Agri smuggling a nat’l security threat—PBBM
Agency heads organizing joint offensive vs. smugglers
By Othel V. Campos
AMULTI-AGENCY effort to stamp out agricultural smuggling is taking shape after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he considers its recent surge a serious national security threat, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said over the weekend.
“The President has ordered us to go after consignees and all those involved in smuggling agricultural goods. By yearend, we expect to see many of them in handcuffs, facing charges,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. said. In 2024, the DA managed to seize over P3 billion worth of contraband agricultural products in 2024, exceeding the 2023 total by P1 billion. Of that amount, approximately P1.9 billion worth of smuggled rice was confiscated in a single operation.
THE Los Angeles County Medical Examiner in the United States has ruled that Filipino businessman Juan Paolo Tantoco died from the effects of cocaine—an illegal substance—and an underlying heart disease.
The report was released four months after Tantoco passed, according to the Bilyonaryo news channel. His cause of death was classified as accidental with “cocaine effects” cited as primary cause and “probable atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease” listed as a significant condition.
Tantoco, the grandson of prominent retail industry leaders, died on March 8, 2025. He was 44. His case remained open pending the results of additional investigation.
The late Rustan’s Group of Companies executive was in the Next page
By Vince Lopez and Pot Chavez
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) brushed aside allegations suggesting that the sacks of bones recovered from Taal Lake were "planted" in connection with the search for the long-lost cockfighting players, popularly called the "missing sabungeros."
In a statement, PCG Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla said such online rumor mongering is an insult to the technical divers who are putting their
lives on the line searching the lake’s murky depths.
"We pour our heart and mind into this. Every time we conduct a dive, half of the diver's body is exposed to danger. This is no joke, and what we're doing should not be taken lightly or reduced to mere speculation," he said.
The PCG officer explained that the ongoing search and retrieval operations require massive efforts, involving underwater personnel and forensic experts who carefully examine every piece of fragile evidence they find.
were among 17 crewmen who escaped harm when their cargo vessel, MV Magic Seas, was attacked by Houthis while crossing the Red Sea. The first six seafarers were repatriated on July 11. DMW
Evidence planting claims irk PCG; Taal fishers seek aid Eleven crewmen of vessel hit by Yemen’s Houthis return home
ALL 17 Filipino crew members of the Greek-managed bulk tanker MV Magic Seas, which was attacked by Houthi rebels while navigating the Red Sea, are back home safe, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Eleven of the seamen arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Saturday night, while the first six were repatriated last Friday. Meanwhile, Philippine government authorities are still searching for 13 other missing crewmen of
the sunken MV Eternity in Yemen, also attacked by Houthi rebels, leaving 22 crew members on board, 21 of whom are Filipinos.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac gave assurance that the DMW’s 'Aksyon Fund' will provide necessary assistance, including medical and financial aid to the tragedy-stricken sailors.
The DMW reported that the crew, along with two foreign nationals, survived the July 6 assault and were rescued by the container ship Safeen Prism.
A NEW PUBLiCUS Asia survey released yesterday shows that corruption, the economy, and inflation remain the top three issues Filipinos believe President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. should prioritize.
The Pahayag 2025 Second Quarter survey indicated that corruption ranked highest among issues respondents feel need to be addressed by the
By Rex Espiritu and Maricel Cruz
THE United States has reiterated its call for China to respect the 2016 arbitral ruling that affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea and to cease provocative actions in the region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly criticized China’s contin-
chief executive (21%), the fourth consecutive quarter since Q3-2024 that this issue remained on top.
The economy (11%) and inflation (11%) followed closely.
Poverty ranked next (9%), while education and illegal drugs each registered at 7%.
After a brief surge in public concern last quarter, the issue of illegal
ued defiance of the ruling and its aggressive behavior toward neighboring countries with competing maritime claims.
drugs has returned to previous levels, implying that the uptick may have been temporary, the study indicated.
This shift may be attributed to the waning media attention on the ongoing investigation into extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to the Duterte administration, which likely influenced public focus.
By Vince Lopez
TEACHERS and students from two hinterland barangays in Zamboanga delNorte thanked President Marcos through a recorded video message sent using the very tool he provided to help them connect with the world through satellite-powered internet.
The Seroan Integrated School in the municipality of Katipunan, and the Marupay National High School in Barangay Marupay in President Manuel
‘‘Beijing’s expansive claims directly infringe on the sovereign rights and jurisdictions of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia, and undermine peace, stability,’’ Rubio said in a statement Saturday. He described the arbitral decision as a ‘‘significant milestone and useful basis’’ for resolving maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
ALL IS WELL. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac embraces one of 11 seafarers who arrived yesterday at NAIA Terminal 3. The 11
NUMBERS GAME. A man plays online gambling on his cellphone as moves to curb the billion-peso industry gain ground. Online and outdoor gaming ads will be banned effective August 15, even as several lawmakers have called for a total ban. Manny Palmero
Agri...
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The Bureau of Customs has reported a significant increase in the value of smuggled goods seized during the first three months of the year, totaling P25.581 billion.
From January to March 29, the bureau’s Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) conducted 243 successful operations, leading to a 39.59% spike in the value of confiscated contraband. It launched at least 71 operations targeting illegal shipments of rice, on-
Survey:...
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While corruption, the economy, and inflation remain consistent top concerns across most regions and demographic groups, some regional and sectoral variations emerge. Senior citizens prioritize corruption more than any other group (31%), naming it as their primary concern. In contrast, inflation is the second leading issue in the National Capital Region (15%).
The ruling, issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on July 12, 2016, invalidated China's sweeping nine-dash-line claim. It upheld the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), specifically within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), referred to domestically as the West Philippine Sea. China has refused to accept the ruling.Rubio emphasized that the United States supports a ‘‘free and open Indo-Pacific,’’ stressing that Washington seeks to preserve peace and stability, uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, ensure the free flow of trade, and oppose any coercive attempts to settle disputes.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teresa Lazaro also voiced concern over Beijing’s refusal to honor the rul-
Zambo...
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A. Roxas municipality were the latest beneficiaries of Marcos’ initiative for schools’ connectivity.
“Marami pong salamat sa inyo, President Bongbong Marcos, para po sa inyong handog sa amin na smart classroom interactive board at satellite internet connection! Yehey!” the teachers and students of Seroan Integrated School said in a video message to the Chief Executive. Teachers and students of Maru-
ions, frozen meat, and other key food items, many of which were found to be expired.
The DA chief disclosed that he has met separately with Bureau of Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, National Security adviser Eduardo Año, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre, and officials from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to coordinate efforts against syndicates smuggling food.
He warned that customs brokers would also be held accountable under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law, the Food Safety Act,
Meanwhile, poverty emerged as a more urgent concern in NorthCentral Luzon and the Visayas, and is notably high among the youth aged 18–24, low-income families, the unemployed, and those with lower levels of education.
In Mindanao, the issue of illegal drugs ranks as the second most pressing concern (14%), reflecting a distinct regional priority that diverges from national trends. At the household level, Filipinos expressed widespread anxiety over affordability (13%), worrying about not being able to meet basic
ing, saying it ‘‘persists with illegal, coercive, and aggressive actions under cover of a revisionist, self-serving interpretation and application of international law, particularly UNCLOS.’’
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, for his part, urged Filipinos to stand united in defending the nation’s sovereignty as the country commemorated the ninth anniversary of the arbitral award.
‘‘The Arbitral Award reaffirms what we’ve always known in our hearts’’ the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Filipino people. Not because we are the strongest, but because it is rightfully ours under international law,’’ Romualdez said.
He called the ruling “a victory of principle over power, of law over intimidation,’’ and said it demonstrates what Filipinos can achieve “when we stand as one people, bound by patriotism and a deep love for country.’’
Romualdez added that the award
pay National High School also expressed gratitude through a video message to the President. Government representatives together with technicians, delivered and installed the satellite internet provider Starlink’s unit, as well as the interactive board, a Huawei Idea Hub, at the two schools on Friday. In a separate video message to the President, Jessan Macam, head teacher at the Seroan Integrated School, said that satellite-powered internet connectivity would help the teachers send reports immediately required by higher offices, and receive official issuances from the
and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Tiu Laurel pointed out that the President is particularly alarmed by the impact of smuggling on local producers and legitimate businesses.
“This not only harms our economy—it also fosters corruption across multiple layers of government,” he added.
Tiu Laurel stressed that uninspected agricultural imports pose serious biosecurity risks to the country’s plant and livestock industries.
He added shipments from the Port of Xiamen in China are now under tighter scrutiny, as it has been iden-
needs, such as food, utilities, and others.
This is closely related to concern over rising prices, which affects 15% of the respondents.
Job scarcity is also a significant issue, particularly among the young population and the unemployed (15%).
Likewise, job insecurity—or fear of losing one’s current employment—is most pronounced among the private sector workers and individuals aged 40–49 (13%). For Filipinos aged 50–59, fear of crime has emerged as a growing is -
is more than just a diplomatic instrument’’ it has become a ‘‘cornerstone of our foreign policy, a source of strength for our people, and a moral compass for nations that seek justice through peaceful means.’’
He praised President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of National Defense for defending the ruling and reinforcing alliances with nations that share the Philippines’ commitment to international law.
Romualdez also warned against disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining the award. ‘‘This is not just about maritime boundaries. It’s about our dignity, our future, and our duty to the next generation,’’ he said. “The rule of law is our shield, but unity is our sword.’’
“The West Philippine Sea is ours,’’ he added.
“And as long as we stand as one’’ brave, just, and proudly Filipino’’ we will always stand on the side of what is right.’’
school’s division office.
“Kami po ay nagpapasalamat, pati na ‘yung mga guro natin dito at mga kababayan. Ito ay aming magagamit sa lahat ng oras na nangangailangan ng internet connection,” Macam said.
During the installation of the Huawei Idea Hub at Marupay National High School, the teachers were given an orientation on how to use and operate the smart interaction board.
President Marcos said his administration is working towards having all schools in the country connected to the internet by year-end.
tified as a major source of smuggled agricultural goods.
The Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in September 2024 declares large-scale smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel-like manipulation of prices as economic sabotage — a non-bailable offense punishable by life imprisonment and fines equivalent to five times the value of the goods involved. Under the law, informants may also receive rewards of up to P20 million, a measure meant to encourage whistleblowing within logistics chains and port authorities.
sue (16%).
Overall, the latest survey underscores the public’s continuing demand for economic relief, anticorruption reforms, and opportunities, while also revealing nuanced concerns shaped by region, age, and socio-economic status.
PUBLiCUS said that the noncommissioned survey was conducted from June 27 to 30, using 1,500 respondents who were randomly selected from a pool of registered voters nationwide by PureSpectrum, a California-based market research technology company.
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Crewcare Inc., the ship’s manning agency, stated that the MV Magic Seas was attacked about 51 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, Yemen.
Cacdac outlined the government’s comprehensive reintegration support from a whole-of-government team headed by the President.
“Aside from our immediate financial assistance and reintegration services, all the seafarers will be provided with medical check-ups, including physical at mental health assessments, as well as psychosocial counselling to help them cope with the challenges of working overseas, the Secretary said.
The repatriation process was the result of swift coordination among government agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Migrant Workers Offices, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, the Manila International Airport Authority, and the Department of Transportation.
U.S. as part of the entourage of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, who was promoting the Manila International Film Festival in Hollywood, California at the time. He was found dead at The Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Evidence... From A1
"What we are finding here entails DNA [testing], which is why the forensic team and SOCO [Scene of the Crime Operatives] are here. If we find bones there... [we] subject them to a DNA test for the missing," he said.
Presently, five sacks containing suspected bones, burnt parts of bones, and stones have so far been recovered by PCG divers from the bottom of the lake.
The sacks were placed close together, only about 20 meters apart, as seen in an underwater video of the operation, shown to the public as part of transparency.
Tuvilla also noted the recovered sacks contained stones and other solid objects, apparently intended to weigh them down.
When the divers attempted to lift them, the sacks tore due to their already damaged condition, he noted.
Earlier, PCG Spokesperson Capt. Noemi Cayabyab, the ongoing search and retrieval operation is part of a legitimate and formal investigation, based on information disclosed by whistleblower Julie “Totoy” Patidongan.
PCG personnel must dive as deep as 198 meters in poor visibility, or equivalent to a 60-story building, to recover the sacks of evidence, she added.
As this developed, Taal Lake fishermen are calling for government support to support their income as the demand for fish continues to dwindle.
The Taal Lake Aquacultural Alliance Inc. (TLAAI) is appealing to the national government to expedite the search in the lake to prevent unnecessary fear among consumers.
In an exclusive interview with Manila Standard, TLAAI spokesperson Mario Balazon stressed that the mistaken belief that fish in the lake have been consuming cadavers is causing demand for tilapia and bangus (milkfish) to plummet despite robust supply.
"Our products are certified by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) such that it is safe to eat," he said.
Balazon explained that the lake has a water area of 24,000 hectares, but only 2% or 400 hectares is used for aquaculture.
The area subject to the search is less than 10 hectares, but all areas are seen just the same because of the issue, he added.
In a separate interview, fishermen in Cuenca town are appealing for immediate government assistance due to a drop in sales of fish products.
"We have been affected as people are skeptical about the fish we catch, like tawilis, bangus, and tilapia...
The current market is weak, our income has suddenly dropped, that is why we are calling on the government to support us in some way," Arnel Umali told Manila Standard in Filipino.
He cited that previously, they could sell over 100 kilos of tawilis a day, but since the issue broke, they can hardly sell 20 kilos.
HEFTY CATCH. After days of heavy rains spawned by typhoon Bising and the southwest monsoon, fishermen from Imnahbuj, Uyugan, Batanes were able to head out to sea along the Balintang Channel and came home with a hefty 15 kilos of various fish varieties. Dave Leprozo
PCG confronts Chinese vessels o Mindoro
By Rex Espiritu
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that it issued a radio challenge to two Chinese vessels seen wandering off the coast of Occidental Mindoro over the weekend, as the Philippine Navy concluded combat preparedness exercises in Mindanao.
According to Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, the Chinese ships— comprising a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warship and a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel—were spotted approximately 69.31 nautical miles off
Comelec: No transfers allowed in August
By Vito Barcelo
THE Commission on Elections
(Comelec) clarified that the upcoming voter registration scheduled from August 1 to 10 will not accept applications for transfer of registration ahead of the December 1, 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Comelec Chair George Garcia said the registration period is solely intended for first-time voters and individuals whose voter records have been deactivated, allowing them to participate in this year’s polls.
“With such a short time, their applications might not reach the Election Registration Board (ERB) hearings, and even if they applied, their applications might not be approved,” Garcia said, referring to those seeking to transfer their registration.
He explained that ERB hearings are necessary to approve or reject registration applications, and also to remove ineligible voters, such as those who have died or failed to vote in two consecutive elections.
The Comelec chief said that transferring registration would require at least two to three weeks of processing—more time than the allotted 10day registration window allows.
Garcia noted that if the BSKE is postponed again, the Comelec would then require a longer registration period to accommodate more applicants, including those wishing to transfer.
Originally, the voter registration period was set for July 1 to 11 but was moved to August 1 to 10. Further registration is scheduled for the last week of October and will run until July 2026.
Cabra Island, Occidental Mindoro. The PCG patrol vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua, which is conducting maritime law enforcement patrols, attempted to establish radio contact with PLA Navy warship 793 to determine its presence in the area. The warship did
not respond, but its escort, CCG 4203, replied by asserting China’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the waters.
“As of 1100H today, BRP Teresa Magbanua continues to shadow PLA Navy warship 793 and CCG 4203, which have been joined by another vessel, PLA Navy warship 164,” Tarriela said Saturday. “The movements of these vessels have prompted several radio challenges from the PCG throughout the day, without any response from the PLA Navy ships.”
Tarriela added that PLA warship 164 was observed conducting helicopter landing exercises throughout Saturday morning.
He emphasized that the Chinese vessels were operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and reminded Beijing to respect Philippine sovereignty, respond to PCG communications, and refrain from unauthorized patrols or enforcement actions in the West Philippine Sea. Meanwhile, the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) wrapped up its Battle Readiness Evaluation (BRE) of floating assets, following two days of atsea exercises from July 10 to 11. Vessels under Naval Task Force 71 conducted a series of drills while en route to a designated Surface Exercise (SURFEX) area, overseen by the Mobile Training and Evaluation Team (MTET).
Participating ships included BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS37), BRP Tagbanua (LC296), BRP Dioscoro Papa (PC381), and the 3rd BA Division. The Navy said the evaluation was aimed at validating the ships’ operational readiness, proficiency, and interoperability in carrying out mission-essential tasks and responding to maritime threats during both peacetime and conflict.
IN BRIEF
port from hospital officers and staff, who credited him with elevating the institution from a tertiary to a general hospital. Dr. Martin, who was previously assigned to the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center in Tondo’s first district, has now returned to JASGEN, his original posting, where he was warmly received by medical personnel and administrative staff. The hospital, initially named the Justice Abad Santos Mother and Child Hospital, was established in 2010 under the administration of thenManila Mayor Alfredo Lim, along with five other district hospitals to complement the existing Ospital ng Maynila. Itchie G. Cabayan
Chiz seeks P20b trust fund for uniformed personnel
BOC warns public of fake Facebook accounts used in scams
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) warned the public on fake Facebook accounts misusing its name, logo, and branding, and impersonating BOC officials to scam people.
The agency said it has received reports that these fraudulent accounts are targeting individuals by sending messages, responding to comments, and mimicking the BOC’s official page by reposting its updates and content.
The BOC urged the public to remain vigilant when dealing with accounts that claim to represent the agency and warned against sharing personal information, making payments, or interacting with any unverified accounts.
The bureau reiterated that it maintains only one verified Facebook page,
which serves as the sole official source for updates and announcements.
To combat the scam, the BOC said it is actively working to identify and eliminate these fake accounts. It also encouraged the public to report suspicious pages directly to Facebook or through the agency’s hotline at (02) 8705-6000 or email at boc.cares@ customs.gov.ph. Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno assured the public of the agency’s commitment to addressing the issue.
“We are taking decisive action against these fraudulent activities. Safeguarding the public from scams and maintaining the integrity of the BOC is one of our highest priorities,” Nepomuceno said. Vito Barcelo
SENATE President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero is pushing for the creation of a P20-billion trust fund that would institutionalize comprehensive social benefits for uniformed service personnel and their families, recognizing their role in ensuring national peace and security.
Filed under Senate Bill No. 276, Escudero’s proposal seeks to make the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program (CSBP) permanent through legislation. While similar benefits have been provided in the past through executive orders, Escudero noted that these were subject to revision or cancellation, highlighting the need for a more stable, long-term solution.
“It is about time that we look after the welfare of the people who have been keeping us safe. We vow to constantly look for ways to thank them for their service,” he said.
The bill covers members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), including their dependents.
The proposed P20-billion trust fund will be exclusively used to finance several types of assistance, including:
• Lump sum financial aid for death or total permanent disability sustained in the line of duty
• Scholarships and study grants for qualified dependents
• Financial support for housing construction, rehabilitation, or improvement
• Health and medical aid under the universal health care program and other Department of Health initiatives
Additionally, qualified beneficiaries would be enrolled in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or receive a monthly rice subsidy equivalent to 40 kilos. They would also receive employment assistance through their respective agencies. Rex Espiritu
DEAD WIRES. Clearing operations continue at Salam Compound in Barangay Culiat as part of the city’s campaign against dangling wires. The local is removing dead wires and illegal connections to prevent re.
NAGUILIAN VIEW. A misty morning along Naguilian Road reveals lush highland communities nestled in the Cordillera mountains en route to Baguio City. Edd Castro
GUAN YIN MA. Devotees take part in traditional ceremonies and offer prayers at Seng Guan Temple in Tondo, Manila, in celebration of the birthday of Guan Yin Ma (Goddess of Mercy). Richmond Chi
PAF undergoes structural reorganization
By Rex Espiritu
THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) has embarked on a sweeping overhaul of its organizational structure involving redesignation, activation, and transfer of multiple key units.
IN BRIEF
Floods sweep Bacolod, Talisay in Negros Occ.
LOCAL government units (LGUs) on Saturday distributed relief goods to at least 2,443 families affected by floods after overnight heavy rains inundated the cities of Bacolod and Talisay in Negros Occidental.
In Bacolod, 301 families representing 875 people were evacuated from seven barangays, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
The evacuees consisted of eight families from Barangay 10, 10 families from Barangay Villamonte, 11 families from Barangay 8, 40 families from Barangay 3, 54 families from Barangay 17, 72 families from Barangay Bata, and 106 families from Barangay Banago.
In a statement, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya said the city is providing relief assistance to the flood victims. Rex Espiritu
PH joins group pushing responsible biz practices
THE Philippines has officially joined the Ocean Centers initiative that promotes responsible business practices.
In a statement, the Global Compact Network Philippines (GCNP), a local network of the United Nations Global Compact which brings together 65 participants from leading corporations, small and medium enterprises and non-government organizations, said the participants were strategically positioned to tackle regional maritime safety challenges and aims to foster collaboration among governments, industry leaders, and maritime communities.
The project was launched on July 10 at the Aboitiz Tech Space, Asian Institute of Management, in Makati City in collaboration with Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
Ocean Centers now has footprints in eight countries, namely Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Rex Espiritu
Bataan gov’t inks pact on affordable housing
BATAAN Rep. Antonio Roman has expressed full support for a trilateral agreement providing affordable and quality housing for his constituents. Roman, represented by Migs Simsuangco during the accord signing, underscored the importance of strong collaboration among the national, provincial, and local governments to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
Held on July 4, the signing ceremony marked a milestone in the implementation of the government’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing Program (4PH) in the municipalities of Pilar, Orani, Limay, and Dinalupihan.
The accord was forged among the Bataan provincial government, the Chengtai Philippines Construction Corp., and the Fujian Hongheng Construction Engineering Group Co. Ltd. Butch Gunio
fice of the Inspector General, the 580th
Aircraft Control and Warning Wing, and the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing. The 960th Air and Missile Defense Group was elevated to the 960th Air and Missile Defense Wing, reinforcing the PAF’s air and missile defense capabilities.
Several units were also redesignated to reflect expanded roles. The Air Force Systems Engineering Office became the Air Force Systems Engineering and Modernization Office, while the PAF Aviation Leadership and Excellence Nexus was renamed the PAF Leadership Development Center.
The Air Education, Training, and Doc-
trine Command was redesignated as the Air Education and Training Command. The 950th Cyberspace and Electronic Warfare Wing was formally regularized, underscoring the PAF’s growing focus on digital and cyber operations. Command and control of several units were also realigned. The 570th Air Base Group was placed under the Air Installation and Base Development Command. Station hospitals and dental dispensaries at Camp General Ricarte and Camp Lapu-Lapu were reassigned to their respective air base groups. The PAF further reactivated and established several new units, including the PAF International Military Affairs
Anti-’padrino’ bill instils meritocracy in governance
By Rio N. Araja
BAGONG Henerasyon party-list Rep.
Robert Nazal is pushing a landmark legislation to stamp out political patronage while institutionalizing meritocracy and transparency in government appointments, promotions and distribution of benefits.
Nazal filed a bill proposing the Gobyernong Walang Padrino Act that aims to dismantle the entrenched padrino system in Philippine governance by strictly banning political endorsements, establishing an anti-padrino oversight office under the Civil Service Commission.
The measure imposes severe penalties on violators, including dismissal, disqualification and imprisonment.
“Patronage politics is one of the oldest and most deeply embedded ills in Philippine governance. For decades, public office has too often been treated as a reward for loyalty rather than a trust for merit,” the bill’s explanatory note read.
“This practice undermines efficiency, demoralizes career public servants and erodes public confidence in our institutions,” Nazal lamented.
The measure bans the use of political endorsement in any appointment or promotion process, and mandates all gov-
ernment agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units, state universities and even government-funded programs to adopt competitive, competency-based hiring and promotion procedures. It introduces mechanisms to investigate complaints of undue influence and protects whistleblowers under the existing Whistleblower Protection Act.
The proposed law also imposes penalties of up to P10 million in fines and 10 years imprisonment for appointing authorities who knowingly act on nonmeritorious or politically motivated endorsements.
4 teenaged suspects in UP coed slay now in custody
By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
POLICE have arrested the two more suspects in the killing of a 19-year-old coed in Tagum City on July 9, bringing to four the number of suspects in custody. The alleged leader of the group identified as Roylan Gabriel Ampan, 18, of Barangay Caningag, Caraga, Davao Oriental was the last to be apprehended for the murder. Ampan was nabbed in Agdao, Davao City Sunday noon, following intensive manhunt operation. The fourth suspect, a minor, was col-
lared on Friday, July 11, during a follow up operation in Tagum City. Except for Ampan, all the suspects were minors, aged to 14, 15 and 17. Police said the suspects all came from Maragusan, Davao De Oro. Two of the suspects, aged 14:and 15, were captured just hours after the body of the victim, Sophia Coquilla, a student of the state-run University of the Philippines in Manila, was found in her bedroom in Tagum City with multiple knife wounds in the body.
Police theorized that Coquilla was awakened by the ongoing burglary, forcing the suspects to kill her
The assailants fled with the victim’s laptop, two wristwatches, and an iphone. Police confiscated a 38 caliber revolver from Ampan. Meanwhile, Davao del Norte Rep. De Carlo Oyo Uy, during a visit to Coquilla’s wake, vowed to revisit the law on young criminal offenders with a view to enhancing the provisions for fair and impartial investigation, as well as giving the juvenile offenders a second chance to live a productive lawful life.
Uy said poverty and lack of education were major factors why minors get on the other side of the law.
barangays cop DILG Seal of Good Governance awards
By Vince Lopez
THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has conferred the Seal of Good Local Governance for Barangay (SGLGB) awards to 262 villages during the opening of the Liga ng mga Barangay National Congress held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. These communities were the first batch of national awardees under the 2024 SGLGB assessment cycle. More recognition ceremonies are set for July 29, Aug. 19, Sept. 10,and Oct.21, where the rest of the 3,283 national qualifiers will also be awarded with the SGLGB.
The award is a testament to the barangay’s crucial role in building a Bagong Pilipinas as envisioned by the Marcos administration. It reflects their excellence in local governance and commitment to accountability, transparency, and responsive service delivery. A total of 3,283 barangays—nearly 8 of all 41,610 barangays nationwide— earned the 2024 SGLGB after undergoing stringent performance evaluation based on the DILG’s 3+1 principle: excellence in all three core governance areas (financial administration and sustainability, disaster preparedness, safety and peace and order), and at least one essential area social protection and sensitivity, business-friendliness and competitiveness, and environmental management).
Of these, 663 barangays were consistent awardees for two consecutive years, while 2,620 villages were first-time honorees.
The changes were announced during a ceremony at the PAF general headquarters in Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
“The event marks a significant step in aligning the Air Force’s structure with the demands of modern defense and re-
gional security,” the command said. During the ceremony, Air Force Adj. Col. Susan Rodolfo read the official orders detailing the changes. Affected by the reshuffle were the Of-
CAR-FREE, CAREFREE SUNDAYS. A stretch of Tomas Morato St. in Kamuning, Quezon City which is perennially a sore sight with messed up traffic at any given time of the day,
ALL HANDS ON DECK. The Philippine Red Cross has fully mobilized its personnel and resources in Bacolod City to extend
BACK ON TRACK. This Philippine National Railways station in Calamba City Laguna is prepped up for the resumption
Lucena City on July 14 to ease travel along the southern Tagalog corridor. Norman Cruz
OPINION
So what happens now?
THE US of A, under whose “benevolent protection” one former Filipino leader commended our country, has just announced, via a letter from its transactional and irascible president, that imports to their mighty country, will henceforth be subject to a 20 percent tariff.
That imposed duty would thus allow us now to “participate in the extraordinary economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World,” Trump harrumphed in his letter to our president.
Our president has not reacted, and in his stead, the head of his economic management team who is his lead negotiator with that Number One Market in the World, Frederick Go, explained before palace media that 20 percent is still lower than what was imposed neighboring Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand among other ASEAN countries.
In fine, thank God for Trump’s small mercies.
When first the US levied 17 percent on our paltry exports, our trade secretary, Cristina Roque said it gave us a comparative advantage over the same ASEAN economies.
In short, we should thank Trump he only gave us a light spanking. Such incremental thinking.
But wait? Let’s compare our 20 percent tariff, an increase of 3 percent from the earlier announced 17 percent for which our trade officials were so giddily proclaiming as comparative advantage, from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Why Vietnam?
For one, we both have huge populations, ours being 116 million living in 300,000 square kilometers of land, while Vietnam has 101.5, living in 310,000 square kilometers of land.
Thus, we have 14 percent more people while they have about three percent more land, except that most of that is contiguous territory versus our dispersed islands.
But there is some other historic element that should impact on our ties with the biggest economy of the world. And that is, just over 50 years ago, Vietnam and the US were at war against each other, while the Philippines hosted air and naval bases that America used in its war against the “communists” in that country.
In short, we were their allies, and Vietnam was their enemy. Vietnam won that war and the Americans fled. Due to the rejection by the Philippine Senate of their proposed treaty to renew their stay, they fled from Clark and Subic in 1992. Now, what trade numbers are we talking about?
Last year, we exported $14.2 billion worth of integrated circuits, copper wires and mostly food manufactures to the US, while we imported $9.3 billion of the raw materials for the same integrated circuits,
soybean meal and wheat, plus of course, meat and chicken parts, and other “stateside” foods we crave over.
Our negative balance of trade with the US of $4.9 billion, is not even a drop in their economic bucket.
What about Vietnam, once devastated by American bombs during the sixties and seventies?
Their economy has grown by leaps and bounds, and their exports to the US in 2024 was a whopping $149.6 billion while their imports were as low as $13.1 billion. The favorable balance of trade for Vietnam totaled $136.6 billion, compared to the Philippines’ $4.9 billion. Vietnam beat us by 2,800 percent in favorable trade balance with the US.
Every country must look after its own national interest over and above any other. We do not
Yet Trump has levied us with the same 20 percent tariff for our exports to them.
On the political and military front, we have allowed the Americans a Visiting Forces Agreement in 1999, upped that with an Enhanced Defense Capability Agreement in 2014, allowing them “temporary” strategic basing status in our country, thence increased in 2023 by our current leader to nine places, with four of them verily intended for use in a potential US-China conflict over Taiwan.
We have always treated the Americans with utmost friendship to the point of obeisance, such that we are regarded as “little brown Americans,” less Asian and more Western, always subservient to the mighty US of A, but for that brief shining moment when a now imprisoned Rodrigo Duterte was president.
“Does democracy pay no dividends?”
Cory Aquino, flush with the “return of democracy” via a “peaceful people power revolt,” once remarked when the gnomes of the international banking industry controlled by the mighty US of A gave us no relief from the massive debts Marcos Sr. left us after 1986.
Clearly not. Forms of government matter not, whether “socialist” or a “republican democracy” when it comes to hard economic bargaining. Because every country must look after its own national interest over and above any other. We do not.
So what happens next?
As the street-smart istambays say: “Nganga”!
Asserting the Philippine arbitral victory
AS WE marked the ninth anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award, the moment is more than just a diplomatic milestone—it is a reaffirmation of the Filipino people’s right to live with dignity, security, and sovereignty in our own seas.
On July 12, 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines, rejecting China’s expansive nine-dash line claim over nearly the entire South China Sea.
The ruling affirmed our exclusive sovereign rights over our Exclusive Economic Zone, securing vital fishing grounds, energy reserves, and strategic sea lanes. But nearly a decade later, the award remains under threat—not just from Beijing, but from its proxies within.
In the previous administration, our position was weakened by a foreign policy approach that prioritized friendly optics over firm assertion. Maritime incursions were downplayed, and acts of aggression were met with silence. This passivity emboldened hostile actions and left our fishermen and frontliners exposed to harassment, destroyed our marine resources, and allowed a de-facto blockade of our maritime wealth.
But the Filipino people know what must be done.
According to a Pulse Asia survey (June 26–30, 2025), seven in ten Filipinos want the government to continue asserting our rights in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with international law and the Arbitral Award.
The people understand what some leaders have failed to grasp: the West Philippine Sea is ours and we must defend it.
It sustains nearly 300,000 Filipino fishermen and accounts for around 11 percent of marine-captured fisheries.
But nearly a decade later, the award remains under threat—not just from Beijing, but from its proxies within
It holds an estimated 55.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 5.4 billion barrels of oil—resources that could power the nation for decades.
It is also a digital and trade artery, hosting undersea cables vital to our economy. Instability in this region jeopardizes our food, energy, and digital security.
That is why the reaffirmation of support from our allies during the recent Stratbase Institute forum is not just encouraging—it is strategic to our national security.
Australian Ambassador HK Yu highlighted increased maritime cooperation, noting: “Our commitment goes further than physical assets – it also includes op-
This is an AI-generated cartoon with the prompt: Generate a cartoon in horizontal format of a traditional black and white graphire texture with watercolor tints of a snail with a massive shell labeled ‘politicking.’ The snail itself, so small in comparison, looks exhausted with veins sticking out and its slack jaw with drool. The snail is dragging a rickety cart with piles of paper labeled ‘impeachment.’
EDITORIAL
Nine years and counting
IT HAS been nine years since the Permanent Court of Arbitration decided in favor of the Philippines in the matter of its Exclusive Economic Zone in the West Philippine Sea. In the historic ruling, the arbitral court invalidated the nine-dash line claim of the Chinese and etched the legitimacy of the Philippines position in international law.
Unfortunately, the verdict came just a few days after then-President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office. As history bears, Mr. Duterte was first to play down the significance of the PCA’s decision. Notorious for his friendship with the Chinese, the former president -- now incarcerated in the International Criminal Court in The Hague for crimes against humanity – showed a glaring bias for Chinese interests. Despite China’s refusal to recognize the jurisdiction of the PCA and in effect its decision, and despite its persistent bullying of our vessels and fisherfolk, Mr. Duterte chose not to speak up about the matter, saying that we are far too inferior to China to even contemplate going to war with it.
Such a position made Duterte’s promise of jet skiing in the West Philippine Sea bearing the Philippine flag a laughing matter, an example of the tough talk that never quite materialized.
China’s bullying in the West Philip-
erational training, support and an integration package.”
Canadian Ambassador David Hartman emphasized the geopolitical stakes: “We are working with our partners to draw attention to the importance of stability in the West Philippine Sea and to reject all forms of coercion.”
Japan’s Ambassador Endo Kazuya reaffirmed support for military modernization: “This includes defense equipment transfers and capacity-building support for the Philippine Coast Guard.”
EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro stressed the Philippines’ strategic role: “Our maritime cooperation interlinks with energy, supply chains, and conservation of marine resources.”
German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke said: “The Philippines can continue to count on Germany in asserting its rights under international law.”
Vietnam’s Ambassador Lai Thai Binh offered regional solidarity: “Our coordinated patrols and joint exercises help combat transnational crimes and symbolize solidarity.”
pine Sea persisted even after a new administration had taken over. This time, however, the government is more assertive of our valid and legitimate position. We have tweaked our defense posture so that we can address the external threat in a more focused, deliberate way. We have also gained the support of many nations who also find China’s acts objectionable and disrespectful of international law.
Asserting our victory in the West Philippine Sea is not in anybody’s interest but our own
Alas, there remain many -- our compatriots included -- who find fault in our
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson declared: “The Philippines, a proud maritime nation, has courageously upheld its lawful rights. The United States stands firmly with you.” This international solidarity is matched by domestic resolve.
Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said: “The Award is a cornerstone of Philippine maritime policy… The Philippines will not waver.”
Col. Francel Margareth Taborlupa of the AFP stressed: “These alliances don’t dilute our sovereignty. They enable it.”
Commodore Jay Tarriela of the PCG affirmed: “Despite limited resources, our dedication to defending what is rightfully ours remains strong.”
Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad of the Philippine Navy stated: “We are prepared to defend all the way up to the EEZ and beyond.”
As Maj. Gen. Fabian Pedregosa of the Philippine Air Force warned, delayed defense investments come at a high cost, as global conflicts have shown.
“The West Philippine Sea is not an ab-
efforts to assert our legally established rights in the West Philippine Sea. They portray the issue as Philippine subservience to US interests, and warn that our country is a mere pawn in the bigger US-versus-China narrative. They accuse our officials working with the US in beefing up our defense as being American lackeys, acting only upon the behest of the US. But asserting our claim in the West Philippine Sea is not in anybody’s interest but our own. It was the Philippines that emerged victorious in the arbitration case. It is the Philippines’ sovereignty and integrity that are being attacked relentlessly by the Chinese every time they send out vessels that intimidate our people, or engage in propaganda that twists the narrative and portrays them as victims instead of aggressors. It is the Philippines receiving wide support from the international community – not from just the US. This is our struggle, our people whose lives and livelihood are in peril. Those trying to muddle the issue are resorting to binaries or gross oversimplifications. But what should be simple and clear is this: the WPS belongs to the Philippines, and efforts to protect and defend what is ours serve our own interests and not anybody else’s. May the succeeding months and years see greater citizen appreciation of this pursuit, and may our own officials no longer betray us in terms of whose interests they choose to champion.
stract geopolitical flashpoint. It is the pulse of our food supply, the backbone of our energy future, and the gateway to global commerce and connectivity,” said Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, President of the Stratbase Institute. “Defending it is not just about asserting rights—it is about protecting lives and ensuring progress.”
To defend the West Philippine Sea, we must stand firm against those who undermine our victory with deception. It is to expose the loud and silent defenders of Beijing’s aggression.
It is to reject those who would trade our national interests for Beijing’s favor, and who cloak their complicity in the guise of pragmatism and empty promises. Let us not be swayed by rhetoric meant to divide. Let us rise with clarity and courage, alongside like-minded nations upholding international law.
We have allies who stand with us. We have the law on our side. Most importantly, we have the will of the people. We must defend our seas. We must defend our dignity. We must defend the Philippines.
MONDAY, JULY 14, 2025
IN BRIEF
Australia: China likely to spy on military drills
SYDNEY – Australia’s government said Sunday it expects China to spy on major military drills it is conducting with the United States and other allies.
It also renewed a charge -- denounced by Beijing as a “false narrative” -- that China wants to establish a military base in the South Pacific.
The comments by a government minister came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a six-day visit to China to bolster recently repaired trade ties.
More than 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations are set to join in the annual Talisman Sabre exercise from Sunday across Australia and Papua New Guinea.
“The Chinese military have observed these exercises since 2017 and it would be very unusual if they didn’t do that this time,” said Pat Conroy, Australia’s minister for the defence industry and for Pacific Island affairs.
“We’ll obviously observe their activities and monitor their presence around Australia,” he told Australian public broadcaster ABC. AFP
Trump urges MAGA: End ‘Epstein’ obsession
WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald Trump urged his political base on Saturday (Sunday Manila time) to stop attacking his administration over files related to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a case that has become an obsession for conspiracy theorists.
Trump’s Department of Justice and the FBI said in a memo made public last week there was no evidence that the disgraced financier kept a “client list” or was blackmailing powerful figures.
They also dismissed the claim that Epstein was murdered in jail, confirming his death by suicide at a New York prison in 2019, and said they would not be releasing any more information on the probe.
The move was met with incredulity by some on the US far-right -- many of whom have backed Trump for years -- and strident criticism of Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel.
“What’s going on with my ‘boys’ and, in some cases, ‘gals?’ They’re all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!” Trump said Saturday in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform. AFP
Another Turkey editor nabbed over cartoon ISTANBUL – The top editor of Turkey’s satirical magazine LeMan has been arrested, media and lawyers said on Saturday, the latest detention over accusations that the magazine had published a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed.
Four magazine staffers were detained in early July over a cartoon that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has labelled a “despicable provocation” and a “hate crime,” warning its authors will have to answer for “disrespecting the prophet.”
The magazine and its staff have vigorously denied any link between an illustration published in the magazine, which features a person named Muhammed, and Islam’s Prophet Mohammed.
The name Muhammed, which has various spellings, is among the most popular names the Muslim faithful give their children. On Saturday the magazine’s editorin-chief, Aslan Ozdemir, was arrested as he flew back to Turkey from France, the MSLA human rights organiZation wrote on X. AFP
Gaza civil defense says Israeli strikes kill 29; truce talks hung
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories –
Gaza’s civil defense agency said Israeli air strikes on Sunday killed at least 29 Palestinians, including six children near a water distribution point.
The attacks came with apparent dead-
Faced
lock in a week of indirect talks in Qatar between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas for a ceasefire in the territory.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that Gaza City was hit by several strikes overnight and in the early morning, killing eight, “including women and children” and wounding others. An Israeli air strike hit a family home near the Nuseirat refugee camp, south of Gaza City, resulting in “10 martyrs and several injured”, Bassal said.
In central Gaza, six children were among eight people killed when a drone “hit a potable water distribution point in
an area for displaced people” in the Nuseirat camp, he added.
Several other people were wounded, he said. In the territory’s south, three people were killed when Israeli jets hit a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians in the coastal Al-Mawasi area, according to the civil defence spokesman.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has recently intensified its operations across Gaza, more than 21 months into the war triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack.
On Saturday, the military said fighter jets had hit more than 35 “Hamas terror targets” around Beit Hanun in northern
Gaza.
The vast majority of Gaza’s population of more than two million people have been displaced at least once during the war, which has created dire humanitarian conditions in the territory. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defense agency and other parties.
Meanwhile, Gaza ceasefire talks hung in the balance as Hamas and Israel on Saturday accused the other of blocking attempts to strike a deal, nearly a week into an attempt to halt 21 months of bitter fighting in the Palestinian territory. AFP
TONALEA, Arizona – Workmen plant electricity poles in the rust-orange earth of the Navajo Nation and run cables to Christine Shorty’s house -- finally giving her power against the searing Arizona desert heat.
It will be a luxury in the vast Native American reservation, the largest in the United States, where more than 10,000 families are still without electricity and therefore air conditioning.
“It’s climate change. It’s getting hotter,” Shorty tells AFP.
“This would be easier for us with the fan and maybe air conditioning. And we look forward to that.”
In her 70 years, Shorty has seen her isolated, tiny hamlet of Tonalea, a dot in the enormous area of the reservation, change dramatically.
Summer monsoon rains are rarer, and temperatures can touch 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) in July and August -- previously unthinkable in the hamlet, located on a plateau at an altitude of 5,700 feet (1,730 meters).
The area’s seasonal lakes are drying up, and in some years the livestock are dying of thirst.
Like many others, Shorty has a generator and small solar panels that allow her to power a gas fridge, cook and watch television.
But their power is limited, and she often has to choose which appliance to plug in.
with US heat waves, the Navajo push for power Kim offers Russia full support on Ukraine conflict
SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong
Un offered Moscow his full support on the war in Ukraine during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, state media in Pyongyang said early Sunday.
Lavrov’s visit to North Korea was the latest in a series of high-profile trips by top Moscow officials as both countries deepen military and political ties amid Russia’s offensive against Kyiv.
Pyongyang sent thousands of troops to Russia’s Kursk region to oust Ukrainian forces and provided the Russian army with artillery shells and missiles.
Kim and Lavrov met on Saturday in “an atmosphere full of warm comradely trust”, North Korea’s official KCNA news agency reported.
Russia’s foreign ministry posted a video on Telegram of the two men shaking hands and greeting each other with a hug, and said the talks were held in Wonsan, a city on North Korea’s east coast where a massive resort was opened earlier this month.
Kim told Lavrov that Pyongyang was “ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis”, KCNA said. The North Korean leader also expressed a “firm belief that the Russian army and people would surely win victory in accomplishing the sacred cause of defending the dignity and basic interests of the country”. AFP
Being hooked up to the electrical grid is “a big change. It’s going to make my life a lot easier,” she tells AFP.
Most of the United States was electrified in the 1930s under president Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal initiatives. AFP
Tehran has repeatedly denied. The United States, which had been in talks with Iran since April 12, joined Israel in carrying out its own strikes on June 22, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz. Araghchi said requests to monitor nuclear sites “will be reviewed on a caseby-case basis... taking into account safety and security issues”, and be managed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. In early July, a team of IAEA inspectors left Iran to return to the organisation’s headquarters in Vienna after Tehran suspended cooperation. The talks were aimed at regulating Iran’s nuclear activites in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Before agreeing to any new meeting, “we are examining its timing, its location, its form, its ingredients, the assurances it requires”, said Araghchi, who also serves as Iran’s lead negotiator. AFP
APPARENT DEADLOCK. A protester is carried away after being arrested as people gather in support of the pro-Palestinian group ‘Palestine Action,’, in Parliament Square, London on Sunday, following the Home Secretary’s decision to proscribe the group
‘Football fan’ Trump to grace FIFA club final
BEDMINSTER—Donald Trump will on Sunday
showcase his unexpected attachment to a sport in which “America First” remains a dream, for now.
The US president is attending the final of the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup in his latest use of the beautiful game as a soft power political weapon.
His appearance at the MetLife stadium in New Jersey, where Paris Saint-Germain face Chelsea, is very much a trial run for the World Cup final, which will take place in the same stadium next year.
Trump has made it clear he sees both tournaments, as well as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as showpieces for what he calls the “Golden Age of America” during his second term.
The billionaire Republican’s close friendship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a frequent visitor to the White House, is also a factor in his appearance.
Trump has kept the Club World Cup trophy next to his desk in the Oval Office since Infantino dropped by in March.
But Trump’s embrace of football, or soccer as he would say, is also personal.
The president’s 19-year-old son Barron is a fan, as Infantino pointed out in a press conference at FIFA’s new office in Trump Tower in New York on Saturday.
Asked if Trump liked the game, Infantino replied: “Well I think he does. In his first term as president of the United States there was a soccer goal in the garden of the White House.
“He then explained to me that his son loved football, and that he loved the game. And of course when you are a parent, you love what your children love, so I think that he loves it.”
As a student at the New York Military Academy, Trump himself also reportedly played the game for a season. AFP
Abra hands
Nueva Ecija 1st setback
THE Abra Solid North Weavers shattered the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards’ myth of invincibility with an 82-71 victory on Saturday, joining their victims at the top of Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBetMPBL 2025 Season at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
Dave Ildefonso shone again with 25 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists as Abra matched Nueva Ecija’s 18-1 record in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
The 6-foot-4, do-it-all Ildefonso clinched best player honors over Marwin Taywan, who posted 17 points, including 8 in the fourth quarter, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds in the Weavers’ 15th straight win.
Other Weavers who delivered were Encho Serrano with 10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, Ryan Batino with 8 points and 6 rebounds, and Raven Gonzales with 8 points and 2 rebounds.
Nueva Ecija, the 2022 MPBL titlist, trailed as far as 36-57 and never recovered despite the joint effort of Robby Celiz, with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks, and Jaycee Marcelino, with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals.
The Rice Vanguards also got 9 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists from Jayvee Marcelino and 8 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists from Christian Manaytay
Poland’s Iga Swiatek kisses
Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. AFP
Wimby champion Swiatek to media: Leave me alone
LONDON—Iga Swiatek pleaded with the Polish media to “leave me alone”, saying she knows what she is doing after crushing Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 to win her first Wimbledon title on Saturday.
The 24-year-old was seeded eighth at the All England Club after a disappointing first half of the season, though she is fourth in the rankings after a run to the Bad Homburg final two weeks ago.
Swiatek was asked at her post-match press conference whether winning Wimbledon so convincingly was a fitting riposte to those who have criticised her over her performances.
“For sure the past months, how the media sometimes describe me, and I’ve got to say unfortunately Polish media, how they treated me and my team, it wasn’t really pleasant,” she said.
“I hope they will just leave me alone and let me do my job because obviously you can see that we know what we are doing, and I have the best people around me.
“I have already proved a lot. I know people want more and more, but it’s my own process and my own life and my own career.
Anisimova ‘frozen
LONDON—Amanda Anisimova said she was “frozen by nerves” as her Wimbledon dream turned into a nightmare as Iga Swiatek romped to a historic 6-0, 6-0 victory in Saturday’s final.
Anisimova had enjoyed a fairytale run to her first Grand Slam final just 18 months after returning to the game from a break to help her mental health.
However, she admitted the occasion and the draining nature of a two-week slam played in blistering conditions during a London heatwave had taken its toll in the most one-sided final for 114 years.
“I was a bit frozen there with my nerves. Maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired or something,” said Anisimova who will climb to a career-high seventh in the world thanks to her run at the All England Club.
“It’s not how I would have wanted my first Grand Slam final to go.
“I think I was a little bit in shock after, as well. But I told myself, ‘I’ll definitely come out stronger
“Hopefully I’m going to have a freedom from them, as well, to let me do my job the way I want it.”
‘Surreal’
Swiatek will climb to third in the rankings on Monday after winning her sixth Grand Slam title on a blazing day on Centre Court.
The former world number one destroyed the hapless US 13th seed in just 57 minutes and the American admitted she was “frozen by nerves”.
Swiatek, who had not previously gone beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, said she was shocked to have won the grass-court Grand Slam, where she was a junior champion in 2018.
She is better known for her prowess on clay, winning four French Open titles as well as the 2022 US Open, played on hard courts.
“Who would have expected that?” she said.
“It’s something that is just surreal. I feel
by nerves’
like tennis keeps surprising me, and I keep surprising myself.
“I’m really happy with the whole process, how it looked like from the first day we stepped on a grass court. I feel like we did everything for it to go in that direction without expecting it, just working really hard.”
Swiatek said it was difficult to rank her Grand Slam triumphs but that winning on grass made it more “special and unexpected”.
“For sure, it feels like the emotions are bigger because at Roland Garros I know I can play well, and I know I can show it every year,” she said. “Here, I wasn’t sure of that. I also needed to prove that to myself.”
Swiatek said it had been special to be presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish by Catherine, Princess of Wales.
“Overall the process of getting the trophy from her royal highness was something surreal,” she said.
“Since I’m a kid, honestly I’m a big fan of the royal family. It was amazing. I really appreciate that. I’m really grateful that it was her royal highness giving the trophy.” AFP
in historic Wimbledon final rout
after this’. That’s not an easy thing to go through, losing 6-0, 6-0 in a Grand Slam final.
“If anything, I can look at it as a positive and something I can look at as motivation going forward. Obviously there’s a lot of things I need to do to progress.”
Anisimova returned to action in January 2024 and has since fought her way back from well outside the world’s top 400. This season has been the best of her career so far -- winning the Qatar Open in February. The high point of her year came
in beating world number one
Aryna Sabalenka in a bruising semi-final on Thursday. But the 23-year-old said that match had left her so physically exhausted she had been unable to even practice on the eve of the final.
“I didn’t practice yesterday. I think that I was just really fatigued,” she added.
“I could feel it also in my warmup this morning. I mean, I had to take a break after every single rally out there in my warm-up.
“I think, if anything, it’s my physicality that I need to work on.”
Anisimova, though, is determined to use Saturday’s scaring experience as a driver to spur her on to her dream of one day becoming a Grand Slam champion.
“It’s honestly, like, a fork in the road. It’s whatever direction you want to go in,” she added.
“I’m going to choose the path of working towards my goals and to try and keep improving, hopefully put myself in more positions and opportunities like today. AFP
Hermosa, Manayon power Cebu sweep in Sun Life 5150 Bohol
BOHOL—Matthew Hermosa and Karen Manayon delivered statement victories in the Sun Life 5150 Bohol triathlon, asserting Cebu’s growing might in endurance racing with a commanding sweep of the overall crowns in the Olympic-distance race on Sunday in Panglao Island here. In a field that featured seasoned competitors and rising international talents, the Talisay City natives proved a cut above the rest in the challenging 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run, capping a triumphant campaign for Cebu’s new wave of multi-sport stars.
Hermosa, a gold medalist in the aquathlon mixed relay event at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, underscored his pedigree by dominating wire-to-wire to bag the men’s overall title in 2:02:45. He clocked the fastest swim time of the day at 19:37, stayed strong in the bike leg with a 1:00:36 split, and sealed the win with a 38:02 run.
The 20-year-old Hermosa also ruled the 2024 age group division, dethroning last year’s champion Irienold Reig Jr., who settled for second in 2:05:20 (20:53 swim, 1:01:39 bike, 38:09 run), while local favorite Jonathan Pagaura placed third in 2:08:38 (22:32-1:00:50-40:34), also clinching the 25-29 age-group title. In the women’s division, Manayon proved equally dominant. The product of Batang Pinoy grassroots program and longtime age-group standout dished out a breakthrough performance with a 2:27:39 finish –building a nearly two-minute lead after the swim (21:04), staying consistent on the bike (1:12:06), and holding firm with a 49:06 closing run. Her victory not only foiled 2022 champion Bea Quiambao (2:31:07) but also signaled her arrival on the big stage. Quiambao, unable to recover from a slower 23:01 swim, clocked 1:13:29 on the bike and 49:16 on the run. She settled for the 25-29 division title.
Ines Santiago, a former IRONMAN 70.3 champion, placed third in 2:34:56 (25:441:12:21-48:13), winning the 40-44 division. For their commanding efforts, both Hermosa and Manayon were also awarded the Bagong Bayani honors – an elite category celebrating active or former national athletes who exemplify excellence, resilience, and national pride. Their victories not only highlighted individual brilliance but also underscored Cebu’s burgeoning dominance in triathlon. From youth grassroots development to elite competition, Talisay City athletes are now making waves on national and international stages. The Sun Life-sponsored race, organized by Sunrise Events Inc., drew triathletes from 25 countries, including strong contingents from the US, Great Britain, Australia, and Hong Kong, further raising the competitive bar for Filipino athletes.
Amanda Anisimova
Dave Ildefonso of Abra
Karen Manayon
MONDAY, JULY 14, 2025
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst.
Editor
Asst. Editor
EDGARD HILARIO,
Obiena settles for 7th in Monaco Diamond League; Mondo is champ
FILIPINO pole vault star Ernest
John Obiena settled for seventh place in the Monaco leg of the Diamond League on Friday.
Obiena cleared 5.72-meters during the meet held at the Stade Louis II.
Swedish phenom Armand “Mondo” Duplantis won the competition with a leap of 6.05 meters, setting a new meet record with his effort.
With Duplantis being the only vaulter to go over the six-meter mark, Greek bet Emmanouil Karalis placed second at 5.92 meters via countback.
Kurtis Marschall of Australia also reached the 5.92-m height, but it was after two attempts to Karalis’ one, giving the Australian the bronze.
Last week, Obiena and Atletang Ayala announced their partnership to mount a historic global pole vault event, gathering several of the world’s Top 10 athletes in the sport in the heart of Makati City.
The Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge is set to thrill sports fans at the Ayala Triangle Gardens on September 20 and 21.
McIlroy grabs share of lead in Scottish Open
LONDON—Rory McIlroy said he has been refreshed with “enthusiasm and excitement” by a few weeks off after moving into a joint share of the lead at the Scottish Open on Saturday.
The world number two has struggled to maintain his blistering early season form since ending an 11-year wait to win a major with his first Masters in April.
But the Northern Irishman is rounding into shape nicely ahead of his homecoming for the British Open in Portrush next week.
McIlroy shot a four-under par 66 to move to 11 under for the tournament, alongside overnight leader Chris Gotterup.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Marco Penge are two shots back following rounds of 69, tied for third with Americans Wyndham Clark and Jake Knapp.
“It is my first realistic chance to win after the Masters,” said McIlroy.
“I have had a great season but yes, and I have said this before, when you do something you that have dreamt of for your whole life, and then do it, it was a huge moment in my life and career.
“I just need that little bit of time, and to be back here for the last couple of weeks and digest all of it, I feel like I came here for this tournament with renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the rest of the year.”
World number 158 Gotterup equalled the course record with nine birdies in a bogey-free 61 on Friday to start the third day two shots clear. However, he will start the final day on level terms with McIlroy following a level-par round featuring two birdies and two bogeys.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is five off the lead after a 69 on Saturday. AFP
Filipinas’ Australian assistant coach to handle PH U23 team SPORTS
By Peter Atencio
VETERAN Australian coach Garrath Mcpherson will handle the Philippine national men’s under-23 team’s coming campaign in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The 42-year-old Mcpherson, a former assistant coach of the Philippine national women’s football team, took over the coaching chores of the young squad last week and unveiled the composition of the 23-member roster on Friday.
“This week, this team has been very hard at work on their training. Our goal is to provide them with an environment where they can be at their best,” said Mcpherson during the team’s sendoff at the Studio 300 in Pasig City.
Since leaving the Brisbane Roar in 2023, plus a couple of several exploits in the professional Liberty A-League
Women competitions, Mcpherson headed to the Philippines to become assistant mentor of the Filipinas.
After spending 19 months as Mark Torcaso’s deputy, Mcpherson, who has also served as an assistant coach and head technical analyst for the men’s national football team, also started work with the national under-23 squad on Monday last week.
The Philippine men’s team memorable run in the semifinals of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup compelled officials of the Philippine Football Federation to let him handle bigger roles.
Mcpherson and his team left for
Indonesia on Sunday for the ASEAN U-23 Mandiri Cup 2025, which is the 5th edition of the ASEAN U-23 Championship, slated from July 15 to 29. Vietnam is the two-time defending champion, having won the 2022 and 2023 editions.
Members of the team include Edgardo Aban Jr., Karl Absalon, Andres Aldeguer, Kamil Amirul, Fil-American Out Banatao, Jian Caraig, Dov Carino, Uriel Dulapo, Jethro Flores, Gian Galsim, Juan Alfonso Gonzales and FilJapanese booter Nicholas Guimaraes.
Also in the squad are Theo Libarnes, Martin Merino, Gavin Muens, Harry Nunez, Jarred Pena, Jaime Rosquillo, Zachary Taningco and Bryan Villanueva.
The Philippines, which is in Group A, with host Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, begins its campaign on the 15th against the Malaysians at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Barnes chases perfect run as JPGT Apo begins
DAVAO City—Jamie Barnes is well aware of the formidable challenges that await at the demanding Apo Golf and Country Club. But the Cagayan de Oro prodigy remains upbeat – though cautious – as he resumes his pursuit of a record fourth straight victory in the ICTSI Junior PGT Series.
The final leg of the Mindanao swing of the Visayas-Mindanao Series – the Apo Golf JPGT Championship – unfolds today (Monday, July 14) with Barnes once again carrying the bullseye after his commanding victories in the boys’ 7-10 division at Del Monte, Pueblo de Oro, and most recently at South Pacific Golf and Residential Estates.
What makes his winning streak even more remarkable is that this is his debut season in the series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Despite being just nine years old, Barnes has dazzled with exceptional form, show-
THE University Athletic Asso-
ciation of the Philippines and the Philippines Sports Commission have reaffirmed their commitment to support the country’s national sports development agenda, following a meeting between the UAAP Board of Managing Directors and PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio held on Wednesday.
In a courtesy call turned strategic dialogue, both parties explored pathways to deepen collaboration between the collegiate league and the government sports body—starting with the possible inclusion of more Olympic sporting disciplines in the UAAP calendar.
“It’s extremely important. We need to connect the value chain—and for me, that value is defined as the connection from grassroots to high performance,” said chairman Gregorio.
“The missing links are our uni-
casing talent and composure rarely seen in a first-time campaigner.
He admitted South Pacific posed the toughest challenge so far due to his unfamiliarity with the course. But a single day of practice made the difference for the Wellington-Thailand student, who’s taken the ICTSIbacked tour by storm.
“I think South Pacific is a lot harder because I’m not used to playing that course. The greens are slow, but if it’s downhill, it’s really fast,” said Barnes. He now faces a different kind of test at Apo, where accuracy and consistency will be key. The tight, tree-lined fairways, expansive greens and strategically placed water hazards and bunkers demand precision from tee to green.
A strong roster is also out to challenge Barnes’ bid for a Mindanao sweep, including local talents Miguel Revilleza,
versities
Kaeden Samarro and Luke Habagat, along with Cebu’s Kvan Alburo, Koronadal’s Jhasyr and Jhob Bastes, and fellow Cagay-anons Shaqeeq Tanog, Zian Umpar and James Rolida. The girls’ youngest division also shapes up to be a nail-biter, with Del Monte leg winner Soleil Molde, Pueblo de Oro champion Claren Quiño, Davao’s Zoey Mascariñas, and Kassandra Morente all in contention. All eyes will also be on Bukidnon’s Alexis Nailga, who, like Barnes, has posted three straight wins – starting in Mactan – in the boys’ 15-18 division. He skipped the South Pacific leg to prepare for Apo, where he will face a deep field that includes South Pacific winner Adrian Bisera, AJ Wacan, Jevan Lachica, James Teves, Vince Naranjo and Enrico Vicente, as well as Cebu’s Eric Jeon and Bacolod’s Santi Asuncion.
careers and academic progression. Currently, the UAAP features several Olympic sports, including basketball, badminton, athletics, beach volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, judo, baseball, softball, volleyball, football, fencing, tennis, and 3x3 basketball. Chess and esports, which are also recognized in Olympic-adjacent events such as the Chess Olympiad and Olympic Esports Games, are also part of the league.
According to UAAP Finance Committee chairman and Adamson University vice president for Student Affairs, Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM, the PSC expressed that it will support the league’s expansion into more Olympic disciplines. “That was a courtesy call, but during the meeting, Chairman Pato emphasized that this partnership can be mutually beneficial,” said Fr. Suan.
Peter Atencio
The UAAP Board of Managing Directors and PSC chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio
BACK HUG. PLDT’s Jovy Prado (right) gives teammate Kath Arado a tight embrace after the High Speed Hitters demolished the Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL on Tour, 25-22, 25-15, 25-16, before a jampacked crowd
Ernest John Obiena
Coach Garrath Mcpherson
Jamie Barnes
PSE aims for P186-b capital raising despite headwinds
By Jenniffer B. Austria
THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) said over the weekend it expects capital raising in the local stock market to reach P186 billion in 2025, exceeding earlier forecasts, despite persistent global economic uncertainties.
The
“I’m glad to report, I
be hitting at least P185
raising
and hopefully more, if there are more applications we receive in the third and fourth quarter,” PSE president and chief executive officer Ramon Monzon said during a virtual press briefing on
P186 billion
New capital-raising target for 2025
P62.6 billion
Capital raised in first half of 2025
P123.7 billion
Expected capital raising in second half
DOE optimistic on Malampaya gas field expansion
By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE Department of Energy (DOE) is optimistic about the ongoing Malampaya drilling operations off northwest Palawan to extend the life of the country’s key natural gas field.
The Noble Viking drill ship arrived at the Bagong Pag-Asa drill site in offshore Palawan on June 19, 2025, and began drilling operations under the Malampaya Phase 4 (MP4) Project.
“We’re very positive about this. I visited the drilling ship a few weeks ago. They’re on track,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said in a recent briefing.
Under MP4, Noble Viking will drill three new wells: Camago-3, Malampaya East-1 and Bagong Pag-asa-1. These are intended to extend the life of the Malampaya gas field and secure the Philippines’ indigenous energy supply.
“The drilling of Camago 3 well is estimated to be completed by end of July or early August 2025. So we will have the result by this [time],” said Demujin Antiporda, DOE director for the Energy Resource Development Bureau (ERDB).
Antiporda said the MP4 project involves drilling the Camago 3 well and Malampaya East 1, which is a development well.
“In addition to these two wells under the MP4-SC 38, we also drilled an additional exploration well, which is the Bagong Pagasa 1 well,” Antiporda said.
“So we have two development wells right now ongoing, and followed with one exploration [well],” he said.
He expects all drilling developments to be completed by November, with an update potentially as early as August 2025.
Garin said these developments would determine within the year if there are gas resources in the area. “So within the year there’s gas, or any resource there,” she said.
Saturday.
For the first half of the year, P62.6 billion in capital was raised from one initial public offering (IPO), two follow-on offerings (FOOs) and six private placements.
The PSE expects an additional P123.7 billion in capital raising in the second half of the year, based on submitted applications. These include two IPOs, two FOOs, one stock rights offering (SRO) and one listing of convertible warrants.
Monzon acknowledged that global uncertainties continued to weigh on investor sentiment, citing “the Trump tariff issue, the Middle East situation, the Israel-Iran conflict that could potentially threaten global oil supply.”
“But locally, our listed companies have very consistent and exceptional earnings,” he said.
Among the significant applications filed with the PSE are Maynilad Water Services Inc.’s P45-billion IPO and casino operator Hann Holdings Inc.’s P13-billion IPO. Maynilad postponed its IPO to October, while Hann Resorts’ filing is still under review.
Other planned offerings include Filinvest Development Corp. aiming to raise P8 billion from preferred shares, ACEN Corp. planning to raise P30 billion from a stock rights offering and Alliance Global Group
Inc. intending to list P26.7 billion worth of warrants. PSE shareholders re-elected Jose Pardo as chairman and Ramon Monzon as president and chief executive.
“The fresh mandate given to the PSE Board will ensure continuity in the reforms and initiatives we have started pursuing to attract more listings and introduce new products and services that will enhance liquidity in the capital market,” Pardo said.
Other re-elected independent directors include retired Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Peter Favila, Andrew Jerome Gan and L. Panlilio.
Broker directors Diosdado Arroyo, Eddie Gobing, M. Te, L. Sy and Ma. Vivian Yuchengco were also reelected.
POWER PROFILE
By Jimmy L. Montejo
EUSEBIO ‘Yosi’ Tanco, 75, is called the Renaissance Man for a number of reasons.
With some 40 companies to his name, his passions are probably as diverse as his business exposures— ranging from education, logistics, public relations, entertainment, gaming, financing and a whole lot more.
He is also described as the “modern man” who is not afraid to try anything new that tickles his imagination, shaped with the expansive confluence of technology and social media.
According to his most trusted friend and business partner for nearly half a century, lawyer Nick Jacob, Tanco has “an eternal curiosity for things new, untried and untested. He keeps his ears to the ground and is abreast with what is happening in the business world.”
It may even be said that Yosi is claustrophobic because he never cherished staying long in his room, be it the bedroom or the boardroom.
“For dad, it’s all about having a meaningful and adventurous life,” daughter Vanessa Tanco-Reyes said.
Tanco loves staying out with friends. He enjoys traveling—and learning—with other people.
At home, though, he dotes on grandchildren Chiara Rose and Lucas by son Jaeger.
Tanco began his epic journey to becoming a business tycoon as a behind-the-scene stockbroker in the STI Group.
But he was eventually asked to help manage the school system which was encountering financial difficulties at the time. With the proceeds from the
sale of his textile firm, Tanco decided to buy out his co-owners and took the driver’s seat of the STI Education Systems Holdings, catering mostly to senior high school and college students. Tanco powered his conglomerate to great heights with the help of Jaeger and Vanessa. His Group of Companies gave birth to multiple subsidiaries such as Stitch Tech Solutions, the public relations outfit Comm&Sense and PhilCare, reputedly a trailblazer in the health maintenance sector.
B2
B3
B4
“With my dad, you’ll be surprised at how he remains up to date with trends and innovations. Some would be surprised that he has ventures on tech and data. During the pandemic, we started with Stitch Tech Solutions, an IT firm that empowers MSMEs through Data Science and Cloud Computing,” Jaeger narrated.
Tanco, among other top positions, is chairman of STI Education Systems Holdings, the DigiPlus Interactive that runs online gaming platform BingoPlus, and president of Philippine First Insurance and port operator Asian Terminals Inc. Tanco, both as a person and a corporate top executive, is a down-to-earth, no-frills, hands-on manager. With his $1.2-billion net worth as listed in Forbes, he can definitely have the fancies clothes money could buy on earth. But lo and behold, he is more comfortable with simple shirts, jeans, and sneakers—giving him an approachable and friendly outlook that even strangers admire. Vanessa dropped broad hints that his dad is virtually a chip off the old block.
The patriarch, Agustin Tanco, also known by the cognomen “was fondly remembered by many for his kindness and humility,” Vanessa recalled. He touched so many people’s lives. He was always welcoming and sincere. I think Dad also got the very same vibe from my grandpa,“ she added. In a manner of speaking, Tanco came into the business world adequately prepared. He graduated in Economics and Political Science from the Ateneo de Manila University, then went to London for his post-graduate studies.
STI Group chairman Eusebio Tanco
PH stocks expected to trade sideways this week
TRADING at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) is likely to remain sideways this week as investors await negotiations between the Philippines and the United States on trade issues.
Wendy Estacio-Cruz, head of research at Unicapital, projected the PSE index could trade between the 6,400 and 6,500 levels this week.
While the U.S. has announced a 20 percent tariff on Philippine products, the Philippine government said it plans to reach out to the U.S. for negotiations before the new tariffs take effect.
“In our view, expanded tariffs, especially without negotiation, could dent export growth, particularly in high-value manufacturing,” EstacioCruz said.
However, current valuations may also encourage bargain hunting, as major stock prices remain undervalued.
Last week, the PSE index rose 1.01 percent to close at 6,459.88, while the broader all shares index advanced 1.27 percent to 3,812.53.
The market started the week strong on renewed confidence in the domestic economy and hopes of two more rate cuts. However, trading turned negative after the U.S. announced new tariffs against its trading partners. Average daily value traded improved to P8.29 billion from the previous week’s average of P8 billion. Foreign investors, however, became net sellers with outflows of P799 million, compared to the previous week’s inflow of P2.29 billion.
Jenniffer B. Austria
Globe to develop premiere ICT hub in Valenzuela City
By Darwin G. Amojelar
GLOBE Telecom Inc. announced it will provide connectivity to Valenzuela City’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Hub, a project aiming to make the Philippines “future-ready” and create 8 million jobs by 2028.
“As an industry, we are aligned in the belief that connectivity must not end with access,” said Froilan Castelo, president of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunication Operators (PCTO) and Globe Group general counsel.
“Our collective goal must be to translate access into real opportunity, to enable learning outcomes for students, to foster scale and resilience among micro and small enterprises, and to allow every Filipino to participate in the digital economy with confidence and security.”
Castelo emphasized this commitment during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the city government of Valenzuela for the development of a premier ICT Hub. Under the “Silicon Valenzuela” vision, the ICT hub will house green data centers, an ICT academy, a business incubation ecosystem, co-working spaces, digital retail areas and government services.
Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie Gatchalian plans to form a technical working group to conduct feasibility studies for the ICT Hub and determine the total project cost.
The inspiration for Valenzuela’s ICT Hub — Silicon Valley — originated from a science research base housed in California universities and was fueled by venture capital and government spending.
“The ICT hub became part of my vision for Valenzuela in 2022. Since then, I dreamed of creating a Silicon Valley in Valenzuela. We created ValTech and now, we will build the ICT Academy,” Gatchalian said.
Valenzuela is transforming from a manufacturing hub to an ICT hub. This “Silicon Valley” initiative supports the DICT’s Digital Bayanihan, a collaborative effort to bridge the digital divide and ensure no Filipino is left behind in the digital age.
Megaworld adds new wing at Binondo mall
By Jenniffer B. Austria
MEGAWORLD Corp. is expanding Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila as demand for premium commercial spaces continues to grow in the area.
Megaworld said it would open a new retail development in Lucky Chinatown called the Imperial Wing. This will add three floors of retail space, increasing the mall’s total gross leasable area to 36,000 square meters.
Cebu developer to build Pasig residential project
Landmasters Inc.
prominent Visayas-Mindanao-based
ing its dining options with the opening of Mixue, a Chinese fast-food chain, marking its first location in a Megaworld lifestyle mall. Other food establishments opening soon include Hen Ho Hotpot, Xibei Ramen, Nono’s, Mesa, llaollao and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
The expansion brings in new tenants, including the first Manila branch of Nitori, a Japanese furniture and home accessories brand, and KKV, a lifestyle retailer from China. Robinsons Supermarket has also opened on the ground floor.
The Imperial Wing is connected to the main mall through the Chinatown Walk on the ground floor and two airconditioned walkways on the second and third levels. The new wing also offers direct access to the Chinatown Museum behind the Lucky Chinatown Hotel.
Lucky Chinatown is also expand-
“The expansion of Lucky Chinatown through the Imperial Wing reflects our continued commitment to elevating the lifestyle experience on this side of Manila. We are curating a diverse and dynamic tenant mix that responds to the evolving needs and preferences of the market, as we strengthen our role as a vibrant community hub,” said Graham Coates, head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.
THE second day of the 2025 PASUC Midterm Convention and General Assembly featured in-depth discussions aimed at advancing reforms in Philippine public higher education, with a strong focus on global competitiveness, artificial intelligence (AI) readiness and institutional resilience.
Led by PASUC president Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, the event’s sessions included a diverse lineup of policy leaders, experts and thought leaders who explored strategic themes critical to shaping the future of the country’s 113 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).
Opening the day, Fook Yen Chong,
DIGIPLUS Interactive Corp., through its social development arm BingoPlus Foundation, pledged P2 million to support 50 technology scholars under the flagship FutureSmart Program.
The investment comes with a new partnership with Edukasyon.ph to bridge technology education and realworld careers for Filipinos.
Participants will gain knowledge in Amazon Web Services (AWS), earn certifications and open doors to career opportunities in cloud technology. The program aims to be a stepping stone for those aspiring to become cloud engineers, IT specialists or digital entrepreneurs.
Selected scholars will complete the AWS re/Start program—a 12-week workforce development training preparing learners for entry-level cloud
principal social sector specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), emphasized the need to invest in education, innovation and the knowledge economy to close the gap between economic growth and inclusive development.
He urged SUCs to create stronger research and innovation ecosystems that respond to national and regional development priorities.
In the subsequent plenary, CHED Commissioner Dr. Ethel Agnes Valenzuela stressed the urgency of preparing SUCs for global competitiveness through internationalization and sustainability.
She encouraged SUCs to embrace
careers. After training, Edukasyon.ph will provide job placement support to help graduates secure employment within three months, with opportunities available within DigiPlus and its extensive network of tech industry partners.
The initiative aligns with DigiPlus and BingoPlus Foundation’s mission to increase opportunities for Filipinos to thrive in the digital economy.
The FutureSmart program has already impacted over 5,000 students and teachers nationwide through scholarships, technology training, learning center donations and job pathways.
Earlier this year, FutureSmart received a Gold Stevie Award for Excellence in Social Impact at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards in Seoul,
digital credentials, cross-border partnerships and Sustainable Development Goal-aligned programs as essential tools for building future-ready institutions. A major highlight of the day was Panel Session 1, “Future-Proofing Human Capital: Leveraging Digital Transformation and Innovation for Industry Competitiveness,” moderated by Batangas State University’s Vice President for Research, Development and Extension Services Albertson Amante. Key insights were delivered by Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Assistant Com-
estate developer, is set to enter the Metro Manila market for the first time with a major residential project in Pasig City. CLI chief operating officer Jose Franco Soberano announced the company recently acquired a 3.5-hectare property in Pasig, marking its initial foray into the capital region. This expansion underscores the company’s confidence in the long-term potential of Metro Manila’s residential market despite current supply concerns.
“We acquired our very first Metro Manila property, a 3.5-hectare property in Pasig City. We see long-term opportunity, and we are really targeting the middle to upper-middle segment for this first entry,” Soberano said.
He said CLI’s proven success in Cebu, Davao, Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro gives them confidence to replicate their strategy in Metro Manila. The Pasig development will target the mid to upper-middle market, with unit prices ranging between P3 million and P7 million.
“We want to maintain that record low delinquency, high sellout rate also in Manila. Of course, there’s a challenge because we are a newcomer, but we’re excited,” he said.
Aside from Pasig, CLI is also looking to develop a horizontal project within the CALABARZON region.
The Pasig development is expected to break ground within 18 months as part of a broader strategy to bring CLI’s VisMin-tested model to the country’s largest urban center.
In preparation for its Metro Manila venture, CLI opened its first Luzon office in Makati last January.
Jenniffer B. Austria
missioner Judith Dongallo-Chicano of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and Assistant Director Jodann Darong of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). They collectively emphasized the role of SUCs in aligning with government and industry to produce agile, future-ready graduates equipped for a digitally driven, innovation-led economy. In the afternoon, Panel Session 2 addressed transformative SUC programs and quality assurance frameworks in an engaging discussion led by former Western Philippines University (WPU) president Dr. Elsa Manarpaac.
PARTNERSHIP. The Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC) expands its partnership with Isuzu by adding renewable energy (RE) to car dealership agreement. This involves YGC member company PetroGreen Energy Corporation and Isuzu Autoparts Manufacturing Corporation, which recently switched-on the 3.002 megawatt peak rooftop solar power facility in Laguna Technopark, Biñan, Laguna. Joining the event are PGEC president & chief executive
Rice, corn harvests likely higher in Q2—PSA
21st Century classrooms launched in Lanao del Norte
THE Department of Science and Technology Region 10 (DOST-10), in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the provincial government of Lanao del Norte, launched the 21st Century Learning Environment Model (21st CLEM) at the Lanao del Norte National High School on May 6, 2025.
This initiative marks a significant step toward modernizing the learning environment in the region.
DOST’s 21st CLEM project aims to create future-ready classrooms designed to promote collaborative, tech-integrated, and student-centered learning.
These innovative spaces combine flexible classroom designs with cutting-edge educational technologies to help students develop essential 21st century skills.
“Our school is fortunate to be chosen as the recipient of the 21st CLEM in Northern Mindanao. Our
P1.54b to 24 electric-coops
AT LEAST 24 electric cooperatives (ECs) secured P1.54 billion in loans from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) during the first half of the year, the NEA’s Accounts Management and Guarantee Department (AMGD) reported.
The state-owned corporation had allocated P1.795 billion to support various lending programs for ECs, its rural electrification partners, this year. The amount disbursed represents 86 percent of its target as of June 30, 2025. According to the AMGD, 20 power cooperatives collectively borrowed P893.65 million for their capital expenditures (capex), while five ECs applied for P650 million for working capital. The AMGD processed more loans in the second quarter, totaling P967 million, compared to P577 million in the first three months of the year.
The NEA sets an annual budget for its lending programs to support the operations of electric cooperatives.
learners in Lanao del Norte will now experience and enjoy the technology that comes with this initiative,” said Principal Hadjah Anisah Sinal.
“As the school head, it is a dream come true to finally provide our learners with a world-class learning environment. Its presence will make a significant difference in improving the literacy and numeracy of our students.”
During the launch, DOST technical personnel, alongside Science and Mathematics teachers, showcased a range of advanced learning tools.
These included digital smartboards, interactive projectors, drones, and both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) systems.
Other educational innovations introduced were COURSEWARE, Strategic Intervention Material for Teaching with Augmented Reality (SIMATAR), and the Learning English Application for Pinoys (LEAP).
The 21st CLEM classroom features reconfigurable desks and chairs, instructional, immersive, and creative educational technologies, and Open Learning Spaces (OLS) to support flexible and interactive learning.
Key stakeholders, including DepEd Region 10 assistant regional director Dr. Federico Martin, CESO III, and DOST Lanao del Norte Provincial Science and Technology director Roy Sagrado, emphasized the project’s long-term educational benefits and its transformative impact on the province’s learning ecosystem.
Provincial Gov. Imelda QuibranzaDimaporo reaffirmed her commitment to educational progress.
“With the rapid advancements in technology today, I firmly believe that the introduction of the 21st Century Learning Environment Model is not just about infrastructure; it is an investment in the future of our students, in the
SECOND-QUARTER palay (unmilled rice) and corn production is estimated to be higher than the actual output in the same period last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said over the weekend.
It said that as of June 1, 2025, estimated palay production from standing crops for April-June 2025 may have increased 13.2 percent to 4.35 million metric tons (MT) from 3.85 million MT a year ago. The estimated palay harvest area for the period is projected to rise 9.2 percent to 972,750 hectares from 890,600 hectares in 2024. Palay yield per hectare is expected to improve by 3.5 percent to 4.47 MT from 4.32 MT.
The PSA noted that as of June 1, 2025, 864,410 hectares, or 88.9 percent of the updated palay harvest area, had been harvested, yielding 3.89 million MT of palay.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) earlier updated its global rice production forecast to 541.5 million MT, up by 300,000 MT from its earlier estimate of 541.2 million MT, on expected higher rice
production of the Philippines. Meanwhile, local corn production for April-June 2025, based on standing crops as of June 1, 2025, may have also increased 26.7 percent to 1.487 million MT from 1.17 million MT in the same period of 2024, the PSA said. The corn harvest area is projected to rise 16.1 percent to 402,730 hectares from 346,880 hectares in the previous year. Yield per hectare for corn may have increased 9.2% to 3.69 MT from 3.38 MT.
The PSA also reported that as of June 1, 2025, 330,680 hectares, or 82.1 percent of the updated standing corn harvest area, had been harvested, resulting in 1.29 million MT of corn output. Rice and corn are the main food crops of the Philippines and the biggest contributors to the Philippine agriculture sector.
hopes and dreams of our learners, and in the advancement of a progressive learning system,” she said.
“The provincial government of Lanao del Norte, through the
Provincial School Board and with the invaluable support of our dedicated partners, especially the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is making this dream a reality.”
Beyond demand: The commercialization paradox in Philippine tech
RENOWNED Czech-French writer Milan Kundera stated, “Business has only two functions— marketing and innovation.” These two pillars are interconnected. Marketing serves as the crucial bridge to the target audience and drives revenue growth, while innovation is the heart and pulse of any successful business. However, in the Philippines, the journey from innovation to market success is often fraught with challenges, revealing a complex paradox. By way of illustration, consider Dr. Mananaliksik.
He is confident that his revolutionary battery technology would be an instant success because it was energy-efficient, adaptable, and significantly more effective than existing alternatives. He anticipated that with the shift in focus and the rise of global demand for sustainable energy solutions, commercialization seemed inevitable.
Years later, his technology remained stuck in the research phase. Investors hesitated, industry partners were uncertain, and despite the product’s clear value proposition, no one stepped forward to adopt it. Market entry seemed to be a long way to go. This perplexing disconnect between market readiness and technological potential reflects a broader issue affecting many research and development (R&D) institutions—the commercialization paradox. Recent findings from studies on Department of Science and Technology (DOST) research and development institutions (RDIs) shed light on this challenge. The data reveal that market demand alone does not significantly affect commercialization success. Even though it plays a critical role, it is often overshadowed by two other factors: technology attributes and intellectual property (IP) protection.
The Unexpected and Unforeseen Roadblocks to Commercialization
It seems logical that when a product meets an urgent market need, it should ultimately find its way into users’ hands. Yet, as Dr. Mananaliksik’s hypothetical case shows as evidenced by extensive literature, the reality is far more complex. Studies highlighted several systemic constraints impeding the commercialization of innovations from public RDIs in the Philippines. Beyond these, there are three main problems that the commercialization process must overcome:
First, uncertainty due to the technology’s novelty poses a major problem. Breakthrough technologies, being novel, create profound hesitation for partners and investors. They have to deal with things they don’t know, such as whether the market will accept them, how much money they need to start making new products, how long it will take to develop them, and the fact that there aren’t any good risk benchmarks to compare them to. This risk aversion, stemming from uncharted territory, can stall promising progress. Second, weak or complex IP protection acts as a formidable deterrent. Ambiguous ownership, unenforceable patents, or rigid licensing terms often deter partners. Securing IP rights entails costs and complex legal issues, which make things much harder and often go beyond what a public institution can handle. The industry requires IP that is easy to license, transparent about who owns it, and secure. Third, a persistent lack of sustained industry collaboration makes these problems even worse. RDI outputs frequently don’t align with specific industry needs, creating a fundamental mismatch between innovation supply and market demand. Limited early interaction means promising technologies, like Dr. Mananaliksik’s, might be developed without significant input from the market. These factors collectively contribute to the Commercialization Paradox, the more innovative a technology, the more support it needs, yet its novelty leads it to face resistance.
Revisiting and Rethinking Local Commercialization Frameworks
This paradox has serious implications for policymakers, research institutions, and innovators alike. If we expect science and technology particularly those that are funded by the government to solve society’s most pressing challenges, we must ensure breakthrough innovations can move beyond the lab. Strategies included: first, stronger linkages to industry. RDIs must build robust, longterm relationships with stakeholders through codevelopment models, innovation hubs, industry immersion programs and the likes, reducing uncertainty. Second, proper and effective IP education and awareness are necessary. Researchers require training in IP management, and institutions
need streamlined patenting processes with accessible legal assistance, thereby incentivizing IP protection as a research and development output. Third, tailored commercialization support is paramount. Public RDIs must create distinct strategies for complicated, high-risk inventions, including dedicated funding for proof-ofconcept, support for regulatory approval, or commercialization grants. A one-size-fitsall approach fails novel innovations. Finally, fundamental policy reformation is imperative. National innovation policies must actively evolve to support IP-heavy or high-risk innovations through tax incentives, patent enforcement support, and public-private partnerships. The Philippine Innovation Act, the Innovative Start-up Act, and the Philippine Development Plan (NEDA 2023) are positive initiatives; however, their execution demands continuous improvement.
The Country Needs Support in Its High-Impact Innovations Ultimately, the commercialization of technologies should not be left to chance. Institutions, policymakers, and government agencies must recognize that the characteristics that make a technology revolutionary are also the ones that make commercialization difficult. Instead of treating technologies like any other invention, they should be given specialized, contextualized, and continuous assistance throughout their entire journey from ideation to widespread market adoption. Dr. Mananaliksik’s story, though hypothetical, is one such case not confined to the Philippine context but is also happening all around the world. Countless innovations remain dormant in laboratories. It is not because they lack value, but because the path to market is obstructed by misaligned systems and outdated commercialization models. If we are serious about solving 21st-century challenges, we need 21st-century innovation frameworks – the ones that don’t just reward market-ready products. Marion Ivy D. Decena is currently taking her doctorate in Business Administration at De La Salle University. She is also the Director of Technology Application and Promotion, the technology transfer and commercialization arm of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Her research interests include intellectual property (IP), commercialization, and valuation focusing more on government-funded research. She can be reached at marion_decena@dlsu.edu.ph.
The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.
DENR’S AWARDS. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Marilou Erni discusses Project TRANSFORM and BakaJUAN, two projects of the DENR which were named the Stakeholder Engagement of the Year and the Campaign of the Year, respectively, for the Environment Sector in the recent GovMedia Conference & Awards 2025 held in Singapore.
The Department of Science and Technology Region 10 (DOST-10), in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the provincial government of Lanao del Norte, launches the 21st Century Learning Environment Model (21st CLEM) at the Lanao del Norte National High School. The project aims to establish future-ready classrooms designed to promote collaborative, tech-integrated and student-centered learning.
San Miguel power subsidiary raising $150m for RE projects
By Alena Mae S. Flores
SAN Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMGP) plans to offer up to $150 million in senior perpetual capital securities to fund the development of solar, hydro and battery energy storage projects.
SMGP informed the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. that its management has been authorized to determine the terms, conditions, and timing of the new securities offering.
The company’s board approved the appointment of Standard Chartered Bank as sole bookrunner and sole lead manager.
DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited will serve as trustee, while Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Hong Kong Branch, will act as paying agent,
PNR resumes Calamba-Lucena train services
THE Philippine National Railways (PNR) announced that it would resume its train services on the Calamba-Lucena route and vice versa starting July 14, 2025.
The resumption of services follows a presidential directive to ensure safe and efficient travel for PNR commuters, the agency said.
Trains will pick up and drop off passengers at the Lucena, San Pablo and Calamba stations. Flag stops will also be available in Sariaya, Lutucan, Candelaria, Tiaong (Lalig), IRRI, College, Los Baños, Masili and Pansol.
Regular fares for the Lucena to Calamba route will range from P15 to P105.
The first train departs Lucena at 5 a.m., arriving in Calamba at 7:30 a.m.
The return trip will leave Calamba at 5:45 p.m., arriving in Lucena at 8:18 p.m. Students, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and senior citizens with valid IDs will receive discounted fares, ranging from P12 to P84, the PNR said.
The PNR temporarily suspended the Lucena-Calamba-Lucena route on June 17 to pave the way for major on trains serving the line.
It said the halt of operations would also prepare the transfer of train sets from Manila to Quezon and Bicol to provide safer, more reliable and more affordable public transportation for commuters.
It earlier suspended operations on its Metro Manila commuter line amid the construction of the elevated North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.
calculation agent, transfer agent and registrar. Latham & Watkins was appointed as the listing agent for the issuance and listing of the securities.
SMGP said it intends to use the net proceeds from the securities for predevelopment costs of solar and hydropower energy projects, as well as capital expenditures related to battery energy storage systems projects.
The company said that “the net proceeds will not be applied in connection with any of the corporation’s
existing and planned coal-fired power assets and/or liquefied natural gas assets (including, but not limited to, their construction and working capital requirements).”
A portion of the proceeds will also cover costs and expenses related to securities exchange offers, including accrued distribution amounts for existing securities accepted for exchange, issuance costs for the new securities, and the purchase, repurchase, and/or redemption of all remaining outstanding existing securities.
SMGP also announced that it is inviting eligible holders of existing securities to exchange it for an equal amount of the new US dollar denominated securities to be issued by the company.
This eligible existing securities are those listed with the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd.,
namely: the 7 percent Senior Perpetual Capital Securities issued on Oct. 21, 2020 and the 5.7 percent Senior Perpetual Capital Securities issued on Jan. 21, 2020
SMGP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (or SMC), one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines.
SMGP, together with its affiliates, subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, is one of the largest power companies in the Philippines controlling an aggregate of 6,080 megawatts of combined capacity as of December 31, 2024.
SMGP is actively pursuing several pumped storage hydropower projects. This follows the Department of Energy’s notice of award to potential winning bidders for the third auction round of the Green Energy Auction Program (GEA-3) on June 9, 2025.
IN BRIEF
Metrobank Foundation redesigns program to boost Filipino Math skills
THE Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) said it has reimagined its long-running Metrobank-MTAPDepEd Math Challenge (MMC) into a new strategic remediation program called Metrobank Foundation SOLUTION (Support for Optimal Learning & Understanding To Improve Overall Numeracy).
It said the shift aims to strengthen numeracy and foster a love for math among Filipino students, addressing current educational challenges.
“While we honor the 20-year legacy of MMC in celebrating learners’ excellence in mathematics, the pressing education crisis in our nation calls for a new direction. In response, we are proactively transforming MMC into a remediation program, which is now the Metrobank Foundation SOLUTION, to address critical math learning gaps. This initiative offers right-level, supplemental instruction to grade-schoolers who need it most,” said MBFI president Aniceto
Digital National ID simplifies access to gov’t services
THE Digital National ID is streamlining citizens’ access to government and financial services, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Available through the eGovPH app, the ID is accepted as valid proof of identity for all transactions.
The PSA said that as of June 1, 2025, there were 87,588,458 Digital National IDs accessible via the eGovPH app.
PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa, who is also the national statistician and civil registrar general, said the Digital National ID “empowers Filipinos with a valid proof of identity that can be easily accessed and conve-
niently presented in all transactions.”
He encouraged registered individuals to “maximize their Digital National ID” to fully benefit from the National ID system.
The convenience of the Digital National ID is already being experienced by Filipinos nationwide, the PSA said, citing experience of some users.
Teresa Jane Mansanillo from Malabon used her Digital National ID to process her birth certificate. She noted the ID made it “convenient” to walk in for the process, eliminating the need for an online appointment and allowing her to use just her phone as a valid ID.
Marian Lleva from Pasay City
used her Digital National ID to seek healthcare assistance for her husband from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and her city hall for medication. She said it was a “big help” because even after losing other IDs, she could immediately present her Digital National ID.
Marimar Moreno from Marinduque used her Digital National ID to claim a large sum at a remittance center. She has continued to use it since her first successful transaction, the PSA said.
Mary Jane Carao from Caloocan used the Digital National ID to verify her mobile wallet account, making it functional.
THE Philippine office market showed strong growth in the first half of 2025, with demand reaching 740,000 square meters (sqm), or 67 percent of the 1.1 million sqm total for 2024, according to Leechiu Property Consultants.
“Demand has been strong in the first half of the year, and we’re optimistic that this momentum will continue,” said Mikko Barranda, director of commercial leasing at Leechiu Property Consultants.
“The IT-BPM industry remains the backbone of the office market,
Sobrepeña.
The Metrobank Foundation SOLUTION remediation program is now being piloted at San Miguel Heights Elementary School in Valenzuela City. The program benefits 150 students in Grades 4 to 6.
Launched by MBFI in 1998, MMC was previously the largest annual math competition in the Philippines for elementary and secondary students. Implemented in partnership with the Department of Education
and the Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP), it saw over 500,000 students participate annually from both public and private schools nationwide.
Metrobank Foundation SOLUTION focuses on foundational skills, integrating the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons and a supportive learning environment in its remediation classes.
and as such, we are closely tied to its performance. That’s where we’re seeing the demand, so it’s critical that we continue to support and safeguard the industry. We need to ensure it has both stability and longevity — and we’re working alongside industry stakeholders to make that happen,” he said.
“With demand on an upward trajectory and office contractions tapering off, we’re on track to reach
ber,” said Barranda. The
The pilot run of the Metrobank Foundation SOLUTION remediation program, the strategic evolution of MetrobankMTAP-DedEd Math Challenge (MMC), is now being implemented at San Miguel Heights Elementary School in Valenzuela City.
Teresa Jane Mansanillo from Malabon shows her Digital National ID, which enabled her to process her birth certificate.
SM Prime unveils Signature Series for upscale market
SM PRIME Holdings, a name long associated with malls, offices and hotels across the Philippines, is taking a major step into the high-end residential market with the launch of its new brand—Signature Series.
The company officially unveiled the brand last July 9, marking a new chapter in its growth. With years of experience building various residential projects mostly for the middle income residential market, SMPH now aims to bring that same level of quality and ambition to premium housing.
“One very promising aspect in the organization is the raw material is there, the land is there, nationwide. It’s just a matter of us selecting the best properties available in our portfolio to develop into high-end primary residential communities. The opportunities are immense,” said Jose Juan Jugo, SMPH Executive Vice President and Group Head of Signature Series. FROM MALLS TO MANSIONS
SMPH is known for its wide portfolio from affordable housing, hotels to shopping malls.
Jugo however said the group’s entry on premium primary residences is a natural progression for the company as it has already ventured into high-end commercial developments
Pico de Loro Cove attracts eco-travellers
on the beach. With help from the local government and WWF, the resort keeps track of these protected areas to make sure marine life stays safe for future generations.
Caring for the environment is also part of daily life at Pico de Loro Cove. The resort collects rainwater to use in the lagoon and gardens, manages waste carefully, and uses
like S Maison and SM Aura, and into high-end premium hospitality projects like Conrad Manila and Tagaytay Highlands.
To attract the affluent market, Signature Series will feature carefully designed communities with modern, elegant, and timeless styles. The developments will be planned by specialized teams of designers and service experts to ensure quality from start to finish.
“From the earliest design decisions to the way every detail comes together on site, intentionality, wholeheartedness, and excellence define the way we work,” said Jessica Sy, Head of Design, Innovation, and Strategy.
PREMIUM LIFESTYLE
The Signature Series will offer three main types of homes:
• Entry-Level Premium (from ~₱15 million): For young professionals, starter families, and those upgrading their lifestyle.
• Upscale (from ₱25 million): Designed for well-established professionals and families who want more space and refined design.
• Luxury & Ultra-Luxury (₱65 million and above): For high-networth individuals seeking privacy, exclusivity, and long-term investment.
Jugo said Signature Series would like to tap into the growing upper and upper-middle class with household income ranging from $1 million to $30 million.
BIG
PLANS IN MUNTINLUPA AND MAKATI
SMPH has already identified more than 400 hectares of prime land for Signature Series developments, 300 hectares of which are in situated
withinMetro Manila.
The group’s first major project will rise in Susana Heights, Muntinlupa, where SM owns 284 hectares of land. The site, a well-loved community since the 1970s, will be transformed into a premier suburban destination with parks, retail, and an ultra-luxury village with lots selling at P100 million.
SMPH said the company plans to invest ₱25 billion into this development. In Makati City, the group is preparing a high-end residential project on a 6,000-square-meter site through a partnership with a top luxury developer.
“Signature Series is all about creating value,” said Jugo. “In the future, your Signature Series property will certainly appreciate. It’s also intended to be future-proof and can be passed onto the next generation.”
MARKET DEMAND
The new venture is also aimed to meet the changing needs of today’s buyers—more space, better amenities, and a focus on health and sustainability. From green building materials to smart home features and wellness centers, Signature Series homes are being designed for modern, discerning homeowners.
“We see a sustained demand from high-net-worth individuals and families. Signature Series, in partnership with a key player in the luxury residential space, is set to deliver on the premium living requirements that these discerning individuals are looking for,” Jugo said. Jenniffer B. Austria
green space, showing how the resort balances nature with modern comfort. For travelers who enjoy outdoor activities, Pico de Loro offers scenic nature trails will will give guests a chance to explore the area’s wildlife while supporting its protection. Pico de Loro Cove also supports the nearby communities with around 80 percent of the workers are from Batangas, and the resort partners with local businesses. By hiring locals and offering steady jobs, the development helps make tourism a source of income for families in the area. Even with its eco-friendly goals, Pico de Loro doesn’t sacrifice comfort. The Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club offers swimming, dining, and sports like tennis and pickleball—all designed with energy-saving features like natural lighting and ventilation. The residential properties, including Freia, Sola, and Pico Terraces, also follow green building practices while offering peaceful and private spaces.
PH1 World builds sustainable housing community in Bulacan
PH1 World Developers, the real estate arm of Megawide Construction Corp. is developing a sustainable and energyefficient residential community in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, aimed at promoting environmentally friendly living and reducing long-term costs for homeowners.
Called Northscapes San Jose del Monte, the project is located approximately 35 minutes from Quezon City and features house-and-lot units designed with energysaving technologies.
“We dream of a nation where Filipino homes provide not only basic shelter but long-term resilience to the reality of climate change. This is the spirit behind Northscapes, where sustainable living is no
longer just a lofty goal but a way of life that can help ordinary Filipinos contribute tangible, positive impact on the environment,” said PH1 World Developers president Gigi Alcantara.
Each home is equipped with solar panels, ResiShade windows, and TropiCool walls, which reduce electricity use by regulating indoor temperature. According to Alcantara, these features could help homeowners save up to ₱6,000 per month, or more than ₱80,000 per year.
OFFICE leasing in the Philippines is showing strong signs of recovery, with the market registering 740,000 square meters (sqm) of demand in the first half of 2025, based on the latest data from Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC).
This figure already represents 67 percent of the 1.1 million square meters recorded for the entire year of 2024, signaling renewed momentum in the sector.
Mikko Barranda, director of commercial leasing at LPC said the growth has been largely driven by the Information Technology and Business Process Management (ITBPM) industry, which accounted for 365,000 sqm in the first six months of the year.
“Demand has been strong in the first half of the year, and we’re optimistic that this momentum will continue,” said Barranda.
“The IT-BPM industry remains the backbone of the office market, and as such, we are closely tied to its performance. That’s where we’re seeing the demand, so it’s critical that we continue to support and safeguard the industry. We need to ensure it has both stability and longevity—and we’re working alongside industry stakeholders to make that happen.”
LPC said the leasing activity is no longer driven just by tenants relocating to better buildings but by companies expanding their operations.
Bonifacio Global City, for instance, has already surpassed its full-year 2024 take-up, reaching 146,000 sqm in just six months. In the provinces, Cebu continues to lead, accounting for more than half of regional demand.
Despite improving office leasing demand, LPC said vacancy rates remain high at 18 percent in Metro Manila. This is equivalent to 2.7 million sqm of office space. Vacancy rate in provincial areas is slightly lower 17 percent across 615,000 sqm. But while vacancy rate remains high, Barranda said contraction activity, or space being vacated, has been tapering off,
The development has received the EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) Advanced Preliminary Certificate, a global
After its 15-stop ‘BINIverse’ world tour, BINI returns to the local stage to cap it off
BINI caps off world tour with electrifying homecoming show
THE “Nation’s Girl Group” returned to the local stage for Here for You: The BINI Homecoming Fan Meet at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, following the conclusion of its 15-stop BINIverse world tour.
Fans, known as Blooms, filled the venue with “Welcome Home” banners, interactive booths, and tributes dedicated to each member of the group.
The activity areas surrounding the arena were transformed into a gathering space where supporters showcased their loyalty and affection for the group, turning the homecoming into a celebration of both music and community.
Park Seo-joon reunites with Filipino fans at ‘Ultimate Fan Fest’
By Angelica Villanueva
KOREAN superstar Park Seojoon made his return to the Philippines on Saturday, July 12, headlining the Century Tuna: Fit for Any Role Ultimate Fan Fest at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The 36-year-old actor, best known for his roles in Itaewon Class and What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, was visibly thrilled as he greeted thousands of fans who packed the Big Dome for a rare chance to see him live.
Presented by Century Tuna and Wilbros Live, the event featured fan-centered moments, including a “two-minute date” segment with a lucky fan, drawing screams from the crowd.
“Being here itself is something that excites me a lot. Each and every one of you—you guys are great,” said Seo-joon.
During the onstage interview, the Korean actor expressed how much the event meant to him amid his busy schedule.
BINI opened the show with a grand entrance, arriving in a large custom bus float that circled the center stage before stopping in the middle of the arena. The group then launched into a series of performances, delivering songs such as “Cherry on Top,” “Zero Pressure,” and “Out of My Head” with energy and precision. Between songs, the members shared stories from their time abroad and thanked fans for their continued support throughout the tour. The group also brought selected attendees onstage to perform its newly released single, “Shagidi.”
One highlight featured member Gwen drawing cheers for an all-out performance, while Sheena was carried across the stage as the group and fans shared a light moment of laughter.
The fan meet served as a meaningful reunion, reinforcing the bond between the group and its supporters. With thousands in attendance, the event underscored BINI’s growing reach and the strong connection it has built with its audience over the years.
The SM Mall of Asia Arena served as host to the event, offering its facilities as one of the country’s premier venues for both international and local live entertainment. Upcoming events and ticket information are available at www.mallofasia-arena.com or via SM Tickets.
for his notable roles in K-dramas including ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim’ and ‘Fight For My Way’
“I’m working on a very hectic and busy schedule, but I’m very glad that meeting you guys today gives me energy so that I can go back and work hard,” he shared.
“Recently, I’ve been staying on set, doing shoots for my upcoming works. But through this, feeling your love, I’m very happy,” Seo-joon added.
Ahead of his fan meeting, Seo-joon met with some members of the press to talk about his current projects and his strong connection with Filipino supporters.
Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment Seo-joon talked about the so-called “PSJ effect” and shared how he feels about his popularity in the Philippines.
“I’m just purely happy to have this fan fest tonight. I am not that nervous because I want to make the most out of the event tonight and have fun,” said Seo-joon.
“Even though I’m in the middle of a busy schedule, I was looking forward to this moment. Your love and support are the reasons I’m able to keep doing what I do,” he continued.
The Itaewon Class star also shared his desire to see more of the
country in the future.
“One of my dreams is to travel to a lot of different destinations. So I hope that I may also have the chance to travel in the Philippines,” he
“It’s
Though
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Anne Curtis (right) welcomes Park Seo-joon to the Century Tuna Superbods family
The Korean superstar expresses his gratitude upon encountering thousands of his Filipino fans who have gathered at the Big Dome to see him
‘It’s Showtime’ host
Blooms filled the venue with banners, interactive booths, and tributes to each group member
Gwen (center) gains cheers from the audience as she delivers an all-out performance
BINI members carrying Sheena across the stage drew laughter from the crowd
LIFE & SHOWBIZ
Ashtine Olviga, Andres Muhlach explore young love in new film
By Angelica Villanueva
FOR GEN Z stars Ashtine Olviga and Andres Muhlach, love is
both a personal belief and the central theme of their upcoming film, Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna
Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, Ashtine said that while her character in the movie doesn’t believe in love, the actress herself feels quite the opposite.
“When you share love, the energy becomes positive, everything feels good, and all your interactions with people are just better,” she explained.
“I think love is one of the most powerful things in the world. Every day, as humans, we all want to love and to feel loved. And anything we want to do or achieve in life, we need love to make it happen. So yes, I think love
is very important for all of us,” Andres echoed. Ashtine and Andres, dubbed as AshDres, who rose to fame as Jay-Jay and Kiefer, respectively, in the hit series Ang Mutya ng Section E, are now headlining their first film together under Viva Films. Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, the movie follows a quiet high school flower enthusiast named Raffy who tries to win over Luna, a visual artist who doesn’t believe in love, by giving her flowers at key moments in her life.
On July 4, when the teaser was dropped, it quickly drew massive attention, gaining 12 million views in just 24 hours. Ashtine and Andres admitted the response caught them off guard.
“Of course, we were surprised. I personally knew there were many fans waiting, but I didn’t expect that much support. I’m really grateful,” she expressed.
“I didn’t expect it either. The views suddenly hit millions. When I woke up the next day, I was like, ‘Oh my God, it already has millions.’ So we’re really thankful to all the fans and everyone supporting us,” added Andres.
Despite the hype, both actors said they are trying to stay grounded.
“I felt a bit pressured because I thought I had to meet everyone’s expectations. But when I caught myself thinking that way, I stopped. Because when I let pressure in, I really lose focus. I start to doubt what I’m capable of. So I chose to just focus on what I need to do, on what the character is feeling,” the actress shared.
As for Andres, he said he took the pressure as motivation to do more and do better.
F“That kind of pressure is important. If you want to give a good performance or be at your best, you need that pressure. That kind of pressure is what helps push you forward,” he said. With filming set to begin in September, both stars are currently attending acting workshops. Though they hadn’t seen each other for a while before shooting the teaser, their chemistry remained intact.
While fans eagerly await the film, Laxamana reminded them that Minamahal aims to showcase more than just kilig
“I really want this film to show Ashtine and Andres’s capabilities as actors so that even if someday the hype around Mutya or their love team fades, people will still see them as serious actors who performed well without relying on popularity,” the director stated.
Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna is set to hit cinemas soon.
Boasting a prime central location for exploring the wonders of Japan’s capital city, the new hotel is just 13 minutes from Haneda Airport and six minutes from both Tokyo and Shinagawa Stations. Its guests can easily indulge in the tranquility of the Shibaura district, known for its picturesque canals and lush gardens, or explore iconic nearby landmarks such as the majestic Zojoji Temple.
I like the brand’s name for its employees. They’re called “Heartists,” a term coined by Accor for all its staff as they deliver heartfelt, “artfullycrafted hospitality,” reflecting a culture where every team member is empowered to connect deeply with guests and with each other.
Fairmont Tokyo’s guests’ enjoyable journey begins in the lobby, where Serene, a charming Labrador Retriever playfully named Chief Happiness Officer, warmly welcomes visitors. Ascending to the 35thfloor lobby, guests are greeted by an expansive space adorned with lush greenery, opening onto breathtaking outdoor terraces, where the serenity of the bay to the east merges with the energy of the metropolis to the west. Of course, the hotel places its culinary excellence at the heart of its
Fairmont debuts in Japan
AIRMONT Hotels and Resorts, part of the global hospitality group Accor, recently announced the opening of Fairmont Tokyo, a history-making moment as the brand enters the Japanese market for the very first time.
a comprehensive free weights section, and two studios. Guests can de-stress in the indoor infinity pool, lounge on the outdoor sundeck beside the relaxation pool, or rejuvenate in the soothing saunas—all with uninterrupted views of the city skyline.
guest offering, with seven distinctive dining and drinking venues that reflect the vibrant food culture of Tokyo—all of them offering breathtaking views of the metropolis. “Kiln & Tonic” on the 35th floor serves wood-fired pizzas, grilled seafood, and vibrant brasserie fare, complemented by an extended outdoor terrace, while “Vue Mer” blends French and Japanese café culture through elegant afternoon teas. Traditional sushi and teppanyaki are available at “Migiwa” and in “Totsuji,” honoring heritage while embracing innovation. “Driftwood” offers Yoshoku cuisine with seasonal ingredients and inventive cocktails. For a more casual yet spirited experience, “Yoi to Yoi” serves elevated Japanese street food with highballs, while “Off Record” offers an intimate escape into Tokyo’s secret listening bar scene. The Spa and Health Club, also on the 35th floor, has top-class wellness offerings, while the 24-hour gym features state-of-the-art Technogym equipment,
Thoughtfully designed by an internationally acclaimed company, the hotel’s interiors serve as a captivating canvas—a harmonious fusion of color, texture, and light— while curated artworks, including those inspired by traditional
weddings. Additional flexible meeting and event spaces are available to suit any group’s needs.
As part of Accor’s unrivaled luxury portfolio, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts continues to inspire with destinations that celebrate culture, heritage, and a celebratory spirit. Fairmont now operates across Asia— Tokyo, Jaipur, Singapore, Jakarta, Makati, Seoul, Mumbai, plus seven properties in China. More information on Fairmont Tokyo may be obtained from reservations. tokyo@fairmont.com.
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.
The hotel’s Chief Happiness Officer, Serene the Labrador, welcomes guests with tail wags and charm
Japanese drummers perform during the grand opening of Fairmont Tokyo to celebrate cultural fusion
The very classy Gold Lounge is exclusively for guests on the VIP floors
Vue Mer at Fairmont Tokyo blends French and Japanese café culture with floor-to-ceiling skyline views
Mercury Rising Bob Zozobrado
Fairmont Tokyo opens its doors in Shibaura, marking the brand’s historic entry into Japan
From left: Director Jason Paul Laxamana joins Ashtine Olviga and Andres Muhlach in introducing their film ‘Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna’
The onscreen tandem of Andres Muhlach (left) and Ashtine Olviga returns, this time in their first full-length film under Viva Films
Ashtine Olviga (left) and Andres Muhlach discuss their unexpected viral success during the film’s teaser launch
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
SM HOTELS and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) has appointed hospitality veteran Rouel P. Guanzon as the new general manager of Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo.
Guanzon brings decades of experience in hotel operations, sales, and brand development, having previously led properties such as The Farm at San Benito, Waterfront Insular Hotel, Hotel Kimberly, Solano Hotel, and Azumi Boutique Hotel. In these roles, he oversaw administration, operations, and service delivery across a variety of market segments.
He also held senior leadership roles in the United States and the Philippines, including stints as director of sales and marketing and director of operations at The Quail Lodge and Golf Club in California, The Peninsula Manila, and Marriott-managed properties such as New World and Renaissance Hotel. His work in sales strategy contributed to strong performance in occupancy and revenue metrics.
In addition to his corporate career, Guanzon is an educator and professor, teaching hospitality, marketing, and business courses at institutions including Enderun Colleges and Southville International Schools and Colleges.
He holds a master’s degree in Hospitality Management from Cornell University and a marketing degree from De La Salle University.
“His extensive experience and proven leadership in the hospitality industry will be invaluable in upholding our commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences and driving continued success for the hotel,” said Peggy Angeles, SMHCC executive vice president.
By Angelica Villanueva
FILINVEST Group marked its 70th anniversary with the launch of “Dream Getaways,” a lifestyle rewards campaign offering 500 free hotel nights worth P4.5 million across its hospitality properties, reflecting the company’s long-standing mission of turning everyday moments into extraordinary memories.
During a media launch held at Crimson Hotel in Alabang, the campaign invited customers to earn raffle entries for a chance to win three-day, two-night vacations in Filinvest hotels and resorts across seven destinations, including Boracay, Cebu, Rizal, Tagaytay, and Pampanga. The promo runs from July 7 to Jan. 31, 2026.
“We’ve built our legacy over seven decades by putting our customers at the heart of everything we do. Dream Getaways is a way to thank them, not just with prizes, but with moments they’ll remember,” said Francis Gotianun, director of Filinvest Development Corporation.
The campaign highlights the breadth of the Filinvest ecosystem, with raffle entries earned from transactions in its residential, hospitality, retail, and banking
By Nickie Wang
SOME trips just hit different when you’re with your people. The kind packed with shared playlists, inside jokes, and conversations that flow without pause. That’s the vibe at Savoy Hotel Boracay. A reset, a reunion, and a reminder of what it feels like to be fully present with people who get you.
Inside Boracay Newcoast and away from the usual crowd, Savoy offers a kind of travel that doesn’t need overthinking. Their Squad Stay and Slay package brings together beach time, bonding, and the convenience of having everything arranged for you.
Stay in a room made for sharing. The space is cozy and colorful, with a relaxed vibe that sets the tone for hours of catching up. Mornings are easy, thanks to the included breakfast. But it’s the activities that will make the trip worth your while.
Helmet diving opens up a whole new world. The banana boat ride brings waves of laughter. The ATV trail gives us that quick rush we didn’t realize we needed. Everything is arranged in advance, so we can just focus on being present. Round-trip airport transfers are part of the package, making the experience smooth from start to finish.
In the afternoon, hang out at Chambery
businesses. Whether it’s a shopping trip at Festival Mall or a personal loan from EastWest, customers can participate by registering receipts or promo codes via the official Dream Getaways website.
Gotianun emphasized that the initiative is not just about tourism but about enriching the customer experience across all touchpoints.
“This is really about rewarding our customers and giving them a chance to come and experience the great hospitality we can offer,” he continued.
In a panel discussion, Gotianun addressed the challenges in Philippine tourism and hospitality, noting the need for stronger private-public collaboration.
“We continue to provide private sector feedback to the government on its various policies—whether that be labor, transportation, or incentives. So we work on all of that,” explained Gotianun.
“There’s also another body called PISA, the Private Sector Advisory Council, which is the main interface with the Office of the President to provide recommendations on what needs to happen for tourism. So if you look back at your views over the past year, you can see that there were a lot
Pool Bar or enjoy a cup of coffee at Vienne Lounge. Head to New Lounge for a nail refresh, or check out Almond Ink for tattoos that carry meaning.
Evenings stay slow and easy. Have dinner at Savoy Café, take short walks to nearby restaurants, and catch golden hour at the Keyhole, where you can take turns snapping photos.
Whether you’re reconnecting with friends, planning a cousins’ trip, or simply looking for quiet time with people who get you, this kind of getaway makes sense. No fuss. Just real fun. Time away from the noise with the right company is always worth it, especially when it comes with ocean air, bare feet, and a space that lets you breathe.
Enjoy all these with rates starting at P12,000 per person for groups of three and P16,000 per person for groups of four.
Savoy Boracay is operated by Megaworld Hotels & Resorts (MHR), a subsidiary of Megaworld Corporation, which is the Philippines’ largest hotel operator with 13 properties, 7 brands, and 8,500 room keys. MHR showcases Filipino hospitality through its signature sampaguita service across its brands, including Savoy (Boracay, Mactan, Pasay), Belmont, Richmonde, Kingsford, Grand Westside, Hotel Lucky Chinatown, and Twin Lakes Hotel. For bookings, visit www.savoyboracay.com.ph.
