Top US, EU security officials seek closer ties with PH
By Charles Dantes
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday hosted two high-profile diplomatic visitors at Malacañan Palace, underscoring the Philippines’ deepening strategic partnerships with Western allies amid escalating tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea.
Mr. Marcos welcomed Her Excellency
House: Impeach fate with Senate; De Lima: Delays violate Charter
By Maricel V. Cruz
THE House of Representatives has already fulfilled its Constitutional mandate in the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte, and the ball is now in the court of the Senate to determine the next steps, Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday said.
“The impeachment complaint is now with the Senate, so we leave it to their sound discretion as to how they want to proceed and conduct,” Romualdez said in an interview.
Senate President Francis Escudero yesterday said the impeachment trial will be up to the 20th Congress, and that the current Senate could only go
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, during a courtesy call that highlighted the growing cooperation between the Philippines and the European Union (EU).
The meeting emphasized shared commitments to regional stability, maritime security, and the rules-based international order.
Kallas’ visit comes at a time of height-
ened geopolitical friction in the West Philippine Sea, where Chinese vessels have continued to assert claims over areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The EU has previously expressed concern over actions that threaten freedom of navigation and the sovereignty of Southeast Asian nations, aligning with the Philippines’ position on upholding international
More new vehicles, heavy equipment for NIA
By Charles Dantes
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the turnover yesterday of more than 200 new vehicles and heavy equipment to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), vowing to provide faster and more responsive irriga-
tion services to help Filipino farmers cope with climate change and rising food demand.
Speaking at the ICON JCB C6 Yard in Barangay Wawa, Taguig City, Mr. Marcos underscored the importance of the third tranche of the NIA’s Re-fleeting Program in modernizing irrigation
services and increasing food production across the country.
“With these vehicles, backhoes, dump trucks, and excavators, we can accelerate the repair of damaged irrigation systems and the construction of new projects,” the President said.
Chiz: We can’t bind incoming senator-judges
By Ram Superable
THE incoming 20th Congress will have the final say on whether the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will continue, Senate President Francis Escudero said Monday, noting there is not enough time to start the trial proper before the present Congress adjourns on June 13.
In a press conference, Escudero said there are only six remaining plenary sessions before the 19th Congress adjourns.
“The 19th Congress can make a vote during the plenary (as to how the impeachment trial should proceed), but we cannot bind the 20th Congress. We in the 19th Congress can say the impeachment trial can cross to the 20th Congress, but they might decide otherwise. That it cannot cross and they would dismiss it. So, it depends (on the 20th Congress,” he said.
By Vince Lopez
together with Ms. Patricia Torre, the fourth star on Police General Nicolas D. Torre III as the new chief of the Philippine National Police during the Change of Command ceremonies at Camp Crame. PCO
Rainy season starts—PAGASA
By Rio N. Araja and Rolando Ng III
THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday officially declared the onset of the rainy season.
“Based on the latest weather analysis and rainfall data from selected Department of Science and Technology-Pagasa stations, scattered to widespread rainfall has been observed in the past five days due to the South -
west Monsoon (Habagat),” PAGASA said in its latest advisory.
“This signifies the onset of the rainy season across the western sections of Luzon and Visayas,” it added. In its 5 p.m. weather advisory, the
weather bureau said the southwest monsoon today will trigger moderate to heavy rainfall of 50 to 100mm in Zambales and Bataan.
Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Central Luzon, and Batanes will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms.
The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or
thunderstorms will prevail over the Visayas and Mindanao.
Monsoon breaks will also be observed throughout the season, marked by pauses in rainfall activity that would last for days to weeks.
The public and all concerned agencies are advised to take precautionary measures against the adverse impacts of the rainy season, “hanging habagat” and other climate and weather events.
The state weather bureau earlier declared the start of the Southwest Monsoon.
Singapore PM to make 2-day visit to PH
By Charles Dantes
MALACAÑANG on Monday announced that Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will undertake his first official bilateral visit to the Philippines from June 4 to 5, following his recent reappointment in May.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Wong are set to hold a bilateral meeting on June 4, where they are expected to reaffirm the strong ties between the Philippines and Singapore and explore cooperation in areas such as healthcare, climate change mitigation, and civil service development.
be a pillar of support for our fellow citizens,” the Chief Executive stressed..
“I challenge you, keep the ranks of the police force clean and honorable.
Expedite the investigation of cases against police officers who have violated the law so that we can deliver justice as soon as possible,” Marcos told Torre in his speech.
In response, Torre said the people will “see us on the streets, in communities, in markets, and in every place where our presence is needed to provide peace of mind.”
“Under my leadership, the law will be fair, the service will be fast, and the police force will be worthy of your trust.”.
Marcos said the people should feel safe and secured through heightened police visibility.
“Increase the presence of the police on the street. When the people need it, there should be a police officer who can respond immediately,” he added.
The President also advised Torre to “act with integrity and serve the people with honesty.”
Meanwhile, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) welcomed Torre’s aim of shortening the police response time to crime and emergencies.
VACC national director told the Standard that while the goal is “aspirational”, it is always better to “set the bar high.”
“As a taxpayer, it is encouraging to see that the PNP is striving to deliver better services to the public. I think this move will make a lot of people happy, especially those who have become crime victims,” he said.
Torre rose to prominence with the manhunt and eventual arrest of televangelist Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City, prior to his promotion as Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief, and the apprehension of former President Rodrigo Duterte upon orders of the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.
“You have to understand, in Congress, the plenary is supreme. It’s not the decision or the voice of one member, even if he or she is the Senate President or an officer of the Senate or the House. The decision of the plenary will always prevail,” he added.
The 20th Congress will open on July 28, on the day of the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Based on the proposed schedule, the oath-taking of newly elected senator-judges before the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, will take place on July 29 at 9 a.m. The trial proper will then begin on July 30.
Escudero said the trial should proceed on July 30 “in the ordinary course of events” unless the 20th Congress decides otherwise. Escudero recently postponed the reading of the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President from
June 2 to June 11, citing pending legislative matters that take higher priority over the political process.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Monday called for the dismissal of the impeachment case, citing constitutional deadlines that he said bar further proceedings.
“It is a legal imperative that connotes immediacy, trial after months of inaction undermines not only this directive but also the due process rights of the respondent and the integrity of the Senate as an Impeachment Court,” he said.
“The timeline is tight and difficult…Impeachment is a proceeding tied to the mandate and lifespan of the Congress that initiated it. It does not continue automatically into the next Congress,” Tolentino added.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, however, said the Constitution requires the Senate to proceed without delay.
She cited Chavez v. Judicial and Bar Council and Pimentel v. Joint Committee of Congress to argue that impeachment is a non-legisla -
tive function, therefore unaffected by the change in Congress.
“This is a very important mandate of the Constitution, clear and without ambiguity, that once we receive the Articles of Impeachment, ‘trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed,’” she said.
“The people will judge us if we fail to carry out this duty to the nation,” Hontiveros added.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III also disputed Tolentino’s position.
“On the contrary, the Senate rules on impeachment support the position that the impeachment trial shall continue until final judgment, even if it is necessary to continue into the next Congress,” he said.
“It is my humble opinion that the trial of the current impeachment case now pending before this Senate of the 19th Congress can ‘cross over’ or continue from the 19th Congress to the 20th Congress. The impeachment docket of the Senate continues and remains the same,” Pimentel said.
Wong’s two-day visit comes at the invitation of Mr. Marcos, marking his introductory trip to the country since assuming the premiership. This also represents his first official foreign engagement since securing a renewed mandate last month. The two leaders will also discuss regional political and economic developments.
Singapore was the Philippines’ eighth-largest trading partner in 2024 and currently hosts an estimated 220,000 Filipino nationals.
The last official visit by a Singaporean prime minister to the Philippines was in 2017.
maritime law, particularly the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims.
Later the same day, the President also received US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in a separate courtesy visit.
The meeting reaffirmed strong bilateral ties between the Philippines and the United States, particularly in intelligence sharing, defense cooperation, and regional security coordination.
The back-to-back meetings with Kallas and Gabbard signal a unified front among democratic allies in the Indo-Pacific region, as Manila continues to push back against Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in contested waters.
The visits coincide with a weekend maritime incident where the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) challenged a China Coast Guard vessel operating roughly 76 nautical miles off Zambales, well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
As of writing, neither Malacañang nor the visiting officials disclosed specific details of their discussions.
as far as issue summons.
He acknowledged the possibility that the Senate may not even convene as an impeachment court, but added he doubts that will happen.
Former senator and incoming Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said further delays in the impeachment trial violates the Constitutional mandate for its immediate start.
“That is clearly violative of what the Constitution says — forthwith is forthwith. And it has been delayed a few times already. How many times has it been postponed?” De Lima said.
De Lima noted that the 1987 Constitution states that if a verified impeachment complaint is filed by at least onethird of all the members of the House of Representatives, “trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.”
“Let us not fool ourselves. This is no longer about legal preparedness. This is about political will. We are seeing the early signs of dribbling. Delay tactics designed to tire the public, to ease the momentum, to save those in power.”
“When powerful figures are accused of grave abuse, silence is complicity. Delay is betrayal. To the Senate: You
are not gatekeepers of convenience. You are stewards of the Constitution. The responsibility now rests on your shoulders. You must rise to meet it. Let the trial begin,” De Lima added.
Escudero earlier moved the presentation of the articles of impeachment before the Senate plenary from June 2 to June 11.
Romualdez acknowledged the Senate has laid out its own legislative agenda, including final action on the priority bills identified under the LegislativeExecutive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), that must be addressed before the impeachment trial.
“The Senate President outlined the priority measures like the LEDAC measures that they would like to prioritize first. So, we have to respect the decision of the Senate President and the Senate,” he said.
“Everything is speculative at this point (on the fate of the impeachment trial). But we hope things resolve themselves positively for all,” Romualdez added.
Meanwhile, a militant lawmaker criticized Senator Imee Marcos for prematurely declaring the failure of the impeachment bid against the Vice President.
House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro emphasized the impor-
tance of accountability and justice amid allegations of misuse of public funds against Duterte.
“This is the problem with people like Senator Marcos and VP Duterte who are not used to being held accountable for their wrongdoings against the nation. They think it is acceptable to steal billions for as long as they spread fake news and disinformation to deceive the people.”
“The impeachment process must be initiated properly, and VP Duterte must be held accountable. If not, she will just do it again, and even greater amounts of public funds will be lost. Other politicians will also follow her lead.”
“Declaring that the impeachment is already dead is clearly a tactic to propagate impunity. This kind of mindset should not be tolerated in government,” Castro added.
De Lima also belied Duterte’s earlier statement that the impeachment is her “crucifixion.”
“It is only a crucifixion if there is no basis. But the evidence is clear and strong as we have seen during the Quad Committee hearings,” she said.
“There is no persecution, no crucifixion, if there is a real case. These pieces of evidence were not fabricated. What is important is for her to explain the evidence against her,” De Lima added.
“From Luzon to Mindanao, our farmers will have more reliable access to water, whether in lowlands or uplands,” he added.
The President said the upgraded fleet will enable the NIA to respond more efficiently to the needs of 257 national irrigation systems and over 8,800 communal systems nationwide.
He emphasized the link between improved irrigation and greater harvest yields, better crop quality, and higher farmer incomes.
“This equipment means food on the table and a stronger agricultural sector,” Mr. Marcos said. As Filipino farmers continue to struggle with extreme weather conditions brought about by climate change, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment to climate resilience and fast action in agricultural infrastructure.
“Climate change has made it harder to predict our seasons—droughts are harsher, rains are heavier, and weather is increasingly erratic,” he said.
“That’s why we need rapid, durable solutions,” President Marcos added.
The President urged NIA personnel to safeguard and properly use the new equipment and to actively engage with farmers in the field.
“Don’t wait for them to come to you. Go to them. Listen to their needs. Serve them with integrity,” he said.
Seventeen mini buses were also turned over as part of the tranche to improve staff mobility during field inspections, inter-agency coordination, and consultations, especially in remote areas.
Addressing farmer beneficiaries in attendance, he expressed gratitude and pledged continued government support.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the DOTr, in coordination with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and the DOTr-Aviation Group, is preparing the charges against AirAsia Move.
In response, AirAsia Move (MOVE) issued a statement affirming its full cooperation with the government in upholding transparent and fair pricing practices and consumer protection.
MOVE clarified that it does not manually set or manipulate airfares in relation to the fare discrepancy issue.
“As an Online Travel Agency (OTA), MOVE displays flight inventory and pricing data as provided by its authorized upstream suppliers, including third-party aggregators and Global Distribution Systems (GDS),” the company said. MOVE explained that the discrep -
ancies in fare displays—particularly for certain routes, including domestic flights operated by Philippine Airlines—were caused by temporary data synchronization issues with its thirdparty pricing partners. The company emphasized that the technical issue also affected other platforms in the industry, such as Agoda, Kiwi.com, and Traveloka.
MOVE said it took immediate action upon identifying the problem, contacting the third-party pricing provider for resolution and enhancing safeguards to prevent future incidents. The company also said it remains fully compliant with all regulatory requirements for OTAs operating in the Philippines.
On May 26, the CAB issued a cease and desist order against MOVE, prohibiting it from offering, promoting, or selling tickets for other Philippine carriers at prices that exceed the agency’s approved fare structures.
The DOTr’s move follows a complaint from Leyte Representative Richard Gomez and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, who reportedly paid over P77,000 for a one-way flight from Tacloban to Manila for two passengers via the MOVE platform. According to Dizon, the same flight could have been booked directly with Philippine Airlines for only around P12,000 per person.
“This is just absurd and really bordering—well, not bordering, this is actually criminal. What AirAsia Move is doing is criminal,” Dizon said.
“They are doing this at a time when there is an ongoing transportation crisis in Tacloban. So this is really a criminal act on the part of AirAsia Move,” he added.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) had earlier urged airport authorities to look into the reported increases in passenger and cargo fares in Eastern Visayas, particularly by airlines servicing Tacloban
City, Ormoc City and the municipality of Catarman in Northern Samar.
The OCD addressed its appeal to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
In a letter to Dizon, OCD administrator Ariel Nepomuceno raised concerns that recent restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge may have contributed to the air fare hikes.
He underscored the need for immediate action to maintain the smooth flow of passengers and commerce, avoid further inconvenience to residents, and support the stability of the region’s economy and markets.
“We respectfully appeal to the CAB and the CAAP to immediately look into this matter and implement appropriate legal measures to thwart or regulate these purported air fare and cargo fare increases,” Nepomuceno said.
Gov’t expands P20 rice in Visayas
By Othel V. Campos
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) yesterday led the National Food Authority’s (NFA) send-off of 35,000 bags of rice bound for Central Visayas, the second shipment under the pilot rollout of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s P20 rice program.
“This program is for every Filipino family striving to feed their loved ones, and for every farmer who wakes before dawn, braves the elements, and dedicates their life to nourishing our nation,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who also chairs the NFA Council.
The delivery forms part of the 100,000 50-kilo sacks ordered by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia for distribution across the province.
The initial batch of 35,000 bags arrived three weeks earlier, as Cebu and other provinces partnered with the NFA to co-fund the subsidy and ensure more affordable rice for local communities.
Currently, the agency offers P18 per kilo for fresh palay and up to P24 per kilo for dry palay—significantly higher than the P13.50 to P18 per kilo range offered by private traders. The average production cost is estimated at P12 to P14 per kilo.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson assured farmers that the agency is ramping up its storage capacity nationwide.
Nine warehouses have recently been repaired, adding space for up to 455,000 sacks of rice. Repairs to another key facility in Mindoro are nearing completion.
Once all upgrades are finished, the NFA’s total warehouse capacity in Occidental Mindoro will reach 1,079,000 bags.
Gasoline, diesel prices to go up over volatility
By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE country’s oil firms will increase the price of gasoline and diesel by P0.40 and P0.30 per liter, respectively, starting 6 a.m. Tuesday, reflecting higher prices in the global oil market. However, kerosene prices will be rolled back by P0.10 per liter, based on separate advisories issued by Seaoil Philippines, Jetti Petroleum, Chevron Philippines, and PTT Philippines. The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier forecasted a mixed movement in pump prices, citing continued volatility in global supply and demand. DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau Director Rodela Romero said potential new U.S. sanctions on Russia were a major upward pressure, despite OPEC+ plans to increase production. Rising geopolitical tensions and concerns over U.S.-EU trade policy also contributed to higher prices. However, mitigating factors included an anticipated global supply boost and weakened demand in parts of Asia.
No detection of more severe mpox strain — health group
By Ram Superable
THE Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID) on Monday said that all mpox cases in the country remain part of Clade 2, with no detection of the more severe Clade 1b strain found in recent outbreaks abroad.
“Since the first case of mpox in the Philippines was reported in July 2022, more cases of mpox have been detected in several regions in the Philippines,” PSMID said in a statement.
“To date, no case of Clade 1b, the more recent strain implicated in the 2024 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been
identified in the Philippines,” it added.
Health experts said the virus is primarily transmitted through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with infected individuals. Transmission often occurs through close physical interactions such as kissing, sexual contact, or hugging, particularly among intimate partners or household members.
The health group emphasized that mpox does not spread through airborne transmission across rooms, public spaces, or transportation settings like airplanes.
“Compulsory masking in these areas or within the broader community is not necessary. Enforcing masks is not a cost-effective measure and will
not prevent the spread of mpox,” PSMID said.
There is currently no specific antiviral treatment for mpox, but most patients recover without it. A vaccine exists to prevent mpox infection, but the global supply remains limited.
PSMID urged the public to rely on credible health authorities, including the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), for accurate information.
Meanwhile, in Cebu City, local officials have formed an inter-agency task force to monitor suspected mpox cases despite national health authorities saying there is no cause for alarm.
Gibo discusses defense ties in Singapore
By Rex Espiritu
DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. held separate bilateral talks with defense officials from Japan, Ukraine, and the Netherlands during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore over the weekend, the Department of National Defense (DND) reported Monday.
Teodoro attended the 22nd International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue from May 30 to June 1, using the event to strengthen strategic ties and promote security cooperation.
In a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, both sides emphasized deeper collaboration through joint exercises like Balikatan and Kamandag, and discussed the im-
plementation of the Philippines-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement. They also agreed to explore co-production of defense equipment.
Teodoro reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty during talks with Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defence Oleksandr Kozenko, who announced plans to assign a defense attaché to Manila. Both nations highlighted their interest in maritime response, defense technology, and adherence to international law.
Teodoro also met Dutch Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans to explore best practices in defense governance. The two officials expressed mutual interest in future joint military activities and extended invitations for official visits to deepen defense cooperation.
4.73
travelers— the
in its history. According to New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), domestic passengers accounted for 2.59 million of that figure, also a record. The airport handled 26,194 commercial flights during the same period, another all-time high.
NNIC said the spike in travel supports economic growth by generating jobs, income, and business activity across communities. Joel E. Zurbano
Bayan Muna urges vape ban to protect youth MILITANT group Bayan Muna has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Congress to immediately ban vapes, citing rising health risks among Filipino youth. Executive Vice President Carlos Zarate called on the president to issue an executive order classifying vapes as hazardous and to repeal the Vape Law (RA 11900), which he described as a “death warrant” for young Filipinos. Zarate said the country has already recorded its first EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury) death, involving a 22-year-old with no prior illnesses. A 16-year-old from Cebu also suffered acute lung damage linked to flavored vapes. He criticized the law for lowering the legal vaping age to 18 and transferring regulatory power from the FDA to the Department of Trade and Industry. Maricel V. Cruz
Air Force opens new logistics hub in Cebu THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) inaugurated a new warehouse facility for the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing (THW) at Brigadier General Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City on Sunday. PAF Chief LtGen. Arthur Cordura led the ceremony,
‘STOP NCAP.’ Members of the Stop NCAP Coalition hold a protest caravan on June 3, in Quezon City before heading to the MMDA headquarters in Pasig. The group plans to file a TRO before the Supreme Court. Danny Pata
IN BRIEF
5,780 hired during Labor Day job fairs nationwide
AT least 5,780 job seekers were hired on the spots during the simultaneous nationwide job fairs held across 16 regions in the country in conjunction with the celebration of Labor Day last May 1, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The hired-on-the-spot (HOTS) applicants were among 37,279 job seekers who trooped to the 71 job fair sites across the country, organized by the DOLE Regional Offices and Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs).
The job fairs achieved a placement rate of 15 percent, exceeding last year’s 11 percent, the DOLE said.
In a statement, the labor department said that the National Capital Region recorded the highest number of HOTS, with 1,817 placements, followed by Region 6, with 564, and CALABARZON, with 546. Vito Barcelo
BI agents nab Korean fugitive in Pasay City
A KOREAN national wanted for large-scale fraud involving over P400 million was arrested by Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents in Pasay City.
The foreigner, identified as Nam Sungjin, was nabbed by members of the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) in coordination with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office of the Republic of Korea and the Philippine Air Force.
Nam was the subject of an arrest warrant issued last year by the Changwon District Court, Miryang Branch in South Korea for violating Article 347-(1) of the Korean Criminal Act, which covers fraud.
“Foreign fugitives attempting to use the Philippines as a safe haven will be located and deported,” said Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado. Vito Barcelo Solon upbeat on Senate passage of MC-taxi bill
AS the Congress reopens this week, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte remains optimistic that the Senate will pass of a Houseapproved measure legalizing motorcycle taxis.
Following its three-month break for the midterm elections, the 19th Congress reopened on Monday for its remaining two session weeks prior to its sine die adjournment.
“With Senator Grace [Poe] bullish on the approval of the Senate bill legitimizing motorcycle taxis, I remain optimistic about the 19th Congress passing a consolidated bill on bikes-for-hire before it ends its third and final regular session in June,” said Villafuerte. Maricel V. Cruz
PCG bolsters watch vs. Chinese incursions into Zambales waters
By Rex Espiritu
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has dispatched another vessel to monitor the presence of China Coast Guard (CCG) ships off the coast of Zambales.
“Right now, BRP Bagacay is patrolling the waters within the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc and to monitor whether there will be another CCG vessel that will attempt to go near the coastline of Zambales this afternoon,”
PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a Zoom briefing.
Over the weekend, Tarriela reported
that a CCG vessel was spotted between five to 18 nautical miles from Palauig Point in Zambales—an area well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). He said the vessel has gone further away from Zambales.
“I would like to believe that it returned to the vicinity ng Bajo de Masinloc. I would say it has the distance of some-
where between 115 to 120 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales,” Tarriela said.
The PCG earlier deployed the MultiRole Response Vessel (MRRV-4409) BRP Cabra to challenge the presence of the CCG vessel. However, the BRP Cabra was prompted to leave the area after responding to a distress call from a Filipino fishing vessel. According to Tarriela, the CCG did not respond to the BRP Cabra’s radio challenge.
He added that the CCG typically justifies its actions by claiming they are part of legitimate maritime law enforcement operations.
BI agents, cops nab 39 Chinese working illegally at BGC
By Vito Barcelo
“That is why we are challenging them. We are reminding them that they are inside our own EEZ and that they do not have legitimate authority to conduct such illegal patrol,” Tarriela said. “If they don’t respond, I don’t think we can hold them accountable for not responding. But definitely, we are challenging their illegal presence dito sa ating EEZ and that they never informed us of their intention why they are there and what is the purpose of their presence,” he added.
The Philippines has already filed over 150 diplomatic protests against China regarding the territorial dispute under the Marcos administration.
3 contractors vow to deliver 51k 4PH homes
By Rio N. Araja
THREE private developers have committed to deliver more than 50,000 housing units over the next three years in line with a plan of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to expand the government flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program (4PH) to include ‘horizontal development.”
The DHSUD said Raemulan Lands Inc., (RLI), 8990 Deca Homes and Fiesta Communities Inc. have vowed to build 51,541 housing units for 4PH until 2028.
The BI said the arrested foreigners failed to present valid travel documents, making them undocumented aliens under Philippine law.
Further verification also revealed that while the Chinese held working visas, these were issued under petitions by a different company, constituting a breach of the conditions of their stay in the Philippines.
BUREAU of Immigration (BI) agents and police operatives have arrested 39 Chinese nationals found illegally working in the country during a raid on a telecommunications firm at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City. The operation, staged by the BI Intelligence division and in coordination with the Southern Police District, resulted in the apprehension of the 39 Chinese for violation of pertinent laws regulating employment of aliens.
“Foreign nationals who wish to work in the Philippines must comply with all our laws and procedures. Those who enter under false pretences or switch employers without proper authorization will face the full force of the law,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.
“This operation sends a strong message: the BI will not tolerate violations that threaten our national security and undermine our Immigration system,” he added. The raid was conducted following weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, in coordination with other government agencies. It was part of broader efforts to crack down on illegal foreign workers in the metropolis. The arrested individuals underwent the usual booking proceedings and were transferred to the BI detention facility in Bicutan pending completion of deportation proceedings.
Charges filed vs. Batangas kidnappers
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) have filed criminal charges against the suspects in the  alleged kidnapping for ransom of three foreigners in Nasugbu, Batangas.
NBI director Judge Jaime Santiago said the arrests stemmed from intelligence reports and investigative efforts conducted by the NBI-Organized and Transnational Crimes Division (OTCD) in collaboration with the PNP-AKG.
The victims, two Chinese and one Korean, were reportedly snatched last May 2 while on their way to a fishing trip in
Nasugbu. The investigators said the kidnappers posed as policemen undertaking an anti-crime operation. One of the suspects, identified as Jomar Pelayo Ubarde, voluntarily surrendered to the NBI on May 26. In a sworn statement, Ubarde admitted his involvement in the abduction and identified his accomplices as Danilo Lominoque Abilong and John Nelson Ladrera, the alleged leader and mastermind.
In his own affidavit, Abilong corroborated the earlier testimony of Ubarde.
A fourth suspect identified only as Erick remained at large.
“This is a great start for our recalibrated 4PH, a strong indication that we are on the right track in expanding President Marcos’ flagship housing program to include horizontal developments. This will surely boost private sector’s confidence to the program,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said.
“We will continue to explore all feasible modalities under recalibrated 4PH, not only to prop up the numbers, but more importantly, as our way of listening to clamor from stakeholders,” he added.
RLI chief executive Eileen Uy Doyle, in a letter to Aliling, vowed to deliver 35,656 units in Pampanga, Cavite, Bulacan and Laguna to the expanded 4PH.
On the other hand, Fiesta Communitiies executive Christopher Ryan Tan said they could build least 6,387 units. 8888/Deca Homes president Vincent Sotto pledged 9,498 houses.
Aliling, a civil engineer, believes he could sustain and improve 4PH by integrating horizontal developments into 4PH. He said the agency is currently crafting the guidelines for the new modality.
KIDNAPPING SUSPECT. National Bureau of Investigation director Jaime Santiago and Philippine National Police-Anti Kidnapping Group chief Col. David Poklay present to reporters a suspect in the recent kidnapping of a Korean and two Chinese nationals in Nasugbu, Batangas. Norman Cruz
SAVING A DYING RIVER Field workers of Malabon’s City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) gather tons of trash from the Sucol River in Barangay Catmon in a bid by the city government to redeem the waterway from imminent death. Andrew Rabulan
PATRONESS OF PASIG CITY. A life-size icon of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, heavily bedecked with flowers, is the centerpiece of a religious procession that also features the youth-led Virgen delas Flores.
OPINION
Impeach or not impeach
WITH 24 senators sitting down as judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on June 11, some people are divided in their opinion on the outcome.
Santa Banana, some are speculating Duterte will surely not be impeached because of the emergence of the Duterte bloc in the Senate, together with the opposition.
But to me, as a lawyer, I have always known that in any impeachment trial, as we learned from the case of former Chief Justice Renato Corona and former President Joseph Estrada, there are two things to consider. First is the legal aspect and second is the political aspect of the trial. As to the legal aspect, I cannot expect Duterte to get out of the big hole of her own making by having millions of pesos of her Confidential Funds given to unknown and fictitious people who have no record in the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority).
The PSA has recorded that they have so many unknown and fictitious persons without birth certificates, marriage certificates nor death certificates as recipients of over 250 million pesos of the Confidential Funds.
I do not know how Duterte will be able to explain this, because to me, the biggest factor in convicting Sara Duterte is precisely the existence of fictitious recipients of millions of pesos in her Confidential and Intelligence Funds as Vice President and as former Secretary of Education.
On the other hand, when the Senate judges vote, considering the balance of power between the Duterte bloc and the administration allies, it could be a political decision.
A big factor to consider: How will Senator Imee Marcos vote, considering that she is very close to VP Duterte? Another factor to consider is how will Camille Villar vote, considering that she is also close to the VP. There are other elements to consider.
First of all, how will Senator Marcoleta, who is identified with the Iglesia ni Cristo, vote and the Duterte bloc is composed of topnotchers in
the Senate race, like Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
These are the considerations that we have to take in the judgment of whether or not the VP will be impeached or not.
Remember if the prosecution lawyers will be able to prove beyond reasonable doubt, Santa Banana, whether or not Sara Duterte abused and misused her Confidential Funds, is to me the biggest factor to consider.
In any impeachment trial, we have to consider the legal and the political aspect
Santa Banana, if this can be proven by the prosecution, it would constitute betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.
And since the Vice President is the No. 2 public official of the land, it will surely be the biggest factor that will condemn her.
However, as I said, there are two factors to consider: the legal factor and the political factor.
In the end, I cannot speculate how the senators, who are the judges of the trial, will vote.
As I said, there are already among the judges a Duterte bloc and opposition from the newly elected senators like Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan Again, I cannot predict and speculate how they will vote.
These are all facts to consider.
In the end, after the trial of the Vice President by the senators, to me as a lawyer and a journalist, I just depend on the truth. I cannot be prejudicial.
This is what I mean when I say as a journalist it all now depends on the legal arguments of the prosecution.
We must remember that graft and corruption by any public official is already a betrayal of public trust and a culpable violation of the Constitution.
These are the most crucial elements of the trial.
Why Teodoro Herbosa deserves our trust
MANILA’S halls of power are buzzing with whispers:
Has Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa abandoned Filipinos for Geneva’s glittering stages? The truth is far more radical—he’s been rescuing our future while we weren’t looking.
In a nation where political shorttermism thrives, Herbosa is playing a high-stakes game of 4D chess, securing billions in global funding and elevating the Philippines’ influence in the World Health Organization. His critics, fixated on overcrowded clinics and his frequent international trips, miss the forest for the trees.
The real scandal isn’t Herbosa’s ambition—it’s that we risk sabotaging a visionary leader whose global wins are quietly laying the foundation for a transformed healthcare system.
Let’s start with the accusations. Critics—lawmakers, sectoral groups, even health advocates like Dr. Tony Leachon—call Herbosa out for his “lavish” delegations to Geneva, pointing to the size and cost of his entourage at the 78th World Health Assembly. They argue he’s chasing international clout while hospitals overflow and rural clinics beg for staff.
It’s a compelling narrative, especially in a country where healthcare access feels like a daily gamble for millions. But this is where the paradox kicks in:
Herbosa’s global gambits are not a betrayal of local needs—they’re the key to solving them.
Take his historic election as WHA president, a first for any Filipino. Yes, the Geneva trip raised eyebrows, but it wasn’t a joyride—it was a masterstroke.
The truth is far more radical—Herbosa has been rescuing our future while we weren’t looking
That seat at the WHO’s table gives the Philippines a voice in shaping a $31 billion global health budget, amplifying our ability to secure resources for a healthcare system battered by decades of underfunding. Or consider the $425 million he’s brought home: a $25 million grant from the Pandemic Fund to rebuild public health post-COVID, and a $400 million World Bank loan to expand primary care and upgrade hospitals.
This is the largest health-sector haul in a decade. Why are we vilifying the man who delivered it? Then there’s the human impact.
EDITORIAL
Historic honor for PH
WE JOIN the numberless Filipinos who are upbeat after Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa officially wound up his presidency of the 78th World Health Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization, a week ago in Geneva.
The 66-year-old Herbosa, appointed in June 2023 to the helm of the Department of Health by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., marked a historic first for the Philippines, whacked by the global pandemic in March 2020, since the WHO was founded in 1948.
We see in his presidency of the 194-member states a fruitful term which simulates the growing leadership and influence of the Philippines in global health diplomacy, which focuses on issues that need the cooperation of many countries.
His closing statement on May 27 continues to reverberate in an unequivocal manner when he said the world, now with more than eight billion people, is challenged by unpredictability.
But he stressed “this Assembly has reaffirmed the central role of the World Health Organization in overseeing global health, while highlighting the urgent need to reform, adapt, and finance a more inclusive, equita-
In remote barangays, tuberculosis patients—often written off as collateral damage—now have access to $150,000 worth of life-saving medications, thanks to Herbosa’s deal with the Stop TB Global Partnership. Overseas Filipino Worker nurses, long exploited by predatory recruitment, are now championed by Herbosa’s ethical migration model, earning praise from the International Organization for Migration’s Director General Amy Pope, who called him a “true champion of migrant health.”
These aren’t abstract wins; they’re lifelines for the vulnerable, proof that Herbosa’s global hustle translates into real lives saved.
Yet, the critics persist, and their myopia is a silent crisis.
While they fume over delegation sizes, Herbosa’s Green Climate Fund deal is quietly shielding 12 typhoon-
ble, and resilient global health architecture.
“And today, we are ending with profound hope and renewed zeal.”
WHA has highlighted the urgent need to reform, adapt, and finance a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient global health architecture
WHA78’s descriptive landmark was the adoption of the “WHO Pandemic Agreement” after three-anda-half years of negotiations, with the multinational pact intended to ensure a more coordinated, equitable and effective global response to future pan-
prone hospitals from the next superstorm—a move that won’t make headlines until disaster strikes.
His partnerships with the UAE for digital health tech signal a future where rural clinics could finally leapfrog into the 21st century.
But systemic reform takes years, not months. Should we punish Herbosa for the sins of a healthcare system neglected long before he took office?
The old guard’s discomfort is telling.
Of course they resent him—he’s disrupting their complacency.
Past controversies, like his 2021 “community pantry” tweet, are dragged up to paint him as insensitive, but Herbosa apologized and moved on, proving his focus with results.
The PhilHealth fund mismanagement and expired vaccine scandals?
Those predate his tenure or stem
demics.
We note the Assembly also adopted the Philippine-led resolution, “Accelerating Action on the Global Health and Care Workforce by 2030.”
This lodestar document represents a remarkable stride toward addressing global health workforce challenges, strengthening national and subnational capacities, and enhancing international cooperation to ensure the sustainability of health and care systems.
Throughout WHA78, the Philippine delegation actively engaged in various sessions and discussions.
Highlights of the delegation’s participation include 29 country interventions delivered in plenary and committee sessions; 56 side events, including 13 co-hosted by the Philippines and 23 where Philippine delegates served as panel speakers; 19 bilateral meetings with Member States, international organizations, and non-government organizations.
These covered high-level meetings with four Ministers of Health and the heads of WHO, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, and the International Organization for Migration, a UN-based intergovernmental organization that promotes humane and orderly migration.
A headline marker for the Philippines.
from systemic issues he’s working to fix, not create.
To crucify him for these is to mistake the firefighter for the arsonist. Five years from now, we’ll either lament losing Herbosa’s international clout or celebrate how his deals rebuilt our hospitals.
The choice isn’t Herbosa versus local needs—it’s stagnation versus a leader who’s proven he can win the resources we desperately lack.
His closing WHA address said it best: “Multilateralism is the thread that binds our shared aspirations into collective resolve.”
That’s not rhetoric; it’s a blueprint. Will we sabotage our own future by sidelining him, or will we trust the architect of a health revolution that’s already begun?
The clock is ticking, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
This is an AI-generated cartoon with the prompt: Generate a political cartoon in horizontal format of a giant snail. The shell is overwrought with post its labeled ‘excuses’ but the biggest post it is labeled ‘delaying tactics.’ The snail shell is humongous and looks filthy and heavy. At his lips is a clean piece of paper labeled ‘impeachment case.’
Israel slams Colorado attack
JERUSALEM – Israel’s top diplomat condemned Monday a weekend attack on demonstrators in the US state of Colorado demanding the release of hostages held in Gaza, alleging it was fueled by the media.
Russia, Ukraine head to Istanbul for fresh talks
ISTANBUL
34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel has faced growing condemnation over the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where the UN has warned the entire population is at risk of famine.
“Shocked by the terrible antisemitic terror attack targeting Jews in Boulder, Colorado,”
Gideon Saar wrote on X.
“This is pure Antisemitism, fueled by the blood libels spread in the media,” he added, without elaborating.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid denounced “another act of antisemitic violence.”
“We are all horrified by the violent terror attack in Colorado against peaceful protesters who were simply calling for the release of our hostage,” he wrote in a post on X.
Several people suffered burns and other injuries Sunday (Monday in Manila) in the US state of Colorado in what the FBI called a “targeted terror attack” against demonstrators seeking the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, 57 remain in captivity, including
Six elderly people were injured when a man used a makeshift flamethrower to attack demonstrators in Colorado as they demanded the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
The FBI identified the suspected perpetrator, who has been taken into custody, as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, but providing no further details about him.
The White House deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, posted on X that the man was a foreign national who “illegally overstayed (his) visa.”
Police in the city of Boulder were cautious in presuming a possible motive for the attack, which multiple sources said was committed against Jews during a peaceful gathering.
The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish activist group, said on X that the attack occurred at Sunday’s “Boulder Run for Their Lives” event, a weekly gathering of the Jewish community in support of the hostages seized during Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, sparking the war in Gaza.
“This attack happened at a regularly scheduled weekly peaceful event,” FBI agent Mark Michalek confirmed to reporters.
“Witnesses are reporting that the subject used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary into the crowd,” he said, adding that “the suspect was heard to yell: “Free Palestine!” AFP
Monday in Istanbul to exchange their plans for how to end the three-year war, Europe’s largest conflict since World War II, after Kyiv says it struck dozens of strategic bombers parked at airbases deep in Russia. Urged on by US President Donald Trump, Moscow and Kyiv have opened direct negotiations for the first time since the early weeks of Russia’s invasion but have yet to make significant progress towards an elusive agreement. Monday’s talks come a day after Ukraine carried out one of its most brazen and successful attacks ever on Russian soil -- hitting dozens of strategic bombers parked at airbases thousands of kilometers behind the front line.
At the first round of talks in Istanbul last month, they agreed a large-scale prisoner exchange and to swap notes on what their vision of a peace deal might look like.
The second set of negotiations is scheduled to get underway at 1:00 pm at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, an Ottoman imperial house on the banks of the Bosphorus that is now a luxury five-star hotel.
Russia says it will present a “memorandum” of its peace terms, having resisted pressure by Ukraine to send its demands in advance.
Despite the flurry of diplomacy, the two sides remain far apart over a possible deal -either for a truce or longer-term settlement.
Outlining Kyiv’s position ahead of the talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refreshed his call for an immediate halt to the fighting.
“First –- a full and unconditional ceasefire. Second –- the release of prisoners. Third -– the return of abducted children,” he said Sunday in a post on social media. He also called for the sides to discuss a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The key issues can only be resolved by the leaders,” Zelenskyy said. AFP
Snakes on a plane: Indian smuggler caught
MUMBAI, India – A passenger smuggling dozens of venomous vipers was stopped after flying into the financial capital Mumbai from Thailand, Indian customs officials said.
The snakes, which included 44 Indonesian pit vipers, were “concealed in checked-in baggage”, Mumbai Customs said in a statement late Sunday.
“An Indian national arriving from Thailand was arrested,” it added.
The passenger, details of whom were not released, also had three Spider-tailed horned vipers — which are venomous, but usually only target small prey such as birds -—as well as five Asian leaf turtles.
Mumbai Customs issued photographs of the seized snakes, including blue and yellow reptiles squirming in a bucket.
The snakes are a relatively unusual seizure in Mumbai, with customs officers more regularly posting pictures of hauls of smuggled gold, cash, cannabis or pills of suspected cocaine swallowed by passengers. AFP
Pilgrims come together in Mecca’s desert heat
MECCA, Saudi Arabia – More than a million Muslim pilgrims poured into the holy city of Mecca ahead of the annual hajj, with authorities vowing to hold a safer pilgrimage amid searing desert heat and a massive crackdown on illegal visitors.
Temperatures were forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius this week as one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings officially commences on Wednesday. The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means.
As of Friday, more than 1.3 million pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the multi-day pilgrimage, according to officials.
This year, authorities have mobilized more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts to mitigate heatrelated risks following a lethal heatwave in 2024 that left hundreds dead. AFP
South Korea’s pres’l bets rally in final poll stretch
SEOUL – Candidates running in South Korea’s snap presidential election stage made a last push for votes on Monday, the eve of a poll triggered by the ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration. South Koreans are desperate to draw a line under six months of political turmoil sparked by Yoon’s brief suspension of civilian rule in December, for which he was impeached and removed from office.
All major polls put liberal Lee Jae-myung well ahead in the presidential race, with the latest Gallup survey showing 49 percent of respondents viewed him as the best candidate.
Conservative Kim Moon-soo, from the People Power Party -- Yoon’s former party -- trailed Lee on 35 percent.
Both candidates have framed the campaign as a fight for the soul of the nation. Lee is set to spend much of his final day of campaigning in his old stomping grounds of Gyeonggi Province -- where he previously served as governor and built much of his support base. AFP
TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2025
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor
Junior Altas shoot for volley crown
By Dennis Abrina
THE Perpetual Help Junior Altas Spikers shoot for the crown in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals against the Letran Squires in the NCAA Season 100 Juniors Boys Indoor Volleyball Championship at 8 a.m. on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Coach Sandy Rieta and his Las Piñas squad are determined to secure the championship and add to their 13th titles.
Six of these championships have been won under the Caviteño bench tactician, alongside assistant coaches Jason Sapin and Chi Cha Bautista.
Perpetual Help gained the advantage in the series by winning Game 1, 25-21, 29-27, and 28-26.
John Lat led the Altalettes with a career-high 15 points, tallying 10 attack points and 5 blocks, while Zyro Ornos contributed 13 points, and Nathan Ciriaco added 12 points.
For the Squires, King Nimo led with a teamhigh 18 points, while Vergel Balajadia and Jasper Algao scored 15 and 11 points, respectively. Ciriaco, Ornos, Resty Santos, Charles Concina, Kirby Alecida, Miguel Dela Cruz, and Michael Medina are all eager to bring a championship to their alma mater before they graduate and move to the Senior Level.
The Perpetual Junior Volleyball Team has been dominant for a decade, producing well-known volleyball players in the country such as EJ Casaña and Vince Lorenzo of the National Team, along with Noel Kampton, Kirth Rosos, Joshua Zareno, Luis Gamban, Hero Austria, Shawie Caritativo, Joshua Pozas, and Leo Coguimbal.
Camcam, Caro dominant at PPS
Pagadian meet
IZABELLE Camcam showcased her resilience and versatility as she emerged the lone two-division champion while Tyronne Caro posted a win and a runner-up finish in the PPS-PEPP Governor’s Cup National Tennis Championships at the DAO Sports Complex in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur over the weekend.
The top-seeded 14-year-old Camcam survived a gritty challenge from No. 2 Zaia Gumbao to top her age group with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6(5) victory. She then raised her game even further, outlasting Gumbao again in a gripping 16-and-U singles final, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(4), to complete a “double” in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.
The Muntinlupa City native, who had struggled in recent campaigns on the PPS-PEPP circuit, finally broke through in style and stood out as the tournament’s only multiple singles champion – a feat underscoring the deep competition and balanced field in the Mindanao leg of the nationwide tennis series initiated by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. Caro, meanwhile, lived up to his billing in the boys’ 12-andU class, dispatching Dioford Cabatingan, 6-3, 6-2, in the title match. However, he fell short of a second crown, yielding to top seed Prince Centino, 6-4, 3-6, 1-6, in the 14-and-U finals.
ASK any coach worth his salt what the best way to break a press is, and the answer is always the same: Pass. Move the ball, and move it fast.
A ball that is passed moves faster than a ball being dribbled. That’s basketball’s law of motion, kept close to heart by players and coaches, like gospel from basketball gods, who frown upon those who openly defy the sport’s established canon, and Jalen Brunson’s apostasy was the reason why the New York Knicks failed to ascend.
It might seem odd that someone like Brunson, who has consistently displayed high basketball IQ, would repeatedly try to break Indiana’s ball pressure by dribbling through swarming double teams during their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals matchup.
Singson leads charge as ICTSI golf begins
ANTIPOLO—Mafy Singson is entering her fourth straight championship week with more excitement than exhaustion, bringing high energy and confidence into the ICTSI Forest Hills Classic, which blasts off today (Tuesday, June 1) at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club’s Nicklaus course here. Fresh off a strong campaign on the China Tour, Singson is eager to showcase her sharpened form and ride the momentum of her recent Ladies Philippine Golf Tour victory.
The former amateur standout captured the second leg title at Eagle Ridge last March, edging Florence Bisera in a sudden-death thriller, following a seventh-place finish at Pradera Verde in February.
During the break in the local tour, Singson competed in China and made a splash by co-leading after the first round of the
China Golf Women’s Legacy in Sichuan two weeks ago. Though she faded over the final two rounds to finish tied for 24th, the experience proved invaluable.
“I learned a lot about myself and my game these past few weeks,” said Singson. “I’m looking forward to working on a few things and incorporating what I learned into my game.”
Despite the physical toll of a month-long campaign, Singson remains upbeat and energized.
“I actually feel good coming into this week. Even if it’s my fourth straight week of playing tournaments, I’m more excited than tired,” said the ICTSI-backed shotmaker. “I’ve kept my body in condition and hopefully I can perform well.”
She’s also excited to return to Forest Hills. “I’m excited to see familiar faces and play a course I’ve already played before,” she added. “Joining the LPGT is always fun for me. I always look forward to it.”
PH boxers capture 2 bronze medals in Thailand tourney
By Randy M. Caluag
THE Philippine National Boxing Team made a decent showing at the recently concluded Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament held in Bangkok, Thailand, bringing home two bronze medals, courtesy of Riza Pasuit and Mark Ashley Fajardo.
Pasuit and Fajardo both advanced to the semifinals, securing at least bronze finishes for the country.
Pasuit competed in the women’s lightweight division (60kg), where she delivered a dominant 4-1 victory over Ukraine’s Marianna Basanets to clinch her spot on the podium. She later fell short against Kazakhstan’s Viktoriya Grafeyeva in the semifinals, bowing out with a 5-0 decision.
Fajardo, on the other hand, earned his
bronze after a convincing 4-1 win against Ukraine’s Nikita Pohozhyi. He was stopped in the semifinals by hometown favorite Khunatip Pidnuch of Thailand, also via a 5-0 score.
Joining the Philippine delegation in the tournament were national boxers Aaron Jude Bado, Jay Bryan Baricuatro, John Paul Napoles, Ronald Chavez Jr., and Ofelia Magno, who all gave commendable efforts in their respective bouts.
ANTIPOLO—Keanu Jahns
returns to the site of his breakthrough win with tempered expectations but renewed determination, aiming for a back-to-back victory at the ICTSI Forest Hills Classic, which kicks off today (Tuesday, June 3) at the challenging Jack Nicklaus-designed course here.
“I’m not really expecting anything, as usual. I try to keep myself in the present,” said the FilGerman standout on the eve of the event. “I know that if I can do that, I usually play my best.”
Jahns stunned the field at Forest Hills last year when he edged Rupert Zaragosa by two shots to capture his maiden Philippine Golf Tour crown. However, his form has been uneven so far this season. He posted a promising tiedfor-sixth finish at Pradera Verde
Pass the ball.
in February, but faltered to a joint 17th at Eagle Ridge in March.
Despite the rocky start, he remains quietly confident heading back to familiar territory.
“I’m pretty confident. As long as I can manage the course well enough, I can put up some good scores,” he said.
His motivation has also taken on a deeper, more personal tone since becoming a father last November.
“Of course, I’ve been more motivated since my daughter’s birth,” he shared. “She’s been a huge inspiration.”
Still, balancing work and preparation has been a challenge for the 29-year-old pro. Jahns admitted he hasn’t had the chance to log many on-course practice rounds in the lead-up to his title defense.
“I haven’t had a lot of time for
on-course practice because I’ve been busy with work,” he explained. “But I’ve been putting in work on the Trackman, dialing in my distances and especially working on my driver. I didn’t drive the ball particularly well during the first two events.” Forest Hills’ hilly, undulating terrain, lined with narrow fairways and tricky greens, demands precision and poise. Jahns, however, is sticking to the game plan that brought him glory last year.
“Same strategy,” he said. “But I wouldn’t call it conservative – it’s more of a smart-aggressive style of play. I aim slightly off my target line to account for my natural miss. If I can do that and keep a decent FIR (fairways in regulation) and GIR (greens in regulation) with solid putting, I can shoot good scores.”
It wasn’t a smart move. Odd, yes—but not out of character.
That’s how he’s played his entire career. He made a name for himself as a speedy, lefthanded dribbler, who could wriggle free from defenders and create his own shot. He reached the Eastern Conference Finals by staying true to that identity. This isn’t the first time Brunson is a revelation in the postseason. During the 2021–2022 Playoffs, he was thrust into the spotlight as the interim leader of the Dallas Mavericks in Luka
Dončić’s absence—and he delivered.
It’s difficult to say the same three years later. Brunson now has more experience. He’s surrounded by better players.
That’s what makes the disappointment sting more. Brunson hit a wall—both literally and figuratively. His response? Stubbornness. He would muscle his way through, or go down trying. And he did try. Over and over again. But he failed—again and again—until the Knicks’ title hopes flatlined, with minutes still left on the clock. Persistence wasn’t the problem. Adaptability was. He needed to apply that same dogged determination to a smarter strategy—one that could’ve countered Indiana’s relentless defensive aggression. The answer was obvious.
It’s not like Indiana’s plan to pressure Brunson was some well-kept secret. The Pacers clamped down on him all series long. Coaches and players discussed it openly in postgame interviews. The Knicks knew it was coming since Game 1.
But New York believed in Brunson. He’s earned their trust. In New York, the motto is “trust the ballhandler.”
I know Brunson is a smart player. That’s why I was surprised to see him so convinced he could muscle past a physical defense that had clearly figured him out. He’s 6’2”. The help defender?
Tyrese Haliburton—6’5”, with a 6’8” wingspan. We’ve all heard the saying: “It’s not the size of the man, but the size of his heart that matters.” Brunson has the heart of a fighter. But his size—and more importantly, his ego—were exploited.
He was determined to beat the pressure. He wanted to prove a point. And every time he failed, it only deepened his resolve to try again. Meanwhile, his four teammates stood waiting— for a pass that never came.
And that pass, if you’re a New York Knicks fan (and not just a Jalen Brunson fan), isn’t just a pass. It’s a signal that Brunson is willing to adapt. More importantly, it’s a sign that he trusts his teammates. That he’s willing to let others take the lead when the situation demands it. Why is that pass so hard to make? It’s not even a game-winning moment.
Michael Jordan lived for the spotlight. He was up to the challenge when coaches sent bigger defenders to swarm him. But he knew that winning a championship was not just a battle of the brawns, but a battle of the brains as well. He showed them toughness, but he was determined to outsmart them. When the double team came with 28 seconds left on the clock in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals and with the game on the line, Jordan, notorious for burying game-winning shots, made a surprise move when he passed the ball to St eve Kerr and trusted him to take the winning shot. That shot cemented Kerr’s reputation as a clutch shooter. But it didn’t diminish Jordan’s legacy as a scorer or as the Bulls’ unquestioned leader. Brunson is a talented player. A regular-season star. If the Knicks stay healthy and intact, he’ll likely be back in the Playoffs next year—and perhaps for many more to come. But it will only get tougher from here. Now that teams know what breaks him, he should expect opponents to put pressure on his ballhandling and his ego. If New York hopes to finally break through the Eastern Conference Finals next season, both the Knicks—and Brunson—must embrace a new philosophy.
Don’t just trust the ballhandler. Trust the ball movement. Trust the pass.
Trust the pass
The Designated Kit Man
Erel Cabatbat
Free Throw Shooter
Nathaniel Dela Cruz
The Designated Kit Man
Erel Cabatbat
Free Throw Shooter
Nathaniel Dela Cruz
Serving as the tournament’s Technical Delegate was the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines official Karina Picson.
Mark Ashley Fajardo (left) against Ukraine’s Nikita Pohozhyi
Keanu Jahns returns
Izabelle Camcam (right) and Tyronne Caro
PH launches business reform package, backed by $1-b loan
$1 billion
By Othel V. Campos
Policy loans from ADB, World Bank
THE Philippine government has enacted a sweeping reform package aimed at improving the country’s business environment, backed by $1 billion in policy loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB).
“This bold move reaffirms our unwavering commitment to make the Philippines a premier investment destination by cutting red tape and establishing efficient pathways,” stated Ernesto delos Reyes, director of the One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSACSI).
Decline in 5-month BOI investments
48.5% P1.75 trillion
The initiative was formalized through a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC), signed by 35 agencies on Monday. This move is a key part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) strategy to attract more investments.
“This is a $1 billion document,” said Board of Investments managing director Ceferino Rodolfo.
“It represents a key deliverable under the ADB’s $400 million Business Environment Strengthening through Technology [BEST] loan
and the World Bank’s $600 million Growth and Jobs Development Policy Loan [DPL]. These loans are paid for through reforms, by implementing policies that make doing business in the Philippines easier,” said Rodolfo.
The JMC aims to enhance coordination among agencies within the Investments Facilitation Network (INFA-Net). It also institutionalizes “Green Lanes,” mandated by Executive Order No. 18, which are dedicated to fast-tracking permits for strategic investments.
Meanwhile, the DTI is considering recalibrating its investment targets for 2025 due to slower-than-expected performance by investment promotion agencies (IPAs).
DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque announced she would meet with IPAs to reassess strategies and targets. This comes after a 48.5-percent drop in BOI-approved investments, falling to P329 billion from January to May 2025, compared to P640.22 billion in the same period last year.
“We are yet to meet regarding that, but we’re still really pushing, just like how we normally do,” Roque said on the sidelines of the JMC signing.
BOI’s target investments for 2025
Manufacturing faltered in May on weak demand
THE Philippines’ manufacturing sector saw a near-stagnation in May, with S&P Global’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) slipping to 50.1 from 53.0 in April.
The latest data indicates a significant slowdown in growth momentum after a solid revival in April, S&P said.
Output in the manufacturing sector fell into contraction territory for the second time in three months, albeit marginally. New order growth also slowed, with a notable downturn in demand from foreign markets weighing on total new sales. This marks the strongest fall in new export orders since last November.
The drop in production requirements led to a fresh decline in employment, the first in four months. The rate of job shedding was marginal but the strongest in nearly a year, as companies postponed filling open positions following voluntary resignations.
Maryam Baluch, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said the promising growth observed at the beginning of the second quarter signaled a notable cooling in May.
“While new orders continued to increase, they did so at a slower pace, overshadowed by contractions in other areas. Notably, output, employment, and the inventories of both purchases and finished goods all experienced fresh declines,” said Baluch.
“The situation was further exacerbated by a deteriorating demand from foreign markets, with May witnessing a sharper drop in new export orders. As global trade tensions escalate, the outlook for overseas demand appears increasingly precarious,” Baluch said.
The slowdown in new order growth was reflected in a softer rate of increase in input buying activity, the weakest in 18 months.
By Jenniffer B. Austria
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said Monday it approved the planned initial public offering (IPO) of Maynilad Water Services Inc.
Maynilad will offer 1.66 billion common shares at up to P20 apiece, with an overallotment option of up to 249 million shares and a preferential offer of up to 24.904 million shares.
The secondary shares in the
PHILIPPINE mangoes have entered the Italian fresh fruit market for the first time, with nearly 800 kilograms from Pangasinan arriving in Rome in late May.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco
Tiu Laurel Jr. hailed the shipment as a breakthrough for expanding agricultural exports, boosting farmer incomes and attracting rural investment.
“It shows what can happen when public institutions, private initiative, and overseas Filipinos work together to elevate Philippine products to global standards,” Tiu Laurel said in a statement.
A group of Filipino entrepreneurs in Rome facilitated the shipment with assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the
offering will be sold by Maynilad Water Holding Company Inc., a major shareholder. Maynilad Water Services Inc. will not receive proceeds from the sale.
Assuming full subscription of the overallotment and preferential shares, Maynilad could raise up to P37.41 billion from the IPO.
Proceeds from the IPO will fund Maynilad’s capital expenditure program for 2025-2026 and for general corporate purposes.
The company previously committed
Philippine Embassy.
Agriculture attaché Josyline Javelosa credited Filipino smallbusiness owners and members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Italy for leading the effort.
The DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) ensured all certifications were in place, noting that many Philippine mango farms already meet EU plant health standards, paving the way for future exports.
Mangoes are the Philippines’ priority commodity under the FAO’s One Country One Priority Product initiative.
Tiu Laurel presented a $50-million investment plan in Rome in 2024 to support 27,000 mango-farming households. Othel V. Campos
to spending P163 billion between 2023 and 2027, with about P101 billion allocated for water projects and the remainder for wastewater initiatives.
The final number of shares and pricing will be determined through a book-building process.
The offer period is scheduled for July 3 to 9, with shares expected to be listed on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange on July 17, according to the latest timeline submitted to the SEC.
Maynilad appointed BPI Capital Corporation, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Morgan Stanley Asia (Singapore) Pte. and UBS AG, Singapore Branch as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners for the offering.
Maynilad is mandated to conduct a public offering by January 2027. It will be the second company to list on the Philippine Stock Exchange this year, following Cebu-based Top Line Business Development Corp.
Board of Investment managing director Ceferino Rodolfo
BUSINESS
Pluang brings US stock investments to PH
By Jenniffer B. Austria
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the applications of Macodimarc Technology Corp. (Pluang PH) and G-Xchange, Inc. (GCash) to participate its regulatory sandbox.
This allows GCash and Pluang PH, a Jakarta-based fintech start-up, to pilot their platforms in a limited regulatory environment.
Under the plan, Pluang PH will test a mobile application that will allow
retail investors in the country to trade and invest in U.S. Securities.
Meanwhile, GCash will seek to provide simplified and unified access to global stock markets within its application through GStocks Global.
The duration of the sandbox period will be for 24 months, and can admit up to a total of 2 million participants.
“For the first time, Filipinos will be able to invest in the true technology leaders of the world, companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, NVIDIA itself. They’ll be able to invest from the click of their button and from the convenience of their own smartphones,” Pluang co-founded
Richard Chua said.
Pluang is a multi-asset investment platform that allows Indonesians to invest in cryptocurrency, US stocks,
In celebration of the World Milk Day, the Department of Agriculture through its attached corporation, National Dairy Authority (DA-NDA) organizes a dairy fair on May 30, 2025, at the Risen Garden, Quezon City Hall. The event featured a variety of dairy products with 19 exhibitors, including local farmers and cooperatives from across the country.
D&L expects sustained growth due to exports
D&L Industries Inc., the country’s leading producer of specialty food ingredients and oleochemicals, expects its profitability to continue rising in the coming years as it ramps up exports.
This outlook supports the company’s confidence in sustaining strong dividend payouts.
“We do expect profitability to continue to increase. So, we’re quite comfortable in terms of the outlook of future years’ dividends,” D&L president and chief executive Alvin Lao said.
Lao said the company is focusing on expanding exports through its Batangas plant.
“As part of the efforts of ramping up production in our Batangas plant, we’re focusing on exports and, because of that, we are visiting clients in other countries, attending trade shows and exhibitions, to try and drum up business. Because of that, we are able to get new clients in new markets all the time,” he said.
Despite global uncertainties, the company said it remains focused on building long-term growth and resilience.
“Management believes that with D&L’s product portfolio, the majority of which cater to basic and essential industries, the company will continue to grow and be relevant in an everchanging business environment and world trade order,” the company said.
Meanwhile, D&L declared total cash dividends of P1.52 billion for 2025, slightly higher than last year’s P1.49 billion.
This includes a regular dividend of P0.164 per share and a special dividend of P0.049 per share. Shareholders of record as of June 18 will receive the payout by July 2.
“Management remains highly committed to its regular dividend policy of a 50 percent payout ratio based on prior year’s net income. On top of that, for the fifth consecutive year since the peak of the pandemic in 2020, D&L was able to declare special dividends,” the company said.
This year’s total payout is equivalent to 65 percent of 2024’s net income.
D&L reported a recurring income of P2.3 billion in 2024, up 2 percent yearon-year. The increase came despite higher expenses tied to the Batangas plant. Jenniffer B. Austria
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently asked the members of his Cabinet and the other top officials of his administration to submit courtesy resignations, a move avowedly intended to bring about a revitalization of his administration, which came into office on June 30, 2022.
Since then, several Cabinet members have been either fired, demoted or transferred. The fates of a number of other top officials hang in the balance.
The reorganization of Mr. Marcos’ administration has come near the mid-point of his six-year term. The Chief Executive has admitted that he initiated it in response to the disappointing showing of his Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas – only five of each twelve candidates won seats – in the recent Senate election. The electorate has registered its dissatisfaction and the government must respond appropriately, Mr. Marcos said.
The reorganization of the top echelon of the Executive Department nearly halfway through its term has raised three issues that are vital to the orderly, rapid and sustainable development of the economy of this country.
The first issue harks back to one of the most hotlydebated ideas in the 1970-1972 Constitutional Convention, to wit, the ideal length of the term of the President of the Philippines. The debate was between the retention of the 1935 Constitution’s eight-years (two four-year terms) of office and those who favored a switch to a longer solitary (six years with no reelection) term. The essence of the latter’s position was that four years was too short a term for a good Chief Executive and eight years – assuming re-elec-
local stocks, mutual funds, and gold, all in a single platform for as little as $1. It currently has 1 million app subscribers in Indonesia.
“So, basically, we’re trying to democratize access to wealth creation, and we think creating wealth is really about putting your money in a diversified portfolio of these kinds of assets,” he said.
The Philippines is Pluang’s first market outside Indonesia, Chua said, and the Philippines was chosen due to similarities in population size and demographics, with both countries hav-
ing large, young populations.
“People are discovering their financial identity. With a majority under 30, they haven’t yet figured out who to trust in this modern world. And with things like crypto, the financial landscape is completely changing,” Chua said.
During the soft launch, Pluang plans to onboard a couple of thousand users to evaluate market demand and local adaptations.
“If all things go well, we’ll be very excited to scale our offering in the Philippines,” he said.
PH stock market opens June trading in the green ahead of inflation report
PHILIPPINE stocks opened June trading in the green ahead of the release of May inflation report.
The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index closed at 6,352.66, up 11.13 points, or 0.18 percent, from Friday, while the broader all-shares index ended at 3,743.41, higher by 19.79 points, or 0.53 percent.
“Philippine shares closed slightly positive to kickstart the month of June as the market gears up for new economic data that could influence price action movement this week,” Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said. Aside from the May inflation rate, other key local data includes manufacturing PMI and
Austria
Jenniffer
Issues raised by mid-term gov’t revamp
The reorganization of the top echelon of the Executive Department nearly halfway through its term has raised three issues that are vital to the orderly, rapid and sustainable development of the economy.
tion – was too long a term for a bad Chief Executive.
The idea of linking length of term with quality of performance should be applied not only to the President of the Philippines but also to the members of his official family. As with a good President, a good Cabinet member should be regarded as having six years within which to deliver a good performance.
The second issue raised by President Marcos’ mid-term revamp of his officialdom is the reason for undertaking a revamp. As stated above, President Marcos pointed to the results of the 2025 Senatorial election as the cause of the revamp. Reorganizing a Cabinet for its improvement should be undertaken for its own sake, not as a reaction to defeat at the polls. Improving a Cabinet should be a continuing process.
WE ARE NOT SOLICITING YOUR PROXY. However, if you cannot personally attend the meeting but would still like to be represented thereat and be considered for quorum purposes, you may inform the Office of the Corporate Secretary at the address indicated below or through
Manila Standard TODAY
The third issue raised by President Marcos’ midterm reorganization of his administration relates to the phrase ‘the best and the brightest’. A President’s Cabinet is supposed to be a collection of the best and the brightest that the nation has to offer. It is not supposed to be a place of accommodation, the assembly point for political appointees and people whose professional and personal credentials are less than first-rate. The men and women who are appointed to Cabinet and other top-level positions at the start of an administration are expected to be exemplars of personal probity and professional capability. Cabinet reshuffles – such as the wholesale reshuffle that is taking place – result when they are not such exemplars. One final thought. There is a counterpart of the law of gravity in the governance of a nation. Three years is not a long time and there is only so much that a less-than-superhuman individuals can accomplish within that time-frame, even with the noblest of intentions. (llagasjessa@yahoo.com)
TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS:
Please be informed that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of VITARICH CORPORATION (the “Corporation”) will be held on Friday, June 27, 2025, 2:00 P.M., at The Pace, Ilang-Ilang, Sta. Rosa 2, Marilao, Bulacan
The Annual Stockholders’ Meeting shall have the following agenda:
1. Call to Order; 2. Certification of Notice and the Existence of a Quorum;
3. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Annual Stockholders’ Meeting; 4. Report of the President on the Results of the 2024 Operations and the 2024 Audited Financial Statements of the Corporation; 5. Ratification of the Acts of Directors and Officers; 6. Election of Directors; 7. Confirmation of the Appointment of External Auditor; 8. Appointment of Stock Transfer Agent; 9. Other matters; and 10. Adjournment.
A brief explanation of each item which requires the approval and/ or ratification by the stockholders are provided in the Information Statement. Stockholders can get the electronic copies of the SEC20-IS Definitive Information Statement, SEC 17-A Annual Report with 2024 Audited Financial Statements and other pertinent information from the PSE’s EDGE system and the Corporation’s website at https:// vitarich.com/company-disclosure/sec-filings/.
Only stockholders of record as of May 27, 2025, which is the record date fixed by the Board, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, this meeting.
Proxies must be submitted to the Special Committee of Election Inspectors of the Corporation located at Vitarich Corporation, MarilaoSan Jose Road, Sta. Rosa I, Marilao, Bulacan, on or before June 16, 2025. Proxies shall be validated by the Special Committee on Election Inspectors at said office on June 20, 2025.
On the day of the meeting, you or your duly designated proxy are required to show this Notice together with your government-issued ID to facilitate registration. Registration shall start at 1:00 pm and shall close at 1:45 pm.
BPI keeps reduced P10 Instapay fee for bank transfers
By Jenniffer B. Austria
BANK of the Philippine Islands (BPI) said Monday it will permanently keep the reduced P10 InstaPay fee for inter-bank fund transfers made through the BPI app and BPI Online. The fee was introduced in March 2025 as a promotional rate to encourage customers to use digital banking.
BPI said that amid strong customer demand and positive feedback, it decided to make the rate permanent.
“We are committed to making banking more affordable to more Filipinos. The response to our promo-
Panga submits resignation as chief of PEZA
By Othel V. Campos
PHILIPPINE Economic Zone Author-
ity (PEZA) director-general Tereso Panga submitted his courtesy resignation on May 27, 2025, in compliance with President Marcos Jr.’s call for a bureaucratic reset.
As a career official with 28 years of service at PEZA, Panga said he fully supports the President’s vision. He reassured stakeholders that PEZA’s operations remain steady and that the agency will continue to back registered enterprises and attract new investments.
Major business organizations have rallied behind Panga, including the Mactan Export Processing Zone Chamber of Exporters and Manufacturers (MPZCEM), which represents 157 companies and praised him as a driving force in addressing critical industry issues.
The group cited Panga’s integrity, strategic vision, and his role in positioning the Philippines as a competitive global destination, stressing that his continued leadership is vital for national growth and economic resilience.
The Cavite Export Zone Investors Association (CEZIA) also backed Panga’s retention. Senior group officials credited him with bolstering investor confidence despite local and global economic headwinds.
They noted his consistent push for policies that benefit stakeholders and his swift action against measures that might hinder development.
tion reducing InstaPay fee to P10 last March was very positive, as we experienced increased traffic in BPI’s mobile banking channels,” said BPI head of consumer banking Maria Cristina Go.
“We are continuously enhancing our digital services that empower Filipinos to manage their finances more effectively,” she said.
BPI said the lower fee helps support financial inclusion and allows customers to transfer money where it matters most.
The bank also said this move is part of its focus on digital banking and customer needs.
PH gets P15.7-b French loan for climate actions
By Darwin G. Amojelar
THE Department of Finance (DOF) said Monday it secured a 250-million-euro (P15.7 billion) concessional loan from France to help advance the Philippines’ climate actions.
The funding, provided through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for innovative strategies to address climate change and build resilience.
“This is a vote of confidence in the Filipino people and our shared vision of a greener, safer, and more resilient future,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said.
The agreement for the Climate Change Action Plan, Subprogram 2 (CCAP2) was formally exchanged between Recto and French Ambassador Marie Fontanel on June 2, 2025.
CCAP2, worth about P15.79 billion, builds on the achievements of its predecessor, CCAP1, to support the Philippines in meeting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments and assisting vulnerable sectors in transitioning to a resilient, low-carbon economy.
The CCAP comprises three subprograms focusing on: strengthening planning, financing, and institutional
By Alena Mae S. Flores
BUHAWIND Energy Northern Luzon Corp. (BENLC), a joint venture between PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC) and Denmark’s Copenhagen Energy (CE), was granted a pre-development environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for its 2-gigawatt Northern Luzon offshore wind project.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued the ECC on May 29, 2025, allowing BENLC to conduct essential geophysical, geotechnical, marine, environmental and social surveys in Ilocos Norte to characterize the project area’s baseline physical and social
MAYA, a leading digital bank and fintech ecosystem, said it teamed up with retail chain Ultra Mega and connectivity provider GoodApps to advance digital financial inclusion for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)—with a strong focus on sari-sari stores.
The tripartite collaboration aims to empower over 100,000 retailers in Ultra Mega’s distribution network by providing access to financing, digital tools, and connectivity solutions that help businesses grow and thrive in today’s evolving economy.
“Sari-sari stores are more than just neighborhood shops—they’re vital to our economy and daily life. By combining financial services, digital tools,
and on-the-ground support, we’re helping these micro-entrepreneurs become more resilient and futureready,” said Maya Group chief commercial officer Khurram Malik.
“This collaboration is about rethinking how credit reaches the underserved. We’re using technology and real business activity—not just paperwork—to unlock access to responsible financing for the country’s smallest but most essential businesses,” he said.
Maya Bank president Angelo Madrid said they would offer credit to eligible MSMEs through Maya Advance, its financing product powered by Maya Bank, available via the Maya Business App. Darwin G. Amojelar
conditions. These data are crucial for the development design and environmental impact assessment.
“With the pre-development ECC approval, we will now initiate the conduct of a systematic, comprehensive, and scientific study of the site’s physical and social setting that will not only meet international industry standards but provide factual basis for assessing development concerns,” said Yrel Ventura, PGEC assistant vice president for environment and community relations.
The Department of Energy (DOE) certified the Northern Luzon offshore wind power project as an energy project of national significance (EPNS) on
April 29, 2025, recognizing its potential for long-term energy, economic, technological, and environmental benefits.
The Board of Investments (BOI) also endorsed the project as a strategic investment, issuing a green lane certificate in November 2024.
The project, which involves installing 15 MW to 20 MW wind turbines off the coasts of Burgos, Bangui, and Pagudpud towns, is expected to be operational between 2028 and 2030. It is one of the most advanced offshore wind developments in the Philippines, projected to create an estimated 24,000 direct and indirect jobs over a two-year construction phase and 30-year operational period.
linkages for climate action; enhancing resilience to climate impacts; and strengthening low-carbon pathways.
CCAP1, implemented from January 2020 to March 2022, was supported by a $250 million financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and 150 million euros from the AFD. CCAP2 is co-financed by the ADB (449.12 million euros) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (35 billion Japanese yen).
“With this agreement, we strengthen our strategic cooperation on climate action, reinforce our institutional capacities, and accelerate the delivery of real, lasting change—especially for the most vulnerable,” Recto said.
“This is the kind of meaningful partnership the times demand—ambitious, strategic, and purposeful,” he said.
Recto thanked the French government for its continued support and decade-long partnership with the Philippines, strengthened by both nations’ common resolve to address climate change.
IN BRIEF
HEALTH EXPERTS.
Christia Padolina of Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOFOG); Dr. Analyn Fuentes-Fallarme of the Philippine Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology (PIDSOG); and Dr. Ourlad Tantengco from
DIGITAL PAYMENTS. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan (center) is the keynote speaker for Citi Philippines’ Future of Payments forum, joined by (from left) Asia South and JANA head of payments Anoushka Dua, Asia South head of platform and data services Xin Lin, Citi Philippines treasury and trade
Arlene Nethercott, Citi Philippines country
BPI head of consumer banking Maria Cristina Go
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
DA says new generation of farmers key to
food security
THE Department of Agriculture is fully committed on training young Flipino farmers, saying they are key to keeping the farm sector going and making sure the country has enough food.
“Our youth are the future of agriculture. Through education and hands-on experience, we can empower them to lead the sector forward,” Agriculture Secretary Tiu Laurel said in the recent the sendoff ceremony for the 2025 batch of the Young Filipino Farm Leaders Training Program in Japan.
The ceremony at the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) honored 23 young Filipino scholars who completed pre-departure training. They are set to spend 11 months in Japan learning modern farming techniques and technologies from Japanese experts.
The need to involve the younger generation is growing more urgent, as the average age of Filipino farmers is nearing 60. With many nearing their senior years, it is essential to equip young people with advanced knowledge and technology to improve farm productivity and help secure the country’s food supply in the years to come.
The training program is designed to build practical skills, expose participants to innovative farming practices and strengthen their readiness to contribute to local agricultural development.
Scholars also undergo language and cultural training to help them adapt and thrive during their stay in Japan.
The initiative is part of the DA’s broader strategy to invest in young people across various agricultural subsectors. By doing so, the department aims to revitalize rural communities, close knowledge gaps and ensure a stable food supply for future generations.. DA News
A beekeeper in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana. The first World Bee Day on May
PH, France back call to preserve oceans as part of climate action
THE Philippines last week joined local and foreign partners in reaffirming the call to protect the world’s oceans that are essential to all life, by sustaining biodiversity, regulating the climate and generating oxygen.
The Climate Change Commission (CCC) reiterated the call as more than 1,000 handcrafted solar lanterns illuminated Fort Santiago during the inauguration of the “Blue Lanterns” climate art installation on May 27, 2025. Crafted by families, local cooperatives, volunteers, partners and youth, the lanterns were unveiled ahead of the 3rd UN Oceans Conference
(UNOC3) in Nice, France.
The project reflects the shared commitment of France and the Philippines to advance ocean protection and climate action in the lead-up to the UNOC3, which will be co-chaired with Costa Rica and held in Nice this month.
“The Climate Change Commission stands solidly with the Philippines’
call to protect the world’s oceans. This installation here in Fort Santiago sends a clear message and challenge for all of us to preserve, protect and promote the lifeblood that is our oceans and to fortify our blue and green frontlines and frontiers,” says CCC executive director Robert E.A. Borje.
The initiative, led by the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, the Intramuros Administration and Liter of Light, symbolizes a collective commitment to marine protection, climate resilience, and communityled innovation.
Bees: In protecting pollinators, we protect the future of food
Conclusion
IN TANZANIA, nearly 35,000 hectares of Miombo woodland are being restored alongside investments in bee value chains. Rwanda has trained over 9,000 beekeepers, 30 percent of whom are women and youth, while Ethiopia is using apiculture to support conflict-affected communities in the Afar region. In Latin America, a regional platform is strengthening cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange on pollinators, linking efforts in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru.
From Azerbaijan’s forest management reforms to Morocco’s oasis revitalization and Iraq’s community-based training, countries are embedding bee-friendly practices in forest, farm and rural development strategies. Globally, FAO is helping governments align environmental law with pollinator protection—developing policy guidance for lawmakers in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
Through its “One Country One Priority Product” initiative, countries like Benin, Chile, Rwanda and Vietnam are promoting honey as a climate-smart commodity.
And through the Forest and Farm Facility, smallholders in 10 countries are gaining the skills to adopt pollinator-friendly farming. These efforts are reshaping how we farm, govern, and trade—centering bees not just as indicators of ecological health, but as engines of rural transformation. Pollinator-friendly farming works. It strengthens ecosystems, supports smallholders and helps communities withstand climate shocks.
These practices are rooted in science and proven in the field—from orchard rows to oasis valleys—and they show us a practical, inclusive path toward a food system that lasts.
We all have a role to play. Help by planting pollinator-friendly flowers, especially native species that provide the best support for local pollinators. Avoid using harmful chemicals, particularly during flowering seasons when pollinators are most active, and support local beekeepers and buy honey from sustainable sources.
Encourage schools and municipalities to create pollinator gardens and corridors, which provide safe and nourishing habitats for these essential creatures.
Though small in size, pollinators have an outsized impact. They are climate heroes, biodiversity champions and silent architects of our agrifood systems. Protecting them means safeguarding species but also ensuring the resilience of our food systems and communities. FAO News
Coconut husk wastes recycled into plywood, synthetic boards
By Jules Philip Tillay DOST-TAPI writer
THE Philippines is home to 347 million coconut trees and yields an average of 14 million tons of coconut fruits a year.
Aside from its succulent meat and refreshing juice, the coconut fruit also has fibrous husks, which are often converted as geotextile and used in creating bags, rags, ropes,and other products.
Consequently, tons of fibrous coconut husks are improperly disposed of or burned in fields.
Kenno Michael Uy, the founder and chief executive of Lessics Inc., recalled during a recent episode of Pa-Siyensya Na podcast that these waste coconut husks can also be a potential source of vector-borne risks.
with Lesstics Inc.’s Silver Award at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (IEIG).
Photo courtesy of Department of Science and TechnologyTechnology Application and Promotion Institute.
Uy saw this as an opportunity to develop the coir-reinforced bio-based high-density polyurethane composite, or the Earth Board. This technology won the Silver Award at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (IEIG). Earth Board is made of fibers of waste coconut husks. Due to its bio-based composition, it emits fewer volatile organic compounds. This significantly contributes to reduced air pollution and associated health risks in working environments.
The plant-based binder formula that is infused in the Earth Board has high bonding strength, offering an improved structural strength. It also has excellent insulation and moisture resistance properties. which guarantee long-lasting performance even in humid environments.
The event also marked the culmination of the #100DaysMobilizationOcean campaign, which spotlighted grassroots innovation using renewable energy and circular economy practices. It forms part of the broader “Blue Nations: France and the Philippines, Partners for the Ocean” initiative launched in 2024.
The lighting ceremony followed the “OCEAN TALK: The 2015 Manila Call to Action” forum co-organized by the DFA, CCC, and partner organizations. The dialogue stressed the urgency of sustainable ocean management, climate resilience and community action in safeguarding marine ecosystems.
Okada keeps vow to protect environment
OKADA Manila, the country’s premier integrated resort, has released its 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, showcasing its year-round efforts to protect the environment, support Filipino communities, and uphold responsible business practices through its flagship Okada Green Heart program.
The report outlines how Okada Manila has gone beyond hospitality and gaming to make a meaningful difference through its ESG initiatives.
These efforts are part of the resort’s mission to help shape a more sustainable and inclusive future for the Philippines.
Green Heart is the resort’s longterm sustainability commitment anchored on six main pillars. Each pillar supports measurable programs that reflect Okada Manila’s values of excellence, community care and environmental stewardship.
Under waste management, the Forbes 5-Star integrated resort has recycled more than 1.37 million plastic bottles by shifting to Nordaq’s in-house water bottling system, using reusable glass containers. It has diverted over 14,000 kilograms of plastic packaging waste in partnership with PETValue Philippines. Through programs like Soap for Hope and Linen for Life, the resort helped provide 200 livelihood opportunities for marginalized communities using repurposed hotel waste.
The Food Rescue Project also provided over 10,000 surplus meals to those in need. More than 1.37 million plastic bottles have been recycled by shifting to Nordaq’s inhouse water bottling system, using reusable glass containers. For Energy Efficiency, the resort became the first in Entertainment City to offer electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, while reducing its own energy consumption by switching to 100 percent LED lighting and installing smart, energy-saving systems across guest rooms and back-ofhouse areas.
2018 highlights that bees are vital to sustainable and healthy food systems.
Photo by FAO
In Water Conservation,
Philippine officials and the French diplomatic corps unite for ocean and climate action at the unveiling of the Blue Lanterns solar art installation on May 27, 2025 at Fort Santiago ahead of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
Kenno Michael Uy proudly poses
The working station of the Earth Board at Lanao Del Norte. Lesstics Inc. photo
TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2025
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
By Nickie Wang
SEASONED journalist
Jessica Soho is marking her 40th year in the media industry with the launch of a digital archive that documents her decades-long career in Philippine broadcast journalism.
Titled Jessica Soho @40: Telling the Story of Filipinos, the project by GMA Public Affairs is now available on YouTube. It features key reports, exclusives, and stories that helped shape national conversations and brought attention to underrepresented voices. New content will be uploaded weekly.
Soho, now considered one of the country’s most trusted media figures, did not originally plan to pursue journalism. She enrolled in the course at the University of the Philippines after deciding against law school due to its math requirements. Her accidental entry into journalism eventually led her to frontlines—covering coup attempts, natural disasters, and war zones. Among her most notable experiences was a near-death incident in 1989 when the
‘Jessica Soho @40: Telling the Story of Filipinos’
DISNEY’S family-friendly Lilo & Stitch , a live-action remake of the 2002 animated film, won the North American box office for a second week in a row, taking in another $63 million, industry estimates showed Sunday. So far, its worldwide take is at a whopping $610 million, Exhibitor Relations said.
Maia Kealoha (as Lilo), Hannah Waddingham , Courtney B. Vance, and Zach Galifianakis star, while Chris Sanders again provides the voice of the chaos-creating blue alien Stitch.
Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning— the latest, and ostensibly last, in the hugely successful Tom Cruise spy thriller series based on a 1960s TV show -took second place with $27.3 million in the United States and Canada.
The Paramount film has made another $231 million overseas, which should help offset
its massive production budget, reportedly at $400 million.
Debuting in a disappointing third place was Sony’s Karate Kid: Legends , a sequel featuring Ralph Macchio— the star of the original 1984 classic—and action flick icon Jackie Chan , along with Ben Wang in the title role. It made $21 million at the domestic box office and another $26 million overseas.
In fourth place was Warner Bros. and New Line’s horror film Final Destination: Bloodlines , at $10.8 million. And another horror film, Bring Her Back , debuted in fifth place with $7.1 million.
Rounding out the top 10 were Sinners with $5.2 million, Thunderbolts with $4.8 million, Friendship with $2.6 million, The Last Rodeo with $2.1 million, and the live tour broadcast J-Hope Hope on the Stage with $940,000. AFP
SHOWBIZ
plane she was on went missing en route to Pag-asa
In 2002, while covering postwar Afghanistan, a landmine exploded nearby. Soho is also known for telling stories that have driven public support and led to tangible change. Cases include children receiving medical help after being featured in her reports and families reunited after years of separation. Her team has even applied scientific tools, such as genetic testing, in reports involving babies switched at birth.
Soho’s program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) remains one of the country’s mostwatched TV shows. In 2025, the show won a Bronze Tower Trophy at the New York Festivals for its investigative documentary on nickel mining in Homonhon Island, which also earned a nomination at the Association for International Broadcasting Awards in London. Her 2024 documentary Secret Slaves focused on human trafficking, won Gold at the ContentAsia Awards. In 1999, she became the first Filipino to receive a George Foster Peabody Award. She later won a second Peabody in 2014 for coverage of Typhoon Haiyan.
She has been named “Most Trusted TV Host for News and Current Affairs” by Reader’s Digest for 13 consecutive years and is the first graduate of the UP College of Mass Communication to receive the Gawad Plaridel for Journalism.
Speaking recently before young journalists at the National Schools Press Conference in Ilocos Sur, Soho urged the next generation to pursue accuracy and balance, while also emphasizing the importance of kindness in their reporting.
“If I have to live my life all over again, pipiliin ko pa rin maging journalist,” she said.
“Basically, because I love telling stories.”
JESSICA SOHO
By Angelica Villanueva
News anchor Jessica Soho launches a digital archive documenting her 40-year career in Philippine broadcast journalism
Soho is the first Filipino to receive a George Foster Peabody Award and who has won a second Peabody
LIFE & SHOWBIZ
By Jasper Valdez
THOUSANDS of sari-sari store owners gathered in Pasay City for a three-day convention that trained the spotlight on the vital role of micro-retailers in daily Filipino life.
Held from May 15 to 17 at the World Trade Center, the event brought together members of the Tindahan ni Aling Puring (TNAP) program, which supports nearly one million sari-sari store owners across the country.
These microentrepreneurs are part of the broader network of MSMEs—micro, small, and medium enterprises—that make up 99.5 percent of registered businesses in the Philippines.
Sari-sari stores have long served as accessible points for basic goods, offering convenience in neighborhoods where supermarkets may be out of reach.
In many communities, these stores are more than retail hubs—they’re social spaces and livelihood centers rolled into one.
“Sari-sari store owners are not just customers; they are partners
How sari-sari shops continue to anchor Filipino communities
‘The Matrix is everywhere’: Cinema bets on immersion
IN A Los Angeles theater, a trench coat-wearing Neo bends backwards to dodge bullets that spiral over the viewer’s head, as the sound of gunfire erupts from everywhere.
This new immersive experience is designed to be a red pill moment that will get film fans off their couches at a time when the movie industry is desperate to bring back audiences.
collaborating with designers who have worked with Cirque du Soleil to create an environment in which the viewer feels like they are inside the film.
For filmmakers, it’s all about how you place the cameras and where you capture the sound, said Jay Rinsky founder of Little Cinema, a creative studio specializing in immersive
Cosm, which has venues in Los Angeles and Dallas, is launching its dome-style screen and 3D sets in June with a “shared reality” version of The Matrix , the cult 1999 film starring Keanu Reeves as a man who suddenly learns his world is a fiction. Cinema audiences were already dwindling when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, shuttering theaters at a time when streaming was exploding.
With ever bigger and better TVs available for the home, the challenge for theater owners is to offer something that movie buffs cannot get in their living room.
Prestige projects like Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning or Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning Oppenheimer increasingly opt for the huge screens and superior film quality of IMAX. But Cosm and other projects like it want to go one step further,
Organizers
experiences.
“We create sets like the Parisian opera, let the movie be the singer, follow the tone, highlight the emotions... through light, through production design, through 3D environments,” he said.
The approach, he said, felt particularly well suited to The Matrix, which he called “a masterpiece of cinema, but done as a rectangle.”
For the uninitiated: Reeves’s Neo is a computer hacker who starts poking around in a life that doesn’t quite seem to fit. A mysterious Laurence Fishburne offers him a blue pill that will leave him where he is, or a red pill that will show him he is a slave whose body is being farmed by AI machines while his conscious lives in a computer simulation.
There follows much gunfire, lots of martial arts, and some mysticism, along with a romance between Neo and Trinity, played by the leather-clad Carrie-Anne Moss AFP
in economic growth,” said Vincent Co, president of the retail chain behind the TNAP program.
“We give them the means to thrive in a competitive environment while making a real impact in their communities.”
This year’s convention, themed “Piliin si Aling Puring, KayangKaya Umansenso,” focused on helping store owners build resilience and adapt to changing retail trends.
Shticks
Joseph Peter Gonzales
Andrea Torres gets her hands dirty in new drama role
ANDREA Torres is taking on a different kind of role in GMA’s upcoming Afternoon Prime soap Akusada. Under the direction of Dominic Zapata, the actress is deglamorized, portraying a mussel vendor dealing with life’s daily hustle.
Known for her openness to physical scenes, Torres welcomes the challenge—wet clothes, running takes, and all.
“I’m an adventurous person. I see it as a new learning experience,” she said.
In Akusada, she plays Carol, a character she says embodies the resilience and hard work of many Filipinos.
“She has lots of side jobs in the story, and it’s just okay with her as long as they’re dignified,” Torres shared.
Actress Carla Abellana shares she is open to dating again while prioritizing emotional growth and wiser choices in relationships
stocked, connected, and resilient, one small store at a time.
Actress Andrea Torres embraces a gritty new role in ‘Akusada,’ portraying a hardworking mussel vendor navigating life’s challenges
For her, the story showcases values often seen but rarely given space on television—family, perseverance, and pride in honest work.
Benjamin Alves joins her as the male lead. According to Torres, Alves signed on because the series’ fastpaced storytelling appealed to him.
“When the conflict comes, there’s a resolution within the same episode,” she noted, adding that this format will keep viewers engaged. The show’s antagonist is played by Lianne Valentin. “On our first day, she already pulled my hair in several scenes,” Torres said with a laugh. “But we clicked right away. Even with Ben, we all jive. That chemistry will show on screen.”
Filming the soap has also stirred memories of Torres’ time with the late Jaclyn Jose, with whom she worked in The Millionaire’s Wife in 2016.
“She gave me acting tips and would check my performance, especially during our scenes together.
That’s what I’ll miss
most,” she said.
* * *
Carla Abellana moves forward, opens up about dating again
In a recent vlog interview, Carla Abellana shared that she’s slowly opening her heart again after the end of her marriage to actor Tom Rodriguez
“It’s not the typical dating game where you go out and dine together,” she said. “But I always say that I’m open to it.”
Abellana admitted there have been attempts to reach out, but she is moving forward with caution. “I want to be more careful this time after what happened to me. I really need to choose wisely.”
Asked what she now looks for in a potential partner, Abellana emphasized integrity and kindness.
“I’ve learned a lot from my past relationship. It’s important that the next guy I’ll fall in love with is respectful, honest, doesn’t hide anything, and kind.”
Abellana’s remarks reflect a quiet resolve—choosing growth over regret as she considers new beginnings.
NICKIE WANG,
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
N O W & N E X T
Shaping Filipino workers’ paths
How McDonald’s Philippines builds careers with job security and growth for youth
BY PROVIDING stable and flexible jobs for over four decades, McDonald’s Philippines has become a key player in Filipino workforce development. Its approach focuses on nurturing people, especially the youth, to be their best selves.
Since its first store opened in 1981, McDonald’s Philippines has committed to direct employment and rejecting contractualization. This means job security for its 65,000-strong workforce, a rare guarantee in many sectors today.
Chairman Dr. George T. Yang’s belief that removing job insecurity lets employees focus on growth resonates with anyone who’s ever worried about losing work while trying to build a future.
“We have always believed that providing our employees job security makes good business sense,” says Dr. Yang. “By taking away worries about their job status, employees can focus on growing as workers and as individuals, allowing them to become the best that they can be. The time they spend in store also exposes them to various stations, and allows them to master various aspects of our operations.”
The company’s focus on flexible schedules is especially important for its large base of working students, who make up 70 percent of the staff. Offering shifts that fit school hours and providing life skills training creates a workplace that supports young Filipinos beyond just a paycheck. Whether employees stay long-term or move on, the skills they gain at McDonald’s prepare them for various paths.
The “Easy Maging Best Me” campaign puts a spotlight on this philosophy by sharing stories of former crew members who have risen to prominence. Rico Hizon, an award-winning broadcast journalist, started as a McDonald’s crew member at a branch in Greenhills in 1983.
He recalls: “During my time at McDo, I really appreciated how integrity was part of the everyday work. Kahit sa anong trabaho , honesty and integrity matter. And with lifelong learning at McDo, it’s easy to be the best me.”
Also featured in the campaign are Charlene Perdigon one of the rising stars of Philippine volleyball and former McDonald’s Lucena Diversion (Quezon Province) crew member in 2021; Real Florido independent filmmaker and former McDonald’s United Nations crew member in 2003; Tess Lopez an assistant vice president at a major toy company and former McDonald’s Katipunan crew member in 1991; and Eric Castro, who started as a crew member at McDonald’s Gotesco in 1995, rising from the ranks to become an operations manager.
Each of them represents the brand’s values and promise to nurture employees so they can become the best versions of themselves during their stay at the company or even beyond.
This year, McDonald’s Philippines is opening at least 65 new stores in the country, focusing on fastdeveloping areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Each new store provides employment opportunities for 80 to 100 individuals, signifying the company’s commitment to supporting local economic development.
Today, the Philippines is one of the top 10 McDonald’s markets in the world. Its store network is present in all regions in the country, and it is all set to breach the 800-store milestone in 2025.
Those who wish to join the McDonald’s Philippines family are encouraged to visit the nearest McDonald’s store, McDo PH’s social media channels, for the latest opportunities for prospective employees to be their Best Me.
How small wins helped Maja Salvador overcome postpartum depression
WE OFTEN hear about postpartum depression, but living through it is something else entirely. For actress and entrepreneur Maja Salvador, motherhood brought a joy she had never known, but also pain and struggle she hadn’t expected.
After giving birth in Canada through a long 30-hour labor, Maja faced a rare and dangerous complication. Her uterus turned inside out, causing massive bleeding. Doctors were able to save her, and she credits that moment to faith and grace. But while her body was healing, her emotions were falling apart.
Maja didn’t know at first that what she was feeling was postpartum depression. It started with mood swings that didn’t make sense.
“It’s like you’re snapping and don’t know why,” she said. Her family and friends told her to slow down and breathe, but the sadness kept creeping in.
Things got harder when she stopped breastfeeding her baby at eight months. It was a painful decision, and losing that close connection with her daughter made her feel even worse. She had started working out and dieting again, but emotionally, she felt stuck.
In the middle of all this, Maja held on to something that had always been in the back of her mind — a dream of building her own brand. With help from her mentor and business partner Rhea Anicoche-Tan, she launched Majeskin, a body care line focused on self-care and healing.
Maja said she had always been full of ideas, but fear stopped her. It wasn’t until she leaned on her support system — her husband, Rambo Nuñez, her friends, and “Mommy” Rhea — that she found the courage to take the first step.
Together, they created products like soothing lotions, scrubs, and washes made with gentle, nourishing ingredients.
Some may see this as just another business venture for Maja, but for her, it was a path to feeling complete once more.
Her path to reclaiming herself included fitness. Three months after giving birth, she returned to the gym to regain strength. Working out alongside sister-in-law Yanee Alvarez, she found encouragement in small wins.
“I cheer for myself now,” she said. “Every mom who keeps going, even when it’s hard, is already winning.”
Over the weekend, her daughter Maria turned a year old. And when Maja speaks about her, her voice softens.
Volleyball star Charlene Perdigon, filmmaker Real Florido, and broadcast journalist Rico Hizon reunite to celebrate McDonald’s campaign on career growth and lifelong learning
Maja Salvador (rightmost) celebrates the launch of Majeskin with a toast to recovery and purpose
From left: Entrepreneur Rhea Anicoche-Tan, Maja Salvador, and her husband Rambo Nuñez pose with Majeskin’s new body care line inspired by healing and self-love
Maja Salvador (right) and Rhea AnicocheTan mark the start of Majeskin’s journey with a message of hope for fellow moms
Actress-businesswoman Maja Salvador enjoys a quiet moment in El Nido with her daughter Maria, who recently turned one
Very Wang Nickie Wang