THREE SANDIGANBAYAN DIVISIONS TO HEAR ZALDY CO CASES
By Maricel V. Cruz and Joel E. Zurbano
day after the Ombudsman’s office filed corruption and malversation of public funds charges against the respondents. In particular, the charges filed against Co and the others pertained to an alleged anomalous P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
Bersamin denies quitting
Former ES says he was forced out, was the last to be told
By Charles Dantes
FORMER Executive
Secretary Lucas Bersamin yesterday denied reports that he had voluntarily resigned, insisting instead that he was told to vacate his post.
“I just read that I resigned out of delicadeza. It sounds nice to say ‘out of delicadeza.’ But that isn’t true; I didn’t resign,” Bersamin said, disputing the Presidential Communications Office’s account of his exit.
The Palace has not responded to Bersamin’s statements as of press time.
Bersamin said a good friend called and informed him that he was to leave his position, which he accepted, noting that he serves “at the pleasure of the President” and no reason was required.
By Pot Chavez and Katrina Manubay
Comelec asks Marcoleta to explain
By Vito Barcelo
By Rex Espiritu
By Joel E. Zurbano
THE League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) on Wednesday issued a manifesto expressing its support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration and his vision for a “Bagong Pilipinas.”
The LMP, representing the grassroots level of government, characterizes the prevailing political disturbances and internal conflicts as “unnecessary distractions” that hinder progress and detract from the pressing need for effective public service. This declaration highlights the LMP’s commitment to maintaining focus on essential governance rather than engaging in divisive political debate.
AHTISA WEARS ‘FESTIJADA’. Ahtisa Manalo, the country’s Ms. Universe bet, brought to the stage a hand-embroidered traje de mestiza ensemble done by Filipino designer Mak Tumang for the National Custome competition. Inspired by the popular festivals of the Philippines, the ‘Festejada’ combined the imageries of the Great Lantern Festival of Pampanga, Pahiyas of Lucban, Quezon, and Panagbenga in Baguio. Ahtisa Manalo’s FB page
TRYOUT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. tries to lift a barbell at the newly renovated strength and conditioning gym during the reopening of the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City on Wednesday. Cheering the President are his son Vini, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick C. Gregorio, Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino, Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion and other officials. PCO
Senate bids farewell to Enrile
By Ram Superable
SENATE
President Vicente Sotto III yesterday led the necrological services for former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile at the Senate session hall.
Former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo and several current and former senators attended the memorial rites to pay their respects to the late Senate leader who was accompanied by his daughter, Katrina.
“He was a man who knew the cost of being a public servant; its impossible choices,
In his remarks, the President underscored the unifying force of sports and its ability to “instil discipline, resilience, and teamwork among Filipino youth.”
“Sports bring pride to every Filipino,” he said, citing the achievements of Manny Pacquiao and Olympic gold medalists Hidilyn Diaz and Caloy Yulo.
“There is no other activity that builds character better than sports,” he added.
Marcos reiterated the administration’s push to revive physical education and competitive activities in schools.
He also said national athletes should not solely rely on an “informal support group” of parents, coaches, and trainers, noting that “government has to play its part,” especially in the athletes’ need for proper nutrition, full medical support, and top-tier preparation to compete internationally.
PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio thanked partner agencies, sports associations, and the private sector for supporting the comprehensive reconstruction, which included waterproofing works, new CCTV systems, improved lighting, upgraded air-conditioning, and enhanced fire detection and alarm systems.
The strength and conditioning gym also received new cardio, weight training, and functional training equipment.
The newly relocated National Sports Museum, now housed within the complex, continues to showcase preserved memorabilia of past and present Filipino sports icons.
The PhilSports Complex, home to a large portion of the national training pool, remains a key venue for local competitions and sports-related events.
Marcos said the improved facilities would “help our athletes do better in international competitions” and continue to bring honor to the country.
its burdens, and its loneliness,” said Sotto.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson recalled being mentored by Enrile during the 2001 midterm elections and credited him for the foundation of his legislative work.
Lacson noted that Enrile’s care for Senate employees demonstrated his
commitment to fairness and loyalty beyond political ambitions.
“A man who donned more titles than anyone, and one who remained a public servant until his very last breath,” he said, describing Enrile’s legacy in office.
For Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Enrile was a mentor he described as one of the country’s greatest legislators.
“He felt like a father to me in the Senate, and to this day, I continue to live by the lessons he taught me as a legislator and public servant,” the senator said.
He also defended Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, his grandnephew, who has been mentioned in connection with the controversy.
He also questioned why the Palace had announced his supposed resignation without consulting him.
“They should have consulted me first… I became the last to be told, which made it difficult to respond to questions,” he said.
He confirmed meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. after his alleged removal from his post but declined to reveal details, citing privileged communication. However, the erstwhile executive secretary denied any involvement in the alleged P52-billion budget insertion, calling accusations against him “innuendo.”
“The Office of the Executive Secretary does not have anything to do with insertions or budget. Our job is to submit our own budget. We do not meddle in other agencies’ budgets,” Bersamin said, dismissing claims that he orchestrated irregularities.
“You cannot expect him to do anything not aligned with those above him. Whatever they say about him, ask him directly, maybe he will give you the answer,” he said.
Bersamin also described as baseless claims, attributed to former DPWH official Roberto Bernardo, by Senate Blue Ribbon chairman Panfilo Lacson.
“I vehemently deny the imputation against me. Bernardo could not be a credible source of relevant information if his knowledge looks and sounds like, at least, triple hearsay... If Senator Lacson has evidence, we will respect that. But don’t say I am the mastermind based on handwritten notes or stories,” he said.
Before his exit, Bersamin admitted that he remained on “holdover” status, technically responsible but no longer empowered to execute official acts.
The former “little president” ex-
Senator Erwin Tulfo praised Enrile for his discipline, intellect, and dedication to public service, recalling personal guidance he received shortly before Enrile’s passing.
Tulfo described Enrile’s legacy as both vast and enduring, shaping institutions and influencing generations of public servants.
“I was always grateful… that someone of his stature appreciated my work, and that his silence, often mistaken for severity, could also mean approval. His confidence strengthened my resolve to serve with integrity,” he said.
pressed no resentment for his removal, but called for proper communication in the issuance of official announcements.
Bersamin’s lack of bitterness was demonstrated when commenting on calls for Mr. Marcos’ resignation.
“The Pres. Marcos, that’s a very good man. Focused na focused ‘yan,” he said.
“I think of all the people who vied for the presidency, he was the most qualified. It turned out to be true when I observed him working firsthand,” he added. Before leaving his office on Tuesday, he also submitted a letter acknowledging the President’s prerogative to replace him and instructed his staff to deliver it to the Commission of Appointments.
Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto has since been named as his replacement.
The President administered Recto’s oath as Acting Executive Secretary while also swearing in former Robinsons Land CEO Frederick Go as Acting Finance Secretary in Malacañang.
“As a bishop and servant of the Filipino people, I speak not to condemn, but to call all of us—especially our leaders—to a deeper moral reflection… Yes, the public has a legitimate right to be informed about the health and capacity of its leaders, especially the President. But publicly accusing a family member—without due process, without clear evidence, and outside the proper forum—undermines not only these values but also the dignity of all involved,” Santos said in a statement. He described Imee’s diatribe as “troubling” not only for its contents but also for its delivery.
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos meanwhile, pushed back against allegations about her and the President, indirectly calling out the spread of “fake news” in a social media post.
Santos emphasized that according to the Gospel, correction should first be done in private conversation before being made public.
According to him, the senator’s statements caused danger instead of helping in healing and understanding.
Despite the incident, the bishop is hopeful that it will serve as an opportunity for all involved to “reflect and listen to their conscience, forgive and heal, and change if there is anything that needs to be corrected.”
“Families are not perfect, but they are meant to be places of reconciliation. Public figures, too, must model this grace—not only for their kin, but for the nation watching,” said Santos who is also parish priest of the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
In a social media post on Wednesday midnight, Nov.19, the First Lady Marcos shared photos of her meeting with a producer, director, and actors who were filming a movie in the country.
“We then talked about the script of their movie and I bit my tongue because I wanted to say:
‘Welcome to entertainment –Pinoy style! Only in Pinas will you find a plot full of holes and actors who can’t deliver and a climax that leaves entire communities underwater,” her post read.
The manifesto states that any threat to the stability of the Office of the President is a threat to the welfare and progress of every municipality.
“Our Provincial Presidents representing their chapters signed this Manifesto because we see the progress being made at the local level. We must protect this momentum. Our focus must remain absolute and that is public service, not political friction,” said LMP National President Mayor Faustino “Inno” Dy V.
The LMP also called on all national government parties to exercise restraint, demonstrate professionalism, and prioritize collaborative governance to ensure uninterrupted public service.
The league also affirms its commitment to upholding integrity and supports the President’s continued effort to stamp out corruption.
The LMP said it stands united, urging all Filipinos and public servants to rally behind the constitutionally mandated leadership for a prosperous and stable Philippines.
Earlier, members and officials of the Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party declared their strong and unwavering support for President Marcos.
Vincent Trinidad, the Navy’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, the exercise provided an unprecedented opportunity for Philippine forces to work alongside a full carrier strike group in conducting complex operations.
“It is not every day that such a force operates within Philippine waters,” he said, adding that the activity strengthened interoperability and reinforced regional security cooperation.
The two-day 13th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA), held on November 14 to 15, also involved the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Philippine vessels BRP OsirisAl (FF150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), supported by an AW159 Wildcat helicopter, participated in combined maritime operations, including anti-submarine warfare drills.
The US Indo-Pacific Command contributed the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, comprising the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN68) and escort ships USS Wayne Meyer (DDG108), USS Gridley (DDG101) and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG123).
For its part, Japan deployed the JS Akebono (DD-108) along with an SH60K Seahawk helicopter.
A CSG is a naval formation centered on an aircraft carrier, designed to project power at sea and over land.
According to US Navy doctrine, a typical CSG includes the carrier itself, a complement of aircraft known as a “carrier air wing,” surface escort ships such as guided-missile cruisers and destroyers, submarines and logistical support vessels.
This configuration allows the group to operate independently, defend itself, and conduct a wide variety of missions, from anti-submarine warfare to power projection and sea control.
The Sandiganbayan’s website shows that the first case (alleged violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) will be handled by the anti-graft court’s fifth division, composed of Associate Justices Zaldy V. Trespeses, Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac, and Gener M. Gito.
The second graft case with Co as the only accused is assigned to the court’s seventh division, composed of Associate Justices Lorifel Lacap Pahimna and Georgina D. Hidalgo.
The third case (malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents) was raffled to the court’s sixth division composed of Associate Justices Sarah Jane T. Fernandez, Kevin Narce B. Vivero, and Lord A. Villanueva, the website also showed.
Also charged were DPWH Region IV-B Regional Director Gerald A. Pacanan III, Assistant Regional Director Gene Ryan A. Altea, Assistant Regional Director Ruben C. Santos Jr., Project Engineer III Felisardo S. Casuno, Materials Engineer Timojen A. Sacar, and Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division OIC-Chief, Accountant IV Lerma D. Cayco, Planning and Design Division OIC-Chief Montrexis T. Tamayo, Maintenance Division Chief Juliet C. Calvo, and the board of directors of Sunwest Corporation.
Sources at the Sandiganbayan explained that hearings to determine probable cause would likely be held soon, and these would serve as the basis for the possible issuance of arrest orders, as the Ombudsman has recommended no bail for respondents. Meanwhile, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said contractors Curlee and
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the MMCA series highlights its focus on protecting the country’s sovereign rights and bolstering cooperation with allied forces.
“These engagements reinforce the Philippines’ resolve to defend its maritime domains, enhance interoperability, and uphold freedom of navigation under a rules-based Indo-Pacific order,” the AFP said in a statement on Sunday.
Sarah Discaya are next to be charged in court over their alleged role in anomalous flood control projects.
“The way I see it, the next cases to be filed are against the Discayas. Some of these cases have already undergone preliminary investigation. It’s already submitted for resolution,” he said in a mixture of Filipino and English.
Remulla also has confirmed that Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Dong Gonzales is once more being investigated—this time over his supposed role in a family-owned construction firm that secured ₱1.6 billion worth of DPWH projects since 2016.
Based on 2025 Securities and Exchange Commission filings, obtained by Bilyonaryo News Channel, AD Gonzales Jr. Construction & Trading Co. Inc. is led by Gonzales’ children, who occupy top executive positions. As this developed, the Independent
Minutes later, the First Lady posted a photo of a fabricated art card, appearing to allude to Sen. Imee Marcos’ allegation that she and the President were using illegal drugs.
“And speaking of fake news… ‘welcome to entertainment, Pinoy style,” her second post stated.
Marcoleta’s SOCE and his publicly available Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). The senator earlier admitted he omitted certain donors at their request for anonymity, even as his SOCE reflected P139.9 million in campaign spending—far higher than his declared net worth of P51.9 million.
“We will ask for his explanation and examine the documents. His SALN is public, and we also have a copy of his SOCE,” Garcia said, noting that Comelec wants to determine the source of the funds used in the campaign.
Garcia reminded candidates that Section 99 of the Omnibus Election Code requires full reporting of contributions and expenses. Those found to have submitted misleading SOCEs may face perjury charges.
Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) announced it had decided to delay submitting complaint referrals to the Ombudsman concerning three current and former senators. This decision is made in light of a new affidavit by former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, which requires further investigation, as the ICI seeks a thorough and transparent process before finalizing any charges.
“We are reevaluating everything because of the affidavit of Usec. Bernardo. We are studying that. So, we’ll have a delay of maybe 10 days from last Friday. Hopefully, we’ll finish it,” ICI chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. said. Bernardo has expressed willingness to become a state witness, intending to provide testimony against the individuals, including lawmakers, involved in several anomalous flood control projects in the country.
A FIRST FOR PH NAVY. For the first time in its history, Philippine Navy warships join a
US Navy carrier strike group during a multilateral maritime exercise in the West Philippine Sea. A Japanese warship also participated in the exercise. Japanese embassy
DA boosts rice awareness month drive nationwide
THE Department of Agriculture
(DA) is strengthening the annual observance of National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) this November with the continuing theme “Be RICEponsible,” aimed at promoting healthier and more responsible rice consumption while supporting local farmers.
NRAM is celebrated every November to raise public awareness on the importance of rice, address malnutrition and poverty, and promote national rice self-sufficiency.
“This started with the United Nations’ declaration of the International Year of Rice in 2024 and was reinforced through Proclamation No. 524,” Philippine Rice Research Institute Supervising Science Research Specialist Charisma Love GadoGonzales said in a radio interview on Wednesday.
“The goal of this is to encourage every Filipino that something can be done in our simple ways for ourselves, the farmers, and the country,” she added.
She noted that irresponsible practices, including food waste, avoidance of nutritious rice varieties, and preference for imported rice continue to affect the rice sector.
A key component of the initiative is the “A-Ba-Ka-Da” movement, which encourages consumers to adopt mindful rice practices: Mix rice with other staples such as adlai, corn, and saba; Choose brown or unpolished rice; Avoid wasting rice; Support locally produced rice.
The campaign encourages households, schools, agencies, and communities to make every grain count by embracing healthier diets and choosing rice varieties that are nutritious and sustainably produced.
Business group urges open budget talks
PHILIPPINE Business for Education
(PBEd), an industry-led advocacy group, is calling for increased transparency, including open bicameral conference committee deliberations, in the final stages of the 2026 national budget process.
The call follows a historic P1.38 trillion allocation for the education sector in the proposed budget.
The increased funding, which Senate finance committee chair Senator Sherwin Gatchalian reported represents roughly 20 percent of the total budget or 4.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, is a welcome development, it said.
PBEd executive director Bal Camua noted that the allocation brings the Philippines closer to the global benchmark for education spending.
Camua said that while the investment offers an opportunity to improve learning outcomes, teacher quality, and facilities, it should be paired with transparency and accountability to ensure the money benefits learners.
PBEd urged lawmakers to open the bicameral conference committee (bicam) talks to the public, as this final negotiation phase often determines crucial funding priorities and realignments.
“Decisions made in the bicam can significantly reshape allocations and the public deserves to know how and why these decisions are made,” Camua said.
Gatchalian: Senate will block ‘alien insertions’
By Ram Superable
SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday assured that he will oppose any item in the proposed 2026 national budget that did not appear in the versions approved by either chamber as lawmakers prepare for bicameral conference negotiations.
He stressed that the Senate will guard against what he described as unauthorized additions that may surface during the final phase of the budget process.
“That is what we will guard moving forward, especially in the bicam conference. We will no longer al -
low alien projects, meaning projects that are not in the original proposal or those that suddenly appear in the bicam,” said Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance.
The senator argued that these insertions undermine the integrity of
the national spending plan by introducing projects that were never reviewed, debated, or aligned with the administration’s original priorities.
He made the statement after Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson disclosed that some executive officials allegedly misrepresented the President during deliberations on the 2025 budget.
Lacson’s account raised concerns that about one hundred billion pesos in additional appropriations were inserted during last year’s bicameral talks.
Gatchalian said he intends to address these concerns directly as the Senate prepares its negotiating position for the 2026 budget.
where city, barangay, school, and private-sector officials meet to discuss science- and engineering-based solutions to strengthen flood preparedness.
‘Yellow
alert’ on Visayas grid—NGCP
By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) raised a yellow alert for the Visayas grid for five hours Wednesday afternoon, citing insufficient operating margin due to the forced shutdown of several power plants, including major coal and geothermal facilities.
The yellow alert status, which indicates the operating margin is inadequate to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement, was in effect from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time. The alert was triggered by 14 plants on forced outage and several others operating at derated capacity, rendering a total of 898.6 megawatts (MW) unavailable to the grid.
The Visayas grid’s available capac-
ity stood at 2,694 MW against a peak demand of 2,351 MW. Major contributors to the shortage include the unavailability of both Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the Therma Visayas Inc. coal plant in Cebu, owned by Aboitiz Power Corp., each with a capacity of 169 MW. Energy Development Corp.’s Leyte Geothermal Power Plant 3 also underwent an emergency shutdown, with its capacity derated from 79.5 MW to 39.3 MW. Some of the plants have been out for an extended period, with 14 plants on forced outage between April and November, four since 2024, and two since 2023.
Meanwhile, the Luzon and Mindanao grids were reported to be operating under normal conditions.
IN BRIEF
RTC resets Dengvaxia pre-trial on defense claim
THE Quezon City Regional Trial Court on Wednesday reset the pretrial proceedings of the Dengvaxia civil cases to rule on a defense claim that the legal period had already expired.
Branch 226 Judge Manuel Sta. Cruz Jr. assured parties he would soon begin the pre-trial to address the affirmative defense raised by the accused, particularly vaccine distributor Zuellig Pharma. Defense lawyers argued the charges had lapsed as the civil case for damages with reckless imprudence carries a four-year prescriptive period. They said the time limit had passed and the cases should be dismissed. An affirmative defense, if proven credible, can negate liability even if the acts occurred.
The Public Attorney’s Office, handling 163 civil cases filed by relatives of schoolchildren whose deaths were linked to the vaccine, countered that the cases had not prescribed. PAO said the period should be counted from the date of death or the forensic findings, not the date of inoculation. Rio N. Araja
PH, Kenya reps engage in bilateral discussions
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Kenya’s Director General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs Josphat Maikara discussed key regional and multilateral issues during the second session of the Kenya-Philippines Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. Lazaro said the consultations tackled areas of cooperation and support in multilateral fora.
She welcomed the holding of the second political consultations, cochaired by DFA Assistant Secretary Germinia Aguilar-Usudan and Director-General Maikara. Kenya’s State Department for Foreign Affairs said the discussions covered strengthening trade ties, education, maritime issues, labor and diaspora concerns, security cooperation, and disaster management.
Both delegations agreed to elevate the JCBC to ministerial level to further advance shared interests. They emphasized the importance of enhancing peopleto-people exchanges, boosting tourism, and improving trade, which currently favors the Philippines. Katrina Manubay
DHSUD gives modular shelters to fire victims
THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has turned over modular housing units to the San Juan City government to serve as temporary shelters for more than 100 families displaced by a fire.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the units will also be used as a staging area for a project under the President’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.
Aliling said the fire victims are potential beneficiaries of the expanded 4PH initiative in San Juan City. The program aims to provide long-term housing assistance to affected families while supporting local resettlement efforts. Rio N. Araja
RISING WATER LEVELS. Houses along the coastal
waters of Obando, Bulacan stand amid rising water levels on Wednesday. The Climate Change Commission urges swift local action as projections show up to 30% of Metro Manila could be permanently submerged by 2040. Manny Palmero
NEW TRAINEES. The Coast Guard Regional Training Center in Masbate
trainees of Coast Guard Non-Officer Course Class 116-2025.
QC FLOOD SUMMIT. Mayor Joy Belmonte speaks at the first Quezon City Flood Summit,
HURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
‘Uwan’ death toll rises to 33—NDRRMC
IN BRIEF
Manila council adopts pro-Muslim resolution
THE city council of Manila aims to provide institutionalized support to the Madrasah Education Program (MEP) and prioritize the welfare of the Muslim community in the capital city.
In her message, city council presiding officer Vice Mayor Chi Atienza said a resolution on the issue “resonates” with her pillar of inclusivity.
“I am happy with the ordinance made by Councilor [Elmer] Par because I also support our Muslim compatriots... I hope you can think of different ways to make them feel that they are supported and that our government in Manila is inclusive,” Atienza said in Filipino.
The 13th council of Manila on Tuesday passed on second reading the proposed ordinance that seeks to integrate community-based Islamic schools into the city’s support framework. Pot Chavez
OCD urges Cordillera people to have radios
THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD)—Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC) urged residents of the region to acquire a transistor radio, which has been proven to be the most effective way of disseminating information, especially in far-flung communities, during calamities.
“We saw that one of the challenges is bringing information to all residents, especially safety information during calamities,” said Jose Ignacio Valera, Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) officer of OCD-CAR, in a radio interview on Tuesday. He said that on regular days, cellular phones or televisions are useful gadgets.
However, this is not the case during calamities when electricity is cut off and the internet signal is either weak or unavailable.
Rex Espiritu
Chinese rocket parts found in Ilocos shores
APPARENT rocket parts believed to be of Chinese origin were recovered along the shores of Barangay Pagali in Burgos, Ilocos Norte following reports from local residents.
The 28th Marine Company of the 4th Marine Brigade (4MBde) said initial investigation indicated that the debris recovered on Nov. 9 may have come from a rocket launched by China’s People’s Liberation Army on Nov. 2. Forensic analysis is needed to confirm te objects’ origin and composition, according to authorities.
The recovery of the debris was coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Pagali Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the 4MBde said. Rex Espiritu
By Rex Espiritu
THE number of reported fatalities due to super typhoon “Uwan” (international name: Fung-Wong) has increased to 33, while an estimated 7,539,110 people were affected, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). on Wednesday.
The NDRRMC latest update released on Wednesday showed that so far, only of the 33 deaths had been confirmed, and this took place in the Zamboanga peninsula (Region 9).
The 32 reported fatalities were still being validated, broken down as 20 in the Cordillera Administrative Region, seven in the Bicol Region, three in Central Luzon, and one each in Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas.
The NDRRMC report also showed that 2,139,837 families from 14,854 barangays in 16 regions across the
country were affected by Uwan.
As of Wednesday morning, around 80,720 families were still sheltered in 3,169 evacuation centers nationwide, while another 118,356 were tentatively housed in other places. Uwan, deemed one of the strongest storms to hit the country this year, also damaged some 300,000 homes in 14 regions, the NDRRMC said. Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. has ordered round-the-clock relief and rehabilitation operations in areas ravaged by the super typhoon.
VMMC celebrates ‘70
THE Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) vowed to sustain its quality health care and hospital services to Filipino veterans and their qualified dependents as it celebrated its 70th founding anniversary. The jubilee observance had for its theme “Saluting Our Past, Inspiring Our Future: 70 Years of Healing Heroes.”
Dr. Eli Paulino Madrona, the chairperson of the VMMC 70th anniversary committee, noted that the milestone was not just a reflection of VMMC’s rich history, but also about “honoring the countless healing heroes who have shaped its legacy while renewing its
Years of Healing Heroes’
commitment to providing exceptional care for generations to come.”
Retired Maj. Gen. Jose Magno, Jr., a revered pioneer of the Philippine Army’s Special Forces, the last surviving officer of the Philippine Contingent 1 to the Vietnam War in 1964, and a pillar of the UP Vanguard, graced the commemoration rites.
“When I retired, I was able to see how the veterans have been taken care of. Fellow veterans, you should remember that after your active service, the Veterans Medical Memorial Center will take care of you. That is why we are very lucky today to have face-to-face with
our doctors, our nurses, our administrators. So today is a homecoming. We are happy to be invited,” Magno said in his inspirational message. Former VMMC directors Dr. Antonio B. Sison, Dr. Nona dela Fuente Legaspi, and Dr. Dominador Chiong, Jr., also joined the VMMC community in celebrating the hospital’s anniversary. VMMC director Peter Paul Reuben Galvez culminated the program by conveying his heartfelt gratitude to the VMMC family and stakeholders for their unwavering commitment. Rex Espiritu
Voters’ registration for BSKE close to 500-k mark
By Vito Barcelo
ALMOST half a million voters have registered for the November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), nearly a month after the opening of the voters’ list-up nationwide. Data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed that 483,334 voter registration applications were received from Oct. 20 to Nov. 16. The poll body said the running total was already approaching the 500,000 mark in less than a month since registration officially began.
Filipino lawyer garners honors in Europe
A FILIPINO lawyer based in Spain has been making waves in both legal and technical circles in Europe. Jose Coching Rodriguez, eldest son of veteran journalist Jose Rodriguez and portraitist/painter Lulu Coching, was recently conferred the FT (Financial Times) Innovative Lawyers Award-Europe in recognition of his work as director of innovation and technology of his group, the KPMG Abogados. Rodriguez, who was born in Manila and migrated to Spain after graduating from high school, finished his law studies with a master’s degree in stock market and financial markets at the Institute of Stock Exchange Studies. He also had digital training at ESADE.
“More than an individual recognition, it is the validation of the culture of innovation that we have built within KPMG Abogados,” Coching commented after receiving the award.
Coching joined the KPMG as a fellow in 2011 and later on headed a small team of the organization.
“We were two people with an idea and a lot of curiosity,” he recalled. “I trained alone at a time when there were no Legal Tech master’s degrees.”
That humble beginning evolved into an organization of more than 30 digital solutions deployed in 90 countries and used by more than 10,000 professionals worldwide, the FT noted.
The combination of legal logic and tech mentality has allowed Coching to promote a pioneering model in the Spanish legal sector: the hybrid lawyer, capable of combining legal knowledge, data analysis and process design, says FT. Recently, Coching was included by his peers in the 2026 edition of “The Best Lawyers in Spain” for his highcaliber work.
The Comelec reported that it has processed 484,334 applications during the same period, covering new voter registrations, transfers from other cities or municipalities, and multiple other categories of voter-related transactions. Calabarzon posted the highest number of processed applications with 103,752, followed by the National Capital Region with 63,030, Central Luzon with 54,080, Central Visayas with 28,047, and Caraga with 26,585. The Cordillera Administrative Region logged the lowest turnout at 6,478 processed applications. Of the total, 389,042 applicants registered for the barangay polls, while 94,292 sought to become Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) voters. Among regular voters aged 18 and above, the Comelec counted 132,054 new registrants.
The Comelec also processed 149,644 applications for transfer from other cities or municipalities, 30,584 transfers within the same locality, and 21,098 applications for reactivation. For SK voters aged 15 to 17, there were 88,760 new registrants, along with hundreds of applications for transfers and 4,763 requests for correction of entries.
PINOY LAWYER WINS AWARD IN EUROPE. Jose Coching Rodriguez, a Filipino lawyer based in Spain, receives an FT (Financial Times) Innovative Lawyers Award Europe in recognition of his work as director of innovation and technology of the organization KPMG Abogados.
VMMC JUBILEE. Retired Army Maj. Gen. Jose Magno Jr., a veteran of the Vietnam War, is guest of honor at the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City. The affair has for its theme ’70 Years of Healing Heroes.’
OPINION
All the President’s men
FLOODGATE, it appears, is traceable to Malacanang and Congress.
Let me backtrack: on July 28, the president shouted “Mahiya naman kayo!” – prefacing the now famous words. Days before, massive floods causing loss of lives and properties made a mockery of his previous SONA about his DPWH completing 5,500 flood control projects. Damage control for the fourth SONA had to be made: inoculate Malacanang from the rising anger of the public. Hindi pwedeng mapahiya ang hari. To bolster the president’s new resolve to go after crooks, his propaganda tacticians thought of “Isumbong mo sa Pangulo,” another nice gimmick.
This got the legislature to mount investigations galore. In the HoR, they assigned it it to a former leftist who was fired by Duterte in his time. His party list, once “owned” by a Bicol politician, has been taken over, “bought” by Zaldy Co, according to a congressman.
But in the Senate, the Blue Ribbon chair could not be conscripted, so they replaced the leadership and installed a new chair, someone whose independence was highly regarded. Still, things did not match up. Instead, there were a series of reactions, of cut and paste tactics. The witnesses sang “disintunado,” from contractors to DPWH engineers, so another ploy was invented – a toothless Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Reputable men and a lady were conscripted, their motivations likely pure, and placed their trust in the president’s sincerity.
But the obfuscation by principal players continued. The “witnesses” kept changing their stories, intent on saving themselves, or at least minimizing the extent of their criminal participation. Worse, some were pressured to change their lyrics because the most sacred of cows had to be untouched.
The criminal syndicates in the HoR were strangely less pilloried by the Blue Ribbon, feasting instead on fellow senators. Even the ICI investigations came into question, muddled further by a loquacious secretary of justice who was promoted to term-clad Ombudsman.
The central figure, the guy who should know all the skeletons in the most criminal budget in history, was nowhere to be seen.
Mamacita, donde esta Zaldy Co?
Then when Co sensed that he was to be made the fall guy, while his “bosses” were being spared, a la God save the King, he opened up with a series of “confessions” on the internet.
He was sacked as appropriations chair last Jan. 2025, and only an idiot would believe he resigned for medical reasons. He was not in the HoR when the words “Mahiya…” rang, so he could not hypocritically join the ovation. But he collected aces in his sleeve, “just in case,” and now uses the internet like ka-
raoke.
“No probative value,” “come home and face the music,” the waggoners circled around the king chanted. They forget a cardinal rule in communication --- perception is reality.
Co’s logic may be faulted, his statements lacking foolproof legal ground as of now. He has to substantiate his charges, preferably in the country, and this writer agrees.
The yellow collaborators who want to preserve the “kingdom” because they just hate the Constitutional successor, debunk Zaldy and his song.
If our president was misrepresented, in effect, fooled by his men (and a woman), what does that make of him?
“Why insert in the bicam when the president is author of the NEP?” they ask. Simple, mga BBS (Bilib na Bilib sa Sarili, a term borrowed from Yorme).
In the “president’s budget” he exposes his hand. In the bicam with its smallest committee, you need to conspire with only two or three people. And Zaldy was their “trusted” boy.
But now it seems all the president’s men, just like Watergate in Richard Nixon’s time, were ordering Co, “by authority of the president,” or so Ping Lacson now reveals. Not even the president’s men, but the men of the president’s men.
For Zaldy, he knew that getting his colleagues to sign the impeachment complaint required promises of more pork, so the instructions were credible. Payment time, with elections forthcoming.
The president’s men had reasons to “insert” 100 billion for Zaldy to manipulate. So Co and his small bicam had to slash from Philhealth, from DepEd, wherever, to accommodate the president’s order, as relayed by the president’s men.
So the president’s men misrepresented their boss? The president’s men pocketed all the “contractual obligations?”
I remember what the Russian president said in The Sum of all Fears, when some rogue general ordered a dangerous attack that could trigger a war with the US.
Said Pres. Nemerov, played by Ciaran Hinds in that movie: “I would rather be called guilty than incompetent.”
If our president was misrepresented, in effect, fooled by his men (and a woman), what does that make of him?
“Kind-hearted,” Lacson describes our president.
Used because he is a “user,” the sister rued.
AMIDST all the corruption scandals engulfing the country, let’s take time to say something about the quiet passing of former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.
Not too many people are blessed with very long lives to allow them not only to be a witness to but be a major participant in historical and political events of their country.
Such was the life of JPE who passed away quietly on Nov. 13, at the ripe old age of 101 years old. Born on Valentine’s Day in 1924, he was 11 years old but old enough to understand the significance of the 1935 Philippine Constitution that ushered in the start of self-rule for the country under the Americans.
He was also a witness to the Japanese invasion of our country in 1942 and eventually participated in it as a foot soldier.
And when the Americans restored full independence on July 4, 1946, he was already a young man of 22, ready to face the challenges of a new independent nation.
But it was in the second half of his long life that saw him participate in and initiate a movement that precipitated tumultuous political events that continue to reverberate to this time.
Sometimes, however, living too long has some downsides when it comes to interpreting political events in which historical figures like JPE participated in.
One example of this was President Emilio Aguinaldo who also lived a long life, dying in 1965 at the age of 96 years old. Since most if not all of our national heroes died young like Dr Jose Rizal and
Andres Bonifacio, they are mostly remembered for their sacrifices and noble deeds and not for any mistakes.
With President Aguinaldo, however, there are still many issues which up to now remain unsettled like his participation in the deaths of Andres Bonifacio and General Antonio Luna.
This could happen to the late Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.
But any evaluation of his impact in our contemporary politics especially during the tumultuous four days in Feb. 1986, should wait for him to be given the proper sendoff that a giant of a man like him deserves.
Any evaluation of his impact in our contemporary politics... should wait for him to be given the proper sendoff that a giant of a man like him deserves
In those tense February days, JPE was one of the three principal political players that eventually toppled the government of President Marcos Sr. Of those three principal players, however, only he did not ascend to the presidency.
EDITORIAL
Are Zaldy Co’s online posts credible?
IF WE’RE to believe everything that Zaldy Co has said in several online posts from wherever he is right now—that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and resigned House Speaker Martin Romualdez conspired to surreptitiously insert P100 billion into the 2025 national budget so they can stuff all that into their own pockets and laugh all the way to the bank—and in effect saying he had nothing to do with any wrongdoing whatsoever, then we’re all being taken for a ride.
The truth is, the resigned Ako Bicol Party-List congressman and former chair of the House Committee on Appropriations is trying to turn the world upside down and wants to absolve himself of any responsibility for alleged massive thievery from the national treasury.
Co is practically saying he is pure as the driven snow and his claim that he is not involved in any monkey business does not fly.
The fact that he has flown to parts unknown and does not want to come home to face plunder charges against him that could put him behind bars for many, many years offers ample proof that he is guilty as sin.
The President has done the right thing and simply brushed off Co’s accusation: “I don’t want to even dignify what he was saying.” For his part, Leyte Rep. Romualdez
has chosen to face the allegation head-on with a statement “my conscience remains clear” and emphasized “no public official, contractor, or witness has pointed to any wrongdoing on my part.”
What Zaldy Co should do now is to return to the country and substantiate his claims
He also dismissed Co’s claims as not made under oath and therefore do not hold water in a court of law. While Romualdez’s public denial may
By Juan ‘Yuan’ Santos
IN THE lush landscapes of Dulag, Leyte, a transformative initiative is quietly reshaping the future of Philippine agriculture.
The Dulag Hybrid Rice and Organic Fertilizer Derby, kicked off in June 2023 by the Department of Agriculture Regional Office VIII alongside the local government unit, goes far beyond a typical competition.
Spanning 8.5 hectares of demonstration plots, it highlights hybrid rice strains and organic fertilizers in a hands-on way that empowers farmers.
As a passionate advocate for public administration and rural progress, I see this as a shining example of how smart government involvement can connect lofty national strategies with the daily struggles of smallholder farmers.
With agriculture supporting nearly 27 percent of our workforce amid persistent low yields and climate threats, programs like this are vital—not just helpful—for securing food supplies and building economic strength.
This Derby fits perfectly into Government Intervention Theory, emphasizing how government must step in to fix market shortcomings like soil damage and unequal access to resources.
Backed by key laws—the Local Government Code of 1991 and the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997—it shows LGUs stepping up with real innovation.
Through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, Dulag’s LGU supplied hybrid seeds and organic fertilizers, letting farmers trial balanced approaches that ramp up production and cut expenses.
Based on the real stories of participants— mostly small-scale rice growers who have endured soil loss and unpredictable rains—this setup promotes true participatory governance.
It’s a collaborative race where farmers compare varieties, exchange knowledge, and shape flexible policies.
With 1,135 farmers gaining P5,000 each in aid plus millions in vouchers, it turns local hurdles into scalable solutions. This is fiscal
The two others – Corazon C. Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos – eventually became presidents one after the other. Only JPE failed to become President to claim what he perhaps believed was his just reward but, try as he did, he never became President.
He stayed on in politics, eventually becoming the Senate President during the 15th Congress but that was as far as he achieved.
He stayed in the periphery of politics, eventually becoming the Presidential Legal Adviser to PBBM trying to help the son of the President he helped to topple in 1986. It is probably too soon to be able to properly evaluate without any biases his impact in the political life of his country but it can-
be viewed as a political statement, the important thing is to offer an airtight legal defense.
He should be able to show that the House had the authority to insert specific items, that there has been no misallocation of funds, and that inserted items were legitimate projects aligned with national government goals. Investigators must show documentary and testimonial proof that everything has been aboveboard. The decisive factor will be documentary and forensic evidence produced in formal probes. The latest development on this issue is the “full, unwavering confidence” of the members of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the most dominant party in the House of Representatives, behind Romualdez. “Attempts to drag his name into the controversy have relied heavily on shifting narratives and claims aired in venues where they are not tested, examined, or supported by documentation,” said the 109-strong party. His “willingness to cooperate in any lawful process,” they added, was “consistent with the attitude of a public servant who has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.”
What Zaldy Co should do now is to return to the country and substantiate his claims against President Marcos Jr. and Rep. Romualdez with notarized affidavits that can stand in court, instead of claiming that he has received death threats without showing any proof.
Game-changer for sustainable farming
decentralization at its best, flipping fragility into real empowerment.
What makes the Derby stand out is its smart balance of higher output and ecofriendliness, tackling our nation’s dual battles against environmental ruin and hunger. As rice feeds 75 percent of Filipinos, it’s hit hard by single-crop farming, excessive chemicals, and weather extremes—especially in typhoon-prone Eastern Visayas.
It’s hit hard by singlecrop farming, excessive chemicals, and weather extremes— especially in typhoonprone Eastern Visayas
By pushing organic options, the program fights soil erosion, improves nutrient use, and strengthens weather resistance, mirroring worldwide research on hybrid rice for steady harvests. Programs like this, tailored to farmers’ diverse backgrounds in age, education, and expertise, give a voice to those sidelined in decision-making. Its data on better yields and lower costs proves sustainable methods are essential, not extras. Some say it’s costly upfront, but the enduring benefits for ecosystems and livelihoods make national rollout a no-brainer.
In essence, the Derby shows how grassroots ideas can ignite nationwide change: a wake-up call for other LGUs and a commitment to people-focused systems blending tech and time-tested ways for fair progress. By valuing farmers’ insights and solid evidence, we can grow more than crops—we can nurture a tougher rural backbone. This is governance that truly uplifts. Building on the Derby’s triumphs, we need a solid policy backbone to roll it out to
not be denied that the events of Feb. 1986 will define his political legacy. He initiated the political upheaval that toppled a president that he served for about 20 years. And largely thru his instigation, it brought the military establishment into the realm of politics that resulted in toppling the Marcos Sr. government.
From that time on to this day, we always hear about the military participating in many alleged destabilization plots against the government including in the current flood control corruption scandal.
After 1986, one other president was pushed out of office with the military par-
more towns. These steps would unlock its full potential.
Dulag’s wins underscore LGUs’ power to customize farm aid. We should push policies for deeper fiscal devolution, giving LGUs more budget sway and expert help for crafting and running programs. Train agri officers on hybrid seeds, organic use, and community involvement. Equip them with tools for soil testing and demo sites like Dulag’s 8.5 hectares to turn LGUs into innovation centers.
*The Derby thrived by weaving in farmers’ input for ongoing tweaks. Mandate nationwide farmer groups to codesign, track, and assess agri efforts, making them relevant and sticky. Set up steady talks between farmers, LGUs, and DA regional teams to adapt plans to real-life needs.
*Hybrid seeds, organics, and cash help via RCEF fueled Dulag’s progress.. Ensure steady subsidies for sustainable tools everywhere—think cash grants, vouchers, or cheap loans for eco-shifts. Introduce LGU-level climate funds to ease off chemicals and build soil vitality.
*The Derby tested tech effectively. Pour resources into beefed-up extension services to spread know-how on hybrid growing, organics, and smart fertilizing. Create simple guides, host field events, and build peer networks; add apps for instant advice to beat location hurdles.
*Spread models like Dulag’s by promoting teamwork and info swaps. Build a national repository of top local agri wins, run yearly forums, and reward adapting LGUs. Let the central government guide with funds and tips to scale these for national farm goals. These ideas would foster a supportive space for spot innovations like the Derby, driving the Philippines toward secure food, tough farms, and thriving countryside. (The writer is a part-time university instructor/Sales and Advertising Consultant and pursuing MA in Public Administration at Rizal Technological University.)
ticipating in his ouster. In essence, therefore, we could say the military has not completely gone back to the barracks because we always hear people considering the military as an important element in any extra judicial takeover of political power.
It is something like half in and half out. The ideal situation is for the military to completely return to the barracks and for the public never hearing of them being recruited or a segment of the military wanting to join any extra judicial effort to topple a duly constituted government. But with all our problems at hand, that is easier said than done.
Junta raids scam center, arrests 346
US Congress orders Epstein files released
WASHINGTON, DC – US lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time) for releasing government files on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after President Donald Trump dropped his opposition to opening the books on a scandal that has roiled politics, law enforcement and the country’s elite. The president had put allies in Congress under intense pressure not to make the material public, but the Republican leader threw in the towel over the weekend as it became clear that much of his party was poised to defy him.
Congress approved the Epstein Files Transparency Act almost unanimously -- compelling publication of unclassified documents detailing the investigation into the disgraced financier’s operations and jailhouse death,
which was ruled a suicide.
Lawmakers say the public deserves answers in a case with over 1,000 alleged victims.
Trump says the files will expose powerful Democrats’ connections to Epstein, but the president himself faces uncomfortable scrutiny over his years-long friendship with the man alleged to have supplied underage girls to rich and influential men.
The bill passed the House earlier Tuesday with just one dissenter out of 428 members voting, and the Senate agreed to rubber-stamp and bounce the text straight to the White House, without a hand-count vote, as soon as it arrives from the lower chamber.
Trump has pledged not to veto the legislation, but Washington-watchers are not expecting imminent damning
new revelations. The Justice Department has wide latitude to hold back information if its release “would jeopardize an active federal investigation.”
Meanwhile Trump, in a widely criticized intervention last week, ordered officials to probe Epstein’s ties with high-profile Democrats. The saga has exposed rare fissures in support for the Republican leader, who previously campaigned on releasing the files but changed course after taking office, accusing Democrats of pushing a “hoax.”
After multiple attempts by Republican leaders to block the vote, all Democrats and four Republicans signed a “discharge petition” -- an extraordinary procedure forcing the bill to the House floor against the wishes of leadership. AFP
Without satellites, ‘we go dark’ – monitor
PARIS – US budget cuts risk creating blind spots in Earth monitoring systems that would imperil weather forecasting and climate research for years to come, the deputy chair of a key UN-backed climate monitoring body warned in an AFP interview.
Peter Thorne is the deputy chair of the Global Climate Observing System, a littleknown but crucial UN-backed program that tracks and evaluates data on the atmosphere, land and ocean.
“In the 30 years I’ve been in this game, we’ve always seen incremental improvements in our ability to diagnose the
Earth system,” Thorne, who is also a professor at Ireland’s Maynooth University, told AFP.
“This is possibly the first time we’re looking at an acute reversal in our capability to monitor the Earth, just when we need it the most.”
Humanity has more data than ever about the planet: from balloons tracking winds and bobbing sea floats gauging ocean heat, to satellites with sweeping views of glaciers, ice sheets and atmospheric pollution.
But years of complacency and threats to funding from President Donald Trump’s current and proposed budget cuts
YANGON –Myanmar’s military said Wednesday it raided an internet scam hub on the Thai border, arresting nearly 350 people, part of a highly publicized crackdown against the booming black market compounds.
Sprawling fraud factories have ballooned in war-torn Myanmar’s border regions, housing scammers targeting internet users with romance and business cons worth tens of billions of dollars annually.
Myanmar’s junta has long been accused of turning a blind eye but has trumpeted a crackdown since February after being lobbied by key military backer China, experts say. Additional raids beginning last month were part of a propaganda effort, according to some monitors, choreographed to vent pressure from Beijing without too badly denting profits that enrich the junta’s militia allies.
Myanmar’s military descended on gambling and fraud hub Shwe Kokko on Tuesday morning, according to state media The Global New Light of Myanmar.
“During the operation, 346 foreign nationals currently under scrutiny were arrested,” it said.
“Nearly ten thousand mobile phones used in online gambling operations were also seized.”
Since a 2021 coup sparked a civil war, Myanmar’s loosely governed borderlands have proven fertile ground for scam hubs which analysts say are staffed by thousands of willing workers as well as people trafficked from abroad.
But the junta’s military backer China has been increasingly irked at the number of its citizens who are both perpetrators and victims of the scams, experts say. The junta on Wednesday blamed armed opposition groups for allowing scam centres to operate under their protection, but said it had taken action after wrestling back territorial control.
The Global New Light of Myanmar said the Yatai firm of Chinese-Cambodian alleged racketeer She Zhijiang was “the entity involved” in running the Shwe Kokko area. AFP
in the United States are raising fears over the future of this global effort to understand Earth.
This matters for climate change, but also for weather forecasts that inform farmers and provide early warnings for storms, floods, heatwaves and drought, Thorne said.
The issue was raised at COP30 in Brazil on Saturday by the technical body of the UN climate negotiations, which stressed the “vital importance” of monitoring and long-term data records.
In a draft report, it expressed concern over declining support for long-term observation networks, including GCOS. AFP
China to halt Japan imports amid spat
TOKYO – China will suspend imports of Japanese seafood, media in Tokyo reported Wednesday as a diplomatic spat sparked by comments about Taiwan deepens.
The ow was triggered by new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting on November 7 that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has reacted furiously.
Last week, China summoned Tokyo’s ambassador, advised its citizens not to travel to Japan and those studying there to be careful.
The release of at least two Japanese movies will also be postponed in China, according to state media.
Reporting the suspension of seafood imports, Japanese media, including public broadcaster NHK, cited unnamed government sources.
China explained the move as necessary to monitor treated wastewater being released from the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant, NHK said.
There was no immediate confirmation from Beijing.
China had only recently resumed purchasing marine products from Japan following an earlier ban imposed after the Fukushima plant began releasing water in 2023.
The release was backed by the UN atomic agency and plant operator TEPCO said all radioactive elements were filtered out except tritium, levels of which are within safe limits. AFP
Roblox game platform launches age checks
SYDNEY – Gaming giant Roblox Corp says it will roll out compulsory facial recognition or ID checks from next month for players wanting to access its chat features. It aims to stop under-nines from chatting without parental consent and to curb conversations between adults and minors online by placing users into six age bands ranging from under-nines to over 21s.
The requirement for joining chats will launch in the first week of December in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands before expanding globally in early January, it said.
“Roblox is the first online gaming or communication platform to require facial age checks to access chat, establishing what we believe will become a new industry standard,” the California-based company said in a statement released Tuesday. The new system will require users to take a photo of their face or use identification to verify their age. AFP
90 seconds could have saved lives on bridge
WASHINGTON, DC – Six workers who died when a container ship struck a bridge in Maryland 20 months ago might have survived the disaster if they’d been alerted immediately, US safety officials said Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).
One minute and 29 seconds elapsed between the time police were told to block bridge-bound traffic and the moment the bridge collapsed, National Transportation Safety Board officials said, as investigative findings were presented and endorsed at a public meeting.
Had they been notified at about the same time police were, “the highway workers may have had sufficient time to drive to a portion of the bridge that did not collapse,” officials said.
On March 26, 2024, the Dali, a 984-foot Singapore-flagged container ship, suffered a series of electrical problems and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River in Maryland, which collapsed like a house of cards. Six workers on the deck of the bridge, all Latin American immigrants, fell to their deaths. AFP
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
NO BLIND EYE NOW. Alleged scam center workers and victims sit next to dismantled IT and electronic appliances during a crackdown operation by the Karen Border Guard Force on illicit activity in Shwe Kokko in Myanmar’s eastern Myawaddy township in this file photo taken on Feb. 18, 2025. Myanmar’s military said
Wednesday it raided the internet scam hub of Shwe Kokko on the Thai border, arresting 346 people, part of a highly publicized crackdown against the booming black market compounds. AFP
Boatwright, Means, Diouf start PH naturalization bid
By Randy M.Caluag
THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has formally kicked off the legislative process to secure Filipino citizenship for three key basketball prospects, namely towering PBA import Bennie Boatwright, women’s team hopeful Elizabeth Means, and celebrated UAAP big man Malick Diouf.
The trio attended a Congress hearing on Wednesday, marking the official first step in the naturalization process that, if successful, will make them eligible to represent the Gilas Pilipinas national basketball teams in international competitions
The move by the SBP signals a stra for both the Gilas Men’s and Women’s programs, ensuring greater flexibility in the squad selection for various FIBA and regional tournaments. A 6’10” forward, Boatwright, 29, is well-known to Filipino fans for his stellar performance as an import for the San Miguel Beermen, whom he led to the PBA Season 48 Com-
By Peter Atencio
KARL Eldrew Yulo will share the spotlight with the world’s best like Yang Lanbin of China when action begins Thursday in the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships at the Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom in Pasay City. Eldrew, the younger brother Paris Olympics’ double gold medallist Carlos Yulo, is expected to make a splash as he competes with elite level gymnasts at the 15-to-16-year-old level in the championships that drew 846 entries from 77 nations.
Yang’s presence is expected to push Eldrew to show his best foot forward.
As the all-around silver medallist from last year’s Junior Asian Championships, Yang will try to duplicate another Chinese champion Qin Guohuan’s winning effort from 2023.
In 2024, Yulo started shining when he won five medals, including two
AIA fuels Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Manila
AIA Philippines is once again putting the spotlight on health and wellness as it stages the Rock ’n’ Roll Running Series Manila presented by ASICS on Nov. 29 at Rizal Park – an event designed to inspire Filipinos to embrace a more active lifestyle while enjoying a vibrant, musicfilled celebration.
“We’re thrilled to lead the AIA Rock ’n’ Roll Run Manila as title sponsor. Every stride amplifies our purpose – helping people live healthier, longer, better lives through a massive celebration of health, music and community,” said Melissa Henson, Chief Marketing Officer of AIA Philippines. “We can’t wait to see thousands of runners hit the streets and achieve personal goals and victories.”
With AIA powering the fourth edition of what has become annual year-end racing festival, the run continues to champion movement and fitness while showcasing the energy, culture and camaraderie that make Manila unique.
“This event gathers people to enjoy and celebrate wellness and community,” said Princess Galura, president and general manager of the organizing Sunrise Events Inc. “Through AIA’s partnership, we’re able to elevate the experience even further. This year’s run promises to be bigger, better, and more energetic than ever – motivating more Filipinos to stay active, connected, and healthy.”
missioner’s Cup championship. The American athlete is currently playing overseas for the Taipei Fubon Braves in the P+ League.
The 6’11” Senegalese center Diouf, 26, is a familiar face in the collegiate circuit, having played a vital role in the University of the Philippines’ UAAP Season 84 championship run.
Diouf, who was a former UAAP regular season and Finals MVP, would immediately address the need for a formidable, consistent presence in the paint for Gilas Men.
The 6-foot Means is an American forward who played for Westminster University (NCAA Division II) and recently completed a professional season in Ecuador. She is being eyed as a significant reinforcement for the Gilas
Women, aiming to boost the squad’s competitiveness in upcoming tournaments.
The congressional hearing was the initial stage for House Bills (HBs) filed to grant the athletes Filipino citizenship.
All three measures were authored by Isabela Rep. Bojie Dy. The naturalization process is a multi-step legislative endeavor that requires approval from both the House and Representatives and the Senate, and ultimately, the signature of the President of the Philippines to become law.
The bills will need to undergo multiple readings and committee hearings in the House before advancing to the Senate for a similar process.
8-year-old PH jiu-jitsu artist wins 4th world championship
ALEIA Aielle Aguilar just added another milestone in her budding career in the combat sport of jiujitsu.
The eight-year-old Aguilar, who is from a family known for the sport, proved too strong against Sarah Abuhijleh of the United Arab Emirates, whom she blanked, 3-0, to clinch the title in the Kids 2, Girls Gi, 22 kgs, A Class final (grey belt division) in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship (AJP) recently.
She beat Maitha Almas of UAE via submission armbar in the semifinal to reach the final round.
It was Aguilar’s fourth world championship in the AJP World
Championship, arguably one of the most prestigious jiu-jitsu events held annually in Abu Dhabi.
“I’m so thankful to God that I won again,” said Aguilar, whose victory at the Madubala Arena, was witnessed by her father, Alvin Aguilar, the founding father of Filipino mixed martial arts.
“Thank you all, especially those who have been giving me encouraging words before this event,” added the young Aguilar.
The annual Abu Dhabi showpiece features the best jiu-jitsu artists from all corners of the world, and has gained significant respect in the BJJ community, or the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a form of jiu-jitsu that emphasizes ground fighting
and submission techniques.
Aguilar, it seems, is already accustomed to this form of jiu-jitsu with good reason.
“I focus on every move. Be patient in practice because that is the key to winning,” said Aguilar.
Now, her patience is paying off handsomely, as she remains undefeated this year.
Prior to her big victory in Abu Dhabi, Aguilar has also won two prestigious titles – the IBJJF PAN kids in Orlando, Florida, and the Marianas Open in Guam.
Aguilar is also World Champion in both IBJJF and the AJP, known for its high-stakes competition and prestigious events, including the Abu Dhabi world Pro.
gymnasts from China, Europe, USA
golds at the Pacific Rim Championships, the same meet where his brother Carlos first received international recognition in 2016. The 16-year-old Yulo will be competing with his young teammates, Hilario Palles III, Anthony Palles and CJ Pernia, who have excelled in the Batang Pinoy and at the Palarong Pambansa. With an injury sidelining Eldrew’s sister Elaiza, Batang Pinoy standouts Sabina Tayag, Maxine Bondoc , Jellian
Bantilan and Elisabeth Antone will get valuable exposure on their first international stints.
Antone recently claimed a vault silver and an individual all-around bronze in the Asian Junior Championships in Jecheon, South Korea last June.
Among the world’s best that they will face are Japan’s Rinon Muneta, Charleigh Bullock and Angel Barajas from the United States, Elena Colas from Spain, and Hezly Rivera from Puerto Rico. Colas and Rinon are the reigning women’s Junior European and Junior Asian All-Around champions, respectively, while Bullock has earned five gold medals at the Junior Pan American Games earlier this year. FIG president Moranari Watanabe said there are a lot of talented gymnasts who are expected to shine, not just medal-rich entries from China and Japan.
More than just a race, the AIA Rock ’n’ Roll Run Manila reinforces AIA’s long-standing commitment to promoting physical and mental well-being through sports and community engagement. Along every kilometer, runners will be treated to a distinctly Filipino fiesta atmosphere – complete with live music from show bands, lion dancers, drum beaters, and festive performances that reflect the country’s colorful culture. Participants will race past Manila’s iconic landmarks, illuminated by lively lights and the cheers of fellow runners and spectators – transforming the streets into one big celebration of movement and motivation.
Abra tackles Pangasinan in Game 1
IT’S Abra Solid North’s turn to tackle resurgent Pangasinan when the 747. LIVE presents Manny Pacquiao MPBL 2025 Season North Division Finals begin at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Gov. Andres B. Bernos Memorial Gym in Bangued, Abra. The seventh-ranked Pangasinan Heatwaves toppled the second-seed Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the quarterfinal round and the third-ranked San Juan Knights in the semifinals, and hope to continue their surprising run against the top-seed Abra Weavers in the best-of-five division finals. Abra, however, is an even more formidable rival.
Boasting a deep and potent roster, the Weavers swept the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys in the round of 8 and the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo in the round of 4 to extend their Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League record winning streak to 30. Abra beat Pangasinan, 75-68, in the elimination round of the 30-team, twodivision tournament.
Leading the Weavers are MVP race pacesetter Dave Ildefonso, gunners Encho Serrano and Mike Ayonayon, play-
Dave Ildefonso of Abra
Aleia Aielle Aguilar
Gymnastics officials make their presentation during Wednesday’s press conference at the Marriott Hotel.
Benny Boatwright, Elizabeth Means and Malick Diouf are shown during their visit to Congress.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor
2-eagle feat
nets Corpus
4-shot ICTSI Valley lead
ANTIPOLO – Pressed hard by Guido van der Valk in a group duel under dark skies, Carl Corpus answered with composure and firepower, outshining not just the seasoned Dutch ace but also a pair of Philippine Golf Tour standouts across 36 holes. With a brilliant sevenunder 65, the young pro stormed ahead by four shots over Clyde Mondilla in the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge here on Wednesday.
Consistency – and flashes of brilliance – once again defined Corpus’ performance at the Valley Golf course he calls home. He peppered his round with two eagles and six birdies, including a late surge that widened his gap from the chasing pack. Keeping mistakes to a minimum, he turned in just two bogeys on his way to a 10-under 134, seizing full control of the P2-million championship.
The 24-year-old rookie has positioned himself not only for a breakthrough PGT victory but also for redemption. He previously led the elite Caliraya Springs field for two days in August before stumbling with a finalround 73 and settling for joint fifth. Still, heavy contenders remain lined up behind him.
Mondilla stayed within striking distance with a 71 after an opening 67 for a 138 total. “My shots were not as sharp as in the first round. But okay lang and the game plan stays – just make a lot of birdies and focus on each game day,” he said, intent on applying pressure over the final 36 holes.
Arnold Villacencio fired a 67 anchored by four birdies in his last five holes for a 139, while recent South Pacific leg winner Jeffren Lumbo rebounded with a 68 to tie Angelo Que at 140 in fourth place.
Que, after a sterling six-birdie, onebogey opening round, hobbled with a 73 that slowed his bid for both a third leg title and the Order of Merit crown.
Go,
Bisera brave cold, winds to stay in mix with 72s
TAIWAN – LK Go and Florence
Bisera battled through biting cold and swirling winds to salvage identical 72s, overcoming a pair of double bogeys to place themselves in early contention – just four strokes behind local favorite Ho Yu An – at the start of the Party Golfers Ladies Open on Wednesday.
Go wobbled right out of the gate at the Lily Golf and Country Club in Hsinchu, stumbling with a bogey on the opening hole. But the Filipina steadied herself quickly, stringing together four birdies against a lone bogey over her next eight holes to make the turn at one-under.
As temperatures dropped and the winds picked up on the back nine, she faced a tougher challenge, dropping shots on Nos. 13, 15 and 16. Still, she showed resilience, sandwiching those miscues with birdies on Nos. 14 and 17 to close with a 34-38 card on the par-35-37 layout marked by sharp elevation changes and exposed fairways.
Bisera, who started on No. 10, also endured a rollercoaster round. She turned what could’ve been an early momentum-builder – a promising approach on the par-5 11th –into a costly double bogey after topping her pitch-in birdie attempt. A bogey on the 13th pushed her near the tail end of the 102-player field.
But the Davaoeña refused to crack in the cold, steadying her rhythm in the gusts and bouncing back with consecutive birdies from No. 14. She then strung together three more birdies against two bogeys on her closing nine to match Go’s 34-38 round and join a logjam for eighth place.
PH assembles
boxing squad for SEA Games
THE Philippines is sending a formidable boxing delegation to the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, from December 9 to 20, with high expectations for a dominant performance. The bid for multiple gold medals is significantly strengthened by the inclusion of two professional stars -- two-time Olympian and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, and the undefeated Weljon Mindoro.
Marcial, a four-time SEA Games’ gold medalist, has confirmed his readiness and commitment to fight for a fifth consecutive gold, this time campaigning in the men’s light heavyweight (80 kgs) class.
He dismissed concerns over the mandatory 30-day suspension for being knocked down twice in his recent majority decision win for the vacant WBC international middleweight title against Venezuela’s Eddy Colmenares on October 28.
“That 30-day suspension has lapsed already,” Marcial stated, further confirming that he is “medically cleared to compete and ready.”
Joining Marcial is 25-year-old professional boxer Weljon Mindoro, making his SEA Games debut in the men’s middleweight (75 kgs) class.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino expressed gratitude and strong confidence in the reinforced line-up.
“We would like to thank Mr. Sean Gibbons and their managers for lending them to the national team. It gives us the opportunity for a podium finish in boxing, but of course we want the gold. This is for the country,” said Tolentino.
Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines Secretary-General
Marcus Jarwin Manalo echoed this sentiment, assuring that Marcial is “an absolute different animal when the competition begins” and will not be hindered by the amateur protocol. He emphasized the national goal: “We are very thankful to Marcial and Mindoro for fighting for flag and country in SEA Games.”
The men’s national team will com-
pete in seven out of nine available weight classes, strategically skipping the 63.5
Falcons stun Archers by a point, revive Final 4 hopes
By Peter Atencio
THE San Beda Red Lions are on a roll. The Red Lions now have the momentum going into their last elimination-round game, following a 96-82 beating of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals on Wednesday in the 101st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil Arena in San Juan. Bryan Sajonia and Agjanti Miller struck hard in the last period and provided key baskets that sent the Red Lions to their third straight victory. With Sajonia providing a
ADAMSON University revived its fading UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Final Four hopes by escaping De La Salle University, 6160, in a thrilling duel on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Soaring Falcons finally snapped a three-game slide, improving their record to 6-7 and moving into solo fifth place— just half a game behind fourthrunning Green Archers at 6-6.
Facing the threat of elimination, Adamson overcame a late De La Salle rally from a 55-61 deficit in the final 1:41 to stay alive in the Final Four race.
“We’re just happy to be still alive.
game-high 26 points, the Red Lions picked up their ninth overall win in 12 games in Group B and claimed a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals. With a showdown with archrival Letran set on Sunday, the Red Lions will know who their quarterfinals rival will be -- either the Knights, or the winner between the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers and the EAC Generals in their coming play-in encounter. “You want to bring that momentum and confidence into the quarterfinals. You just don’t to be sloppy going into your game against Letran,” said Red Lions’
We made it clear in the dugout that if you want to live another day, you have really no choice but to win the game… Sabi namin, in the end it will just boil down to whoever wants it more,” said head coach Nash Racela.
Back-to-back jumpers by Mathew Montebon gave the Soaring Falcons a 61-55 cushion, but the Green Archers staged one final push.
Jacob Cortez kickstarted the comeback with a floater over three defenders with 35 seconds left, before a crucial inbound turnover by Matt Erolon led to an Earl Abadam three-pointer—his first from deep after seven attempts—cutting La Salle’s deficit to a single point, 60-61. Adamson failed to convert on its next possession, as Erolon’s triple was blocked by Luis Pablo. The Falcons managed to secure the offensive rebound, but Erolon lost control of the ball, giving La
coach Yuri Escueta, after they overtook the College of St. Benilde’s 8-4 slate. Miller, who fired 17 points apiece with Yukien Andrada, banged in nine points apiece with Sajonia and Jimuel Reyes for the Red Lions, who held the Generals to just nine points in the last period. With the Lions trailing, 78-79, Miller shone bright during a 9-0 attack that gave San Beda the upperhand, 87-81, in the final 5:11, before Sajonia and Reyes took over. Earlier, the Arellano University also marched to third straight triumph, after getting past the Lyceum Pirates.
Salle one last chance. Abadam launched another three-pointer, but it rimmed out.
“Grab lang namin ‘yung opportunity na ito kasi past three years, ‘yun ‘yung gusto namin na place ‘yung playoffs. May one game pa, hindi pa tapos so ibigay pa namin ‘yung best namin,” said Erolon, who led Adamson with 18 points and added five assists. Cedrick Manzano contributed 15 points and nine rebounds, while Montebon finished with 10 points. Manzano and OJ Ojarikre, who had two points and eight rebounds, effectively contained Mike Phillips, limiting him to just seven points on a dismal 1-of-12 shooting, though he still grabbed 15 rebounds. Adamson looks to close the elimination round with two straight wins when it faces Ateneo de Manila University on Sunday, putting itself in the best position to reach the semifinals.
kgs and 69 kgs categories.
The rest of the men’s roster includes 48 kgs: Jay Bryan Barquarto; 51 kgs: Marvin Tabamo; 54 kgs: Flint Jara; 57 kgs: Ian Clark Bautista (taking the spot of Tokyo silver medalist Carlo Paalam, who begged off due to illness); and 60 kgs: Junmilardo Ogayre.
Consistency – and flashes of brilliance – once again defined Carl Corpus’ performance at the Valley Golf course he calls home. Manny Marcelo
Agjanti Miller of San Beda drives to the basket.
Adamson’s Mathew Montebon soars for a layup.
POC president Abraham Tolentino with boxers Eumir Marcial and Weljon Mindoro, POC secretary general Wharton Chan and boxing official Marcus Manalo
US tariff exemptions expected to boost PH agriculture exports
By Othel V. Campos
US tariff on select PH agri products
19%
US tariff on other PH exports
$14.5 billion
PH exports to US in 2024
DigiPlus eyes soft launch in S. Africa by 2027
By Jenniffer B. Austria
DIGIPLUS Interactive Corp. is targeting a soft launch of its gaming operations in South Africa by 2027, provided it secures the necessary licenses.
DigiPlus president Andy Tsui expressed optimism the company would obtain a casino license from South Africa within the next eight months.
“We probably will adopt a similar approach [to Brazil]. First, we get the license and then we’ll build a local team there and we also have to conduct market research to better understand what would be the product offering,” Tsui said.
“I would say sometime in early 2027, we also will do a soft launch in South Africa,” he said.
The company plans to leverage the experience gained from building its Brazil operation, which is set to begin operations next year, to accelerate its entry into the South African market.
DigiPlus reported in July that it planned to file applications for three licenses with South Africa’s Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB) including a national manufacturer license, a bookmaker license and a bookmaker premises license.
South Africa’s online betting industry was valued at more than 28.97 billion rand (about $1.6 billion) in 2023 and 2024, with projections for up to 5 percent annual growth. The growth is fueled by increased mobile phone use, a growing digital population and high demand for live sports betting.
The South African market is widely considered a key example of regulated online gambling in Africa. A proposed Remote Gambling Bill, which could expand legal gambling formats to include online casinos, signals significant potential for longterm growth.
Tsui said DigiPlus continues to evaluate other developing countries for licensing opportunities, carefully selecting new markets.
LABOR PARTNERSHIP. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma (fourth from right) meets with the representatives of the World Bank at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City on Nov. 17, 2025 to strengthen collaboration on digital workforce development, labor market reforms and social protection initiatives. The discussion focused on the implementation of the Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act, the review of the Philippine Qualifications Framework, and the rollout of the Global Accelerator Initiative to boost decent
THE United States’ decision to extend tariff exemptions on key Philippine agricultural exports, particularly tropical fruits, has lifted a major source of uncertainty for local agribusinesses, paving the nation’s path for renewed investments and expansion, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said Wednesday.
Speaking on the second day of the 3rd Philippine Hydro Summit and Exhibition, Tiu Laurel said the exemptions cover products the US does not produce domestically such as bananas, pineapples and coconut products.
“The tariff extensions in the US are basically for tropical fruits.
They’re not competing with their own products. I’m glad that the anxiety in our industries has eased. Our stakeholders are calmer and happier now,” he said.
The possibility of a 19-percent reciprocal tariff, although never actually imposed, had caused industry-wide uncertainty that
stalled investment decisions. Tiu Laurel noted that investments stalled because nobody knew what lay ahead regarding the potential tariff.
With the US decision, which came via an Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump on Nov. 14, 2025, exporters now have the clarity and confidence to move forward. The DA said it will would its priorities with the new export opportunities.
“The President’s directive is to support all our export products and that will be our banner program for next year. Aside from producing more next year will be about exporting more,” Tiu Laurel said.
The exemptions cover coconut, coffee, tea, tropical fruits and juices, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, beef and selected fertilizers.
Manila Water acquires 74.85% stake in Mexico’s Agua de Puebla
MANILA Water Co. Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary Manila Water Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., said Wednesday it signed a binding term sheet to acquire a 74.85-percent controlling stake in Mexican water utility Concesiones Integrales S.A. de C.V., which operates as Agua de Puebla.
The Filipino water utility is acquiring the stake from Creando Estructuras S.A. de C.V. (56.14 percent) and Group Agua de México S.A. de C.V. (18.71 percent). The move signals Manila Water’s strategic entry into the highpotential Latin American region to leverage its operational expertise. Agua de Puebla holds a 30year concession contract, granted in 2014 by Sistema Operador de los Servicios de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado del Municipio de Puebla (SOAPAP), which can be automatically extended up to a maximum total of 60 years.
The company provides public services including drinking water supply, treatment and distribution, drainage, sewage, wastewater treatment and disposal, and related customer services.
In 2024, Agua de Puebla delivered 245 million liters per day of water to over 1.5 million people. The service area includes the City of Puebla, Mexico’s fourth largest city by population, and the surrounding municipalities of Cuautlancingo, San Andrés Cholula, San Pedro Cholula and Amozoc for potable water and sanitation services. It also serves Tlaltenango, Juan C. Bonilla, Santa Clara Ocoyucan, Xoxtla, and Coronango for sanitation and wastewater services.
E-commerce optimism outpaces PH logistics infrastructure
By Darwin G. Amojelar
THE Philippines boasts of the highest e-commerce consumer optimism in Southeast Asia, but a lack of modern infrastructure is holding back small businesses, according to a new Insight Report from Blackbox Research.
The report, titled “The Next Leap for E-Commerce in Southeast Asia,” gave the Philippines an optimism score of 7.93, surpassing
Vietnam (7.46) and Malaysia (7.54). However, this consumer confidence has outpaced the necessary logistical support, creating a structural paradox.
While three in four experts rate Filipino consumers as highly confident in online shopping and digital payments, logistics costs consume between 20 percent and 30 percent of an order’s value in the Philippines.
This is more than double the 8 percent to 12 percent seen in mature
P184.1-b budget to boost food security
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday lauded the Senate’s approval of its proposed P184.1-billion budget for 2026, calling the decision a major step towards bolstering the country’s food security and rural development initiatives.
The DA’s spending plan, which passed during plenary debates Tuesday night, includes crucial programs aimed at enhancing production efficiency, expanding market access and modernizing the agricultural value chain.
Senators also indicated openness to increasing the agency’s funding further during the upcoming bicameral conference committee.
“Now that the Senate has passed our budget, we can plan and make sure everything is implemented properly, at the right cost, at the right time,”
said Agriculture Secretary Francisco
Tiu Laurel Jr.
He said the approval is a vital move to stabilize food supply and improve the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk.
Tiu Laurel Jr. said the budget “will plant the seeds to restore the role of the agriculture sector as a meaningful contributor to economic growth, job generation and an investment-worthy venture.”
A substantial portion of the 2026 funding is earmarked for capital investments such as post-harvest facilities and farm-to-market roads.
Senators also committed to exploring increased support for highvalue crop development and additional farm-to-market roads, recognizing their potential to raise productivity, reduce costs and boost rural incomes. Othel V. Campos
markets. Regulatory enforcement gaps are also creating competitive imbalances for local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“Filipino consumers have shown remarkable trust in the digital economy, but the systems supporting that trust have yet to reach full maturity,” said David Black, founder and chief executive of Blackbox Research.
“The opportunity now lies in closing those structural gaps so
that MSMEs can scale alongside consumer demand,” he said.
The study found that logistics modernization is the most critical enabler for scaling MSMEs and remains the country’s most persistent structural challenge. Delivery costs account for 20 percent to 30 percent of order value, and fulfillment speeds vary widely, ranging from 24 to 48 hours in major cities to 7 to 14 days in rural areas.
Uwan as well as recent earthquakes in Cebu and Davao. Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive Marilene Acosta said the agency’s home loans include built-in insurance to provide protection and help cover repair costs.
“We understand that our members need immediate help when disasters strike, and
GASTRONOMY EXHIBITION. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, together with Paolo Di Croce international director of Slow Food and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director-general Jose Francisco Benitez, leads the opening of the Terra Madre Salone del GustoAsia Pacific (TMAP) 2025 on Nov. 19, 2025, in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. As the host country, the Philippines showcases its rich culinary heritage and strengthens its role in promoting sustainable food systems across the AsiaPacific region. Norman Cruz STRONGEST BRAND. Chief marketing and customer care officer Candice Iyog receives the award for Cebu Pacific as strongest airline brand in ASEAN from Alex Haigh, managing-director at Brand Finance Asia Pacific. The designation underscores the airline’s
PH stocks rally to 5,800 on peso gain, policy continuity
By Jenniffer B. Austria
LOCAL shares jumped back to the 5,800 level on Wednesday as the peso strengthened and after Moody’s Ratings and S&P Global Ratings signaled policy continuity under the new finance chief.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rallied by 57.05 points, or 0.99 percent, to close at 5,813.71, while the broader all-shares index climbed 20.29 points, or 0.63 percent, to 3,251.84.
The peso strengthened slightly to 58.935 to the U.S. dollar on Wednesday from 58.985 on Tuesday.
Moody’s Ratings said the changes
in the Marcos administration’s economic team will not “materially change” its economic assessment of the Philippine economy.
Frederick Go, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, has been appointed as the new finance chief. He replaced Ralph Recto, who was appointed executive secretary.
Meanwhile, Japhet Tantiangco, research head of Philstocks Financial Inc., said investors also cheered the exemption of most Philippine agricultural exports from the U.S.’ 19 percent reciprocal tariff.
Tantiangco said the possibility of another rate cut by the Bangko Sen-
tral ng Pilipinas (BSP) this December also boosted sentiment.
Among the sectors, only the mining and oil index ended in the red, declining by 0.48 percent. Banks led sectors, rising by 1.78 percent, and industrial, increasing by 1.55 percent.
Value turnover reached P5.36 billion as many investors stayed on the sidelines.
Foreign investors were net sellers with outflows at P915.40 million.
DigiPlus Interactive Corp. was the day’s top index gainer, increasing by 8 percent to P27, while International Container Terminal Services Inc. was at the bottom, declining by 0.82 percent to P542.50.
Globe secures P5-b BOC loan for debt, capex
By Darwin G. Amojelar
LOBE Telecom Inc. has secured a P5 billion term loan facility from the Bank of Commerce to support its ongoing capital expenditures, refinance debt and meet other general corporate needs.
The Ayala-led company previously obtained a P5 billion term loan facility from the Bank of Commerce, also intended to support its ongoing capital expenditures, refinance debt and cover general corporate needs.
Globe invested about P31.4 billion in capital expenditures during the first nine months of 2025, marking a 23 percent decrease from the P41.0 billion spent during the same period last year. The company attributed this decrease to a focus on strategic capital management, noting that it is still directing resources toward critical network improvements, keeping in line with its full-year capital expenditure guidance of below $1 billion.
“The cash capex-to-revenue ratio improved to more sustainable levels at 26 percent from 33 percent, while the capex-to-EBITDA ratio narrowed to 49 percent from 63 percent, demonstrating increased capital efficiency and investment flexibility,” it added.
Globe said these improvements
First Gen readies 213-MW hydro expansion with $652-m investment
By Alena Mae S. Flores
LOPEZ-LED First Gen Corp. is looking at an additional hydropower pipeline of 213 megawatts (MW) with potential investments of up to $652 million.
Dennis Michael Gonzales, First Gen senior vice president and business unit head of the Business Development Group, said at the sidelines of the 3rd Philippine Hydro Summit and Exhibition 2025 this will add to the company’s existing 300 MW of hydro projects.
Annual Stockholders’ Meeting up to 12 December 2025
The record date for stockholders entitled to notice and vote at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting is set on 14 November 2025 (“Stockholders of Record”).
The 2025 Annual Stockholders‘ Meeting of STI Holdings will be conducted virtually. Stockholders of Record may attend/participate via proxy, remote communication or vote in absentia. For the detailed registration and voting procedures, please visit http://www.stiholdings. com/2025ASM and refer to the “Guidelines for Participation via Remote Communication and Voting in Absentia and through Proxy”.
Stockholders who wish to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to vote in absentia should notify the Office of the Corporate Secretary through a Letter of Intent to be sent via e-mail to corsec@stiholdings.com.ph OR by clicking the following link for the online registration at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/a7y7w88Aiq on or before 3 December 2025.
Validated stockholders will be provided access to the live streaming of the meeting through Zoom Meeting and can cast their votes in absentia on or before 9 December 2025 through the Company’s secure online voting facility. All votes cast shall be subject to validation.
The Company is not soliciting for proxies. Stockholders who are unable to join the meeting but wish to vote on items in the agenda by proxy must submit their duly accomplished proxy forms via email to corsec@stiholdings.com.ph, not later than 9 December 2025
Stockholders of record may send their queries and comments to the Management Report and other items in the Agenda to corsec@ stiholdings.com.ph on or before 9 December 2025. The Definitive Information Statement containing the
He said the expansion is consistent with First Gen’s target to boost the company’s portfolio to 13 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, 9 GW of which will come from renewable energy.
“It takes a while to build. Usually, hydro takes at least three years. Sometimes, maybe longer. Right now, our pipeline is roughly around 200 MW, that’s what we’re planning to build,” Gonzales said.
These projects include the 120 MW Aya pumped-storage project in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, and three run-of-river (ROR) hydro projects, namely the 32 MW Bubunawan in Bukidnon, 42 MW Puyo in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, and 39 MW San Isidro in Bukidnon and Barangay Tignapoloan, Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental.
“I cannot really say we will build all of them next year because they have their own respective process... But what’s very close one would be Aya,” he said.
“Aya is a three-year construction period. So we’re still getting the permit with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) because these are facilities that are owned by NIA that we will use,” Gonzales said.
The Aya project is estimated to cost $200 million to construct, while the ROR hydro projects have a project cost of $4 million per MW.
He said ROR hydro brings with it the firming capacity of hydro, grid stability, reserve capacity and other ancillary services, while minimizing environmental impact. It harnesses natural river currents to spin turbines that create electric currents.
faster, more convenient payments backed by Visa’s security features. Norman Cruz
MANULIFE Investment Management and Trust Corp. (Manulife Investments Philippines) has launched the Manulife Global Semiconductor Opportunities Equity Feeder Fund, a sector-focused unit investment trust fund (UITF) that seeks to tap growing demand in the global semiconductor industry.
The Semiconductor Fund is a global equity feeder UITF aiming to maximize total return by investing in a collective investment scheme, referred to as the Target Fund.
At least 70 percent of the target fund’s net assets will be allocated to equity and equityrelated securities of leading semiconductor companies worldwide. The strategy is intended to give investors exposure to growth across the semiconductor and AI value chain.
“The Manulife Global Semiconductor Opportunities Equity Feeder Fund empowers Filipino investors to participate in one of the most transformative technology trends shaping the global economy,” said Aira
Gaspar, president and chief executive officer of Manulife Investments Philippines.
“Semiconductors serve as the foundation of modern innovation and power artificial intelligence, automation and digital connectivity. As demand for advanced technologies increases, this new UITF provides our customers with access to leading companies driving progress across the semiconductor and AI value chain. It reflects our commitment to offering forward-looking investment solutions that help Filipinos build wealth, reach their financial aspirations and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital world.”
Manulife Investments noted that the semiconductor industry continues to expand as technology becomes more
The
is
pave the way for targeted network initiatives for the remainder of the year and strengthen Globe’s positive free cash flow position.
Consistent with prior periods, about 89 percent of capital expenditures was allocated to data-related projects, reaffirming Globe’s commitment to advancing digital capacity and expanding connectivity nationwide.
“By pursuing focused investments and innovation shaped around customer demand, Globe continues to empower more Filipinos to thrive in a digitally connected economy,” Globe said. Globe earlier reported a net income of P17.7 billion in the January to September period, down by 14 percent from P20.6 billion in the same period last year.
Core net income, which strips out non-recurring items including gains from asset disposals, forex movements and mark-to-market adjustments, amounted to P15.5 billion, down from P17.6 billion in the same period last year.
IN BRIEF
PH-China Studies Center opens at Diliman College
By Julie Ann Lope
ANEW Philippines-China Studies Center (PCSC) and its inaugural Diliman Dialogues were launched on Nov. 18, 2025 at Diliman College in Quezon City.
The event, themed “PhilippinesChina Relations @ 50: Common Past, Current Realities, and Shared Future,” aims to foster academic diplomacy and strengthen relations as the two nations mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Former Senator Nikki Coseteng, president of Diliman College, said the relationship is rooted in shared history mutual cooperation and peaceful engagement. She described the coexistence as cordial and called for efforts to “lower the temperature rather than talk about war,” adding the PCSC’s goal is to transform the mindset and attitude of the Filipino people.
Philippine-China Studies Center director Dr. Rommel C. Banlaoi said the center champions academic
Business group donates 18,500 relief bags for typhoon victims
THE Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), through the Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation, launched a relief effort following the devastation caused by recent typhoons.
Super Typhoon Uwan resulted in at least 25 deaths, 2 missing persons and 28 injured others.
Over 3.4 million residents have been affected, and damages to agriculture are estimated at P140 million. About 3 million families were disconnected from power lines, 267 villages were flooded and 4,100 homes damaged.
FFCCCII has committed to donating 18,500 relief bags.
The aid includes 5,000 bags each for Bacolod and Cebu, which were also affected by Typhoon Tino, along with 3,000 bags for Catanduanes, 1,500 for Tuguegarao, and 1,000 each for the first and second districts of La Union, Aparri, and Daet, Camarines Norte.
FFCCCII hopes that these relief supplies will help alleviate the urgent needs of the residents affected by the storms and provide some comfort during this difficult time. Michael Wong Ho
THE Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) donated a batch of medicines valued at about P35,000 to the Assembly of Customs Travellers Inc. (ACTI) for their free medication project in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Dolores town, Quezon province.
The donation ceremony was held in the afternoon of Nov. 11 at the FFCCCII head office in Binondo, Manila.
FFCCCII president Victor Lim, vice president William Yap Castro and other key leaders of the organization led the event. Representatives from ACTI, including president Eric Cruz, Edman Batino and Benjie Cayao, attended the event and expressed their gratitude for the generous donation.
diplomacy by promoting friendship and mutual understanding. He said the PCSC seeks to be an effective platform to raise awareness overcome ignorance build mutual trust and pursue cooperation between Filipinos and Chinese.
Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China Zhou Zhiyong reiterated the significance of the 50 years of diplomatic ties rooted in long-standing bonds. He expressed hope the PCSC would help Filipinos gain objective and in-depth insights into China and said relations should focus on the bigger picture and look far ahead.
Former National Security Adviser Dr. Clarita Carlos called the PCSC a “bridge toward mutual understanding”
and a potential resource center and hub for people-to-people exchanges. She stressed the need for a “reset and a rethinking” of Philippines-China relations.
Victor Lim, president of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCI), said the PCSC marks the beginning of academic discourse and dialogue noting its crucial role in education and building meaningful partnerships across sectors.
Association of Philippines-China Understanding (APCU) chairman Raul Lambino underscored the need for an independent foreign policy. He noted that Filipinos often see China as an enemy due to historical grievances and current challenges and emphasized the importance of being friends with everyone enemies with no one.
Anabel Chua-Lim, president of Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, urged attendees to remember, “We are family. Understanding is the key.”
Filipino Chinese Friendship Association (FCFA) president Danny
Sze shared his belief that “friendship among nations begins with friendship among their people” and emphasized ongoing cultural exchanges dialogues and mutual respect.
The afternoon session included discussions on the common past of China’s bilateral relations with ancient Philippine kingdoms, the current realities of Philippines-China ties under President Marcos Jr. and the future of relations and China’s global governance initiatives.
Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran founder Teresita Ang-See and Jinan University in Guangzhou China Vice Dean Dr. Dai Fun highlighted historical connections.
Carlos, a retired University of the Philippines Diliman political science professor, shared insights into current realities while Xiamen University in China professor Dr. Shi Xueqin discussed educational exchange and cooperation.
Sustainability, innovation promoted in Chinese schools
By Michael Wong Ho
FEDERATION of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) vice president and supervisor for the culture and education group Co Kin Hung visited several Filipino Chinese schools in Cebu and Iloilo, including Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu, Cebu Cherish School, Cebu Eastern College, First Chinese Royal Academy, Iloilo Scholastic Academy, Ateneo de Iloilo and Hua Siong College of Iloilo. He also attended the 100th anniversary celebration of Iloilo Sun Yat Sen High School from Nov. 6 to 7, 2025. Co held seminars with school staff
Taiwan showcases AI, smart energy expertise in Manila
TAIWAN’S Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) brought its expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and smart energy to Manila from November 13-15, as part of its Economic and Trade Forum Tour organized in collaboration with the Taiwan Association Inc. Philippines (TAP).
The event featured Vivian Huang, international cooperation strategy officer at Taiwan’s Institute for Information Industry, who led a seminar and company visits aimed at strengthening the digital and sustainability efforts of Taiwanese enterprises in the Philippines.
It seeks on help Philippines-based Taiwanese businesses enhance environmental, social and governance (ESG) readiness, while advancing digital transformation and renewable energy goals.
Huang on Nov. 15 delivered a keynote address titled “Digital Transformation and Smart Energy,” attended by nearly 50 business leaders from Metro Manila.
She discussed Taiwan’s innovative use of AI in manufacturing, workforce automation, customer service, food processing, power management and smart city governance.
She also highlighted examples from Kaohsiung City, where AI is used to manage large crowds and optimize traffic flow as well as business activity, showing the potential for smart technology to improve city operations and economic productivity.
TAP president Tom Lin expressed gratitude to OCAC and Huang for sharing Taiwan’s latest technological
Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) brings its expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and smart energy to Manila from Nov. 13 to 15, as part of its Economic and Trade Forum Tour organized in collaboration with the Taiwan Association Inc. Philippines (TAP).
advances, noting that the seminar provided timely and valuable insights for enterprises navigating rapid industry changes. Julie Ann Lope
Taiwan’s Representative to the Philippines Wallace Chow said smart energy, digital transformation and AI-driven governance are global priorities.
He noted Taiwan’s achievements in renewable energy, digital innovation and smart city development, ositioning Taiwan as an ideal partner for businesses seeking sustainable growth.
and Chinese teachers to understand their operational situations, teaching and learning needs.
He expressed high regard for their perseverance in running schools amid natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. He encouraged them to maintain enthusiasm for education, overcome difficulties and steadily advance their teaching efforts. In his exchanges with school representatives, Co cited the importance of digital smart teaching equipment in enhancing classroom quality.
He announced that FFCCCII has launched an Electronic Interactive Screen Donation Pilot Program. He also introduced various educational support initiatives such as the Medical Allowance for Teachers and the Allowance for Lost Filipino Chinese Students. He welcomed teachers and students in need of assistance to apply for these welfare programs.
Co shared insights from FFCCCII’s recent research trip to Malaysia in August, where Filipino Chinese school principals, delegates and representatives from the board of directors, alumni association as well as students, parents and teachers associations held coordinated discussions.
Both enterprises expressed keen interest in adopting Taiwanese technology solutions to improve productivity and resilience.
The Manila event marked the final stop of Huang’s regional trip, which included visits to Vietnam and Thailand.
The initiative aimed to strengthen industrial links between Taiwan and the Philippines and to explore new avenues for AI and smart energy collaboration.
The efforts reaffirm Taiwan’s commitment to supporting overseas enterprises in their digital and sustainable development journeys.
Jullie Ann Lope
As part of the tour, TAP and the Culture Center of T.E.C.O. in the Philippines visited two Taiwanfounded companies in the Philippines: Kou Fu Color Printing in Cavite and Ersao Taiwanese Restaurant in Quezon City.
He said the three-party coordination mechanism has played a vital role in the steady development of Chinese schools in Malaysia.
He suggested that Filipino Chinese schools could learn from this model. Co pointed out that “Circular Development” is key to the longterm survival of Chinese schools. He explained that as students grow into alumni, and eventually become parents and successful members of society who develop a strong sense of gratitude, love for their schools and identity within the Chinese community, Filipino Chinese schools can foster a virtuous cycle of development and long-term vitality.
Lin Pok Sy Foundation highlights strong cooperation
Academe, business and diplomatic leaders attend the launching of the PhilippinesChina Studies Center at Diliman College in Quezon City on Nov. 18, 2025.
FFCCCII vice president and supervisor for the culture and education group Co Kin Hung leads the visit to several Filipino Chinese schools in Cebu and Iloilo.
Officials of FFCCCII turn over medicines to the Assembly of Customs Travellers Inc. (ACTI) for their free medication project in Quezon province.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
McCartney to release silent AI protest song
POP legend Paul McCartney
release a silent music track next month as part of a silent album to protest UK copyright law changes that would give exemptions to tech firms.
Other artists, such as Hans Zimmer and singer Kate Bush, have joined the project, highlighting what they say are the dangers artificial intelligence (AI) poses to the creative industries.
McCartney’s contribution to the album Is This What We Want? draw “attention to the damning impact on artists’ livelihoods controversial government proposals could cause,” the artists behind the project said in a statement.
Called “Bonus Track,” it is a two-minute 45-second recording of an empty studio featuring a series of clicks.
More than 1,000 artists, including Annie Lennox Albarn, and Jamiroquai collaborated on the silent album, which was first released in February.
They maintain that the government’s law changes “would make it easier to train AI models on copyrighted work without a license.”
“Under the heavily criticized proposals, UK copyright law would be upended to benefit global tech giants. AI companies would be free to use an artist’s work to train their AI models without permission or remuneration,” they added.
The changes “would require artists to proactively ‘opt-out’ from the theft of their work—reversing the very principle of copyright law,” they added.
Only 1,000 copies of the vinyl album have been pressed.
In May, some 400 writers and musicians, including Elton John and Bush, condemned the proposals as a “wholesale giveaway” to Silicon Valley in a letter to The Times newspaper.
Other signatories included the 83-year-old former Beatle McCartney, singer-songwriters Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and Sting, and writers Kazuo Ishiguro, Michael Morpurgo, and Helen Fielding
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has previously said the government needs to “get the balance right” with copyright and AI while noting that the technology represented “a huge opportunity.”
“They have no right to sell us down the river,” Elton John told the BBC in May, urging Starmer to “wise up” and “see sense.”
According to a study by UK Music last week, two out of three artists and producers fear that AI poses a threat to their careers.
More than nine out of 10 surveyed demanded that their image and voice be protected and called for AI firms to pay for the use of their creations.
SHOWBIZ
Andrea Brillantes sheds ‘bagets’ image in bold debut
By Jasper Valdez
A
NDREA Brillantes is no stranger to transformation. Audiences have watched her grow from a child actress into one of the most recognizable young stars in local show business. But her latest move—being introduced as Tanduay’s 2026 Calendar Girl— marks what could be her most confident reinvention yet.
studied each concept with the team because I wanted every photo to show a different side of me.”
Working on the calendar turned out to be a personal experience for Andrea. Behind the glamour, she found herself reflecting on her journey and how she’s slowly grown into the woman people see today.
“People have watched me grow up, and now they’re seeing me as a woman,” she said.
Standing onstage in a daring red, see-through gown,
Andrea admitted she initially felt nervous about the reveal.
“When I found out, I was shocked,” she told Manila Standard Entertainment.
“I even asked myself, ready na ba ako? Ready na ba ‘yung mama ko, ‘yung lola ko, ‘yung fans ko?”
She laughed as she recalled the moment, adding that while the thought of being a calendar girl surprised her, it also excited her. “I like to shock people,” she said. “I like to keep them guessing about what I’ll do next.”
The shoot captured that same energy—Andrea letting people see her from a new angle, not just as the young star they grew up with, but as someone more sure of herself.
“It really took a lot of preparation, both mentally and physically,” she said. “I had to be disciplined with my meal plans and make sure I felt good inside and out. I also
“I’m more sure of myself, more intentional with the things I do, and more confident to take control of my career. Hindi na siya about proving anything. It’s about enjoying where I am and celebrating how far I’ve come.”
Beyond the dazzling visuals, the project also reflects where Andrea is in life—more self-aware and more at peace with the person she’s become.
“I’ve made mistakes, learned from them, and now I know myself better,” she said. “Mas marunong na akong pumili whether it’s people, projects, or where I put my energy. I’ve learned to protect my peace, trust my gut, and stand by
By Jasper Valdez
City has always had stories to tell. But this year, as the 13th QCinema International Film Festival opened on Nov. 14, the city turned those stories into a declaration, marking its new identity as the Film City of the
The festival’s 2025 theme, “Film City,” mirrors Quezon City’s new title as a UNESCO Creative City of Film, a recognition that Mayor Joy Belmonte said was years in the making.
“It has been a long journey to get here, to this dream that we have nurtured together for over a decade,” she said. “Half of this decade’s worth of work has been dedicated to our bid to become a UNESCO Creative City of Film.”
For Belmonte, QCinema represents the creative soul of the city. “In honoring this legacy, QCinema has taken the cue from the thought-provoking, conscience-shaking, and cuttingedge storytelling that we know can be found in Philippine cinema,” she said.
“We are so proud that we have grown a formidable platform for outstanding filmmaking, drawing audiences from different parts
of the world and pushing the boundaries of storytelling.”
The mayor described the moment as both personal and historic. “It brings me great joy to stand before you tonight and say, welcome to Quezon City, the Film City of the Philippines,” she told the crowd.
“As we open the 13th edition of QCinema, we celebrate the great strides we have made and look forward to the stories that we will discover in the years ahead.”
Over 93 films are being screened until Nov. 23 across six major malls—Gateway, Trinoma, Eastwood, Robinsons Galleria, Fishermall, and Cloverleaf—turning the city into one giant movie circuit. The lineup includes short films, documentaries, and international features, making it accessible to every type of viewer.
“We have people from all walks of life—Gen Zs, baby boomers, Gen Xs— everyone is interested in film right now,” Belmonte said, adding that the turnout proves cinema remains a shared passion across
“Only in Quezon
of Philippine cinema.”
Andrea is embracing her daring side as Tanduay’s calendar girl for 2026
Celebrity couple Liza Dino (left) and Ice Seguerra continue to show their support to the local cinema
From left: Mena Dayrit, Laurice Guillen, and Inah Feleo grace the opening of the 13th QCinema International Film Festival
QCinema Film Foundation executive director Ed Lejano
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte highlights the decade-long effort of the festivalin showcasing Philippine cinema’s innovative storytelling
DARING ENSEMBLE. Andrea walks the runway in a daring red, see-through gown that marks her confident shift from a teen star to an empowered woman
Andrea Brillantes turns heads onstage in a sparkling silver look as she is officially launched as the 2026
Tanduay Calendar Girl
LIFE & SHOWBIZ
What Kiray Celis learned from her viral Japan prenup shoot
By Jasper Valdez
ACTRESS and entrepreneur
Kiray Celis has a lot on her plate—wedding plans, a booming beauty business, and a viral moment she never saw coming.
What was supposed to be a romantic prenup shoot in Japan turned into an unexpected online storm when photos of her posing on top of a vending machine drew backlash from netizens and some OFWs.
“When I woke up, I was already viral,” Kiray recalled with a laugh during the launch of Hot Babe Green and Skin Vibe under Kiray’s
“I asked my fiancé [Stephan Estopia], ‘What happened? Why does it feel like so many people are mad? I was even trying to figure out what they were mad about— was it the kiss, the train, or something else?’”
The comedian, known for her wit, later deleted the photo that sparked the debate, clarifying that the shoot had permission from Japanese authorities. Still, she admitted the incident taught her something deeper.
“You have to be sensitive enough,” she said. “Even if you have permission or know it’s allowed, you still
have to think about how others might feel when they see it. Sometimes, even when you don’t mean any harm, people can still be affected. So to those who were offended, I’m really sorry. Let’s spread love and be kind. No one was hurt, and no one got angry during the shoot itself.”
Despite the brief controversy, Kiray said Japan remains close to her heart. After all, it’s the land where the song for their first wedding dance was produced— “First Love” by Hikaru Utada
Originally dreaming of a Cappadocia wedding with hotair balloons, the couple decided to keep things practical and personal, with a ceremony planned in Manila this December.
Their budget, she joked, is “still small.” Still, she’s grateful for the support of their celebrity godparents, including Gabby Concepcion, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes,
Ai-Ai delas Alas, Eugene Domingo, Vice Ganda, and Sharon Cuneta
“It’s so expensive to get married,” she said, laughing.
“I thought it would be easy.
The gown, the makeup, the reception, and the travel expenses—everything costs something! That’s why I said, let’s just do it here, something practical first. What’s important is we’ll have beautiful memories.”
Beyond the glitz, Kiray stays grounded in work. Her brands continue to grow on TikTok, and she takes pride in providing jobs to her staff and affiliates. “I don’t see it as success yet,” she said.
“Everything I earn, I put back into developing new products. My goal right now is to create more jobs for others. Just keep planting until it’s time to harvest something good.”
As she counts down to her wedding day, Kiray said she’s focusing on gratitude, not gossip.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect all of this,” she said. “But no matter how noisy things can get online, what matters is that we’re happy—and we’ve learned from it.”
Bea Alonzo finds her happy place
have noticed Bea Alonzo is glowing these days, and the actress credits her radiance to a calm, balanced life and a recent solo trip to Madrid.
“Well, it’s just because I’m happy,” Alonzo said.
“Happiness keeps you pretty!”
The award-winning actress described her current state as a combination of life experience and the people around her. “I don’t know if it comes with age or experiences or the people you surround yourself with, I think that’s very important. Personally, right now, it’s a certain type like there’s a newfound that comes with that happiness, so it’s okay!”
Alonzo recently traveled to Spain alone after her birthday on Oct. 17.
“It’s not really a gift for myself, but I traveled to Spain alone,” she said.
Asked why she traveled without her boyfriend, Vincent Co, Alonzo explained, “For one, I like doing it. I like to travel alone. Everyone knows that I’m already a resident there. You feel as if you’re really one of the locals. Another thing is I get to enjoy the weather. So, it’s like my happy place.”
Regarding her next projects after the successful GMA soap Widows’ War , she said, “Right now, I’m more focused on my business and my personal life, of course. But when the right project comes along, even if I’m in a calm state now, I will get out of my shell to do something!”
WATSONS Philippines and Operation Smile Philippines marked 12 years of partnership by bringing free cleft surgeries and care to more Filipino children in a recent medical mission in Bicol.
Since the collaboration began, over 2,500 children have received surgeries for cleft lip and palate, along with comprehensive care, offering new opportunities for health and confidence.
The Bicol mission was held at Daraga Doctors Hospital, a location significant to Operation Smile Philippines as the site of its first regional missions. The hospital provided medical facilities, operational support, and dedicated staff for the initiative.
“Putting smiles on our customers’ faces drives us, which is why we proudly partner with Operation Smile,” said Sharon Decapia Watsons Philippines senior assistant vice president for marketing communications, PR, and sustainability.
“We want to transform a child’s smile and life, giving them a better chance at health and happiness. Our partnerships have led to incredible stories, like that of Jayden, a past beneficiary who received surgery through the program and now excels in singing,” Decapia added.
Watsons employees and volunteers from both local stores and the head office assisted in the
mission, while volunteers from Superdrug, the
health, beauty, and wellness retailer under the AS Watson Group, also took part.
“This initiative aligns with our culture of care and brand philosophy,” stated Corinne Marte Watsons Philippines people and organization development director. “It inspires our employees and allows them to extend care beyond our stores.”
For Operation Smile Philippines, the mission was a return to its roots. “This mission holds deep personal significance for our team. It truly feels like coming home,” noted Dr. Gerard Ocampo, OSP’s cleft surgeon team leader. “Watsons’ consistent financial support, mobilization of volunteers, and nationwide awareness campaigns are vital to our work.” Watsons customers can support the program by donating in-store or using Watsons Club points via the Watsons App. Watsons, the flagship health and beauty brand of AS Watson Group, operates more than 1,165 stores in the Philippines and over 16,900 stores worldwide across 12 retail brands.
Alonzo described 2025 as a year of selfdiscovery.
“There’s also kindness to myself and helping myself find the right pace, which I currently enjoy,” she said.
Asked about changes in her lifestyle now that her love life is at peace, she said, “Well, I can say that I’m still the same. My lifestyle is not dependent on my partner. I live on my own terms. I’m not dependent on other people. To be honest, I don’t want to talk about my love life in my interviews. I can only speak for myself.”
“I worked so hard to obtain the life I have at this point. There are various aspects to consider. There is the monetary side and the mental. So, to find somebody to enter your life, you should complement each other. Lifestylewise, it’s still the same. The only difference is that now, things are calmer,” she added. * * *
MEANWHILE , in a recent television guesting, singer-actor Mark Bautista said his heart is in a happy place.
“Oh, yes! There’s someone special who makes my heart happy right now,” he said, confirming he is dating.
“It just happened. I felt that here comes someone with whom I am most comfortable and can be myself,” Bautista said.
The performer added that past frustrations and doubts in love have given way to contentment.
“For so long, I felt frustrated and lost faith in love. I felt that it’s me who’s the problem. Was I choosy? Or I didn’t know how to love. Now, everything’s changed, and I’m just so happy,” he said.
Shticks
Joseph Peter Gonzales
Bea Alonzo embraces calm and balance as she talks about finding happiness and self-discovery following her solo birthday trip to Madrid
Volunteer doctors perform cleft consultations
The couple say their viral Japan prenup taught them to be more mindful of how actions can affect others
Kiray Celis and Stephan Estopia in one of their Japan prenup shoots
Kiray Celis promotes her newly launched Skin Vibe product line
The viral vending machine photo of Kiray Celis (top) and her fiancé Stephan Estopia that drew backlash online
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
By Nickie Wang
GUMMIES have become a popular choice for consumers seeking easier ways to take daily supplements, providing a format that is convenient, flavorful, and simple to add to a routine compared with powders or capsules.
The brand unveils its gummies in a fashionable way with the help of rising K-Pop
Are barley gummies the next big hit in daily supplements?
Banking on this popular preference, IAM Worldwide has introduced a gummy version of its organic barley supplement with the launch of the IAM Amazing Organic Barley Gummies.
The new product is based on the company’s long-running barley supplement, which has been available for nearly a decade. IAM Worldwide said the gummies are made from 100 percent organic young barley grass harvested in Australia.
The company said each gummy contains nutrients naturally found in barley grass, including minerals, chlorophyll, antioxidants, and live enzymes. The format is designed for daily use and is intended for a wide range of consumers.
“As people’s lifestyles evolve, so must the way we deliver wellness,” the company said in a statement, adding that the gummy version is meant to complement its powdered barley product.
The supplement draws from the work of Japanese researcher Yoshihide Hagiwara , who spent more than 40 years studying young barley grass and its nutritional properties. According to IAM Worldwide, the gummies aim to support the immune system, daily energy, digestion, and the body’s detoxification processes.
The company said the gummies contain no sugar, artificial colors, or harmful additives and are nonGMO. They are vegan, gluten-free, and manufactured in Australia.
IAM Worldwide said the launch reflects its continued push for new plant-based products while keeping its focus on organic barley. The gummies are meant to give longtime barley drinkers, first-time users, and younger consumers a different way to take
the supplement without mixing or preparation.
The gummies are approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a dietary supplement. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease and should not replace professional medical advice or prescribed medication. The product is now available through IAM Worldwide distributors, movers, and the company’s online platforms.
Encouraging Filipinos to make better health choices
TO EXPAND its presence in the south, emerging Korean beauty brand Pretty Skin & Lamelin PH has opened its flagship store in Las Piñas. The grand opening was attended by global brand ambassador Katrina Santos, Pharmline Medforce Inc. CEO Catherine Andres-Gamo , Lamelin and Pretty Skin Global CEO Jung Bung Sub Pharmline Medforce Inc. Marketing & Finance head Enrico Gamo and Pretty Skin & Lamelin Global
Associate export manager Lee Jun signaling the brand’s move to bring its full range of K-beauty products closer to Filipino consumers.
The store features Pretty Skin & Lamelin’s hero products, a personalized skin analysis service, and a cozy beauty café designed as a space for skincare exploration and self-care.
The flagship branch is located on the ground floor of the Dermstead Building, 860 Tropical Avenue, BF International, Las Piñas.
health—as well as overall longevity.
“What
“Wellness
Dr.
Power of Making Better Choices,” explored how small, intentional actions can shape health, happiness, and purpose. Attendees learned practical strategies for improving their healthspan— the number of years lived in good
actionable routines.
He encouraged attendees to view health as a holistic, purpose-driven practice, noting that every mindful act, nourishing meal, and moment of gratitude contributes to a richer life. Romy Sia, founder and managing director of Healthy Options, said Dr. Rouse’s message aligns with the company’s mission.
“For 30 years, Healthy Options has championed the Filipino journey toward better health and sustainable living. This partnership with Dr. Rouse reinforces our commitment to helping people make better choices that nurture both their bodies and their purpose,” he said.
The event gave guests a chance to learn directly from Dr. Rouse and supported Healthy Options’ ongoing effort to empower Filipino families to live healthier, more meaningful lives through quality natural products and trusted expertise.
Rouse also discusses about the lifelong value of small, intentional health decisions
Global brand ambassador Katrina Santos
Executives and guests lead the opening of Pretty Skin & Lamelin PH’s first flagship location in Las Piñas
Pretty Skin & Lamelin PH Ambassador Katrina Santos (leftmost) poses for a photo with the Korean beauty brand executives
International naturopathic physician Dr. James Rouse talks about daily habits that