BusinessMirror October 04, 2025

HOUSE ENDS PLENARY DEBATES ON ’26 BUDGET

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

THE House of Representatives on Friday wrapped up plenary deliberations on the proposed P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026, hailing it as the “best and cleanest” national budget that prioritizes programs aimed at directly uplifting the lives of Filipinos.

“We

Events, elderly, emerging markets are shaping global travel–WTTC

to the

LOBAL travel agencies are keen on focusing on events, the elderly, and emerging markets—the Three E’s—as a new wave of travel trends. In a panel discussion on “Focus on the Future” at the recent World Travel & Trade Council’s 25th Global Summit in Rome, Jane Sun, chief executive officer of Trip. com, said the events trend is driven mainly by young travelers, “we call them Events + Travel, [where] young people like to go to Taylor Swift shows, [concerts of] Blackpink, G-Dragon, and the Olympic Games. So we center around these major events and add a travel package that is very popular for young millennial kids.” Trip.com, an international travel service provider in 39 countries and regions, is also selling “Elderlyfriendly” packages. Sun said: “In Asia, people get to retire very early, between 50 and 60...and these people have money. They are very young, very energetic and eager to travel.”

By Cai U. Ordinario

concerning alleged anticompetitive conduct in the procurement of a flood control project. In a statement on Friday, PCC said the referrals pertain to possible violations of Republic Act No. 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act (PCA) involving St. Timothy Construction Corp.,

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special

BusinessMirror

PCC CEO Director Christian Loren de los Santos said the Commission is currently gathering evidence, including bid submissions and possible communication exchanges, to determine whether violations of the PCA occurred.

The country’s competition watchdog said the referrals follow testimonies presented during recent Congressional hearings on the flood control controversies, which may likewise be used in the PCC’s investigation.

Under the Philippine Competition Act, the Commission pointed out that entities found to have engaged in anti-competitive agreements such as bid-rigging may face administrative fines depending on the number of offenses committed.

“For the first offense, a fine of up to P110 million may be imposed. For the second offense, the fine ranges from P110 million to P275 million. For the third and succeeding offenses, the fine increases to a range of P165 million to P275 million,” PCC said.

PCC is also reminding the public that individuals or entities involved in cartel conduct, such as bid-rigging, price fixing, market allocation, or output restriction, may avail of the Commission’s Leniency Program.

“The program offers immunity from suit or a reduction of administrative fines to those who voluntarily disclose their participation in anti-competitive agreements and cooperate fully with the PCC’s investigation. Only one applicant per violation may be granted full immunity, so early disclosure is encouraged,” PCC noted.

needs of the Filipino people, transparent, and clean,” Suansing said.

The House concluded plenary deliberations on the 2026 budgets of government agencies just past midnight on Friday.

The House Minority Leader is expected to deliver the traditional turno en contra on the proposed 2026 national budget this Monday.

She stressed that the budget priorities reflect the urgent needs of the population, highlighting investments in education, agriculture, health, job creation, and livelihood programs.

“Our goal is to make it a human-centered budget. That is why our priority is education, agriculture, health, job creation, and livelihood. We want to improve the quality of life of every Filipino. That is what we pray will be the result of the budget we will pass,” she added.

Suansing also expressed confidence that the measure will gain full support from the chamber.

“With the help of the whole House and the collective wisdom of all its members, I am confident that we will be able to pass the best budget for 2026—one that truly responds to the needs of our people,” she said.

Suansing stressed that the budget is not merely a policy document but a “backbone of fiscal policy” and a reflection of government priorities.

Events, elderly... HOUSE ENDS PLENARY DEBATES ON ’26 BUDGET

Despite these challenges, she said the 2026 spending plan is anchored on a sound macroeconomic framework crafted by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), projecting 6.0 to 7.0 percent GDP growth, inflation of 2.0 to 4.0 percent, a fiscal deficit of 5.3 percent of GDP, and a sustainable debt-to-GDP ratio of 61.8 percent by end-2026.

Suansing highlighted the redirection of P255 billion initially earmarked for flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to essential services such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and social welfare. The DPWH’s allocation was reduced from P881.3 billion to P625.7 billion, while education received P1.17 trillion, the largest in Philippine history. Healthcare will get P409.8 billion plus an additional P89.3 billion from realignments, and social welfare programs, including the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), will receive P59.1 billion to help about 5.9 million Filipinos.

Agriculture is allocated P284.13 billion, including P41.09 billion for farm-to-market roads, irrigation, post-harvest facilities, and crop insurance. Under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk program, one million beneficiaries will receive P7,000 each. Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD program will be

doubled to P26.96 billion to assist 4.9 million displaced or disadvantaged workers.

The period of amendments and second reading approval will be on October 10.

In pushing for amendments, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, wants the DPWH to cancel or re-price P1.6 trillion worth of ongoing and planned projects. Leviste said this could save the government P400 billion, which could be redirected to health and education programs next year. He cited the recent termination of a P95.99-million flood control project in Lemery, Batangas, as an example of how DPWH can enforce cost efficiency under existing procurement laws.

Under the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) and DPWH contract rules, projects can be terminated “for convenience” if they become economically, financially, or technically impractical—or unnecessary—due to changes in law or government policy, without penalty to the government. Contracts may also be terminated for unlawful acts, such as corruption, fraud, use of substandard materials, or collusive practices.

Leviste noted that the Lemery case demonstrates how DPWH can use these provisions.

“After all the hearings and protests against corruption in DPWH,

there are still over P1 trillion in ongoing projects and another P600 billion in upcoming projects that DPWH can act on,” Leviste said.

Meanwhile, the House is expected to approve the 2026 General Appropriations Bill on third and final reading by Monday, October 13. Once passed, it will be transmitted to the Senate, after which a bicameral conference committee will reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions.

Suansing said bicameral sessions will be public.

The 2026 national budget is 7.4 percent higher than the enacted FY 2025 budget of P6.326 trillion and carries the theme “Agenda for Prosperity: Nurturing Future-Ready Generations to Achieve the Full Potential of the Nation.” Anchored on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, it aims to prioritize education, healthcare, social protection, and food security.

Speaking just past midnight on Friday, Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III lauded the collective effort that ensured the budget deliberations were both open and comprehensive.

“Our people can be assured that our process will remain open and transparent,” Dy said. “When I was elected Speaker, I said we would ensure that every centavo allocated in the budget to every agency would match the needs of our people. We will continue to work together to pass an open, orderly, and clean budget.”

attempting to catch up to gold’s eye-watering move of the last few weeks,” said Karim Dandashy, an over-the-counter trader at crypto trading firm Flowdesk.

The largest digital-asset by market value rose for a sixth straight day, and is up about 10 percent since Friday. Bitcoin was around 2 percent higher at $120,163 as of 2:37 p.m. in New York. It reached a record $124,514 on Aug. 14.

Smaller, more volatile tokens were up even more, with Solana rising 5.7 percent, Litecoin advancing 6.7 percent and Dogecoin strengthening 4.7 percent. Crypto-related stocks also rallied. Exchange operator Coinbase Global Inc. rose 7.8 percent, Bitcoin treasury firm Strategy Inc. climbed 3.5 percent and miner MARA Holdings Inc. edged up 2.1 percent.

David Lawant, head of research at digital-asset prime brokerage firm FalconX, added that Bitcoin’s market structure has been waiting for a “breakout” for some times.

“Spot order books have shown persistent sell-side skew for months without a decisive breakdown in price, signaling more absorption than apathy,” said Lawant. “That’s the classic coiled-spring dynamic, when overhead supply thins, rallies can come in sharp, cascading bursts. This could be the situation we are seeing right now in the market.”

Adding to the bullish sentiment is also the Bitcoin’s historical outperformance in the month of October, which has earned the nickname “Uptober.” The token has gained in nine of the past 10 Octobers.

away from home. In the summer, they want to go to Greenland, Iceland, and Norway, which are very long trips. And by promoting these emerging markets, we hope to address overtourism with local tour operators.”

For his part, Federico Gonzalez, CEO of the Radisson Hotel Group and Board Director of the Louvre Hotels Group, also pointed to the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, Africa) region as a trending destination, along with India, which has a 1.5 billion population.

“The people are growing and moving in the social scale, willing to travel not only to the big towns and the big destinations. So we have, today, between Sarovar and Radisson, 400 hotels. But dare we say, 400 hotels in a continent of 1.5 billion people is not enough,” he said.

One challenge to exploring these new travel trends, however, is the industry’s inadequate talent.

“It’s true that in hospitality or in tourism, many times it was not considered a great career…. And I think as we grow into more countries, into more projects, creating the right talent, who wants to stay with us, who wants to grow their careers with us, I think that’s the number one [priority],” added Gonzalez.

While there are no hard figures on the staffing backlog in the Philippine tourism industry, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed 69,000 less employment in

the Accommodation and Food Service Activities in July 2025, yearon-year. There were 3.84 million workers in these activities in July 2025, who accounted for 13.3 percent of the 29 million laborers in the services sector.

AI in hospitality

THE staffing shortage arose due to the pandemic as employees found other work in other industries like the business process outsourcing firms. This has been exacerbated with the move of staff to international cruise lines or hotels abroad, which provide higher wages. (See, “New hotels seen to worsen workers’ shortage,” in the BusinessMirror, Aug. 29, 2023.)

Asked if artificial intelligence can coexist with the human aspect of the tourism business, Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of the Diriyah Co., said, “We’re using the technology on air quality, on planting, on parks, to get people to come, but now, with everybody coming from all over the world, they’re being welcomed by young Saudis,” who have been trained to speak in several languages. Diriyah, the historical birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is currently being developed into a major tourism destination along with being protected as a cultural heritage, as part of Riyadh’s Vision 2030 program. “So we have a great harmony between cultural presentation, cultural preservation, identity, and technology,” said Inzerillo of the giga-project.

“September historically is the weakest month of the year for Bitcoin, and then Q4 is historically the strongest quarter of the year,” said Ryan Watkins, co-founder of crypto investment fund Syncracy Capital. “While I’m not the biggest believer in seasonality, I do think that it can oftentimes be a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Bloomberg

“These freezes are real actions that stop corruption,” said AMLC Executive Director Atty. Matthew M. David. “Every peso frozen is a peso that cannot be used to sustain corruption.”

To date, the Court of Appeals has frozen a total of 1,620 bank accounts, 54 insurance policies, 163 motor vehicles, 40 real properties and 12 e-wallet accounts.

AMLC said the assets seized include high-value holdings such as a luxury compound in a prime urban district, multiple high-end vehicles, virtual currencies, and unit investment trust funds.

The Council said it remains committed to tracing financial links to public sector anomalies. Last Tuesday, AMLC received a new freeze order from the CA bringing the total value of the frozen assets to P2.9 billion.

In a statement, the new freeze order covered a total of 836 bank accounts, 12 e-wallet accounts, 24 insurance policies, 81 motor vehicles and 12 real-estate properties. With the latest freeze order, the AMLC through the CA has frozen a total of 1,563 bank account; 54 insurance policies; 154 motor vehicles; and 30 real estate properties. The latest freeze order is the first time the AMLC included electronic wallets.

Earlier, David said AMLC’s petition cited corruption-related offenses, such as violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation, according to David. Under the freeze order, banks will now look into their systems and determine the amounts stored in the bank accounts, which will then be reported to the AMLC, David said. Moreover, the freeze order is a step toward the filing of appropriate civil and criminal cases, including the retrieval of any funds moved before the freeze, against those found to have laundered illicit proceeds, David added.

The freeze order will only be lifted if the owners of the bank accounts will file a motion to lift the effects of the freeze order over their accounts or assets.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Typhoon complicates disaster response after quake, storms

By Jim Gomez The Associated Press

Adisaster response to a deadly earthquake in Cebu province  and two other recent storms.

kph (81 mph) and was to blow northwestward over a vast agricultural valley and mountain provinces, where residents in some flood- and landslide-prone villages were evacuating.

Typhoon ‘Paolo’ floods 6 Zambales towns

By Henry Empeño

MASINLOC,

Zambales—A

steady pouring of rain flooded several towns in Zambales, rendering parts of the national highly impassable to light vehicles and causing some residents to evacuate, as Typhoon “Paolo” (“Matmo”) drenched Northern and Western Luzon on Friday, Oct. 3.

The Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said heavy floodings occurred in the central towns of San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, and Iba, as well as parts of Palauig and Masinloc towns up north.

PDRRMO head Rolex Estella said that as of 6:00 p.m. on Friday, a total of 128 families composed of 388 individuals have evacuated to safety because of the floods. Most of these are in Masinloc with 84

families, and Iba with 33 families having relocated to barangay halls, schools, and health centers.

Traffic build-up was also reported along the highway at Barangay Sindol in San Felipe, Barangay Binoclutan in Botolan, Barangay Mabanglit in Cabangan, and Barangays San Lorenzo and Bamban in Masinloc, where severe flooding made the roads impassable to light vehicles, Estella said.

Northern Zambales was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 on Friday, according to the 2:00 p.m. bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The Zambales provincial government ordered the day before the suspension of classes in all

See “Paolo,” A4

Schools suspended classes, and cargo and fishing vessels were prohibited from entering the rough seas along the path of the typhoon. It was expected to blow into the South China Sea on Saturday on a course toward southern China, Philippine forecasters said.

Hong Kong’s observatory said Matmo would pass by the territory on an expected path toward Hainan Island and the mainland’s Guangdong province over the weekend.

Matmo, locally known as Paolo, was the 16th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year. The Southeast Asian archipelago nation is lashed by

about 20 typhoons and storms a year and lies on the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it one of the countries most prone to natural disasters.

The typhoon was not expected to directly affect the region further south where a 6.9-magnitude earthquake Tuesday night killed at least 72 people and injured more than 550 others, mostly in the Cebu province’s city of Bogo and outlying towns. More than 5,000 houses were damaged, and some residents were staying in parks, grassy clearings and on sidewalks despite sporadic rain because af -

See “Typhoon,” A4

Post-quake woes: Rain, cold, hunger stalk Cebu victims

By Carmel Pedroza

CEBU CITY—Earthquake victims in some towns in northern Cebu province call for help as they battle rain, the cold weather at night and their desperate need for food while still waiting for relief goods to reach their area.

Arg De Real, a resident of Sitio Pandan, Barangay Mahawak in Medellin town, uploaded photos on Wednesday showing some of his family members and other evacuees sleeping under a blanket of transparent plastic to shield them from the rain.

De Real shared that there are currently an estimate of 400 families there who evacuated after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Cebu on Tuesday evening, September 30, 2025.

“Duol ra man mi og dagat sad. Ni bakwit lang mi sa bukid (We are living near the sea. That’s why we evacuated here to the hilly area),” he told Business Mirror in an interview on Thursday.

Most of them, he shared, only brought plastic bags so they can use it to shield them from the rain while some were fortunate enough to have some tents.

Fear prevents them from going back to their houses, especially at night, as the town continues to experience aftershocks.

They called on authorities to help them as they are running out of food to eat.

“Untag hatagan tanan peru ug kamu mang hatag unaha tawn amoa kay murag dili kaabot sa amoa [We hope that everyone gets to receive it, but if you can help us, please prioritize us as we haven’t received any help yet],” he added.

He emphasized that they currently need

BESIDES the national government agencies and the police force, the Philippine Postal Corp., the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) have pulled in weight to help Masbate’s storm victims and earthquake survivors in Cebu. The Makati city government also sent volunteers and material aid.

The PCSO earlier said that it has already handed out millions worth of evacuation kits and relief goods to families impacted by Typhoon “Opong” in Masbate, and the earthquake in Cebu.

Covering daily deliveries through C130 flights, and the Philippine Coast Guard vessel “Gabriela Silang”, a larger wave of assistance is set to follow by land with a PCSO caravan scheduled to

the

food, water to drink, and tents there.

Amidst the tragedy, De Real still keeps a positive mind saying they are all “good”.

Different photos spread all over social media where evacuees seek help in order for relief goods and aid to reach them.

An uploader also posted a photo of kids photographed along the highway in San Remigio town raising cardboards with the words printed, “Walay tarong kaon” (Have not eaten well) and “Help us. More food, water”.

The Cebu Provincial Government reported they have sent 7,622 food packs to Medellin town and 300 food packs to San Remigio as

of 5pm on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

This is apart from the water bottles and other relief items that were also sent there.

In a video interview by local station

MyTV Cebu, Mayor Edwin Salimbangon said the quake left many residents traumatized such that they opted to stay on the roadside and open fields.

Salimbangon said the town has received initial relief good,s but it could only last up to two days.

The municipality has opened its Tourist Rest Area to serve as a 24/7 drop-off site for donations.

No permit needed to bring aid

Private individuals and groups who wish to directly send their donations to affected areas don’t need to get a permit.

The Cebu Provincial Government clarified this, even as it advised the volunteers to “proceed with extra caution and remain vigilant” since there are still aftershocks there.

“Donations coursed through the Capitol will be received and recorded at the Command Center to ensure transparency, proper documentation, and accountability, and to guarantee that assistance reaches those in need.,” the Cebu Provincial Government said in a statement.

St. Luke’s Medical Center Certified as the Philippine Leader in Robotic Surgery with 2,500+ Procedures Completed

St.

ST. LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER proudly announces a groundbreaking achievement in Philippine healthcare: the successful completion of over 2,500 robotic surgeries, the highest number of robotic-assisted procedures performed by any hospital in the country.

This achievement is officially certified by Device Technologies (DTG Medical Inc.), affirming St. Luke’s position as the hospital with the highest number of robotic-assisted surgeries in the Philippines.

As a pioneer in robotic surgery, St. Luke’s has introduced many of the nation’s first robotic-assisted procedures, setting new benchmarks for surgical innovation and patient care. With this milestone, the institution reaffirms its commitment to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge surgical innovation and medical excellence.

On October 2, 2025, St. Luke’s Medical Center held a milestone celebration at the Isla Grand Ballroom, EDSA Shangri-La, Mandaluyong City, honoring its robotic doctors, groundbreaking achievements, and patients whose lives

were transformed through roboticassisted care. The program featured the recognition of pioneering and top-performing robotic surgeons, the presentation of trailblazing and groundbreaking procedures, acknowledgment of rising stars from St. Luke’s - Quezon City, and moving patient testimonials that highlighted the human impact of advanced surgical innovation.

Milestones in Robotic Surgery at St. Luke’s n 2010 – First in the Philippines to acquire Da Vinci Si Robotic Surgery System – First Robotic-Assisted Nissen Fundoplication in the Philippines n 2011 – First Robotic-Assisted Thyroidectomy in the Philippines n 2013 – First Robotic-Assisted Esophagectomy in the Philippines n 2016 First Robotic-Assisted Tonsillectomy in the Philippines – First Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery in the Philippines

– Reached 500 robotic surgeries, setting a national benchmark n 2019 – Crossed the 1,000 robotic surgery mark n 2023 – Performed Southeast Asia’s and Philippines’ First Robotic-Assisted Kidney Transplant a breakthrough in minimally invasive transplant surgery n 2024 – First in the Philippines to acquire the latest Da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgery System – First Robotic-Assisted Cardiac Surgery in the Philippines and Southeast Asia using the latest robotic surgical system n 2025 – Completed more than 2,500 robotic surgeries – First Robotic-Assisted Ureteral Reimplantation in a pediatric patient in the Philippines To learn more about St. Luke’s Robotic Surgery, schedule a consultation with our experts through our Product Information Hub at 09479930471 / 09399161805 / 09285200239 / 09985822276.

Luke’s Robotic Surgeons

DAMAGED homes lie after a landslide caused by Tuesday's strong earthquake killed some people sleeping in their hillside homes, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Bogo city, Cebu Province, Central Philippines. AP/AARON FAVILA

Super typhoons now warmer, wetter under current climate

By Bless Aubrey Ogerio

SUPER typhoons developing in the western North Pacif -

ic, including those that pass through the Philippines, are now forming with heavier rains and stronger winds than those recorded in past decades, a new climate study has found.

In a September report, climate research group Climameter said storms similar to Super Typhoon Nando (international name: Ragasa) have become around 1°C warmer.

A typical storm now carries up to 10 millimeters more rainfall per day and blows about 4 kilometers per hour faster than comparable typhoons in the past, the study indicated.

“They contribute to more extreme rainfall and flooding risks, particularly in the Philippines’

mountainous terrain and neighboring coastal regions,” climate scientists Davide Faranda, Tommaso Alberti and Gianmarco Mengaldo said.

The researchers analyzed weather patterns linked to Nando’s rapid intensification, comparing how similar storms would behave under current conditions.

They are based on data from 1987 to 2023 versus how they might have developed in an earlier climate, from 1950 to 1986.

Results showed that recent super typhoons have shallower surface pressures by about 1 hectopascal, which marks stronger storm systems. Warmer sea and air temperatures also add more moisture to the atmosphere, meaning increased rainfall along the typhoon’s track.

Further, the report added that precipitation changes show up to

10 millimeters more rain each day, while winds are slightly faster near coastlines and offshore areas.

The study also compared conditions across several locations. Urban areas such as Kaohsiung in Taiwan and Calayan in northern Luzon now experience significantly wetter storms, while Hong Kong recorded minimal changes in temperature and a slight dip in wind intensity.

Some shifts in storm paths or rainfall distribution, they noted, could be influenced by natural climate cycles, such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, or a decades-long natural warming and cooling cycle of the North Atlantic Ocean

“However, the long-term changes in pressure, precipitation and temperature strongly suggest that the event’s severity is largely consistent with human-driven

climate change,” Faranda, Alberti and Mengaldo explained.

Projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) showed that tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific may become more intense even if they occur less frequently.

The panel also anticipates heavier rainfall and higher storm surges in the region, posing increasing threats to countries like the Philippines.

Between September 21 and 23, 2025, Super Typhoon Nando rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm before striking northern Luzon and eastern Taiwan with torrential rain, floods and landslides.

Philippine authorities reported at least 11 deaths as floodwaters and slope failures hit several provinces.

Caap extends Notam for flights near Taal

HE Civil Aviation Au -

Tthority of the Philippines (CAAP) has extended the Notice to Airmen (Notam) for flights near Taal Volcano, with vertical limits from the surface up to 11,000 feet.

The Notam is in effect from October 3, 2025, at 8:10am until October 4, 2025, at 9am.

Flight operators are advised to avoid flying near the volcano, which remains under Alert Level 1. Meanwhile, 16 flights were

tershocks left them too fearful to return to their homes.

Another storm, Bualoi, caused at least 37 deaths and displaced thousands in the Philippines last week before hitting Vietnam, where 49 people died and economic damages were estimated at $485 million.

And Super Typhoon Ragasa, which at its peak was the world’s strongest tropical cyclone of the year, caused several deaths in the Philippines as it passed by the country before landfall in southern China.

cancelled due to Typhoon Paolo, affecting routes between Manila and Tuguegarao, Cauayan, and Laoag.

Affected passengers were advised to coordinate with their respective airlines for flight updates and rebooking assistance.

CAAP assured the public that it is closely monitoring the situation and is in constant coordination with airline operators and airport authorities to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of the traveling public.

EU gives 800K euros in humanitarian aid for cyclone, flood victims in PHL

THE EU has released €800 000 (over Php 54 million) in humanitarian aid to respond to the series of tropical cyclones that have affected the Philippines in past weeks, intensifying monsoon rains across the country. The funding will help address the most urgent needs of people in the hardest hit areas, including communities that are also affected by conflict.

This allocation will be used to provide emergency relief in areas such as shelter, health, and water and sanitation.

This new funding comes in

Continued from A3

addition to the €6.5 million already allocated this year in humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness to the Philippines. This includes €500 000 allocated in response to a previous series of tropical cyclones that affected the country in July.

The EU is also closely following the humanitarian situation on the ground after the earthquake which struck Cebu on 30 September. The EU expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and stands ready to provide additional support pending on-going needs assessment.

Estella said.

ICI asks NBI to probe, prosecute parties behind ‘misleading’ article

By Joel R. San Juan

THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Friday asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate and file criminal charges against those behind the circulation online of a “malicious” and “misleading” article that undermines the commission’s mandate.

The ICI was referring to online reports claiming that  it has tapped the assistance of Task Force Kasanag International, a nongovernment organization led by a certain John Chong, in its ongoing probe into the multibillion anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects  of the government.

“The commission categorically denies this claim. The ICI has not authorized, deputized or engaged Task Force Kasanag International, or any group led by Mr. John Chong, in any capacity related to its investigation,” the ICI said.

“This report is entirely untrue and should not be given credence,” it added.

The fact-finding body assured the public that it is pursuing its mandate with “independence, impartiality, and professionalism.”

It added that appointments to the ICI or partnerships with other groups will be made public through the commission’s authorized channels.

The ICI was created by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. following reports of ghost flood control projects and other anomalies in the government’s infrastructure projects.

It is chaired by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes, with former Public Works Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson and SGV & Co. country managing partner Rosanna Fajardo as members.

Former Supreme Court Public Information Chief, lawyer  Brian Keith Hosaka,  was recently appointed as ICI’s Executive director and spokesman.

Prior to his appointment, Hosaka served as commissioner of the Governance Commission for Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC).

The ICI has summoned several senators, lawmakers, private contractors and public works officials and other individuals to shed light on this large-scale corruption in infrastructure projects.

DOH: Quake survivors won’t be charged hospital expense

SURVIVORS and families who lost their loved ones in the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in northern Cebu will not be charged any hospitalization costs, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said on Friday.

This was made possible through the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Herbosa said, following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to all concerned government agencies to give the assistance needed by the victims of the earthquake.

Meanwhile, Marcos thanked the healthcare workers, first responders, and volunteers who provided essential care to the victims.

“Patuloy din ang pagbibigay ng atensyong medikal sa mga pasyenteng nailikas mula sa loob ng mga ospital nang maramdaman ang lindol [Medical attention continues to be provided to patients who were evacuated out of hospitals at the height of the quake],” Herbosa said.

PNP on rebuilding phase in Masbate, Cebu disasters

stability, protect communities, and ensure the smooth implementation of relief and recovery operations in quake-affected areas.

He said the PNP will also be extending technical support in the conduct of rapid assessment of the structural integrity of buildings and other critical infrastructure in Cebu and other areas severely affected by the earthquake.

“Overall, the peace and order in both Cebu and Masbate remains peaceful. All our personnel are focused on the tasks given to them, specifically on providing assistance in helping rebuild the two provinces,” the acting PNP chief said.

The PNP’s active involvement in the rehabilitation program, he said, is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to mobilize all the government resources to assist all the calamity victims.

“We maintain full coordination with the local government units and other agencies involved in the rebuilding process. All our personnel on the ground are actively doing their share to achieve this goal,” Nartatez noted.

levels in the province on Friday, as well as the pre-emptive evacuation of residents in low-lying areas in anticipation of heavy rainfall from Typhoon Paolo,

The Philippine Coast Guard office in Zambales likewise cancelled all marine activities in the province and urged residents and visitors to stay away from beach areas after PAGASA warned of moderate to high risks of storm surge in coastal communities. Paolo. . .

PRC tents as shelter

To ensure a steady supply of aid, the convoy will also include at least five wing vans and one bus filled with crucial necessities for the families in need.

Masbate is under a state of calamity as it grapples with the aftermath of the typhoon that displaced thousands, destroyed homes, and severely impacted agricultural lands.

In Cebu, the magnitude 6.9 earthquake has left over 20,000 individuals displaced, with Bogo City, Medellin, and San Remigio among the most severely affected areas.

Thousands of residents remain in evacuation centers or have been forced to sleep outdoors due to ongoing aftershocks, highlighting the urgent need for immediate assistance.

“We cannot turn away from the suffering of our fellow Filipinos in Masbate and Cebu,” stated PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, had personally called Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman Richard Gordon to seek the Red Cross’ assistance in deploying tents for displaced families in Northern Cebu.

Dizon, who closely worked with Gordon during the pandemic response, recalled the effectiveness of PRC tents as hospital extensions during the Covid-19 crisis.

Gordon swiftly mobilized PRC assets from warehouses in Manila, Cebu, and Subic, including prepositioned medical and family tents, food supplies, and emergency equipment ready for rapid dispatch to the hardest-hit communities.

Currently, PRC is on standby and awaiting the go-signal from the LGU, which is identifying an open area where the tent city can be set up. Once the site is confirmed, PRC will also assist in camp management to ensure safety, order, and proper living conditions for displaced families.

Dizon assured that DPWH, in coordination

MEANWHILE , Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartarez on Friday instructed all police units to start helping the national government in rebuilding Cebu and Masbate.

These provinces are the “ground zero” of the massive devastation caused by the strong earthquake and series of typhoons that battered the country earlier.

From clearing operations to relief distribution, Nartatez said all personnel on the ground were instructed to maintain

with DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, will provide full logistical support—including air transport via C-130s if necessary—to ensure the swift delivery of aid.

“The President moved quickly and decisively. That kind of leadership is what our people need in times of crisis. His call to action allows the Red Cross and government agencies to work hand in hand in bringing immediate relief to the victims of this earthquake,” Gordon said.

“PRC is an auxiliary to the government. We stand ready to work with DOH, DSWD, DPWH, DND, and all agencies to ensure the welfare of our people,” Gordon added.

“If there is a need to deploy more personnel and resources, we will do so. We share the same goal with the affected residents and the national government of bringing back normalcy in the areas affected by the earthquake and typhoons,” he added. Police forces in other areas were also instructed to continue providing assistance in coordination with the LGUs.

PHLpost delivers hope THE Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has deployed its fleet of vehicles in Central and Eastern Visayas to support the DSWD in transporting relief supplies to families affected by the recent 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu. Postal trucks were used to deliver food packs, sleeping kits, and laminated sacks for temporary shelters to Bogo City and nearby municipalities. Postal Area 5 Director Marilyn Alcoy has been coordinating with DSWD Cebu to mobilize trucks and personnel, ensuring timely delivery of aid to evacuation centers and affected communities.

As the country’s universal service provider, PHLPost maintains a nationwide logistics and

Time BusinessMirror Our

22 senior citizen PDLs join the ‘Elderly Filipino Week’ celebration in Palawan jail

BROOKE’S POINT, Palawan—

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Brooke’s Point District Jail joined the nationwide observance of Filipino Elderly Week, highlighted by wellness and support activities for senior citizen Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs).

With the theme “Embracing Age: Living a Life with Dignity and Purpose,” the celebration featured the hanging of an official tarpaulin, a zumba dance session, a feeding program, and the distribution of vitamins to promote the health and well-being of elderly PDLs.

A total of 22 senior citizen PDLs benefitted from the initiative, which

aimed to honor their contributions and emphasize the importance of treating them with dignity and compassion.

BJMP Mimaropa spokesperson Jail Officer 3 Joefrie Anglo said the celebration highlights the bureau’s commitment to the care of senior citizens under its supervision.

“This celebration affirms BJMP’s commitment to programs that safeguard the health, dignity, and wellbeing of PDLs, most especially our senior citizens,” Anglo said.

Filipino Elderly Week is observed every first week of October under Proclamation 470, which recognizes the role of senior citizens in nationbuilding and promotes their overall well-being. PNA

NCSC launches Elderly Filipino Week with nationwide services

By Wilnard Bacelonia

THE National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) on Wednesday led the launch of the 2025 Elderly Filipino Week with the rolling out of simultaneous activities and service caravans across the country to honor the contributions of senior citizens.

NCSC spokesperson Loraine Cerillo Valdevieso said the annual celebration is mandated under Proclamation No. 470 signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos to recognize the role of the elderly in nation-building.

“The celebration started very early with masses nationwide, followed by a walk for life and service caravans with DSWD, PhilHealth and PSA to deliver services for senior citizens,” Valdevieso said in a news release.

As part of this year’s celebration, Valdevieso said the NCSC is also strengthening its partnership with the Department of Tourism to train seniors as accredited community tour guides.

“This gives our senior citizens an opportunity to remain part of the tourism sector. They undergo a seven-day training to become accredited tour guides in Intramuros,” she said.

The program aims to replicate the

Intramuros model in other priority tourism areas nationwide, allowing senior citizens to serve as storytellers of history.

Valdevieso also urged young Filipinos to assist their elderly family members in joining the activities.

“It is important for the youth to help senior citizens so we can strengthen intergenerational relationships,” she said.

The Elderly Filipino Week, initiated during the Ramos administration, sought to raise awareness about the issues facing the elderly and to celebrate their contributions to society. The effects on Filipino seniors include:

Increased awareness and recognition: The week highlights the importance of the elderly in Filipino culture, fostering respect and appreciation for their life experiences and wisdom.

Play the ‘Al Capone Gambit’ against the plunderers

Al Capone after being arrested

Ebut never paid taxes. Since she couldn’t charge Al Capone with high crimes like murder, arms smuggling or kidnapping, she charged him with tax evasion! That finally got the so-called “untouchable” and “invincible” chief mobster arrested. Never underestimate the wily brain of a woman.

Social engagement: Activities organized during this week encourage social interaction among seniors. These events often include seminars, workshops, and recreational activities that promote community involvement.

Access to resources: Various government and non-government organizations take this opportunity to provide information about available services and benefits for seniors, such as healthcare, pensions, and social services.

Advocacy for rights and welfare: The week serves as a platform for advocating the rights and welfare of the elderly, addressing issues such as elder abuse, healthcare access, and financial security.

Intergenerational bonding:

Cast a net as wide as possible, to include international bank deposits. Give the elite investigating teams enough teeth to access foreign account details such as Swiss Banks and offshore banks—where I’m sure the big ones are hiding their absconded wealth.

Events often encourage interaction between the elderly and younger generations, fostering understanding and respect. This helps to strengthen family ties and community bonds. Promotion of healthy living: Health-related activities and discussions are common, emphasizing the importance of active lifestyles and wellness among seniors, which can lead to improved physical and mental health.

Overall, the Elderly Filipino Week has contributed positively by enhancing the visibility of senior citizens, promoting their rights, and encouraging a supportive community environment.

This year, the Elderly Filipino Week will run until October 7 with simultaneous events in all regions. PNA

₧17.9M social pension released to 5.9K elderly in Surigao City

VERYONE I meet nowadays has been venting out angrily with extreme disgust at the incredibly massive kickbacks that contractors, DPWH officials, and legislators have been able to siphon from billion-peso flood control projects. Yet the common cynical refrain is:

page from history. Intrepid government agents and sleuths in charge of running after the Flood Control Gang might want to revisit a case that took place in Chicago, USA in 1927.

“Will something really come out of it?”

The furious public can’t wait for the usual way of litigating cases – it’s too long, tedious, complicated. Our people will no longer tolerate waiting for 20 years of investigations and court hearings, as was the case of Napoles and the PDAF scam. They want filing of cases that will stick. The sooner the better. As a respected social commentator puts it, “let’s not waste the anger.”

Delay is on the culprits’ side. They will exploit every legal loophole to run down the clock. They know people have short memories. Other issues will push aside the flood control scandal. They probably will wait for a more friendly administration to help them get off the hook.

The ball is in our hands to convict them one way or the other in the most expeditious way possible. Let’s be more creative and explore all options, including obscure and untried ones. Note, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. Or to quote a Chinese proverb: “It doesn’t matter if a cat is black or yellow, as long as it catches mice.”

It’s called the “Al Capone Gambit,” which can be summed up as “if you can’t get them for bigger crimes, let the taxman do the job.” This strategy worked well on leading mob figures in the US.

In 1931, Alphonse “Al” Capone, the notorious Chicago gang leader, perpetrated a number of extremely violent crimes but successfully evaded lawmen, most notably special agent Eliot Ness.

The bestselling writer Bill Bryson depicts this story in his book “One Summer: America, 1927.” He comments: “Prosecuting criminals for tax evasion is such a common ploy now that it is easy to overlook how brilliantly original—how stunningly out of left field —the idea was when she first came up with it. Many judicial authorities thought it was completely insane.”

My humble suggestion is to take a

It took a determined, and incorruptible public servant to bring him down by thinking out of the legal box. A woman named Mabel Walker Willebrandt, known to be a dogged pursuer of bootleggers and mobsters. As Assistant Attorney General, she noticed that mobsters lived lavishly

Indeed, tax evasion of celebrities is a big thing in the US—and is usually a guaranteed slam dunk for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when it comes to prosecuting. Can’t we also unleash our tax bulldogs on our local gallery of suspected plunderers? I believe the Bureau of Customs is already doing that with the luxury vehicles of one of the big contractors. Let’s mobilize the BIR, AMLAC and COA to join the hunt. Why not form elite, eagle-eyed teams à la SWAT, composed of only the most untarnished and dedicated men and women in the law enforcement field.

Let them gather and sift through records of bank transactions, deposits and withdrawals, SALNs of named and still-to-be-named lawmakers, government executives, and contractors, and middle men/women. Swoop into their homes and hidden mansions, do surprise and comprehensive lifestyle checks on them.

Let’s do it one level at a time, initially national in scope, then later at the local level, and then down to the family level encompassing the lifestyles of “nepo babies.”

Just on SALNs, ITRs and list of properties alone, I bet the sharp eyes of seasoned tax sleuths and investigators will easily and surely spot irregularities and falsification of data in the documents in a matter of days or weeks.

Focusing initially on tax evasion will not only be a fast and sure thing, it will also play better on the media and will for the moment satisfy the outraged public’s thirst for “blood.” As I keep hearing it from friends: “Kailangan may masampolan.”

Those who are involved in these scandals should be treated as Public Enemies and deserve nothing less than a metaphoric “summary execution”. Their greed has resulted in people’s deaths and destruction of properties due to floods that could have been prevented or controlled if only the allocated funds were spent to build the appropriate infrastructure.

If a contrived tax fraud conviction was the only way to bring a public enemy No. 1 like Al Capone to justice, then let’s also do it here and now—better a tax fraud conviction than nothing.

Most of all, let’s transform this anger into an unwavering zeal and energy to overhaul our democratic institutions and system of governance. Let it serve as a national wake up call to finally elect new good leaders that we can trust. Our country deserves a real break.

CITY—A total of 5,986 indigent senior citizens from different villages in

City received their third-quarter

pension during the two days of distribution activities spearheaded by the DSWD-13 and the city government.

A total of P17.9 million in social pension were released during the September 24 and 25 payout, implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development—Caraga Region (DSWD13) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Elderly beneficiaries received P3,000 each, covering the months of July to September.

“The welfare of our senior citizens, especially the indigents, is among the top priorities of the city administration,” the Public Information Office said in a statement Friday.

The city government also thanked the DSWD13 for its collaboration in ensuring the timely release of the stipends.

Michele, 24, who accompanied her 74-yearold grandmother to the payout, said the family is thankful for the continuing support.

“The P3,000 stipend is already allocated for her medicines, especially for her maintenance for hypertension, diabetes and vitamins,” she said. PNA

ELDERLY Persons Deprived of Liberty at the Brooke’s Point District Jail join a zumba dance activity as part of the Filipino Elderly Week celebration on October 1, 2025. The event also featured a feeding program and the distribution of vitamins to promote the health and well-being of elderly PDLs at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-run

THE National Commission of Senior Citizens—Region 1 (NCSC-RO 1), in partnership with the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs of San Fernando City, La

BusinessMirror

Precious Paula Nicole honored at LGBTQIA+ film festival

THERE is no doubt that the internet played a big part in drag becoming mainstream in the Philippines. It is now a cultural phenomenon and source of entertainment, aside from being a political statement about gay rights and human rights in general.

Drag artists don’t just perform in gay bars and clubs. They are everywhere, from the Araneta Coliseum to beauty and fashion events. Their faces can be seen in the campaigns of global brands.

Filipino drag artists are now known across the region and around the world as great performers and queens.

Precious Paula Nicole, who won Philippines Season 1, recently took on the role of Sampaguita in the short film bagged the Best Lead Performance award in the 2025 CinePride Film Festival in Los Angeles, California.

Jon Galvez, the film’s director, also got the Best Director award in the festival, which was a celebration of LGBTQIA+ stories, highlighting queer artists and filmmakers on a global stage. This year’s films featured international drag legends BenDelaCreme, Monét X Change, and Jinkx Monsoon.

In Lip Sync Assassin, Precious Paula Nicole plays Sampaguita, a drag queen who moonlights as a hired assassin to provide for her daughter, her sick mother, and her drag children.

Galvez, even when he was writing the script, always thought that Nicole would be perfect for the movie.

“Complex nga ‘yung character ni Sampaguita pero kailangan puno siya ng puso kasi willing siyang ibigay ang lahat lahat para sa pamilya. And meron din akong nakitang parang magic kay Precious even when I was following her career in Drag Race na ‘yun eh all heart lagi ang binibigay niya [I followed Precious’ areer since Drag Race and I saw this magic in her. I knew she had heart and that’s what is needed to play this role].”

later. “Kasi siyempre hiniling ko siya eh, so bakit ko siya tatanggihan? Tsaka may nakapagsabi kasi sa akin na friend ko na kapag may in-offer sa iyo, huwag kang magnono. Dapat laging yes, kasi hindi naman daw ibibigay sa iyo kung di mo kaya. Kung iyan, pag nandiyan ka na, kapag di mo kaya, di bahala ka na [I manifested it so I said yes. A friend once told me to never say to job offers. Also, I think it wouldn’t have been offered to me if I could not do it].” For Precious, acting is not just a new channel for her to show her talent and artistry but a path toward a different journey.

“To be honest po, nung nailabas na itong Slaysian Royal ng mga kapatid ko, ng mga Divine Divas [Viñas Deluxe and Brigiding] parang naka-feel ako na parang baka mamaya left out ako, alam mo yun?

PHL STARTUP MARKET MANAGES TO BUCK SLOWDOWN IN FUNDING IN SEA

BY RIZAL RAOUL REYES

DESPITE a slowdown in the Southeast Asia startup market, the Philippines managed to dish out good performance in the first half of 20205. According to the recently launched SEA Startup Funding Report H1 2025 by DealStreet in partnership with the Philippines’ largest corporate venture capital firm Kickstart Ventures, the Philippines’ startups collectively raised $86.4 million, for the first time edging past Indonesia, which is down to $78.5 million. SEA equity investment fell 20.7 percent yearon-year to $1.85 billion across 229 transactions, the lowest level in both deal volume and value in six years. Regionally, Andi Haswidi, Head of Data Research at DealStreetAsia, noted that the second quarter of 2025 saw capital deployed more than double compared with the first quarter ($1.28 billion versus $0.58 billion), suggesting that while deal volumes remain muted, investors are willing to back stronger stories with larger checks.

“The numbers reflect a cautious environment shaped by macroeconomic headwinds and heightened scrutiny of governance standards. Against this backdrop, the Philippines is well-positioned to move from the sidelines to center stage by leveraging its bright spots and strengthening investor confidence,” said Joan Yao, Kickstart Ventures General Partner. Moreover, the Philippines shows a strong market base with more than 95 million digital consumers and a rapidly growing middle class. According to  neobank

Salmon, which managed to  raise the country’s largest equity deal within the time period at $28 million, there has been a diversification of sectors usually dominated by health, food and beverage, and retail tech.

“Late-stage deals remain scarce in the Philippines, as elsewhere in the region—an opportunity in Kickstart’s view. Investors are favoring early momentum and founder grit, making their role even more critical in backing strong teams early and helping them scale into regional players,” Yao said. Despite this more selective environment, the region welcomed new unicorns. Malaysia’s Ashita Group raised $155 million at a unicorn valuation, Singapore’s Thunes secured $150 million at a $1.42 billion valuation, and digital asset bank Sygnum crossed the $1 billion mark. Based on the report’s tracking, 58 Southeast Asian startups have now achieved unicorn status.

Sectoral trends reflected the selective deployment of capital with fintech maintaining its lead even as both volume and value fell to their weakest levels in more than six years. Health-tech recorded a strong rebound, while green-tech registered 20 transactions despite a decline in overall value. Despite a weak half-year overall, sustainability-linked sectors stood out, led by climate startups in renewable energy, waste management, and low-carbon mobility. Moreover, Yao noted that investors continue to back these areas for their measurable and resilient climate and health impact, even as valuations soften.

Parang, baka makalimutan na po ng mga tao kasi may panibago ng show na inaabangan. So noong nag-episode one na, napi-feel ko talaga siya na parang, ‘Ay, hindi na ako yung priority ng mga fans kasi siyempre wala naman ako dun sa show.’ Pero siyempre, hindi ko naman siya tini-take as negative.

“Kumbaga, parang sabi ko nga na tapos na siguro yung time ko to show my talent sa drag kasi parang, ayun na, naipanalo ko na siya [I honestly felt a bit left out because of Slaysian Royale but I didn’t take it negatively. Instead, I saw it as a sign for me to explore other opportunities].”

With drag queens now landing major endorsement deals and starring in mainstream television commercials, films and TV shows, what’s next?

In a previous interview with GMA Network, drag queen Brigiding attributes the rise of drag in the Philippines to the pandemic.

“It was when all of us lost our jobs, so we started performing through livestreams. The move to online allowed drag to become more accessible to Filipinos, unlike before, when drag was only seen in nightclubs.”

So, yes, drag has come so far in the Philippines but there is still a long road ahead for our beloved drag performers.

nubia unveils Neo 3 GT 5G Limited Edition, other major deals

is leveling up the gaming experience in the Philippines with three big announcements this October: the release of the nubia Neo 3 GT 5G Limited Edition, the launch of the first-ever nubia Pro League (NPL) tournament, and exciting 10.10 Mega Sale offers featuring big discounts across the nubia Neo 3 series.

The nubia Neo 3 GT 5G Limited Edition officially makes its way to the Philippines. Featuring the unique White Hailstone design with RGB lights, this special release comes in an exclusive box bundled with a Gaming Pad, MagSafe Case, and freebies, giving gamers the ultimate mobile battle gear straight out of the package.

Powered by a T9100 5G chipset, up to 24GB dynamic RAM, 6000mAh battery with 80W fast charging, and Dual Gaming Shoulder Triggers, the Neo 3 GT 5G Limited Edition is designed to deliver both style and performance for today’s gamers. Meanwhile, to celebrate its growing gaming community, nubia is hosting the first season of the nubia Pro League (NPL) on October 8, 2025 at the nubia Concept Store in SM Sta. Mesa. Teams will battle it out in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, with a ₱25,000 cash prize pool, five units of the Neo 3 GT 5G Limited Edition, and exclusive nubia loot bags up for grabs.

Finally, gamers and tech enthusiasts can also score massive discounts during the 10.10 Mega Sale across Shopee Mall, Lazada, and TikTok Shop. Shoppers can enjoy ₱1,000 price drops on the entire nubia Neo 3 series, plus exclusive vouchers and freebies on selected nubia products.

With its growing presence in the Philippines, nubia continues to prove its commitment to better gaming for all by offering cutting-edge smartphones at unbeatable prices, allowing Filipinos to win more and spend less both in gaming and in life.

More information can be found at the Facebook, Instagram and TikTok pages of @nubiaphilippines.

How to use tech in the garden and still keep your serenity

BY JESSICA DAMIANO The Associated Press

GARDENING tools are evolving to incorporate technology—including artificial intelligence—to help us keep plants healthier, avoid unpleasant tasks and even grow crops indoors over winter. And we can use them without losing the stress-relieving, analog benefits that nature provides. Here are just a few examples:

MOWING

IF you don’t enjoy mowing the lawn, you can buy a robot that will do it for you. Many self-guided mowers, like the Segway Navimow, Husqvarna Automower, the Sunseeker X7 and others, will handle the task on a schedule, run quietly, then return to a charging station without human intervention (beyond setup). And many can be controlled with a mobile app. Some autonomous lawn mowers use AI technology to adapt to your grass’ growth. Sensors reroute them around pets, children, patio tables and garden decor.

MONITORING AND CARING FOR PLANTS

UNSURE about whether your plants need watering or

are getting sufficient sunlight? There are apps for that. If you’re a busy type who could use watering, fertilizing, pruning and repotting reminders, apps like Planta or Plant Parent can help keep you on track. Provide info on an individual plant or create an inventory of all your green friends, and it will tailor a schedule for each, then notify you when it’s time to provide those maintenance tasks.

Physical monitoring devices can take things a step further. A gadget like FloraPod, for example, when plunged into soil—indoors or out—will send your phone real-time details about moisture levels, humidity, temperature and light exposure, plus care recommendations for thousands of plant species.

HYDROPONICS AND BEYOND

SO-CALLED smart gardens are self-watering, selffertilizing and self-lighting units that enable users to grow herbs and vegetables indoors year-round.

They’re available in a variety of sizes to accommodate a single plant or even dozens.

Some, like Gardyn and AeroGarden, rely on soilless hydroponic systems; others, like the Click & Grow system, use pods filled with traditional growing media.

PRECIOUS PAULA

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Fortinet named leader in 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Hybrid Mesh Firewall

THE global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, Fortinet has been recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Hybrid Mesh Firewall (HMF) and was positioned highest for Ability to Execute.

As a leader in the inaugural Gartner Magic Quadrant for Hybrid Mesh Firewall, Fortinet is now recognized in 12 Gartner Magic Quadrant reports. Powered by custom-built ASICs for accelerated performance, and FortiOS, a single operating system unifying hardware and virtual deployments, Fortinet solutions comprise a truly converged networking and security platform. Fortinet appliance, virtual, and cloud-native firewalls are built for today’s network complexity, securing environments that span data centers, clouds, remote edges, and constantly shifting workloads.

“Being recognized as a leader in the inaugural Gartner Magic Quadrant for Hybrid Mesh Firewall and placed highest in Ability to Execute, validates our commitment to delivering convergence and best-of-breed security with FortiOS everywhere. With FortiAI innovations, integrated SOC, and early adoption of post-quantum cryptography, Fortinet continues to set the standard for protecting organizations across hybrid, dynamic environments,” said Nirav Shah, senior vice president of products and solutions at Fortinet. Customers can confidently partner with Fortinet, knowing they are investing in a vendor that combines long-standing leadership with forward-looking advancements in AIdriven automation and quantum-resistant security. Fortinet FortiGate firewalls deliver integrated security, AI-powered innovation, and flexible licensing to help organizations confidently secure hybrid environments.

GLOBE BUSINESS G FAIR 2025: ACCELERATING GROWTH OF NEW GENERATION OF FILIPINO ENTREPRENEURS

AS part of Globe’s 10th year of 917 GDay celebrations, Globe Business hosted G Fair 2025, a two-day event that celebrated Filipino craftsmanship while elevating its commitment to local entrepreneurs. Held at the BGC Amphitheater in Taguig from September 19 to 20, the fair drew thousands of attendees and served as a dynamic platform where commerce and learning seamlessly intertwined.

Now in its third year, G Fair has evolved into a comprehensive program that goes beyond a traditional popup market. This year, the event was enhanced with a strong focus on empowering entrepreneurs for the future, providing valuable resources for digital transformation and sustainable growth through a dedicated SME Consultation Booth and a series of upskilling talks and learning sessions.

“This year’s G Fair was built on the momentum of past years by creating an ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs with tools, knowledge and networks to thrive,” said KD Dizon, head of Globe Business. “It’s a space to celebrate homegrown talent while equipping them to succeed in the digital economy.” This two-pronged mission was evident across the fairgrounds, from the bustling retail space to the dedicated learning hub. Attendees enjoyed interactive activities and exclusive raffle prizes, all while directly supporting local talent.

Meanwhile, the G Fair Business Hub served as the central point for entrepreneurial empowerment. Business owners had the invaluable opportunity to consult with and learn from a diverse group of experts. This included partners from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Go Negosyo, as well as tech industry leaders GCash, Lazada, and TikTok. Discussions centered on how SMEs can scale through fintech, e-commerce, and social media, while merchant panels offered insights on balancing heritage with innovation and turning passions into sustainable livelihoods.

Following last year’s strong turnout, G Fair 2025 further cemented its role as a catalyst for Filipino SMEs to grow and connect with wider audiences. It stands as a testament to the power of supporting homegrown talent and ensuring they are equipped to succeed in the digital economy.

BusinessMirror

JBL PartyBox 520: Lights, bass, and full-on party action!

FOR the past three years I’ve been waking up to my dad’s Spotify playlist, which he blasts daily from our JBL PartyBox 310. It’s become our little way of getting back at the neighbors who run a repair shop and keep their noise going almost 24/7, not to mention their questionable taste in music. A bad playlist is painful enough—but blast it on terrible tinny speakers at max volume, and it becomes absolute torture.

At least when The Carpenters, Air Supply, David Pomeranz, or Kenny Rogers play through the JBL PartyBox 310, they sound like they’re performing live—and still alive—in our living room. I even picked up a JBL PartyBox 120 for my room, mainly because they released a white version that fit perfectly into my setup’s aesthetic. No explanation needed there.

This year though, I added the JBL PartyBox 520 to my collection. With me living solo for the next few years, I’ll be needing a loud companion, and this seemed like the right one to carry me through my specially made “senti” playlist.

GETTING THE PARTYBOX STARTED

SINCE the first PartyBox hit the market around 2019, JBL has been setting the tone—literally—for backyard barbecues, basement jams, and impromptu karaoke nights. The formula has always been clear: take a powerful sound system, give it personality with built-in lights, add wireless connectivity, and wrap it in a rugged, portable shell. Throw in a set of wheels, and you’ve got something that doesn’t just sit in the corner—it takes over the room.

Despite the flood of fakes and copycats on the market, when you see the word PartyBox, you know JBL isn’t building speakers for background music. These speakers are designed to be the centerpiece, booming sound and flashing lights until an ordinary gathering feels like a mini-festival. The JBL PartyBox 520 carries all of that DNA but refines it in ways that make it feel like the most well-rounded entry in the lineup.

Sitting neatly between the lighter PartyBox Stage 120 and 320 and the heavyweights like the PartyBox 710 and PartyBox Ultimate, it strikes the balance many have been waiting for. It’s still portable enough to move around, powerful enough to thrive outdoors, and packed with the modern connections today’s listeners expect. In many ways, it feels like JBL’s most balanced PartyBox yet.

DESIGN BUILT FOR MOVEMENT

THE JBL PartyBox 520 is not shy about its size. At 25.5 kilos—or 56 pounds—it’s hefty and chunky, but JBL makes the weight manageable with a telescopic handle and a pair of rugged wheels. You won’t be carrying it up stairs with ease, but rolling it around feels as natural as towing luggage. The design remains familiar: a tall, tower-style body with a sturdy grille that hides two 7.5-inch woofers and a pair of tweeters. Behind that grille, LEDs pulse and shift in sync with the music. Six lighting presets are built in, ranging from Rock to Chill, but the customization goes deeper through the JBL PartyBox app. And for those moments when you don’t need a disco in your living room, the lights can be switched off entirely with a single button. Durability is always a concern with gear designed for outdoor use, and JBL covers that base with an IPX4 splash-resistant rating. A little rain or a tipped drink won’t be enough to shut the party down.

EASY CONTROLS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS PART of the PartyBox appeal has always been its

approachable controls, and the JBL PartyBox 520 keeps that spirit intact while polishing the experience. The top panel is laid out with two large knobs for lighting and volume, while smaller buttons handle playback, pairing, and the ever-popular Bass Boost. Bass Boost, by the way, comes in two distinct flavors: deep and punchy. The difference is subtle but effective, letting you lean into chest-thumping lows for EDM tracks or sharpen the kicks for rock and acoustic sessions. It’s these small touches that make the Partybox 520 more adaptable to different moods and genres.

The PartyBox 520 also shines when it comes to microphones. A dedicated control cluster allows you to adjust mic volume, bass, treble, and echo— essentially turning the speaker into a mini mixing board for karaoke, speeches, or even jamming with an instrument. Add in three programmable DJ effect buttons, and the unit encourages more than just passive listening—it invites you to perform, play, and interact with the music.

CONNECTIVITY: AURACAST READY

THE JBL PartyBox 520 takes the basics like Bluetooth and aux-in, and upgrades them with a set of features that feel truly future-proof. Instead of simple quarter-inch inputs, JBL equips the PartyBox 520 with dual XLR/quarter-inch combo jacks, opening the door to more professional and flexible setups. This means you can plug in a guitar, a microphone, or even a small DJ console without hassle. The dated USB-A port from earlier models is gone, replaced with a USB-C port that not only charges your device but also supports high-quality audio playback directly. Then there’s Bluetooth 5.4 with Auracast, the newest wireless standard that allows a single PartyBox to broadcast to multiple devices simultaneously. Traditional Bluetooth was always one-to-one; now you can essentially run a network of JBL PartyBoxes, all synced up and pushing the same sound across a larger space. It’s a massive step forward for wireless audio sharing.

SERIOUS POWER AND BATTERY LIFE PORTABILITY isn’t just about wheels. It’s about whether the speaker can keep the music alive off the grid. JBL rates the PartyBox 520 at up to 15 hours of playback under moderate use. That’s a little less than the Stage 320’s 18 hours, but the trade-off is logical—400 watts of power draws more energy. The real advantage is the swappable battery

system. Instead of being tied to a single rechargeable pack, you can keep a spare on hand, ready to swap in if the music starts to fade. Charging a pack takes about three hours, and a 10-minute quick charge is enough to add roughly two more hours of playtime. For camping trips, road parties, or any situation where power outlets aren’t guaranteed, this flexibility is exactly what keeps the party going. On paper, the JBL PartyBox 520 brings 400 watts RMS output, a frequency range of 40 Hz to 20 kHz, and that dual woofer-tweeter setup. In practice, it’s a speaker built for the outdoors and can fill large spaces with authority. Indoors, it might need a bit of finetuning, but that’s where the app comes in handy.

JBL adds AI Sound Boost, a feature that analyzes audio signals in real time to minimize distortion and push more volume out of the system without breaking up. Paired with the app’s 7-band EQ, the PartyBox 520 gives you plenty of control to shape the sound. From dance tracks that demand low-end punch, to rock anthems that rely on strong mids, to vocal-driven sets where clarity is everything, the Partybox 520 has the range to handle it all. And if one unit isn’t enough, you can pair two for true stereo or link multiple JBL speakers together for wider coverage.

Beyond tweaking the EQ and lighting, the app unlocks DJ pads, lets you play with sound effects, and manages speaker connections. It’s also where firmware updates are delivered, ensuring the unit stays fresh with new features and improvements over time.

THE

AUV

OF PARTY SPEAKERS

TO see where the JBL PartyBox 520 belongs, you have to look at the rest of the lineup. If the Stage 120 is the compact option, the 320 is the everyday sedan, and the PartyBox 710 is the full-sized SUV built for sheer power. The JBL PartyBox 520 sits squarely in the middle— not too small, not overblown, but calibrated to deliver power, portability, and the right mix of modern features, like your trusted AUV. It isn’t the flashiest or the biggest of the PartyBox line, but personally I think it is the one that makes the most sense. With enough muscle to power an outdoor crowd, the flexibility of swappable batteries and pro-level inputs, plus the convenience of a design you

A8 Saturday, October 4, 2025

DepEd grateful for amended & higher fund for education sector

EDUCATION

chief Juan Edgardo

“Sonny” Angara lauded lawmakers for approving amendments to the proposed 2026 budget that would significantly expand resources for priority education programs.

In a statement, Angara said the additional funding would help ensure the delivery of priority programs and advance quality and inclusive education.

He issued such after the House Committee on Appropriations’ Budget Amendments Review Sub-Committee approved increases aligned with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) budget wishlist, including a P22.5-billion boost for Basic Education Facilities to fast-track the construction, completion, and rehabilitation of classrooms, as well as the procurement of school furniture.

The new allocation also authoriz -

Coursera sets up tailored, data-backed solution for skills devt across teams

EADING global online learn -

Ling platform Coursera Inc. has launched Skill Tracks—a databacked learning solution mapped to specific occupations that guides learners from foundational knowledge to expert proficiency through verified skill paths.

Powered by Coursera’s Career Graph, which uses millions of labor market data points, third-party competency frameworks, and a proprietary skills taxonomy, Skill Tracks precisely maps the relationships between jobs, skills, and learning content, ensuring organizations can close skill gaps quickly.

Four Skill Tracks are currently available: Software and Product, IT, Data, and GenAI, with more to follow. Each offers a structured learning experience that clearly defines the vital skills and courses employees need at each role and experience level. The solution integrates expert content, hands-on practice, and skills verification, enabling employees to apply new skills immediately and drive measurable business outcomes faster. With Coursera Skill Tracks, leaders can ensure their teams have the right skills to boost innovation, productivity, and retention.

“Companies are deploying new technology faster than their people can keep pace, and they need learning solutions that are adaptive and personalized,” said Coursera CEO Greg Hart. “Coursera Skill Tracks deliver a learning experience built around occupations and job tasks, [being a major step in] helping learners master the right skills to grow their careers. By blending technical skills with institutional expertise, hands-on practice, and skill verification, Skill Tracks ensure training is relevant and immediately applicable.”

Skill Tracks are available to existing Coursera customers with access to the full catalog. New customers can purchase Skill Tracks individually or bundled with the full catalog. To learn more about how Coursera Skill Tracks can accelerate skills develop

ment, technology adoption, or workforce transformation, visit coursera. org/enterprise.

es local government units (LGUs) and public-private partnerships (PPP) to serve as partners in classroom construction.

In Filipino, the Education secretary thanked Congress for increasing the budget for education, highlighting its significance in adding more classrooms, chairs, and feeding programs to improve the situation in our schools.

The School-Based Feeding Program also received P1.88 billion in additional funds, on top of the P11.8 billion under the National Expenditure Program. It will provide nutritious meals to millions

of learners in public schools and improve learning outcomes.

Other approved amendments include the Alternative Learning System and Flexible Learning Program: P306 million, Special Needs Education Program: P193 million, Indigenous Peoples Education Program: P79.6 million, and the Madrasah Education Program: P26.25 million.

Under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program or “ARAL,” lawmakers also approved additional support for publicschool teachers, including P579.5 million for overload pay and P984

million for the compensation of non-DepEd tutors.

The ARAL program is DepEd’s recovery initiative to support struggling learners through tutorial services.

With additional funds in place, Angara underscored the importance of ensuring swift and proper implementation to deliver immediate results.

He said that the key is to properly implement the programs so that DepEd can catch up with delayed projects that will allow learners and teachers to immediately feel the results. Stephanie Sevillano/PNA

AMONG WORLD’S TOP RESEARCHERS BASED ON IMPACT Seven faculty members of De La Salle University have been included in the list of the world’s top 2 percent of researchers based on cumulative career statistics: Dr. Kathleen Aviso, Dr. Allan B.I. Bernardo, Dr. Anthony SF Chiu, Dr. Consolacion Ragasa+, Dr. Luis Razon, Dr. Kainam Thomas Wong, and Dr. Raymond Tan. There are 44 Philippine-based researchers, and only 25 are affiliated with higher education institutions. Further, 11 Lasallian faculty members are among the leading researchers in the world based on single recent year data per citations received in 2024: Dr. Rowalt Alibudbud, Dr. Melchizedek Alipio, Dr. Kathleen Aviso, Dr. Allan B.I. Bernardo, Dr. Jerome Cleofas, Dr. Jeff Clyde Corpuz, Dr. Alvin Culaba, Dr. Fides Del Castillo, Dr. Raymond Tan, Dr. Frederick Tapia, and Dr. Aristotle Ubando. There are a total of 69 locally based researchers listed, with 52 from Philippine HEIs. The list includes around 200,000 scholars from all over the globe.

Editor: Mike Policarpio

Thai biz group SCG hails 290 students for its 17th ‘Sharing the Dream’ program

By Vincent Peter Rivera

THAILAND’S leading business conglomerate Siam Cement Group (SCG) continues its long-standing commitment to education as it awarded scholarships to 290 deserving students in the 17th year of its “Sharing the Dream” program.

Since its inception in 2008, the program has been a cornerstone of SCG’s corporate social responsibility efforts, providing essential educational assistance to underprivileged yet promising students across the regions where the company operates—including countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Lao PDR.

This year’s theme “Green Generation” highlighted the program’s strong belief that every person’s potential matters, and that education is the key to building a stronger, more sustainable nation.

SCG Country Director Jirasak Kaewubol echoed the theme by saying that “we believe in the value of individuals, [and that] building human capital is the most important, which we achieve through education and upskilling people. That is what we have been doing for so many years.”

The official turnover ceremony on September 12 at Acacia Hotel-Manila saw 250 high-school students and 40 college learners from Batangas, Manila, Bulacan, and Taguig receiving their scholarships.

The high schoolers were awarded individual educational assistance packages of P12,000 each, while their collegiate counterparts were given P20,000 annually to support their educational journeys.

Privilege and commitment

FOR 17 years, Sharing the Dream has awarded over 4,000 scholarships in the Philippines. This enduring commitment is rooted in a meticulous selection process that carefully chooses students for whom the scholarships will be instrumental stepping stones toward their dreams.

High-school applicants must maintain an average grade of 85 percent or higher, with no grade below 80 percent. Meanwhile, those in college must maintain a general weighted average of at least 1.75.

Enlisters are also required to demonstrate active participation in nonacademic and extracurricular activities.

An SCG scholarship alumnus, Ma. Jesiery Rose F. Guevarra knows this process well, having received scholarships from SCG for both her high school and college education. They have helped achieve her dream of becoming a nurse.

“It’s important [that you are] true to yourself for them to see the genuineness

of your heart,” Guevarra advised. Showing eagerness, she added, is crucial for SCG to see an applicant’s true intentions and promise.

Guevarra, who benefited from the program’s support, describes the scholarship as “a fuel of my dreams...because when you know there’s someone willing to help you, that’s when you push forward to dream more.”

Similarly, former SCG scholar Ma. Theressa F. Orbeta, who received support for eight years and is now an employee of the company, highlighted the program’s holistic approach: “SCG doesn’t just help us financially; we gradually discover ourselves and realize our dreams.”

Orbeta further emphasized the program’s focus on personal growth beyond financial assistance: “I also experienced collaboration and socializing activities with other scholars.”

“Through these [scholars], we learned about their stories and also gained emotional intelligence,” said Ambassador Makawadee Sumitmor. “The Royal Thai Embassy really appreciates the initiative of SCG. It also [promotes] people-topeople connections, which I think is very important and is a strong foundation for every policy that the government would like to move forward with.”

Partnership for uplifting lives THE partnership between SCG and the Department of Education (DepEd) is a powerful one, as highlighted by Education Department director Atty. Amorsolo R. Camara Jr.: “We [are seeing] through the high-school students that it was not only the material things that were brought in, but actually the confidence that empowers them. That actually changes not only their lives, but the lives of their families and communities as well.”

Atty. Camara further elaborated on the broader impact of this collaboration: “This partnership brought not only the resources of SCG, but also a sense of solidarity between our two countries.” The DepEd official believes the program demonstrates global friendship and industry collaboration significantly strengthening a nation’s education system: “SCG’s presence in our communities shows that the challenges of poverty and inequality can be confronted not just by the Philippines, but with our partners.” Drawing on its 17-year history of providing educational support in the Philippines, “Sharing the Dream” continues to champion the next generation of Filipino leaders. The initiative goes beyond financial aid as it strategically invests in students from select areas by providing comprehensive assistance, fostering strong character, and encouraging active community participation.

American educators train Pinoy teachers in AI and literacy tools

ON September 26 and 27, the Embassy of the United States’ Regional English Language Office (RELO) hosted a two-day intensive training in Mactan, Cebu that equipped 48 educators from various regions with innovative strategies for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in their classrooms.

American English Language fellows Laura Roach, Maryann Miller, and Michael Schapiro facilitated the professional development session. According to the embassy, they are highly-qualified professionals in US TESOL or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages selected by the US Department of State for 10-month assignments abroad to support public diplomacy

and educational capacity building.

The workshop “The Educator’s Edge: Mastering Literacy, AI, and Critical Thought,” focused on creating an integrated learning module that guides learners from basic language skills to critical thinking skills. The module will serve as a tool for the educators to utilize in their own classrooms and share with their colleagues, creating a multiplier effect in enriched pedagogical practices.

The training also provided hands-on experience to implement American-developed instructional technology. Educators were given a showcase and hands-on experience with six US AI and education technology tools designed to personalize learning and increase class

DEPARTMENT of Education Director Atty. Amorsolo R. Camara Jr. (third from left) and Ambassador Makawadee Sumitmor (fifth from right), together with officials of SCG and the Royal

GRADE 1 students at Justo Lukban Elementary School in Manila. Education Secretary Sonny Angara thanked lawmakers for approving amendments to the proposed 2026 budget for the education sector. PNA/YANCY LIM

GRAND PRIX SEASON SINGAPORE 2025

More than a race, a citywide celebration

SINGAPORE—Singapore is revving up for another thrilling season as the Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS) returns, bringing together the excitement of world-class racing with the city’s vibrant cultural, lifestyle, and entertainment scene. More than a sporting spectacle, GPSS transforms Singapore into a festival ground where speed meets artistry, heritage, and community.

add to the energy, offering both history and vibrant photo opportunities for visitors who want to immerse themselves fully in Singapore’s cultural mix. The celebrations extend beyond heritage into modern showcases. Gallery 26 welcomes fans with free entry to explore motorsport history, featuring cars once driven by Charles Leclerc and Kimi Räikkönen, alongside Carlos Sainz’s signed helmet. Meanwhile, Marina Bay Sands transforms into an

interactive playground with exclusive pop-ups and team merchandise, and fashion enthusiasts can check out the Lando Ralph Lauren pop-up, creating a festive atmosphere that blends global racing culture with Singapore’s world-class hospitality. GPSS is more than just a race weekend. It transforms the entire city into a celebration where music festivals, culinary pop-ups, fashion showcases, and art installations come together, highlighting Singapore’s vibrant, multicultural character. From savoring local flavors at bustling hawker centres to enjoying cutting-edge performances, exploring interactive exhibits, or visiting exclusive pop-ups like Lando Ralph Lauren, there is truly something for everyone to experience and remember.

The engines are warming up, the city is buzzing, and the countdown is on. With every corner of Singapore alive with excitement, Singapore comes alive as the true star, offering thrills and experiences at every turn that you cannot miss. Get ready to feel the thrill, join the celebrations, and be part of a season that promises unforgettable moments from October 3 to 5.

For a full lineup of events and activities happening across the city, visit the official GPSS page at the What’s Happening tab of Visit Singapore.com.

AND BEYOND Glimpses of China’s imperial life

CHINA has a long, storied past. Emperors over the centuries have built monuments and palaces that exemplify their wealth, power, and influence. The imperial court would hold audiences, make announcements, or simply lock themselves in the comfort of their palace. Fast forward to today, these palaces are now museums which provide visitors with a glimpse of imperial life.

The Summer Palace in Beijing BEIJING is a busy metropolis. You’ll find numerous skyscrapers, commercial centers, hotels and an urban sprawl that matches any other big city in the world. It has a charming mix of old and new that attracts tourists from everywhere. However, outside the capital is a getaway destination that I could imagine the imperial court going to. The place I’m referring to is none other than the Summer Palace.

The Summer Palace combines the beauty of nature and ingenious architecture. It combines gardens, landscaping, temples, pavilions, and palaces wherein the imperial family can relax and unwind. This architectural and design masterpiece dates to 1750. An extensive restoration took place in the late 19th century to restore its former glory after the ravages of a war in the mid19th century.

The Summer Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with significant cultural and historical value. Emperors and their royal court have used the palace in a variety of ways such as for recreational activities, administrative, and even spiritual purposes.

As I explored the vast complex, I can understand why it has many functions. The views of the lakes, manicured gardens and landscaping create an ideal place to contemplate and reflect. Despite being a popular tourist attraction, you can find quite a few spots where you can get away from the crowds.

You can imagine the emperor or empress admiring the landscape or taking a stroll in one of the halls. Some notable places in the palace include the Tower of the Fragrance of Buddha, Kunming Lake, and the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity.

You can spend an entire day here walking along its halls, checking out the views, or hanging out in one of the gardens. It’s an ideal place to get away from Beijing’s concrete jungle.

Escape to Chengde’s Mountain Resort and Outlying Temples

AFTER visiting Beijing’s most recognizable landmarks and historic monuments, from the Great Wall to the Forbidden Palace, I looked for another noteworthy destination. I decided to visit the Mountain Resort of Chengde. I booked round trip train tickets and was off to discover another city in China.

The Summer Palace in Beijing impressed me, but when I explored Chengde’s Mountain Resort, I was equally fascinated. The Qing Dynasty used the Mountain Resort as their Summer Palace. Construction took several decades to finish, from the early 18th century to the late 18th century. Its similar in a way to the Summer Palace because it blends the beautiful landscape with man-made structures. I saw various temples, pavilions and gardens with a lake or the hills as their backdrop.

The Mountain Resort isn’t just a place for

contemplation and relaxation, it also played an important role in administrating the border regions. The imperial court received foreign envoys and ethnic groups’ leaders in the resort during their visit. They had temples built in the outlying areas of the resort. The harmonious blending of architecture, culture, and historical value has earned the resort and its outlying temples a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The resort has multiple, scenic walking paths that take you through its pavilions, halls, and gardens. You can also check out the viewpoints that provide overlooking views of the beautiful landscape, rock formations, and temples. The serene atmosphere is in stark contrast to Beijing’s hustle and bustle. The most spectacular temple I saw was the Putuo Zongcheng Temple. It dates to the 18th century and is referred to as the ‘Little Potala Palace’ because it resembles its counterpart in Tibet. Perched on a mountain, the main temple dominates the landscape while smaller buildings and pagodas zigzag their way down the side until the gate. Another noteworthy religious attraction in Chengde is Puning Temple. It also dates to the 18th century and blends Tibetan and Han architectural designs. The Mahayana Hall is a highlight because you’ll see the more than 22m high Arya Avalokiteshavra

Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan

Story & photos by Ginger Franz S. Ocampo

Story & photos by Joshua Berida

European leaders demand aggressive action against Russia: Shoot down drones and seize illicit oil ships

By Lorne Cook The Associated Press

COPENHAGEN, Denmark— Europe must take a more aggressive approach with Russia by shooting down drones that enter European airspace and boarding shadow fleet ships illicitly transporting oil to deprive Moscow of war revenue, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

Speaking at a European summit in Copenhagen, Macron and other European leaders called for more sanctions against Russia—notably targeting its energy sector—and emphasized that Ukraine is on the front line in a widening hybrid war against Europe.

Indeed, the positions of some of Europe’s leaders toward the continuing drone incidents, acts of sabotage, cyber-attacks and sanction-busting appear to have hardened over two days of talks in Copenhagen, including a closed session among them without phones or advisors.

Macron urged the more than 40 leaders at the European Political Community summit to simply protect their interests without signaling their intentions to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I think the main answer should be more unpredictability and more strategic ambiguity,” he said.

“It’s very important to have a clear message: drones which would violate our territories are just taking a big risk. They can be destroyed, full stop,” he said. “We are not here to provide the full notice. We will do what we have to do.”

Macron pointed to a decision by French authorities to stop an oil tanker on the European Union’s shadow fleet sanction list, and detain two of its crew, as an effective way to act. Naval experts believe the ship may have been involved in drone flights over Denmark.

He said that Russia finances “30% to 40% of the war effort” via the shadow oil fleet.

Macron said that by seizing the ships, for a week or two, “we completely break the efficiency of the organization. So, the shadow fleet is a very good target if you want to improve our efficiency to reduce these capacities.”

He said that the same ship was checked by Estonian authorities in March.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who hosted the summit days after a series of drone incidents at Denmark’s airports

and military bases, said: “It must be clear to everyone now, Russia will not stop until they are forced to do so.”

Russia, she said, is “a threat not only to Ukraine but to all of us. Today, we have one major task ahead of us. We have to make our common Europe so strong that the war against us becomes unthinkable, and we have to do it now.”

Frederiksen warned her partners that Europe “can no longer be naive. The war was never just about Ukraine. It is about Europe. All our nations, all our citizens, our values and our freedom.”

After the meeting, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that “Putin should not underestimate our determination. There is truly a very strong unity and there is a very firm resolve to confront this aggression together and for that I am extremely grateful.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged the leaders to abandon any “illusions” they might have about Russia’s intentions. He said that Poland has been a constant victim of Russian intimidation, most notably a major drone intrusion last month.

Poland has since vowed to shoot down Russian drones that enter its airspace.

“The first illusion was, and is, that there’s no war,” Tusk said, referring to those who talk about the war in Ukraine as a “full-scale aggression” or use other euphemisms. “No. It’s war. A new type of war. Very complex, but it’s war.”

Another illusion, Tusk said, is “that it is impossible for Ukraine and for all of us to win this war. It’s absurd. The only Russian advantage, the only one, is mentality.

Beijing’s top diplomat in Hong Kong sets out 4 red lines for new US Consul General

By Kanis Leung The Associated Press

HONG KONG—Beijing’s top diplomat in Hong Kong met with the city’s new US Consul General this week to warn her against interfering in the territory’s internal affairs, his office said in a statement Thursday.

Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Hong Kong office of China’s foreign ministry, met with Julie Eadeh on Tuesday to express concerns about her conduct, the statement said.

Eadeh, who took up the new role in August, appeared to have angered Beijing for reportedly inviting pro-democracy figures to events. Beijing’s office overseeing Hong Kong affairs reposted articles from pro-Beijing media outlets that criticized her moves.

Cui laid out “four don’ts” for Eadeh, asking her not to meet people she “shouldn’t meet with,” not to collude with “anti-China forces,” not to assist or fund activities that might undermine the city’s stability and not to interfere with national security cases in Hong Kong.

Cui “urged Eadeh to abide by fundamental norms governing international relations including noninterference in domestic affairs and make a clean break with anti-China forces,” the statement said.

The US State Department on Thursday said: “US diplomats

represent our nation and are charged with advancing US interests globally, which is standard practice for diplomats around the world, including in Hong Kong.” China’s tough stance underlines the ongoing tensions between Beijing and Washington over Hong Kong affairs, in addition to friction over trade, technology and Taiwan.

In the latest article reposted by Beijing’s office on Hong Kong affairs on Saturday, Eadeh was described as a promoter of a “color revolution,” a term referring to a mass protest movement seeking regime change.

It mentioned her meeting with pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law during massive anti-government protests in 2019, alleging the diplomat had close links to “black violence,” a term used by pro-Beijing media outlets and officials to refer to the protests.

Another article took issue with her inviting former Hong Kong official Anson Chan and former Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau to her events.

The former top official in the city drew criticism from pro-Beijing politicians when she met with then US Vice President Mike Pence in Washington in March 2019, before the mass protests erupted.

Chan has kept a low profile since China imposed a 2020 national security law that crushed the city’s pro-democracy movement.

Continued from A10

We are much bigger than them,” in terms of economic might and population, he said.

after an attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, England. It’s also vital to put “Ukraine in the strongest possible position, and that then means more on-air defenses, more on long-range (missiles) and anti-drone” capabilities that must be sent to the country, which is now in its fourth year of war, Starmer said. Drones. . .

Tusk, whose country borders Belarus and Ukraine, added: “We know that if they win against Ukraine, it is also in the future the end of my country and of Europe. I have no doubts.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that it was important to ramp up economic pressure on Putin.

“The economic pressure is having an effect, and we need to continue that. Pressure through further sanctions, bearing down on energy in particular, and on the shadow fleet,” Starmer said before leaving the summit early to return to the UK

India and China to restart direct flights as political ties improve

By Mihir Mishra

INDIA and China will resume direct flights after more than five years as two of the world’s biggest economies seek to rebuild political ties at a time of rising global trade uncertainties.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement Thursday that air service with China can start by later this month “subject to commercial decision of the designated carriers from the two countries” and fulfillment of other operational criteria.

The move follows bilateral discussions earlier this year geared toward the reestablishment of air travel. Bloomberg News reported in August citing people familiar with the matter that direct flights were expected to resume soon.

Passenger flights between India and China were suspended after the Covid-19 pandemic. The connection never resumed after diplomatic relations between the two countries hit a low point in 2020 following border clashes. Travelers between the two neighboring countries currently transit through hubs like Hong Kong or Singapore.

Diplomatic ties between the longstanding rivals are on an upswing at a time when US tariffs have added to economic uncertainties in the world’s two most populous nations. In August, China and India agreed to facilitate bilateral trade and investments following talks between their foreign ministers in New Delhi.

India’s largest carrier, IndiGo,

said it would resume its flights to China starting Oct. 26 with daily service connecting the eastern Indian city of Kolkata to Guangzhou in southern China. The carrier said it also planned to fly between New Delhi and Guangzhou “shortly.”

IndiGo’s chief executive officer, Pieter Elbers, welcomed the thaw in aviation ties, saying it would help his airline’s global growth plans. “With this very important step, we are looking at introducing more direct flights into China,” he said in a statement.

IndiGo’s shares rose as much as 1.5% on Friday during trading in Mumbai before giving up some of the gains.

India’s other large local carrier, Air India, is also working on a plan to launch flights to Shanghai from New Delhi on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, according to people familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Rollout dates for Air India’s flights have not been finalized and could be sometime after the IndiGo launch, they added.

‘Big respite’

BEFORE the suspension, Air India and IndiGo, as well as Chinese airlines such as Air

China, China Southern and China Eastern operated services between major cities of the two countries.

“Resumption of flights will lead to more people-to-people contact,” said Ajay Prakash, chief executive at Nomad Travels and former president of Travel Agents

This

Federation of India. “It will also come as a big respite for medium and small sized companies that do business with China.”

needs to be followed up with improved visa rules to ensure ease of travel and India should also look at attracting Chinese tourists, Prakash added. Bloomberg News

CUI JIANCHUN, Commissioner of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong, meets with the press, in Hong Kong, on July 30, 2024 AP/KANIS LEUNG

A12

October 4, 2025

Morocco’s Gen Z protests escalate: Deaths, arrests, and calls for reform

By Sam Metz & Akram Oubachir

The Associated Press

ABAT, Morocco—Youth-

Rled demonstrators in Morocco took to the streets on Thursday for a sixth straight night despite fears of more violence after police killed three people the night before.

The protesters in at least a dozen cities, including Casablanca, demanded better schools and hospitals, with some calling for Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to resign.

The call for resignation came after police killed three people on Wednesday as largely peaceful protests turned into riots, with banks looted and cars set ablaze.

Though Morocco’s king is the country’s highest authority, protests in Morocco routinely focus on the government charged with carrying out his agenda. On Thursday, hundreds chanted for King Mohammed VI to intervene

against the government. Crowds shouted “The people want to topple Akhannouch” and “Government out!” as demonstrations unfolded peacefully.

In his first public remarks, Akhannouch said earlier on Thursday that he was mourning Wednesday’s deaths. He praised law enforcement for its efforts to maintain order and indicated that the government was prepared to respond favorably to the protesters, without detailing reforms under discussion. “The approach based on dialogue is the only way to deal with the various problems faced by our country,” Akhannouch said.

Escalating tensions THE pledge for new efforts to address the protests came a day after authorities said armed rioters had stormed public buildings and the youth-led anti-government demonstrations showed few signs of abating.

Security forces opened fire at demonstrators on Wednesday, kill-

ing three people in Leqliaa, a small town outside the coastal city of Agadir. Morocco’s Interior Ministry said the three were shot and killed during an attempt to seize police weapons, though no witnesses could corroborate the report.

The ministry said 354 people— mostly law enforcement—had sustained injuries. It said hundreds of cars were damaged, as well as banks, shops and public buildings in 23 of the country’s provinces. Throughout the country, roughly 70% of the demonstrators were minors, according to ministry estimates.

The demonstrations, organized by a leaderless movement known as Gen Z 212 dominated by internetsavvy youth, have taken the country by surprise and emerged as some of Morocco’s biggest in years. By midweek, they appeared to be spreading to new locations despite a lack of permits from authorities.

Frustrations simmer

THOSE taking part in the so-called Gen Z protests decry what they see

as widespread corruption at everyday people’s expense. Through chants and posters, they have contrasted the flow of billions in investment toward preparation for the 2030 World Cup, while many schools and hospitals lack funds and remain in a dire state.

“Health care first, we don’t want the World Cup,” has emerged as among the week’s most popular refrains on the street.

Pointing to new stadiums under construction or renovation across the country, protesters have chanted, “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?”

The recent deaths of eight women in public hospital in Agadir have become a rallying cry against the decline of Morocco’s health system.

As Morocco prepares to host soccer’s Africa Cup of Nations later this year and politicians gear up for a parliamentary election in 2026, the link has drawn attention to how deep disparities endure in the North African king -

dom. Despite rapid development, according to some metrics, many Moroccans feel disillusioned by its unevenness, with regional inequities, the state of public services and lack of opportunity fueling discontent.

“The right to health, education and a dignified life is not an empty slogan but a serious demand,” Gen Z 212 said in a statement.

Officials have denied prioritizing World Cup spending over public infrastructure, saying health sector problems were inherited from previous governments.

Clashes and arrests

CHANTS were fewer as violence broke out in several cities on Wednesday evening, following days of mass arrests in more than a dozen cities, particularly in places where jobs are scarce and social services lacking.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights has said that more than 1,000 people have been apprehended, including many whose arrests were shown on video by

local media and some who were detained by plainclothes officers during live television interviews. The chaos came despite warnings from authorities, political parties in government and the opposition and the organizers themselves. In a statement published on Discord, the Gen Z 212 protest movement earlier on Wednesday implored protesters to remain peaceful and blasted “repressive security approaches.”

Still, the protests have escalated and become more destructive, particularly in cities far from where development efforts have been concentrated in Morocco. Local outlets and footage filmed by witnesses show protesters hurling rocks and setting vehicles ablaze in cities and towns in the country’s east and south.

The “Gen Z” protests mirror similar unrest sweeping countries like Nepal, Kenya and Madagascar.

Oubachir reported from Casablanca, Morocco.

Georgia uses detentions, steep fines and harsh measures to target anti-government protests

By Sophiko Megrelidze & Dasha Litvinova

The Associated Press

TBILISI, Georgia—Almost every day for nearly a year, Gota Chanturia has joined rallies at Georgia’s parliament against the government and its increasingly repressive policies. He’s done this despite mass arrests and police violence against demonstrators.

And the civics teacher keeps marching even though he’s racked up an astonishing $102,000 in fines from the protests. That’s about 10 times what the average Georgian earns in a year.

“We’ve said that we will be here until the end, and we’re still here,” Chanturia told The Associated Press as he participated in yet another demonstration this week in the capital of Tbilisi.

The protests began when the government halted talks about joining the European Union. That move came after the longtime ruling party Georgian Dream won an election that the opposition alleged was rigged.

The rallies, big and small, continue despite a multipronged crackdown by the government through laws that target demonstrators, rights groups, nongovernmental organizations and independent media.

More protests are planned for this weekend to coincide with local elections.

The repression in the South Caucasus nation of 3.7 million has drawn comparisons to Georgia’s powerful neighbor and former imperial ruler Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has stifled dissent. Georgian Dream has been accused of steering the country into Moscow’s orbit of influence.

Human Rights Watch says Georgia is suffering a “rights crisis.” The clampdown is unprecedented in the country’s independent history and is escalating steadily, said Giorgi Gogia, the group’s Europe and Central Asia associate director.

But Georgia’s vibrant civil society is pushing back, and it has become a question of “who would blink first,” Gogia said. If it’s the public and civil society, they could wake up in an authoritarian country, “which would be a huge transformation from what Georgia used to be up until now,” he added.

Fines, beatings and prison

KETUNA KERASHVILI joined a rally in rainy Tbilisi on Wednesday despite the fact that her 30-year-old brother Irakli was arrested in December, convicted of disrupting public order, and sentenced to two years in prison. He had rejected

the charges as unfounded.

Kerashvili told AP her brother’s trial was “tough to watch.”

“All of those boys and girls who are in prison now were trying to protect our country from pro-Russian forces and a proRussian government,” she said.

The violent crackdown escalated after largely peaceful protests in late November 2024, with over 400 people detained within two weeks; at least 300 reported severe beatings and other ill-treatment, according to Amnesty International. The group alleged much of the brutality occurs out of sight in detention.

Between April 2024 and August 2025, at least 76 people have faced criminal prosecution in the protests, with more than 60 imprisoned, according to Transparency International Georgia, an anti-corruption organization. The

number of prosecutions is likely higher now, and scores more people have been slapped with steep fines.

Chanturia said he was fined 56 times for allegedly blocking a road—a common charge levied against protesters. He said he hasn’t paid them and doesn’t intend to. Under new regulations, failing to do so could land him in jail.

HRW’s Gogia says it’s hard to estimate how many people have been fined, but he estimates it could be thousands. The penalties are issued via automation, like highway tolls and traffic fines, with authorities using surveillance cameras with facial recognition.

Sometimes those penalized weren’t protesting but just happened to be at the rally. Mariam Nikuradze, a prominent journalist and co-founder of the independent news site OC Media, has accrued 20,000 lari (about $7,300) in fines, after being cited four times for allegedly blocking a road. She said she was merely covering the demonstrations.

Javid Ahmedov, a journalism student from Azerbaijan, told AP he was filming at a July protest when the cameras spotted him. He learned he had been fined 10,000 lari (about $3,700) upon returning to Georgia last month to complete his studies at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. He eventually was denied entry, risking the completion of his degree and his US scholarship.

“I have to be in Georgia,” he told AP from Germany, where he is now an exchange student. “But it’s a big question.”

Opposition parties, media and NGOs targeted AUTHORITIES also have targeted key opposition politicians and parties, along with rights activists and media.

In the summer, eight opposition leaders were jailed on charges of refusing to

cooperate with a parliamentary inquiry, and two more were arrested later on different charges. The opposition said these arrests were politically motivated.

In August, authorities froze the bank accounts of seven rights groups. The Prosecutor’s Office alleged they were supplying demonstrators with gear like masks, pepper spray and protective glasses that were used in clashes with police. The organizations said the gear was for journalists covering the rallies.

The government is trying to create a narrative that there are attempts to overthrow the government, violate the constitution and engage in sabotage and violence, said Guram Imnadze of the Social Justice Center, a group whose funds were frozen.

Another goal is to “stop all the independent actors in the country, to limit or shrink democratic free spaces in the country, (and) make independent actors such as NGOs, media outlets or individual activists unable to support democracy,” he said. Georgian Dream has filed lawsuits against several independent TV channels and revealed plans to petition the Constitutional Court to declare the main opposition party, United National Movement, and others to be unconstitutional.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said last month the lawsuit will target everyone considered to be under the umbrella of the United National Movement, under the radical opposition and under foreign influence—“against all of them. Against everyone, everyone.” He alleged the protests are orchestrated and funded from abroad.

Litvinova reported from Tallinn, Estonia. Associated Press journalist Sam McNeil in Brussels contributed to this report.

Nartatez said the PNP has been working closely with local government units, disaster response agencies, and community leaders to safeguard residents Mobile and foot patrols were intensified, checkpoints were established in key routes, and close coordination with disaster management teams was strengthened to ensure the safety and

The team brought critical equipment including specialized search and rescue tools, a generator set, power tools, and a drone to support operations on the ground.

SHFC freezes loan payments

MEANWHILE , the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), an attached agency under the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), has declared a one-month moratorium on housing amortization payments for partner-homeowners in communities affected

well-being of the public. “The PNP remains vigilant. Our commanders on the ground have been directed to maintain a strong presence in vulnerable areas and act swiftly against any attempts to exploit the situation,” Nartatez said.

He also directed commanders on the ground to sustain heightened visibility and vigilance, ensuring that law enforcement presence remains strong in vulnerable areas. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco, Rex Anthony Naval

by recent natural calamities.

The declaration of moratorium is in response to President Marcos, Jr.’s directive and DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling’s instruction to extend urgent support to disaster-affected communities.

The moratorium covers memberbeneficiaries affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu, as well as Typhoons Nando and Typhoon Opong in Region IV-B (MIMAROPA), Region V (Bicol), and Region VI (Western Visayas).

SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa said the moratorium seeks to ease the financial burden of affected families so they can prioritize recovery and rebuilding. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Dutch high court orders re-evaluation of F-35 parts export license to Israel

TBy Mike Corder The Associated Press

HE HAGUE, Netherlands—

The highest court in the Netherlands on Friday ordered the Dutch government to reevaluate its currently suspended license for exporting parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel in response to concerns they could be used in breaches of international law.

The Supreme Court said an export suspension remains in place while the government reassesses the license.

The Supreme Court said an appeals court in The Hague overstepped its authority when it banned the transfer of F-35 parts to Israel in February 2024, citing concerns they could be used in breaches of international law. The ruling led the government to suspend the exports.

Supreme Court Vice-President Martijn Polak said the government

now has six weeks to re-evaluate the license.

The ruling comes as Israel continues its devastating offensive against Hamas in Gaza and at a time of political flux in the Netherlands, with national elections scheduled for Oct. 29 and the current government in caretaker mode.

The case was originally brought in late 2023 by three Dutch rights groups who argued that transferring the F-35 parts makes the Netherlands complicit in possible war crimes being committed by Israel in its war with Hamas. Israel denies committing war crimes in its campaign in Gaza.

The district court in The Hague initially rejected the ban, but in February 2024 an appeals panel ordered the Dutch government to halt shipments of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, citing a clear risk of violations of international law. The government appealed to the

Supreme Court, saying that foreign policy was a matter for the government, not courts.

In November last year, a legal advisor to the Supreme Court issued a non-binding opinion that the government’s appeal should be rejected.

The Netherlands is home to one of three regional warehouses for US-owned F-35 parts. Dutch government lawyers argue that a ban on transfers from the Netherlands would effectively be meaningless as the United States would deliver the parts anyway.

Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 66,200 Palestinians and wounded nearly 170,000 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its toll, but has said women and children make up around half the dead.

The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government. UN

agencies and many independent experts view its figures as the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.

The war broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, after Hamas militants and others stormed into Israel and killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 people hostage. Hamas still holds 48 hostages—about 20 of them thought by Israel to still be alive.

In a largely symbolic move, Slovenia announced in August that it was banning the import, export and transit of all weapons to and from Israel, calling it the first such move by a European Union member.

Last year, the UK government suspended exports of some weapons to Israel because they could be used to break international law. Spain says it halted arms sales to Israel in October 2023. There also are court cases in France and Belgium around weapons trade with Israel.

Luxembourg’s grand duke abdicates after 25 years, passing throne to son

By Sam Mcneil

The Associated Press

UXEMBOURG—Luxem -

Lbourg’s Grand Duke Henri abdicated his throne on Friday in favor of his son, Guillaume. Henri, 70, had served the tiny duchy in the heart of Europe for 25 years in a largely symbolic role. Guillaume, 43, will be crowned in a ceremony later on Friday and then greet the public atop a balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace with the royal family at his side. Henri abdicated in a ceremony at the Grand Ducal Palace, built of yellow stone and decorated with spires and ironwork. Guillaume, 43, will shortly be crowned and swear an oath to Luxembourg’s constitution before the 60 elected members of the Chamber of Deputies, the duchy’s parliament.

The new grand duke will greet the public from a balcony overlooking a central square with his family, including his wife, the Belgian-born Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, and his sons, Prince Charles, 5, and Prince François, 2. Royals from the Netherlands and Belgium are expected to attend the ceremonies. Later, on Friday, the new grand duke will host an evening gala for guests including French President Emmanuel Macron and German President FrankWalter Steinmeier.

Over the weekend, Guillaume will make a traditional tour of the nation that will end with a Sunday Mass with Archbishop JeanClaude Hollerich at the Catholic Notre-Dame de Luxembourg cathedral.

An official supplier to the Royal Court, Lea Lister, 70, dropped off roughly 200 madeleines, a small

shell-shaped sponge cake, for staff at the ceremonies. When Guillaume was 13, she began teaching him to cook dishes like Bouneschlupp, a hearty green bean and ham soup. She’s selling commemorative boxes of the cakes with Guillaume and Stéphanie designed to look like “a romantic fairytale” reflective of Luxembourg’s picturesque castles and forests.

Sitting beneath portraits of the French novelist Marcel Proust and a Grand Duke Henri, she said Guillaume’s kindness and empathy will do him well as sovereign—and he’ll be able to feed the family.

“You can feel that he is the son of a couple of parents who loved each other very much,” she said, of Guillaume. “He’s very emotive, very sensitive. So, I love that and I think he will be a beautiful Grand Duke for us.”

Cleaved from what is now France, Belgium and Germany in the 17th and 19th centuries, the small nation is a parliamentary democracy with the grand duke as head of state, akin to King Charles in the United Kingdom or King Philippe in Belgium. Roughly 700,000 citizens speak a mix of Luxembourgish, a Germanic language, and French and German in public life. It is the world’s last remaining grand duchy.

One of the European Union’s smallest nations and its richest per capita, Luxembourg is a financial powerhouse that hosts important EU institutions like the European Court of Justice and the European Investment Bank. The grand duchy is home to many of the banks in the eurozone, reinsurance companies and managers of hedge funds and money markets.

Guillaume will be Luxembourg’s seventh grand duke since 1890, when the modern monarchy was established. Across the duchy, his photo will replace that of his father’s. His monogram, symmetrical golden “G” letters below a crown, will also be added to the uniforms of the army, the police, emergency services, the prison service and customs.

Guillaume, like Henri, was educated in France, Switzerland and at the United Kingdom’s military academy, Sandhurst. Guillaume then worked for Belgian, German and Spanish firms.

Christoph Brüll, a historian and professor at the University

of Luxembourg, said Guillaume will be stepping into a very traditional role.

“His margin of maneuver or right to action is zero. So, the only power he has is then the power of speech or words. For the rest, the grand duke will remain a political symbol,” he said.

FROM left, Belgium’s Queen Mathilde, Luxembourg’s Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Belgium’s King Philippe, Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri and Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth pose during arrivals for the abdication and enthronement ceremony of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. AP/OMAR HAVANA

Editor: Jun Lomibao Kings, Hotshots clash in opener of PBA Season 50

By Josef T. Ramos

T HE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) kicks off its golden 50th season this weekend, headlined by a marquee matchup between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. The clash follows Saturday’s fellowship night at the Meralco Theater.

Ginebra, with two-time Grand Slam coach Tim Cone calling the shots, will face off against his former player LA Tenorio, who is now Magnolia head coach.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m., following the opening ceremonies and the annual Leo Awards at Novotel Manila, where Season 49’s Most Valuable Players will be honored. Cone made minimal adjustments to his roster, adding 6-foot-7 Norbert Torres via free agency from Meralco and signing 6-foot-3 rookie Sonny Estil, the 11th overall pick.

The Gin Kings core of Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, Japeth Aguilar, Stephen Holt, Troy Rosario, Jeremiah Gray and Maverick Ahanmisi aim to end a two-year championship drought.

Tenorio, who played under Cone at Alaska and Ginebra, shared his excitement about the matchup, saying it’s a privilege to coach against one of the country’s finest basketball minds—even as his team focuses on execution.

“We will rely more on our defense. I believe our players have what it takes to win the game,” Tenorio told BusinessMirror on Friday.

“It is really an honor to play or coach against Tim Cone, but I do not worry about it. We just must treat this as a normal game for us. We must get better each game.” Magnolia’s new additions include Javi Gomez de Liaño, Rafi Verano, Paolo Taha, and Gab Gomez.

Rookie 6-foot-5 center Yutien Andrada will join the team after fulfilling his commitments with the San Beda Red Lions in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

This season also marks the debut of Jason Webb as Magnolia’s new team governor. The festivities begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the green gate of Araneta Coliseum, where players will engage with fans for four hours. The celebration then moves to the Meralco Theater in the evening, honoring the league’s past and present members from the press, teams and staff.

Aguilar bags four coaching titles at

IT’S a banner year for Alvin Aguilar.

The Bacolod City native and founder of Deftac Ribeiro JiuJitsu Philippines earned four Coach of the Year awards at the SJJIF World Championships in recently Chiba, Japan—adding another milestone to his nearly 30-year coaching career. Aguilar, who has led Deftac since 1996, was recognized as Best Coach in four categories: Gi Adults, NoGi Adults, Gi Kids, and NoGi Kids. His team’s strong performance, with the highest collective points and most champions in each division, secured the honors.

“I’m incredibly proud to share that I received the Quadruple Coach of the Year Award at the SJJIF World Championships in Japan,” Aguilar posted on Facebook. He credited the achievement to the entire Deftac community.

“This is the result of everyone’s effort—from our chapter heads and coaches to the supportive parents and, most importantly, our amazing students,” Aguilar said. “While I may be the face of this award, it truly belongs to all of us.” Aguilar also expressed gratitude to Sensei Xande Ribeiro and Saulo Ribeiro

Altas overpower

PERPETUAL Help started off its National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 101 basketball campaign with a dominant 67–54 victory over San Sebastian CollegeRecoletos on Friday at San Juan Arena. The Altas join Mapua in the win column

A14 | SAturdAy, OctOber 4, 2025

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

North stars shine A

for their mentorship and inspiration. The first homegrown Filipino Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Aguilar is also the founder of the Universal Reality Combat Championship. He described his team as not just a group to train with, but a family to fight for.

“Here’s to greater things ahead for all of us,” he said.

TEAM NORTH delivered solid performances despite the heavy rain and strong winds from Typhoon Paolo, winning the International Container Terminal Services Inc. North vs South Elite Junior Philippine Golf Tour Championship crown on Friday in Cabuyao, Laguna.

Needing just 10 wins on the last day, North added an extra for good measure.

In the final singles matches, North secured 11 wins and 2 halves out of 24 games, surpassing the 24.5-point mark to seal a 26½–21½ victory at The Country Club.

North led from the start, winning the Four-ball format 8–4 and edging South 6½–5½ in Foursomes.

South rallied late, winning 11 matches and narrowing the gap to 21–23 with several matches still in play.

Then came the turning point.

Vito Sarines, tied with South’s Ralph Batican, chipped in from 20 yards on the rain-soaked 18th hole for birdie, sealing a 2-up win in the boys’ 11–14 division and pushing North to 24 points.

The clincher came quietly at hole 15, where Jakob Taruc defeated Eric Jeon 4&3 in the boys’ 15–18 division, securing the title with North’s 25th point.

Rafa Anciano pulled off a comeback

3&2 win over Precious Zaragosa, and Zach Villaroman halved his match with Alexis Nailga to finalize the score.

“The lead in Day 1 was very, very important,” said Team North captain’s representative Joey Anciano. “It’s like a step inside the door already. Day 2 was to maintain or increase the lead and we also won, leaving us with 10 matches and a draw to win the cup.”

North took early control in nine of the first 15 pairings, while four matches remained tied in the 7–10 and 11–14 age groups.

South’s top juniors from Visayas and Mindanao fought back. In boys’ 11–14, four South players led early, but North’s Edoc and Sarines clawed back to halve their matches, slowing South’s momentum.

North held firm in the younger divisions, showing poise under pressure. Even after standout Patrick Tambalque withdrew due to injury while leading his match, North’s depth carried them through.

“Every match the players did their best and that’s what’s important. That’s why we have this kind of tournament. Golf is an individual sport, but we are blessed to have this event which is also all about teamwork,” Anciano said.

“All our players are gifted—they’re

talented, strong hitters, and strong in their individual games,” Anciano said. “Actually, it can go both ways, but again we had a strategy through all three days and it worked. So we’re happy to win this one.”

In singles, Halo Pangilinan opened with a 6&5 win over James Rolida in boys’ 7–10. Mavis Espedido followed with a 5&3 win, countering South’s early point from Kvan Alburo. Ronee Dungca, Zach Guico, and Jacob Casuga added dominant wins in boys’ 11–14. Winter Serapio and twins Lisa and Mona Sarines swept their matches in the girls’ divisions.

South responded with wins from Lucas Revilleza, Denise Mendoza, Zuri Bagaloyos, Rafella Batican, Crista Miñoza, and Tashanah Balangauan.

Marcus Dueñas, Jared Saban, and Mhark Fernando added late victories, leveling the singles at 8 wins each.

But North’s five-point cushion from team play proved decisive.

Tiffany Bernardino’s late collapse allowed Mikela Guillermo to halve their match, briefly delaying North’s celebration.

Standout players for North included Espedido, Dungca, Casuga, Serapio, and

San Beda sweeps Lyceum to take solo lead in SSL

SAN BEDA recovered from a shaky start to sweep Lyceum of the Philippines University, 26-24, 25-18, 25-20, and claim the solo lead in Pool A of the 2025 Shakey’s Super League Preseason Unity Cup on Friday at Paco Arena.

Angel Habacon and Janelle Bachar led the way as the Lady Red Spikers notched their second win in as many matches.

Habacon scored 11 points from nine attacks and two aces. Bachar chipped in eight points, while Katie Molina and Chynna Castillo each added seven.

KRELZ GECOSALA (second from left) and Kresthan Belacas receive their MVP trophies from Davao del Norte coach Jing Lobregas and Philta Region XI representative Gilbert Paylado.

Stags; Bombers stun Knights

The Lady Red Spikers struggled to shake off the debuting Lady Pirates in the opening set, which was extended after Johna Dolorito’s crosscourt hit. Bachar responded with a kill, and Dolorito’s error sealed the set for San Beda.

The Lady Red Spikers face a tough challenge against defending champion National University in their final group stage match.

Janeth Tulang scored 11 points and Joanne De Guzman added eight for Lyceum.

KRELZ GECOSALA and Kresthan Belacas stole the spotlight in the boys’ division of the Gov. Edwin Jubahib National Juniors Tennis Championships held over the weekend at the DavNor Sports Complex and Tagum City courts in Davao del Norte.

Gecosala, seeded fifth, stunned the field in the boys’ 18-and-under category, winning three straight matches before overpowering No. 4 seed Kurt Alcantara, 6-1, 6-3, in the final. The 16-year-old from Midsayap, North Cotabato also dominated the 16-and-under division, dropping just eight games

Agyei lifts Ateneo past UST GHANA’S Kofi Agyei scored in both halves to lead Ateneo to a 2-1 win over University of Santo Tomas. Agyei struck in the 29th minute off a long pass from Mateo Lacson, then added a second after halftime from a low cross by Dov Cariño. He now has four goals this season. The win moved Ateneo to second place with six points and a +4 goal difference, ahead of La Salle (4 pts, 0 GD). Ateneo and La Salle face off Sunday at 4 p.m. at UP Diliman Football Stadium. Coach Paul Madrona, filling in for suspended head coach JP Merida, said injuries forced the team to rely on remaining key players and seniors to guide the rookies.

Ateneo dominated early, with Cariño linking well with Agyei and Joziah Rance. UST nearly responded after Agyei’s second goal, but Chris Valderama’s shot was saved by Alfonso Loja.

in three matches, capped by a 6-4, 6-1 win over Wallaen Cabigas. Belacas, from Mlang, Cotabato, excelled in the younger age groups. He edged Tyronne Caro, 7-5, 6-3, to win the 12-and-under title, then claimed the 14-and-under crown after Caro retired in the second set, trailing 3-6, 4-2. Their twin victories earned them co-MVP honors, joined by Faith Lazaro of Tagum City, who impressed in the girls’ division.

Lazaro ended Ayl Gonzaga’s winning streak in the Palawan Pawnshop junior circuit with a gritty 0-6, 6-4, 6-2 semifinal comeback. She went on to win the 16-andunder title, 6-2, 6-2, over Telko Ello. Though she lost the 18-andunder finals to Sultan Kudarat’s Sanschena Francisco, 6-3, 6-3, her overall performance secured her a share of the MVP award. Gonzaga bounced back by winning the girls’ 14-and-under title, 6-2, 6-2, over doubles partner

Justine Gumbao, repeating her success in Sultan Kudarat. Maureen Mamaba (Davao de Oro) upset Alexandrea Bendoy, 6-3, 6-3, to win the girls’ 12-and-under title. Brandon Luchavez, unseeded, captured the 10-and-under unisex crown, beating top seed Storm Tozer, 5-4(3), 4-0. Gonzaga also bagged two doubles titles. With Gumbao, she routed Sam Rodriguez and Shan Tuyor, 8-1, in the 14-and-under finals. She then teamed up with Francisco to defeat Ello and Yana Reyes, 8-3, in the 18-and-under finals. In boys’ doubles, Alcantara and Cabigas won the 18-and-under title, 8-5, over Harinne Antiola and Jaime Gultiano. Caro and Gecosala took the 14-and-under crown, beating Belacas and Dimzon, 8-3.

The Group 2 tournament, presented by Dunlop and sanctioned by Philta, was supported by Universal

and ICON

ADAMSON’S