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Probe of Leviste’s solar firm ongoing, says Ombudsman OMBUDSMAN Remulla said an investigation is already underway into alleged franchise violations of a solar energy firm founded by Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste, following claims that the transfer
Palace: Reported impeach raps vs. PBBM mere claims By Charles Dantes and Rio Araja VOL. XXXIX • NO. 331 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026 •
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Recanting witnesses face perjury, jail time Lacson: Blue Ribbon to tackle Alcantara ‘retraction’ Jan. 19
MALACAÑANG on Sunday dismissed reports of a planned impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., calling the claims “unsubstantiated.” In a message to Palace reporters, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro reacted to Caloocan second district Rep. Edgar Erice, who said an impeachment complaint against President Marcos could possibly be filed once Congress resumes session. Another lawmaker, La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V, reacted to Erice, saying impeachment is a serious constitutional mechanism that “must be anchored on proof and not treated as a political announcement.” On the other hand, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte cautioned fellow Next page
By Ram Superable
F
ORMER Public Works officials who recant their sworn statements in ongoing investigations into flood control ghost project scandals face perjury charges and prison sentences of up to 12 years, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson warned Sunday. Lacson said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will take up the supposed retraction of ex-DPWH official Henry Alcantara when it meets on January 19. On Friday, former Public Works engineer Henry Alcantara reportedly retracted his earlier statements on his involvement in the flood control project anomalies, according to the lawyer of Senator Joel Villanueva, who has been implicated in the scandal. But the Department of Justice later said it has yet to receive or review any Next page
VIVA STO. NIÑO. Devotees raise the image of the Sto. Nino to be blessed during rites in Cebu City as preparations for the Jan. 19 Sinulog Festival went into high gear. Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu
De Lima says absence involuntary unlike Sen. Bato’s non-appearance By Rio N. Araja and Ram Superable
NOT GIVING UP. Relatives of workers, inset, buried in the collapsed landfill in Cebu City continue their vigil hoping that rescuers will still find survivors three days after the incident. Alan S. Tangcawan
‘Hopes of finding Binaliw survivors dim as 72-hour window passes’ HOPES of finding survivors days after the collapse of a massive mountain of trash in the central Philippines were fading, officials said Sunday, as rescue workers dug through tons of rubble. The recovery of a body on Sunday brought the confirmed death toll to seven, with at least 29 people still missing as the crucial 72-hour window since the landslide in Cebu City came to an end. About 50 sanitation workers were buried on Thursday when the mountain of garbage toppled onto them from an estimated height of 20 storeys at the Binaliw Landfill, a privately operated facility that handles trash for
the city of nearly one million. "Yesterday, we detected two signs of life through our specialized radar. There were still heartbeats 30 meters (98 feet) below the debris, but right now, there are no reports of that anymore," local fire officer Wendell Villanueva told Agence France Presse (AFP) on Sunday. He said it was unlikely "for people to still be alive" three days after "tons of debris and trash had collapsed over them." So far, 12 employees have been pulled alive from the garbage and hospitalized. Next page
MAMAMAYANG Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima on Sunday took a swipe at Senate President Vicente Sotto III, saying her absence as then senator was entirely different from the failure of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to physically appear at the Senate. Meanwhile, Sotto III has said that
Dela Rosa who made himself scarce following reports of an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) could be compelled to attend plenary sessions, including through an arrest order, if his vote would be critical to the chamber. “With due respect, SP Sotto should not compare me with (ex-) senator (Antonio) Trillanes (IV) or with Next page
Mayon Volcano unrest may last months—Phivolcs By Rio N. Araja THE ongoing magmatic unrest of Mayon Volcano in Albay, which is currently under Alert Level 3, may last for months, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Phivolcs director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol said in a radio interview on Sunday “if we follow the 2023 template, this would probably take six months… In 2023, the activity at Mayon Volcano subsided six months later.” Next page
PYROCLASTIC DISPLAY. Volcano watchers are treated to another display of pyroclastic eruptions from the mouth of Mayon Volcano at around 8:40 a.m. yesterday. Nehemiah Manzanilla Sitiar/Facebook
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MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Palace:...
FIESTA.
Workers install colorful banderitas for a more festive atmosphere as residents prepare for the feast of the Sto. Niño de Tondo in Manila. The Feast of the Sto. Niño de Tondo is celebrated every last Sunday of January when thousands of images of the Child Jesus are paraded around the vicinity of the Minor Basilica and Archdiocesan Shrine Parish of Santo Niño de Tondo. Norman Cruz
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official written or verbal recantation from Alcantara, who has appeared before the Senate Blue Ribbon panel. Personalities such as former congressman Elizaldy Co, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, former Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, and businessman Meynard Ngu are slated to be served subpoenas to the hearing, Lacson added. "If they recant, they may be liable for violating the law on perjury, Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by RA (Republic Act) 11594, which raises the penalty for perjury to up to 12 years," he said. "This is aside from a penalty of P1 million and perpetual absolute disqualification if the offender is a government official," the senator added. On the subpoenas, Lacson said: "Olaivar and company were invited
but did not show up. We already subpoenaed them. If they still won't show up, we can issue warrants for their arrest." Ramon Esguerra, lead counsel for Senator Villanueva, said Alcantara has filed a counter-affidavit, arguing there is insufficient evidence to support the allegations against him. Despite the seeming recantations, Lacson said these will not weaken the ongoing probes against those involved in the anomalous government projects. He noted that circumstantial and documentary evidence has already been presented in prior hearings linking some lawmakers and personalities to the scandal. "Their statements are not standalone evidence. The case won't die or collapse on the basis of their recantation," said Lacson. The senator pointed out that the Justice Department is already investigating the case, while the Anti-Money Laundering Council has begun freez-
ing bank accounts of implicated individuals. In September, Alcantara disclosed during a Senate hearing the budget insertions and alleged kickbacks involving Villanueva and Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former senator Bong Revilla Jr., and resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co. Alcantara and fellow former DPWH Bulacan engineer Brice Hernandez have also surrendered money and vehicles to the government, which Lacson called an admission of guilt. The engineer previously told the Senate that flood control project proponents get as much as 25 to 30 percent of the proposed insertions. Alcantara has since turned over a total of P110 million in cash that he admitted to illegally obtaining from flood control projects. But Alcantara’s supposed affidavit reads: "There is no evidence that I favored any contractor, employee, or individual. There is no witness that
states I approved irregular payments or instructed preparation of falsified reports. In this case, no witness has testified that I facilitated any payouts.” “The counter-affidavit of Henry Alcantara, he submitted also last Monday (January 5), says a lot. Number 1, just to be quick about this, he says that Engineers (Brice) Hernandez and (Jaypee) Mendoza are the ones responsible for the execution of flood control projects,” Esguerra said. “And two, he was not the one directly overseeing the day-to-day operations of the projects, again pointing to the two Engineers Hernandez and Mendoza,” the lawyer said in a television interview. “Moreover, and this is very telling as far as we are concerned, according to him, there has been no witness that he facilitated any payout… he is in effect negating, virtually negating, what he said that he did the payout,” Esguerra added.
Mayon...
Probe...
The Ombudsman also described the process as ‘‘critical,’’ adding that there were reportedly 84 contracts cancelled so far. ‘‘He is being investigated for franchise violations. A franchise should not be treated as a business. You are still very young, yet you are already trading a franchise. Do you have no shame?’’ Remulla said. He said the national franchise for renewable energy is “critical to national life’ and should not have been flipped ‘‘bought and then promptly sold for profit’’ with such ease. A large portion of the shares was sold to a power distribution company and to public shareholders. ‘‘Is your mother still a senator? That is what we should talk about first before anything else,’’ he added. Remulla said this development has affected the national energy situation, noting that the government initially had an energy forecast that has since failed to materialize.
‘‘It did not happen. That is why I refused to engage, because the discussion keeps changing. We should be talking about his franchise,’’ he said, referring to Leviste’s discussions on the so-called Cabral files that he allegedly obtained from former Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral. Authorities are investigating Cabral’s death in December. The Office of the Ombudsman continues to review the authenticity of the files, which supposedly contain a list of flood control projects and their proponents in recent years, as part of its ongoing investigation into alleged infrastructure irregularities. In a Facebook post, however, Leviste said he would address all the allegations when Congress resumes session at the end of the month. ‘‘I am giving you two weeks to say everything. I will answer everything when Congress opens on January 26,’’ he said.
Senator Bato’s situation. Our non-attendance in Senate sessions during our incumbency was involuntary. I could not be physically present in the Senate because I was in detention to face the fabricated charges filed against me by the Duterte administration. On the other hand, Senator Bato is running away from possible arrest by the International Criminal Court,” she argued. “Even though I was incarcerated and it was difficult that I did not have any gadget then, I still worked as a senator by filing many bills, some of them became laws. I even requested to participate in the Senate’s online sessions and hearings during the (COVID-19) pandemic since that (practice) was normally done but the Senate’s majority did not allow me to do so,” she pointed out. “These matters of productivity in legislative output and the constant eagerness to join plenary sessions and committee hearings, despite my unjust detention, are clear evidence of work and intent to work. Do not use me as an excuse for not disciplining a delinquent senator,” De Lima said in a statement. “Our rules state that when there is
a vote and your vote is important, or it is important that everyone votes… the Senate President can order a senator to be brought in or arrested to cast their vote,” Sotto explained. He clarified that the rule applies when a senator’s presence is essential to pass legislation or settle key matters in the Senate. Dela Rosa has been absent from Senate sessions since Nov. 11, 2025, after reports that the ICC has issued a warrant against him in connection with the the bloody war on drugs during the Duterte administration. Dela Rosa presided over the antidrug campaign as chief of the Philippine National Police. He was elected to the Senate in 2019 and won reelection last year. Despite his absence, Sotto said Dela Rosa’s Senate office continues to operate and carry out official duties, with his personal social media page showing activity as recently as Dec. 16, 2025. The Senate President said he sent multiple text messages and voice calls to Dela Rosa since late last year, but received no replies. Sotto’s last message concerned Dela Rosa’s role in the bicameral conference committee on the 2026 national budget, where the senator serves as vice chairman of the Sen-
ate finance panel. “To each his own… that’s how it is. He chooses not to come in, but his office is still functioning,” said Sotto, pointing out that no current measure has yet required Dela Rosa’s vote. Under Article VI, Section 16(2) of the 1987 Constitution, majority of all elected senators constitute a quorum to conduct business, but when a quorum is lacking, a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members in a manner and under penalties determined by the chamber. This constitutional authority is implemented through the Rules of the Senate, which provide that when the absence of a quorum is raised, the presiding officer must immediately order a roll call to verify attendance and announce the result on the floor. If the roll call shows that a quorum is not present, the senators in attendance may direct the sergeant-at-arms to take steps to compel the attendance of absent members so that legislative work may proceed. Senate rules also reflected longstanding parliamentary practice that no senator should absent himself from the service of the Senate without leave, illness, or other recognized cause, although the rules do not impose automatic sanctions for non-attendance.
turn from rescue to recovery on Monday, later adding that the final decision would be up to an inter-agency team. A public information officer separately said the focus was likely to shift to recovering bodies. Outside the disaster site, dozens of family members huddled under tents provided to shield them from the sun, while others found spots nearer the facility to watch the rescue efforts. "What we want now is to find them.
Alive or dead—so we can properly take care of them," said Jezille Matabid, whose brother Junelle, a welder at the site, was among the missing. 'Going crazy' Another woman, who declined to give her name, said the lack of information about her older sister, a landfill employee, had been agonizing. "We feel like we're going crazy here just waiting for an update. She's threemonths pregnant," she said.
Elmer Aguilar, whose brother Larry, a welder, was among the missing, said he had come with 10 others hoping to aid in the search effort, only to be turned away. "We went here because we thought we could help dig, but when we arrived, the guards did not allow us to enter." Joel Garganera, a Cebu City council member, described the height from which the trash fell as "alarming," estimating the top of the pile had stood 20 storeys above the area struck.
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Based on latest assessments, the volcano’s recent unrest was described as a quiet eruption, Bacolcol said, likening it to its effusive eruption in June 2023. “But what happened in 2023, there was lava flow after several days. In fact, before it ended, the activity just reached almost more than three a three-kilometer lava flow. As of now, we haven’t seen this yet,” the Phivolcs chief noted. Bacolcol pointed out that they have not yet observed intensified parameters from the Mayon Volcano that would require Phivolcs to raise its alert level from 3 to 4. He said there is still no lava flow based on their monitoring, noting that the lava remains in the volcano’s crater. The red lava-like releases sighted in the past days were not lava flows, he explained, reiterating that these were just pyroclastic density currents and (PDCs)—locally referred to as ‘uson’—and rockfalls which appear as white in color during daytime but turns red at night. As of 5:00 a.m. on January 11, Phivolcs recorded a total of 256 rockfall events and 41 PDCs in Mayon. It has emitted a total of 777 tons of sulfur dioxide per day since January 10, 2026 and crater glow also persists. “It is better if there will be no people inside (the permanent danger zone) because, for example, what happened in June 2023, less than three years, the people evacuated. So, it will be most effective in the long run if there are no people inside,” he said. Bacolcol advised the residents within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) to immediately leave the place amid risks of torrential rains. Those beyond the six-kilometer PDZ but are near rivers flowing from the volcano’s slope must also evacuate due to possible lahar flow, he added. Phivolcs also continues to monitor ongoing activities in other volcanoes including Taal in Batangas, which is under Alert Level 1; Bulusan in Sorsogon, also under Alert Level 1; and Kanlaon in the Negros Island Region, which is under Alert Level 2.
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On Saturday, a rescue official said emergency workers had faced the danger of further collapse by the still-shifting mountain of trash, forcing pauses in their efforts. Rain had only increased that danger, Villanueva said. In a phone call with AFP news agency, Villanueva said the focus was expected to
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of the franchise proceeded without congressional approval. Leviste last June agreed to divest his shares in SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC) before assuming office in the 20th Congress. SPNEC is a subsidiary of Solar Philippines, a firm Leviste founded in 2013 and which is considered Southeast Asia’s largest solar company. SPNEC said Leviste signed an agreement to sell SPNEC shares to Solar Philippines and its affiliates, raising more than P34 billion in total funding. But Remulla, in his radio program, said the sale of Leviste’s controlling interest was not approved by Congress. ‘‘There was no consent from Congress for the transfer of that franchise,’’ Remulla said.
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lawmakers against backing another impeachment complaint against his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte. “Before a new impeachment complaint is filed this February 2026, this is a call to my colleagues — do not pass on the decision that has long been made behind closed doors to the people,” he said. He said an impeachment complaint must reflect the voices of the lawmakers' constituents, and not of a “few who control funds and influence.” Castro said the administration has taken note of Erice’s statement, but emphasized the claims allegedly originated from supporters of a certain politician and remain unverified. "At this point, these are unsubstantiated statements allegedly coming from the supporters of a certain politician," Castro said. She said the President remains focused on leading the country and delivering results for the Filipino people, stressing that Mr. Marcos respects existing constitutional processes. Castro added that the President believes any actions taken by members of Congress should be based on facts, the law, and the national interest, not on rumors or political maneuvering. "He respects the existing constitutional processes and believes that any actions taken by members of Congress will be driven by facts, the law, and national interest," Castro said. "The administration will not speculate on rumours or political maneuverings," she added. Mr. Marcos has consistently said he will allow constitutional processes to run their course while maintaining focus on his work. As for Duterte, the lawmaker said the decision to impeach must not be about politics and patronage. “This is about accountability. And if you can't answer to the people and stand up for the truth, don't use the people's name to cover up your decision.” In February 2025, Congress impeached the Vice President through a fourth complaint over her supposed misuse of confidential funds and threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and ex-Speaker Martin Romualdez. ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said the Makabayan bloc is willing to endorse another impeachment complaint against the Vice President. He said the complaint may include new allegations raised by Ramil Madriaga, her alleged bagman, who claimed her 2022 election campaign was financed by Philippine offshore gaming operators and drug lords. Ortega underscored that any attempt to initiate impeachment proceedings must meet the strict standards laid down by the Constitution, noting that allegations alone do not rise to the level required for such an extraordinary remedy. “Allegations must stand on verifiable facts, sworn statements, and credible documentation,” he said. The. House remains guided by constitutional duty and institutional responsibility, emphasizing that the process is not influenced by speculation or political noise, Ortega said. “We will examine any complaint based on the Constitution and evidence — nothing more, nothing less,” he said. While confident that any such move against the President would fail to clear the constitutional bar, Ortega said the House would nonetheless uphold due process. “Due process applies to the President as much as to any public official,” he pointed out.
Images released by police showed a massive mound of trash atop a hill directly behind buildings that officials told AFP contained administrative offices and housing for employees. In an interview with local media, Cebu Mayor Nestor Archival pointed to a recent earthquake and typhoon-driven rains as potential precipitating circumstances. But Garganera said the mountain of garbage had been an obvious danger. AFP
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MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
House approves 12 of 48 LEDAC priority bills By Rio N. Araja OF THE 48 priority measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), the House of Representatives has already approved on third and final reading 12 measures, putting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s reform agenda at the center of the chamber’s work in the first regular session of the 20th Congress. Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, a Majority Leader, said on Sunday that the LEDAC scorecard capped a busy first regular session that saw 7,030 bills and 645 resolutions filed, 86 measures approved, and 584 measures processed by House committees and the plenary in just 22 session days. “Under the leadership of Speaker Bojie Dy, we wanted the first months of the 20th Congress to send a clear signal that the House is serious about delivering on the LEDAC. This signifies the hard work and unity of House members in passing these vital pieces of legislation,” he said. Congress has produced one national law transmitted to the Chief Executive—the P6.793-trillion 2026 General Appropriations Act—and has generated 52 adopted resolutions and approved 32 others. The numbers reflected “a House that is trying to match the pace of the challenges facing the country,” with LEDAC priorities serving as the spine of the chamber’s reform workload, the younger Marcos said. Out of the 48-item LEDAC list, 12 bills were approved on third reading, while five measures were approved by committees and are awaiting comments from the appropriations and ways and means panels.
GREEN BARRIER. Layered silhouettes of the Sierra Madre stretch across the horizon, their forested ridges forming a vast green barrier that protects communities and sustains key watersheds east of Metro Manila. Edd Castro
PNP defends Co cars seizure By Vince Lopez
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HE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday stood by the legality of its recent inspection and confiscation of several luxury vehicles linked to fugitive ex-lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.
In a statement released on January 11, PNP Acting Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the actions were backed by valid and existing warrants, and that all steps taken followed due process and complied with applicable laws.
The PNP, through its Highway Patrol Group and the Southern Police District, carried out the seizure order with personnel from the Bureau of Customs and the Land Transportation Office on Thursday evening, January 8.
“The operation was in compliance with an order from proper authorities. We want to assure the public that all actions of the Philippine National Police are legal and in accordance with the law,” Nartatez said, responding to issues raised by lawyer Ruy Rondain, Co’s legal counsel. Rondain threatened to file charges against law enforcement authorities who confiscated several high-end automobiles parked at a condominium unit in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, some of which he acknowledged belonged to Co. The lawyer claimed the seizure was illegal. “It was totally abusive. Just wait until
we file a case. I asked them for their authority, and they said it was just an order. Is that even allowed? That is state abuse,” Rondain said in a radio interview. Co is under investigation over his alleged role in the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal. He is among the many personalities charged with graft and remains in hiding. “From the start, we committed to provide assistance in the investigation and enforcement of all legal orders in relation to the flood control issue. The involvement of your PNP in the operation was part of that commitment,” Nartatez said.
IN BRIEF Solon urges OK of successor AFP modernization law
AGROUND. The motor tanker MT Cheng Xian Feng 168 sits on the waters off Burgos, Surigao del Norte, on January 11, 2026, after running aground in shallow coastal waters. Philippine Coast Guard
CBCP chief urges unity, humility among lay leaders By Vito Barcelo THE head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged leaders of a global lay movement to reject rivalry and ambition, warning that competition undermines the unity found only in Jesus Christ. CBCP president Archbishop Gilbert Garcera made the appeal during a Mass for the Couples for Christ International Leaders Conference at the Jose Rizal Coliseum in Calamba City on Sunday.
“Let us stop comparing ourselves and boasting because we have more members. Let us avoid rivalry in our work and the ambition to rise in positions within Couples for Christ,” Garcera said in his homily. “These do not come from Christ. These are the things that quietly destroy the unity He has given us,” he added. Reflecting on the conference theme, “In the One, we are One,” Garcera said true unity does not come from structures, programs, or history,
but from Christ alone. He reminded leaders that their roles are entrusted gifts, not personal achievements, stressing that “Couples for Christ does not belong to us; it belongs to Christ.” Garcera said unity is preserved through humility and gratitude, warning that insecurity and resentment weaken communities and distract leaders from serving families and the wider Church. “Unity is not uniformity,” he said. “Unity is shared joy in Christ
Coast Guard responds to aground ship in Surigao
Tulfo backs random checks, joint oversight of projects SENATOR Erwin Tulfo on Sunday pushed for random on-site inspections of government projects to prevent waste of public funds. Tulfo said physical verification provides a clearer picture of project implementation than relying solely on official reports submitted by agencies. He raised the proposal amid discussions on forming a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor programs funded under the 2026 General Appropriations Act. Tulfo cited past instances where regional officials allegedly covered up irregularities, stressing the need for both chambers of Congress to exercise oversight. He said the committee should independently validate implementation reports to ensure transparency, accuracy, and proper use of taxpayers’ money. Ram Superable
NHA chief inspects housing projects in Pampanga
By Vince Lopez A PHILIPPINE-flagged motor tanker ran aground in shallow waters off Surigao del Norte on Sunday, prompting the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to deploy personnel. The vessel was identified as MT Cheng Xian Feng 168, which was found along the shoreline of Poblacion 1 in the town of Burgos. According to PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab, no oil spill was observed at the incident site. Technical assessment and verification, however, are ongoing, including the determination of a possible hull breach, to ensure marine environmental protection. “At approximately 4:30 a.m., joint authorities ensured the safety of nine Filipino crew members, including the master, who were brought ashore for further assistance and investigation. All crew members were in good physical condition and did not sustain any injuries,” Cayabyab said.
HOUSE Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan called on Congress to prioritize the passage of a successor Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization law as the current program nears its 2027 expiration. Libanan said early legislative action would ensure continuity and long-term planning, allowing a smooth transition to the next phase of military modernization. The revised AFP Modernization Program, enacted in 2012, covers the acquisition of advanced military equipment, weapons systems, and defense technologies, including intelligence and surveillance capabilities. Recent milestones include the delivery of two 3,200-ton guided-missile frigates in 2025, complementing earlier vessels delivered in 2020 and 2021, as well as additional Black Hawk helicopters and a new FA-50PH fighter jet contract. The 2026 General Appropriations Act allocated ₱40 billion for modernization projects, while budget records show over ₱447 billion authorized for the program from 2013 to 2025, including unprogrammed funds.
REFLECTIONS. Children fish in San Pablo, Laguna. Revoli Cortez
NATIONAL Housing Authority (NHA) general manager Joeben Tai recently led a series of site inspections of agency projects in Pampanga. Together with NHA-Region 3 manager Ma. Fatima dela Cruz, Tai visited the San Fernando View Residences Phase 1 in Barangay Panipuan, Mexico, a housing project funded by the Department of Transportation. The development is intended for families affected by the Philippine National Railway’s North-South Commuter Railway project and is already 70 percent complete. Tai also inspected other DoTr-funded resettlement sites, including San Fernando View Residences Phase 4 in Mexico and the proposed Casa de Angeles project in Angeles City. He said the inspections aim to ensure proper implementation, structural safety, and suitability of housing locations for resettled families. Rio N. Araja
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MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
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Footbridge rehab seen to partly close Kamuning busway By Rolando Ng III COMMUTERS and motorists are advised to personally adjust in their trips as a full temporary road closure will be in effect along the southbound route of the EDSA Kamuning Busway station on Monday, Jan. 12until Thursday, Jan. 15, from 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 a. The scheduled road works are expected to cause heavy traffic, but were necessary for the completion of a new Kamuning Footbridge in Quezon City, officially known as the Scout Borromeo-NIA South Road Footbridge. Locals have jestingly called it “Mt. Kamuning” due to its steep ascent. EDSA Carousel bus routes will be maintained, but the buses are not allowed to make a pit stop at the Kamuning station. Commuters are, therefore, advised to use nearby bus stops such as Quezon Avenue or Nepa Q-Mart in Cubao. Private motorists are likewise enjoined to take alternate routes. President Marcos has approved the project and tasked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to demolish and replace the badly-designed pedestrian walkway. The DOTr then bared plans to build a more accessible footbridge deemed more convenient for the general public.
BUSINESS IN RELIGION. A vendor arranges icons of Sto. Niño or Jesus as a child in her store along Tayuman street in Tondo Manila. Norman Cruz
Cops told to behave, uphold public trust By Vince Lopez
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IN BRIEF
HILIPPINE National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Sunday ordered his men to exercise command responsibility and close supervision, as well as act decisively on any misconduct within the ranks following a shooting in Sibulan, Negros Oriental that left a civilian and three policemen dead.
QC logs 85%-decrease in dengue cases so far THE Quezon City government has recorded 62 dengue cases from January 1 to January 8. The Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Division, however, said the dengue incidence was 85-percent lower than last year’s figure for the same period. Almost half of the patients (44 percent) were aged 20 and below. No fatality was reported due to dengue this year. Rio N. Araja
BI prevents two OFW hopefuls from leaving THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has aborted the departure of two male passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on suspicion that they were victims of illegal recruitment or human trafficking. The passengers, aged 48 and 52, bound for Hong Kong on a Cathay Pacific flight, initially claimed they were traveling as tourists. Immigration officers flagged them however, for secondary inspection after noting inconsistencies in their statements. The BI said it had received prior intelligence from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) about individuals being recruited for illegal work in Russia. During questioning, the two men admitted they were recruited online and instructed to wait for their visas and transfer tickets in Hong Kong. Vito Barcelo
PMA honors generals, grants alumnus awards THE Philippine Military Academy (PMA) on Saturday, Jan 10, rendered a testimonial parade and review in honor of some generals and flag officers at the Borromeo Field in Fort del Pilar, Baguio City. Feted were Vice-Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr., chief of Western Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines; ViceAdmiral Roy Echevarria, head of the Marine Environment Protection Committee of Philippine Coast Guard; Maj. Gen. Michelle Anayron, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army; Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, The Naval Inspector General, Philippine Navy; Commodore Zosimo Bolanos, assistant deputy chief for personnel (AJ1), AFP; Brig. Gen. Cesar Molina of the Northern Luzon Command,, and Brig. Gen. Edgar Torres, assistant deputy chief for civic-military operations (AJ7), AFP. The honorees also received the Outstanding PMA Alumnus Award (Ulirang Alumnus ng Akademiya) in recognition of their distinguished service in various fields of endeavors and designations in their respective Command designations. These milestones in their respective careers are testimonies of their exceptional leadership and dedication that brought honor to the Academy. In his remarks, Torres shared four basic principles that guided him throughout his assignments and service: (1) follow rules and regulations, (2) do your job and do it well, (3) set an example, and (4) take care of yourself. Vince Lopez
STREET DANCING. A ‘car-free, carefree’ Tomas Morato Ave. in Quezon City allows for various activities such as Zumba, cycling, running, and other fun family activities. QC-FB photo
Fil-Am woman gets medical aid in Army hospital By Rex Espiritu THE Philippine Army on Sunday said a 24-year-old Filipino-American woman has voluntarily submitted herself for medical intervention at the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) Station Hospital after encountering physical and mental problems. In a statement, 2ID spokesman Col. Michael Aquino said the patient, Chantal Anicoche, executed an affidavit in the presence of an independent lawyer affirming that her decision was made freely and without force or intimidation. “The 2nd Infantry Division honors
her intent and recognizes the primacy of improving her medical conditions after suffering from difficult physical and mental challenges,” Aquino said. Anicoche was found on Jan.8 by troopers from the 76th Infantry (Victrix) Battalion during follow-up operations in Sitio Mamara, Barangay Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro. The soldiers reportedly discovered her hiding inside a hole after hearing her cries for help. Military reports indicated that Anicoche was among those allegedly left behind by members of the New People’s Army following three successive
encounters with government forces on Jan.1. The troops immediately secured her, provided first aid, and facilitated her evacuation for medical treatment. Aquino said Anicoche is currently at the 2ID headquarters in Camp Capinpin for debriefing and being given continued medical assistance in accordance with established protocols. “What’s important is that she is safe and undergoing the needed medical attention after eight days of difficult physical conditions.” He said. Aquino added that Anicoche’s situation highlights the risks faced by young people who are drawn into armed groups.
Nartatez directed all unit commanders and heads of offices to properly supervise their men in upholding discipline and professionalism in the performance of their duties. “Command responsibility applies at all levels, and failure to enforce standards will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” he stressed. Last January 8, SSgt. Bonifacio Saycon reportedly shot dead a woman identified as Sheila Mae Dinanao inside a bar, then killed three fellow policemen who were about to leave the bar aboard a car. Investigators said prior to the killings, Saycon and the other three police officers, among them Capt. Jose Edrohil Cimafranca, the chief of the Sibulan municipal police station, were drinking inside the bar. The two others were identified as Senior Master Sgt. Tristan Chua, and Pat. Rey Albert Temblor. Saycon has been arrested will criminal and administrative charges being readied against him, Nartatez said.
PNP-BOC team foils P97.4-m smuggling bid in Maguindanao A JOINT Philippine National Police (PNP)-Bureau of Customs (BOC) operation has led to the seizure of smuggled cigarettes valued at nearly ₱97.5 million in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte. The raid was staged on Jan. 6 in Barangay Gumagadong-Calauag by elements of the PNP’s Regional Intelligence Division (RID), Regional Drug Enforcement Unit-Special Operations Group (RDEU-SOG) and the Parang municipal police station in coordination with the BOC-Davao district office The operation was carried out following intelligence reports indicating that a warehouse in the area was being used to store smuggled cigarettes in violation of Republic Act No. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) and Republic Act No. 12022 (Anti-Agricultural and Economic Sabotage Act). The warehouse initially looked emp-
ty, but the operatives noted that portions of the ground were unusually soft and showed signs of recent disturbance. Further inspection, discovered buried cases of cigarettes and tobacco products stashed underground, confirming deliberate concealment of the contraband. Retrieval operations continued until the following day, resulting in the seizure of 2,483 master cases of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated market value of ₱97.4 million. The contraband was subsequently taken to the BOC office in Panabo City for proper disposition, reevaluation, and further action. Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., commended the operating units and highlighted the importance of sustained inter-agency cooperation in dismantling smuggling operations. Vince Lopez
NO ENTRY. The Tagaytay City government, through its Tagaytay Office of Public Safety, bans the entry of all types of vehicles, from heavy-duty trucks to bicycles, at the Tagaytay Flyover in barangay Mendez. Dennis Abrina
OPINION
A5
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
EDITORIAL
So close, and yet so far DONALD’S golpe in Venezuela was the New Year’s surprise. The “empire” struck with stealth, and for now, its “emperor” is on a roll. Savoring his misplaced victory, he now threatens Colombia, Cuba, even backdoor Mexico and far-away Greenland of Denmark. Iran is wracked by protests that will engulf the Ayatollah, and with little or no nudge from Trump, it may soon fall, hopefully for the better. Given how the rules-based international order has been violently discombobulated by the Caracas blitz, many analysts speculate on how a weakened Russia and a strengthened China, the geo-political rivals of Trump’s empire, will use the event as justification to further their economic and political interests, even lebensraum. Trump’s action against Maduro was not about narcotics. It is about denying China one source of petrol, and the defense of the petrodollar from the threats of an expanding BRICS which is now challenging the “mighty” dollar as single world trade currency. Colombia too has plenty of resources aside from being “the” cocaine factory. Cuba has been a pain in America’s ass, so near yet so defiant since 1959 when Fulgencio Batista was ousted by Fidel Castro. Mexico’s government is constantly threatened by drug cartels that act as marketing arms and logistics providers for narcotics. These are inexcusable but convenient excuses for the neanderthal Trump to intervene. Greenland is otra cosa however. It is not within the empire’s hemisphere as defined by the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, being some 2,000 miles from mainland USA. But it is rich in untapped resources, whether oil, gas, and rare earth metals. Forgotten for centuries when less desolate continents were fodder for colonialist greed, it has now become apple in the covetous eyes of the delusional emperor of the world. Giddy over his Caracas caper, Trump now wants to run Venezuela as if it was a satrapy of the United States. Venezuela is a sovereign country, recognized by the world as such, unlike Taiwan which is recognized by only 11 of the world’s 193 UN member states. But Taiwan is closest to home. How will the Venezuela caper impact on China’s leadership, who wants Taiwan re-united with the
mainland? An armed conflict in a Taiwan take-over by China would affect the Philippines, particularly our 180,000 citizens who work and reside there. The answer to our fears will be written between now and 2028, so close and yet so far. Far enough because it’s two years down the road; close enough because events will gallop in this Year of the Fire Horse, as it has already been precipitated by Trump’s kidnap of Maduro.
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Trump now threatens Colombia, Cuba, even backdoor Mexico and far-away Greenland of Denmark Will Xi Jinping, having been given template by Trump, annex Taiwan this year, or next year, the hundredth anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army? If might is right trumps the rules-based international order violated by its self-proclaimed proponent, then Xi has been given green light to fulfill his pledge of incorporating “renegade” Taiwan into the mainland. But do not mistake that 2027 timeline as cast in stone. It makes for sentimental reason, nothing more. Xi, after all is a Snake, which chooses the perfect time to strike, and patience is in the Han genetic make-up. Remember Mao Zedong’s “one step backward, two steps forward”? Xi need not even step backward. He can just wait. Close enough or distant yet, 2028, the Year of the Metal Monkey, is better awaited before China resolves its Taiwan issue. By May of 2028, Lai Ching-te shall either begin to serve a second term, or a Kuomintang-TPP common candidate, “friendlier” with the mainland, shall have taken over Taiwan leadership. Why would China risk an expensive adventure just to fulfill a PLA milestone when it can wait for developments in a year? Why will it rain fire upon a highly developed Taiwan and kill many of its Han cousins when patience could achieve acceptable modus vivendi?
Beyond ‘it is what it is’
P
EOPLE normally say “It is what it is” when referring to an occurrence, practice, or phenomenon that must be endured or tolerated because it is inevitable. It comes with the territory, so to speak.
This comes to mind as we learn about a recent Pulse Asia survey which showed 94% of its respondents saying that corruption is widespread. In fact, 71 percent said corruption is “very” widespread, and 24 percent said “somewhat” widespread. Just 1 percent said corruption is not widespread, with another 5 percent unable to say whether it is widespread or not. Another item in the December 12-15, 2025 nationwide survey was prompted by the question: “Corruption is a normal part of politics in our country.” On this, Filipinos were split: some 41 percent of respondents nationwide agreed with the statement, even as 43 percent disagreed. Another 17 percent cannot say whether they agreed or not. But the divergence widens when one considers geographic areas. In the National Capital Region, 50 percent agree while 33 percent disagree. In Balance Luzon and Visayas, those who agree are 45 percent and 48 percent, respectively, while those who disagree make up 40 percent and 36 percent of respondents, respectively. Mindanao, however, tells a different story: just 21 percent agree that corruption is par for the course, and 58 percent disagree. The divergence is also apparent among socio-economic classes, with 29 percent, 43 percent, and 39 percent of classes C, D, and E, respectively,
FOR many Filipino families today, the state of the economy is measured by their buying power, or its limits. It is felt in the price of rice at the palengke, the fewer items in a grocery bag, and the anxious calculations made before every market trip. Long before inflation becomes a headline, it is already a daily reckoning at home. When surveys ask Filipinos what matters most, the answers are rooted in the simple struggle to get by. The latest Pulse Asia surveys put numbers to these lived realities. In two separate surveys conducted in December, Filipinos were asked different questions, yet their answers pointed to the same concerns. In the Stratbase-commissioned survey, respondents were asked what government leaders must primarily do to address concerns in their communities. The top response, cited by 38 percent nationwide, was to ensure more affordable food prices such as rice, meat, and fish. Reducing corruption ranked second, followed by the need to create jobs and improve access to education and healthcare. In a concurrent Pulse Asia survey on the country’s most urgent national concerns, controlling inflation topped the list at 59 percent. Once again, corruption in government followed closely at 48 percent, ahead of concerns about wages and poverty. The questions were framed differently, but the message was consistent. Food prices and inflation sit at the center of people’s economic anxiety, with corruption seen as a major factor that worsens the burden. What makes these findings striking is how broadly they cut across society. Everyone feels it. A salaried employee notices it when the same grocery budget buys fewer items. Daily wage earners feel it more sharply, when there is nothing left to stretch. A trip to the market has become an exercise in restraint. You walk in knowing what you need, but
leave with only what you can afford, already frustrated about what will have to wait. For ordinary consumers, inflation is not about interest rates or macroeconomic indicators. It is about rice, fish, vegetables, cooking oil, and meat. It is about incomes no longer keeping pace with everyday expenses. While food prices and inflation rank as the highest concern, corruption remains deeply troubling for nearly half of respondents. This suggests that people do not see inflation and corruption as separate problems. They understand, intuitively, that inefficiencies, abuse of power, and weak enforcement often show up in higher prices, unstable supply, and wasted public resources.
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A trip to the market has become an exercise in restraint When people talk about corruption, they are not only talking about scandals or headlines. They are talking about how corruption quietly makes daily life harder and more expensive. In this context, economic growth figures ring hollow if households continue to feel poorer with every payday. For most Filipinos, recovery is about whether tomorrow’s prices will be manageable, whether today’s budget will still make sense next month, and whether the system feels fair enough to trust. The surveys carry a firm message to policymakers. Filipinos are looking for results, not rhetoric. They are tired of theatrics and sweeping promises. They are asking for relief that can be seen and felt. Government policies matter only to the
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What are we prepared to do to make a dent on this prevalent ill? Given seven options to choose from, the highest number of respondents (74 percent) said accepting or giving bribes is a corrupt act, whether it occurs in a public or private setting. Misusing public funds or company resources was cited by 66 percent, and offering or receiving kickbacks for contracts or services was chosen by 64 percent. These numbers reflect the sustained sentiment of Filipinos who, in the past six months, have been exposed to the breadth and depth of corruption in the government, beginning with the rev-
Discipline, not defiance, sustains the Republic By Jose Antonio Goitia
The crisis Filipinos feel
agreeing with the statement. In contrast, 51 percent, 43 percent and 28 percent of C, D, and E, respectively, disagree with the prompt. This question is but one of several posed by the poll firm in its face-toface interviews with 1,200 individuals across the nation. The other questions looked into the specific actions people considered corrupt, the prevalence of corruption, and whether or not it increased or decreased in the past 12 months.
elations on flood control projects. More importantly, the number highlights the disparity between how things are and how things could be. The perception of a high prevalence of corruption shows that people are more aware than ever how socalled public servants are using their positions to pocket funds from taxpayers. But the percentage of those who do not agree that corruption is necessarily part of politics is much lower; in fact, it is just half of those who say corruption is widespread. To be sure, the number of those who say corruption is part of politics could be lower, ideally. Perhaps the respondents were simply being realistic. Thus, we can say “it is what it is” when talking about corruption: that it is happening all around us, and to a less extent, that it is part of public life. But it need not be so. The question is, what are we prepared to do to make a dent on this prevalent ill? Perhaps this would be going against their essence for many public officials who have grown accustomed to milking the public coffers for their benefit. But it is a worthy pursuit for those who are here out of a genuine desire to serve. They will introduce reforms and will not stop at mere rhetoric. They will see these reforms through. As for the people, who have the highest stakes in all this, and whose future is being compromised, we should capitalize on our strong sentiment and reject the notion that corruption is acceptable, tolerable, or inevitable. An honest government is possible, but are we willing to put in the work required to have it?
WHEN an active-duty officer like Colonel Audie A. Mongao publicly withdraws his support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the conversation inevitably turns to freedom of expression. However, as someone who has spent years studying and advocating for the integrity of our democratic institutions, I must be clear: the issue here is not about the right to speak, but the responsibility of the position held. In a democracy, dissent is a right of citizens, but it is not a privilege afforded to armed officers in uniform. The moment a soldier speaks politically in public, the institutional neutrality of our Armed Forces is placed at risk. This distinction is not merely theoretical; it is the vital friction that prevents individual judgment from overriding the discipline necessary to keep our republic stable. The Question of Timing We must look at the context, as it sharpens the issue. On Jan. 9, Colonel Mongao publicly withdrew his support. Just two days prior, on Jan. 7, a mass oath-taking for newly promoted generals was held. Colonel Mongao’s name was absent from that list. This sequence invites an unavoidable and uncomfortable question: was this a sudden act of moral principle, or was it a final protest after being passed over for promotion? When personal dissatisfaction is recast as a moral verdict against civilian leadership, it doesn’t strengthen the nation – it weakens the very constitutional order the military is sworn to protect. Authority and the Constitution The authority of the President as Comextent that they translate into lower prices, stable supply of basic goods, fair market conditions, and governance free from corruption. Recent efforts to boost agricultural productivity, improve buffer stocks, expand rice programs, and strengthen consumer protection directly respond to these concerns. But public trust will depend on execution. Policy directives alone do not lower prices. Enforcement does. Fixing inefficiencies in food distribution does. Preventing hoarding, price manipulation, and market abuse does. Ensuring that public funds are not lost to
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These are the facts, and they do not support claims of a “moral collapse” within the leadership. Accountability and Humanity I commend the military leadership for acting with both clarity and restraint. Mongao has been removed from his post and is under investigation for administrative and legal accountability. Yet, simultaneously, the command has reached out to him to offer emotional support. This is how a healthy institution functions. Strength in the Armed Forces comes from firm rules enforced without theatrics. Accountability and compassion are
equally required of leadership, and this balance reflects an institution enforcing discipline without abandoning humanity. The Uniform is Not a Platform History – particularly our own – has taught us a harsh lesson: republics weaken when discipline yields to personal grandstanding within the ranks. We must remember that the uniform is not a platform; it is a responsibility. When officers act as political commentators, they gamble with the credibility of the entire institution. Criticism of governance belongs in the civilian space, among the people and their representatives. Military restraint is not a sign of silence or weakness; it is a profound act of service to the state. A Call for Perspective This episode calls for perspective, not provocation. Our democracy endures not through defiance or the public airing of personal grievances by those tasked with our defense, but through the quiet, steadfast discipline of those who understand their role in a constitutional republic. The Philippines remains strongest when our institutions operate within their limits. We must ensure it stays that way. (The writer holds a master’s in national security administration and a doctorate in philosophy. He serves as Chairman Emeritus of four civic-oriented organizations: Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya , People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms, Liga Independencia Pilipinas), and Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement, where he advocates for truth, stability, and the dignity of the Filipino people).
corruption does. There is also an emotional cost to prolonged price pressures that surveys only hint at. Rising food prices wear people down. They create a constant level of stress that shapes daily decisions and long-term outlooks, slowly eroding confidence not just in markets, but in institutions meant to protect consumers. Filipinos are not asking for miracles. They are asking for fairness, stability, and predictability. They want to know that the system is not quietly stacked against them, and that some-
one is paying attention to how policies play out on the ground. Taken together, the survey findings send a clear and urgent signal. Inflation is the people’s top concern. Food affordability is their top priority. Any serious governance agenda must begin with that reality and return to it repeatedly. At the end of the day, the question is not complicated: are prices going down, or at least holding steady, and are families breathing a little easier? Until the answer is yes, everything else is just background noise.
mander-in-Chief does not hinge on the personal approval of individual officers, regardless of their rank or tenure. That authority flows from the Constitution and the sovereign mandate of the Filipino people. Moral authority is not something one simply announces in a social media post. It is vested by law, sustained by our institutions, and judged by history. Under the current administration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has remained professional, apolitical, and Constitutionally anchored.
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In a democracy, dissent is a right of citizens, but it is not a privilege afforded to armed officers in uniform
Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Joyce Pangco Pañares Managing Editor Virgilio DC Galvez News Editor Miguel Gil City Editor
Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Aytch dela Cruz Online Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer
Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board
WORLD
A6
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Fresh protests in Iran amid internet coma PARIS – Anti-government chants filled the streets of Iran’s capital during the weekend, as protesters pressed the biggest movement against the Islamic republic in more than three years despite a deadly crackdown under cover of an internet blackout. The two weeks of demonstrations have posed one of the biggest challenges to the theocratic authorities who have ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, although supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has expressed defiance and blamed the United States. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday his country was “ready to help” the movement, a day after warning Iran was in “big trouble” and reiterating that he could order new military action after Washington backed and joined Israel’s 12-day war against the Islamic republic in June. “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. The demonstrations sparked by severe economic pressures have swelled and turned to ousting the clerical authorities. Crowds gathered again on Saturday in the north of the Iranian capital, setting off fireworks and banging pots as they shouted slogans in support of the ousted monarchy, according to video verified by AFP. Videos shared on social media that AFP could not immediately verify independently showed demonstrations in other parts of the capital where protesters shouted anti-government slogans. AFP
INVASION FEARS. This combination of pictures created in Berlin on Jan. 6, 2026 shows Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (left, in Copenhagen on Oct. 1, 2025), Greenland’s Head of Government Jens-Frederik Nielsen (right, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Oct. 8, 2025) and (small pictures in the middle, clockwise, from top left) Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez,, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starme. This week they underlined their support for Denmark after US President Donald Trump again voiced designs on its autonomous Arctic territory of Greenland. European leaders said sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders were ;universal principles, and we will not stop defending them.’ AFP
Scores of Australian homes razed S
YDNEY – Bushfires have razed hundreds of buildings across southeast Australia, authorities said Sunday, as they confirmed the first death from the disaster. Temperatures soared past 40C as a heatwave blanketed the state of Victoria, sparking dozens of blazes that ripped through more than 300,000 hectares combined. Fire crews tallied the damage as conditions eased on Sunday. A day earlier, authorities had declared a state of dis-
aster. Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said over 300 buildings had burned to the ground, a figure that includes sheds and other structures on rural properties. More than 70 houses had been destroyed, he said, alongside huge swathes
of farming land and native forest. “We’re starting to see some of our conditions ease,” he told reporters. “And that means firefighters are able to start getting on top of some of the fires that we still have in our landscape.” Police said one person had died in a bushfire near the town of Longwood, about two hours’ drive north of state capital Melbourne. “This really takes all the wind out of our sails,” said Chris Hardman from Forest Fire Management Victoria. “We really feel for the local com-
munity there and the family, friends and loved ones of the person that is deceased,” he told national broadcaster ABC. Photos taken this week showed the night sky glowing orange as the fire near Longwood tore through bushland. “There were embers falling everywhere. It was terrifying,” cattle farmer Scott Purcell told ABC. Another bushfire near the small town of Walwa crackled with lightning as it radiated enough heat to form a localized thunderstorm. AFP
IN BRIEF Myanmar votes in 2nd phase of junta-run election N. Korea demands US urges fresh talks between Syria, Kurds ALEPPO, Syria – The United States and the European Union urged during the weekend the Syrian government and Kurdish authorities to return to negotiations after days of deadly clashes in the northern city of Aleppo. Conflicting reports emerged from the city, as authorities announced a halt to the fighting and said they had begun transferring Kurdish fighters out of Aleppo, but Kurdish forces denied the claims shortly after. An AFP correspondent saw at least five buses on Saturday carrying men leaving the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsud district, accompanied by security forces. While the authorities said they were fighters, the Kurdish forces insisted they were “civilians who were forcibly displaced”. AFP could not independently verify the men’s identities. Another correspondent saw at least six buses entering the neighborhood and leaving without anyone on board, with relative calm in the area. AFP
KAWHMU – Myanmar’s junta opened polls on Sunday in the second phase of elections, continuing a vote democracy watchdogs say is letting the military prolong its rule in a civilian guise. The armed forces have ruled Myanmar for most of its post-independence history, before a decade-long democratic thaw saw civilians take the reins in a burst of reform. But the military snatched back power in a 2021 coup, voiding the results of the previous election, detaining democratic figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi and plunging Myanmar into civil war.
Polls opened at 6:00 am Sunday (2330 GMT Saturday) in Suu Kyi’s former constituency of Kawhmu, around 25 kilometers south of Yangon city, AFP journalists saw. Farmer Than Than Sint acknowledged the country’s “many problems”, telling AFP she voted to fulfil her civic duty and wanted peace in Myanmar. “We know it will not come right away. But we need to go step-by-step for our future generations,” the 54-year-old said after exiting a polling station at a primary school in Kawhmu. “I think things will be better after the
election,” she added. After ruling by force for five years, the junta has pledged the three-phase election, due to end on January 25, will return power to the people. But the Union Solidarity and Development Party -- described by many analysts as the military’s prime proxy -- won nearly 90 percent of lower house seats in the first phase late last month. With Suu Kyi sidelined and her massively popular party dissolved, democracy advocates say the vote has been rigged by a ballot stacked with military allies and a crackdown on dissent. AFP
Deposed Maduro loyalists stage modest rally CARACAS, Venezuela – Supporters of Venezuela’s deposed leader Nicolas Maduro staged protests Saturday (Sunday, Manila time), a week after his dramatic capture by US forces, but only hundreds turned out to demand his release as the interim government moved to revive ties with Washington. Waving flags and placards with the face of the mustachioed ex-leader and his wife Cilia, around 1,000 protesters rallied in the west of Caracas and a few hundred in the eastern Petare district -- far smaller than demonstrations Maduro’s camp has mustered in the past. “I’ll march as often as I have to until Nicolas and Cilia come back,” said one demonstrator, Soledad Rodriguez, 69, of the presidential couple who were taken by US forces to New York to face trial on drug-trafficking charges. “I trust blindly that they will come back — they have been kidnapped.” AFP
Nicaragua frees ‘tens’ of political prisoners SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Nicaragua’s authoritarian government said Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) it had freed “tens” of detainees, following US pressure and a week after American forces seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, a close Managua ally. “Tens of people who were in the national penitentiary system have gone home to their families,” the government said in a statement published online, calling it a gesture to commemorate 19 years of rule by President Daniel Ortega, 80. On Friday, the US embassy in Nicaragua posted a statement on X that hailed a promised release of political prisoners in Venezuela. It said that in Nicaragua, however, “more than 60 people remain unjustly detained or disappeared.” “Peace is only possible with freedom!” the embassy said. AFP
‘ENGINEERED’ POLLS. People’s Party members walk past sign boards for the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (White Tiger Party) as they campaign ahead of the second phase of Myanmar’s general election in Yangon last Tuesday. Myanmar’s dominant pro-military party won the first phase of junta-run elections, the last released official results showed on Monday, with the USDP taking nearly 90 percent of lower house seats. Overall results are due after the vote’s third and final phase scheduled for Jan. 25. AFP
‘explanation’from Seoul over drones
SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister has demanded a detailed “explanation” from Seoul over a drone it accused South Korea of flying over its territory, state media reported Sunday. The North alleged on Saturday that the craft crossed from the South Korean border county of Ganghwa into the North Korean city of Kaesong in early January, and released photos of wreckage from the drone it claimed to have shot down. Seoul rejected the allegation, with its defense ministry saying the drone was not a model operated by its military. “Fortunately, the ROK’s military expressed an official stand that it was not done by itself and that it has no intention to provoke or irritate us,” Kim Yo Jong said, using South Korea’s official name in a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. “But a detail [sic] explanation should be made about the actual case of a drone that crossed the southern border of our Republic,” she said, according to KCNA. In response to the North’s accusation, Seoul’s military said its own investigation had revealed it does not “possess the unmanned aerial vehicle in question, nor did it operate any unmanned aerial vehicles at the time and date specified by North Korea”. President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday ordered a “swift and rigorous investigation” by a joint military-police investigative team. On the possibility that civilians operated the drone, Lee said: “If true, it is a serious crime that threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and national security.” But Kim said she did not care whether it was a military or civilian drone, saying “that is not the one (detail) we want to know”. AFP
Rallies across US after woman, 37, shot, killed by immigration agent MINNEAPOLIS – Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Minneapolis on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) chanting the name of the woman killed by a federal agent in the city, amid widespread anger at use of force in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Organizers said more than 1,000 events were planned across the United States under the slogan “ICE, Out for Good” -- referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency that is drawing growing opposition over its execution of President Donald Trump’s effort at mass deportations. The slogan is also a reference to Renee Good, the 37-year-old mother shot dead in her car by an ICE agent on Wednesday. Thousands braved frigid weather and streamed toward a snow-covered park to mobilize near the scene of the shooting. They carried signs demanding “ICE OUT” of Minnesota. At the start of the protest, a voice called
out, “Say her name!” The crowd shouted back: “Renee Good!” Her death has sparked strong emotions in this Democratic stronghold, and across the nation. “We got ICE shooting women in the face for self-defense. It doesn’t make any sense,” said Alex Vega, a protester in Boston. “Let them come around here with that, and let’s see what’s really going to happen to ICE.” In Philadelphia, protesters marched in the rain from City Hall to the ICE field office. Others mobilized in New York, Washington and Boston, with the gatherings drawing dozens to hundreds of demonstrators. More protests were planned for Sunday. The calls to protest were being amplified by the “No Kings” movement, a network of left-wing organizations that mounted nationwide demonstrations against Trump last year. AFP
‘SENSELESS SHOOT.’ A person holds up a sign during a protest in Los Angeles,
California during the weekend against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.An ICE agent shot and killed Good on the streets of Minneapolis on Thursday, leading to huge protests and outrage from local leaders who rejected White House claims she was a domestic terrorist. AFP
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SPORTS
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
Svitolina powers to Auckland title in Aussin Open tennis warm-up AUCKLAND—Top seed Elena Svitolina powered to a straight-sets victory over China’s Wang Xinyu in the Auckland Classic final Sunday in an impressive display just a week before the Australian Open. Ukraine’s Svitolina won 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) for a 19th career title in a battle between two baseline specialists which featured only one service break. The world number 13 reached the quarter-finals at Melbourne a year ago, the third time she had made the Australian Open last eight. Svitolina, 31, was playing her first tournament in four months after choosing to finish the 2025 season early for mental health reasons.
“It definitely feels amazing to win another title and especially after not a very pleasant end of year for me,” Svitolina said. “That break really helped me to regroup and come back with new energy.” The former world number three’s has a remarkable record in WTA finals, having won 19 times in her 23 appearances. It was just the second time for 24-year-old seventh seed Wang had reached a final. The 57th-ranked player is recovering from injury disruptions over the last two years, having qualified her maiden final on grass in Berlin last year. AFP
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina reacts after a point against China’s Wang Xinyu during the women’s singles final at the WTA Auckland Classic tennis tournament in Auckland. AFP
PH to host Asian Under-19 Sepak Takraw Championship By Peter Atencio
Dennis Schroder vs Luka Doncic
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HE Philippines will host the Asian Under-19 Sepak Takraw Championship 2026.
Philippine Sepak Takraw Association (PASTAI) chief Karen Tanchanco-Caballero said this after they signed of a letter of agreement with the Asian federation last month. Caballero said the agreement granted the PASTAI the mandate to organize and stage the continental youth this November. She added they are planning to hold the event at the historic Rizal Memorial Colliseum. Hosting the championship seeks to bring together the region’s young and promising athletes from many nations. Around 10 to 12 Asian nations are expected to send entries, said Caballero. Hosting the event will be done in close collaboration with the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission. The event is seen as a milestone which will strengthen Asia’s longterm athlete development pathway in the sport.
The tournament also aims to provide a structured transition from grassroots and youth programs to senior elite competitions.
Karen Tanchanco-Caballero
NBA suspends Kings’Schroder over off-court altercation with Doncic LOS ANGELES—Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder has been suspended three games by the NBA for “confronting and attempting to strike another player,” the league said Saturday. The NBA said in a release that the incident occurred some 40 minutes after the Kings’ 125-101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on December 28 at Crypto. com Arena. There, the league said, “Schroder sought out the player in an arena hallway and initiated the confrontation.”
The league didn’t identify the opposing player, but multiple US media outlets reported it was Luka Doncic, who had exchanged heated words with Schroder during the game. Germany’s Schroder will begin serving his suspension on Sunday when the Kings host the Houston Rockets. He will also miss a rematch with the Lakers and a game against the New York Kicks. Schroder, 32, is averaging 13.0 points, 5.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 31 games this season. AFP
Bears banish Packers, Rams survive Panthers’ playoff scare LOS ANGELES—Caleb Williams fired the Chicago Bears to a madcap win over their bitter foes Green Bay on Saturday, storming back from an 18-point deficit to eliminate the Packers 31-27 on the first day of the NFL playoffs. Already renowned for their dramatic comebacks this season, the Bears managed 25 points in the fourth quarter alone, including DJ Moore’s decisive touchdown with less than two minutes remaining. Quarterback Williams threw 361 yards for two touchdowns, and two interceptions, handing the Bears their first playoff win since 2011 and sparking ecstatic scenes at Chicago’s Soldier Field. “We understand that it’s 60 minutes of football. We understand and know who we are. We understand what this means to the city,” said Williams. The NFC wild-card clash was the bitter rivals’ third battle in the past five weeks. But with the stakes higher than ever, the Bears got off to an atrocious start. Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes in an utterly dominant first half, finding Christian
Watson, Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs for a 21-3 lead. The Bears improved markedly in the second half. Early in the fourth quarter, a D’Andre Swift rushing touchdown closed the gap to five points. After Love hurled his fourth passing touchdown to Matthew Golden, Williams set up a tense finish, finding Olamide Zaccheaus for a late TD. And a 25-yard toss to DJ Moore secured the lead, with less than two minutes remaining. It was Chicago’s first win in a playoff game since 2011, extending a resurgent season under rookie head coach Ben Johnson. “You keep going, you keep fighting, and when the clock hits zero, you’ll look up and see who wins,” said Williams. ‘Big-time catch’ Earlier on Saturday, the Los Angeles Rams barely avoided a stunning upset, edging Carolina 34-31 after the Panthers threatened a dramatic comeback. Fighting through a finger injury that appeared to impair his passing, quarterback Matthew Stafford threw
a game-saving touchdown to Colby Parkinson in the final minute to spare the Caleb Williams Rams’ blushes and advance to the divisional round. “Obviously had some mistakes along the way... but we found a way to win it late,” said 37-year-old Stafford, who threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns in the wild-card playoff. “Colby made a big-time catch,” added the relieved signal-caller, of the game’s decisive play. The Rams had entered what proved an unpredictable and error-strewn clash as overwhelming favorites against a Carolina team that reached the playoffs despite finishing the regular season with an 8-9 losing record. And the Los Angeles franchise started with surgical precision. Star wide receiver Puka Nacua caught one touchdown and rushed for another, securing an early 14-0 lead. AFP
Veteran coach Sauler named Gilas Youth head coach THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announces the designation of coach Juno Sauler as Gilas Pilipinas Youth Men’s team head coach. He has over 30 years of experience in basketball coaching ranging from youth, high school, collegiate, to professional levels. Sauler has won five PBA championships as an assistant coach, while he has won four UAAP titles as head coach, three in the women’s and one in the men’s division. While he has been coaching at the top level for the past years, Sauler has stayed connected to the grassroots development of basketball in the Philippines. He has been an advocate of not employing the Zone Defense in Youth competitions to help teach younger basketball players about fundamentals and defensive concepts at a young age. Through this advocacy, Sauler has traveled all over the Philippines and connected with different regions, which will be critical in his new role. Currently serving as an assistant coach in the PBA for the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots as well as assistant coach for the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in the UAAP, Sauler takes over from the Magnolia’s head coach in LA Tenorio, who will stay with the Youth program as an Adviser. “The SBP welcomes coach Juno into the Gilas Pilipinas Youth Men’s team and thank coach LA Tenorio for his stint as head coach,” said SBP President Ricky Vargas. “Coach Juno brings a wealth of experience and deep connections nationwide that will help him put together the best team possible.” Sauler will now be tasked to lay the groundwork for the team in close coordination with the SBP’s Talent Identification and Grassroots Development Program led by coach Norman Black. It will be a busy year immediately with the 2026 SEABA Under-18 Championship coming up. The top two finishers from SEABA will qualify for the FIBA Under-18 Asia Cup and the top four teams from that tournament will book a ticket to the 2027 FIBA Basketball Under-19 World Cup.
SPORTS
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RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor
Games on Wednesday (Filoil EcoOil Centre)
8 a.m. - UST vs DLSZ (Girls) 10 a.m. - NUNS vs DLSZ (Boys) 12 p.m. - AdU vs UPIS (Boys) 2 p.m. - UST vs UE (Boys) 4 p.m. - FEU-D vs Ateneo (Boys)
NUNS’ Zane Singson glides a basket against three defenders as the Lady Bullpups roared to a record 126-point demolition of the Ateneo belles in the UAAP Season 88 Girls’ Basketball Tournament.
Lady Bullpups start redemption goal with record 126-point win N
ATIONAL University Nazareth School (NUNS) roared into the UAAP Season 88 Girls’ Basketball Tournament, starting their redemption bid with a historic 155-29 demolition of Ateneo de Manila University on Sunday morning at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. The 126-point victory shattered the record for the largest winning margin in UAAP girls’ basketball history, eclipsing the previous 124-point mark set by the defending champions, University of Santo Tomas, against Ateneo on February 16, 2025 (a 170-46 win). Clearly focused on bouncing back from their Season 87 runner-up finish,
the Lady Bullpups immediately announced their title intentions. Inday Sales and Aubrey Lapasaran led the dominant effort against the Blue Eagles, with Sales pacing a remarkably balanced attack. Ten different Lady Bullpups scored in double figures, highlighted by Sales’ all-around stat line of 19 points, six as-
sists, three rebounds, and one steal. Sales paced a balanced attack that saw 10 Lady Bullpups score in double figures, finishing with 19 points, six assists, three rebounds, and one steal. Lapasaran added 15 points, eight steals, four assists, and three rebounds as NUNS handed new head coach Ai Lebornio a winning debut at the UAAP girls’ basketball level. Lebornio previously handled the University of the East women’s basketball team before taking over the Lady Bullpups program from former head coach Camilla Escoto. “It’s a blessing sa team at para sa amin.
MARC Burgos and Cabs Cabonilas joined forces in the clutch, willing Far Eastern University past defending champion University of Santo Tomas in thrilling fashion, 82-78, to open its title bid in the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. Burgos drained the go-ahead layup with 35.2 seconds remaining before Cabonilas showed nerves of steel at the charity stripe, drilling three of his four free throw attempts to seal the hard-fought triumph and hand new head coach Mike Reyes — a twotime UAAP juniors champion with Ateneo in seasons 57 (1994) and 59 (1996) — a winning debut. “Satisfied ako dahil we pulled it through even if UST got the lead nung dulo. Masaya ako na the players were able to get back the lead. Those baskets we got were their decisions within the offense. Sila nag-decide niyan kasi we work on our decision making. Satisfied ako,” Reyes said. In the other game, Nigerian center Jude Eriobu made an immediate impact, tallying 28 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks, and one steal as Ateneo de Manila University outlasted University of the East, 91-84, to give new head coach Bacon Austria a triumphant start. Trailing 57-62 after three quarters, the Tiger Cubs opened the payoff period with a 13-4 run — highlighted by three consecutive triples from Dustin Bathan, skipper Kirk Canete, and Jetlee Melano — to grab a slim 70-66 lead with 4:47 remaining. FEU slowly clawed its way back as Cabonilas delivered key inside baskets, while JB Cagurungan knocked down two crucial triples to take a 77-76 advantage with 1:06 left on the clock. Melano responded with a contested layup to reclaim a 78-77 lead with 54.9 seconds remaining, but Burgos and Cabonilas — key holdovers from the Baby Tamaraws’ Season 87 squad — delivered down the stretch to spoil the Tiger Cubs’ title defense opener.
Eala joins Kooyong Classic ahead of Aussie Open
Keys draws on happy Adelaide memories before defense of title ADELAIDE—Madison Keys was relishing being back on her happy hunting ground in Adelaide on Sunday, where a year ago her run to first Grand Slam title all began. The American swept to the 2025 Adelaide International trophy and it sparked her run to an Australian Open triumph, won in an epic final against Aryna Sabalenka at Melbourne Park. “It definitely helped a lot,” the 30-year-old American told reporters on the eve of the WTA Adelaide event. Keys also won in 2022 on her only other appearance in the South Australia city, and thinks that is a good omen for her Australian Open preparation. “Twice before I’ve played Adelaide and I ended up making the semis of the Australian Open. And then last year obviously I went deep,” said Keys, the world number seven. The Australian Open is just a week away and Keys is taking only positives from her defeat to Sabalenka at the season-opening Brisbane International last week. “You want matches at the beginning of the season. You really want to test yourself,” said Keys, who has a first-round bye in Adelaide. “Getting as many good matches as possible helps you figure out what’s working, what’s not working, where to make some tweaks here or there. “It also gives you a lot of confidence and momentum.” Keys is now the top seed in Adelaide after fellow American Jessica Pegula pulled out following her run to the semi-final in Brisbane on Saturday. “Pegula was originally the number one seed this week, but withdrew after the draw was made due to a change of schedule,” the WTA said. AFP
Noong pumunta naman kami dito, sinabi naman namin sa mga bata na we’ll play hard kasi this season, subukan ulit [magchampion]. Last season, masakit pa sa kanila na hindi nakuha. Ngayon, dreamers yung mga bata na makuha namin this year,” Lebornio said. “Hindi naman namin makukuha ‘yon kung hindi namin pagdadaanan lahat. Excited kami at excited ako to coach yung mga players na ito kasi since nung dumating ako, yung pagwelcome ng mga bata at kung paano sila maglaro at naghanda, hindi naging madali, kaya excited ako sa ipapakita nila ngayong season.”
Baby Tams defeat Tiger Cubs in junior cage opener
By Peter Atencio
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in action in New Zealand. AFP
FILIPINA tennis sensation Alexandra Eala is set to compete in the 2026 Kooyong Classic, an exhibition tournament slated from January 13 to 15, 2026, at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne, Australia. This is a lead-up event for top players preparing for the Australian Open, including Eala, whose world ranking is expected to go up this week following her three singles’ victories at the recent ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, where she made it to the semifinals. The 20-year-old Eala, who is set to make her main draw debut at the Australian Open, is part of a prestigious women’s field, which will also have 2024 Wimbledon semifinalist Donna Vekic, local player Priscilla Hon, and multi-tiled Grand Slam mixed doubles champion Daniela Hantuchova. Eala is expected to claim a new career-high in the Women’s Tennis Association live rankings of 49th place. In her semis match on Saturday in Auckland, Eala fell to China’s Wang Xinyu in a tough three-set match, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6. Considered as a rising star in the WTA Tour, Eala was looking to win another title for the Philippines. The clash, which nearly took almost three hours to finish, had an inform Wang breaking serve twice en route to a 4-0 lead in the third set. Eala went on to earn $12,331 or P731,178.98 and 98 points in her third semifinals appearance in the WTA Tour.
From heartbreak to resolve, Van der Valk reloads for TCC Invit’l DRIVEN by unfinished business, Guido van der Valk returns to The Country Club Invitational with redemption firmly on his mind, seeking a third championship when the premier event unwraps on Jan. 27 at the demanding TCC course in Canlubang. “It’s always great to play the TCC Invitational, and anytime you tee it up here, you want a chance to win,” said van der Valk, a two-time champion whose familiarity with the course’s subtleties has long been one of his greatest strengths. At 45, however, the Dutchman is keenly aware that opportunities like this do not come endlessly – especially with a new wave of younger, longer-hitting players surging through the Philippine Golf Tour, joined by battletested international campaigners. “I don’t have many years left to win it,” he admitted candidly. “So winning a third TCC Invitational would really be a dream.”
That dream came agonizingly close to reality last year. Van der Valk appeared poised to carve his name deeper into the tournament’s storied history, holding a twostroke lead with just one hole to play. But the TCC, notorious for punishing even the smallest lapse in execution or focus, bared its teeth. A rare late stumble sent him into sudden death, where he eventually bowed to first-time champion Minwook Gwon of Korea. “Last year was tough for me,” van der Valk reflected. “My dad had just passed away, and emotionally, I was going through a lot. Honestly, I was surprised to even be in contention.” Yet if that final-hole heartbreak lingered, it has since been transformed into fuel. Entering the P6-million championship, which also serves as the kickoff event of the 2026 Philippine Golf Tour season, van der Valk arrives with renewed purpose, clarity and belief.
Guido van der Valk
BUSINESS
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MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
PSE expects P175b in capital raising P175 billion Capital-raising forecast for 2026
P140 billion Capital raised from stock market in 2025
12%
By Jenniffer B. Austria
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HE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSEC) expects capital-raising activities to reach P175 billion this year, a 25 percent increase from P140 billion in 2025, supported by high-profile listings and regulatory reforms. PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon told reporters he expects four companies to go public this year. These include PNB Holdings Inc, which will list by way of introduction, and the much-anticipated initial public offering (IPO) of e-wallet giant GCash. Monzon said GCash may file its application soon, but noted the company is waiting for proposed amendments to public float requirements to be finalized.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plans to reduce the minimum initial public ownership for large companies to 12 percent from 20 percent. “I think GCash will file soon, maybe not in the first quarter,” Monzon said. The market outlook remains positive as several brokerage houses forecast a conducive environment for listings. The benchmark index gained nearly 300 points to reach the 6,348 level on
MB MEMBER.
Planned minimum public ownership
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor and Monetary Board (MB) chairman Eli Remolona Jr. (left) administers the oath of office of Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick Go as MB member in a ceremony at the BSP head office in Manila on Jan. 8, 2026. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. designated Go as Cabinet representative to BSP’s policy-making body. He takes over the post held by former DOF Secretary and now Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. Other MB members are Benjamin Diokno, Romeo Bernardo, Rosalia De Leon, Jose Querubin and Walter Wassmer.
DOTr awards rail master plan to Asian venture By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Transportation awarded an $11.98-million contract to a joint venture of South Korean and Japanese consultancy firms to develop a master plan for the country’s railway system. The DOTr, in a notice of award, granted the contract to Dohwa Engineering Co. Ltd. and Nippon Koei Co. Ltd. to conduct a feasibility study for the Greater Capital Region Railways. It remains subject to concurrence from the Asian Development Bank and should comply with documentary requirements outlined in the bank’s official development assistance loan procurement guidelines. The master plan aims to connect various projects in Metro Manila including the Light Rail Transit, Metro Rail Transit, Metro Manila Subway, the new Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway, the MRT4 and the NorthSouth Commuter Railway project. The agency earlier said it acquired 90.76 percent of the right-of-way and properties for the Metro Manila Subway as of December 2025. Parallel progress was noted for the North-South Commuter Railway system, where 56 percent of the north segment has been cleared and is ready for construction. The Metro Manila Subway will cut across eight cities stretching from Valenzuela City to FTI-Bicutan in Parañaque City with a spur line to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City. The 33-kilometer and 17-station rail line aims to cut travel time between Quezon City and the airport from 1 hour and 10 minutes to 35 minutes. Once operational, the underground system can service up to 370,000 passengers daily. The North-South Commuter Railway is a flagship project under the “Build Better More” program designed to decongest Metro Manila roads. The network spans 148 kilometers with 37 stations and 464 train cars. It encompasses three segments: PNR Clark Phase 1 from Tutuban to Malolos, PNR Clark Phase 2 from Malolos to Clark and PNR Calamba from Solis to Calamba.
Friday, up from the 6,052.92 close in 2025. Monzon, however, warned that addressing corruption is essential for the market to sustain its upward momentum. “The corruption issue has to be resolved. They just have to jail some people as they indicated,” Monzon said. The exchange chief also said the SEC moves to amend real estate investment trust (REIT) rules would encourage more activity. The changes would allow income-generating assets such as data centers, toll roads and cell towers to qualify for listing. The PSE is looking at further reforms to allow more companies to tap the domestic capital market. Only two companies--Top Line Business Development Corp and Maynilad Water Services Inc.—went public last year.
Corruption scandal, weak investment widen jobless rate By Othel V. Campos HIGHER unemployment in November 2025 was led by weakened investor confidence following a corruption scandal linked to flood control projects, according to the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP). While unemployment eased to 4.4 percent in November from 5 percent in October, it rose from 3.2 percent in November 2024, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed. ECOP said employment growth failed to keep pace with the entry of 800,000 to
1 million new graduates and jobseekers into the labor force last year. The employers’ group cited severe weather, geopolitical tensions, higher US tariffs and weaker seasonal hiring as contributing factors, but it maintained the corruption scandal had the primary impact. Investors have adopted a wait-andsee approach amid the allegations and disappointment over the 2026 national budget deliberations. ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. warned that failure to resolve the issue this year could further strain the labor market.
The group said that while the services sector continues to drive job growth, investment-intensive industries such as manufacturing, construction and mining have lagged due to their sensitivity to investor sentiment. The business community continues to work with the government to generate employment through job fairs and partnerships with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to address skills gaps, it said. The group, however, cautioned that sustained job creation remains difficult unless investment activity resumes.
EDUCATIONAL INVESTMENT. Board
of Investments (BOI) industry development services executive director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa delivers an overview of the Corporate Community Partnership for Development (CCPD) and ENvest initiatives. The BOI spearheaded the CCPD and launched the AcademeIndustry Matching (AIM!) GeoMap, a digital platform designed to connect educational institutions with key industry clusters across the Philippines.
The FFCCCII noted that the Philippines recorded 5.24 million international arrivals in the first 11 months of 2025. This figure represents a 2.2-percent decline from the previous year and remains 37 percent below the 2019 pre-pandemic level. Lim said tourism is the economy’s low-hanging fruit and a primary engine for inclusive growth that sustains micro, small and medium enterprises. He noted that the decline acts as a direct blow to the country’s economic health.
By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PHILEXPORT) expects inbound shipments to maintain their growth momentum in 2026 after surpassing the revised 2025 target on the back of the strong performance in the closing months. PHILEXPORT president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said the late-2025 surge in exports provides a firm base for reaching the revised total export target of $134.35 billion in 2026, despite lingering uncertainty in global demand. “Our export performance in the past four months has been encouraging amid generally bearish global conditions. At this pace, we have already exceeded the revised 2025 goods export target of $73.27 billion, contributing to the overall export goal of $129.05 billion,” Ortiz-Luis said. Trade data showed that Philippine merchandise exports grew 14.5 percent year-on-year to $77.4 billion as of endNovember 2025, surpassing the $73.27 billion recorded for the full year in 2024. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque said exports in November 2025 alone climbed 21.3 percent to $6.9 billion, led by electronics, agro-based products and consumer goods. This marked the 11th consecutive month of export growth and the third straight month of double-digit expansion. The DTI said the stronger export performance helped narrow the trade deficit by 9.9 percent as import growth moderated. Electronics exports surged 50.6 percent to $4.2 billion in November, while coconut products rose 27.1 percent to more than $70 million. Banana and pineapple juice exports increased 38.8 percent and 40 percent respectively, with combined earnings of $46 million. Gold exports climbed 50.7 percent to $181.8 million, while machinery and transport equipment grew 29.4 percent to $317 million.
WHAT’S INSIDE?
ACCIONA spending P15b in 2 RE projects
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Rice imports fell in November
Filipino-Chinese business group calls for urgent reforms to revive tourism industry FEDERATION of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) president Victor Lim has called for immediate reforms to revive the Philippine tourism industry, citing a “concerning course” compared to regional neighbors. Lim said while the Philippines possesses unparalleled natural resources, the country is failing to match the robust recovery seen elsewhere in Southeast Asia. He described decisive reform as an urgent economic imperative to protect national well-being.
PH exports expected to sustain growth
The federation identified three primary hurdles including a “hassle factor” caused by congested gateways, uncompetitive visa processes and a fragmented marketing strategy that fails to highlight the country’s culture and cuisine. Lim proposed a national agenda centered on an “ASEAN-competitive” visa regime to match visitor-friendly policies in the region. He also called for a revolution in connectivity to modernize primary airports and improve inter-island travel infrastructure.
The industry leader urged the government to move beyond promoting scenery and instead focus on “The Philippine Experience.” This strategy involves connecting landscapes to living heritage and hospitality to create a more compelling global narrative. The FFCCCII said it stands ready to work with the government to rebuild the sector into a powerhouse for shared prosperity. Lim said that realizing the nation’s potential now demands collective will and swift action.
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SPNEC distances from Solar ng Bayan
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BUSINESS
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
extrastory2000@gmail.com
Spanish firm to spend P15b for RE projects By Alena Mae S. Flores
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PANISH firm ACCIONA Energía is spending P15 billion to complete two renewable energy projects totaling 281 megawatts this year under the fourth round of the Green Energy Auction Program.
Ignacio Domecq, ACCIONA Energía managing director for Southeast Asia, said the company expects to complete the two projects—the 101-megawatt Kalayaan 2 wind farm in Laguna and the 108-MW peak Daanbantayan solar plant in
Cebu—by the end of the year. “In the Philippines, we are currently building two projects under GEA4 scheme. 281 MW in total with a capex of P15 billion,” Domecq said. Both projects were awarded a commercial operations date by the
Department of Energy for December 2026 under a 20-year power supply contract. “Apart from that, we have a pipeline of 1.5 gigawatts of wind and solar PV projects we are developing for future construction,” he said, adding that the company will join future auctions held by the DOE. ACCIONA Energía previously said the GEA-4 award provides longterm certainty for the energy these projects will produce, supporting the Philippines in reaching its renewable energy targets while delivering clean, reliable power to consumers.
The company recently reorganized its partnerships in Southeast Asia to strengthen its position in key markets, such as the Philippines and Thailand, where it holds substantial portfolios and plans to continue expanding. ACCIONA has had a presence in the Philippines since 2016, primarily through its water and infrastructure divisions. It has delivered flagship projects such as the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway and the Putatan II and Laguna Lake water treatment plants. The company’s foundation, acciona.org, has supported rural
and underserved communities in the country since 2021, bringing electricity to areas that previously lacked access. Through collaborations with the Ayala Foundation and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development, acciona.org has reached approximately 3,500 households, small businesses and community centers. ACCIONA Energía describes itself as the world’s largest 100 percent renewable energy company with no fossil legacy. It has 15.1 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity and a presence in 24 countries.
PH market braces for selling pressure amid recent gains By Jenniffer B. Austria THE market may see strong selling pressure this week as investors cash in on gains following a recent run-up. Japhet Tantiangco, research head at Philstocks Financial Inc., said investors may also turn cautious while waiting for catalysts such as updatEs on the situation between the U.S. and Venezuela, clues on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ policy path for 2026 and the movement of the peso against the dollar. “Investors may also take cues from our upcoming foreign direct investments and OFW cash remittances data,” Tantiangco said. Despite the market’s recent rally, analysts said most stocks are still at bargain levels. As of Friday’s closing, the
market is trading at a price-toearnings ratio of 10.6, below its 2020-2024 average of 17.3 and the regional average of 18.9. April Tan, COL Financial research head, said there are still opportunities for investors to enter the market. For 2026, COL Financial expects the index to hit as high as 8,300 in a bull-case scenario. Last week, the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index surged 3.42 percent week-on-week to close at 6,348, while the broader all shares index advanced 2.56 percent to 3,607 Average daily value trading improved to P6.7 billion from the previous week’s average of P4.32 billion. Foreign investors were net buyers with inflows of P2.16 billion.
EMPOWERED EDUCATORS Over 300 participants from Department of Education Sta. Rosa and Calamba complete the Khan Academy Philippines training program in partnership with City Savings Bank on Nov. 28 and Dec. 4, 2025. The initiative aligns with CitySavings’ goal to be the leading mass market bank by providing educators access to Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered resources to enhance learning.
The new baseline: How sustainability is redefining PH-UK Trade GREEN LIGHT
Rhoey Lee Dakis AS Jochen Zeits puts it, “Sustainability is no longer about doing less harm; it is about doing more good.” That line has stayed with me because the more I work in food exports, the more I see it in real life, especially in markets like the United Kingdom. For those who may not know me personally, most of my days are spent on practical things: customers and suppliers, contracts, purchase orders, production and shipping schedules, supply chains, and export documents. For decades, our focus was simple: Is the product good? Is it consistent? Can we ship our orders on time? Is it priced right? Back in the day, that used to be enough. But today? Clearly, it isn’t. With a £240-billion food and beverage industry (UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2025) and nearly 80% of consumers preferring products with clear sustainability commitments (Fenech et al., n.d.), the UK is redefining what it means to be a “competitive” food supplier. The Philippines already grows and produces what the world is looking for: high-quality agricultural products, and other value-added food exports. And with bilateral trade with the UK reaching £3 billion in 2024, according to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), there is definitely room for Philippine exporters to make an even bigger mark. But here’s the reality: sustainability isn’t only a campaign we stick on our labels and promote on our websites. UK buyers want to know the “who” and the “how” behind every product, behind every campaign. Therefore, sustainability has to be “baked” into the DNA of our operation. I’ll be honest. I usually say no to resource-speaker invitations since my days are already packed. Between managing three coconut companies, teaching undergrad and graduate students at DLSU, and travelling with my kids and lovely wife, my hands are full. But something told me this event on PH–UK exchange
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The path forward isn’t just more responsible, it’s sustainable. It is more credible, more resilient, and possibly, more profitable. was different. And it was! This wasn’t just another trade event. After the presentations, meetings, and handshakes, a simple message came through: the UK does want new partners, but only if you can show you are doing things the right way. Quality still matters. But now, more than ever, buyers want quality and sustainably sourced products and they want proof! Not promises. Not brochures. Proof. That has become the new baseline. From spec sheets to stories The biggest change I’ve seen is in the nature of the questions being asked. It used to be technical: “Is the product compliant?” “Is it clean?” “Is it within specs?” Now, it is more visceral: How was this fish caught? What happened to the ocean? Who harvested these? Are they treated fairly? Apparently, it’s not just QA and spec sheets anymore, buyers also need to confirm our stories and make sure every box is “ticked”, including sustainability initiatives. As exporters, we’re feeling the pressure from both sides. On one side, UK consumers want food they can trust. On the other, the regulatory bar, like the UK Environment Act and the Modern Slavery Act are moving higher every year. In the UK market, sustainability is not just a PR thing. It’s being checked! That means we can’t solely focus on our costings and profits anymore. We also need to measure energy use, carbon footprint, labor conditions, waste, and community impact. For exporters, this shows up in very practical ways: chain-of-custody processes, vessel monitoring, labor protections, and environmental safeguards. These are no longer “best practices” for a few large firms; they are becoming normal expectations. When these systems are done right, they do more than satisfy regulators. They reduce risk, improve efficiency, open doors to better markets, and build trust. Four-point checklist To simplify, I look at sustainability through four basic pillars: • Sourcing – Where do our raw
materials come from, and can that supply stand up to scrutiny? • Environmental Impact – Less energy use, lower emissions, smarter water management. • People – Sustainability is not only about the environment. It is also about fair labor, safe working conditions, and communities that benefit from our operations. • Governance and Transparency – Do our systems, documentation, and ESG reporting support our claims? Having explained the new requirements, we can see that the “to-do” list for meeting the UK standards has gotten longer. Hence, it might be overwhelming. But in reality, if met, they’re actually differentiators. Keep in mind, less waste could increase profits, investing in your people leads to a more reliable supply chain. In fact, even switching to renewables is about locking in energy costs so you aren’t at the mercy of the market. Whether we like it or not, the global food industry has changed. Sustainability isn’t a “nice to have” or a side project anymore; it’s the “new normal” for the UK. From where I stand, not only as an exporter and professional lecturer, but as someone trying to balance work, family, and purpose, the path forward isn’t just more responsible, it’s sustainable. It is more credible, more resilient, and possibly, more profitable! Dr. Rhoey Lee C. Dakis is a Professional Lecturer in the Department of Decision Sciences and Innovation at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. He also serves as Vice President of three export manufacturing facilities. He may be contacted at rhoey. dakis@dlsu.edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.
AirAsia PH launching new Vietnam routes By Darwin G. Amojelar AIRASIA Philippines is expanding its Southeast Asian footprint with the launch of new routes to Vietnam starting in March. The budget airline said passengers can book flights from Manila to Hanoi and Da Nang, with introductory one-way base fares starting at P888. The offer is exclusive of fees and surcharges and is available until Feb. 1, 2026, for travel from March 20 to Oct. 25, 2026. Both routes will commence March 20, 2026, allowing travelers ample time to plan and secure affordable seats for their next international getaway. The addition of Vietnam to the AirAsia Philippines route network builds on the airline’s recent expansion, including the launch of its Cebu hub, and underscores its commitment to improving regional connectivity. “The addition of Vietnam to our routes network highlights AirAsia Philippines’ commitment to growth and leadership in the budget travel market. Our hope is to give Filipino travelers more choices, better value and easier access to exciting destinations in Southeast Asia,” said Capt. Suresh Bangah, AirAsia Philippines president and chief executive. “We also aim to bring more tourists to the Philippines to contribute to economic growth,” he added. AirAsia Philippines will operate four weekly flights to Hanoi and four weekly flights to Da Nang every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with afternoon and evening departure schedules. AirAsia is a leading low-cost carrier with licenses to operate in five ASEAN countries: Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia. Founded in 2001, the airline has made flying affordable to more than 800 million guests across more than 130 destinations. It operates more than 200 aircraft and holds a significant order book for the next decade.
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extrastory2000@gmail.com
Pilots, tech experts top list of highest-paying jobs in PH AIRCRAFT pilots and other aviation and technology professionals dominated the list of the country’s highest-paying jobs in 2024, with monthly wages exceeding P100,000, according to the latest Occupational Wages Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The 2024 survey showed that aircraft pilots and related associate professionals in the air transport industry received the highest average monthly wage at P137,999, followed by air traffic safety electronics technicians at P131,536 and chemical engineers in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products at P101,996 Rounding out the top 10 were mathematicians and actuaries in insurance, reinsurance and pension funding with an average monthly salary of P99,154; applications programmers in the same industry
JOB FAIR. Twenty-nine employers participated in the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Job Fair on Jan. 9 at the Clark Events and Conference Hall, with selected firms hiring on the spot. The fair gathered 236 jobseekers and 29 locators from industries such as Information Communications Technology (ICT), tourism, services, industrial, commercial, and aviation.
at P96,360; and web and multimedia developers in motion picture, video and television production at P79,064. Other high-paying roles included applications programmers in information service activities at P73,804, mathematicians and actuaries in telecommunications at P71,237, software developers in publishing activities at P66,180, and industrial and production engineers in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply at P65,806. The survey covered formal establishments employing 10 or more workers nationwide and focused on time-rated workers on a full-time basis across major industry groups. It collected data on basic pay and regular cash allowances to support wage and salary policy development. Othel V. Campos
PSA: Rice imports plunged 94% in November By Othel V. Campos
R
ICE imports into the Philippines dropped drastically in November 2025, with inbound shipments falling to 25,730 metric tons valued at $12.88 million. This represents a decline of 94.5 percent in volume and 94.4 percent in value from a year earlier, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).PSA data showed that rice imports in November 2025 accounted for only 0.1 percent of the country’s total import value and 0.2 percent of total import volume. Within food imports, rice represented 1.1 percent of total food import value and 2.3 percent of total food import volume, highlighting its
Protesters told to remove road barrier to Nueva Vizcaya mine A REGIONAL trial court in Nueva Vizcaya province has ordered protesters to immediately remove barricades along the Keon Barangay Road in Bitnong, Dupax del Norte, leading to the exploration area of mining firm Woogle Corp. The order is contained in a consolidated resolution issued Jan. 6, 2026, by Regional Trial Court Branch 30 Presiding Judge Paul Attolba Jr. The resolution upholds a preliminary injunction in a civil action brought by Woogle Corp. against Florentino Daynos and other defendants. The court’s resolution addressed a series of interrelated motions in SCA Case No. 139-25-J. The court also requested the Philippine National Police provincial director assist court sheriffs in implementing the writ of preliminary injunction. Police are authorized to take action against any individuals who defy the writ, the order stated. The court denied several defense pleadings, including motions to dissolve the injunction. It noted the binding nature of judicial orders and warned that the defendants and their supporters must obey the injunction within a specified period or face potential contempt charges. Attolba said that officers of the court are expected to uphold respect for judicial orders rather than erode them. The legal dispute involves the application of the Philippine Mining Act and the propriety of injunctive relief. The court reached its decision based on existing pleadings and records without the need for a trial on disputed facts Lorne Harvey, Woogle Corp. general manager, said the company respects and accepts the consolidated resolution. “We recognize it as part of the proper functioning of the judicial process,” Harvey said.
AI OLYMPIAD.
reduced share in overall trade. Vietnam remained the country’s dominant rice supplier during the month, accounting for 98.6 percent of total rice import value, or $12.70 million. India supplied 0.8 percent, Pakistan 0.5 percent, and other sources contributed 0.1 percent. Overall food imports also weakened, with the value declining to $1.18 billion in November 2025, down 13.2 percent from $1.36 billion in November 2024. Food items made up 11.3 percent of the country’s total import value during the month. In volume terms, food imports declined to 1.11 million metric tons in November 2025, a 29.4 percent decrease from 1.57 million metric tons in November 2024. Food imports accounted for 10.7 percent of the country’s total import volume for the January-to-November 2025 period.
The search is on for the first-ever National AI Team to represent the Philippines on the global stage, where they will join hundreds of fellow students from over 60 countries in the development and responsible use of artificial intelligence. The Ateneo de Manila Business Insights Laboratory for Development (Ateneo BUILD), a research and innovation laboratory under the John Gokongwei School of Management of Ateneo de Manila University, has been designated as the sole accredited Country Coordinator for the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI).
DOE targets 10 GW of solar capacity in 2026 to boost renewable energy goals By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Department of Energy expects to complete 10 gigawatts (10,000 megawatts) of solar power capacity this year to boost the country’s energy security while solidifying its renewable energy goals. “This is an achievement built on collective work by government, regulators, the private sector and local communities, and a clear, unwavering commitment to cleaner energy,” said DOE Undersecretary Rowena
Cristina Guevara. The bulk of the capacity will come from developer-specific planned additions totaling 5.6 GW of committed projects. Around 1.6 GW will come from utility-scale solar projects awarded under the Green Energy Auction 4. The remaining 2.8 GW consists of rooftop and existing solar installations that began commercial operations as of December 2025. “With stronger systems in place, more coordinated permitting, stable
incentives, and developers investing in innovation and local partnerships, this milestone reflects investor confidence in clear and consistent rules that support reliable project delivery,” Guevara said. She said this investor confidence has translated into real capital on the ground, “strengthening our energy security by diversifying the power generation mix and advancing a low-emissions future with quality green jobs for today and for generations to come.”
The Philippines aims to reach a 35 percent renewable energy share by 2030 and a 50 percent share by 2050. Solar had an installed capacity of approximately 1,653 MW in 2023 Under the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050, the country’s solar power industry is expected to attract massive investment interest, pushing total installed capacity to 56.5 GW by the end of the planning period, compared with 1.5 GW of capacity in 2022.
DA, Zamboanga del Sur team up to fast-track completion of farm roads
TAX PAYMENT. Imus Mayor Alex Advincula meets with taxpayers at the New Imus City
Government Center on Jan. 8, 2026, to monitor services and ensure residents are receiving proper assistance. A 20 percent discount for early tax payments remains available through Jan. 20, 2026. Dennis Abrina
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to partner with the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur to implement farm-tomarket road (FMR) projects across the province, following a request from Gov. Divina Grace Yu. “Local government units coming forward to help the DA fast-track farm-to-market road projects is a welcome development. We need all the support we can get to build infrastructure that opens access, lowers production costs, raises farmers’ incomes and delivers real development in the countryside,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. The renewed emphasis on FMRs comes as responsibility for these projects returns to the DA after several years under the Department of Public Works and Highways, amid concerns linked to the ongoing flood-control controversy. Congress has meanwhile doubled the FMR budget to P33 billion for 2026, enough to fund at least 2,200 kilometers of farm roads nationwide. Zamboanga del Sur identified 26 priority road projects across 21 municipalities, including Pagadian City, with a combined budget of P370 million for joint implementation. “We firmly believe this collaboration will reinforce transparency and accountability, while ensuring the efficient and timely completion of FMR projects that improve accessibility and advance the welfare of our farmers,” Yu said, adding that the partnership will strengthen oversight while accelerating project delivery. The province also pledged to create a dedicated unit to monitor and supervise the projects, provide regular reports on disbursements and progress, and strictly comply with government accounting, auditing and procurement rules. The DA said partnerships with capable local governments are expected to play a critical role in fast-tracking rural infrastructure, translating higher public investment into tangible gains for farmers and rural communities. The agency is also setting up an online portal and enlisting citizen groups to monitor road projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within specifications. Othel V. Campos
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extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor
SPNEC separate from firm with disputed franchise M By Alena Mae S. Flores
ERALCO PowerGen Corp. (MGEN) said Sunday SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC) is a separate corporate entity from Solar Para Sa Bayan Corp. (SPBC), distancing itself from a firm facing a government investigation.
The power generation arm of Manila Electric Co. said it did not acquire any shares in SPBC, which holds a 25-year congressional franchise under Republic Act 11357 to operate microgrids in remote areas. MGEN said it is not privy to SPBC’s transactions or matters regarding its franchise compliance. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla recently announced an investigation into the grant of the 2019 franchise to SPBC, which is led by Rep. Leandro Leviste. Remulla alleged that the franchise was not properly approved by the House of Representatives. MGEN head for sustainability, corporate communications and external affairs Christer Gaudiano said the company hopes the
statement clarifies the issue and “lays to rest the disinformation” circulating on social media. According to MGEN, its investment in the publicly listed SPNEC complied with all laws and regulations. The company said the entry of MGEN and its affiliates was scrutinized and approved by the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission. MGEN said the business operations of SPNEC do not depend on the franchise held by SPBC. SPNEC is now led by the group of businessman Manuel Pangilinan, following MGEN’s investment in the renewable energy developer. “We hope this clarifies the issue and lays to rest the disinformation coming out especially in social media,” said Gaudiano.
HOUSING BOOST. The Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC), together with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), kicks off the new year by granting housing assistance worth over P14 million to the Wawang Pulo Homeowners’ Association Inc. Phase 1 in Valenzuela City. This underscores the agency’s strengthened commitment to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program through SHFC’s Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP). Leading the awarding ceremony in Barangay Wawang Pulo on Jan. 9, 2026 are DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and SHFC president and chief executive Federico Laxa, along with Mayor Wes Gatchalian.
PH narrowly missed upper-middle-income status—PIDS By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine economy is expected to expand 5.3 percent in 2026 as the country continues its push toward upper-middle-income status despite persistent global and domestic risks, according to a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). The PIDS discussion paper titled “Macroeconomic Prospects of the Philippines in 2025–2026” forecasts growth of 5 percent in 2025 before accelerating the following year. Researchers
noted that domestic demand, infrastructure spending and a robust services sector will likely anchor this momentum. While the outlook reflects resilience, the PIDS researchers cautioned that growth remains below official government targets. The economy grew 5.7 percent in 2024, led by the services and industry sectors, but fell short of government goals for the second year in a row. The country narrowly missed the threshold for upper-middle-income status in 2024, a milestone the study
Sun Life PH names Moreno as incoming CEO, to succeed Sison in April Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) president Jonathan Juan ‘JJ’ Moreno will succeed country head and CEO Benedict Sison effective April 1, 2026.
SUN Life of Canada (Philippines) president Jonathan Juan “JJ” Moreno will succeed country head and CEO Benedict Sison effective April 1, 2026. Sison will retire following a 15-year career with the company, having served as its top executive in the Philippines since 2018. To facilitate the leadership transition, Sison will remain with the organization as Sun Life Philippines Holding Company and Sun Life Foundation chairman and strategic advisor until Dec. 31, 2026. Under Sison’s eight-year tenure as CEO, the firm maintained its status as the leading life insurer in the Philippines, growing its client base to more than 6.2 million and its advisor network to over 22,000. Sison presided over the launch of the Sun Life Investment Management and Trust Corp. and served two terms as Philippine Life Insurance Association president. His contributions to the sector earned him the Executive Champion of the Year award at the Asia Trusted Life Agents and Adviser Awards. Sun Life Asia president Manjit Singh said Moreno has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep understanding of clients since joining the company in May 2025.
“I am delighted to appoint JJ to lead Sun Life Philippines,” said Singh. “I also want to thank Benedict for his outstanding leadership for nearly eight years. Under his guidance, Sun Life Philippines has sustained our position as a market leader and trusted partner, helping more than 6 million Filipinos to achieve their life goals,” he said. Moreno joined Sun Life with more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across the financial services, retail, telecommunications, healthcare and transportation sectors. He previously served as AF Payments president and CEO and Metro Retail Stores Group chief strategy officer. In his new role, Moreno will oversee all Sun Life business entities in the Philippines. “I am deeply honored to step into this role,” said Moreno. “Since joining Sun Life, I have seen the strength of our people and our purpose here in the Philippines. I look forward to working with our teams to help more Filipinos to achieve their goals for lifetime financial security and healthier lives, while building an organization that is innovative, sustainable, and a great place to work,” he said. Sun Life continues to be a dominant player in the local insurance market, where it provides various financial products. The company’s market share remains high as it reports steady annual growth in premium income and asset management.
IN BRIEF
PR consultant first Filipino to win Pokerstars Gold Pass
Solon denies abuse of cockpit permit
PUBLIC relations consultant Rommel Orbigo became the first Filipino expected to compete in the European Poker Tour (EPT) via a Pokerstars Gold Pass after winning a global satellite tournament on Dec. 22, 2025. The amateur player bested a field of more than 640 competitors in a 4 a.m. online session to secure the $10,300 prize package. The Pokerstars Live Team confirmed via email that Orbigo is very likely the first person from the Philippines to qualify for an EPT event using the specific Gold Pass designation. The victory grants Orbigo entry into the EPT Paris main event scheduled for Feb. 23, which features a buy-in of €5300. His prize package also covers hotel accommodations or buy-ins for side events. Orbigo has the secondary option to utilize the pass for the EPT Monte Carlo in May or other subsequent tour stops later this year. His path to the high-stakes tournament began with a $55 Step 4 satellite ticket, which he obtained through a lucky raffle entry in the Pokerstars Snowball Challenge. A former Math contest champion in Bulacan with a BS in Chemistry and an MBA from Ateneo de Manila University, Orbigo serves as a PR and marketing consultant for property development firms.
Public relations consultant Rommel Orbigo makes history as the first Filipino to qualify for the European Poker Tour via a Pokerstars Gold Pass.
NEGROS Occidental 3rd District Rep. and former Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez has denied allegations that he abused his authority by issuing a permit for cockfighting operations without a franchise. Benitez issued a statement over the weekend that the applicant fully complied with all registration and operation requirements under Victorias City Ordinance 2023-35. The lawmaker said the provincial board of Negros Occidental also reviewed the measure and declared it valid in June 2023. The case, pending before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas in Cebu City, centers on whether the mayor overstepped his bounds by granting the permit. Benitez said the issuance of the permit followed the Local Government Code and that no national law requires a “resolution of no objection” or a formal franchise for cockpits in the city. Benitez said such requirements generally apply to businesses regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. rather than cockfighting venues. He said that under a 1993 executive order, cockpits fall under the jurisdiction of the Games and Amusements Board. The board issued a resolution in August 2024 advising applicants to secure permits directly from local government units. Under Republic Act 7160, the authority to regulate and license cockpits is held by the city council, while the local chief executive is responsible for issuing the business permits.
NGCP warns of stability risks from solar project NATIONAL Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) cautioned that a heavy reliance on intermittent power sources may pose operational challenges to grid stability even as it welcomed the Terra Solar Power Project
as a significant addition to the country’s energy mix. The 2,500-megawatt Terra Solar facility includes a 1,125-MW battery energy storage system capable of sustaining output for four hours. NGCP said in a statement solar generation could cause fluctuations in system frequency and voltage that could lead to underfrequency load shedding or rotating power interruptions if not properly managed. The transmission operator noted that while any new power source helps keep supply stable, variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar should be handled more carefully than other technologies. The company said that operational considerations must be managed on both the transmission side and the generating plant side to mitigate inherent fluctuations. A recent voltage fluctuation incident in North Luzon underscored these concerns after unstable output from local renewable energy sources forced NGCP to take mitigating actions. Alena Mae S. Flores
PLDT wins global network transformation award PLDT Inc. was named a Network Transformation Icon for Growth at the 2025 Fast Mode Awards, making it the only telecommunications firm from the Philippines to be recognized in the global event. The award recognizes the company for its multi-year Operations Support Systems (OSS) Transformation Program. The initiative is a modernization effort designed to strengthen the digital infrastructure supporting customer and network operations for both PLDT and its wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications Inc. The program launched in August 2024 and is scheduled to run until 2027. It focuses on upgrading systems responsible for customer support, service provisioning and network resource management. Through partnerships with Amdocs, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, the company is transitioning toward cloud-based and artificial intelligence-enabled operations to improve efficiency and service delivery.
suggests is within reach but remains fragile. In the first half of 2025, growth moderated to 5.4 percent due to softer investment and volatility in global trade. PIDS researchers said the Philippine economy continues to inch closer to upper-middle-income status even as it navigates internal and external headwinds. The study said sustaining this progress will require careful management of emerging risks to ensure the transition remains on track.
Auto body makers support crackdown on mini vehicles THE Auto Body Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (ABMAP) has expressed support for the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) enforcement against the registration of illegally imported mini vehicles and Japan domestic market (JDM) kei cars. The industry group warned that unchecked gray market activity threatens road safety, government revenue and the country’s automotive manufacturing ecosystem. The LTO has restricted or denied the registration of several gray market mini vehicles, particularly imported variants of the Suzuki Jimny, Hustler, Spacia, Palette, Wagon R and Stingray. It said these units were not brought in through official distributor channels and typically enter the country via used-vehicle auction exporters as right-hand-drive (RHD) units or vehicles converted to left-hand drive (LHD). Under Republic Act No. 8506, RHD vehicles are prohibited from operating on Philippine public roads. While some importers convert these vehicles to LHD, the LTO and safety regulators have repeatedly raised concerns about the structural integrity and crashworthiness of such modifications. ABMAP executive-director Edgar Manuel said conversion is not simply flipping the steering wheel. He noted that if improperly done, it affects steering geometry, braking systems, crash structure and overall safety performance. Manuel said that given these engineering realities, the LTO’s careful enforcement is justified. The group alleged that gray market vehicles bypass many regulatory and compliance costs borne by legitimate manufacturers and distributors, including homologation, emissions compliance, safety certification and import duties. Industry estimates show that each illegally imported vehicle can evade P300,000 to P600,000 in combined taxes and duties. Across tens of thousands of gray units circulating annually, lost government revenue may reach P3 billion to P6 billion, it said. Manuel said these vehicles do not undergo proper homologation, emissions testing or safety certification. He said that legitimate manufacturers invest heavily in compliance and quality assurance, and when gray imports avoid these costs, it undermines structured investment. Othel V. Campos
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extrastory2000@gmail.com Jenniffer B. Austria, Issue Editor
Greenfield’s Nava sets standard for family living in the south
REENFIELD Deluxe has introduced Nava—a premier residential development in Hillsborough, Muntinlupa City that offers families an intimate community with modern architecture and lush greenery. The property firm said Nava combines modern planning, natural elements, and amenities to deliver a balanced and refined lifestyle in the South. This is perfect for families who seek both comfort and convenience. “As developers, we believe our role goes beyond building houses,” Greenfield Development Corp. president Duane Santos said. “We build communities that become the backdrop of life’s milestones, where families can live better balanced lives, share experiences within a safe and secure community and allowing legacy to take root,” he said. Location and legacy From the moment residents enter the community, Nava’s defining features are evident. Tree-lined roads create a calm, welcoming atmosphere, while expansive open spaces allow nature to take an active role in daily life. The master-planned layout prioritizes walkability, privacy and connection, ensuring that families can
enjoy both quiet moments at home and meaningful interactions within the neighborhood. Spanning 5.8 hectares, Nava is an exclusive, low-density development composed of 145 prime residential lots ranging from 192 to 290 square meters. The limited number of homes enhances privacy and promotes a close-knit community, a key feature for families seeking a secure and peaceful environment. Homes within Nava are designed in a modern tropical style, emphasizing natural light, ventilation and functional spaces that adapt to a family’s changing needs. The architectural approach blends clean, contemporary lines with organic materials, allowing residences to harmonize with the surrounding greenery. Luxe amenities Another standout feature is Nava’s amenity center, envisioned as the social heart of the community. Designed by renowned architectural
firm LV Locsin and Partners, the clubhouse and shared spaces balance form and function, offering areas for recreation, relaxation and gatherings. Lush landscaping surrounds these amenities, reinforcing a strong connection to nature while providing inviting spaces for residents of all ages. Nava’s strategic location further strengthens its appeal. Nestled among established and highly
desirable neighborhoods such as Hillsborough, Alabang 400, Alabang Hills, and Ayala Alabang Village, the community offers the rare combination of seclusion and accessibility. Families remain close to top schools, hospitals, business districts, and lifestyle centers, without sacrificing peace and privacy. Security and long-term sustainability are also central features of the development. Built on
Greenfield’s legacy of stability, Nava is designed to support enduring value, both as a family home and as a longterm investment in the south. With its integrated features, from low-density planning and modern tropical homes to curated amenities and a prime location, Nava delivers a residential experience where design, nature, and functionality come together. Jenniffer B. Austria
Robinsons Logistix & Industrials forges partnership with SPX Express Philippines
Profriends offers families new housing opportunities in Cavite MORE Filipino families are now looking beyond Metro Manila and turning to Cavite to search for homes that offer space, comfort, and longterm value. The province has emerged as a practical and attractive choice, offering a balanced lifestyle supported by improved infrastructure, expanding commercial centers, and thoughtfully planned residential communities. Property Company of Friends, Inc. (Profriends) has responded to this growing demand by offering family-oriented communities that prioritize comfort, accessibility, and connection. As one of the country’s fastestgrowing property developers, Profriends has helped shape Cavite’s residential landscape through developments such as Lancaster New City, Westwind, and Micara Estates, each designed to support everyday living and long-term stability for Filipino families. Lancaster New City is a masterplanned township that integrates
residential areas with schools, commercial establishments, and recreational spaces, allowing families to meet daily needs within the same community. Westwind introduces modern low-rise condominium living for homeowners seeking convenience without losing a sense of neighborhood, while Micara Estates provides accessible and affordable townhouses suited for growing families. These communities are supported by Cavite’s expanding infrastructure and transport networks. Major expressways such as the ManilaCavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX), Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), and NAIA Expressway enable smoother travel to and from Metro Manila. Meanwhile, public transport projects like the LRT-1 Cavite Extension and the Cavite Bus Rapid Transport Project aim to provide more efficient commuting options for work, school, and leisure. Beyond improved mobility, Cavite continues to develop as a
self-sustaining province with the rise of townships and commercial districts. Employment opportunities, healthcare facilities, schools, retail centers, and leisure spaces are increasingly accessible, reducing the need for long commutes and supporting a more balanced lifestyle. Profriends said its developments encourage families to move beyond simple kapitbahay interactions toward deeper kapitbuhay connections, where residents grow together in a safe and supportive environment. “Cavite gives Filipino families a chance to live in a good home environment without losing access to Metro Manila,” said Shannon King, Profrieds’ business unit head. “Our communities offer more than shelter. They serve as spaces that support growth, connection, and everyday living.” As Cavite continues to progress, Profriends remains a key contributor to the province’s growth, offering communities that align with the needs of modern Filipino families and reinforcing Cavite’s position as a strong alternative to city living.
ROBINSONS Logistix & Industrials, Inc. (RLX), the industrial and logistics arm of Robinsons Land Corp., has further deepened its partnership with SPX Philippines, Inc. through a new lease signing for their second RLX warehouse—solidifying a collaboration that continues to shape the country’s fast-growing logistics landscape. This partnership expansion reflects a shared commitment to elevating logistics capabilities in the Philippines—enhancing speed, efficiency, and reliability amid rising e-commerce and nationwide delivery demands. It also reinforces RLX’s position as a leading provider of future-ready, scalable logistics solutions built on innovation and operational excellence.
Cora Ang Ley, senior vice president and business unit general manager of RLX and Martin N. Yu, head of SPX Philippines Inc.
“Our collaboration with SPX Philippines highlights RLX’s commitment to delivering worldclass Grade A logistics facilities that empower our partners to scale and succeed,” said Cora Ang Ley, senior vice president and business unit general manager for Robinsons Logistix and Industrials, Inc. “We are proud to provide spaces that are not only built for performance but also for progress.” Martin N. Yu, Head of SPX Philippines, echoed this, noting, “RLX continues to be an excellent partner in expanding SPX Philippines warehouse network. RLX’s modern facilities in strategic locations like Calamba support the Company’s continued growth as we serve customers nationwide through our multi-partner logistics network.” From key hubs in Calamba, Laguna, Sucat, Muntinlupa, Pampanga, and strategic areas in Rizal, RLX’s warehouses are designed with operational efficiency—featuring flexible layouts and state-of-the-art specifications. These facilities play a vital role in powering SPX’s expanding distribution network across Luzon, strengthening last-mile delivery and overall supply chain agility. RLX’s commitment in serving its growing customer base is a testament of Robinsons Land’s continued growth and robust portfolio. As RLX builds stronger logistics ecosystems nationwide, this collaboration underscores its dedication to enabling partners like SPX to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.
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lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
Very Wang
MTRCB sees surge in films, TV material submissions THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board rated and classified 171,972 materials in 2025 as part of its efforts to promote responsible viewing amid a growing digital media landscape. The classified materials included 127,704 television programs, 40,505 TV plugs and trailers, 1,695 publicity materials, 10 optical media materials, 1,380 movie trailers, and 671 films. Of the films, 311 were produced locally, and 360 were foreign titles. Among the films, 359 received a PG (Parental Guidance) rating, suitable for children under 13 when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Forty-eight films were rated G (General Audience), 142 were rated R-13, 98 R-16, 28 R-18, and three received an X rating, deemed not suitable for public exhibition. The Board reported a 13.34 percent increase in films classified, from 592 in 2024, and a 151.37 percent surge in movie trailers screened in cinemas, on television, and in other venues, rising from 549 the previous year. “These figures signal an encouraging indication of renewed activity and momentum within the film industry,” MTRCB Chairperson and CEO Lala Sotto said. Sotto said the numbers underscore the board’s evolving role in protecting viewers, particularly children, while supporting the creative industry. “The volume of content submitted and classified in 2025 reflects both the vibrancy of the entertainment industry and the growing responsibility of the MTRCB,” she said. “As more content reaches Filipino homes, our duty to guide audiences through clear and appropriate classification becomes even more important.”
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board CEO and chairperson Lala Sotto
Nickie Wang
V
IVA has unveiled the cast for its upcoming series adaptation of the Wattpad hit My Husband Is a Mafia Boss, set to stream on Viva One this year. The novel, written by the late Diana Marie Serrato Maranan (Yanalovesyouu), has over 218 million reads online Rhen Escaño is Aemie Romero, a college student, who unexpectedly marries Zeke
Joseph Marco plays the young billionaire CEO Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Roswell, who is secretly a mafia boss
Joseph Marco
is Rhen Escaño’s mafia boss husband in upcoming series The story follows Aemie Romero, a college student, who unexpectedly marries young billionaire CEO Ezekiel “Zeke” Roswell—only to discover he is secretly a mafia boss. The narrative blends romance, comedy, and action, promising a mix of lighthearted and tense moments. “This is my first time working with Joseph, and I’m really excited,” said Rhen Escaño, who plays Aemie. “The biggest challenge for me is how to make people love my character the way they love her in the book. I’m up for it because, as an actor, my goal is always to grow and learn from every role.” Joseph Marco, portraying Zeke, said he was immediately comfortable working with Escaño. “The first time I met Rhen, I knew right away she’s easy to work with,” he said. “We haven’t started shooting yet, but we’re ready to take on whatever challenges this project gives us.” Director Fifth Solomon described the adaptation as more than a straightforward romantic comedy. “Initially, this is a romcom, but the story requires some action,” he said. “You’ll see this story come to life in ways that balance both humor and tension.” Zeke is described as intelligent, strict, and
‘My Husband Is A Mafia Boss’ director Fifth Solomon, together with the series’ cast members
distant, with only a few people earning his trust. Escaño’s Aemie, in contrast, is cheerful, energetic, and sometimes clumsy. Their unexpected union sets off a series of events that test both their personalities. The series also includes Frost Sandoval as Zeke’s right-hand man, Kaizer Maxwell Lamperouge, and Sara Joe as Aemie’s cousin and friend, Amesyl Cross. Supporting cast members include Jaime Yllana, Icee Ejercito, Kyosu Guinto, Dann Aquino, Aaliyah Coco, R-ji Lim, PJ Rosario, Maru Delgado, Simon Ibarra, Roberta Tamondong, Naz San Juan, MO Mitchell, Priscilla Meirelles, Kelley Day, Yuki Sonoda, Bianca Santos, Sandex Gavin, Anjo Damiles, and Akihiro Blanco. Ara Mina will play
Aemie’s mother, Alyana Heartily-Ferrer. “Working on a series like this is exciting because of the mix of genres,” Solomon added. “There’s comedy, action, romance, and drama. We hope to capture what fans loved about the book while giving it a visual edge.” Escaño said she hopes viewers notice the effort behind her portrayal. “People have grown up with this story, so I want to give my best and show a new side of Aemie,” she said. Marco noted that despite the story’s twists, the series’ core remains a romance. “It’s about two very different people learning to understand and trust each other,” he said.
SB19’s 1Z Entertainment opens auditions for new trainees By Angelica Villanueva P-POP boy group SB19’s management company, 1Z Entertainment, has opened auditions for a new batch of artist trainees, offering aspiring performers a chance to train under the same banner that represents the P-pop powerhouse. On Friday, Jan. 9, 1Z said selected trainees will work closely with experienced artists and mentors while undergoing workshops and training sessions designed to develop their skills and creativity. “1Z Entertainment is thrilled to announce that we are now actively seeking the next set of talented individuals to join our trainee pool,” it said. “This is your chance to work closely with experienced artists and mentors, participate in exciting workshops and training sessions,” it added. The company also said that trainees will gain handson industry experience and collaborate with others who
share the same passion for the arts. The auditions are open to applicants aged 15 to 25, with no restrictions on gender or ethnicity. Individuals with skills in singing, dancing, rapping, or modeling are encouraged to apply, as well as those willing to learn new disciplines. Applicants must complete an online form and submit two one-minute videos—one showcasing dance ability and another highlighting vocal performance. The application period runs from Jan. 9 to Jan. 23. SB19 debuted in 2018 under ShowBT Philippines before establishing 1Z Entertainment in 2023. The group is currently preparing for Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Finale, set for April 18 at the SMDC Festival Grounds.
SB19’s management company opens applications for aspiring trainees aged 15 to 25, offering industry training and mentorship
LIFE & SHOWBIZ
C3 MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
ABS-CBN promises more romance, drama and action in 2026 By Jasper Valdez
K
ATHRYN Bernardo is back on the small screen, leading the romance-mystery series Someone, Someday alongside James Reid and Maja Salvador, as ABS-CBN unveils its exciting lineup for 2026.
James Reid (left) and Kathryn Bernardo are set to lead the upcoming series ‘Someone, Someday’
Bytes reinvents Filipino dining in a modern, relaxed setting
‘Love is Never Gone,’ starring Joshua Garcia (left) and Ivana Alawi, marks the first Filipino TV series filmed in Morocco
The network’s upcoming schedule is packed with romance, drama, action, and reality competitions, headlined by some of its brightest stars. Joshua Garcia and Ivana Alawi star in the romance-drama Love is Never Gone, notable for being the first Filipino TV series filmed in the scenic landscapes of Morocco. Action fans can look forward to a high-octane series featuring Kapamilya stars Richard Gutierrez and Gerald Anderson. Meanwhile, ABS-CBN former president and award-winning host Charo SantosConcio returns to present the beloved drama anthology Maalaala
Mo Kaya (MMK), bringing new heartwarming Filipino stories designed to inspire and tug at the heartstrings. Luis Manzano is also back, hosting two returning game shows— Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal and Minute To Win It—both featuring all-new games and challenges. Drama fans can expect fresh twists in FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, Roja, and What Lies Beneath. Variety and reality shows continue to entertain, with It’s Showtime and Rainbow Rumble promising more game-winning moments, while Your Face Sounds Familiar introduces new performance-level
impersonations. ASAP will deliver the best musical experiences for a new generation of viewers. ABS-CBN’s digital platform iWant is also set to launch bite-sized microdramas for viewers seeking quick, engaging stories. Catch ABS-CBN programs on Kapamilya Channel via ALLTV2 and cable, the ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube Channel, and iWant. Prime programs continue to air on A2Z, with select shows available on Netflix and Prime Video PH. Meanwhile, It’s Showtime and Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab 2.0 remain accessible on GMA.
SNAPSHOT
Bytes refreshes its identity with a contemporary approach to Filipino classics, blending comfort, style, and flexibility for casual meals and social gatherings
LANSON Place Mall of Asia has given Bytes, its all-day dining venue, a fresh new look and vibe, offering guests a contemporary spin on classic Filipino dining. Situated on the Ground Floor of the Bay Wing, Bytes presents a welcoming, modern space designed for both casual merienda and evening wine nights. The restaurant combines relaxed comfort with a stylish touch, making it ideal for everything from laid-back afternoons to social gatherings. Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Bytes invites visitors to linger, enjoy, and experience Filipino flavors in a setting that balances tradition with contemporary flair. The refreshed design emphasizes open, airy seating, thoughtful lighting, and a warm, inviting ambiance that encourages conversation and connection. Whether visiting for a quick snack, an intimate lunch, or a
casual dinner, the restaurant offers a versatile environment that adapts to each guest’s pace and mood. Bytes’ approach reflects Lanson Place Mall of Asia’s broader commitment to hospitality. It’s not just about the menu—though reimagined Filipino classics are a highlight—but also about creating a space where guests feel at ease, inspired, and engaged. The restaurant blends modern aesthetics with touches of local culture, offering a unique setting for both hotel guests and Manila visitors alike. With its contemporary setting, flexible dining options, and focus on comfort and style, Bytes continues to elevate the all-day dining experience, making it a destination where Filipino tradition meets modern hospitality. The hotel is located at Block 12, Palm Coast Avenue corner Seaside Boulevard, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.
TikTok drives ‘bizarre’ rush to Prague library’s book tower PRAGUE’S Municipal Library has been blindsided by a surge of visitors to Idiom, a cylindrical tower of 8,000 books by Slovak artist Matej Kren. Installed in 1998, the sculpture features a tear-shaped entrance and mirrors, creating an illusion of an endless tunnel. Quiet for years, it went viral on TikTok in late 2022. Tourists queue for up to two hours, sometimes spilling into the
street. Library spokeswoman Lenka Hanzlikova said crowds of 1,000 a day at peak times are “bizarre” and may require entry management or fees. Kren, who used discarded local books to symbolize the infinity of learning, said he never intended it as a tourist attraction. Visitors like Ghazal Nour from Italy called it “beautiful” but questioned whether the long wait was worth it. AFP
Garlik makes a Krazy debut KRAZY Garlik, the Bistro Group’s playful, garlicfocused restaurant, opened its new branch at SM Mall of Asia on Dec. 6. The restaurant offers a whimsical dining experience with quirky interiors, a bar, and an al fresco area overlooking Manila Bay, accommodating up to 104 guests. The launch was attended by (in photo, front left) Lisa Ronquillo-Along, chief marketing officer; Patricia Lim, board member; Jessy Mendiola, actress; RC Tiongson,
chief operating officer; Edwin Chen, chairman; Debbie Chung, board member; Jean Paul Manuud, president; and Brian Peck, director for operations. Krazy Garlik is known for its bold, garlic-forward dishes such as 40 Kloves Chicken, Shrimp on a Roll, Bag O’ Seafood, and the fiery Harakiri Rice. Dessert highlights include the Krazy Krema Katalana, a garlicinfused twist on crème brûlée, paired with a variety of cocktails and signature ice-blended drinks.
The viral resurgence of Matej Kren’s Idiom brings thousands of daily visitors to Prague’s Municipal Library, prompting concerns over crowd control
LIFE
C4
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer
An American retiree swims amid the sardine run in Moalboal
A British golfer tees off at Club Intramuros, one of several urban leisure facilities popular among foreign retirees living in Metro Manila
O
UR country earned another feather in its cap when Tripzilla, during its recent Excellence Awards, named it “Best Retirement Destination in Asia” for the year 2025. It is the first time our country has won such an award, and the first time in the Philippine Retirement Authority’s (PRA) 40-year existence.
Asia’s best retirement destination
to partner with a local company that has made possible the portability of whatever foreign medical insurance these retirees may have from their country of origin. Their insurance policy may now be used in any of the 200 leading hospitals here in the country. The fact that the Philippines is now known globally as the “caregiver capital of the world” has also helped in making foreign retirees choose us over our Asian neighbors, because they know caregivers are aplenty in any city they may choose A Malaysian retiree celebrates a hilltop view in Bukidnon, to reside in. enjoying the mountain provinces beyond the usual But the beach locations clincher is our proficiency struck by our Let’s take a closer look at what in English. happy faces made us the first choice of foreign This facility and the way retirees. Based on my chats with makes it very we treat them many of them, here are the reasons: easy for Englishlike family. A The low cost of living in our speaking foreign German national country is a big magnet for foreign retirees to blend in, was even more retirees. Because most of them immerse themselves in specific when he told receive fat pension checks every our culture, and me that the reason month, spending an average of understand the A French couple takes in the sea view at he chose to settle approximately US$1,000 monthly idiosyncrasies of Bantayan Island, one of the provincial down here is “the here in our country to cover all their destinations drawing foreign retirees Filipino life. Many with its slower pace and coastal setting way we take care basic needs, still with a lot extra to times, after the of old people.” spare, puts them in paradise. They can ceremony the PRA Of course, hardly believe that they can have a hosts to officially we are proud to have world-class full-course, decent meal for less than welcome them to our country, I receive health care facilities in our country US$10.00. Add to this benefit the easy praises about my team’s expertise in the to attend to whatever medical access to nature’s bounty. Especially language, to which I proudly tell them emergencies they may experience. if they choose to live in the provinces, that we have very good schools here in a pristine beach, verdant mountain, More importantly, the PRA was able the country. majestic waterfall, and other wonders Aside from what our country of nature are within easy reach. offers, these foreign retirees also YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE Our very interesting culture and our have benefits that go with the Special I just had a physical exam. The doctor welcoming, caring attitude make it Resident Retirees Visa they obtain said, “Don’t eat anything fatty.” very easy for them to blend into our from the PRA. They have the option I said, “Like bacon and burgers?” communities. The foreign retirees to reside here permanently without He said, “No, fatty, don’t eat anything!” always tell me that they are easily losing their citizenship and may travel
Mercury Rising Bob Zozobrado
So far, the PRA has succeeded in bringing in more than 84,000 foreign retirees from 150 countries. Most of them have settled in the Metro Manila area. The second favorite location is Central Visayas, while the third favorite is Central Luzon. However, I must point out that we have foreign retirees enjoying every single nook and cranny of our archipelago, a few in the Cordillera Region and all the way down to Southern Mindanao. The top ten nationalities of these foreign retirees we now have on our
in and out of the country without having to ask permission from any government agency. They also do not have to go through the hassle of securing an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) yearly from the Bureau of Immigration. If they decide to work, they do not need to apply for a separate work visa, and if their children want to enroll in any of our schools, no student visa is needed. They are also exempted from the travel tax on their first year in our country, when they decide to travel to any foreign destination. When they move in, they can bring in US$7,000 worth Foreign retirees join a wellness forum and group yoga of personal belongings, tax- session, reflecting the growing appeal of the Philippines’ health- and lifestyle-centered retirement offerings exempt.
A Canadian retiree relaxes on the grass at Marlboro Hills in Batanes, a destination prized for its open landscapes and cooler climate
shores are those from the People’s Republic of China, South Korea, India, the USA, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany, in that order. It is then safe to say that the whole world is enjoying the beauty of our country, the charm of our people, and whatever is truly Filipino, making retirement in the Philippines their Best Decision Ever. More information on the Special Resident Retirees Visa (SRRV) may be obtained from www.pra. gov.ph or through (632) 8848 1412. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com
NOW & NEXT
Southeast Asia is winning in tourism— so why is the Philippines still losing? be honest. As a frequent traveler, I have visited most of Southeast Asia’s tourism hotspots, and it’s not hard to see why tourists keep coming back. Yet every time I land at Ninoy Aquino International Airport after a foreign trip, the same sinking feeling hits me. Stepping off the plane, I automatically switch into “tourist mode”—and Manila, let’s be honest, is ugly. Shanties, dusty sidewalks, and random chaos greet visitors the moment they leave the
Weak infrastructure, high local travel costs, and poor arrival experiences continue to undermine the country’s tourism pitch, even as neighboring destinations refine transport, pricing, and service standards (AI-generated image)
By Nickie Wang SOUTHEAST Asia is having a moment. Tourists are flocking to the region like moths to a tropical flame. Even tourism giant China has started promoting its provinces that apparently “feel like Southeast Asia all year round.” The selling point? Weather that lets you bask outdoors… unless, of course, a monsoon decides to crash your plans. Meanwhile, the Philippines seems content to watch from the sidelines. Despite the proud slogan “Love the Philippines,” the country ended 2025 with 5.6 million visitors, down from 5.9 million in 2024. By contrast, Bali, slightly bigger than Cebu, managed to squeeze in 7 million tourists in the same period. Ouch. Vietnam, on the other hand, is practically the rising rockstar of Southeast Asian tourism. In December alone, it welcomed over 2 million international visitors, bringing its 2025 total
to nearly 21.2 million. That’s a 20.4 percent jump from 2024 and comfortably above prepandemic levels. Malaysia, with a population of 35 million, is right there in the spotlight, too. It’s the K-pop of Southeast Asian tourism, welcoming a whopping 40 million visitors. Thailand is showing a little vulnerability with a 7.2 percent drop in foreign visitors, but 32.9 million is still nothing to scoff at. Singapore, just a tad larger than Metro Manila, keeps things classy with a “quality tourism” approach: fewer visitors, bigger wallets, longer stays, and less strain on the city’s infrastructure. It welcomed 18 million visitors based on available data. Indonesia, meanwhile, continues its steady climb, nearly regaining its pre-pandemic momentum with nearly 14 million visitors in January–November 2025. I’m not surprised with these figures at all, to
While Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia post double-digit growth in visitor arrivals, the Philippines ends 2025 with fewer tourists than the previous year despite sustained marketing campaigns (AI-generated image)
airport. First impressions matter, and ours? Well, they leave a lot to be desired. This isn’t a rant—it’s a 20-year-old reality check. I started traveling abroad two decades ago, and guess what? Nothing’s really changed. Every return trip, I find myself whispering the same wish: if only we had that here in the Philippines. Yes, there have been improvements here and there, but what we need is drastic change. If the Philippines wants to compete, it’s time for a serious overhaul. Better airports and transport infrastructure, reliable inter-island connectivity, consistent service standards, safety measures, and proper environmental management are not luxuries—they’re basics. Expanding tourism beyond beaches (despite the Philippines having the best beaches in the world, yes, the best beaches, fight me!) into cultural, culinary, and wellness experiences would help too—if only it came with honest marketing. And yes, fixing the government would be a good start. But are we doing enough? Are we even marketing it properly? If we were, the numbers would show it. Here’s the kicker: even Filipinos often don’t bother traveling locally because it’s expensive. Hotels in our “tourist” spots cost more than in our neighbors’ countries, and domestic flights sometimes outprice trips to Taiwan. And let’s not forget the taxi “adventure”—locals themselves often refuse to ride them. All the warm hospitality in the world can’t fix disorder and chaos. Until that changes, we’re left watching Vietnam, Malaysia, and even Bali (Indonesia’s tiny tourist hotspot) scoop up the tourists we keep letting slip through our fingers.