Manila Standard - 2026 February 3 - Tuesday

REMULLA HITS HOUSE SEC-GEN’S ‘STONEWALLING’ IN SALN RELEASE

Mitsubishi call on PBBM a vote of confidence

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos

Jr. on Monday met with Mitsubishi Corp. President and Global CEO Katsuya Nakanishi at Malacañang, highlighting the Japanese conglomerate’s continued investment engagement with the government amid sustained foreign investor confidence in the country.

The meeting formed part of Mitsubishi’s coordination with the administration to advance investments aimed at generating more jobs for Filipinos, the Palace said in a statement.

Discussions also focused on accelerating the completion of more reliable subway and railway systems, expanding clean wind energy projects in the provinces, and strengthening digital services to make daily transactions more efficient.

By Pot Chavez

OMBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin Remulla said he will protest the manner by which the House Secretary General has been giving his team a hard time in getting the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of lawmakers being investigated for their alleged involvement in questionable flood control projects.

“Lately, our team is having a hard time getting the SALNs of congressmen

‘Simultaneous impeach cases could hurt PH’

Law expert flags impact on succession,

By Maricel V. Cruz, Charles Dantes and Katrina Manubay

Flood control mess: ‘A conspiracy of gov’t officials’

By Pot Chavez

OMBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday described the country's flood control mess as a “conspiracy among government officials.” Meanwhile, the National Bureau

By Ram Superable

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Monday said the Chinese embassy was acting “like a child throwing tantrums” and “disturbingly similar to paid

trolls” in its

war with

of Investigation (NBI) clarified that was no red notice yet issued against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co. Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines' (FOCAP) forum, Remulla

noted that the flood control scandal involved congressmen, senators, as well as officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

FOR the first time in the country’s history, the two highest officials – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte – are facing two fresh impeachment complaints each before the House of Representatives.

“This is the first time this has happened and this will really have an impact on our country. The first impact will be on succession. If they are both removed, the Senate President will be the successor,” former law dean Mel Sta. Maria said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel.

“There is also an impact on the economy – every time there is an impeachment, our investors become uneasy. They go on a waiting

of the Philippines as the Senate resumed sessions for 2026 amid escalating diplomatic squabble between Manila and Beijing. Hontiveros said recent statements from the Chinese embassy in Manila

Hontiveros made the observation in her remarks at the Foreign Correspondents

By Charles Dantes

SIGN OF CONFIDENCE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. obliges with a photo with a group led by Mr. Katuya Nakanishi, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan, during a courtesy call in Malacañang. Also in photo are Mr. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (JAZA), chairman of Ayala Corporation, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, and Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque. Revoli Cortez

Remulla...

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we are investigating, because the secretary general’s office is saying, or I’ve been told, that it has to pass the plenary before they release a SALN and I don’t like that excuse,” Remulla said during yesterday’s forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

“I don’t understand the stonewalling. Probably there is a conflict of interest. I am harboring suspicions they are protecting people. Hopefully they stop,” he added.

Remulla said he will write a letter to Speaker Bojie Dy III to protest the additional requirement of plenary approval set by House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil.

“There is no such requirement. There is no need to pass through the

FL...

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(Even if the First Lady attends public consular events, this does not reflect policy direction and it is not linked to any diplomatic matters.)

The issue resurfaced after a photo circulated showing the First Lady with the Chinese ambassador a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected calls to declare the envoy persona non grata over remarks that

China...

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directed at Filipino public officials were unusually aggressive and fell short of accepted diplomatic standards.

"They were grossly undiplomatic. Not only did they resemble a child throwing tantrums; they sounded disturbingly similar to paid social media trolls," she said.

The tone and messaging of the embassy’s pronouncements, according to the senator, echoed the hostile and misleading narratives commonly seen on social media platforms.

She expressed concern that con-

plenary. I was in Congress before. I know that plenary by heart. We don't do that," he told reporters after the forum. Over the weekend, Remulla also hit regulators and banks who are supposed to implement the Anti-Money Laundering Act for being “slow” in moving against the assets of individuals linked to anomalous flood control projects.

“We have a problem. It’s taking them too long. Not just the Anti-Money Laundering Council but AMLA itself… They are very slow in doing it,” he said.

Remulla noted the “freeze and float” scheme he has observed which allegedly allowed regulators and banks to earn interest on frozen assets.

“It’s like they created an opportunity to earn. They will float the money –freeze and float,” he said.

AMLC earlier announced that nearly P25 billion in assets linked to the flood control mess have been frozen.

drew criticism from some senators and other officials.

Castro stressed that lawmakers are aware the authority to declare a foreign diplomat persona non grata rests with the President, adding that there is no political impasse between the executive and legislative branches.

"Alam naman po ng mga mambabatas na ang Pangulo po ang siyang mayroong authority kung magpapadeclare man ng isang tao ng (Lawmakers know that the President has

tent posted on the embassy’s official Facebook page could be linked to a broader network of misinformation and disinformation targeting Filipinos who criticize Beijing’s actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Hontiveros pointed out that the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the past has repeatedly warned about foreign influence seeking to reshape public opinion through these platforms.

"We see posts that downplay, dismiss, or outright deny the harassment and intimidation experienced by our own Navy, Coast Guard, and fisherfolk. We see a growing number of social media pages relentlessly amplifying Chinese government propa-

formed eight teams that are conducting fact-finding and preliminary investigation of many cases of politicians in both the House and the Senate.

‘Simultaneous...

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game mode, they are cautious. When politics is unstable, it can have an effect on the economy.”

“At the practical level, there will also be an impact. Legislators will spend time hearing the impeachment cases instead of performing their duties and passing laws. At the political level, the legitimacy of our government – the two highest officials are facing cases. Our reputation before the international community is at stake – Is the Philippine democracy still immature?” Sta. Maria added.

Civil society leaders and members of a left-wing coalition yesterday filed impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, restarting a process sidelined by the Supreme Court last year.

Both cases accused Duterte of misusing public funds during her term as education secretary, while one revived allegations that she threatened to assassinate her former ally, Mr. Marcos.

The militant group Bayan filed the first complaint against Duterte which was endorsed by the Makabayan bloc, while civil society and religious groups lodged the second one that was endorsed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña and Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima.

The filings came on the same day the House Committee on Justice declared sufficient in form the two impeachment complaints filed against President Marcos, clearing the way for the panel to determine whether the cases are sufficient in substance.

The first complaint, filed January 19, 2026, was lodged by lawyer Andre De Jesus and endorsed by House Deputy Minority Leader and Pusong Pinoy party-list Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay. The committee voted 46-1 finding the complaint sufficient in form.

The second complaint, filed January 26, 2026, was submitted by a group of activists and private individuals led by Liza Maza, Teodoro

the authority to declare someone a) persona non grata,” she said.

"Wala pong masasabi na political impasse (There is no political impasse to speak of)," Castro added.

She noted that Congress is free to pursue its own resolutions and discussions on the matter, but said the President and the Department of Foreign Affairs remain committed to diplomacy in dealing with China.

"Sa Pangulo po, alam po natin na ang polisiya po ng Pangulo at ng DFA ay maganda pong pag-uusap,

ganda," Hontiveros noted.

She said these efforts appear designed to sow division among Filipinos, weaken national resolve and undermine the country’s sense of dignity and sovereignty.

Later in the day, the Senate also witnessed a tense exchange of words between Senators Francis Pangilinan and Rodante Marcoleta during interpellations on a resolution condemning recent statements by the Chinese embassy against Philippine officials and institutions.

The debate unfolded as lawmakers discussed Senate Resolution No. 256, which seeks to formally denounce the embassy’s remarks and reaffirm the country’s sovereign

Remulla said he told them that restitution must be part of the negotiations.

Casiño, Renato Reyes Jr., lawyer Neri Colmenares and labor leader Ronaldo Adonis, among others. The House justice panel voted 35-9- voting on the complaint sufficient in form.

Duterte’s lawyer Michael Poa said the filing of the impeachment complaints against the Vice President comes as "no surprise."

“We are prepared to confront these allegations squarely through the proper constitutional processes, confident that a fair and impartial review will demonstrate that the accusations are devoid of both factual and legal basis,” Poa said.

Duterte was successfully impeached by the House last year on similar charges brought by a group backed by De Lima and other lawmakers.

An abortive Senate trial that followed saw the case being kicked back to the House while questioning its constitutionality.

The Supreme Court subsequently ruled that the impeachment was a violation of a constitutional rule against multiple complaints being filed in the same year. The court upheld its ruling last week.

The new impeachment complaint against the Vice President included an affidavit from detainee Ramil Madriaga, who claimed to be Duterte’s former aide.

"Madriaga's testimony warrants a full investigation. His statements corroborate our worst fears about the Vice-President's spending of public funds for personal use. Therefore, it becomes the solemn duty of citizens and public officials alike to seek accountability," said one of the petitioners, Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor Kiko Aquino Dee. Malacañang on Monday said it has no role in the filing of two new impeachment complaints against the Vice President, saying the matter rests solely with Congress and noting that the allegations raised no substantially new issues.

"I believe they are the same, almost the same allegations made even before when the first impeachment complaint was filed,” Presidential

diplomasya para sa mga ganitong usapin sa bansang China,” Castro said.

(Mr. President, we know that the policy of the President and the DFA is to have constructive dialogue, diplomacy for these issues with the country China.)

Asked about a social media post by the Chinese ambassador describing his conversation with the First Lady as "pleasant," Castro said the Palace has no details of the discussion.

rights over the WPS.

Marcoleta raised concerns about the absence of specific coordinates defining the extent of the WPS being asserted by the Philippines, saying clarity was necessary to determine the scope of the country’s claims.

Pangilinan countered that the country’s rights in the disputed waters had already been affirmed by an international arbitral tribunal and did not require redefinition.

"There's nothing to defend. It has been resolved in our favor. What we have to now is to defend and uphold the ruling," he stressed.

The Senate suspended debates on Resolution No. 256 and will resume discussions on Tuesday.

PH...

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It is a conspiracy... You know that people in the Department of Public Works were in contact with people in the DBM, people in the House [of Representatives] and people in the Senate on how the largesse was distributed," he said. "Everybody was involved in bidrigging."

He added that the mess also involves “making-money, whether legal or illegal, but mostly illegal.”

According to him, evidence points to the lower and upper chamber of Congress, the DBM, and the DPWH as the "main actors" in the ongoing controversies.

Remulla also shared that there is no master plan for the flood control projects, adding that everybody just wanted to have their own project.

He also said his office has

Remulla said that there are 12 cases that are about to ripen, but declined to give a timeline as he has learned his lesson when he announced last year that big fish involved in the corruption scandal will spend their Christmas in jail.

Asked about the investigation into Senators Francis Escudero and Joel Villanueva, Remulla said Villanueva's case was in an advanced stage.

He also said he told Co’s emissaries that the ex-lawmaker-turned fugitive from justice must be willing to return billions of pesos to the country’s coffers if he was serious about talking with the government.

“I actually gave them a figure to chew on if they want to talk,” Remulla said in an interview..

In a related development, NBI acting director Angelito Magno told reporters there was no red notice yet issued against Co. “The decision on that rests with Interpol itself in Lyon, France," Magno said.

“They will provide that. They are the ones processing and evaluating our requests," he added.

The NBI filed its red notice request against Co through the Interpol on Nov. 23, 2025. The former lawmaker is facing corruption charges in connection with his alleged role in the massive flood control scandal.

Co was reportedly in Stockholm, Sweden last month, according to a document attached to his petition filed before the Supreme Court (SC).

The Office of the Ombudsman recently said Co’s petition Co was part of his dilatory tactics.

Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

“We are not responsible for the filing of those complaints or impeachment complaints. So, it’s up to the Congress to evaluate and decide with regard to the subject matter," she added.

As for the impeachment bids against the President, Castro said the Palace is observing due process following the House committee’s decision to declare them sufficient in form.

"That’s the process. We have to respect that," Castro said. “The President himself said that he knows he did nothing wrong, that he did not violate the law, and that he did not commit any impeachable offense.”

Meanwhile, leaders of the House justice committee noted the confusion arising from the recent Supreme Court issuances on the one-year bar in the impeachment of the Vice President, citing differing reckoning dates in the high tribunal’s decision and a subsequent resolution.

House Committee on Justice vice chair Ysabel Maria Zamora of San Juan pointed to the SC’s July 2025 decision, which stated that the oneyear prohibition begins on February 5, and contrasted it with a January 29, 2026 resolution that altered how a “session day” is counted.

“The Supreme Court declared that the one-year bar begins on Feb. 5. Now why is there confusion? Because in the resolution recently issued, the Supreme Court changed the counting, the reckoning, the counting of the term session day,” Zamora said.

Zamora noted that under the earlier decision, a session day could span more than one calendar day, but the latest resolution declared that, for impeachment purposes, a session day is equivalent to a calendar day.

“So now the timeline made by the Supreme Court has been adjusted. Again, in their decision with all due respect to the Supreme Court, what is written in the decision is different, what is written in the resolution is different. That's the confusion,” she said.

"Hindi po tayo kasama sa nasabing affair. Kung ano po ang napagusapan nila ay wala po tayong personal knowledge (We are not part of the said affair. We have no personal knowledge on what they discussed)," she said, adding that no briefing on the conversation has been relayed to the Palace. Castro said China is aware of the Mr. Marcos administration’s preference for diplomatic engagement, suggesting this approach could help ease tensions.

Mitsubishi reiterated its confidence in the country’s resilient economy and its commitment to continued investments, particularly in the energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and financial technology sectors.

President Marcos said the continued presence and expansion of foreign investors reflect growing trust in the Philippines as an investment destination, noting that sustained privatesector participation is key to job creation and broader economic development.

is the resolution of the flood control scandal and the return of the stolen money to the government.

"We will bounce back. And we will definitely have a GDP of at least 5%, and working towards 5 plus," Go told foreign correspondents.

"All the other pillars of growth of our country remain solid and reliable," the finance chief said, citing remittance growth from its overseas workers and revenues from the business process outsourcing sector.

He said the government's economic team will remain focused on its goals despite the "many distractions."

"Flood control exposes, global events like the reciprocal tariffs as well as natural disasters that hit the Philippines. We’re so used to typhoons, but I guess we’re not used to earthquakes, and all these events in the second half of last year affected our GDP growth,” Go said.

One of the things that could help lift the economy up, he pointed out,

“The solution is simply prosecution, restitution, and genuine reforms. The people want to see people punished and go to jail,” Go said.

The government is set to spend P1.4 trillion in the first quarter to stimulate the economy.

“Reminding all my fellow cabinet members about smart spending, spending efficiently, and making sure that we spend projects with the highest multiplier effects,” Go said.

The Philippines economy grew at its slowest non-pandemic pace in 14 years in 2025.

The 4.4 percent expansion was well below a June projection of 5.56.5 percent, which was already a downgrade that took into consideration the imposition of US tariffs and "global uncertainties".

The full-year figure was the worst since a 3.9 percent rate in 2011 -though it contracted 9.5 percent in 2020 during the Covid crisis.

WORLD HIJAB DAY. A cultural presentation highlights the opening celebration of the Halal Festival at the House of Representatives in observance of World Hijab Day. Edd Castro

Mitsubishi...

NEWS IN BRIEF

Nueva Ecija farmers

benefit from canal rehab

THOUSANDS of Nueva Ecija farmers are set to benefit following the early completion of the P53-million rehabilitation of the Super Diversion Canal (SDC) Siphon at the boundaries of Barangays Ligaya and San Nicolas.

National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eddie Guillen led the commissioning on Sunday.

The project, completed two and a half months ahead of its original threemonth schedule, serves two major areas: Division V, covering 18,808.77 hectares, and Division VI, covering 20,940.16 hectares. Approximately 10 percent of these lands are diversified with crops like onions and melons.

Guillen noted that the rapid completion followed a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fast-track repairs and restore water flow to affected farmlands. The SDC Siphon is a critical component of the irrigation network serving the country’s “Rice Granary.”

The rehabilitation is expected to significantly boost agricultural productivity and support the national food security agenda.

The commissioning marks a major milestone in NIA’s effort to modernize critical infrastructure. Officials stated the move advances the administration’s commitment to strengthening Philippine agriculture and uplifting the lives of local farmers. Ferdie G. Domingo

DPWH assures Albay residents of action

PUBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon assured Albay residents of immediate action on long-delayed infrastructure projects, including the termination of a contract for an unfinished flyover.

Dizon confirmed the department will end its agreement with Alpha Omega Corp for the Malabog flyover in Daraga.

The project has been delayed for five years, prompting the Secretary to call for a new direction. The agency plans to open bidding for a new contractor within February 2026, with a target completion date set for 2028.

The move is part of a broader crackdown by Dizon on anomalous, abandoned, and delayed infrastructure projects nationwide. Meanwhile, the DPWH also addressed recent misinformation regarding its funding records.

Undersecretary Rico Bernabe III urged the public to verify documents after a claim surfaced that the DPWH funded a Department of Health medical program in 2024. Bernabe clarified that the document in question was not an official record and lacked a signatory. Vito Barcelo

Free shuttle for Bar passers to Phil. Arena

THE Supreme Court (SC) will provide a free shuttle service for successful 2025 Bar examinees and their guests for the oathtaking and roll signing ceremonies this Friday.

The events are scheduled to take place at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. Complimentary shuttle services with limited slots will be available from pickup points in Metro Manila and Clark, Pampanga. The initiative aims to assist inductees and guests who do not have their own means of transportation to the venue.

Due to limited seating, the Office of the Bar Confidant reminded inductees to complete the online seat reservation form by Tuesday afternoon. Priority will be given to those who previously accomplished the preliminary survey. Pot Chavez

WORLDCLASS. PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles speaks during a ceremony honoring the agency’s Level 3 Accreditation for the Responsible Gaming Framework from the World Lottery Association. The milestone marks a first in the Philippine gaming industry, solidifying the PCSO’s status as a world-class institution.

‘PBBM trust ratings dip’

By Katrina Manubay

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trust rating fell by nine percentage points to 48%, while Vice President Sara Duterte’s trust rating climbed by two percentage points to 53%, based on a survey by the OCTA Research group.

In the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey, results showed that 31% of Filipino adults expressed distrust in the president. Trust ratings for Mr. Marcos declined across all major regions, with the National Capital Region (NCR) and Balance Luzon recording the steepest drops

DENTAL MONTH.

Members of the Philippine Dental Association Inc. lead the opening of the 22nd Dental Month at SM Mall of Asia with a parade and performances. Under the theme ‘Dentista’y Kaagapay sa Ngiting Walang Humpay,’ the event highlights the vital role of dentists in promoting lifelong oral health. Norman Cruz

of 13 percentage points each. Trust also fell by seven percentage points in Mindanao and three percentage points in the Visayas.

During the same period, Marcos’ distrust rating rose by six percentage points, with increases noted in most regions.

The largest jump was observed in Mindanao, where distrust grew by 10 percentage points, followed by Balance Luzon with an eight-point increase and NCR with a four-point rise, while the Visayas saw a slight two-point decline in distrust.

The survey also revealed that 51% of Filipino adults expressed satisfaction with the president’s performance, down three percentage points from 54% in the third quarter of 2025.

His performance ratings varied by region, ranging from 42% to 58%. The highest rating was recorded in Balance Luzon at 58%, while the lowest was in Mindanao at 42%, followed by 43% in NCR.

PCSO secures global honors, accreditation

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has officially solidified its status as a world-class gaming institution after achieving the prestigious Level 3 Accreditation for the Responsible Gaming Framework from the World Lottery Association (WLA), a first in the Philippine gaming industry.

The certification, awarded in January 2026, marks a historic leap for the agency. Moving from Level 2 to Level 3 signifies that PCSO has transitioned from setting goals and visions to the actual planning and implementation of global best practices.

This ensures that every PCSO game is supported by a dedicated budget and concrete resources focused on integrity, player protection and ethical operations. All PCSO lottery draws are also ISO-certified, further reinforcing the agency’s commitment to transparency, accuracy and internationally recognized quality standards.

The WLA is the exclusive global authority on lottery governance, representing more than 150 state-authorized lotteries across over 80 countries. To earn Level 3 accreditation, an agency must pass a rigorous audit conducted by an independent assessment panel of international experts. By reaching this milestone, PCSO now aligns itself with leading lottery operators in countries such as the United States, Italy, Bulgaria, France, Turkey, Brazil and Argentina, among others.

The accreditation underscores that the Philippines is no longer merely a participant in the global gaming industry but a leader adhering to the same stringent safety and transparency standards as the world’s most advanced nations.

PNP accounts for suspects, motive in policewoman slay

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it already knows the motive of the suspects involved in the alleged killing of a policewoman and her child.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame,

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said authorities are accounting for the suspects who will soon be charged.

“We are accounting for the suspects— or soon-to-be accused or respondents— by today in relation to that case,” Nartatez said during the briefing. “We have significant updates on that, and we al-

ready have the names of those involved and the motive,” he added. Nartatez did not disclose further details on the next steps in the investigation into the double robbery-homicide case.

Meanwhile, the husband of Mollenido voluntarily surrendered to police in connection with the investigation, his

legal counsel Crisanto Rimando said in a statement last Saturday.

Another suspect later surrendered to the Quezon City Police District on Monday. National Capital Region Police Office Director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin confirmed that the fourth suspect is now under police custody.

‘No threats monitored yet for ASEAN’

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said no threats are being monitored so far as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit draws near.

“Our threat assessment, so far, is that we see none. But our meetings are regular. We have participants coming from NICA [National Intelligence Coordinating Agency] and from the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines],” Maj. Gen. Ronnie Cariaga, PNP director for operations, said during a briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

“We regularly conduct inter-agency meetings to check possible threats that may happen during the upcoming events. But so far, as I mentioned ear-

lier, there are none,” he added.

Cariaga said health protocols are also in place as the inter-agency task force ensures that no threat would affect the ASEAN meetings in the country.

“That’s included. This is an inter-agency task force. The Department of Health is included. The Office of Civil Defense is included, and these factors are part of the threat updates, because the Nipah virus is also a threat,” he said.

“No, we will continue. There are many events that are still ongoing. We will continue as long as our health protocols are completely secure and followed,” he added.

This year’s ASEAN summits are expected to be held at the newly refurbished Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Warning out on NCAP scam

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has warned the public against a new version of scam involving alerts for unpaid traffic violations under the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).

The warning was raised following reports about motorists receiving text messages supposedly from the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) regarding alleged unpaid fines for traffic violations captured through

NCAP closed circuit televisons.

The message advises the receivers to make the payment within 24 hours.

The MMDA clarifies that official email notifications originate exclusively from “no-reply@mmda.gov.ph” while

IN BRIEF

PNP reaffirms stance vs. domestic violence

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Gen.Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., on Monday reaffirmed their firm stance against any form of domestic violence as he ordered an inquiry on a police corporal accused of abusing his family. Nartatez issued the statement as he directed concerned units to fully cooperate with the National Police Commission looking into the case involving the policeman detailed at the Sapangdalaga municipal police force in Misamis Occidental.

“The PNP takes all domestic violence allegations very seriously. As police officers, our personnel should serve as role models in observing them and to ensure that they are enforced well,” Nartatez stressed.

“The PNP has no room for any person who deliberately inflicts harm on anybody, much more his own family. As law enforcers, we should serve and protect the people, not to threaten or harm them,” he added. Vince Lopez

QC passes ordinance on textile recycling

THE Quezon City government further advances its circular economy and sustainability initiatives with the passage of a measure titled Textile Sustainability and Circularity Ordinance.

The ordinance established a program promoting a sustainable circular textile system deemed advantageous to the people, the economy, and the environment.

“The enactment of this ordinance is a great way to commemorate Zero Waste Month. With a program on textile waste in place, we can ensure that scrap fabric will not end up in landfills, but will be repurposed and upcycled to become more useful and fashionable products, and at the same time provide opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and artisans,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Circularity Hubs will be set up to facilitate textile waste processing, while the materials will be collected, sorted, repaired, repurposed and recycled to reduce textile waste and generate livelihood for the residents. Rio N. Araja

Manila allocates P155m for education subsidies

THE city government of Manila is set to release P155.04 million in allowances and subsidies for education, public safety, and law enforcement sectors.

Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso said the allotment set for release this week aims to benefit teachers under the Schools Division Office of Manila.

“Teachers in the City of Manila—11,633—you will receive this week for your October, November, December allowances, worth P69.8 million,” he said.

The city government will also release P9.68 million in allowances for 6,452 public school students in the Grade 12 level. Likewise, it will disburse P26.03 million in allowances for 8,675 students of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and P11.10 million in allowances for 5,551 students of the Universidad de Manila. Pot Chavez

ARMY SOLDIERS SALUTE FALLEN COMRADE.

The Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry ‘Alakdan’ Division renders full military honors to Sgt. Earl Andrew Baguioro of the 35th Infantry ‘Makamandag’ Battalion who was killed in action during an encounter with an armed group in Patikul, Sulu. Army photo

text messages come solely from the sender “MMDA_NCAP”.

The agency also emphasizes that legitimate NCAP notifications will never include payment links, options to reply to the sender, contact numbers via SMS, or the name of any registered vehicle owner.

To avoid falling victim to the scam, motorists are advised not to click on any links or buttons in suspicious messages and to verify such information through legitimate channels.

In instances of receiving dubious emails or texts, the public is encouraged to contact the MMDA Hotline at 136 or

reach out through the official MMDA social media accounts for confirmation.

For checking any notifications regarding violations, individuals can visit the official MMDA website at mayhulika.mmda.gov.ph.

The NCAP is a policy involving closed-circuit television cameras, digital cameras, and other technologies to capture videos and images of vehicles that violate traffic laws, rules, and regulations. It was established to support the efforts of MMDA traffic enforcers and ward off anomalies in the traffic enforcement terrain.

‘GAA allots P5b for Wi-Fi hubs in remote areas’

CONGRESS has earmarked additional P5 billion to expand the network of public Wi-Fi facilities enabling free access to the internet, according to assistant minority leader and Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales.

“Under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, Congress allocated an additional ₱5 billion to support the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP), with public elementary and high schools as well as state universities and colleges (SUCs) designated as priority sites,” Gonzales said in a statement.

The fresh funding supplements the P7.5 billion allotted for the FPIAP in 2025, according to Gonzales.

“We are counting on the program’s expansion to boost access to online learning, distance education, and vital digital services, particularly in underserved and remote communities,” he said. Gonzales pointed out that the program will empower residents in isolated and far-flung to tap into critical online resources, from government skills-training platforms to employment services, key tools for securing sustainable jobs and livelihoods.

“Strengthening digital infrastructure in off-grid and hard-to-reach communities is essential to closing persistent development gaps and ensuring all Filipinos can participate in the digital economy,” Gonzales added.

Republic Act No. 10929, also known as the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, mandates the nationwide installation of free internet access points in public spaces, including parks, libraries, barangay halls, elementary and secondary schools, SUCs, hospitals, airports, seaports, and land transport terminals.

PNP says crime incidence in January 2026 drops 24%

By Vince Lopez

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Monday said focus crimes nationwide dropped by 24.32 percent last month, indicating stronger police presence and more aggressive operations on the ground.

TAPH MARKS 20TH YEAR.

The Taiwanese Association of the Philippines celebrates its 20th anniversary with an activity ‘underscoring the strong and growing people-to-people ties between Taiwan and the Philippines.’ Minister Chia-ching Hsu of Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council leads the Taiwanese delegation and joins overseas Taiwanese residents in commemorating two decades of community service, unity, and civic engagement.

PNP data showed 2,449 crime incidents in January. indicating a 24-percent drop compared to 3,236 of the same month last year.

Nartatez attributed the decline to the “enhanced managing police operations’ under the PNP Focused Agenda which involves better supervision, clearer direction for field units, and faster police response.

“We don’t just look at the number of operations or delays. It’s important to us that people feel their community is safer. When crime decreases, it is an indication that what we are doing is having a positive impact,” Nartatez said during a weekly press briefing at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Negros encounters leave 4 Reds dead

By Rex Espiritu

THE highest-ranking leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Negros Island was among two rebels killed in clashes with government troops in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, the Philippine Army said on Sunday. In another incident, two other alleged NPA members were killed in an encounter with soldiers of the 47th Infantry Battalion in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on Saturday, Jan. 31. The fatalities remained unidentified, Dumosmog said. Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, identified the fatality as Reynaldo Erecre, alias Amik, secretary of the CPP-NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon–Negros. Erecre was killed on Friday, Jan.3, in a clash with soldiers of the 94th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Bi-ao, Dumosmog said.

OPINION

When ‘fair value’ becomes code for ‘Family First, Investors Last’

IMAGINE a family so adept at financial sorcery that they can turn ordinary parcels of land—shuffled quietly between their own companies—into a staggering one-trillion-peso windfall.

Not through bustling sales or groundbreaking innovation, but through the stroke of an appraiser’s pen and the magic of “fair value” accounting. This, dear reader, is the essence of the Villar Land Holdings Corporation scandal, where profit appears not from enterprise, but from ledger legerdemain.

The story begins with a jaw-dropping leap: Villar Land, formerly Golden MV Holdings, reported nearly P1 trillion in profit for 2024, a quantum jump from P1.6 billion the year before.

The source? Fair value gains on nearly 400 hectares of land within Villar City, acquired from sister entities like Althorp Land Holdings, Chalgrove Properties, and Los Valores Corporation.

Land moves from one Villar pocket to another, gets revalued upward by an obliging appraiser, and suddenly, paper wealth blooms like weeds after rain.

Strip away these gains, however, and the grim truth emerges: operating profit actually plunged 29 percent to P1.22 billion, a testament to sluggish residential sales rather than soaring success.

This is not mere accounting creativity; it is self-dealing dressed in the respectable robes of Philippine Financial Reporting Standards.

When buyer, seller, and valuer share the same family tree, “fair value” becomes whatever figure flatters the balance sheet most.

External auditors from Punongbayan & Araullo eventually balked, refusing to bless the numbers.

Audited statements later revealed assets slashed to P35.7 billion—far below the triumphant unaudited figures trumpeted to the market. Premature disclosures, unaudited and unchecked, fueled a share price surge that now looks less like organic growth and more like a carefully orchestrated illusion.

Worse still are the whispers of insider advantage.

In Dec. 2017, Senator Camille Villar purchased 73,600 shares worth P1.43 million mere hours before a favorable corporate announcement.

Coincidence? Or the quiet perk of family foreknowledge, the kind that turns material non-public information into personal gain?

This is textbook insider trading, the sort prohibited under Section 27 of the Securities Regulation Code.

Affiliated entities like INFRA Holdings and MGS Construction stand accused of executing trades that artificially propped up demand—a classic “painting the tape” maneuver forbidden by Section 24 of the same law.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has finally acted, filing a criminal complaint against the company and key family members, including Chairman Manny Villar, former Senator Cynthia Villar, and Senators Mark and Camille Villar. Penalties could reach 21

years’ imprisonment.

Yet one cannot help but smirk at the irony: when was the last time such provisions felled a titan of Philippine oligarchy?

Cases against the powerful often dissolve into negotiated fines—pocket change disguised as justice—or drag through courts until public memory fades.

The Supreme Court has long upheld market integrity as sacred, as in SEC v. Interport Resources, demanding transparency to protect the investing public. Here, that precedent feels like a relic, gathering dust while the spectacle unfolds.

Land moves from one pocket to another, gets revalued upward by an obliging appraiser, and suddenly, paper wealth blooms like weeds after rain

For public officials like the Villar senators, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards demands divestment where conflicts loom.

Yet the empire still bears the family name, a glaring reminder that rules bend for those who write them in the corridors of power.

The Philippine Stock Exchange suspended trading only after the storm broke, and regulators speak in vague tones of “complex technical details.”

Are our watchdogs vigilant guardians, or have they grown too comfortable in the shade of political patronage?

This scandal is no anomaly; it is the predictable fruit of a system where political dynasties treat public markets as private fiefdoms.

The common investor—your hardworking teacher, your retired civil servant—bears the risk while the connected reap illusory rewards.

If this ends in a whimper, with a modest settlement and resumed trading, it confirms what many already suspect: Philippine capital markets are less arenas of fair competition than playgrounds for the privileged. We deserve better.

Demand a thorough probe untainted by influence.

Insist on reforms that bite: stricter curbs on related-party revaluations, real penalties that deter rather than amuse, and accountability that reaches the highest offices.

For in the end, the Villar Land mirage is not just about one family’s ambition. It is a mirror held to our democracy, reflecting how far we have strayed from the promise of equal justice under law.

If we look away now, the illusion wins—and we all pay the price.

Ash Wednesday: Biblical

expression of repentance

By Armenio Manuel

IN JUST over two weeks, on Feb. 18, Catholics and Protestants will mark what is known officially among Christians as the Day of Ashes – a day of repentance, when Christians confess their sins and profess their devotion to God.

Theologians say the ashes symbolize both death and repentance. During this period, Christians show repentance and mourning for their sins, because they believe Christ died for them.

While there is no mention of Ash Wednesday in the Bible there is a tradition of donning ashes as a sign of penitence that predates Jesus.

In the Old Testament, Job repents “in dust and ashes,” and there are other associations of ashes and repentance in Esther, Samuel, Isaiah and Jeremiah.

The imposition of ashes – of dust – is a reminder of our death, a symbol of sorrow for our sins. The symbol of dust that comes from the Book of Genesis: “You are dust and to dust you will return.”

We are creatures of sin, but, not always sinning, and frequently perplexed about our impending return to dust.

The imposition of ashes — of dust — is a reminder of our death, a symbol of sorrow for our sins

The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made from the burning of palms blessed in the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration, when Christians carry palms to recognize the Gospels’ reference to Jesus’s path being covered in palm fronds on the day he entered Jerusalem. Feb. 18 marks the beginning of Lent and is always 46 days before Easter

OEDITORIAL

N SUNDAY, we heard former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio suggest it is past time to amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1979 to identify Filipinos working for China to propagate pro-Beijing narratives.

The suggestion coincided with escalating discourse amid the increasingly heated row between the two countries over the West Philippine Sea, well within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

We also heard Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela strongly respond to Chinese Embassy Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei after the latter accused him of making “reckless and offensive attacks” against China’s head of state.

Let’s amend FARA 1979 —“—

Commodore Tarriela, with a heap of documented incidents on his desk, said “Mr. Guo Wei continues to deflect from the real issue: the repeated illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.”

Why does Justice Carpio want the Foreign Agents Act of 1979 amended?

Under FARA of 1979, individuals are required to register and disclose their political activities in the Philippines for national security and was designed to regulate the activities of foreign agents, requiring them to register and disclose their political activities within the country to protect national security.

We support Carpio’s push for amendment, aware of the perceived surge of organized groups financed by China to downplay the maritime issue in the WPS and attack critics of Beijing, particularly government officials, including those in the Senate.

A sense of anxiety is developing and watchful vigilance is important

By amending the law, Filipinos who have business dealings with China would be required to register as a foreign agent accredited “to propagate [and] disseminate the view of China in the Philippines.”

Carpio was to the point in the Sunday radio interview: “Because if you’re a foreign agent, you’re working for China […] the whole country will know that you’re speaking for China, that you’re being paid.”

“It should be updated so that these people will be compelled to register... If you don’t register, you will be sub-

jected to penalty, imprisonment, and fine,” he added.

The stiffer penalties, he said, would deter China-funded trolls from disseminating narratives that favor Beijing, which have an alarming impact on shaping public opinion in the WPS under the guise of “freedom of speech.”

In April 2025, then Senator Francis Tolentino accused the Chinese Embassy in Manila of contracting a Makati-based PR firm, InfinitUs Marketing Solutions Inc., to serve as “keyboard warriors.”

The operation: to spread pro-China propaganda, spread disinformation to manipulate public opinion, and promote divisiveness among Filipinos on the issue of the WPS. Tolentino alleged the embassy hired the PR company to run a network of troll farms, and that InfinitUs received a P930,000 paycheck dated Sept. 2023 as part of the suspected illicit contract.

InfinitUs vehemently denied having a deal with China, though it confirmed the check was authentic and there was nothing illegal about the transaction.

Aside from Carpio, Philippine legislators have also raised concerns about the alarming prevalence of pro-China trolls on the Internet, especially amid the ongoing verbal row between Chinese diplomats and lawmakers concerning Beijing’s continued aggression in the WPS.

A sense of anxiety is developing and watchful vigilance is important.

Epstein scandal deals new blow to Norway crown princess

OSLO – Norway’s crown princess, whose son goes on trial Tuesday on rape charges, found herself embroiled in another scandal this weekend after newly unsealed files revealed her unexpected friendship with late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The latest scandal has even raised questions about whether Mette-Marit, a commoner who married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, could still become queen one day.

Her name appears at least 1,000 times in the millions of new Epstein documents released by the US Department of Justice on Friday, according to Norwegian daily VG.

Messages between the two published in Norwegian media date from 2011 to 2014.

In one email, Mette-Marit asked Epstein if it was “inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15 yr old son’s wallpaper.”

In another, she told him he was “very charming.”

When Epstein told her he was in Paris “on (a) wife hunt” in 2012, she replied saying the French capital is “good for adultery” and “Scandis (are) better wife material.”

Epstein had at that point already pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution.

The files show she also stayed at his house in Florida for four days in 2013.

On Saturday, Mette-Marit addressed her “embarrassing” friendship with the disgraced financier, who died in 2019 by suicide in jail as he awaited trial for sex crimes against minors.

Sunday.

Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration. The 40-day period represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him.

Lent asks believers to set aside a time each year for similar fasting, marking an intentional season of focus on Christ’s life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection.

Often called the Day of Ashes, Ash Wednesday – while more common in liturgical traditions like Anglican, Lutheran, and Methodist churches, others like Presbyterians, Baptists, and Nazarenes may also observe it – starts Lent by focusing the Christian’s heart on repentance and prayer, usually through personal and communal confession. This happens during a special Ash Wednesday service. During Mass (for Catholics) or worship service (for Protestants), the priest or pastor will usually share a sermon

“I showed poor judgment and I deeply regret having had any contact with Epstein. It is simply embarrassing,” she said in a statement sent to AFP by the royal palace. The 52-year-old said she was responsible “for not having checked Epstein’s background more closely and not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was.”

He could face up to 16 years in jail if found guilty

Yet in 2011, Mette-Marit wrote to Epstein that she had “googled” him, adding “it didn’t look too good” and ending the sentence with a smiling emoji. She did not specify exactly what she was referring to.

According to the palace, Mette-Marit had ceased contact with Epstein in 2014 because she felt he was “trying to use his relationship with the crown princess as leverage with other people.” Terrible timing

“It almost gives the impression that they were close friends,” historian and royal expert Ole-Jorgen SchulsrudHansen said. He noted however the broader context of the messages was unknown.

“A crown princess is never a private person,” he noted.

“This shows in any case a lack of judgment and that all the ‘safety catch-

that is penitential and reflective in nature. The mood is solemn - many services will have long periods of silence and worshipers will often leave the service in silence.

Usually, there is a responsive passage of Scripture, usually centered around confession, read aloud about the leader and congregation. Attendees will experience communal confession, as well as moments where they are prompted to silently confess sins and pray.

After all of this, the congregation will be invited to receive the ashes on their foreheads. Usually, as the priest or pastor will dip his finger into the ashes, spread them in a cross pattern on the forehead, and say, “From dust you came and from dust you will return.”

Ash Wednesday, which initiates a 40-day journey (excluding Sundays) of prayer, fasting, and alms giving, commemorating Jesus’s time in the wilderness, is an act of covering oneself in ashes which is a biblical expression of mourning and repentance, as seen in the

es’ around her also failed.”

On Sunday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said he “agreed” that Mette-Marit had made an error in judgment.

“Can Mette-Marit become queen after this?” Kjetil Alstadheim, chief political editor of Norway’s paper of reference Aftenposten, asked in an op-ed piece, leaving the question unanswered. The timing could not be worse for Mette-Marit.

On Tuesday, her 29-year-old son Marius Borg Hoiby, born from a relationship before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, goes on trial at Oslo’s district court. He is accused of allegedly committing 38 crimes, including the rape of four women as well as assault and drug offenses. He could face up to 16 years in jail if found guilty.

Hoiby denies the most serious charges.

The royal couple will not attend the seven-week trial, and Crown Prince Haakon told reporters that Mette-Marit would be away on a private trip during that period.

These woes come on top of her own health issues.

She suffers from an incurable lung illness, a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis that makes it difficult for her to breathe.

In December, the palace announced that she would likely have to undergo a lung transplant, a risky operation generally considered a last resort.

“She is someone who is under much pressure. But that should not stop any criticism, if it is factual,” said Schulsrud-Hansen. AFP

examples of Job and Jonah. It prepares believers for the “Easter Triduum” – the holy days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Theologians say the ashes serve as an external sign of internal sorrow for sins and a commitment to turn back to the Gospel, adding the ashes applied to the forehead signify that the recipient belongs to Jesus and acts as a sign of purification and humility.

(The author is a freelance writer who writes orations for necrological services as well as theses and dissertations for graduate students.)

Emil Jurado will resume writing his column next week, Feb 9. — Editor

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026

IN BRIEF

Rare earth found in deep-sea mission

TOKYO – Sediment containing rare earth was retrieved from ocean depths of 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) on a Japanese test mission, the government said Monday, as it seeks to curb dependence on China for the valuable minerals.

Japan says the mission was the world’s first bid to tap deep sea rare earths at such a depth.

“Details will be analyzed, including exactly how much rare earth is contained” in the sample, government spokesman Kei Sato said, calling it “a meaningful achievement both in terms of economic security and comprehensive maritime development”.

The sample was collected by a deep-sea scientific drilling boat called the Chikyu that set sail last month for the remote island of Minami Torishima in the Pacific, where surrounding waters are believed to contain a rich trove of valuable minerals.

It comes as China -- by far the world’s biggest supplier of rare earths -- ramps up pressure on its neighbor after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo may react militarily to an attack on Taiwan, which Beijing has vowed to seize control of by force if necessary. AFP

Kennedy Center complex closed for two years

WASHINGTON, DC – US President

Donald Trump announced Sunday (Monday Manila time) he is closing the Kennedy Center arts complex in Washington for two years, beginning on July 4 -- the nation’s 250th anniversary -- for a thorough renovation.

Since returning to office, Trump has launched a forceful takeover of the once non-partisan center, branding some of its programming too “woke” and adding his own name to the facade.

“I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time,” Trump, who is the center’s chairman of the board, posted on his Truth Social platform. The decision, he said, will be subject to approval of the board, which he handpicked upon taking over as chairman.

Trump said the facility’s various entertainment events — concerts, operas, musicals, ballet performances, and interactive arts — would impede and slow the construction and renovation operations, and that a full temporary closure would be necessary. AFP

UK ex-envoy quits over Epstein links

LONDON – Former British ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson quit the Labor Party Sunday, seeking to avoid causing it “further embarrassment” after newly released US documents revived scrutiny of his connection to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mandelson, 72, who was sacked as Britain’s ambassador to the United States last year over his ties to Epstein, allegedly received several payments from Epstein in the early 2000s, according to documents released on Friday by the US Department of Justice and reported in British media Sunday.

“Allegations which I believe to be false that he made financial payments to me 20 years ago, and of which I have no record or recollection, need investigating by me,” Mandelson wrote in a letter to Labour general secretary Hollie Ridley. AFP

Snapchat blocks 415,000 under-14 socmed accounts

SYDNEY – Snapchat has blocked 415,000 accounts under Australia’s social media ban for under-16s, the company said Monday, but warned some youngsters may be bypassing age verification technology.

The platform urged the Australian authorities to oblige app stores to check users’ ages as an “additional safeguard” for the world-first crackdown.

Platforms including Snapchat, Meta, TikTok and YouTube must stop underage users from holding accounts under the legislation, which came into effect on December 10. Companies face fines of Aus$49.5 million (US$34 million) if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to comply.

Australia’s eSafety online regulator reported last month that tech giants had already blocked 4.7 million accounts, delivering “significant outcomes.”

As of the end of January, Snapchat said it had blocked or disabled 415,000 Snapchat accounts in Australia belonging to under-16s.

“We continue to lock more accounts daily,” it said in an online statement. But the law leaves “significant gaps,” Snapchat said, arguing that age estimation technology was only accurate to within two to three years. AFP

China executes 4 more accused Myanmar scam center leaders

BEIJING – China has executed four leading members of Myanmar-based scam syndicates, a Chinese court said on Monday, the second such announcement in less than a week as Beijing ramps up a crackdown on cross-border telecom fraud. Fraud compounds where scammers lure internet users into fake romantic

relationships and cryptocurrency investments have flourished across Southeast Asia, including in Cambodia and the lawless borderlands of Myanmar. Initially largely targeting Chinese speakers, the criminal groups behind the compounds have expanded operations into multiple languages to steal billions of dollars from victims around the world.

They used thousands of foreign workers — some willingly and some trafficked — to carry out the scams. In recent years, Beijing has stepped up cooperation with regional governments, and thousands of people have been repatriated to face trial in China’s opaque justice system. The latest announcement comes days

Iran denies receiving Trump ‘ultimatum’

‘TERRORIST DESIGNATIONS.’ In this handout picture provided by the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency, members of Iran’s parliament dressed in IRGC uniforms, chant ‘Death to America.’ during a session in Tehran on Feb. 1, 2026, Iran declared European countries’ armies “terrorist groups” following the EU’s decision to apply the same designation to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Tehran has acknowledged thousands of deaths during the protests, and on Sunday the presidency published a list of 2,986 names out of the 3,117 that authorities said were killed in the unrest. Of the total, 131 have yet to be identified but their details will be released soon, it said in a statement. AFP

Immigrant parents fear separation from kids

MINNEAPOLIS – Nina and her husband live in constant fear that US immigration authorities will separate them from their 4-year-old daughter Ayadana.

The couple is among thousands of immigrant parents hiding in their homes in Minneapolis, dreading that federal agents will come knocking.

The fear of being torn apart from her little girl gnaws away at Nina, after thousands of US immigration officers were deployed by President Donald Trump to the midwestern city two months ago.

“If we go out to work and they catch us, and my little girl is at school, what am

I supposed to do?” Nina, a 25-year-old asylum seeker from Ecuador, told AFP, withholding her full name.

“I can’t do anything because they won’t let me leave to get my daughter, and my daughter will be left all alone.”

To protect Ayadana from being placed in the care of social services, Nina considered signing a Delegation of Parental Authority -- a document known as a “DOPA” -- naming a friend who holds a green card as the girl’s legal guardian.

But Nina soon found herself despairing, once she realized she could not leave her hiding place.

“I couldn’t go out, go and sign this

Tough-talking right-winger elected Costa Rica president

SAN JOSE

– Right-wing political scien-

tist Laura Fernandez won Costa Rica’s presidential election on Sunday by a landslide, after promising to crack down hard on rising violence linked to the cocaine trade.

Fernandez’s nearest rival, center-right economist Alvaro Ramos, conceded defeat as results showed the ruling party far exceeding the threshold of 40 percent needed to avoid a run-off.

With 81.24 percent of polling stations counted, the political heir of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves had 48.94 percent of the vote compared to 33.02 percent for Ramos.

As soon as the first results were announced, members of Fernandez’s Sovereign People’s party erupted in celebrations around the country, waving blue, red and white-striped Costa Rican flags.

“Viva Rodrigo Chaves,” some cheered, in a nod to Fernandez’s mentor. Appearing via video link at her par-

ty’s official election night party in the capital San Jose, Fernandez, 39, thanked Chaves for giving her “the confidence to be president-elect of Costa Rica” and told him that his legacy was in good hands.

She added that she would “fight tirelessly” to ensure Costa Rica “continues on the path of economic growth, freedom, and above all, the progress of our people.”

The country of 5.2 million people, famous for its white-sand beaches, has long been seen as an oasis of stability and democracy in Central America,

But in recent years, it has gone from transit point to logistics hub in the global drug trade.

Drug trafficking by Mexican and Colombian cartels have seeped into local communities, fuelling turf wars that have caused the murder rate to jump 50 percent in the past six years, to 17 per 100,000 inhabitants. AFP

after a court in the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou said it had executed 11 people linked to telecom scam operations with the “Ming family criminal group.”

The most recent four people executed were linked to the “Bai family criminal group”, the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court said in a statement. AFP

TEHRAN – Iran denied on Monday it had received an ultimatum from President Donald Trump to reach a nuclear agreement, after the US leader said he had given the Islamic republic a deadline to enter talks and threatened military action.

Asked at a news conference whether Iran had received a precise ultimatum from the United States, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran “is a country that always acts with honesty and seriousness in diplomatic processes, but it never accepts ultimatums. For that reason, such a statement cannot be confirmed.”

Earlier on, Trump said he was hopeful of agreeing a deal with Iran after the country’s supreme leader warned that any US attack on the Islamic republic would trigger a regional war.

Following the Iranian authorities’ deadly response to anti-government protests that peaked last month, Trump has threatened military action and ordered the dispatch of an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East.

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday likened the recent protests to a “coup”, warning that a US attack would trigger a broad conflict.

“The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war,” he said, telling Iranians they “should not be scared” of Trump’s rhetoric.

DOPA at the notary’s office,” she recalled. Nina, who keeps a hawk’s eye on reports about raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in her neighborhood, only slips out of her home once a week, and always at night.

Daniel Hernandez, a 41-year-old local entrepreneur, decided to act to help immigrants in a similar jam. For weeks, Hernandez, who owns several grocery stores in Minneapolis, has been using the services of a local notary to pre-stamp DOPA forms. He then makes house calls to immigrants to have them sign the papers. AFP

“They (rioters) attacked the police, government centres, IRGC centers, banks, and mosques, and burned the Koran... It was like a coup,” Khamenei said, adding that “the coup was suppressed”.

Asked about the Iranian leader’s warning, Trump told reporters on Sunday: “Of course he is going to say that.

“Hopefully we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, then we’ll find out whether or not he was right,” he said. The demonstrations in Iran began as an expression of discontent at the high cost of living, but grew into a mass antigovernment movement that the country’s leaders have described as “riots” stoked by the United States and Israel. AFP

‘ECONOMIC STRANGLE.’ Vehicles wait in line to refuel at a gas station in Havana the other day. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has denounced US President Donald Trump’s attempt to ‘asphyxiate’ the communist island’s economy under a ‘false pretext.’ Trump’s second administration has been ratcheting up pressure on the communist-run island nation off south Florida since the Jan. 3 US ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, whose country was a close ally of Havana and a crucial source for oil exports to Cuba. AFP

Venezuelan activist ends ‘1,675 dark days’ of suffering in prison

CARACAS – A renowned Venezuelan human rights activist was freed Sunday (Monday, Manila time) after more than four years in a notorious Caracas prison, saying he endured 1,675 days behind bars that were “too much pain for a human being.”

“The message remains the same: four years and seven months in prison did not silence the truth. The truth set me free,” Javier Tarazona told AFP in an interview, hours after being released from the Helicoide prison, where he was held on charges including terrorism and treason. The dissident’s release marked the latest step by Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, to free political prisoners. She has been under pressure from Washington to free prisoners after the United States ousted Nicolas Maduro on January 3 and declared it is in effect running the South American country.

Tarazona spent “1,675 days in a dark place,” he said. “It cannot be possible for this kind of case to keep happening.” To cries of “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!” and applause from Catholic faithful, the 43-year-old was taken from prison to the forecourt of a Caracas church. Released outside the church — authorities often do not free inmates in front of prisons — Tarazona was reunited with his brother and his mother, Teresa de Jesus Sanchez Garcia, 71. Then came Omar de Dios Garcia, an activist arrested while accompanying Javier Tarazona on July 2, 2021. The Tarazona brothers and De Dios, who at one point shared the same cell for four months, embraced for a long time. “Javier is free at last,” his brother Rafael told AFP. The men prayed together and then left, as the faithful at La Candelaria church clapped. AFP

ELBOURNE—

MCarlos Alcaraz says that his absolute hatred of losing drives him to keep making landmarks after becoming the youngest man to win all four Grand Slam tournaments.

The Spaniard beat Serbian great Novak Djokovic in four sets in Sunday’s Australian Open final, adding his first Melbourne crown to his Wimbledon, US Open and French Open titles.

In doing it at the age of 22 he surpassed legendary compatriot Rafael Nadal, who was 24 when he completed a career Grand Slam of all four majors.

The now-retired Nadal was at Rod Laver Arena to see the world number one beat Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, and Alcaraz said his presence helped inspire him to victory.

It was Alcaraz’s seventh major title and he will head to the other three Grand Slams in 2026 as the man to beat once more, with world number two Jannik Sinner his closest rival.

“I hate losing, so that’s my motivation,” said Alcaraz, who plans to have a tattoo of a kangaroo to mark his achievement.

He declined to say if a rare calendar Grand Slam -- winning all four majors in the same year -- was next on his hit-list.

“Well, it’s going to be a big challenge. Those are big words, to be honest. You know, I just want it to be one at a time,” he said. But Alcaraz does want to win the season-ending ATP Finals, having been defeated by the Italian Sinner last year in the title decider. And a Davis Cup crown with Spain is also on his radar.

Alcaraz surprisingly split with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero in December after seven hugely successful years together, with assistant coach Samuel Lopez taking over. He has not divulged the reasons

Hatred of losing drives Alcaraz to tennis history

behind the change in any depth, but took satisfaction from triumphing in Melbourne given all the speculation beforehand.

“Just happy to prove all the people were wrong,” he said.

‘Honour to make history’

With 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic hints at retirement

MELBOURNE—Novak Djokovic leaves the Australian Open still stuck on 24 Grand Slam titles and with fresh doubts about how many more tries he will have at winning an outright-record 25th.

The 38-year-old has consistently dismissed talk of retirement and said he is eyeing the defence of his Olympic gold at the Los Angeles Games in 2028. But after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the final on Sunday, the Serb suggested he may not be back in Melbourne.

“God knows what happens tomorrow, let alone in six months or 12 months,” he told the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

“So it has been a great ride. I love you guys.”

Djokovic has won a record 10 Australian Opens and until Sunday had never lost a final there.

But for all his success, Djokovic has not always had an easy relationship with the Melbourne fans.

“I want to just say in the end that you guys, particularly the last couple of matches, gave me something that I have never experienced in Australia,” he said.

“That much love, support, positivity. I tried to give you back with good tennis over the years.”

Among Alcaraz’s milestones, his maiden Slam, at the US Open in 2022, made him the youngest champion of a men’s major since Nadal at the 2005 French Open. He was also the youngest man to ascend to the world number one ranking.

But for now, he just wants to enjoy the moment and take in what he has done over the past fortnight and in his young career so far.

His Roland Garros coronation in 2024 ensured he was the youngest to win Grand Slam titles on clay, grass and hard courts. At this rate, Alcaraz is well on course to go down as one of the best in the history of tennis.

“Right now I’m just trying to have time to realise what I’ve been doing,” he said.

“I know I’m making history with some trophies, some tournaments, some achievements that I’ve been getting. AFP

SMB coach Austria: This team just hates to lose

By Peter Atencio

LOSING their first two games in the elimination round of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup proved to be the jolt the defending champions needed. For San Miguel Beer, the early stumble was less a setback and more a reminder of what it takes to win. Shaken out of complacency, the Beermen tightened their defensive schemes and rediscovered the championship grit that has long defined the franchise—paving the way to another title run that ended with a second straight Finals conquest over TNT Tropang 5G.

“Talagang ayaw magpatalo ng team na ito (This team just hates to lose). So everyday, we have to keep on improving and not be complacent with what we have achieved, especially after losing the first two games of the eliminations,” said head coach Leo Austria.

Austria spoke after San Miguel sealed its 31st PBA championship with a commanding 92-77 victory over TNT in Game 6 of the Finals, played before more than 14,000 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena in

Pasay City. The title mirrored the Beermen’s triumph just months earlier, when they captured the 49th Philippine Cup crown in July—also at the expense of TNT—with a similar 4-2 series win.

June Mar Fajardo once again stood

at the center of San Miguel’s success, delivering a dominant 29-point, 23-rebound performance in the titleclinching game to earn his fifth Finals MVP award, presented by PBA legend Ramon Fernandez.

According to Austria, the early elimination losses served as a crucial lesson.

“It was a lesson for us because we became complacent after winning the All-Filipino Conference. They thought it would be easy to win again,” he said.

From that point on, San Miguel sharpened its defensive focus, particularly against TNT star Calvin Oftana, who played a major role in pushing the Finals series to a 2-2 deadlock. Oftana still finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in Game 6, but the Beermen—led defensively by Chris Ross—made sure his impact was contained when it mattered most.

“The losses in the elimination round were a wake-up call for us,” Austria added. “Our target was to make it to the top four, and that did not come easily.”

Responding like champions, the Beermen rattled off nine straight wins to close the eliminations and secure the top seed heading into the playoffs. They then outlasted the NLEX Road Warriors in the quarterfinals, 101-94, before dispatching Barangay Ginebra in six games in the semifinals.

Lady Bullpups start volley season on high note

VOLLEYBALL is indeed life for the National University-Nazareth School (NUNS) Lady Bullpups.

After all, it didn’t take long for the Lady Bullpups to return to action from the Christmas break as they started their 2026 volleyball calendar season on a high note by winning the 2025 Rebisco Volleyball League (RVL) National and Invitational Finals recently.

Coming off their UAAP Season

88 girls’ championship conquest over Far Eastern University-Diliman last December 14, the Lady Bullpups came back with renewed focus as they saw action in the RVL NCR regional finals on January 9.

A day later, NUNS faced the same FEU-D team in the regional title game and put up an encore to earn the right to represent Metro Manila in the 12-team National Finals that began just a week later on January 17.

The Lady Bullpups’ road to the National and Invitational Finals had the makings of another championship.

NUNS star outside spiker Diza Berayo gave everyone a glimpse behind the scenes during Lady Bullpups practices in her vlog as one of the RVL Student Storytellers, tasked to document their team’s RVL journey on and off the court. RVL Student Storytellers’ vlogs are shared by the Rebisco Volleyball and RVL Facebook pages (https://www.facebook.com/ RebiscoVolleyballPH). In Berayo’s vlog, she chatted with graduating teammates captain and setter Rihanna Navarro, libero Atasha Doroja, and outside hitter Akeyla Bartolabac, who all expressed their excitement over their last opportunity to play in the RVL National Finals. More importantly, Berayo asked coach Ray Karl Dimaculangan about his goals for the team as they headed into the RVL National Finals with just four days of training.

“Una, Rebisco Nationals, manalo, and then… maka-gain ng momentum sa mga future tournaments, and matuto yung mga players,” Dimaculangan said. The Lady Bullpups checked all

those boxes as they reclaimed the RVL throne after winning their first in the 2022 edition of the country’s biggest 18-and-under girls’

Bacolod’s two-year reign and take home a ₱100,000 prize, while the losing finalist pocketed ₱50,000.

It had the ring of a farewell speech and did not appear to have been just an emotional response to defeat. He said he had prepared two speeches, one for winning and the other for losing.

Faltering record

Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2023, drawing him level with the Australian Margaret Court at the top of the all-time list. But age and injuries, plus the emergence of world number one Alcaraz and number two Jannik Sinner, have left him unable to win another.

Before Sunday, his previous Grand Slam final had been in 2024, when he lost the Wimbledon decider, again to Alcaraz. Last year he reached the semifinals of all four majors but got no further, with Alcaraz and Sinner sharing the spoils. AFP

NXLED fans expect nothing less than an explosive start from a team that dominated offseason chatter and fueled intrigue following a sweeping revamp. This was no ordinary reshuffle. Nxled underwent a major overhaul, with the core of a four-time champion squad now spearheading a campaign for a franchise whose entry into the Premier Volleyball League in late 2023 was built largely on promise. For much of that time, that promise remained unfulfilled. But beginning this All-Filipino Conference, the narrative is expected to change – dramatically.

Farm Fresh gets the honor – or perhaps the unenviable task – of testing the Chameleons’ true mettle on Day 2 of the season-ending conference organized by Sports Vision. Game time is set at 4 p.m. at the FilOil Playtime Centre in San Juan, with ZUS Coffee and Capital1 clashing in the other marquee matchup at 6:30 p.m. All four teams will be gunning to join opening-day winners Cignal and Choco Mucho atop the early standings.

Chemistry, often the biggest hurdle for newly retooled squads, figures to be the least of Nxled coach Ettore Guidetti’s concerns. Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo and MJ Phillips already share a championshiptested bond from their time with the Petro Gazz Angels. That familiarity extends to former teammates Djanel Cheng,

The Beermen in celebration

volleyball tournament, now backed by top insurance provider Allianz.

NUNS dethroned Bacolod Tay Tung in the national title game, 25-15, 29-27, 25-20, last January 22 to put an end to

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz kisses the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup at the Royal Exhibition Building following his victory against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final match of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

The National University-Nazareth School Lady Bullpups: Rebisco Volleyball League queens

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor

RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Philippine Golf Championship kicks off Asian Tour Season

THE stage is set as more than 130 players vie for the Philippine Golf Championship presented by the Philippine Sports Commission to start the Asian Tour season on Feb. 5 to 8 at the famous East Course of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

Among the top golfers expected to see action are former Order of Merit (OOM) winners in John Catlin and Sihwan Kim of the United States as well as Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand in the event offering a total prize purse of $500,000 from the Asian Tour and the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP), the sport’s governing body in the country.

Backed by the Philippine Sports Commission under chairman Patrick Gregorio, the tournament marks the second straight year that the country will host the season-opening event of the Asian Tour, which positions the country as a regional golfing powerhouse.

“Hosting the season opener of the Asian Tour for the second straight year reflects the confidence the international sporting community has in the Philippines,” said Gregorio.

“The Philippine Golf Championship aligns perfectly with our vision of using major events to inspire excellence, elevate Filipino athletes and strengthen the country’s sports tourism and global sporting profile,” he added.

No less than the President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. gave his stamp of approval to this tournament, similar to projects of the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee, which Gregorio also chairs.

These include the FIVB Men’s World Cup, the Futsal World Cup, the World Junior Gymnastics Championships, a premier international surfing classic and the just concluded WTA 125 Philippine Open.

Historic rooftop shot amazes local hoops fans

RED Bull Philippines recently welcomed to the country Chris Matthews, also known as “Lethal Shooter,” the world’s most sought-after shooting coach and a global basketball phenomenon. During his visit, Matthews made history as the first person to take a shot from the rooftop of The Tenement in Taguig, bringing his signature creativity, precision, and flair to a landmark moment that celebrates the Philippines’ deep-rooted love for the game.

“In the Philippines, the love and the passion just go really deep in the blood. People and the passion here is, to me, number one,” said Matthews about the rich basketball culture in the country. “It’s true love here for the game.”

The rooftop shoot, a daring first for Tenement basketball court, highlights Matthews’ flair for blending precision with skill. He pushed the boundaries higher, capturing the respect and delight of the local basketball community.

“You know, my entire life, I saw this amazing court online. I saw the legendary people— Michael Jordan, Kobe, Luka—everybody had a mural here,” Matthews shared. “So to shoot from the roof and to make a shot and to have a mural here, it’s a dream come true, man. It’s like basketball heaven for me.”

Biado rules Asian 10-Ball Championships in Jakarta SPORTS

By Randy M. Caluag

FILIPINO billiards’ great Carlo Biado once again proved his class in the international stage, capturing the men’s title of the 2025 Asian 10Ball Pool Championships after a convincing 11-7 victory over Robbie Capito of Hong Kong China in the finals at the MNC Towers in Jakarta.

The Hall of Famer and multi–world champion battled through the losers’ bracket before delivering a composed and authoritative performance in the championship match, adding another prestigious Asian crown to his decorated résumé. Biado pocketed $11,000 for the title.

Biado’s road to the final was anything but easy.

In the semifinals, the seasoned Pinoy cue master survived a tight duel against Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp, edging his younger rival 9-7 in a closely contested match that showcased precision shotmaking and mental toughness from both players.

In the title showdown, however, Biado asserted control early against Capito, using his experience and consistency to gradually pull away and seal the win, reaffirming his status as one of Asia’s most formidable players.

The championship marked the culmination of the 2025 Asian Pool Championships, which featured elite talents from across the continent and delivered memorable moments across multiple divisions. In the women’s 10-ball final, Yuki Hiraguchi of Japan claimed the crown after defeating Chiang Shui Ching of Chinese Taipei, while Indonesia celebrated a homegrown triumph in the under-19 9-ball division, with Ferdis emerging champion. The closing ceremony was attended by key officials of the sport, led by Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS) President Mohamed Salem Al-Nuaimi and ACBS Secretary General Michael Alkhoury, alongside POBSI President Hary Tanoesoedib and other dignitaries from the Indonesian billiards federation and event sponsors.

PH Women’s Open poised for stronger field in 2nd staging

By Peter Atencio

HIGHER-RANKED players are expected to flock to the Philippines for the second staging of the Philippine Women’s Open WTA 125 tournament, buoyed by the strong impression left by its debut edition.

The warm hospitality extended by the organizers, coupled with the enthusiastic turnout from local fans, has generated positive buzz within the international tennis community.

Philippine Tennis Association secretary general and Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco said preparations are already underway to make the next edition even better.

“I’m sure next year will be a much better WTA 125. We have more time to prepare and more sponsors,” Tiangco said after the tournament concluded on Saturday.

Colombia’s Camila Osorio emerged as the singles champion,

PAULINE del Rosario and Dottie Ardina spearhead a determined Philippine charge as the ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters unwraps on Wednesday (Feb. 4) at Summit Point Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas, setting the stage for a three-day showdown of skill, nerve and championship pedigree against Asia’s elite and rising stars. Fresh from intensive offseason work, the two Epson Tour campaigners enter the $200,000 tournament sharpened and resolute, intent on translating their growing international experience into a statement victory on home soil. With the LPGA Tour’s developmental circuit resuming next month, the timing could not be more ideal for the Filipinas to test their form against a crack international field.

Del Rosario, the first Filipina to win on the Taiwan LPGA Tour in 2017, carries unfinished business into the event. She emerged as the

Many of the players expected to return are those who will also be competing in the opening week of the 2027 Australian Open, particularly

top local finisher last year, tying for fourth at The Country Club, and now returns more seasoned, focused and hungry to break through. Her blend of precision and composure has made her one of the country’s most reliable performers in big events. Ardina, meanwhile, brings both pedigree and urgency. A former dominant force on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour before launching a successful overseas campaign, she captured her maiden Epson Tour title in 2022 and represented the country in the Paris Olympics. As she opens her season in this kickoff leg of the Taiwan LPGA Tour, which also marks the start of the new LPGT season, Ardina is eager to end a long title drought and reassert herself as one of the region’s premier competitors. But the task is formidable. The Philippine duo will not be flying the flag alone as they face a formidable international cast

those who may not advance beyond the early rounds of the main draw.

“We have shown them that we are good hosts, with the hospitality and the warm reception from the crowd,” Tiangco said.

Daily matches drew sizable crowds of local tennis enthusiasts, who showed keen interest in watching high-quality contests—not only from crowd favorite Alex Eala, but also from established stars such as Osorio, Donna Vekic, Tatiana Prozorova, Solana Sierra, and Tatjana Maria.

Tiangco noted that the Philippines’ position in the calendar works to the organizers’ advantage, offering players competing in the Asia-Pacific region additional options beyond heading straight to Australia. For now, Tiangco said the country will continue to host WTA 125-level events, as higher-tier tournaments such as the WTA 1000s, WTA 500s, and WTA 250s have yet to be made available by the WTA.

from Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, all primed to tackle one of the country’s most demanding championship layouts.

Bolstering the local charge are Florence Bisera, Chanelle Avaricio, Daniella Uy and Mafy Singson, all riding high after earning cards in the China LPGA Tour Qualifying School – proof of the growing depth and confidence within Philippine women’s golf.

Leading the foreign contingent are Taiwan’s top guns, including TLPGA’s No. 2 Min Lee, a two-time Olympian and LPGA campaigner, alongside Chin-Min Chen and Ching Huang. Thailand counters with a deep and dangerous roster led by Nook Sukapan, last year’s runner-up, and supported by Chonlada Chayanun, Cholcheva Wongras, Kultida Pramphun, Ornnicha Konsunthea, Wannasiri Sirisampant, Supamas Sangchan and Pakin Kawinpakorn.

Carlo Biado of the Philippines receives his trophy and prizes from the organizers. Asian Confederation of Billiard Sport

while Eudice Chong of Hong Kong and her partner Liang En-shuo of Chinese Taipei captured the doubles title.

Champion Colombia’s Camila Osorio is surrounded by proponents of the Philippine Women’s Open WTA 125, led by PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio and tennis secretary general and Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco.

Matthews

Pauline del Rosario

Chris

PH manufacturing surged to 9-month high in January

52.9 50.0 50.2

PMI in January 2026

PMI threshold

PMI in December 2025

PHILIPPINE manufacturing activity surged to a nine-month high in January 2026, as a sharp increase in new orders pushed production back into expansion territory, but business confidence slumped to near-record lows over global economic uncertainty.

The S&P Global Philippines Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 52.9 in January from 50.2 in December. The reading moved further above the 50.0 threshold that separates growth from contraction, marking a significant shift in momentum after a sluggish performance in the second half of 2025.

“After a prolonged period of subdued growth in the second half of 2025, the first PMI data release for 2026 points to a marked shift in momentum. New orders registered a

strong and accelerated uptick, supported in part by a renewed rise in export demand. As a result, production returned to expansion territory for the first time in five months,” S&P Global Market Intelligence economist Maryam Baluch said.

The upturn was led by a strong acceleration in new orders, supported by a renewed appetite for exports. This prompted manufacturers to increase production for the first time in five months. To meet these requirements, firms raised purchasing activity at the fastest pace in

12 months and resumed hiring after two months of modest job cuts.

Despite the immediate boost in activity, the outlook for the coming year darkened. Business confidence fell to its secondlowest level since the survey began in 2016, trailing only the record low seen in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

Baluch said the hesitancy among manufacturers reflects concerns regarding the sustainability of the current recovery and lingering weakness in key export markets.

Cost pressures remained relatively stable at the start of the year. While input prices rose due to higher raw material costs, the rate of inflation was marginal and unchanged from December. Manufacturers raised their selling prices only slightly, with both input and output price growth remaining below historical averages.

By Thony Rose Lesaca

DUMAGUETE CITY — Bangko

Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said Sunday the economic performance in the fourth quarter of 2025 was “even worse” than anticipated as growth slowed following a corruption scandal.

The BSP projected the economy would grow by 3.8 percent in the final quarter of 2025. The forecast ac-

counted for weak investor sentiment linked to a flood control corruption scandal that impacted market confi

dence.

Actual gross domestic product (GDP) growth reached only 3 percent in the fourth quarter. The result pulled the full-year average growth for 2025 down to 4.4 percent.

Remolona told reporters the BSP analyzed various indicators including the stock market and investor senti-

PAL set to end Manila turboprop flights in March, relocate to regional airports

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) said Monday it will discontinue all turboprop operations to and from Manila starting March 29, 2026.

The transition complies with the Manila Slot Coordination Committee (MSCC) Resolution 2025-02, which mandates the relocation of turboprop services out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

PAL said passengers with existing bookings for these flights would be rerouted to alternative hubs in Cebu, Clark and Iloilo to ensure continued connectivity while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.

Passengers on the Manila–Busuanga (Coron) route will be rerouted

via Clark, while those traveling to Siargao and Antique will be redirected through Iloilo. Manila–Catarman flights will be rerouted as Cebu–Catarman–Cebu services.

“With the mandated transition of turboprop services out of NAIA, PAL will introduce additional domestic jet frequencies beginning March 2026, expanding capacity on high-demand routes and providing passengers with more travel options,” PAL said.

The expanded weekly services include Manila to Cebu with up to 76 flights, Iloilo with 42 flights, Tacloban with 28 flights, Dumaguete with 21 flights and Roxas with 14 flights.

PAL said passengers booked on affected flights will receive updated itineraries with options for rebooking, rerouting or refund as needed.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

the bank said asset quality remained sound with a nonperforming loan ratio of 2.18 percent and an NPL coverage ratio of 94.9 percent.

Total loans reached P2.6 trillion, a 14.7-percent increase across all portfolios. Non-institutional loans, including credit cards and personal loans, led the growth with a 25.8-percent jump, while institutional loans rose 10.4 percent. Total assets hit P3.7 trillion, up 10 percent year-on-year. Deposits grew 8.6 percent to P2.8 trillion, maintaining a low-cost CASA ratio of 60.7 percent.

ment to build its models. He said that while the 3.8-percent estimate was already considered poor, the final data proved more disappointing.

“We looked at other indicators. We stamped all of those into our models and we got something that was pretty bad,” said Remolona.

He said BSP missed certain factors in its modeling because specific data was unavailable at the time. He said the institution should look more carefully at additional indicators and incorporate them into future economic models.

“When the actual data came out, it was even worse. We thought that we didn’t take account of it, but it was because we didn’t have the data on it…There are other things that we missed, to be honest, and we have to look more carefully at these other things and use them in our models,” he said.

DEPARTMENT of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez ordered the acceleration of the North–South Commuter Railway Extension (NSCR-Ex)

PSEi slips below 6,300 as mining, banking stocks drag market lower

THE Philippine Stock Exchange index slipped below the 6,300 level Monday, weighed down by negative overseas cues and sharp declines in banking and mining stocks.

The PSEi shed 31.09 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 6,297.06, while the broader all ahares index dropped 2.06 percent to 3,509.52.

The mining and oil index plunged 13.61 percent as gold and metal prices continued to fall after reaching record highs. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said metal prices corrected lower after U.S. President Donald Trump named Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chairman, as Warsh is viewed as less dovish. Ricafort said the market was also weighed down by geopolitical risks

involving Iran, whose leader warned of a regional conflict. Additionally, investors remained cautious ahead of the release of January inflation data. Financials dropped 2.63 percent and property fell 1.17 percent. The services sector was the only group to end in positive territory, rising 1.43 percent.

Value turnover reached P7.14 billion, higher than the year-to-date average of P6.56 billion. Losers beat gainers, 128 to 79.

New index entrant RL Commercial REIT Inc. outperformed the market, increasing 4.85 percent to P7.57.

Conversely, Bank of the Philippine Islands was the biggest laggard, declining 6.61 percent to P115.60.

Despite the dip, BPI reported Monday a record net income of P66.6 billion for 2025. Jenniffer B. Austria

MEXICO TERMINAL. Contecon Manzanillo, the International Container Terminal Services Inc. subsidiary operating the Specialized Container Terminal II in the Port of Manzanillo, Mexico, handled a cumulative volume of more than 12

million twenty-foot equivalent units since starting operations in 2013. The milestone underscores the terminal’s role as the country’s leading gateway for international containerized trade. The terminal operates 1.3 kilometers of berths and incorporates state-of-the-art equipment, including quay cranes with an outreach of up to 60 meters and hybrid rubbertired gantry cranes.

Globe gets PSE approval for P25-b shares offering

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) has approved Globe Telecom Inc.’s follow-on public offering of non-voting preferred shares worth up to P25 billion.

The telecommunications firm said Monday it would offer up to 12.5 million non-voting preferred shares priced at P2,000 each. The transaction includes a firm offer of 7.5 million shares and an oversubscription option for another 5 million shares, consisting of Series A and Series

B shares with a par value of P50 per share.

A firm offer could raise P15 billion, while the full exercise of the oversubscription option would bring total proceeds to P25 billion.

Globe said it expects to use about P14.88 billion from the base offer to redeem its outstanding

NOTICE

NOTICE

US dollar-denominated senior perpetual capital securities. These securities originated from a $600-million issuance in November 2021 and have a first call date on Aug 2, 2026.

If the oversubscription option is fully exercised, the company will allot an additional P8 billion for the redemption. Globe expects to utilize 1.95 billion of the proceeds for capital expenditures.

The shares represent the first tranche under the company’s shelf registration of 20 million nonvoting preferred shares for listing on the local bourse.

Time to create a Department of Investments

THE only way to objectively assess the performance of a Cabinet department is to measure the degree of accomplishments by the department of is operational mandate. This rule is of general applicability, and it applies to an assessment of the performance of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

other reason is that investment has become a far more important concern of the country’s economic authorities than industry.

The most recent Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) figures for the performance of DTI and the Board of Investments (BOI) point anew to a need to alter the structure for the policymaking and management of trade and investment in the Philippines. The preliminary figures for 2025 indicate another massive deficit in this country’s external trade and another decrease in foreign direct investment (FDI) in this country.

Notice is hereby given that the Estate of the late TOMAS E. ABAT was extrajudicially settled among his heirs dated 13 June 2025 registered in the Notarial Register of Atty. Rizal Jose F. Valmores, Notary Public for Quezon City, as Doc. No. 35; Page No. 8; Book No. XL; Series of 2025. (MS-FEB. 3/10/17,

Notice is hereby given that the Estate of the late TOMAS E. ABAT was extrajudicially settled among his heirs dated 13 June 2025 registered in the Notarial Register of Atty. Rizal Jose F. Valmores, Notary Public for Quezon City, as Doc. No. 35; Page No. 8; Book No. XL; Series of 2025. (MS-FEB. 3/10/17, 2026)

EXTRA JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE

Notice is hereby given that the legal heirs of the late ROSALINDA R. LIMPIN who died on February 26, 2018 has been extrajudicially settled by her heirs per Doc. No. 510, Page No. 103, Book No. XXV, Series of 2025 of Atty. Rizal Jose E. Valmores Notary Public for Quezon City, Metro Manila. (MS-FEB. 3/10/17, 2026)

The offer period is scheduled from Feb. 13 to Feb. 20, 2026, with price and dividend rates set to be determined on Feb 10. Listing is tentatively scheduled for March 2.

BPI Capital Corp., BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and China Bank Capital Corp. are acting as joint lead issue managers, underwriters and bookrunners.

Until the 1960s DTI was called the Department of Commerce and Industry (DCI). During the parliamentary phase of the Marcos I era, it came to be known as the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The legislators apparently considered it more important to do something about the ‘Commerce’ part of DCI’s name than about the ‘Industry’ part. That was a mistake.

There is not much point in maintaining the decades-old DTIBOI institutional relationship.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT FIRST JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 59 Baguio City (Special Commercial Court, Cybercrime Court & Additional Family Court) Email Address-rtc1bag059@judiciary.gov.nh JOSEPH KURT DAWANG WANCHAKAN, Petitioner, CIVIL CASE NO.2018-FC - versus- 2FOR: DECLARATION OF ABSOLUTE NULLITY OF MARRIAGE MARY KRISTINE A. SANA- WANCHAKAN, Respondent.

X----------------------------------------------X DECISION

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT FIRST JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 59 Baguio City (Special Commercial Court, Cybercrime Court & Additional Family Court) Email Address-rtc1bag059@judiciary.gov.nh JOSEPH KURT DAWANG WANCHAKAN, Petitioner, CIVIL CASE NO.2018-FC - versus- 2FOR: DECLARATION OF ABSOLUTE NULLITY OF MARRIAGE MARY KRISTINE A. SANA- WANCHAKAN, Respondent. X----------------------------------------------X DECISION

They are joined by First Metro Investment Corp. and Security Bank Capital Investment Corp. The offering remains subject to approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The lawmakers should have brought investment into the renaming exercise. There are two reasons for this. The first is that the structure of the Philippine economy has deteriorated to the point where industry, i.e., the manufacturing sector, is no longer one of its leading sectors. The

The authors of the Investment Incentives Act of 1967 (Republic Act No. 5186) denied institutional independence to the BOI that they created. Instead, they attached BOI to the DTI. The idea was that BOI would provide the fiscal and other economic incentives that would motivate domestic and foreign investors to establish productive facilities that would be regulated by DTI. It is ironic that a strong agency - BOI initially had a powerhouse board of governors headed by the highly regarded Cesar Virata - would be merely attached to a weak mother institution. It was very much a tail-wagging-the-dog situation. Almost 60 years after the passage of R.A. No. 5186, the time has come to correct the mistake that its authors made.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered GRANTING the petition and declaring the marriage dated April 14,2011 between Petitioner JOSEPH KURT DAWANG WANCHAKAN and Respondent MARY KRISTINE A. SANA- WANCHAKAN VOID under article 36 of the Family Code.Consequently, the Property Regime of the Petitioner and Respondent is ordered DISSOLVED.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered GRANTING the petition and declaring the marriage dated April 14,2011 between Petitioner JOSEPH KURT DAWANG WANCHAKAN and Respondent MARY KRISTINE A. SANA- WANCHAKAN VOID under article 36 of the Family Code.Consequently, the Property Regime of the Petitioner and Respondent is ordered DISSOLVED.

The corresponding decree of declaration of nullity of marriage shall be issued upon the finality of this Judgment.

The corresponding decree of declaration of nullity of marriage shall be issued upon the finality of this Judgment.

The Local Civil Registrar of Pugo, La Union and Philippine Statistics Authority, Quezon City, are ordered to cancel the marriage contracted between Petitioner JOSEPH KURT DAWANG WANCHAKAN and Respondent MARY KRISTINE A. SANA- WANCHAKAN as appearing in their Books of Marriages, respectively and, in lieu thereof, to record the instant Judgment in accordance with law. Custody over their minor child is awarded jointly to the parties, subject to the choice of the minor.

The Local Civil Registrar of Pugo, La Union and Philippine Statistics Authority, Quezon City, are ordered to cancel the marriage contracted between Petitioner JOSEPH KURT DAWANG WANCHAKAN and Respondent MARY KRISTINE A. SANA- WANCHAKAN as appearing in their Books of Marriages, respectively and, in lieu thereof, to record the instant Judgment in accordance with law. Custody over their minor child is awarded jointly to the parties, subject to the choice of the minor.

Serve copies of this Judgment to the Solicitor General, the City Prosecutor of Baguio, the Philippine Statistics Authority, Quezon City, the Local Civil Registrars of Pugo, La Union and Baguio City, the petitioner, his counsel and the respondent at her last known address.

Serve copies of this Judgment to the Solicitor General, the City Prosecutor of Baguio, the Philippine Statistics Authority, Quezon City, the Local Civil Registrars of Pugo, La Union and Baguio City, the petitioner, his counsel and the respondent at her last known address.

Pursuant to A.M4. No.02-11-10-SC, let the dispositive portion of this Decision be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, at the expense of the petitioner SO ORDERED.

Pursuant to A.M4. No.02-11-10-SC, let the dispositive portion of this Decision be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, at the expense of the petitioner SO ORDERED.

DONE IN CHAMBERS, this 12th day of June, 2023 at Baguio City, Philippines.

DONE IN CHAMBERS, this 12th day of June, 2023 at Baguio City, Philippines.

(SGD) IVAN KIM B.MORALES Judge

(SGD) IVAN KIM B.MORALES Judge

The umbilical cord tying BOI to DTI should finally be cut. DTI should be divided into two institutions: a Department of Trade and Tariff and a Department of Investments. The justification for this is made up of two parts.

First, the crying need of the times is a surge in investment, foreign and domestic. The Philippines’ performance in the FDI domain has long been dismal. Despite the yeoman efforts of the BOI, this country has not been doing a good job of connecting with foreign investors. And the prospects of a turnaround in that experience is, realistically, unlikely to take place anytime soon. It is time to give the quest for investmentFDI and domestic - the focus and importance it deserves.

The second part of the justification for the separation of a Department of Investments from DTI is that DTI has not done much for, and has not made a substantive difference in the operations of, BOI. There is not much point in maintaining the decades-old DTIBOI institutional relationship. The split-up of DTI and the creation of a Department of Investments will represent a realization that DTI’s unsatisfactory investment and trade performances will continue if DTI is not restructured. Let a Department of Investments come into being.

(llagasjessa@yahoo.com)

Rice imports plunged 92% in December

By Othel V. Campos

PHILIPPINE spending on rice imports

dropped 91.9 percent to $16.63 million in December 2025 from a year ago, as global prices cooled, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed.

Average world rice prices eased 22 percent to $394.84 per metric ton from a year earlier. The figures, which cover January 2023 to December 2025, indicate that while global prices spiked above $600 per metric ton in early 2024, the country’s import bills remained highly volatile.

Philippine import spending reached a peak of nearly $300 million in October 2024 before gradually tapering throughout 2025.

Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) revised data showed the Philippines imported about 3.39 million metric tons (MT) of rice in 2025. This represents a roughly 30-percent drop from the 4.8 million MT imported in 2024. Officials attributed the decline to a suspension of imports late in the year and higher domestic rice output. Department of Agriculture (DA) officials project 2026 rice imports to range between 3.6 million and 3.8 million metric tons (MMT). While these figures remain below the 2024 record highs, the volume is intended to ensure supply stability as domestic production is anticipated to hit a record 20.3 MMT.

Analysts said the steep decline in spending reflects policy adjustments and a slowdown in global market prices. The trend could help stabilize local rice markets and ease pressure on the government’s import budget. The PSA said the data reflect the average world price of rice sourced from Thailand and Vietnam, with import values excluding the cost of husk or rough rice.

(From left) Arnold Obice, chairman of Barangay San Pedro, Mabini, Pangasinan; Colin Reyes, mayor of Mabini, Pangasinan; Renillo Malalis, vice mayor of Mabini, Pangasinan; Aris Tulalian, president of Zenith Renewable Holdings Corp.; Aaron Libao, chief technology officer of Zenith Renewable; Marjorie Ramos, Board of Investments governorin-charge; Bobby Fondevilla, BOI executive director of the Investments Assistance Center; Wang Jiang Nan, chairman of Spotlight Power Inc. and director for Trina Solar Investment Pte. Ltd.; Lubin De Vera Jr., division chief of the Aftercare Services Division, OSAC-SI; Ma Jia Jing, president of Spotlight Power and project development country manager for Trina Solar; and Ernesto Delos Reyes Jr., BOI director-in-charge of the Investments Assistance Service OSAC-SI, join the groundbreaking of the 49.9-megawatt Mabini Solar Power Project in Barangay San Pedro, Mabini, Pangasinan.

Spotlight Power building solar plant in Pangasinan

THE Board of Investments witnessed the groundbreaking of Spotlight Power Inc.’s P1.9 billion, 49.9-megawatt Mabini Solar Power Project in Barangay San Pedro, Mabini, Pangasinan, as proof of the government’s green lane initiative to accelerate strategic investments.

The 41.25-hectare project received green lane certification in 2024 and registered with the BOI in 2025. The development aligns with national priorities to accelerate renewable energy, strengthen energy security, and support sustainable growth.

With facilitation from the BOI’s One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments, the project secured permits from multiple national agencies on an expedited basis. This allowed it to reach groundbreaking within 11 months of pre-development—roughly half the typical two-year timeline for similar projects.

Spotlight Power president Aris Tulalian led the ceremony, joined by Wang Jiang Nan, chairman of Spotlight Power Inc. and Southeast Asia director of Trina Solar Investment Pte. Ltd., and Ma Jia Jing, Southeast Asia development manager of Trina Solar Investment.

Tulalian said the project benefited from coordination among national and local government units under Executive Order No. 18, which helped address regulatory bottlenecks.

China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd. will undertake the project’s engineering, procurement, and construction.

Once completed, the Mabini Solar Power Project is expected to supply clean energy to the grid, reduce carbon emissions, create jobs, and support economic activity in Pangasinan.

BOI Governor Marjorie Ramos-Samaniego said the project demonstrates how policy reforms and investment facilitation are translating into results, particularly outside Metro Manila.

The Mabini project is part of Zenith Renewables Inc.’s expanding renewable energy portfolio. Othel V. Campos

will help guide location-specific measures to make GSIS services more accessible and responsive.

DMCI Power sets P2.4-b budget for off-grid expansion

By Alena Mae S. Flores

LEADING off-grid energy provider

DMCI Power Corp. has earmarked

P2.4 billion for its capital expenditure program to construct new hybrid, renewable and conventional facilities to meet rising demand in its service areas.

DMCI Power President Antonino

Gatdula Jr. said the company intends to begin 45 megawatts of power projects this year. The pipeline includes a 17-MW bunker-fired plant in Occidental Mindoro, a 15-MW coal facility in Pala-

wan, an 8-MW bunker-fired plant in Roxas, Palawan, a 4-MW solar project in Masbate and a 1-MW diesel plant in Caluya, Antique.

The 2026 budget represents an increase from the P1.4 billion spent last year. Gatdula attributed the higher spending to more projects entering the construction phase, specifically citing the Occidental Mindoro bunker facility.

DMCI Power was declared the lowest bidder for the Occidental Mindoro project in December and has completed the post-qualification process.

“We’re waiting for the endorsement of NEA. Once NEA endorses it, we

IN BRIEF

PEZA, ASEANA sign deal for new IT Park

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority and ASEANA Holdings Inc. signed a registration agreement on Jan. 29, 2026 for the development of 8912 Asean Avenue as a new information technology park under Proclamation No. 1111. PEZA director-general Tereso Panga and ASEANA City president and chief executive Delfin Wenceslao finalized the deal at the Aseana 3 BPO Building to formalize the creation of the special economic zone. The project involves a 14-story building featuring a penthouse and service deck with a

position the Philippines as a regional technology hub. Othel V. Campos

Vivant unit eyes Iloilo solar project

VIVANT Solenergy Anilao Corp. is seeking to develop a 173.1-megawatt-peak solar power plant and a 99-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system in Iloilo province for P6.232 billion. The proposed facility in the municipality of Anilao aims to support the renewable energy goals of parent firm Vivant Energy Corp. The parent company intends to expand its renewable capacity to 1,000 megawatts by 2030, ensuring green sources account for at least 30 percent of its total beneficial capacity.

The company, in a submission to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, described the Anilao project as a large-scale hybrid development. It integrates ground-mounted solar photovoltaic generation with advanced storage technology to provide grid support, peak shaving and ancillary services.

The project will occupy 107.6 hectares of non-irrigated agricultural land in Barangay San Carlos. The location sits 15 kilometers from the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines Barotac-Viejo 230-kilovolt substation, allowing for efficient transmission to the Visayas grid. The technical specifications for the site include 276,942 Jinko Tiger Neo N-Type monofacial modules. Each panel is rated at 625 watts-peak with an efficiency of 22.36 percent. The facility will also utilize Sungrow inverters and transformers to manage the 140.80-megawatt alternating current output. Alena Mae S. Flores

DA launches logistics hub in Oriental Mindoro

DEPARTMENT of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday led the launch of two major farm-to-market projects in Oriental Mindoro to increase farmer incomes and reduce post-harvest losses in the food-producing province.

The P33.5-million Oriental Mindoro Trading and Consolidation Facility (OMTCF), funded under the Philippine Rural Development Project, serves as a centralized hub for the consolidation, trading and distribution of local produce. The initiative aims to solve fragmented logistics that often force farmers to sell harvests at low prices. Tiu Laurel said raising farmer incomes is achieved by ensuring harvests reach the market at the right price rather than simply increasing planting volume. He said higher earnings for farmers stimulate rural economies, making food more affordable and strengthening national food security. The 966.75-square-meter facility features 18 trading stalls, storage areas and zones for washing, sorting, weighing and packing. It includes dedicated loading bays to move produce efficiently while minimizing spoilage for both independent farmers and cooperatives.

Campos

Othel V.

By Thony Rose Lesaca

THE Insurance Commission is prioritizing microinsurance and property coverage expansion in 2026 to build on the industry’s growth last year and reach the underserved market.

Insurance Commission commissioner Reynaldo Regalado told reporters Friday the agency is exploring new ways to offer microinsurance, including institutional programs and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

“We are discussing all the other ways in which we can offer [microinsurance]. Even the big, even these life insurance associations, I’m telling them to try to see how best we can have institutional programs so we can offer microinsurance. Even the CSRs, I want that,” Regalado said. Regalado urged major life insurance associations to integrate these

low-cost products into their portfolios to support Filipinos with lower economic status.

The push for broader reach follows a year of steady gains for the sector.

Insurance Commission data showed that insurance penetration climbed to 1.78 percent in 2025 from 1.67 percent in 2024.

While the life insurance sector continues to dominate the market, Regalado noted that increasing property coverage remains a critical goal for the agency.

The industry faced significant hurdles last year as several natural calamities struck the archipelago. Despite these challenges, Regalado said the sector remained resilient.

He said the primary focus moving forward should be the quality of benefits provided to policyholders and increasing the total number of people covered.

Thai retail firms express interest in PH expansion

By Othel V. Campos

STRONG Philippine consumer demand is drawing fresh investment from major Thai retail players, as Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque concluded a trade mission to Thailand aimed at expanding international dining and beverage footprints in the country.

Roque met with executives from ZEN Corporation Group Public Company Limited on Jan. 30 to 31 to discuss the growth of Thai and Japanese dining concepts.

interest in further scaling their franchise network and identifying partners for new product lines, including ice cream and ready-todrink beverages.

can sign for the notice of award or the notice of award will be given to us by Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative,” Gatdula said.

The investment follows a year of record performance for the company.

DMCI Power reported energy sales of 522.2 gigawatt hours in 2025, a 6-percent increase from 491.2 GWh in 2024.

Growth was largely fueled by the commissioning of the 12.5-MW Semirara Wind Project in the second quarter of 2025.

The project represented the first integration of renewable energy into the generation portfolio of the company.

The group operates two branches of its Thai restaurant brand, Khiang, in Metro Manila, with additional outlets scheduled to open later in 2026.

Discussions centered on ongoing master franchise negotiations and opportunities for new local partners and suppliers.

The mission also targeted the specialty beverage sector through engagements with Tiptari Co. Ltd., the operator of the iconic Thai tea brand ChaTraMue.

Since its Philippine debut in 2023, ChaTraMue has grown to 14 outlets.

Company officials expressed

Roque also held talks with PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited and its subsidiary Café Amazon.

The parties focused on strengthening retail presence and aligning growth strategies with the evolving preferences of Filipino consumers.

These meetings underscore a broader trend of Thai firms viewing the Philippines as a primary destination for foodservice investment amid rising domestic appetite for premium international brands.

Landco Pacific resort transitions to clean energy

LANDCO Pacific Corp. announced that its Calatagan South Beach (CaSoBe) resort in Batangas secured a supply agreement with ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions to transition its entire operations to 100-percent renewable energy.

The agreement was facilitated through the Department of Energy’s Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) and positions the resort as a leader in environmentally responsible leisure development in the Philippines.

ACEN RES, the retail electricity supply arm of the Ayala group, leads the GEOP market with a 57-percent market share, according to the latest Competitive Retail Electricity Market report from the Energy Regulatory Commission.

The partnership allows CaSoBe to reduce its carbon footprint while maintaining its expansive leisure and residential offerings along the Batangas coast.

“This transition to 100 percent renewable energy is a significant milestone for CaSoBe and aligns perfectly with our commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Erickson Manzano, president and chief executive of Landco Pacific.

Manzano said that by teaming up with ACEN RES, the resort is ensuring a greener operation and offering guests a sustainable leisure experience. Alena Mae S. Flores

METRO Manila’s office market is projected to record a net take-up of 400,000 square meters in 2026 as the sector signals a steady recovery from pandemic-era lows, according to property advisory firm Colliers. Colliers said in a briefing the growth would be led by an expected easing of space surrenders. The trend could lower the overall vacancy rate to 18.9 percent by end-2026. To meet rising demand, the market is prepared to welcome about 382,000 square meters of high-quality new office space annually. The optimistic 2026 forecast follows a resilient performance in 2025. The market closed that year with a net takeup of 309,000 sq. m., surpassing the revised forecast of 285,000 sq. m.

Total office transactions reached 847,000 sq. m., representing a 13 percent year-on-year increase that brought demand closer to levels seen before the downturn in the offshore gaming sector. By December 2025, the overall vacancy rate improved slightly to 19.4 percent from 20 percent in 2024. The improvement was supported by a 38-percent drop in space surrenders to 581,000 square meters, which Colliers noted was the lowest volume recorded since the pandemic. Demand from the IT-BPM sector in Metro Manila remained below pre-pandemic levels. Third-party outsourcing volumes fell 25 percent to 200,000 sq. m., lower than the

GSIS DIALOGUE. Stakeholders in Ifugao province join Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general-manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso and executives in an open dialogue to discuss access, connectivity and service delivery challenges in remote communities. Insights from the dialogue

EMPOWERING LEARNERS. MPower, the retail electricity supplier (RES) of Manila Electric Company (Meralco and Robinsons Land Corp. team up for a donation drive to support the teachers and students at

in Laguna province.

SHOPEE EXPANSION. Shopee Philippines expands operations in Visayas and Mindanao, reducing delivery times and creating 1,500 jobs by 2026 to boost regional e-commerce access.

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

PNB Holdings, Rezbin team up in launching recycling program

PNB Holdings Corp. (PHC) has expanded its sustainability initiatives through a strategic partnership with Rezbin, a multi-awarded, tech-enabled waste management company.

The collaboration introduces EcoStation, PHC’s new waste recycling program designed to make responsible waste disposal simple, measurable, and accessible across its major properties.

PNB Holdings chief operating officer Joselito R. Consunji said sustainability remains central to the company’s transformation roadmap.

“As a property developer and asset manager, it is our responsibility to build and operate in a way that uplifts communities and protects the environment,” Consunji said.

“Our partnership with Rezbin demonstrates PHC’s commitment to responsible business practices. Beyond compliance, we want to take meaningful steps that encourage a culture of sustainability among our employees,

tenants and partners,” he added.

EcoStation integrates Rezbin’s technology-enabled recycling system, which uses a behavior-driven, rewards-based model to encourage proper waste segregation.

Rezbin’s platform promotes habitforming recycling solutions designed to tackle the Philippines’ waste crisis through simple user experiences and incentive structures.

Through EcoStation, users follow a convenient three-step process: scan, snap and toss. For every valid recycling drop-off, participants earn ecopoints, which can be redeemed for rewards through the Rezbin app.

The system also equips app administrators with real-time tracking dashboards, allowing them to monitor the volume and types of recyclables collected. This ensures transparent reporting, measurable environmental impact and a more accountable waste management ecosystem within PHCmanaged properties.

UN: Nature protection not enough

THE world spends billions to protect nature, but trillions are being invested in business activities that harm the environment.

The United Nations issued a call for widespread financial reform as the most powerful way to shift global markets towards realizing a better world, for people and the planet. For every dollar invested in protecting nature, US$30 dollars are spent on destroying it―that’s the central finding of the recent State of Finance for Nature 2026 report, which calls for a major policy shift towards scaling up solutions that help the natural world―and support the economy at

Zamboanga bares city’s novel waste segregation

By Myra Cel L. Espinosa

ZAMBOANGA CITY―As cities

nationwide look for sustainable solutions to growing waste challenges, Zamboanga City is taking a lead role by implementing a comprehensive nine-bin segregation system that not only reduces mixed waste and extends landfill lifespan, but also promotes public health and community participation.

The city government, through the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR), is intensifying public education and operational reforms to ensure residents and establishments correctly use the newly introduced color-coded bins, covering paper, plastic, glass, metals, biodegradable waste, residual waste, electronic or hazardous waste, healthcare waste and used cooking oil.

The initiative also addresses reports of overflowing garbage in some barangays.

The expanded bin system is part of the city’s push to reduce mixed waste and extend the lifespan of its sanitary landfill. OCENR Acting Division Chief Gerry Polisco said the shift from the old four-bin system is a “strategic investment in long-term environmental protection and public health.” Gerry Polisco, Acting Chief of Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources, shares the strategies of the city government in implementing the bin system to the public, including education in proper waste management.

To facilitate proper usage, OCENR employs visual labeling, sustained information campaigns and multisector partnerships.

The implementation follows a phased approach―starting with city government offices, then commercial establishments in the central business district (Barangays Zone I to IV), before reaching other commercial areas and residential communities.

JPA/MLE/PIA-Zamboanga City

the same time.

The data identifies several areas where the damage is particularly stark: utilities, industrials, energy and basic materials; and sectors which benefit from environmentally harmful subsidies―namely fossil fuels, agriculture, water, transport and construction.

Private investment in nature-based solutions amounted to only US$23.4 billion―10 per cent of total NbS investments. Business and finance have yet to invest at scale in NbS despite

the growing awareness of dependencies, risks, and opportunities related to nature.

NbS investments need to grow 2.5 times to US$571 billion per year by 2030. This constitutes just 0.5 percent of global GDP (in 2024).

“If you follow the money, you see the size of challenge ahead of us,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of UN Environment Program, in response to the report, contrasting the slow progress of nature-based solutions with harmful investments and subsidies which, she declared, are surging ahead.

“We can either invest in nature’s destruction or power its recovery―

there is no middle ground.”

As well as identifying the size of the imbalance, the report’s authors lay out a vision of a “big nature turnaround,” highlighting examples of solutions that both work, and are economically viable.

They include greening urban areas to counter heat-island effects and improve livability for citizens and embedding nature in road and energy infrastructure.

The study also charts a path for phasing out harmful subsidies and destructive investment in systems of production and scaling up investments that are “nature-positive.” UN News

By Merlito G. Edale, Jr.

ILAGAN, Isabela―The National Irrigation Administration–Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIAMARIIS) expressed full support for the proposed Magat Dam Tourism Hub of the municipality of Ramon, Isabela, a key initiative aimed at boosting sustainable tourism and strengthening local economic development.

The assurance of support was conveyed during a mobile session of the Sangguniang Bayan of Ramon held on January 20, 2026, at the Camp Vizcarra Ecology Hall, attended by NIA-MARIIS officials led by department manager Gileu Michael O. Dimoloy and division manager Carlo C. Ablan.

Dimoloy said Magat Dam has long been recognized as a premier ecotourism destination, drawing more than 10,457 visitors during the recent holiday period from December 23, 2025 to January 4, 2026.

Although a man-made structure, Dimoloy said the Magat Reservoir and Watershed support a rich and diverse ecosystem of flora and fauna, offering significant ecological, educational and recreational value to the region.

He also stressed the vital roles of various NIA-MARIIS divisions in ensuring the dam’s sustainability and efficient operation to include the Watershed Management Section, which oversees the protection, development and rehabilitation of the Magat Watershed.

He also cited the Civil Works Section, which is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of dam facilities and the Electro-Mechanical Section, which manages the operation and upkeep of electrical and mechanical equipment.

Dimoloy noted that the proposed tourism hub reflects a strong commitment to balancing environmental conservation, public service and education, while also supporting the welfare of surrounding communities.

Kitchen gardens blossom in a Kenyan refugee camp

First of Two Parts

INSIDE the Hagadera Refugee Camp located in Dadaab, eastern Kenya sits Mariam’s kitchen garden.

This camp of semi-permanent corrugated metal houses and canvas tents has been her home for the last 19 years. She came here at 34 years old due to political unrest in her home country of Somalia, and she has never known any other place since.

Over the years, she has worked hard to make it home. This garden was a big part of that, but it was also important for providing nutritious and diverse produce for her family of seven.

Supporting kitchen gardens in the Dadaab camp was a part of the European Union (EU)funded Refugee Settlement Project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with other agencies of the United Nations.

While 2 000 refugee and host communities in Dadaab were supported to establish gardens through this project, Mariam’s garden stands out in the camp. With seeds provided by FAO, she grows spinach, kale–commonly known as Sukuma Wiki–black nightshade, cowpeas, amaranth and jute mallow.

Both the quantity and quality of these crops far

OTB/MGE/PIA Isabela

surpass others, which is why fellow community members come to learn from her. Some also ask for a share of her vegetables to feed their families.

“This has become the norm; women come here to see and admire my kitchen. I also share the vegetables with some of them, although most are just normally mesmerized as they had never thought that such green kitchen gardens could exist in Dadaab. They have now mustered up the courage to go set up their gardens,” Mariam explains.

Given that Dadaab is predominantly dry, with sandy soils and scarce water resources, it is a formidable challenge.

However, FAO provided training to produce crops within these conditions. Mariam, too, had to put in extra effort to maintain the green garden thriving today.

Her green thumb is assisted by regular visits from FAO’s extension service providers, who monitor her crops’ progress.

“After the training, I was informed that the vegetables require loam soil [fertile soil]. Here it is mostly sandy, and I had to use a donkeypulled cart to get the soil from far, an hour-long journey,” Mariam noted. “But I knew it was going to yield well, and now here I am with the results you can see,” she continued.(To be continued) FAO News

Magat Dam.

Mariam and her family of seven have vegetables for every meal and enough to share with the neighbors, further promoting the kitchen gardens idea to other refugees.

FAO/Joseph Othieno

Comprehensive nine-bin segregation system.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

SHOWBIZ

AT JUST 10 years old, Kryzl Jeorge speaks with the clarity and confidence of a seasoned performer. She doesn’t pause or mince her words. She delivers her thoughts with an honesty many adults struggle to express.

Over the weekend, Kryzl held a press conference for her latest single, “Heart’s in Bloom,” which she says captures her current mood.

Very Wang Nickie Wang

Even at a young age, she already knows what she wants. She told Manila Standard Entertainment that one of her dreams is to become a television host who can sing and act.

“My big dream, I want to be an actor, and be a host while singing. I have a lot of big dreams, actually,” she said.

She added that it’s fine if other children are still figuring out their passions.

“If you don’t know what your big dream is, it’s okay. You’re still young, enjoy your childhood,” Kryzl said.

The press launch took place at the Academy of Rock in Quezon City on Jan. 31. Kryzl thanked her family, mentors, coaches, and the media for their support.

“‘Heart’s in Bloom’ is really special to me. I personally wrote every line and every word. And, with the help of the amazing production team, it came to life!” Kryzl said.

The song was performed live for the first time in front of family, friends, and media. Its message is simple: beginnings do not need to be loud or flawless to matter—they only need

KOREAN actor Heo Sung-tae, known for his breakout role in Squid Game, stars in the action-comedy The Informant opens exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas on Feb. 4 under A-Reel Asia.

Heo plays Detective Oh Nam-hyuk, a once-promising officer whose career falters after a failed operation. Burned out and seeking redemption, he enlists an informant inside a dangerous smuggling syndicate, but events quickly spiral out of control. The film combines high-speed chases, physical comedy, emotional moments, and plot twists.

The Informant premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival and won Best Foreign Language at the Asia International Film Festival, earning recognition as a crowd-pleasing action-comedy.

The film is presented through A-Reel Asia, Ayala Malls Cinemas’ showcase of Asian cinema. The platform features films from South Korea, Indonesia, India, Japan, and China, highlighting diverse stories from across the region.

Ayala Malls Cinemas will screen The Informant at Glorietta 4, Market!Market!, Feliz, Fairview Terraces, TriNoma, Cloverleaf, Marquee, Harbor Point, Manila Bay, Nuvali, and Vermosa. The theaters have been upgraded with immersive surround sound, premium projection, and seating designed for extended viewing.

firsts and breakthrough wins at 2026 Grammy Awards

68th Annual Grammy Awards showcased a year of change, with the top honors reflecting a broader and more varied picture of where mainstream music now stands.

At the center of the ceremony was Bad Bunny, whose Debí Tirar won Album of the Year. The victory marked the first time a Spanish-language album claimed the Grammys’ highest prize. Hip-hop remained strongly represented as Kendrick Lamar and won Record of the Year for “Luther.” The win added another Grammy to Lamar’s tally and marked SZA’s first Record of the Year Song of the Year went to Billie Eilish for “Wildflower,” marking her third win in the category after earlier victories for “Bad Guy” and “What Was I Made For?”

One of the night’s clearest breakthrough moments came with Olivia winning Best New Artist. The win gave Dean her first Grammy and capped a steady rise that has drawn wider attention to her work over claimed Best Pop Vocal Album for Mayhem, adding another Grammy to a career that has repeatedly crossed genres. Leon won Best R&B Album for Mutt, marking his first major Kehlani also picked up two wins, taking Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for “Folded,” opening her Grammy account with a double victory.

In other categories, voters chose Doechii for Best Music Video Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Defying Gravity,” Jelly Roll for Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken, Tyler for Best Country Song for “Bitin’ List,” and Lola Young for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Messy.” International and regional awards went to Natalia Lafourcade for Best Latin Pop Album for Cancionera, Tyla for Best African Music Performance for “PUSH 2 START,” and Keznamdi for BLXXD & FYAH, while Pharrell Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. A night of

to be sincere. The arrangement was developed with Purple Hearts Production and refined under vocal coach Rachel Ann Pegason Alejo

“Actually, I handled Kryzl way before this project. I’ve really seen the development of her voice. Kryzl is a fast learner, so when I give her instructions, she applies them immediately. I can say she’s very dedicated, especially for ‘Heart’s in Bloom’,” Rachel said, noting how Kryzl’s discipline brought the song’s emotional core to life.

“Heart’s in Bloom” is Kryzl’s sixth original release. She reminded the audience that her five songs from 2024 are still available on her YouTube channel, Love Kryz! World, as well as on Spotify and Apple Music.

The press conference highlighted the support behind Kryzl’s growth: her family, mentors, production team, and a foundation she helps with. Her older brother and CEO of Purple Hearts, Charles Jorge, emphasized the role of support in her development.

“Giving Kryzl the support she needs in all forms possible has been the key,” Charles said, noting that both emotional and financial backing have allowed her passion to flourish.

Kryzl also announced plans for a milestone tenth-birthday concert in July 2026, featuring ten original songs—one for each year of her creative journey.

“On my tenth birthday, we’ll be holding a birthday concert, featuring my ten original songs. There will be guest artists, special performers, and ten charities, our beneficiaries, for our Purple Hearts Foundation. All of this will take place in July 2026,” she said. For the concert, Kryzl hopes to invite K-pop girl group Katseye, a small example of her ambitions.

When asked what advice she would give young writers, Kryzl offered simple guidance.

“Just start writing. Be yourself. Show your expressions at heart. Yeah, that’s it. You can even check the dictionary for rhyming parts.

Yeah, that’s what I do.”

“Heart’s in Bloom” is intended to encourage listeners to embrace new beginnings with clarity, gratitude, and courage. Kryzl also asked for support for her advocacy work.

“I humbly ask for your continuous support. We’re doing this not only for entertainment but also to help different communities through our advocacy. We will soon reveal the exact date, venue, and the way you can get or even receive your tickets. We truly look forward to celebrating this milestone with everyone. Thank you so much.”

‘Heart’s in Bloom’ is Kryzl Jeorge’s sixth original song, written to encourage courage and self-belief

Bad Bunny wins Grammy for Album of the Year award after ‘Debí Tirar

Más Fotos’ becomes the first Spanishlanguage album to win the top prize

Kehlani takes home two Grammys, namely Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for ‘Folded’

Lady Gaga delivers her acceptance speech after winning Best Pop Vocal Album for ‘Mayhem’ at the 68th Grammy Awards

Olivia Dean performs at the ceremony after being named Best New Artist, marking her first Grammy win

By Angelica Villanueva

FOR years, The Bistro Group was best known for bringing American casual dining brands to the Philippines. With Siklab’s newest and biggest branch at S’Maison, the company is now making a confident bet on something closer to home, Siklab, a Filipino restaurant done at scale and built to last.

Bistro Group bets on homegrown flavor with Siklab’s biggest branch

Siklab is the group’s first fully realized homegrown Filipino restaurant concept. While the company has operated international franchises for nearly three decades, according to Guia Abuel , chief operating officer of The Bistro Group, those years of experience were essential before attempting a local concept with the same level of discipline and consistency.

“Our strength really came from running foreign franchises. They’re very systematic, especially in the U.S. You learn about service standards, kitchen operations, food safety. Those are things we’re now able to apply to a Filipino brand,” said Abuel.

The original version of Siklab debuted in 2014 but struggled to gain momentum. At the time, Abuel admitted Filipino diners were more inclined toward Western brands, and the group itself was more comfortable working within proven franchise models. The idea was eventually shelved, as American brands like TGI Fridays continued to drive the business.

“For locally grown concepts, it really takes more time and effort to come up with something strong. Maybe we didn’t have the expertise yet back then,” she shared. It took nearly a decade and a maturing organization before Siklab was revived, this time as Siklab Plus. Inspired by the growing success of local Filipino

restaurants, the group decided it was finally time to invest fully in its own concept.

“We realized we already had all cuisines, American, Italian, Japanese, but we didn’t have a local concept. Looking at the success of other Filipino restaurants, we saw there was great potential. So we said, maybe it’s time,” Abuel said.

Reviving Siklab meant starting from the ground up. Menu development took five to six months, with concept chefs, including its executive chef and Michelinstarred chef Josh Boutwood , from across The Bistro Group brought together to reinterpret Filipino classics.

Each chef presented versions of dishes such as adobo and kare-kare, which were tasted, refined, and combined into a final menu. The result is a lineup that feels familiar yet playful, with generous portions, approachable flavors, and dish names that lean into humor rather than formality.

PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. are expanding their eBizNovation program to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) build digital skills, strengthen online presence, and access e-commerce markets.

The initiative follows a 2025 program year in which more than 3,000 MSMEs received training in artificial intelligence-driven business growth, digital marketing, and e-commerce. This year, the program aims to move participants from basic digital adoption to operational proficiency.

Roby A. Alampay , head of public engagement at PLDT and Smart, said the program’s goal is to turn digital inclusion into “digital mastery” for entrepreneurs nationwide.

The 2026 roadmap includes scaling the eBizNovation Community Adoption Program, launched in 2023, to offer hands-on, communitybased learning and personalized support for onboarding to e-commerce platforms.

While food anchors the experience, Abuel said Siklab’s edge lies in execution.

“Everyone says their mom cooks better. Food is everything, but it’s not everything. It’s also service, ambience, and consistency,” she explained.

Those elements are on full display at the S’Maison branch, the largest Siklab to date. Seating up to nearly 300 guests, the restaurant includes multiple function rooms designed for celebrations, corporate events, and large gatherings, reflecting how Filipinos typically dine in groups. The scale was intentional, after Siklab’s first branch at Edsa Shangri-La quickly proved too small to accommodate demand.

Since its 2024 debut, Siklab has shown steady growth rather than a short-lived opening surge.

When asked whether Siklab could eventually be brought outside the Philippines, Abuel was open to the idea, adding that Siklab carries a deeper meaning beyond expansion.

“Why not? If there’s an opportunity, we’re always open. This is our first Filipino restaurant, and we’re proud of that. We’re in the Philippines. It was really a must that we finally put our full energy into a Filipino concept,” Abuel told Manila Standard Life Encouraged by the response, The Bistro Group plans to open several more Siklab branches this year, including locations in

The program combines digital modules with cybersecurity education and has been implemented in Bulacan in partnership with the local Department of Trade and Industry office. Plans are underway to expand to additional provinces.

Participants report tangible benefits from the program. Frances Cruz , 49, who runs a food commissary in Malolos, Bulacan, said digital training improved customer engagement, particularly with clients from distant areas. Mona Enriquez , 32, owner of a local fragrance shop, noted that maintaining a digital presence has become essential for brand awareness and reaching more customers.

The program also draws on alumni such as Abbie Ricohermoso of Josefina’s Homemade Food, who transformed her family business into an internationally recognized brand and now serves as a mentor to new participants.

Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and head of stakeholder engagement at PLDT and Smart, said the 2026 focus includes sustainability and digital security, ensuring that participating MSMEs can protect customer data and business assets.

The eBizNovation program is part of PLDT Group’s broader digital inclusion efforts to support MSMEs as key contributors to the Philippine economy.

MUJI Philippines has rolled out a new kapok-based clothing collection for the 2026 spring-summer season, expanding its use of natural fibers in everyday apparel.

Kapok is a plant fiber taken from the seed pods of a tree native to Southeast Asia. It grows with minimal water and fertilizer and requires little to no pesticides. Traditionally used as stuffing for cushions and garments, kapok is lightweight and naturally airy, with hollow fibers that allow breathability.

The new MUJI collection features 13 styles for men and women. Nine styles are available now in MUJI Philippines stores, excluding pop-up locations, and online at mujiph.com. Four additional styles will be released at a later date.

Items include shirts, coveralls, and double-gauze blouses in colors such as dark navy, medium gray, natural, off-white, light yellow, light blue, black, and khaki, along with striped options. The pieces are designed for layering and daily wear, suited to warm-weather conditions.

According to the brand, kapok fabric is breathable, lightweight, and hypoallergenic, with moistureabsorbing and heat-retaining properties intended for comfort in tropical climates.

The collection is available at MUJI branches in Estancia Mall, GH Mall, Festival Mall, Glorietta 3, SM North EDSA, SM Mall of Asia, Uptown Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, Greenbelt 3, Power Plant Mall, and Central Square, as well as online.

Makati, BGC, Cavite, and Las Piñas.

From left: ‘The Voice’ grand champion Sofronio Vasquez, The Bistro Group corporate chef Josh Boutwood, SAVP for mall operations Perkin So, The Bistro Group chief operating officer Guia Abuel, Inoza Business Holdings Inc. board director Debbie Chung, The Bistro Group president Jean Paul Manuud, and Inoza Business Holdings Inc. board director Patricia Lim

With expansive seating and function-room-ready spaces, Siklab Plus positions its biggest branch yet as an events-friendly destination for families and corporate gatherings

The newest Siklab Plus branch at S’Maison emphasizes The Bistro Group’s push for a large-scale Filipino dining concept

C4 LIFE

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

Penshoppe expands into activewear with a line focused on everyday movement rather than performance metric

Inside a journey built on gold and diamonds

By Nickie Wang

Activewear with a play-first approach to movement

EXPANDING its lifestyle range, fashion brand Penshoppe will enter the activewear space with the launch of Penshoppe Play, a new line set to roll out in March

The brand said the collection is designed for people who move through their days in different ways, from casual workouts and short walks to weekend activities and commuting. Rather than performance-driven gear, the line centers on ease and wearability, framing movement as part of daily life rather than a structured routine.

To introduce the line, Penshoppe tapped Southeast Asian Games athletes Kira Ellis and Elijah Cole , who competed for the Philippines, as the first faces of Penshoppe Play. Ellis is a national triathlete, while Cole represents the country in pole vault.

Ellis said the line reflects an active lifestyle that balances training with everyday responsibilities, while Cole said it mirrors how movement shapes his life beyond competition.

Penshoppe vice president Brandon Liu said the goal was to remove pressure often associated with activewear. He said the brand aimed to create pieces for people who want to move without benchmarks or expectations.

The first collection draws inspiration from what athletes wear before, after, or between training sessions, focusing on relaxed silhouettes and athleisure pieces that feel accessible rather than

CHRISTINE Deo grew up in a modest neighborhood in Iligan City, where she learned early that gold carried value beyond appearance. Cash, she said, was easy to lose. Jewelry was not.

“If you came across some money and kept it at home, you could be sure it would get stolen,” she said. “But if you had a piece of gold, it was easier to hide.”

Her first notable purchase came through a pawned item from a woman who had returned from working in Japan and needed money. When the item was not reclaimed, Christine bought the pawnshop receipt and claimed the jewelry without knowing exactly what it was.

“I thought it was a bracelet,” she recalled with a laugh. “But when I put it on, it was huge. It turned out to be an anklet, and I had no idea what it was before.”

She continued buying pawned jewelry from neighbors, relying on instinct to judge long-term value. With few jewelry stores in her area, learning came through direct experience.

“There weren’t many jewelry stores in our area,” she noted. “So you

Years before online selling became common, Christine Deo built her jewelry business by relying on experience, relationships, and a trained eye rather than formal storefronts

lending, farming, trucking, piggery operations, travel and tours, and beauty clinics, though jewelry remained central to her work.

In 2009, Christine began selling jewelry online, using her Nokia phone to upload photos to Facebook. When live selling later became popular, she hesitated before joining.

“At first, I was embarrassed,” Christine admitted. “I felt like I didn’t belong there. But when I finally tried it, it wasn’t just about selling—it became my therapy. Sharing my gold and diamonds with an audience gave me life again.”

Some of her live-selling sessions have generated large sales figures.

One four-hour stream brought in P28 million.

“That only happens when people trust you,” she observed. “Anyone can sell online, but not everyone builds that relationship.”

Her customers, whom she refers to as “madam,” are based across the Philippines and overseas. Some participate online without appearing on camera, while others travel for private viewings.

Deo Gold and Diamonds operates showrooms in Parañaque, Cavite, and several locations in Mindanao. Christine described her business as modest in scale.

“We’re one of the smallest jewelers in the Philippines,” she said.

“Still humble pa rin tayo.”

She also draws a clear distinction between gold and diamonds.

“Gold is an investment,” she explained. “You can convert it quickly to cash when needed. But diamonds are different. They’re not for emergencies. You buy them when you’ve already saved some spare money. They’re a symbol of how far you’ve come.”

Christine credited jewelry with helping her endure a past financial setback.

“When I was swindled one time, I’d look at my jewelry, and they kept me going. I look at them and say, ‘You’re still here with me.’ It’s not about vanity. It reminds me I’ve survived.”

Now in her 20th year in business, Christine continues to sell primarily through live platforms.

“Jewelry is my weakness,” she added.

“But it’s also my passion. This isn’t just business anymore—it’s my calling.”

The new collection frames activity as

LONDON-BASED fashion brand COS is ushering in the Year of the Horse with a limited-edition Spring Festival capsule for 2026, paired with a short-run pop-up staged inside a historic temple in downtown

The collection, launched on Jan. 23, draws on themes of movement and renewal tied to the Spring Festival. Hand-drawn horse motifs appear across relaxed, fluid silhouettes, translating the animal’s vitality into linear prints, textured fabrics, and soft layers designed for everyday wear.

COS said the capsule blends traditional references with modern design, featuring wool knits in rich red tones, silk scarves, cotton accessories, and versatile sets in a palette that moves between spring brights and grounded neutrals. The pieces are intended for easy styling, with an emphasis on refined details rather than statement dressing.

To coincide with the release, COS opened an interactive pop-up from Jan. 23 to 26 at Tianhou Palace, also known as the Mazu Temple, in Shanghai’s Jing’an district. Built in 1884, the site has long served as a spiritual and cultural landmark for maritime communities, honoring Mazu, the Goddess of Heaven.

Set against the temple’s courtyards and traditional architecture, the pop-up reimagines a Chinese teahouse through a contemporary lens. Visitors can view the Spring Festival capsule alongside COS’s wider collection, take part in tea workshops, and add wishes for the new year to an interactive wishing tree adorned with red cotton and silk leaves. The tree will be replanted after the event.

.The Year of the Horse capsule is now available online and at the COS store in SM Aura Premier in Manila.

The collection blends traditional references with modern silhouettes, emphasizing texture, layering, and restrained color rather than statement dressing

Christine Deo discusses how how trading pawned jewelry in Iligan City taught her the value of trust and smart investing

COS introduces a Spring Festival capsule that draws on themes of movement, renewal, and cultural symbolism tied to the Year of the Horse