Manila Standard - 2025 August 16 - Saturday

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Bulacan infra scam uncovered

By Charles Dantes, Maricel V. Cruz, and Rex Espiritu

PRESIDENT

Ferdinand

"Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., yesterday ordered a full investigation into a Bulacan flood control project after discovering that around 200 meters of the revetment in the River Protection Structure was never built, despite records showing its completion.

The order came even as a lawmaker expressed openness to granting the chief executive emergency powers to address inadequacies in the government’s flood-control program.

"This is clear. The chairman told us, over 200 meters were not built at all. And not only that, the dike has holes. It should be solid, yet the report says it’s completed," Mr. Marcos said in Filipino.

The revelation came during an inspection in Calumpit, where a resident had earlier written to the President to complain about allegedly defective infrastructure, citing poor-quality materials, inadequate soil compaction, and the

TOP police officials and alumni of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) called out the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) for overturning an order issued by PNP chief NIcolas Torre reorganizing some of PNP’s units. The resolution reportedly nulli-

fied a directive involving key assignments within the police force—an act senior officials say blatantly violates the Chief PNP’s statutory powers under relevant laws. Officials warned that bypassing or countermanding such authority without lawful cause is not only

By Ram Superable

THE office of Sen. Robin Padilla on Friday issued an official statement announcing that political officer and former actress Nadia Montenegro was directed to take an immediate leave of absence on August 13.

the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) conducted an investigation, it had already initiated an internal probe regarding media reports implicating Montenegro's alleged marijuana use. On the same day she was asked to take a leave, Montenegro was given five days, or until August 18, to submit

illegal but also corrosive to discipline and morale. Signatories include the PNP regional directors, heads of national support units, more than 1,700 Highway Patrol Group (HPG) officers, the PNPA Alumni Association,

PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) technical divers have spent more than a month searching the bottom of Taal Lake for the bodies of men with links to the dark side of a popular local pastime – online cockfighting.

Whistleblower Julie "Dondon"

Patidongan alleged they were murdered by rogue policemen for rig-

By Rex Espiritu

THE Philippine government has renewed its call for China to pay for damages over the June 17, 2024 Ayungin Shoal incident, where China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel

ging matches at the height of the country's pandemic-era craze for betting on live-streamed cockfights, or "e-sabong."

The disappearances led then-president Rodrigo Duterte to announce a total ban, but three years later, the esabong industry is still thriving.

allegedly impaired Philippine property and unlawfully seized military equipment and personal belongings. Meanwhile, The Heritage Foundation, a prominent American think tank and lead organization for Project 2025,

By Alena Mae S. Flores

EYEBALLING. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Transportation

Secretary Vince Lopez inspect a dike along Pampanga River in Brgy. Bulusan, Calumpit, Bulacan on August 15, 2025. Joining them are Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando and Brgy. Bulusan

Danilo Marin. PPA Pool

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16,

PhilHealth...

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blood pressure, heart diseases, and nervous system disorders.

GAMOT is part of the larger PhilHealth Yaman ng Kalusugan Program para mailayo sa sakit ang bawat Pilipino or YAKAP initiative,

“Based on our data, one of the biggest out-of-pocket expenses of our fellow Filipinos is for what we call medical goods… In other words, medicines and medical supplies that we spend on after being discharged from the hospital,” PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado said.

The GAMOT package expands on the initial 21 free medicines under the Konsulta benefits package with an additional 54, and will take effect on Aug. 21.

The entire list of free medicines can be found in this PhilHealth circular https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/ circulars/2025/PC2025-0013.pdf.

To avail of the new GAMOT package, register as a beneficiary of the PhilHealth’s YAKAP program.

The registration can be done through the eGovPH app, the PhilHealth member online portal, at PhilHealth offices, or through other channels.

Beneficiaries must then get a prescription from a YAKAP or PhilHealth-accredited physician before they can avail of the free medicines at any GAMOT facility.

Any government-issued ID and the doctor’s prescription must be presented at the clinic.

Mercado said there are 4,300 GAMOT partner clinics where PhilHealth members may avail of the new benefit. For those in Metro Manila, they may also avail of the new benefit in GAMOT partner pharmacies.

Mercado explained that the GAMOT pharmacies are only available in Metro Manila, but more will be added in the coming days. PH... From A1

Gasoline...

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her written explanation regarding the said articles "to provide her the opportunity to address and clarify the matters raised therein."

Upon receipt of the incident report from the OSAA on August 14, she was likewise given five days, or until August 19, to submit her explanation in response to said report.

"The Office shall take the appropriate action upon review and evaluation of her submissions," read the statement issued by Padilla's office.

Senate Minority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III earlier urged the chamber to reinstate random drug testing among its employees following the Montenegro investigation.

Sotto said the OSAA previously conducted surprise tests across all offices during his term as Senate president in the 18th Congress.

"Random drug taking was undertaken by the OSAA in all offices, including theirs often. When I was gone, they removed it," Sotto said.

According to him, more than 300 employees and several senators voluntarily took part in the tests during his leadership, all yielding negative results.

Bulacan...

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failure to remove water hyacinths clogging waterways.

To verify the complaints, the President deployed scuba divers to examine the structures. They found that thick silt had buried the walls beneath the concrete slope protection, hiding any sheet piles that should have been in place.

Upon probing, divers discovered that the beam was no longer connected to any sheet pile support and that a visible gap existed between the two, a flaw that should not occur if the structure had been built to ensure durability.

Mr. Marcos also cited other serious lapses, including improperly placed steel reinforcements, uneven and thin concrete work, and water seeping underneath the structure.

Photographs and eyewitness accounts, he noted, contradicted official completion records.

The President questioned project documents, claiming that desiltation had been carried out, despite the riverbed being shallow and clogged with debris.

E-sabong...

In Bulacan, cockfighting enthusiasts, or "sabungeros," cracked grim jokes about their missing compatriots.

Inside the "tarian," a crowded room where blades are attached to each bird's leg, sabungero Marcelo Parang insisted the murders had nothing to do with the legal cockfighting world.

"We don't know if (the men killed) did something bad," said the 60-year-old.

"We're not scared... In here, we're peaceful. In here, the matches are held fairly," he said of the deadly contests.

Outside, the crowd in the 800-seat arena roared as another bout ended with the losing rooster unceremoniously dumped in an empty paint bucket.

'Drowning in debt'

Cockpits like the one in Bulacan were once a second home for Ray Gibraltar, who grew up in a family of cockfight enthusiasts.

One of his uncles was a gamecock breeder.

When the fights moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic, the former director-turned-painter began wagering on them as well.

But the easy access, anonymity of the online world, and sheer volume

PNPA...

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urged the Philippines to strengthen its defense posture and capabilities in light of recent Chinese aggression at Bajo de Masinloc.

In another development, the proposed 2026 national budget allocates ₱430.87 billion to the defense sector, up nearly 14 percent from this year’s ₱378.89 billion, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced.

In a statement released Friday through Malacañang, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said the country "reiterates its demand to China for compensation for the damage caused to Philippine vessels and equipment... as well as the return of its firearms and equipment, and the personal effects of its personnel that were

He said the project, linked to a private contractor, will be subjected to a full review to determine how public funds were spent and why construction failed to meet specifications.

"Now that we know, we will trace where these programs came from, where the funds went, and why this happened," he said, adding that whistleblower reports submitted through government platforms were instrumental in uncovering the alleged irregularities.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro launched its own investigation into local flood control projects—including seawalls and dikes—amid concerns over substandard construction.

The province experienced severe flooding last month due to the southwest monsoon (Habagat).

While casualties were minimized thanks to these projects, the force of the flood in Naujan damaged a newly built road dike, eroding a 100-meter stretch.

As this developed, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan called on the President to spearhead a bold, comprehensive, and enduring national flood control and mitigation program to confront the worsening inundations

of betting sites can lead to e-sabong addiction, and within a year, Gibraltar was winning and losing upwards of P850,000 a day.

"I wasn't eating. I was just drinking coffee and smoking... I had no sleep," he said of a three-day session.

"In terms of money that I lost on e-sabong... I could have bought a house and car," he said, adding he "borrowed money from everyone."

Before checking into rehab, he wagered the last 300 pesos in his ewallet.

The story is a familiar one for Reagan Praferosa, founder of Recovering Gamblers of the Philippines, who says few clients show up before hitting rock bottom.

"They won't call us if they still have money," he said.

His first e-sabong addicts began arriving in 2020. Since then, about 30 percent of his caseload has revolved around the livestreamed fights.

"(At arenas) you had to go somewhere to cash out. Now... it's connected to an e-wallet," he explained, adding other forms of gambling were now taking their cues from e-sabong.

"Most of the sites have replicated their platforms."

Jay, a graphic artist, still logs onto an illegal website every time he gets his paycheck.

The 24-year-old, who asked to

the Association of Police Officers via Lateral Entry (APOLE) Inc., and the PNPA Patnubay Class of 1995. They reaffirmed their “full, firm, and unwavering support” for Torre. They emphasized that they are safeguarding the integrity of the office he holds, defending institutional stability, and shielding the organization from potential destabilizing actions.

In a unified statement, the Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association, Incorporated (PNPAAAI)—composed of active and retired officers from the PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)—praised Torre’s leadership.

“His leadership is marked not only by authority, but by example—principled, compassionate, and devoted to the welfare of the men and women in uniform and the Filipino people,” the PNPAAAI declared.

In their own manifesto, regional directors from all police regions and chiefs of national support units vowed to “uphold the chain of command, respect the single line of authority, and obey all lawful orders” of the Chief PNP.

They credited Torre’s vision for enhancing the PNP’s capabilities, promoting service with speed, and empowering personnel toward a stronger, more responsive police organization.

The PNP leaders stressed their position is rooted in defending the institution, not just Torre. “This is about protecting the integrity of the position, preserving the rule of law, and sustaining the trust of the Filipino people,” one senior official said.

illegally seized on that date.”

To recall, the confrontation involved CCG personnel obstructing a humanitarian rotation and resupply mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.

The incident left several personnel injured, including a Philippine Navy trooper who lost a finger.

The renewed demand comes shortly after a recent maritime collision between two Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), which Beijing has blamed on Manila, but strongly denied by the Philippine government.

The AFP earlier announced its intention to demand ₱60 million in compensation from China for damages sustained during the operation. Beijing has previously rejected similar demands.

In a press briefing last year, the Chi-

in Metro Manila and across the country.

“The President still has three years left in his term — enough time to lay the groundwork for a program that could stand as one of his most lasting legacies,” the 4Ps party-list solon said in a statement on Friday. Libanan explained that Congress could grant the President special emergency powers to overcome bureaucratic delays and legal obstacles, enabling faster procurement, right-of-way acquisition, and relocation of affected families.

He said these emergency powers could include: the authority to fast-track the procurement of flood control equipment and materials; to order the immediate relocation and compensation for displaced families; and to realign certain budget items to fund urgent flood mitigation measures.

The lawmaker also welcomed the recent offer of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) president and CEO Ramon Ang to help solve Metro Manila’s flooding problem at no cost to the government or the public.

He added that the President could even consider tapping Mr. Ang as one of his consultants for the proposed na-

use a pseudonym as he fears his family's judgement, showed how wagers for as little as 10 pesos (about 18 cents) could be placed on two roosters shown on his phone.

Authorities estimate bettors like Jay are fuelling an industry that generates millions of dollars in revenue each week.

"It's not the money I'm after, it's the thrill," he explained of an addiction he says he is trying to control.

"It's easier to chase that in (e-sabong) because it's available on my cellphone."

While gambling for relatively low stakes, Jay has found himself forced to make excuses after losing the money meant for his younger brother's school supplies.

'An uphill battle'

Since the e-sabong ban was initiated, the country's telecoms commission has blocked more than 6,800 e-sabong websites, Police Brigadier General Bernard Yang told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

But the use of VPNs makes pinpointing the streams' true origins nearly impossible.

Asked for examples of IP traces that had led to raids, he pointed to a successful operation in the central Philippines' Cebu province—though it had taken place years earlier.

While conceding that current pen-

Gasoline... From A1

This is based on the first four days of trading in the world oil market this week versus last week’s full week average and the movement of the peso versus the US dollar.

Department of Energy director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau Rodela Romero said among the factors that could affect the estimated price adjustments next week include easing trade tensions between US and China and weaker global demand outlook by the US Energy Information Administration.

“MOPS [Mean of Platts Singapore] prices have see-sawed during the first four trading days of the week, with diesel declining as demand appeared to be slowing down amid rising product availability, while gasoline remaining strong as the seasonal summer demand continue to rise,” Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said. He said crude oil prices have weakened this week on the prospect of easing of sanctions on Russia should a ceasefire or peace deal happen during the meeting

tional flood control program, to take full advantage of his expertise, resources, and practical solutions.

“If the President acts decisively now, flood control can become a flagship initiative of his administration,” Libanan said.

“Even if massive infrastructure works cannot be completed within three years, the blueprint and initial projects can be put in place for future administrations to finish,” he added.

Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor criticized the quality of the structures despite their multi-million-peso cost.

“The concrete is thinner than a dining plate. How can it stand up against the raging waters? This project is worth P250 million; it’s horrifying, he said in Filipino.

The projects were implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa.

However, DPWH officials said the flood control systems remain incomplete due to limited funding.

DPWH MIMAROPA Regional Director Engr. Gerald Pacanan said he would assemble a fact-finding team to investigate the damaged dike.

alties—with fines as low as 1,000 pesos ($17)—provide little deterrent, Yang insisted the problem was simply "not so grave anymore."

But Senator Erwin Tulfo on Friday told Congress e-sabong remained a menace as he pushed the country's central bank for action against a range of online gambling sites.

Hours later, the monetary authority issued a directive that e-wallet firms remove their links to illegal websites within 48 hours.

Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano, who told AFP the situation remains "very alarming," has authored an anti-online cockfighting and gambling bill that would dramatically increase fines and jail terms.

"In every community, you can see children who know how to (bet on) e-sabong. That's what was worrying me," he said.

"This might be a lonely battle, but we will keep on fighting."

The fight could be lonely indeed.

A day after the new session of Congress began, a photograph, verified by AFP, began circulating in local media.

The image was of a congressman staring at his smartphone during the vote for House Speaker. He was watching a cockfight. With AFP

between US President Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin.

“Bearish inventory and supply data, and worries of declining demand have also weighed on prices, with US crude and diesel inventories rising more than expected,” Bellas said.

“On the other hand, easing trade war concerns after the US and China extended a pause on higher tariffs, and demand optimism spurred by the prospect of a potential US interest rate cut in September, have put a floor on oil prices,” he said.

He said uncertainty of the US-Russia peace talks that could affect Russian oil exports continues to add a bullish risk premium, given that Russia and buyers of Russian oil could face more economic pressure should a deal does not happen. On Aug. 12, 2025, most of the oil companies implemented a price decrease of P0.40 per liter for gasoline, P1 to P1.50 per liter for diesel and P1 to P1.30 per liter for kerosene. Year-to-date total net increase remains at P10.80 per liter for gasoline and P12.75 per liter for diesel. Kerosene stands with total net

nese Foreign Ministry dismissed the AFP’s compensation request, made before the signing of a temporary arrangement concerning Ayungin Shoal. Speaking at a Stratbase Institute roundtable discussion dubbed “Prospects for the Philippines–United States Alliance in a Complex Geopolitical Landscape”, Heritage Foundation senior policy advisor for defense budgeting and NATO Policy expert Wilson Beaver stressed that Washington’s priority is for allies like the Philippines to build self-defense capacity, regardless of the source of their military equipment.

“We don't have a strong preference for whether the Philippines buys American, Japanese, or Korean equipment. We just want the Philippines to have more military capabilities to defend itself so that there's more we can both do for each other in the region,” Beaver said.

He added that such investments should also generate socio-economic benefits, including job creation through industries like shipbuilding and defense manufacturing.

Beaver noted that the Philippines and Taiwan were the only nations exempted from a recent U.S. foreign military assistance review, underscoring Washington’s commitment to regional security. “This shows the current administration is taking this region extremely seriously and prioritizing our relations with our closest friends in the region,” he said.

Robert Peters, senior research fellow for Strategic Deterrence at The Heritage Foundation, highlighted the importance of public awareness in driving defense modernization.

“If you don't have that popular support, you are simply not going to get the political direction that you need to get those capabilities,” Peters said.

“The goal is not to fight a war with China, the goal is to deter them from taking out aggressive actions against sovereign nations within the theatre,” he added.

Stratbase Institute president Victor Andres Manhit underscored that the U.S.–Philippines alliance remains a cornerstone of regional stability and a model for nations upholding the rule of law. “As both nations invest in each other, their partnership grows stronger, more agile, and more meaningful,” Manhit said.

Beaver and Peters are visiting the Philippines as part of a two-week tour across Asia to meet with U.S. allies, assess security concerns, and identify priority capabilities and resources. Their findings will be included in a forthcoming report aimed at strengthening U.S. relations with the Philippines and enhancing regional security.

SC maintains Senate power to probe POGOs

By Pot Chavez

THE Supreme Court (SC) on Friday affirmed the validity of a subpoena issued by the Senate against ousted Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo to testify in its inquiry into illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities in the town.

Last year, the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, held public hearings to investigate POGO operations in the country.

In an en banc decision penned by Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao, the High Tribunal dismissed Guo’s petition asking the SC to prohibit the Senate panel from inviting her as a resource person.

The Senate hearings followed the Constitution and the Senate Rules of Procedure, the SC resolution stated, adding that Guo’s rights were not violated.

The SC also ruled that the inquiry was a legitimate exercise of legislative power that aims to protect public interest.

The SC cited Article VI, Section 21 of the Constitution which provides that the Senate and its committees can conduct inquiries in aid of legislation such that the Hontiveros’ committee was within its authority to conduct the probe.

It clarified, however, that the purpose of a legislative inquiry is not to find guilt of the respondents, but to ensure effective legislation.

ENSURING ROAD SAFETY.

Operatives of the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation conduct random inspection of mass transport systems along Quezon Ave., resulting in numerous apprehensions and citations for traffic law violations, including expired registrations, worn-out tires, and other infractions. Edd Castro

PAOCC warns vs. abusive lenders

By Charles Dantes

THE Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has advised the public to be cautious when seeking emergency loans, warning against predatory lenders that impose excessive interest rates, engages in harassment, and set unclear terms.

In a video advisory on Thursday, PAOCC executive director Gilberto Cruz said people in urgent need of cash should first approach government agencies such as the Pag-IBIG Fund, the Social Security

System (SSS), and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) which offer calamity loans with low interest rates and transparent conditions.

“Even though there is a process and a

OF RECONCILIATION.

bit of waiting, the interest is low and the terms are clear. You can also approach banks and cooperatives for renovation and legal loans,” Cruz said.

He also recommended transacting with banks and cooperatives for legitimate and regulated loans.

If using online lending platforms, Cruz advised borrowers to verify if the company is registered, if charges are clearly stated, and has a good reputation.

Cruz cautioned against accepting loans without written contracts, or those with un-

Don’t forget devastations of the war—Japanese envoy

THE Japanese ambassador to Manila on Friday underscored the importance of remembering the devastations of war and the high value of peace, even as he ensured that the memories of the armed conflicts were not forgotten and that the legacy of the past is passed on to the next generations.

clear provisions and excessive penalties.

“In times of need, the right loan should be a solution, not a burden,” he said, urging the public to carefully assess repayment capability before borrowing.

The PAOCC chief also vowed that they would continue supporting safe and legal lending practices to help borrowers recover from financial difficulties without falling victim to abusive schemes. Cruz also reaffirmed PAOCC’s commitment to ending the abuse of online lending applications that harass, threaten, and exploit borrowers.

IN BRIEF

BOC, PDEA reaffirm vows to enhance border security

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing border security through better information sharing, system integration, and coordinated efforts to combat the smuggling of illegal drugs and controlled substances. Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the collaboration echoed President. Marcos’ directive to strengthen enforcement through digitalized processes, closer inter-agency collaboration, and enhanced scanning technology to safeguard the country’s borders. Nepomuceno along with Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Group Nolasco Bathan and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Thomas Narcise, and PDEA officials, discussed in a meeting the concrete measures to ensure the authenticity of import permits, streamline enforcement procedures, and address operational challenges in real time.

Both agencies also addressed operational priorities, including timely turnover of seized substances, improved inter-agency verification, and updating their accord to incorporate new protocols and close gaps that could be exploited by illegal importers. Vito Barcelo

DSWD justifies halt order against child care facility

Some 250 people from Japan-related groups, Japanese descendants, members of the Japan War-Bereaved Association, delegates from the Philippines government and other sectors attended this year’s ceremony.

Ambassador Endo Kazuya issued the statement in his remarks at the commemorative rites for Japan’s war heroes held at the Japanese Memorial Garden in Caliraya, Laguna. The envoy also reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthen friendly relations between Japan and the Philippines.

The event opened with the singing of the national anthems of Japan and the Philippines by the Japanese Association Manila Choir, followed by a moment of silence in memory of those who perished in the war.

Part of Chinese rocket found off Mindoro Is.

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday, Aug. 14, retrieved a floating rocket debris, bearing markings of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) off Sitio Gunting, Barangay Bonbon, Looc, Occidental Mindoro. The retrieval came after a local villager reported to the police that he found a floating metal debris while fishing about one mile off Bonbon.

The police subsequently relayed the information to the PCG which in turn coordinated with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for the retrieval operation.

The PCG theorized that the metal object came from the Long March 7A rocket launched by China between July 15 to 17, 2025.

The reading of memorial messages followed suit.

The memorial messages were delivered by Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In addition, memorial addresses were presented by Eiji Morikawa, secretary general of the Japan War-Bereaved Association, and Kazunori Okamoto, president of the Japanese Association Manila, representing the Japanese community in the Philippines.

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has justified its cease and desist order (CDO) against a child care facility based in Mexico, Pampanga, saying it was in keeping with its official duty to protect and promote social welfare and development.

DSWD assistant secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao issued the statement in defense of the CDO issued against the New Life Baptist Church for alleged child abuse violations, unsafe work environment, and lack of registration certificate, license to operate, and failure to adhere to accreditation standards.

Dumlao said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian issued the 30-day CDO on Wednesday, Aug. 13, amid mounting complaints against the facility.

The complaints also involved alleged physical, verbal, and psychological abuse, presence of fire hazards, mismanagement of funds, and improper case management, Dumlao said. Maricel V. Cruz

Manila ready to host 44th ASEAN Summit next year

THE city government of Manila is ready to showcase a resilient and inclusive atmosphere as it hosts 44th ASEAN Summit next year.

Vice Mayor Chi Atienza emphasized Manila’s commitment to the “three-fold tenets of building a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative city.”

“The ASEAN vision for a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred community is not just a slogan for us, it is a commitment that we are living out in our cities,” Atienza said.

The city council’s presiding officer spoke during the closing of the five-day ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF). Pot Chavez

SYMBOL

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya leads the annual memorial services for the war dead at the Japanese Memorial Garden in Caliraya, Cavinti, Laguna.

Online vetting process starts for new Ombudsman—JBC

By Pot Chavez

THE Judicial and Bar Council on Friday launched an online survey for the 17 applicants for the position of Ombudsman.

In a social media post, the JBC said it wants to hear inputs from the public.

“We welcome your thoughts, concerns, or comments about the applicants for the position of Ombudsman,” the JBC said.

The public is advised to click “https:// jbc.judiciary.gov.ph/jbc-survey/” and take the survey before 4:30 p.m. of Aug. 26.

The 17 applicants are as follows:

Aug. 13 deadline for BARMM pols to register online campaign

sites

THE Commission on Elections has extended until early next week the registration of online campaign platforms by candidates and political parties participating in the Oct. 13 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE).

The poll body said it moved the deadline from Aug. 13 to Aug. 18.

“The online campaign platform registration in relation to the 2025 BPE is extended to Aug. 18, including weekends and holidays,” it said.

The Comelec added that online registration is open for 24 hours until 11:59 pm. on Aug. 18.

On the other hand, the transmission of hard copies to the Task Force KKK sa Halalan will be open from Mondays to Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., until Monday.

The Commission has directed all official social media accounts and pages, websites, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, and other online and internetbased campaign platforms of candidates and parties in the forthcoming BPE to register with them. Comelec data showed there are around 100 candidates for district representatives and seven participating Regional Parliamentary Political Parties (RPPPs) for the October polls.

Vaping

By Joel E. Zurbano

• Michael Aguinaldo – former chairman, Commission on Audit

• Romeo Benitez – Undersecretary, Department of Interior and Local Government

• Jonie Caroche-Vestido – lawyer, JVC Law Office

• Bautista Corpin Jr. – Associate Justice, Court of Appeals (CA)

• Stephen Cruz – retired Associate Justice, CA

• Geraldine Faith Econg – Presiding Justice, Sandiganbayan

• Beda Epres – Commissioner, Commission on Human Rights (CHR)

• Samuel Gaerlan – Associate Justice, Supreme Court

• Kim Jacinto-Henares – former Commissioner, Bureau of Internal Revenue

• Anna Liza Logan – Deputy Executive Secretary, Office of the President

• Mario Lopez – retired Associate Justice, Supreme Court

• Melvin Matibag – secretary-general, PDP-Laban

• Michael Frederick Musngi – Associate Justice, Sandiganbayan

• Jesus Crispin Remulla – Secretary, Department of Justice

• Felix Reyes – chairman, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office

• Jason Rodenas – Presiding Judge, Municipal Trial Court (Daraga, Albay)

• Benjamin Turgano – retired judge, Regional Trial Court

The JBC, a constitutional body, screens applicants to the judiciary and to bodies like the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman post became vacant after former Ombudsman Samuel Martires’ seven-year term ended on July 27.

URBAN MARKET. Elderly customers buy fresh pork meat and pork by-products at the Kadiwa store of the Bureau of Animal Industry in Diliman, Quezon City. Selling price per kilo is between P360 and P450, depending on the parts. Ben Briones

IN BRIEF

Cayetano lauds PNP for two buy-bust ops

MAYOR Lani Cayetano issued a stern warning to all criminals that illegal drugs and illegal gambling will not be tolerated in Taguig as she praised the Philippine National Police for two consecutive buy-bust operations that netted nearly P3 million worth of suspected shabu in less than a week.

On August 12, 2025, operatives of the Southern Police District–Drug Enforcement Unit (SPD–DDEU), in coordination with Taguig City Police Sub-Station 6, arrested four high-value individuals in a buybust in Brgy. South Signal. The suspects were found with approximately 250 grams of suspected shabu worth P1.7 million, along with buy-bust money, a red Mazda 2, and other paraphernalia.

Just four days earlier, on August 8, 2025, police in Brgy. Lower Bicutan confiscated P1.36 million worth of suspected shabu from three other high-value suspects.

Comelec to assess BSKE date falling on Nov. 2

THE Commission on Elections will assess whether the scheduled date for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), which falls on November 2, 2026 – All Souls Day -- will affect voter turnout.

The poll body admitted that they cannot do anything about the date set by law for the election, even if it falls on All Souls Day, but the number of voters may be affected because most will be more busy attending to their lost loved ones.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act No. 12232, which postpones the December 2025 BSKE to the first Monday of November 2026. Meanwhile, Comelec chairman George Garcia said preparations for the BSKE will continue despite the postponement.

Vito Barcelo

PCSO backs medical mission in Calamba

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) participated in a medical and dental mission program organized by the Unified Senior Citizens of Calamba on August 8, 2025, at the Jose Rizal Coliseum.

Led by Dr. Rouel Aparato and the entire PCSO Medical and Dental Mission Team, several senior citizens availed of free medical consultations, dental check-ups and extractions, and electrocardiogram (ECG) services. The PCSO also distributed free medicines and vitamins to the patients in attendance.

Unified Senior Citizens President Winston Malabanan expressed his gratitude to the PCSO for prioritizing the welfare of the elderly, noting that the needs of senior citizens should always be given the attention they deserve.

DENR seeks social inclusion, integration of informal waste workers

By Rio N. Araja

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources wants the integration of informal waste workers in the solid waste management chain.

“The informal waste workers remain excluded from the solid waste management value chain, yet their work is in-

dispensable and forms the very backbone of a supply chain that advances environmental sustainability,” Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.

“Faced with the growing weight of plastic pollution, we must build stronger partnerships that turn our environmental goals into tangible results that benefit all sectors, protect all ecosystems, and uplift all communities,” he added. The agency’s Environmental Management Bureau is now undertaking activities to formally integrate the sector in the country’s solid waste management through strengthened policy support and targeted training programs to promote social inclusion and provide them with alternative livelihood.

This year, the DENR-EMB will provide grants for weighing scales to 50 junk shops in Quezon City to support waste recovery and recycling, connect workers to larger markets and enterprises where they can support enterprises under The Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 or Republic Act 11898.

THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Friday warned against smoking and vaping during air travel following incidents reported by airlines.

CAAP said that smoking or vaping in flight not only disrupts operations but also poses serious fire hazards in a confined, pressurized environment, where even minor incidents can escalate rapidly. The agency urged all passengers to follow cabin crew instructions, pay close attention to in-flight safety demonstrations, and always observe the “No Smoking” signs. Any violation

(AVSEGroup) for prompt action.

AirAsia Philippines earlier issued a strong reminder to air travelers that vaping and smoking are strictly prohibited onboard all its flights. Violations may result in penalties or other consequences as outlined in the airline’s regulations. Since January, AirAsia’s Security Department has recorded 10 incidents of passengers vaping during flights, either inside lavatories or openly in their seats, despite numerous public announcements. AirAsia reminded

READY FOR HARVEST.

A fisherman checks on his fish cages at Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo City, Laguna. Revoli Cortez

DANGLING DANGEROUSLY.

Meralco linemen do their best to repair tangled cables, also known as ‘spaghetti wires,’ at the corner of Taft and UN Avenue in Manila. Norman Cruz

OPINION

Hushed tones

MANY years ago, somebody I know made the painful decision to terminate a pregnancy because life was difficult and she did not want to have any more children. At that time, her husband, a construction worker, was jobless. She herself was a stay-at-home mother, with two older children to care for. Neither she nor her husband finished their studies. They were barely making ends meet and had to rely on loans from relatives to get by. Any income was not enough to cover their debts and their day-to-day concerns. She took something and then bled -so profusely that she had to be taken to the hospital. It did not help that she was, from the beginning, already so thin and was not able to get proper nourishment. Another acquaintance did the same, under different circumstances and for different reasons. She had just returned to her hometown to work after graduating from university. She was the first in the family to finish college. Her parents had low-paying jobs and she had three younger siblings to support. It was clear at the outset that she was expected to assume responsibility for the family. She had not yet given thought to whether she wanted to have children eventually. Certainly, she did not want to have children at that time. Fortunately for her, she did not encounter problems as a result of her abortion.

These stories came to mind as I saw the movie Sunshine, which, in deliberate irony, tackles the grim and dark reality of abortion in the Philippines. Sunshine is a college student and a gymnast, with her sights set on the Olympics. She lives with her older sister and younger brother in a cramped home in Manila. The parents are not in the picture. The older sister has a baby but no husband is in sight, so Sunshine and her brother are sometimes asked to help care for the baby.

Sunshine’s boyfriend is from a well off family, the son of a pastor. When she tells him the news, the boy immediately admonishes her to get rid of the baby. He says his father, given his moral ascendancy, must not know about the pregnancy. Sunshine asks him for money and decides to abort: it is a crucial time in her sporting journey and the pregnancy would throw her off-track.

She goes to Quiapo – first to pray, and then to inquire about abortifacients sold alongside religious statues. Once the abortion is performed, Sunshine finds herself in excruciating pain, and lands in the hospital where she gets a good scolding from a moralist doctor.

I will not disclose anything more, except that the beautifully-shot and -acted film succeeds by simply bringing up a topic that is either not talked about at all or is discussed simplistically. ***

First, some basics. The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country, and the faith says that abortion is a mortal sin. Abortion is also illegal. Article II, Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution says that the State “shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.” There are also provisions in the Revised Penal Code (Articles 256-259), that tackle intentional and unintentional abortion, abortion practiced by the woman herself or her parents, and abortion practiced by a physician or midwife, and dispensing of abortives

Let’s keep talking — without fear, judgment, or prejudice

There are numerous situations that push women to contemplate getting an abortion. The women I knew did it out of poverty and ambition. Many others succumb to societal pressure, while some are survivors of rape or incest. Others go through it for medical reasons. Some simply do not want to bring another life into the world.

As we know too well, despite the religious and legal prohibitions, abortion is happening anyway. We cannot close our eyes and pretend otherwise. We cannot, just because the issue is uncomfortable or awkward, dissociate ourselves from the reality of abortions and the scar it leaves on women and on society. Imagine the harrowing state of mind of those who feel they’ve been pushed against the wall and left with little choice.

But since abortions are taking place underground, the system that usually protects women needing medical attention is absent. In its place are dangerous, unregulated substitutes that create problems. In the meantime, people are quick to judge.

The issue used to be talked about in whispers. Indeed we have a long way to go before we can find a way to navigate this morally murky area. At the very least, conversations are taking place. We just need to keep talking – without fear, judgment, or prejudice. a dellechua@gmail.com

The Month of Languages, not the Month of Language

By Aurelio Solver Agcaoili

(Editor’s Note: This piece is a leaf in the country’s celebration of Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa [Tagalog for ‘National Language Month’], simply known as Buwan ng Wika (‘Language Month’) and formerly and still referred to as Linggo ng Wika [‘Language Week’], a monthlong annual observance in the Philippines held every August to promote the national language, Filipino. This space presents the views of linguists and other scholars. Their views do not necessarily reflect that of the Manila Standard. An Ilokano version is online.)

THE case of Buwan ng Wika, a celebration that honors only one indigenous language of the Philippines, highlights a significant challenge in the country. It presents a series of contradictions. With more than 170 languages spoken across various communities, celebrating one language while ignoring others can lead to a harmful sense of entitlement and privilege. The phraseology is false as it is grounded on a wrong meaning.

The more informed intellectuals and cultural workers have proposed that this phrase would need to be recast and allow for the celebration of all the other Philippine languages. Buwan ng Wika would need to be Buwan ng Mga Wika, the Month of Languages.

If a country grants entitlement to only one language at the expense of others, the remaining languages will gradually die out, with their extinction being both systematic and systemic.

Celebrating one language while ignoring others can lead to a harmful sense of entitlement and privilege

Ethnologue of 2022 reports that out of 175 languages in the country, 35 are endangered, 31 threatened, 4 shifting, 11 on the verge of extinction, and 2 already extinct.

The current policy and practice of allowing indigenous languages to flourish is ineffective.

The law that improved basic education in the Philippines by including 27 indigenous languages in the first three years of schooling is no longer in effect. Reintroducing only two languages will reshape how our young learners see themselves, others, and the world. Many of these learners do not speak English or

This is an AI-generated cartoon with the prompt: Generate a political cartoon in horizontal format in pen and ink format with swatches of colored matches. The scene is that of a graduation march. There is a stream of young, shining, joyful graduates wearing their togas and waving their diplomas. They are looking up while walking across a graduation stage, but they are walking towards the edge of a cliff. The bottom of the cliff is dark and deep and labeled ‘massive unemployment.’

Plastic pollution pandemonium

THE toss-up at the United Nations talks, which began on Aug. 5, on a global plastics treaty in Geneva ended Friday without an agreement.

This means there is no legally binding treaty to address plastic pollution, which happens when plastic waste accumulates in the environment, harming ecosystems and living things.

The failure to reach a global agreement on plastic pollution, in the eyes of many, is a significant setback, but it does not mean the fight is over.

A multi-pronged approach involving governments, businesses, and citizens will be needed to address the plastic crisis, which underlines the indispensability of continued pressure and advocacy to ensure the issue of plastic pollution remains a priority and that effective solutions are implemented.

This is essentially the accumulation of plastic debris, like bottles, bags, and microplastics, in places where they should not be, causing problems for wildlife, habitats, and even human health.

Experts say this leaves the world without a unified framework to tackle the escalating plastic crisis, and further action will depend on continued efforts from individual nations, international organizations, and non-governmental groups.

Negotiators from 185 countries went through the night Thursday, the dead-

Tagalog as their native Filipino language.

The phenomenon of two unfamiliar languages being imposed by the state’s educational system to equip most of our youth with the ability to think critically and understand the world repeats the same old mistakes the country has made since that deception occurred in 1935.

That was the same time that the sense of national language took its roots in European fascism, when so many other new nations born of the collapse of empires and kingdoms insisted on one and only one language as the vehicle for unity, progress, and dreamed-of good life.

Our perception of ourselves, others, and the universe is shaped by the language we are born into. We understand life’s offerings, uncertainties, and changes because of that first

line, to try and find common ground between nations wanting bold action like curbing plastic production, and oilproducing states that wanted any treaty to focus more narrowly on waste management.

This means there is no legally binding treaty to address plastic pollution

After a talks session held behind closed doors broke up, countries gathered in the UN Palais des Nations’ main assembly hall to reflect on the impasse and consider where they go from there.

“We will not have a treaty to end plastic pollution here in Geneva,” Norway’s negotiator said as country representatives took the floor following talks that went through the night.

“We have missed a historic opportunity but we have to keep going and act urgently. The planet and present and future generations need this treaty,” said Cuba, as quoted byAgence France-Presse..

language. Multiple studies have shown that children learn more effectively when their first language is recognized in the learning process, which is achieved through the use of the language they know best— the language of their communities, ancestors, memories, and aspirations.

There is something inspirational about that “buwan ng wika,” but it excludes. There is memory in that phrase, but it does not include the memory of others.

There is always an ancestor in another language, but it is not the ancestor of the one claiming his language, the one passed down from generation to generation.

There is only severance, the ultimate disruption of life. For language is life, and no less.

What happens now?

Without a treaty, there are no globally agreed upon targets or regulations for reducing plastic production, phasing out harmful chemicals, or managing plastic waste.

The lack of a treaty likely means a continuation of the current trajectory of increasing plastic pollution, with potential tripling of plastic pollution by 2060, according to the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Many are saying this continued pollution will further harm ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.

But there are those who raise hope on the possibility of further negotiations, either within the existing UN framework or through other avenues, to revisit the treaty text and find common ground.

Instance, individual countries or groups of countries might pursue their own legally binding or voluntary agreements to address plastic pollution, potentially serving as models for future global efforts

Companies may also face greater pressure to adopt more sustainable practices, reduce plastic use, and invest in recycling infrastructure.

At the same time, continued advocacy is encouraged from environmental organizations, scientists, and citizens will be crucial in pushing for greater action and accountability.

And so, we now need to imagine a Buwan ng mga Wika as “month of Filipino languages like Filipino Tagalog, Filipino Hiligaynon, Filipino Manuvu, Filipino Tausug, Filipino Kalinga, Filipino Maranao, Filipino Surigaonon, and others.”

For this is the reality on the ground: each of these languages is a Filipino language, too.

(Dr. Agcaoili, chair of the Department of Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures, University of Hawaii at Manoa, is president of the NAKEM Conferences that for 20 years has advocated for language justice, cultural democracy, and emancipatory education. He was awarded the United States Fulbright Scholarship to study the case of mother language education in the Philippines in 2022.)

Spain suffers 3rd wildfire death, as Greece beats back flames

MADRID – Spain on Thursday mourned its third wildfire death this week and Greece began beating back a blaze threatening its third-largest city as an unrelenting heatwave stoked tinderbox conditions in southern Europe.

The extreme summer heat, which scientists say human-driven climate change is lengthening and intensifying, has fueled blazes and stretched firefighters across the region, including Portugal and the Balkans.

The fires have particularly scorched Spain, devouring over 157,000 hectares (388,000 acres) this year -- more than triple the area burned during the same period in 2024. Spanish authorities said one person battling flames in the northwestern Castile and Leon region had died, taking the toll to three after earlier reporting fatalities there and near Madrid this week. Climate change is fueling larger, more intense wildfires like those in Spain that can alter upper-atmosphere dynamics and create unpredictable winds, making fire behavior harder to forecast, said Antonio Jordan Lopez, a wildfire expert at the University of Seville.

“Picture a fire so fierce, so fast, and so unpredictable it seems alive, capable of reshaping the weather around it and leaping across kilometers in a heartbeat,” he added. France announced it would send two water bombers to Spain, which has appealed to the European Union for aircraft to reinforce hard-pressed firefighting teams battling on several fronts, notably in the northwest. AFP

IN BRIEF

No deal at plastic pollution talks

GENEVA – Talks aimed at striking a landmark global treaty on plastic pollution fell apart Friday without agreement, as countries failed to find consensus on how the world should tackle the evergrowing scourge.

Negotiators from 185 nations worked beyond Thursday’s deadline and through the night in an ultimately futile search for common ground between nations wanting bold action such as curbing plastic production, and oil-producing states preferring to focus more narrowly on waste management.

Several countries voiced bitter disappointment as the talks unraveled, but said they were prepared for future negotia-

tions -- despite six rounds of talks over three years now having failed to find agreement.

“We have missed a historic opportunity but we have to keep going and act urgently. The planet and present and future generations need this treaty,” said Cuba.

Colombia added: “The negotiations were consistently blocked by a small number of states who simply don’t want an agreement.”

Tuvalu, speaking for 14 Pacific small island developing states, said they were once again leaving empty-handed.

“For our islands this means that without global cooperation and state action, millions of tonnes of plastic waste will continue to be dumped in our oceans, affecting our ecosystem, food security, livelihood and culture,” the Polynesian archipelago said.

The High Ambition Coalition, which includes the European Union, Britain and Canada, and many African and Latin American countries, wanted to see language on reducing plastic production and the phasing out of toxic chemicals used in plastics.

A cluster of mostly oil-producing states calling themselves the Like-Minded Group -- including Saudi Arabia, Ku-

wait, Russia, Iran, and Malaysia -- want the treaty to have a much narrower remit.

“Our views were not reflected... without an agreed scope, this process cannot remain on the right track and risks sliding down a slippery slope,” said Kuwait. Bahrain said it wanted a treaty that “does not penalise developing countries for exploiting their own resources”. France’s Ecological Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said: “I am disappointed, and I am angry,” saying a handful of countries, “guided by shortterm financial interests”, had blocked the adoption of an ambitious treaty. “Oil-producing countries and their allies have chosen to look the other way.” The future of the negotiations was not immediately clear. AFP

BELGRADE – Clashes between rival groups of protesters in Serbia flared again late Thursday, police said, as months of anti-government demonstrations boiled over into street violence this week.

A wave of anti-corruption protests has gripped Serbia since November, when the collapse of the Novi Sad railway station roof killed 16 people, a disaster widely blamed on entrenched corruption.

Anti-graft protesters again gathered in several cities across Serbia late Thursday.

That was mainly in response to a previous attack by governing party supporters on demonstrators Tuesday in the town of Vrbas, about 160 kilometers north of the capital Belgrade. Large groups of pro-government supporters, most wearing masks, confronted protesters on Wednesday, and the two groups hurled bottles, stones and fireworks at each other.

BANGKOK

Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol

been unconscious in hospital since falling ill with a heart condition in Dec. 2022 during a military dog training session at Nakhon Ratchasima, north of the capital Bangkok.

A statement from the Bureau of the Royal Household gave the first update on the princess’s condition in more than two years.

“The doctors have reported that the Princess’s lungs and kidneys have been functioning with support from medical devices and medication,” the statement said.

“From August 9, 2025, the medical team detected a severe infection in the bloodstream, leading them to administer antibiotics and medication to stimulate blood pressure in order to maintain stable levels.” Doctors will continue to monitor her condition and provide treatment, the statement said. AFP

Sick Thai princess suffers blood infection How

residents view new troops

WASHINGTON, DC – Outside the busiest train station in Washington, newly deployed National Guard troops wearing camouflage lean on a huge military Humvee. Wary residents and curious tourists stop to take photos, while inside the elegant Union Station a string trio plays “What a Wonderful World.”

Christian Calhoun, a 26-year-old consultant who was born and raised in the US capital, told AFP that seeing the troops made him “more than disappointed -- I’m furious.”

“It’s a lot of standing around,” he added. Declaring that Washington is overrun by crime and plagued by homeless people, President Donald Trump has deployed 800 National Guard troops, as well as ordering a federal takeover of the city’s police department. AFP

many African and Latin American countries, wanted to see language on reducing plastic production and the phasing out of toxic chemicals used in plastics. AFP

California to change election maps – governor

LOS ANGELES – California unveiled plans to redraw its electoral districts Thursday (Friday Manila time), as Democrats push back on what they say is Donald Trump’s effort to rig next year’s Congressional elections to safeguard his slim Republican majority.

Governor Gavin Newsom said he would ask voters to approve new maps that would effectively neutralize changes Texas is planning that are expected to give Republicans more seats in the House of Representatives.

“Today is Liberation Day in the State

of California,” Newsom told supporters at the Democracy Center in Los Angeles.

“Donald Trump, you have poked the bear, and we will punch back,” he said, a reference to the animal that symbolizes the 39-million strong state.

The move came after weeks of maneuvering in Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott -- acting at Trump’s behest -- is trying to redraw electoral districts to benefit his Republican Party, a process known as gerrymandering.

Districts are usually redrawn every ten

Israeli far-right minister backs West Bank settlement plan

JERUSALEM – Israel’s finance minister backed plans on Thursday to build 3,400 homes in a particularly contentious area of the occupied West Bank, calling for the territory’s annexation in response to several countries’ plans to recognize a Palestinian state.

The United Nations chief warned that building Israeli homes in the area would “put an end to” hopes for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel has long had ambitions to build on the sensitive parcel of land east of Jerusalem known as E1, but the plan has been frozen for decades amid international opposition. Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law, while critics and the international community have warned construction

on the roughly 12 square kilometers would undermine hopes for a contiguous future Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital.

The site sits between the ancient city and the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, near routes connecting the north and south of the Palestinian territory. There are also separate, frozen plans to expand Israel’s separation barrier to envelop the area.

“Those who want to recognize a Palestinian state today will receive a response from us on the ground... Through concrete actions: houses, neighborhoods, roads and Jewish families building their lives,” said Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, who was speaking at a pro-settlement event on the advancement of plans for the E1 parcel. AFP

years after the national census and are supposed to be based on its findings, so that districts accurately represent the people who live there. The mid-decade effort to change the boundaries is seen by Democrats as a naked attempt to bolster the GOP, and to help it retain its narrow House majority in next year’s mid-terms.

Dozens of Texas Democrats have fled the state in an effort to block the passage of the proposed blueprint during a special legislative session, even as Republicans have threatened to arrest them. AFP

Police had arrested nearly 50 people across the country on Wednesday, and around 30 riot police were injured. On Thursday, protestors vandalized the Novi Sad headquarters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and two other SNS offices in the city, RTS television reported, during protests spread across Serbia.

In the capital Belgrade, protestors massed in front of government buildings and the army headquarters, before heading toward nearby SNS offices. But a heavy riot police deployment kept them from reaching the offices using teargas.

“These are no longer peaceful student protests but people who want to provoke violence... This is an attack on the state,” Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told a news conference.

At least five police officers were injured on Thursday evening and 14 protesters were arrested, the ministry said. AFP

ELUSIVE MIDDLE GROUND. Delegates speak together after talks on a global treaty on combating plastic

Banned MPBL player Solera:

Tibayan punched me first 3 times

By Peter Atencio

IT was Mindoro Tamaraws’ cager

Jonas Tibayan, who first made the aggressive moves to hurt GenSan Warriors’ Michole Sorela during their Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) game on Monday.

Sorela said this in a message sent to a friend, just hours before the GenSan cager was penalized with a lifetime ban and a P200,000 fine by the league for punching and injuring Tibayan.

“Bago nangyari ‘yun, nakatatlong suntok sa aken. Sinabihan ko na intentional na ‘yang ginagawa mo, p’re. Tapos, humirit pa talaga ng isa. Ako naglalaro lang ako maayos. Nananahimik ako,” said Sorela in his message.

The incident sent the 6’3” Tibayan to the hospital, with a concussion, broken jaw, a busted lip, and a fractured shoulder.

Solera’s action immediately was condemned by Tamaraws’ owner and Palo Mayor Jennifer Cruz

“We strongly condemn the unsportsmanlike conduct of Michole Sorela of the GenSan Warriors against our player, Jonas Tibayan, during the recent MPBL game.

Sorela’s on-court behavior was both shocking and unacceptable — a brutal act that has no place in the world of sports,” said Cruz in a post on Facebook, adding they are planning to take legal actions against Solera.

Sky’s the limit for Duplantis ahead of Tokyo worlds

CHORZOW, Poland—Recordbreaking Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis has predicted a “super-sick” world championships in Tokyo, where he won his first Olympic medal in the Covid-delayed Summer Games, but insisted statistics were unimportant to him.

The US-born Swede has been in electric form, setting a 13th world record, of 6.29 metres, in Budapest on Tuesday to further seal his claim as one of the best track and field athletes in history.

But Duplantis shies away from the bravado often shown by sprinters, reiterating that he is not bothered by the numbers game.

“I’m just making sure that all the little details and everything are very polished and that I’m really ready to go at the most important time,” Duplantis said Thursday ahead of the Diamond League meet in Silesia, Poland.

“It’s a lot of recognition,” he conceded of setting multiple world records.

“It’s always an amazing feeling and I’m always super grateful, and it feels kind of surreal in a way every time I’ve been able to push the record a little bit higher.”

A return to Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium for the September 13-21 world champs, with a full crowd compared to the empty tribunes in 2021 because of the pandemic, left Duplantis “super excited”.

“I have super high expectations,” he said. “It’s going to super sick, honestly.

“I think the atmosphere is going to be insane. Then it’s just up to me to enjoy it and channel what everybody’s giving me and try to put on a good show.”

But the 25-year-old, who has used the same pole to set the last 10 world records, again played down expectations of how high he thought the bar might be raised to.

“I just love competing,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how many world records that I break.

“When it comes to sports in general, you always have to prove yourself on the day because nobody just gives you anything, it’s all earned.

“They don’t just give me the trophy because I’m the favourite. I still have to go out there and have to compete. I have to be on my A game, and I have to earn my title as the one that’s going to be the best and last man standing on that day every time.” AFP

BEIJING—The world’s first-ever humanoid robot games began Friday in Beijing, with over 500 androids alternating between jerky tumbles and glimpses of real power as they compete in events from the 100-metre hurdles to kung fu.

Hundreds of robotics teams from 16 countries are going for gold at the Chinese capital’s National Speed Skating Oval, built for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The games include traditional sports like athletics and basketball, as well as practical tasks such as medicine categorisation and cleaning.

“I believe in the next 10 years or so, robots will be basically at the same level as humans,” enthusiastic 18-year-old spectator Chen Ruiyuan told AFP.

Human athletes might not be quaking in their boots just yet.

China hosts world’s 1st humanoid robot games

At one of the first events on Friday morning, five-aside football, 10 robots the size of seven-year-olds shuffled around the pitch, often getting stuck in a scrum or falling over en masse. However, in a 1500-metre race, domestic champion Unitree’s humanoids stomped along the track at an impressive clip, easily outpacing their rivals.

The fastest robot AFP witnessed finished in 6:29:37, a far cry from the human men’s world record of 3:26:00.

One mechanical racer barrelled straight into a human operator. The robot remained standing, while the human was knocked flat, though did not appear to be injured.

‘National strategy’ Robot competitions have been

held for decades, but the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games is the first to focus specifically on robots that resemble human bodies, organisers said.

The Chinese government has poured support into robotics hoping to lead the industry.

Beijing has put humanoids in the “centre of their national strategy”, the International Federation of Robotics wrote in a paper on Thursday.

“The government wants to showcase its competence and global competitiveness in this field of technology,” it added.

Authorities are working to raise awareness of the sector across society.

Cui Han, accompanying her 10-year-old, told AFP that her son’s school had organized and paid for the trip to the Games.

“I hope it will encourage him to learn more about these new technologies,” she said.

In March, China announced plans for a one-trillion-yuan fund to support technology startups, including those in robotics and AI.

The country is already the world’s largest market for industrial robots, official statistics show, and in April, Beijing held what organisers dubbed the world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon.

Chen, the spectator, told AFP he was about to begin studying automation at university.

“Coming here can cultivate my passion for this field,” he said. “My favourite is the boxing, because... it requires a lot of agility and I can really see how the robots have improved from before.” AFP

Eastern Communications hosts golf meet for top clients

EASTERN Communications recently held its inaugural golf tournament exclusively for its Titanium tier clients, the newest tier in its Link VIP Club loyalty program.

The premier event honored the telco’s most loyal customers, and this will be followed by upcoming lifestyle events, including a movie premiere and bowling tournaments.

The Link VIP Club is Eastern Communications’ award-winning customer loyalty program, created to celebrate strong connections with its clients. This exclusive club reflects Eastern’s mission to go beyond expectations through personalized support, curated experiences, and its signature “Heart of Service” built on genu-

Alibaba Cloud to power 1st Youth Olympic Games in Africa

ALIBABA Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, recently announced to power the Summer Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 (“Dakar 2026”) -- the first Olympic sporting event to be held in Africa -- with its proven cloud and AI technologies.

Dakar 2026, as the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games, will take place in Senegal, the first country on the African continent to be awarded the honor of hosting an Olympic sports event.

As the official cloud service provider of the IOC, Alibaba Cloud is committed to supporting the digital transformation of the Olympic Games, delivering a future-ready digital foundation that enhances the operational efficiency and fan engagement of the Youth Olympic Games.

The initiative was announced during a signing ceremony in Hangzhou, China, among Alibaba Cloud, the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee (YOGOC), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Antoine Azokly, Head of Youth Olympic Games Technology & Energy at International Olympic Committee, said: “As a result of our ongoing partnership, the integration of Alibaba Cloud’s proven AI and cloud technology into Dakar 2026

exemplifies our shared commitment to making the Olympic events more efficient, sustainable, and engaging. This collaboration will not only benefit the Youth Olympic Games but also leave a lasting digital legacy for sport in Africa.”

“As we prepare to host Africa’s first Olympic event, partnering with Alibaba Cloud marks a crucial step in our journey to deliver a technologically advanced and seamlessly operated Youth Olympic Games,” said Ibrahima Wade, General Coordinator of Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee, “The implementation of Alibaba Cloud’s digital technologies across our core services will not only ensure efficient Games operations but also create a lasting technological legacy that will benefit

Senegal and the African sporting community long after the Games conclude.”

Under the partnership, the Dakar 2026 Organizing Committee will deploy Alibaba Cloud’s Apsara Stack, a comprehensive private cloud solution, to build a secure, scalable, and high-performance infrastructure for the Summer Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026. The platform will serve as the core IT infrastructure, hosting digital applications and services required for the planning, operation, logistics, and post-event activities for the Dakar 2026, enabling enhanced fan experiences and streamlined event logistics Notably, Alibaba Cloud will support Dakar 2026 with digital flame services, leveraging its latest AI and cloud technologies to create dynamic, immersive visual experiences for global audiences and sports fans.

The Summer Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 will be held in Senegal from October 31 to November 13, across three host cities: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. The Games will bring together 2700 of the world’s best young athletes, with a maximum age of 17. A total of 35 sports will feature on the YOG programme, including 25 competition sports and 10 engagement sports.

Robots demonstrate the sport of boxing during the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. AFP

Eastern Communications and Link VIP Club loyal customers are shown at their golf tournament in Laguna.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16,

RIERA U. MALLARI,

RANDY

EDGARD HILARIO,

PH delegation head Arapoc: WG experience an eye-opener

CHENGDU, China — With two days of competition remaining and only two sports to be played in the 2025 World Games, Filipino athletes heading home can proudly hold their heads high — with or without a medal.

For Chef de Mission Stephen Arapoc, who is the president of the Muay Thai Association of the Philippines, it is mission accomplished.

“The World Games opened our eyes to what is ahead of us in each sports competition. It may appear hard, but with all fairness I must say they gave it all,” said Arapoc, who was tasked to oversee the campaign of the 48 athletes here in the 11-day tournament for non-Olympic disciplines.

With the duathlon mixed relay contest rolling off at the Xinglong Lake Hubin Arena and powerlifter Regie Ramirez trying his best for a podium finish in the men’s equipped lightweight division at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Gymnasium on Saturday, much is anticipated when the entire delegation leaves this modern and accommodating city with a big smile and an even greater hope of success in future events.

Supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee, headed by President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, the national team has reasons to celebrate — albeit missing the euphoria of a golden triumph — after a decent haul of two silver and two bronze medals so far.

Kaila Napolis took the first silver medal in women’s -52-kilogram jujitsu, while Chezka Centeno came so close at winning the gold if not for a late blunder in women’s 10-ball finals.

Carlos Baylon Jr. delivered bronze in the men’s wushu sanda 56kg class, just as Aislinn Yap pounced on her Costa Rican opponent Thursday night to win bronze in sambo combat 80kg category.

There was also a ton of potential seen in wakeboarding, muay thai, kickboxing, dragon boat, and floorball — some of which are programmed in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games set in Thailand late this year.

No service break as PVL Invitational set to deliver non-stop action

FANS are in for an electrifying ride as the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference kicks off Thursday (Aug. 21) with six powerhouse squads –including two guest teams from Japan – going all out in a high-stakes, compact tournament designed to challenge not just their skill and strategy, but their grit, stamina and composure under pressure.

Fresh from a dynamic PVL On Tour leg, the four local semifinalists are set to collide with international flair as Kurashiki Ablaze and Kobe Shinwa University make their muchanticipated appearance.

Kurashiki, the 2023 Invitational champions, are back for a third straight year, eager to reclaim the title that eluded them last season. In 2024, they settled for third place in the tournament won by the Creamline Cool Smashers.

Creamline will open the tournament with a marquee clash against Cignal at 4 p.m. on Thursday. PLDT and Chery Tiggo will square off in the day’s main game at 6:30 p.m., promising a double-header to remember.

Adding intrigue to the tournament is the debut of Kobe Shinwa University, finally making its PVL bow after having to withdraw from the 2022 edition due to pandemic-related restrictions in Japan.

The Japanese squads will go head-tohead in a much-awaited showdown on Saturday (Aug. 23) at 4 p.m. at the Philsports Arena, giving fans a preview of their elite level of play. The Invitational Conference will follow a single round-robin elimination format. The top two teams will advance to the onegame championship match set for Aug. 31 at the Araneta Coliseum. A bronze medal match will precede the finals, ensuring fans get back-to-back high-octane action to close out the month.

IN SYNC. Ukraine’s Anastasiia Kurashvili (right) and Stanislav Halaida compete in the mixed aerobic pairs quali cation during the 2025 World Games at the Dong’an Lake Sports Park Multi-Function Gymnasium in Chengdu, in China’s

PH gets rights to host senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics’ tilt

By Peter Atencio

THE big turnout for the third FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championship has encouraged the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to let the Philippines host another international event next year.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines and its president Cyn-

thia Carrion said this after the FIG gave the country its nod to manage the staging of the 2026 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

“They’ve seen our facilities and they are so impressed. Next year, we’re going to have the Asian senior championships, too,” said Carrion.

“It’s towards the end of the year

(2026). Jakarta hosted it three years ago. And they already have the facilities,” added Carrion.

Approval was granted after top officials of the FIG arrived in Manila this week to inspect the competition venue to be used for the Asian junior world meet.

Organizers expect to list more than 1,500 athletes from 79 countries to show up for the Junior World Cham-

Yani Alexii Lopez

pionship, organized by the GAP and sanctioned by FIG, from Nov. 20 to 24 at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. Carrion and GAP officials met with FIG executives, led by Men Artistic Gymnastics Technical Committee President Andrew Tombs, who took a look at the Marriott Hotel facilities and also discussed his observations with Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Technical Committee President Donatella Sacchi.

MAG Senior Events Manager Stepane Detraz and WAG Senior Events Manager Celine Cachemaille were also around.

“This event is a very important one in the world of artistic gymnastics. It is the event that is a stepping stone for future stars,” said Tombs.

Lopez stuns Canadian in Ontario jiu jitsu championship showdown

A YOUNG Filipino jiu-jitsu artist has just added another feather on her cap as she shone in a tournament in Canada recently.

Yani Alexii Lopez showcased exceptional skills and power recently as she blanked Maya McKee of Team Niagara BJJ Cicero Costha Canada, 20-0, in a lopsided girls’ gi teen 14-15 white grey belt championship match in the 2025 Great Lakes Kiu Jitsu Open-Canada in Ontario.

“I’m so thankful that I’ve been given this opportunity to compete in the Pan Kids here in Ontario,” said the 14-year-old Lopez, acknowledging the support that came her way in the competition. Lopez was just as impressive as she was right in the first round of the competition.

She subdued Mackenzie Cloutier, another bet from Team Niagara BJJ (Cicero Costha Canada), via submission with a cross-collar choke in the

third minute.

Lopez was already enjoying an insurmountable 13-0 lead over the Canadian, before she gave her all to complete the short work with that cross-collar choke.

“In the first round, I was up 13-0, then I submitted her via cross collar choke in the third minute,” she said.

Lopez was actually entered at 95-lb division, but her dad, she said, moved her up by one division at 105 lbs due to the lack of opponents.

The organizer though moved her further at 115 lbs because she still did not have any opponents in the division as her supposed opponents in the 115 lbs were both overweight.

Organizers ended up moving her and the two overweight participants – Maya McKee and MacKenzie Cloutier – to 125 lbs.

Collegiate stars brace for crucial IIT showdown at Beverly Place

PAMPANGA—There’s no better way to cap an inaugural tournament than by pitting the three best players from the first three legs in a head-to-head duel – turning Round 4 of the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tournament into a thrilling test of will and character.

This Sunday (Aug. 17), the men’s division resumes at Beverly Place Golf Club in Pampanga, where collegiate golf’s rising stars are expected to clash in a high-stakes battle that could shape the future of Philippine golf.

Leading the charge are Sean Granada (CSB-1), Zachary Castro (La Salle-1), and Joshua Buenaventura (UP-1) – all gunning not only for a second leg win but also for the critical momentum heading into the grand finals set for Sept. 23-25 at Splendido Taal Golf Club. The reward isn’t just a spot in the finals. It’s the confidence, bragging rights and the honor of setting the pace as the first-ever ICTSI Intercollegiate champion. Granada stormed to victory in Round 2 at Splendido Taal and was runner-up in Round 3 at Pradera Verde, while Castro bounced back to dominate the Pradera leg after placing second in Round 1 at Royal

Northwoods. Both players sit atop the leaderboard with 27 points each.

Buenaventura, who shone in Round 1 but skipped the second leg, finished third at Pradera Verde, collecting 25 points – just two off the leaders.

His UP-1 teammate Miggy Roque follows with 20 points in fourth, while Rans Balay-odao of UC-1 (University of the Cordilleras) rounds out the Top 5 with 16 points.

But it’s more than just an individual shootout.

With all three top individual contenders representing the current Top 3 schools in the team standings, Round 4 is shaping up to be a fierce dual-battle for supremacy –both as individuals and as cohesive squads. The team competition, played in a three-to-play, two-to-count format, adds another strategic layer. UP-1, also anchored by Emilio Carpio and Roque, currently leads with 30 points after winning at Royal Northwoods and Pradera Verde.

CSB-1, which includes David Guangco and C’zedrick Sulaik, is hot on their heels with 25 points. La Salle-1, powered by Jose Lorenzo Flores and Miguel Fusilero, sits just behind at 24 points.

southwestern Sichuan province. AFP

Cynthia Carrion

La Salle-1 Zach Castro (center) poses with Pradera Verde Golf Operations manager Joey Seran (left) and ICTSI Media Relations head Ronnel Javier after clinching the individual title in Round 3 of the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tournament at Pradera Verde’s Pinatubo course recently.

$2.99 billion

Cash remittance in June 2025

$3.33 billion

Personal remittance in June

$16.75 billion

Total cash remittance in first half

Thunder seals deal for CBK power plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THUNDER Consortium, which includes Aboitiz Renewables Inc. (ARI), Sumitomo Corp. and Electric Power Development Co. Ltd., signed project agreements Friday to acquire the CalirayaBotocan-Kalayaan (CBK) hydroelectric power plant complex in Laguna province.

The deal, valued at P36.266 billion, was signed with the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) and the National Power Corp. (Napocor) by the consortium’s project company, Cleanergy 9 Power Inc.

Aboitiz Power, the parent company of ARI, disclosed on Friday that the agreements cover the 796.64-megawatt power plants. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals from bodies like the Philippine Competition Commission. Thunder Consortium was named the winning bidder for the CBK power plants on July 18, 2025, after submitting the highest offer.

AboitizPower cited the strategic importance of the acquisition, which would support the Philippines’ goal of a cleaner and more dynamic energy grid.

The company noted that pump storage hydro, like the CBK complex, is essential for reducing peak power prices and integrating more renewable energy into the system, aligning with the Philippine Energy Plan’s target of 50-percent renewable energy by 2040.

The CBK complex is a critical power source, particularly during peak demand and emergencies, supplying a significant portion of the electricity consumed in Metro Manila.

PSALM, created under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, is responsible for managing Napocor’s assets and liabilities.

June remittances rose 3.7% to hit 6-month high—BSP

By Thony Rose Lesaca

CASH remittances to the Philippines grew 3.7 percent year-on-year to $2.99 billion in June 2025, the highest in six months, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed Friday.

It was the highest contribution from overseas Filipinos since it reached $3.38 billion in December 2024.

Cash remittances refer to cash sent by land-based and sea-based workers through the banking system.

Land-based overseas Filipinos accounted for the largest share of $2.43 billion, with a growth rate of 3.7 percent year-on-year.

Sea-based OFs accounted for $555 million of the total remittances, up by 3.5 percent year-on-year.

Cumulative cash remittances from January to June 2025 also grew 3.1 percent to $16.75 billion from $16.25 billion a year ago.

The United States of America remained as the top source of remittances to the Philippines, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

The BSP said the increase in June cash remittances also drove

the 3.7-percent growth in personal remittances to $3.33 billion in June 2025.

Personal remittances cover cash sent through banks and informal channels as well as remittances in kind. Personal remittances are computed as the sum of net compensation of employees and capital transfers between households

Cumulatively, this marked a 3.1 percent increase in personal remittances from $18.10 billion last year to $18.67 billion in the first half of 2025.

The strong growth in remittances supported the 8.2 percent secondquarter growth in gross national income (GNI), a broader measure of economic output.

PHINMA Education is set to expand its reach to more underserved communities across Southeast Asia following an P825-million investment from Kaizenvest, an education-focused private equity fund.

The investment is a renewal of a previous commitment from Kaizenvest, a returning investor and completes its share in a May 2024 agreement that also included investment from KKR.

“With this investment, we are ready to open more doors for Southeast Asian students determined to pursue higher education,” said Trissa Menardo,

TeaM Energy Corp. said it has completed the turnover of its 735-megawatt (MW) Pagbilao coalfired thermal power plant to the Philippine government through the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM). The plant was built under a BuildOperate-Transfer scheme with the national government, then represented by the National Power Corp. On the same day of TeaM Energy’s transfer of the Pagbilao plant to PSALM, Therma Luzon, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp., received the facility from PSALM.

“We successfully completed earlier this morning the turnover of the

chief strategy officer at PHINMA Education.

“With Kaizenvest’s support, we can empower more learners to make their dreams a reality,” said Menardo.

The funding will support PHINMA Education’s planned expansion in the cities of Roxas, San Pablo, Butuan and Bacolod, as well as a new campus in Indonesia. The network serves more than 163,000 low-income students across 13 schools in the Philippines and Indonesia.

The company is also exploring potential future markets in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos

Pagbilao Power Station to PSALM and NPC,” said Jun Sano, chairman of the board and officer-in-charge of TeaM Energy.

“These past years, we have been working closely with PSALM, NPC and TLI to ensure a smooth transition process. Our efforts have been successful as the plant has been turned over in excellent condition, ready to continue generating the much-needed electricity for the Luzon grid,” said Jugo.

TLI was the independent power producer administrator of the TeaM Energy-operated Pagbilao facility, pursuant to an agreement between TLI and PSALM. Alena Mae S. Flores

By Darwin G. Amojelar

MAYA, a leading fintech ecosystem, said Friday it will disable access to gaming sites and apps through the games feature on its app starting Aug. 16, 2025 at 8 p.m.

Maya’s move is in compliance with a directive from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for all supervised institutions to remove in-app links that provide access to online gambling platforms.

“Maya fully supports the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and other government efforts to ensure a safe, responsible, and resilient financial system for all Filipinos,” the company said.

The BSP issued Memorandum No. M-2025-029 which mandates the suspension of in-app gaming access in all BSP-supervised institutions.

Maya said its customers may withdraw any remaining funds from linked gaming accounts back to their Maya Wallet via the Games feature. “After the deadline, customers may withdraw their funds directly through the gaming provider’s website or app,” Maya said.

“We will always safeguard our customers and ensure uninterrupted availability of all our financial services. Maya will continue working closely with regulators and industry partners to uphold the highest standards of consumer protection and full compliance with all regulations,” it said.

G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), the operator of mobile wallet GCash, earlier said it would suspend access to in-app gaming beginning at 8 p.m. on Aug. 16, 2025, to comply with the BSP order.

APEC MEETING.

Elyjean Portoza, Director of the Board of Investments Legal and Compliance Service (LCS), discusses the experience of the Philippines in negotiations of international investment agreements and implementation of investment facilitation provisions during the Third Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) meeting held in Incheon, South

to bring its model of accessible, high-quality education to more students.

Beyond expanding its footprint, PHINMA Education is also focused on a coaching model that assigns full-time coaches to students to help them with academic, financial, social and personal challenges.

“We are committed to walking alongside our students—not just in getting them through the door, but in seeing them through the finish line. Because when students succeed, entire communities move forward,” said Menardo.

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said Friday it surpassed its collection targets for both June and the first half of 2025.

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said in a statement the agency collected P200.524 billion in June, exceeding its target by 2.85 percent or P5.554 billion (net of tax refunds). This also represented a 16.24-percent increase, or P28.021 billion, compared to the same month last year.

Lumagui said that for the first half of the year, the bureau’s total collection reached P1.554 trillion, surpassing the cumulative target by P4.594 billion (net of tax refunds). This increased by 14.11 percent, or P192.143 billion, from the collections in the same period in 2024. The six-month collection represented more than 48 percent of the BIR’s full-year target of P3.232 trillion, which is 13.36 percent, or P380.871 billion, higher than the total collection in 2024.

Lumagui said the bureau hopes to increase its revenue base to meet and exceed its annual goal, citing new tax laws such as the VAT on Digital Services, the CREATE MORE Act and the Capital Markets Promotions Act (CMEPA).

GOCC CARAVAN. In support of the government’s thrust to deliver responsive and accessible public services, Land Bank of the Philippines joins the launch of the Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) Caravan, offering financial relief and recovery programs for clients affected by the recent typhoons experienced nationwide. Spearheaded by the Department of Finance (DOF), the two-day Caravan officially kicked off on 29 July 2025 at Robinsons Manila in partnership with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and other GOCCs.

Korea on Aug. 11, 2025.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025

extrastory2000@gmail.com

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor

ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

By Othel V. Campos

GLOBAL technology conglomer-

ate iSON Group plans to invest up to $300 million over the next decade to build 3,000 to 4,000 new telecommunication towers in the Philippines, with a focus on rural areas.

The company’s telco unit, iSon Tower, revealed the plan during a meeting between its chairman, Vivek Gupta, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the president’s state visit to India. Under the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Common Tower Initiative, iSon Tower said it will construct 300 to 400 towers annually.

The project aims to reduce infrastructure duplication and promote cost-efficient network expansion for major mobile operators, while also generating jobs for local contractors across the country.

“Their work in building telecom towers directly supports our goal of bringing reliable mobile and internet services to remote communities while creating high-quality jobs for Filipinos,” said Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will coordinate with other government agencies to facilitate regulatory approvals and provide incentives under the CREATE MORE Act and the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP).

iSON Group operates in 35 countries with over 20,000 employees.

The company’s Philippine headquarters is in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. iSon Tower has built 400 towers nationwide to date.

PSE

By Jenniffer B. Austria

SHARE prices ended the week in the green, closing above the 6,300 level on last-minute bargain hunting.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) closed at 6,315.93, up 24.08 points, or 0.38 percent. The broader all-shares index finished at 3,751.23, an increase of 8.20 points, or 0.22 percent.

The peso depreciated Friday, closing at 57.056 to the US dollar, down from 56.945 on Thursday.

“Last-minute bargain hunting brought the local bourse to a positive close,” said Japhet Tantiangco,

CNPF’s first-half profit rises 7% as local demand offsets soft export

CENTURY Pacific Food, Inc.

(CNPF), one of the Philippines’ leading food companies, saw its net income increase 7 percent in the first half of the year to P3.9 billion. The growth was driven by domestic demand, which tempered softness in its export business.

First-half revenue rose 5 percent year-over-year to P39.7 billion, the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

Sales from its branded food business saw a 9 percent year-over-year growth, fueled by a double-digit increase in volume. On the other hand, overseas exports, which include both tuna and coconut export businesses, remained soft, falling 10 percent from the same period last year due to global uncertainty.

CNPF, however, said it is still aim-

ing for high single-digit to low double-digit sales and profit growth, as its branded food business is expected to remain resilient amid stabilizing inflation.

“Our double-digit volume growth in Branded reflects the company’s deliberate and sustained efforts in brand building, pricing measures, and sales generation undertaken since last year,” said Chad Manapat, CNPF’s chief financial officer. “While easing inflation, particularly that of rice, provided some lift, consumers remain valueconscious, and demand for affordable offerings continues to be strong.”

For the first six months of the year, CNPF invested a total of P1.5 billion in capital expenditures, mostly for capacity expansion to support growth and sustainability initiatives.

Jenniffer B. Austria

research head at Philstocks Financial Inc. “For most of the day, the market was down as hopes of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve were tempered by the US’s higher-than-expected July producer price inflation.”

Among the sectors, only the mining and oil index saw a decline, dropping 0.63 percent. The industrial index led the sectors, rising 1.01 percent.

Trading activity was strong, with value turnover reaching P9.66 billion,

higher than the year-to-date average of P5.95 billion.

Bloomberry Resorts Corp. was the day’s top gainer, increasing 9.09 percent to P3.60. San Miguel Corp. was at the bottom, declining 7.11 percent to P55.55.

Asian stocks were mostly up Friday after better-than-expected Japanese growth, although weak Chinese data hit the Hang Seng and oil slipped back ahead of a US-Russia summit on Ukraine.

Wall Street finished little changed on Thursday as wholesale inflation data tempered optimism about the US Federal Reserve cutting interest rates. US Treasuries edged up. With AFP

Cebu Pacific carried 2.1m passengers in July despite lean period for airlines

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CEBU Pacific, a low-cost carrier led by the Gokongwei family, reported a slight increase in passenger traffic in July, a traditionally lean period for the airline industry. The airline said it carried 2.1 million passengers, a 0.3 percent increase compared to the previous year. Despite a 4 percent increase in capacity, the seat load factor (SLF), a measure of how full the planes were, dropped to 85.6 percent from 88.8 percent in July 2024. Domestic passenger numbers fell 1.1 percent to 1.58 million, down from 1.6 million in July 2024. This occurred despite a 0.5 percent increase in seats, with a domestic SLF of 89.3 percent. Meanwhile, international passenger traffic grew by 4.6 percent to 531,000 in July from 507,000 during the same period last year. Its load factor, however, dropped by 7 percentage points to 76.2 percent.

For the first seven months of 2025, Cebu Pacific passengers grew to 16 million, a 17.6 percent increase from 13.6 million in 2024. Domestic passengers grew 17 percent to 11.9 million, while international passengers grew 19.6 percent to 4.1 million. The average SLF was 85.4 percent, and overall capacity grew 18.2 percent to 18.8 million seats.

“Seasonality remains a key factor in the airline industry. While the earlier start of the academic year has brought forward the lean period this July, passenger traffic has stayed resilient,” said Xander Lao, Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer.

“As we enter the third quarter, growth will naturally moderate to align with seasonal demand and manage capacity. This deliberate approach allows us to maintain fleet flexibility and positions us to capture the higher demand and growth we expect in the fourth quarter,” he said.

Vivant’s first-half core income grew 11% to P962m on reserve market participation

By Alena Mae S. Flores

VIVANT Corp. disclosed Friday an 11 percent increase in its consolidated core net income (CCNI) to P962 million in the first half of the year, up from P866.67 million in the same period last year.

The company attributed the growth to its participation in the reserve market.

Vivant reported that after adjusting for non-recurring income, including a foreign exchange loss of the parent company, insurance proceeds, and a non-recurring cost reimbursement of certain power subsidiaries, net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company was P959 million, a 9 percent increase from the first half of 2024.

“Vivant recorded another double-

digit growth in CCNI for the first half of 2025. The performance of Vivant Energy Corp., spurred by its participation in the reserve market primarily drove our earnings for the semester,” said Arlo Sarmiento, Vivant’s chief executive.

“Despite the lower WESM prices in the first half of the year, the team’s collective effort secured strong returns.”

Consolidated revenue was P5.4 billion, a 3 percent drop from P5.6 billion in the first half of 2024. This was due to lower revenue from the sale of power, as overall volumes delivered from Vivant’s generation assets were down during the semester, though this was tempered by the recognition of finance income from the bulk water business concession.

By Riera U. Mallari

GERMANY’s beauty is simply unparalleled. From Düsseldorf, a sophisticated and cosmopolitan city on the Rhine River, to the vivid contrasts of Berlin, where the weight of its complex history coexists with a relentlessly creative, alternative, and modern cultural scene -- every corner holds a breathtaking moment waiting to be chronicled.

You need the perfect companion to capture Germany’s charm.

My weapon of choice?

The HONOR 400 Pro.

Manila Standard was the only Philippine broadsheet allowed to cover the 2025 FISU World University Games in the Rhine Ruhr region and Berlin, and we took the opportunity to capture the country’s appeal.

I’m still in awe of the HONOR 400 Pro’s photographic abilities, which elevated every shot I took. The dynamic range of the camera beautifully captured the scenes in Rhine, allowing me to take stunning, crisp photos of Dusseldorf’s illuminated architecture without any graininess. I even used the macro lens to get up close with intricate details on ancient statues and be amazed at the vibrant street art in Berlin and its famous wall, revealing a world of texture and color I might have otherwise missed.

Each photograph in this series proves both Germany’s captivating glamour and the HONOR 400 Pro’s capacity to capture it all with stunning fidelity.

It was the perfect companion for this adventure, ensuring that the magic of every single moment was preserved exactly as I saw it. Until next time, Germany!

HERITAGE MEETS HIGH-TECH

Germany’s charm thru the lens of the HONOR 400 Pro

VERTIV

(NYSE: VRT), a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, gathered over 250 channel leaders and partners across Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan for the 2025 Asia Channel Summit. Held at the Sheraton Grand Danang Resort & Convention Center in Da Nang, Vietnam, the three-day event underscored the company’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and empowering its partner ecosystem to lead a rapidly evolving digital world.

With the theme, “Innovate,” the summit invited partners to be at the forefront and respond to disruption in the sector. As artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and edge deployments reshape IT landscapes across Asia, Vertiv spotlighted the critical role its wide network of partners continues to play in enabling next-generation infrastructure and responding to changing customer demands. Daniel Sim, senior director for IT distribution and partners for Vertiv Asia, opened the summit by highlighting the transformative power of partnership: “The Asia Channel Summit is where innovation takes flight. It’s a space to spark ideas, build strategic connections, and define the future of digital infrastructure. Our partners are more than participants — they are catalysts. Vertiv is here to support them with breakthrough technologies, expert insights, and a shared vision to

lead the AI-driven era.”

Throughout the conference, participants explored future-ready infrastructure solutions through deep dives into AI-ready systems, high-density power designs, and thermal innovations — including liquid cooling technologies. A thought leadership panel featuring representatives from strategic Vertiv partners across the region examined regional market dynamics, AI’s evolving role in data center strategy, and new growth opportunities across sectors. Paul Churchill, vice president and general manager for Vertiv Asia, emphasized the importance of agility and long-term planning: “Innovation is

Converge makes waves at 2025 National Retail Conference & Expo

CONVERGE Global Business, the corporate and large enterprise unit of leading broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc., bannered its technology-driven solutions at the 2025 Philippine Retailers Association National Retail Conference & Expo (NRCE) held at the SMX Convention Center attended by over 700 retail industry and business leaders.

Benjamin B. Azada, Converge Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, delivered a powerful keynote, emphasizing the essential role of advanced technology in creating authentic and meaningful customer experiences.

“Customers are looking for human interaction, enhanced by technology and not diminished by it. Technology shall bridge between digital tools and supporting authentic customer experience,” Azada shared during his talk, “From Fiber to Future: Converging Tech and Tao for the Filipino Retail Experience”, on the second day of the conference.

Converge did not stop at an inspiring keynote. Its visually striking and interactive booth earned accolades from attendees, being recognized as one of the “Best 10 Booth” of the country’s biggest retail conference and among those most visited too. The interactive booth showcased Converge’s future-ready solutions, such as Managed WiFi and Intelligent Surveillance, and its resolute mis-

Berliner Dom Berlin Wall Eastside Gallery

The PH delegation to the World University Games

Filipino fans cheering the Mapua Cardinals

OPPO RENO14

SERIES

Cutting-edge craftsmanship in Iridescent Mermaid Design

THE OPPO Reno series has always represented more than just technology; it embodies the lifestyle of young people, serving as a companion that inspires you to discover life’s beauty and make your moment. Continuing its legacy of design innovation, the all-new Reno14 Series draws its inspiration from the fashion industry, embracing the popular “Mermaidcore” trend to create a device that is a true testament to OPPO’s relentless pursuit of style and craftsmanship.

Inspired by the fantasy of mermaids and the serene beauty of the ocean, this aesthetic has swept through global culture as a symbol of freedom, joy, and self-expression. With the Reno14 Series, OPPO captures the shifting shimmer for the first time on a smartphone, pioneering the revolutionary “Iridescent Mermaid Design.”

To bring this vision to life, OPPO has pushed the boundaries of smartphone engineering by innovating across color, material, and finish.

Iridescent Glow Process:

Painting with Light and Color

The mesmerizing shimmer of the Iridescent Mermaid Design is achieved through the industryfirst Iridescent Glow Process, pioneered by OPPO.

The process involves meticulously stacking twelve different layers—twice the number used in the previous generation. Every layer is engineered to stack perfectly, creating a delicate, colorful, and prismatic finish that truly stands out.

But the innovation goes beyond simply adding layers; the finish undergoes five rounds of precision polishing at a microscopic level. It creates textures as narrow as 20 microns—less than one-third the thickness of a human hair—pro-

Baobab Eyewear’s

ducing a dazzling spectrum of colors that shift with movement.

Complementing the stunning back cover, the Reno14 Series also debuts the Gradient Aura Design on its camera module. This vibrant, flowing aura softens the visual presence of the camera, resulting in a look that is both harmonious and delightfully light in spirit.

The Iridescent Mermaid Design and Gradient Aura Design are available on the Opal White version of the Reno14 5G and Reno14 Pro 5G, as well as the Opal Blue version of the Reno14 F 5G.

One-piece Sculpted Glass: Seamless Form, Resilient Function

The back of the Reno14 and Reno14 Pro is a marvel of material engineering. Crafted from a single, solid piece of One-piece Sculpted Glass, the body flows seamlessly from the back cover into the camera module with no joints or breaks. The unibody design is the result of a meticulous 65-step process that takes twice as long to

hybrid o ine-online retail experience through TikTok Shop

BAOBAB Eyewear is redefining how Filipinos shop for eyewear, both online and offline. Known for its stylish, functional, and fairly priced frames, the proudly Filipino brand has found success in bridging the gap between digital discovery and instore experience through TikTok Shop. By leveraging TikTok Shop’s full-funnel ecosystem and content-first approach, Baobab was able to grow its online presence while driving foot traffic to its optical shop in Escolta, Manila. Its physical store provides a personalized space for customers to try on frames they first encountered online, completing a hybrid retail experience built for today’s discovery-driven consumers.

“Our audience was able to discover our physical store, thanks to our campaigns and presence on TikTok Shop”, said Eunice Abalos, Founder and Owner of Baobab Eyewear. “We are committed to offering thoughtfully designed eyewear that is life-proof, practical, and affordable, and giving our customers

the best experience, whether through our physical store or TikTok Shop.” Turning Content Into Commerce Through TikTok Shop, Baobab turned content and community into powerful growth engines.

iFFALCON, a pioneering brand, is taking smart entertainment to the next level with the launch of its cutting-edge U Series Smart TV. Designed for the modern generation, the U75 is packed with groundbreaking features that deliver a seamless and immersive experience for gaming, movie-watching, and sports. About iFFALCON: Innovation for Young Consumers iFFALCON is a new tech brand for young consumers around the world with high quality and competitive price performance, dedicated to bringing infinite possibilities to young people around the world. As a tech brand created for young consumers, iFFALCON is dedicated to bringing infinite possibilities to users worldwide. It is redefining smart displays by offering highquality, high-performance televisions at competitive prices. With a spirit of innovation, creativity, and freedom, iFFALCON continues to expand its reach across the globe, bringing cutting-edge entertainment technology to users in over 11 countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Australia, India, and Singapore.

The Future of Smart TVs: A Gaming Powerhouse with Stunning Visuals iFFALCON’s latest smart TV lineup U series is designed for gaming, cinematic immersion, and live sports, delivering unrivaled performance with industry-leading features:

1. 144Hz Native Refresh Rate: UltraSmooth Motion, No Lag ● A true 144Hz refresh rate delivers fluid, tear-free visuals, ensuring seamless gameplay, cinematic clarity, and immersive sports action.

● Say goodbye to motion blur and lag – this TV is designed for next-generation gaming and high-speed action scenes.

2. Wide Color Gamut (WCG): Vivid, True-to-Life Colors

● With 93% DCI-P3 color accuracy, iFFALCON’s Wide Color Gamut ensures brighter blues, richer greens, and deeper reds, making every frame more vibrant and realistic than traditional TVs.

● Whether you’re exploring openworld games, watching action-packed movies, or cheering for your favorite team, every color pops with breathtaking clarity.

The all-new Reno14 Series draws its inspiration from the fashion industry, embracing the popular “Mermaidcore” trend to create a device that is a true testament to OPPO’s relentless pursuit of style and craftsmanship.

complete as conventional methods.

The journey begins with a thick piece of glass, carefully carved down by a high-precision CNC machine to shape the slim back cover while leaving the camera housing as an integral part of the structure. The camera housing is then polished for a seamless transition before the entire piece undergoes a series of crucial transformations—including etching, grinding, and chemical strengthening—to produce the finished, durable unibody glass.

The structure is reinforced with an aerospacegrade aluminum frame, providing exceptional resilience with IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings. Whether facing a casual spill, a dunk in water, or exposure to high-pressure, high-temperature water, both models are engineered to withstand reallife challenges with confidence. The durable build also enables unique features like Underwater Photography, allowing users to capture photos and 4K videos underwater without needing an additional waterproof case.

From short-form videos to livestream selling, the brand embraced new ways of engaging with consumers while offering seamless shopping, from frame selection to lens customization and prescription uploading.

“Even before TikTok Shop, Baobab was actively posting about our products and day-to-day operations—we really wanted to build an online community,” said Sheena Concepcion, Baobab’s Marketing Manager. “Since joining TikTok Shop, we’ve been able to reach more people and convert through features like free shipping, vouchers, and platform promos.”

Concepcion credits TikTok Shop’s recently upgraded ACE indicator system, which helps sellers optimize their Assortment, Content, and Empowerment strategies, for their success.

inDrive Cares expands impact with clean-up, relief programs

AS the Philippines continues to face increasingly severe climate-related disasters, mobility companies are being called to play a more active role in community resilience.Global ride-hailing platform inDrive, through its local social impact program inDrive Cares, is helping turn emergency relief into long-term, community-centered action — supporting both vulnerable families and the TNVS (Transport Network Vehicle Service) drivers who power its platform.

The initiative began with a series of relief efforts during the onslaught of Typhoons Crising and Dante, when inDrive partnered with Laban TNVS to distribute essential aid to evacuees. The team reached up to 160 families in Brgy. Bagumbayan, Brgy. Quirino 2A, Quezon City, and Brgy. Masambong Quezon City, providing ready-to-eat meals, hygiene kits, and other emergency items to those displaced by floodwaters.

This experience led to the launch of inDrive Cares, a program designed for long-term, community-driven solutions.

Laban TNVS President Jun De Leon shared, “Itong initiative natin with inDrive ang nagpapakita sa tibay at puso ng mga TNVS drivers. Sa partnership namin with inDrive, nakita ko na mas nagkakaroon ng tunay na pagbabago kapag hindi lang tayo nagbibigay ng tulong, kundi andiyan ka rin mismo sumasama at tumutulong kasama sila. Do’n nagiging higit pa sa ayuda ang suporta, nagiging pag-asa.”

Supporting Government-Led Climate Resilience inDrive’s efforts align with the national government’s climate adaptation goals, particularly the Bayanihan sa Estero Program, aimed at rehabilitating flood-prone waterways in the National Capital Region. The program addresses critical drainage issues and waste buildup that worsen flooding during the monsoon season.

“We realized we were treating symptoms, not causes,” said Vanessa Taqueban, inDrive’s Driver Operations Lead for the Philippines. “The flooded communities we served were the same areas where our TNVS drivers couldn’t operate, losing income when roads became impassable.”

As part of its contribution, inDrive volunteers alongside local agencies joined the clean-up drive at the Caingin Estero, Barangay Caingin on the boundary of Valenzuela City and Meycauayan, Bulacan, and provided cleaning kits and protective gears.

“Ang clean-up initiative na ito ay tunay na diwa ng bayanihan nating mga Pilipino. Tulong-tulong ang lokal na pamahalaan, mga ahensya ng gobyerno, at inDrive para sa kalinisan ng ating bayan. Nagpapasalamat kami sa kontribusyon ng inDrive dahil ito ay nakakatulong hindi lang sa kalinisan kundi pati sa kalusugan at pag-iwas sa pagbaha. Makakaasa ang bawat-isa sa atin na magpapatuloy ang ganitong mga programa,” MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana said.

During their summer campaign, Baobab utilized short videos as pre-launch content to generate excitement and drive traffic to the grand launch.

The pre-launch phase alone saw a +43% increase in video views versus regular days.

Designed for the modern generation, the U75 is packed with groundbreaking features.

inDrive volunteers support the Bayanihan sa Estero Project together with the local governments of Valenzuela and Meycauyan Bulacan, and MMDA.

3. Gaming Like Never Before – Built for Ultimate Immersion

● Game Master Mode enhances gameplay with Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Shadow Enhancement, Aiming Aid, and Screenshot Mode, giving gamers a competitive edge.

The exclusive BINIVISION collection, launched with girl group BINI

SHOWBIZ

By Nickie Wang

STORIES have a way of inspiring people when they feel real.

The most memorable ones entertain, make you pause, and leave you seeing life from a new angle. This weekend, GMA Network brings seven of these stories to the big screen in “Ganito Tayo, Kapuso,” each one built around a value that resonates in everyday life.

A lineup of seven short films featuring talents from Sparkle GMA Artist Center will premiere on Sunday, Aug. 17, at Ayala Malls Trinoma in Quezon City. Admission is free. Each short film focuses on one of seven Filipino values: maka-Diyos, masayahin, maabilidad, makabayan, mapagmalasakit, mapagmahal, and malikhain . These values are told through situations that could happen in any home, street, or workplace.

In Tres Marias ( maka-Diyos ), Mikee Quintos, Analyn Barro, and Thea Tolentino, with Kimson Tan in a special participation, play friends seeking a quiet break, until a sudden storm forces them to rethink their trip.

G.G. ( masayahin ) features Euwenn Mikaell, Sienna Stevens, Aljon Banaira, and Kzhoebe Baker as gadget-focused kids taken to a community playground by concerned parents to rediscover games from earlier generations.

Rakatera ( maabilidad ) stars Althea Ablan and Patricia Tumulak in the story of an aspiring teacher determined to push through setbacks.

Opo ( makabayan ) stars Vaness del Moral, David Sean, and Ericca Laude in a story about a Filipino mother teaching her children

Seven short films with big message

heritage through traditions and cooking Binagoongan.

The Job Interbrew ( mapagmalasakit ) features Allen Ansay and Maey Bautista, with Sofia Pablo in a special participation, as they tell the story of a young man delayed for a job interview after stopping to help strangers.

Para! Sa Pamilya ( mapagmahal ) stars Matt Lozano and Heath Jornales in a film about a father recalling jeepney rides with his young son and the joy and gratitude that

PUREGOLD Channel’s digital series

Si Sol at si Luna has built a following for its grounded storytelling, compelling characters, and striking visuals, with episodes that explore the complexities of love in the real world. As the show approaches its finale, a “mega-episode”—a longer installment—will be released Saturday, Aug. 16, at 7 p.m. on Puregold Channel’s YouTube page. Ahead of its debut, the series revisits some of its most notable quotes delivered by the cast.

In Episode 1, Babae sa Bus, Sol says: “Ang paghahabol sa pag-ibig ay parang paghahabol ng araw sa buwan. Mailap pero hindi imposible,” using the eclipse as a metaphor for elusive love.

Episode 4, Signs, features Sol’s father advising: “Siguro, iyon talaga ang sikreto doon, for you to find the magic every day. Love comes at the most unexpected of times. Kapag nakita mo na ito, at nahanap mo na, ‘wag mo nang pakawalan pa.”

In Episode 5, Good Story, Luna’s dark humor reveals her heartbreak:

strengthened their bond.

The Mami Returns ( malikhain ) stars Anton Vinzon , with Roi Vinzon in a special participation, in a story about passion, creativity, and culinary talent turning a bowl of mami into an online sensation.

Produced by GMA’s Sales and Marketing Group, Program Support Department, and Post Production Department, in partnership with Unilab, UL Skin Sciences, Nestlé Philippines, Unilever, Glucerna, and Bioderm, the short films will be seen in

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

By Angelica Villanueva

“GOLDEN,” the breakout track from Netflix’s animated hit KPop Demon Hunters, claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of Aug. 16. On Tuesday, Aug. 12, the song ended the seven-week reign of Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” which had held the top position for nearly four times as long.

Performed in the film by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X and voiced by Ejae Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna, “Golden” is the ninth K-pop song to top the chart, joining six hits by BTS Jungkook’s “Seven” and Jimin’s “Like Crazy.” It is also the first time a K-pop track sung by female vocalists has reached No. 1, and the first No. 1 by fictional characters since “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto in 2022. It is also the first chart-topper by an all-women group of at least three members since Destiny’s Child’s “Bootylicious” in August 2001. Other tracks from the film continue to chart, with rival group Saja Boys’ “Your Idol” at No. 8 and “Soda Pop” at No. 14. In the Philippines, “Golden” remains No. 2 on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100, behind Cup of Joe’s “Multo,” now on its 27th week.

malls, on TV, and online. For those who can’t make it to Trinoma, the lineup will air on GTV (Aug. 18), I Heart Movies (Aug. 23), GMA (Aug. 24), and Heart of Asia (Aug. 31). The films will also be on GMA’s YouTube channel starting Aug. 25, and for international audiences on GMA Pinoy TV (Sept. 6) and GMA Life TV (Oct. 11).

In Episode

Relationship Status,

porke’t gusto kita, hahalikan mo ako tapos iiwan mo ako na parang walang nangyari,” leading to Sol’s confession that his life is falling apart and that her presence matters.

With the finale drawing near, questions remain on

( Jane Oineza)

In the series’ pilot, Sol (Zaijian Jaranilla) shares his take on love and what it means to him

Ara (Karina Bautista) directly confronts Sol (Zaijian Jaranilla), bringing emotions to the surface in a tense exchange

Sol (Zaijian Jaranilla) shares a meaningful conversation with his father (Polo Ravales)

GMA’s ‘Ganito Tayo, Kapuso’ will portray everyday moments that reflect Filipino values

C4 LIFE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025 lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

OUR National Hero might have tasted San Miguel Beer. That thought floated during the launch of the limited-edition “Balik Tanaw” can of San Miguel Pale Pilsen on Aug. 13 at the ECJ Hall, San Miguel Head Office Complex, to mark the beer’s 135th anniversary.

Beer from La Fabrica de Cerveza de San Miguel was first introduced in 1890 in the heart of Manila. The company would later be renamed San Miguel Corporation in 1963. At the anniversary event, San Miguel Brewery president Carlos Antonio Mayo Berba recalled that Rizal was still alive when the beer was first brewed.

“Imagine, 1890. Jose Rizal was still alive then. He was probably invited,” Berba said, noting that Rizal was imprisoned in 1892. “That was the high

society crowd, so he was likely invited. Or maybe during the independence proclamation party in 1898—San Miguel Beer was probably part of the feast.”

Berba also pointed out that San Miguel Beer predates many modern inventions and conveniences.

“If you really think about it globally, what was 1890 then? You know the comforts we’re used to? TV, radio, cars—none of those existed,” he said. “Even some big technologies—the

diesel engine, X-rays. [...] Even the zipper didn’t exist yet; it was only invented in 1891. The Philippines didn’t even have electricity yet. But we already had San Miguel Beer.”

The “Balik Tanaw” project features artwork by Filipino visual artist Francis Nacion, who sought to capture the legacy and history of San Miguel Pale Pilsen across time. His painting, used for the limited-edition can, depicts reimagined scenes from days of old with the beer present, showing how it has enriched social settings and personal milestones.

Jose Rizal might have tasted San Miguel Beer

Very Wang

Nickie Wang

Famous for his stylized forms and distinct half-rendered visage showing both dark and bright sides, Nacion has mounted multiple solo exhibits since 2009 in the Philippines and abroad, highlighting his love for the country and its culture. His affinity for depicting local imagery inspired by traditional values and cultural significance made his creation for the 135th anniversary both intuitive and intentional.

San Miguel Pale Pilsen has been a staple in Filipino gatherings for generations, from small get-togethers to large festivals, forging friendships and becoming a symbol of national pride. The beer’s history traces the country’s culture and storytelling, accompanying Filipinos both at home and abroad.

or www.SMBDelivers.com.

Miguel Brewery president Carlos Antonio Mayo Berba recalls the beer’s history during its 135th anniversary launch

episode

THE Manami Resort in Sipalay, Negros Occidental, will be in the spotlight in the latest episode of EIC On The Move airing tomorrow night at 8:30 on Metro Channel.

Named after the Hiligaynon word for “beautiful,” the fivehectare property is surrounded by verdant hills and the clear waters of the Sulu Sea. It offers activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, jet skiing, and spelunking. Villas are built from bamboo, abaca, and other locally sourced materials.

The episode also highlights Negrenese cuisine served at the resort’s poolside bar, a boat trip to Tinagong Dagat and Campones Bay, and the hilltop Linong Spa, which offers sea views.

EIC On The Move airs on Metro Channel via SKYcable, Cignal, GSAT, and Metro. Style’s YouTube channel.

A GREAT place to work is defined by competitive pay, strong benefits, and a culture where employees feel valued, trusted, and inspired.

Open communication fosters collaboration, while opportunities for professional growth align with a shared sense of purpose.

Recognition from organizations such as Great Place to Work shows a company’s ability to create environments where people are engaged, motivated,, and proud of what they do.

And that’s what employees at Takeda Philippines feel about working at the company.

The global healthcare firm has been named a Great Place to Work for the fourth consecutive year, with 86 percent of employees in the 2025 survey saying it is a great place to work, well above the national average of 65 percent.

The recognition from Great Place to Work, a global authority on workplace culture, highlights the company’s efforts to maintain a high-trust, supportive environment. Takeda Philippines first received the certification in 2022.

Country manager Loreann Villanueva

thanked employees for their feedback, saying it helps the company identify strengths and areas for improvement.

“We are committed to listening, learning, and taking meaningful action to ensure Takeda continues to be a place where everyone can thrive,” she said.

Villanueva noted that 100 percent of employees surveyed said their work at Takeda is a calling. Employees also praised the company’s culture. Access to Medicines lead Sheryll Anne Corpuz cited its open communication and shared vision, while Medical Operations and Excellence manager Hazel Canlas said the company values both professional and personal growth. Great Place to Work vice president Sarah Lewis-Kulin said earning the certification requires consistent dedication to the employee experience. The organization’s research shows that employees at certified workplaces are more likely to look forward to work, feel fairly compensated, and see fair opportunities for promotion.

Employees of Takeda Philippines gather to celebrate their Great Place to Work recognition

Co-hosts Raul (left) and Edu Manzano enjoy Negrenese cuisine

Raul (left) and Edu Manzano on a boat ride to Tinagong Dagat and Campones Bay, which is part of Manami Resort’s full guest experience

Event host Paolo Abrera (left) interviews artist Francis Nacion about his commemorative artwork

San

Artist Francis Nacion presents his painting for the limited-edition ‘Balik Tanaw’ can

San Miguel Brewery Inc. says the “Balik Tanaw” can celebrates its tradition of brewing excellence and the role its beer has played in Filipino life for over a century. The collectible can is available in select supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores, and through SMB Delivers via 8632-BEER (2337)