Manila Standard - 2026 February 16 - Monday

No China sanctions on PH solons

By Katrina Manubay and Ram Superable

TEmbassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng stressed that dialogue and debate should guide diplomatic relations between the countries.

Responding to Chinese suggestions on social media to bar Filipino solons who have been critical of Bei-

jing’s envoys and have asked for their replacement, Ji said sanctions are “not our option. At least not now.”

“This is a debate. They have the freedom to express their views, and we have the freedom to respond. No

Dual citizenship still allowed for Fil-Ams, assures embassy

By Katrina Manubay

allowed in the United States. Meanwhile, former Philippine ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia Jr., downplayed the concerns regarding a new U.S. Senate bill that aims to outlaw dual citizenship, stating that it has “very slim” chances of ratification.

By Vince Lopez

a statement, the embassy announced it administered the oath of allegiance to the 15 Filipinos under

Superable

5-day wellness break for public school teachers takes

By Rolando Ng III

THE Department of Education (DepEd) has approved the granting

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026

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one should be silenced. Diplomacy is based on reciprocity. Words for words, actions for actions,” Ji said in the statement posted on the embassy’s Facebook page.

Asked to comment on the embassy statement, at least three senators -- Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and Sen. JV Ejercito -- said they would issue a response today.

The Palace spokesperson said it would take up the matter during today's media briefing.

Amid the diplomatic row, Lacson proposed initiating formal talks between the Senate and the embassy to address issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

After Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan signaled openness to dialogue following a courtesy call on Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Lacson said he would recommend to Senate President Vicente Sotto III that the embassy’s representatives be invited for direct discussions with lawmakers.

“That’s a good opening we should consider, and we should seize the opportunity to initiate talks. It would be better to sit down and discuss properly what needs to be addressed. If the minority wants to join, that would also be fine, and they can send their chosen represen -

tative,” Lacson said. He said the meeting could be held at the Senate, the Chinese Embassy, or a mutually agreed neutral venue to ensure a diplomatic and professional exchange.

Later in the day, the embassy rejected Sen. JV Ejercito’s “wrongful comment” that the Chinese were “bullying” Filipino fishermen and officials, saying the heated exchanges in recent weeks were “provoked.” Ji emphasized that China’s actions were provoked by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela “along with several helpers who have repeatedly and deliberately attacked and smeared China.”

“Not long ago Jay Tarriela also tried to downplay China’s assistance to distressed Philippine fisherfolks and continued his twisted narrative of ‘China bullying the Philippines’ with lies and false claims,” he said.

“Tarriela went so far as to openly insult the Chinese leader during a presentation at a Philippine university before young students. Such conduct crossed the line and constituted violation of China’s political dignity,” he added.

“Facts are plain. Ins and outs are simple. China does not initiate confrontation. China responds only when subjected to attacks,” Ji said, noting the Embassy will “continue

Investigation director Dante Gierran; and former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, along with other Philippine National Police officials.

anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity before the ICC.

Lacson said it would be premature for the Senate to adopt a firm position, noting that the ICC has yet to release a bill of particulars detailing the specific charges and possible penalties.

“The Senate’s lawyers will study possible courses of action to take, given the circumstances. We’ll discuss the matter if the senators decide to extend help. We’ll cross the bridge when we get there,” he said.

On Friday, the ICC released a less redacted version of the Document Containing the Charges (DCC) filed by prosecutors, naming eight alleged co-perpetrators.

Aside from Dela Rosa and Go, those listed include former police officials Vicente Danao, the late Camilo Cascolan, Oscar Albayalde and Isidro Lapeña; former National Bureau of

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these two killings in the interest of justice and the rule of law,” Nartatez said.

In Isabela, former Miss Philippines-Earth runner up and now school teacher, Lullete Jane Ramilo-De Guzman, reportedly shot dead on Friday, while inside her car with her three children in Barangay Cabaritan in San Manuel town.

She suffered bullet wounds in the face and body and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. The children were unharmed.

The attackers fled aboard a mo -

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Duterte’s lead defense counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, denounced the list as “completely lacking in truth.”

In a message to GMA Integrated News, Kaufman said the defense had known the identities of the alleged coperpetrators for nearly a year and kept them confidential as required by the court.

“This puts to lie the utter falsity of the claim that the former president’s interim release would endanger the integrity of the Prosecution’s investigation,” he said.

“Accordingly, the Prosecution has now revealed the names of what it alleges to be criminal co-perpetrators— something that we will prove to be completely lacking in truth,” the lawyer added.

“None of these co-perpetrators are, in my opinion, currently subject to arrest warrants,” Kaufman said, describing reports on the list as “sensational” and “politically motivated.”

torcycl3e.

In Oriental Mindoro, Antonio Mendeja, a director of the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, made a brief stop to check on his vehicle in Pinamalayan town when a gunman shot him at close range.

Nartatez said he already directed the regional police chiefs of Cagayan Valley and MIMAROPA to look deeper into the two cases to determine the motive and arrest the killers as soon as possible.

He also directed all police commanders to tighten further their crime prevention measures, including setting up of checkpoints, increased police visibility, and strategic deployment of personnel under the Enhanced Managing

of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to discuss measures to ensure their safety.

‘‘We want to know what steps our DFA and DMW will take to ensure the safety of these seafarers,’’ he said.

‘‘I want the DMW to determine whether our seamen were hired directly or through a local manning agency. If they went through a manning agency, that company will be responsible if anything happens to them,’’ the neophyte senator warned.

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Republic Act No. 9225 that allows dual citizenship.

“The United States continues to allow dual citizenship, and there have been no changes to this policy,” the statement read.

to fulfill its responsibilities in accordance with diplomatic norms and firmly safeguard China’s national interests and dignity.”

This came after Chinese social media users urged the embassy to sanction certain Filipino legislators, including banning them and their families from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau, freezing their assets in China, and prohibiting Chinese entities from doing business with them.

Despite the ongoing disputes, Lacson said the Philippines continues to maintain diplomatic ties with China under its One China policy.

He added that Senators Francis Pangilinan and Hontiveros, who have taken strong positions on China-related issues, could join the proposed dialogue, along with Senate foreign relations committee chairman Erwin Tulfo.

“Even if we don’t agree on the territory, at least we can agree on how to conduct the discussion,” Lacson said.

Filipino troops remain unaffected by the “word war” with China as they know their mandate and understand the issue revolving around the WPS, the Philippine Navy said on Sunday.

“‘Yung ating mga kasundaluhan, sapagkat sila ang nasa frontline, kami ang nasa frontline, sila mismo, literal nasa frontline, naiintindihan nila ang mga issues na ito,” PH Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told Super

Aguirre, meanwhile, said he will not go into hiding but will “resist legally” should the ICC issue a warrant for his arrest.

“Hindi ako magtatago kailanman. Nandito lang ako (I will never hide. I'm just here),” Aguirre told DZMM on Sunday.

He said he would resist a potential warrant legally, “like asking the Philippine courts to prohibit my trial at the ICC because I believe it is not in accordance with our law.”

Aguirre also said he hopes the Supreme Court will issue a ruling clarifying the process to be followed once the ICC issues another arrest warrant “because many are affected.”

The former Justice secretary maintained that he has no involvement in the “common plan” or “national network” as alleged by the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, adding he was likely only included to add credibility to the case.

Senator Go, in a separate statement, denied the allegations.

“I dispute these allegations which are entirely unfounded, one-sided, unfair and bear no relation to the reality

Police Operation (EMPO).

These measures, he said, must be complemented with aggressive operations against loose firearms and search for wanted persons whom he said, are usually repeat law offenders.

Such crime prevention measures are among the best ways to deny criminal elements the opportunity to strike as they ensure immediate response and certainty of arrest.

Nartatez also urged anyone with relevant information on the two murders to assist in the investigations.

Mimaropa police director Brig. Gen. Jovencio Badua Jr. directed the police chief of Oriental Mindoro, Col. Edison Revita, to conduct a thorough investigation, ensure strong case build-up, and

Tulfo said the number of affected Filipino seafarers was relayed to him by Ukraine Ambassador Yuliia Fediv during a courtesy call last week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently signed a decree implementing a decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions on 91 maritime vessels identified as part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, according to the official website of the President of Ukraine on February 13.

In November last year, the BBC reported that Ukrainian naval drones struck two oil tankers believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet as they sailed through the Black Sea.

Radyo dzBB. (Our soldiers understand these issues because they are on the frontline.)

“Hindi naman sila apektado (they are unaffected). They know what they’re doing. They know their mandate,” he said.

Trinidad reminded Filipinos the enemy in the WPS issue is not their fellow countrymen, but “‘Yung nanghimasok sa ating teritoryo” (but those who have intruded into our territory).”

“So, anybody who comes up with a wrong narrative, it is clear it is not the Philippine narrative. Whose narrative is it then? It’s of our adversary, the Chinese Communist Party,” he added.

In the Saturday News Forum, lawyer and WPS expert Jay Batongbacal also said the Philippines had sovereignty over the Kalayaan Island Group not because of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“This was established because we acquired it, occupied it, established a municipality on it, not because of the EEZ,” said Batongbacal, executive director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea.

Tensions escalated after Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima reminded Ji that he was in the Philippines, not China, following remarks that hinted at possible economic consequences if diplo-

of my roles and responsibilities,” he said, adding: “At no time did I have any involvement in, knowledge of, or authority over these allegations.”

Dela Rosa, who has not been seen at the Senate since late 2025, has yet to issue a statement.

Outside the Senate, reactions were mixed.

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima welcomed the inclusion of high-profile personalities as co-accused.

“In laying down the charges against Duterte, the ICC Prosecutor also just made the world smaller for his coperpetrators by naming them… Time and again, we warned these people, even from prison, that this day would come… Justice will always catch up with them. Justice will be served,” she said.

The group Rise Up for Rights and for Life, an organization of families of drug war victims, also welcomed the disclosure.

“We have known their names and faces as Duterte’s cohorts, but the ICC naming them feels like a gentle

intensify efforts to arrest the suspect.

“We encourage anyone with relevant information, including CCTV or dashcam footage, to coordinate with the nearest police station; all information will be handled with strict confidentiality and processed through proper official channels,” Badua said.

Likewise, he urged the public to rely only on official sources for verified updates and to refrain from sharing unverified claims that may compromise the investigation.

“We assure the public that this case is being handled with urgency and full investigative focus, and we urge continued cooperation as we move decisively toward justice,” Badua added.

Footage verified by the BBC showed sea drones speeding toward the vessels before exploding into fireballs and sending black smoke into the air.

Turkish authorities identified the targeted tankers as the Kairos and the Virat, both flagged to Gambia.

The vessels were hit off the Turkish coast on Friday, with the Virat reportedly struck again on Saturday. No casualties were reported.

The attacks appeared to signal an escalation by Kyiv as it seeks to target Russia’s oil revenues, which are crucial to funding its war in Ukraine.

During the same courtesy call, Tulfo also asked that Filipino prisoner of war Raymon Santos Gumangan be allowed to contact his family by phone.

matic ties were severely disrupted. Last week, the embassy warned that major disruptions in relations could have serious economic repercussions, potentially affecting jobs and livelihoods in the Philippines. The warning followed comments by Sotto, who said he would challenge the embassy’s remarks against him.

Senators Joseph Victor Ejercito and Raffy Tulfo then called for the recall of Ambassador Jing, saying diplomats should work to improve relations.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., however, expressed respect for Beijing’s decision regarding its envoy, with Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro saying the choice to replace Jing rests solely with China.

Last week, the Chinese Embassy announced that 16 officials from the Kalayaan Islands were barred from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau.

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

On the same day, the Senate adopted Resolution 37, with 15 senators criticizing a Chinese embassy official’s language as unprofessional and saying it undermined mutual respect and non-interference.

pat on our shoulders, as we grieve for our loved ones,” said Jane Lee of the group.

“My son was maligned as a drug user and criminal… Today, we have seen and read the names of the real culprits – they who have blood on their hands for implementing a deadly policy,” said Dahlia Cuartero, whose son was killed in the anti-drug campaign.

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines called for the arrest of those named as coperpetrators “so that they can also face trial, along with their boss, Duterte.”

The ICC has scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing to begin on February 23 at its seat in The Hague, Netherlands. The prosecution, defense, and lawyers for victims are expected to present their arguments before Pre-Trial Chamber I. Duterte remains detained at the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen as he faces three charges of crimes against humanity in connection with killings linked to his administration’s war on drugs.

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The order, issued on Friday, grants teachers and non-teaching personnel five days of wellness leave each year to support their mental well-being. The directive is also in line with a CSC memorandum permitting government employees to avail themselves of the benefit.

In a phone interview with the Manila Standard, TDC chairperson Benjo Basas said the agency has finally responded to one of their longstanding demands.

‘‘This gives legal and explicit recognition by the state to issues regarding the wellness of our government employees, including public school teachers,’’ he said, adding that teachers’ mental health concerns are real.

The embassy also advised those who wish to reacquire their Philippine citizenship under R.A. 9225 to apply at the Embassy, Consulates, or during consular outreach missions.

The Embassy earlier noted in a statement on December 5 last year the introduction of a new bill in the U.S. Senate to end dual citizenship in the United States.

“Don’t let misinformation stop you from becoming a dual citizen,” it added. This clarification came in response to reports saying the U.S. government is poised to launch a crackdown on dual citizens.

“The bill is currently a legislative proposal and has not been enacted into law. It will go through several stages of lengthy deliberation and may or may not proceed depending on the decisions of the U.S. Congress,” the embassy said.

“U.S. lawmakers will have to carefully consider the provisions of the bill, given its possible significant impact on major immigrant groups in the country,” it added..

The Philippine embassy further

noted that previous challenges to dual and multiple citizenship had not materialized. As early as 1952, the U.S. Supreme Court has stated that dual citizenship is a “status long recognized by law” and that “a person may have and exercise rights of nationality in two countries and be subject to the responsibilities of both. The mere fact he asserts the rights of one citizenship does not mean that he renounces the other” (Kawakita v US, 343 US 717).

He noted that the order is a step forward from the wellness break previously given to teachers in lieu of the annual In-Service Training (INSET).Basas also said many teachers continue to perform nonteaching and administrative tasks, which add to their heavy workload. He added that curriculum-related duties, such as preparing tests, checking students’ work, and handling guidance and counseling tasks, further increase the pressure on their teaching responsibilities.

‘‘These are not done inside the classroom. Even if you spend six hours in class, preparing tests, checking students’ work, and doing guidance and counseling tasks are all part of our job,’’ he said. Basas and the TDC called on DepEd to provide additional support to teachers, including reducing their workload and lowering class sizes.

House planning tribute for ‘Manong Joe’

By Rio N. Araja

THE House of Representatives will pay tribute to the late statesman Jose Claveria De Venecia Jr., its longestserving Speaker in modern history, whose leadership was credited with shaping the institution and influencing the course of national governance. House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III will lead the ceremony on Monday, with former House Speakers expected to deliver eulogies, including Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, businessmanpolitician Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr., and former Quezon City Rep. Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr.

Other eulogists at the funeral include De Venecia’s son, former Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher De Venecia, as well as past and present lawmakers from both Houses of Congress, government officials, and diplomats, including the following:

· Former President and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

WITH the deadline for filing compensation claims over the 2023 oil spill fast approaching, residents of Oriental Mindoro flocked to a legal caravan at the provincial capitol in Calapan City to clarify their claims before the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC).

The oil tanker MT Princess Empress, operated by RDC Reield Marine Services, sank off the waters of Pola, Oriental Mindoro on February 28, 2023. It was carrying more than 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil from Limay, Bataan, bound for Iloilo City.

The IOPC set a three-year deadline

PH gov’t

signs pacts with Estonia, Italy at Munich security confab

By Katrina Manubay

THE Philippines, through Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Theresa Lazaro, on Saturday signed agreements on digital and defense cooperation with Estonia and Italy on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC).

In an X post, Lazaro said the signing of the Philippines-Italy Agreement on Defense Cooperation with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto aims to strengthen ties between the two countries.

“On behalf of the Philippines, I signed the PH-Italy Agreement on Defense Cooperation with Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto in a side meeting held at the Munich Security Conference. This is another concrete step to move PH-Italy cooperation forward,” she said. For its part, the Italian Defense Ministry highlighted that the agreement affirms the strength of bilateral dialogue and their shared intent to enhance cooperation.

“A key moment was the signing of the new Defense Agreement, which opens up new opportunities for the development of industrial capabilities while expanding operational, training, and education areas,” it said.

The ministry emphasized that the agreement focuses on the IndoPacific, a region of growing strategic importance, aiming to enhance synergies in the maritime and aerospace sectors and strengthen a long-term partnership.

Concurrently, Lazaro signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Digital Cooperation with Estonia, underscoring increased collaboration on cybersecurity and capacity building.

· House Deputy Speaker and Iloilo 4th District Rep. Ferjenel Biron

· House Minority Leader and 4Ps

party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan

· Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.

· Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Mark Cojuangco

· Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez

· Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri

· Sen. Loren Legarda

· Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian

· Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III

· Former House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II

· Former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers

· Former Sen. Manuel “Mar”

Araneta Roxas II

· Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

· Former South Korean Foreign

Minister Chung Eui-yong

· Former Pakistan Sen. Mushahid Hussain Sayed

Mindoro residents seek clarity on oil spill claims

from the date of the spill for affected individuals, groups, and local government units to submit claims.

An ABS-CBN report said those who attended the provincial government’s legal caravan included fishermen, boat owners, fish vendors, and tourism workers seeking clarification on whether they could still receive compensation for lost livelihoods.

Mylene Leuterio, a fish vendor from San Teodoro, said she received P35,000 last year but found it insufficient. She filed a P150,000 claim with the IOPC, which was approved based on the

assessment given to her, but she wants to know if she can still receive the remaining balance.

“They did not tell us there would be another payment. They said that if we did not accept the money, we would no longer receive anything, so we were forced to take it. We suffered huge losses because of the oil spill,” Leuterio told ABS-CBN.

Olivia Villapaña, a fish vendor from Calapan City, described the P4,000 she received as meager compared to the income she lost when she was barred from selling fish at the

height of the spill. She said she would be satisfied with compensation of P20,000 to P25,000.

Fisherman Gomer De Ramos is also appealing for the full P69,000 indicated in his IOPC assessment, saying only P15,000 was released.

His brother, who owns a commercial fishing vessel, expected P1.1 million in compensation, but the IOPC reportedly said commercial vessels were not covered by the municipal fishing ban.

Operators argued they were still affected because the Philippine Coast Guard barred them from leaving port.

CitizenWatch urges regulators: Ensure web service quality

CONSUMER advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines on Wednesday called on government regulators to ensure that the envisioned influx of new internet service providers (ISPs) prioritizes geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAS),

where broadband connectivity remains weak or nonexistent.

Orlando O. Oxales, lead convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, said recent policy reforms such as the Konektadong Pinoy Act and the new National Digital Connectivity Plan must trans-

late into concrete gains for communities long left behind in the country’s digital transformation.

“The President was clear that connectivity is already a right, a necessity, and a lifeline. But that right remains unrealized in many coastal, mountainous, and island communities,” Oxales said, echoing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s remarks at the Philippine Telecommunications Summit 2026.

President Marcos noted that while 5G rollout, fiber deployment, and broadband speeds have improved, many rural and remote areas continue to face unstable signals and limited broadband access, citing delays in permits and right-of-way restrictions as persistent barriers.

Oxales said these same bottlenecks could undermine the administration’s connectivity roadmap if left unresolved.

“Removing the congressional franchise requirement and mandating infrastructure sharing under the Konektadong Pinoy Act were bold reforms. But if local permitting remains slow and right-of-way disputes persist, new entrants will face the same structural obstacles that slowed expansion in the past,” he said.

IN BRIEF

Solon warns against hasty trimester plan

THE Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed shift to a trimestral system should undergo broad consultations before implementation to ensure thorough review and Senate oversight, Senator Bam Aquino said on Sunday. “Although we recognize the need for broad reforms, we must ensure they are not implemented hastily and go through proper consultation,” he said. DepEd is considering the trimester system for public schools starting school year 2026–2027 to allow longer instructional periods and reduce teachers’ non-teaching workload.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the plan aims to organize the academic year more efficiently and follows recommendations from the Second Congressional Commission on Education. Under the proposal, the school year would have three terms totaling 201 days, with scheduled breaks for planning, assessment, and professional tasks. Each term would include uninterrupted teaching blocks of 54 to 61 days, plus enrichment periods for remediation, grade computation, and wellness activities. Ram Superable

AFP holds localized peace engagements

THE 1102nd Infantry “Ganarul” Brigade of the Philippine Army on Sunday said it conducted a Localized Peace Engagement at the headquarters of the 101st Infantry “Sajahitra” Battalion to sustain the declaration of gun-free and rido-free communities in Omar and Luuk, Sulu.

The activity gathered 10 Moro National Liberation Front leaders, community representatives, and security partners. It was presided over by Brig. Gen. Alaric Avelino Delos Santos and Lt. Col. Dante Mantes, with the Omar Municipal Police Station joining to underscore inter-agency cooperation. Discussions focused on unity, dialogue, and community responsibility in sustaining peace initiatives.

Participating MNLF leaders expressed support for the rido-free and gun-free programs and pledged to promote harmony in their communities. Mantes reaffirmed the battalion’s readiness to assist local stakeholders, while Delos Santos emphasized that lasting peace requires continuous dialogue and shared responsibility. Vince Lopez

DSWD-7 launches safer net campaign

CEBU CITY— The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 7 launched the “Safer Internet Campaign 2026,” highlighting the responsible use of artificial intelligence, on Feb. 9 during its weekly convocation. DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Lucero said the agency continues to monitor and respond to reports of online sexual abuse or exploitation of children and the spread of child sexual abuse or exploitation materials. She urged parents to take an active role in ensuring the safe

Chua

Valentine’s Day mass wedding at Montano Hall on Cruz Herrera Street, Cavite City, on Feb. 14. Dennis Abrina

RESCUED. The Philippine Coast Guard con rms the rescue of shermen earlier reported missing in waters o Occidental Mindoro.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pangilinan files bill mandating bigger aids for needy students

IN BRIEF

BuCor, IBP eye tie-up on free legal service

THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) mull collaboration on the implementation of the Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS) to ensure equal access to justice for prisoners or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

Bucor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said there was preliminary talks with IBP national president Allan Panolong when the latter was guest of honor and speaker at a recent BuCor event. ULAS provides legal services, free of charge, to indigent clients every three years to ensure equal access to justice. Panolong has said the reformation and reintegration program being implemented by BuCor aimed to assimilate ex-PDLs into mainstream society with dignity, to show that rehabilitation is possible, strengthen the community’s belief in the reality of change and second chances in life are valuable.

Korean wanted for fraud arrested in Puerto Galera

THE Mimaropa police reported the arrest in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro of a South Korean fugitive wanted by the South Korean authorities for alleged financial fraud.

Mimaropa police chief Brig. Gen. Jovencio Badua Jr. identified the suspect as Hae Jung Chun, 63, who is hunted by the Interpol in connection with warrants issued by the Changwon District Court and the Seoul Central District Court, Republic of Korea, for alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act and the Electronic Financial Transactions Act.

“Let this serve as a clear warning: fugitives have no safe haven in MIMAROPA, as we will relentlessly pursue those who evade justice and strengthen coordination with national agencies and international partners to ensure they are located, arrested, and properly processed,” Badua said. Hae has been turned over to the Bureau of Immigration, for proper documentation and processing prior to deportation. Vince Lopez

Banawe Chinatown set to meet New Year

THE Quezon City government is inviting QCresidents and visitors to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse and experience the Chinese Lunar New Year 2026 celebration at the Banawe Chinatown on Feb. 17. The celebration will also honor the Filipino-Chinese heritage and position Banawe as

By Ram Superable

SENATOR Francis Pangilinan on Sunday bared that he filed a bill mandating more financial assistance to poor students in private schools.

Pangilinan said under Senate Bill No. 1841 or the Private Education Voucher Expansion Act, vouchers will be distributed to learners in kin-

dergarten to senior high school from low and middle-income families— as defined by the Philippine Statistics Authority—who attend public schools deemed congested or those who live in areas without accessible public schools.

“Students who are most vulnerable and underprivileged shall receive a higher voucher amount, as determined by the Basic Education Assistance Council,” Pangilinan explained.

He said the program would consolidate existing aid into a unified voucher-based system for private basic education.

The proposed law also includes institutional support for participat-

ing private schools, covering teacher development and targeted assistance programs.

A Bureau of Private Education under the Department of Education will be created to oversee implementation and ensure compliance with regulations, while the Basic Education Assistance Council monitors eligibility criteria for student beneficiaries and participating schools to prioritize the most underprivileged learners.

“By strengthening public-private partnership in basic education, this bill promotes equitable access, more efficient use of public resources, and improved education outcomes,” Pangilinan said.

‘Arrest of drivers in fatal accidents not automatic’

By Vince Lopez

By John Bayarong

OLONGAPO City—A riverside community here has developed the habit of turning household discards into cereal to augment the family’s food supply.

The waste-to-rice setup, dubbed Walang Plastikan, Palit Bigas Agad,” was being spearheaded by barangay Mabayuan under the stewardship of chairman Edwin Esposo. Every Saturday, residents line up at the barangay’s redemption center to turn in their collected plastic bottles in exchange for rice. Two kilos of plastic bottles is equivalent to one kilo of rice, in the process promoting environmental sanitation and bringing more food to the table. Rice was chosen over cash to ensure that whatever is redeemed goes directly to the table for family nourishment. Af-

ter three weeks, the program mustered some 40 kilos of plastic bottles.

“We are currently accepting 1.5, 5, and 8 liter PET bottles. We reuse them as pots for our village vegetable garden. Once we get our machines, all types of plastics will be accepted,” Esposo explained.

The ‘Walang Plastikan’ program also anchors the village’s broader livelihood plan. The collected plastic bottles, according to barangay secretary Raquel de Guia, are sorted out, shredded, and recycled for various projects, including community gardens planted with peppers and eggplants, and eventually, as a raw material for the production of hollow blocks.

The project site sits on a borrowed 800-square-meter lot and needs a pulverizer and shredding machines to sustain the initiative.

to release and file a regular case if the evidence is not clear or there is no negligence,” Calinisan noted.

Last Friday, Quezon City police chief Brig. Gen. Randy Glenn Silvio, said during a press briefing at Camp Crame that the driver in the LRT incident has been released from police custody after the father of the victim, in a notarized letter, said that he will not pursue any charges against the driver. Silvio explained that tentative detention of the driver’s was part of standard investigative procedures in cases involving death.

By Minerva Newman

CEBU City—Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has signed two “landmark” agreements with the Cebu Normal University (CNU) in collaboration with the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) creating a medical scholarship program and a “practice-based family medicine residency training course” aiming to build a sustainable medical services across the province

“The agreements establish a twopronged strategy to produce new doctors while upgrading the competencies of those already serving in government hospitals,” provincial health consultant Dr. Elisse Nicole Catalan said.

She cited as example a medical student supported for four years will serve eight years in provincial public health offices or state-run hospitals in Cebu after passing the physician licensure examinations. In a talk with reporters during the Ato Ang Sugbo, Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Night. Catalan said starting academic year 2026–2027, the provincial government will fund additional scholarship slots, covering full tuition and other academic fees to expand scholarship opportunities for qualified but financially disadvantaged medical students.

“The scholars will render two years of return service in Cebu province for every year of scholarship received,” Catalan said, adding that this is a “strategic move to address physician shortages and reinforce hospital-based healthcare services” in the province. The provincial government will provide funding, assist in screening applicants, and coordinate return-service deployment. The academic merger will select scholars and monitor their academic performance.

RACE,

she says. Revoli Cortez

‘WALANG

OPINION

Looking for the ‘One’

IN A rare confluence of events, today and tomorrow, most Orientals will be celebrating the entry of the Fire Horse, symbol of the Lunar New Year, while our Muslim brothers will begin the holy month of Ramadan. Catholics the day after will mark the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18. The confluence of these events makes the year quite exciting, or so the astrologers and feng shui experts tell us. The economy will not provide good news. The rice market is tightening, just as oil pricing remains volatile. These would lead to further inflation, especially after the second half. Meanwhile, consumption which sank even during the holidays will remain in the doldrums.

In politics, the period will be marked by the histrionics of impeaching Vice-President Sara Duterte. Those who are desperate to prevent another Duterte from occupying Malacanang come 2028 will be hell bent on impeaching her. If they can get 16 senators to convict her, the door would open for wannabe’s of all types, colors and persuasion.

The other day, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, after meeting with her coalition leaders, some of whom were part of the Ocho Derecho of 2019, announced she is available for higher office, meaning the presidency or perhaps the vice presidency. Alin ba talaga, Ate?

Risa’s float, which was likely blessed by pinklawan patroness, Naga Mayor Leni Robredo, is intended to see if Senora Risa’s numbers will move from the cellars as to make her a viable candidate for the plum post, whether alone among the remnants of the “pink wave,” or in a wishful coalition with the administration of Marcos Junior. If the float fails to fly, then the pinklawan tribes, blessed by some bishops, will “clamor” for Robredo to try her luck once more. And so they dream of getting the BbMLAM support, better secretly than open. Everyone and their political “analysts” are looking for the “One,” that is, the one who can beat current frontrunner Inday Sara of the solid Bis-Min vote, even if it means partnering with the nemeses of Ninoy and Cory. Sacre bleu! How will the true-blue “yellows” position themselves in the sinister plan of the “pinks?” Mindanao plus the Bisaya-speaking Visayans comprise 34 percent of the national vote. That is about 9 percent more than voters in the rest of Luzon --- Ilocanos, Pampangos, Tagalogs and Bicolanos together, excepting Mega-Manila which is populated by multi-ethnicities who make up their minds on who to vote for towards the last innings, the so-called “independent voters” or “llamadistas”, who go for the winner

as pronounced by the final surveys.

I classify nearby provinces with multiethnic origins in Rizal, Cavite, half of Laguna, half of Bulacan as Mega-Manila, among the biggest provinces by voting population.

That is around 15 percent.

Let’s proceed with the raw math:

On the assumption that Inday Sara in 2028 is able to preserve the 34 percent BisMin voters, she will have a built-in advantage over any moist-eyed national figure dreaming to be president.

Analysts are gearing up for the final battle. 2026 is ‘now or never’

To match that, the opposing candidate will need to consolidate Balance Luzon.

That means Regions 1, 2, CAR, half of Regions 3 and 4, Regions 4-B and 5, plus Panay and half of NIR, along with the Warayspeaking provinces. That would give him or her 33 percent, making it even steven.

Look around us. Is there anyone?

Now, if the remaining BbM loyalists plus the pinklawans and the divided leftist groups cannot consolidate their support towards only “One” challenger, Inday Sara should easily win. If the survey numbers by April 2026 show that Bis-Min is intact, then she will get a big chunk of the Mega-Manila vote. Game over.

But will it be a one-on-one fight, which moist-eyed Johnvic Remulla says is his condition for running? Based on previous experiences since the 1987 Constitution took effect, one-on-one is not likely.

Then again, the endorsement value of being the BbM-LAM candidate is likely to be a GMA 2010 repeat, which means subtraction, not addition.

Recall how GMA-proclaimed candidate Gibo Teodoro fared, and how this writer described Manny Villar as the Villarroyo candidate in 2010?

Will Risa, Leni, Bam, Kiko or whoever, even Leila want to be labeled the Marcoleni candidate? And will the noisy re-affirmists support a rejectionist candidate? Perish the thought.

So the final recourse for both the pinklawans who dream of a Vico in 2034, and an FM-LAM pining for Sandro in the political horizon, would be to “kill” Sara this 2026.

Which is why their analysts are gearing up for the final battle. 2026 is “now or never.”

(to be continued)

The digital domain of national security

THE Philippines sits at the crossroads of the Indo-Pacific, where economic routes, security alliances, and strategic interests converge. For decades, our national security discussions centered on sovereign rights over land, sea, and air.

Today, a new digital domain demands equal attention: cyberspace.

This digital domain is no longer just about data breaches, scams, or ransomware.

It is about influence. It is about perception. It is about shaping how our leaders and citizens think, decide, and vote.

Cyberspace and emerging technologies now form a powerful force in the global environment. Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and hyper-connected platforms have transformed how we communicate, transact, and govern.

Yet these same technologies have created new avenues for foreign information manipulation and interference, or FIMI. These are not passive tools. They are well-funded instruments used to reshape public opinion, influence societal values, and distort how individuals perceive reality.

This is where cybersecurity intersects with cognitive warfare.

Cognitive warfare does not seek to destroy infrastructure. It seeks to influence beliefs.

By exploiting psychological tactics, algorithm-driven amplification, and realtime data analytics, malign actors can shape narratives at scale.

Social media platforms amplify emotionally charged content. Polarizing posts travel faster than measured analysis. Falsehoods are refined and re-circulated within hours, guided by engagement metrics such as likes, shares, and

comments that signal reach and impact.

In the Philippines, we have seen how digital platforms can intensify division. Narratives are adjusted in real time to political developments.

Legitimate information is blended with misleading or fabricated content, making attribution difficult and accountability elusive. What appears organic may in fact be coordinated. What looks like public sentiment may be carefully engineered influence.

The vulnerability is no longer simply technical. It is societal.

Today, a new digital domain demands equal attention: cyberspace

The 2025 Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index shows that the Philippines is making steady progress.

Our progressive readiness level increased from 35 percent to 40 percent, while the formative category declined from 61 percent to 52 percent.

This movement reflects improvement in our cybersecurity posture. Yet the country remains largely within the formative stage. Progress is evident, but the work is far from complete.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology has emphasized that securing the cyber domain cannot be achieved by government alone.

The concept of Digital Bayanihan in

Declarations of undying love

“IWILL go with him to jail,” once said thenpresidential aide Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. “That is how much I love the President [Rodrigo Duterte].” He uttered these words when he was campaigning for the Senate. Thanks to his master’s endorsement, he secured the thirdhighest number of votes – 20 million -- during that election.

Years later, another senator, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, said he was ready to join Mr. Duterte, who by then had just been arrested and flown to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. He added he hoped “they would allow me to take care of him.”

Close ties to Duterte, too, powered Dela Rosa’s career, from his stint at the Philippine National Police, ascending all the way to the helm of the organization, just in time to be the chief implementer of the so-called war on drugs in 2016. Like Go, he also became senator in 2019, mistaking his sworn duty to the public for his sworn loyalty to the old man from Davao.

Dela Rosa has been in hiding for months now, abandoning his senatorial responsibilities because he is deathly afraid of being arrested. For a long time, since Duterte’s own arrest in March, rumor has it that his co-accused would be next, even as no official announcement of who the co-

accused are had been made. It was not until this Saturday that the public got wind of who exactly were on the list. The two senators are on it, as well as former Secretary of Justice Vitaliano Aguirre II, plus former law enforcement officials Vicente Danao, Camilo Cascolan, Oscar Albayalde, Dante Gierran, and Isidro Lapena.

Unconditional

loyalty to a person never pays in the long term

Cascolan died in 2023. As is expected, at least two of the men have denied any wrongdoing. Go called his inclusion unfair and baseless, while Aguirre, on national television, made light of the accusation and said it

By Melandrew Velasco

NATION-building is often measured in expressways built, airports modernized, or power plants commissioned.

These are visible achievements—important, tangible, and necessary.

But some of the most consequential investments a nation, or a corporation, can make happen far from skylines and headlines.

They happen early.

In Naga City, Camarines Sur, the San Miguel Corporation Foundation recently launched Happy si Mommy, Malusog si Baby, a three-year maternal and child health program that supports mothers and their children throughout the first 1,000 days of life—from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday. Science has long been clear: this narrow window shapes physical growth, brain development, learning capacity, and long-term health.

The initiative reflects the broader philosophy that has guided San Miguel Corporation under the leadership of SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang that nation-building is not only about infrastructure and industry, but also about investing in people and human capital.

While SMC is best known for largescale projects that move goods, power cities, and connect regions, its foundation work addresses a quieter but equally strategic question: how early social investments shape a country’s future workforce and productivity.

Happy si Mommy, Malusog si Baby is one of several long-running programs under the San Miguel Corporation Foundation, whose portfolio spans health, nutrition, edu-

Action captures a simple truth. Defending our digital ecosystem requires cooperation across agencies, industries, institutions, and communities. Still, the digital ecosystem has evolved faster than our policy frameworks and faster than our collective ability to navigate its risks. Traditional network defense is no longer sufficient.

We need strategies that protect information integrity, strengthen institutional credibility, and build psychological resilience among citizens.

Cybersecurity must be integrated into our broader national security strategy.

This is why sustained dialogue matters.

The Stratbase Institute, in collaboration with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines, will convene a two-day conference titled “Navigating Digital Crossroads: Advancing Cybersecurity and Democratic Resilience in the Indo-Pacific” on February 19 to 20, 2026.

The forum will bring together leaders from government, the armed forces, law enforcement, academia, media, the private sector, and international partners to ad-

was hilarious.

At least he is not going into hiding -- or at least, that is what he said.

In the next few days, we expect a slew of denials – with matching tears, perhaps – from those insisting on their innocence, or on the lawfulness of what they did during those dark days. But we must also prepare for a more menacing kind of retaliation. The ICC will be demonized, will be accused of colluding with the administration, the lawyers will be discredited, and everything about the case will be linked to politics especially since the next national election is not far from the horizon.

But not the families of those killed in the drug war, who felt greater assurance that their fallen kin would obtain justice.

Certainly the fight would be long and tedious. Proceedings even in an international court like the ICC take years, owing to its adherence in due process and strict appreciation of evidence. Theatrics and appeals to the gullible do not hold water here.

In the meantime, may we all be reminded that professing loyalty to a person never pays, because people are fallible and driven by personal interests. Standing by someone also requires us to shed some moral scruples or critical thinking facilities – in fact, even common sense. That, in itself, is already a price too steep to pay.

Nation-building starts with mothers

cation, disaster response, and community development. Led by the Foundation’s president and its professional team, these initiatives are designed for continuity rather than visibility— programs built to last beyond news cycles and leadership terms.

Since 2018, the maternal and child health program has reached nearly 3,800 mothers across more than 28 sites nationwide.

A prepared generation is more likely to build a stable, productive society

Behind these figures are outcomes that rarely make headlines but matter profoundly: safer pregnancies, improved maternal nutrition, better infant feeding practices, and early interventions that reduce risks of stunting, illness, and developmental delays.

The choice of Naga City as a partner underscores the program’s values.

Long recognized for people-centered governance, the city—working closely with former Vice President now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and the local government— has consistently demonstrated that effective leadership begins with inclusive social policy.

The partnership reflects a shared understanding that maternal and child health is not a peripheral concern, but a core development priority.

In a country where debates on poverty,

dress escalating cyber threats in the context of evolving geopolitical risks.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, author of the proposed New Anti-Espionage Act, and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda will deliver keynote messages.

Senior Canadian cybersecurity officials, including Mr. Sami Khoury and Mr. Saliou Babou, will share insights on countering hybrid threats and FIMI.

Discussions will examine cyber espionage, cybercrime, hybrid warfare, and the implications of foreign information operations on future elections, particularly as we look toward 2028.

These conversations are timely.

As we approach the next national election cycle, we must ask difficult questions. Are our institutions prepared to detect coordinated disinformation campaigns?

Do we have sufficient safeguards to protect electoral integrity in the digital sphere? Are citizens equipped to distinguish manipulation from legitimate debate? Cyberspace has become a strategic arena of geostrategic competition.

education, and productivity often come too late in the life cycle, the first 1,000 days framework reframes the conversation. I t reminds policymakers and the private sector alike that inequality often begins before birth—and that the most effective response is to intervene early, decisively, and compassionately.

This is where corporate citizenship takes on real meaning. By investing in maternal well-being and early childhood development, the San Miguel Corporation Foundation positions social responsibility not as charity, but as strategy—one aligned with national goals on education outcomes, workforce readiness, and long-term economic resilience.

A healthy child is more likely to learn well. A well-nourished learner is more likely to finish school.

A prepared generation is more likely to build a stable, productive society.

These links are not abstract. They are measurable. And they are forged long before children ever enter classrooms or workplaces.

In an era when corporations are increasingly judged not only by profits, but by purpose, programs like Happy si Mommy, Malusog si Baby offer a quiet but compelling lesson: that some of the strongest foundations of nationhood are built not in concrete and steel, but in care—during the earliest days of life, when everything is still possible.

(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, is the official biographer of President Fidel V. Ramos.)

The struggle is no longer limited to territory or Exclusive Economic Zones. It extends to narrative dominance and public trust.

Safeguarding that trust requires more than cybersecurity technologies.

It requires media literacy, transparent governance, responsible digital platforms, and engaged citizens. It requires policymakers who understand emerging technologies and their societal impact.

It requires every sector to treat cybersecurity not as a compliance exercise, but as a core responsibility.

Most of all, it requires a whole-of-society mindset.

To truly strengthen our democratic institutions and empower our people we must treat the digital ecosystem as a vital national asset.

By investing in cognitive resilience today, we can stay ahead of rapidly evolving threats and ensure that our national response remains agile and effective.

The defense of our nation must now involve the defense of our collective conviction.

IN BRIEF

Obama compares crackdown seen ‘in dictatorships’

WASHINGTON, DC – Former US president Barack Obama on Saturday condemned the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minnesota, comparing their behavior to conduct seen “in dictatorships.”

Thousands of federal agents including ICE agents carried out weeks of sweeping raids and arrests in what the Trump administration claims were targeted missions against criminals, until the operation was ended this week.

Obama had criticized the actions of ICE agents as unlawful last month, but went further in an interview with left-wing political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen released Saturday.

“The rogue behavior of agents of the federal government is deeply concerning and dangerous,” he said. He called the behavior of federal officers, which included two fatal shootings that sparked mounting pressure on President Donald Trump’s mass crackdown, as the sort that “in the past we’ve seen in authoritarian countries and we’ve seen in dictatorships.” AFP

Australia to spend

$2.8 b on new subs

SYDNEY – Australia unveiled AU$3.9 billion ($2.8 billion) in spending on Sunday as a “down payment” on a new facility that will build nuclear submarines under the tripartite AUKUS security pact with Britain and the United States.

The AUKUS pact aims to arm Australia with a fleet of cutting-edge submarines from the United States and would provide for cooperation in developing an array of warfare technologies. The investment in the Submarine Construction Yard at Osborne, near the southern city of Adelaide, “is critical to delivering Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.

In the long term, an estimated AU$30 billion is expected to be spent on the facility. AFP

Obama deplores lack of shame

WASHINGTON, DC – Former US president Barack Obama criticized a lack of shame and decorum in the country’s political discourse, responding Saturday for the first time to a post on Donald Trump’s social media account that depicted him and first lady Michelle as monkeys.

In a wide-ranging podcast interview with left-wing political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen released Saturday, Obama also compared the actions of agents enforcing the president’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota to dictatorships.

The video, shared on Trump’s Truth Social account on Feb. 5, sparked censure across the US political spectrum,

it added.

Starlink provides high-speed internet access to remote locations around the world via thousands of low Earth orbit satellites.

Nearly 80 percent of Vietnam’s around 100 million people are internet users, according to the Vietnam Internet Network Information Center. AFP

I want answers from my ex-husband, Gisele Pelicot tells AFP in exclusive

PARIS

– Gisele Pelicot, the French woman who became a symbol in the global fight against sexual violence, told AFP why she wants to visit her ex-husband in jail and her joy at finding love again.

In an interview ahead of the publication of her memoirs on Tuesday, she also said she hopes to inspire other rape victims to believe in a brighter future -- and to change attitudes along the way.

Her book, titled “A Hymn to Life”, covers the full arc of her 50-year marriage which ended when she discovered that her husband had been repeatedly drugging her and inviting strangers over to their house to rape her. It will be published in 22 languages.

Question: The title of your book in French is “And the joy of living”. Have you found joy again?

Answer: “I’m doing better. After the trial (of her husband and 50 other men in 2024), I took stock of my life and today I am trying to rebuild on this field of ruins.

Despite all these ordeals, even in the darkest periods, I have always sought flashes of joy; I am looking towards the future, towards joy. I know this may surprise some who expect to see me in tatters, but I am determined to remain standing and dignified.”

Q: Some describe you as an icon. Do you embrace that status?

A: “I do not use that word. I think my story has become a symbol. I know where I come from and who I am. It seems to me that we do not suspect the strength we have inside us until we are forced to draw on it, and that is also what I would like to say to victims.” AFP

with the White House initially rejecting “fake outrage” only to then blame the post on an error by a staff member and taking it down. Near the end of a one-minute-long video promoting conspiracies about Trump’s 2020 election loss to Joe Biden, the Obamas -- the first Black president and first lady in US history -- were shown with their faces on the

bodies of monkeys for about one second.

“The discourse has devolved into a level of cruelty that we haven’t seen before...Just days ago, Donald Trump put a picture of you, your face on an ape’s body,” Cohen said in the interview.

“And so again, we’ve seen the devolution of the discourse. How do we come back from a place that we have fallen into?”

Without naming Trump, Obama responded by saying the majority of Americans “find this behavior deeply troubling.”

“There’s this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television, and what is true is that there doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among

Zelenskyy labels Putin a ‘slave to war’

MUNCH – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced Russia’s Vladimir Putin as a “slave to war” in a speech to the Munich Security Conference Saturday, adding that Russia’s attacks had damaged every power plant in the country.

Zelenskyy also drew parallels between the current Russia-Ukraine talks over territorial concessions and the 1938 Munich Agreement, when Hitler forced territorial concessions from the European powers -- a year before World War II.

Zelenskyy was speaking days before the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s invasion, which has killed hundreds of thousands, decimated eastern Ukraine and forced millions to flee.

Kyiv and its Western allies have accused Moscow of deliberately freezing Ukraine’s population with its attacks on the energy grid.

“There is not a single power plant left in Ukraine that has not been damaged by Russian attacks,” Zelenskyy said. “Not one.”

“But we still generate electricity,” he added, praising the thousands of workers repairing the plants.

Once again, he appealed to the West to deliver air-defense systems to Ukraine more quickly.

Of Putin, who launched the war in February 2022, Zelenskyy said: “He may see himself as a tsar, but in reality he is a slave to war.”

Son of Iran’s last shah urges US action as backers rally in Munich

MUNICH – The exiled son of Iran’s last

shah said he was ready to lead the country to a “secular democratic future” at a rally in Munich on Saturday, after US President Donald Trump said a change of power would be the “best thing”. It came as Washington continued to engage diplomatically with Tehran’s government, with Switzerland on Saturday confirming that mediator Oman would host a fresh round of talks in Geneva next week.

US-based Reza Pahlavi, who has not returned to Iran since before the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the monarchy, told the crowd of around 200,000 people of his supporters that he could lead a transition.

“I am here to guarantee a transition to a secular democratic future,” he said.

“I am committed to be the leader of transition for you so we can one day have the final opportunity to decide the fate of

our country through a democratic, transparent process to the ballot box.”

“Javid shah” (long live the shah),” the crowd chanted as they waved greenwhite-and-red flags with a lion and a sun -- the emblem of the toppled monarchy.

“The Iranian regime is a dead regime,” a 62-year-old protester originally from Iran who gave his name only as Said told AFP.

“It must be game over.”

Pahlavi has urged Iranians at home and abroad to continue demonstrating, calling on them to chant slogans from their homes and rooftops at 8:00 pm (1630 GMT) Saturday and Sunday, to coincide with protests in Germany and elsewhere.

Thousands of protesters in various demonstrations from downtown Los Angeles to the National Mall in Washington marched in solidarity Saturday with antigovernment protests in Iran. AFP

people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office, right? That’s been lost.”

Obama predicted such messaging will hurt Trump’s Republicans in midterm elections, that “ultimately, the answer is going to come from the American people.”

Trump has told reporters he stood by the thrust of the video’s claims about election fraud, but that he had not seen the offensive clip at the end.

Turning to Trump’s policies, Obama criticized his immigration crackdown in Minnesota and blasted the conduct of agents during the controversial weekslong operation that was brought to an end this week. AFP

Russia and Ukraine will hold USbrokered talks next week, and Zelenskyy said Kyiv was doing “everything” to end the war. Zelenskyy also met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Munich conference.

Russia has demanded that Ukraine withdraw from its Donetsk region and wants Kyiv to recognise its claim to the swathes of Ukraine that it occupies. Ukraine has ruled out surrendering its eastern regions.

Of the talks so far, Zelenskyy said: “The Americans often return to the topic of concessions, and too often those concessions are discussed in the context only of Ukraine.” AFP

WASHINGTON, DC – Four astronauts docked at the International Space Station on Saturday (Sunday Manila time) for a months-long research mission, replacing a crew forced to return to Earth early over a medical issue.

The US space agency’s Crew-12 arrived at the orbiting laboratory after a journey of about 34 hours that started with blastoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

“We have bridged the legacy of humankind’s continuous presence in space spanning more than 25 years at this very site,” American astronaut Jessica Meir said after docking at the ISS.

“As we look back at Earth from these windows, we are reminded that cooperation is not just possible, it is essential. Up here, there are no borders and hope is universal.”

Other members of Crew-12 are American Jack Hathaway, French astronaut Sophie Adenot and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.

The foursome are replacing Crew-11, which returned to Earth in January a month earlier than planned in the first medical evacuation in the space station’s history. The ISS, which orbits 400 kilometers) above Earth, has since been staffed by a skeleton crew of three.

NASA declined to disclose any details about the health issue that cut the previous mission short.

Crew-12 will be one of the last crews to live aboard the football field-sized space station.

Continuously inhabited for the last quarter-century, the aging ISS is scheduled to be pushed into Earth’s orbit before crashing into an isolated spot in the Pacific Ocean in 2030.

During their eight months on the outpost, the astronauts will conduct many experiments, including research into the effects of microgravity on their bodies. AFP

PARIS – The Paris prosecutor’s office announced during the weekend it was setting up a special team of magistrates to analyse evidence that could implicate French nationals in the

of the convicted US

With Epstein’s known circle now extending to prominent French figures after the release of documents by the US authorities, the prosecutor’s office said it would also thoroughly re-examine the case of a

person charged.

Prosecutors said an investigation had shown Brunel was “a close friend of Jeffrey Epstein” who had offered modelling jobs to young girls from poor backgrounds.

Brunel had engaged in sexual acts with underage girls in the United States, the US Virgin Islands, Paris and the south of France, they said. AFP

‘SLAVE TO WAR.’ This handout photograph taken and released during the weekend by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service, shows Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (right) meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) on the sidelines of the 62nd Munich Security Conference in Munich. Russia and Ukraine will hold USbrokered talks next week, and Zelenskyy said Kyiv was doing ‘everything’ to end the war.

PERPETUAL GOLDEN RUN.

University of Perpetual Help System Dalta president Dr. Anthony Tamayo is shown with School Director Dr. Arnaldo De Guzman as they lead The Golden Run (Fun Run) on Sunday, participated in by more than 5,000 school o cials, students and parents in celebration of the 2026 University Week, in conjunction with the 50th Founding Anniversary of the educational institution at the Villar Farm in Barangay San Nicolas III, Bacoor City. Dennis Abrina

Lady Falcons open volley bid with win

ADAMSON University stormed past Ateneo de Manila University in straight sets, 25-19, 25-18, 2510, to open their UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball campaign with authority on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

With a two-set lead already in hand, the Lady Falcons left no room for doubt in the third set, launching an 8-0 run behind Fhei Sagaysay’s consistent serving and the attacking prowess of Frances Mordi.

Shaina Nitura then took over, powering Adamson to a commanding 16-1 lead by the second technical timeout, effectively putting the match out of reach.

“‘Yung instruction is to continue, keep going lang talaga. Kumbaga, it’s not a safe lead pa rin kasi ‘di pa natatapos ‘yung game. So stick to the system, stick pa rin sa instructions so hayun nga keep going,” said Lady Falcons’ head coach JP Yude after the 79-minute rout.

Buddin, Ordiales power NU as ‘6-peat’ campaign starts

DEFENDING champion

National University showcased its championship poise, fending off every University of Santo Tomas rally to secure a hard-fought, 25-22, 29-27, 25-19 sweep and kick off its six-peat campaign on a high note in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Sunday.

In a high-quality match-up between two contenders, the Bulldogs gutted out close wins in the first two sets before pulling away in the third to join University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, and Adamson University as early winners, each claiming a 1-0 record and occupying the top half of the standings. Coming off a momentum-boosting win in the extended second frame, NU carried that energy into the third,

racing to a 13-5 lead behind Buds Buddin, Leo Ordiales, and Jade Disquitado to seize early control of the frame.

The Golden Spikers had brief bursts of fight, but the Bulldogs never let up. Ordiales and Peng Taguibolos sparked a crucial 3-0 run, turning a tight 20-16 lead into a commanding 23-16 advantage and putting the game firmly in NU’s hands.

Ayco pierced through the Bulldogs’ blockers, and Macam followed with a booming ace that sparked a late 3-1 rally for UST in a last-ditch attempt to force a fourth set. But Kris Hernandez’s service sailed into the net, sealing the win for NU in an hour and 27 minutes.

“Kahit may pagkukulang kami sa offense at receive, na-control naman namin siya sa blocking namin. ‘Yun ang gusto namin mangyari lagi—na ma-control namin ‘yung blocks,” said Bulldogs’ head coach Dante Alinsunurin as his team finished with 12 blocks.

“At kahit hindi man kami makakagawa ng maraming blocks, basta marami kaming mataas o marebound sa depensa namin. Sobrang ganda ng naging performance kahit na may mali pa rin,” he added.

Only five players scored for NU, but it was more than enough, with Buddin leading the way. He fin-

NU’s Leo Ordiales is about to make a kill.

ished with 16 points on 11 attacks, three kill blocks, and two aces, while also contributing eight excellent receptions. Ordiales, despite struggling in the first two sets, still finished with 11 points on nine attacks, one ace, and one block, while Disquitado and Taguibolos added eight points apiece in the rousing debut win.

Adamson displayed dominance across all facets of the game, outmatching Ateneo in spikes (3918), blocks (12-2), and service aces (7-3). Even their 24 errors did little to slow down the Lady Falcons’ momentum.

Season 87 Rookie of the Year Nitura led the team with 16 points, while Nigerian wing spiker Mordi contributed 14 in the win.

“Gumaan po siya for us, collective effort na for us. Kapag off man ako, meron na siguradong sasalo sa akin,” said the history-maker Nitura on the Lady Falcons’ retooled roster.

Fhei Sagaysay added 13 excellent sets and a match-best three service aces, while rookies Abby Segui and Eloi Dote chipped in eight and seven points, respectively.

Adamson now faces its first major test when defending champion National University visits on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

For Ateneo, Alex Montoro led the Blue Eagles with five points, as head coach Sergio Veloso struggled to find the right player combinations on the court.

The Blue Eagles will aim to bounce back next Sunday against University of the Philippines at thesame Pasay venue.

Baby Tams strengthen hold on no.1 PSC, Hann Reserve join forces to shape PH golf future

MVP frontrunner Cabs Cabonilas delivered an all-around performance as Far Eastern University-Diliman dispatched Adamson University, 84-65, to solidify its hold on first place in the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament Sunday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. Cabonilas starred once again with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, 12 rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and two blocks as the Baby Tamaraws relied on a strong first-half performance to extend their winning streak to seven games.

In the earlier contest, Noah Banal came through when it mattered most, leading Ateneo de Manila University past University of the East for a gritty 67-58 triumph. With the results, FEU-D remained in solo first place with an 8-1 win-loss record, while Ateneo strengthened its hold on second place with a 7-2 slate. As of publishing, National University Nazareth School (6-2) is set to face defending champion University of Santo Tomas.

“I am aware naman na maski kahit ano sabihin ng coaches, ‘pag nag-dilly dally ‘yung mindset ng players, kahit anong paalala ng coach ay balewala rin. We constantly remind them na walang sure win sa UAAP ngayon. Walang sure win sa pitong laro per round -- ‘yun ‘yung lagi ko pinapaalala sa kanila,” Baby Tamaraws’ head coach Mike Reyes said.

Building on a dominant 46-32 first half, Adamson showed signs of life by trimming a 16-point, 55-39 third-quarter deficit to an eight-point gap at 5749, behind timely hits from Mac Jenodia, Chrys Gomez, and Kieff Iledan. However, FEU-D quickly restored order as back-to-back triples from Adi Alagaban and Khean Esperanza, a Marc Burgos layup, and a Jastien Dagcutan free throw reestablished a 15-point, 66-51 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

with Hann Reserve General Manager Tim Neil (right) and Arosco Golf Promotions CEO Jaz Kanth.

By Nissi Icasiano

DANNY Kingad’s struggles continued as he suffered his first career knockout loss, falling to Chinese spitfire Hu Yong on the undercard of ONE Fight Night 40 on Saturday, February 14.

The 30-year-old from Sadanga, Mountain Province was aiming to end a two-fight losing skid in his flyweight MMA encounter with Hu at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

A victory could have positioned him for a potential rubber match against Japanese rival Yuya Wakamatsu for the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship.

“The King” started the matchup aggressively. Aware of Hu’s striking threat, he relied on his wrestling to take the action to the ground.

NEW CLARK CITY—The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Hann Reserve are exploring a groundbreaking alliance to nurture the next generation of Filipino golfers, setting the stage for grassroots athletes to rise to worldclass standards.

Hann Reserve General Manager Tim Neil revealed plans for a PGA-certified academy within the eco-luxury estate, designed to provide young golfers with elite training, scientific coaching, and holistic education.

PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio welcomed the initiative, highlighting the synergy with the National Academy of Sports (NAS), located just two kilometers away from Hann Reserve inside New Clark City.

“We want NAS to strengthen linkages, so we can add more sports quickly. This proposed collaboration with Hann Reserve is exactly the kind of initiative that will help Filipino athletes thrive, not just locally but on the global stage,” said Gregorio.

Neil emphasized that the proposed partnership with PSC and NAS could extend beyond sports, integrating golf into broader educational and community programs.

“One of the key missions of the PGA is grassroots growth. Whether through our academy or community engagement, we’re committed to building golf from the ground up,” he said.

After securing a leg grab, Kingad executed a belly-to-belly slam a nd quickly established side control.

The Lions Nation MMA representative attempted to maintain dominance, even transitioning to his back to hunt for a rear-naked choke. But as both men neared the corner of the squared circle, Hu executed a slick reversal, landing on top and unleashing a flurry of punches that visibly rocked Kingad.

Sensing the Filipino was hurt, Hu intensified his assault with relentless hammerfists, prompting referee Olivier Coste to call a halt to the contest just 10 seconds shy of the first round’s end.

The victory made Hu the first mixed martial artist to stop Kingad by knockout, improving his record to 14-7.

For Kingad, the loss marked his third consecutive defeat, dropping his record to 15-6.

“As vice chairman of NAS, I see this as a perfect collaboration. We have eight sports already, and archery will be added soon. Because of Hann Reserve’s program, golf should be next,’’ said Gregorio.

According to the PSC Chief, NAS can offer free education, board and lodging, and allowances to these golf scholars under the care of Hann Foundation, Inc. Should the proposed partnership push through, the National Golf Association of the Philippi nes will likewise play a key role. Hann Reserve spans 450 hectares in New Clark City and will feature three championship golf courses designed by Nicklaus Design, K.J. Choi, and Sir Nick Faldo.

Complementing these are a PGA Performance Center and PGA Village, envisioned as hubs for elite training and internationalstandard competition.

Beyond showcasing the PSC’s sports tourism program through golf, Hann Reserve stands as a powerful testament to the rising investor confidence in New Clark City—a flagship development of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

“We’re not here to replicate, we’re here to reinvent,” Neil said. “Through the PGA Academy, we aim to create structured pathways that elevate golf development, while integrating education and wellness into a single ecosystem.”

Danny Kingad (left) looks dejected after he suffered his first career knockout loss, falling to Chinese spitfire Hu Yong (right).

PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio (center)

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

EDGARD HILARIO, Asst. Editor

Top PH athletes to be feted at 2025 PSA Awards Night

THE brightest stars of Philippine sports who brought pride and glory to the nation in 2025 come together for an evening of nostalgia and celebration at the San Miguel Corporation–Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night on Monday at the Diamond Hotel Manila.

Leading the distinguished roster of honorees are gymnastics sensation Carlos Yulo and tennis standout Alexandra Eala, who headline the traditional gala beginning at 8 p.m. Yulo, a double Olympic gold medalist and multi-time world champion, shares top billing with Eala, the country’s highest-ranked Filipino tennis player in history and one of the sport’s brightest young stars. The two have been named Male and Female Athletes of the Year, respectively, by the Philippine Sportswriters Association—the nation’s oldest media organization, headed by president Francis T.J. Ochoa, sports editor of the Philippine

Daily Inquirer. Widely regarded as the “Oscars” of Philippine sports, the prestigious ceremony is co-presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and ArenaPlus, honoring the athletes and personalities who defined the country’s sporting excellence over the past year. Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino are going to join the festivity that will also pay tribute to other outstanding athletes, individuals, and entities that truly made the past year another memorable one.

Korea’s Yang in historic win; PH’s Malixi finishes 3rd

WELLINGTON—Yang Yunseo became the first Korean champion at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific on Sunday after completing an emphatic eight-stroke victory with a final round of 3-under 69 at Royal Wellington Golf Club.

The 18-year-old Yang became the third golfer after Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand (2018) and Chinese Taipei’s Chun Wei-wu (2024) to complete a wire-to-wire triumph with her 16-under 272 aggregate as she also equalled the championship record for biggest margin of victory held by Yuka Yasuda of Japan (2019).

Rianne Malixi of the Philippines finished tied third for her third top-5 finish in the prestigious championship after closing with a 75. She ended 10 shots back of the new champion in what was the eighth edition of the WAAP. Under blustery and testing conditions,

Yang was at her composed

Kosmas Pickleball Fest kicks

off in Davao

PICKLEBALL’S remarkable surge in popularity in the Philippines reaches a milestone as the Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026 makes its debut on Feb. 25 at Pickletown in Davao City, featuring both Under-19 Rising Stars and adult competition categories. Introduced in Cebu in 2016 as a little-known sport, pickleball has since surged into a nationwide movement. The Philippines now counts more than 250 clubs and thousands of active players across Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, cementing its status as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing pickleball communities. Davao City has emerged as a key breeding ground for talent, making it a fitting host for the opening leg of the weeklong festival. Organized by partner agency Sunrise Events, Inc., and spearheaded by Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp. (KAVC), a Philippine-based sports, recreation and wellness company led by Sophia Lapus, the event is expected to draw a banner field, concluding on March 1. Registration is ongoing in both Categories, with the U19 Rising Stars category carrying a registration fee of USD 200 per team. And P 3,000 pesos per doubles for the Adult Categories. For details and listup, visit https:// picklefest.kosmas.com.ph/ or the official Facebook page: Pickle Fest 2026 More than a tournament, Pickle Fest 2026 is designed as a multi-leg national festival, uniting elite players, grassroots enthusiasts and partner brands across key regions. After its Mindanao leg, the festival continues in the Visayas – blending high-level competition with community engagement, sports tourism, and brand activation – further cementing pickleball’s place in the Philippine sporting landscape. The Net and Paddle tournament in Cebu City will be held from March 11 to 15.

a glorious eagle to eventually cruise to a commanding victory.

“I came into the championship knowing there were no Korean winners before. So, I was motivated to win and it was amazing to be in the same champion’s group with two other Korean players.

I’m happy with this achievement” said a jubilant Yang, who finished fourth in her WAAP debut in Vietnam last year.

Yang’s achievement was impressive as she had slept with the overnight lead from day one after shooting a stunning 64 on Thursday, and she produced some marvelous golf in a difficult final round to cement her place in WAAP history.

After trading three birdies against as many bogeys through 12 holes, Yang pulled clear of the pack on the 14thhole with a 20-foot eagle conversion as Oh ran up a costly double bogey 6 following an errant tee shot at the drivable par-4 test.

LOS ANGELES—Damian Lillard, out all season while recovering from a torn left Achilles tendon, matched a record by winning his third career NBA Three-Point Contest on Saturday.

Having received special approval from the league to participate, the 35-year-old Portland Trail Blazers guard beat Phoenix’s Devin Booker 29-27 in the final.

“In a season where I’m not participating, the league allowing me to come in and do something like this to get some competition, feel a little bit of pressure, to get in front of the fans again, it was a great experience,” Lillard said.

Lillard was injured in last year’s playoffs while with Milwaukee, then waived by the Bucks and signed by the Trail Blazers, for whom he played in his first 11 NBA campaigns.

Showing the same solid form that made him one of the NBA’s top longdistance shooting threats, Lillard added the 2026 Three-Point crown to his 2023 and 2024 triumphs to match the event win record shared by Larry Bird and Craig Hodges.

“That’s all I do it for, to keep adding to my legacy, adding to my reputation and being who I am,” Lillard said. “I was given the opportunity and I came out and took advantage of it.”

Lillard shot last in the opening round, where eight players sought one of three spots in the final.

Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel shot first and reached the final with 27, 2018 Three-Point winner Booker, the penultimate shooter, fired 30 and Lillard fired 27 -- hitting five in a row on the left wing -- to advance over Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, who had 24.

“You’ve got to just let the ball fly and trust your instincts as a shooter,” Lillard said. “You can’t be rattled when somebody else gets hot or when the crowd gets loud... you’ve just got to shoot and do you and that’s what I show up and do.” AFP

At the heart of the event is the U19 Rising Stars, a regional youth championship aimed at identifying, developing, and advancing elite under-19 pickleball athletes across Asia.

Structured as a standalone competition, the program emphasizes long-term athlete development, standardized competition and regional collaboration through a team-based format.

Team Velaris in action during the PCL Asia Season 2 Manila Section tournament

best to fire the day’s lowest round as she held off last year’s runner-up and fellow Korean, Oh Soomin, who shot a 75. Oh started the day just two back and went toe-to-toe with Yang for much of the final round until the pivotal 14th hole, where she double bogeyed while Yang knocked in

RISING TENNIS STARS. The main draw of the WTA 1000 of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is attended by Salak Talak, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free and rising stars of the WTA in Alexandra Eala, Zeynep Sonmez and Iva Jovic at the Majilis of Tennis Ground in Dubai on Saturday. Dennis B. Mallari

Carlo Yulo

Alexandra Eala

Rianne Malixi

Damian Lillard of Portland AFP

Jules Tolentino

P1 trillion P1.56 trillion

P300 billion Investment target for 2026 Investment registrations in 2025

PEZA’z investment goal

DTI sets P1-t investment target for 2026

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has set a P1-trillion investment registration target for 2026, down from P1.56 trillion recorded in 2025, reflecting a strategic pivot toward new industrial sectors.

DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, who also serves as Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) board chair, said the lower target accounts for evolving investment patterns and a move away from the high capital intensity of previous years.

“In recent years, growth was largely driven by renewable energy projects, which carry very high capital costs, particularly offshore wind power,” Roque said.

The agency expects 2026 registrations to be spearheaded by mineral processing, infrastructure and high-value manufacturing. While these sectors are critical for economic development, they typically involve lower capital costs per project compared to massive energy installations.

For PEZA, investments are projected to reach P300 billion in 2026. This represents a 15-percent increase from the P261 billion approved in 2024. Within the economic zones, manufacturing is expected to comprise 60 percent of total investments, followed by ecozone development at 25 percent and IT-BPM services at 15 percent.

The government identifies Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Singapore, China and Taiwan as the primary sources of foreign direct investment for the coming year.

The Philippines is also chasing an export target between $116 billion and $120 billion for goods and services. Electronics, IT-BPM and agricultural exports like coconut, banana and pineapple products are expected to remain the top contributors to the economy.

DTI officials also noted emerging opportunities in global markets for garments, footwear, travel goods and personal care. Traditional Filipino flavors, such as ube, are also being positioned for international expansion.

DIGITAL OUTLOOK.

DOE plans to hold auction for Semirara coal contract

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy (DOE) will auction the coal operating contract for Semirara Island after the Department of Justice ruled that the existing agreement could not be renewed following its 50-year expiry, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said over the weekend.

The move follows a legal opinion saying that the contract held by Semirara Mining & Power Corp. (SMPC) should be bid out rather than extended. The bidding process for the nation’s largest coal producer is expected to take place within the year to ensure continuity of operations.

“Our direction is to have it auctioned—bidding. They [DOJ] said

executive-director of the ASEAN Foundation and Diera Gala Paksi, project manager for AI Ready ASEAN.

we cannot renew. We have a schedule. Bidding should be within the year,” Garin said.

SMPC was granted its coal operating contract in 1977 under Presidential Decree No. 972. While the DOE approved an extension in 2008 that pushed the current term to July 14, 2027, the DOJ recently determined that the 50-year

constitutional limit on such contracts prevents further renewals.

Garin said the government should prepare for the transition several years before the 2027 expiration to prevent the current operator from halting activity or exiting prematurely. She said that while SMPC prefers a 13year extension, the agency should follow the law.

“Of course, they want the renewal, but if the law says we can’t, then we cannot. It’s not what they want for sure,” Garin said.

Despite the ruling, SMPC said it remains technically qualified to participate in the upcoming auction.

Garin highlighted the company’s existing infrastructure and technical expertise as significant advantages in a competitive bidding environment.

MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) has reaffirmed its commitment to the Philippine national energy agenda, pledging closer collaboration with government agencies to expand renewable energy adoption and universal electricity access.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. joined Meralco chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan at the company headquarters in Pasig City to review programs aligned with the 2025 State of the Nation Address. The initiatives focus on social protection, streamlining solar rooftop applications, and accelerating large-scale power projects.

Pangilinan said the utility is working with Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin and Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan to strengthen the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program.

The program ensures marginalized families receive electricity bill discounts while the company also simplifies Net Metering processes to help meet a government target of 1 million solar-powered households by 2028.

“We continue working to bring reliable electricity to unserved and underserved communities—using both legacy and innovative grid solutions,” Pangilinan said.

The utility recently launched a hybrid solar project to provide 24-hour power to 1,000 residents on Cagbalete Island. Subsidiary Meralco PowerGen Corp. is set to begin initial dispatch this month from MTerra Solar, a 3,500-megawatt facility equipped with 4,500 megawatthours of battery storage. The project is expected to be the largest integrated solar site in the country.

Beyond solar energy, Pangilinan announced that the company secured a $2.8-million technical assistance grant from the US Trade and Development Agency. The funds will support a study on the potential deployment of nuclear plants in the Philippines, following the administration’s policy to explore nuclear power.

TRAVEL EXPO. The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) closes the curtain on Travel Tour Expo (TTE) 2026 with another milestone: 120,000-strong Filipino visitors passing through the doors of the SMX Convention Center in three days, a 20-percent increase from the target of 100,000. From Feb. 6 to 8, the Filipino spirit of adventure and discovery lifted an industry that accounts for 34 percent of the country’s employment of 16 million in hospitality, transportation, food, among others.

DA lifts poultry import bans on Netherlands, two US states

THE Department of Agriculture said over the weekend it lifted temporary bans on poultry and poultry product imports from the Netherlands and the US states of Illinois and Wisconsin, but restrictions remain for Kansas due to bird flu outbreaks. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the decision reflects a science-based, risk-managed approach that balances trade and domestic poultry protection. Illinois and Wisconsin were cleared after veterinary surveillance showed H5N1 highly pathogenic avian

under

existing sanitary rules. Kansas remains restricted following multiple outbreaks across several counties. This surpassed the agreed 3-county threshold under a 2016 animal health agreement between the U.S. and the Philippines. Imports from the Netherlands are now permitted following the recognition of regionalization arrangements for HPAI.

Department Circular No. 05 restores market access for birds and their products from designated disease-free zones. A technical review confirmed the country’s veterinary controls and outbreak management systems sufficiently reduce disease transmission risks. Othel V. Campos

BCDA

“Last

What we

is

will

to ordinary stakeholders present in our properties,” Bingcang said.

While the agency continues to push for increased investments within its economic zones, Bingcang citecd the importance of ensuring these projects generate tangible value for the public.

Despite the projected revenue dip, the agency head affirmed a continued commitment to supporting national government revenue efforts and funding the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Remittances to the military grew to P3.2 billion in 2025 from about P2 billion in 2024. When including dividends, total contributions could reach P7 billion, according to Bingcang.

The agency is also integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence into its future development plans. Bingcang said that adapting to these advancements is essential for the competitiveness of both the agency and the country, citing discussions from the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Othel V. Campos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (eighth from left) joins Meralco chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan (ninth from left) and other national and local government leaders to highlight programs aligned with the priorities outlined in the 2025 State of the Nation Address. These initiatives focus on social protection through electricity subsidies and the acceleration of green energy projects across the archipelago.

BPI eyes frequent bond issuances after P50-b raise

By Jenniffer B. Austria

AYALA-LED Bank of the Philippine Islands is considering more frequent bond issuances following strong demand for its recent P50 billion fundraising.

executive vice president and treasurer Dino Gasmen said the bank is looking toward opportunistic offerings while developing a more regular issuance program.

“We might want to issue more of them. So we’re exploring. But it may be smaller sizes,” Gasmen said.

The bank raised P50 billion last week through the issuance of sustainability-linked bonds. While BPI initially planned to raise P5 billion, it attracted 10 times that amount from investors.

BPI president and chief executive Jose Teodoro Limcaoco said the goal is to issue bonds more regularly. He noted that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) bonds remain a priority, driven in part by regulatory incentives.

Limcaoco also suggested the economy could be recovering after a weak fourth-quarter performance, noting that the bank’s core businesses remain resilient.

“Our billings and our cards remain

strong. To me, that’s my closest evidence to how the economy is doing,” Limcaoco said. “So billings are strong. Loan releases are not as strong. They’re just like the fourth quarter.”

Regarding monetary policy, Limcaoco said that while the bank previously projected two rate cuts from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, that outlook is now less certain.

“We penciled in a cut. But we’re not as confident as we were, let’s say, a week ago. Because the governor has said he’s worried about inflation exceeding 3 percent,” he said.

Meanwhile, BPI’s newly opened Singapore wealth office is gaining traction. Limcaoco confirmed the bank has already onboarded clients, offering a specialized suite of products and a dedicated team.

The Singapore office is part of a broader strategy to provide integrated wealth services as BPI aims to build the largest wealth business in the country.

PH stocks seen trading in tight range ahead of BSP meet

PHILIPPINE shares are expected to move within a tight range next week as investors await fresh policy signals and economic data.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) closed at 6,384.58, down 6.33 points, or 0.10 percent, week-on-week. Early gains faded toward the end of the week as investors turned cautious.

For the coming week, First Metro Securities said market participants will closely watch the release of Phil-

ippine cash remittances on Feb. 17 and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas policy meeting on Feb. 19.

Metrobank said it expects the BSP to cut rates by 25 basis points to support domestic growth following a fourthquarter 2025 slowdown. The bank noted that softer economic conditions outweigh near-term inflation concerns.

“Household expenditure continues to face headwinds, and this softness in domestic demand strengthens the case for monetary easing. A timely rate cut

could provide the necessary support to invigorate growth momentum,” Metrobank said in its latest market outlook.

Overseas, traders will monitor US balance of trade data on Feb. 19, as well as U.S. gross domestic product and the S&P Global Manufacturing PMI Flash on Feb. 20.

On the technical front, support is seen at 6,300. A sustained break below this level could open the way toward 6,200. Jenniffer B. Austria

AIC named PH’s most innovative infrastructure investment company

ABOITIZ InfraCapital Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, has been recognized as the Most Innovative Infrastructure Investment Company in the Philippines at the 2025 International Finance Awards.

This marks the second consecutive year AIC has received the distinction from International Finance, a business and finance magazine based in the United Kingdom.

“This second recognition by the International Finance Awards affirms that innovation at AIC is not a oneoff achievement, but a discipline we consistently practice,” AIC president and chief executive Cosette Canilao said. “We continue to invest in transformative infrastructure ecosystems that are future-ready, sustainable, and

responsive to the evolving needs of the country.”

The award recognizes financial institutions for leadership, corporate governance, and contributions to the global finance community. The 2025 honors coincide with AIC’s 10th anniversary, underscoring the company’s focus on long-term value in water, airports, and digital infrastructure. In 2025, AIC Airports began operations at Bohol-Panglao and Laguindingan international airports, joining the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in the company’s portfolio. MCIA also earned global recognition for its Eco-Watt Initiative and was named Airport of the Year in Asia at the 2025 TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards.

Can service-learning make business education more human?

GREEN LIGHT

Adrian A. Mabalay

A STUDENT once told me that before the service-learning project in our Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance class, she had never spoken to anyone who earned less than minimum wage. She had learned about poverty through statistics and case studies. She had memorized the Sustainable Development Goals for an exam. But she had never sat across a mother who makes soap by hand to keep her children in school. That really stuck with me because it says a lot about what business education gets wrong. We produce graduates who can come up with financial models and optimize supply chains, but who have never reconciled those models with the realities of communities their future companies will affect. Management scholar Sumantra Ghoshal warned about this two decades ago: business schools, in their obsession with technical competence, were teaching students to treat people as line items. This warning has not aged well. Look at what is happening around us. Trillions of pesos meant for flood control projects ended up in ghost infrastructure and kickbacks, sparking the largest anti-corruption protests the country has seen in years. A senator even suggested that the Philippines simply give up the Kalayaan Island Group to make things easier. These are not only political controversies. They reflect failures of ethical reasoning from people who presumably received good education but somewhere along the way stopped asking who gets harmed by their decisions.

This was the backdrop to a study that my colleague Karol Castillo and I recently published in The International Journal of Management Education. We analyzed 575 student reflections collected over two academic years to understand how service-learning, the practice of embedding community engagement

For students conditioned to see the world in terms of efficiency and returns, even a short encounter with a different reality can open questions they were never taught to ask.

into coursework, develops what scholars call humanistic management competencies. These are the skills and dispositions that treat business not just as a vehicle for profit, but as a social institution accountable to human dignity.

The findings confirmed some of our expectations and challenged others.

The strongest outcomes were when students stepped out of the classroom and into direct contact with partner communities. Experiential learning and community partnerships turned out to be the most effective drivers of personal empowerment and ethical leadership. Students who co-designed livelihood workshops with community organizations experienced a genuine change in their perspective on business. One student wrote that, for the first time, they understood what it means to be a business leader who looks out for the welfare of people, and not just shareholders.

What surprised us, however, was reflective practice. It has long been considered the engine of transformative learning, but in our findings, it showed weak connections to outcomes. Students required to journal through the Lasallian Reflection Framework did not show the deep connections we anticipated between that reflection and their personal development. This does not mean that reflection is pointless. But it may mean that when reflection becomes a graded requirement, students approach it differently. Students write what they think the professor wants to read. The real processing might be happening elsewhere, in conversations after class, in group chat at midnight, in the commute home after meeting for the first time their partner community.

The Philippines continues to experience economic growth alongside significant inequality. SDG 8 calls for decent work and economic growth. SDG 12

demands responsible consumption and production.

SDG 17 emphasizes partnerships. These goals will remain as decorative talking points in corporate presentations unless the people making business decisions have actually encountered the problems these goals are meant to address.

To be clear, service-learning is not a silver bullet. Our study is honest about its limitations. We heard only from students, and not from the communities they worked with. We collected reflections at the end of a course, not five years later, when those same students are already influencing decisions in organizations. We do not know if what students reported will hold up once they enter corporate life.

And yet, something happens when a business student works alongside a community member and realizes that textbook theories do not fully capture how that person lives. That experience may be brief. The community may not feel the benefit long after the semester ends. For students conditioned to see the world in terms of efficiency and returns, even a short encounter with a different reality can open questions they were never taught to ask.

Business education does not need a complete revolution. It simply requires more of those interactions.

Adrian A. Mabalay teaches Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance at the Department of Management and Organization of De La Salle University, which incorporates service-learning into its business curriculum. He can be reached at adrian.mabalay@dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

LBP rolls out Negros Oriental lending program

LAND Bank of the Philippines

(LANDBANK) reinforced its commitment to agriculture and financial inclusion with the provincial rollout of the AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program in Negros Oriental and the launch of its first Cash-Lite Campus initiative in the Visayas. LANDBANK president and chief executive Lynette Ortiz led the activities, joined by Negros Oriental Reps. Ma. Isabel Sagarbarria and Janice Mira Degamo, Bais City Mayor Luigi Marcel Goñi, and Mabinay Mayor Ernie Uy. The event at the Bais City Multi-Purpose Facility drew more than 2,000 farmers and fishers from across the province.

“We begin 2026 here in Negros Oriental with a clear purpose: to champion the farmers and fishers who feed our nation,” Ortiz said. “AGRISENSO Plus provides smart capital to help them adapt, ascend the value chain, and transform the province’s rich harvests into enduring prosperity.”

The AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program offers small farmers, fishers, agrarian reform beneficiaries, and agri-business enterprises access to financing at a fixed interest rate of 3 percent per annum. It includes simplified documentation and free insurance coverage.

Belmar De Baguio, president of the Bago Farmers’ Association, said the 3 percent interest rate is a significant help to local farmers.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, LANDBANK has released P3.03 billion $51.5 million in loans to more than 14,500 borrowers nationwide. The bank aims to reach an additional 10,500 farmers and fishers in 2026 as the program expands.

In Dumaguete City, LANDBANK launched its first Cash-Lite Campus in the Visayas at Metro Dumaguete College (MDC), joined by MDC president Delma Manila. The initiative integrates digital payment solutions for students and faculty.

“Through this cash-lite initiative, we are doing more than introducing a payment system,” Manila said. “We are easing burdens for families and allowing students to focus on learning.”

MDC students can now open LANDBANK PISO Plus accounts via mobile app to pay tuition and fees online. The initiative builds on the bank’s digital growth, which saw 800 million digital transactions in 2025, a 27 percent increase year-on-year.

RE MILESTONE. Jollibee Group and First Gen Corp. executives lead a ceremonial switch-on marking the transition

of Jollibee’s Philippine manufacturing and logistics facilities to 99 percent renewable energy in Calamba City. From left are Jerome Cainglet, First Gen-Energy Development Corp. president; Nilo Siongco, Jollibee Group Philippines head of manufacturing; Michael Ong, Jollibee Group president for manufacturing and logistics; Calamba City Vice Mayor

Angelito Lazaro Jr.; Calamba City Mayor Ross Rizal; Joseph Tanbuntiong, Jollibee Group Philippines CEO and global head of Jollibee brand; Julius Leyba, Jollibee Group Philippines engineering head; and Carlo Vega, First Gen chief customer engagement officer.

TREATMENT PLANT. An aerial view shows the 5-million-liter-per-day Nereda sewage treatment plant at the University of the Philippines Diliman. The 220 million facility is the first Nereda plant in the country. The project is designed to accommodate increased wastewater flow from the expanding UP sewerage system while ensuring compliance with national environmental standards.

BPI

BUSINESS

Poro Point modernization eyed by 2027 DA probes onion

By Othel V. Campos

STATE-RUN Bases Conversion and Development Authority is intensifying efforts to transform the Poro Point Freeport Zone in La Union into a multimodal transport and economic gateway, BCDA president and chief executive Joshua Bingcang said.

In a briefing, Bingcang said the BCDA will award the master planning contract for the transformation by April. Feasibility studies and the selection of private operators for the San Fernando International Seaport are targeted for completion by the third quarter of 2027. The seaport, currently managed by BCDA subsidiary Poro Point Management Corp. (PPMC), generated more than 50 million pesos in revenue and supported approximately 3,200 jobs in recent months.

The seaport modernization plan is backed by the

Aboitiz unit eyes 2026 start for P8.4-b floating solar project

By Alena Mae S. Flores

NORTHERN Sun Radiance Inc.

(NSRI) plans to construct an 188.6-megawatt floating solar power plant in Mapanuepe Lake in Zambales province, with construction set to begin in the third quarter of 2026.

NSRI, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Renewables Inc., submitted the project proposal to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The 8.4 billionproject is expected to begin commercial operations by the third quarter of 2028.

The proposed plant will occupy 228.4 hectares of Mapanuepe Lake. NSRI has entered into a lease agreement with the San Marcelino municipal government for the use of the lake and the development of the facility.

“The proposed floating solar power plant will help augment the demand for reliable and affordable power supply,” the company said. “The proposed power plant will not only supply enough electricity to Filipino households and businesses but will also contribute to national development.” NSRI said the site was selected based on technical and environmental considerations, noting the absence of critical habitats and the site’s proximity to a power tapping point.

The Department of Energy granted a 25-year solar energy operating contract (SEOC) to PV Sinag Power Inc. on Jan. 20, 2022. PV Sinag reassigned the contract to NSRI on Nov. 30, 2023.

The DENR has scheduled a public hearing for the project’s environmental impact statement on March 4 at the Barangay Buhawen covered court in San Marcelino.

Public-Private Partnership Center with P74.9 million in preparatory funding. The project will transform the existing bulk terminal into a container-ready port linked to global trade networks. Construction is scheduled for 2027, with completion expected by 2029.

On the aviation front, the BCDA has allocated about P250 million for a new terminal at San Fernando Airport, designed to accommodate commercial flights and boost tourism. The existing runway can already handle Airbus A320-class aircraft, paving the way for carriers such as Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines to operate scheduled services by 2027.

“We want a permanent private operator for both the seaport and airport,” Bingcang said, noting that separate feasibility studies for each facility are underway.

Aside from transport infrastructure, the BCDA and PPMC are increasing community developments in the freeport zone, including multipurpose sports facilities along the baywalk and the “BAYgainvillea” beautification project.

Bingcang highlighted Poro Point’s strategic edge over other regional airports, calling it a reliable alternative for travelers to Baguio while complementing Clark International Airport by providing international visitors seaside access within an hour’s travel.

price drop as farmers warn of import glut

THE Department of Agriculture is moving to stabilize onion prices after Nueva Ecija farmers warned that imported stocks are pushing red onion prices to record lows.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. directed the Bureau of Plant Industry to review stock data and identify measures to protect farmers’ incomes while ensuring consumers have access to affordable supply.

Nueva Ecija farmers flagged a buildup of imported onions in Region III cold storage facilities, saying the inventory is driving down farmgate prices. The BPI immediately used its One-Stop Industry Revitalization and Information System (OSiRiS) to verify the claim.

As of Feb. 13, about 82 percent of warehouses held nearly all imported onions, consisting of 4,454 metric tons of red onions and 5,271 metric tons of yellow onions. The average red onion price stood at P30.36 per kilo, with stocks expected to last until Feb. 19 and March 15, respectively.

While the figures may suggest an oversupply, officials said they reflect a temporary gap before the seasonal peak in local harvests, expected between March and April.

About 8,000 metric tons of red onions remain under import clearances valid until Feb. 15. Even if all shipments arrive this month, the BPI projects imported red onion stocks will last only until March 6, coinciding with the start of the local harvest.

Meanwhile, local production remains constrained. Red onion output from January to March is estimated at 9,325 metric tons—about 18 percent of the annual supply—while yellow onion production is projected at just 1,645 metric tons.

“The numbers show that current import stocks are not overwhelming the market but filling a supply gap,” Tiu Laurel said. He assured local stakeholders that the department is investigating farmers’ complaints regarding falling prices.

Taiwanese braking systems leader Elig Brake plans to expand PH operations

TAIWANESE precision braking systems leader Elig Brake Technologies is set to expand its operations in the Philippines following discussions with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Taipei.

The company is exploring new research and development initiatives and additional production lines focused on green manufacturing and product innovation. PEZA and PTIC are providing support through incen-

tives, streamlined expansion processes, and operational advantages within Philippine economic zones.

The announcement came during the Taiwan Investment Mission, organized in partnership with Ayala Land and Logistics Holdings Corp. (ALLHC) on Feb. 4-5 in Taipei.

The forum brought together more than 70 Taiwanese and international investors, Philippine officials, and industry leaders to highlight the country’s resilience and investor-friendly environment.

PEZA director general Tereso Panga emphasized the Philippines’ stability despite global economic uncertainties, citing reforms under the CREATE More Law, enhanced ease-of-doing-business policies, and a skilled workforce.

“Through PEZA economic zones, we provide a safe haven and infrastructure where investors like Elig Brake can grow confidently and sustainably,” Panga said.

Discussions covered land leasing, utilities, hyperscale data centers, and

other operational considerations. ALLHC presented its technology parks and build-to-suit facilities, while Shin-Etsu Magnetics Philippines shared practical on-the-ground insights.

The Taiwan Investment Mission strengthened ties with Taiwan, attracting interest from the electronics, automotive, steel, logistics, and real estate sectors. PEZA currently hosts 78 Taiwanese businesses, which have generated more than P36 billion in investments and created more than 45,000 jobs. Othel V. Campos

DOE breaks ground for Energy Museum in Taguig City to boost STEM education

FILIPINOS will soon have a dedicated space to learn how energy shapes daily life as the Department of Energy (DOE) broke ground Friday on The Energy Museum, a facility designed to strengthen public understanding of the nation’s power sector.

The 1,164-square-meter museum, located at the DOE Energy Center,

aims to close gaps in energy literacy by translating complex technical concepts into accessible, hands-on learning experiences for students and educators.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin led the groundbreaking ceremony, joined by industry partners that will provide modular learning pods and exhibits. The facility will be constructed using

sustainable materials, including recycled composites and natural fibers. Construction begins immediately, with the museum scheduled to open in May.

“Now more than ever, we need an informed public about energy,” Garin said. “This museum will make energy easy to understand for every Filipino. It will show the journey of electric-

GOLD ACCREDITATION.

Calamba Medical Center (CMC) achieves Gold Accreditation from Accreditation Canada International (ACI) for the period 2025 to 2028, making it the only ACI-accredited hospital in Southern Luzon. The recognition underscores CMC’s strong commitment to meeting international standards in patient safety, quality healthcare, and service excellence. Roy Tomandao

ity from source to socket and help learners and communities see how everyday choices on efficiency and safety contribute to a stronger energy future.”

The museum is positioned to serve K-12 students and universities through interactive displays and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workshops. Specific initiatives will also target encouraging girls to pursue careers in science.

The DOE is collaborating with the National Museum of the Philippines and the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology to adopt best practices in interpretive design and accessibility.

The facility will focus on Philippine-specific storytelling, highlighting local power projects and the challenges of delivering electricity across an archipelagic nation. The DOE intends for the museum to serve as a national hub for education and a regional model for accessible energy learning.

“Energy is the lifeblood of our nation,” Garin added. “This museum will be where our energy story is learned, shared, and advanced for generations.”

Othel V. Campos

TERRA ENERGIZATION. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin and Meralco PowerGen Corp. president and chief executive Emmanuel Rubio attend the initial synchronization and energization of the Terra Solar plant.

INDUSTRY MICROCREDENTIALS. Batangas State University, The National Engineering University (BatStateU The NEU), signs a memorandum of agreement with LIMA Land Inc. (LLI) and Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (AFI) at the Talent Edge Hub, BizHub at LIMA Estate on Feb. 12, 2026, aimed at strengthening workforce competitiveness in one of the country’s key industrial corridors.

SB Capital manages P4-b Asialink notes

By Othel V. Campos and Thony Rose Lesaca

SECURITY Bank Capital Investment Corp. (SB Capital) has arranged and managed P4 billion in privately placed corporate note issuances for the Asialink Group to expand lending for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The transaction for Asialink Finance Corp. (AFC), Global Dominion Financing Inc. and South Asialink Finance Corp. is guaranteed by the Credit Guarantee & Investment Facility (CGIF).

The notes were drawn on Dec. 23, 2025 and are classified as social corporate notes under a framework developed with the Asian Development Bank. A syndicate led by Security Bank Corp., including KEB Hana Bank Manila Branch and Industrial Bank of Korea Manila Branch, enabled AFC to raise P2 billion through five-year notes. Global Dominion Financing and South Asialink Finance each raised P1 billion through three-year notes.

The issuances comply with ASEAN social bond standards and International Capital Markets Association principles. DNV (Thailand) Co., Ltd. provided the second party opinion on the group’s social finance framework.

“Institutions like the Asialink Group play a critical role in advancing financial inclusion by providing tailored solutions for MSMEs. We are proud to support this milestone transaction, which aligns capital market development with inclusive economic growth,” SB Capital president and chief executive Virgilio Chua said.

Chua said the CGIF guarantee improved the quality of the notes and encouraged wider participation in social finance instruments.

MSMEs account for 99.5 percent of business establishments in the Philippines and employ 63 percent of the workforce, according to United Nations Development Programme data.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, however, show that banks account for only 4 percent of MSME funding, underscoring the demand for alternative channels.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Philippine local bond market is preparing for another active year as the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. (PDEx) expects issuance volumes to at least match the record levels seen in 2025.

PDEx president Stephanie Marie Zulueta said she is hoping total issuance will reach at least P454 billion this year.

The market already recorded P150 billion in listings in the first two months of 2026, headlined by a P100billion fixed-rate bond from BDO Unibank Inc. in January and a P50billion listing from Bank of the Philippine Islands last week.

“We’re very positive with what’s happening,” Zulueta told reporters

during a recent bond listing. A primary driver for the market is the expansion of environmental, social and governance (ESG) bonds. These instruments now represent 46 percent of total issues, maintaining the momentum from last year when sustainability-linked bonds accounted for 46 percent of issuances.

Beyond green financing, Zulueta expects a wave of activity from companies seeking to refinance maturing debts through new bond sales.

The pipeline is bolstered by firms with existing shelf registrations, a mechanism that allows issuers to return to the market with increased speed.

The outlook follows a robust 2025 where total corporate funds raised

Globe Telecom urges policy reforms to boost PH digital connectivity

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GLOBE Telecom Inc. president and chief executive Carl Cruz is calling for key policy reforms to accelerate telecommunications infrastructure development and improve internet reliability throughout the Philippines.

Cruz advocated for classifying connectivity as a “fifth utility,” saying it is as essential as water, electricity, sanitation and transport. He said digital access now directly influences employment, education and general participation in the modern economy.

“Filipinos deserve more than access, they deserve quality. That means policy must shift to enable inclusive, long-term strategic investments supporting the country’s digital connectivity roadmap. Connectivity shouldn’t be a luxury. It’s the backbone of how people work, learn, and live today,” Cruz said.

The executive said the industry depends heavily on massive capital expenditures. He noted that the government and private sector should collaborate to ensure these investments lead to universal access and consistent service that remains affordable for the public.

To bridge the digital divide, the company is transforming small neighborhood businesses like sarisari stores and auto repair shops into digital touchpoints. These microenterprises now provide basic connectivity and digital services to their local communities.

This model relies on a national distribution system involving small and medium enterprise partners and community agents to build local economic resilience.

Regarding the Konektadong Pinoy Act, Globe expressed measured support while highlighting the need for robust Implementing Rules and Regulations.

proposes 50 Mbps minimum speed for new data transmission firms

THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has proposed service quality benchmarks for data transmission industry participants (DTIPs) under the Konektadong Pinoy Act to ensure all new telco entrants meet national connectivity standards. The draft memorandum circular, titled “Performance Standards for Data Transmission Industry Participants (DTIPs) Pursuant to Republic Act No. 12234,” aims to guarantee quality public service by establishing specific performance metrics across all network segments.

These segments include the International Gateway Facility, Core/

Backbone, Middle Mile and Last Mile.

For Last Mile downstream connectivity, the NTC proposes a minimum average download and upload speed of 50 Mbps, with latency under 30ms, packet loss below 1 percent and jitter under 20ms. Both service availability and uptime should exceed 99 percent. The International Gateway Facility, Core/Backbone and Middle Mile segments should meet stricter thresholds including a minimum uptime of 99.9 percent, packet loss under 0.1 percent, latency below 10ms and aggregated optical signal loss of less than 0.25 dB per km. Darwin G. Amojelar

from left).

IN BRIEF

rate by 25 basis points at its Feb. 19 meeting to bolster an economy facing slowing momentum.

The bank forecasts the BSP’s Monetary Board will lower the policy rate to 4.25 percent as softening economic conditions take precedence over short-term inflation risks. Data show gross domestic product grew 3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, bringing full-year expansion to 4.4 percent. The slowdown stemmed from weak household spending and subdued private investment. Metrobank noted in its Wealth Insights outlook that household expenditure faces headwinds and the softness in domestic demand strengthens the case for easing.

“A timely rate cut could provide the necessary support to reinvigorate growth momentum,” Metrobank said.

While inflation rose to 2 percent in January from 1.8 percent in December due to utility costs, the bank expects it to remain within the 2 percent to 4 percent target range. Lower rice prices from resumed imports are expected to temper further price pressures.

“With inflation firmly within the target range, the BSP retains room to recalibrate policy in favor of growth,” Metrobank said.

EU delegates to visit PH on free trade deal

A EUROPEAN Parliament delegation will visit the Philippines from Feb. 16 to 18, 2026 to advance negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement that analysts say could unlock $12 billion in export potential for the Southeast Asian nation.

The mission, comprising six members of the Committee on International Trade and the chair of the delegation for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN, arrives as Manila intensifies efforts to finalize the pact by the end of 2025.

Committee on International Trade chair Bernd Lange leads the group, which plans to meet with high-level government officials and lawmakers to deepen cooperation in trade and investment.

The visit precedes a critical round of negotiations in March focused on resolving remaining market access and regulatory hurdles. Trade officials suggest the removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers will significantly boost the competitiveness of Philippine producers in the European market.

Beyond the bilateral pact, the delegation will address broader EU-Indo-Pacific economic relations and

THE

DTI orders registration of agri warehouses

rose by more than 25 percent to P454.19 billion. Lower interest rates throughout that year encouraged companies to tap the capital markets to fund various expansion projects. Last year, 24 companies listed corporate bonds on the exchange. These included debut issuances from Maynilad Water Services Inc., Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and Toyota Financial Services Philippines. Other major 2025 players included Petron Corp, which raised a record P32 billion, SM Prime Holdings with P41 billion across two issuances and Security Banking Corp. with P21 billion in fixed-rate bonds. Units of Century Properties Group, Rockwell Land Corp. and Ayala Corp. are among the entities expected to tap the debt market soon.

SSS reserve fund hits record P1t as income jumps 58%

By Thony Rose Lesaca

THE Social Security System (SSS) reserve fund surpassed P1 trillion in 2025, a historic milestone led by record income and assets resulting from fiscal discipline and long-term reforms, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Sunday, Data from the DOF showed SSS registered a net income of P142.97 billion in 2025, up 58.4 percent from the previous year. Total assets climbed 22.1 percent to reach P1.26 trillion from P1.03 trillion in 2024.

“This record performance and over 1 trillion-peso reserve fund level send a clear message to SSS members: your pensions are secure; your benefits sustained,” Finance Secretary and Social Security Commission chair Frederick Go said.

SSS president and chief executive Jay de Claro attributed the strong financial results to sustained fiscal discipline, strengthened fund governance and long-term reforms intended to secure member contributions and preserve the soundness of the fund.

“Surpassing the 1 trillion peso mark in our Reserve Fund is a historic milestone and a strong affirmation of our duty to every Filipino worker and pensioner who relies on SSS,” de Claro said.

SSS disbursed P304.94 billion in pensions and benefits to 5.66 million members nationwide and released P61.11 billion in loans for workers and their families in 2025.

On the governance side, the agency implemented annual increases of 10 percent for retirement and disability pensions and 5 percent for survivor pensions for the period 2025 to 2027. Interest rates on key loan facilities were reduced to 8 percent from 10 percent, while the pension loan program was expanded to include survivor pensioners.

The agency also rolled out the MySSS Card in 2025, which links a debit card to a savings account for benefit and loan disbursements.

The DOF noted that SSS continues to provide credit support through programs such as the Calamity Loan, Emergency Loan and the upcoming Micro Loan Program.

“SSS will continue delivering programs such as the micro loan and calamity loan to provide sufficient, affordable and faster support to our members,” Go said.

SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) sign

a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Jan. 27, 2026 on the use of satellite technology to assess climate and environmental risks. The partnership aims to enhance financial stability, sustainability and resilience. Joining the signing ceremony are (from left) PhilSA deputy dfirector-general Denis Villorente, PhilSA director General Gay Jane P. Perez, BSP assistant governor Pia Bernadette Tayag and BSP sustainability office director Ellen Joyce Suficiencia.

WATER TARIFF. The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Regulatory Office (RO) launches the Comprehensive Review of the Tariff-Setting Methodology of Local and Foreign Utilities through a kick-off meeting in Quezon City. Leading the ceremony are chief regulator Patrick Lester Ty (fourth from left), Maynilad Water Services Inc. president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez (fifth from left) and Manila Water Company president and chief executive Roberto Jose Locsin (third

REAL ESTATE

Imagine living well at Megaworld’s Santé Residences in Palawan

IMAGINE getting up to the soft glow of morning light spilling into your room, the sea breeze drifting in from your balcony, and the quiet promise of a day that begins calmly.

In the northern tip of San Vicente, where mountains meet the sea, Megaworld is developing a new residential development with a different idea of luxury in mind. Not just bigger spaces or grander finishes, but better living.

Rising within the 462-hectare Paragua Coastown township of property giant Megaworld is the 14-story Santé Residences Palawan, the country’s first-ever WELL-registered residential development.

Megaworld Palawan head of sales and marketing Javier Romero Abustan said nature played a big part when the company designed Sante Residences.

Aboitiz Land

Instead of designing the physical structure first before adding nature, Megaworld let nature guide the structural design.

“If you look at the design of Sante, how it’s configured, how it’s positioned,it was really leading to nature and letting nature tell us what can really sort of enhance that environment,” Abustan said

“This is something that can reset you, give you that calmness, give you that refreshing recharge,” he said.

WELL-certified development

At the center of the project is the globally recognized WELL Certification of the International WELL Building Institute. Unlike traditional building standards that focus mainly on energy efficiency or structural design, WELL looks at how a space affects the people inside it. It measures air quality, water, light, sound, thermal comfort, materials, nourishment, movement, mental well-being and community. In short, it asks a simple question: Does this building help people live better?

launches amenity blocks at The Villages at LIMA

LIMA Estate continues to strengthen its position as one of Batangas’ most dynamic mixed-use developments with the formal launch of the amenity blocks at Brook and Sierra, two residential neighborhoods under The Villages at LIMA Estate.

Developed by Aboitiz Land, the newly completed amenity facilities mark a significant milestone for the growing communities, where more than 400 homes have already been turned over to residents.

Central to each amenity block is a modern clubhouse designed to serve as the neighborhood’s social anchor. Built with multi-purpose function halls and lounge areas, the clubhouses are intended to host gatherings, celebrations and community activities. The open-plan design allows flexibility, making the spaces suitable for both formal events and everyday use. Outdoor features complement the indoor facilities. Landscaped surroundings frame the swimming pools, which offer residents a convenient

space for relaxation and exercise.

Positioned as central visual elements within the villages, the pools bring a resort-inspired atmosphere to daily living.

Basketball courts add an active dimension to the amenity blocks, providing a venue for sports and friendly competition. Nearby play areas, meanwhile, cater to younger residents, creating safe spaces for outdoor recreation within walking distance of their homes.

The launch event showcased how the spaces can be maximized, with activities such as pickleball games and art sessions for children highlighting the family-oriented design of Brook and Sierra.

The completion of the amenity blocks reflects Aboitiz Land’s strategy of delivering lifestyle components alongside residential units. As more families move into the villages, the presence of fully operational clubhouses, pools and recreational areas supports both community building and property value appreciation.

The design draws heavily from its surroundings.

Inspired by the wide-open tropical landscape of Palawan, the building features angled balcony pods that give each of the 460 units a view of Pagdanan Bay and the lush forests nearby.

Studies have long shown that a connection to nature, seeing greenery, water, open skies, can reduce stress and improve mood.

Units range from studios of up to 32.5 square meters to expansive three-bedroom bi-level residences of up to 179.5 square meters. Every unit comes with its own balcony, framing views of the sea, the township and the mountains beyond.

Wellness is also woven into the amenity deck on the second level. A dedicated Halotherapy Center offers salt therapy, where microscopic salt particles are dispersed into the air to help support respiratory health and overall wellness. The Verve Studio serves as a modern fitness hub for residents.

For those seeking stillness, the quiet lounge provides a calm space for reflection and reset— something increasingly valuable in our current hyperconnected world.

Inside the units, smart home systems allow residents to adjust lighting, air flow and temperature through a dedicated app. It is technology used not just for convenience, but to help create a space that supports rest and balance. Santé Residences Palawan is the third residential development launched by Megaworld within Paragua Coastown, following Paragua Beach Village and Oceanfront Premier Residences. Two 11-story hotels, Savoy Hotel Palawan and Paragua Sands Hotel, are also rising within the township, adding 617 hotel rooms and further boosting tourism in the area. All these developments sit near the 15-kilometer Long Beach, known as the longest stretch of white-sand beach in the Philippines, reinforcing San Vicente’s emergence as one of Palawan’s most promising destinations. But beyond the growth and expansion, Santé Residences Palawan represents something more personal. It is about creating homes that care for the people who live in them—spaces where getting up each morning feels less like routine and more like renewal. Jenniffer B. Austria

PH1 World to build Singapore-style social housing in PH

PH1 WORLD Developers (PH1WD), the residential arm of Megawide Construction Corp. is rolling out a large-scale residential strategy modeled after Singapore’s public housing system, as positioning itself as a key private-sector partner in addressing the Philippines’ housing backlog.

Megaworld chairman Edgar Saavedra said PH1WD is finalizing its medium-rise, community-based housing projects, patterned after Singapore’s Housing & Development Board (HDB), after securing ₱10-billion investment from Pag-IBIG Fund to accelerate socialized-housing developments.

Unlike dense, traditional low-cost tenement-style projects, Saavedra said PH1WD plans to develop midrise buildings with open spaces, greenery, and improved layouts.

Initial projects will rise on existing land banks, including sites in Cavite, with developments featuring

27-square-meter units priced at approximately ₱1.8 million. The units are targeted at low- to lower-middleincome earners, including overseas Filipino workers.

Under the structure, monthly amortizations could fall to roughly ₱7,000, significantly lower than prevailing bank-financed housing loans.

PH1WD has committed to deliver 7,000 units within the next two to

three years under the partnership, with 2,000 units expected to be turned over as early as early 2027. Meanwhile, PH1WD. and the Bacoor City government took a significant step toward expanding quality housing in Cavite with the signing of the Deed of Absolute Sale (DOAS) for the 4PH SalinasBacoor project.

The signed marked PH1WD’s second 4PH development in the province following the launch of Avesta Residences in Imus City in 2024. Construction is slated to begin in February 2026.

Mayor Strike B. Revilla described the partnership with PH1WD as a promise to provide Bacoor residents with homes that combine high-quality construction, excellent value, and FirstWorld standards.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

UNTIL She Remembers, an intimate new drama, tells the story of a young girl

(Barbie Forteza) whose world quietly unravels as her parents separate. With no one willing or able to take responsibility, she seeks refuge with her grandmother, Concha, played by Charo Santos-Concio. There, she faces the painful truth that the woman she loves most is dying of cancer.

In the fragile time they have left, the girl uncovers a long-buried secret: Concha once shared a deep, unresolved love with another woman, Catherine, portrayed by Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo. Determined to bring closure to her grandmother’s final days, the girl tracks down Catherine, only to find her living with Alzheimer’s disease, unable to recall the love they shared—or even the woman who loved her.

The film traces a quiet, devastating, yet ultimately healing journey toward a final meeting, where memory fades, but love endures. Through this journey, the young girl learns that love is defined not by possession, time, or memory, but by presence, sacrifice, and compassion.

From Solar Studios Inc. and Center Stage Productions, the film is execu-

tive produced by Wilson Tieng and written and directed by Brillante Mendoza. It will be released commercially on Feb. 25.

During the film’s press conference, Charo pointed out that the film avoids stereotypes, allowing the actresses to portray love in all its dimensions.

“Direk Brillante did not put us in a box, babaeng babae kame, but we’re so in love. This film doesn’t have any stereotypes,” she added.

In response, the director described the story as “pro-LGBTQ,” but without labels. He said that Until She Remembers touches on universal themes of love, loss, aging, and emotional inheritance, grounding the story in Filipino culture while speaking to audiences worldwide.

“Regardless, we’re human beings, and we love regardless of gender,”

BRAZILIAN director Karim Ainouz’s surreal satire Rosebush Pruning premiered Saturday at the Berlin Film Festival, featuring a star-studded cast portraying a spoiled, dysfunctional American family descending into chaos.

Pamela Anderson Callum Turner Jamie Bell, Riley Keough, and Elle Fanning play members of a wealthy family whose inherited fortune fuels conflict in a lavish Spanish villa. Turner’s character, Ed, narrates the story, describing his relatives as “lazy, mediocre, vapid egotists.”

Tracy Letts, the award-winning playwright and actor who plays the blind, abusive patriarch, said the film explores how extreme wealth can encourage bad behavior and warned that such disparities “probably create fascism.”

The film, drawing comparisons to HBO’s The White Lotus and Succession as well as Triangle of Sadness, exposes the emptiness beneath the luxury of the ultra-rich.

Ainouz said it was inspired by Marco Bellocchio’s 1965 Italian film Fists in the Pocket, which similarly depicts escalating dysfunction and violence within a wealthy family.

Ainouz described the film as a “Grimm Brothers on acid” vision, featuring incestuous overtones and a vivid color palette that contrasts with the idyllic, sun-drenched setting. Bell called the story “operatic absurdity,” with sibling relationships turning increasingly bizarre and violent. Anderson plays the mother, whose presence continues to influence the family despite reportedly having been killed by wolves.

At a press conference, Ainouz highlighted the importance of public funding for cinema, saying in Brazil, “cinema would not exist if it were not for public funding,” especially at a time when censorship and political pressures threaten creative freedom.

When asked about rumors that he might be the next James Bond, Turner declined comment, saying it was “very early for that question,” prompting Letts to joke, “I’m the next James Bond.”

‘Until She Remembers’

he noted.

Barbie explored her character’s view of love, showing how it extends beyond romance to family, commu-

nity, and self.

“I see love not only in romantic terms but in broader ways—love for family, for equality, for community,

and even for oneself. Those forms of love can inspire growth and, ideally, help change the world in positive ways,” the young actress, who portrays a16-year-old girl in the movie, said.

For her part, Boots aimed to capture her character’s inner thoughts and emotions, ensuring her performance feels authentic and resonates with the audience.

“Love persists even when memory doesn’t fully cooperate. Even a fleeting moment of recognition can mean everything. That realization helped me connect more deeply with the character and understand the emotional weight she carries,” she said. Charo, on the other hand, emphasized that her character represents “a love that never forgets. Even when memories fade or life changes, that emotional connection remains. It shows how powerful love can be— it shapes who you are, influences your choices, and stays part of you no matter what.”

MIKA Salamanca, winner of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition, released her new single Kasalanan” on Feb. 6, immediately hitting the No. 1 spot on iTunes Philippines and earning a place on Spotify and Billboard Philippines’ New Music Fridays.

The track, written by Star Music artists Jeremy G and WRIVE members Russu Laurente and Ishiro Incapas, explores the thrill of falling in love freely, without concern for others’ opinions. Mika also dedicated the song to her fans, calling it a “love letter” to those who have supported her. In the official music video, Mika teams up with actor Anthony Jennings in a mafia-inspired, action-packed love story. Mika credited Anthony for guiding her through the stunts, adding that his experience in action roles made him “perfect for the role.” “Kasalanan debuted on national television through It’s Showtime, featuring a performance by Mika and the girl group Femme MNL. She also performed the song live at the Wonderful Moments Music Festival at SMDC Grounds alongside Sarah Geronimo, Bamboo, Gloc-9, BINI,

Seasoned actresses Boots Anson-Rodrigo (left) and Charo Santos-Concio take on their first girls’ love role

‘Until She Remembers’ lead cast members Boots Anson-Rodrigo, Barbie Forteza, and Charo Santos-Concio and director Brillante Mendoza

Mika’s (left) music video features a mafiainspired love story with actor Anthony Jennings

‘Until She Remembers’ stars awardwinning actresses (clockwise) Charo Santos-Concio, Barbie Forteza, and Boots Anson-Rodrigo

Serving romance by the plate

Las Flores sets the mood for romance with ‘Love in Bloom’ dining

By Angelica Villanueva

THIS February, Spanish restaurant Las Flores turns Valentine’s dining into a full sensory experience with “Love in Bloom,” a four-course menu designed to celebrate meaningful connections through food, setting, and shared moments.

Available across all branches starting Feb. 6 at P2,395 per person, the limited offering goes beyond a traditional date-night spread.

Created by Executive Sous Chef Pablo Ramirez, the menu balances heritage Spanish flavors with a lighter, more contemporary approach, mirroring the restaurant’s signature blend of old-world inspiration and modern dining culture.

“For this menu, I revisited heritage Spanish flavors like crema catalana, not to replicate them, but to reinterpret

them with a lighter hand and modern sensibility,” Ramirez shared. Presented as a food tour through Spain, the experience progresses dish by dish. It begins with salpicon de mariscos, a cold seafood tapas mixed with bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and lemon vinaigrette, an opening that establishes a lively and refreshing atmosphere for the night.

The croqueta de manchego follows, crafted with delicate precision and paired with local spinach and aioli, offering a bal-

journey

ance of crisp texture and creamy richness. For the main course, the spotlight turns to iberico secreto, a marbled cut of Iberico pork shoulder pan-seared in butter. Served with roasted cauliflower purée and chimichurri sauce, the dish delivers depth while maintaining a refined finish.

Dessert arrives in the form of a reimagined crema catalana, infused with gently burnt local orange and lemon for a zesty contrast that closes the meal on a lighter note. Enhancing the atmosphere further are optional cocktail pairings such as the limoncello spritz and hula-hula, vi-

Tossing to prosperity and love

IT’S that time of the year once again when we get busy engaging in culinary feasts to mark the colorful and sparkling Chinese New Year and celebrate love overflowing all around.

I always enjoy the Yusheng, or Prosperity Toss Salad, a communal activity designed to bring prosperity, luck, and health for the coming year. This is when we gather around a large platter and, using chopsticks, toss the ingredients into the air together. The platter usually has raw fish, shredded carrots, pomelo, crispy crackers, peanuts and sesame seeds, plum sauce, and sesame oil. It is said that the higher these ingredients are tossed into the air, the greater the prosperity and fortune the par-

Mercury Rising Bob Zozobrado

ticipants will have in the new year.

Our Prosperity Toss was the prelude to Conrad Manila’s Lunar New Year celebration of the Year of the Horse at China Blue by Jereme Leung, bringing together thoughtfully curated feasts and an elegant Nian Gao collection designed to usher in abundance and prosperity. Available for a limited time, the hotel’s festive offerings include signature set menus, a Prosperity Yee Sang, and gifting options that extend the celebration beyond the table.

Families have the opportunity to enjoy the restaurant’s Flavors and Fortune, which feature set menus curated by celebrity chef Jereme Leung and Executive Chinese Chef Eng Yew Khor. Available until March 3, this exceptional gourmet experience is offered in two variations, with dishes that symbolize abundance, happiness, and harmony. The celebration is also available for enjoyment at home through the restaurant’s take-away option.

To learn more about Conrad Manila’s exclusive Chinese New Year offerings and event, you may contact +632 8833 9999 or email ConradManila@ ConradHotels.com

Down the street from Conrad Manila, my other favorite hotel, Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Manila invites guests to celebrate Valentine’s Day through memorable dining, creating moments that linger long after the celebration ends. Throughout the month of

exhibitions (MICE) market.

But infrastructure upgrades are only part of the strategy, Jose said. Management is also investing in internal systems and workforce development, including upgraded point-ofsale and property management platforms, new employee facilities, and training programs for younger staff members.

“The facilities matter, but the people matter just as much,” the GM said, emphasizing the importance of cultivating the next generation of hospitality leaders within the company.

Positioning for foreign markets while serving domestic families Bluewater Panglao’s transformation comes amid shifting tourism trends. A decline in

brant drinks designed to complement the progression of flavors. Located in the cozy, European-style setting of Las Flores, the experience encourages couples, families, and close friends to relax and celebrate by talking and enjoying shared dishes. The restaurant’s cross-regional Spanish menu underscores the feeling of traveling through Spain without leaving the metro. With Valentine’s season expected to draw crowds,

February, couples and families may retreat to any of the hotel’s spacious studio rooms or two-bedroom serviced residences and avail themselves of curated Valentine feasts at Cyan Modern Kitchen. Guests may indulge in a Valentine’s Dinner Buffet, which includes special recipes from the restaurant’s creative chef.

For those who prefer a more intimate evening, a four-course Valentine’s Dinner is available, inclusive of a bottle of sparkling wine. Set within a candlelit courtyard and accompanied by a live acoustic band, the experience offers a quietly romantic way to celebrate love.

For more relaxed moments, guests may

enjoy the beautiful sunset from the EDGE Pool Bar with drinks and freshly grilled barbecue, or have a casual coffee date at BLK12 Café|Bar, featuring handcrafted beverages and light bites throughout the month.

For those who prefer to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse, the hotel’s Cyan Modern Kitchen has also prepared Chinese lunch and dinner culinary delights that will surely set the new year off to a good start. More information on the hotel’s celebratory offerings is available at https://lansonplace.com/mallofasia.

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

Chinese arrivals — once a major segment for Philippine tourism — has forced resorts across the country to diversify their markets.

The property has responded by strengthening ties with domestic travelers and targeting tourists from North Asia, Europe, and the United States. Its Manila-based sales and marketing team actively partners with tour operators and participates in international travel promotions to sustain inbound traffic.

While arrivals dipped significantly around September, occupancy improved toward the end of the year, reaching around 70 percent during peak periods, Jose said.

The resort’s leadership remains optimistic about long-term growth, citing ongoing development at Bohol-Panglao International Airport, which is expected to accommodate larger aircraft and expand direct international flights.

As more foreign travelers arrive, the resort has been refining its branding and guest experience to align with global expectations while preserving its Filipino identity. Menu updates, facility upgrades,

SKAL International Makati has announced the recipients of its 32nd Tourism Personality Awards, scheduled for Feb. 26 at the Okada Manila Grand Ballroom 1. The annual awards recognize individuals in the travel and tourism industry who have stood out during “these unprecedented times,” according to Skal president Capt. Stanley Ng

This year’s honorees include Kyle “Kulas” Jennerman, who will receive the Skal Tourism Personality Award for Social Media Tourism Content, and gymnast Carlos Yulo, awarded the Skal Tourism Personality and Icon Award for Sports Tourism. Other awardees are Lance Tan for Best Amusement and Entertainment Entity, Seferina Joven as Tour Operator of the Year, Crystal Jacinto of Villa Medica

and enhanced guest services are all part of a broader repositioning effort aimed at making Bluewater Panglao competitive in an increasingly international market.

A strategic base for exploring Bohol

For families exploring Bohol for the first time, the resort’s location also serves as a practical springboard.

The island’s attractions — from waterfalls and beaches to centuries-old churches — are easily accessible via well-maintained roads.

The property’s proximity to major transport hubs simplifies day trips and tours, allowing guests to maximize their time without exhausting travel schedules.

Management believes this combination of convenience and comfort is key to attracting first-time visitors who want a seamless introduction to the province.

“Bohol has so much to offer beyond the usual attractions,” the GM said, noting that the island’s accessibility and diversity of experiences continue to draw both local and international tourists.

Balancing growth with Filipino hospitality

Despite ongoing modernization, Bluewater Panglao continues to anchor its identity in the concept of communal care — the hallmark of Filipino service culture. Management credits repeat business and referrals to the emotional connections formed between staff and guests.

“It’s not just about welcoming people into a resort,” the GM said. “It’s about making them feel like they’re in a Filipino home.” As renovations continue and international outreach expands, Bluewater Panglao is positioning itself as more than just a place to stay. For families visiting Bohol for the first time, the resort aims to be both an introduction to the island’s natural beauty and a gateway to the warmth of Filipino hospitality — a balance of modernization and tradition designed to keep guests coming back long after their first trip ends.

Carlos Yulo, Kyle Jennerman

Guests dine within Las Flores’ European-inspired interiors, reinforcing the restaurant’s transportive, cross-regional

Two-time

C4 LIFE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

Amuma by the sea

How Bluewater Panglao is reinventing itself as a family gateway to Bohol

By Jimbo Gulle

FOR many first-time visitors to Bohol, the journey begins with anticipation: the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, heritage churches, waterfalls, and white-sand beaches. But increasingly, families are discovering that where they stay shapes how they experience the island — and Bluewater Panglao is positioning itself as both a welcoming home base and a destination in its own right.

Set on a 5.2-hectare property just minutes from Bohol-Panglao International Airport, the resort has quietly undergone a transformation in recent years — modernizing its facilities, expanding its offerings, and recalibrating its strategy to attract more international travelers while remaining deeply rooted in Filipino hospitality. We witnessed these innovations ourselves when this writer brought his wife and two grown children to Bluewater last December, just before Christmas, which traditionally marks the transition to peak tourist season for Bohol. This period lasts until May, making it the ideal time to see how the resort handles such an influx.

ing points is accessibility — a critical factor for families traveling with children or elderly relatives. This was evident when we saw groups of Korean, Chinese, and European families at the resort during our stay.

The resort sits only five to 10 minutes from the airport, allowing guests to avoid long land transfers and begin their vacation almost immediately after arrival.

General Manager Rowena “Weng” Jose — who has been with the Bluewater group for more than a decade and has led the Panglao property since 2017 — said the resort has steadily evolved with families in mind.

“They’re built for bigger families,” Jose said in an exclusive interview with Manila Standard Life. She noted that many Filipino and foreign travelers now seek shared spaces that allow multigenerational bonding while maintaining comfort and privacy.

Beyond room design, the resort has improved infrastructure to enhance the guest experience. Walkways once covered in gravel were cemented for safety and ease, particularly for young children and senior guests.

Children’s pools have been renovated and enhanced with better lighting and safety features, while new menu offerings incorporate local ingredients — including Bohol’s well-known “ube” (purple yam) — to introduce visitors to regional flavors.

These changes reflect a broader philosophy that emphasizes “amuma,” a Cebuano term describing caring, nurturing hospitality, Jose said. For families traveling to Bohol for the first time, the approach translates into attentive service, thoughtful amenities, and a relaxed, home-like environment that encourages repeat visits. Turn to C3

LUXURY resorts ring in the Lunar New Year with sumptuous feasts and vibrant traditions for families and friends.

Discovery Boracay and Discovery Coron invite guests to usher in the Year of the Fire Horse with vibrant and heartfelt Chinese New Year celebrations. Rooted in tradition and elevated through thoughtful hospitality, this year’s festivities are designed to bring people together around abundant feasts, joyful activities, and meaningful moments, symbolizing a year ahead filled with energy, prosperity, and good fortune.

A grand celebration at Discovery Boracay

On Feb. 17, Discovery Boracay will host an indulgent Chinese New Year Buffet at Sands Restaurant, priced at P2,800 nett per person. Set against the serene shores of Station 1, the evening presents an expansive culinary journey featuring classic Chinese flavors and international favorites.

host Chinese New Year–inspired games and interactive activities, adding playful energy for guests of all ages. This gathering of good food, laughter, and shared traditions promises a joyful beginning to a fortunate new year.

Family-style celebrations at Discovery Coron

Guests can savor an array of freshly prepared dishes, including dim sum, seafood on ice, wok-fried specialties, carving stations, and live grill selections. Highlights include siu yuk (crispy roast pork belly), brick-oven roasted USDA beef rib eye, salt and pepper squid, Dong Po pork belly, and a variety of noodle and rice dishes symbolizing prosperity and longevity. The feast concludes with a generous dessert selection, such as almond bean curd with lychee and panna cotta with citrus compote.

To amplify the festive spirit, the resort will

At Discovery Coron, a more intimate yet equally meaningful celebration awaits at Firefish Restaurant on Feb. 17, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Guests may choose from three carefully curated Lucky Fire Horse Dinner Menus, each served family-style and designed to embody good fortune, balance, and abundance. The Dynasty Set Menu, priced at P2,100++ per person, offers comforting classics like pork char siu, General Tso’s chicken, shrimp hakaw, and almond jelly. The Fortune Set Menu, at P2,200++ per person, features sweet and sour pork, traditional dim sum, and festive staples. The Prosperity Set Menu, priced at PHP 2,700++ per person, highlights indulgent dishes such as beef ho fan and cereal prawns, complemented by soups, noodles, and desserts.

Whether experienced as a lavish beachside buffet in Boracay or a shared family feast in Coron, Discovery Resorts’ Chinese New Year offerings provide

Bollywood superstar lends voice to Disney Adventure Lion King fireworks show

DISNEY Cruise Line announced a new fireworks spectacular inspired by The Lion King that will debut aboard the Disney Adventure, featuring narration by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan

Titled The Lion King: Celebration in the Sky, the nighttime show will illuminate the skies above the ship with pyrotechnics, lighting effects, and music drawn from the beloved film franchise. Disney Cruise Line said it remains the only cruise line to present fireworks displays at sea.

Khan, who voiced Mufasa in the Hindi-language versions of the 2019 remake of Mufasa, will guide guests through the produc tion. The actor said the project is meaning ful to him and reflects the story’s enduring themes of family, bravery, and hope.

The show will feature songs from the films, including “Circle of Life,” “Hakuna Matata,” “He Lives in You,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” New orchestral arrangements were recorded by the Royal Scottish National Orches tra and include vocals by South Africa’s Ndlovu Youth Choir.

Sarah Fox, vice president and regional general manag

er for Southeast Asia at Disney Cruise Line, said Khan’s involvement adds regional resonance as the company introduces its cruise offerings in Asia.

“As we introduce Disney Cruise Line to the region, collaborating with a talent who has long been part of iconic Disney storytelling and is widely recognized across Asia and beyond allows us to bring this beloved story to life in a new and exciting way that resonates with our guests,” Fox said.

The Lion King: Celebration in the Sky will be presented on select evenings during three- and four-night voyages. Guests can check show schedules through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app while onboard.

The Disney Adventure is the cruise line’s first ship to homeport in Asia and is scheduled to sail from Singapore on itineraries designed as days-at-sea voyages featuring onboard entertainment, dining, and retail experiences.

Bluewater Panglao strengthens its positioning as a family-oriented Bohol base with refreshed

Discovery Boracay will host a Chinese New Year Buffet at Sands Restaurant, featuring a variety of dishes and interactive activities

Discovery Coron celebrates Lunar New Year at Firefish Restaurant with three family-style Lucky Fire Horse Dinner Menus

The new ‘Lion King’–inspired fireworks show will be narrated by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan