Manila Standard - 2026 February 12 - Thursday

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By Katrina Manubay, Charles Dantes, Maricel Cruz, and Ram Superable

THE Philippines on Wednesday called on Chinese diplomats in Manila to observe professionalism and mutual respect in their public statements, as tensions escalated over exchanges related to the West Philippine Sea.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Rogelio Villanueva said that while embassies have the duty to respond to issues, such responses must be delivered “in a calm and professional manner, conscious of the mutual respect that must prevail in all diplomatic interactions.” Manila issued the statement amid heated exchanges between officials of the Chinese Embassy and Filipino lawmakers, including senators who have defended the country’s maritime rights in waters claimed by Beijing.

Strongly worded statements and social media posts from the Chinese Embassy continued even after the DFA made diplomatic representations to express serious concern over the escalating public exchanges.

The DFA said it values “candid and vigorous debate with its foreign counterparts on important issues consistent with the Philippines’ democratic tradition,” but reminded China that embassies should be constructive in their statements to promote healthy

NEW OWNER. Pio Velasco, CEO of the family-owned Igorot Stone Kingdom Inc., stands beside the infamous Rolls-Royce Cullinan of contractor Sarah Discaya, who said in a previous interview she bought the luxury vehicle for its free umbrella.

Velasco bought the vehicle for P29 million during yesterday’s auction as a way to “preserve history.” Screengrab from GMANEWS, Norman Cruz

By Charles Dantes

By Katrina Manubay

Discaya’s luxury Rolls-Royce auctioned o for P29 million

A PRICEY Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which flunked two earlier biddings, was finally sold by the Bureau of Customs on Wednesday for a reduced price of P29 million.

The luxury car, confiscated by the government from private contractor Sarah Discaya, became notorious after she admitted in a media interview that she bought it specifically for a free umbrella that came with the sale.

Meanwhile, BOC Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Bendijo said the bureau has not scheduled the auction of luxury vehicles owned by companies linked to former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who was also at the epicenter of the corruption scandal.

“The period within which they were supposed to submit their initial docu-

By Katrina Manubay and Maricel V. Cruz

VICE President Sara Duterte said her lawyers are set to take legal action against alleged bagman Ramil

ments, they did not submit any. That’s why we will be constrained to issue a WST (Warrant of Seizure and Detention). After the issuance, they will be given another, if I’m not mistaken, 15 days to submit again their documentary requirements. If not, we will now be issuing a forfeiture order,” he said.

The BOC, which conducted the public bidding, said the floor price for the Rolls Royce was lowered from the initial P45.3 million.

Igorot Stone Kingdom Inc., a family-owned corporation that operates a theme park of the same name in Baguio City, won the bid.

Pio Velasco, founder and chief executive of the firm, said they bought it to “preserve history.”

Next page

Madriaga, who claims to be her former aide and is reportedly preparing to testify in her impeachment case. In a chance interview during her visit to Zamboanga, Duterte said her legal team is ready but declined to

disclose specific details.

“We have action. I cannot tell you now because my lawyers have forbidden me from speaking. I cannot say what my lawyers will do because Malacañang refutes online

MALACAÑANG on Wednesday rebuked online rumors claiming President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is suffering from colon cancer. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the rumors, which resurfaced after former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque claimed Mr. Marcos had a colostomy, were baseless and intended to damage both the government and

By Charles Dantes and Ram Superable

the country’s economy.

“These are rumors and gossip with no truth that harm the government and the President and even affect the economy,” Castro said in mixed Filipino and

Makabayan: Probe Epstein’s PH links

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Makabayan Bloc on Wednesday filed House Resolution 762 to conduct an investigation into the alleged Philippine-based operations and connections of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

House Assistant Minority Leader Sarah Jane Elago of Gabriela Women’s Party filed the resolution to uncover the extent of reported activities involving in-

dividuals and entities in the Philippines allegedly engaged by Epstein and his associates, particularly in relation to digital reputation management and online oper-

dialogue despite major differences and to advance overall bilateral relations.

At Malacañang, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. respects freedom of expression on all sides and will maintain a “firm but diplomatic” approach in dealing with China.

“The President respects freedom of expression. If China has the freedom to express its views, the same applies to Filipinos and to whatever the Senate has expressed,” Castro said.

Asked whether the Palace viewed the embassy’s condemnation as an attempt to silence the Senate, Castro said the government would not characterize it that way.

“We cannot react like that because they also have the right to say what they feel and express their sentiments, just as the Senate does,” she said. Castro also rejected calls for a more confrontational stance.

“Being confrontational is not necessarily a good solution to resolve disputes with China,” she said, adding that even if China adopts a combative tone, the Philippines has legal and diplomatic means to address any issue.

“While preventing the entry of foreign nationals into their territory is a country’s sovereign prerogative, such actions do not contribute to fostering good and vibrant bilateral relations, especially in reinvigorating people-to-people interaction, which both the Philippines and China have committed to,” the department added.

Kalayaan Vice Mayor Albayda brushed off the reported travel ban, saying it was “long overdue” and of little consequence to the town’s officials.

“We have long been expecting that. Since 2023. We have no plans to go to Hong Kong, Macau, or China,” Albayda said in an interview over DZBB Super Radyo.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday expressed support for the Kalayaan officials.

ations following his conviction.

“Any indication that Philippine-based individuals or firms may have been used to shield or assist a known international sex offender demands serious scrutiny,” Elago said.

“The Philippines has long faced vulnerabilities in trafficking, online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, and other forms of gender-based violence. We cannot allow our labor force or institutions to be exploited in ways that may indirectly enable or conceal crimes against

The Palace has consistently said it will defend Philippine sovereignty and national interests while keeping diplomatic channels open, particularly amid continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

On Tuesday night, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan said Beijing would firmly counter what he described as misinformation undermining bilateral ties while continuing to expand cooperation with Manila.

Speaking at the Spring Festival Reception, Jing said the embassy would “firmly and clearly say ‘no’” to what he called falsehoods.

“We cannot allow misinformation to mislead the public or undermine bilateral relations. At the same time, we will continue expanding practical cooperation—using positive momentum to drown out the noise, until such distortions find no audience and no believers,” he said.

On the same day, the Chinese Embassy rejected a Senate resolution condemning its recent statements on Philippine sovereignty and maritime issues, calling it a “political stunt.”

Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng claimed that some Philippine lawmakers had threatened and intimidated Chinese diplomats, accusing them of misrepresenting public opinion and distorting facts.

The statement came after the Senate adopted Reso-

“I will go there myself, then they should ban me,” Remulla said to GMA News Online.

“The Kalayaan Group of Islands is part of our territorial waters. We have been inhabiting it for over a century. In fact, it has its own local government unit. I will pay them a visit soon to reinvigorate our sovereign claim,” he added.

The statements came after the Chinese Embassy in Manila announced that 16 officials of the Kalayaan Islands were barred from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng said the move was made “based on the principle of reciprocity,” after the Kalayaan municipal council adopted resolutions in 2023 and 2026 declaring Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata within its jurisdiction.

“The so-called ‘Kalayaan Municipality’ council of the Philippines adopted resolutions in 2023 and 2026 declaring the Chinese ambassador to

those attacking me and filing cases against me might prepare,” she said.

Duterte is facing a third impeachment complaint filed by a group of priests, nuns, and lawyers and was endorsed by Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima earlier this week. Lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan, representing the complainants, said Madriaga’s sworn statement offers the “missing link” in tracing the alleged misuse of confidential funds by Duterte.

In December, Madriaga claimed he helped form the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group and alleged in a sworn affidavit that he transported cash for the vice president.

He said he delivered duffel bags and vehicles

“We formalized the partnership between the DepEd and the different provinces around the country and it is an effort to make sure that every Filipino student has a safe and decent classroom to learn in,” Mr. Marcos said. Under the agreement, DepEd will establish technical standards, designs and funding, while the LGUs will handle procurement and construction.

“Under this partnership, the DepEd will set technical standards, provide designs, and supply the funding for these classrooms,” President Marcos said.

The Chief Executive said devolving implementation would reduce delays and improve accountability, noting that local officials are directly answerable to their communities for project quality.

The initiative is backed by the 2026 General Appropriations Act, which allocates P85.39 billion for Basic Education Facilities.

The first tranche totals P9.6 billion, including P4.1 billion for provinces to build about 1,200 classrooms and more than P5 billion for 2,800

women and children,” she added. According to reports cited in the resolution, email exchanges from the so-called “Epstein Files” allegedly indicate that a Philippines-based team was engaged to perform backend digital work and reputation management services aimed at improving Epstein’s online image.

These revelations raised concerns about possible regulatory gaps and the risk of the country being used as an operational hub for activities connected to

lution 37, signed by 15 senators, saying the language used by a Chinese Embassy official departed from the restraint and courtesy expected in diplomatic exchanges and ran counter to principles of mutual respect.

Lawmakers defended the Senate resolution and called for stronger action.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros said a Senate resolution is a legitimate tool to express concern over actions affecting Philippine sovereignty and national interests.

“We will not be silenced or deterred by statements from foreign actors,” she said.

Hontiveros argued that the real threat comes from what she described as coercive actions by the People’s Liberation Army Navy, Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia, including ramming Philippine vessels, using water cannons against fisherfolk, and restricting freedom of navigation within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

“We will continue to use lawful instruments, including resolutions, to put these matters on record, even if a million statements are made against it. This is our constitutional duty,” she added.

She also urged the passage of her proposed West Philippine Sea Mandatory Education bill, saying that a public with high maritime domain awareness is the country’s strongest defense against foreign disinformation and interference.

be a ‘persona non grata’ in the municipality,” Ji said.

“Based on the principle of reciprocity, the individuals involved in fabricating the said resolutions are not welcome to enter China (including Hong Kong and Macao),” he added.

Kalayaan is the country’s only municipality located in the West Philippine Sea.

Among those reportedly banned are Mayor Beltzasar Alindogan, Albayda, and several municipal councilors and local officials.

The exchange comes amid heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea, as Philippine officials reiterate their commitment to defend sovereignty while keeping diplomatic channels open.

Albayda said they would treat the move of the Chinese embassy as a badge of honor.

“If we are among those banned or declared unwelcome, we consider

filled with money to various locations on orders supposedly linked to her camp.

The vice president has previously denied Madriaga’s accusations, asserting that she has no personal relationship with the detained former military agent.

House Committee on Justice chair Rep. Gerville Luistro of Batangas meanwhile said they will apply the same constitutional standards in evaluating impeachment complaints against Duterte as it did in tackling the impeachment cases against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Luistro made the statement after the plenary adopted the committee’s findings and recommendations dismissing two impeachment complaints against the President for insufficiency in substance.

“The people of the Philippines are assured that the parameters, deliberations, and approach

prefabricated classrooms to be procured by DepEd. In all, the initial rollout is expected to deliver 4,000 new classrooms nationwide.

He said projects will be subject to a performance-based framework, with no final turnover without written validation from DepEd that standards have been met.

He emphasized transparency to prevent substandard or “ghost” projects.

Beyond classrooms, the administration is also pushing to expand school connectivity.

Mr. Marcos said about 34,000 public schools currently have internet access, but thousands remain unserved or rely on mobile data.

The government aims to connect more than 14,000 additional schools, particularly in remote areas.

He added that learning recovery efforts, including the ARAL Program, are being expanded following early improvements in students’ reading and learning outcomes.

Education will remain the administration’s top priority for the remainder of his term, the president said, calling for sustained cooperation between national and local governments to deliver faster, more visible results for students, teachers, and parents.

it an honor as Filipinos because we stood firm for our country and our town,” he said.

“It is an honor to be included in the list because it shows that they recognize our town, small as it may be,” he added, noting that standing up for the country comes with consequences.

The travel ban comes amid renewed debate in the Senate over the Philippines’ territorial claims in the Kalayaan Island Group, which has a functioning local government and civilian community.

Albayda also said residents were angered by remarks attributed to Senator Rodante Marcoleta suggesting the Philippines might be better off giving up the Kalayaan Island Group to resolve the dispute with China.

“They are angry and offended,” he said.

Residents believe it would be better if Marcoleta personally visited the island to see conditions firsthand, he added.

of the Justice Committee in handling the impeachment complaints against the President will also be adopted in evaluating and determining the sufficiency in form and substance of the impeachment complaints against the Vice President,” Luistro said.

“Right now, they are not yet with the Justice Committee. That is why we have not seen these impeachment complaints. I heard there are already three, but we have not seen any of those,” she added.

Luistro said impeachment complaints must first be referred by the plenary before the Justice Committee can act on them.

She added the number of impeachment complaints to be taken up is solely for the plenary to decide.Luistro also explained why the impeachment complaints against the Vice President were not taken up last Monday, saying they remain with the Office of the Speaker.

and waving to the public as proof that the circulating images and allegations were fabricated.

She described Roque as a source of fake news and said the photo he presented to support the claim was a lie taken out of context.

The PCO official likewise urged the public not to believe unverified reports and reiterated that the President remains in good health and continues to carry out his official duties.

Meanwhile, Senator Raffy Tulfo on the same day pressed officials of Meta Platforms Inc. to promptly remove a “deepfake” Facebook post targeting Mr. Marcos.

During a Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media hearing on fake news, Tulfo said the manipulated content, allegedly posted on February 2, remained accessible more than a week later despite being reported to the platform.

“Our President is being disrespected blatantly, and you’re not doing anything about it, and you said you’re still processing it. Come on, take it down!” Tulfo told Meta public policy head for Indonesia and the Philippines Berni Moestafa.

Moestafa responded that, based on the latest information he received, the content had been removed, but acknowledged that similar materials could still be circulating under different accounts. Charles Dantes

transnational criminal networks.

“As legislators, we must ensure that our laws and inter-agency coordination efforts are adequate to protect women and children from various forms of abuse, whether online or offline,” Elago said.

“At this point, prompt and thorough investigation is needed to develop our laws, especially since the Philippines remains a ‘global hotspot of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children,’” the lawmaker noted.

Presidential Communications Office

Undersecretary Claire Castro denied Duterte’s allegations, citing previous instances in which the Vice President allegedly spread false information.

“Let us remember that we do not know where their talent in spreading fake news comes from,” Castro said. Duterte said she avoids communicating with lawmakers to spare them from what she described as the administration’s “wrath.”

“I don’t talk to people just to save them from the wrath of the administration. The same goes for senators,” Duterte said, adding that she has not discussed any term-sharing arrangements in the Senate.

Her remarks came after recent tensions in the upper chamber, where members of the minority bloc attempted to unseat Senate President Vicente Sotto III. The reported move was later defused through a power-sharing agreement within the majority bloc that could see Senator Loren Legarda assume the Senate presidency in the future.

Duterte declined to say whether the attempted leadership change in the Senate was connected to the latest impeachment complaint filed against her. Castro, for his part, referred to earlier claims made by Duterte about the alleged distribution of subsidized rice through the KADIWA program, which were later debunked, as well as supposed altered police blotters and videos targeting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

“There was that fake police blotter, an altered police blotter from Beverly Hills. There were also fake videos—not just one, but two—against the President and the First Lady. All of those are fake,” Castro said.

Discaya’s...

From A1

“It is historical because it opened the flood gates, the interest of the nation in this rampant corruption,” Velasco explained, adding that they simply intend to put the car on display at their theme park “to make the people aware that corruption does not pay.”

There were two others who qualified to bid, one of them television host Willie Revillame, but they failed to send in representatives during the public auction.

“They sent feelers that they wanted to catch up, but we could not delay the proceedings because we wanted to be very transparent. We do not want people to think that we are giving special attention to other people so we had to stick with the timelines,” Bendijo said.

The BOC put nine other luxury cars on the auction block, but the bids failed. These were a Lincoln Navigator 2024, two GMC Yukon Denalis 2022, a Cadillac Escalade 2021, a Maserati Levante Modena 2022, a Cadillac Escalade ESV 2022, a Bentley Bentayga 2022, a 2017 Blue Bugatti Chiron, and a 2019 Red Bugatti Chiron.

Seven of these vehicles were also seized from the Discaya couple who are currently under investigation for alleged complicity in the massive flood control corruption.

Bendijo said the BOC might cut down the prices for the remaining vehicles up for auction set on Feb. 25. BOC however, was also considering accepting direct offers for the Bentley and the Bugatti Chiron due to repeated failed biddings.

This means interested buyers could set their own price offers.

“If it’s a direct offer, obviously, we cannot control the floor price anymore, and we do not want to accept offers that are disadvantageous. So it’s a balance between high revenue versus the ability to sell it,” Bendijo said.

“The purpose here is to convert all forfeited items to revenue, to realize them, instead of destroying them because our country needs the funds,” he said. With Vito Barcelo

DOTr: File cases over Basilan ship sinking

By Darwin G. Amojelar and Vince Lopez

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr)

on Wednesday said it has ordered the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to file administrative and possible criminal cases against the owners, executives, and crew of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3.

The directive follows an investigation indicating that overloading and poor seamanship were the primary causes of the vessel’s sinking off the coast of Basilan on January 26, 2026.

“One of the identified potential causes for the sinking is the possibility of overcapacity and overloading. This is because when a vessel is overloaded, there is a high likelihood of cargo shifting among the rolling cargoes on board,” Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said.

According to Lopez, other contributing factors in the sinking of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 included poor seamanship and multiple safety violations.

Lopez added that despite safety violations during pre-departure, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) allowed the ship to voyage, and M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 was able to secure a certificate of seaworthiness from MARINA despite its safety deficiencies.

“Given these circumstances, we believe there is sufficient basis to impose sanctions not only on the vessel, but also on its owners, officials, and crew. We have ordered MARINA to file administrative cases against the shipowner, Aleson Shipping Lines,” Lopez said.

The transportation chief added that MARINA will also file administrative cases against the agency’s regional officers and the PCG personnel involved in the incident.

Lopez said criminal charges will be pursued against Aleson Shipping’s owners and other responsible individuals if evidence of gross negligence is found.

US reaffirms security pledge amid tensions

By Ma. Katrina Mikaela Manubay and Rex Espiritu

THE United States reaffirmed its commitment to the security of the Philippines and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, citing the 75-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty and concerns over China’s actions in the South China Sea, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Y. Robert Ewing said Tuesday.

In his keynote address during the U.S.-Philippines Society Trilateral Panel, Ewing said shared values and a commitment to a free Indo-Pacific make Philippine concerns U.S. concerns, emphasizing that building credible deterrence remains a shared responsibility.

“During the 2025 ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Secretary Lazaro, then-Foreign Minister Takeshi, and Secretary Rubio reaffirmed our commitment to regional peace, stability, and freedom of navigation.

They emphasized that a free and secure Indo-Pacific depends on the Philippines’ economic growth,” he said.

Organizers reject ‘resign all’ calls at Feb. 25 march

By Rolando Ng III

NO calls for resignations of the country’s highest officials will be made during the third Trillion Peso March on February 25, according to its organizers.

Various groups, particularly the Buhay ang People Power Network, said calls for accountability will not lead to demands for the removal of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

BAPP convenor Kiko Aquino Dee said they are cautious about any move by other groups that would seek to topple both Marcos and Duterte from office.

“We also know that they’re calling a protest at the People Power Monument. We want to be clear that, while

we’re calling for accountability and an end to dynasties, we’re very cautious to make sure that’s within the bounds of the 1987 Constitution,” Dee said.

While participating groups will continue to call for accountability, Dee said the issue of impeachment will not be made prominent.

Fr. Carmelo Caluag of Caritas Philippines said other groups wishing to take part in the protests would need to secure a separate permit.

Like Dee, Caluag stressed that any group can join the activities on February 25 as long as they do not call for mass resignations.

“Definitely, they can join, provided that we share the same goal. Because very clearly, we stated that we are not for ‘resign all’ or a revolutionary gov-

ernment,” the Jesuit cleric said, adding that campaigns against corruption must be based on the rule of law.

The organizers also refused to give crowd estimates, saying the declaration of February 25 as a special working holiday could affect turnout.

A high Mass marking the anniversary of the People Power Revolution will be held at 7 p.m., to be led by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

A prayer march at 7 a.m. on the same day will also be conducted by various groups to commemorate the swearingin of Cory Aquino as President. The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), meanwhile, called on schools to declare February 25, the 40th anniversary of the People Power Revolution, a holiday.

PH gov’t hails decline in corruption

By Charles Arvin Dantes

MALACAÑANG attributed the Philippines’ decline in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s efforts to investigate corruption in government.

In a briefing on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the country’s drop from 114th to 120th place out of 182 countries was “expected” because the President opened the issue of corruption in flood control projects to public scrutiny.

“That is expected because the President opened the issue of corruption. If the President exposes corruption, investigations will follow, and that is exactly what he wants—to have matters

investigated. During these investigations, past irregularities are revealed,” Castro said.

“The President is cleaning up what happened before. All the dirt from the past is being addressed. Through this process, people will see the changes and recognize that corruption in government is being prevented and removed,” she added.

When asked which previous administrations were implicated, Castro declined to specify, saying the investigations concern “all of the past.”

The Corruption Perceptions Index, published annually by Transparency International, ranks countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption, with higher rankings indicating lower perceived corruption.

IN BRIEF

QC joins UNESCO global network of learning cities QUEZON City has been named one of 72 newly designated members of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Global Network of Learning Cities. Mayor Joy Belmonte said the recognition affirms the city’s belief that learning extends beyond classrooms and across all stages of life.

“We stand with UNESCO in the belief that inclusive, excellent, and high-quality learning helps create and reinforce individual empowerment and social cohesion,” Belmonte said. The citation recognizes the city’s efforts to promote inclusive education, strengthen public schools, and foster lifelong learning through libraries, skills programs, and cultural initiatives. Rio N. Araja PNP to prosecute backer of smuggling hub in Tarlac

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday announced it is building cases against the financier of a P47.5-million illegal cigarette operation uncovered in Tarlac. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group seized 683 master cases of illicit cigarettes in Barangay Tibag, Tarlac City from Feb. 9 to 10.

The contraband, found in two unattended container vans, was linked to four suspects earlier arrested and believed to be part of a larger smuggling network.

Nartatez said Tarlac was being used as a transit and staging hub for distribution to Central Luzon and Metro Manila using a “feeder” system to evade detection. Vince Lopez

Comelec: 30-day Antipolo campaign starts Feb. 12

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday reminded aspirants in the March 14 special polls in Antipolo City’s 2nd District that the 30-day campaign period begins Thursday. Comelec chair George Garcia said prohibitions such as vote-buying and oversized posters will be strictly enforced, although materials in private properties with the owner’s consent will be allowed. He urged candidates to minimize noise and avoid causing traffic disruptions during campaign activities. Garcia said Comelec is set to release the certificates of candidacy of seven aspirants vying to replace the late Rep. Romeo Acop. The candidates are Dandin Infante, Reden Llama, Lorenzo Juan Sumulong III, Maria Trinidad Cafirma, Philip Conrad Acop, Nathaniel Lobigas and Irvin Paulo Tapales.

RECOVERED. Philippine Coast Guard divers recover the body of a female victim from the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 off Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan, on Feb. 11. The remains are retrieved by BRP Melchora Aquino during ongoing search and rescue operations. PCG

Manny Palmero

LGU BRIEFING. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto meets with Metro Manila mayors on Feb. 10 to brief them on the 2026 Local Government Support Fund and align national and local priorities.

IN BRIEF

Manila-BPI tie-up eyes higher food production

THE city government of Manila is working with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to explore the adoption of Singapore’s urban farming technologies with a view to food sufficiency.

Speaking during the BPI’s 96th anniversary celebration on Wednesday, Manila Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso said they aim to localize food production in highlyurbanized setting.

“I opted to choose Singapore because geographically, physically, it is small but highly urbanized, fully developed, and if they can produce their own, and we also can produce our own,” he said.

Domagoso cited Singapore’s experience as a dense city-state that has invested heavily in technologydriven agriculture. Pot Chavez

Manila cop shoots dead attacker in self-defense

A MANILA policeman reportedly shot dead in self-defense a 41-year man who allegedly went berserk following a quarrel with his wife.

Homicide investigation showed that the deceased, identified Christopher Glenn Miralles, attacked Pat. Reygie Pellas with a knife and a hammer while the policeman was trying to patch up the quarreling couple.

The lawman dropped to the ground during the assault as he sustained a knife wound in the stomach apart from being hit in the head, but was able to fire his gun, killing Miralles, an Angkas rider, on the spot. Pellas and a fellow law enforcer, Jhonex Castillo, were dispatched to Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila in response to an alleged domestic violence involving the Miralles couple.

Itchie Cabayan

10 extremist insurgents yield in Maguindanao

AT least 10 members of violent extremist groups voluntarily surrendered to government forces in Maguindanao del Sur on Feb. 10 and turned in high-powered weapons, including two 60 mm mortars.

Lt. Col. Loqui Marco, commander of the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion, said the surrenderees decided to return to the fold of law after realizing that armed struggle offered no clear direction or future for them.

Local officials who attended the surrender ceremony included Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Bassir D. Utto, Vice Mayor Moadz Alim, Datu Hoffer Councilor Harris Ampatuan, and Datu Abdullah Sangki Vice Mayor Samsodhen Sangki. “The return of our fellow Filipinos to the fold of the law is a true symbol of courage and transformation. It is a reminder that there is always a path back to a peaceful life with their families and communities,” the Army said. Rex Espiritu

DSWD ramps up literacy program with public, private partnerships

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has expanded its literacy project called “Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program” (TBTP) through enhanced partnerships with local government units (LGUs), state universities, and partner organizations nationwide.

For 2026, the TBTP is targeting at least 130,000 beneficiaries who will participate in cash-for-work (CFW), cash-fortraining, and parenting and learning sessions facilitated by youth beneficiaries. DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay,

head of Innovations and Program Development Group (IPDG), who also serves as the national program director of the TBTP, has coordinated with various local chief executives to further expand the program and establish

SWEET SCENT OF VALENTINE’S DAY.

A florist arranges her bouquets at an outdoor stall at Market! Market! in Taguig City on in anticipation of brisk business on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. Edd Castro

meaningful partnerships nationwide.

The program engages the “Kabataan sa Bagong Pilipinas”—college students from low-income families—who serve as tutors and Youth Development Workers (YDWs), helping elementary learners improve their literacy skills while also supporting parents to become learning partners at home.

The program, Punay said, is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s directive that no Filipino child should be left behind in learning.

“New partnerships with LGUs and state universities have already been planned in the first quarter, and we are prioritizing expansion in geographically

PNP mounts investigation on increasing online sale of babies

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday, Feb.11, disclosed that it is conducting an intensive investigation into the reported rise in the online sale of babies.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the crackdown targets both local and international syndicates suspected of involvement in human trafficking schemes.

“This is an alarming modus that needs to be stopped at once for it degrades the sanctity of human life. The Philippine National Police will provide the necessary support systems to identify and arrest all those involved,” Nartatez said.

“We have been conducting a thorough investigation aimed at unmasking the network system of these syndicates and currently, we are on the right track,” he added.

Nartatez directed the mobilization of specialized police units to dismantle the networks behind these transactions.

Authorities earlier reported that seven individuals were arrested for selling babies in 2024. The figure rose to 14 in 2025.

This year, nine suspects have been arrested so far.

However, police said of the 19 cases logged from 2024 to 2026, only one case in 2024 resulted in a conviction.

Nartatez viewed this deficiency as a primary challenge for the PNP to aggressively address through better case build-up and prosecution support. Nartatez also said the PNP was collaborating with social media platforms to combat this illegal online activity. He maintained that tech companies must take responsibility for the contents posted on their sites.

Tighter cases vs. tobacco smuggling eyed

By Maricel V. Cruz

A TOBACCO company on Wednesday called for stronger prosecution of illegal tobacco cases filed under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage (AAES) law or Republic Act (RA) 12022 to secure convictions against major offenders. At a hearing conducted by the House Committee on Ways and Means, Shaiful Mahpar, director for corporate affairs and communications of JTIP, asserted that the passage of the AAES law in 2024 marked a significant policy milestone, declaring large-scale smuggling of agricultural products—including tobacco—as economic sabotage.

Despite numerous large-scale seizures meeting the law’s thresholds, Mahpar noted that the drive has not resulted in convictions for illicit tobacco

under the AAES Law.

“Strengthening and focusing on prosecutorial follow-through would be essential to ensure that the law delivers its intended deterrent impact,” Mahpar told the legislators. The AAES law establishes a threshold of ₱10 million worth of smuggled agricultural products for cases to qualify as economic sabotage which is a capital offense and therefore, non-bailable.

Mahpar also pointed out recent findings by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), indicating a shift from traditional smuggling to domestic illegal cigarette manufacturing.

Law enforcement agencies have uncovered manufacturing facilities, machinery, raw materials, and counterfeit tax stamps, signaling the presence of organized and well-financed networks operating within the country.

isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs),” DSWD assistant secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.

As part of the expansion, the DSWD, through the TBTP National Program Management Office, signed a memorandum of agreement with the Calaca City government and the Calaca City Global College. The partnership will allow more than 300 learners to join the pilot implementation of the program in the city. According to Dumlao, Calaca City Mayor Sofronio Ona Jr. expressed appreciation for the partnership and assured the city government’s full support for the program’s success.

DENR adopts rigid rules on Bora projects

By Rio N. Araja

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday announced the adoption of a stringent policy to protect the world renowned Boracay Island in Aklan, covering all projects including government development to protect its ecosystems.

The agency issued Department Administrative Order No. 2025-36, resetting stricter guidelines for the processing of environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) and certificates of non-coverage (CNCs) for all projects on Boracay Island in line with its continuing rehabilitation and sustainable management.

The order provides standards for evaluating accommodation capacity and geological hazards in the review and processing of ECC and CNC applications.

The DENR said the regulation applies to all existing projects, expansion projects, and new developments on the island that fall within the purview of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, and the new and existing structures that qualify for the issuance of a CNC.

Under the guidelines, a proponent of an existing structure an expansion project and a new national government project covered by the Philippine EIS System must secure an ECC.

In issuing the directive, the DENR reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Boracay’s fragile ecosystems while allowing carefully regulated development that supports sustainable tourism, public welfare, and the gains achieved from the island’s rehabilitation.

The issuance of the order stemmed from the lessons learned during Boracay’s six-month rehabilitation from April to October 2018.

The requirements included an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) checklist, certification from the local government unit confirming compatibility with existing land use plans, zoning certificates, and/or Sangguniang Bayan resolution on land re-

THEY’RE SANDBAGS, NOT RICE. An elderly cyclist pedals through with a wall of sand bags at the backdrop along Bagong Kalsada in Los Banos, Laguna. Revoli Cortez

OPINION

Abolishing legislatures

OUR Monday article about the cat-clawing in the Senate of the 24 “republics” received several comments from friends.

Most of these questioned the relevance of the institution, exasperated at the seeming endlessness of leadership fights and the lack of coherence in our senators “grandstanding” and “investigations that amount to nothing.”

Someone sent me a radical suggestion supposedly coming from a former Anti Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to “abolish legislative bodies” and save a trillion pesos in salaries and perks annually .

In this space, I have consistently advocated a revision of the 1987 Constitution to address our flawed government structure. While I favor retention of the presidential form instead of reverting to a parliamentary system, at least until such time that genuine political parties have taken root and the electorate has become more mature, I have been proposing:

One, that we abolish the party-list system, and instead define what are the truly “marginalized” sectors, their representatives to be nominated by the president and confirmed by the duly-elected members of Congress; Two, though not averse to a unicameral legislature, I have been proposing meanwhile that we elect senators by regional representation. Since we have 18 administrative regions including BARMM, then we elect two per region for a total of 36 senators.

Three, that we have the duly elected vice-president sit as presiding officer of the Senate, instead of our present system where the president may or may not appoint the vice-president as a member of the Cabinet;

Four, that we adopt bloc voting for all executive positions, thus, a president and his vice-president, a governor and his vice-governor, a mayor and his vicemayor, doing away with crossing party lines, with the “vice’s” automatically presiding over the national or local legislative bodies;

Five, that we do away with having to elect provincial board members and city or municipal councilors, and, in their place, all the component municipal or city mayors will constitute the provincial board, and the duly elected barangay chairmen to comprise the city or municipal council.

This would require a rationalization of the number of barangays nationwide, to do away with the anomaly of cities with so many barangays not proportionate to population and territorial jurisdiction (the City of Manila with 897 barangays is an anomaly);

Six, that we hold synchronized elections for a term of six years with one reelection for all elective positions, since three-year election cycles are too short for effective planning and program implementation.

With the previously cited five propositions, we will thus cast one vote for president and his vice-president, two votes for our region’s senators, one for the district’s representative, one for the governor and his vice-governor, and one for the town mayor and his vice-mayor.

That will mean writing down or choosing six names or tandems in the ballots, only five in the case of non-component cities such as Manila, Cebu, Davao, etc.

A Manileno voter thus elects his choice for president, with his VP teammate, two senators for Metro Manila, his district representative, and the mayorvice mayor tandem, just five.

—“—

Proactive oversight strengthens public trust

OMBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin Remulla spoke last Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of a proactive approach in combating corruption.

He noted that government oversight should not be purely reactionary, and that corruption is a formidable adversary, often fueled by large sums of money.

Careful planning and teamwork, he said, are essential in addressing it.

whether oversight mechanisms are functioning effectively.

public services, and programs intended to serve constituents.

When these matters linger without visible progress, public confidence in institutions suffers. Oversight must not only exist, it must be seen to work.

Remulla’s commitment to proactive planning and deterrence offers a model for addressing these issues.

We need not even hire uber-expensive vote-counting machines with just a few names to write. Comelec can even deputize bank ATMs for the elections.

Seven, the barangay chair and council members will be elected separately in mid-term elections, and that nonsense about not being “partisan” done away with. Let them be bona-fide members of a political party, and abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan;

Eight, we prefer a two-party presidential system, without prejudice to having “independent” parties, where the two major parties receive campaign and election-day and campaign funding from the government instead of having to receive contributions from business and vestedinterest groups; With regional voting for senators, candidate’s expenses will be quite limited, and celebrity status will have less vote advantage. Comelec should sponsor public debates so that candidates can be wisely vetted by the electorate.

Our system is copied from that of the US of A, even if ours is a unitary form compared to their federation of 50 states where powers are well-defined.

Then in 1986, an appointive commission of 48 members drafted the present fundamental law with reactive provisions to the excesses of martial rule.

It is time to shape a political system that is truly Filipino, not one copied from the West.

It is also time to do away with less important local and provincial legislatures when these are better done by the elected executives of local government units.

THROUGHOUT the history of warfare and conflicts, there are always people selling their country to the enemy and we are no exception.

We experienced this during the 2nd World War where many of us including our political leaders collaborated with the enemy. There are many reasons why people do this because it is a complex phenomenon and there are no easy answers.

But some of the reasons could be because of greed, revenge, blackmail and a misguided or perverted notion of patriotism.

There are many examples of traitorous individuals during World War 2 in Europe as well as in our country.

For us, the local term for those who collaborated with the Japanese was Makapilis.

After the Japanese surrender on Sept. 2, 1945, many of these collaborators who were detained in Palawan were eventually granted amnesty by President Manuel Roxas in 1948 and later executive clemency by President Elpidio Quirino in 1953.

Some people now may be shocked to know that many of those granted amnesty were the most prominent Filipinos at that time that included Emilio Aguinaldo, Jose P. Laurel and Benigno Aquino Sr., the father of the late Ninoy Aquino.

Many of the lesser personalities numbering about 323, however, did serve time in Muntinglupa for collaboration.

We should therefore not be too sur-

It is time to simplify the system, making it more informed and less expensive to maintain.

Modern day Makapilis

prised that in our standoff with China with regard to the WPS, a lot of people which include top politicians, academics, business personalities, journalists and others are parroting China’s position sometimes coaxed in a way that it will not be seen as outright collaboration.

It is time to shape a political system that is truly Filipino, not one copied from the West —“— How about our embassy in Beijing?

Some like FPRRD, however, just went ahead and said we could become a province of China only to backtrack and say it was only a joke.

But even if it was only a joke, as President of the land, he should not even joke about such issues.

As we already know, it was FPRRD who tried to move the country away from our long standing relationship with the United States and move us closer to China.

Not surprisingly, given his political clout and strength, his political allies and followers still subscribe to that position even if he is no longer president.

We can see this at work in the effort of the Senate leadership to come out with a resolution condemning some of the actions of some Chinese embassy personnel in Manila.

With only 24 of them and considering that the effort was for the country, most if

The Ombudsman also highlighted the role of deterrence, observing that fear of consequences can sometimes prevent wrongdoing.

While this may sound stern, it reflects a practical truth: effective oversight requires both vigilance and visible action to reinforce the rule of law.

Yet, across the country, numerous complaints against former local officials, including allegations of plunder, graft, substandard public works, and financial mismanagement, remain unresolved.

These long-pending cases, officially filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, illustrate the challenge of balancing institutional workload with public expectations for timely accountability.

Delays in addressing complaints are often attributed to backlogs and the prioritization of urgent matters such as roads and flood control projects.

While these priorities are understandable, prolonged inaction risks weakening public trust.

Citizens entrust officials with resources meant for local communities, and delays leave these communities vulnerable and raise questions about

Acting decisively on these complaints not only addresses past wrongdoing but also sends a clear signal: local officials and their families who treat budgets for city halls, provincial capitols, and other public offices as personal accounts must be held accountable, and mismanagement should not be repeated.

Prolonged inaction risks weakening public trust

Ensuring that wrongdoing carries consequences can deter public officials from committing similar acts in the future.

Certainty of punishment encourages compliance, but successfully prosecuting and resolving these cases is even more effective.

Visible enforcement reinforces the message that corruption has real consequences, protecting both public resources and citizens’ trust in governance.

These unresolved complaints are not isolated.

They involve infrastructure projects that affect daily life, budgets that fund

By Jose Antonio Goitia

IN AN era where information travels faster than truth, we find ourselves at a critical crossroads. This is a moment that calls not for confusion, but for absolute clarity.

As Chairman Emeritus of several patriotic organizations, I have watched with growing concern as narratives regarding the West Philippine Sea gain traction online—narratives that seem designed to misrepresent the law and weaken our national resolve.

We must be vigilant against assertions, such as those circulating on social media by figures like Sass Rogando Sasot, that cast doubt on our country’s lawful exercise of sovereignty.

When baseless doubt is normalized, prudence gives way to surrender. I refuse to let that happen.

The Law Is Firm, Not Uncertain

The legal framework governing the West Philippine Sea is settled.

Let us be precise: the West Philippine Sea is our geographic designation; the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is our legal maritime zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Philippines has never confused these two, and our position does not depend on doing so. Complexity should never be used as a smokescreen to obscure what is already clear. As Filipinos, you deserve clarity, not manufactured doubt.

Furthermore, international treaties do not—and cannot—erase Philippine laws by mere implication. No act of Congress has repealed Presi-

not all of the political allies of FPRRD did not sign – shocking to say the least.

Recently, Senator Ping Lacson warned about the presence of modern day Makapilis or traitors in our midst.

Being a former man in uniform, he must have been alarmed by what he has been seeing.

But is he right about his warning because the word traitor is ordinarily used only when there is war and since we are not at war, perhaps we should be careful in using the term.

This, however, is no longer so.

One can indeed be a traitor even when there is no active conflict going on if one “undermines sovereignty, jeopardize na-

Updating the public on progress, ensuring accountability is visible, and following through on documented complaints strengthens the Office of the Ombudsman’s credibility and reinforces civic trust. Citizens are reassured that complaints lodged in good faith are taken seriously, that government resources are protected, and that wrongdoing is addressed so it will not be repeated. Accountability in governance is not partisan; it safeguards communities and sustains institutions.

Timely action on long-pending complaints demonstrates that rules apply equally to all and that public service is more than a position, it is a responsibility.

When the Ombudsman exercises oversight visibly and proactively, citizens gain confidence that corruption is confronted, oversight functions effectively, and public trust is valued. Ultimately, accountability cannot wait. Institutions tasked with oversight must balance workload with timely action, and citizens must see that complaints matter.

Addressing long-pending cases strengthens governance, restores trust, and shows that justice is not just an ideal but an active practice.

Why we must stand firm on PH sovereignty

dential Decree No. 1596, and no Supreme Court decision has invalidated it. To claim otherwise is a fundamental misunderstanding of how our legal system operates.

Upholding Our Rights at Sea

Our position on Ayungin Shoal has always been lawful and consistent. We defend it not as land territory, but as an integral part of our EEZ.

We have stood firm where the law stands—and that is exactly where we must remain

Under international law, the EEZ grants us the sovereign rights to enforce laws, protect resources, and maintain a presence—rights resoundingly affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling. “You do not need to own land to defend what is lawfully yours at sea. That is precisely why UNCLOS exists.”

The continued presence of the BRP Sierra Madre is not a provocation; it is a justified exercise of our rights.

Those who suggest otherwise are dangerously confusing territorial sovereignty with maritime rights, risking the integrity of our public discourse.

Discipline Is Not Retreat

There are those who suggest that the Philippines weakened its position by choosing arbitration. I disagree. We exercised the highest form of national disci-

tional security and provide aid to foreign adversaries.”

Actions like “promoting foreign narratives, spreading disinformation and public officials advocating for or allowing powers to occupy or control national territory could all be construed as traitorous acts.”

That Senator who said we should simply give up the Kalayaan group of islands should never have said those words, being a ranking public official.

Under normal circumstances, he should be facing serious backlash to what he did but he appears to be nonchalant.

Unfortunately, our politics is unique and altogether a different banana and the good senator might simply get away with

pline by pursuing a legal path where the law was strongest and where international courts held jurisdiction.

We chose principle over posturing. By doing so, the law responded by rejecting expansive claims that had no legal foundation.

This was not hesitation; it was sound statecraft anchored in our long-term national interest.

Why We Must Remain Vigilant

Public debate is the lifeblood of our democracy. However, when doubt is repeated often enough, it begins to masquerade as truth.

A nation that begins to doubt its own rights essentially does the work of its challengers for them.

Let me be clear on the legalities: PD 1596 remains in effect. It has not been repealed by Congress or the Courts. UNCLOS governs entitlements. It does not extinguish domestic laws. The 2016 Ruling is Final. It settled that Ayungin Shoal lies within our EEZ. A Call to Stand Firm

This is my call for vigilance. We must weigh online claims carefully, especially pro-China narratives that seek to undermine our confidence.

The Philippines has not surrendered. We have not retreated.

We have stood firm where the law stands—and that is exactly where we must remain.

(The writer, who has Juris Doctor, PhD, MNSA, MPA and MBA degrees, is Chairman Emeritus of Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya, People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms, Liga Independencia Pilipinas, and the Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement.)

making such dangerous and controversial remarks.

We have been condemning the actions of some Chinese embassy personnel here but at least they are fighting for the interest of their country even if it was not the proper way to do it.

But how about our embassy in Beijing?

Have we even heard a word from them?

It is as if there is no Philippine embassy there.

If our officials here cannot even be united and our diplomats are not seen or heard, how do we expect to win or get our message thru?

The government should act on this issue decisively and not allow it to linger.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026

Netanyahu to push Trump on missiles

9 killed in mass shooting that targeted school

TORONTO – A mass shooting in a remote part of western Canada killed nine people on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time), including seven who were shot at a secondary school, before the suspect took their own life.

The killings occurred in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, a picturesque mountain valley town in the foothills of the Rockies.

A total 27 people were wounded, including two with serious injuries and 25 others who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is suspending his planned trip to the Munich Security Conference following Tuesday’s mass shooting in a remote western community, his office said.

“Following the tragic news out of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, the Prime Minister will be... suspending his planned travel out of the country for the time being,” the prime minister’s office told AFP.

Canadian media have reported that the shooter was female, but the RCMP declined to provide any details on the suspect’s identity in a press conference on Tuesday. AFP

IN BRIEF

HK convicts father of wanted activist

HONG KONG – A Hong Kong court convicted the father of a wanted pro-democracy activist on Wednesday for handling money belonging to his daughter overseas, the first such verdict issued under the city’s homegrown national security law. Authorities in the Chinese finance hub have vowed to pursue overseas “fugitives” accused of endangering national security and have issued bounties on 34 people so far, moves decried by some Western countries as transnational repression.

Hong Kong placed a HK$1 million ($128,000) bounty on overseas pro-democracy advocate Anna Kwok in 2023, and later made it a crime for anyone to deal with an absconder’s funds or other financial assets.

Her father Kwok Yin-sang, 69, was found guilty on Wednesday of attempting to withdraw a balance of around $11,000 by terminating an insurance policy he bought for his daughter when she was an infant. AFP

Israel hopes talks can destroy ‘empire of evil’

CANBERRA – Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said Wednesday he hoped talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in Washington later in the day would help fight Iran’s “empire of evil.” Netanyahu, making his sixth visit to the United States since Trump took office, has said he will urge the US leader to take a harder line on arch-foe Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Trump said on the eve of the hastily arranged White House meeting -- to begin at 11:00 am local time -- that he was weighing sending a second US “armada” to the Middle East to pressure Tehran to reach a nuclear deal.

Speaking beside Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, Herzog wished them “success in bringing peace and undermining that empire of evil emanating from Tehran”. Herzog also said they would be discussing “the next phase in Gaza which is important to all of us, which I hope will bring a better future for all of us”. AFP

Colombian senator seized, president targeted

BOGOTA – A Colombian senator was rescued from kidnappers Tuesday as the country’s president reported an attempt on his own life in the run-up to elections that observers have warned could be marred by violence.

Senator Aida Quilcue, an award-winning Indigenous activist, was taken by unknown people in her home department of Cauca, a conflict-ridden, coca-growing region fought over by dissidents of the now-disbanded FARC guerrilla army.

The 53-year-old was rescued by a group of Indigenous people, her team reported on X, hours after the vehicle she had been traveling in with two bodyguards was found abandoned.

“I’m OK now,” Quilcue said through tears in a video posted by Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez, which also showed her being bundled into an armored vehicle by members of Colombia’s military antikidnapping unit. AFP

Person held over kidnap of TV anchor’s mother

LOS ANGELES – Authorities have detained a person for questioning over the kidnapping of the mother of US TV anchor Savannah Guthrie, media reported Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time), the same day the FBI released new photos of an apparent suspect in the case.

Citing unnamed law enforcement sources, major networks CNN, ABC and Fox reported that law enforcement officials have detained someone for questioning in connection to the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, who is being held for ransom.

The person has not been charged, CNN reported. The update comes amid breathless

coverage of the kidnapping of the highprofile anchor’s mother in a case that has gripped the country.

Earlier Tuesday the FBI released images showing a person in a full-face balaclava apparently tampering with a frontdoor camera outside Nancy Guthrie’s home in the southwestern city of Tucson, Arizona.

The six photographs and three videos posted by FBI Director Kash Patel on his X account show an individual on a deserted doorstep in the dark, in eerie black-and-white imagery.

The person is described as an “armed individual.”

ABC reported however that there was

no indication that the person who was detained was the same person as the one seen in the photographs.

Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC News

“Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, is believed to have been kidnapped from her home on the night of January 31 or in the early hours of February 1.

The images date to “the morning of her disappearance,” Patel said on X.

“As of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance,” Patel wrote. AFP

US grand jury rejects charges against Democrats Trump wanted jail time

WASHINGTON, DC – Federal prosecutors failed to bring charges Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time) against six Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to refuse illegal orders, outraging President Donald Trump, who had called for jail time, US media reported.

Sources told the New York Times and the Washington Post a federal grand jury -- composed of local citizens in Washington -- denied the Justice Department’s attempts to indict the Democratic lawmakers who posted a short video urging conscientious service. In the video posted to social media in November, members of Congress called on the military to “refuse illegal orders” and featured Arizona’s Mark Kelly, Michigan’s Elissa Slotkin, Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire.

In a statement posted to her Instagram account Tuesday night, Slotkin reiterated that the 90-second video “simply quoted the law,” adding “hopefully, this ends

this politicized investigation for good.”

The Post noted that it’s “exceedingly rare” for federal prosecutors to strike out in a grand jury proceeding because they “need to convince only a majority of grand jurors that there is a probably cause that a crime was committed -- a relatively low threshold.”

The elected officials

WASHINGTON, DC – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will push Donald Trump on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time) to take a tougher stance in nuclear talks with Iran, after rushing to Washington to stiffen the US president’s resolve.

Trump said on the eve of the hastily arranged White House meeting -- set to begin at 11:00 am local time -- that he was weighing sending a second US “armada” to the Middle East to pressure Tehran to reach a nuclear deal.

But Netanyahu, making his sixth visit to the United States since Trump took office, will also be urging the US leader to take a harder line on arch-foe Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Tehran, which resumed talks with Washington last week in Oman, warned Monday of “destructive influences” on diplomacy ahead of the Israeli premier’s visit.

Netanyahu had been expected to come to Washington for a February 19 meeting of Trump’s “Board of Peace” for Gaza, but reportedly brought forward his visit as the US-Iran talks proceeded. While talking up hopes of a nuclear deal, Trump warned in an interview with the Axios news outlet on Tuesday that he was “thinking” of sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region.

“Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” Trump told Axios. “We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going.” Trump, who ordered US strikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites during Israel’s 12-day war with Iran last June, separately told Fox Business that any deal would have to involve “no nuclear weapons, no missiles.” He added that Iran’s leaders “want to make a deal” but “it’s got to be a good deal”, saying Tehran had been “very dishonest with us over the years.” AFP

Australia charges 2 Chinese nationals with interference

Canberra.

They are alleged to have worked under the command of China’s Public Security Bureau, the country’s main domestic law enforcement body.

China’s embassy in Canberra did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.

Australia’s federal police said they began investigating the case last year on a tip from Canberra’s spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization.

Agency chief Mike Burgess said a “complex, challenging and changing security environment is becoming more dynamic, diverse and degraded”.

“Multiple foreign regimes are monitoring, harassing and intimidating members of our diaspora communities,” he said. AFP

of

Sultan

Mohammed al-Numani (right) looks on in Muscat, Oman on

Iran’s top security official met Oman’s ruler in Muscat, days after a new round of talks there between officials from Washington and Tehran. Ali Larijani, who heads the Supreme National Security Council, and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq ‘discussed the latest developments in the Iranian-American negotiations,’ the official Oman News Agency said. AFP DESPERATION HOUR. In this photo illustration, Nancy Guthrie is seen on the FBI website on a cellular phone Wednesday, Manila time, in Tucson, Arizona. Searches continues for Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of US journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of Feb. 1. Guthrie’s

SPORTS

Super Bowl, Bad Bunny fall shy of ratings’

record

LOS ANGELES—The Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots -- and Bad Bunny’s hyped halftime show -- fell short of broadcast ratings records, according to figures released on Tuesday.

The Seahawks’ 29-13 victory over the Pats averaged 124.9 million viewers on NBC, streaming platform Peacock, Spanish language Telemundo, NBC Sports Digital and NFL+, according to same-day ratings from the Nielsen media research company’s Nielsen Big Data + Panel ratings system.

That makes it the second-most watched show in US history behind the 127.7 million US viewers that watched the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 on Fox last year.

In the second quarter, the game reached 137.8 million viewers, the highest peak viewership in US television history.

Telemundo averaged 3.3 million viewers, marking the most-watched Super Bowl in US Spanish-language history.

Telemundo’s audience peaked during the halftime show, with an average of 4.8 million viewers –- the most-watched Super Bowl halftime in Spanish-language history.

Overall the halftime show by Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican superstar who became the first ever halftime show headliner to sing only in Spanish, averaged 128.2 million viewers.

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show in 2025 was the most-watched ever with 133.5 million viewers.

That surpassed the record of 133.4 million viewers set by Michael Jackson in 1993.

A lackluster game first half may have contributed to lower audience figures. AFP

Obiena kin bags 2 bronze medals in Abu Dhabi meet

By Randy M. Caluag

VETERAN Filipino athlete Edward Obiena proved he could go toe-to-toe with world-class rivals at the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi, capturing two bronze medals in the men’s 60+ division to highlight the Philippine campaign in the international multi-sport event.

The 60-year-old Obiena, uncle of world-renowned Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena, first climbed the podium in the men’s 60+ discus throw after registering a best mark of 32.01 meters, achieved on his fourth attempt. His effort was enough to secure

Quezon, San Juan beat MPBL Preseason rivals

QUEZON Province and San Juan took different victory routes in the 2026 MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Preseason Invitational on Tuesday at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

The new-look Quezon Huskers cruised past the Junior MPBL D-League Selection, 116-80, while the San Juan Knights rode bumpy roads before sprinting past the Marikina Shoemasters, 86-75, in the elimination round of the 18-team event. Barely ahead, 57-55, after three quarters, the Knights turned hot early in the fourth and broke away at 71-59 to stay.

Mainstays Michael Calisaan and Orlan Wamar, and coveted University of the Philippines recruits Terrence Fortea and Reyland Torres shone for the Knights, who are seeking cohesion and precision to regain the MPBL crown they won in 2019.

Calisaan wound up with 15 points and 5 rebounds, Fortea 13 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, Wamar 11 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, and Torres 10 points and 2 rebounds.

Veteran Reynel Hugnatan and acquisition Harold Alarcon, also from UP, contributed 8 and 7 points, respectively, for San Juan, which

joined inaugural winners Abra Solid North, Batangas City Tanduay and Ca loocan, and Quezon at the top. Marikina, which led at 44-35, got 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 and 2 steals Deo Timajo, 12 bounds and 5 assists from Lander Canon, and 10 points, 5 assists and 3 steals from Jethro Escoto.

Powered by prized rookies Cedrick Manzano, Jolo Man ansala and John Abate, the Huskers surged ahead, 8760, after three quarters and never let-up.

The 6-foot-5 Man a former Adamson and member of the nas champion team kok Southeast posted rebounds minutes play to earn

third place behind competitors from India, who took the gold, and Russia, who settled for silver.

Obiena, competing under the banner of the Philippine Masters Games

the men’s 60+ shot put event. He posted a throw of 9.80 meters, with his final attempt proving crucial in sealing his place among the medalists.

The double podium finish underscored Obiena’s consistency and perseverance, qualities that have defined his long sporting journey and earned admiration from fellow athletes and supporters alike.

Meanwhile, fellow Filipino Judith Staples also turned in a commendable performance, placing fourth in the women’s 55+ discus throw category, narrowly missing out on a podium finish.

James’ All-NBA streak ends as Lakers rule superstar out of clash with Spurs

LOS ANGELES—LeBron James is among a hefty list of injury absences for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, ensuring that one of the NBA superstar’s incredible career streaks will come to an end.

James, 41, was ruled out of Tuesday’s clash with Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs with left foot arthritis.

The injury management strategy on the second night of a back-to-back means James will miss his 18th game of the season and won’t be eligible for season awards, bringing to an end his record 21-year run of earning selection to at least one of the three All-NBA teams.

James last failed to make an All-NBA squad in 2003-04, his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He’ll be joined on the sidelines by teammates Luka

Doncic, Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart.

Doncic will miss his third straight game with a hamstring strain, Reaves, will sit out the second night of a back-to-back

as the team manages the calf injury that sidelined him for 19 games, and Smart is out with a sore right ankle.

Injuries have been a key factor as the Lakers struggled for consistency this season.

But after Monday’s loss to the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder James was blunt in his assessment of Los Angeles’ shortcomings, and he didn’t use injuries as an excuse.

“You want me to compare us to them,” he said. “That’s a championship team right there. We’re not.

“We can’t sustain energy and effort for 48 minutes, and they can. That’s why they won a championship.” James scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half on Monday, but after 35-plus minutes on court he admitted he was feeling the strain.

“I’m tired,” he told reporters after the Lakers saw a three-game winning streak end. AFP

hopes to cap his Abu Dhabi campaign with another strong result.

The Philippine Masters Games Association expressed pride in the athletes’ performances, noting the significance of representing the country on an international stage alongside Filipino expatriates based in the United Arab Emirates.

The Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi brings together veteran athletes from around the world, some of whom were former Olympic medallists.

Games Thursday (FilOil Centre) 4 p.m. – PLDT vs Capital1 6:30 p.m. – ZUS Coffee vs Akari

Davison, High Speed Hitters test Belen’s hot Capital1 start

PLDT looks every bit a serious contender early in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference. But the High Speed Hitters know that early momentum carries little weight without sustained execution. In a conference where adjustments and consistency separate contenders from pretenders, PLDT’s real test lies in its ability to replicate that level across the grind of the tournament. Fresh off a commanding straightsets romp over multi-titled Creamline, PLDT returns to the FilOil Playtime Centre in San Juan today (Thursday) aiming for a second straight victory –one that could propel the squad into a share of second place and further validate its championship credentials. Standing in their way is a dangerous Capital1 side bannered by one of the league’s brightest young stars –Bella Belen. PLDT’s emphatic win was more than just a morale boost. It was a showcase of depth, discipline and defensive grit – the very elements coach Rald Ricafort has been emphasizing in the season-ending conference organized by Sports Vision. Savi Davison delivered a scintillating 26-point performance, torching Creamline with her efficient scoring while also anchoring the floor defense with 11 excellent digs and 10 receptions for a rare triple-double effort. But the Fil-Canadian spiker was quick to deflect the spotlight.

Edward Obiena

US singer-songwriter Lady Gaga and Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny perform during Super Bowl LX Patriots vs Seahawks Apple Music Halftime Show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, RANDY M. CALUAG, EDGARD HILARIO,

Members of the breakthrough Southeast Asian Games’ champion Philippine women’s football team are shown following their historic goldmedal conquest

Frayna nears chess crown, PH Olympiad team berth

Filipinas, Asian Youth champs lead ‘25 PSA Awards honorees

THE gold medal winners in the Asian Youth Games and its Para Games counterpart, a former Deputy Speaker now making waves in the sport of polo, breakthrough Southeast Asian Games champion Philippine women’s football team and a firm that has been a major backer of Philippine sports, are among those to be feted in the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association 2025 Awards Night on Monday at the Diamond Hotel Manila.

Asian track prince PI Durden Wangkay and three-gold Para athlete Ric Daniel Pasadilla join former Congressman Mikee Romero, and ArenaPlus as recipients of special awards from the country’s oldest media organization in the Feb. 16 proceedings.

Also being recognized with the same

PPS tennis surge hits Mindanao with GenSan leg

JUNIOR tennis continues to surge in Mindanao as General Santos City hosts the kickoff leg of a five-tournament swing beginning Thursday (Feb. 12) at the GenSan City courts.

The Hon. Lorelie Pacquiao National Juniors Tennis Championships, a Philta- and Universal Tennis-sanctioned Group 2 event, features competitions in the 12-, 14-, 16-, and 18-and-under divisions for boys and girls. Doubles events in the 14- and 18-and-U categories for both divisions are also set.

Backed by the Raketa GenSan Tennis Association, Dunlop, and ICON Golf & Sports, the five-day tournament has drawn a strong field, including top campaigners from Luzon chasing ranking points and national honors.

Krelz Gecosala banners the boys’ 16- and 18-and-U divisions, alongside Atip Lumambas, Krisnel Batilo, Kresthan Belacas, Isaac Sanke, Charles Gallo and Justin Malabuyoc.

The event is supported by the Palawan Pawnshop Group of Companies, including PPS-PEPP, PalawanPay, Palawan Protektodo, Palawan Pawnshop Jewelry, Palawan Gold, Palawan Credit, and Palawan for Business.

From General Santos, the nationwide tour – initiated by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro – moves to Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, then to Matalam, Cotabato; Digos City; and finally Tagum City.

The PPS-PEPP has scheduled 60 junior tournaments and 12 Open events this year, underscoring its strong commitment to grassroots sports development.

“We are not only fostering competition, but also investing in the dreams and aspirations of young Filipino athletes across the nation,” said Castro. For details and registration, contact tournament director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

honor in the celebration co-presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and ArenaPlus are Asian Youth and Asian Para Youth Games gold winners

Kram Airam Carpio, Charlie Ratcliff, Lyre Anie Ngina, Zeth Gabriel Bueno, Jan Brix Ramiscal, Tyron Jamborillo, Isabella Joseline Butler, RJ Brucal,

The Filipinas and Alas Pilipinas women’s beach volleyball team, together with Alas Pilipinas men’s team, BPI/Globe, Fil-Am Golf Invitational, JR Quinahan, and the Philippine Basketball Association complete the list of special awards and citations in the program backed by major supporters Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Cignal, Premier Volleyball League, Philippine Basketball Association, Akari, Rain or Shine, Capital1 Solar Energy, and Acrocity. Wangkay ruled the century dash of the third edition of the multi-sports event among teenage athletes held in Manama, Bahrain to lead a best ever, seven-gold medal romp for the Philippines.

HER live ranking may have dipped, but that is unlikely to dampen the excitement surrounding Filipina tennis sensation Alexandra Eala when she arrives at the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Eala, 20, has slipped to No. 43 in the live WTA rankings after previously climbing to No. 40. Despite the slight drop, she remains one of the tournament’s most anticipated players. She is set to compete in the prestigious United Arab Emirates event from February 15 to 21 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium inside the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Garhoud, Dubai.

In her recent tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Doha, thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) turned out to support her, creating a vibrant, home-court atmosphere far from home. Even bigger crowds are expected in Dubai, which is home to a large Filipino community.

Fans are anticipated to bring a festive “barangay” spirit to her opening match, complete with energetic cheers, posters, and unwavering support from the stands.

Eala remains motivated despite a recent early exit at the Qatar Open, where she fell to Tereza Valentova in the first round, 6-7(6-8), 1-6. A large crowd stayed to watch and continued to support her even after the match.

“Salamat, mga kababayan. Talo ngayon, pero tuloy pa rin ang laban. Bawi tayo sa susunod,” Eala told fans who patiently waited for auto-

Romero, also owner of former PBA franchise Globalport/Northport, broke barriers by climbing in the top international rankings of the sport of polo, where he’s the highest-ranked player from Southeast Asia. The 53-year-old businessman-sportsman competed in prestigious tournaments such as the US Open Polo Championship behind his team GlobalPort-Passion For Polo.

ArenaPlus for its part, has been a longtime supporter of Philippine sports through its generous sponsorships of major sports events such as last year’s International Series Philippines won by Miguel Tabuena, professional leagues, international tournaments, and Filipino athletes led by its

Eala joins Dubai tourney with slight drop in ranking

graphs and selfies long after her match ended. She enters Dubai with a career-high official WTA ranking of No. 40, achieved earlier this season. Just two weeks ago, she reached the quarterfinals of the Abu Dhabi Open in singles and advanced to the semifinals in doubles alongside Indonesian partner Janice Tjen.

The Dubai tourna ment will also feature top-tier talent, includ ing 2026 Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina and defending Dubai champion Mirra Andreeva, making for a star-studded field. Peter Atencio

JANELLE Mae Frayna did a Houdini act in surviving Shania Mae Mendoza on Wednesday to seal her an Olympiad seat and pushed her closer from topping the Philippine National Women’s Chess Championship in Malolos, Bulacan. Pushed in the jaws of defeat after Mendoza uncorked a sacrificial kingside attack, the country’s first and only Woman Grandmaster miraculously escaped with a 29-move win of a Slav that was precipitated by a stunning blunder by the former. That win, Frayna’s 11th point, booked the Army woman from Bicol one of the three berths to this September’s World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan and pushed her a draw away from sealing the crown. She was tackling Bernadette Galas in the 15th and final round at press time. If she draws, it will be Frayna’s fourth national crown after her conquests in 2013, 2016 and 2021. A point off the pace was 18-yearold Ruelle Canino, the last winner of this same event two years ago who was also in a bad position against Vic Derotas but managed to escape with a 41-move draw of a King’s Indian showdown.

Also in hot pursuit of the last two tickets to Samarkand were Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Galas, who each sport 9.5 points.

Fronda halved the point with Maria Lavandero in 52 moves of a CenterCounter duel while Galas agreed to a 52move standoff with Allaney Jia Doroy of an English encounter in this event

Madis, Aludo headed to University of Hawaii,

US NCAA Division 1 tournaments next year

By Peter Atencio

THE University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa women’s tennis team is set to bolster its roster with two members of the Philippine national women’s squad.

The Rainbow Wahine will soon welcome doubles’ partners Tennielle Madis and Steffi Aludo, both of whom have committed to join the program.

\National team coach Robert Angelo confirmed the development in an interview with the Manila Standard.

“Tennie and Steffi are going to the University of Hawaiʻi,” said Angelo, who also serves as one of their mentors on the national team.

Madis, 18, is among the top-ranked players in the Philippine women’s squad. She made her WTA 125 debut at the Philippine Women’s Open after receiving a wildcard entry. She also represented the country at the 2025 South-

east Asian Games in Thailand, where she teamed up with Aludo to capture bronze medals in the women’s doubles and team events.

A native of M’lang, North Cotabato, Madis is a scholar of the Philippine Tennis Academy (PTA), where she trains under Angelo. Aludo, 17, hails from Trento, Agusan del Sur. She recently impressed in the qualifying round of the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open, defeating Angeline Alcala, 6-1, 6-0. Both players are expected to suit up for the Rainbow Wahine next season in NCAA Division I competition as members of the Big West Conference.

Hawaiʻi is currently in the midst of its 2026 spring campaign, hosting matches at the UH Tennis Complex in Honolulu. The team is coached by Jun Hernandez, who has steered the program to multiple Big West titles in 2018, 2019, and 2023.

John Rey Diano, Raemond Adefuin, and Mary Hannah Brianna Diesto.

Tennielle Madis (left) and Steffi Aludo

BUSINESS

ECONOMIC

COOPERATION. Finance Secretary Frederick Go (left) meets with Parliamentary State Secretary Johann Saathoff of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to further strengthen economic cooperation and advance priority development initiatives. The high-level meeting underscored the Philippines’

sectors. Source: DOF

$897 million

FDI net inflows in November 2025

$642 million $7.1 billion

FDI net inflows in October 2025

FDI net inflows in 11 months

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Transportation is working to launch direct flights between the Philippines and Israel by the end of the year to enhance tourism and economic cooperation.

Department of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the agency is collaborating with Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh to establish the route.

Lopez affirmed the department’s commitment to establishing the direct link within the year and assured that the agency will do everything possible to make it happen at the soonest possible time.

“We can start working on the direct flight from Israel to the Philippines. Rest assured that I’m going to work closely with Ambassador Aileen and the DFA and the other relevant government agencies,” Lopez said.

Kursh said the Israeli government remains upbeat about the opening of direct flights this year, noting that its citizens have expressed interest in visiting top Philippine tourism destinations.

“So I do identify this opportunity of business as a big opportunity and sky is the limit. So let’s try to explore these opportunities both for Israelis and Filipinos,” Kursh said.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola said the direct route could unlock significant economic opportunities and two-way projects for both nations.

“These are very important for us. My long-range goal is actually investments, two-way investments, twoway projects. This way, the flight is a conduit to all of those interactions that we will be having. And I’m really very excited to make this happen sooner than later,” Mendiola said.

Foreign direct investments increase to 4-month high

FOREIGN direct investment (FDI) into the Philippines reached a four-month high in November 2025, led by a surge in manufacturing interest from South Korea, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed on Wednesday.

The BSP reported that net inflows hit $897 million in November, up from $642 million recorded in October.

However, the figure represented a slight decline from the $900 million posted in the same month in 2024.

South Korea emerged as the primary source of FDI in November, with the bulk of capital flowing into the manufacturing sector.

Despite the monthly pickup, cumulative data for the year remained lower compared to previous

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY. First Balfour Inc., the Lopez Group’s engineering and construction arm, earns two awards from the Malaysian Industrial Safety and Health Association (MiSHA) for demonstrating effective occupational safety and health (OSH) programs, as well as environmental stewardship and sustainable operational practices. First Balfour received the Diamond Award on OSH Principle of Prevention and the Gold Excellence Award on Environmental Management during the MiSHA Asia Excellence Awards held on Jan. 23, 2026, in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Receiving the awards on behalf of First Balfour are (from left) Jasmin Jill Dumasig, environmental coordinator; Emil Estrabo, corporate OSH head; and Seannekate Amilbahar, OSH audit and assurance supervisor.

performance. For the first 11 months of 2025, FDI net inflows totaled $7.1 billion, down from $9.08 billion in the same period in 2024.

From January to November, equity capital placements came mostly from Japan, the United States, Singapore and South Korea. These funds were primarily directed toward the manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and real estate industries.

The BSP compiles these

statistics based on the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, 6th Edition. Under these standards, FDI includes investments where a nonresident investor holds at least 10 percent equity in a resident enterprise. This can take the form of equity capital, reinvested earnings and borrowings.

The BSP noted that its figures represent actual investment inflows, distinguishing them from the approved foreign investment data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Those figures, sourced from investment promotion agencies, represent investment commitments that may not be fully realized within a specific period.

PAG-IBIG Fund members saved a record P160.41 billion in 2025, up 21 percent from the previous year and the highest amount in the agency’s history, officials said Wednesday.

The milestone was led by the continued growth of voluntary savings, particularly under the Modified PagIBIG II (MP2) Savings Program. Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary and Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees chairperson Jose Ramon Aliling said the strong collections reflect the trust mem

bers place in the agency’s programs.

“Once again, our strong collections reflect the trust and confidence our members place in Pag-IBIG’s savings programs,” Aliling said.

“With P27.61 billion more savings collected in 2025 compared to the previous year, Pag-IBIG Fund’s solid financial position enables us to continue offering low-interest rates and to support the financing requirements of the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” he said.

By Othel V. Campos

S TEELASIA Manufacturing Corp.

received a “very good” SQS2 rating from Moody’s Ratings for its Sustainable Finance Framework, marking it as the only and highest-rated framework of its kind in the region.

The second-highest score on the Moody’s sustainability quality scale (SQS) followed a second party opinion on the framework of the company, which covers financing structures and decarbonization initiatives.

SteelAsia, the largest steel manufacturer in the Philippines, said the rating affirms its strategy to develop a lowcarbon steel industry in the country.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

The fund said of the total savings collected in 2025, mandatory monthly contributions amounted to P66.80 billion. Voluntary savings, which are funds saved by members above their required contributions, accounted for 58 percent of total collections.

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive Marilene Acosta said members are saving more voluntarily to the point that those contributions have surpassed mandatory requirements. Voluntary savings reached P93.60 billion for the year.

“This rating from Moody’s validates SteelAsia’s strategy to build a globally competitive, low-carbon steel industry in the Philippines. As we develop what is considered the mother of all industries, we want to demonstrate that responsible industrialization, green initiatives and economic growth can progress together,” SteelAsia chief executive Benjamin Yao said. The company has adopted modern production technologies, renewable energy sources and rainwater recycling systems across its new facilities. It is also expanding local production of reinforcing bars, which are currently largely imported.

PSALM

including the receipt of P36.3 billion from the sale of the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan hydroelectric power plants. Other factors included collections from transmission asset concessions, administration of independent power producer contracts and the privatization of select real estate assets.

The company reported a 92.28-percent collection efficiency, equivalent to P15.88 billion in power sales.

“These achievements strengthen PSALM’s financial position geared toward the completion of its mandate within its extended corporate life in support of the Philippine energy sector,” PSALM president and chief executive Dennis Edward Dela Serna said.

PSALM said that it has reduced its financial obligations by P980 billion, or 79 percent, from its peak debt level of P1.24 trillion in 2003. The corporation said the decline reflects a long-standing strategy of channeling privatization proceeds toward debt reduction.

PSALM has also generated P959.6 billion in privatization proceeds, with P888.7 billion already collected.

“PSALM remains fully committed to further reducing its obligations through sustained privatization efforts and innovative asset and liability management strategies,” Dela Serna said.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com

PSEi rises as foreign buying, stronger peso lift sentiment

THE Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) climbed for a second straight session Wednesday, buoyed by strong foreign buying and a strengthening peso.

The benchmark index traded above the 6,500 level for most of the day before closing at 6,498.82, up 24.22 points, or 0.37 percent. The all shares index also gained 13.43 points, or 0.37 percent, to end at 3,606.53.

The peso strengthened to 58.29 per U.S. dollar, up from Tuesday’s 58.53. Japhet Tantiangco, research head at Philstocks Financial Inc., said the peso’s performance boosted investor sentiment.

“Investors also appreciated the country’s bank lending data last De-

cember which posted a growth of 9.2 percent year-on-year,” Tantiangco said.

Mining and oil led the sectors, advancing 1.55 percent. Property climbed 1.22 percent, financials rose 0.83 percent, and industrials added 0.81 percent. Conversely, holding firms declined 0.20 percent while services dipped 0.13 percent.

Value turnover reached P7.55 billion, with foreign investors logging net inflows of P834.62 million.

Fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. was the index’s top gainer, jumping 4.10 percent to P208.20. Puregold Price Club Inc. was the biggest laggard, dropping 2.05 percent to P38.20. Jenniffer B. Austria

EEI opens construction academy in Cavite

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CONSTRUCTION firm EEI Corp. has opened a state-of-the-art training academy in Tanza, Cavite to enhance the construction skills and knowledge of the company’s workforce.

The EEI Training Academy can train up to 500 participants at a time and offers programs for both craft workers and professional staff.

The facility is part of a long-term strategy to build a more capable and

sustainable workforce while improving project delivery.

Courses cover civil, mechanical, electrical and modular construction works, as well as welding and heavy equipment operation. Civil works training includes

carpentry, masonry, tile setting and rebar works, while mechanical programs cover fitting, millwright services, tank fitting and structural steel works.

EEI Training Academy president

Jesus Teodoro Reyes said the facility reflects the company’s vision to attract, nurture and retain talent.

“The academy reflects our vision to not only attract the best talent, but also to nurture and retain them. EEI will continue to drive change and improvement in the Philippine construction industry by providing necessary training to elevate the skills of our

workforce,” Reyes said in a statement to the stock exchange Wednesday.

The academy will also offer nontechnical programs, including supervisory development, safety courses, construction and project management and behavioral skills such as communication and decision-making.

The facility has been recognized as a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-accredited training and assessment center. As an accredited center, the academy will follow national training regulations and competency standards to

guarantee curriculum alignment with industry requirements and uniform evaluation techniques.

The facility also integrates values formation into its programs to improve workplace performance and employee well-being.

“We believe that values formation is an essential part of the EEI Training Academy that will ultimately lead to improved and better performance at work, harmonious relationships in the workplace, and an important element in developing the well-being of our employees,” Reyes said.

Of architecture, good governance and global standards

By Melandrew Velasco

I RECENTLY found myself in conversation with two men who rarely share the same paragraph in public discourse, yet are quietly shaping how Filipinos will experience government for decades to come: Architect Royal Pineda one of the coun-

under Contract No. 061076, dated August 26, 1996, particularly described as Block 75 Section C, Lot A-H in the Court of Meditation Estates can no longer be found despite diligent efforts to locate the said Certificate.

This publication is now made for record purposes and to notify the public and relevant authority concerned.

(MS-FEB. 12/19/26, 2026)

try’s most influential contemporary architects, and Nicandro Linao, Chairman of Santa Clara International Corporation. It was not a meeting about aesthetics alone. Nor was it merely about engineering. It was a conversation about governance expressed in concrete and space. At the heart of that discussion is the ongoing construction of the Pasig City Hall, envisioned as a landmark civic structure under the leadership of Mayor Vico Sotto. More than a seat of power, the project aims to reflect the values that have come to define Pasig in recent years: transparency, efficiency, restraint, good governance, and respect for the citizen. In fact, due to proper management of its city coffers, Pasig LGU is funding the P10-billion modern city hall from its accumulated savings. In my conversation with Royal Pineda, he approaches architecture as narrative rather than spectacle, someone who believes that every Filipino deserves to be respected even in the aspects of arts, culture and access to modern buildings. His work consistently asks a deceptively simple question: What does it mean to be Filipino today? From airports and sports complexes to civic and institutional spaces, Pineda has advanced what he calls Modern Filipino architecture—design rooted in climate, culture, and context, rather than borrowed forms and imported statements.

For Pineda, buildings should not dominate people; they should serve them. They must breathe with the tropics, respond to light and air, and feel intuitively accessible. Architecture, in his view, is a form of public conversation.

That philosophy is evident in the Pasig City Hall concept. It is not designed to intimidate citizens with scale or monumentality. Instead, it emphasizes openness, natural light, human scale, and clear circulation— spatial metaphors for a government that does not hide behind walls or corridors of power. The message is subtle but unmistakable: governance here is meant to be understood, approached, and engaged.

This alignment between design and leadership is no accident. Mayor Vico Sotto’s governance style has consistently favored systems over personalities and institutions over theatrics. In many ways, the new city hall is intended as a physical extension of that mindset—orderly, functional, and quietly confident.

Yet vision, however compelling, is only half the story.

Architecture can articulate ideals, but it cannot enforce them. Drawings can imagine the future, but they cannot guarantee its durability. That responsibility belongs elsewhere—to those who turn concept into structure, and intention into permanence.

That is where execution enters the narrative.

And that story deserves its own space.

Building Trust: From Drawing Board to Global Standards If architecture gives form to civic ideals, construction determines whether those ideals endure.

That is where Santa Clara International Corporationunder the leadership of Nicandro Linao becomes central to the Pasig City Hall story.

Santa Clara is best known locally for delivering some of the country’s most complex infrastructure—airports, power plants, transport facilities, and industrial developments where margins for error are thin and delays carry enormous cost. These are projects where competence is measured not by publicity, but by performance.

What is less visible, yet deeply significant, is Santa Clara’s international work, particularly in the Middle East—one of the most demanding environments in global infrastructure development.

In the Gulf region, contractors are judged by unforgiving standards. Extreme climates, compressed timelines, strict safety regimes, and zero tolerance for delays define the terrain. Relationships may open doors, but only systems, discipline, and technical mastery keep them open.

Santa Clara’s participation in major industrial, energy, and infrastructure projects in the Middle East places it in a rare category: a Philippine construction firm that has proven it can perform under global scrutiny. These are environments where mistakes are costly, compliance is absolute, and only firms with mature processes and seasoned leadership are invited back. That experience matters back home. Global exposure reshapes local execution. Practices learned in high-pressure international projects—rigorous planning, disciplined sequencing, quality control, and accountability—translate directly into how landmark Philippine infrastructure is delivered. It raises expectations and recalibrates what is considered “acceptable” performance.

For Pasig City Hall, this means the building is not merely well-designed, but well-built—to standards.

(Melandrew Velasco is the writer, president/chief executive officer of Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc.; and president/ executive director of the Million Trees Foundation Inc., a non-government outfit advocating tree-planting and environmental protection.)

Architect Royal Pineda (left) with the writer

DYNAMIC LEARNING. PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications reaffirm support for the Department of Education’s nationwide rollout of the Central Visayan Institute Foundation Dynamic Learning Program (CVIF-DLP). In photo from left are Stephanie Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart; Roby A. Alampay, FVP and Head of Public Engagement; Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT Chairman and CEO; DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara; and Dr. Christopher Bernido, CVIF-DLP Co-founder.

LIMA Land, HI get PCC nod for joint venture

By Jenniffer B. Austria

LIMA Land Inc. and House of Investments have secured clearance from the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to form a joint venture for the development of the TARI Estate in Tarlac province.

The approval allows the Aboitiz Group and the Yuchengco Group to develop a 184-hectare property owned by Tarlac Terra Ventures Inc., a subsidiary of House of Investments. The collaboration will expand the total area of TARI Estate to 384 hectares to accommodate light- to mediumscale industries.

Under the agreement, House of Investments will hold a 51-percent stake in the venture.

Aboitiz Economic Estates will own the remaining 49 percent and act as the exclusive provider of project management, estate operations and general support services.

Development of the 90-hectare first phase is underway and is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026. Developers are fast-tracking subsequent phases to meet rising investor demand for infrastructure.

The estate includes an internal road network with direct access to Luisita Road and is equipped with power, water and telecommunications utilities. Dedicated offices for the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and the Bureau of Customs are expected to be operational by the first quarter

Yusen Logistics taps ACEN’s renewable supply

By Alena Mae S. Flores

YUSEN Logistics Philippines

Inc. has signed an agreement with ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions to power its headquarters with 100 percent renewable energy.

The transition is being facilitated under the government’s Green Energy Option Program (GEOP). The policy allows eligible electricity users to source their power requirements directly from licensed renewable energy suppliers.

Mitsutaka Matsubara, president of Yusen Logistics, said the company is working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030 from a 2022 baseline. The company aims to achieve net-zero emissions for all services by 2050.

Matsubara said the mission is centered on the philosophy of Jibun-goto, a mindset that “embodies the proactive choice of taking ownership of challenges rather than expecting them to resolve on their own.”

ACEN RES, the retail electricity unit of Ayala-led ACEN Corp., currently holds a 57 percent market share as the top GEOP supplier, according to the Energy Regulatory Commission.

“By choosing to source 100 percent renewable energy through the GEOP, Yusen Logistics demonstrates decisive leadership in decarbonizing the logistics sector,” said Sheila Mina, ACEN RES vice president and head of account management.

ACEN awarded Yusen Logistics its “Powered by Renewable Energy” badge, a symbol recognizing businesses committed to the Philippines’ energy transition.

of 2027.

The project aims to complement existing anchor locators such as Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines and Ajinomoto Philippines Corp. Construction is slated to continue through 2028, which the companies expect will drive employment and local economic activity.

Phase 1 of the estate is already fully sold-out.

House of Investments reported that Phase 2 is attracting interest from local and foreign firms seeking to strengthen supply chains due to the site’s proximity to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Tarlac-PangasinanLa Union Expressway and Central Luzon Link Expressway.

“We value our partnership with the Aboitiz Group in advancing economic development in Central Luzon,” House of Investments president and chief executive Lorenzo Tan said.

Aboitiz Economic Estates and Aboitiz Land president Rafael Fernandez de Mesa said the partnership would accelerate infrastructure delivery and create an environment where industries can scale and communities benefit from sustained growth.

PEZA, Unilab team up to boost pharma ecozones

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority and the Unilab Foundation Inc. signed an agreement Feb. 2 to support the development of emerging pharmaceutical ecozones.

PEZA director general Tereso Panga and ULF executive director Jose Maria Ochave signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen workforce capabilities and advance pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality management.

The collaboration focuses on developing pharma-specific competencies, adopting advanced production systems, and preparing for emerging drug technologies and regulatory re-

quirements. Through the partnership, ecozone locators are expected to improve operational efficiency and align health and safety standards with global benchmarks. As PEZA and Unilab work toward establishing the Manufacturing Development Alliance, the partnership will support workforce development through targeted training programs for firms within the ecozones. It will also foster research and development through joint initiatives designed to build a future-ready Filipino workforce.

Unilab, the corporate foundation of one of the Philippines’ largest healthcare companies, provides expertise in health education and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math-

Flood control scandal oversight an overkill

BRINGING the guilty parties in the flood control corruption scandal to jail is the ultimate justice. It restores both public trust and investor confidence.

But a too rigid and sometimes careless oversight on government projects in the aftermath of the scandal is an overkill. Public works spending slows and the economy as a whole suffers as we saw in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Recent developments highlight how even legitimate, well-managed projects can face significant operational challenges when the oversight intensifies.

The gross domestic product (GDP) rose just 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter last year, slower than the 5.3-percent expansion recorded in the same quarter of 2024.

The fourth-quarter figure brought the fullyear growth to 4.4 percent, down from 5.7 percent in 2024 and below the government’s growth target of 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent for 2025.

Infrastructure spending toward the end of the year was lackluster, resulting directly in the disappointing GDP figures.

Macro-economic indicators remain firm despite the growth slowdown but companies engaged in government infrastructure projects, from roads to highways and flood control systems, face real operational pressures.

Slower disbursements, heightened audits and extended validation periods can disrupt cash flow, delay procurement of materials and create uncertainty for workers and suppliers who rely on predictable project timelines.

The pace of government spending reflected all these adjustments. Infrastructure and capital outlays in the first 11 months of 2025 fell 16 percent to P991.1 billion from P1.18 trillion in 2024.

To safeguard public funds and ensure accountability, government oversight bodies such as the Commission on Audit headed by chairman Gamaliel Cordoba, the Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLC) chaired by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor

ematics) capability building.

The partnership aims to position the Philippines as a regional hub for pharmaceutical innovation. It emphasizes quality production and the development of an AI-enabled workforce—capabilities sought by global investors in Asia.

“By leveraging PEZA’s AI Tech Academy and Knowledge, Innovation, Science, and Technology (KIST) Parks, we seek to attract more companies engaged in pharmaceutical manufacturing and research,” Panga said. “We aim to build an integrated value chain that supports the Philippines’ transition into a net exporter of pharmaceutical products while helping lower the cost of medicines for Filipinos.”

Infrastructure spending toward the end of the year was lackluster, resulting ... in disappointing GDP figures.

Eli Remolona Jr., and the Independent Commission on Infrastructure headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes, reviewed project implementation, financial flows and compliance.

Yet, when scrutiny becomes overly rigid, these bodies can inadvertently penalize firms that are delivering legitimate work, turning administrative caution into operational friction.

Infrastructure projects typically involve complex sites, phased construction, joint ventures and multiple sub-contractors.

Minor administrative mismatches, such as delayed documentation, reporting gaps, or inaccurately recorded project data, can trigger audits or temporarily freeze payments even when work has been physically completed. The result is operational and financial strain for companies that are otherwise compliant and performing.

A verification of flood-control projects in Bulacan by a joint Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-private contractor, for instance, revealed that several projects initially flagged in reports were, in fact, operational and legitimate.

The discrepancies arose largely from incorrect grid coordinates submitted by DPWH in official records during the tenure of former Secretary Manuel Bonoan, an issue publicly acknowledged by current DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon

These findings underscore the reality that technical or administrative errors, if amplified prematurely, can unfairly affect businesses executing legitimate work.

The operational delays, scrutiny and public doubt that follow can impose costs far beyond the original reporting error.

Allegations related to certain projects at the same time are now under investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Due process is essential. Initial findings are not a determination of guilt and conclusions should be reserved until investigations are completed and evidence is fully evaluated.

Reviews by the DOJ and the Ombudsman should account for the real-world challenges that companies face in delivering legitimate projects, so that procedural scrutiny does not become an undue burden.

The broader economic implications of infrastructure delays are significant. Public works projects support thousands of workers, small suppliers, provincial hardwares, logistics providers and micro enterprises that depend on steady implementation and timely disbursements.

When reviews extend indefinitely or payments remain frozen pending clarification, the slowdown ripples outward, delaying material deliveries, reducing workdays and affecting livelihoods.

Infrastructure spending stabilizes supply chains and underpins growth in related industries. Bottlenecks, therefore, affect communities, access to roads, flood control, and public facilities.

For project developers and contractors, the immediate priority is continuity. Firms that invest early in internal controls, project monitoring systems and audit readiness are able to respond more quickly when questions arise, minimizing disruption to ongoing work.

What ultimately matters is predictability. Oversight functions best when rules are clear, timelines are reasonable and reviews are anchored on factual verification rather than assumption.

When checks and balances are applied with consistency and proportionality, they reinforce confidence in the system without stalling legitimate activity.

A framework that upholds accountability while recognizing operational realities allows projects to move forward, businesses to plan with certainty, and public infrastructure to be delivered efficiently.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com

COCONUT PLANTING. The Massive Coconut Planting Program continues in Surigao del Norte as farmers from

SACOFO unveil coconut nurseries and sown seednuts under the Participatory Coconut Planting Project. The initiative aims to ensure a stable supply of high-quality coconuts nationwide. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coconut Authority.

Business groups back Go as economic panel chair

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines welcomed Executive Order 108, which names Finance

Secretary Frederick Go as chair of the Economic Development Committee.

The business groups said the move strengthens coordination across government agencies and streamlines investment promotion.

Both chambers recognized the measure as a way to boost

competitiveness and attract more foreign capital.

PCCI president Perry Ferrer commended the administration for consolidating its economic team under Go. He said Go’s role as economic czar signals a commitment to efficiency and reducing bureaucratic red tape.

Ferrer highlighted Go’s swift action regarding the P500,000 cash transaction threshold under Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular No. 1218. The policy previously disrupted micro and small enterprises. Within a day of the chamber raising concerns, the BSP

IN BRIEF

Meralco to deploy

72,000 smart meters

MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) plans to roll out more than 72,000 smart meters across its franchise area starting this year after signing a partnership with Aclara Meters Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Hubbell Inc.

The agreement, signed recently at the Meralco Operating Center, is part of the distribution utility’s push to modernize operations and transition toward a more digital, customer-centric grid.

Aclara smart meters enable real-time monitoring, remote reading and grid intelligence by transmitting usage data and detecting outages. The devices support the company’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program, which aims to deploy about 12 million smart meters over the next decade. Meralco has about 196,000 smart meters deployed throughout its service area.

Meralco chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said the agreement cements the company’s commitment to innovation.

“This partnership strengthens our ongoing journey toward digital transformation, one that places smart metering at the center of how we deliver reliable service and provide our consumers with better tools to manage their energy use. For us in Meralco, smart meters are not simply electronic devices; they are enablers of transparency, efficiency and innovation,” Aperocho said. Alena Mae S. Flores

DOE to enhance hydrogen incentives

THE Department of Energy is proposing amendments to its 2024 hydrogen circular to integrate enhanced incentives under the CREATE MORE Act and streamline the approval process for clean energy investments.

The proposed changes to Department Circular No. DC2024-01-0001 include a new section allowing the DOE to endorse hydrogen energy projects to the Board of Investments (BOI) or other investment promotion agencies. These endorsements will grant projects access to both fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. Under the proposal, projects valued

below P15 billion will fall under the authority of the BOI or other investment promotion agencies. Projects exceeding that amount will be referred to the Fiscal Incentives Review Board for approval.

The DOE said renewable energy-related hydrogen projects will remain under the primary jurisdiction of the BOI unless otherwise mandated by law. The amendment also calls for the creation of a hydrogen technical working group tasked with facilitating policy development, review and the updating of implementing guidelines.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Jollibee commissaries shift to 99% clean power

JOLLIBEE Group commissaries in the Philippines are now operating on 99-percent renewable electricity through a partnership with First Gen Corp., marking a significant step in the company’s push for operational resilience and sustainability.

The transition to geothermal energy is powered by Bac-Man Geothermal Inc., a subsidiary of First Gen. The initiative forms part of Jollibee’s broader renewable energy program and builds on previous efforts to integrate solar power across its Philippine facilities.

First Gen, the leading renewable energy provider in the country, supplies the Jollibee Group with 11 megawatts of electricity from its Bac-Man geothermal power plants. By sourcing geothermal power, the Jollibee Group expects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 70 percent across the covered sites, aligning with its “Joy for Tomorrow” sustainability agenda.

Jollibee Group and First Gen executives held a ceremonial switch-on on Jan. 29 at the Jollibee Group commissary in Laguna to formally commence the use of renewable electricity at the facility.

The partnership follows a 2023 agreement where the Jollibee Group tapped First Gen to install 17,000 solar panels with more than 9 megawatts of capacity at its logistics hubs in Paranaque and Laguna. Those projects, which included a Remote Energy Monitoring System to optimize electricity usage, were completed in 2024. Alena Mae S. Flores

issued Memorandum No. M-2026-005 to introduce risk-based flexibilities and ease due diligence requirements.

AmCham officials said Go’s leadership ensures consistent oversight of investments and the Strategic Investment Priorities Plan.

They said the appointment helps align fiscal policy and incentives with national development goals.

Both chambers reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with the government to enhance competitiveness and promote sustainable growth.

By Thony Rose Lesaca

HILIPPINE insurance premiums surpassed the P500-billion mark for the first time in 2025 on wider product access and a growing demand for financial protection among Filipinos.

Data from the Insurance Commission showed total premiums reached P502.64 billion at the end of 2025, representing a 14.10-percent increase from P440.53 billion in 2024.

The life insurance sector accounted for the largest share of the market at 80.22 percent and paid out P121.88 billion in benefits.

The non-life sector contributed 16.41 percent of the total at P34.05 billion, while mutual benefit associations made up the remaining 3.37 percent.

Insurance penetration, or the in dustry’s contribution to the economy, improved to 1.79 percent as insurance density rose to P4,414.58, marking a decade high.

The industry’s total assets grew 7.93 percent to P2.66 trillion, supported by P2.38 trillion in invested assets.

Total liabilities rose 7.54 percent and benefit payments increased 2.37 per-

cent. The sector’s net income climbed 15.10 percent to P64.79 billion. Insurance Commission said the industry remains well-positioned to sustain growth and expand its contribution to economic development and financial protection. “This financial resilience further strengthens confidence that insurers can continue supporting beneficiaries when they need it most,” the agency said.

PDIC settles P106.9m in deposit insurance claims

THE Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) said Wednesday it paid P106.9 million in deposit insurance claims to clients of Emerald Rural Bank Inc. and Oriental Tamaraw Rural Bank of Naujan Inc. following their closure by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in 2025.

The state insurer said Wednesday the payouts covered 3,736 claims across 3,111 deposit accounts. The total included depositors who formally filed claims and those eligible for automatic payment under a waiver policy designed to streamline the process.

Under that policy, individual depositors with account balances up to P500,000 are not required to file

claims if they are not borrowers or co-makers and have updated mailing addresses on file. This also applies to registered businesses and organizations meeting the same criteria.

PDIC officials said 3,433 claims worth P44.4 million were settled through outright payments, while 303 claims totaling P62.5 million were paid to depositors who were required to file documentation.

“Eligible depositors received their payments through the Philippine Postal Corporation’s postal money orders [PMOs] or Visa debit cards issued by Landbank. PMOs and debit card payment notices were sent via registered mail directly to

depositors’ recorded addresses, allowing them to receive funds without visiting claims settlement sites or submitting documents, saving them time, money, and resources,” PDIC said.

The BSP’s Monetary Board ordered the closure of Bulacan-based Emerald Rural Bank on Jan. 24, 2025 and Oriental Mindoro-based Oriental Tamaraw Rural Bank on May 13, 2025. Depositors who have not yet filed their claims have up to two years from the date of the takeover to submit applications via email, postal mail or in person at the PDIC Public Assistance Center.

Thony Rose Lesaca

businesses.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

GLOBE Telecom Inc. has set the initial dividend rates for its P25billion preferred shares offering as it seeks to fund capital expenditures and debt redemption.

The telecommunications firm said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange the initial dividend rate for its Series A nonvoting preferred shares would be 6.1179 percent. The Series B shares will carry a higher rate of 6.7631 percent. The rates cover the planned offer of up to 12.5 million non-voting preferred shares, which includes an oversubscription option. Globe

priced the shares at P2,000 each. The company said it intends to use the proceeds to redeem its outstanding US dollar-denominated senior perpetual notes and finance its capital expenditures. The offer period is scheduled to run from Feb. 13 to Feb. 20, 2026. The final price and dividend rates were determined on Feb. 10, with a tentative listing date set for March 2. BPI Capital Corp., BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and China Bank Capital Corp. are the joint lead issue managers, underwriters and book runners for the transaction. Globe earlier said its

ITALIANNI’S IN LA UNION. Italianni’s opens a store at SM City La Union. It is the 40th branch of the Italian-American restaurant, which is known for salads, pastas and pizzas. TGIFridays is also bringing its high-energy and iconic American-style dishes to La Union.

Binondo lights up for Lunar New Year

By Michael Wong Ho

MANILA City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso led the lighting of the “Golden Prosperity Horse” at Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo on Feb. 9, signaling the start of the city’s Year of the Golden Horse festivities.

The mayor was joined by Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry Inc. (FFCCCIII) president Victor Lim, Manila Chinatown Development Council Executive Director Tony Sy and various city officials.

The event featured an eye-dotting ceremony, a traditional rite intended to symbolize the awakening of spirit, wisdom and good fortune for the coming year.

During the ceremony, Moreno expressed gratitude to the FilipinoChinese community for its ongoing partnership with the local government.

He pledged a transparent administration, emphasizing that all contributions from the private sector would be strictly allocated to municipal improvements.

“No abuse will come to you as long as I am the Mayor of the City of

Chinese envoy expects PH tourism boost

CHINESE Ambassador Jing Quan visited the Binondo Filipino-Chinese community on Feb. 7, 2026 to deliver Spring Festival greetings and emphasize that China remains a “trusted friend” to the Philippines despite ongoing maritime disputes. Accompanied by Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) president Victor Lim and executive vice president Jeffrey Ng, Jing toured the China–Philippine Friendship Bridge. The bridge was donated and constructed by the Chinese government as a symbol of bilateral cooperation.

Manila,” Moreno said.

“Rest assured, whatever resources that you are going to share to the City of Manila, we will make sure every single cent of it will be dedicated and converted into public service for our community,” he said.

The Binondo district, recognized as the world’s oldest Chinatown, underwent extensive preparations for the holiday.

Local merchants and tourism groups decorated streets with lanterns and organized cultural programs to accommodate an expected surge in visitors. While specific budget figures were not disclosed, city officials noted that previous infrastructure projects in the area have often involved investments exceeding P10 million, with a significant percent of funding sourced from community donations.

During the visit, which included a stop to sample local delicacies at Eng Bee Tin, Jing addressed the cooling relations between the two nations. He said that while the maritime dispute and issues related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators have “seriously affected” ties, he remains optimistic about a recovery in tourism. “China is forever a trusted friend to the Philippines even both sides have dispute in South China Sea,” Jing said. The ambassador expressed a commitment to restoring travel figures to

the Philippines.

Festival

THE Philippine Qipao Culture Association and CNTV jointly held a charity event to celebrate the Year of the Horse on Feb. 6, providing essential goods and financial aid to 850 vulnerable individuals.

The “2026 Year of the Horse Celebration- Kindheart Connects China and the Philippines: Spring Festival Charity Public Welfare Activity” targeted women and children in the greatest need.

Philippine Qipao Culture Association founding president Winny Chang said the charity distributed red envelopes, known as ang pao, along with food and daily necessities to the beneficiaries.

The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) provided substantial support for the mission.

Founded in 2017, the Philippine Qipao Culture Association operates on a “no membership fee”

Business groups hold forum to combat extortion, legal risks

pre-pandemic levels. Prior to 2020, more than 300 flights operated between the two countries weekly, a number that has since dropped to 84. Annual visitor exchanges have also plummeted from over 3 million people to approximately 300,000.

Jing asked the Philippine government to address safety concerns and other issues affecting foreign visitors to ensure a secure environment for travelers.

He suggested that if these systemic problems and diplomatic frictions are resolved, the Philippines would likely see the return of millions of Chinese tourists. Michael Wong Ho

The Philippine Qipao Culture Association and CNTV hold a Spring Festival charity event in Manila, distributing food and ang pao to 850 women and children for the Year of the Horse.

principle. The organization relies on the voluntary contributions of its members to fund its outreach programs. “Those with money contribute money; those with time contribute time,” Chang said, noting that the association pools these resources to support Filipino women and children.

The organization has been active for nine years, focusing on community welfare and cultural exchange. While the specific value of the ang pao was not disclosed, the association ensured that 100 percent of the collected resources reached the 850 recipients during the event. Julie Ann Lope

By Julie Ann Lope

PROMINENT Filipino-Chinese trade associations and city officials convened on Feb. 2, 2026 to launch a legal awareness campaign aimed at protecting local entrepreneurs from extortion and regulatory pitfalls.

The forum, titled “Understanding the Law: The Best Protection for Your Business,” addressed a rise in criminal activity involving individuals impersonating law enforcement officers to extort money from business owners.

More than 100 entrepreneurs attended the event, which was organized by groups including the Philippine Chinese Commerce and Industry Overseas Association Inc. and the Filipino-Chinese Baclaran United Commerce Foundation Inc. in coordination with Manila District 3 Councilor Jefferson Lau.

Rolando Delfin of the Manila City Hall Office of the Legal Officer served as the keynote speaker, detailing specific municipal ordinances governing commercial operations.

Delfin said that strict adherence to the letter of the law serves as the most effective shield against both criminal exploitation and administrative penalties.

“Adherence is the best way to avoid business risks,” Delfin said, urging the community to maintain transparent operations.

Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry,

Inc. vice president Delfin Letran said the initiative was designed to help businessmen identify illegal activities and strengthen their capacity for self-protection.

He said the best way to protect business rights is through compliance with existing laws and regulations. The briefing comes amid a tightening of enforcement across Metro Manila. Letran highlighted recent Bureau of Immigration actions that led to the arrest of more than 60 foreigners, including 14 Chinese nationals, for visa violations.

He reminded the assembly that foreigners should hold valid documents and that those without specific work or investment visas are prohibited from engaging in retail or business operations.

“Those without work visas should not engage in employment, particularly in retail; likewise, those without investment visas should not operate related businesses,” Letran said.

He appealed to recent immigrants to respect and understand Philippine laws to improve the collective image of the overseas Chinese community.

To provide practical support, organizers distributed a bilingual business protection card in Chinese and English.

The card outlines standard inspection procedures and advises owners to take 3 specific steps when approached by inspectors: verify official identification, request written authorization and document the entire interaction.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno leads the lighting of the Golden Prosperity Horse in Binondo, marking the start of Year of the Golden Horse celebrations and pledging transparent governance.

Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan visits Binondo to promote goodwill and the return of Chinese tourists to

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

GMA Network was recognized with two awards at the Global Filipino Icon Awards 2026 in Dubai: Excellence in Global Filipino Storytelling for GMA Pinoy TV and Lifetime Achievement in Public Service Journalism for broadcast journalist Atom Araullo

GMA Pinoy TV, the flagship international channel of GMA International, received the storytelling award for promoting Filipino talent and narratives on the global stage. Joseph T. Francia, GMA Network first vice president and head of international operations, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

In his speech, Francia talked about GMA International’s mission to connect with Filipino communities worldwide.

“There are more than 11 million Filipinos living across the world—and with them, 11 million stories waiting to be told,” he said. “Stories of courage and sacrifice, of hope and aspiration—stories that are sometimes victorious, sometimes unfinished, but always deeply human.”

He added, “We don’t just broadcast programs. We build bridges—strengthening bonds across oceans, generations, and cultures. We tell stories that remind Filipinos everywhere: you matter, you belong, and your story counts.”

Araullo received the Lifetime Achievement in Public Service Journalism Award for his work as anchor of the late-night newscast State of the Nation and host of the public affairs programs The Atom Araullo Specials and I-Witness. The award recognized his years of field reporting and documentary work that highlighted social, humanitarian, and environmental issues.

“Journalism is never about the person holding the microphone or holding the camera. It is about the people whose stories are often ignored, dismissed, or sometimes deliberately silenced,” Araullo said. “To young storytellers: your voice matters. Your work matters. And in a time marked by chaos and uncertainty, choosing accuracy, patience, and empathy is already an act of public service.”

Maryam Delim Aljawi, publisher and CEO of The Global Filipino Magazine, said the awards were created to honor contributions that celebrate Filipino excellence worldwide. “Filipino stories matter—wherever we are in the world. Our deepest gratitude to GMA Pinoy TV and Atom Araullo for their presence and support,” she said.

The Global Filipino Icon Awards honors individuals, organizations, and companies for their leadership and influence in promoting Filipino achievement globally. The ceremony was held Jan. 31, in Dubai.

SHOWBIZ

Adela Mae Marshall

joins Miss Universe PH’s tough race of returnees and frontrunners

By Angelica Villanueva

ADELA Mae Marshall has officially started her journey for Miss Universe Philippines 2026 after being named the official representative of Muntinlupa City.

The Filipino-British model said the title means more than winning a pageant. She compared her own identity to the city she now represents, describing Muntinlupa as having a character defined by duality.

“One of the beauties of Muntinlupa is that kind of duality. As someone who’s biracial and in love with two cultures, I feel that I also have this tension. But they complement each other, both for myself and for Muntinlupa,” Adela told Manila Standard Entertainment Adela first gained regional recognition after competing on Asia’s Next Top Model, an experience that introduced her to high-pressure competition early in her career. Now returning to the stage through pageantry, she said preparation remains ongoing.

Asked how ready she is to enter the national pageant, Adela responded with both confidence and humility.

“I feel ready, but of course, I have to acknowledge that one can always progress and one can always improve. Under my current training regimen, I’m really being pushed and learning new things about myself every day,” she continued.

Adela added that growth is central to her journey.

“I feel that every experience is an opportunity for me. Yes, on one hand there are difficult moments on the journey. But as a person, there’s still so much to learn,” Adela shared.

While her modeling background gives her stage presence, Marshall emphasized that pageantry demands a different discipline.

Gabbi Garcia, Khalil Ramos play married couple in

FANS were swooning when Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos appeared as a married couple in the music video for Ben&Ben’s latest single, “Duyan.”

new video

Shticks Joseph Peter Gonzales

The pairing sparked playful speculation: could the longtime couple be thinking of tying the knot?

“Actually, when Ben&Ben first played the song for us, Khalil and I both got emotional because it felt so close to our own story,” Gabbi said. “It’s such a precious ditty. A love letter to the person you chose to commit to, grow with, and build a life with.”

The Kapuso actress said participating in the video held special meaning for them.

“As a couple who have been together for many years, it meant so much to us. We’re truly grateful to be part of something so honest, intimate, and beautiful.” Despite the realism in the video, Gabbi laughed off suggestions that it was real life. “It’s just funny. But we made it clear that it was really for the music video!”

When asked about marriage plans, she added, “Let’s ask Khalil! But honestly, we don’t have any concrete plan yet. We’re just calm about it. Anyway, we’re very much secured with each

other that we need not rush things or worry. What matters is we’re okay at present!”

* * *

Derek Ramsay is making a television comeback as the antagonist in TV5’s upcoming series The Kingdom: Magkabilang Mundo , starring Piolo Pascual alongside Cristine Reyes, Sue Ramirez, Ruby Ruiz, and Ryza Cenon. The series is directed by Mike Tuviera

“I really prayed for it and decided to accept the offer,” Ramsay said. He admitted feeling nostalgic during the story conference. “Oh! When I entered the room, I stepped back. My fellow stars were there as well as reporters and the cameras. I was no longer used to it. It was like I went back to those days when I was just starting in the ‘biz.’”

He also said the script reading was nervewracking. “Wow! I was feeling very nervous… but I’m certain that slowly, I’ll be comfortable. Honestly, I didn’t think that I’ll be back on television!”

* * *

“If you know how to play guitar, you don’t necessarily know how to play piano. There’s a shared level of understanding, but it’s an entirely different discipline. And it deserves the respect of being a different discipline,” the 28-year-old stunner explained. Her return to competition now carries broader responsibility. Unlike earlier contests where she represented herself, Marshall said she now carries the expectations of a community.

“Compared to before, when I competed, I was representing myself, but now I represent not only a community, but a team of people who believe in me,” Adela said.

“When you compete for something bigger than yourself, there’s a higher pressure, but the reward is still there,” she added.

Beyond the stage, Adela is aligning her campaign with literacy advocacy, particularly programs supporting functional literacy among young children.

“When you have better reading comprehension, the world really opens up for you,” she said, adding that it gives children “a higher chance of breaking the cycle of poverty.”

She is also looking forward to the cultural exchange that comes with meeting fellow candidates nationwide.

“One of the beauties of the Philippines is that we’re such a diverse nation. It’s exciting to meet girls from all over our country and see different parts of the Philippines through their eyes,” said Adela. Adela’s path back to competition has also been shaped by personal adversity. She revealed she suffered a serious accident several years ago that left her jaw broken, an experience that tested her resilience.

“I broke my jaw into pieces. People around me thought my modeling career was over,” she recalled.

The setback eventually changed how she viewed strength and her own value.

“Resilience is not just something you decide to have one day. It’s a practice you have to nurture every day,” shared Adela.

As she prepares for Miss Universe Philippines, the beauty queen said her readiness comes from lived experience rather than perfection.

“It has taken me ten years to stand on this stage. Through my lived experiences, my purpose, and my service, I feel ready,” she said.

If given the national crown, she hopes to embody a Filipina identity rooted in perseverance.

“I hope to represent a Philippines that possesses both resilience and humility, one who recognizes that strength is not just about perfection, but perseverance,” Adela stated.

fuel

VETERAN theater actor, choreographer, and director Manu Respall is preparing his high-fantasy science fiction epic, Ecean of the Crescent Realm, for international collaboration.

“It feels good that recently it’s drawing significant interest from global investment circles and cultural figures who have noted its world-class potential and unique positioning in the fantasy genre,” Respall said. Respall first developed the concept at age 17 and has long faced skepticism due to its ambitious scale. “For years, I’ve been pitching it to various producers who would say it was impossible to mount because it’s too costly. Now, I’m so happy

that I found the right people, like those from Glitch

Gabbi Garcia (left) and Khalil Ramos

marriage plans after appearing in Ben&Ben’s ‘Duyan’ MV

Adela Mae Marshall starts her Miss Universe Philippines 2026 campaign as Muntinlupa City’s representative, saying her ‘duality’ shapes how she carries the role

Adela Mae Marshall (left) with Miss

Legacy of hits and heart

HOW many times have we heard that a rock star is dead because of a drug overdose or due to depression that led to self-harm to the point of no return?

The demise of 3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold naturally puts him in the league of music legends who passed away at a young age, regardless of the nature of death. But amid the outpouring of love for his memory, it is worth reflecting that he is a curious case in the annals of rock.

The man with a powerful voice lost his battle with kidney cancer on Feb. 7. He was a legitimate rock icon and a vocal Christian. He had triumphantly addressed an alcohol problem 10 years ago.

Many tragic figures in popular music led selfdestructive lives until the very end.

Brad, who announced his Stage 4 cancer diagnosis last year, became associated with the teachings of Jesus. By the tone of the tributes that poured in from his peers and fans, it is clear he was a kind, fair soul—not the opposite, as may be said of others whose apparent bad behavior during their lifetime is often reframed in the guise of them being simply misunderstood, not to mention the sheer power of celebrity death in transforming a sinner into a saint.

Here was a rock talent who did his best to overcome the spoils of fame and showed it is possible and then bravely faced death.

Brad left a legacy of beautiful music through 3 Doors Down and a persona worthy of emulation.

The fallen frontman’s arresting voice and effective songwriting helped pave the way for the survival of good-quality rock music in the early 2000s. Imagine: he wrote his band’s breakout single and currently most-streamed song, “Kryptonite,” when he was 15. It has now generated more than a billion streams—350 million more than their widely appreciated rock ballad “Here Without You.”

It is no surprise that the beautifully melancholic tune has reached the top of the charts amid fans mourning his death. The song, heavily covered by others but never outshone, captures the sentimentality in Brad’s voice like no other track in their catalog. For me—and likely for many others—it is his definitive performance on record.

For a live performance, check the one they did at a concert in Houston, Texas, uploaded on YouTube in March 2012, which caught a young woman tearing up mid-song, obviously overpowered by the emotional force of Brad’s singing.

The lead singer and composer was quoted as saying that “Here Without You” is “about being away from someone or missing them—the loneliness and missing somebody.”

Other major hits of the band include “When I’m Gone,” “Be Like That,” “Let Me Go,” and “It’s Not My Time.” Sadly, it was not his time, even if he tried to rally himself in his last months.

The 3 Doors Down original drummer and vocalist died at the age of 47, which also meant the group no longer has any of its three founding members. Former guitarist Matt Roberts health reasons and died four years later.

Bass player Todd Harrell left the group in 2014, largely due to a vehicular homicide and a separate DUI arrest.

There is no official statement yet regarding the future of 3 Doors Down. But I hope they do not look for a replacement or continue with one of the surviving members singing songs Brad wrote and performed. It may not be a good business move to stop now, as their songs’ popularity will surely benefit from the loss of their vocalist. But a decision to end their run without its heart and soul will endure, like fine wine.

If Led Zeppelin could not continue without its drummer Bonham because they felt they would not sound the same without him, then it should truly make sense not to do tours or record new albums without Brad. His absence would be palpable.

For musicians out there, let Brad be the yardstick, not the exception. We may not escape certain diseases, but we can address the same-old-story rocker problems head-on and behave better as individuals whom some people look up to. We need more Brad Arnolds in the music scene.

Here’s hoping that every musical artist, especially those leading good, morally upright lives, is spared from dying young.

Wellness summit unveils new AI-driven business upgrades

By Nickie Wang

HOUSANDS

Tof members from the growing Santé community gathered from Feb. 5 to 8 for the fourday Santé Salvo Week, celebrating achievements, strengthening partnerships, and shaping the future of health, wellness, and entrepreneurship in the Philippines.

Under the theme “Future Forward,” Salvo Week highlighted the company’s focus on innovation, resilience, and sustainability, unveiling system-wide developments aimed at helping distributors build success more efficiently and collaboratively.

“This isn’t just about upgrading systems or launching new plans,” said Santé President and CEO Joey Marcelo. “This is about futureproofing our community, making sure every Santé business owner is equipped, empowered, and inspired to win not just today, but for the long term.”

The week opened with a Gala Night at Marriott Hotel Manila Grand Ballroom, honoring top leaders, partners, and achievers. The event included the Santé Elite Awards, recognizing the top 30 earners of the past year.

“The heart of Santé has always been its people,” Marcelo said. “When we recognize excellence, we’re not just awarding results, we’re celebrating discipline, grit, and the courage to dream bigger.”

A Branch Conference followed, highlighting regional communities that have driven collective growth and nationwide impact. The week concluded with the 19th Salvo National Sales Convention (NASCON)

on February 8 at the World Trade Center, Manila, which drew thousands of distributors and leaders for a day of strategic planning and inspiration.

NASCON introduced two major initiatives: Santé Next AI, a systems overhaul designed to improve efficiency and user experience for distributors, and Santé EDGE, a new compensation plan aimed at boosting earning potential and rewarding sustainable business development.

“With Santé Next AI and Santé EDGE, we are changing how success is achieved,” Marcelo said. “We listened to our community, studied the future of direct selling, and built a system that allows our distributors to move faster, earn better, and grow with confidence.”

A key milestone during the event was Santé International’s accreditation as a member of the Direct Selling Association of the Philippines (DSAP). Santé is the first barley-based direct selling company to join the organization.

“This recognition reflects our commitment to ethical business, transparency, and consumer trust,” Marcelo said. “It affirms that Santé is not only growing but also maturing as an organization aligned with global standards.”

Glitzy Oscar nominees luncheon back one year after LA fires

HOLLYWOOD stars embraced, and champagne corks popped at this year’s Oscars nominee lunch, the glamorous pre-show gathering that was canceled amid last year’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

Timothee Chalamet, nominated for best actor in Marty Supreme, flashed a smile while fellow Best Actor contenders Micahel B. Jordan and Ethan Hawke also flitted around the annual luncheon in Beverly Hills.

Mexican director Guillermo del Toro chatted with his tablemates as Wagner Moura, the Brazilian star of The Secret Agent, enthusiastically embraced Stellan Skarsgard and Oliver Laxe—the latter of whom has his film Sirat up for best international feature film.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Lynette Howell Taylor praised the diversity of this year’s nominees.

“Ballots were cast from 88 countries and regions,” the British producer said, adding that “the mission of the Academy is to amplify your art, movies, and your

The more than 200 nominees enjoyed a buzzy afternoon, all the more energetic after last year’s lunch was canceled as huge fires razed whole communities around Los Angeles. That year, the lunch was replaced with a smaller dinner at the Academy’s “This is a recognition of Brazilian

cinema and of the cinema of our region,” Moura told AFP Nearby, “The Secret Agent” director Kleber Mendonca Filho joked he was feeling animated—”like a generator.”

Skarsgard said that the impact of international films is growing, as evidenced by his historic nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the Norwegian film Sentimental Value

Foreign films and their stars typically notch nominations in the international categories, but Skarsgard is competing against nominees from US blockbusters, including Benicio del Toro in One Battle After Another and Delroy Lindo

in Sinners

Benicio del Toro, meanwhile, told AFP he was doubly thrilled after watching fellow Puerto Rican Bad Bunny perform at the Super Bowl halftime show over the weekend.

“I got goosebumps,” he told AFP, adding, “It was beautiful.”

The luncheon’s other legendary del Toro, the director Guillermo, meanwhile, said he was “calm.”

While his “Frankenstein” is nominated for Best Picture, del Toro himself is off the hook for Best Director, which he said took the pressure off him and meant he could focus on promoting his team.

“I’m happy because nine nominations don’t happen every day,” he said.

Lanky heartthrob Jacob Elordi, up for best supporting actor, offered a similarly toned-down vibe at an impromptu photo shoot.

Touchbass Yugel Losorata

Fans remember 3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold for his biggest hits and the way he faced his cancer battle publicly

US actress Teyana Taylor (right) and Australian actor Jacob Elordi join fellow nominees at the Oscars luncheon as Hollywood brings back the pre-show gathering after last year’s wildfire disruption

Santé president and CEO Joey Marcelo (center) leads Salvo Week as the company rolls out Santé Next AI and the Santé EDGE compensation plan for distributors

C4 LIFE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

Dr. Michelle Supapo promotes patientcentered, non-surgical aesthetic care grounded in safety, transparency, and personalized treatment planning

By Nickie Wang

DR Michelle Supapo, non-surgical director at Ysera Aesthetics Center, once traveled to South Korea to experience the country’s much-talked-about non-surgical procedures. What began as an educational trip quickly became a defining moment for her approach to aesthetic medicine.

“I went there excited as a doctor but also curious as a patient,” she recalls.

“Then suddenly I was handed a list of about 12 procedures. I’m a doctor, I knew some of them shouldn’t even be done at the same time. I felt overwhelmed. Parang nabudol ka. I told myself, I never want my patients to feel that way.”

That experience shaped how she approaches her practice: cautious, transparent, and always involving the patient in every decision.

Dr. Supapo saw firsthand how advanced technologies could improve

skin quality with minimal downtime. She wanted to make similar options accessible in the Philippines without the aggressive upselling she witnessed abroad.

“Filipino patients deserve the best treatments available worldwide,” she says. “Our doctors here are very capable. Sometimes the only delay is regulatory approval, not skill.” Safety, she stresses, always comes first. “We don’t inject anything that isn’t FDA-approved here. This is elective medicine—we have to be extra careful.”

Modern aesthetics

A professional point of view on non-surgical treatments and restoring self confidence

Talking about the growing trend in the beauty industry, Dr. Supapo has noticed a shift in patient preferences toward subtler, quicker treatments.

“Patients today value privacy. They don’t want obvious downtime,” she explains.

“Before, injectables were often manual. Now there are advanced devices that make treatments gentler. People can go back to work the next day.”

In the Philippines, she says, discretion is especially important. Professional and social visibility can make patients self-conscious after cosmetic procedures, so less invasive options are often preferred. Still, aging from stress and lifestyle gradually depletes collagen, which is where non-surgical treatments play a role in restoring and maintaining skin quality.

“That’s why we recommend maintenance every six months. It keeps your collagen backfilled so skin quality stays consistent.”

Unlike some doctors who commit to specific product lines, Dr. Supapo keeps her options open, asserting that each patient is unique and requires a tailored approach to address their concerns.

“I never tie myself to one brand. What works beautifully for one may not work for another. Limiting options isn’t fair to the patient.” Flexibility, she says, allows for better personalization and better outcomes.

Among her most requested

Masterclass in Manila puts Korean skincare science within reach for Filipinos

KOREAN skincare is often associated with innovation and advanced formulations, but a new initiative in Manila is shifting the focus toward accessibility and education.

Skin2Confidence, a continuing masterclass series by Pretty Skin & Lamelin Philippines, positions skin health knowledge as something Filipinos can learn and apply, not just follow as a trend.

The second session, Skin2Confidence: Where Skin Care Meets Makeup (Batch 2), was held Feb. 7, drawing dermatologists, pharmacists, beauty professionals, influencers, and everyday consumers for a full-day program. The event highlighted Korean dermatologic science adapted to Filipino skin needs and tropical climate conditions.

Attendees exchanged experiences and asked practical questions on issues ranging from skin sensitivity to makeup routines, creating a sense of community around shared concerns. Organizers emphasized that confidence comes from understanding one’s skin and having access to reliable information.

The program opened with a virtual message from Jung Bung Sub, founder and CEO of Pretty Skin Lamelin Korea, who said Korean skincare is grounded in disciplined routines, scientific research, and long-term skin health rather than passing trends. Locally, Pretty Skin Lamelin Philippines co-founder Jun Gamo stressed the need to adapt these principles to Filipino lifestyles, citing sun

exposure, climate, and cosmetic habits as factors requiring tailored approaches.

Education was central throughout the day. Representatives from the Korean headquarters, including sales and marketing manager Joo Hoang and export manager JunLee Hyeob discussed product lines such as Lamelin NMN & PDRN and Pretty Skin B5 and B3, explaining how ingredients support hydration, barrier repair, and resilience.

Medical perspectives added depth. Dr. Mara Capirosso addressed common skincare misconceptions and highlighted how skin responds continuously to stress, environment, and care practices. Boardcertified dermatologist Dr. Finesse Evangelista discussed ingredient synergy and the importance of informed product selection in a crowded beauty market.

Hands-on demonstrations were a major draw. Korean-certified skincare educator Grace Lee demonstrated

routine building with the Lamelin Camella line for dry skin, focusing on proper layering and skin observation. Makeup artist Florence Vergara showed how cosmetic application can support skin health when preparation is done correctly.

Global brand ambassador Katrina Santos also made a brief appearance, arranging product giveaways and gift certificates for attendees before leaving early due to health reasons.

Organizers noted the steady growth of the Skin2Confidence series since its first batch in January. They said the program aims to make skincare education consistent, approachable, and community-driven rather than episodic. The next session, Batch 3, is scheduled for March 20.

Those interested in learning practical skincare science, connecting with professionals, and joining a supportive beauty community are encouraged to register through Pretty Skin & Lamelin’s official social media channels or authorized contacts. Organizers said the goal is simple: make skincare knowledge accessible, promote informed routines, and foster confidence through shared learning.

Pretty Skin & Lamelin are Koreaninspired skincare brands focused on science-based formulations and skin health education. Their programs, including Skin2Confidence, are adapted for Filipino conditions, emphasizing ingredient integrity, proper routines, and informed self-care while creating spaces for consumers and professionals to learn together and build lasting connections around skin wellness.

treatments are skin boosters, which improve hydration, glow, and overall skin quality without dramatic structural changes.

“In Korea they’ve been popular for almost a decade. Here it’s relatively new, but patients love it because it’s not painful and there’s minimal downtime,” she explains. “You get improved texture, brightness, that healthy glow—very natural.”

Dr. Supapo sees her aesthetic treatments not just as ways to improve appearance for cosmetic reasons, but as a way to help patients restore aspects of their natural look or confidence that may have been lost.

For example, she might help someone regain facial symmetry after a stroke, improve skin quality affected by aging or stress, or address features that make a person self-conscious. Her

Non-surgical treatments continue to gain

focus is on enhancing well-being and selfconfidence, not just creating a “perfect” look.

“People are judged by how they look. When patients feel good about themselves, it affects confidence, opportunities, and even how they carry themselves.” Despite the appeal of advanced procedures, Dr. Supapo emphasizes fundamentals, which some people often overlook.

“A good facial wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen, that’s the foundation. Many people wait until there are visible problems before starting basic care,” she stresses, adding that consistency is another pillar of her practice.

“One frustration patients tell me is seeing a different doctor every visit. When I consult you, I see you through until the end. That continuity builds trust.” She understands the sacrifices behind each appointment. “Some patients save for months to afford treatment. That’s why I feel pressure to give the best possible care.”

‘Tummy time’ for adults may help with back and neck pain

THE TikTok trend known as “tummy time” for babies may also benefit adults struggling with back pain or “tech neck,” doctors at Makati Medical Center say.

Tummy time involves placing a baby on their stomach while awake for short, supervised periods, which helps strengthen the neck, shoulders, and back. Doctors say a similar approach can improve posture and relieve muscle strain in adults.

“In adult tummy time, you lie on your stomach, prop yourself up with your forearms, and keep your neck aligned with your spine,” said Dr. Ma. Elena Lourdes R. Tan of MakatiMed. “This helps strengthen back and neck muscles and counteracts the strain caused by sitting hunched over a phone or computer.”

Dr. Tan cautioned that adult tummy time is not suitable for everyone. People with severe or chronic back pain, spinal stenosis,

osteoporosis, degenerative disc disease, recent surgery, or those in the later stages of pregnancy should consult a physician before attempting the exercise.

For those cleared to try it, doctors recommend lying on a firm surface, keeping shoulders relaxed, and maintaining neck alignment. The position should be held for a few minutes at a time, with rest periods in between.

“Staying in the position for 30 minutes or more may cause neck and back pain, which defeats the purpose of the exercise,” Dr. Tan said.

For people unable to do tummy time, alternative exercises can help relieve strain. Looking up at the ceiling, performing wall angels, and taking short walking breaks every one to two hours can promote posture and reduce discomfort.

Dr. Tan emphasized that the goal is to relieve tension and strengthen muscles rather than test endurance.