DepEd) has pledged to fasttrack recovery and ensure learning continuity in public schools affected by the recent supertyphoons.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said the agency is prioritizing the welfare of learners, teachers and nonteaching staff as it addresses the damage caused by the twin typhoons, which affected at least 312 public schools nationwide. Angara said in a statement that it has been tough lately for teachers, parents, and learners because of Supertyphoon “Uwan” (international name: Fung-wong) and Typhoon “Tino” (Kalmaegi).
In Filipino, he said “DepEd empathizes with fellow Filipinos, and assures them of being one in every step of recovery, and the revival of hope in every classroom.”
According to the secretary, the agency needs at least P57.9 million in funds for minor repairs and another P20.2 million for cleanup and clearing operations to restore damaged facilities. Meanwhile, the DepEd chief ordered the implementation of Alternative Delivery Modes (ADMs) to prevent learning disruption, particularly in closed schools due to the effects of natural calamities. Funds have already been downloaded to the regional offices to provide learning packets
and lesson guides under the ADM and Dynamic Learning Program.
As of 12 p.m. of November 10, 1,182 classrooms were reported to have sustained minor damages, 366 classrooms incurred major ones, while 261 classrooms were totally destroyed, according to the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service.
The Bicol, Calabarzon and Cordillera Administrative Regions logged the highest numbers of affected classrooms, predominantly due to “Uwan.”
To date, 5,572 classrooms in 1,072 schools in the country are being used as evacuation centers.
Stephanie Sevillano/PNA
Swiss-based firms unlock possibilities for young learners in ‘Day of the Future’
photos
Story &
by Mike Policarpio
IT was quite a sight to behold:
Wide-eyed junior high-school students (JHS) lined up, ready to start their day, and being ushered by their class advisors.
Rather than going upstairs to attend their classes, they boarded elevators that whisked them 18 floors up into an office inside the Seven/NEO high-rise at the heart of Bonifacio Global City. Instead of converging inside the four walls of a classroom and staring at a whiteboard, a big LED screen inside a huge hall welcomed them.
A usual field trip it was not— this was the “Day of the Future” for Grade 7 students of Sen. Renato “Compañero” Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School, with global private markets firm Partners Group (PG) as their host in their Manila Headquarters. The activity on November 12 was jointly organized by the Embassy of Switzerland, as the European country brought here its national tradition of children coming to offices, seeing their parents at work, and appreciating their moms’ and dads’ efforts in making a living. Without their folks and guardians that time around, personnel from PG-Manila warmly greeted them. They served as the students’ “ates” and “kuyas” for the day and gave an orientation on things to expect during their very own Day of the Future.
Members of the firm’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) team led by Aileen Godinez welcomed the students from the school’s 7-Einstein class. They were the latest batch to join since PG participated in the initiative in recent years.
In addition, she shared that PG-Manila also takes active part in the Department of Education’s
Brigada Eskwela efforts, where the financial firm’s employees contribute their time and effort to prepare classrooms before the start of a new school year.
Annual engagement
“EVERY year, we’ve managed to also reach out to several schools within Taguig City to join the activity,” confirmed Godinez. “We want to not only take care of our clients, but we also want to be part of helping out our community.”
PG-Manila prepared well for their 2025 DOF, as they converted their conference rooms and cubicles into learning booths for the young pupils. For about half of the day, team members of various departments transitioned from being employees to educators who shared subject-matter expertise with their early teenage guests. They ensured that the youngsters understood the basics of their various work assignments: from Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance, Compliance, and their industry-specific work units such as Client Content Solutions, Fund Cash Operations, Fee Operations, Investment Valuations, Structuring Solutions, and Fund Operations.
The students were offered minilectures, role-playing games, and work simulations that gave them ideas of the corporate setting they might potentially get into when they enter the labor force, a modern office ecosystem when they eventually trade their armchairs into workdesks, and immersing themselves in a professional culture where teamwork and collaboration are of a higher level.
In her remarks, PG Manila Office Head Neva Santos said that in Switzerland, every second Thursday of November is “Bring Your Kid To Work Day,” or more formally, the Day of the Future, when parents bring their children to their offices and allow them to see their folks in action. “As a Swiss company, PG decided to bring this tradition here in the Philippines, in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland. For firms like ours that have opened their doors for this activity, our real intention was to show students potential careers that they can enter in the future.”
Hands-on early on TWELVE-year-old Luis shared that he particularly enjoyed the booths, where he had the opportunity to meet and interact with new people through PG-Manila’s employees. He appreciated their efforts in explaining “the stuff that they do for work,” and the kind of “jobs that they do to fulfill their duties for the company.”
Luis said he initially wanted to be a teacher, but seeing the personnel in action opened his mind for other opportunities, and strongly considered to follow their kind of work, such as in accounting. He was also pleased to learn a thing or two with the booth tours which he said he will use in his Math class.
For 13-year-old Erryn, her DOF experience was “really fun, as I learned a lot of new things, espe -
SM Group school building aids Tarlac school’s leap into integrated education
NTEGRATED schools have become
Ia key component of Philippine education as they provide a seamless path from elementary to high school. By combining multiple grade levels under one roof, these schools help communities accommodate growing student populations and prevent interruptions in learning.
Their role became even more crucial with the rollout of the K-12 program, which allowed students to complete the full cycle of basic education without gaps. Jefmin Elementary School (JES) in Concepcion, Tarlac is in the midst of a metamorphosis that mirrors this. From an elementary school, it is working to become an Integrated School that will carry students seamlessly through kindergarten to junior high school.
Principal Anthonette Lampa of JES said the school is well-positioned for the transition, citing the school’s strong performance on achievement tests as well as its successes in curricular and co-curricular competitions.
But she emphasized that a school building is a critical missing piece: “For the integrated school, we prioritize the classrooms. If we do not have [them], even with approved documents, where will we house the students?”
“The paperwork for that is easy, but securing the classrooms and teachers for our learners is the real challenge,” she explained.
The transition, she said, is for the welfare of the 770 students at JES—one of the largest schools in the Concepcion West District. Moving to an integrated school would allow students to continue their secondary education locally, easing their parents’ concerns about travel and commuting costs.
cially about investments and things related to such” that will serve as foundation for her possible entry into the world of business.
Erryn particularly appreciated learning about the topic, that “it is not just about a lot of numbers, but how ‘chances’ and external elements like events can influence [the investments that] you have placed.”
She expressed her excitement for future DOF participants, as they will “enjoy and learn a lot about their experiences.”
Potentials unlocked
ACCORDING to Santos, the takeaway from the DOF initiative is that “for every learner, there’s a world of possibilities and ideas with what they can do in the future, especially now that they are in JHS, and will be deciding on their college courses in a matter of a few years.”
Rightfully so, with the potential of the years ahead well right in front of them while they peered beyond the glass walls of the Seven/NEO skyscraper, and being high above the bustling streets of BGC along with their lofty hopes for a bright tomorrow… As their immersion at PG-Manila came to a close, Taguig City’s JHS learners have indeed taken their first steps into being work- and future-ready, their eyes more gleaming with wider perspectives, and before them a promising future that became more probable—thanks to the successful rollout by the Swiss Embassy and co-organizers like PG-Manila.
The Day of the Future in the Philippines is sure to gather momentum, as more firms can take cue from the noteworthy effort and create templates for similar runs. No doubt, with similar kinds of impetus, intentions, inputs and initiatives, the futures of more Filipino learners are being secured—one classroom and one school at a time.
A critical piece
THE new school building, jointly built by SM Foundation and SM Prime, has alleviated many of these concerns.
Lampa said three of the four classrooms will be used for the school’s transition, with facilities designed to enhance comfort, motivation, and learning, including individual armchairs, some of which are specifically designed for left-
handed students. For teachers like Tom Pangilinan, who has taught at JES for 29 years, the building is a welcome change: “We sometimes conduct our classes in open areas without proper roofing, which makes heat and discomfort impact the students’ learning experience. It’s hard to maintain classroom discipline when facilities are poor.”
He added that “[teachers have to raise their voices] just to be heard; it gets hot, and the students get sleepy when there are no proper learning facilities. Naturally, if the teacher struggles, the students’ learning is affected, too.”
After the turnover, Pangilinan described the new building as a major step toward resolving the school’s longstanding shortage of classrooms and facilities.
“Many are hoping that this means the completion of our integrated school, so students won’t have to leave the barangay to study because transportation is also a burden,” he added. “SM gave us a really great opportunity. We are grateful to them for helping us meet the needs of our school.”
Accommodating students, ensuring continuous learning TO ensure proper care of the building, three classrooms will be used by Grade 6 students, while they will dedicate one of the rooms—the DigiHub— for digital learning.
“These kids are talented. We always say we’re in a high-tech age, but we don’t have enough computers. Because of the DigiHub, our students can now have handson learning with computers. It’s a huge help for their growth,” Lampa said, noting that the hub will also train students not just in digital literacy, but also for competing in journalism press conferences. The SM Group ensured that the facility is tailored to the needs of the school. It addresses the long-standing challenges, including the lack of comfort rooms and ventilation. Each classroom comes with a comfort room, four electric fans, armchairs made of steel and wood, a whiteboard, and a teacher’s desk, while the building includes a handwashing station.
National University to expand operations
By VG Cabuag
ATIONAL UNIVERSITY, a mem -
Nber of the SM Group, said it is expanding four of its existing campuses in Clark City in Pampanga, Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Fairview in Quezon City and the main campus in Sampaloc, City of Manila to accommodate more students.
The university said there are also plans to build new campuses in Davao, Iloilo, and Urdaneta in Pangasinan.
“Anchored on [our] mission to democratize education, we are expanding where demand and opportunity meet,” NU president Renato Carlos Ermita Jr. said. “Clark, in particular, has shown the fastest student growth in Academic Year 2024-2025 because of its strategic location. These expansions will allow us to serve more students with programs in Engineering, Architecture, Tourism, Psychology, Accountancy and other indemand fields.”
The expansion coincides with NU’s 125th founding anniversary, which will mark another step in its mission of bringing affordable and career-ready learning closer to Filipino communities, according to the university.
Under the expansion, NU Clark will construct a new tower with classrooms and laboratories for additional program offerings.
Meanwhile, NU Mall of Asia will add two more floors to accommodate more classrooms and laboratories, while NU
Fairview will build another tower to cater to its growing student population. The NU Manila main campus, on the other hand, will expand with 24 new classrooms, faculty rooms, a learning resource center and an auditorium. NU currently serves more than 83,000 students across 14 campuses, and aims to reach 100,000 students by 2027. Through its scholarship program in partnership with SM Foundation, NU supports more than 570 full scholars, with plans to double that number this year. The university also remains committed to academic excellence, as it also recently earned a QS 3 Stars overall rating—including 5 stars in employability, highlighting its strong academic and career outcomes.
Since 2008, NU has become an integral part of the SM Group’s broader effort to make education within reach of more Filipinos. By situating campuses within SM developments, NU creates safe, convenient, and connected environments that allow students to balance learning with daily life.
“Being within SM complexes gives our students immediate access to essential services like public transport, bookstores, and dining areas,” Ermita said. “These shared spaces evolve into vibrant learning communities where education and everyday experiences intersect.” Founded in 1900, NU is one of the Philippines’ leading private universities offering accessible, quality and industryaligned education.
PHOTO of a damaged classroom in Negros Island Region posted by Secretary Angara on his Facebook account.
STUDENTS from Taguig City prepping up for their ‘Day of the Future.’
the basics of investments and funding
Tourism&Entertainment
BEYOND TOKYO
Kamakura’s coastal charm and framing Fuji in Lake Kawaguchi
TOKYO
is a fascinating city.
It’s simultaneously old and new. Skyscrapers, neon-lit streets and alleys, commercial enters and all the hustle and bustle of a megacity mingle with centuries old temples and historic buildings. The Japanese capital is often atop must-visit lists.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: No surprise Tokyo won big at recently concluded TOURISE awards including Best Overall Destination.) However, you might want to escape the concrete jungle even just for a few days. Two such destinations I’d recommend are Kamakura and Lake Kawaguchi. Both offer a sense of history, culture and beautiful views minus the urban sprawl of Tokyo.
Ancient Spirits and Coastal Charm in Kamakura
KAMAKURA is a convenient city to visit either as a day or multi-day trip from Tokyo by train. The scenic views made the time go by quickly and before I knew it I was already in Kamakura. Before the Minamoto clan chose it as its capital in the 12th century, Kamakura was a small and nondescript fishing village. Who would’ve thought that it would not only expand, but also become a political center? The government the clan established ruled over the country for more than a century. They later lost power after the 14th century. Kamakura subsequently lost its status as a political center.
Centuries after, Kamakura has become one of the most famous tourist cities in the country. As I explored the city, I saw vestiges of its glorious past through the temples and historic buildings. I often saw locals and visitors wearing kimonos to blend in with the city’s lost in time atmosphere. One of the main draws of the
city is a giant Buddha statue. You’ll find this 13th century monument in the Kotokuin Temple grounds. It measures around 11.4m high and is one of the tallest Buddha statues in the country. The historic area can get busy with crowds walking about or making their way to hiking trails. However, this didn’t diminish the city’s ambience. The crowds here aren’t the same as in Tokyo. Out of the many temples in Kamakura, I visited Hasedera. The walk up to the temple is quite scenic. Perched on a slope, the temple provides bird’s eye views of the city and the coast. On my way up, I saw
BOOSTING TOURISM CONNECTIVITY
halls, several sculptures and statues of Benten (goddess of wealth and feminine beauty) and Jizo Bodhisattva, and a garden with ponds. Within its ancient walls is a 9.18m high wooden statue of the goddess of mercy, which is one of the reasons tourists visit.
The Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is a Shinto shrine that’s one of the most important in the city. Minamoto Yoriyoshi established it in the 11th century. The walk towards the shrine is part of the experience and sets the tone for its historical importance. You can start from the city’s waterfront through several torii gates up a staircase until you reach the main hall.
You’ll also see ponds, a garden, and a Maiden (stage for performances). The shrine grounds are a popular venue for various cultural events.
After soaking in the history and culture of Kamakura, I went to Enoshima. The latter is a famous island destination. Many Japanese visit the beaches of the island during the summer. However, there’s other attractions to visit if you want to skip the beach. We Filipinos have so many beautiful beaches back home, I’d rather see other places whenever I go abroad. Fortunately, Enoshima has attractions that can fill your itinerary or you can simply relax, unwind and
AirAsia expands Cebu hub with new KL, Macau routes
by Justine Xyrah Garcia
LAPU-LAPU CITY—AirAsia Philippines
has expanded its international network through Cebu with the launch of direct flights to Kuala Lumpur and Macau, strengthening the province’s role as the airline’s newest regional hub and widening access to key tourism markets in Southeast and East Asia.
The carrier now operates 14 weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur and three weekly flights to Macau, a move officials described as central to AirAsia’s long-term connectivity strategy for the Visayas.
AirAsia Philippines CEO and President Capt. Suresh Bangah said Cebu was chosen as a major hub because of its strategic location and strong airport operations.
“We know that Cebu is the second biggest city after Manila. The efficiency of Cebu Airport is really, really great. It’s worldclass,” he said.
He added that AirAsia’s coordination with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has been seamless.
“They are going to work very closely with us… technically, it’s not an airport and airline. It’s a partnership.” AirAsia Chief Commercial Officer Amanda Woo said the new hub is expected to shift passenger flows significantly.
She noted that the airline currently brings in around 500,000 to 600,000 passengers each month across the Philippines. With Cebu now positioned as AirAsia’s
newest major hub, she said arrivals are projected to rise sharply.
“Next year, we’re going to grow...Probably we’re going to double [or] triple the passengers’ arrival into Cebu,” she said.
Woo added that Cebu continues to attract a diverse mix of travelers, reflecting both leisure and business demand.
"Whether they are on budget, whether they are with family, they are all within the community that we are serving today. One good note is we're seeing a lot of young people start to travel with us," she said.
She also pointed to sustained interest from younger tourists.
“We’re seeing a lot of young people start to travel with us… a lot of young backpackers as well.”
MCIA chief executive Athanasios Titonis said the hub expansion sends an important signal as Cebu restores its tourism footing.
“We need that more than ever because we need to send out a positive message to the world,” he said.
He described the launch as “a very important milestone for us on our way to become the main transfer gateway for tourism in Philippines.”
He noted that the inaugural Kuala Lumpur–Cebu service already reflected this trend, with foreign passengers connecting onward to Mindanao.
“On this flight… we have transferred passengers to Davao. If I’m not mistaken, 11,” he said, calling it “a great message” as Cebu strengthens its role in cross-regional travel.
Cebu’s tourism recovery remains closely
tied to improved international access, especially as Central Visayas continues to rebuild from recent disasters.
Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed that the 6.9-magnitude September earthquake affected more than 754,000 individuals and damaged 160,662 houses, while November's Typhoon Tino affected over 871,000 people and damaged 101,959 homes.
‘Cebu remains open’
MEANWHILE, Lapu-Lapu Mayor Cynthia King Chan said that the city and most of Cebu’s tourism circuit remain fully operational despite recent calamities.
She noted that power, water, and airport operations were restored within 24 hours after Typhoon Tino, emphasizing that the city is ready to receive travelers.
“We can assure, we can assure our visitors that we are safe, we can still enjoy what they came for, vacation and work. That's a good thing here that we can, small proximity lang, leisure and work,” she said in an exclusive interview with the BusinessMirror.
She that meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism events proceeded as scheduled and only a few groups opted to rebook.
Department of Tourism Assistant Regional Director Gelena Asis-Dimpas also explained that the disruptions were concentrated in northern Cebu, while central and southern destinations—including Mactan, Moalboal, and Oslob—continue to welcome guests.
“Many of our destinations are safe, continue to be safe,” she told this newspaper.
She noted that more than 300 foreign delegates arrived in Cebu for an international event just days after the storm, underscoring the province’s readiness to host large groups.
“It’s very important to tell our travelers that they could still push through their plans... Many of the destinations are safe for them to visit this time," she added.
P15 per seat to support Cebu communities
AS PART of its rebuilding efforts, AirAsia has also launched a donation program that allocates P15 for every seat sold from November 15 to January 14, 2025 to assist earthquake and typhoon recovery in Cebu.
Woo said the initiative is expected to raise “at least about P18 to P20 million.”
Through the AirAsia Foundation, up to P9 million will be channeled to grassroots partners such as Bike Scouts, a volunteer-driven organization that uses bicycles to reach isolated communities during typhoons, floods, landslides, and other emergencies.
The group provides communications support, access to information, and delivery of essential items in affected areas.
AirAsia officials said the expansion of Cebu’s international routes, combined with targeted recovery support, positions the province for stronger tourism momentum in 2026. Additional routes to Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and Middle Eastern markets are being prepared as part of the next phase of the hub’s development.
experience its coastal vibe. Many visitors go to Enoshima Shrine’s main complex. They pay their respects to the goddess of wealth and the patron of Enoshima, Benten. The Samuel Cocking Garden (named after a British trader) and Sea Candle is a place where you can chill and enjoy the views. If you want to spend time in a spa, you can check out the Enoshima Island Spa. It has hot spring baths and pools. The island has a number of shops and restaurants where you can try local food.
Framing Fuji: The Beauty of Lake Kawaguchi ON one of my trips to Tokyo, I was fortunate enough to get good weather and clear skies. It was the perfect day to see Mt. Fuji from the city. It was quite a sight to see the iconic mountain as the backdrop of Tokyo’s concrete jungle.
I couldn’t get enough of Mt. Fuji so I decided to try my luck with the weather and go to Lake Kawaguchi. The latter is a go-to day trip destination to get spectacular views of
Mt. Fuji and do touristy things like walking along scenic trails, go boating, visit an amusement park, check out a museum, hang out in a cafe or restaurant or just take photos of the mountain. However, despite the lake’s proximity to Fuji, you might still encounter cloudy days that hide Japan’s famous landmark. Fortunately, it was another clear day during my visit. I could already see Fuji’s silhouette from the bus ride, station, and most of the places I went while in Lake Kawaguchi. I wanted a relaxing day out so I just followed the easy trails with views of the mountain. The snow-capped peak of Fuji merged with the clouds that hoovered around or above it. I could imagine why the ancient inhabitants of Japan (Ainu people) worshiped it. It elicits a sense of awe and terror. It’s an active volcano but has not erupted for three centuries. Adventure seekers can conquer its peak from July to September. Ideally, you’d want to visit during cherry blossom season and autumn where a diverse canvas of colors can serve as a foreground for your photos. After walking along an easy lakeside trail, I went to one of the most famous viewpoints in Lake Kawaguchi, the Chureito Pagoda. I climbed hundreds of steps (with multiple stops) to reach the multi-storied pagoda. The reward for the strenuous walk up was picture-perfect views of Mt. Fuji. You’ll most likely find photos of the pagoda and Mt. Fuji online and on various platforms. Despite being touristy, I admit that the view was still picturesque. Golden hour is the ideal time to visit and take pictures. If you have time you can enjoy a hot spring bath, visit a number of museums, and/or take the ropeway up to a panoramic viewpoint. Kamakura and Lake Kawaguchi are welcome retreats from Tokyo’s hectic lifestyle. Both combine history and culture with beautiful views. They’re also convenient places to visit using public transportation. If you have a few days to spare while in Tokyo, consider adding both destinations.
Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan
Story & photos
Story & photos by Joshua Berida
THE inaugural AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur touches down at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Saturday.
THE Great Buddha of Kamakura is one of the most important statues in the city.
The walk up to Chureito Pagoda to see Mt. Fuji is worth it.
EXPERIENCE history while exploring Kamakura.
YOU’LL find a huge wooden statue of the goddess of mercy in Hasedera.
PICTURESQUE lakeside views of Kawaguchiko. YOU’LL get plenty of good views of Mt. Fuji while in Lake Kawaguchi.
MINIATURE statues you’ll see while exploring the city.
November 22, 2025
Trump’s Ukraine peace plan would cede territory to Russia, limit Kyiv’s military
By Illia Novikov, Aamer Madhani & Chris Megerian The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump’s plan for ending the war in Ukraine would cede land to Russia and limit the size of Kyiv’s military, according to a draft obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
The proposal, originating from negotiations between Washington and Moscow, appeared decidedly favorable to Russia, which started the war nearly four years ago by invading its neighbor. If past is prologue, it would seem untenable for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has opposed Trump’s previous calls for territorial concessions.
A side agreement aims to satisfy Ukrainian security concerns by saying a future “significant, deliberate and sustained armed attack” by Russia would be viewed as “threatening the peace and security of the transatlantic community.”
The agreement, which was detailed by a senior US official who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter, does not obligate the United States or European allies to intervene on Ukraine’s behalf, although it says they would “determine the measures necessary to restore security.”
Trump’s push to end the war could drive a wedge between himself and European leaders, who are likely to oppose any agreement that could be seen as rewarding Russian President Vladimir Putin for his aggression, leaving him emboldened rather than defeated.
For example, the proposal would not only bar Ukraine from joining NATO but would also prevent the alliance’s future expansion. Such a step would be a significant victory for Moscow, which views NATO as a threat.
Putin would also gain ground he has been unable to win on the battlefield. Under the draft, Moscow would hold all the eastern Donbas region, even though approximately 14% still remains in Ukrainian hands. Ukraine’s military, currently at roughly 880,000 troops, would be reduced to 600,000.
The proposal opens the door to lifting sanctions on Russia and returning it to what was formerly known as the Group of Eight, which includes many of the world’s biggest economies. Russia was suspended from the annual gathering in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea, a strategically important peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea that is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.
Proposal increases pressure on Zelenskyy
THE US team began drawing up the plan soon after US special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelenskyy, according to a senior administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that Umerov agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelenskyy.
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was also in Kyiv on Thursday and discussed the latest draft with Zelenskyy, according to a senior administration official. Zelenskyy offered a measured statement on social media about it but did not directly speak to the substance of the proposal.
“Our teams—of Ukraine and the United States—will work on the provisions of the plan to end the war. We are ready for constructive, honest and swift work,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has informed the White House he’ll leave his post in January, according to two senior administration officials.
Kellogg was initially named special envoy for Ukraine and Russia during Trump’s presidential transition. But his role shrunk as Witkoff, a real estate developer turned diplomat, emerged as the president’s chief interlocutor with Putin and his advisers.
Trump would oversee compliance with truce UNDER the proposal, Russia would commit to making no future attacks, something the White House views as a concession. In addition, $100 billion in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine. However, handing over territory to Russia would be deeply unpopular in Ukraine. It also would be illegal under Ukraine’s constitution. Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out such a possibility.
Russia would also be allowed to keep half of the power generated by Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia, which it captured from Ukraine early during the war.
The draft calls for a “Peace Council” that Trump will oversee. The council is an idea that Trump snatched from his lengthy peace plan aimed at bringing about a permanent end to war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. If either Ukraine or Russia violated the truce once enacted, it would face sanctions.
US Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., an Air Force veteran, rejected the emerging plan. “Unacceptable,” he posted on social media. “It is a 1938 Munich,” referring to a diplomatic agreement aimed at securing peace with Nazi Germany but widely viewed as paving the way for World War II.
European diplomats urge wider consultations
SECRETARY of State Marco Rubio and Witkoff have been quietly working on the peace plan for a month, receiving input from both Ukrainians and Russians on terms that are acceptable to each side, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, a close adviser to Putin, have been key to drafting the proposal.
As reports about the draft emerged, blindsided European diplomats insisted they and Ukraine must be consulted.
European leaders have already been alarmed this year by indications that Trump’s administration might be sidelining them and Zelenskyy in its push to stop the fighting.
Trump’s at-times conciliatory approach to Putin has fueled those concerns, but Trump adopted a tougher line last month when he announced
Japan-China tensions escalate as Takaichi refuses to back down on Taiwan remarks
By Alastair Gale & Ryotaro Nakamaru
Prime Minister Sanae
APANESE
JTakaichi rebuffed demands from China to retract her recent comments about Taiwan, saying there was no change to Tokyo’s stance on how it would respond to a major regional security crisis.
Takaichi recently became the first sitting Japanese leader in decades to publicly link a Taiwan Strait crisis with the possible deployment of Japanese troops, prompting a furious response and economic retaliation from Beijing. Since then, she has limited herself to the more vague position repeated by recent Japanese prime ministers, and in remarks to reporters on Friday before departing for a G-20 meeting in South Africa she reiterated that stance.
Asked if she planned to retract the comment that infuriated Beijing, she said: “Regarding a situation threatening Japan’s existence, the government will make a comprehensive judgment
based on all available information, taking into account the specific circumstances of each actual situation as it arises.”
“I myself have repeatedly stated this position in my responses. The government’s stance remains consistent,” she added.
The dispute with China has become Takaichi’s first major diplomatic challenge since she became national leader last month. While Chinese officials, state media and diplomats have mounted an intense effort to pressure her to retract her comments, Takaichi and her senior officials have sought to dial down tensions and move beyond the issue.
So far that approach has come up short. Japan should “correct the wrongful remarks and wrongdoings at once, and take practical steps to honor its commitments to China,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Friday.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi will visit military bases
located in the Okinawan islands from Nov. 22 to Nov. 23, the Defense Ministry said in a statement Friday. Koizumi will visit facilities on Yonaguni island, Ishigaki island and Miyako island. At a distance of around 100 kilometers (68 miles), Yonaguni is closer to Taiwan than it is to the Japanese mainland.
In her remarks on Friday, Takaichi said she wanted to continue to try and improve relations after she met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in South Korea last month.
“President Xi and I confirmed the broad direction of comprehensively advancing our strategic and mutually beneficial relationship and building a constructive and stable relationship. There has been no change whatsoever in this stance,” Takaichi said.
China is set to be represented at the G-20 by Premier Li Qiang, but there are no current plans for him to meet with Takaichi.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters on
Wednesday that if Tokyo refuses to retract Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan that angered Beijing, China will take “serious countermeasures.”
China has already responded with a wave of economic measures and threats of further retaliation. It has told tourists not to visit Japan, suspended moves to resume imports of Japanese seafood and halted approvals for new Japanese films. So far, it hasn’t threatened to disrupt the supply of rare earths to Japan.
The dispute was triggered after Takaichi said that if military force were used in a Taiwan crisis, it could be considered a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. That classification would provide a legal justification for Japan to deploy its military to help defend friendly nations.
A meeting between Japanese and Chinese diplomats earlier this week appeared to have done little to soothe tensions, with the Chinese side expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the talks. With assistance from
Philip Glamann/Bloomberg
Editor: Angel R. Calso • www.businessmirror.com.ph
including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join,”
Trump has long pushed for end to war
heavy sanctions on Russia’s vital oil sector that come into force Friday.
“For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board,” European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the start of a meeting in Brussels of the 27-nation bloc’s foreign ministers. She also suggested that the draft would be too favorable toward Moscow.
“We haven’t heard of any concessions on the Russian side,” Kallas said.
German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul said he talked by phone Thursday with Witkoff and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss “our various current efforts to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and thus finally put an end to the immeasurable human suffering.”
Ukraine’s deputy UN Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn told the UN Security Council that Kyiv has officially received Trump’s draft peace plan and is ready “to work constructively,” but she stressed Ukraine’s “red lines.”
“There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian,” she said. “Our land is not for sale.”
“Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty,
IT was not clear whether European foreign ministers had seen the peace plan, which was first reported by Axios.
Although they appeared caught by surprise, some elements of the plan were not new. Trump said last month that the Donbas region should be “cut up,” leaving most of it in Russian hands.
However, the administration’s previous diplomatic efforts this year to stop the fighting have so far come to nothing. A summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska did not result in a breakthrough over the summer, and plans for them to meet again in Budapest, Hungary, did not come to fruition.
Trump frequently complained that the negotiations involving Ukraine were taking longer than other conflicts where he helped mediate.
“I thought that was going to be my easy one because I have a good relationship with President Putin,” he said this week. “But I’m a little disappointed in President Putin right now.”
Novikov reported from Kyiv. Associated Press journalists Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Sam McNeil in Brussels, Samya Kullab in Kyiv and Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed to this report.
Hayovyshyn added.
Saturday, November 22, 2025 A13
Trump administration announces plan for new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts
By Matthew Daly & Matthew Brown
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration announced on Thursday new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts for the first time in decades, advancing a project that critics say could harm coastal communities and ecosystems, as President Donald Trump seeks to expand US oil production.
The oil industry has been seeking access to new offshore areas, including Southern California and off the coast of Florida, as a way to boost US energy security and jobs. The federal government has not allowed drilling in federal waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which includes offshore Florida and part of offshore Alabama, since 1995, because of concerns about oil spills. California has some offshore oil rigs, but there has been no new leasing in federal waters since the mid-1980s.
Since taking office for a second time in January, Trump has systematically reversed former President Joe Biden’s focus on slowing climate change to pursue what the Republican calls U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Trump, who recently called climate change “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” created a National Energy Dominance Council and directed it to move quickly to drive up already record-high U.S. energy production, particularly fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas. Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has blocked renewable energy sources such as offshore wind and canceled billions of dollars in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects across the country.
The drilling proposal drew bipartisan pushback in Florida, where a spokesperson for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said the Trump administration should reconsider and Republican Sen. Rick Scott said the state’s coasts “must remain off the table for oil drilling.” California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, a frequent Trump critic, called the administration’s plan “idiotic.” Tourism and access to clean beaches are key parts of the economy in both states.
Plans to allow drilling off California, Alaska and Florida’s coast
THE administration’s plan proposes six offshore lease sales between 2027 and 2030 in areas along the California coast.
It also calls for new drilling off the Florida coast in the Gulf of Mexico at least 100 miles from shore. Drilling leases would be sold in the newly designated South-Central Gulf region, adjacent to the central Gulf’s thousands of wells and hundreds of drilling platforms.
The new designation distinguishes the targeted area from the Eastern Gulf where drilling is prohibited under a moratorium Trump signed in his first term. Industry representatives said the change was aimed at addressing concerns from Florida officials who oppose drilling near their tourism-friendly coasts.
The five-year plan also would compel more than 20 lease sales off the coast of Alaska, including a newly designated area known as the High Arctic, more than 200 miles offshore in the Arctic Ocean.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in announcing the sales that it would take years for the oil from new leases to get to market.
“By moving forward with the development of a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring that America’s offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come,” Burgum said in a statement.
The American Petroleum Institute called the new plan a “historic step” toward unleashing more offshore resources. Industry groups point to California’s history as an oil-producing state and say it already has infrastructure to support more production.
Opposition from California and Florida
SCOTT, a Trump ally, helped persuade officials in Trump’s first term to drop a similar offshore plan in 2018 when Scott was governor. Scott and Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody introduced legislation this month to maintain the drilling moratorium from Trump’s first term.
Newsom, who often touts the state’s status as a global climate leader, said in response to Thursday’s announcement that California would “use every tool at our disposal to protect our coastline.”
California has been a leader in restricting offshore drilling since an infamous 1969 Santa Barbara spill helped spark the modern environmental movement. While no new federal leases have been offered since the mid-1980s, drilling from existing platforms continues. Newsom expressed support for greater offshore controls after a 2021 spill off Huntington Beach and has backed a congressional effort to ban new offshore drilling on the West Coast.
A Texas-based company, with support from the Trump administration, is seeking to restart production in waters off Santa Barbara damaged by a 2015 oil spill. The administration has hailed the plan by Houston-based Sable Offshore Corp. as the kind of project Trump wants to increase US energy production. Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term to reverse Biden’s ban on future offshore oil drilling on the East and West coasts. A federal court later struck down Biden’s order to withdraw 625 million acres of federal waters from oil development.
Environmental and economic concerns over oil spills
LAWMAKERS from California and Florida warned new offshore drilling would hurt coastal economies, jeopardize national security, ravage coastal ecosystems, and put the health and safety of millions of people at risk.
“This is not just a little bit offshore drilling. This is the entire California coast, every inch of Alaska, even the eastern Gulf of Mexico,” said California Rep. Jared Huffman. “Basically, everywhere Big Oil has been salivating to drill for decades.” Rep. Jimmy Patronis of Florida led a group of Republican lawmakers who asked Trump in a Thursday letter to withdraw some parcels off the Florida coast from leasing. They warned that oil exploration could interfere with a training area for nearby military airbases. Allowing the parcels to go forward “would have a chilling effect on the military’s ability to test new munitions, including hypersonic and counter drone weaponry,” they wrote.
The state is also still recovering from the environmental and economic havoc caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, which fouled coasts across the Gulf, said Florida Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor.
A Santa Barbara group, the Environmental Defense Center, formed in response to the 1969 California spill, said the plan puts at risk the Santa Barbara Channel off Southern California, an important feeding ground for endangered blue, humpback, and fin whales.
“There is no way to drill for oil without causing devastating impacts,” said Maggie Hall, deputy chief counsel at the advocacy group. “The risk is unacceptable.”
Brown reported from Billings, Mont. With contributions from Associated Press reporters Julie Watson in San Diego, Sophie Austin in Sacramento, Calif., and Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida.
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Wall Street roller coaster: Stocks plunge after brief surge, fueled by AI frenzy and interest rate fears
By Stan Choe AP Business Writer
NEW YORK—Jarring swings keep rocking Wall Street, and US stocks erased a big morning gain to drop on Thursday as the market remains skittish following weeks of doubts and erratic moves.
After initially soaring toward what seemed like its best day since May, with an early surge of 1.9%, the S&P 500 erased all of it and fell 1.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 386 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 2.2%.
The sharpest losses again hit what used to be the market’s biggest winners. Nvidia, cryptocurrencies and other areas that had soared with nearly relentless momentum, as traders feared missing out on more gains, forced the market lower. Bitcoin dropped below $87,000, down from nearly $125,000 last month.
The market had been shaky coming into Thursday, largely because of twin worries: Nvidia and other superstar stocks caught up in
the frenzy around artificial-intelligence technology may have simply shot too high, and the Federal Reserve may be done delivering the invigorating cuts to interest rates that Wall Street loves.
Nvidia initially appeared to tamp down the worries about a bubble for AI stocks after reporting a big profit for the summer, along with a forecast for coming revenue that easily cleared analysts’ expectations. By delivering strong profits and indicating more are coming, Nvidia can justify its stock’s price gains and make it look less expensive. Given Nvidia’s forecasts, “it is very hard to see how this stock does not keep moving higher from here,” according to analysts at UBS led by Timothy Arcuri. They also said “the AI infrastructure tide is
still rising so fast that all boats will be lifted.”
Nvidia jumped to an early gain of 5% but then dropped to a loss of 3.2%. Because it’s the biggest company in the US market by value, Nvidia’s stock has more pull on the S&P 500 than any other company’s.
Despite Nvidia’s big numbers, worries about a potential AI bubble aren’t gone. The concern among investors is that all the dollars pouring into AI chips and data centers may not ultimately produce the big profits and productivity for the economy that proponents have been promising.
Yes, Nvidia expects to sell another $65 billion of chips in the coming three months, which is more than analysts expected. But will all those chips actually create much bigger profits for Amazon and other companies using them? That question—whether all the investment in AI will prove to be worth it in the end—is still unanswered.
The most recent survey of global fund managers by Bank of America showed a record percentage of investors saying companies are “overinvesting.”
Amazon went from an early gain of 2.1% Thursday to a loss of 2.5%.
Palantir Technologies swung from a jump of 5.5% to a loss of 5.8%.
The last time the overall stock
market had swings in one day as wild as Thursday’s was in April, when President Donald Trump shocked the world with his stiff “Liberation Day” tariffs.
For second worry that’s been dogging Wall Street, interest rates, Thursday’s jobs report from the US government came in mixed and offered some relief. Financial markets initially seemed to pick the data apart for encouraging signals, according to Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management.
The report showed hiring by US employers was stronger in September than economists expected, which may suggest the economy
remains solid. But it also said the unemployment rate worsened slightly, which could give the Fed reason to cut its main interest rate at its next meeting in December.
Traders still see a December rate cut as relatively unlikely, giving it a roughly 40% probability, according to data from CME Group. But that’s better than the 30% chance they saw a day earlier.
What the Fed does is critical for the stock market because prices ran to records in part because of expectations for continued cuts to rates. The Fed has already cut rates twice this year to shore up the slowing job market. But lower rates can worsen inflation, which has stubbornly remained above the Fed’s 2% target.
On the winning side of Wall Street was Walmart, which rallied 6.5% after the retailer delivered another standout quarter. It reported strong sales and profits that blew past Wall Street expectations as it continues to lure cashstrapped Americans nervous about the economy and prices. That wasn’t enough to drown out the losses for Nvidia and tech. Companies enmeshed in the crypto industry also tumbled, as bitcoin dropped to its lowest price since April. Robinhood Markets fell 10.1%, and Coinbase Global sank 7.4%. All told, the S&P 500 fell 103.40 points to 6,538.76. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 386.51 to 45,752.26, and the Nasdaq composite sank 486.18 to 22,078.05. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.09% from 4.13% late Wednesday. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 2.6%, and South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.9% for two of the bigger gains. AP Writers Teresa Cerojano and Matt Ott contributed
US employers added solid 119,000 jobs in September, govt says in delayed report
By Paul Wiseman AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON —US employers
added a surprisingly solid 119,000 jobs in September, the government said, issuing a key economic report that had been delayed for seven weeks by the federal government shutdown.
The increase in payrolls was more than double the 50,000 economists had forecast. Yet there were some troubling details in the delayed report.
Labor Department revisions showed that the economy lost 4,000 jobs in August instead of gaining 22,000 as originally reported. Altogether, revisions shaved 33,000 jobs off July and August payrolls. The economy had also shed jobs in June, the first time since the 2020 pandemic that the monthly jobs report has gone negative twice in one year. And more than 87% of the September job gains were concentrated in two industries: healthcare and social assistance and leisure and hospitality.
“We’ve got these strong headline numbers, but when you look underneath
that you’ll see that a lot of that is driven by healthcare,’’ said Cory Stahle, senior economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab. “At the end of the day, the question is: Can you support an economic expansion on the back of one industry? Anybody would have a hard time arguing everybody should become a nurse.’’
The unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in September, highest since October 2021 and up from 4.3% in August, the Labor Department said Thursday. The jobless rate rose partly because 470,000 people entered the labor market—either working or looking for work— in September and not all of them found jobs right away.
The data, though late, was welcomed by businesses, investors, policymakers and the Federal Reserve. During the 43-day shutdown, they’d been groping in the dark for clues about the health of the American job market because federal workers had been furloughed and couldn’t collect the data.
The report comes at a time of considerable uncertainty about the
economy. The job market has been strained by the lingering effects of high interest rates and uncertainty around Trump’s erratic campaign to slap taxes on imports from almost every country on earth. But economic growth at midyear was resilient. Healthcare and social assistance firms added more than 57,000 jobs in September, restaurants and bars 37,000, construction companies 19,000 and retailers almost 14,000. But factories shed 6,000 jobs—the fifth straight monthly drop. The federal government, targeted by Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s DOGE cost cutters, lost 3,000 jobs, the eighth straight monthly decline.
Average hourly wages rose just 0.2% from August and 3.8% from a year earlier, edging closer to the 3.5% year-over-year increase that the Federal Reserve’s inflation fighters like to see.
The latest reading on jobs Thursday makes a rate cut by the Fed officials at their next meeting in December less likely. Many were already leaning against a cut next month, according to minutes of their
October meeting released Wednesday.
Steady hiring suggests the economy doesn’t need lower interest rates to expand.
The September jobs report will be the last one the Fed will see before its Dec. 9-10 meeting. Officials are split between those who see stubbornly high inflation as the main challenge they need to address by keeping rates elevated, and those who are more concerned that hiring is sluggish and needs to be supported by rate reductions.
Hiring has been strained this year by the lingering effects of high interest rates engineered to fight a 2021-2022 spike in inflation and uncertainty around Trump’s campaign to slap taxes on imports from almost every country on earth and on specific products—from copper to foreign films.
Labor Department revisions in September showed that the economy created 911,000 fewer jobs than originally reported in the year that ended in March.
That meant that employers added an average of just 71,000 new jobs a month over that period, not the 147,000 first reported. Since March, job creation has
fallen farther—to an average 59,000 a month.
With September numbers out, businesses, investors, policymakers and the Fed will have to wait awhile to get another good look at the numbers behind the American labor market.
The Labor Department said Wednesday that it won’t release a full jobs report for October because it couldn’t calculate the unemployment rate during the government shutdown.
Instead, it will release some of the October jobs dataincluding the number of jobs that employers created last month— along with the full November jobs report on Dec. 16, a couple of weeks late. The 2025 job market has been marked by an awkward pairing: relatively weak hiring but few layoffs, meaning that Americans who have work mostly enjoy job security—but those who don’t often struggle to find employment.
AP Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber contributed to this report.
TRADER Vincent Napolitono, foreground, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (AP PHOTO/RICHARD DREW)
Respect and remembrance for Cheney from Bush, Biden and past vice presidents as Trump excluded
By Calvin Woodward The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—They gathered at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday—former presidents, vice presidents, sworn political foes and newfound friends—in a show of respect and remembrance for Dick Cheney, the consequential and polarizing vice president who became an acidic scold of President Donald Trump.
Trump, who has been publicly silent about Cheney’s death Nov. 3, was not invited to the memorial service.
Two ex-presidents came: Republican George W. Bush, who eulogized the man who served him as vice president, and Democrat Joe Biden, who once called Cheney “the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history” but now honors his commitment to his family and to his values.
“Solid and rare and reliable,” Bush said at the service of his vice president, praising a man whose “talent and restraint” exceeded his ego. “Smart and polished, without airs.”
Bush and others noted the understated demeanor of a man who nevertheless wielded great influence in government. “Above all,” Bush said, “I wanted someone with the ability to step into the presidency without getting distracted
by the ambition to seek it.”
Among the eulogists, Liz Cheney, the eldest daughter, only obliquely addressed what amounted to a father-daughter feud with the presiden—a man her dad had called a “coward” for trying to overturn his loss in the 2020 election.
She spoke of her father’s conviction that when confronted with a choice between defending the country and a political party, the country must come first. “Bonds of party must always yield to the single bond we share as Americans,” she said. Liz Cheney is a former highranking House member whose Republican political career was shredded by a MAGA movement angered by her investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. Thursday, she chose not to speak directly of Trump.
She spoke of seeing clouds in the shape of angels just before her father died.
A Who’s Who of Washington, minus you know who MOMENTS before the service began, figures of recent but now receded power mingled: Bush and Biden and their wives sitting in a row together, former Vice Presidents Kamala Harris and Mike Pence chatting side by side in their pew with Al Gore and Dan Quayle together behind them.
Biden greeted Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former longtime Senate leader, and his wife, former labor and transportation secretary Elaine Chao. Behind them sat Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who spent time talking with another former House speaker, Republican John Boehner. All gathered among the soaring interior columns of the grand cathedral known as “a spiritual home for the nation.”
Others delivering tributes at Thursday’s funeral were Cheney’s
longtime cardiologist, Dr. Jonathan Reiner; former NBC News correspondent Pete Williams, who was Cheney’s spokesman at the Pentagon; and several of the former vice president’s grandchildren.
“I’m happy to report that I haven’t given many eulogies,” Reiner said in his remarks. “Nobody wants a doctor who is great at funerals.”
Reiner recalled doctors telling Cheney decades ago, after the first of multiple heart attacks, that he should abandon his political ambitions then. Yet he kept winning elections as a Wyoming congressman for years after that.
Cheney, he said, was always the “calmest person in the room.”
Cheney had lived with heart disease for decades and, after the Bush administration, with a heart transplant. He died at age 84 from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his
family said.
Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, on stage at another event in the morning, was asked about Cheney and said: “Obviously there’s some political disagreements there but he was a guy who served his country. We certainly wish his family all the best in this moment of grieving.”
Vance was also not invited to the funeral, according to a person familiar with the details who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The White House lowered its flags to half-staff after Cheney’s death, as it said the law calls for, but Trump did not issue the presidential proclamation that often accompanies the death of notable figures, nor has he commented publicly on his passing.
The deeply conservative Cheney’s influence in the Bush
administration was legendary and, to his critics, tragic. He advocated for the US invasion of Iraq on the basis of what proved to be faulty intelligence and consistently defended the extraordinary tools of surveillance, detention and inquisition employed in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Bush credited him with helping to keep the country safe and stable in a perilous time.
Bad blood between the Cheneys and Trump
AFTER the 2020 election won by Biden, Liz Cheney served as vice chair of the Democratic-led special House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. She accused Trump of summoning the violent mob and plunging the nation into “a moment of maximum danger.”
For that, she was stripped of her Republican leadership position and ultimately defeated in a 2022 Republican primary in Wyoming. In a campaign TV ad made for his daughter, Dick Cheney branded Trump a “coward” who “tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him.”
Last year, it did not sit well with Trump when Cheney said he would vote for the Democrat, Harris, in the presidential election. Trump told Arab and Muslim voters that Dick Cheney’s support for Harris should give them pause, because he “killed more Arabs than any human being on Earth. He pushed Bush, and they went into the Middle East.”
The Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.
US democracy in trouble? Americans love the idea, but see institutions crumbling
By Nicholas Riccardi The Associated Press
ABOUT half of American adults believe democracy is functioning “very” or “moderately” poorly in the United States, while only about one-quarter think it’s doing “very” or “moderately” well, according to a poll, marking a sharp decline from several decades ago when majorities thought democracy was generally working the way it should.
The Kettering FoundationGallup survey found that about two-thirds of Americans “strongly agree” or “agree” that democracy is the best form of government. Very few disagree, with about onethird saying they don’t have an opinion. But alongside the widespread disappointment in how democracy is working, few believe the country’s leaders are committed to democratic governance or think government decisions reflect the will of the people.
Few US adults doubt their fellow Americans’ commitment to strong democracy, according to the poll, but they’re less certain about their political leadership. More than 4 in 10 Americans do not believe their leaders are committed to having a strong democracy, while about 3 in 10 say they’re not sure. Meanwhile, only about onequarter believe government
decisions reflect what a majority of people want done or attempt to serve citizens’ best interests.
The poll is part of a project initiated by Gallup and the Charles F. Kettering Foundation that studies how Americans experience democracy. The report released Thursday is based on a survey of more than 20,000 US adults conducted in July and August. It comes at a tumultuous time in American politics, marked by extreme polarization, rapid social change and deep economic anxiety, and as the country prepares to commemorate next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Dissatisfaction with democracy’s performance across party lines THE sense that democracy is not working is more widespread among Democrats, whose party is out of power.
That includes Doug Perry, a 55-year-old 3D modeler in Sarasota, Florida.
“I think it is falling apart,” Perry said, blaming President Donald Trump and citing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol to overturn Trump’s loss in the 2020 election as evidence that many Americans no longer believe in democracy.
Only those who identify as “strong” Republicans are substantially more likely than Democrats and independents
to say democracy is performing “very” or “moderately” well.
Bobbi Black, a Republican who is a retired nurse in suburban Des Moines, Iowa, is not one of them.
She cited the recent government shutdown, the longest on record, and Congress’ general inability to agree to bipartisan deals as bad signs for democracy.
She also worries about how former President Joe Biden’s age affected him while in office and how he could have been elected without people aware of that risk.
“Democracy let us down, because he should have never been promoted to that position,” Black said.
Biden won the Democratic presidential primary in 2020, defeating a diverse field of rivals, and beat Trump in his reelection
bid in both the popular vote and Electoral College.
Low confidence in Congress and the criminal justice system
A SEPARATE Gallup poll conducted in 2023 found that only about 3 in 10 US adults were “satisfied” with the way democracy was working, compared to about 6 in 10 who expressed satisfaction with how it was functioning in 1984, when Gallup began to ask the question in its surveys.
Gallup’s findings are in line with other surveys that have found concerns about democracy’s functioning in both the United States and across the globe, even as a 2024 Pew survey found that people in other democratic countries prefer it to alternate forms of government.
The Gallup survey found that in the US, people who are struggling economically are especially likely to have a sour view of democracy’s performance.
But the overall disappointment with democracy also extends to the country’s institutions.
No more than one-third of Americans say that any of the country’s systems, branches of government or democratic ideals are performing “very” or “moderately” well. Only about 2 in 10 believe that Congress, the criminal justice system, the division of power between federal, state and local governments, and the division of power among branches of government are doing well. A similar share says this about the idea that all people are treated equally under the law.
“Most institutions are holding on by a thread,” said Antonio Gonzalez, 39, of Delray Beach, Florida, who works in marketing. “We have a quickly changing world, but most of these institutions are run by octogenarians.”
The poll also found Americans feeling alienated from their elected officials.
Many Americans aren’t confident that the decisions of the government reflect the will of the people or are sensitive to the interests of people like them. That’s particularly true of older people, LGBT adults or those who are struggling to get by financially.
Mixed views about the ease of voting
ONE bright spot is that most Americans feel the way elections are administered is going at least “OK.”
Only about 3 in 10 believe it is reasonable to assume that those who oversee elections have acted improperly when election outcomes are surprising, while about one-third neither agree nor disagree and about one-third don’t think this is true. Only about 1 in 10 think voting procedures and laws do not make it easy for people like them to vote. Black people, young adults and those struggling economically are less likely to say voting is easy for people like them.
Jesse Sutton, a 54-year-old who works in school finance in Detroit, said he finds voting easy in Michigan but worries about how some Republicanrun states have tightened their rules on how to cast ballots.
“It varies by state,” the Democrat, who is Black, said of the ability to participate in democracy. (The Kettering Foundation-Gallup survey of 20,338 US adults was conducted in English between July 7 and Aug. 25. The probability-based Gallup Panel recruited 9,157 respondents for the study and supplemented them with 11,181 respondents from a third-party sample provider. The margin of error for the full sample was 0.9%.)
Corpus rises at Valley for maiden PGT title Sports
CARL CORPUS fires rounds of 69-6570-73. PGT
CARL CORPUS recovered from an early stumble, firing a closing oneover 73 for a three-stroke victory in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Valley Golf Challenge on Friday in Antipolo.
After limping to a disastrous 39 on the front nine, the Asian Development Tour (ADT) winner hit two birdies in his last four holes at the South Course for an 11-under 277 total.
Corpus’ cousin Aidric Chan, also an ADT winner, shot an even 72 for second spot at eight under.
“This win means the world to me,” said Corpus. “This is why we wake up,
OLYMPIC double gold medalist Carlos Yulo expressed pride in the performance of younger brother Karl Eldrew Yulo, who advanced to four finals in the third Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique Artistic Gymnastics Championships on Thursday night at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom in Pasay City. Eldrew qualified for the finals in the floor exercise, vault, horizontal bar, and men’s individual all-around. He scored 14.233 points in the floor exercise to place second behind neutral athlete Arsenii Dukhno (14.500).
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas extended its dominance in University Athletic Association of the Philippines table tennis, clinching a sixth consecutive men’s crown with a 2-0 sweep of Ateneo in the finals on Friday at the Amoranto Sports Arena in Quezon City.
The Tiger Paddlers completed a second straight season sweep and marked their 60th consecutive victory since Season 82 in 2019. The win also gave UST its second collegiate championship of the season, following its fifth straight men’s chess title. UST relied on Abraham Paul Antivo and Gerald Aguilar to deliver in both finals ties. Antivo, later named Most Valuable Player, outlasted Wrency Abad, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9. Rookie of the Year Aguilar Gabriel Docto, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8, to clinch the championship.
Ateneo threatened to halt UST’s streak, as Mahendra Cabrido and the rookie duo of CJ Yamson and Gabriel Docto claimed wins against Josh Manlapaz and the pair of Prince Garcia and Ruiz Arc Marcelino.
Last year’s MVP Eljay Tormis put UST ahead with a 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 win over Zherdel Fresco, but the Blue Eagles answered with two straight victories. Cabrido defeated Manlapaz, 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10, before Docto and Yamson swept Garcia and Marcelino, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8.
In the first tie, Aguilar and Antivo put UST back in control after trailing 1-2. Aguilar leveled the contest with an 11-5, 12-10, 5-11, 11-7 victory over Andree Garcia, while Antivo scored 115, 11-6, 12-10 win over Andrew Uy.
this is why we practice, this is why we do what we do, to be able to win.”
Asked to compare his maiden PGT victory to his ADT triumph in Morocco in June, Corpus said: “There’s no better feeling than winning, especially on your home course, in front of my family and friends. It truly means the world.”
Chan, unrelenting all afternoon, forced a tie at 10-under after unleashing a blistering three-birdie run from No. 14—an electrifying charge that momentarily swung momentum his way and made it appear he had deciphered the tricky layout at precisely the right time.
But just when it seemed Chan had Corpus cornered, his challenge unraveled. A costly bogey on the 17th halted his momentum, and another mishap on the closing hole sealed his fate. He closed with a 72 for a 280 total—an ending as sudden as it was stunning.
It was a bizarre conclusion to what had shaped up to be a compelling duel between two of the country’s rising stars—coming off back-to-back victories on the ADT.
“We always stick to our routines. You’re under pressure, Sure, you’re nervous, your breathing is rapid, your heart rate is high, but that’s exactly what you’re used to in practice. I just followed my routines perfectly. That’s what I did under pressure. I knew exactly what to do and how to execute it,” he said.
Tied at 10-under on No. 17, he followed a solid drive with a superb 239-yard hybrid shot that landed six feet from the pin, setting up a twoputt birdie.
Amateur Bobe Salahog came up with the day’s best 68 for third spot at six under.
Rupert Zaragosa shot a 69 and led a group in fourth spot.
Also finishing at four under were Ferdie Aunzo, who shot a 70; Clyde Mondilla with a 72, Jeffren Lumbo, who carded a 73, and Dutchman Guido Van der Valk with a 74.
Salahog bogeyed the 17th and earned low-amateur honors worth P40,000 in gift certificates.
“I knew how he trained and worked, and he really sacrificed a lot of things. It is really great for him to experience this kind of international competition.”
Hoey grabs share of Sea Island lead with sizzling 10-under 62
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Georgia— Rico Hoey of the Philippines fired an eagle-aided 10-under 62 for a share of the lead in the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic on Thursday.
The product of the University of Southern California scored three on the par-5 14th hole and sank eight birdies at the Plantation course.
Doug Ghim narrowly missed a putt for 59 on a calm day of low scoring. He settled for a share of the course record on the Seaside course at Sea Island, posting a 10-under 60 for a big step toward keeping his PGA Tour card.
Davis Thompson, the son of tournament director Todd Thompson, also had a 62 at the Plantation course used for the opening two rounds.
Andrew Putnam was in range of a sub-60 round until he closed with two pars for a 9-under 61 on the Seaside course. Joining him at 9-under 61 was Andrew Novak, playing for the first time since the Tour Championship in late August and the first time since becoming a father.
The Seaside typically is a stronger test because of the wind coming off the water. Except on this day, there was no wind and exceptionally warm weather, ideal for low scores.
Ghim ran off four straight birdies, two of them from the 15-foot range, and he had a birdie putt from 20 feet on the 18th hole that slid by the hole.
“I thought I made it halfway there and at the end of the day that’s all I really can do,” Ghim said. “Just pleased to just have a chance really.”
golf he played in the final event of the year. Only the top 100 in the FedEx Cup—down from 125 in previous years—keep full status for 2026 when the fields will be smaller. Ghim came in at No. 125, so this was the start he needed. He’s not sure how high he has to finish to get into the top 100, and he’s not sure he wants to know.
“If someone tells me, it doesn’t really change anything,” Ghim said. “I probably need to
Avaricio ties for 13th as Chang cruises to victory in Taiwan Caloy proud of Eldrew’s showing in FIG meet
The 17-year-old Yulo tallied 13.750 in the vault for fifth place, and posted another fifth-place finish in the horizontal bar with 13.70 points. His total of 78.332 points secured 15th place overall and a spot in the men’s all-around final.
Carlos said he was proud of Eldrew’s sacrifices and training. “I am so proud of him reaching three apparatus finals and the individual all-around,” he said.
Eldrew missed a fifth final in the parallel bars after a faulty dismount dropped him to 28th place. He also finished 58th in the pommel horse and 27th in the rings.
“My wish has been granted, but my job still not finished. I must be at my 100 percent in all the finals I am entered,” Eldrew said. “I am very thankful to make it to four finals plus with the support of my family and loved ones.”
Yulo’s father Mark and mother Angelica also watched the competition.
The Philippine boys’ team, which included CJ Pernia and Hilarion Palles
III, placed 24th overall with 143.962 points. The girls’ squad of Elisabeth Antone, Sabina Tayag, Maxine Bondoc, and Jellian Bantilan was scheduled to compete late Friday.
The tournament is organized by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines and sanctioned by the International Gymnastics Federation, with support from the Office of the President, the Philippine Sports Commission, PAGCOR, Newport World Resorts and Milo. Josef T. Ramos
Japanese rout Aussies in Spikers’ Turf
JAPAN’S Kindai University overpowered Australia’s ProVolley Academy, 25-15, 25-12, 25-13, in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Japanese side dominated with 53 attacks, seven blocks, and two aces in a 65-minute performance. In contrast, ProVolley Academy struggled to keep up, managing just 24 attacks, a single block, and no aces. Haruka Misugi tallied 16 points for Kindai University. Ryutaro Aun contributed 12 points, all from attacks, while Tojiro Shimomasu added 10 markers for the Japanese squad, who now share early tournament lead with Savouge.
“I appreciate being able to play volleyball in front of Philippine fans. It’s a big challenge going up against the Philippine teams,” he said. Off the bench, Kentaro Hata added seven points, and Yoshiki Yasuda contributed eight points, 11 excellent receptions, and seven digs.
Fil-Japanese middle blocker Yuma Onabe, listed as the team’s second libero, did not see action.
ProVolley Academy’s top scorer was Samuel Hansen with 10 points.
Filipinos Jude Aspero and JR Prospero also shone despite the loss, with Aspero posting five points and 11 excellent receptions, and Prospero recording 11 excellent receptions and five excellent digs.
Equally pleasing was the brand of
CHANELLE AVARICIO closed out her campaign at the Party Golfers Ladies Open with a steady 70, underscoring another challenging week for the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour contingent at the Lily Golf and Country Club in Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Local standout Wenny Chang held off a spirited charge from Thailand’s PK Kongkraphan to rule the annual event cosanctioned by the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and the Taiwan Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour with a 66 for a commanding three-stroke victory.
Avaricio mounted an early run from deep down the leaderboard, mixing two birdies with a bogey on the front nine to push herself within striking distance of the Top 10. After adding another birdie on the par-5 11th, she generated several promising looks but failed to convert, settling for a string of pars as the field battled brisk winds and biting temperatures across the rugged par-72 course. She finished with a 217 total—good for a share of 13th place, the highest
3. I don’t know exactly what the numbers are, but honestly, out here finishing third is almost just as hard as
So I’m just focused on playing
and hopefully getting my
to
Putnam came in at No. 119. The other three from the
are all
for next
Novak had a breakthrough year by teaming with Ben Griffin to
the Zurich
of
Orleans, and he contended enough to reach the Tour Championship for the first time, getting him to all four majors. His only miss was pulling his tee shot on No. 10 into the trees, taking a penalty drop only 200 yards off the tee and scrambling for a bogey.
“For not playing since August, pretty happy,” he said. “Actually been working pretty hard and really seeing a lot of progress. Then two weeks ago my wife had our baby, so I really haven’t done as much the last weeks. So it was nice to see some good weather out here and play a course that I’m more used to seeing, versus what we usually get at the RSM with the cold and wind.” AP
progress in regional competition.
Florence Bisera, who entered the 54-hole tournament with high hopes following a breakthrough win in Thailand, closed with a 73 for joint 27th at 222.
Princess Superal and LK Go both finished at 223 for a share of 37th, with Go delivering a fiery finish—two birdies in
Daniella
“I
ROOKIE
ELDREW YULO has a shot at medals in the world junior meet. GAP
CHANELLE AVARICIO closes with a 70 for a 217 total. LPGT
HARUKA MISUGI shows the way for Kindai University with 16 points. SPIKERS’ TURF
RICO HOEY goes bogey-free at Plantation Course. AP
