Don’t burn the house—David
CBCP head calls for sobriety, justice
By Vito Barcelo, Rex Espiritu, Vince Lopez, and Pot Chavez
THE head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) told participants in yesterday’s anti-corruption rallies that holding greedy officials accountable should not come at the expense of the country’s democratic institutions, even as groups representing virtually
Politicians, celebrities join peaceful rally
By Ram Superable, Pot Chavez, Rex Espiritu, and Vince Lopez
POLITICIANS and some celebrities
joined the Trillion Peso March at the People Power Monument, expressing their support for the public’s clamor against rampant corruption in government, as demonstrated by anomalous flood control projects, which are said to have cost the public up to one trillion pesos.
During the rally, Senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan renewed calls to penalize officials involved in the flood control scandal and to recover public funds lost to corruption.
Aquino marched with students and members of Kaya Natin Youth as he urged the government to prosecute individuals accused of misusing taxpayer money.
“We have long said that those involved in stealing taxpayers’ money must be punished and the funds they took must be recovered,” he said during the rally.
“We stand with the call of the Church and the public that everyone involved in pocketing and abusing public funds must be held accountable and jailed,” Aquino added.
The lawmaker argued that systemic reforms are necessary to prevent
By Charles Dantes
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not allow mounting calls for his resignation to distract him from pursuing those behind the flood control corruption scandal, Malacañang said Sunday.
Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez emphasized that the President remains focused on the anti-corruption campaign he initiated, despite intensifying protests
By Katrina Manubay
By Charles Dantes and Katrina Manubay PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. encouraged Filipinos to embody the patriotism and selflessness of Andres Bonifacio as the nation commemorated the revolutionary hero’s 161st birth anniversary on Saturday.
“Huwag mong sunugin ang buong bahay para alisin ang mga daga (Don’t burn down the whole house just to get rid of a few vermin),”
FL Liza commends PCG for keeping country safe
FIRST Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos yesterday commended the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) for its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the country.
In an Instagram post, Araneta-Marcos shared photos of her attendance on Saturday at the PCGA Executive Squadron Assembly 2025 held at Admiral Suites Residential in Manila.
Araneta-Marcos said she was honored to stand with volunteers whose courage, discipline, and compassion continue to strengthen the organization’s mission.
main intact, safe, and completely unaffected by the fire. The Senate is working closely with the BPP and internal security to ensure the continued safety of the premises and personnel and to prevent similar incidents moving forward,” the statement read.
In an interview, the BFP said they
despite being far from home.
“The Consulate General extends our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. May she rest in peace,” it said. The consulate added that it continues on-the-ground operations to check the welfare of affected OFWs and provide needed assistance.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also expressed its commitment to co -
“Thank you for the sacrifices you make to keep our country safe. Your service means more than words can ever express,” she said.
Araneta-Marcos, who also serves as a member of the Auxiliary, said the PCGA has allowed her to work with individuals who demonstrate steadfast dedication to public service.
She expressed particular pride
received reports of the fire at around 6:30 a.m.
The alarm was raised to the first level at approximately 6:50 a.m. and escalated to the second level by 6:58 a.m.
Fire authorities stated that they quickly deployed five personnel, a rescue truck, and an ambulance to the scene.
Initial reports indicated that the blaze originated in the office of the Legislative Technical Affairs Bureau
ordinate with the Hong Kong Police Force and to assist any Filipino nationals affected or injured in the incident.
Hong Kong has begun a three-day mourning period, including a moment of silence for the 146 people killed in one of the city’s deadliest fires.
Officers of the Disaster Victim Identification Unit recovered additional bodies as they expanded their search into three more high-rises at Wang Fuk Court, which suffered the world’s deadliest residential building fire since 1980.
“As of 4:00 PM (0800 GMT), the latest death toll stands at 146. We cannot rule out the possibility of further
in serving alongside the Executive Squadron, describing its members as leaders who “steer the mission with heart and strengthen the impact we make together.”
“Being part of the PCGA has allowed me to meet comrades whose courage, discipline, and compassion never waver,” Araneta-Marcos said.
“Proud to stand with all of you in service to our nation.”
The PCGA is the civilian volunteer arm of the Philippine Coast Guard, assisting in search and rescue operations, humanitarian missions, and maritime safety campaigns across the country.
director, located on the third floor of the building.
Sotto said the Senate’s maintenance team will work around the clock to dehydrate and restore the Session Hall for Monday’s session.
The BFP reported that the fire was declared under control at around 7:45 a.m. and was fully extinguished by 8:20 a.m.
It added that there were no injuries or fatalities as a result of the fire.
fatalities,” chief superintendent Tsang Shuk-yin of the police’s casualty enquiry unit said at a news conference.
More than 1,000 people from across the Chinese city flocked to the housing complex in Hong Kong’s northern Tai Po district to pay respects on Sunday, forming huge queues, an Agence France Presse (AFP) reporter saw. Authorities have set up an interdepartmental investigation task force to look into the cause of the blaze. Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog has arrested 11 people in connection to the fire, three of whom were also arrested by police for manslaughter.
bent president’s father, Ferdinand Sr., in 1986.
LTO moves ban on e-trikes and e-bikes to January 2
THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) hit the brakes, albeit temporarily, on its plan to impound ebikes and e-trikes plying national highways beginning December 1, following a surge of public complaints that prompted the agency to rethink its rollout.
LTO chief Markus Lacanilao announced in a video statement on Sunday that the enforcement date has been moved to January 2, 2026, giving motorists a one-month reprieve and allowing the agency more time to clarify the rules.
“There will be no impounding operation for the time being while we implement a comprehensive information drive,” Lacanilao said. He said updated guidelines will be
issued to clearly define where light electric vehicles (LEVs) are permitted and where they are not.
LTO enforcers will be stationed along major roads starting Monday, not to confiscate anything, but to educate LEV riders on what they can and can’t do.
Come January 2, however, Lacanilao said the strict impounding will be implemented.
“Ultimately, the LTO has only one goal—not to inconvenience the public, but to ensure that our roads are safe… including users of e-bikes, e-trikes, and other LEVs,” he said.
The LTO earlier said the ban on LEVs along national highways was prompted by a spike in accidents involving e-bikes and e-trikes.
and public frustrations over the controversy.
In a separate interview, PCO Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President was taking public calls for his resignation seriously, but does not feel threatened by the ongoing wave of protests sparked by the flood control corruption scandal.
“Our President will not be distracted by such calls. He has a responsibility that must be fulfilled,” Gomez said.
“This should be pursued against those who are at fault in this anti-corruption campaign,” he added. He said the administration understands the anger and impatience reflected in the demonstrations, but stressed that the public’s grievances are being heard.
“Those calls, the people’s complaints, we feel them, we hear them,” Gomez noted.
“We know they are angry, we know they are getting impatient. But this is what I can say: We hear you, we feel you, and we will not disappoint you. The President will not disappoint you,” he said in a radio interview.
Gomez stated that Marcos views the protests as legitimate expressions of public sentiment, even as Palace officials closely monitor attempts by small groups to use the unrest to pressure the President to step down.
But Gomez maintained that the President remains steady in his position and committed to completing the accountability process.
Castro rejected the suggestion that President Marcos is “unbothered” by the demonstrations, which have grown louder in demanding accountability and urging him to step down.
“This is a political issue, and these are not one-day protests,” Castro said.
“They affect the economy and the country’s reputation. So we cannot say the President is unbothered. He is calm because he knows people want those involved held accountable, but he is not ignoring the calls,” she added.
to thousands of protesters at the EDSA People Power Monument and the Rizal Park in Manila, while urging them to remain steadfast in their fight for political reform. About 16,000 joined both rallies in Metro Manila while almost 60,000 participated about 85 demonstrations nationwide, according to the PNP.
“Iligtas ang bahay, huwag sunugin (Save the house, don’t burn it down),” he said in a speech at the EDSA People Power Monument.
David also offered prayers for government leaders, asking for “moral courage, truthfulness, and compassion,” and encouraged citizens to stay alert against disinformation and divisive rhetoric.
Public outrage over so-called ghost flood-control projects has been mounting, reaching its peak when entire towns were inundated in floodwaters driven by powerful typhoons in recent months.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has seen friend and foe alike, including a congressman cousin, swept up by the spiraling scandal since he first put the issue center stage in a July national address.
“Put them in jail now!” protesters chanted at the monument erected to commemorate the ouster of the incum-
However, David cautioned against demands for the immediate resignation of government officials without a clear alternative.
“If you call for resignation, it must be voluntary. It must come from a sense of shame,” he said. “Do you really think they will resign on their own?” he asked.
The cardinal issued a strong warning against military intervention, describing it as a “tragedy” that would bring more harm than good.
Estimates placed the crowd at the EDSA monument at 4,500 during its peak in the afternoon, Police Maj. Jennifer Ganaban, spokesperson of the Quezon City Police District, said.
Different groups also staged a synchronous protest at Rizal Park in Manila to call out government officials linked to corruption.
In an interview with Manila Standard, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) president Renato Reyes said the charges filed against several politicians are merely for “optics.”
“It was only meant for damage control. Our problem here is that the issue has already evolved; it is already with Malacañang. There were already allegations that reached up to the Palace,” he said in Filipino.
Trillion Peso March as a stand against what he described as entrenched corruption in government.
abuses involving national resources.
He highlighted his Senate Bill 1506, the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability Act, which aims to strengthen transparency in state purchases.
The bill requires government agencies to upload and maintain budgetrelated documents on a Digital Budget Platform for public access.
It mandates the publication of contracts, project costs, bills of materials, and procurement records.
For his part, Pangilinan described the
He called on the public to channel the spirit of the Katipunan as they demand accountability and confront abuses of public funds.
“Jail the thieves. As the homilies in recent weeks have said, every person has a duty and will be held accountable,” the senator concluded.
Meanwhile, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray called on senators to suspend their colleagues involved in a major corruption scandal involving flood control projects.
“We demand action,” said before a crowd of thousands gathered at the monument.
In a message, Mr. Marcos hailed Bonifacio, who was known as the “Supremo of the Katipunan” and “Hero of the Masses” for leading the fight against colonial oppression during the Philippine Revolution.
“Today, we honor the life and heroism of the Supremo of the Katipunan and Hero of the Masses who organized and inspired his fellow Filipinos to rise against tyranny and break the chains of oppression,” President Marcos said.
He highlighted Bonifacio’s humble beginnings, noting that these did not deter him from pursuing his aspirations for the country.
“With his courage, he lit the flames of the Philippine Revolution, which finally united our land and emboldened many to lay down their lives willingly for the cause of our motherland against the colonizers,” he added.
President Marcos urged Filipinos to draw inspiration from Bonifacio’s legacy, stressing the importance of collective action in addressing modern challenges such as hunger,
As such, Reyes said that more highranking officials must be held accountable for the massive corruption in the government.
During the rally, he also castigated the City Government of Manila, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the National Parks Development Committee for supposedly preventing his group from setting up a stage in Luneta.
Reyes insists that they should not be prevented from entering the area even without a written permit.
The city government clarified it had no objections to the Baha sa Luneta 2.0 rally, but organizers should have coordinated with MMDA and the NPDC.
“Roxas Boulevard is under the MMDA while Luneta is under the National Parks Development Committee [NPDC], not with the Manila LGU, so no permits are needed with the city hall,” said Cesar Chavez, Chiefof-Staff of Manila Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso in Filipino.
For its part, the Manila Police District (MPD) clarified that, based on their initial verification, no permit was presented by the group to the Manila Parks and Development Committee.
The MPD recorded an estimated crowd of 3,000 as the program in Luneta ended in the afternoon.
The rallies across the metropolis coin-
“To the Ombudsman, file the cases now. To the senators, suspend the senators implicated, and to the congress, pass the anti-political dynasty bill,” Gray added.
The beauty queen also said that the people “will not move on” until someone is held accountable for the massive corruption in flood control projects.
“They said that Filipinos have a short memory, that it’s easy for us to forgive and forget, but believe us when we say that we will not forget what you did, and no one will move on unless no one gets accountable,” Gray said.
“We are the generation that will not let corruption win,” she stressed.
Other personalities who attended the
corruption, and criminality. “Let us honor his memory by finding a deeper meaning in his sacrifice and doing our part in liberating our country from the shackles of hunger, corruption, criminality, and other ills of society,” he said.
He also called for renewed patriotism and discipline to build a “Bagong Pilipinas,” where peace, progress, and harmony prevail. “As we celebrate this auspicious occasion, let us remember the legacy of sacrifice that he and our forebears have demonstrated,” the President said. “With patriotism, discipline, and love for one another as our guide, let us build a b etter Bagong Pilipinas.”
Vice President Sara Duterte likewise urged Filipinos to take inspiration from Bonifacio’s sacrifice and his fight for justice, equality, and a better future for the nation. In a video message released on November 30, she honored the national hero, emphasizing his courage and patriotism. She called on the public to remember his heroism and to carry forward the spirit of unity and national pride among all Filipinos.
cided with the annual Bonifacio Day celebration, when Filipinos come together to commemorate the life and contributions of Andres Bonifacio, known as the Father of the Philippine Revolution. Bishop of Kidapawan, Jose Colin Bagaforo, said on the day of remembering the life of the hero, people gathered in hopes of better governance.
“The Trillion Peso March movement is the fruit of our collective aspiration to end the corruption and abuse that destroys our economy, morality, and the very spirit of the country... most especially the future of the youth,” he said.
Yesterday, groups making up the Trillion Peso March Movement Laban sa Korapsyon at Political Dynasty (Against Corruption and Political Dynasties) also released a “Unity Statement” containing their demands from the government.
“On November 30, we remember Andres Bonifacio and the heroism of the Katipuneros who fought for our country,” the movement’s statement read in Filipino.
“Like them, let us join hands in the Trillion Peso March Movement, led by the Church and our brothers and sisters from other denominations, civil society, and various sectoral formations, to take our cue from the Katipunan, and Andres Bonifacio, to put an end to corruption,” they further wrote.
rally at the People Power Monument included Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, and former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who led the prayer during the program.
Filipino film director Joel Lamangan, former Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Satur Ocampo, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chairperson Danilo Ramos, and labor leader Leody de Guzman were also seen at the event. Likewise, student groups from various universities, including the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University, among others, also participated in the program.
DA warns public on fake rice import permits
By Othel V. Campos
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has warned importers against falling for a scam involving fake rice-import allocations being peddled by unscrupulous groups seeking quick profit.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said his office has received reports that certain individuals are offering supposed “allocations” that would allow importers to bring in rice as early as December.
He reiterated that the rice-import moratorium remains in effect until December 31, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to stabilize palay prices and protect farmers from further financial strain.
The initial two-month import freeze imposed in September helped lift palay prices in provinces such as Isabela and Nueva Ecija to P13 to P14 per kilo, up from lows of around P8 before the ban.
But as the harvest season peaked and the moratorium approached its original expiry, farm-gate prices again softened, prompting the government to extend the freeze through year-end.
Despite this, solicitation forms have reportedly circulated among rice millers, importers, and traders in Cebu, falsely claiming that signatories “will be able to import by December” and receive guaranteed allocations.
The DA urged stakeholders to be vigilant and to immediately report any similar solicitations.
IN BRIEF
CebuPac resumes normal operations
CEBU Pacific said Sunday it restored normal operations after completing the required Airbus software update. The airline said the update was applied across all affected Airbus A320/A321 aircraft. It thanked passengers for their patience and cited the support of airport authorities and government partners in helping speed up the recovery of flights and airport services.
The carrier also acknowledged its teams who worked “tirelessly” to ensure a safe and efficient restoration of operations.
Cebu Pacific is offering flexible options—including free rebooking and conversion to a travel fund—for passengers who wish to postpone flights scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1. These may be accessed through the Manage Booking portal up to two hours before departure. The airline reminded travelers that while operations have normalized, minor delays and adjustments may still occur.
NCRPO seizes P112m drugs from Aug. to Nov.
THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said its intensified operations from Aug. 26 to Nov. 25 led to the arrest of 3,555 drug suspects and the seizure of around ₱112 million worth of illegal drugs. The haul included 15.48 kilos of shabu and 8.05 kilos of dried marijuana. Police also arrested 3,667 individuals with standing warrants, including 1,413 most wanted persons, while anti-gambling operations netted 5,134 suspects and nearly ₱947,000 in gambling paraphernalia and cash bets.
A total of 641 operations against loose firearms resulted in 655 arrests and the confiscation of 667 unlicensed guns. The NCRPO also logged nearly 3 million local-ordinance violators, generating ₱765 million in penalties. Vince Lopez
DOTr told: Improve public transportation
SENATOR Loren Legarda on Sunday urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to set a clear national vision for mobility and sustainability as she reviewed its proposed 2026 budget. She said Metro Manila’s congestion reflects policies that have long favored private vehicles.
Travel times now average 25.5 minutes per 10 km, she noted, with daily economic losses reaching ₱3.5 billion and projected to rise to ₱5.4 billion by 2035.
Legarda said commuters struggle with broken sidewalks, inconsistent bike lanes, unreliable feeder services, and poor land-use planning, all of which contribute to persistent first-mile and last-mile problems. A coherent strategy, she added, would ease daily travel burdens and create safer, more predictable commuting conditions. One measure she highlighted is the proposed Urban Walkability and Safe Pathways Standards Act. Ram Superable
PH, Japan hold 3rd maritime cooperative activity in WPS
By Rex Espiritu
FOR the third time, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Maritime SelfDefense Force (JMSDF) carried out the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) on November 29 in the West Philippine Sea, continuing the steady growth of defense cooperation between the two countries.
The AFP deployed BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), a PN AW159 (NH441), and the Philippine Air Force’s C-208B surveillance air-
FOR THE KIDS.
SM
Prime CEO Hans Sy and CHILD Haus founder Ricky Reyes distribute gifts to children with cancer during the group’s ‘Heroes of Hope’ Christmas party in Manila, as young patients enjoy toys, food, and festive cheer. Norman Cruz
craft. The JMSDF participated with the JS Harusame (DD102) and an SH-60K helicopter. Both forces conducted a series of interoperability activities, including Division Tactics/Officer of the Watch (DIVTACS/OOW) Maneuver, where participating ships practiced coordinated movements and station-keeping, and a PHOTOEX, which involved maintaining precise formation for documentation.
A cross-deck landing exercise
PHA ags shortage of cardiologists nationwide
By Rio N. Araja
THE Philippine Heart Association (PHA) has raised serious concern over a shortage of cardiologists in the country, with even zero cardiologists in six major areas.
PHA president Dr. Walid Amil said Abra, Aurora, Siquijor, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi do not have a single cardiologist despite the rise of heart disease in the Philippines.
“We all know that this is a very huge task, a very huge challenge, but we will start the groundwork as early as today. We will plant the seeds as early as today,” he said.
“The PHA believes every Filipino patient, whether you are from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi, deserves holistic cardiovascular care from a cardiologist. You do not need to travel several kilometers to avail of a cardiology consultation,” he added.
The PHA plans to create subchapters in every region and encourage new cardiology graduates to serve in underserved areas.
According to Amil, there are about 120 to 150 cardiology graduates a year.
“We will be meeting with these cardiology graduates, and we will encourage them to work in underserved areas. Of course, there will be challenges in terms of facilities and location,” he said.
There is only one cardiologist for every 45,000 Filipinos, he noted.
“This is a challenge to us in the PHA, which hopefully we can address effectively,” he said.
There are 1,294 cardiologists in the National Capital Region and 1,252 in
the provinces. The PHA is doing its best to implement the One Cardiologist for Every City training program.
“One heart for every Filipino,” Amil said.
was also held to familiarize helicopter crews and ship personnel with each other’s deck procedures and enhance coordination in aviation operations.
The activity was conducted a day after the successful PH–France MCA on 28 November in the southern portion of Eastern Mindanao, reflecting the AFP’s ongoing efforts to broaden cooperation and maintain regular engagements with other defense forces.
Gatchalian says science students to get more aid
By Ram Superable
SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday assured that the Philippine Science High School System will receive an additional P413 million to increase scholarship grants for the first time in a decade, starting in 2026.
The funding is expected to support 10,935 scholars across the country.
Full scholars currently receive P4,000 per month, while partial scholars receive between P500 and P3,500. Under the new allocation, full scholars will receive P8,000 monthly, effectively doubling their current grant.
Partial scholars will receive a standardized P4,000 per month under the proposed increase.
“It is time to increase the amount we give to our Philippine Science High School scholars,” Gatchalian said. He said the added funding aims to prevent students from dropping out amid rising education and living costs.
He added that the higher grants will provide additional support to scholars, particularly those from lowincome families.
Gatchalian noted that scholarship amounts have not been raised for 10 years, prompting the need for this first adjustment in a decade.
“It is important to ensure that our support for them is sufficient so they can continue their studies and complete the program,” he said.
WPS DRILLS. Armed Forces of the Philippines and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel pose for a photo during their Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippine Sea on Nov. 29, strengthening defense cooperation between the two countries.
HONORING BONIFACIO. Senator Loren Legarda leads the celebration of the 162nd birth anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio in Caloocan City. Andrew Rabulan
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2025
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
IN BRIEF
BuCor keeps ISO quality management certificate
BUREAU of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. has announced that the facility has maintained its ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Certification following a comprehensive surveillance audit conducted by TÜV SÜD PSB. This rigorous screening, according to Catapang, assessed crucial operational processes including admission, security, reformation, support to operation, and inmate release process, across three major penal farms: the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF), the Leyte Regional Prison (LRP), and the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
The auditors led by Orlan Tiongson joined by Jayzer Aquino and Mel Gibbson Ogay highlighted several key accomplishment of the agency during their evaluation conducted from Nov. 24 to 28.
Notable among these was the recognition of the BuCor chief as a “Modern Hero Awardee,” which symbolizes leadership that inspires positive change. Additionally, the agency was acknowledged for maintaining a zero-incidence record of torture, as certified by the Commission on Human Rights, demonstrating a strong commitment to the dignity and rights of all persons deprived of liberty
BI nabs Chinese
for fraud in China
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested a Chinese national wanted in China for financial fraud.
The fugitive, identified as He Hui, was taken into custody by the BI at the Southern Police District (SPD) headquarters in Taguig City.
According to the bureau, the arrest was conducted by members of the BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) in coordination with the SPD District Special Operations Unit, following a request from Chinese authorities last week for He’s arrest and deportation.
The suspect is the subject of a 2023 warrant of criminal detention issued by the Qingxin District Branch of the Qingyuan Public Security Bureau in China over an alleged credit card fraud case. Vito Barcelo
4 CFO execs take advance study on global migration
FOUR officers of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) have successfully completed the 2025 Professional Course on Global Migration, marking an enhancement of their expertise in Global Migration and Diaspora Engagement.
The course was jointly conducted by the University of the Philippines - Centre Internationalde Formation des Autorités et Leaders (UP-CIFAL Philippines) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.
The CFO officers who participated in the 15-week online course were Michael Apattad, Manolo Tibe, and Rozelle Carrera of policy, planning, and research division, and Patricia Marie Salvador of the project management division.
They were joined by over 15 professionals from various Philippine government institutions, foreign entities, and private organizations.
‘Ukraine not recruiting Pinoys’
BOC launches ‘Isumbong kay Commissioner’
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has launched a new online portal aimed at improving the agency’s handling of public complaints and concerns related to customs services and operations.
The platform, dubbed “Isumbong kay Commissioner,” was initiated by Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, and patterned after the Office of the President’s “Isumbong sa Pangulo” system.
It is intended to strengthen accountability and enhance direct communication between the BOC and stakeholders.
The setup is designed to be secure, user-friendly, and aligned with the bureau’s digitalization efforts.
The new portal will replace the BOC’s existing complaints email address, marking a shift from a manual, email-based process to a centralized and fully digital platform.
The agency said the platform allows complainants to file reports more efficiently and track their status in real time, helping reduce delays and ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
All submissions filed through the portal will be automatically endorsed
the
THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is set to end its beneficiaries’ “decadeslong wait” to secure their certificates of entitlement (COEs) for land covered by presidential proclamations.
The DHSUD is taking the initiative as an early Christmas gift for over 1,000 beneficiaries in Laguna, Quezon and Iloilo, The agency scheduled this month the awarding of COEs to mark another major step in strengthening land tenure security for the underprivileged Filipinos under the Marcos administration’s flagship Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.
Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the distribution of COEs advances the national government’s commitment to utilize idle public lands for housing purposes. “The awarding is an early Christmas gift of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration to our countrymen who have long waited for the security of their lots,” he said. The awarding, covering residential lands in Los Baños, Laguna; Lucena City, Quezon; and Jaro, Iloilo City will end the long wait of the beneficiaries whose sites were declared suitable for socialized housing through Presidential Proclamation Nos. 550, 436 and 1538,
respectively.
In Los Baños, a total of 764 beneficiaries from Barangays Lalakay, Bambang and Timugan have been cleared following the completion of the Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC) validation. The COEs are set to be given away in three batches beginning December 2025 through early 2026. In Jaro, preparations are now ongoing for the awarding of COEs to 216 qualified families during the Yuletide season.
In Lucena City, the LIAC has already completed the validation process for 185 beneficiaries, and the awarding is scheduled in January 2026.
By Katrina Manubay
The Ukraine Embassy Manila has dismissed claims by a Russian official that Filipino nationals are being recruited to join Ukrainian troops in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia
In a statement issued on Friday, Nov. 28, the embassy described the allegations by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as “baseless and have no factual foundation.”
“We reject and refute the baseless fabrications of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the alleged recruitment of Filipino nationals to participate in hostilities on the side of Ukraine. These claims have no factual foundation whatsoever and do not correspond to reality,” the statement read.
The clarification was made to refute comments by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova who said an American security company had “launched a campaign in the Philippines to recruit local citizens” for the Ukrainian army.
She alleged that Filipino recruits were being promised a monthly salary of around $5,000 (roughly P293,000) and that they would be trained by “American instructors” in “San Fernando.”
The Ukrainian Embassy also claimed that the insinuation was not accidental and was ‘part of a systematic disinformation campaign by the Russian Federation aimed at discrediting Ukraine and its Defense Forces’, citing a similar instance of Russian fake news concerning “recruitment” in the Republic of Korea.
to the Office of the Commissioner for evaluation and appropriate action.
“Isumbong kay Commissioner is proof that the Bureau of Customs is for clearer, faster and sincere interaction with the public,” Nepomuceno said. “We would like to hear your grievances, and we assure you that every complaint has a corresponding solution.”
The bureau said the new reporting system supports its broader mandate to protect borders, facilitate trade, and uphold public trust through more accessible and accountable public service.
“Now Russian propagandists have decided to spread another fabricated story in the Philippines. This demonstrates a deliberate focus of Russian propaganda on the states of Southeast Asia,” the Ukraine Embassy added.
The embassy called on all nations and international partners to handle information responsibly and to resist manipulations and falsehoods that seek to undermine stability and trust. It further reaffirmed that Ukraine and the Philippines “enjoy strong, friendly, and dynamic bilateral relations built on mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to international law,” emphasizing that a telephone conversation had recently taken place between the Presidents of both countries
LTFRB gears up for holiday rush, ensures passenger welfare, safety
By Rio N. Araja
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has started the preparation and implementation of all contingency measures to ensure passenger comfort during the holiday exodus between the urban areas and the provinces.
LTFRB chief Vigor Mendoza II said they expect more travelers in the next few days as schools start their Christmas break and more people from the provinces going to Metro Manila and other urban areas to experience the Christmas season in the cities.
“We expect more people to travel starting December due to holiday mood. This early, we should start all the necessary preparations to ensure that all the passengers will experience fast and comfortable travel to and from their des-
tinations,” he said.
As part of the measures, all regional directors have been instructed to conduct regular checks on bus terminals and public transportation hubs to ensure road worthiness of public utility vehicles, and the physical and mental readiness of drivers at all times. Mendoza reminded all bus companies and operators of bus terminals and public transportation stations to “shape up or suffer the consequences.”
He stressed that there are existing guidelines on the appearance, maintenance and basic facilities of bus terminals and public transportation hubs.
He urged passengers to immediately report bus terminals and public transportation stations with poor facilities and services for immediate action through the LTFRB hotline 0956-7610739 and social media accounts.
CHRISTMAS MAGIC UNFOLDING. SM City Rosario lights up with its public offering of ‘Ribbons and Rhythm’ Christmas Magic! Families delight at SM South Luzon’s Grand Musical Play, ‘Ribbons and Rhythm,’ bringing a wave of festive cheer to SM City Rosario! The air is filled with excitement as Mr. and Mrs. Santa lead a spectacular show featuring 35 performers, including the Gingerbread twins Gingy and Snap, the Marshmallow besties Marsha and Mello, Gen Z dancers, and Royal characters. Norman Cruz
THRIVING COTTAGE INDUSTRY. Workers of a ‘longganisang Lucban’ factory in Lucban, Quezon have their hands full preparing their famous Filipinostyle sausage with pre-Christmas orders coming in huge numbers. Dennis Abrina
BELENISMO WINNER. Tarlac Heritage Foundation co-founder Isa Cojuangco Suntay poses with Maj. Gen. Aristotle Gonzales and Lt. Col. Reginald Obispo of the Philippine Air Force, along with Maj Gen Pedro Balisi Jr. and Brig. Gen. Charlemagne Batayola Jr. of the Army. The military’s entry into this year’s 18th Belenismo in Tarlac copped the championship for
Municipal Category of the contest. The Armor Division of the Philippine Army also captured first place in the Monumental Category. Lino Santos
wanted
OPINION
Misplaced trust
ON THE first Sunday of Advent, the candle of hope is lit. In the church where we attend Sunday mass, the priest in his homily said the flame of hope is the last to die. No sooner had he spoken than the flame of the candle of hope died. The sacristan lit it once more, but as the priest ended his homily, the flame died again. Is it a portent of the times? Have hopelessness and despair at the state of the nation taken away even the joy of the season of grace? ***
Out there in the cold of winter of Den Haag, our former president was denied interim release by his captors last Friday. He did not appear at the hearing; only his lawyer attended, grim-faced as the decision of the appeals court was read by the lady judge from Peru. Likely the former president did not want his countrymen to see how frail and emaciated he has become.
Hope for his legion of believers has petered out. They will not see him back this Christmas, nor on March 28 next year when he reaches his 81st birthday. And if we go by the usual lengthy timeline of ICC trials, heaven knows when if at all he would be back in his homeland.
During the 2022 presidential campaign, he refused to endorse any candidate. Even when his daughter Inday Sara agreed to run with the current president, Rodrigo Duterte gave no endorsement. And even as some in his Cabinet and close allies wished he would endorse Isko Moreno, so that his high popularity would give the young mayor the needed push to defeat the man Duterte himself publicly described as a “rich, spoiled kid” and “addicted to illegal drugs,” he remained adamant, seemingly above the fray.
Then in the early evening of April 5, 2022, after inaugurating the China-funded Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, the president called this writer, and said, partly in Bisaya, partly in English: “Lito, dugay na kitang amigo, pero kanang imong kandidato, dili ko ganahan” (Lito, we have been friends for a long time, but I do not like your candidate”).
“He tried to talk to me earlier, but I refused. He has been saying that if he is elected president, he will not surrender me to the ICC” (Isko has always maintained the position that no Filipino, let alone a president, should be surrendered to the ICC).
“Wala ko’y labot anang ICC (I do not recognize that ICC), and if I am to be tried for my faults, it can only be done here. I do not need your candidate’s as-
surance.”
Crestfallen, I only meekly said, “sige po, Mr. President. I understand.” ***
His executive secretary, my close friend Bingbong Madialdea, confided to our small group after he returned from Den Haag where he was hospitalized, that after the former president was forced into a private jet by Gen. Nicolas Torre, and they were about to take off, Duterte told him to stay calm, and said “this is my fate as a leader.”
Have hopelessness and despair at the state of the nation taken away even the joy of the season of grace?
The day before, in Hong Kong, the president decided to leave early instead of his afternoon schedule, knowing that he was to be arrested upon arrival, but placed his trust in the judicial system.
He knew the law, and believed that he would first be brought to a local court, as provided even in the Rome Statute.
He was wrong. He placed his trust in the law, being an officer of the court, but the president denied him access to the processes of the law.
The man who won the votes of Mindanaoans and the Bisaya and all the Duterte loyalists because he was the presidential candidate of Inday Sara, denied her father his legal rights as a citizen of the Republic and derogated our sovereignty in favor of a discredited international court.
In the van that brought them from the airport to the Scheveningen prison, Duterte asked Medialdea: “May Euro ka ba diyan?”
Bingbong answered, “wala po, but I have my credit cards with me,” to which Duterte said: “paliti unya og baga nga jacket ang mga pulis, kay tugnaw ra ba kaayo” (buy them winter jackets, they are not used to the cold”).
***
Meanwhile, in the benighted land, the secretary of trade took pride in saying that ordinary folks can purchase the food items for the traditional Noche Buena with “just 500 pesos.” She was seconded by the Malacanang spokesperson, along with snickers and feigned laughter. To one or both, let us give the title, “Nuestra Senora de la Noche Buena.”
The ASEAN–Korea partnership powering economic growth
FOR countless Filipino households working hard to make ends meet, the frustrating question is: when will life become less of a struggle?
Recent surveys show why this concern persists.
Pulse Asia reports that 54 percent of Filipinos rank inflation as their top worry, while SWS finds that 56 percent want government to prioritize lowering food prices, with rural households feeling the strain even more.
These are the same gripes heard in jeepneys, market stalls, and every workspace. Growth numbers may look steady, but the daily reality tells a different story.
The gap between economic performance and lived experience remains wide.
This is why it is necessary to look beyond our borders for practical solutions that can ease these pressures.
International partnerships have real weight, because they create jobs, shape prices and even the services households depend on.
In this context, ASEAN–Korea cooperation stands out as a source of tangible benefits that can help calm rising prices, create decent work, and strengthen economic security.
It is time we align our external relationships with the internal demands of our people.
Korea has built a reputation as a reliable, transparent, rules-following partner.
Surveys consistently show that Filipi-
nos trust countries that behave predictably and support democratic values.
Korea is firmly in that circle of trust.
This matters because investors seek stability, and workers depend on investments that stay for the long haul. A trusted partner leads to more investments that create real employment.
It is time we align our external relationships with the internal demands of our people
ASEAN has become Korea’s second largest trading partner and investment locator. Much of Korea’s capital goes into manufacturing, digital infrastructure, construction, and logistics.
These sectors hire engineers, technicians, administrators, drivers, and production workers. They also support MSMEs.
When ASEAN and Korea strengthen supply chains, the Philippines gains better access to materials, technologies, and markets that help lower costs for producers and consumers.
Korea’s development cooperation deepens these gains. Through the Economic Development
EDITORIAL
Where outrage will take us
SUNDAY was the birth anniversary of the hero Andres Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan.
This year, Nov. 30 took on a heightened meaning, coinciding with protests in many places as Filipinos express their outrage over massive and entrenched corruption. The plunder of public funds is happening not only in flood control projects but in numerous other government contracts, as well.
It would be wrong for the people to not be outraged, or to merely accept the practice as something that comes with the territory. The amounts reportedly being siphoned off the public coffers go up to billions of pesos, with those benefiting from the system ostentatious in their lifestyles. They believe that crime does pay, and that our systems are so weak that they could get away with their crime. If not now, then eventually, We are aghast every day at how these supposedly upstanding public servants and business people can rest easy at night without their consciences bothering them.
Perhaps because their beds are softer, their rooms are more comfortable, and they do not worry about flood invading their homes or ruining their crops.
Even likelier is that they have no conscience to begin with.
We feel only disgust and loathing toward those who insist on their innocence in the face of evidence linking them to their crimes, and who loudly profess their supposed concern for their constituents but in fact rob them blind. These officials’ calls for transparency and good governance only ring hollow.
We feel only disgust and loathing toward these liars, thieves, and hypocrites
We recognize that some gains have been made in the past few months. The people have become more aware of the
many ways in which corruption is committed. We have educated ourselves on how the budget process works, and on how to discern whether what we see online is disinformation or propaganda. We also welcome the initial cases that have been filed, and wish that there would be bigger names to be indicted rather than mid-level government workers or corporate managers. We will continue to watch how the cases are tried. It is because of this that we stress the importance of relying on strong evidence instead of mere hearsay. Only proof will see these cases through. Or else, after the spectacle, those accused would bank on the lack of evidence and may end up free again. Inflicting themselves on us again. Sunday’s protest action was diverse in terms of the participants and what they were calling for. Protesters vary in the outcome they envision. These expressions must non-negotiably be respected, because they are protected by the supreme law of the land. But no matter the difference, we begin from the same sentiment: we are outraged at the scale of corruption, and we will no longer accept this as a given. We assert our right to have a government led by those who truly have the people’s interest in mind, and to do away – through lawful means – with those who are outed as liars, thieves, and hypocrites.
‘End of an era’: MTV pulling plug on global music channels
LONDON – MTV kick-started a new era of music and pop culture in 1981, when it went on air for the first time, emblematically playing “Video Killed the Radio Star” as its debut music video.
More than four decades later, the channel, now owned by US media giant Paramount Skydance, will wind down its international music broadcasting by the end of the year as it struggles to compete with online streaming and social media.
MTV Music, MTV Hits and its 80s and 90s music shows will be shut down in the UK and other European countries in the coming months, sources at Paramount confirmed to AFP.
These music channels will stop broadcasting at the end of the year in France, Germany, Poland, Australia and Brazil as well, according to various media reports.
It has been declared the “end of an era” by dismayed fans and former MTV video jockeys -- the beloved music presenters known as VJs who appeared on millions of screens at the the height of the network’s popularity.
However, the conditions that made MTV “revolutionary” simply “don’t exist anymore”, said Kirsty Fairclough, a professor of screen studies at Manchester Metropolitan University.
The rise of digital streaming platforms like YouTube and TikTok has “completely refigured how we engage with music and images”, the researcher on popular culture told AFP.
Viewers or listeners now expect “immediacy” and “interactivity” that sitting in front of the television to watch rolling music videos cannot provide, she added.
James Hyman, who directed and produced MTV Europe’s dance music shows in the 1990s, agrees the network thrived before the internet was ubiquitous.
“It was so exciting, because that’s mainly all people had,” Hyman told AFP.
Cooperation Fund and KOICA, Korea supports infrastructure, digital transformation, and green recovery across ASEAN.
For Filipino households, this means infrastructure that moves goods faster, energy systems that reduce disruptions, and digital platforms that streamline services.
These foundations don’t always make headlines, but they help keep prices stable and communities resilient.
We see this cooperation on the ground.
ASEAN hosts about 17,000 Korean company branches, with hundreds operating in the Philippines.
As of June 2023, PEZA recorded 246 South Korean projects worth over 92 billion pesos, generating more than 40,000 jobs and producing hundreds of millions of dollars in exports.
These jobs cut across engineering, logistics, production, and support services that sustain local economies.
Tourism adds another layer.
With 1.76 million Korean visitors in 2024, Korea remains our largest tourist market.
Each visitor supports income for hotels, restaurants, transport operators, tour
Hyman was at the heart of MTV’s Party Zone -- which celebrated dance and club culture and played up-and-coming techno, house and trance music -- alongside MTV VJ Simone Angel.
Both of them left the network when MTV Europe split up into regional subsidiaries and pivoted from music programming to reality shows in the early 2000s.
“I was heartbroken when it started to split up into different regions. To me that was like the beginning of the end,” Dutch presenter Angel told AFP.
—“—
These music channels will stop broadcasting at the end of the year in France, Germany, Poland, Australia and Brazil as well
According to British audience researcher Barb, MTV Music reached around 1.3 million UK households in July 2025. In comparison, Barb figures reported in 2001 showed MTV UK and Ireland’s package of music channels had reached over 10 million homes.
For Angel, MTV’s slow decline in popularity can be traced back to its move away from original, edgy music content key to helping smaller artists break out.
“Initially MTV Europe wasn’t just about making the most amount of money... that sense of experimentation made the channel very exciting,” said the former VJ. Paramount has taken several cost-cutting measures since its merger with Skydance earlier this year, announcing 1,000 job cuts
guides, and small businesses. A stable ASEAN–Korea track helps protect and expand these livelihoods.
These ties rest on over 75 years of cooperation, from shared sacrifice during the Korean War to today’s partnership in trade, technology, education, and energy.
The Philippines–Korea Free Trade Agreement, covering 97 percent of imports, will cut many tariffs to zero.
This can mean better access for farmers, more opportunities for manufacturers, and lower prices on machinery and inputs that help businesses and consumers alike.
Korea’s strength in technology and innovation reinforces this opportunity.
A stronger ASEAN–Korea platform can link Filipino workers and MSMEs to advanced sectors such as semiconductors, EV components, AI-enabled services, and green energy. These are pathways to higher productivity and better incomes.
A closer look at these developments shows why ASEAN–Korea cooperation is not just another diplomatic track but a strategic lever for addressing persistent constraints. Investments that integrate Filipino firms into regional value chains can
last month and reviewing its other cable television offerings. Some MTV music channels will stay on air in the United States, and the flagship MTV HD channel will be available in the UK, but with a focus on entertainment rather than music.
“The ‘M’ stood for music, and that’s gone,” lamented Hyman, who has carefully stored VHS tapes of the shows he produced for Party Zone.
The tapes whir in Hyman’s VHS player at his home in London, playing clips from the 90s: intimate interviews with The Prodigy and Aphex Twin, funky, experimental music videos, and wild hairstyles.
The impact of MTV and MTV Europe was “seismic” in its heyday, said Fairclough, bringing both famous and up-and-coming artists into the homes of music fans around the world.
“It definitely marks the end of an era in how music is experienced, both visually and culturally, because MTV really fundamentally reshaped popular music,” she said.
Moments like the premiere of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video and Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” performance at the first MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in 1984 shaped the cultural conversation.
“MTV was so powerful it defined youth culture,” said Hyman, recalling its sweeping influence on fashion, film and music in Britain and Europe.
Ever since news broke that the music channels were facing the axe, Hyman and Angel have been urging Paramount to make archive tapes available to the public, insisting that people still want their MTV.
“To me it almost feels like MTV has been on life support for such a long time,” said Angel.
“But now that they’re actually threatening to pull the plug, we have all suddenly realised... this means too much to us.” AFP
ease production costs and broaden employment. Technology partnerships can move industries upward, where incomes are stronger. Coordinated work on supply chains, energy security, and digital systems can help stabilize prices and make services more reliable.
These priorities will take center stage at the ASEAN–Korea Forum on Dec. 5, launching the ‘CSP Contributor, Springboard, Partner) Vision for the Next 40 Years of Partnership.
Organized by Geopolitics Insight in cooperation with the Korea University ASEAN Center (KUAC), the Stratbase Institute, and the University of the Philippines Korea Research Center (UP-KRC), the forum brings together experts and officials from across ASEAN and Korea to shape strategies on youth exchanges, digital industry linkages, supply chain resilience, and public safety cooperation, laying groundwork for a long-term roadmap for ASEAN–Korea relations.
ASEAN–Korea cooperation can convert these aspirations and opportunities into advantage – a driver of international partnerships with benefits that flow directly to the people.
IN BRIEF
Australia arrests dozens in coal port protest
SYDNEY – Australian police said Sunday they had arrested dozens of people during climate protests that claim to have halted two cargo ships at one of the world’s biggest coal export ports.
A total 32 people were arrested and charged with “marine-related” offenses on Saturday and early Sunday at the Port of Newcastle, a major deepwater gateway north of Sydney, police said.
Several activists engaged in “unsafe practices” on the water during the protests, New South Wales state police said, warning that they had a “zero-tolerance” approach to threats to public safety or the safe passage of vessels.
Organizers Rising Tide said the weekend protests, in which flotillas of kayaks entered shipping channels, had forced two coal ships to turn around instead of entering the port.
Nearly 100 people in 50 kayaks entered the shipping channel again on Sunday, it said. Greenpeace said activists climbed the side of coal ship Yangze 16 on Sunday and displayed a banner reading: “Phase out coal and gas.” AFP
4 killed, 10 wounded in California shooting
LOS ANGELES – Four people were killed and 10 wounded in a shooting at a family gathering in California on Saturday night, US police said, calling it a “targeted incident.”
The shooting took place inside a banquet hall in Stockton, northeast of San Francisco, just before 6:00 pm, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s office spokesperson Heather Brent told reporters in a news briefing.
The victims, who range from “juveniles to adults,” were taken to local hospitals, Brent said, adding that information on the shooting was limited.
“What we have confirmed at this time is that there was a banquet hall where a family was celebrating. We have 14 victims of this shooting. Four of those are deceased,” Brent said.
“Early indications suggest that this may be a targeted incident. Investigators are exploring all possibilities at this time.” AFP
Japan ‘One Piece’ singer halted in mid-performance
TOKYO – Japanese “One Piece” singer Maki Otsuki was forced to halt her performance on stage in Shanghai, her management said, one of the latest events hit by a diplomatic spat between Tokyo and Beijing.
Otsuki, known for the theme song of the popular anime, had been slated to perform for two days from Friday at the Bandai Namco Festival 2025 in the Chinese city. However, she “had to abruptly halt her performance due to unavoidable circumstances” on Friday “even though she was in the middle of performing”, her management posted on her official website on Saturday. It was the latest event hit in a spate of cancellations of cultural events involving Asia’s two biggest economies.
Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have soured this month following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan.AFP
Kyiv in talks with US to end war
KYIV – Ukrainian negotiators are due to hold talks in the United States on Sunday (Monday, Manila time) on Washington’s plan to end the war with Russia, with Kyiv facing pressure on both the military and political fronts.
As Russia advances on the front line, its forces targeted Ukraine’s capital and the region for two nights in a row ahead of the talks in the United States.
A drone attack in the outskirts of Kyiv killed one person and wounded 11 on Saturday night, the regional governor said. Hours earlier, a Ukrainian security
CHACALLUTA, Chile – Along Chile’s desert border with Peru, dozens of undocumented migrants line up under the hot sun to try to seek a way out of the country. The clock is ticking down to a presidential run-off election on Dec. 14, with far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast the frontrunner to win the second round of voting against leftist Jeannette Jara. Kast has vowed to expel hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants from Chile, prompting residents hailing from Venezuela and other parts of Latin America to seek refuge elsewhere before the crackdown.
“Kast said he was going to remove foreigners who have not been regularized,” Milbayajaira Rivas, a 56-year-old nurse originally from Venezuela, told AFP.
Neighboring Peru would be one option, but the Peruvian government on Friday declared a state of emergency along its border with Chile, reinforcing its military surveillance to block migrants seeking to cross into the country.
Hugo de Zela, Peru’s foreign minister, said the country was not going to accept any more irregular migrants. At the Chilean border, Peruvian police officers offer water to the migrants to help them in the desert heat, but refuse to allow them to cross.
“Peru doesn’t want any more Venezuelans,” Rivas said. “We don’t know what we’re going to do.” AFP
source said Kyiv was responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in the Black Sea that it believed were covertly transporting sanctioned Russian oil.
The US talks come amid turbulence for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his government -- a blockbuster corruption probe forced him to sack his chief of staff and top negotiator Andriy Yermak on Friday.
The Ukraine team -- now led by Rustem Umerov -- is due to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff in Florida on Sunday, a US official said. Washington has put forward a plan to end the more than three-year conflict that it is seeking to finalise with Moscow and Kyiv’s approval. An initial 28-point proposal -- drafted without input from Ukraine’s European allies -- would have seen Kyiv withdraw from its eastern Donetsk region and the United States de facto recognise the Donetsk, Crimea and Lugansk regions as Russian. The United States pared back the original draft following criticism from Kyiv and Europe, but the current contents re-
DEADLIEST SINCE 2017. A man sits on a divider in the middle of a flooded road after heavy rainfall in Kaduwela on the outskirts of Colombo during the weekend. Sri Lanka made an appeal for international assistance as the death toll from heavy rains and floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah rose to 193, with another 228 reported missing. The cyclone has become Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since 2017, when flooding and landslides claimed more than 200 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands. AFP
Maduro slams Trump ‘colonialist warning’
PALM BEACH, Florida – US President Donald Trump sharply escalated his threats against Venezuela on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time), ominously warning that the country’s airspace should be considered “closed.” Caracas, which views a large US military buildup in the Caribbean as a pressure campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro, slammed Trump’s warning as a “colonialist threat.”
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network, “please con-
sider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
The US president did not elaborate. His warning comes days after US aviation regulators told airlines to use increased caution near Venezuela over the mounting tensions, prompting multiple major carriers to suspend flights.
A statement by the Venezuelan foreign ministry called the latest remarks from a Trump a “new extravagant, illegal, and unjustified aggression against the people of Venezuela.”
Pope wraps up Turkey trip before Lebanon flight with peace message
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Pope Leo XIV wrapped up a four-day trip to Turkey Sunday after a warm welcome by its tiny Christian community, before heading to Lebanon with a message of peace for the crisis-mired nation.
On his first overseas trip since being elected leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, Leo met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before traveling to Iznik for a celebration marking 1,700 years since the First Council of Nicaea, one of the early Church’s most important gatherings.
On Saturday, the American pope hosted thousands of worshippers who battled the rain to attend a public mass in Istanbul, with many traveling from across Turkey to join the multilingual service, which left many moved by its beautiful and haunting choral interludes.
On his final morning, Leo was expect-
ed to attend a prayer service at the Armenian cathedral then lead a divine liturgy -- the Orthodox equivalent of mass -- at the Patriarchal Church of St. George before a final blessing. He will have lunch with Patriarch Bartholomew I, the leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, a day after they signed a joint declaration in which they pledged to take “new and courageous steps on the path towards unity.”
Despite doctrinal differences that led to the Great Schism of 1054, resulting in a split between the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church, the two sides maintain dialogue and hold joint celebrations.
They also agreed to continue their efforts to establish a common date for Easter, which is currently celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox Christians on different days.AFP
main unclear. On Monday, French
It warned that the airspace disruptions would also mean a halt to repatriation flights of Venezuelan migrants from the United States. At mid-afternoon, aviation tracking site FlightRadar24 showed only a few airplanes operating over Venezuela. Trump’s administration is piling pressure on Venezuela, with a major military deployment in the Caribbean that includes the world’s largest aircraft carrier. Washington says the aim is to curb drug trafficking, but Caracas insists regime change is the ultimate goal. AFP
COLOMBO -- Entire areas of Sri Lanka’s capital were flooded on Sunday after a powerful cyclone triggered heavy rains and mudslides across the island, with authorities reporting nearly 200 dead and dozens more missing. Officials said the extent of the damage in the country’s worst-affected central region was only just being revealed as relief workers cleared roads blocked by fallen trees and mudslides.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said at least 193 people had died following a week of heavy rains brought on by Cyclone Ditwah, while 228 people were missing.
The northern parts of Colombo were flooded as the water level in the Kelani River rose rapidly, the DMC said. The cyclone has become Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since 2017, when flooding and landslides claimed more than 200 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands.
The worst flooding since the turn of the century occurred in June 2003, when 254 people were killed.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency on Saturday to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone and appealed for international aid.
India was the first to respond, sending relief supplies and two helicopters with crew to carry out rescue missions.
Japan said it will send a team to assess immediate needs and pledged further assistance.
While the rains have subsided across the island, several roads in the worst-affected central province remained inaccessible, the DMC said.
The extreme weather system has destroyed more than 20,000 homes and sent 122,000 people into state-run temporary shelters.
Another 833,000 people required assistance after being displaced by the floods. AFP
Demonstrators demand return of last 2 hostage bodies in Gaza
attack and whose bodies were taken to Gaza. His death was confirmed by Israel in May 2024. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the main group representing those taken captive to Gaza, held a rally in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Saturday -- the latest in a series of weekly gatherings designed to put
ROCK ‘N ROLL RUN. The vibrant streets of Binondo’s Chinatown greet thousands of runners taking part in the AIA Rock ’n’ Roll Running Series Manila, adding cultural color to a race already pulsating with music and energy. The fourth staging of the event, which blended tness, family-friendly race categories and live music, drew a record of more than 9,000 participants.
IN a bronze-medal match played with the ferocity and desperation of a championship duel, Akari clawed its way to a 1525, 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 20-18 victory in a wild, breathless finish that left the Araneta Coliseum crowd stunned into silence before erupting into disbelief.
What was supposed to be a battle for third place in the PVL Reinforced Conference unfurled into an instant classic – an epic, frenzied, grueling two-hour, 24-minute five-setter that begged for more. Annie Mitchem embodied grit and defiance, dropping a monstrous 36-point explosion while dragging the Chargers back from the brink time and again. When the momentum swung violently and the match seemed to teeter out of reach, Mitchem kept Akari afloat, willing her team – and the game – into one of the most improbable comebacks the league has seen. Yet it was Ced Domingo and Eli Soyud who delivered in the clutch. After Akari survived the last of
Adiwang hopes to nally win gold in new division
By Nissi Icasiano
LITO Adiwang has competed 15 times under the ONE Championship banner since 2018, engaging in some of the organization’s most action-packed matchups. However, despite years of steady work and consistent excitement, one opportunity has continued to elude him — a shot at a coveted world title.
Akari shocks PLDT in fight for bronze
Akari’s Ced Domingo
several PLDT bronze-medal points courtesy of a costly Jovie Prado service error, Domingo stepped to the line and fired a serve that Savi Davison mishandled, the ball skidding out of bounds. Advantage Akari. PLDT steadied its reception in the next sequence, but the High Speed Hitters simply couldn’t finish. Nastya Bavykina fired twice, and twice the Chargers’ defense stood firm. The tension hit a fever pitch. Grethcel Soltones hammered through the block, only for the ball to ricochet awkwardly. She scrambled. Mars Alba sprawled out to chase it, flinging the ball toward Soyud, who had struggled all match, but in that split second, refused to hesitate. She nudged the ball forward in a desperate, devil-may-care push. It clipped the net. Time slowed. The ball trickled over and plummeted untouched onto PLDT’s floor. Bavykina lunged, but too late.
A gasp. A roar. Match point – Akari. And suddenly, the bronze that once seemed securely in PLDT’s hands slipped through their fingers. The Chargers had been battered early, surrendering Set 1 in lopsided fashion. They clawed back to steal the second, faltered in the third, and then fell behind by 10 in the fourth – seemingly destined for a four-set defeat. But at 8-18, with the High Speed Hitters on the cusp of closing it out, Akari erupted. Mitchem launched hit after hit as PLDT’s offense went tentative, the High Speed Hitters’ oncesturdy defense dissolving. Soltones and Fifi Sharma fought tooth and nail, hammering clutch attacks and erecting impregnable blocks. Sharma’s denial of Bavykina forced a 24-all count; her second rejection – again on the PLDT import – gave the Chargers the lead they never relinquished to force a decider. And what a decider it was.
High hopes for Filipino chessers in Asian meet
TAGAYTAY, one of the country’s leading chess hubs, will be the host of the 3rd Asian Chess Championship 2025 for Players with Disabilities on Dec. 1 to 8 at the newly built Character Hotel.
The week-long championships organized by the Asian Chess Federation and Philippine Para Chess Association and hosted by the Tagaytay City government will be participated in by men/women and juniors/girls with disabilities representing FIDE Zones 3.1 to 3.8.
International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) world online rapid chess champion FM Sander Severino and 2023 Asian Para Games gold medalist Atty. Cheyzer Mendoza banner the Filipinos’ campaign in this prestigious, six-nation tournament to be held in the popular city noted for its cool weather and scenic views.
The Silay, Negros Occidental-born Severino is the top seed in the men’s division with an ELO of 2340, followed by AGM Jasper Rom( ELO 2156) and Darry Bernardo ( 2066).
Mendoza, a graduate of the University of Nueva Caceres who now works as a lawyer at the Mendoza Law Office, is the first pick in the women’s category with an ELO of 1749.
The foreign challenge will be led by Alimzhan Ayapov and Erlan Nurhayev of Kazakhstan; Axadxon Kimsanboyev, FM Sirojiddin Zaynidinov, Marsel Shayusupov, Sardorbek Mamarajabov, Bobur Dustmurodov, Safarov Azizbek and Izentaeva Aynura, all of Uzbekistan; Van Viet Le and Hong Phuc Le of Vietnam; and Shreesh Kulkarni and S Krishnan of India.
Ready to challenge Mendoza in the women’s side are Kambarova Aiganym and Gorokhova Natalya of Kazakhstan, Pham Thi Huong and Tran Ngoc Loan of Vietnam; Izentaeva Aynura of Uzbekistan and Botkate Chanaporn and Sakchai Siripimon of Thailand.
The opening ceremony and first round are scheduled on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Two rounds will be played from Dec. 3 to 6, while the ninth and final round is cheduled on Dec. 7
The awarding ceremony will follow after the final round.
Trophies for the champions and medals will be awarded to the first three places in each category among men, women, juniors and girls.
Category medals shall be awarded for visually, physically and hearing impaired.
For inquiries, call Asian Chess Federation (ACF) executive director Toti Abundo at WhatsApp: +971 55 515.
Argentina, Spain shoot for world futsal semis seats
QUALIFIERS from Groups A and B take a shot at the first two semifinal seats as knockout action in the FIFA Futsal World Cup fires off Monday at the PhilSports Arena.
World No. 6 Argentina, which stamped its class on its three group opponents, including host Philippines (5-1), en route to top spot in Group A, faces off with Colombia in a high stakes quarterfinal encounter at 6 p.m.
The eighth-ranked Colombians advanced as Group B runner-up with six points on two wins against one loss in the initial skirmishes.
Likewise setting off their quest for the Last-4 of the 16-nation meet backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Football Federation are world No. 2 Spain and No. 31 Morocco, which engage in the main fare at 8 p.m.
Spain, the reigning Euro futsal queens, swept their three fixtures for No. 1 in Group B and looms as a heavy favorite against Morocco, Africa’s titlists that greased their march as Group A No. 2 with hard-earned victories over the Filipina5, 3-2, and Poland, 1-0. Winner of the one-game quarterfinal will move on to the Final Four on Friday.
Meanwhile, the four other quarterfinalists led by world No. 1 Brazil hit the blue court Tuesday.
The multi-titled Brazilians, unbeaten in ruling Group D, meets Asian ruler Japan, the secondseeded squad from Group C, on Tuesday, the same day Group C topnotcher Portugal disputes a semis ticket with Italy, Group D’s secondplaced quarterfinalist.
The 32-year-old knockout artist from Baguio City now believes that chance could finally be within reach as he begins a new chapter in a different weight class. After spending the bulk of his tenure as a strawweight, Adiwang elected to move up to flyweight, a decision that immediately paid dividends.
“Thunder Kid” made a strong impression in his flyweight debut at ONE Fight Night 37 last November 8, where he defeated Argentina’s Mauro Mastromarini by first-round technical knockout.
The emphatic victory not only showcased his trademark ferocity but also reflected how comfortable he felt competing without the strain of a severe weight cut. And according to Adiwang, he finally felt like his old self again.
“I felt incredibly healthy and wellconditioned. Considering I took the fight on short notice, everything still felt close to perfect. It shows that I’m tailor-made for this division,” he told this article’s author in an exclusive interview.
MILO, PH Olympic Commitee forge long-term partnership
CEMENTING its commitment to nation-building through sports and shared purpose of rallying the nation to support our national athletes, MILO® Philippines has renewed its partnership with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), marking a continued shared vision to champion Filipino athletes and rally the nation’s support behind them, both in and out of the country.
Held at Nestlé Philippines, the ceremonial contract signing was attended by key Nestlé and POC executives, including Abraham Tolentino, POC President; Atty. Wharton Chan, POC Secretary General; Veronica Cruz, Senior Vice President of MILO® Philippines; and Carlo Sampan, Head of MILO® Sports.
MILO® and the POC have collaborated closely in nurturing the country’s athletic talent and banner the spirit of sportsmanship among Filipinos. From grassroots programs to athlete development support, both have continuously striven to make sports accessible and inspiring for all – all
while instilling the MILO® values of teamwork, grit, and discipline. “We look forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of our national athletes throughout their journey – from their grassroots achievements until their development into elite athletes, and supporting
them even beyond,” remarks Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, POC President. Talking of the partnership, POC Secretary-General Atty. Wharton Chan also shares, “We look forward to this renewed partnership with MILO® as an avenue to continue developing more athletes in their journey not
only to become strong and efficient talents, but also to forward our advocacies such as safe sports and gender equality.”
“MILO® and the POC have long shared the same dream: to see more young Filipinos grow into their champion journey through sports,” says Veronica Cruz, Senior Vice President of MILO® Philippines. “Through our partnership, we reaffirm our commitment to nourish champions and support the new generation of athletes as well,” she adds. Through this partnership, MILO® Philippines continues its mission of building a nation of champion athletes – through constant support and providing avenues for the rest of the nation to always stand behind them as well. Be part of the movement to support our champions, and kickstart your own chapter journey as well. To remain updated on the latest initiatives and partnerships of MILO®, be sure to follow MILO® Philippines on Facebook.
Shown here are (from left) POC secretary general Atty. Wharton Chan, POC president Abraham Tolentino, MILO® Philippines Senior Vice President Veronica Cruz, and MILO® Sports Head Carlo Sampan.
Lito Adiwang
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2025
RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor
RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor
EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor
Messi, Miami into first MLS Cup nal after New York rout
FORT LAUDERDALE—Inter Miami
coach Javier Mascherano hailed Lionel Messi as “extraordinary” after the Argentine superstar steered the club into their first MLS Cup final with a 5-1 thrashing of New York City FC on Saturday.
A Tadeo Allende hat-trick and goals from Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia sent a revitalised Miami roaring into Major League Soccer’s championship game next Saturday at their home field in Fort Lauderdale.
While Messi did not get on the scoresheet, the 38-year-old provided a crucial, classy assist for Miami’s third goal scored by Silvetti that effectively killed off the game as New York chased an equaliser.
“Leo has accustomed us to the extraordinary,” Mascherano said of his former Barcelona and Argentina team-mate.
“He’s someone extraordinary, someone we’ll never see again. Today, perhaps we’re surprised that he didn’t score, but he gave us peace of mind with the third goal, an assist that only he can see. He practically sealed the game.”
Miami will host the Vancouver Whitecaps in next Saturday’s MLS showpiece.
Vancouver, spearheaded by former Germany and Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller, advanced to the final with a superb 3-1 victory over San Diego in California on Saturday to claim the Western Conference crown.
Messi and his team-mates will head into the final bristling with confidence after another ruthless, high-scoring demolition job that followed on from their 4-0 drubbing of FC Cincinnati in the previous round.
Allende -- who scored twice in the victory over Cincinnati -- was once again the focal point of the Miami attack.
The 26-year-old Argentine forward opened the scoring in the 14th minute after cleverly springing the New York offside trap and then headed in a superb second to make it 2-0.
New York rallied back with a headed Justin Haak goal in the 37th minute, and came within a whisker of an equaliser when Julian Fernandez forced a fine one-handed save from Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo in the 66th minute. AFP
Key 4th-quarter rally nets Ateneo win over Adamson, Final 4 berth
ATENEO de Manila
University delivered a decisive fourth-quarter rally to eliminate Adamson University, 66-56, and advance to the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball stepladder semifinals on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
After three consecutive fourth-place finishes, the Blue Eagles are finally assured of a podium spot.
Up next for Ateneo is defending champion and No. 2 seed National University in another knockout stepladder semifinal at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Blue Eagles, who last reached the Finals in Season 78 (2015) dropped both elimination-round meetings to the Lady Bulldogs, 79-83 in the first round and 47-69 in the second.
University of Santo Tomas awaits in the Finals after completing a perfect 14-0 sweep of the eliminations.
“Gusto ko lang din mapatunayan sa NU na hindi lang sila ‘yung kaya makipagcompete sa ganoong
level pero kami rin. We just pray for that win,” said Kacey Dela Rosa regarding their upcoming matchup against NU.
After years of heartbreaking fourth-place finishes, Dela Rosa is hungrier than ever to finally reach the Finals.
Leading by just six entering the final frame, the Blue Eagles opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 blitz to build a 17-point lead with six minutes left, 65-48.
Dela Rosa teamed up with Kate Cancio, Camille Malagar, and Kai Oani during the run that left the Lady Falcons reeling.
Adamson’s first basket of the fourth quarter came at the 4:24 mark on an Elaine Etang fastbreak layup off a steal.
“Adamson made a run but our defense held up. That’s what we talk about. We really admire Adamson, we learn a lot of things from them. They’re a very tough and scrappy team. Today, with God’s help we were able to pull through,” said Ateneo head coach LA Mumar, whose squad rebounded after two straight losses to end the eliminations.
PH boxing team safe from Songkhla flooding
By Peter Atencio
OLYMPIC bronze medalist Eumir Marcial and members of the 13-man Philippine national boxing team are safe from the floodings that took place Songkhla after having gone to Bangkok early.
Marcial and his teammates have been there two weeks ago, to prepare for the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand.
Their arrival last week kept them safe from any inconveniences caused by the disaster that has reached 162 dead and displaced over 10,000 in the region.
Marcus Manalo, the Secretary General of the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines, said the national squad is now going through a a training camp.
“Hindi sila apektado. Nandu’n na sila as early Nov. 16,” said Manalo.
Thailand’s boxing federation hosted the Team Philippines’ training camp at the Muaklek National Sports Training Center days before floodings took place, mostly in the city of Hat Yai.
Marcial, who is entered in the 80kg class, is returning after missing the 2023 biennial meet due to a left shoulder injury.
Those who are now in Bangkok is the men’s team, also composed of Jay Bryan Baricuatro (48kg), Marvin Tabamo (51kg), Flint Jara (54kg), Ian Clark Bautista (57kg), Junmilardo Ogayre (60kg), Weljon Mindoro (75kg).
Three celebrated Olympians, Nesthy Petecio (60kg), Aira Villegas (50kg), and Hergie Bacyadan (70kg) will spearhead the women’s side.
They are joined by Ofelia Magno (48kg), Claudine Veloso (54kg), and Riza Pasuit (57kg).
Dela Rosa anchored Ateneo with 17 points, 20 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal. Oani and Malagar added 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Sarah Makanjuola produced nine points, 16 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks— though her seven turnovers remain a point of concern. Etang led Adamson with 18 points, six assists, four rebounds, and three steals, while Kemi Adeshina chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds.
Cris Padilla, Kat Agojo, and Angela Alaba played their final game in an Adamson uniform. The Lady Falcons finished in fourth place after stringing together three straight wins to close the eliminations and secure the final berth in the Final Four.
The Scores: Ateneo (66) - Dela Rosa 17, Oani 13, Malagar 12, Makanjuola 9, Cancio 7, Lopez 3, Villacruz 3, De Luna 2, Batongbakal 1. AdU (56) - Etang 18, Adeshina 10, Apag 9, Limbago 5, Ornopia 4, Padilla 3, Bajo 3, Meniano 2, E. Alaba 2, Agojo 0, A. Alaba 0, Muñoz 0, Mazo 0. Quarterscores: 20-14, 32-31, 54-48, 66-56.
Solaire Sports Club launches new padel courts
SOLAIRE Sports Club has expanded its premium sports offerings with the launch of its new padel courts at Solaire Resort Entertainment City, reinforcing its commitment to provide world-class recreational facilities for families, athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
Padel, one of the fastest-growing racket sports globally and the second most popular sport in Spain, continues to gain momentum in the Philippines for its dynamic, social and highly accessible gameplay. Played in doubles on an enclosed court, the sport is often described as a game of finesse and anticipation rather than sheer power. It combines the long rallies of tennis with the strategic wall-play of squash, making it a sport enjoyed by beginners and seasoned athletes alike.
Sen. Pia Cayetano, founder of Padel Pilipinas, graced the launch event together with senior executives of Solaire and Bloomberry Resorts Corp. The celebration was made even more significant by Padel Pilipinas’ recent victory at the
Asia Pacific Padel Cup (APPC) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – an achievement that signals the sport’s growing competitive presence in the region. The new padel courts complement Solaire Sports Club’s expanding line-up of facilities, which includes advanced golf simulators and pickleball courts. This latest addition strengthens the club’s mission to offer diverse, worldclass activities and help drive the rise of padel as the next major racket sport in the country.
Enriquez,
Cariño lift FEU-D past Adamson to reach
DWYNE Enriquez and Prince Cariño steadied Far Eastern University-Diliman against every Adamson University secondhalf surge, steering the Baby Tamaraws to a wire-to-wire 90-76 victory and into the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball stepladder semifinals on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The third-seeded Baby Tamaraws will take on the No. 2 University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
FEU-D dropped both of its eliminationround matchups against UST, including a 108-70 blowout in the second round.
“Sinabihan ko lang sila na kung ano’t ano mangyari, kung bumabangon ang kalaban, tuloy tuloy tayo maglalaro, hindi tayo hihinto sa gagawin natin. Kung sinong huminto maglaro diyan, siya ang matatalo,” said Baby Tamaraws head coach Muriel Garcia.
After trailing the entire first half, Adamson pulled within six at the 6:44 mark of the third quarter, 53-47. But Enriquez took over, matching the Baby Falcons basket for basket and pouring in 16 points in the period to keep FEU-D ahead entering the fourth, 69-60.
“We were only up by five and sa timeout sinabi ko, let’s continue to play, humihinto tayong maglaro kaya nagkaganyan tayo. Nagreact naman sila,” added Garcia. Adamson cut the lead down to five in the payoff period, 75-70, before Cariño and Enriquez steadied FEU-D once again. Together with Andrei Chavez and Kyle Mojica, they sparked an 11-2 finishing run that finally put the game out of reach, 86-72.
“Simula pa lang sa practice hinigpitan na kami ni coach. Kailangan namin ng effort talaga, magkaisa sa team, so dinala namin ‘yung effort dito kaya nakuha namin ang panalo,” said Enriquez, who finished with 29 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Ateneo cagebelles give coach LA Mumar a victorious embrace following the Blue Eagles victory over the Adamson Lady Falcons.
Eumir Marcial
Padel Pilipinas founder Sen. Pia Cayetano (second from right) joins (from left) Bloomberry Resorts Corp. Vice Chairman for Construction and Regulatory
INAUGURAL FLIGHT.
Department of Tourism director Azucena Pallugna, staff and other stakeholders welcomes passengers from Jetstar Airways’ inaugural Perth-Manila flight on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, a move the government expects will increase connectivity and Australian tourist arrivals.
Australia is the country’s fifth-highest source market for tourism, with 299,286 passenger arrivals recorded in 2024.
By Othel V. Campos
THE Department of Trade and Indus-
try (DTI) will keep its e-commerce trust mark voluntary until the end of the year as it continues to assess concerns from online sellers and consumers, according to Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque.
Expropriation cases for 2 rail systems
137 Over 65,000 sq. m
Pending ROW cases for 2 rail systems
P1.068 billion
Pending ROW cost of 2 rail systems
DOTr, OSG expedite rail sites acquisition
By Darwin G. Amojelar
THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) has teamed up with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to accelerate the implementation of key infrastructure projects, including the North-South Commuter Railway Project (NSCR) and the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP).
The collaboration, which includes a write workshop on expropriation cases, is expected to fast-track rightof-way and site acquisition for the flagship projects.
DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the mass drafting of expropriation pleadings is key to meeting the President’s order for expedited project completion.
“We thank the OSG for working with us to expedite the acquisition
of right-of-way for the projects we are working on. The President has ordered the expedited completion of these projects, so the DOTr will do everything to follow our timeline and for passengers to benefit immediately,” said Lopez.
The workshop, led by DOTr assistant secretary for right-of-way and site acquisition IC Calaguas, aims to expedite the drafting of pleadings for 137 expropriation cases.
DOLE rallies over 1-k labor inspectors, partners to boost workplace safety, ensure decent conditions
2025 Labor Inspection Summit. The Department of Labor and Employment, through its Bureau of Working Conditions, convenes labor inspectors and their partners from government, the private sector, and organizations during the 2025 Labor Inspection Summit in Pampanga. Photos by Ali Creo/DOLE-IPS
LABOR inspectors, government, and social partners gathered for the 2025 Labor Inspection Summit, an initiative of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to strengthen the protection of Filipino workers through fair, consistent, and accountable labor inspections.
Held at SMX Clark and online through the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC), the two-day summit gathered over a thousand participants to strengthen labor inspection systems that uphold fair pay, safe workplaces, and respect for workers’ rights and welfare. Discussions throughout the summit focused on strengthening governance, accountability, and competence in labor inspection. Sessions highlighted ways to build public trust through integrity and transparency, enhance inspectors’ skills, and streamline internal procedures. Participants also explored better use of tools such as the Labor Inspection Management Information System and the Legal Defense Fund. They tackled
BSP-DOLE DATA SHARING MOU.
(Top photo) Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma (2nd from left), alongside DOLE
Undersecretary Carmela I. Torres (leftmost), and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr.(3rd from left), with BSP Managing Director Dennis D. Lapid (rightmost), present signed Memorandum of Understanding to share data and other relevant resources to advance effective jobs trends analysis and guide economic policy formulation, during a ceremony held at the BSP in Malate, Manila. Also witnessing the signing ceremony are (bottom photo, standing R-L) BSP Senior Director Redentor Paolo M. Alegre, Jr, Undersecretaries Felipe N. Egargo, Jr. and Warren M. Miclat, and OIC-Assistant Secretary Patrick P. Patriwirawan, Jr. Photos by Ali Creo/DOLE-IPS
DOLE, BSP partner for more effective jobs info system, economic policies
will utilize DOLE’s employment facilitation portals, including PhilJobNet and the PESO Employment Information System (PEIS), to exchange critical labor market data seamlessly. This information is essential for enhancing BSP’s Labor Market Intelligence System (LMIS), a key tool for analysis that monitors economic trends, adopts new labor market insights, and supports policy formulation. For Filipino workers, this DOLE-BSP partnership means smarter and less hassle job hunting and career development by providing information on where the jobs are, what skills are in demand, and how to better prepare for opportunities.
fair wage compliance, evidencegathering in workplace investigations, and measures to help employers meet labor standards.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, in his keynote address, urged continued collaboration with DOLE’s partners following the official entry into force of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 81 in the Philippines on November 5, 2025, which sets the global standard for labor inspection systems.
The Labor Chief also emphasized the need to address emerging challenges in digital and platform-based work, complex supply chains, and informal labor arrangements that often fall outside traditional inspection coverage.
Turning injury into opportunities: DOLE-ECC aids workers’ recovery
A WORKPLACE explosion in Bukidnon left nine workers injured, but for four of them, recovery meant more than just healing. With the support of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), the tragedy became an opportunity to start anew—reflecting the Marcos Administration’s broader push for greater empowerment and inclusivity in the labor force, especially for vulnerable and injured workers. Recently, under its Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program, the ECC in Northern Mindanao provided rehabilitation and entrepreneurial training to Ruel Curay and Richard Enriquez from the municipality of Don Carlos, as well as Junios Lastimosa and Juanito Sanchez, Jr., from the town of Maramag. This initiative was carried out in partnership with the Regional
Calaguas noted that the total amount of land acquisition for these cases is P1.068 billion, involving 40,488 square meters (sq. m.) in the north segment and 25,194 sq. m. in the south segment of NSCR and 3,177 sqm for MMSP.
The MMSP, billed as the Philippines’ “Crown Jewel” of the mass transit system, will cut across eight cities stretching from Valenzuela City to FTI-Bicutan in Parañaque City with a spur line to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
The 33-kilometer and 17-station rail line is expected to cut travel time between Quezon City and NAIA in Pasay City from 70 minutes to just 35 minutes.
Once operational, the underground railway system is projected to service up to 370,000 passengers daily.
WORKERS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS. The Department of Labor and Employment, through its Caraga Regional Office, further enforced labor standards and occupational safety regulations, with intensified labor inspection efforts in the region paving the way for the awarding of PHP 10.8 million in monetary benefits to nearly 5,000 workers. Photos from DOLE Caraga
Roque said manufacturers urged the DTI to retain the voluntary status, arguing that the accreditation requirements are similar to existing compliance standards.
“They’ll always claim that the trust mark will not really make a difference because the requirements are the same. But like FDA approvals, people still prefer products that carry the proper certifications,” Roque said.
She said the DTI needed more time to fully evaluate the impact on consumers, who have increasingly complained about fraudulent items on major platforms.
“There should be a win-win for both. The consumers are the ones telling us we need to stop these sellers from actually selling fraudulent items,” Roque said. The DTI has tracked numerous bogus products online and will intensify enforcement against violators, Roque confirmed.
Roque is set to meet with major e-commerce companies this week to discuss enforcement issues and the newly imposed P5 transaction fee, which merchants say was introduced without consultation.
The DTI aims to issue a final decision by the end of the year on whether the trust mark would remain voluntary or become mandatory. Legal implications, including potential amendments to the Internet Transactions Act, are still under review.
OVER P10.8 million in monetary claims benefited nearly 5,000 workers in the Caraga Region following the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) intensified labor inspection efforts, reaffirming its commitment to enforcing labor standards and occupational safety regulations nationwide.
Reflecting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, the initiative underscores the administration’s commitment to guaranteeing the welfare and safety of Filipino workers through strengthened monitoring and compliance enforcement.
With a performance rate of 225.8 percent, DOLE Caraga doubled its conduct of labor inspections, covering 1,093 establishments, exceeding its target of 484. Workers who are vulnerable and in high-risk working conditions, such as in the mining,
construction, retail, tourism, and fishing industries, benefited from the inspection, which led to the settlement of their unpaid wages, holiday and overtime pay, service incentive leave, and other mandated benefits. In a notable case involving a private hospital in Butuan City, P300,000 in unpaid 13th-month pay was released to seven employees, following DOLE’s prompt action.
“Nagpasalamat ko sa DOLE Caraga kay gitubag dayon nila amung complaint. Nag-inspect sila diri ug nahatag gyud sa amung employer ang benefits nga para sa amua mga workers,” said one of the workers. (I am thankful to DOLE Caraga because they responded to our complaint right away. They conducted an inspection here, and our employer was provided with what is meant for us workers.)
REBUILDING LIVES, RESTORING HOPE. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through its Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), provided rehabilitation, training, and livelihood assistance to four injured workers in Bukidnon. From victims to entrepreneurs, ECC helped Ruel Curay, Richard Enriquez, Junios Lastimosa, and Juanito Sanchez Jr., launch small businesses in line with its Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan (KaGabay) Program. Photos from the ECC
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2025 extrastory2000@gmail.com
DoubleDragon unit Hotel101 expands globally with Milan project
HOTEL101 Global Holdings Corp., a subsidiary of DoubleDragon Corp., announced Friday it is expanding into Italy after signing a joint venture agreement to develop a Hotel101 property in Milan.
The planned Hotel101-Milan will be built on a 1.4-hectare site in San Donato Milanese and will feature approximately 429 rooms, the company said. The location is about a sevenminute drive from Milan Linate Airport.
DoubleDragon said the Hotel101Milan is expected to generate 85.8 million euros (P5.8 billion) in revenues, according to a statement sent over the weekend.
The joint venture agreement is part of Hotel101 Global’s global expansion strategy, which includes its first three overseas projects under development in Niseko, Japan, Madrid, Spain, and Los Angeles, U.S., as well as affiliate Hotel101 hotels in the Philippines.
Hotel101-Milan is expected to be completed by 2028.
The company said the Milan project marks a major step in its European expansion, positioning the brand in “one of the world’s most dynamic cities.”
The site sits near ENI headquarters and about 8.4 kilometers from the Duomo di Milano, with visibility along the Autostrada del Sole (AI), one of Italy’s most important motorways.
Consistent with the brand’s standardized model, the Milan property will offer four-star amenities, including modern rooms, 24/7 reception, all-day dining, a 25-meter lap pool, full-size gym, business center, function rooms, children’s facilities, ample parking and luggage storage. Hotel101 said the development will also feature energy-efficient designs, solar panels and “community-integrated amenities.”
The project remains subject to national, regional and municipal approvals.
Hotel101 targets to operate 1 million rooms across 100 countries worldwide, with an initial 25 identified priority countries for the medium term.
Hotel101 Global, listed on Nasdaq under HBNB, had a market capitalization of about $1.9 billion as of Nov. 27, 2025.
The global expansion of Hotel101 is expected to eventually become one of the major U.S. dollar inflow generators to the Philippine economy.
Jenniffer B. Austria
SM Prime maintains P100-b spending plan for next year
By Jenniffer B. Austria
SM PRIME Holdings Inc. is cautiously optimistic about the prospects for the real estate sector in 2026 but plans to maintain a P100 billion capital spending budget.
“We are cautiously optimistic for next year,” SMPH president and chief executive Jeffrey Lim said in a recent interview.
“We will probably maintain the capex that we have this year. Our guidance is P100 billion.”
Julius
HAVE you heard of the COP30?
Think of it as the “main event” of climate action. Organized by the United Nations, the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) recently wrapped up in Belém, Brazil. It brought together world leaders, scientists, and activists with one massive goal: to stop our planet from heating up past the critical 1.5°C limit.
This gathering isn’t just high-level talk. It’s about survival –of our planet, of our future, of humankind. And, specifically for the Philippines, how to weather the next storm. This is where countries negotiate critical issues such as who cuts pollution, and, crucially, who pays for it.
At the centerstage of this event is the green transition.
Green transition is the process of shifting society’s use of carbon emitting technologies or “dirty energy” (e.g., coal power plants) towards environmentally sustainable technologies (e.g. from wind and solar). For us in the Philippines, a country battered by extreme heat and super typhoons, this shift isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s the only way to ensure a livable future.
A key element for the green transition is a set of minerals that are known as transition minerals. These are essential in building the technologies for green transition such as wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles, and electric batteries. For example, lithium, nickel, and cobalt are used for storing energy in electric batteries. In another case, rare earth elements are used in motors that power our electric vehicles. Without these minerals, the green transition comes to a grinding halt. They are the oil of the 21st century. As the green transition calls for more environmentally sustainable technologies, our focus will shift from fossil fuels to these minerals. This brings us to a tough reality. As the world rushes to ditch fossil fuels, the demand for these minerals is exploding. The power dynamic is shifting to whoever controls the supply chain. Right now, more of these minerals are being mined in anticipation of the inevitability of green transition. Although mining of these minerals is geared towards a brighter future, this can come with costs – costs that may be harmful to
farmers
Lim said the company hopes the government will increase spending next year to boost the domestic economy.
The company’s nine-month profit reached P37.2 billion, up 10 percent from P33.9 billion a year earlier, driven by stronger contributions from the mall and convention center segments. Net income in the third quarter rose 8 percent to P12.8 billion from P11.8 billion.
Revenues from January to September went up 4 percent to P103.4 billion from P99.8 billion. Mall revenues, which accounted for 59 percent of consolidated revenues, increased 7 percent to P61 billion from P57.3 billion with the addition of leasable space and tenants.
SMPH said it expects its mall and hotel businesses to sustain growth momentum in the fourth quarter, although not at the same pace as the first half due to reported slower domestic economic growth.
Lim previously said 2025 had been a challenging year due to a series of calamities and broader uncertainty, which weighed on both sentiment and confidence.
The residential segment, which contributed over 31 percent of total revenues, saw a 2 percent dip to P32.6 billion from P33.1 billion due to slower revenue recognition from mid-segment developments.
Lim said the company hopes that easing interest rates will help boost residential sales.
SMPH has programmed a P100 billion capital spending for 2025, primarily to finance the construction of new malls and residential projects.
Remigio, Cebu
recovery support from the Aboitiz Foundation and OneAboitiz—helping them rebuild after the 6.9-magnitude earthquake with cement, materials, and labor assistance made possible through more than P3.6 million in donations.
PH index tests 6,000 level after last week’s gain
SHARE prices are expected to continue trading sideways this week, with the market testing the stability of the 6,000 level.
First Metro Securities Corp. said November inflation will be one of the key data points to watch this week, along with overseas economic data such as the U.S. jobs report, the consumer price index, and the U.S. balance of trade.
“With December approaching, investors may look to seasonal catalysts from year-end positioning to holiday spending to guide the final stretch of 2025,” First Metro said.
For this week, First Metro expects the index to trade between 6,100 and 6,200. The firm also maintains its year-end target of 6,900.
Last week, the index rose 0.42 percent to close at 6,022.24, while the broader all shares index advanced 4.38 percent to 3,568.34.
The index started the week with mixed sentiment as window dressing, foreign inflows, and bargain hunting shaped market trading.
Average value traded improved to P9.31 billion from the P8.9 billion recorded the previous week.
Foreign investors were net sellers for the week, with outflows of P3.2 billion, a reversal from the previous week’s P3.79 billion in foreign buying. Jenniffer B. Austria
A transition that leaves the most vulnerable people behind isn’t a revolution – it’s just another transaction.
climate-vulnerable countries. Digging up the ingredients for a cleaner planet often comes with a messy price tag.
While transition minerals are essential for achieving green transition, there are issues and challenges associated with it. Extracting these minerals often comes with heavy social and environmental costs. In many places, mining is linked to human rights abuses—community displacement, land grabbing, unfair wages, and dangerous working conditions. Environmentally, it can lead to deforestation, water contamination, and soil erosion that leads to unprecedented flooding, affecting communities and livelihoods.
Is green transition meant to be a trade-off of the “good” benefits and its “bad” effects? Can we strike a balance?
This puts the Philippines in the spotlight. As the world’s secondlargest nickel producer and exporter of nickel ore accounting for 11% of global production (source: GlobalData, 2024), our country is at the center of global supply chains powering the green transition. The nickel sitting in our soil is the juice that powers the batteries of the future.
But here is the frustrating part. Despite the urgency, the final COP30 report removed the discussion on transition minerals.
Why does this matter?
Without clearly defined frameworks and mechanisms for the green transition, there is no accountability, fair benefit-sharing, and human rights protection. This undermines the global and coordinated position on a just transition initiative. Therefore, there is a need for the Philippines to step up and ensure that a just transition is implemented in the country: to be “green”, the
transition must be fair for all stakeholders, rights-respecting, and inclusive.
Considering that the Philippines is one of the most climatevulnerable countries and has vulnerable groups in mining communities, strong governance is needed to:
• Instigate domestic policy reform – ensure environmental laws and mining regulations are fully enforced and strengthened.
• Ensure inclusive economic transformation – instill fair revenue sharing with affected communities and develop processing capacity to improve value instead of exporting raw nickel ore
• Advocate for global policy – with the country’s position as a climate-vulnerable and resource-rich nation, we can advocate for policies on responsible and ethical sourcing to “green” the supply chains
• Demand accountability – Companies that produce electric vehicles must trace their supply chains and practice full transparency
While the shift to renewable energy is non-negotiable, how we get there matters. We must ensure it doesn’t repeat the mistakes of the industrial past. After all, there is no point in saving the planet if we destroy our own backyard to do it. A transition that leaves the most vulnerable people behind isn’t a revolution – it’s just another transaction.
Dr. Jonna C. Baquillas is an Associate Professor at the Department of Marketing and Advertising, Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. Dr. Ivan Gue is the Chairperson of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gokongwei College of Engineering in the same university. They are engaged in research works and projects focused on circular economy, sustainable transitions, and sustainable consumption and production.
The views expressed above are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.
JOLLIBEE’S AWARD. Jollibee Group Manufacturing and Logistics’ assistant vice president and head of Engineering Services
Leyba, receives the company’s award during the Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards Gala Night held on Nov. 6 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The recognition highlights the impact of Jollibee Group Foundation’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program, which empowers smallholder
to become active participants in the group’s supply chain in the Philippines.
By Othel V. Campos
By Alena Mae S. Flores
MERALCO PowerGen Corp. (MGen) and Saudibased ACWA Power are planning to develop a 125-megawatt solar power project in the Visayas region that will participate in the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP).
MGen signed a strategic agreement with the Saudi firm in June to explore and develop renewable energy projects in the Philippines and the broader ASEAN region.
“We are looking at land in Concepcion, Iloilo. That’s our first project with them... hopefully for GEA-6,” MGen president Emmanuel Rubio said.
Rubio said MGen is conducting due diligence for around 120 hectares
LEVANTA Renewables signed a strategic partnership agreement with Triconti Windkraft Group (Triconti) to jointly develop the Atimonan onshore wind project in Quezon Province, which has a potential capacity of up to 100 megawatts, costing P8.7 billion.
The Atimonan wind project was awarded under the Government Energy Auction Program 4 (GEA-4) of the Department of Energy (DOE) and is scheduled for commercial operation in 2028.
It is expected to add significant clean power capacity to the grid and support the Philippines’ goal of achieving a 35 percent renewable energy share in the national energy mix by 2030.
“Winning GEA-4 was just the start,” said Lila Rosenberger, president and chief executive of Triconti Windkraft Group. Triconti Windkraft Group is a Filipino-Swiss joint venture focused on wind energy development in the Philippines. The company manages projects from site identification to ready-to-build status, ensuring fullcycle delivery.
With a pipeline of over 4 gigawatts (GW) of onshore and offshore wind projects, Triconti is among the country’s largest independent developers and the first to secure offshore wind service development contracts from the DOE.
“Our job now is to make good on that commitment—moving these projects from paper to power. Working with Levanta gives us the strength and expertise to deliver efficiently and ensure this wind farm brings lasting benefits to communities while advancing the country’s energy independence,” Rosenberger said.
Levanta Renewables, Actis’ renewable energy platform in Southeast Asia, is a leading renewable energy company in the region, led by a professional team with a proven track record of delivering high-quality generation projects. Alena Mae S. Flores
of land for the solar project, with construction expected to begin in the next six to eight months.
He noted there is no offtaker in the Visayas for that large a solar capacity, adding, “so we’re open to GEA-6.”
Rubio said discussions are ongoing with ACWA for the partnership but stressed that “the value that ACWA will bring is their experience and their relationship with established EPCs [engineering, procurement and construction].”
“Hopefully they can make this project very competitive,” Rubio said.
ACWA Power is a leader in energy transition and a first mover in green hydrogen.
Under the agreement, ACWA Power and MGen will collaborate to jointly develop renewable energy projects, particularly in solar energy.
This partnership combines ACWA Power’s global leadership, with 78.8 gigawatts of capacity including record solar tariffs, and MGen’s Philippine expertise across over 5,000 MW of diversified assets.
“This agreement represents our entry into the Philippines, in partnership with MGen, which marks a major milestone in ACWA Power’s expansion across Southeast Asia.
This collaboration combines our global expertise in renewable energy with MGen’s local knowledge, enabling us to deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable power solutions that support the country’s shift towards a low-carbon future,” Thomas Brostrom, ACWA Power chief investment officer, said.
The companies aim to advance utility-scale renewable projects to accelerate the Philippines’ energy transition and ASEAN’s sustainable development.
Dennis Jordan, president of Meralco Renewable Energy Inc. said the partnership is not only a testament to MGreen’s commitment to scaling up clean energy projects, but also a strategic move to lean on the expertise of ACWA Power.
PCX AWARDEES. PCX Markets recognizes 16 enterprises that have committed to achieving full
2025 plastic footprint, setting a strong example for businesses advancing toward a circular
Medved-Po (center),founder and executive Chair of HOPE and PCX, together with representatives from the awardee companies - Beko Pilipinas Corp., Century Pacific Food, Inc., Concepcion Durables, Inc., Concepcion Midea, Inc., Concepcion-Carrier Air
Inc., Mr. DIY, The Pacific Meat Company Inc., and Wild Flour Bakery + Cafe Corp.
THE Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), held from Nov. 17 to 22, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland, closed with both progress and lingering divisions.
The Parties agreed to increase state funding for domestic tobacco-control programs and explore forwardlooking measures, marking a more ambitious direction for global tobacco control.
COP11 also approved a decision urging Parties to consider stronger legislative action to address criminal and civil liability, advancing implementation of Article 19, which calls for legislative action related to tobacco control liability.
A notable development for the Philippines was the participation of the Department of Justice (DOJ), which delivered the country’s intervention on Article 19.
Assistant State Prosecutor Lyra Profugo emphasized that the Philippines already maintains comprehensive laws covering tobacco regulation.
“It must be noted that our country has comprehensive laws addressing tobacco-related harm, including the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Act, Tobacco Regulation Act, the Consumer Act, the Graphic Health Warnings Law and the Vaporized Nicotine and NonNicotine Products Regulation Act,” Profugo said.
“Our position is grounded in the principle that effective
tobacco control must continue to respect national sovereignty and constitutional frameworks, while promoting accountability and public health,” she added. Her intervention aligned with COP11’s call for countries to strengthen legal measures addressing liability for tobacco-related harms.
Farmer groups warned of the socioeconomic risks of adopting stringent global proposals without regard for local realities.
The Northern Luzon Alliance (NLA), a congressional bloc representing tobacco-growing provinces, commended the Philippine delegation for resisting measures that were “unrealistic, overly punitive, and incompatible with the country’s agricultural and economic realities.”
They added that adopting such proposals “would have amounted to an economic death sentence for entire agricultural provinces and the industries linked to them. Such measures would severely harm rural livelihoods, disrupt lawful industries, and jeopardize revenues that fund essential public services.”
The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) underscored the long-term dependence of rural communities on the crop.
“Tobacco remains a primary source of livelihood across nearly 20 provinces… More importantly, this is the only source of decent income many families have known for generations,” the group explained.
“There may be some tightness in supply, but that’s no excuse for runaway prices. At current market levels, it already smacks of profiteering,” he said.
Latest monitoring by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) showed retail prices climbing as high as P300 per kilo, nearly triple what officials deem reasonable.
Tiu Laurel said imported onions land at about P60per kilo, meaning the P120 ceiling still allows “decent profit” across the supply chain.
“At P120, everyone, from importers to logistics providers to retailers—still earns a decent margin,” he added.
AMAS director Junibert De Sagun said retailers were generally receptive to the cap during recent consultations, but asked that supply be delivered to them at around P90 per kilo.
Retailers also requested that the SRP take effect only once new shipments arrive, so existing stocks purchased at higher prices are not sold at a loss.
Food Terminal Inc. has committed to delivering imported onions at P90 per kilo on a cash-on-delivery basis. Shipments are expected within two weeks, positioning the DA to firmly enforce the SRP in early December.
Stakeholders also sought stricter monitoring of import volumes and arrival schedules to prevent market manipulation and avoid displacing local growers.
Concerns were raised about rising farmgate prices following reduced planting and typhoon-related losses. DA officials assured farmers that any ceiling on local onions will remain subject to further consultation and could be adjusted if farmgate prices climb sharply.
BRAND CON OPENING. Newport World Resorts senior vice president for Marketing Mitch Suarez (2nd from left) and BRAND CON CEO and founder Bingo Soriano (left) together with (from left) co-Ffunder of Ries & Ries consulting firm Laura Ries, UnionBank EVP, head of Institutional Banking Mimi Concha, and UnionBank EVP, chief marketing & experience officer Albert Cuadrante lead the opening of BRAND CON 2025 Christmas Village at Newport World Resorts. Held from Nov. 11 to 13, the event celebrates the practice of building purposeful and resilient brands.
recovery of their
economy. Photo shows Nanette
Over 20 Fukuoka executives explore PH economic zones
By Othel V. Campos
ADELEGATION of more than 20 senior executives from the Fukuoka Foreign Trade Association (FFTA) visited the Philippines on Nov. 18, 2025 to explore investment opportunities and strengthen ties with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
combination of energy management programs and two AI solutions deployed to nearly 20,000 network elements, Globe saved over 11.3 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in 2024.
“These AI-driven solutions show that resource efficiency and sustainability go hand-in-hand,” said Globe senior vice president and head of service planning and engineering Joel Agustin.
“Tech allows us to respond in real time. It’s a smarter way to manage energy because the system knows when to ramp up or slow down depending on demand,” said Agustin.
The AI tools optimize energy use, adjusting power consumption at the cell site level to adapt to changing network demands.
Darwin G. Amojelar
Security Bank taps WIZ.AI to boost customer service
SECURITY Bank Corp. announced a strategic partnership with WIZ.AI, a regional leader in AI-powered voice automation, to accelerate its digital transformation and strengthen customer engagement. The collaboration will embed intelligent automation across key service touchpoints, including collections, to modernize the bank’s operations. By integrating WIZ.AI’s natural language processing (NLP) and voice automation technologies, Security Bank aims to boost efficiency accuracy and responsiveness while delivering more personalized customer experiences.
“At Security Bank, our mission has always been to provide BetterBanking—a promise rooted in understanding our customers’ needs and delivering solutions that make a real difference. With WIZ. AI, we aim to enhance our collections efficiency through seamless human-bot synergy,” said Balaji Vijayan, Security Bank senior vice president and retail and business banking risk management head. This partnership is a key part of Security Bank’s digital transformation roadmap, which focuses on data-driven decision-making operational efficiency and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
WIZ.AI founder and chief executive Jianfeng Lu said the partnership underscores the company’s commitment to empowering enterprises across Southeast Asia with secure scalable and human-like conversational AI. Othel V. Campos
The mission, which included representatives from leading Fukuoka-based companies in manufacturing, logistics, energy and advanced services, underscores the group’s confidence in the Philippines’ sustained economic growth.
FFTA chairman Yukinori Michinaga said member companies were eager to explore concrete investment opportunities and expand their footprint in the Philippines. The group toured Philippine ecozones to evaluate potential expansion sites and gain firsthand insights into the country’s growing economic ecosystem.
PEZA director-general Tereso Panga presented the agency’s investment framework, highlighting the competitive advantages of the ecozone program. These advantages include incentive packages, priority industries and the strong track record of Japanese locators in both manufacturing and highvalue services. Japan remains one of PEZA’s strongest investment partners,
with over 700 Japanese locators contributing cumulative investments exceeding P800 billion and generating more than 320,000 direct jobs nationwide as of 2025.
Founded in 1958, FFTA represents around 330 globally active companies from the Fukuoka region.
The delegation’s visit is expected to reinforce the Philippines’ position as a competitive, reliable and future-ready investment destination, according to PEZA.
GSIS HUB. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general-manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso and Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso spearhead the unveiling of the GSIS Zamboanga Digital Business Center—a self-service hub that provides quick, counter-free access to essential GSIS services.
PEZA director-general Tereso Panga
Metro Nuvali to rise as Ayala Land’s newest business center in the south
A MAJOR new development is taking shape in Southern Luzon as Ayala Land (ALI) Inc. unveiled Metro Nuvali, a 200-hectare central business district in the heart of CALABARZON. It is planned as the South Luzon’’s new home for business, culture, and public life.
Set within Nuvali’s 2,500-hectare eco-community, the project aims to bring together workplaces, civic areas, open spaces, and modern transport links.
“Metro Nuvali embodies a new way to city—where commerce, civic spaces and sustainable living form together in a seamlessly connected environment by green corridors, dynamic plazas, and future-ready infrastructure,” ALI said.
Metro Nuvali’s plan is divided into three main districts. A reimagined destination for shopping, dining, and leisure will be anchored by Ayala Malls Nuvali, which is set to expand with nearly 50,000 square meters of new retail space by next year. This includes a new multi-level wing, wellness areas, and links to the lakeside, Seda Hotel, and future office buildings.
A 40-hectare central district will serve as the business and cultural hub. It will have new office towers, shared workspaces, and a threehectare Central Park beside the East Bloc Garden. The goal is to create a lively place where work, creativity, and open spaces come together.
Civic District (60 hectares)
The civic district meanwhile will be the center for government and community services. It will feature the Santa Rosa Civic Complex, a
two-hectare site with a Satellite City Hall, Convention Center, Hotel, and Command Center. The Nuvali Parish Church will also stand in this district as a community landmark. Located along the Casile–Tagaytay Road, it will serve as a new gateway linking Laguna with Cavite and Tagaytay. All three districts will connect to the rest of Nuvali through road networks, public transport, and walkable green paths. According to the company, Metro Nuvali reflects “Ayala Land’s long-term vision for a sustainable southern metropolis — one that combines enterprise, nature, and community in perfect balance.”
Metro Nuvali will link directly to key areas of the larger estate, including Solenad, the 36-hectare sports and arts hub; Nuvali Commons, the social center; and South Nuvali, home to green neighborhoods and parks. Its reach will grow even more with the upcoming Carmona–Biñan Link Road, expected to be finished in 2028. This new road will connect the district to SLEX, CALAX, and the planned CTBEX, making the area easier to reach from different parts of the region.
For more than 15 years, Nuvali has helped shape sustainable living in Southern Luzon. Metro Nuvali is set to build on that progress and become CALABARZON’s next major business center. Ayala Land sees it as a strong opportunity for companies and individuals looking to grow in the South.
With its size, planned infrastructure, and long-term development approach, Metro Nuvali aims to lead the next wave of growth in the region.
PHINMA CoHo launches Davao housing project
PHINMA Community Housing (CoHo) is giving low-income and minimum wage earners a chance to own their own homes as it officially broke ground on its firstever development in Davao City.
The project, located in Tugbok District, forms part of PHINMA’s direct response to the address country’s estimated 6.5-million housing backlog. The property is designed specifically to help workers transition from renting to affordable homeownership.
Once completed, the development will enable more than 500 underserved families to acquire their first homes. in line with the company’s vision of providing dignified, workerfocused housing options.
“Here at PHINMA Community Housing, we want to fulfill the housing aspirations of low-income families by providing them homes they can call their own,” PHINMA CoHo president and chief executive Luis M. Oquiñena said.
Beyond simply constructing affordable units, CoHo is building a holistic workers’ community.
“It’s not just about building houses—it’s about giving these families safe, secure spaces where they can make their dreams come true and become part of a supportive, dignified community,” he added,
The project will include a community-based enterprise space, a daycare facility for children of working parents, and skills training programs for residents seeking supplemental income—amenities crafted to directly support the realities of minimum wage earners.
Riding on residential boom, SPRINGBUILD opens HQ in Cavite
SPRINGBUILD Development
Inc. signaled strong confidence in the growing Cavite real estate market with the blessing of its new corporate headquarters in Barangay Pasong Camachile II. The move marks a major milestone for the company, which has steadily grown from modest beginnings into a rising developer in the region.
Located along the expanding Open Canal Road corridor, the new office reflects SPRINGBUILD’s long-term commitment to building accessible and thoughtfully planned communities for Filipino families.
“This new space reflects the journey we’ve taken from learning the ropes on the ground to developing entire communities,” said Jen Trinidad, chief executive officer of SPRINGBUILD.
With 23 years of experience in the Philippine real estate industry, Trinidad has worked with some of the country’s top developers. She now leads SPRINGBUILD with a mission to deliver smart, welldesigned homes that meet the needs of families in fast-growing areas.
“It symbolizes our dedication to provide buyers with a delightful
experience in home purchase and our perseverance to discover better ways to get things done when faced with challenges. We have confidence in what we’ve built, and where we are headed next,” she added.
Founded in 2016 as a house repair provider in Cavite, SPRINGBUILD expanded its capabilities in 2019 when it took on outsourced services for a major local developer, handling everything from marketing and sales to construction and loan processing. This experience laid the foundation for its evolution into a full-service residential developer serving the mid-market segment. Families moving to Southern Luzon With improved infrastructure, expanding business districts, and easier travel to and from Metro Manila, Cavite has become one of the most attractive residential destinations in the country. Filipino families also continue to move south in search of space, accessibility, and better
is developing
PHIMA Corp. chairman and chief executive Ramon R. del Rosario Jr. said the Davao launch marks a significant expansion of PHINMA’s mission to uplift underserved Filipino families. “We are honored to celebrate PHINMA Community Housing’s very first development here in Davao—a significant step for us as we expand our mission to more communities across the country. This project represents hope and opportunity—not just for the families who will live here, but for the broader Davao community that will benefit from a safer, stronger, and more inclusive environment,” Del Rosario said. said.
PHINMA Corp. vice chairman Dr. Magdaleno B. Albarracin Jr. highlighted the importance of keeping families’ dreams at the forefront of the design process. “The more important thing for us is to provide beautiful and affordable homes. We take care of our customers and our customers will take care of us… it’s not only because of self-interest, because the profit will follow PHINMA Corp. is investing P250 million into PHINMA CoHo as it aims to replicate the success of PHINMA Education in uplifting underserved sectors.
Commercial launch of the Davao units is targeted for the first half of 2026, offering new hope to hardworking Filipinos who have long dreamed of a home they can finally call their own.
Jenniffer B. Austria
Jen Trinidad, chief executive officer
SPRINGBUILD
PHINMA Corp. chairman and chief executive officer Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr. emphasized the Group’s commitment to serving more communities in need with PHINMA Community Housing for low-income families, aiming to replicate PHINMA Education’s success in catering to underserved students.
NICKIE WANG, Editor
ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Richard Gomez (right) and Elijah Canlas play as a fatherand-son police duo in ‘Salvageland’
Right, wrong, and everything in between
GMA’s Lizelle Maralag named
Media Icon 2025
LIZELLE G. Maralag, chief marketing officer of GMA Network, has been named Media Icon 2025 by the Media Specialists Association of the Philippines (MSAP). The award was presented during Synergia: The 2025 Media Congress.
The honor recognizes individuals “who have laid the groundwork and continue to inspire the journey of the media industry,” MSAP said.
The organization cited Maralag’s influence, leadership, and role in advancing Philippine media into a modern, insight-driven profession.
In her acceptance, Maralag thanked industry colleagues and emphasized the contributions of media professionals and young talents. “This award is not for me alone. It is for the media professionals who uphold integrity and excellence in their craft… for the young media talents who are not enticed by corrupt practices, whose thirst for continuous learning is strengthened by their own hard work, creativity, and refusal to settle for mediocre work,” she said. Maralag, widely known as LGM, has nearly three decades of experience in Philippine media. She started in advertising and became CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group Philippines, leading the agency to multiple “Agency of the Year” recognitions and setting a record for Media Agency-of-Record pitch wins over a decade.
She joined GMA Network in 2010, where she now oversees marketing and commercial innovation across the network’s broadcast, international, and non-broadcast platforms. Under her leadership, GMA has won numerous local and global marketing awards.
A founding co-chair and past president of MSAP, Maralag has championed strong measurement frameworks, digital-forward planning, and branded content. She is also recognized for mentoring women in leadership, earning her the nickname “Mother of the Modern Media Industry” in the Philippines.
Her contributions extend beyond GMA. She received the 2019 Hildegard Award for Women in Media and Communication (Advertising) and has served as chairman of the Radio Research Council Adjudication & Review Board, director of the TV Research Council, and juror in major local and regional awards, including the APAC Effies.
By Jasper Valdez
IN Salvageland , the most unsettling aspect is the violence’s familiarity. That uneasy closeness is exactly what director Lino Cayetano and writer Shugo Praico emphasize.
The film paints a bleak picture of a lahar-ridden town where lawlessness becomes normal, where justice depends on who holds the gun, and where morality bends depending on circumstance. It sounds like fiction, but the creators hint that viewers may recognize more of it than they’d like to admit.
Cayetano said the film grew out of real-world questions that don’t always fit neatly into right and wrong.
“Things aren’t usually black and white. There’s grey,” he explained at the film’s advance screening held on Nov. 21 at Fishermall’s VIP Cinema. “Sometimes we have to examine deeper what is truly right or wrong.”
By Angelica Villanueva
P-POP powerhouse SB19 dominated the 10th P-pop Music Awards on Saturday, Nov. 29, emerging as the ceremony’s biggest winner after sweeping major categories.
The five-member group took home Song of the Year for “DUNGKA!”, Album of the Year for Simula at Wakas, and Music Video of the Year for “DAM.” The group’s world tour, Simula at Wakas, won Concert of the Year. Collaboration of the Year went to “Umaaligid” by SB19 and Sarah Geronimo KAIA was named International Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
The awards celebrated the growth of P-pop and the artists driving its expanding global footprint. The program featured performances and appearances from leading acts including MNL48, HORI7ON, New:ID, KAIA, and VVINK Fan-driven awards highlighted rising and popular acts, including Favorite Streamed Artist Rising Girl Group of the Year G22, Rising Boy Group of the Year 1st.One, fandom A’TIN, which won P-pop Favorite Fandom of the Year.
The full slate of jurydecided winners included Solo Artist of the Year Felip; New Group Artists WRIVE and VVINK;
He shared that the movie presents a simple but heavy moral dilemma: when a crime happens and no one complains, no one reports it, and no one will ever know—do you speak up, or do you let it pass?
That dilemma becomes the burden of the film’s father-and-son police duo.
Richard Gomez plays a veteran officer hardened by years of seeing the worst parts of society. Reflecting on how his real-life political experience shaped the role, Gomez said, “When I was mayor, I dealt with policemen. I also saw criminals at work, so I just absorbed the personality of police officers and used that in the scenes.”
To him, the film focuses on a facet of reality that rarely gets discussed openly. “This is the part of society we’re focusing on. What really happens here? What kind of law exists in a place like this?”
Opposite him, Elijah Canlas plays Jules, a rookie cop who still believes the world can be better. Canlas said the role didn’t just challenge him physically but also personally.
“Jules is one of the purest characters I’ve ever portrayed,” he said. “I’m representing a character with ideals I truly believe in—a perspective I want to champion.”
He added that the challenge was portraying
idealism without arrogance: “I didn’t want to play him as self-righteous, like he’s always the one who’s right. I wanted him to still listen, to respect authority, even while standing by what he believes.”
The tension between their characters becomes the emotional core of the film—survival versus idealism. The father represents the worldview shaped by broken systems; the son represents the generation that still dares to believe those systems can be fixed. And the setting amplifies it: a town where consequences are immediate, brutal, and permanent.
Cayetano believes movies can help audiences face conversations they normally avoid. “Love, life, the good, the bad, the moral, and the immoral—cinema gives us a way to talk about these things,” he said.
For him, Salvageland isn’t trying to decide who’s right but to remind people that choices— especially in morally grey situations—always come with a price.
“The consequences at the end of the film are so heavy,” he said. “Life can be very short, and sometimes the decision placed in front of us might be the last important one we get to make.” Salvageland is now showing in cinemas nationwide.
SB19 dominates 10th P-pop Awards
Regional Song of the Year “Barugi” by VLST; Youth Leader HORI7ON; Cultural Excellence Award One South; P-pop Female Star of the
Night PIX!E; P-pop Male Star of the Night New:ID; and P-pop Artist of the Decade FAB4Z, FRESHMEN, Myrus Martinez, and Hazel Faith Awards recognizing
artistic and performance excellence included Best Production Design in a Music Video for “Blink Twice” by BINI, Best Vocal Arrangement in Song Recording for “I Bet You Never” by 4th Project, and Best Choreography in a Live Performance for “DUNGKA!” by SB19. P-pop Spotlight Award winners were SY•NC, CLOUD7, and MNL48, while P-pop Potential Award honorees included NEO 6ENSE, and YGIG Other distinctions included P-pop Frontier Award Pop Girls; P-pop Favorite Fashion Icon Nicole of PIX!E; P-pop Favorite Group SB19; P-pop Favorite Visual Justin of SB19; P-pop Favorite Dance Ken of SB19; P-pop Favorite Rapper Josh of SB19; P-pop Favorite Vocalist Stell of SB19; and P-pop Favorite Leader Pablo of SB19.
P-POP KINGS. Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin lead this year’s P-pop Awards, reaffirming their commanding presence in today’s local music landscape
GMA Network chief marketing officer
Lizelle G. Maralag
Elijah Canlas (second from right) says that the film explores the tension between survival and idealism
Forging Boracay’s Paddlers of Tomorrow
JAN-ANNE Ocampo , Shangri-La Boracay’s director of marketing communications and an avid dragon boat paddler, envisioned a program that would promote community involvement, youth development, guest engagement, and employee participation.
To Ocampo, dragon boating is a sport and a vessel of life lessons. Her personal commitment to the discipline fueled a desire to share its profound values of teamwork, discipline, and unity with the community she calls home. “Paddlers of Tomorrow” realizes that vision, a testament to the power of sport to transcend competition and become a force for cultural and social good.
To Ocampo, dragon boating is a sport and a vessel of life lessons. Her personal commitment to the discipline fueled a desire to share its profound values of teamwork, discipline, and unity with the community she calls home. “Paddlers of Tomorrow” realizes that vision, showing how sport can transcend competition and become a force for cultural and social good. On the sun-drenched shores of Boracay, the rhythmic beat
How families can explore Clark in just two days
By Nickie Wang
CLARK, Pampanga is fast becoming a go-to destination for families looking for a quick and stress-free holiday escape.
Just a short drive from Metro Manila, it offers the perfect mix of attractions, dining, and accommodations for a 48-hour adventure, which allows families to step out of their routine without the need for long itineraries or heavy budgets.
A smooth pickup and drive to Clark starts the getaway on a relaxed note, followed by lunch at local favorites such as Rumpa for comfort food, Café Mesa for cozy dining, or Amare for wood-fired pizza, with cashless payment available through GCredit.
The afternoon brings a fun-filled visit to Dinosaur Island Adventure, where life-size dinosaurs, roaring exhibits, and interactive displays provide an unforgettable experience for children, with tickets easily prebooked via Klook and paid with GCredit. Evening accommodations at an Airbnb, booked and paid in installments with GGives, give the family a homey and budget-friendly space to unwind, followed by dinner and bonding time.
The next day offers flexibility for rest or exploration, with options such as strolling nearby parks or visiting Clark CityFront
Mall. In the afternoon, families can visit the SciENSE Museum, where interactive exhibits combine learning and play, and tickets can also be prebooked and paid using GCredit.
Evening dining choices include
Aling Lucing’s Sisig, Balai Dangwa, or Café Adriatico before returning to the Airbnb for a quiet night. On the final morning, a stroll at Clark Parade Ground provides a refreshing start before checking out, grabbing a quick lunch, and heading back to Metro Manila, completing a 48-hour reset that leaves the family refreshed and ready to tackle city life.
GCash services make planning and paying for the trip seamless.
GCredit provides a flexible credit line of up to P50,000 for meals, activities, and spontaneous stops, while GGives allows families to book accommodations or flights of up to P125,000 and pay later in manageable installments, eliminating the stress of high upfront costs. GInsure Travel Protect offers coverage for emergencies and accidents for as low as P103, giving peace of mind for local travel.
With Clark’s accessibility and GCash’s digital solutions, families can turn a weekend into a fully manageable and memorable holiday, enjoying spontaneous meals, lastminute activities, and worry-free travel.
of a drum and the powerful, synchronized splash of paddles mark the awakening of a centuriesold tradition in the hearts of a new generation.
On Nov. 20, Shangri-La Boracay launched “Paddlers of Tomorrow,” a transformative two-part program designed to reignite the cultural spirit of dragon boating, weaving together threads of heritage, community, and youth development into the vibrant fabric of the island.
The day’s significance is rooted in a 2,000-year-old tradition. Born from a ritual to honor the poet Qu Yuan, dragon boating has evolved into a global sport that remains, at its core, a powerful practice of unity. Shangri-La Boracay champions this living heritage not as a relic, but as a dynamic symbol of collective strength.
The program’s morning session,
held in collaboration with the Boracay Dragon Boat Association led by Hannah Fernando , brought together a diverse group of participants. Youth from the local community, students from Lamberto Tirol National High School, Shangri-La Boracay colleagues, and curious resort guests all gathered at the water’s edge. The session was designed as an immersive introduction, beginning with a discussion on the sport’s origins and its enduring cultural importance.
K-POP stars Kim Myung Soo and Choi Bo Min are helping position the Philippines as a warm-weather getaway for South Koreans looking to trade winter chill for tropical sun. The two actor-singers, working with Universal Records Philippines and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), are featured in a new campaign promoting the country’s mix of leisure, culture, and outdoor activities.
teamwork and community spirit at the heart of dragon boating.
In the afternoon, students attended a detailed workshop at Lamberto Tirol National High School. They explored the sport’s evolution, modern racing formats, competition structures, advanced safety measures, and paddling techniques. The session highlighted the importance of keeping dragon boating alive not only as a sport but also as a cultural tradition for future generations.
The participants learned why dragon boating continues to thrive
and adapt on a national stage. The combined support of the PDBF and the Boracay Dragon Boat Association created a powerful and authentic learning environment, fostering meaningful opportunities to inspire and develop the true Paddlers of Tomorrow.
The morning session quickly moved from learning about dragon boating to experiencing it firsthand. After a guided warm-up, participants joined an open-air paddling clinic, where they learned proper paddling form, the importance of synchronization, and basic safety protocols. The session ended with a friendly race between two boats, showcasing the
Through the synchronized efforts of its organizers, participants, and champions, “Paddlers of Tomorrow” did more than just teach a sport. It planted a seed—a seed of cultural pride, communal responsibility, and personal discipline that promises to grow, ensuring that the ancient rhythm of the drum continues to echo across the waters of Boracay for generations to come.
The collaboration, backed by the Department of Tourism, taps into a growing trend of fans traveling to destinations their idols visit.
Myung Soo, best known for his roles in Angel’s Last Mission: Love and and Bo Min, a former Child member with strong local engagement through the series Beauty Empire showcase Clark as a rising leisure hub. The campaign highlights the area’s nature sites, wellness retreats, and modern attractions.
The pair will take part in scenic runs, golf sessions, traditional hilot treatments, and local dining to show how the region blends recreation and relaxation.
“When Korean stars of this caliber experience the Philippines and share it with millions of fans, it naturally raises our country’s visibility as a preferred winter escape,” TPB chief operating officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles said.
With nearly four million followers combined, the two artists are expected to draw attention from regional travelers as they document their stay.
TPB and partner tour operators have rolled out winter escapade packages available from October to December 2025, offering
Jan-Anne Ocampo (rightmost) and the resort team recognized youth participants with certificates as part of the program’s mission to inspire the next generation of dragon boat paddlers
Director of marketing commhnications
Jan-Anne Ocampo leads Shangri-La Boracay’s ‘Paddlers of Tomorrow’ initiative to strengthen community involvement, youth development, guest engagement, and employee participation
OING
Awed by the dazzling trees of Christmas
Conrad Manila
The hotel opened the holiday season with its tree lighting ceremony
themed “Bright Holidays, Brilliant Memories,” which was participated in by the new general manager, Rupert Hallam, who is celebrating his first Christmas here in the country.
Of course, the event’s main attraction was the hotel’s sparkling tree made of crystals, which, this year, looks even more impressive with elegant white lanterns around it. Setting the mood for the Holidays were the musical performances of soprano Lara Maigue, the UST Singers, and the Bernie Pasamba Strings and Music Master. Guests were later treated to a festive buffet dinner at the hotel’s culinary haven, Brasserie On 3. Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Manila
The hotel’s towering green-and-red tree symbolized this year’s evocative theme, “Season of Joy,” which pays tribute to the timeless tradition of being together with those who make the Season truly meaningful.
The Tree Lighting ceremony was conducted by SMHCC President Elizabeth Sy, SM Prime Holdings chairman Hans Sy, executive vicepresident Peggy Angeles, Pasay Mayor Imelda Rubiano, and hotel general manager Nils Rothbarth
A beautifully curated musical program, directed by Nes Jardin set the tone for the evening, with performances by Vien King, The Opera Belles, and Bernie Pasamba and the Music Masters. What is noteworthy is the hotel’s continued partnership with the Philippine School for the Deaf, with its year-round initiatives dedicated to enriching the lives of the children in the school.
The celebration ended with an elegant cocktail buffet meticulously prepared by the hotel’s culinary team.
Pico de Loro Cove Aligned with its commitment to marine protection and sustainability, all the Christmas trees in Pico de Loro Cove take inspiration from elements found in the property’s vast mangroves. The unusual but attractive décor comes from handmade items patterned after those that thrive in the swamp’s dense thickets, giving the trees a uniquely different—but captivating—look.
General manager Maxi Gavino said this year’s theme, “Feel the Holiday Sparkle,” invites guests to appreciate the beauty of the mangroves, nature’s quiet protectors that bring life and light to their surroundings. She also
introduced her staff members, who spent several work hours assembling the Christmas tree, a source of pride for management.
Luxent Hotel
The traditional colors of Christmas— red, green, and gold—are used in this hotel’s Christmas Tree, which is set up against a backdrop of sparkling miniature lights, giving a definitely festive look to the lobby.
Before the ceremonial “switch on,” musical performances were rendered by the Adamson University Chorale and the chanteuse Venice Encinares
Some of the hotel’s staff members also presented a dance number to a jolly Christmas song, together with their mascot. General manager Melanie Siy-Pagkalinawan gave a heartfelt, impromptu message on the real meaning of Christmas, something that ran deep in my core.
Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA
A unique blend of colors makes this hotel’s Christmas tree different from the others. Illuminated in deep blue light and fenced in by an abundance of gold gift boxes, the tree has a somewhat celestial feel.
The tree-lighting ceremony featured musical performances by the University of the Philippines’ Singing Ambassadors, but what impressed me most was the solo performance of young tenor Arman Ferrer, who brought the house down with his outstanding vocal calisthenics. I approached him later to congratulate
By Nickie Wang
with a new menu every week.
Nostalg Hotel and Suites Manila The beautiful tree was already lit when I entered the hotel lobby. The hotel’s
The tree-lighting ceremony was followed by a hearty buffet specially prepared by the hotel’s
according to general manager
Gutierrez, always comes up
director of sales and marketing, Laurie Cardeño, later told me that the event I was invited to was a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by management, not a tree-lighting ceremony. She explained that their tree, abundantly decked with all kinds of attractive décor, symbolized prosperity and good fortune.
The dinner, set in the cozy ambience of the Nostalgia Lounge and Bar, was a superb culinary experience, with the buffet menu expertly curated by executive chef Gus Mohamed and his team. I marveled at his version of the delectable pork embutido, made more special with tiny bits of crunchy celery that enhanced its taste.
General manager
Diana Batas later shared the hotel’s forthcoming developments, which are worth looking forward to. Aside from the hotel’s exemplary food, I also enjoy its al fresco restaurant, The Roof, which offers a breathtaking view of Metro Manila.
Taal Vista Hotel
Their towering Christmas tree is literally star-studded, covered with big, glowing white stars, and it dominates the hotel’s vast garden facing the lake and volcano. Since it was drizzling, the tree-lighting ceremony was held indoors at the lobby lounge. It was led by general manager Ramon Makilan, SMHCC president Elizabeth Sy, and senior vice president Cathy Nepomuceno, followed by a musical performance from the Himig San Jose Chorale
Hotel management also introduced its charity beneficiary, the Augustinian Sisters Servants of Jesus and Mary, represented by three children from its orphanage. The highlight of the event was the six-course dinner at the ballroom, specially prepared by the hotel’s culinary team, with each course paired with a specific wine to elevate the dining experience.
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com
Conrad Manila opens the holidays with its crystal Christmas tree under the theme ‘Bright Holidays, Brilliant Memories’
The Himig San Jose Chorale delivers a holiday performance at the Taal Vista Hotel tree lighting
Luxent Hotel ushers in the Christmas season with a red-and-gold tree lighting in its lobby him because I have never been moved by a song as much as I was by his interpretation.
innovative chef, who,
Reycie
Mercury Rising
Bob Zozobrado
The Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila’s Christmas tree symbolizes prosperity and good fortune for the coming year
Writers Bar offering the playful “Royal Artistry” Afternoon Tea, and Spectrum presenting a hearty “Starlit Christmas” dinner. Guests can also ring in 2026 at Mistral Rooftop Bar during the “Light Up 2026: White & Glitter Countdown Party.”
Joy