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Saturday, October 31, 2026 Vol. 22 No. 24
By Andrea E. San Juan
IGHER prices of domestic fuel, electricity and transport fares could drive inflation in October to the fastest pace in three years and eight months, latest inflation forecast of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.
See “Inflation,” A2
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Inflation will be “harder to bring down quickly because the pressure is no longer confined to volatile food and energy prices.” —Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo R. Rivera
‘a’
ENTERPRISE LOAN DEMAND Majority Expect No Change Enterprise Loan Demand
Percentage of respondent banks expecting enterprise loan demand to change or remain steady.
FOR BSP POLICY EFFECTIVENESS
Q4 2026 70.0%
69.2%
60.0%
Moody’s assigned the BSP an “a” assessment for monetary and macro policy effectiveness, citing its credible policy framework, exchange-rate flexibility and effective banking supervision.
50.0% 40.0% 30.0%
26.9%
20.0% 10.0% 3.8% 0%
Unchanged
Increase
Decline
BSP pointed out these are higher than figures posted in the third quarter of 2026 at 71.2 percent and 77.1 percent for enterprise loans and See “Banks,” A2
DOWN THE FUEL PRICE RABBIT HOLE A gasoline station attendant is photographed at a station in Las Piñas City, as rising domestic fuel
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
T brands rose by 11 percent to $35.9 billion in 2026. The increase was the secondfastest among the six Asean markets covered by the consultancy’s latest ranking, behind Vietnam’s 15-percent growth and ahead of the regionwide average of 8 percent. Yet, the Pinoy brands represented only 11.4 percent of the See “Asean,” A2
HE national government’s outstanding debt swelled to another record high of P19.66 trillion as of the end of September, with debt affordability and foreign-exchange movement exposures weighing on its fiscal strength. Debt held by the government rose by 12.63 percent from P17.455 trillion in the same period a year ago, data released by the Bureau of the Treasury on Friday showed. Of the amount, domestic debt accounted for 67.39 percent, while external debt comprised 32.61 percent. The outstanding debt is also higher by 0.27 percent than the P19.606 trillion recorded as of endAugust 2026.
₧19.66T RECORD GOVERNMENT DEBT
Outstanding national government debt as of end-September 2026, up 12.63 percent from a year earlier.
“Debt affordability will remain the principal constraint on fiscal strength, with interest payments projected to remain above 14 percent of revenue, compared with a Baa-rated peer median of around 9 percent.” — Moody’s Ratings
“Moody’s assessment affirms the Philippines’ resilience amid evolving domestic and global risks.”— BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr.
Liabilities sourced at home inched up by 0.07 percent monthon-month to P13.248 trillion from P13.239 trillion. Domestic debt increased due to the P7.66-billion net issuance of government securities, while the weakening of the peso against the US dollar put an additional P1.12 billion to the value of onshore dollar bonds, the Treasury explained. Year-to-date, local debt surged by 9.34 percent from P12.116 trillion due to cumulative borrowing and valuation adjustments arising from movements in foreign exchange rates, the Treasury said. Meanwhile, year-on-year, this jumped by 10.65 percent from P11.972 trillion. On the other hand, foreign obligations grew 0.70 percent month-
“The ‘a’ assessment reflects the credibility of the monetary policy framework, exchange-rate flexibility and effective banking sector oversight,” the credit rating agency said. Further, Moody’s Ratings said the BSP has “demonstrated its ability to respond to changing economic conditions, easing policy when inflationary pressures were subdued and tightening as higher energy prices increased inflation risks in 2026.” These actions, the credit rating agency said, have helped keep inflation expectations “anchored” despite a temporary rise in headline inflation. Moody’s Ratings said exchange-rate flexibility and sizeable foreign-exchange reserves provide important buffers against external shocks, while a “well-capitalized and liquid banking system” limits potential contingent liabilities to the government. “Further improvements in monetary transmission, financial surveillance and macroprudential policy implementation would strengthen an already robust policy framework,” added the credit rating agency. As such, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said in a statement
See “Debt,” A2
See “Moody’s,” A2
End-September NG debt swells to ₧19.66T, another record high
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Moody’s Ratings gives BSP ‘a’ for monetary, macro policy effectiveness OLLOWING Moody’s assessment which affirmed the Philippines’ resilience amid evolving domestic and global risks, the central bank said it remains committed to safeguarding price and financial stability, while prudently managing the country’s foreign exchange reserves. In its Issuer In-Depth report, Moody’s Ratings gave the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) an “a” assessment on “monetary and macro policy effectiveness.”
prices add to the cost pressures facing Filipino households. Higher fuel, electricity and transport fares are among the key drivers behind the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ forecast of 7.1 to 8.1 percent inflation in October 2026. If inflation reaches the upper end of the forecast range, it would mark the fastest pace since February 2023. NONIE REYES
ILIPINOS may be surrounded by homegrown brands, but their regional footprint remains relatively small, according to a global brand valuation consultancy. In its Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) 500 2026 report, Brand Finance said the combined value of Philippine
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PHL brands gain value, but Asean clout remains limited
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
(2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
By Andrea E. San Juan
Most PHL banks see steady Q4 credit standards, loan demand OST Philippine banks expect credit standards and loan demand to remain steady in the fourth quarter of 2026, results of the latest Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey (SLOS) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) show. In a statement on Friday, the central bank said that for the fourth quarter of 2026, 80.8 percent of respondent banks expected unchanged credit standards for enterprise loans, while 85.7 percent expect steady standards for household loans.
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OCT INFLATION COULD HIT 3-YR HIGH OF 7.1-8.1% H
In a statement on Friday, the central bank said it projects October 2026 inflation to settle within the 7.1 to 8.1 percent range. “Upward price pressures are likely to come from higher prices of domestic fuel, electricity, and transport fares,” the BSP said. These pressures, however, could be “partially offset” by lower prices of key agricultural commodities, such as rice, vegetables, meat, and fish, owing to favorable supply conditions.
EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 63.8520 n JAPAN 0.4050 n UK 85.4404 n HK 8.1384 n CHINA 9.5857 n SINGAPORE 49.9038 n AUSTRALIA 44.8752 n EU 71.3865 n KOREA 0.0477 n SAUDI ARABIA 17.0150 Source: BSP (October 30, 2026)
News BusinessMirror
A2 Saturday, October 31, 2026
OCT INFLATION COULD HIT 3-YR HIGH OF 7.1-8.1%
RICE PRICES IN FOCUS Different rice varieties and their corresponding prices are displayed at a store inside Baguio Public Market as shoppers weigh their choices amid rising living costs. In its
latest forecast, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) projects October 2026 inflation at 7.1 to 8.1 percent, driven by higher domestic fuel, electricity and transport costs. Lower prices of key agricultural commodities, including rice, vegetables, meat and fish, could partly temper the increase. BERNARD TESTA Continued from A1
Should inflation in October hit the upper end of the central bank’s forecast range at 8.1 percent, this would be the fastest pace in the increase in the prices of goods and services since February 2023,
when it reached 8.6 percent. However, if inflation settles at the lower end of the range or at 7.1 percent, it would mean that inflation eased from the 7.2 percent in September. In 2026, inflation peaked at 7.2 percent in April before easing
to 6.8 percent in May, 6.4 percent in June, 6.2 percent in July and 6.1 percent in August. However, it peaked again in September— matching the 7.2 percent rate in April. When the September inflation data came out, economists warned
that the latest acceleration is becoming harder to pin solely on a few volatile items. Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) economist Leonardo Lanzona earlier explained to this newspaper that inflation has become more “domestic-driven.” University of Asia and the Pacific economist Marco C. Agonia agreed, noting that second-round effects are now emerging as inflation rises even in commodity groups without direct exposure to oil prices. The sentiments of the two economists were echoed by Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo R. Rivera, who emphasized that inflation will be “harder to bring down quickly because the pressure is no longer confined to volatile food and energy prices.” (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2026/10/07/inflation-surges-to7-2-price-pressures-broaden/) In earlier commentaries, bank economists warned that inflation is likely to accelerate further in the fourth quarter of 2026 and could peak in November. (See:https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2026/10/05/ q4-inflation-seen-even-faster-novpeak-feared/) No less than the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said at its latest monetary policy stance briefing that the inflation rate could continue to increase in the last quarter of 2026. “Maybe just to describe it a little bit, if our average inflation forecast for 2026 is 6.1 percent, and then the actual numbers so far for the first nine months of the year is about 5.4 percent. So that means that the inflation rate could continue to increase in the last quarter of 2026. The last print is 7.2 percent. So there could still be some increase in inflation numbers for the coming months, as well as going into the early months of 2027,” BSP Deputy Governor Zeno Ronald R. Abenoja said on October 22. In its statement, the central bank vowed to remain vigilant and guided by incoming data, particularly on inflation and growth prospects. “It will continue to assess the impact of the latest developments in the Middle East on the country’s inflation and economic outlook,” the BSP also noted. The actual headline inflation rates for this year were the following: January, 2 percent ; February, 2.4 percent; March, 4.1 percent; April, 7.2 percent; May, 6.8 percent; June, 6.4 percent; 6.2 percent in July, 6.1 percent in August, and 7.2 percent in September, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
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Debt…
Asean...
on-month to P6.411 trillion from P6.367 trillion. The peso depreciation against the greenback has pushed up the peso value of foreign-currencydenominated debt by P40.12 billion, as well as the P9.27 billion net availment of external loans, the Treasury said. Still, “favorable” movements in third currencies against the US dollar partly offset the increase, resulting in a P4.70-billion decrease in valuation. To date, offshore debt posted a 14.67-percent increase from P5.591 trillion as of end-December 2025. The Treasury pointed to the P462.85 billion in net external borrowing and valuation effects from exchange rate movements amounting to P357.58 billion. External obligations also climbed by 16.96 percent from P5.482 trillion in the same period last year. “We expect fiscal consolidation to remain broadly on track despite weaker growth and uncertainty surrounding proposed revenue measures,” Moody’s Ratings said in its latest credit analysis for the Philippines. Moody’s assessed the country’s fiscal strength as “ba2,” citing weakening debt affordability, elevated debt burden and exposure to exchange-rate movements through foreign-currency debt. “Debt affordability will remain the principal constraint on fiscal strength, with interest payments projected to remain above 14 percent of revenue, compared with a Baa-rated peer median of around 9 percent,” the credit rater said. With more than 30 percent of government debt in foreign currency, Moody’s said this leaves fiscal metrics exposed to exchangerate movements. This, despite prudent liability management, a predominantly domestic funding base, long average maturities and a fixed-rate share of about 90 percent to mitigate refinancing and interest-rate risks, Moody’s added. General government debt as a share of gross domestic product is expected to “stabilize” at around 58 percent over the next two years, according to Moody’s, on a par with similarly rated peers. This will gradually decline as growth recovers and primary balances improve, it added.
Asean 500’s combined value of $315.6 billion, placing the country sixth among the markets ranked. The Philippines also had the fewest entries, with 66 companies making up 13.2 percent of the list. Indonesia had the largest number of entries at 96, followed by Malaysia with 94 and Singapore with 88. In terms of combined brand value, Singapore led with a 26.7-percent share, followed by Malaysia at 19.6 percent, Thailand at 14.8 percent, Indonesia at 14.1 percent and Vietnam at 13.4 percent. At the top of the Philippine rankings, BDO remained the country’s most valuable brand, although its valuation slipped 4 percent to $3.5 billion, placing it 16th across Asean. Jollibee moved up six places to 17th after its brand value jumped 32 percent to $3.3 billion, while Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) climbed nine places to 19th with a 37-percent increase to $3.2 billion. The narrowing gap among the three companies points to a more competitive race for the country’s top brand position, Brand Finance Asia Pacific Managing Director Alex Haigh said. BPI posted the fourth-largest brand value increase in Asean, while the combined value of Philippine banking brands grew 19 percent, compared with 5 percent for the region’s banking sector, he said. Haigh also cited the performance of mid-sized lenders Asia United Bank, China Banking Corp. and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., which each recorded brand value growth of more than 40 percent. “As challengers grow at this pace, scale alone is no longer enough to protect a leading position,” Haigh said. Banking and financial services accounted for 14 Philippine entries in the ranking, matching the number of brands in food, beverages and restaurants and the number of companies in real estate and property development. Other Philippine entries included telecommunications companies Globe Telecom and PLDT; utility and energy firms Meralco and Petron; retailers Puregold and Mercury Drug; and transport companies Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. Banks also remained prominent across the regional ranking, accounting for five of Asean’s 10 most valuable brands, Brand Finance said.
Continued from A1
Continued from A1
Banks… Moody’s... Continued from A1
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on Friday: “Moody’s assessment affirms the Philippines’ resilience amid evolving domestic and global risks. The BSP remains committed to safeguarding price and financial stability, while prudently managing the country’s foreign exchange reserves.” Moreover, the report noted that the country’s external position is supported by substantial foreign exchange reserves and sustained sources of external financing. Meanwhile, overseas Filipino remittances, business process outsourcing sector receipts and foreign direct investments continue to support household consumption, economic growth and external resilience. Moody’s Issuer In-Depth report provides a comprehensive assessment of an issuer’s credit profile, including its business and financial strengths, key credit drivers and risks, and factors that may influence future rating developments. Unlike a Credit Opinion or Rating Action report, it offers a more detailed analytical perspective intended to give investors and market participants a deeper understanding of the issuer’s creditworthiness. It does not change the sovereign credit rating. On August 24, 2026, Moody’s affirmed the Philippines’ investment-grade credit rating of Baa2 with a stable outlook.
household loans, respectively. This, it noted, indicates a shift toward “more stable” lending standards. Among banks expecting changes in credit standards, the central bank said the bias toward tightening has “moderated” both enterprise and household loans. A small share of banks also expects to ease their credit standards, the BSP also noted. Respondents cited uncertainty over the economic outlook, deterioration in borrower profiles, and lower risk tolerance as factors that could lead to tighter standards. Meanwhile, banks also expect overall loan demand to remain steady in the fourth quarter of 2026, with signs of “stronger demand.” For enterprise loans, 69.2 percent of respondents expect demand to remain unchanged, 26.9 percent expect an increase, and 3.8 percent expect a decline. Compared with the third quarter, fewer banks expect “unchanged demand” and more expect demand to increase. “The expected increase in enterprise loan demand reflects higher financing needs for inventories and accounts receivable, as well as limited access to other funding sources,” BSP said. For households, banks expecting stronger loan demand cited higher household consumption, more attractive bank financing terms, and increased housing investment. Andrea E. San Juan
A4
Saturday, October 31, 2026
News
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PHL trade gap climbs to widest level since July
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By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
HE country posted a $5.15-billion trade deficit in September, the widest since July, as imports continued to grow faster than exports despite record-high sales in both directions, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday. The PSA’s International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) showed the deficit—representing the difference between the value of goods exported and imported— increased by 10.3 percent from the same month last year. Total imports reached $15.03 billion, up 25.7 percent from
$11.95 billion in September 2025. Exports, meanwhile, grew by 35.6 percent to $9.87 billion from $7.28 billion a year earlier. Despite t he fa ster a nnu a l g row t h in e x por ts, t he va lue of impor ted good s rem a ined subst a nt i a l ly h igher. Both export and import values
reached their highest levels since the PSA began its series in 1991. The increase in exports was led by electronic products, which posted the largest annual gain among commodity groups at $2.89 billion. Electronic equipment and parts followed with an increase of $64.41 million, while gold rose by $59.52 million. On the import side, electronic products likewise recorded the largest annual increase, rising by $2.7 billion. Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials followed with a $687.02-million increase, while imports of cereals and cereal preparations grew by $98.36 million. The combined value of the country’s exports and imports reached $24.9 billion in September, 29.5 percent higher than the $19.24 billion recorded a year earlier. This was also the highest total external trade value in the PSA’s series.
The United States remained the Philippines’s largest export market, accounting for $2.63 billion, or 26.6 percent of total export sales. Hong Kong was the secondlargest destination with $1.55 billion, followed by China with $1.12 billion, Vietnam with $785.15 million and Japan with $619.17 million. South Korea, meanwhile, was the country’s biggest source of imports, supplying $3.92 billion worth of goods, equivalent to 26.1 percent of total imports. China ranked second with $3.36 billion, followed by Indonesia with $994.43 million, Japan with $952.13 million and the United States with $744.66 million. The IMTS ser ves as a key input in compiling the countr y’s ba lance of pay ments, for mulating economic policies, and supporting research and investment analysis, according to the statistics agency.
Rise in condo buyer cancellations prompts call for data transparency By Carmel Pedroza
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EBU CITY—The reported increase in condominium buyer cancellations in Metro Manila underscores the need for greater transparency in property market data, with real estate industry players urged to distinguish financingrelated backouts from other transaction failures and units that eventually find new buyers, according to a real estate expert. Anthony Leuterio, president of the Association of Real Estate Brokers of the Philippines (Abrep) and founder of Filipino Homes, said reported cancellation figures
should be accompanied by a clear methodology and detailed transaction breakdown to help stakeholders assess the actual condition of the residential property market. Leuterio questioned whether the reported 9,000 condominium cancellations during the first nine months of 2026 accurately represented the extent of financing difficulties among buyers, saying the figures needed further examination before being treated as an indicator of market weakness. He called for disclosure of the total transactions covered, the study period, and the developers and financial institutions included in the data.
The call comes as Colliers Philippines’ second-quarter 2026 survey points to mounting pressure in Metro Manila’s midincome condominium segment, where buyer cancellations have increased even as developers introduce more flexible payment arrangements to stimulate demand. In its October 14 survey report, Colliers noted that cancellations in the lower and upper mid-income segments, covering condominium units priced between P3.6 million and P12 million, began rising again in the first half of 2026, particularly among projects that had recently been completed or were approaching turnover.
The property consultancy also reported approximately 9,260 unsold ready-for-occupancy condominium units priced between P3.6 million and P5 million in Metro Manila as of the second quarter. Quezon City’s northern and southern areas accounted for the largest share of this inventory, with 3,020 units, followed by Parañaque with 1,580 and Pasay City with 1,410. Pasig had 900 unsold units in the same price bracket. The figures highlight the affordability challenge facing developers and prospective homeowners, particularly as buyers transition from initial installment arrangements to financing requirements closer to unit turnover. Colliers said the lower mid-income segment, defined as units priced between P3.6 million and P7 million, accounted for nearly half of Metro Manila’s unsold readyfor-occupancy condominium inventory. Developers have responded with larger discounts, longer payment periods and rent-to-own arrangements. However, sustaining buyer take-up remains a challenge as demand in the segment continues to depend heavily on promotional offers and extended payment terms. For Leuterio, the circumstances behind each cancellation must be examined rather than automatically attributing failed transactions to buyers, banks or prevailing market conditions. He said financing difficulties could stem from temporary unemployment, changes in employment status, incomplete documentation or problems verifying income earned overseas. These circumstances do not necessarily mean that buyers are permanently disqualified from obtaining housing loans, as some may still secure financing through alternative banks or updated documentation. He also cautioned against treating every cancelled purchase as a permanent loss for developers, pointing out that some units could be resold to other buyers. A developer, for example, could initially record 200 cancelled transactions but subsequently resell 150 of the affected units. While See “Condo,” A13
3 late reports leave MGen, Pemhi with ₧5.8-M PCC fine By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
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HE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has held Pilipinas Enterprise Management Holdings Inc. (PEMHI) and Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen) jointly liable for P5.8 million in penalties over delayed merger-related reports. The penalty covers three violations of Section 29(b) of the Philippine Competition Act, after the companies repeatedly failed to meet reporting deadlines imposed as a condition for the Commission’s clearance of a major power-sector transaction. The case stemmed from the acquisition of interests in power generation and industrial companies by MGen and Therma NatGas Power Inc. through Chromite Gas Holdings Inc. and San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. To address competition concerns over possible coordinated conduct in energy sales and the exercise of market power, the parties submitted an Undertaking containing commitments that the PCC accepted as conditions for approving the transaction. One requirement obligated the notifying parties to submit to the PCC’s Mergers and Acquisitions Office, within 15 days after each calendar quarter, copies of the Comparative Retail Electricity Market reports that retail electricity supplier entities had filed with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The PCC took up the matter following a complaint from its mergers office concerning delayed submissions by Global Energy Supply Corp., a retail electricity supplier subsidiary of Pemhi. It found Pemhi and MGen liable for three counts of non-compliance involving reports for the first three quarters of 2025. The first-quarter report was submitted 215 days late, the second-quarter report 126 days late and the third-quarter report 34 days late. The companies argued that the delays resulted from oversight, human error and a misunderstanding of the reporting requirements. The commission rejected their explanation, ruling that the reporting schedule was part of their own voluntary commitments and could not be relaxed by citing flexibility under ERC regulatory resolutions. MGen paid the P5.8-million administrative fine in full on October 16, with the amount remitted to the Bureau of the Treasury. “Voluntary commitments submitted as a condition for merger approval are binding obligations that must be fulfilled in good faith,” PCC Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo said. He added that the ruling underscored that regulatory deadlines could not be treated as a matter of corporate convenience, particularly in priority sectors such as energy. “Unsubstantiated delays compromise our capacity to monitor transactions effectively.”
Freelancers, VAs can have SSS cover in deal with DICT
SOCIAL Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Victor Alfonso A. Limlingan (third from left) and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Robert Joseph M. de Claro (second from left) sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen social security protection for Filipino freelancers and virtual assistants.
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REELANCERS and virtual assistants could gain access to governmentbacked social security as the Social Security System (SSS) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) widen coverage to the growing digital workforce. In a statement on Friday, the SSS said freelancers and virtual assistants could register as self-employed SSS members to become eligible for sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, funeral and death benefits. Being a member would also enable them to apply for SSS loan programs, including salary loans, the Emergency Loan Program and the SSS Micro Loan Program.
They may likewise obtain additional coverage under the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program for work-related sickness, disability or death. The SSS contribution rate currently stands at 15 percent. For self-employed members, the Monthly Salary Credit used to determine contributions ranges from P5,000 to P35,000. The lowest monthly contribution is P760, consisting of P750 for the regular SSS contribution and P10 for the Employees’ Compensation contribution. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Victor Alfonso A. Limlingan and DICT Secretary Robert Joseph M. de Claro signed a memorandum of understanding on October 21 to expand social security coverage for freelancers. “A key objective of the MOU is to increase awareness, registration, membership and compliance with Republic Act No. 11199, or the Social Security Act of 2018, among freelancers and online workers, ensuring broader access to social security protection,” Limlingan was quoted as saying. The SSS and DICT will also look into joint initiatives on freelancer education, partnerships, job creation and matching, advocacy activities and the monitoring of program outcomes under the MOU. “Our goal is simple: no Filipino worker should be left without social security protection. Through this MOU with DICT, we are taking a significant step toward making social security more accessible, more relevant, and more responsive to the needs of our digital workforce,” Limlingan said. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
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Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, October 31, 2026 A5
Managing chronic pain in cold weather
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By Jona C. Redondo
VERY year as the amihan sets in and the cooler breeze rolls across the country, senior citizens complain of joints that ache more than they did a few weeks ago during the humid months. In the West, every autumn, the same thing happens: elderly patients arrive in clinics describing joints that ache more than they did a month ago. Their hands are stiffer in the morning. Their knees complain on the stairs. They are not imagining it, and they are not being dramatic. Dr. Christopher Murawski, an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at Duke University, said: “Warm weather, cold weather, changes in humidity, changes in pressure— they can all contribute to joint and muscle pain.” Here’s a look at the mechanisms behind cold-weather flare-ups, the movement and warmth strategies that genuinely help, and the signals that mean it’s time to call a doctor.
Why stiffness climbs as the temperature falls
THE best-supported explanation involves barometric pressure—the weight of the air pressing on the body, roughly 15 pounds per square inch. When cold wind approaches, that pressure falls, and the tissues around joints respond. “While the science isn’t perfect, physiologically it makes some sense,” Murawski says. “Changes in pressure can cause muscles and ligaments to expand. Fluid shifts can happen. That can lead to swelling and pain.”
He adds that the reports line up with what patients describe, “even anecdotally.” Dr. Andrew Bang, a chiropractor at Cleveland Clinic, puts the same idea in blunter terms. “If you have arthritis, the space in your joint is already reduced. Add in an expansion of tissues because of the pressure change and you can see why people might hurt more.” A large UK study of 13,000 people with arthritis found aches rose on days with high humidity, low barometric pressure and strong wind—though other studies find only a mild link, which is why researchers still describe the relationship as real but incompletely explained. Cold adds its own layer. Synovial fluid, the lubricant inside every joint, thickens. “When the weather gets cooler, the synovial fluid that acts like motor oil in our joints becomes more like sludge,” says Dr. Mariko Ishimori, a rheumatologist at Cedars-Sinai. Muscles guard and tighten, restricting blood flow and shortening the tissues that cross the joint. Cartilage, which has no blood supply of its own, tolerates temperature swings poorly. Then there’s behavior. Cold days mean fewer walks, longer sits, and a house that suddenly feels worth hibernating in. Joints that don’t move get stiffer, and the Arthritis Foun-
dation notes that people may also fixate more on pain when outdoor distractions disappear.
Gentle stretching that earns its keep
MOTION is the single most reliable antidote to stiffness, and it costs nothing. “Motion is lotion,” Bang says. “If you keep moving, you’re less likely to get some of these aches.” The rules are simple: warm the tissue first, move slowly, never bounce, and stop at the edge of discomfort rather than pushing through it. Ishimori recommends prioritizing stretching before exercise, when muscles are cold and most vulnerable. Start in bed, before your feet hit the floor. The Arthritis Foundation’s “Good Morning Moves” routine is a safe template: lie on your back and reach arms and legs wide (Morning Star), hug your knees to your chest, then perform a gentle supine spinal twist—each held for three to five slow breaths. If hip or back arthritis makes double knee hugs hard, do one leg at a time. For a guided follow-along, Arthritis UK’s physiotherapist-led series is excellent and free. The morning routine, daytime routine and evening routine each run 20 minutes and are built specifically for people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. Many movements can be done seated. The Arthritis Foundation also offers a short 16-move morning bed stretch video for days when 20 minutes is too much. Aim for range of motion rather than a deep stretch: slow circles at the shoulders, wrist and ankle pumps, gentle knee extensions, seated torso rotations. Ten minutes daily beats an ambitious hour once a week.
Warmth, used deliberately
HEAT raises blood flow and relaxes
THE season is not something you can negotiate with. But the stiffness is—partly. AI-GENERATED ILLUSTRATION VIA GOOGLE GEMINI
the guarding that makes joints feel locked. “If you can get heat to penetrate areas where you have pain, you increase blood flow and can loosen up tight ligaments, tendons and connective tissue,” Bang says. Practical version during the amihan season: layer up even when staying indoors, because a chilly, drafty room stiffens muscles just as effectively as the cool morning air outside. Keep a cozy blanket or kumot close by, or use a heating pad before getting out of bed so your joints are already loosened when you wake. For targeted relief, use moist heat—a warm damp towel or a microwave-heated wet washcloth inside a sealed bag—for 15 to 20 minutes per session, with a cloth barrier between heat and skin. Don’t fall asleep on a pad, and check the skin periodically for excessive redness. If you have reduced sensation from diabetes or neuropathy, lower the setting. Protect the extremities. Dr.
Linda Russell, a rheumatologist at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery, recommends long underwear—particularly important because cold can trigger blood vessel spasms in the roughly 12 percent of the elderly with rheumatoid arthritis who also have Raynaud’s phenomenon. Warm water is also the friendliest environment for exercise: a heated pool lets you move through full range with almost no load on the joints. Two supporting habits matter more than most people expect. Drink water—dehydration thickens everything, including joint fluid.
When to stop self-managing and call someone
WEATHER-RELATED aches follow a pattern: worse in the cold, better with warmth and movement, and no worse than usual once you’re going. Pain that breaks the pattern deserves attention.
Mayo Clinic advises booking an appointment for joint pain accompanied by swelling, redness, tenderness and warmth around the joint, or fever. Get seen promptly if an injury leaves the joint misshapen, unusable, severely painful or suddenly swollen. Morning stiffness lasting longer than 30 to 60 minutes is a recognized flag for inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, as is pain that wakes you at night, pain in several joints at once, or unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Ishimori’s advice: discuss symptoms with a physician, “especially if the symptoms are new or haven’t been evaluated.” Cold weather aggravates existing disease; it doesn’t create it. The season is not something you can negotiate with. But the stiffness is—partly. Warm the joint, move it gently, and keep moving it. And when the pattern changes, let someone with a stethoscope look at it.
Being a senior citizen doesn’t excuse bad behavior
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ITY the nation that feels constrained to remind its senior citizens about elementary good manners and right conduct. A recent social media post by actress Rita Avila went viral after she recounted an encounter with a fellow senior citizen at a movie theater. Essentially, she recounted being at the cinema when a man seated next to her let his phone ring out loudly. She reminded him that they were inside a theater. He just said: “Pasensya na, senior na.” She riposted back, “senior na rin ako.” My most memorable experience with a senior citizen’s bad behavior happened inside a commuter train. That day, the train was fully packed with passengers and two high school students got shoved or “pranked” into the space that is reserved for senior citizens and PWD commuters, separated only by a flimsy rope. The two youngsters were obviously embarrassed and uncomfortable. I and other senior passengers knew it was not intentional on their part, but one old lady passenger didn’t like it at all and started berating the poor high schoolers endlessly and loudly, calling them undisciplined, unruly, disrespectful and so on. The funny thing was there was space enough for them and most of us didn’t mind them being there. At last, one elderly woman told the fulminating lady it was ok
because the youngsters got reprimanded enough. But she wouldn’t ease up and only shut up when the two teeners were forced to get off at the next station. To me that old cantankerous woman is the Pinoy equivalent of the white privileged “Karen” in America. We have this tendency to give older people a pass on certain things. Matanda na kasi. The casual excuse—“senior moment”—is being often abused as a free pass for many unacceptable behavior of elderly people. It’s everyone’s way of dismissing a shameful display of bad conduct from an old folk who ought to do better. I don’t think age should be an excuse for behaving rudely. Advancing age does not exempt anyone from basic courtesy. What is even more concerning is the potential for younger individuals to internalize and emulate such unbecoming conduct. Just last week, an octogenarian friend lamented the vanishing “courteousness and urbanidad” among today’s youth. I told him: “Yes, that may be true, but many of our fellow seniors are no bet-
ter. Our peers aren’t setting a good example either.” The problem is some of us old folks are now so focused on ourselves, we have dulled our sensitivity to other people, or even lost it. We often suffer from our inability to read the room many times. We speak out of turn or say hurtful words or behave badly without the fear of being admonished or rebuked by someone older because there’s no one else older than us in the room. Setting aside the elderly who are suffering from dementia, why do some normal elderly people decide to no longer be polite or respectful? Why do they lose their “filters” as they age and fail to realize that their comments are rude, crude, or outlandish? We were not like this before. The phenomenon of being able to act boorishly with impunity began to manifest itself some time ago. Our
society got infected by the virus of rudeness and vulgarity and soon even senior citizens began to stop being kindly elders. Remember the ex-president, himself a senior citizen, who delighted in speaking rough “kanto” language in his speeches? He had no compunction to curse in public and was even applauded for it, which made him come off as being “authentic” and “totoo.” To me his ascension to the height of national power was the inflection point in our social cultural history, that marked our collective descent into crassness, crudeness and vulgarity. Because he could use cuss words in public without being called out, soon everything was permitted and rudeness and crassness became the new normal. Four-letter words? Kanto language? Scandalous relationships? You encounter them on social media postings so often, they have lost their shock value. We are now a society with no filters and no restraint. The incidents of seniors behaving badly are just a reflection of what we have turned into. The question is, have Filipinos completely lost our grasp on basic manners? I pray not. My collective assessment is that it is not true of all senior citizens but a few who want to enjoy fully that sense of entitlement as much as they can while they still can, enforce and perpetuate a privilege, believing it is their right to be served. They know their days are numbered and they no longer have
to please anyone. It is borne out of many causes: fear, resentment, frustration, bitterness, sense of failure, and perhaps physical pain. One thing though about seniors. Yes, they do tend to focus on themselves, but sometimes they will respond to a gentle reminder. Etiquette still resonates with many of my senior friends. I am lucky to have a wife who always restrains me when I act or speak too uninhibitedly for comfort. In creative sessions I am invited to participate, I tell the young people present to let me know if I am rude in my manner and not
to take my words personally if I say something outrageous or offensive. We seniors need to go back to the idea of senior citizenship as a time of eldership, not a time to seek and enjoy more entitlements. We need to show our people, young or old, that we are not all crude and crass and feeling entitled. We need to let them know that having manners is still a huge factor to being a decent human being. Let’s reclaim the traditional values that have always defined the authentic Filipino character, most specially “paggalang sa kapwa, sa puso, diwa, salita at gawa.”
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Saturday, October 31, 2026 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos
BusinessMirror
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Tried and tested: Samsung Galaxy S26 FE THE Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is a smartphone that’s wider and taller than its predecessor, the S25 FE. It comes in Blueberry, Graphite and Pistachio. PHOTO FROM SAMSUNG
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HE first thing I notice when holding the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE for the first time is how perfectly it fits in my hand. It has a 6.7inch display and is quite “tall.” Its thickness is at 7.4mm. The back has a glossy finish. Like all Samsung phones, the Samsung Galaxy FE feels premium, encased in Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ and an aluminum alloy frame. It has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. As I am coming from using Samsung’s flagship devices, I immediately wanted to look at the difference in the FE’s 6.7” display (2340 pixels with a 120Hz refresh rate). I like how big the display is and it was crisp and vivid. To be honest, it was not as bright as the S26 Ultra’s display. But with prices starting at P46,990 for the 8GB + 128GB model compared with the S26 Ultra’s P86,990, the S26 FE is looking good. Money is, after all, a serious consideration in these financially challenging times so if you want something reasonably priced without having to shell out nearly P100,000, you know the FE is a good deal. The other storage options for the FE are 256GB and 512GB. The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, which comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, is powered by an Exynos 2500 chipset built on a 3nm process, an improvement from the 2025 processor. The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE also has the latest versions of Android and One UI out of the box. It will also get Android support up to Android 24 (seven major updates). The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE has a 4,900mAh typical battery capacity with support for 45W wired charging. The FE’s battery is higher than the Flip8’s 4,300 mAh and the Z Fold8’s 4,800 mAh, both of which last the whole day. The 4,900mAh means up to 29 hours on a single charge. The Galaxy S26 FE features a triple rear camera setup and a single front-facing selfie camera, enhanced by Samsung’s ProVisual Engine and AI processing. The main camera is a 50MP wide sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. The 12MP ultra-wide sits at f/2.2 for landscapes and group shots, and the 8MP telephoto adds 3x optical
zoom with its own OIS and an f/2.4 aperture. On the front, the upgraded 12MP selfie camera offers a wider view. At the core of the camera experience is the ProVisual Engine, designed to enhance image quality across different shooting conditions, including low light and distant subjects. The main camera also supports up to 8K video at 30fps and 4K video at 60fps for detailed, highresolution footage. As someone who has used Samsung’s flagship models for years now, I would describe the S26 FE’s camera as reliable and steady. To compare, the Galaxy S26 Ultra still takes amazing photos from the Upper Box and General Admission of Mall of Asia Arena and the S26 FE can shoot good concert photos from Lower Box. For a midrange phone, this is very much acceptable. To be honest, while the camera of the S26 FE is reliable, if you are a frequent concertgoer buying a phone for this purpose I would advise you to get the S26 Ultra because you won’t always be seated in Lower Box. However, if you’re using your phone camera normally for everyday things, the S26 FE is enough. It’s worth noting that the S26 FE has the My
FanCam feature. This Galaxy AI video-editing feature turns wider group or concert recordings into tight, personalized solo tracking shots. This is very helpful for taking videos and shooting photos during concerts and events. As for videos, daylight videos are fine. The nighttime videos can be a bit bright. The stabilization is quite good, so that is a bonus. In terms of performance, I would say the Galaxy S26 FE was fast, smooth, and reliable except for a few lags here and there. The lags usually happen at the end of the day so is it safe to say that they occur when the phone is “overworked?” Otherwise, the S26 FE’s performance was satisfactory. I would recommend the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE to someone who’s looking for a good everyday phone. The models with the larger memory will allow you to do more things seamlessly, such as gaming and streaming. Considering the price and everything else, one of the major cons for me is the glossy back, which can be slippery and a fingerprint magnet. Otherwise, the S26 FE is a solid phone with some of the features that have made Samsung’s flagship phones iconic.
FMI turns to robotics, AI to transform facilities management BY RIZAL RAOUL REYES FACILITIES Managers Inc. (FMI) is turning to robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to modernize its facilities management operations, as the company looks to sustain its growth and improve service delivery amid changing demands from corporate clients, hospitals and other institutions. Demosthenes Doplayna, managing director and president of FMI, told reporters in a recent press briefing that the company’s 2024 partnership with PUDU Robotics marked a step toward integrating smart automation into its services, reflecting the growing role of technology in cleaning, maintenance and other facilities management functions. As FMI celebrates 30 years in the Philippines, the company is positioning innovation as a key part of its next phase of growth, while maintaining its focus on its more than 6,000 employees who deliver services to 145 clients nationwide. Founded on October 22, 1996, FMI marked the milestone with an anniversary dinner on October 23 at Dusit Thani Manila in Makati City, carrying the theme “Building Tomorrow Together.” He said the company’s adoption of robotics comes as facilities management providers face increasing
pressure to improve operational efficiency, maintain consistent service standards, and respond to the requirements of increasingly complex workplaces. “Robotic systems can potentially automate repetitive and labor-intensive tasks, particularly in cleaning and facility upkeep, allowing human workers to concentrate on activities that require judgment, supervision and direct engagement with clients,” Doplayna said. “For FMI, the challenge is to harness these technologies to complement its workforce while expanding its capabilities across different industries,” Doplayna added. Rather than treating automation solely as a means of reducing manual work, the company’s long-standing emphasis on employee development provides a framework for preparing its personnel for changing job requirements. In 2000, FMI established the Facilities Management Academy, a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-accredited technical-vocational school to train its workforce. The initiative later expanded into U-BIX Colleges Inc., which offers baccalaureate programs and other educational opportunities. Doplayna said the training foundation could become increasingly important as robotics and AI
reshape facilities management, creating a greater need for workers who can operate automated equipment, monitor performance and integrate technology into day-to-day operations. The company’s broader business portfolio also reflects its effort to build capabilities beyond conventional facilities management. Envirostar and Safeway expanded its presence in cleaning products and pest control, while Facility Servisys Inc. and Smart City Facility Services Inc. broadened the group’s service offerings. In 2024, FMI also welcomed Sterling Support Services Inc. into its growing business portfolio. The following year, the group expanded internationally through ISTANA, which specializes in overseas employment opportunities, particularly in Japan. U-BIX Colleges subsequently introduced a Japaneselanguage program to help prepare Filipinos for these opportunities. FMI chairman Edilberto B. Bravo said the company’s 30-year milestone reflects the contributions of its employees, clients and business partners, while underscoring the importance of preparing for the future. “As we look ahead, we must remain steadfast in building a future defined by innovation, sustainability, and collective progress,” Bravo said.
PROTECT YOUNG WOMEN IN ONLINE SPACES, EXPERTS URGE BY PATRICK VILLANUEVA ONLINE spaces should be a safe place for young people, especially women. That was the call made by experts during a panel discussion at the Girls’ Summit 2026 in Quezon City. The panel discussion, themed “Safeguarding Girls Online #ThinkTwice x #StandWithGirls: Keep Girls Safe, Seen, and Heard Online,” was joined by Atty. Stephanie Garay of OSAEC-CSAEM, Karla Yu from TikTok Philippines, Maria Volante from the Quezon City Government, and Sophia Lorraine Cabadsan, a youth advocate. The panel discussed the dangers that women are being exposed to online and what can be done about them. According to Plan International Philippines, seven out of 10 women experience online harassment. Signs of harassment include fake news, pressure to hide secrets, and grooming, to name a few. Meanwhile, another report from 2020 stated that 20 percent of young Filipino children experience technology-facilitated sexual abuse and exploitation. Most of their harassers were someone they knew or trusted. In addition, data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) revealed that over 1.7 million reports were made in relation to online sexual abuse and exploitation in the Philippines in 2024. Thus, the call now is to make online spaces safer for young women by making situational risks and hazardous signs more known to the public. “No matter where we go, there’s still a risk for online manipulation,” said youth advocate Cabadsan, noting that the youth should be more aware of these risks and responsibly use technology to avoid these situations. Citing a study she read, Atty. Garay shared that the Philippines is in the list of the top countries of both victims and perpetrators. In this, she highlighted sextortion on both financial and relationship and AIgenerated nudity especially involving children, citing that is the current trend they see on online sexual abuse. Recognizing that TikTok is double-edged, where both creativity and bad actors exist, Yu ensured they are working on campaigns that would promote online safety for women and children. “We do not allow content that promotes harassment or harmful AI-generated content, or harmful disinformation in TikTok. At the same time, we want to empower the youth to take control of their online experience,” she shared. It is interconnected with their current campaign with Plan International Philippines, #ThinkTwice, a digital literacy campaign where they partner with online creators to promote meaningful and thoughtful conversations online. While there’s no guarantee that online safe spaces will immediately be born, it is still necessary to have these conversations to take further steps in building more inclusive and protected digital experiences.
Guizhou... CONTINUED FROM A7 own national plans are executed. Our short visit couldn’t establish the full environmental or social cost of Guizhou’s development. What it did show us was a province with purposeful bridges, high-speed rail connections and major technology operations, alongside villages where residents continued to practice, teach and earn from their traditions. The Dong drum towers, Miao embroidery and cloud infrastructure all belonged to the same province. I am grateful to former senator Nikki Coseteng and Bemz Benedito of Verde Creatives for the invitation and the arrangements that brought us Guizhou. I came home with so many stories, too few souvenirs and plenty of unfinished business: shops to explore in Zhaoxing, food to try, and a waterfall to walk behind. Before this trip, I had forgotten how good it felt to need my passport again. Now, this travelling tito can’t wait to get my next stamp.
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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • Saturday, October 31, 2026
Guizhou: High speed trains and ancient cultures B
Y day three of our trip to Guizhou in China, I had caught up on enough sleep to appreciate traveling at 266 kilometres per hour. After two nights at Guizhou Park Hotel, we were heading to Zhaoxing by high-speed train to Congjiang. Yesterday’s bridge had shown us how Guizhou connected its valleys; now came the railway. My jaw dropped when we arrived at Guiyang North Railway Station. We were catching a train, but the building felt more like an airport—and, to my eyes, a more impressive one than the terminal we had left in Manila. Perhaps I had brought the wrong expectations. Back home we only have the MRT and LRT, with just the concourse platforms and ticketing booths. Only those few connected to malls were more than just stations. Guiyang North was a major departure point in its own right, with a scale that made me stop and look around. Hopefully, our subway stations will at least be good—if and when they finally open. Guiyang North opened in 2014, alongside the Guiyang-Guangzhou high-speed railway, Guizhou’s first high-speed rail line. What looked relatively new to me had already been serving passengers for more than a decade. The station has 15 platforms and 32 tracks, serving a network that includes routes toward Guangzhou, Shanghai, Kunming, Chongqing and Chengdu. It also connects with Guiyang’s urban transport system, allowing passengers to continue their journeys beyond the railway station. Our itinerary listed train D1857, departing Guiyang North at 10:05 am. In about an hour and 39 minutes, we would reach Congjiang, where a road transfer would take us onward to Zhaoxing. I kept thinking about how much easier it would be to visit places beyond Manila if we had dependable rail connections like this. Yes, we had the PNR system but that was decades ago and just part of history. A shorter journey could mean an extra afternoon at the destination, rather than another stretch of the holiday spent on the road. Once aboard, I watched the speed display until it reached 266 km/h. The ride was so steady that the number seemed at odds with how little movement I felt inside the carriage and before I could doze off, we were already at Congjiang. Outside, it looked like we traveled back to the past, where traditional architectural details signaled the change in surroundings. We boarded our road transfer, and my attention shifted from the train’s speed to the structures outside. Our next base was Zhaoxing Hotel; again it was a relatively new hotel but made to resemble old architecture. After settling in and having lunch, we were ready to meet the people whose architecture had already caught our attention.
THE DONG AND THE DRUM TOWERS
ZHAOXING Dong Village is in Liping County. The Dong and Miao are separate ethnic peoples, with their own languages, histories and traditions. Over the next two days, we would get an introduction to both. The entrance looked like the gateway to an ancient village straight out of a Chinese microdrama. I thought we had arrived, but this was only the shuttle drop-off point; the village itself was still a few minutes away. As at Huangguoshu Waterfall, there was plenty to look at before we reached the main sights. Landscaped paths, rice fields and views of the surrounding mountains made the approach worth slowing down for. They had clearly gone to considerable lengths to make the whole visit worth the journey, beginning well before we reached the village streets. Zhaoxing traces its history to the Northern Song Dynasty, roughly a thousand years ago. The village’s five drum towers rise above the surrounding houses, their tiered roofs supported by timber frames fitted together without nails—a striking example of
traditional Dong carpentry. These towers have served as places for meetings, ceremonies, festivals and everyday conversation. Historically, drumbeats could summon residents or warn of danger. Around them are rows of timber houses, many with tiled roofs, projecting upper floors and carved wooden details. Traditional raised houses can place living quarters above spaces used for storage or livestock, although buildings now accommodate shops, restaurants and guesthouses. That was the part of Zhaoxing I wanted more time to explore.
ALL DRESSED UP, BUT NO TIME TO GO
ONE of the most popular activities here is trying on traditional Dong outfits. Our group dressed the part and learned a few dance steps. Former senator Nikki Coseteng participated enthusiastically, continuing to set a pace that some of us younger travelers struggled to match. Playing dress-up was fun, but I wanted more time in the village. After that activity, we only had an hour before dinner and the show—barely enough to browse the shops and dining spots. This was where I should have bought more souvenirs: clothing, textiles, accessories and smaller keepsakes. I left with only a few items and later regretted not exploring further. We also tried rice cake-making. Cooked glutinous rice is pounded into a dense, sticky mass before being portioned and served with a coating such as peanut powder. I tried the pounding, and it was more tiring than all the walking. Eating the finished piece was the easier part. After dinner, we returned for the evening performance. The drum towers were illuminated, and the program brought people together around a bonfire. The songs and dances included a portrayal of traditional courtship that drew laughs from the crowd. Then came the bamboo-pole dance, which looked a lot like our tinikling, with participants
timing their steps around poles moved to a rhythm. There was also Duoye, a communal circle dance in which people join hands and move together while singing, and the part where visitors were encouraged to participate.
DAY FOUR: MEETING THE MIAO
OUR next cultural visit took us to Langde Miao Village. We just had breakfast but we were welcomed with rice wine, by women wearing traditional dress and music played on bamboo reed instruments. Silver ornaments and embroidered clothing immediately drew attention, but by this point, I wanted more than another set of photographs of people in beautiful outfits. The term Miao, as used in China, covers a diverse population with different languages and local identities. The women of Langde are associated with the Long Skirt Miao tradition, named for their anklelength skirts. Their embroidery rewards a closer view. Patterns can carry references to ancestry, beliefs, animals, plants and remembered journeys. Butterfly imagery, for example, has a central place in the creation traditions of some Miao communities. Silver adds another layer of craftsmanship. Headdresses, neckpieces and other ornaments require skilled metalwork, and their significance extends beyond how impressive they look in a photograph. My favorite part of the Langde show was watching the elders perform. The men lined up with their lusheng—bamboo mouth organs with pipes towering above their heads—and played together in the village square. The older women followed with their own performance, their embroidered clothes and silver ornaments moving with each step. One dance had the women drawing long lengths of fabric from the lead dancer’s skirt, spreading them outward as they moved around her. It was a clever reveal: what had looked like part of one outfit became the center piece of a group dance.
I could happily have stayed watching the elders, but the program eventually called for audience participation. Once again, visitors were invited to join the dancing. After lunch, we headed to a batik workshop. Batik uses wax to protect parts of a fabric from dye, creating a pattern when the wax is removed. It sounds straightforward until you consider the control required to produce an intricate design by hand—and, of course, I chose to do a Labubu design. Our last cultural stop was the Qiandongnan Museum in Kaili, where costumes, objects and interactive displays helped place the village visits within a wider regional context. The exhibits let us examine the embroidery, accessories and construction of garments we had seen during performances. Displays also covered food, customs and beliefs, while interactive stations introduced music and let visitors virtually try on traditional outfits.
THE HIDDEN TECH BEYOND THE VILLAGES
PERHAPS Guizhou’s biggest surprise, however, lay in the places we never visited. Gui’an New Area, near Guiyang, hosts massive data centers for Apple, Huawei, Tencent, and other tech giants. What makes them remarkable is their location: built into mountains and near natural caves to harness natural cooling. We never saw these facilities in person, but our guide credited these major enterprise investments with driving much of the province’s rapid modern development. It brought to mind the Philippines’ own aspirations for high-tech manufacturing under initiatives like Pax Silica. While the projects serve different purposes, Guizhou offers a concrete lesson in how a region’s geographical advantages can be harnessed to drive real development. The vision is compelling, and as a Filipino, I’m eager to see how our
SEE “GUIZHOU,” A6
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Education BusinessMirror
A8 Saturday, October 31, 2026
Editor: Mike Policarpio
HONORING EXCELLENCE, INSPIRING VALUES
DepEd, Fortune Life, Marylindbert Intl honor 18 outstanding educators S
By Mike Policarpio
ERVICE beyond self, beyond sight, beyond sacrifice…
These traits describe, in essence, the exemplary educators feted last October 23 in this year’s edition of the Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Gintong Parangal para sa Edukasyon. From across the archipelago, the selected education professionals embodied the positive traits upheld by leading preneed firm Fortune Life Insurance Company through its Values Advocacy Program, now in its 15th year of partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Marylindbert International. Fortune Life honored outstanding education leaders and support professionals for their dedication to public service beyond the classroom. Each award, it said, reflects their integrity, compassion, and commitment to excellence in shaping the future of Philippine education. The celebration honors the legacy of Fortune Life and ALC Group founder Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, whose exemplary leadership, coupled with strong values of hard work and discipline, continues to inspire the advocacy, guided by the belief that true excellence lies in service, integrity, and positively
‘PAMUMUNO’ CATEGORY AWARDEES ROMEL L. LIBANG, PhD, JD, CESE: A s A ssistant
Schools Division superintendent, his leadership journey is a powerful testament to how vision, discipline, and compassion can transform education. With distinguished scholarships and executive training shaping his expertise, he translated that knowledge into impactful systems such as Project LEAD, SBM MiLES, e-DRIVE, and Project SIGLAYA, boosting governance, accountability, and learner-centered support. His initiatives not only built programs but also empowered people and institutions to serve better, leaving a legacy of sustainable excellence.
NELIA M. MABUTI, CESO VI:
Also an Asst. Schools Division superintendent, she stands as a shining example of values‑driven leadership, transforming discipline, integrity, and accountability into lasting systems that uplift people and institutions. Guided by her “NELIA Leadership Framework,” she championed initiatives that strengthened merit-based human resource management, transparent governance, employee recognition, and lifelong learning, ensuring that excellence is not only achieved but sustained. Her leadership has empowered colleagues, protected integrity, and inspired innovation, leaving a legacy of competence and service.
GLADY E. PAGUNSAN, EdD: As a Public Schools Di-
vision supervisor, he has dedicated his career to public service, guided by humility, compassion, and excellence, always placing Filipino learners and teachers at the heart of his leadership. Through data-driven supervision, inclusive curriculum planning, and teacher mentoring, he transformed classrooms and empowered educators to innovate and respond to diverse learner needs. As a coach, writer, and researcher, he elevated academic performance and inspired success in journalism, contests, and research, proving that leadership is measured by lives touched and communities strengthened. This unwavering commitment, honored by the Dangal ng Bayan Award and now celebrated through the Gintong Parangal, affirms his legacy as a servant-leader who builds hope and integrity for education.
HERMOGENES M. PANGANIBAN, CESO V: His
leadership as Schools Division superintendent is one of vision, discipline, and heart, transforming both Lucena City and Batangas City into
THE DepEd chief receives a commemorative cover of the Philippines Graphic’s October 2026 issue for Teachers’ Month from ALC Group officials: Marylindbert International EVP Alberto Rosal (from left), Fortune Life Insurance Company VP-Investment Officer Andrew Nicholas Cabangon and President-CEO D. Arnold A. Cabangon, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, with Fortune Life EVP-COO Emma M. Abad and Consulting Actuary Evelyn T. Carada. BERNARD TESTA
touching lives. It also salutes the honorees whose contributions leave a lasting impact on the schools and communities they serve.
Homage to ‘Amba’
IN his message for the “Parangal,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. paid tribute to the late ambassador, his rise from humble beginnings, and his legacy of diligence and discipline—qualities the Chief Executive believes the next generation of educators should embrace. “This celebration upholds a tradition that mea-
models of excellence in governance and education. His stewardship brought CSC PRIME HRM recognitions, ISO-certified systems, and national honors like the Dangal ng Bayan Award, while also mentoring award-winning public servants and composing the official hymn of Batangas City’s School Division Office. Beyond governance, he expanded access to learning by establishing new schools and inspiring students to achieve global victories in robotics, journalism, and academics.
ROBERTO D. SANTOS, JR., EdD: This Public Schools
Division supervisor has devoted his career to leading with heart, bringing education closer to underserved communities and turning challenges into opportunities for learners and teachers alike. Guided by his philosophy of “LUGUDership,” he championed establishing schools in far‑flung areas, creating lasting symbols of hope and access to quality learning. His passion for empowering educators through mentoring, research, and innovation has nurtured reflective and responsive leaders who uplift teaching and learning.
‘GURO’ CATEGORY AWARDEES CANDY CLAIRE E. CASIL:
Her life is a testament to perseverance, sacrif ice, and unwavering devotion to education. From her humble beginnings as a volunteer teacher earning only P2,000 a month, she rose to become a Teacher VI, mentoring and inspiring educators at every level. Her innovations in contextualized learning resources, her tireless journeys to reach Higaonon learners in remote mountain communities, and her dedication to professional growth reflect a life anchored in resilience and service. She supported her six siblings’ education, demonstrating her selfless love for family and commitment to their future.
SAMMY BOY B. GUZMAN, PhD: He successfully demon-
strated how passion and service can transform both classrooms and communities. Through Project Ambition DISPENSE, he created validated instructional materials for learners with disabilities, including a registered storybook and a care skills workbook, while fostering a strong research culture through Project CREATE, which trained over 200 teachers and produced 11 research studies. His community initiatives, such as Mission One ChAT and SAMA KA, mobilized parents and stakeholders to provide vital resources and opportunities for learners, reflecting his deep compassion and commitment.
sures achievement by its contribution to others, and regards public acclaim as a call to greater service,” Marcos Jr. said. The President expressed his hopes that the set of recognitions inspire both pride and reflection for the awardees: “Your accomplishments carry a wider significance. They demonstrate how dedication transforms lives, strengthens institutions, and encourages younger mentors to pursue excellence. Through your example, we affirm that a nation’s progress rests upon those who teach with purpose
ERVIN JAMES Y. PABULAR, RN, Dev. EdD: As a mas-
ter teacher and innovator, he reflects how passion and service can multiply impact across schools and communities. Through his flagship BRIDGE-SHS program, he created resources that reached thousands of teachers and learners nationwide, easing workloads while improving instruction. His initiatives, Project SAFETY, DEPLOYED, OUTREACH, TABANG, and TAKBO, empowered youth with lifesaving skills, leadership, sports, and community service, and raised funds to support learners in need. By mentoring award‑winning teachers, researchers, and student leaders, he has shown that true educational leadership is measured not by personal accolades, but by lives transformed.
JONARD M. VILLANUEVA:
His journey as a master teacher and mentor deeply resonates with the values of integrity and service celebrated by the Gintong Parangal. Beyond academic excellence, he has uplifted both teachers and learners through coaching, community engagement, and innovative programs that nurture character and responsibility. His signature initiative, Project CATCH, transformed punctuality, honesty, and accountability into a shared culture of everyday excellence, proving that true leadership is about shaping values as much as outcomes.
REMAR P. SINO: As a
heartfelt tribute to his mother’s unfulfilled dream of becoming a teacher, he turned his vocation into a mission of service and leadership. With consistent Outstanding IPCRF ratings and recognition as an Outstanding Secondary Teacher, he has created impactful programs like the Work Immersion Workbook and the “Kumusta Ka” Program, helping at-risk learners thrive and stay in school. His volunteer teaching, mentoring, and professional development efforts have uplifted hundreds of learners and nearly 400 teachers, while his classroom innovations dramatically improved retention and reduced disruptions.
‘GURO’ (HONORABLE MENTIONS) MELANIE C. CAÑO, EdD:
Her journey reflects a life dedicated to excellence, innovation, and service as a master teacher and researcher. She has distinguished herself as a facilitator, trainer, and keynote speaker, publishing six international research papers and mentoring teachers in curriculum and leadership.
and lead with integrity.” Under “Bagong Pilipinas,” he underscored that his administration remains committed to an education system that equips citizens to exercise freedom with sound judgment and embrace opportunity with responsibility: “May this occasion deepen your sense of stewardship and renew your resolve to cultivate the knowledge, skills, and character our people need to build a better future.”
ficult, recognition is absent, and no one is watching.” Finally, the DepEd chief reminded the awardees and their partners that meaningful service is not always visible. He also encouraged them to carry the spirit of the gathering beyond the ceremony by excelling in their work, speaking generously, and spending their time thoughtfully, while sustaining partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for learners and teachers.
Excellence worth celebrating
‘A sacred calling’
Her recognitions, including Gawad Patnugot with Distinction, Gawad Calambayani Most Outstanding Teacher-Researcher, and national qualification in the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos, affirm her commitment to advancing education and empowering others.
Through innovations like the Division Portal, the Online Application Management System, and Project STAR, he streamlined workflows, strengthened transparency, and improved communication between schools and families. His systems reduced repetitive tasks, enhanced data-driven decision-making, and expanded access to reliable information for more than a thousand users.
FOR Education Secretary Sonny Angara—the event’s guest of honor—the “Gintong Parangal…” is a fitting tribute to a form of heroism that often goes unnoticed. He described it as “not a single burst of energy or an extraordinary act,” but the continued performance of duty day in and day out, whatever the challenges. Congratulating the 18 awardees—five outstanding leaders, eight teachers and five non-teaching personnel—the secretary recognized their sustained commitment to public service, including the sacrifices that often go unacknowledged. Emphasizing that public service must go beyond compliance, numbers, and recognition, he said government officials must ask how their policies and actions can improve the lives of the people they serve, particularly students, teachers, and non-teaching personnel. Angara also underscored that Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua’s legacy rests on values that must be demonstrated through action—not merely displayed in programs or engraved on plaques: “They are values we must all live by, especially when the work is dif-
BIANCA CAMILLE S. DUCUSIN: Dedication, inno-
vation, and a genuine desire to make a difference define her journey as an educator and science coordinator. Through Project SIKAP, she championed science initiatives that uplifted learner performance, while also excelling as a trainer in journalism, science, and even chess, proving her versatility in nurturing both academic and co‑curricular excellence. As a regional test writer, content developer, and teacher broadcaster, she helped ensure quality learning resources and accessible instruction during modular distance learning.
CHRISTY E. PABLICO:
Her story is a power ful example of how compassion and innovation can transform the lives of Indigenous learners. Through programs like ASPIRE and IGNITE, she mobilized resources to provide food, medicines, and school supplies, ensuring retention and supporting learners through college graduation. Her Project PAIGE literacy initiative and sustainable feeding programs like IFEED and MUGnify, uplifted reading skills, improved nutrition, and promoted learner success.
‘PAGLILINGKOD’ CATEGORY AWARDEES ROBERT ALAIN H. BOMUEL: An administrative officer,
he has shown how innovation and discipline can transform administrative service into a true force for efficiency and excellence. He revolutionized systems in Calamba City through projects like EXCEL, which cleared all financial liquidation backlogs; DR: FILES, which centralized digital records management; and ARMS, which streamlined document tracking to near‑instant processing. His leadership empowered more than 80 school records custodians, earned the Records Section recognition as the “Most Efficient,” and fostered values formation through Project RESTORED.
BOBBY Y. CORPUZ: As
project development officer II, he has made a lasting mark in Cabadbaran City by driving digital transformation that truly empowered schools and communities.
FORTUNE LIFE President and CEO D. Arnold A. Cabangon lauded this year’s batch of educator awardees as they continued the “inspiring tradition.” “Each of you carries a powerful story of how meaningful change begins with individuals who are willing to go far beyond the call of duty and serve from the heart,” Cabangon said. “You showed us that educating the youth is not merely a profession, but a sacred calling.” The Fortune Life executive praised the laureates for their “selflessness, leadership, and passion” that “shine as beacons of hope for our nation.” “On behalf of the Cabangon and Fortune Life family, and our partners, I offer you our deepest gratitude and our best wishes. May you continue to guide and inspire generations to come. Mabuhay kayong lahat!” he concluded. In recognition of their strong commitment to shaping the future of Filipino learners, each awardee received a plaque and cash prize as tokens of appreciation from the companies.
ALVIN P. METRILLO:
Through his leadership in human resource development, this senior education program specialist has uplifted thousands of DepEd personnel via innovative, responsive, and results‑oriented initiatives. By spearheading Project GALING and the Professional Development Hub, he expanded access to training and recognition programs while generating significant savings, benefiting over 13,000 employees across 109 schools. His efforts strengthened quality management, onboarding, and technical assistance systems, ensuring fairness, professionalism, and efficiency in service delivery.
NOLI MAR M. NAVARRO, EdD: As senior edu-
cation program specialist, he has successfully demons t r ate d how de dic a tion and innovation can transform education and public service. By pioneering systems through his different projects, he strengthened accountability, digital governance, and school development across Nueva Vizcaya. His leadership streamlined processes and elevated monitoring practices while inspiring continuous improvement and transparency in service delivery. These remarkable contributions, crowned by his recognition as Regional Most Outstanding Employee, align with the spirit of the Gintong Parangal.
RONALYN P. SALAZAR, RN, LPT, MAN, PhDc:
This senior education program specialist embodies the heart of service and innovation, transforming human resource development into a lifeline for educators and personnel across Cavite. From the groundbreaking Cloverleaf wellness program that eased mental health struggles to the ERPCR system that ensures transparency and accountability, and the Dugong Lila Para kay Juana initiative that saved countless lives, her work reflects compassion anchored in evidence-based leadership. She has empowered teachers, nurses, guidance counselors, and nonteaching staff through CPD accreditation, civil service exam reviews, and research that bridges health and education.
Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror
Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan
Saturday, October 31, 2026 A9
SLOWP ACED CHARM Exploring Puerto Princesa beyond the usual tourist trail I
Story & photos by Justine Xyrah Garcia
N the early 2000s, Puerto Princesa was already drawing both domestic and foreign tourists to Palawan, its islands and natural attractions making it one of the country’s familiar names in tourism. Today, however, it faces a much more crowded field. Siargao in Surigao del Norte has become a draw for surfers and travelers looking for a laid-back island escape. Siquijor has built its own appeal around its beaches and natural attractions, while La Union has grown into a popular weekend destination, with cafes, restaurants, and other establishments catering to a steady stream of visitors. The competition comes at a time when traveling has also become more expensive. Rising airfares, alongside broader uncertainties brought about by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and their effects on fuel prices, can make travelers think twice about where to spend their next vacation. So what makes Puerto Princesa worth visiting? For me, part of its appeal lies in its simplicity. Unlike destinations where an itinerary can quickly fill up with tours, restaurant reservations, and stops at popular establishments, Puerto Princesa seems to leave more room for spontaneity. The experience can feel less structured. There is room to decide where to go next, how long to stay, and when to simply stop, and take in the surroundings. I got a feel for this during my stay in Sabang last month, where I spent a few days at Four Points by Sheraton Palawan. The resort sits along the Sabang Beach, a quieter stretch of coastline in the northwestern part of the province.
Its location also makes it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural attractions, with the UNESCOlisted Puerto Princesa Underground River and Sabang Mangrove Forest among the nearby stops. Visitors can also go on guided hikes, explore Sabang Hundred Caves or try the activities at Ugong Rock Adventures. Those willing to venture farther can visit Sabang Waterfalls and Isla Rita. We made our way to the latter during one of our excursions. Nearly 40 minutes from the resort, Isla Rita felt far removed from the more developed tourist destinations. There were no rows of shops or restaurants, just a stretch of beach, clear waters, and dogs swimming along the shore. Our guide, Ate Nellen, shared that her last tour on the island had been two months earlier. Tourism had been slow, she said, with fewer visitors coming through the area. For local guides like her, that can mean weeks or even months without an opportunity to earn from showing visitors around their home. It was difficult not to think about this while taking in the island's scenery. Isla Rita has the kind of natural beauty that draws people to Palawan in the first place, yet its remoteness also means that it can go unnoticed by many travelers. The island remains largely undeveloped, so visitors come mainly to enjoy its shores and surroundings. For now,
OUR tour guide, Ate Nellen.
CROSSING Ulugan Bay on the way to Isla Rita.
A DOG swims in the waters off Isla Rita as our boat approaches the island.
A SUMPTUOUS spread prepared by the Four Points by Sheraton Palawan team.
SEVEN flavors of Palaweño Brewery's craft beer, a highlight of the resort's collaboration with the local brewery.
FOUR Points by Sheraton Palawan, with the Saint Paul Mountain Range, also known locally as the Sleeping Giant, in the background.
SABANG Beach at 5:30 p.m., with only a few tourists along the shore.
much of the experience depends on the guides who bring people there and introduce them to the place. Back in Sabang, there was always the option of spending the day at the resort instead. Four Points by Sheraton Palawan
does not offer the usual lineup of beach activities such as banana boat rides and kayaking. The emphasis is more on having room to unwind, whether that means taking a dip in the outdoor pool, spending time by the beach, or booking a treatment at the spa.
Guests who prefer something more active can also play pickleball at the resort's outdoor court. Food was another part of the stay. At Evolution, the resort's all-day dining restaurant, the seafood was a highlight, with fresh catches served alongside
Whet your wanderlust with these Pinoy globe-trotters Photos Charo Logarta
I
T was a September to remember as I had the privilege of meeting and celebrating milestones with some of the most welltraveled Filipinos who take globe-trotting to an entirely different level. They’ve elevated the usual leisure travel into a career, a record-chasing extreme sport of sort, and even a means of livelihood. Coincidentally, September 26th of each year marks Map The Planet Day in honor of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and the first true circumnavigation of the earth. It’s a day global travel communities celebrate. September 27th on the other hand, is World Tourism Day, a date marked by the United Nations World Tourism Organization to highlight the value of global travel.
Meeting The Philippine Global Explorers
ON September 26, 2026, during the celebration of Travelers Day in the Philippines, I finally met the key movers and members of The Philippine Global Explorers (PGE), somehow formalizing my membership in this elite organization of Filipino travelers. As we celebrated Map The Planet Day, it was a thrill to share stories with hyperactive travelers who have a shared passion
Philippine-based members of the Philippine Global Explorers celebrated Map The Planet Day last September 26, marking the first true global circumnavigation by Ferdinand Magellan
CANDID Q&A with The Poor Traveler founders (from left) Yosh Dimen and Vins Carlos
for adventure and connection. With close to 200 official members (and hundreds more in the broader community), PGE is a community of travelers who support each other in exploring the world and harness collective experiences in service of the wider community. Its members include Filipinos who have visited all 193 sovereign member states of the United Nations— a feat completed by less than 700 people around the world, including six Filipinos or
THE writer with fellow Philippine Global Explorer member and Board Director Lowie Ramos who just completed visiting 77 countries
of Filipino descent. Since it was founded in 1999, PGE continues to advocate for sustainable and responsible travel, forge collaborative partnerships with industry stakeholders, and espouse easier visa access for Philippine passport holders.
16 years of rich travel experiences from The Poor Traveler MANY years ago, Yosh Dimen and I were
THE writer flanked by Yosh Dimen and Vins Carlos as The Poor Traveler marks its 16th anniversary
work colleagues. Even in the nascent years of social media and blogging in the Philippines, Yosh was already active in many platforms. Eventually, Yosh left the corporate life and together with his now-husband Vins Carlos, founded The Poor Traveler—a blog, YouTube Channel, podcast, and online community for travel planning—helping their audience avoid mistakes and get information on must-tries and worth-it experiences with authentic and honest feedback, commentary and content.
Worth it or rethink it?
WITH about 70 countries and territories visited, Yosh and Vins gamely shared their thoughts on some practices of many Filipino travelers. 1. Travel is still a luxury. If going to other places will impact the budget for necessities and other vital expenses such as tuition and utilities, rethink that travel plan.
2. Rethink your eligibility for a visa. While Japan and South Korea are in the bucket lists of most Filipino travelers, these countries require a visa. Visa applications typically require bank and financial information, travel history, and may consider employment tenure. Assess whether or not you have all the requirements for a visa and if not, prepare for these before lodging an application. These include opening a bank account and sustaining account activity and building a travel history, starting with countries that offer visa-free access for Philippine passport holders. 3. Packing cubes are a must to keep things organized and actually saves space. It’s worth it to invest in good quality packing cubes in various sizes. A luggage strap and TSA lock are also worth adding as it helps secure your luggage and bags, especially if you leave these at a hotel concierge or baggage locker. 4. Rethink carry-on baggage. Even as you maximize the allowed baggage limit, know the weight even before reaching the airport. It’s a risk and a hassle to repack and remove contents of hand-carried baggage at the airport. 5. Rethink random decisions. Find the balance between planning an itinerary and spontaneity. Having a rough itinerary or plan will help save time and cover more ground. At the very least, do research and learn the basics such as holidays and closing times for attractions and establishments. 6. Rethink ignoring user-generated reviews. Sometimes, online bookings don’t mention all the information such as checkin times and where to pick-up keys. Read
dishes that incorporate locally sourced ingredients. I also got to sample seven flavors from Palaweño Brewery, a local craft brewery whose beers offer a taste of Palawan beyond its usual food specialties. My second day took an unexpected turn when I sprained my left foot. The resort's nurse came to my room to check on my injury, and the staffs made sure I was looked after. Unable to go out as planned, I spent more time in my room, whose balcony overlooked the resort's expansive outdoor pool. Instead of heading out to explore, I found myself spending the afternoon taking in the view from above. It was an unexpected change of plans, especially after my trip to Isla Rita the day before. But staying in gave me a chance to enjoy the resort at a slower pace, with no itinerary to follow and nowhere else I needed to be. In a way, it brought me back to what I had come to appreciate about Puerto Princesa: there is plenty to explore, but you don't have to see it all in one go. Sometimes, a trip can be just as enjoyable when you leave a little room for plans to change.
reviews and comments for specific instructions and other details. 7. Rethink timings in an itinerary. Allot ample time for getting from one place to another. Check timings and travel distances for traveling by plane, bus, train or other modes of transportation. 8. It’s worth it to slow the travel pace a bit and take in a place. Instead of the mad rush of taking photos and rushing to the next attraction or destination, take a few minutes to relax, feel a place and appreciate it 9. Rethink the budget. Add a contingency for any incidental expenses or price fluctuations. There is no room for rigidity in travel, and you must make room for flexibility.
An app that’s apt for travelers on a budget
FROM online content, The Poor Traveler is in the final stages of developing an app that will help in travel planning—from timely reminders on applying for a visa, make the final bookings for accommodation, and even e-travel filings. “There are so many questions and we personally answer each one. Because we tend to give lengthy explanations, we thought it best to put all this information in an app that you can use even without a data connection,” said Yosh. “Today, AI queries tend to give suggestions that may be outdated. We want to give information based on our actual personal experience.” “It’s a simplified version of the TPT website—very user-friendly with travel guides and sample itineraries. You can also build your own itinerary based on our travel guide,” Vins added. Now on final testing, the TPT app is set to launch before year-end on both Google Play and App Store.
A10 Saturday, October 31, 2026
TheWorld
Binance estimates $6.3 billion hacked in crypto’s biggest heist By Muyao Shen & Vildana Hajric
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Bloomberg News
INANCE, the world’s largest crypto exchange, said $6.3 billion of funds are involved in what the industry is describing as crypto’s biggest-ever hack. Digital tokens fell.
“The estimated total impact sits at around $6.3B,” Binance said in a post on X. “We have worked with blockchain partners to freeze affected assets, with ~$3 billion frozen on-chain so far.” Binance has temporarily suspended all withdrawals, which it expects to resume within 48 hours, co-founder Yi He said in a post on X. The company said it will cover all losses and “user funds are safe.” Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs said North Korea was behind the heist, which it called “the largest crypto theft on record.” “TRM attributes the attack to TraderTraitor, North Korea’s elite hacking unit, based on robust on and off-chain intelligence,” the firm said. “We make this judgment with high confidence.” Before now, the biggest publicly known crypto hack occurred at exchange Bybit in February 2025, in which attackers made off with almost $1.5 billion of tokens. For crypto faithful who’d been basking in a two-month-long price rebound, the Binance incident is a potential setback. Notorious previous episodes of theft and fraud among fallen crypto giants such as FTX and Mt. Gox set the stage for protracted bear markets, bruises the industry has worked to put behind it in US President Donald Trump’s promised new era of regulatory clarity for cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin dropped 3% at the end of the US session and a further 3% in Asia trading, falling below $77,000 to its lowest level since September, with other tokens also selling off. “The rumored Binance hack is definitely driving down coin prices,” said Fredrick Collins, chief executive and co-founder of crypto data platform Velo Data. “Binance is such a behemoth in crypto that any hit to confidence in them is a hit to confidence in the industry as a whole, especially as people have already been skittish over the increasing cyber capabilities of AI.” The hackers appear to have exploited how Binance authorizes transactions, according to TRM. They seemingly gained access to the exchange’s systems and used internal software to authorize transfers across 10 different blockchains, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, it said. Binance said the incident may involve a compromised software engineer’s laptop. “We
have found no evidence of any wallet private key leak,” the company said. An emergency insurance and reserve fund from Binance called the Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) was established in 2018 to serve a backstop for customers in “extreme situations,” according to the exchange. The SAFU is generally maintained at around $1 billion, but has fluctuated in the past in tandem with market movements, Binance said in 2024. The two biggest stablecoin issuers said they took steps to freeze missing currency. Paolo Ardoino, the chief executive officer of Tether, said in an X post that it froze more than $1.5 billion of the stablecoin “related to a potential Binance exchange hack.” Jeremy Allaire, who runs Circle Internet Group Inc., said $800 million of its coin had been frozen amid “reports of a potential exploit involving Binance.” Sentiment was already fragile after a spate of crypto security incidents. In recent months, hundreds of millions of dollars were drained from Bitget, while tampering tied to Ledger devices also led to millions of dollars in losses. “Attackers are operating at unprecedented speed and scale” but “the tools to track and trace operate at that speed too,” said Ari Redbord, global head of policy at TRM Labs. “Stablecoin issuers freeze within hours. Investigators follow funds across chains in real time.” Traders had already been bracing for greater volatility in the crypto market this week, with $11 billion in options set to expire Friday. This comes days ahead of the US midterm elections taking place next week, when Democrats could potentially retake one or both chambers of Congress and open the door to greater regulatory scrutiny for the industry. Exchange thefts and malfeasance have been an everpresent backdrop of crypto’s almost two-decade ascent, the most famous of which was the collapse of Sam BankmanFried’s FTX in November 2022. In what remains perhaps the most notorious hacking incident, Japan-based Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox was struck in 2011. Over time, the hackers made off with tokens worth billions of dollars based on the current market price. Mt. Gox eventually went bankrupt.
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Trump cancels rallies, switches to remote midterm campaigning
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RESIDENT Donald Trump canceled appearances in Kansas and Iowa for the closing days of the midterm election season, and will instead hold “a large number of tele-rallies,” the Republican National Committee announced on Thursday evening. The president has been campaigning nonstop — chiefly in states where Republicans are usually assured of victory — but this year faces robust challenges from Democratic candidates who have taken advantage of voter discontent over rising costs as well as the war in Iran. Trump, who headlined two rallies in Texas on Wednesday alone, earlier Thursday returned to South Carolina for another campaign event with Senator Darline Graham, whose race has been shifted to “toss-up” by Fox News. The RNC said in a press release that Trump would hold “a large number of telerallies, which can reach more voters in the limited time left before polls close” instead of appearing in person. A rally planned in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday has “been moved to a huge tele-rally,” the committee said in another release, adding that Trump would hold almost 20 such events for candidates in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan. He has one scheduled for Monday to support Louisiana’s Republican US Senate candidate. More than two years after winning back the presidency and bringing new voters into the Republican fold, Trump and his party have spent much of this election year on the defensive. Although he promised to lower prices, Americans find themselves paying more for food, health care and mortgages. After the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February, Trump said that the war would end in a swift
triumph. Eight months later, the conflict remains unresolved after spreading to other parts of the Middle East. And though the combat remains far away, its effect on fuel prices, particularly diesel, can be seen at every service station. While Trump’s presence might help Republicans locked in tight races in friendly territory, he could be a drag in other red states, especially in the Midwest, where high fuel and fertilizer prices as well as the president’s tariff agenda have hit farmers. Trump earlier Thursday told reporters that a weekend event in Kansas to support Senator Roger Marshall had been scrapped because Marshall was “doing well” and that he would hold a tele-rally instead. Trump, 80, berated a reporter who asked whether the choice was made because he was sick of traveling and asserted that his health is “very good.” In South Carolina, the Senate race is still rated as “lean Republican” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Yet Fox’s decision to move South Carolina to the toss-up category adds new urgency and has already drawn national attention. Both Graham and her Democratic opponent, physician Annie Andrews, have about 48% support, Fox said Thursday, citing a recent New York Times/Siena University poll. Graham, like Trump allies Michael Whatley in North Carolina and Mike Collins of Georgia, has been unable to create a distinct brand separate from the president in a year in which his popularity is sinking. Trump handpicked her to succeed her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly earlier this year. He campaigned for her in a primary against Representative Ralph Norman, who has refused to campaign for Graham in the general election. Bloomberg News
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TheWorld
Saturday, October 31, 2026 A11
Difficult negotiations lie ahead in Israel after Netanyahu’s bloc lost its parliamentary majority By Cara Anna & Ibrahim Hazboun
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SUPPORTERS of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rear, are separated by police as they argue with left-wing activists calling for a government with Arab parties outside the residence of Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot in Herzliya, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. AP/DAVID GOLDMAN
The Associated Press
ERUSALEM— Israel’s final election results confirmed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc lost its majority of parliamentary seats and that weeks of difficult negotiations among very different parties, from ultraOrthodox Jewish to secular to Arab-led, lie ahead. The results released early Friday showed Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats in Tuesday’s elections. The main opposition bloc won 48. Arab-led parties secured the other 19, a historic showing. Now parties must meet, bargain and seek a way to team up for at least 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving prime minister, remains in charge. “Now comes the truly hard part,” centrist politician Yair Lapid said on X, asking Israelis for patience.
The president will task someone with forming a government DIFFICULT decisions lie ahead. Will the main opposition parties that campaigned hard to unseat the divisive Netanyahu make the politically sensitive choice to partner with Arab-led ones? Or will they toss their vows aside to team up with Netanyahu in a potentially fractious unity government? Friday is when much of Israel starts winding down for Shabbat, and it was not clear who might be meeting with whom. The election results still need to be certified and submitted to the president next Wednesday. Then President Isaac Herzog will task someone to form the new government. That could be the leader of the party that received the most votes—Netanyahu—or whoever leaders of the various parties believe is best suited. If multiple attempts to form a government fail, Israel faces a new election early next year. Herzog this week said he will do everything in his power to avoid that scenario.
Netanyahu and Likud target Arab parties without evidence
IN the hours before final results were announced, Netanyahu and his Likud party amplified unsubstantiated allegations that Arab-led parties had “stolen” the election, potentially with foreign assistance. See “Netanyahu,” A12
A12 Saturday, October 31, 2026
TheWorld
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Carney, top EU official push Canada associate membership, wider alliance vs Trump threats
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ONTREAL—Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and the European Union’s top official pushed Thursday to make Canada the bloc’s first “associate member” and build a broader alliance open to other countries as they warned of threats to sovereignty from economic coercion during US President Donald Trump’s trade war. Speaking in Montreal on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Canada and the EU would form the core of the proposed “Alliance for the Future,” but other like-minded countries would be welcome to join. Echoing Carney’s warning at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, von der Leyen
said economic relationships once considered sources of stability were increasingly being used as instruments of pressure. “When trade becomes a tool of economic pressure, it is families that pay the price, from the supermarket shelf to the cost of a new car,” she said. “We are seeing in real time our sovereignty being attacked.”
PRIME Minister Mark Carney, centre, gives remarks alongside, President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, left, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at a roundtable with business leaders during the Canada-EU Summit, in Montreal, on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. CHRISTOPHER KATSAROV/THE CANADIAN PRESS VIA AP
Carney said the alliance would help Canada withstand economic shocks and prevent foreign governments and technology companies from dictating its choices. “Why does sovereignty matter in a dangerous and divided world? It allows us to withstand shocks,” Carney said at a news
European Central Bank head resigns, allowing EU leaders to choose successor before French election
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RANKFURT, Germany— European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will resign nine months before the end of her term, a move that opens the way for European leaders to choose a successor ahead of France’s presidential election next year. Lagarde, 70, will leave Feb. 7, the ECB said Thursday. Her eight-year term was to end Oct. 31, 2027. The resignation opens the way for complex political horse trading over her successor and replacements for two other top officials who are leaving next year. The ECB president leads the bank’s governing council, which sets interest rates for the 21 countries that use the euro currency, affecting borrowing costs for everything from house purchases to new factories
Netanyahu. . . Continued from A11
The opposition quickly accused Netanyahu of demonizing the Arab population, which makes up 20% of the population and showed up at the polls like never before in outrage over Netanyahu’s far-
and serving as the European Union’s chief crisis fighter in times of economic and financial turbulence. “It has been a great pride and a huge privilege to serve this institution,” Lagarde said in a video message posted on X. “I think that I leave this institution with a sense of good work done and an ECB that is fit for the future.” Asked about her reasons at a news conference following the bank’s decision to leave rates unchanged, she said that she wanted to be freed from the obligation of political neutrality that comes with being ECB head. “I want to, have the freedom of speech, the freedom of expression, and the freedom to engage on matters that are not monetary policy matters,” she said. “I don’t think that I can be
comfortable in that neutrality at the present time.” She didn’t elaborate. The announcement was expected following speculation that Lagarde would leave early to enable EU leaders to choose a successor while pro-EU French President Emmanuel Macron is still in office. That would guard against the possibility that right-wing presidential candidate Marine Le Pen might win the election and influence the choice. “That she leaves early is no surprise and does not change the outlook for ECB policies,” said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg bank. European Council President Antonio Costa said that the selection process “will be initiated today and will proceed without delay.” AP
right allies like national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. His party lost seats. In Netanyahu’s first public comment Friday, he posted on X asserting it is forbidden to form a coalition with Arabs parties. The head of Israel’s election committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, had said “serious suspicions” of foreign interference
had been brought before him. In a letter to the Shin Bet security agency, Sohlberg said he could not verify the claims but asked the agency to investigate. Israeli media reported that members of Netanyahu’s party were accusing Qatar—a country that many Israelis view as a patron of Hamas, the Gaza-based militant group. Qatar issued a
conference. “It allows us to live our lives as we choose.” Von der Leyen said the broader alliance would go beyond Canada’s potential associate membership, focusing on critical minerals, resilient supply chains, defense and security. “This is a wider concept,” she said at a business roundtable
alongside Carney. “Other likeminded trusted partners are welcome.” Trump has suggested Canada’s proposed EU arrangement could be a “hostile act” and threatened tariffs on Europe if he considered it unfriendly. Asked Wednesday about possible retaliation, a senior Canadian government official told reporters the closer relationship was not directed against the United States but reflected longstanding shared interests. The White House said Thursday that US trade and commerce officials had held discussions with their Canadian counterparts in recent days. The statement came in response to a question about Canada’s pursuit of closer ties with the EU. Carney played down the importance of the “associate member” designation, which von der Leyen continues to champion despite resistance from some European governments. “This new alliance is not a
marketing exercise. The name doesn’t matter,” he said. Carney later used the term “associate member” himself while sitting beside von der Leyen at a business roundtable, emphasizing the economic opportunities closer cooperation could create. The summit puts Carney’s vision for a new global order to the test. At Davos, he warned that the US-led international order was breaking down and economic integration was increasingly being weaponized. He urged middle powers to unite against coercion by more powerful countries. “We can no longer let ourselves be shackled by the limits of the old-world order,” von der Leyen said Thursday. “We need to imagine partnerships that are built on trust and driven by common interests and beliefs. As Mark Carney has said, the international order will also be built from Europe, with Canada as part of it.” AP
China’s plenum backs tighter party discipline, a priority for Xi
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EIJING—China’s Communist Party leaders ended a closely watched fourday meeting this week by endorsing a core priority for President Xi Jinping: tightening internal discipline and fighting corruption. The decisions could set the stage for personnel changes in key leadership bodies next year, when Xi is expected to secure a fourth term as party leader. The Central Committee’s fifth plenum adopted a resolution Thursday on strengthening discipline and combating corruption. It also ratified the expulsions of more than 30 senior officials from the party, including one who was until early this year the army’s top general, and promoted the remaining general serving on the commission that oversees China’s military to the Politburo, one of the top decisionmaking bodies. On Friday, party officials outlined plans to carry out the plenum’s decisions, emphasizing tighter discipline. Here’s what to know and why it matters:
corruption defining features of his government since taking power in 2012, but par ty officials acknowledged Friday that disciplinar y violations persist. “Problems of misconduct and breaches of discipline are persistent, entrenched and recurring,” Zhang Fuhai, deputy director of the Central Committee for Discipline Inspection, told a press briefing with other officials to discuss the plenum’s decisions. “Efforts to address them require unwavering commitment over the long term.” Zhang said disciplinary and supervisory agencies had opened 8.1 million cases and disciplined 7.9 million people since the party’s 18th National Congress in 2012, when Xi became its leader. Those disciplined included 963 senior officials under the direct management of the party’s central leadership.
Nearly 1,000 senior officials disciplined since Xi took power
The party vows to maintain tough punishment
denial, calling the allegations “ridiculous and dangerous.” As it announced results, the election commission said the investigation was based on classified intelligence. Acting director general, Dean Livne, did not elaborate but warned that reports about the investigation had been “entirely unfounded.” “It does not affect the final
results that will be submitted to the president, nor does it concern any particular sector of the population,” he said. By casting doubt on the vote, Netanyahu appeared to be trying to block any potential alliance between his opponents and the Arab-led parties. Netanyahu has suggested that it would be treasonous for chief rival Gadi Eisenkot or others to join with them. The Shin Bet, seeking to calm tensions, said its investigation was not meant to “cast aspersions” on an entire section of the population that “exercised its right to vote in a democratic and lawful manner.” The elections committee also sounded a note of caution in a letter written to a concerned
XI has made loyalty and fighting
ONE of the officials also made clear that
punishment will continue, and it will be harsh. “By severely punishing officials who have become corrupt, it encourages and protects those who serve with integrity,” said Huang Jianfa, deputy head of the party’s Central Organization Department. “In practice, some party members and officials fail to act or are slow to act for a range of reasons: some lack motivation and are unwilling to act; others fear getting into trouble and dare not act; still others lack the skills to act effectively.” Dongshu Liu, a professor in the department of public and international affairs at the City University of Hong Kong, said that the expulsion of senior officials “certainly reflects Xi’s new efforts to tighten control, especially over military system.” Xi has expelled officials in the past due to doubts over their loyalty or egregious corruption, but the more recent purges suggested his frustration with officials’ lack of enthusiasm for his ambitious policy agenda, Benjamin Hillman, a professor at the Australian National University, said. AP
member of parliament, saying that “allegations of systematic violations of electoral integrity are baseless.” The committee wants findings from the Shin Bet within a week.
Opposition could assert control in the upcoming Knesset
EVEN as coalition negotiations begin, the new Knesset is expected to be sworn in Nov. 10. Once it convenes, Eisenkot’s bloc could join forces with the Arab parties to elect a new Knesset speaker, giving them control over the parliamentary agenda and potentially allowing them to advance and pass legislation before a new government is formed. Already, hundreds of Israelis have been holding rallies urging Eisenkot and others to join forces with the Arab-led parties, a step that has happened only once before, briefly, in 2021. If Netanyahu loses office, that would set off a cascade of events that critics say he has desperately sought to avoid. He would be taken to account over yearslong corruption allegations, and an inquiry almost certainly would begin into security failures before the devastating Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
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Marcos orders agencies: Ensure orderly, safe travels for ‘Undas’
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ITH expectations of big crowds joining the long weekend exodus for the commemoration of Undas—the Filipino term for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mobilized government agencies to ensure their travel will be orderly and safe. In a video message posted in the Palace social media account Friday, the chief executive said he directed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to conduct stringent inspections of airports, seaports, and bus terminals that are safe for passengers. Marcos urged travelers to make the necessary preparations before heading to their destinations to avoid any inconvenience including heavy traffic and the expected long lines to purchase their tickets. “Plan your trip and stay informed about traffic advisories and route changes. If you are taking public transportation, arrive at the terminal early. If possible, purchase your tickets in advance,” he said. He said he had ordered all road repairs to be completed by October 29, 2026 to prevent traffic congestion during the Undas exodus. “Inspections and repairs of major roads are ongoing to prevent travel disruptions,” Marcos said in Filipino.
To ensure there will be enough transpor tation to accommodate the large number of travelers, Marcos said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued 1,000 special permits for buses, while the Maritime Industry (Marina) also issued relaxation orders and special permits so more passenger ships will be available during the Undas. For airports, he said all immigration counters will be opened from October 30 to November 3 to accommodate passengers. “In anticipation of the influx of passengers, major terminals will operate roundthe-clock help desks from October 29 to November 3 to assist travelers,” Marcos said. In the National Capital Region, the President said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) deployed 2,000 personnel to help manage traffic, especially near cemeteries. He said police were also deployed in cemeteries and columbarium to ensure the peace and order in the said locations. The Bureau of Fire Protection and hospitals were put on alert to respond to emergencies during the long weekend. “Government agencies and local government units also continue to coordinate in order to respond promptly to any incident,” Marcos said. Samuel P. Medenilla
PNP readies forces for ‘Undas’ holidays
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HE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday instructed all its units nationwide to set up assistance desks and to maximize their security presence in the cemeteries and memorial parks as Filipinos observed the upcoming All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holidays, popularly known as “Undas” in the country. In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said all needs of people must be covered at the assistance desks in coordination with local government units and other stakeholders—from cases of missing children to medical assistance and other emergency situations. He added that security measures should also be in place for small quarrels that may turn violent in the cemeteries. Nartatez also stressed the need for strict screening at the entry points and regular patrols inside to check violations of regulations like drinking sessions and use of karaoke. “We will ensure that our personnel remain visible, approachable, and ready to respond to every request for assistance, especially from children, senior citizens, and other vulnerable individuals. Our presence must provide genuine reassurance to the public, and every police officer must serve with professionalism, compassion, and a strong sense of responsibility,” he added. Likewise, Nartatez tasked police commanders to focus on homes that may be left unattended during the holiday break and areas where thieves could take advantage of crowds. “Before leaving home, make sure all
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the cancellations remain part of its transaction history, the actual effect on unsold inventory would be considerably different. Leuterio said industry reporting should therefore separately account for initial cancellations, those specifically caused by loan disapprovals, units subsequently resold and properties that remain unsold. He also urged developers and real estate professionals to assess whether buyers received sufficient assistance in preparing loan applications and exploring alternative financing arrangements before transactions collapsed. “If the figure is accurate, let us see the supporting data, the methodology, and the breakdown,” Leuterio said in a statement.
Restoring confidence
MEANWHILE, Colliers’ survey offers further indications of what could help restore buyer confidence. Sixty-one percent of respondents identified extended and flexible payment terms as the most attractive promotional offer when purchasing a condominium unit in Metro Manila.
doors and windows are secured, electrical appliances are safely switched off, and valuables are kept out of sight. I have directed our police units to intensify neighborhood patrols and coordinate with barangay officials to deter burglars and protect homes left unattended during Undas,” he added. The PNP has mobilized more than 141,000 personnel and force multipliers nationwide for security, traffic management, and public assistance operations. The deployment covers 73,034 PNP personnel, 16,560 personnel from other government units, and 51,578 force multipliers. Police operations will cover 5,311 cemeteries and columbaria as, well, as major thoroughfares, transportation hubs, places of worship, tourist destinations, and other strategic areas nationwide. With crowds expected to swell ahead of All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2, Nartatez reminded cemetery-goers to guard their belongings and remain alert in crowded areas where thieves may exploit distractions. “Stay vigilant, keep your valuables secure, avoid displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry, and never leave your belongings unattended. Criminals take advantage of distraction and crowded places, so remain alert, look after your loved ones, and immediately report suspicious activities to the nearest police personnel,” he said. All PNP offices and units will be under full alert status from 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 30 until 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 3. Rex Anthony Naval
Another 18 percent favored the removal of spot downpayments, while 12 percent preferred early move-in arrangements. The survey also found that all respondents considered green and sustainable features relevant when purchasing residential properties. Nearly 40 percent regarded these features as important factors in their buying decisions, while 31 percent said they were essential. Colliers recommended that developers revisit payment schemes and consider more innovative approaches to improve affordability, particularly in the mid-income segment. It also identified a possible increase in the value-added tax exemption ceiling as a measure that could help reduce inventory and ease the burden of elevated interest and mortgage rates. For Leuterio, transparent reporting and a closer examination of individual transactions are essential to ensuring that market assessments reflect actual conditions rather than isolated figures. He said evidence-based discussions would help protect buyers’ access to reliable property information while sustaining confidence in the Philippine real estate industry.
Saturday, October 31, 2026 A13
Hopes for peace, unity mark first Bangsamoro Parliament session By Samuel Medenilla
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EMEMBERING those who have suffered from years of conflict, which finally ended with the formation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim in Mindanao (BARMM), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for unity, statesmanship, and cooperation, at the first ever session of the Bangsamoro Parliament on Friday, with hopes to sustain peace and progress in the region. In his speech, the chief executive recognized leaders from the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), who paved the way for peace in the conflict-torn region with the forging of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. He expressed hope that peace and progress will continue once the BARMM government starts its operation with the inaugural session of the Bangsamoro Parliament. Prior to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, Mindanao was plagued by several separatist wars, including one waged by the MILF. At their first session, the 80
members of Parliament elected their Chief Minister and Speaker to lead the executive branch, and the Cabinet alongside two Deputy Chief Ministers. After the election, the BARMM government can start enacting regional laws, approving public spending, and overseeing government programs. “Today’s session also launches a new phase of parliamentary governance, working within our broader presidential system,” Marcos said. “The new coalition must uphold unity, statesmanship, and cooperation to build a more peaceful and progressive BARMM,” he added. The groups that secured seats from the Bangsamoro Parliament a l located for politica l par ties: Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) with 16 seats; United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political arm of MILF with 15 seats; the BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) with eight seats; and the Raayat Democratic Party with one seat. Of the 32 district representative seats, the BFP won 15. The rest of the seats were secured by UBJP (nine seats), Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo (six seats), Progresibong Bangsamoro Party (one seat) and Al Ittihad-UKB (one seat). The six sector representatives
were Yul Adelfo Olaya and Mary Ann Arnado as representatives of the settler communities; Aida Silongan as representative for women; Sulffy Abbas as representative for youth; Muhammad Nadzir Ebil as representative for the ulama; and Marjanie Mimbantas-Macasalong as representative for traditional leaders. The elected lawmakers will replace the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, which governed BARMM since 2019. Earlier this month, Marcos had congratulated BFP president Abdulraof Macacua after their political party was able to form a 46 majority bloc, which exceeded the 41-seat threshold for forming a parliamentary majority. Marcos reiterated that the national government will provide support, including economic opportunities, in Mindanao and BARMM. “I reaffirm the National Government’s support for Bangsamoro autonomy and democratic institutions. We stand ready to work with the government formally constituted by this newly elected Parliament,” Marcos said. “To the people of the Bangsamoro: the Nationa l Gover nment stands with you. Your success is the success of the country,” he added.
SRA sets aside ₧30M for cloud seeding to blunt El Niño impact
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HE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has earmarked P30 million for cloud seeding operations in the Visayas to mitigate the impact of El Niño on sugarcane plantations. Manuel Lamata, President of the United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed), confirmed this after receiving a letter from SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona dated October 26. The letter stipulated that SRA has already allocated the budget for cloud seeding operations particularly in Negros Island and Panay, which accounts for the majority of the country’s raw sugar output. “We are thankful to Administrator Azcona for proactively addressing our concerns and we are hoping that the budget is more than enough to get us through the super El Niño,” Lamata said.
The cloud seeding operations will start in November. Lamata also thanked Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for funding cloud seeding operations last month and pronouncements that the DA will also allocate additional budget for cloud seeding by next year. “These actions from Azcona and Laurel, especially during these dire times when we are faced with drought, pest infestation, rising cost of fuel and farm inputs, show their concern for the sugar industry and we are very grateful that we have proactive leaders like them” he added. Earlier, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is seeking more than P270 million to ramp up its cloud seeding operations to enhance rainfall and minimize the impact of El Niño on crop production. Agriculture Undersecretary Roger Na-
varro said the agency has also requested the Department of National Defense (DND) to restore its clouding seeding team. He said the DA has started cloud seeding operations through the P44 million earmarked under the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), but the implementation “is taking a long time, because we don’t have the technical people.” Should the agency receive the additional funding, Navarro said this would augment its coffers to continue the cloud seeding operations until next year. While the operations would span across regions with high production areas, he said these would not be targeted over specific crops. State weather bureau Pagasa described cloud seeding as putting particles like salt into the cloud, so that the vapor will condense into water droplets.
PNP examines Markle materials in Cebu in alleged child abuse probe
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EBU CIT Y—Philippine police have begun examining electronic devices and other materials surrendered by Thomas Markle Jr. in Cebu as part of an investigation into alleged inappropriate content, with the regional prosecutor’s office saying it will pursue charges if evidence warrants prosecution. Regional Prosecutor Graeme Elmido said the Philippine National Police (PNP) had secured a warrant to examine computer data, allowing investigators to proceed with the forensic examination of the items. Some devices have reportedly been sent to the PNP central office in Manila because the regional anti-cybercrime unit in Cebu lacks the necessary tools to examine certain materials, Elmido said in an interview on Friday. The investigation began after a man identifying himself as Thomas Markle Jr. went to the prosecutor’s office several days earlier to report that he had allegedly discovered materials containing inappropriate content and wanted to surrender them to authorities. According to Elmido, the complainant expressed his intention to turn over all the items, including personal belongings, after encountering material he considered inappropriate. The PNP subsequently arranged to receive the items. Elmido said he had not personally inspected the boxes or their contents. He cited the complainant’s account that
the materials included cellular phones, photographs, small film reels, hard drives, books and other items. The prosecutor emphasized that the PNP is responsible for examining the materials and determining whether they contain evidence of criminal activity. “We will follow where the evidence leads us,” Elmido said, stressing that investigators must establish the facts before identifying anyone who may be held accountable. The prosecutor’s office will assist the police if needed. Should the investigation produce sufficient evidence against a particular individual, the PNP may file a complaint with the prosecution service for preliminary investigation. Under the procedure outlined by Elmido, prosecutors would issue a subpoena directing the respondent to answer the allegations. If the evidence establishes sufficient grounds for indictment, the case could proceed to court. The possibility that a respondent may be outside the Philippines would not automatically prevent the case from moving forward, he said. If a case is filed in court and the accused is abroad, authorities may pursue extradition, subject to applicable legal requirements and procedures. Elmido said the entire process is ideally completed within 90 days, although he cautioned that the actual duration would
depend on several factors, including court schedules and holidays. He declined to predict when the investigation would conclude, noting that the forensic examination and other investigative steps would determine the next course of action. The prosecutor also sought to separate the investigation from the public attention surrounding the Markle name, saying authorities must evaluate the evidence objectively and respect the rights of anyone who may eventually face charges. While Cebu prosecutors have handled numerous cases involving abuse to children, Elmido said each case must be assessed on its own merits. He noted that outcomes depend on the strength and credibility of the evidence, among other factors. He also highlighted the need to protect child complainants from further trauma during legal proceedings, particularly when testifying could require them to recount distressing experiences. Elmido said prosecutors must consider ways to pursue cases without unnecessarily exposing children to further psychological harm, while ensuring that the evidence is sufficient to support a prosecution. He warned foreign nationals against traveling to the Philippines to engage in child exploitation or similar criminal activities, saying authorities would pursue the full extent of the law when evidence establishes wrongdoing. Carmel Pedroza
In Surigao del N., dry spell prompts water rationing By Manuel T. Cayon
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AVAO CITY—The provincial government of Surigao del Norte has enforced water rationing since September due to the severe drop in both rainfall and the common sources of household and potable water. The provincial has been issuing regular advisories, tapping its social media accounts to guide residents when and where the next round of water distribution will be held. In its regular update, it would ask residents to “store water responsibly when supply is available; prioritize cooking and other essential household needs; avoid unnecessary water consumption; and to share this information with your family, neighbors, and community.” It said the Surigao City government was coordinating with the Surigao Metropolitan Water District (SMWD) “to ensure that the available water supply is distributed as fairly and efficiently as possible during the current water shortage.” In its situation update on Thursday, the city government said the Surigao City Public Information Office has implemented rolling water schedules where availability rotates across different barangays with limited supply durations. It said the SMWD has reported “significant drops” in available water volume, “with deficits cutting deep into normal output.” The city government also said that Surigao City Mayor Paul Dumlao and SMWD teamed up with Hiraya Water Corp. to implement interventions and alternative sources to ease the dry faucets. “Beyond current weather patterns, watershed health, illegal logging/mining pressures, and infrastructure strain have historically impacted the Parang-Parang Watershed and local surface water systems.” The social media account Mindanao Weather Update posted in August that Dinagat Islands of Surigao del Norte was the first listed province in Mindanao to sustain the negative impact of the El Niño. At least 15 percent of the provincial population was at risk and emergency water assistance was being provided, it posted on its account on August 28. It said that in late August, 18,000 of residents have been affected by lack of water in Dinagat Islands, with around half of all river sources of water of the local water utility have dried up. Early water rationing saw water tanks sent to communities, schools and hospitals identified as severely affected. Dinagat Islands is the island province east of Surigao del Norte and consist of seven islands and several islets. Water rationing was also being reported in Butuan City, part of the Caraga Region where Surigao del Norte is also part of, and while Davao City has a more stable water resource, the Philippine Information Agency reported that its city government will tap 700 water catchments but these were mainly to provide water to the agriculture sector. Davao City has formerly relied on its aquifers for several decades for its potable and other household uses but eventually put it on reserve shortly after the pandemic when it tapped the pristine waters of the Tamugan River running across its northern watershed region for its main water source. The country’s weather agency said El Niño has intensified from a strong when it hit the country in the last quarter of this year to “very strong” phenomenon going to last through mid-2027.
Sports BusinessMirror
A14 Saturday, October 31, 2026
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Editor: Jun Lomibao
YOUNG PINOYS GEARED UP FOR OLYMPIC TEST D By Jun Lomibao
AKAR—The 4th Youth Olympic Games unfurl on Saturday night under a heartwarming “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates” theme and with a handful nine-member Team Philippines hoping for the best in the two-week, 25-sport competition among the world’s best athletes aged 15 to 17 years old. Unlike in the Summer Games where the Filipino athletes’ stock now belong to the world’s elite, the YOG has yet to produce the country’s best and brightest potentials who would someday become another Hidiyln DiazNaranjo or a Carlos Yulo. It will be tough, according to Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who has done the rounds with his secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan, since arriving in this West African country last Wednesday. “They’re big and they look strong,” said Tolentino of the American and European athletes who’re already in town ahead of Saturday’s two-hour Opening Ceremony set at the 55,000-seat Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio, a new city about 30 kms from Dakar. “It will be very difficult,” added Tolentino who welcomed on Thursday night here the first batch of Filipinos exhausted from their 30-hour flight from Manila via Istanbul at the Blaise Diagne International Airport also located in Diamniadio. “So it’s good luck to our athletes, although I’m sure they prepared hard for this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Tolentino added. Already checked in at the Athletes’ Village were swimmers Riannah Chantelle Coleman and Jamesray Michael Ajido and wushu’s Angel Polo and their coaches Ramil Ilustre and Jensen Halili (swimming) and Chinese Li Jianfang (wushu). Coleman and Ajido will bear the
on African “soil offers the continent a chance to challenge low expectations and show the world what it can achieve.” “It feels like a long time coming,” Coventry, a two-time Olympic swimming champion, told a press conference at the Main Press Center on Thursday. “The excitement of having the first-ever Olympic event here is a little bit surreal.” A visit to the Youth Olympic Village in Diamniadio also caught the IOC chief’s enthusiasm. “It felt like you were walking in the village in Paris or in Milan,” she said. “And I think that is something to be incredibly proud of.” Senegal was awarded in 2018 to host the YOG originally scheduled in 2022, but was canceled by the Covid-19 pandemic and moved to 2026. Dakar YOG Ceremonies Director Khady Niang said the Opening Ceremony will allow Africa to “tell the world who we are, where we come from and where we want to go.” The production aims to showcase Senegalese identity and Africa’s cultural diversity, featuring around 11,000 performers, including 700 dancers. Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye will join Coventry in the ceremony.
PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino (center) and secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan (third from left) and chef de mission Rocky Samson (right) welcomes the first batch of athletes and coaches—(from left) wushu coach Li Jianfang and athlete Angel Polo and swimming athletes Riannah Chantelle Coleman and Jamesray Michael Ajido and coaches Ramil Ilustre and Jensen Halili upon their arrival at the Blaise Diagne International Airport Senegal, on Thursday night. POC MEDIA POOL
IOC President Kirsty Coventry praises the Olympic Village in Diamniadio, saying it matched the standards of previous Olympic villages in Paris and Milan. AP
Road Warriors, Tropang 5G gun for quarterfinal series sweeps By Josef T. Ramos
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LEX and TNT Tropang 5G look to sweep their quarterfinal assignments in the Season 50 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Robert Bolick and the Road Warriors go for the clincher against Phoenix Super LPG at 5:15 p.m. after taking a 2-0 lead in their best-offive series with a 124-117 Game Two victory last Wednesday. Bolick, who scored 31 points, said NLEX must close out the series immediately and avoid giving Phoenix a chance to recover. “We must go for the kill while they are still down,” Bolick said. “Why give them a chance to come back? We are already here in this situation. Hopefully, we execute our game plan very well.” Deschon Winston also scored 31 points in Game Two, while import Deonte Burton added 24 points and 10 rebounds. NLEX won Game One, 97-92. Road Warriors coach Jimmy Alapag stressed that a lot of work is needed to secure a semifinal meeting with the winner of the Converge-Rain or Shine series. “The series is a race to three in a best-of-five, and it is not done yet. So, we must have the same mindset and see how we can be better,” Alapag said. Phoenix coach Charles Tiu remained optimistic despite falling behind 0-2. “We had a bit better game although we just came short,” he said. Defending champion TNT also seeks a sweep against Magnolia in their 7:30 p.m. Game Three after posting back-to-
ROBERT BOLICK and the Road Warriors go for the jugular. PBA Images back victories, 90-72 and 91-73. Three-time Best Import Rondae HollisJefferson led TNT with 39 points and 15 rebounds in Game Two as the Tropang 5G continued to dominate the Hotshots. Magnolia, however, remains determined to extend the series despite facing elimination. “It is not over yet but let us see what we can do,” veteran forward Ian Sangalang said. Sangalang, playmaker Jerom Lastimosa, import KJ Buffen and Zav Lucero will lead the Hotshots’ bid to stay alive.
Philippine flag in the parade of nations during the opening ceremony and they will be joined by Polo, Chef de Mission Rocky Samson, Illustre and Li. Flying to Dakar also via Istanbul on Saturday are gymnastics athletes Hillarion Palles III and Tchelcy Mei
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ATIONAL University’s Clarence Villaflor opened his bid for the inaugural University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s badminton singles title with a 21-8, 21-4 win over University of the Philippines’ Josh Dupet in the Round of 16 on Friday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City. Villaf lor, bronze medalist in the 2026 A zerbaijan International Challenge, needed just 24 minutes to defeat the Fighting Maroons cocaptain. The NU shuttler will face La Salle’s Lovic Javier in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Adamson University’s Steveric Muring and John Vincent Saturinas also advanced, defeating University of Santo Tomas’ Ivan Tuazon, 21-10, 21-10, and Clark Brillantes, 21-12, 21-17, respectively. Muring will face UP skipper Shan Clar, while Saturinas takes on Ateneo’s Lance Vargas. Ateneo’s Zeth Quiambao advanced with a 21-15, 21-15 win over La Salle’s Joshua Cuarte and will meet NU captain Lanz Zafra, who received a first-round bye. In doubles play, NU’s MJ Perez and Jacinth Paul Ruedas defeated UST’s John Vincent Espinoza and Manuel
Maayo and coaches Reyland Capellan and Kazutaka Hakamada, and on November 4, it will be the turn of cycling’s Maritanya Krog and coaches Mark John Lexer Galedo and Marita Lucas and athletics’ Pi Wangkay and Naomi Cesar and coach Jasper Tanhueco.
Celebrations are already taking over Senegal’s capital, according to local reports, as the city prepares to welcome the rest of the world—primarily the more than 2,700 athletes—to the first Olympic event on African soil. IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the first Olympic sporting event
SAB AMORA wraps up victory in 38 minutes. UAAP
Villaflor, Amora punch tickets to round of eight Fulmentera, 21-17, 21-18, setting up a quarterfinal showdown with La Salle’s Karl Contreras and Gift Linaban. NU’s Ben Dictado and John Benedict Gam scored a 21-18, 21-12 win over La Salle’s Rey Nier DalimoOs and AJ Lorenz Jurada to advance against Ateneo rookies Wijel Albo and Rolan De Guzman. Ateneo’s Lyrden Laborte and Robby Ramos defeated UP’s JM Amerodin and Joshua Martinez, 2112, 21-12, to arrange a quarterfinal clash with Adamson’s Prince Betaisar and Jasper Manlangit. UP’s Arjay Lazareto and Ryan Mendoza averted a shutout with a 2118, 21-15 win over UST’s Ron Galve and
Bien Miraflor. They will face Adamson’s John Paul Badang and Eur Cabanducos.
Amora, Fuggan march on
NATIONAL University’s Sab Amora advanced to the women’s singles quarterfinals with a 21-16, 21-11 victory over Ateneo’s Jochelle Alvarez. Amora will face La Salle’s Lady Tuario in the quarterfinals on Saturday. University of the Philippines’ Brys Fuggan defeated NU’s Karyll Rio, 2118, 21-15, and will next meet Ateneo captain Althea Ocampo. UP’s Anthea Gonzalez swept Adamson University’s Abby Barcelona, 21-16, 21-14, to arrange a quarterfinal clash with UST’s Angelica Racca.
Martin battles Picasso for WBC Silver belt in Riyadh
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NDEFEATED Filipino Carl Jammes Martin stakes his 28-0 record against Mexican David Picasso in a World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver featherweight title fight on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 27-year-old Martin, who has 21 knockouts, faces a tough bout against the 26-year-old Picasso (33-1-1, 18 KOs) in the Mexico vs. The World card headlined by Canelo Alvarez and
Christian Mbilli at Kingdom Arena. “I think this fight is going to be a difficult fight, but this is the kind of fight that Carl Martin is trained for, prepared for, and worked for in his entire life,” MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons told the BusinessMirror on Friday. Picasso’s lone defeat came against Japanese star Naoya Inoue, who won by unanimous decision in December last year. He
bounced back with a second-round knockout of Colombian Maicol Rincon last August. Martin welcomed the challenge despite the odds. “There is pressure but there is also an opportunity. This is what I have been waiting for. I have worked hard and waited a long time for this moment. I decided to take the fight regardless of the circumstances,” Martin said. Josef T. Ramos
MICAH SHIN tops the field with rounds of 66-68-67-70. NONIE REYES
Shin seals wire-to-wire win at Apo
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ICAH SHIN overcame an early challenge from Russell Bautista to claim a nine-shot victory in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Apo Golf Classic on Friday at Apo Golf and Country Club. Holding a seven-shot overnight lead, Shin closed with a 70 for a wire-to-wire victory at 17-under 271, highlighted by birdies on Nos. 15 and 18. Bautista trimmed the deficit to five with a 33 on the front nine but faltered down the stretch, dropping strokes on each of the final three holes to finish with a 73 and 281 total. Sean Ramos carded a 69, including a birdie on the 18th, to claim solo second at 280. “It was actually quite tough today. I kept hitting the ball to the right and wasn’t able to save par on Nos. 2 and 4, which I managed to do in the third round,” Shin said. “I just kept trying to play my own game and make more birdies. I managed to do that on No. 15 and the final hole, and got the job done,” he added. Shin capped his victory with a birdie on the par-5 18th despite finding the rough off the tee. Unable to reach the green, he laid up before hitting lob shot to within seven feet and sinking the putt. The victory provided a fitting close to Shin’s 2026 Philippine Golf Tour campaign. After winning The Country Club Invitational last January, he left to play abroad and claimed another title in his return, bagging the P534,000 prize. Clyde Mondilla, coming off a victory at South Pacific last week, finished fourth at 283 after shooting 72. Elee Bisera carded a 70 for 284, while Dino Villanueva fired the day’s best round of 68 to finish sixth at 285.